BUTLER COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and El Dorado Police are investigating a shooting that critically injured a woman.

Just after 1a.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 600 block of west Olive in El Dorado, according to&nbsp;Police Chief Mike Holton.

First responders found a 38-year-old woman who had been shot at a home. Butler County EMS transported the woman to a Wichita hospital where she was reported in critical condition, according to Holton.

Holton asked that anyone with information on the shooting to contact police.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name.

BUTLER COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and El Dorado Police are investigating a shooting that critically injured a woman.Just after 1a.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 600 block of west Olive in El Dorado, according to&nbsp;Police Chief Mike Holton.First responders found a 38-year-old woman who had been shot at a home. Butler County EMS transported the woman to a Wichita hospital where she was reported in critical condition, according to Holton.Holton asked that anyone with information on the shooting to contact police.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name.

38-year-old woman critically injured in shooting at Kan. home

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) —The way has been cleared for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-trade-north-america-mexico-kansas-city-missouri-tigers-mens-basketball-9ea03d9637e15ee9dd91848db14c7467">first major railroad merger</a>&nbsp;in more than two decades after federal regulators approved Canadian Pacific’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-kansas-city-southern-keith-creel-99ffe1480c69d0aa58ff066155e7ccae">$31 billion acquisition</a>&nbsp;of Kansas City Southern.

The two railroads are the nation’s two smallest, but the approval Wednesday by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board comes after a lengthy and arduous review because their coupling will create the only railroad linking Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The Transportation Board said that the new direct service "new direct will facilitate the flow of grain from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast and Mexico, the movement of intermodal goods between Dallas and Chicago and the trade in automotive parts, finished vehicles, and other containerized mixed goods between the United States and Mexico."

The board said the transaction, which will have little to no track redundancies or overlapping routes, is also expected to add more than 800 new union jobs in the U.S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678886941988.png" alt="Kansas City Southern" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Southern</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) —The way has been cleared for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-trade-north-america-mexico-kansas-city-missouri-tigers-mens-basketball-9ea03d9637e15ee9dd91848db14c7467">first major railroad merger</a>&nbsp;in more than two decades after federal regulators approved Canadian Pacific’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-kansas-city-southern-keith-creel-99ffe1480c69d0aa58ff066155e7ccae">$31 billion acquisition</a>&nbsp;of Kansas City Southern.The two railroads are the nation’s two smallest, but the approval Wednesday by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board comes after a lengthy and arduous review because their coupling will create the only railroad linking Canada, Mexico and the United States.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678887002304.png" alt="photo courtesy Kansas City Southern" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Kansas City Southern</figcaption>
 </figure>The Transportation Board said that the new direct service "new direct will facilitate the flow of grain from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast and Mexico, the movement of intermodal goods between Dallas and Chicago and the trade in automotive parts, finished vehicles, and other containerized mixed goods between the United States and Mexico."The board said the transaction, which will have little to no track redundancies or overlapping routes, is also expected to add more than 800 new union jobs in the U.S.

First major US railroad merger in 2 decades includes KC Southern

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the death of a baby have made two arrests.

On December 24, 2022, police responded to report of an infant that was not breathing inthe 2000 block of SE Echo Ridge in Topeka, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks.

The infant girl was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

Through the course of the investigation conducted by Topeka Police detectives and the Shawnee County Coroner’s Office, the death was ruled a homicide. As a result of the investigation, police arrested a a 15-year-old from Topeka on requested charges of Murder in the 1st degree, Murder in the 2nd degree, Aggravated endangering a child and Abuse of a child.

Related to the incident, police arrested Lucia Meraz-Arreola, 45, Topeka on requested charges of Aggravated Endangering a Child. 

The teen is being held in the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Center.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678826152533.png" alt="Meraz-Arreola-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Meraz-Arreola-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the death of a baby have made two arrests.On December 24, 2022, police responded to report of an infant that was not breathing inthe 2000 block of SE Echo Ridge in Topeka, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks.The infant girl was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.Through the course of the investigation conducted by Topeka Police detectives and the Shawnee County Coroner’s Office, the death was ruled a homicide. As a result of the investigation, police arrested a a 15-year-old from Topeka on requested charges of Murder in the 1st degree, Murder in the 2nd degree, Aggravated endangering a child and Abuse of a child.Related to the incident, police arrested Lucia Meraz-Arreola, 45, Topeka on requested charges of Aggravated Endangering a Child. The teen is being held in the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Center.&nbsp;

15-year-old, Kan. woman accused in Christmas Eve death of baby

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State lawmakers worried Tuesday that southern Kansas is vulnerable to oil spills from the Keystone pipeline system because earthquakes have become more frequent there, as they questioned an executive for the pipeline's operator about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-business-texas-canada-kansas-34d8391337583fc242407141d24d66c2">a massive spill</a>&nbsp;in northeastern Kansas in December.

Gary Salsman, a vice president for field operations for Canada-based TC Energy, was briefing three Kansas legislative committees about the Dec. 7 rupture on the Keystone pipeline in Washington County, Kansas, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Kansas City. It was the largest U.S. onshore spill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-business-texas-kansas-us-environmental-protection-agency-eda391fc0924b34a08ff840615a7bc58">in nearly nine years,</a>&nbsp;and the company expects to spend $480 million cleaning it up, with those efforts lasting at least into the summer.

Salsman told a joint meeting of the Kansas House energy committee and its water committee that safety is TC Energy's top priority and that the company will stay in Washington County until the cleanup is complete. He later gave a similar briefing to the Senate Utilities Committee.

But several lawmakers said they are nervous about the pipeline in the Wichita area, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) south of the Washington County spill site. The area began experiencing an increase in earthquakes in 2013, after Keystone opened its Kansas pipeline segment, tied to activities associated with hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in oil and natural gas production.

“My concern is not this spill so much as what’s lurking, moving forward, especially as you get down south,” said Republican state Rep. Leo Delperdang, of Wichita, the House energy committee chair. “We get earthquakes. What happens with the ground movement?”

During the House committees' hearing, Rep. Jerry Stogsdill, a Kansas City-area Democrat, asked whether the Keystone pipeline needed “exceptional engineering” in southern Kansas.

The company said later in an email to The Associated Press that seismic activity is considered in pipelines' design and routes, and U.S. government regulators require it to be factored into maintenance plans.

“Our pipeline corridors are patrolled several times per year,” the company said, adding that seismic activity is assessed so the company can respond.

TC Energy reported last month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-kansas-climate-and-environment-business-a836f44e3d07a840a0313209eef051bf">a faulty weld</a>&nbsp;at a bend in the pipeline under the Washington County creek caused a crack that then grew over time because of the stress on the bend. The rupture dumped nearly 13,000 barrels of crude oil, each enough to fill a standard household bathtub, into the creek and on the surrounding pastureland.

Salsman told legislators that 95% of the crude has now been recovered. The company said later that it is transported elsewhere “for treatment and disposal.”

“We've really contained this site,” Salsman said.

The 2,700-mile (4,345-kilometer) Keystone system carries heavy crude oil extracted from tar sands in western Canada to the Gulf Coast and to central Illinois.

Concerns that spills could pollute waterways spurred opposition to plans by TC Energy to build another crude oil pipeline in the same system, the 1,200-mile (1,900-kilometer) Keystone XL, across Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. President Joe Biden’s cancelation of a permit led the company to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-keystone-pipeline-canada-environment-and-nature-141eabd7cca6449dfbd2dab8165812f2">pull the plug</a>&nbsp;on the project in 2021.

In Kansas, GOP lawmakers praised TC Energy for moving quickly to contain the Washington County spill and described the company as open about its activities. No one was evacuated, and state and U.S. government officials have said water from two rivers downstream were not affected. Salsman said the company has received no complaints from people tied to air quality.

A few Republicans even appeared to brush off the seriousness of the spill.

“I mean, accidents happen, and I know you're prepared for this kind of stuff,” said Senate Utilities Committee Chair Rob Olson, a Kansas City-area Republican.

Salsman said the company has diverted water from the affected creek to avoid a 4.5-mile (7.2-kilometer) section so that crews can dig out soil contaminated by the crude oil. The company estimates that it has an average of 800 people on site in any given 24-hour period.

“Our focus is on — entirely on — the remediation of the site and the safety of those people working on the site,” Salsman said.

Bill Pannbacker, a Washington County farmer and rancher, believes he might not be able to use part of his pasture for several years. The rupture occurred about 20 feet from his property line, and he said the crack initially sprayed oil droplets perhaps 200 yards up a hill before becoming a wider “gusher” that soaked about two acres.

Democrats were sometimes pointed with their questions. Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's pipeline safety arm showed that the Washington County spill was the largest on the Keystone system since it began operating in 2010 and larger than 22 previous spills combined, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-588.pdf">a U.S. Government Accountability Office report</a>&nbsp;to Congress in July 2021.

The report said: “The severity of spills has worsened in recent years.”

Kansas City-area state Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, the top Democrat on the House Water Committee, asked Salsman why spills on the TC Energy pipeline are getting worse. Salsman didn't answer the question directly, saying that the company has done full cleanups and taken corrective action following all previous incidents.

“We are going to get to the bottom of this,” he said.

Vaughn said later that she wasn't satisfied with the answer, and Zack Pistora, a lobbyist in Kansas for the Sierra Club, said people still don't have any reasonable assurances that another oil spill won't happen.

“I appreciate the pleasantries," he said, "but there are still some hard questions that didn't get answered.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672769192181.png" alt="TC Energy reported last month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-kansas-climate-and-environment-business-a836f44e3d07a840a0313209eef051bf">a faulty weld</a>&nbsp;at a bend in the pipeline under the Washington County creek caused a crack that then grew over time because of the stress on the bend. The rupture dumped nearly 13,000 barrels of crude oil, each enough to fill a standard household bathtub, into the creek and on the surrounding pastureland.&nbsp;(TC Energy)" />
 <figcaption>TC Energy reported last month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-kansas-climate-and-environment-business-a836f44e3d07a840a0313209eef051bf">a faulty weld</a>&nbsp;at a bend in the pipeline under the Washington County creek caused a crack that then grew over time because of the stress on the bend. The rupture dumped nearly 13,000 barrels of crude oil, each enough to fill a standard household bathtub, into the creek and on the surrounding pastureland.&nbsp;(TC Energy)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State lawmakers worried Tuesday that southern Kansas is vulnerable to oil spills from the Keystone pipeline system because earthquakes have become more frequent there, as they questioned an executive for the pipeline's operator about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-business-texas-canada-kansas-34d8391337583fc242407141d24d66c2">a massive spill</a>&nbsp;in northeastern Kansas in December.Gary Salsman, a vice president for field operations for Canada-based TC Energy, was briefing three Kansas legislative committees about the Dec. 7 rupture on the Keystone pipeline in Washington County, Kansas, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Kansas City. It was the largest U.S. onshore spill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-business-texas-kansas-us-environmental-protection-agency-eda391fc0924b34a08ff840615a7bc58">in nearly nine years,</a>&nbsp;and the company expects to spend $480 million cleaning it up, with those efforts lasting at least into the summer.Salsman told a joint meeting of the Kansas House energy committee and its water committee that safety is TC Energy's top priority and that the company will stay in Washington County until the cleanup is complete. He later gave a similar briefing to the Senate Utilities Committee.But several lawmakers said they are nervous about the pipeline in the Wichita area, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) south of the Washington County spill site. The area began experiencing an increase in earthquakes in 2013, after Keystone opened its Kansas pipeline segment, tied to activities associated with hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in oil and natural gas production.“My concern is not this spill so much as what’s lurking, moving forward, especially as you get down south,” said Republican state Rep. Leo Delperdang, of Wichita, the House energy committee chair. “We get earthquakes. What happens with the ground movement?”During the House committees' hearing, Rep. Jerry Stogsdill, a Kansas City-area Democrat, asked whether the Keystone pipeline needed “exceptional engineering” in southern Kansas.The company said later in an email to The Associated Press that seismic activity is considered in pipelines' design and routes, and U.S. government regulators require it to be factored into maintenance plans.“Our pipeline corridors are patrolled several times per year,” the company said, adding that seismic activity is assessed so the company can respond.TC Energy reported last month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-kansas-climate-and-environment-business-a836f44e3d07a840a0313209eef051bf">a faulty weld</a>&nbsp;at a bend in the pipeline under the Washington County creek caused a crack that then grew over time because of the stress on the bend. The rupture dumped nearly 13,000 barrels of crude oil, each enough to fill a standard household bathtub, into the creek and on the surrounding pastureland.Salsman told legislators that 95% of the crude has now been recovered. The company said later that it is transported elsewhere “for treatment and disposal.”“We've really contained this site,” Salsman said.The 2,700-mile (4,345-kilometer) Keystone system carries heavy crude oil extracted from tar sands in western Canada to the Gulf Coast and to central Illinois.Concerns that spills could pollute waterways spurred opposition to plans by TC Energy to build another crude oil pipeline in the same system, the 1,200-mile (1,900-kilometer) Keystone XL, across Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. President Joe Biden’s cancelation of a permit led the company to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-keystone-pipeline-canada-environment-and-nature-141eabd7cca6449dfbd2dab8165812f2">pull the plug</a>&nbsp;on the project in 2021.In Kansas, GOP lawmakers praised TC Energy for moving quickly to contain the Washington County spill and described the company as open about its activities. No one was evacuated, and state and U.S. government officials have said water from two rivers downstream were not affected. Salsman said the company has received no complaints from people tied to air quality.A few Republicans even appeared to brush off the seriousness of the spill.“I mean, accidents happen, and I know you're prepared for this kind of stuff,” said Senate Utilities Committee Chair Rob Olson, a Kansas City-area Republican.Salsman said the company has diverted water from the affected creek to avoid a 4.5-mile (7.2-kilometer) section so that crews can dig out soil contaminated by the crude oil. The company estimates that it has an average of 800 people on site in any given 24-hour period.“Our focus is on — entirely on — the remediation of the site and the safety of those people working on the site,” Salsman said.Bill Pannbacker, a Washington County farmer and rancher, believes he might not be able to use part of his pasture for several years. The rupture occurred about 20 feet from his property line, and he said the crack initially sprayed oil droplets perhaps 200 yards up a hill before becoming a wider “gusher” that soaked about two acres.Democrats were sometimes pointed with their questions. Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's pipeline safety arm showed that the Washington County spill was the largest on the Keystone system since it began operating in 2010 and larger than 22 previous spills combined, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-588.pdf">a U.S. Government Accountability Office report</a>&nbsp;to Congress in July 2021.The report said: “The severity of spills has worsened in recent years.”Kansas City-area state Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, the top Democrat on the House Water Committee, asked Salsman why spills on the TC Energy pipeline are getting worse. Salsman didn't answer the question directly, saying that the company has done full cleanups and taken corrective action following all previous incidents.“We are going to get to the bottom of this,” he said.Vaughn said later that she wasn't satisfied with the answer, and Zack Pistora, a lobbyist in Kansas for the Sierra Club, said people still don't have any reasonable assurances that another oil spill won't happen.“I appreciate the pleasantries," he said, "but there are still some hard questions that didn't get answered.”___

Lawmakers fear spill on Keystone system in southern Kansas

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Topeka.

Just before 8p.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp;&nbsp;responded to the 1300 Block SE 8th for a hit and run accident, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks. Officers located a man on scene who was suffering from a gunshot wound. 

First responders pronounced him deceased at the scene.&nbsp; Detectives were notified and traffic was shut down along 8th and 10th street between SE Locust and SE Lime.

Police have not released the name of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678875079561.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW&nbsp; TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW&nbsp; TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Topeka.Just before 8p.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp;&nbsp;responded to the 1300 Block SE 8th for a hit and run accident, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks. Officers located a man on scene who was suffering from a gunshot wound. First responders pronounced him deceased at the scene.&nbsp; Detectives were notified and traffic was shut down along 8th and 10th street between SE Locust and SE Lime.Police have not released the name of the victim.

Homicide: Police find shooting victim at scene of Kansas crash

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A federal judge will hear arguments Wednesday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">high-stakes court case</a>&nbsp;that could threaten access to medication abortion and blunt the authority of U.S. drug regulators.

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Texas is weighing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-lawsuits-71b8e54b97b016bf2cc0d9380d478991">lawsuit from Christian conservatives</a>&nbsp;aimed at overturning the Food and Drug Administration’s more than 2-decade-old approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. The drug, when used with a second pill, has become the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">most common method</a>&nbsp;of abortion in the U.S.

There is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling the scientific decisions of the FDA. And legal experts have warned of far-reaching consequences if judges begin second-guessing FDA decisions on drug safety and effectiveness.

Wednesday's hearing is the first in the case, which is being intensely tracked by groups on both sides of the abortion issue after last year's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">reversal of Roe v. Wade</a>. However, there was little advance notice of the high-profile session, which only appeared on the public online docket late Monday after news reports raised concerns about a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-hearing-96a2466ea67dd12f0fdb7347f51a7f2f">lack of transparency in the proceedings</a>.

Kacsmaryk told attorneys in the case Friday that he would delay the filing to minimize threats and possible protests, a development first reported by The Washington Post. He also asked the lawyers not to disclose the date of the hearing,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-transparency-fda-roe-wade-48c389dd3c892aa9bbc553e0b3de5360">according to a transcript of the meeting</a>&nbsp;released Tuesday.

Such actions by a judge are highly unusual because court proceedings are almost always open to the public and transparency is an underlying assumption of the American judicial system.

Kacsmaryk, appointed by President Donald Trump, formerly worked as an attorney for a Christian legal group and has written critically of laws allowing abortion. Supporters of abortion rights say conservatives are steering cases to his courtroom because they believe he will rule in their favor.

On Wednesday, Kacsmaryk will hear arguments in Amarillo from the Alliance for Defending Freedom — which filed its lawsuit on behalf of several anti-abortion groups and physicians — as well as federal attorneys representing the FDA. The drug's manufacturer, Danco Laboratories, is also a party in the case and set to argue for keeping its pill available.

The Alliance is seeking an injunction that would force the FDA to revoke its approval of mifepristone. But it's unclear how quickly that could happen or what the process would entail. The FDA has its own procedures for revoking drug approvals that involve public hearings and scientific deliberations, which can take months or years.

If Kacsmaryk rules against the FDA, federal attorneys are expected to swiftly appeal the decision and seek an emergency stay to stop it from taking effect while the case proceeds.

Mifepristone is part of a two-drug regimen that has been the standard for medication abortion in the U.S since 2000. If mifepristone is sidelined, clinics and doctors that prescribe the combination say they plan to switch to using only the second drug, misoprostol. That single-drug approach is slightly less effective at ending pregnancies, although it is widely used in countries where mifepristone is illegal or unavailable.

The Texas lawsuit alleges that the FDA's approval of mifepristone in 2000 was flawed for several reasons, including an inadequate review of the pill's safety risks. The suit also challenges several later FDA decisions that loosened restrictions on the pill, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a">eliminating a requirement</a>&nbsp;that women pick it up in person.

Lawyers for the FDA have pointed out that serious side effects with mifepristone are rare and the agency has repeatedly affirmed the drug's safety by reviewing subsequent studies and data. Pulling the drug more than 20 years after approval would be “extraordinary and unprecedented,” the government stated in its legal response.

Typically, the FDA’s authority to regulate prescription drugs has gone unchallenged. But more than a dozen states now have laws restricting abortion broadly — and the pills specifically — following last year’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Lawsuits challenging state restrictions, including those in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-phil-berger-north-carolina-raleigh-health-56a1aa8617b46a9cb197cb395829c387">North Carolina</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-west-virginia-state-government-jim-justice-health-61085d84b9d2f937f238a32c73bf32ad">West Virginia</a>, are progressing separately and are expected to continue for years.

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A federal judge will hear arguments Wednesday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">high-stakes court case</a>&nbsp;that could threaten access to medication abortion and blunt the authority of U.S. drug regulators.Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Texas is weighing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-lawsuits-71b8e54b97b016bf2cc0d9380d478991">lawsuit from Christian conservatives</a>&nbsp;aimed at overturning the Food and Drug Administration’s more than 2-decade-old approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. The drug, when used with a second pill, has become the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">most common method</a>&nbsp;of abortion in the U.S.There is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling the scientific decisions of the FDA. And legal experts have warned of far-reaching consequences if judges begin second-guessing FDA decisions on drug safety and effectiveness.Wednesday's hearing is the first in the case, which is being intensely tracked by groups on both sides of the abortion issue after last year's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">reversal of Roe v. Wade</a>. However, there was little advance notice of the high-profile session, which only appeared on the public online docket late Monday after news reports raised concerns about a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-hearing-96a2466ea67dd12f0fdb7347f51a7f2f">lack of transparency in the proceedings</a>.Kacsmaryk told attorneys in the case Friday that he would delay the filing to minimize threats and possible protests, a development first reported by The Washington Post. He also asked the lawyers not to disclose the date of the hearing,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-transparency-fda-roe-wade-48c389dd3c892aa9bbc553e0b3de5360">according to a transcript of the meeting</a>&nbsp;released Tuesday.Such actions by a judge are highly unusual because court proceedings are almost always open to the public and transparency is an underlying assumption of the American judicial system.Kacsmaryk, appointed by President Donald Trump, formerly worked as an attorney for a Christian legal group and has written critically of laws allowing abortion. Supporters of abortion rights say conservatives are steering cases to his courtroom because they believe he will rule in their favor.On Wednesday, Kacsmaryk will hear arguments in Amarillo from the Alliance for Defending Freedom — which filed its lawsuit on behalf of several anti-abortion groups and physicians — as well as federal attorneys representing the FDA. The drug's manufacturer, Danco Laboratories, is also a party in the case and set to argue for keeping its pill available.The Alliance is seeking an injunction that would force the FDA to revoke its approval of mifepristone. But it's unclear how quickly that could happen or what the process would entail. The FDA has its own procedures for revoking drug approvals that involve public hearings and scientific deliberations, which can take months or years.If Kacsmaryk rules against the FDA, federal attorneys are expected to swiftly appeal the decision and seek an emergency stay to stop it from taking effect while the case proceeds.Mifepristone is part of a two-drug regimen that has been the standard for medication abortion in the U.S since 2000. If mifepristone is sidelined, clinics and doctors that prescribe the combination say they plan to switch to using only the second drug, misoprostol. That single-drug approach is slightly less effective at ending pregnancies, although it is widely used in countries where mifepristone is illegal or unavailable.The Texas lawsuit alleges that the FDA's approval of mifepristone in 2000 was flawed for several reasons, including an inadequate review of the pill's safety risks. The suit also challenges several later FDA decisions that loosened restrictions on the pill, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a">eliminating a requirement</a>&nbsp;that women pick it up in person.Lawyers for the FDA have pointed out that serious side effects with mifepristone are rare and the agency has repeatedly affirmed the drug's safety by reviewing subsequent studies and data. Pulling the drug more than 20 years after approval would be “extraordinary and unprecedented,” the government stated in its legal response.Typically, the FDA’s authority to regulate prescription drugs has gone unchallenged. But more than a dozen states now have laws restricting abortion broadly — and the pills specifically — following last year’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.Lawsuits challenging state restrictions, including those in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-phil-berger-north-carolina-raleigh-health-56a1aa8617b46a9cb197cb395829c387">North Carolina</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-west-virginia-state-government-jim-justice-health-61085d84b9d2f937f238a32c73bf32ad">West Virginia</a>, are progressing separately and are expected to continue for years.___

Judge to consider whether to order abortion pill off the market

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling a half-million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because the front seat belts may not latch properly.

The recall covers some of the the automaker's top-selling models including the 2017 through 2020 CR-V, the 2018 and 2019 Accord, the 2018 through 2020 Odyssey and the 2019 Insight. Also included is the Acura RDX from the 2019 and 2020 model years.

Honda says in documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators that the surface coating on the channel for the buckle can deteriorate over time. The release button can shrink against the channel at lower temperatures, increasing friction and stopping the buckle from latching.

If the buckle doesn't latch, a driver or passenger may not be restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Honda says it has no reports of injuries caused by the problem.

Dealers will replace the front seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies if needed. Owners will be notified by letter starting April 17.

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling a half-million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because the front seat belts may not latch properly.The recall covers some of the the automaker's top-selling models including the 2017 through 2020 CR-V, the 2018 and 2019 Accord, the 2018 through 2020 Odyssey and the 2019 Insight. Also included is the Acura RDX from the 2019 and 2020 model years.Honda says in documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators that the surface coating on the channel for the buckle can deteriorate over time. The release button can shrink against the channel at lower temperatures, increasing friction and stopping the buckle from latching.If the buckle doesn't latch, a driver or passenger may not be restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.Honda says it has no reports of injuries caused by the problem.Dealers will replace the front seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies if needed. Owners will be notified by letter starting April 17.

Honda recalling 500,000 vehicles to fix seat belt problem

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) — The grief is still suffocating, the anger still visceral, President Joe Biden said Tuesday, in this suburban Los Angeles community where a gunman stormed a dance hall and killed 11 in January. He announced fresh federal measures to curb gun violence but emotionally declared there must be more.

“Do something. Do something big,” he implored.

“I’m determined to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” Biden told the families of some of the victims who were in the audience for his remarks, along with the 26-year-old who wrestled the semiautomatic pistol away from the gunman.

Biden’s rhetoric has grown ever stronger about guns — he routinely calls for banning assault weapons — in pushing a gun-control platform even tougher than during the Obama administration when he was vice president. He has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gun-violence-colorado-shootings-f85b4b9a59e3852868950d797f79a351">emboldened by the midterm elections</a>&nbsp;when his regular talk of gun control didn't result in massive Democratic losses, and he's expected to continue to argue for strong changes as he moves toward a 2024 reelection run, his aides say.

“We remember and mourn today,” Biden said in Monterey Park. “But I’m here with you today to act.”

The president told the crowd he’d signed an executive order aimed at stiffening background checks to buy guns, promoting more secure firearms storage and ensuring law enforcement agencies get more out of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-gun-violence-bill-c21249287f976c2c164d8753205c2e6d">bipartisan gun control law</a>&nbsp;enacted last summer.

But Biden has only limited power to go beyond that legislation that was passed after the killings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-crime-shootings-race-and-ethnicity-4a4dcf6e12c598d1f0a372227760b93f">10 shoppers</a>&nbsp;at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-may-24-584466945120">19 students and two teachers</a>&nbsp;at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school.

His action on Tuesday does not change government policy. Rather, it directs federal agencies to ensure compliance with existing laws and procedures — a typical feature of executive orders issued by presidents when they confront the limits of their own power to act without cooperation from Congress.

“Let’s be clear, none of this absolves Congress from the responsibility of acting to pass universal background checks, to eliminate gun manufacturers immunity to liability," Biden said.

Using emotion to press Congress to act, he detailied the lives of Monterey Park victims: A dancehall manager who walked patrons to their cars after lessons. An adventurer ready for the next trip abroad. A devoted grandparent.

Biden, whose own familiarity with grief is well known — his small daughter and wife were killed in a car crash in the 1970s and later his adult son died of cancer — touched on the everyday things he said hurt so much after the initial shock is gone; the way a closet still smells like a loved one, the sound of a laugh, the bend of a smile.

The victims in Monterey Park, where 20 were shot after Lunar New Year celebrations, were older Asian Americans, mostly in their 60s and 70s. Biden said they represented a powerful vision of America: “Our diversity is the strength of this nation.”

His order on Tuesday directs the Cabinet to complete a plan to better structure the government to support communities suffering from gun violence. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency can respond to natural disasters to provide on-the-ground support, the government should be able to do the same for a mass shooting, he said. More mental health support for grief and trauma, financial aid for victims and for businesses forced to close during a lengthy police investigations.

He is directing Attorney General Merrick Garland to shore up rules for federally licensed gun dealers so they know they are required to do background checks as part of their licenses.

He is also mandating better reporting of ballistics data from federal law enforcement for a clearinghouse that allows federal, state and local law enforcement to match shell casings to guns. But local and state law enforcement agencies are not required to report ballistics data, and many do not, making the clearinghouse less effective.

And the president is asking the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market to minors and use military images to market to the general public.

“President Biden’s executive order today is a home run for public safety,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This is the latest example of President Biden’s leadership on gun safety, and we’re proud to stand with him as he takes robust action to help close the gun-seller loophole — which will significantly expand background checks on gun sales, keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people and save lives.”

The bill passed last year, known as the Safer Communities Act, is viewed by gun control advocates as a good start but one that doesn't go far enough. After the law was signed, there were 11 other mass shootings, according to a database of mass killings since 2006 maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. Those killings don't include shootings in which fewer than four people were killed — and gun violence is also rising nationwide.

Pro-gun groups said the order would do little to stop growing gun violence.

“The reality is that nothing in the president’s executive order today would have done anything to prevent the recent mass shootings in California, Michigan or elsewhere,” said Katie Pointer Baney who is the Managing Director of Government Affairs for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association. “It’s time for the president and political leaders across the country to have an honest conversation with the American people and acknowledge there is no legislative fix that will permanently solve the issue of gun violence.”

Biden said he'd direct his Cabinet to make sure law enforcement agencies and citizens, too, understand the benefits of red-flag laws, which are intended to temporarily remove guns from people with potentially violent behavior and prevent them from hurting themselves or others.

“So more parents, teachers and counselors know how to flag for the court that someone is exhibiting violent tendencies, or experiencing suicidal thoughts that make them a danger to themselves and others," he said.

Last month, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-funds-red-flag-laws-ef06146b4db58a404471bb6ebde90aaa">sent out more than $200 million</a>&nbsp;to help states and the District of Columbia administer red-flag laws and other crisis-intervention programs.

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday aiming at increasing background checks to buy guns, promoting more secure firearms storage and ensuring U.S. law enforcement agencies get more out of a bipartisan gun control law enacted last summer.

The Democratic president was to address his latest efforts to curb gun violence in a speech in this suburban Los Angeles community, where a gunman stormed a dance hall and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-law-enforcement-crime-california-los-angeles-efc390080be5cdb5f7aecb652ed0fb5d">shot 20 people</a>, killing 11, following a Lunar New Year celebration in January. He was also meeting with families of victims and with first responders from that day.

Biden’s rhetoric has grown ever stronger about guns — he routinely calls for banning assault weapons — in pushing a vocal gun-control platform even tougher than during the Obama administration when he was vice president. He has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gun-violence-colorado-shootings-f85b4b9a59e3852868950d797f79a351">emboldened by the midterm electiions</a>&nbsp;when his regular talk of gun control didn't result in massive losses, and he's expected to continue to argue for strong changes as he inches toward a 2024 reelection run, his aides say.

Biden was greeted at the Los Angeles airport Tuesday by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-the-union-biden-guests-cc0d350feb6264e3ce9305355720c508">Brandon Tsay</a>, the 26-year-old who wrestled the semiautomatic pistol away from the gunman in Monterey Park. The two shook hands; Biden had invited Tsay to his State of the Union address in January where he praised the young man's heroism.

But the president has only limited power on guns to go beyond bipartisan legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-gun-violence-bill-c21249287f976c2c164d8753205c2e6d">passed by Congress last summer</a>&nbsp;after the killings last year of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-crime-shootings-race-and-ethnicity-4a4dcf6e12c598d1f0a372227760b93f">10 shoppers</a>&nbsp;at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-may-24-584466945120">19 students and two teachers</a>&nbsp;at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school.

Tuesday's action does not change U.S. government policy. Rather, it directs federal agencies to ensure compliance with existing laws and procedures — a typical feature of executive orders issued by presidents when they confront the limits of their own power to act without cooperation from Congress.

Biden, in the order, acknowledged Congress' opposition, but said, “In the meantime, my administration will continue to do all that we can, within existing authority, to make our communities safer.”

The order directs the Cabinet to work on a plan to better structure the government to support communities suffering from gun violence. The plan calls on Attorney General Merrick Garland to shore up the rules for federally licensed gun dealers so they know they are required to do background checks as part of the license.

Biden is also mandating better reporting of ballistics data from federal law enforcement for a clearinghouse that allows federal, state and local law enforcement to match shell casings to guns. But local and state law enforcement agencies are not required to report ballistics data, and many do not, making the clearinghouse less effective.

Biden will also direct his Cabinet to make sure law enforcement agencies understand the benefits of the new law, particularly around red-flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders, which are intended to temporarily remove guns from people with potentially violent behavior and prevent them from hurting themselves or others.

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) — The grief is still suffocating, the anger still visceral, President Joe Biden said Tuesday, in this suburban Los Angeles community where a gunman stormed a dance hall and killed 11 in January. He announced fresh federal measures to curb gun violence but emotionally declared there must be more.“Do something. Do something big,” he implored.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F8868817809859929%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=12" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“I’m determined to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” Biden told the families of some of the victims who were in the audience for his remarks, along with the 26-year-old who wrestled the semiautomatic pistol away from the gunman.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It&#39;s time for Congress to ban assault weapons.&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1635792929427013636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden’s rhetoric has grown ever stronger about guns — he routinely calls for banning assault weapons — in pushing a gun-control platform even tougher than during the Obama administration when he was vice president. He has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gun-violence-colorado-shootings-f85b4b9a59e3852868950d797f79a351">emboldened by the midterm elections</a>&nbsp;when his regular talk of gun control didn't result in massive Democratic losses, and he's expected to continue to argue for strong changes as he moves toward a 2024 reelection run, his aides say.“We remember and mourn today,” Biden said in Monterey Park. “But I’m here with you today to act.”The president told the crowd he’d signed an executive order aimed at stiffening background checks to buy guns, promoting more secure firearms storage and ensuring law enforcement agencies get more out of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-gun-violence-bill-c21249287f976c2c164d8753205c2e6d">bipartisan gun control law</a>&nbsp;enacted last summer.But Biden has only limited power to go beyond that legislation that was passed after the killings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-crime-shootings-race-and-ethnicity-4a4dcf6e12c598d1f0a372227760b93f">10 shoppers</a>&nbsp;at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-may-24-584466945120">19 students and two teachers</a>&nbsp;at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school.His action on Tuesday does not change government policy. Rather, it directs federal agencies to ensure compliance with existing laws and procedures — a typical feature of executive orders issued by presidents when they confront the limits of their own power to act without cooperation from Congress.“Let’s be clear, none of this absolves Congress from the responsibility of acting to pass universal background checks, to eliminate gun manufacturers immunity to liability," Biden said.Using emotion to press Congress to act, he detailied the lives of Monterey Park victims: A dancehall manager who walked patrons to their cars after lessons. An adventurer ready for the next trip abroad. A devoted grandparent.Biden, whose own familiarity with grief is well known — his small daughter and wife were killed in a car crash in the 1970s and later his adult son died of cancer — touched on the everyday things he said hurt so much after the initial shock is gone; the way a closet still smells like a loved one, the sound of a laugh, the bend of a smile.The victims in Monterey Park, where 20 were shot after Lunar New Year celebrations, were older Asian Americans, mostly in their 60s and 70s. Biden said they represented a powerful vision of America: “Our diversity is the strength of this nation.”His order on Tuesday directs the Cabinet to complete a plan to better structure the government to support communities suffering from gun violence. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency can respond to natural disasters to provide on-the-ground support, the government should be able to do the same for a mass shooting, he said. More mental health support for grief and trauma, financial aid for victims and for businesses forced to close during a lengthy police investigations.He is directing Attorney General Merrick Garland to shore up rules for federally licensed gun dealers so they know they are required to do background checks as part of their licenses.He is also mandating better reporting of ballistics data from federal law enforcement for a clearinghouse that allows federal, state and local law enforcement to match shell casings to guns. But local and state law enforcement agencies are not required to report ballistics data, and many do not, making the clearinghouse less effective.And the president is asking the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market to minors and use military images to market to the general public.“President Biden’s executive order today is a home run for public safety,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This is the latest example of President Biden’s leadership on gun safety, and we’re proud to stand with him as he takes robust action to help close the gun-seller loophole — which will significantly expand background checks on gun sales, keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people and save lives.”The bill passed last year, known as the Safer Communities Act, is viewed by gun control advocates as a good start but one that doesn't go far enough. After the law was signed, there were 11 other mass shootings, according to a database of mass killings since 2006 maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. Those killings don't include shootings in which fewer than four people were killed — and gun violence is also rising nationwide.Pro-gun groups said the order would do little to stop growing gun violence.“The reality is that nothing in the president’s executive order today would have done anything to prevent the recent mass shootings in California, Michigan or elsewhere,” said Katie Pointer Baney who is the Managing Director of Government Affairs for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association. “It’s time for the president and political leaders across the country to have an honest conversation with the American people and acknowledge there is no legislative fix that will permanently solve the issue of gun violence.”Biden said he'd direct his Cabinet to make sure law enforcement agencies and citizens, too, understand the benefits of red-flag laws, which are intended to temporarily remove guns from people with potentially violent behavior and prevent them from hurting themselves or others.“So more parents, teachers and counselors know how to flag for the court that someone is exhibiting violent tendencies, or experiencing suicidal thoughts that make them a danger to themselves and others," he said.Last month, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-funds-red-flag-laws-ef06146b4db58a404471bb6ebde90aaa">sent out more than $200 million</a>&nbsp;to help states and the District of Columbia administer red-flag laws and other crisis-intervention programs.---------------MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday aiming at increasing background checks to buy guns, promoting more secure firearms storage and ensuring U.S. law enforcement agencies get more out of a bipartisan gun control law enacted last summer.The Democratic president was to address his latest efforts to curb gun violence in a speech in this suburban Los Angeles community, where a gunman stormed a dance hall and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-law-enforcement-crime-california-los-angeles-efc390080be5cdb5f7aecb652ed0fb5d">shot 20 people</a>, killing 11, following a Lunar New Year celebration in January. He was also meeting with families of victims and with first responders from that day.Biden’s rhetoric has grown ever stronger about guns — he routinely calls for banning assault weapons — in pushing a vocal gun-control platform even tougher than during the Obama administration when he was vice president. He has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gun-violence-colorado-shootings-f85b4b9a59e3852868950d797f79a351">emboldened by the midterm electiions</a>&nbsp;when his regular talk of gun control didn't result in massive losses, and he's expected to continue to argue for strong changes as he inches toward a 2024 reelection run, his aides say.Biden was greeted at the Los Angeles airport Tuesday by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-the-union-biden-guests-cc0d350feb6264e3ce9305355720c508">Brandon Tsay</a>, the 26-year-old who wrestled the semiautomatic pistol away from the gunman in Monterey Park. The two shook hands; Biden had invited Tsay to his State of the Union address in January where he praised the young man's heroism.But the president has only limited power on guns to go beyond bipartisan legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-gun-violence-bill-c21249287f976c2c164d8753205c2e6d">passed by Congress last summer</a>&nbsp;after the killings last year of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-crime-shootings-race-and-ethnicity-4a4dcf6e12c598d1f0a372227760b93f">10 shoppers</a>&nbsp;at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-may-24-584466945120">19 students and two teachers</a>&nbsp;at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school.Tuesday's action does not change U.S. government policy. Rather, it directs federal agencies to ensure compliance with existing laws and procedures — a typical feature of executive orders issued by presidents when they confront the limits of their own power to act without cooperation from Congress.Biden, in the order, acknowledged Congress' opposition, but said, “In the meantime, my administration will continue to do all that we can, within existing authority, to make our communities safer.”The order directs the Cabinet to work on a plan to better structure the government to support communities suffering from gun violence. The plan calls on Attorney General Merrick Garland to shore up the rules for federally licensed gun dealers so they know they are required to do background checks as part of the license.Biden is also mandating better reporting of ballistics data from federal law enforcement for a clearinghouse that allows federal, state and local law enforcement to match shell casings to guns. But local and state law enforcement agencies are not required to report ballistics data, and many do not, making the clearinghouse less effective.And the president is asking the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market to minors and use military images to market to the general public.“President Biden’s executive order today is a home run for public safety,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This is the latest example of President Biden’s leadership on gun safety, and we’re proud to stand with him as he takes robust action to help close the gun-seller loophole — which will significantly expand background checks on gun sales, keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people and save lives.”The bill passed last year, known as the Safer Communities Act, is viewed by gun control advocates as a good start but one that doesn't go far enough. After the law was signed, there were 11 other mass shootings, according to a database of mass killings since 2006 maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. Those killings don't include shootings in which fewer than four people were killed — and gun violence is also rising nationwide.Pro-gun groups said the order would do little to stop growing gun violence.“The reality is that nothing in the president’s executive order today would have done anything to prevent the recent mass shootings in California, Michigan or elsewhere,” said Katie Pointer Baney who is the Managing Director of Government Affairs for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association. “It’s time for the president and political leaders across the country to have an honest conversation with the American people and acknowledge there is no legislative fix that will permanently solve the issue of gun violence.”Biden will also direct his Cabinet to make sure law enforcement agencies understand the benefits of the new law, particularly around red-flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders, which are intended to temporarily remove guns from people with potentially violent behavior and prevent them from hurting themselves or others.Last month, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-funds-red-flag-laws-ef06146b4db58a404471bb6ebde90aaa">sent out more than $200 million</a>&nbsp;to help states and the District of Columbia administer red-flag laws and other crisis-intervention programs.

🎥Biden's executive order to strengthen gun background checks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City, Missouri, police officer who fatally shot a man at a convenience store nearly two years ago will not be charged with a crime, following a decision by a special prosecutor.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-michael-brown-kansas-police-shootings-07c9ee2bca9013d73d8751a263932aa5">Malcolm Johnson</a>&nbsp;was killed in March 2021. Some civil rights, religious and community activists said the shooting of Johnson, who was Black, was part of a trend of officers in Missouri's largest city killing Black men. They questioned if officers gave Johnson sufficient time to surrender before shooting him.

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell's office announced Monday that no charges should be filed, following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Bell's office took on the case after Jackson County prosecutors cited a conflict of interest.

“Given the review of all the evidence, there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer who shot Malcolm Johnson was not acting in lawful self-defense or defense of others under Missouri law,” Bell's office said in a statement.

The decision drew criticism from some civil rights groups.

"This case is not only tragic but also a clear example of how KCPD gets away with murder, covers it up, and claims it is justice. This is not justice," the organization Decarcerate Kansas City wrote on Twitter.

Khadijah Hardaway, a spokeswoman for the family of Malcolm Johnson, said the family will ask the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the decision not to charge the officer who shot Johnson.

“We're just asking for transparency and justice for the Malcolm Johnson family,” Hardaway said.

On the evening of March 25, 2021, two officers seeking Johnson for an unrelated shooting found him at a convenience store and approached him with their guns drawn. Surveillance video showed the officers grab Johnson. More officers joined in trying to restrain Johnson on the ground and an officer was shot. The report by Bell's office said the wounded officer shot Johnson twice in the head.

But videos of the shooting raised questions about the police version, and the leader of a group of clergy who questioned the circumstances called Johnson’s death “an execution.”

Police Chief Stacey Graves said department officials “recognize there is still work to do with our community to build that trust and under my leadership relationships are among my top priorities,” the Kansas City Star reported.

Last year, former detective&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-kansas-city-kansas-5168b9935ec869fa74453228a87c166d">Eric DeValkenaere</a>&nbsp;was sentenced to six years in prison for fatally shooting Cameron Lamb, a Black man who was backing a pickup truck into a garage.

In September, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an investigation into&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Eric%20DeValkenaere">allegations of discrimination against Black officers</a>&nbsp;by the Kansas City Police Department that reportedly begins during hiring and extends to promotions and discipline.

Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker announced shortly after Johnson's death that her office's prosecution of him in prior criminal cases could be seen as a conflict of interest. Baker’s office charged Johnson in 2014 in a fatal shooting, and he later pleaded guilty to reduced charges of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622753220441.png" alt="-Image from video taken during the attempted arrest at the gas station -courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>-Image from video taken during the attempted arrest at the gas station -courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City, Missouri, police officer who fatally shot a man at a convenience store nearly two years ago will not be charged with a crime, following a decision by a special prosecutor.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-michael-brown-kansas-police-shootings-07c9ee2bca9013d73d8751a263932aa5">Malcolm Johnson</a>&nbsp;was killed in March 2021. Some civil rights, religious and community activists said the shooting of Johnson, who was Black, was part of a trend of officers in Missouri's largest city killing Black men. They questioned if officers gave Johnson sufficient time to surrender before shooting him.St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell's office announced Monday that no charges should be filed, following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Bell's office took on the case after Jackson County prosecutors cited a conflict of interest.“Given the review of all the evidence, there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer who shot Malcolm Johnson was not acting in lawful self-defense or defense of others under Missouri law,” Bell's office said in a statement.The decision drew criticism from some civil rights groups."This case is not only tragic but also a clear example of how KCPD gets away with murder, covers it up, and claims it is justice. This is not justice," the organization Decarcerate Kansas City wrote on Twitter.Khadijah Hardaway, a spokeswoman for the family of Malcolm Johnson, said the family will ask the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the decision not to charge the officer who shot Johnson.“We're just asking for transparency and justice for the Malcolm Johnson family,” Hardaway said.On the evening of March 25, 2021, two officers seeking Johnson for an unrelated shooting found him at a convenience store and approached him with their guns drawn. Surveillance video showed the officers grab Johnson. More officers joined in trying to restrain Johnson on the ground and an officer was shot. The report by Bell's office said the wounded officer shot Johnson twice in the head.But videos of the shooting raised questions about the police version, and the leader of a group of clergy who questioned the circumstances called Johnson’s death “an execution.”Police Chief Stacey Graves said department officials “recognize there is still work to do with our community to build that trust and under my leadership relationships are among my top priorities,” the Kansas City Star reported.Last year, former detective&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-kansas-city-kansas-5168b9935ec869fa74453228a87c166d">Eric DeValkenaere</a>&nbsp;was sentenced to six years in prison for fatally shooting Cameron Lamb, a Black man who was backing a pickup truck into a garage.In September, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an investigation into&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/Eric%20DeValkenaere">allegations of discrimination against Black officers</a>&nbsp;by the Kansas City Police Department that reportedly begins during hiring and extends to promotions and discipline.Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker announced shortly after Johnson's death that her office's prosecution of him in prior criminal cases could be seen as a conflict of interest. Baker’s office charged Johnson in 2014 in a fatal shooting, and he later pleaded guilty to reduced charges of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action.

Prosecutor: No charges in fatal Kansas City police shooting

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. (JASO) – Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges.

On March 10, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office served a narcotics warrant on a home at 522 Indiana Avenue in Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

As part of the investigation, deputies arrested 39-year-old April Diane Knight and 23-year-old Gary Ray Hards both of Holton.

 Knight was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and a probation violation warrant, according to Morse.

 Hards was booked on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both remain in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678556151990.png" alt="Hards-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hards-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. (JASO) – Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges.On March 10, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office served a narcotics warrant on a home at 522 Indiana Avenue in Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.As part of the investigation, deputies arrested 39-year-old April Diane Knight and 23-year-old Gary Ray Hards both of Holton.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678556125292.png" alt="Knight-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Knight-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> Knight was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and a probation violation warrant, according to Morse. Hards was booked on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both remain in custody, according to online jail records.

Deputies make warrant and drug arrest at Kansas home

HERMANN, Mo. (AP) — A man accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/officer-killed-shooting-missouri-ffa097e46052385276f946019ebf78a4">fatally shooting one officer and wounding another</a>&nbsp;at a small-town Missouri convenience store was charged Tuesday with murder and four other crimes.

Prosecutors charged 35-year-old Kenneth Lee Simpson of St. Louis County with first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. A judge ordered him held without bond.

Simpson does not yet have an attorney. An arraignment hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.

The shooting happened Sunday night at a convenience store in Hermann, a town of 2,100 residents about 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of St. Louis. Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith, 34, of the Hermann Police Department died, and Officer Adam Sullentrup, 31, was hospitalized in stable condition, authorities said.

Simpson was captured Monday at a home near the store after a police tactical team fired tear gas into the house.

Simpson has a long history of criminal charges involving drugs, weapons offenses, assault and property damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678830138410.png" alt="Simpson-photo MSHP" />
 <figcaption>Simpson-photo MSHP</figcaption>
 </figure>HERMANN, Mo. (AP) — A man accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/officer-killed-shooting-missouri-ffa097e46052385276f946019ebf78a4">fatally shooting one officer and wounding another</a>&nbsp;at a small-town Missouri convenience store was charged Tuesday with murder and four other crimes.Prosecutors charged 35-year-old Kenneth Lee Simpson of St. Louis County with first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. A judge ordered him held without bond.Simpson does not yet have an attorney. An arraignment hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.The shooting happened Sunday night at a convenience store in Hermann, a town of 2,100 residents about 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of St. Louis. Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith, 34, of the Hermann Police Department died, and Officer Adam Sullentrup, 31, was hospitalized in stable condition, authorities said.Simpson was captured Monday at a home near the store after a police tactical team fired tear gas into the house.Simpson has a long history of criminal charges involving drugs, weapons offenses, assault and property damage.

Man accused of killing Missouri officer facing 5 charges

WICHITA (AP) —The city of Wichita on Tuesday approved a $5 million settlement of a lawsuit filed by the family of a man who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2d99b0bb27bb474fa3c2dc893d4dad7d">was shot and killed</a>&nbsp;by a police officer during a hoax call in 2017.

The settlement will go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch, who was shot by officer Justin Rapp as he stepped out of his house on Dec. 28, 2017, to see why it was surrounded by police.

Finch, who was unarmed, was shot by Rapp within 10 seconds of opening his door. Rapp has said that he thought Finch had a gun.

Finch's death drew national attention to “swatting,” a form of retaliation in which someone reports a false emergency to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to respond to an address.

“While this settlement will not bring back our beloved Andy, it helps bring some closure as our family moves forward, especially Andy’s two young children,” Lisa and Dominica Finch, Finch’s mother and sister, respectively, said in a statement.

Investigators later determined the call was the result of a feud between two online gamers over a video game, Shane Gaskill of Wichita and Ohio gamer Casey Viner.

Authorities said Viner recruited Tyler R. Barriss to “swat” Gaskill. Barriss, a Los Angeles man who was known online for “swatting,” called police from Los Angeles to falsely report a shooting and kidnapping at the Wichita address.

But the address they used was old, leading police to Finch, who was not involved in the dispute or playing the video game.

Barriss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-ea1d3ae559924c1c807ca3fad984e524">is serving 20 years</a>&nbsp;in federal prison after pleading guilty to 51 counts in April 2019. Viner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-shootings-ap-top-news-courts-police-b54996cd2d154bf8a5a2d51a3bb3ae56">was sentenced</a>&nbsp;to 15 months in September 2019 after pleading guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Shane&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-kidnapping-wichita-1dc334273f81d08053dd4caa227023b7">Gaskill was sentenced</a>&nbsp;in September 2022 to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud,

Rapp was not charged and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-wichita-7a2ddc0d325aca92c23f488ae131db2a">was later promoted</a>&nbsp;from officer to detective. The city was dropped from the lawsuit but was responsible for Rapp's legal costs.

The city will pay $2 million from its self-insurance fund and $1.5 million from the city council’s reserve fund, with AIG insurance paying the remainder of the settlement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591210545859.png" alt="-Police body camera image the night of the swatting call -Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>-Police body camera image the night of the swatting call -Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA (AP) —The city of Wichita on Tuesday approved a $5 million settlement of a lawsuit filed by the family of a man who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2d99b0bb27bb474fa3c2dc893d4dad7d">was shot and killed</a>&nbsp;by a police officer during a hoax call in 2017.The settlement will go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch, who was shot by officer Justin Rapp as he stepped out of his house on Dec. 28, 2017, to see why it was surrounded by police.Finch, who was unarmed, was shot by Rapp within 10 seconds of opening his door. Rapp has said that he thought Finch had a gun.Finch's death drew national attention to “swatting,” a form of retaliation in which someone reports a false emergency to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to respond to an address.“While this settlement will not bring back our beloved Andy, it helps bring some closure as our family moves forward, especially Andy’s two young children,” Lisa and Dominica Finch, Finch’s mother and sister, respectively, said in a statement.Investigators later determined the call was the result of a feud between two online gamers over a video game, Shane Gaskill of Wichita and Ohio gamer Casey Viner.Authorities said Viner recruited Tyler R. Barriss to “swat” Gaskill. Barriss, a Los Angeles man who was known online for “swatting,” called police from Los Angeles to falsely report a shooting and kidnapping at the Wichita address.But the address they used was old, leading police to Finch, who was not involved in the dispute or playing the video game.Barriss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-ea1d3ae559924c1c807ca3fad984e524">is serving 20 years</a>&nbsp;in federal prison after pleading guilty to 51 counts in April 2019. Viner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-shootings-ap-top-news-courts-police-b54996cd2d154bf8a5a2d51a3bb3ae56">was sentenced</a>&nbsp;to 15 months in September 2019 after pleading guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Shane&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-kidnapping-wichita-1dc334273f81d08053dd4caa227023b7">Gaskill was sentenced</a>&nbsp;in September 2022 to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud,Rapp was not charged and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-wichita-7a2ddc0d325aca92c23f488ae131db2a">was later promoted</a>&nbsp;from officer to detective. The city was dropped from the lawsuit but was responsible for Rapp's legal costs.The city will pay $2 million from its self-insurance fund and $1.5 million from the city council’s reserve fund, with AIG insurance paying the remainder of the settlement.

City of Wichita settles fatal swatting shooting for $5 million

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-expands-by-32-number-of-adult-child-psychiatric-beds-during-past-four-years/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said 
the number of adult and child psychiatric beds increased by one-third in
 Kansas during the past four years as the state responded to the 
shortage of inpatient services for people struggling with mental 
illness.

Kansas now has 212 inpatient beds for children, 318 adult inpatient 
beds at psychiatric facilities and 424 beds in psychiatric residential 
treatment facilities. That represented increases since 2019 of 42 beds 
for children, 75 beds at adult psychiatric facilities and 116 beds at 
resident treatment facilities. Overall, Kansas added 233 beds during the
 four-year period for a total of 954, representing a 32% rise in 
availability.

Kelly said lack of specialized beds was one of the most significant 
barriers to delivery of mental health care to Kansans statewide.

“A 30% increase in capacity reflects a major step forward,” the governor said. “Now,
 we must continue our progress in addressing the mental health crisis 
here in Kansas by reducing the stigma around mental illness and 
substance use disorders and by dedicating additional much-needed 
resources to these challenges.”

The state relied on federal funding to help 13 community mental 
health centers expand access to mental health services and to support 
certified community behavioral health clinics. The state established 
KansasAgStress.org to share information on mental health issues with 
farmers and ranchers, while expanding mental health programs in schools 
and implementing the 988 crisis and suicide prevention hotline.

“We have made great strides in Kansas toward funding mental health 
and recovery services and building compassionate and cost-effective 
programs and policies that can improve the lives of adults and children 
living with mental illness,” said Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas 
Department for Aging and Disability Services.

In November 2022, an interim committee of the Legislature recommended
 adding up to 50 beds by establishing a new state hospital in the 
Sedgwick County area. The expansion was sought by local governments, law
 enforcement leaders and others eager to address a concentration of 
individuals with psychiatric challenges in south-central Kansas.

Another issue discussed by legislators has been the shortage of 
mental health and developmental disability technicians across the state.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678395441542.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly marked Kansas Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Capitol by announcing the number of adult and child psychiatric beds in Kansas had increased 32% during the past four years to nearly 1,000. A Kansas legislative committee has endorsed a plan to open a 50-bed state hospital in Sedgwick County. (Submitted) " />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly marked Kansas Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Capitol by announcing the number of adult and child psychiatric beds in Kansas had increased 32% during the past four years to nearly 1,000. A Kansas legislative committee has endorsed a plan to open a 50-bed state hospital in Sedgwick County. (Submitted) </figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-expands-by-32-number-of-adult-child-psychiatric-beds-during-past-four-years/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said 
the number of adult and child psychiatric beds increased by one-third in
 Kansas during the past four years as the state responded to the 
shortage of inpatient services for people struggling with mental 
illness.Kansas now has 212 inpatient beds for children, 318 adult inpatient 
beds at psychiatric facilities and 424 beds in psychiatric residential 
treatment facilities. That represented increases since 2019 of 42 beds 
for children, 75 beds at adult psychiatric facilities and 116 beds at 
resident treatment facilities. Overall, Kansas added 233 beds during the
 four-year period for a total of 954, representing a 32% rise in 
availability.Kelly said lack of specialized beds was one of the most significant 
barriers to delivery of mental health care to Kansans statewide.“A 30% increase in capacity reflects a major step forward,” the governor said. “Now,
 we must continue our progress in addressing the mental health crisis 
here in Kansas by reducing the stigma around mental illness and 
substance use disorders and by dedicating additional much-needed 
resources to these challenges.”The state relied on federal funding to help 13 community mental 
health centers expand access to mental health services and to support 
certified community behavioral health clinics. The state established 
KansasAgStress.org to share information on mental health issues with 
farmers and ranchers, while expanding mental health programs in schools 
and implementing the 988 crisis and suicide prevention hotline.“We have made great strides in Kansas toward funding mental health 
and recovery services and building compassionate and cost-effective 
programs and policies that can improve the lives of adults and children 
living with mental illness,” said Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas 
Department for Aging and Disability Services.In November 2022, an interim committee of the Legislature recommended
 adding up to 50 beds by establishing a new state hospital in the 
Sedgwick County area. The expansion was sought by local governments, law
 enforcement leaders and others eager to address a concentration of 
individuals with psychiatric challenges in south-central Kansas.Another issue discussed by legislators has been the shortage of 
mental health and developmental disability technicians across the state.

Number of Kan. psychiatric beds grows by a third during past four years

COLE COUNTY—Two people die in an accident just before 7a.m. Tuesday in Cole County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 GMC Savanna driven by Loren E. Nichols, 35, Jefferson City, was westbound on Route C just east of Route AA.

The van crossed&nbsp; the center of the road and struck an eastbound 1999 Chevy&nbsp; 6500 driven by Richard W. Dippold, 39, Russellville, Mo., head-on.

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to Freeman Mortuary. Dippold was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

COLE COUNTY—Two people die in an accident just before 7a.m. Tuesday in Cole County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 GMC Savanna driven by Loren E. Nichols, 35, Jefferson City, was westbound on Route C just east of Route AA.The van crossed&nbsp; the center of the road and struck an eastbound 1999 Chevy&nbsp; 6500 driven by Richard W. Dippold, 39, Russellville, Mo., head-on.Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to Freeman Mortuary. Dippold was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Two Missouri men dead after head-on crash

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian fighter jet struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday in a “brazen violation of international law,” causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle, the U.S. said.

The incident, which raised tensions over Moscow's war in Ukraine, appeared to mark the first time since the height of the Cold War that a U.S. aircraft was brought down after being hit by a Russian warplane.

U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to White House National Security spokesman John Kirby. He added that U.S. State Department officials would be speaking directly with their Russian counterparts and “expressing our concerns over this unsafe and unprofessional intercept.”

State Department spokesman Ned Price called it a “brazen violation of international law.” He said the U.S. summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a protest and the U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, has made similar representations in Moscow.

The U.S. European Command said in a statement that two Russian Su-27 fighter jets “conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept” of a U.S. MQ-9 drone that was operating within international airspace over the Black Sea.

It said one of the Russian fighters “struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.” Prior to that, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 several times before the collision in “a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” the U.S. European Command said in a statement from Stuttgart, Germany.

“This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional,” it added.

U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said the MQ-9 aircraft was "conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9.” He added that “in fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.”

There was no immediate reaction from Moscow, which has repeatedly voiced concern about U.S. intelligence flights close to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The Kremlin has charged that by providing weapons to Ukraine and sharing intelligence information with Kyiv, the U.S. and its allies have effectively become engaged in the conflict.

Kirby emphasized that the incident wouldn’t deter the U.S. from continuing their missions in the area.

“if the message is that they want to deter or dissuade us from flying, and operating in international airspace, over the Black Sea, then that message will fail,” Kirby said, adding “that is not going to happen.”

“We’re going to continue to fly and operate in international airspace over international waters,” he said. “The Black Sea belongs to no one nation.”

The U.S. European Command said the incident followed a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with U.S. and Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea.

“These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation,” it warned.

Gen. David Berger, commandant of the Marine Corps, said that this type of collision is his greatest concern, both in that area of Europe as well as in the Pacific.

“Probably my biggest worry both there and in the Pacific is an aggressive Russia or China pilot or vessel captain, or something gets too close, doesn’t realize where they are, and causes a collision,” Berger said, in response to a question at a National Press Club event on Tuesday.

He said that whether an incident is intentional or not, it forces nation’s leaders to try and sort it out quickly from afar.

Amid the continuing fighting in Ukraine, a Russian missile on Tuesday struck an apartment building in the center of Kramatorsk, killing at least one person and wounding nine others in one of Ukraine’s major city strongholds in its eastern Donetsk region.

The victims were among at least seven civilians killed and 30 wounded in 24 hours, Ukraine authorities said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing gaping holes in the façade of the low-rise building that bore the brunt of the strike. The impact damaged nine apartment blocks, a kindergarten, a local bank branch and two cars, said regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko.

“Russian troops are striking residential buildings, schools and hospitals, leaving cities on fire and in ruins,” Kyrylenko said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking Tuesday during a meeting with workers at a helicopter factory in southern Siberia, once again cast the conflict in Ukraine as an existential one for Russia, charging that unlike the West — which, he said, is seeking to advance its geopolitical clout — it’s fighting for its existence as a state.

“For us, it’s not a geopolitical task," Putin said, "it’s the task of survival of Russian statehood and the creation of conditions for the future development of our country.”

Russia had welcomed a Chinese peace proposal to end the fighting, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Kyiv’s refusal to have talks leaves Moscow with only military options.

“We must achieve our goals,” Peskov told reporters. “Given the current stance of the Kyiv regime, now it’s only possible by military means.”

The Russian onslaught has focused on the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut where Kyiv's troops have been fending off Russian attacks for seven months and which has become a symbol of Ukraine's resistance, as well as a focal point of the war.

Zelenskyy discussed the situation in Bakhmut with the top military brass and they were unanimous in their determination to face down the Russian onslaught, according to the presidential office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678817249159.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian fighter jet struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday in a “brazen violation of international law,” causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle, the U.S. said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PentagonPresSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PentagonPresSec</a> confirms two Russian aircraft conducted &quot;unsafe and unprofessional intercept&quot; with an unmanned <a href="https://twitter.com/usairforce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@usairforce</a> aircraft in international airspace: &quot;This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Iox1T1DDFs">pic.twitter.com/Iox1T1DDFs</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1635718468807819296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The incident, which raised tensions over Moscow's war in Ukraine, appeared to mark the first time since the height of the Cold War that a U.S. aircraft was brought down after being hit by a Russian warplane.U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to White House National Security spokesman John Kirby. He added that U.S. State Department officials would be speaking directly with their Russian counterparts and “expressing our concerns over this unsafe and unprofessional intercept.”State Department spokesman Ned Price called it a “brazen violation of international law.” He said the U.S. summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a protest and the U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, has made similar representations in Moscow.The U.S. European Command said in a statement that two Russian Su-27 fighter jets “conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept” of a U.S. MQ-9 drone that was operating within international airspace over the Black Sea.It said one of the Russian fighters “struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.” Prior to that, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 several times before the collision in “a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” the U.S. European Command said in a statement from Stuttgart, Germany.“This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional,” it added.U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said the MQ-9 aircraft was "conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9.” He added that “in fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.”There was no immediate reaction from Moscow, which has repeatedly voiced concern about U.S. intelligence flights close to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The Kremlin has charged that by providing weapons to Ukraine and sharing intelligence information with Kyiv, the U.S. and its allies have effectively become engaged in the conflict.Kirby emphasized that the incident wouldn’t deter the U.S. from continuing their missions in the area.“if the message is that they want to deter or dissuade us from flying, and operating in international airspace, over the Black Sea, then that message will fail,” Kirby said, adding “that is not going to happen.”“We’re going to continue to fly and operate in international airspace over international waters,” he said. “The Black Sea belongs to no one nation.”The U.S. European Command said the incident followed a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with U.S. and Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea.“These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation,” it warned.Gen. David Berger, commandant of the Marine Corps, said that this type of collision is his greatest concern, both in that area of Europe as well as in the Pacific.“Probably my biggest worry both there and in the Pacific is an aggressive Russia or China pilot or vessel captain, or something gets too close, doesn’t realize where they are, and causes a collision,” Berger said, in response to a question at a National Press Club event on Tuesday.He said that whether an incident is intentional or not, it forces nation’s leaders to try and sort it out quickly from afar.Amid the continuing fighting in Ukraine, a Russian missile on Tuesday struck an apartment building in the center of Kramatorsk, killing at least one person and wounding nine others in one of Ukraine’s major city strongholds in its eastern Donetsk region.The victims were among at least seven civilians killed and 30 wounded in 24 hours, Ukraine authorities said.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing gaping holes in the façade of the low-rise building that bore the brunt of the strike. The impact damaged nine apartment blocks, a kindergarten, a local bank branch and two cars, said regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko.“Russian troops are striking residential buildings, schools and hospitals, leaving cities on fire and in ruins,” Kyrylenko said.Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking Tuesday during a meeting with workers at a helicopter factory in southern Siberia, once again cast the conflict in Ukraine as an existential one for Russia, charging that unlike the West — which, he said, is seeking to advance its geopolitical clout — it’s fighting for its existence as a state.“For us, it’s not a geopolitical task," Putin said, "it’s the task of survival of Russian statehood and the creation of conditions for the future development of our country.”Russia had welcomed a Chinese peace proposal to end the fighting, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Kyiv’s refusal to have talks leaves Moscow with only military options.“We must achieve our goals,” Peskov told reporters. “Given the current stance of the Kyiv regime, now it’s only possible by military means.”The Russian onslaught has focused on the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut where Kyiv's troops have been fending off Russian attacks for seven months and which has become a symbol of Ukraine's resistance, as well as a focal point of the war.Zelenskyy discussed the situation in Bakhmut with the top military brass and they were unanimous in their determination to face down the Russian onslaught, according to the presidential office.“The defensive operation in (Bakhmut) is of paramount strategic importance to deterring the enemy. It is key for the stability of the defense of the entire frontline,” Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said.-------------------KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian fighter jet on Tuesday struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea, causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle in international waters, the U.S. military said, an incident that highlighted soaring U.S.-Russian tensions over Moscow's war in Ukraine.White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan.The U.S. European Command said in a statement that two Russian Su-27 fighter jets “conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept” of a U.S. MQ-9 drone that was operating within international airspace over the Black Sea.It said one of the Russian fighters “struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.” Prior to that, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 several times before the collision in “a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” the U.S. European Command said in a statement from Stuttgart, Germany“This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional,” it added.There was no immediate reaction from Moscow, which has repeatedly voiced concern about U.S. intelligence flights close to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.Amid the continuing fighting in Ukraine, A Russian missile struck an apartment building in the center of Kramatorsk on Tuesday, killing at least one person and wounding nine others in one of Ukraine’s major city strongholds in its eastern Donetsk region.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing gaping holes in the façade of the low-rise building that bore the brunt of the strike.The Ukrainian general prosecutor’s office and regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko also reported on the attack, posting photos of the building with mounds of rubble in front of it. The impact damaged nine apartment blocks, a kindergarten, a local bank branch and two cars, Kyrylenko said.The war, which erupted after Russia’s launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, has brought&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-health-doctors-without-borders-government-and-politics-b87823403f6dc148a8d728e73ad2cbae">heavy civilian casualties</a>. Tuesday’s victims were among at least seven civilians killed and 30 wounded in 24 hours, Ukraine authorities said.They included a 55-year-old woman killed when a Russian shell hit her car Tuesday in a border town in northeastern Ukraine.“Russian troops are striking residential buildings, schools and hospitals, leaving cities on fire and in ruins,” Kyrylenko, the regional governor, said on Ukrainian television. “The Russians mark each meter (yard) of their advance in the region not only with their own blood, but also with the (lost) lives of civilians.”Kramatorsk houses the local Ukrainian army headquarters. Ukrainian authorities say it has been regularly targeted by Russian shelling and other attacks in the past.A missile strike on the city’s train station last April, which Kyiv and much of the international community blamed on Moscow, killed dozens of people and wounded more than 100.Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking Tuesday during a meeting with workers at a helicopter factory in southern Siberia, once again cast the conflict in Ukraine as an existential one for Russia, charging that unlike the West — which, he said, is seeking to advance its geopolitical clout — it’s fighting for its existence as a state.“For us, it’s not a geopolitical task," Putin said, "it’s the task of survival of Russian statehood and the creation of conditions for the future development of our country.”Ukrainian forces have also dug in, especially in the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut where Kyiv's troops have been fending off Russian attacks for seven months and which has become a symbol of Ukraine's resistance, as well as a focal point of the war.Zelenskyy discussed the situation in Bakhmut with the top military brass and they were unanimous in their determination to face down the Russian onslaught, according to the presidential office.“The defensive operation in (Bakhmut) is of paramount strategic importance to deterring the enemy. It is key for the stability of the defense of the entire frontline,” Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said.Putin emphasized that his country’s industries have survived the blow of Western sanctions. But he acknowledged those sanctions could bring longer-term problems for the Russian economy.Russia had welcomed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peace-talks-russia-ukraine-china-b6ce7e237f6f9037ad317a69d2f1373a">Chinese peace proposal</a>&nbsp;to end the fighting, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Kyiv's refusal to have talks leaves Moscow with only military options.Beijing has said it has a “no limits friendship” with Russia and has refused to criticize Moscow’s invasion, or even refer to it as an invasion.“We must achieve our goals,” Peskov told reporters. “Given the current stance of the Kyiv regime, now it’s only possible by military means.”However, Moscow’s pursuit of its goals in Ukraine has been slowed by poor war management and short resources after being beaten back at the end of last year in a Ukrainian counteroffensive, military analysts say.The U.K. Ministry of Defense said Tuesday that Russia’s artillery ammunition shortages “have likely worsened to the extent that extremely punitive shell-rationing is in force on many parts of the front.”That shortcoming, it said, has “almost certainly been a key reason why no Russian formation has recently been able to generate operationally significant offensive action.”