<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press</a>

Christina Westman dreamed of working with Parkinson’s disease and stroke patients as a music therapist when she started studying at St. Cloud State University.

But her schooling was upended in May when administrators at the Minnesota college announced a plan to eliminate its music department as it slashes 42 degree programs and 50 minors.

It’s part of a wave of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-university-academic-faculty-cuts-245527c044cc2cfe80bcbe8c2eda7e98">program cuts</a>&nbsp;in recent months, as U.S. colleges large and small try to make ends meet. Among their budget challenges: Federal COVID relief money is now gone, operational costs are rising and fewer high school graduates are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/skipping-college-student-loans-trade-jobs-efc1f6d6067ab770f6e512b3f7719cc0">going straight to college</a>.

The cuts mean more than just savings, or even job losses. Often, they create&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-closing-university-of-arts-philadelphia-7c884439f16f24d99a61544381f49c23">turmoil for students</a>&nbsp;who chose a campus because of certain degree programs and then wrote checks or signed up for student loans.

“For me, it’s really been anxiety-ridden,” said Westman, 23, as she began the effort that ultimately led her to transfer to Augsburg University in Minneapolis. “It’s just the fear of the unknown.”

At St. Cloud State, most students will be able to finish their degrees before cuts kick in, but Westman’s music therapy major was a new one that hadn’t officially started. She has spent the past three months in a mad dash to find work in a new city and sublet her apartment in St. Cloud after she had already signed a lease. She was moving into her new apartment Friday.

For years, many colleges held off making cuts, said Larry Lee, who was acting president of St. Cloud State but left last month to lead Blackburn College in Illinois.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-race-and-ethnicity-coronavirus-pandemic-phoenix-b2e2ec55b3ed43c4b64c192b0eced089">College enrollment declined</a>&nbsp;during the pandemic, but officials hoped the figures would recover to pre-COVID levels and had used federal relief money to prop up their budgets in the meantime, he said.

“They were holding on, holding on,” Lee said, noting colleges must now face their new reality.

Higher education made up some ground last fall and in the spring semester, largely as community college enrollment&nbsp;<a href="https://nscresearchcenter.org/current-term-enrollment-estimates/">began to rebound</a>, National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data showed.

But the trend for four-year colleges remains worrisome. Even without growing concerns about the cost of college and the long-term burden of student debt, the pool of young adults is shrinking.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/census-demographics-population-age-race-ethnicity-3bf63785a69db2a96a13eb70767c5f5e">Birth rates fell</a>&nbsp;during the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009 and never recovered. Now those smaller classes are preparing to graduate and head off to college.

“It’s very difficult math to overcome,” said Patrick Lane, vice president at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, a leading authority on student demographics.

Complicating the situation: the federal government’s chaotic overhaul of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c0ca9199237bb12cd8313b060f90d40f">financial aid application</a>. Millions of students entered summer break still wondering where they were going to college this fall and how they would pay for it. With jobs still plentiful, although&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-unemployment-federal-reserve-inflation-22095766804d9c1532b4fcc29565be49">not as much as last year</a>, some experts fear students&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/skipping-college-student-loans-trade-jobs-efc1f6d6067ab770f6e512b3f7719cc0">won’t bother to enroll at all</a>.

“This year going into next fall, it’s going to be bad,” said Katharine Meyer, a fellow in the Governance Studies program for the Brown Center on Education Policy at the nonprofit Brookings Institution. “I think a lot of colleges are really concerned they’re not going to make their enrollment targets.”

Many colleges like St. Cloud State already had started plowing through their budget reserves. The university’s enrollment rose to around 18,300 students in fall 2020 before steadily falling to about 10,000 students in fall 2023.

St. Cloud State’s student population has now stabilized, Lee said, but spending was far too high for the reduced number of students. The college’s budget shortfall totaled $32 million over the past two years, forcing the sweeping cuts.

Some colleges have taken more extreme steps,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-closing-university-of-arts-philadelphia-7c884439f16f24d99a61544381f49c23">closing</a>&nbsp;their doors. That happened at the 1,000-student&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birmingham-southern-college-closure-alabama-60639f073d7f22bbbc2a1b44a891aa54">Birmingham-Southern College</a>&nbsp;in Alabama, the 900-student&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fontbonne-university-to-close-2025-c2397d8ff4120d4533bc08c16dfb15a3">Fontbonne University</a>&nbsp;in Missouri, the 350-student Wells College in New York and the 220-student Goddard College in Vermont.

Cuts, however, appear to be more commonplace. Two of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unc-board-of-governors-degree-staff-cuts-a936a0cec9162971d6b3b32debf4535f">North Carolina’s public universities</a>&nbsp;got the green light last month to eliminate more than a dozen degree programs ranging from ancient Mediterranean studies to&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/I%20updated%20this%20and%20added%20a%20hyperlink%20to%20the%20story%20we%20had%20when%20the%20cuts%20were%20finalized.">physics</a>.

Arkansas State University announced last fall it was phasing out nine programs. Three of the 64 colleges in the State University of New York system have cut programs amid low enrollment and budget woes.

Other schools slashing and phasing out programs include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-university-program-cuts-budget-tuition-db0aea1508668ae6653247a740f62b4d">West Virginia University</a>, Drake University in Iowa, the University of Nebraska campus in Kearney, North Dakota State University and, on the other side of the state, Dickinson State University.

Experts say it’s just the beginning. Even schools that aren’t immediately making cuts are reviewing their degree offerings. At Pennsylvania State University, officials are looking for duplicative and under-enrolled academic programs as the number of students shrinks at its branch campuses.

Particularly affected are students in smaller programs and those in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-university-academic-faculty-cuts-245527c044cc2cfe80bcbe8c2eda7e98">humanities</a>, which now&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/(((Students%20also%20appear%20to%20be%20turning%20away%20from%20the%20humanities:%20Data%20from%20the%20U.S.%20Department%20of%20Education%E2%80%99s%20National%20Center%20for%20Education%20Statistics%20shows%20that%20the%20percentage%20of%20bachelor%E2%80%99s%20degrees%20conferred%20by%20four-year%20institutions%20in%20the%20humanities%20dropped%20from%2016.8%%20of%20all%20degrees%20in%20the%202010-11%20school%20year%20to%2012.8%%20in%202020-2021.))))">graduate</a>&nbsp;a smaller share of students than 15 years ago.

“It’s a humanitarian disaster for all of the faculty and staff involved, not to mention the students who want to pursue this stuff,” said Bryan Alexander, a Georgetown University senior scholar who has written on higher education. “It’s an open question to what extent colleges and universities can cut their way to sustainability.”

For Terry Vermillion, who just retired after 34 years as a music professor at St. Cloud State, the cuts are hard to watch. The nation’s music programs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/online-school-covid-learning-loss-7c162ec1b4ce4d5219d5210aaac8f1ae">took a hit during the pandemic</a>, he said, with Zoom band nothing short of “disastrous” for many public school programs.

“We were just unable to really effectively teach music online, so there’s a gap,” he said. “And, you know, we’re just starting to come out of that gap and we’re just starting to rebound a little bit. And then the cuts are coming.”

For St. Cloud State music majors such as Lilly Rhodes, the biggest fear is what will happen as the program is phased out. New students won’t be admitted to the department and her professors will look for new jobs.

“When you suspend the whole music department, it’s awfully difficult to keep ensembles alive,” she said. “There’s no musicians coming in, so when our seniors graduate, they go on, and our ensembles just keep getting smaller and smaller.

“It’s a little difficult to keep going if it’s like this,” she said.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press</a>Christina Westman dreamed of working with Parkinson’s disease and stroke patients as a music therapist when she started studying at St. Cloud State University.But her schooling was upended in May when administrators at the Minnesota college announced a plan to eliminate its music department as it slashes 42 degree programs and 50 minors.It’s part of a wave of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-university-academic-faculty-cuts-245527c044cc2cfe80bcbe8c2eda7e98">program cuts</a>&nbsp;in recent months, as U.S. colleges large and small try to make ends meet. Among their budget challenges: Federal COVID relief money is now gone, operational costs are rising and fewer high school graduates are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/skipping-college-student-loans-trade-jobs-efc1f6d6067ab770f6e512b3f7719cc0">going straight to college</a>.The cuts mean more than just savings, or even job losses. Often, they create&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-closing-university-of-arts-philadelphia-7c884439f16f24d99a61544381f49c23">turmoil for students</a>&nbsp;who chose a campus because of certain degree programs and then wrote checks or signed up for student loans.“For me, it’s really been anxiety-ridden,” said Westman, 23, as she began the effort that ultimately led her to transfer to Augsburg University in Minneapolis. “It’s just the fear of the unknown.”At St. Cloud State, most students will be able to finish their degrees before cuts kick in, but Westman’s music therapy major was a new one that hadn’t officially started. She has spent the past three months in a mad dash to find work in a new city and sublet her apartment in St. Cloud after she had already signed a lease. She was moving into her new apartment Friday.For years, many colleges held off making cuts, said Larry Lee, who was acting president of St. Cloud State but left last month to lead Blackburn College in Illinois.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-race-and-ethnicity-coronavirus-pandemic-phoenix-b2e2ec55b3ed43c4b64c192b0eced089">College enrollment declined</a>&nbsp;during the pandemic, but officials hoped the figures would recover to pre-COVID levels and had used federal relief money to prop up their budgets in the meantime, he said.“They were holding on, holding on,” Lee said, noting colleges must now face their new reality.Higher education made up some ground last fall and in the spring semester, largely as community college enrollment&nbsp;<a href="https://nscresearchcenter.org/current-term-enrollment-estimates/">began to rebound</a>, National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data showed.But the trend for four-year colleges remains worrisome. Even without growing concerns about the cost of college and the long-term burden of student debt, the pool of young adults is shrinking.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/census-demographics-population-age-race-ethnicity-3bf63785a69db2a96a13eb70767c5f5e">Birth rates fell</a>&nbsp;during the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009 and never recovered. Now those smaller classes are preparing to graduate and head off to college.“It’s very difficult math to overcome,” said Patrick Lane, vice president at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, a leading authority on student demographics.Complicating the situation: the federal government’s chaotic overhaul of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c0ca9199237bb12cd8313b060f90d40f">financial aid application</a>. Millions of students entered summer break still wondering where they were going to college this fall and how they would pay for it. With jobs still plentiful, although&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-unemployment-federal-reserve-inflation-22095766804d9c1532b4fcc29565be49">not as much as last year</a>, some experts fear students&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/skipping-college-student-loans-trade-jobs-efc1f6d6067ab770f6e512b3f7719cc0">won’t bother to enroll at all</a>.“This year going into next fall, it’s going to be bad,” said Katharine Meyer, a fellow in the Governance Studies program for the Brown Center on Education Policy at the nonprofit Brookings Institution. “I think a lot of colleges are really concerned they’re not going to make their enrollment targets.”Many colleges like St. Cloud State already had started plowing through their budget reserves. The university’s enrollment rose to around 18,300 students in fall 2020 before steadily falling to about 10,000 students in fall 2023.St. Cloud State’s student population has now stabilized, Lee said, but spending was far too high for the reduced number of students. The college’s budget shortfall totaled $32 million over the past two years, forcing the sweeping cuts.Some colleges have taken more extreme steps,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-closing-university-of-arts-philadelphia-7c884439f16f24d99a61544381f49c23">closing</a>&nbsp;their doors. That happened at the 1,000-student&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birmingham-southern-college-closure-alabama-60639f073d7f22bbbc2a1b44a891aa54">Birmingham-Southern College</a>&nbsp;in Alabama, the 900-student&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fontbonne-university-to-close-2025-c2397d8ff4120d4533bc08c16dfb15a3">Fontbonne University</a>&nbsp;in Missouri, the 350-student Wells College in New York and the 220-student Goddard College in Vermont.Cuts, however, appear to be more commonplace. Two of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unc-board-of-governors-degree-staff-cuts-a936a0cec9162971d6b3b32debf4535f">North Carolina’s public universities</a>&nbsp;got the green light last month to eliminate more than a dozen degree programs ranging from ancient Mediterranean studies to&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/I%20updated%20this%20and%20added%20a%20hyperlink%20to%20the%20story%20we%20had%20when%20the%20cuts%20were%20finalized.">physics</a>.Arkansas State University announced last fall it was phasing out nine programs. Three of the 64 colleges in the State University of New York system have cut programs amid low enrollment and budget woes.Other schools slashing and phasing out programs include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-university-program-cuts-budget-tuition-db0aea1508668ae6653247a740f62b4d">West Virginia University</a>, Drake University in Iowa, the University of Nebraska campus in Kearney, North Dakota State University and, on the other side of the state, Dickinson State University.Experts say it’s just the beginning. Even schools that aren’t immediately making cuts are reviewing their degree offerings. At Pennsylvania State University, officials are looking for duplicative and under-enrolled academic programs as the number of students shrinks at its branch campuses.Particularly affected are students in smaller programs and those in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-university-academic-faculty-cuts-245527c044cc2cfe80bcbe8c2eda7e98">humanities</a>, which now&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/(((Students%20also%20appear%20to%20be%20turning%20away%20from%20the%20humanities:%20Data%20from%20the%20U.S.%20Department%20of%20Education%E2%80%99s%20National%20Center%20for%20Education%20Statistics%20shows%20that%20the%20percentage%20of%20bachelor%E2%80%99s%20degrees%20conferred%20by%20four-year%20institutions%20in%20the%20humanities%20dropped%20from%2016.8%%20of%20all%20degrees%20in%20the%202010-11%20school%20year%20to%2012.8%%20in%202020-2021.))))">graduate</a>&nbsp;a smaller share of students than 15 years ago.“It’s a humanitarian disaster for all of the faculty and staff involved, not to mention the students who want to pursue this stuff,” said Bryan Alexander, a Georgetown University senior scholar who has written on higher education. “It’s an open question to what extent colleges and universities can cut their way to sustainability.”For Terry Vermillion, who just retired after 34 years as a music professor at St. Cloud State, the cuts are hard to watch. The nation’s music programs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/online-school-covid-learning-loss-7c162ec1b4ce4d5219d5210aaac8f1ae">took a hit during the pandemic</a>, he said, with Zoom band nothing short of “disastrous” for many public school programs.“We were just unable to really effectively teach music online, so there’s a gap,” he said. “And, you know, we’re just starting to come out of that gap and we’re just starting to rebound a little bit. And then the cuts are coming.”For St. Cloud State music majors such as Lilly Rhodes, the biggest fear is what will happen as the program is phased out. New students won’t be admitted to the department and her professors will look for new jobs.“When you suspend the whole music department, it’s awfully difficult to keep ensembles alive,” she said. “There’s no musicians coming in, so when our seniors graduate, they go on, and our ensembles just keep getting smaller and smaller.“It’s a little difficult to keep going if it’s like this,” she said.

US colleges are cutting majors and slashing programs after years of putting it off

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jacob-fischler/">JACOB FISCHLER</a>&nbsp;

Democrats will gather in Chicago for their once-every-four-years convention, beginning Monday. Here’s a rundown.

National political conventions are large gatherings of party officeholders, candidates and allies. They meet every four years to officially nominate candidates for president and vice president; to adopt a party platform, the list of policy proposals most party members agree on; and to celebrate and network.

This year, Vice President Kamala Harris has already been officially nominated through a virtual roll call vote earlier this month. A ceremonial roll call is still expected to be a part of the convention, and Harris will officially accept the nomination.

The convention runs from Monday, Aug. 19 to Thursday, Aug. 22.

Major news networks and a host of streaming platforms will broadcast the nightly events — usually speeches from high-profile members of the party —&nbsp;live. The prime-time program runs from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Full schedules for prime-time speeches have not been disclosed, but the vice presidential candidate usually accepts the nomination on Wednesday night and the presidential nominee’s acceptance speech closes out the convention on Thursday night.

Former presidents and presidential nominees are also likely to have speaking roles.

During the day, delegates and party officials will hold various events and meetings, only some of which will be broadcast or even open to reporters, as the convention doubles as a huge networking event for Democratic politicians, strategists, activists and others.

Network and cable news TV stations generally air the prime-time programming from start to finish.

National Public Radio will also broadcast much of the convention.

Convention organizers will also be livestreaming the event on a host of platforms, including YouTube, X and TikTok. A full list of official livestreams is available&nbsp;<a href="https://demconvention.com/news/press-releases/how-to-watchdemocratic-national-convention-announces-streaming-partners-and-first-ever-vertical-streaming-platforms/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Chicago is hosting the Democratic convention for the 12th time, the most of any city.

The major addresses in the evening will be at the United Center, an arena that fits tens of thousands for the city’s professional basketball and hockey teams, concerts or other events.

Daytime activities will be more spread out, with locations at McCormick Place, about 6 miles southeast of the United Center, and the River North neighborhood, about 2 ½ miles to the northeast.

About 5,000 Democratic delegates, who have the formal duty of voting to approve the nominees for president and vice president, are expected to attend.

A total of about 50,000 people could be in town for the event, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://chicago2024.com/faqs/" target="_blank">the city</a>.

The 2016 Democratic National Convention — the last in-person convention Democrats held, since they moved the 2020 version online in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic —&nbsp;that nominated Hillary Clinton featured celebrities including singer Katy Perry and screenwriter/actor Lena Dunham.

The Republican National Convention in July included appearances by musical artist Kid Rock and professional wrestler Hulk Hogan during prime time.

A full list of participants for the Democratic convention this year has not yet been shared, but that has not stopped some fans of major music acts from&nbsp;<a href="https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/taylor-swift-and-beyonce-to-perform-together-at-the-dnc-convention-and-formally-support-harris" target="_blank">wishing</a>&nbsp;they’ll see their favorites at the event.

Where can I find fair, fearless and free reporting about the convention?

<a href="http://newsfromthestates.com/" target="_blank">Right here!</a>&nbsp;And from your state’s newsroom, which you can find on&nbsp;<a href="https://statesnewsroom.com/newsrooms/" target="_blank">this map.&nbsp;</a>States Newsroom is sending multiple reporters to cover the convention and will have in-depth coverage of the major events and more.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723944718302.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jacob-fischler/">JACOB FISCHLER</a>&nbsp;Democrats will gather in Chicago for their once-every-four-years convention, beginning Monday. Here’s a rundown.<h2>What is it?</h2>National political conventions are large gatherings of party officeholders, candidates and allies. They meet every four years to officially nominate candidates for president and vice president; to adopt a party platform, the list of policy proposals most party members agree on; and to celebrate and network.This year, Vice President Kamala Harris has already been officially nominated through a virtual roll call vote earlier this month. A ceremonial roll call is still expected to be a part of the convention, and Harris will officially accept the nomination.<h2>When should I tune in?</h2>The convention runs from Monday, Aug. 19 to Thursday, Aug. 22.Major news networks and a host of streaming platforms will broadcast the nightly events — usually speeches from high-profile members of the party —&nbsp;live. The prime-time program runs from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.Full schedules for prime-time speeches have not been disclosed, but the vice presidential candidate usually accepts the nomination on Wednesday night and the presidential nominee’s acceptance speech closes out the convention on Thursday night.Former presidents and presidential nominees are also likely to have speaking roles.During the day, delegates and party officials will hold various events and meetings, only some of which will be broadcast or even open to reporters, as the convention doubles as a huge networking event for Democratic politicians, strategists, activists and others.<h2>How can I watch?</h2>Network and cable news TV stations generally air the prime-time programming from start to finish.National Public Radio will also broadcast much of the convention.Convention organizers will also be livestreaming the event on a host of platforms, including YouTube, X and TikTok. A full list of official livestreams is available&nbsp;<a href="https://demconvention.com/news/press-releases/how-to-watchdemocratic-national-convention-announces-streaming-partners-and-first-ever-vertical-streaming-platforms/" target="_blank">here</a>.<h2>Where is the convention this year?</h2>Chicago is hosting the Democratic convention for the 12th time, the most of any city.The major addresses in the evening will be at the United Center, an arena that fits tens of thousands for the city’s professional basketball and hockey teams, concerts or other events.Daytime activities will be more spread out, with locations at McCormick Place, about 6 miles southeast of the United Center, and the River North neighborhood, about 2 ½ miles to the northeast.<h2>How many people will be there?</h2>About 5,000 Democratic delegates, who have the formal duty of voting to approve the nominees for president and vice president, are expected to attend.A total of about 50,000 people could be in town for the event, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://chicago2024.com/faqs/" target="_blank">the city</a>.<h2>Will any celebrities be there?</h2>The 2016 Democratic National Convention — the last in-person convention Democrats held, since they moved the 2020 version online in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic —&nbsp;that nominated Hillary Clinton featured celebrities including singer Katy Perry and screenwriter/actor Lena Dunham.The Republican National Convention in July included appearances by musical artist Kid Rock and professional wrestler Hulk Hogan during prime time.A full list of participants for the Democratic convention this year has not yet been shared, but that has not stopped some fans of major music acts from&nbsp;<a href="https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/taylor-swift-and-beyonce-to-perform-together-at-the-dnc-convention-and-formally-support-harris" target="_blank">wishing</a>&nbsp;they’ll see their favorites at the event.<h2>Where can I find fair, fearless and free reporting about the convention?</h2><a href="http://newsfromthestates.com/" target="_blank">Right here!</a>&nbsp;And from your state’s newsroom, which you can find on&nbsp;<a href="https://statesnewsroom.com/newsrooms/" target="_blank">this map.&nbsp;</a>States Newsroom is sending multiple reporters to cover the convention and will have in-depth coverage of the major events and more.

What to know about the Democratic National Convention

KANSAS CITY —A man has been charged in the fatal shooting on Wednesday of another man outside a apartment building in Midtown Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Eryn D. Holt, 21, Independence, Missouri, faces felony charges of Murder in the 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records,&nbsp; Kansas City police officers were dispatched to an apartment building in Midtown Kansas City on a reported shooting. 

Upon arrival they observed emergency responders preparing the victim, identified as 22-year-old Adrian Terry, for transport. 

Terry had suffered a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased the hospital a short time later. 

One live .40 caliber round and one spent casing were found at the scene. A witness reported Terry and Holt had been in an altercation outside the front doors of the building. Then Holt shot the Terry.

Holt walked back into the building lobby and collapsed. Other witnesses told police they also observed the shooting. Surveillance video also captured the shooting. Holt was observed to have nothing in his hands. &nbsp;

Prosecutors asked for a $200,000 cash bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723769695180.png" alt="Holt -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Holt -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A man has been charged in the fatal shooting on Wednesday of another man outside a apartment building in Midtown Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Eryn D. Holt, 21, Independence, Missouri, faces felony charges of Murder in the 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723718390903.png" alt="photo by Grace Smith courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>photo by Grace Smith courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>According to court records,&nbsp; Kansas City police officers were dispatched to an apartment building in Midtown Kansas City on a reported shooting. Upon arrival they observed emergency responders preparing the victim, identified as 22-year-old Adrian Terry, for transport. Terry had suffered a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased the hospital a short time later. One live .40 caliber round and one spent casing were found at the scene. A witness reported Terry and Holt had been in an altercation outside the front doors of the building. Then Holt shot the Terry.Holt walked back into the building lobby and collapsed. Other witnesses told police they also observed the shooting. Surveillance video also captured the shooting. Holt was observed to have nothing in his hands. &nbsp;Prosecutors asked for a $200,000 cash bond.

Killing outside KC apartment building captured on security cameras

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/christopher-rugaber">CHRISTOPHER RUGABER</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) —With inflation and high grocery prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumers-price-gouging-spending-economy-999e81e2f869a0151e2ee6bbb63370af">still frustrating many voters</a>, Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-economy-taxes-homes-food-prices-insurance-e1ad3f26f2ce8e6cb365a4ffe2ca3e6b">proposed</a>&nbsp;a ban on “price gouging” by food suppliers and grocery stores, as part of a broader agenda aimed at lowering the cost of housing, medicine, and food.

It’s an attempt to tackle a clear&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-harris-biden-election-prices-wages-d4dc87e150e5c0b76b664ad7525e05a4">vulnerability</a>&nbsp;of Harris’ head-on: Under the Biden-Harris administration, grocery prices have shot up 21%, part of an inflation surge that has raised overall costs by about 19% and soured many Americans on the economy, even as unemployment fell to historic lows. Wages have also risen sharply since the pandemic, and have outpaced prices for more than a year. Still, surveys find Americans continue to struggle with higher costs.

“We all know that prices went up during the pandemic when the supply chains shut down and failed,” Harris said Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. “But our supply chains have now improved and prices are still too high.”

Will her proposals do much to lower prices? And what even is “price gouging”? The answers to those and other questions are below:

There is no strict definition that economists would agree on, but it generally refers to spikes in prices that typically follow a disruption in supply, such as after a hurricane or other natural disaster. Consumer advocates charge that gouging occurs when retailers sharply increase prices, particularly for necessities, under such circumstances.

Several states&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/stories/details/65dc8844bb41159d76886f752b6cab28.-1.0.json?type=new" target="_blank">already restrict</a>&nbsp;price gouging, but there is no federal-level ban.

There are federal restrictions on related but different practices, such as price-fixing laws that bar companies from agreeing to not compete against each other and set higher prices.

Will Harris’ proposal lower grocery prices?

Most economists would say no, though her plan could have an impact on future crises. For one thing, it’s unclear how much price gouging is going on right now.

Grocery prices are still painfully high compared to four years ago, but they increased just 1.1% in July compared with a year earlier, according to the most&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf" target="_blank">recent inflation report</a>. That is in line with pre-pandemic increases.

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that inflation has been defeated after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-f8de2672173407d3a126cc13493fed85">Wednesday’s inflation report</a>&nbsp;showed that it fell to 2.9% in July, the smallest increase in three years.

“There’s some dissonance between claiming victory on the inflation front in one breath and then arguing that there’s all this price gouging happening that is leading consumers to face really high prices in another breath,” said Michael Strain, an economist at the American Enterprise Institute.

In general, after an inflationary spike, it’s very hard to return prices to where they were. Sustained price declines typically only happen in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-deflation-prices-economy-eggs-cars-consumers-e3c816373344d54b2e6bdb4be5ed999a">steep, protracted recessions</a>. Instead, economists generally argue that the better approach is for wages to keep rising enough so that Americans can handle the higher costs.

Probably because inflation remains a highly salient issue politically. And plenty of voters do blame grocery stores, fast food chains, and food and packaged goods makers for the surge of inflation in the past three years. Corporate profits soared in 2021 and 2022.

“It could be that they’re looking at opinion polls that show that the number one concern facing voters is inflation and that a large number of voters blame corporations for inflation,” Strain said.

At the same time, even if prices aren’t going up as much, as Harris noted, they remain high, even as supply chain kinks have been resolved.

Elizabeth Pancotti, a policy analyst at Roosevelt Forward, a progressive advocacy group, points to the wood pulp used in diapers. The price of wood pulp has fallen by half from its post-pandemic peak, yet diaper prices haven’t.

“So that just increases the (profit) margins for both the manufacturers and the retailers,” she said.

Most economists would say no, that it was a more straightforward case of supply and demand. When the pandemic hit, meat processing plants were occasionally closed after COVID-19 outbreaks, among other disruptions to supply. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine lifted the cost of wheat and other grains on global markets. Auto prices rose as carmakers were unable to get all the semiconductors they needed from Taiwan to manufacture cars, and many car plants shut down temporarily.

At the same time, several rounds of stimulus checks fattened Americans’ bank accounts, and after hunkering down during the early phase of the pandemic, so-called “revenge spending” took over. The combination of stronger demand and reduced supply was a recipe for rising prices.

Still, some economists have argued that large food and consumer goods companies took advantage of pandemic-era disruptions. Consumers saw empty store shelves and heard numerous stories about disrupted supply chains, and at least temporarily felt they had little choice but to accept the higher prices.

Economist Isabella Weber at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, called it “seller’s inflation.” Others referred to it as “greedflation.”

“What a lot of corporations did was exploit consumers’ willingness” to accept the disruptions from the pandemic, Pancotti said.

Is banning price gouging like instituting price controls?

During the last spike of inflation in the 1970s, both Democratic and Republican presidential administrations at times imposed price controls, which specifically limited what companies could charge for goods and services. They were widely blamed for creating shortages and long lines for gas.

Some economists say Harris’ proposal would have a similar impact.

“It’s a heavy-handed socialist policy that I don’t think any economist would support,” said Kevin Hassett, a former top economic adviser in the Trump White House.

But Pancotti disagreed. She argued that it was closer to a consumer protection measure. Under Harris’ proposal, the government wouldn’t specify prices, but the Federal Trade Commission could investigate price spikes.

“The proposal is really about protecting consumers from unscrupulous corporate actors that are trying to just rip the consumer off because they know they can,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723902737706.png" alt="Vice President Kamala Harris during her Friday campaign event in North Carolina- image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Kamala Harris during her Friday campaign event in North Carolina- image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/christopher-rugaber">CHRISTOPHER RUGABER</a>WASHINGTON (AP) —With inflation and high grocery prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumers-price-gouging-spending-economy-999e81e2f869a0151e2ee6bbb63370af">still frustrating many voters</a>, Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-economy-taxes-homes-food-prices-insurance-e1ad3f26f2ce8e6cb365a4ffe2ca3e6b">proposed</a>&nbsp;a ban on “price gouging” by food suppliers and grocery stores, as part of a broader agenda aimed at lowering the cost of housing, medicine, and food.It’s an attempt to tackle a clear&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-harris-biden-election-prices-wages-d4dc87e150e5c0b76b664ad7525e05a4">vulnerability</a>&nbsp;of Harris’ head-on: Under the Biden-Harris administration, grocery prices have shot up 21%, part of an inflation surge that has raised overall costs by about 19% and soured many Americans on the economy, even as unemployment fell to historic lows. Wages have also risen sharply since the pandemic, and have outpaced prices for more than a year. Still, surveys find Americans continue to struggle with higher costs.“We all know that prices went up during the pandemic when the supply chains shut down and failed,” Harris said Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. “But our supply chains have now improved and prices are still too high.”Will her proposals do much to lower prices? And what even is “price gouging”? The answers to those and other questions are below:<h2>What is price gouging?</h2>There is no strict definition that economists would agree on, but it generally refers to spikes in prices that typically follow a disruption in supply, such as after a hurricane or other natural disaster. Consumer advocates charge that gouging occurs when retailers sharply increase prices, particularly for necessities, under such circumstances.<h2>Is it already illegal?</h2>Several states&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/stories/details/65dc8844bb41159d76886f752b6cab28.-1.0.json?type=new" target="_blank">already restrict</a>&nbsp;price gouging, but there is no federal-level ban.There are federal restrictions on related but different practices, such as price-fixing laws that bar companies from agreeing to not compete against each other and set higher prices.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My plan to lower costs and expand opportunity for working and middle-class Americans. <a href="https://t.co/MIW7Ujd9kS">pic.twitter.com/MIW7Ujd9kS</a>&mdash; Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1824520327180722673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Will Harris’ proposal lower grocery prices?</h2>Most economists would say no, though her plan could have an impact on future crises. For one thing, it’s unclear how much price gouging is going on right now.Grocery prices are still painfully high compared to four years ago, but they increased just 1.1% in July compared with a year earlier, according to the most&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf" target="_blank">recent inflation report</a>. That is in line with pre-pandemic increases.President Joe Biden said Wednesday that inflation has been defeated after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-f8de2672173407d3a126cc13493fed85">Wednesday’s inflation report</a>&nbsp;showed that it fell to 2.9% in July, the smallest increase in three years.“There’s some dissonance between claiming victory on the inflation front in one breath and then arguing that there’s all this price gouging happening that is leading consumers to face really high prices in another breath,” said Michael Strain, an economist at the American Enterprise Institute.In general, after an inflationary spike, it’s very hard to return prices to where they were. Sustained price declines typically only happen in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-deflation-prices-economy-eggs-cars-consumers-e3c816373344d54b2e6bdb4be5ed999a">steep, protracted recessions</a>. Instead, economists generally argue that the better approach is for wages to keep rising enough so that Americans can handle the higher costs.<h2>So why is Harris talking about this now?</h2>Probably because inflation remains a highly salient issue politically. And plenty of voters do blame grocery stores, fast food chains, and food and packaged goods makers for the surge of inflation in the past three years. Corporate profits soared in 2021 and 2022.“It could be that they’re looking at opinion polls that show that the number one concern facing voters is inflation and that a large number of voters blame corporations for inflation,” Strain said.At the same time, even if prices aren’t going up as much, as Harris noted, they remain high, even as supply chain kinks have been resolved.Elizabeth Pancotti, a policy analyst at Roosevelt Forward, a progressive advocacy group, points to the wood pulp used in diapers. The price of wood pulp has fallen by half from its post-pandemic peak, yet diaper prices haven’t.“So that just increases the (profit) margins for both the manufacturers and the retailers,” she said.<h2>Did price gouging cause inflation?</h2>Most economists would say no, that it was a more straightforward case of supply and demand. When the pandemic hit, meat processing plants were occasionally closed after COVID-19 outbreaks, among other disruptions to supply. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine lifted the cost of wheat and other grains on global markets. Auto prices rose as carmakers were unable to get all the semiconductors they needed from Taiwan to manufacture cars, and many car plants shut down temporarily.At the same time, several rounds of stimulus checks fattened Americans’ bank accounts, and after hunkering down during the early phase of the pandemic, so-called “revenge spending” took over. The combination of stronger demand and reduced supply was a recipe for rising prices.Still, some economists have argued that large food and consumer goods companies took advantage of pandemic-era disruptions. Consumers saw empty store shelves and heard numerous stories about disrupted supply chains, and at least temporarily felt they had little choice but to accept the higher prices.Economist Isabella Weber at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, called it “seller’s inflation.” Others referred to it as “greedflation.”“What a lot of corporations did was exploit consumers’ willingness” to accept the disruptions from the pandemic, Pancotti said.<h2>Is banning price gouging like instituting price controls?</h2>During the last spike of inflation in the 1970s, both Democratic and Republican presidential administrations at times imposed price controls, which specifically limited what companies could charge for goods and services. They were widely blamed for creating shortages and long lines for gas.Some economists say Harris’ proposal would have a similar impact.“It’s a heavy-handed socialist policy that I don’t think any economist would support,” said Kevin Hassett, a former top economic adviser in the Trump White House.But Pancotti disagreed. She argued that it was closer to a consumer protection measure. Under Harris’ proposal, the government wouldn’t specify prices, but the Federal Trade Commission could investigate price spikes.“The proposal is really about protecting consumers from unscrupulous corporate actors that are trying to just rip the consumer off because they know they can,” she said.

What is ‘price gouging’ and why is VP Harris proposing to ban it?

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident that occurred just before 1a.m. Sunday in Kansas City.

 A Honda Civic was northbound on Van Brunt Boulevard and stopped at the red traffic control signal at Truman Road, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. 

The light turned green and the Honda entered the intersection. A westbound BMW 535XI was traveling&nbsp; very high rate of speed. The BMW ran the red light and struck the Honda.

 The driver of the BMW lost control after the initial impact with the Honda. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the left and struck a wooden utility pole, shearing it out of the ground.

 A pedestrian was walking in the bicycle lane, on the south side of Truman Road. The BMW struck the pedestrian as it was flipping.&nbsp; The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The two occupants of the BMW ran from the scene, westbound on Truman Road. 

The driver of the Honda was not injured. The intersection lost power and Evergy responded to repair.&nbsp; Police have not reported the name of the victim or additional details.

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident that occurred just before 1a.m. Sunday in Kansas City. A Honda Civic was northbound on Van Brunt Boulevard and stopped at the red traffic control signal at Truman Road, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. The light turned green and the Honda entered the intersection. A westbound BMW 535XI was traveling&nbsp; very high rate of speed. The BMW ran the red light and struck the Honda. The driver of the BMW lost control after the initial impact with the Honda. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the left and struck a wooden utility pole, shearing it out of the ground. A pedestrian was walking in the bicycle lane, on the south side of Truman Road. The BMW struck the pedestrian as it was flipping.&nbsp; The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The two occupants of the BMW ran from the scene, westbound on Truman Road. The driver of the Honda was not injured. The intersection lost power and Evergy responded to repair.&nbsp; Police have not reported the name of the victim or additional details.

KCPD: Bicyclist killed when struck after car flipped in violent crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Topeka Police continue asking for the public’s help in identifying an individual who is believed to be involved in an ongoing theft investigation.

Just after 4:30 p.m., August 9,&nbsp; police responded to a reported theft at Kay Jeweler’s at West Ridge Mall, 1801 SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp;

 The alleged suspect, as shown in security camera images, left the area in a light blue Chevrolet Malibu with front end damage. He was last seen wearing a purple t-shirt, faded jeans, white shoes and silver chains around his neck. He has a tattoo on the top of his right wrist and on his upper left arm.

If you have any information about this incident or the individual, please contact investigators at

telltpd@topeka.org or report anonymously to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or online at www.p3tips.com/128. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723667208542.png" alt="Photos Topeka police" />
 <figcaption>Photos Topeka police</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY – Topeka Police continue asking for the public’s help in identifying an individual who is believed to be involved in an ongoing theft investigation.Just after 4:30 p.m., August 9,&nbsp; police responded to a reported theft at Kay Jeweler’s at West Ridge Mall, 1801 SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723667318611.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> The alleged suspect, as shown in security camera images, left the area in a light blue Chevrolet Malibu with front end damage. He was last seen wearing a purple t-shirt, faded jeans, white shoes and silver chains around his neck. He has a tattoo on the top of his right wrist and on his upper left arm.If you have any information about this incident or the individual, please contact investigators attelltpd@topeka.org or report anonymously to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or online at www.p3tips.com/128.

Police asking for help to ID Kan. jewelry store theft suspect

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

PITTSBURG — A new Planned Parenthood clinic in southeast Kansas will be the closest abortion access point for many people in the South and will provide easier access to reproductive health care for southeast Kansans who previously had to travel to Overland Park.

The center, which opens Monday in Pittsburg, expects to have patients from six states in its first five days — Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana.

Kansas saw a 369% increase in abortions in 2023, with 69% of patients coming from out of state, according to the&nbsp;Guttmacher Institute. For the Trust Women Clinic in Wichita, which was previously the closest city for abortion access for Southern states, 81% of patients were from out of state, with Texas the most common homestate, followed by Oklahoma.

Texas and Oklahoma have total abortion bans, with few exceptions. Southern states have six-week abortion bans. On average,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9321827/" target="_blank">pregnant people know they are pregnant after 5.2 weeks for intendent pregnancies and 7.2 weeks for unintended pregnancies</a>, the National Library of Medicine found.

The Pittsburg clinic will offer medication abortions for up to 11 weeks of pregnancy, and surgical abortions for 14-15 weeks of pregnancy.

But, there will be a delay before the clinic offers surgical care.

“We have excellent trained staff to offer this care,” said Planned Parenthood Great Plains president and CEO Emily Wales. “But we also know it’s a transition for the community and for us to launch a new center here, so it’ll probably be a little bit of time before we’re offering procedural care.”

Wales said a key factor in the Pittsburg location was access to Southern states.

And she pointed out that Kansas already is well versed in providing abortion care to people from Missouri and other states. Pittsburg is about five miles from the Missouri border.

A 2018 law in Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://eu.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2022/06/28/missouri-abortion-law-timeline-roe-wade-overturn-timeline-supreme-court/7745926001/" target="_blank">banned abortion after 15 weeks</a>, meaning Kansas had been absorbing Missouri patients for four years before the U.S. Supreme Court declared in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion.

The 2022 Dobbs decision felt like “dominos falling,” Wales said.

“We are doing everything we can to meet the need,” Wales said. “But we’re also not trying to hide the fact that there are far more people calling than we can actually get in.”

Wales also said there was a need for the services Planned Parenthood offers — which go beyond abortion care — in southeast Kansas. Patients from the Pittsburg area were traveling roughly two hours to Overland Park to receive care.

While more than 60% of Crawford County voters in 2020 supported Donald Trump, the president who packed the Supreme Court with anti-abortion justices, t<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/02/kansas-voters-defeat-abortion-amendment-in-unexpected-landslide-1/">hey voted against the proposed constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;that would have removed the right to terminate a pregnancy in Kansas.

Logan Rink, a Pittsburg native and the health care manager of the Pittsburg clinic, said she has heard positive feedback from the community. She said Planned Parenthood will meet needs that weren’t being met, and that the community views it as a great resource.

Anti-abortion protesters frequent the other Planned Parenthood locations in Kansas, attempting to stop patients from receiving an abortion.

Wales said Planned Parenthood typically sees protests when it opens a new location, but they “die down after a while.”

Members of Lighthouse church, a nondenominational anti-abortion Christian church in Pittsburg spoke in opposition of the clinic at the May 28 city commission meeting.

“I know this is a major issue in our culture, abortion, but the reality is there’s no safe abortions because you start out with two lives and you end with one life,” said Pittsburg resident Shawn Osbeen.

Another resident, Susan Powers, also opposed the clinic, but she said this “may be a wakeup call” for the church and community to provide more support for pregnant people.

The commissioners stayed neutral on the opening of the clinic.

In 2009 in Wichita, George Tiller, one of only a few doctors in the nation who performed late-term abortions,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/us/01tiller.html" target="_blank">was murdered in the foyer of his church</a>. Planned Parenthood has a rigid security protocol in place, with security officers on site, but the shadow of Tiller’s death remains.

“The time it comes up the most, really, is when we are talking to potential providers or physicians who might be interested in staff roles,” Wales said. “They have questions about what the communities are like, what the protesters are like. We are fortunate to have not had that kind of violence at our health centers.”

The National Library of Medicine found that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3780732/" target="_blank">people from a lower socioeconomic status are more likely to receive an abortion</a>, and extra time away from work adds up. For patients traveling from the South, the Pittsburg clinic will be more than two hours closer than clinics in Wichita.

“If we can cut off two hours one way, then two hours coming home, that’s a tremendous difference for a lot of our patients,” Wales said.

Planned Parenthood provides assistance to patients who need it. Before Dobbs, 80% of its patients didn’t need assistance, and 20% did. Now, Wales said, the percentages have flipped and the assistance they provide looks “entirely different.”

“So many people now have to go so far from home,” Wales said. “People could maybe get two hours from home, but telling patients it’s going to be 10 or 12 hours is impossible for a lot of people.”

Wales sees a perception that patients believe they can’t travel or talk about abortion. She says they worry about what would happen to their kids, their partners, and their careers.

Vice President Kamala Harris has made abortion access a cornerstone of her presidential campaign, and if elected she has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/what-would-it-mean-to-codify-roe-v-wade/" target="_blank">promised to codify Roe v. Wade</a>, which would legalize abortion nationally.

Missourians will&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/13/missouri-voters-will-decide-whether-to-legalize-abortion-in-november/" target="_blank">vote on their abortion rights in November</a>. Each time abortion rights are placed on local ballots,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/abortion-rights-won-every-election-roe-v-wade-overturned-rcna99031" target="_blank">the right to choose an abortion has won</a>.&nbsp;

But, even if the movement to secure abortion rights prevails in November, access for every American would take decades, Wales said.

There are multiple lawsuits and legislation in Kansas attempting to restrict abortion access, despite Kansans rejecting the proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate abortion rights in 2022. Planned Parenthood has fought back on these attempts.

“Kansans are saying we want medical care to be private, and not in the hands of the Legislature,” Wales said. “The state passed additional requirements this year where we would have to ask patients invasive and shaming questions that have nothing to do with why they get care or how we deliver care. And so we are challenging that on behalf of our patients.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723948671410.png" alt="Planned Parenthood Great Plains CEO Emily Wales on Aug. 16 in the Pittsburg Planned Parenthood, three days before the clinic opens. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Planned Parenthood Great Plains CEO Emily Wales on Aug. 16 in the Pittsburg Planned Parenthood, three days before the clinic opens. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>PITTSBURG — A new Planned Parenthood clinic in southeast Kansas will be the closest abortion access point for many people in the South and will provide easier access to reproductive health care for southeast Kansans who previously had to travel to Overland Park.The center, which opens Monday in Pittsburg, expects to have patients from six states in its first five days — Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana.Kansas saw a 369% increase in abortions in 2023, with 69% of patients coming from out of state, according to the&nbsp;Guttmacher Institute. For the Trust Women Clinic in Wichita, which was previously the closest city for abortion access for Southern states, 81% of patients were from out of state, with Texas the most common homestate, followed by Oklahoma.Texas and Oklahoma have total abortion bans, with few exceptions. Southern states have six-week abortion bans. On average,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9321827/" target="_blank">pregnant people know they are pregnant after 5.2 weeks for intendent pregnancies and 7.2 weeks for unintended pregnancies</a>, the National Library of Medicine found.The Pittsburg clinic will offer medication abortions for up to 11 weeks of pregnancy, and surgical abortions for 14-15 weeks of pregnancy.But, there will be a delay before the clinic offers surgical care.“We have excellent trained staff to offer this care,” said Planned Parenthood Great Plains president and CEO Emily Wales. “But we also know it’s a transition for the community and for us to launch a new center here, so it’ll probably be a little bit of time before we’re offering procedural care.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723948869591.png" alt="&nbsp;The Pittsburg Planned Parenthood clinic is set to open Monday, Aug. 19. Final construction is expected to be complete by then. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The Pittsburg Planned Parenthood clinic is set to open Monday, Aug. 19. Final construction is expected to be complete by then. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Why Pittsburg?</h2>Wales said a key factor in the Pittsburg location was access to Southern states.And she pointed out that Kansas already is well versed in providing abortion care to people from Missouri and other states. Pittsburg is about five miles from the Missouri border.A 2018 law in Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://eu.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2022/06/28/missouri-abortion-law-timeline-roe-wade-overturn-timeline-supreme-court/7745926001/" target="_blank">banned abortion after 15 weeks</a>, meaning Kansas had been absorbing Missouri patients for four years before the U.S. Supreme Court declared in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion.The 2022 Dobbs decision felt like “dominos falling,” Wales said.“We are doing everything we can to meet the need,” Wales said. “But we’re also not trying to hide the fact that there are far more people calling than we can actually get in.”Wales also said there was a need for the services Planned Parenthood offers — which go beyond abortion care — in southeast Kansas. Patients from the Pittsburg area were traveling roughly two hours to Overland Park to receive care.While more than 60% of Crawford County voters in 2020 supported Donald Trump, the president who packed the Supreme Court with anti-abortion justices, t<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/02/kansas-voters-defeat-abortion-amendment-in-unexpected-landslide-1/">hey voted against the proposed constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;that would have removed the right to terminate a pregnancy in Kansas.Logan Rink, a Pittsburg native and the health care manager of the Pittsburg clinic, said she has heard positive feedback from the community. She said Planned Parenthood will meet needs that weren’t being met, and that the community views it as a great resource.Anti-abortion protesters frequent the other Planned Parenthood locations in Kansas, attempting to stop patients from receiving an abortion.Wales said Planned Parenthood typically sees protests when it opens a new location, but they “die down after a while.”Members of Lighthouse church, a nondenominational anti-abortion Christian church in Pittsburg spoke in opposition of the clinic at the May 28 city commission meeting.“I know this is a major issue in our culture, abortion, but the reality is there’s no safe abortions because you start out with two lives and you end with one life,” said Pittsburg resident Shawn Osbeen.Another resident, Susan Powers, also opposed the clinic, but she said this “may be a wakeup call” for the church and community to provide more support for pregnant people.The commissioners stayed neutral on the opening of the clinic.In 2009 in Wichita, George Tiller, one of only a few doctors in the nation who performed late-term abortions,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/us/01tiller.html" target="_blank">was murdered in the foyer of his church</a>. Planned Parenthood has a rigid security protocol in place, with security officers on site, but the shadow of Tiller’s death remains.“The time it comes up the most, really, is when we are talking to potential providers or physicians who might be interested in staff roles,” Wales said. “They have questions about what the communities are like, what the protesters are like. We are fortunate to have not had that kind of violence at our health centers.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723948746614.png" alt=" The temporary Planned Parenthood sign on Aug. 16, 2024, outside of the new Pittsburg Planned Parenthood clinic. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> The temporary Planned Parenthood sign on Aug. 16, 2024, outside of the new Pittsburg Planned Parenthood clinic. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Patients from the South&nbsp;</h2>The National Library of Medicine found that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3780732/" target="_blank">people from a lower socioeconomic status are more likely to receive an abortion</a>, and extra time away from work adds up. For patients traveling from the South, the Pittsburg clinic will be more than two hours closer than clinics in Wichita.“If we can cut off two hours one way, then two hours coming home, that’s a tremendous difference for a lot of our patients,” Wales said. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723948777032.png" alt=" One of the postoperative exam rooms in the Pittsburg Planned Parenthood clinic. (Grace Hills/ Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> One of the postoperative exam rooms in the Pittsburg Planned Parenthood clinic. (Grace Hills/ Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Planned Parenthood provides assistance to patients who need it. Before Dobbs, 80% of its patients didn’t need assistance, and 20% did. Now, Wales said, the percentages have flipped and the assistance they provide looks “entirely different.”“So many people now have to go so far from home,” Wales said. “People could maybe get two hours from home, but telling patients it’s going to be 10 or 12 hours is impossible for a lot of people.”Wales sees a perception that patients believe they can’t travel or talk about abortion. She says they worry about what would happen to their kids, their partners, and their careers.<h2>Issues to watch&nbsp;</h2>Vice President Kamala Harris has made abortion access a cornerstone of her presidential campaign, and if elected she has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/what-would-it-mean-to-codify-roe-v-wade/" target="_blank">promised to codify Roe v. Wade</a>, which would legalize abortion nationally.Missourians will&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/13/missouri-voters-will-decide-whether-to-legalize-abortion-in-november/" target="_blank">vote on their abortion rights in November</a>. Each time abortion rights are placed on local ballots,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/abortion-rights-won-every-election-roe-v-wade-overturned-rcna99031" target="_blank">the right to choose an abortion has won</a>.&nbsp;But, even if the movement to secure abortion rights prevails in November, access for every American would take decades, Wales said.There are multiple lawsuits and legislation in Kansas attempting to restrict abortion access, despite Kansans rejecting the proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate abortion rights in 2022. Planned Parenthood has fought back on these attempts.“Kansans are saying we want medical care to be private, and not in the hands of the Legislature,” Wales said. “The state passed additional requirements this year where we would have to ask patients invasive and shaming questions that have nothing to do with why they get care or how we deliver care. And so we are challenging that on behalf of our patients.”

New Planned Parenthood clinic expands abortion access for patients in and outside Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man was sentenced to prison this week in connection with human trafficking in the Wichita area.

 District Judge Christopher Magana sentenced 56-year-old Alan Jones of Wichita, to 92 months with lifetime post release, according to the Sedigwick County District Attorney's office.

On June 25, Jones pled guilty to attempted commercial sexual exploitation of a child, promoting the sale of sexual relations, aggravated assault, attempted robbery, criminal threat and criminal damage to property.

The Judge Magana also ordered $4,961.41 in restitution go to his victims, $2500 to the Human Trafficking Assistance Fund, and $800 to the Sedgwick County Child Advocacy Center. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723752389845.png" alt="Jones from his arrest in December 2021 in Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Jones from his arrest in December 2021 in Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man was sentenced to prison this week in connection with human trafficking in the Wichita area. District Judge Christopher Magana sentenced 56-year-old Alan Jones of Wichita, to 92 months with lifetime post release, according to the Sedigwick County District Attorney's office.On June 25, Jones pled guilty to attempted commercial sexual exploitation of a child, promoting the sale of sexual relations, aggravated assault, attempted robbery, criminal threat and criminal damage to property.The Judge Magana also ordered $4,961.41 in restitution go to his victims, $2500 to the Human Trafficking Assistance Fund, and $800 to the Sedgwick County Child Advocacy Center.

Kansas man admitted promoting prostitution 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities captured a wanted suspect after a chase on the Interstate in the Kansas City area, according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

This driver chose not to stop for troopers. Shortly after, the vehicle crashed into a tree line off the interstate.

The driver was arrested for felony flee and elude. The passenger had 2 felony warrants with full extradition from Arizona for kidnapping and criminal threat.&nbsp;

Troopers found weapons in the vehicle. The KHP did not release the name of the driver or passenger.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723836084811.jpeg" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities captured a wanted suspect after a chase on the Interstate in the Kansas City area, according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol.This driver chose not to stop for troopers. Shortly after, the vehicle crashed into a tree line off the interstate.The driver was arrested for felony flee and elude. The passenger had 2 felony warrants with full extradition from Arizona for kidnapping and criminal threat.&nbsp;Troopers found weapons in the vehicle. The KHP did not release the name of the driver or passenger.

KHP: Suspect wanted for kidnapping crashed into tree line

JACKSON COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 11:00 a.m. August 14, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2007 Jeep for a traffic infraction near 102nd Road on southbound U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The driver of the vehicle was identified as 59-year-old, Yvonne Deloris Pink, of Topeka. 

Deputies arrested and booked her into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp;conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case,  driving without a valid license, trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, interference with law enforcement, driving without a valid license and failure to maintain liability insurance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723815293723.png" alt="Pink-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Pink-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 11:00 a.m. August 14, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2007 Jeep for a traffic infraction near 102nd Road on southbound U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The driver of the vehicle was identified as 59-year-old, Yvonne Deloris Pink, of Topeka. Deputies arrested and booked her into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp;conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case, driving without a valid license, trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, interference with law enforcement, driving without a valid license and failure to maintain liability insurance.

Kan. woman accused of destroying evidence in a felony case

St. Marys, Kansas (AP) —An employee of a rural Kansas school district repeatedly shoved a teenager with Down syndrome into a utility closet, hit the boy and once photographed him locked in a cage used to store athletic equipment, a lawsuit claims.

The suit filed Friday in federal court said the paraprofessional assigned to the 15-year-old sent the photo to staff in the Kaw Valley district, comparing the teen to an animal and “making light of his serious, demeaning and discriminatory conduct.”

The teen's parents alleged in the suit that the paraprofessional did not have a key to the cage and had to enlist help from other district staff to open the door and release their son, who is identified in the complaint only by his initials. The suit, which includes the photo, said it was not clear how long the teen was locked in the cage.

The lawsuit names the paraprofessional, other special education staff and the district, which enrolls around 1,100 and is based in St. Marys, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Topeka.

No attorneys are listed for the district in online court records and phone messages and emails left with district staff were not immediately returned.

The suit said the teen’s placement in the closet and cage stemmed from “no behaviors whatsoever, or for minor behaviors” that stemmed from his disability.

The paraprofessional also is accused in the suit of yelling derogatory words within inches of the teen’s face on a daily basis and pulling and yanking the teen by the shirt collar around the school at least once a week.

At least once, the paraprofessional struck the teen in the neck and face, the suit said. The teen who speaks in short, abbreviated sentences, described the incident using the words “hit," “closet” and the paraprofessional's first name.

The suit said the paraprofessional also made the teen stay in soiled clothing for long periods and denied him food during lunchtime.

The suit said some staff expressed concerns to the special education teacher who oversaw the paraprofessional, as well as the district's special education director. But the suit said neither of them intervened, even though there had been other complaints about the paraprofessional’s treatment of disabled students in the past.

The suit said the defendants described their treatment of the teen as “tough love” and “how you have to handle him.”

The suit said the director instructed subordinates not to report their concerns to the state child welfare agency. However, when the parents raised concerns, a district employee reported them to the agency, citing abuse and neglect concerns, the suit said.

No criminal charges are listed in online court records for the paraprofessional or any of the employees named in the suit. And no disciplinary actions are listed for staff in a state education department database.

The suit said the teen's behavior deteriorated. The suit said he refuses to leave his home out of fear, quit using his words and increasingly punches himself in the head.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723927125081.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTHSt. Marys, Kansas (AP) —An employee of a rural Kansas school district repeatedly shoved a teenager with Down syndrome into a utility closet, hit the boy and once photographed him locked in a cage used to store athletic equipment, a lawsuit claims.The suit filed Friday in federal court said the paraprofessional assigned to the 15-year-old sent the photo to staff in the Kaw Valley district, comparing the teen to an animal and “making light of his serious, demeaning and discriminatory conduct.”The teen's parents alleged in the suit that the paraprofessional did not have a key to the cage and had to enlist help from other district staff to open the door and release their son, who is identified in the complaint only by his initials. The suit, which includes the photo, said it was not clear how long the teen was locked in the cage.The lawsuit names the paraprofessional, other special education staff and the district, which enrolls around 1,100 and is based in St. Marys, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Topeka.No attorneys are listed for the district in online court records and phone messages and emails left with district staff were not immediately returned.The suit said the teen’s placement in the closet and cage stemmed from “no behaviors whatsoever, or for minor behaviors” that stemmed from his disability.The paraprofessional also is accused in the suit of yelling derogatory words within inches of the teen’s face on a daily basis and pulling and yanking the teen by the shirt collar around the school at least once a week.At least once, the paraprofessional struck the teen in the neck and face, the suit said. The teen who speaks in short, abbreviated sentences, described the incident using the words “hit," “closet” and the paraprofessional's first name.The suit said the paraprofessional also made the teen stay in soiled clothing for long periods and denied him food during lunchtime.The suit said some staff expressed concerns to the special education teacher who oversaw the paraprofessional, as well as the district's special education director. But the suit said neither of them intervened, even though there had been other complaints about the paraprofessional’s treatment of disabled students in the past.The suit said the defendants described their treatment of the teen as “tough love” and “how you have to handle him.”The suit said the director instructed subordinates not to report their concerns to the state child welfare agency. However, when the parents raised concerns, a district employee reported them to the agency, citing abuse and neglect concerns, the suit said.No criminal charges are listed in online court records for the paraprofessional or any of the employees named in the suit. And no disciplinary actions are listed for staff in a state education department database.The suit said the teen's behavior deteriorated. The suit said he refuses to leave his home out of fear, quit using his words and increasingly punches himself in the head.

Lawsuit: Kan. school employee locked teen with Down syndrome in closet, storage cage

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the name of consumer protection, a slew of U.S. federal agencies are working to make it easier for Americans to click the unsubscribe button for unwanted memberships and recurring payment services.

A broad new government initiative, dubbed “Time Is Money," includes a rollout of new regulations and the promise of more for industries spanning from healthcare and fitness memberships to media subscriptions.

“The administration is cracking down on all the ways that companies, through paperwork, hold times and general aggravation waste people's money and waste people's time and really hold onto their money,” Neera Tanden, White House domestic policy adviser, told reporters Friday in advance of the announcement.

“Essentially in all of these practices, companies are delaying services to you or really trying to make it so difficult for you to cancel the service that they get to hold onto your money for longer and longer," Tanden said. "These seemingly small inconveniences don't happen by accident — they have huge financial consequences.”

Efforts rolled out this week include a new Federal Communications Commission inquiry into whether to impose requirements on communications companies that would make it as easy to cancel a subscription or service as it was to sign up for one.

The Federal Trade Commission in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/03/federal-trade-commission-proposes-rule-provision-making-it-easier-consumers-click-cancel-recurring">March 2023 initiated</a>&nbsp;“click to cancel” rulemaking requiring companies to let customers end subscriptions as easily as they started them.

Also Monday, the heads of the departments of Labor and of Health and Human Services are asking health insurance companies and group health plans to make improvements to customer interactions with their health coverage, and “in the coming months will identify additional opportunities to improve consumers’ interactions with the health care system," according to a White House summary.

The government already has launched several initiatives aimed at improving the consumer experience.

In October, the FTC announced a proposed rule to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-junk-fees-ftc-hidden-bogus-80e5c17dc7607b99aa92c6c816b96e52">ban hidden and bogus junk fees</a>, which can mask the total cost of concert tickets, hotel rooms and utility bills.

In April, the Transportation Department finalized rules that would require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-airlines-points-raising-bag-fees-1530a7ba48a0c6685ce2ef7da58a983a">fees for baggage</a>&nbsp;or reservation cancellations.

The department also has taken actions against individual companies accused of misleading customers.

In June, the Justice Department, referred by the FTC,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/040-UnredactedComplaint.pdf">filed a lawsuit against software maker Adobe</a>&nbsp;and two of its executives, Maninder Sawhney and David Wadhwani, for allegedly pushing consumers toward the firm's “annual paid monthly” subscription without properly disclosing that canceling the plan in the first year could cost hundreds of dollars.

Dana Rao, Adobe's general counsel, said in an emailed statement that Adobe disagrees with the lawsuit’s characterization of its business and “we will refute the FTC’s claims in court.”

“The early termination fees equate to minimal impact to our revenue, accounting for less than half a percent of our total revenue globally, but is an important part of our ability to offer customers a choice in plans that balance cost and commitment,” Rao said.

Some business advocates are not a fan of the government's overall efforts to crack down on junk fees.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the name of consumer protection, a slew of U.S. federal agencies are working to make it easier for Americans to click the unsubscribe button for unwanted memberships and recurring payment services.A broad new government initiative, dubbed “Time Is Money," includes a rollout of new regulations and the promise of more for industries spanning from healthcare and fitness memberships to media subscriptions.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden and Vice President Harris are cracking down on companies that rob families of their time and hard-earned money. Here’s how: <a href="https://t.co/1y73sxJ7PE">pic.twitter.com/1y73sxJ7PE</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1823125775261880323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“The administration is cracking down on all the ways that companies, through paperwork, hold times and general aggravation waste people's money and waste people's time and really hold onto their money,” Neera Tanden, White House domestic policy adviser, told reporters Friday in advance of the announcement.“Essentially in all of these practices, companies are delaying services to you or really trying to make it so difficult for you to cancel the service that they get to hold onto your money for longer and longer," Tanden said. "These seemingly small inconveniences don't happen by accident — they have huge financial consequences.”Efforts rolled out this week include a new Federal Communications Commission inquiry into whether to impose requirements on communications companies that would make it as easy to cancel a subscription or service as it was to sign up for one.The Federal Trade Commission in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/03/federal-trade-commission-proposes-rule-provision-making-it-easier-consumers-click-cancel-recurring">March 2023 initiated</a>&nbsp;“click to cancel” rulemaking requiring companies to let customers end subscriptions as easily as they started them.Also Monday, the heads of the departments of Labor and of Health and Human Services are asking health insurance companies and group health plans to make improvements to customer interactions with their health coverage, and “in the coming months will identify additional opportunities to improve consumers’ interactions with the health care system," according to a White House summary.The government already has launched several initiatives aimed at improving the consumer experience.In October, the FTC announced a proposed rule to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-junk-fees-ftc-hidden-bogus-80e5c17dc7607b99aa92c6c816b96e52">ban hidden and bogus junk fees</a>, which can mask the total cost of concert tickets, hotel rooms and utility bills.In April, the Transportation Department finalized rules that would require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-airlines-points-raising-bag-fees-1530a7ba48a0c6685ce2ef7da58a983a">fees for baggage</a>&nbsp;or reservation cancellations.The department also has taken actions against individual companies accused of misleading customers.In June, the Justice Department, referred by the FTC,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/040-UnredactedComplaint.pdf">filed a lawsuit against software maker Adobe</a>&nbsp;and two of its executives, Maninder Sawhney and David Wadhwani, for allegedly pushing consumers toward the firm's “annual paid monthly” subscription without properly disclosing that canceling the plan in the first year could cost hundreds of dollars.Dana Rao, Adobe's general counsel, said in an emailed statement that Adobe disagrees with the lawsuit’s characterization of its business and “we will refute the FTC’s claims in court.”“The early termination fees equate to minimal impact to our revenue, accounting for less than half a percent of our total revenue globally, but is an important part of our ability to offer customers a choice in plans that balance cost and commitment,” Rao said.Some business advocates are not a fan of the government's overall efforts to crack down on junk fees.

 US government wants to make it easier for you to click the 'unsubscribe' button

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723904755384.png" alt=" Snak Atak opened in March in the former Indian Country Mini Mart on land within Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation reservation. (Cami Koons for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Snak Atak opened in March in the former Indian Country Mini Mart on land within Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation reservation. (Cami Koons for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">CAMI KOONS</a>&nbsp; for&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a> The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in a federal lawsuit accuses the Jackson County sheriff of threatening to arrest tribal police over a tax dispute with a gas station on the reservation.The lawsuit against Sheriff Tim Morse signals an escalation in longstanding tensions over law enforcement jurisdiction on the nation’s land.Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation chairman, said the sheriff does not collaborate with the nation.“We have really had a checkered past with Jackson County, specifically the sheriff,” Rupnick said, noting Morse and his wife are former employees of Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.In late May, the lawsuit says, Jackson County sheriff’s officers interfered with tribal police who were trying to serve cease and desist orders at Snak Atak. The nation alleges the gas station failed to charge and report tribe-specific taxes.Last week, the nation was granted an order of exclusion, allowing tribal police to escort management from the business and to close its doors.Snak Atak opened in March in the space formerly known as Indian Country Mini Mart. It sits just off northbound U.S. Highway 75, within the bounds of Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation reservation.Prairie Band Potawatomi Tax Commission officials arrived on site after several months of the business selling “contraband cigarettes” — which means they don’t have the tribal tax sticker — and failing to submit necessary reports, the lawsuit says. The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Complaint-PBPN-v-Jackson-Co-Sheriff.pdf">court filing</a>&nbsp;alleges tax commission officials were denied access to investigate the store.Tax commission officials left to seek a cease and desist order. When they returned to the business on the same day, May 28, with tribal police to serve the order and to chain the doors of the business, Jackson County sheriff’s officers arrived and told tribal officials they could be subject to arrest if they did not leave.“Our civil regulatory authority is absolute within the boundaries of the reservation,” Rupnick said. “Plus (Snak Atak) agreed to abiding by our laws.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723904723828.png" alt="Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick is chairman of Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. (Cami Koons for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick is chairman of Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. (Cami Koons for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>According to the court filing, Snak Atak applied for, and the tax commission approved, liquor, tobacco, business and motor fuel licenses. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbpindiantribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PBPN-Tribal-Tobacco-Wholesaler-Retailer-License-Application-revised-9.13.22.pdf" target="_blank">licenses state</a>&nbsp;the applicant “be bound by and comply with all laws of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and do hereby consensually submit to the jurisdiction of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.”Raja Rain, manager at Snak Atak, said he did not know about the implications of his store with Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and the tribal police until they showed up at the business in May. Rain said, in an interview before the shuttering of his business, he was not part of the permitting and paperwork phase of the business, but has managed the store since it opened.“We don’t mind paying the taxes, but they need to make it clear: are we paying state or tribal?” Rain said. “They need to figure out to who we need to pay the taxes.”Rain said he pays taxes to the state and has “everything legal,” since he and the owners are not members of Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.The nation maintains that tribal membership is irrelevant to following its laws if a business is on the reservation.Rain expressed concerns about maintaining the business if it has to pay additional taxes.“We came to have a business,” Rain said. “How (are) we going to survive?”Rupnick said the business, which is registered as Wamego Store LLC, did not appeal the cease and desist order in Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation District Court. Prairie Band Potawatomi Tax Commission officials returned in June on two additional occasions to investigate compliance, according to the order of exclusion.The order of exclusion, granted by the nation’s district court to the tax commission, restricts the business from operating on the reservation and permits tribal police to escort employees from the reservation and to secure the business.The tax commission and tribal police enforced the order without interference from sheriff’s officers on Aug. 8, according to a press release from the nation.“They’ve pretty much made their own bed,” Rupnick said in an Aug. 7 interview with Kansas Reflector. “So I think that it’s time for us to end our relationship with them.”Snak Atak’s attorney did not return requests for comment.The lawsuit against Morse points to the jurisdictional disagreement at Snak Atak, but cites several additional instances, some related to parking violations, where Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation argues county law enforcement overstepped its bounds by dealing with civil, rather than criminal, actions.The complaint says Morse and his office have “repeatedly and intentionally overstepped their lawful authority and interfered with the nation’s authority over activities on its reservation.”Morse did not respond to requests for comment.The nation, according to its complaint, seeks a declaration from the sheriff that the department lacked the authority to interfere at Snak Atak and lacks civil jurisdiction within the reservation, as well as a permanent injunction prohibiting sheriff’s officers from interfering in the nation’s civil-regulatory jurisdiction on the reservation.“You would think that you would want to work together,” Rupnick said. “If you don’t have to dispatch an officer down to the reservation, why not try and work together with that?”<a href="https://narf.org/tribal-state-jurisdiction/#kansas" target="_blank">Public Law 280</a>, established in 1953, gave Kansas civil and criminal jurisdiction on tribal lands, which, according to a&nbsp;<a href="http://plainshumanities.unl.edu/encyclopedia/doc/egp.law.044" target="_blank">University of Nebraska Lincoln publication</a>, led “to virtually continuous disputes” and “jurisdictional uncertainty between tribal, city, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.”<a href="https://nativegov.org/news/its-time-to-end-public-law-280/" target="_blank">Native advocacy groups</a>&nbsp;have called for the end of the law, claiming it cedes power from the tribal police to the county. Rupnick said the same.Rupnick said he has tried to develop a memorandum of understanding with the sheriff to establish which entity has jurisdiction where, but he said Morse was unwilling. He said he hopes the lawsuit can help forge a greater understanding and collaboration between the law enforcement agencies.“We shouldn’t be adversaries,” Rupnick said, “Of course, I don’t want crime, but I also don’t want my sovereignty infringed upon either.”