KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City-area man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to stealing more than $340,000 by continuing to collect his grandmother’s veteran survivor benefits following her death almost 30 years ago, according to the United State's Attorney.

Jeffrey L. Tyler, 67, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to a federal information that charges him with one count of the theft of government property.

By pleading guilty, Tyler admitted that he spent $340,934 in veteran survivor benefits from his grandmother’s bank account on his own personal expenses. Tyler’s grandmother received veteran survivor benefits based on her husband’s military service. She died on Nov. 26, 1993, but the benefits continued to be deposited into her bank account. The account received $1,110 per month, a total of $13,320 per year.

Tyler was also on his grandmother’s bank account. The bank records show that the money was spent on personal expenses for Tyler, including hundreds of signed checks by Tyler for such items as water and electric bills. The total amount of benefits converted by Tyler was approximately $338,316. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Tyler must pay $340,934 in restitution to the government.

Under federal statutes, Tyler is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City-area man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to stealing more than $340,000 by continuing to collect his grandmother’s veteran survivor benefits following her death almost 30 years ago, according to the United State's Attorney.Jeffrey L. Tyler, 67, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to a federal information that charges him with one count of the theft of government property.By pleading guilty, Tyler admitted that he spent $340,934 in veteran survivor benefits from his grandmother’s bank account on his own personal expenses. Tyler’s grandmother received veteran survivor benefits based on her husband’s military service. She died on Nov. 26, 1993, but the benefits continued to be deposited into her bank account. The account received $1,110 per month, a total of $13,320 per year.Tyler was also on his grandmother’s bank account. The bank records show that the money was spent on personal expenses for Tyler, including hundreds of signed checks by Tyler for such items as water and electric bills. The total amount of benefits converted by Tyler was approximately $338,316. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Tyler must pay $340,934 in restitution to the government.Under federal statutes, Tyler is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

KC-area man stole veteran survivor benefits for 30-years

By STEFANIE DAZIO and LARRY FENN Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Slain at the hands of strangers or gunned down by loved ones. Massacred in small towns, in big cities, inside their own homes or outside in broad daylight. This year's unrelenting bloodshed across the U.S. has led to the grimmest of milestones: The deadliest six months of mass killings recorded since at least 2006.

From Jan. 1 to June 30, the nation endured 28 mass killings, all but one of which involved guns. The death toll rose just about every week, a constant cycle of violence and grief.

Six months. 181 days. 28 mass killings. 140 victims. One country.

"What a ghastly milestone," said Brent Leatherwood, whose three children were in class at a private Christian school in Nashville on March 27 when a former student killed three children and three adults. "You never think your family would be a part of a statistic like that."

Leatherwood, a prominent Republican in a state that hasn't strengthened gun laws, believes something must be done to get guns out of the hands of people who might become violent. The shock of seeing the bloodshed strike so close to home has prompted him to speak out.

"You may as well say Martians have landed, right? It's hard to wrap your mind around it," he said.

A mass killing is defined as an occurrence when four or more people are slain, not including the assailant, within a 24-hour period. A database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University tracks this large-scale violence dating back to 2006.

The 2023 milestone beat the previous record of 27 mass killings, which was only set in the second half of 2022. James Alan Fox, a criminology professor at Northeastern University, never imagined records like this when he began overseeing the database about five years ago.

"We used to say there were two to three dozen a year," Fox said. "The fact that there's 28 in half a year is a staggering statistic."

But the chaos of the first six months of 2023 doesn't automatically doom the last six months. The remainder of the year could be calmer, despite more violence over the July Fourthholiday weekend.

"Hopefully it was just a blip," said Dr. Amy Barnhorst, a psychiatrist who is the associate director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis.

"There could be fewer killings later in 2023, or this could be part of a trend. But we won't know for sometime," she added.

Experts like Barnhorst and Fox attribute the rising bloodshed to a growing population with an increased number of guns in the U.S. Yet for all the headlines, mass killings are statistically rare and represent a fraction of the country's overall gun violence.

"We need to keep it in perspective," Fox said.

But the mass violence most often spurs attempts to reform gun laws, even if the efforts are not always successful.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, had urged the General Assembly in the wake of the Nashville school shooting to pass legislation keeping firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others, so-called "red flag laws," though Lee says the term is politically toxic.

Getting such a measure passed in Tennessee is an uphill climb. The Republican-led Legislature adjourned earlier this year without taking on gun control, prompting Lee to schedule a special session for August.

Leatherwood, a former executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party and now the head of the influential Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm, wrote a letter to lawmakers asking them to pass the governor's proposal.

Leatherwood said he doesn't want any other family to go through what his children experienced at the time of the shooting when they were in kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade. One of his kids, preparing for a recent sleepaway camp, asked whether they would be safe there.

"Our child was asking, 'Do you think that there will be a gunman that comes to this camp? Do I need to be worried about that?'" Leatherwood said.

The Nashville shooter, whose writings Leatherwood and other parents are asking a court to keep private, used three guns in the attack, including an AR-15-style rifle. It was one of at least four mass killings in the first half of 2023 involving such a weapon, according to the database.

Nearly all of the mass killings in the first half of this year, 27 of 28, involved guns. The other was a fire that killed four people in a home in Monroe, Louisiana. A 37-year-old man was arrested on arson and murder charges in connection with the March 31 deaths.

Despite the unprecedented carnage, the National Rifle Association maintains fierce opposition to regulating firearms, including AR-15-style rifles and similar weapons.

"Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' constant efforts to gut the Second Amendment will not usher in safety for Americans; instead, it will only embolden criminals," NRA spokesman Billy McLaughlin said in a statement. "That is why the NRA continues our fight for self-defense laws. Rest assured, we will never bow, we will never retreat, and we will never apologize for championing the self-defense rights of law-abiding Americans."

Tito Anchondo's brother, Andre Anchondo, was among 23 people killed in a 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. The gunman was sentenced last week to 90 consecutive life sentences but could face more punishment, including the death penalty. The prosecution of the racist attack on Hispanic shoppers in the border city was one of the U.S. government's largest hate crime cases.

Andre Anchondo and his wife, Jordan, died shielding their 2-month-old son from bullets. Paul, who escaped with just broken bones, is now 4 years old.

Tito Anchondo said he feels like the country has forgotten about the El Paso victims in the years since and that not nearly enough has been done to stem the bloodshed. He worries about Paul's future.

"I hope that things can drastically change because this country is going down a very, very slippery slope; a downward spiral," he said. "It's just a little unnerving to know that he's eventually going to go to school with kids that also may bring a gun to school."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687710602889.png" alt="KC Police on the scene of&nbsp; the mass shooting at&nbsp; an after hours club near 57th and Prospect Avenue June 26-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>KC Police on the scene of&nbsp; the mass shooting at&nbsp; an after hours club near 57th and Prospect Avenue June 26-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEFANIE DAZIO and LARRY FENN Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — Slain at the hands of strangers or gunned down by loved ones. Massacred in small towns, in big cities, inside their own homes or outside in broad daylight. This year's unrelenting bloodshed across the U.S. has led to the grimmest of milestones: The deadliest six months of mass killings recorded since at least 2006.From Jan. 1 to June 30, the nation endured 28 mass killings, all but one of which involved guns. The death toll rose just about every week, a constant cycle of violence and grief.Six months. 181 days. 28 mass killings. 140 victims. One country."What a ghastly milestone," said Brent Leatherwood, whose three children were in class at a private Christian school in Nashville on March 27 when a former student killed three children and three adults. "You never think your family would be a part of a statistic like that."Leatherwood, a prominent Republican in a state that hasn't strengthened gun laws, believes something must be done to get guns out of the hands of people who might become violent. The shock of seeing the bloodshed strike so close to home has prompted him to speak out."You may as well say Martians have landed, right? It's hard to wrap your mind around it," he said.A mass killing is defined as an occurrence when four or more people are slain, not including the assailant, within a 24-hour period. A database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University tracks this large-scale violence dating back to 2006.The 2023 milestone beat the previous record of 27 mass killings, which was only set in the second half of 2022. James Alan Fox, a criminology professor at Northeastern University, never imagined records like this when he began overseeing the database about five years ago."We used to say there were two to three dozen a year," Fox said. "The fact that there's 28 in half a year is a staggering statistic."But the chaos of the first six months of 2023 doesn't automatically doom the last six months. The remainder of the year could be calmer, despite more violence over the July Fourthholiday weekend."Hopefully it was just a blip," said Dr. Amy Barnhorst, a psychiatrist who is the associate director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis."There could be fewer killings later in 2023, or this could be part of a trend. But we won't know for sometime," she added.Experts like Barnhorst and Fox attribute the rising bloodshed to a growing population with an increased number of guns in the U.S. Yet for all the headlines, mass killings are statistically rare and represent a fraction of the country's overall gun violence."We need to keep it in perspective," Fox said.But the mass violence most often spurs attempts to reform gun laws, even if the efforts are not always successful.Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, had urged the General Assembly in the wake of the Nashville school shooting to pass legislation keeping firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others, so-called "red flag laws," though Lee says the term is politically toxic.Getting such a measure passed in Tennessee is an uphill climb. The Republican-led Legislature adjourned earlier this year without taking on gun control, prompting Lee to schedule a special session for August.Leatherwood, a former executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party and now the head of the influential Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm, wrote a letter to lawmakers asking them to pass the governor's proposal.Leatherwood said he doesn't want any other family to go through what his children experienced at the time of the shooting when they were in kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade. One of his kids, preparing for a recent sleepaway camp, asked whether they would be safe there."Our child was asking, 'Do you think that there will be a gunman that comes to this camp? Do I need to be worried about that?'" Leatherwood said.The Nashville shooter, whose writings Leatherwood and other parents are asking a court to keep private, used three guns in the attack, including an AR-15-style rifle. It was one of at least four mass killings in the first half of 2023 involving such a weapon, according to the database.Nearly all of the mass killings in the first half of this year, 27 of 28, involved guns. The other was a fire that killed four people in a home in Monroe, Louisiana. A 37-year-old man was arrested on arson and murder charges in connection with the March 31 deaths.Despite the unprecedented carnage, the National Rifle Association maintains fierce opposition to regulating firearms, including AR-15-style rifles and similar weapons."Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' constant efforts to gut the Second Amendment will not usher in safety for Americans; instead, it will only embolden criminals," NRA spokesman Billy McLaughlin said in a statement. "That is why the NRA continues our fight for self-defense laws. Rest assured, we will never bow, we will never retreat, and we will never apologize for championing the self-defense rights of law-abiding Americans."Tito Anchondo's brother, Andre Anchondo, was among 23 people killed in a 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. The gunman was sentenced last week to 90 consecutive life sentences but could face more punishment, including the death penalty. The prosecution of the racist attack on Hispanic shoppers in the border city was one of the U.S. government's largest hate crime cases.Andre Anchondo and his wife, Jordan, died shielding their 2-month-old son from bullets. Paul, who escaped with just broken bones, is now 4 years old.Tito Anchondo said he feels like the country has forgotten about the El Paso victims in the years since and that not nearly enough has been done to stem the bloodshed. He worries about Paul's future."I hope that things can drastically change because this country is going down a very, very slippery slope; a downward spiral," he said. "It's just a little unnerving to know that he's eventually going to go to school with kids that also may bring a gun to school."___Dazio reported from Los Angeles.

Grim milestone: New U.S. record for deadliest 6 months of mass killings

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Democratic governor in Kansas is defending changes in the sex listings on transgender people's birth certificates in a federal court filing arguing that continuing the changes doesn't violate a new state law rolling back transgender rights.

An attorney for Gov. Laura Kelly's office also argued in the filing last week that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/sb180_enrolled.pdf">the new Kansas law</a>&nbsp;is discriminatory and “represents a willful failure of the Kansas Legislature" to protect people's rights. It took effect July 1 and defines male and female based on a person's sex assigned at birth for any other state law or regulation, barring legal recognition of transgender people's gender identities.

The state's Republican attorney general, Kris Kobach, argues that the new law prevents the state health department, which issues birth certificates, from changing the sex listing while also requiring it to undo past changes.

The issue is in federal court because of a lawsuit filed in 2018 over a previous no-changes policy. Kelly's administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/kansas-to-allow-trans-residents-to-change-birth-certificates-7409799fb2a144bca2fd90cd46b7ea6c">settled that lawsuit,</a>&nbsp;and a judge's order enforcing the settlement requires the state to allow transgender people to alter their birth certificates. More than 900 people have done so over the past four years.

Kobach last month asked a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-transgender-birth-certificates-f9723de7460ab5fe71b3e80ba7854046">to lift the requirement</a>&nbsp;— and make Kansas among only a few U.S. states that don't allow birth certificate changes. The original lawsuit named only three health department officials as defendants, so Kelly's office filed a request Wednesday for permission to file written “friend of the court” arguments. The judge has not yet ruled on Kelly's request.

Ashley Stites-Hubbard, an attorney for Kelly, argued that Kobach's opinion about the law is “nothing but a political grandstanding that promotes discrimination and violence against the transgender community.”

“It is hard to fathom how legislation that made the discrimination worse, not better, warrants relief,” Stites-Hubbard wrote.

Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee don't permit transgender people to change their birth certificates. Montana and Tennessee also don't allow changes in the sex listing on driver's licenses.

Kobach is attacking birth certificate changes in federal court while also attacking changes in the sex listings on driver's licenses&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-drivers-licenses-kansas-3ad43a98dd96a8eb5864f6cdc19beffb">in a state-court lawsuit.</a>

In the birth certificates case, Kobach argued in a filing last month that Kelly agreed to the settlement before "any definitive legislative statement on the matter.”

“But now that the Legislature has spoken, the agency is bound to execute the law as written,” Kobach said. The Republican-controlled Legislature enacted the new law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-bathroom-law-kansas-b3d068afa2bc02bb15314ee04e8e3899">over Kelly’s veto.</a>

In the governor's filing, Stites-Hubbard acknowledged that a specific section of the new state law says that in its data, the state must identify people as “either male or female at birth.” But, she argued, the law doesn't specifically prohibit recording a change in gender identity or amending a birth certificate.

“Thus, there is nothing preventing any state data set from BOTH identifying an individual as male or female at birth and also identifying them accurately later — that is to reflect their true sex, consistent with their gender identity,” Stites-Hubbard wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689093134824.jpeg" alt="The Kansas law took effect July 1 and defines male and female based on a person's sex assigned at birth for any other state law or regulation, barring legal recognition of transgender people's gender identities. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas law took effect July 1 and defines male and female based on a person's sex assigned at birth for any other state law or regulation, barring legal recognition of transgender people's gender identities. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Democratic governor in Kansas is defending changes in the sex listings on transgender people's birth certificates in a federal court filing arguing that continuing the changes doesn't violate a new state law rolling back transgender rights.An attorney for Gov. Laura Kelly's office also argued in the filing last week that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/sb180_enrolled.pdf">the new Kansas law</a>&nbsp;is discriminatory and “represents a willful failure of the Kansas Legislature" to protect people's rights. It took effect July 1 and defines male and female based on a person's sex assigned at birth for any other state law or regulation, barring legal recognition of transgender people's gender identities.The state's Republican attorney general, Kris Kobach, argues that the new law prevents the state health department, which issues birth certificates, from changing the sex listing while also requiring it to undo past changes.The issue is in federal court because of a lawsuit filed in 2018 over a previous no-changes policy. Kelly's administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/kansas-to-allow-trans-residents-to-change-birth-certificates-7409799fb2a144bca2fd90cd46b7ea6c">settled that lawsuit,</a>&nbsp;and a judge's order enforcing the settlement requires the state to allow transgender people to alter their birth certificates. More than 900 people have done so over the past four years.Kobach last month asked a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-transgender-birth-certificates-f9723de7460ab5fe71b3e80ba7854046">to lift the requirement</a>&nbsp;— and make Kansas among only a few U.S. states that don't allow birth certificate changes. The original lawsuit named only three health department officials as defendants, so Kelly's office filed a request Wednesday for permission to file written “friend of the court” arguments. The judge has not yet ruled on Kelly's request.Ashley Stites-Hubbard, an attorney for Kelly, argued that Kobach's opinion about the law is “nothing but a political grandstanding that promotes discrimination and violence against the transgender community.”“It is hard to fathom how legislation that made the discrimination worse, not better, warrants relief,” Stites-Hubbard wrote.Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee don't permit transgender people to change their birth certificates. Montana and Tennessee also don't allow changes in the sex listing on driver's licenses.Kobach is attacking birth certificate changes in federal court while also attacking changes in the sex listings on driver's licenses&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-drivers-licenses-kansas-3ad43a98dd96a8eb5864f6cdc19beffb">in a state-court lawsuit.</a>In the birth certificates case, Kobach argued in a filing last month that Kelly agreed to the settlement before "any definitive legislative statement on the matter.”“But now that the Legislature has spoken, the agency is bound to execute the law as written,” Kobach said. The Republican-controlled Legislature enacted the new law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-bathroom-law-kansas-b3d068afa2bc02bb15314ee04e8e3899">over Kelly’s veto.</a>In the governor's filing, Stites-Hubbard acknowledged that a specific section of the new state law says that in its data, the state must identify people as “either male or female at birth.” But, she argued, the law doesn't specifically prohibit recording a change in gender identity or amending a birth certificate.“Thus, there is nothing preventing any state data set from BOTH identifying an individual as male or female at birth and also identifying them accurately later — that is to reflect their true sex, consistent with their gender identity,” Stites-Hubbard wrote.

Gov.: Anti-trans Kansas law doesn't prevent birth certificate changes

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that injured a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old.

Just after 11:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call in the 700 block of W. Maywood in Wichita, according to&nbsp; Officer Kris Gupilan

First responders located the two victims parked in a vehicle. The 19-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and the 17-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his upper torso area.

EMS transported both to a local hospital for treatment and they were in critical but stable condition.

The investigation revealed that the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident in the area of Interstate 235 and Meridian. An eyewitness observed an altercation between the victims and a black sedan. An occupant in the black sedan fired multiple rounds at the victim’s vehicle and fled the area.

Police are asking anyone with any information about this shooting to please call detectives at 316-268-4407.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that injured a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old.Just after 11:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call in the 700 block of W. Maywood in Wichita, according to&nbsp; Officer Kris GupilanFirst responders located the two victims parked in a vehicle. The 19-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and the 17-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his upper torso area.EMS transported both to a local hospital for treatment and they were in critical but stable condition.The investigation revealed that the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident in the area of Interstate 235 and Meridian. An eyewitness observed an altercation between the victims and a black sedan. An occupant in the black sedan fired multiple rounds at the victim’s vehicle and fled the area.Police are asking anyone with any information about this shooting to please call detectives at 316-268-4407.

Road rage: Two Kansas teens critically injured 

TOPEKA (AP)—Another Powerball drawing ended with no winner Saturday night, sending the jackpot soaring to an estimated $900 million.

No ticket for Saturday's drawing matched the winning combination: white balls 2, 9, 43, 55, 57 and red Powerball 18. The jackpot was estimated at $875 million.

Ticket buyers for Monday’s drawing have a chance at either $900 million paid out in yearly increments or a $465.1 million, one-time lump sum before taxes.

The top prize is the third biggest Powerball jackpot and the seventh largest in U.S. lottery history, Powerball said in a statement early Sunday.

While there was no jackpot winner, Powerball said three tickets that matched all five white balls Saturday are eligible to claim $1 million prizes, including two in Texas and one in Colorado.

The jackpot will keep growing until someone wins.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">game’s abysmal odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">$2.04 billion</a>&nbsp;in November.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-winner-ohio-252-million-5506023262d64fb54556fb454a478615">last time</a>&nbsp;someone won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one has won the grand prize in the past 37 consecutive drawings.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

TOPEKA (AP)—Another Powerball drawing ended with no winner Saturday night, sending the jackpot soaring to an estimated $900 million.No ticket for Saturday's drawing matched the winning combination: white balls 2, 9, 43, 55, 57 and red Powerball 18. The jackpot was estimated at $875 million.Ticket buyers for Monday’s drawing have a chance at either $900 million paid out in yearly increments or a $465.1 million, one-time lump sum before taxes.The top prize is the third biggest Powerball jackpot and the seventh largest in U.S. lottery history, Powerball said in a statement early Sunday.While there was no jackpot winner, Powerball said three tickets that matched all five white balls Saturday are eligible to claim $1 million prizes, including two in Texas and one in Colorado.The jackpot will keep growing until someone wins.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">game’s abysmal odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">$2.04 billion</a>&nbsp;in November.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-winner-ohio-252-million-5506023262d64fb54556fb454a478615">last time</a>&nbsp;someone won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one has won the grand prize in the past 37 consecutive drawings.Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball prize grows to $900 million after no jackpot winner drawn

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces multiple felony charges for a fatal shooting on Monday morning along East U.S. 40 Highway, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Tyrell Young, 28, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to a business in the 7300 block of East U.S. 40 Highway on a reported shooting Monday morning. They found a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. 

Witnesses told police that Young had come to the automotive business at that location and was irate and threatening to kill a man. Young pulled a handgun at one point. Other witnesses identified Young as a man who had brought a Camaro to the auto business. Video surveillance showed Young arriving at the shop and asking the victim to get ahold of another man. 

Young can be seen walking toward the victim as he talks about a music system missing from his vehicle. Young told the victim to call the man, lifts his shirt in front and seconds later a shot is heard. Young continued to shoot victim multiple times. A handgun is observed to fall from the defendant's pocket.

Young remains jailed on $200,000 cash bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689196225556.png" alt="Young-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Young-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces multiple felony charges for a fatal shooting on Monday morning along East U.S. 40 Highway, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Tyrell Young, 28, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.According to court records, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to a business in the 7300 block of East U.S. 40 Highway on a reported shooting Monday morning. They found a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Witnesses told police that Young had come to the automotive business at that location and was irate and threatening to kill a man. Young pulled a handgun at one point. Other witnesses identified Young as a man who had brought a Camaro to the auto business. Video surveillance showed Young arriving at the shop and asking the victim to get ahold of another man. Young can be seen walking toward the victim as he talks about a music system missing from his vehicle. Young told the victim to call the man, lifts his shirt in front and seconds later a shot is heard. Young continued to shoot victim multiple times. A handgun is observed to fall from the defendant's pocket.Young remains jailed on $200,000 cash bond.

Court docs: Man killed KC auto mechanic over stolen stereo system

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a robbery investigation.

On Tuesday, police&nbsp;located two individuals who were being sought by&nbsp; detectives in relation to a person robbery that occurred in the 2500 Block of SW 6th on March 31, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.

The two individuals were brought to the law enforcement center to speak with detectives. As a result of the investigation Justin A. Ray, 18, and Benjamin T. Unrein, 19, both of Topeka were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Ray was booked on requested charges of Robbery and Theft.&nbsp;Unrein remains jailed on a requested charges of&nbsp;Robbery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689457989460.png" alt="Ray-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ray-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a robbery investigation.On Tuesday, police&nbsp;located two individuals who were being sought by&nbsp; detectives in relation to a person robbery that occurred in the 2500 Block of SW 6th on March 31, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689457890608.png" alt="Unrein-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Unrein-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The two individuals were brought to the law enforcement center to speak with detectives. As a result of the investigation Justin A. Ray, 18, and Benjamin T. Unrein, 19, both of Topeka were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Ray was booked on requested charges of Robbery and Theft.&nbsp;Unrein remains jailed on a requested charges of&nbsp;Robbery.

Two Kansas teens accused of robbery in March

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Friday's storm did considerable damage in many areas of central, southern and eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri.

As of 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, 75 percent of customers affected by the Friday afternoon thunderstorms across the Evergy service area have had power restored, according to a social media report from the company.

More than 186,000 Evergy customers lost power as the storm and high winds moved across Kansas and Missouri.&nbsp;

 All available Evergy and contract line crews continue to work around the clock to restore power and will do so until power is restored to all customers.

 Personnel from neighboring utilities (including from other states) were also in the field with more help continuing to arrive.

Evergy expected outages in the Topeka and Lawrence areas to be restored by Sunday night. 

Outages impacting small groups of customers in the Kansas City metro area are expected to continue into early next week. We ask that customers continue to be patient with line crews as they work through these outages to restore power for customers.

Evergy continue to receive reports of trees in power lines, poles and wires down. Significant tree damage is slowing restoration. On nearly all outage events, tree crews must clear debris from the lines before the line crews can make repairs. "Please keep at least 35 feet away from downed lines or debris on lines."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689462272446.png" alt="Photo courtesy Evergy" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Evergy</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Friday's storm did considerable damage in many areas of central, southern and eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri.As of 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, 75 percent of customers affected by the Friday afternoon thunderstorms across the Evergy service area have had power restored, according to a social media report from the company.More than 186,000 Evergy customers lost power as the storm and high winds moved across Kansas and Missouri.&nbsp; All available Evergy and contract line crews continue to work around the clock to restore power and will do so until power is restored to all customers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689462253922.png" alt="Photo courtesy Evergy" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Evergy</figcaption>
 </figure> Personnel from neighboring utilities (including from other states) were also in the field with more help continuing to arrive.Evergy expected outages in the Topeka and Lawrence areas to be restored by Sunday night. Outages impacting small groups of customers in the Kansas City metro area are expected to continue into early next week. We ask that customers continue to be patient with line crews as they work through these outages to restore power for customers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689462476741.png" alt="Photo courtesy Evergy" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Evergy</figcaption>
 </figure>Evergy continue to receive reports of trees in power lines, poles and wires down. Significant tree damage is slowing restoration. On nearly all outage events, tree crews must clear debris from the lines before the line crews can make repairs. "Please keep at least 35 feet away from downed lines or debris on lines."

Evergy continues work to restore power after Kansas storm

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas felon who spent over 40-years in prison was in court again Wednesday.

Samuel Neal, 71, Wichita, was charged with 3 counts of criminal discharge of a firearm and aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;

On Tuesday Police had asked the public for help to locate him.

Just after 12:30a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 1100 block of South Emporia, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. Officers located a 21-year-old man with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

&nbsp;Through the investigation, detectives identified Samuel Neal as a suspect. He is also believed to be the suspect in another shooting on July 9.&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=741136">Police booked him into the</a> Sedgwick County Jail just after 1p.m. Tuesday on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault and parole violations, according to online jail records.

Neal was released from prison in 2019 after a manslaughter conviction on a crime that occurred in 1979, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. His bond is currently $500,000 and he is due back in court on July 24.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689162169452.png" alt="Neal-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Neal-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas felon who spent over 40-years in prison was in court again Wednesday.Samuel Neal, 71, Wichita, was charged with 3 counts of criminal discharge of a firearm and aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;On Tuesday Police had asked the public for help to locate him.Just after 12:30a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 1100 block of South Emporia, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. Officers located a 21-year-old man with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.&nbsp;Through the investigation, detectives identified Samuel Neal as a suspect. He is also believed to be the suspect in another shooting on July 9.&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=741136">Police booked him into the</a> Sedgwick County Jail just after 1p.m. Tuesday on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault and parole violations, according to online jail records.Neal was released from prison in 2019 after a manslaughter conviction on a crime that occurred in 1979, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. His bond is currently $500,000 and he is due back in court on July 24.

Kan. man who spent 40-years in prison is charged with new crimes

Lisa Marie Presley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lisa-marie-presley">died</a>&nbsp;after developing a small bowel obstruction, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-death-cause-cbf0039dd8251a870f3ad8431dc78093">severe complication</a>&nbsp;of bariatric surgery years ago, according to an autopsy report released Thursday.

Experts say these types of complications are a known but rare risk after having weight-loss surgery. Here’s what to know:

The 54-year-old singer-songwriter and daughter of Elvis Presley was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital on Jan. 12 after being found unresponsive at home and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-dies-9fc02552f6f31e270647897a2e4104e9">died hours later</a>.

The cause of death was from complications of a small bowel obstruction tied to previous bariatric surgery, the autopsy showed. Portions of Presley’s bowel became trapped, or “strangulated,” from scar tissue that formed following surgery, and she also had developed a severe buildup of acids in her blood.

WHAT IS BARIATRIC SURGERY? HOW COMMON IS IT?

Bariatric surgeries are operations performed on the stomach or intestines to spur weight loss. They’re usually done in cases of moderate or severe obesity when other methods haven’t worked.

There are several types of bariatric procedures, including those in which a portion of the stomach is removed or rerouted or when a band is placed around a part of the stomach to make it smaller.

It’s not clear from the autopsy report which type of surgery Presley had, though experts said it was not a sleeve gastrectomy, which is the most common procedure.

About 263,000 bariatric surgeries were done in 2021, according to Dr. Marina Kurian, the president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Only about 1% of people who qualify for the surgery receive it.

In general, bariatric surgery is “very safe,” Kurian said. The risk of major complications is about 4% overall and the risk of death is about 0.1%, according to ASMBS.

“It’s safer than gallbladder surgery,” Kurian said.

Scar tissue, known as adhesions, can form after surgery or other trauma to the abdomen. That can lead to kinks and blockages in the intestine, said Dr. Thomas Inge, chief surgeon and a bariatric surgery expert at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

In Presley’s case, it appeared that “she had a twist of her entire intestine,” said Inge, who reviewed the autopsy report.

If that's not quickly fixed, the blockage cuts off the flow of blood to the intestine, causing the bowel to become “strangulated” and creating a cascade of potentially deadly problems. In Presley’s case, it led to a toxic build-up of acids in her body and her heart stopped, the autopsy report said.

Presley reported abdominal pain and not feeling well the morning of her death, the report said. It’s not clear if the pain was new.

Anyone who has had abdominal surgery to seek prompt treatment for pain, Inge said. If diagnosed early, it’s possible to treat the problem.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674489309670.png" alt="More than a thousand people gathered on the front lawn of Graceland on a gray, chilly Memphis morning to mourn the death and remember the life of Lisa Marie Presley, who died Jan. 12 after she was taken to a hospital in California. photo by John Amis, Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>More than a thousand people gathered on the front lawn of Graceland on a gray, chilly Memphis morning to mourn the death and remember the life of Lisa Marie Presley, who died Jan. 12 after she was taken to a hospital in California. photo by John Amis, Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Lisa Marie Presley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lisa-marie-presley">died</a>&nbsp;after developing a small bowel obstruction, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-death-cause-cbf0039dd8251a870f3ad8431dc78093">severe complication</a>&nbsp;of bariatric surgery years ago, according to an autopsy report released Thursday.Experts say these types of complications are a known but rare risk after having weight-loss surgery. Here’s what to know:WHAT HAPPENED TO LISA MARIE PRESLEY? The 54-year-old singer-songwriter and daughter of Elvis Presley was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital on Jan. 12 after being found unresponsive at home and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-dies-9fc02552f6f31e270647897a2e4104e9">died hours later</a>.The cause of death was from complications of a small bowel obstruction tied to previous bariatric surgery, the autopsy showed. Portions of Presley’s bowel became trapped, or “strangulated,” from scar tissue that formed following surgery, and she also had developed a severe buildup of acids in her blood.WHAT IS BARIATRIC SURGERY? HOW COMMON IS IT? Bariatric surgeries are operations performed on the stomach or intestines to spur weight loss. They’re usually done in cases of moderate or severe obesity when other methods haven’t worked.There are several types of bariatric procedures, including those in which a portion of the stomach is removed or rerouted or when a band is placed around a part of the stomach to make it smaller.It’s not clear from the autopsy report which type of surgery Presley had, though experts said it was not a sleeve gastrectomy, which is the most common procedure.About 263,000 bariatric surgeries were done in 2021, according to Dr. Marina Kurian, the president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Only about 1% of people who qualify for the surgery receive it.HOW RISKY ARE THESE OPERATIONS? In general, bariatric surgery is “very safe,” Kurian said. The risk of major complications is about 4% overall and the risk of death is about 0.1%, according to ASMBS.“It’s safer than gallbladder surgery,” Kurian said.WHAT COMPLICATIONS CAN HAPPEN? Scar tissue, known as adhesions, can form after surgery or other trauma to the abdomen. That can lead to kinks and blockages in the intestine, said Dr. Thomas Inge, chief surgeon and a bariatric surgery expert at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.In Presley’s case, it appeared that “she had a twist of her entire intestine,” said Inge, who reviewed the autopsy report.If that's not quickly fixed, the blockage cuts off the flow of blood to the intestine, causing the bowel to become “strangulated” and creating a cascade of potentially deadly problems. In Presley’s case, it led to a toxic build-up of acids in her body and her heart stopped, the autopsy report said.Presley reported abdominal pain and not feeling well the morning of her death, the report said. It’s not clear if the pain was new.Anyone who has had abdominal surgery to seek prompt treatment for pain, Inge said. If diagnosed early, it’s possible to treat the problem.

How Lisa Marie Presley's weight-loss surgery contributed to her death

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Topeka.

Just before 5:30p.m. Friday,&nbsp; police were&nbsp;dispatched to a Topeka hospital after a victim arrived with an apparent gunshot wound, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.

One juvenile victim had arrived and was being treated for a life threatening injury.&nbsp; The victim later died.

&nbsp;Detectives were on scene and continue their work. Police released no additional details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Topeka.Just before 5:30p.m. Friday,&nbsp; police were&nbsp;dispatched to a Topeka hospital after a victim arrived with an apparent gunshot wound, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.One juvenile victim had arrived and was being treated for a life threatening injury.&nbsp; The victim later died.&nbsp;Detectives were on scene and continue their work. Police released no additional details.

Police: Juvenile injured in Kansas shooting has died

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into ChatGPT creator OpenAI and whether the artificial intelligence company violated consumer protection laws by scraping public data and publishing false information through its chatbot.

The agency sent OpenAI a 20-page letter requesting detailed information on its AI technology, products, customers, privacy safeguards and data security arrangements.

An FTC spokesperson had no comment on the investigation, which was first reported by The Washington Post on Thursday.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/67a7081c-c770-4f05-a39e-9d02117e50e8.pdf?itid=lk_inline_manual_4">FTC document the Post published</a>&nbsp;told OpenAI that the agency was investigating whether it has “engaged in unfair or deceptive privacy or data security practices” or practices harming consumers.

OpenAI founder Sam Altman tweeted disappointment that the investigation was disclosed in a “leak,” noting that would “not help build trust,” but added that the company will&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1679602638562918405">work with the FTC</a>.

“It’s super important to us that out technology is safe and pro-consumer, and we are confident we follow the law,” he wrote. “We protect user privacy and design our systems to learn about the world, not private individuals.”

OpenAI has faced scrutiny elsewhere. Italian regulators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-data-privacy-italy-b9ab3d12f2b2cfe493237fd2b9675e21">temporarily blocked ChatGPT</a>&nbsp;over privacy concerns, and privacy watchdogs in France, Spain, Ireland and Canada also are paying closer attention, including some that have launched investigations after receiving complaints.

The FTC's move is a serious regulatory threat to the nascent but fast-growing AI industry, although it's not the only challenge facing these companies.

Comedian Sarah Silverman and two other authors have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sarah-silverman-suing-chatgpt-openai-ai-8927025139a8151e26053249d1aeec20">sued both OpenAI and Facebook parent Meta</a>&nbsp;for copyright infringement, claiming that the companies' AI systems were illegally “trained” by exposing them to datasets containing illegal copies of their works.

On Thursday, OpenAI and The Associated Press announced a deal under which the AI company will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/openai-chatgpt-associated-press-ap-f86f84c5bcc2f3b98074b38521f5f75a">license AP’s archive of news stories</a>.

Altman has emerged as a global AI ambassador of sorts following his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-ceo-sam-altman-congress-73ff96c6571f38ad5fd68b3072722790">testimony before Congress in May</a>&nbsp;and a subsequent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-altman-artificial-intelligence-0687c5645c191bceeb6c481deb985177">worldwide tour</a>, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence-rules-europe-1a249ab94593356940d8f56d15e8a019">to Europe</a>, where officials are putting the final touches on the world's first comprehensive rules for AI.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-act-artificial-intelligence-europe-regulation-94e2b38703b38fdbfabc9580f845ef9a">regulations will focus on risky uses</a>&nbsp;such as predictive policing and social scoring and include provisions for generative AI to disclose any copyright material used to train its algorithms.

Altman himself has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-ceo-sam-altman-congress-73ff96c6571f38ad5fd68b3072722790">called for AI regulation</a>, although he has tended to emphasize difficult-to-evaluate existential threats such as the possibility that superintelligent AI systems could one day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-risk-of-extinction-ai-54ea8aadc60d1503e5a65878219aad43">turn against humanity</a>.

Some argue that focusing on a far-off “science fiction trope” of superpowerful AI could make it harder to take action against already existing harms that require regulators to dig deep on data transparency, discriminatory behavior and potential for trickery and disinformation.

“It’s the fear of these systems and our lack of understanding of them that is making everyone have a collective freak-out,” Suresh Venkatasubramanian, a Brown University computer scientist and former assistant director for science and justice at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, told the AP in May. “This fear, which is very unfounded, is a distraction from all the concerns we’re dealing with right now.”

News of the FTC's OpenAI investigation broke just hours after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-ftc-khan-technology-companies-41610756160e10732f7ded6c587cec0e">combative House Judiciary Committee hearing</a>&nbsp;in which FTC Chair Lina Khan faced off against Republican lawmakers, who said she has been too aggressive in pursuing technology companies over allegations of wrongdoing.

Republicans said she has been harassing Twitter since its acquisition by Elon Musk, arbitrarily suing large tech companies and declining to recuse herself from certain cases. Khan pushed back, arguing that more regulation is necessary as the companies have grown and that tech conglomeration could hurt the economy and consumers.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into ChatGPT creator OpenAI and whether the artificial intelligence company violated consumer protection laws by scraping public data and publishing false information through its chatbot.The agency sent OpenAI a 20-page letter requesting detailed information on its AI technology, products, customers, privacy safeguards and data security arrangements.An FTC spokesperson had no comment on the investigation, which was first reported by The Washington Post on Thursday.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/67a7081c-c770-4f05-a39e-9d02117e50e8.pdf?itid=lk_inline_manual_4">FTC document the Post published</a>&nbsp;told OpenAI that the agency was investigating whether it has “engaged in unfair or deceptive privacy or data security practices” or practices harming consumers.OpenAI founder Sam Altman tweeted disappointment that the investigation was disclosed in a “leak,” noting that would “not help build trust,” but added that the company will&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1679602638562918405">work with the FTC</a>.“It’s super important to us that out technology is safe and pro-consumer, and we are confident we follow the law,” he wrote. “We protect user privacy and design our systems to learn about the world, not private individuals.”OpenAI has faced scrutiny elsewhere. Italian regulators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-data-privacy-italy-b9ab3d12f2b2cfe493237fd2b9675e21">temporarily blocked ChatGPT</a>&nbsp;over privacy concerns, and privacy watchdogs in France, Spain, Ireland and Canada also are paying closer attention, including some that have launched investigations after receiving complaints.The FTC's move is a serious regulatory threat to the nascent but fast-growing AI industry, although it's not the only challenge facing these companies.Comedian Sarah Silverman and two other authors have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sarah-silverman-suing-chatgpt-openai-ai-8927025139a8151e26053249d1aeec20">sued both OpenAI and Facebook parent Meta</a>&nbsp;for copyright infringement, claiming that the companies' AI systems were illegally “trained” by exposing them to datasets containing illegal copies of their works.On Thursday, OpenAI and The Associated Press announced a deal under which the AI company will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/openai-chatgpt-associated-press-ap-f86f84c5bcc2f3b98074b38521f5f75a">license AP’s archive of news stories</a>.Altman has emerged as a global AI ambassador of sorts following his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-ceo-sam-altman-congress-73ff96c6571f38ad5fd68b3072722790">testimony before Congress in May</a>&nbsp;and a subsequent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-altman-artificial-intelligence-0687c5645c191bceeb6c481deb985177">worldwide tour</a>, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence-rules-europe-1a249ab94593356940d8f56d15e8a019">to Europe</a>, where officials are putting the final touches on the world's first comprehensive rules for AI.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-act-artificial-intelligence-europe-regulation-94e2b38703b38fdbfabc9580f845ef9a">regulations will focus on risky uses</a>&nbsp;such as predictive policing and social scoring and include provisions for generative AI to disclose any copyright material used to train its algorithms.Altman himself has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-ceo-sam-altman-congress-73ff96c6571f38ad5fd68b3072722790">called for AI regulation</a>, although he has tended to emphasize difficult-to-evaluate existential threats such as the possibility that superintelligent AI systems could one day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-risk-of-extinction-ai-54ea8aadc60d1503e5a65878219aad43">turn against humanity</a>.Some argue that focusing on a far-off “science fiction trope” of superpowerful AI could make it harder to take action against already existing harms that require regulators to dig deep on data transparency, discriminatory behavior and potential for trickery and disinformation.“It’s the fear of these systems and our lack of understanding of them that is making everyone have a collective freak-out,” Suresh Venkatasubramanian, a Brown University computer scientist and former assistant director for science and justice at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, told the AP in May. “This fear, which is very unfounded, is a distraction from all the concerns we’re dealing with right now.”News of the FTC's OpenAI investigation broke just hours after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-ftc-khan-technology-companies-41610756160e10732f7ded6c587cec0e">combative House Judiciary Committee hearing</a>&nbsp;in which FTC Chair Lina Khan faced off against Republican lawmakers, who said she has been too aggressive in pursuing technology companies over allegations of wrongdoing.Republicans said she has been harassing Twitter since its acquisition by Elon Musk, arbitrarily suing large tech companies and declining to recuse herself from certain cases. Khan pushed back, arguing that more regulation is necessary as the companies have grown and that tech conglomeration could hurt the economy and consumers.

FTC investigating ChatGPT creator OpenAI over consumer protection 

KANSAS CITY —A jury in Jackson County convicted 43-year-old Michael Hendricks and 33-year-old Maggie Ybarra in the murder of 32-year-old Kensie Aubry, whose body was found in garbage bags on a Grain Valley, Missouri, property, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Hendricks waived sentencing Thursday night, after the jury's verdict. He will be sentenced at a formal sentencing later. But his Murder in the 1st Degree conviction has a mandatory sentence of life without parole. Ybarra was to be sentenced Friday. The jury convicted her of Murder in the 2nd Degree and other felonies.

In Aug. 2021, a Jackson County grand jury indicted both on charges of Murder 1st Degree, Harassment 1st Degree and Sexual Misconduct 1st Degree. 

The indictment also charged Hendricks with the additional charges of Enticement of a Child and Child Molestation 3rd Degree.&nbsp;

 Ybarra was additionally charged with Enticement of a Child, Sexual Misconduct 1st Degree, a misdemeanor count of Tampering With Physical Evidence and three counts of Tampering With A Victim.

Aubry went missing in October 2020. A teenage girl who said Hendricks sexually assaulted her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-michael-brown-8bbb5388d4a5f00b1ea2bc5acf269cda">helped police find Aubry's body</a>.

At the time of the indictment, Prosecutor Baker &nbsp;praised the child victim in the case who came forward as a witness. On Thursday evening, following the jury's verdict, Baker stated: "I am grateful for a brave child who came forward to tell law enforcement what occurred, who endured, who testified, and who can only be described as an unmitigated hero."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689361413675.png" alt="Hendricks-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hendricks-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A jury in Jackson County convicted 43-year-old Michael Hendricks and 33-year-old Maggie Ybarra in the murder of 32-year-old Kensie Aubry, whose body was found in garbage bags on a Grain Valley, Missouri, property, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689361802956.png" alt="Police found Aubry's body buried on Hendricks' Grain Valley property-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police found Aubry's body buried on Hendricks' Grain Valley property-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Hendricks waived sentencing Thursday night, after the jury's verdict. He will be sentenced at a formal sentencing later. But his Murder in the 1st Degree conviction has a mandatory sentence of life without parole. Ybarra was to be sentenced Friday. The jury convicted her of Murder in the 2nd Degree and other felonies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689361482049.png" alt="Ybarra-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ybarra-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>In Aug. 2021, a Jackson County grand jury indicted both on charges of Murder 1st Degree, Harassment 1st Degree and Sexual Misconduct 1st Degree. The indictment also charged Hendricks with the additional charges of Enticement of a Child and Child Molestation 3rd Degree.&nbsp; Ybarra was additionally charged with Enticement of a Child, Sexual Misconduct 1st Degree, a misdemeanor count of Tampering With Physical Evidence and three counts of Tampering With A Victim.Aubry went missing in October 2020. A teenage girl who said Hendricks sexually assaulted her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-michael-brown-8bbb5388d4a5f00b1ea2bc5acf269cda">helped police find Aubry's body</a>.At the time of the indictment, Prosecutor Baker &nbsp;praised the child victim in the case who came forward as a witness. On Thursday evening, following the jury's verdict, Baker stated: "I am grateful for a brave child who came forward to tell law enforcement what occurred, who endured, who testified, and who can only be described as an unmitigated hero."

Jury: KC-area couple guilty of killing, dismembering woman

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is beefing up its use of fighter jets around the strategic Strait of Hormuz to protect ships from Iranian seizures, a senior defense official said Friday, adding that the U.S. is increasingly concerned about the growing ties between Iran, Russia and Syria across the Middle East.

Speaking to Pentagon reporters, the official said the U.S. will send F-16 fighter jets to the Gulf region this weekend to augment the A-10 attack aircraft that have been patrolling there for more than a week. The move comes after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gulf-iran-us-tensions-shipping-oil-127f8b77aa7e41dcd8266b6fbe5800dc">Iran tried to seize two oil tankers</a>&nbsp;near the strait last week, opening fire on one of them.

The defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of military operations in the region, said the F-16s will give air cover to the ships moving through the waterway and increase the military's visibility in the area, as a deterrent to Iran.

The U.S. Navy said in both instances the Iranian naval vessels backed off when the USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer, arrived on the scene.

In addition, the defense official told reporters the U.S. is considering a number of military options to address increasing Russian aggression in the skies over Syria, which complicated efforts to strike an Islamic State group leader last weekend. The official declined to detail the options, but said the U.S. will not cede any territory and will continue to fly in the western part of the country on anti-Islamic State missions.

The Russian military activity, which has increased in frequency and aggression since March, stems from growing cooperation and coordination between Moscow, Tehran and the Syrian government to try to pressure the U.S. to leave Syria, the official said.

The official said Russia is beholden to Iran for its support in the war in Ukraine, and Tehran wants the U.S. out of Syria so it can more easily move lethal aid to Lebanese Hezbollah and threaten Israel. The U.S. has seen more cooperation, collaboration, planning and intelligence sharing, largely between mid-level Russian and Iranian Quds force leaders in Syria, to pressure the U.S. to remove troops from Syria, the official added.

There are about 900 U.S. forces in the country, and others move in and out to conduct&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-syria-islamic-state-drone-strike-3b7aa6e96273cf2360fce1015e2b1a86">missions targeting Islamic State group militants.</a>

The U.S. does not believe Russian aircraft plan to drop bombs on U.S. troops or shoot down manned aircraft. But there are concerns that Russian pilots will knock a Reaper drone out of the sky and that Moscow believes that type of action would not get a strong U.S. military response, the official said.

As an example, in March, a Russian warplane poured jet fuel on a U.S. surveillance drone and then struck its propeller, forcing the U.S. military to ditch the MQ-9 Reaper into the Black Sea. The incident spiked tensions between the two countries and triggered a call between their defense chiefs, but led to no direct military response.

Last week, Rear Adm. Oleg Gurinov, head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, said the Russian and Syrian militaries have been doing joint training. In comments carried by Syrian state media, he said Moscow is concerned about drone flights by the U.S.-led coalition over northern Syria, calling them “systematic violations of protocols” designed to avoid clashes between the two militaries.

U.S. and Russian military commanders routinely communicate over a deconfliction phone line that has been in place for several years to avoid unintended clashes in Syria, where both sides have troops on the ground and in the air.

There are often many calls a day, and at times result in angry threats as commanders argue over an ongoing operation, said the U.S. official. Describing a conversation, the official said the Russians will often declare an area of space a restricted operating zone and say they are doing military exercises there.

The U.S. sees no exercises, and tells Russia that American forces are on a counterterror mission against the Islamic State group and plan to fly in that area. The Russians then say they can't guarantee U.S. aircraft safety if they go there. And once the mission begins, and the aircraft move into the zone, “it sometimes gets very heated,” said the official, as both sides loudly protest and reject the other's assertions.

The most recent incident was Friday morning, when a Russia aircraft flew repeatedly over the at-Tanf garrison in eastern Syria, where U.S. forces are training Syrian allies and monitoring Islamic State militant activity. The official said the Russian An-30 aircraft was collecting intelligence on the base.

The U.S. did not have fighter aircraft in the area and took no direct action against the Russian flight.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689381599161.png" alt="FILE - U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet is on display during the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, Monday, June 19, 2023. The U.S. is beefing up its use of fighter jets around the strategic Strait of Hormuz to protect ships from Iranian seizures, a senior defense official said Friday, July 14, adding that the U.S. is increasingly concerned about the growing ties between Iran, Russia and Syria across the Middle East. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet is on display during the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, Monday, June 19, 2023. The U.S. is beefing up its use of fighter jets around the strategic Strait of Hormuz to protect ships from Iranian seizures, a senior defense official said Friday, July 14, adding that the U.S. is increasingly concerned about the growing ties between Iran, Russia and Syria across the Middle East. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is beefing up its use of fighter jets around the strategic Strait of Hormuz to protect ships from Iranian seizures, a senior defense official said Friday, adding that the U.S. is increasingly concerned about the growing ties between Iran, Russia and Syria across the Middle East.Speaking to Pentagon reporters, the official said the U.S. will send F-16 fighter jets to the Gulf region this weekend to augment the A-10 attack aircraft that have been patrolling there for more than a week. The move comes after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gulf-iran-us-tensions-shipping-oil-127f8b77aa7e41dcd8266b6fbe5800dc">Iran tried to seize two oil tankers</a>&nbsp;near the strait last week, opening fire on one of them.The defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of military operations in the region, said the F-16s will give air cover to the ships moving through the waterway and increase the military's visibility in the area, as a deterrent to Iran.The U.S. Navy said in both instances the Iranian naval vessels backed off when the USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer, arrived on the scene.In addition, the defense official told reporters the U.S. is considering a number of military options to address increasing Russian aggression in the skies over Syria, which complicated efforts to strike an Islamic State group leader last weekend. The official declined to detail the options, but said the U.S. will not cede any territory and will continue to fly in the western part of the country on anti-Islamic State missions.The Russian military activity, which has increased in frequency and aggression since March, stems from growing cooperation and coordination between Moscow, Tehran and the Syrian government to try to pressure the U.S. to leave Syria, the official said.The official said Russia is beholden to Iran for its support in the war in Ukraine, and Tehran wants the U.S. out of Syria so it can more easily move lethal aid to Lebanese Hezbollah and threaten Israel. The U.S. has seen more cooperation, collaboration, planning and intelligence sharing, largely between mid-level Russian and Iranian Quds force leaders in Syria, to pressure the U.S. to remove troops from Syria, the official added.There are about 900 U.S. forces in the country, and others move in and out to conduct&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-syria-islamic-state-drone-strike-3b7aa6e96273cf2360fce1015e2b1a86">missions targeting Islamic State group militants.</a>The U.S. does not believe Russian aircraft plan to drop bombs on U.S. troops or shoot down manned aircraft. But there are concerns that Russian pilots will knock a Reaper drone out of the sky and that Moscow believes that type of action would not get a strong U.S. military response, the official said.As an example, in March, a Russian warplane poured jet fuel on a U.S. surveillance drone and then struck its propeller, forcing the U.S. military to ditch the MQ-9 Reaper into the Black Sea. The incident spiked tensions between the two countries and triggered a call between their defense chiefs, but led to no direct military response.Last week, Rear Adm. Oleg Gurinov, head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, said the Russian and Syrian militaries have been doing joint training. In comments carried by Syrian state media, he said Moscow is concerned about drone flights by the U.S.-led coalition over northern Syria, calling them “systematic violations of protocols” designed to avoid clashes between the two militaries.U.S. and Russian military commanders routinely communicate over a deconfliction phone line that has been in place for several years to avoid unintended clashes in Syria, where both sides have troops on the ground and in the air.There are often many calls a day, and at times result in angry threats as commanders argue over an ongoing operation, said the U.S. official. Describing a conversation, the official said the Russians will often declare an area of space a restricted operating zone and say they are doing military exercises there.The U.S. sees no exercises, and tells Russia that American forces are on a counterterror mission against the Islamic State group and plan to fly in that area. The Russians then say they can't guarantee U.S. aircraft safety if they go there. And once the mission begins, and the aircraft move into the zone, “it sometimes gets very heated,” said the official, as both sides loudly protest and reject the other's assertions.The most recent incident was Friday morning, when a Russia aircraft flew repeatedly over the at-Tanf garrison in eastern Syria, where U.S. forces are training Syrian allies and monitoring Islamic State militant activity. The official said the Russian An-30 aircraft was collecting intelligence on the base.The U.S. did not have fighter aircraft in the area and took no direct action against the Russian flight.

US sending F-16 fighter jets to protect ships from Iran

WALLACE COUNTY—Three people died in an accident just before 11a.m. Friday in Wallace County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 GMC Savana driven by Darlene A.&nbsp;Manene, 37, Spokane, Washington, was eastbound on U.S. Highway 40 eight miles east of Sharon Springs.

The van left the roadway to the south and the driver overcorrected.&nbsp; The vehicle came back on the road and the driver lost control. The van traveled into the south ditch and rolled.

EMS transported Manene to the Logan County Hospital and a passenger identified as Likbar&nbsp;Amanu, 70, Spokane, Washington, to Goodland Regional Medical Center where both were pronounced deceased.&nbsp; 

A third passenger Leilani&nbsp;Manene, 24, Spokane, Washington was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.&nbsp;&nbsp;

EMS transported passengers Matthias&nbsp;Manene, 26, Spokane, Washington, to the Logan County Hospital and Anneth&nbsp; Tarbiwillin, 70, Spokane, Washington, to the&nbsp;Greeley County Hospital in Tribune. The driver and identified passengers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.&nbsp; Ten Juveniles were present in the vehicle; juvenile records are protected data.

WALLACE COUNTY—Three people died in an accident just before 11a.m. Friday in Wallace County.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At 10:59 AM, Wallace Co requested KHP assistance for a van rollover crash on U-40 hwy, mile post 25, just west of Sharon Springs. One confirmed fatality, several occupants are being transported to several different hospital&#39;s in the area. The KHP CHART team is on scene! <a href="https://t.co/2fKIVLhc0v">pic.twitter.com/2fKIVLhc0v</a>&mdash; Trooper Tod (@TrooperTodKHP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrooperTodKHP/status/1679912248750243878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 GMC Savana driven by Darlene A.&nbsp;Manene, 37, Spokane, Washington, was eastbound on U.S. Highway 40 eight miles east of Sharon Springs.The van left the roadway to the south and the driver overcorrected.&nbsp; The vehicle came back on the road and the driver lost control. The van traveled into the south ditch and rolled.EMS transported Manene to the Logan County Hospital and a passenger identified as Likbar&nbsp;Amanu, 70, Spokane, Washington, to Goodland Regional Medical Center where both were pronounced deceased.&nbsp; A third passenger Leilani&nbsp;Manene, 24, Spokane, Washington was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.&nbsp;&nbsp;EMS transported passengers Matthias&nbsp;Manene, 26, Spokane, Washington, to the Logan County Hospital and Anneth&nbsp; Tarbiwillin, 70, Spokane, Washington, to the&nbsp;Greeley County Hospital in Tribune. The driver and identified passengers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.&nbsp; Ten Juveniles were present in the vehicle; juvenile records are protected data.

3 women dead, 2 hospitalized after NW Kan. van rollover crash

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating an armed robbery&nbsp; that occurred at the Flying J, 2250 North Ohio in Salina on April 9, have made an arrest.

During the incident, a masked suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money from the clerk.

According to&nbsp;Salina Police Sergeant Kyle Tonniges, on Thursday, detectives arrested 41-year-old Michael Hamen and 24-year-old Destany Dirksen both Salina on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery in this case.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688220057772.jpeg" alt="Hamen-Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Hamen-Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating an armed robbery&nbsp; that occurred at the Flying J, 2250 North Ohio in Salina on April 9, have made an arrest.During the incident, a masked suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money from the clerk.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689335129661.png" alt="Dirksen photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Dirksen photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>According to&nbsp;Salina Police Sergeant Kyle Tonniges, on Thursday, detectives arrested 41-year-old Michael Hamen and 24-year-old Destany Dirksen both Salina on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery in this case.&nbsp;

Police capture suspects wanted for Kan. armed robbery

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an incident that injured a police office who repeatedly punched in the head by a suspect during a disturbance at the Treatment and Recovery Center, 1000 W. 2nd Street in Lawrence, according to a media release.

The officer was attempting to intervene in the disturbance when the suspect began fighting the officer.

The officer was able to gain control over the subject with a taser and another officer arrived to assist in placing the subject into custody. 

The suspect was checked at the hospital for the taser exposure then transported to the Douglas County Correctional Facility. The officer suffered injuries that will keep him home for a short time, according to the release.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an incident that injured a police office who repeatedly punched in the head by a suspect during a disturbance at the Treatment and Recovery Center, 1000 W. 2nd Street in Lawrence, according to a media release.The officer was attempting to intervene in the disturbance when the suspect began fighting the officer.The officer was able to gain control over the subject with a taser and another officer arrived to assist in placing the subject into custody. The suspect was checked at the hospital for the taser exposure then transported to the Douglas County Correctional Facility. The officer suffered injuries that will keep him home for a short time, according to the release.

Kan. officer hospitalized after attempt to de-escalate fight 

OSAGE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the drowning death of a 2-year-old girl.

Just before 9p.m. Thursday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible drowning at Eisenhower State Park swim beach, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. Life-saving measures had been started at the time of the call.

Life-saving measures continued but were unsuccessful. The victim, a 2-year-old girl, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

In addition to Osage County Deputies, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Osage County Fire District #2 – Osage City, Osage County Fire District #3 – Melvern, a LifeSave air ambulance out of Emporia, and Osage County EMS responded to the scene.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is participating in the investigation of the incident.

OSAGE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the drowning death of a 2-year-old girl.Just before 9p.m. Thursday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible drowning at Eisenhower State Park swim beach, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. Life-saving measures had been started at the time of the call.Life-saving measures continued but were unsuccessful. The victim, a 2-year-old girl, was pronounced deceased at the scene.In addition to Osage County Deputies, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Osage County Fire District #2 – Osage City, Osage County Fire District #3 – Melvern, a LifeSave air ambulance out of Emporia, and Osage County EMS responded to the scene. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is participating in the investigation of the incident.

Sheriff: 2-year-old drowns at Kansas state park

A Jackson County judge ruled in May that the attorney general lacked any legal authority to order school districts to end COVID-19 mitigation measures

By ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688126091968.png" alt=" Lee’s Summit R-7 School District’s Tony L. Stansberry Leadership Center, as photographed December 30, 2022 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Lee’s Summit R-7 School District’s Tony L. Stansberry Leadership Center, as photographed December 30, 2022 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A Jackson County judge ruled in May that the attorney general lacked any legal authority to order school districts to end COVID-19 mitigation measures</h2>By ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a>Time has run out for Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to appeal a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/27/judge-rules-missouri-ag-had-no-authority-to-order-end-of-school-mask-mandates/">judge’s decision limiting his authority</a>&nbsp;over school districts and clarifying that school boards can establish disease mitigation methods, such as mask mandates.Bailey had 40 days from Jackson County Circuit Court&nbsp;Judge Marco Roldan’s&nbsp;May 27 ruling to ask for a new trial. That deadline passed on July 6 without an appeal being filed.The case originated with his predecessor, Eric Schmitt, who stepped down as attorney general in January after being elected to the U.S. Senate.In January 2022, Schmitt sued 47 Missouri school districts that implemented mask mandates to slow the spread of COVID-19. His lawsuits relied on a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/11/23/missouri-judge-local-covid-orders/">Cole County judgment that took power away from local health departments</a>&nbsp;to enforce mandates.<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/12/lees-summit-countersuit/">All but one of the lawsuits were dismissed</a>. But Lee’s Summit R-7 School District refused to let the case end — even as Schmitt attempted to dismiss his own lawsuit. The district hoped by seeing the case through to a verdict, a precedent would be set outlining the attorney general’s authority.“Our primary focus has and will always be to serve and support our students,” the district’s spokesperson, Katy Bergen, said in a statement. “We are grateful to have the clarity this ruling provides as we continue to champion this mission.”Roldan ruled that Schmitt was not following state law when he ordered Lee’s Summit and other school districts to end COVID-19 mitigation measures.Besides, Roldan said, the Cole County lawsuit at the heart of Schmitt’s legal challenges did not cover school districts.Neal Perryman, an attorney representing St. Louis County in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/12/missouri-supreme-court-to-decide-if-counties-can-appeal-ruling-striking-down-covid-orders/">an appeal of the Cole County case</a>, lauded Roldan’s ruling in a Missouri Supreme Court hearing Wednesday, noting Bailey’s decision not to appeal.Roldan’s judgment also criticized Schmitt for opening tip hotlines to have parents and students report school districts they suspected were in violation of the Cole County order.“There exists no Missouri law allowing the attorney general to involve himself in a school district’s efforts to manage COVID-19 or other disease within its schools,” Roldan ruled. “He had no authority even to issue an opinion on those matters to the school district. In neither of his orders nor in his social media communications did he identify a valid legal basis for asserting that the school district was acting contrary to Missouri law.”Bergen said the district will not be seeking for the state to pay the district’s attorney’s fees. Lee’s Summit R-7 School District spent almost $73,000 in 2022 paying its attorneys for the case, according to receipts obtained by The Independent.The attorney general’s office did not respond to requests for comment.