TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas lawmaker who was forced out of one of the state Senate's most powerful jobs following an arrest for drunken driving and speeding the wrong way on two interstate highways is planning to leave the Legislature in early January.

Former Senate Majority Leader Sen. Gene Suellentrop, a Wichita Republican, confirmed Tuesday that he plans to retire Jan. 2, saying in an email that his 13 years as a lawmaker "is long enough.” State senators aren't up for reelection until 2024, and Republicans in his district will find a replacement to serve the rest of his four-year term.

Republican senators who picked Suellentrop in December 2020 to set the chamber's daily debate calendar and run their caucus meetings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-57fe7b37ea34af1a311c59dd71041ec3">stripped him of the majority leader's title</a>&nbsp;four months later, though he kept his Senate seat. His ouster as majority leader came less than a month after his March 2021 arrest and criminal charges that included attempting to elude law enforcement, a felony. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-kansas-topeka-wichita-8688bba80470c0d77dbd5d816f71a352">pleaded no contest</a>&nbsp;in October 2021 to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and driving under the influence and served two days in jail.

“There are too many things in my life that are more important, at this stage, than serving in the Kansas Legislature,” Suellentrop said in his email Tuesday.

The 70-year-old Wichita businessman added that he was “most thankful for” constituents who supported him throughout his career. His plan to resign was first reported by the Sunflower State Journal.

Suellentrop’s criminal case received national attention because he was a legislative leader and reportedly had been driving up to 90 miles per hour. A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper also said in an affidavit that Suellentrop at one point&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-topeka-driving-under-the-influence-581109d7e604aeb739bb5b896823132d">called him “donut boy.”</a>&nbsp;No one was injured.

Law enforcement radio recordings and 911 calls released by the local sheriff’s department showed multiple people reported Suellentrop’s SUV traveling the wrong way on Interstate 470 near a south Topeka exit and then on Interstate 70 through northern Topeka. The Highway Patrol said Suellentrop’s blood-alcohol level was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Besides serving two days in jail, a judge placed Suellentrop on probation for a year, though court records show he was released early, in July.

Suellentrop's legislative career began in December 2009, when local Republicans picked him to fill a vacancy in the state House. He won his Senate seat in 2016 and was reelected in 2020.

He'd served two years as Senate health committee chair when GOP senators named him the chamber's No. 2 leader, behind Senate President Ty Masterson, another Wichita-area Republican.

Chase Blasi, a former aide to Masterson and Masterson's predecessor as Senate president, is seeking Suellentrop's seat. Masterson endorsed him.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616963978358.jpeg" alt="Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop booking photo from the Shawnee County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop booking photo from the Shawnee County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas lawmaker who was forced out of one of the state Senate's most powerful jobs following an arrest for drunken driving and speeding the wrong way on two interstate highways is planning to leave the Legislature in early January.Former Senate Majority Leader Sen. Gene Suellentrop, a Wichita Republican, confirmed Tuesday that he plans to retire Jan. 2, saying in an email that his 13 years as a lawmaker "is long enough.” State senators aren't up for reelection until 2024, and Republicans in his district will find a replacement to serve the rest of his four-year term.Republican senators who picked Suellentrop in December 2020 to set the chamber's daily debate calendar and run their caucus meetings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-57fe7b37ea34af1a311c59dd71041ec3">stripped him of the majority leader's title</a>&nbsp;four months later, though he kept his Senate seat. His ouster as majority leader came less than a month after his March 2021 arrest and criminal charges that included attempting to elude law enforcement, a felony. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-kansas-topeka-wichita-8688bba80470c0d77dbd5d816f71a352">pleaded no contest</a>&nbsp;in October 2021 to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and driving under the influence and served two days in jail.“There are too many things in my life that are more important, at this stage, than serving in the Kansas Legislature,” Suellentrop said in his email Tuesday.The 70-year-old Wichita businessman added that he was “most thankful for” constituents who supported him throughout his career. His plan to resign was first reported by the Sunflower State Journal.Suellentrop’s criminal case received national attention because he was a legislative leader and reportedly had been driving up to 90 miles per hour. A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper also said in an affidavit that Suellentrop at one point&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-topeka-driving-under-the-influence-581109d7e604aeb739bb5b896823132d">called him “donut boy.”</a>&nbsp;No one was injured.Law enforcement radio recordings and 911 calls released by the local sheriff’s department showed multiple people reported Suellentrop’s SUV traveling the wrong way on Interstate 470 near a south Topeka exit and then on Interstate 70 through northern Topeka. The Highway Patrol said Suellentrop’s blood-alcohol level was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.Besides serving two days in jail, a judge placed Suellentrop on probation for a year, though court records show he was released early, in July.Suellentrop's legislative career began in December 2009, when local Republicans picked him to fill a vacancy in the state House. He won his Senate seat in 2016 and was reelected in 2020.He'd served two years as Senate health committee chair when GOP senators named him the chamber's No. 2 leader, behind Senate President Ty Masterson, another Wichita-area Republican.Chase Blasi, a former aide to Masterson and Masterson's predecessor as Senate president, is seeking Suellentrop's seat. Masterson endorsed him.

Ex-majority leader jailed for DUI is leaving Kansas Senate

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged arson at Manhattan High School.

Just before 11a.m. Monday, officers filed a report for aggravated arson at Manhattan High School in the 2100 block of Poyntz Avenue.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a bathroom soap dispenser was lit on fire. A teacher with a fire extinguisher&nbsp; quickly put the fire out.&nbsp; The incident remains under investigation.&nbsp;

Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=353#">Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers</a>. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged arson at Manhattan High School.Just before 11a.m. Monday, officers filed a report for aggravated arson at Manhattan High School in the 2100 block of Poyntz Avenue.According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a bathroom soap dispenser was lit on fire. A teacher with a fire extinguisher&nbsp; quickly put the fire out.&nbsp; The incident remains under investigation.&nbsp;Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=353#">Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers</a>. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Police: Alleged arson fire in bathroom at Kansas high school

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;is taking up a dispute over a blocked Biden administration policy that would prioritize deportation of people in the country illegally who pose the greatest public safety risk.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx">Click here to listen </a>to the debate

Republican-led states sued and won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-louisiana-immigration-government-and-politics-ca4a8bc99794bd46beb88f0a2d347cd5">nationwide court order</a>&nbsp;that is meant to limit immigration officers’ discretion in deciding whom to deport. The justices are hearing arguments in the case Tuesday.

It's the latest example of a Republican litigation strategy that has succeeded in slowing Biden administration initiatives by going to GOP-friendly courts.

In a separate ongoing legal dispute, three judges chosen by President Donald Trump are among the four Republican-appointed judges who have so far prevented the administration's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-government-and-politics-f524c55faae26c2066b6795a9d29bc8d">student loan cancellation program</a>&nbsp;from taking effect.

At the center of the immigration legal fight is a September 2021 directive from the Department of Homeland Security that paused deportations unless individuals had committed acts of terrorism, espionage or “egregious threats to public safety.”

The guidance, issued after Joe Biden became president, updated a Trump-era policy that removed people in the country illegally regardless of criminal history or community ties.

The administration said in a written high-court filing that the “decision to prioritize threats to national security, public safety, and border security was both reasonable and reasonably explained,” especially since Congress has not given DHS enough money to vastly increase the number of people it holds and deports.

Texas and Louisiana, which sued over the directive, responded that the administration’s guidance violates federal law that requires the detention of people who are in the U.S. illegally and who have been convicted of serious crimes.

The states said they would face added costs of having to detain people the federal government might allow to remain free inside the United States, despite their criminal records.

Federal appeals courts had reached conflicting decisions over DHS guidance.

The federal appeals court in Cincinnati earlier overturned a district judge’s order that put the policy on hold in a lawsuit filed by Arizona, Ohio and Montana.

But in a separate suit filed by Texas and Louisiana, a federal judge in Texas ordered a nationwide halt to the guidance and a federal appellate panel in New Orleans declined to step in.

In July, the court voted 5-4 to leave the immigration policy frozen nationwide. Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberals in saying they would have allowed the Biden administration to put in place the guidance.

At the same time, the court said it would hear arguments in the case in late November.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317716965.png" alt="At the center of the immigration legal fight is a September 2021 directive from the Department of Homeland Security that paused deportations unless individuals had committed acts of terrorism, espionage or “egregious threats to public safety.”-photo Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>At the center of the immigration legal fight is a September 2021 directive from the Department of Homeland Security that paused deportations unless individuals had committed acts of terrorism, espionage or “egregious threats to public safety.”-photo Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;is taking up a dispute over a blocked Biden administration policy that would prioritize deportation of people in the country illegally who pose the greatest public safety risk.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx">Click here to listen </a>to the debateRepublican-led states sued and won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-louisiana-immigration-government-and-politics-ca4a8bc99794bd46beb88f0a2d347cd5">nationwide court order</a>&nbsp;that is meant to limit immigration officers’ discretion in deciding whom to deport. The justices are hearing arguments in the case Tuesday.It's the latest example of a Republican litigation strategy that has succeeded in slowing Biden administration initiatives by going to GOP-friendly courts.In a separate ongoing legal dispute, three judges chosen by President Donald Trump are among the four Republican-appointed judges who have so far prevented the administration's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-government-and-politics-f524c55faae26c2066b6795a9d29bc8d">student loan cancellation program</a>&nbsp;from taking effect.At the center of the immigration legal fight is a September 2021 directive from the Department of Homeland Security that paused deportations unless individuals had committed acts of terrorism, espionage or “egregious threats to public safety.”The guidance, issued after Joe Biden became president, updated a Trump-era policy that removed people in the country illegally regardless of criminal history or community ties.The administration said in a written high-court filing that the “decision to prioritize threats to national security, public safety, and border security was both reasonable and reasonably explained,” especially since Congress has not given DHS enough money to vastly increase the number of people it holds and deports.Texas and Louisiana, which sued over the directive, responded that the administration’s guidance violates federal law that requires the detention of people who are in the U.S. illegally and who have been convicted of serious crimes.The states said they would face added costs of having to detain people the federal government might allow to remain free inside the United States, despite their criminal records.Federal appeals courts had reached conflicting decisions over DHS guidance.The federal appeals court in Cincinnati earlier overturned a district judge’s order that put the policy on hold in a lawsuit filed by Arizona, Ohio and Montana.But in a separate suit filed by Texas and Louisiana, a federal judge in Texas ordered a nationwide halt to the guidance and a federal appellate panel in New Orleans declined to step in.In July, the court voted 5-4 to leave the immigration policy frozen nationwide. Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberals in saying they would have allowed the Biden administration to put in place the guidance.At the same time, the court said it would hear arguments in the case in late November.

🎤Supreme Court weighs deportation policy as crisis rages

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A suspect captured after the abduction of a 6-year-old Kansas girl is awaiting extradition to Kansas.

Just before 7p.m. p.m. Nov. 20, police responded to the 2300 block of N. Amidon in Wichita for an auto theft, kidnapping in a liquor store parking lot, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

A 35-year-old man reported that while he had gone into the store, an unknown man stole his&nbsp;gold/tan Lexus Rx330  with his 6-year-old daughter still inside.

Officers immediately began checking the area for the vehicle and the juvenile and&nbsp; utilized Flock cameras and other License Plate Reader (LPR) technology and learned that the vehicle had entered the Kansas Turnpike headed South at approximately 7:02 p.m.

Neighboring counties, the Kansas Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa Police Department were notified of the circumstances and the vehicle's last known location. 

At 8 p.m., Troopers with Oklahoma Highway Patrol were able to stop the car approximately 22 miles south of the Kansas/Oklahoma state line and recover the girl.

The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Benjamin Brady, was taken into custody by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and booked into the Kay County, Oklahoma jail on requested charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, abduction of individual under age 15 and crossing state line, driving under suspended license, failure to stop for law enforcement and attempt to elude law enforcement, according to online jail records-photo Kay County Oklahoma    

On November 12, police in Wichita arrested Brady for alleged DUI, possession of stolen property and transporting an open container, according to the Sedgwick County arrest report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669067284425.png" alt="Brady is being held on requested charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, abduction of individual under age 15 and cross ing state line, driving under suspended license, failure to stop for law enforcement and attempt to elude law enforcement, according to online jail records-photo Kay County Oklahoma&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Brady is being held on requested charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, abduction of individual under age 15 and cross ing state line, driving under suspended license, failure to stop for law enforcement and attempt to elude law enforcement, according to online jail records-photo Kay County Oklahoma&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A suspect captured after the abduction of a 6-year-old Kansas girl is awaiting extradition to Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669565691218.png" alt="On November 12, police in Wichita arrested Brady for alleged DUI, possession of stolen property and transporting an open container, according to the Sedgwick County arrest report.Brady -photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>On November 12, police in Wichita arrested Brady for alleged DUI, possession of stolen property and transporting an open container, according to the Sedgwick County arrest report.Brady -photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 7p.m. p.m. Nov. 20, police responded to the 2300 block of N. Amidon in Wichita for an auto theft, kidnapping in a liquor store parking lot, according to Officer Trevor Macy.A 35-year-old man reported that while he had gone into the store, an unknown man stole his&nbsp;gold/tan Lexus Rx330 with his 6-year-old daughter still inside.Officers immediately began checking the area for the vehicle and the juvenile and&nbsp; utilized Flock cameras and other License Plate Reader (LPR) technology and learned that the vehicle had entered the Kansas Turnpike headed South at approximately 7:02 p.m.Neighboring counties, the Kansas Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa Police Department were notified of the circumstances and the vehicle's last known location. At 8 p.m., Troopers with Oklahoma Highway Patrol were able to stop the car approximately 22 miles south of the Kansas/Oklahoma state line and recover the girl.The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Benjamin Brady, was taken into custody by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and booked into the Kay County, Oklahoma jail on requested charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, abduction of individual under age 15 and crossing state line, driving under suspended license, failure to stop for law enforcement and attempt to elude law enforcement, according to online jail records-photo Kay County Oklahoma On November 12, police in Wichita arrested Brady for alleged DUI, possession of stolen property and transporting an open container, according to the Sedgwick County arrest report.

Suspect in Kan. girl's abduction remains in Oklahoma jail

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The last World Cup clash between the United States and Iran 24 years ago is considered one of the most politically charged matches in soccer history.

This time, the political overtones are just as strong and relations perhaps even more fraught as the U.S. and Iran face off once again on Tuesday in Qatar.

Iran's nationwide protests, its expanding nuclear program and regional and international attacks linked back to Tehran have pushed the match beyond the stadium and into geopolitics.

No matter the outcome, tensions are likely only to worsen in the coming months.

When relations soured between the U.S. and Iran depends on who you ask. Iranians point to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-united-arab-emirates-ap-top-news-dubai-middle-east-5111167bcaf84892b01eea93eea4bc01">the 1953 CIA-backed coup that cemented Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi's power.</a>&nbsp;Americans remember&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-revolution-anniversary-donald-trump-ap-top-news-persian-gulf-tensions-tehran-c77d68ec46a54bb199960f81de2c0875">the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover and 444-day hostage crisis</a>&nbsp;during the Iranian Revolution.

In soccer, however, the timeline is much simpler as this will be only the second time Iran and the U.S. have played each other in the World Cup.

The last time was at the 1998 tournament in France — a totally different time in the Islamic Republic. Iran won 2-1 in Lyon, a low point for the U.S. men's team as Iranians celebrated in Tehran.

At the time, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the Iranian team, saying “the strong and arrogant opponent felt the bitter taste of defeat."

But off the pitch, Iran's then-president, Mohammad Khatami, sought to improve ties to the West and the wider world. Inside Iran, Khatami pushed so-called “reformist" policies, seeking to liberalize aspects of its theocracy while maintaining its structure with a supreme leader at the top.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bcf17618047d8b47168a78dab0d65e68">U.S. President Bill Clinton and his administration hoped Khatami's election could be part of a thaw</a>.

The two teams posed for a joint photograph, and the Iranian players handed white flowers to their American opponents. The U.S. gave the Iranians U.S. Soccer Federation pennants. They even exchanged jerseys, though the Iranians didn't put them on. They later played a friendly in Pasadena, California, as well.

Fast-forward 24 years later, and relations are perhaps more tense than they've ever been.

Iran is now governed entirely by hard-liners after the election of President Ebrahim Raisi, a protege of Khamenei,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran--president-elect-ebrahim-raisi-biden-63db1fbbdb1ff9fe40aca40f3f8046a2">who took part in the 1988 mass execution of thousands of political prisoners at the end of the Iran-Iraq war</a>.

Following the collapse of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, sparked by President Donald Trump's unilateral withdrawal from the accord, Tehran is now enriching uranium to 60% purity — a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels. Non-proliferation experts warn the Islamic Republic already has enough uranium to build at least one nuclear bomb.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-israel-iran-iran-nuclear-united-arab-emirates-9835ba4644959e9cb4584ca999f49002">A shadow war of drone strikes, targeted killings and sabotage</a>&nbsp;has been shaking the wider Middle East for years amid the deal's collapse. Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-europe-dubai-united-arab-emirates-eb59a349e2b55416a863e5304819ec6f">Russia pounds civilian areas and power infrastructure in Ukraine with Iranian-made drones.</a>

For two months, Iran has been convulsed by the mass protests that followed the Sept. 16 death of Mahsa Amini,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-morality-police-explainer-b53475eda867a4158ac5032fe1b3e62e">a 22-year-old woman who had been earlier detained by the country's morality police</a>. The protests have seen at least 451 people killed since they started, as well as over 18,000 arrested, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, an advocacy group following the demonstrations.

At the World Cup in Qatar,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-world-cup-soccer-sports-wayne-hennessey-a68eafb416294c5e5fcc7656fdf32bd4">Iran's 2-0 win against Wales</a>&nbsp;provided a brief moment of good news for hard-liners. After the match, riot police in Tehran waved Iranian flags in the street, something that angered demonstrators. Khamenei himself acknowledged the win “stirred joy in the country.”

However, the supreme leader warned that “when the World Cup is taking place, all eyes are on it. The opponent typically takes advantage of this lax moment to act.”

As the demonstrations intensified, Iran has alleged without providing evidence that its enemies abroad, including the U.S., are fomenting the unrest. At a World Cup where organizers hoped to divorce politics from the pitch, those tensions have bled out around the stadiums with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/womens-soccer-world-cup-iran-sports-0584e3e37e03babc19f04d79c8843ca0">pro- and anti-government demonstrators shouting at each other</a>.

Ahead of Tuesday's match at Al Thumama Stadium, Iran has released a propaganda video with young children singing, including girls in white hijabs, in front of a small field. Waving flags and set against a blasting synthesizer beat, the children sing: “We back you on the bleachers, all with one voice Iran, Iran."

“We are waiting for a goal, our heart second by second is beating for our Iran,” they add.

Such a win could prove to be a further boost to hard-liners. Already, they've reacted angrily to a protest by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-iran-flag-2bdce7a1ba387050f59f6b8fa32927e8">the U.S. Soccer Federation that saw them briefly erase the emblem of the Islamic Republic from Iran's flag in social media posts</a>.

It's unclear whether any Iranian or U.S. government officials will be on hand for the match.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-qatar-middle-east-5844db2380e11fd1f469339e35cf9b55">U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken already attended the U.S. match against Wales</a>&nbsp;at the start of the tournament.

But opponents of Iran’s government are on hand in Qatar with their own message. Among them is former U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, who flew in Monday afternoon for the Iran match. Ortagus served in the Trump administration and was one of the faces of its so-called “maximum pressure” campaign.

“It’s one of those pivotal moments when geopolitics and sports collides,” Ortagus told The Associated Press. “You’re seeing the Iran team do what they can to stand up for the protesters and the people peacefully demonstrating."

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The last World Cup clash between the United States and Iran 24 years ago is considered one of the most politically charged matches in soccer history.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnlyForward?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OnlyForward</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoloPalante?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SoloPalante</a> <a href="https://t.co/GbK82459TR">pic.twitter.com/GbK82459TR</a>&mdash; U.S. Men&#39;s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/USMNT/status/1597574380892061696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>This time, the political overtones are just as strong and relations perhaps even more fraught as the U.S. and Iran face off once again on Tuesday in Qatar.Iran's nationwide protests, its expanding nuclear program and regional and international attacks linked back to Tehran have pushed the match beyond the stadium and into geopolitics.No matter the outcome, tensions are likely only to worsen in the coming months.When relations soured between the U.S. and Iran depends on who you ask. Iranians point to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-united-arab-emirates-ap-top-news-dubai-middle-east-5111167bcaf84892b01eea93eea4bc01">the 1953 CIA-backed coup that cemented Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi's power.</a>&nbsp;Americans remember&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-revolution-anniversary-donald-trump-ap-top-news-persian-gulf-tensions-tehran-c77d68ec46a54bb199960f81de2c0875">the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover and 444-day hostage crisis</a>&nbsp;during the Iranian Revolution.In soccer, however, the timeline is much simpler as this will be only the second time Iran and the U.S. have played each other in the World Cup.The last time was at the 1998 tournament in France — a totally different time in the Islamic Republic. Iran won 2-1 in Lyon, a low point for the U.S. men's team as Iranians celebrated in Tehran.At the time, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the Iranian team, saying “the strong and arrogant opponent felt the bitter taste of defeat."But off the pitch, Iran's then-president, Mohammad Khatami, sought to improve ties to the West and the wider world. Inside Iran, Khatami pushed so-called “reformist" policies, seeking to liberalize aspects of its theocracy while maintaining its structure with a supreme leader at the top.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bcf17618047d8b47168a78dab0d65e68">U.S. President Bill Clinton and his administration hoped Khatami's election could be part of a thaw</a>.The two teams posed for a joint photograph, and the Iranian players handed white flowers to their American opponents. The U.S. gave the Iranians U.S. Soccer Federation pennants. They even exchanged jerseys, though the Iranians didn't put them on. They later played a friendly in Pasadena, California, as well.Fast-forward 24 years later, and relations are perhaps more tense than they've ever been.Iran is now governed entirely by hard-liners after the election of President Ebrahim Raisi, a protege of Khamenei,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran--president-elect-ebrahim-raisi-biden-63db1fbbdb1ff9fe40aca40f3f8046a2">who took part in the 1988 mass execution of thousands of political prisoners at the end of the Iran-Iraq war</a>.Following the collapse of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, sparked by President Donald Trump's unilateral withdrawal from the accord, Tehran is now enriching uranium to 60% purity — a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels. Non-proliferation experts warn the Islamic Republic already has enough uranium to build at least one nuclear bomb.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-israel-iran-iran-nuclear-united-arab-emirates-9835ba4644959e9cb4584ca999f49002">A shadow war of drone strikes, targeted killings and sabotage</a>&nbsp;has been shaking the wider Middle East for years amid the deal's collapse. Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-europe-dubai-united-arab-emirates-eb59a349e2b55416a863e5304819ec6f">Russia pounds civilian areas and power infrastructure in Ukraine with Iranian-made drones.</a>For two months, Iran has been convulsed by the mass protests that followed the Sept. 16 death of Mahsa Amini,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-morality-police-explainer-b53475eda867a4158ac5032fe1b3e62e">a 22-year-old woman who had been earlier detained by the country's morality police</a>. The protests have seen at least 451 people killed since they started, as well as over 18,000 arrested, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, an advocacy group following the demonstrations.At the World Cup in Qatar,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-world-cup-soccer-sports-wayne-hennessey-a68eafb416294c5e5fcc7656fdf32bd4">Iran's 2-0 win against Wales</a>&nbsp;provided a brief moment of good news for hard-liners. After the match, riot police in Tehran waved Iranian flags in the street, something that angered demonstrators. Khamenei himself acknowledged the win “stirred joy in the country.”However, the supreme leader warned that “when the World Cup is taking place, all eyes are on it. The opponent typically takes advantage of this lax moment to act.”As the demonstrations intensified, Iran has alleged without providing evidence that its enemies abroad, including the U.S., are fomenting the unrest. At a World Cup where organizers hoped to divorce politics from the pitch, those tensions have bled out around the stadiums with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/womens-soccer-world-cup-iran-sports-0584e3e37e03babc19f04d79c8843ca0">pro- and anti-government demonstrators shouting at each other</a>.Ahead of Tuesday's match at Al Thumama Stadium, Iran has released a propaganda video with young children singing, including girls in white hijabs, in front of a small field. Waving flags and set against a blasting synthesizer beat, the children sing: “We back you on the bleachers, all with one voice Iran, Iran."“We are waiting for a goal, our heart second by second is beating for our Iran,” they add.Such a win could prove to be a further boost to hard-liners. Already, they've reacted angrily to a protest by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-iran-flag-2bdce7a1ba387050f59f6b8fa32927e8">the U.S. Soccer Federation that saw them briefly erase the emblem of the Islamic Republic from Iran's flag in social media posts</a>.It's unclear whether any Iranian or U.S. government officials will be on hand for the match.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-qatar-middle-east-5844db2380e11fd1f469339e35cf9b55">U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken already attended the U.S. match against Wales</a>&nbsp;at the start of the tournament.But opponents of Iran’s government are on hand in Qatar with their own message. Among them is former U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, who flew in Monday afternoon for the Iran match. Ortagus served in the Trump administration and was one of the faces of its so-called “maximum pressure” campaign.“It’s one of those pivotal moments when geopolitics and sports collides,” Ortagus told The Associated Press. “You’re seeing the Iran team do what they can to stand up for the protesters and the people peacefully demonstrating."

Iran-US World Cup clash rife with political tension

An inmate convicted of ambushing and killing a St. Louis area police officer he blamed in the death of his younger brother&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-executions-missouri-3c5c00c2e09cc3d4639b827e374e45a1">was scheduled to be executed</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, barring a last-minute intervention.

Kevin Johnson's legal team doesn't deny that he killed Officer William McEntee in 2005, but contended in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/discrimination-race-and-ethnicity-executions-racial-injustice-missouri-ba50b563ab37d87e3c05a44926391fa1">an appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;that he was sentenced to death in part because he is Black. But in a 5-2 ruling late Monday, the state Supreme Court denied a stay.

The U.S. Supreme Court also declined a stay request last week, and Gov. Mike Parson on Monday announced he would not grant clemency.

“The violent murder of any citizen, let alone a Missouri law enforcement officer, should be met only with the fullest punishment state law allows,” Parson, a Republican and a former county sheriff, said in a statement. “Through Mr. Johnson’s own heinous actions, he stole the life of Sergeant McEntee and left a family grieving, a wife widowed, and children fatherless. Clemency will not be granted.”

It wasn't immediately clear if other appeals were planned. A message left early Tuesday with Johnson's lawyer was not immediately returned.

Johnson, 37, faces execution Tuesday evening at the state prison in Bonne Terre. He would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-executions-st-louis-sentencing-missouri-30fa4991720e49efc6690f4c99244061">the second Missouri man put to death in 2022</a>&nbsp;and the 17th nationally.

McEntee, 43, was a 20-year veteran of the police department in Kirkwood, a St. Louis suburb. The father of three was among the officers sent to Johnson’s home on July 5, 2005, to serve a warrant for his arrest. Johnson was on probation for assaulting his girlfriend, and police believed he had violated probation.

Johnson saw officers arrive and awoke his 12-year-old brother, Joseph “Bam Bam” Long, who ran to a house next door. Once there, the boy, who suffered from a congenital heart defect, collapsed and began having a seizure.

Johnson testified at trial that McEntee kept his mother from entering the house to aid his brother, who died a short time later at a hospital.

That same evening, McEntee returned to the neighborhood to check on unrelated reports of fireworks being shot off. A court filing from the Missouri attorney general's office said McEntee was in his car questioning three children when Johnson shot him through the open passenger-side window, striking the officer's leg, head and torso. Johnson then got into the car and took McEntee's gun.

The court filing said Johnson walked down the street and told his mother that McEntee “let my brother die” and “needs to see what it feels like to die.” Though she told him, “That's not true,” Johnson returned to the shooting scene and found McEntee alive, on his knees near the patrol car. Johnson shot McEntee in the back and in the head, killing him.

Johnson’s lawyers have previously asked the courts to intervene for other reasons, including a history of mental illness and his age — 19 — at the time of the crime. Courts have increasingly moved away from sentencing teen offenders to death since the Supreme Court in 2005&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/explore/locked-up-for-life/Roper-v-Simmons">banned the execution</a>&nbsp;of offenders who were younger than 18 at the time of their crime.

But a broader focus of appeals has been on alleged racial bias. In October, St. Louis Circuit Judge Mary Elizabeth Ott appointed a special prosecutor to review the case. The special prosecutor, E.E. Keenan, filed a motion earlier this month to vacate the death sentence, stating that race played a “decisive factor” in the death sentence.

Ott declined to set aside the death penalty.

Keenan told the state Supreme Court that former St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch’s office handled five cases involving the deaths of police officers during his 28 years in office. McCulloch sought the death penalty in the four cases involving Black defendants, but did not seek death in the one case where the defendant was white, the file said.

Assistant Attorney General Andrew Crane responded that “a fair jury determined he deserves the death penalty.”

McCulloch does not have a listed phone number and could not be reached for comment.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-kansas-city-missouri-american-civil-liberties-union-fb286220ab2c127df3b9f56db67c6d45">Johnson's 19-year-old daughter</a>, Khorry Ramey, had sought to witness the execution, but a state law prohibits anyone under 21 from observing the process. Courts have declined to step in on Ramey's behalf.

The U.S. saw 98 executions in 1999 but the number has dropped dramatically in recent years. Missouri already has two scheduled for early 2023. Convicted killer Scott McLaughlin is scheduled to die on Jan. 3, and convicted killer Leonard Taylor’s execution is set for Feb. 7.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661445268889.png" alt="Johnson-photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Johnson-photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM SALTER&nbsp;An inmate convicted of ambushing and killing a St. Louis area police officer he blamed in the death of his younger brother&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-executions-missouri-3c5c00c2e09cc3d4639b827e374e45a1">was scheduled to be executed</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, barring a last-minute intervention.Kevin Johnson's legal team doesn't deny that he killed Officer William McEntee in 2005, but contended in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/discrimination-race-and-ethnicity-executions-racial-injustice-missouri-ba50b563ab37d87e3c05a44926391fa1">an appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;that he was sentenced to death in part because he is Black. But in a 5-2 ruling late Monday, the state Supreme Court denied a stay.The U.S. Supreme Court also declined a stay request last week, and Gov. Mike Parson on Monday announced he would not grant clemency.“The violent murder of any citizen, let alone a Missouri law enforcement officer, should be met only with the fullest punishment state law allows,” Parson, a Republican and a former county sheriff, said in a statement. “Through Mr. Johnson’s own heinous actions, he stole the life of Sergeant McEntee and left a family grieving, a wife widowed, and children fatherless. Clemency will not be granted.”It wasn't immediately clear if other appeals were planned. A message left early Tuesday with Johnson's lawyer was not immediately returned.Johnson, 37, faces execution Tuesday evening at the state prison in Bonne Terre. He would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-executions-st-louis-sentencing-missouri-30fa4991720e49efc6690f4c99244061">the second Missouri man put to death in 2022</a>&nbsp;and the 17th nationally.McEntee, 43, was a 20-year veteran of the police department in Kirkwood, a St. Louis suburb. The father of three was among the officers sent to Johnson’s home on July 5, 2005, to serve a warrant for his arrest. Johnson was on probation for assaulting his girlfriend, and police believed he had violated probation.Johnson saw officers arrive and awoke his 12-year-old brother, Joseph “Bam Bam” Long, who ran to a house next door. Once there, the boy, who suffered from a congenital heart defect, collapsed and began having a seizure.Johnson testified at trial that McEntee kept his mother from entering the house to aid his brother, who died a short time later at a hospital.That same evening, McEntee returned to the neighborhood to check on unrelated reports of fireworks being shot off. A court filing from the Missouri attorney general's office said McEntee was in his car questioning three children when Johnson shot him through the open passenger-side window, striking the officer's leg, head and torso. Johnson then got into the car and took McEntee's gun.The court filing said Johnson walked down the street and told his mother that McEntee “let my brother die” and “needs to see what it feels like to die.” Though she told him, “That's not true,” Johnson returned to the shooting scene and found McEntee alive, on his knees near the patrol car. Johnson shot McEntee in the back and in the head, killing him.Johnson’s lawyers have previously asked the courts to intervene for other reasons, including a history of mental illness and his age — 19 — at the time of the crime. Courts have increasingly moved away from sentencing teen offenders to death since the Supreme Court in 2005&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/explore/locked-up-for-life/Roper-v-Simmons">banned the execution</a>&nbsp;of offenders who were younger than 18 at the time of their crime.But a broader focus of appeals has been on alleged racial bias. In October, St. Louis Circuit Judge Mary Elizabeth Ott appointed a special prosecutor to review the case. The special prosecutor, E.E. Keenan, filed a motion earlier this month to vacate the death sentence, stating that race played a “decisive factor” in the death sentence.Ott declined to set aside the death penalty.Keenan told the state Supreme Court that former St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch’s office handled five cases involving the deaths of police officers during his 28 years in office. McCulloch sought the death penalty in the four cases involving Black defendants, but did not seek death in the one case where the defendant was white, the file said.Assistant Attorney General Andrew Crane responded that “a fair jury determined he deserves the death penalty.”McCulloch does not have a listed phone number and could not be reached for comment.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-kansas-city-missouri-american-civil-liberties-union-fb286220ab2c127df3b9f56db67c6d45">Johnson's 19-year-old daughter</a>, Khorry Ramey, had sought to witness the execution, but a state law prohibits anyone under 21 from observing the process. Courts have declined to step in on Ramey's behalf.The U.S. saw 98 executions in 1999 but the number has dropped dramatically in recent years. Missouri already has two scheduled for early 2023. Convicted killer Scott McLaughlin is scheduled to die on Jan. 3, and convicted killer Leonard Taylor’s execution is set for Feb. 7.

Execution Day for man who killed Mo. police officer in 2005

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday asked Congress to intervene and block a railroad strike before next month’s deadline in the stalled contract talks, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers would take up legislation this week to impose the deal that unions agreed to in September.

“Let me be clear: a rail shutdown would devastate our economy,” Biden said in a statement. “Without freight rail, many U.S. industries would shut down.”

In a statement, Pelosi said: “We are reluctant to bypass the standard ratification process for the Tentative Agreement — but we must act to prevent a catastrophic nationwide rail strike, which would grind our economy to a halt.”

Pelosi said the House would not change the terms of the September agreement, which would challenge the Senate to approve the House bill without changes.

The September agreement that Biden and Pelosi are calling for is a slight improvement over what the board of arbitrators recommended in the summer. The September agreement added three unpaid days off a year for engineers and conductors to tend to medical appointments as long as they scheduled them at least 30 days in advance. The railroads also promised in September not to penalize workers who are hospitalized and to negotiate further with the unions after the contract is approved about improving the regular scheduling of days off.

Hundreds of business groups had been urging Congress and the president to step into the deadlocked contract talk and prevent a strike.

Both the unions and railroads have been lobbying Congress while contract talks continue. If Congress acts, it will end talks between the railroads and four rail unions that rejected their deals Biden helped broker before the original strike deadline in September. Eight other unions have approved their five-year deals with the railroads and are in the process of getting back pay for their workers for the 24% raises that are retroactive to 2020.

If Congress does what Biden suggests and imposes terms similar to what was agreed on in September, that will end the union’s push to add paid sick time. The four unions that have rejected their deals have been pressing for the railroads to add that benefit to help address workers’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">quality of life concerns</a>, but the railroads had refused to consider that.

Biden said that as a “a proud pro-labor president” he was reluctant to override the views of people who voted against the agreement. “But in this case — where the economic impact of a shutdown would hurt millions of other working people and families — I believe Congress must use its powers to adopt this deal."

Biden's remarks and Pelosi's statement came after a coalition of more than 400 business groups sent a letter to congressional leaders Monday urging them to step into the stalled talks because of fears about the devastating potential impact of a strike that could force many businesses to shut down if they can’t get the rail deliveries they need. Commuter railroads and Amtrak would also be affected in a strike because many of them use tracks owned by the freight railroads.

The business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers and National Retail Federation said even a short-term strike would have a tremendous impact and the economic pain would start to be felt even before the Dec. 9 strike deadline. They said the railroads would stop hauling hazardous chemicals, fertilizers and perishable goods up to a week beforehand to keep those products from being stranded somewhere along the tracks.

“A potential rail strike only adds to the headwinds facing the U.S. economy,” the businesses wrote. “A rail stoppage would immediately lead to supply shortages and higher prices. The cessation of Amtrak and commuter rail services would disrupt up to 7 million travelers a day. Many businesses would see their sales disrupted right in the middle of the critical holiday shopping season.”

A similar group of businesses sent another letter to Biden last month urging him to play a more active role in resolving the contract dispute.

On Monday, the Association of American Railroads trade group praised Biden’s action.

“No one benefits from a rail work stoppage — not our customers, not rail employees and not the American economy,” said AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “Now is the appropriate time for Congress to pass legislation to implement the agreements already ratified by eight of the twelve unions."

Business groups that have been pushing for Congress to settle this contract dispute praised Biden’s move.

“The Biden administration’s endorsement of congressional intervention affirms what America’s food, beverage, household and personal care manufacturers have been saying: Freight rail operations cannot shut down and imperil the availability and affordability of consumers’ everyday essentials,” said Tom Madrecki, vice president of supply chain for the Consumer Brands Association. “The consequences to consumers if a strike were to occur are too serious, especially amid continued supply chain challenges and disruptions.”

Clark Ballew, a spokesman for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, which represents track maintenance workers, said before Biden's announcement that the union was "headed to D.C. this week to meet with lawmakers on the Hill from both parties. We have instructed our members to contact their federal lawmakers in the House and Senate for several weeks now.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Neil Bradley said Biden was correct in advocating for the deal already reached. “Congress must do what it has done 18 times before: intervene against a national rail strike," Bradley said in a statement, and he called Congress enforcing the deal agreed to by railroads and union leaders the "only path to avoid crippling strike.”

The railroads, which include Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, CSX and Kansas City Southern, wanted any deal to closely follow the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-norfolk-government-and-politics-eeedec386f2acba5d63181436ca03f3f">recommendations</a>&nbsp;a special board of arbitrators that Biden appointed made this summer that called for the 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses but didn't resolve workers' concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-5123fda3d039543700b23d939e0bdda2">demanding schedules</a>&nbsp;that make it hard to take a day off and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">working conditions</a>. That's what Biden is calling on Congress to impose.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Business groups are increasing the pressure on lawmakers to intervene and block a railroad strike before next month’s deadline in the stalled contract talks.

A coalition of more than 400 business groups&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uschamber.com/infrastructure/transportation/coalition-letter-on-rail-labor-negotiations">sent a letter</a>&nbsp;to Congressional leaders Monday urging them to step into the stalled talks because of fears about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-climate-and-environment-government-politics-92ea7632a29f807ccc0e2658c50d731e">devastating potential impact of a strike</a>&nbsp;that could force many businesses to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-congress-government-and-politics-a53abd85fa6f8b3ccd622222ea9a4c46">shut down</a>&nbsp;if they can't get the rail deliveries they need. Commuter railroads and Amtrak would also be affected in a strike because many of them use tracks owned by the freight railroads.

The business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers and National Retail Federation said even a short-term strike would have a tremendous impact and the economic pain would start to be felt even before the Dec. 9 strike deadline because the railroads would stop hauling hazardous chemicals, fertilizers and perishable goods up to a week beforehand to keep those products from being stranded somewhere along the tracks.

A similar group of businesses&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-economy-congress-government-and-politics-6b60d53fefc7b85f301b0a3e7011715b">sent another letter</a>&nbsp;to President Joe Biden last month urging him to play a more active role in resolving the contract dispute.

Congressional leaders and the White House have said they are monitoring the contract talks closely but haven't indicated when they might act or what they will do. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said leaders are aware of the situation with the rail negotiations and will monitor the talks in the coming days.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., said on Fox News Sunday that Congressional intervention is a last resort, but lawmakers will have to be ready to act.

“Congress will not let this strike happen. That’s for sure,” said Fitzpatrick who helps lead a bipartisan group of 58 lawmakers. “It would be devastating to our economy. So, we’ll get to a resolution one way or another.”

A White House spokeswoman has said that a rail strike would be “unacceptable.”

Congress has the power to impose contract terms on the workers, but it's not clear what they might include if they do that. They could also force the negotiations to continue into the new year.

Both the unions and railroads have been lobbying Congress while contract talks continue. Four rail unions that represent more than half of the 115,000 workers in the industry have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-congress-government-and-politics-79d2e2c2779598b0a14396464ee4f7e9">rejected the deals</a>&nbsp;that President Joe Biden helped broker before the original strike deadline in September and are back at the table trying to work out new agreements. Eight other unions have approved their five-year deals with the railroads and are in the process of getting back pay for their workers for the 24% raises that are retroactive to 2020.

“It certainly could end up in Congress’ lap, which is why we are headed to D.C. this week to meet with lawmakers on The Hill from both parties,” said Clark Ballew, a spokesman for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union that represents track maintenance workers. “We have instructed our members to contact their federal lawmakers in the House and Senate for several weeks now.”

The unions have asked the railroads to consider adding paid sick time to what they already offered to address some of workers'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">quality of life concerns</a>. But so far, the railroads, which include Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, CSX and Kansas City Southern, have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-business-strikes-940da8fc519f8c526ca614e201d01216">refused</a>&nbsp;to consider that.

The railroads want any deal to closely follow the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-norfolk-government-and-politics-eeedec386f2acba5d63181436ca03f3f">recommendations</a>&nbsp;a special board of arbitrators that Biden appointed made this summer that called for the 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses but didn't resolve workers' concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-5123fda3d039543700b23d939e0bdda2">demanding schedules</a>&nbsp;that make it hard to take a day off and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">working conditions</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663279444886.png" alt="In Sept.&nbsp;President Biden celebrated a tentative railway labor agreement in the Rose Garden of the White House.-White House photo " />
 <figcaption>In Sept.&nbsp;President Biden celebrated a tentative railway labor agreement in the Rose Garden of the White House.-White House photo </figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday asked Congress to intervene and block a railroad strike before next month’s deadline in the stalled contract talks, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers would take up legislation this week to impose the deal that unions agreed to in September.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I&#39;m calling on Congress to pass legislation immediately to adopt the Tentative Agreement between railroad workers and operators. Let me be clear: a rail shutdown would devastate our economy. Without freight rail, many U.S. industries would shut down.&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1597383590282682369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Let me be clear: a rail shutdown would devastate our economy,” Biden said in a statement. “Without freight rail, many U.S. industries would shut down.”In a statement, Pelosi said: “We are reluctant to bypass the standard ratification process for the Tentative Agreement — but we must act to prevent a catastrophic nationwide rail strike, which would grind our economy to a halt.”Pelosi said the House would not change the terms of the September agreement, which would challenge the Senate to approve the House bill without changes.The September agreement that Biden and Pelosi are calling for is a slight improvement over what the board of arbitrators recommended in the summer. The September agreement added three unpaid days off a year for engineers and conductors to tend to medical appointments as long as they scheduled them at least 30 days in advance. The railroads also promised in September not to penalize workers who are hospitalized and to negotiate further with the unions after the contract is approved about improving the regular scheduling of days off.Hundreds of business groups had been urging Congress and the president to step into the deadlocked contract talk and prevent a strike.Both the unions and railroads have been lobbying Congress while contract talks continue. If Congress acts, it will end talks between the railroads and four rail unions that rejected their deals Biden helped broker before the original strike deadline in September. Eight other unions have approved their five-year deals with the railroads and are in the process of getting back pay for their workers for the 24% raises that are retroactive to 2020.If Congress does what Biden suggests and imposes terms similar to what was agreed on in September, that will end the union’s push to add paid sick time. The four unions that have rejected their deals have been pressing for the railroads to add that benefit to help address workers’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">quality of life concerns</a>, but the railroads had refused to consider that.Biden said that as a “a proud pro-labor president” he was reluctant to override the views of people who voted against the agreement. “But in this case — where the economic impact of a shutdown would hurt millions of other working people and families — I believe Congress must use its powers to adopt this deal."Biden's remarks and Pelosi's statement came after a coalition of more than 400 business groups sent a letter to congressional leaders Monday urging them to step into the stalled talks because of fears about the devastating potential impact of a strike that could force many businesses to shut down if they can’t get the rail deliveries they need. Commuter railroads and Amtrak would also be affected in a strike because many of them use tracks owned by the freight railroads.The business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers and National Retail Federation said even a short-term strike would have a tremendous impact and the economic pain would start to be felt even before the Dec. 9 strike deadline. They said the railroads would stop hauling hazardous chemicals, fertilizers and perishable goods up to a week beforehand to keep those products from being stranded somewhere along the tracks.“A potential rail strike only adds to the headwinds facing the U.S. economy,” the businesses wrote. “A rail stoppage would immediately lead to supply shortages and higher prices. The cessation of Amtrak and commuter rail services would disrupt up to 7 million travelers a day. Many businesses would see their sales disrupted right in the middle of the critical holiday shopping season.”A similar group of businesses sent another letter to Biden last month urging him to play a more active role in resolving the contract dispute.On Monday, the Association of American Railroads trade group praised Biden’s action.“No one benefits from a rail work stoppage — not our customers, not rail employees and not the American economy,” said AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “Now is the appropriate time for Congress to pass legislation to implement the agreements already ratified by eight of the twelve unions."Business groups that have been pushing for Congress to settle this contract dispute praised Biden’s move.“The Biden administration’s endorsement of congressional intervention affirms what America’s food, beverage, household and personal care manufacturers have been saying: Freight rail operations cannot shut down and imperil the availability and affordability of consumers’ everyday essentials,” said Tom Madrecki, vice president of supply chain for the Consumer Brands Association. “The consequences to consumers if a strike were to occur are too serious, especially amid continued supply chain challenges and disruptions.”Clark Ballew, a spokesman for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, which represents track maintenance workers, said before Biden's announcement that the union was "headed to D.C. this week to meet with lawmakers on the Hill from both parties. We have instructed our members to contact their federal lawmakers in the House and Senate for several weeks now.”The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Neil Bradley said Biden was correct in advocating for the deal already reached. “Congress must do what it has done 18 times before: intervene against a national rail strike," Bradley said in a statement, and he called Congress enforcing the deal agreed to by railroads and union leaders the "only path to avoid crippling strike.”The railroads, which include Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, CSX and Kansas City Southern, wanted any deal to closely follow the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-norfolk-government-and-politics-eeedec386f2acba5d63181436ca03f3f">recommendations</a>&nbsp;a special board of arbitrators that Biden appointed made this summer that called for the 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses but didn't resolve workers' concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-5123fda3d039543700b23d939e0bdda2">demanding schedules</a>&nbsp;that make it hard to take a day off and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">working conditions</a>. That's what Biden is calling on Congress to impose.------------OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Business groups are increasing the pressure on lawmakers to intervene and block a railroad strike before next month’s deadline in the stalled contract talks.A coalition of more than 400 business groups&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uschamber.com/infrastructure/transportation/coalition-letter-on-rail-labor-negotiations">sent a letter</a>&nbsp;to Congressional leaders Monday urging them to step into the stalled talks because of fears about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-climate-and-environment-government-politics-92ea7632a29f807ccc0e2658c50d731e">devastating potential impact of a strike</a>&nbsp;that could force many businesses to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-congress-government-and-politics-a53abd85fa6f8b3ccd622222ea9a4c46">shut down</a>&nbsp;if they can't get the rail deliveries they need. Commuter railroads and Amtrak would also be affected in a strike because many of them use tracks owned by the freight railroads.The business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers and National Retail Federation said even a short-term strike would have a tremendous impact and the economic pain would start to be felt even before the Dec. 9 strike deadline because the railroads would stop hauling hazardous chemicals, fertilizers and perishable goods up to a week beforehand to keep those products from being stranded somewhere along the tracks.“A potential rail strike only adds to the headwinds facing the U.S. economy,” the businesses wrote. “A rail stoppage would immediately lead to supply shortages and higher prices. The cessation of Amtrak and commuter rail services would disrupt up to 7 million travelers a day. Many businesses would see their sales disrupted right in the middle of the critical holiday shopping season.”A similar group of businesses&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-economy-congress-government-and-politics-6b60d53fefc7b85f301b0a3e7011715b">sent another letter</a>&nbsp;to President Joe Biden last month urging him to play a more active role in resolving the contract dispute.Congressional leaders and the White House have said they are monitoring the contract talks closely but haven't indicated when they might act or what they will do. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said leaders are aware of the situation with the rail negotiations and will monitor the talks in the coming days.Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., said on Fox News Sunday that Congressional intervention is a last resort, but lawmakers will have to be ready to act.“Congress will not let this strike happen. That’s for sure,” said Fitzpatrick who helps lead a bipartisan group of 58 lawmakers. “It would be devastating to our economy. So, we’ll get to a resolution one way or another.”A White House spokeswoman has said that a rail strike would be “unacceptable.”Congress has the power to impose contract terms on the workers, but it's not clear what they might include if they do that. They could also force the negotiations to continue into the new year.Both the unions and railroads have been lobbying Congress while contract talks continue. Four rail unions that represent more than half of the 115,000 workers in the industry have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-congress-government-and-politics-79d2e2c2779598b0a14396464ee4f7e9">rejected the deals</a>&nbsp;that President Joe Biden helped broker before the original strike deadline in September and are back at the table trying to work out new agreements. Eight other unions have approved their five-year deals with the railroads and are in the process of getting back pay for their workers for the 24% raises that are retroactive to 2020.“It certainly could end up in Congress’ lap, which is why we are headed to D.C. this week to meet with lawmakers on The Hill from both parties,” said Clark Ballew, a spokesman for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union that represents track maintenance workers. “We have instructed our members to contact their federal lawmakers in the House and Senate for several weeks now.”The unions have asked the railroads to consider adding paid sick time to what they already offered to address some of workers'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">quality of life concerns</a>. But so far, the railroads, which include Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, CSX and Kansas City Southern, have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-business-strikes-940da8fc519f8c526ca614e201d01216">refused</a>&nbsp;to consider that.The railroads want any deal to closely follow the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-norfolk-government-and-politics-eeedec386f2acba5d63181436ca03f3f">recommendations</a>&nbsp;a special board of arbitrators that Biden appointed made this summer that called for the 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses but didn't resolve workers' concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-5123fda3d039543700b23d939e0bdda2">demanding schedules</a>&nbsp;that make it hard to take a day off and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">working conditions</a>.

Biden now wants Congress to prevent potential rail strike

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged kidnapping and continue asking for help to locate a suspect.

Aldrick L. Scott, 47, of Topeka, is wanted by the Douglas County Nebraska Sheriff's Office in connection with the disappearance of 43-year-old Cari Allen.

Nebraska officials are working to locate Allen, according to a social media report from Omaha Police. She is described as a white female, 5-foot-8, 130 pounds, blonde hair and hazel eyes. She&nbsp;was last seen Saturday, Nov. 19 at 11 p.m. Scott has ties to Topeka and Shawnee County, according to the sheriff's department. On Monday, the sheriff's office released photos of Scott.

Anyone with information on Allen's whereabouts is encouraged to call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 402-444-6000 or 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669652492930.png" alt="Scott-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Scott-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged kidnapping and continue asking for help to locate a suspect.Aldrick L. Scott, 47, of Topeka, is wanted by the Douglas County Nebraska Sheriff's Office in connection with the disappearance of 43-year-old Cari Allen.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669587276863.png" alt="Allen-photo Omaha Police" />
 <figcaption>Allen-photo Omaha Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska officials are working to locate Allen, according to a social media report from Omaha Police. She is described as a white female, 5-foot-8, 130 pounds, blonde hair and hazel eyes. She&nbsp;was last seen Saturday, Nov. 19 at 11 p.m. Scott has ties to Topeka and Shawnee County, according to the sheriff's department. On Monday, the sheriff's office released photos of Scott.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669652758142.png" alt="Scott-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Scott-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Anyone with information on Allen's whereabouts is encouraged to call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 402-444-6000 or 911.

Search continues for Kan. man in woman's disappearance

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nearly 9,000 laying hens in Webster County were killed after federal officials confirmed an outbreak of bird flu in the flock, state agriculture officials said.

It is the 11th case of the highly contagious avian influenza in Missouri this year, involving nearly 435,000 birds on six commercial farms and four backyard flocks, the Missouri Department of Agriculture said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says more than 52.3 million birds — mostly chickens and turkeys on domestic farms — have been killed in 46 states as part of this year’s outbreak.

On Saturday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-animals-nebraska-agriculture-omaha-ca8f94677d828d5838ecaff894403388">Nebraska agriculture officials</a>&nbsp;announced another 1.8 million chickens were to be slaughtered on a farm in northeast Nebraska. About 6.8 million birds have been killed in the state this year after the disease was found on 13 farms. That's second only to Iowa’s 15.5 million birds killed.

Federal health officials say the disease does not present a food safety risk to humans.

The farm in Webster County was quarantined and the birds were euthanized on the property, Missouri agriculture officials said. State and federal agriculture officials are conducting additional surveillance and testing in the areas around the affected flock.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nearly 9,000 laying hens in Webster County were killed after federal officials confirmed an outbreak of bird flu in the flock, state agriculture officials said.It is the 11th case of the highly contagious avian influenza in Missouri this year, involving nearly 435,000 birds on six commercial farms and four backyard flocks, the Missouri Department of Agriculture said.The U.S. Department of Agriculture says more than 52.3 million birds — mostly chickens and turkeys on domestic farms — have been killed in 46 states as part of this year’s outbreak.On Saturday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-animals-nebraska-agriculture-omaha-ca8f94677d828d5838ecaff894403388">Nebraska agriculture officials</a>&nbsp;announced another 1.8 million chickens were to be slaughtered on a farm in northeast Nebraska. About 6.8 million birds have been killed in the state this year after the disease was found on 13 farms. That's second only to Iowa’s 15.5 million birds killed.Federal health officials say the disease does not present a food safety risk to humans.The farm in Webster County was quarantined and the birds were euthanized on the property, Missouri agriculture officials said. State and federal agriculture officials are conducting additional surveillance and testing in the areas around the affected flock.

9,000 hens killed after latest Missouri case of avian flu

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 
interest rates will increase for the calendar quarter beginning January 
1, 2023.

For individuals, the rate for overpayments and underpayments will be 
7% per year, compounded daily, up from 6% for the quarter that began on 
October 1. Here is a complete list of the new rates:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is 
determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, 
the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate 
plus 3 percentage points.

Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the
 federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment 
rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate 
for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 
percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of
 tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term 
rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal 
short-term rate determined during October 2022. See the revenue ruling 
for details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that 
interest rates will increase for the calendar quarter beginning January 
1, 2023.For individuals, the rate for overpayments and underpayments will be 
7% per year, compounded daily, up from 6% for the quarter that began on 
October 1. Here is a complete list of the new rates:<ul>
 <li>7% for overpayments (payments made in excess of the amount owed), 6% for corporations.</li><li>4.5% for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.</li><li>7% for underpayments. (taxes owed but not fully paid)</li><li>9% for large corporate underpayments.</li>
 </ul>Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is 
determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, 
the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate 
plus 3 percentage points.Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the
 federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment 
rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate 
for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 
percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of
 tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term 
rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal 
short-term rate determined during October 2022. See the revenue ruling 
for details.

IRS: Interest rates increase for the first quarter of 2023

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 9:30 p.m. Friday, a sheriff's Deputy stopped a Dodge Neon for alleged traffic infractions near 190th&nbsp;and U.S. 75 Highway, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The deputies arrested the driver Jesse Scott Hartter, 29, of Sabetha, on requested charges of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, defacing identification marks on a firearm and possession of a hallucinogenic drug.&nbsp;

 The passenger, Robert Jason Hobbs, 46, of Fairview, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, no drug tax stamp.

Hartter has a previous conviction for selling drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669568346052.jpeg" alt="Hobbs-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Hobbs-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop. Just after 9:30 p.m. Friday, a sheriff's Deputy stopped a Dodge Neon for alleged traffic infractions near 190th&nbsp;and U.S. 75 Highway, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669568284454.jpeg" alt="Hartter -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hartter -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The deputies arrested the driver Jesse Scott Hartter, 29, of Sabetha, on requested charges of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, defacing identification marks on a firearm and possession of a hallucinogenic drug.&nbsp; The passenger, Robert Jason Hobbs, 46, of Fairview, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, no drug tax stamp.Hartter has a previous conviction for selling drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Kansas felon caught with drugs, firearm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drawing decorating inspiration from America's founding documents,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jill-biden">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;chose a “We the People” theme to deck the White House halls and to remind Americans of what unites them throughout the year, especially during the holidays.

Journalists were given a sneak peek early Monday before the first lady was to unveil the transformational work of a small army of volunteer decorators during an event later in the day.

As part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jill-biden-michelle-obama-michael-pence-volunteer-forces-c13b158b555669e8e46191f641e1538d">Joining Forces</a>, her White House initiative to support military families, Biden will be joined by National Guard leaders from across the country, as well as National Guard families. Her late son,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d8f69eb645d74b7886387f713981b739">Beau Biden</a>, was a major in the Delaware Army National Guard.

“The soul of our nation is, and always has been, ‘We the People,’” she says in prepared remarks released by the White House. “And that is what inspired this year's White House holiday decoration.”

The decorations include more than 83,000 twinkling lights on trees, garlands, wreaths and other displays, 77 Christmas trees and 25 wreaths on the exterior of the executive mansion.

A copy of the Declaration of Independence is on display in the library, while the always-show-stopping gingerbread White House includes a sugar cookie replica of Philadelphia's Independence Hall, where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed. The Constitution opens with the phrase, “We the People.”

“The values that unite us can be found all around you, a belief in possibility, optimism and unity,” Biden says in her prepared remarks. “Room by room, we represent what brings us together during the holidays and throughout the year.”

A new addition this year is a menorah, used in Jewish worship, that was built by White House carpenters from wood that was removed during a Truman-era renovation. The menorah is located on the State Floor.

Some 50,000 visitors are expected to pass through the White House during the holidays, including tourists and guests invited to various receptions. Among them will be French President Emmanuel Macron, who is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden on Thursday and be honored that evening at a White House state dinner, the first of the Biden administration.

More than 150 volunteers began decorating the interior and the exterior of the White House last week and continued through the Thanksgiving holiday. Planning began in the spring.

Illustrations of the family pets — dog Commander and cat Willow — can be found in the Vermeil Room, where the décor represents different ways of showing kindness and gratitude.

Groupings of snowy trees fill corners of the East Room, which reflects nature and recreation. Four well-known national parks are depicted on the fireplace mantels: Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah.

In the Blue Room, the official White House Christmas tree — an 18 1/2-foot (5.6-meter) Concolor fir from Auburn, Pennsylvania — is decorated to represent unity and hope with handmade renderings of the official birds from all 57 territories, states and the District of Columbia.

The State Dining Room is dedicated to the next generation — children — and trees there are decorated with ornaments that are self-portraits of the students of the 2021 Teachers of the Year, “ensuring that children see themselves” in the décor, the White House said.

Hanging from the fireplace in the State Dining Room are the Biden family Christmas stockings.

The gingerbread White House was made using 20 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 30 sheets of gingerbread dough, 100 pounds (45 kilograms) of pastillage, 30 pounds (14 kilograms) of chocolate and 40 pounds (18 kilograms) of royal icing.

“We the People” are celebrated in the Grand Foyer and Cross Hall on the State Floor, where metal ribbons also are inscribed with the names of all the states, territories and the District of Columbia.

“Mirrored ornaments and reflective surfaces ensure that visitors can see themselves in the décor, noting that the strength of our country — the Soul of our Nation — comes from ‘We the People,’” the White House said.

The White House noted that the holiday guide book visitors will receive was designed this year by Las Vegas-based Daria Peoples, who is Black. Peoples is a former elementary school teacher who has written and illustrated a series of picture books to support children of color, including those who have experienced race-based trauma.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drawing decorating inspiration from America's founding documents,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jill-biden">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;chose a “We the People” theme to deck the White House halls and to remind Americans of what unites them throughout the year, especially during the holidays.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">For this year’s holidays at the White House, we hope to capture the spirit embodied in the very idea of America: We the People. <a href="https://t.co/SKyXZ9RkI8">pic.twitter.com/SKyXZ9RkI8</a>&mdash; Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1597223258969247746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Journalists were given a sneak peek early Monday before the first lady was to unveil the transformational work of a small army of volunteer decorators during an event later in the day.As part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jill-biden-michelle-obama-michael-pence-volunteer-forces-c13b158b555669e8e46191f641e1538d">Joining Forces</a>, her White House initiative to support military families, Biden will be joined by National Guard leaders from across the country, as well as National Guard families. Her late son,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d8f69eb645d74b7886387f713981b739">Beau Biden</a>, was a major in the Delaware Army National Guard.“The soul of our nation is, and always has been, ‘We the People,’” she says in prepared remarks released by the White House. “And that is what inspired this year's White House holiday decoration.”The decorations include more than 83,000 twinkling lights on trees, garlands, wreaths and other displays, 77 Christmas trees and 25 wreaths on the exterior of the executive mansion.A copy of the Declaration of Independence is on display in the library, while the always-show-stopping gingerbread White House includes a sugar cookie replica of Philadelphia's Independence Hall, where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed. The Constitution opens with the phrase, “We the People.”“The values that unite us can be found all around you, a belief in possibility, optimism and unity,” Biden says in her prepared remarks. “Room by room, we represent what brings us together during the holidays and throughout the year.”A new addition this year is a menorah, used in Jewish worship, that was built by White House carpenters from wood that was removed during a Truman-era renovation. The menorah is located on the State Floor.Some 50,000 visitors are expected to pass through the White House during the holidays, including tourists and guests invited to various receptions. Among them will be French President Emmanuel Macron, who is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden on Thursday and be honored that evening at a White House state dinner, the first of the Biden administration.More than 150 volunteers began decorating the interior and the exterior of the White House last week and continued through the Thanksgiving holiday. Planning began in the spring.Illustrations of the family pets — dog Commander and cat Willow — can be found in the Vermeil Room, where the décor represents different ways of showing kindness and gratitude.Groupings of snowy trees fill corners of the East Room, which reflects nature and recreation. Four well-known national parks are depicted on the fireplace mantels: Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah.In the Blue Room, the official White House Christmas tree — an 18 1/2-foot (5.6-meter) Concolor fir from Auburn, Pennsylvania — is decorated to represent unity and hope with handmade renderings of the official birds from all 57 territories, states and the District of Columbia.The State Dining Room is dedicated to the next generation — children — and trees there are decorated with ornaments that are self-portraits of the students of the 2021 Teachers of the Year, “ensuring that children see themselves” in the décor, the White House said.Hanging from the fireplace in the State Dining Room are the Biden family Christmas stockings.The gingerbread White House was made using 20 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 30 sheets of gingerbread dough, 100 pounds (45 kilograms) of pastillage, 30 pounds (14 kilograms) of chocolate and 40 pounds (18 kilograms) of royal icing.“We the People” are celebrated in the Grand Foyer and Cross Hall on the State Floor, where metal ribbons also are inscribed with the names of all the states, territories and the District of Columbia.“Mirrored ornaments and reflective surfaces ensure that visitors can see themselves in the décor, noting that the strength of our country — the Soul of our Nation — comes from ‘We the People,’” the White House said.The White House noted that the holiday guide book visitors will receive was designed this year by Las Vegas-based Daria Peoples, who is Black. Peoples is a former elementary school teacher who has written and illustrated a series of picture books to support children of color, including those who have experienced race-based trauma.

'We the People' is the White House's theme for the holidays

LANSING– Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) resident George E. Dobbs died Saturday, November 26, 2022. He was found unresponsive while under observation inside the infirmary. 

Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived. Mr. Dobbs was pronounced deceased by medical staff. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy. A preliminary assessment indicates the death was not related to COVID-19.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Dobbs, 53, was serving an 89-month sentence, based on convictions in Leavenworth County, Kansas of Distribution of heroin or meth. He had previous convictions for arson, theft, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669652065351.png" alt="Dobbs -photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Dobbs -photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>LANSING– Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) resident George E. Dobbs died Saturday, November 26, 2022. He was found unresponsive while under observation inside the infirmary. Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived. Mr. Dobbs was pronounced deceased by medical staff. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy. A preliminary assessment indicates the death was not related to COVID-19.Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is currently ongoing.Dobbs, 53, was serving an 89-month sentence, based on convictions in Leavenworth County, Kansas of Distribution of heroin or meth. He had previous convictions for arson, theft, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement

Kansas inmate serving time for selling heroin died

By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-11-28/kansas-judge-blocks-law-banned-prescribing-abortion-pills-telemedicine">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA&nbsp;— Kansas women could soon be able to seek abortion pills through telemedicine appointments after a judge <a href="https://reproductiverights.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022-11-23-KS-Order-on-Remand.pdf" target="_blank">blocked</a> a state law banning the practice.

Abortion
 providers and abortion rights advocates say the decision will help 
expand access to abortion for people across the state, particularly in 
areas like western Kansas that might be several hours from the nearest 
clinic. The state’s five clinics are clustered around Wichita and Kansas
 City, Kansas.

The decision “paves the way for Kansas abortion 
clinics to expand services to women in remote, underserved areas of 
Kansas,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for 
Reproductive Rights, in a statement.

The legal status of 
telemedicine abortion has been tied up in Kansas courts for years, since
 the Center for Reproductive Rights and Wichita-based clinic Trust Women
 challenged a <a href="https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch65/065_004a_0010.html#:~:text=(b)%20(1)%20Except,who%20prescribed%2C%20dispensed%20or%20otherwise" target="_blank">2011 law</a> requiring doctors to be in the same room as patients when prescribing abortion-inducing medication.

Last
 week, Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa Watson granted a 
temporary injunction barring enforcement of the law. It follows her 
earlier ruling this summer denying an injunction, which an appellate 
court <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/06/06/wichita-abortion-clinic-trust-women-gets-kansas-court-win-telemedicine-misoprostol-mifepristone/9911760002/" target="_blank">overturned</a>.

While
 the legal fight is likely to continue in the Kansas court system, the 
decision will allow Kansas clinics to offer telemedicine abortion 
services. Existing restrictions including a mandatory 24-hour waiting 
period and parental consent rules for minors will still apply.

“Access
 to telemedicine services for Kansans will go a long way to easing the 
strain on our reproductive health care systems in the state,” Trust 
Women co-executive director Rebecca Tong said in a statement.

Anti-abortion advocates said they’re disappointed by the decision.

“While
 it’s disappointing, it’s certainly not surprising,” said Jeanne Gawdun,
 director of government relations with Kansans For Life. “It’s just one 
of the many limits that are protective for women and their children that
 (abortion providers) have fought and will continue to fight.”

The group said legal challenges to abortion laws like this are possible because voters <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-08-02/kansas-voters-rejected-an-amendment-that-would-have-stripped-away-abortion-rights" target="_blank">rejected a constitutional amendment</a> in August that would have stripped abortion protections from the state constitution.

It might still be several months before Kansas clinics begin offering telemedicine abortion services.

“There’s
 still some infrastructure that needs to be developed in order to 
successfully roll out a quality telehealth abortion care program,” Trust
 Women spokesperson Zachary Gingrich-Gaylord said.

He said the clinic continues to be <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-08-22/abortion-kansas-vote-legal-but-clinics-cant-keep-up" target="_blank">inundated by out-of-state patients</a> seeking appointments.

“Right
 now, our Wichita clinic is focused on trying to see as many people in 
clinic as possible,” he said. “We're still receiving far more phone 
calls than we can answer in a given day.”

Planned Parenthood Great
 Plains, which operates three Kansas clinics, didn’t immediately say 
whether or when it might offer telemedicine abortion services in the 
future.

“We applaud this step towards increasing accessibility to 
abortion services and continue to evaluate our next steps,” president 
and CEO Emily Wales said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669669217699.png" alt=" Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-11-28/kansas-judge-blocks-law-banned-prescribing-abortion-pills-telemedicine">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA&nbsp;— Kansas women could soon be able to seek abortion pills through telemedicine appointments after a judge <a href="https://reproductiverights.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022-11-23-KS-Order-on-Remand.pdf" target="_blank">blocked</a> a state law banning the practice.Abortion
 providers and abortion rights advocates say the decision will help 
expand access to abortion for people across the state, particularly in 
areas like western Kansas that might be several hours from the nearest 
clinic. The state’s five clinics are clustered around Wichita and Kansas
 City, Kansas.The decision “paves the way for Kansas abortion 
clinics to expand services to women in remote, underserved areas of 
Kansas,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for 
Reproductive Rights, in a statement.The legal status of 
telemedicine abortion has been tied up in Kansas courts for years, since
 the Center for Reproductive Rights and Wichita-based clinic Trust Women
 challenged a <a href="https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch65/065_004a_0010.html#:~:text=(b)%20(1)%20Except,who%20prescribed%2C%20dispensed%20or%20otherwise" target="_blank">2011 law</a> requiring doctors to be in the same room as patients when prescribing abortion-inducing medication.Last
 week, Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa Watson granted a 
temporary injunction barring enforcement of the law. It follows her 
earlier ruling this summer denying an injunction, which an appellate 
court <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/06/06/wichita-abortion-clinic-trust-women-gets-kansas-court-win-telemedicine-misoprostol-mifepristone/9911760002/" target="_blank">overturned</a>.While
 the legal fight is likely to continue in the Kansas court system, the 
decision will allow Kansas clinics to offer telemedicine abortion 
services. Existing restrictions including a mandatory 24-hour waiting 
period and parental consent rules for minors will still apply.“Access
 to telemedicine services for Kansans will go a long way to easing the 
strain on our reproductive health care systems in the state,” Trust 
Women co-executive director Rebecca Tong said in a statement.Anti-abortion advocates said they’re disappointed by the decision.“While
 it’s disappointing, it’s certainly not surprising,” said Jeanne Gawdun,
 director of government relations with Kansans For Life. “It’s just one 
of the many limits that are protective for women and their children that
 (abortion providers) have fought and will continue to fight.”The group said legal challenges to abortion laws like this are possible because voters <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-08-02/kansas-voters-rejected-an-amendment-that-would-have-stripped-away-abortion-rights" target="_blank">rejected a constitutional amendment</a> in August that would have stripped abortion protections from the state constitution.It might still be several months before Kansas clinics begin offering telemedicine abortion services.“There’s
 still some infrastructure that needs to be developed in order to 
successfully roll out a quality telehealth abortion care program,” Trust
 Women spokesperson Zachary Gingrich-Gaylord said.He said the clinic continues to be <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-08-22/abortion-kansas-vote-legal-but-clinics-cant-keep-up" target="_blank">inundated by out-of-state patients</a> seeking appointments.“Right
 now, our Wichita clinic is focused on trying to see as many people in 
clinic as possible,” he said. “We're still receiving far more phone 
calls than we can answer in a given day.”Planned Parenthood Great
 Plains, which operates three Kansas clinics, didn’t immediately say 
whether or when it might offer telemedicine abortion services in the 
future.“We applaud this step towards increasing accessibility to 
abortion services and continue to evaluate our next steps,” president 
and CEO Emily Wales said in a statement.Medication abortion, or the use of the drugs to end a pregnancy, accounts for <a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/22847/KS-Abortions-2021-PDF?bidId=" target="_blank">over two thirds of abortions</a>
 in Kansas, according to the state health department. Mifepristone and 
misoprostol, which are often used together, are approved by the Food and
 Drug Administration to end pregnancies up to 10 weeks.Some 
Kansans have skirted the state’s telemedicine ban by using overseas 
pharmacies and mail-forwarding services. Online orders of abortion pills
 from Europe-based pharmacy Aid Access from Kansas <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-11-04/fall-roe-kansas-abortion-clinics-overseas-pills" target="_blank">doubled between May and August</a> of this year, according to data released earlier this month.Experts
 say the rise could be tied to increased difficulty in obtaining 
abortion appointments in Kansas following the U.S. Supreme Court 
decision this summer overturning Roe v. Wade, which spurred a wave of 
abortion bans across the country and sent out-of-state patients to 
Kansas clinics.“Banning telehealth for medication abortion had 
been something that conservative states had glommed on to starting about
 a decade ago,” said Elizabeth Nash, a state policy analyst at the 
Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.Besides
 Kansas, 18 states have laws banning telemedicine abortions in effect, 
many of which also ban abortion in most cases. Only seven other states 
ban telemedicine abortion in instances where it would be legal in 
person.“Kansas is a fairly critical state for abortion access in 
the country,” Nash said. “While the decision in this case is very 
important … it’s also not the end of the road. The case is not finished,
 and there’s certainly more that’s going to happen in the Legislature 
around abortion in the coming years.”Rose Conlon reports on 
health for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on 
Twitter at @rosebconlon or email her at conlon@kmuw.org.