Preventing spread of pathogen a challenge, especially in backyard poultry flocks

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed Monday the 15th case of avian influenza since Dec. 1 amid a national outbreak that began in 2022 and spread to all but three states and more than 450 commercial flocks across the country.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam said proliferation of the pathogen was concentrated in Kansas at egg-laying facilities in McPherson and Rice counties and in gamebird facilities in Mitchell County. The most recent case in Kansas was identified Friday, Beam said.

Unlike an outbreak in 2015 that was driven by farm-to-farm transmission, he said, this round of avian flu appeared to be transmitted primarily by wild birds interacting with flocks. In most cases, entire commercial and backyard flocks at an infected location must be euthanized.

“The industry has taken significant action to attempt to slow the ongoing spread of this disease to protect the rest of the nation’s flock,” Beam said. “Until this winter, Kansas hadn’t had any positive cases since the spring of 2023. The fall brought a resurgence nationwide, including in our neighboring states, so we expected to see positive cases in Kansas.”

Beam said the state Department of Agriculture had a role in euthanizing infected flocks through “approved, humane methods” and in the safe disposal of carcasses to curtail spread to other flocks. Pace of that slaughter was a key to reducing loss of animals and minimizing disruption of poultry farms, he said.

“Quickly eliminating infected birds reduces the amount of virus in the environment, minimizes the risk of the disease spreading to and killing other birds, and reduces amount of time that birds suffer the effects of the disease,” Beam said.

In testimony to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the agriculture secretary said a contributing factor in spread of avian influenza was the presence of backyard flocks in which birds were allowed to roam property and more easily came in contact with migratory birds.

Small residential operations were less likely to adopt biosecurity methods typical of commercial facilities invested in limiting movement of pathogens from farm to farm, Beam said.

“We’re most vulnerable in what we call backyard flocks,” he said. “There’s a lot of backyard flocks that we probably don’t know about that’s had the disease.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture characterized Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza, or PHAI, as a “serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705959960045.png" alt=" The Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed the 15th case of avian influenza since Dec. 1 in a nationwide outbreak hitting 47 states and diminishing commercial and backyard flocks. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of image provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture)" />
 <figcaption> The Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed the 15th case of avian influenza since Dec. 1 in a nationwide outbreak hitting 47 states and diminishing commercial and backyard flocks. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of image provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Preventing spread of pathogen a challenge, especially in backyard poultry flocks</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed Monday the 15th case of avian influenza since Dec. 1 amid a national outbreak that began in 2022 and spread to all but three states and more than 450 commercial flocks across the country.Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam said proliferation of the pathogen was concentrated in Kansas at egg-laying facilities in McPherson and Rice counties and in gamebird facilities in Mitchell County. The most recent case in Kansas was identified Friday, Beam said.Unlike an outbreak in 2015 that was driven by farm-to-farm transmission, he said, this round of avian flu appeared to be transmitted primarily by wild birds interacting with flocks. In most cases, entire commercial and backyard flocks at an infected location must be euthanized.“The industry has taken significant action to attempt to slow the ongoing spread of this disease to protect the rest of the nation’s flock,” Beam said. “Until this winter, Kansas hadn’t had any positive cases since the spring of 2023. The fall brought a resurgence nationwide, including in our neighboring states, so we expected to see positive cases in Kansas.”Beam said the state Department of Agriculture had a role in euthanizing infected flocks through “approved, humane methods” and in the safe disposal of carcasses to curtail spread to other flocks. Pace of that slaughter was a key to reducing loss of animals and minimizing disruption of poultry farms, he said.“Quickly eliminating infected birds reduces the amount of virus in the environment, minimizes the risk of the disease spreading to and killing other birds, and reduces amount of time that birds suffer the effects of the disease,” Beam said.In testimony to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the agriculture secretary said a contributing factor in spread of avian influenza was the presence of backyard flocks in which birds were allowed to roam property and more easily came in contact with migratory birds.Small residential operations were less likely to adopt biosecurity methods typical of commercial facilities invested in limiting movement of pathogens from farm to farm, Beam said.“We’re most vulnerable in what we call backyard flocks,” he said. “There’s a lot of backyard flocks that we probably don’t know about that’s had the disease.”The U.S. Department of Agriculture characterized Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza, or PHAI, as a “serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens.”

Kansas ag secretary confirms state’s 15th case of deadly avian influenza since Dec. 1

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration recommends that airlines inspect the door plugs on certain Boeing 737s that are older than the Max 9 jetliner that suffered a blowout of a similar panel during a flight this month.

The FAA said door plugs on one older version of the 737, called the 737-900ER, are identical in design to those on the Max 9, and some airlines “have noted findings with bolts during the maintenance inspections.”

The FAA issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/media/74751">safety alert</a>&nbsp;late Sunday. As soon as possible, airlines should visually inspect four places where a bolt, nut and pin secure the door plug to the plane, the agency said.

The door plugs are panels that seal holes left for extra doors when the number of seats is not enough to trigger a requirement for more emergency-evacuation exits. From inside the plane, they look like a regular window.

The FAA said that 737-900ERs have logged 3.9 million flights without any known issues involving the door plugs. By contrast, the Max 9 that suffered the blowout had made only 145 flights.

One of the two door plugs on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 flew off the plane in midflight on Jan. 5. Passengers and investigators have described a violent decompression as air rushed out of the pressured cabin at 16,000 feet over Oregon.

The plane made an emergency landing with a hole in its side, and no serious injuries were reported. On a mostly full plane, no one was sitting in the two seats nearest the panel that blew out.

The FAA has grounded all Max 9s with door plugs instead of regular doors in the back of the cabin. Alaska and United Airlines are the only U.S. carriers to use the plane.

Besides grounding 171 Max 9 jets, the FAA is investigating quality-control measures at Boeing and its suppliers and has increased its oversight of the aircraft maker. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the Oregon incident.

“We fully support the FAA and our customers in this action,” a Boeing spokeswoman said in a statement Monday.

Boeing delivered about 500 737-900ERs between 2007 and 2019 – mostly to three U.S. airlines -- and about 380 have door plugs instead of exits.

Alaska said Monday that it began inspecting its 737-900ERs “several days ago” and has turned up no issues. The Seattle-based airline, which has canceled hundreds of flights because of the Max 9 grounding, said it expects no disruption from the inspections of its 737-900ERs.

United said it began inspecting the earlier Boeing model last week and expects to finish the reviews this week with no disruptions for passengers.

Delta Air Lines did not respond to a request for comment about its 737-900ERs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705012450283.png" alt="This image taken Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, and released by the National Transportation Safety Board, shows a section of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that is missing panel on a Boeing 737-9 MAX in Portland, Ore. Federal officials are investigating Boeing's oversight of production of a panel that blew off a jetliner in midflight last week. (NTSB via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This image taken Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, and released by the National Transportation Safety Board, shows a section of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that is missing panel on a Boeing 737-9 MAX in Portland, Ore. Federal officials are investigating Boeing's oversight of production of a panel that blew off a jetliner in midflight last week. (NTSB via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration recommends that airlines inspect the door plugs on certain Boeing 737s that are older than the Max 9 jetliner that suffered a blowout of a similar panel during a flight this month.The FAA said door plugs on one older version of the 737, called the 737-900ER, are identical in design to those on the Max 9, and some airlines “have noted findings with bolts during the maintenance inspections.”The FAA issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/media/74751">safety alert</a>&nbsp;late Sunday. As soon as possible, airlines should visually inspect four places where a bolt, nut and pin secure the door plug to the plane, the agency said.The door plugs are panels that seal holes left for extra doors when the number of seats is not enough to trigger a requirement for more emergency-evacuation exits. From inside the plane, they look like a regular window.The FAA said that 737-900ERs have logged 3.9 million flights without any known issues involving the door plugs. By contrast, the Max 9 that suffered the blowout had made only 145 flights.One of the two door plugs on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 flew off the plane in midflight on Jan. 5. Passengers and investigators have described a violent decompression as air rushed out of the pressured cabin at 16,000 feet over Oregon.The plane made an emergency landing with a hole in its side, and no serious injuries were reported. On a mostly full plane, no one was sitting in the two seats nearest the panel that blew out.The FAA has grounded all Max 9s with door plugs instead of regular doors in the back of the cabin. Alaska and United Airlines are the only U.S. carriers to use the plane.Besides grounding 171 Max 9 jets, the FAA is investigating quality-control measures at Boeing and its suppliers and has increased its oversight of the aircraft maker. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the Oregon incident.“We fully support the FAA and our customers in this action,” a Boeing spokeswoman said in a statement Monday.Boeing delivered about 500 737-900ERs between 2007 and 2019 – mostly to three U.S. airlines -- and about 380 have door plugs instead of exits.Alaska said Monday that it began inspecting its 737-900ERs “several days ago” and has turned up no issues. The Seattle-based airline, which has canceled hundreds of flights because of the Max 9 grounding, said it expects no disruption from the inspections of its 737-900ERs.United said it began inspecting the earlier Boeing model last week and expects to finish the reviews this week with no disruptions for passengers.Delta Air Lines did not respond to a request for comment about its 737-900ERs.

FAA wants door plugs checked on more Boeing jets 

ATLANTA (AP) — Dexter Scott King, the younger son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, died Monday after battling prostate cancer.

The King Center in Atlanta, which Dexter King served as chairman, said the 62-year-old son of the civil rights icon died at his home in Malibu, California. His wife, Leah Weber King, said in a statement that he died “peacefully in his sleep.”

The third of the Kings' four children, Dexter King was named for the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father first served as a pastor. He was just 7 years old when his father was assassinated in 1968.

As an adult, Dexter King became an attorney and focused on shepherding his father’s legacy and protecting the King family’s intellectual property. In addition to serving as chairman of the King Center, he was also president of the King estate.

Coretta Scott King died in 2006, followed by the Kings' oldest child Yolanda King in 2007.

“Words cannot express the heart break I feel from losing another sibling," the Rev. Bernice A. King, Dexter King's youngest sibling, said in a statement.

His older brother, Martin Luther King III, said: "The sudden shock is devastating. It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this. We ask for your prayers at this time for the entire King family“.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705949376786.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Dexter Scott King, the younger son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, died Monday after battling prostate cancer.The King Center in Atlanta, which Dexter King served as chairman, said the 62-year-old son of the civil rights icon died at his home in Malibu, California. His wife, Leah Weber King, said in a statement that he died “peacefully in his sleep.”The third of the Kings' four children, Dexter King was named for the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father first served as a pastor. He was just 7 years old when his father was assassinated in 1968.As an adult, Dexter King became an attorney and focused on shepherding his father’s legacy and protecting the King family’s intellectual property. In addition to serving as chairman of the King Center, he was also president of the King estate.Coretta Scott King died in 2006, followed by the Kings' oldest child Yolanda King in 2007.“Words cannot express the heart break I feel from losing another sibling," the Rev. Bernice A. King, Dexter King's youngest sibling, said in a statement.His older brother, Martin Luther King III, said: "The sudden shock is devastating. It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this. We ask for your prayers at this time for the entire King family“.

Youngest son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., dies at 62

&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the deadly shooting of&nbsp;35-year-old LaDonte Ostrander have made a second arrest in the case,&nbsp;according to police spokesperson Andrew Ford. 

Just after 2a.m. Saturday, police arrested 27-year-old Robert Howland in the 1300 block of S. Santa Fe in Wichita, according to Sedgwick County booking records.

On Jan. 16, police responded to a 911 call reporting gunshots in the 1000 block of S. Market, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp; 

In the 900 block of S. Market Street, first responders discovered Ostrander with a gunshot wound to his lower extremities. Sedgwick County EMS transported him in critical condition to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

&nbsp;On January 18, police arrested 37-year-old Yancy Hermosillo, a<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415">ccording to online arrest</a>&nbsp;records. He is being held on<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415"> requested charges </a>of murder and interference with law enforcement in connection with the death.&nbsp;

Howland<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=230072"> is being held</a> on requested charges of murder, probation violations and contempt of court, according to<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=230072"> online jail </a>records.

Hermosillo has previous felony convictions for domestic battery, criminal threat,&nbsp; and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705588462988.png" alt="Hermosillo-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Hermosillo-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the deadly shooting of&nbsp;35-year-old LaDonte Ostrander have made a second arrest in the case,&nbsp;according to police spokesperson Andrew Ford. Just after 2a.m. Saturday, police arrested 27-year-old Robert Howland in the 1300 block of S. Santa Fe in Wichita, according to Sedgwick County booking records.On Jan. 16, police responded to a 911 call reporting gunshots in the 1000 block of S. Market, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp; In the 900 block of S. Market Street, first responders discovered Ostrander with a gunshot wound to his lower extremities. Sedgwick County EMS transported him in critical condition to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705851796859.png" alt="Howland-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Howland-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;On January 18, police arrested 37-year-old Yancy Hermosillo, a<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415">ccording to online arrest</a>&nbsp;records. He is being held on<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415"> requested charges </a>of murder and interference with law enforcement in connection with the death.&nbsp;Howland<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=230072"> is being held</a> on requested charges of murder, probation violations and contempt of court, according to<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=230072"> online jail </a>records.Hermosillo has previous felony convictions for domestic battery, criminal threat,&nbsp; and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

Homicide: Police report another arrest in death of Kansas man 

GRAND RAPIDS, MN. (AP) —The aging reformed mobster who has admitted stealing a pair of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/solen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-5d142469ad5f052f6af053d20dbf20c4">ruby slippers</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/judy-garland">Judy Garland</a>&nbsp;wore in “The Wizard of Oz” gave into the temptation of “one last score” after an old mob associate led him to believe the famous shoes must be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value.

Terry Jon Martin's defense attorney finally revealed the 76-year-old's motive for the 2005 theft from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor’s hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in a new memo filed ahead of his Jan. 29 sentencing in Duluth, Minnesota.

The FBI recovered the shoes in 2018 when someone else tried to claim an insurance reward on them, but Martin wasn't charged with stealing them until last year.

Martin pleaded guilty in October to using a hammer to smash the glass of the museum door and display case to take the slippers. He had hoped to harvest real rubies from the shoes and sell them. But a fence, a person who deals in stolen goods, informed him the rubies were glass and Martin got rid of the slippers less than two days after he took them, he said.

Defense attorney Dane DeKrey said in his memo that an unidentified former mob associate tempted Martin to steal the shoes, even though he hadn't committed a crime in nearly 10 years after his last prison stint.

“At first, Terry declined the invitation to participate in the heist. But old habits die hard, and the thought of a ‘final score’ kept him up at night," DeKrey wrote. "After much contemplation, Terry had a criminal relapse and decided to participate in the theft.”

DeKrey and prosecutors are recommending the judge sentence Martin to time served because he is physically incapable of presenting a threat to society. Martin is in hospice care with a life expectancy of less than six months. He needs oxygen at all times because of his chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and was in a wheelchair at his most recent court appearance. Even if he were sentenced to prison, his poor health might be grounds for a compassionate release.

Martin had no idea about the cultural significance of the ruby slippers and had never seen the movie. Instead, DeKrey said he was just looking for one last big score, and the “old Terry” with a lifelong history of crimes like burglary and receiving stolen property beat out the “new Terry” who seemed to “finally put his demons to rest” after being released from prison in 1996 and became “a contributing member of society.”

DeKrey urged the judge to consider the major events of Martin's life when deciding whether a lenient sentence is appropriate.

Martin suffered under a cruel stepmother who mistreated him and his three brothers so badly for several years that he left home at the age of 16 and began drinking and stealing.

While on parole from prison, Martin's girlfriend became pregnant with twins, but he missed their birth after his parole was revoked. Right after his girlfriend brought the 1-month-old twins to prison to meet him, they died after a train struck her vehicle.

“This was truly the turning point in Terry’s life — his villain origin story — and the reason he not only went down his dark path but accelerated towards it,” DeKrey wrote. "His son said it best: ‘the twins’ death made (my dad) just give up on life; he decided on a life of crime.’”

Martin's lawyer also said the judge should consider that Martin had not committed any other crimes in nearly a decade before stealing the slippers nor in the years since then. DeKrey said Martin didn't even try to claim a slice of the insurance reward money when some of his former associates tried to collect.

Garland wore several pairs of ruby slippers during filming of the classic 1939 musical, but only four authentic pairs are known to remain. The stolen slippers were insured for $1 million, but federal prosecutors put the current market value at about $3.5 million.

The FBI said a man approached the insurer in 2017 and claimed he could help recover them but demanded more than the $200,000 reward being offered. The slippers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f15402e28f04341b6a25d179b070fc5">recovered during an FBI sting</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis. The FBI has never disclosed how it tracked down the slippers, which remain in the agency’s custody.

The slippers were on loan to the museum from Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw when Martin stole them. Three other pairs worn by Garland in the movie are held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.si.edu/object/dorothys-ruby-slippers:nmah_670130">Smithsonian Museum of American History</a>&nbsp;and a private collector.

Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/958ee83929104907b80b387d92bb71e8">rewards were offered</a>&nbsp;over the years in hopes of figuring out who stole the slippers, which were key props in the film. Garland’s character, Dorothy, has to click the heels of the slippers three times and repeat, “There’s no place like home,” to return to Kansas.

Garland was born Frances Gumm in 1922. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/16889e9c55dd4728a45ee11a783b74de">lived in Grand Rapids</a>, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Minneapolis, until she was 4, when her family moved to Los Angeles. She died in 1969.

The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com/">Judy Garland Museum,</a>&nbsp;located in the house where she lived, says it has the world’s largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684352824766.png" alt="FILE - Ruby slippers once worn by Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz" are displayed at a news conference on Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Terry Jon Martin, the aging reformed mobster who has admitted stealing the slippers, gave into the temptation of “one last score” after an old mob associate led him to believe the famous shoes must be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value according to a new memo filed ahead of his Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, sentencing in Duluth, Minn. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Ruby slippers once worn by Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz" are displayed at a news conference on Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Terry Jon Martin, the aging reformed mobster who has admitted stealing the slippers, gave into the temptation of “one last score” after an old mob associate led him to believe the famous shoes must be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value according to a new memo filed ahead of his Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, sentencing in Duluth, Minn. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>GRAND RAPIDS, MN. (AP) —The aging reformed mobster who has admitted stealing a pair of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/solen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-5d142469ad5f052f6af053d20dbf20c4">ruby slippers</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/judy-garland">Judy Garland</a>&nbsp;wore in “The Wizard of Oz” gave into the temptation of “one last score” after an old mob associate led him to believe the famous shoes must be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value.Terry Jon Martin's defense attorney finally revealed the 76-year-old's motive for the 2005 theft from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor’s hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in a new memo filed ahead of his Jan. 29 sentencing in Duluth, Minnesota.The FBI recovered the shoes in 2018 when someone else tried to claim an insurance reward on them, but Martin wasn't charged with stealing them until last year.Martin pleaded guilty in October to using a hammer to smash the glass of the museum door and display case to take the slippers. He had hoped to harvest real rubies from the shoes and sell them. But a fence, a person who deals in stolen goods, informed him the rubies were glass and Martin got rid of the slippers less than two days after he took them, he said.Defense attorney Dane DeKrey said in his memo that an unidentified former mob associate tempted Martin to steal the shoes, even though he hadn't committed a crime in nearly 10 years after his last prison stint.“At first, Terry declined the invitation to participate in the heist. But old habits die hard, and the thought of a ‘final score’ kept him up at night," DeKrey wrote. "After much contemplation, Terry had a criminal relapse and decided to participate in the theft.”DeKrey and prosecutors are recommending the judge sentence Martin to time served because he is physically incapable of presenting a threat to society. Martin is in hospice care with a life expectancy of less than six months. He needs oxygen at all times because of his chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and was in a wheelchair at his most recent court appearance. Even if he were sentenced to prison, his poor health might be grounds for a compassionate release.Martin had no idea about the cultural significance of the ruby slippers and had never seen the movie. Instead, DeKrey said he was just looking for one last big score, and the “old Terry” with a lifelong history of crimes like burglary and receiving stolen property beat out the “new Terry” who seemed to “finally put his demons to rest” after being released from prison in 1996 and became “a contributing member of society.”DeKrey urged the judge to consider the major events of Martin's life when deciding whether a lenient sentence is appropriate.Martin suffered under a cruel stepmother who mistreated him and his three brothers so badly for several years that he left home at the age of 16 and began drinking and stealing.While on parole from prison, Martin's girlfriend became pregnant with twins, but he missed their birth after his parole was revoked. Right after his girlfriend brought the 1-month-old twins to prison to meet him, they died after a train struck her vehicle.“This was truly the turning point in Terry’s life — his villain origin story — and the reason he not only went down his dark path but accelerated towards it,” DeKrey wrote. "His son said it best: ‘the twins’ death made (my dad) just give up on life; he decided on a life of crime.’”Martin's lawyer also said the judge should consider that Martin had not committed any other crimes in nearly a decade before stealing the slippers nor in the years since then. DeKrey said Martin didn't even try to claim a slice of the insurance reward money when some of his former associates tried to collect.Garland wore several pairs of ruby slippers during filming of the classic 1939 musical, but only four authentic pairs are known to remain. The stolen slippers were insured for $1 million, but federal prosecutors put the current market value at about $3.5 million.The FBI said a man approached the insurer in 2017 and claimed he could help recover them but demanded more than the $200,000 reward being offered. The slippers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f15402e28f04341b6a25d179b070fc5">recovered during an FBI sting</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis. The FBI has never disclosed how it tracked down the slippers, which remain in the agency’s custody.The slippers were on loan to the museum from Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw when Martin stole them. Three other pairs worn by Garland in the movie are held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.si.edu/object/dorothys-ruby-slippers:nmah_670130">Smithsonian Museum of American History</a>&nbsp;and a private collector.Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/958ee83929104907b80b387d92bb71e8">rewards were offered</a>&nbsp;over the years in hopes of figuring out who stole the slippers, which were key props in the film. Garland’s character, Dorothy, has to click the heels of the slippers three times and repeat, “There’s no place like home,” to return to Kansas.Garland was born Frances Gumm in 1922. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/16889e9c55dd4728a45ee11a783b74de">lived in Grand Rapids</a>, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Minneapolis, until she was 4, when her family moved to Los Angeles. She died in 1969.The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com/">Judy Garland Museum,</a>&nbsp;located in the house where she lived, says it has the world’s largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.

Reformed mobster went after 'one last score' when he stole ruby slippers from 'Oz'

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly crash in Saline County.

&nbsp;Just after 2.am. Saturday, a 2005 Ford Mustang driven by 24-year-old&nbsp;Thomas A. Brandt of Salina was traveling on North Broadway and he did not properly navigate the curve in the road, according to Salina Police Department Capt. James Feldman.

The car struck the viaduct on the west side of the road and continued into a&nbsp;into a frozen creek bed. First responders found Brandt inside the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"A witness saw him go off the roadway," Feldman said. "The case is still being investigated, but it is believed speed and alcohol are determining factors."&nbsp;&nbsp;Brandt was not wearing a seat belt and road conditions did not contribute to the crash, according to Feldman.&nbsp;

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly crash in Saline County.&nbsp;Just after 2.am. Saturday, a 2005 Ford Mustang driven by 24-year-old&nbsp;Thomas A. Brandt of Salina was traveling on North Broadway and he did not properly navigate the curve in the road, according to Salina Police Department Capt. James Feldman.The car struck the viaduct on the west side of the road and continued into a&nbsp;into a frozen creek bed. First responders found Brandt inside the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene."A witness saw him go off the roadway," Feldman said. "The case is still being investigated, but it is believed speed and alcohol are determining factors."&nbsp;&nbsp;Brandt was not wearing a seat belt and road conditions did not contribute to the crash, according to Feldman.&nbsp;

Kansas man dies after car lands in frozen creek bed

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a business robbery and have made an arrest.

Just after 2:30p.m. January 19, police responded to the report of a robbery at Milk and Honey Coffee Co. located at 2200 SE 29th Street, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.

It was reported that a woman walked into the business and demanded money. Responding officers quickly located the vehicle believed to be involved and detained two occupants.

On Saturday, police arrested 21-year-old&nbsp; Julia Mendez of Topeka and booked her into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated assault, Criminal Restraint, Vehicle registration violation, Displaying a plate not assigned to the vehicle, Driving while license is suspended, Vehicle liability insurance required&nbsp; and a warrant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705777917675.png" alt="Mendez-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Mendez-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a business robbery and have made an arrest.Just after 2:30p.m. January 19, police responded to the report of a robbery at Milk and Honey Coffee Co. located at 2200 SE 29th Street, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.It was reported that a woman walked into the business and demanded money. Responding officers quickly located the vehicle believed to be involved and detained two occupants.On Saturday, police arrested 21-year-old&nbsp; Julia Mendez of Topeka and booked her into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated assault, Criminal Restraint, Vehicle registration violation, Displaying a plate not assigned to the vehicle, Driving while license is suspended, Vehicle liability insurance required&nbsp; and a warrant.

Police: Kan. woman walked into coffee shop, demanded money

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is taking center stage in the Democrats'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-kamala-harris-abortion-c634452da5e103913982e1cc5a0cae78">renewed push for abortion rights</a>&nbsp;during this year's election and she will mark the 51st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling on Monday in Wisconsin.

It will be the first in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-abortion-election-2024-9ed95b8363236078e8769c362177bd8a">a series of events</a>&nbsp;hosted by Harris, and it comes one day before she joins President Joe Biden at another campaign event focused on abortion in Virginia. First lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are also expected to be there.

In her speech in Wisconsin, Harris plans to hammer former President Donald Trump for saying he is “proud” to have helped overturn Roe v. Wade, which he enabled by nominating three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court during his term.

“Proud that women across our nation are suffering?" Harris will say, according to excerpts released by her office. "Proud that women have been robbed of a fundamental freedom? That doctors could be thrown in prison for caring for patients? That young women today have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers?”

Back in Washington, Biden on Monday will convene a meeting of his reproductive health care access task force to discuss threats to emergency care and new steps for implementing executive orders on the subject.

The Democratic president said in a statement that “tens of millions of women now live in states with extreme and dangerous abortion bans,” and “because of Republican elected officials, women’s health and lives are at risk.”

The administration <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/22/fact-sheet-white-house-task-force-on-reproductive-healthcare-access-announces-new-actions-and-marks-the-51st-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">announced new steps</a> to strengthen access to contraception and help file complaints under a law that's intended to ensure emergency health care access. The law is the subject of another legal battle that will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-medical-emergencies-idaho-8ca89d7de0c1fa9256dcd27d1847e144">decided by the U.S. Supreme Court</a>, which will consider whether it requires providing abortions in situations where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emergency-abortion-law-hospitals-kansas-missouri-emtala-2f993d2869fa801921d7e56e95787567">a woman's health is at risk</a>.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris stand with the vast majority of Americans who believe that the right to choose should be fundamental, and that healthcare decisions should be made by a woman with the help of her doctor — not politicians,” White House gender policy adviser Jen Klein said in previewing the effort. “We’ve shown and will continue to show that commitment by decisively taking action to protect access to reproductive health care.”

Although the loss of Roe v. Wade was a historic defeat for Democrats, the party successfully harnessed anger over the decision during the 2022 midterm elections, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-biden-abortion-reproductive-rights-election-3d184285cc6edbe733311b26445db2a0">they hope to do the same thing this year</a>&nbsp;as Biden runs for a second term.

The White House has repeatedly turned to Harris, the first woman to serve as vice president, to make its case.

“One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government should not be telling her what to do with her body," she said in a recent appearance on ABC's “The View.” "If she chooses she will talk with her priest, her pastor, her rabbi, her imam. But it should not be the government telling her what to do.”

Harris also suggested that too many people took Roe v. Wade for granted before it was overturned.

“We kind of believed that it was always going to be there,” she said. “And look what happened.”

Harris' outspokenness on abortion contrasts with Biden's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-health-religion-32fbfb858d7d3314427e5cdd88308b8b">more reticent approach</a>. Although he is a longtime supporter of abortion rights, he mentions less often and sometimes avoids using the word abortion even when he discusses the issue.

“I think the real star from a messaging standpoint is the vice president,” said Mini Timmaraju, head of Reproductive Freedom for All, the activist organization formerly known as the National Abortion Rights Action League. “Look, Joe Biden picked Kamala Harris. Joe Biden has asked Kamala Harris to lead on this issue. This is going to set us up for a great contrast with the other side."

After Harris' appearance on “The View,” she received a notable assessment from Kayleigh McEnany, a former Trump spokeswoman who co-hosts a show on Fox News.

“She brought up abortion again and again and again,” McEnany said. No matter the topic, “she pivoted right back to abortion because she knows what is true, which is the GOP has lost every single abortion ballot initiative post-Roe.”

McEnany described herself as pro-life, but said “what Kamala is doing, right or wrong, is very powerful among young women.”

While Harris and Democrats have embraced abortion as a campaign issue, Republicans are shying away or calling for a truce.

Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, recently made a plea to “find consensus” on the divisive issue.

“As much as I’m pro-life, I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice, and I don’t want them to judge me for being pro-life,” she said during a primary debate in November.

Trump has taken credit for helping to overturn Roe v. Wade, but he has balked at laws like Florida's ban on abortions after six weeks, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, another Republican candidate.

“You have to win elections,” Trump said during a recent Fox News town hall.

Harris' team is still working out the schedule for the rest of her events focused on abortion. Each stop is likely to feature a speech and a more intimate conversation with healthcare providers or women who have been affected by restrictions.

Wisconsin, Harris' first stop, is a key battleground state with an ongoing legal battle over abortion. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, Republicans argued that an 1849 law that was still on the books would effectively ban the procedure except in situations where a mother's life was at risk.

“These extremists want to roll back the clock to a time before women were treated as full citizens," Harris plans to say in her speech on Monday.

Clinics across the state stopped offering abortions until a court ruled the law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-wisconsin-ban-challenge-lawsuit-866eed85d2918113bfe644459e62171a">did not apply to abortions</a>. Republicans have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-wisconsin-ban-appeal-00e04a5e90931891afd2e0adcd0bcbca">appealed the decision</a>, and the case will likely be decided by the state supreme court.

Abortion has reshaped Harris' tenure as vice president after earlier struggles when dealing with intractable issues like migration from Central America.

Jamal Simmons, a former communications director for Harris, said abortion “focused her attention and her office in a way that nothing had before."

“Focusing on abortion rights tapped into the vice president’s legal background, her political values and her substantive knowledge in a way that I saw no other issue do while I was there," he said.

Vice presidents are rarely decisive figures in reelection campaigns. However, Harris has faced additional scrutiny because of Biden's age — he would be 82 at the start of a second term — and her status as the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent to serve in her position.

The battle over abortion will also bolster her visibility.

“The president and the vice president appeal to different parts of the party," Simmons said. “They’re stronger as a team."

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is taking center stage in the Democrats'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-kamala-harris-abortion-c634452da5e103913982e1cc5a0cae78">renewed push for abortion rights</a>&nbsp;during this year's election and she will mark the 51st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling on Monday in Wisconsin.It will be the first in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-abortion-election-2024-9ed95b8363236078e8769c362177bd8a">a series of events</a>&nbsp;hosted by Harris, and it comes one day before she joins President Joe Biden at another campaign event focused on abortion in Virginia. First lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are also expected to be there.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We trust women to make decisions about their own body and their own future. <a href="https://t.co/SJ6kc4KQTf">pic.twitter.com/SJ6kc4KQTf</a>&mdash; Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1749203565648728548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In her speech in Wisconsin, Harris plans to hammer former President Donald Trump for saying he is “proud” to have helped overturn Roe v. Wade, which he enabled by nominating three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court during his term.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On the day Roe v. Wade was overturned, I vowed that I wouldn&#39;t back down in the fight to ensure women have the freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions. Today, over a year and a half later, that promise stands. <a href="https://t.co/ZcQuOSROiq">pic.twitter.com/ZcQuOSROiq</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1749117513189769219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Proud that women across our nation are suffering?" Harris will say, according to excerpts released by her office. "Proud that women have been robbed of a fundamental freedom? That doctors could be thrown in prison for caring for patients? That young women today have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers?”Back in Washington, Biden on Monday will convene a meeting of his reproductive health care access task force to discuss threats to emergency care and new steps for implementing executive orders on the subject.The Democratic president said in a statement that “tens of millions of women now live in states with extreme and dangerous abortion bans,” and “because of Republican elected officials, women’s health and lives are at risk.”The administration <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/22/fact-sheet-white-house-task-force-on-reproductive-healthcare-access-announces-new-actions-and-marks-the-51st-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade/">announced new steps</a> to strengthen access to contraception and help file complaints under a law that's intended to ensure emergency health care access. The law is the subject of another legal battle that will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-medical-emergencies-idaho-8ca89d7de0c1fa9256dcd27d1847e144">decided by the U.S. Supreme Court</a>, which will consider whether it requires providing abortions in situations where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emergency-abortion-law-hospitals-kansas-missouri-emtala-2f993d2869fa801921d7e56e95787567">a woman's health is at risk</a>.“President Biden and Vice President Harris stand with the vast majority of Americans who believe that the right to choose should be fundamental, and that healthcare decisions should be made by a woman with the help of her doctor — not politicians,” White House gender policy adviser Jen Klein said in previewing the effort. “We’ve shown and will continue to show that commitment by decisively taking action to protect access to reproductive health care.”Although the loss of Roe v. Wade was a historic defeat for Democrats, the party successfully harnessed anger over the decision during the 2022 midterm elections, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-biden-abortion-reproductive-rights-election-3d184285cc6edbe733311b26445db2a0">they hope to do the same thing this year</a>&nbsp;as Biden runs for a second term.The White House has repeatedly turned to Harris, the first woman to serve as vice president, to make its case.“One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government should not be telling her what to do with her body," she said in a recent appearance on ABC's “The View.” "If she chooses she will talk with her priest, her pastor, her rabbi, her imam. But it should not be the government telling her what to do.”Harris also suggested that too many people took Roe v. Wade for granted before it was overturned.“We kind of believed that it was always going to be there,” she said. “And look what happened.”Harris' outspokenness on abortion contrasts with Biden's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-health-religion-32fbfb858d7d3314427e5cdd88308b8b">more reticent approach</a>. Although he is a longtime supporter of abortion rights, he mentions less often and sometimes avoids using the word abortion even when he discusses the issue.“I think the real star from a messaging standpoint is the vice president,” said Mini Timmaraju, head of Reproductive Freedom for All, the activist organization formerly known as the National Abortion Rights Action League. “Look, Joe Biden picked Kamala Harris. Joe Biden has asked Kamala Harris to lead on this issue. This is going to set us up for a great contrast with the other side."After Harris' appearance on “The View,” she received a notable assessment from Kayleigh McEnany, a former Trump spokeswoman who co-hosts a show on Fox News.“She brought up abortion again and again and again,” McEnany said. No matter the topic, “she pivoted right back to abortion because she knows what is true, which is the GOP has lost every single abortion ballot initiative post-Roe.”McEnany described herself as pro-life, but said “what Kamala is doing, right or wrong, is very powerful among young women.”While Harris and Democrats have embraced abortion as a campaign issue, Republicans are shying away or calling for a truce.Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, recently made a plea to “find consensus” on the divisive issue.“As much as I’m pro-life, I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice, and I don’t want them to judge me for being pro-life,” she said during a primary debate in November.Trump has taken credit for helping to overturn Roe v. Wade, but he has balked at laws like Florida's ban on abortions after six weeks, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, another Republican candidate.“You have to win elections,” Trump said during a recent Fox News town hall.Harris' team is still working out the schedule for the rest of her events focused on abortion. Each stop is likely to feature a speech and a more intimate conversation with healthcare providers or women who have been affected by restrictions.Wisconsin, Harris' first stop, is a key battleground state with an ongoing legal battle over abortion. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, Republicans argued that an 1849 law that was still on the books would effectively ban the procedure except in situations where a mother's life was at risk.“These extremists want to roll back the clock to a time before women were treated as full citizens," Harris plans to say in her speech on Monday.Clinics across the state stopped offering abortions until a court ruled the law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-wisconsin-ban-challenge-lawsuit-866eed85d2918113bfe644459e62171a">did not apply to abortions</a>. Republicans have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-wisconsin-ban-appeal-00e04a5e90931891afd2e0adcd0bcbca">appealed the decision</a>, and the case will likely be decided by the state supreme court.Abortion has reshaped Harris' tenure as vice president after earlier struggles when dealing with intractable issues like migration from Central America.Jamal Simmons, a former communications director for Harris, said abortion “focused her attention and her office in a way that nothing had before."“Focusing on abortion rights tapped into the vice president’s legal background, her political values and her substantive knowledge in a way that I saw no other issue do while I was there," he said.Vice presidents are rarely decisive figures in reelection campaigns. However, Harris has faced additional scrutiny because of Biden's age — he would be 82 at the start of a second term — and her status as the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent to serve in her position.The battle over abortion will also bolster her visibility.“The president and the vice president appeal to different parts of the party," Simmons said. “They’re stronger as a team."

🎥.Biden admin. announces new abortion initiatives on Roe anniversary

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY —Three heroes are being recognized for saving a Kansas woman from a fire in Chautauqua County.

Just after 3p.m. Friday, law enforcement and fire crews responded to a fire at a home on 416 W. Main Street in Sedan, according to Police Chief Kirk Richardson.

First responders observed heavy smoke billowing from the doors and windows of the home.

 A bystander advised responding units that the elderly resident was still inside and trapped. The immense amount of heavy smoke prevented entry by personnel into the front door to attempt to reach her. 

The bystander then stated they believed the woman was trapped in a bedroom located in the southwest corner of the residence. The bedroom window was promptly broken out and the woman was discovered on the floor near the window. 

Firefighters pulled her through the opening and carried her to safety. Once at a safe distance, she was quickly assessed and was discovered to be conscious and breathing.

Once on scene, fire crews deployed assets to battle the blaze in the frigid cold temperatures. While crews worked to contain the fire, EMS units arrived and transported the woman to the Sedan City Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation where she remains in stable condition.

The fire was so intense and spread so quickly, the home could not be saved and is a total loss.

While one dog and one cat were rescued from the inferno, seven dogs and two cats trapped inside perished.

Sedan Police Chief, Kirk Richardson and Sedan City Fire Chief, Shawn Butler thanked the City of Sedan Department of Public Works for their assistance throughout this emergency. "Without their efforts, other lives and nearby structures could have also been lost."

Additionally, the chief recognized Elroy Smith, Rodney Shaw and Garrett Green for their heroic acts during the rescue of the woman.

"Without their selfless acts of bravery during a very chaotic scene, she would have certainly perished. Thank you gentlemen, you are true heroes and undeniable assets to this community."&nbsp; Authorities have not released details on what caused the fire.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY —Three heroes are being recognized for saving a Kansas woman from a fire in Chautauqua County.Just after 3p.m. Friday, law enforcement and fire crews responded to a fire at a home on 416 W. Main Street in Sedan, according to Police Chief Kirk Richardson.First responders observed heavy smoke billowing from the doors and windows of the home. A bystander advised responding units that the elderly resident was still inside and trapped. The immense amount of heavy smoke prevented entry by personnel into the front door to attempt to reach her. The bystander then stated they believed the woman was trapped in a bedroom located in the southwest corner of the residence. The bedroom window was promptly broken out and the woman was discovered on the floor near the window. Firefighters pulled her through the opening and carried her to safety. Once at a safe distance, she was quickly assessed and was discovered to be conscious and breathing.Once on scene, fire crews deployed assets to battle the blaze in the frigid cold temperatures. While crews worked to contain the fire, EMS units arrived and transported the woman to the Sedan City Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation where she remains in stable condition.The fire was so intense and spread so quickly, the home could not be saved and is a total loss.While one dog and one cat were rescued from the inferno, seven dogs and two cats trapped inside perished.Sedan Police Chief, Kirk Richardson and Sedan City Fire Chief, Shawn Butler thanked the City of Sedan Department of Public Works for their assistance throughout this emergency. "Without their efforts, other lives and nearby structures could have also been lost."Additionally, the chief recognized Elroy Smith, Rodney Shaw and Garrett Green for their heroic acts during the rescue of the woman."Without their selfless acts of bravery during a very chaotic scene, she would have certainly perished. Thank you gentlemen, you are true heroes and undeniable assets to this community."&nbsp; Authorities have not released details on what caused the fire.

3 recognized for saving Kan. woman from house fire; 9 pets died

KANSAS CITY- Law enforcement authorities are investigation a shooting that left a teen dead.

Just after 12:30a.m. Saturday, a caller reported hearing gunshots in the 10700 block of Marsh Avenue, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte.

The caller looked outside and saw the victim lying on the ground unresponsive. First responders found a victim described as an 18-year-old lying in a parking lot.&nbsp; EMS pronounced him dead at the scene.&nbsp;

Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705757774339.png" alt="photo near the scene of the investigation -photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>photo near the scene of the investigation -photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY- Law enforcement authorities are investigation a shooting that left a teen dead.Just after 12:30a.m. Saturday, a caller reported hearing gunshots in the 10700 block of Marsh Avenue, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte.The caller looked outside and saw the victim lying on the ground unresponsive. First responders found a victim described as an 18-year-old lying in a parking lot.&nbsp; EMS pronounced him dead at the scene.&nbsp;Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

Homicide: 18-year-old found dead in KC parking lot

WASHINGTON —The U.S. Central Command in the Middle East announced Sunday evening that after a 10-day exhaustive search, the two missing U.S. Navy SEALs had not been located and their status has been changed to deceased. 

The search and rescue operation for the two Navy SEALs reported missing during the boarding of an illicit dhow carrying Iranian advanced conventional weapons Jan. 11 concluded and the. U.S. military&nbsp; is now conducting recovery operations. 

During this expansive search operation, airborne and naval platforms from the U.S., Japan, and Spain continuously searched more than 21,000 square miles to locate the "missing teammates."

Search assistance was also provided by Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, University of San Diego – Scripts Institute of Oceanography, and the Office of Naval Research – Oceanographic Support.&nbsp;

The U.S. Central Command has not released their names.

“We mourn the loss of our two Naval Special Warfare warriors, and we will forever honor their sacrifice and example. Our prayers are with the SEALs’ families, friends, the U.S. Navy, and the entire Special Operations community during this time,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405243920.png" alt="The two SEALs went into water in mid-January during a nighttime boarding mission to interdict a dhow suspected of carrying Iranian-made weapons for Houthi militants in Yemen, according to the U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>The two SEALs went into water in mid-January during a nighttime boarding mission to interdict a dhow suspected of carrying Iranian-made weapons for Houthi militants in Yemen, according to the U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —The U.S. Central Command in the Middle East announced Sunday evening that after a 10-day exhaustive search, the two missing U.S. Navy SEALs had not been located and their status has been changed to deceased. The search and rescue operation for the two Navy SEALs reported missing during the boarding of an illicit dhow carrying Iranian advanced conventional weapons Jan. 11 concluded and the. U.S. military&nbsp; is now conducting recovery operations. During this expansive search operation, airborne and naval platforms from the U.S., Japan, and Spain continuously searched more than 21,000 square miles to locate the "missing teammates."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405198142.png" alt="&nbsp;U.S. Navy SEALs seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weaponry from a ship bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the raid&nbsp; that saw two of the commandos go missing." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;U.S. Navy SEALs seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weaponry from a ship bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the raid&nbsp; that saw two of the commandos go missing.</figcaption>
 </figure>Search assistance was also provided by Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, University of San Diego – Scripts Institute of Oceanography, and the Office of Naval Research – Oceanographic Support.&nbsp;The U.S. Central Command has not released their names.“We mourn the loss of our two Naval Special Warfare warriors, and we will forever honor their sacrifice and example. Our prayers are with the SEALs’ families, friends, the U.S. Navy, and the entire Special Operations community during this time,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander.

Two US Navy Seals declared dead after raid to seize Iranian weapons 

KANSAS CITY —Fire crews are investigating a deadly fire in Kansas City.

Just after 9a.m. Sunday, sheriff's deputies responded to report of a fire at 16th and Vincil in Blue Summit, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

Colonel R. Fletcher was first law enforcement on scene and captured video that&nbsp;shows heavy smoke and&nbsp; flames coming from the home.

Just after 1:00pm a deceased victim was located inside the home, according to Forte'.&nbsp; Authorities have not released the name of the victim or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705870801595.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Fire crews are investigating a deadly fire in Kansas City.Just after 9a.m. Sunday, sheriff's deputies responded to report of a fire at 16th and Vincil in Blue Summit, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.Colonel R. Fletcher was first law enforcement on scene and captured video that&nbsp;shows heavy smoke and&nbsp; flames coming from the home.Just after 1:00pm a deceased victim was located inside the home, according to Forte'.&nbsp; Authorities have not released the name of the victim or additional details.

Sheriff: Body found after KC-area house fire

JOHNSON COUNTY —A 19-year-old has admitted his role in the 2022 murder, robbery at a business in Shawnee, Kansas.

On January 17, Fernando Reyes-Lara pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and Aggravated Robbery in the death of Jarod Rogers, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

On Nov. 30, 2022, police made a welfare check on a business in Shawnee and found Rogers with a gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital and died two days later.

Reyes-Lara is among five teens including Sabrina Clark, Kyleigh Guzman, Roger Hernandez and and Fernando Gonzalez-Prado accused in the killing.&nbsp;

Sentencing for Reyes-Lara is scheduled for March 20, according to the district attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705590509354.png" alt="Reyes Lara-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Reyes Lara-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A 19-year-old has admitted his role in the 2022 murder, robbery at a business in Shawnee, Kansas.On January 17, Fernando Reyes-Lara pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and Aggravated Robbery in the death of Jarod Rogers, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.On Nov. 30, 2022, police made a welfare check on a business in Shawnee and found Rogers with a gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital and died two days later.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705591026073.png" alt="Clark-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Clark-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705591117825.png" alt="Guzman -photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Guzman -photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705591194088.png" alt="Hernandez-photo Johnson&nbsp; Co." />
 <figcaption>Hernandez-photo Johnson&nbsp; Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705591381040.png" alt="Gonzalez-Prado-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Gonzalez-Prado-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Reyes-Lara is among five teens including Sabrina Clark, Kyleigh Guzman, Roger Hernandez and and Fernando Gonzalez-Prado accused in the killing.&nbsp;Sentencing for Reyes-Lara is scheduled for March 20, according to the district attorney.

Teen admits role in robbery, killing at Kansas business

PALM SPRINGS (AP) —Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “Leader of the Pack,” has died. She was 75.

Miriam Linna, founder of Weiss' label, Norton Records, said Sunday that Weiss died Friday in Palm Springs, California. No cause of death was given. Rolling Stone first reported her death Friday.

The Shangri-Las, formed in the New York City borough of Queens, were made up of two pairs of sisters: Weiss and her sister Elizabeth “Betty” Weiss, along with twins Marguerite “Marge” Ganser and Mary Ann Ganser. They met in school and as teenagers began performing at school dances and teen hops.

After producer Artie Ripp signed them to Kama Sutra Productions, the Shangri-Las found enormous success as a girl group with a tough, working-class image and drama-filled songs of teen dreams and heartbreak that consumed mid-1960s radio waves. Their name came from a restaurant in Queens.

Their first hit,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5YxtweUxrA">”Remember (Walking in the Sand),"</a>&nbsp;reached the Billboard top 5 in 1964 for Red Bird Records. Weiss was just 15 when it charted. The song, which Aerosmith would later cover, was written by Brill Building pop songwriter-producer George “Shadow” Morton.

Morton would be a key architect of the Shangri-Las, developing a sound that fused a Ronettes-style R&amp;B with big teenage emotions.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWIf4Ifk6aQ">“Leader of the Pack,"</a>&nbsp;co-written by Morton, was the top Billboard single of 1965. On it, Weiss sang:

They said he came from the wrong side of town

They told me he was bad, but I knew he was sad

That’s why I fell for the leader of the pack"

The Shangri-Las didn't last long. They disbanded in 1968 amid legal issues. But they remained a pioneering all-female group.

"I truly believe a lot of men were considered artists, whether or not people wrote for them where women were considered products,” Weiss said in a 2007 interview at the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame.

After the break-up, Weiss moved to San Francisco and fell out of the music business. For years, she worked at an architectural firm. It would be four decades before Weiss recorded an album of new material again. She made her solo debut with the 2007 album&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nortonrecords.com/323-mary-weiss-dangerous-game-cd/">“Dangerous Game.”</a>

“I didn't even sing along the car radio,” Weiss told Rolling Stone in 2007 about her post-Shangri-Las years. “When I put something down, I really put it down.”

On “Dangerous Game,” Weiss recaptured some of the spirit and sound of the Shangri-Las but from a more adult perspective.

“I just want to have fun now. And I’m going to. People can take advantage of you in your youth,” Weiss told New York magazine. “And they’re not going to do it again. There are benefits to being a grown-up.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705884336837.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>PALM SPRINGS (AP) —Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “Leader of the Pack,” has died. She was 75.Miriam Linna, founder of Weiss' label, Norton Records, said Sunday that Weiss died Friday in Palm Springs, California. No cause of death was given. Rolling Stone first reported her death Friday.The Shangri-Las, formed in the New York City borough of Queens, were made up of two pairs of sisters: Weiss and her sister Elizabeth “Betty” Weiss, along with twins Marguerite “Marge” Ganser and Mary Ann Ganser. They met in school and as teenagers began performing at school dances and teen hops.After producer Artie Ripp signed them to Kama Sutra Productions, the Shangri-Las found enormous success as a girl group with a tough, working-class image and drama-filled songs of teen dreams and heartbreak that consumed mid-1960s radio waves. Their name came from a restaurant in Queens.Their first hit,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5YxtweUxrA">”Remember (Walking in the Sand),"</a>&nbsp;reached the Billboard top 5 in 1964 for Red Bird Records. Weiss was just 15 when it charted. The song, which Aerosmith would later cover, was written by Brill Building pop songwriter-producer George “Shadow” Morton.Morton would be a key architect of the Shangri-Las, developing a sound that fused a Ronettes-style R&amp;B with big teenage emotions.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWIf4Ifk6aQ">“Leader of the Pack,"</a>&nbsp;co-written by Morton, was the top Billboard single of 1965. On it, Weiss sang:"My folks were always putting him downThey said he came from the wrong side of townThey told me he was bad, but I knew he was sadThat’s why I fell for the leader of the pack"The Shangri-Las didn't last long. They disbanded in 1968 amid legal issues. But they remained a pioneering all-female group."I truly believe a lot of men were considered artists, whether or not people wrote for them where women were considered products,” Weiss said in a 2007 interview at the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame.After the break-up, Weiss moved to San Francisco and fell out of the music business. For years, she worked at an architectural firm. It would be four decades before Weiss recorded an album of new material again. She made her solo debut with the 2007 album&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nortonrecords.com/323-mary-weiss-dangerous-game-cd/">“Dangerous Game.”</a>“I didn't even sing along the car radio,” Weiss told Rolling Stone in 2007 about her post-Shangri-Las years. “When I put something down, I really put it down.”On “Dangerous Game,” Weiss recaptured some of the spirit and sound of the Shangri-Las but from a more adult perspective.“I just want to have fun now. And I’m going to. People can take advantage of you in your youth,” Weiss told New York magazine. “And they’re not going to do it again. There are benefits to being a grown-up.”

Mary Weiss, lead singer of the Shangri-Las, dies at 75

SHAWNEE COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 9:30p.m. Jan. 16, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop near NW Topeka Boulevard and NW Studer Street on a red 2001 Dodge Dakota for a turn signal violation, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.

 During the investigation, the deputy located illegal narcotics.&nbsp;

Caleb S. Eslick, 38, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, fail to use turn signal, and no vehicle insurance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705586976453.png" alt="Eslick-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Eslick-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 9:30p.m. Jan. 16, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop near NW Topeka Boulevard and NW Studer Street on a red 2001 Dodge Dakota for a turn signal violation, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson. During the investigation, the deputy located illegal narcotics.&nbsp;Caleb S. Eslick, 38, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, fail to use turn signal, and no vehicle insurance.

Sheriff: Kan. driver making improper turn was transporting meth

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his Republican presidential campaign on Sunday, ending his 2024 White House bid just before the New Hampshire primary while endorsing his bitter rival Donald Trump.

The timing of DeSantis' announcement escalates the pressure on former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, as the only major candidate left in the Republican nomination fight, to win New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday. Trump's foes in the GOP finally have the one-on-one contest they have sought for months.

“It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance," DeSantis said in a video announcing his decision to drop out of the race which he posted on X.

DeSantis also jabbed Haley, long his closest competition for second place in the primary race, saying Republicans “can't go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear, a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents.”

Haley was campaigning in Seabrook, New Hampshire, when DeSantis announced his decision.

“He ran a great race, he’s been a good governor, and we wish him well,” she told a room packed with supporters and media. “Having said that, it’s now one fella and one lady left.“

DeSantis' decision, while perhaps not surprising given his 30-point blowout loss last week in Iowa, marks the end of an extraordinary decline for a high-profile governor once thought to be a legitimate threat to Trump’s supremacy in the Republican Party.

He entered the 2024 presidential contest with major advantages in his quest to take on Trump, and early primary polls suggested DeSantis was in a strong position to do just that. He and his allies amassed a political fortune well in excess of $130 million, and he boasted a significant legislative record on issues important to many conservatives, like abortion and the teaching of race and gender issues in schools.

Such advantages did not survive the reality of presidential politics in 2024. From a high-profile announcement that was plagued by technical glitches to constant upheavals to his staff and campaign strategy, DeSantis struggled to find his footing in the primary. He lost the Iowa caucuses — which he had vowed to win — by 30 percentage points to Trump.

DeSantis' allies said that private discussions began shortly after Iowa to decide how to bow out of the race gracefully. They ultimately decided that he needed to endorse Trump, despite the deeply personal feud between them.

“While I’ve had disagreements with Donald Trump, such as on the coronavirus pandemic and his elevation of Anthony Fauci, Trump is superior to the current incumbent, Joe Biden. That is clear," said DeSantis, who is in his second and final term as Florida’s governor, which ends in January 2027.

The endorsement was a stunning tail-between-his-legs moment for DeSantis, whom Trump has mercilessly and relentlessly taunted in deeply personal terms for the better part of a year now.

For Trump, whose team includes many former DeSantis staffers, the attacks have often felt more like sport than political strategy. Trump and his aides have blasted the governor as disloyal for running in the first place, mocked his eating habits and his personality and accused him of wearing high heels to boost his height.

DeSantis' team joined Trump in attacking Haley as news of his departure rippled across the political landscape. Some doubt Haley, who was seen as splitting Republican votes and preventing a head-to-head match up between Trump, would benefit from DeSantis’ decision.

“She will not be the nominee,” key DeSantis supporter Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, told AP. “She will not be the president of the United States.”

Trump had already shifted his focus to Haley in recent weeks, but minutes after DeSantis' announcement, the former president's campaign released a new memo highlighting the pressure on Haley to win New Hampshire.

“Now that we are a mere 48 hours from the primary, the tone has shifted mightily. We see it, you see it, but make no mistake, if Nikki Haley loses in New Hampshire — there are only two options,” wrote senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles.

“Option A: Nikki Haley drops out, unites behind President Trump, and commits to defeating Joe Biden," they wrote. “Option B: Nikki Haley prepares to be absolutely DEMOLISHED and EMBARASSED in her home state of South Carolina," which votes on Feb. 24.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705324613627.png" alt="Florida Gov. Ron Desantis during a campaign stop in Iowa -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Florida Gov. Ron Desantis during a campaign stop in Iowa -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his Republican presidential campaign on Sunday, ending his 2024 White House bid just before the New Hampshire primary while endorsing his bitter rival Donald Trump.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill <a href="https://t.co/ECoR8YeiMm">pic.twitter.com/ECoR8YeiMm</a>&mdash; Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis/status/1749159384112845285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The timing of DeSantis' announcement escalates the pressure on former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, as the only major candidate left in the Republican nomination fight, to win New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday. Trump's foes in the GOP finally have the one-on-one contest they have sought for months.“It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance," DeSantis said in a video announcing his decision to drop out of the race which he posted on X.DeSantis also jabbed Haley, long his closest competition for second place in the primary race, saying Republicans “can't go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear, a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents.”Haley was campaigning in Seabrook, New Hampshire, when DeSantis announced his decision.“He ran a great race, he’s been a good governor, and we wish him well,” she told a room packed with supporters and media. “Having said that, it’s now one fella and one lady left.“DeSantis' decision, while perhaps not surprising given his 30-point blowout loss last week in Iowa, marks the end of an extraordinary decline for a high-profile governor once thought to be a legitimate threat to Trump’s supremacy in the Republican Party.He entered the 2024 presidential contest with major advantages in his quest to take on Trump, and early primary polls suggested DeSantis was in a strong position to do just that. He and his allies amassed a political fortune well in excess of $130 million, and he boasted a significant legislative record on issues important to many conservatives, like abortion and the teaching of race and gender issues in schools.Such advantages did not survive the reality of presidential politics in 2024. From a high-profile announcement that was plagued by technical glitches to constant upheavals to his staff and campaign strategy, DeSantis struggled to find his footing in the primary. He lost the Iowa caucuses — which he had vowed to win — by 30 percentage points to Trump.DeSantis' allies said that private discussions began shortly after Iowa to decide how to bow out of the race gracefully. They ultimately decided that he needed to endorse Trump, despite the deeply personal feud between them.“While I’ve had disagreements with Donald Trump, such as on the coronavirus pandemic and his elevation of Anthony Fauci, Trump is superior to the current incumbent, Joe Biden. That is clear," said DeSantis, who is in his second and final term as Florida’s governor, which ends in January 2027.The endorsement was a stunning tail-between-his-legs moment for DeSantis, whom Trump has mercilessly and relentlessly taunted in deeply personal terms for the better part of a year now.For Trump, whose team includes many former DeSantis staffers, the attacks have often felt more like sport than political strategy. Trump and his aides have blasted the governor as disloyal for running in the first place, mocked his eating habits and his personality and accused him of wearing high heels to boost his height.DeSantis' team joined Trump in attacking Haley as news of his departure rippled across the political landscape. Some doubt Haley, who was seen as splitting Republican votes and preventing a head-to-head match up between Trump, would benefit from DeSantis’ decision.“She will not be the nominee,” key DeSantis supporter Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, told AP. “She will not be the president of the United States.”Trump had already shifted his focus to Haley in recent weeks, but minutes after DeSantis' announcement, the former president's campaign released a new memo highlighting the pressure on Haley to win New Hampshire.“Now that we are a mere 48 hours from the primary, the tone has shifted mightily. We see it, you see it, but make no mistake, if Nikki Haley loses in New Hampshire — there are only two options,” wrote senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles.“Option A: Nikki Haley drops out, unites behind President Trump, and commits to defeating Joe Biden," they wrote. “Option B: Nikki Haley prepares to be absolutely DEMOLISHED and EMBARASSED in her home state of South Carolina," which votes on Feb. 24.

🎥Ron DeSantis explains why he is ending his 2024 campaign

TOPEKA — A Kansas Bureau of Investigation official told lawmakers on Thursday that crimes against children, cybersecurity threats and fentanyl are some of the top areas of concern for the state’s law enforcement agencies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664309962436.png" alt="Fentanyl Photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Fentanyl Photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA — A Kansas Bureau of Investigation official told lawmakers on Thursday that crimes against children, cybersecurity threats and fentanyl are some of the top areas of concern for the state’s law enforcement agencies.KBI Executive Officer Robert Stuart pulled out a one dollar bill to give a visual demonstration of the dangers of fentanyl to lawmakers on the House Committee on Transportation and Public Safety Budget. Stuart said if the bill was divided into 100 piece, and two of these pieces were combined, it would be two milligrams, or the same weight of a fatal dose of fentanyl.Stuart is one of several KBI officials, under the guidance of Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, who have repeatedly warned about the dangers of fentanyl. Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Tony Mattivi spoke to the state Board of Education earlier in the month, warning of the threat of&nbsp; cartel-manufactured opioids for Kansas students.“It’s cheap and it’s easy to make and it’s easy to transport. … It does not take much fentanyl to kill one of our kids,” Stuart said Thursday.The most recent data on child mortality in the state puts the number of 2021 child fentanyl-related deaths at nine, a figure far outstripped by the number of child homicide deaths and child deaths by suicide. For the same year, there were&nbsp;32 child homicides and 29 suicide deaths.&nbsp;&nbsp;The synthetic opioid is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, but the extent of fentanyl spread in Kansas is unknown.&nbsp;One KBI report puts the number of positive fentanyl tests conducted in the KBI laboratory at 953 in 2023, up from 692 positive tests the year before.Stuart said the KBI was also committed to investigating crimes against children, as well as increasing cybersecurity.&nbsp;“The attacks we see are getting bigger and bigger and more frequent and more complex and more successful,” Stuart said of cyber crimes.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/committees/ctte_h_trnsprt_pub_safety_bdgt_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_trnsprt_pub_safety_bdgt_1_20240118_01_testimony.html">A KBI report</a>&nbsp;estimates Kansans lost $58 million in cybercrimes in 2022, and Kansans sent 2,399 complaints to the FBI’s internet Crime Complaint Center for the same year.&nbsp;Stuart said the KBI’s budget enhancement requests, which will be released in the coming weeks, will reflect these concerns.