KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Kansas City man who moved to Mexico and lived under another name, pleaded guilty in federal court last week to attempting to produce child pornography.

Wyatt Christopher Maxwell, also known as “Louis Whitaker,” 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to one count of attempting to produce child pornography.

Maxwell lived in Kansas City at the time of the offense, but afterward moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where he went by the name “Louis Whitaker” as a cabaret singer. He was arrested in Mexico following his indictment and has remained in federal custody since his arrest.

According to the plea agreement, the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department received tips in February 2021, via the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers tipline, that Maxwell was producing child pornography with a 16-year-old resident of Overland Park. Maxwell reportedly uploaded the child pornography to various online accounts. The child victim told investigators that Maxwell had been recording sexually explicit videos of the two of them for several months. Some of the recordings were created at Maxwell’s residence and some were created in a nearby park.

Law enforcement agents interviewed Maxwell on Feb. 3, 2021. He confirmed he uploaded videos to his accounts on OnlyFans and JustForFans, for which he estimated he made from $3,000 to $10,000 per month from subscribers. Maxwell admitted he created approximately 20 videos where he was engaged in some type of sex act with the child victim. Those videos were uploaded to his OnlyFans and JustForFans accounts.

Investigators found 39 videos of child pornography that were downloaded on Maxwell’s cell phone, 96 videos of child pornography involving the child victim, and 24 images of child pornography involving the child victim.

Investigators confirmed payments from Maxwell’s OnlyFans account totaling $49,151, and from Maxwell’s JustForFans account totaling $2,954. There were 153 videos uploaded to the JustForFans account, 16 of which depicted sexual activity involving the child victim.

Under federal statutes, Maxwell is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by the FBI and the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677451252783.png" alt="&nbsp;Maxwell lived in Kansas City at the time of the alleged offenses, but afterward moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where he went by the name “Louis Whitaker” as a cabaret singer. photo courtesy Out and About Puerto Vallarta" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Maxwell lived in Kansas City at the time of the alleged offenses, but afterward moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where he went by the name “Louis Whitaker” as a cabaret singer. photo courtesy Out and About Puerto Vallarta</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Kansas City man who moved to Mexico and lived under another name, pleaded guilty in federal court last week to attempting to produce child pornography.Wyatt Christopher Maxwell, also known as “Louis Whitaker,” 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to one count of attempting to produce child pornography.Maxwell lived in Kansas City at the time of the offense, but afterward moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where he went by the name “Louis Whitaker” as a cabaret singer. He was arrested in Mexico following his indictment and has remained in federal custody since his arrest.According to the plea agreement, the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department received tips in February 2021, via the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers tipline, that Maxwell was producing child pornography with a 16-year-old resident of Overland Park. Maxwell reportedly uploaded the child pornography to various online accounts. The child victim told investigators that Maxwell had been recording sexually explicit videos of the two of them for several months. Some of the recordings were created at Maxwell’s residence and some were created in a nearby park.Law enforcement agents interviewed Maxwell on Feb. 3, 2021. He confirmed he uploaded videos to his accounts on OnlyFans and JustForFans, for which he estimated he made from $3,000 to $10,000 per month from subscribers. Maxwell admitted he created approximately 20 videos where he was engaged in some type of sex act with the child victim. Those videos were uploaded to his OnlyFans and JustForFans accounts.Investigators found 39 videos of child pornography that were downloaded on Maxwell’s cell phone, 96 videos of child pornography involving the child victim, and 24 images of child pornography involving the child victim.Investigators confirmed payments from Maxwell’s OnlyFans account totaling $49,151, and from Maxwell’s JustForFans account totaling $2,954. There were 153 videos uploaded to the JustForFans account, 16 of which depicted sexual activity involving the child victim.Under federal statutes, Maxwell is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by the FBI and the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department.

KC suspect who moved to Mexico, enters plea in child porn case

SHAWNEE COUNTY– A suspect is in custody after fleeing from law enforcement in a stolen vehicle on Tuesday.

Just after&nbsp;7:30 a.m., police responded to a reported stolen vehicle in the 1800 block of SE Ohio Avenue in Topeka.

Officers located the vehicle and initiated a car stop. The driver fled. Officers remained in the area and a short while later located the vehicle unoccupied near SE 3rd and Lime Street. As a result of the investigation, a suspect was later located in a residence in the area and was taken into custody.

As a result of the investigation, Feliciano J. Anguiano IV, 22, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Flee or attempt to elude; operate a stolen vehicle and Theft &gt;$1,500&lt;$25,000 From Motor Vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713955863240.png" alt="Anguiano photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Anguiano photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY– A suspect is in custody after fleeing from law enforcement in a stolen vehicle on Tuesday.Just after&nbsp;7:30 a.m., police responded to a reported stolen vehicle in the 1800 block of SE Ohio Avenue in Topeka.Officers located the vehicle and initiated a car stop. The driver fled. Officers remained in the area and a short while later located the vehicle unoccupied near SE 3rd and Lime Street. As a result of the investigation, a suspect was later located in a residence in the area and was taken into custody.As a result of the investigation, Feliciano J. Anguiano IV, 22, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Flee or attempt to elude; operate a stolen vehicle and Theft &gt;$1,500&lt;$25,000 From Motor Vehicle.

Suspect caught fleeing police was driving stolen car

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday appeared likely to reject former President Donald Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from prosecution over election interference, but several justices signaled reservations about the charges that could cause a lengthy delay, possibly beyond November’s election.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/23-939_l5gm.pdf">Click here to read a</a> transcript of the oral argument

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-939">Click here to listen to a replay </a>of the oral argument&nbsp;

A majority of the justices did not appear to embrace the claim of absolute immunity that would stop special counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of Trump on charges he conspired to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. But in arguments lasting more than 2 1/2 hours in the court’s first consideration of criminal charges against a former president, several conservative justices indicated they could limit when former presidents might be prosecuted, suggesting that the case might have to be sent back to lower courts before any trial could begin.

Justice Samuel Alito said that “whatever we decide is going to apply to all future presidents.”

The timing of the Supreme Court’s decision could be as important as the outcome. Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, has been pushing to delay the trial until after the election, and the later the justices issue their decision, the more likely he is to succeed. If Trump regains the presidency, he could order the Justice Department to dismiss the case, or possibly, as two justices suggested, pardon himself if convicted.

Since conservatives on the court gained a supermajority with the confirmation of three Trump appointees, they have cast aside decades-old long precedent on abortion and affirmation action. Now Trump is asking them to rule that one of the fundamental tenets of the American system of government — that no person is above the law -- should be rejected as well, at least as it applies to him.

The active questioning of all nine justices left the strong impression that the court was not headed for the sort of speedy, consensus decision that would allow a trial to begin quickly.

Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, two of Trump’s three high court appointees, and Alito said their concern was not the case against Trump, but rather the effect of their ruling on future presidencies.

Each time Justice Department lawyer Michael Dreeben sought to focus on Trump’s actions, these justices jumped in. “This case has huge implications for the presidency, for the future of the presidency, for the future of the country,” Kavanaugh said. The court is writing a decision “for the ages,” Gorsuch said.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the other Trump appointee, seemed less open to arguments advanced by Trump lawyer D. John Sauer, searching for a way a trial could take place.

Smith’s team is asking for a speedy resolution. The court typically issues its last opinions by the end of June, about four months before the election. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who would preside over the trial, said pre-trial issues could take up to three months.

The court has moved very quickly in prior cases involving presidential power, deciding the Watergate tapes case against President Richard Nixon just 16 days after arguments. Earlier this year, it took the justices less than a month to rule unanimously that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-insurrection-election-colorado-51e79c0f03013034c8a042cb278b6446">states couldn't kick Trump off the ballot</a>.

Trump, the first former president charged with crimes, had said he wanted to be at the Supreme Court on Thursday. Instead, he was in a courtroom in New York, where he is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-national-enquirer-1dd3c3111febf219bdf1d8627504a3c5">standing trial</a>&nbsp;on charges that he falsified business records to keep damaging information from voters when he directed hush money payments to a former porn star to keep quiet her claims that they had a sexual encounter.

Sauer argued that former presidents are entitled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-immunity-prosecution-capitol-riot-9fd5dc5947dab82bbd18d3efcb4267d8">absolute immunity</a>&nbsp;for their official acts. Otherwise, he said, politically motivated prosecutions of former occupants of the Oval Office would become routine and presidents couldn't function as the commander in chief if they had to worry about criminal charges.

Lower courts have rejected those arguments, including a unanimous three-judge panel on an appeals court in Washington, D.C.

Several justices drilled down on trying to come up with a definition of what constituted an official act, and whether charges based on one should be thrown out.

Justice Elena Kagan at one pointed wondered whether a former president could escape prosecution even if he ordered a coup or sold nuclear secrets. Sauer said prosecutions might not be allowed it those were determined to be official acts.

“That sure sounds bad, doesn't it?” Kagan asked.

Chief Justice John Roberts conjured up a president being indicted for receiving a bribe in exchange for an ambassadorial appointment. How could the indictment go forward if prosecutors had to remove the official act, the appointment. “That's like a one-legged stool, right?” Roberts asked.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictments-election-january-6-classified-documents-5cb04868bb1cdf91c19eafdb882af8c0">election interference conspiracy case</a>&nbsp;brought by Smith in Washington is just one of four criminal cases confronting Trump. Smith was in the courtroom Thursday, seated at the table for lawyers taking part in the case.

Smith’s team says the men who wrote Constitution never intended for presidents to be above the law and that, in any event, the acts Trump is charged with — including participating in a scheme to enlist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jan-6-investigation-fake-electors-608932d4771f6e2e3c5efb3fdcd8fcce">fake electors in battleground states</a>&nbsp;won by Biden — aren’t in any way part of a president’s official duties. Dreeben said that even if some of the acts are considered part of the president's powers, like talking to Justice Department officials, they still should be kept in the indictment.

Trump's conversations with then-Vice President Mike Pence, urging him to reject some electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021, might also fall under official acts.

Barrett asked Dreeben whether Smith's team could “just proceed based on the private conduct and drop the official conduct.” Dreeben said that might be possible, especially if prosecutors could, for example, use the conversations with Justice Department officials and Pence to make their case.

Nearly four years ago, all nine justices rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from a district attorney’s subpoena for his financial records. That case played out during Trump’s presidency and involved a criminal investigation, but no charges.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who would have prevented the enforcement of the subpoena because of Trump’s responsibilities as president, still rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity and pointed to the text of the Constitution and how it was understood by the people who ratified it.

“The text of the Constitution … does not afford the President absolute immunity,” Thomas wrote in 2020.

Commentators had speculated about why the court took up the case in the first place.

Phillip Bobbitt, a constitutional scholar at Columbia University’s law school, said he worries about the delay, but sees value in a decision that amounts to “a definitive expression by the Supreme Court that we are a government of laws and not of men.”

The court also may be more concerned with how its decision could affect future presidencies, Harvard law school professor Jack Goldsmith wrote on the Lawfare blog.

But Kermit Roosevelt, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said the court never should have taken the case because an ideologically diverse panel of the federal appeals court in Washington adequately addressed the issues.

“If it was going to take the case, it should have proceeded faster, because now, it will most likely prevent the trial from being completed before the election,” Roosevelt said. “Even Richard Nixon said that the American people deserve to know whether their president is a crook. The Supreme Court seems to disagree.”

The court has several options for deciding the case, though something between a complete win for Trump or prosecutors seemed most likely.

The court might spell out when former presidents are shielded from prosecution. It could then either declare that Trump's alleged conduct easily crossed the line or return the case to Chutkan so she can decide whether Trump should have to stand trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714052563813.png" alt="Trump addressed the media on Thursday morning -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Trump addressed the media on Thursday morning -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday appeared likely to reject former President Donald Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from prosecution over election interference, but several justices signaled reservations about the charges that could cause a lengthy delay, possibly beyond November’s election.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/23-939_l5gm.pdf">Click here to read a</a> transcript of the oral argument<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-939">Click here to listen to a replay </a>of the oral argument&nbsp;A majority of the justices did not appear to embrace the claim of absolute immunity that would stop special counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of Trump on charges he conspired to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. But in arguments lasting more than 2 1/2 hours in the court’s first consideration of criminal charges against a former president, several conservative justices indicated they could limit when former presidents might be prosecuted, suggesting that the case might have to be sent back to lower courts before any trial could begin.Justice Samuel Alito said that “whatever we decide is going to apply to all future presidents.”The timing of the Supreme Court’s decision could be as important as the outcome. Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, has been pushing to delay the trial until after the election, and the later the justices issue their decision, the more likely he is to succeed. If Trump regains the presidency, he could order the Justice Department to dismiss the case, or possibly, as two justices suggested, pardon himself if convicted.Since conservatives on the court gained a supermajority with the confirmation of three Trump appointees, they have cast aside decades-old long precedent on abortion and affirmation action. Now Trump is asking them to rule that one of the fundamental tenets of the American system of government — that no person is above the law -- should be rejected as well, at least as it applies to him.The active questioning of all nine justices left the strong impression that the court was not headed for the sort of speedy, consensus decision that would allow a trial to begin quickly.Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, two of Trump’s three high court appointees, and Alito said their concern was not the case against Trump, but rather the effect of their ruling on future presidencies.Each time Justice Department lawyer Michael Dreeben sought to focus on Trump’s actions, these justices jumped in. “This case has huge implications for the presidency, for the future of the presidency, for the future of the country,” Kavanaugh said. The court is writing a decision “for the ages,” Gorsuch said.Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the other Trump appointee, seemed less open to arguments advanced by Trump lawyer D. John Sauer, searching for a way a trial could take place.Smith’s team is asking for a speedy resolution. The court typically issues its last opinions by the end of June, about four months before the election. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who would preside over the trial, said pre-trial issues could take up to three months.The court has moved very quickly in prior cases involving presidential power, deciding the Watergate tapes case against President Richard Nixon just 16 days after arguments. Earlier this year, it took the justices less than a month to rule unanimously that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-insurrection-election-colorado-51e79c0f03013034c8a042cb278b6446">states couldn't kick Trump off the ballot</a>.Trump, the first former president charged with crimes, had said he wanted to be at the Supreme Court on Thursday. Instead, he was in a courtroom in New York, where he is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-national-enquirer-1dd3c3111febf219bdf1d8627504a3c5">standing trial</a>&nbsp;on charges that he falsified business records to keep damaging information from voters when he directed hush money payments to a former porn star to keep quiet her claims that they had a sexual encounter.Sauer argued that former presidents are entitled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-immunity-prosecution-capitol-riot-9fd5dc5947dab82bbd18d3efcb4267d8">absolute immunity</a>&nbsp;for their official acts. Otherwise, he said, politically motivated prosecutions of former occupants of the Oval Office would become routine and presidents couldn't function as the commander in chief if they had to worry about criminal charges.Lower courts have rejected those arguments, including a unanimous three-judge panel on an appeals court in Washington, D.C.Several justices drilled down on trying to come up with a definition of what constituted an official act, and whether charges based on one should be thrown out.Justice Elena Kagan at one pointed wondered whether a former president could escape prosecution even if he ordered a coup or sold nuclear secrets. Sauer said prosecutions might not be allowed it those were determined to be official acts.“That sure sounds bad, doesn't it?” Kagan asked.Chief Justice John Roberts conjured up a president being indicted for receiving a bribe in exchange for an ambassadorial appointment. How could the indictment go forward if prosecutors had to remove the official act, the appointment. “That's like a one-legged stool, right?” Roberts asked.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictments-election-january-6-classified-documents-5cb04868bb1cdf91c19eafdb882af8c0">election interference conspiracy case</a>&nbsp;brought by Smith in Washington is just one of four criminal cases confronting Trump. Smith was in the courtroom Thursday, seated at the table for lawyers taking part in the case.Smith’s team says the men who wrote Constitution never intended for presidents to be above the law and that, in any event, the acts Trump is charged with — including participating in a scheme to enlist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jan-6-investigation-fake-electors-608932d4771f6e2e3c5efb3fdcd8fcce">fake electors in battleground states</a>&nbsp;won by Biden — aren’t in any way part of a president’s official duties. Dreeben said that even if some of the acts are considered part of the president's powers, like talking to Justice Department officials, they still should be kept in the indictment.Trump's conversations with then-Vice President Mike Pence, urging him to reject some electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021, might also fall under official acts.Barrett asked Dreeben whether Smith's team could “just proceed based on the private conduct and drop the official conduct.” Dreeben said that might be possible, especially if prosecutors could, for example, use the conversations with Justice Department officials and Pence to make their case.Nearly four years ago, all nine justices rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from a district attorney’s subpoena for his financial records. That case played out during Trump’s presidency and involved a criminal investigation, but no charges.Justice Clarence Thomas, who would have prevented the enforcement of the subpoena because of Trump’s responsibilities as president, still rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity and pointed to the text of the Constitution and how it was understood by the people who ratified it.“The text of the Constitution … does not afford the President absolute immunity,” Thomas wrote in 2020.Commentators had speculated about why the court took up the case in the first place.Phillip Bobbitt, a constitutional scholar at Columbia University’s law school, said he worries about the delay, but sees value in a decision that amounts to “a definitive expression by the Supreme Court that we are a government of laws and not of men.”The court also may be more concerned with how its decision could affect future presidencies, Harvard law school professor Jack Goldsmith wrote on the Lawfare blog.But Kermit Roosevelt, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said the court never should have taken the case because an ideologically diverse panel of the federal appeals court in Washington adequately addressed the issues.“If it was going to take the case, it should have proceeded faster, because now, it will most likely prevent the trial from being completed before the election,” Roosevelt said. “Even Richard Nixon said that the American people deserve to know whether their president is a crook. The Supreme Court seems to disagree.”The court has several options for deciding the case, though something between a complete win for Trump or prosecutors seemed most likely.The court might spell out when former presidents are shielded from prosecution. It could then either declare that Trump's alleged conduct easily crossed the line or return the case to Chutkan so she can decide whether Trump should have to stand trial.___

🎧Supreme Court history: Debate over Trump's claim of absolute immunity

The death of a Missouri doctor who was found 11 months ago in a northwest Arkansas lake has been ruled a suicide, Arkansas authorities said Thursday.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-dead-john-forsyth-mystery-db7149050aedc913a184bc43f579db08">Dr. John Forsyth</a>&nbsp;died of a gunshot wound to the head, the Benton County, Arkansas, sheriff's department said in a statement. An autopsy by the chief medical examiner at the Arkansas State Crime Lab concluded that it was a suicide.

The sheriff’s office said that its detectives located several surveillance videos of Forsyth riding a bicycle to the lake and the bicycle was located near where Forsyth’s body was found.

Forsyth, 49, didn't show up for his May 21, 2023, shift at Mercy Hospital in Cassville, Missouri, where he had parked his RV. That prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-missing-ozarks-f7f68205ec6db1f866e99ec4707443af">a search,</a>&nbsp;and there was no sign of him until a kayaker noticed his body in Arkansas on May 30, at a spot on Beaver Lake about 20 miles (32 kilometers) away from his last known location.

The mystery surrounding his death gave his case national attention. Social media have speculated that his death may have been connected to the cryptocurrency company that he co-founded with his brother.

“Detectives have not been able to find any information or evidence that would lead us to dispute the medical examiner's findings,” the sheriff's statement said. “If objective and relevant physical evidence becomes available, those leads will be investigated on a case-by-case basis.”

--- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at&nbsp;<a href="http://988lifeline.org/">988lifeline.org</a>&nbsp;---

CASSVILLE, Mo. (AP) — John Forsyth was known as a hard-working doctor who cared deeply for his patients and often teased nurses in the emergency room to ease tension. He was a father of eight and newly engaged. He also co-founded a cryptocurrency business with his brother.

His sudden disappearance from a southwestern Missouri town last month — and the eventual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-missing-ozarks-f7f68205ec6db1f866e99ec4707443af">discovery of his body</a>&nbsp;in an Arkansas lake — has led many to wonder what happened to the man who seemed happier than he’d been for some time. A lack of information from law enforcement has only deepened the mystery, prompting amateur sleuths to espouse theories on Facebook.

“It’s like the world dropped on us; we’re just in shock” said his sister Tiffany Forsyth. “There’s a part of me that’s not quite sure this is real yet. I guess it comes in steps.”

Forsyth disappeared on May 21 from a parking area at a public swimming pool. His body, which had suffered an apparent gunshot wound, was found nine days later. An autopsy was done, but a report isn't expected for at least two months. Law enforcement officers have released almost no details, except to say there is no danger to the public.

The doctor's family is adamant that his death wasn’t a suicide: He had just recently become engaged, and his fiancee was pregnant.

Some true-crime followers on social media have speculated that his death may have been connected to the cryptocurrency company that he co-founded with his brother, Richard Forsyth. Multiple other theories also have surfaced in a Facebook discussion group that has grown to more than 1,000 members. Posts in that group are now closed to public view.

Only 10 days before his disappearance, a judge had finalized Forsyth's divorce — his second from the same woman. The split was amicable, according to family members and the ex-wife's attorney, Ryan Ricketts, who said she was “devastated” by the doctor’s death.

Richard Forsyth said his brother was excited about his upcoming marriage and new child and had a plane ticket to go see one of his daughters.

“He said, ‘I can’t wait to introduce her to you. We’re going to have a wonderful life together. We’re all going to spend a lot of time together,’” Richard Forsyth said. " ... I hadn't seen him that happy for a long time.”

Forsyth even texted his fiancee on the day of his disappearance, saying he would see her soon, according to his brother. The fiancee did not answer a social media request for an interview.

Alongside hopeful comments about his future life, however, John Forsyth had recently made cryptic remarks about possibly being in danger, his brother said, adding, “I think he crossed paths with some bad folks and he didn’t tell me about them."

There has been some confusion about what happened near the public pool where John Forsyth was last seen in Cassville, 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of the Ozark Mountains tourist destination of Branson and about half a mile from a hospital where he worked. On May 21, the pool had yet to open for the summer season. Beaver Lake, a man-made reservoir used for recreation and where his body was found, is at least an hour’s drive away from Cassville, over twisty highways that snake through the Ozarks.

Initially, Richard Forsyth said security camera footage showed his brother getting into someone else’s vehicle. He now says the footage shows that a few minutes after the doctor parked his car, a white SUV arrived, then left shortly afterward. About 10 or 15 minutes after that, the doctor got out of his car and walked away, never to be seen alive again, Richard Forsyth said. Found inside his unlocked car were two cellphones, a laptop and important documents, he said.

So far, authorities — who have stressed a need to investigate thoroughly before releasing information — have not said whether the SUV was related to Forsyth's disappearance, or whether they've found the gun used to shoot him or identified any suspects.

Richard Forsyth said family members have been told it could be a long wait for answers, but they have confidence in the investigating officers.

Authorities have also not indicated how deeply they are looking into Forsyth’s connections to crypto.

Online publications covering the industry quickly took note of his death, which was confirmed just seven weeks after authorities in the San Francisco area charged a tech consultant with the stabbing death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cash-app-bob-lee-founder-stabbed-13dab701a332328c531b3c6c444983fd">Cash App founder Bob Lee.</a>

John and Richard Forsyth founded Onfo LLC, what they called a “network mining” venture, in 2018. At that time, Onfo’s website said account holders could earn credits without putting up cash, by referring others to the company.

Onfo's website features a nearly eight-minute video titled, “The U.S. Dollar is Doomed,” which says all governments’ currencies could collapse. The video promoting the launch of Onfo portrayed bankers and political officials as pigs in suits, describing them as, “drunk on expensive liquor, resting in palaces.”

<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukefitzpatrick/2020/04/27/bitcoin-halving-a-new-class-of-bitcoin-millionaires-may-emerge/?sh=2453ff1e61fc">An online Forbes magazine story</a>&nbsp;in 2020 described John Forsyth as a bitcoin millionaire.

But Richard Forsyth said he and his brother were looking to give large numbers of people, including poor people in developing nations, a chance to invest in decentralized, digital currency. He described Onfo as fighting what the brothers believed crypto had become: driven by greed, “about Lamborghinis” and “billionaires and tax evasion.”

Paul Sibenik, lead case manager for CipherBlade, an agency that investigates cybercrimes involving crypto, said Onfo’s business model resembles pyramid schemes, which rely on an ever-growing number of referrals and cannot be sustained.

“There is not a single legitimate cryptocurrency project that operates in this way,” Sibenik said in an email to The Associated Press.

Richard Forsyth acknowledged that others might question whether Onfo was a “multi-level marketing” operation, but added, “The key difference is that we never sold anything.” And, he said, it's probably cost them millions of dollars, rather than turning a profit.

“What we are just doing is saying to people, ‘Let’s build this together,’" he said.

John Forsyth had substantial crypto currency holdings when his second divorce became final last month. The divorce decree evenly split his and his ex-wife's holdings in bitcoin and another digital currency, Ethereum, valuing them at more than $800,000. The decree also required him to pay an additional $15,000 a month to his ex-wife as well as $3,999 a month to support four of their children, ages 10 to 18. The decree estimated the value of John Forsyth’s business interests outside his cryptocurrency holdings at $1 million.

John and Richard Forsyth were among seven siblings in an extended family with more than 100 cousins. The brothers grew up both in southwest Missouri and Alberta, Canada, and had dual American and Canadian citizenship, Richard Forsyth said.

The family had a private funeral Saturday, followed by a public vigil Sunday night in a park in Monett just north of Cassville. There, about 40 people, mostly family members, lit memorial candles and shared poignant and humorous stories about him.

Colleagues remembered how Forsyth often tried to lighten the mood in the intense emergency room of a hospital in the town of Aurora where he worked. Nurse Leah Tate remarked that he liked to see “just how much he could annoy you,” drawing chuckles from those gathered for the memorial service. She said Forsyth once made it his mission to get a nurse to throw something at him at least once a day.

Louise Hensley, a Monett resident and former neighbor of John Forsyth, said he treated her husband, who had Lou Gehrig's disease, for several years.

“He was always so caring about his patients. He was so helpful to my husband and me during that time," said Hensley, who described Forsyth's death as “tragic.”

"I was just shocked when I heard a doctor was missing and then saw it was him.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685465277680.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;The death of a Missouri doctor who was found 11 months ago in a northwest Arkansas lake has been ruled a suicide, Arkansas authorities said Thursday.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-dead-john-forsyth-mystery-db7149050aedc913a184bc43f579db08">Dr. John Forsyth</a>&nbsp;died of a gunshot wound to the head, the Benton County, Arkansas, sheriff's department said in a statement. An autopsy by the chief medical examiner at the Arkansas State Crime Lab concluded that it was a suicide.The sheriff’s office said that its detectives located several surveillance videos of Forsyth riding a bicycle to the lake and the bicycle was located near where Forsyth’s body was found.Forsyth, 49, didn't show up for his May 21, 2023, shift at Mercy Hospital in Cassville, Missouri, where he had parked his RV. That prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-missing-ozarks-f7f68205ec6db1f866e99ec4707443af">a search,</a>&nbsp;and there was no sign of him until a kayaker noticed his body in Arkansas on May 30, at a spot on Beaver Lake about 20 miles (32 kilometers) away from his last known location.The mystery surrounding his death gave his case national attention. Social media have speculated that his death may have been connected to the cryptocurrency company that he co-founded with his brother.“Detectives have not been able to find any information or evidence that would lead us to dispute the medical examiner's findings,” the sheriff's statement said. “If objective and relevant physical evidence becomes available, those leads will be investigated on a case-by-case basis.”--- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at&nbsp;<a href="http://988lifeline.org/">988lifeline.org</a>&nbsp;---------------CASSVILLE, Mo. (AP) — John Forsyth was known as a hard-working doctor who cared deeply for his patients and often teased nurses in the emergency room to ease tension. He was a father of eight and newly engaged. He also co-founded a cryptocurrency business with his brother.His sudden disappearance from a southwestern Missouri town last month — and the eventual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-doctor-missing-ozarks-f7f68205ec6db1f866e99ec4707443af">discovery of his body</a>&nbsp;in an Arkansas lake — has led many to wonder what happened to the man who seemed happier than he’d been for some time. A lack of information from law enforcement has only deepened the mystery, prompting amateur sleuths to espouse theories on Facebook.“It’s like the world dropped on us; we’re just in shock” said his sister Tiffany Forsyth. “There’s a part of me that’s not quite sure this is real yet. I guess it comes in steps.”Forsyth disappeared on May 21 from a parking area at a public swimming pool. His body, which had suffered an apparent gunshot wound, was found nine days later. An autopsy was done, but a report isn't expected for at least two months. Law enforcement officers have released almost no details, except to say there is no danger to the public.The doctor's family is adamant that his death wasn’t a suicide: He had just recently become engaged, and his fiancee was pregnant.Some true-crime followers on social media have speculated that his death may have been connected to the cryptocurrency company that he co-founded with his brother, Richard Forsyth. Multiple other theories also have surfaced in a Facebook discussion group that has grown to more than 1,000 members. Posts in that group are now closed to public view.Only 10 days before his disappearance, a judge had finalized Forsyth's divorce — his second from the same woman. The split was amicable, according to family members and the ex-wife's attorney, Ryan Ricketts, who said she was “devastated” by the doctor’s death.Richard Forsyth said his brother was excited about his upcoming marriage and new child and had a plane ticket to go see one of his daughters.“He said, ‘I can’t wait to introduce her to you. We’re going to have a wonderful life together. We’re all going to spend a lot of time together,’” Richard Forsyth said. " ... I hadn't seen him that happy for a long time.”Forsyth even texted his fiancee on the day of his disappearance, saying he would see her soon, according to his brother. The fiancee did not answer a social media request for an interview.Alongside hopeful comments about his future life, however, John Forsyth had recently made cryptic remarks about possibly being in danger, his brother said, adding, “I think he crossed paths with some bad folks and he didn’t tell me about them."CONFLICTING INFORMATION There has been some confusion about what happened near the public pool where John Forsyth was last seen in Cassville, 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of the Ozark Mountains tourist destination of Branson and about half a mile from a hospital where he worked. On May 21, the pool had yet to open for the summer season. Beaver Lake, a man-made reservoir used for recreation and where his body was found, is at least an hour’s drive away from Cassville, over twisty highways that snake through the Ozarks.Initially, Richard Forsyth said security camera footage showed his brother getting into someone else’s vehicle. He now says the footage shows that a few minutes after the doctor parked his car, a white SUV arrived, then left shortly afterward. About 10 or 15 minutes after that, the doctor got out of his car and walked away, never to be seen alive again, Richard Forsyth said. Found inside his unlocked car were two cellphones, a laptop and important documents, he said.So far, authorities — who have stressed a need to investigate thoroughly before releasing information — have not said whether the SUV was related to Forsyth's disappearance, or whether they've found the gun used to shoot him or identified any suspects.Richard Forsyth said family members have been told it could be a long wait for answers, but they have confidence in the investigating officers.CRYPTO CONNECTIONS Authorities have also not indicated how deeply they are looking into Forsyth’s connections to crypto.Online publications covering the industry quickly took note of his death, which was confirmed just seven weeks after authorities in the San Francisco area charged a tech consultant with the stabbing death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cash-app-bob-lee-founder-stabbed-13dab701a332328c531b3c6c444983fd">Cash App founder Bob Lee.</a>John and Richard Forsyth founded Onfo LLC, what they called a “network mining” venture, in 2018. At that time, Onfo’s website said account holders could earn credits without putting up cash, by referring others to the company.Onfo's website features a nearly eight-minute video titled, “The U.S. Dollar is Doomed,” which says all governments’ currencies could collapse. The video promoting the launch of Onfo portrayed bankers and political officials as pigs in suits, describing them as, “drunk on expensive liquor, resting in palaces.”<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukefitzpatrick/2020/04/27/bitcoin-halving-a-new-class-of-bitcoin-millionaires-may-emerge/?sh=2453ff1e61fc">An online Forbes magazine story</a>&nbsp;in 2020 described John Forsyth as a bitcoin millionaire.But Richard Forsyth said he and his brother were looking to give large numbers of people, including poor people in developing nations, a chance to invest in decentralized, digital currency. He described Onfo as fighting what the brothers believed crypto had become: driven by greed, “about Lamborghinis” and “billionaires and tax evasion.”Paul Sibenik, lead case manager for CipherBlade, an agency that investigates cybercrimes involving crypto, said Onfo’s business model resembles pyramid schemes, which rely on an ever-growing number of referrals and cannot be sustained.“There is not a single legitimate cryptocurrency project that operates in this way,” Sibenik said in an email to The Associated Press.Richard Forsyth acknowledged that others might question whether Onfo was a “multi-level marketing” operation, but added, “The key difference is that we never sold anything.” And, he said, it's probably cost them millions of dollars, rather than turning a profit.“What we are just doing is saying to people, ‘Let’s build this together,’" he said.John Forsyth had substantial crypto currency holdings when his second divorce became final last month. The divorce decree evenly split his and his ex-wife's holdings in bitcoin and another digital currency, Ethereum, valuing them at more than $800,000. The decree also required him to pay an additional $15,000 a month to his ex-wife as well as $3,999 a month to support four of their children, ages 10 to 18. The decree estimated the value of John Forsyth’s business interests outside his cryptocurrency holdings at $1 million.A FRIENDS' AND FAMILY'S FAREWELL John and Richard Forsyth were among seven siblings in an extended family with more than 100 cousins. The brothers grew up both in southwest Missouri and Alberta, Canada, and had dual American and Canadian citizenship, Richard Forsyth said.The family had a private funeral Saturday, followed by a public vigil Sunday night in a park in Monett just north of Cassville. There, about 40 people, mostly family members, lit memorial candles and shared poignant and humorous stories about him.Colleagues remembered how Forsyth often tried to lighten the mood in the intense emergency room of a hospital in the town of Aurora where he worked. Nurse Leah Tate remarked that he liked to see “just how much he could annoy you,” drawing chuckles from those gathered for the memorial service. She said Forsyth once made it his mission to get a nurse to throw something at him at least once a day.Louise Hensley, a Monett resident and former neighbor of John Forsyth, said he treated her husband, who had Lou Gehrig's disease, for several years.“He was always so caring about his patients. He was so helpful to my husband and me during that time," said Hensley, who described Forsyth's death as “tragic.”"I was just shocked when I heard a doctor was missing and then saw it was him.”

Officials determine cause of death of Mo. doctor whose body was found in lake 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a double-homicide at a park in the Kansas City area have captured two suspects identified as 19-year-old Marquis Earl Lee Savannah and a 17-year-old.

Just after 10:30p.m. April 13, police were dispatched to a shooting at Wilbur Young Park, 1100 SE Adams Dairy Parkway in Blue Springs, according to a media release from police.

Police found shooting victims identified as as  LaDronal Hamilton Jr., 19,  Kansas City, Missouri and Karmello Matlock, 20,  Blue Springs, Missouri. &nbsp;EMS transported them to local hospitals where both&nbsp; were later declared deceased.

&nbsp;A 17-year-old boy was also shot and received non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714057660581.png" alt="Savannah-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Savannah-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a double-homicide at a park in the Kansas City area have captured two suspects identified as 19-year-old Marquis Earl Lee Savannah and a 17-year-old.Just after 10:30p.m. April 13, police were dispatched to a shooting at Wilbur Young Park, 1100 SE Adams Dairy Parkway in Blue Springs, according to a media release from police.Police found shooting victims identified as as LaDronal Hamilton Jr., 19, Kansas City, Missouri and Karmello Matlock, 20, Blue Springs, Missouri. &nbsp;EMS transported them to local hospitals where both&nbsp; were later declared deceased.&nbsp;A 17-year-old boy was also shot and received non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

Police: 2 in custody for double murder at Kansas City Park

DOUGLAS COUNTY—A Kansas man who died in an accident just after 1p.m. Wednesday in Douglas County has been identified as&nbsp;Michael Landsness, 37, of Lawrence, according to Douglas County sheriff's department spokesperson George Diepenbrock.

According to the preliminary crash investigation, a 2008 Kia driven by Landsness was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound&nbsp;the 1400 block of N 1300 Road&nbsp;east of 31st and Louisiana streets.

The Kia crossed the center line and struck a 2017 Ford F150&nbsp; head-on as it traveled in the inside eastbound lane.&nbsp;

Landsness was pronounced dead at the scene. Medics extricated the Kia passenger, Coty Galbreath, 34, Kansas City, Missouri, who suffered serious injuries and was air-lifted to a Kansas City area hospital. He remains hospitalized on Thursday afternoon, according to Diepenbrock. 

The driver and passenger in the F150 were taken by ground ambulance to an area hospital and have both been treated and released.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—A Kansas man who died in an accident just after 1p.m. Wednesday in Douglas County has been identified as&nbsp;Michael Landsness, 37, of Lawrence, according to Douglas County sheriff's department spokesperson George Diepenbrock.According to the preliminary crash investigation, a 2008 Kia driven by Landsness was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound&nbsp;the 1400 block of N 1300 Road&nbsp;east of 31st and Louisiana streets.The Kia crossed the center line and struck a 2017 Ford F150&nbsp; head-on as it traveled in the inside eastbound lane.&nbsp;Landsness was pronounced dead at the scene. Medics extricated the Kia passenger, Coty Galbreath, 34, Kansas City, Missouri, who suffered serious injuries and was air-lifted to a Kansas City area hospital. He remains hospitalized on Thursday afternoon, according to Diepenbrock. The driver and passenger in the F150 were taken by ground ambulance to an area hospital and have both been treated and released.

Sheriff IDs Kansas man who died in wrong-way, head-on crash

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level since late November, another setback for home shoppers in what's traditionally the housing market's busiest time of the year.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose to 7.17% from 7.1% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.43%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week, lifting the average rate to 6.44% from 6.39% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.71%, Freddie Mac said.

When mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">the U.S. housing market remains constrained by relatively few homes for sale and rising home prices.</a>

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has now increased four weeks in a row. The latest uptick brings it to its highest level since November 30, when it was 7.22%.

After climbing to a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage had remained below 7% since early December amid expectations that inflation would ease enough this year for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting its short-term interest rate.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Fed’s interest rate policy and the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

Home loan rates have been mostly drifting higher after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-federal-reserve-biden-f02b969d1b44a7ccb0385be03f766de0">string</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-4ac316b6a435ef44c370ce7686da67c0">reports</a>&nbsp;this year showing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-539b662f32a3cea4a514407ae4389174">inflation</a>&nbsp;remaining hotter than forecast, which has stoked doubts over how soon the Fed might decide to start lowering its benchmark interest rate. The uncertainty has pushed up bond yields.

Top Fed officials themselves have said recently they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-interest-rates-federal-reserve-powell-cuts-c60436c5e719ce95fc487fdb98395d09">could hold interest rates high</a>&nbsp;for a while before getting full confidence inflation is heading down toward their target of 2%.

The rise in mortgage rates in recent weeks is an unwelcome trend for home shoppers this spring homebuying season.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last month</a>&nbsp;as homebuyers contended with elevated mortgage rates and rising prices.

While easing mortgage rates helped push home sales higher in January and February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains well above 5.1%, where was just two years ago.

That large gap between rates now and then has helped limit the number of previously occupied homes on the market because many homeowners who bought or refinanced more than two years ago are reluctant to sell and give up their fixed-rate mortgages below 3% or 4% — a trend real estate experts refer to as the “lock-in” effect.

“The jump in mortgage rates has taken the wind out of the sails of the mortgage market," said Bob Broeksmit, CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. "Along with weaker affordability conditions, the lock-in effect continues to suppress existing inventory levels as many homeowners remain unwilling to sell their home to buy a new one at a higher price and mortgage rate.”

Homebuilders have been able to mitigate the impact of elevated home loan borrowing costs this year by offering incentives, such as covering the cost to lower the mortgage rate homebuyers take on. That's helped spur sales of newly built single-family homes, which jumped 8.8% in March from a year earlier, according to the Commerce Department.

“With rates staying higher for longer, many homebuyers are adjusting, as evidenced by this week’s report that sales of newly built homes saw the biggest increase since December 2022,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659001075252.jpeg" alt="File photo AP" />
 <figcaption>File photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level since late November, another setback for home shoppers in what's traditionally the housing market's busiest time of the year.The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose to 7.17% from 7.1% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.43%.Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week, lifting the average rate to 6.44% from 6.39% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.71%, Freddie Mac said.When mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">the U.S. housing market remains constrained by relatively few homes for sale and rising home prices.</a>The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has now increased four weeks in a row. The latest uptick brings it to its highest level since November 30, when it was 7.22%.After climbing to a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage had remained below 7% since early December amid expectations that inflation would ease enough this year for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting its short-term interest rate.Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Fed’s interest rate policy and the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.Home loan rates have been mostly drifting higher after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-federal-reserve-biden-f02b969d1b44a7ccb0385be03f766de0">string</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-4ac316b6a435ef44c370ce7686da67c0">reports</a>&nbsp;this year showing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-539b662f32a3cea4a514407ae4389174">inflation</a>&nbsp;remaining hotter than forecast, which has stoked doubts over how soon the Fed might decide to start lowering its benchmark interest rate. The uncertainty has pushed up bond yields.Top Fed officials themselves have said recently they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-interest-rates-federal-reserve-powell-cuts-c60436c5e719ce95fc487fdb98395d09">could hold interest rates high</a>&nbsp;for a while before getting full confidence inflation is heading down toward their target of 2%.The rise in mortgage rates in recent weeks is an unwelcome trend for home shoppers this spring homebuying season.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last month</a>&nbsp;as homebuyers contended with elevated mortgage rates and rising prices.While easing mortgage rates helped push home sales higher in January and February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains well above 5.1%, where was just two years ago.That large gap between rates now and then has helped limit the number of previously occupied homes on the market because many homeowners who bought or refinanced more than two years ago are reluctant to sell and give up their fixed-rate mortgages below 3% or 4% — a trend real estate experts refer to as the “lock-in” effect.“The jump in mortgage rates has taken the wind out of the sails of the mortgage market," said Bob Broeksmit, CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. "Along with weaker affordability conditions, the lock-in effect continues to suppress existing inventory levels as many homeowners remain unwilling to sell their home to buy a new one at a higher price and mortgage rate.”Homebuilders have been able to mitigate the impact of elevated home loan borrowing costs this year by offering incentives, such as covering the cost to lower the mortgage rate homebuyers take on. That's helped spur sales of newly built single-family homes, which jumped 8.8% in March from a year earlier, according to the Commerce Department.“With rates staying higher for longer, many homebuyers are adjusting, as evidenced by this week’s report that sales of newly built homes saw the biggest increase since December 2022,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

Average long-term US mortgage rate climbs for fourth straight week

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The FCC on Thursday restored “net neutrality” rules that prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and AT&amp;T from favoring some sites and apps over others.

The move effectively reinstates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-6e1a7d433381466bbd700df770ceb323">net neutrality order</a>&nbsp;the commission first issued in 2015 during the Obama administration; under then-President Donald Trump, the FCC subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e1eabbdf1525477dbaacf1a482b57ed4">repealed those rules in 2017</a>.

Net neutrality is the principle that providers of internet service should treat all traffic equally. The rules, for instance, ban practices that throttle or block certain sites or apps, or that offer higher speeds to customers willing to pay extra.

“In our post-pandemic world, we know that broadband is a necessity, not a luxury,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement ahead of the vote.

The telecommunications industry opposed the reintroduction of the rules, as it has before, declaring it an example of unnecessary government interference in business decisions.

The measure passed on a 3-2 vote split by party lines, with Democratic commissioners in favor and Republicans opposed.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The FCC on Thursday restored “net neutrality” rules that prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and AT&amp;T from favoring some sites and apps over others.The move effectively reinstates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-6e1a7d433381466bbd700df770ceb323">net neutrality order</a>&nbsp;the commission first issued in 2015 during the Obama administration; under then-President Donald Trump, the FCC subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e1eabbdf1525477dbaacf1a482b57ed4">repealed those rules in 2017</a>.Net neutrality is the principle that providers of internet service should treat all traffic equally. The rules, for instance, ban practices that throttle or block certain sites or apps, or that offer higher speeds to customers willing to pay extra.“In our post-pandemic world, we know that broadband is a necessity, not a luxury,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement ahead of the vote.The telecommunications industry opposed the reintroduction of the rules, as it has before, declaring it an example of unnecessary government interference in business decisions.The measure passed on a 3-2 vote split by party lines, with Democratic commissioners in favor and Republicans opposed.

Net neutrality is back as FCC votes to regulate internet providers

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' governor is blocking an attempt by Republican legislators to give the state's National Guard a “border mission" of helping Texas in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-illegal-immigration-02b08ee45bc4cf23ba9bf0fb0a28c67f">its partisan fight</a>&nbsp;with the Biden administration over illegal immigration.

Top Republicans in the Kansas House were considering Thursday whether their chamber can muster the two-thirds majority necessary to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-immigration-kansas-budget-2aac7fd60ebd6184b5870b6df5ca753c">immigration provisions</a>&nbsp;in the next state budget. The Senate's top Republican promised to mount an override effort, but the House would vote first.

Kelly on Wednesday vetoed a budget provision that would have directed her administration to confer with Texas' Republican governor, Greg Abbott, and send Kansas National Guard personnel or equipment to the border. The GOP proposal would have helped Texas enforce a state law allowing its officials to arrest migrants suspected of crossing into the U.S. illegally. She also vetoed a provision setting aside $15.7 million for the effort.

Abbott is in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-migrants-arrest-law-court-hearing-149fa2b2447b98dd134a05c3ec51f62a">a legal battle</a>&nbsp;with Democratic President Joe Biden's administration, which insists the U.S. Constitution gives the federal government control of border security. In her veto message, Kelly said border security is a federal issue and suggested that the budget provisions improperly encroached on her power as the Kansas National Guard's commander in chief.

“It is not the Legislature's role to direct the operations or call out the National Guard,” she wrote. “When a governor deploys soldiers as part of a federal mission, it is done intentionally and in a manner that ensures we are able to protect our communities.”

Kansas legislators reconvened Thursday after a spring break and are scheduled to wrap up their work for the year Tuesday.

Republicans nationwide have expressed support for Texas, and Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson acknowledged Thursday that the $15.7 million in spending by Kansas would represent mostly “moral support” for Texas' much larger effort.

Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, said the state constitution gives legislators the authority to pass laws to give directions to agencies under Kelly's control.

“She’s tied in with the Biden administration, so she’s not motivated to help solve that problem,” he said.

Earlier this year, the Kansas House and Senate approved separate resolutions&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hr6035_enrolled.pdf">expressing support for Texas.</a>&nbsp;Democrats said the Texas governor's stance is constitutionally suspect and has created a humanitarian crisis.

Masterson said Republicans would try to override the veto. However, because the provisions were tucked into a budget bill, it's not clear that GOP leaders have the necessary two-thirds majorities in both chambers — though they would if all Republicans were present and voted yes.

“We try to give all options available to support our border, support our fellow states and make sure our nation’s safe," said House Majority Leader Chris Croft, a Kansas City-area Republican.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714067952123.png" alt="Photo Greg Abbott-Texas Department of Public Safety" />
 <figcaption>Photo Greg Abbott-Texas Department of Public Safety</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' governor is blocking an attempt by Republican legislators to give the state's National Guard a “border mission" of helping Texas in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-illegal-immigration-02b08ee45bc4cf23ba9bf0fb0a28c67f">its partisan fight</a>&nbsp;with the Biden administration over illegal immigration.Top Republicans in the Kansas House were considering Thursday whether their chamber can muster the two-thirds majority necessary to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-immigration-kansas-budget-2aac7fd60ebd6184b5870b6df5ca753c">immigration provisions</a>&nbsp;in the next state budget. The Senate's top Republican promised to mount an override effort, but the House would vote first.Kelly on Wednesday vetoed a budget provision that would have directed her administration to confer with Texas' Republican governor, Greg Abbott, and send Kansas National Guard personnel or equipment to the border. The GOP proposal would have helped Texas enforce a state law allowing its officials to arrest migrants suspected of crossing into the U.S. illegally. She also vetoed a provision setting aside $15.7 million for the effort.Abbott is in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-migrants-arrest-law-court-hearing-149fa2b2447b98dd134a05c3ec51f62a">a legal battle</a>&nbsp;with Democratic President Joe Biden's administration, which insists the U.S. Constitution gives the federal government control of border security. In her veto message, Kelly said border security is a federal issue and suggested that the budget provisions improperly encroached on her power as the Kansas National Guard's commander in chief.“It is not the Legislature's role to direct the operations or call out the National Guard,” she wrote. “When a governor deploys soldiers as part of a federal mission, it is done intentionally and in a manner that ensures we are able to protect our communities.”Kansas legislators reconvened Thursday after a spring break and are scheduled to wrap up their work for the year Tuesday.Republicans nationwide have expressed support for Texas, and Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson acknowledged Thursday that the $15.7 million in spending by Kansas would represent mostly “moral support” for Texas' much larger effort.Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, said the state constitution gives legislators the authority to pass laws to give directions to agencies under Kelly's control.“She’s tied in with the Biden administration, so she’s not motivated to help solve that problem,” he said.Earlier this year, the Kansas House and Senate approved separate resolutions&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hr6035_enrolled.pdf">expressing support for Texas.</a>&nbsp;Democrats said the Texas governor's stance is constitutionally suspect and has created a humanitarian crisis.Masterson said Republicans would try to override the veto. However, because the provisions were tucked into a budget bill, it's not clear that GOP leaders have the necessary two-thirds majorities in both chambers — though they would if all Republicans were present and voted yes.“We try to give all options available to support our border, support our fellow states and make sure our nation’s safe," said House Majority Leader Chris Croft, a Kansas City-area Republican.

Kan. governor vetoes effort to help Texas in border security fight

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man who sped through a red light in Kansas City and crashed into a patrol car has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of an officer and a bystander.

Jerron Lightfoot, 20, of Tonganoxie, Kansas, said he was “truly sorry and never intended to hurt anyone” before he was sentenced Wednesday.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-875df269f435e2242d6667fac23b045f">Feb. 15, 2023,</a>&nbsp;crash killed Officer James Muhlbauer, who was 42, Jesse Eckes, who was 52, and Muhlbauer's police dog, Champ.

Police determined that Lightfoot sped up to nearly 90 mph just two seconds before hitting Muhlbauer’s car on the driver’s side. The impact sent the car crashing into Eckes, who was sitting on a concrete barrier.

Lightfoot, who initially blamed his brakes, entered a guilty plea this&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-crash-officer-k9-pedestrian-killed-0b3a559786a63643291b92f9312b9e04">February</a>&nbsp;in which prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than 10 years in prison.

Eckes’ sister, Mandi Dunbar, argued against sentencing Lightfoot to prison, saying her brother was in and out of jail during his life. She said his life might have turned out better if he had been given a chance when he was younger.

But family and friends of Muhlbauer, a celebrated officer and father of three, sought the maximum sentence.

The hearing ended with Lightfoot handcuffed and led out of the courtroom, which was packed with friends and family, along with uniformed officers.

“Currently, I don’t think I can forgive him, maybe in time,” Muhlbauer’s widow, Cassie Muhlbauer said outside the courthouse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676644200134.png" alt="Lightfoot-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Lightfoot-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man who sped through a red light in Kansas City and crashed into a patrol car has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of an officer and a bystander.Jerron Lightfoot, 20, of Tonganoxie, Kansas, said he was “truly sorry and never intended to hurt anyone” before he was sentenced Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676902567063.png" alt="Officer James Muhlbauer and K9 Champ" />
 <figcaption>Officer James Muhlbauer and K9 Champ</figcaption>
 </figure>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-875df269f435e2242d6667fac23b045f">Feb. 15, 2023,</a>&nbsp;crash killed Officer James Muhlbauer, who was 42, Jesse Eckes, who was 52, and Muhlbauer's police dog, Champ.Police determined that Lightfoot sped up to nearly 90 mph just two seconds before hitting Muhlbauer’s car on the driver’s side. The impact sent the car crashing into Eckes, who was sitting on a concrete barrier.Lightfoot, who initially blamed his brakes, entered a guilty plea this&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-crash-officer-k9-pedestrian-killed-0b3a559786a63643291b92f9312b9e04">February</a>&nbsp;in which prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than 10 years in prison.Eckes’ sister, Mandi Dunbar, argued against sentencing Lightfoot to prison, saying her brother was in and out of jail during his life. She said his life might have turned out better if he had been given a chance when he was younger.But family and friends of Muhlbauer, a celebrated officer and father of three, sought the maximum sentence.The hearing ended with Lightfoot handcuffed and led out of the courtroom, which was packed with friends and family, along with uniformed officers.“Currently, I don’t think I can forgive him, maybe in time,” Muhlbauer’s widow, Cassie Muhlbauer said outside the courthouse.

Kan. man sentenced for crash that killed officer, pedestrian and K-9

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.

Just after 4p.m. Wednesday, Cpl. Jon Sumner of the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office was on active patrol when he encountered a suspicious vehicle parked directly within the middle of the Kansas and Kansas 99 intersection south of Alma, according to a media release. 

&nbsp;Sumner observed the driver slouched over the steering wheel and summoned EMS. Realizing the vehicle was running and still in drive&nbsp; Sumner immediately returned to his patrol vehicle and gently set his push bar in direct contact with the suspect vehicle grill in a head to head to prevent it from rolling off road, into traffic or suddenly being able to flee or elude. 

Sumner roused awake and made contact with the driver, identified as 25-year-old Dustin Marquarndt of Dwight, Kansas. Marquarndt was asked to step out of the vehicle after&nbsp; Sumner noticed signs of impairment and the presence of a firearm. 

Assisting the driver from the vehicle, Sumner observed illegal narcotics in plain view. The subsequent lawful probable cause search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of approximately 1 gram of Methamphetamine, 4 grams of Cocaine &amp; other associated illicit narcotics paraphernalia. 

Due to the totality of circumstances &amp; objective reasonableness to include the driver exhibiting signs of impairment, Cpl Sumner placed Mr. Marquarndt under arrest without incident transported him to the county jail where he was booked in on requested charges of possession of opiates/narcotic or certain stimulant, possession of marijuana, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, possession of firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, illegal parking on highway and not wearing his seat belt. 

Upon driver refusal to voluntarily submit to chemical testing, Sumner applied for, was granted and then executed a lawful blood draw search warrant upon the accused.&nbsp;

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.Just after 4p.m. Wednesday, Cpl. Jon Sumner of the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office was on active patrol when he encountered a suspicious vehicle parked directly within the middle of the Kansas and Kansas 99 intersection south of Alma, according to a media release. &nbsp;Sumner observed the driver slouched over the steering wheel and summoned EMS. Realizing the vehicle was running and still in drive&nbsp; Sumner immediately returned to his patrol vehicle and gently set his push bar in direct contact with the suspect vehicle grill in a head to head to prevent it from rolling off road, into traffic or suddenly being able to flee or elude. Sumner roused awake and made contact with the driver, identified as 25-year-old Dustin Marquarndt of Dwight, Kansas. Marquarndt was asked to step out of the vehicle after&nbsp; Sumner noticed signs of impairment and the presence of a firearm. Assisting the driver from the vehicle, Sumner observed illegal narcotics in plain view. The subsequent lawful probable cause search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of approximately 1 gram of Methamphetamine, 4 grams of Cocaine &amp; other associated illicit narcotics paraphernalia. Due to the totality of circumstances &amp; objective reasonableness to include the driver exhibiting signs of impairment, Cpl Sumner placed Mr. Marquarndt under arrest without incident transported him to the county jail where he was booked in on requested charges of possession of opiates/narcotic or certain stimulant, possession of marijuana, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, possession of firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, illegal parking on highway and not wearing his seat belt. Upon driver refusal to voluntarily submit to chemical testing, Sumner applied for, was granted and then executed a lawful blood draw search warrant upon the accused.&nbsp;

Kan. man jailed after he passed out in running vehicle at intersection

The last-minute inclusion, aimed at Kansas City, would force any city to repay all state funds, with interest, if it became a ‘sanctuary city’ for undocumented migrants

By RUDI KELLER,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri Republican lawmakers are seeking to target Kansas City with heavy sanctions if it moves ahead with stated plans by Mayor Quinton Lucas to welcome immigrants with legal clearance to work while in the United States.

The last item added to the state budget Wednesday during deliberations of the Senate Appropriations Committee was language that cuts all state funding for cities that become sanctuaries for immigrants. It also requires any money already received by those cities to be paid back with interest.

The provision, added to the budget at the urging of Republican state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville, came in response to statements Lucas made, first to Bloomberg News and later to local media and on social media, that he is in talks with mayors in New York and Denver to help them with large numbers of recently arrived migrants.

“We wanted to have the clawback provisions in there to make sure that if he does that, once we’re out of session, and some of that money is expended by the city of Kansas City, the state has the ability to seek reimbursement of that, as well as interest,” Luetkemeyer said.

The language almost passed unnoticed in the fast-paced hearing, until state Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, raised objections.&nbsp;

She said the provision is borne of cruelty to migrants and animosity toward a city controlled by Democrats.

“I want them to be able to come here and be safe, be able to work, be able to go to school, be able to eat and do the things that they do, be entrepreneurs that they want to,” Washington said.

Washington was caught off guard by the provision yet, like other Democrats, voted for most of the budget bills as they were approved on their way to Senate floor debate. The amendment was added to every bill so it could impact school funding, student college aid and grants to civic groups, depending on how it is interpreted.

The controversy over Kansas City’s welcoming policy began after Lucas spoke to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-16/new-york-migrants-invited-by-kansas-city-mayor-to-fill-jobs-demand?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTcxMzI4OTI0MywiZXhwIjoxNzEzODk0MDQzLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTQzFQUDNUMVVNMFcwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIzRjQyNkUyMzlGNUE0QTNBOUE5OTk2RDNDRDhBMzQxMiJ9.YmLdB9bBbUL_FYnybHif9WbL47nqqmwP9ygtXQ9qs-M&amp;leadSource=uverify%20wall">Bloomberg</a>&nbsp;for an article published April 16.

“We need a lot more employees,” Lucas said. “If there are people who are willing and ready to work, then I believe that there could be a place for them.”

That drew a rebuke from Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who said Missouri laws prohibit the transportation or employment of undocumented immigrants.

“Your open invitation to illegal aliens to come to Missouri is not only dangerous but comes at great expense to Missouri taxpayers, residents, and business owners,” Bailey wrote in a letter to Lucas included in a news release. “Rather than undermining the rule of law, I invite you to join me as I actively seek to defend it and to protect Missourians.”

In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1780982347304780059">statement on X</a>, as opposition led by Republicans escalated, Lucas said he is trying to welcome people legally able to work.&nbsp;

“What we’re saying is if you’ve gone through that work permit, you’ve worked with the Department of Homeland Security, and you are lawfully present here in the United States, then you know what, we want to welcome you,” Lucas wrote. “We want to make sure there’s a way to find work in our community.”

Lucas clarified his position again during a meeting Tuesday of the Kansas City Council’s Special Committee for Legal Review.

“There is nothing that has been proposed that suggests we are a sanctuary city,” he said,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article287951995.html">according to the Kansas City Star</a>. “There is nothing that has been proposed that suggests that this city is funding or in some conspiracy to help create more illegal immigration.”

“No funds shall be expended to any municipality that enacts or adopts a sanctuary policy, in accordance with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=67.307&amp;bid=2746&amp;hl=">Section 67.307, RSMO</a>. any municipality that enacts or adopts a sanctuary policy and has received state funds during the current fiscal year shall pay back all funds with interest calculated at the statutory rate of interest as provided in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=408.040&amp;bid=23339&amp;hl=">Section 408.040.4, RSMO</a>.”

The law barring Missouri cities from declaring they are sanctuary cities defines that as an ordinance or policy to limit or prohibit communication with federal immigration agencies “to verify or report the immigration status” of any individual or grants people in the United States illegally the right to lawful presence.

The statute setting the interest makes it equal to the rate set by the Federal Reserve for its loans to banks, plus 3%, which would make it 8.25% to 8.5% as of Wednesday.

The penalty is withholding grants administered by state agencies. It is triggered when a complaint is made, and requires “any member of the general assembly” to ask the attorney general for an official opinion on whether there has been a violation.

The language in the budget goes beyond that law and will be thrown out in the courts, Washington said. There is no provision for taking money back, she noted.

“If we are going to be the protectors of our state’s budget, and respect the citizens of this state, we have got to stop doing things that are going to cost us a lot of money in court,” Washington said.

Seeking a repayment with interest is legal, Lutkemeyer said.

“The statute is silent as to that issue,” he said. “We’re just filling that gap.”

The Center for Immigration Studies, which defines sanctuary cities as those with “laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies, or other practices that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals,” does not consider any city in Missouri a sanctuary city.

In a statement, state Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat, said the language will not impact immigration.

“There are no sanctuary cities in Missouri and this language will not actually do anything to help our state,” Arthur said. “It is simply another distraction from the fact that Congressional Republicans are refusing to pass the bipartisan border security bill that would finally address the real crisis at the border.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714049902348.png" alt="Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas testifies in an April 10 hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Missouri lawmakers are targeting Kansas City for sanctions over Lucas’s recent remarks welcoming immigrants able to work legally (Screenshot from U.S. Senate stream)." />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas testifies in an April 10 hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Missouri lawmakers are targeting Kansas City for sanctions over Lucas’s recent remarks welcoming immigrants able to work legally (Screenshot from U.S. Senate stream).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The last-minute inclusion, aimed at Kansas City, would force any city to repay all state funds, with interest, if it became a ‘sanctuary city’ for undocumented migrants</h2>By RUDI KELLER,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri Republican lawmakers are seeking to target Kansas City with heavy sanctions if it moves ahead with stated plans by Mayor Quinton Lucas to welcome immigrants with legal clearance to work while in the United States.The last item added to the state budget Wednesday during deliberations of the Senate Appropriations Committee was language that cuts all state funding for cities that become sanctuaries for immigrants. It also requires any money already received by those cities to be paid back with interest.The provision, added to the budget at the urging of Republican state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville, came in response to statements Lucas made, first to Bloomberg News and later to local media and on social media, that he is in talks with mayors in New York and Denver to help them with large numbers of recently arrived migrants.“We wanted to have the clawback provisions in there to make sure that if he does that, once we’re out of session, and some of that money is expended by the city of Kansas City, the state has the ability to seek reimbursement of that, as well as interest,” Luetkemeyer said.The language almost passed unnoticed in the fast-paced hearing, until state Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, raised objections.&nbsp;She said the provision is borne of cruelty to migrants and animosity toward a city controlled by Democrats.“I want them to be able to come here and be safe, be able to work, be able to go to school, be able to eat and do the things that they do, be entrepreneurs that they want to,” Washington said.Washington was caught off guard by the provision yet, like other Democrats, voted for most of the budget bills as they were approved on their way to Senate floor debate. The amendment was added to every bill so it could impact school funding, student college aid and grants to civic groups, depending on how it is interpreted.The controversy over Kansas City’s welcoming policy began after Lucas spoke to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-16/new-york-migrants-invited-by-kansas-city-mayor-to-fill-jobs-demand?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTcxMzI4OTI0MywiZXhwIjoxNzEzODk0MDQzLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTQzFQUDNUMVVNMFcwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIzRjQyNkUyMzlGNUE0QTNBOUE5OTk2RDNDRDhBMzQxMiJ9.YmLdB9bBbUL_FYnybHif9WbL47nqqmwP9ygtXQ9qs-M&amp;leadSource=uverify%20wall">Bloomberg</a>&nbsp;for an article published April 16.“We need a lot more employees,” Lucas said. “If there are people who are willing and ready to work, then I believe that there could be a place for them.”That drew a rebuke from Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who said Missouri laws prohibit the transportation or employment of undocumented immigrants.“Your open invitation to illegal aliens to come to Missouri is not only dangerous but comes at great expense to Missouri taxpayers, residents, and business owners,” Bailey wrote in a letter to Lucas included in a news release. “Rather than undermining the rule of law, I invite you to join me as I actively seek to defend it and to protect Missourians.”In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1780982347304780059">statement on X</a>, as opposition led by Republicans escalated, Lucas said he is trying to welcome people legally able to work.&nbsp;“What we’re saying is if you’ve gone through that work permit, you’ve worked with the Department of Homeland Security, and you are lawfully present here in the United States, then you know what, we want to welcome you,” Lucas wrote. “We want to make sure there’s a way to find work in our community.”Lucas clarified his position again during a meeting Tuesday of the Kansas City Council’s Special Committee for Legal Review.“There is nothing that has been proposed that suggests we are a sanctuary city,” he said,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article287951995.html">according to the Kansas City Star</a>. “There is nothing that has been proposed that suggests that this city is funding or in some conspiracy to help create more illegal immigration.”The provision added the budget states:“No funds shall be expended to any municipality that enacts or adopts a sanctuary policy, in accordance with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=67.307&amp;bid=2746&amp;hl=">Section 67.307, RSMO</a>. any municipality that enacts or adopts a sanctuary policy and has received state funds during the current fiscal year shall pay back all funds with interest calculated at the statutory rate of interest as provided in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=408.040&amp;bid=23339&amp;hl=">Section 408.040.4, RSMO</a>.”The law barring Missouri cities from declaring they are sanctuary cities defines that as an ordinance or policy to limit or prohibit communication with federal immigration agencies “to verify or report the immigration status” of any individual or grants people in the United States illegally the right to lawful presence.The statute setting the interest makes it equal to the rate set by the Federal Reserve for its loans to banks, plus 3%, which would make it 8.25% to 8.5% as of Wednesday.The penalty is withholding grants administered by state agencies. It is triggered when a complaint is made, and requires “any member of the general assembly” to ask the attorney general for an official opinion on whether there has been a violation.The language in the budget goes beyond that law and will be thrown out in the courts, Washington said. There is no provision for taking money back, she noted.“If we are going to be the protectors of our state’s budget, and respect the citizens of this state, we have got to stop doing things that are going to cost us a lot of money in court,” Washington said.Seeking a repayment with interest is legal, Lutkemeyer said.“The statute is silent as to that issue,” he said. “We’re just filling that gap.”The Center for Immigration Studies, which defines sanctuary cities as those with “laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies, or other practices that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals,” does not consider any city in Missouri a sanctuary city.In a statement, state Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat, said the language will not impact immigration.“There are no sanctuary cities in Missouri and this language will not actually do anything to help our state,” Arthur said. “It is simply another distraction from the fact that Congressional Republicans are refusing to pass the bipartisan border security bill that would finally address the real crisis at the border.”

Senate committee adds anti-immigration sanctions targeting Kansas City 

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man made his initial appearance Wednesday before a federal judge following an indictment for defrauding clients of his accounting firm.

According to court documents, Quintin Flanagin, 43, of Colby is charged with seven counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, two counts of false statements, and six counts of money laundering.

Flanagin, a certified public accountant (CPA), is part owner of the accounting firm, Williams Consulting. The owners of Diamond M. Farms in Thomas County contracted the firm to perform CPA duties for the company. Flanagin acted as signatory for Diamond M Farms bank accounts and prepared payroll.

Flanagin created a fictitious business called Middle Finger Ranch and added the company name to his personal bank account. Between December 2021 and August 2022, the defendant allegedly wrote multiple checks and initiated wire transfers totaling approximately $409,710 from Diamond M. Farms to Middle Finger Ranch under the guise of being payments for farm operations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714043354777.png" alt="Flanagin-photo from his booking Wednesday in Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Flanagin-photo from his booking Wednesday in Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man made his initial appearance Wednesday before a federal judge following an indictment for defrauding clients of his accounting firm.According to court documents, Quintin Flanagin, 43, of Colby is charged with seven counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, two counts of false statements, and six counts of money laundering.Flanagin, a certified public accountant (CPA), is part owner of the accounting firm, Williams Consulting. The owners of Diamond M. Farms in Thomas County contracted the firm to perform CPA duties for the company. Flanagin acted as signatory for Diamond M Farms bank accounts and prepared payroll.Flanagin created a fictitious business called Middle Finger Ranch and added the company name to his personal bank account. Between December 2021 and August 2022, the defendant allegedly wrote multiple checks and initiated wire transfers totaling approximately $409,710 from Diamond M. Farms to Middle Finger Ranch under the guise of being payments for farm operations.In 2021, Flanagin hired a construction company to build him a new house. The transaction records indicate he paid the contractor from the Middle Finger Ranch bank account within days of the funds being transferred from Diamond M. Farms.The defendant made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gwynne E. Birzer of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.