BOURBON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident involving a school bus taking students home from an after school program just before 5:30p.m. Thursday in Bourbon County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Chevy Monte Carlo driven by Andrew S. Callahan, 23, Fort Scott, was westbound on Maple Road at 145th Street one mile south of U.S. 54.

The car struck the side of a southbound USD 235 Uniontown school bus driven by 77-year-old Johnny K. Speer of Redfield as the bus entered the intersection.&nbsp;&nbsp;

EMS treated Callahan at the scene for minor injuries.&nbsp; Speer and multiple students who participate in the school district's after school program were on their way home, according to the district office. They were not injured.

BOURBON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident involving a school bus taking students home from an after school program just before 5:30p.m. Thursday in Bourbon County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Chevy Monte Carlo driven by Andrew S. Callahan, 23, Fort Scott, was westbound on Maple Road at 145th Street one mile south of U.S. 54.The car struck the side of a southbound USD 235 Uniontown school bus driven by 77-year-old Johnny K. Speer of Redfield as the bus entered the intersection.&nbsp;&nbsp;EMS treated Callahan at the scene for minor injuries.&nbsp; Speer and multiple students who participate in the school district's after school program were on their way home, according to the district office. They were not injured.

Students in after school program involved in Kan. bus crash

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 25-year-old homeless man was charged Thursday in the rape and killing of a 5-year-old Kansas girl who died despite firefighters' efforts to save her life in a gas station parking lot.

Mickel Cherry faces one count of capital murder — which would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty — and one count each of first-degree murder and rape in the death of Zoey Felix on Monday. He was jailed in Topeka on a $2 million bond, and his next court appearance has not yet been determined.

Shawnee County District Attorney Michael Kagay told reporters that a decision about seeking a death sentence won't be made until after a preliminary hearing to determine whether Cherry stands trial. That is standard in capital cases.

Mark Manna, of the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit, said his office would represent Cherry, but that he had no further comment. Cherry’s family didn’t respond to messages.

Authorities have released no details about the cause of Zoey’s death, but former neighbors of the girl and her family believe she, her father and Cherry had lived the past few weeks in a grove of trees on a wooded lot near the gas station, just blocks from the home where her mother lived. They believed she was carried from the wooded lot to the gas station, but police have not confirmed any of those details.

Kagay said in a news release that Topeka police rushed to a gas station where fire crews were attempting to save Zoey’s life. She was later pronounced dead. A medical examination at the hospital revealed injuries consistent with sexual assault.

“I think the investigation into the murder and rape of this 5-year-old girl is fairly complete,” Kagay told reporters during a brief news conference.

Asked about potentially charging other people, Kagay said, “I’m willing to consider any actionable investigations brought to me,” but when he was asked whether he is aware of any other investigations, he said, “I’m not.”

Timothy Phelps, deputy director of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, confirmed that Cherry used to live at the same address as Zoey, but at the time of his arrest, Cherry was homeless.

Cherry has no criminal record in Kansas, but he does have a misdemeanor criminal trespass conviction in Amarillo, Texas.

Neighbors said they had raised concerns that Zoey's family home had no electricity and that they called the police and child welfare.

“She just had a good spirit to her. Honestly, very outgoing, smart. She was curious about everything. She’d ask you a 1,001 questions, and she demanded answers for those too,” said Shaniqua Bradley, a neighbor.

Topeka police confirmed Thursday that they made three visits to the home in September: one on Sept. 5 for a welfare check following a report that the home had no electricity; and two domestic disturbance calls in the afternoon and evening of Sept. 19, a little more than an hour apart. Police did not provide details about those two calls.

City spokeswoman Gretchen Spiker said in an email that during the first call officers confirmed there was no electricity and that they were told the child wasn't staying there. Police met with the child, saw she was in “good spirits” but still made a report to child welfare and property officials, Spiker said.

The city moved to condemn the house but backed off when the utilities were turned back on. Neighbors said that everyone but the mother had moved out by then.

One tent and a tarp were set up in the woods a few blocks away from the home, in an area about a football field away from the pumps at a Dillons grocery store where fire crews tried to resuscitate Zoey.

Her dad worked at the gas station; a coworker said Wednesday that he was taking time off and the company hasn't responded to an email from The Associated Press.

A makeshift memorial of flowers, balloons and toys sat nearby.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696600819324.png" alt="Zoey Felix <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/zoey-felix-funeral-expenses">photo GoFundMe</a>" />
 <figcaption>Zoey Felix <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/zoey-felix-funeral-expenses">photo GoFundMe</a></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 25-year-old homeless man was charged Thursday in the rape and killing of a 5-year-old Kansas girl who died despite firefighters' efforts to save her life in a gas station parking lot.Mickel Cherry faces one count of capital murder — which would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty — and one count each of first-degree murder and rape in the death of Zoey Felix on Monday. He was jailed in Topeka on a $2 million bond, and his next court appearance has not yet been determined.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696342029742.png" alt="Cherryp-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Cherryp-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Shawnee County District Attorney Michael Kagay told reporters that a decision about seeking a death sentence won't be made until after a preliminary hearing to determine whether Cherry stands trial. That is standard in capital cases.Mark Manna, of the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit, said his office would represent Cherry, but that he had no further comment. Cherry’s family didn’t respond to messages.Authorities have released no details about the cause of Zoey’s death, but former neighbors of the girl and her family believe she, her father and Cherry had lived the past few weeks in a grove of trees on a wooded lot near the gas station, just blocks from the home where her mother lived. They believed she was carried from the wooded lot to the gas station, but police have not confirmed any of those details.Kagay said in a news release that Topeka police rushed to a gas station where fire crews were attempting to save Zoey’s life. She was later pronounced dead. A medical examination at the hospital revealed injuries consistent with sexual assault.“I think the investigation into the murder and rape of this 5-year-old girl is fairly complete,” Kagay told reporters during a brief news conference.Asked about potentially charging other people, Kagay said, “I’m willing to consider any actionable investigations brought to me,” but when he was asked whether he is aware of any other investigations, he said, “I’m not.”Timothy Phelps, deputy director of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, confirmed that Cherry used to live at the same address as Zoey, but at the time of his arrest, Cherry was homeless.Cherry has no criminal record in Kansas, but he does have a misdemeanor criminal trespass conviction in Amarillo, Texas.Neighbors said they had raised concerns that Zoey's family home had no electricity and that they called the police and child welfare.“She just had a good spirit to her. Honestly, very outgoing, smart. She was curious about everything. She’d ask you a 1,001 questions, and she demanded answers for those too,” said Shaniqua Bradley, a neighbor.Topeka police confirmed Thursday that they made three visits to the home in September: one on Sept. 5 for a welfare check following a report that the home had no electricity; and two domestic disturbance calls in the afternoon and evening of Sept. 19, a little more than an hour apart. Police did not provide details about those two calls.City spokeswoman Gretchen Spiker said in an email that during the first call officers confirmed there was no electricity and that they were told the child wasn't staying there. Police met with the child, saw she was in “good spirits” but still made a report to child welfare and property officials, Spiker said.The city moved to condemn the house but backed off when the utilities were turned back on. Neighbors said that everyone but the mother had moved out by then.One tent and a tarp were set up in the woods a few blocks away from the home, in an area about a football field away from the pumps at a Dillons grocery store where fire crews tried to resuscitate Zoey.Her dad worked at the gas station; a coworker said Wednesday that he was taking time off and the company hasn't responded to an email from The Associated Press.A makeshift memorial of flowers, balloons and toys sat nearby.

Man could face death penalty for murder of 5-year-old Kan. girl

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Biden administration will resume deporting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-tps-border-asylum-venezuela-temporary-status-2fa052ceacb020b861bb82332912bc92">Venezuelan migrants</a>, the largest single group encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border last month, back to their economically troubled country as their arrivals continue to grow.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, speaking in Mexico City Thursday, cited the new measure as one of the “strict consequences” the Biden administration is pairing with the expansion of legal pathways for asylum seekers.

“Our two countries are being challenged by an unprecedented level of migration throughout our hemisphere,” Mayorkas said, referring to Mexico.

The repatriation flights are expected to begin shortly, said two U.S. officials, though they did not provide specific details on when the flights would begin taking off. The officials were not authorized to disclose details of the government’s plan and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-immigration-border-migrant-venezuela-b914be14aaeef14eb01bd10ee23067f4">The resumption of deportation flights comes not long after the administration increased protected status</a>&nbsp;for thousands of Venezuelans who had previously arrived to the U.S., they must have entered the country before July 31 of this year to be eligible for temporary protected status.

In making the recent expansion of protections official, President Joe Biden's administration said just this week that it had determined that “extraordinary and temporary conditions continue to prevent Venezuelan nationals from returning in safety.”

Mayorkas on Thursday addressed the contrast with the announcement just days later of more deportations, saying “we have made a determination it is safe to return Venezuelan nationals who arrived in the United States subsequent to July 31 and do not have a legal basis to remain here.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who led a U.S. delegation to Mexico, added that “we have an ironclad commitment to provide protection for those who qualify. That remains paramount in everything we’re doing.”

The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service criticized the move to resume deportations noting the apparent contradiction with the expansion of temporary protected status.

“Returning thousands of Venezuelans to the same unimaginably dangerous conditions they just fled is a profoundly problematic policy for the world’s humanitarian leader to adopt,” the organization’s CEO Krish O’Mara Vignarajah said in a statement.

Administration officials would not discuss details about how frequently deportation flights would be going to Venezuela or describe how Venezuela agreed to accept back their citizens except to say that, like other countries around the world, the U.S. has long encouraged Venezuela to accept back its nationals. Cuba, another U.S. adversary, announced earlier this year that it would begin accepting Cuban deportees but there has only been one flight a month.

The U.S. had been returning some Venezuelans via commercial flights, but in relatively small numbers and through third countries.

In Venezuela, the government said it had reached an agreement with U.S. officials for a safe and orderly repatriation.

“Venezuelan migration in recent years is a direct result of the application of unilateral coercive measures and a blockade of our economy,” Venezuela's foreign ministry said via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. It said the government would support repatriated Venezuelans.

The U.S. move is the latest effort to deal with swelling numbers of migrants as the administration comes under increasing pressure from Republicans and mayors from the president’s own party to do more to slow arrivals.

The announcement came as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/antony-blinken">Blinken</a>&nbsp;and other top Biden administration officials met with their counterparts in Mexico City on security issues.

Blinken discussed migration flows with Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Alicia Bárcena, as well as foreign ministers from Panama and Colombia, Wednesday. Talks continued Thursday, including meetings by Blinken and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland with López Obrador.

Bárcena said Thursday that some 10,000 migrant encounters were registered at the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday.

“We are going to continue taking forceful actions, including continuing some efforts we already have in relation to assisted returns, coordinating the dismantling of trafficking networks and human trafficking,” Bárcena said.

Blinken said the U.S. government is working to support those efforts.

“We're taking steps to aid the most vulnerable, those most vulnerable to organized crime, training nearly 200 Mexican immigration officials to better screen, identify and assist potential human trafficking victims,” Blinken said.

“The scale of this challenge demands that we redouble our efforts, that we do more to increase legal migration ... more to address root causes and more to deter irregular migration humanely,” Blinken said.

López Obrador said Thursday during his daily news briefing that Mexico has reiterated in talks its position that there should be investment to spur development in the countries that migrants leave.

“The people don't abandon their towns because they want to, but rather out of necessity,” the president said. He also criticized the Biden administration's announcement Wednesday that it waived 26 federal laws in South Texas to allow border wall construction. López Obrador had previously praised Biden for not building more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-mexico-border-wall-immigration-texas-f99fd10257292a898618236df3613979">border wall</a>&nbsp;during his presidency.

In August, the U.S. Border Patrol made 181,509 arrests at the Mexican border, up 37% from July but little changed from August 2022 and well below the more than 220,000 in December, according to figures released in September.

The U.S. has tried to get Mexico and countries farther south to do more. In April, the U.S., Panama and Colombia announced a campaign to slow migration through the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/darien-gap-panama-colombia-us-migrants-cf0cd1e9de2119208c9af186e53e09b7">treacherous Darien Gap dividing Colombia and Panama</a>. But migration through the jungle has only accelerated and is expected to approach some 500,000 people this year - the vast majority from Venezuela.

Venezuelans were stopped 25,777 times the first 17 days of September, up 63% from the same period a month earlier, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures released by López Obrador. Those included some people admitted for scheduled asylum appointments, but the vast majority were illegal entries.

Venezuela plunged into a political, economic and humanitarian crisis over the last decade, pushing at least 7.3 million people to migrate and making food and other necessities unaffordable for those who remain.

The vast majority who fled settled in neighboring countries in Latin America, but many began coming to the United States in the last three years.

Deportation flights had been paused in part because the U.S. has few diplomatic relations with the nation.

U.S. and Mexican officials also discussed efforts aimed at combating the trafficking of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl.

Mexican officials continued to explain with some difficulty López Obrador’s blanket assertion — false according to available evidence and the U.S. government — that Mexico does not produce fentanyl.

Bárcena, the foreign relations secretary, said “there is no contradiction, chemical precursors are not produced in Mexico.” It was tacit admission that Mexican cartels import precursors, mainly from China, and process them chemically into fentanyl. But since the entire chemical process is not carried out in Mexico the government maintains that fentanyl is not produced here.

U.S. officials highlighted the recent extradition of Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, to the U.S. on drug trafficking charges as a sign of cooperation between the two governments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317742720.png" alt="The U.S. move is the latest effort to deal with swelling numbers of migrants as the administration comes under increasing pressure from Republicans and mayors from the president’s own party to do more to slow arrivals.- Photo Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. move is the latest effort to deal with swelling numbers of migrants as the administration comes under increasing pressure from Republicans and mayors from the president’s own party to do more to slow arrivals.- Photo Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Biden administration will resume deporting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-tps-border-asylum-venezuela-temporary-status-2fa052ceacb020b861bb82332912bc92">Venezuelan migrants</a>, the largest single group encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border last month, back to their economically troubled country as their arrivals continue to grow.U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, speaking in Mexico City Thursday, cited the new measure as one of the “strict consequences” the Biden administration is pairing with the expansion of legal pathways for asylum seekers.“Our two countries are being challenged by an unprecedented level of migration throughout our hemisphere,” Mayorkas said, referring to Mexico.The repatriation flights are expected to begin shortly, said two U.S. officials, though they did not provide specific details on when the flights would begin taking off. The officials were not authorized to disclose details of the government’s plan and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-immigration-border-migrant-venezuela-b914be14aaeef14eb01bd10ee23067f4">The resumption of deportation flights comes not long after the administration increased protected status</a>&nbsp;for thousands of Venezuelans who had previously arrived to the U.S., they must have entered the country before July 31 of this year to be eligible for temporary protected status.In making the recent expansion of protections official, President Joe Biden's administration said just this week that it had determined that “extraordinary and temporary conditions continue to prevent Venezuelan nationals from returning in safety.”Mayorkas on Thursday addressed the contrast with the announcement just days later of more deportations, saying “we have made a determination it is safe to return Venezuelan nationals who arrived in the United States subsequent to July 31 and do not have a legal basis to remain here.”U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who led a U.S. delegation to Mexico, added that “we have an ironclad commitment to provide protection for those who qualify. That remains paramount in everything we’re doing.”The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service criticized the move to resume deportations noting the apparent contradiction with the expansion of temporary protected status.“Returning thousands of Venezuelans to the same unimaginably dangerous conditions they just fled is a profoundly problematic policy for the world’s humanitarian leader to adopt,” the organization’s CEO Krish O’Mara Vignarajah said in a statement.Administration officials would not discuss details about how frequently deportation flights would be going to Venezuela or describe how Venezuela agreed to accept back their citizens except to say that, like other countries around the world, the U.S. has long encouraged Venezuela to accept back its nationals. Cuba, another U.S. adversary, announced earlier this year that it would begin accepting Cuban deportees but there has only been one flight a month.The U.S. had been returning some Venezuelans via commercial flights, but in relatively small numbers and through third countries.In Venezuela, the government said it had reached an agreement with U.S. officials for a safe and orderly repatriation.“Venezuelan migration in recent years is a direct result of the application of unilateral coercive measures and a blockade of our economy,” Venezuela's foreign ministry said via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. It said the government would support repatriated Venezuelans.The U.S. move is the latest effort to deal with swelling numbers of migrants as the administration comes under increasing pressure from Republicans and mayors from the president’s own party to do more to slow arrivals.The announcement came as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/antony-blinken">Blinken</a>&nbsp;and other top Biden administration officials met with their counterparts in Mexico City on security issues.Blinken discussed migration flows with Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Alicia Bárcena, as well as foreign ministers from Panama and Colombia, Wednesday. Talks continued Thursday, including meetings by Blinken and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland with López Obrador.Bárcena said Thursday that some 10,000 migrant encounters were registered at the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday.“We are going to continue taking forceful actions, including continuing some efforts we already have in relation to assisted returns, coordinating the dismantling of trafficking networks and human trafficking,” Bárcena said.Blinken said the U.S. government is working to support those efforts.“We're taking steps to aid the most vulnerable, those most vulnerable to organized crime, training nearly 200 Mexican immigration officials to better screen, identify and assist potential human trafficking victims,” Blinken said.“The scale of this challenge demands that we redouble our efforts, that we do more to increase legal migration ... more to address root causes and more to deter irregular migration humanely,” Blinken said.López Obrador said Thursday during his daily news briefing that Mexico has reiterated in talks its position that there should be investment to spur development in the countries that migrants leave.“The people don't abandon their towns because they want to, but rather out of necessity,” the president said. He also criticized the Biden administration's announcement Wednesday that it waived 26 federal laws in South Texas to allow border wall construction. López Obrador had previously praised Biden for not building more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-mexico-border-wall-immigration-texas-f99fd10257292a898618236df3613979">border wall</a>&nbsp;during his presidency.In August, the U.S. Border Patrol made 181,509 arrests at the Mexican border, up 37% from July but little changed from August 2022 and well below the more than 220,000 in December, according to figures released in September.The U.S. has tried to get Mexico and countries farther south to do more. In April, the U.S., Panama and Colombia announced a campaign to slow migration through the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/darien-gap-panama-colombia-us-migrants-cf0cd1e9de2119208c9af186e53e09b7">treacherous Darien Gap dividing Colombia and Panama</a>. But migration through the jungle has only accelerated and is expected to approach some 500,000 people this year - the vast majority from Venezuela.Venezuelans were stopped 25,777 times the first 17 days of September, up 63% from the same period a month earlier, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures released by López Obrador. Those included some people admitted for scheduled asylum appointments, but the vast majority were illegal entries.Venezuela plunged into a political, economic and humanitarian crisis over the last decade, pushing at least 7.3 million people to migrate and making food and other necessities unaffordable for those who remain.The vast majority who fled settled in neighboring countries in Latin America, but many began coming to the United States in the last three years.Deportation flights had been paused in part because the U.S. has few diplomatic relations with the nation.U.S. and Mexican officials also discussed efforts aimed at combating the trafficking of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl.Mexican officials continued to explain with some difficulty López Obrador’s blanket assertion — false according to available evidence and the U.S. government — that Mexico does not produce fentanyl.Bárcena, the foreign relations secretary, said “there is no contradiction, chemical precursors are not produced in Mexico.” It was tacit admission that Mexican cartels import precursors, mainly from China, and process them chemically into fentanyl. But since the entire chemical process is not carried out in Mexico the government maintains that fentanyl is not produced here.U.S. officials highlighted the recent extradition of Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, to the U.S. on drug trafficking charges as a sign of cooperation between the two governments.__

Biden administration will resume deportation flights 

FRANKLIN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an incident in Franklin County.

Just after 4p.m. Oct. 3, police officers were dispatched to the 800 Block of North Mulberry Street after a 911 call was made to the Franklin County Emergency Communications Center.  The caller provided little information and then disconnected from the dispatcher, according to a media release from Ottawa Police.

 When officers arrived at the address, a 65-year-old Ottawa man was located who was in distress. After an investigation, police arrested 59-year-old Lynette Russell of Ottawa on requested charges of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated battery.&nbsp; She is being held in the Franklin County Jail.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696514050594.png" alt="Russell photo Franklin County" />
 <figcaption>Russell photo Franklin County</figcaption>
 </figure>FRANKLIN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an incident in Franklin County.Just after 4p.m. Oct. 3, police officers were dispatched to the 800 Block of North Mulberry Street after a 911 call was made to the Franklin County Emergency Communications Center. The caller provided little information and then disconnected from the dispatcher, according to a media release from Ottawa Police. When officers arrived at the address, a 65-year-old Ottawa man was located who was in distress. After an investigation, police arrested 59-year-old Lynette Russell of Ottawa on requested charges of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated battery.&nbsp; She is being held in the Franklin County Jail.&nbsp;

Kan. woman accused of kidnapping after police found man in distress

FINNEY COUNTY —The victims who died in the southwest Kansas house fire have been identified as 53-year-old&nbsp;Cresenciano Aguirre-Ortega and 24-year-old&nbsp; Viridiana Aguirre-Abarca, according to Garden City Fire Marshal Gene Robertson.

The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental due to unattended cooking.

Just after 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, fire crews were dispatched to the report of a house fire with possible trapped individuals at 613 N. 9th Street, Garden City, according to a media release.

First arriving crews found a multi-story residence with heavy fire and visible smoke. Firefighters made contact with three victims in the front yard who alerted them of additional victims inside.

Personnel entered the house to begin fire attack and search and rescue, and were met with heavy fire and intense heat. During the search, personnel located&nbsp;Aguirre-Ortega and Aguirre-Abarca. After retrieving them from the home, fire personnel were joined by EMS to begin life-saving measures.

The victims were loaded into ambulances and care was transferred to EMS. Just before 3a.m., the City of Holcomb Fire Department was requested to provide mutual aid. Personnel reentered the residence to complete the primary search and fire attack.

Additional fire was located in the attic and extinguished. The fire was called under control at 3:22 a.m. and turned over to Garden City Fire Investigators.

In addition to the deaths, three victims were treated for smoke inhalation, and one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696551997925.png" alt="Cresenciano&nbsp; Aguirre-Ortega photo courtesy Robson Funeral Home" />
 <figcaption>Cresenciano&nbsp; Aguirre-Ortega photo courtesy Robson Funeral Home</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —The victims who died in the southwest Kansas house fire have been identified as 53-year-old&nbsp;Cresenciano Aguirre-Ortega and 24-year-old&nbsp; Viridiana Aguirre-Abarca, according to Garden City Fire Marshal Gene Robertson.The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental due to unattended cooking.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696552076275.png" alt="Viridiana Aguirre-Abarca-photo Robson Funeral Home" />
 <figcaption>Viridiana Aguirre-Abarca-photo Robson Funeral Home</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, fire crews were dispatched to the report of a house fire with possible trapped individuals at 613 N. 9th Street, Garden City, according to a media release.First arriving crews found a multi-story residence with heavy fire and visible smoke. Firefighters made contact with three victims in the front yard who alerted them of additional victims inside.Personnel entered the house to begin fire attack and search and rescue, and were met with heavy fire and intense heat. During the search, personnel located&nbsp;Aguirre-Ortega and Aguirre-Abarca. After retrieving them from the home, fire personnel were joined by EMS to begin life-saving measures.The victims were loaded into ambulances and care was transferred to EMS. Just before 3a.m., the City of Holcomb Fire Department was requested to provide mutual aid. Personnel reentered the residence to complete the primary search and fire attack.Additional fire was located in the attic and extinguished. The fire was called under control at 3:22 a.m. and turned over to Garden City Fire Investigators.In addition to the deaths, three victims were treated for smoke inhalation, and one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.

Fire Marshal IDs Kan. victims in fire blamed on unattended cooking 

By&nbsp;<a href="http://www.defense.gov/News/Author/42773/c-todd-lopez/">C. Todd Lopez</a>

An American F-16 fighter aircraft shot down a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle that had been observed conducting airstrikes in a U.S.-restricted operating zone about a kilometer from U.S. forces in Syria Thursday.

During a phone call between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, the two leaders discussed the incident and agreed that while it is regrettable, the focus must remain on the important mission to defeat ISIS in Syria, said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder during a media briefing Thursday.

"The secretary reaffirmed that the United States remains in Syria exclusively in support of the campaign to defeat ISIS," Ryder said. "The secretary also acknowledged Turkey's legitimate security concerns and underscored the importance of close coordination between the United States and Turkey to prevent any risk to U.S. forces or the global coalition’s defeat-ISIS mission."&nbsp;

At around 7:30 a.m. local time, U.S. forces observed UAVs conducting airstrikes in the vicinity of Hasakah, Syria, Ryder said. Some of the strikes were inside a declared U.S.-restricted operating zone.

"At approximately 11:30 local time, a Turkish UAV reentered the ROZ on a heading toward where U.S. forces were located," Ryder said. "U.S. commanders assessed that the UAV, which was now less than a half a kilometer from U.S. forces, to be a potential threat, and U.S. F-16 fighters subsequently shot down the UAV in self-defense at approximately 11:40 local time."&nbsp;

No U.S. forces were injured, Ryder said, also adding there is no indication that Turkey had intentionally been targeting U.S. forces.&nbsp;

"It's a regrettable incident, but U.S. commanders on the ground did assess that there was a potential threat and so they took prudent action in this scenario," Ryder said. "But again, the secretary has talked to his counterpart. They had the opportunity to have a fruitful conversation and ... commit to one another that the U.S. and Turkey will continue to closely communicate and coordinate. And as I mentioned, Turkey does remain a very important and valuable&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nato.int/" target="_blank">NATO</a>&nbsp;ally and partner to the United States."&nbsp;

In addition to the phone call between Austin and Guler, newly sworn-in chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., also discussed the incident with his counterpart, Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces Gen. Metin Gurak. Those two leaders discussed the U.S. and Turkey's shared objective of defeating ISIS and the importance of following common deconfliction protocols.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696554283148.png" alt="Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder during a media briefing Thursday. courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder during a media briefing Thursday. courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="http://www.defense.gov/News/Author/42773/c-todd-lopez/">C. Todd Lopez</a>An American F-16 fighter aircraft shot down a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle that had been observed conducting airstrikes in a U.S.-restricted operating zone about a kilometer from U.S. forces in Syria Thursday.During a phone call between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, the two leaders discussed the incident and agreed that while it is regrettable, the focus must remain on the important mission to defeat ISIS in Syria, said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder during a media briefing Thursday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I called Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler (<a href="https://twitter.com/tcsavunma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tcsavunma</a>) today to discuss national security and defense-related matters of mutual interest. I reiterated U.S. commitment to continue working together to defeat ISIS and ensure security and stability in the region.…&mdash; Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1710028976465252425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"The secretary reaffirmed that the United States remains in Syria exclusively in support of the campaign to defeat ISIS," Ryder said. "The secretary also acknowledged Turkey's legitimate security concerns and underscored the importance of close coordination between the United States and Turkey to prevent any risk to U.S. forces or the global coalition’s defeat-ISIS mission."&nbsp;At around 7:30 a.m. local time, U.S. forces observed UAVs conducting airstrikes in the vicinity of Hasakah, Syria, Ryder said. Some of the strikes were inside a declared U.S.-restricted operating zone."At approximately 11:30 local time, a Turkish UAV reentered the ROZ on a heading toward where U.S. forces were located," Ryder said. "U.S. commanders assessed that the UAV, which was now less than a half a kilometer from U.S. forces, to be a potential threat, and U.S. F-16 fighters subsequently shot down the UAV in self-defense at approximately 11:40 local time."&nbsp;No U.S. forces were injured, Ryder said, also adding there is no indication that Turkey had intentionally been targeting U.S. forces.&nbsp;"It's a regrettable incident, but U.S. commanders on the ground did assess that there was a potential threat and so they took prudent action in this scenario," Ryder said. "But again, the secretary has talked to his counterpart. They had the opportunity to have a fruitful conversation and ... commit to one another that the U.S. and Turkey will continue to closely communicate and coordinate. And as I mentioned, Turkey does remain a very important and valuable&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nato.int/" target="_blank">NATO</a>&nbsp;ally and partner to the United States."&nbsp;In addition to the phone call between Austin and Guler, newly sworn-in chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., also discussed the incident with his counterpart, Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces Gen. Metin Gurak. Those two leaders discussed the U.S. and Turkey's shared objective of defeating ISIS and the importance of following common deconfliction protocols.

Focus remains on defeat of ISIS after U.S. shoots down drone over Syria

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

Just before 11p.m. Sept. 30, a sheriff's deputy was searching for an individual who had a Hiawatha Police Department warrant in the vicinity of 207 Lodge Road, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

The deputy located the wanted suspect 25-year-old Elaine Moore&nbsp; in a bathroom&nbsp; at Fairbridge Inn.&nbsp;

A search warrant was obtained for Room 312 at 207 Lodge Road.&nbsp; Upon completion of the warrant deputies arrested Moore of Hiawatha on requested charges of&nbsp;charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Obstruction and the Failure to Appear Warrant. 

They also arrested 34-year-old Kevin Hall of Hiawatha on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possion of Drug Paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696368734572.png" alt="Hall-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Hall-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.Just before 11p.m. Sept. 30, a sheriff's deputy was searching for an individual who had a Hiawatha Police Department warrant in the vicinity of 207 Lodge Road, according to Sheriff John Merchant.The deputy located the wanted suspect 25-year-old Elaine Moore&nbsp; in a bathroom&nbsp; at Fairbridge Inn.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696368709554.png" alt="Moore-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Moore-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A search warrant was obtained for Room 312 at 207 Lodge Road.&nbsp; Upon completion of the warrant deputies arrested Moore of Hiawatha on requested charges of&nbsp;charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Obstruction and the Failure to Appear Warrant. They also arrested 34-year-old Kevin Hall of Hiawatha on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possion of Drug Paraphernalia.

Deputy finds wanted Kansas drug suspect in motel bathroom

LANSING, KAN. – Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) resident Michael Aineta died Wednesday after being transported to the KU Medical Center where hospital staff pronounced him dead, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Aineta, 40, was serving a 190-month sentence for one count of rape and one count of criminal sodomy convictions involving a victim under the age of 14 in Seward County.

He had been listed as a registered sex offender since December of 2022.&nbsp; He was originally assigned to the El Dorado Correctional Facility in December and transferred to Lansing in February, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

 The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696512334107.png" alt="Aineta photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Aineta photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>LANSING, KAN. – Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) resident Michael Aineta died Wednesday after being transported to the KU Medical Center where hospital staff pronounced him dead, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.Aineta, 40, was serving a 190-month sentence for one count of rape and one count of criminal sodomy convictions involving a victim under the age of 14 in Seward County.He had been listed as a registered sex offender since December of 2022.&nbsp; He was originally assigned to the El Dorado Correctional Facility in December and transferred to Lansing in February, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp;

Kansas child sex offender dies after 10 months in prison 

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — U.S. Army officials have identified two soldiers killed when their large transport vehicle crashed while heading to a training area in interior Alaska.

There were among 17 soldiers on board the vehicle that flipped when the driver lost control on a dirt road leading to the Yukon Training Area near the community of Salcha, or about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Fairbanks, officials said earlier. Twelve other soldiers were injured.

The two soldiers killed were Spcs. Jeremy Daniel Evans and Brian Joshua Snowden, the Army said in a statement late Wednesday.

Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Combat Team with the 11th Airborne Division.

Evans, 23, arrived in Alaska in January 2021 after completing training at Fort Moore in Georgia. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native joined the Army in July 2020.

Snowden, 22, also joined the Army in July 2020 and trained at Fort Moore. Snowden, a Lonedell, Missouri, native arrived for duty in Alaska in March 2021.

“This is an incredible loss for all of us across the division,” Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division, said in the statement.

“While we’re always challenged by the environment, we’re Arctic Angels, we overcome these challenges and accomplish our mission by being a team, and teams take care of one another, especially in times like these,” Eifler said.

Among the 12 other soldiers injured, eight were treated and released the same day from Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, the Army said. Two injured soldiers remain in stable condition in Fairbanks.

Two other soldiers who were taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage were also in stable condition, officials said.

The accident remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696538573987.png" alt="Spc. Brian Joshua Snowden -photo U.S. Army&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Spc. Brian Joshua Snowden -photo U.S. Army&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — U.S. Army officials have identified two soldiers killed when their large transport vehicle crashed while heading to a training area in interior Alaska.There were among 17 soldiers on board the vehicle that flipped when the driver lost control on a dirt road leading to the Yukon Training Area near the community of Salcha, or about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Fairbanks, officials said earlier. Twelve other soldiers were injured.The two soldiers killed were Spcs. Jeremy Daniel Evans and Brian Joshua Snowden, the Army said in a statement late Wednesday.Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Combat Team with the 11th Airborne Division.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696538650360.png" alt="Spc. Jeremy Daniel Evans-photo U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Spc. Jeremy Daniel Evans-photo U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>Evans, 23, arrived in Alaska in January 2021 after completing training at Fort Moore in Georgia. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native joined the Army in July 2020.Snowden, 22, also joined the Army in July 2020 and trained at Fort Moore. Snowden, a Lonedell, Missouri, native arrived for duty in Alaska in March 2021.“This is an incredible loss for all of us across the division,” Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division, said in the statement.“While we’re always challenged by the environment, we’re Arctic Angels, we overcome these challenges and accomplish our mission by being a team, and teams take care of one another, especially in times like these,” Eifler said.Among the 12 other soldiers injured, eight were treated and released the same day from Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, the Army said. Two injured soldiers remain in stable condition in Fairbanks.Two other soldiers who were taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage were also in stable condition, officials said.The accident remains under investigation.

Army IDs Missouri soldier as 1 of 2 who died in training accident

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp;continue to investigate a hit-and-run collision that fatally injured 49-year-old Paul Piepmeier of Wichita.

Just after 2a.m. September 30, police were dispatched to the 4500 block of South Broadway Avenue in Wichita for a vehicle vs. pedestrian collision, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

First responders located Piepmeier unconscious and with multiple injuries.&nbsp; EMS transported him to a local hospital in critical condition. He was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.

The investigation revealed Piepmeier entered the street when he was struck by southbound dark-colored SUV.&nbsp;&nbsp;Detectives are asking for help to&nbsp;identify the driver and locate the vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696522499514.png" alt="Security camera images Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Security camera images Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp;continue to investigate a hit-and-run collision that fatally injured 49-year-old Paul Piepmeier of Wichita.Just after 2a.m. September 30, police were dispatched to the 4500 block of South Broadway Avenue in Wichita for a vehicle vs. pedestrian collision, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696522750920.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located Piepmeier unconscious and with multiple injuries.&nbsp; EMS transported him to a local hospital in critical condition. He was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.The investigation revealed Piepmeier entered the street when he was struck by southbound dark-colored SUV.&nbsp;&nbsp;Detectives are asking for help to&nbsp;identify the driver and locate the vehicle.

Police ask for help to ID suspect in fatal Kan. hit-and-run

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce continue to dominate the headlines in the football and entertainment world. The birding community has been chasing its own star. Last week, an American flamingo was spotted at Chase County State Fishing Lake near Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Kansas Wetlands Education Center Director Curtis Wolf said it's only the third time a flamingo has been spotted in Kansas, and the first time in 50 years.

"One of those first sightings is actually at Quivira," he said. "They had, I think it was multiple birds that were there in the 1920s. Strangely enough, one of those was actually shot and mounted. There's a mount down at Quivira of this flamingo that was taken there at Quivira."

Hurricane Idalia moved through the Florida region at the end of August, and it is believed that storm displaced many bird species. Flamingos have been spotted as far north as Wisconsin, Missouri, and now Kansas.

"I think at one time they were a lot more common down in the Everglades area of Florida," said Wolf. "In the United States, that's the only place you can see them. I don't think they're real common there anymore."

  Bird enthusiasts have flocked to the lake in Chase County to take photos of the flamingo and cross it off their birding list. Wolf said the bird will not survive a Kansas winter, so the hope is its time in Kansas is just a brief layover.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696337625379.jpeg" alt="An American flamingo was spotted in Chase County last week, the first of its kind in Kansas in 50 years. (photo by Jarrett Thurman)" />
 <figcaption>An American flamingo was spotted in Chase County last week, the first of its kind in Kansas in 50 years. (photo by Jarrett Thurman)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce continue to dominate the headlines in the football and entertainment world. The birding community has been chasing its own star. Last week, an American flamingo was spotted at Chase County State Fishing Lake near Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Kansas Wetlands Education Center Director Curtis Wolf said it's only the third time a flamingo has been spotted in Kansas, and the first time in 50 years."One of those first sightings is actually at Quivira," he said. "They had, I think it was multiple birds that were there in the 1920s. Strangely enough, one of those was actually shot and mounted. There's a mount down at Quivira of this flamingo that was taken there at Quivira."Hurricane Idalia moved through the Florida region at the end of August, and it is believed that storm displaced many bird species. Flamingos have been spotted as far north as Wisconsin, Missouri, and now Kansas."I think at one time they were a lot more common down in the Everglades area of Florida," said Wolf. "In the United States, that's the only place you can see them. I don't think they're real common there anymore." Bird enthusiasts have flocked to the lake in Chase County to take photos of the flamingo and cross it off their birding list. Wolf said the bird will not survive a Kansas winter, so the hope is its time in Kansas is just a brief layover.

Bird chasers enjoying craze of flamingo spotted in Kansas

Regulators will hold a hearing on the agreement on Monday.

By ALLISON KITE, <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/10/04/evergy-regulators-near-deal-on-kansas-electric-rates/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Evergy is close to a deal with state regulators that would reduce electric rates in the Kansas City area and raise costs for the company’s other Kansas customers.

If the deal is approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission, Evergy’s Kansas Central territory —&nbsp;including Topeka, Manhattan and Wichita —&nbsp;would see rates increase by 4.05%, about $4.64 per month. Customers on the Kansas side of the Kansas City metro would see a 4.75% decrease, or about $6.07.

The deal,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investors.evergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/evergy-reaches-unanimous-settlement-parties-kansas-rate-case">announced late Friday</a>, is a major departure from the rate increases Evergy requested: a 9.7% increase for Kansas Central and a 1.95% increase for the metro.

“This settlement is a very strong result for our customers,” Evergy’s president and CEO, David Campbell, said in a news release.&nbsp;

Evergy serves 1.6 million electric customers in Kansas and Missouri. It formed from the merger of Kansas City Power &amp; Light, which supplied energy to the metro area, and Westar, which covered most of the rest of eastern and central Kansas, in 2018. Since then, it has been under a rate moratorium as a condition of the merger. This&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/11/evergy-requests-first-rate-increase-in-five-years-rates-outside-kansas-city-would-jump-10/">rate case</a>, filed with the Kansas Corporation Commission in April, is the first in five years.

In its April filing,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/portal/kscc/PSC/DocketDetails.aspx?DocketId=e82552a6-1ad1-472b-a482-162270692d33">Evergy requested rate increases</a>&nbsp;in both of its Kansas territories that would bring in a combined $218 million to the company.

For Kansas Central customers, Evergy’s request would have increased bills by $14.24. Kansas City-area customers would have seen bills jump by $3.47.

But staff of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/11/evergy-requests-first-rate-increase-in-five-years-rates-outside-kansas-city-would-jump-10/">Kansas Corporation Commission said Evergy’s request was too steep</a>.

In a filing in August, the commission’s staff recommended only a 1.66% increase for Kansas Central and a 7.32% drop for the Kansas City metro. Under staff’s recommendation, Evergy would have seen an overall decline of $40 million.

The settlement deal filed with regulators last week lands in the middle.&nbsp;

The deal —supported by Evergy, the commission staff and numerous consumer, environmental and business groups —&nbsp;still has to be approved by the commission.

If approved, the rate changes in the deal would bring in another $41 million for Evergy, less than one-fifth of the revenue it hoped to bring in from customers.

In a filing in support of the negotiated deal, Justin Grady, who works in the utilities division of the Kansas Corporation Commission, said the compromise includes “just and reasonable rates, is in the public interest and is supported by substantial competent evidence in the record.”&nbsp;

Noting the wide variety of interest groups that signed onto the deal, Grady wrote, “the fact that these varied interests were able to collaborate and present a unanimous resolution … strongly indicates the public interest standard has been met.”&nbsp;

The three-member Kansas Corporation Commission is expected to hold a hearing about the deal Monday and decide whether to approve it by December.

While this rate case could soon be settled, another one is likely to follow soon.

Normally, utilities file general rate cases every few years, but Evergy requested permission to file another one next year to deal with the spike in demand expected from the Panasonic plant planned in DeSoto.&nbsp;

According to filings with the KCC, the Panasonic plant is expected to use twice as much energy as Evergy’s largest current commercial customer. The plant, which will produce batteries for electric vehicles, requires an amount of energy Evergy likened to a small city.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687004047927.png" alt=" Evergy headquarters in downtown Topeka (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)." />
 <figcaption> Evergy headquarters in downtown Topeka (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Regulators will hold a hearing on the agreement on Monday.</h2>By ALLISON KITE, <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/10/04/evergy-regulators-near-deal-on-kansas-electric-rates/">Kansas Reflector</a>Evergy is close to a deal with state regulators that would reduce electric rates in the Kansas City area and raise costs for the company’s other Kansas customers.If the deal is approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission, Evergy’s Kansas Central territory —&nbsp;including Topeka, Manhattan and Wichita —&nbsp;would see rates increase by 4.05%, about $4.64 per month. Customers on the Kansas side of the Kansas City metro would see a 4.75% decrease, or about $6.07.The deal,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investors.evergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/evergy-reaches-unanimous-settlement-parties-kansas-rate-case">announced late Friday</a>, is a major departure from the rate increases Evergy requested: a 9.7% increase for Kansas Central and a 1.95% increase for the metro.“This settlement is a very strong result for our customers,” Evergy’s president and CEO, David Campbell, said in a news release.&nbsp;Evergy serves 1.6 million electric customers in Kansas and Missouri. It formed from the merger of Kansas City Power &amp; Light, which supplied energy to the metro area, and Westar, which covered most of the rest of eastern and central Kansas, in 2018. Since then, it has been under a rate moratorium as a condition of the merger. This&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/11/evergy-requests-first-rate-increase-in-five-years-rates-outside-kansas-city-would-jump-10/">rate case</a>, filed with the Kansas Corporation Commission in April, is the first in five years.In its April filing,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/portal/kscc/PSC/DocketDetails.aspx?DocketId=e82552a6-1ad1-472b-a482-162270692d33">Evergy requested rate increases</a>&nbsp;in both of its Kansas territories that would bring in a combined $218 million to the company.For Kansas Central customers, Evergy’s request would have increased bills by $14.24. Kansas City-area customers would have seen bills jump by $3.47.But staff of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/11/evergy-requests-first-rate-increase-in-five-years-rates-outside-kansas-city-would-jump-10/">Kansas Corporation Commission said Evergy’s request was too steep</a>.In a filing in August, the commission’s staff recommended only a 1.66% increase for Kansas Central and a 7.32% drop for the Kansas City metro. Under staff’s recommendation, Evergy would have seen an overall decline of $40 million.The settlement deal filed with regulators last week lands in the middle.&nbsp;The deal —supported by Evergy, the commission staff and numerous consumer, environmental and business groups —&nbsp;still has to be approved by the commission.If approved, the rate changes in the deal would bring in another $41 million for Evergy, less than one-fifth of the revenue it hoped to bring in from customers.In a filing in support of the negotiated deal, Justin Grady, who works in the utilities division of the Kansas Corporation Commission, said the compromise includes “just and reasonable rates, is in the public interest and is supported by substantial competent evidence in the record.”&nbsp;Noting the wide variety of interest groups that signed onto the deal, Grady wrote, “the fact that these varied interests were able to collaborate and present a unanimous resolution … strongly indicates the public interest standard has been met.”&nbsp;The three-member Kansas Corporation Commission is expected to hold a hearing about the deal Monday and decide whether to approve it by December.While this rate case could soon be settled, another one is likely to follow soon.Normally, utilities file general rate cases every few years, but Evergy requested permission to file another one next year to deal with the spike in demand expected from the Panasonic plant planned in DeSoto.&nbsp;According to filings with the KCC, the Panasonic plant is expected to use twice as much energy as Evergy’s largest current commercial customer. The plant, which will produce batteries for electric vehicles, requires an amount of energy Evergy likened to a small city.

Evergy, regulators near deal on Kansas electric rates

By NATE KING Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a couple in Salina in connection with children and drugs.

Just after 6p.m. Wednesday, police and paramedics responded to a 911 call for an unresponsive 1o month-year-old child in north Salina, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Sergeant Kyle Tonniges.

When officers arrived at the&nbsp;300 block of North Penn Avenue they found the child breathing, but somewhat unresponsive.

Salina Police Sergeant Kyle Tonniges said tthat paramedics transported the child to SRHC where the child was treated and released into police protective custody.

According to Tonniges the 911 call was placed by the child's parents. Officers who responded suspected the child had possibly been exposed to drugs.&nbsp;

"At this time we're not quite sure what specific drugs or how that's just what we suspected," Tonniges said. "Our detectives ended up getting a search warrant for this residence, where we did locate some drugs and paraphernalia."

During the search of residence, officers discovered methamphetamine, fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana.&nbsp;

The child's parents, Phoenix Leonard, 28, and Sadie Marvin, 22, of Salina, were both arrested on requested charges of aggravated child endangerment, possession of controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696503830839.jpeg" alt="Leonard-photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Leonard-photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By NATE KING Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a couple in Salina in connection with children and drugs.Just after 6p.m. Wednesday, police and paramedics responded to a 911 call for an unresponsive 1o month-year-old child in north Salina, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Sergeant Kyle Tonniges.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696503928781.jpeg" alt="Marvin -photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Marvin -photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>When officers arrived at the&nbsp;300 block of North Penn Avenue they found the child breathing, but somewhat unresponsive.Salina Police Sergeant Kyle Tonniges said tthat paramedics transported the child to SRHC where the child was treated and released into police protective custody.According to Tonniges the 911 call was placed by the child's parents. Officers who responded suspected the child had possibly been exposed to drugs.&nbsp;"At this time we're not quite sure what specific drugs or how that's just what we suspected," Tonniges said. "Our detectives ended up getting a search warrant for this residence, where we did locate some drugs and paraphernalia."During the search of residence, officers discovered methamphetamine, fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana.&nbsp;The child's parents, Phoenix Leonard, 28, and Sadie Marvin, 22, of Salina, were both arrested on requested charges of aggravated child endangerment, possession of controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

10-month-old hospitalized after drugs found at Kansas home

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatality crash involving a bicyclist and a sport utility vehicle that occurred just before 6a.m.Thursday in Johnson County.

Officers were dispatched to the crash scene in the area of South Lone Elm Road and West 159th&nbsp;Street, according to Olathe Police. First responders found a 28-year-old bicyclist. He was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of the SUV, a 64-year-old woman, remained on scene and is cooperating.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696515388372.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the fatal crash -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the fatal crash -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatality crash involving a bicyclist and a sport utility vehicle that occurred just before 6a.m.Thursday in Johnson County.Officers were dispatched to the crash scene in the area of South Lone Elm Road and West 159th&nbsp;Street, according to Olathe Police. First responders found a 28-year-old bicyclist. He was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of the SUV, a 64-year-old woman, remained on scene and is cooperating.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name.

Kansas bicyclist killed after struck by SUV

WICHITA —A federal grand jury in Wichita returned a superseding indictment charging a Kansas felon with drug trafficking crimes, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Tremayne M. Darkis, 44, of Parsons is charged with a total of 55 counts including one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering, 49 counts of use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in or near a school.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.&nbsp;&nbsp;Darkis has previous convictions for theft and burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696444107427.png" alt="Darkis has previous convictions for theft and burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Darkis has previous convictions for theft and burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —A federal grand jury in Wichita returned a superseding indictment charging a Kansas felon with drug trafficking crimes, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Tremayne M. Darkis, 44, of Parsons is charged with a total of 55 counts including one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering, 49 counts of use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in or near a school.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.&nbsp;&nbsp;Darkis has previous convictions for theft and burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections

Kansas felon accused of selling meth near a school

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The Biden administration announced it waived 26 federal laws in South Texas to allow border wall construction on Wednesday, marking the administration’s first use of a sweeping executive power employed often during the Trump presidency.

The Department of Homeland Security posted the&nbsp;<a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-22176.pdf?utm_campaign=pi+subscription+mailing+list&amp;utm_source=federalregister.gov&amp;utm_medium=email">announcement on the U.S. Federal Registry</a>&nbsp;with few details outlining the construction in Starr County, Texas, which is part of a busy Border Patrol sector seeing “high illegal entry.” According to government data, about 245,000 illegal entries have been recorded so far this fiscal year in the Rio Grande Valley Sector which contains 21 counties.

“There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas,” Alejandro Mayorkas, the DHS secretary, stated in the notice.

The Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and Endangered Species Act were some of the federal laws waived by DHS to make way for construction that will use funds from a congressional appropriation in 2019 for border wall construction. The waivers avoid time-consuming reviews and lawsuits challenging violation of environmental laws.

Starr County's hilly ranchlands, sitting between Zapata and McAllen, Texas, is home to about 65,000 residents sparsely populating about 1,200 square miles (3,108 square kilometers) that form part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Although no maps were provided in the announcement, CBP announced the project in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-moves-forward-rgv-barrier-and-yuma-andrade-and-el-centro-calexico">June</a>&nbsp;and began gathering public comments in August when it shared a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/about/environmental-management/border-barrier-environmental-planning-starr-county-texas-august-2023">map</a>&nbsp;of the additional construction that can add up to 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the existing border barrier system in the area. Starr County Judge Eloy Vera said it will start south of the Falcon Dam and go past Salineño, Texas.

“The other concern that we have is that area is highly erosive. There’s a lot of arroyos,” Eloy Vera, the county judge said, pointing out the creeks cutting through the ranchland and leading into the river.

Concern is shared with environmental advocates who say structures will run through public lands, habitats of endangered plants and species like the Ocelot, a spotted wild cat.

“A plan to build a wall through will bulldoze an impermeable barrier straight through the heart of that habitat. It will stop wildlife migrations dead in their tracks. It will destroy a huge amount of wildlife refuge land. And it’s a horrific step backwards for the borderlands,” Laiken Jordahl, a southwest conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, said Wednesday afternoon.

During the Trump administration, about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-45b59be6a28e4ac68edbd435447f4a4a">450 miles (724 kilometers) of barriers</a>&nbsp;were built along the southwest border between 2017 and January 2021. Texas Governor Greg Abbott renewed those efforts after the Biden administration halted them at the start of his presidency.

The DHS decision on Wednesday contrasts the Biden administration's posturing when a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/proclamation-termination-of-emergency-with-respect-to-southern-border-of-united-states-and-redirection-of-funds-diverted-to-border-wall-construction/">proclamation</a>&nbsp;to end the construction on Jan. 20, 2021, stated, “building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution.”

In a statement Wednesday, CBP said the project is consistent with that 2021 proclamation. “Congress appropriated fiscal year 2019 funds for the construction of border barrier in the Rio Grande Valley, and DHS is required to use those funds for their appropriated purpose,” the statement said. “CBP remains committed to protecting the nation’s cultural and natural resources and will implement sound environmental practices as part of the project covered by this waiver.”

The announcement prompted political debate by the Democratic administration facing an increase of migrants entering through the southern border in recent months, including thousands who entered the U.S. through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-california-border-asylum-seekers-314698bfb5644be8f8f6085ebe9b9b98">Eagle Pass</a>&nbsp;at the end of September.

“A border wall is a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem. It will not bolster border security in Starr County,” U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar said in a statement. “I continue to stand against the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective border wall.”

Political proponents of the border wall said the waivers should be used as a launching pad for a shift in policy.

“After years of denying that a border wall and other physical barriers are effective, the DHS announcement represents a sea change in the administration’s thinking: A secure wall is an effective tool for maintaining control of our borders,” Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said in a statement. “Having made that concession, the administration needs to immediately begin construction of wall across the border to prevent the illegal traffic from simply moving to other areas of the border.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683151099285.png" alt="In January, President Joe Biden stopped in El Paso for his first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border since he became president. White House photo" />
 <figcaption>In January, President Joe Biden stopped in El Paso for his first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border since he became president. White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The Biden administration announced it waived 26 federal laws in South Texas to allow border wall construction on Wednesday, marking the administration’s first use of a sweeping executive power employed often during the Trump presidency.The Department of Homeland Security posted the&nbsp;<a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-22176.pdf?utm_campaign=pi+subscription+mailing+list&amp;utm_source=federalregister.gov&amp;utm_medium=email">announcement on the U.S. Federal Registry</a>&nbsp;with few details outlining the construction in Starr County, Texas, which is part of a busy Border Patrol sector seeing “high illegal entry.” According to government data, about 245,000 illegal entries have been recorded so far this fiscal year in the Rio Grande Valley Sector which contains 21 counties.“There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas,” Alejandro Mayorkas, the DHS secretary, stated in the notice.The Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and Endangered Species Act were some of the federal laws waived by DHS to make way for construction that will use funds from a congressional appropriation in 2019 for border wall construction. The waivers avoid time-consuming reviews and lawsuits challenging violation of environmental laws.Starr County's hilly ranchlands, sitting between Zapata and McAllen, Texas, is home to about 65,000 residents sparsely populating about 1,200 square miles (3,108 square kilometers) that form part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.Although no maps were provided in the announcement, CBP announced the project in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-moves-forward-rgv-barrier-and-yuma-andrade-and-el-centro-calexico">June</a>&nbsp;and began gathering public comments in August when it shared a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/about/environmental-management/border-barrier-environmental-planning-starr-county-texas-august-2023">map</a>&nbsp;of the additional construction that can add up to 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the existing border barrier system in the area. Starr County Judge Eloy Vera said it will start south of the Falcon Dam and go past Salineño, Texas.“The other concern that we have is that area is highly erosive. There’s a lot of arroyos,” Eloy Vera, the county judge said, pointing out the creeks cutting through the ranchland and leading into the river.Concern is shared with environmental advocates who say structures will run through public lands, habitats of endangered plants and species like the Ocelot, a spotted wild cat.“A plan to build a wall through will bulldoze an impermeable barrier straight through the heart of that habitat. It will stop wildlife migrations dead in their tracks. It will destroy a huge amount of wildlife refuge land. And it’s a horrific step backwards for the borderlands,” Laiken Jordahl, a southwest conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, said Wednesday afternoon.During the Trump administration, about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-45b59be6a28e4ac68edbd435447f4a4a">450 miles (724 kilometers) of barriers</a>&nbsp;were built along the southwest border between 2017 and January 2021. Texas Governor Greg Abbott renewed those efforts after the Biden administration halted them at the start of his presidency.The DHS decision on Wednesday contrasts the Biden administration's posturing when a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/proclamation-termination-of-emergency-with-respect-to-southern-border-of-united-states-and-redirection-of-funds-diverted-to-border-wall-construction/">proclamation</a>&nbsp;to end the construction on Jan. 20, 2021, stated, “building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution.”In a statement Wednesday, CBP said the project is consistent with that 2021 proclamation. “Congress appropriated fiscal year 2019 funds for the construction of border barrier in the Rio Grande Valley, and DHS is required to use those funds for their appropriated purpose,” the statement said. “CBP remains committed to protecting the nation’s cultural and natural resources and will implement sound environmental practices as part of the project covered by this waiver.”The announcement prompted political debate by the Democratic administration facing an increase of migrants entering through the southern border in recent months, including thousands who entered the U.S. through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-california-border-asylum-seekers-314698bfb5644be8f8f6085ebe9b9b98">Eagle Pass</a>&nbsp;at the end of September.“A border wall is a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem. It will not bolster border security in Starr County,” U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar said in a statement. “I continue to stand against the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective border wall.”Political proponents of the border wall said the waivers should be used as a launching pad for a shift in policy.“After years of denying that a border wall and other physical barriers are effective, the DHS announcement represents a sea change in the administration’s thinking: A secure wall is an effective tool for maintaining control of our borders,” Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said in a statement. “Having made that concession, the administration needs to immediately begin construction of wall across the border to prevent the illegal traffic from simply moving to other areas of the border.”

Biden to allow border wall construction in South Texas

FINNEY COUNTY —The cause of a deadly fire in southwest Kansas has been determined as accidental, according to the Kansas Fire Marshal's office in a statement from Erin Stillwagon with the Garden City Fire Department.&nbsp; Officials released no additional specifics.

Just after 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, fire crews were dispatched to the report house fire with possible trapped individuals at 613 N. 9th Street, Garden City, according to a media release.

Personnel entered the house to begin fire attack and search and rescue, and were met with heavy fire and intense heat. During the search, personnel located two additional victims. After retrieving them from the home, fire personnel were joined by EMS to begin life-saving measures.

As a result of the fire, two victims died, three victims were treated for smoke inhalation, and one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.

The Garden City Police Department is also conducting an investigation which is standard procedure for victims of a structure fire.&nbsp;&nbsp;Authorities have not released additional details or the names victims

FINNEY COUNTY —The cause of a deadly fire in southwest Kansas has been determined as accidental, according to the Kansas Fire Marshal's office in a statement from Erin Stillwagon with the Garden City Fire Department.&nbsp; Officials released no additional specifics.Just after 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, fire crews were dispatched to the report house fire with possible trapped individuals at 613 N. 9th Street, Garden City, according to a media release.First arriving crews found a multi-story residence with heavy fire and visible smoke. Firefighters made contact with three victims in the front yard who alerted them of additional victims inside.Personnel entered the house to begin fire attack and search and rescue, and were met with heavy fire and intense heat. During the search, personnel located two additional victims. After retrieving them from the home, fire personnel were joined by EMS to begin life-saving measures.The victims were loaded into ambulances and care was transferred to EMS. Just before 3a.m., the City of Holcomb Fire Department was requested to provide mutual aid. Personnel reentered the residence to complete the primary search and fire attack.Additional fire was located in the attic and extinguished. The fire was called under control at 3:22 a.m. and turned over to Garden City Fire Investigators.As a result of the fire, two victims died, three victims were treated for smoke inhalation, and one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.The Garden City Police Department is also conducting an investigation which is standard procedure for victims of a structure fire.&nbsp;&nbsp;Authorities have not released additional details or the names victims

Fire Marshal determines cause of deadly SW Kansas house fire 

ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Simone Biles and her teammates including Leanne Wong of Overland Park, Kansas were far from perfect, and yet nothing could stand in the way of a victory that set a record for both the U.S. women's team and the greatest gymnast in history.

The U.S. women earned a record seventh consecutive team title at the gymnastics world championships on Wednesday night. For Biles, it was also her 33rd major championship medal — across the worlds and Olympics — to make her the most decorated female gymnast ever.

And it's fitting that it came in Antwerp, the Belgian port city where Biles came to international prominence 10 years ago by winning her first world title in 2013.

“It wasn’t Team USA’s best day,” Biles said. "It’s crazy, we still pulled it out. So I’m really, really proud of the team.”

The American team of Biles, Leanne Wong, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely and Joscelyn Roberson&nbsp; combined for a total of 167.729 points to edge second-place Brazil and France.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693184669443.png" alt="<a href="https://members.usagym.org/pages/athletes/nationalTeamWomen.html?id=431412">Leanne Wong,</a>&nbsp;a graduate of&nbsp;Blue Valley High School&nbsp;in Overland Park, Kansas, photo courtesy University of Florida" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://members.usagym.org/pages/athletes/nationalTeamWomen.html?id=431412">Leanne Wong,</a>&nbsp;a graduate of&nbsp;Blue Valley High School&nbsp;in Overland Park, Kansas, photo courtesy University of Florida</figcaption>
 </figure>ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Simone Biles and her teammates including Leanne Wong of Overland Park, Kansas were far from perfect, and yet nothing could stand in the way of a victory that set a record for both the U.S. women's team and the greatest gymnast in history.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On top of the world! 🌎 What a team effort from <a href="https://twitter.com/Simone_Biles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Simone_Biles</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/skyeblakely_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@skyeblakely_</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/kayladicello?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayladicello</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ShileseJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShileseJ</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Josc_Roberson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Josc_Roberson</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/leannewong03?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@leannewong03</a>! <a href="https://t.co/hpUQHGD4hy">pic.twitter.com/hpUQHGD4hy</a>&mdash; USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAGym/status/1709662774270292039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The U.S. women earned a record seventh consecutive team title at the gymnastics world championships on Wednesday night. For Biles, it was also her 33rd major championship medal — across the worlds and Olympics — to make her the most decorated female gymnast ever.And it's fitting that it came in Antwerp, the Belgian port city where Biles came to international prominence 10 years ago by winning her first world title in 2013.“It wasn’t Team USA’s best day,” Biles said. "It’s crazy, we still pulled it out. So I’m really, really proud of the team.”The American team of Biles, Leanne Wong, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely and Joscelyn Roberson&nbsp; combined for a total of 167.729 points to edge second-place Brazil and France.The U.S. team won by a margin of 2.199 points as the final proved to be a closer contest than anticipated after the Americans put up a dominant performance in qualifying to finish more than five points ahead of the field.“We had some mistakes here and there, but just keep going, keep relying on our training,” Biles said. “But I think this team that we have brought this year has the most great courage and fight. ... We had so many emotions going throughout the day.”The U.S. women have won gold in the team event at every world championship that included a team competition since 2011. Their victory in Antwerp broke a tie with the Chinese men for the longest streak of consecutive team titles.Biles now has 26 world championship medals, 20 of them gold, to go with her seven Olympic medals, including the 2016 Olympic title. Her 33 combined medals at the sport’s two biggest events are one more than what Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union achieved.Russia was banned from the event because of sanctions imposed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) as a result of the war against Ukraine. In the absence of their Russian rivals — the defending Olympic champions — the Americans were the overwhelming favorites.But the U.S team overcame an early scare as Roberson was forced out of the event even before it started after she seemed to hurt an ankle while warming up at the vault. She was helped off the mat and subbed by Leann Wong.“My ankle just ... popped,” Roberson said.Jones then kicked off the competition smoothly for the Americans with a Double Twist Yurchenko, with only a small hop. Wong responded to the last-minute call with a clean effort before Biles opted for the slightly safer “Cheng” vault rather than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmFMXk3WQow">Yurchenko Double Pike she performed during qualifying on Sunday.</a>The Americans amassed 42.966 points and were second behind China after the first rotation following the Chinese gymnasts' excellent display on uneven bars.Biles and her teammates then bested their Chinese opponents’ performance on bars as they took the overall lead with a margin of 1.467 points. They increased it a bit further after the beam — despite a sixth-place finish on that apparatus — as Biles made up for the modest 11.700 Wong received by scoring 14.300 with a solid routine.Biles capped off a successful night for the U.S team with a spectacular floor routine rewarded by a 15.166.Biles is competing at her first international competition following a two-year absence. Her previous appearance was at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics, where she was hampered by a bout with a mental block known as “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-gymnastics-simone-biles-twisties-9a0a4d25bb485ab0a2b237c4847f09ce">the twisties</a>&nbsp;” that gymnasts can experience while in the air, and withdrew from several events.Now she's back in the same city that catapulted her to international fame a decade ago, winning the first of her five world all-around titles as a 16-year-old prodigy.“Each and every time you are crowned world champion, it feels a little bit different,” Biles said. “I'm still surprised that I'm still going, I'm 26, I'm a little bit older. It's different, but it's exciting.”Biles, who posted an overall score of 58.732 points, is also the favorite to add a sixth all-around title on Friday, although she will likely face a strong challenge from Brazilian Rebeca Andrade, the reigning world all-around champion. The event finals are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.Andrade led Brazil to its first medal ever in the women's team competition. The French team, spurred on by the hundreds of fans cheering for them, secured their first women’s team medal at the world championships since a silver in 1950.