SHAWNEE COUNTY — Authorities are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Topeka.

Just before&nbsp;7 a.m. Wednesday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire at 1305 SW Western Avenue in Topeka, according to spokesperson Rosie Nichols. Firefighters found smoke coming from the home and fire in the basement. Crews were able to extinguish the fire and no occupants were located in the house. No injuries have been reported.

Working smoke detectors were not located in the house where the fire originated.&nbsp; Authorities have not released a damage estimate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721846734905.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — Authorities are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Topeka.Just before&nbsp;7 a.m. Wednesday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire at 1305 SW Western Avenue in Topeka, according to spokesperson Rosie Nichols. Firefighters found smoke coming from the home and fire in the basement. Crews were able to extinguish the fire and no occupants were located in the house. No injuries have been reported.Working smoke detectors were not located in the house where the fire originated.&nbsp; Authorities have not released a damage estimate.

Cause of fire in basement of Kan. home under investigation

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Recruit Deputy for alleged domestic battery.

On Tuesday, Haysville&nbsp; Police arrested 22-year-old Brandon Fox and he was booked into jail on a requested charge of Domestic Battery and Assault, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.

&nbsp;Fox has been employed by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office since February 2024 as a detention deputy. On July 22nd, 2024 Fox began the Sheriff’s Office Commissioned Academy.&nbsp; &nbsp;He is currently suspended from duty, pending the outcome of the criminal case and an internal investigation, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He bonded out of jail approximately 30 minutes after he was booked into jail, according to online records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721852285346.png" alt="Fox photo Sedgwick County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Fox photo Sedgwick County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Recruit Deputy for alleged domestic battery.On Tuesday, Haysville&nbsp; Police arrested 22-year-old Brandon Fox and he was booked into jail on a requested charge of Domestic Battery and Assault, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.&nbsp;Fox has been employed by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office since February 2024 as a detention deputy. On July 22nd, 2024 Fox began the Sheriff’s Office Commissioned Academy.&nbsp; &nbsp;He is currently suspended from duty, pending the outcome of the criminal case and an internal investigation, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He bonded out of jail approximately 30 minutes after he was booked into jail, according to online records.

22-year-old Kan. recruit deputy arrested for alleged domestic assault 

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">drop his bid</a>&nbsp;for reelection and throw his support behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-campaign-trump-indiana-sorority-031e3afa51f9ed42e0acd979e80019a8">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>.

Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,” Biden used his first public address since his announcement Sunday that he was stepping aside to deliver an implicit repudiation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlotte-north-carolina-harris-7c7e6e405fecc8927a63763c76f2db1e">former President Donald Trump</a>. He did not directly call out Trump, whom he has called an existential threat to democracy. The 10-minute address also gave Biden a chance to try to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-legacy-oval-office-address-harris-0f92ccfe6f948770b760e983869fa989">shape how history will remember</a>&nbsp;his one and only term in office.

“Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy,” Biden said, in a somber coda to his 50 years spent in public office. “And that includes personal ambition.”

It was a moment for the history books — a U.S. president reflecting before the nation on why he was taking the rare step of voluntarily handing off power. It hasn’t been done since 1968, when Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek reelection in the heat of the Vietnam War.

“I revere this office," Biden said. "But I love my country more.”

Trump, just an hour earlier at a campaign rally, revived his baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Biden. His refusal to concede inspired the Capitol insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, which Biden called “the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.”

Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-final-days-of-decision-end-campaign-f891f5a42a70cb616289e874d79eb103">skirted the political reality</a>&nbsp;that brought him to that point: His abysmal performance in a debate against Trump nearly a month ago, where he spoke haltingly, appeared ashen and failed to rebut his predecessor’s attacks, sparked a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-panic-performance-democrats-debate-trump-cnn-fe6546f2c9762e80e6067ba10abedea8">crisis of confidence</a>&nbsp;from Democrats. Lawmakers and ordinary voters questioned not just whether he was capable of beating Trump in November, but also whether, at 81, he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-age-election-debate-trump-7c366fda83a697265d9ecc77e8a32fd1">still fit</a>&nbsp;for the high-pressure job.

Biden, who said he believed his record was deserving of another term in office, tried to outlast the skepticism and quell the concerns with interviews and tepid rallies, but the pressure to end his campaign only mounted from the party’s political elites and from ordinary voters.

“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,” Biden said, saying he wanted to make room for “fresh voices, yes, younger voices.”

He added, “That is the best way to unite our nation.”

It was a belated fulfillment of his 2020 pledge to be a bridge to a new generation of leaders — and a bow to the drumbeat of calls from within his party to step aside.

Biden’s address was carried live by the major broadcast and cable news networks. He spooled out an weighty to-do list for his last six months in office, pledging to remain focused on being president until his term expires at noon on Jan. 20, 2025. He said he would work to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, fight to boost government support to cure cancer, address climate change and push for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-supreme-court-biden-9c1a40b8f989bfa31a08eb3890abb1a7">Supreme Court reform.</a>

The president sought to use the address to outline the stakes in the election, which both Biden and Harris have framed as a choice between freedom and chaos, but he tried to steer clear of overt campaigning from his official office.

“The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule,” Biden said. “The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America — lies in your hands.”

Biden was also making the case for his legacy of sweeping domestic legislation and the renewal of alliances abroad. But the way history will remember his time in office and his historic decision to step aside is intertwined with Harris’ electoral result in November, particularly as the vice president runs tightly on the achievements of the Biden administration.

His advisers say he intends to hold campaign events and fundraisers benefiting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/advertising-presidential-campaign-kamala-harris-trump-aab73a0d9593afebd734c8f708632926">Harris</a>, whom Biden praised as “tough” and “capable," albeit at a far slower pace than if he had remained on the ballot himself.

Harris advisers will ultimately have to decide how to deploy the president, whose popularity sagged as voters in both parties questioned his fitness for office.

Biden, aides say, knows that if Harris loses, he’ll be criticized for staying in the race too long and not giving her or another Democrat time to effectively mount a campaign against Trump. If she wins, she’ll ensure his policy victories are secured and expanded, and he’ll be remembered for a Washingtonian decision to step aside for the next generation of leadership.

Biden said he’s grateful to have served as president — nowhere else would a kid with a stutter grow up to sit in the Oval Office.

“I’ve given my heart and my soul to our nation," he said. “I’ve been blessed a million times in return.”

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that any question of Biden resigning his office before the election — which would allow Harris to run as an incumbent — was “ridiculous.”

Jean-Pierre said Biden has “no regrets” about his decision to stay in the race as long as he did, or his decision to quit it over the weekend. She said Biden's decision had nothing to do with his health.

Trump, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/harris-biden-trump-election-campaign-updates#00000190-e763-dd62-ab9f-f77fe2450000">watched</a>&nbsp;Biden's remarks from his private jet, posted on his social media platform that the president “was barely understandable, and sooo bad!”

As he spoke inside the Oval Office, Biden was joined off-camera by family members, including his wife, Jill, son Hunter, daughter Ashley and several grandchildren. Hundreds of administration aides held a watch party in the White House and gathered in the Rose Garden afterward to hear Biden thank them for their service. Outside the gates, supporters of Biden gathered holding signs that read “We love Joe,” and a brass band played,

WASHINGTON (AP) — Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday tried to explain in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and to throw his support behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-campaign-trump-indiana-sorority-031e3afa51f9ed42e0acd979e80019a8">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>.

The address offered the public their first chance to hear directly from Biden his rationale for dropping out of the 2024 after weeks of insisting he believed himself to be the best candidate to take on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlotte-north-carolina-harris-7c7e6e405fecc8927a63763c76f2db1e">former President Donald Trump</a>, whom he has called an existential threat to the nation's democracy. It also gave Biden a chance to try to shape how history views his one and only term in office.

“The defense of democracy is more important than any title," Biden said. “Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. And that includes personal ambition.”

Said Biden, “I revere this office, but I love my country more.”

Biden's candidacy faced a crisis of confidence from Democrats after his abysmal debate against Trump nearly a month ago, where he spoke haltingly, appeared ashen and failed to rebut his predecessor's attacks. It sparked a mutiny within his party over not just whether he was capable of beating Trump in November, but also whether at 81, he was still fit for the high-pressure job.

Biden tried to outlast the skepticism and quell the concerns with interviews and tepid rallies, but the pressure to step aside only mounted from the party's political elites and from ordinary voters.

On Sunday afternoon, while isolating at his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, home with COVID-19, Biden finally bowed in a letter posted to his account on X announcing his decision to leave the race, followed up later by an endorsement of Harris.

“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation," Biden said, saying he wanted to make room for “fresh voices, yes, younger voices."

He added, "That is the best way to unite our nation.”

Biden's address was being carried by the major broadcast and cable news networks. He pledge to remain focused on being president until his term expires at noon on Jan. 20, 2025, saying he would work to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, fight to boost government support to cure cancer, and call for Supreme Court reform.

The president was hoping to use the address to outline the stakes in the election, which both Biden and Harris have framed as a choice between freedom and chaos, but he tried to steer clear of overt campaigning from his official office and never mentioned Trump by name.

“The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule," Biden said. "The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America — lies in your hands."

Biden was also looking to make the case for his legacy of sweeping domestic legislation and the renewal of alliances abroad. The way history will remember his time in office and his historic decision to step aside is intertwined with Harris’ electoral result in November, particularly as the vice president runs tightly on the achievements of the Biden administration.

His advisers say he intends to hold campaign events and fundraisers benefiting Harris, albeit at a far slower pace than if he had remained on the ballot himself.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that any question of Biden resigning his office — which would allow Harris to run as an incumbent — was “ridiculous.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday will explain in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and to throw his support behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-campaign-trump-indiana-sorority-031e3afa51f9ed42e0acd979e80019a8">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>.

The address will offer the public their first chance to hear directly from Biden his rationale for dropping out of the 2024 after weeks of insisting he believed himself to be the best candidate to take on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlotte-north-carolina-harris-7c7e6e405fecc8927a63763c76f2db1e">former President Donald Trump</a>, whom he has called an existential threat to the nation's democracy. It will also give Biden a chance to try to shape how history views his one and only term in office.

“The defense of democracy is more important than any title," Biden will say according to excerpts released by the White House. "I draw strength, and find joy, in working FOR the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our Union is not about me. It’s about you. Your families. Your futures. It’s about ‘We the People.’”

On Sunday afternoon while isolating at his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, home with COVID-19, Biden finally bowed in a letter posted to his account on X announcing his decision to leave the race, followed up later by an endorsement of Harris.

“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation," Biden was set to say Wednesday. "That is the best way to unite our nation.”

Biden's address is being carried by the major television news networks. He is set to pledge to remain focused on being president until his term expires at noon on Jan. 20, 2025.

The president was hoping to use the address to outline the stakes in the election, which both Biden and Harris have framed as a choice between freedom and chaos, but was expected to try to steer clear of overt campaigning from his official office or even mentioning Trump by name.

“The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule," Biden was set to say. "The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America — lies in your hands."

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">drop his bid</a>&nbsp;for reelection and throw his support behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-campaign-trump-indiana-sorority-031e3afa51f9ed42e0acd979e80019a8">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>.(click below to watch the address)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/93T8biDlaBc?si=HkDNw-9oDSzeYZ0E" 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>Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,” Biden used his first public address since his announcement Sunday that he was stepping aside to deliver an implicit repudiation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlotte-north-carolina-harris-7c7e6e405fecc8927a63763c76f2db1e">former President Donald Trump</a>. He did not directly call out Trump, whom he has called an existential threat to democracy. The 10-minute address also gave Biden a chance to try to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-legacy-oval-office-address-harris-0f92ccfe6f948770b760e983869fa989">shape how history will remember</a>&nbsp;his one and only term in office.“Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy,” Biden said, in a somber coda to his 50 years spent in public office. “And that includes personal ambition.”It was a moment for the history books — a U.S. president reflecting before the nation on why he was taking the rare step of voluntarily handing off power. It hasn’t been done since 1968, when Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek reelection in the heat of the Vietnam War.“I revere this office," Biden said. "But I love my country more.”Trump, just an hour earlier at a campaign rally, revived his baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Biden. His refusal to concede inspired the Capitol insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, which Biden called “the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.”Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-final-days-of-decision-end-campaign-f891f5a42a70cb616289e874d79eb103">skirted the political reality</a>&nbsp;that brought him to that point: His abysmal performance in a debate against Trump nearly a month ago, where he spoke haltingly, appeared ashen and failed to rebut his predecessor’s attacks, sparked a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-panic-performance-democrats-debate-trump-cnn-fe6546f2c9762e80e6067ba10abedea8">crisis of confidence</a>&nbsp;from Democrats. Lawmakers and ordinary voters questioned not just whether he was capable of beating Trump in November, but also whether, at 81, he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-age-election-debate-trump-7c366fda83a697265d9ecc77e8a32fd1">still fit</a>&nbsp;for the high-pressure job.Biden, who said he believed his record was deserving of another term in office, tried to outlast the skepticism and quell the concerns with interviews and tepid rallies, but the pressure to end his campaign only mounted from the party’s political elites and from ordinary voters.“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,” Biden said, saying he wanted to make room for “fresh voices, yes, younger voices.”He added, “That is the best way to unite our nation.”It was a belated fulfillment of his 2020 pledge to be a bridge to a new generation of leaders — and a bow to the drumbeat of calls from within his party to step aside.Biden’s address was carried live by the major broadcast and cable news networks. He spooled out an weighty to-do list for his last six months in office, pledging to remain focused on being president until his term expires at noon on Jan. 20, 2025. He said he would work to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, fight to boost government support to cure cancer, address climate change and push for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-supreme-court-biden-9c1a40b8f989bfa31a08eb3890abb1a7">Supreme Court reform.</a>The president sought to use the address to outline the stakes in the election, which both Biden and Harris have framed as a choice between freedom and chaos, but he tried to steer clear of overt campaigning from his official office.“The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule,” Biden said. “The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America — lies in your hands.”Biden was also making the case for his legacy of sweeping domestic legislation and the renewal of alliances abroad. But the way history will remember his time in office and his historic decision to step aside is intertwined with Harris’ electoral result in November, particularly as the vice president runs tightly on the achievements of the Biden administration.His advisers say he intends to hold campaign events and fundraisers benefiting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/advertising-presidential-campaign-kamala-harris-trump-aab73a0d9593afebd734c8f708632926">Harris</a>, whom Biden praised as “tough” and “capable," albeit at a far slower pace than if he had remained on the ballot himself.Harris advisers will ultimately have to decide how to deploy the president, whose popularity sagged as voters in both parties questioned his fitness for office.Biden, aides say, knows that if Harris loses, he’ll be criticized for staying in the race too long and not giving her or another Democrat time to effectively mount a campaign against Trump. If she wins, she’ll ensure his policy victories are secured and expanded, and he’ll be remembered for a Washingtonian decision to step aside for the next generation of leadership.Biden said he’s grateful to have served as president — nowhere else would a kid with a stutter grow up to sit in the Oval Office.“I’ve given my heart and my soul to our nation," he said. “I’ve been blessed a million times in return.”Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that any question of Biden resigning his office before the election — which would allow Harris to run as an incumbent — was “ridiculous.”Jean-Pierre said Biden has “no regrets” about his decision to stay in the race as long as he did, or his decision to quit it over the weekend. She said Biden's decision had nothing to do with his health.Trump, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/harris-biden-trump-election-campaign-updates#00000190-e763-dd62-ab9f-f77fe2450000">watched</a>&nbsp;Biden's remarks from his private jet, posted on his social media platform that the president “was barely understandable, and sooo bad!”As he spoke inside the Oval Office, Biden was joined off-camera by family members, including his wife, Jill, son Hunter, daughter Ashley and several grandchildren. Hundreds of administration aides held a watch party in the White House and gathered in the Rose Garden afterward to hear Biden thank them for their service. Outside the gates, supporters of Biden gathered holding signs that read “We love Joe,” and a brass band played,-------------WASHINGTON (AP) — Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday tried to explain in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and to throw his support behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-campaign-trump-indiana-sorority-031e3afa51f9ed42e0acd979e80019a8">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>.The address offered the public their first chance to hear directly from Biden his rationale for dropping out of the 2024 after weeks of insisting he believed himself to be the best candidate to take on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlotte-north-carolina-harris-7c7e6e405fecc8927a63763c76f2db1e">former President Donald Trump</a>, whom he has called an existential threat to the nation's democracy. It also gave Biden a chance to try to shape how history views his one and only term in office.“The defense of democracy is more important than any title," Biden said. “Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. And that includes personal ambition.”Said Biden, “I revere this office, but I love my country more.”Biden's candidacy faced a crisis of confidence from Democrats after his abysmal debate against Trump nearly a month ago, where he spoke haltingly, appeared ashen and failed to rebut his predecessor's attacks. It sparked a mutiny within his party over not just whether he was capable of beating Trump in November, but also whether at 81, he was still fit for the high-pressure job.Biden tried to outlast the skepticism and quell the concerns with interviews and tepid rallies, but the pressure to step aside only mounted from the party's political elites and from ordinary voters.On Sunday afternoon, while isolating at his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, home with COVID-19, Biden finally bowed in a letter posted to his account on X announcing his decision to leave the race, followed up later by an endorsement of Harris.“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation," Biden said, saying he wanted to make room for “fresh voices, yes, younger voices."He added, "That is the best way to unite our nation.”Biden's address was being carried by the major broadcast and cable news networks. He pledge to remain focused on being president until his term expires at noon on Jan. 20, 2025, saying he would work to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, fight to boost government support to cure cancer, and call for Supreme Court reform.The president was hoping to use the address to outline the stakes in the election, which both Biden and Harris have framed as a choice between freedom and chaos, but he tried to steer clear of overt campaigning from his official office and never mentioned Trump by name.“The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule," Biden said. "The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America — lies in your hands."Biden was also looking to make the case for his legacy of sweeping domestic legislation and the renewal of alliances abroad. The way history will remember his time in office and his historic decision to step aside is intertwined with Harris’ electoral result in November, particularly as the vice president runs tightly on the achievements of the Biden administration.His advisers say he intends to hold campaign events and fundraisers benefiting Harris, albeit at a far slower pace than if he had remained on the ballot himself.Harris advisers will ultimately have to decide how to deploy the president, whose popularity sagged as voters in both parties questioned his fitness for office.Biden, aides say, knows that if Harris loses, he’ll be criticized for staying in the race too long and not giving her or another Democrat time to effectively mount a campaign against Trump. If she wins, she’ll ensure his policy victories are secured and expanded, and he’ll be remembered for a Washingtonian decision to step aside for the next generation of leadership.Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that any question of Biden resigning his office — which would allow Harris to run as an incumbent — was “ridiculous.”Jean-Pierre said Biden has “no regrets” about his decision to stay in the race as long as he did, or his decision to quit it over the weekend. She said Biden's decision had nothing to do with his health.----------------WASHINGTON (AP) — Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday will explain in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and to throw his support behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-campaign-trump-indiana-sorority-031e3afa51f9ed42e0acd979e80019a8">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>.The address will offer the public their first chance to hear directly from Biden his rationale for dropping out of the 2024 after weeks of insisting he believed himself to be the best candidate to take on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlotte-north-carolina-harris-7c7e6e405fecc8927a63763c76f2db1e">former President Donald Trump</a>, whom he has called an existential threat to the nation's democracy. It will also give Biden a chance to try to shape how history views his one and only term in office.“The defense of democracy is more important than any title," Biden will say according to excerpts released by the White House. "I draw strength, and find joy, in working FOR the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our Union is not about me. It’s about you. Your families. Your futures. It’s about ‘We the People.’”Biden's candidacy faced a crisis of confidence from Democrats after his abysmal debate against Trump nearly a month ago, where he spoke haltingly, appeared ashen and failed to rebut his predecessor's attacks. It sparked a mutiny within his party over not just whether he was capable of beating Trump in November, but also whether at 81, he was still fit for the high-pressure job.Biden tried to outlast the skepticism and quell the concerns with interviews and tepid rallies, but the pressure to step aside only mounted from the party's political elites and from ordinary voters.On Sunday afternoon while isolating at his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, home with COVID-19, Biden finally bowed in a letter posted to his account on X announcing his decision to leave the race, followed up later by an endorsement of Harris.“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation," Biden was set to say Wednesday. "That is the best way to unite our nation.”Biden's address is being carried by the major television news networks. He is set to pledge to remain focused on being president until his term expires at noon on Jan. 20, 2025.The president was hoping to use the address to outline the stakes in the election, which both Biden and Harris have framed as a choice between freedom and chaos, but was expected to try to steer clear of overt campaigning from his official office or even mentioning Trump by name.“The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule," Biden was set to say. "The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America — lies in your hands."Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that any question of Biden resigning his office — which would allow Harris to run as an incumbent — was “ridiculous.”Jean-Pierre said Biden has “no regrets” about his decision to stay in the race as long as he did, or his decision to quit it over the weekend. She said Biden's decision had nothing to do with his health.

🎥History: President Biden explains why he did not seek reelection

PAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas man facing child sex crime accusations made his first court appearance in the case Wednesday.

Avian Rincones, 34 of Great Bend, Kansas, appeared in custody in the Pawnee County District Court before Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell on a Criminal Complaint alleging three felony sex crimes, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

The defendant voluntarily turned himself into the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department earlier in the day after his legal guardian was advised charges had been filed and a no-bond arrest warrant issued.

Rincones is charged with two counts of Aggravated Criminal Oral Sodomy of a Child under the age of 14 and one count of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child under the age of 14, according to McNett.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Larned Police Department regarding an alleged incident at the Larned City Pool on July 11, 2024. 

Rincones was interviewed at the scene, but no arrest was made at the time due to concerns with his mental capacity. Agencies assisting with the investigation included the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Child Advocacy Center.

On Wednesday,&nbsp;Judge Cowell advised Rincones&nbsp;of the charges, the possible penalties if convicted and his constitutional rights, including his right to counsel. Based on the age of the alleged victim, if convicted Rincones faces a mandatory 25 years to life sentence under the Jessica’s Law sentencing provisions. He would also be subject to registration as a sex offender under the Kansas Offender Registration Act. Rincones' legal guardians advised the Court they intend to retain private counsel.

A Preliminary Hearing has been scheduled for August 7, 2024. Following the First Appearance, the Court released the defendant to his legal guardians on a supervised bond subject to standard reporting and house arrest conditions.

PAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged sex assault at public pool in Larned.&nbsp;

According to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett, on July 11, police were called to the Larned City Pool, 100 West First Street, to investigate an alleged sexual assault of a minor at the pool facility.

They advised the adult suspect was interviewed at the scene, but no arrest was made at the time due to concerns with the suspect’s mental capacity.

The crime scene was processed, and staff interviewed. A formal forensic interview will be scheduled with the victim to be performed by the Child Advocacy Center. At this time no formal charging requests have been submitted to the Pawnee County Attorney’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721857728987.png" alt="Rincones-photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Rincones-photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas man facing child sex crime accusations made his first court appearance in the case Wednesday.Avian Rincones, 34 of Great Bend, Kansas, appeared in custody in the Pawnee County District Court before Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell on a Criminal Complaint alleging three felony sex crimes, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.The defendant voluntarily turned himself into the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department earlier in the day after his legal guardian was advised charges had been filed and a no-bond arrest warrant issued.Rincones is charged with two counts of Aggravated Criminal Oral Sodomy of a Child under the age of 14 and one count of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child under the age of 14, according to McNett.The charges stem from an investigation by the Larned Police Department regarding an alleged incident at the Larned City Pool on July 11, 2024. Rincones was interviewed at the scene, but no arrest was made at the time due to concerns with his mental capacity. Agencies assisting with the investigation included the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Child Advocacy Center.On Wednesday,&nbsp;Judge Cowell advised Rincones&nbsp;of the charges, the possible penalties if convicted and his constitutional rights, including his right to counsel. Based on the age of the alleged victim, if convicted Rincones faces a mandatory 25 years to life sentence under the Jessica’s Law sentencing provisions. He would also be subject to registration as a sex offender under the Kansas Offender Registration Act. Rincones' legal guardians advised the Court they intend to retain private counsel.A Preliminary Hearing has been scheduled for August 7, 2024. Following the First Appearance, the Court released the defendant to his legal guardians on a supervised bond subject to standard reporting and house arrest conditions.----------------PAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged sex assault at public pool in Larned.&nbsp;According to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett, on July 11, police were called to the Larned City Pool, 100 West First Street, to investigate an alleged sexual assault of a minor at the pool facility.They advised the adult suspect was interviewed at the scene, but no arrest was made at the time due to concerns with the suspect’s mental capacity.The crime scene was processed, and staff interviewed. A formal forensic interview will be scheduled with the victim to be performed by the Child Advocacy Center. At this time no formal charging requests have been submitted to the Pawnee County Attorney’s Office.

Kan. man charged with sex assault of child at public pool

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just before 10:30p.m.&nbsp;July 20, a Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a Chevy Impala for a traffic infraction near 118th and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The traffic stop resulted in the search of the vehicle.  The driver, Lisa Marie Rodvelt, 42, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of distribute methamphetamine more than 3.5 grams, possession of amphetamines, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, use of a communication facility; in the commission of felony drug violation, no drug tax stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721681507618.png" alt="Rodvelt-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Rodvelt-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just before 10:30p.m.&nbsp;July 20, a Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a Chevy Impala for a traffic infraction near 118th and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The traffic stop resulted in the search of the vehicle. The driver, Lisa Marie Rodvelt, 42, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of distribute methamphetamine more than 3.5 grams, possession of amphetamines, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, use of a communication facility; in the commission of felony drug violation, no drug tax stamp.

Kansas woman accused of selling methamphetamine

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities have a person of interest in custody after a 9-hour standoff at a Kansas City home.

Just after 9:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at a home in the the 500 block of Booth Street, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

At the scene, officers spoke the the caller in front of the house who warned there was a woman inside the home who had been shot. In addition, there was possibly someone still inside the home who had been involved in the shooting.

First responders could see a woman on the floor inside the home.

Police went inside and removed the woman, while also surrounding the home to prevent any suspect from an escape. EMS transported the shooting victim identified as 54-year-old DL O’Hara to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

KCPD issued an Operation 100 to bring additional tactical officers to the scene.&nbsp; Just after 6a.m. Wednesday, nine hours after the initial call, police took a person of interest into custody. There were not other injuries. Police have not released the name of the suspect or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721842028142.png" alt="photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities have a person of interest in custody after a 9-hour standoff at a Kansas City home.Just after 9:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at a home in the the 500 block of Booth Street, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.At the scene, officers spoke the the caller in front of the house who warned there was a woman inside the home who had been shot. In addition, there was possibly someone still inside the home who had been involved in the shooting.First responders could see a woman on the floor inside the home.Police went inside and removed the woman, while also surrounding the home to prevent any suspect from an escape. EMS transported the shooting victim identified as 54-year-old DL O’Hara to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.KCPD issued an Operation 100 to bring additional tactical officers to the scene.&nbsp; Just after 6a.m. Wednesday, nine hours after the initial call, police took a person of interest into custody. There were not other injuries. Police have not released the name of the suspect or additional details.

Woman's death led to 9-hour standoff at Kanas City home

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Bob Marcum, who served as athletic director at Kansas, South Carolina, UMass and Marshall, has died a few days after suffering a stroke. He was 87.

<a href="https://x.com/GamecocksOnline/status/1816175884854005994" target="_blank">South Carolina</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/UMassAthletics/status/1816127013746532581" target="_blank">UMass</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/HerdZone/status/1816137793514426602/photo/1" target="_blank">Marshall’s</a>&nbsp;athletic departments all announced Marcum’s death Wednesday, a day after he died. Arkansas coach John Calipari, who worked under Marcum at Massachusetts, posted on social media Sunday that Marcum was hospitalized after complications from a stroke.

C<a href="https://x.com/CoachCalArk/status/1815901203827429579" target="_blank">alipari posted about Marcum’s death Tuesday,</a>&nbsp;saying the two spent time together in the hospital.

“We talked about our time together at UMass, he as AD and me his coach,” Calipari wrote. “We laughed cried and prayed.”

Marcum served as athletic at Kansas from 1978-82 before moving on to South Carolina for six years. He led the UMass athletic department from 1993-2002 before going to Marshall lead that program until he retired in 2009.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721849645489.jpeg" alt="Bob Marcum laughs during a press conference, May 21, 2002 in Huntington, W.Va. Marcum, who served as athletic director at Kansas, South Carolina, UMass and Marshall, has died. He was 87. South Carolina, UMass and Marshall all posted about Marcum’s death Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Tim Johnson/The Herald-Dispatch via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Bob Marcum laughs during a press conference, May 21, 2002 in Huntington, W.Va. Marcum, who served as athletic director at Kansas, South Carolina, UMass and Marshall, has died. He was 87. South Carolina, UMass and Marshall all posted about Marcum’s death Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Tim Johnson/The Herald-Dispatch via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Bob Marcum, who served as athletic director at Kansas, South Carolina, UMass and Marshall, has died a few days after suffering a stroke. He was 87.<a href="https://x.com/GamecocksOnline/status/1816175884854005994" target="_blank">South Carolina</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/UMassAthletics/status/1816127013746532581" target="_blank">UMass</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/HerdZone/status/1816137793514426602/photo/1" target="_blank">Marshall’s</a>&nbsp;athletic departments all announced Marcum’s death Wednesday, a day after he died. Arkansas coach John Calipari, who worked under Marcum at Massachusetts, posted on social media Sunday that Marcum was hospitalized after complications from a stroke.C<a href="https://x.com/CoachCalArk/status/1815901203827429579" target="_blank">alipari posted about Marcum’s death Tuesday,</a>&nbsp;saying the two spent time together in the hospital.“We talked about our time together at UMass, he as AD and me his coach,” Calipari wrote. “We laughed cried and prayed.”Marcum served as athletic at Kansas from 1978-82 before moving on to South Carolina for six years. He led the UMass athletic department from 1993-2002 before going to Marshall lead that program until he retired in 2009.

Bob Marcum, former KU AD, has died at age 87

WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel's ongoing war in Gaza and condemned American protesters in a scathing speech to Congress Wednesday that triggered boycotts by many top Democratic lawmakers and drew thousands of protesters to the Capitol to condemn the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">war in Gaza</a>&nbsp;and the humanitarian crisis it has created.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?536521-1/israeli-prime-minister-delivers-speech-joint-meeting-congress">Click here to watch a replay</a>&nbsp;of the speech

Nine months into the war in Gaza, Netanyahu vowed to press on with the war until “total victory.” He also sought bolster U.S. support for his country’s fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed armed groups, and bitterly condemned widespread opposition in the United States to the war.

“America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together something really simple happens: we win, they lose.” said Netanyahu, who wore a yellow pin expressing solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Netanyahu’s speech quickly took on a darker tone as he defended his country but also derided those protesting the war, gesturing to demonstrations happening as he spoke on the streets outside the U.S. Capitol, as “useful idiots” for Israel’s adversaries.

He drew shouts of applause from many in Congress, but also silence from leading Democrats who declined to stand and cheer.

Freed former hostages of Hamas and families of hostages listened in the House chamber as Netanyahu spoke. Lawmakers of both parties rose repeatedly to applaud the Israeli leader, while security escorted out protesters in the gallery who rose to display T-shirts with slogans demanding that leaders close a deal for a cease-fire and the release of all hostages.

A weeping Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, held a sign in the House chamber that says “war criminal.”

Netanyahu accused the numerous protesters of the war in the United States of standing with the militants who he said killed babies in Hamas' attack on Oct. 7. “These protesters that stand with them, they should be ashamed of themselves," he said.

With criticism against him rising in Israel, too, Netanyahu also aims to portray himself as a statesman respected by Israel’s most important ally. That task is complicated by Americans’ increasingly divided views on Israel and the war, which has emerged as a key issue in the U.S. presidential election.

Tall steel barriers ringed the Capitol Wednesday, and police deployed pepper spray as thousands of protesters rallied near the Capitol, denouncing Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and calling for a cease-fire.

Netanyahu received a warm welcome from House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican lawmakers who arranged his speech in the House chamber. “Today and every day, America must stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel,” Johnson said shortly before Netanyahu began speaking. He received a bipartisan standing ovation.

Noa Argamani, an Israeli hostage who was freed in a rescue mission in Gaza, was in attendance.

The appearance makes Netanyahu the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of Congress four times, surpassing Winston Churchill.

More than 50 Democrats and political independent Bernie Sanders boycotted Netanyahu's speech. The most notable absence was right behind him:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-campaign-trump-indiana-sorority-031e3afa51f9ed42e0acd979e80019a8">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>, who serves as president of the Senate, said a long-scheduled trip kept her from attending.

The next Democrat in line, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, declined to attend, so Sen. Ben Cardin, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, served as “senator pro tempore” in place of her.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat who has family in the West Bank, sat in the House chamber with a keffiyeh, which she often wears, wrapped over her shoulders. Tlaib was censured last year for her strident criticism of Israel’s conduct in the war.

Republicans said the absence of Harris,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-presidential-candidate-democrats-delegates-0b6a4d20bd7ec079b4bf8869f1f892b4">the new Democratic front-runner for the presidency</a>, was a sign of disloyalty to an ally. Former President Donald Trump's running mate, JD Vance, was also a no-show for Netanyahu's speech, citing the need to campaign.

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and Harris on Thursday, and with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.

Many in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-netanyahu-gaza-war-protest-congress-ea95b56f33258d749d0dae7f50b875fd">swelling crowds of demonstrators</a>&nbsp;protested the killings of more than 39,000 Palestinians in the war. Others condemned Netanyahu's inability to free Israeli and American&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-october-7-hostages-war-gaza-408f1d2b48539b6ed408e21c8cc65526">hostages taken by Hamas and other militants</a>&nbsp;during the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war.

Support for Israel has long carried political weight in U.S. politics. But the usual warm welcome for Netanyahu's visits has been diminished this time around by political turmoil, including the assassination attempt against Trump and Biden’s decision not to seek another term.

Many Democrats who support Israel but have been critical of Netanyahu see the address as a Republican effort to cast itself as the party most loyal.

Many Democrats attended the address despite their criticism of Netanyahu, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/schumer-netanyahu-israel-palestinians-elections-1ebf21e4c9c0f6f42478bb26e1db7a9b">called for new elections in Israel</a>&nbsp;in a March floor speech. Schumer, of New York, said then that Netanyahu has “lost his way” and is an obstacle to peace in the region amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-palestinians-hunger-famine-42e404ec4ef3e2836a82a8d2b2315fd1">the humanitarian crisis in Gaza</a>.

About 60 lawmakers met Wednesday with relatives of those taken hostage by Hamas, and they expressed anger toward Netanyahu. “Because by coming here, he risks making himself the issue, turning the humanitarian issue of the hostages into a political one,” Maya Roman, who had several family members taken hostage, told the lawmakers.

The United States is Israel's most important ally, arms supplier and source of military aid. Netanyahu's visit is his first abroad since the war started, and comes under the shadow of arrest warrants sought against him by the International Criminal Court over alleged Israel war crimes against Palestinians. The United States does not recognize the ICC.

The Biden administration says it wants to see Netanyahu focus his visit on helping it complete a deal for a cease-fire and hostage-release. Growing numbers of Israelis accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war in order to avoid a likely fall from power whenever the conflict ends.

Netanyahu has said his aims for the U.S. visit are to press for freeing hostages held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza, to build support for continuing Israel's battle against the group, and to argue for continuing to confront Hezbollah in Lebanon and other Iranian-allied groups in the region.

Some Democrats are wary about Netanyahu since he used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f7fee00f20c84c259af1571f978fe759">a 2015 joint address to Congress</a>&nbsp;to denounce then-President Barack Obama's pending nuclear deal with Iran.

Netanyahu used an appearance early Wednesday to focus on Iran, its nuclear program and its network of armed allies. Iran is “behind the entire axis of terror” that threatens the U.S. and Israel, he said, speaking at a memorial for former Sen. Joe Lieberman.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to bolster U.S. support for his country's fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed armed groups in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/netanyahu-congress-biden-israel-hamas-gaza-6d8deabff2701273ea77bf634ba1949b">speech to Congress</a>&nbsp;Wednesday that sparked boycotts by some top Democrats and drew thousands of protesters to the Capitol to condemn the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">war in Gaza</a>&nbsp;and the humanitarian crisis it has created.

With criticism against him rising in Israel, too, Netanyahu also wants to portray himself as a statesman respected by Israel’s most important ally. That task is complicated by Americans’ increasingly divided views on Israel and the war, which has emerged as a key issue in the U.S. presidential election.

Tall steel barriers ringed the Capitol Wednesday, and security officers deployed on foot, bicycle and with dogs around the building and in hallways inside. Thousands of protesters rallied near the Capitol ahead of the Netanyahu's speech, denouncing him as a “war criminal” and calling for a cease-fire. Police tussled with demonstrators seeking to block the prime minister's route.

Netanyahu received a warm welcome from House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican lawmakers who arranged his speech in the House chamber. “Today and every day, America must stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel,” Johnson said.

The appearance will make him the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of Congress four times, surpassing Winston Churchill.

Some leading Democrats and political independent Bernie Sanders plan to boycott Netanyahu's speech. The most notable absence will be right behind him:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-campaign-trump-indiana-sorority-031e3afa51f9ed42e0acd979e80019a8">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>, who serves as president of the Senate, said a long-scheduled trip will keep her away.

The next Democrat in line, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, is declining to attend, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would be meeting with families of Israeli victims of Hamas instead.

Republicans said the absence of Harris,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-presidential-candidate-democrats-delegates-0b6a4d20bd7ec079b4bf8869f1f892b4">the new Democratic front-runner for the presidency</a>, was a sign of disloyalty to an ally. Former President Donald Trump's running mate, JD Vance, said he would also be a no-show for Netanyahu's speech, citing the need to campaign.

M<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-netanyahu-gaza-war-protest-congress-ea95b56f33258d749d0dae7f50b875fd">any in swelling crowds of demonstrators</a>&nbsp;outside the Capitol were protesting the killings of more than 39,000 Palestinians in the war. Others condemned Netanyahu's inability to free Israeli and American&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-october-7-hostages-war-gaza-408f1d2b48539b6ed408e21c8cc65526">hostages taken by Hamas and other militants</a>&nbsp;during the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war.

Speaker Johnson warned of a “zero-tolerance policy” for any signs of disturbances in the Capitol building. He arranged the address, an honor that marks both countries’ historically strong bonds and the political weight that support for Israel has long carried in U.S. politics.

But the usual warm welcome for Netanyahu's visits has been diminished this time by political turmoil here, including the assassination attempt against Trump and Biden’s decision not to seek another term.

“I don’t know all the motivations for Speaker Johnson initiating the invitation but clearly he wanted to throw a political lifeline to Netanyahu, whose popularity is very low in Israel right now,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who also plans to boycott the speech, said Tuesday.

Many Democrats plan to attend the address despite their criticism of Netanyahu, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/schumer-netanyahu-israel-palestinians-elections-1ebf21e4c9c0f6f42478bb26e1db7a9b">called for new elections in Israel</a>&nbsp;in a March floor speech. Schumer, of New York, said then that Netanyahu has “lost his way” and is an obstacle to peace in the region amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-palestinians-hunger-famine-42e404ec4ef3e2836a82a8d2b2315fd1">the humanitarian crisis in Gaza</a>.

About 60 lawmakers met Wednesday with relatives of those taken hostage by Hamas.

“The hostage family forum back home urged Netanyahu not to come here and give this speech now at a time when a deal is so close,” Maya Roman, who had several family members taken hostage, told the lawmakers. “Because by coming here, he risks making himself the issue, turning the humanitarian issue of the hostages into a political one.”

Netanyahu says his aims for the U.S. visit are to press for freeing hostages held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza, to build support for continuing Israel's battle against the group, and to argue for continuing to confront Hezbollah in Lebanon and other Iranian-allied groups in the region. The U.S., France and others are seeking to calm border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, fearing a larger war.

Some Democrats are wary about Netanyahu, who used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f7fee00f20c84c259af1571f978fe759">a 2015 joint address to Congress</a>&nbsp;to denounce then-President Barack Obama's pending nuclear deal with Iran.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that Iran's nuclear program — which it says is for civilian purposes — was now one to two weeks away from having enough enriched fuel for a nuclear bomb. Blinken said there was no sign Iran had decided to take the final steps to build a bomb.

Speaking at a security conference in Colorado, Blinken blamed the Trump administration for pulling out of a deal aimed at containing Iran's nuclear program.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/netanyahu-congress-biden-israel-hamas-gaza-6d8deabff2701273ea77bf634ba1949b">speaks before Congress</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday in hopes of bolstering U.S. support for continuing Israel’s offensives against Hamas and other adversaries. But boycotts of his appearance by some Democratic lawmakers and crowds of protesters outside are highlighting how his hard-line government's conduct of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/israel-hamas-war-israel-government-gaza-strip-funerals-and-memorial-services-dcd17db26f0043728203a8aba50d45d7">the devastating war in Gaza</a>&nbsp;is opening fissures in longstanding American support for his country.

Tall steel barriers ringed entrances to the Capitol complex Wednesday, and security officers deployed by the score on foot, bicycle and with dogs. Overnight, hundreds of protesters organized by a Jewish group staged a sit-in at a congressional office building, crying, “Not in our name.”

Inside the Capitol, Netanyahu is assured a warm welcome from Republican lawmakers who arranged his speech in the House chamber, an appearance making him the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of Congress four times, surpassing Winston Churchill.

Some leading Democrats and political independent Bernie Sanders plan to boycott Netanyahu's appearance. But the most notable absence will be behind him:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-campaign-trump-indiana-sorority-031e3afa51f9ed42e0acd979e80019a8">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>, who serves as president of the Senate and traditionally would sit behind whatever dignitary is speaking, says a long-scheduled trip will keep her away. The next Democrat in line, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, is declining to attend. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would be meeting with families of Israeli victims of Hamas instead.

Republicans targeted the absence of Harris,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-presidential-candidate-democrats-delegates-0b6a4d20bd7ec079b4bf8869f1f892b4">the new Democratic front-runner for the presidency</a>, as a sign of disloyalty to an ally. But former President Donald Trump's running mate, JD Vance, said campaigning would also make him a no-show for the Israeli leader's speech.

Outside the Capitol,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-netanyahu-gaza-war-protest-congress-ea95b56f33258d749d0dae7f50b875fd">large protests</a>&nbsp;are expected over the deaths of more than 39,000 Palestinians and over Netanyahu's inability to free Israeli and American&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-october-7-hostages-war-gaza-408f1d2b48539b6ed408e21c8cc65526">hostages taken by Hamas and other militants</a>&nbsp;during the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war.

In anticipation, House Speaker Mike Johnson warned of a “zero-tolerance policy” for any signs of disturbances in the Capitol building. “It is our tradition to acknowledge every guest speaker’s right to free expression even if we disagree with their viewpoint,” the Louisiana Republican wrote to members Tuesday.

Johnson arranged the address, an honor that marks both the two countries’ historically warm bonds and the political weight that support for Israel has long carried in U.S. politics. But the attention for the visit has been diminished some by American political turmoil of recent weeks, including the assassination attempt against Trump and President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek another term.

Netanyahu hopes to project the image of a tough, respected statesman for an increasingly critical domestic audience back home in Israel. That may be difficult given the wide division among Americans over Netanyahu’s conduct of the war.

Many Democrats who support Israel but have been critical of Netanyahu see the address as a Republican effort to cast itself as the party most loyal to Israel and to provide the prime minister with a much-needed political reprieve.

“I don’t know all the motivations for Speaker Johnson initiating the invitation but clearly he wanted to throw a political lifeline to Netanyahu whose popularity is very low in Israel right now,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, among the dozens of Democrats set to boycott, said Tuesday.

Still, many Democrats plan to attend the address despite their criticism of Netanyahu, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/schumer-netanyahu-israel-palestinians-elections-1ebf21e4c9c0f6f42478bb26e1db7a9b">called for new elections in Israel</a>&nbsp;in a March floor speech. Schumer, of New York, said then that Netanyahu has “lost his way” and is an obstacle to peace in the region amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-palestinians-hunger-famine-42e404ec4ef3e2836a82a8d2b2315fd1">the humanitarian crisis in Gaza</a>.

Netanyahu also is to meet with Biden and Harris on Thursday, and Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.

Netanyahu in his speech also may address a new China-brokered deal between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah to form a government together. The agreement was an attempt to resolve a rivalry that could make it even harder for Palestinians to secure a role governing Gaza whenever the war ends. Israel immediately denounced the pact, and State Department spokesman Matthew Miller called Hamas a terror group that should have no role in governing Palestinians.

Some Democrats are wary about Netanyahu, who used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f7fee00f20c84c259af1571f978fe759">a 2015 joint address to Congress</a>&nbsp;to denounce then-President Barack Obama's pending nuclear deal with Iran. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said he does not expect Wednesday's speech to be a repeat of 2015's.

As the prime minister speaks, multiple protests are planned in and around the Capitol. The largest is set for Wednesday morning, with organizers planning to march around the Capitol&nbsp;<a href="https://www.answercoalition.org/arrest_netanyahu">demanding Netanyahu’s arrest</a>&nbsp;on war crimes charges. Relatives of Israeli hostages are planning a vigil on the National Mall.

Associated Press writers Stephen Groves and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

🎥 Highlights of Israeli Prime Minister's fiery speech to Congress

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating after an 11-month-old girl was found in the canal in Wichita located a man wanted in connection with the case and have him in custody.

Just after 11a.m. Wednesday morning, <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=320252">34-year-old Vincent Perez </a>was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=320252"> requested charges of</a> endangering a child, aggravated battery and a parole violation, according to online jail records.&nbsp; Police have not reported the relationship between Perez and the baby.

Just after 1p.m. Tueday, police were dispatched to conduct a welfare check in the vicinity of Interstate 135 and Pawnee in Wichita after receiving a report of a child in the canal, according to Officer Kristopher Gupilan.

Officers, with the assistance of the Wichita Fire Department, located the child within the canal. She was safely extracted from the canal and transported to a local hospital for precautionary medical evaluation and later placed into police protective custody, according to Gupilan.&nbsp;

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding how the child ended up in the canal is continues.

Police believed Perez had information pertinent to the investigation. On Tuesday night, police asked the public for assistance in locating him for questioning. He is now in jail.

Perez has previous convictions for theft, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, criminal possession of a weapon and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721779759758.png" alt="&nbsp;Police believe Vincent James Perez may have information pertinent to the investigation involving the child in the canal." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Police believe Vincent James Perez may have information pertinent to the investigation involving the child in the canal.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating after an 11-month-old girl was found in the canal in Wichita located a man wanted in connection with the case and have him in custody.Just after 11a.m. Wednesday morning, <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=320252">34-year-old Vincent Perez </a>was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=320252"> requested charges of</a> endangering a child, aggravated battery and a parole violation, according to online jail records.&nbsp; Police have not reported the relationship between Perez and the baby.Just after 1p.m. Tueday, police were dispatched to conduct a welfare check in the vicinity of Interstate 135 and Pawnee in Wichita after receiving a report of a child in the canal, according to Officer Kristopher Gupilan.Officers, with the assistance of the Wichita Fire Department, located the child within the canal. She was safely extracted from the canal and transported to a local hospital for precautionary medical evaluation and later placed into police protective custody, according to Gupilan.&nbsp;The investigation into the circumstances surrounding how the child ended up in the canal is continues.Police believed Perez had information pertinent to the investigation. On Tuesday night, police asked the public for assistance in locating him for questioning. He is now in jail.Perez has previous convictions for theft, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, criminal possession of a weapon and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kansas felon is now in jail after baby pulled from canal

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">CAMI KOONS</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

ATCHISON — A grainy sonar image shows what some hope is Amelia Earhart’s lost plane. But it doesn’t show the decades of research, scientific debate and collaboration that has been dedicated to this search through the Pacific Ocean.

Rod Blocksome, a radio communications expert who has been on several expeditions to search for the plane, said folks usually view past explorations as failures –– after all, they didn’t find the plane.&nbsp;

“But we know a lot about where the plane isn’t,” Blocksome said with a laugh.

Blocksome has contributed thousands of hours of research into Earhart’s radio communications and their impact on her navigation, and he is one of many dedicated researchers contributing to the search.&nbsp;

Most explorers are willing to collaborate and share their theories and some of their findings, but they also will share when they think someone has it wrong.

Experts who gathered in Atchison last weekend say it’s all for the collective goal of finding the plane and bringing the Kansas native home to the United States.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum</a>&nbsp;organized several events on Friday and Saturday with notable Earhart explorers, as part of Atchison’s annual Amelia Earhart Festival.

In attendance were Tony and Lloyd Romeo, who earlier this year released a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/29/1227574179/amelia-earharts-lost-plane-howland-island" target="_blank">sonar image&nbsp;</a>of what they believe is Earhart’s lost Lockheed Electra 10-E.&nbsp;

Romeo’s discovery follows the “date line theory,” authored by Liz Smith, who was also in attendance. The two collaborated virtually throughout Romeo’s expedition but met face to face for the first time in Atchison for “<a href="https://ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/event/adventure-amelia/" target="_blank">Adventure Amelia: A Conversation With Explorers In The Search For Amelia</a>.”

The other panelists were Gary LaPook, an expert on celestial navigation, and Blocksome. Tony and Lloyd Romeo consulted these seasoned navigators while on the Deep Sea Vision search last year.&nbsp;

“We know all of these people through various conversations, but to sit in one room … I’m looking forward to it,” Tony Romeo said in a press event Friday morning.&nbsp;

Tony Romeo visited Atchison and the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum two years before and saw Muriel, the only surviving plane of the same model that Earhart took off in almost 90 years ago.

He said seeing the plane in person made the search for Earhart’s plane feel less like a “needle in a haystack” mission.&nbsp;

Beyond the mission to find Earhart’s plane, the Romeo brothers are building Deep Sea Vision, with its marine robotics technology, as a company that can go after some of the other mysteries in the ocean. The crew is also exploring more sustainable methods for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deepseavision.com/service-details#minerals" target="_blank">extracting the mineral nodules</a>&nbsp;on the ocean floor that power important technology elements.&nbsp;

But the search for Earhart’s plane is the dream that started the company.

“We don’t want one bit of the plane to be lost or damaged,” Tony Romeo said. “We certainly don’t want it to be found by a foreign entity. … It’s an American treasure, and we want to bring it home.”&nbsp;

There are many theories about Earhart’s fate — some tend toward conspiracy, but the theorists gathered at the museum believe Earhart ran out of fuel and sank in the Pacific Ocean.&nbsp;

Dorothy Cochrane, a curator for the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, said she agreed to moderate the panel because it included folks looking at Earhart’s disappearance “based on the evidence, the factual evidence of her flight.”&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.datelinetheory.com/p/effects-of-date-line.html" target="_blank">date line theory</a>&nbsp;proposes that as Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, crossed the international date line on their flight from Lae, Papua New Guinea, to Howland Island, they got mixed up on the date. This would have affected key navigational calculations and put them off course by about 60 nautical miles.&nbsp;

LaPook cleared his throat from the stage at Fox Theatre Atchison, where more than 200 people came to attend the panel.

“When you navigate you don’t change your clocks,” LaPook said to argue Smith’s theory.

He explained some of the intricacies of celestial navigation, his knowledge of Noonan’s charts from earlier legs of the trip, and he pulled out the nautical almanac of 1937 to show the charts to Smith, who was seated to his right.&nbsp;

Smith defended her theory, with support from Tony Romeo, who attributes his discovery, in part, to the date line theory.

A question from the audience asked what this means for the Romeo sonar image and its probability of being Earhart’s plane.&nbsp;

“I’ve seen this happen twice on our expeditions,” Blocksome said.

A reading comes up that appears to be an artificially constructed object, but is disappointing when the team goes back for further imaging.&nbsp;

They have all encountered various forms of what Smith called a “plane shaped rock” on the bottom of the Pacific.

Despite their competition and differences of opinion, the panelists all want to see Earhart found and are hopeful for the Romeo brothers’ next venture into the Pacific.&nbsp;

“I think it’s the most interesting target that has shown up,” Blocksome said, and he noted he has future explorations planned. “But we all want to find out first what Tony has got.”

Tony Romeo said Deep Sea Vision plans to return to the site of the sonar image before the end of the year and gather detailed images of what he believes is Earhart’s plane. He hopes to then execute a salvage operation.&nbsp;

“She needs to come home,” Romeo said. “If it turns out that we didn’t find her, we’ll be the biggest cheerleaders for the guys that do.”

Heather Stemp attended the panel on Friday. She traveled to Atchison from Ontario, Canada, to present her newest book, “<a href="https://www.heatherstemp.com/" target="_blank">Beyond Amelia</a>,” as part of the festival.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721821349213.png" alt=" From left, Gary LaPook, Dorothy Cochrane, Liz Smith, Tony Romeo, Lloyd Romeo and Rod Blocksome stand in front of Muriel, a plane identical to the one in which Amelia Earthart and Fred Noonan took their fateful last flight. (Cami Koons for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> From left, Gary LaPook, Dorothy Cochrane, Liz Smith, Tony Romeo, Lloyd Romeo and Rod Blocksome stand in front of Muriel, a plane identical to the one in which Amelia Earthart and Fred Noonan took their fateful last flight. (Cami Koons for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">CAMI KOONS</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>ATCHISON — A grainy sonar image shows what some hope is Amelia Earhart’s lost plane. But it doesn’t show the decades of research, scientific debate and collaboration that has been dedicated to this search through the Pacific Ocean.Rod Blocksome, a radio communications expert who has been on several expeditions to search for the plane, said folks usually view past explorations as failures –– after all, they didn’t find the plane.&nbsp;“But we know a lot about where the plane isn’t,” Blocksome said with a laugh.Blocksome has contributed thousands of hours of research into Earhart’s radio communications and their impact on her navigation, and he is one of many dedicated researchers contributing to the search.&nbsp;Most explorers are willing to collaborate and share their theories and some of their findings, but they also will share when they think someone has it wrong.Experts who gathered in Atchison last weekend say it’s all for the collective goal of finding the plane and bringing the Kansas native home to the United States.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum</a>&nbsp;organized several events on Friday and Saturday with notable Earhart explorers, as part of Atchison’s annual Amelia Earhart Festival.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721821313285.png" alt="The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum has information and exhibits about Earhart’s life, accomplishments and final flight. (Cami Koons for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum has information and exhibits about Earhart’s life, accomplishments and final flight. (Cami Koons for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>In attendance were Tony and Lloyd Romeo, who earlier this year released a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/29/1227574179/amelia-earharts-lost-plane-howland-island" target="_blank">sonar image&nbsp;</a>of what they believe is Earhart’s lost Lockheed Electra 10-E.&nbsp;Romeo’s discovery follows the “date line theory,” authored by Liz Smith, who was also in attendance. The two collaborated virtually throughout Romeo’s expedition but met face to face for the first time in Atchison for “<a href="https://ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/event/adventure-amelia/" target="_blank">Adventure Amelia: A Conversation With Explorers In The Search For Amelia</a>.”The other panelists were Gary LaPook, an expert on celestial navigation, and Blocksome. Tony and Lloyd Romeo consulted these seasoned navigators while on the Deep Sea Vision search last year.&nbsp;“We know all of these people through various conversations, but to sit in one room … I’m looking forward to it,” Tony Romeo said in a press event Friday morning.&nbsp;Tony Romeo visited Atchison and the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum two years before and saw Muriel, the only surviving plane of the same model that Earhart took off in almost 90 years ago.He said seeing the plane in person made the search for Earhart’s plane feel less like a “needle in a haystack” mission.&nbsp;Beyond the mission to find Earhart’s plane, the Romeo brothers are building Deep Sea Vision, with its marine robotics technology, as a company that can go after some of the other mysteries in the ocean. The crew is also exploring more sustainable methods for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deepseavision.com/service-details#minerals" target="_blank">extracting the mineral nodules</a>&nbsp;on the ocean floor that power important technology elements.&nbsp;But the search for Earhart’s plane is the dream that started the company.“We don’t want one bit of the plane to be lost or damaged,” Tony Romeo said. “We certainly don’t want it to be found by a foreign entity. … It’s an American treasure, and we want to bring it home.”&nbsp;There are many theories about Earhart’s fate — some tend toward conspiracy, but the theorists gathered at the museum believe Earhart ran out of fuel and sank in the Pacific Ocean.&nbsp;Dorothy Cochrane, a curator for the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, said she agreed to moderate the panel because it included folks looking at Earhart’s disappearance “based on the evidence, the factual evidence of her flight.”&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.datelinetheory.com/p/effects-of-date-line.html" target="_blank">date line theory</a>&nbsp;proposes that as Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, crossed the international date line on their flight from Lae, Papua New Guinea, to Howland Island, they got mixed up on the date. This would have affected key navigational calculations and put them off course by about 60 nautical miles.&nbsp;LaPook cleared his throat from the stage at Fox Theatre Atchison, where more than 200 people came to attend the panel.“When you navigate you don’t change your clocks,” LaPook said to argue Smith’s theory.He explained some of the intricacies of celestial navigation, his knowledge of Noonan’s charts from earlier legs of the trip, and he pulled out the nautical almanac of 1937 to show the charts to Smith, who was seated to his right.&nbsp;Smith defended her theory, with support from Tony Romeo, who attributes his discovery, in part, to the date line theory.A question from the audience asked what this means for the Romeo sonar image and its probability of being Earhart’s plane.&nbsp;“I’ve seen this happen twice on our expeditions,” Blocksome said.A reading comes up that appears to be an artificially constructed object, but is disappointing when the team goes back for further imaging.&nbsp;They have all encountered various forms of what Smith called a “plane shaped rock” on the bottom of the Pacific.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721821253122.png" alt="Fox Theatre Atchison displays a sonar image of what some believe is Amelia Earhart’s lost plane. On Friday, explorers and Earhart experts gathered for panel discussion as part of the annual festival in Atchison. (Cami Koons for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Fox Theatre Atchison displays a sonar image of what some believe is Amelia Earhart’s lost plane. On Friday, explorers and Earhart experts gathered for panel discussion as part of the annual festival in Atchison. (Cami Koons for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Despite their competition and differences of opinion, the panelists all want to see Earhart found and are hopeful for the Romeo brothers’ next venture into the Pacific.&nbsp;“I think it’s the most interesting target that has shown up,” Blocksome said, and he noted he has future explorations planned. “But we all want to find out first what Tony has got.”Tony Romeo said Deep Sea Vision plans to return to the site of the sonar image before the end of the year and gather detailed images of what he believes is Earhart’s plane. He hopes to then execute a salvage operation.&nbsp;“She needs to come home,” Romeo said. “If it turns out that we didn’t find her, we’ll be the biggest cheerleaders for the guys that do.”Heather Stemp attended the panel on Friday. She traveled to Atchison from Ontario, Canada, to present her newest book, “<a href="https://www.heatherstemp.com/" target="_blank">Beyond Amelia</a>,” as part of the festival.Stemp’s young adult novels follow Earhart’s lasting influence on Ginny Ross, who is based on Stemp’s real-life Aunt Ginny.“When (Earhart) disappeared, she didn’t really disappear, because she inspired so many,” Stemp said.&nbsp;The goal of her novels is to help inspire young readers to find something they are passionate about and stick with it, just like Earhart did.&nbsp;She was excited by the panel on Friday morning and the possibility of solving the mystery. Like the others, Stemp said she believes it would only reinvigorate Earhart’s influence.&nbsp;“If it’s found and ends up in a museum, then it becomes accessible to everyone and we can pique the curiosity of kids who want to follow a dream,” Stemp said.&nbsp;The panelists, who agreed Earhart’s plane should live in the Smithsonian once it is found, believe solving the mystery would allow Earhart’s impressive accomplishments and body of work to step into the limelight.&nbsp;“So much of it is about her disappearance,” Smith said. “It’s so cool Atchison celebrates her birthday and accomplishments.”