WYANDOTTE —The search continues for a suspect in the shooting&nbsp; in the 3100 block of Greeley Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas that took the life of a boy playing in his front yard.

On Thursday, police confirmed they had located the vehicle involved.

The attack, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”

Officers found the wounded boy in the front yard. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Magee said.

Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene.&nbsp;

Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with.&nbsp;

 Anyone with info should call  TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — One or more shooters opened fire on a child playing in the front yard of a Kansas home, killing him, authorities said.

The attack Wednesday evening in Kansas City, Kansas, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”

Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene. They are looking for a maroon Subaru Legacy with a missing front bumper that may be connected to the attack.

Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with. Police didn’t immediately respond Thursday to phone and email messages seeking additional information.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide that left one juvenile dead.&nbsp;

Just after 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 3100 Block of Greeley Avenue, in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. First responders found a boy who had been shot while playing in the front yard of a home. EMS transported the child to an area hospital where he later died of his injuries.

Detectives are looking for a mid 2000s, maroon Subaru Legacy missing the front bumper and with a possible Kansas tag.

The Kansas City, Kansas Police Departments Major Case/Homicide Unit is in charge of the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195620849.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE —The search continues for a suspect in the shooting&nbsp; in the 3100 block of Greeley Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas that took the life of a boy playing in his front yard.On Thursday, police confirmed they had located the vehicle involved.The attack, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="Photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers found the wounded boy in the front yard. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Magee said.Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene.&nbsp;Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with.&nbsp; Anyone with info should call TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).--------KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — One or more shooters opened fire on a child playing in the front yard of a Kansas home, killing him, authorities said.The attack Wednesday evening in Kansas City, Kansas, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="Photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers found the wounded boy in the front yard. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Magee said.Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene. They are looking for a maroon Subaru Legacy with a missing front bumper that may be connected to the attack.Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with. Police didn’t immediately respond Thursday to phone and email messages seeking additional information.--------------------WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide that left one juvenile dead.&nbsp;Just after 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 3100 Block of Greeley Avenue, in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. First responders found a boy who had been shot while playing in the front yard of a home. EMS transported the child to an area hospital where he later died of his injuries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Detectives are looking for a mid 2000s, maroon Subaru Legacy missing the front bumper and with a possible Kansas tag.The Kansas City, Kansas Police Departments Major Case/Homicide Unit is in charge of the investigation.

Search continues for suspect who shot Kan. boy playing in front yard

CASS COUNTY, Mo. —One person died in an accident just after 8p.m. Thursday in Cass County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 GMC passenger vehicle driven by a 16-year-old Freeman, Missouri boy was eastbound on MO 2 at 271st Street.

The vehicle crossed the center line into the path of a westbound 2012 Ford passenger vehicle driven by Cynthia L. Wasser, 66, Ottawa, Kansas. The GMC struck the Ford head-on. After impact the Ford traveled into the ditch.

&nbsp;Wasser was pronounced dead at the scene. Central Cass EMS transported the teen driver to Children's Mercy Hospital.&nbsp; EMS transported a 16-year-old male passenger and a 17-year-old male passenger in the GMC to Research Medical Center. The occupants of the GMC were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

CASS COUNTY, Mo. —One person died in an accident just after 8p.m. Thursday in Cass County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 GMC passenger vehicle driven by a 16-year-old Freeman, Missouri boy was eastbound on MO 2 at 271st Street.The vehicle crossed the center line into the path of a westbound 2012 Ford passenger vehicle driven by Cynthia L. Wasser, 66, Ottawa, Kansas. The GMC struck the Ford head-on. After impact the Ford traveled into the ditch.&nbsp;Wasser was pronounced dead at the scene. Central Cass EMS transported the teen driver to Children's Mercy Hospital.&nbsp; EMS transported a 16-year-old male passenger and a 17-year-old male passenger in the GMC to Research Medical Center. The occupants of the GMC were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

Kansas woman dies, 3 teens injured after head-on crash

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/king-charles-iii">King Charles III's coronation</a>&nbsp;Saturday will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronation-king-charles-queen-elizabeth-57485899e7a3ad8df0909f8e58599f75">mix of a thousand-year tradition</a>&nbsp;with the streaming age.

Click below to watch a livestream at 4a.m. CDT Saturday

The pomp and ceremony will be unmissable for U.K. residents, but what about royal watchers across the Atlantic? There are plenty of options to watch the regalia-heavy event that serves as a formal confirmation of King Charles' dual role as head of state and titular leader of the Church of England — for those willing to wake up early enough.

While it might seem odd that Americans might want to tune in, there have been large audiences for previous royal milestones, such as the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981 and the weddings of their children, William and Harry.

The longevity of the king's mother,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-health-update-b2578aa91c3fef9c5d6ad4a557bf63e4">Queen Elizabeth II</a>, means that many people alive have never seen a coronation.

Well, first King Charles and his wife Camilla have to get to the ceremony. That begins with a procession to Westminster Abbey, which will get started at about 4 a.m. CDT.

Broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC as well as cable channels CNN and Fox News all plan live coverage starting at 4 a.m. CDT.&nbsp;

The day will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-iii-coronation-britain-crown-monarchy-d0f34a0b5489f673844c7d1c8135db86">filled with pageantry</a>&nbsp;— the handing over of a rod, sceptre and orb, all medieval symbols of power — and loads of other traditions. Despite that, Charles has slimmed down the event, shortening the procession route and the Westminster Abbey ceremony.

More than 100 heads of state will be in the audience, but President Joe Biden will keep with U.S. tradition and not attend. Instead, first lady Jill Biden will be there.

The celebration continues on Sunday with the Coronation Concert, but U.S. audiences won't be able to watch headliners Lionel Richie and Katy Perry. That will be shown on BBC's iPlayer, which isn't available outside the U.K.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683290869828.png" alt="On Thursday, first lady Jill Biden left on her trip to attend the coronation-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>On Thursday, first lady Jill Biden left on her trip to attend the coronation-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/king-charles-iii">King Charles III's coronation</a>&nbsp;Saturday will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronation-king-charles-queen-elizabeth-57485899e7a3ad8df0909f8e58599f75">mix of a thousand-year tradition</a>&nbsp;with the streaming age.Click below to watch a livestream at 4a.m. CDT Saturday<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EG3LUnZE6WM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The pomp and ceremony will be unmissable for U.K. residents, but what about royal watchers across the Atlantic? There are plenty of options to watch the regalia-heavy event that serves as a formal confirmation of King Charles' dual role as head of state and titular leader of the Church of England — for those willing to wake up early enough.While it might seem odd that Americans might want to tune in, there have been large audiences for previous royal milestones, such as the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981 and the weddings of their children, William and Harry.The longevity of the king's mother,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-health-update-b2578aa91c3fef9c5d6ad4a557bf63e4">Queen Elizabeth II</a>, means that many people alive have never seen a coronation.WHAT TIME DOES THE CORONATION START?Well, first King Charles and his wife Camilla have to get to the ceremony. That begins with a procession to Westminster Abbey, which will get started at about 4 a.m. CDT.Broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC as well as cable channels CNN and Fox News all plan live coverage starting at 4 a.m. CDT.&nbsp;WHAT SHOULD I KNOW AHEAD OF TIME?The day will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-iii-coronation-britain-crown-monarchy-d0f34a0b5489f673844c7d1c8135db86">filled with pageantry</a>&nbsp;— the handing over of a rod, sceptre and orb, all medieval symbols of power — and loads of other traditions. Despite that, Charles has slimmed down the event, shortening the procession route and the Westminster Abbey ceremony.More than 100 heads of state will be in the audience, but President Joe Biden will keep with U.S. tradition and not attend. Instead, first lady Jill Biden will be there.The celebration continues on Sunday with the Coronation Concert, but U.S. audiences won't be able to watch headliners Lionel Richie and Katy Perry. That will be shown on BBC's iPlayer, which isn't available outside the U.K.___

🎥 Watch King Charles' coronation all day Saturday 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in a 16-year-old sexual assault case has made a first appearance in court.

Ted Foy, 52 of Augusta, is charged with aggravated criminal sodomy, rape, aggravated sexual battery, and attempted rape, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In November of 2007, police were dispatched to a reported sex assault case at 1900 S Tara Falls in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

Investigators learned that a suspect had broken into a home and sexually assaulted a female victim. Investigators worked to identify a suspect but were unable to despite exhausting all available resources at the time.

Recently, in collaboration with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Cold Case Team and the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center, Wichita Police Investigators were able to utilize genealogical investigative techniques to assist them in identifying a potential suspect. 

The suspect’s identity was confirmed through DNA as Ted Foy.

On Monday, police arrested Foy and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;Attorneys are scheduled to discuss the case on May 15. Foy remains in jail on a $500,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1682984799056.png" alt="Foy-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Foy-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in a 16-year-old sexual assault case has made a first appearance in court.Ted Foy, 52 of Augusta, is charged with aggravated criminal sodomy, rape, aggravated sexual battery, and attempted rape, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In November of 2007, police were dispatched to a reported sex assault case at 1900 S Tara Falls in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.Investigators learned that a suspect had broken into a home and sexually assaulted a female victim. Investigators worked to identify a suspect but were unable to despite exhausting all available resources at the time.Recently, in collaboration with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Cold Case Team and the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center, Wichita Police Investigators were able to utilize genealogical investigative techniques to assist them in identifying a potential suspect. The suspect’s identity was confirmed through DNA as Ted Foy.On Monday, police arrested Foy and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;Attorneys are scheduled to discuss the case on May 15. Foy remains in jail on a $500,000 bond.

DNA test led to arrest in 16-year-old Kansas sex assault case

CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged knife attack.

Just before 3a.m. Thursday, police&nbsp;were sent to report of a domestic disturbance in 300 block of E. First Street in Concordia, according to a media release.

First responders found a person who had been stabbed. EMS transported the victim to the North Central Kansas Medical Center in Concordia, and then on to Salina Regional Health Center.

Police arrested 23-year-old Blake Snodgrass of Concordia at the scene. He was booked into the Cloud County Jail just after 3:30a.m. on a requested charge of attempted murder, according to the release.

CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged knife attack.Just before 3a.m. Thursday, police&nbsp;were sent to report of a domestic disturbance in 300 block of E. First Street in Concordia, according to a media release.First responders found a person who had been stabbed. EMS transported the victim to the North Central Kansas Medical Center in Concordia, and then on to Salina Regional Health Center.Police arrested 23-year-old Blake Snodgrass of Concordia at the scene. He was booked into the Cloud County Jail just after 3:30a.m. on a requested charge of attempted murder, according to the release.

Kansas man jailed for alleged knife attack

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Proud Boys leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/proud-boys-government-informant-dc84086d78b688bc585f874452d2b481">Enrique Tarrio</a>&nbsp;and three other members of the far-right extremist group were convicted Thursday of a plot to attack the U.S. Capitol in a desperate bid to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 presidential election.

A jury in Washington, D.C., found Tarrio and three lieutenants guilty of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-legal-proceedings-united-states-government-violence-proud-boys-0eedce46cf5375f3417f4a9c968a8e62">seditious conspiracy</a>&nbsp;after hearing from dozens of witnesses over more than three months in one of the most serious cases brought in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">stunning attack that unfolded on Jan. 6, 2021,</a>&nbsp;as the world watched on live TV.

Jurors cleared a fifth defendant — Dominic Pezzola — of the sedition charge, though he was convicted of other serious felonies. The judge excused the jury without delivering a verdict on some counts — including another conspiracy charge for Pezzola — after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision.

It’s a significant milestone for the Justice Department, which has now secured seditious conspiracy convictions against the leaders of two major extremist groups prosecutors say were intent on keeping Democratic President Joe Biden out of the White House at all costs. The charge carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

“The Justice Department will never stop working to defend the democracy to which all Americans are entitled,” Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters after the verdict.

Tarrio, behind bars since his March 2022 arrest, didn't appear to show any emotion as the verdict was read. He hugged one of his lawyers and shook the hand of the other before leaving the courtroom. A few of the people sitting among the defendants’ relatives wiped away tears as the verdict was read.

The verdict comes after a trial that took more than twice as long as originally expected,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legal-proceedings-proud-boys-timothy-kelly-20648ad33f958aa2d6f0dbd80a2474ad">slowed by bickering</a>, mistrial motions and revelations of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/proud-boys-enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-informant-ce0a1cf20c17c95b1ea3306fb70d93c4">government informants</a>&nbsp;in the group. Securing the conviction of Tarrio, a high-profile leader who wasn’t at the riot itself, could embolden the Justice Department as a special counsel investigates Trump, including key aspects of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Special Counsel Jack Smith in recent weeks has sought the testimony of many people close to Trump. They include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-trump-grand-jury-2020-jan-6-9dac6db37ab8923ff1b0f09f3a9a32c8">former Vice President Mike Pence</a>, who testified before a grand jury last week, likely giving prosecutors a key first-person account about certain conversations and events in the weeks preceding the riot.

Tarrio was a top target of what has become the largest Justice Department investigation in American history. He led the neo-fascist group — known for street fights with left-wing activists — when Trump infamously told the Proud Boys to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-donald-trump-chris-wallace-0b32339da25fbc9e8b7c7c7066a1db0f">“stand back and stand by”</a>&nbsp;during his first debate with Biden.

Tarrio wasn’t in Washington on Jan. 6, because he had been arrested two days earlier in a separate case and ordered out of the capital city. But prosecutors said he organized and directed the attack by Proud Boys who stormed the Capitol that day.

In addition to Tarrio, a Miami resident, three other Proud Boys were convicted of seditious conspiracy: Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl.

Tarrio, Nordean, Biggs and Rehl were also convicted of obstructing Congress’ certification of Biden’s electoral victory and obstructing law enforcement as well as two other conspiracy charges. The four were cleared of an assault charge stemming from Pezzola, who stole an officer’s riot shield.

The judge told jurors to keep deliberating on a few remaining counts where they haven’t reached agreement.

Rehl's attorney, Carmen Hernandez, said her client “continues to maintain his innocence.” Lawyers for Biggs and Pezzola declined to comment. An attorney for Tarrio declined to comment.

Prosecutors told jurors the group viewed itself as “Trump’s army” and was prepared for “all-out war” to stop Biden from becoming president.

The Proud Boys were “lined up behind Donald Trump and willing to commit violence on his behalf,” prosecutor Conor Mulroe said in his closing argument.

The backbone of the government’s case was hundreds of messages exchanged by Proud Boys in the days leading up to Jan. 6 that show the far-right extremist group peddling Trump’s false claims of a stolen election and trading fears over what would happen when Biden took office.

As Proud Boys swarmed the Capitol, Tarrio cheered them on from afar, writing on social media: “Do what must be done.” In a Proud Boys encrypted group chat later that day someone asked what they should do next. Tarrio responded: “Do it again.”

“Make no mistake,” Tarrio wrote in another message. “We did this.”

Defense lawyers denied there was any plot to attack the Capitol or stop Congress’ certification of Biden’s win. A lawyer for Tarrio sought to push the blame onto Trump, arguing the former president incited the pro-Trump mob’s attack when he urged the crowd near the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-capitol-siege-media-e79eb5164613d6718e9f4502eb471f27">White House to “fight like hell.”</a>

“It was Donald Trump’s words. It was his motivation. It was his anger that caused what occurred on January 6th in your beautiful and amazing city,” attorney Nayib Hassan said in his final appeal to jurors. “It was not Enrique Tarrio. They want to use Enrique Tarrio as a scapegoat for Donald J. Trump and those in power.”

The Justice Department hadn’t tried a seditious conspiracy case in a decade before a jury convicted another extremist group leader, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, of the Civil War-era charge last year.

Over the course of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oath-keepers-capitol-riot-jan-6-trial-conspiracy-437b0d2598829d951a5dbb60908e7a4a">two Oath Keepers trials,</a>&nbsp;Rhodes and five other members were convicted of seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors said was a separate plot to forcibly halt the transfer of presidential power from Trump to Biden. Three defendants were acquitted of the sedition charge, but convicted of obstructing Congress’ certification of Biden’s electoral victory.

The Justice Department has yet to disclose how much prison time it will seek when the Oath Keepers are sentenced later this month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614042711157.png" alt="A jury in Washington, D.C., found Tarrio and three lieutenants guilty of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-legal-proceedings-united-states-government-violence-proud-boys-0eedce46cf5375f3417f4a9c968a8e62">seditious conspiracy</a>-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>A jury in Washington, D.C., found Tarrio and three lieutenants guilty of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-legal-proceedings-united-states-government-violence-proud-boys-0eedce46cf5375f3417f4a9c968a8e62">seditious conspiracy</a>-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Proud Boys leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/proud-boys-government-informant-dc84086d78b688bc585f874452d2b481">Enrique Tarrio</a>&nbsp;and three other members of the far-right extremist group were convicted Thursday of a plot to attack the U.S. Capitol in a desperate bid to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 presidential election.A jury in Washington, D.C., found Tarrio and three lieutenants guilty of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-legal-proceedings-united-states-government-violence-proud-boys-0eedce46cf5375f3417f4a9c968a8e62">seditious conspiracy</a>&nbsp;after hearing from dozens of witnesses over more than three months in one of the most serious cases brought in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">stunning attack that unfolded on Jan. 6, 2021,</a>&nbsp;as the world watched on live TV.Jurors cleared a fifth defendant — Dominic Pezzola — of the sedition charge, though he was convicted of other serious felonies. The judge excused the jury without delivering a verdict on some counts — including another conspiracy charge for Pezzola — after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision.It’s a significant milestone for the Justice Department, which has now secured seditious conspiracy convictions against the leaders of two major extremist groups prosecutors say were intent on keeping Democratic President Joe Biden out of the White House at all costs. The charge carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years.“The Justice Department will never stop working to defend the democracy to which all Americans are entitled,” Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters after the verdict.Tarrio, behind bars since his March 2022 arrest, didn't appear to show any emotion as the verdict was read. He hugged one of his lawyers and shook the hand of the other before leaving the courtroom. A few of the people sitting among the defendants’ relatives wiped away tears as the verdict was read.The verdict comes after a trial that took more than twice as long as originally expected,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legal-proceedings-proud-boys-timothy-kelly-20648ad33f958aa2d6f0dbd80a2474ad">slowed by bickering</a>, mistrial motions and revelations of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/proud-boys-enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-informant-ce0a1cf20c17c95b1ea3306fb70d93c4">government informants</a>&nbsp;in the group. Securing the conviction of Tarrio, a high-profile leader who wasn’t at the riot itself, could embolden the Justice Department as a special counsel investigates Trump, including key aspects of the Jan. 6 insurrection.Special Counsel Jack Smith in recent weeks has sought the testimony of many people close to Trump. They include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-trump-grand-jury-2020-jan-6-9dac6db37ab8923ff1b0f09f3a9a32c8">former Vice President Mike Pence</a>, who testified before a grand jury last week, likely giving prosecutors a key first-person account about certain conversations and events in the weeks preceding the riot.Tarrio was a top target of what has become the largest Justice Department investigation in American history. He led the neo-fascist group — known for street fights with left-wing activists — when Trump infamously told the Proud Boys to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-donald-trump-chris-wallace-0b32339da25fbc9e8b7c7c7066a1db0f">“stand back and stand by”</a>&nbsp;during his first debate with Biden.Tarrio wasn’t in Washington on Jan. 6, because he had been arrested two days earlier in a separate case and ordered out of the capital city. But prosecutors said he organized and directed the attack by Proud Boys who stormed the Capitol that day.In addition to Tarrio, a Miami resident, three other Proud Boys were convicted of seditious conspiracy: Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl.Tarrio, Nordean, Biggs and Rehl were also convicted of obstructing Congress’ certification of Biden’s electoral victory and obstructing law enforcement as well as two other conspiracy charges. The four were cleared of an assault charge stemming from Pezzola, who stole an officer’s riot shield.The judge told jurors to keep deliberating on a few remaining counts where they haven’t reached agreement.Rehl's attorney, Carmen Hernandez, said her client “continues to maintain his innocence.” Lawyers for Biggs and Pezzola declined to comment. An attorney for Tarrio declined to comment.Prosecutors told jurors the group viewed itself as “Trump’s army” and was prepared for “all-out war” to stop Biden from becoming president.The Proud Boys were “lined up behind Donald Trump and willing to commit violence on his behalf,” prosecutor Conor Mulroe said in his closing argument.The backbone of the government’s case was hundreds of messages exchanged by Proud Boys in the days leading up to Jan. 6 that show the far-right extremist group peddling Trump’s false claims of a stolen election and trading fears over what would happen when Biden took office.As Proud Boys swarmed the Capitol, Tarrio cheered them on from afar, writing on social media: “Do what must be done.” In a Proud Boys encrypted group chat later that day someone asked what they should do next. Tarrio responded: “Do it again.”“Make no mistake,” Tarrio wrote in another message. “We did this.”Defense lawyers denied there was any plot to attack the Capitol or stop Congress’ certification of Biden’s win. A lawyer for Tarrio sought to push the blame onto Trump, arguing the former president incited the pro-Trump mob’s attack when he urged the crowd near the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-capitol-siege-media-e79eb5164613d6718e9f4502eb471f27">White House to “fight like hell.”</a>“It was Donald Trump’s words. It was his motivation. It was his anger that caused what occurred on January 6th in your beautiful and amazing city,” attorney Nayib Hassan said in his final appeal to jurors. “It was not Enrique Tarrio. They want to use Enrique Tarrio as a scapegoat for Donald J. Trump and those in power.”The Justice Department hadn’t tried a seditious conspiracy case in a decade before a jury convicted another extremist group leader, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, of the Civil War-era charge last year.Over the course of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oath-keepers-capitol-riot-jan-6-trial-conspiracy-437b0d2598829d951a5dbb60908e7a4a">two Oath Keepers trials,</a>&nbsp;Rhodes and five other members were convicted of seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors said was a separate plot to forcibly halt the transfer of presidential power from Trump to Biden. Three defendants were acquitted of the sedition charge, but convicted of obstructing Congress’ certification of Biden’s electoral victory.The Justice Department has yet to disclose how much prison time it will seek when the Oath Keepers are sentenced later this month.____

Proud Boys' leader guilty of Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. approved the first vaccine for RSV on Wednesday, shots to protect older adults against a respiratory virus that’s most notorious for attacking babies but endangers their grandparents, too.

The Food and Drug Administration decision makes GSK’s shot, called Arexvy, the first of several potential vaccines in the pipeline for RSV to be licensed anywhere.

The move sets the stage for adults 60 and older to get vaccinated this fall — but first, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must decide if every senior really needs RSV protection or only those considered at high risk from the respiratory syncytial virus. CDC’s advisers will debate that question in June.

After decades of failure in the quest for an RSV vaccine, doctors are anxious to finally have something to offer — especially after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-pandemics-072e11e5e3af77aac19fe95773a69610">virus surge</a>&nbsp;that strained hospitals last fall.

“This is a great first step ... to protect older persons from serious RSV disease,” said Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, who wasn't involved with its development. Next, “we’re going to be working our way down the age ladder” for what’s expected to be a string of new protections.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-fda-pfizer-539a72ec51e11e4f8fc319af99b632e6">FDA is considering competitor Pfizer’s similar vaccine</a>&nbsp;for older adults. Pfizer also is seeking approval to vaccinate pregnant women, so their babies are born with some of mom’s protection.

There isn't a vaccine for kids yet but high-risk infants often get monthly doses of a protective drug during RSV season — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-europe-european-commission-respiratory-syncytial-virus-government-and-politics-c46168af1b123bc8e26e1f13da7116aa">European regulators recently approved the first one-dose option</a>. The FDA also is considering whether to approve Sanofi and AstraZeneca's one-shot medicine.

“This is a very exciting time with multiple potential RSV solutions coming out after years of really nothing,” said Dr. Phil Dormitzer, chief of vaccine research and development for GSK, formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline.

RSV is a cold-like nuisance for most people but it can be life-threatening for the very young, the elderly and people with certain high-risk health problems. It can impede babies’ breathing by inflaming their tiny airways, or creep deep into seniors’ lungs to cause pneumonia.

In the U.S., about 58,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized for RSV each year and several hundred die. Among older adults, as many as 177,000 are hospitalized with RSV and up to 14,000 die annually.

Why has it taken so long to come up with a vaccine? The field suffered a major setback in the 1960s when an experimental shot worsened infections in children. Scientists finally figured out a better way to develop these vaccines — although modern candidates still were first tested with adults.

GSK’s new vaccine for older adults trains the immune system to recognize a protein on RSV’s surface, and contains an ingredient called an adjuvant to further rev up that immune reaction.

In an international study of about 25,000 people 60 and older, one dose of the vaccine was nearly 83% effective at preventing RSV lung infections, and reduced the risk of severe infections by 94%.

To see how long protection lasts, GSK is tracking study participants for three years, comparing some who get just one vaccination during that time and others given a yearly booster.

Shot reactions were typical of vaccinations, such as muscle pain and fatigue.

There was a hint of a rare but serious risk — one case of Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause usually temporary paralysis, and two cases of a type of brain and spinal cord inflammation. The FDA said it was requiring the company to continue studying if there really is a link to the vaccine.

If the CDC ultimately recommends the vaccination for some or even all seniors, it will add another shot for the fall along with their yearly flu vaccine – and maybe another COVID-19 booster.

“We’ll have to educate the population that this virus that not everyone has heard about is actually an important threat to their health in the wintertime,” said Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University. ___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. approved the first vaccine for RSV on Wednesday, shots to protect older adults against a respiratory virus that’s most notorious for attacking babies but endangers their grandparents, too.The Food and Drug Administration decision makes GSK’s shot, called Arexvy, the first of several potential vaccines in the pipeline for RSV to be licensed anywhere.The move sets the stage for adults 60 and older to get vaccinated this fall — but first, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must decide if every senior really needs RSV protection or only those considered at high risk from the respiratory syncytial virus. CDC’s advisers will debate that question in June.After decades of failure in the quest for an RSV vaccine, doctors are anxious to finally have something to offer — especially after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-pandemics-072e11e5e3af77aac19fe95773a69610">virus surge</a>&nbsp;that strained hospitals last fall.“This is a great first step ... to protect older persons from serious RSV disease,” said Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, who wasn't involved with its development. Next, “we’re going to be working our way down the age ladder” for what’s expected to be a string of new protections.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-fda-pfizer-539a72ec51e11e4f8fc319af99b632e6">FDA is considering competitor Pfizer’s similar vaccine</a>&nbsp;for older adults. Pfizer also is seeking approval to vaccinate pregnant women, so their babies are born with some of mom’s protection.There isn't a vaccine for kids yet but high-risk infants often get monthly doses of a protective drug during RSV season — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-europe-european-commission-respiratory-syncytial-virus-government-and-politics-c46168af1b123bc8e26e1f13da7116aa">European regulators recently approved the first one-dose option</a>. The FDA also is considering whether to approve Sanofi and AstraZeneca's one-shot medicine.“This is a very exciting time with multiple potential RSV solutions coming out after years of really nothing,” said Dr. Phil Dormitzer, chief of vaccine research and development for GSK, formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline.RSV is a cold-like nuisance for most people but it can be life-threatening for the very young, the elderly and people with certain high-risk health problems. It can impede babies’ breathing by inflaming their tiny airways, or creep deep into seniors’ lungs to cause pneumonia.In the U.S., about 58,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized for RSV each year and several hundred die. Among older adults, as many as 177,000 are hospitalized with RSV and up to 14,000 die annually.Why has it taken so long to come up with a vaccine? The field suffered a major setback in the 1960s when an experimental shot worsened infections in children. Scientists finally figured out a better way to develop these vaccines — although modern candidates still were first tested with adults.GSK’s new vaccine for older adults trains the immune system to recognize a protein on RSV’s surface, and contains an ingredient called an adjuvant to further rev up that immune reaction.In an international study of about 25,000 people 60 and older, one dose of the vaccine was nearly 83% effective at preventing RSV lung infections, and reduced the risk of severe infections by 94%.To see how long protection lasts, GSK is tracking study participants for three years, comparing some who get just one vaccination during that time and others given a yearly booster.Shot reactions were typical of vaccinations, such as muscle pain and fatigue.There was a hint of a rare but serious risk — one case of Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause usually temporary paralysis, and two cases of a type of brain and spinal cord inflammation. The FDA said it was requiring the company to continue studying if there really is a link to the vaccine.If the CDC ultimately recommends the vaccination for some or even all seniors, it will add another shot for the fall along with their yearly flu vaccine – and maybe another COVID-19 booster.“We’ll have to educate the population that this virus that not everyone has heard about is actually an important threat to their health in the wintertime,” said Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

US approves 1st vaccine for RSV after decades of attempts

CLAY COUNTY—One driver died and law enforcement arrested the other driver involved in an accident just before 7a.m. Thursday in Clay County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Jacob Tyler&nbsp;Zelinski, 27, Beloit, was&nbsp;was eastbound on U.S. 24 one mile east of Clay Center.

The pickup crossed the westbound lane, entered the north ditch and struck a 2001 Buick Park Avenue driven by Dale Hammond, 82, Clay Center, who was northbound on a driveway just North of U.S. 24.

Hammond was pronounced dead at the scene.

 After the collision Zelinski fled the scene on foot. He was located and placed under arrest a short time later and transported to the Clay County Hospital. Zelinski was also not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

CLAY COUNTY—One driver died and law enforcement arrested the other driver involved in an accident just before 7a.m. Thursday in Clay County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Jacob Tyler&nbsp;Zelinski, 27, Beloit, was&nbsp;was eastbound on U.S. 24 one mile east of Clay Center.The pickup crossed the westbound lane, entered the north ditch and struck a 2001 Buick Park Avenue driven by Dale Hammond, 82, Clay Center, who was northbound on a driveway just North of U.S. 24.Hammond was pronounced dead at the scene. After the collision Zelinski fled the scene on foot. He was located and placed under arrest a short time later and transported to the Clay County Hospital. Zelinski was also not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kan. man dead, another arrested after 2-vehicle crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drug overdose at the Sedgwick County Jail.

On Sunday, EMS transported the 21-year-old female inmate to a Wichita-area hospital due to a possible overdose, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.

On Tuesday, the sheriff's office reported they did not have an update on her condition. Her family has been notified and visitation was granted.

She was booked into the Sedgwick County Detention Facility on May 16, 2022 on felony Fail to Appear and Material Witness charges.

The Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of the area and found what appears to be illegal substance.&nbsp; The woman remained in critical condition Thursday afternoon, according to Gibbs.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drug overdose at the Sedgwick County Jail.On Sunday, EMS transported the 21-year-old female inmate to a Wichita-area hospital due to a possible overdose, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.On Tuesday, the sheriff's office reported they did not have an update on her condition. Her family has been notified and visitation was granted.She was booked into the Sedgwick County Detention Facility on May 16, 2022 on felony Fail to Appear and Material Witness charges.The Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of the area and found what appears to be illegal substance.&nbsp; The woman remained in critical condition Thursday afternoon, according to Gibbs.

Kan. inmate jailed in 2022, hospitalized for apparent overdose

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Mexican officials have agreed on new immigration policies meant to deter illegal border crossings while also opening up other pathways ahead of an expected increase in migrants following the end of pandemic restrictions next week.

Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall spent Tuesday meeting with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-north-america-summit-mexico-updates-871328ff21fc6a87b698742f6e9ed3d4">Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador</a>&nbsp;and other top officials, emerging with a five-point plan, according to statements from both nations.

Under the agreement, Mexico will continue to accept migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba and Nicaragua who are turned away at the border, and up to 100,000 individuals from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador who have family in the U.S. will be eligible to live and work there.

Despite sharing a 1,951-mile border with the U.S., Mexico had been notably absent from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-biden-asylum-75d8c0e67d5521fb48ac04f6bf017a49">the rollout last week</a>&nbsp;of a fresh set of efforts, including the creation of hubs outside the United States where migrants could go to apply to legally settle in the U.S., Spain or Canada. The first centers will open in Guatemala and Colombia.

The COVID-19 restrictions have allowed U.S. officials to turn away tens of thousands of migrants crossing the southern border, but those&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-immigration-covid-93d735b9b55c15121c8fc7763fba7e78">restrictions will lift May 11</a>, and border officials are bracing for a surge. Even with the restrictions, the administration has seen record numbers of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-covid-health-mexico-941e55cb2133fbd52ed76a80a20e3cd6">people crossing the border</a>, and President Joe Biden has responded by cracking down on those who cross illegally and by creating new avenues meant as alternatives to a dangerous and often deadly journey.

Mexico's support is critical to any push by the U.S. to clamp down at the southern border, particularly as migrants from nations from as far away as Haiti are making the trek on foot up through Mexico, and are not easily returned back to their home countries.

With Mexico now behind the U.S., plus an announcement Tuesday that 1,500 active-duty U.S. troops are deploying south for administrative support, and other crackdown measures in place, border officials believe they may be able to manage overcrowding and other possible issues that might arise once the COVID-19 restrictions end.

Biden, who announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">his Democratic reelection campaign</a>&nbsp;a week ago, is trying to signal his administration is making a serious effort to tamp down the number of illegal crossings, which has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-mexico-el-paso-2e30ea26bbc55c7af509a6e60ad3d33c">a potent source of Republican attacks</a>. He also is trying to send a message to potential border crossers not to attempt the journey.

But the effort also draws potentially unwelcome comparisons to Biden’s Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, whose policies Biden frequently criticized. Congress, meanwhile, has refused to take any substantial immigration-related actions.

The U.S. will continue to turn away Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who cross illegally. Mexico said Tuesday it would continue to accept up to 30,000 migrants per month from the four countries that are making up a ballooning share of the overall illegal border crossings, with no easy way to quickly return migrants to their home countries.

According to data on asylum seekers in Mexico, people from Haiti remained at the top with 18,860 so far this year, higher than the total for the whole of 2022.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is accepting 30,000 people per month from the four nations for two years and offering them the ability to legally work, as long as they come legally, have eligible sponsors and pass vetting and background checks.

The administration also plans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asylum-screenings-border-credible-fear-biden-0baadca5c41bb9ccdc4b074d2034fb94">to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum</a>&nbsp;at the border itself, quickly deport those deemed as not being qualified, and penalize people who cross illegally into the U.S. or illegally move through another country on their way to the U.S. border.

In addition, 1,500 active-duty personnel will be deployed to the border area for 90 days and will be pulled from the Army and Marine Corps. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will look to backfill those troops with National Guard or Reserve troops during that period, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said. There are already 2,500 National Guard members at the border. They are not working in a law enforcement capacity, but their mere presence sends a message.

Then-President Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-latin-america-e7ffd2d5764244cdb1d1474bd895a863">deployed active-duty troops</a>&nbsp;to the border to assist border patrol personnel in processing large migrant caravans, on top of National Guard forces that were already working in that capacity.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre downplayed any similarity between Biden's immigration management and Trump's use of troops during his term. “DOD personnel have been supporting CBP at the border for almost two decades now,” she said. “So this is a common practice.”

But some in Biden's own party objected to the decision.

“The Biden administration’s militarization of the border is unacceptable," said Senate Committee on Foreign Relations chair Bob Menendez, D-N.J. “There is already a humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere, and deploying military personnel only signals that migrants are a threat that require our nation’s troops to contain. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

The Pentagon on Tuesday approved a request for troops made by the Department of Homeland Security, which manages the border.

As a condition for Austin’s previous approval of National Guard troops to the border through Oct. 1, Homeland Security had to agree to work with the White House and Congress to develop a plan for longer-term staffing solutions and funding shortfalls to maintain security and immigration processing without the use of Defense Department resources, Pentagon officials said.

As part of the agreement, the Pentagon has requested quarterly updates from Homeland Security on how it would staff its border mission without service members. It was not immediately clear if those updates have happened or if border officials will be able to meet their terms of the agreement — particularly under the strain of another expected migrant surge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673215903534.png" alt="In January, President Joe Biden stopped in El Paso for his first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border since he became president-(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)" />
 <figcaption>In January, President Joe Biden stopped in El Paso for his first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border since he became president-(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Mexican officials have agreed on new immigration policies meant to deter illegal border crossings while also opening up other pathways ahead of an expected increase in migrants following the end of pandemic restrictions next week.Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall spent Tuesday meeting with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-north-america-summit-mexico-updates-871328ff21fc6a87b698742f6e9ed3d4">Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador</a>&nbsp;and other top officials, emerging with a five-point plan, according to statements from both nations.Under the agreement, Mexico will continue to accept migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba and Nicaragua who are turned away at the border, and up to 100,000 individuals from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador who have family in the U.S. will be eligible to live and work there.Despite sharing a 1,951-mile border with the U.S., Mexico had been notably absent from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-biden-asylum-75d8c0e67d5521fb48ac04f6bf017a49">the rollout last week</a>&nbsp;of a fresh set of efforts, including the creation of hubs outside the United States where migrants could go to apply to legally settle in the U.S., Spain or Canada. The first centers will open in Guatemala and Colombia.The COVID-19 restrictions have allowed U.S. officials to turn away tens of thousands of migrants crossing the southern border, but those&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-immigration-covid-93d735b9b55c15121c8fc7763fba7e78">restrictions will lift May 11</a>, and border officials are bracing for a surge. Even with the restrictions, the administration has seen record numbers of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-covid-health-mexico-941e55cb2133fbd52ed76a80a20e3cd6">people crossing the border</a>, and President Joe Biden has responded by cracking down on those who cross illegally and by creating new avenues meant as alternatives to a dangerous and often deadly journey.Mexico's support is critical to any push by the U.S. to clamp down at the southern border, particularly as migrants from nations from as far away as Haiti are making the trek on foot up through Mexico, and are not easily returned back to their home countries.With Mexico now behind the U.S., plus an announcement Tuesday that 1,500 active-duty U.S. troops are deploying south for administrative support, and other crackdown measures in place, border officials believe they may be able to manage overcrowding and other possible issues that might arise once the COVID-19 restrictions end.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683151099285.png" alt="White House photo" />
 <figcaption>White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden, who announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">his Democratic reelection campaign</a>&nbsp;a week ago, is trying to signal his administration is making a serious effort to tamp down the number of illegal crossings, which has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-mexico-el-paso-2e30ea26bbc55c7af509a6e60ad3d33c">a potent source of Republican attacks</a>. He also is trying to send a message to potential border crossers not to attempt the journey.But the effort also draws potentially unwelcome comparisons to Biden’s Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, whose policies Biden frequently criticized. Congress, meanwhile, has refused to take any substantial immigration-related actions.The U.S. will continue to turn away Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who cross illegally. Mexico said Tuesday it would continue to accept up to 30,000 migrants per month from the four countries that are making up a ballooning share of the overall illegal border crossings, with no easy way to quickly return migrants to their home countries.According to data on asylum seekers in Mexico, people from Haiti remained at the top with 18,860 so far this year, higher than the total for the whole of 2022.Meanwhile, the U.S. is accepting 30,000 people per month from the four nations for two years and offering them the ability to legally work, as long as they come legally, have eligible sponsors and pass vetting and background checks.The administration also plans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asylum-screenings-border-credible-fear-biden-0baadca5c41bb9ccdc4b074d2034fb94">to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum</a>&nbsp;at the border itself, quickly deport those deemed as not being qualified, and penalize people who cross illegally into the U.S. or illegally move through another country on their way to the U.S. border.In addition, 1,500 active-duty personnel will be deployed to the border area for 90 days and will be pulled from the Army and Marine Corps. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will look to backfill those troops with National Guard or Reserve troops during that period, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said. There are already 2,500 National Guard members at the border. They are not working in a law enforcement capacity, but their mere presence sends a message.Then-President Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-latin-america-e7ffd2d5764244cdb1d1474bd895a863">deployed active-duty troops</a>&nbsp;to the border to assist border patrol personnel in processing large migrant caravans, on top of National Guard forces that were already working in that capacity.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre downplayed any similarity between Biden's immigration management and Trump's use of troops during his term. “DOD personnel have been supporting CBP at the border for almost two decades now,” she said. “So this is a common practice.”But some in Biden's own party objected to the decision.“The Biden administration’s militarization of the border is unacceptable," said Senate Committee on Foreign Relations chair Bob Menendez, D-N.J. “There is already a humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere, and deploying military personnel only signals that migrants are a threat that require our nation’s troops to contain. Nothing could be further from the truth.”The Pentagon on Tuesday approved a request for troops made by the Department of Homeland Security, which manages the border.As a condition for Austin’s previous approval of National Guard troops to the border through Oct. 1, Homeland Security had to agree to work with the White House and Congress to develop a plan for longer-term staffing solutions and funding shortfalls to maintain security and immigration processing without the use of Defense Department resources, Pentagon officials said.As part of the agreement, the Pentagon has requested quarterly updates from Homeland Security on how it would staff its border mission without service members. It was not immediately clear if those updates have happened or if border officials will be able to meet their terms of the agreement — particularly under the strain of another expected migrant surge.___

US, Mexico agree on new immigration policies at border

WYANDOTTE —The vehicle involved in Wednesday shooting in the 3100 block of Greeley Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas that took the life of a boy playing in his front yard has been located, according to a statement from police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195620849.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE —The vehicle involved in Wednesday shooting in the 3100 block of Greeley Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas that took the life of a boy playing in his front yard has been located, according to a statement from police.The search continues for suspects.The attack, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="Photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers found the wounded boy in the front yard. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Magee said.Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene.&nbsp;Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with.&nbsp; Anyone with info should call TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).--------KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — One or more shooters opened fire on a child playing in the front yard of a Kansas home, killing him, authorities said.The attack Wednesday evening in Kansas City, Kansas, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="Photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers found the wounded boy in the front yard. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Magee said.Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene. They are looking for a maroon Subaru Legacy with a missing front bumper that may be connected to the attack.Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with. Police didn’t immediately respond Thursday to phone and email messages seeking additional information.--------------------WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide that left one juvenile dead.&nbsp;Just after 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 3100 Block of Greeley Avenue, in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. First responders found a boy who had been shot while playing in the front yard of a home. EMS transported the child to an area hospital where he later died of his injuries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Detectives are looking for a mid 2000s, maroon Subaru Legacy missing the front bumper and with a possible Kansas tag.The Kansas City, Kansas Police Departments Major Case/Homicide Unit is in charge of the investigation.

Police find car linked to shooting death of child playing in front yard

RILEY COUNTY—Authorities are warning Kansans of a COVID test scam, according to the Riley County Health Department.

If you receive COVID tests in the mail that you did not order, throw them away. 

Scammers are using these mailed tests to target Medicare recipients. When you mail the test back, the scammers steal Medicare information and submit false claims. 

If you would like a COVID test, Riley County Health Department still offers them free of charge. You can also order free at-home test kits from the US Post Office. <a href="https://www.rileycountyks.gov/1869/Get-Tested?fbclid=IwAR2BrBTi2LeNtaT0iVjN2n2s1a_BT0WVfaGXjYeAeDSgEzeYBvdPuWPevP0">Click here to more i</a>nformation on tests.

<figure>
 <img src="https://scontent.fict1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/344553453_896149551495536_3685668689394102035_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=730e14&amp;_nc_ohc=F3wsaSQcfOAAX9AyHiz&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fict1-1.fna&amp;oh=00_AfCId6SZwIJ_n4jZ59bvGDCrohghBwxCuegcp5hIom2pwA&amp;oe=645857DB" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY—Authorities are warning Kansans of a COVID test scam, according to the Riley County Health Department.If you receive COVID tests in the mail that you did not order, throw them away. Scammers are using these mailed tests to target Medicare recipients. When you mail the test back, the scammers steal Medicare information and submit false claims. If you would like a COVID test, Riley County Health Department still offers them free of charge. You can also order free at-home test kits from the US Post Office. <a href="https://www.rileycountyks.gov/1869/Get-Tested?fbclid=IwAR2BrBTi2LeNtaT0iVjN2n2s1a_BT0WVfaGXjYeAeDSgEzeYBvdPuWPevP0">Click here to more i</a>nformation on tests.

Kansans warned to throw out unsolicited COVID-19 tests

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal December car crash have made an arrest.

According to Topeka Police spokesperson Rosie Nichols, just after 2a.m. December 30, a passenger car driven by Justice R. Cox, 23, Topeka was westbound in the 100 Block of SE 37th Street in Topeka.

The car left the road, struck a utility pole and came to rest in a nearby front yard.&nbsp; One occupant identified as Brett M. Joynt, 23, of Topeka died from his injuries.&nbsp; Two others were injured.

As a result of the investigation, on Tuesday, police arrested&nbsp; Cox and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the requested charges of Murder in the 1st degree; In the commission of a felony, Flee or attempt to elude; Commission of any felony, Interference with LEO; Falsely report a crime intending action on information, Reckless Driving; Unknown Conviction, racing on highways; unknown conviction, Unsafe Speed For Prevailing Conditions, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license and Vehicle liability insurance required.

He bond was set at $1 million, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683147752537.png" alt="Cox-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Cox-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal December car crash have made an arrest.According to Topeka Police spokesperson Rosie Nichols, just after 2a.m. December 30, a passenger car driven by Justice R. Cox, 23, Topeka was westbound in the 100 Block of SE 37th Street in Topeka.The car left the road, struck a utility pole and came to rest in a nearby front yard.&nbsp; One occupant identified as Brett M. Joynt, 23, of Topeka died from his injuries.&nbsp; Two others were injured.As a result of the investigation, on Tuesday, police arrested&nbsp; Cox and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the requested charges of Murder in the 1st degree; In the commission of a felony, Flee or attempt to elude; Commission of any felony, Interference with LEO; Falsely report a crime intending action on information, Reckless Driving; Unknown Conviction, racing on highways; unknown conviction, Unsafe Speed For Prevailing Conditions, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license and Vehicle liability insurance required.He bond was set at $1 million, according to online jail records.

Kansas man accused of murder in fatal December crash

WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. regulators say Facebook misled parents and failed to protect the privacy of children using its Messenger Kids app, including misrepresenting the access it provided to app developers to private user data.

As a result, The Federal Trade Commision on Wednesday proposed sweeping changes to a 2020 privacy order with Facebook — now called Meta — that would prohibit it from profiting from data it collects on users under 18. This would include data collected through its virtual-reality products. The FTC said the company has failed to fully comply with the 2020 order.

Meta would also be subject to other limitations, including with its use of face-recognition technology and be required to provide additional privacy protections for its users.

“Facebook has repeatedly violated its privacy promises,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The company’s recklessness has put young users at risk, and Facebook needs to answer for its failures.”

Meta called the announcement a “political stunt.”

“Despite three years of continual engagement with the FTC around our agreement, they provided no opportunity to discuss this new, totally unprecedented theory. Let’s be clear about what the FTC is trying to do: usurp the authority of Congress to set industry-wide standards and instead single out one American company while allowing Chinese companies, like TikTok, to operate without constraint on American soil,” Meta said in a prepared statement. “We have spent vast resources building and implementing an industry-leading privacy program under the terms of our FTC agreement. We will vigorously fight this action and expect to prevail.”

Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-social-media-technology-6b97cde3d6d04c9daeca1a34bf52f739">launched Messenger Kids in 2017</a>, pitching it as a way for children to chat with family members and friends approved by their parents. The app doesn’t give kids separate Facebook or Messenger accounts. Rather, it works as an extension of a parent’s account, and parents get controls, such as the ability to decide with whom their kids can chat.

At the time, Facebook said Messenger Kids wouldn't show ads or collect data for marketing, though it would collect some data it said was necessary to run the service.

But child-development experts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/18f740da0b9f40fc927619ed6ce84e1b">raised immediate concerns</a>.

In early 2018, a group of 100 experts, advocates and parenting organizations contested Facebook’s claims that the app was filling a need kids had for a messaging service. The group included nonprofits, psychiatrists, pediatricians, educators and the children’s music singer Raffi Cavoukian.

“Messenger Kids is not responding to a need — it is creating one,” the letter said. “It appeals primarily to children who otherwise would not have their own social media accounts.” Another passage criticized Facebook for “targeting younger children with a new product.”

Facebook, in response to the letter, said at the time that the app “helps parents and children to chat in a safer way,” and emphasized that parents are “always in control” of their kids’ activity.

The FTC now says this has not been the case. The 2020 privacy order,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7fa2c8a26b34436d89a1c7aff9914f70">which required Facebook to pay a $5 billion fine</a>, required an independent assessor to evaluate the company’s privacy practices. The FTC said the assessor “identified several gaps and weaknesses in Facebook’s privacy program.”

The FTC also said Facebook, from late 2017 until 2019, “misrepresented that parents could control whom their children communicated with through its Messenger Kids product.”

“Despite the company’s promises that children using Messenger Kids would only be able to communicate with contacts approved by their parents, children in certain circumstances were able to communicate with unapproved contacts in group text chats and group video calls,” the FTC said.

As part of the proposed changes to the FTC’s 2020 order, Meta would also be required to pause launching new products and services without “written confirmation from the assessor that its privacy program is in full compliance” with the order.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660141848593.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. regulators say Facebook misled parents and failed to protect the privacy of children using its Messenger Kids app, including misrepresenting the access it provided to app developers to private user data.As a result, The Federal Trade Commision on Wednesday proposed sweeping changes to a 2020 privacy order with Facebook — now called Meta — that would prohibit it from profiting from data it collects on users under 18. This would include data collected through its virtual-reality products. The FTC said the company has failed to fully comply with the 2020 order.Meta would also be subject to other limitations, including with its use of face-recognition technology and be required to provide additional privacy protections for its users.“Facebook has repeatedly violated its privacy promises,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The company’s recklessness has put young users at risk, and Facebook needs to answer for its failures.”Meta called the announcement a “political stunt.”“Despite three years of continual engagement with the FTC around our agreement, they provided no opportunity to discuss this new, totally unprecedented theory. Let’s be clear about what the FTC is trying to do: usurp the authority of Congress to set industry-wide standards and instead single out one American company while allowing Chinese companies, like TikTok, to operate without constraint on American soil,” Meta said in a prepared statement. “We have spent vast resources building and implementing an industry-leading privacy program under the terms of our FTC agreement. We will vigorously fight this action and expect to prevail.”Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-social-media-technology-6b97cde3d6d04c9daeca1a34bf52f739">launched Messenger Kids in 2017</a>, pitching it as a way for children to chat with family members and friends approved by their parents. The app doesn’t give kids separate Facebook or Messenger accounts. Rather, it works as an extension of a parent’s account, and parents get controls, such as the ability to decide with whom their kids can chat.At the time, Facebook said Messenger Kids wouldn't show ads or collect data for marketing, though it would collect some data it said was necessary to run the service.But child-development experts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/18f740da0b9f40fc927619ed6ce84e1b">raised immediate concerns</a>.In early 2018, a group of 100 experts, advocates and parenting organizations contested Facebook’s claims that the app was filling a need kids had for a messaging service. The group included nonprofits, psychiatrists, pediatricians, educators and the children’s music singer Raffi Cavoukian.“Messenger Kids is not responding to a need — it is creating one,” the letter said. “It appeals primarily to children who otherwise would not have their own social media accounts.” Another passage criticized Facebook for “targeting younger children with a new product.”Facebook, in response to the letter, said at the time that the app “helps parents and children to chat in a safer way,” and emphasized that parents are “always in control” of their kids’ activity.The FTC now says this has not been the case. The 2020 privacy order,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7fa2c8a26b34436d89a1c7aff9914f70">which required Facebook to pay a $5 billion fine</a>, required an independent assessor to evaluate the company’s privacy practices. The FTC said the assessor “identified several gaps and weaknesses in Facebook’s privacy program.”The FTC also said Facebook, from late 2017 until 2019, “misrepresented that parents could control whom their children communicated with through its Messenger Kids product.”“Despite the company’s promises that children using Messenger Kids would only be able to communicate with contacts approved by their parents, children in certain circumstances were able to communicate with unapproved contacts in group text chats and group video calls,” the FTC said.As part of the proposed changes to the FTC’s 2020 order, Meta would also be required to pause launching new products and services without “written confirmation from the assessor that its privacy program is in full compliance” with the order.

FTC: Facebook misled parents, failed to guard kids' privacy

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Jackson Mahomes, the brother of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was briefly jailed Wednesday on aggravated sexual battery charges over an alleged altercation at a Kansas restaurant in late February.

Jackson Mahomes, 22, was charged Tuesday in Johnson County, Kansas, with three counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of battery. He was released later Wednesday after posting $100,000 bond. During a brief virtual court appearance, the judge scheduled the next online hearing for May 11.

Under conditions of his bond, Jackson Mahomes won't be allowed to discuss his case publicly.

The probable cause affidavit in the case was not immediately available. But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article275006836.html">The Kansas City Star reported</a>&nbsp;that police previously confirmed they were investigating a Feb. 25 incident involving Jackson Mahomes at a restaurant in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas.

Jackson Mahomes’ attorney, Brandan Joseph Davies, said in a statement that the court prohibited him and his client from commenting. But he released a statement in March, when the allegations first surfaced, saying there was “substantial evidence refuting the claims of Jackson’s accuser," The Star reported.

Aspen Vaughn, the owner of Aspens Restaurant and Lounge, told the newspaper in early March that Jackson Mahomes was friends with her stepdaughter and had frequented the restaurant, where her stepdaughter works. She said he had been there earlier on the day of their encounter and had been pleasant.

Vaughn said after he returned to Aspens that night, Jackson Mahomes grabbed her neck with enough force that it left a faint bruise while they were talking in her office about an incident in which he allegedly shoved a member of the wait staff.

She provided The Star with a photo of a bruise on her neck and a video that she said showed Jackson Mahomes grabbing her by the throat and kissing her at least twice.

“He forcibly kissed me out of nowhere,” she said, calling the advances unwelcome and shocking and noting that she thought he was intoxicated.

Aspen Vaughn didn’t immediately reply to a Facebook message, and the restaurant didn't immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment about the charges.

The Chiefs declined to comment, saying it was a personal matter involving the relative of a player but not a member of the organization. Patrick Mahomes doesn't have a spokesperson and he hasn't commented about the matter on Twitter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683125496286.png" alt="Mahomes-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Mahomes-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Jackson Mahomes, the brother of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was briefly jailed Wednesday on aggravated sexual battery charges over an alleged altercation at a Kansas restaurant in late February.Jackson Mahomes, 22, was charged Tuesday in Johnson County, Kansas, with three counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of battery. He was released later Wednesday after posting $100,000 bond. During a brief virtual court appearance, the judge scheduled the next online hearing for May 11.Under conditions of his bond, Jackson Mahomes won't be allowed to discuss his case publicly.The probable cause affidavit in the case was not immediately available. But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article275006836.html">The Kansas City Star reported</a>&nbsp;that police previously confirmed they were investigating a Feb. 25 incident involving Jackson Mahomes at a restaurant in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas.Jackson Mahomes’ attorney, Brandan Joseph Davies, said in a statement that the court prohibited him and his client from commenting. But he released a statement in March, when the allegations first surfaced, saying there was “substantial evidence refuting the claims of Jackson’s accuser," The Star reported.Aspen Vaughn, the owner of Aspens Restaurant and Lounge, told the newspaper in early March that Jackson Mahomes was friends with her stepdaughter and had frequented the restaurant, where her stepdaughter works. She said he had been there earlier on the day of their encounter and had been pleasant.Vaughn said after he returned to Aspens that night, Jackson Mahomes grabbed her neck with enough force that it left a faint bruise while they were talking in her office about an incident in which he allegedly shoved a member of the wait staff.She provided The Star with a photo of a bruise on her neck and a video that she said showed Jackson Mahomes grabbing her by the throat and kissing her at least twice.“He forcibly kissed me out of nowhere,” she said, calling the advances unwelcome and shocking and noting that she thought he was intoxicated.Aspen Vaughn didn’t immediately reply to a Facebook message, and the restaurant didn't immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment about the charges.The Chiefs declined to comment, saying it was a personal matter involving the relative of a player but not a member of the organization. Patrick Mahomes doesn't have a spokesperson and he hasn't commented about the matter on Twitter.__

Patrick Mahomes' brother bonds out of jail; Chiefs decline comment 

By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/gun-control-bills-to-be-taken-up-by-u-s-house-panel-in-emergency-meeting/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed on a 50-48 vote a resolution overturning a Biden administration rule that listed a popular Southwestern game bird under a federal endangered species designation.

The White House has vowed President Joe Biden would veto the resolution if it clears Congress. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Republican-controlled House.

The point of contention between the rule protecting the bird, known for its complex mating dance, and Republican opponents boils down to land.

Lesser prairie chickens thrive in native grasses, and conservation groups’ efforts to preserve habitat for the birds have undergone pushback from Republican lawmakers who argue the Biden policy is a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/trio-of-kansas-gop-lawmakers-seek-more-time-to-critique-prairie-chicken-listing/">threat to farmers, ranchers and energy producers.</a>

The Congressional Review Act&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/9/text?s=1&amp;r=1&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.J.Res.9%22%5D%7D">resolution</a>, brought by Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, overturned a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-11/lesser-prairie-chicken-listed-under-endangered-species-act">rule</a>&nbsp;by the Fish and Wildlife Service to list two Distinct Population Segments, or DPS, of the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act.

Congress can use a CRA to block rules recently promulgated by federal agencies, and in specific other circumstances, by submitting a joint resolution of disapproval.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III was the sole Democrat to vote with Republicans to repeal the rule.

On the Senate floor, Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said the rule threatens ranchers and farmers.

“I am confident there are ways to conserve the species without hindering economic opportunity in rural communities,” he said.

He said what Kansas needs is “more rainfall not more regulations.”

“Farmers and ranchers have always been and will always be the original conservationists,” Moran said. “Their livelihood depends upon the continued conservation efforts of the soil and the water they use to produce crops and raise livestock.”

Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Tom Carper defended the bird and the rule.

“Native to the southern Great Plains, the lesser prairie chicken has long been considered an indicator for healthy grasslands and prairies upon which hundreds of species depend,” Carper, a Delaware Democrat, said on the floor.&nbsp; “So, if the lesser prairie chicken is in peril — in time, other species could be in peril as well.”

The Southern DPS of the lesser prairie-chicken is being listed as “endangered” and the Northern DPS of the lesser prairie chicken is being listed as “threatened”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/17/federal-wildlife-officials-list-lesser-prairie-chicken-as-threatened-in-kansas/">under the Endangered Species Act.</a>

The bird can be found in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. The rule has been a long-standing point of contention in Kansas.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach in April announced plans to sue the Biden administration&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-ag-announces-plan-to-sue-biden-administration-over-lesser-prairie-chicken-protections/">over the designation</a>&nbsp;for the lesser prairie chicken, arguing that federal protections for the bird are illegal, and it could be devastating to landowners and businesses in the state.

The White House defended its policy in its announcement of a veto if the resolution is passed by Congress.

“The lesser prairie chicken serves as an indicator for healthy grasslands and prairies, making them an important measure of the overall health of America’s grasslands, a treasured and storied landscape,” the White House said.

“Overturning common-sense protections for the lesser prairie chicken would undermine America’s proud wildlife conservation traditions, risk the extinction of a once-abundant American bird, and create uncertainty for landowners and industries who have been working for years to forge the durable, locally led conservation strategies that this rule supports,” the White House continued.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935383708.jpeg" alt="The bird can be found in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. The rule has been a long-standing point of contention in Kansas. photo by CRISTINA JANNEY" />
 <figcaption>The bird can be found in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. The rule has been a long-standing point of contention in Kansas. photo by CRISTINA JANNEY</figcaption>
 </figure>By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/gun-control-bills-to-be-taken-up-by-u-s-house-panel-in-emergency-meeting/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed on a 50-48 vote a resolution overturning a Biden administration rule that listed a popular Southwestern game bird under a federal endangered species designation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s a good day to be a Lesser Prairie Chicken. <a href="https://t.co/M5OvycObaT">pic.twitter.com/M5OvycObaT</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1653904116223975427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The White House has vowed President Joe Biden would veto the resolution if it clears Congress. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Republican-controlled House.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cdkT6VGKq5M?start=1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The point of contention between the rule protecting the bird, known for its complex mating dance, and Republican opponents boils down to land.Lesser prairie chickens thrive in native grasses, and conservation groups’ efforts to preserve habitat for the birds have undergone pushback from Republican lawmakers who argue the Biden policy is a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/trio-of-kansas-gop-lawmakers-seek-more-time-to-critique-prairie-chicken-listing/">threat to farmers, ranchers and energy producers.</a>The Congressional Review Act&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/9/text?s=1&amp;r=1&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.J.Res.9%22%5D%7D">resolution</a>, brought by Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, overturned a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-11/lesser-prairie-chicken-listed-under-endangered-species-act">rule</a>&nbsp;by the Fish and Wildlife Service to list two Distinct Population Segments, or DPS, of the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act.Congress can use a CRA to block rules recently promulgated by federal agencies, and in specific other circumstances, by submitting a joint resolution of disapproval.West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III was the sole Democrat to vote with Republicans to repeal the rule.<h2>Kansans mount opposition</h2>On the Senate floor, Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said the rule threatens ranchers and farmers.“I am confident there are ways to conserve the species without hindering economic opportunity in rural communities,” he said.He said what Kansas needs is “more rainfall not more regulations.”“Farmers and ranchers have always been and will always be the original conservationists,” Moran said. “Their livelihood depends upon the continued conservation efforts of the soil and the water they use to produce crops and raise livestock.”Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Tom Carper defended the bird and the rule.“Native to the southern Great Plains, the lesser prairie chicken has long been considered an indicator for healthy grasslands and prairies upon which hundreds of species depend,” Carper, a Delaware Democrat, said on the floor.&nbsp; “So, if the lesser prairie chicken is in peril — in time, other species could be in peril as well.”The Southern DPS of the lesser prairie-chicken is being listed as “endangered” and the Northern DPS of the lesser prairie chicken is being listed as “threatened”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/17/federal-wildlife-officials-list-lesser-prairie-chicken-as-threatened-in-kansas/">under the Endangered Species Act.</a>The bird can be found in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. The rule has been a long-standing point of contention in Kansas.Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach in April announced plans to sue the Biden administration&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-ag-announces-plan-to-sue-biden-administration-over-lesser-prairie-chicken-protections/">over the designation</a>&nbsp;for the lesser prairie chicken, arguing that federal protections for the bird are illegal, and it could be devastating to landowners and businesses in the state.The White House defended its policy in its announcement of a veto if the resolution is passed by Congress.“The lesser prairie chicken serves as an indicator for healthy grasslands and prairies, making them an important measure of the overall health of America’s grasslands, a treasured and storied landscape,” the White House said.“Overturning common-sense protections for the lesser prairie chicken would undermine America’s proud wildlife conservation traditions, risk the extinction of a once-abundant American bird, and create uncertainty for landowners and industries who have been working for years to forge the durable, locally led conservation strategies that this rule supports,” the White House continued.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on the Senate floor that the designation of the bird’s status under the Endangered Species Act “is holding American farms, ranches, and other small businesses hostage to an animal called the lesser prairie-chicken.”He argued that local landowners and officials already set aside millions of acres of potential habitat for the bird.“But the Biden administration wants to plow ahead anyway, throw the book at these Americans, and threaten nearly $14 billion in agricultural production,” McConnell said.A handful of Senate Republicans co-sponsored the bill including Sens. Moran, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Katie Boyd Britt of Alabama, and James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma.<h2>Population decline</h2>Mike Leahy, the senior director of wildlife policy for the National Wildlife Federation, said in a statement that the population of the lesser prairie chicken has continued to dwindle for decades.The bird at one time numbered in the hundreds of thousands, but its population is now estimated to be about 30,000, according to FWS. The habitat for the lesser prairie chicken has diminished by about 90%, according to FWS.Leahy said the rule “leaves landowners a good deal of flexibility.”“If we want to recover the lesser prairie-chicken, we need to restore its habitat,” he said.&nbsp; “A Congressional Review Act vote is not the right approach because it would not only overturn this particular listing, it would mean this bird could never be listed again no matter how bad things get.”