SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating fatal officer involved shooting that occurred on March 6, in the area of 21st&nbsp;Street North and Arkansas in Wichita.

Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, Sedgwick County 911 received a call reporting someone was in a house pointing a gun at another person in the 2300 block of North Fairview, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Lt. Nathan Gibbs.

The suspect left the residence prior to the officer’s arrival. Several Wichita Police Officers arrived in the area at approximately 7:54 PM and located a man later identified as 35-year-old Luis A. Rivera, in the street holding a gun to his head, according to Gibbs.

Officers attempted to talk to Rivera and get him to put the gun down. He walked away from the officers, going south on Fairview, still holding a gun to his head and yelling at the officers. 

Some officers followed Rivera on foot while others followed in police vehicles. A Crisis Negotiator was on scene and utilized the patrol car’s public address speaker to communicate with Rivera and ordered him to drop the gun.

Rivera walked west on 21st&nbsp;Street, continuing to hold the gun to his head and refusing to comply with the multiple requests to drop the gun. Other officers in the area attempted to divert traffic on 21st&nbsp;street to reduce the danger to the public, officers, and Rivera.

At approximately 8:04 PM a supervisor requested less lethal munitions as Rivera walked to a parking lot of a vacant building at 21st&nbsp;and Arkansas. An officer deployed a less lethal 40mm foam projectile, striking the suspect in the back in an attempt to have him comply. 

While the officer was announcing the deployment of the less lethal round, Rivera stated he was going to make it lethal. Rivera turned toward the officers, leveling his gun toward the officers, and fired multiple rounds. Eight officers returned fire and struck Rivera multiple times.

Officers rendered aid to Rivera until the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS arrived on scene at approximately 8:14 PM. Rivera was pronounced dead on scene at approximately 8:21 PM.

No officers were injured during this incident.

Once the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709935073364.png" alt="Police body camera images released by Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Police body camera images released by Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating fatal officer involved shooting that occurred on March 6, in the area of 21st&nbsp;Street North and Arkansas in Wichita.Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, Sedgwick County 911 received a call reporting someone was in a house pointing a gun at another person in the 2300 block of North Fairview, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Lt. Nathan Gibbs.The suspect left the residence prior to the officer’s arrival. Several Wichita Police Officers arrived in the area at approximately 7:54 PM and located a man later identified as 35-year-old Luis A. Rivera, in the street holding a gun to his head, according to Gibbs.Officers attempted to talk to Rivera and get him to put the gun down. He walked away from the officers, going south on Fairview, still holding a gun to his head and yelling at the officers. Some officers followed Rivera on foot while others followed in police vehicles. A Crisis Negotiator was on scene and utilized the patrol car’s public address speaker to communicate with Rivera and ordered him to drop the gun.Rivera walked west on 21st&nbsp;Street, continuing to hold the gun to his head and refusing to comply with the multiple requests to drop the gun. Other officers in the area attempted to divert traffic on 21st&nbsp;street to reduce the danger to the public, officers, and Rivera.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709779578724.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>At approximately 8:04 PM a supervisor requested less lethal munitions as Rivera walked to a parking lot of a vacant building at 21st&nbsp;and Arkansas. An officer deployed a less lethal 40mm foam projectile, striking the suspect in the back in an attempt to have him comply. While the officer was announcing the deployment of the less lethal round, Rivera stated he was going to make it lethal. Rivera turned toward the officers, leveling his gun toward the officers, and fired multiple rounds. Eight officers returned fire and struck Rivera multiple times.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709935262312.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Officers rendered aid to Rivera until the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS arrived on scene at approximately 8:14 PM. Rivera was pronounced dead on scene at approximately 8:21 PM.No officers were injured during this incident.Once the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for review.

Investigators ID suspect in deadly Kan. officer shooting

SHAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas home was damaged in a fire early Friday.

just before 1 a.m., crews responded to a house fire at 4324 SE Massachusetts Court in Topeka, according to department spokesperson Rosie Nichols.

First responders found a single-story house with smoke and flames coming from the rear of the structure. Firefighters performed a primary search and found no occupants were home at the&nbsp; time of the fire. The fire was extinguished and contained to the home.

Investigators determined the&nbsp;cause of the fire was accidental. The total loss was approximately $80,000. The home had no working smoke detectors, according to Nichols.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas home was damaged in a fire early Friday.just before 1 a.m., crews responded to a house fire at 4324 SE Massachusetts Court in Topeka, according to department spokesperson Rosie Nichols.First responders found a single-story house with smoke and flames coming from the rear of the structure. Firefighters performed a primary search and found no occupants were home at the&nbsp; time of the fire. The fire was extinguished and contained to the home.Investigators determined the&nbsp;cause of the fire was accidental. The total loss was approximately $80,000. The home had no working smoke detectors, according to Nichols.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details.

$80,000 damage after accident caused Kansas house fire

SEWARD COUNTY– Federal investigators determined a Liberal, Kansas truck washing company failed to protect workers from hydrogen sulfide gas as they entered over-the-road tanker trailers to clean them out, causing one worker’s fatal injuries and hospitalizing two co-workers, according to a statement from the agency.

On Sept. 1, 2023,&nbsp; police responded to an EMS call at the the Red Barn Truck Wash,&nbsp; 1200 East Pancake in Liberal.

First responders found 3 men unconscious in a tanker trailer. EMS transported the men to Southwest Medical Center. One of the men died and another was transferred to a Wichita Hospital.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.osha.gov/">Occupational Safety and Health Administration</a>&nbsp;responded to the incident and found Red Barn Truck Wash &amp; Service Center LLC failed to evaluate the tanker trailers for hazardous conditions – including testing the atmosphere – and did not train workers on potential hazards before letting them enter the confined spaces, both violations of OSHA regulations.

“Wherever organic matter such as crops and other materials are stored, hydrogen sulfide may be present as a natural byproduct. Workers must never enter storage facilities, tankers or other confined spaces without doing atmospheric testing and wearing protective equipment such as respirators&nbsp;capable of preventing inhalation of this colorless and toxic gas,”&nbsp;explained&nbsp;OSHA Area Director Todd Underwood in Wichita, Kansas. “Red Barn Truck Wash &amp; Service Center must implement procedures and training immediately to protect its employees from these preventable injuries.”

Inspectors found multiple violations of OSHA’s confined space regulations and noted Red Barn Truck Wash lacked both respiratory and hearing protection programs and exposed workers to fall hazards of up to nine feet while cleaning the trailers.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/newsreleases/2024/03/OSHA20240446.pdf">OSHA cited the company for two willful and 24 serious violations and proposed $171,680 in penalties.</a>&nbsp;

OSHA provides information on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.osha.gov/confined-spaces">confined space,</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.osha.gov/noise">hearing conservation</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.osha.gov/respiratory-protection">respiratory protection</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;use by employers to understand how to protect workers from these hazards.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oshrc.gov/" target="_blank">Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693596984353.png" alt="Red Barn Truck Wash, 1200 East Pancake in Liberal.-Google image" />
 <figcaption>Red Barn Truck Wash, 1200 East Pancake in Liberal.-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY– Federal investigators determined a Liberal, Kansas truck washing company failed to protect workers from hydrogen sulfide gas as they entered over-the-road tanker trailers to clean them out, causing one worker’s fatal injuries and hospitalizing two co-workers, according to a statement from the agency.On Sept. 1, 2023,&nbsp; police responded to an EMS call at the the Red Barn Truck Wash,&nbsp; 1200 East Pancake in Liberal.First responders found 3 men unconscious in a tanker trailer. EMS transported the men to Southwest Medical Center. One of the men died and another was transferred to a Wichita Hospital.The U.S. Department of Labor’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.osha.gov/">Occupational Safety and Health Administration</a>&nbsp;responded to the incident and found Red Barn Truck Wash &amp; Service Center LLC failed to evaluate the tanker trailers for hazardous conditions – including testing the atmosphere – and did not train workers on potential hazards before letting them enter the confined spaces, both violations of OSHA regulations.“Wherever organic matter such as crops and other materials are stored, hydrogen sulfide may be present as a natural byproduct. Workers must never enter storage facilities, tankers or other confined spaces without doing atmospheric testing and wearing protective equipment such as respirators&nbsp;capable of preventing inhalation of this colorless and toxic gas,”&nbsp;explained&nbsp;OSHA Area Director Todd Underwood in Wichita, Kansas. “Red Barn Truck Wash &amp; Service Center must implement procedures and training immediately to protect its employees from these preventable injuries.”Inspectors found multiple violations of OSHA’s confined space regulations and noted Red Barn Truck Wash lacked both respiratory and hearing protection programs and exposed workers to fall hazards of up to nine feet while cleaning the trailers.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/newsreleases/2024/03/OSHA20240446.pdf">OSHA cited the company for two willful and 24 serious violations and proposed $171,680 in penalties.</a>&nbsp;OSHA provides information on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.osha.gov/confined-spaces">confined space,</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.osha.gov/noise">hearing conservation</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.osha.gov/respiratory-protection">respiratory protection</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;use by employers to understand how to protect workers from these hazards.The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oshrc.gov/" target="_blank">Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission</a>.

OSHA: Kansas truck wash at fault in death of worker

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The younger brother of Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been sentenced to six months' probation in a case alleging an assault on a woman.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patrick-mahomes-brother-charges-chiefs-812506d230c0964df8ff7feecf4c359f">Jackson Mahomes</a>, 23, appeared Thursday for his sentencing hearing via video conference and pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count of battery, according to online court records. Following his sentence, Jackson Mahomes was taken into the custody of the Johnson County Sheriff's office, which will determine whether he's eligible for work release.

The sentencing came more than two months after prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charges-dropped-jackson-mahomes-sexual-assault-e342afb174f0567499b9458504b79c2b">dismissed three felony charges</a>&nbsp;for aggravated sexual battery related to accusations that Jackson Mahomes grabbed a woman by the neck and kissed her against her will inside an Overland Park, Kansas, restaurant in February 2023. Those more serious charges were dropped due to a lack of cooperation from the woman, according to a court filing.

The remaining misdemeanor battery charge said Jackson Mahomes shoved a waiter who tried to come into a room where he was with the woman, according to investigators.

Prosecutors dropped the felony charges after the accuser, who was the owner of the restaurant, refused to testify in the case. The woman reported that she endured death threats and harassment and that her restaurant was vandalized in the wake of the charges. She closed the restaurant in August.

Jackson Mahomes is not the only relative of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' family to face recent brushes with the law. The NFL player's father, former Major League Baseball pitcher Patrick Mahomes Sr., was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-patrick-mahomes-father-arrest-cfcca2814d423c6411948c30e38d98cf">arrested in Texas</a>&nbsp;on Feb. 3, accused of driving while intoxicated.

A week later, Patrick Mahomes earned his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-49ers-chiefs-mahomes-d2878a311b13408ebc186638256e703e">third Super Bowl championship ring</a>&nbsp;in February, leading the Chiefs to a 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684270297047.png" alt="File photo Jackson Mahomes was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patrick-mahomes-brother-charges-chiefs-812506d230c0964df8ff7feecf4c359f">charged</a>&nbsp;with three counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of battery after the incident at Aspens Restaurant and Lounge in Overland Park, Kansas, on Feb. 25.&nbsp;photo AP" />
 <figcaption>File photo Jackson Mahomes was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patrick-mahomes-brother-charges-chiefs-812506d230c0964df8ff7feecf4c359f">charged</a>&nbsp;with three counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of battery after the incident at Aspens Restaurant and Lounge in Overland Park, Kansas, on Feb. 25.&nbsp;photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The younger brother of Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been sentenced to six months' probation in a case alleging an assault on a woman.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patrick-mahomes-brother-charges-chiefs-812506d230c0964df8ff7feecf4c359f">Jackson Mahomes</a>, 23, appeared Thursday for his sentencing hearing via video conference and pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count of battery, according to online court records. Following his sentence, Jackson Mahomes was taken into the custody of the Johnson County Sheriff's office, which will determine whether he's eligible for work release.The sentencing came more than two months after prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charges-dropped-jackson-mahomes-sexual-assault-e342afb174f0567499b9458504b79c2b">dismissed three felony charges</a>&nbsp;for aggravated sexual battery related to accusations that Jackson Mahomes grabbed a woman by the neck and kissed her against her will inside an Overland Park, Kansas, restaurant in February 2023. Those more serious charges were dropped due to a lack of cooperation from the woman, according to a court filing.The remaining misdemeanor battery charge said Jackson Mahomes shoved a waiter who tried to come into a room where he was with the woman, according to investigators.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683125496286.png" alt="Jackson Mahomes-Johnson Co. booking photo" />
 <figcaption>Jackson Mahomes-Johnson Co. booking photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Prosecutors dropped the felony charges after the accuser, who was the owner of the restaurant, refused to testify in the case. The woman reported that she endured death threats and harassment and that her restaurant was vandalized in the wake of the charges. She closed the restaurant in August.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707097553263.png" alt="-Paatrick&nbsp;Mahomes , Sr. -photo Smith County, Texas Jail" />
 <figcaption>-Paatrick&nbsp;Mahomes , Sr. -photo Smith County, Texas Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>Jackson Mahomes is not the only relative of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' family to face recent brushes with the law. The NFL player's father, former Major League Baseball pitcher Patrick Mahomes Sr., was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-patrick-mahomes-father-arrest-cfcca2814d423c6411948c30e38d98cf">arrested in Texas</a>&nbsp;on Feb. 3, accused of driving while intoxicated.A week later, Patrick Mahomes earned his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-49ers-chiefs-mahomes-d2878a311b13408ebc186638256e703e">third Super Bowl championship ring</a>&nbsp;in February, leading the Chiefs to a 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

No jail time for brother of KC Chiefs quarterback in assault case

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of 1-year-old girl and have arrested her parents.

On Thursday, officers with the Riley County Police arrested 24-year-old Matthew Paul Wesley Miller of Junction City and 26-year-old Sonya Simone Monae Lark Williams of Ogden in connection with the death of their one-year-old daughter, Ziya Miller, according to a media release from the RCPD.

In April of 2023, officers with the Junction City Police Department responded to a call for a report of a child not breathing. &nbsp;Upon arrival, they discovered the child had died in Manhattan but had been transported to Junction City by Miller. 

As a result of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death, both parents of the deceased child have been charged with first-degree murder, among other charges.

Miller has been charged with murder in the first degree, aggravated endangering a child, and distribution of opiates while Williams is charged with murder in the first degree and aggravated endangering a child. &nbsp;

Miller who has has previous felony convictions for aggravated battery and burglary is being held on a total bond of $1,250,000 and is currently confined at Riley County Jail. The total bond set for Williams is $1,100,00 and she too is currently confined in Riley County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709918899353.jpeg" alt="Matthew Paul Wesley Miller has previous felony convictions for aggravated battery and burglary- photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Matthew Paul Wesley Miller has previous felony convictions for aggravated battery and burglary- photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of 1-year-old girl and have arrested her parents.On Thursday, officers with the Riley County Police arrested 24-year-old Matthew Paul Wesley Miller of Junction City and 26-year-old Sonya Simone Monae Lark Williams of Ogden in connection with the death of their one-year-old daughter, Ziya Miller, according to a media release from the RCPD.In April of 2023, officers with the Junction City Police Department responded to a call for a report of a child not breathing. &nbsp;Upon arrival, they discovered the child had died in Manhattan but had been transported to Junction City by Miller. As a result of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death, both parents of the deceased child have been charged with first-degree murder, among other charges.Miller has been charged with murder in the first degree, aggravated endangering a child, and distribution of opiates while Williams is charged with murder in the first degree and aggravated endangering a child. &nbsp;Miller who has has previous felony convictions for aggravated battery and burglary is being held on a total bond of $1,250,000 and is currently confined at Riley County Jail. The total bond set for Williams is $1,100,00 and she too is currently confined in Riley County.

Kansas couple accused in death of 1-year-old daughter

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a prisoner for alleged battery on a jail deputy.

Just after 4:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report for aggravated battery on LEO, battery on LEO, and criminal destruction of property at the Riley County Jail, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

 A 37-year-old female RCPD Corrections Officer reported a 32-year-old female inmate attempted to strangle the corrections officer. 

Tiffany Ryals of Manhattan is accused of aggravated battery on LEO, battery on LEO, and criminal destruction of property. She was issued a $25,000 bond for these charge and remains confined in the Riley County Jail.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a prisoner for alleged battery on a jail deputy.Just after 4:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report for aggravated battery on LEO, battery on LEO, and criminal destruction of property at the Riley County Jail, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. A 37-year-old female RCPD Corrections Officer reported a 32-year-old female inmate attempted to strangle the corrections officer. Tiffany Ryals of Manhattan is accused of aggravated battery on LEO, battery on LEO, and criminal destruction of property. She was issued a $25,000 bond for these charge and remains confined in the Riley County Jail.

Prisoner attempted to strangle Kansas jail deputy

Washington, D.C. —Kansas GOP lawmakers&nbsp;were quick to respond to President Biden's State of the Union address to the nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a statement from his office Marshall wrote, "Tonight, Joe Biden gave his final State of the Union address. America watched as he tried to rewrite history as part of a last-ditch effort to save his political future that's in free fall."&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;

"The fact of the matter is, there is no amount of 'spin' Joe Biden can give that will hide the damage he's done to our nation: destroying a recovering economy, a secure border, and an energy-independent nation. His vacuum of leadership has allowed war through weakness and empowered Russia, Iran, and the Chinese Communist Party to sow chaos throughout the world."

"In Joe Biden's America, we are less safe, and the American dream is further out of reach by the day,"&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;"Mr. President, actions speak louder than words, and your actions have proven you are not up for this job. November cannot come soon enough."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709862655297.png" alt="Senator Roger Marshall entering the House chamber ahead of the State of the Union address" />
 <figcaption>Senator Roger Marshall entering the House chamber ahead of the State of the Union address</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington, D.C. —Kansas GOP lawmakers&nbsp;were quick to respond to President Biden's State of the Union address to the nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Did I miss the part where this is supposed to unite America? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1765943213196447977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Joe Biden&#39;s presidency has resulted in three years of American decline. Open borders, high prices, and violent crime are wreaking havoc on families and communities across our state. Instead of leveling with the American people, the President used his final State of the Union…&mdash; Rep. Jake LaTurner (@RepLaTurner) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLaTurner/status/1765945185773535672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My statement on the State of the Union. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/q33FC2DkMJ">pic.twitter.com/q33FC2DkMJ</a>&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1765946172533866825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Someone needs to tell Joe Biden this is an address for America, not Ukraine. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1765927821581373642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the land, stating otherwise undermines our democracy and shows your blatant disrespect for our Constitution. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a> <a href="https://t.co/F2fqpUzM6I">pic.twitter.com/F2fqpUzM6I</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1765931802311446751?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a statement from his office Marshall wrote, "Tonight, Joe Biden gave his final State of the Union address. America watched as he tried to rewrite history as part of a last-ditch effort to save his political future that's in free fall."&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;"The fact of the matter is, there is no amount of 'spin' Joe Biden can give that will hide the damage he's done to our nation: destroying a recovering economy, a secure border, and an energy-independent nation. His vacuum of leadership has allowed war through weakness and empowered Russia, Iran, and the Chinese Communist Party to sow chaos throughout the world."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We&#39;re halfway through Biden&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a> speech and he has not mentioned the crisis at the border ONCE. That says everything you need to know about his priorities. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU2024</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1765937171381289058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Pay your fair share in taxes but not your own student loan debt... Make that make sense? 🤔 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1765935708605133036?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Joe Biden has destroyed America&#39;s economy from the middle out and from the bottom up. FACT: Nearly 72 percent of all job gains since 2021 were simply jobs that were being recovered from the pandemic, not new job creation.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU2024</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1765932890968277140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">That about sums it up <a href="https://t.co/XpEnDuRxMy">https://t.co/XpEnDuRxMy</a>&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1765945371467960462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">These are the victims of your border crisis, Mr. President. Say their names: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a> <a href="https://t.co/EJfqVLan6O">https://t.co/EJfqVLan6O</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1765938695817908726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"In Joe Biden's America, we are less safe, and the American dream is further out of reach by the day,"&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;"Mr. President, actions speak louder than words, and your actions have proven you are not up for this job. November cannot come soon enough."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Numbers speak for themselves. <a href="https://t.co/BqlYSz0yvR">pic.twitter.com/BqlYSz0yvR</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1765922193735659807?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Kansas GOP lawmakers critical of Biden's State of the Union message

FINNEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Garden City Police Department reported that&nbsp;64-year-old Thanh Du was located and is now safe.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Statewide Silver Alert is now canceled.&nbsp;

FINNEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Garden City Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Garden City man.

The whereabouts of 64-year-old Thanh Du are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him, according to a media release from the KBI.

Thanh was last seen by family at his residence in the 1100 block of N. 12th St. in Garden City, on Thursday, March 7 around 2 p.m. When family later returned, Thanh was missing and had left the residence without his phone and wallet.

Thanh is believed to be driving a 2021 white Toyota Rav4 bearing Kansas tag 930PBK. He is an Asian male who is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. 

He has black hair and brown eyes. Thanh was last seen wearing a tan t-shirt with “Western Moto” on the front, and navy&nbsp;blue sweatpants. He was not wearing shoes. Thanh has dementia and a heart condition. He speaks little English, as he primarily speaks Vietnamese.

If you see Thanh Du or his vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the GCPD at (620) 276-1300.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709918670110.png" alt="Thanh Du " />
 <figcaption>Thanh Du </figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Garden City Police Department reported that&nbsp;64-year-old Thanh Du was located and is now safe.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Statewide Silver Alert is now canceled.&nbsp;---------------FINNEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Garden City Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Garden City man.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709918707728.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The whereabouts of 64-year-old Thanh Du are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him, according to a media release from the KBI.Thanh was last seen by family at his residence in the 1100 block of N. 12th St. in Garden City, on Thursday, March 7 around 2 p.m. When family later returned, Thanh was missing and had left the residence without his phone and wallet.Thanh is believed to be driving a 2021 white Toyota Rav4 bearing Kansas tag 930PBK. He is an Asian male who is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Thanh was last seen wearing a tan t-shirt with “Western Moto” on the front, and navy&nbsp;blue sweatpants. He was not wearing shoes. Thanh has dementia and a heart condition. He speaks little English, as he primarily speaks Vietnamese.If you see Thanh Du or his vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the GCPD at (620) 276-1300.

KBI: Silver Alert canceled; missing SW Kansas man found

The funeral service for Police Officer Cody Allen will be held on Friday at 11:00a.m. at Community of Christ - The Auditorium, 1001 W Walnut Street, Independence, Missouri.

&nbsp;Allen and  16th Circuit Court process server Drexel Mack were shot and killed Feb. 29, while working at a residence in rural Jackson County.

All vehicles arriving for the service must enter from the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Walnut Street and will follow parking detail directions from there.

A procession to the cemetery for graveside services will follow the funeral on March 8, The procession will leave from The Auditorium, 1001 W Walnut Street, Independence, Missouri and proceed east on Walnut Street to Memorial Drive to Truman Road to Lee’s Summit Road to 39th Street to Little Blue Parkway to I-70 East to Exit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/37a?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZVJOZCyf-Z5Umwp_mONSJ5H9D7w3fIF5_GFbWvpiH78UGPI_GhJdWu7jAYe2Ri6LlTEmiVIEfHiIabuIcVdnWXZsUSRlpjj-P5Xhz0y22GGH6rx-6LHbCVkzdV-NQi0_AK_wmhn1c5pWAurj09wG1G5DR5s8bePwcfLhqrKf1YJeQ&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#37A</a>&nbsp;where the procession will continue through Odessa to Odessa Cemetery.

From there, a parking detail will be onsite to assist. All professional law enforcement honors will take place at the cemetery.The public should expect traffic delays if traveling around the venues listed above and near the procession route on Friday, March 8.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Independence Police Department received the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesHonorFlag?__cft__[0]=AZUXUk35ZM9pPRgK0SHb5DAGfuTbULv8TF5CloCNAR09Hk2Raz_w5O4KS99EjoIYwsJmuM_c4XCnl7SHc0jx87E-wW6UHdNPgIe6L6jpevEuWhDmRh3-5U9q4Ugiftdpil6j_Hbo0Tz9cAd48gtTJFPXXe3keGOXTaK3cGiSI1coWkr6moqWdzB5zk6lqyLJIjs&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">The United States Honor Flag</a>&nbsp;at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FlyKansasCity?__cft__[0]=AZUXUk35ZM9pPRgK0SHb5DAGfuTbULv8TF5CloCNAR09Hk2Raz_w5O4KS99EjoIYwsJmuM_c4XCnl7SHc0jx87E-wW6UHdNPgIe6L6jpevEuWhDmRh3-5U9q4Ugiftdpil6j_Hbo0Tz9cAd48gtTJFPXXe3keGOXTaK3cGiSI1coWkr6moqWdzB5zk6lqyLJIjs&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas City International Airport</a>.

The Honor Flag travels across the country honoring America's fallen heroes. The flag arrived via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/United?__cft__[0]=AZUXUk35ZM9pPRgK0SHb5DAGfuTbULv8TF5CloCNAR09Hk2Raz_w5O4KS99EjoIYwsJmuM_c4XCnl7SHc0jx87E-wW6UHdNPgIe6L6jpevEuWhDmRh3-5U9q4Ugiftdpil6j_Hbo0Tz9cAd48gtTJFPXXe3keGOXTaK3cGiSI1coWkr6moqWdzB5zk6lqyLJIjs&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">United</a>&nbsp;and was presented to Deputy Chief Michelle Sumstad by the Captain of the arriving flight. The Flag will be at Officer Cody Allen's side throughout the funeral service.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1709258563931.png" alt="Cody Allen courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Cody Allen courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The funeral service for Police Officer Cody Allen will be held on Friday at 11:00a.m. at Community of Christ - The Auditorium, 1001 W Walnut Street, Independence, Missouri.&nbsp;Allen and 16th Circuit Court process server Drexel Mack were shot and killed Feb. 29, while working at a residence in rural Jackson County.All vehicles arriving for the service must enter from the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Walnut Street and will follow parking detail directions from there.A procession to the cemetery for graveside services will follow the funeral on March 8, The procession will leave from The Auditorium, 1001 W Walnut Street, Independence, Missouri and proceed east on Walnut Street to Memorial Drive to Truman Road to Lee’s Summit Road to 39th Street to Little Blue Parkway to I-70 East to Exit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/37a?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZVJOZCyf-Z5Umwp_mONSJ5H9D7w3fIF5_GFbWvpiH78UGPI_GhJdWu7jAYe2Ri6LlTEmiVIEfHiIabuIcVdnWXZsUSRlpjj-P5Xhz0y22GGH6rx-6LHbCVkzdV-NQi0_AK_wmhn1c5pWAurj09wG1G5DR5s8bePwcfLhqrKf1YJeQ&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#37A</a>&nbsp;where the procession will continue through Odessa to Odessa Cemetery.From there, a parking detail will be onsite to assist. All professional law enforcement honors will take place at the cemetery.The public should expect traffic delays if traveling around the venues listed above and near the procession route on Friday, March 8.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709764444899.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday afternoon, the Independence Police Department received the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesHonorFlag?__cft__[0]=AZUXUk35ZM9pPRgK0SHb5DAGfuTbULv8TF5CloCNAR09Hk2Raz_w5O4KS99EjoIYwsJmuM_c4XCnl7SHc0jx87E-wW6UHdNPgIe6L6jpevEuWhDmRh3-5U9q4Ugiftdpil6j_Hbo0Tz9cAd48gtTJFPXXe3keGOXTaK3cGiSI1coWkr6moqWdzB5zk6lqyLJIjs&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">The United States Honor Flag</a>&nbsp;at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FlyKansasCity?__cft__[0]=AZUXUk35ZM9pPRgK0SHb5DAGfuTbULv8TF5CloCNAR09Hk2Raz_w5O4KS99EjoIYwsJmuM_c4XCnl7SHc0jx87E-wW6UHdNPgIe6L6jpevEuWhDmRh3-5U9q4Ugiftdpil6j_Hbo0Tz9cAd48gtTJFPXXe3keGOXTaK3cGiSI1coWkr6moqWdzB5zk6lqyLJIjs&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas City International Airport</a>.The Honor Flag travels across the country honoring America's fallen heroes. The flag arrived via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/United?__cft__[0]=AZUXUk35ZM9pPRgK0SHb5DAGfuTbULv8TF5CloCNAR09Hk2Raz_w5O4KS99EjoIYwsJmuM_c4XCnl7SHc0jx87E-wW6UHdNPgIe6L6jpevEuWhDmRh3-5U9q4Ugiftdpil6j_Hbo0Tz9cAd48gtTJFPXXe3keGOXTaK3cGiSI1coWkr6moqWdzB5zk6lqyLJIjs&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">United</a>&nbsp;and was presented to Deputy Chief Michelle Sumstad by the Captain of the arriving flight. The Flag will be at Officer Cody Allen's side throughout the funeral service.

Funeral Friday for fallen KC area police officer

JOHNSON COUNTY —Carless discard of smoking materials is being blamed for a Kansas house fire.

Just before 5a.m. Thursday, crews responded to a fire at a home in the 10100 Block of West 99th Street in Overland Park, according to a media release. First responders observed smoke coming from a second story bedroom window of the single family home.&nbsp;

It took crews 20 minutes to bring the fire under control. The resident reported she was awakened to the sound of a smoke alarm, exited the home and called 911.

Upon further investigation, the resident's home oxygen system, originally thought to have fed the fire, was likely not involved in the room and contents fire that displaced the resident and two dogs. There were no injuries. The resident and dogs will stay with family until they are able to return to the home.

With the approach of Daylight Savings Time this weekend, this fire serves and a perfect reminder to change your smoke alarm batteries, push the test button and&nbsp; check the age of your alarm. Manufacturers recommend replacing smoke alarms every ten years.

Smoke alarms provide your best chance for early warning in the event of a fire. Smoke alarms save lives.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709840869180.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Carless discard of smoking materials is being blamed for a Kansas house fire.Just before 5a.m. Thursday, crews responded to a fire at a home in the 10100 Block of West 99th Street in Overland Park, according to a media release. First responders observed smoke coming from a second story bedroom window of the single family home.&nbsp;It took crews 20 minutes to bring the fire under control. The resident reported she was awakened to the sound of a smoke alarm, exited the home and called 911.Upon further investigation, the resident's home oxygen system, originally thought to have fed the fire, was likely not involved in the room and contents fire that displaced the resident and two dogs. There were no injuries. The resident and dogs will stay with family until they are able to return to the home.With the approach of Daylight Savings Time this weekend, this fire serves and a perfect reminder to change your smoke alarm batteries, push the test button and&nbsp; check the age of your alarm. Manufacturers recommend replacing smoke alarms every ten years.Smoke alarms provide your best chance for early warning in the event of a fire. Smoke alarms save lives.

Smoke alarm saved homeowner, dogs from Kansas house fire

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double homicide in Kansas City.

Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police were called to KU Medical Center and told two victims, suffering from gunshot trauma, had succumbed to injuries, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

A private vehicle transported both to the hospital.

Police have a suspect in custody but have not confirmed an arrest.&nbsp; Investigators believe the incident occurred in a wooded area in Kansas City, Missouri.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double homicide in Kansas City.Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police were called to KU Medical Center and told two victims, suffering from gunshot trauma, had succumbed to injuries, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.A private vehicle transported both to the hospital.Police have a suspect in custody but have not confirmed an arrest.&nbsp; Investigators believe the incident occurred in a wooded area in Kansas City, Missouri.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Double homicide: 2 KC shooting victims died at hospital

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Thursday in Montgomery County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Ford Ranger driven by Laura G.. Erbe, 29, Altoona, Kansas, was northbound on U.S. 169 just north of 5800 Road.

The pickup traveled left of center and side swiped a southbound 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Garrett M.&nbsp;Novotny, 22, Thayer.

Erbe was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp;Novotny had a minor injury. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Thursday in Montgomery County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Ford Ranger driven by Laura G.. Erbe, 29, Altoona, Kansas, was northbound on U.S. 169 just north of 5800 Road.The pickup traveled left of center and side swiped a southbound 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Garrett M.&nbsp;Novotny, 22, Thayer.Erbe was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp;Novotny had a minor injury. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies after pickup side swiped truck

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden delivered a defiant argument for a second term in his State of the Union speech Thursday night, lacing into GOP front-runner Donald Trump for espousing “resentment, revenge and retribution" and for jeopardizing freedom at home and abroad.

(Click below to watch a replay of the address)

Reveling in the political moment, Biden fired multiple broadsides at “my predecessor” without ever mentioning Trump by name — 13 times in all — raising his voice repeatedly as he worked to quell voter concerns about his age and job performance while sharpening the contrast with his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-tuesday-trump-biden-rematch-primaries-2024-e36971a222a2b50d35cb0a2c603ce4d5">all-but-certain</a>&nbsp;November rival.

The scrappy tone from Biden was a sharp break from his often humdrum daily appearances and was intended to banish&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-state-of-union-mental-capacity-trump-reelection-66d8784586d21f30885d8153f949510c">doubts</a>&nbsp;about whether the 81-year-old president, the country's oldest ever, is still up to the job.

For 68 minutes in the House chamber, Biden goaded Republicans over their policies on immigration, taxes and more, invited call-and-response banter with fellow Democrats and seemed to relish the fight.

“I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while," Biden deadpanned. “And when you get to my age certain things become clearer than ever before.”

Noting he was born during World War II and came of political age during the upheaval of the 1960s, Biden declared: “My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That’s not me.”

The president linked Trump's praise for those who overran the Capitol in an attempt to subvert the 2020 election with antidemocratic threats abroad.

“Freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time,” Biden said as he appealed for Congress to support Ukraine's efforts to defend itself against Russia's two-year-old invasion. “History is watching.”

Biden directly referenced the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, calling out those who have played it down.

“My predecessor — and some of you here — seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6 — I will not do that," Biden said. “This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here’s a simple truth. You can’t love your country only when you win.”

The State of the Union address is the marquee night on the White House calendar, offering presidents a direct line to a captive audience of lawmakers and dignitaries in the House chamber and tens of millions of viewers at home — almost certain to be Biden’s largest audience of the year. Biden knew he would be watched not just for his message, but for whether he could deliver it with vigor and command.

Aides said Biden was aiming to prove his doubters wrong by flashing his combative side and trying to needle Republicans over positions he believes are out of step with the country, particularly on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-biden-abortion-reproductive-rights-election-3d184285cc6edbe733311b26445db2a0">access to abortion</a>, but also tax policy and healthcare.

Taking a victory lap in selling his legislative accomplishments, including funding to bolster manufacturing of computer chips nationwide, Biden veered from his prepared script to take a dig at Republicans who voted against such policies but nonetheless take credit for them back home.

“If any of you don’t want that money in your districts,” Biden said, “just let me know.”

The president was speaking before a historically ineffective Congress. In the GOP-led House, Speaker Mike Johnson took power five months ago after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-ousted-mccarthy-3fccfca11fe61c36fe399880f2679f12">chaotic ouster</a>&nbsp;of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Legislators are still struggling to approve funding bills for the current year and have been deadlocked for months on foreign assistance bills to help Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-2-years-what-to-know-d0f1c1bd57f7ebbe5f7335738acbc6b4">stave off Russia’s invasion</a>&nbsp;and to support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s fight against Hamas</a>.

Johnson urged Republicans in a private meeting Wednesday to show “decorum” during the speech, but he appeared to have limited success. A number of House Republicans began to stand up and leave the chamber as Biden discussed raising taxes on billionaires and corporations. Others remained in their chairs and shook their heads, while Johnson didn't disguise his emotions, raising his eyebrows and occasionally rolling his eyes.

Biden engaged in a loud call and response with lawmakers as he rhetorically questioned whether the tax code was fair and whether billionaires and corporations need “another $2 trillion in tax breaks,” as he charged Republicans want.

Biden also highlighted his efforts to fight “shrinkflation” — companies putting fewer pretzels in the jar and less yogurt in sealed cups — and so-called “junk fees” on services. Neither is a prime driver of inflation, but the White House hoped to show consumers that Biden is fighting for them.

Congressional Republican leaders showcased one of their newest lawmakers through the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/katie-britt-state-of-union-40cd6634bb0343d8c3c7d70dbd9524d1">State of the Union rebuttal</a>, hoping to make a generational contrast with Biden. Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, the youngest Republican woman elected to the Senate, painted a picture of a nation that “seems to be slipping away” and one where “our families are hurting.”

“Right now, our commander-in-chief is not in command. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader,” Britt said, speaking deliberately in an address from her home kitchen. “America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defense are the cornerstones of a great nation.”

Biden, by contrast, insisted the state of the union was “strong and getting stronger.”

Trump responded to the speech in real time on his Truth Social site, defending himself and blasting Biden for what he said “may be the Angriest, Least Compassionate, and Worst State of the Union Speech ever made. It was an Embarrassment to our Country!”

This year, Biden faced heightened emotions — particularly among his base supporters — over his staunch backing for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Biden had initially hoped a short-term cease-fire would be in place by the speech to allow for the release of more hostages and surge sorely needed aid into the territory. The White House blames Hamas for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-05-2024-a13c5fa6e23fedbda42e3028a96ca14e">not yet accepting a deal</a>&nbsp;brokered by the U.S. and its allies.

“Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the crossfire,” Biden said, delivering a warning that Israel should not use aid as a “bargaining chip” with Hamas, even as he reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself from attacks by the militant group.

As Biden ran through the endorsements by conservative groups of the legislation, some in the audience appeared to yell and interject, and Biden shot back, “I know you know how to read.”

A slew of Democrats and Republicans wore pins and stickers in honor of the Israeli hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Meanwhile, several House progressives wore Palestinian keffiyehs, the black and white checkered scarfs that have come to symbolize Palestinian solidarity. Heading to the address, Biden’s motorcade took a circuitous route to the Capitol, as hundreds of pro-cease-fire demonstrators tried to disrupt its path from the White House.

Immigration was another flashpoint during the night.

The GOP-controlled House has refused to act on a Senate-passed version of the aid legislation, insisting on new stiffer measures to limit migration at the U.S.-Mexico border, after Trump used his influence to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-aid-border-security-386dcc54b29a5491f8bd87b727a284f8">help sink a bipartisan compromise</a>&nbsp;that would have done just that.

As Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, wearing pro-Trump paraphernalia, continued to shout at Biden, the president held up a white button that the Georgia Republican had handed him earlier bearing the name of the slain Laken Riley. Authorities say the Georgia nursing student was killed by a Venezuelan national who unlawfully crossed into the U.S. in September 2022.

“Laken Riley,” Biden said, calling her an “innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal.” He expressed condolences to her family, saying his heart goes out to them.

Access to abortion and fertility treatments was also a key component of Biden’s speech, especially in light of a controversial ruling from Alabama’s Supreme Court that has upended access to in vitro fertilization treatment in the state.

"To my friends across the aisle, don’t keep families waiting any longer," Biden said, recognizing Latorya Beasley, a guest of first lady Jill Biden’s whose IVF treatments were cancelled after the Alabama ruling. “Guarantee the right to IVF nationwide!”

Another guest was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-texas-court-kate-cox-complications-3e24f473b0eab907993ddcad189e8115">Kate Cox</a>, who sued Texas, and ultimately left her home state, to obtain an emergency abortion after a severe fetal anomaly was detected, in a case that drew national attention.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709869258044.png" alt="Images courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Images courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden delivered a defiant argument for a second term in his State of the Union speech Thursday night, lacing into GOP front-runner Donald Trump for espousing “resentment, revenge and retribution" and for jeopardizing freedom at home and abroad.(Click below to watch a replay of the address)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFVUPAEF-sw?si=bkuuCuoGXlEccYQu&amp;start=2399" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Reveling in the political moment, Biden fired multiple broadsides at “my predecessor” without ever mentioning Trump by name — 13 times in all — raising his voice repeatedly as he worked to quell voter concerns about his age and job performance while sharpening the contrast with his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-tuesday-trump-biden-rematch-primaries-2024-e36971a222a2b50d35cb0a2c603ce4d5">all-but-certain</a>&nbsp;November rival.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709867018724.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The scrappy tone from Biden was a sharp break from his often humdrum daily appearances and was intended to banish&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-state-of-union-mental-capacity-trump-reelection-66d8784586d21f30885d8153f949510c">doubts</a>&nbsp;about whether the 81-year-old president, the country's oldest ever, is still up to the job.For 68 minutes in the House chamber, Biden goaded Republicans over their policies on immigration, taxes and more, invited call-and-response banter with fellow Democrats and seemed to relish the fight.“I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while," Biden deadpanned. “And when you get to my age certain things become clearer than ever before.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709869340712.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Noting he was born during World War II and came of political age during the upheaval of the 1960s, Biden declared: “My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That’s not me.”The president linked Trump's praise for those who overran the Capitol in an attempt to subvert the 2020 election with antidemocratic threats abroad.“Freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time,” Biden said as he appealed for Congress to support Ukraine's efforts to defend itself against Russia's two-year-old invasion. “History is watching.”Biden directly referenced the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, calling out those who have played it down.“My predecessor — and some of you here — seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6 — I will not do that," Biden said. “This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here’s a simple truth. You can’t love your country only when you win.”The State of the Union address is the marquee night on the White House calendar, offering presidents a direct line to a captive audience of lawmakers and dignitaries in the House chamber and tens of millions of viewers at home — almost certain to be Biden’s largest audience of the year. Biden knew he would be watched not just for his message, but for whether he could deliver it with vigor and command.Aides said Biden was aiming to prove his doubters wrong by flashing his combative side and trying to needle Republicans over positions he believes are out of step with the country, particularly on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-biden-abortion-reproductive-rights-election-3d184285cc6edbe733311b26445db2a0">access to abortion</a>, but also tax policy and healthcare.Taking a victory lap in selling his legislative accomplishments, including funding to bolster manufacturing of computer chips nationwide, Biden veered from his prepared script to take a dig at Republicans who voted against such policies but nonetheless take credit for them back home.“If any of you don’t want that money in your districts,” Biden said, “just let me know.”The president was speaking before a historically ineffective Congress. In the GOP-led House, Speaker Mike Johnson took power five months ago after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-ousted-mccarthy-3fccfca11fe61c36fe399880f2679f12">chaotic ouster</a>&nbsp;of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Legislators are still struggling to approve funding bills for the current year and have been deadlocked for months on foreign assistance bills to help Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-2-years-what-to-know-d0f1c1bd57f7ebbe5f7335738acbc6b4">stave off Russia’s invasion</a>&nbsp;and to support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s fight against Hamas</a>.Johnson urged Republicans in a private meeting Wednesday to show “decorum” during the speech, but he appeared to have limited success. A number of House Republicans began to stand up and leave the chamber as Biden discussed raising taxes on billionaires and corporations. Others remained in their chairs and shook their heads, while Johnson didn't disguise his emotions, raising his eyebrows and occasionally rolling his eyes.Biden engaged in a loud call and response with lawmakers as he rhetorically questioned whether the tax code was fair and whether billionaires and corporations need “another $2 trillion in tax breaks,” as he charged Republicans want.Biden also highlighted his efforts to fight “shrinkflation” — companies putting fewer pretzels in the jar and less yogurt in sealed cups — and so-called “junk fees” on services. Neither is a prime driver of inflation, but the White House hoped to show consumers that Biden is fighting for them.Congressional Republican leaders showcased one of their newest lawmakers through the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/katie-britt-state-of-union-40cd6634bb0343d8c3c7d70dbd9524d1">State of the Union rebuttal</a>, hoping to make a generational contrast with Biden. Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, the youngest Republican woman elected to the Senate, painted a picture of a nation that “seems to be slipping away” and one where “our families are hurting.”“Right now, our commander-in-chief is not in command. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader,” Britt said, speaking deliberately in an address from her home kitchen. “America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defense are the cornerstones of a great nation.”Biden, by contrast, insisted the state of the union was “strong and getting stronger.”Trump responded to the speech in real time on his Truth Social site, defending himself and blasting Biden for what he said “may be the Angriest, Least Compassionate, and Worst State of the Union Speech ever made. It was an Embarrassment to our Country!”This year, Biden faced heightened emotions — particularly among his base supporters — over his staunch backing for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Biden had initially hoped a short-term cease-fire would be in place by the speech to allow for the release of more hostages and surge sorely needed aid into the territory. The White House blames Hamas for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-05-2024-a13c5fa6e23fedbda42e3028a96ca14e">not yet accepting a deal</a>&nbsp;brokered by the U.S. and its allies.“Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the crossfire,” Biden said, delivering a warning that Israel should not use aid as a “bargaining chip” with Hamas, even as he reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself from attacks by the militant group.As Biden ran through the endorsements by conservative groups of the legislation, some in the audience appeared to yell and interject, and Biden shot back, “I know you know how to read.”A slew of Democrats and Republicans wore pins and stickers in honor of the Israeli hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Meanwhile, several House progressives wore Palestinian keffiyehs, the black and white checkered scarfs that have come to symbolize Palestinian solidarity. Heading to the address, Biden’s motorcade took a circuitous route to the Capitol, as hundreds of pro-cease-fire demonstrators tried to disrupt its path from the White House.Immigration was another flashpoint during the night.The GOP-controlled House has refused to act on a Senate-passed version of the aid legislation, insisting on new stiffer measures to limit migration at the U.S.-Mexico border, after Trump used his influence to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-aid-border-security-386dcc54b29a5491f8bd87b727a284f8">help sink a bipartisan compromise</a>&nbsp;that would have done just that.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709864540792.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, wearing pro-Trump paraphernalia, continued to shout at Biden, the president held up a white button that the Georgia Republican had handed him earlier bearing the name of the slain Laken Riley. Authorities say the Georgia nursing student was killed by a Venezuelan national who unlawfully crossed into the U.S. in September 2022.“Laken Riley,” Biden said, calling her an “innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal.” He expressed condolences to her family, saying his heart goes out to them.Access to abortion and fertility treatments was also a key component of Biden’s speech, especially in light of a controversial ruling from Alabama’s Supreme Court that has upended access to in vitro fertilization treatment in the state."To my friends across the aisle, don’t keep families waiting any longer," Biden said, recognizing Latorya Beasley, a guest of first lady Jill Biden’s whose IVF treatments were cancelled after the Alabama ruling. “Guarantee the right to IVF nationwide!”Another guest was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-texas-court-kate-cox-complications-3e24f473b0eab907993ddcad189e8115">Kate Cox</a>, who sued Texas, and ultimately left her home state, to obtain an emergency abortion after a severe fetal anomaly was detected, in a case that drew national attention.--------

🎥 Biden uses feisty State of the Union to sell voters on a second term

NEW YORK (AP) — Steve Lawrence, a singer and top stage act who as a solo performer and in tandem with his wife Eydie Gorme kept Tin Pan Alley alive during the rock era, died Thursday. He was 88.

Lawrence, whose hits included "Go Away Little Girl,” died from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease, said Susan DuBow, a spokesperson for the family.

Lawrence and Gorme — or Steve &amp; Eydie — were known for their frequent appearances on talk shows, in night clubs and on the stages of Las Vegas. The duo took inspiration from George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and other songwriters.

Soon after Elvis Presley and other rock music pioneers began to dominate radio and records, Lawrence and his wife were approached about changing their style.

"We had a chance to get in on the ground floor of rock ‘n’ roll," he recalled in a 1989 interview. "It was 1957 and everything was changing, but I wanted to be Sinatra, not Rick Nelson.

"Our audience knows we're not going to load up on heavy metal or set fire to the drummer — although on some nights we've talked about it," he joked.

Although Lawrence and Gorme were best known as a team, both also had huge solo hits just months apart in the early 1960s.

Dionne Warwick, a longtime friend, said in a statement that Lawrence was “resting with comfort in the arms of the Heavenly Father. My heartfelt condolences go out.” Carol Burnett, in a statement, called Lawrence one of her favorite guests on her variety show. “He was also my very close friend,” she said. “He will always be in my heart.”

Lawrence scored first in 1962 with the achingly romantic ballad "Go Away Little Girl," written by the Brill Building songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Gorme matched his success the following year with "Blame It on the Bossa Nova," a bouncy tune about a dance craze of the time that was written by Brill hitmakers Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

By the 1970s, Lawrence and his wife were a top draw in Las Vegas casinos and nightclubs across the country. They also appeared regularly on television, making specials and guesting on various shows.

In the 1980s, when Vegas cut down on headline acts and nightclubs became scarcer, the pair switched to auditoriums and drew large audiences.

"People come with a general idea of what they're going to get with us," Lawrence said in 1989. "It's like a product. They buy a certain cereal and they know what to expect from that package."

Lawrence launched his professional singing career at age 15. After two failed auditions for “Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts” TV show, he was accepted on the third try, going on to win the competition and the prize of appearing on Godfrey's popular daytime radio show for a week.

King Records, impressed by the teenager's strong, two-octave voice, signed him to a contract. His first record, "Poinciana," sold more than 100,000 copies, and his high school allowed him to skip classes to promote it with out-of-town singing dates.

After several guest appearances on Steve Allen's television show, Lawrence was hired as a regular. When the program became NBC's "Tonight" in 1954, he went with it, singing and exchanging quips with Allen. The series set the pattern for the long-running "The Tonight Show."

"I think Steve Allen was the biggest thing that happened to me," said Lawrence, who stayed with the show's host for five years, honing his comedic skills and attracting a wide audience with his singing. "Every night I was called upon to do something different. In its own way it was better than vaudeville."

Early in the series' run, a young singer named Eydie Gorme joined the cast. After singing together for four years, she and Lawrence were married in 1957.

Until Gorme’s death, in 2013, they remained popular, whether working together in concert or making separate TV appearances.

His reasoning: "If we did television together all the time, why should anyone go see us in a club?"

He appeared in such shows as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Gilmore Girls," "Diagnosis Murder" and "The Nanny."

He and his wife did star together in "The Steve Lawrence-Eydie Gorme Show" in 1958 and Lawrence had his own series, "The Steve Lawrence Show," in 1965.

He also made stage appearances without Gorme, including a starring role in a 1962 summer stock version of "Pal Joey." He made it to Broadway in 1964 — and earned a Tony Award nomination — in the musical "What Makes Sammy Run?" based on Budd Schulberg's classic novel about a New York hustler who claws his way to the top of the entertainment world.

Critics praised Lawrence but gave the play bad reviews. Still, it turned a profit, and insiders attributed its success to his performance.

Lawrence also had a few character roles in movies, most notably "Stand Up and Be Counted," "Blues Brothers 2000," "The Lonely Guy" and "The Yards."

Native-born New Yorkers, Lawrence and Gorme lived in a Manhattan apartment during their early years together. When the center of TV entertainment shifted to Hollywood, they moved to Beverly Hills.

Born Sidney Liebowitz in New York City's borough of Brooklyn, Lawrence was the son of a Jewish cantor who worked as a house painter. He began singing in his father's synagogue choir at 8, moving on to bars and clubs by his mid-teens. He took his name from the first names of two nephews.

He and Gorme had two sons, David, a composer, and Michael. Long troubled with heart problems, Michael died of heart failure in 1986 at age 23.

“My dad was an inspiration to so many people,” his son David said in a statement. “But, to me, he was just this charming, handsome, hysterically funny guy who sang a lot. Sometimes alone and sometimes with his insanely talented wife. I am so lucky to have had him as a father and so proud to be his son.”

This report contains biographical material compiled by former AP reporter Bob Thomas

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709861417063.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Steve Lawrence, a singer and top stage act who as a solo performer and in tandem with his wife Eydie Gorme kept Tin Pan Alley alive during the rock era, died Thursday. He was 88.Lawrence, whose hits included "Go Away Little Girl,” died from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease, said Susan DuBow, a spokesperson for the family.Lawrence and Gorme — or Steve &amp; Eydie — were known for their frequent appearances on talk shows, in night clubs and on the stages of Las Vegas. The duo took inspiration from George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and other songwriters.Soon after Elvis Presley and other rock music pioneers began to dominate radio and records, Lawrence and his wife were approached about changing their style."We had a chance to get in on the ground floor of rock ‘n’ roll," he recalled in a 1989 interview. "It was 1957 and everything was changing, but I wanted to be Sinatra, not Rick Nelson."Our audience knows we're not going to load up on heavy metal or set fire to the drummer — although on some nights we've talked about it," he joked.Although Lawrence and Gorme were best known as a team, both also had huge solo hits just months apart in the early 1960s.Dionne Warwick, a longtime friend, said in a statement that Lawrence was “resting with comfort in the arms of the Heavenly Father. My heartfelt condolences go out.” Carol Burnett, in a statement, called Lawrence one of her favorite guests on her variety show. “He was also my very close friend,” she said. “He will always be in my heart.”Lawrence scored first in 1962 with the achingly romantic ballad "Go Away Little Girl," written by the Brill Building songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Gorme matched his success the following year with "Blame It on the Bossa Nova," a bouncy tune about a dance craze of the time that was written by Brill hitmakers Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.By the 1970s, Lawrence and his wife were a top draw in Las Vegas casinos and nightclubs across the country. They also appeared regularly on television, making specials and guesting on various shows.In the 1980s, when Vegas cut down on headline acts and nightclubs became scarcer, the pair switched to auditoriums and drew large audiences."People come with a general idea of what they're going to get with us," Lawrence said in 1989. "It's like a product. They buy a certain cereal and they know what to expect from that package."Lawrence launched his professional singing career at age 15. After two failed auditions for “Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts” TV show, he was accepted on the third try, going on to win the competition and the prize of appearing on Godfrey's popular daytime radio show for a week.King Records, impressed by the teenager's strong, two-octave voice, signed him to a contract. His first record, "Poinciana," sold more than 100,000 copies, and his high school allowed him to skip classes to promote it with out-of-town singing dates.After several guest appearances on Steve Allen's television show, Lawrence was hired as a regular. When the program became NBC's "Tonight" in 1954, he went with it, singing and exchanging quips with Allen. The series set the pattern for the long-running "The Tonight Show.""I think Steve Allen was the biggest thing that happened to me," said Lawrence, who stayed with the show's host for five years, honing his comedic skills and attracting a wide audience with his singing. "Every night I was called upon to do something different. In its own way it was better than vaudeville."Early in the series' run, a young singer named Eydie Gorme joined the cast. After singing together for four years, she and Lawrence were married in 1957.Until Gorme’s death, in 2013, they remained popular, whether working together in concert or making separate TV appearances.His reasoning: "If we did television together all the time, why should anyone go see us in a club?"He appeared in such shows as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Gilmore Girls," "Diagnosis Murder" and "The Nanny."He and his wife did star together in "The Steve Lawrence-Eydie Gorme Show" in 1958 and Lawrence had his own series, "The Steve Lawrence Show," in 1965.He also made stage appearances without Gorme, including a starring role in a 1962 summer stock version of "Pal Joey." He made it to Broadway in 1964 — and earned a Tony Award nomination — in the musical "What Makes Sammy Run?" based on Budd Schulberg's classic novel about a New York hustler who claws his way to the top of the entertainment world.Critics praised Lawrence but gave the play bad reviews. Still, it turned a profit, and insiders attributed its success to his performance.Lawrence also had a few character roles in movies, most notably "Stand Up and Be Counted," "Blues Brothers 2000," "The Lonely Guy" and "The Yards."Native-born New Yorkers, Lawrence and Gorme lived in a Manhattan apartment during their early years together. When the center of TV entertainment shifted to Hollywood, they moved to Beverly Hills.Born Sidney Liebowitz in New York City's borough of Brooklyn, Lawrence was the son of a Jewish cantor who worked as a house painter. He began singing in his father's synagogue choir at 8, moving on to bars and clubs by his mid-teens. He took his name from the first names of two nephews.He and Gorme had two sons, David, a composer, and Michael. Long troubled with heart problems, Michael died of heart failure in 1986 at age 23.“My dad was an inspiration to so many people,” his son David said in a statement. “But, to me, he was just this charming, handsome, hysterically funny guy who sang a lot. Sometimes alone and sometimes with his insanely talented wife. I am so lucky to have had him as a father and so proud to be his son.”___This report contains biographical material compiled by former AP reporter Bob Thomas

Steve Lawrence, Grammy winning singer and entertainer, has died

MEADE—Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a case that led them to seize 170 pounds of methamphetamine, according to a social media report from the Meade County Sheriff.

The sheriff's office reported this as "a true testament of teamwork with Kansas Highway Patrol and Meade County Kansas Sheriff's Office."

The sheriff's office wrote, "Great job Troopers, Deputies and K-9 Zero."&nbsp;

Due to the ongoing investigation, the sheriff released no more information on the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709844496323.png" alt="Photo Meade Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Meade Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>MEADE—Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a case that led them to seize 170 pounds of methamphetamine, according to a social media report from the Meade County Sheriff.The sheriff's office reported this as "a true testament of teamwork with Kansas Highway Patrol and Meade County Kansas Sheriff's Office."The sheriff's office wrote, "Great job Troopers, Deputies and K-9 Zero."&nbsp;Due to the ongoing investigation, the sheriff released no more information on the case.

Deputies, KHP seize 170 pounds of methamphetamine

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas moved closer Thursday to requiring abortion providers to ask patients why they want to terminate their pregnancies and report the answers to the state. It would join other states with Republican legislatures that ban most abortions even though Kansas voters have affirmed abortion rights.

(Click below to watch&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita answer questions on the bill)

The House approved, in an&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240307112935_571961/">81-39</a>&nbsp;vote, a bill that would require providers to ask patients 11 questions about their reasons for terminating a pregnancy, including that they can’t afford another child, raising a child would hinder their education or careers, or a spouse or partner wanted her to have an abortion.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2749_01_0000.pdf">The bill</a>&nbsp;goes next to the state Senate, where it also is likely to pass.

At least seven states require similar reporting, but none have had a statewide vote on abortion rights as Kansas did in August 2022. In the first state ballot question on abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Dobbs decision</a>, voters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">decisively protected abortion rights</a>&nbsp;under the state constitution.

Democrats are frustrated because Republicans and anti-abortion groups have pursued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-medication-reversal-kansas-01304fcbe7b014ec46f818633faf28a7">new rules</a>&nbsp;for abortion providers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-united-states-government-kansas-health-c0c8a6cbe211ca4970e3a38b3aa7faf9">aid to anti-abortion counseling centers</a>&nbsp;despite that vote and votes affirming abortion rights in other states, including GOP-led&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-kentucky-abortion-3fa387a4cdc355d50a223f4788aa0ae8">Kentucky</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-amendment-election-2023-fe3e06747b616507d8ca21ea26485270">Ohio</a>.

“Quite honestly, I don’t understand it, you know, because I think Kansans made it very, very clear how they want Kansas to operate in this arena,” Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, a strong abortion rights supporter, said during a brief Associated Press interview this week. “Why would an elected official who’s facing an election in November go against the wishes of their constituents?”

Both chambers have large anti-abortion majorities and both sides believe there's a strong chance abortion opponents could override a Kelly veto of the reporting bill. Last year, Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-reversal-culture-war-kansas-b4f1ab2b807eaa36fe11756248cc08ea">overrode Kelly's vetoes</a>&nbsp;of other restrictions on providers.

But Republicans are sensitive enough to criticism that their proposals go against the wishes of Kansas voters to argue that their proposals since the August 2022 ballot question have not reduced access to abortion. Kansas allows most abortion up until the 22nd week of pregnancy, and that would not change under the reporting bill.

“This bill has nothing to do with eliminating abortion in Kansas, doesn’t ban it, doesn’t touch on that whatsoever,” said House health Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican. “I’ve respected that vote.”

Backers of the bill argued the state needs more and better data about why women and girls have abortions so lawmakers can create programs to address their concerns.

“If we're looking to protect unborn children and it's a socio-economic reason, then maybe a state can step up," said Ingrid Duran, state legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee.

In Kansas, a doctor who provides an abortion already must report the patient’s age and ethnicity, whether the person was married and the method used to terminate a pregnancy.

States requiring doctors to report the reasons for an abortion include Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah. Minnesota’s Democratic-controlled Legislature repealed its similar reporting requirement last year.

The law in Oklahoma, where most abortions are banned, includes a list of more than 30 questions a provider must ask a patient about her motives. Potential reasons include relationship problems and not feeling mature enough to raise a child.

Isabel Guarnieri, a spokesperson for the Guttmacher Institute, which researches abortion issues and supports abortion rights, said such data can be useful in public health. But she said such mandates also should be assessed in the context of lawmakers’ long history of trying to restrict access and stigmatize abortion.

Alesha Doan, a University of Kansas dean and professor who studies policy and gender, called the bill approved by the House “an unnecessary way for the state to continue to surveil people’s health decisions.”

Democrats, particularly female lawmakers, attacked what they saw as the unfairness of requiring women to face detailed questions about their motives for seeking health care when men would not. They started with vasectomies.

Then, Kansas City-area Democratic Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton suggested requiring doctors to ask male patients whether they wanted to treat erectile dysfunction because a spouse wanted that or because it caused the man stress or embarrassment.

“Because I am still fertile right now, I don’t have that right to privacy,” she said after Thursday's vote, summarizing what she sees as the bill's real message. "Why am I less of a person than a post-menopausal woman? Why am I less of a person than a man?”

But that tactic prompted an eye-roll from Landwehr during a post-vote interview. She said Democrats should favor better data collection.

“You know, it amazes me that they don’t support this,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709843062703.png" alt="Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, left, R-Wichita answered questions on the bill- image from the Kan. legislature YouTube" />
 <figcaption>Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, left, R-Wichita answered questions on the bill- image from the Kan. legislature YouTube</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas moved closer Thursday to requiring abortion providers to ask patients why they want to terminate their pregnancies and report the answers to the state. It would join other states with Republican legislatures that ban most abortions even though Kansas voters have affirmed abortion rights.(Click below to watch&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita answer questions on the bill)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aiqAPPpvXbk?si=BgejtmXHk_5OuKX2&amp;start=8588" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The House approved, in an&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240307112935_571961/">81-39</a>&nbsp;vote, a bill that would require providers to ask patients 11 questions about their reasons for terminating a pregnancy, including that they can’t afford another child, raising a child would hinder their education or careers, or a spouse or partner wanted her to have an abortion.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2749_01_0000.pdf">The bill</a>&nbsp;goes next to the state Senate, where it also is likely to pass.At least seven states require similar reporting, but none have had a statewide vote on abortion rights as Kansas did in August 2022. In the first state ballot question on abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Dobbs decision</a>, voters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">decisively protected abortion rights</a>&nbsp;under the state constitution.Democrats are frustrated because Republicans and anti-abortion groups have pursued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-medication-reversal-kansas-01304fcbe7b014ec46f818633faf28a7">new rules</a>&nbsp;for abortion providers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-united-states-government-kansas-health-c0c8a6cbe211ca4970e3a38b3aa7faf9">aid to anti-abortion counseling centers</a>&nbsp;despite that vote and votes affirming abortion rights in other states, including GOP-led&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-kentucky-abortion-3fa387a4cdc355d50a223f4788aa0ae8">Kentucky</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-amendment-election-2023-fe3e06747b616507d8ca21ea26485270">Ohio</a>.“Quite honestly, I don’t understand it, you know, because I think Kansans made it very, very clear how they want Kansas to operate in this arena,” Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, a strong abortion rights supporter, said during a brief Associated Press interview this week. “Why would an elected official who’s facing an election in November go against the wishes of their constituents?”Both chambers have large anti-abortion majorities and both sides believe there's a strong chance abortion opponents could override a Kelly veto of the reporting bill. Last year, Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-reversal-culture-war-kansas-b4f1ab2b807eaa36fe11756248cc08ea">overrode Kelly's vetoes</a>&nbsp;of other restrictions on providers.But Republicans are sensitive enough to criticism that their proposals go against the wishes of Kansas voters to argue that their proposals since the August 2022 ballot question have not reduced access to abortion. Kansas allows most abortion up until the 22nd week of pregnancy, and that would not change under the reporting bill.“This bill has nothing to do with eliminating abortion in Kansas, doesn’t ban it, doesn’t touch on that whatsoever,” said House health Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican. “I’ve respected that vote.”Backers of the bill argued the state needs more and better data about why women and girls have abortions so lawmakers can create programs to address their concerns.“If we're looking to protect unborn children and it's a socio-economic reason, then maybe a state can step up," said Ingrid Duran, state legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee.In Kansas, a doctor who provides an abortion already must report the patient’s age and ethnicity, whether the person was married and the method used to terminate a pregnancy.States requiring doctors to report the reasons for an abortion include Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah. Minnesota’s Democratic-controlled Legislature repealed its similar reporting requirement last year.The law in Oklahoma, where most abortions are banned, includes a list of more than 30 questions a provider must ask a patient about her motives. Potential reasons include relationship problems and not feeling mature enough to raise a child.Isabel Guarnieri, a spokesperson for the Guttmacher Institute, which researches abortion issues and supports abortion rights, said such data can be useful in public health. But she said such mandates also should be assessed in the context of lawmakers’ long history of trying to restrict access and stigmatize abortion.Alesha Doan, a University of Kansas dean and professor who studies policy and gender, called the bill approved by the House “an unnecessary way for the state to continue to surveil people’s health decisions.”Democrats, particularly female lawmakers, attacked what they saw as the unfairness of requiring women to face detailed questions about their motives for seeking health care when men would not. They started with vasectomies.Then, Kansas City-area Democratic Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton suggested requiring doctors to ask male patients whether they wanted to treat erectile dysfunction because a spouse wanted that or because it caused the man stress or embarrassment.“Because I am still fertile right now, I don’t have that right to privacy,” she said after Thursday's vote, summarizing what she sees as the bill's real message. "Why am I less of a person than a post-menopausal woman? Why am I less of a person than a man?”But that tactic prompted an eye-roll from Landwehr during a post-vote interview. She said Democrats should favor better data collection.“You know, it amazes me that they don’t support this,” she said.___

🎥 Kansas could make doctors ask patients why they want abortions

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a Tuesday night homicide in Lawrence have captured a suspect.

Just after noon Thursday,&nbsp;in partnership with the Topeka Police Department, officers arrested 21-year-old Dawson Paine in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Davin Kerr, according to&nbsp;Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart.

 The shooting incident took place in the 2900 block of Crestline about 10:40 Tuesday night. 

 Officers responded and rendered aid until paramedics arrived to take over and transport Kerr to a trauma center in Kansas City.  He later died from his injuries. The search for Paine began and investigators have been tracking multiple leads since that time until the arrest on Thursday afternoon.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and asking the public’s assistance in locating 21-year-old Dawson Edward Paine.

He is suspected in a deadly shooting Tuesday night in the 2900 block of Crestline Drive, according to a media release from Lawrence Police.

Just after 10:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a residence where Paine allegedly shot 18-year-old&nbsp; Davin Gregory Kerr of Lawrence.

After the shooting, Paine left the area prior to the arrival of officers. Kerr was transported by ambulance to a Kansas City area trauma center where he was later pronounced dead.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709737558547.png" alt="Paine-photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>Paine-photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a Tuesday night homicide in Lawrence have captured a suspect.Just after noon Thursday,&nbsp;in partnership with the Topeka Police Department, officers arrested 21-year-old Dawson Paine in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Davin Kerr, according to&nbsp;Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart. The shooting incident took place in the 2900 block of Crestline about 10:40 Tuesday night. Officers responded and rendered aid until paramedics arrived to take over and transport Kerr to a trauma center in Kansas City. He later died from his injuries. The search for Paine began and investigators have been tracking multiple leads since that time until the arrest on Thursday afternoon.-------------DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and asking the public’s assistance in locating 21-year-old Dawson Edward Paine.He is suspected in a deadly shooting Tuesday night in the 2900 block of Crestline Drive, according to a media release from Lawrence Police.Just after 10:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a residence where Paine allegedly shot 18-year-old&nbsp; Davin Gregory Kerr of Lawrence.After the shooting, Paine left the area prior to the arrival of officers. Kerr was transported by ambulance to a Kansas City area trauma center where he was later pronounced dead.Police ask that anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of Dawson Paine call 911. He should be considered armed and dangerous, and no one should try approach or contact him other than law enforcement.&nbsp;