By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Brad Crawford, a former Hays resident and U.S. Army veteran, left his family in 2022 and risked his life to train fighting forces in Ukraine.

Crawford was a senior combat adviser for the Ukrainian Marine Corps from April to September last year.

During his almost two decades in the army, he helped train soldiers in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

"My job was to train the Ukraine army and marines to be war fighters," he said. "We trained them to fight and win the war."

Once you are a soldier, you are always a soldier, he said.

"When I saw the struggle that was going on over there," he said, "and I saw what&nbsp;Russia was doing over there, targeting the population of Ukraine, I couldn't sit back here in the United States and do nothing about it."

He contacted the Ukrainian embassy, and a couple of weeks later, he was on the ground in Ukraine working with soldiers.

Crawford spent time in Kyiv and then moved to Kherson, which was the site of heavy fighting in the early days of the war with Russia. Russian forces occupied the city for a time. Ukrainian forces ordered the area evacuated earlier this month after the nearby&nbsp;Kakhovka Dam was destroyed, which caused extensive flooding in the area.

"I spent a lot of time on the front line," Crawford said. "I wasn't just a trainer. Being a combat adviser means you go where the danger is too."

Working with the 28th Mechanized, he was about 400 meters away from Russian forces.

"When I went up there in that position, we got shelled 200 times in 48 hours," he said. "We had artillery coming down on us like you wouldn't believe, man."

Crawford said he saw extensive shelling of civilian homes and non-military targets.

"I wish I could tell the American public ... A lot of people are saying a lot of things about Ukraine," he said. "We shouldn't support it or it's a money pit. I would say this to a lot of those guys. 

"Wake up in the morning and half your house is blown up by a rocket. Wake up in the morning and the grocery store down the street is gone. Wake up in the morning and your neighbor, their house is destroyed and they're all dead. These are the realities of what they live through over there."

Crawford was stationed for the majority of his time in Ukraine in the port city of Mykolaiv. When he arrived in May, the city was an industrial city, but by the time he left in September, 25 percent of the city had been wiped out.

The Ukrainian people have accused Russian forces of war crimes. Crawford said he has seen evidence of mass graves and heard reports of abuse of women and killing of civilian men.

"Let me tell you something about the Russians," he said. "They indiscriminately fire these weapons—these big caliber missiles and artillery. They do it every day. One day in Mykolaiv, we got hit 65 times by these rockets. They were hitting schools and hospitals and private buildings."

"It was intentional because they wanted the population to fear them," he said.

Crawford said the level of ferocity of the fighting in Ukraine was something he had not experienced before.

"I had never seen the amount of weaponry used in a single engagement," he said.

As a combat adviser, he said he was a target.

"It came to a head a couple of times, and I almost lost my life three times over there," he said. "One of the nights I was there, I was staying in a farmhouse outside of Mykolaiv in the middle of nowhere. ... At about 2:30 in the morning, Russians fired a cruise missile right at my house, and they missed by 60 feet. It blew a hole in the ground 14 feet wide and 10 feet deep."

As he and other soldiers were running down the street, the Russians launched cluster bombs, which released hundreds of baseball grenades.&nbsp;

"They definitely wanted us to not be standing at the end of that," he said.

Crawford said the Ukrainian soldiers are the bravest soldiers he's met.

"When you're talking about the Ukrainian military, their backs are against the wall. They don't have any other choice but to fight," he said. "The one thing about the Ukrainians is they have a high morale. They are ready to fight, willing to fight and are able to fight."

He said he has great respect for the Ukrainian soldiers.

"Not just because they are my battle brothers, but they have a different mentality. They have a no-quit, no-lose mentality. It is hard for any military around the world to see that," he said.

Crawford said he saw heavy casualties on both sides of the fighting with hospitals full of the injured. He was injured twice and had to have shrapnel fragments removed from his head without a numbing agent after being hit with light shrapnel in a missile attack.

Crawford said he believes if Russia had been able to take Ukraine in the early days of the war, they would have moved on to Poland, a NATO country, an invasion that could have resulted in world war III.

He said he chose to help fight in Ukraine so U.S. soldiers didn't have to fight.

Crawford has a 15-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. He said he went to Ukraine to protect them.

"In two years, my son would have been eligible for the draft," he said. "I didn't want my son to have to step into a world of war—not only my son and daughter but other people's sons and daughters.

Crawford said he does not believe the American people understand the sacrifices Ukraine is making for the rest of the world. He said he strongly supports continued U.S. support of the Ukrainian military.

"Ukraine is shouldering the defense of the free world for all of us," he said. "We should be blessed that our children, our sons and daughters, are not over there fighting that war. We should give them anything they need to continue fighting that war because if Ukraine falls, freedom dies with it."

Crawford said he does think Russia being successful in the war in Ukraine in the long term.&nbsp;

"I think what we have seen is many cracks in the Russian leadership," he said, "especially in regards to [Vladimir] Putin and&nbsp; [Yevgeny] Prigozhin."

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d612c506-7c56-4e26-ab00-d956d904d7c7">Wagner Group soldiers under the command of&nbsp;Prigozhin led troops into Russia in a rebellion but stopped short of the Russian capital.</a>

When Crawford lived in Hays, he owned the Tactical Experience on Vine Street, which he operated until 2020. He now lives in Cincinnati and owns a tactical training company that trains law enforcement and civilian security.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688069100467.jpeg" alt="Brad Crawford, formerly of Hays, helped train Ukrainian soldiers in Ukraine. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Brad Crawford, formerly of Hays, helped train Ukrainian soldiers in Ukraine. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostBrad Crawford, a former Hays resident and U.S. Army veteran, left his family in 2022 and risked his life to train fighting forces in Ukraine.Crawford was a senior combat adviser for the Ukrainian Marine Corps from April to September last year.During his almost two decades in the army, he helped train soldiers in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. "My job was to train the Ukraine army and marines to be war fighters," he said. "We trained them to fight and win the war."Once you are a soldier, you are always a soldier, he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688069212398.jpeg" alt="Brad Crawford, a U.S. Army veteran, helped train Ukrainian soldiers for combat. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Brad Crawford, a U.S. Army veteran, helped train Ukrainian soldiers for combat. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>"When I saw the struggle that was going on over there," he said, "and I saw what&nbsp;Russia was doing over there, targeting the population of Ukraine, I couldn't sit back here in the United States and do nothing about it."He contacted the Ukrainian embassy, and a couple of weeks later, he was on the ground in Ukraine working with soldiers.Crawford spent time in Kyiv and then moved to Kherson, which was the site of heavy fighting in the early days of the war with Russia. Russian forces occupied the city for a time. Ukrainian forces ordered the area evacuated earlier this month after the nearby&nbsp;Kakhovka Dam was destroyed, which caused extensive flooding in the area."I spent a lot of time on the front line," Crawford said. "I wasn't just a trainer. Being a combat adviser means you go where the danger is too."Working with the 28th Mechanized, he was about 400 meters away from Russian forces.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688069335413.jpeg" alt="Crawford, front center, helps train troops in the Ukraine. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Crawford, front center, helps train troops in the Ukraine. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>"When I went up there in that position, we got shelled 200 times in 48 hours," he said. "We had artillery coming down on us like you wouldn't believe, man."Crawford said he saw extensive shelling of civilian homes and non-military targets."I wish I could tell the American public ... A lot of people are saying a lot of things about Ukraine," he said. "We shouldn't support it or it's a money pit. I would say this to a lot of those guys. "Wake up in the morning and half your house is blown up by a rocket. Wake up in the morning and the grocery store down the street is gone. Wake up in the morning and your neighbor, their house is destroyed and they're all dead. These are the realities of what they live through over there."Crawford was stationed for the majority of his time in Ukraine in the port city of Mykolaiv. When he arrived in May, the city was an industrial city, but by the time he left in September, 25 percent of the city had been wiped out.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688069426713.jpeg" alt="Ukrainian troops. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Ukrainian troops. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The Ukrainian people have accused Russian forces of war crimes. Crawford said he has seen evidence of mass graves and heard reports of abuse of women and killing of civilian men."Let me tell you something about the Russians," he said. "They indiscriminately fire these weapons—these big caliber missiles and artillery. They do it every day. One day in Mykolaiv, we got hit 65 times by these rockets. They were hitting schools and hospitals and private buildings."The shelling was constant, he said."It was intentional because they wanted the population to fear them," he said.Crawford said the level of ferocity of the fighting in Ukraine was something he had not experienced before."I had never seen the amount of weaponry used in a single engagement," he said.As a combat adviser, he said he was a target."It came to a head a couple of times, and I almost lost my life three times over there," he said. "One of the nights I was there, I was staying in a farmhouse outside of Mykolaiv in the middle of nowhere. ... At about 2:30 in the morning, Russians fired a cruise missile right at my house, and they missed by 60 feet. It blew a hole in the ground 14 feet wide and 10 feet deep."As he and other soldiers were running down the street, the Russians launched cluster bombs, which released hundreds of baseball grenades.&nbsp;"They definitely wanted us to not be standing at the end of that," he said.Crawford said the Ukrainian soldiers are the bravest soldiers he's met."When you're talking about the Ukrainian military, their backs are against the wall. They don't have any other choice but to fight," he said. "The one thing about the Ukrainians is they have a high morale. They are ready to fight, willing to fight and are able to fight."He said he has great respect for the Ukrainian soldiers."Not just because they are my battle brothers, but they have a different mentality. They have a no-quit, no-lose mentality. It is hard for any military around the world to see that," he said.Crawford said he saw heavy casualties on both sides of the fighting with hospitals full of the injured. He was injured twice and had to have shrapnel fragments removed from his head without a numbing agent after being hit with light shrapnel in a missile attack.Crawford said he believes if Russia had been able to take Ukraine in the early days of the war, they would have moved on to Poland, a NATO country, an invasion that could have resulted in world war III.He said he chose to help fight in Ukraine so U.S. soldiers didn't have to fight.Crawford has a 15-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. He said he went to Ukraine to protect them."In two years, my son would have been eligible for the draft," he said. "I didn't want my son to have to step into a world of war—not only my son and daughter but other people's sons and daughters."We went over there and stopped that."Crawford said he does not believe the American people understand the sacrifices Ukraine is making for the rest of the world. He said he strongly supports continued U.S. support of the Ukrainian military."Ukraine is shouldering the defense of the free world for all of us," he said. "We should be blessed that our children, our sons and daughters, are not over there fighting that war. We should give them anything they need to continue fighting that war because if Ukraine falls, freedom dies with it."Crawford said he does think Russia being successful in the war in Ukraine in the long term.&nbsp;"I think what we have seen is many cracks in the Russian leadership," he said, "especially in regards to [Vladimir] Putin and&nbsp; [Yevgeny] Prigozhin."<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d612c506-7c56-4e26-ab00-d956d904d7c7">Wagner Group soldiers under the command of&nbsp;Prigozhin led troops into Russia in a rebellion but stopped short of the Russian capital.</a>When Crawford lived in Hays, he owned the Tactical Experience on Vine Street, which he operated until 2020. He now lives in Cincinnati and owns a tactical training company that trains law enforcement and civilian security.

Former NW Kan. man fought in Ukraine so 'son didn't have to step into world of war'

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that total tax collections for June 2023 were $989.0 million. That is $17.3 million, or 1.8%, more than the estimate and $70.2 million, or 7.6%, more than June 2022, according to a media release from her office.

Kansas ends Fiscal Year 2023 with total tax collections of nearly $10.2 billion, which exceeds the Fiscal Year 2023 revised estimate by $25.9 million.

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMy8wNy8xMl9KdW5lX1JldmVudWVfRlkyMDIzXzA3LTAzLTIwMjNfRmluYWwucGRmIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDcwNS43OTIxNjM5MSJ9.-GYVzkPdZYV5R_JBoi85m6rBIRyg23z-zn__NUB6tlY/s/1303160919/br/219641174332-l" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to view the June 2023 revenue numbers.

“Time and again, we have seen our monthly revenues exceed estimates because of my administration’s success in attracting businesses, expanding our workforce, and growing our state’s economy,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “This past legislative session, I fought for responsible tax cuts on groceries, property, and Social Security to put this money back in the hands of working Kansans. Come January, I am committed to partnering with legislators to get Kansans relief.”

Individual income tax collections were $379.0 million. That is $4.0 million, or 1.1%, less than the estimate but $14.3 million, or 3.9%, more than June 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $226.2 million. That’s $26.2 million, or 13.1%, more than the estimate and up 52.7% from June 2022.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $303.5 million. That is $1.5 million, or 0.5%, more than the estimate but less than June 2022 by only 0.1%.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that total tax collections for June 2023 were $989.0 million. That is $17.3 million, or 1.8%, more than the estimate and $70.2 million, or 7.6%, more than June 2022, according to a media release from her office.Kansas ends Fiscal Year 2023 with total tax collections of nearly $10.2 billion, which exceeds the Fiscal Year 2023 revised estimate by $25.9 million.Click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMy8wNy8xMl9KdW5lX1JldmVudWVfRlkyMDIzXzA3LTAzLTIwMjNfRmluYWwucGRmIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDcwNS43OTIxNjM5MSJ9.-GYVzkPdZYV5R_JBoi85m6rBIRyg23z-zn__NUB6tlY/s/1303160919/br/219641174332-l" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to view the June 2023 revenue numbers.“Time and again, we have seen our monthly revenues exceed estimates because of my administration’s success in attracting businesses, expanding our workforce, and growing our state’s economy,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “This past legislative session, I fought for responsible tax cuts on groceries, property, and Social Security to put this money back in the hands of working Kansans. Come January, I am committed to partnering with legislators to get Kansans relief.”Individual income tax collections were $379.0 million. That is $4.0 million, or 1.1%, less than the estimate but $14.3 million, or 3.9%, more than June 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $226.2 million. That’s $26.2 million, or 13.1%, more than the estimate and up 52.7% from June 2022.Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $303.5 million. That is $1.5 million, or 0.5%, more than the estimate but less than June 2022 by only 0.1%.

Kan. ends fiscal year with total tax collections of $10.2 billion

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly Independence Day shooting at a gas station in Kansas City.

Just&nbsp;after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting at 8505 Woodland in Kansas City, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle. First responders located a man inside the gas station unresponsive and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers performed life saving measures. EMS arrived on scene and declared the victim deceased. The second victim, a teenage boy, was shot and transported to an area hospital in stable condition. Police have no one in custody at this time. The circumstances surrounding the homicide are unknown at this time. Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to the scene to to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688564613976.png" alt="Police investigators at the scene of the investigation early Wednesday photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Police investigators at the scene of the investigation early Wednesday photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly Independence Day shooting at a gas station in Kansas City.Just&nbsp;after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting at 8505 Woodland in Kansas City, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle. First responders located a man inside the gas station unresponsive and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers performed life saving measures. EMS arrived on scene and declared the victim deceased. The second victim, a teenage boy, was shot and transported to an area hospital in stable condition. Police have no one in custody at this time. The circumstances surrounding the homicide are unknown at this time. Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to the scene to to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses.

Police: Man dead, teen wounded inside Kansas City gas station

WASHINGTON (AP) –A judge on Tuesday prohibited several federal agencies and officials of the Biden administration from working with social media companies about “protected speech,” a decision called “a blow to censorship” by one of the Republican officials whose lawsuit prompted the ruling.

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana granted the injunction in response to a 2022 lawsuit brought by attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri. Their lawsuit alleged that the federal government overstepped in its efforts to convince social media companies to address postings that could result in vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or affect elections.

Doughty cited “substantial evidence” of a far-reaching censorship campaign. He wrote that the “evidence produced thus far depicts an almost dystopian scenario. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a period perhaps best characterized by widespread doubt and uncertainty, the United States Government seems to have assumed a role similar to an Orwellian ‘Ministry of Truth.’ ”

Republican U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, who was the Missouri attorney general when the lawsuit was filed, said on Twitter that the ruling was “a huge win for the First Amendment and a blow to censorship.”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said the injunction prevents the administration “from censoring the core political speech of ordinary Americans” on social media.

“The evidence in our case is shocking and offensive with senior federal officials deciding that they could dictate what Americans can and cannot say on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other platforms about COVID-19, elections, criticism of the government, and more," Landry said in a statement.

The Justice Department is reviewing the injunction “and will evaluate its options in this case,” said a White House official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“This administration has promoted responsible actions to protect public health, safety, and security when confronted by challenges like a deadly pandemic and foreign attacks on our elections,” the official said. “Our consistent view remains that social media platforms have a critical responsibility to take account of the effects their platforms are having on the American people, but make independent choices about the information they present.”

The ruling listed several government agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI, that are prohibited by the injunction from discussions with social media companies aimed at “encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.”

The order mentions by name several officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and others.

Doughty allowed several exceptions, such as informing social media companies of postings involving criminal activity and conspiracies; as well as notifying social media firms of national security threats and other threats posted on platforms.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit also included individuals, including conservative website owner Jim Hoft. The lawsuit accused the administration of using the possibility of favorable or unfavorable regulatory action to coerce social media platforms to squelch what it considered misinformation on masks and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also touched on other topics, including claims about election integrity and news stories about material on a laptop owned by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-investigation-house-republicans-prosecutor-irs-17f33b5f85443ee2c3315654b47f5a1c">Hunter Biden</a>, the president’s son.

Administration lawyers said the government left it up to social media companies to decide what constituted misinformation and how to combat it. In one brief, they likened the lawsuit to an attempt to put a legal gag order on the federal government and “suppress the speech of federal government officials under the guise of protecting the speech rights of others.”

“Plaintiffs’ proposed injunction would significantly hinder the Federal Government’s ability to combat foreign malign influence campaigns, prosecute crimes, protect the national security, and provide accurate information to the public on matters of grave public concern such as health care and election integrity,” the administration says in a May 3 court filing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667963892129.png" alt="Republican U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt was the Missouri attorney general when the lawsuit was filed-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Republican U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt was the Missouri attorney general when the lawsuit was filed-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) –A judge on Tuesday prohibited several federal agencies and officials of the Biden administration from working with social media companies about “protected speech,” a decision called “a blow to censorship” by one of the Republican officials whose lawsuit prompted the ruling.U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana granted the injunction in response to a 2022 lawsuit brought by attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri. Their lawsuit alleged that the federal government overstepped in its efforts to convince social media companies to address postings that could result in vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or affect elections.Doughty cited “substantial evidence” of a far-reaching censorship campaign. He wrote that the “evidence produced thus far depicts an almost dystopian scenario. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a period perhaps best characterized by widespread doubt and uncertainty, the United States Government seems to have assumed a role similar to an Orwellian ‘Ministry of Truth.’ ”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">King George believed the Declaration of Independence was “misinformation” God bless America and God bless the First Amendment. 🇺🇸&mdash; Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/1676411167126835201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Republican U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, who was the Missouri attorney general when the lawsuit was filed, said on Twitter that the ruling was “a huge win for the First Amendment and a blow to censorship.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨BREAKING: A Federal Judge in Missouri v. Biden just granted a preliminary injunction prohibiting the FBI, DOJ, DHS &amp; other agencies from working with Big Tech to censor on social media Big win for the First Amendment on this Independence Day🇺🇸 I’m proud to have led the fight. <a href="https://t.co/59FzDVuI4f">pic.twitter.com/59FzDVuI4f</a>&mdash; Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/1676287106220433423?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said the injunction prevents the administration “from censoring the core political speech of ordinary Americans” on social media.“The evidence in our case is shocking and offensive with senior federal officials deciding that they could dictate what Americans can and cannot say on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other platforms about COVID-19, elections, criticism of the government, and more," Landry said in a statement.The Justice Department is reviewing the injunction “and will evaluate its options in this case,” said a White House official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.“This administration has promoted responsible actions to protect public health, safety, and security when confronted by challenges like a deadly pandemic and foreign attacks on our elections,” the official said. “Our consistent view remains that social media platforms have a critical responsibility to take account of the effects their platforms are having on the American people, but make independent choices about the information they present.”The ruling listed several government agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI, that are prohibited by the injunction from discussions with social media companies aimed at “encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.”The order mentions by name several officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and others.Doughty allowed several exceptions, such as informing social media companies of postings involving criminal activity and conspiracies; as well as notifying social media firms of national security threats and other threats posted on platforms.The plaintiffs in the lawsuit also included individuals, including conservative website owner Jim Hoft. The lawsuit accused the administration of using the possibility of favorable or unfavorable regulatory action to coerce social media platforms to squelch what it considered misinformation on masks and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also touched on other topics, including claims about election integrity and news stories about material on a laptop owned by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-investigation-house-republicans-prosecutor-irs-17f33b5f85443ee2c3315654b47f5a1c">Hunter Biden</a>, the president’s son.Administration lawyers said the government left it up to social media companies to decide what constituted misinformation and how to combat it. In one brief, they likened the lawsuit to an attempt to put a legal gag order on the federal government and “suppress the speech of federal government officials under the guise of protecting the speech rights of others.”“Plaintiffs’ proposed injunction would significantly hinder the Federal Government’s ability to combat foreign malign influence campaigns, prosecute crimes, protect the national security, and provide accurate information to the public on matters of grave public concern such as health care and election integrity,” the administration says in a May 3 court filing.

Judge blocks Biden officials from interference in social media content

BUTLER COUNTY—A boy is being recognized as a hero for his actions at a Kansas lake over the Independence holiday weekend.

According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens, "Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. On Sunday 6-year-old&nbsp; Levi Alley alerted adults to a 5-year-old that was drowning at El Dorado Reservoir’s Walnut Swim Beach."

"Thanks to Levi’s attentiveness and quick response, the 5-year-old was rescued unharmed. Way to go Levi!"

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688554822917.png" alt="Photo courtesy KDW&amp;P Game Wardens" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KDW&amp;P Game Wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY—A boy is being recognized as a hero for his actions at a Kansas lake over the Independence holiday weekend.According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens, "Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. On Sunday 6-year-old&nbsp; Levi Alley alerted adults to a 5-year-old that was drowning at El Dorado Reservoir’s Walnut Swim Beach.""Thanks to Levi’s attentiveness and quick response, the 5-year-old was rescued unharmed. Way to go Levi!"

Boy recognized for helping save child from drowning at Kan. lake

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that fatally injured 16-year-old Elrecus Nolan from Wichita.

Just before 10:30pm. Monday, yesterday, police were dispatched to shots fired call at the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Ellis Street in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Police learned that a witness heard several gunshots before he noticed a silver 2002 Ford Taurus slowly rolling westbound on Mt. Vernon, hitting the curb before stopping on the sidewalk.

First responders located Nolan unconscious and not breathing with a gunshot wound to his upper body. Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. Nolan was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The investigators are still working to fully determine what led up to the shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688508501373.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation late Monday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation late Monday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that fatally injured 16-year-old Elrecus Nolan from Wichita.Just before 10:30pm. Monday, yesterday, police were dispatched to shots fired call at the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Ellis Street in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Police learned that a witness heard several gunshots before he noticed a silver 2002 Ford Taurus slowly rolling westbound on Mt. Vernon, hitting the curb before stopping on the sidewalk.First responders located Nolan unconscious and not breathing with a gunshot wound to his upper body. Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. Nolan was pronounced deceased at the scene.The investigators are still working to fully determine what led up to the shooting.

Homicide: 16-year-old Kan. boy found dead in car stopped on sidewalk

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House was briefly evacuated Sunday evening while President Joe Biden was at Camp David after the Secret Service discovered suspicious powder in a common area of the West Wing, and a preliminary test showed the substance was cocaine, two law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

Secret Service agents were doing routine rounds on Sunday when they found the white powder in an area accessible to tour groups, not in any particular West Wing office, the officials said. The officials were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The complex was evacuated at about 8:45 p.m. Sunday as fire and emergency crews were brought in to do a rapid test, which preliminarily identified cocaine. The White House was soon reopened and the powder was sent for further testing.

Biden and his family left for Camp David on Friday and returned to the White House on Tuesday.

The Secret Service said in a statement the White House was closed as a precaution as emergency crews investigated, and that the District of Columbia fire department was called in to evaluate and determine that the substance was not hazardous.

“The item was sent for further evaluation and an investigation into the cause and manner of how it entered the White House is pending,” the Secret Service said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688508095664.png" alt="The Secret Service said in a statement the White House was closed as a precaution as emergency crews investigated-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The Secret Service said in a statement the White House was closed as a precaution as emergency crews investigated-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House was briefly evacuated Sunday evening while President Joe Biden was at Camp David after the Secret Service discovered suspicious powder in a common area of the West Wing, and a preliminary test showed the substance was cocaine, two law enforcement officials said Tuesday.Secret Service agents were doing routine rounds on Sunday when they found the white powder in an area accessible to tour groups, not in any particular West Wing office, the officials said. The officials were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.The complex was evacuated at about 8:45 p.m. Sunday as fire and emergency crews were brought in to do a rapid test, which preliminarily identified cocaine. The White House was soon reopened and the powder was sent for further testing.Biden and his family left for Camp David on Friday and returned to the White House on Tuesday.The Secret Service said in a statement the White House was closed as a precaution as emergency crews investigated, and that the District of Columbia fire department was called in to evaluate and determine that the substance was not hazardous.“The item was sent for further evaluation and an investigation into the cause and manner of how it entered the White House is pending,” the Secret Service said.

Secret Service investigating cocaine found at White House

KANSAS CITY —A man critically injured in a motorcycle, boat-trailer crash on Independence Day has died.

Just after 12:30p.m. Tuesday, a man driving a Honda Valkyrie was westbound on&nbsp;Northeast Cookingham Drive at NE Reinking in Kansas City, according to Police Capitain Carsisle.

The man laid the motorcycle down, slid under and struck the right side of a trailer with a Sting Ray boat pulled by a Chevy Silverado that was turning from NE Cookingham onto NE Reinking.&nbsp;

EMS transported the motorcycle rider to an area hospital. The driver of the pickup and a passenger were not injured. Just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday, police reported the motorcyclist had died. Police have not released the name of the man who died.

KANSAS CITY —A man critically injured in a motorcycle, boat-trailer crash on Independence Day has died.Just after 12:30p.m. Tuesday, a man driving a Honda Valkyrie was westbound on&nbsp;Northeast Cookingham Drive at NE Reinking in Kansas City, according to Police Capitain Carsisle.The man laid the motorcycle down, slid under and struck the right side of a trailer with a Sting Ray boat pulled by a Chevy Silverado that was turning from NE Cookingham onto NE Reinking.&nbsp;EMS transported the motorcycle rider to an area hospital. The driver of the pickup and a passenger were not injured. Just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday, police reported the motorcyclist had died. Police have not released the name of the man who died.

Man dies after motorcycle, boat-trailer crash in Kansas City

ESTES PARK, Colo. (AP) — A 25-year-old Rhode Island man died after falling and being pulled underwater at a waterfall in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday, according to the National Park Service.

The man from Providence has not yet been publicly identified and his body was recovered Sunday evening, officials said.

Rocky Mountain National Park covers over 400 square miles (1,036 square kilometers) of rugged mountains and high tundra, drawing typically over 4 million hikers annually.

The deceased man fell at West Creek Falls, on the east side of the park. The body was moved to the Larimer County Coroner, on the northern edge of Colorado, who will determine the cause of death.

At this time of year, rivers, streams and waterfalls are dangerous cold and swift, said the National Park Service, warning visitors to stay a safe distance from quick-flowing waters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688522453402.png" alt="The deceased man fell at West Creek Falls, on the east side of the park.-photo National Park Service" />
 <figcaption>The deceased man fell at West Creek Falls, on the east side of the park.-photo National Park Service</figcaption>
 </figure>ESTES PARK, Colo. (AP) — A 25-year-old Rhode Island man died after falling and being pulled underwater at a waterfall in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday, according to the National Park Service.The man from Providence has not yet been publicly identified and his body was recovered Sunday evening, officials said.Rocky Mountain National Park covers over 400 square miles (1,036 square kilometers) of rugged mountains and high tundra, drawing typically over 4 million hikers annually.The deceased man fell at West Creek Falls, on the east side of the park. The body was moved to the Larimer County Coroner, on the northern edge of Colorado, who will determine the cause of death.At this time of year, rivers, streams and waterfalls are dangerous cold and swift, said the National Park Service, warning visitors to stay a safe distance from quick-flowing waters.

Young man died after fall at a Rocky Mountain waterfall

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent knife fight and have made an arrest.

On Sunday, police were&nbsp;dispatched to report of a fight in the 300 block of College Drive in Garden City, according to a media release.

When Officers arrived, they found a 36-year-old man had been stabbed and beaten. Through the investigation, 44-year-old Jemie Mehammed was identified as the suspect. Police took him into custody.

EMS transported the victim to St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. He was later flown to Colorado for treatment due to the extent of his injuries.

Mehammed remains in the the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Attempted Second-Degree Murder and Aggravated Battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688398208268.png" alt="Mehammed photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Mehammed photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent knife fight and have made an arrest.On Sunday, police were&nbsp;dispatched to report of a fight in the 300 block of College Drive in Garden City, according to a media release.When Officers arrived, they found a 36-year-old man had been stabbed and beaten. Through the investigation, 44-year-old Jemie Mehammed was identified as the suspect. Police took him into custody.EMS transported the victim to St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. He was later flown to Colorado for treatment due to the extent of his injuries.Mehammed remains in the the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Attempted Second-Degree Murder and Aggravated Battery.

SW Kansas man jailed after violent knife fight

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.&nbsp;

Just after 9p.m. July 1, police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 44-year-old&nbsp;Melody C. McCannon, 44, Atchison, for an alleged traffic violation in the 600 Block of North 9th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Investigators found her to be in&nbsp;possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; She remains jails on requested charges of no license tag, no driver’s license, no insurance, and possession of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688393878945.png" alt="McCannon-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>McCannon-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.&nbsp;Just after 9p.m. July 1, police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 44-year-old&nbsp;Melody C. McCannon, 44, Atchison, for an alleged traffic violation in the 600 Block of North 9th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Investigators found her to be in&nbsp;possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; She remains jails on requested charges of no license tag, no driver’s license, no insurance, and possession of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia, according to Wilson.

Kansas woman accused of transporting fentanyl

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for conviction in a double homicide of two men in March 2021, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

A Jackson County judge sentenced Vontez G. Howard, 26, to 25 years on each Murder 2nd Degree conviction, and 10 years on four Armed Criminal Action charges. 

That 10-year sentence was set to run consecutively to the two 25-year sentences for a total of 60 years. Sentences for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Robbery 1st Degree were also set to run concurrent to other charges.

Howard was convicted by a Jackson County jury in April.

According to court records, Kansas City police responded March 1, 2021, on a reported shooting in the area of Norton Avenue and Anderson. 

Victims Kyle Gerhardt and &nbsp;Kristopher Lunsford-Barrett were found in a vehicle. The victims were suffering from gunshot wounds. The vehicle also had caught fire following a crash. 

Kansas City detectives initiated an extensive investigation, analyzing area video, phones, DNA evidence and ballistics. They tracked a suspect vehicle and established connections between the defendants and victims near the time of the fatal shootings. Video surveillance showed how the defendants pursued the victims until the victim's vehicle crashed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634213484056.png" alt="Howard-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Howard-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for conviction in a double homicide of two men in March 2021, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.A Jackson County judge sentenced Vontez G. Howard, 26, to 25 years on each Murder 2nd Degree conviction, and 10 years on four Armed Criminal Action charges. That 10-year sentence was set to run consecutively to the two 25-year sentences for a total of 60 years. Sentences for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Robbery 1st Degree were also set to run concurrent to other charges.Howard was convicted by a Jackson County jury in April.According to court records, Kansas City police responded March 1, 2021, on a reported shooting in the area of Norton Avenue and Anderson. Victims Kyle Gerhardt and &nbsp;Kristopher Lunsford-Barrett were found in a vehicle. The victims were suffering from gunshot wounds. The vehicle also had caught fire following a crash. Kansas City detectives initiated an extensive investigation, analyzing area video, phones, DNA evidence and ballistics. They tracked a suspect vehicle and established connections between the defendants and victims near the time of the fatal shootings. Video surveillance showed how the defendants pursued the victims until the victim's vehicle crashed.

Kansas City man left two gunshot victims in burning car

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A visible crack in the support beam of a North Carolina roller coaster served as a reminder of the risks that sometimes arise with amusement park rides, particularly as families and adrenaline junkies flock to the attractions in summer.

Video footage of the Charlotte-based Carowinds' popular Fury 325 — known as a “Giga coaster” due to its dramatic height of 325 feet (99 meters) — showed a key support beam bending with the top visibly detached as cars packed with unsuspecting passengers whirled by at speeds of up to 95 mph (150 kph).

The park, which straddles the North Carolina and South Carolina line, closed the ride late last week as questions swirled about how the crack occurred. Those answers remained largely unknown as state investigators were on site in Monday morning.

Tommy Petty, chief of the state Department of Labor’s Amusement Device Bureau, confirmed investigators “already came and went” from Carowinds on Monday but declined to share details about their findings. Meanwhile, Carowinds said in a statement that all of its rides, including Fury 325, are inspected daily “to ensure their proper functioning and structural integrity.”

Several Carowinds visitors said they were aware that the ride had been closed for repairs, but they were not deterred from enjoying the park's other attractions.

Greg Bledsoe, a 22-year-old season pass holder, visited the park Monday despite having watched the viral video of the Fury 325 track separating from its support beam mid-ride.

“I’m just glad I wasn’t on it because I don’t want to fall off. I’m glad nobody fell off,” he said.

While Bledsoe said the video was “a bit of a shock,” he remains confident in the park’s overall safety and plans to make good use of his season pass.

“Hopefully they get it fixed before the season’s over so I can ride it some more,” he said of the broken coaster. “It’s like the main thing here.”

Industry experts have been quick to counter that millions of Americans hop on roller coasters, Ferris wheels, water slides and many other rides without ever experiencing issues. They note injury rates are extremely low.

A 2021 survey compiled on behalf of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions found “0.9 injuries per million rides,” said Caitlin Dineen, the group's spokesperson. That year, more than 1,200 ride-related injuries were reported out of the typical 1.7 billion rides that take place each year across 400 locations in North America.

“Safety is the top priority for the global attractions industry,” Dineen said. “An excellent safety record is in the best interest of the industry, and leaders within it are committed to providing safe and secure attractions for all their guests and visitors.”

For Steven Powers, a resident of Columbia, South Carolina who visited Carowinds Monday with friends, the positive atmosphere of the park outweighs any worries.

“As far as any other safety concerns, I don’t believe there are any,” Powers said. “I think always subconsciously we think something might happen in the back of our minds, but I also know that they do have people's lives in their hands so they're going to make sure that they do what they're supposed to do on their end.”

Even when amusement park mishaps don't result in injuries, they can still upend vacations and cause headaches for summer fun-seekers.

Shortly after footage was released of the crack inside Fury 325's support structure, riders on a roller coaster in northeastern Wisconsin were trapped upside down for three hours before emergency responders arrived to rescue them.

<a href="https://www.nbc15.com/2023/07/03/roller-coaster-riders-trapped-upside-down-hours/">WJFW reports</a>&nbsp;the ride had been inspected recently when a mechanical failure occurred, halting the coaster mid-ride, according to Capt. Brennan Cook of the Crandon Fire Department.

But sometimes deaths do occur on an amusement park ride.

In 2022, Orlando's International Drive district&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-accidents-missouri-8d1dbb7541cfb7b0dc5c3496fcde48d7">removed a towering 400-foot (122-meter) ride</a>&nbsp;after it was directly linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/orlando-florida-missouri-obituaries-6dcc0a65607f5038f5044c6d1d485826">the death</a>&nbsp;of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson — a Missouri teen who fell to his death while on the ride the year prior.

Sampson, who lived near St. Louis, Missouri, was visiting Orlando during spring break when he died.

An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-e9470b0e84a8c59e1bdb1fb06314f170">initial report</a>&nbsp;from outside engineers hired by the Florida Department of Agriculture said sensors on the ride had been adjusted manually to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in the teen not being properly secured.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688473561332.png" alt="People ride a roller coaster at the Carowinds amusement park on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)" />
 <figcaption>People ride a roller coaster at the Carowinds amusement park on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)</figcaption>
 </figure>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A visible crack in the support beam of a North Carolina roller coaster served as a reminder of the risks that sometimes arise with amusement park rides, particularly as families and adrenaline junkies flock to the attractions in summer.Video footage of the Charlotte-based Carowinds' popular Fury 325 — known as a “Giga coaster” due to its dramatic height of 325 feet (99 meters) — showed a key support beam bending with the top visibly detached as cars packed with unsuspecting passengers whirled by at speeds of up to 95 mph (150 kph).The park, which straddles the North Carolina and South Carolina line, closed the ride late last week as questions swirled about how the crack occurred. Those answers remained largely unknown as state investigators were on site in Monday morning.Tommy Petty, chief of the state Department of Labor’s Amusement Device Bureau, confirmed investigators “already came and went” from Carowinds on Monday but declined to share details about their findings. Meanwhile, Carowinds said in a statement that all of its rides, including Fury 325, are inspected daily “to ensure their proper functioning and structural integrity.”Several Carowinds visitors said they were aware that the ride had been closed for repairs, but they were not deterred from enjoying the park's other attractions.Greg Bledsoe, a 22-year-old season pass holder, visited the park Monday despite having watched the viral video of the Fury 325 track separating from its support beam mid-ride.“I’m just glad I wasn’t on it because I don’t want to fall off. I’m glad nobody fell off,” he said.While Bledsoe said the video was “a bit of a shock,” he remains confident in the park’s overall safety and plans to make good use of his season pass.“Hopefully they get it fixed before the season’s over so I can ride it some more,” he said of the broken coaster. “It’s like the main thing here.”Industry experts have been quick to counter that millions of Americans hop on roller coasters, Ferris wheels, water slides and many other rides without ever experiencing issues. They note injury rates are extremely low.A 2021 survey compiled on behalf of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions found “0.9 injuries per million rides,” said Caitlin Dineen, the group's spokesperson. That year, more than 1,200 ride-related injuries were reported out of the typical 1.7 billion rides that take place each year across 400 locations in North America.“Safety is the top priority for the global attractions industry,” Dineen said. “An excellent safety record is in the best interest of the industry, and leaders within it are committed to providing safe and secure attractions for all their guests and visitors.”For Steven Powers, a resident of Columbia, South Carolina who visited Carowinds Monday with friends, the positive atmosphere of the park outweighs any worries.“As far as any other safety concerns, I don’t believe there are any,” Powers said. “I think always subconsciously we think something might happen in the back of our minds, but I also know that they do have people's lives in their hands so they're going to make sure that they do what they're supposed to do on their end.”Even when amusement park mishaps don't result in injuries, they can still upend vacations and cause headaches for summer fun-seekers.Shortly after footage was released of the crack inside Fury 325's support structure, riders on a roller coaster in northeastern Wisconsin were trapped upside down for three hours before emergency responders arrived to rescue them.<a href="https://www.nbc15.com/2023/07/03/roller-coaster-riders-trapped-upside-down-hours/">WJFW reports</a>&nbsp;the ride had been inspected recently when a mechanical failure occurred, halting the coaster mid-ride, according to Capt. Brennan Cook of the Crandon Fire Department.But sometimes deaths do occur on an amusement park ride.In 2022, Orlando's International Drive district&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-accidents-missouri-8d1dbb7541cfb7b0dc5c3496fcde48d7">removed a towering 400-foot (122-meter) ride</a>&nbsp;after it was directly linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/orlando-florida-missouri-obituaries-6dcc0a65607f5038f5044c6d1d485826">the death</a>&nbsp;of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson — a Missouri teen who fell to his death while on the ride the year prior.Sampson, who lived near St. Louis, Missouri, was visiting Orlando during spring break when he died.An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-e9470b0e84a8c59e1bdb1fb06314f170">initial report</a>&nbsp;from outside engineers hired by the Florida Department of Agriculture said sensors on the ride had been adjusted manually to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in the teen not being properly secured.

Fright over crack on roller coaster serves as reminder of risks at amusement parks

FINNEY COUNTY—A Kansas soldier who died in World War II arrived at his final resting place over the weekend.

The Finney County Sheriff's Office shared on social media, "we had the honor of assisting in the escort of U.S. Army Sgt. Gregory Knoll who was brought home after going missing 79 years ago during World War II."

"Sgt. Knoll was killed in action in the battle of the Hurtgen Forest in November 1944. " "It’s good to have this hero home."

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that 22-year-old U.S. Army Sgt. Knoll was accounted for earlier this year.

In November 1944, Knoll was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. His battalion had been tasked with capturing the town of Schmidt, Germany, in the Hürtgen Forest. A heavy German counterattack overran his unit and forces survivors to withdraw to Kommerscheidt where they fought against additional enemy attacks. He was reported killed in action on Nov. 7., while fighting enemy forces at Kommerscheidt. His remains could not be recovered after the attack.

Following the end of the war, the American Graves Registration Command was tasked with investigating and recovering missing American personnel in Europe. They conducted several investigations in the Hürtgen area between 1946 and 1950 but were unable to recover or identify Knoll’s remains. He was declared non-recoverable in November 1951. While studying unresolved American losses in the Hürtgen area, a DPAA historian determined that one set of unidentified remains, designated X-2519 Neuville, recovered at Kommerscheidt in April 1946, possibly belonged to Knoll. The remains, which had been buried in Ardennes American Cemetery, an&nbsp;<a href="http://www.abmc.gov/">American Battle Monuments Commission</a>&nbsp;site in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, in 1949, were disinterred in July 2021 and sent to the DPAA laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, for identification. To identify Knoll’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Health-Readiness/AFMES#:~:text=AFMES%20provides%20the%20DOD%20and,the%20entire%20U.S.%20federal%20government.">Armed Forces Medical Examiner System</a>&nbsp;used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y chromosome DNA (Y-STR), and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis. Knoll’s name was recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, an<a href="http://www.abmc.gov/">&nbsp;American Battle Monuments Commission</a>&nbsp;site in Plombières, Belgium, along with the others still missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685366097921.png" alt="Gregory Knoll&nbsp; photo courtesy&nbsp;Defense MIA/POW Accounting Agency" />
 <figcaption>Gregory Knoll&nbsp; photo courtesy&nbsp;Defense MIA/POW Accounting Agency</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—A Kansas soldier who died in World War II arrived at his final resting place over the weekend.The Finney County Sheriff's Office shared on social media, "we had the honor of assisting in the escort of U.S. Army Sgt. Gregory Knoll who was brought home after going missing 79 years ago during World War II."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688385272607.png" alt="Photo Finney Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Finney Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>"Sgt. Knoll was killed in action in the battle of the Hurtgen Forest in November 1944. " "It’s good to have this hero home."The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that 22-year-old U.S. Army Sgt. Knoll was accounted for earlier this year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688385248023.png" alt="Photo Finney Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Finney Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>In November 1944, Knoll was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. His battalion had been tasked with capturing the town of Schmidt, Germany, in the Hürtgen Forest. A heavy German counterattack overran his unit and forces survivors to withdraw to Kommerscheidt where they fought against additional enemy attacks. He was reported killed in action on Nov. 7., while fighting enemy forces at Kommerscheidt. His remains could not be recovered after the attack.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685366310826.png" alt="Image courtesy Defense MIA/POW Accounting Agency" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Defense MIA/POW Accounting Agency</figcaption>
 </figure>Following the end of the war, the American Graves Registration Command was tasked with investigating and recovering missing American personnel in Europe. They conducted several investigations in the Hürtgen area between 1946 and 1950 but were unable to recover or identify Knoll’s remains. He was declared non-recoverable in November 1951. While studying unresolved American losses in the Hürtgen area, a DPAA historian determined that one set of unidentified remains, designated X-2519 Neuville, recovered at Kommerscheidt in April 1946, possibly belonged to Knoll. The remains, which had been buried in Ardennes American Cemetery, an&nbsp;<a href="http://www.abmc.gov/">American Battle Monuments Commission</a>&nbsp;site in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, in 1949, were disinterred in July 2021 and sent to the DPAA laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, for identification. To identify Knoll’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Health-Readiness/AFMES#:~:text=AFMES%20provides%20the%20DOD%20and,the%20entire%20U.S.%20federal%20government.">Armed Forces Medical Examiner System</a>&nbsp;used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y chromosome DNA (Y-STR), and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis. Knoll’s name was recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, an<a href="http://www.abmc.gov/">&nbsp;American Battle Monuments Commission</a>&nbsp;site in Plombières, Belgium, along with the others still missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

A final resting place in Kansas for soldier who died in WWII

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on drug distribution allegations.

Last week, the Wichita Police Department Special Investigations Community Response Team, Violent Crimes Response Team, and Investigations executed a search warrant in the 1100 block of S. Briarcliff in Wichita, according to a media release.

Officers took 29-year-old Diego Briceno of Wichita into custody after he left the residence.

They also seized 164 packages of retail THC products (approximately 227 grams), a gun case, and $14,074 in cash.

Briceno was on pre-trial release for felony murder which took place at the 21st and Maize Dillons in February of 2022. At that time he was accused of aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon and distribution of hallucinogens, according to officer Trevor Macy.

He is being held on requested charges of Felony Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon and criminal threat.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688411508270.png" alt="Briceno-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Briceno-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on drug distribution allegations.Last week, the Wichita Police Department Special Investigations Community Response Team, Violent Crimes Response Team, and Investigations executed a search warrant in the 1100 block of S. Briarcliff in Wichita, according to a media release.Officers took 29-year-old Diego Briceno of Wichita into custody after he left the residence.They also seized 164 packages of retail THC products (approximately 227 grams), a gun case, and $14,074 in cash.Briceno was on pre-trial release for felony murder which took place at the 21st and Maize Dillons in February of 2022. At that time he was accused of aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon and distribution of hallucinogens, according to officer Trevor Macy.He is being held on requested charges of Felony Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon and criminal threat.

Suspect in Kansas murder accused of selling marijuana

WASHINGTON&nbsp; — The State Department failed to do enough planning before the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan, according to a Biden administration review of the department’s performance during the chaotic evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies.

<a href="https://www.state.gov/after-action-review-on-afghanistan/">Click here to read </a>the Pentagon's review

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran was very clear with his statement on the failure highlighted in the report. “The State Department’s Afghanistan After Action Review offers a damning account of the mismanagement during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. The inherent difficulties of an evacuation were clearly exacerbated by a void in leadership, which resulted in the deaths of American service members and stranded thousands of our Afghan allies behind enemy lines.

“As a supporter of establishing the bipartisan Afghanistan War Commission, our two decades of fighting in Afghanistan must be studied to learn from the mistakes made and make certain they are not repeated for the sake of our military men and women who serve valiantly. In addition, we must continue to assist the Afghans who stood by our service members. As a sponsor of the Afghan Adjustment Act, I will work with my colleagues in the Senate to provide safety and certainty for our allies and friends who risked their lives and their families’ lives to support our troops in Afghanistan.”

(Watch President Biden's response to the report)

Biden was defiant when asked Friday if he would admit the U.S. made mistakes before and during its withdrawal.

“Remember what I said about Afghanistan? I said al-Qaida would not be there,” Biden said. “I said we’d get help from the Taliban. What’s happening now? What’s going on? Read your press. I was right.”

The U.S. in July 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-ayman-al-zawahri-qaida-biden-united-states-171556fce4719d012726fb979a14cc81" target="_blank">killed</a>&nbsp;al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a drone strike at his Kabul home, part of what the Biden administration calls an “over the horizon” capacity to target the group after the withdrawal. But a United Nations monitoring team&nbsp;<a href="https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N23/125/36/PDF/N2312536.pdf?OpenElement" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;in May that al-Qaida considers Afghanistan “a safe haven” and that the Taliban had not met previous commitments on counterterrorism.

“Al-Qaida maintains a low profile, focusing on using the country as an ideological and logistical hub to mobilize and recruit new fighters while covertly rebuilding its external operations capability,” the monitors said in their report.

According to Friday’s report, a State Department task force helped bring out nearly 2,000 Afghan citizens in July and early August 2021, weeks before the Aug. 31, 2021, deadline the U.S. set for withdrawal. They were eligible for processing under a special U.S. visa program for Afghans.

But State “failed to establish a broader task force as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorated,” the report says.

And as the military planned for an evacuation of American civilians and Afghan allies, “it was unclear who in the Department had the lead,” it says.

“The decisions of both President Trump and President Biden to end the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan had serious consequences for the viability of the Afghan government and its security,” the review says. “Those decisions are beyond the scope of this review, but the (review) team found that during both administrations there was insufficient senior-level consideration of worst-case scenarios and how quickly those might follow.”

As the Taliban took key cities far faster than most U.S. officials expected and the fate of Kabul became unclear, the report says, State Department personnel began receiving an “overwhelming volume of incoming calls and messages” from lawmakers, other government agencies, and the public pleading for help saving people trapped in the country.

Staff working to facilitate the evacuation also faced confusing guidance that wasn’t attuned to real-world conditions at the time, according to the report.

State has taken lessons from the failures of Afghanistan into account when evacuating people before and during the subsequent war in Ukraine and as a crisis developed in Sudan, according to a senior State Department official who briefed reporters Friday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the department.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a letter to employees that the review was “vital to building a stronger Department that is better prepared to respond to future challenges and to fulfill our missions around the world.”

The Biden administration released sections of the long-awaited State report, which was completed in March 2022, on the Friday before the July 4 holiday weekend, though it withheld most of the report from public release. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-congress-war-5ff87c14ffd4f7daaa6675e52d3bba1c" target="_blank">had released</a>&nbsp;a National Security Council review of the withdrawal on the day before Good Friday and the Easter weekend but declined to release internal Pentagon and State Department assessments. The Pentagon’s report is still classified as secret.

Officials declined to say why they had released the report just before a holiday weekend.

Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on the administration to release the full report. “This is another blatant attempt to hide the Biden administration’s culpability in the chaotic and deadly evacuation from Afghanistan,” he said in a statement.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the report or McCaul’s statement, but noted that administration officials have responded to bipartisan inquiries and provided “thousands of pages of information.”

“That’s being transparent,” she said. “That’s being there, answering and taking those tough questions.”

the Associated Press contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629986318422.png" alt="According to Friday’s report, a State Department task force helped bring out nearly 2,000 Afghan citizens in July and early August 2021, weeks before the Aug. 31, 2021, deadline the U.S. set for withdrawal-Photo&nbsp; U.S. Defense Department" />
 <figcaption>According to Friday’s report, a State Department task force helped bring out nearly 2,000 Afghan citizens in July and early August 2021, weeks before the Aug. 31, 2021, deadline the U.S. set for withdrawal-Photo&nbsp; U.S. Defense Department</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp; — The State Department failed to do enough planning before the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan, according to a Biden administration review of the department’s performance during the chaotic evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies.<a href="https://www.state.gov/after-action-review-on-afghanistan/">Click here to read </a>the Pentagon's reviewU.S. Senator Jerry Moran was very clear with his statement on the failure highlighted in the report. “The State Department’s Afghanistan After Action Review offers a damning account of the mismanagement during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. The inherent difficulties of an evacuation were clearly exacerbated by a void in leadership, which resulted in the deaths of American service members and stranded thousands of our Afghan allies behind enemy lines.“As a supporter of establishing the bipartisan Afghanistan War Commission, our two decades of fighting in Afghanistan must be studied to learn from the mistakes made and make certain they are not repeated for the sake of our military men and women who serve valiantly. In addition, we must continue to assist the Afghans who stood by our service members. As a sponsor of the Afghan Adjustment Act, I will work with my colleagues in the Senate to provide safety and certainty for our allies and friends who risked their lives and their families’ lives to support our troops in Afghanistan.”(Watch President Biden's response to the report)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KCQAaoyrOgk?start=642" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Biden was defiant when asked Friday if he would admit the U.S. made mistakes before and during its withdrawal.“Remember what I said about Afghanistan? I said al-Qaida would not be there,” Biden said. “I said we’d get help from the Taliban. What’s happening now? What’s going on? Read your press. I was right.”The U.S. in July 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-ayman-al-zawahri-qaida-biden-united-states-171556fce4719d012726fb979a14cc81" target="_blank">killed</a>&nbsp;al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a drone strike at his Kabul home, part of what the Biden administration calls an “over the horizon” capacity to target the group after the withdrawal. But a United Nations monitoring team&nbsp;<a href="https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N23/125/36/PDF/N2312536.pdf?OpenElement" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;in May that al-Qaida considers Afghanistan “a safe haven” and that the Taliban had not met previous commitments on counterterrorism.“Al-Qaida maintains a low profile, focusing on using the country as an ideological and logistical hub to mobilize and recruit new fighters while covertly rebuilding its external operations capability,” the monitors said in their report.According to Friday’s report, a State Department task force helped bring out nearly 2,000 Afghan citizens in July and early August 2021, weeks before the Aug. 31, 2021, deadline the U.S. set for withdrawal. They were eligible for processing under a special U.S. visa program for Afghans.But State “failed to establish a broader task force as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorated,” the report says.And as the military planned for an evacuation of American civilians and Afghan allies, “it was unclear who in the Department had the lead,” it says.“The decisions of both President Trump and President Biden to end the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan had serious consequences for the viability of the Afghan government and its security,” the review says. “Those decisions are beyond the scope of this review, but the (review) team found that during both administrations there was insufficient senior-level consideration of worst-case scenarios and how quickly those might follow.”As the Taliban took key cities far faster than most U.S. officials expected and the fate of Kabul became unclear, the report says, State Department personnel began receiving an “overwhelming volume of incoming calls and messages” from lawmakers, other government agencies, and the public pleading for help saving people trapped in the country.Staff working to facilitate the evacuation also faced confusing guidance that wasn’t attuned to real-world conditions at the time, according to the report.State has taken lessons from the failures of Afghanistan into account when evacuating people before and during the subsequent war in Ukraine and as a crisis developed in Sudan, according to a senior State Department official who briefed reporters Friday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the department.Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a letter to employees that the review was “vital to building a stronger Department that is better prepared to respond to future challenges and to fulfill our missions around the world.”The Biden administration released sections of the long-awaited State report, which was completed in March 2022, on the Friday before the July 4 holiday weekend, though it withheld most of the report from public release. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-congress-war-5ff87c14ffd4f7daaa6675e52d3bba1c" target="_blank">had released</a>&nbsp;a National Security Council review of the withdrawal on the day before Good Friday and the Easter weekend but declined to release internal Pentagon and State Department assessments. The Pentagon’s report is still classified as secret.Officials declined to say why they had released the report just before a holiday weekend.Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on the administration to release the full report. “This is another blatant attempt to hide the Biden administration’s culpability in the chaotic and deadly evacuation from Afghanistan,” he said in a statement.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the report or McCaul’s statement, but noted that administration officials have responded to bipartisan inquiries and provided “thousands of pages of information.”“That’s being transparent,” she said. “That’s being there, answering and taking those tough questions.”the Associated Press contributed to this report.<h2>__</h2>

🎥Read gov't report of chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, Moran's response

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting and have identified the victim as 26-year-old&nbsp;Theophlius Johnson III, according to&nbsp;Captain Corey Carlisle.

Just before 5 pm Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 2000 block of Oakley. Upon arrival, officers located Johnson lying out front of a residence unresponsive and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.&nbsp; EMS arrived on scene and declared Johnson deceased, according to Carlisle. A person of interest in the case is still at large.&nbsp; There is not an immediate threat to the public at this time.&nbsp; The circumstances surrounding the homicide appear to be the result of an argument. Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel processed the scene to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses. Police released no additional details.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting and have identified the victim as 26-year-old&nbsp;Theophlius Johnson III, according to&nbsp;Captain Corey Carlisle.Just before 5 pm Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 2000 block of Oakley. Upon arrival, officers located Johnson lying out front of a residence unresponsive and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.&nbsp; EMS arrived on scene and declared Johnson deceased, according to Carlisle. A person of interest in the case is still at large.&nbsp; There is not an immediate threat to the public at this time.&nbsp; The circumstances surrounding the homicide appear to be the result of an argument. Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel processed the scene to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses. Police released no additional details.

Police ID victim in deadly weekend Kansas City shooting 

BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. recommended Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions.

No specific cases were cited, but<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/china-travel-advisory.html"> the advisory</a> came after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-charged-spying-china-prison-2de86767bbc828ec4362af23fb271afd" target="_blank">78-year-old U.S. citizen</a>&nbsp;was sentenced to life in prison on spying charges in May.

It also followed the passage last week of a sweeping Foreign Relations Law that threatens countermeasures against those seen as harming China’s interests.

China also recently passed a broadly written counterespionage law that has sent a chill through the foreign business community, with offices being raided, as well as a law to sanction foreign critics.

“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law,” the U.S. advisory said.

“U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime,” it warned.

The advisory also said that Chinese authorities “appear to have broad discretion to deem a wide range of documents, data, statistics, or materials as state secrets and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage.”

It listed a wide range of potential offenses from taking part in demonstrations to sending electronic messages critical of Chinese policies or even simply conducting research into areas deemed sensitive.

Exit bans could be used to compel individuals to participate in Chinese government investigations, pressure family members to return from abroad, resolve civil disputes in favor of Chinese citizens and “gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments,” the advisory said.

BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. recommended Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions.No specific cases were cited, but<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/china-travel-advisory.html"> the advisory</a> came after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-charged-spying-china-prison-2de86767bbc828ec4362af23fb271afd" target="_blank">78-year-old U.S. citizen</a>&nbsp;was sentenced to life in prison on spying charges in May.It also followed the passage last week of a sweeping Foreign Relations Law that threatens countermeasures against those seen as harming China’s interests.China also recently passed a broadly written counterespionage law that has sent a chill through the foreign business community, with offices being raided, as well as a law to sanction foreign critics.“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law,” the U.S. advisory said.“U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime,” it warned.The advisory also said that Chinese authorities “appear to have broad discretion to deem a wide range of documents, data, statistics, or materials as state secrets and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage.”It listed a wide range of potential offenses from taking part in demonstrations to sending electronic messages critical of Chinese policies or even simply conducting research into areas deemed sensitive.Exit bans could be used to compel individuals to participate in Chinese government investigations, pressure family members to return from abroad, resolve civil disputes in favor of Chinese citizens and “gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments,” the advisory said.Similar advisories were issued for the semi-autonomous Chinese regions of Hong Kong and Macao. They were dated Friday and emailed to journalists on Monday.The U.S. had issued similar advisories to its citizens in the past, but those in recent years had mainly warned of the dangers of being caught in strict and lengthy lockdowns while China closed its borders for three years under its draconian “zero-COVID” policy.China generally responds angrily to what it considers U.S. efforts to impugn its authoritarian Communist Party-led system. It has issued its own travel advisories concerning the U.S., warning of the dangers of crime, anti-Asian discrimination and the high cost of emergency medical assistance.China had no immediate response to the travel advisory on Monday.Details of the accusations against the accused spy John Shing-Wan Leung are not available, given China’s authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Party’s absolute control over legal matters. Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, was detained in the southeastern city of Suzhou on April 15, 2021 — a time when China had closed its borders and tightly restricted movement of people domestically to control the spread of COVID-19.The warnings come as U.S.-China relations are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-us-relations-ambassador-b599541d7af42fff9fa2783030c7c824" target="_blank">at their lowest in years</a>, over trade, technology, Taiwan and human rights, although the sides are taking some steps to improve the situation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a long-delayed visit to Beijing last week and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-yellen-biden-xi-economics-867a9a92427386ded2076ba8e342c6e2" target="_blank">Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen</a>&nbsp;is making a much-anticipated trip to Beijing this week. China also recently appointed a new ambassador to Washington, who presented his credentials in a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House.Other incidents, however, have also pointed to the testiness in the relationship. China formally protested last month after Biden called Chinese leader Xi Jinping a “dictator,” days after Blinken’s visit.Biden brushed off the protest, saying his words would have no negative impact on U.S.-China relations and that he still expects to meet with Xi sometime soon. Biden has also drawn rebukes from Beijing by explicitly saying the U.S. would defend self-governing Taiwan if China, which claims the island as its own territory, were to attack it.Biden said his blunt statements regarding China are “just not something I’m going to change very much.”The administration is also under pressure from both parties to take a tough line on China, making it one of the few issues on which most Democrats and Republicans agree.Along with several detained Americans,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/detained-australians-in-china-will-have-to-wait-longer-to-learn-their-fate-20230118-p5cdht.html" target="_blank">Two Chinese-Australians,</a>&nbsp;Cheng Lei, who formerly worked for China’s state broadcaster, and writer Yang Jun, have been held since 2020 and 2019 respectively without word on their sentencing.Perhaps the most notorious case of arbitrary detention involved two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-canada-china-arrests-washington-2b6e0977ae93557ad1265869d57838ed" target="_blank">Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor,</a>&nbsp;who were detained in China in 2018, shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, Huawei Technologies’ chief financial officer and the daughter of the tech powerhouse’s founder, on a U.S. extradition request.They were charged with national security crimes that were never explained and released three years later after the U.S. settled fraud charges against Meng. Many countries labeled China’s action “hostage politics.”