SEWARD COUNTY—A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just after 2a.m. Sunday during a pursuit with the the Seward County Sheriff's office.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Toyota Solara driven by Luis A. Molina, 17, Garden City, was fleeing from a traffic stop with deputies in the&nbsp; 600 Block of S Seward Avenue in Southeast Liberal, Kansas.

The Toyota struck a legally parked and unoccupied 2009 GMC Canyon. Debris from both vehicle struck a parked and unoccupied 2011 Chevy Tahoe.

EMS transported Molina to Southwest Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.&nbsp; Two other juveniles were also in the Toyota.&nbsp;

SEWARD COUNTY—A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just after 2a.m. Sunday during a pursuit with the the Seward County Sheriff's office.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Toyota Solara driven by Luis A. Molina, 17, Garden City, was fleeing from a traffic stop with deputies in the&nbsp; 600 Block of S Seward Avenue in Southeast Liberal, Kansas.The Toyota struck a legally parked and unoccupied 2009 GMC Canyon. Debris from both vehicle struck a parked and unoccupied 2011 Chevy Tahoe.EMS transported Molina to Southwest Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.&nbsp; Two other juveniles were also in the Toyota.&nbsp;

Kan. teen hospitalized after crash fleeing from deputies

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/22/after-weeks-of-waiting-kansas-survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-eager-for-legislative-hearing/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A throng of angry queer and transgender children marched Friday evening on the Kansas Statehouse grounds in joyful defiance of legislators who promote state-sponsored discrimination.

As the crowd of 200 children and adults gathered on the south side of the Capitol, individuals stepped forward, one by one, to deliver speeches bubbling with love or rage or fear. Some had recently come out, some had never spoken up, and some were high on gender euphoria.

The recurring themes at the demonstration, which was part of the National March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy: They refuse to go back into the closet, and they are eager to vote.

Ian Benalcázar, a 13-year-old trans boy from Lawrence who dressed in a Pinkie Pie cardigan, told the crowd: “I am what they are scared of.”

“I can’t believe that I, a child, has to explain why I deserve to live, to breathe and to be happy,” Benalcázar said. “I should be worrying about my grades, not whether or not I’ll be a victim of a hate crime on my way to the bus stop.”

Cassandra Robinson, who will be 10 years old next week, appeared in a T-shirt that reads: “inspired by the STRONG WOMEN in my life.” Standing on the south steps of the Statehouse, the Topeka resident directed her comments to the legislators who work inside.

“This is kind of my first time doing this, so sorry if I stutter or something,” Robinson said. “It’s stupid how the people in there get to decide how we live our lives and how we do stuff. And I feel like all of the cis people should mind their own business, and they should put some LGBTQ in charge.”

The GOP-dominated Legislature this year has advanced numerous bills that target transgender children, including proposals that would restrict gender-affirming care and ban transgender kids from playing with their cisgender peers. A “women’s bill of rights” would establish a politically charged definition of “woman” to exclude transgender women from gender-specific public spaces.

“Those in power who are so desperate to pass this cruel legislation can no longer be excused by ignorance,” said Fable Briggs of Lawrence. “The data is being presented to them over and over again. They simply do not care what’s true or right. They care only for the comfort of those who will vote for them.”

Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen, a Topeka Democrat who participated in the march, said lawmakers should be working together to solve problems everybody faces instead of putting targets on people’s backs in order to score political points.

“You gotta help us out, wherever you’re from,” Schlingensiepen said. “You need to get politically engaged. You have gotta find ways to vote people out who don’t care about you, and who keep bringing these hateful bills to the floor in the House, and who are using you to divide and conquer voters.”

Raiden Gonzalez said it was disappointing to see hurtful legislation being debated in Kansas and other states around the country.

“You’re seeing a lot of young people who are more just down to earth, trying to be heard,” Gonzalez said. “I think it’s really disappointing, and the Kansas Legislature should be ashamed of themselves.”

People in the crowd held signs that read: “I want my friends to live,” “make no mistake / they are killing us,” “I’d rather have a trans kid than a dead one,” “support your sisters / not just your cis-ters,” “break the binary,” “trans lives are more important than cis feelings.”

One sign said, “F*** your KS SB180,” a reference to the women’s bill of rights, and featured a drawing of an individual raising a middle finger.

After the series of speeches, the crowd marched around the perimeter of the Statehouse grounds. Their chants could be heard from a couple of blocks away:

“We’re here. We’re queer. We’re not going anywhere.”

<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>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/22/after-weeks-of-waiting-kansas-survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-eager-for-legislative-hearing/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A throng of angry queer and transgender children marched Friday evening on the Kansas Statehouse grounds in joyful defiance of legislators who promote state-sponsored discrimination.As the crowd of 200 children and adults gathered on the south side of the Capitol, individuals stepped forward, one by one, to deliver speeches bubbling with love or rage or fear. Some had recently come out, some had never spoken up, and some were high on gender euphoria.The recurring themes at the demonstration, which was part of the National March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy: They refuse to go back into the closet, and they are eager to vote.<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/P3311450.jpg" alt="Ian Benalcázar delivers a speech Friday at the Statehouse as part of the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Ian Benalcázar delivers a speech Friday at the Statehouse as part of the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Ian Benalcázar, a 13-year-old trans boy from Lawrence who dressed in a Pinkie Pie cardigan, told the crowd: “I am what they are scared of.”“I can’t believe that I, a child, has to explain why I deserve to live, to breathe and to be happy,” Benalcázar said. “I should be worrying about my grades, not whether or not I’ll be a victim of a hate crime on my way to the bus stop.”Cassandra Robinson, who will be 10 years old next week, appeared in a T-shirt that reads: “inspired by the STRONG WOMEN in my life.” Standing on the south steps of the Statehouse, the Topeka resident directed her comments to the legislators who work inside.“This is kind of my first time doing this, so sorry if I stutter or something,” Robinson said. “It’s stupid how the people in there get to decide how we live our lives and how we do stuff. And I feel like all of the cis people should mind their own business, and they should put some LGBTQ in charge.”<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/P3311484.jpg" alt="Cassandra Robinson delivers a speech Friday at the Statehouse as part of the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Cassandra Robinson delivers a speech Friday at the Statehouse as part of the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The GOP-dominated Legislature this year has advanced numerous bills that target transgender children, including proposals that would restrict gender-affirming care and ban transgender kids from playing with their cisgender peers. A “women’s bill of rights” would establish a politically charged definition of “woman” to exclude transgender women from gender-specific public spaces.“Those in power who are so desperate to pass this cruel legislation can no longer be excused by ignorance,” said Fable Briggs of Lawrence. “The data is being presented to them over and over again. They simply do not care what’s true or right. They care only for the comfort of those who will vote for them.”Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen, a Topeka Democrat who participated in the march, said lawmakers should be working together to solve problems everybody faces instead of putting targets on people’s backs in order to score political points.“You gotta help us out, wherever you’re from,” Schlingensiepen said. “You need to get politically engaged. You have gotta find ways to vote people out who don’t care about you, and who keep bringing these hateful bills to the floor in the House, and who are using you to divide and conquer voters.”Raiden Gonzalez said it was disappointing to see hurtful legislation being debated in Kansas and other states around the country.“You’re seeing a lot of young people who are more just down to earth, trying to be heard,” Gonzalez said. “I think it’s really disappointing, and the Kansas Legislature should be ashamed of themselves.”People in the crowd held signs that read: “I want my friends to live,” “make no mistake / they are killing us,” “I’d rather have a trans kid than a dead one,” “support your sisters / not just your cis-ters,” “break the binary,” “trans lives are more important than cis feelings.”One sign said, “F*** your KS SB180,” a reference to the women’s bill of rights, and featured a drawing of an individual raising a middle finger.After the series of speeches, the crowd marched around the perimeter of the Statehouse grounds. Their chants could be heard from a couple of blocks away:“Trans lives matter.”“We’re here. We’re queer. We’re not going anywhere.”“Vote them out.”

Defiant transgender children marched on Kansas Statehouse

GREENE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 10p.m. Saturday in Greene County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 GMC Sierra driven by Gregory A. Lenox, 51, Buffalo, Mo., was southbound on Route H near Farm Rod 48 six miles north of Springfield.&nbsp; The pickup and a northbound 2011 Ford Edge driven by John S. Smith, 54, Pleasant Hope, collided head-0n.

EMS transported both drivers to Mercy Springfield where Smith died.&nbsp; The MSHP reported Lenox was not wearing a seat belt.

GREENE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 10p.m. Saturday in Greene County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 GMC Sierra driven by Gregory A. Lenox, 51, Buffalo, Mo., was southbound on Route H near Farm Rod 48 six miles north of Springfield.&nbsp; The pickup and a northbound 2011 Ford Edge driven by John S. Smith, 54, Pleasant Hope, collided head-0n.EMS transported both drivers to Mercy Springfield where Smith died.&nbsp; The MSHP reported Lenox was not wearing a seat belt.

Missouri man dead, another injured in head-on crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Local law enforcement and the FBI are investigating a pair of ATM burglaries in Topeka.

Just after 4a.m. Thursday, police responded to Community National Bank, 5431 SW 29th Street and just after 3a.m. Friday, police responded to Core First Bank and Trust, 2021 SE 29th Street both in Topeka after reports of ATM burglaries, according to police spokesperson Rachel Nichols.

Investigators believe the burglaries are connected and are working to find two vehicles involved. Police released security camera images of the suspect vehicles.

 Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to contact police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680295603072.png" alt="One of the ATMs involved in the burglaries -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>One of the ATMs involved in the burglaries -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Local law enforcement and the FBI are investigating a pair of ATM burglaries in Topeka.Just after 4a.m. Thursday, police responded to Community National Bank, 5431 SW 29th Street and just after 3a.m. Friday, police responded to Core First Bank and Trust, 2021 SE 29th Street both in Topeka after reports of ATM burglaries, according to police spokesperson Rachel Nichols.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680295630388.png" alt="Security camera images Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>Security camera images Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680295953834.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators believe the burglaries are connected and are working to find two vehicles involved. Police released security camera images of the suspect vehicles. Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to contact police.

FBI still working to locate suspect in Kan. ATM burglaries

&nbsp;Andover Police reported&nbsp;David Sawdy was located in Marion County and authorities are working to reunite him with his family. Police released no additional details early Sunday.

BUTLER COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation state-wide Silver Alert for a missing Kansas man continues.

&nbsp;David Sawdy, 85, was last heard from on Friday afternoon at 12:00pm on his land phone land at his home in Andover.

 He was seen on camera at 6:50p.m. headed north on Ridge Road from 13th Street in Wichita driving his 2005 Silver Chevy Tahoe with Kansas tag 14879.

Sawdy is 5 feet 10 inches tall, 150 pounds, gray hair with brown eyes. 

If you see him, please contact the Andover Police Department dispatch at 316-733-5177 ext. 0.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680364464941.png" alt="Sawdy-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Sawdy-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Andover Police reported&nbsp;David Sawdy was located in Marion County and authorities are working to reunite him with his family. Police released no additional details early Sunday.----------------BUTLER COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation state-wide Silver Alert for a missing Kansas man continues.&nbsp;David Sawdy, 85, was last heard from on Friday afternoon at 12:00pm on his land phone land at his home in Andover. He was seen on camera at 6:50p.m. headed north on Ridge Road from 13th Street in Wichita driving his 2005 Silver Chevy Tahoe with Kansas tag 14879.Sawdy is 5 feet 10 inches tall, 150 pounds, gray hair with brown eyes. If you see him, please contact the Andover Police Department dispatch at 316-733-5177 ext. 0.

Silver Alert canceled; missing Kansas man found safe

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An alarm blared and lights flashed as a heavily armed assailant stalked the hallways of The Covenant School.

Surveillance footage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-03aa394109a5e682877403c0c3e52aa7?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">the shooting Monday at the private Christian school</a>&nbsp;in Nashville showed many familiar security measures, including the double set of locked glass doors the killer shot their way through before fatally shooting three children and three school employees.

"It’s just next to impossible to stop someone with an AR-17 coming through the door,” said George Grant, a leader with the Nashville Presbytery, which is connected with the school. Grant said the presbytery doesn’t have a formal security program for its churches and schools but that members have worked together to share best practices and improve safety.

Around the U.S., private schools generally do not face as many requirements as public schools for developing security plans. In Tennessee, laws requiring schools to develop and submit safety plans do not apply to private schools, an emailed statement from the state Department of Education said.

Private schools also sometimes lack access to government programs to bolster security, though private schools in some states are eligible for state money to bolster security with staff, equipment and technology. Some federal grants also are available to private schools for security aid.

Generally, private schools don't have access to the police many public schools have assigned to their campuses, said Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers. He said some private schools have arranged to hire recently retired officers.

“I would imagine after this horrific situation in Nashville that there may be more attempts by private schools to try to not only bolster security but to get school resource officers.”

Still, amid widespread concerns about mass shootings, experts say private schools have invested similarly to public schools in violence prevention.

Private schools were among institutions that invested most heavily in security in the aftermath of the 2012 shooting that killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Today, private schools have some of the highest-paid security specialists, including retired federal agents, said Michael Dorn, who has been involved in assessing security at thousands of schools as executive director of Safe Havens International, a nonprofit school safety center.

Security protocols for private schools are similar to those for public schools, but they are more tailored to each school’s location and circumstances, said Myra McGovern of the National Association of Independent Schools.

Security such as metal detectors may not be as visible at private schools, which also have considerations including boarding students and, in some cases, the children of heads of state to look after, she said.

“Attention to security is similar, but the way that it manifests is perhaps different,” McGovern said.

The quality of safety plans for private schools also varies widely, as it does for public schools, Dorn said.

“We see schools that are pretty behind and some that are exceptional,” he said.

In Tennessee, an executive order last year by Gov. Bill Lee on school safety measures directed the state to conduct a report on the use of armed guards in nonpublic schools and assess their need for active-shooter training.

Most U.S. school systems conduct active-shooter and lockdown trainings, and the Nashville school had in fact undergone&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-texas-education-violence-469144ec9cee9cb33f0860f7445d8591">active-shooter training</a>&nbsp;in 2022, which prevented further loss of life during Monday's shooting, city police spokesperson Brooke Reese said.

Private or not, shootings are more common at middle and high schools than at elementary schools like Covenant, which are less likely to have assigned security officers. Educators also are wary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-school-safety-teaching-newport-news-virginia-07c0979141666c852923aff75421a0f1">unsettling young learners</a>&nbsp;with more heavy-handed security measures.

The Covenant School has about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade. The school and the Covenant Presbyterian Church are connected with the Nashville Presbytery, which includes congregations in the Presbyterian Church in America, across Middle Tennessee and southwestern Kentucky.

“Over the last several years, most of our churches have undergone training and have really scrutinized their security arrangements,” said Grant, the immediate past moderator for the Nashville Presbytery. “It’s not an official sort of presbytery-wide initiative, but it has just sort of grown out of relationships.”

Grant said Franklin Classical School, a school under the spiritual oversight of his church, Parish Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee, has lockdown procedures and security codes in place. The school always has a former police officer on site when school is in session. It is unknown whether The Covenant School had a security officer.

Grant said his church’s security team has called for a review of security protocols and already had training planned for the week after Easter.

“This is just a good reminder that we live in a broken, fallen world," he said. "And we need to be vigilant to care for one another as best we can.”

___ Ma reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press writers Jonathan Mattise in Nashville and Michael Melia in Hartford, Conn., contributed to this report.

The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679935165685.png" alt="First responders at the scene at Covenant School -photo Nashville Metro Police" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene at Covenant School -photo Nashville Metro Police</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An alarm blared and lights flashed as a heavily armed assailant stalked the hallways of The Covenant School.Surveillance footage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-03aa394109a5e682877403c0c3e52aa7?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">the shooting Monday at the private Christian school</a>&nbsp;in Nashville showed many familiar security measures, including the double set of locked glass doors the killer shot their way through before fatally shooting three children and three school employees."It’s just next to impossible to stop someone with an AR-17 coming through the door,” said George Grant, a leader with the Nashville Presbytery, which is connected with the school. Grant said the presbytery doesn’t have a formal security program for its churches and schools but that members have worked together to share best practices and improve safety.Around the U.S., private schools generally do not face as many requirements as public schools for developing security plans. In Tennessee, laws requiring schools to develop and submit safety plans do not apply to private schools, an emailed statement from the state Department of Education said.Private schools also sometimes lack access to government programs to bolster security, though private schools in some states are eligible for state money to bolster security with staff, equipment and technology. Some federal grants also are available to private schools for security aid.Generally, private schools don't have access to the police many public schools have assigned to their campuses, said Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers. He said some private schools have arranged to hire recently retired officers.“I would imagine after this horrific situation in Nashville that there may be more attempts by private schools to try to not only bolster security but to get school resource officers.”Still, amid widespread concerns about mass shootings, experts say private schools have invested similarly to public schools in violence prevention.Private schools were among institutions that invested most heavily in security in the aftermath of the 2012 shooting that killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Today, private schools have some of the highest-paid security specialists, including retired federal agents, said Michael Dorn, who has been involved in assessing security at thousands of schools as executive director of Safe Havens International, a nonprofit school safety center.Security protocols for private schools are similar to those for public schools, but they are more tailored to each school’s location and circumstances, said Myra McGovern of the National Association of Independent Schools.Security such as metal detectors may not be as visible at private schools, which also have considerations including boarding students and, in some cases, the children of heads of state to look after, she said.“Attention to security is similar, but the way that it manifests is perhaps different,” McGovern said.The quality of safety plans for private schools also varies widely, as it does for public schools, Dorn said.“We see schools that are pretty behind and some that are exceptional,” he said.In Tennessee, an executive order last year by Gov. Bill Lee on school safety measures directed the state to conduct a report on the use of armed guards in nonpublic schools and assess their need for active-shooter training.Most U.S. school systems conduct active-shooter and lockdown trainings, and the Nashville school had in fact undergone&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-texas-education-violence-469144ec9cee9cb33f0860f7445d8591">active-shooter training</a>&nbsp;in 2022, which prevented further loss of life during Monday's shooting, city police spokesperson Brooke Reese said.Private or not, shootings are more common at middle and high schools than at elementary schools like Covenant, which are less likely to have assigned security officers. Educators also are wary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-school-safety-teaching-newport-news-virginia-07c0979141666c852923aff75421a0f1">unsettling young learners</a>&nbsp;with more heavy-handed security measures.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Hale fired a number of rounds inside the Covenant Church/School building. She was armed with these 3 guns and significant ammunition. <a href="https://t.co/3LYOU2r0sh">pic.twitter.com/3LYOU2r0sh</a>&mdash; Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) <a href="https://twitter.com/MNPDNashville/status/1640521034594918400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Covenant School has about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade. The school and the Covenant Presbyterian Church are connected with the Nashville Presbytery, which includes congregations in the Presbyterian Church in America, across Middle Tennessee and southwestern Kentucky.“Over the last several years, most of our churches have undergone training and have really scrutinized their security arrangements,” said Grant, the immediate past moderator for the Nashville Presbytery. “It’s not an official sort of presbytery-wide initiative, but it has just sort of grown out of relationships.”Grant said Franklin Classical School, a school under the spiritual oversight of his church, Parish Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee, has lockdown procedures and security codes in place. The school always has a former police officer on site when school is in session. It is unknown whether The Covenant School had a security officer.Grant said his church’s security team has called for a review of security protocols and already had training planned for the week after Easter.“This is just a good reminder that we live in a broken, fallen world," he said. "And we need to be vigilant to care for one another as best we can.”___ Ma reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press writers Jonathan Mattise in Nashville and Michael Melia in Hartford, Conn., contributed to this report.The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Nashville shooting highlights security at private schools

SEDGWICK COUNTY– A former detention deputy in the Sedgwick County Jail has been sentenced to prison.

Sedgwick County District Judge Tyler Roush sentenced Dustin Burnett, 22 of Maize, to 68 months in prison. On February 10 Burnett made an Alford plea to three charges of unlawful sexual relations with two female inmates and official misconduct in the jail. 

The two official misconduct charges involve Burnett catching an inmate burning a hole through a jail cell window and watching others sneak contraband items through the hole. Burnett did not stop the act or report it.

In July, while investigating a security breach at Sedgwick County Jail&nbsp; investigators learned Burnett, the on-duty deputy in that area of the jail, observed inmates break a window, bring contraband into the facility and didn't stop it or inform anyone it occurred. He also did not give investigators the full story about the incident when confronted about it, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp;

Later, two female inmates reported inappropriate sexual contact with Burnett, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick. The alleged sexual contact occurred on July 17, 2022.

Burnett started work at the jail in January of 2022 and was terminated upon his arrest.

An Alford plea is a guilty plea in which a defendant does not admit guilt but admits the prosecution’s evidence is sufficient to result in a finding of guilt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658429257903.png" alt="Burnett-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Burnett-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY– A former detention deputy in the Sedgwick County Jail has been sentenced to prison.Sedgwick County District Judge Tyler Roush sentenced Dustin Burnett, 22 of Maize, to 68 months in prison. On February 10 Burnett made an Alford plea to three charges of unlawful sexual relations with two female inmates and official misconduct in the jail. The two official misconduct charges involve Burnett catching an inmate burning a hole through a jail cell window and watching others sneak contraband items through the hole. Burnett did not stop the act or report it.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658430090733.png" alt="Suspected Fentanyl Laced Pills found during the search of the jail following Burnett's arrest -photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Suspected Fentanyl Laced Pills found during the search of the jail following Burnett's arrest -photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>In July, while investigating a security breach at Sedgwick County Jail&nbsp; investigators learned Burnett, the on-duty deputy in that area of the jail, observed inmates break a window, bring contraband into the facility and didn't stop it or inform anyone it occurred. He also did not give investigators the full story about the incident when confronted about it, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp;Later, two female inmates reported inappropriate sexual contact with Burnett, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick. The alleged sexual contact occurred on July 17, 2022.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658429970384.png" alt="--Pen sharpened down into a shank found during a search of the jail." />
 <figcaption>--Pen sharpened down into a shank found during a search of the jail.</figcaption>
 </figure>Burnett started work at the jail in January of 2022 and was terminated upon his arrest.An Alford plea is a guilty plea in which a defendant does not admit guilt but admits the prosecution’s evidence is sufficient to result in a finding of guilt.

Kan. jail deputy who let inmates sneak in drugs is sentenced

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A former nurse was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison for stealing fentanyl from two hospitals where she worked.

Faith Naccarato, 42, of Kansas City pleaded guilty to two counts of tampering with a consumer product and two counts of possession of fentanyl by deception and subterfuge, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, between January 2020 and April 2020, Naccarato, used her fingerprint to remove vials of fentanyl from an automated dispensing cabinet in the surgical specialty unit at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park. She replaced the fentanyl with saline solution before placing the vials back in the cabinet.

Between February 2020 and April 2020, Naccarato took vials of fentanyl from an automated dispensing cabinet in the noninvasive cardiology unit at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in Meriam. She replaced the fentanyl with saline solution and then placed the vials back in the cabinet.

Naccarato told investigators she stole the fentanyl for personal use.

“Our medical facilities are not immune from the effects of the growing fentanyl addiction crisis in our country, and as a result, the District of Kansas prosecutes a growing number of cases against

health care providers accused of stealing medication intended to go to patients,” said Kate E. Brubacher, U.S. Attorney. “The Justice Department believes stopping these abuses is paramount to guarding the public trust: people must have confidence in the integrity of their health care.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case.

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A former nurse was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison for stealing fentanyl from two hospitals where she worked.Faith Naccarato, 42, of Kansas City pleaded guilty to two counts of tampering with a consumer product and two counts of possession of fentanyl by deception and subterfuge, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, between January 2020 and April 2020, Naccarato, used her fingerprint to remove vials of fentanyl from an automated dispensing cabinet in the surgical specialty unit at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park. She replaced the fentanyl with saline solution before placing the vials back in the cabinet.Between February 2020 and April 2020, Naccarato took vials of fentanyl from an automated dispensing cabinet in the noninvasive cardiology unit at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in Meriam. She replaced the fentanyl with saline solution and then placed the vials back in the cabinet.Naccarato told investigators she stole the fentanyl for personal use.“Our medical facilities are not immune from the effects of the growing fentanyl addiction crisis in our country, and as a result, the District of Kansas prosecutes a growing number of cases againsthealth care providers accused of stealing medication intended to go to patients,” said Kate E. Brubacher, U.S. Attorney. “The Justice Department believes stopping these abuses is paramount to guarding the public trust: people must have confidence in the integrity of their health care.”The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case.

Nurse going to prison for fentanyl thefts from hospitals in Kansas

OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

Just after 2p.m. March 30, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop at 2nd and Market in Osage City for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, a K9 was deployed, and illegal narcotics were located.

The driver identified as 57-year-old Kevin D. Spunaugle and a passenger 52-year-old Linda S. Spunaugle both of Olivet were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges that include Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680172919563.png" alt="Spunaugle -photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Spunaugle -photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.Just after 2p.m. March 30, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop at 2nd and Market in Osage City for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, a K9 was deployed, and illegal narcotics were located.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680172892837.png" alt="Spunaugle-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Spunaugle-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver identified as 57-year-old Kevin D. Spunaugle and a passenger 52-year-old Linda S. Spunaugle both of Olivet were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges that include Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of paraphernalia.

Kansas couple accused of transporting meth

By GREG DOERING <a href="https://kansaslivingmagazine.com/articles/2023/02/01/how-the-farm-bill-impacts-everyone-not-just-farmers">Kansas Living</a>

By the time the Great Depression started in 1929, America’s farmers 
and ranchers were already suffering from a yearslong agricultural 
depression that had started shortly after World War I. While Congress 
debated several relief proposals, none was ever enacted.

A lack of policy to ensure an adequate price for crops and livestock 
created a downward cycle. To make up for low prices, farmers and 
ranchers raised more and more, creating larger surpluses that drove 
prices even lower.

It wasn’t until 1933 that the federal government acted to prevent 
further destruction in the agriculture industry. Under the New Deal, 
three closely related programs — the Commodity Credit Corporation, 
Agricultural Adjustment Administration and Farm Credit Administration — 
were created to address the problems of oversupply and low prices. In 
conjunction, the programs essentially set a floor on the price of staple
 crops like corn and wheat, offered incentives for returning farmland to
 grassland and refinanced farm mortgages to lower interest rates. Now 
considered the first farm bill, the original legislation has been 
reviewed and updated every five years or so. Congress is slated to pass 
the 19th iteration in 2023.

Over the decades, the farm bill has evolved alongside agriculture. It
 no longer is just about protecting the work of farmers and ranchers, 
but rather the policies touch nearly every corner of agriculture and 
ensure U.S. consumers have access to high quality, safe and nutritious 
food.

Unlike the 1933 farm bill, which was focused almost exclusively on 
farmers, today’s farm bill is aimed at many aspects of agriculture from 
the growers to consumers through various programs packaged under a 
single bill with “titles” addressing specific areas.

Though the titles vary from bill to bill, the 2018 farm bill included
 12 that covered commodities, conservation, trade, nutrition, credit, 
rural development, research, extension and related matters, forestry, 
energy, horticulture, crop insurance and a catchall for miscellaneous 
matters.

While the list is expansive, 99 percent of farm bill spending is 
currently dedicated to nutrition, commodities, crop insurance and 
conservation. Most has gone toward the nutrition component, primarily 
through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which 
helps vulnerable families purchase healthy food.

The remaining 1 percent is divided among the other eight titles and 
makes investments in rural economic growth, research supporting 
innovation and food safety, farmers markets, local food programs and 
much more.

“In that 1 percent, there are a lot of research and training programs
 that can have a big impact,” says Jenny Ifft, associate professor in 
agricultural economics at Kansas State University.

Of all the titles in the farm bill, crop insurance is perhaps the 
most important to Kansas farmers because it gives them certainty when 
making investments to expand, whether that means buying more land or 
upgrading their equipment.

Mother nature is a tough business partner, but with crop insurance, 
farmers receive protection from disasters in the same fashion home and 
car owners are guarded against damage to their property. Under the farm 
bill, farmers receive varying subsidies to buy policies from private 
companies to cover perils like frost, wind, disease, drought, fire, 
flooding and insect damage. Coverage for more than 120 crops is 
available, with the premium and amount paid in the event of a loss being
 tied to the actual value of the crop.

From lawmakers’ point of view, the risk management tools in the farm 
bill prevent a lot of headaches from trying to pass separate legislation
 for disaster relief after every flood, fire, freeze or other 
catastrophe.

“It really takes the place of disaster programs, which are a disaster
 to implement,” says retired Sen. Pat Roberts, who worked on eight farm 
bills during his tenure in both the House and Senate. “It’s far better 
to have crop insurance.”

In fact, crop insurance is so important to Kansas farmers that Rep. 
Tracey Mann says it’s the main topic he heard on the campaign trail last
 fall on visits with producers in Kansas’ 1st Congressional District. 
Mann’s district stretches from the Colorado border in the west to 
portions of Douglas County in the east, giving him a broad view of 
agriculture across more than three-quarters of the state.

Mann, who grew up on a farm near Quinter, serves on the House 
Agriculture Committee, which is tasked with writing the 2023 farm bill. 
He also sees room in the next bill for expanded trade promotion and 
reduced regulations for farmers and ranchers. Mann says successfully 
drafting the next farm bill involves telling the story of American 
agriculture and how it extends beyond our country’s borders.

“Our farmers in Kansas, in the Midwest and throughout the country 
feed a hungry world,” he says. “That need is constantly growing so we 
need to have policy in place to meet it.”

Expanding trade and opening new markets gives farmers more incentive 
to raise crops and livestock, while reducing regulations lowers the cost
 of production, which can then be passed on to consumers.

“Speaking broadly, the farm bill helps create an environment where our producers can innovate and can keep growing,” Ifft says. “Economic stability is a policy objective. The farm bill helps create that stability so farmers can adapt.”

Roberts says the multiyear spending authorized in farm bills adds 
certainty, noting farms are like any other business and benefit from the
 ability to make long-range plans. Ifft agrees.

“If you grow row crops like wheat, corn or soybeans, more likely than
 not, you’re using crop insurance,” she says. “Something like 90 to 95 
percent of acres in row crops are covered by crop insurance. That helps 
producers access credit and make investments. If you have a bad year, 
it’s going to help keep your farm and your family in business.”

Ultimately, feeding people is the goal of the farm bill, and the 
nutrition title accounts for about three-quarters of the total spending 
authorized by Congress. Most of the money is distributed through SNAP, 
which was formerly known as the food stamp program. Recent farm bills 
have included provisions for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables 
distributed to school lunch programs.

Like crop insurance, SNAP provides a buffer for families facing 
economic hardships, especially if they struggle to put food on their 
table.

“It can be the difference between officially being classified as in 
poverty&nbsp;or not,” Ifft says. “It’s countercyclical and sees increased use
 during times of economic hardship.”

SNAP also provides indirect benefits for retailers like grocery 
stores and increases the demand for food, which helps farmers and 
ranchers. It also serves a broad range of families across the country, 
in both urban and rural areas. From 2011- 15, SNAP participation 
averaged 13 percent of households in urban areas while the utilization 
rate in rural areas was 16 percent.

“SNAP has millions of participants, but the average benefit is $218 per month,” Ifft says. “While urban populations are larger and hence have more beneficiaries, SNAP is relatively more important in rural areas.”

At first glance, it can be difficult to see the connection between 
policies targeted at a small group like farmers and ranchers and the 
wide safety net funded under the nutrition title, but both Mann and 
Roberts say the union is critical for the legislation.

“At the end of the day — whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, Independent or Libertarian — everyone eats,” Mann says. “We’ve got to have a safe, consistent, robust food supply to feed America.”

The bill is as diverse and encompassing as agriculture itself, even 
if consumers’ perception of farmers and ranchers differs from the 
reality.

“If you look at the general population, people care about their 
food,” Ifft says. “As a society, a lot of people still have a warm place
 in their hearts for agriculture. There is that general support; it’s 
not always linked to an understanding of what modern agriculture looks 
like and what it takes to earn your livelihood in agriculture.”

In a way, calling it the farm bill is a disservice since the ultimate
 policy objectives are about ensuring our nation’s pantry is well 
stocked. Groceries start at farm gates long before they wind up on 
dinner plates, so perhaps a better name would be the farm and food bill.
 Because without one, we wouldn’t have the other.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680278741410.png" alt="Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING <a href="https://kansaslivingmagazine.com/articles/2023/02/01/how-the-farm-bill-impacts-everyone-not-just-farmers">Kansas Living</a>By the time the Great Depression started in 1929, America’s farmers 
and ranchers were already suffering from a yearslong agricultural 
depression that had started shortly after World War I. While Congress 
debated several relief proposals, none was ever enacted.A lack of policy to ensure an adequate price for crops and livestock 
created a downward cycle. To make up for low prices, farmers and 
ranchers raised more and more, creating larger surpluses that drove 
prices even lower.It wasn’t until 1933 that the federal government acted to prevent 
further destruction in the agriculture industry. Under the New Deal, 
three closely related programs — the Commodity Credit Corporation, 
Agricultural Adjustment Administration and Farm Credit Administration — 
were created to address the problems of oversupply and low prices. In 
conjunction, the programs essentially set a floor on the price of staple
 crops like corn and wheat, offered incentives for returning farmland to
 grassland and refinanced farm mortgages to lower interest rates. Now 
considered the first farm bill, the original legislation has been 
reviewed and updated every five years or so. Congress is slated to pass 
the 19th iteration in 2023.Over the decades, the farm bill has evolved alongside agriculture. It
 no longer is just about protecting the work of farmers and ranchers, 
but rather the policies touch nearly every corner of agriculture and 
ensure U.S. consumers have access to high quality, safe and nutritious 
food.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680278932413.png" alt="Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The modern Farm Bill</h2>Unlike the 1933 farm bill, which was focused almost exclusively on 
farmers, today’s farm bill is aimed at many aspects of agriculture from 
the growers to consumers through various programs packaged under a 
single bill with “titles” addressing specific areas.Though the titles vary from bill to bill, the 2018 farm bill included
 12 that covered commodities, conservation, trade, nutrition, credit, 
rural development, research, extension and related matters, forestry, 
energy, horticulture, crop insurance and a catchall for miscellaneous 
matters.While the list is expansive, 99 percent of farm bill spending is 
currently dedicated to nutrition, commodities, crop insurance and 
conservation. Most has gone toward the nutrition component, primarily 
through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which 
helps vulnerable families purchase healthy food.The remaining 1 percent is divided among the other eight titles and 
makes investments in rural economic growth, research supporting 
innovation and food safety, farmers markets, local food programs and 
much more.“In that 1 percent, there are a lot of research and training programs
 that can have a big impact,” says Jenny Ifft, associate professor in 
agricultural economics at Kansas State University.<h2>Farm safety net</h2>Of all the titles in the farm bill, crop insurance is perhaps the 
most important to Kansas farmers because it gives them certainty when 
making investments to expand, whether that means buying more land or 
upgrading their equipment.Mother nature is a tough business partner, but with crop insurance, 
farmers receive protection from disasters in the same fashion home and 
car owners are guarded against damage to their property. Under the farm 
bill, farmers receive varying subsidies to buy policies from private 
companies to cover perils like frost, wind, disease, drought, fire, 
flooding and insect damage. Coverage for more than 120 crops is 
available, with the premium and amount paid in the event of a loss being
 tied to the actual value of the crop.From lawmakers’ point of view, the risk management tools in the farm 
bill prevent a lot of headaches from trying to pass separate legislation
 for disaster relief after every flood, fire, freeze or other 
catastrophe.“It really takes the place of disaster programs, which are a disaster
 to implement,” says retired Sen. Pat Roberts, who worked on eight farm 
bills during his tenure in both the House and Senate. “It’s far better 
to have crop insurance.”In fact, crop insurance is so important to Kansas farmers that Rep. 
Tracey Mann says it’s the main topic he heard on the campaign trail last
 fall on visits with producers in Kansas’ 1st Congressional District. 
Mann’s district stretches from the Colorado border in the west to 
portions of Douglas County in the east, giving him a broad view of 
agriculture across more than three-quarters of the state.Mann, who grew up on a farm near Quinter, serves on the House 
Agriculture Committee, which is tasked with writing the 2023 farm bill. 
He also sees room in the next bill for expanded trade promotion and 
reduced regulations for farmers and ranchers. Mann says successfully 
drafting the next farm bill involves telling the story of American 
agriculture and how it extends beyond our country’s borders.“Our farmers in Kansas, in the Midwest and throughout the country 
feed a hungry world,” he says. “That need is constantly growing so we 
need to have policy in place to meet it.”Expanding trade and opening new markets gives farmers more incentive 
to raise crops and livestock, while reducing regulations lowers the cost
 of production, which can then be passed on to consumers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680278971826.png" alt="Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy Kansas Living Magazine</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Investment incentive</h2>“Speaking broadly, the farm bill helps create an environment where our producers can innovate and can keep growing,” Ifft says. “Economic stability is a policy objective. The farm bill helps create that stability so farmers can adapt.”Roberts says the multiyear spending authorized in farm bills adds 
certainty, noting farms are like any other business and benefit from the
 ability to make long-range plans. Ifft agrees.“If you grow row crops like wheat, corn or soybeans, more likely than
 not, you’re using crop insurance,” she says. “Something like 90 to 95 
percent of acres in row crops are covered by crop insurance. That helps 
producers access credit and make investments. If you have a bad year, 
it’s going to help keep your farm and your family in business.”<h2>Food safety net</h2>Ultimately, feeding people is the goal of the farm bill, and the 
nutrition title accounts for about three-quarters of the total spending 
authorized by Congress. Most of the money is distributed through SNAP, 
which was formerly known as the food stamp program. Recent farm bills 
have included provisions for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables 
distributed to school lunch programs.Like crop insurance, SNAP provides a buffer for families facing 
economic hardships, especially if they struggle to put food on their 
table.“It can be the difference between officially being classified as in 
poverty&nbsp;or not,” Ifft says. “It’s countercyclical and sees increased use
 during times of economic hardship.”SNAP also provides indirect benefits for retailers like grocery 
stores and increases the demand for food, which helps farmers and 
ranchers. It also serves a broad range of families across the country, 
in both urban and rural areas. From 2011- 15, SNAP participation 
averaged 13 percent of households in urban areas while the utilization 
rate in rural areas was 16 percent.“SNAP has millions of participants, but the average benefit is $218 per month,” Ifft says. “While urban populations are larger and hence have more beneficiaries, SNAP is relatively more important in rural areas.”<h2>Building a coalition</h2>At first glance, it can be difficult to see the connection between 
policies targeted at a small group like farmers and ranchers and the 
wide safety net funded under the nutrition title, but both Mann and 
Roberts say the union is critical for the legislation.“At the end of the day — whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, Independent or Libertarian — everyone eats,” Mann says. “We’ve got to have a safe, consistent, robust food supply to feed America.”<h2>Supporting everyone</h2>The bill is as diverse and encompassing as agriculture itself, even 
if consumers’ perception of farmers and ranchers differs from the 
reality.“If you look at the general population, people care about their 
food,” Ifft says. “As a society, a lot of people still have a warm place
 in their hearts for agriculture. There is that general support; it’s 
not always linked to an understanding of what modern agriculture looks 
like and what it takes to earn your livelihood in agriculture.”In a way, calling it the farm bill is a disservice since the ultimate
 policy objectives are about ensuring our nation’s pantry is well 
stocked. Groceries start at farm gates long before they wind up on 
dinner plates, so perhaps a better name would be the farm and food bill.
 Because without one, we wouldn’t have the other.

How the farm bill impacts everyone — not just farmers

WRIGHT COUNTY —One person died and another is in custody following an accident just before 1a.m. Saturday in Wright County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 GMC Sierra driven by Kody L. Skaggs, 21, Mansfield, was southbound on Business 60 just south of U.S. 60 in Mansfield.&nbsp;

The pickup crossed the center of the road, traveled off the left side of the road and struck parked 2020 Ford F150 driven by Michael S. Bryson, 39 of Hartville.

A passenger in the Ford Justin L. Sanders, 31, Mansfield, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mercy EMS transported Bryson to Cox South.&nbsp;

Law enforcement arrested Skaggs on requested charges of Felony driving while Intoxicated-death of another person, Felony first degree assault, Careless and imprudent driving and for no seat belt, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; He is being held in the Wright County Jail.

WRIGHT COUNTY —One person died and another is in custody following an accident just before 1a.m. Saturday in Wright County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 GMC Sierra driven by Kody L. Skaggs, 21, Mansfield, was southbound on Business 60 just south of U.S. 60 in Mansfield.&nbsp;The pickup crossed the center of the road, traveled off the left side of the road and struck parked 2020 Ford F150 driven by Michael S. Bryson, 39 of Hartville.A passenger in the Ford Justin L. Sanders, 31, Mansfield, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mercy EMS transported Bryson to Cox South.&nbsp;Law enforcement arrested Skaggs on requested charges of Felony driving while Intoxicated-death of another person, Felony first degree assault, Careless and imprudent driving and for no seat belt, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; He is being held in the Wright County Jail.

Missouri driver accused of DWI after fatal crash

WICHITA, Kan.— Travelers on the Kansas Turnpike will have new food options at four of the six service areas located on the 236-mile roadway, according to a media release from the KDA.

In addition to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksturnpike.com/restaurant-change-coming-to-emporia-service-area">changes at the Emporia Service Area</a>, recent request for proposals from quick-service vendors also prompt the following changes:

“Providing solid traveler services is important to KTA and we’re glad this change can happen prior to becoming a cashless roadway in 2024,” said Steve Hewitt, KTA’s CEO. “Thanks to feedback provided by customers, we have a better understanding of their expectations which helps when selecting quality partners.”

Existing restaurants at the Towanda, Matfield Green and Topeka Service Areas will close at 11 p.m. April 14, 2023 to accommodate remodeling of the restaurant space. Remodeling of the Emporia Service Area restaurant is currently underway as that restaurant closed in mid-March. Convenience stores at the affected service areas will temporarily provide additional food items during the remodel process.

Schedule permitting, the new restaurants will tentatively open as listed below.

Progress on remodel efforts will be part of KTA’s construction report published monthly in KTA’s electronic newsletter, Turnpike Times, and included in the monthly Construction News email. Individuals can sign up to receive one or both publications here:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksturnpike.com/communication">https://www.ksturnpike.com/communication</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588891583149.png" alt="Topeka Service area Google image" />
 <figcaption>Topeka Service area Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan.— Travelers on the Kansas Turnpike will have new food options at four of the six service areas located on the 236-mile roadway, according to a media release from the KDA. In addition to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksturnpike.com/restaurant-change-coming-to-emporia-service-area">changes at the Emporia Service Area</a>, recent request for proposals from quick-service vendors also prompt the following changes:<ul>
 <li>Towanda Service Area, (I-35/KTA mile marker 65) changes to a Subway and Dairy Queen</li><li>Matfield Green Service Area (I-35/KTA mile marker 97) changes to a Subway and Dairy Queen</li><li>Topeka Service Area (I-70/KTA mile marker 188) changes to a McDonald’s.</li>
 </ul>“Providing solid traveler services is important to KTA and we’re glad this change can happen prior to becoming a cashless roadway in 2024,” said Steve Hewitt, KTA’s CEO. “Thanks to feedback provided by customers, we have a better understanding of their expectations which helps when selecting quality partners.”Existing restaurants at the Towanda, Matfield Green and Topeka Service Areas will close at 11 p.m. April 14, 2023 to accommodate remodeling of the restaurant space. Remodeling of the Emporia Service Area restaurant is currently underway as that restaurant closed in mid-March. Convenience stores at the affected service areas will temporarily provide additional food items during the remodel process.Schedule permitting, the new restaurants will tentatively open as listed below.<ul>
 <li>Emporia Service Area (Subway and Taco John’s): drive thru - mid-May; dine in - early June.</li><li>Towanda and Matfield Green Service Areas (Subway and Dairy Queen): drive thru - late June; dine in - mid-July.</li><li>Topeka Service Area (McDonald's): drive thru - mid-August; dine in - early September.</li>
 </ul>Progress on remodel efforts will be part of KTA’s construction report published monthly in KTA’s electronic newsletter, Turnpike Times, and included in the monthly Construction News email. Individuals can sign up to receive one or both publications here:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksturnpike.com/communication">https://www.ksturnpike.com/communication</a>.

New restaurants coming to Kansas Turnpike service areas

KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;&nbsp;Missouri's state attorney general is investigating gender-affirming care provided by Planned Parenthood, according to a lawsuit filed by the St. Louis health provider.

Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri sued Attorney General Andrew Bailey Friday in St. Louis Circuit Court, according to court documents.

Bailey's office demanded records from Planned Parenthood on March 14 as part of an investigation into treatments provided to transgender youths at an unrelated St. Louis clinic run by Washington University, the lawsuit claims.

Planned Parenthood argues in its lawsuit that its clinic has nothing to do with the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital, which came under multiple investigations following allegations of mistreatment by a former employee.

Planned Parenthood is trying to block access to its records and asked Judge Elizabeth Hogan to tell Bailey he has no authority to investigate the clinic, which is inspected by the state health department.

Dr. Colleen McNicholas, the health center's chief medical officer, described Bailey's investigation as a "fishing expedition." She told The Associated Press that his office has made no allegations of mistreatment at the Planned Parenthood clinic.

A spokeswoman for Bailey did not immediately return Associated Press requests for comment Friday.

Announcing his investigation into Washington University, Bailey cited whistleblower complaints alleging physicians there did not warn patients and parents enough about potential side effects of puberty blockers and hormones, and that doctors pressured parents to consent to treatment.

The lawsuit comes amid a national push to restrict transgender health care, drag shows, bathroom access and how LGBTQ+ topics are discussed in schools. The lawsuit was filed Friday as rallies were scheduled in cities nationwide as part of Transgender Day of Visibility.

The attorney general's investigation is "an attempt to help him work outside of the legislative process and eliminate access to transgender care for Missourians," McNicholas said.

As the state's top prosecutor, Bailey is following his predecessor's lead in using the office to take a stand on social issues. Last week, he announced plans to file an emergency rule to restrict healthcare for transgender children. It would require an 18-month waiting period, 15 therapy sessions and additional mental health treatment before Missouri doctors can provide gender-affirming care to minors.

"I am dedicated to using every legal tool at my disposal to stand in the gap and protect children from being subject to inhumane science experiments," Bailey said in a statement announcing the planned rule.

Transgender medical treatment for children has been available in the U.S. for over a decade and is endorsed by major medical associations. Many clinics use treatment plans pioneered in Amsterdam 30 years ago, according to a recent review in the British Psych Bulletin. Since 2005, the number of youth referred to gender clinics has increased as much as tenfold in the U.S., U.K, Canada and Finland, the review said.

McNicholas, of Planned Parenthood, said Bailey is using the "same playbook" that anti-abortion activists and elected officials have used to restrict abortions.

Missouri banned almost all abortions in 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Before that, Republicans fought for years to regulate abortion out of existence in the state. The GOP-led state legislature proposed anti-abortion bills yearly. When increasingly restrictive bans on the procedure were tossed in court, Republican governors stepped in.

"If we are to learn anything from our past experience with the state targeting us for the provision of lawful abortion care, we know that other folks who are providing this care are certainly going to be targets," McNicholas said. "If not now, then soon."

KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;&nbsp;Missouri's state attorney general is investigating gender-affirming care provided by Planned Parenthood, according to a lawsuit filed by the St. Louis health provider.Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri sued Attorney General Andrew Bailey Friday in St. Louis Circuit Court, according to court documents.Bailey's office demanded records from Planned Parenthood on March 14 as part of an investigation into treatments provided to transgender youths at an unrelated St. Louis clinic run by Washington University, the lawsuit claims.Planned Parenthood argues in its lawsuit that its clinic has nothing to do with the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital, which came under multiple investigations following allegations of mistreatment by a former employee.Planned Parenthood is trying to block access to its records and asked Judge Elizabeth Hogan to tell Bailey he has no authority to investigate the clinic, which is inspected by the state health department.Dr. Colleen McNicholas, the health center's chief medical officer, described Bailey's investigation as a "fishing expedition." She told The Associated Press that his office has made no allegations of mistreatment at the Planned Parenthood clinic.A spokeswoman for Bailey did not immediately return Associated Press requests for comment Friday.Announcing his investigation into Washington University, Bailey cited whistleblower complaints alleging physicians there did not warn patients and parents enough about potential side effects of puberty blockers and hormones, and that doctors pressured parents to consent to treatment.The lawsuit comes amid a national push to restrict transgender health care, drag shows, bathroom access and how LGBTQ+ topics are discussed in schools. The lawsuit was filed Friday as rallies were scheduled in cities nationwide as part of Transgender Day of Visibility.The attorney general's investigation is "an attempt to help him work outside of the legislative process and eliminate access to transgender care for Missourians," McNicholas said.As the state's top prosecutor, Bailey is following his predecessor's lead in using the office to take a stand on social issues. Last week, he announced plans to file an emergency rule to restrict healthcare for transgender children. It would require an 18-month waiting period, 15 therapy sessions and additional mental health treatment before Missouri doctors can provide gender-affirming care to minors."I am dedicated to using every legal tool at my disposal to stand in the gap and protect children from being subject to inhumane science experiments," Bailey said in a statement announcing the planned rule.His office has not yet filed the rule.Transgender medical treatment for children has been available in the U.S. for over a decade and is endorsed by major medical associations. Many clinics use treatment plans pioneered in Amsterdam 30 years ago, according to a recent review in the British Psych Bulletin. Since 2005, the number of youth referred to gender clinics has increased as much as tenfold in the U.S., U.K, Canada and Finland, the review said.McNicholas, of Planned Parenthood, said Bailey is using the "same playbook" that anti-abortion activists and elected officials have used to restrict abortions.Missouri banned almost all abortions in 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.Before that, Republicans fought for years to regulate abortion out of existence in the state. The GOP-led state legislature proposed anti-abortion bills yearly. When increasingly restrictive bans on the procedure were tossed in court, Republican governors stepped in."If we are to learn anything from our past experience with the state targeting us for the provision of lawful abortion care, we know that other folks who are providing this care are certainly going to be targets," McNicholas said. "If not now, then soon."

Planned Parenthood sues over transgender inquiry

WASHINGTON –&nbsp;U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall this week joined their Senate colleagues in voting to pass a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/e/4/e483630a-2d06-47aa-a1ae-331d1ce56e15/8A0D4A77A2EA70B31C838C112818528F.02-02-2023-capito-wotus-cra-final.pdf" target="_blank">resolution of disapproval</a>&nbsp;that overturns President Biden’s overreaching Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The Senate passed the CRA by a vote of 53-43.

Full text of the resolution can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/e/4/e483630a-2d06-47aa-a1ae-331d1ce56e15/8A0D4A77A2EA70B31C838C112818528F.02-02-2023-capito-wotus-cra-final.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Sens. Moran and Marshall joined a group of their colleagues in introducing the resolution in February 2023 after the Biden administration announced a new rule in December 2022 repealing the repealing the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), and changing the definition of Waters of the United States in a way that will significantly expand federal regulatory authority. “Kansans do not need more complicated federal rules telling farmers and ranchers how to use the rivers and creeks on their land,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“I am pleased the Senate took action to challenge these harmful and unnecessary regulations on Kansas landowners and small businesses, and I am hopeful that President Biden will sign this resolution of disapproval.” “The Biden Administration’s failure to understand the ramifications of its WOTUS rule is alarming,”&nbsp;said Sen. Marshall.&nbsp;“As members of Congress, we must ensure agricultural producers and other stakeholders have the regulatory certainty to take care of our nation’s land and water resources.” The U.S. House of Representatives previously approved the measure on March 9, led by Representative Sam Graves (R-Mo.-06). The resolution now heads to the President’s desk.

WASHINGTON –&nbsp;U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall this week joined their Senate colleagues in voting to pass a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/e/4/e483630a-2d06-47aa-a1ae-331d1ce56e15/8A0D4A77A2EA70B31C838C112818528F.02-02-2023-capito-wotus-cra-final.pdf" target="_blank">resolution of disapproval</a>&nbsp;that overturns President Biden’s overreaching Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The Senate passed the CRA by a vote of 53-43.Full text of the resolution can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/e/4/e483630a-2d06-47aa-a1ae-331d1ce56e15/8A0D4A77A2EA70B31C838C112818528F.02-02-2023-capito-wotus-cra-final.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Sens. Moran and Marshall joined a group of their colleagues in introducing the resolution in February 2023 after the Biden administration announced a new rule in December 2022 repealing the repealing the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), and changing the definition of Waters of the United States in a way that will significantly expand federal regulatory authority. “Kansans do not need more complicated federal rules telling farmers and ranchers how to use the rivers and creeks on their land,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“I am pleased the Senate took action to challenge these harmful and unnecessary regulations on Kansas landowners and small businesses, and I am hopeful that President Biden will sign this resolution of disapproval.” “The Biden Administration’s failure to understand the ramifications of its WOTUS rule is alarming,”&nbsp;said Sen. Marshall.&nbsp;“As members of Congress, we must ensure agricultural producers and other stakeholders have the regulatory certainty to take care of our nation’s land and water resources.” The U.S. House of Representatives previously approved the measure on March 9, led by Representative Sam Graves (R-Mo.-06). The resolution now heads to the President’s desk.

Moran, Marshall vote to overturn Biden’s WOTUS rule

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

Just after 11 p.m. March 30, police were dispatched to a report of a robbery at Conoco Food Market, 2045 N. Kansas Ave in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.

As a result of the investigation, police took two juveniles into custody and transported them to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery and Theft

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680282012150.png" alt="Location of the robbery -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Location of the robbery -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and have two suspects in custody.Just after 11 p.m. March 30, police were dispatched to a report of a robbery at Conoco Food Market, 2045 N. Kansas Ave in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.As a result of the investigation, police took two juveniles into custody and transported them to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery and Theft

Police: 2 juveniles jailed for Kan. food market robbery

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Abuse survivors and advocates who've pushed for legislation making it easier in Kansas to prosecute abusers and file lawsuits decades later have achieved a breakthrough in the Legislature, where the proposal is advancing quickly.

The bill would remove limits on how long prosecutors have to file charges against suspects for any of a dozen violent sexual offenses against children, including indecent liberties, aggravated human trafficking and internet trading in child pornography. It also would give abuse survivors more time to file lawsuits seeking monetary damages.

Reports across the U.S. of abuse by Roman Catholic clergy have spurred interest in making it easier to pursue criminal prosecutions or lawsuits over cases of abuse dating back decades. In January,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-religion-crime-kansas-salina-b9fcc288cf3707b60821e00904d68c95">the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reported</a>&nbsp;that it had identified 188 Catholic clergy suspected of crimes stretching back to the 1950s and submitted 30 affidavits to prosecutors. No criminal charges resulted, largely because of the state law limiting how long prosecutors have to pursue cases, the KBI said.

The state Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the bill, six days after a committee hearing. The measure went to the House, which could vote on it next week.

“I am sad to say the person who sexually assaulted me is still out in the public and has never been held accountable,” Earl McIntosh, a 57-year-old Topeka resident molested by a teenage neighbor when he was 10, told a Senate committee.

McIntosh testified of his fellow abuse survivors, “They deserve justice.”

For violent sexual crimes against children other than rape and aggravated sodomy, Kansas prosecutors currently can file criminal charges until the victim turns 28 or up to a year after DNA evidence establishes a suspect, whichever is later. The bill would eliminate those time limits.

The bill would give abuse suvivors until they turn 31 or three years after the abuser is convicted of a sexually violent crime against a child. Lawsuits currently must be filed by the time a survivor turns 21 or three years after a survivor “discovered or reasonably should have discovered” that childhood abuse caused an injury or illness.

The measure does not include another proposal survivors have pursued,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mormon-clergy-abuse-reporting-utah-ca56260080476c4c99cd6359bd3742f3">requiring clergy to report</a>&nbsp;allegations of child abuse to authorities.

Eighteen states have eliminated their statute of limitations for child sex crimes, according to Child USA, a Philadelphia think tank that focuses on laws dealing with child abuse. The group says 15 states have no statute of limitations for filing at least some abuse-related lawsuits.

Survivors and advocates told legislators that survivors often wait well into adulthood — often into their 50s — to disclose abuse because of the trauma, which often comes with shame and a fear of retaliation.

Advocates for changing Kansas law had trouble in recent years even getting a hearing for their proposals.

In January, they announced bipartisan efforts seeking to change state law. Survivors set up a table in the Statehouse visitor's center each day lawmakers were in session this year, and legislators had to pass it going between their parking garage and their offices. Survivors met with Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, and he recently helped draft&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2127_01_0000.pdf">the current proposal</a>.

No one testified against the measure, though some influential players were neutral.

An association for insurance companies expressed concern about a provision eliminating a $500,000 cap on damages in lawsuits against government agencies, arguing that insurance costs would rise and drive companies out of the state. The league representing Kansas cities said the bill could result in them paying damages "simply because a bad actor chose to commit their crime on city property.”

But the Kansas Catholic Conference said in a statement that the bill appears to give survivors “more tools in seeking justice."

“There is no time limitation on when the Catholic Church will offer services and support to clergy abuse victims,” the statement said.

During the Senate's debate Wednesday, state Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Kansas City-area Democrat, speaking in favor of the bill, told colleagues that when she was 5 years old, a man who often worked on her family's farm tried to sexually assault her in a barn. She said the noise of her home's back screen door banging against a wall interrupted him and allowed her to escape. She said she avoided telling the full story for nearly 50 years, until this week's debate.

“For years, I didn’t even recognize this as an attempted assault and attempted sexual assault, not until I had my own children. Yes, I kept thinking I did something wrong,” Holscher said. “My mind keeps trying to shield me from the embarrassment, the shame, the trauma of that day.” ___

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680272388494.png" alt="The Kansas Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the bill-image from the legislature's YouTube page" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the bill-image from the legislature's YouTube page</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Abuse survivors and advocates who've pushed for legislation making it easier in Kansas to prosecute abusers and file lawsuits decades later have achieved a breakthrough in the Legislature, where the proposal is advancing quickly.The bill would remove limits on how long prosecutors have to file charges against suspects for any of a dozen violent sexual offenses against children, including indecent liberties, aggravated human trafficking and internet trading in child pornography. It also would give abuse survivors more time to file lawsuits seeking monetary damages.Reports across the U.S. of abuse by Roman Catholic clergy have spurred interest in making it easier to pursue criminal prosecutions or lawsuits over cases of abuse dating back decades. In January,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-religion-crime-kansas-salina-b9fcc288cf3707b60821e00904d68c95">the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reported</a>&nbsp;that it had identified 188 Catholic clergy suspected of crimes stretching back to the 1950s and submitted 30 affidavits to prosecutors. No criminal charges resulted, largely because of the state law limiting how long prosecutors have to pursue cases, the KBI said.The state Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the bill, six days after a committee hearing. The measure went to the House, which could vote on it next week.“I am sad to say the person who sexually assaulted me is still out in the public and has never been held accountable,” Earl McIntosh, a 57-year-old Topeka resident molested by a teenage neighbor when he was 10, told a Senate committee.McIntosh testified of his fellow abuse survivors, “They deserve justice.”For violent sexual crimes against children other than rape and aggravated sodomy, Kansas prosecutors currently can file criminal charges until the victim turns 28 or up to a year after DNA evidence establishes a suspect, whichever is later. The bill would eliminate those time limits.The bill would give abuse suvivors until they turn 31 or three years after the abuser is convicted of a sexually violent crime against a child. Lawsuits currently must be filed by the time a survivor turns 21 or three years after a survivor “discovered or reasonably should have discovered” that childhood abuse caused an injury or illness.The measure does not include another proposal survivors have pursued,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mormon-clergy-abuse-reporting-utah-ca56260080476c4c99cd6359bd3742f3">requiring clergy to report</a>&nbsp;allegations of child abuse to authorities.Eighteen states have eliminated their statute of limitations for child sex crimes, according to Child USA, a Philadelphia think tank that focuses on laws dealing with child abuse. The group says 15 states have no statute of limitations for filing at least some abuse-related lawsuits.Survivors and advocates told legislators that survivors often wait well into adulthood — often into their 50s — to disclose abuse because of the trauma, which often comes with shame and a fear of retaliation.Advocates for changing Kansas law had trouble in recent years even getting a hearing for their proposals.In January, they announced bipartisan efforts seeking to change state law. Survivors set up a table in the Statehouse visitor's center each day lawmakers were in session this year, and legislators had to pass it going between their parking garage and their offices. Survivors met with Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, and he recently helped draft&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2127_01_0000.pdf">the current proposal</a>.No one testified against the measure, though some influential players were neutral.An association for insurance companies expressed concern about a provision eliminating a $500,000 cap on damages in lawsuits against government agencies, arguing that insurance costs would rise and drive companies out of the state. The league representing Kansas cities said the bill could result in them paying damages "simply because a bad actor chose to commit their crime on city property.”But the Kansas Catholic Conference said in a statement that the bill appears to give survivors “more tools in seeking justice."“There is no time limitation on when the Catholic Church will offer services and support to clergy abuse victims,” the statement said.During the Senate's debate Wednesday, state Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Kansas City-area Democrat, speaking in favor of the bill, told colleagues that when she was 5 years old, a man who often worked on her family's farm tried to sexually assault her in a barn. She said the noise of her home's back screen door banging against a wall interrupted him and allowed her to escape. She said she avoided telling the full story for nearly 50 years, until this week's debate.“For years, I didn’t even recognize this as an attempted assault and attempted sexual assault, not until I had my own children. Yes, I kept thinking I did something wrong,” Holscher said. “My mind keeps trying to shield me from the embarrassment, the shame, the trauma of that day.” ___

Kansas moves to help survivors pursue child sex abuse claims

MORGAN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Friday in Morgan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Honda CBR954 driven by Jacob A. Martinez, 33, Versailles, was southbound at 19793 RT. W. The driver failed to negotiate a turn. The motorcycle started to skid, crossed the center of the road, overturned, traveled off the left side of the road, struck a sign and the driver was ejected.&nbsp;

Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Kidwell Garber Funeral Home. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

MORGAN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Friday in Morgan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Honda CBR954 driven by Jacob A. Martinez, 33, Versailles, was southbound at 19793 RT. W. The driver failed to negotiate a turn. The motorcycle started to skid, crossed the center of the road, overturned, traveled off the left side of the road, struck a sign and the driver was ejected.&nbsp;Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Kidwell Garber Funeral Home. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man dies after motorcycle accident

ROME (AP) — A chipper-sounding Pope Francis was discharged Saturday from the Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis, quipping to journalists before being driven away that he's “still alive.”

Francis, 86, was hospitalized at Gemelli Polyclinic on Wednesday following his weekly public audience in St. Peter's Square after reportedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-health-hospital-vatican-1b743492e19762ac4a71cefb556967d0">experiencing breathing difficulties</a>. The pontiff received antibiotics administered intravenously during his stay, the Vatican said.

In a sign of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-hospital-bronchitis-holy-week-672c6c109101f6ac1aa4480909281c43">his improved health</a>, the Vatican released details of Francis' Holy Week schedule. It said he would preside at this weekend's Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square and at an outdoor Easter Mass on April 9. A Vatican cardinal will be at the altar to celebrate both Masses, a recent practice due to the pontiff having a troublesome knee issue.

But Francis is expected to celebrate Holy Thursday Mass, which this year will be held in a juvenile prison in Rome. Still unclear was whether he would attend the late-night, torch-lit Way of the Cross procession at Rome's Colosseum to mark Good Friday.

ROME (AP) — A chipper-sounding Pope Francis was discharged Saturday from the Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis, quipping to journalists before being driven away that he's “still alive.”Francis, 86, was hospitalized at Gemelli Polyclinic on Wednesday following his weekly public audience in St. Peter's Square after reportedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-health-hospital-vatican-1b743492e19762ac4a71cefb556967d0">experiencing breathing difficulties</a>. The pontiff received antibiotics administered intravenously during his stay, the Vatican said.In a sign of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-hospital-bronchitis-holy-week-672c6c109101f6ac1aa4480909281c43">his improved health</a>, the Vatican released details of Francis' Holy Week schedule. It said he would preside at this weekend's Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square and at an outdoor Easter Mass on April 9. A Vatican cardinal will be at the altar to celebrate both Masses, a recent practice due to the pontiff having a troublesome knee issue.But Francis is expected to celebrate Holy Thursday Mass, which this year will be held in a juvenile prison in Rome. Still unclear was whether he would attend the late-night, torch-lit Way of the Cross procession at Rome's Colosseum to mark Good Friday.Before departing Gemelli Polyclinic late Saturday morning, Francis had an emotional moment with a Rome couple whose 5-year-old daughter died Friday night at the Catholic hospital. Outside, Serena Subania, mother of Angelica, sobbed as she pressed her head into the chest of the pope, who held her close and whispered words of comfort.Francis seemed eager to linger with well-wishers. When a boy showed him his arm cast, the pope made a gesture as if to ask “Do you have a pen?” Three papal aides whipped out theirs. Francis took one of the pens and added his signature to the child's already well-autographed cast.The pontiff answered in a low voice that was close to a whisper when reporters peppered him with questions, indicating he had felt unwell — “I felt sick," he said, pointing to his mid-section — a symptom that convinced his medical staff to take him to the hospital Wednesday.Asked how he felt now, Francis joked, “Still alive, you know.” He gave a thumbs-up sign.Francis exited the hospital from a side entrance, but his car stopped in front of the main entrance, where a gaggle of journalists waited. He opened the car door himself and got out from the front passenger seat. Francis had a cane ready to lean on.After chatting, he got back into the white Fiat 500 car that drove him away from Gemelli Polyclinic. But instead of heading straight home, his motorcade sped right past Vatican City and went to St. Mary Major Basilica, a Rome landmark that is one of his favorites.There, startled tourists rushed to snap photos of him as he sat in a wheelchair, which he has used often to navigate longer distances in recent years due to a chronic knee problem. When he emerged after praying, residents and tourists in the street called out repeatedly, “Long live the pope!” and clapped.Francis spent 10 days at the same hospital in July 2021 following intestinal surgery for a bowel narrowing, After his release back then, he also stopped to offer prayers of thanksgiving at St. Mary Major Basilica, which is home to an icon depicting the Virgin Mary. He also visits the church upon returning from trips abroad.Before leaving the hospital Saturday, Francis, while chatting with journalists, praised medical workers, saying they "show great tenderness."“The sick are capricious. I much admire the people who work in hospitals,” he said. Francis also said he read journalists' accounts of his illness, including in a Rome daily newspaper, and pronounced them well done.Francis stopped to talk to reporters again before he was driven into the Vatican through a gate of the tiny walled city-state, where he lives at a Holy See hotel. Speaking through an open car window, he said: “Happy Easter to all, and pray for me.''Then, indicating he was eager to resume his routine, he said, “Forward, thanks.”On yet another stop, he got out of his car to distribute chocolate Easter eggs to the police officers who drove the motorcycles at the head of his motorcade.Given his low voice, it was unclear if the pope would be able to read the homily at the Palm Sunday service. He told reporters that after the Mass, he would keep his weekly appointment to greet and bless the public in St. Peter's Square.As a young man in his native Argentina, Francis had part of a lung removed, leaving him particularly vulnerable to any respiratory illness.