GEARY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a drug overdose death and have made an arrest.

On August 22, police responded to a call of an unresponsive subject in the 1500 Block of Patriot Drive in Junction City, according to a media release.

First responders discovered Caytlin P. Hinkle, 19, of Junction City unresponsive. EMS attempted to resuscitate her but she was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

Following an autopsy, it was determined that Hinkle’s cause of death was “Acute Fentanyl Intoxication.” 

Following a 5-month investigation, on Thursday afternoon, detectives within the Junction City Police Department’s Drug Task Force arrested Alyzah Benitez, 22, of Junction City, in connection with Hinkle's death

&nbsp;Benitez is being held on requested charges of Distribution of a controlled substance causing great bodily harm or death. Ms. Benitez was transported to the Geary County Detention Facility where she is being held with no bond pending a first appearance in Geary County District Court.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674817344508.png" alt="Benitez-photo Geary Co." />
 <figcaption>Benitez-photo Geary Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a drug overdose death and have made an arrest.On August 22, police responded to a call of an unresponsive subject in the 1500 Block of Patriot Drive in Junction City, according to a media release.First responders discovered Caytlin P. Hinkle, 19, of Junction City unresponsive. EMS attempted to resuscitate her but she was pronounced deceased at the scene. Following an autopsy, it was determined that Hinkle’s cause of death was “Acute Fentanyl Intoxication.” Following a 5-month investigation, on Thursday afternoon, detectives within the Junction City Police Department’s Drug Task Force arrested Alyzah Benitez, 22, of Junction City, in connection with Hinkle's death&nbsp;Benitez is being held on requested charges of Distribution of a controlled substance causing great bodily harm or death. Ms. Benitez was transported to the Geary County Detention Facility where she is being held with no bond pending a first appearance in Geary County District Court.&nbsp;

Kan. woman accused in 19-year-old's fentanyl overdose death

JOHNSON COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just before 8a.m. Thursday in Johnson County.

The Overland Park police reported a vehicle driven by&nbsp;26-year-old&nbsp; Marquan Wilson, Kansas City, Missouri&nbsp;was entering northbound on U.S. 69 Highway from the ramp of westbound Interstate 435. 

While traveling north on U.S. 69, Wilson initiated a lane change and struck a northbound vehicle.&nbsp;

After impact, Wilson driver lost control of the car. It struck the cement barrier and rolled Wilson and a passenger identified as&nbsp;44-year-old r Amie Wood of Kansas City, Missouri were ejected and pronounced deceased on scene. There were no other injuries reported.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674786619219.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the fatal crash investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the fatal crash investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just before 8a.m. Thursday in Johnson County.The Overland Park police reported a vehicle driven by&nbsp;26-year-old&nbsp; Marquan Wilson, Kansas City, Missouri&nbsp;was entering northbound on U.S. 69 Highway from the ramp of westbound Interstate 435. While traveling north on U.S. 69, Wilson initiated a lane change and struck a northbound vehicle.&nbsp;After impact, Wilson driver lost control of the car. It struck the cement barrier and rolled Wilson and a passenger identified as&nbsp;44-year-old r Amie Wood of Kansas City, Missouri were ejected and pronounced deceased on scene. There were no other injuries reported.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation.

2 from Missouri dead after ejected in crash on Kansas highway

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. special operations forces have killed a senior Islamic State group official and 10 other terrorist operatives in remote northern Somalia, the Biden administration announced Thursday.

The operation carried out on Wednesday targeted Bilal al-Sudani, a key financial facilitator for the global terrorist organization, in a mountainous cave complex.

“This action leaves the United States and its partners safer and more secure, and it reflects our steadfast commitment to protecting Americans from the threat of terrorism at home and abroad,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3279923/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-somalia-operation/">said in a statement.</a>

President Joe Biden was briefed last week about the proposed mission, which came together after months of planning. He gave final approval to carry out the operation this week following the recommendation of Austin and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Mark Milley, according to two senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters on the operation on the condition of anonymity.

Al-Sudani, who has been on the radar for U.S. intelligence officials for years, played a key role in helping to fund IS operations in Africa as well as the ISIS-K terrorist branch operating in Afghanistan, Austin said.

The U.S. Treasury Department alleged last year that al-Sudani had worked closely with another IS operative, Abdella Hussein Abadigga, who had recruited young men in South Africa and sent them to a weapons training camp.

Abadigga, who controlled two mosques in South Africa, used his position to extort money from members of the mosques. Al-Sudani considered Abadigga a trusted supporter who could help the IS supporters in South Africa become better organized and recruit new members, according to Treasury..

Al-Sudani had originally been designated the Treasury Department in 2012 for his role with al-Shabab, another terrorist organization operating in Somalia. He helped foreign fighters travel to an al-Shabab training camp and facilitated financing for violent extremists in Somalia, according to a senior administration official.

No civilians were injured or killed in the operation, Pentagon officials said. One American involved in the operation was bitten by a military dog, but was not seriously injured, according to an administration official.

U.S. officials provided scant details about how the operation was carried out or the circumstances surrounding al-Sudani's killing. One official said that U.S. forces had intended to capture al-Sudani but that did not prove to be “feasible” as the operation was carried out.

The operation comes days after Africa Command said it had conducted a collective self-defense strike northeast of Mogadishu, the capital, near Galcad. In that incident, Somalia National Army forces were engaged in heavy fighting following an extended and intense attack by more than 100 al-Shabab fighters.

The U.S. estimated approximately 30 al-Shabab fighters were killed in that operation.

The offensive by Somalian forces against al-Shabab has been described as the most significant in more than a decade.

Al-Shabab holds a much larger footprint in Somalia than does IS.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. special operations forces have killed a senior Islamic State group official and 10 other terrorist operatives in remote northern Somalia, the Biden administration announced Thursday.The operation carried out on Wednesday targeted Bilal al-Sudani, a key financial facilitator for the global terrorist organization, in a mountainous cave complex.“This action leaves the United States and its partners safer and more secure, and it reflects our steadfast commitment to protecting Americans from the threat of terrorism at home and abroad,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3279923/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-somalia-operation/">said in a statement.</a>President Joe Biden was briefed last week about the proposed mission, which came together after months of planning. He gave final approval to carry out the operation this week following the recommendation of Austin and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Mark Milley, according to two senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters on the operation on the condition of anonymity.Al-Sudani, who has been on the radar for U.S. intelligence officials for years, played a key role in helping to fund IS operations in Africa as well as the ISIS-K terrorist branch operating in Afghanistan, Austin said.The U.S. Treasury Department alleged last year that al-Sudani had worked closely with another IS operative, Abdella Hussein Abadigga, who had recruited young men in South Africa and sent them to a weapons training camp.Abadigga, who controlled two mosques in South Africa, used his position to extort money from members of the mosques. Al-Sudani considered Abadigga a trusted supporter who could help the IS supporters in South Africa become better organized and recruit new members, according to Treasury..Al-Sudani had originally been designated the Treasury Department in 2012 for his role with al-Shabab, another terrorist organization operating in Somalia. He helped foreign fighters travel to an al-Shabab training camp and facilitated financing for violent extremists in Somalia, according to a senior administration official.No civilians were injured or killed in the operation, Pentagon officials said. One American involved in the operation was bitten by a military dog, but was not seriously injured, according to an administration official.U.S. officials provided scant details about how the operation was carried out or the circumstances surrounding al-Sudani's killing. One official said that U.S. forces had intended to capture al-Sudani but that did not prove to be “feasible” as the operation was carried out.The operation comes days after Africa Command said it had conducted a collective self-defense strike northeast of Mogadishu, the capital, near Galcad. In that incident, Somalia National Army forces were engaged in heavy fighting following an extended and intense attack by more than 100 al-Shabab fighters.The U.S. estimated approximately 30 al-Shabab fighters were killed in that operation.The offensive by Somalian forces against al-Shabab has been described as the most significant in more than a decade.Al-Shabab holds a much larger footprint in Somalia than does IS.

US military kills senior Islamic State official in Somalia

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area man has been charged in connection with a domestic assault that also involved firing a handgun inside and outside a Lee's Summit residence that the suspect later failed to come out of after police surrounded the residence, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Kevin L. Williams, 31, Lee's Summit, faces Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Armed Criminal Action and Domestic Assault 3rd Degree.*

According to court records filed Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 900 block of Bristol Drive in Lee's Summit on a reported disturbance. Williams was reportedly armed. Neighbors reported hearing shots. Officers were able to get others out of the residence and set up a perimeter. 

The victim told police Williams threatened to kill her, hit her with a moving car door in the driveway and fired shots inside and outside the residence. Hours later, Williams was found in a closet. Officers said he appeared to be high on drugs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674596796211.png" alt="Williams-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Williams-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area man has been charged in connection with a domestic assault that also involved firing a handgun inside and outside a Lee's Summit residence that the suspect later failed to come out of after police surrounded the residence, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Kevin L. Williams, 31, Lee's Summit, faces Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Armed Criminal Action and Domestic Assault 3rd Degree.*According to court records filed Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 900 block of Bristol Drive in Lee's Summit on a reported disturbance. Williams was reportedly armed. Neighbors reported hearing shots. Officers were able to get others out of the residence and set up a perimeter. The victim told police Williams threatened to kill her, hit her with a moving car door in the driveway and fired shots inside and outside the residence. Hours later, Williams was found in a closet. Officers said he appeared to be high on drugs.

KC-area man assaulted girlfriend, fired a gun and hid in a closet

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Texas woman who played a role in internet romance scams that cheated victims out of a total of about $2.6 million was sentenced to over six years in prison on federal fraud and conspiracy charges Wednesday.

Dominique Golden, 31, of Houston, personally collected nearly $1.3 million in cash, checks, money orders and wire transfers from people across the U.S. in 2018 that was deposited into bank accounts opened under the names of fake people and businesses that she controlled, prosecutors in Rhode Island said. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-rhode-island-houston-conspiracy-d269c5c9a3d65c05f99008dea4194ec8">pleaded guilty in September</a>&nbsp;to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

Her sentence will be served concurrently with a nearly 4 1/2-year sentence she began in 2020 in Georgia on an unrelated conspiracy conviction. Her attorney asked that she not serve additional time, saying that she has cooperated with authorities and is remorseful.

Golden’s alleged accomplices contacted victims via online dating sites, Facebook and “Words with Friends," cultivated the relationships and convinced the victims that they needed money, prosecutors said. The victims were in Rhode Island, New York, Arkansas, Colorado, North Carolina, Missouri and Florida.

Golden was aware that other members of the conspiracy contacted the victims for the sole purpose of perpetrating the scam, prosecutors said.

Under her plea agreement that she return the money, Golden will forfeit assets derived from her criminal conduct, including two luxury cars, three handguns, three Rolex watches and a gold chain with a diamond coin pendant, prosecutors said.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Texas woman who played a role in internet romance scams that cheated victims out of a total of about $2.6 million was sentenced to over six years in prison on federal fraud and conspiracy charges Wednesday.Dominique Golden, 31, of Houston, personally collected nearly $1.3 million in cash, checks, money orders and wire transfers from people across the U.S. in 2018 that was deposited into bank accounts opened under the names of fake people and businesses that she controlled, prosecutors in Rhode Island said. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-rhode-island-houston-conspiracy-d269c5c9a3d65c05f99008dea4194ec8">pleaded guilty in September</a>&nbsp;to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.Her sentence will be served concurrently with a nearly 4 1/2-year sentence she began in 2020 in Georgia on an unrelated conspiracy conviction. Her attorney asked that she not serve additional time, saying that she has cooperated with authorities and is remorseful.Golden’s alleged accomplices contacted victims via online dating sites, Facebook and “Words with Friends," cultivated the relationships and convinced the victims that they needed money, prosecutors said. The victims were in Rhode Island, New York, Arkansas, Colorado, North Carolina, Missouri and Florida.Golden was aware that other members of the conspiracy contacted the victims for the sole purpose of perpetrating the scam, prosecutors said.Under her plea agreement that she return the money, Golden will forfeit assets derived from her criminal conduct, including two luxury cars, three handguns, three Rolex watches and a gold chain with a diamond coin pendant, prosecutors said.

Woman sentenced for role in nationwide romance scams

KINGMAN, Kan. —&nbsp;The Occupational Safety and Health Administration this week issued a Citation and Notification of Penalty to Great Lakes Polymer Technologies LLC, which operates as FabPro Polymers in Kingman.

The OSHA report noted that on August 4, 2022, an employee was fatally injured while working on the Compression Auto Bagger machine and attempting to unjam a clog in the chute connected to Tipper #1 without utilizing procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy.

In the CAB Area, the rotating agitator on the Compression Auto Bagger (CAB) machine at Tipper #1 was guarded by a metal grate. The metal guard was connected to an interlock switch designed to shut the machine off when the grate was opened.

On August 4, 2022, an employee was fatally injured when he opened the metal grate and the machine failed to shut off. The employee became entangled in the rotating agitator and died. The machine failed to shut off because the interlock was bypassed with duct tape so that when the guard was opened the agitator continued to rotate.

As a result of the bypassed interlock, employees, including the person that died, were exposed to struck-by, amputation, and caught-between hazards from the unguarded rotating agitator on Tipper #1 when the grate was opened.

Also, the report said that the company had a repeat violation.

In the Extrusion Area, employee(s) engaged in production activities at the #2 Godet of the Line 11 extrusion machine were exposed to amputation and caught in hazards in that the protruding rollers for the machine were not guarded. The company had previously been cited for a violation of the same occupational safety and health standard in a 2019 inspection report.

The total proposed penalties from all violations equal $292,421.00.

Fabpro produces synthetic fibers for reinforced concrete and other applications. The company has 15 days from the receipt of the citations to comply or contest the findings.

KINGMAN, Kan. —&nbsp;The Occupational Safety and Health Administration this week issued a Citation and Notification of Penalty to Great Lakes Polymer Technologies LLC, which operates as FabPro Polymers in Kingman.Multiple serious violations were cited.The OSHA report noted that on August 4, 2022, an employee was fatally injured while working on the Compression Auto Bagger machine and attempting to unjam a clog in the chute connected to Tipper #1 without utilizing procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy.In the CAB Area, the rotating agitator on the Compression Auto Bagger (CAB) machine at Tipper #1 was guarded by a metal grate. The metal guard was connected to an interlock switch designed to shut the machine off when the grate was opened.On August 4, 2022, an employee was fatally injured when he opened the metal grate and the machine failed to shut off. The employee became entangled in the rotating agitator and died. The machine failed to shut off because the interlock was bypassed with duct tape so that when the guard was opened the agitator continued to rotate.As a result of the bypassed interlock, employees, including the person that died, were exposed to struck-by, amputation, and caught-between hazards from the unguarded rotating agitator on Tipper #1 when the grate was opened.Also, the report said that the company had a repeat violation.In the Extrusion Area, employee(s) engaged in production activities at the #2 Godet of the Line 11 extrusion machine were exposed to amputation and caught in hazards in that the protruding rollers for the machine were not guarded. The company had previously been cited for a violation of the same occupational safety and health standard in a 2019 inspection report.The total proposed penalties from all violations equal $292,421.00.Fabpro produces synthetic fibers for reinforced concrete and other applications. The company has 15 days from the receipt of the citations to comply or contest the findings.

OSHA cites Kansas plant after employee fatally injured

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder after his girlfriend and two young girls died in a house fire.

Kyle J. Tyler, 32, was also charged Wednesday with two counts of aggravated child endangerment and one count of aggravated arson, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said.

A fire at a Topeka home on Jan. 20 killed Genny L. Fitzpatrick, 30; Peyton L. Tyler, 9; and Kourtney K. Tyler, 1, all of Topeka.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/tragedy-strikes-family-that-needs-help?qid=c95fbfdf038303f79dfa0f20979a986f">Click here to respond</a>&nbsp;to the GoFundMe page to assist the family.

The house was fully in flames when firefighters arrived. Kagay said the three victims were inside the house and Kyle Tyler was found outside on the rear deck.

Preliminary results indicate the victims died from smoke inhalation, Kagay said. Firefighters extinguished a “major fire" upstairs and a second fire that had been started in the basement, he said.

Kyle Tyler was treated for smoke inhalation before he was arrested. He's being held on $1 million bond.

A public defender listed in court records as Tyler's attorney was not available for comment on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674225989378.png" alt="The fire at a Topeka home on Jan. 20 killed Genny L. Fitzpatrick, 30; Peyton L. Tyler, 9; and Kourtney K. Tyler, 1, all of Topeka. photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The fire at a Topeka home on Jan. 20 killed Genny L. Fitzpatrick, 30; Peyton L. Tyler, 9; and Kourtney K. Tyler, 1, all of Topeka. photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder after his girlfriend and two young girls died in a house fire.Kyle J. Tyler, 32, was also charged Wednesday with two counts of aggravated child endangerment and one count of aggravated arson, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said.A fire at a Topeka home on Jan. 20 killed Genny L. Fitzpatrick, 30; Peyton L. Tyler, 9; and Kourtney K. Tyler, 1, all of Topeka.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/tragedy-strikes-family-that-needs-help?qid=c95fbfdf038303f79dfa0f20979a986f">Click here to respond</a>&nbsp;to the GoFundMe page to assist the family.The house was fully in flames when firefighters arrived. Kagay said the three victims were inside the house and Kyle Tyler was found outside on the rear deck.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674361780426.png" alt="Tyler-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Tyler-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Preliminary results indicate the victims died from smoke inhalation, Kagay said. Firefighters extinguished a “major fire" upstairs and a second fire that had been started in the basement, he said.Kyle Tyler was treated for smoke inhalation before he was arrested. He's being held on $1 million bond.A public defender listed in court records as Tyler's attorney was not available for comment on Thursday.

Man charged in Kan. fire that killed 2 children, his girlfriend

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash after a driver fled from police.

On Thursday morning, police were in the area of Hydraulic and Wassal in Wichita following up on information regarding a vehicle that had been involved in several larcenies in the Wichita area, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

An officer spotted the suspect vehicle and witnessed it commit a traffic violation at Washington and Wassal. The officer followed the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop at Pawnee and Washington.

The suspect immediately accelerated away from the officer going left of the center line northbound on Washington.

The officer initiated a pursuit that was quickly terminated. After the termination of the pursuit, the suspect continued northbound on Washington at a high rate of speed.

Just north of Funston, the suspect vehicle attempted to pass another vehicle on the right. The suspect lost control of the vehicle when sideswiped the vehicle he attempted to pass.

The suspect vehicle overturned and came to rest in the 1700 block of S. Washington, according to Macy.

The driver ran from the vehicle, then collapsed behind a truck nearby. He was transported by EMS to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased, according to Macy.

A passenger was also in the suspect vehicle – he was seen on scene by EMS but refused treatment. The driver of the civilian vehicle that was struck was uninjured.

Police requested the Kansas Highway Patrol to take over the accident investigation for accountability and transparency purposes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674756123276.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the fatal crash -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the fatal crash -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash after a driver fled from police.On Thursday morning, police were in the area of Hydraulic and Wassal in Wichita following up on information regarding a vehicle that had been involved in several larcenies in the Wichita area, according to Officer Trevor Macy.An officer spotted the suspect vehicle and witnessed it commit a traffic violation at Washington and Wassal. The officer followed the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop at Pawnee and Washington.The suspect immediately accelerated away from the officer going left of the center line northbound on Washington.The officer initiated a pursuit that was quickly terminated. After the termination of the pursuit, the suspect continued northbound on Washington at a high rate of speed.Just north of Funston, the suspect vehicle attempted to pass another vehicle on the right. The suspect lost control of the vehicle when sideswiped the vehicle he attempted to pass.The suspect vehicle overturned and came to rest in the 1700 block of S. Washington, according to Macy.The driver ran from the vehicle, then collapsed behind a truck nearby. He was transported by EMS to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased, according to Macy.A passenger was also in the suspect vehicle – he was seen on scene by EMS but refused treatment. The driver of the civilian vehicle that was struck was uninjured.Police requested the Kansas Highway Patrol to take over the accident investigation for accountability and transparency purposes.

Driver who fled from police dies from injuries in Kan. crash

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The leader of Missouri's state Senate on Thursday said Republican senators are unified against letting transgender girls play on girls' sports teams.

Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden's comments to reporters on Thursday signal that restrictions on what teams transgender student athletes can play on have a good chance of passing the GOP-led Legislature this year.

Supporters and opponents spoke for hours during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-children-jefferson-city-missouri-lgbtq-people-adb003aedb60a1ddacc077189955831d">an intense public House committee hearing</a>&nbsp;on several bills dealing with transgender student athletes, gender-affirming treatment and drag shows. The hearing lasted through Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.

<a href="https://www.mshsaa.org/resources/pdf/Official%20Handbook.pdf">Missouri’s current public high school sports rules</a>&nbsp;already prohibit transgender girls from competing on girls teams unless they have undergone at least a year of hormone therapy and continue taking medication to maintain their hormone levels.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association requires transgender athletes to apply and submit documentation of medical care in order to compete as the gender they identify with.

A spokesman for the association said 13 students have been approved since the organization adopted the rules in 2012, including only four transgender girls.

Senate Democratic Minority Leader John Rizzo called the focus on transgender athletics “absurd.”

“There's more bills about trans kids playing sports than there are trans kids that want to play sports,” Rizzo told reporters Thursday.

Rowden said Senate Republicans also support banning minors from receiving gender-affirming surgeries and that bans on other treatments, such as hormone blockers, are still under consideration.

“We're gonna take action on that issue,” Rowden said. “Our caucus is very united behind the idea that minors should not have gender reassignment surgery taken before the age of 18.”

Bills introduced in the Legislature would ban Missouri doctors from providing any&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-mental-ce8f5a9ee53768af03c3c65d5331045b">gender-affirming treatments for minors</a>&nbsp;and prevent insurance from covering those treatments for minors.

Transgender medical treatment for children and teens is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-texas-state-government-tennessee-minnesota-878a9217fa434f3ecd83738a71e40572">increasingly under attack in many states</a>, labeled child abuse and subject to criminalizing bans. But it has been available in the United States for more than a decade and is endorsed by major medical associations.

Efforts to outlaw public drag performances in Missouri appear less likely to advance.

When asked about whether he supports bills that would outlaw public drag performances, Rowden said lawmakers have “more important stuff to talk about.”

Proposed legislation would make performing in drag in public or where a minor could watch a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The leader of Missouri's state Senate on Thursday said Republican senators are unified against letting transgender girls play on girls' sports teams.Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden's comments to reporters on Thursday signal that restrictions on what teams transgender student athletes can play on have a good chance of passing the GOP-led Legislature this year.Supporters and opponents spoke for hours during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-children-jefferson-city-missouri-lgbtq-people-adb003aedb60a1ddacc077189955831d">an intense public House committee hearing</a>&nbsp;on several bills dealing with transgender student athletes, gender-affirming treatment and drag shows. The hearing lasted through Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.<a href="https://www.mshsaa.org/resources/pdf/Official%20Handbook.pdf">Missouri’s current public high school sports rules</a>&nbsp;already prohibit transgender girls from competing on girls teams unless they have undergone at least a year of hormone therapy and continue taking medication to maintain their hormone levels.The Missouri State High School Activities Association requires transgender athletes to apply and submit documentation of medical care in order to compete as the gender they identify with.A spokesman for the association said 13 students have been approved since the organization adopted the rules in 2012, including only four transgender girls.Senate Democratic Minority Leader John Rizzo called the focus on transgender athletics “absurd.”“There's more bills about trans kids playing sports than there are trans kids that want to play sports,” Rizzo told reporters Thursday.Rowden said Senate Republicans also support banning minors from receiving gender-affirming surgeries and that bans on other treatments, such as hormone blockers, are still under consideration.“We're gonna take action on that issue,” Rowden said. “Our caucus is very united behind the idea that minors should not have gender reassignment surgery taken before the age of 18.”Bills introduced in the Legislature would ban Missouri doctors from providing any&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-mental-ce8f5a9ee53768af03c3c65d5331045b">gender-affirming treatments for minors</a>&nbsp;and prevent insurance from covering those treatments for minors.Transgender medical treatment for children and teens is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-texas-state-government-tennessee-minnesota-878a9217fa434f3ecd83738a71e40572">increasingly under attack in many states</a>, labeled child abuse and subject to criminalizing bans. But it has been available in the United States for more than a decade and is endorsed by major medical associations.Efforts to outlaw public drag performances in Missouri appear less likely to advance.When asked about whether he supports bills that would outlaw public drag performances, Rowden said lawmakers have “more important stuff to talk about.”Proposed legislation would make performing in drag in public or where a minor could watch a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Battle in Missouri legislature over trans student athletes

TOPEKA —Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks invasive species biologists have been sampling on the Kansas River to remove invasive species, including Bighead and Silver Carp this winter. 

While out on the river this week, they encountered a "Kansas River monster," according to the KDWP social media account.

The Blue Catfish that weighed nearly 80 pounds. "This big blue, and all other non-target species sampled, are put back in the river."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674761754185.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks invasive species biologists have been sampling on the Kansas River to remove invasive species, including Bighead and Silver Carp this winter. While out on the river this week, they encountered a "Kansas River monster," according to the KDWP social media account.The Blue Catfish that weighed nearly 80 pounds. "This big blue, and all other non-target species sampled, are put back in the river."

Biologists find 'river monster' on the Kansas River

BOSTON (AP) — When U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss decided to deliver a speech on a bill that would create a U.S.-Israel artificial intelligence center, he opted to let the AI do the talking.

The brief two-paragragh speech read by the Massachusetts Democrat on the floor of the U.S. House on Wednesday was generated by the online&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-chat-gpt-ac4967a4fb41fda31c4d27f015e32660">AI chatbot ChatGPT</a>. His staff said they believe it’s the first time an AI-written speech was read in Congress.

Auchincloss said he prompted the system in part to “write 100 words to deliver on the floor of the House of Representatives” about the legislation. Auchincloss said he had to refine the prompt several times to produce the text he ultimately read.

The bill, which Auchincloss is refiling, would establish a joint U.S.-Israel AI Center in the United States to serve as a hub for AI research and development in the public, private and education sectors.

Auchincloss said part of the decision to read a ChatGPT-generated text was to help spur debate on AI and the challenges and opportunities created by it. He said he doesn’t want to see a repeat of the advent of social media, which started small and ballooned faster than Congress could react.

“I’m the youngest parent in the Democratic caucus, AI is going to be part of my life and it could be a general purpose technology for my children,” said Auchincloss, 34.

The release of ChatGPT and other AI programs available on the internet is already posing a challenge for teachers who must now grapple with the possibility of students handing in AI-generated essays.

Researchers also worry AI chatbots could help turbocharge efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-business-artificial-intelligence-afb4618ff593db9e3e51ecbd91dc3eef">spread misinformation and propaganda.</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-microsoft-corp-business-artificial-intelligence-03f157ddc482ef76f4999b929eaac7bf">OpenAI</a>, the nonprofit that created ChatGPT, has acknowledged on its website that ChatGPT “can occasionally produce incorrect answers” and that its responses will sometimes be misleading as a result of how it learns. It recommends users check whether responses are accurate or not,

The text generated from Auchincloss’s prompt includes sentences like: “We must collaborate with international partners like the Israeli government to ensure that the United States maintains a leadership role in AI research and development and responsibly explores the many possibilities evolving technologies provide.”

“There were probably about a dozen of my colleagues on the floor. I bet none of them knew it was written by a computer,” he said.

Lawmakers and others shouldn’t be reflexively hostile to the new technology, but also shouldn’t wait too long before drafting policies or new laws to help regulate it, Auchincloss said.

In particular, he argued that the country needs a “public counterweight” to the big tech firms that would help guarantee that smaller developers and universities have access to the same cloud computing, cutting edge algorithms and raw data as larger companies.

BOSTON (AP) — When U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss decided to deliver a speech on a bill that would create a U.S.-Israel artificial intelligence center, he opted to let the AI do the talking.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepAuchincloss?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepAuchincloss</a> delivers AI-generated speech on the House floor: &quot;We must collaborate with international partners like the Israeli government to ensure that the United States maintains a leadership role in AI research and development...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/xMbPIXyBJO">pic.twitter.com/xMbPIXyBJO</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1618675199678812170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The brief two-paragragh speech read by the Massachusetts Democrat on the floor of the U.S. House on Wednesday was generated by the online&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-chat-gpt-ac4967a4fb41fda31c4d27f015e32660">AI chatbot ChatGPT</a>. His staff said they believe it’s the first time an AI-written speech was read in Congress.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">AI has the potential to radically reshape how we use technology. But for now… my speechwriter has nothing to worry about. <a href="https://t.co/AADA3mwPrC">pic.twitter.com/AADA3mwPrC</a>&mdash; Rep. Jake Auchincloss (@RepAuchincloss) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAuchincloss/status/1618299859785908227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Auchincloss said he prompted the system in part to “write 100 words to deliver on the floor of the House of Representatives” about the legislation. Auchincloss said he had to refine the prompt several times to produce the text he ultimately read.The bill, which Auchincloss is refiling, would establish a joint U.S.-Israel AI Center in the United States to serve as a hub for AI research and development in the public, private and education sectors.Auchincloss said part of the decision to read a ChatGPT-generated text was to help spur debate on AI and the challenges and opportunities created by it. He said he doesn’t want to see a repeat of the advent of social media, which started small and ballooned faster than Congress could react.“I’m the youngest parent in the Democratic caucus, AI is going to be part of my life and it could be a general purpose technology for my children,” said Auchincloss, 34.The release of ChatGPT and other AI programs available on the internet is already posing a challenge for teachers who must now grapple with the possibility of students handing in AI-generated essays.Researchers also worry AI chatbots could help turbocharge efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-business-artificial-intelligence-afb4618ff593db9e3e51ecbd91dc3eef">spread misinformation and propaganda.</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-microsoft-corp-business-artificial-intelligence-03f157ddc482ef76f4999b929eaac7bf">OpenAI</a>, the nonprofit that created ChatGPT, has acknowledged on its website that ChatGPT “can occasionally produce incorrect answers” and that its responses will sometimes be misleading as a result of how it learns. It recommends users check whether responses are accurate or not,The text generated from Auchincloss’s prompt includes sentences like: “We must collaborate with international partners like the Israeli government to ensure that the United States maintains a leadership role in AI research and development and responsibly explores the many possibilities evolving technologies provide.”“There were probably about a dozen of my colleagues on the floor. I bet none of them knew it was written by a computer,” he said.Lawmakers and others shouldn’t be reflexively hostile to the new technology, but also shouldn’t wait too long before drafting policies or new laws to help regulate it, Auchincloss said.In particular, he argued that the country needs a “public counterweight” to the big tech firms that would help guarantee that smaller developers and universities have access to the same cloud computing, cutting edge algorithms and raw data as larger companies.

🎥First: Speech on House floor totally written by artificial intelligence

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prisoner who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-legal-proceedings-lawsuits-crime-73adb2abe585f9cd5aa54f1cf48d8501">alleged in a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;that he was not being treated properly for cancer has died, his family and attorneys said.

John Keith Calvin, 56, died Wednesday at El Dorado Correctional Facility, where he was imprisoned for a 2002 killing that his attorneys and supporters maintained he did not commit.

In a lawsuit filed last month, Calvin claimed the Kansas Department of Corrections had not provided proper treatment for his colon cancer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article271652547.html">The Kansas City Star</a><a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article271652547.html">reported</a>. An emergency filing asking that he be moved to a hospital was denied.

In a statement, Calvin’s lawyers said his family was “devastated” to share that he died after spending more than 19 years in prison for the Dec. 12, 2002, shooting death of John Coates in Kansas City, Kansas. He would have been eligible for parole in May.

His lawyers at the Midwest Innocence Project and the law firm Morgan Pilate said Calvin was innocent.

“Everyone knew this, and a whole community fought for him,” they said. “John Calvin will have a long legacy, and his fight against injustice will continue.”

Calvin’s co-defendant, Melvin Lee White Jr., was given a five-year sentence after taking a plea deal in Coates' death. White has said repeatedly in court and interviews that he shot Coates and Calvin was innocent.

Calvin’s case had been referred to the Wyandotte County district attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit, which investigates complaints of police misconduct and wrongful conviction.

In their lawsuit, Calvin’s lawyers alleged he was “yet another victim” of police corruption in Kansas City, Kansas, “as exemplified” by former detective Roger Golubski.

Golubski has been accused by federal prosecutors and civil rights groups of framing Black citizens and sexually harassing Black women and girls for years in Kansas City, Kansas.

He is currently on house arrest facing two federal indictments alleging he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-kansas-city-indictments-civil-rights-violations-c465a1483c9295eb465847fb8c3463eb">sexually assaulted and kidnapped</a>&nbsp;a woman and a teenager between 1998 and 2002, and that he was part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-kansas-city-indictments-337f9df63faf6c5ff8d3d50623b902c2">a sex trafficking ring</a>&nbsp;involving underage girls in Kansas City, Kansas, between 1996 and 1998.

Golubski has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672953153801.png" alt="Calvin- has convictions for murder, robbery and theft, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Calvin- has convictions for murder, robbery and theft, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prisoner who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-legal-proceedings-lawsuits-crime-73adb2abe585f9cd5aa54f1cf48d8501">alleged in a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;that he was not being treated properly for cancer has died, his family and attorneys said.John Keith Calvin, 56, died Wednesday at El Dorado Correctional Facility, where he was imprisoned for a 2002 killing that his attorneys and supporters maintained he did not commit.In a lawsuit filed last month, Calvin claimed the Kansas Department of Corrections had not provided proper treatment for his colon cancer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article271652547.html">The Kansas City Star</a><a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article271652547.html">reported</a>. An emergency filing asking that he be moved to a hospital was denied.In a statement, Calvin’s lawyers said his family was “devastated” to share that he died after spending more than 19 years in prison for the Dec. 12, 2002, shooting death of John Coates in Kansas City, Kansas. He would have been eligible for parole in May.His lawyers at the Midwest Innocence Project and the law firm Morgan Pilate said Calvin was innocent.“Everyone knew this, and a whole community fought for him,” they said. “John Calvin will have a long legacy, and his fight against injustice will continue.”Calvin’s co-defendant, Melvin Lee White Jr., was given a five-year sentence after taking a plea deal in Coates' death. White has said repeatedly in court and interviews that he shot Coates and Calvin was innocent.Calvin’s case had been referred to the Wyandotte County district attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit, which investigates complaints of police misconduct and wrongful conviction.In their lawsuit, Calvin’s lawyers alleged he was “yet another victim” of police corruption in Kansas City, Kansas, “as exemplified” by former detective Roger Golubski.Golubski has been accused by federal prosecutors and civil rights groups of framing Black citizens and sexually harassing Black women and girls for years in Kansas City, Kansas.He is currently on house arrest facing two federal indictments alleging he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-kansas-city-indictments-civil-rights-violations-c465a1483c9295eb465847fb8c3463eb">sexually assaulted and kidnapped</a>&nbsp;a woman and a teenager between 1998 and 2002, and that he was part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-kansas-city-indictments-337f9df63faf6c5ff8d3d50623b902c2">a sex trafficking ring</a>&nbsp;involving underage girls in Kansas City, Kansas, between 1996 and 1998.Golubski has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Kansas inmate who sued over cancer treatment has died

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An asteroid the size of a delivery truck will whip past Earth on Thursday night, one of the closest such encounters ever recorded.

NASA insists it will be a near miss with no chance of the asteroid hitting Earth.

NASA said Wednesday that this newly discovered asteroid will zoom 2,200 miles above the southern tip of South America. That's 10 times closer than the bevy of communication satellites circling overhead.

The closest approach will occur at 6:27 p.m. CST&nbsp;

Even if the space rock came a lot closer, scientists said most of it would burn up in the atmosphere, with some of the bigger pieces possibly falling as meteorites.

NASA's impact hazard assessment system, called Scout, quickly ruled out a strike, said its developer, Davide Farnocchia, an engineer at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

"But despite the very few observations, it was nonetheless able to predict that the asteroid would make an extraordinarily close approach with Earth,” Farnocchia said in a statement. “In fact, this is one of the closest approaches by a known near-Earth object ever recorded.”

Discovered Saturday, the asteroid known as 2023 BU is believed to be between 11 feet (3.5 meters) and 28 feet (8.5 meters) feet across. It was first spotted by the same amateur astronomer in Crimea, Gennady Borisov, who discovered an interstellar comet in 2019. Within a few days, dozens of observations were made by astronomers around the world, allowing them to refine the asteroid's orbit.

The asteroid's path drastically will be altered by Earth's gravity once it zips by. Instead of circling the sun every 359 days, it will move into an oval orbit lasting 425 days, according to NASA.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674749374434.png" alt="This orbital diagram from CNEOS’s close approach viewer shows 2023 BU’s trajectory – in red – during its close approach with Earth on Jan. 26, 2023. The asteroid will pass about 10 times closer to Earth than the orbit of geosynchronous satellites, shown in green line. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech" />
 <figcaption>This orbital diagram from CNEOS’s close approach viewer shows 2023 BU’s trajectory – in red – during its close approach with Earth on Jan. 26, 2023. The asteroid will pass about 10 times closer to Earth than the orbit of geosynchronous satellites, shown in green line. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech</figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An asteroid the size of a delivery truck will whip past Earth on Thursday night, one of the closest such encounters ever recorded.NASA insists it will be a near miss with no chance of the asteroid hitting Earth.NASA said Wednesday that this newly discovered asteroid will zoom 2,200 miles above the southern tip of South America. That's 10 times closer than the bevy of communication satellites circling overhead.The closest approach will occur at 6:27 p.m. CST&nbsp;Even if the space rock came a lot closer, scientists said most of it would burn up in the atmosphere, with some of the bigger pieces possibly falling as meteorites.NASA's impact hazard assessment system, called Scout, quickly ruled out a strike, said its developer, Davide Farnocchia, an engineer at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California."But despite the very few observations, it was nonetheless able to predict that the asteroid would make an extraordinarily close approach with Earth,” Farnocchia said in a statement. “In fact, this is one of the closest approaches by a known near-Earth object ever recorded.”Discovered Saturday, the asteroid known as 2023 BU is believed to be between 11 feet (3.5 meters) and 28 feet (8.5 meters) feet across. It was first spotted by the same amateur astronomer in Crimea, Gennady Borisov, who discovered an interstellar comet in 2019. Within a few days, dozens of observations were made by astronomers around the world, allowing them to refine the asteroid's orbit.The asteroid's path drastically will be altered by Earth's gravity once it zips by. Instead of circling the sun every 359 days, it will move into an oval orbit lasting 425 days, according to NASA.___

Asteroid set to whip past Earth; closest encounter ever

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/24/new-bill-seen-as-first-step-toward-fixing-problems-in-kansas-juvenile-justice-system/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Lawmakers have begun evaluating legislation in an effort to fix years
 of built-up problems within the juvenile justice system.

First up: A bill that could expand access to behavioral health treatment through crisis intervention centers.

During a House Corrections and 
Juvenile Justice Committee meeting Monday, a week after lawmakers heard 
from attorneys and foster care workers <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/19/kansas-juvenile-justice-reform-effort-left-major-flaws-in-system-officials-say/">who urged for more juvenile crisis intervention centers</a>
 and adequate resources, lawmakers said they were trying to quickly come
 up with solutions for young offenders who need more intensive help.

Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, 
recounted an incident from a few years ago, when he was in a community 
discussion about a young offender who repeatedly committed car 
burglaries. Carmichael said because of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/measures/documents/summary_sb_367_2016.pdf">Senate Bill 367</a>, which was implemented in 2016, the young man never experienced significant consequences.

“We used to be able to lock this kid 
up, but we can’t do this anymore,” Carmichael said. “All we can do is 
catch and release. And of course everybody in the room looked at me 
because I voted for the bill. That wasn’t pleasant.”

SB367 shifted practices away from 
holding youths in group homes or state custody, instead funneling money 
into an account to be used on community programs and treatment. The 
legislation included limits on probation and case lengths, making it 
less common for youths to be detained or sent to correctional 
facilities.

While youth incarceration rates have 
decreased, officials in the community have said young offenders weren’t 
receiving the proper treatment and had high recidivism rates. To fix 
gaps in the system, lawmakers have discussed new legislation. On Monday,
 they heard testimony on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2033_00_0000.pdf">House Bill 2033</a>.

The bill stipulates that substance 
abuse services should be offered by juvenile crisis intervention 
centers. The legislation also would make behavioral health conditions 
part of an assessment of whether or not youths are likely to cause harm 
to themselves or others.

HB2033 would also add a definition of
 behavioral health crisis to the Kansas code of care for children, and 
change wording in some of the custody and court statutes. The bill would
 change the term “mental health crisis” to “behavioral health crisis” in
 statutes that deal with law enforcement officers taking a child into 
custody and on the criteria used to refer and admit youths to a juvenile
 crisis intervention center, among others.

Tim DeWeese, director of the Johnson 
County Mental Health Center, said the change in wording would help cover
 more areas and better serve the community.

“By redefining it from mental health 
crisis to behavioral crisis, you’re not only encompassing the mental 
health issues, but you’re addressing the substance abuse issues and also
 those issues where a young person may be emotionally deregulated — 
they’re having a fit, they’re a little out of control, they’re not able 
to manage their emotions,” DeWeese said.&nbsp;

Committee Chairman Rep. Stephan Owens, R-Hesston, said the legislation would open the door to opening crisis intervention centers across the state.

Kansas has millions set aside for 
juvenile crisis center funding, which is thought to be a potential 
solution to the current lack of resources for juvenile offenders, but 
hasn’t used any of the funding. In 2018, Johnson County applied to 
create a center but the state government dropped the project.

“This is one of the steps to make sure they get built and utilized,” Owens said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674585057932.png" alt="Rep. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston, right, confers with Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen, D-Topeka, during a hearing Monday on juvenile justice reform. Owens said he is committed to fixing issues within the juvenile justice system. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector) " />
 <figcaption>Rep. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston, right, confers with Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen, D-Topeka, during a hearing Monday on juvenile justice reform. Owens said he is committed to fixing issues within the juvenile justice system. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector) </figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/24/new-bill-seen-as-first-step-toward-fixing-problems-in-kansas-juvenile-justice-system/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Lawmakers have begun evaluating legislation in an effort to fix years
 of built-up problems within the juvenile justice system.First up: A bill that could expand access to behavioral health treatment through crisis intervention centers.During a House Corrections and 
Juvenile Justice Committee meeting Monday, a week after lawmakers heard 
from attorneys and foster care workers <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/19/kansas-juvenile-justice-reform-effort-left-major-flaws-in-system-officials-say/">who urged for more juvenile crisis intervention centers</a>
 and adequate resources, lawmakers said they were trying to quickly come
 up with solutions for young offenders who need more intensive help.Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, 
recounted an incident from a few years ago, when he was in a community 
discussion about a young offender who repeatedly committed car 
burglaries. Carmichael said because of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/measures/documents/summary_sb_367_2016.pdf">Senate Bill 367</a>, which was implemented in 2016, the young man never experienced significant consequences.“We used to be able to lock this kid 
up, but we can’t do this anymore,” Carmichael said. “All we can do is 
catch and release. And of course everybody in the room looked at me 
because I voted for the bill. That wasn’t pleasant.”SB367 shifted practices away from 
holding youths in group homes or state custody, instead funneling money 
into an account to be used on community programs and treatment. The 
legislation included limits on probation and case lengths, making it 
less common for youths to be detained or sent to correctional 
facilities.While youth incarceration rates have 
decreased, officials in the community have said young offenders weren’t 
receiving the proper treatment and had high recidivism rates. To fix 
gaps in the system, lawmakers have discussed new legislation. On Monday,
 they heard testimony on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2033_00_0000.pdf">House Bill 2033</a>.The bill stipulates that substance 
abuse services should be offered by juvenile crisis intervention 
centers. The legislation also would make behavioral health conditions 
part of an assessment of whether or not youths are likely to cause harm 
to themselves or others.HB2033 would also add a definition of
 behavioral health crisis to the Kansas code of care for children, and 
change wording in some of the custody and court statutes. The bill would
 change the term “mental health crisis” to “behavioral health crisis” in
 statutes that deal with law enforcement officers taking a child into 
custody and on the criteria used to refer and admit youths to a juvenile
 crisis intervention center, among others.Tim DeWeese, director of the Johnson 
County Mental Health Center, said the change in wording would help cover
 more areas and better serve the community.“By redefining it from mental health 
crisis to behavioral crisis, you’re not only encompassing the mental 
health issues, but you’re addressing the substance abuse issues and also
 those issues where a young person may be emotionally deregulated — 
they’re having a fit, they’re a little out of control, they’re not able 
to manage their emotions,” DeWeese said.&nbsp;Committee Chairman Rep. Stephan Owens, R-Hesston, said the legislation would open the door to opening crisis intervention centers across the state.Kansas has millions set aside for 
juvenile crisis center funding, which is thought to be a potential 
solution to the current lack of resources for juvenile offenders, but 
hasn’t used any of the funding. In 2018, Johnson County applied to 
create a center but the state government dropped the project.“This is one of the steps to make sure they get built and utilized,” Owens said.

New bill aims to begin fix of Kansas juvenile justice system

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating after they seized more fentanyl in the Kansas City, Kansas area.&nbsp;

On January 22, the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department Narcotics Unit seized over 10,000 counterfeit prescription pills laced with the highly potent drug fentanyl.

The seizure, made during a routine sweep of a local shipping distribution center, has a street value of upwards of $100,000.

"We want dealers and suppliers to know that Kansas City, Kansas is not the place to be doing business," Captain John Diaz of the KCKPD Narcotics Unit said. 

"We are conducting routine sweeps with the assistance of drug-sniffing k-9s in a variety of facilities, including those that process packages. Last year, as part of the Violent Crimes Task Force we seized about 150,000 pills and expect to seize even more in 2023."

The pills seized are nearly identical to those dispensed by pharmacies but contain potentially lethal amounts of fentanyl, a drug that is 50 times stronger than heroin and&nbsp;100 times stronger than morphine. Once ingested or inhaled, an overdose can occur in a matter of seconds or minutes.&nbsp;

 In 2022,&nbsp; Kansas City, Kansas recorded 174 drug overdoses and 40 were fatal. The majority were related to fentanyl.

If you are with someone who exhibits symptoms of overdose such as shallow or no breathing and becomes unresponsive after ingesting or snorting a drug, call 911 immediately. If you have any information regarding the sale of fentanyl, or any illegal drugs, please call the KCKPD Narcotics 24-hour Hotline at 913-573-6287. You may remain anonymous

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674663817922.png" alt="10,000 counterfeit prescription pills-Photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>10,000 counterfeit prescription pills-Photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating after they seized more fentanyl in the Kansas City, Kansas area.&nbsp;On January 22, the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department Narcotics Unit seized over 10,000 counterfeit prescription pills laced with the highly potent drug fentanyl.The seizure, made during a routine sweep of a local shipping distribution center, has a street value of upwards of $100,000."We want dealers and suppliers to know that Kansas City, Kansas is not the place to be doing business," Captain John Diaz of the KCKPD Narcotics Unit said. "We are conducting routine sweeps with the assistance of drug-sniffing k-9s in a variety of facilities, including those that process packages. Last year, as part of the Violent Crimes Task Force we seized about 150,000 pills and expect to seize even more in 2023."The pills seized are nearly identical to those dispensed by pharmacies but contain potentially lethal amounts of fentanyl, a drug that is 50 times stronger than heroin and&nbsp;100 times stronger than morphine. Once ingested or inhaled, an overdose can occur in a matter of seconds or minutes.&nbsp; In 2022,&nbsp; Kansas City, Kansas recorded 174 drug overdoses and 40 were fatal. The majority were related to fentanyl.If you are with someone who exhibits symptoms of overdose such as shallow or no breathing and becomes unresponsive after ingesting or snorting a drug, call 911 immediately. If you have any information regarding the sale of fentanyl, or any illegal drugs, please call the KCKPD Narcotics 24-hour Hotline at 913-573-6287. You may remain anonymous

Police in Kansas seized pills laced with fentanyl worth $100,000

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of abortion rights filed separate lawsuits Wednesday challenging two states' abortion pill restrictions, the opening salvo in what’s expected to a be a protracted legal battle over access to the medications.

The lawsuits argue that limits on the drugs in North Carolina and West Virginia run afoul of the federal authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which has approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">the abortion pill</a>&nbsp;as a safe and effective method for ending pregnancy.

The cases were brought by a North Carolina physician who prescribes the pill, mifepristone, and GenBioPro, which makes a generic version of the drug and sued in West Virginia.

While the lawsuits target specific state laws, they represent key legal tests that could determine access to abortion for millions of women.

The litigation turns on a longstanding legal principle that federal law, including FDA decisions, pre-empt state laws. Indeed, few states have ever tried to fully ban an FDA-approved drug because of past rulings in the agency’s favor.

But with the fall of Roe v. Wade there’s little precedent for the current legal patchwork of laws governing abortion.

After the Supreme Court overturned the decision in June, previously adopted restrictions on abortion kicked in and two states adopted new ones. Currently, bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy are being followed in 13 states and enforcement is being held up in several other states because of legal challenges.

On top of that, 19 states — including North Carolina and West Virginia — impose limits on how physicians can prescribe and dispense abortion medications.

“West Virginia cannot override the FDA’s safety and efficacy determinations, nor can it disrupt the national market for this medication,” David Frederick, an attorney representing GenBioPro, said in a statement.

Legal experts foresee years of court battles over access to the pills.

North Carolina bans nearly all abortions after 20 weeks, with narrow exceptions for urgent medical emergencies. Any physician prescribing medication abortion is required to be in the same room as the patient when administering the drug. The state also requires counseling before receiving the drug.

The lawsuit, filed by Dr. Amy Bryant, argues that such requirements contradict FDA-approved labeling for the drug and interfere with her ability to treat patients.

“We know from years of research and use that medication abortion is safe and effective — there’s no medical reason for politicians to interfere or restrict access to it,” Bryant said in a statement provided by the Expanding Medication Abortion Access project, an abortion rights group working on legal challenges to state laws.

The office of Attorney General Josh Stein, who is a defendant in the complaint because he’s the state chief law enforcement officer, was reviewing the complaint on Wednesday, Stein spokesperson Nazneen Ahmed wrote in an email. Stein, a Democrat who announced last week a bid for governor in 2024, is a strong abortion-rights supporter.

The FDA approved mifepristone in 2000 to end pregnancy, when used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol. The combination is approved for use up to the 10th week of pregnancy.

For more than 20 years, FDA limited dispensing of the drug to a subset of specialty offices and clinics, due to safety concerns. In rare cases the drug combination can cause excess bleeding, requiring emergency care. But since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency has repeatedly eased restrictions and expanded access, increasing demand even as state laws make the pills harder to get more many women.

In late 2021, the agency eliminated the in-person requirement for the pill, saying a new scientific review showed no increase in safety complications if the drug is taken at home. That change also permitted the pill to be prescribed via telehealth consultations and shipped by mail-order pharmacies.

Earlier this year the FDA further loosened restrictions by allowing brick-and-mortar pharmacies to dispense the drug, provided they undergo certification.

That change was made at the request of the two drug manufactures: GenBioPro and Danco Laboratories, which makes brand-name Mifeprex.

In its West Virginia lawsuit, GenBioPro argues that state laws interfere with drug regulations crafted by the FDA, which has sole authority over the approval and labeling of all U.S. drugs.

West Virginia’s law outlaws most abortions, with some exceptions for rape and incest victims and in cases of life-threatening medical emergencies and nonviable pregnancies.

“The ban and restrictions make it impossible for GenBioPro to market and distribute mifepristone in West Virginia in accordance with FDA’s requirements,” the company states in its suit filed in the state’s southern federal district.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said he would defend the state's new abortion law. “While it may not sit well with manufacturers of abortion drugs, the U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that regulating abortion is a state issue,” he said in a statement.

Abortion opponents have filed their own lawsuits seeking to block use of the pill, including a Texas suit arguing that the FDA overstepped its authority in approving the pill and easing limitations on its use. A decision in that case is expected next month.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-56972af9e9b0fc2fc97e06041f6e96ce">More than half</a>&nbsp;of U.S. abortions are now done with pills rather than surgery, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.

Mifepristone dilates the cervix and blocks the effects of the hormone progesterone, which is needed to sustain a pregnancy. Misoprostol, a drug also used to treat stomach ulcers, is taken 24 to 48 hours later. It causes the uterus to cramp and contract, causing bleeding and expelling pregnancy tissue.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581004285984.jpeg" alt="Photo Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of abortion rights filed separate lawsuits Wednesday challenging two states' abortion pill restrictions, the opening salvo in what’s expected to a be a protracted legal battle over access to the medications.The lawsuits argue that limits on the drugs in North Carolina and West Virginia run afoul of the federal authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which has approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">the abortion pill</a>&nbsp;as a safe and effective method for ending pregnancy.The cases were brought by a North Carolina physician who prescribes the pill, mifepristone, and GenBioPro, which makes a generic version of the drug and sued in West Virginia.While the lawsuits target specific state laws, they represent key legal tests that could determine access to abortion for millions of women.The litigation turns on a longstanding legal principle that federal law, including FDA decisions, pre-empt state laws. Indeed, few states have ever tried to fully ban an FDA-approved drug because of past rulings in the agency’s favor.But with the fall of Roe v. Wade there’s little precedent for the current legal patchwork of laws governing abortion.After the Supreme Court overturned the decision in June, previously adopted restrictions on abortion kicked in and two states adopted new ones. Currently, bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy are being followed in 13 states and enforcement is being held up in several other states because of legal challenges.On top of that, 19 states — including North Carolina and West Virginia — impose limits on how physicians can prescribe and dispense abortion medications.“West Virginia cannot override the FDA’s safety and efficacy determinations, nor can it disrupt the national market for this medication,” David Frederick, an attorney representing GenBioPro, said in a statement.Legal experts foresee years of court battles over access to the pills.North Carolina bans nearly all abortions after 20 weeks, with narrow exceptions for urgent medical emergencies. Any physician prescribing medication abortion is required to be in the same room as the patient when administering the drug. The state also requires counseling before receiving the drug.The lawsuit, filed by Dr. Amy Bryant, argues that such requirements contradict FDA-approved labeling for the drug and interfere with her ability to treat patients.“We know from years of research and use that medication abortion is safe and effective — there’s no medical reason for politicians to interfere or restrict access to it,” Bryant said in a statement provided by the Expanding Medication Abortion Access project, an abortion rights group working on legal challenges to state laws.The office of Attorney General Josh Stein, who is a defendant in the complaint because he’s the state chief law enforcement officer, was reviewing the complaint on Wednesday, Stein spokesperson Nazneen Ahmed wrote in an email. Stein, a Democrat who announced last week a bid for governor in 2024, is a strong abortion-rights supporter.The FDA approved mifepristone in 2000 to end pregnancy, when used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol. The combination is approved for use up to the 10th week of pregnancy.For more than 20 years, FDA limited dispensing of the drug to a subset of specialty offices and clinics, due to safety concerns. In rare cases the drug combination can cause excess bleeding, requiring emergency care. But since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency has repeatedly eased restrictions and expanded access, increasing demand even as state laws make the pills harder to get more many women.In late 2021, the agency eliminated the in-person requirement for the pill, saying a new scientific review showed no increase in safety complications if the drug is taken at home. That change also permitted the pill to be prescribed via telehealth consultations and shipped by mail-order pharmacies.Earlier this year the FDA further loosened restrictions by allowing brick-and-mortar pharmacies to dispense the drug, provided they undergo certification.That change was made at the request of the two drug manufactures: GenBioPro and Danco Laboratories, which makes brand-name Mifeprex.In its West Virginia lawsuit, GenBioPro argues that state laws interfere with drug regulations crafted by the FDA, which has sole authority over the approval and labeling of all U.S. drugs.West Virginia’s law outlaws most abortions, with some exceptions for rape and incest victims and in cases of life-threatening medical emergencies and nonviable pregnancies.“The ban and restrictions make it impossible for GenBioPro to market and distribute mifepristone in West Virginia in accordance with FDA’s requirements,” the company states in its suit filed in the state’s southern federal district.West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said he would defend the state's new abortion law. “While it may not sit well with manufacturers of abortion drugs, the U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that regulating abortion is a state issue,” he said in a statement.Abortion opponents have filed their own lawsuits seeking to block use of the pill, including a Texas suit arguing that the FDA overstepped its authority in approving the pill and easing limitations on its use. A decision in that case is expected next month.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-56972af9e9b0fc2fc97e06041f6e96ce">More than half</a>&nbsp;of U.S. abortions are now done with pills rather than surgery, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.Mifepristone dilates the cervix and blocks the effects of the hormone progesterone, which is needed to sustain a pregnancy. Misoprostol, a drug also used to treat stomach ulcers, is taken 24 to 48 hours later. It causes the uterus to cramp and contract, causing bleeding and expelling pregnancy tissue.

New lawsuits target state restrictions on abortion pills

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities and USD 259 are investigating a student brought a grenade to school.

Just after 2:30p.m. Wednesday, a student reported seeing an image on Snapchat of another student having a grenade at Derby High School, 920 Rock Road in Derby, according to the school district's social media page.

This was immediately investigated and the student in question shared that the device in the image was not live. 

The Derby Police Department was notified and the Wichita Police bomb squad was brought in. Police advised the school to be evacuated while they ensured there was no active threat. 

Police later determined that the grenade was not a live or a threat. Because of this, students were allowed to re-enter the building to gather their personal items.

"We appreciate the diligent student who reported seeing an alarming image as well as the immediate response of our school staff and police department." Thank you for your understanding and patience as we worked through this unexpected end to the school day.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities and USD 259 are investigating a student brought a grenade to school.Just after 2:30p.m. Wednesday, a student reported seeing an image on Snapchat of another student having a grenade at Derby High School, 920 Rock Road in Derby, according to the school district's social media page.This was immediately investigated and the student in question shared that the device in the image was not live. The Derby Police Department was notified and the Wichita Police bomb squad was brought in. Police advised the school to be evacuated while they ensured there was no active threat. Police later determined that the grenade was not a live or a threat. Because of this, students were allowed to re-enter the building to gather their personal items."We appreciate the diligent student who reported seeing an alarming image as well as the immediate response of our school staff and police department." Thank you for your understanding and patience as we worked through this unexpected end to the school day.