GREENE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 4:30a.m. Saturday in Greene County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Ford Taurus driven by Gary C. Sawyer, 74, Springfield, was westbound on MO 360 one mile west of Republic.

The driver attempted a u-turn. The car became disabled and blocked the road. An eastbound&nbsp; 2011 Peterbilt semi driven by Douglas R. Grimes, 59, Stover, struck the passenger side of the towed unit of the car.

Sawyer was pronounced dead at the scene. Grimes was not injured.&nbsp; Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

GREENE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 4:30a.m. Saturday in Greene County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Ford Taurus driven by Gary C. Sawyer, 74, Springfield, was westbound on MO 360 one mile west of Republic.The driver attempted a u-turn. The car became disabled and blocked the road. An eastbound&nbsp; 2011 Peterbilt semi driven by Douglas R. Grimes, 59, Stover, struck the passenger side of the towed unit of the car.Sawyer was pronounced dead at the scene. Grimes was not injured.&nbsp; Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man dies after crash with semi during u-turn

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/10/olympic-gymnast-shares-story-of-childhood-sexual-abuse-urges-changes-in-kansas-law/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Olympic gymnast and Missouri native Terin Humphrey says it is time to
 support sexual abuse survivors by passing legislation that would remove
 the statute of limitations for civil and criminal cases.

Humphrey appeared Thursday in the Senate chamber to receive a tribute from lawmakers and champion reform legislation.

“I think it’s crazy that it hasn’t 
passed yet, that it’s taken this long,” Humphrey said in an interview. 
“I’m excited that it’s finally being heard.”

The legislation in question —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2169_00_0000.pdf">House Bill 2169</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/sb95_00_0000.pdf">Senate Bill 95</a>,
 are companion bills — would remove the statute of limitations for both 
civil and criminal cases, and allow for retroactive litigation for abuse
 dating to 1984.

Kansas state law currently requires 
survivors to file a civil lawsuit by age 21. The Legislature eliminated 
the statute of limitations for criminal cases in 2013, but didn’t make 
the law retroactive.

Humphrey said many people don’t 
realize that Kansas law is so limiting, or realize how long it takes to 
come to terms with abuse. Most childhood sexual abuse victims don’t 
share their experiences until age 50 or older.

“They’re not ready,” Humphrey said. 
“I was 30 before I came out, and sometimes I’m not even ready. I’ve 
experienced the biggest stage in the world and I’m still hesitant to 
come out and talk about it, so I want them to understand that you’re 
just not mentally ready at that age.”

Humphrey won two silver medals in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in 
Athens and was a member of the U.S. National Gymnastics team for six 
seasons.

In 2020, she disclosed she was abused by former <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/16/gymnasts-urge-u-s-senate-to-investigate-larry-nassar-sexual-abuse-after-botched-fbi-inquiry/">USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar</a>. Nassar was sentenced to decades in prison following allegations of abuse from hundreds of young women.

While similar legislation failed to 
advance during past legislative sessions, supporters of the bill hope 
this year will be different. Survivors and advocates have been returning
 to the Capitol week after week to champion the legislation, occupying a
 table in the Statehouse entrance hallway to raise awareness. Several of
 the women have <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/13/survivors-of-sexual-abuse-plead-for-changes-in-kansas-law-that-protects-pedophiles/">shared their own stories of abuse</a>.&nbsp;

“This year it’s gotten the most 
momentum ever, and so we’re hopeful, but it’s hard,” said survivor Lesa 
Patterson-Kinsey. “We keep seeing people introduce bills, and the next 
week, it gets a hearing, it gets a vote. We’ve had it here since the 
second week of the session and we’re ready for a discussion.”

Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Democrat from Overland Park, said with the release of the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-investigation-targets-14-suspects-prosecutions-unlikely/">Kansas Bureau of Investigation report on clergy abuse</a>,
 people were more aware of the necessity of the legislation. Holscher 
said efforts to pass the bill might have failed in the past, but she 
believed lawmakers were now more educated.

“It’s a complex issue in the respect 
that we’re talking about something that people normally don’t talk 
about,” Holscher said. “I feel like we’ve had to do a lot of catching up
 to get people educated and talk about something that normally the 
instinct is to hide.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676052569693.png" alt="Olympic gymnast Terin Humphrey speaks in support of reforms to current law on childhood sexual abuse cases. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Olympic gymnast Terin Humphrey speaks in support of reforms to current law on childhood sexual abuse cases. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/10/olympic-gymnast-shares-story-of-childhood-sexual-abuse-urges-changes-in-kansas-law/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Olympic gymnast and Missouri native Terin Humphrey says it is time to
 support sexual abuse survivors by passing legislation that would remove
 the statute of limitations for civil and criminal cases.Humphrey appeared Thursday in the Senate chamber to receive a tribute from lawmakers and champion reform legislation.“I think it’s crazy that it hasn’t 
passed yet, that it’s taken this long,” Humphrey said in an interview. 
“I’m excited that it’s finally being heard.”The legislation in question —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2169_00_0000.pdf">House Bill 2169</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/sb95_00_0000.pdf">Senate Bill 95</a>,
 are companion bills — would remove the statute of limitations for both 
civil and criminal cases, and allow for retroactive litigation for abuse
 dating to 1984.Kansas state law currently requires 
survivors to file a civil lawsuit by age 21. The Legislature eliminated 
the statute of limitations for criminal cases in 2013, but didn’t make 
the law retroactive.Humphrey said many people don’t 
realize that Kansas law is so limiting, or realize how long it takes to 
come to terms with abuse. Most childhood sexual abuse victims don’t 
share their experiences until age 50 or older.“They’re not ready,” Humphrey said. 
“I was 30 before I came out, and sometimes I’m not even ready. I’ve 
experienced the biggest stage in the world and I’m still hesitant to 
come out and talk about it, so I want them to understand that you’re 
just not mentally ready at that age.”Humphrey won two silver medals in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in 
Athens and was a member of the U.S. National Gymnastics team for six 
seasons.In 2020, she disclosed she was abused by former <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/16/gymnasts-urge-u-s-senate-to-investigate-larry-nassar-sexual-abuse-after-botched-fbi-inquiry/">USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar</a>. Nassar was sentenced to decades in prison following allegations of abuse from hundreds of young women.While similar legislation failed to 
advance during past legislative sessions, supporters of the bill hope 
this year will be different. Survivors and advocates have been returning
 to the Capitol week after week to champion the legislation, occupying a
 table in the Statehouse entrance hallway to raise awareness. Several of
 the women have <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/13/survivors-of-sexual-abuse-plead-for-changes-in-kansas-law-that-protects-pedophiles/">shared their own stories of abuse</a>.&nbsp;“This year it’s gotten the most 
momentum ever, and so we’re hopeful, but it’s hard,” said survivor Lesa 
Patterson-Kinsey. “We keep seeing people introduce bills, and the next 
week, it gets a hearing, it gets a vote. We’ve had it here since the 
second week of the session and we’re ready for a discussion.”Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Democrat from Overland Park, said with the release of the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-investigation-targets-14-suspects-prosecutions-unlikely/">Kansas Bureau of Investigation report on clergy abuse</a>,
 people were more aware of the necessity of the legislation. Holscher 
said efforts to pass the bill might have failed in the past, but she 
believed lawmakers were now more educated.“It’s a complex issue in the respect 
that we’re talking about something that people normally don’t talk 
about,” Holscher said. “I feel like we’ve had to do a lot of catching up
 to get people educated and talk about something that normally the 
instinct is to hide.”

Urging Kan. law change, Olympic gymnast shares story of abuse

WASHINGTON —President Biden welcomed Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and many other of the nation’s governors to the White House during the National Governors Association Winter Meeting on Friday.

Click below watch watch portions of the meeting.

Below is a transcript of the discussion during Friday's meeting:

🎥 Laura Kelly attends National Governors meeting at White House

By LIA NOWER <a href="https://theconversation.com/data-from-new-jersey-is-a-warning-sign-for-young-sports-bettors-197865">The Conversation</a>

When the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs take the field 
for Super Bowl LVII, a record-breaking 50 million bettors are expected 
to have <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/new/record-50-million-americans-to-wager-16b-on-super-bowl-lvii/">US$16 billion</a> of their own skin in the game, according to the American Gaming Association.

In January 2023, Ohio and Massachusetts launched legal sports betting, joining Washington D.C. and <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/research/state-gaming-map/">34 other states</a>
 that have passed laws since the Supreme Court overturned a federal ban 
in 2018. State legislatures have generally been eager to capitalize on 
the tax windfalls from sports betting and get their slice of <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/resources/aga-commercial-gaming-revenue-tracker/">the billions</a> wagered annually. Voters are also <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/08/legal-sports-betting-support-americans/">increasingly supportive of legalization</a>.

Here in New Jersey, sports betting, both online and in person, has 
been legal since June 2018. The state is the only jurisdiction that 
requires yearly evaluations of the relationship of online gambling and 
sports wagering to problem gambling. 

The Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University, which I direct, <a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">conducts those annual evaluations</a>
 using data from all sports bets placed in New Jersey since 2018. Our 
findings suggest that the nation’s love affair with sports betting may 
be having unintended consequences.

Sports betting tied to poor mental health

In a forthcoming statewide gambling prevalence study, we found that 
those wagering on sports in New Jersey were more likely than others who 
gamble to have high rates of problem gambling and problems with drugs or
 alcohol, and to experience mental health problems like anxiety and 
depression. Most alarming, findings suggest that about 14% of sports 
bettors reported thoughts of suicide, and 10% said they had made a 
suicide attempt.

A small group of bettors seem to be most at risk. About 5% of all 
sports bettors placed nearly half of all bets and spent nearly 70% of 
the money. That means the people losing the most money are the most 
essential to operator profits. 
<a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">The fastest-growing group of sports bettors in New Jersey</a> are young adults, ages 21 to 24. Most have placed in-game bets, and about 19% spent half of their money betting during games, <a href="https://theconversation.com/sports-betting-apps-notifications-and-leaderboards-encourage-more-and-more-wagers-a-psychologist-who-treats-gambling-addictions-explains-why-some-people-get-hooked-198358">when emotions and impulsive spending are highest</a>.

Although regulators require operators to allow bettors to set limits –
 on losses, deposits or time spent gambling – only about 1% of young 
bettors use any of the safeguards, less than any other age group. Since 
about <a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">70% of the sports bets we analyzed</a> were losing bets, most of these young players could find themselves losing more money than they can afford.

It is possible, then, that states could unwittingly be introducing a 
cohort of young people to problem gambling and a lifetime of negative 
consequences. 

That’s because the younger that people <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jpsychires.2012.02.007">start gambling</a>,
 the more activities they bet on. And the more frequently they bet, the 
more likely they are to develop serious gambling problems. Studies 
suggest that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-017-9726-y">those who gamble as young adults</a> have higher-than-average rates of problem gambling.

The danger is compounded by the easy access afforded by tablets and 
mobile phones, which eliminate most barriers to gambling even for those 
who are underage. Children who are exposed to the unrelenting parade of 
gambling ads <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12728">report they remember</a> both the products and the betting terms from those ads, and some teens say <a href="https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.7.2018.128">they intended to gamble as a result</a>. If <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107460">parents or other household members also gamble</a>, those children may later develop not only gambling problems, but also problems with drugs and alcohol.

In the U.S., the Marlboro Man can no longer gallop across <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/federal-cigarette-labeling-advertising-act">the nation’s television airwaves</a>. Alcohol ads <a href="https://alcohol.org/laws/marketing-to-the-public/">can’t contain</a> statements that are misleading, patently false or target those who are underage.

However, there are currently no such federal guidelines for gambling 
ads. Major League Baseball, which banned Pete Rose and locked him out of
 the Hall of Fame for gambling, openly sanctions <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2021/08/10/why-nearly-all-mlb-ballparks-will-have-a-sportsbook-attached-to-it-in-the-future/?sh=52ba50cb36d8">sports books attached to stadiums</a> and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianred/2021/01/12/major-league-baseball-teams-and-a-new-revenue-stream-online-gaming-business-partners/?sh=a0866755ef95">partnerships with gambling operators</a>. The same goes for the NFL and most of its teams, with former stars like Eli Manning <a href="https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2022/08/23/see-it-new-york-giants-legend-eli-manning-appears-new-caesars-ad-with-brothers/">encouraging betting</a> in ads and Pro Bowl wide receiver Davonte Adams becoming the <a href="https://www.actionnetwork.com/news/davante-adams-likely-first-active-nfl-player-with-gambling-related-sponsor">first active player</a> with a gambling sponsor.

Those who recognize they have a gambling problem also have no assurances that they can find help. 

Gambling treatment services <a href="https://naadgs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NAADGS_2021_Survey_of_Publicly_Funded_Problem_Gambling_Services_in_the_United_States_v2.pdf">vary by state</a>,
 from specially trained, culturally competent counselors in a few states
 to a total lack of services in others. Most children and teens receive 
no education in schools about problem gambling as they do for drugs and 
alcohol. Some universities <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/caesars-sports-betting-universities-colleges.html">are openly partnering with gambling companies</a> and sponsoring esports competitions, which invite underage betting.

The federal government is noticeably silent on a glamorized 
addiction. Nationally, there are no federal policies, prohibitions or 
federally funded research or <a href="https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/naadgs-analysis-of-problem-gambling-funding-july-2022/521f7652c06a6d4d/full.pdf">prevention programs</a>, despite all the revenue generated by taxes on gambling winnings.

Internationally, gambling-related abuses and tragedies have led countries <a href="https://theconversation.com/40-years-of-legal-sports-betting-in-australia-points-to-risks-for-us-gamblers-and-tips-for-regulators-194993">like Australia and the U.K.</a> to enact new regulations and significant penalties for operators. The U.K., for example, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2022.0020">requires operators to conduct affordability checks</a>
 on patrons to ensure they can afford their losses and prohibits 
gambling advertising by athletes, celebrities or social media 
influencers who appeal to children and teens.

I think it’s only a matter of time before similar proposals make 
their way to the U.S. In the meantime, however, millions of people in 
more than half the country will legally lay their hard-earned money on 
the line for a chance to win big on Sunday.

Lia Nower is a professor and director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675971967412.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By LIA NOWER <a href="https://theconversation.com/data-from-new-jersey-is-a-warning-sign-for-young-sports-bettors-197865">The Conversation</a>When the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs take the field 
for Super Bowl LVII, a record-breaking 50 million bettors are expected 
to have <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/new/record-50-million-americans-to-wager-16b-on-super-bowl-lvii/">US$16 billion</a> of their own skin in the game, according to the American Gaming Association. In January 2023, Ohio and Massachusetts launched legal sports betting, joining Washington D.C. and <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/research/state-gaming-map/">34 other states</a>
 that have passed laws since the Supreme Court overturned a federal ban 
in 2018. State legislatures have generally been eager to capitalize on 
the tax windfalls from sports betting and get their slice of <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/resources/aga-commercial-gaming-revenue-tracker/">the billions</a> wagered annually. Voters are also <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/08/legal-sports-betting-support-americans/">increasingly supportive of legalization</a>. Here in New Jersey, sports betting, both online and in person, has 
been legal since June 2018. The state is the only jurisdiction that 
requires yearly evaluations of the relationship of online gambling and 
sports wagering to problem gambling. The Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University, which I direct, <a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">conducts those annual evaluations</a>
 using data from all sports bets placed in New Jersey since 2018. Our 
findings suggest that the nation’s love affair with sports betting may 
be having unintended consequences.<h2>Sports betting tied to poor mental health</h2>In a forthcoming statewide gambling prevalence study, we found that 
those wagering on sports in New Jersey were more likely than others who 
gamble to have high rates of problem gambling and problems with drugs or
 alcohol, and to experience mental health problems like anxiety and 
depression. Most alarming, findings suggest that about 14% of sports 
bettors reported thoughts of suicide, and 10% said they had made a 
suicide attempt.A small group of bettors seem to be most at risk. About 5% of all 
sports bettors placed nearly half of all bets and spent nearly 70% of 
the money. That means the people losing the most money are the most 
essential to operator profits. 
<a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">The fastest-growing group of sports bettors in New Jersey</a> are young adults, ages 21 to 24. Most have placed in-game bets, and about 19% spent half of their money betting during games, <a href="https://theconversation.com/sports-betting-apps-notifications-and-leaderboards-encourage-more-and-more-wagers-a-psychologist-who-treats-gambling-addictions-explains-why-some-people-get-hooked-198358">when emotions and impulsive spending are highest</a>. Although regulators require operators to allow bettors to set limits –
 on losses, deposits or time spent gambling – only about 1% of young 
bettors use any of the safeguards, less than any other age group. Since 
about <a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">70% of the sports bets we analyzed</a> were losing bets, most of these young players could find themselves losing more money than they can afford. <h2>A vulnerable population</h2>It is possible, then, that states could unwittingly be introducing a 
cohort of young people to problem gambling and a lifetime of negative 
consequences. That’s because the younger that people <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jpsychires.2012.02.007">start gambling</a>,
 the more activities they bet on. And the more frequently they bet, the 
more likely they are to develop serious gambling problems. Studies 
suggest that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-017-9726-y">those who gamble as young adults</a> have higher-than-average rates of problem gambling.The danger is compounded by the easy access afforded by tablets and 
mobile phones, which eliminate most barriers to gambling even for those 
who are underage. Children who are exposed to the unrelenting parade of 
gambling ads <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12728">report they remember</a> both the products and the betting terms from those ads, and some teens say <a href="https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.7.2018.128">they intended to gamble as a result</a>. If <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107460">parents or other household members also gamble</a>, those children may later develop not only gambling problems, but also problems with drugs and alcohol. <h2>Few regulatory measures in place</h2>In the U.S., the Marlboro Man can no longer gallop across <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/federal-cigarette-labeling-advertising-act">the nation’s television airwaves</a>. Alcohol ads <a href="https://alcohol.org/laws/marketing-to-the-public/">can’t contain</a> statements that are misleading, patently false or target those who are underage.However, there are currently no such federal guidelines for gambling 
ads. Major League Baseball, which banned Pete Rose and locked him out of
 the Hall of Fame for gambling, openly sanctions <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2021/08/10/why-nearly-all-mlb-ballparks-will-have-a-sportsbook-attached-to-it-in-the-future/?sh=52ba50cb36d8">sports books attached to stadiums</a> and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianred/2021/01/12/major-league-baseball-teams-and-a-new-revenue-stream-online-gaming-business-partners/?sh=a0866755ef95">partnerships with gambling operators</a>. The same goes for the NFL and most of its teams, with former stars like Eli Manning <a href="https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2022/08/23/see-it-new-york-giants-legend-eli-manning-appears-new-caesars-ad-with-brothers/">encouraging betting</a> in ads and Pro Bowl wide receiver Davonte Adams becoming the <a href="https://www.actionnetwork.com/news/davante-adams-likely-first-active-nfl-player-with-gambling-related-sponsor">first active player</a> with a gambling sponsor.Those who recognize they have a gambling problem also have no assurances that they can find help. Gambling treatment services <a href="https://naadgs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NAADGS_2021_Survey_of_Publicly_Funded_Problem_Gambling_Services_in_the_United_States_v2.pdf">vary by state</a>,
 from specially trained, culturally competent counselors in a few states
 to a total lack of services in others. Most children and teens receive 
no education in schools about problem gambling as they do for drugs and 
alcohol. Some universities <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/caesars-sports-betting-universities-colleges.html">are openly partnering with gambling companies</a> and sponsoring esports competitions, which invite underage betting.The federal government is noticeably silent on a glamorized 
addiction. Nationally, there are no federal policies, prohibitions or 
federally funded research or <a href="https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/naadgs-analysis-of-problem-gambling-funding-july-2022/521f7652c06a6d4d/full.pdf">prevention programs</a>, despite all the revenue generated by taxes on gambling winnings.Internationally, gambling-related abuses and tragedies have led countries <a href="https://theconversation.com/40-years-of-legal-sports-betting-in-australia-points-to-risks-for-us-gamblers-and-tips-for-regulators-194993">like Australia and the U.K.</a> to enact new regulations and significant penalties for operators. The U.K., for example, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2022.0020">requires operators to conduct affordability checks</a>
 on patrons to ensure they can afford their losses and prohibits 
gambling advertising by athletes, celebrities or social media 
influencers who appeal to children and teens.I think it’s only a matter of time before similar proposals make 
their way to the U.S. In the meantime, however, millions of people in 
more than half the country will legally lay their hard-earned money on 
the line for a chance to win big on Sunday.Hopefully, they can afford to lose.Lia Nower is a professor and director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/197865/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

Data in new study a warning sign for young sports bettors

MANHATTAN - On Friday John K. 'Jack' Vanier passed away at the age of 94.

From the Vanier family: To call Jack Vanier a founding father of a bygone rural Kansas culture would be three things at once. An understatement, a compliment and a chance for Jack to respond in his characteristic unassuming nature&nbsp;—&nbsp;accompanied by that brilliant smile&nbsp;—&nbsp;that he was just doing what came naturally. In his self-effacing, low-key way, it would also offer a golden opportunity for Jack to take issue with the&nbsp;"bygone"&nbsp;sentiment. Soft-spoken and successful. Kind and productive. Reliable and generous. If someone were to ask,&nbsp;"What does it mean to be called&nbsp;'the salt of the Earth?'"&nbsp;One would only need to spend a few minutes talking about Jack Vanier to get a deep and meaningful sense. Jack grew up on the bedrock of honesty. He came of age with a work ethic. Integrity drove his success in business. With his bride, Donna, he raised a family on faith. Jack Vanier did not struggle with a greater cosmic meaning of why he was here, and that's what made him such a good husband, father and grandfather, rancher and businessman. That's what made him such a good friend. He loved his neighbor and walked humbly. His sense of humor put you at ease as soon as you encountered him. Jack Vanier was fun to be around. Born in Salina, Kansas,&nbsp;to John J.&nbsp;"J.J."&nbsp;and Lesta Vanier,&nbsp;Jack operated the CK Ranch in Brookville, Kansas&nbsp;—&nbsp;once the largest producer of purebred Hereford cattle in the country. The family also held ranching interests in Wyoming, Colorado and Oklahoma. Jack offered his gift of service and leadership capacity to a host of organizations, including the American Hereford Association, the Kansas Livestock Association, the Boards of Directors of the National Cattlemen's Association and Archer Daniels Midland&nbsp;— roles in which he provided wisdom and insight, but mostly what he would have described as common sense.&nbsp; And while much has changed in Kansas and the world during Jack Vanier's time on this planet, his passing is not the end of an era. Jack's legacy is with us today. You see it in Mary's compassion for her community, in Marty's brilliant smile and intellect, in the life lessons John learned from his father. In Jack's grandchildren, you don't have to look very far to see a direct reflection of his light and love.&nbsp; You see it in the promise of entire generations touched by Jack's benevolence through scholarship, mentorship, and stewardship. Jack lives on in the thoughts and memories found uppermost in the minds and the warm feelings which lie deep in the hearts of all who encountered him. When we think of Jack Vanier, it is what comes naturally. His contributions to agriculture, the livestock industry, to Kansas State University and to all the organizations and people he touched are many and significant. But it was by living his life the way he did that marks the profound contribution Jack Vanier made to our greater society, the rural culture and a way of life worth preserving, that will stand out. Not because he wanted it to, but because he didn't. Preceded in death by his wife, Donna Lindsey Vanier, Jack is survived by sister Joyce Hale and brother Jerry Vanier of Kansas City, daughter Mary Vanier of Manhattan, daughter Dr. Marty Vanier of Manhattan and her stepchildren Katie (Kevin) Buehler, Kirsten (Nathan) Beemer and Kathy Krause, and son John K. Vanier II of Salina, his daughters Lauren Vanier and Sarah (Ryan) Geiger, John’s wife, Kim, and children Pallie (Bryan) Swartz, Landon Koehn, Jess Koehn, and Ty Koehn, Jake Mooney and Norah Mooney. A funeral will be held&nbsp;at 1 p.m.&nbsp;Friday, March 3,&nbsp;at Christ Cathedral in Salina, Kansas. The family suggests memorial gifts to any of the following organizations: the Salina Community Foundation and the Meadowlark Hills Good Samaritan Fund in Manhattan. Memorials may be sent in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th Street, Salina, Kansas 67401. K-State leaders offered their condolences to the Vanier family. University President Richard Linton: "Jack was part of the very fabric of Kansas State University. His vision, leadership, advocacy and philanthropy for both Kansas agriculture and our great university goes unmatched. The Vanier family has built an incredible legacy with remarkable impact for so many, and Jack's vision laid that foundation. He will be greatly missed by so many, and our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time." Amy Button Renz, president and chief executive officer of the K-State Alumni Association: "Jack Vanier was everything a K-Stater should be. He was generous, quick-witted and had a strong desire to help others. When I joined the staff at the Alumni Association, Jack was a member of the Board of Directors. It was an honor to learn from him, and I was blessed with his lifelong friendship. Jack and Donna were avid supporters of many areas at K-State, including the Wildcat Statue at the K-State Alumni Center. The statue has become a K-State icon and tradition, and it would not have been possible without their generosity. My thoughts and prayers are with John, Marty, Mary and the entire Vanier family." Gene Taylor, director of K-State athletics: "We are deeply saddened by the loss Jack Vanier, a true K-Stater who impacted so greatly our university, athletics program and the entire state of Kansas. Jack was an amazing and humble person who had a deep love for the Wildcats, and he and Donna's foresight, belief and incredible generosity will forever link the Vanier family name to K-State Athletics. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary, Marty, John and the entire Vanier family during this emotional time." Greg Willems, president and chief executive officer of the KSU Foundation: "Jack Vanier had a larger-than-life personality and was revered for his integrity and loyalty to his family and friends. His lifelong involvement and generosity supporting K-State has been truly remarkable. Jack's humble leadership and unwavering support was treasured by countless leaders at K-State, and we will miss him greatly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Vanier family on the passing of their patriarch and our magnificent friend."&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676131390275.png" alt="Jack Vanier courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jack Vanier courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN - On Friday John K. 'Jack' Vanier passed away at the age of 94.From the Vanier family: To call Jack Vanier a founding father of a bygone rural Kansas culture would be three things at once. An understatement, a compliment and a chance for Jack to respond in his characteristic unassuming nature&nbsp;—&nbsp;accompanied by that brilliant smile&nbsp;—&nbsp;that he was just doing what came naturally. In his self-effacing, low-key way, it would also offer a golden opportunity for Jack to take issue with the&nbsp;"bygone"&nbsp;sentiment. Soft-spoken and successful. Kind and productive. Reliable and generous. If someone were to ask,&nbsp;"What does it mean to be called&nbsp;'the salt of the Earth?'"&nbsp;One would only need to spend a few minutes talking about Jack Vanier to get a deep and meaningful sense. Jack grew up on the bedrock of honesty. He came of age with a work ethic. Integrity drove his success in business. With his bride, Donna, he raised a family on faith. Jack Vanier did not struggle with a greater cosmic meaning of why he was here, and that's what made him such a good husband, father and grandfather, rancher and businessman. That's what made him such a good friend. He loved his neighbor and walked humbly. His sense of humor put you at ease as soon as you encountered him. Jack Vanier was fun to be around. Born in Salina, Kansas,&nbsp;to John J.&nbsp;"J.J."&nbsp;and Lesta Vanier,&nbsp;Jack operated the CK Ranch in Brookville, Kansas&nbsp;—&nbsp;once the largest producer of purebred Hereford cattle in the country. The family also held ranching interests in Wyoming, Colorado and Oklahoma. Jack offered his gift of service and leadership capacity to a host of organizations, including the American Hereford Association, the Kansas Livestock Association, the Boards of Directors of the National Cattlemen's Association and Archer Daniels Midland&nbsp;— roles in which he provided wisdom and insight, but mostly what he would have described as common sense.&nbsp; And while much has changed in Kansas and the world during Jack Vanier's time on this planet, his passing is not the end of an era. Jack's legacy is with us today. You see it in Mary's compassion for her community, in Marty's brilliant smile and intellect, in the life lessons John learned from his father. In Jack's grandchildren, you don't have to look very far to see a direct reflection of his light and love.&nbsp; You see it in the promise of entire generations touched by Jack's benevolence through scholarship, mentorship, and stewardship. Jack lives on in the thoughts and memories found uppermost in the minds and the warm feelings which lie deep in the hearts of all who encountered him. When we think of Jack Vanier, it is what comes naturally. His contributions to agriculture, the livestock industry, to Kansas State University and to all the organizations and people he touched are many and significant. But it was by living his life the way he did that marks the profound contribution Jack Vanier made to our greater society, the rural culture and a way of life worth preserving, that will stand out. Not because he wanted it to, but because he didn't. Preceded in death by his wife, Donna Lindsey Vanier, Jack is survived by sister Joyce Hale and brother Jerry Vanier of Kansas City, daughter Mary Vanier of Manhattan, daughter Dr. Marty Vanier of Manhattan and her stepchildren Katie (Kevin) Buehler, Kirsten (Nathan) Beemer and Kathy Krause, and son John K. Vanier II of Salina, his daughters Lauren Vanier and Sarah (Ryan) Geiger, John’s wife, Kim, and children Pallie (Bryan) Swartz, Landon Koehn, Jess Koehn, and Ty Koehn, Jake Mooney and Norah Mooney. A funeral will be held&nbsp;at 1 p.m.&nbsp;Friday, March 3,&nbsp;at Christ Cathedral in Salina, Kansas. The family suggests memorial gifts to any of the following organizations: the Salina Community Foundation and the Meadowlark Hills Good Samaritan Fund in Manhattan. Memorials may be sent in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th Street, Salina, Kansas 67401. K-State leaders offered their condolences to the Vanier family. University President Richard Linton: "Jack was part of the very fabric of Kansas State University. His vision, leadership, advocacy and philanthropy for both Kansas agriculture and our great university goes unmatched. The Vanier family has built an incredible legacy with remarkable impact for so many, and Jack's vision laid that foundation. He will be greatly missed by so many, and our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time." Amy Button Renz, president and chief executive officer of the K-State Alumni Association: "Jack Vanier was everything a K-Stater should be. He was generous, quick-witted and had a strong desire to help others. When I joined the staff at the Alumni Association, Jack was a member of the Board of Directors. It was an honor to learn from him, and I was blessed with his lifelong friendship. Jack and Donna were avid supporters of many areas at K-State, including the Wildcat Statue at the K-State Alumni Center. The statue has become a K-State icon and tradition, and it would not have been possible without their generosity. My thoughts and prayers are with John, Marty, Mary and the entire Vanier family." Gene Taylor, director of K-State athletics: "We are deeply saddened by the loss Jack Vanier, a true K-Stater who impacted so greatly our university, athletics program and the entire state of Kansas. Jack was an amazing and humble person who had a deep love for the Wildcats, and he and Donna's foresight, belief and incredible generosity will forever link the Vanier family name to K-State Athletics. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary, Marty, John and the entire Vanier family during this emotional time." Greg Willems, president and chief executive officer of the KSU Foundation: "Jack Vanier had a larger-than-life personality and was revered for his integrity and loyalty to his family and friends. His lifelong involvement and generosity supporting K-State has been truly remarkable. Jack's humble leadership and unwavering support was treasured by countless leaders at K-State, and we will miss him greatly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Vanier family on the passing of their patriarch and our magnificent friend."&nbsp;&nbsp;

K-State's legendary John K. 'Jack' Vanier has passed away

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a police chase and crash.

Just before 4:30 a.m. Friday, police attempted to stop a vehicle for reckless driving near the area of SW Ninth Street and SW Parkview Street in Topeka, according to spokesperson Rosie Nichols.

The driver of the vehicle initiated a pursuit. Officers then discontinued the pursuit due to excess speeds. A short time later, police located the vehicle near the area of SE Sixth Street and SE Golden Avenue. 

A traffic stop was attempted and the vehicle initiated another pursuit. The suspect, later identified as Alejandro R. Rodriguez, 23, of Topeka, lost control near SW 17th Street and SW Washburn Avenue and crashed into a tree and light pole. 

Rodriguez attempted to flee on foot but was then located by officers and taken to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning.

A passenger, identified as Julian A. Galicia, 22, of Topeka, was determined to have a warrant for his arrest and was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on that warrant. No injuries were reported from this incident. 

Rodriguez was later arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the on requested charges that include&nbsp;Aggravated Assault of a law enforcement officer, Defective Muffler, Racing on Highways, Reckless Driving, Fleeing or attempting to elude an LEO, Flee or attempt to elude; avoid tire deflation device, Fail to stop at stop sign, Interference with LEO, Speeding, Driving while license suspended, Transport open container of liquor and Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676127627477.png" alt="Crash scene early Friday -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Crash scene early Friday -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a police chase and crash.Just before 4:30 a.m. Friday, police attempted to stop a vehicle for reckless driving near the area of SW Ninth Street and SW Parkview Street in Topeka, according to spokesperson Rosie Nichols.The driver of the vehicle initiated a pursuit. Officers then discontinued the pursuit due to excess speeds. A short time later, police located the vehicle near the area of SE Sixth Street and SE Golden Avenue. A traffic stop was attempted and the vehicle initiated another pursuit. The suspect, later identified as Alejandro R. Rodriguez, 23, of Topeka, lost control near SW 17th Street and SW Washburn Avenue and crashed into a tree and light pole. Rodriguez attempted to flee on foot but was then located by officers and taken to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning.A passenger, identified as Julian A. Galicia, 22, of Topeka, was determined to have a warrant for his arrest and was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on that warrant. No injuries were reported from this incident. Rodriguez was later arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the on requested charges that include&nbsp;Aggravated Assault of a law enforcement officer, Defective Muffler, Racing on Highways, Reckless Driving, Fleeing or attempting to elude an LEO, Flee or attempt to elude; avoid tire deflation device, Fail to stop at stop sign, Interference with LEO, Speeding, Driving while license suspended, Transport open container of liquor and Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol.

Car crash, 2 Kansas men arrested after police chase 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. military fighter jet shot down an unknown object flying off the remote northern coast of Alaska on Friday on orders from President Joe Biden, White House officials said.

On his social media account, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran demanded answers, "Americans need answers on what this was, who owned it and what it was doing in U.S. airspace.'

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the object was downed because it was flying at about 40,000 feet (13,000 meters) and posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights, not because of any knowledge that it was engaged in surveillance. Asked about the object's downing, Biden on Friday said only that “It was a success.”

Commercial airliners and private jets can fly as high as 45,000 feet (13,700 meters).

Kirby described the object as roughly the size of a small car, much smaller than the massive suspected Chinese spy balloon downed by Air Force fighter jets Saturday off the coast of South Carolina after it transited over sensitive military sites across the continental U.S.

The twin downings in such close succession are extraordinary, and reflect heightened concerns over China's surveillance program and public pressure on Biden to take a tough stand against it. Still, there were few answers about the unknown object downed Friday and the White House drew distinctions between the two episodes. Officials couldn’t say if the latest object contained any surveillance equipment, where it came from or what purpose it had.

The Pentagon on Friday declined to provide a more precise description of the object, only saying that U.S. pilots who flew up to observe it determined it didn’t appear to be manned. Officials said the object was far smaller than last week's balloon, did not appear to be maneuverable and was traveling at a much lower altitude.

Kirby maintained that Biden, based on the advice of the Pentagon, believed it posed enough of a concern to shoot it out of the sky — primarily because of the potential risk to civilian aircraft.

“We’re going to remain vigilant about our airspace," Kirby said. "The president takes his obligations to protect our national security interests as paramount."

The president was briefed on the presence of the object Thursday evening after two fighter jets surveilled it.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters Friday that an F-22 fighter aircraft based at Alaska's Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson shot down the object using an AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missile, the same type used to take down the balloon nearly a week ago.

The object flew over one of the most desolate places on the nation. Few towns dot Alaska’s North Slope, with the two apparently closest communities — Deadhorse and Kaktovik — combining for about 300 people. The Prudhoe Bay oil field on the North Slope is the largest such field in the United States.

Unlike the suspected spy balloon, which was downed to live feeds and got U.S. residents looking up to the skies, it's likely few people saw this object given the blistering frigid conditions of northern Alaska this time of the year, since there are few people outside for a prolonged period of time.

Ahead of the the shoot-down, the Federal Aviation Administration restricted flights over a roughly 10-square mile (26-square kilometer) area within U.S. airspace off Alaska's Bullen Point, the site of a disused U.S. Air Force radar station on the Beaufort Sea about 130 miles (210 kilometers) from the Canadian border, inside the Arctic Circle.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a tweet Friday that he had been briefed and supported the decision. “Our military and intelligence services will always work together," he said.

The object fell onto frozen waters and officials expected they could recover debris faster than from last week's massive balloon. Ryder said the object was traveling northeast when it was shot down. He said several U.S. military helicopters have gone out to begin the recovery effort.

Later Friday, the Pentagon said: “Recovery is happening in a mix of ice and snow. Units located in Alaska under the direction of U.S. Northern Command, along with the Alaska National Guard, are involved in the response.”

The unknown object was shot down in an area with harsh weather conditions and about six and a half hours of daylight at this time of year. Daytime temperatures Friday were about minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).

After the object was detected Thursday, NORAD — North American Aerospace Defense Command —sent F-35s to observe it, a U.S. official said, adding that the military queried U.S. government agencies to make sure it did not belong to any of them, and had confidence it was not a U.S. government or military asset. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about sensitive national security matters and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Because it was much smaller than the suspected Chinese spy balloon, there were fewer safety concerns about downing it over land, so the decision was made to shoot it down when it was possible. That happened over water.

The mystery around what exactly the flying object was lingered late into Friday night. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a statement saying it was “not a National Weather Service balloon.”

"They do not hover," said NOAA spokesperson Scott Smullen.

The development came almost a week after the U.S. shot down a suspected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina</a>&nbsp;coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a civilian craft and threatened repercussions.

Biden issued the order but had wanted the balloon downed even earlier. He was advised that the best time for the operation would be when it was over water. Military officials determined that bringing it down over land from an altitude of 60,000 feet would pose an undue risk to people on the ground.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-south-carolina-china-dfa08f4f47a58a638d4ef1d3a34b2a8b">balloon was part of a large surveillance program</a>&nbsp;that China has been conducting for “several years,” the Pentagon has said. The U.S. has said Chinese balloons have flown over dozens of countries across five continents in recent years, and it learned more about the balloon program after closely monitoring the one shot down near South Carolina.

China responded that it reserved the right to “take further actions” and criticized the U.S. for “an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. military fighter jet shot down an unknown object flying off the remote northern coast of Alaska on Friday on orders from President Joe Biden, White House officials said.On his social media account, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran demanded answers, "Americans need answers on what this was, who owned it and what it was doing in U.S. airspace.'<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Just a week after a Chinese spy balloon invaded U.S. airspace, another object was shot down over Alaska. This was at a lower altitude of 40,000 feet and posed a risk to civilian aircraft. Americans need answers on what this was, who owned it &amp; what it was doing in U.S. airspace.&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1624208330339110914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the object was downed because it was flying at about 40,000 feet (13,000 meters) and posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights, not because of any knowledge that it was engaged in surveillance. Asked about the object's downing, Biden on Friday said only that “It was a success.”Commercial airliners and private jets can fly as high as 45,000 feet (13,700 meters).Kirby described the object as roughly the size of a small car, much smaller than the massive suspected Chinese spy balloon downed by Air Force fighter jets Saturday off the coast of South Carolina after it transited over sensitive military sites across the continental U.S.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PentagonPresSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PentagonPresSec</a> confirms &quot;fighter aircraft...successfully took down a high altitude airborne object off the northern coast of Alaska at 1:45pm...the object was flying at an altitude of 40,000 ft. and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/PB6Ndo6jQt">pic.twitter.com/PB6Ndo6jQt</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1624145609442660384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The twin downings in such close succession are extraordinary, and reflect heightened concerns over China's surveillance program and public pressure on Biden to take a tough stand against it. Still, there were few answers about the unknown object downed Friday and the White House drew distinctions between the two episodes. Officials couldn’t say if the latest object contained any surveillance equipment, where it came from or what purpose it had.The Pentagon on Friday declined to provide a more precise description of the object, only saying that U.S. pilots who flew up to observe it determined it didn’t appear to be manned. Officials said the object was far smaller than last week's balloon, did not appear to be maneuverable and was traveling at a much lower altitude.Kirby maintained that Biden, based on the advice of the Pentagon, believed it posed enough of a concern to shoot it out of the sky — primarily because of the potential risk to civilian aircraft.“We’re going to remain vigilant about our airspace," Kirby said. "The president takes his obligations to protect our national security interests as paramount."The president was briefed on the presence of the object Thursday evening after two fighter jets surveilled it.Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters Friday that an F-22 fighter aircraft based at Alaska's Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson shot down the object using an AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missile, the same type used to take down the balloon nearly a week ago.The object flew over one of the most desolate places on the nation. Few towns dot Alaska’s North Slope, with the two apparently closest communities — Deadhorse and Kaktovik — combining for about 300 people. The Prudhoe Bay oil field on the North Slope is the largest such field in the United States.Unlike the suspected spy balloon, which was downed to live feeds and got U.S. residents looking up to the skies, it's likely few people saw this object given the blistering frigid conditions of northern Alaska this time of the year, since there are few people outside for a prolonged period of time.Ahead of the the shoot-down, the Federal Aviation Administration restricted flights over a roughly 10-square mile (26-square kilometer) area within U.S. airspace off Alaska's Bullen Point, the site of a disused U.S. Air Force radar station on the Beaufort Sea about 130 miles (210 kilometers) from the Canadian border, inside the Arctic Circle.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a tweet Friday that he had been briefed and supported the decision. “Our military and intelligence services will always work together," he said.The object fell onto frozen waters and officials expected they could recover debris faster than from last week's massive balloon. Ryder said the object was traveling northeast when it was shot down. He said several U.S. military helicopters have gone out to begin the recovery effort.Later Friday, the Pentagon said: “Recovery is happening in a mix of ice and snow. Units located in Alaska under the direction of U.S. Northern Command, along with the Alaska National Guard, are involved in the response.”The unknown object was shot down in an area with harsh weather conditions and about six and a half hours of daylight at this time of year. Daytime temperatures Friday were about minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).After the object was detected Thursday, NORAD — North American Aerospace Defense Command —sent F-35s to observe it, a U.S. official said, adding that the military queried U.S. government agencies to make sure it did not belong to any of them, and had confidence it was not a U.S. government or military asset. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about sensitive national security matters and spoke on condition of anonymity.Because it was much smaller than the suspected Chinese spy balloon, there were fewer safety concerns about downing it over land, so the decision was made to shoot it down when it was possible. That happened over water.The mystery around what exactly the flying object was lingered late into Friday night. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a statement saying it was “not a National Weather Service balloon.”"They do not hover," said NOAA spokesperson Scott Smullen.The development came almost a week after the U.S. shot down a suspected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina</a>&nbsp;coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a civilian craft and threatened repercussions.Biden issued the order but had wanted the balloon downed even earlier. He was advised that the best time for the operation would be when it was over water. Military officials determined that bringing it down over land from an altitude of 60,000 feet would pose an undue risk to people on the ground.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-south-carolina-china-dfa08f4f47a58a638d4ef1d3a34b2a8b">balloon was part of a large surveillance program</a>&nbsp;that China has been conducting for “several years,” the Pentagon has said. The U.S. has said Chinese balloons have flown over dozens of countries across five continents in recent years, and it learned more about the balloon program after closely monitoring the one shot down near South Carolina.China responded that it reserved the right to “take further actions” and criticized the U.S. for “an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice.”

Moran demands answers on UFO shot down over Alaska

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will travel to Poland this month to rally allies one year after Russia’s assault on Ukraine began, the White House announced Friday, as he aims to sustain a coalition that has supported Kyiv’s defenses.

The visit, scheduled for Feb. 20-22, comes as polling in the United States and abroad suggests waning support for maintaining tens of billions of dollars worth of military and economic assistance for Ukraine in the protracted war. In addition, Republicans who recently took control of the House have voiced skepticism — or outright opposition — to continuing the funding.

Russia, meanwhile, is believed to be planning a renewed offensive in conjunction with the anniversary, and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kharkiv-eb242b1e9d1894e5616bc2da55173d88?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_05">stepped up its long-range strikes</a>&nbsp;on Ukraine’s military and civilian infrastructure in recent weeks.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden would meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda and the leaders of the Bucharest Nine, which are NATO allies in Eastern Europe, to discuss his “unwavering support” for the alliance.

She added that Biden would deliver a speech on how the U.S. “will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

It remained unclear whether Biden might attempt a visit to Ukraine as many other Western leaders and members of Congress have done.

Jean-Pierre said the administration will “continue to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

Biden visited Poland just weeks after the war began on Feb. 24 when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-migration-world-war-ii-warsaw-652da1c2ab1c88de3032241089bfa516">delivered a forceful case for supporting Ukraine’s defense</a>&nbsp;in front of Warsaw’s iconic Royal Castle. At the time, Biden said Putin “cannot remain in power,” though the White House swiftly backed off what initially seemed to be call for regime change in Moscow.

First lady Jill Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-jill-biden-migration-slovakia-d22b406bd735c1899a55ba656cbbc317">briefly crossed the border on a trip in May</a>&nbsp;and met her counterpart, Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska, in the latter’s first public event since the war began. Biden, as well as White House officials, have highlighted the unique security challenges raised by a potential visit by a U.S. president to a country under invasion by nuclear-armed Russia.

Biden in December&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-biden-68c65b3274e552f36f16853f24fedbb9">hosted President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House,</a>&nbsp;where the Ukrainian leader also pressed for additional Western weapons and support during an address to Congress.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648345290520.png" alt="-In March 2022, President Joe Biden met with Ukrainian refugees during a visit to Poland-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>-In March 2022, President Joe Biden met with Ukrainian refugees during a visit to Poland-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will travel to Poland this month to rally allies one year after Russia’s assault on Ukraine began, the White House announced Friday, as he aims to sustain a coalition that has supported Kyiv’s defenses.The visit, scheduled for Feb. 20-22, comes as polling in the United States and abroad suggests waning support for maintaining tens of billions of dollars worth of military and economic assistance for Ukraine in the protracted war. In addition, Republicans who recently took control of the House have voiced skepticism — or outright opposition — to continuing the funding.Russia, meanwhile, is believed to be planning a renewed offensive in conjunction with the anniversary, and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kharkiv-eb242b1e9d1894e5616bc2da55173d88?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_05">stepped up its long-range strikes</a>&nbsp;on Ukraine’s military and civilian infrastructure in recent weeks.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden would meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda and the leaders of the Bucharest Nine, which are NATO allies in Eastern Europe, to discuss his “unwavering support” for the alliance.She added that Biden would deliver a speech on how the U.S. “will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.”It remained unclear whether Biden might attempt a visit to Ukraine as many other Western leaders and members of Congress have done.Jean-Pierre said the administration will “continue to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.”Biden visited Poland just weeks after the war began on Feb. 24 when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-migration-world-war-ii-warsaw-652da1c2ab1c88de3032241089bfa516">delivered a forceful case for supporting Ukraine’s defense</a>&nbsp;in front of Warsaw’s iconic Royal Castle. At the time, Biden said Putin “cannot remain in power,” though the White House swiftly backed off what initially seemed to be call for regime change in Moscow.First lady Jill Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-jill-biden-migration-slovakia-d22b406bd735c1899a55ba656cbbc317">briefly crossed the border on a trip in May</a>&nbsp;and met her counterpart, Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska, in the latter’s first public event since the war began. Biden, as well as White House officials, have highlighted the unique security challenges raised by a potential visit by a U.S. president to a country under invasion by nuclear-armed Russia.Biden in December&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-biden-68c65b3274e552f36f16853f24fedbb9">hosted President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House,</a>&nbsp;where the Ukrainian leader also pressed for additional Western weapons and support during an address to Congress.

Biden will visit Poland for anniversary of Ukraine war

CASS COUNTY —The search for one of two inmates who escaped Dec. 5 from&nbsp;the jail in Cass County, Missouri south of Kansas City continues.

Authorities took 33-year-0ld Trevor Sparks of Kansas City into custody Dec. 30, in the 400 Block of Olive Street, according to the FBI.

The U.S. Marshals Service continues to offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads directly to the capture of 43-year-old Sergio Perez- Martinez of Panorama City, Calif.&nbsp; The FBI is also offering $10k for anyone who can provide information leading to his capture.&nbsp;

Perez Mertinez&nbsp; was being held for possession of dangerous drugs. Sparks was jailed on money laundering charges, according to the Cass County sheriff's office.

A third individual, Steven Lydell Williams, Sr., 64, Kansas City, has been charged&nbsp; with aiding or assisting in the escape.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at (816) 380-5200, or call 911.&nbsp; Submit a tip to the Marshals<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/tips/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR2np8V0SoqQyr6Znkz_ykiw2FsK7SY3PkQN_uuUCJz41bCD_XDGusIXZJw"> here</a>&nbsp; or contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at <a href="https://t.co/49eEgggFOb" target="_blank">http://tips.fbi.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670539649262.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY —The search for one of two inmates who escaped Dec. 5 from&nbsp;the jail in Cass County, Missouri south of Kansas City continues.Authorities took 33-year-0ld Trevor Sparks of Kansas City into custody Dec. 30, in the 400 Block of Olive Street, according to the FBI.The U.S. Marshals Service continues to offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads directly to the capture of 43-year-old Sergio Perez- Martinez of Panorama City, Calif.&nbsp; The FBI is also offering $10k for anyone who can provide information leading to his capture.&nbsp;Perez Mertinez&nbsp; was being held for possession of dangerous drugs. Sparks was jailed on money laundering charges, according to the Cass County sheriff's office.A third individual, Steven Lydell Williams, Sr., 64, Kansas City, has been charged&nbsp; with aiding or assisting in the escape. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at (816) 380-5200, or call 911.&nbsp; Submit a tip to the Marshals<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/tips/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR2np8V0SoqQyr6Znkz_ykiw2FsK7SY3PkQN_uuUCJz41bCD_XDGusIXZJw"> here</a>&nbsp; or contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at <a href="https://t.co/49eEgggFOb" target="_blank">http://tips.fbi.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Search continues for inmate who escaped KC-area jail in December

The object flew over one of the most desolate places on the nation. Few towns dot Alaska’s North Slope, with the two apparently closest communities — Deadhorse and Kaktovik — combining for about 300 people. Unlike the suspected spy balloon, which was downed to live feeds and got U.S. residents looking up to the skies, it's likely few people saw this object given the blistering frigid conditions of northern Alaska this time of the year, meaning there are few people outside for a prolonged period of time.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. military fighter jet shot down an unknown object flying off the northern coast of Alaska on Friday on orders from President Joe Biden, White House officials said.

Kirby described the object as roughly the size of a small car, much smaller than the massive suspected Chinese spy balloon downed by Air Force fight jets Saturday off the coast of South Carolina after it transited over sensitive military sites across the continental U.S.

The Pentagon on Friday declined to provide a more precise description of the object, only saying that U.S. pilots who flew up to observe it determined it didn’t appear to be manned. Officials said the object was far smaller than the previous balloon, did not appear to be maneuverable and was traveling at a much lower altitude.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters Friday that an F-22 fighter aircraft based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson shot down the object using an AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missile, the same type used to take down the balloon nearly a week ago.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. military fighter jet shot down an unknown object flying off the coast of Alaska on Friday on orders from President Joe Biden, White House officials said.

The object was flying at about 40,000 feet and posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights, said John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesman. He described the object as roughly the size of a small car and said it was shot down near the U.S.-Canada border.

It was the second time in a week U.S. officials had downed some type of flying object over the U.S. On Saturday fighter jets fired a missile into a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina.

There were few answers about the object, and the White House drew distinctions between the two episodes. Kirby said it wasn't yet known who owned it, and he did not say it was a balloon. Officials also couldn't say if there was any surveillance equipment on it. Kirby didn't know yet where it came from or what its purpose was.

Still, it posed enough of a concern that U.S. officials felt it best to knock it out of the sky.

Kirby said fighter pilots visually examining the object ascertained it was not manned. The president was briefed on the presence of the object Thursday evening after two fighter jets surveilled it.

The object fell into frigid waters and officials expected they could recover debris faster than from last week's massive balloon.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-south-carolina-china-dfa08f4f47a58a638d4ef1d3a34b2a8b">balloon was part of a large surveillance program</a>&nbsp;that China has been conducting for “several years,” the Pentagon has said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon shot down an unknown object flying in U.S. airspace off the coast of Alaska on Friday on orders from President Joe Biden, White House officials said.

The object was flying at about 40,000 feet and posted a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights, said John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesman. He described the object as roughly the size of a small car.

It was the second time in a week U.S. officials had downed some type of flying object over the U.S. On Saturday fighter jets shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina.

White House officials drew major differences between the two episodes. Kirby said it wasn't yet known who owned the object, and he did not say that it was a balloon. Officials also couldn't say if there was any surveillance equipment on it. He also didn't know yet where it came from or what its purpose was.

Kirby said fight pilots visually examining the object ascertained that it was not manned.

The development came almost a week after the U.S. shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a civilian craft and threatened repercussions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. military fighter jet shot down an unknown object flying off the remote northern coast of Alaska on Friday on orders from President Joe Biden, White House officials said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NSC Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby on object shot down today: &quot;We&#39;re calling this an object because that&#39;s the best description we have right now...We do not know who owns it...It was much much smaller than the spy balloon that we took down last Saturday.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/d94UlFmH9n">pic.twitter.com/d94UlFmH9n</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1624137312790810624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the object was downed because it was flying at about 40,000 feet (13,000 meters) and posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights, not because of any knowledge that it was engaged in surveillance. Asked about the object's downing, Biden on Friday said only that “It was a success.”Commercial airliners and private jets can fly as high as 45,000 feet (13,700 meters).Kirby described the object as roughly the size of a small car, much smaller than the massive suspected Chinese spy balloon downed by Air Force fighter jets Saturday off the coast of South Carolina after it transited over sensitive military sites across the continental U.S.The twin downings in such close succession are extraordinary, and reflect heightened concerns over China's surveillance program and public pressure on Biden to take a tough stand against it. Still, there were few answers about the unknown object downed Friday and the White House drew distinctions between the two episodes. Officials couldn’t say if the latest object contained any surveillance equipment, where it came from or what purpose it had.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PentagonPresSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PentagonPresSec</a> confirms &quot;fighter aircraft...successfully took down a high altitude airborne object off the northern coast of Alaska at 1:45pm...the object was flying at an altitude of 40,000 ft. and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/PB6Ndo6jQt">pic.twitter.com/PB6Ndo6jQt</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1624145609442660384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Pentagon on Friday declined to provide a more precise description of the object, only saying that U.S. pilots who flew up to observe it determined it didn’t appear to be manned. Officials said the object was far smaller than last week's balloon, did not appear to be maneuverable and was traveling at a much lower altitude.Kirby maintained that Biden, based on the advice of the Pentagon, believed it posed enough of a concern to shoot it out of the sky — primarily because of the potential risk to civilian aircraft.“We’re going to remain vigilant about our airspace," Kirby said. "The president takes his obligations to protect our national security interests as paramount."The president was briefed on the presence of the object Thursday evening after two fighter jets surveilled it.Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters Friday that an F-22 fighter aircraft based at Alaska's Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson shot down the object using an AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missile, the same type used to take down the balloon nearly a week ago.The object flew over one of the most desolate places on the nation. Few towns dot Alaska’s North Slope, with the two apparently closest communities — Deadhorse and Kaktovik — combining for about 300 people. Unlike the suspected spy balloon, which was downed to live feeds and got U.S. residents looking up to the skies, it's likely few people saw this object given the blistering frigid conditions of northern Alaska this time of the year, meaning there are few people outside for a prolonged period of time.Ahead of the the shoot-down, the Federal Aviation Administration restricted flights over a roughly 10-square mile (26-square kilometer) area within U.S. airspace off Alaska's Bullen Point, the site of a disused U.S. Air Force radar station on the Beaufort Sea about 130 miles (210 kilometers) from the Canadian border, inside the Arctic Circle.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a tweet Friday that he had been briefed and supported the decision. “Our military and intelligence services will always work together," he said.The object fell onto frozen waters and officials expected they could recover debris faster than from last week's massive balloon. Ryder said the object was traveling northeast when it was shot down. He said several U.S. military helicopters have gone out to begin the recovery effort.Later Friday, the Pentagon said: “Recovery is happening in a mix of ice and snow. Units located in Alaska under the direction of U.S. Northern Command, along with the Alaska National Guard, are involved in the response.”The unknown object was shot down in an area with harsh weather conditions and about six and a half hours of daylight at this time of year. Daytime temperatures Friday were about minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).After the object was detected Thursday, NORAD — North American Aerospace Defense Command —sent F-35s to observe it, a U.S. official said, adding that the military queried U.S. government agencies to make sure it did not belong to any of them, and had confidence it was not a U.S. government or military asset. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about sensitive national security matters and spoke on condition of anonymity.Because it was much smaller than the suspected Chinese spy balloon, there were fewer safety concerns about downing it over land, so the decision was made to shoot it down when it was possible. That happened over water.The development came almost a week after the U.S. shot down a suspected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina</a>&nbsp;coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a civilian craft and threatened repercussions.Biden issued the order but had wanted the balloon downed even earlier. He was advised that the best time for the operation would be when it was over water. Military officials determined that bringing it down over land from an altitude of 60,000 feet would pose an undue risk to people on the ground.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-south-carolina-china-dfa08f4f47a58a638d4ef1d3a34b2a8b">balloon was part of a large surveillance program</a>&nbsp;that China has been conducting for “several years,” the Pentagon has said. The U.S. has said Chinese balloons have flown over dozens of countries across five continents in recent years, and it learned more about the balloon program after closely monitoring the one shot down near South Carolina.China responded that it reserved the right to “take further actions” and criticized the U.S. for “an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice.”---------WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. military fighter jet shot down an unknown object flying off the northern coast of Alaska on Friday on orders from President Joe Biden, White House officials said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NSC Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby on object shot down today: &quot;We&#39;re calling this an object because that&#39;s the best description we have right now...We do not know who owns it...It was much much smaller than the spy balloon that we took down last Saturday.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/d94UlFmH9n">pic.twitter.com/d94UlFmH9n</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1624137312790810624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the object was downed because it was flying at about 40,000 feet (13,000 meters) and posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights, not because of any knowledge that it was engaged in surveillance. Asked about the object's downing, Biden on Friday said only that “It was a success.”Kirby described the object as roughly the size of a small car, much smaller than the massive suspected Chinese spy balloon downed by Air Force fight jets Saturday off the coast of South Carolina after it transited over sensitive military sites across the continental U.S.The twin downings in such close succession are extraordinary, and reflect heightened concerns over China's surveillance program and public pressure on Biden to take a tough stand against it. Still, there were few answers about the unknown object downed Friday and the White House drew distinctions between the two episodes. Officials couldn’t say if the latest object contained any surveillance equipment, where it came from or what purpose it had.The Pentagon on Friday declined to provide a more precise description of the object, only saying that U.S. pilots who flew up to observe it determined it didn’t appear to be manned. Officials said the object was far smaller than the previous balloon, did not appear to be maneuverable and was traveling at a much lower altitude.Kirby maintained that Biden, based on the advice of the Pentagon, believed it posed enough of a concern to shoot it out of the sky — primarily because of the potential risk to civilian aircraft.“We’re going to remain vigilant about our airspace," Kirby said. "The president takes his obligations to protect our national security interests as paramount."The president was briefed on the presence of the object Thursday evening after two fighter jets surveilled it.Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters Friday that an F-22 fighter aircraft based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson shot down the object using an AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missile, the same type used to take down the balloon nearly a week ago.Ahead of the the shoot-down, the Federal Aviation Administration restricted flights over a roughly 10-square mile (26-square kilometer) area within U.S. airspace off Alaska's Bullen Point, the site of a disused U.S. Air Force radar station on the Beaufort Sea about 130 miles (210 kilometers) from the Canadian border, inside the Arctic Circle.The object fell onto frozen waters and officials expected they could recover debris faster than from last week's massive balloon. Ryder said the object was traveling northeast when it was shot down. He said several U.S. military helicopters have gone out to begin the recovery effort.The unknown object was shot down in an area with harsh weather conditions and about six and a half hours of daylight at this time of year. Daytime temperatures Friday were about minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).The development came almost a week after the U.S. shot down a suspected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina</a>&nbsp;coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a civilian craft and threatened repercussions.Biden issued the order but had wanted the balloon downed even earlier. He was advised that the best time for the operation would be when it was over water. Military officials determined that bringing it down over land from an altitude of 60,000 feet would pose an undue risk to people on the ground.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-south-carolina-china-dfa08f4f47a58a638d4ef1d3a34b2a8b">balloon was part of a large surveillance program</a>&nbsp;that China has been conducting for “several years,” the Pentagon has said. The U.S. has said Chinese balloons have flown over dozens of countries across five continents in recent years, and it learned more about the balloon program after closely monitoring the one shot down near South Carolina.China responded that it reserved the right to “take further actions” and criticized the U.S. for “an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice.”------------WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. military fighter jet shot down an unknown object flying off the coast of Alaska on Friday on orders from President Joe Biden, White House officials said.The object was flying at about 40,000 feet and posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights, said John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesman. He described the object as roughly the size of a small car and said it was shot down near the U.S.-Canada border.It was the second time in a week U.S. officials had downed some type of flying object over the U.S. On Saturday fighter jets fired a missile into a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina.There were few answers about the object, and the White House drew distinctions between the two episodes. Kirby said it wasn't yet known who owned it, and he did not say it was a balloon. Officials also couldn't say if there was any surveillance equipment on it. Kirby didn't know yet where it came from or what its purpose was.Still, it posed enough of a concern that U.S. officials felt it best to knock it out of the sky.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">So we can shoot down suspicious objects BEFORE they get over our border… Just as I suggested. <a href="https://t.co/eZcVmbMpDa">https://t.co/eZcVmbMpDa</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1624134672862089235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We’re going to remain vigilant about our airspace," Kirby said. "The president takes his obligations to protect our national security interests as paramount."Kirby said fighter pilots visually examining the object ascertained it was not manned. The president was briefed on the presence of the object Thursday evening after two fighter jets surveilled it.The object fell into frigid waters and officials expected they could recover debris faster than from last week's massive balloon.The development came almost a week after the U.S. shot down a suspected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina</a>&nbsp;coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a civilian craft and threatened repercussions.Biden issued the order but had wanted the balloon downed even earlier. He was advised that the best time for the operation would be when it was over water. Military officials determined that bringing it down over land from an altitude of 60,000 feet would pose an undue risk to people on the ground.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-south-carolina-china-dfa08f4f47a58a638d4ef1d3a34b2a8b">balloon was part of a large surveillance program</a>&nbsp;that China has been conducting for “several years,” the Pentagon has said.China responded that it reserved the right to “take further actions” and criticized the U.S. for “an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice.”--------WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon shot down an unknown object flying in U.S. airspace off the coast of Alaska on Friday on orders from President Joe Biden, White House officials said.The object was flying at about 40,000 feet and posted a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights, said John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesman. He described the object as roughly the size of a small car.It was the second time in a week U.S. officials had downed some type of flying object over the U.S. On Saturday fighter jets shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina.White House officials drew major differences between the two episodes. Kirby said it wasn't yet known who owned the object, and he did not say that it was a balloon. Officials also couldn't say if there was any surveillance equipment on it. He also didn't know yet where it came from or what its purpose was.Kirby said fight pilots visually examining the object ascertained that it was not manned.The object fell into frigid waters and officials expected they could recover debris faster than from last week's massive balloon.The development came almost a week after the U.S. shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a civilian craft and threatened repercussions.Biden issued the order but had wanted the balloon downed even earlier. He was advised that the best time for the operation would be when it was over water. Military officials determined that bringing it down over land from an altitude of 60,000 feet would pose an undue risk to people on the ground.China responded that it reserved the right to “take further actions” and criticized the U.S. for “an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice.”

🎥 US fighter jet shoots down UFO; Arctic sea recovery underway

KANSAS CITY – A&nbsp; couple was sentenced in federal court this week for a scheme to smuggle counterfeit Disney DVDs into the United States and sell them on eBay.

Tabitha Nicole Rodgers, 43, and her husband, Clint Travis Rodgers, 49, of Columbia, Missouri were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark. Tabitha Rodgers was sentenced to four years in federal prison without parole. Clint Rodgers was sentenced to one year in federal prison without parole.

The court also ordered Tabitha Rodgers to pay $26,573 in restitution to the government for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits she was not entitled to receive. The court ordered Clint Rodgers to pay a $10,000 fine.

On Oct. 12, 2021, Tabitha Rodgers pleaded guilty to one felony count of criminal copyright infringement for profit. Clint Rodgers pleaded guilty the same day to a misdemeanor count of criminal infringement of a copyright.

In July 2014, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information from the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center indicating that Clint Rodgers had received more than 443 shipments of counterfeit DVDs from companies in Hong Kong known to sell and export counterfeit goods. HSI agents identified two shipments that had been seized prior to delivery to the Rodgers’ home in Columbia. One shipment contained 200 counterfeit “Beauty and the Beast” DVDs and another shipment contained 260 counterfeit “Aladdin” DVDs. On Feb. 4, 2015, Customs and Border Protection agents seized a parcel addressed to Clint Rodgers that contained 200 counterfeit Disney DVDs.

Undercover federal agents purchased several counterfeit Disney DVDs from the Rodgers on eBay in February and March 2015. The Rodgers represented that the DVDs were genuine and authentic Disney products, when in reality, they were aware the products were counterfeit. During the investigation, agents contacted two persons who assisted the Rodgers in selling counterfeit DVDs on eBay. They told agents they were aware of numerous complaints from customers, including complaints that the DVDs didn’t work.

On Aug. 25, 2015, HSI agents executed a search warrant at the Rodgers’ residence. Agents seized an assortment of counterfeit goods, including numerous counterfeit Disney DVDs. Tabitha Rodgers admitted that she conducted the day-to-day operation of the business. She corresponded via email with the counterfeit DVD supplier in Hong Kong and placed orders for the DVDs. She also packaged and sent the DVDs to customers and processed customer complaints when DVDs were inoperable. Clint Rodgers assisted by helping recruit third parties to use their eBay accounts to sell the DVDs for them.

According to court documents, the majority, if not all, of the Rodgers’ income was derived from this criminal activity. They had been notified by Beachbody and Otter Products to cease and desist from selling counterfeit products yet continued to sell counterfeit goods. eBay cancelled a number of the Rodgers’s accounts due to counterfeit merchandise being sold, but they recruited others to sell the products.

Although they derived substantial income from selling counterfeit goods, Tabitha Rodgers sought and obtained SNAP benefits from the government to which she was not entitled. Her fraudulent conduct in obtaining benefits was considered by the court in determining an appropriate sentence and in ordering restitution.

KANSAS CITY – A&nbsp; couple was sentenced in federal court this week for a scheme to smuggle counterfeit Disney DVDs into the United States and sell them on eBay.Tabitha Nicole Rodgers, 43, and her husband, Clint Travis Rodgers, 49, of Columbia, Missouri were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark. Tabitha Rodgers was sentenced to four years in federal prison without parole. Clint Rodgers was sentenced to one year in federal prison without parole.The court also ordered Tabitha Rodgers to pay $26,573 in restitution to the government for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits she was not entitled to receive. The court ordered Clint Rodgers to pay a $10,000 fine.On Oct. 12, 2021, Tabitha Rodgers pleaded guilty to one felony count of criminal copyright infringement for profit. Clint Rodgers pleaded guilty the same day to a misdemeanor count of criminal infringement of a copyright.In July 2014, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information from the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center indicating that Clint Rodgers had received more than 443 shipments of counterfeit DVDs from companies in Hong Kong known to sell and export counterfeit goods. HSI agents identified two shipments that had been seized prior to delivery to the Rodgers’ home in Columbia. One shipment contained 200 counterfeit “Beauty and the Beast” DVDs and another shipment contained 260 counterfeit “Aladdin” DVDs. On Feb. 4, 2015, Customs and Border Protection agents seized a parcel addressed to Clint Rodgers that contained 200 counterfeit Disney DVDs.Undercover federal agents purchased several counterfeit Disney DVDs from the Rodgers on eBay in February and March 2015. The Rodgers represented that the DVDs were genuine and authentic Disney products, when in reality, they were aware the products were counterfeit. During the investigation, agents contacted two persons who assisted the Rodgers in selling counterfeit DVDs on eBay. They told agents they were aware of numerous complaints from customers, including complaints that the DVDs didn’t work.On Aug. 25, 2015, HSI agents executed a search warrant at the Rodgers’ residence. Agents seized an assortment of counterfeit goods, including numerous counterfeit Disney DVDs. Tabitha Rodgers admitted that she conducted the day-to-day operation of the business. She corresponded via email with the counterfeit DVD supplier in Hong Kong and placed orders for the DVDs. She also packaged and sent the DVDs to customers and processed customer complaints when DVDs were inoperable. Clint Rodgers assisted by helping recruit third parties to use their eBay accounts to sell the DVDs for them.According to court documents, the majority, if not all, of the Rodgers’ income was derived from this criminal activity. They had been notified by Beachbody and Otter Products to cease and desist from selling counterfeit products yet continued to sell counterfeit goods. eBay cancelled a number of the Rodgers’s accounts due to counterfeit merchandise being sold, but they recruited others to sell the products.Although they derived substantial income from selling counterfeit goods, Tabitha Rodgers sought and obtained SNAP benefits from the government to which she was not entitled. Her fraudulent conduct in obtaining benefits was considered by the court in determining an appropriate sentence and in ordering restitution.

Couple sentenced for selling counterfeit Disney movies online

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-10/after-keystone-oil-spill-kansas-democrats-want-to-cancel-tax-exemptions-when-pipelines-leak">Kansas News Service</a>

After the Keystone spilled more than half a million gallons of crude 
oil onto native prairie and cropland and into a creek, some Kansas 
lawmakers want oil companies to forfeit their tax exemptions when 
pipelines burst.

Right now, energy companies that lay pipelines in
 Kansas get to skip out on the first 10 years of paying taxes to school 
districts, county governments and other local units of government along 
their routes.

A group of 21 Democratic state lawmakers want to 
tweak Kansas law so that the exemption ends immediately if a pipeline 
carrying substances such as oil or natural gas spills or leaks within 
those 10 years.

“If you want state dollars to do a project, then you have to prove to
 be good stewards of our state’s land,” state Rep. Rui Xu said. “A spill
 like the Keystone spill obviously does not satisfy that.”

He expressed some frustration that the <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2327/" target="_blank">proposed legislation</a>
 wouldn’t apply to the current Keystone situation. The bill can’t 
function retroactively. Additionally, the Keystone pipeline’s decade of 
freedom from property taxes recently ran out.

But companies still 
enjoying that freedom for newer pipelines or planning to capitalize on 
it for future ones would need to keep their pipelines spill-free for the
 full decade.

In the case of a spill or leak within that time 
frame, a company wouldn’t just forfeit the rest of the 10-year exemption
 — it would have to cough up back taxes for all the previous years that 
the pipeline was exempt.

The money would get split up among the schools and other local taxing units along the route.

One
 leg of the Keystone pipeline runs north to south through Kansas, from 
Washington County on the Nebraska border down through Clay, Dickinson, 
Marion and Butler counties to Cowley County on the Oklahoma border.

Another leg cuts diagonally across the northeast corner of the state through Marshall, Nemaha, Brown and Doniphan counties.

The
 effect of the Keystone finally landing on the tax rolls was 
particularly dramatic for Washington County, where the pipeline 
instantly became the biggest source of local tax revenue. The <a href="https://www.backroadsnews.com/" target="_blank">Washington County News</a>
 reported last month that two school districts, the county and other 
local units of government will collect more than $1.9 million from TC 
Energy this year.

The Keystone is TC Energy’s largest oil pipeline
 system. It carries a non-conventional crude oil called diluted bitumen,
 or dilbit, from Alberta to Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas.

That 
dilbit from the Canadian tar sands doesn’t behave like regular crude 
oil, and poses special risks and challenges when it spills.

TC 
Energy said this week that bad welding and other problems contributed to
 the Keystone’s largest spill ever when the pipeline burst Dec. 7 in 
Washington County.

The company is under a federal order to 
continue analyzing what happened and whether other sections of the 
north-south stretch of pipe through Kansas are similarly vulnerable.

The Pannbacker family in Washington County, whose farm was left partly covered in crude oil from the spill, has
 expressed frustration that the federal government allowed TC Energy to 
resume pumping oil through the segment in late December, even as the 
investigation into what went wrong continues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676042746079.png" alt="The Keystone runs beneath a soybean field on the Pannbacker farm in Washington County. It's visible on snowy days because the warm, underground pipe melts the snow. The diagonal line cutting across the field is the pipeline. Much of the oil released on Dec. 7 spilled onto native prairie that the Pannbackers use for grazing cattle. Some oil splattered into this field. Chris Pannbacker stands on a ridge overlooking the field last month. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>The Keystone runs beneath a soybean field on the Pannbacker farm in Washington County. It's visible on snowy days because the warm, underground pipe melts the snow. The diagonal line cutting across the field is the pipeline. Much of the oil released on Dec. 7 spilled onto native prairie that the Pannbackers use for grazing cattle. Some oil splattered into this field. Chris Pannbacker stands on a ridge overlooking the field last month. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-10/after-keystone-oil-spill-kansas-democrats-want-to-cancel-tax-exemptions-when-pipelines-leak">Kansas News Service</a>After the Keystone spilled more than half a million gallons of crude 
oil onto native prairie and cropland and into a creek, some Kansas 
lawmakers want oil companies to forfeit their tax exemptions when 
pipelines burst.Right now, energy companies that lay pipelines in
 Kansas get to skip out on the first 10 years of paying taxes to school 
districts, county governments and other local units of government along 
their routes.A group of 21 Democratic state lawmakers want to 
tweak Kansas law so that the exemption ends immediately if a pipeline 
carrying substances such as oil or natural gas spills or leaks within 
those 10 years.“If you want state dollars to do a project, then you have to prove to
 be good stewards of our state’s land,” state Rep. Rui Xu said. “A spill
 like the Keystone spill obviously does not satisfy that.”He expressed some frustration that the <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2327/" target="_blank">proposed legislation</a>
 wouldn’t apply to the current Keystone situation. The bill can’t 
function retroactively. Additionally, the Keystone pipeline’s decade of 
freedom from property taxes recently ran out.But companies still 
enjoying that freedom for newer pipelines or planning to capitalize on 
it for future ones would need to keep their pipelines spill-free for the
 full decade.In the case of a spill or leak within that time 
frame, a company wouldn’t just forfeit the rest of the 10-year exemption
 — it would have to cough up back taxes for all the previous years that 
the pipeline was exempt.The money would get split up among the schools and other local taxing units along the route.One
 leg of the Keystone pipeline runs north to south through Kansas, from 
Washington County on the Nebraska border down through Clay, Dickinson, 
Marion and Butler counties to Cowley County on the Oklahoma border.Another leg cuts diagonally across the northeast corner of the state through Marshall, Nemaha, Brown and Doniphan counties.The
 effect of the Keystone finally landing on the tax rolls was 
particularly dramatic for Washington County, where the pipeline 
instantly became the biggest source of local tax revenue. The <a href="https://www.backroadsnews.com/" target="_blank">Washington County News</a>
 reported last month that two school districts, the county and other 
local units of government will collect more than $1.9 million from TC 
Energy this year.The Keystone is TC Energy’s largest oil pipeline
 system. It carries a non-conventional crude oil called diluted bitumen,
 or dilbit, from Alberta to Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas.That 
dilbit from the Canadian tar sands doesn’t behave like regular crude 
oil, and poses special risks and challenges when it spills.TC 
Energy said this week that bad welding and other problems contributed to
 the Keystone’s largest spill ever when the pipeline burst Dec. 7 in 
Washington County.The company is under a federal order to 
continue analyzing what happened and whether other sections of the 
north-south stretch of pipe through Kansas are similarly vulnerable.The Pannbacker family in Washington County, whose farm was left partly covered in crude oil from the spill, has
 expressed frustration that the federal government allowed TC Energy to 
resume pumping oil through the segment in late December, even as the 
investigation into what went wrong continues.

Oil spill: Kansas Dems want to cancel tax breaks when pipelines leak

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/09/house-democrat-unveils-cannabis-amnesty-bill/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Supported by dozens of his fellow representatives, House Minority 
Leader Vic Miller introduced a cannabis amnesty bill that would 
essentially decriminalize marijuana statewide.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2363_00_0000.pdf">House Bill 2363</a>,
 sponsored by Miller, a Topeka Democrat, along with 34 other 
representatives, would release anyone convicted for marijuana-related 
offenses from their sentence, and allow the expungement of 
marijuana-related convictions and arrest records from Kansans’ records. 
The bill would go into effect July 1, 2023.&nbsp;

The bill stipulates that anyone 
serving probation, parole, prison or jail sentences, along with other 
marijuana-related sentencing,&nbsp; would be immediately released, with their
 arrest records and marijuana convictions expunged and purged from all 
applicable state and federal systems, according to the bill language.&nbsp;

“It doesn’t legalize it per se, but it eliminates the serving a sentence punishment,” Miller said.&nbsp;

Miller sees the legislation as 
something of a remedy to the Legislature’s lack of action on marijuana 
legalization. While the bill’s fiscal note isn’t up yet, Miller said it 
could significantly reduce prosecution expenses.&nbsp;

“This is sort of a backdoor way of 
relieving people of the penalty,” Miller said. “And in and of itself, it
 would save in my mind, probably tens of millions of dollars related to 
those prosecutions in those incarcerations.”

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/15/kansas-medical-marijuana-committee-holds-final-meeting-prepares-for-january-legalization-push/"> have discussed medical marijuana legalization</a>, following months of&nbsp; information-gathering on the structure, taxation and other processes by a special committee.&nbsp;

A common fear is that new legalization bills will suffer the same fate as the<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb560/"> Senate Bill 560</a>,
 which would have allowed for the cultivation, distribution, processing,
 dispensing, and purchase of marijuana and paraphernalia.&nbsp;

The Kansas House approved medical 
marijuana legalization in 2021, but SB 560 died in committee during the 
previous legislative session, with Senate President Ty Masterson saying 
school funding issues were a higher priority.

“It’s on both sides of us now in 
Missouri and Colorado, Oklahoma,” Miller said. “So I don’t think we 
should, as Kansans, be in a race for last place to do something 
concerning everything. And it won’t be long before we are the last to do
 it. I think the people of Kansas are ready.”&nbsp;

The bill has been placed in the House
 Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee. Committee chairman Rep. 
Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican, said he needed to review the bill 
before making any comments.&nbsp;

Vice Chair Rep. Eric Smith, a 
Burlington Republican, said he couldn’t comment on the bill specifically
 but felt medical marijuana legislation in general needed to be more 
thought out before he would approve it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I don’t support the present way in 
which they’re trying to pass marijuana for use in medical situations,” 
Smith said. “I’m not against the use of THC for medical purposes. I 
think there is a medical need for it, but I think it needs to be done by
 those professionals in the medical field, not by the average dispensary
 run by an entrepreneur.”&nbsp;

Missouri legalized recreational 
marijuana in a November vote, with the product potentially available to 
purchase as early as this month. Kansas is one of the three states left 
with no form of marijuana — medical or recreational — legalized. The 
other two states are Idaho and Nebraska.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676045426487.png" alt="Rep. Vic Miller said he believes Kansans are ready to legalize marijuana and that decriminalization would have widespread support. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Vic Miller said he believes Kansans are ready to legalize marijuana and that decriminalization would have widespread support. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/09/house-democrat-unveils-cannabis-amnesty-bill/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Supported by dozens of his fellow representatives, House Minority 
Leader Vic Miller introduced a cannabis amnesty bill that would 
essentially decriminalize marijuana statewide.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2363_00_0000.pdf">House Bill 2363</a>,
 sponsored by Miller, a Topeka Democrat, along with 34 other 
representatives, would release anyone convicted for marijuana-related 
offenses from their sentence, and allow the expungement of 
marijuana-related convictions and arrest records from Kansans’ records. 
The bill would go into effect July 1, 2023.&nbsp;The bill stipulates that anyone 
serving probation, parole, prison or jail sentences, along with other 
marijuana-related sentencing,&nbsp; would be immediately released, with their
 arrest records and marijuana convictions expunged and purged from all 
applicable state and federal systems, according to the bill language.&nbsp;“It doesn’t legalize it per se, but it eliminates the serving a sentence punishment,” Miller said.&nbsp;Miller sees the legislation as 
something of a remedy to the Legislature’s lack of action on marijuana 
legalization. While the bill’s fiscal note isn’t up yet, Miller said it 
could significantly reduce prosecution expenses.&nbsp;“This is sort of a backdoor way of 
relieving people of the penalty,” Miller said. “And in and of itself, it
 would save in my mind, probably tens of millions of dollars related to 
those prosecutions in those incarcerations.”Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/15/kansas-medical-marijuana-committee-holds-final-meeting-prepares-for-january-legalization-push/"> have discussed medical marijuana legalization</a>, following months of&nbsp; information-gathering on the structure, taxation and other processes by a special committee.&nbsp;A common fear is that new legalization bills will suffer the same fate as the<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb560/"> Senate Bill 560</a>,
 which would have allowed for the cultivation, distribution, processing,
 dispensing, and purchase of marijuana and paraphernalia.&nbsp;The Kansas House approved medical 
marijuana legalization in 2021, but SB 560 died in committee during the 
previous legislative session, with Senate President Ty Masterson saying 
school funding issues were a higher priority.“It’s on both sides of us now in 
Missouri and Colorado, Oklahoma,” Miller said. “So I don’t think we 
should, as Kansans, be in a race for last place to do something 
concerning everything. And it won’t be long before we are the last to do
 it. I think the people of Kansas are ready.”&nbsp;The bill has been placed in the House
 Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee. Committee chairman Rep. 
Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican, said he needed to review the bill 
before making any comments.&nbsp;Vice Chair Rep. Eric Smith, a 
Burlington Republican, said he couldn’t comment on the bill specifically
 but felt medical marijuana legislation in general needed to be more 
thought out before he would approve it.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I don’t support the present way in 
which they’re trying to pass marijuana for use in medical situations,” 
Smith said. “I’m not against the use of THC for medical purposes. I 
think there is a medical need for it, but I think it needs to be done by
 those professionals in the medical field, not by the average dispensary
 run by an entrepreneur.”&nbsp;Missouri legalized recreational 
marijuana in a November vote, with the product potentially available to 
purchase as early as this month. Kansas is one of the three states left 
with no form of marijuana — medical or recreational — legalized. The 
other two states are Idaho and Nebraska.

Kansas House minority leader unveils cannabis amnesty bill

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary that include&nbsp; guns, ammunition and cash taken from a central Salina home Thursday.

A 50-year-old Salina man told police that he left for work at approximately 6 a.m. Thursday. When he returned to his residence in the 900 block of Merrill Street at approximately 3:30 p.m. Thursday, he found his kitchen window broken and the firearms and ammunition missing, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

A clothes dryer had been moved from the backyard to near the residence to help the thief gain access to the window.

The missing items included a Ruger P89 valued at $300, a green Glock valued at $700m, a Ruger 22 valued at $250, Some 22 Remington ammunition valued at $20 and $50 in cash. Damage to the window was estimated at $50.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary that include&nbsp; guns, ammunition and cash taken from a central Salina home Thursday.A 50-year-old Salina man told police that he left for work at approximately 6 a.m. Thursday. When he returned to his residence in the 900 block of Merrill Street at approximately 3:30 p.m. Thursday, he found his kitchen window broken and the firearms and ammunition missing, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.A clothes dryer had been moved from the backyard to near the residence to help the thief gain access to the window.The missing items included a Ruger P89 valued at $300, a green Glock valued at $700m, a Ruger 22 valued at $250, Some 22 Remington ammunition valued at $20 and $50 in cash. Damage to the window was estimated at $50.

Guns, ammo and cash taken in Kansas home burglary

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/08/legislation-challenges-kansas-law-allowing-city-zoning-3-miles-into-unincorporated-area-of-county/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Rep. Tim Johnson 
recalled fervor of protests three years ago when Leavenworth County 
residents rebelled against being bombarded by City of Basehor zoning 
regulations applicable to property up to three miles outside city 
limits.

“There were pitchforks, people holding torches and they had one of 
the local roofers with his tar equipment outside,” said the Republican 
House member from Bonner Springs. “Somebody was ripping up pillows for, I
 guess, feathers. I was thinking about getting a match to help light 
those torches.”

It didn’t come to tar-and-feather vigilantism, he said, but 
consternation with Kansas law giving cities zoning and planning 
authority in a three-mile band surrounding cities remained a troubling 
fact of life. While city regulations applied to residents and businesses
 in that county bandwidth, he said, people residing in the 
unincorporated region didn’t have legal right to vote in city council 
and mayoral races or on city taxation or bonding issues.

The House Local Government Committee began examination Wednesday of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/fisc_note_hb2150_00_0000.pdf">House Bill 2150</a>.
 It would repeal the three-mile law available to city councils and grant
 zoning and planning authority within that territory to county 
commissions. The bill was endorsed by two dozen House Republicans and 
one House Democrat.

Opposition came from representatives of more than a dozen cities, 
including Wichita, Manhattan, Clay Center, Moundridge, Overland Park, 
McLouth, Derby, Lawrence, Topeka, Scott City and Maize.

Spencer Duncan, governmental affairs director of the League of Kansas
 Municipalities, said amendment of state law could undermine municipal 
utility agreements, projects financed through bonding, state or federal 
regulatory practices, metropolitan or regional planning commissions and 
joint city and county infrastructure collaboration.

“A change of this magnitude needs significant study,” Duncan said. 
“The impact of this change would be long-lasting, impact the lives of 
tens of thousands of Kansans and alter a myriad of ways cities and 
counties currently operate.”

Bradley Pendergast, city administrator in Scott City, said he opposed
 the House bill because his growing community in southwest Kansas had an
 interest in making certain areas beyond the current boundary were 
regulated in a way that didn’t compromise infrastructure expansion if 
later annexed into the city. He said the county commission didn’t have a
 planning commission and passage of the bill would leave the area 
outside Scott City without proper oversight.

“The three-mile zone helps the city ensure that the health, safety 
and quality of life of our citizens are taken into consideration when 
projects are proposed,” Pendergast said.

Angel Cushing, of Allen, said she supported the House bill repealing 
the three-mile zone because current state law essentially made county 
government subservent to city government. She said Lyon County officials
 tended to surrender authority to Emporia when deciding regulations on 
zoning and planning.

In 2019, she said, it came to her attention Emporia was contemplating
 a countywide rule that would forbid barbed wire and electric fencing.

“We still have atrocious regulations for the city that are applied to
 the county,” Cushing said. “This is a theft of representation.”

Rep. Eric Smith, a Burlington Republican, was among five House GOP 
members offering testimony in support of doing away with the three-mile 
standard. He said failure to inhibit urban sprawl was detrimental to 
people who chose to live outside cities and the three-mile rule 
contributed to the problem.

“If we’re not willing to stop that — if we’re going to allow the 
urban values and needs to override those of families that have owned 
property for decades, generations even — what are we willing to do?” 
Smith said. “We need to repeal this in the interests of these property 
owners.”

Rep. Ken Corbet, R-Topeka, compared existing state law on city zoning
 of rural areas to a Kansas resident forced to abide by mandates of 
Missouri regulators.

An alternative bill was introduced by Great Bend Republican Rep. Tory
 Marie Blew that would require a city relying on the three-mile 
regulatory scheme to allow people living outside the city in that 
enclosure to vote in municipal elections and run for local public 
office. Under House Bill 2145, Blew would require city council districts
 to be redrawn.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675957336751.png" alt="Rep. Emil Bergquist, R-Park City, chaired a meeting of the House Local Government Committee to consider a bill repealing the right of cities to extend zoning regulations up to three miles into unincorporated areas beyond city limits. His committee also heard testimony on a bill allowing county residents within the three-mile radius to vote in city elections. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Emil Bergquist, R-Park City, chaired a meeting of the House Local Government Committee to consider a bill repealing the right of cities to extend zoning regulations up to three miles into unincorporated areas beyond city limits. His committee also heard testimony on a bill allowing county residents within the three-mile radius to vote in city elections. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/08/legislation-challenges-kansas-law-allowing-city-zoning-3-miles-into-unincorporated-area-of-county/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Rep. Tim Johnson 
recalled fervor of protests three years ago when Leavenworth County 
residents rebelled against being bombarded by City of Basehor zoning 
regulations applicable to property up to three miles outside city 
limits.“There were pitchforks, people holding torches and they had one of 
the local roofers with his tar equipment outside,” said the Republican 
House member from Bonner Springs. “Somebody was ripping up pillows for, I
 guess, feathers. I was thinking about getting a match to help light 
those torches.”It didn’t come to tar-and-feather vigilantism, he said, but 
consternation with Kansas law giving cities zoning and planning 
authority in a three-mile band surrounding cities remained a troubling 
fact of life. While city regulations applied to residents and businesses
 in that county bandwidth, he said, people residing in the 
unincorporated region didn’t have legal right to vote in city council 
and mayoral races or on city taxation or bonding issues.The House Local Government Committee began examination Wednesday of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/fisc_note_hb2150_00_0000.pdf">House Bill 2150</a>.
 It would repeal the three-mile law available to city councils and grant
 zoning and planning authority within that territory to county 
commissions. The bill was endorsed by two dozen House Republicans and 
one House Democrat.Opposition came from representatives of more than a dozen cities, 
including Wichita, Manhattan, Clay Center, Moundridge, Overland Park, 
McLouth, Derby, Lawrence, Topeka, Scott City and Maize.Spencer Duncan, governmental affairs director of the League of Kansas
 Municipalities, said amendment of state law could undermine municipal 
utility agreements, projects financed through bonding, state or federal 
regulatory practices, metropolitan or regional planning commissions and 
joint city and county infrastructure collaboration.“A change of this magnitude needs significant study,” Duncan said. 
“The impact of this change would be long-lasting, impact the lives of 
tens of thousands of Kansans and alter a myriad of ways cities and 
counties currently operate.”Bradley Pendergast, city administrator in Scott City, said he opposed
 the House bill because his growing community in southwest Kansas had an
 interest in making certain areas beyond the current boundary were 
regulated in a way that didn’t compromise infrastructure expansion if 
later annexed into the city. He said the county commission didn’t have a
 planning commission and passage of the bill would leave the area 
outside Scott City without proper oversight.“The three-mile zone helps the city ensure that the health, safety 
and quality of life of our citizens are taken into consideration when 
projects are proposed,” Pendergast said.<h2>Absurd ban on barbed wire?</h2>Angel Cushing, of Allen, said she supported the House bill repealing 
the three-mile zone because current state law essentially made county 
government subservent to city government. She said Lyon County officials
 tended to surrender authority to Emporia when deciding regulations on 
zoning and planning.In 2019, she said, it came to her attention Emporia was contemplating
 a countywide rule that would forbid barbed wire and electric fencing.“We still have atrocious regulations for the city that are applied to
 the county,” Cushing said. “This is a theft of representation.”Rep. Eric Smith, a Burlington Republican, was among five House GOP 
members offering testimony in support of doing away with the three-mile 
standard. He said failure to inhibit urban sprawl was detrimental to 
people who chose to live outside cities and the three-mile rule 
contributed to the problem.“If we’re not willing to stop that — if we’re going to allow the 
urban values and needs to override those of families that have owned 
property for decades, generations even — what are we willing to do?” 
Smith said. “We need to repeal this in the interests of these property 
owners.”Rep. Ken Corbet, R-Topeka, compared existing state law on city zoning
 of rural areas to a Kansas resident forced to abide by mandates of 
Missouri regulators.<h2>A voting rights alternative</h2>An alternative bill was introduced by Great Bend Republican Rep. Tory
 Marie Blew that would require a city relying on the three-mile 
regulatory scheme to allow people living outside the city in that 
enclosure to vote in municipal elections and run for local public 
office. Under House Bill 2145, Blew would require city council districts
 to be redrawn.Blew said the issue became personal after building a shed on property
 within a three miles of Great Bend. A city inspector inquired as to why
 she didn’t secure a permit for the structure. She described the permit 
requirement as a “little ridiculous.”“If you live in this area, you should have a voice,” Blew said. “If 
we are going to have to abide by city ordinances, then we should be able
 to vote on the issues as well.”Duncan, the lobbyist with the League of Kansas Municipalities, said 
the organization objected to a fundamental change in the voting process.“It would water down the rights of those who choose to live in a city
 by granting voting authority to those who choose not to live in a city 
and don’t have to follow those laws or pay city taxes,” he said. “The 
primary reason city residents vote on county commissioners is because 
they have taxing authority over city residents. The reverse is not true.
 Taxation without representation is not acceptable, but neither is 
representation without taxation.”The House committee didn’t take action on either of the city-county zoning reform bills.