DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop on Interstate 70.

Just after 10a.m. Tuesday, a Dickinson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop with a 2017 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup for a traffic infraction on Interstate 70, according to Undersheriff Jeff Vaughan.

The deputy made contact with the driver of the vehicle identified as Darren James Denter, 49, out of Old Monroe, Missouri.

The deputy detected the strong odor of marijuana during the traffic stop which led to a search of the vehicle. The search revealed 182 pounds of marijuana, 49 pounds of THC wax, 1000 Psilocybin Mushroom candy bars, 11 pounds of Psilocybin Mushrooms, 550 pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes packaged for sale, and 128 pre-packaged four gram marijuana packages. The estimated street value is over $500,000.

The sheriff booked Denter into the Dickinson County Jail on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute certain hallucinogenic and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Sheriff’s Office encouraged parents to talk to their children about accepting and consuming anything they don’t know the origin of as items such as chocolate bars and candy can be laced with illegal and harmful substances.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675873348652.png" alt="Psilocybin Mushroom candy bars -photo Dickinson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Psilocybin Mushroom candy bars -photo Dickinson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop on Interstate 70.Just after 10a.m. Tuesday, a Dickinson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop with a 2017 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup for a traffic infraction on Interstate 70, according to Undersheriff Jeff Vaughan.The deputy made contact with the driver of the vehicle identified as Darren James Denter, 49, out of Old Monroe, Missouri.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675873309102.png" alt="photo Dickinson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>photo Dickinson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>The deputy detected the strong odor of marijuana during the traffic stop which led to a search of the vehicle. The search revealed 182 pounds of marijuana, 49 pounds of THC wax, 1000 Psilocybin Mushroom candy bars, 11 pounds of Psilocybin Mushrooms, 550 pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes packaged for sale, and 128 pre-packaged four gram marijuana packages. The estimated street value is over $500,000.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675873639265.png" alt="Denter-photo Dickinson co." />
 <figcaption>Denter-photo Dickinson co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The sheriff booked Denter into the Dickinson County Jail on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute certain hallucinogenic and possession of drug paraphernalia.The Sheriff’s Office encouraged parents to talk to their children about accepting and consuming anything they don’t know the origin of as items such as chocolate bars and candy can be laced with illegal and harmful substances.

$500K worth of pot, mushroom candy seized on I-70 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Herman Jones, who has been sued for sexual harassment and retaliation, will retire in July, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday.

The governor also said Adjutant General David Weishar, who leads the Kansas National Guard and is the state's emergency management director, will retire April 1.

Jones has a 45-year career in law enforcement and was the Shawnee County sheriff before Kelly appointed him patrol superintendent in 2019.

Several women, all current and former patrol employees, sued top agency officials in federal court in 2021, alleging discrimination and a hostile work environment. Two former majors sued in 2020, alleging they were dismissed for helping women lodge complaints against top officials.

Kelly told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2023/02/08/kansas-highway-patrols-herman-jones-to-retire-amid-controversy/69884704007/">the Topeka Capitol-Journal</a>&nbsp;in December that two independent investigations found no substance to the allegations made against Jones.

Some Republican lawmakers have suggested putting the patrol under the direction of the Kansas Attorney General's office if Jones was not removed.

Kelly did not name a replacement for Jones.

Weishaar was appointed the Adjutant General on April 1, 2020. Kelly named Brig. Gen. Michael Venerdi to replace Weishaar. He currently has leadership roles with the Kansas Guard and previously was commander of the 184th Wing at McConnell Air Force Base.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly on Wednesday announced the retirements of Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel Herman Jones and Adjutant General Major General David Weishaar.

"Colonel Jones and&nbsp;General Weishaar  have together helped keep Kansans safe over the past several years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said in a media release from her office.

&nbsp;“Both have overseen immense operations throughout our entire state during challenging times, and I am grateful for their service and dedication. I wish them the best in their retirements.”

After more than 45 years in law enforcement, KHP Superintendent Colonel Herman Jones will retire from his cabinet position on July 1, 2023.

“It has been a sincere&nbsp;and distinct&nbsp;honor serving the citizens of Kansas as the Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol,”&nbsp;Colonel Herman Jones said.&nbsp;“It has been my&nbsp;endeavor to keep&nbsp;Kansas highways and communities safe.&nbsp;Through the support of&nbsp;Governor Kelly and the collaboration of many dedicated employees of the Kansas Highway Patrol, we have&nbsp;strived to maintain the integrity of this agency.”

Prior to being appointed KHP Superintendent in 2019, Jones was Shawnee County Sheriff. He has served Kansas as a police officer in Emporia, a state trooper for KHP, and an instructor at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. Under his leadership, the agency increased recruitment efforts, enhanced law enforcement equipment and training, and carried out operations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Major General David Weishaar was appointed the Adjutant General of Kansas on April 1, 2020, and has since led the 7,000 soldiers and airmen of the Kansas National Guard. In this role, he also served as the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor and Director of Emergency Management for the State of Kansas.

“Serving as the Adjutant General for the State of Kansas has been the highlight of my career,”&nbsp;Major General David Weishaar said.&nbsp;“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served the citizens of Kansas and the thousands of soldiers, airmen, and civilians who make up the Adjutant General’s Department. Any success I’ve had over the past 42 years is because of the teams I’ve been privileged to be a part of. They made it fun to come to work, even on the days we had to deal with things that weren’t fun.”

Major General Weishaar will retire on April 1, 2023. Governor Kelly will appoint Brigadier General Michael Venerdi to become Adjutant General. Vernerdi currently serves as the Chief of Staff – Air to the Adjutant General and as Director of the Joint Staff, Kansas National Guard at the Joint Force Headquarters in Topeka. He previously served as Commander of the 184th&nbsp;Wing at McConnell Air Force Base.

The Kelly Administration will announce Col. Jones’ successor in the coming months.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595516989688.png" alt="&nbsp;KHP Col. Herman Jones, in uniform at the Capitol. Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;KHP Col. Herman Jones, in uniform at the Capitol. Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Herman Jones, who has been sued for sexual harassment and retaliation, will retire in July, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday.The governor also said Adjutant General David Weishar, who leads the Kansas National Guard and is the state's emergency management director, will retire April 1.Jones has a 45-year career in law enforcement and was the Shawnee County sheriff before Kelly appointed him patrol superintendent in 2019.Several women, all current and former patrol employees, sued top agency officials in federal court in 2021, alleging discrimination and a hostile work environment. Two former majors sued in 2020, alleging they were dismissed for helping women lodge complaints against top officials.Kelly told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2023/02/08/kansas-highway-patrols-herman-jones-to-retire-amid-controversy/69884704007/">the Topeka Capitol-Journal</a>&nbsp;in December that two independent investigations found no substance to the allegations made against Jones.Some Republican lawmakers have suggested putting the patrol under the direction of the Kansas Attorney General's office if Jones was not removed.Kelly did not name a replacement for Jones.Weishaar was appointed the Adjutant General on April 1, 2020. Kelly named Brig. Gen. Michael Venerdi to replace Weishaar. He currently has leadership roles with the Kansas Guard and previously was commander of the 184th Wing at McConnell Air Force Base.--------------TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly on Wednesday announced the retirements of Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel Herman Jones and Adjutant General Major General David Weishaar."Colonel Jones and&nbsp;General Weishaar have together helped keep Kansans safe over the past several years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said in a media release from her office.&nbsp;“Both have overseen immense operations throughout our entire state during challenging times, and I am grateful for their service and dedication. I wish them the best in their retirements.”After more than 45 years in law enforcement, KHP Superintendent Colonel Herman Jones will retire from his cabinet position on July 1, 2023.“It has been a sincere&nbsp;and distinct&nbsp;honor serving the citizens of Kansas as the Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol,”&nbsp;Colonel Herman Jones said.&nbsp;“It has been my&nbsp;endeavor to keep&nbsp;Kansas highways and communities safe.&nbsp;Through the support of&nbsp;Governor Kelly and the collaboration of many dedicated employees of the Kansas Highway Patrol, we have&nbsp;strived to maintain the integrity of this agency.”Prior to being appointed KHP Superintendent in 2019, Jones was Shawnee County Sheriff. He has served Kansas as a police officer in Emporia, a state trooper for KHP, and an instructor at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. Under his leadership, the agency increased recruitment efforts, enhanced law enforcement equipment and training, and carried out operations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.Major General David Weishaar was appointed the Adjutant General of Kansas on April 1, 2020, and has since led the 7,000 soldiers and airmen of the Kansas National Guard. In this role, he also served as the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor and Director of Emergency Management for the State of Kansas.“Serving as the Adjutant General for the State of Kansas has been the highlight of my career,”&nbsp;Major General David Weishaar said.&nbsp;“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served the citizens of Kansas and the thousands of soldiers, airmen, and civilians who make up the Adjutant General’s Department. Any success I’ve had over the past 42 years is because of the teams I’ve been privileged to be a part of. They made it fun to come to work, even on the days we had to deal with things that weren’t fun.”Major General Weishaar will retire on April 1, 2023. Governor Kelly will appoint Brigadier General Michael Venerdi to become Adjutant General. Vernerdi currently serves as the Chief of Staff – Air to the Adjutant General and as Director of the Joint Staff, Kansas National Guard at the Joint Force Headquarters in Topeka. He previously served as Commander of the 184th&nbsp;Wing at McConnell Air Force Base.The Kelly Administration will announce Col. Jones’ successor in the coming months.

KHP Superintendent Jones will step down, effective July 1

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 19-year-old accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-shootings-kansas-af49bdbb75fa7df79770b541bfd02b9b">shooting a school resource officer</a>&nbsp;during a scuffle at a Kansas high school pleaded not guilty and was bound over for trial.

Jaylon Elmore entered his plea Monday during a preliminary hearing on charges of attempted capital murder, felony possession of a firearm and two counts of criminal use of a weapon.

Elmore is accused of shooting school resource officer Erik Clark in the March 4 shooting in the assistant principal's office at Olathe East High School.

Prosecutors allege Elmore, who was a senior at the time, was called to the office when he refused to allow school officials to search his backpack after reports that he had a gun.

Clark and Elmore shot each other during the scuffle, according to court documents. The assistant principal was hit by bullets “most likely” shot by Clark during the confrontation, investigators said.

Both men survived their injuries and were released shortly after the shooting. Elmore was hospitalized in critical condition for several months.

Elmore's scheduling trial is set for April 10. He is being held on $1 million bond, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article272241893.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652189950125.png" alt="Elmore-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Elmore-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 19-year-old accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-shootings-kansas-af49bdbb75fa7df79770b541bfd02b9b">shooting a school resource officer</a>&nbsp;during a scuffle at a Kansas high school pleaded not guilty and was bound over for trial.Jaylon Elmore entered his plea Monday during a preliminary hearing on charges of attempted capital murder, felony possession of a firearm and two counts of criminal use of a weapon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646417385414.png" alt="-Scene outside the school on the morning of the shooting -photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>-Scene outside the school on the morning of the shooting -photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Elmore is accused of shooting school resource officer Erik Clark in the March 4 shooting in the assistant principal's office at Olathe East High School.Prosecutors allege Elmore, who was a senior at the time, was called to the office when he refused to allow school officials to search his backpack after reports that he had a gun.Clark and Elmore shot each other during the scuffle, according to court documents. The assistant principal was hit by bullets “most likely” shot by Clark during the confrontation, investigators said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646450835191.png" alt="-Erik Clark-photo courtesy Olathe Police" />
 <figcaption>-Erik Clark-photo courtesy Olathe Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Both men survived their injuries and were released shortly after the shooting. Elmore was hospitalized in critical condition for several months.Elmore's scheduling trial is set for April 10. He is being held on $1 million bond, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article272241893.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>.

Student enters plea in shooting at Kansas high school

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden exhorted Congress Tuesday night to work with him to “finish the job” of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he delivered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/state-of-the-union-address">State of the Union address</a>.

Kansas Senior Senator Jerry Moran disagreed with the President's optimism. In a statement from his office, Moran wrote, “The American people need look no further than their grocery receipts and bank accounts to understand the grave state of our union. President Biden’s policies have contributed to high inflation, driven up prices by more than 13 percent over the past two years and stifled American energy production – leading to higher energy bills and high gas prices.

Kansas junior Senator Roger Marshall agreed with Moran "This President and his allies in Congress have recklessly borrowed and spent our nation into a recession. Under President Biden’s tenure inflation is up over 13 percent. For&nbsp;anyone who fills their car up with gas, goes to the grocery store, who pays their rent or home heating bill, inflation is outpacing wages and Social Security checks, and Americans are feeling the pinch."

In his 73-minute speech, Biden sought to portray a nation dramatically improved from the one he took charge of two years ago: from a reeling economy to one prosperous with new jobs; from a crippled, pandemic-weary nation to one that has now reopened, and a democracy that has survived its biggest test since the Civil War.

Moran continued,&nbsp;“The American people elected a politically-divided Congress not to continue the discord in Washington but to force their elected leaders to find common ground and commonsense solutions. When President Biden was running for office, he stated he would be a middle-ground President." 

"I urge President Biden to work with elected officials across the aisle to pass policies that reduce inflation, find consensus on the border crisis and send a clear message to our adversaries that we are a strong, unified nation.”

Kansas Third District Rep. Sharice Davids, a democrat, didn't agree with everything she heard from the President.

“Tonight, I was looking for President Biden to share his plan for the challenges ahead, domestic and international, and to acknowledge the need for continued oversight and implementation on the bipartisan accomplishments of the last two years—particularly the infrastructure law and new domestic manufacturing investments."

"I heard those things from the President, even though I didn’t agree with all of them, she wrote&nbsp; in a statement from her office.&nbsp; "I believe both parties should be open to conversations about the upcoming debt limit—though I don’t think threatening Medicare and Social Security is an appropriate negotiating tactic. I appreciated the President’s attention on China, both in an economic and national security context, and I hope that will be an area of bipartisan cooperation in Congress. I think we can all agree we should make more in America.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675822682128.png" alt="Senator Roger Marshall entering the House Chamber ahead of the State of the Union address-image courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Senator Roger Marshall entering the House Chamber ahead of the State of the Union address-image courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden exhorted Congress Tuesday night to work with him to “finish the job” of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he delivered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/state-of-the-union-address">State of the Union address</a>.Kansas Senior Senator Jerry Moran disagreed with the President's optimism. In a statement from his office, Moran wrote, “The American people need look no further than their grocery receipts and bank accounts to understand the grave state of our union. President Biden’s policies have contributed to high inflation, driven up prices by more than 13 percent over the past two years and stifled American energy production – leading to higher energy bills and high gas prices.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Inflation. Open Borders. Chinese Aggression. We need to responsibly and honestly examine the state of our union after two years of Joe Biden. <a href="https://t.co/BcptrEKAHj">pic.twitter.com/BcptrEKAHj</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1623176962486198272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas junior Senator Roger Marshall agreed with Moran "This President and his allies in Congress have recklessly borrowed and spent our nation into a recession. Under President Biden’s tenure inflation is up over 13 percent. For&nbsp;anyone who fills their car up with gas, goes to the grocery store, who pays their rent or home heating bill, inflation is outpacing wages and Social Security checks, and Americans are feeling the pinch."In his 73-minute speech, Biden sought to portray a nation dramatically improved from the one he took charge of two years ago: from a reeling economy to one prosperous with new jobs; from a crippled, pandemic-weary nation to one that has now reopened, and a democracy that has survived its biggest test since the Civil War.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I&#39;m on my way to the House Floor for President Biden&#39;s State of the Union Address. It&#39;s my hope that tonight President Biden addresses the critical issues facing our communities and acknowledges that the state of our union is in crisis. It&#39;s time to get America back on track. <a href="https://t.co/QiULECuk14">pic.twitter.com/QiULECuk14</a>&mdash; Rep. Jake LaTurner (@RepLaTurner) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLaTurner/status/1623130629956149249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Moran continued,&nbsp;“The American people elected a politically-divided Congress not to continue the discord in Washington but to force their elected leaders to find common ground and commonsense solutions. When President Biden was running for office, he stated he would be a middle-ground President." "I urge President Biden to work with elected officials across the aisle to pass policies that reduce inflation, find consensus on the border crisis and send a clear message to our adversaries that we are a strong, unified nation.”Kansas Third District Rep. Sharice Davids, a democrat, didn't agree with everything she heard from the President.“Tonight, I was looking for President Biden to share his plan for the challenges ahead, domestic and international, and to acknowledge the need for continued oversight and implementation on the bipartisan accomplishments of the last two years—particularly the infrastructure law and new domestic manufacturing investments.""I heard those things from the President, even though I didn’t agree with all of them, she wrote&nbsp; in a statement from her office.&nbsp; "I believe both parties should be open to conversations about the upcoming debt limit—though I don’t think threatening Medicare and Social Security is an appropriate negotiating tactic. I appreciated the President’s attention on China, both in an economic and national security context, and I hope that will be an area of bipartisan cooperation in Congress. I think we can all agree we should make more in America.”

Kansas lawmakers respond to the State of the Union address

WASHINGTON (AP) — Navy divers began pulling pieces of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-antony-blinken-china-b1b03193b7abeb7bbeca169bbc7c2c53">downed Chinese spy balloon</a>&nbsp;from the depths of the ocean floor on Tuesday, using sophisticated reconnaissance drones dubbed the Kingfish and the Swordfish to locate the debris.

After collecting all of the balloon's white fabric and shell structure found floating on the surface, the Navy has now shifted to an all-underwater search for the remnants of the massive balloon that a U.S. fighter jet shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday, officials said.

Navy and Coast Guard personnel were using underwater drones to locate and map the debris field, and divers were in the water gathering up what they could, officials said.

The debris already collected was being hauled by small boats to a few area locations, including a Coast Guard station south of Myrtle Beach, and, depending on the size, will eventually go either to the FBI lab at Quantico, Virginia, or other sites where experts can analyze it, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of an ongoing military operation.

The head of U.S. Northern Command, Gen. Glen VanHerck, who is in charge of the recovery effort, and several Biden administration officials will brief members of Congress on the balloon on Wednesday and Thursday.

Lawmakers have raised a number of questions about whether the balloon was able to collect intelligence and transmit it back to China during the time it traveled eastward across the United States, after crossing the border from Canada into Idaho.

White House and Pentagon officials have largely avoided providing any details on the balloon's capabilities.

Officials said Tuesday the U.S. was very aware of the sites the balloon crossed over — including nuclear missile silos and other military installations — and knows how to protect them from any intelligence collection. Even if the balloon was able to transmit, they said, it wasn't getting any new or important information to send.

The officials were unwilling to provide any insight into what the U.S. has been able to glean about the balloon’s collection and transmission abilities.

The balloon, an estimated 200 feet (60 meters) tall, was carrying a long sensor package underneath, which VanHerck estimated was the size of a small regional jet.

U.S. counterintelligence teams hope to learn far more about the sensors and other equipment on the balloon as they retrieve it and study it.

The balloon debris is scattered in waters that are about 50 feet (15 meters) deep, but stretch across an area 15 football fields long and 15 football fields across, VanHerck said.

In new images released Tuesday morning, sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 can be seen leaning over a rigid hull inflatable boat and pulling in broad swaths of the balloon’s white outer fabric and shell structure.

VanHerck has also said the recovery teams were taking precautions to safeguard against the chance any part of the balloon was rigged with explosives or was dangerous in any way.

A Navy warship, the USS Carter Hall, is heading the recovery effort, aided by three Coast Guard cutters — the Venturous, the Richard Snyder and the Nathan Bruckenthal — as well as the USNS Pathfinder, an oceanographic survey ship. A salvage ship is expected to arrive on Wednesday.

The Pentagon said Tuesday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requested a secure call with his Chinese counterpart, Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe, on Saturday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">after the balloon was shot down</a>. China declined the request, said Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.

“Lines between our militaries are particularly important in moments like this. ... Our commitment to open lines of communication will continue,” Ryder said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675809745976.jpeg" alt="This image provided by the U.S. Navy shows sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recovering a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 5, 2023. (U.S. Navy via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This image provided by the U.S. Navy shows sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recovering a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 5, 2023. (U.S. Navy via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Navy divers began pulling pieces of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-antony-blinken-china-b1b03193b7abeb7bbeca169bbc7c2c53">downed Chinese spy balloon</a>&nbsp;from the depths of the ocean floor on Tuesday, using sophisticated reconnaissance drones dubbed the Kingfish and the Swordfish to locate the debris.After collecting all of the balloon's white fabric and shell structure found floating on the surface, the Navy has now shifted to an all-underwater search for the remnants of the massive balloon that a U.S. fighter jet shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday, officials said.Navy and Coast Guard personnel were using underwater drones to locate and map the debris field, and divers were in the water gathering up what they could, officials said.The debris already collected was being hauled by small boats to a few area locations, including a Coast Guard station south of Myrtle Beach, and, depending on the size, will eventually go either to the FBI lab at Quantico, Virginia, or other sites where experts can analyze it, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of an ongoing military operation.The head of U.S. Northern Command, Gen. Glen VanHerck, who is in charge of the recovery effort, and several Biden administration officials will brief members of Congress on the balloon on Wednesday and Thursday.Lawmakers have raised a number of questions about whether the balloon was able to collect intelligence and transmit it back to China during the time it traveled eastward across the United States, after crossing the border from Canada into Idaho.White House and Pentagon officials have largely avoided providing any details on the balloon's capabilities.Officials said Tuesday the U.S. was very aware of the sites the balloon crossed over — including nuclear missile silos and other military installations — and knows how to protect them from any intelligence collection. Even if the balloon was able to transmit, they said, it wasn't getting any new or important information to send.The officials were unwilling to provide any insight into what the U.S. has been able to glean about the balloon’s collection and transmission abilities.The balloon, an estimated 200 feet (60 meters) tall, was carrying a long sensor package underneath, which VanHerck estimated was the size of a small regional jet.U.S. counterintelligence teams hope to learn far more about the sensors and other equipment on the balloon as they retrieve it and study it.The balloon debris is scattered in waters that are about 50 feet (15 meters) deep, but stretch across an area 15 football fields long and 15 football fields across, VanHerck said.In new images released Tuesday morning, sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 can be seen leaning over a rigid hull inflatable boat and pulling in broad swaths of the balloon’s white outer fabric and shell structure.VanHerck has also said the recovery teams were taking precautions to safeguard against the chance any part of the balloon was rigged with explosives or was dangerous in any way.A Navy warship, the USS Carter Hall, is heading the recovery effort, aided by three Coast Guard cutters — the Venturous, the Richard Snyder and the Nathan Bruckenthal — as well as the USNS Pathfinder, an oceanographic survey ship. A salvage ship is expected to arrive on Wednesday.The Pentagon said Tuesday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requested a secure call with his Chinese counterpart, Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe, on Saturday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">after the balloon was shot down</a>. China declined the request, said Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.“Lines between our militaries are particularly important in moments like this. ... Our commitment to open lines of communication will continue,” Ryder said.

Cleanup continues: Pentagon quiet on spy balloon's capabilities

CASS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal semi, Amtrak train crash have identified the driver who died as Patrick E. Metz, 34, Kansas City.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Ford FedEx delivery truck driven by Metz was southbound on Hereford Road just south of Smart Road.

The driver failed to stop at a stop sign and traveled into the path of an eastbound Amtrak train.&nbsp; After impact, Metz was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other injuries.&nbsp; Metz was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

CASS COUNTY —One person died in an accident with a train just before 9:30a.m. Tuesday south of Kansas City.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol a FedEx truck&nbsp; was attempting to cross the railroad tracks on Hereford Road at Smart Road near Pleasant Hill.

The driver of the truck failed to yield. A southbound Amtrak train struck the FedEx truck. The truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

 There were no injuries on the train. Pleasant Hill is approximately 35 miles southeast of Kansas City.&nbsp; Authorities have not released the driver's name.&nbsp; 

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675806122893.png" alt="Scene of the fatal crash investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the fatal crash investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal semi, Amtrak train crash have identified the driver who died as Patrick E. Metz, 34, Kansas City.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Ford FedEx delivery truck driven by Metz was southbound on Hereford Road just south of Smart Road.The driver failed to stop at a stop sign and traveled into the path of an eastbound Amtrak train.&nbsp; After impact, Metz was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other injuries.&nbsp; Metz was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.------CASS COUNTY —One person died in an accident with a train just before 9:30a.m. Tuesday south of Kansas City.According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol a FedEx truck&nbsp; was attempting to cross the railroad tracks on Hereford Road at Smart Road near Pleasant Hill.The driver of the truck failed to yield. A southbound Amtrak train struck the FedEx truck. The truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">UPDATE: Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner Train 318 will now terminate east of Lees Summit (LEE) due to a vehicle strike. Alternate transportation will be provided.&mdash; Amtrak Alerts (@AmtrakAlerts) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmtrakAlerts/status/1623008342883938337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> There were no injuries on the train. Pleasant Hill is approximately 35 miles southeast of Kansas City.&nbsp; Authorities have not released the driver's name.&nbsp; Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Patrol IDs KC FedEx driver who died in crash with Amtrak train

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden exhorted Congress Tuesday night to work with him to “finish the job” of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he delivered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/state-of-the-union-address">State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;aimed at reassuring a country beset by pessimism and fraught political divisions.

Click below to watch a replay of the address.

“Folks, the story of America is a story of progress and resilience. Of always moving forward. Of never, ever, giving up,” Biden said. “It’s a story unique among all nations. We’re the only country that has emerged from every crisis we’ve ever entered stronger than when we got into it.”

“We’re not finished yet by any stretch of the imagination," he declared.

The backdrop for the annual address was markedly different from the previous two years, with a Republican speaker now sitting expressionless behind Biden and newly empowered GOP lawmakers in the chamber sometimes shouting criticism of him and his administration.

As Biden, 80, prepares for a likely reelection bid, he sought to prove to a skeptical nation that his stewardship has delivered results both at home and abroad. He highlighted record job creation during his tenure as the country has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, and pointed to areas of bipartisan progress in his first two years in office, including on states’ vital infrastructure projects and high-tech manufacturing. And he said, “There is no reason we can’t work together and find consensus on important thing in this Congress as well."

“The people sent us a clear message. Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict, gets us nowhere,” Biden said. “That’s always been my vision for the country: to restore the soul of the nation, to rebuild the backbone of America — the middle class — and unite the country.”

“We’ve been sent here to finish the job!”

But the challenges for Biden are many: economic uncertainty, a wearying war in Ukraine, growing tensions with China and more. Signs of past trauma at the Capitol, most notably the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, were unavoidable: A large fence encircled the complex, and lawmakers and those in attendance faced tighter-than-usual security.

From the start, the heightened partisan divisions were clear. Democrats — including Vice President Kamala Harris — jumped to applause as Biden began his speech. New Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, though he had greeted the president warmly when he entered the chamber, stayed in his seat.

The speech came as Biden has shifted his sights after spending his first two years pushing through major bills such as the bipartisan infrastructure package, legislation to promote high-tech manufacturing and climate measures. With Republicans now in control of the House, and even meeting the government’s fiscal obligations far from certain, Biden is turning his focus to implementing those massive laws and making sure voters credit him for the improvements.

Instead of flashy proposals, the president offered an encouraging assessment of the nation’s condition, declaring that two years after the Capitol attack, America’s democracy was “unbowed and unbroken.”

The president took to the House rostrum at a time when just a quarter of U.S. adults say things are headed in the right direction, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About three-quarters say things are on the wrong track. And a majority of Democrats don’t want Biden to seek another term.

He sought to confront those sentiments head-on.

“You wonder whether the path even exists anymore for your children to get ahead without having to move away,” Biden said. “I get that. That’s why we’re building an economy where no one is left behind. Jobs are coming back, pride is coming back because of the choices we made in the last several years.”

Biden on Wednesday was to travel to Wisconsin, as he and members of his Cabinet embark on a two-day, 20-state blitz to highlight economic progress in his first two years in office.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who gained a national profile as former President Donald Trump’s press secretary, delivered the Republican response to Biden’s speech.

She focused much of her remarks on social issues, including race in business and education and alleged big-tech censorship of conservatives.

“While you reap the consequences of their failures, the Biden administration seems more interested in woke fantasies than the hard reality Americans face every day,” she said. “Most Americans simply want to live their lives in freedom and peace, but we are under attack in a left-wing culture war we didn’t start and never wanted to fight.”

“The choice is between normal and crazy,” she added.

With COVID-19 restrictions now lifted, the White House and legislators from both parties invited guests designed to drive home political messages with their presence in the House chamber. The mother and stepfather of Tyre Nichols, who was severely beaten by police officers in Memphis and later died, were among those seated with first lady Jill Biden. Other Biden guests included the rock star/humanitarian Bono and 26-year-old Brandon Tsay, who disarmed a gunman in last month’s Monterey Park, California, shooting.

“There's no words to describe the heartache and grief of losing a child,” Biden said after introducing RowVaughn and Rodney Wells to a standing ovation. He called on Congress to “rise to this moment" to make meaningful change in policing.

Biden drew bipartisan applause when he praised most law enforcement officers as “good, decent, honorable people” but added that “when police officers or police departments violate the public’s trust, they must be held accountable."

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus invited family members of those involved in police incidents, as they sought to press for action on police reform in the wake of Nichols’ death.

Biden, not known for his lofty oratory, appeared relaxed and confident as he delivered his address. He casually adlibbed jokes and rejoinders, seeming to feed off the responses from Democratic lawmakers who frequently stood with thunderous ovations and playfully engaging with Republican critics.

Addressing Republicans who voted against the big bipartisan infrastructure law, Biden said he'd still ensure their pet projects received federal support. “I promised to be the president for all Americans," he said. "We’ll fund these projects. And I’ll see you at the ground-breaking.”

Occasional Republican heckling — some drawing hushes from McCarthy — reflected the newly empowered GOP that is itching to undo many of Biden's achievements and vowing to pursue a multitude of investigations — including looking into the recent discoveries of classified documents from his time as vice president at his home and former office.

Though he pledged bipartisanship where possible, Biden also underscored the sharp tensions that exist: He discussed GOP efforts to repeal the Democrats' 2022 climate change and healthcare law and their reluctance to increase the federal debt limit, the nation’s legal borrowing authority that must be raised later this year or risk default.

“Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans — some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset. I am not saying it’s a majority,” Biden said. As GOP lawmakers in the audience pushed back, Biden responded: “We’re not going to be moved into being threatened to default on the debt if we don’t respond.”

Still, some Republicans refused to back down, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and others jumping to their feet, some yelling “Liar!”

The president answered back, “Stand up and show them: We will not cut Social Security! We will not cut Medicare!”

As Republicans continued to protest his accusations, he said, “We’ve got unanimity."

While hopes for large-scale bipartisanship are slim, Biden reissued his 2022 appeal for Congress to get behind his “unity agenda” of actions to address the opioid epidemic, mental health, veterans’ health and cancer.

In fiery refrains, Biden said the phrase “finish the job” 13 times, challenging lawmakers to complete the work of his administration on capping insulin costs for all Americans, confronting climate change, raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations and banning assault-style weapons. But on all of those fronts, the divided government is even less likely to yield than the Congress under sole Democratic control.

The speech came days after Biden ordered the military to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew brazenly across the country, captivating the nation and serving as a reminder of tense relations between the two global powers.

“Make no mistake: As we made clear last week, if China’s threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country,” Biden said. “And we did.”

Last year’s address occurred just days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and as many in the West doubted Kyiv’s ability to withstand the onslaught. Over the past year, the U.S. and other allies have sent tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to bolster Ukraine’s defenses. Now, Biden must make the case — both at home and abroad — for sustaining that coalition as the war drags on.

“Together, we did what America always does at our best,” Biden said. “We led. We united NATO. We built a global coalition. We stood against Putin’s aggression. We stood with the Ukrainian people.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is using his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/state-of-the-union-address">State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;Tuesday night to call on Republicans to work with him to “finish the job” of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he seeks to overcome pessimism in the country and navigate political divisions in Washington.

The annual speech comes as the nation struggles to make sense of confounding cross-currents at home and abroad — economic uncertainty, a wearying war in Ukraine, growing tensions with China and more — and warily sizes up Biden’s fitness for a likely reelection bid. The president is offering a reassuring assessment of the nation's condition&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-privacy-united-states-government-veterans-ae670a0ca55f83a4216f44d284b7fd28">rather than rolling out flashy policy proposals</a>.

"The story of America is a story of progress and resilience," Biden is declaring, according to excerpts released in advance by the White House. He's highlighting record job creation under his tenure as the country has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. And he's declaring that two years after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, the country's democracy is “unbowed and unbroken.”

With Republicans now in control of the House, Biden is pointing areas of bipartisan progress in his first two years in office, including on states' vital infrastructure and high tech manufacturing. And he says, "There is no reason we can’t work together in this new Congress.”

“The people sent us a clear message. Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict, gets us nowhere,” Biden is saying. “And that’s always been my vision for the country: to restore the soul of the nation, to rebuild the backbone of America — the middle class — to unite the country."

"We’ve been sent here to finish the job!”

The president is taking the House rostrum at a time when just a quarter of U.S. adults say things in the country are headed in the right direction, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-biden-2024-presidential-prospects-c843c5af6775b4c8a0cff8e2b1db03f6">a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>. About three-quarters say things are on the wrong track. And a majority of Democrats don’t want Biden to seek another term.

He is confronting those sentiments head on, aides say.

"You wonder whether a path even exists anymore for you and your children to get ahead without moving away, I get it,” Biden says. “That’s why we’re building an economy where no one is left behind. Jobs are coming back, pride is coming back because of the choices we made in the last two years.”

The setting for Biden's speech looks markedly different from a year ago, when it was Democratic stalwart Nancy Pelosi seated behind him as House speaker — though tighter-than-usual security measures returned in a vestige of the 2021 attack. Pelosi's been replaced by Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>, and it was unclear what kind of reception restive Republicans in the chamber would give the Democratic president.

McCarthy on Monday vowed to be “respectful” during the address and in turn asked Biden to refrain from using the phrase “extreme MAGA Republicans,” which the president deployed on the campaign trail in 2022.

“I won’t tear up the speech, I won’t play games,” McCarthy told reporters, a reference to Pelosi’s dramatic action after President Donald Trump’s final State of the Union address.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who gained a national profile as Trump’s press secretary, was to deliver the Republican response to Biden’s speech.

She was to focus much of her remarks on social issues, including race in business and education and alleged big-tech censorship of conservatives.

“While you reap the consequences of their failures, the Biden administration seems more interested in woke fantasies than the hard reality Americans face every day,” she was to say, according to excerpts released by her office. “Most Americans simply want to live their lives in freedom and peace, but we are under attack in a left-wing culture war we didn’t start and never wanted to fight.”

With COVID-19 restrictions now lifted, the White House and legislators from both parties invited guests designed to drive home political messages with their presence in the House chamber. The parents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tyre-nichols">Tyre Nichols</a>, who was severely beaten by police officers in Memphis and later died, are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-the-union-biden-guests-cc0d350feb6264e3ce9305355720c508">among those expected to be seated with first lady Jill Biden.</a>&nbsp;Other Biden guests include the rock star/humanitarian Bono and the 26-year-old who disarmed a gunman in last month’s Monterey Park, California, shooting.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus invited family members of those involved in police incidents, as they sought to press for action on police reform in the wake of Nichols' death. A White House fact sheet ahead of the speech paired police reform with bringing down violence, suggesting that giving police better training tools could lead to less crime nationwide.

Biden is shifting his sights after spending his first two years pushing through major bills such as the bipartisan infrastructure package, legislation to promote high-tech manufacturing and climate measures. With Republicans now in control of the House, he is turning his focus to implementing those massive laws and making sure voters credit him for the improvements.

The switch is largely by necessity. The newly empowered GOP is itching to undo many of his achievements and vowing to pursue a multitude of investigations — including looking into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-indiana-d6ce5c8f83a3cec3307f0f9f8311b8d7">recent discoveries of classified documents</a>&nbsp;from his time as vice president at his home and former office.

At the same time, Biden will need to find a way to work across the aisle to keep the government funded by raising the federal debt limit by this summer. He has insisted that he won’t negotiate on meeting the country’s debt obligations; Republicans have been equally adamant that he must make spending concessions.

On the eve of the president's address, McCarthy challenged Biden to come to the negotiating table with House Republicans to slash spending as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling.

“We must move towards a balanced budget and insist on genuine accountability for every dollar we spend,” McCarthy said.

While hopes for large-scale bipartisanship are slim, Biden was reissuing his 2022 appeal for Congress to get behind his “unity agenda” of actions to address the opioid epidemic, mental health, veterans’ health and cancer. He was to announce new executive action and call for lawmakers to act to support new measures to support cancer research, address housing needs and suicide among veterans, boost access to mental health care, and move to further crack down on deadly trafficking in fentanyl.

The White House said the president would call for extending the new $35 per month price cap on insulin for people on Medicare to everyone in the country. He would also push Congress to quadruple the 1% tax on corporate share buybacks that was enacted in the Democrats' climate and health care bill passed last year known as the Inflation Reduction Act.

The speech comes days after Biden ordered the military to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew brazenly across the country, captivating the nation and serving as a reminder of tense relations between the two global powers.

Last year's address occurred just days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and as many in the West doubted Kyiv’s ability to withstand the onslaught. Over the past year, the U.S. and other allies have sent tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to bolster Ukraine’s defenses. Now, Biden must make the case — both at home and abroad — for sustaining that coalition as the war drags on.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675822907381.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden exhorted Congress Tuesday night to work with him to “finish the job” of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he delivered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/state-of-the-union-address">State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;aimed at reassuring a country beset by pessimism and fraught political divisions.Click below to watch a replay of the address.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1151832212147559%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1094" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>In his 73-minute speech, Biden sought to portray a nation dramatically improved from the one he took charge of two years ago: from a reeling economy to one prosperous with new jobs; from a crippled, pandemic-weary nation to one that has now reopened, and a democracy that has survived its biggest test since the Civil War.“Folks, the story of America is a story of progress and resilience. Of always moving forward. Of never, ever, giving up,” Biden said. “It’s a story unique among all nations. We’re the only country that has emerged from every crisis we’ve ever entered stronger than when we got into it.”“We’re not finished yet by any stretch of the imagination," he declared.The backdrop for the annual address was markedly different from the previous two years, with a Republican speaker now sitting expressionless behind Biden and newly empowered GOP lawmakers in the chamber sometimes shouting criticism of him and his administration.As Biden, 80, prepares for a likely reelection bid, he sought to prove to a skeptical nation that his stewardship has delivered results both at home and abroad. He highlighted record job creation during his tenure as the country has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, and pointed to areas of bipartisan progress in his first two years in office, including on states’ vital infrastructure projects and high-tech manufacturing. And he said, “There is no reason we can’t work together and find consensus on important thing in this Congress as well."“The people sent us a clear message. Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict, gets us nowhere,” Biden said. “That’s always been my vision for the country: to restore the soul of the nation, to rebuild the backbone of America — the middle class — and unite the country.”“We’ve been sent here to finish the job!”But the challenges for Biden are many: economic uncertainty, a wearying war in Ukraine, growing tensions with China and more. Signs of past trauma at the Capitol, most notably the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, were unavoidable: A large fence encircled the complex, and lawmakers and those in attendance faced tighter-than-usual security.From the start, the heightened partisan divisions were clear. Democrats — including Vice President Kamala Harris — jumped to applause as Biden began his speech. New Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, though he had greeted the president warmly when he entered the chamber, stayed in his seat.The speech came as Biden has shifted his sights after spending his first two years pushing through major bills such as the bipartisan infrastructure package, legislation to promote high-tech manufacturing and climate measures. With Republicans now in control of the House, and even meeting the government’s fiscal obligations far from certain, Biden is turning his focus to implementing those massive laws and making sure voters credit him for the improvements.Instead of flashy proposals, the president offered an encouraging assessment of the nation’s condition, declaring that two years after the Capitol attack, America’s democracy was “unbowed and unbroken.”The president took to the House rostrum at a time when just a quarter of U.S. adults say things are headed in the right direction, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About three-quarters say things are on the wrong track. And a majority of Democrats don’t want Biden to seek another term.He sought to confront those sentiments head-on.“You wonder whether the path even exists anymore for your children to get ahead without having to move away,” Biden said. “I get that. That’s why we’re building an economy where no one is left behind. Jobs are coming back, pride is coming back because of the choices we made in the last several years.”Biden on Wednesday was to travel to Wisconsin, as he and members of his Cabinet embark on a two-day, 20-state blitz to highlight economic progress in his first two years in office.Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who gained a national profile as former President Donald Trump’s press secretary, delivered the Republican response to Biden’s speech.She focused much of her remarks on social issues, including race in business and education and alleged big-tech censorship of conservatives.“While you reap the consequences of their failures, the Biden administration seems more interested in woke fantasies than the hard reality Americans face every day,” she said. “Most Americans simply want to live their lives in freedom and peace, but we are under attack in a left-wing culture war we didn’t start and never wanted to fight.”“The choice is between normal and crazy,” she added.With COVID-19 restrictions now lifted, the White House and legislators from both parties invited guests designed to drive home political messages with their presence in the House chamber. The mother and stepfather of Tyre Nichols, who was severely beaten by police officers in Memphis and later died, were among those seated with first lady Jill Biden. Other Biden guests included the rock star/humanitarian Bono and 26-year-old Brandon Tsay, who disarmed a gunman in last month’s Monterey Park, California, shooting.“There's no words to describe the heartache and grief of losing a child,” Biden said after introducing RowVaughn and Rodney Wells to a standing ovation. He called on Congress to “rise to this moment" to make meaningful change in policing.Biden drew bipartisan applause when he praised most law enforcement officers as “good, decent, honorable people” but added that “when police officers or police departments violate the public’s trust, they must be held accountable."Members of the Congressional Black Caucus invited family members of those involved in police incidents, as they sought to press for action on police reform in the wake of Nichols’ death.Biden, not known for his lofty oratory, appeared relaxed and confident as he delivered his address. He casually adlibbed jokes and rejoinders, seeming to feed off the responses from Democratic lawmakers who frequently stood with thunderous ovations and playfully engaging with Republican critics.Addressing Republicans who voted against the big bipartisan infrastructure law, Biden said he'd still ensure their pet projects received federal support. “I promised to be the president for all Americans," he said. "We’ll fund these projects. And I’ll see you at the ground-breaking.”Occasional Republican heckling — some drawing hushes from McCarthy — reflected the newly empowered GOP that is itching to undo many of Biden's achievements and vowing to pursue a multitude of investigations — including looking into the recent discoveries of classified documents from his time as vice president at his home and former office.Though he pledged bipartisanship where possible, Biden also underscored the sharp tensions that exist: He discussed GOP efforts to repeal the Democrats' 2022 climate change and healthcare law and their reluctance to increase the federal debt limit, the nation’s legal borrowing authority that must be raised later this year or risk default.“Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans — some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset. I am not saying it’s a majority,” Biden said. As GOP lawmakers in the audience pushed back, Biden responded: “We’re not going to be moved into being threatened to default on the debt if we don’t respond.”Still, some Republicans refused to back down, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and others jumping to their feet, some yelling “Liar!”The president answered back, “Stand up and show them: We will not cut Social Security! We will not cut Medicare!”As Republicans continued to protest his accusations, he said, “We’ve got unanimity."While hopes for large-scale bipartisanship are slim, Biden reissued his 2022 appeal for Congress to get behind his “unity agenda” of actions to address the opioid epidemic, mental health, veterans’ health and cancer.In fiery refrains, Biden said the phrase “finish the job” 13 times, challenging lawmakers to complete the work of his administration on capping insulin costs for all Americans, confronting climate change, raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations and banning assault-style weapons. But on all of those fronts, the divided government is even less likely to yield than the Congress under sole Democratic control.The speech came days after Biden ordered the military to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew brazenly across the country, captivating the nation and serving as a reminder of tense relations between the two global powers.“Make no mistake: As we made clear last week, if China’s threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country,” Biden said. “And we did.”Last year’s address occurred just days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and as many in the West doubted Kyiv’s ability to withstand the onslaught. Over the past year, the U.S. and other allies have sent tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to bolster Ukraine’s defenses. Now, Biden must make the case — both at home and abroad — for sustaining that coalition as the war drags on.“Together, we did what America always does at our best,” Biden said. “We led. We united NATO. We built a global coalition. We stood against Putin’s aggression. We stood with the Ukrainian people.”___WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is using his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/state-of-the-union-address">State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;Tuesday night to call on Republicans to work with him to “finish the job” of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he seeks to overcome pessimism in the country and navigate political divisions in Washington.The annual speech comes as the nation struggles to make sense of confounding cross-currents at home and abroad — economic uncertainty, a wearying war in Ukraine, growing tensions with China and more — and warily sizes up Biden’s fitness for a likely reelection bid. The president is offering a reassuring assessment of the nation's condition&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-privacy-united-states-government-veterans-ae670a0ca55f83a4216f44d284b7fd28">rather than rolling out flashy policy proposals</a>."The story of America is a story of progress and resilience," Biden is declaring, according to excerpts released in advance by the White House. He's highlighting record job creation under his tenure as the country has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. And he's declaring that two years after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, the country's democracy is “unbowed and unbroken.”With Republicans now in control of the House, Biden is pointing areas of bipartisan progress in his first two years in office, including on states' vital infrastructure and high tech manufacturing. And he says, "There is no reason we can’t work together in this new Congress.”“The people sent us a clear message. Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict, gets us nowhere,” Biden is saying. “And that’s always been my vision for the country: to restore the soul of the nation, to rebuild the backbone of America — the middle class — to unite the country.""We’ve been sent here to finish the job!”The president is taking the House rostrum at a time when just a quarter of U.S. adults say things in the country are headed in the right direction, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-biden-2024-presidential-prospects-c843c5af6775b4c8a0cff8e2b1db03f6">a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>. About three-quarters say things are on the wrong track. And a majority of Democrats don’t want Biden to seek another term.He is confronting those sentiments head on, aides say."You wonder whether a path even exists anymore for you and your children to get ahead without moving away, I get it,” Biden says. “That’s why we’re building an economy where no one is left behind. Jobs are coming back, pride is coming back because of the choices we made in the last two years.”The setting for Biden's speech looks markedly different from a year ago, when it was Democratic stalwart Nancy Pelosi seated behind him as House speaker — though tighter-than-usual security measures returned in a vestige of the 2021 attack. Pelosi's been replaced by Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>, and it was unclear what kind of reception restive Republicans in the chamber would give the Democratic president.McCarthy on Monday vowed to be “respectful” during the address and in turn asked Biden to refrain from using the phrase “extreme MAGA Republicans,” which the president deployed on the campaign trail in 2022.“I won’t tear up the speech, I won’t play games,” McCarthy told reporters, a reference to Pelosi’s dramatic action after President Donald Trump’s final State of the Union address.Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who gained a national profile as Trump’s press secretary, was to deliver the Republican response to Biden’s speech.She was to focus much of her remarks on social issues, including race in business and education and alleged big-tech censorship of conservatives.“While you reap the consequences of their failures, the Biden administration seems more interested in woke fantasies than the hard reality Americans face every day,” she was to say, according to excerpts released by her office. “Most Americans simply want to live their lives in freedom and peace, but we are under attack in a left-wing culture war we didn’t start and never wanted to fight.”With COVID-19 restrictions now lifted, the White House and legislators from both parties invited guests designed to drive home political messages with their presence in the House chamber. The parents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tyre-nichols">Tyre Nichols</a>, who was severely beaten by police officers in Memphis and later died, are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-the-union-biden-guests-cc0d350feb6264e3ce9305355720c508">among those expected to be seated with first lady Jill Biden.</a>&nbsp;Other Biden guests include the rock star/humanitarian Bono and the 26-year-old who disarmed a gunman in last month’s Monterey Park, California, shooting.Members of the Congressional Black Caucus invited family members of those involved in police incidents, as they sought to press for action on police reform in the wake of Nichols' death. A White House fact sheet ahead of the speech paired police reform with bringing down violence, suggesting that giving police better training tools could lead to less crime nationwide.Biden is shifting his sights after spending his first two years pushing through major bills such as the bipartisan infrastructure package, legislation to promote high-tech manufacturing and climate measures. With Republicans now in control of the House, he is turning his focus to implementing those massive laws and making sure voters credit him for the improvements.The switch is largely by necessity. The newly empowered GOP is itching to undo many of his achievements and vowing to pursue a multitude of investigations — including looking into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-indiana-d6ce5c8f83a3cec3307f0f9f8311b8d7">recent discoveries of classified documents</a>&nbsp;from his time as vice president at his home and former office.At the same time, Biden will need to find a way to work across the aisle to keep the government funded by raising the federal debt limit by this summer. He has insisted that he won’t negotiate on meeting the country’s debt obligations; Republicans have been equally adamant that he must make spending concessions.On the eve of the president's address, McCarthy challenged Biden to come to the negotiating table with House Republicans to slash spending as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling.“We must move towards a balanced budget and insist on genuine accountability for every dollar we spend,” McCarthy said.While hopes for large-scale bipartisanship are slim, Biden was reissuing his 2022 appeal for Congress to get behind his “unity agenda” of actions to address the opioid epidemic, mental health, veterans’ health and cancer. He was to announce new executive action and call for lawmakers to act to support new measures to support cancer research, address housing needs and suicide among veterans, boost access to mental health care, and move to further crack down on deadly trafficking in fentanyl.The White House said the president would call for extending the new $35 per month price cap on insulin for people on Medicare to everyone in the country. He would also push Congress to quadruple the 1% tax on corporate share buybacks that was enacted in the Democrats' climate and health care bill passed last year known as the Inflation Reduction Act.The speech comes days after Biden ordered the military to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew brazenly across the country, captivating the nation and serving as a reminder of tense relations between the two global powers.Last year's address occurred just days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and as many in the West doubted Kyiv’s ability to withstand the onslaught. Over the past year, the U.S. and other allies have sent tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to bolster Ukraine’s defenses. Now, Biden must make the case — both at home and abroad — for sustaining that coalition as the war drags on.

🎥 Biden in State of Union exhorts Congress: 'Finish the job'

AUBURN, Wash. (AP) — A single winning ticket for a $754.6 million Powerball jackpot was sold at a department store in a Seattle suburb, Washington state lottery officials said Tuesday.

The winning numbers drawn Monday night were 5, 11, 22, 23, 69 and the Powerball 7.

The winning ticket was bought Sunday at a Fred Meyer store in Auburn, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Seattle, lottery officials said. The store will receive a $50,000 bonus.

It’s the second time a Powerball jackpot ticket was sold in Washington state, and both tickets were purchased in Auburn. The first was a $90 million jackpot in 2014.

Lottery officials said another $1 million prize from a ticket bought in Airway Heights, near Spokane, in November remains unclaimed. Lottery winners have 180 days to claim their prizes.

Powerball officials said in a statement early Tuesday that a single ticket matched all six numbers and that ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/puerto-rico-district-of-columbia-lotteries-aebd6cfb391e3272b8a03b58fea15f67">an earlier $747 million estimate</a>.

The full jackpot is for a winner opting for an annuity distributed in one immediate but partial payout followed by additional payments over 29 years that increase by 5% annually. The winner also can opt for a one-time cash payment of $407.2 million.

Both prizes available are the amounts before taxes, Powerball said.

The estimated jackpot for the next drawing scheduled for Wednesday is $20 million, according to the lottery's website.

Monday night's win was the first Powerball jackpot win since Nov. 19. That winless streak allowed the prize to grow larger and larger until it became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-california-a11cb275a36848310e05ed56608c656c">the ninth-largest in U.S. history</a>.

Higher interest rates have allowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">annuity payments</a>&nbsp;to increase compared with earlier jackpots, when rates were lower. Most winners prefer the immediate cash prize.

The game’s abysmal odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. That strategy certainly has worked recently: Someone in Maine won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-district-of-columbia-business-786d5aa2ae76e1f7c4153fdb8b9782fe">$1.35 billion Mega Millions prize</a>&nbsp;in January and a California player hit a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot last November. No one has claimed either of those prizes.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AUBURN, Wash. (AP) — A single winning ticket for a $754.6 million Powerball jackpot was sold at a department store in a Seattle suburb, Washington state lottery officials said Tuesday.The winning numbers drawn Monday night were 5, 11, 22, 23, 69 and the Powerball 7.The winning ticket was bought Sunday at a Fred Meyer store in Auburn, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Seattle, lottery officials said. The store will receive a $50,000 bonus.The winner has not yet come forward.It’s the second time a Powerball jackpot ticket was sold in Washington state, and both tickets were purchased in Auburn. The first was a $90 million jackpot in 2014.Lottery officials said another $1 million prize from a ticket bought in Airway Heights, near Spokane, in November remains unclaimed. Lottery winners have 180 days to claim their prizes.Powerball officials said in a statement early Tuesday that a single ticket matched all six numbers and that ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/puerto-rico-district-of-columbia-lotteries-aebd6cfb391e3272b8a03b58fea15f67">an earlier $747 million estimate</a>.The full jackpot is for a winner opting for an annuity distributed in one immediate but partial payout followed by additional payments over 29 years that increase by 5% annually. The winner also can opt for a one-time cash payment of $407.2 million.Both prizes available are the amounts before taxes, Powerball said.The estimated jackpot for the next drawing scheduled for Wednesday is $20 million, according to the lottery's website.Monday night's win was the first Powerball jackpot win since Nov. 19. That winless streak allowed the prize to grow larger and larger until it became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-california-a11cb275a36848310e05ed56608c656c">the ninth-largest in U.S. history</a>.Higher interest rates have allowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">annuity payments</a>&nbsp;to increase compared with earlier jackpots, when rates were lower. Most winners prefer the immediate cash prize.The game’s abysmal odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. That strategy certainly has worked recently: Someone in Maine won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-district-of-columbia-business-786d5aa2ae76e1f7c4153fdb8b9782fe">$1.35 billion Mega Millions prize</a>&nbsp;in January and a California player hit a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot last November. No one has claimed either of those prizes.Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.___

One lucky player wins $754.6M Powerball prize

WASHINGTON — In the latest improvement for taxpayers, the Internal 
Revenue Service announced today that people electronically filing their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040x">Form 1040-X, Amended U.S Individual Income Tax Return</a>, will for the first time be able to select direct deposit for any resulting refund.

Previously, taxpayers who filed Form 1040-X with the IRS had to wait 
for a paper check for any refund, a step that added time onto the 
amended return process. Now, anyone who electronically files the Form 
1040-X can select direct deposit and enter their banking or financial 
institution information for quicker delivery of refunds. Taxpayers file a
 total of approximately 3 million amended returns each year.

"This is a big win for taxpayers and another achievement as we 
transform the IRS to improve taxpayer experiences," said IRS Acting 
Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "This important update will cut refund time
 and reduce inconvenience for people who file amended returns. We always
 encourage direct deposit whenever possible. Getting tax refunds into 
taxpayers' hands quickly without worry of a lost or stolen paper check 
just makes sense."

The IRS began accepting the Form 1040-X electronically in 2020 but 
until now did not offer direct deposit as an option for a refund. 
Following IRS system updates, those filing amended returns can now enjoy
 the same speed and security of direct deposit as those filing an 
original Form 1040 tax return. Taxpayers filing an original tax return 
using tax preparation software can file an electronic Form 1040-X if the
 software manufacturer offers that service.

This is the latest step the IRS is taking to improve service this tax
 filing season. As part of funding for the Inflation Reduction Act, the 
IRS has hired more than 5,000 new telephone assistors and is adding 
staff to IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs). The IRS also plans 
special service hours at dozens of TACS across the country on four 
Saturdays between February and May.

No matter how a taxpayer files the amended return, they can still use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return">Where's My Amended Return?</a>&nbsp;online tool to check the status.

Taxpayers still have the option to submit a paper version of the Form
 1040-X and receive a paper check. They should follow the instructions 
for preparing and submitting the paper form. Direct deposit is not 
available on amended returns submitted on paper.

Current processing time is more than 20 weeks for both paper and 
electronically filed amended returns, as processing an amended return 
remains a manual process even if it's filed electronically. However, 
filing electronically cuts out the mail time, and including direct 
deposit information on an electronically submitted form provides a 
convenient and secure way to receive refunds faster.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — In the latest improvement for taxpayers, the Internal 
Revenue Service announced today that people electronically filing their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040x">Form 1040-X, Amended U.S Individual Income Tax Return</a>, will for the first time be able to select direct deposit for any resulting refund.Previously, taxpayers who filed Form 1040-X with the IRS had to wait 
for a paper check for any refund, a step that added time onto the 
amended return process. Now, anyone who electronically files the Form 
1040-X can select direct deposit and enter their banking or financial 
institution information for quicker delivery of refunds. Taxpayers file a
 total of approximately 3 million amended returns each year."This is a big win for taxpayers and another achievement as we 
transform the IRS to improve taxpayer experiences," said IRS Acting 
Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "This important update will cut refund time
 and reduce inconvenience for people who file amended returns. We always
 encourage direct deposit whenever possible. Getting tax refunds into 
taxpayers' hands quickly without worry of a lost or stolen paper check 
just makes sense."The IRS began accepting the Form 1040-X electronically in 2020 but 
until now did not offer direct deposit as an option for a refund. 
Following IRS system updates, those filing amended returns can now enjoy
 the same speed and security of direct deposit as those filing an 
original Form 1040 tax return. Taxpayers filing an original tax return 
using tax preparation software can file an electronic Form 1040-X if the
 software manufacturer offers that service.This is the latest step the IRS is taking to improve service this tax
 filing season. As part of funding for the Inflation Reduction Act, the 
IRS has hired more than 5,000 new telephone assistors and is adding 
staff to IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs). The IRS also plans 
special service hours at dozens of TACS across the country on four 
Saturdays between February and May.No matter how a taxpayer files the amended return, they can still use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return">Where's My Amended Return?</a>&nbsp;online tool to check the status.Taxpayers still have the option to submit a paper version of the Form
 1040-X and receive a paper check. They should follow the instructions 
for preparing and submitting the paper form. Direct deposit is not 
available on amended returns submitted on paper.Current processing time is more than 20 weeks for both paper and 
electronically filed amended returns, as processing an amended return 
remains a manual process even if it's filed electronically. However, 
filing electronically cuts out the mail time, and including direct 
deposit information on an electronically submitted form provides a 
convenient and secure way to receive refunds faster.

New IRS features allow taxpayers electronically filing to speed refunds

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man convicted of killing his live-in girlfriend and her three young children was executed Tuesday despite his claims that he was in another state when the killings occurred.

Raheem Taylor, 58, was the third Missouri inmate put to death since November at the state prison in Bonne Terre. It was the nation’s fifth execution this year, following a previous execution in Missouri, two in Texas and one in Oklahoma. All were by lethal injection.

Taylor kicked his feet as the 5 grams of pentobarbital were administered, then took five or six deep breaths before all movement stopped. In a final statement, Taylor said Muslims don’t die but “live eternally in the hearts of our family and friends.”

“Death is not your enemy, it is your destiny. Look forward to meeting it. Peace!” he wrote in the statement.

Taylor, who previously went by the first name Leonard, long maintained that he was in California when Angela Rowe, her 10-year-old daughter Alexus Conley, 6-year-old daughter AcQreya Conley, and 5-year-old son Tyrese Conley were killed in 2004. His supporters included the national NAACP, nearly three dozen civil rights and religious groups and the Midwest Innocence Project.

But Taylor’s innocence claims were turned aside time and again. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, a Democrat, last week declined Taylor’s request for a hearing before a judge, stating the “facts are not there to support a credible case of innocence.”

Republican Gov. Mike Parson declined to grant clemency on Monday, the same day the Missouri Supreme Court denied a stay request. Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene.

There was no question that Taylor was not in Missouri when the bodies were found. What isn’t known for certain is when the family was killed.

Taylor and Rowe lived with the children at a home in the St. Louis suburb of Jennings. Taylor boarded a flight to California on Nov. 26, 2004.

On Dec. 3, 2004, police were sent to the home in Jennings after worried relatives said they hadn’t heard from Rowe. Officers found the bodies of Rowe and her children. All four had been shot.

The initial finding by a medical examiner was that the killings likely happened within a few days of the discovery of the bodies — when Taylor was in California. But at Taylor’s trial, Medical Examiner Phillip Burch said the killings could have happened two or three weeks before the discovery of the bodies.

Taylor’s attorney, Kent Gipson, said that several people, including relatives of Rowe and a neighbor, saw Rowe alive in the days after Taylor left St. Louis. Meanwhile, Taylor’s daughter in California, Deja Taylor, claimed in a court filing that she and her father called Angela Rowe and one of the children during his visit. The court filing said Deja Taylor’s mother and sister corroborated her story.

Bob McCulloch, who was St. Louis County’s elected prosecutor at the time of the killings, said Taylor’s claim of innocence was “nonsense,” and the alibis provided by his daughter and her relatives were “completely made up.”

McCulloch told The Associated Press that evidence suggested Rowe and the kids were killed on the night of Nov. 22 or on Nov. 23, at a time when Taylor was still in St. Louis. He noted that Rowe typically made around 70 outgoing calls or texts each day. Starting Nov. 23, she made none.

Meanwhile, DNA from Rowe’s blood was found on Taylor’s glasses when he was arrested, a relative taking him to the airport saw Taylor toss a gun into the sewer, and Taylor’s brother told police that Taylor admitted to the crime, McCulloch said. Authorities believe Taylor shot Rowe during a violent argument, then killed the children because they were witnesses.

All three recent Missouri executions involved cases out of St. Louis County. Kevin Johnson was executed in November for killing a police officer in 2005. Amber McLaughlin was put to death Jan. 3 for killing a woman in 2003. It was believed to be the first execution of a transgender woman in the U.S.

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to halt the execution of a Missouri man convicted of killing his live-in girlfriend and her three young children nearly two decades ago — apparently clearing the way for the execution to proceed.

Attorney Kent Gipson hds asked the Supreme Court to grant a stay of execution and appoint a special master to review Raheem Taylor’s case, arguing that his client is innocent and that executing him would be a “constitutionally intolerable event.” A similar request to the Missouri Supreme Court was turned aside late Monday and prosecutors have said Taylor's claim of innocence is “nonsense."

Taylor, 58, is scheduled to die Tuesday evening at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri.

Taylor has long maintained that he was in California when Angela Rowe, her 10-year-old daughter Alexus Conley, 6-year-old daughter AcQreya Conley, and 5-year-old son Tyrese Conley were killed in 2004.

A medical examiner initially said the family was likely killed shortly before the bodies were found. At trial, the medical examiner had a different take, saying the family was probably slain much earlier, when Taylor was still in Missouri.

The Midwest Innocence Project, the national NAACP and several Missouri civil rights and religious groups also called for a stay of execution.

Last month, Taylor's attorneys petitioned St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell to ask a judge for a new hearing on the innocence claim, as allowed by a relatively new Missouri law.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-state-government-california-st-louis-crime-f527565eb092ff8f1df97db3f216c37c">Bell declined</a>, finding no "credible case of innocence.” On Monday, he reiterated his belief that the jury “got the verdict right.”

Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homicide-naacp-california-missouri-children-7946cb7e87d468b5df9af935ff34559d">Gov. Mike Parson denied a clemency</a>&nbsp;request on Monday, dismissing Taylor's “self-serving claim of innocence.”

At Taylor’s trial, Medical Examiner Phillip Burch said the killings could have happened two or three weeks before the discovery of the bodies, long before Taylor's trip to California.

But Gipson said that several people, including relatives of Rowe and a neighbor, saw Rowe alive in the days after Taylor left St. Louis. Meanwhile, Taylor’s daughter in California, Deja Taylor, claimed in a court filing that she and her father called Angela Rowe and one of the children during his visit. The court filing said Deja Taylor’s mother and sister corroborated her story.

Meanwhile, DNA from Rowe’s blood was found on Taylor’s glasses when he was arrested and a relative who took him to the airport saw Taylor toss a gun into the sewer, McCulloch said. Authorities believe Taylor shot Rowe during a violent argument, then killed the children because they were witnesses.

The execution would be the third in three months in Missouri.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-executions-st-louis-missouri-7d4caf03a8eec955deb54a4b2f68a50b">Kevin Johnson</a>&nbsp;was executed in November for killing a police officer in 2005.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-legal-proceedings-missouri-st-louis-capital-punishment-b45a31029fa42d9eb67b5b4e1f6a6ffe">Amber McLaughlin</a>&nbsp;was put to death Jan. 3 for killing a woman in 2003. It was believed to be the first execution of a transgender woman in the U.S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673437071153.png" alt="Taylor was convicted of killing his live-in girlfriend and her three young children nearly two decades ago-photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Taylor was convicted of killing his live-in girlfriend and her three young children nearly two decades ago-photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man convicted of killing his live-in girlfriend and her three young children was executed Tuesday despite his claims that he was in another state when the killings occurred.Raheem Taylor, 58, was the third Missouri inmate put to death since November at the state prison in Bonne Terre. It was the nation’s fifth execution this year, following a previous execution in Missouri, two in Texas and one in Oklahoma. All were by lethal injection.Taylor kicked his feet as the 5 grams of pentobarbital were administered, then took five or six deep breaths before all movement stopped. In a final statement, Taylor said Muslims don’t die but “live eternally in the hearts of our family and friends.”“Death is not your enemy, it is your destiny. Look forward to meeting it. Peace!” he wrote in the statement.Taylor, who previously went by the first name Leonard, long maintained that he was in California when Angela Rowe, her 10-year-old daughter Alexus Conley, 6-year-old daughter AcQreya Conley, and 5-year-old son Tyrese Conley were killed in 2004. His supporters included the national NAACP, nearly three dozen civil rights and religious groups and the Midwest Innocence Project.But Taylor’s innocence claims were turned aside time and again. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, a Democrat, last week declined Taylor’s request for a hearing before a judge, stating the “facts are not there to support a credible case of innocence.”Republican Gov. Mike Parson declined to grant clemency on Monday, the same day the Missouri Supreme Court denied a stay request. Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene.There was no question that Taylor was not in Missouri when the bodies were found. What isn’t known for certain is when the family was killed.Taylor and Rowe lived with the children at a home in the St. Louis suburb of Jennings. Taylor boarded a flight to California on Nov. 26, 2004.On Dec. 3, 2004, police were sent to the home in Jennings after worried relatives said they hadn’t heard from Rowe. Officers found the bodies of Rowe and her children. All four had been shot.The initial finding by a medical examiner was that the killings likely happened within a few days of the discovery of the bodies — when Taylor was in California. But at Taylor’s trial, Medical Examiner Phillip Burch said the killings could have happened two or three weeks before the discovery of the bodies.Taylor’s attorney, Kent Gipson, said that several people, including relatives of Rowe and a neighbor, saw Rowe alive in the days after Taylor left St. Louis. Meanwhile, Taylor’s daughter in California, Deja Taylor, claimed in a court filing that she and her father called Angela Rowe and one of the children during his visit. The court filing said Deja Taylor’s mother and sister corroborated her story.Bob McCulloch, who was St. Louis County’s elected prosecutor at the time of the killings, said Taylor’s claim of innocence was “nonsense,” and the alibis provided by his daughter and her relatives were “completely made up.”McCulloch told The Associated Press that evidence suggested Rowe and the kids were killed on the night of Nov. 22 or on Nov. 23, at a time when Taylor was still in St. Louis. He noted that Rowe typically made around 70 outgoing calls or texts each day. Starting Nov. 23, she made none.Meanwhile, DNA from Rowe’s blood was found on Taylor’s glasses when he was arrested, a relative taking him to the airport saw Taylor toss a gun into the sewer, and Taylor’s brother told police that Taylor admitted to the crime, McCulloch said. Authorities believe Taylor shot Rowe during a violent argument, then killed the children because they were witnesses.All three recent Missouri executions involved cases out of St. Louis County. Kevin Johnson was executed in November for killing a police officer in 2005. Amber McLaughlin was put to death Jan. 3 for killing a woman in 2003. It was believed to be the first execution of a transgender woman in the U.S.-----------------------BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to halt the execution of a Missouri man convicted of killing his live-in girlfriend and her three young children nearly two decades ago — apparently clearing the way for the execution to proceed.Attorney Kent Gipson hds asked the Supreme Court to grant a stay of execution and appoint a special master to review Raheem Taylor’s case, arguing that his client is innocent and that executing him would be a “constitutionally intolerable event.” A similar request to the Missouri Supreme Court was turned aside late Monday and prosecutors have said Taylor's claim of innocence is “nonsense."Taylor, 58, is scheduled to die Tuesday evening at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri.Taylor has long maintained that he was in California when Angela Rowe, her 10-year-old daughter Alexus Conley, 6-year-old daughter AcQreya Conley, and 5-year-old son Tyrese Conley were killed in 2004.A medical examiner initially said the family was likely killed shortly before the bodies were found. At trial, the medical examiner had a different take, saying the family was probably slain much earlier, when Taylor was still in Missouri.The Midwest Innocence Project, the national NAACP and several Missouri civil rights and religious groups also called for a stay of execution.Last month, Taylor's attorneys petitioned St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell to ask a judge for a new hearing on the innocence claim, as allowed by a relatively new Missouri law.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-state-government-california-st-louis-crime-f527565eb092ff8f1df97db3f216c37c">Bell declined</a>, finding no "credible case of innocence.” On Monday, he reiterated his belief that the jury “got the verdict right.”Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homicide-naacp-california-missouri-children-7946cb7e87d468b5df9af935ff34559d">Gov. Mike Parson denied a clemency</a>&nbsp;request on Monday, dismissing Taylor's “self-serving claim of innocence.”Taylor and Rowe lived with the children at a home in the St. Louis suburb of Jennings. Taylor boarded a flight to California on Nov. 26, 2004.On Dec. 3, 2004, police were sent to the home in Jennings after worried relatives said they hadn’t heard from Rowe. Officers found the bodies of Rowe and her children. All four had been shot.At Taylor’s trial, Medical Examiner Phillip Burch said the killings could have happened two or three weeks before the discovery of the bodies, long before Taylor's trip to California.But Gipson said that several people, including relatives of Rowe and a neighbor, saw Rowe alive in the days after Taylor left St. Louis. Meanwhile, Taylor’s daughter in California, Deja Taylor, claimed in a court filing that she and her father called Angela Rowe and one of the children during his visit. The court filing said Deja Taylor’s mother and sister corroborated her story.Bob McCulloch, who was St. Louis County’s elected prosecutor at the time of the killings, said Taylor’s claim of innocence was “nonsense,” and the alibis provided by his daughter and her relatives were “completely made up.”McCulloch told The Associated Press that evidence suggested Rowe and the kids were killed on the night of Nov. 22 or on Nov. 23, at a time when Taylor was still in St. Louis. He noted that Rowe typically made around 70 outgoing calls or texts each day. Starting Nov. 23, she made none.Meanwhile, DNA from Rowe’s blood was found on Taylor’s glasses when he was arrested and a relative who took him to the airport saw Taylor toss a gun into the sewer, McCulloch said. Authorities believe Taylor shot Rowe during a violent argument, then killed the children because they were witnesses.The execution would be the third in three months in Missouri.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-executions-st-louis-missouri-7d4caf03a8eec955deb54a4b2f68a50b">Kevin Johnson</a>&nbsp;was executed in November for killing a police officer in 2005.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-legal-proceedings-missouri-st-louis-capital-punishment-b45a31029fa42d9eb67b5b4e1f6a6ffe">Amber McLaughlin</a>&nbsp;was put to death Jan. 3 for killing a woman in 2003. It was believed to be the first execution of a transgender woman in the U.S.

Killer of girlfriend, 3 kids makes statement before execution

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two former officials in a small St. Louis County town pleaded guilty this week to federal charges of embezzling about $647,000 from the town, which has an annual budget of $450,000.

The former clerk in Flordell Hill, Maureen Woodson, 68, pleaded guilty on Monday to mail fraud and wire fraud after admitting that she stole $487,673 from the town, which has about 1,200 residents.

The former assistant city clerk, 76-year-old Donna Thompson, pleaded guilty to the same charges Tuesday. She admitted embezzling $159,903. The embezzlement occurred between February 2016 and April 2022, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/ex-flordell-hills-officials-plead-guilty-to-embezzling-647-000-from-city/article_a1574fb8-17e3-5a4f-b766-d105a1a4e929.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">reported</a>.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two former officials in a small St. Louis County town pleaded guilty this week to federal charges of embezzling about $647,000 from the town, which has an annual budget of $450,000.The former clerk in Flordell Hill, Maureen Woodson, 68, pleaded guilty on Monday to mail fraud and wire fraud after admitting that she stole $487,673 from the town, which has about 1,200 residents.The former assistant city clerk, 76-year-old Donna Thompson, pleaded guilty to the same charges Tuesday. She admitted embezzling $159,903. The embezzlement occurred between February 2016 and April 2022, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/ex-flordell-hills-officials-plead-guilty-to-embezzling-647-000-from-city/article_a1574fb8-17e3-5a4f-b766-d105a1a4e929.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">reported</a>.Woodson will be sentenced May 16 and Thompson will be sentenced May 17. Both women will be required to pay back the money.Woodson and Thompson, who lived together, wrote about 614 checks to themselves and forged the signature of either the mayor or the treasurer on the checks, according to a plea agreement.They used the money to pay their rent, as well as for gambling and personal expenses.