<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA &nbsp;AP Health Writer</a>

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-sick-onions-d4a37726f2669016decedcf9f928a9d9">deadly outbreak of E. coli poisoning</a>&nbsp;tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders has expanded, with at least 75 people sick in 13 states, federal health officials said Friday.

Twenty-two people have been hospitalized, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Two people developed a dangerous kidney disease complication, and one person died.

No source of the outbreak has been identified, officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. But investigators have focused on slivered onions used on the burgers, as well as beef patties.

McDonald's officials have said that a California-based produce grower,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-outbreak-e-coli-onions-2bc3fc2d4198d9a5bad52c0028316165">Taylor Farms, supplied yellow onions</a>&nbsp;that have been recalled for possible E. coli contamination. McDonald's pulled the burger from menus in several states on Tuesday when the outbreak was announced.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729871594276.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA &nbsp;AP Health Writer</a>A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-sick-onions-d4a37726f2669016decedcf9f928a9d9">deadly outbreak of E. coli poisoning</a>&nbsp;tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders has expanded, with at least 75 people sick in 13 states, federal health officials said Friday.Twenty-two people have been hospitalized, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Two people developed a dangerous kidney disease complication, and one person died.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729872051879.png" alt="Image McDonalds" />
 <figcaption>Image McDonalds</figcaption>
 </figure>No source of the outbreak has been identified, officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. But investigators have focused on slivered onions used on the burgers, as well as beef patties.McDonald's officials have said that a California-based produce grower,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-outbreak-e-coli-onions-2bc3fc2d4198d9a5bad52c0028316165">Taylor Farms, supplied yellow onions</a>&nbsp;that have been recalled for possible E. coli contamination. McDonald's pulled the burger from menus in several states on Tuesday when the outbreak was announced.

CDC: E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders expands 

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds is recovering from two gunshot wounds after he and another man were fired upon following a visit to a strip club last week.

“Josh Reynolds was a victim of a shooting on Friday in Denver and received treatment for minor injuries,” the Broncos said in a statement to The Associated Press. “Out of respect for the legal process, we will defer further comment on this matter to the authorities.”

Denver&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DenverPolice/status/1849276540808270066/photo/1">police said they have arrested two men</a>&nbsp;— Luis Mendoza, 35, and Burr Charlesworth, 42 — in connection with the shootings, which occurred around 3 a.m. on Oct. 18 along a stretch of Interstate 25 south of downtown.

The men were being held for investigation of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault. Police said they were trying to identify possible additional suspects and “therefore the arrest reports are sealed to protect the integrity of the investigation.”

<a href="https://www.9news.com/article/news/investigations/denver-bronco-josh-reynolds-shot/73-f51bf502-5129-4dd1-bad8-a4495be20909">NBC affiliate KUSA-TV</a>&nbsp;in Denver, the Broncos' flagship station, which first reported the shooting, said Reynolds was shot once in his left arm and once in the back of his head. The station said Reynolds and the other man were followed after leaving a strip club called Shotgun Willies.

Reynolds is on injured reserve with a broken finger and didn't travel with the Broncos to New Orleans for their Thursday night game on Oct. 17. The shooting happened a few hours after the Broncos beat the Saints.

Reynolds has been working out on a side field during the Broncos' practices this week. Players on IR aren't available to speak with reporters.

Reynolds is in his ninth NFL season and his first in Denver after signing a two-year, $9 million contract last offseason. He's played in five games with one start and has caught 12 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown.

He spent the last three seasons with Detroit. He's also played for the Titans and the Rams, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Texas A&amp;M.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729864438289.jpeg" alt="Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (11) celebrates his 9-yard reception for a touchdown with teammate wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)" />
 <figcaption>Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (11) celebrates his 9-yard reception for a touchdown with teammate wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)</figcaption>
 </figure>ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds is recovering from two gunshot wounds after he and another man were fired upon following a visit to a strip club last week.“Josh Reynolds was a victim of a shooting on Friday in Denver and received treatment for minor injuries,” the Broncos said in a statement to The Associated Press. “Out of respect for the legal process, we will defer further comment on this matter to the authorities.”Denver&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DenverPolice/status/1849276540808270066/photo/1">police said they have arrested two men</a>&nbsp;— Luis Mendoza, 35, and Burr Charlesworth, 42 — in connection with the shootings, which occurred around 3 a.m. on Oct. 18 along a stretch of Interstate 25 south of downtown.The men were being held for investigation of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault. Police said they were trying to identify possible additional suspects and “therefore the arrest reports are sealed to protect the integrity of the investigation.”<a href="https://www.9news.com/article/news/investigations/denver-bronco-josh-reynolds-shot/73-f51bf502-5129-4dd1-bad8-a4495be20909">NBC affiliate KUSA-TV</a>&nbsp;in Denver, the Broncos' flagship station, which first reported the shooting, said Reynolds was shot once in his left arm and once in the back of his head. The station said Reynolds and the other man were followed after leaving a strip club called Shotgun Willies.Reynolds is on injured reserve with a broken finger and didn't travel with the Broncos to New Orleans for their Thursday night game on Oct. 17. The shooting happened a few hours after the Broncos beat the Saints.Reynolds has been working out on a side field during the Broncos' practices this week. Players on IR aren't available to speak with reporters.Reynolds is in his ninth NFL season and his first in Denver after signing a two-year, $9 million contract last offseason. He's played in five games with one start and has caught 12 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown.He spent the last three seasons with Detroit. He's also played for the Titans and the Rams, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Texas A&amp;M.

Broncos receiver shot after visit to strip club, 2 suspects in custody

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Turnover on the Kansas Board of Education after the November election could tip the board’s balance of power in favor of conservative members.

Half of the board’s 10 seats are up for election. Republicans currently outnumber Democrats seven to three, but some moderate board members aren’t running for reelection, positioning the board for a potential ideological shake-up. All five races are contested, and the 12 candidates are differentiating themselves on such central issues as parental rights, public school funding and school safety ahead of Nov. 5.

The board is tasked with oversight of the Kansas Department of Education and supervision of public schools, but it has little control over funding, a responsibility of the legislative branch.

Two incumbents are running for reelection, and a pair of three-way races could split conservative votes. Many of this election’s Republican candidates align with the current board’s conservative faction on issues like religion in schools, arming teachers and parental involvement in instructional and functional decisions.

At an Oct. 6 forum in Lawrence, a candidate for the northeastern 4th District, Kris Meyer, criticized the four conservative members on the current board who she believes are “seeking to sow distrust across the state of Kansas in our public schools.”

Those four board members — Danny Zeck, Michelle Dombrosky, Cathy Hopkins and Dennis Hershberger — are not up for reelection until 2026.

In the 2nd District, which represents school districts in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, incumbent Melanie Haas, a Democrat and tech executive, is seeking to retain her seat in a three-way race. She is up against Republican challenger Fred Postlewait and an independent, Kiel Corkran. Haas was first elected in 2020 and is the board’s current chair. She was endorsed by the Kansas National Education Association, the state’s public educator union, and she has defended fully funding public schools.

Postlewait, a retired computer systems manager, was inspired to run for the board to address declining ACT scores, which have been on a downward trend since 2014 but saw a sharp drop in 2020.

“The train is off the tracks,” he wrote on his campaign website.

Corkran does not have a campaign website and didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for an interview.

In the 4th District in northeastern Kansas, Democrat Ann Mah is vacating her seat on the board after eight years. Republican Connie O’Brien, a former teacher and state representative, and Democrat Meyer, a longtime public school educator and principal, are vying for the position.

O’Brien beat out two other Republican hopefuls in the August Primary after Attorney General Kris Kobach gave her his endorsement, urging conservatives to vote for her.

She said in a video posted to YouTube she’ll focus on changes to vocational and technical education, supporting parental rights and supporting teachers.

O’Brien, who did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment, said at the Oct. 6 candidate forum at the Lawrence Public Library she does not support vouchers, adding that private school and home school parents “don’t want government in their face.”

“But you have to wonder why parents march up to the capital every year and ask for those things,” she said.

Meyer told Kansas Reflector she’ll focus on fully funding public education, particularly special education, addressing teacher shortages and retention woes and bolstering student mental health support.

“I want to ensure the state board continues to set clear standards and advocate for policies and funding that guarantee all students receive a quality education,” she said. “This includes pushing back on legislative overreach that could hinder the state board’s constitutional duty.”

In the 6th District, Republican Deena Horst isn’t running for reelection. Democrat Beryl Ann New, a retired director of personnel and equity at Topeka Public Schools, and Republican Bruce Schultz, a retired professor of anatomy and physiology at Kansas State University, are running to represent school districts in north-central and northeastern Kansas, including the cities of Lawrence and Topeka.

If elected, New told Kansas Reflector, her goal is to address poor student performance and safety in schools in her first year.

“I will collaborate with board members to ensure that resources are provided to schools whose students are yet below grade level in reading comprehension, provide funding to ensure that Kansas schools remain safe and secure, and solidly support the full funding of all Kansas schools with 100% of funds going solely to public schools,” New said.

She also said she supports vetted alternative teaching programs to address teacher retention and shortages. At the Oct. 6 forum in Lawrence, New said the principal reason she’s seen teachers leave the profession was inadequate compensation.

Schultz, who didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s inquiries, said at the forum he doesn’t think boosting teacher salaries is the right answer to teacher retention issues and shortages. Instead, he favors an approach that builds persistence in teaching, he said.

“We need to reform the system to allow and promote greater community engagement,” he said.

Schultz has campaigned on prioritizing parent involvement in school decisions, focusing education on math, science, language arts and financial literacy and budget efficiency, according to his campaign website.

In the Wichita-area 8th District, Democratic incumbent Betty Arnold, a former Wichita school board member, seeks to hold on to the position she has occupied since 2021. She’s aiming to reevaluate performance measures and outcomes, increase teacher compensation and prioritize student safety.

“I believe in public education and I will continue to support it,” Arnold said in an email. “As the focus shifts away from the support of public education, it is vital to have an advocate that understands public education is a must if we want to continue with all children having access to an education.”

Arnold’s opponent, Republican Jason Carmichael, did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment. He&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/12/in-kansas-school-board-races-voters-reject-candidates-pushing-culture-war-issues/" target="_blank">lost a bid for a sea</a>t on the Unified School District 259 board in Wichita in 2023. During that election, he ran on the premise that “parents’ rights are the cornerstone” of society,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/politics/2023-10-19/2023-wichita-school-board-where-do-candidates-stand-on-the-issues" target="_blank">KMUW reported</a>. Carmichael believes in eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, supports teachers who are authorized to carry guns in order to combat an active shooter and opposes mandated vaccination requirements, according to a questionnaire he completed for&nbsp;<a href="https://ivoterguide.com/" target="_blank">iVoterGuide</a>, which is affiliated with Christian political nonprofit&nbsp;<a href="https://afaaction.net/mission" target="_blank">AFA Action</a>.

The 10th District in south-central Kansas is contested in a three-way race. Jeffrey Jarman, a Democrat, Debby Potter, a Republican, and Kent Rowe, an independent, are vying for the position being vacated by moderate Republican Jim McNiece.

Jarman, a communications professor at Wichita State University and member of the Maize public school board, said in an email he will advocate for stable funding and against school vouchers if elected.

“While the Legislature appropriates the funds, there is an important role for the board in advocating for stable funding,” he said. “The current funding formula finally meets the minimum required by the state constitution, but it will expire in 2027. I strongly support extending the formula to provide stability to school districts.”

Jarman said he hopes to support local districts by bettering educational achievement outcomes and allocating existing funds to programs that assist the “most vulnerable students,” he said.

“But,” he added, “the board is divided and decisions about how to best support our students unfortunately are politicized.”

Potter, who did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment, homeschooled her own children, and she said she was inspired to run when she considered her grandchildren.

“I want them not to be indoctrinated away from their faith and away from their parents, and I feel like there’s a lot of undermining of the families going on,” she said at a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub1MbGf7FXI" target="_blank">candidate forum</a>&nbsp;hosted by Republican Women United of Sedgwick County ahead of the August primary election.

She defeated another Republican hopeful in the primary. God is her campaign manager, she said at the forum.

Potter considers herself to be “very conservative, ” she wrote in answers for an iVoterGuide questionnaire. She supports arming licensed teachers, eradicating the federal department of education and is a strong advocate for parental involvement in schools.

“While I believe private education provides a better result for less money, the general public has determined that public education is in the public’s best interest,” she wrote. “To that end, my hope will be to involve parents and teachers to take more control (as would be the case in private education) through informing them and encouraging their increased participation with their local school boards.”

Rowe, who didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s inquiries, is a member of the Kansas Green Party, according to his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kentforkansasboe.com/kent-s-platform/" target="_blank">campaign website</a>. His priorities include retaining funding for rural public schools, preventing book bans in high schools and addressing student mental health issues. He is a retired professor of aeronautical science for the U.S. Air Force and the former mayor of Longton, which is in Elk County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729860959890.png" alt="Five seats on the Kansas Board of Education are up for grabs in the 2024 general election, and the outcome will determine whether the board shifts to a conservative majority. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Five seats on the Kansas Board of Education are up for grabs in the 2024 general election, and the outcome will determine whether the board shifts to a conservative majority. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Turnover on the Kansas Board of Education after the November election could tip the board’s balance of power in favor of conservative members.Half of the board’s 10 seats are up for election. Republicans currently outnumber Democrats seven to three, but some moderate board members aren’t running for reelection, positioning the board for a potential ideological shake-up. All five races are contested, and the 12 candidates are differentiating themselves on such central issues as parental rights, public school funding and school safety ahead of Nov. 5.The board is tasked with oversight of the Kansas Department of Education and supervision of public schools, but it has little control over funding, a responsibility of the legislative branch.Two incumbents are running for reelection, and a pair of three-way races could split conservative votes. Many of this election’s Republican candidates align with the current board’s conservative faction on issues like religion in schools, arming teachers and parental involvement in instructional and functional decisions.At an Oct. 6 forum in Lawrence, a candidate for the northeastern 4th District, Kris Meyer, criticized the four conservative members on the current board who she believes are “seeking to sow distrust across the state of Kansas in our public schools.”Those four board members — Danny Zeck, Michelle Dombrosky, Cathy Hopkins and Dennis Hershberger — are not up for reelection until 2026.In the 2nd District, which represents school districts in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, incumbent Melanie Haas, a Democrat and tech executive, is seeking to retain her seat in a three-way race. She is up against Republican challenger Fred Postlewait and an independent, Kiel Corkran. Haas was first elected in 2020 and is the board’s current chair. She was endorsed by the Kansas National Education Association, the state’s public educator union, and she has defended fully funding public schools.Postlewait, a retired computer systems manager, was inspired to run for the board to address declining ACT scores, which have been on a downward trend since 2014 but saw a sharp drop in 2020.“The train is off the tracks,” he wrote on his campaign website.Corkran does not have a campaign website and didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for an interview.In the 4th District in northeastern Kansas, Democrat Ann Mah is vacating her seat on the board after eight years. Republican Connie O’Brien, a former teacher and state representative, and Democrat Meyer, a longtime public school educator and principal, are vying for the position.O’Brien beat out two other Republican hopefuls in the August Primary after Attorney General Kris Kobach gave her his endorsement, urging conservatives to vote for her.She said in a video posted to YouTube she’ll focus on changes to vocational and technical education, supporting parental rights and supporting teachers.O’Brien, who did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment, said at the Oct. 6 candidate forum at the Lawrence Public Library she does not support vouchers, adding that private school and home school parents “don’t want government in their face.”“But you have to wonder why parents march up to the capital every year and ask for those things,” she said.Meyer told Kansas Reflector she’ll focus on fully funding public education, particularly special education, addressing teacher shortages and retention woes and bolstering student mental health support.“I want to ensure the state board continues to set clear standards and advocate for policies and funding that guarantee all students receive a quality education,” she said. “This includes pushing back on legislative overreach that could hinder the state board’s constitutional duty.”In the 6th District, Republican Deena Horst isn’t running for reelection. Democrat Beryl Ann New, a retired director of personnel and equity at Topeka Public Schools, and Republican Bruce Schultz, a retired professor of anatomy and physiology at Kansas State University, are running to represent school districts in north-central and northeastern Kansas, including the cities of Lawrence and Topeka.If elected, New told Kansas Reflector, her goal is to address poor student performance and safety in schools in her first year.“I will collaborate with board members to ensure that resources are provided to schools whose students are yet below grade level in reading comprehension, provide funding to ensure that Kansas schools remain safe and secure, and solidly support the full funding of all Kansas schools with 100% of funds going solely to public schools,” New said.She also said she supports vetted alternative teaching programs to address teacher retention and shortages. At the Oct. 6 forum in Lawrence, New said the principal reason she’s seen teachers leave the profession was inadequate compensation.Schultz, who didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s inquiries, said at the forum he doesn’t think boosting teacher salaries is the right answer to teacher retention issues and shortages. Instead, he favors an approach that builds persistence in teaching, he said.“We need to reform the system to allow and promote greater community engagement,” he said.Schultz has campaigned on prioritizing parent involvement in school decisions, focusing education on math, science, language arts and financial literacy and budget efficiency, according to his campaign website.In the Wichita-area 8th District, Democratic incumbent Betty Arnold, a former Wichita school board member, seeks to hold on to the position she has occupied since 2021. She’s aiming to reevaluate performance measures and outcomes, increase teacher compensation and prioritize student safety.“I believe in public education and I will continue to support it,” Arnold said in an email. “As the focus shifts away from the support of public education, it is vital to have an advocate that understands public education is a must if we want to continue with all children having access to an education.”Arnold’s opponent, Republican Jason Carmichael, did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment. He&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/12/in-kansas-school-board-races-voters-reject-candidates-pushing-culture-war-issues/" target="_blank">lost a bid for a sea</a>t on the Unified School District 259 board in Wichita in 2023. During that election, he ran on the premise that “parents’ rights are the cornerstone” of society,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/politics/2023-10-19/2023-wichita-school-board-where-do-candidates-stand-on-the-issues" target="_blank">KMUW reported</a>. Carmichael believes in eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, supports teachers who are authorized to carry guns in order to combat an active shooter and opposes mandated vaccination requirements, according to a questionnaire he completed for&nbsp;<a href="https://ivoterguide.com/" target="_blank">iVoterGuide</a>, which is affiliated with Christian political nonprofit&nbsp;<a href="https://afaaction.net/mission" target="_blank">AFA Action</a>.The 10th District in south-central Kansas is contested in a three-way race. Jeffrey Jarman, a Democrat, Debby Potter, a Republican, and Kent Rowe, an independent, are vying for the position being vacated by moderate Republican Jim McNiece.Jarman, a communications professor at Wichita State University and member of the Maize public school board, said in an email he will advocate for stable funding and against school vouchers if elected.“While the Legislature appropriates the funds, there is an important role for the board in advocating for stable funding,” he said. “The current funding formula finally meets the minimum required by the state constitution, but it will expire in 2027. I strongly support extending the formula to provide stability to school districts.”Jarman said he hopes to support local districts by bettering educational achievement outcomes and allocating existing funds to programs that assist the “most vulnerable students,” he said.“But,” he added, “the board is divided and decisions about how to best support our students unfortunately are politicized.”Potter, who did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment, homeschooled her own children, and she said she was inspired to run when she considered her grandchildren.“I want them not to be indoctrinated away from their faith and away from their parents, and I feel like there’s a lot of undermining of the families going on,” she said at a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub1MbGf7FXI" target="_blank">candidate forum</a>&nbsp;hosted by Republican Women United of Sedgwick County ahead of the August primary election.She defeated another Republican hopeful in the primary. God is her campaign manager, she said at the forum.Potter considers herself to be “very conservative, ” she wrote in answers for an iVoterGuide questionnaire. She supports arming licensed teachers, eradicating the federal department of education and is a strong advocate for parental involvement in schools.“While I believe private education provides a better result for less money, the general public has determined that public education is in the public’s best interest,” she wrote. “To that end, my hope will be to involve parents and teachers to take more control (as would be the case in private education) through informing them and encouraging their increased participation with their local school boards.”Rowe, who didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s inquiries, is a member of the Kansas Green Party, according to his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kentforkansasboe.com/kent-s-platform/" target="_blank">campaign website</a>. His priorities include retaining funding for rural public schools, preventing book bans in high schools and addressing student mental health issues. He is a retired professor of aeronautical science for the U.S. Air Force and the former mayor of Longton, which is in Elk County.

Kansas Board of Education races could shift power to conservative bloc

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas teen involved in road rage killing of a Kansas grandmother is going to prison.

On Thursday afternoon, Judge Jeff Goering sentenced 20-year-old Daryon Boone to nearly 27-years in prison for the shooting death of 69-year-old Norma Williams last year, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In August, Boone, who was 19 at the time of the killing, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the death of&nbsp; Williams.

Just before 10 p.m. Sept. 1, 2023, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 11200 block of East Central Avenue, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Officers arrived on the scene and located Williams of Wichita unconscious and not breathing with a gunshot wound to her upper body.

Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. Mrs. Williams was transported to a local area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

During the investigation, officers learned that Mrs. Williams was the front passenger of a 2021 Honda Ridgeline traveling northbound on Greenwich, approaching the eastbound lanes of Kellogg Drive.

When they reached the intersection a group of motorcycles riding eastbound ran the red light and one of the motorcycles driven Boone of Wichita struck their vehicle. Following the incident, Boone followed the vehicle, ultimately producing a handgun and shooting into the vehicle, which fatally injured Williams.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/norma-williams?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;online fundraiser for the Williams family.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693697348233.png" alt="Boone photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Boone photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas teen involved in road rage killing of a Kansas grandmother is going to prison.On Thursday afternoon, Judge Jeff Goering sentenced 20-year-old Daryon Boone to nearly 27-years in prison for the shooting death of 69-year-old Norma Williams last year, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693841905672.png" alt="Norma Williams was shot and killed on the way home from a Friday night ballgame in Wichita -photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Norma Williams was shot and killed on the way home from a Friday night ballgame in Wichita -photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>In August, Boone, who was 19 at the time of the killing, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the death of&nbsp; Williams.Just before 10 p.m. Sept. 1, 2023, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 11200 block of East Central Avenue, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Officers arrived on the scene and located Williams of Wichita unconscious and not breathing with a gunshot wound to her upper body.Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. Mrs. Williams was transported to a local area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.During the investigation, officers learned that Mrs. Williams was the front passenger of a 2021 Honda Ridgeline traveling northbound on Greenwich, approaching the eastbound lanes of Kellogg Drive.When they reached the intersection a group of motorcycles riding eastbound ran the red light and one of the motorcycles driven Boone of Wichita struck their vehicle. Following the incident, Boone followed the vehicle, ultimately producing a handgun and shooting into the vehicle, which fatally injured Williams.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/norma-williams?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;online fundraiser for the Williams family.

Prison for man who followed pickup, fired shot that killed Kan. woman

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts returned to Earth on Friday after a nearly eight-month space station stay extended by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing's capsule trouble</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-hurricane-milton-helene-sarasota-tourism-snowbirds-2c6c92ba9dd4a452ceaa7ce2e42c7bd2">Hurricane Milton</a>.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-astronauts-international-space-station-f8d61b5b432f2b6bb7a3084e47c84d7a">SpaceX capsule carrying the crew</a>&nbsp;parachuted before dawn into the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast after undocking from the International Space Station mid-week.

The three Americans and one Russian should have been back two months ago. But their homecoming was stalled by problems with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing’s new Starliner astronaut capsule</a>, which came back empty in September because of safety concerns. Then Hurricane Milton interfered, followed by another two weeks of high wind and rough seas.

SpaceX launched the four — NASA's Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps, and Russia's Alexander Grebenkin — in March. Barratt, the only space veteran going into the mission, acknowledged the support teams back home that had “to replan, retool and kind of redo everything right along with us ... and helped us to roll with all those punches.”

Their replacements are the two Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose own mission went from eight days to eight months, and two astronauts launched by SpaceX four weeks ago. Those four will remain up there until February.

The space station is now back to its normal crew size of seven — four Americans and three Russians — after months of overflow.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts returned to Earth on Friday after a nearly eight-month space station stay extended by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing's capsule trouble</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-hurricane-milton-helene-sarasota-tourism-snowbirds-2c6c92ba9dd4a452ceaa7ce2e42c7bd2">Hurricane Milton</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Dragon splashes down off the coast of Florida with the Crew-8 astronauts after spending 235 days on-orbit and completing SpaceX’s 13th human spaceflight mission <a href="https://t.co/LR6uTLWX2F">pic.twitter.com/LR6uTLWX2F</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1849746723184193836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-astronauts-international-space-station-f8d61b5b432f2b6bb7a3084e47c84d7a">SpaceX capsule carrying the crew</a>&nbsp;parachuted before dawn into the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast after undocking from the International Space Station mid-week.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth, <a href="https://twitter.com/dominickmatthew?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dominickmatthew</a>, Mike, <a href="https://twitter.com/Astro_Jeanette?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Astro_Jeanette</a>, and Sasha! <a href="https://t.co/3fhqlQ3btP">pic.twitter.com/3fhqlQ3btP</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1849715442069405758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The three Americans and one Russian should have been back two months ago. But their homecoming was stalled by problems with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing’s new Starliner astronaut capsule</a>, which came back empty in September because of safety concerns. Then Hurricane Milton interfered, followed by another two weeks of high wind and rough seas.SpaceX launched the four — NASA's Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps, and Russia's Alexander Grebenkin — in March. Barratt, the only space veteran going into the mission, acknowledged the support teams back home that had “to replan, retool and kind of redo everything right along with us ... and helped us to roll with all those punches.”Their replacements are the two Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose own mission went from eight days to eight months, and two astronauts launched by SpaceX four weeks ago. Those four will remain up there until February.The space station is now back to its normal crew size of seven — four Americans and three Russians — after months of overflow.

4 astronauts return to Earth after delayed by capsule trouble and Hurricane

PHILLIPS COUNTY —A man is in custody after allegedly firing a gun near the middle school in Phillipsburg.

Just before 8a.m. Thursday, the Phillips County Sheriff's Office received a call that there was an individual shooting a gun south of the middle school in Phillipsburg, according to a social media report from the sheriff.

A deputy who was patrolling school zones in Phillipsburg arrived shortly.  The Deputy began shouting orders and then the individual dropped both weapons and laid them on the ground.  The suspect,&nbsp;identified as 26-year-old Morgan William Thieben, who lives in the 500 block of 7th street in an apartment. 

 From eyewitness statements it has been concluded that he fired two shots into the air with a 9mm Pistol, but also had an AR Rifle on his person as well, according to the sheriff's office.

Thieben was then taken into custody on requested charges of Criminal Threat, Aggravated Assault and Unlawful Discharge of a firearm within city limits.

He had one full magazine for the pistol and the rifle magazine and chamber were empty.  A search warrant was done on the suspect’s apartment.  During the search only a single 9mm round was found in the apartment.  There was no evidence leading to a motive or agenda. 

Thieben is currently incarcerated in the Phillips County Jail where he is being mentally screened.  There were multiple people in the area who helped get the kids to safety at the nearby school and others who attempted to control the situation.

  Sheriff Kyle Pinkerton said, “We should all be proud of how our community reacted, it was quick, and everyone prioritized the safety of our children, and also to the Deputies that responded and ran directly to the threat and ended it." 

PHILLIPS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating gunfire near the middle school in Phillipsburg.

Just before 8a.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies responded to a report of shots fired in the 500 block of 7th street, according to a social media report from the Phillips County Sheriff's office.

The shots fired were not believed to be directed at the nearby school, according to the sheriff's office.&nbsp; Phillipsburg Middle School is located at&nbsp;647 7th Street.

The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Morgan William Thieben, according to online jail records is in custody. He is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal threat; cause terror, evacuation or disruption. There were no injuries reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729786283582.png" alt="Thieben photo Phillips County" />
 <figcaption>Thieben photo Phillips County</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILLIPS COUNTY —A man is in custody after allegedly firing a gun near the middle school in Phillipsburg.Just before 8a.m. Thursday, the Phillips County Sheriff's Office received a call that there was an individual shooting a gun south of the middle school in Phillipsburg, according to a social media report from the sheriff.A deputy who was patrolling school zones in Phillipsburg arrived shortly. The Deputy began shouting orders and then the individual dropped both weapons and laid them on the ground. The suspect,&nbsp;identified as 26-year-old Morgan William Thieben, who lives in the 500 block of 7th street in an apartment. From eyewitness statements it has been concluded that he fired two shots into the air with a 9mm Pistol, but also had an AR Rifle on his person as well, according to the sheriff's office.Thieben was then taken into custody on requested charges of Criminal Threat, Aggravated Assault and Unlawful Discharge of a firearm within city limits.He had one full magazine for the pistol and the rifle magazine and chamber were empty. A search warrant was done on the suspect’s apartment. During the search only a single 9mm round was found in the apartment. There was no evidence leading to a motive or agenda. Thieben is currently incarcerated in the Phillips County Jail where he is being mentally screened. There were multiple people in the area who helped get the kids to safety at the nearby school and others who attempted to control the situation. Sheriff Kyle Pinkerton said, “We should all be proud of how our community reacted, it was quick, and everyone prioritized the safety of our children, and also to the Deputies that responded and ran directly to the threat and ended it." ----------PHILLIPS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating gunfire near the middle school in Phillipsburg.Just before 8a.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies responded to a report of shots fired in the 500 block of 7th street, according to a social media report from the Phillips County Sheriff's office.The shots fired were not believed to be directed at the nearby school, according to the sheriff's office.&nbsp; Phillipsburg Middle School is located at&nbsp;647 7th Street.The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Morgan William Thieben, according to online jail records is in custody. He is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal threat; cause terror, evacuation or disruption. There were no injuries reported.

Sheriff: Man who fired shots near Kan. middle school had AR rifle

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City have a suspect in custody.

Just after 5:30a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to the intersection of E 17th and Cambridge in Kansas City on a reported EMS call, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Officers arrived on scene prior to EMS and located a victim later identified as 18-year-old&nbsp;Christopher Avila lying on the sidewalk. He was unresponsive and suffering from unknown bodily trauma. EMS responded shortly after and pronounced Avila deceased.

Officers on scene asked for assistance from homicide detectives due to the death appearing suspicious in nature. Detectives were sent to the scene to investigate further and it was determined this incident would be investigated as a homicide. On Thursday afternoon, police took a juvenile suspect into custody for questioning.&nbsp;

At this time, we do not have any preliminary information leading up to what happened.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City have a suspect in custody.Just after 5:30a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to the intersection of E 17th and Cambridge in Kansas City on a reported EMS call, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Officers arrived on scene prior to EMS and located a victim later identified as 18-year-old&nbsp;Christopher Avila lying on the sidewalk. He was unresponsive and suffering from unknown bodily trauma. EMS responded shortly after and pronounced Avila deceased.Officers on scene asked for assistance from homicide detectives due to the death appearing suspicious in nature. Detectives were sent to the scene to investigate further and it was determined this incident would be investigated as a homicide. On Thursday afternoon, police took a juvenile suspect into custody for questioning.&nbsp;At this time, we do not have any preliminary information leading up to what happened.&nbsp;

Homicide: Police ID teen found dead on Kansas City sidewalk

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — Jack Jones, a Grammy-winning crooner known for “The Love Boat” television show theme song, has died. He was 86.

Jones died Wednesday night at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California, after battling leukemia for more than two years, according to a statement from his manager, Milt Suchin.

Jones began his singing career in the 1950s and in the 1960s won two Grammy Awards for best vocal performance, one on the song “Lollipops And Roses" and one on the song “Wives and Lovers.”

He was nominated for several other Grammys in later years, including for the album "Jack Jones Paints A Tribute To Tony Bennett" in 1999.

In 1980, his “Love Boat” television show theme song rose to No. 37 on the Billboard U.S. Adult Contemporary songs chart. Jones was also a frequent guest on the popular romantic comedy show in which guest stars, ranging from Gene Kelly to Janet Jackson, would come aboard for a cruise and fall in love with one another.

A social media account for “The Ed Sullivan Show,” an American television variety show that aired for decades, posted on X on Thursday that Jones lit up the show with smooth vocals and unforgettable performances.

“His music will forever inspire us,” the post said. “Thank you for the memories, Jack. Rest in peace.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729850482742.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — Jack Jones, a Grammy-winning crooner known for “The Love Boat” television show theme song, has died. He was 86.Jones died Wednesday night at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California, after battling leukemia for more than two years, according to a statement from his manager, Milt Suchin.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My longtime buddy since we went to Unihi. Jonesey was an 18 year old senior and I was a lowly freshman. He has left the earth and I’m so sad. His beautiful voice will linger and linger as long as people need to listen to good music. Happy trails and following seas, dear treasured… <a href="https://t.co/eaGiKySxnI">pic.twitter.com/eaGiKySxnI</a>&mdash; Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) <a href="https://twitter.com/NancySinatra/status/1849633212294746128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Jones began his singing career in the 1950s and in the 1960s won two Grammy Awards for best vocal performance, one on the song “Lollipops And Roses" and one on the song “Wives and Lovers.”He was nominated for several other Grammys in later years, including for the album "Jack Jones Paints A Tribute To Tony Bennett" in 1999.In 1980, his “Love Boat” television show theme song rose to No. 37 on the Billboard U.S. Adult Contemporary songs chart. Jones was also a frequent guest on the popular romantic comedy show in which guest stars, ranging from Gene Kelly to Janet Jackson, would come aboard for a cruise and fall in love with one another.A social media account for “The Ed Sullivan Show,” an American television variety show that aired for decades, posted on X on Thursday that Jones lit up the show with smooth vocals and unforgettable performances.“His music will forever inspire us,” the post said. “Thank you for the memories, Jack. Rest in peace.”

Grammy-winning crooner Jack Jones, singer of 'Love Boat' theme, dies At 86

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — An Ohio man charged with first-degree murder in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/highway-rest-area-nebraska-knife-homicide-6c296ae495ef8255311c7bb7b67a8722">fatal stabbing</a>&nbsp;of a couple at an Interstate 80 rest stop in Nebraska has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

James Thompson Jr., 22, of Elyria, Ohio, entered the plea Tuesday, the Lincoln Journal Star&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/ohio-man-pleads-not-guilty-by-insanity-in-fatal-stabbing-at-grand-island-area-rest/article_080ec042-90b5-11ef-96da-9f6b8267c854.html">reported</a>. Thompson is also charged with attempted murder, attempted robbery, fleeing arrest and a string of weapons counts in the June 19 stabbings of 72-year-old Gary Weaver and his 71-year-old wife, Mary Weaver, both of Eureka, Missouri.

Investigators have said that witnesses reported hearing Thompson demand the keys to a Jeep that was being towed behind the Weavers' RV before he stabbed them both at a rest area near Grand Island. Both were critically injured, and Gary Weaver later died from his injuries at a hospital.

Part of the attack was captured on a trucker's dash cam, investigators say. Police have said Thompson fled the rest area in a car, and a Nebraska State trooper later spotted him exiting I-80 at nearby Wood River. A chase ensued, and investigators say Thompson sped away at speeds of 120 mph before crashing into the Platte River. He was arrested nearby with blood on his shirt and several cuts on his hand, police said.

Thompson's public defender had earlier raised questions about his client's mental health, but Thompson was found competent to stand trial on Oct. 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718822090654.png" alt="Photo Nebraska State Patrol via NTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo Nebraska State Patrol via NTV</figcaption>
 </figure>GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — An Ohio man charged with first-degree murder in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/highway-rest-area-nebraska-knife-homicide-6c296ae495ef8255311c7bb7b67a8722">fatal stabbing</a>&nbsp;of a couple at an Interstate 80 rest stop in Nebraska has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.James Thompson Jr., 22, of Elyria, Ohio, entered the plea Tuesday, the Lincoln Journal Star&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/ohio-man-pleads-not-guilty-by-insanity-in-fatal-stabbing-at-grand-island-area-rest/article_080ec042-90b5-11ef-96da-9f6b8267c854.html">reported</a>. Thompson is also charged with attempted murder, attempted robbery, fleeing arrest and a string of weapons counts in the June 19 stabbings of 72-year-old Gary Weaver and his 71-year-old wife, Mary Weaver, both of Eureka, Missouri.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718978922466.png" alt="Thompson photo Hall Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Thompson photo Hall Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators have said that witnesses reported hearing Thompson demand the keys to a Jeep that was being towed behind the Weavers' RV before he stabbed them both at a rest area near Grand Island. Both were critically injured, and Gary Weaver later died from his injuries at a hospital.Part of the attack was captured on a trucker's dash cam, investigators say. Police have said Thompson fled the rest area in a car, and a Nebraska State trooper later spotted him exiting I-80 at nearby Wood River. A chase ensued, and investigators say Thompson sped away at speeds of 120 mph before crashing into the Platte River. He was arrested nearby with blood on his shirt and several cuts on his hand, police said.Thompson's public defender had earlier raised questions about his client's mental health, but Thompson was found competent to stand trial on Oct. 1.

Man charged in a fatal rest stop stabbing enters plea

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%20and%20DEE-ANN%20DURBIN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA and DEE-ANN DURBIN Associated Press</a>

A California-based produce company was the source of fresh onions linked to a deadly E. coli&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-422c4687cc9218efda03cae73b01f473">food poisoning outbreak</a>&nbsp;at McDonald’s, officials with the restaurant chain said Thursday. Meanwhile, other fast-food restaurants — including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King — pulled onions from some menus.

McDonald’s officials said that Taylor Farms, of Salinas, California, sent onions to one distribution facility, which led the fast-food chain to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-sick-onions-d4a37726f2669016decedcf9f928a9d9">remove Quarter Pounder hamburgers</a>&nbsp;from restaurants in several states. McDonald’s didn’t say which facility it was.

An outbreak tied to the burgers has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states, including a person who died, federal health officials have said. Investigators said they were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/investigation-update-e-coli-o157-2024.html">focused on slivered onions</a>&nbsp;as a potential source of the infections.

U.S. Foods, a major wholesaler to restaurants across the country, said Thursday that Taylor Farms had issued a recall this week for peeled whole and diced yellow onions for potential E. coli contamination. The recalled onions came from a Taylor Farms facility in Colorado, a U.S. Foods spokesperson said. But the wholesaler also noted that it wasn’t a McDonald’s supplier and that its recall didn’t include any products sold at the fast-food chain’s restaurants.

Taylor Farms did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not confirm that the agency is investigating Taylor Farms. A spokesperson said Thursday that the agency is “looking at all sources” of the outbreak.

In the meantime, other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-chipotle-taco-bell-norovirus-e-coli-83f1077981d738b91dbf0c76f7db2883">national restaurant chains</a>&nbsp;temporarily stopped using fresh onions.

“As we continue to monitor the recently reported E. coli outbreak, and out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively removed fresh onions from select Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants,” Yum Brands said in a statement.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum Brands wouldn’t say where onions were removed or whether the company uses the same supplier as McDonald’s. Yum Brands said it will continue to follow guidance from regulators and its suppliers.

Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, said Thursday that 5% of its restaurants use onions distributed by Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility. Burger King restaurants get deliveries of whole, fresh onions and its employees wash, peel and slice them.

Even though it wasn’t contacted by health officials and it had no indications of illness, Restaurant Brands said it asked the restaurants that received onions from the Colorado facility to dispose of them two days ago. The company said it’s restocking with onions from other suppliers.

Chipotle said Thursday it doesn’t source onions from Taylor Farms or us any other ingredients from the Colorado facility.

Onions have been implicated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-boars-head-ecoli-listeria-food-safety-1256564e2ec8baf6a96b27c7102e833e">previous outbreaks</a>. In 2015, Taylor Farms recalled a celery and onion mix used in Costco chicken salads after 19 people were sickened with E. coli. Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-onions-october-2023#:~:text=Additional%20Images-,Product,CDC)%20declares%20the%20outbreak%20over">80 people were sickened and one died</a>&nbsp;in an outbreak of salmonella poisoning tied to bagged diced onions from Gills Onions of Oxnard, California. At least 10 people have been hospitalized in the McDonald’s outbreak, including a child who suffered a severe kidney disease complication as a result of the infection. Illnesses were confirmed between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Victims were infected with E. coli 0157:H7, a type of bacteria that produces a dangerous toxin. It causes about 74,000 infections in the U.S. annually, leading to more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths each year, according to CDC.

A Greeley, Colorado, man is suing McDonald’s after contracting an E. coli infection. In a lawsuit filed this week, Eric Stelly said he ate food from local McDonald’s on Oct. 4 and fell ill two days later. After he sought emergency care, health officials confirmed his infection was part of the outbreak.

Symptoms occur of E. coli poisoning can occur quickly, within a day or two of eating contaminated food. They typically include fever, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea and signs of dehydration — little or no peeing, increased thirst and dizziness. The infection is especially dangerous for children younger than 5, people who are elderly, pregnant or who have weakened immune systems.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%20and%20DEE-ANN%20DURBIN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA and DEE-ANN DURBIN Associated Press</a>A California-based produce company was the source of fresh onions linked to a deadly E. coli&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-422c4687cc9218efda03cae73b01f473">food poisoning outbreak</a>&nbsp;at McDonald’s, officials with the restaurant chain said Thursday. Meanwhile, other fast-food restaurants — including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King — pulled onions from some menus.McDonald’s officials said that Taylor Farms, of Salinas, California, sent onions to one distribution facility, which led the fast-food chain to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-sick-onions-d4a37726f2669016decedcf9f928a9d9">remove Quarter Pounder hamburgers</a>&nbsp;from restaurants in several states. McDonald’s didn’t say which facility it was.An outbreak tied to the burgers has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states, including a person who died, federal health officials have said. Investigators said they were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/investigation-update-e-coli-o157-2024.html">focused on slivered onions</a>&nbsp;as a potential source of the infections.U.S. Foods, a major wholesaler to restaurants across the country, said Thursday that Taylor Farms had issued a recall this week for peeled whole and diced yellow onions for potential E. coli contamination. The recalled onions came from a Taylor Farms facility in Colorado, a U.S. Foods spokesperson said. But the wholesaler also noted that it wasn’t a McDonald’s supplier and that its recall didn’t include any products sold at the fast-food chain’s restaurants.Taylor Farms did not respond to multiple requests for comment.Officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not confirm that the agency is investigating Taylor Farms. A spokesperson said Thursday that the agency is “looking at all sources” of the outbreak.In the meantime, other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-chipotle-taco-bell-norovirus-e-coli-83f1077981d738b91dbf0c76f7db2883">national restaurant chains</a>&nbsp;temporarily stopped using fresh onions.“As we continue to monitor the recently reported E. coli outbreak, and out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively removed fresh onions from select Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants,” Yum Brands said in a statement.Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum Brands wouldn’t say where onions were removed or whether the company uses the same supplier as McDonald’s. Yum Brands said it will continue to follow guidance from regulators and its suppliers.Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, said Thursday that 5% of its restaurants use onions distributed by Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility. Burger King restaurants get deliveries of whole, fresh onions and its employees wash, peel and slice them.Even though it wasn’t contacted by health officials and it had no indications of illness, Restaurant Brands said it asked the restaurants that received onions from the Colorado facility to dispose of them two days ago. The company said it’s restocking with onions from other suppliers.Chipotle said Thursday it doesn’t source onions from Taylor Farms or us any other ingredients from the Colorado facility.Onions have been implicated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-boars-head-ecoli-listeria-food-safety-1256564e2ec8baf6a96b27c7102e833e">previous outbreaks</a>. In 2015, Taylor Farms recalled a celery and onion mix used in Costco chicken salads after 19 people were sickened with E. coli. Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-onions-october-2023#:~:text=Additional%20Images-,Product,CDC)%20declares%20the%20outbreak%20over">80 people were sickened and one died</a>&nbsp;in an outbreak of salmonella poisoning tied to bagged diced onions from Gills Onions of Oxnard, California. At least 10 people have been hospitalized in the McDonald’s outbreak, including a child who suffered a severe kidney disease complication as a result of the infection. Illnesses were confirmed between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Victims were infected with E. coli 0157:H7, a type of bacteria that produces a dangerous toxin. It causes about 74,000 infections in the U.S. annually, leading to more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths each year, according to CDC.A Greeley, Colorado, man is suing McDonald’s after contracting an E. coli infection. In a lawsuit filed this week, Eric Stelly said he ate food from local McDonald’s on Oct. 4 and fell ill two days later. After he sought emergency care, health officials confirmed his infection was part of the outbreak.Symptoms occur of E. coli poisoning can occur quickly, within a day or two of eating contaminated food. They typically include fever, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea and signs of dehydration — little or no peeing, increased thirst and dizziness. The infection is especially dangerous for children younger than 5, people who are elderly, pregnant or who have weakened immune systems.___

More restaurants make changes after E. coli linked to Quarter Pounder

KANSAS CITY —The man charged in connection with the break-in at a Kansas City River Market ice cream shop, which was captured on video, h as a history of committing crime.

John Heckman, 78, faces Burglary in the 2nd Degree, Stealing and Property Damage in the 1st Degree, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

According to court records, Kansas City Police Department officers were dispatched on Oct. 13, to the 400 block of Delaware in the River Market on a reported burglary. Officers saw a broken glass door at one entrance. Video showed an older white male throwing a rock through a window and entering the business. 

He then carries out a business safe. Police detectives obtained video that showed a dark blue Subaru with a license plate. The man in the video loaded the safe into that vehicle. Other video showed distinctive tattoos associated with the defendant. Police, joined by Kansas City, Kan. officers, located the defendant in a Kansas City, Kan., residence. Detectives interviewed the suspect who told them he spent the money on dope and the casinos.

He has a previous burglary conviction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729717963316.png" alt="Heckman from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Heckman from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The man charged in connection with the break-in at a Kansas City River Market ice cream shop, which was captured on video, h as a history of committing crime.John Heckman, 78, faces Burglary in the 2nd Degree, Stealing and Property Damage in the 1st Degree, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.According to court records, Kansas City Police Department officers were dispatched on Oct. 13, to the 400 block of Delaware in the River Market on a reported burglary. Officers saw a broken glass door at one entrance. Video showed an older white male throwing a rock through a window and entering the business. He then carries out a business safe. Police detectives obtained video that showed a dark blue Subaru with a license plate. The man in the video loaded the safe into that vehicle. Other video showed distinctive tattoos associated with the defendant. Police, joined by Kansas City, Kan. officers, located the defendant in a Kansas City, Kan., residence. Detectives interviewed the suspect who told them he spent the money on dope and the casinos.He has a previous burglary conviction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

78-year-old arrested in Kansas for ice cream shop burglary 

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp;several complaints about political signs being stolen, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

"I have been asked if it is illegal.&nbsp; The answers is yes&nbsp; it is illegal and falls under the theft statute.&nbsp; Depending on the number of signs stolen and their value, the theft could be classified as a felony." "Defacing political signs falls under criminal damage to property statue."

According to the sheriff, those reporting the sign thefts have indicated that they will press charges if suspects are caught stealing political signs.

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp;several complaints about political signs being stolen, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant."I have been asked if it is illegal.&nbsp; The answers is yes&nbsp; it is illegal and falls under the theft statute.&nbsp; Depending on the number of signs stolen and their value, the theft could be classified as a felony." "Defacing political signs falls under criminal damage to property statue." According to the sheriff, those reporting the sign thefts have indicated that they will press charges if suspects are caught stealing political signs.

Kan. sheriff investigating theft of political signs

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors will recommend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/menendez-brothers-california-killings-new-evidence-09b07102fa120297b2ba4767238f364d">Erik and Lyle Menendez</a>&nbsp;be resentenced for the 1989 killings of their parents in the family’s Beverly Hills home, providing the brothers with a chance at freedom after 34 years behind bars.

An official with knowledge of the decision who was not authorized to speak on the record ahead of a planned press conference confirmed that Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón would recommend resentencing for the brothers.

They were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors must now seek court approval.

<a href="https://apnews.com/national-celebrity-general-news-dbe3118a457f4abcba69f1e52e34d59e">Lyle Menendez</a>, then 21, and Erik Menendez, then 18, admitted they fatally shot their entertainment executive father, Jose Menendez, and their mother, Kitty Menendez. The brothers said they feared their parents were about to kill them to stop people from finding out that Jose Menendez had sexually abused Erik Menendez for years.

The brothers’ extended family&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/menendez-brothers-california-killings-new-evidence-09b07102fa120297b2ba4767238f364d">has pleaded for their release</a>, saying they deserve to be free after decades behind bars. Several family members have said that in today’s world — which is more aware of the impact of sexual abuse — the brothers would not have been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life.

Multiple members of their extended family, including their aunt Joan Andersen VanderMolen, sat in the first few rows of Thursday's news conference. Joan Andersen VanderMolen was Kitty Menendez’s sister and has publicly supported their release. Mark Geragos, an attorney for the brothers, was also there.

The Menendez brothers were tried twice for their parents’ murders, with the first trial ending in a hung jury.

Prosecutors at the time contended that there was no evidence of molestation, and many details in their story of sexual abuse were not permitted in the second trial. The district attorney’s office also said back then that the brothers were after their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate.

Not all Menendez family members support resentencing. Attorneys for Milton Anderson, the 90-year-old brother of Kitty Menendez, filed a legal brief asking the court to keep the brothers’ original punishment. “They shot their mother, Kitty, reloading to ensure her death,” Anderson’s attorneys said in a statement Thursday. “The evidence remains overwhelmingly clear: the jury’s verdict was just, and the punishment fits the heinous crime.”

The LA district attorney is in the middle of a tough reelection fight against former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman who has blamed Gascón’s progressive reform policies for recent high-profile murders and increased retail crime.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729793922699.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors will recommend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/menendez-brothers-california-killings-new-evidence-09b07102fa120297b2ba4767238f364d">Erik and Lyle Menendez</a>&nbsp;be resentenced for the 1989 killings of their parents in the family’s Beverly Hills home, providing the brothers with a chance at freedom after 34 years behind bars.An official with knowledge of the decision who was not authorized to speak on the record ahead of a planned press conference confirmed that Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón would recommend resentencing for the brothers.They were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors must now seek court approval.<a href="https://apnews.com/national-celebrity-general-news-dbe3118a457f4abcba69f1e52e34d59e">Lyle Menendez</a>, then 21, and Erik Menendez, then 18, admitted they fatally shot their entertainment executive father, Jose Menendez, and their mother, Kitty Menendez. The brothers said they feared their parents were about to kill them to stop people from finding out that Jose Menendez had sexually abused Erik Menendez for years.The brothers’ extended family&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/menendez-brothers-california-killings-new-evidence-09b07102fa120297b2ba4767238f364d">has pleaded for their release</a>, saying they deserve to be free after decades behind bars. Several family members have said that in today’s world — which is more aware of the impact of sexual abuse — the brothers would not have been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life.Multiple members of their extended family, including their aunt Joan Andersen VanderMolen, sat in the first few rows of Thursday's news conference. Joan Andersen VanderMolen was Kitty Menendez’s sister and has publicly supported their release. Mark Geragos, an attorney for the brothers, was also there.The Menendez brothers were tried twice for their parents’ murders, with the first trial ending in a hung jury.Prosecutors at the time contended that there was no evidence of molestation, and many details in their story of sexual abuse were not permitted in the second trial. The district attorney’s office also said back then that the brothers were after their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate.Not all Menendez family members support resentencing. Attorneys for Milton Anderson, the 90-year-old brother of Kitty Menendez, filed a legal brief asking the court to keep the brothers’ original punishment. “They shot their mother, Kitty, reloading to ensure her death,” Anderson’s attorneys said in a statement Thursday. “The evidence remains overwhelmingly clear: the jury’s verdict was just, and the punishment fits the heinous crime.”The LA district attorney is in the middle of a tough reelection fight against former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman who has blamed Gascón’s progressive reform policies for recent high-profile murders and increased retail crime.

Prosecutors want resentencing of brothers for killing their parents

LABETTE COUNTY —Two people were injured in a crash involving a horse and buggy on a Kansas Highway just after 8a.m. Thursday in Labette County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Ford Escape driven by Landin Rayne Knickerbocker, 27,&nbsp;Neodesha, was eastbound on U.S. 400 two miles East of the U.S. 169 Junction.

The SUV rear-ended a&nbsp;Horse and Buggy that was halfway in the outside lane and shoulder.&nbsp;

&nbsp;EMS transported the driver of the buggy&nbsp; 35-year-old Elizabeth&nbsp; Schwartz and her passenger 16-year-old Priscilla Schwartz both of Cherryvale to Labette County Health in&nbsp; Parsons for treatment of serious injuries. Knickerbocker was not injured and properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp; The KHP did not report details on injuries to the horse.

LABETTE COUNTY —Two people were injured in a crash involving a horse and buggy on a Kansas Highway just after 8a.m. Thursday in Labette County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Ford Escape driven by Landin Rayne Knickerbocker, 27,&nbsp;Neodesha, was eastbound on U.S. 400 two miles East of the U.S. 169 Junction.The SUV rear-ended a&nbsp;Horse and Buggy that was halfway in the outside lane and shoulder.&nbsp;&nbsp;EMS transported the driver of the buggy&nbsp; 35-year-old Elizabeth&nbsp; Schwartz and her passenger 16-year-old Priscilla Schwartz both of Cherryvale to Labette County Health in&nbsp; Parsons for treatment of serious injuries. Knickerbocker was not injured and properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp; The KHP did not report details on injuries to the horse.

Kan. woman, teen injured after SUV rear-ends horse and buggy

PAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement from the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office, Larned Police Department, and the United States Marshals Office Fugitive Task Force apprehended an exceptionally dangerous fugitive in the 200 block of East 20th Street in Larned, according to a media release.

The suspect was wanted on felony warrants out of Washington State and federal warrants for parole violations stemming from weapons offenses and robbery.

The suspect was taken into custody after a brief standoff and evaluated by Pawnee County EMS after being struck multiple times by conductive electrical weapons (TASER).

Law enforcement communicated with Larned Elementary School and sent the Pawnee County SRO to the Larned Elementary School for extra precaution.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729795829350.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement from the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office, Larned Police Department, and the United States Marshals Office Fugitive Task Force apprehended an exceptionally dangerous fugitive in the 200 block of East 20th Street in Larned, according to a media release.The suspect was wanted on felony warrants out of Washington State and federal warrants for parole violations stemming from weapons offenses and robbery.The suspect was taken into custody after a brief standoff and evaluated by Pawnee County EMS after being struck multiple times by conductive electrical weapons (TASER).Law enforcement communicated with Larned Elementary School and sent the Pawnee County SRO to the Larned Elementary School for extra precaution.

Suspect wanted in Washington State jailed after standoff in Kansas

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

WASHINGTON — The next U.S. president must steer the nation through crises across the globe, including worsening violence in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to retreat from Ukraine and U.S-China trade relations.

The Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, largely built her career as a prosecutor, but once in Washington she sat on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, a position that comes with access to highly classified national security files.

As vice president she’s represented the U.S. at high-profile international meetings, including the Munich Security Conference and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

The Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, who followed his wealthy father’s path into real estate and ascended to the status of celebrity businessman, has already held the elected position of Commander-in-Chief for four years — though high-ranking officials who served under him&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milley-trump-biden-democracy-military-d2abb76858291c87ae856f91e9556d8e" target="_blank">say</a>&nbsp;he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bolton-excoriates-trump-fresh-introduction-his-memoir-2024-01-30/" target="_blank">should</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2024/03/30/mark-esper-wont-vote-for-trump-wont-say-he-will-vote-for-biden-sot-nr-vpx.cnn" target="_blank">not</a>&nbsp;occupy that seat again.

Trump and Harris’ track records can provide clues on how, if elected, they would handle complex and challenging national and economic security policies.

But overall on the campaign trail, foreign policy “has played a back seat role to domestic politics in the 2024 election,” James M. Lindsay, a senior fellow in U.S. foreign policy for the Council on Foreign Relations, told States Newsroom in an interview.

That’s not unusual, Lindsay said, as presidential year politics generally tend to have a domestic focus.

“This has been more a campaign about personalities than about specific policy prescriptions. It’s safe to say that the two candidates have very different world views,” Lindsay said.

Harris centers relationship building, and promised in her Democratic National Convention acceptance speech to “stand strong” with NATO allies.

In Trump’s convention speech he lamented that the U.S. has “long been taken advantage of” by “so-called allies.”

Observers say the former president leads with a transactional outlook: In other words, nations must pay for access to U.S. markets and security.

“Trump thinks that U.S. support to allies is a bad deal for America, whereas Harris realizes that the United States benefits immensely from them,” Matthew Waxman, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and chair of Columbia Law School’s National Security Law Program, told States Newsroom.

But predicting how a presidential candidate would act on the global stage, if elected, is tricky. Conflicts continue to evolve, and those in top defense and diplomatic jobs are likely to turn over.

“It’s partly because a President Harris or President Trump could face a very different situation in the Middle East or in Ukraine come Inauguration Day, but it’s also because in Washington personnel are policy, people are policy,” Lindsay said.

Here are some of the serious international situations either administration will face:

The deadly Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, launched from the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip, reignited smoldering regional tensions and highlighted the inextricable U.S. role. Hamas militants killed roughly 1,200 in the brutal and unexpected incursion, and took 250 hostages, many of whom still remain in captivity.

President Joe Biden immediately&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47828" target="_blank">surged</a>&nbsp;weapons and security aid to the key U.S. defense partner, and in April Congress approved his request for $8.7 billion more in foreign military financing and missile defense.

Israel’s year-long campaign to completely eliminate Iranian-allied Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip has resulted in a staggering death toll, now over 41,000, according to Gaza health officials.

Hamas’ assault also set in motion attacks from other Iranian-backed militias, opening up a war front between Israel and Hezbollah fighters to the north in Lebanon. And for months, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthis have terrorized commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Biden has faced fierce criticism for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war tactics.

Harris, as early as March,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/04/1234822836/kamala-harris-benny-gantz-gaza-cease-fire-israel-hamas" target="_blank">publicly</a>&nbsp;criticized Israel over the humanitarian “<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us-vp-harris-urges-israeli-government-do-more-boost-aid-into-gaza-2024-03-03/" target="_blank">catastrophe</a>” in Gaza and called for an immediate six-week cease-fire.

Harris, who became the Democratic presidential nominee in mid-summer after Biden dropped his bid, has repeatedly said she defends Israel’s right to defend itself but that “<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/07/25/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-following-meeting-with-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-of-israel/" target="_blank">how it does so matters</a>.”

Protesters could be heard in the distance Monday as Harris planted a memorial tree at the vice president’s residence to mark the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack. Pro-Palestinian activists protesting the death toll in Gaza have marched and rallied throughout the U.S. during the past year.

Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/one-year-oct-7-attack-israel-us-leaders-honor-victims-and-protesters-march" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;reporters that the administration is “not giving up” on negotiating a cease-fire deal and release of hostages, an effort that has so far floundered.

“It’s one of the most important ways we will be able to end this war and bring any type of stability to the region. It’s one of the highest priorities of this administration,” she said.

She has not indicated any slowdown or conditions on assistance to Israel if elected — though she continues to advocate for a two-state solution.

“Trump may give Jerusalem less public chastising and criticism, but I’m not sure the policy differences would be that great either,” Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow and foreign policy research director at the Brookings Institution, told States Newsroom. O’Hanlon recently published an article arguing the Trump and Harris defense strategies would at least “<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-partially-convergent-trump-and-harris-defense-policies/" target="_blank">partially</a>” converge.

Trump maintains that Oct. 7 “would never have happened” had he been in office, and he accuses the Biden administration of inviting the attack because of its “weak” relationship with Iran.

“What is needed more than ever is a return of unwavering American leadership and unquestioned American strength. We were strong, we were powerful … That’s what I intend to deliver as the 47th president of the United States,” he said Monday while in Miami marking one year since the ambush on Israel.

The attack also wrecked any forward progress on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/the-abraham-accords/" target="_blank">Abraham Accords</a>&nbsp;— Trump’s signature Middle East achievement that created full diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. While those established channels remain steady, the Biden administration’s efforts to strike a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia are now at a standstill.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695389171060.png" alt="File photo -President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy&nbsp; and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin- photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo -President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy&nbsp; and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin- photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>WASHINGTON — The next U.S. president must steer the nation through crises across the globe, including worsening violence in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to retreat from Ukraine and U.S-China trade relations.The Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, largely built her career as a prosecutor, but once in Washington she sat on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, a position that comes with access to highly classified national security files.As vice president she’s represented the U.S. at high-profile international meetings, including the Munich Security Conference and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.The Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, who followed his wealthy father’s path into real estate and ascended to the status of celebrity businessman, has already held the elected position of Commander-in-Chief for four years — though high-ranking officials who served under him&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milley-trump-biden-democracy-military-d2abb76858291c87ae856f91e9556d8e" target="_blank">say</a>&nbsp;he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bolton-excoriates-trump-fresh-introduction-his-memoir-2024-01-30/" target="_blank">should</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2024/03/30/mark-esper-wont-vote-for-trump-wont-say-he-will-vote-for-biden-sot-nr-vpx.cnn" target="_blank">not</a>&nbsp;occupy that seat again.Trump and Harris’ track records can provide clues on how, if elected, they would handle complex and challenging national and economic security policies.But overall on the campaign trail, foreign policy “has played a back seat role to domestic politics in the 2024 election,” James M. Lindsay, a senior fellow in U.S. foreign policy for the Council on Foreign Relations, told States Newsroom in an interview.That’s not unusual, Lindsay said, as presidential year politics generally tend to have a domestic focus.“This has been more a campaign about personalities than about specific policy prescriptions. It’s safe to say that the two candidates have very different world views,” Lindsay said.<h2>Relationships with allies</h2>Harris centers relationship building, and promised in her Democratic National Convention acceptance speech to “stand strong” with NATO allies.In Trump’s convention speech he lamented that the U.S. has “long been taken advantage of” by “so-called allies.”Observers say the former president leads with a transactional outlook: In other words, nations must pay for access to U.S. markets and security.“Trump thinks that U.S. support to allies is a bad deal for America, whereas Harris realizes that the United States benefits immensely from them,” Matthew Waxman, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and chair of Columbia Law School’s National Security Law Program, told States Newsroom.But predicting how a presidential candidate would act on the global stage, if elected, is tricky. Conflicts continue to evolve, and those in top defense and diplomatic jobs are likely to turn over.“It’s partly because a President Harris or President Trump could face a very different situation in the Middle East or in Ukraine come Inauguration Day, but it’s also because in Washington personnel are policy, people are policy,” Lindsay said.Here are some of the serious international situations either administration will face:<h2>Middle East</h2>The deadly Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, launched from the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip, reignited smoldering regional tensions and highlighted the inextricable U.S. role. Hamas militants killed roughly 1,200 in the brutal and unexpected incursion, and took 250 hostages, many of whom still remain in captivity.President Joe Biden immediately&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47828" target="_blank">surged</a>&nbsp;weapons and security aid to the key U.S. defense partner, and in April Congress approved his request for $8.7 billion more in foreign military financing and missile defense.Israel’s year-long campaign to completely eliminate Iranian-allied Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip has resulted in a staggering death toll, now over 41,000, according to Gaza health officials.Hamas’ assault also set in motion attacks from other Iranian-backed militias, opening up a war front between Israel and Hezbollah fighters to the north in Lebanon. And for months, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthis have terrorized commercial shipping in the Red Sea.Biden has faced fierce criticism for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war tactics.Harris, as early as March,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/04/1234822836/kamala-harris-benny-gantz-gaza-cease-fire-israel-hamas" target="_blank">publicly</a>&nbsp;criticized Israel over the humanitarian “<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us-vp-harris-urges-israeli-government-do-more-boost-aid-into-gaza-2024-03-03/" target="_blank">catastrophe</a>” in Gaza and called for an immediate six-week cease-fire.Harris, who became the Democratic presidential nominee in mid-summer after Biden dropped his bid, has repeatedly said she defends Israel’s right to defend itself but that “<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/07/25/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-following-meeting-with-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-of-israel/" target="_blank">how it does so matters</a>.”Protesters could be heard in the distance Monday as Harris planted a memorial tree at the vice president’s residence to mark the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack. Pro-Palestinian activists protesting the death toll in Gaza have marched and rallied throughout the U.S. during the past year.Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/one-year-oct-7-attack-israel-us-leaders-honor-victims-and-protesters-march" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;reporters that the administration is “not giving up” on negotiating a cease-fire deal and release of hostages, an effort that has so far floundered.“It’s one of the most important ways we will be able to end this war and bring any type of stability to the region. It’s one of the highest priorities of this administration,” she said.She has not indicated any slowdown or conditions on assistance to Israel if elected — though she continues to advocate for a two-state solution.“Trump may give Jerusalem less public chastising and criticism, but I’m not sure the policy differences would be that great either,” Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow and foreign policy research director at the Brookings Institution, told States Newsroom. O’Hanlon recently published an article arguing the Trump and Harris defense strategies would at least “<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-partially-convergent-trump-and-harris-defense-policies/" target="_blank">partially</a>” converge.Trump maintains that Oct. 7 “would never have happened” had he been in office, and he accuses the Biden administration of inviting the attack because of its “weak” relationship with Iran.“What is needed more than ever is a return of unwavering American leadership and unquestioned American strength. We were strong, we were powerful … That’s what I intend to deliver as the 47th president of the United States,” he said Monday while in Miami marking one year since the ambush on Israel.The attack also wrecked any forward progress on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/the-abraham-accords/" target="_blank">Abraham Accords</a>&nbsp;— Trump’s signature Middle East achievement that created full diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. While those established channels remain steady, the Biden administration’s efforts to strike a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia are now at a standstill.Trump is increasingly selling himself on the campaign trail as the candidate of stability who can quash Iran’s aggression — which is pretty much a “standard approach to campaigning,” Lindsay said.“He is not the first challenger to argue that the incumbent president has been weak.”But Lindsay said, “the important question isn’t whether he was tougher, it’s whether his policies were more effective.”For example, the Iranian-backed so-called “axis of resistance” militias currently upending the Middle East were also operating during Trump’s presidency.“(They) pre-dated his coming into office but it’s not that a Trump administration ended that network of anti-Western, anti-Israeli groups,” Lindsay said. “And during the Trump administration it was the case that Iran both underwrote attacks on American troops and actually launched attacks on American troops.”Trump drew attention last week to an early January 2020 barrage on U.S. troops in Iraq when he again&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-describes-traumatic-brain-injuries-sustained-us-troops-iraq-headache" target="_blank">described</a>&nbsp;the traumatic brain injuries they suffered as “headaches.”U.S. troops&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cfr.org/article/us-troops-middle-east-mapping-military-presence" target="_blank">in Iraq and Syria</a>, already a target, have come under increasing fire from Iran-backed militants, with more than 100&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/drone-strike-risks-dangerous-us-iran-escalation" target="_blank">attacks</a>&nbsp;on U.S. service members since Israel began its post-Oct. 7 offensive. A drone strike in January&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/28/politics/us-troops-drone-attack-jordan/index.html" target="_blank">killed</a>&nbsp;three U.S. soldiers and injured 30 at an outpost in Jordan on the Syrian border. The U.S. retaliated by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/02/02/1228132782/us-biden-iran-drone-response-strike" target="_blank">launching</a>&nbsp;more than 100 precision rockets at 85 of Iran military sites in Iraq and Syria.The U.S. assisted Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3923123/us-assets-in-mediterranean-again-helped-defend-israel-against-iranian-missiles/" target="_blank">twice</a>&nbsp;in 2024 in intercepting rockets fired directly from Iran — once in April following Israel’s bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, and again in September after Israel’s assassination of Iranian-backed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Lebanon.“We’re in the last months of the Biden presidency, and Biden’s own, I think, personal influence here is quite diminished. And you know, I can’t predict what Trump policy really would be. I assume he would be less likely to be trying to restrain the Israelis, but so is the Biden administration. And maybe that is a Biden-Harris policy,” Elliott Abrams, CFR’s senior fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, told reporters on Oct. 2, the day after Iran launched its second direct&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/01/iran-imminent-ballistic-missile-attack-israel-us-warns" target="_blank">attack</a>.<h2>Ukraine and NATO</h2>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with both&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/zelenskyy-washington-meets-us-leaders-beef-support-ukraine" target="_blank">Harris</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/09/27/u-s-government-unveils-charges-against-iranians-who-hacked-into-trump-2024-campaign/" target="_blank">Trump</a>&nbsp;in recent weeks to shore up continued U.S. support for his country’s ongoing war against Russia’s occupation.Harris’ meeting with the Ukrainian leader was her seventh, and she pledged continued aid for the eastern European nation on the principle that Putin would continue marching into Europe if allies relent on Ukraine.Harris supports continued U.S. assistance, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cfr.org/article/how-much-us-aid-going-ukraine" target="_blank">totaled</a>&nbsp;roughly $175 billion since 2022. At the Ukraine peace&nbsp;<a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/06/16/joint-communique-on-a-peace-framework-summit-on-peace-in-ukraine/" target="_blank">summit</a>&nbsp;in Switzerland in June, Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20240723-from-gaza-to-china-where-kamala-harris-stands-on-foreign-policy-issues" target="_blank">pledged</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/jun-15-2024-/vice-president-kamala-harris-announces-over-1-billion-bolster-ukraines-energy-sector-address-humanitarian-needs-and-strengthen-civilian-security" target="_blank">nearly</a>&nbsp;$2 billion, some new and some redirected, to bolster the country’s energy sector and add to humanitarian efforts.The vice president has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/02/19/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-at-the-munich-security-conference/" target="_blank">represented</a>&nbsp;the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/02/18/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-at-the-munich-security-conference-2/" target="_blank">three</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/02/16/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-at-the-munich-security-conference-munich-germany/" target="_blank">times</a>&nbsp;at the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany, where she praised the NATO alliance and said the U.S. commitment to its principles is “ironclad.”When facing Harris on the presidential debate stage in September, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/harris-tears-trump-over-abortion-rights-and-race-tense-presidential-debate" target="_blank">refused</a>&nbsp;to answer whether he wants Ukraine to be victorious over Russia.Trump’s rhetoric and past behavior “spells bad news for Ukraine,” Waxman said.“He is likely to reduce American support for Ukraine and push Ukraine to make concessions to Russia. Overall, Trump’s transactional approach to leader-to-leader diplomacy is likely to benefit Putin,” Waxman continued. “Whereas Harris wants to invest in alliances like NATO, Trump is skeptical of them.”That type of leader-to-leader communication was notoriously highlighted in 2019 when U.S. House lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S4-4-9/ALDE_00000035/" target="_blank">impeached</a>&nbsp;Trump for directly threatening to withhold Ukraine aid if Zelenskyy did not announce an investigation into Biden — Trump’s presidential campaign rival at the time. The Senate acquitted Trump.Like his campaign line on the Israel attack, Trump also repeatedly claims that had he been in office, instead of Biden, Russia would have never launched its February 2022 attack on Ukraine.“The war in Ukraine did not begin in February of ‘22, it began back in 2014,” Lindsay said, referring to Putin’s forced annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.Trump’s own administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/on-the-record-the-u-s-administrations-actions-on-russia/" target="_blank">expanded</a>&nbsp;Obama-era sanctions meant to punish Russia’s actions in Crimea.“Experts can argue about how to dole out criticism across administrations, but clearly the issue of Russian support for a notionally independent insurrection in eastern Ukraine was not solved during the Trump presidency,” Lindsay continued.<h2>China and trade</h2>Foreign trade is a “political hot potato,” and neither Harris nor Trump are offering much clarity for U.S. trading partners around the world, Mary E. Lovely, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told States Newsroom in an interview.Lovely described the Biden-Harris approach as multipronged, in that they’ve instituted policies to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. while also aiming to maintain good trade relationships with partner nations.The tightrope walk becomes even trickier as U.S. policy also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.piie.com/blogs/realtime-economics/2024/while-us-and-china-decouple-eu-and-china-deepen-trade-dependencies" target="_blank">disincentivizes</a>&nbsp;materials and components from China — one of the world’s largest trading nations — in the final products imported from trading partners. Think: components in solar panels and electric vehicles.The Biden administration’s major legislative accomplishments — the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act — provided major subsidies for “reshoring,” or returning to the U.S., clean energy and semiconductor production. But the policies were not without risks to U.S. trading partners.“We had a lot of things (in the legislation), including things that upset the allies — you know, subsidies for American businesses, that they saw potentially as pulling investment out of their economies,” Lovely said.“These are things that the European Union, Japan, Korea were concerned about,” Lovely continued. “So we’ve seen it there — this tension between foreign policy and this idea of economic security.”While Lovely said she worries about how some of the Biden-Harris trade policies might affect competition and the nation’s ability to sign timely trade agreements, she said Trump’s plans are overall “destabilizing.”“The increased use of tariffs is misguided at best,” Lovely said.Trump’s promise to not only increase tariffs on Chinese imports to 60%, but also to slap flat 10% to 20% tariffs on all imports across the board is akin to “starting a trade war with the entire world.”“We’re not going to see those kinds of tariffs without retaliation,” Lovely said.If enacted, the tariffs would be particularly challenging for Indo-Pacific countries that rely on U.S. partnership in the face of China’s regional dominance.“I mean, you can imagine how this will go down in, say, Japan and Korea, two countries which rely on the U.S. for a security umbrella, which is why Trump thinks that he can do stuff to them. But they also have to protect their own economies,” Lovely said. “So it’s going to put them in a really terrible position because it’s very important for them to maintain their alliance with the U.S., economic as well as military.”But one thing is for sure, Lovely said: “Everybody wants to know what’s going to happen. Everybody in every embassy here in Washington.”