BY:&nbsp;SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office agreed Thursday to destroy digital files it copied from computers seized during the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/11/police-stage-chilling-raid-on-marion-county-newspaper-seizing-computers-records-and-cellphones/">raid on the Marion County Record</a>.

Bernie Rhodes, an attorney for the newspaper, raised concerns about whether law enforcement had altered a list of evidence from the raid and illegally held onto a previously undisclosed flash drive containing the copied files. He said he had prepared a formal court order to ensure the sheriff’s office followed through with its promise to destroy any evidence that hasn’t already been returned, including photos taken during the raids.

Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody led the Aug. 11 raid on the newspaper office and the publisher’s home — under the pretense that reporter Phyllis Zorn had committed identity theft by looking up public information through the Kansas Department of Revenue website. The computers, cellphones, hard drives and other items seized during the raid were held at a storage locker at the sheriff’s office.

Rhodes said the police department has “zero forensic capabilities.” Because the sheriff’s office has limited capabilities, it acts as IT support for the police department, Rhodes said.

The sheriff’s office used software called OS Triage to conduct searches of keywords on the computers that were taken from the newsroom.

“They describe it to be nobody looked with meaningful eyes at anything,” Rhodes said. “This is simply the dump from the search generated by the use of the search terms.”

On Aug. 16, county attorney Joel Ensey declared there was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/16/marion-county-record-publishes-in-defiance-of-police-raid-and-gets-seized-property-back/">insufficient evidence to justify the raids</a>, and a judge ordered the materials to returned.

But the list of evidence that police provided to the newspaper when it handed items over to a forensic analyst conflicts with the list of evidence that police provided to the district court. One extra item, “OS Triage Digital DATA,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.8thjd.com/DocumentCenter/View/621/Warrant-with-Return-and-Property-Receipt-MN-2023-MR-65">appears in the court filing</a>.

Rhodes sent a letter Wednesday to attorney Bradley Jantz, who was hired to provide legal counsel for the county in the wake of the Aug. 11 raid. Jantz hadn’t responded to Rhodes’ inquiries about the evidence discrepancy.

“Because that drive is still in the sheriff’s office’s custody, that means the sheriff still has access to the Marion County Record’s data — data that is both constitutionally protected and protected by federal and state law,” Rhodes wrote in his letter. “This access is illegal. It also clearly violates the District Court’s August 16, 2023, Order.”

Jantz on Thursday directed Rhodes to talk to Ensey.

Rhodes said Ensey and the sheriff’s office agreed to provide him with a copy of the files they obtained with the OS Triage software, and then physically destroy the flash drive and a backup of the drive.

“In order to make sure that they actually comply with this order, unlike the last order, we’re making them agree to a formal court order,” Rhodes said in an interview.

Rhodes also said the sheriff’s office told him they didn’t share the copied files with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/17/kobach-kbi-looking-into-possible-data-breach-in-kansas-newspaper-case/">independently investigating</a>&nbsp;whether someone breached the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System.

“We have not and will not examine anything from those warrants,” said Melissa Underwood, a spokeswoman for the KBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692291997309.png" alt=" Marion County Record reporter Phyllis Zorn and Sheriff Jeff Soyez stand outside the evidence room where an undersheriff signs over newspaper property to a forensic expert. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Marion County Record reporter Phyllis Zorn and Sheriff Jeff Soyez stand outside the evidence room where an undersheriff signs over newspaper property to a forensic expert. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office agreed Thursday to destroy digital files it copied from computers seized during the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/11/police-stage-chilling-raid-on-marion-county-newspaper-seizing-computers-records-and-cellphones/">raid on the Marion County Record</a>.Bernie Rhodes, an attorney for the newspaper, raised concerns about whether law enforcement had altered a list of evidence from the raid and illegally held onto a previously undisclosed flash drive containing the copied files. He said he had prepared a formal court order to ensure the sheriff’s office followed through with its promise to destroy any evidence that hasn’t already been returned, including photos taken during the raids.Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody led the Aug. 11 raid on the newspaper office and the publisher’s home — under the pretense that reporter Phyllis Zorn had committed identity theft by looking up public information through the Kansas Department of Revenue website. The computers, cellphones, hard drives and other items seized during the raid were held at a storage locker at the sheriff’s office.Rhodes said the police department has “zero forensic capabilities.” Because the sheriff’s office has limited capabilities, it acts as IT support for the police department, Rhodes said.The sheriff’s office used software called OS Triage to conduct searches of keywords on the computers that were taken from the newsroom.“They describe it to be nobody looked with meaningful eyes at anything,” Rhodes said. “This is simply the dump from the search generated by the use of the search terms.”On Aug. 16, county attorney Joel Ensey declared there was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/16/marion-county-record-publishes-in-defiance-of-police-raid-and-gets-seized-property-back/">insufficient evidence to justify the raids</a>, and a judge ordered the materials to returned.But the list of evidence that police provided to the newspaper when it handed items over to a forensic analyst conflicts with the list of evidence that police provided to the district court. One extra item, “OS Triage Digital DATA,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.8thjd.com/DocumentCenter/View/621/Warrant-with-Return-and-Property-Receipt-MN-2023-MR-65">appears in the court filing</a>.Rhodes sent a letter Wednesday to attorney Bradley Jantz, who was hired to provide legal counsel for the county in the wake of the Aug. 11 raid. Jantz hadn’t responded to Rhodes’ inquiries about the evidence discrepancy.“Because that drive is still in the sheriff’s office’s custody, that means the sheriff still has access to the Marion County Record’s data — data that is both constitutionally protected and protected by federal and state law,” Rhodes wrote in his letter. “This access is illegal. It also clearly violates the District Court’s August 16, 2023, Order.”Jantz on Thursday directed Rhodes to talk to Ensey.Rhodes said Ensey and the sheriff’s office agreed to provide him with a copy of the files they obtained with the OS Triage software, and then physically destroy the flash drive and a backup of the drive.“In order to make sure that they actually comply with this order, unlike the last order, we’re making them agree to a formal court order,” Rhodes said in an interview.Rhodes also said the sheriff’s office told him they didn’t share the copied files with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/17/kobach-kbi-looking-into-possible-data-breach-in-kansas-newspaper-case/">independently investigating</a>&nbsp;whether someone breached the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System.“We have not and will not examine anything from those warrants,” said Melissa Underwood, a spokeswoman for the KBI.

Sheriff agrees to destroy evidence from raid on Kansas newspaper

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts from four countries rocketed toward the International Space Station on Saturday.

They should reach the orbiting lab in their SpaceX capsule Sunday, replacing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-private-launch-saudi-arabia-3caf2f6538f3fe6059dfb84e6f627517">four astronauts</a>&nbsp;living up there since March.

A NASA astronaut was joined on the predawn liftoff from Kennedy Space Center by fliers from Denmark, Japan and Russia. They clasped one another's gloved hands upon reaching orbit.

It was the first U.S. launch where every spacecraft seat was occupied by a different country — until now, NASA had always included two or three of its own on its SpaceX taxi flights. A fluke in timing led to the assignments, officials said.

“We're a united team with a common mission,” NASA's Jasmin Moghbeli radioed from orbit. Added NASA's Ken Bowersox, space operations mission chief: “Boy, what a beautiful launch ... and with four international crew members, really an exciting thing to see.”

Moghbeli, a Marine pilot serving as commander, is joined on the six-month mission by the European Space Agency’s Andreas Mogensen, Japan’s Satoshi Furukawa and Russia’s Konstantin Borisov.

“To explore space, we need to do it together,” the European Space Agency's director general, Josef Aschbacher, said minutes before liftoff. “Space is really global, and international cooperation is key.”

The astronauts' paths to space couldn’t be more different.

Moghbeli’s parents fled Iran during the 1979 revolution. Born in Germany and raised on New York’s Long Island, she joined the Marines and flew attack helicopters in Afghanistan. The first-time space traveler hopes to show Iranian girls that they, too, can aim high. “Belief in yourself is something really powerful,” she said before the flight.

Mogensen worked on oil rigs off the West African coast after getting an engineering degree. He told people puzzled by his job choice that “in the future we would need drillers in space” like Bruce Willis' character in the killer asteroid film “Armageddon." He’s convinced the rig experience led to his selection as Denmark’s first astronaut.

Furukawa spent a decade as a surgeon before making Japan’s astronaut cut. Like Mogensen, he’s visited the station before.

Borisov, a space rookie, turned to engineering after studying business. He runs a freediving school in Moscow and judges the sport, in which divers shun oxygen tanks and hold their breath underwater.

One of the perks of an international crew, they noted, is the food. Among the delicacies soaring: Persian herbed stew, Danish chocolate and Japanese mackerel.

SpaceX's first-stage booster returned to Cape Canaveral several minutes after liftoff, an extra treat for the thousands of spectators gathered in the early-morning darkness.

Liftoff was delayed a day for additional data reviews of valves in the capsule's life-support system. The countdown almost was halted again Saturday after a tiny fuel leak cropped up in the capsule's thruster system. SpaceX engineers managed to verify the leak would pose no threat with barely two minutes remaining on the clock, said Benji Reed, the company's senior director for human spaceflight.

Another NASA astronaut will launch to the station from Kazakhstan in mid-September under a barter agreement, along with two Russians.

SpaceX has now launched eight crews for NASA. Boeing was hired at the same time nearly a decade ago, but has yet to fly astronauts. Its crew capsule is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-starliner-capsule-space-launch-delay-5d162444f9e5a753f8eccc7bc54ab5b6">grounded until 2024</a>&nbsp;by parachute and other issues.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts from four countries rocketed toward the International Space Station on Saturday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Liftoff of Crew-7! <a href="https://t.co/fvMpbvDPjU">pic.twitter.com/fvMpbvDPjU</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1695337464024707506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>They should reach the orbiting lab in their SpaceX capsule Sunday, replacing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-private-launch-saudi-arabia-3caf2f6538f3fe6059dfb84e6f627517">four astronauts</a>&nbsp;living up there since March.A NASA astronaut was joined on the predawn liftoff from Kennedy Space Center by fliers from Denmark, Japan and Russia. They clasped one another's gloved hands upon reaching orbit.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Crew-7 is go for launch <a href="https://t.co/9U8d0fQSQo">pic.twitter.com/9U8d0fQSQo</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1695326774283096336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It was the first U.S. launch where every spacecraft seat was occupied by a different country — until now, NASA had always included two or three of its own on its SpaceX taxi flights. A fluke in timing led to the assignments, officials said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crew7?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crew7</a> walks out from the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAKennedy</a>, greeting their family and friends before heading to the launchpad. <a href="https://t.co/k4ZElVRSli">pic.twitter.com/k4ZElVRSli</a>&mdash; NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1695287798155317657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We're a united team with a common mission,” NASA's Jasmin Moghbeli radioed from orbit. Added NASA's Ken Bowersox, space operations mission chief: “Boy, what a beautiful launch ... and with four international crew members, really an exciting thing to see.”Moghbeli, a Marine pilot serving as commander, is joined on the six-month mission by the European Space Agency’s Andreas Mogensen, Japan’s Satoshi Furukawa and Russia’s Konstantin Borisov.“To explore space, we need to do it together,” the European Space Agency's director general, Josef Aschbacher, said minutes before liftoff. “Space is really global, and international cooperation is key.”The astronauts' paths to space couldn’t be more different.Moghbeli’s parents fled Iran during the 1979 revolution. Born in Germany and raised on New York’s Long Island, she joined the Marines and flew attack helicopters in Afghanistan. The first-time space traveler hopes to show Iranian girls that they, too, can aim high. “Belief in yourself is something really powerful,” she said before the flight.Mogensen worked on oil rigs off the West African coast after getting an engineering degree. He told people puzzled by his job choice that “in the future we would need drillers in space” like Bruce Willis' character in the killer asteroid film “Armageddon." He’s convinced the rig experience led to his selection as Denmark’s first astronaut.Furukawa spent a decade as a surgeon before making Japan’s astronaut cut. Like Mogensen, he’s visited the station before.Borisov, a space rookie, turned to engineering after studying business. He runs a freediving school in Moscow and judges the sport, in which divers shun oxygen tanks and hold their breath underwater.One of the perks of an international crew, they noted, is the food. Among the delicacies soaring: Persian herbed stew, Danish chocolate and Japanese mackerel.SpaceX's first-stage booster returned to Cape Canaveral several minutes after liftoff, an extra treat for the thousands of spectators gathered in the early-morning darkness.Liftoff was delayed a day for additional data reviews of valves in the capsule's life-support system. The countdown almost was halted again Saturday after a tiny fuel leak cropped up in the capsule's thruster system. SpaceX engineers managed to verify the leak would pose no threat with barely two minutes remaining on the clock, said Benji Reed, the company's senior director for human spaceflight.Another NASA astronaut will launch to the station from Kazakhstan in mid-September under a barter agreement, along with two Russians.SpaceX has now launched eight crews for NASA. Boeing was hired at the same time nearly a decade ago, but has yet to fly astronauts. Its crew capsule is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-starliner-capsule-space-launch-delay-5d162444f9e5a753f8eccc7bc54ab5b6">grounded until 2024</a>&nbsp;by parachute and other issues.

🎥 SpaceX  sends 4 astronauts from 4 countries to space station

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a brawl that left a man seriously injured and have made six arrests.

Around 11:10 p.m., August 24, police were dispatched to report of a fight in progress in the 400 block of Davis Street in Garden City, according to a media release.

When Officers arrived, they found an 18-year-old man had been beaten. EMS transported the victim to St. Cather Hospital and he was later transferred to a hospital due to the extent of his injuries.

 Through the investigation police arrested&nbsp;Marc Guitron, 23; Braydon Leonard, 18; Evan Collier, 24,Hayden Varner, 16, and two 18-year-old women.

Guitron, Leonard, and Collier are being held on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Interference of law enforcement officer and Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct.

Varner was arrested on a requested charge of Aggravated Battery and released to his parents.

An affidavit for one 18-year-old woman was filed requesting the charges of Interference law enforcement&nbsp; and Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct. An affidavit for the other woman was filed requesting the charge of Interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692981460245.png" alt="Collier-photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Collier-photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a brawl that left a man seriously injured and have made six arrests.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692981398343.png" alt="Guitron-photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Guitron-photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Around 11:10 p.m., August 24, police were dispatched to report of a fight in progress in the 400 block of Davis Street in Garden City, according to a media release.When Officers arrived, they found an 18-year-old man had been beaten. EMS transported the victim to St. Cather Hospital and he was later transferred to a hospital due to the extent of his injuries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692981506380.png" alt="Leonard-photo Finneyi Co." />
 <figcaption>Leonard-photo Finneyi Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> Through the investigation police arrested&nbsp;Marc Guitron, 23; Braydon Leonard, 18; Evan Collier, 24,Hayden Varner, 16, and two 18-year-old women.Guitron, Leonard, and Collier are being held on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Interference of law enforcement officer and Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct.Varner was arrested on a requested charge of Aggravated Battery and released to his parents.An affidavit for one 18-year-old woman was filed requesting the charges of Interference law enforcement&nbsp; and Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct. An affidavit for the other woman was filed requesting the charge of Interference with law enforcement.

6 accused in beating that sent SW Kansas man to the hospital

KANSAS CITY —A man injured in a hit and run in Kansas City earlier this month has died.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just after 8:30p.m. August 8, two SUVs were racing northbound near 77th and Troost,&nbsp;according to Police Sergeant Jacob Becchina.&nbsp;

One or both vehicles struck 66-year-old&nbsp;Jonathan K. Paul who was riding a scooter. Both vehicles fled the accident.&nbsp; Police learned Friday Paul died.

Police are looking for either a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento that turned east on 76th Street after the crash occurred.

 If you have any information please call the 816-474-TIPS Hotline or Traffic Investigation Section Detective Burgess at (816)482-8189.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692994758030.png" alt="Photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A man injured in a hit and run in Kansas City earlier this month has died.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just after 8:30p.m. August 8, two SUVs were racing northbound near 77th and Troost,&nbsp;according to Police Sergeant Jacob Becchina.&nbsp;One or both vehicles struck 66-year-old&nbsp;Jonathan K. Paul who was riding a scooter. Both vehicles fled the accident.&nbsp; Police learned Friday Paul died.Police are looking for either a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento that turned east on 76th Street after the crash occurred. If you have any information please call the 816-474-TIPS Hotline or Traffic Investigation Section Detective Burgess at (816)482-8189.

66-year-old KC scooter rider dies 2 weeks after hit-and-run

KANSAS CITY –(AP) — A Missouri judge ruled Friday that a ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-mental-ce8f5a9ee53768af03c3c65d5331045b">gender-affirming health care for minors</a>&nbsp;can take effect on Monday, as scheduled.

The ruling by St. Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer means that beginning next week, health care providers are prohibited from providing gender-affirming surgeries to children. Minors who began puberty blockers or hormones before Monday will be allowed to continue on those medications, but other minors won’t have access to those drugs.

Some adults will also lose access to gender-affirming care. Medicaid no longer will cover treatments for adults, and the state will not provide those surgeries to prisoners.

Physicians who violate the law face having their licenses revoked and being sued by patients. The law makes it easier for former patients to sue, giving them 15 years to go to court and promising at least $500,000 in damages if they succeed.

The ACLU of Missouri, Lambda Legal, and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-gender-affirming-health-care-ban-lawsuit-9696f0c28b63baf8c52a95448811795e">sued to overturn the law</a>&nbsp;on behalf of doctors, LGBTQ+ organizations, and three families of transgender minors, arguing that it is discriminatory. They asked that the law be temporarily blocked as the court challenge against it plays out. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 22.

But Ohmer wrote that the plaintiffs’ arguments were “unpersuasive and not likely to succeed.”

“The science and medical evidence is conflicting and unclear. Accordingly, the evidence raises more questions than answers,” Ohmer wrote in his ruling. “As a result, it has not clearly been shown with sufficient possibility of success on the merits to justify the grant of a preliminary injunction.”

One plaintiff, a 10-year-old transgender boy, has not yet started puberty and consequently has not yet started taking puberty blockers. His family is worried he will begin puberty after the law takes effect, meaning he will not be grandfathered in and will not have access to puberty blockers for the next four years until the law sunsets.

Proponents of the law argued gender-affirming medical treatments are unsafe and untested.

Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office wrote in a court brief that blocking the law “would open the gate to interventions that a growing international consensus has said may be extraordinarily damaging.”

The office cited restrictions on gender-affirming treatments for minors in countries including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-transgender-puberty-blockers-abd9145484006fea23de6b4656c937da">England</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-norway-not-ban-gender-affirming-care-956221436313">Norway</a>, although those nations have not enacted outright bans.

An Associated Press email requesting comment from the Attorney General’s Office was not immediately returned Friday.

Every major medical organization in the U.S., including the American Medical Association, has opposed bans on gender-affirming care for minors and supported the medical care for youth when administered appropriately. Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year.

“We will work with patients to get the care they need in Missouri, or, in Illinois, where gender-affirming care is protected under state law,” Yamelsie Rodríguez, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, said in a statement after the ruling.

The Food and Drug Administration approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty — a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones — synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone — were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders and for birth control.

The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth. But they have been used for many years for that purpose “off label,” a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat trans patients say those decades of use are proof the treatments are not experimental.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692751118304.png" alt="FILE - Glenda Starke wears a transgender flag as a counter protest during a rally in favor of a ban on gender-affirming health care legislation, March 20, 2023, at the Missouri Statehouse in Jefferson City, Mo. Missouri’s Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey and the families of transgender children are in court fighting over whether a new law banning minors from receiving gender-affirming health care will take effect as scheduled on Monday, Aug. 28. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Glenda Starke wears a transgender flag as a counter protest during a rally in favor of a ban on gender-affirming health care legislation, March 20, 2023, at the Missouri Statehouse in Jefferson City, Mo. Missouri’s Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey and the families of transgender children are in court fighting over whether a new law banning minors from receiving gender-affirming health care will take effect as scheduled on Monday, Aug. 28. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY –(AP) — A Missouri judge ruled Friday that a ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-mental-ce8f5a9ee53768af03c3c65d5331045b">gender-affirming health care for minors</a>&nbsp;can take effect on Monday, as scheduled.The ruling by St. Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer means that beginning next week, health care providers are prohibited from providing gender-affirming surgeries to children. Minors who began puberty blockers or hormones before Monday will be allowed to continue on those medications, but other minors won’t have access to those drugs.Some adults will also lose access to gender-affirming care. Medicaid no longer will cover treatments for adults, and the state will not provide those surgeries to prisoners.Physicians who violate the law face having their licenses revoked and being sued by patients. The law makes it easier for former patients to sue, giving them 15 years to go to court and promising at least $500,000 in damages if they succeed.The ACLU of Missouri, Lambda Legal, and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-gender-affirming-health-care-ban-lawsuit-9696f0c28b63baf8c52a95448811795e">sued to overturn the law</a>&nbsp;on behalf of doctors, LGBTQ+ organizations, and three families of transgender minors, arguing that it is discriminatory. They asked that the law be temporarily blocked as the court challenge against it plays out. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 22.But Ohmer wrote that the plaintiffs’ arguments were “unpersuasive and not likely to succeed.”“The science and medical evidence is conflicting and unclear. Accordingly, the evidence raises more questions than answers,” Ohmer wrote in his ruling. “As a result, it has not clearly been shown with sufficient possibility of success on the merits to justify the grant of a preliminary injunction.”One plaintiff, a 10-year-old transgender boy, has not yet started puberty and consequently has not yet started taking puberty blockers. His family is worried he will begin puberty after the law takes effect, meaning he will not be grandfathered in and will not have access to puberty blockers for the next four years until the law sunsets.The law expires in August 2027.Proponents of the law argued gender-affirming medical treatments are unsafe and untested.Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office wrote in a court brief that blocking the law “would open the gate to interventions that a growing international consensus has said may be extraordinarily damaging.”The office cited restrictions on gender-affirming treatments for minors in countries including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-transgender-puberty-blockers-abd9145484006fea23de6b4656c937da">England</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-norway-not-ban-gender-affirming-care-956221436313">Norway</a>, although those nations have not enacted outright bans.An Associated Press email requesting comment from the Attorney General’s Office was not immediately returned Friday.Every major medical organization in the U.S., including the American Medical Association, has opposed bans on gender-affirming care for minors and supported the medical care for youth when administered appropriately. Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year.“We will work with patients to get the care they need in Missouri, or, in Illinois, where gender-affirming care is protected under state law,” Yamelsie Rodríguez, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, said in a statement after the ruling.The Food and Drug Administration approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty — a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones — synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone — were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders and for birth control.The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth. But they have been used for many years for that purpose “off label,” a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat trans patients say those decades of use are proof the treatments are not experimental.

Judge: Ban on gender-affirming care for minors can take effect Monday

WASHINGTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after noon Friday in Washington County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Nicholas A.&nbsp; Bennett, 39, Manhattan, was westbound on Kansas 148 five miles south of Hanover.

The pickup traveled off the roadway to the east and&nbsp; overturned and came to rest on its roof.

&nbsp;Bennett was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Kinsley Mortuary. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WASHINGTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after noon Friday in Washington County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Nicholas A.&nbsp; Bennett, 39, Manhattan, was westbound on Kansas 148 five miles south of Hanover.The pickup traveled off the roadway to the east and&nbsp; overturned and came to rest on its roof.&nbsp;Bennett was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Kinsley Mortuary. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after pickup overturns

JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming (AP) — The continued strength of the U.S. economy could require further interest rate increases, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Friday in a closely watched speech that also highlighted the uncertain nature of the economic outlook.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?529983-1/federal-reserve-chair-economic-outlook-monetary-policy">Click here to watch</a> Powell's statement

Powell noted that the economy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-economy-unemployment-85ac93672416e7e4115f5c9bd8089754">has been growing faster than expected</a>&nbsp;and that consumers have kept spending briskly — trends that could keep inflation pressures high. He reiterated the Fed's determination to keep its benchmark rate elevated until inflation is reduced to its 2% target.

“We are attentive to signs that the economy may not be cooling as expected," Powell said. “We are prepared to raise rates further if appropriate and intend to hold policy at a restrictive level until we are confident that inflation is moving sustainably down toward our objective.”

"Although inflation has moved down from its peak — a welcome development — it remains too high.”

Powell's speech, at an annual conference of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, highlighted the uncertainties surrounding the economy and the complexity of the Fed's response to it. It marked a contrast to his remarks here a year ago, when he bluntly warned that the Fed would continue its campaign of sharp rate hikes to rein in spiking prices.

“When it comes to another rate hike, the chair still very much has his finger on the trigger, even if it’s a bit less itchy than it was last year,” said Omair Sharif, chief economist at Inflation Insights.

Substantially higher loan rates, a direct result of the Fed’s rate hikes, have made it harder for Americans to afford a home or a car or for businesses to finance expansions. At the same time, items like rent, restaurant meals and other services are still getting costlier. “Core” inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, has remained elevated despite the Fed’s streak of 11 rate hikes beginning in March 2022.

The overall economy has nevertheless powered ahead.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-inflation-federal-reserve-def1e5500e2852bf8ec3621b7270cd61">Hiring has remained healthy</a>, confounding economists who had forecast that the spike in rates would cause&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-system-canada-business-2f3096f01c56c76432dce0a51a9dca24">widespread layoffs and a recession</a>. Consumer spending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-inflation-economy-spending-f68c3a6b3f749fe8038dfbc357bed9a7">keeps growing at a healthy rate</a>. And the U.S. unemployment rate stands exactly where it did when Powell spoke last year: 3.5%, barely above a half-century low.

“He is still very concerned how rapid the economy is growing because that does actually mean, all else equal, we need higher interest rates just to be restrictive," said Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG.

In his speech, Powell did not mention the possibility that the Fed will eventually cut interest rates. Earlier this year, many on Wall Street had expected rate cuts by early next year. Now, most traders envision no interest rate cuts before mid-2024 at the earliest.

Powell said the central bank's policymakers believe their key rate is high enough to restrain the economy and cool growth, hiring and inflation. But he acknowledged that it's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-economy-unemployment-85ac93672416e7e4115f5c9bd8089754">hard to know how high borrowing costs</a>&nbsp;must be to slow the economy, “and thus there is always uncertainty” about how effectively the Fed's policies are in reducing inflation.

The Fed's officials “will proceed carefully as we decide whether to tighten further or, instead, to hold the policy rate constant and await further data,” he said.

Since Powell spoke at last summer’s Jackson Hole conference, the Fed has raised its benchmark rate to a 22-year high of 5.4%. From a peak of 9.1% in June 2022, inflation has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-9ca16040f3824b498a7129e47b65f363">slowed to 3.2%</a>, though still above the Fed’s 2% target.

Powell acknowledged the decline in inflation, which he called “very good news.” Consumer prices, excluding the volatile food and energy categories, have begun to ease.

“But two months of good data," he added, “are only the beginning of what it will take to build confidence that inflation is moving down sustainably toward our goal.”

In June, when the Fed’s 18 policymakers last issued their quarterly projections, they predicted that they would raise rates once more this year. That expectation might have changed, though, in light of milder inflation readings the government has issued in recent weeks. The officials will update their interest rate projections when they next meet Sept. 19-20.

Some Fed officials, including John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, a top official on the interest-rate setting committee, have suggested that the central bank may be nearing the end of its rate hikes.

Many economists have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/recession-economy-inflation-jobs-unemployment-2ad91e65f4c0c79ebd2518e351934605">postponed or reversed their earlier forecasts for a U.S. recession</a>. Optimism that the Fed will pull off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-economy-recession-c08901d250144a322f4c423517112e5e">a difficult “soft landing”</a>&nbsp;— in which it would manage to reduce inflation to its target level without causing a steep recession — has risen.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-economy-federal-reserve-jackson-hole-inflation-892d7da599165d19e9779c9fc456f240">Many traders in the financial markets</a>&nbsp;envision not only a soft landing but an acceleration of growth. Those expectations have helped fuel a surge in bond yields, notably for the 10-year Treasury note, which heavily influences long-term mortgage rates. Accordingly, the average fixed rate on a 30-year mortgage has reached 7.23%,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-interest-housing-real-estate-937725e40ddae95e3d65cd68222f531a">the highest level in 22 years</a>. Auto loans and credit card rates have also shot higher and could weaken borrowing and consumer spending, the lifeblood of the economy.

Emily Roland, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management, is among the analysts who still doubt that the Fed will achieve a soft landing.

“The lag impact of all the tightening that the Fed has done — the most amount that we’ve seen in decades — is likely to bite and tip the economy into a recession," she said. "It’s just taking a while to get there.’’

Likewise, Sonia Meskin, head of U.S. macro at BNY Mellon Investment Management, said she worries that the financial markets are “underestimating the chances of a harder, delayed landing.’’

“Much of the tightening might still be in the pipeline,’’ Meskin said, and the full impact of higher rates might not hit until next year.

Some economists say they think that much higher long-term rates in the bond market might lessen the need for further Fed hikes because by slowing growth, those long-term rates should help cool inflation pressures. Indeed, many economists say they think&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-inflation-interest-rates-economy-jobs-47a78ceb285ac50217ef39e2441112ee">the Fed’s July rate increase will prove to be its last</a>.

Even if the Fed imposes no further hikes, it may still feel compelled to keep its benchmark rate elevated well into future to try to contain inflation. This would introduce a new threat: Keeping interest rates at high levels indefinitely would risk weakening the economy so much as to trigger a downturn. It could also endanger many banks by reducing the value of bonds they own — a dynamic that helped cause the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and two other large lenders last spring.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692976595162.png" alt="Powell acknowledged the decline in inflation from its peak, which he called “very good news.” And consumer prices, excluding the volatile food and energy categories, have also begun to ease.-image courtesy Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>Powell acknowledged the decline in inflation from its peak, which he called “very good news.” And consumer prices, excluding the volatile food and energy categories, have also begun to ease.-image courtesy Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming (AP) — The continued strength of the U.S. economy could require further interest rate increases, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Friday in a closely watched speech that also highlighted the uncertain nature of the economic outlook.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?529983-1/federal-reserve-chair-economic-outlook-monetary-policy">Click here to watch</a> Powell's statementPowell noted that the economy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-economy-unemployment-85ac93672416e7e4115f5c9bd8089754">has been growing faster than expected</a>&nbsp;and that consumers have kept spending briskly — trends that could keep inflation pressures high. He reiterated the Fed's determination to keep its benchmark rate elevated until inflation is reduced to its 2% target.“We are attentive to signs that the economy may not be cooling as expected," Powell said. “We are prepared to raise rates further if appropriate and intend to hold policy at a restrictive level until we are confident that inflation is moving sustainably down toward our objective.”"Although inflation has moved down from its peak — a welcome development — it remains too high.”Powell's speech, at an annual conference of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, highlighted the uncertainties surrounding the economy and the complexity of the Fed's response to it. It marked a contrast to his remarks here a year ago, when he bluntly warned that the Fed would continue its campaign of sharp rate hikes to rein in spiking prices.“When it comes to another rate hike, the chair still very much has his finger on the trigger, even if it’s a bit less itchy than it was last year,” said Omair Sharif, chief economist at Inflation Insights.Substantially higher loan rates, a direct result of the Fed’s rate hikes, have made it harder for Americans to afford a home or a car or for businesses to finance expansions. At the same time, items like rent, restaurant meals and other services are still getting costlier. “Core” inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, has remained elevated despite the Fed’s streak of 11 rate hikes beginning in March 2022.The overall economy has nevertheless powered ahead.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-inflation-federal-reserve-def1e5500e2852bf8ec3621b7270cd61">Hiring has remained healthy</a>, confounding economists who had forecast that the spike in rates would cause&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-system-canada-business-2f3096f01c56c76432dce0a51a9dca24">widespread layoffs and a recession</a>. Consumer spending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-inflation-economy-spending-f68c3a6b3f749fe8038dfbc357bed9a7">keeps growing at a healthy rate</a>. And the U.S. unemployment rate stands exactly where it did when Powell spoke last year: 3.5%, barely above a half-century low.“He is still very concerned how rapid the economy is growing because that does actually mean, all else equal, we need higher interest rates just to be restrictive," said Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG.In his speech, Powell did not mention the possibility that the Fed will eventually cut interest rates. Earlier this year, many on Wall Street had expected rate cuts by early next year. Now, most traders envision no interest rate cuts before mid-2024 at the earliest.Powell said the central bank's policymakers believe their key rate is high enough to restrain the economy and cool growth, hiring and inflation. But he acknowledged that it's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-economy-unemployment-85ac93672416e7e4115f5c9bd8089754">hard to know how high borrowing costs</a>&nbsp;must be to slow the economy, “and thus there is always uncertainty” about how effectively the Fed's policies are in reducing inflation.The Fed's officials “will proceed carefully as we decide whether to tighten further or, instead, to hold the policy rate constant and await further data,” he said.Since Powell spoke at last summer’s Jackson Hole conference, the Fed has raised its benchmark rate to a 22-year high of 5.4%. From a peak of 9.1% in June 2022, inflation has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-9ca16040f3824b498a7129e47b65f363">slowed to 3.2%</a>, though still above the Fed’s 2% target.Powell acknowledged the decline in inflation, which he called “very good news.” Consumer prices, excluding the volatile food and energy categories, have begun to ease.“But two months of good data," he added, “are only the beginning of what it will take to build confidence that inflation is moving down sustainably toward our goal.”In June, when the Fed’s 18 policymakers last issued their quarterly projections, they predicted that they would raise rates once more this year. That expectation might have changed, though, in light of milder inflation readings the government has issued in recent weeks. The officials will update their interest rate projections when they next meet Sept. 19-20.Some Fed officials, including John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, a top official on the interest-rate setting committee, have suggested that the central bank may be nearing the end of its rate hikes.Many economists have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/recession-economy-inflation-jobs-unemployment-2ad91e65f4c0c79ebd2518e351934605">postponed or reversed their earlier forecasts for a U.S. recession</a>. Optimism that the Fed will pull off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-economy-recession-c08901d250144a322f4c423517112e5e">a difficult “soft landing”</a>&nbsp;— in which it would manage to reduce inflation to its target level without causing a steep recession — has risen.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-economy-federal-reserve-jackson-hole-inflation-892d7da599165d19e9779c9fc456f240">Many traders in the financial markets</a>&nbsp;envision not only a soft landing but an acceleration of growth. Those expectations have helped fuel a surge in bond yields, notably for the 10-year Treasury note, which heavily influences long-term mortgage rates. Accordingly, the average fixed rate on a 30-year mortgage has reached 7.23%,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-interest-housing-real-estate-937725e40ddae95e3d65cd68222f531a">the highest level in 22 years</a>. Auto loans and credit card rates have also shot higher and could weaken borrowing and consumer spending, the lifeblood of the economy.Emily Roland, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management, is among the analysts who still doubt that the Fed will achieve a soft landing.“The lag impact of all the tightening that the Fed has done — the most amount that we’ve seen in decades — is likely to bite and tip the economy into a recession," she said. "It’s just taking a while to get there.’’Likewise, Sonia Meskin, head of U.S. macro at BNY Mellon Investment Management, said she worries that the financial markets are “underestimating the chances of a harder, delayed landing.’’“Much of the tightening might still be in the pipeline,’’ Meskin said, and the full impact of higher rates might not hit until next year.Some economists say they think that much higher long-term rates in the bond market might lessen the need for further Fed hikes because by slowing growth, those long-term rates should help cool inflation pressures. Indeed, many economists say they think&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-inflation-interest-rates-economy-jobs-47a78ceb285ac50217ef39e2441112ee">the Fed’s July rate increase will prove to be its last</a>.Even if the Fed imposes no further hikes, it may still feel compelled to keep its benchmark rate elevated well into future to try to contain inflation. This would introduce a new threat: Keeping interest rates at high levels indefinitely would risk weakening the economy so much as to trigger a downturn. It could also endanger many banks by reducing the value of bonds they own — a dynamic that helped cause the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and two other large lenders last spring.

🎥Fed Chair has more bad news for borrowers 

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

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration this week announced a $1.4 billion investment in developing the so-called next generation of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell made the announcement, saying the funding is part of the $5 billion program they hope will help the country get ahead of any future changes in COVID-19.

“This is an investment in expanding our country’s ability to respond to the future variants that we might see coming out of COVID,” Becerra said. “It’s an investment in better protecting all of our community, including those who are immunocompromised, and who don’t respond well to the existing vaccines.”

The $1.4 billion in funding should allow clinical trials for a new monoclonal antibody to start this autumn with clinical trials for a new COVID-19 vaccine starting as soon as the winter, O’Connell said.

“Project NextGen is operationalizing the lessons we’ve learned about the COVID-19 virus to broaden the nation’s medicine cabinet and increase protection for all communities,” O’Connell said.

The Biden administration, she said, expects to announce additional funding for Project NextGen programs before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

An HHS official said the department is in the process of identifying the COVID-19 vaccines that will move into the Phase IIb clinical trials.

Once the vaccines are identified, the HHS official said, the department would be able to “accelerate” their movement into clinical trials since a lot of the preparation to start a clinical trial can be going on before the vaccines are identified.

The HHS official said the timeline for moving the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines to doctors’ offices and pharmacies will be determined by the data and how effective they may be when compared with the current vaccines.

By JENNIFER SHUTT&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — The Biden administration this week announced a $1.4 billion investment in developing the so-called next generation of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell made the announcement, saying the funding is part of the $5 billion program they hope will help the country get ahead of any future changes in COVID-19.“This is an investment in expanding our country’s ability to respond to the future variants that we might see coming out of COVID,” Becerra said. “It’s an investment in better protecting all of our community, including those who are immunocompromised, and who don’t respond well to the existing vaccines.”The $1.4 billion in funding should allow clinical trials for a new monoclonal antibody to start this autumn with clinical trials for a new COVID-19 vaccine starting as soon as the winter, O’Connell said.“Project NextGen is operationalizing the lessons we’ve learned about the COVID-19 virus to broaden the nation’s medicine cabinet and increase protection for all communities,” O’Connell said.The Biden administration, she said, expects to announce additional funding for Project NextGen programs before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.The projects funded on Tuesday include<ul>
 <li>$1 billion for four Phase IIb clinical trial studies on a COVID-19 vaccine. That funding will go to ICON Government and Public Health Solutions, Inc of Hinckley, Ohio; Pharm-Olam, LLC, of Houston, Texas; Technical Resources International (TRI), Inc., of Bethesda, Maryland; and Rho Federal Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>$326 million to Regeneron for a monoclonal antibody to prevent COVID-19.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>$100 million to Global Health Investment Corp., a non-profit organization that is managing an investment portfolio known as BARDA Ventures, referring to the federal agency called Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. The portfolio should “expand investments in new technologies that will accelerate responses in the future,” according to a statement from HHS.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>$10 million to Johnson &amp; Johnson Innovation for a competition through Blue Knight, which HHS said in its statement is a partnership between BARDA and JLABS.</li>
 </ul>An HHS official said the department is in the process of identifying the COVID-19 vaccines that will move into the Phase IIb clinical trials.Once the vaccines are identified, the HHS official said, the department would be able to “accelerate” their movement into clinical trials since a lot of the preparation to start a clinical trial can be going on before the vaccines are identified.The HHS official said the timeline for moving the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines to doctors’ offices and pharmacies will be determined by the data and how effective they may be when compared with the current vaccines.

Biden admin. spending $1.4 billion to study improved COVID vaccines:

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit-and-run and after asking the public to help have located a vehicle and suspect.

According to Kansas City Police,&nbsp; a white 2-door Dodge Challenger with black rims, a sunroom struck a person in a hit-and-run at Westport and Broadway on August 5.

The suspect&nbsp; is in custody in a neighboring state, has been charged and is awaiting extradition.

The vehicle was also missing the driver side headlight following the incident. Police did not release the name of the suspsect or victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691518007764.png" alt="photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit-and-run and after asking the public to help have located a vehicle and suspect.According to Kansas City Police,&nbsp; a white 2-door Dodge Challenger with black rims, a sunroom struck a person in a hit-and-run at Westport and Broadway on August 5.The suspect&nbsp; is in custody in a neighboring state, has been charged and is awaiting extradition.The vehicle was also missing the driver side headlight following the incident. Police did not release the name of the suspsect or victim.

KCPD: Suspect in hit-and-run captured 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating&nbsp; two armed robberies and have made three arrests.

On August 19, the Kwik Shop in the 6300 block of E. 13th St North in Wichita was robbed at gun point by two masked suspects, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

The suspects left with approximately $200 in cash and fled south towards 12th Street

On August 22, another armed robbery occurred at the Valero gas station in the 200 block of S. Hillside in Wichita. Two masked suspects came into the store and robbed the clerk at gunpoint. 

Officers arrived on the scene and processed it and were able to gather evidence. 

From the evidence gathered, police identified three suspects involved with both armed robberies.

&nbsp;With the joint operation of investigators, police officers, and specialty units they were able to locate and arrest 18-year-old Carlos Meraz of Wichita, a 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy both of Wichita for aggravated robbery,

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692913716428.png" alt="Meraz-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Meraz-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating&nbsp; two armed robberies and have made three arrests.On August 19, the Kwik Shop in the 6300 block of E. 13th St North in Wichita was robbed at gun point by two masked suspects, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.The suspects left with approximately $200 in cash and fled south towards 12th StreetOn August 22, another armed robbery occurred at the Valero gas station in the 200 block of S. Hillside in Wichita. Two masked suspects came into the store and robbed the clerk at gunpoint. Officers arrived on the scene and processed it and were able to gather evidence. From the evidence gathered, police identified three suspects involved with both armed robberies.&nbsp;With the joint operation of investigators, police officers, and specialty units they were able to locate and arrest 18-year-old Carlos Meraz of Wichita, a 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy both of Wichita for aggravated robbery,

Police: 3 including 15-year-old accused of Kansas armed robbery 

RILEY COUNTY — A fire at a skilled nursing facility prompted evacuations on Thursday.

Just after 9 p.m.,&nbsp; the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to 2121 Meadowlark Rd. #A 157 for a report of a fire in the building, according to a media relaase.

Upon arrival, crews found a small fire in a resident room in the Lyle House and extinguished it with a fire extinguisher. 

Crews then ventilated the building to remove all smoke.&nbsp; Nursing staff evacuated the residents of Lyle House prior to crew's arrival.&nbsp;&nbsp;One staff member was treated, and one resident was evaluated, by Riley County Emergency Medical Services for smoke inhalation.&nbsp;&nbsp; A total of 19 firefighters responded on 6 fire apparatus with the last units clearing just after 10:00 p.m. Lyle House is a skilled nursing household located in Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community.&nbsp; Loss is estimated at $2,000 to contents and $5,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Manhattan Retirement Foundation Inc. The fire cause is accidental due to a blanket being placed over a lamp.

RILEY COUNTY — A fire at a skilled nursing facility prompted evacuations on Thursday.Just after 9 p.m.,&nbsp; the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched to 2121 Meadowlark Rd. #A 157 for a report of a fire in the building, according to a media relaase.Upon arrival, crews found a small fire in a resident room in the Lyle House and extinguished it with a fire extinguisher. Crews then ventilated the building to remove all smoke.&nbsp; Nursing staff evacuated the residents of Lyle House prior to crew's arrival.&nbsp;&nbsp;One staff member was treated, and one resident was evaluated, by Riley County Emergency Medical Services for smoke inhalation.&nbsp;&nbsp; A total of 19 firefighters responded on 6 fire apparatus with the last units clearing just after 10:00 p.m. Lyle House is a skilled nursing household located in Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community.&nbsp; Loss is estimated at $2,000 to contents and $5,000 to the structure. The owner is listed as Manhattan Retirement Foundation Inc. The fire cause is accidental due to a blanket being placed over a lamp.

Fire at Kan. skilled nursing home leads to evacuation

ATLANTA (AP) — A scowling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;posed for a mug shot Thursday as he surrendered inside a jail in Atlanta on charges that he illegally schemed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3" target="_blank">overturn the 2020 election in Georgia</a>, creating a historic and humbling visual underscoring the former president’s escalating legal troubles.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mug-shot-donald-trump-indictment-839920116a244df3e55bdedf33820a80" target="_blank">booking photo</a>&nbsp;instantly becomes part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mug-shot-donald-trump-indictment-839920116a244df3e55bdedf33820a80" target="_blank">former president’s legacy</a>&nbsp;as he confronts criminal charges in four American cities while seeking to reclaim the White House.

His aides swiftly seized on the image, fundraising off the first mug shot in American history of a former president as representative of the persecution they contend Trump is encountering. His opponents, meanwhile, are likely to use it to remind voters of dangers in electing a president facing dozens of felony charges.

Trump was released on $200,000 bond and headed back to the airport for his return flight home to New Jersey, flashing a thumbs-up through the window of his sport utility vehicle as his motorcade left. Unrepentant but subdued after the brief jail visit, he again insisted that he “did nothing wrong” and called the case accusing him of subverting election results a “travesty of justice.”

“If you challenge an election, you should be able to challenge an election,” he told reporters on the airport tarmac.

Trump’s surrender to law enforcement authorities, the fourth time this year, has by now become a familiar election-season routine in a way that belies the unprecedented spectacle of a former president, and current candidate, being booked on criminal charges. But his visit to Atlanta was notably different from the three past surrenders, unfolding at night and requiring him to visit a problem-plagued jail - rather than a courthouse.

And unlike in other cities that did not require him to pose for a mug shot, a booking photo of him was taken. It depicts Trump, wearing a navy suit and red tie, angrily scowling at the camera, his brows furrowed as he stares into the lens.

Before Trump’s plane had crossed North Carolina, his campaign was already using the image to solicit contributions on a fundraising site. And for the first time since Jan. 8, 2021, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-twitter-tweets-return-49594b9f72c68a309758e19bc9cdce0f" target="_blank">made a post on X</a>, the website formerly known as Twitter, issuing a fundraising plea on the platform that prevented him from using his account after he helped spark the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege" target="_blank">violent insurrection</a>&nbsp;at the U.S. Capitol.

“This mugshot will forever go down in history as a symbol of America’s defiance of tyranny,” said a Trump campaign fundraising email.

He also called into conservative TV channel Newsmax to talk about what he said had been “a very sad day for our country.”

His jail visit created a remarkable split-screen visual during a 2024 Republican primary contest in which he remains the leading candidate, swiping the spotlight at least temporarily from his opponents and coming one day after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/first-republican-debate-2024-elections-gop-89812d5aa1ed6a4ebe7373ff36858250" target="_blank">debate in Milwaukee</a>&nbsp;where eight of his leading rivals sought to exploit Trump’s absence by trying to stand out from the pack.

Trump landed in Atlanta around 7 p.m. and was driven to jail for the booking process. He offered a wave and thumbs-up as he descended the steps of his private plane.

He completed the process in a brisk 20 minutes, providing officials as is customary with his physical measurements: 6 foot 3 inches. 215 pounds. Blond or strawberry hair. And Trump, who for four years in the White House reveled in the title of “Mr. President,” was given the inmate number of P01135809.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692965420915.png" alt="<a href="https://secure.winred.com/save-america-joint-fundraising-committee/storefront/?utm_medium=ad&amp;utm_source=ci_d_google&amp;utm_content=merch_sa&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwoqGnBhAcEiwAwK-OkaZiWlh4S9H_vnsbqb5BElRpCKuPZA0HBkU2HP5hBbBP913L2Y6jeBoCtmsQAvD_BwE">MAGA gear on the Trump campaign web site</a>" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://secure.winred.com/save-america-joint-fundraising-committee/storefront/?utm_medium=ad&amp;utm_source=ci_d_google&amp;utm_content=merch_sa&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwoqGnBhAcEiwAwK-OkaZiWlh4S9H_vnsbqb5BElRpCKuPZA0HBkU2HP5hBbBP913L2Y6jeBoCtmsQAvD_BwE">MAGA gear on the Trump campaign web site</a></figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — A scowling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;posed for a mug shot Thursday as he surrendered inside a jail in Atlanta on charges that he illegally schemed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3" target="_blank">overturn the 2020 election in Georgia</a>, creating a historic and humbling visual underscoring the former president’s escalating legal troubles.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump remarks after Fulton County Jail booking: &quot;If you challenge an election, you should be able to challenge an election. I thought the election was a rigged election, a stolen election and I should have every right to do that.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/RF98T5ghb5">pic.twitter.com/RF98T5ghb5</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1694871700968817018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mug-shot-donald-trump-indictment-839920116a244df3e55bdedf33820a80" target="_blank">booking photo</a>&nbsp;instantly becomes part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mug-shot-donald-trump-indictment-839920116a244df3e55bdedf33820a80" target="_blank">former president’s legacy</a>&nbsp;as he confronts criminal charges in four American cities while seeking to reclaim the White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/MlIKklPSJT">https://t.co/MlIKklPSJT</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mcbf2xozsY">pic.twitter.com/Mcbf2xozsY</a>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1694886846050771321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>His aides swiftly seized on the image, fundraising off the first mug shot in American history of a former president as representative of the persecution they contend Trump is encountering. His opponents, meanwhile, are likely to use it to remind voters of dangers in electing a president facing dozens of felony charges.Trump was released on $200,000 bond and headed back to the airport for his return flight home to New Jersey, flashing a thumbs-up through the window of his sport utility vehicle as his motorcade left. Unrepentant but subdued after the brief jail visit, he again insisted that he “did nothing wrong” and called the case accusing him of subverting election results a “travesty of justice.”“If you challenge an election, you should be able to challenge an election,” he told reporters on the airport tarmac.Trump’s surrender to law enforcement authorities, the fourth time this year, has by now become a familiar election-season routine in a way that belies the unprecedented spectacle of a former president, and current candidate, being booked on criminal charges. But his visit to Atlanta was notably different from the three past surrenders, unfolding at night and requiring him to visit a problem-plagued jail - rather than a courthouse.And unlike in other cities that did not require him to pose for a mug shot, a booking photo of him was taken. It depicts Trump, wearing a navy suit and red tie, angrily scowling at the camera, his brows furrowed as he stares into the lens.Before Trump’s plane had crossed North Carolina, his campaign was already using the image to solicit contributions on a fundraising site. And for the first time since Jan. 8, 2021, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-twitter-tweets-return-49594b9f72c68a309758e19bc9cdce0f" target="_blank">made a post on X</a>, the website formerly known as Twitter, issuing a fundraising plea on the platform that prevented him from using his account after he helped spark the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege" target="_blank">violent insurrection</a>&nbsp;at the U.S. Capitol.“This mugshot will forever go down in history as a symbol of America’s defiance of tyranny,” said a Trump campaign fundraising email.He also called into conservative TV channel Newsmax to talk about what he said had been “a very sad day for our country.”His jail visit created a remarkable split-screen visual during a 2024 Republican primary contest in which he remains the leading candidate, swiping the spotlight at least temporarily from his opponents and coming one day after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/first-republican-debate-2024-elections-gop-89812d5aa1ed6a4ebe7373ff36858250" target="_blank">debate in Milwaukee</a>&nbsp;where eight of his leading rivals sought to exploit Trump’s absence by trying to stand out from the pack.Trump landed in Atlanta around 7 p.m. and was driven to jail for the booking process. He offered a wave and thumbs-up as he descended the steps of his private plane.He completed the process in a brisk 20 minutes, providing officials as is customary with his physical measurements: 6 foot 3 inches. 215 pounds. Blond or strawberry hair. And Trump, who for four years in the White House reveled in the title of “Mr. President,” was given the inmate number of P01135809.

🎥Trump: Travesty of justice, good for fundraising

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an injury crash during a police chase that sent&nbsp;

Just after 7a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to a welfare check in the area of 600 W. 30th Street South in Wichita regarding two individuals slumped over in a white Chevy Silverado, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

A Wichita Traffic Motor Officer arrived on the scene and contacted the driver, later identified as Nichilas Grady Shugart, 41, of Wichita, who then accelerated and drove away, striking and running over the officer’s lower leg.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Wichita Police were in pursuit of a Silverado driven by<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=285885">&nbsp;Shugart</a>&nbsp;westbound in the 2400 Block of 15th Street.

The Silverado ran the stop sign at North Meridan and struck a northbound 2000 Dodge Caravan driven by Alicia Reico, 51, Wichita, on the the right front quarter panel.

EMS transported the Wichita Traffic Motor officer and Reico to a local hospital. Both had non-life-threatening injuries. The officer is being released from the hospital, according to Gupilan.

Police arrested Shugart on requested charges of aggravated. battery, failure to stop at an accident, attempt to elude law enforcement and driving while license canceled of suspended, according to online jail records.&nbsp; Police also arrested a passenger in the pickup 27-year-old&nbsp;Odessa Silcott of Wichita, on requested charges of Possession of Narcotics, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Distribute Controlled Substance, Attempted possession of a Hallucinogenic Drug, and a Probation Violation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692900399480.png" alt="Police on the scene of the crash investigation -photo courtesy&nbsp; KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the crash investigation -photo courtesy&nbsp; KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an injury crash during a police chase that sent&nbsp;Just after 7a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to a welfare check in the area of 600 W. 30th Street South in Wichita regarding two individuals slumped over in a white Chevy Silverado, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.A Wichita Traffic Motor Officer arrived on the scene and contacted the driver, later identified as Nichilas Grady Shugart, 41, of Wichita, who then accelerated and drove away, striking and running over the officer’s lower leg.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Wichita Police were in pursuit of a Silverado driven by<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=285885">&nbsp;Shugart</a>&nbsp;westbound in the 2400 Block of 15th Street.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692920657940.png" alt="Shugart-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Shugart-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Silverado ran the stop sign at North Meridan and struck a northbound 2000 Dodge Caravan driven by Alicia Reico, 51, Wichita, on the the right front quarter panel.EMS transported the Wichita Traffic Motor officer and Reico to a local hospital. Both had non-life-threatening injuries. The officer is being released from the hospital, according to Gupilan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692923986306.png" alt="Silcott-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Silcott-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Police arrested Shugart on requested charges of aggravated. battery, failure to stop at an accident, attempt to elude law enforcement and driving while license canceled of suspended, according to online jail records.&nbsp; Police also arrested a passenger in the pickup 27-year-old&nbsp;Odessa Silcott of Wichita, on requested charges of Possession of Narcotics, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Distribute Controlled Substance, Attempted possession of a Hallucinogenic Drug, and a Probation Violation.

Suspect drove over Kansas officer's leg ahead of crash

WICHITA —Authorities with USD 259 are investigating a violent incident at West High School, 820 South Osage in Wichita on Thursday.

Just before 1p.m., a group of students got in a fight during lunch, according to school district spokesperson&nbsp;Susan Arensman.

 The school went into lockdown to get students away from the situation to keep them safe. Police also responded to assist.&nbsp; A staff member was injured trying to intervene, according to Arensman.

Just after 2p.m., the school lockdown was lifted

The students involved face serious consequences.&nbsp; The school district reported no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692957761798.png" alt="Police on the scene at Wichita West High on Thursday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene at Wichita West High on Thursday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —Authorities with USD 259 are investigating a violent incident at West High School, 820 South Osage in Wichita on Thursday.Just before 1p.m., a group of students got in a fight during lunch, according to school district spokesperson&nbsp;Susan Arensman. The school went into lockdown to get students away from the situation to keep them safe. Police also responded to assist.&nbsp; A staff member was injured trying to intervene, according to Arensman.Just after 2p.m., the school lockdown was lifted The students involved face serious consequences.&nbsp; The school district reported no additional details.

Staff member injured during student fight at Kansas high school

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A former U.S. bishop cleared by the Vatican of multiple allegations he sexually abused minors and teenagers, after a review board under his diocese in Wyoming found that allegations against him were credible, has died.

Retired Wyoming Bishop Joseph Hart, of Cheyenne, died Wednesday, according to the Diocese of Cheyenne. He was 91.

Hart long maintained his innocence, denying all allegations of misconduct. In 2021, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith cleared him of seven accusations of abuse and determined that five others couldn't be proven with certainty.

Two other cases involving boys who were 16 and 17 couldn't be prosecuted because the Catholic Church didn't consider them minors at the time of the alleged abuse. The Vatican decree didn't address another alleged victim.

Hart’s attorney, Thomas Jubin, at the time called some of the allegations “specious,” based on second- and third-hand information and some accusers emphasizing that Hart didn’t physically touch them.

But the Vatican findings disappointed Hart's successor, Wyoming Bishop Steven Biegler, who pointed out that they didn’t mean Hart was innocent, only that a high burden of proof hadn’t been met.

Biegler stood by the findings of a diocese review board appointed after he became bishop that determined six claims were credible. The board included a judge who, as a prosecutor, pursued criminal cases of child sexual abuse.

Hart was a priest in Kansas City, Missouri, for 20 years before moving to Wyoming, where he served as auxiliary and then full bishop from 1976 until his retirement in 2001.

The first known allegations against Hart dated to the early 1960s and were made in the late 1980s. At least six men have come forward in the past several years to say Hart abused them in Wyoming.

Hart’s previous diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph reached court settlements years ago with at least 10 victims. Prosecutors in Wyoming decided in 2020 not to proceed with charging Hart.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692959668846.png" alt="Diocese of Cheyenne" />
 <figcaption>Diocese of Cheyenne</figcaption>
 </figure>CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A former U.S. bishop cleared by the Vatican of multiple allegations he sexually abused minors and teenagers, after a review board under his diocese in Wyoming found that allegations against him were credible, has died.Retired Wyoming Bishop Joseph Hart, of Cheyenne, died Wednesday, according to the Diocese of Cheyenne. He was 91.Hart long maintained his innocence, denying all allegations of misconduct. In 2021, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith cleared him of seven accusations of abuse and determined that five others couldn't be proven with certainty.Two other cases involving boys who were 16 and 17 couldn't be prosecuted because the Catholic Church didn't consider them minors at the time of the alleged abuse. The Vatican decree didn't address another alleged victim.Hart’s attorney, Thomas Jubin, at the time called some of the allegations “specious,” based on second- and third-hand information and some accusers emphasizing that Hart didn’t physically touch them.But the Vatican findings disappointed Hart's successor, Wyoming Bishop Steven Biegler, who pointed out that they didn’t mean Hart was innocent, only that a high burden of proof hadn’t been met.Biegler stood by the findings of a diocese review board appointed after he became bishop that determined six claims were credible. The board included a judge who, as a prosecutor, pursued criminal cases of child sexual abuse.Hart was a priest in Kansas City, Missouri, for 20 years before moving to Wyoming, where he served as auxiliary and then full bishop from 1976 until his retirement in 2001.The first known allegations against Hart dated to the early 1960s and were made in the late 1980s. At least six men have come forward in the past several years to say Hart abused them in Wyoming.Hart’s previous diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph reached court settlements years ago with at least 10 victims. Prosecutors in Wyoming decided in 2020 not to proceed with charging Hart.

Former KC Bishop cleared of multiple abuse claims has died

FDA is warning consumers not to purchase and to immediately stop using Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops – Eye Repair due to bacterial contamination, fungal contamination, or both, according to a statement on the agency web site.

Dr. Berne’s products are distributed by Dr. Berne’s Whole Health Products; LightEyez’ products are distributed by LightEyez Limited.

FDA recommends consumers properly discard these products&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know">as FDA describes</a>. Using contaminated eye drops could result in minor to serious vision-threatening infection which could possibly progress to a life-threatening infection.

FDA is not aware of any adverse event reports associated with use of either products at this time. Patients who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection should talk to their health care professional or otherwise seek medical care immediately.

The Dr. Berne’s and LightEyez eye drop products also contain methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) as an active ingredient. These products are unapproved drugs and illegally marketed in the U.S. There are no legally marketed ophthalmic drugs that contain MSM as an active ingredient.

FDA conducted sampling and testing based on these products’ intended use in the eyes, and due to the industry’s recent manufacturing issues with eye drops. FDA’s testing showed the products were contaminated with microbes and were not sterile. Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, eye drops must be sterile to be safe for use. The table below includes examples of specific microbes isolated from FDA testing.

Dr. Berne verbally agreed on August 21, 2023, to voluntary recall the Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution.

FDA emailed LightEyez Limited on August 21, 2023 seeking to discuss FDA’s concerns with LightEyez products distributed in the U.S. and further steps to protect consumers from using the contaminated eye drops. To date, LightEyez has not responded to FDA or taken action to protect consumers.

FDA encourages health care professionals and consumers to report adverse events or quality problems with any medicine to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program">FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting</a>&nbsp;program:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692928228320.png" alt="Lighteyes.com" />
 <figcaption>Lighteyes.com</figcaption>
 </figure>FDA is warning consumers not to purchase and to immediately stop using Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops – Eye Repair due to bacterial contamination, fungal contamination, or both, according to a statement on the agency web site.Dr. Berne’s products are distributed by Dr. Berne’s Whole Health Products; LightEyez’ products are distributed by LightEyez Limited.FDA recommends consumers properly discard these products&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know">as FDA describes</a>. Using contaminated eye drops could result in minor to serious vision-threatening infection which could possibly progress to a life-threatening infection.FDA is not aware of any adverse event reports associated with use of either products at this time. Patients who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection should talk to their health care professional or otherwise seek medical care immediately.The Dr. Berne’s and LightEyez eye drop products also contain methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) as an active ingredient. These products are unapproved drugs and illegally marketed in the U.S. There are no legally marketed ophthalmic drugs that contain MSM as an active ingredient.FDA conducted sampling and testing based on these products’ intended use in the eyes, and due to the industry’s recent manufacturing issues with eye drops. FDA’s testing showed the products were contaminated with microbes and were not sterile. Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, eye drops must be sterile to be safe for use. The table below includes examples of specific microbes isolated from FDA testing.Dr. Berne verbally agreed on August 21, 2023, to voluntary recall the Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution.FDA emailed LightEyez Limited on August 21, 2023 seeking to discuss FDA’s concerns with LightEyez products distributed in the U.S. and further steps to protect consumers from using the contaminated eye drops. To date, LightEyez has not responded to FDA or taken action to protect consumers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692927782961.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FDA encourages health care professionals and consumers to report adverse events or quality problems with any medicine to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program">FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting</a>&nbsp;program:<ul>
 <li>Complete and submit the report online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program">Medwatch</a>; or</li><li>Download and complete the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/85598/download?attachment">form</a>, then submit it via fax at 1-800-FDA-0178.</li>
 </ul>

Eye drops recall: FDA warns discard these brands immediately

ATLANTA (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;surrendered Thursday on charges that he illegally schemed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">overturn the 2020 election in Georgia</a>, a brisk 20-minute booking that yielded a historic first: a mug shot of a former American president.

He was released on $200,000 bond and headed back to the airport for his return flight home to New Jersey.

<a href="https://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/editorialfiles/2023/08/14/23SC188947_-_CRIMINAL_INDICTMENT.pdf">Click here to read the full</a>&nbsp;indictment

Trump’s surrender to law enforcement authorities has become by now a familiar election-season routine in a way that belies the unprecedented spectacle of a former president being booked, in four different cities, on felony criminal charges.

But his visit to Atlanta was notably different from the three past surrenders, unfolding at night and requiring him to visit a problem-plagued jail — rather than a courthouse — and not in a liberal bastion like New York or Washington but rather in the heart of a battleground state vital to the 2024 presidential election. And unlike in other cities that did not require him to pose for a mug shot, a booking photo of him was taken, according to a person familiar with the proceedings.

Trump landed in Atlanta shortly after 7 p.m. and was driven, through the city's rush-hour traffic, to jail for the booking process. Wearing his signature white shirt and red tie, he offered a wave and thumbs up as he descended the steps of his private plane.

He completed the process in 20 minutes, providing officials as is customary with his physical measurements: 6 foot 3 inches. 215 pounds. Strawberry or blond hair.

The Fulton County prosecution is the fourth criminal case against Trump since March, when he became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-florida-hush-money-election-764309dce49f81a50bf9f610ffd5ceb6">the first former president in U.S. history to be indicted</a>. Since then, he's faced federal charges in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">Florida</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">Washington</a>, and this month he was indicted in Atlanta with 18 others — including his ex-chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and former New York Mayor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-giuliani-georgia-election-indictment-fulton-county-203b1e69cbff227a0bf8cc59a6bb645f">Rudy Giuliani</a>&nbsp;— under a racketeering statute normally associated with gang members and organized crime.

Giuliani surrendered on Wednesday and posed for a mug shot. Meadows, who had sought to avoid having to turn himself in while he seeks to move the case to federal court, turned himself in Thursday. Bond was set at $100,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692924558227.png" alt="Former President Donald Trump as shown in his Fulton Co. booking photo" />
 <figcaption>Former President Donald Trump as shown in his Fulton Co. booking photo</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;surrendered Thursday on charges that he illegally schemed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">overturn the 2020 election in Georgia</a>, a brisk 20-minute booking that yielded a historic first: a mug shot of a former American president.He was released on $200,000 bond and headed back to the airport for his return flight home to New Jersey.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692923629903.png" alt="Former President Donald Trump steps off his plane as he arrives at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Atlanta. Trump is headed to the Fulton County Jail. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)" />
 <figcaption>Former President Donald Trump steps off his plane as he arrives at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Atlanta. Trump is headed to the Fulton County Jail. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/editorialfiles/2023/08/14/23SC188947_-_CRIMINAL_INDICTMENT.pdf">Click here to read the full</a>&nbsp;indictmentTrump’s surrender to law enforcement authorities has become by now a familiar election-season routine in a way that belies the unprecedented spectacle of a former president being booked, in four different cities, on felony criminal charges.But his visit to Atlanta was notably different from the three past surrenders, unfolding at night and requiring him to visit a problem-plagued jail — rather than a courthouse — and not in a liberal bastion like New York or Washington but rather in the heart of a battleground state vital to the 2024 presidential election. And unlike in other cities that did not require him to pose for a mug shot, a booking photo of him was taken, according to a person familiar with the proceedings.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former president Trump arrives in Atlanta, Georgia. <a href="https://t.co/P9iyVsE0BV">pic.twitter.com/P9iyVsE0BV</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1694857602835026097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump landed in Atlanta shortly after 7 p.m. and was driven, through the city's rush-hour traffic, to jail for the booking process. Wearing his signature white shirt and red tie, he offered a wave and thumbs up as he descended the steps of his private plane.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former president Trump arrives at Fulton County Jail for booking. <a href="https://t.co/fXSNtxKkWl">pic.twitter.com/fXSNtxKkWl</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1694866936809885897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He completed the process in 20 minutes, providing officials as is customary with his physical measurements: 6 foot 3 inches. 215 pounds. Strawberry or blond hair.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692701458714.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692906724354.png" alt="Meadows-photo Fulton Co." />
 <figcaption>Meadows-photo Fulton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Fulton County prosecution is the fourth criminal case against Trump since March, when he became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-florida-hush-money-election-764309dce49f81a50bf9f610ffd5ceb6">the first former president in U.S. history to be indicted</a>. Since then, he's faced federal charges in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">Florida</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">Washington</a>, and this month he was indicted in Atlanta with 18 others — including his ex-chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and former New York Mayor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-giuliani-georgia-election-indictment-fulton-county-203b1e69cbff227a0bf8cc59a6bb645f">Rudy Giuliani</a>&nbsp;— under a racketeering statute normally associated with gang members and organized crime.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692827609455.png" alt="Giuliani-photo Fulton Co." />
 <figcaption>Giuliani-photo Fulton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Giuliani surrendered on Wednesday and posed for a mug shot. Meadows, who had sought to avoid having to turn himself in while he seeks to move the case to federal court, turned himself in Thursday. Bond was set at $100,000.The criminal cases have spurred a succession of bookings and arraignments, with Trump making brief court appearances before returning to the 2024 campaign trail. He's turned the appearances into campaign events amid a far lighter schedule than his rivals, with staff delighting in wall-to-wall media coverage that has included news helicopters tracking his every move.The campaign has also used the appearances to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-jan-6-presidential-race-alabama-805ab1fe729b4cc0b7562b7802ad68ef">solicit fundraising contributions</a>&nbsp;from his supporters as aides paint the charges as part of a politically motivated effort to damage his reelection chances. As Trump was en route from New Jersey to Atlanta, his campaign sent a message saying, “I’m writing to you from Trump Force One, on my way to Atlanta where I will be ARRESTED despite having committed NO CRIME.”As afternoon turned to evening, scores of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maga-fans-surrender-jail-atlanta-election-c30e4836e3d9f2c9751cc38a6975c2bb">Trump supporters</a>&nbsp;had gathered outside the jail where the ex-president was to surrender, some waving flags with Trump’s name, as officials tightened security measures.District Attorney Fani Willis has given all of the defendants until Friday afternoon to turn themselves in at the main Fulton County jail. On Thursday, her office proposed an October 23 trial date, though the complexities of the 19-person case — and potential scheduling conflicts with other Trump prosecutions — would appear to make it all but impossible. The date seemed to be a response to early legal maneuvering by at least one defendant, Kenneth Chesebro, who requested a speedy trial.Just ahead of his expected surrender, Trump hired a new lead attorney for the Georgia case.Prominent Atlanta criminal defense attorney Steve Sadow took the place of another high-profile criminal defense attorney, Drew Findling, who had represented Trump as recently as Monday when his bond terms were negotiated. But by Thursday Findling was no longer part of the team, according to a person with knowledge of the change who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.Sadow, who has represented a rapper, Gunna,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/music-crime-atlanta-hip-hop-and-rap-2b84724c182d165c1704c4873e9dc6e8">who pleaded guilty last year in a racketeering case also brought by Willis</a>, said in a statement that “the president should never have been indicted. He is innocent of all the charges brought against him.”“We look forward to the case being dismissed or, if necessary, an unbiased, open minded jury finding the president not guilty," he added. "Prosecutions intended to advance or serve the ambitions and careers of political opponents of the president have no place in our justice system.”It’s not the first time this year that Trump has shaken up his legal team either in the run-up to an indictment or in the immediate aftermath. One of his lead lawyers, Tim Parlatore, left the legal team weeks before Trump was indicted in Florida on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-classified-documents-indictment-miami-court-e9412bb71b63ab1b7cfb8e8b122e9809">charges of illegally hoarding classified documents</a>, citing conflicts with a top Trump adviser. Two other lawyers, James Trusty and John Rowley, announced their resignations the morning after that indictment was returned.Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He said in a social media post this week that he was being prosecuted for what he described in capital letters as a “perfect phone call” in which he asked the Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, to help him&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-georgia-elections-a7b4aa4d8ce3bf52301ddbe620c6bff6">“find 11,780 votes”</a>&nbsp;for him to overturn his loss in the state to Democrat Joe Biden.Trump is expected to turn himself in at the Fulton County jail, which has long been a troubled facility. The Justice Department last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-fulton-county-jail-investigation-6851ae2610d8265ce793abde99695fd8">opened a civil rights investigation</a>&nbsp;into conditions, citing filthy cells, violence and the death last year of a man whose body was found covered in insects in the main jail’s psychiatric wing. Three people have died in Fulton County custody in the past month.But Trump is not expected to spend much time there.His attorneys and prosecutors have already agreed to a $200,000 bond, plus conditions that include barring the former president from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses or victims in the case.When defendants arrive at the jail, they typically pass through a security checkpoint before checking in for formal booking in the lobby. During the booking process, defendants are typically photographed and fingerprinted and asked to provide certain personal information. Since Trump’s bond has already been set, he will be released from custody once the booking process is complete.Unlike in other jurisdictions, in Fulton County, arraignments — in which a defendant appears in court for the first time — generally happen after a defendant surrenders at the jail and completes the booking process, not on the same day. That means Trump could have to make two trips to Georgia in the coming weeks though the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has said some arraignments in the case may happen virtually if the judge allows, or he could waive Trump's arraignment.