KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City area teacher has been charged in federal court on charges related to child pornography.

Seth Brummond, 37, of Greenwood, Missouri, who teaches at  Lee’s Summit West High School, was charged in a two-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, according to the Untied State's Attorney.

The federal criminal complaint charges Brummond with one count of distributing child pornography over the internet and one count of possessing child pornography from September 1 to December 18, 2024.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Lee’s Summit police officers received a Cyber Tip on Sept. 8, 2024, that a user, later identified as Brummond, had uploaded 12 videos of child pornography via the Kik Messenger application.

On Dec. 19, Lee’s Summit law enforcement officers placed Brummond’s residence under surveillance for the purpose of serving federal search warrants. Officers followed Brummond when he left his house and at about 6 a.m. officers conducted a traffic stop and placed Brummond under arrest. Officers seized his iPhone as well as a computer tower that was in the trunk of his car.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735160218938.png" alt="Brummond-photo Lee's Summit Police" />
 <figcaption>Brummond-photo Lee's Summit Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City area teacher has been charged in federal court on charges related to child pornography.Seth Brummond, 37, of Greenwood, Missouri, who teaches at Lee’s Summit West High School, was charged in a two-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, according to the Untied State's Attorney.The federal criminal complaint charges Brummond with one count of distributing child pornography over the internet and one count of possessing child pornography from September 1 to December 18, 2024.According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Lee’s Summit police officers received a Cyber Tip on Sept. 8, 2024, that a user, later identified as Brummond, had uploaded 12 videos of child pornography via the Kik Messenger application.On Dec. 19, Lee’s Summit law enforcement officers placed Brummond’s residence under surveillance for the purpose of serving federal search warrants. Officers followed Brummond when he left his house and at about 6 a.m. officers conducted a traffic stop and placed Brummond under arrest. Officers seized his iPhone as well as a computer tower that was in the trunk of his car.

KC area teacher accused of uploading child porn videos via Kik app

REPUBLIC COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating a suspected&nbsp;child abuse case in Belleville. &nbsp;

On Thursday morning, the&nbsp;Belleville Police Department&nbsp;contacted the&nbsp;KBI to investigate after an unresponsive&nbsp;three-month-old&nbsp;infant was transported from the Republic County hospital to a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.

The child’s parents brought her to the Republic County hospital on Dec. 25, and hospital staff later contacted the Belleville Police Department.

A pediatrician at the Omaha hospital indicated the child has no brain activity due to severe injuries she had sustained. Late Thursday afternoon, KBI reported the infant remains on life support.

REPUBLIC COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating a suspected&nbsp;child abuse case in Belleville. &nbsp;On Thursday morning, the&nbsp;Belleville Police Department&nbsp;contacted the&nbsp;KBI to investigate after an unresponsive&nbsp;three-month-old&nbsp;infant was transported from the Republic County hospital to a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.The child’s parents brought her to the Republic County hospital on Dec. 25, and hospital staff later contacted the Belleville Police Department.A pediatrician at the Omaha hospital indicated the child has no brain activity due to severe injuries she had sustained. Late Thursday afternoon, KBI reported the infant remains on life support.

KBI: 3-month-old with severe injuries from alleged child abuse

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 4a.m. Thursday in Kansas City.

A black BMW 535I was northbound on Hardesty at Winner in Kansas City at a very high rate of speed, according to&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

In the area of Winner Road, the BMW crossed the double yellow line and traveled northbound in the southbound lanes of Hardesty.&nbsp; The BMW struck a concrete traffic median, a metal traffic signal pole and continued northbound across Winner Road. 

The BMW traveled up a grassy hill and launched across a private driveway, striking a building before coming to rest. 

The driver of the BMW was pronounced deceased at the scene. The front seat passenger was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The passenger is currently in stable condition and the investigation is ongoing. 

This is Fatality #93 compared to #100 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 4a.m. Thursday in Kansas City.A black BMW 535I was northbound on Hardesty at Winner in Kansas City at a very high rate of speed, according to&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.In the area of Winner Road, the BMW crossed the double yellow line and traveled northbound in the southbound lanes of Hardesty.&nbsp; The BMW struck a concrete traffic median, a metal traffic signal pole and continued northbound across Winner Road. The BMW traveled up a grassy hill and launched across a private driveway, striking a building before coming to rest. The driver of the BMW was pronounced deceased at the scene. The front seat passenger was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The passenger is currently in stable condition and the investigation is ongoing. This is Fatality #93 compared to #100 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez&nbsp;

KCPD: One dead after violent crash into a building

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are&nbsp;&nbsp;investigating a homicide in Kansas City.

Just before 4a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to an apartment in the 900 block of E 134th Street on a reported Welfare Check, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez

When officers arrived to the apartment, they located evidence of a possible disturbance that may have occurred inside. They entered the apartment to check for any victims or injured persons. While searching the apartment for anyone in need of possible assistance, a woman was located suffering from apparent bodily trauma and she unresponsive, according to Gonzalez.

&nbsp;EMS personnel also responded to the scene and declared the victim deceased.

Preliminary information indicated the victim and an adult male subject were involved in a verbal altercation the turned physical. Due to the help of the public and neighboring police agencies, detectives were able to quickly locate a male subject of interest and take him into custody for further questioning. 

Detectives are not looking for any additional subjects of interest at this time. Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to the scene to begin gathering evidence and collecting any witness statements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735222031093.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are&nbsp;&nbsp;investigating a homicide in Kansas City.Just before 4a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to an apartment in the 900 block of E 134th Street on a reported Welfare Check, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Officer Alayna GonzalezWhen officers arrived to the apartment, they located evidence of a possible disturbance that may have occurred inside. They entered the apartment to check for any victims or injured persons. While searching the apartment for anyone in need of possible assistance, a woman was located suffering from apparent bodily trauma and she unresponsive, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp;EMS personnel also responded to the scene and declared the victim deceased.Preliminary information indicated the victim and an adult male subject were involved in a verbal altercation the turned physical. Due to the help of the public and neighboring police agencies, detectives were able to quickly locate a male subject of interest and take him into custody for further questioning. Detectives are not looking for any additional subjects of interest at this time. Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to the scene to begin gathering evidence and collecting any witness statements.

Homicide: Woman found dead in Kansas City apartment

Portland, Oregon— Northwest Naturals is voluntarily recalling one batch of Northwest Naturals brand 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it was tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, according to a media release from the company.

Consumption of raw or uncooked pet food contaminated with HPAI can cause illness in animals. To date, one case of illness in a domestic cat has been reported in connection with this issue.

Oregon authorities reported a house cat died after eating the pet food that tested positive for&nbsp;bird flu.

The recalled product is packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with “Best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1. The product was sold through distributors in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, PA, RI and WA in the United States, and British Columbia in Canada.

This recall is being conducted in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, Oregon.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled product should immediately discard the product and contact the place of purchase for a full refund.

For additional information or questions, customers may contact Northwest Naturals of Portland at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@nw-naturals.net">info@nw-naturals.net</a>&nbsp;or 866-637-1872 from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM PST, Monday through Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733747978622.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Portland, Oregon— Northwest Naturals is voluntarily recalling one batch of Northwest Naturals brand 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it was tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, according to a media release from the company.Consumption of raw or uncooked pet food contaminated with HPAI can cause illness in animals. To date, one case of illness in a domestic cat has been reported in connection with this issue.Oregon authorities reported a house cat died after eating the pet food that tested positive for&nbsp;bird flu.The recalled product is packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with “Best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1. The product was sold through distributors in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, PA, RI and WA in the United States, and British Columbia in Canada.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735223841641.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This recall is being conducted in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, Oregon.Consumers who have purchased the recalled product should immediately discard the product and contact the place of purchase for a full refund.For additional information or questions, customers may contact Northwest Naturals of Portland at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@nw-naturals.net">info@nw-naturals.net</a>&nbsp;or 866-637-1872 from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM PST, Monday through Friday.

House cat dies after eating pet food that tested positive for bird flu

Of the 96 microlicenses issued so far, 41 have either been revoked or are currently at risk of being revoked. Another three are under investigation

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation announced new proposed rules Monday afternoon for its marijuana microbusiness program designed to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/29/cannabis-missouri-predatory-socia-equity/">combat predatory practices</a>&nbsp;during the application process.&nbsp;

The division published a draft of the rules on its website and is asking for public feedback before it submits the proposal to the Secretary of State’s office on January 6.&nbsp;

“These revisions are intended to ensure microbusiness licenses are issued to eligible individuals… and to address the trend of predatory arrangements in microbusiness licensing,” the division said in a press release announcing the proposed changes. “Specifically, these draft rule revisions should mitigate the ongoing efforts of ineligible entities to acquire licenses by taking advantage of eligible individuals.”

Since Missouri voters approved recreational marijuana in 2022, state regulators have used a lottery system to award 96 microbusiness licenses — a program sold to voters as a way to help victims of the War on Drugs get a toehold in the burgeoning cannabis industry.&nbsp;

But of the 96 licenses issued so far, 41 have been either revoked or are currently at risk of being revoked. Another three are under investigation.&nbsp;

A majority of those 44 licenses are connected to groups or individuals who flooded the lottery by recruiting people to submit applications and then offering them contracts that limited their profit and control of the business.

In June, four legal experts reviewed such a contract The Independent had obtained and concluded it was unfair and potentially predatory. All four agreed state cannabis regulators should reject any license application connected to the contract because it violates the constitutional mandate requiring licenses to be “majority owned and operated” by the eligible applicant.&nbsp;

In order to prevent numerous revocations, the division is proposing to adjust when its extensive application-review period occurs.&nbsp;

Among the changes include a requirement that the designated contact for a microbusiness applicant must be an eligible individual contributing to the majority ownership of the microbusiness license.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Additionally, any entity who was the designated contact for a license that was previously revoked for failure to comply with the ownership and operation requirements will no longer be allowed to be involved in any capacity in a future microbusiness application.&nbsp;&nbsp;

All microbusiness applications in which such former designated contact has any involvement would be denied.

“Majority owned and operated” would be defined as the eligible individuals who are listed as having majority ownership must have a level of operational control that would be expected of an owner.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Eligible individuals must have the power to order or direct the management, managers, and policies of the license, enter into agreements on behalf of the license, and otherwise make decisions for the business.

“A purported owner with little to no knowledge, control, agency or decision-making authority in an application or license does not meet the intent or meaning of the” constitutional amendment that legalized recreational marijuana and created the microbusiness program, the division said in its press release.&nbsp;

Applicants would also be required to take an online training course that addresses predatory practices, and eligible individuals would have to submit the application themselves and communicate directly with the state rather than through a consultant who often acts as the “designated contact.”

While the new rules may delay the full rollout of the program, Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis NAACP, believes it’s necessary.&nbsp;

“It’s a very simple question with a simple answer for me,” Pruitt told The Independent in October. “Or would you rather continue to try to catch everybody who’s speeding?”

The state issued its first round of 48 microbusiness licenses last year.&nbsp;

These applicants were picked out of a lottery of 1,600 submissions, and then the division verified they met the basic qualifications — which includes having a low income, a nonviolent marijuana charge on their record, being a disabled veteran or living in a low-income ZIP code.&nbsp;

But getting the license is currently just the beginning of the verification process.&nbsp;

The licensees must then pass through a rigorous 60-day investigation into all financial and operating agreements to make sure the license will continue to be majority owned and operated by an eligible person, as the state constitution requires.

After the investigations last year, the division ended up issuing 11 notices of pending revocation.&nbsp;

The licensees had a few months to respond to the division’s concerns, but ultimately all six licenses connected to cannabis investor&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/23/alleged-predatory-contracts-continue-to-surface-in-missouri-social-equity-marijuana-program/">Michael Halow</a>&nbsp;were revoked — along with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/26/applicants-recruited-on-craigslist-competed-for-missouri-social-equity-cannabis-licenses/">two connected to a Michigan-based group</a>&nbsp;— because they couldn’t prove the business would be run by an eligible person.

The revocations were the division’s attempt to prevent what some legal experts have called “fronts,” or arrangements where the profits and ownership weren’t going to people that regulators had certified were eligible.&nbsp;

In July, the division awarded another 57 microbusiness licenses. But after the 60-day investigation that ended earlier this month, regulators sent out 32 notices of pending revocation.

Half of the 32 pending revocation letters went to licensees connected to Halow.&nbsp;

By law, the state must award a total of 144 licenses to disadvantaged business owners, over the course of three lotteries. The state has already conducted two lotteries, but there’s not a definitive deadline to conduct the final round and meet the goal.

Last year, The Independent reported on a Michigan-based company called Canna Zoned<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/26/applicants-recruited-on-craigslist-competed-for-missouri-social-equity-cannabis-licenses/">&nbsp;was recruiting people on Craigslist&nbsp;</a>to enter Missouri’s social equity license lottery using contracts forcing them to eventually relinquish all control — and profits.&nbsp;

The company landed two dispensary licenses last October and both were revoked earlier this year, though the company is appealing that decision. A hearing will be held for these licenses in March.

Despite those revocations, Canna Zoned was awarded another license through the July lottery, and once again received a notice of pending revocation in October.&nbsp;

Cannabis consultant John Payne also received six notices of pending revocation in October for licenses where he serves as the designated contact. Payne led the campaign to legalize recreational cannabis in 2022 and is connected to nearly 500 applications and 12 licenses since the program’s inception.&nbsp;

But Payne has come under fire this year after&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/07/26/missouri-cannabis-leader-accused-of-using-predatory-contracts-to-win-social-equity-licenses/">The Independent revealed that for some applicants he’d recruited eligible Missourians</a>&nbsp;and had them sign a 47-page contract that would ultimately give him and his partners 90.1% of profits and majority control of the business.&nbsp;

Despite only owning a fraction of the business, under state law the applicants would bear the lion’s share of the regulatory scrutiny. If they ever want to walk away from the deal, they would be required to pay a nearly $1 million fee.

In addition to the six notices of pending revocation, three current licenses connected to Payne are under investigation by state regulators. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25230856-mbw000009-notice-of-investigation-072324" target="_blank">case documents</a>&nbsp;for these&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25230857-mbw000012-notice-of-investigation-072324" target="_blank">three</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25002786-mbd000007-notice-of-investigation-072324" target="_blank">cases</a>, the division questioned whether the eligible person who submitted the application will continue to be the majority owner and operator of the business.

NAACP leaders in Missouri are calling these practices a “predatory attack” on the microbusiness program, which voters intended to allow marginalized or under-represented individuals to participate in the legal marijuana market.&nbsp;

“If a Black license owner is not making the most money off the operation, then they’re being robbed of the opportunity to create generational wealth,” Pruitt said. “That’s what the microbusiness program is about. And that’s what’s being robbed.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735211951533.jpeg" alt=" Since Missouri voters approved recreational marijuana in 2022, state regulators have used a lottery system to award 96 microbusiness licenses — a program sold to voters as a way to help victims of the War on Drugs get a toehold in the burgeoning cannabis industry (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Since Missouri voters approved recreational marijuana in 2022, state regulators have used a lottery system to award 96 microbusiness licenses — a program sold to voters as a way to help victims of the War on Drugs get a toehold in the burgeoning cannabis industry (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Of the 96 microlicenses issued so far, 41 have either been revoked or are currently at risk of being revoked. Another three are under investigation</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation announced new proposed rules Monday afternoon for its marijuana microbusiness program designed to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/29/cannabis-missouri-predatory-socia-equity/">combat predatory practices</a>&nbsp;during the application process.&nbsp;The division published a draft of the rules on its website and is asking for public feedback before it submits the proposal to the Secretary of State’s office on January 6.&nbsp;“These revisions are intended to ensure microbusiness licenses are issued to eligible individuals… and to address the trend of predatory arrangements in microbusiness licensing,” the division said in a press release announcing the proposed changes. “Specifically, these draft rule revisions should mitigate the ongoing efforts of ineligible entities to acquire licenses by taking advantage of eligible individuals.”Since Missouri voters approved recreational marijuana in 2022, state regulators have used a lottery system to award 96 microbusiness licenses — a program sold to voters as a way to help victims of the War on Drugs get a toehold in the burgeoning cannabis industry.&nbsp;But of the 96 licenses issued so far, 41 have been either revoked or are currently at risk of being revoked. Another three are under investigation.&nbsp;A majority of those 44 licenses are connected to groups or individuals who flooded the lottery by recruiting people to submit applications and then offering them contracts that limited their profit and control of the business.In June, four legal experts reviewed such a contract The Independent had obtained and concluded it was unfair and potentially predatory. All four agreed state cannabis regulators should reject any license application connected to the contract because it violates the constitutional mandate requiring licenses to be “majority owned and operated” by the eligible applicant.&nbsp;In order to prevent numerous revocations, the division is proposing to adjust when its extensive application-review period occurs.&nbsp;Among the changes include a requirement that the designated contact for a microbusiness applicant must be an eligible individual contributing to the majority ownership of the microbusiness license.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, any entity who was the designated contact for a license that was previously revoked for failure to comply with the ownership and operation requirements will no longer be allowed to be involved in any capacity in a future microbusiness application.&nbsp;&nbsp;All microbusiness applications in which such former designated contact has any involvement would be denied.“Majority owned and operated” would be defined as the eligible individuals who are listed as having majority ownership must have a level of operational control that would be expected of an owner.&nbsp;&nbsp;Eligible individuals must have the power to order or direct the management, managers, and policies of the license, enter into agreements on behalf of the license, and otherwise make decisions for the business.“A purported owner with little to no knowledge, control, agency or decision-making authority in an application or license does not meet the intent or meaning of the” constitutional amendment that legalized recreational marijuana and created the microbusiness program, the division said in its press release.&nbsp;Applicants would also be required to take an online training course that addresses predatory practices, and eligible individuals would have to submit the application themselves and communicate directly with the state rather than through a consultant who often acts as the “designated contact.”While the new rules may delay the full rollout of the program, Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis NAACP, believes it’s necessary.&nbsp;“It’s a very simple question with a simple answer for me,” Pruitt told The Independent in October. “Or would you rather continue to try to catch everybody who’s speeding?”<h2>Revoked licenses</h2>The state issued its first round of 48 microbusiness licenses last year.&nbsp;These applicants were picked out of a lottery of 1,600 submissions, and then the division verified they met the basic qualifications — which includes having a low income, a nonviolent marijuana charge on their record, being a disabled veteran or living in a low-income ZIP code.&nbsp;But getting the license is currently just the beginning of the verification process.&nbsp;The licensees must then pass through a rigorous 60-day investigation into all financial and operating agreements to make sure the license will continue to be majority owned and operated by an eligible person, as the state constitution requires.After the investigations last year, the division ended up issuing 11 notices of pending revocation.&nbsp;The licensees had a few months to respond to the division’s concerns, but ultimately all six licenses connected to cannabis investor&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/23/alleged-predatory-contracts-continue-to-surface-in-missouri-social-equity-marijuana-program/">Michael Halow</a>&nbsp;were revoked — along with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/26/applicants-recruited-on-craigslist-competed-for-missouri-social-equity-cannabis-licenses/">two connected to a Michigan-based group</a>&nbsp;— because they couldn’t prove the business would be run by an eligible person.The revocations were the division’s attempt to prevent what some legal experts have called “fronts,” or arrangements where the profits and ownership weren’t going to people that regulators had certified were eligible.&nbsp;In July, the division awarded another 57 microbusiness licenses. But after the 60-day investigation that ended earlier this month, regulators sent out 32 notices of pending revocation.Half of the 32 pending revocation letters went to licensees connected to Halow.&nbsp;By law, the state must award a total of 144 licenses to disadvantaged business owners, over the course of three lotteries. The state has already conducted two lotteries, but there’s not a definitive deadline to conduct the final round and meet the goal.<h2>Allegations of predatory behavior</h2>Last year, The Independent reported on a Michigan-based company called Canna Zoned<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/26/applicants-recruited-on-craigslist-competed-for-missouri-social-equity-cannabis-licenses/">&nbsp;was recruiting people on Craigslist&nbsp;</a>to enter Missouri’s social equity license lottery using contracts forcing them to eventually relinquish all control — and profits.&nbsp;The company landed two dispensary licenses last October and both were revoked earlier this year, though the company is appealing that decision. A hearing will be held for these licenses in March.Despite those revocations, Canna Zoned was awarded another license through the July lottery, and once again received a notice of pending revocation in October.&nbsp;Cannabis consultant John Payne also received six notices of pending revocation in October for licenses where he serves as the designated contact. Payne led the campaign to legalize recreational cannabis in 2022 and is connected to nearly 500 applications and 12 licenses since the program’s inception.&nbsp;But Payne has come under fire this year after&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/07/26/missouri-cannabis-leader-accused-of-using-predatory-contracts-to-win-social-equity-licenses/">The Independent revealed that for some applicants he’d recruited eligible Missourians</a>&nbsp;and had them sign a 47-page contract that would ultimately give him and his partners 90.1% of profits and majority control of the business.&nbsp;Despite only owning a fraction of the business, under state law the applicants would bear the lion’s share of the regulatory scrutiny. If they ever want to walk away from the deal, they would be required to pay a nearly $1 million fee.In addition to the six notices of pending revocation, three current licenses connected to Payne are under investigation by state regulators. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25230856-mbw000009-notice-of-investigation-072324" target="_blank">case documents</a>&nbsp;for these&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25230857-mbw000012-notice-of-investigation-072324" target="_blank">three</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25002786-mbd000007-notice-of-investigation-072324" target="_blank">cases</a>, the division questioned whether the eligible person who submitted the application will continue to be the majority owner and operator of the business.NAACP leaders in Missouri are calling these practices a “predatory attack” on the microbusiness program, which voters intended to allow marginalized or under-represented individuals to participate in the legal marijuana market.&nbsp;“If a Black license owner is not making the most money off the operation, then they’re being robbed of the opportunity to create generational wealth,” Pruitt said. “That’s what the microbusiness program is about. And that’s what’s being robbed.”&nbsp;

Missouri cannabis regulators announce new rules to target ‘predatory’ contracts

TOPEKA— The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Kansas City is asking for help to locate two wanted fugitives known for alleged sleight-of-hand thefts at jewelry stores, according to a statement from the ageney.

Authorities are searching for 53-year-old&nbsp;Vasile Sava&nbsp;and 54-year-old&nbsp;Onita Rostas.&nbsp;Authorities believe Sava and Rostas are married, and may be using a variety of aliases.

In January, Sava and Rostas were the subjects of arrest warrants, issued by United States District Court, District of Kansas, after being charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Sava and Rostas, along with other suspects, targeted multiple jewelry businesses, according to a statement from the FBI. The suspects would enter the stores in groups of two or more. One of the suspects would distract or separate the employees while another would remove, conceal, and ultimately make off with items of jewelry that had been on display. The FBI calls this practice a sleight-of-hand distraction theft.

The thieves would then take the stolen jewelry elsewhere in the U.S. to be sold, prosecutors said.

The jewelry stores in Kansas Marks Jewelers in Lawrence; Calhoun's in Topeka, Venable Jewlers in McPherson and G. Thomas in Manhattan.

The pair may be living in or operating across multiple states including California, Texas, Florida, Maryland, and Virginia.

It is unknown if the pair has ties to the Kansas City area.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact any law enforcement agency, or reach out to the FBI directly through&nbsp;<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this tip website</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734634218307.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA— The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Kansas City is asking for help to locate two wanted fugitives known for alleged sleight-of-hand thefts at jewelry stores, according to a statement from the ageney.Authorities are searching for 53-year-old&nbsp;Vasile Sava&nbsp;and 54-year-old&nbsp;Onita Rostas.&nbsp;Authorities believe Sava and Rostas are married, and may be using a variety of aliases.In January, Sava and Rostas were the subjects of arrest warrants, issued by United States District Court, District of Kansas, after being charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734634248605.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Sava and Rostas, along with other suspects, targeted multiple jewelry businesses, according to a statement from the FBI. The suspects would enter the stores in groups of two or more. One of the suspects would distract or separate the employees while another would remove, conceal, and ultimately make off with items of jewelry that had been on display. The FBI calls this practice a sleight-of-hand distraction theft.The thieves would then take the stolen jewelry elsewhere in the U.S. to be sold, prosecutors said.The jewelry stores in Kansas Marks Jewelers in Lawrence; Calhoun's in Topeka, Venable Jewlers in McPherson and G. Thomas in Manhattan.The pair may be living in or operating across multiple states including California, Texas, Florida, Maryland, and Virginia.It is unknown if the pair has ties to the Kansas City area.Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact any law enforcement agency, or reach out to the FBI directly through&nbsp;<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this tip website</a>

FBI: Search continues for Kan. jewelry store robbery suspects

KANSAS CITY—A nurse at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Kansas City, Missouri has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to child pornography.

Paul Robert Wyatt, 56, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., was charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on Tuesday, Dec. 17. 

The indictment was unsealed and made public&nbsp; following Wyatt’s arrest and initial court appearance.

Wyatt is employed as a nurse at the Kansas City V.A. Medical Center on Linwood Boulevard in Kansas City, Mo.

The federal indictment alleges that Wyatt distributed child pornography over the internet on Sept. 9, 2023. The indictment also charges Wyatt with one count of receiving child pornography on Oct. 12, 2023, and one count of possessing child pornography (which involved a victim under the age of 12) on Nov. 22, 2023.

KANSAS CITY—A nurse at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Kansas City, Missouri has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to child pornography.Paul Robert Wyatt, 56, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., was charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on Tuesday, Dec. 17. The indictment was unsealed and made public&nbsp; following Wyatt’s arrest and initial court appearance.Wyatt is employed as a nurse at the Kansas City V.A. Medical Center on Linwood Boulevard in Kansas City, Mo.The federal indictment alleges that Wyatt distributed child pornography over the internet on Sept. 9, 2023. The indictment also charges Wyatt with one count of receiving child pornography on Oct. 12, 2023, and one count of possessing child pornography (which involved a victim under the age of 12) on Nov. 22, 2023.

VA nurse in KC accused of having child porn involving a juvenile victim

MANHATTAN — Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of a Christmas morning house fire in Manhattan.

Just after 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to house fire at 2717 Wyndham Heights Drive, according to a media release.&nbsp;

Crews found a single-family dwelling with heavy fire and smoke coming from the back of the house. Fire crews aggressively attacked the fire and searched the house for occupants, but none were found.&nbsp; 

The fire reached a second alarm before it was contained within 30 minutes.&nbsp; A total of 17 firefighters responded on 6 fire apparatus with fire units clearing by 10:30 a.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;The house is a one-story with a walk-out basement.&nbsp; Two occupants live in the home, but neither were home when firefighters arrived on the scene.&nbsp;

 The building is no longer habitable. Loss is estimated at $250,000 to contents and $450,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Kenny Fischer of the same address.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735159100227.png" alt="-Photo Manhattan fire department" />
 <figcaption>-Photo Manhattan fire department</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of a Christmas morning house fire in Manhattan.Just after 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to house fire at 2717 Wyndham Heights Drive, according to a media release.&nbsp;Crews found a single-family dwelling with heavy fire and smoke coming from the back of the house. Fire crews aggressively attacked the fire and searched the house for occupants, but none were found.&nbsp; The fire reached a second alarm before it was contained within 30 minutes.&nbsp; A total of 17 firefighters responded on 6 fire apparatus with fire units clearing by 10:30 a.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;The house is a one-story with a walk-out basement.&nbsp; Two occupants live in the home, but neither were home when firefighters arrived on the scene.&nbsp; The building is no longer habitable. Loss is estimated at $250,000 to contents and $450,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Kenny Fischer of the same address.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. home no longer habitable after fire Christmas morning

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>

WASHINGTON — A Kansas City, Missouri, man who pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and expects a pardon from President-elect Donald Trump will be allowed to attend Trump’s inauguration, a federal judge ordered Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who presided over Trump’s election subversion case in the District of Columbia, granted Eric Lee Peterson’s request to attend the president-elect’s swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C., as well as a request to expand his local travel restrictions while on bond.

Peterson’s attorney Michael Bullotta argued in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25466047-petersonmotionleave/" target="_blank">motion</a>&nbsp;filed Tuesday that his client deserved the exceptions because he does not have a criminal record and “(h)is offense was entering and remaining in the Capitol for about 8 minutes without proper authorization.”

“Apart from being reasonable on their face, these two modification requests are even more appropriate in light of the incoming Trump administration’s confirmations that President Trump will fully pardon those in Mr. Peterson’s position on his first day in office on January 20, 2025. Thus, his scheduled sentencing hearing before this Court on January 27, 2025 will likely be rendered moot,” Bullotta wrote.

Trump repeatedly promised on the campaign trail to pardon the Jan. 6 defendants, whom he exalted as “patriots,” “warriors” and “hostages.”

The president-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-says-liz-cheney-mississippi-congressman-should-go-jail-jan-6-probe" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;during a Dec. 8 interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker” that he’s “going to be acting very quickly” to pardon the defendants on day one — though he indicated he might make exceptions “if somebody was radical, crazy.”

During that interview, Trump also threatened imprisonment for former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and current Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, who together oversaw the congressional committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack.

Peterson pleaded guilty to knowingly and unlawfully entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, for which he faces up to one year in prison, plus a fine.

As part of the plea, he agreed to pay $500 in restitution toward the estimated $2.8 million in damages to the Capitol, according to court filings. Peterson also agreed to hand over to authorities access to all of his social media communication on and around the date of the riot.

Approximately 1,572 people faced federal charges following the attack on the Capitol that stopped Congress for hours from certifying the 2020 presidential election victory for Joe Biden.

Lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence evacuated to secured locations within the Capitol as rioters assaulted roughly 140 police officers and vandalized several parts of the building, including lawmakers’ offices.

Peterson is among the 996 defendants who pleaded guilty to charges, according to the latest Department of Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/47-months-jan-6-attack-us-capitol" target="_blank">data</a>.

Peterson appeared on both surveillance video from inside the Capitol and publicly available third-party video taken outside the building during the riot, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25466034-petersonstatementofoffense/" target="_blank">statement of offense</a>&nbsp;signed by Peterson on Oct. 29.

Peterson, in a pink t-shirt over a dark hooded sweatshirt, stood among the crowd of rioters outside the locked Rotunda doors “as the building alarm audibly blared from within the Capitol building,” according to the statement.

Further, the court filing states Peterson entered the building at 3:03 p.m. Eastern and “walked right by a police officer posted at the doors.”

While inside the Rotunda, where several U.S. Capitol Police were present, Peterson took cell phone photos. He exited the building at 3:11 p.m., but remained on the Capitol’s restricted Upper West Terrace afterward, according to the statement.

Peterson was arrested in early August and originally faced a total of four charges that included disorderly conduct and parading, picketing and demonstrating inside the Capitol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734701734862.png" alt="Eric Lee Peterson, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to knowingly and unlawfully entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In this Department of Justice photo, he is shown during the U.S. Capitol attack. (Photo from U.S. Department of Justice court filing)" />
 <figcaption>Eric Lee Peterson, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to knowingly and unlawfully entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In this Department of Justice photo, he is shown during the U.S. Capitol attack. (Photo from U.S. Department of Justice court filing)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>WASHINGTON — A Kansas City, Missouri, man who pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and expects a pardon from President-elect Donald Trump will be allowed to attend Trump’s inauguration, a federal judge ordered Thursday.U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who presided over Trump’s election subversion case in the District of Columbia, granted Eric Lee Peterson’s request to attend the president-elect’s swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C., as well as a request to expand his local travel restrictions while on bond.Peterson’s attorney Michael Bullotta argued in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25466047-petersonmotionleave/" target="_blank">motion</a>&nbsp;filed Tuesday that his client deserved the exceptions because he does not have a criminal record and “(h)is offense was entering and remaining in the Capitol for about 8 minutes without proper authorization.”“Apart from being reasonable on their face, these two modification requests are even more appropriate in light of the incoming Trump administration’s confirmations that President Trump will fully pardon those in Mr. Peterson’s position on his first day in office on January 20, 2025. Thus, his scheduled sentencing hearing before this Court on January 27, 2025 will likely be rendered moot,” Bullotta wrote.Trump repeatedly promised on the campaign trail to pardon the Jan. 6 defendants, whom he exalted as “patriots,” “warriors” and “hostages.”The president-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-says-liz-cheney-mississippi-congressman-should-go-jail-jan-6-probe" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;during a Dec. 8 interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker” that he’s “going to be acting very quickly” to pardon the defendants on day one — though he indicated he might make exceptions “if somebody was radical, crazy.”During that interview, Trump also threatened imprisonment for former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and current Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, who together oversaw the congressional committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack.Peterson pleaded guilty to knowingly and unlawfully entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, for which he faces up to one year in prison, plus a fine.As part of the plea, he agreed to pay $500 in restitution toward the estimated $2.8 million in damages to the Capitol, according to court filings. Peterson also agreed to hand over to authorities access to all of his social media communication on and around the date of the riot.Approximately 1,572 people faced federal charges following the attack on the Capitol that stopped Congress for hours from certifying the 2020 presidential election victory for Joe Biden.Lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence evacuated to secured locations within the Capitol as rioters assaulted roughly 140 police officers and vandalized several parts of the building, including lawmakers’ offices.Peterson is among the 996 defendants who pleaded guilty to charges, according to the latest Department of Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/47-months-jan-6-attack-us-capitol" target="_blank">data</a>.Peterson appeared on both surveillance video from inside the Capitol and publicly available third-party video taken outside the building during the riot, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25466034-petersonstatementofoffense/" target="_blank">statement of offense</a>&nbsp;signed by Peterson on Oct. 29.Peterson, in a pink t-shirt over a dark hooded sweatshirt, stood among the crowd of rioters outside the locked Rotunda doors “as the building alarm audibly blared from within the Capitol building,” according to the statement.Further, the court filing states Peterson entered the building at 3:03 p.m. Eastern and “walked right by a police officer posted at the doors.”While inside the Rotunda, where several U.S. Capitol Police were present, Peterson took cell phone photos. He exited the building at 3:11 p.m., but remained on the Capitol’s restricted Upper West Terrace afterward, according to the statement.Peterson was arrested in early August and originally faced a total of four charges that included disorderly conduct and parading, picketing and demonstrating inside the Capitol.

Jan. 6 defendant from KC allowed by court to attend Trump inauguration 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged arson fire in Topeka and have made an arrest

Just after 3:30a.m. Monday crews&nbsp;from the Topeka Fire Department&nbsp;responded to a report fire at&nbsp;Capitol City Smoke &amp; Grocery 500 S.W. 6th Avenue, according to fire department spokesperson Rosie Nichols.

 Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke and flames coming from a single-story business and were able to quickly extinguish the fire, keeping it contained to the business where it started. 

No occupants were located and no injuries were reported. Investigators determined the fire was&nbsp;intentionally set. As a result of the investigation, police arrested 38-year-old Derrick J. Martinez and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on one count of arson and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

The total estimated loss associated with the fire was approximately $7,500.&nbsp;Working smoke detectors were not located in the structure where the fire originated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734967280892.png" alt="Martinez-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Martinez-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged arson fire in Topeka and have made an arrestJust after 3:30a.m. Monday crews&nbsp;from the Topeka Fire Department&nbsp;responded to a report fire at&nbsp;Capitol City Smoke &amp; Grocery 500 S.W. 6th Avenue, according to fire department spokesperson Rosie Nichols. Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke and flames coming from a single-story business and were able to quickly extinguish the fire, keeping it contained to the business where it started. No occupants were located and no injuries were reported. Investigators determined the fire was&nbsp;intentionally set. As a result of the investigation, police arrested 38-year-old Derrick J. Martinez and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on one count of arson and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.The total estimated loss associated with the fire was approximately $7,500.&nbsp;Working smoke detectors were not located in the structure where the fire originated.

Man accused of starting fire at Kansas convenience store

FINNEY COUNTY —"Looks like Santa got caught in the fast lane," according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol."

"Technical Trooper Bradley stopped this certainly jolly driver this holiday season traveling 130mph."

"While Santa flies safely across the sky, we’re on the ground ensuring everyone’s safety this holiday season. Slow down, obey speed limits, drive sober and enjoy the ride. Let’s make sure the holidays are merry and bright for all."&nbsp; The ticket cost 'Santa' $828.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734973034345.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —"Looks like Santa got caught in the fast lane," according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734973014100.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"Technical Trooper Bradley stopped this certainly jolly driver this holiday season traveling 130mph.""While Santa flies safely across the sky, we’re on the ground ensuring everyone’s safety this holiday season. Slow down, obey speed limits, drive sober and enjoy the ride. Let’s make sure the holidays are merry and bright for all."&nbsp; The ticket cost 'Santa' $828.

KHP: Santa got caught in the fast lane doing 130mph

President Biden and the First Lady made a holiday visit to patients and families at Children’s National Hospital on Friday.&nbsp; Click below to watch.

President Biden and the First Lady made a holiday visit to patients and families at Children’s National Hospital on Friday.&nbsp; Click below to watch.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OOWwyIm7OM4?si=L-VP2nm1YfqJm-qw&amp;start=6" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fchildrens.national%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0pfErqkoDsVruqiMGWac8Zv4rtCzg9utdkReGq5rgWQQX3baGpFQmYEKKwpdUf43l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="748" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The People&#39;s House is ready for St. Nick. <a href="https://t.co/UE8MmsRHfr">pic.twitter.com/UE8MmsRHfr</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1871556433457693040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 Bidens make holiday visit to Children's National Hospital

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">AARON SANDERFORD</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/fortenberry-seeks-two-month-delay-of-re-trial-to-wait-for-trump-justice-department/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen will need at least one more night in the hospital before heading home for recovery after being bucked off a horse.

He might need longer depending on whether he elects to have surgery to repair seven broken ribs on his left side from the ride on family land Sunday afternoon near Columbus.

If not, he could be released on Christmas Eve. Pillen’s Nebraska Medical Center doctors detailed his injuries to reporters Monday at the adjacent University of Nebraska Medical Center.

In addition to broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung, Pillen suffered a “minor fracture” to a vertebra in his lower back and a minor kidney injury, Nebraska Medicine trauma surgeons Dr. Charity Evans and Dr. Hillman Terzian said.

His spleen injury required an hour-long surgery when he arrived from Columbus Community Hospital on Sunday to repair some bleeding from a lacerated spleen, a procedure they said went well.

During that surgery, while the governor was incapacitated, Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly served as governor, the Governor’s Office announced in a press release later Monday.

Doctors said they were pleased the governor suffered no injuries to his head, neck or spine, which are common with horseback riding-related falls. He had been&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-to-spend-pre-christmas-in-hospital-after-fall-from-horse/">riding at the time</a>&nbsp;with his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.

Pillen, 68, is eager to get home, the doctors said. He tried to bargain with his doctors to get home in time for Monday Night Football but was urged against rushing for recovery time.

“He’s already been walking laps, which is very impressive,” Terzian said. “He’s a tough guy, and that shows with the way he’s recovering so far.”

Evans said Pillen is keeping doctors and nurses on their toes. She said he has already been trying to recruit resident doctors who are checking in on him to stay in Nebraska.

The Governor’s Office said Pillen was out of surgery Sunday in time to watch the second half of Nebraska basketball’s broadcasted win against Murray State in Hawaii.

He remained in the intensive care unit as a precaution Monday morning but was moved into a more typical hospital setting Monday afternoon, the Governor’s Office announced.

The latest news release said Pillen plans to return to work “after Christmas and wishes a blessed and safe holiday to all Nebraskans.” He will do some work from the hospital. Full recovery could take up to three months, depending on the nature of the rib fractures.

The new horse Pillen rode, Jack, was not injured and is “fine,” the Governor’s Office said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735053644935.png" alt="Nebraska Medicine trauma surgeons Dr. Hillman Terzian and Dr. Charity Evans speak about Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s injuries and recovery ahead. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Medicine trauma surgeons Dr. Hillman Terzian and Dr. Charity Evans speak about Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s injuries and recovery ahead. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">AARON SANDERFORD</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/fortenberry-seeks-two-month-delay-of-re-trial-to-wait-for-trump-justice-department/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen will need at least one more night in the hospital before heading home for recovery after being bucked off a horse.He might need longer depending on whether he elects to have surgery to repair seven broken ribs on his left side from the ride on family land Sunday afternoon near Columbus.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724255733171.jpeg" alt=" Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp; (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp; (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>If not, he could be released on Christmas Eve. Pillen’s Nebraska Medical Center doctors detailed his injuries to reporters Monday at the adjacent University of Nebraska Medical Center.In addition to broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung, Pillen suffered a “minor fracture” to a vertebra in his lower back and a minor kidney injury, Nebraska Medicine trauma surgeons Dr. Charity Evans and Dr. Hillman Terzian said.<h2>Surgery required succession</h2>His spleen injury required an hour-long surgery when he arrived from Columbus Community Hospital on Sunday to repair some bleeding from a lacerated spleen, a procedure they said went well.During that surgery, while the governor was incapacitated, Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly served as governor, the Governor’s Office announced in a press release later Monday.Doctors said they were pleased the governor suffered no injuries to his head, neck or spine, which are common with horseback riding-related falls. He had been&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-to-spend-pre-christmas-in-hospital-after-fall-from-horse/">riding at the time</a>&nbsp;with his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.Pillen, 68, is eager to get home, the doctors said. He tried to bargain with his doctors to get home in time for Monday Night Football but was urged against rushing for recovery time.“He’s already been walking laps, which is very impressive,” Terzian said. “He’s a tough guy, and that shows with the way he’s recovering so far.”<h2>Doctors on their toes</h2>Evans said Pillen is keeping doctors and nurses on their toes. She said he has already been trying to recruit resident doctors who are checking in on him to stay in Nebraska.The Governor’s Office said Pillen was out of surgery Sunday in time to watch the second half of Nebraska basketball’s broadcasted win against Murray State in Hawaii.He remained in the intensive care unit as a precaution Monday morning but was moved into a more typical hospital setting Monday afternoon, the Governor’s Office announced.The latest news release said Pillen plans to return to work “after Christmas and wishes a blessed and safe holiday to all Nebraskans.” He will do some work from the hospital. Full recovery could take up to three months, depending on the nature of the rib fractures.The new horse Pillen rode, Jack, was not injured and is “fine,” the Governor’s Office said.

Neb. Governor broke seven ribs, one vertebra when bucked from horse

KANSAS CITY —Detectives investigating the death of baby were notified Monday by medical examiners that the death of Giovanni Carr has been ruled a homicide based on their medical findings, according to KCPC Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Just after 11:30p.m. June 15, police were dispatched to an EMS call for service at a residence in the 5300 block of Olive Street in Kansas City.

 Responding officers observed a six month old infant unresponsive in the residence.&nbsp; EMS transported the child to an area hospital for treatment.&nbsp; 

It was determined at the hospital the child had suffered significant physical bodily trauma. On June 20, detectives were notified the child had died from his injuries.

Detectives have continued to investigate this case since the date the incident occurred and have identified all people believed to be involved. They are not searching for any additional involved individuals at this time.

 Detectives are hopeful to have the case file submitted to the prosecutors office in the coming days for consideration of applicable charges, according to Gonzalez.

KANSAS CITY —Detectives investigating the death of baby were notified Monday by medical examiners that the death of Giovanni Carr has been ruled a homicide based on their medical findings, according to KCPC Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Just after 11:30p.m. June 15, police were dispatched to an EMS call for service at a residence in the 5300 block of Olive Street in Kansas City. Responding officers observed a six month old infant unresponsive in the residence.&nbsp; EMS transported the child to an area hospital for treatment.&nbsp; It was determined at the hospital the child had suffered significant physical bodily trauma. On June 20, detectives were notified the child had died from his injuries.Detectives have continued to investigate this case since the date the incident occurred and have identified all people believed to be involved. They are not searching for any additional involved individuals at this time. Detectives are hopeful to have the case file submitted to the prosecutors office in the coming days for consideration of applicable charges, according to Gonzalez.

Medical examiner: Death of baby in Kansas City ruled a homicide

CRAWFORD COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 6p.m. Monday in Crawford County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by 1 Nathan Brown, 17, Pittsburg was northbound on S Rouse Street just north of Adams Street in Pittsburg.

The SUV traveled off the the roadway to the left and struck a tree. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene and ws transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp; He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

CRAWFORD COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 6p.m. Monday in Crawford County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by 1 Nathan Brown, 17, Pittsburg was northbound on S Rouse Street just north of Adams Street in Pittsburg.The SUV traveled off the the roadway to the left and struck a tree. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene and ws transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp; He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas teen dies after SUV strikes a tree

On Monday, U.S.&nbsp; forces conducted a precision airstrike in the Dayr az Zawr Province, Syria, killing two ISIS operatives and wounding one, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.


The terrorists were moving a truckload of weapons which were destroyed during the strike. This strike occurred in an area formerly controlled by the Syrian regime and Russians.



This airstrike is part of CENTCOM’s ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731379013172.png" alt="File photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>On Monday, U.S.&nbsp; forces conducted a precision airstrike in the Dayr az Zawr Province, Syria, killing two ISIS operatives and wounding one, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.
The terrorists were moving a truckload of weapons which were destroyed during the strike. This strike occurred in an area formerly controlled by the Syrian regime and Russians.

This airstrike is part of CENTCOM’s ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.The U.S. released no additional details.

U.S. airstrike kills ISIS terrorists in Syria 

Des Moines —The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is reporting the first human case of avian influenza A(H5) in the state, according to a media release.

 The individual was exposed to infected poultry while working with a commercial flock in northwest Iowa. The individual reported mild symptoms, has received appropriate treatment and is recovering. The case was identified through testing at the State Hygienic Laboratory and confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As of December 20, 2024, the CDC has reported 64 confirmed human cases of H5 HPAI across nine states. The majority of the exposures are linked to infected poultry or dairy cows. There is no evidence that human-to-human transmission of influenza A(H5) is occurring in the U.S.

Although human infections are rare, the virus is spread through prolonged exposure around infected flocks and herds, through the eyes, nose or mouth. Any individuals with direct contact who develop flu-like symptoms or an eye infection should contact their doctor. To reduce the risk of infection or spread, people in direct contact with exposed animals should wear proper PPE and avoid direct contact with sick or dead animals, including birds.&nbsp;

“Iowa has monitored the spread of avian influenza closely since it was first detected in poultry in the state in 2022, and our state is prepared with the established knowledge, strong partnerships, and effective tools to mitigate its impact on our community,” said Iowa HHS State Medical Director Dr. Robert Kruse.

There is no concern about the safety of eggs and poultry products or pasteurized milk and dairy products. As a reminder, consumers should always properly handle and cook eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F. Pasteurization has continually proven to successfully inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733747978622.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Des Moines —The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is reporting the first human case of avian influenza A(H5) in the state, according to a media release. The individual was exposed to infected poultry while working with a commercial flock in northwest Iowa. The individual reported mild symptoms, has received appropriate treatment and is recovering. The case was identified through testing at the State Hygienic Laboratory and confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).As of December 20, 2024, the CDC has reported 64 confirmed human cases of H5 HPAI across nine states. The majority of the exposures are linked to infected poultry or dairy cows. There is no evidence that human-to-human transmission of influenza A(H5) is occurring in the U.S.Although human infections are rare, the virus is spread through prolonged exposure around infected flocks and herds, through the eyes, nose or mouth. Any individuals with direct contact who develop flu-like symptoms or an eye infection should contact their doctor. To reduce the risk of infection or spread, people in direct contact with exposed animals should wear proper PPE and avoid direct contact with sick or dead animals, including birds.&nbsp;“Iowa has monitored the spread of avian influenza closely since it was first detected in poultry in the state in 2022, and our state is prepared with the established knowledge, strong partnerships, and effective tools to mitigate its impact on our community,” said Iowa HHS State Medical Director Dr. Robert Kruse.There is no concern about the safety of eggs and poultry products or pasteurized milk and dairy products. As a reminder, consumers should always properly handle and cook eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F. Pasteurization has continually proven to successfully inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk.

Iowa confirms first human case of bird flu

SALINE COUNTY—Police are captured a wanted who ran and hid in a horse barn in an attempt to avoid going to jail.

Just after noon Sunday, police observed a Cadillac Deville in the 1900 Block of 9th Street in Salina driven by 19-year-old Tevin Schimmel, according to a media release.

The car made abrupt movements and turns before pulling into the Pilot parking lot.&nbsp; Schimmel exited the vehicle and was identified by the officer, who was aware of his active warrants for probation violation and interference with law enforcement.

Schimmel ran into the business, with the officer following employees inside. The officer observed Schimmel running through the store and out the back.

Additional officers arrived and began searching the area, with Schimmel eventually running into a wooded area. Police established a perimeter and officers were assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol.

A nearby resident in the 1700 block of North fifth contacted officers, believing someone had entered the resident's detached horse barn.The door of the barn was slightly ajar, and officers and troopers heard movement inside.

Announcements were made for Schimmel to come out, and officers entered the barn where they found the suspect was hiding under insulation in the barn and he was taken into custody.

He is in jail on requested charges of felony interference&nbsp; and burglary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734957782931.png" alt=" Schimmel, Tevin Lawrence" />
 <figcaption> Schimmel, Tevin Lawrence</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Police are captured a wanted who ran and hid in a horse barn in an attempt to avoid going to jail.Just after noon Sunday, police observed a Cadillac Deville in the 1900 Block of 9th Street in Salina driven by 19-year-old Tevin Schimmel, according to a media release.The car made abrupt movements and turns before pulling into the Pilot parking lot.&nbsp; Schimmel exited the vehicle and was identified by the officer, who was aware of his active warrants for probation violation and interference with law enforcement.Schimmel ran into the business, with the officer following employees inside. The officer observed Schimmel running through the store and out the back.Additional officers arrived and began searching the area, with Schimmel eventually running into a wooded area. Police established a perimeter and officers were assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol.A nearby resident in the 1700 block of North fifth contacted officers, believing someone had entered the resident's detached horse barn.The door of the barn was slightly ajar, and officers and troopers heard movement inside.Announcements were made for Schimmel to come out, and officers entered the barn where they found the suspect was hiding under insulation in the barn and he was taken into custody.He is in jail on requested charges of felony interference&nbsp; and burglary.

Wanted Kansas suspect found hiding in a horse barn

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>

President Joe Biden commuted the sentences on Monday of 37 death row inmates, citing his conscience as a force behind the decision. He also left the death sentences unchanged for three men charged with hate-motivated mass shootings and terrorism.

Biden, who imposed a moratorium on federal executions during his administration, commuted the death sentences to life sentences without the possibility of parole, saying in a statement that he’s dedicated his career “to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system.”

“Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden said.

“But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”

The three men Biden left on death row Monday include Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, sentenced in 2015 of bombing the Boston Marathon in 2013; Dylann Roof, sentenced in 2017 of fatally shooting nine members of&nbsp;Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina; and Robert Bowers, sentenced in 2023 for the deadly shooting in 2018 that killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

The president’s commutations Monday come after he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-commutes-sentences-nearly-1500-people-pardons-39-historic-clemency-action" target="_blank">commuted the sentences</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 12 of 1,500&nbsp;people who were placed in home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic. He also granted pardons for 39 individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes.

Biden received&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/shapiro-conahan-says-biden-commuting-kids-for-cash-judges-sentence-absolutely-wrong/" target="_blank">criticism</a>&nbsp;from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and others for including among the mass commutations a Pennsylvania judge convicted in 2011 of sending children to prison in exchange for millions of dollars in kickbacks from a private jail — a crime that became known in the commonwealth as the “<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/shapiro-conahan-says-biden-commuting-kids-for-cash-judges-sentence-absolutely-wrong/" target="_blank">Cash for Kids</a>” scheme.

Advocates for abolishing the death penalty and some U.S. House Democrats had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-dem-quartet-calls-biden-spare-lives-federal-death-row-inmates" target="_blank">pressured Biden</a>&nbsp;to commute death penalty sentences ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Trump expedited some executions during his first term.

According to the White House, the names of the death row inmates whose sentences were commuted Monday are:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734957421965.png" alt="According to the U.S. Attorney, in 2014, a federal jury in Louisiana decided that Thomas Sanders, 57, should be put to death for the brutal kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Lexis Roberts in the fall of 2010. Sanders drove several days across the country before he murdered the girl in a wooded area in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. Evidence at trial established that Sanders shot Lexis Roberts four times, cut her throat, and left her body in the woods where a hunter found her body. President Biden commuted his sentence-photo Yavapai County, AZ Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>According to the U.S. Attorney, in 2014, a federal jury in Louisiana decided that Thomas Sanders, 57, should be put to death for the brutal kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Lexis Roberts in the fall of 2010. Sanders drove several days across the country before he murdered the girl in a wooded area in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. Evidence at trial established that Sanders shot Lexis Roberts four times, cut her throat, and left her body in the woods where a hunter found her body. President Biden commuted his sentence-photo Yavapai County, AZ Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>President Joe Biden commuted the sentences on Monday of 37 death row inmates, citing his conscience as a force behind the decision. He also left the death sentences unchanged for three men charged with hate-motivated mass shootings and terrorism.Biden, who imposed a moratorium on federal executions during his administration, commuted the death sentences to life sentences without the possibility of parole, saying in a statement that he’s dedicated his career “to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system.”“Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden said.“But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”The three men Biden left on death row Monday include Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, sentenced in 2015 of bombing the Boston Marathon in 2013; Dylann Roof, sentenced in 2017 of fatally shooting nine members of&nbsp;Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina; and Robert Bowers, sentenced in 2023 for the deadly shooting in 2018 that killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.The president’s commutations Monday come after he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-commutes-sentences-nearly-1500-people-pardons-39-historic-clemency-action" target="_blank">commuted the sentences</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 12 of 1,500&nbsp;people who were placed in home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic. He also granted pardons for 39 individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes.Biden received&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/shapiro-conahan-says-biden-commuting-kids-for-cash-judges-sentence-absolutely-wrong/" target="_blank">criticism</a>&nbsp;from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and others for including among the mass commutations a Pennsylvania judge convicted in 2011 of sending children to prison in exchange for millions of dollars in kickbacks from a private jail — a crime that became known in the commonwealth as the “<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/shapiro-conahan-says-biden-commuting-kids-for-cash-judges-sentence-absolutely-wrong/" target="_blank">Cash for Kids</a>” scheme.Advocates for abolishing the death penalty and some U.S. House Democrats had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-dem-quartet-calls-biden-spare-lives-federal-death-row-inmates" target="_blank">pressured Biden</a>&nbsp;to commute death penalty sentences ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Trump expedited some executions during his first term.According to the White House, the names of the death row inmates whose sentences were commuted Monday are:<ul>
 <li>Shannon Wayne Agofsky</li><li>Billie Jerome Allen</li><li>Aquilia Marcivicci Barnette</li><li>Brandon Leon Basham</li><li>Anthony George Battle</li><li>Meier Jason Brown</li><li>Carlos David Caro</li><li>Wesley Paul Coonce, Jr.</li><li>Brandon Michael Council</li><li>Christopher Emory Cramer</li><li>Len Davis</li><li>Joseph Ebron</li><li>Ricky Allen Fackrell</li><li>Edward Leon Fields, Jr.</li><li>Chadrick Evan Fulks</li><li>Marvin Charles Gabrion, II</li><li>Edgar Baltazar Garcia</li><li>Thomas Morocco Hager</li><li>Charles Michael Hall</li><li>Norris G. Holder</li><li>Richard Allen Jackson</li><li>Jurijus Kadamovas</li><li>Daryl Lawrence</li><li>Iouri Mikhel</li><li>Ronald Mikos</li><li>James H. Roane, Jr.</li><li>Julius Omar Robinson</li><li>David Anthony Runyon</li><li>Ricardo Sanchez, Jr.</li><li>Thomas Steven Sanders</li><li>Kaboni Savage</li><li>Mark Isaac Snarr</li><li>Rejon Taylor</li><li>Richard Tipton</li><li>Jorge Avila Torrez</li><li>Daniel Troya</li><li>Alejandro Enrique Ramirez Umaña</li>
 </ul>