WASHINGTON (AP) —Senators grilled Ticketmaster Tuesday, questioning whether the company’s dominance in the ticketing industry led to its&nbsp;<a>spectacular breakdown</a>&nbsp;last year during a sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?525428-1/hearing-ticketmaster-sale-taylor-swift-concert&amp;live">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;a replay of the hearing&nbsp;

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, recalled piling into a friend's car in high school to go to concerts by Led Zeppelin, The Cars and Aerosmith. These days, she said, ticket prices and fees have gotten so high that shows are too expensive for many fans. Klobuchar said ticket fees now average 27% of the ticket cost, and can climb as high as 75%.

Klobuchar said Ticketmaster's market dominance means it faces little pressure to innovate and improve.

“To have a strong capitalist system, you have to have competition," Klobuchar said in a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe.

Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket seller, processing 500 million tickets each year in more than 30 countries. Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers last year.

In mid-November, Ticketmaster’s site crashed during a presale event for Swift’s upcoming stadium tour. The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and bot attacks. Many people lost tickets after waiting for hours in an online queue.

Ticketmaster required fans to register for the presale, and more than 3.5 million people did, a record for the company. Ticketmaster eventually canceled a planned ticket sale to the general public because it didn’t have enough inventory.

In 2010, Ticketmaster merged with Live Nation, a Beverly Hills, California-based entertainment company that produces live shows, festivals and concert tours.

Live Nation’s President and Chief Financial Officer Joe Berchtold apologized to fans and to Swift on Tuesday, and said the company knows it must do better.

But Berchtold insisted that Ticketmaster doesn't set prices or service fees for tickets or decide how many tickets will go on sale. Service fees are set by venues, he said; Live Nation only owns around 5% of U.S. venues, he said. He also said Ticketmaster has lost — not gained — market share since its merger with Live Nation.

Berchtold said the ticketing industry would like lawmakers to focus on the growing problem of ticket scalping and prohibit fraudulent practices, such as resellers offering tickets that haven't officially gone on sale yet. He also said the industry should be more transparent about pricing and fees.

WASHINGTON (AP) —Senators are expected to grill Ticketmaster Tuesday, questioning whether the company’s dominance in the ticketing industry led to its&nbsp;<a>spectacular breakdown</a>&nbsp;last year during a sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, said the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing will focus on consolidation in the live entertainment and ticketing industries and how it harms customers.

“For too long, consumers have faced high fees, long waits and website failures, and Ticketmaster’s dominant market position means the company faces inadequate pressure to innovate and improve,” Klobuchar said in a statement ahead of the hearing.

In 2010, Ticketmaster merged with Live Nation, a Beverly Hills, California-based entertainment company that produces live shows, festivals and concert tours. Live Nation’s President and Chief Financial Officer Joe Berchtold is among those scheduled to testify Tuesday.

In mid-November, Ticketmaster’s site crashed during a presale event for Swift’s upcoming stadium tour. The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and bot attacks. Many people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">lost tickets</a>&nbsp;after they had waited for hours in an online queue.

Ticketmaster required fans to register for the presale, and more than 3.5 million people did. The company said it was the largest registration in history.

Ticketmaster eventually canceled a planned ticket sales to the general public because it didn’t have enough inventory.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674576089924.png" alt="Joe Berchtold, who serves as&nbsp;Live Nation Entertainment's President and CFO, listens to opening statements in the Senate Judiciary committee on Tuesday-image courtesy&nbsp;CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Joe Berchtold, who serves as&nbsp;Live Nation Entertainment's President and CFO, listens to opening statements in the Senate Judiciary committee on Tuesday-image courtesy&nbsp;CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Senators grilled Ticketmaster Tuesday, questioning whether the company’s dominance in the ticketing industry led to its&nbsp;<a>spectacular breakdown</a>&nbsp;last year during a sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?525428-1/hearing-ticketmaster-sale-taylor-swift-concert&amp;live">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;a replay of the hearing&nbsp;U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, recalled piling into a friend's car in high school to go to concerts by Led Zeppelin, The Cars and Aerosmith. These days, she said, ticket prices and fees have gotten so high that shows are too expensive for many fans. Klobuchar said ticket fees now average 27% of the ticket cost, and can climb as high as 75%.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674582918043.png" alt="Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Ticketmaster's market dominance means it faces little pressure to innovate and improve.CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Ticketmaster's market dominance means it faces little pressure to innovate and improve.CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Klobuchar said Ticketmaster's market dominance means it faces little pressure to innovate and improve.“To have a strong capitalist system, you have to have competition," Klobuchar said in a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe.Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket seller, processing 500 million tickets each year in more than 30 countries. Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers last year.In mid-November, Ticketmaster’s site crashed during a presale event for Swift’s upcoming stadium tour. The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and bot attacks. Many people lost tickets after waiting for hours in an online queue.Ticketmaster required fans to register for the presale, and more than 3.5 million people did, a record for the company. Ticketmaster eventually canceled a planned ticket sale to the general public because it didn’t have enough inventory.In 2010, Ticketmaster merged with Live Nation, a Beverly Hills, California-based entertainment company that produces live shows, festivals and concert tours.Live Nation’s President and Chief Financial Officer Joe Berchtold apologized to fans and to Swift on Tuesday, and said the company knows it must do better.But Berchtold insisted that Ticketmaster doesn't set prices or service fees for tickets or decide how many tickets will go on sale. Service fees are set by venues, he said; Live Nation only owns around 5% of U.S. venues, he said. He also said Ticketmaster has lost — not gained — market share since its merger with Live Nation.Berchtold said the ticketing industry would like lawmakers to focus on the growing problem of ticket scalping and prohibit fraudulent practices, such as resellers offering tickets that haven't officially gone on sale yet. He also said the industry should be more transparent about pricing and fees.-----------WASHINGTON (AP) —Senators are expected to grill Ticketmaster Tuesday, questioning whether the company’s dominance in the ticketing industry led to its&nbsp;<a>spectacular breakdown</a>&nbsp;last year during a sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets.U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, said the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing will focus on consolidation in the live entertainment and ticketing industries and how it harms customers.“For too long, consumers have faced high fees, long waits and website failures, and Ticketmaster’s dominant market position means the company faces inadequate pressure to innovate and improve,” Klobuchar said in a statement ahead of the hearing.Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket seller, processing 500 million tickets each year in more than 30 countries. Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers last year.In 2010, Ticketmaster merged with Live Nation, a Beverly Hills, California-based entertainment company that produces live shows, festivals and concert tours. Live Nation’s President and Chief Financial Officer Joe Berchtold is among those scheduled to testify Tuesday.In mid-November, Ticketmaster’s site crashed during a presale event for Swift’s upcoming stadium tour. The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and bot attacks. Many people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">lost tickets</a>&nbsp;after they had waited for hours in an online queue.Ticketmaster required fans to register for the presale, and more than 3.5 million people did. The company said it was the largest registration in history.Ticketmaster eventually canceled a planned ticket sales to the general public because it didn’t have enough inventory.

🎥Senators grilled Ticketmaster after Taylor Swift fiasco

LENEXA, KAN. — Landowner Stan Jost of Newton will pay a $50,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act, according to a media release from the&nbsp; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The agency said Jost placed felled trees and other debris in approximately 4,155 feet of Mud Creek and approximately 1,800 feet of Sand Creek in 2021 without obtaining a Clean Water Act permit.

“The unauthorized placement of fill material into streams and other water bodies degrades watershed health, increases downstream erosion, and creates loss of wildlife habitat,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “These acts also deprive downstream landowners and the public from the use and enjoyment of public waters.”

In response to EPA’s findings, Jost removed the materials from the stream.

Under the Clean Water Act, parties are prohibited from discharging fill material into federally protected streams and other water bodies unless they first obtain a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). If parties place fill material into water bodies without a permit, the USACE may elect to refer an enforcement case to EPA. The USACE’s Kansas City District referred this case to EPA in January 2022.

LENEXA, KAN. — Landowner Stan Jost of Newton will pay a $50,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act, according to a media release from the&nbsp; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.The agency said Jost placed felled trees and other debris in approximately 4,155 feet of Mud Creek and approximately 1,800 feet of Sand Creek in 2021 without obtaining a Clean Water Act permit.“The unauthorized placement of fill material into streams and other water bodies degrades watershed health, increases downstream erosion, and creates loss of wildlife habitat,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “These acts also deprive downstream landowners and the public from the use and enjoyment of public waters.”In response to EPA’s findings, Jost removed the materials from the stream.Under the Clean Water Act, parties are prohibited from discharging fill material into federally protected streams and other water bodies unless they first obtain a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). If parties place fill material into water bodies without a permit, the USACE may elect to refer an enforcement case to EPA. The USACE’s Kansas City District referred this case to EPA in January 2022.

EPA fines Kan. landowner $50K for illegal dumping in streams

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is preparing to outline what she is likely to call a middle-of-the-road agenda for a Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature that already expects to ditch much of what she'll propose in favor of more conservative ideas on taxes and education.

Kelly was scheduled to give the annual State of the State address Tuesday evening to a joint session of the state House and Senate. She previously outlined several proposals for cutting taxes that include eliminating the state's 4% sales tax on groceries by April 1.

Other proposals, including expansion of the state's Medicaid coverage for the needy and elderly, previously have been blocked by GOP lawmakers.

Top Republican legislators have outlined their own agenda with ideas in vogue in other GOP-led states. They include allowing parents to claim tax dollars previously earmarked for public schools to cover private or home schooling costs and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-city-state-government-gender-7f11f63aaf26e193aa9d30d935747002">restricting how public schools discuss gender and sexuality,</a>&nbsp;like what critics call Florida's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-dont-say-gay-law-signed-56aee61f075a12663f25990c7b31624d">“Don't Say Gay”</a>&nbsp;law. Kelly and GOP leaders also differ strongly on tax cuts.

Kelly had been scheduled to give the State of the State on Jan. 11 but tested positive for COVID-19 the day before, only to learn later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-kansas-state-government-covid-5b3711d2f19bc08e0dde29297bf3f41b">it was a false positive.</a>&nbsp;Her office went ahead with releasing her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-leavenworth-topeka-d0401d9088c104143632e4bbb97ca3a1">proposed $24.1 billion state budget</a>&nbsp;for the 2024 fiscal year beginning July 1.

Kelly narrowly won reelection in November and opened her second term earlier this month by saying in her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-kris-kobach-10c88b6f25b565b962fb75947ff9e4fb">inaugural address</a>&nbsp;that it's best to govern Kansas from “where the left and right come together.” She has repeatedly touched on that theme in major speeches.

But the Democratic governor also has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/topeka-kansas-legislature-libraries-9ffb07cf3b25faf848dda6d78bff8856">previously vetoed GOP proposals</a>&nbsp;on education and banning transgender athletes from girls' and women's K-12, club and college sports. Earlier this month, she dismissed the idea of restricting what schools teach about gender and sexuality.

Asked Monday about the possibility she'll embrace an aggressive conservative school choice or “voucher” program, she said, “That's not going to happen.”

The governor also was cold Monday to a tax-cutting proposal from Republicans and the powerful Kansas Chamber of Commerce. It would switch Kansas to a “flat” income tax with a single rate each for individuals and corporations, rather than three for individuals and two for corporations.

Kelly had a news conference at a central Topeka center for survivors of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking to promote her own tax-cutting plans.

“It's got to be responsible,” Kelly said of a tax plan. When a reporter suggested Monday that Kelly sounded open to a flat income tax, she shot back, “I didn’t say that.”

Kelly and lawmakers are eager to cut taxes because the Legislature opened its annual 90-day session earlier this month with projections showing Kansas on track to end June 2024 with $4.2 billion in surplus cash.

That's even after the state last year enacted a law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-topeka-04c238396da6305b90de6b7bb6283876">phasing out the sales tax on groceries</a>&nbsp;over three years. It dropped from 6.5% to 4% on Jan. 1 and is set to go to 2% in 2024 and zero in 2025.

Top Republicans have resisted Kelly's plan to eliminate the entire tax this spring, seeing their “flat” income tax as a higher priority.

“What she’s proposed is probably not what’s going to happen,” said House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican.

Each year Kelly has been in office, she has called on legislators to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-medical-marijuana-kansas-marijuana-medicaid-a11663e4684db69315b71f1db5353013">expand Medicaid</a>&nbsp;as encouraged by the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act championed by former President Barack Obama. Republicans who strongly oppose the move have held enough key leadership jobs to block expansion, even as voters in other Republican-leaning states have embraced it, including Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Kelly also has pushed legislators to legalize marijuana for medical uses. While the House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-health-medical-marijuana-marijuana-7f059c07fd72dbec30180f0f50f6dc74">approved a plan in 2021</a>, it never had even a committee vote in the Senate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674560473609.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly during a news conference at the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment Day Center about her proposals for cutting taxes.-courtesy photo " />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly during a news conference at the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment Day Center about her proposals for cutting taxes.-courtesy photo </figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is preparing to outline what she is likely to call a middle-of-the-road agenda for a Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature that already expects to ditch much of what she'll propose in favor of more conservative ideas on taxes and education.Kelly was scheduled to give the annual State of the State address Tuesday evening to a joint session of the state House and Senate. She previously outlined several proposals for cutting taxes that include eliminating the state's 4% sales tax on groceries by April 1.Other proposals, including expansion of the state's Medicaid coverage for the needy and elderly, previously have been blocked by GOP lawmakers.Top Republican legislators have outlined their own agenda with ideas in vogue in other GOP-led states. They include allowing parents to claim tax dollars previously earmarked for public schools to cover private or home schooling costs and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-city-state-government-gender-7f11f63aaf26e193aa9d30d935747002">restricting how public schools discuss gender and sexuality,</a>&nbsp;like what critics call Florida's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-dont-say-gay-law-signed-56aee61f075a12663f25990c7b31624d">“Don't Say Gay”</a>&nbsp;law. Kelly and GOP leaders also differ strongly on tax cuts.Kelly had been scheduled to give the State of the State on Jan. 11 but tested positive for COVID-19 the day before, only to learn later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-kansas-state-government-covid-5b3711d2f19bc08e0dde29297bf3f41b">it was a false positive.</a>&nbsp;Her office went ahead with releasing her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-leavenworth-topeka-d0401d9088c104143632e4bbb97ca3a1">proposed $24.1 billion state budget</a>&nbsp;for the 2024 fiscal year beginning July 1.Kelly narrowly won reelection in November and opened her second term earlier this month by saying in her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-kris-kobach-10c88b6f25b565b962fb75947ff9e4fb">inaugural address</a>&nbsp;that it's best to govern Kansas from “where the left and right come together.” She has repeatedly touched on that theme in major speeches.But the Democratic governor also has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/topeka-kansas-legislature-libraries-9ffb07cf3b25faf848dda6d78bff8856">previously vetoed GOP proposals</a>&nbsp;on education and banning transgender athletes from girls' and women's K-12, club and college sports. Earlier this month, she dismissed the idea of restricting what schools teach about gender and sexuality.Asked Monday about the possibility she'll embrace an aggressive conservative school choice or “voucher” program, she said, “That's not going to happen.”The governor also was cold Monday to a tax-cutting proposal from Republicans and the powerful Kansas Chamber of Commerce. It would switch Kansas to a “flat” income tax with a single rate each for individuals and corporations, rather than three for individuals and two for corporations.Kelly had a news conference at a central Topeka center for survivors of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking to promote her own tax-cutting plans.“It's got to be responsible,” Kelly said of a tax plan. When a reporter suggested Monday that Kelly sounded open to a flat income tax, she shot back, “I didn’t say that.”Kelly and lawmakers are eager to cut taxes because the Legislature opened its annual 90-day session earlier this month with projections showing Kansas on track to end June 2024 with $4.2 billion in surplus cash.That's even after the state last year enacted a law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-topeka-04c238396da6305b90de6b7bb6283876">phasing out the sales tax on groceries</a>&nbsp;over three years. It dropped from 6.5% to 4% on Jan. 1 and is set to go to 2% in 2024 and zero in 2025.Top Republicans have resisted Kelly's plan to eliminate the entire tax this spring, seeing their “flat” income tax as a higher priority.“What she’s proposed is probably not what’s going to happen,” said House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican.Each year Kelly has been in office, she has called on legislators to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-medical-marijuana-kansas-marijuana-medicaid-a11663e4684db69315b71f1db5353013">expand Medicaid</a>&nbsp;as encouraged by the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act championed by former President Barack Obama. Republicans who strongly oppose the move have held enough key leadership jobs to block expansion, even as voters in other Republican-leaning states have embraced it, including Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.Kelly also has pushed legislators to legalize marijuana for medical uses. While the House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-health-medical-marijuana-marijuana-7f059c07fd72dbec30180f0f50f6dc74">approved a plan in 2021</a>, it never had even a committee vote in the Senate.

Kansas governor to outline agenda for skeptical lawmakers

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A Missouri man was sentenced to life plus 13 years in prison on Monday for a first-degree murder conviction for the death of an Illinois officer who had tried to stop the man from fleeing police.

Caleb Campbell, 24, of Florissant, Missouri, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-missouri-a75e392eb0353d0edc7a8ff6740e60e7">convicted last month</a>&nbsp;in a bench trial for the Aug. 4, 2021, death of Brooklyn Officer Brian Pierce Jr.

Pierce, also 24, was part of a team of officers that tried to stop Campbell — who allegedly drove over spike strips and struck Pierce on the McKinley Bridge in Venice, Illinois, which connects the two states.

Campbell was taken into custody days after the incident and claimed he had been carjacked in a Brooklyn nightclub parking lot. His car was later found abandoned on the Missouri side of the bridge.

Campbell had a handgun in his car and an active Missouri warrant for his arrest when he fled an attempted traffic stop, prosecutors said.

“The loss felt by the family and loved ones of Officer Pierce is unimaginable," Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas Haine said. “There is no sentence that could even begin to give them a sense that justice has been adequately served.”

Associate Judge Neil Schroeder’s sentence consisted of a term of natural life for first-degree murder, 10 years for failure to report an accident involving injury or death, and three years for failure to stop following an accident involving injury or death,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsiltv.com/news/crime/caleb-campbell-sentenced-in-the-murder-of-officer-brian-pierce-jr/article_542c97c8-9b76-11ed-8bca-27d17c8d82ef.html?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter_WSILNews">WSIL-TV</a>&nbsp;reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674566847997.png" alt="Campbell-photo Madison County" />
 <figcaption>Campbell-photo Madison County</figcaption>
 </figure>EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A Missouri man was sentenced to life plus 13 years in prison on Monday for a first-degree murder conviction for the death of an Illinois officer who had tried to stop the man from fleeing police.Caleb Campbell, 24, of Florissant, Missouri, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-missouri-a75e392eb0353d0edc7a8ff6740e60e7">convicted last month</a>&nbsp;in a bench trial for the Aug. 4, 2021, death of Brooklyn Officer Brian Pierce Jr.Pierce, also 24, was part of a team of officers that tried to stop Campbell — who allegedly drove over spike strips and struck Pierce on the McKinley Bridge in Venice, Illinois, which connects the two states.Campbell was taken into custody days after the incident and claimed he had been carjacked in a Brooklyn nightclub parking lot. His car was later found abandoned on the Missouri side of the bridge.Campbell had a handgun in his car and an active Missouri warrant for his arrest when he fled an attempted traffic stop, prosecutors said.“The loss felt by the family and loved ones of Officer Pierce is unimaginable," Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas Haine said. “There is no sentence that could even begin to give them a sense that justice has been adequately served.”Associate Judge Neil Schroeder’s sentence consisted of a term of natural life for first-degree murder, 10 years for failure to report an accident involving injury or death, and three years for failure to stop following an accident involving injury or death,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsiltv.com/news/crime/caleb-campbell-sentenced-in-the-murder-of-officer-brian-pierce-jr/article_542c97c8-9b76-11ed-8bca-27d17c8d82ef.html?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter_WSILNews">WSIL-TV</a>&nbsp;reported.

Missouri man sentence for police officer's death

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials want to make COVID-19 vaccinations more like the annual flu shot.

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday proposed a simplified approach for future vaccination efforts, allowing most adults and children to get a once-a-year shot to protect against the mutating virus.

This means Americans would no longer have to keep track of how many shots they’ve received or how many months it’s been since their last booster.

The proposal comes as boosters have become a hard sell. While more than 80% of the U.S. population has had at least one vaccine dose, only 16% of those eligible have received the latest boosters authorized in August.

The FDA will ask its panel of outside vaccine experts to weigh in at a meeting Thursday. The agency is expected to take their advice into consideration while deciding future vaccine requirements for manufacturers.

In documents posted online, FDA scientists say many Americans now have “sufficient preexisting immunity” against the coronavirus because of vaccination, infection or a combination of the two. That baseline of protection should be enough to move to an annual booster against the latest strains in circulation and make COVID-19 vaccinations more like the yearly flu shot, according to the agency.

For adults with weakened immune systems and very small children, a two-dose combination may be needed for protection. FDA scientists and vaccine companies would study vaccination, infection rates and other data to decide who should receive a single shot versus a two-dose series.

FDA will also ask its panel to vote on whether all vaccines should target the same strains. That step would be needed to make the shots interchangeable, doing away with the current complicated system of primary vaccinations and boosters.

The initial shots from Pfizer and Moderna — called the primary series — target the strain of the virus that first emerged in 2020 and quickly swept across the world. The updated boosters launched last fall were also tweaked to target omicron relatives that had been dominant.

Under the FDA's proposal, the agency, independent experts and manufacturers would decide annually on which strains to target by the early summer, allowing several months to produce and launch updated shots before the fall. That’s roughly the same approach long used to select the strains for the annual flu shot.

Ultimately, FDA officials say moving to an annual schedule would make it easier to promote future vaccination campaigns, which could ultimately boost vaccination rates nationwide.

The original two-dose COVID shots have offered strong protection against severe disease and death no matter the variant, but protection against mild infection wanes. Experts continue to debate whether the latest round of boosters significantly enhanced protection, particularly for younger, healthy Americans. ___

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638443255492.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials want to make COVID-19 vaccinations more like the annual flu shot.The Food and Drug Administration on Monday proposed a simplified approach for future vaccination efforts, allowing most adults and children to get a once-a-year shot to protect against the mutating virus.This means Americans would no longer have to keep track of how many shots they’ve received or how many months it’s been since their last booster.The proposal comes as boosters have become a hard sell. While more than 80% of the U.S. population has had at least one vaccine dose, only 16% of those eligible have received the latest boosters authorized in August.The FDA will ask its panel of outside vaccine experts to weigh in at a meeting Thursday. The agency is expected to take their advice into consideration while deciding future vaccine requirements for manufacturers.In documents posted online, FDA scientists say many Americans now have “sufficient preexisting immunity” against the coronavirus because of vaccination, infection or a combination of the two. That baseline of protection should be enough to move to an annual booster against the latest strains in circulation and make COVID-19 vaccinations more like the yearly flu shot, according to the agency.For adults with weakened immune systems and very small children, a two-dose combination may be needed for protection. FDA scientists and vaccine companies would study vaccination, infection rates and other data to decide who should receive a single shot versus a two-dose series.FDA will also ask its panel to vote on whether all vaccines should target the same strains. That step would be needed to make the shots interchangeable, doing away with the current complicated system of primary vaccinations and boosters.The initial shots from Pfizer and Moderna — called the primary series — target the strain of the virus that first emerged in 2020 and quickly swept across the world. The updated boosters launched last fall were also tweaked to target omicron relatives that had been dominant.Under the FDA's proposal, the agency, independent experts and manufacturers would decide annually on which strains to target by the early summer, allowing several months to produce and launch updated shots before the fall. That’s roughly the same approach long used to select the strains for the annual flu shot.Ultimately, FDA officials say moving to an annual schedule would make it easier to promote future vaccination campaigns, which could ultimately boost vaccination rates nationwide.The original two-dose COVID shots have offered strong protection against severe disease and death no matter the variant, but protection against mild infection wanes. Experts continue to debate whether the latest round of boosters significantly enhanced protection, particularly for younger, healthy Americans. ___

FDA proposes once-a-year COVID shots for most Americans

CASS COUNTY —After seven weeks, the search for one of two inmates who escaped Dec. 12 from&nbsp;the jail in Cass County, Missouri south of Kansas City continues.

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

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

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

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

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

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

After 7-weeks, inmate who escaped KC-area jail is still missing

LABETTE COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Monday in Labette County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Buick Park Avenue driven by Valerie M. Montgomery, 30, Parsons, was eastbound on U.S. 400 four miles west of U.S. 59.

The Buick traveled left of center and struck a westbound 2015 Chevy Silverado driven by Brian D. Brooks, 41, Thayer, head-on.

Montgomery and a baby in the car were pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Brooks and a passenger in the pickup identified as&nbsp; Brittany D. L.&nbsp;Abshere, 33, Thayer, to Labette Health. 

Three juveniles were also passengers in the pickup. The KHP released no details on them. The drivers and adult passenger in the pickup were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

LABETTE COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Monday in Labette County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Buick Park Avenue driven by Valerie M. Montgomery, 30, Parsons, was eastbound on U.S. 400 four miles west of U.S. 59.The Buick traveled left of center and struck a westbound 2015 Chevy Silverado driven by Brian D. Brooks, 41, Thayer, head-on.Montgomery and a baby in the car were pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Brooks and a passenger in the pickup identified as&nbsp; Brittany D. L.&nbsp;Abshere, 33, Thayer, to Labette Health. Three juveniles were also passengers in the pickup. The KHP released no details on them. The drivers and adult passenger in the pickup were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman, baby dead after head-on crash

FORD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Monday morning in Dodge City, Kansas. Three deputies were shot, and a Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) trooper was injured during the fatal shooting.

Preliminary information indicates that deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office observed a blue Toyota Tundra driving through Minneola, Kansas. 

The Tundra matched the description of a vehicle connected to a double homicide in Phoenix, Arizona. When deputies initiated a traffic stop, the female driver and her male passenger, who was later identified as Leroy D. Malone, 39, of Phoenix, Arizona, fled prompting a vehicle pursuit. 

The vehicles headed north on U.S. Highway 283 into Ford County, where deputies from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office and the KHP joined the pursuit. Deputies and troopers deployed stop sticks to try to slow the truck, and a deputy from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office used a maneuver to force the truck into the ditch.

After the vehicle came to rest east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and 113 Road in Dodge City, gunfire was exchanged. Deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Ford County Sheriff’s Office discharged their firearms. A handgun was recovered from inside the truck.

Leroy Malone was hit multiple times by gunfire, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The female subject received multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita where she is in critical condition.&nbsp;

Two deputies from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office were shot. One deputy was transported to a Wichita hospital with serious gunshot wounds. He is currently in the intensive care unit. The second deputy was treated for shrapnel injuries and has been released from an area hospital.

A deputy from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office was shot twice, and was transported to a Wichita hospital. He is currently in serious condition. A KHP trooper was bit by a police K-9 during the shooting incident. He underwent surgery, and is in good condition.

FORD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal&nbsp; officer-involved shooting in Ford County. &nbsp;Just after 9 a.m. Monday, a Clark County sheriff's deputy observed a wanted suspect and&nbsp; attempted to stop the vehicle, according to a statement from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The suspect fled.

Deputies chased the vehicle north toward Dodge City.&nbsp;Ford County sheriff's deputies and the Kansas Highway Patrol joined the pursuit. Once the suspect’s vehicle came to a stop, gunfire was exchanged&nbsp; in the 1100 Block of East Wyatt Earp Boulevard or&nbsp;U.S. 50 and 113 Road.

A suspect died in the exchange of gunfire.&nbsp;Two Ford County deputies and a Clark County deputy were shot.&nbsp; EMS transported one of the Ford County deputies, a deputy from Clark County and a woman in the suspect vehicle to a Wichita hospital. She was reported in critical condition.

 A KHP trooper was also bitten by a dog during the incident.&nbsp;

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting in Dodge City, according to a statement from Ford County.

EMS transported multiple people to the hospital and residents were asked to avoid the 11000 block of East Wyatt Earp Boulevard as first responders work to clear the scene.

Officials have released no additional details. Check the POST for more information as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674524036439.png" alt="Malone was released from prison in June of 2020, according to the Arizona Dept.of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Malone was released from prison in June of 2020, according to the Arizona Dept.of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Monday morning in Dodge City, Kansas. Three deputies were shot, and a Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) trooper was injured during the fatal shooting.Preliminary information indicates that deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office observed a blue Toyota Tundra driving through Minneola, Kansas. The Tundra matched the description of a vehicle connected to a double homicide in Phoenix, Arizona. When deputies initiated a traffic stop, the female driver and her male passenger, who was later identified as Leroy D. Malone, 39, of Phoenix, Arizona, fled prompting a vehicle pursuit. The vehicles headed north on U.S. Highway 283 into Ford County, where deputies from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office and the KHP joined the pursuit. Deputies and troopers deployed stop sticks to try to slow the truck, and a deputy from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office used a maneuver to force the truck into the ditch.After the vehicle came to rest east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and 113 Road in Dodge City, gunfire was exchanged. Deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Ford County Sheriff’s Office discharged their firearms. A handgun was recovered from inside the truck.Leroy Malone was hit multiple times by gunfire, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The female subject received multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita where she is in critical condition.&nbsp;Two deputies from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office were shot. One deputy was transported to a Wichita hospital with serious gunshot wounds. He is currently in the intensive care unit. The second deputy was treated for shrapnel injuries and has been released from an area hospital.A deputy from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office was shot twice, and was transported to a Wichita hospital. He is currently in serious condition. A KHP trooper was bit by a police K-9 during the shooting incident. He underwent surgery, and is in good condition.----------FORD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal&nbsp; officer-involved shooting in Ford County. &nbsp;Just after 9 a.m. Monday, a Clark County sheriff's deputy observed a wanted suspect and&nbsp; attempted to stop the vehicle, according to a statement from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The suspect fled.Deputies chased the vehicle north toward Dodge City.&nbsp;Ford County sheriff's deputies and the Kansas Highway Patrol joined the pursuit. Once the suspect’s vehicle came to a stop, gunfire was exchanged&nbsp; in the 1100 Block of East Wyatt Earp Boulevard or&nbsp;U.S. 50 and 113 Road.A suspect died in the exchange of gunfire.&nbsp;Two Ford County deputies and a Clark County deputy were shot.&nbsp; EMS transported one of the Ford County deputies, a deputy from Clark County and a woman in the suspect vehicle to a Wichita hospital. She was reported in critical condition. A KHP trooper was also bitten by a dog during the incident.&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available.----------FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting in Dodge City, according to a statement from Ford County.EMS transported multiple people to the hospital and residents were asked to avoid the 11000 block of East Wyatt Earp Boulevard as first responders work to clear the scene.Officials have released no additional details. Check the POST for more information as it becomes available.

KBI updates condition of deputies injured in fatal officer shooting

SUMNER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hunting accident involving a dog stepping on a rifle.

Just after 9:30a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies responded to the area of 80th Street South and River Road after report of&nbsp; a man who was shot in the back, according to a media release from the Sumner County Sheriff.

The man was in the front passenger seat of the pickup when a dog stepped on the rifle in the back seat.&nbsp; The rifle fired a round that struck the man.

EMS responded within minutes of the 911 call and started CPR, according to the sheriff's office. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Wellington Fire and EMS also responded to the scene.

SUMNER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hunting accident involving a dog stepping on a rifle.Just after 9:30a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies responded to the area of 80th Street South and River Road after report of&nbsp; a man who was shot in the back, according to a media release from the Sumner County Sheriff.The man was in the front passenger seat of the pickup when a dog stepped on the rifle in the back seat.&nbsp; The rifle fired a round that struck the man.EMS responded within minutes of the 911 call and started CPR, according to the sheriff's office. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.The man's name has not been released.The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Wellington Fire and EMS also responded to the scene.

Kan. hunting accident: Man dies after dog steps on rifle

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man faces six felony charges related to a domestic violence incident that prompted an Amber Alert in Kansas City on Friday..

Markelv A. Avery, 21, faces Domestic Assault 3rd Degree, Assault 3rd Degree, two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.&nbsp;Any charges related to the child abduction remain under investigation.

According to court records, on Jan. 13, 2023, officers were dispatched to the area of Belmont and Gladstone Boulevard in Kansas City. A witness said the defendant had had threatened the victim with a gun and had choked and assaulted her. Later the defendant turned himself into police after a reported child abduction that led to the Amber Alert.

KANSAS CITY —The suspect wanted in connection with an Amber Alert on&nbsp;&nbsp;Wednesday in Kansas City is now in custody, according to KCPD.

Markelv Avery, 23, was allegedly armed with a handgun when he abducted Malani Avery by force from her mother's house in the area of Gladstone Boulevard and Belmont Avenue. The Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an amber alert and police found the child a short time later.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Avery, reported to a patrol division station on Thursday and was taken into custody without incident. Police have not released possible charges in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674427159673.png" alt="Markley-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Markley-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man faces six felony charges related to a domestic violence incident that prompted an Amber Alert in Kansas City on Friday..Markelv A. Avery, 21, faces Domestic Assault 3rd Degree, Assault 3rd Degree, two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.&nbsp;Any charges related to the child abduction remain under investigation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674068973618.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to court records, on Jan. 13, 2023, officers were dispatched to the area of Belmont and Gladstone Boulevard in Kansas City. A witness said the defendant had had threatened the victim with a gun and had choked and assaulted her. Later the defendant turned himself into police after a reported child abduction that led to the Amber Alert.------------KANSAS CITY —The suspect wanted in connection with an Amber Alert on&nbsp;&nbsp;Wednesday in Kansas City is now in custody, according to KCPD.Markelv Avery, 23, was allegedly armed with a handgun when he abducted Malani Avery by force from her mother's house in the area of Gladstone Boulevard and Belmont Avenue. The Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an amber alert and police found the child a short time later.&nbsp;&nbsp;Avery, reported to a patrol division station on Thursday and was taken into custody without incident. Police have not released possible charges in the case.------------

Suspect in KC Amber Alert charged with domestic violence

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two teenage students were killed Monday and a man was seriously injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at an alternative educational program designed to keep at-risk youth away from trouble. The injured man was identified as the program’s founder — a rapper who left a life of gangs and violence and has been dedicated to helping youth in Des Moines.

Police said Monday that one man had been charged in the shooting, and two other people remained in custody. Preston Walls, 18, of Des Moines, was charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder for the shooting at the Starts Right Here program. He was also charged with criminal gang participation.

Authorities said the shooting was the result of an ongoing gang dispute. Police said Walls was on supervised release for a weapons charge and had removed his ankle monitor 16 minutes before the shooting.

“The incident was definitely targeted. It was not random. There was nothing random about this,” Sgt. Paul Parizek said.

Two Des Moines teens, an 18-year-old male and a 16-year-old male, were killed. William Holmes — a 49-year-old rapper who founded the program and goes by the stage name Will Keeps — was injured and was in surgery Monday evening.

Police said Walls and all three victims were at the school on Monday when Walls entered a common area where Holmes and the two students were. Walls had a 9mm handgun with an extended ammunition magazine in his possession, police said, though they did not specify if he was displaying the weapon.

Holmes tried to escort Walls away from the area, but Walls pulled away, “pulled the handgun and began to shoot both teenage victims," police said in a statement. Holmes was standing nearby and was also shot, then Walls ran away, police said.

Responding officers saw a suspicious vehicle leaving the area. Officers stopped the vehicle. But Walls ran away and was arrested a short time later. Police said a 9mm handgun was found nearby. The ammunition magazine — which has a capacity of 31 rounds — contained three.

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said the people in the vehicle with Walls are also teenagers.

"That brings a total of five families of teenagers affected by youth gun violence in a matter of minutes on a Monday afternoon, right here in our capital city,” Cownie said at Monday's City Council meeting. “This is a growing and alarming phenomenon in our country, and one we’ve seen too often in the past and again today in the city of Des Moines.”

Cownie held a moment of silence for the victims. He said he spoke to their family members. “But there is little one can say that will lessen their pain. Nothing that can be said to bring them back, those who were killed so senselessly," he said.

Walls has not yet made a court appearance. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney to speak on his behalf.

Police said emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately, but the two students died at a hospital.

Starts Right Here is an educational program that helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12 and is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.

“The school is designed to pick up the slack and help the kids who need help the most,” Parizek said.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership, the economic and community development organization for the region, says on its website that Keeps came to Des Moines about 20 years ago from Chicago, where he “lived in a world of gangs and violence” before finding healing through music.

The partnership said the Starts Right Here movement “seeks to encourage and educate young people living in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances using the arts, entertainment, music, hip hop and other programs. It also teaches financial literacy and helps students prepare for job interviews and improve their communication skills. The ultimate goal is to break down barriers of fear, intimidation and other damaging factors leading to a sense of being disenfranchised, forgotten and rejected.”

According to the program’s website, one of Keeps' songs, “Wake Up Iowa,” sends a message that “violence and hate are not the Iowa way, and instead, we need to learn from other cities’ mistakes, so we don’t end up being ravaged by violence and crime.”

The school’s website says 70% of the students it serves are minorities, and it has had 28 graduates since it started in 2021. The school district said the program serves 40 to 50 students at any given time. The district said no district employees were on site at the time of the shooting.

Interim Superintendent Matt Smith said in a statement: “We are saddened to learn of another act of gun violence, especially one that impacts an organization that works closely with some of our students. We are still waiting to learn more details, but our thoughts are with any victims of this incident and their families and friends.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds, who serves on an advisory board for Starts Right Here, said she was “shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting.” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert is on the Starts Right Here board, according to the program's website.

“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. "My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families.”

Nicole Krantz said her office near the school was put on lockdown immediately after the shooting, and she saw someone running from the building with police in pursuit on foot and in patrol cars.

“We just saw a lot of cop cars pouring in from everywhere,” Krantz told the Des Moines Register. “It’s terrifying. We’re all worried. We went on lockdown, obviously. We were all told to stay away from the windows because we weren’t sure if they caught the guy,”

The shooting was the sixth at a school in the U.S. this year in which someone was injured or killed, but the first with fatalities, according to Education Week, which tracks school shootings. The website said there were 51 school shootings last year involving injuries or deaths, and there have been 150 since 2018. In the worst school shooting last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-texas-0145c5eac6acbd19ca769b4978c6f1ae">21 people were killed</a>&nbsp;in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

In a separate shooting outside a Des Moines high school last March, one student was killed and two other teens were badly injured. Ten people — who were all between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time of the shooting — were charged afterward. Five of them have pleaded guilty to various charges associated with the shooting.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two students were killed Monday and an adult employee was injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at a Des Moines school that is dedicated to helping at-risk youth, and three people were arrested afterward.

The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said at Monday night's City Council meeting that the injured adult is the program's founder, William Holmes, a rapper who goes by the stage name Will Keeps.

“We all wish Will our best," Cownie said. He also said that the students who died were teenagers, and three people arrested were also teens, and the shooting is another story of young lives taken too soon by gun violence.

“Two teenagers tonight are dead because of this violence. Just a short time ago, I spoke to their family members and offered our community’s support and thoughts and prayers. But there is little one can say that will lessen their pain,” he said. “Nothing that can be said to bring them back, those who were killed so senselessly.”

He asked those at the City Council meeting to observe a moment of silence for the victims.

Police said emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately. The two students died at a hospital. The adult employee, later identified by the mayor as Keeps, was in serious condition and was headed into surgery Monday afternoon.

About 20 minutes after the shooting, police said officers stopped a car that matched witnesses' descriptions about 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) away and took three people into custody. Police said one person ran from the car, but officers tracked that person down with a K-9.

The Starts Right Here program, which helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12, was founded in 2021 by Keeps.

The school’s website says 70% of the students it serves are minorities, and it has had 28 graduates since it started. The school district said the program serves 40 to 50 students at any given time. The district said no district employees were on site at the time of the shooting.

“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. "My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families. Kevin and I are praying for their safe recovery.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two students were killed Monday and an adult employee was injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at a Des Moines school that is dedicated to helping at-risk youth, and three suspects were arrested afterward.

The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.

Police say emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately. The two students died at a hospital. The adult employee of the school who was injured is in serious condition and was headed into surgery Monday afternoon.

About 20 minutes after the shooting, police said officers stopped a car that matched witnesses' descriptions about two miles away and took three suspects into custody. Police said one of the suspects ran from the car, but officers using a K-9 were able to track that person down.

The Starts Right Here program, which helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12, was founded in 2021 by Will Holmes, a rapper whose stage name is Will Keeps. He didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.

Gov. Kim Reynolds, who serves on an advisory board for Starts Right Here, said she was “shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting.” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert is on the Starts Right Here board.

“We just saw a lot of cop cars pouring in from everywhere,” Krantz said to the Des Moines Register. “It’s terrifying. We’re all worried. We went on lockdown, obviously. We were all told to stay away from the windows because we weren’t sure if they caught the guy,”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674516308515.png" alt="The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.-photo courtesy KCCI TV" />
 <figcaption>The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.-photo courtesy KCCI TV</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two teenage students were killed Monday and a man was seriously injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at an alternative educational program designed to keep at-risk youth away from trouble. The injured man was identified as the program’s founder — a rapper who left a life of gangs and violence and has been dedicated to helping youth in Des Moines.Police said Monday that one man had been charged in the shooting, and two other people remained in custody. Preston Walls, 18, of Des Moines, was charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder for the shooting at the Starts Right Here program. He was also charged with criminal gang participation.Authorities said the shooting was the result of an ongoing gang dispute. Police said Walls was on supervised release for a weapons charge and had removed his ankle monitor 16 minutes before the shooting.“The incident was definitely targeted. It was not random. There was nothing random about this,” Sgt. Paul Parizek said.Two Des Moines teens, an 18-year-old male and a 16-year-old male, were killed. William Holmes — a 49-year-old rapper who founded the program and goes by the stage name Will Keeps — was injured and was in surgery Monday evening.Police said Walls and all three victims were at the school on Monday when Walls entered a common area where Holmes and the two students were. Walls had a 9mm handgun with an extended ammunition magazine in his possession, police said, though they did not specify if he was displaying the weapon.Holmes tried to escort Walls away from the area, but Walls pulled away, “pulled the handgun and began to shoot both teenage victims," police said in a statement. Holmes was standing nearby and was also shot, then Walls ran away, police said.Responding officers saw a suspicious vehicle leaving the area. Officers stopped the vehicle. But Walls ran away and was arrested a short time later. Police said a 9mm handgun was found nearby. The ammunition magazine — which has a capacity of 31 rounds — contained three.Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said the people in the vehicle with Walls are also teenagers."That brings a total of five families of teenagers affected by youth gun violence in a matter of minutes on a Monday afternoon, right here in our capital city,” Cownie said at Monday's City Council meeting. “This is a growing and alarming phenomenon in our country, and one we’ve seen too often in the past and again today in the city of Des Moines.”Cownie held a moment of silence for the victims. He said he spoke to their family members. “But there is little one can say that will lessen their pain. Nothing that can be said to bring them back, those who were killed so senselessly," he said.Walls has not yet made a court appearance. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney to speak on his behalf.Police said emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately, but the two students died at a hospital.Starts Right Here is an educational program that helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12 and is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.“The school is designed to pick up the slack and help the kids who need help the most,” Parizek said.The Greater Des Moines Partnership, the economic and community development organization for the region, says on its website that Keeps came to Des Moines about 20 years ago from Chicago, where he “lived in a world of gangs and violence” before finding healing through music.The partnership said the Starts Right Here movement “seeks to encourage and educate young people living in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances using the arts, entertainment, music, hip hop and other programs. It also teaches financial literacy and helps students prepare for job interviews and improve their communication skills. The ultimate goal is to break down barriers of fear, intimidation and other damaging factors leading to a sense of being disenfranchised, forgotten and rejected.”According to the program’s website, one of Keeps' songs, “Wake Up Iowa,” sends a message that “violence and hate are not the Iowa way, and instead, we need to learn from other cities’ mistakes, so we don’t end up being ravaged by violence and crime.”The school’s website says 70% of the students it serves are minorities, and it has had 28 graduates since it started in 2021. The school district said the program serves 40 to 50 students at any given time. The district said no district employees were on site at the time of the shooting.Interim Superintendent Matt Smith said in a statement: “We are saddened to learn of another act of gun violence, especially one that impacts an organization that works closely with some of our students. We are still waiting to learn more details, but our thoughts are with any victims of this incident and their families and friends.”Gov. Kim Reynolds, who serves on an advisory board for Starts Right Here, said she was “shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting.” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert is on the Starts Right Here board, according to the program's website.“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. "My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families.”Nicole Krantz said her office near the school was put on lockdown immediately after the shooting, and she saw someone running from the building with police in pursuit on foot and in patrol cars.“We just saw a lot of cop cars pouring in from everywhere,” Krantz told the Des Moines Register. “It’s terrifying. We’re all worried. We went on lockdown, obviously. We were all told to stay away from the windows because we weren’t sure if they caught the guy,”The shooting was the sixth at a school in the U.S. this year in which someone was injured or killed, but the first with fatalities, according to Education Week, which tracks school shootings. The website said there were 51 school shootings last year involving injuries or deaths, and there have been 150 since 2018. In the worst school shooting last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-texas-0145c5eac6acbd19ca769b4978c6f1ae">21 people were killed</a>&nbsp;in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.In a separate shooting outside a Des Moines high school last March, one student was killed and two other teens were badly injured. Ten people — who were all between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time of the shooting — were charged afterward. Five of them have pleaded guilty to various charges associated with the shooting.--------------DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two students were killed Monday and an adult employee was injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at a Des Moines school that is dedicated to helping at-risk youth, and three people were arrested afterward.The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said at Monday night's City Council meeting that the injured adult is the program's founder, William Holmes, a rapper who goes by the stage name Will Keeps.“We all wish Will our best," Cownie said. He also said that the students who died were teenagers, and three people arrested were also teens, and the shooting is another story of young lives taken too soon by gun violence.“Two teenagers tonight are dead because of this violence. Just a short time ago, I spoke to their family members and offered our community’s support and thoughts and prayers. But there is little one can say that will lessen their pain,” he said. “Nothing that can be said to bring them back, those who were killed so senselessly.”He asked those at the City Council meeting to observe a moment of silence for the victims.Police said emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately. The two students died at a hospital. The adult employee, later identified by the mayor as Keeps, was in serious condition and was headed into surgery Monday afternoon.About 20 minutes after the shooting, police said officers stopped a car that matched witnesses' descriptions about 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) away and took three people into custody. Police said one person ran from the car, but officers tracked that person down with a K-9.“The incident was definitely targeted. It was not random. There was nothing random about this,” Sgt. Paul Parizek said.The Starts Right Here program, which helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12, was founded in 2021 by Keeps.“The school is designed to pick up the slack and help the kids who need help the most,” Parizek said.The Greater Des Moines Partnership, the economic and community development organization for the region, says on its website that Keeps came to Des Moines about 20 years ago from Chicago, where he “lived in a world of gangs and violence” before finding healing through music.The partnership said the Starts Right Here movement “seeks to encourage and educate young people living in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances using the arts, entertainment, music, hip hop and other programs. It also teaches financial literacy and helps students prepare for job interviews and improve their communication skills. The ultimate goal is to break down barriers of fear, intimidation and other damaging factors leading to a sense of being disenfranchised, forgotten and rejected.”The school’s website says 70% of the students it serves are minorities, and it has had 28 graduates since it started. The school district said the program serves 40 to 50 students at any given time. The district said no district employees were on site at the time of the shooting.Interim Superintendent Matt Smith said in a statement: “We are saddened to learn of another act of gun violence, especially one that impacts an organization that works closely with some of our students. We are still waiting to learn more details, but our thoughts are with any victims of this incident and their families and friends.”Gov. Kim Reynolds, who serves on an advisory board for Starts Right Here, said she was “shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting.” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert is on the Starts Right Here board, according to the program's website.“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. "My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families. Kevin and I are praying for their safe recovery.”Nicole Krantz said her office near the school was put on lockdown immediately after the shooting, and she saw someone running from the building with police in pursuit on foot and in patrol cars.“We just saw a lot of cop cars pouring in from everywhere,” Krantz told the Des Moines Register. “It’s terrifying. We’re all worried. We went on lockdown, obviously. We were all told to stay away from the windows because we weren’t sure if they caught the guy,”The shooting was the sixth at a school in the U.S. this year in which someone was injured or killed, but the first with fatalities, according to Education Week, which tracks school shootings. The website said there were 51 school shootings last year involving injuries or deaths, and there have been 150 since 2018. In the worst school shooting last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-texas-0145c5eac6acbd19ca769b4978c6f1ae">21 people were killed</a>&nbsp;in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.In a separate shooting outside a Des Moines high school last March, one student was killed and two other teens were badly injured. Ten people — who were all between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time of the shooting — were charged afterward. Five of them have pleaded guilty to various charges associated with the shooting.----------------DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two students were killed Monday and an adult employee was injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at a Des Moines school that is dedicated to helping at-risk youth, and three suspects were arrested afterward.The shooting was at an educational program called Starts Right Here that is affiliated with the Des Moines school district.Police say emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately. The two students died at a hospital. The adult employee of the school who was injured is in serious condition and was headed into surgery Monday afternoon.About 20 minutes after the shooting, police said officers stopped a car that matched witnesses' descriptions about two miles away and took three suspects into custody. Police said one of the suspects ran from the car, but officers using a K-9 were able to track that person down.“The incident was definitely targeted. It was not random. There was nothing random about this,” Sgt. Paul Parizek said.The Starts Right Here program, which helps at-risk youth in grades 9-12, was founded in 2021 by Will Holmes, a rapper whose stage name is Will Keeps. He didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.“The school is designed to pick up the slack and help the kids who need help the most,” Parizek said.The Greater Des Moines Partnership, the economic and community development organization for the region, says on its website that Keeps came to Des Moines about 20 years ago from Chicago, where he “lived in a world of gangs and violence” before finding healing through music.The partnership said the Starts Right Here movement “seeks to encourage and educate young people living in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances using the arts, entertainment, music, hip hop and other programs. It also teaches financial literacy and helps students prepare for job interviews and improve their communication skills. The ultimate goal is to break down barriers of fear, intimidation and other damaging factors leading to a sense of being disenfranchised, forgotten and rejected.”The school’s website says 70% of the students it serves are minorities, and it has had 28 graduates since it started. The school district said the program serves 40 to 50 students at any given time. The district said no district employees were on site at the time of the shooting.Interim Superintendent Matt Smith said in a statement: “We are saddened to learn of another act of gun violence, especially one that impacts an organization that works closely with some of our students. We are still waiting to learn more details, but our thoughts are with any victims of this incident and their families and friends.”Gov. Kim Reynolds, who serves on an advisory board for Starts Right Here, said she was “shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting.” Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert is on the Starts Right Here board.“I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program,” Reynolds said in a statement. "My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families. Kevin and I are praying for their safe recovery.”Nicole Krantz said her office near the school was put on lockdown immediately after the shooting, and she saw someone running from the building with police in pursuit on foot and in patrol cars.“We just saw a lot of cop cars pouring in from everywhere,” Krantz said to the Des Moines Register. “It’s terrifying. We’re all worried. We went on lockdown, obviously. We were all told to stay away from the windows because we weren’t sure if they caught the guy,”The shooting was the sixth at a school in the U.S. this year in which someone was injured or killed, but the first with fatalities, according to Education Week, which tracks school shootings. The website said there were 51 school shootings last year involving injuries or deaths, and there have been 150 since 2018. In the worst school shooting last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-texas-0145c5eac6acbd19ca769b4978c6f1ae">21 people were killed</a>&nbsp;in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.In a separate shooting outside a Des Moines high school last March, one student was killed and two other teens were badly injured. Ten people — who were all between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time of the shooting — were charged afterward. Five of them have pleaded guilty to various charges associated with the shooting.

Update: 2 students dead, teacher hurt in Des Moines shooting

By NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON —Over two dozen public school districts in Kansas currently operate on a 4-day week.&nbsp;


Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale 
said his district is looking at what four-day school weeks might look 
like in future years.

"We actually put a committee together in 
October and started just looking at the research out there, as it 
relates to student achievement, applications, in terms of that retention
 and recruitment of staff, etc. We're at least looking at it. We've had a
 couple of community meetings, we've done surveys and we've got another 
community survey out right now, that we're collecting data."

It isn't really about saving money, all things considered.

"A
 lot of districts went to four day weeks because they considered it a 
cost savings for the district," Nightingale said. "In reality, that cost
 savings is kind of non-existent. You might be saving one to two percent
 when you consider bus routes and bus fuel. Realistically, we're not 
going to turn the heat down. We're not going to turn the cooling down on
 that one day of the week and save a lot of money."

The one thing that such a schedule might do is help with staffing.

"If
 I was offering you a job and you had to decide between two places to 
work and this place is five days a week and this place over here you get
 a three day weekend every week, I think that would give the edge to 
that four day schedule. Obviously, recruiting and retaining staff is a 
huge piece of this." No final decisions have been made on the subject at this point.

According to the Kansas Department of Education schools in USD 103-Cheylin, 200-Greeley County, 205-Bluestem, 212-Northern Valley, 216-Deerfield, 217-Rolla, 220-Ashland, 225-Fowler, 242-Weskan, 245-So. Coffey County, 275-Triplains, 282-West Elk, 283-Elk Valley, 284-Chase County, 300-Comanche County, 314-Brewster, 382-Pratt, 390-Hamilton, 399-Natoma, 462-Central, 468-Healy, 471-Dexter, 474-Haviland, 494-Syracuse and 505-Chetopa, St. Paul operate on a 4-day week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628266388485.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON —Over two dozen public school districts in Kansas currently operate on a 4-day week.&nbsp;
Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale 
said his district is looking at what four-day school weeks might look 
like in future years."We actually put a committee together in 
October and started just looking at the research out there, as it 
relates to student achievement, applications, in terms of that retention
 and recruitment of staff, etc. We're at least looking at it. We've had a
 couple of community meetings, we've done surveys and we've got another 
community survey out right now, that we're collecting data."It isn't really about saving money, all things considered."A
 lot of districts went to four day weeks because they considered it a 
cost savings for the district," Nightingale said. "In reality, that cost
 savings is kind of non-existent. You might be saving one to two percent
 when you consider bus routes and bus fuel. Realistically, we're not 
going to turn the heat down. We're not going to turn the cooling down on
 that one day of the week and save a lot of money."The one thing that such a schedule might do is help with staffing."If
 I was offering you a job and you had to decide between two places to 
work and this place is five days a week and this place over here you get
 a three day weekend every week, I think that would give the edge to 
that four day schedule. Obviously, recruiting and retaining staff is a 
huge piece of this." No final decisions have been made on the subject at this point.According to the Kansas Department of Education schools in USD 103-Cheylin, 200-Greeley County, 205-Bluestem, 212-Northern Valley, 216-Deerfield, 217-Rolla, 220-Ashland, 225-Fowler, 242-Weskan, 245-So. Coffey County, 275-Triplains, 282-West Elk, 283-Elk Valley, 284-Chase County, 300-Comanche County, 314-Brewster, 382-Pratt, 390-Hamilton, 399-Natoma, 462-Central, 468-Healy, 471-Dexter, 474-Haviland, 494-Syracuse and 505-Chetopa, St. Paul operate on a 4-day week.

Another Kan. school district considering 4-day school week

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Someone scammed U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran's reelection campaign out of $690,000 by getting the Kansas Republican's accounting firm to wire the money to fraudulent bank accounts, his office said Monday.

Moran's campaign treasurer, Timothy Gottschalk, notified the Federal Election Commission by electronic letter Dec. 8 of “fraudulent activity by a third-party cyber-criminal.” The letter said that after the campaign notified a local sheriff's office on Nov. 16, eight days after the general election, the case was forwarded to the FBI and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

The letter said the campaign received two fraudulent invoices that appeared to be from SRCP Media Inc., a Washington area company hired to handle Moran's broadcast advertising. The letter said the campaign organization wired $345,000 on Oct. 25 and another $345,000 on Nov. 9.

“As soon as a discrepancy was realized, it was reported to law enforcement,” Moran spokesman Tom Brandt said in an email Monday. “We are currently pursuing all avenues available to recover the money and there is an ongoing investigation with the FBI.”

The campaign's electronic letter to the FEC said that as of Dec. 8, the campaign had recovered $168,184. The letter was first reported by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rawstory.com/raw-investigates/jerry-moran/">RawStory website</a>&nbsp;last week.

The FBI does not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, said Bridget Patton, its spokesperson in Kansas City, Missouri. Representatives of the KBI and SRCP did not immediately return telephone and email messages seeking comment.

Moran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-senate-race-2022-midterm-elections-f48f2aadc6c2d0adcab12692a075caed">won his third six-year term</a>&nbsp;in the Senate in November with 60% of the vote against Democrat Mark Holland, a former Kansas City, Kansas, mayor. His reelection campaign raised more than $7.3 million and spent more than $5.1 million through Nov. 28, according to a finance report it filed with the FEC, also on Dec. 8.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673293787010.png" alt="Senator Moran on the Texas-Mexico border earlier this month-photo courtesy Moran's office" />
 <figcaption>Senator Moran on the Texas-Mexico border earlier this month-photo courtesy Moran's office</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Someone scammed U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran's reelection campaign out of $690,000 by getting the Kansas Republican's accounting firm to wire the money to fraudulent bank accounts, his office said Monday.Moran's campaign treasurer, Timothy Gottschalk, notified the Federal Election Commission by electronic letter Dec. 8 of “fraudulent activity by a third-party cyber-criminal.” The letter said that after the campaign notified a local sheriff's office on Nov. 16, eight days after the general election, the case was forwarded to the FBI and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.The letter said the campaign received two fraudulent invoices that appeared to be from SRCP Media Inc., a Washington area company hired to handle Moran's broadcast advertising. The letter said the campaign organization wired $345,000 on Oct. 25 and another $345,000 on Nov. 9.“As soon as a discrepancy was realized, it was reported to law enforcement,” Moran spokesman Tom Brandt said in an email Monday. “We are currently pursuing all avenues available to recover the money and there is an ongoing investigation with the FBI.”The campaign's electronic letter to the FEC said that as of Dec. 8, the campaign had recovered $168,184. The letter was first reported by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rawstory.com/raw-investigates/jerry-moran/">RawStory website</a>&nbsp;last week.The FBI does not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, said Bridget Patton, its spokesperson in Kansas City, Missouri. Representatives of the KBI and SRCP did not immediately return telephone and email messages seeking comment.Moran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-senate-race-2022-midterm-elections-f48f2aadc6c2d0adcab12692a075caed">won his third six-year term</a>&nbsp;in the Senate in November with 60% of the vote against Democrat Mark Holland, a former Kansas City, Kansas, mayor. His reelection campaign raised more than $7.3 million and spent more than $5.1 million through Nov. 28, according to a finance report it filed with the FEC, also on Dec. 8.___

FBI investigating: Moran campaign scammed out of $690K

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris railed against efforts in Washington and in Republican-led states to restrict abortion on what would have been the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-health-wisconsin-state-government-madison-32f0773666b4e69b4626f4ba632cc37a">50th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade</a>, invoking fundamental American values such as freedom to make the case for protecting abortion access despite the Supreme Court's decision to eliminate constitutional protections for it.

(Click below to watch comments from the Vice President or <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/01/22/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">click here to</a> read the full text of her comments.)

Leading the administration's response on commemorating Roe on Sunday, Harris methodically detailed fights throughout history for certain liberties, such as civil rights and the right to vote for women, and tied that to access for abortion, which Harris called the “fundamental, constitutional, right of a woman to make decisions about her own body.”

“Can we truly be free if families cannot make intimate decisions about the course of their own lives?” Harris said in a fiery speech before a boisterous crowd of 1,500 people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-crime-tampa-florida-ron-desantis-b62f465e0946ad6c4bf2cec539c7974b">in Tallahassee, Florida.</a>&nbsp;“And can we truly be free if so-called leaders claim to be quote, I quote, on the vanguard of freedom while they dare to restrict the rights of the American people and attack the very foundations of freedom?”

Women’s marches demanding the protection of abortion rights were set to draw thousands of people across the country on Sunday, the 50th anniversary of the now-overturned Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a federal right to an abortion.

Harris outlined the consequences of abortion restrictions: The 10-year-old girl in Ohio who became pregnant after a rape but had to travel out of state for an abortion. A 35-year-old Texas woman who was denied treatment three times for what turned out to be a miscarriage, and developed sepsis, nearly killing her. A 14-year-old in Arizona who initially could not obtain medication to control her chronic arthritis, because that medication also can cause pregnancy loss.

“The right of every woman, in every state in this country to make decisions about her own body is on the line,” Harris said. “I've said it before and I'll say it again: How dare they. How dare they?”

The decision for Harris to speak in Tallahassee, the state capital, reflects how the battle lines have shifted since last summer. Now that there's no more national right to abortion,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-florida-state-government-kentucky-6ed9dbcdaae33312f1425ea38b681a7e">battles over the issue w</a>&nbsp;ill play out in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-minnesota-government-and-politics-dfd82ea258e2f8544bb09cea83cabf07">individual statehouses</a>&nbsp;rather than in the halls of Congress or before the Supreme Court.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/20/readout-of-white-house-meeting-with-state-legislative-leaders-on-reproductive-rights-ahead-of-the-50th-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">White House officials this past week convened top lawmakers from eight states</a>&nbsp;to discuss pending legislation.

In addition, after performing better than expected in November's elections,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-voting-rights-us-supreme-court-congress-0f64d8fc75981c9e634ae3ac5ac9930e">Democrats see abortion as a key issue for their party in 2024</a>, when control of the White House and both chambers of Congress will be up for grabs at the same time. In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-ron-desantis-legislature-b6e8e4dc730cfd399e0f6f653c86dd84">DeSantis may seek the Republican presidential nomination</a>, the first step to challenging President Joe Biden,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-politics-280106ff41ffbc4727c2d8d3c5c4e0d5">who has been preparing for a reelection campaign</a>.

Ahead of her speech, Harris told abortion rights advocates on a conference call Sunday that they should keep up their energy as they push back against restrictions in Republican-led states and work on behalf of candidates in local races who support abortion access.

“We are fighting for something. History is going to show we are on the right side of this issue,” Harris said. “So let us not be deterred, let us not be overwhelmed. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Florida is critical because its rules for abortion are less restrictive than its neighbors, making it a relatively safe harbor for women in the region who are trying to end their pregnancies. But more restrictions could be considered by the Republican-controlled state government.

DeSantis' office did not respond to a request for comment.

Biden,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/22/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-roe-v-wade-decision/">in a statement Sunday</a>, said “women should be able to make these deeply personal decisions free from political interference. Yet, Republicans in Congress and across the country continue to push for a national abortion ban, to criminalize doctors and nurses, and to make contraception harder to access. It’s dangerous, extreme, and out of touch.”

Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster who has worked with Biden, said the White House strategy on abortion had three goals.

“You can create an atmosphere and put pressure on these states to make it more difficult to pass draconian restrictions," she said. In addition, Lake said, “you can set up the contrast for 2024" and "you can use this as a major motivator for people to turn out to vote.”

Democrats have concluded that the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade reshaped the political landscape for last year's elections, rejuvenating the party's chances when analysts had expected a Republican wipeout.

Democrats still lost control of the House and expanded their Senate majority by only one vote, meaning legislation that would create a nationwide right to abortion remains out of reach.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris railed against efforts in Washington and in Republican-led states to restrict abortion on what would have been the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-health-wisconsin-state-government-madison-32f0773666b4e69b4626f4ba632cc37a">50th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade</a>, invoking fundamental American values such as freedom to make the case for protecting abortion access despite the Supreme Court's decision to eliminate constitutional protections for it.(Click below to watch comments from the Vice President or <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/01/22/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">click here to</a> read the full text of her comments.)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F917792789640046%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=818" 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>Leading the administration's response on commemorating Roe on Sunday, Harris methodically detailed fights throughout history for certain liberties, such as civil rights and the right to vote for women, and tied that to access for abortion, which Harris called the “fundamental, constitutional, right of a woman to make decisions about her own body.”“Can we truly be free if families cannot make intimate decisions about the course of their own lives?” Harris said in a fiery speech before a boisterous crowd of 1,500 people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-crime-tampa-florida-ron-desantis-b62f465e0946ad6c4bf2cec539c7974b">in Tallahassee, Florida.</a>&nbsp;“And can we truly be free if so-called leaders claim to be quote, I quote, on the vanguard of freedom while they dare to restrict the rights of the American people and attack the very foundations of freedom?”Women’s marches demanding the protection of abortion rights were set to draw thousands of people across the country on Sunday, the 50th anniversary of the now-overturned Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a federal right to an abortion.Harris outlined the consequences of abortion restrictions: The 10-year-old girl in Ohio who became pregnant after a rape but had to travel out of state for an abortion. A 35-year-old Texas woman who was denied treatment three times for what turned out to be a miscarriage, and developed sepsis, nearly killing her. A 14-year-old in Arizona who initially could not obtain medication to control her chronic arthritis, because that medication also can cause pregnancy loss.“The right of every woman, in every state in this country to make decisions about her own body is on the line,” Harris said. “I've said it before and I'll say it again: How dare they. How dare they?”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On what would have been the 50th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to protecting access to reproductive health care. <a href="https://t.co/sD1Jaeoa4s">pic.twitter.com/sD1Jaeoa4s</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1617190358688858113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The decision for Harris to speak in Tallahassee, the state capital, reflects how the battle lines have shifted since last summer. Now that there's no more national right to abortion,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-florida-state-government-kentucky-6ed9dbcdaae33312f1425ea38b681a7e">battles over the issue w</a>&nbsp;ill play out in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-minnesota-government-and-politics-dfd82ea258e2f8544bb09cea83cabf07">individual statehouses</a>&nbsp;rather than in the halls of Congress or before the Supreme Court.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/20/readout-of-white-house-meeting-with-state-legislative-leaders-on-reproductive-rights-ahead-of-the-50th-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">White House officials this past week convened top lawmakers from eight states</a>&nbsp;to discuss pending legislation.In addition, after performing better than expected in November's elections,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-voting-rights-us-supreme-court-congress-0f64d8fc75981c9e634ae3ac5ac9930e">Democrats see abortion as a key issue for their party in 2024</a>, when control of the White House and both chambers of Congress will be up for grabs at the same time. In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-ron-desantis-legislature-b6e8e4dc730cfd399e0f6f653c86dd84">DeSantis may seek the Republican presidential nomination</a>, the first step to challenging President Joe Biden,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-politics-280106ff41ffbc4727c2d8d3c5c4e0d5">who has been preparing for a reelection campaign</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, let us stand together in the fight to protect reproductive freedom. <a href="https://t.co/k5ONbVIP2W">pic.twitter.com/k5ONbVIP2W</a>&mdash; Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1617172359105986560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Ahead of her speech, Harris told abortion rights advocates on a conference call Sunday that they should keep up their energy as they push back against restrictions in Republican-led states and work on behalf of candidates in local races who support abortion access.“We are fighting for something. History is going to show we are on the right side of this issue,” Harris said. “So let us not be deterred, let us not be overwhelmed. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.”White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Florida is critical because its rules for abortion are less restrictive than its neighbors, making it a relatively safe harbor for women in the region who are trying to end their pregnancies. But more restrictions could be considered by the Republican-controlled state government.DeSantis' office did not respond to a request for comment.Biden,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/22/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-roe-v-wade-decision/">in a statement Sunday</a>, said “women should be able to make these deeply personal decisions free from political interference. Yet, Republicans in Congress and across the country continue to push for a national abortion ban, to criminalize doctors and nurses, and to make contraception harder to access. It’s dangerous, extreme, and out of touch.”Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster who has worked with Biden, said the White House strategy on abortion had three goals.“You can create an atmosphere and put pressure on these states to make it more difficult to pass draconian restrictions," she said. In addition, Lake said, “you can set up the contrast for 2024" and "you can use this as a major motivator for people to turn out to vote.”Democrats have concluded that the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade reshaped the political landscape for last year's elections, rejuvenating the party's chances when analysts had expected a Republican wipeout.Democrats still lost control of the House and expanded their Senate majority by only one vote, meaning legislation that would create a nationwide right to abortion remains out of reach.There are concerns that Biden and his administration have exhausted their options for executive actions.The Food and Drug Administration announced this month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-medication-d5fc3d5990dced69b0bf93a4760250fe">abortion pills</a>&nbsp;would become more widely available at pharmacies and through the mail. The pills can also be obtained through a virtual appointment, rather than by visiting a doctor's office.A legal battle is now playing out in federal court in Texas, where abortion opponents have sued to undo the decades-old approval of the drugs.“The administration is really looking at existing federal law, and trying to leverage it," said Lawrence Gostin, who runs the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health at Georgetown Law.Not all of the administration's ideas have panned out. Biden announced last year that states could apply for waivers to use Medicaid dollars to pay for women to travel to get abortions. No waivers have been sought.Across states, the fight to protect abortion access is playing out in courtrooms, with active litigation against abortion restrictions in 14 states, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation.The nonprofit health organization found that advocates have generally taken one of three approaches to mounting legal challenges against abortion laws by claiming the laws violate state constitutional protections, infringe on some states’ guaranteed rights to make health care choices, or block religious freedoms.It's unclear which legal arguments may be most successful, with the states’ highest courts ultimately deciding how accessible abortion will be. Meanwhile, abortion opponents are searching for ways to use the courts to further restrict abortion.Renee Bracey Sherman, founder and executive director of the group We Testify, which advocates for women who have had abortions, said she is disappointed that Biden hasn't done more.“The fact that he is missing in action during this public health emergency is really embarrassing,” she said.Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., had joined with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., last year to call on Biden to formally&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/25/opinion/elizabeth-warren-tina-smith-abortion-roe.html">declare a public health emergency.</a>Biden never did, but Smith said she is satisfied with the steps he has taken.“I’d be hard pressed to point to something that they haven’t done that they might have done with a public health emergency,” she said.___