By NATE KING Salina Post

A quick-thinking Saline County Sheriff's deputy is to thank for rescuing two Saline County residents from a house fire in rural southern Saline County.&nbsp;

Shortly after midnight on July 23, a Saline County deputy was sent to 1122 E. Bethel Circle to reports of an ongoing house fire, according to a media release. When the deputy arrived, he immediately saw the occupants of the home, Daniel and Debra Byarlay, both 68, on the roof of their home.&nbsp;

"The couple escaped through an upstairs window because there was a fire down below," according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.

While Saline County Rural Fire District #2 was on its way, the deputy acted fast to get the couple off the roof.&nbsp;He forced his way into the Byarlay's garage, where he located a ladder.

"The ladder wasn't tall enough to get to the roof, so he used his patrol car to push a disabled vehicle, a pickup in the driveway, underneath the eaves of the house," Soldan said. " He placed the ladder in the bed of the pickup and was able to reach the roof of the house."&nbsp;

The 26-year-old deputy, who has not yet been named, helped move both Daniel and Debra safely off the roof and away from the fire.&nbsp;

The Byarlays were transported to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of smoke inhalation. Daniel was released, Debra was transferred to Ascension Via Christi.

Although the cause of the fire is still unknown, Sheriff Soldan did say the deputy noticed that electrical power to the home was out at the time of his arrival.

"West Star Energy had been working to restore the power down the road so there could have been a power surge or somehow power related," Soldan said.

Along with over $200,000 in property damage, the Byarlays also lost five dogs, five cats, and a chinchilla.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690217411313.jpeg" alt="Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By NATE KING Salina PostA quick-thinking Saline County Sheriff's deputy is to thank for rescuing two Saline County residents from a house fire in rural southern Saline County.&nbsp;Shortly after midnight on July 23, a Saline County deputy was sent to 1122 E. Bethel Circle to reports of an ongoing house fire, according to a media release. When the deputy arrived, he immediately saw the occupants of the home, Daniel and Debra Byarlay, both 68, on the roof of their home.&nbsp;"The couple escaped through an upstairs window because there was a fire down below," according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.While Saline County Rural Fire District #2 was on its way, the deputy acted fast to get the couple off the roof.&nbsp;He forced his way into the Byarlay's garage, where he located a ladder."The ladder wasn't tall enough to get to the roof, so he used his patrol car to push a disabled vehicle, a pickup in the driveway, underneath the eaves of the house," Soldan said. " He placed the ladder in the bed of the pickup and was able to reach the roof of the house."&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690217591573.jpeg" alt="The ladder and pickup truck that was used to get the Byarlays off the roof and in medical care.-Photo&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's Office.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The ladder and pickup truck that was used to get the Byarlays off the roof and in medical care.-Photo&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's Office.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The 26-year-old deputy, who has not yet been named, helped move both Daniel and Debra safely off the roof and away from the fire.&nbsp;The Byarlays were transported to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of smoke inhalation. Daniel was released, Debra was transferred to Ascension Via Christi.Although the cause of the fire is still unknown, Sheriff Soldan did say the deputy noticed that electrical power to the home was out at the time of his arrival."West Star Energy had been working to restore the power down the road so there could have been a power surge or somehow power related," Soldan said.Along with over $200,000 in property damage, the Byarlays also lost five dogs, five cats, and a chinchilla.

Kansas deputy rescues couple from roof of burning home

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on child sex charges.

Just before 6a.m. Saturday, police booked 23-year-old Elijah McCray and&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=741489">38-year-old Sinora Wilson</a>&nbsp;into the Sedgwick County jail on requested charges of aggravated human trafficking involving a minor, according to online jail records.

They were arrested at a motel in the 8500 Block of Kellogg in Wichita, according to the daily arrest report.

Sinora is also being for an alleged parole violation and possession of drug paraphernalia. McCray, who is no longer in custody, faces a contempt of court charges. Police released no additional details over the weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690216983893.png" alt="McCray-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>McCray-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on child sex charges.Just before 6a.m. Saturday, police booked 23-year-old Elijah McCray and&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=741489">38-year-old Sinora Wilson</a>&nbsp;into the Sedgwick County jail on requested charges of aggravated human trafficking involving a minor, according to online jail records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690216964441.png" alt="Wilson-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Wilson-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>They were arrested at a motel in the 8500 Block of Kellogg in Wichita, according to the daily arrest report.Sinora is also being for an alleged parole violation and possession of drug paraphernalia. McCray, who is no longer in custody, faces a contempt of court charges. Police released no additional details over the weekend.

Two jailed in Kansas for alleged human trafficking involving minor

YELLOWSTONE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly bear encounter near Yellowstone.&nbsp;

About 8 a.m. Saturday, game wardens with Montana Fish, Wildlife &amp; Parks were notified that a hiker had found a woman deceased on the trail, about 8 miles west of West Yellowstone, according to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.&nbsp;&nbsp;Amie Adamson, 47, of Derby, Kansas was identified as the victim, according to her family.

She was believed to be alone during the encounter, and no bear spray or firearms were found at the scene.&nbsp;

Fish Wildlife and Parks wardens and bear specialists, along with staff from other agencies, found that Adamson had wounds consistent with a bear attack. 

They also found tracks from an adult grizzly bear and at least one cub near the site. They did not see any bears or signs of a day bed or animal carcass during the investigation. 

The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest?__cft__[0]=AZUxBKfXHO7Fsxh6bB5uE8XuCdiAkUQ9W4VUzeKS_3PwHLG0ekEbqjS7Bmi3KY1bu1T9aqdh4mEDWOG0_E0ryPgRTCqgASdbIbALRVR92yzyYLP_-l6N-HeXXYwkbGSbMQCT8h_2_cLa72BzoV7BiAo4B4nvla06Z4KVXq0eBUSmHmd0uTB0c2kAg5-xrc_bn4A&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Custer Gallatin National Forest</a> implemented an emergency closure of the area as a safety precaution. FWP bear specialists and game wardens notified residents and visitors nearby of the bear activity and the U.S. Forest Service closure.

They then began conducting capture operations due to the incident’s proximity to residences, campgrounds and a high-use OHV trail system. No bears have been captured to date. FWP staff also searched the area from an aircraft and did not locate any bears.&nbsp;

In June, a bear attacked and killed a man at a campsite in central Arizona. That victim, 66-year-old Steven Jackson of Tucson, was at his campsite when the bear attack him in the morning, according to a media release from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s office.

On Sunday, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest?__cft__[0]=AZWPeq8ILnzI3ZsZE9RcgldAf3GtDN5Hqzyb7yB9PZOdzOG-Wt9XtfWfCLoEDWiHw880XJBBGpDXGntDYB-Aq6tPQ73qdxm3lraRDYEaTMoPuW20W7FUhB6WIcOp8qATPdUSxrkppFFaOLhI587Tg9R7sk8v1991zYQCST9JbNrlfEYSOjebjLkyFWj-wf2l3AkweCZ3iTv2RyT42fLB7XCB&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Custer Gallatin National Forest</a>&nbsp;in Montana issued an emergency closure of the Buttermilk area for human safety..Generally, the Buttermilk Area Closure is located about 8 miles west of West Yellowstone.

 It follows the Continental Divide Trail, Forest Service Trail #116, from the trailhead near Targhee Pass on Highway 20 south to the confluence with Cream Creek Road, Forest Service Road #1703 and Road 484. The area closure follows these roads to the east and north back to the Forest Service boundary just south of Highway 20 and to the west to connect with the Continental Divide Trail #116.

Bears can be found throughout Montana. In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded. Those venturing into the outdoors should “Be Bear Aware” by following precautionary step that include: Carry and know how to use bear spray; Travel in groups whenever possible and plan to be out in the daylight hour; Avoid carcass sites and concentrations of ravens and other scavengers; Watch for signs of bears such as bear scat, diggings, torn-up logs and turned over rocks, and partly consumed animal carcasses; Make noise, especially near streams or in thick forest where hearing and visibility are limited, to alert bears to your presence and Don't approach a bear.

<a href="https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear?fbclid=IwAR0bAeovbe1CgGK-8_n_ZlUfooQhjzsVLDKnzfi20js151jSMMtX8x7ZnJ0">Click here to learn</a> more about bears in the wild.

On Saturday, a woman was found deceased on the Buttermilk Trail west of West Yellowstone following an apparent bear encounter, according to the&nbsp;Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.&nbsp; Investigators confirmed grizzly bear tracks at the scene.&nbsp;Amie Adamson, 47, of Derby, Kansas was identified as the victim, according to her family.

Neighbors tried to help by making noises. But the bear was able to drag Jackson several yards in the campsite in the Groom Creek area about 100 miles&nbsp; north of Phoenix.&nbsp;A neighbor then shot and killed the bear, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

YELLOWSTONE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly bear encounter near Yellowstone.&nbsp;About 8 a.m. Saturday, game wardens with Montana Fish, Wildlife &amp; Parks were notified that a hiker had found a woman deceased on the trail, about 8 miles west of West Yellowstone, according to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.&nbsp;&nbsp;Amie Adamson, 47, of Derby, Kansas was identified as the victim, according to her family.She was believed to be alone during the encounter, and no bear spray or firearms were found at the scene.&nbsp;Fish Wildlife and Parks wardens and bear specialists, along with staff from other agencies, found that Adamson had wounds consistent with a bear attack. They also found tracks from an adult grizzly bear and at least one cub near the site. They did not see any bears or signs of a day bed or animal carcass during the investigation. The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest?__cft__[0]=AZUxBKfXHO7Fsxh6bB5uE8XuCdiAkUQ9W4VUzeKS_3PwHLG0ekEbqjS7Bmi3KY1bu1T9aqdh4mEDWOG0_E0ryPgRTCqgASdbIbALRVR92yzyYLP_-l6N-HeXXYwkbGSbMQCT8h_2_cLa72BzoV7BiAo4B4nvla06Z4KVXq0eBUSmHmd0uTB0c2kAg5-xrc_bn4A&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Custer Gallatin National Forest</a> implemented an emergency closure of the area as a safety precaution. FWP bear specialists and game wardens notified residents and visitors nearby of the bear activity and the U.S. Forest Service closure. They then began conducting capture operations due to the incident’s proximity to residences, campgrounds and a high-use OHV trail system. No bears have been captured to date. FWP staff also searched the area from an aircraft and did not locate any bears.&nbsp;In June, a bear attacked and killed a man at a campsite in central Arizona. That victim, 66-year-old Steven Jackson of Tucson, was at his campsite when the bear attack him in the morning, according to a media release from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s office.On Sunday, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest?__cft__[0]=AZWPeq8ILnzI3ZsZE9RcgldAf3GtDN5Hqzyb7yB9PZOdzOG-Wt9XtfWfCLoEDWiHw880XJBBGpDXGntDYB-Aq6tPQ73qdxm3lraRDYEaTMoPuW20W7FUhB6WIcOp8qATPdUSxrkppFFaOLhI587Tg9R7sk8v1991zYQCST9JbNrlfEYSOjebjLkyFWj-wf2l3AkweCZ3iTv2RyT42fLB7XCB&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Custer Gallatin National Forest</a>&nbsp;in Montana issued an emergency closure of the Buttermilk area for human safety..Generally, the Buttermilk Area Closure is located about 8 miles west of West Yellowstone. It follows the Continental Divide Trail, Forest Service Trail #116, from the trailhead near Targhee Pass on Highway 20 south to the confluence with Cream Creek Road, Forest Service Road #1703 and Road 484. The area closure follows these roads to the east and north back to the Forest Service boundary just south of Highway 20 and to the west to connect with the Continental Divide Trail #116.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690206200389.png" alt="Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks" />
 <figcaption>Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks</figcaption>
 </figure>Bears can be found throughout Montana. In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded. Those venturing into the outdoors should “Be Bear Aware” by following precautionary step that include: Carry and know how to use bear spray; Travel in groups whenever possible and plan to be out in the daylight hour; Avoid carcass sites and concentrations of ravens and other scavengers; Watch for signs of bears such as bear scat, diggings, torn-up logs and turned over rocks, and partly consumed animal carcasses; Make noise, especially near streams or in thick forest where hearing and visibility are limited, to alert bears to your presence and Don't approach a bear. <a href="https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear?fbclid=IwAR0bAeovbe1CgGK-8_n_ZlUfooQhjzsVLDKnzfi20js151jSMMtX8x7ZnJ0">Click here to learn</a> more about bears in the wild.-------------YELLOWSTONE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly bear encounter near Yellowstone.&nbsp;On Saturday, a woman was found deceased on the Buttermilk Trail west of West Yellowstone following an apparent bear encounter, according to the&nbsp;Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.&nbsp; Investigators confirmed grizzly bear tracks at the scene.&nbsp;Amie Adamson, 47, of Derby, Kansas was identified as the victim, according to her family.In June, a bear attacked and killed a man at a campsite in central Arizona. That victim, 66-year-old Steven Jackson of Tucson, was at his campsite when the bear attack him in the morning, according to a media release from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s office.Neighbors tried to help by making noises. But the bear was able to drag Jackson several yards in the campsite in the Groom Creek area about 100 miles&nbsp; north of Phoenix.&nbsp;A neighbor then shot and killed the bear, according to the Sheriff’s Office.On Sunday, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest?__cft__[0]=AZWPeq8ILnzI3ZsZE9RcgldAf3GtDN5Hqzyb7yB9PZOdzOG-Wt9XtfWfCLoEDWiHw880XJBBGpDXGntDYB-Aq6tPQ73qdxm3lraRDYEaTMoPuW20W7FUhB6WIcOp8qATPdUSxrkppFFaOLhI587Tg9R7sk8v1991zYQCST9JbNrlfEYSOjebjLkyFWj-wf2l3AkweCZ3iTv2RyT42fLB7XCB&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Custer Gallatin National Forest</a>&nbsp;in Montana issued an emergency closure of the Buttermilk area for human safety..Generally, the Buttermilk Area Closure is located about 8 miles west of West Yellowstone. It follows the Continental Divide Trail, Forest Service Trail #116, from the trailhead near Targhee Pass on Highway 20 south to the confluence with Cream Creek Road, Forest Service Road #1703 and Road 484. The area closure follows these roads to the east and north back to the Forest Service boundary just south of Highway 20 and to the west to connect with the Continental Divide Trail #116.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690206200389.png" alt="Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks" />
 <figcaption>Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks</figcaption>
 </figure>Bears can be found throughout Montana. In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded. Those venturing into the outdoors should “Be Bear Aware” by following precautionary step that include: Carry and know how to use bear spray; Travel in groups whenever possible and plan to be out in the daylight hour; Avoid carcass sites and concentrations of ravens and other scavengers; Watch for signs of bears such as bear scat, diggings, torn-up logs and turned over rocks, and partly consumed animal carcasses; Make noise, especially near streams or in thick forest where hearing and visibility are limited, to alert bears to your presence and Don't approach a bear. <a href="https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear?fbclid=IwAR0bAeovbe1CgGK-8_n_ZlUfooQhjzsVLDKnzfi20js151jSMMtX8x7ZnJ0">Click here to learn</a> more about bears in the wild.

Kan. woman was hiking alone during fatal bear encounter near Yellowstone

NEW YORK (AP) — The clock is ticking. As the deadline to reach a new contract nears, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-strike-delivery-supply-chain-union-labor-16270bd5699419398de376e07ada06ba" target="_blank">potential UPS strike</a>&nbsp;feels closer than ever.

Negotiations broke down earlier this month and unionized workers have been holding rallies and practice pickets across the country. The Teamsters, which represent more than half of the company’s workforce,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-teamsters-labor-contract-talks-strike-6cb8662aed18d4ef2700d77f6ccac5ea" target="_blank">will resume talks</a>&nbsp;with UPS on Tuesday.

That leaves less than a week to come to an agreement before the current contract expires on Monday, July 31. The union has authorized a strike and Sean M. O’Brien, a fiery leader elected last year to lead the union, has vowed to do so if their demands aren’t met.

“We’re sending a message... all 340,000 of our members are united and ready to fight,” O’Brien told The Associated Press at a practice picket Friday in Atlanta, where UPS is based.

UPS’s unionized workers still seethe about a contract they feel was forced on them in 2018, and say that the company delivers millions more packages every day than it did just five years ago. The Teamsters are calling for better pay, particularly for part-time employees, and improved working conditions.

UPS has maintained that it already offers “industry-leading pay and benefits,” but says it’s prepared to increase that compensation. In a Friday update, the company said it aimed “quickly to finalize a fair deal that provides certainty for our customers, our employees and businesses across the country.”

If negotiations are unsuccessful the deliveries that Americans have come to rely on, particularly since the pandemic began in 2020, could be vastly disrupted. Such an impasse hasn’t been seen since 1997, well before delivery of everyday items from dog food to prescription drugs became the norm, when a walkout by 185,000 workers crippled UPS. Here’s what you need to know.

Much on the union’s demands comes down to better pay and improved working conditions.

Annual profits at UPS in the past two years are close to three times what they were before the pandemic. The company returned about $8.6 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends and stock buybacks in 2022, and forecast another $8.4 billion for shareholders this year.

The Teamsters say frontline UPS workers deserve some of that windfall. A sticking point in negotiations has been wage increases for part-time workers, who make a minimum of $16.20 an hour.

“People want their packages yesterday with the emergence of the e-commerce. So it’s a very demanding job,” O’Brien said, pushing back on the salary statistics that UPS shares. “Everybody doesn’t realize what it takes to get these packages on the truck. And a lot of our part timers... work for poverty wages.”

In addition to addressing part-time pay, the union wants to eliminate a contract provision that created two separate hierarchies of workers with different pay scales, hours and benefits. Driver safety, particularly the lack of air conditioning in delivery trucks, is also in the mix.

Before contract talks broke down on July 5, with both sides blaming each other for walking away from the bargaining table, tentative agreements were made on several issues — including installing air conditioning in more trucks. UPS said it would add air conditioning to U.S. small delivery vehicles purchased after January 1, 2024. Existing vehicles wouldn’t get that upgrade, but the union said they will have other additions like fans and air vents.

The union also said it has reached tentative agreements to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a full holiday for the first time, end unwanted overtime on drivers’ days off and get rid of the two-tier wage system for drivers who work weekends and earn less money.

COULD A STRIKE BE AVOIDED? CAN THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENE?

The strike can be avoided if UPS and the Teamsters agree to a new contract before the July 31 deadline. There’s also a possibility of government intervention.

O’Brien said Sunday that he has asked the White House on numerous occasions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-strike-teamsters-biden-delivery-cb586d2f6160a92cda9318d6290ac8ea" target="_blank">not to intervene</a>&nbsp;if workers end up going on strike. Last year, President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-d2ae4d3aecb27f176418518d977e69e1" target="_blank">intervened to avert a railroad strike</a>&nbsp;to avoid disrupting the nation’s supply chain, and workers had accept an agreement that wasn’t broadly supported by union members.

The 24 million packages UPS ships on an average day amounts to about a quarter of all U.S. parcel volume, according to the global shipping and logistics firm Pitney Bowes. As UPS puts it, that’s the equivalent of about 6% of nation’s gross domestic product.

Higher prices and long wait times are all but certain if there is an impasse. A strike also threatens to extend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-china-business-united-states-8d5fffd96a46d0690d843f5e1de410fe" target="_blank">lingering supply chain troubles</a>.

“Something’s got to give,” Thomas Goldsby, logistics chairman in the Supply Chain Management Department at the University of Tennessee, told The Associated Press. “The python can’t swallow the alligator, and that’s going to be felt by all of us.”

UPS said this month that it will temporarily begin training nonunion employees in the U.S. to step in should there be a strike.

Beyond shipping and supply implications, a union win at UPS could have significance for organized labor across industries. UPS’s contract talks arrive amid other prominent labor campaigns at Apple, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s and other companies — as well as the current&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-hollywood-strikes-affect-fans-b7d9f908207629dd3c30e65a77666d8f" target="_blank">writers and actors’ strikes</a>&nbsp;seen in Hollywood.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686070070872.png" alt="If negotiations are unsuccessful the deliveries that Americans have come to rely on, particularly since the pandemic began in 2020, could be vastly disrupted.-file photo" />
 <figcaption>If negotiations are unsuccessful the deliveries that Americans have come to rely on, particularly since the pandemic began in 2020, could be vastly disrupted.-file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The clock is ticking. As the deadline to reach a new contract nears, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-strike-delivery-supply-chain-union-labor-16270bd5699419398de376e07ada06ba" target="_blank">potential UPS strike</a>&nbsp;feels closer than ever.Negotiations broke down earlier this month and unionized workers have been holding rallies and practice pickets across the country. The Teamsters, which represent more than half of the company’s workforce,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-teamsters-labor-contract-talks-strike-6cb8662aed18d4ef2700d77f6ccac5ea" target="_blank">will resume talks</a>&nbsp;with UPS on Tuesday.That leaves less than a week to come to an agreement before the current contract expires on Monday, July 31. The union has authorized a strike and Sean M. O’Brien, a fiery leader elected last year to lead the union, has vowed to do so if their demands aren’t met.“We’re sending a message... all 340,000 of our members are united and ready to fight,” O’Brien told The Associated Press at a practice picket Friday in Atlanta, where UPS is based.UPS’s unionized workers still seethe about a contract they feel was forced on them in 2018, and say that the company delivers millions more packages every day than it did just five years ago. The Teamsters are calling for better pay, particularly for part-time employees, and improved working conditions.UPS has maintained that it already offers “industry-leading pay and benefits,” but says it’s prepared to increase that compensation. In a Friday update, the company said it aimed “quickly to finalize a fair deal that provides certainty for our customers, our employees and businesses across the country.”If negotiations are unsuccessful the deliveries that Americans have come to rely on, particularly since the pandemic began in 2020, could be vastly disrupted. Such an impasse hasn’t been seen since 1997, well before delivery of everyday items from dog food to prescription drugs became the norm, when a walkout by 185,000 workers crippled UPS. Here’s what you need to know.<h2>WHAT ARE THE TEAMSTERS ASKING FOR?</h2>Much on the union’s demands comes down to better pay and improved working conditions.Annual profits at UPS in the past two years are close to three times what they were before the pandemic. The company returned about $8.6 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends and stock buybacks in 2022, and forecast another $8.4 billion for shareholders this year.The Teamsters say frontline UPS workers deserve some of that windfall. A sticking point in negotiations has been wage increases for part-time workers, who make a minimum of $16.20 an hour.“People want their packages yesterday with the emergence of the e-commerce. So it’s a very demanding job,” O’Brien said, pushing back on the salary statistics that UPS shares. “Everybody doesn’t realize what it takes to get these packages on the truck. And a lot of our part timers... work for poverty wages.”In addition to addressing part-time pay, the union wants to eliminate a contract provision that created two separate hierarchies of workers with different pay scales, hours and benefits. Driver safety, particularly the lack of air conditioning in delivery trucks, is also in the mix.<h2>HAS UPS AGREED TO ANY DEMANDS?</h2>Before contract talks broke down on July 5, with both sides blaming each other for walking away from the bargaining table, tentative agreements were made on several issues — including installing air conditioning in more trucks. UPS said it would add air conditioning to U.S. small delivery vehicles purchased after January 1, 2024. Existing vehicles wouldn’t get that upgrade, but the union said they will have other additions like fans and air vents.The union also said it has reached tentative agreements to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a full holiday for the first time, end unwanted overtime on drivers’ days off and get rid of the two-tier wage system for drivers who work weekends and earn less money.<h2>COULD A STRIKE BE AVOIDED? CAN THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENE?</h2>The strike can be avoided if UPS and the Teamsters agree to a new contract before the July 31 deadline. There’s also a possibility of government intervention.O’Brien said Sunday that he has asked the White House on numerous occasions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-strike-teamsters-biden-delivery-cb586d2f6160a92cda9318d6290ac8ea" target="_blank">not to intervene</a>&nbsp;if workers end up going on strike. Last year, President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-d2ae4d3aecb27f176418518d977e69e1" target="_blank">intervened to avert a railroad strike</a>&nbsp;to avoid disrupting the nation’s supply chain, and workers had accept an agreement that wasn’t broadly supported by union members.<h2>WHAT IMPACT WOULD A STRIKE HAVE?</h2>The 24 million packages UPS ships on an average day amounts to about a quarter of all U.S. parcel volume, according to the global shipping and logistics firm Pitney Bowes. As UPS puts it, that’s the equivalent of about 6% of nation’s gross domestic product.Higher prices and long wait times are all but certain if there is an impasse. A strike also threatens to extend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-china-business-united-states-8d5fffd96a46d0690d843f5e1de410fe" target="_blank">lingering supply chain troubles</a>.“Something’s got to give,” Thomas Goldsby, logistics chairman in the Supply Chain Management Department at the University of Tennessee, told The Associated Press. “The python can’t swallow the alligator, and that’s going to be felt by all of us.”UPS said this month that it will temporarily begin training nonunion employees in the U.S. to step in should there be a strike.Beyond shipping and supply implications, a union win at UPS could have significance for organized labor across industries. UPS’s contract talks arrive amid other prominent labor campaigns at Apple, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s and other companies — as well as the current&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-hollywood-strikes-affect-fans-b7d9f908207629dd3c30e65a77666d8f" target="_blank">writers and actors’ strikes</a>&nbsp;seen in Hollywood.

Decision week: UPS workers poised for biggest U.S. strike in 60 years

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A driver involved in a fatal crash just before&nbsp;8p.m. Thursday in Sedgwick County is accused of driving under the influence.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Dodge Journey driven by Caleb T. Faron, 18, Bel Aire,&nbsp; was northbound on Interstate 135 just north of 13th Street in the #3 lane moving to the #4 lane.

Faron failed to see a 2011 Hyundai Sonata driven by Uriel&nbsp;Orosco, 31, Wichita, slowing down in lane 4 with emergency hazard lights activated.

After impact, the Hyundai rotated counterclockwise and came to rest in the #4 lane against the KDOT bridge wall. The Dodge overturned and came to rest in the #3 lane.&nbsp;

Orosco was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Forensics Science Center. EMS transported a passenger in the Hyundia identified as Nallely Medrano Meraz, 28, Wichita, to Wesley Medical Center. 

Faron was not injured and just before 11p.m. Thursday, he was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on a requested charge that included driving under the influence and marijuana possession, according to online jail records.&nbsp; He is no longer in custody.

 Orosco was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.&nbsp;&nbsp;There were also two children in the Hyundai; juvenile record is protected data.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689934377266.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the crash photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the crash photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— A driver involved in a fatal crash just before&nbsp;8p.m. Thursday in Sedgwick County is accused of driving under the influence.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Dodge Journey driven by Caleb T. Faron, 18, Bel Aire,&nbsp; was northbound on Interstate 135 just north of 13th Street in the #3 lane moving to the #4 lane.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690035440176.png" alt="Faron in the only photo available from Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Faron in the only photo available from Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Faron failed to see a 2011 Hyundai Sonata driven by Uriel&nbsp;Orosco, 31, Wichita, slowing down in lane 4 with emergency hazard lights activated.The Dodge rear-ended the Hyundai.After impact, the Hyundai rotated counterclockwise and came to rest in the #4 lane against the KDOT bridge wall. The Dodge overturned and came to rest in the #3 lane.&nbsp;Orosco was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Forensics Science Center. EMS transported a passenger in the Hyundia identified as Nallely Medrano Meraz, 28, Wichita, to Wesley Medical Center. Faron was not injured and just before 11p.m. Thursday, he was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on a requested charge that included driving under the influence and marijuana possession, according to online jail records.&nbsp; He is no longer in custody. Orosco was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.&nbsp;&nbsp;There were also two children in the Hyundai; juvenile record is protected data.

Kansas teen accused of DUI in crash that killed man, injured woman

By JENNIFER SHUTT&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — A U.S. Senate committee approved legislation that would update how the federal government prepares for and then responds to pandemics and natural disasters.

The broadly bipartisan legislation moved through the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee following a 17-3 vote after members adopted two bipartisan amendments.

Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mike Braun of Indiana and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama voted against moving the bill to the Senate floor. Oklahoma GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin voted present.

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the committee, said the COVID-19 pandemic showed Congress that the existing Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act was “far from perfect.”

Congress originally established the law in 2006, following the federal government’s “failures” in responding to Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Cassidy said.

“Although mistakes were made during COVID-19, we did learn some tough lessons and we hope this legislation is here to make sure that future generations are not forced to learn on the fly should another crisis occur,” Cassidy said.

“We’re updating the playbook and we’re ensuring that our framework remains flexible to address those future threats — a future Hurricane Katrina for example,” he added.

The legislation, Cassidy said, would increase accountability and transparency in how the federal government helps state and local governments prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the committee’s chair, said during the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/s-2333-pandemic-and-all-hazards-preparedness-and-response-act">hearing</a>&nbsp;the bill would help the federal government better prepare for future pandemics and natural disasters as well as possible biological, chemical or nuclear threats.

“I think it is fair to say that while all of our public health people worked tirelessly and did everything they could to protect the American people, it would be an understatement to say we were tragically unprepared to respond to that crisis,” Sanders said.

The 107-page&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pahpara_text.pdf">bill</a>&nbsp;has several sections, including a reauthorization of the Hospital Preparedness Program, an update of the National Health Security Strategy and updates to the Annual Threat-Based Review for the Strategic National Stockpile, according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pahpara_section_by_section2.pdf">summary</a>.

The bill, Sanders said, would require companies to tell the U.S. Food and Drug Administration if there’s a spike in demand for any of their products that they are unable to meet, like a shortage of children’s Tylenol.

The measure would also expand emergency medical services in rural areas, Sanders said.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2333/text?s=4&amp;r=2&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.+2333%22%5D%7D">bill</a>&nbsp;is co-sponsored in the Senate by Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey, Utah Republican Mitt Romney, Sanders and Cassidy.

The HELP Committee adopted two amendments to the bill, one from North Carolina Republican Sen. Ted Budd and New Hampshire Democrat Maggie Hassan as well as a second amendment from Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper and Budd.

The Budd-Hassan amendment would strengthen the Strategic National Stockpile, which purchases and stores personal protective equipment, vaccines and pharmaceuticals, among other critical supplies. The amendment implements some recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office.

The Hickenlooper-Budd amendment would establish an emerging pathogen preparedness program at the FDA that would allow the agency to respond faster during a future pandemic.

“This new team will allow FDA to dedicate the necessary manpower to be able to quickly evaluate and … clear the many countermeasures that would come before them during a pandemic,” Hickenlooper said. “Getting these countermeasures to the public fast in a time of crisis will save lives.”

The FDA had requested the authority from Congress, he said.

Cassidy spoke out against the amendment, saying he was unsure why the FDA would need Congress to establish a new program for emerging threats since it already has “an office of counterterrorism and emerging threats.”

The HELP Committee also rejected several amendments.

A majority of the panel did not agree to add a proposal from Tuberville that would have required any new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention directors nominated by the president to get Senate approval immediately, moving up the timetable from January 2025.

Braun and Budd had an amendment rejected that would have prevented the secretary of the Health and Human Services Department from declaring a public health emergency on gun violence.

The panel rejected several amendments from Paul, including one that would have divided the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases within the National Institutes of Health up into three different agencies.

Paul unsuccessfully proposed another amendment that would have barred federal funding from going to gain of function research in China.

Paul defined that as “any research project that may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in mammals.”

Sanders said Paul’s concerns about that type of research are important and pledged to work with the Kentucky Republican on the issue moving forward, though he said the bill itself gets at the issue.

“I worked with ranking member Cassidy to include a provision in this bill to make sure that any country, including China, that is deemed dangerous by our intelligence community would not be able to receive medical research dollars from the U.S. government for a minimum of five years,” Sanders said.

Paul’s amendment on gain of function research, Sanders said, could have jeopardized international collaborations on medical research.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617126228958.jpeg" alt="The legislation would increase accountability and transparency in how the federal government helps state and local governments prepare for and respond to public health emergencies." />
 <figcaption>The legislation would increase accountability and transparency in how the federal government helps state and local governments prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JENNIFER SHUTT&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — A U.S. Senate committee approved legislation that would update how the federal government prepares for and then responds to pandemics and natural disasters.The broadly bipartisan legislation moved through the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee following a 17-3 vote after members adopted two bipartisan amendments.Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mike Braun of Indiana and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama voted against moving the bill to the Senate floor. Oklahoma GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin voted present.Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the committee, said the COVID-19 pandemic showed Congress that the existing Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act was “far from perfect.”Congress originally established the law in 2006, following the federal government’s “failures” in responding to Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Cassidy said.“Although mistakes were made during COVID-19, we did learn some tough lessons and we hope this legislation is here to make sure that future generations are not forced to learn on the fly should another crisis occur,” Cassidy said.“We’re updating the playbook and we’re ensuring that our framework remains flexible to address those future threats — a future Hurricane Katrina for example,” he added.The legislation, Cassidy said, would increase accountability and transparency in how the federal government helps state and local governments prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.<h2>‘Tragically unprepared’</h2>Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the committee’s chair, said during the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/s-2333-pandemic-and-all-hazards-preparedness-and-response-act">hearing</a>&nbsp;the bill would help the federal government better prepare for future pandemics and natural disasters as well as possible biological, chemical or nuclear threats.“I think it is fair to say that while all of our public health people worked tirelessly and did everything they could to protect the American people, it would be an understatement to say we were tragically unprepared to respond to that crisis,” Sanders said.The 107-page&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pahpara_text.pdf">bill</a>&nbsp;has several sections, including a reauthorization of the Hospital Preparedness Program, an update of the National Health Security Strategy and updates to the Annual Threat-Based Review for the Strategic National Stockpile, according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pahpara_section_by_section2.pdf">summary</a>.The bill, Sanders said, would require companies to tell the U.S. Food and Drug Administration if there’s a spike in demand for any of their products that they are unable to meet, like a shortage of children’s Tylenol.The measure would also expand emergency medical services in rural areas, Sanders said.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2333/text?s=4&amp;r=2&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.+2333%22%5D%7D">bill</a>&nbsp;is co-sponsored in the Senate by Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey, Utah Republican Mitt Romney, Sanders and Cassidy.<h2>National stockpile</h2>The HELP Committee adopted two amendments to the bill, one from North Carolina Republican Sen. Ted Budd and New Hampshire Democrat Maggie Hassan as well as a second amendment from Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper and Budd.The Budd-Hassan amendment would strengthen the Strategic National Stockpile, which purchases and stores personal protective equipment, vaccines and pharmaceuticals, among other critical supplies. The amendment implements some recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office.The Hickenlooper-Budd amendment would establish an emerging pathogen preparedness program at the FDA that would allow the agency to respond faster during a future pandemic.“This new team will allow FDA to dedicate the necessary manpower to be able to quickly evaluate and … clear the many countermeasures that would come before them during a pandemic,” Hickenlooper said. “Getting these countermeasures to the public fast in a time of crisis will save lives.”The FDA had requested the authority from Congress, he said.Cassidy spoke out against the amendment, saying he was unsure why the FDA would need Congress to establish a new program for emerging threats since it already has “an office of counterterrorism and emerging threats.”<h2>Tuberville amendment</h2>The HELP Committee also rejected several amendments.A majority of the panel did not agree to add a proposal from Tuberville that would have required any new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention directors nominated by the president to get Senate approval immediately, moving up the timetable from January 2025.Braun and Budd had an amendment rejected that would have prevented the secretary of the Health and Human Services Department from declaring a public health emergency on gun violence.The panel rejected several amendments from Paul, including one that would have divided the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases within the National Institutes of Health up into three different agencies.Paul unsuccessfully proposed another amendment that would have barred federal funding from going to gain of function research in China.Paul defined that as “any research project that may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in mammals.”Sanders said Paul’s concerns about that type of research are important and pledged to work with the Kentucky Republican on the issue moving forward, though he said the bill itself gets at the issue.“I worked with ranking member Cassidy to include a provision in this bill to make sure that any country, including China, that is deemed dangerous by our intelligence community would not be able to receive medical research dollars from the U.S. government for a minimum of five years,” Sanders said.Paul’s amendment on gain of function research, Sanders said, could have jeopardized international collaborations on medical research.

U.S. Senate panel OKs bill to help form better pandemic response

DELEWARE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend drowning that took the life of a Kansas man.

According to a media release from the Grand River Dam Authority, a 1979 Mastercraft driven by 47-year-old Daniel Siebert of Wichita was in the back of<a href="https://grda.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GRDA-Grand-Lake-Map-and-Rules-Brochure-2019.pdf"> Duck Creek portion of Grand Lake</a> in northeast Oklahoma Saturday evening.&nbsp;

Witnesses reported Siebert fell out of and was struck by the boat. He was the only&nbsp; person on board. He did not resurface. First responders worked to stop the boat. Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday divers recovered his body.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690160840200.png" alt="Image courtesy Grand River Dam Authority" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Grand River Dam Authority</figcaption>
 </figure>DELEWARE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend drowning that took the life of a Kansas man.According to a media release from the Grand River Dam Authority, a 1979 Mastercraft driven by 47-year-old Daniel Siebert of Wichita was in the back of<a href="https://grda.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GRDA-Grand-Lake-Map-and-Rules-Brochure-2019.pdf"> Duck Creek portion of Grand Lake</a> in northeast Oklahoma Saturday evening.&nbsp;Witnesses reported Siebert fell out of and was struck by the boat. He was the only&nbsp; person on board. He did not resurface. First responders worked to stop the boat. Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday divers recovered his body.

Body of Kansas man recovered after fall from boat 

DENVER (AP) — An 18-year-old from suburban Denver who allegedly planned to go to Iraq to fight for the Islamic State group was arrested last week as he tried to board a flight to Turkey.

Davin Daniel Meyer of Castle Rock, who was arrested Friday, has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Colorado announced late Monday.

Meyer's lawyer did not immediately return a telephone message or email seeking comment.

According to his arrest affidavit, law enforcement began investigating him in June 2022 when someone who knew him contacted the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The person said they were concerned because, after following white supremacist ideology, Meyer, then 17, had turned to Islam and was frequently watching and listening to “radical Islamic sermons online." The FBI was notified by the sheriff's office, it said.

The person, who was not identified in the document, said Meyer said “he wanted to die in his early twenties for Allah."

“In October 2022, the individual informed the FBI that Meyer had stated that if he could not go to the Middle East, he planned to get fertilizer and build a bomb in the United States,” the arrest affidavit said.

The document noted that Meyer had previously undergone mental health treatment and has been diagnosed with conditions including autism spectrum disorder and major depressive disorder.

Soon after he turned 18 in November, Meyer began communicating online with someone he thought was an Islamic State facilitator but was actually a paid FBI informant, the document said. The following month, that person introduced Meyer to another informant who claimed to be an Islamic State travel facilitator, who met with Meyer three times to talk about his plan to pay and prepare for traveling to join the Islamic State.

Meyer talked about problems finding a job that would allow him to follow his religious practices, such as not having to interact with women or listen to music, it said. After his mother offered to pay for an apartment for him and cover some living expenses for him, he decided to use that money to pay for his trip and buy gear that he needed to become a fighter, the document said.

Concerned that his mother would worry about him, he talked about leaving a note on the counter saying he had left by his own choice.

Meyer bought a ticket for July 14 to travel to Ankara, Turkey, where he believed he would meet with Islamic State members and travel on to Iraq to become a fighter, the arrest affidavit said.

That day, he “repeatedly expressed anxiety and hesitation” to one of the informants, but he also “repeatedly expressed determination to go through with his plans,” it said.

Meyer was arrested after showing his boarding pass to the gate agent and walking down the jet bridge to the plane, the arrest affidavit said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690157195054.png" alt="Davin Daniel Meyer -photo courtesy FBI" />
 <figcaption>Davin Daniel Meyer -photo courtesy FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — An 18-year-old from suburban Denver who allegedly planned to go to Iraq to fight for the Islamic State group was arrested last week as he tried to board a flight to Turkey.Davin Daniel Meyer of Castle Rock, who was arrested Friday, has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Colorado announced late Monday.Meyer's lawyer did not immediately return a telephone message or email seeking comment.According to his arrest affidavit, law enforcement began investigating him in June 2022 when someone who knew him contacted the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The person said they were concerned because, after following white supremacist ideology, Meyer, then 17, had turned to Islam and was frequently watching and listening to “radical Islamic sermons online." The FBI was notified by the sheriff's office, it said.The person, who was not identified in the document, said Meyer said “he wanted to die in his early twenties for Allah."“In October 2022, the individual informed the FBI that Meyer had stated that if he could not go to the Middle East, he planned to get fertilizer and build a bomb in the United States,” the arrest affidavit said.The document noted that Meyer had previously undergone mental health treatment and has been diagnosed with conditions including autism spectrum disorder and major depressive disorder.Soon after he turned 18 in November, Meyer began communicating online with someone he thought was an Islamic State facilitator but was actually a paid FBI informant, the document said. The following month, that person introduced Meyer to another informant who claimed to be an Islamic State travel facilitator, who met with Meyer three times to talk about his plan to pay and prepare for traveling to join the Islamic State.Meyer talked about problems finding a job that would allow him to follow his religious practices, such as not having to interact with women or listen to music, it said. After his mother offered to pay for an apartment for him and cover some living expenses for him, he decided to use that money to pay for his trip and buy gear that he needed to become a fighter, the document said.Concerned that his mother would worry about him, he talked about leaving a note on the counter saying he had left by his own choice.Meyer bought a ticket for July 14 to travel to Ankara, Turkey, where he believed he would meet with Islamic State members and travel on to Iraq to become a fighter, the arrest affidavit said.That day, he “repeatedly expressed anxiety and hesitation” to one of the informants, but he also “repeatedly expressed determination to go through with his plans,” it said.Meyer was arrested after showing his boarding pass to the gate agent and walking down the jet bridge to the plane, the arrest affidavit said.

Colorado teen accused of ties to foreign terrorist organization

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating five suspects on drug allegations after a&nbsp;lengthy investigation.

Just before 10:30p.m. Thursday,&nbsp;the Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force initiated a search warrant at 404 S. 3rd Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Deputies seized Meth, Marijuana, needles, syringes, scales and pipes as evidence from the residence.

They arrested 42-year-old Douglas Milford of Hiawatha on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Jessica Dominguez, 38, Hiawatha was&nbsp; arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Anthony Tull, 46, Robinson was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Obstruction and a Hiawatha Failure to Appear Warrant.

Allicia Ramirez, 34, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Leonard Stanley Bindel, 63, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Obstruction. Meth, Marijuana, needles, syringes, scales, pipes, etc were seized as evidence from the residence.&nbsp; Many hours went in the preparation, execution and follow up of the search warrant as well as casework.&nbsp; I am very fortunate to have proactive officers who thoroughly investigate concerns from the public and follow up accordingly.&nbsp; We take illegal drug use anywhere&nbsp; in Brown County very seriously and will continue to hold&nbsp; those accountable&nbsp; who choose to lead this lifestyle. The case is still under investigation and other charges could be possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thank you to the Sac and Fox PD and Hiawatha PD for their assistance in this case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956434544.png" alt="Photo Brown Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Brown Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating five suspects on drug allegations after a&nbsp;lengthy investigation.Just before 10:30p.m. Thursday,&nbsp;the Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force initiated a search warrant at 404 S. 3rd Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.Deputies seized Meth, Marijuana, needles, syringes, scales and pipes as evidence from the residence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956490094.png" alt="Milford-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Milford-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>They arrested 42-year-old Douglas Milford of Hiawatha on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp; <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956547961.png" alt=" Dominguez-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption> Dominguez-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Jessica Dominguez, 38, Hiawatha was&nbsp; arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956598497.png" alt="Tull-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Tull-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Anthony Tull, 46, Robinson was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Obstruction and a Hiawatha Failure to Appear Warrant. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956645066.png" alt="Ramirez-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Ramirez-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Allicia Ramirez, 34, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956698867.png" alt="Bindel" />
 <figcaption>Bindel</figcaption>
 </figure> Leonard Stanley Bindel, 63, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Obstruction. Meth, Marijuana, needles, syringes, scales, pipes, etc were seized as evidence from the residence.&nbsp; Many hours went in the preparation, execution and follow up of the search warrant as well as casework.&nbsp; I am very fortunate to have proactive officers who thoroughly investigate concerns from the public and follow up accordingly.&nbsp; We take illegal drug use anywhere&nbsp; in Brown County very seriously and will continue to hold&nbsp; those accountable&nbsp; who choose to lead this lifestyle. The case is still under investigation and other charges could be possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thank you to the Sac and Fox PD and Hiawatha PD for their assistance in this case.

Deputies find meth, marijuana sold at Kansas home

MILLER COUNTY —Eight people were injured and one arrested after an accident just before midnight Saturday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Nortech driven by Adam J. Ramirez, 47, Huntington Beach, California, was eastbound at the 1.3 mile mark of the Osage Arm of the main channel.

The boat ran aground, struck a home, overturned and all eight on board were ejected.

Troopers arrested Ramirez in requested charges of BWI causing serious physical injury, according to online jail records. He was released for medical treatment.

EMS transported Ramirez and three other adults from California, a man and woman in their 50s from Mississippi, a 23-year-old woman from Illinois and a 28-year-old man from Michigan to Lake Regional Hospital.&nbsp; None were wearing life jackets, according to the MSHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690141606768.png" alt="Troopers reconstructed the crash scene using a drone.-photo courtesy Missouri State Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Troopers reconstructed the crash scene using a drone.-photo courtesy Missouri State Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>MILLER COUNTY —Eight people were injured and one arrested after an accident just before midnight Saturday at Lake of the Ozarks.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Nortech driven by Adam J. Ramirez, 47, Huntington Beach, California, was eastbound at the 1.3 mile mark of the Osage Arm of the main channel.The boat ran aground, struck a home, overturned and all eight on board were ejected.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690141571320.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Troopers arrested Ramirez in requested charges of BWI causing serious physical injury, according to online jail records. He was released for medical treatment.EMS transported Ramirez and three other adults from California, a man and woman in their 50s from Mississippi, a 23-year-old woman from Illinois and a 28-year-old man from Michigan to Lake Regional Hospital.&nbsp; None were wearing life jackets, according to the MSHP.

8 injured after boat crash into home at Lake of the Ozarks

Moran’s $3.5 million campaign treasury dominates among state’s D.C. delegation

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/kansas-house-agrees-to-raise-legal-smoking-age-to-21/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids’ fundraising haul of $600,000 in the second quarter of 2023 was more than twice the total of other members of the Kansas congressional delegation, but U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran easily maintained his financial advantage with a campaign account stuffed with nearly $3.5 million.

Davids, the delegation’s lone Democrat, was the biggest spender during the three-month period by running through $190,000. That left her with $811,000 in cash at the end of June. She is among targets of Republicans nationally and has drawn attention of three GOP primary candidates in the eastern Kansas district.

“Of all the incumbents, she’s the one that has to be fundraising nonstop. That’s just the way it is, especially after redistricting,” said Bob Beatty, a professor of political science at Washburn University in Topeka. “The 3rd District is interesting. The GOP truly believes it can win it, but the votes say otherwise.”

Beatty said Davids would need to raise several million dollars for the 2024 campaign and a GOP nominee in that district would require $5 million to be competitive. The 3rd District is certain to attract large expenditures by outside groups, he said.

“One purpose of money is to scare away opponents,” Beatty said.

The Kansas Legislature, by overriding Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto, recast the state’s four congressional districts ahead of the 2022 election with the goal of ousting Davids. The changes eliminated half of Democrat-rich Wyandotte County and added a cluster of rural counties to support Republican challenger Amanda Adkins. In November, Davids defeated Adkins, winning reelection by more than 12 percentage points.

Jeanna Repass, chair of the Kansas Democratic Party, said the fundraising report from the second quarter affirmed “momentum behind Representative Davids hasn’t died down.”

Federal Election Commission documents submitted by the campaigns showed two of Davids’ Republican peers from Kansas in the U.S. House had more robust campaign accounts at this point in the 2024 election cycle.

U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, the 4th District congressman in office since a special election in 2017, raised $289,000 in the second quarter while spending $158,000. That gave him $1.1 million in cash, which led the four-member House contingent. In 2022, Estes won reelection with 63% of the vote in a district centered around Wichita.

In the rural 1st District, U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann brought in $191,000, spent $80,000 and retained $1 million in his campaign account. Mann carried two-thirds of the general election vote in 2022 to earn a second term in the U.S. House.

U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, the 2nd District Republican serving eastern and southeastern Kansas, took on $226,000 and spent half that amount in the second quarter. That left him with $513,000, the least among the state’s six federal lawmakers. He won in 2022 with 57% of the vote in November.

Moran, who entered the U.S. Senate in 2011 after 14 years in the U.S. House, generated $122,000 and spent $52,000 in the quarter. That nudged his bulging campaign account to $3.48 million. Moran, 69, was easily reelected in 2022, and wouldn’t stand again until 2028. In the alternative, he could be a GOP candidate for governor in 2026.

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, who replaced retired U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts in 2021, had $597,000 in cash at close of the second quarter. He raised $148,000 and spent $23,000 over the three-month reporting period. He would be up for reelection in 2026.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690077531536.png" alt="U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the 3rd District Democrat at right in the photograph, led the Kansas congressional delegation by raising $600,000 in the second quarter. Federal Election Commission reports show U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, the veteran Republican, has the largest campaign account with nearly $3.5 million. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the 3rd District Democrat at right in the photograph, led the Kansas congressional delegation by raising $600,000 in the second quarter. Federal Election Commission reports show U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, the veteran Republican, has the largest campaign account with nearly $3.5 million. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Moran’s $3.5 million campaign treasury dominates among state’s D.C. delegation</h2>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/kansas-house-agrees-to-raise-legal-smoking-age-to-21/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids’ fundraising haul of $600,000 in the second quarter of 2023 was more than twice the total of other members of the Kansas congressional delegation, but U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran easily maintained his financial advantage with a campaign account stuffed with nearly $3.5 million.Davids, the delegation’s lone Democrat, was the biggest spender during the three-month period by running through $190,000. That left her with $811,000 in cash at the end of June. She is among targets of Republicans nationally and has drawn attention of three GOP primary candidates in the eastern Kansas district.“Of all the incumbents, she’s the one that has to be fundraising nonstop. That’s just the way it is, especially after redistricting,” said Bob Beatty, a professor of political science at Washburn University in Topeka. “The 3rd District is interesting. The GOP truly believes it can win it, but the votes say otherwise.”Beatty said Davids would need to raise several million dollars for the 2024 campaign and a GOP nominee in that district would require $5 million to be competitive. The 3rd District is certain to attract large expenditures by outside groups, he said.“One purpose of money is to scare away opponents,” Beatty said.The Kansas Legislature, by overriding Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto, recast the state’s four congressional districts ahead of the 2022 election with the goal of ousting Davids. The changes eliminated half of Democrat-rich Wyandotte County and added a cluster of rural counties to support Republican challenger Amanda Adkins. In November, Davids defeated Adkins, winning reelection by more than 12 percentage points.Jeanna Repass, chair of the Kansas Democratic Party, said the fundraising report from the second quarter affirmed “momentum behind Representative Davids hasn’t died down.”Federal Election Commission documents submitted by the campaigns showed two of Davids’ Republican peers from Kansas in the U.S. House had more robust campaign accounts at this point in the 2024 election cycle.U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, the 4th District congressman in office since a special election in 2017, raised $289,000 in the second quarter while spending $158,000. That gave him $1.1 million in cash, which led the four-member House contingent. In 2022, Estes won reelection with 63% of the vote in a district centered around Wichita.In the rural 1st District, U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann brought in $191,000, spent $80,000 and retained $1 million in his campaign account. Mann carried two-thirds of the general election vote in 2022 to earn a second term in the U.S. House.U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, the 2nd District Republican serving eastern and southeastern Kansas, took on $226,000 and spent half that amount in the second quarter. That left him with $513,000, the least among the state’s six federal lawmakers. He won in 2022 with 57% of the vote in November.Moran, who entered the U.S. Senate in 2011 after 14 years in the U.S. House, generated $122,000 and spent $52,000 in the quarter. That nudged his bulging campaign account to $3.48 million. Moran, 69, was easily reelected in 2022, and wouldn’t stand again until 2028. In the alternative, he could be a GOP candidate for governor in 2026.U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, who replaced retired U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts in 2021, had $597,000 in cash at close of the second quarter. He raised $148,000 and spent $23,000 over the three-month reporting period. He would be up for reelection in 2026.

Davids posts robust fundraising total in 2nd quarter, tops among Kansas incumbents

KANSAS CITY – A Sacramento, California, man was sentenced in federal court last week&nbsp; for mailing packages of methamphetamine to southwest Missouri as part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Jasper and Newton counties, according to the United State's Attorney.

John Gabriel Martinez, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 152 months in federal prison without parole.

On April 21, 2022, Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Aug. 15, 2016, to March 18, 2017, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

On Oct. 4, 2016, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers executed a search warrant at the residence of co-defendant Daryl B. Weston, 41, of Purcell, Mo. Troopers found approximately 11 grams of pure methamphetamine and $14,822 in cash. Troopers seized a package addressed to Weston from Martinez that contained approximately three pounds of methamphetamine. Weston later told investigators that Martinez had sent him four additional packages that contained a total of nearly six pounds of methamphetamine; co-conspirators then sent drug proceeds back to Martinez.

Co-conspirators admitted they deposited drug proceeds into Martinez’s account at a local branch of Joplin Metro Credit Union. Further investigation revealed that many others in the Joplin area were sending drug proceeds to Martinez in California through local branches of Joplin Metro Credit Union and through the Moneygram system at local Wal-Marts. The total amount of drug proceeds laundered in this case though a credit union and Moneygram was at least $153,014.

Martinez is the final defendant to be sentenced among 19 defendants indicted in this case. Weston was sentenced on Oct. 11, 2022, to eight years in federal prison without parole.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY – A Sacramento, California, man was sentenced in federal court last week&nbsp; for mailing packages of methamphetamine to southwest Missouri as part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Jasper and Newton counties, according to the United State's Attorney.John Gabriel Martinez, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 152 months in federal prison without parole.On April 21, 2022, Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Aug. 15, 2016, to March 18, 2017, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.On Oct. 4, 2016, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers executed a search warrant at the residence of co-defendant Daryl B. Weston, 41, of Purcell, Mo. Troopers found approximately 11 grams of pure methamphetamine and $14,822 in cash. Troopers seized a package addressed to Weston from Martinez that contained approximately three pounds of methamphetamine. Weston later told investigators that Martinez had sent him four additional packages that contained a total of nearly six pounds of methamphetamine; co-conspirators then sent drug proceeds back to Martinez.Co-conspirators admitted they deposited drug proceeds into Martinez’s account at a local branch of Joplin Metro Credit Union. Further investigation revealed that many others in the Joplin area were sending drug proceeds to Martinez in California through local branches of Joplin Metro Credit Union and through the Moneygram system at local Wal-Marts. The total amount of drug proceeds laundered in this case though a credit union and Moneygram was at least $153,014.Martinez is the final defendant to be sentenced among 19 defendants indicted in this case. Weston was sentenced on Oct. 11, 2022, to eight years in federal prison without parole.&nbsp;

Man admits mailing meth to SW Missouri for distribution

TOPEKA —&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced that on&nbsp; Monday, August 14, 2023, American icon&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton will visit Kansas to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program at a closed event hosted by the Imagination Library of Kansas, according to a media release from the governor's office.

Every child in Kansas from birth to age five can receive free books every month from&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton’s Imagination Library. This is made possible through increased funding provided to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund by Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislature. These funds supplement local and regional resources to ensure equitable opportunity across the state. The Imagination Library has gifted over 200 million books worldwide since its launch in 1995.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"I am pleased that we have reached this amazing milestone – being able to provide the gift of reading for children and families across Kansas,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.&nbsp;“We know that a child’s first five years are critical for health development and childhood literacy. By increasing access to the Imagination Library, we will be nurturing a love for reading and supporting the foundation of a child’s social-emotional, physical, and cognitive future. I urge all eligible Kansas families to sign their children up for the Imagination Library of Kansas.”&nbsp;

The early childhood period (birth to five years) is the most influential for a child’s future, providing the foundation for a child to grow, learn, and thrive. Leaders across Kansas have been focused on developing strategies to promote early literacy and support educators, parents, and families in fostering commitments to reading. Forming an Imagination Library of Kansas is a significant step towards actualizing these goals by placing books directly in the child’s home.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pratt, Kansas, has the distinction of starting the first Imagination Library site outside Tennessee in 2005. Today, Kansas is celebrating over 52,200 children enrolled and celebrating the milestone of gifting more than 3.8 million books to children since 2005.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write,&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton started her Imagination Library in 1995 to foster a love of reading for the children within her home county. Today, her program mails over 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month until their fifth birthday - at no cost to families. The program's impact has been widely researched, and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly9pbWFnaW5hdGlvbmxpYnJhcnkuY29tLyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA3MjEuODAwMTA1OTEifQ.bzFaZSRXxCS77UQos2FT4n-dg65BPSxXpkMdmI6gPS0/s/1303160919/br/223036027431-l" target="_blank">&nbsp;imaginationlibrary.com.</a>&nbsp;

TOPEKA —&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced that on&nbsp; Monday, August 14, 2023, American icon&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton will visit Kansas to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program at a closed event hosted by the Imagination Library of Kansas, according to a media release from the governor's office.Every child in Kansas from birth to age five can receive free books every month from&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton’s Imagination Library. This is made possible through increased funding provided to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund by Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislature. These funds supplement local and regional resources to ensure equitable opportunity across the state. The Imagination Library has gifted over 200 million books worldwide since its launch in 1995.&nbsp;&nbsp;"I am pleased that we have reached this amazing milestone – being able to provide the gift of reading for children and families across Kansas,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.&nbsp;“We know that a child’s first five years are critical for health development and childhood literacy. By increasing access to the Imagination Library, we will be nurturing a love for reading and supporting the foundation of a child’s social-emotional, physical, and cognitive future. I urge all eligible Kansas families to sign their children up for the Imagination Library of Kansas.”&nbsp;The early childhood period (birth to five years) is the most influential for a child’s future, providing the foundation for a child to grow, learn, and thrive. Leaders across Kansas have been focused on developing strategies to promote early literacy and support educators, parents, and families in fostering commitments to reading. Forming an Imagination Library of Kansas is a significant step towards actualizing these goals by placing books directly in the child’s home.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pratt, Kansas, has the distinction of starting the first Imagination Library site outside Tennessee in 2005. Today, Kansas is celebrating over 52,200 children enrolled and celebrating the milestone of gifting more than 3.8 million books to children since 2005.&nbsp;&nbsp;Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write,&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton started her Imagination Library in 1995 to foster a love of reading for the children within her home county. Today, her program mails over 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month until their fifth birthday - at no cost to families. The program's impact has been widely researched, and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly9pbWFnaW5hdGlvbmxpYnJhcnkuY29tLyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA3MjEuODAwMTA1OTEifQ.bzFaZSRXxCS77UQos2FT4n-dg65BPSxXpkMdmI6gPS0/s/1303160919/br/223036027431-l" target="_blank">&nbsp;imaginationlibrary.com.</a>&nbsp;

Dolly Parton to visit Kansas Monday for Imagination Library celebration

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that new commitments by Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other companies that are leading the development of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence technology</a>&nbsp;to meet a set of AI safeguards brokered by his White House are an important step toward managing the “enormous” promise and risks posed by the technology.

Biden announced that his administration has secured voluntary commitments from seven U.S. companies meant to ensure that their AI products are safe before they release them. Some of the commitments call for third-party oversight of the workings of the next generation of AI systems, though they don't detail who will audit the technology or hold the companies accountable.

“We must be clear eyed and vigilant about the threats emerging technologies can pose," Biden said, adding that the companies have a “fundamental obligation” to ensure their products are safe.

“Social media has shown us the harm that powerful technology can do without the right safeguards in place," Biden added. “These commitments are a promising step, but we have a lot more work to do together."

A surge of commercial investment in generative AI tools that can write convincingly human-like text and churn out new images and other media has brought public fascination as well as concern about their ability to trick people and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-business-artificial-intelligence-afb4618ff593db9e3e51ecbd91dc3eef">spread disinformation</a>, among other dangers.

The four tech giants, along with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and startups Anthropic and Inflection, have committed to security testing “carried out in part by independent experts” to guard against major risks, such as to biosecurity and cybersecurity, the White House said in a statement.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hacking-jailbreaking-chatgpt-bing-defcon-biden-ai-97b963db084800f11b26b8a023b1713f">That testing</a>&nbsp;will also examine the potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/child-welfare-algorithm-investigation-9497ee937e0053ad4144a86c68241ef1">for societal harms</a>, such as bias and discrimination, and more theoretical dangers about advanced AI systems that could gain control of physical systems or “self-replicate” by making copies of themselves.

The companies have also committed to methods for reporting vulnerabilities to their systems and to using digital watermarking to help distinguish between real and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-artificial-intelligence-21fa207a1254401197fd1e0d7ecd14cb">AI-generated images or audio known as deepfakes</a>.

Executives from the seven companies met behind closed doors with Biden and other officials Friday as they pledged to follow the standards.

“He was very firm and clear” that he wanted the companies to continue to be innovative, but at the same time “felt that this needed a lot of attention,” Inflection CEO Mustafa Suleyman said in an interview after the White House gathering.

“It’s a big deal to bring all the labs together, all the companies,” said Suleyman, whose Palo Alto, California-based startup is the youngest and smallest of the firms. “This is supercompetitive and we wouldn’t come together under other circumstances.”

The companies will also publicly report flaws and risks in their technology, including effects on fairness and bias, according to the pledge.

The voluntary commitments are meant to be an immediate way of addressing risks ahead of a longer-term push to get Congress to pass laws regulating the technology.

Some advocates for AI regulations said Biden’s move is a start but more needs to be done to hold the companies and their products accountable.

“A closed-door deliberation with corporate actors resulting in voluntary safeguards isn’t enough,” said Amba Kak, executive director of the AI Now Institute. “We need a much more wide-ranging public deliberation, and that’s going to bring up issues that companies almost certainly won’t voluntarily commit to because it would lead to substantively different results, ones that may more directly impact their business models.”

While voluntary, agreeing to submit to “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hacking-jailbreaking-chatgpt-bing-defcon-biden-ai-97b963db084800f11b26b8a023b1713f">red team” tests</a>&nbsp;that poke at their AI systems is not an easy promise, said Suleyman.

“The commitment we’ve made to have red-teamers basically try to break our models, identify weaknesses and then share those methods with the other large language model developers is a pretty significant commitment,” Suleyman said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said he will introduce legislation to regulate AI and is working closely with the Biden administration "and our bipartisan colleagues” to build upon the pledges made Friday.

A number of technology executives have called for regulation, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-white-house-harris-578d623e473b0eeb3fa3e4728d7e9868">several attended an earlier White House</a>&nbsp;summit in May.

Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a blog post Friday that his company is making some commitments that go beyond the White House pledge, including support for regulation that would create a “licensing regime for highly capable models.”

Some experts and upstart competitors worry that the type of regulation being floated could be a boon for deep-pocketed first-movers led by OpenAI, Google and Microsoft as smaller players are elbowed out by the high cost of making their AI systems adhere to regulatory strictures.

The White House pledge notes that it mostly only applies to models that “are overall more powerful than the current industry frontier,” set by recent models such as OpenAI's GPT-4 and image generator DALL-E 2 and similar releases from Anthropic, Google and Amazon.

A number of countries have been looking at ways to regulate AI, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-act-artificial-intelligence-europe-regulation-94e2b38703b38fdbfabc9580f845ef9a">European Union lawmakers</a>&nbsp;negotiating sweeping AI rules for the 27-nation bloc that could restrict applications deemed to have the highest risks.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently said the United Nations is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-un-big-tech-first-5a184197c4281365866b5963d56f84ea">“the ideal place”</a>&nbsp;to adopt global standards and appointed a board that will report back on options for global AI governance by the end of the year.

Guterres also said he welcomed calls from some countries for the creation of a new U.N. body to support global efforts to govern AI, inspired by such models as the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The White House said Friday that it has consulted on the voluntary commitments with a number of countries.

The pledge is heavily focused on safety risks but doesn't address other worries about the latest AI technology, including the effect on jobs and market competition, the environmental resources required to build the models, and copyright concerns about the writings, art and other human handiwork being used to teach AI systems how to produce human-like content.

Last week, OpenAI and The Associated Press announced a deal for the AI company to license AP’s archive of news stories. The amount it will pay for that content was not disclosed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690031816449.png" alt="Biden announced that his administration has secured voluntary commitments from seven U.S. companies meant to ensure that their AI products are safe before they release them.-White House image" />
 <figcaption>Biden announced that his administration has secured voluntary commitments from seven U.S. companies meant to ensure that their AI products are safe before they release them.-White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that new commitments by Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other companies that are leading the development of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence technology</a>&nbsp;to meet a set of AI safeguards brokered by his White House are an important step toward managing the “enormous” promise and risks posed by the technology.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tg2FNynmToM?start=11" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Biden announced that his administration has secured voluntary commitments from seven U.S. companies meant to ensure that their AI products are safe before they release them. Some of the commitments call for third-party oversight of the workings of the next generation of AI systems, though they don't detail who will audit the technology or hold the companies accountable.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, I was joined by leaders from American companies driving innovation in AI to announce their voluntary commitments for responsible innovation. These commitments – which companies will implement immediately – underscore the principles of safety, security, and trust. <a href="https://t.co/6kvrcl4krv">pic.twitter.com/6kvrcl4krv</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1682519577920503812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We must be clear eyed and vigilant about the threats emerging technologies can pose," Biden said, adding that the companies have a “fundamental obligation” to ensure their products are safe.“Social media has shown us the harm that powerful technology can do without the right safeguards in place," Biden added. “These commitments are a promising step, but we have a lot more work to do together."A surge of commercial investment in generative AI tools that can write convincingly human-like text and churn out new images and other media has brought public fascination as well as concern about their ability to trick people and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-business-artificial-intelligence-afb4618ff593db9e3e51ecbd91dc3eef">spread disinformation</a>, among other dangers.The four tech giants, along with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and startups Anthropic and Inflection, have committed to security testing “carried out in part by independent experts” to guard against major risks, such as to biosecurity and cybersecurity, the White House said in a statement.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hacking-jailbreaking-chatgpt-bing-defcon-biden-ai-97b963db084800f11b26b8a023b1713f">That testing</a>&nbsp;will also examine the potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/child-welfare-algorithm-investigation-9497ee937e0053ad4144a86c68241ef1">for societal harms</a>, such as bias and discrimination, and more theoretical dangers about advanced AI systems that could gain control of physical systems or “self-replicate” by making copies of themselves.The companies have also committed to methods for reporting vulnerabilities to their systems and to using digital watermarking to help distinguish between real and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-artificial-intelligence-21fa207a1254401197fd1e0d7ecd14cb">AI-generated images or audio known as deepfakes</a>.Executives from the seven companies met behind closed doors with Biden and other officials Friday as they pledged to follow the standards.“He was very firm and clear” that he wanted the companies to continue to be innovative, but at the same time “felt that this needed a lot of attention,” Inflection CEO Mustafa Suleyman said in an interview after the White House gathering.“It’s a big deal to bring all the labs together, all the companies,” said Suleyman, whose Palo Alto, California-based startup is the youngest and smallest of the firms. “This is supercompetitive and we wouldn’t come together under other circumstances.”The companies will also publicly report flaws and risks in their technology, including effects on fairness and bias, according to the pledge.The voluntary commitments are meant to be an immediate way of addressing risks ahead of a longer-term push to get Congress to pass laws regulating the technology.Some advocates for AI regulations said Biden’s move is a start but more needs to be done to hold the companies and their products accountable.“A closed-door deliberation with corporate actors resulting in voluntary safeguards isn’t enough,” said Amba Kak, executive director of the AI Now Institute. “We need a much more wide-ranging public deliberation, and that’s going to bring up issues that companies almost certainly won’t voluntarily commit to because it would lead to substantively different results, ones that may more directly impact their business models.”While voluntary, agreeing to submit to “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hacking-jailbreaking-chatgpt-bing-defcon-biden-ai-97b963db084800f11b26b8a023b1713f">red team” tests</a>&nbsp;that poke at their AI systems is not an easy promise, said Suleyman.“The commitment we’ve made to have red-teamers basically try to break our models, identify weaknesses and then share those methods with the other large language model developers is a pretty significant commitment,” Suleyman said.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said he will introduce legislation to regulate AI and is working closely with the Biden administration "and our bipartisan colleagues” to build upon the pledges made Friday.A number of technology executives have called for regulation, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-white-house-harris-578d623e473b0eeb3fa3e4728d7e9868">several attended an earlier White House</a>&nbsp;summit in May.Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a blog post Friday that his company is making some commitments that go beyond the White House pledge, including support for regulation that would create a “licensing regime for highly capable models.”Some experts and upstart competitors worry that the type of regulation being floated could be a boon for deep-pocketed first-movers led by OpenAI, Google and Microsoft as smaller players are elbowed out by the high cost of making their AI systems adhere to regulatory strictures.The White House pledge notes that it mostly only applies to models that “are overall more powerful than the current industry frontier,” set by recent models such as OpenAI's GPT-4 and image generator DALL-E 2 and similar releases from Anthropic, Google and Amazon.A number of countries have been looking at ways to regulate AI, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-act-artificial-intelligence-europe-regulation-94e2b38703b38fdbfabc9580f845ef9a">European Union lawmakers</a>&nbsp;negotiating sweeping AI rules for the 27-nation bloc that could restrict applications deemed to have the highest risks.U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently said the United Nations is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-un-big-tech-first-5a184197c4281365866b5963d56f84ea">“the ideal place”</a>&nbsp;to adopt global standards and appointed a board that will report back on options for global AI governance by the end of the year.Guterres also said he welcomed calls from some countries for the creation of a new U.N. body to support global efforts to govern AI, inspired by such models as the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.The White House said Friday that it has consulted on the voluntary commitments with a number of countries.The pledge is heavily focused on safety risks but doesn't address other worries about the latest AI technology, including the effect on jobs and market competition, the environmental resources required to build the models, and copyright concerns about the writings, art and other human handiwork being used to teach AI systems how to produce human-like content.Last week, OpenAI and The Associated Press announced a deal for the AI company to license AP’s archive of news stories. The amount it will pay for that content was not disclosed.

🎥 Biden: Tech firms agree to artificial intelligence safeguards

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Mexican man accused of a violent sex assault in 2007 in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689866371606.png" alt="Vela photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Vela photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Mexican man accused of a violent sex assault in 2007 in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case Thursday.Roman Vela, 41,&nbsp;Monterrey, Mexico,&nbsp; was charged with rape, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 10:30p.m. Wednesday, deputies booked&nbsp; Vela into the Sedgwick County jail, according to online jail records.&nbsp;On April 28, the district attorney's office reported Vela&nbsp;was arrested at a border crossing between Mexico and Texas on an active Sedgwick County warrant&nbsp; for one count of rape. He was&nbsp; held in Webb County, Texas until the extradition to Kansas this week.The arrest was the culmination of an ongoing effort between the Department of State in Mexico; Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Mexico; HSI Kansas City, Mo., and the Sedgwick County DA's Office in Wichita.Vela is due back in court July 31. He is being held on a one-million dollar bond.&nbsp;