BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating meth smuggling at the Barton County jai.

Over the course of several days last week, Barton County jail staff and Sheriff’s Office detectives became aware of a plan to smuggle methamphetamine into the Barton County Jail, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

Detectives had identified an individual who was serving weekends to fulfill his sentence who had been recruited to smuggle contraband into the jail. 

He was to pass the drugs to other inmates. On June 16, Sheriff’s Office detectives and jail staff discovered suspected methamphetamine sewn into the seam of his undergarments when the individual reported Friday evening.

Detectives arrested Craig Gowdy, 47 of Great Bend and booked him on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and trafficking contraband into a correctional facility. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.

An inmate currently in jail, identified as Matthew Cooley, 36 of Great Bend, was also arrested and booked on the same requested charges. Cooley was being held on two probation violation charges and now has additional trafficking and distribution charges. He now has an additional $50,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office believes there were additional co-conspirators in this case and will be seeking arrest warrants in the very near future.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687187831750.jpeg" alt="Craig Gowdy-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Craig Gowdy-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating meth smuggling at the Barton County jai.Over the course of several days last week, Barton County jail staff and Sheriff’s Office detectives became aware of a plan to smuggle methamphetamine into the Barton County Jail, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.Detectives had identified an individual who was serving weekends to fulfill his sentence who had been recruited to smuggle contraband into the jail. He was to pass the drugs to other inmates. On June 16, Sheriff’s Office detectives and jail staff discovered suspected methamphetamine sewn into the seam of his undergarments when the individual reported Friday evening.Detectives arrested Craig Gowdy, 47 of Great Bend and booked him on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and trafficking contraband into a correctional facility. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687187849862.jpeg" alt="Matthew Cooley" />
 <figcaption>Matthew Cooley</figcaption>
 </figure>An inmate currently in jail, identified as Matthew Cooley, 36 of Great Bend, was also arrested and booked on the same requested charges. Cooley was being held on two probation violation charges and now has additional trafficking and distribution charges. He now has an additional $50,000 bond.The Sheriff’s Office believes there were additional co-conspirators in this case and will be seeking arrest warrants in the very near future.

Sheriff: Kansas inmate had meth sewn into his underwear

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit-and-and run have made an arrest.

Just before 5:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to the intersection of North Roosevelt and East Douglas for an injury hit-and-run collision, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

First responders located a victim later identified as 70-year-old Nancy McDonough-Harmening of Wichita in the street unresponsive and being cared for by good Samaritans. EMS transported her to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.

During the investigation, officers learned McDonough-Harmening was crossing East Douglas from the south side of Roosevelt towards the north when she was struck by a westbound white Mercury Grand Marquis. 

The driver 22-year-old Jecarlos Kemp did not stop, according to Rebolledo. Multiple people witnessed the accident and rendered aid to the victim.

The driver of the Mercury Grand Marquis, Jecarlos Kemp returned to the scene approximately 20 minutes after the incident and police arrested him on a requested charge of felony hit and run.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687193284121.png" alt="Kemp-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Kemp-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit-and-and run have made an arrest.Just before 5:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to the intersection of North Roosevelt and East Douglas for an injury hit-and-run collision, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.First responders located a victim later identified as 70-year-old Nancy McDonough-Harmening of Wichita in the street unresponsive and being cared for by good Samaritans. EMS transported her to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.During the investigation, officers learned McDonough-Harmening was crossing East Douglas from the south side of Roosevelt towards the north when she was struck by a westbound white Mercury Grand Marquis. The driver 22-year-old Jecarlos Kemp did not stop, according to Rebolledo. Multiple people witnessed the accident and rendered aid to the victim.The driver of the Mercury Grand Marquis, Jecarlos Kemp returned to the scene approximately 20 minutes after the incident and police arrested him on a requested charge of felony hit and run.

Driver arrested after returning to scene of fatal Kan. hit-and-run

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting at a home in Kansas City have identified the man who died as 46-year-old&nbsp;Rickey A. Cubit, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.

Just&nbsp;11 p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to 67th and Richmond Avenue in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according Carlisle. Upon arrival officers made entry to the residence and located Cubit suffering from apparent gun shot wounds.&nbsp; EMS arrived on scene and declared the him deceased. An adult female victim arrived at a nearby fire station. She was suffering from apparent gun shot wounds. The victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. There is no one in custody at this time. The circumstances surrounding the homicide are still being investigated. Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to the scene to recover any evidence and speak with any potential witnesses. On Monday, police released no additional details or suspect information.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting at a home in Kansas City have identified the man who died as 46-year-old&nbsp;Rickey A. Cubit, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.Just&nbsp;11 p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to 67th and Richmond Avenue in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according Carlisle. Upon arrival officers made entry to the residence and located Cubit suffering from apparent gun shot wounds.&nbsp; EMS arrived on scene and declared the him deceased. An adult female victim arrived at a nearby fire station. She was suffering from apparent gun shot wounds. The victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. There is no one in custody at this time. The circumstances surrounding the homicide are still being investigated. Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to the scene to recover any evidence and speak with any potential witnesses. On Monday, police released no additional details or suspect information.

Police ID victim after woman with gunshot wound ran to KC fire station

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect for alleged burglary.

Just after 8:30 a.m. Sunday, police observed two individuals on the roof of the old Ramada Inn motel, 605 SW Fairlawn Road in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.

Officers quickly established a perimeter and began to clear the vacant business in an attempt to locate the individuals observed. One individual was taken into custody as they exited the building and the other was located still inside.

Upon further investigation, Dylan K. Dow, 27 and Raymond D. Roberts II, 28, both of Topeka, were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested of Burglary, Criminal Damage and Interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp; Dow was also wanted on a&nbsp;a Shawnee County Arrest Warrant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687194664104.png" alt="Roberts-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Roberts-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect for alleged burglary.Just after 8:30 a.m. Sunday, police observed two individuals on the roof of the old Ramada Inn motel, 605 SW Fairlawn Road in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.Officers quickly established a perimeter and began to clear the vacant business in an attempt to locate the individuals observed. One individual was taken into custody as they exited the building and the other was located still inside.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687194510668.png" alt="Dow-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Dow-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon further investigation, Dylan K. Dow, 27 and Raymond D. Roberts II, 28, both of Topeka, were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested of Burglary, Criminal Damage and Interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp; Dow was also wanted on a&nbsp;a Shawnee County Arrest Warrant.

Police catch 2 Kan. burglary suspects on roof of old hotel

JACKSON COUNTY– Sheriff Tim Morse reports that a Mayetta woman was arrested early Saturday morning in Jefferson County. 

 Shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday Jackson County Deputies located a Ford Fusion near Holton that had been reported stolen, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 A pursuit ensued with the vehicle south of Holton on U.S. 75.  The pursuit continued into Shawnee County,&nbsp; east on Highway 24 and then into Jefferson County and the City of Perry. 

 A deputy initiated a tactical vehicle intervention technique that ended the pursuit south of the train tracks on the south side of Perry. 

Deputies took 38-year-old Saleena Rae Masquat, of Mayetta. Masquat remains in the Jackson County Jail on multiple charges.

In January, Masquat was passenger in a vehicle stopped by sheriff's deputies. They arrested her on a warrant from Topeka and on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of stolen property.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674934923409.png" alt="Masquat-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Masquat-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY– Sheriff Tim Morse reports that a Mayetta woman was arrested early Saturday morning in Jefferson County. Shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday Jackson County Deputies located a Ford Fusion near Holton that had been reported stolen, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. A pursuit ensued with the vehicle south of Holton on U.S. 75. The pursuit continued into Shawnee County,&nbsp; east on Highway 24 and then into Jefferson County and the City of Perry. A deputy initiated a tactical vehicle intervention technique that ended the pursuit south of the train tracks on the south side of Perry. Deputies took 38-year-old Saleena Rae Masquat, of Mayetta. Masquat remains in the Jackson County Jail on multiple charges.In January, Masquat was passenger in a vehicle stopped by sheriff's deputies. They arrested her on a warrant from Topeka and on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of stolen property.&nbsp;

Kansas woman jailed after 3-county chase in reported stolen car

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Monday in Kansas City, Kansas.

Police reported the crash involved three vehicles on the 7th Street Bridge&nbsp; over the Kansas River just south of Cheyenne Avenue. EMS transported the three drivers to area hospitals where one died. One driver was reported in serious condition and the third had non-life-threatening injuries.

Police have not released the names of those involved or additional details during the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687205342816.png" alt="Scene of the Monday morning fatal Kansas crash -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the Monday morning fatal Kansas crash -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Monday in Kansas City, Kansas.Police reported the crash involved three vehicles on the 7th Street Bridge&nbsp; over the Kansas River just south of Cheyenne Avenue. EMS transported the three drivers to area hospitals where one died. One driver was reported in serious condition and the third had non-life-threatening injuries.Police have not released the names of those involved or additional details during the investigation.

Police: 1 dead in 3-vehicle Kansas crash

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Entering court using a walker, a doctor's note clutched in his hand, 70-year-old Dana Williams, who suffers serious heart problems, hypertension and asthma, pleaded to delay eviction from his two-bedroom apartment in Atlanta.

Although sympathetic, the judge said state law required him to evict Williams and his 25-year-old daughter De’mai Williams in April because they owed $8,348 in unpaid rent and fees on their $940-a-month apartment.

They have been living in limbo ever since.

They moved into a dilapidated Atlanta hotel room with water dripping through the bathroom ceiling, broken furniture and no refrigerator or microwave. But at $275-a-week, it was all they could afford on Williams' $900 monthly social security check and the $800 his daughter gets biweekly from a state agency as her father’s caretaker.

“I really don’t want to be here by the time his birthday comes" in August, De'mai Williams said. "For his health, it’s just not right.”

The Williams family is among millions of tenants from New York state to Las Vegas who have been evicted or face imminent eviction.

After a lull during the pandemic, eviction filings by landlords have come roaring back, driven by rising rents and a long-running shortage of affordable housing. Most low-income tenants can no longer count on pandemic resources that had kept them housed, and many are finding it hard to recover because they haven't found steady work or their wages haven't kept pace with the rising cost of rent, food and other necessities.

“Protections have ended, the federal moratorium is obviously over, and emergency rental assistance money has dried up in most places,” said Daniel Grubbs-Donovan, a research specialist at Princeton University's Eviction Lab.

“Across the country, low-income renters are in an even worse situation than before the pandemic due to things like massive increases in rent during the pandemic, inflation and other pandemic-era related financial difficulties.”

Eviction filings are more than 50% higher than the pre-pandemic average in some cities, according to the Eviction Lab, which tracks filings in nearly three dozen cities and 10 states. Landlords file around 3.6 million eviction cases every year.

Among the hardest-hit are Houston, where rates were 56% higher in April and 50% higher in May. In Minneapolis/St. Paul, rates rose 106% in March, 55% in April and 63% in May. Nashville was 35% higher and Phoenix 33% higher in May; Rhode Island was up 32% in May.

The latest data mirrors trends that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-homelessness-a06212c8b671f066ea70fe57737f6e2a">started last year</a>, with the Eviction Lab finding nearly 970,000 evictions filed in locations it tracks — a 78.6% increase compared to 2021, when much of the country was following an eviction moratorium. By December, eviction filings were nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.

At the same time, rent prices nationwide are up about 5% from a year ago and 30.5% above 2019, according to the real estate company Zillow. There are few places for displaced tenants to go, with the National Low Income Housing Coalition estimating a 7.3 million shortfall of affordable units nationwide.

Many vulnerable tenants would have been evicted long ago if not for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-f0085d9d4547b897a27323bb95cc890c">a safety net created during the pandemic</a>.

The federal government, as well as many states and localities, issued moratoriums during the pandemic that put evictions on hold; most have now ended. There was also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-260b9c88a08a1ccb78494c8664887cf9">$46.5 billion in federal Emergency Rental Assistance</a>&nbsp;that helped tenants pay rent and funded other tenant protections. Much of that has been spent or allocated, and calls for additional resources have failed to gain traction in Congress.

“The disturbing rise of evictions to pre-pandemic levels is an alarming reminder of the need for us to act — at every level of government — to keep folks safely housed," said Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, urging Congress to pass a bill cracking down on illegal evictions, fund legal help for tenants and keep evictions off credit reports.

Housing courts are again filling up and ensnaring the likes of 79-year-old Maria Jackson.

Jackson worked for nearly two decades building a loyal clientele as a massage therapist in Las Vegas, which has seen one of the country's biggest jumps in eviction filings. That evaporated during the pandemic-triggered shutdown in March 2020. Her business fell apart; she sold her car and applied for food stamps.

She got behind on the $1,083 monthly rent on her one-bedroom apartment, and owing $12,489 in back rent was evicted in March. She moved in with a former client about an hour northeast of Las Vegas.

“Who could imagine this happening to someone who has worked all their life?” Jackson asked.

Last month she found a room in Las Vegas for $400 a month, paid for with her $1,241 monthly social security check. It's not home, but “I'm one of the lucky ones,” she said.

“I could be in a tent or at a shelter right now."

In upstate New York, evictions are rising after a moratorium lifted last year. Forty of the state's 62 counties had higher eviction filings in 2022 than before the pandemic, including two where eviction filings more than doubled compared to 2019.

“How do we care for the folks who are evicted ... when the capacity is not in place and ready to roll out in places that haven’t experienced a lot of eviction recently?” said Russell Weaver, whose Cornell University lab tracks evictions statewide.

Housing advocates had hoped the Democrat-controlled state Legislature would pass a bill requiring landlords to provide justification for evicting tenants and limit rent increases to 3% or 1.5 times inflation. But it was excluded from the state budget and lawmakers failed to pass it before the legislative session ended this month.

“Our state Legislature should have fought harder,” said Oscar Brewer, a tenant organizer facing eviction from the apartment he shares with his 6-year-old daughter in Rochester.

In Texas, evictions were kept down during the pandemic by federal assistance and the moratoriums. But as protections went away, housing prices skyrocketed in Austin, Dallas and elsewhere, leading to a record 270,000 eviction filings statewide in 2022.

Advocates were hoping the state Legislature might provide relief, directing some of the $32 billion budget surplus into rental assistance. But that hasn't happened.

“It’s a huge mistake to miss our shot here,” said Ben Martin, a research director at nonprofit Texas Housers. “If we don’t address it, now, the crisis is going to get worse.”

Still, some pandemic protections are being made permanent, and having an impact on eviction rates. Nationwide, 200 measures have passed since January 2021, including legal representation for tenants, sealing eviction records and mediation to resolve cases before they reach court, said the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

These measures are credited with keeping eviction filings down in several cities, including New York City and Philadelphia — 41% below pre-pandemic levels in May for the former and 33% for the latter.

A right-to-counsel program and the fact that housing courts aren't prosecuting cases involving rent arears are among the factors keeping New York City filings down.

In Philadelphia, 70% of the more than 5,000 tenants and landlords who took part in the eviction diversion program resolved their cases. The city also set aside $30 million in assistance for those with less than $3,000 in arears, and started a right-to-counsel program, doubling representation rates for tenants.

The future is not so bright for Williams and his daughter, who remain stuck in their dimly-lit hotel room. Without even a microwave or nearby grocery stores, they rely on pizza deliveries and snacks from the hotel vending machine.

Williams used to love having his six grandchildren over for dinner at his old apartment, but those days are over for now.

“I just want to be able to host my grandchildren,” he said, pausing to cough heavily. “I just want to live somewhere where they can come and sit down and hang out with me.”

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Entering court using a walker, a doctor's note clutched in his hand, 70-year-old Dana Williams, who suffers serious heart problems, hypertension and asthma, pleaded to delay eviction from his two-bedroom apartment in Atlanta.Although sympathetic, the judge said state law required him to evict Williams and his 25-year-old daughter De’mai Williams in April because they owed $8,348 in unpaid rent and fees on their $940-a-month apartment.They have been living in limbo ever since.They moved into a dilapidated Atlanta hotel room with water dripping through the bathroom ceiling, broken furniture and no refrigerator or microwave. But at $275-a-week, it was all they could afford on Williams' $900 monthly social security check and the $800 his daughter gets biweekly from a state agency as her father’s caretaker.“I really don’t want to be here by the time his birthday comes" in August, De'mai Williams said. "For his health, it’s just not right.”The Williams family is among millions of tenants from New York state to Las Vegas who have been evicted or face imminent eviction.After a lull during the pandemic, eviction filings by landlords have come roaring back, driven by rising rents and a long-running shortage of affordable housing. Most low-income tenants can no longer count on pandemic resources that had kept them housed, and many are finding it hard to recover because they haven't found steady work or their wages haven't kept pace with the rising cost of rent, food and other necessities.Homelessness, as a result, is rising.“Protections have ended, the federal moratorium is obviously over, and emergency rental assistance money has dried up in most places,” said Daniel Grubbs-Donovan, a research specialist at Princeton University's Eviction Lab.“Across the country, low-income renters are in an even worse situation than before the pandemic due to things like massive increases in rent during the pandemic, inflation and other pandemic-era related financial difficulties.”Eviction filings are more than 50% higher than the pre-pandemic average in some cities, according to the Eviction Lab, which tracks filings in nearly three dozen cities and 10 states. Landlords file around 3.6 million eviction cases every year.Among the hardest-hit are Houston, where rates were 56% higher in April and 50% higher in May. In Minneapolis/St. Paul, rates rose 106% in March, 55% in April and 63% in May. Nashville was 35% higher and Phoenix 33% higher in May; Rhode Island was up 32% in May.The latest data mirrors trends that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-homelessness-a06212c8b671f066ea70fe57737f6e2a">started last year</a>, with the Eviction Lab finding nearly 970,000 evictions filed in locations it tracks — a 78.6% increase compared to 2021, when much of the country was following an eviction moratorium. By December, eviction filings were nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.At the same time, rent prices nationwide are up about 5% from a year ago and 30.5% above 2019, according to the real estate company Zillow. There are few places for displaced tenants to go, with the National Low Income Housing Coalition estimating a 7.3 million shortfall of affordable units nationwide.Many vulnerable tenants would have been evicted long ago if not for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-f0085d9d4547b897a27323bb95cc890c">a safety net created during the pandemic</a>.The federal government, as well as many states and localities, issued moratoriums during the pandemic that put evictions on hold; most have now ended. There was also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-260b9c88a08a1ccb78494c8664887cf9">$46.5 billion in federal Emergency Rental Assistance</a>&nbsp;that helped tenants pay rent and funded other tenant protections. Much of that has been spent or allocated, and calls for additional resources have failed to gain traction in Congress.“The disturbing rise of evictions to pre-pandemic levels is an alarming reminder of the need for us to act — at every level of government — to keep folks safely housed," said Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, urging Congress to pass a bill cracking down on illegal evictions, fund legal help for tenants and keep evictions off credit reports.Housing courts are again filling up and ensnaring the likes of 79-year-old Maria Jackson.Jackson worked for nearly two decades building a loyal clientele as a massage therapist in Las Vegas, which has seen one of the country's biggest jumps in eviction filings. That evaporated during the pandemic-triggered shutdown in March 2020. Her business fell apart; she sold her car and applied for food stamps.She got behind on the $1,083 monthly rent on her one-bedroom apartment, and owing $12,489 in back rent was evicted in March. She moved in with a former client about an hour northeast of Las Vegas.“Who could imagine this happening to someone who has worked all their life?” Jackson asked.Last month she found a room in Las Vegas for $400 a month, paid for with her $1,241 monthly social security check. It's not home, but “I'm one of the lucky ones,” she said.“I could be in a tent or at a shelter right now."In upstate New York, evictions are rising after a moratorium lifted last year. Forty of the state's 62 counties had higher eviction filings in 2022 than before the pandemic, including two where eviction filings more than doubled compared to 2019.“How do we care for the folks who are evicted ... when the capacity is not in place and ready to roll out in places that haven’t experienced a lot of eviction recently?” said Russell Weaver, whose Cornell University lab tracks evictions statewide.Housing advocates had hoped the Democrat-controlled state Legislature would pass a bill requiring landlords to provide justification for evicting tenants and limit rent increases to 3% or 1.5 times inflation. But it was excluded from the state budget and lawmakers failed to pass it before the legislative session ended this month.“Our state Legislature should have fought harder,” said Oscar Brewer, a tenant organizer facing eviction from the apartment he shares with his 6-year-old daughter in Rochester.In Texas, evictions were kept down during the pandemic by federal assistance and the moratoriums. But as protections went away, housing prices skyrocketed in Austin, Dallas and elsewhere, leading to a record 270,000 eviction filings statewide in 2022.Advocates were hoping the state Legislature might provide relief, directing some of the $32 billion budget surplus into rental assistance. But that hasn't happened.“It’s a huge mistake to miss our shot here,” said Ben Martin, a research director at nonprofit Texas Housers. “If we don’t address it, now, the crisis is going to get worse.”Still, some pandemic protections are being made permanent, and having an impact on eviction rates. Nationwide, 200 measures have passed since January 2021, including legal representation for tenants, sealing eviction records and mediation to resolve cases before they reach court, said the National Low Income Housing Coalition.These measures are credited with keeping eviction filings down in several cities, including New York City and Philadelphia — 41% below pre-pandemic levels in May for the former and 33% for the latter.A right-to-counsel program and the fact that housing courts aren't prosecuting cases involving rent arears are among the factors keeping New York City filings down.In Philadelphia, 70% of the more than 5,000 tenants and landlords who took part in the eviction diversion program resolved their cases. The city also set aside $30 million in assistance for those with less than $3,000 in arears, and started a right-to-counsel program, doubling representation rates for tenants.The future is not so bright for Williams and his daughter, who remain stuck in their dimly-lit hotel room. Without even a microwave or nearby grocery stores, they rely on pizza deliveries and snacks from the hotel vending machine.Williams used to love having his six grandchildren over for dinner at his old apartment, but those days are over for now.“I just want to be able to host my grandchildren,” he said, pausing to cough heavily. “I just want to live somewhere where they can come and sit down and hang out with me.”___

Eviction filings are 50% higher than they were pre-pandemic

By LIZA GROSS <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

The makers of Roundup, the world’s top weedkiller, will pay $6.9 million for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/settlements-agreements/bayer-cropscience-and-monsanto-aod.pdf">violating an agreement</a>&nbsp;with the state of New York to stop making false claims about the safety of its best-selling herbicides.

Bayer and Monsanto, a Missouri company acquired by the German agrochemical giant for $63 billion in 2018, violated a 1996 agreement with the state of New York to “immediately cease and desist” from making false and misleading claims about glyphosate-based Roundup products, the New York attorney general’s office announced Thursday.

Studies have linked glyphosate, the active ingredient in many Roundup products, to a wide range of harmful effects in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721004654">pollinators</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-020-00574-1">lab animals</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1542356519303611">people</a>. In March, a first of its kind&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP11721">study</a>&nbsp;linked Roundup to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17032023/roundup-glyphosate-health-kids/">liver and metabolic disease</a>&nbsp;in children.

Yet Bayer and Monsanto repeatedly advertised glyphosate-based Roundup products as safe and nontoxic without adequate substantiation, Attorney General Letitia&nbsp;James determined in an investigation that started three years ago.

These claims violated state laws against false and misleading advertising as well as a previous settlement the attorney general’s office&nbsp;reached with Monsanto in 1996. The 1996 settlement cited Monsanto ads claiming its glyphosate-based herbicides are “practically nontoxic” and “less toxic than certain common household products,” claims the attorney general concluded constituted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/fraud.pdf">false and misleading advertising</a>.

Monsanto in turn committed to stop making unsubstantiated claims about the safety of its glyphosate-based Roundup products, and agreed to pay the state $50,000 in costs.

In 2020, the attorney general’s office launched a new review of Bayer and Monsanto’s advertising materials and asked the companies to provide evidence backing up claims that the products are safe.

The investigation discovered multiple instances of false or misleading safety claims on multiple platforms and by Bayer employees, including assertions that ingredients in Roundup products are less toxic than dish detergent and soap.

“Once again, Monsanto and the company’s current owner, Bayer, made false and misleading claims about the safety of their products, but we will not allow them to get away with endangering our environment,” James said in a statement. “My office will continue to protect the health of New York’s environment by ensuring our laws are respected and followed.”

The agreement cites at least five examples of online videos claiming that Roundup weed and grass killer products “won’t harm anything but weeds.” The ads are no longer publicly available, in keeping with terms of the agreement.

In one case, Bayer’s website claimed that glyphosate-based Roundup products do not result in adverse effects to honey bees or pose a threat to the health of animal wildlife. “In fact, glyphosate is an important tool that can help preserve the environment and biodiversity,” the chemical giant, valued at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ycharts.com/companies/BAYRY/market_cap">$55 billion</a>, said. Bayer removed the web page as required, though it was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220319100202/https://www.bayer.com/en/glyphosate/glyphosate-homeowner-use">captured</a>&nbsp;by the Internet Archive.

The company also removed a page claiming that because glyphosate allows farmers to reduce tillage practices, which releases greenhouse gases from soil, it protects the environment for insects, birds and wildlife, including pollinators. That page, too, is now available only on the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bayer.com/en/not-found">&nbsp;Internet Archive</a>.

These marketing materials violate state laws on business fraud, false and misleading advertising and Monsanto’s obligations under the 1996 agreement, the attorney general’s office found.

James said in a statement that pesticides can cause serious harm to the environment and pose a deadly threat to wildlife, including pollinators and other species vital to agriculture. “It is essential that pesticide companies, even and especially the most powerful ones, are honest with consumers about the dangers posed by their products so that they can be used responsibly,” she said.

“We are pleased that the New York Attorney General’s Office has completed its investigation,” a Bayer spokesperson said, adding that the company was glad to reach an agreement to resolve the issue. The attorney general “made no findings regarding the safety of Roundup products and no scientific conclusion that they have caused harm to pollinators or aquatic species,” the spokesperson added.

The investigation did, however, note several scientific studies reporting evidence of harm to pollinators, whose numbers are&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/pollinators-climateimpact.htm#:~:text=Humans%20also%20rely%20on%20pollinators,populations%20that%20pollinators%20depend%20on.">declining for multiple</a>&nbsp;potential reasons scientists believe, including widespread use of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S3fHEFA41NtUkUM8ajct8Oc0AizU4zlfP_UW612E7Nc/edit?usp=sharing">herbicides like glyphosate</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004896972100855X">climate change</a>.

Recent studies show that glyphosate&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8320642/">disrupts enzymes</a>&nbsp;in gut microbes essential for health in people and other animals and that the herbicide may harm pollinators and aquatic organisms. One study, by a leading expert on how microbes affect their hosts, found that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1803880115">glyphosate upsets microflora</a>&nbsp;in bees’ guts, making them more susceptible to infection.

The investigation cited these studies to determine that Bayer and Monsanto failed to substantiate advertising claims that Roundup weed- and grass killer products are safe and nontoxic and “won’t harm anything but weeds.”

The attorney general’s office also noted that Bayer and Monsanto “neither admit nor deny” the findings. In addition, the office noted that Bayer intends to stop selling glyphosate-based products in 2023, as a result of settling lawsuits worth billions of dollars alleging the products cause cancer in humans.The investigation did not, however, focus on glyphosate’s effects on humans. The products are still available in New York stores.

The attorney general’s office accepted the $6.9 million payment, due within 10 days of the agreement, and the companies’ assurance that they would “cease and desist” from publishing or broadcasting ads in New York that claim Roundup products are safe, nontoxic and harmless to pollinators and aquatic organisms.

The money will be used for pollinator research, management and programs designed to restore pollinator habitat and mitigate environmental pollution affecting bees and other pollinators.

If the agrochemical giants violate these terms, they must pay $100,000 in each case.

This article originally appeared on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15062023/roundup-weedkiller-settlement-neww-york-ag/">Inside Climate News</a>, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. It is republished with permission. Sign up for their newsletter&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://insideclimatenews.org/newsletter/">here</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593022262288.png" alt="Roundup’s manufacturer, the multinational Bayer, must pay $6.9 million for violating an agreement with the state of New York to stop making false claims.-file photo" />
 <figcaption>Roundup’s manufacturer, the multinational Bayer, must pay $6.9 million for violating an agreement with the state of New York to stop making false claims.-file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By LIZA GROSS <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>The makers of Roundup, the world’s top weedkiller, will pay $6.9 million for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/settlements-agreements/bayer-cropscience-and-monsanto-aod.pdf">violating an agreement</a>&nbsp;with the state of New York to stop making false claims about the safety of its best-selling herbicides.Bayer and Monsanto, a Missouri company acquired by the German agrochemical giant for $63 billion in 2018, violated a 1996 agreement with the state of New York to “immediately cease and desist” from making false and misleading claims about glyphosate-based Roundup products, the New York attorney general’s office announced Thursday.Studies have linked glyphosate, the active ingredient in many Roundup products, to a wide range of harmful effects in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721004654">pollinators</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-020-00574-1">lab animals</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1542356519303611">people</a>. In March, a first of its kind&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP11721">study</a>&nbsp;linked Roundup to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17032023/roundup-glyphosate-health-kids/">liver and metabolic disease</a>&nbsp;in children.Yet Bayer and Monsanto repeatedly advertised glyphosate-based Roundup products as safe and nontoxic without adequate substantiation, Attorney General Letitia&nbsp;James determined in an investigation that started three years ago.These claims violated state laws against false and misleading advertising as well as a previous settlement the attorney general’s office&nbsp;reached with Monsanto in 1996. The 1996 settlement cited Monsanto ads claiming its glyphosate-based herbicides are “practically nontoxic” and “less toxic than certain common household products,” claims the attorney general concluded constituted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/fraud.pdf">false and misleading advertising</a>.Monsanto in turn committed to stop making unsubstantiated claims about the safety of its glyphosate-based Roundup products, and agreed to pay the state $50,000 in costs.In 2020, the attorney general’s office launched a new review of Bayer and Monsanto’s advertising materials and asked the companies to provide evidence backing up claims that the products are safe.The investigation discovered multiple instances of false or misleading safety claims on multiple platforms and by Bayer employees, including assertions that ingredients in Roundup products are less toxic than dish detergent and soap.“Once again, Monsanto and the company’s current owner, Bayer, made false and misleading claims about the safety of their products, but we will not allow them to get away with endangering our environment,” James said in a statement. “My office will continue to protect the health of New York’s environment by ensuring our laws are respected and followed.”The agreement cites at least five examples of online videos claiming that Roundup weed and grass killer products “won’t harm anything but weeds.” The ads are no longer publicly available, in keeping with terms of the agreement.In one case, Bayer’s website claimed that glyphosate-based Roundup products do not result in adverse effects to honey bees or pose a threat to the health of animal wildlife. “In fact, glyphosate is an important tool that can help preserve the environment and biodiversity,” the chemical giant, valued at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ycharts.com/companies/BAYRY/market_cap">$55 billion</a>, said. Bayer removed the web page as required, though it was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220319100202/https://www.bayer.com/en/glyphosate/glyphosate-homeowner-use">captured</a>&nbsp;by the Internet Archive.The company also removed a page claiming that because glyphosate allows farmers to reduce tillage practices, which releases greenhouse gases from soil, it protects the environment for insects, birds and wildlife, including pollinators. That page, too, is now available only on the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bayer.com/en/not-found">&nbsp;Internet Archive</a>.These marketing materials violate state laws on business fraud, false and misleading advertising and Monsanto’s obligations under the 1996 agreement, the attorney general’s office found.James said in a statement that pesticides can cause serious harm to the environment and pose a deadly threat to wildlife, including pollinators and other species vital to agriculture. “It is essential that pesticide companies, even and especially the most powerful ones, are honest with consumers about the dangers posed by their products so that they can be used responsibly,” she said.“We are pleased that the New York Attorney General’s Office has completed its investigation,” a Bayer spokesperson said, adding that the company was glad to reach an agreement to resolve the issue. The attorney general “made no findings regarding the safety of Roundup products and no scientific conclusion that they have caused harm to pollinators or aquatic species,” the spokesperson added.The investigation did, however, note several scientific studies reporting evidence of harm to pollinators, whose numbers are&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/pollinators-climateimpact.htm#:~:text=Humans%20also%20rely%20on%20pollinators,populations%20that%20pollinators%20depend%20on.">declining for multiple</a>&nbsp;potential reasons scientists believe, including widespread use of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S3fHEFA41NtUkUM8ajct8Oc0AizU4zlfP_UW612E7Nc/edit?usp=sharing">herbicides like glyphosate</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004896972100855X">climate change</a>.Recent studies show that glyphosate&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8320642/">disrupts enzymes</a>&nbsp;in gut microbes essential for health in people and other animals and that the herbicide may harm pollinators and aquatic organisms. One study, by a leading expert on how microbes affect their hosts, found that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1803880115">glyphosate upsets microflora</a>&nbsp;in bees’ guts, making them more susceptible to infection.The investigation cited these studies to determine that Bayer and Monsanto failed to substantiate advertising claims that Roundup weed- and grass killer products are safe and nontoxic and “won’t harm anything but weeds.”The attorney general’s office also noted that Bayer and Monsanto “neither admit nor deny” the findings. In addition, the office noted that Bayer intends to stop selling glyphosate-based products in 2023, as a result of settling lawsuits worth billions of dollars alleging the products cause cancer in humans.The investigation did not, however, focus on glyphosate’s effects on humans. The products are still available in New York stores.The attorney general’s office accepted the $6.9 million payment, due within 10 days of the agreement, and the companies’ assurance that they would “cease and desist” from publishing or broadcasting ads in New York that claim Roundup products are safe, nontoxic and harmless to pollinators and aquatic organisms.The money will be used for pollinator research, management and programs designed to restore pollinator habitat and mitigate environmental pollution affecting bees and other pollinators.If the agrochemical giants violate these terms, they must pay $100,000 in each case. This article originally appeared on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15062023/roundup-weedkiller-settlement-neww-york-ag/">Inside Climate News</a>, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. It is republished with permission. Sign up for their newsletter&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://insideclimatenews.org/newsletter/">here</a>.&nbsp;

Roundup weedkiller manufacturers to pay $6.9 million in false ad settlement

MERRIAM, Kan. (AP) — A 24-year-old man has been charged with causing a deadly crash in suburban Kansas City after police tried to stop him for speeding.

Uconn Coleman, of Grain Valley, Missouri, is jailed on $500,000 bond on charges that include first-degree murder, eluding police and driving under the influence.

Police in Merriam, Kansas, said the crash happened around 1:35 a.m. Thursday when an officer tried to pull over a speeding driver. Police said the officer didn't initiate a pursuit before the driver crashed seconds later into another vehicle that was stopped at an intersection.

The driver of the stopped vehicle, 19-year-old Benjamin Klecza, was taken to the hospital with critical injuries. He later died, according to prosecutors.

Defense attorney Carl Cornwell said Coleman sobbed when he spoke to him for the first time Friday, distraught that someone had died.

“It was very emotional,” Cornwell said, adding that Coleman was “very remorseful.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687029113330.png" alt="Coleman-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Coleman-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MERRIAM, Kan. (AP) — A 24-year-old man has been charged with causing a deadly crash in suburban Kansas City after police tried to stop him for speeding.Uconn Coleman, of Grain Valley, Missouri, is jailed on $500,000 bond on charges that include first-degree murder, eluding police and driving under the influence.Police in Merriam, Kansas, said the crash happened around 1:35 a.m. Thursday when an officer tried to pull over a speeding driver. Police said the officer didn't initiate a pursuit before the driver crashed seconds later into another vehicle that was stopped at an intersection.The driver of the stopped vehicle, 19-year-old Benjamin Klecza, was taken to the hospital with critical injuries. He later died, according to prosecutors.Defense attorney Carl Cornwell said Coleman sobbed when he spoke to him for the first time Friday, distraught that someone had died.“It was very emotional,” Cornwell said, adding that Coleman was “very remorseful.”

Driver charged in deadly Kan. crash after he ran from traffic stop

JUNCTION CITY –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly celebrates the announcement that Michelin will invest more than $100 million into its Junction City operations over the next five years, creating 200 new jobs, according to a media release from her office.

The investment will increase the company’s production capacity of Camso rubber tracks for agricultural equipment.

“Michelin’s expansion is further proof that the work we are doing to recruit, retain, and expand business in the state is paying off,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “Now, 200 more Kansans will have quality jobs and Junction City will continue to grow, benefiting the state as a whole.”

“At Michelin, we are proud to partner with our customers who are meeting the challenge of feeding the world more efficiently while protecting the environment,”&nbsp;Michelin North America President and CEO Alexis Garcin said. “This investment in agricultural tracks capacity is further evidence of our commitment to bring Michelin’s all-sustainable strategy to life in North America, positioning the company as a leader in this fast-growing market segment and creating careers that will benefit 200 families in the community.”

Camso, a brand under the Michelin Group, specializes in off-road tires, rubber tracks, and systems for material handling, construction, agriculture, and power sports industries.

“Michelin’s strategic expansions continue to create more opportunities for hard-working Kansas families,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Kelly Administration’s goal to bring prosperity to all Kansas communities is happening – one solid investment like this at a time.”

Kansas is home to three Michelin manufacturing plants, all specializing in agricultural applications like rubber tracks and wheels. The other two facilities are in Emporia.

Through steady investment in Kansas, Michelin has increased production and the number of people employed in the state. In the past two years, more than $20 million was invested to expand and improve the Emporia facilities. In Junction City, the estimated 200 new positions will increase that plant’s workforce to 375 by 2026.

“As a leader in the beyond road segment, this investment is additional proof of our commitment to partner with our customers,”&nbsp;said Erick Bellefleur, Senior Vice President of the global Beyond Road business line. “With this investment, we’ll not only be able to meet a growing need in the agriculture market, but we will also continue to add to our workforce in Kansas where our teams are eager to meet tomorrow’s challenges and serve are customers who are also our neighbors.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687188098034.png" alt="Camso, a brand under the Michelin Group, specializes in off-road tires, rubber tracks, and systems for material handling, construction, agriculture, and power sports industries.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Camso, a brand under the Michelin Group, specializes in off-road tires, rubber tracks, and systems for material handling, construction, agriculture, and power sports industries.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>JUNCTION CITY –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly celebrates the announcement that Michelin will invest more than $100 million into its Junction City operations over the next five years, creating 200 new jobs, according to a media release from her office.The investment will increase the company’s production capacity of Camso rubber tracks for agricultural equipment.“Michelin’s expansion is further proof that the work we are doing to recruit, retain, and expand business in the state is paying off,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “Now, 200 more Kansans will have quality jobs and Junction City will continue to grow, benefiting the state as a whole.”“At Michelin, we are proud to partner with our customers who are meeting the challenge of feeding the world more efficiently while protecting the environment,”&nbsp;Michelin North America President and CEO Alexis Garcin said. “This investment in agricultural tracks capacity is further evidence of our commitment to bring Michelin’s all-sustainable strategy to life in North America, positioning the company as a leader in this fast-growing market segment and creating careers that will benefit 200 families in the community.”Camso, a brand under the Michelin Group, specializes in off-road tires, rubber tracks, and systems for material handling, construction, agriculture, and power sports industries.“Michelin’s strategic expansions continue to create more opportunities for hard-working Kansas families,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Kelly Administration’s goal to bring prosperity to all Kansas communities is happening – one solid investment like this at a time.”Kansas is home to three Michelin manufacturing plants, all specializing in agricultural applications like rubber tracks and wheels. The other two facilities are in Emporia.Through steady investment in Kansas, Michelin has increased production and the number of people employed in the state. In the past two years, more than $20 million was invested to expand and improve the Emporia facilities. In Junction City, the estimated 200 new positions will increase that plant’s workforce to 375 by 2026.“As a leader in the beyond road segment, this investment is additional proof of our commitment to partner with our customers,”&nbsp;said Erick Bellefleur, Senior Vice President of the global Beyond Road business line. “With this investment, we’ll not only be able to meet a growing need in the agriculture market, but we will also continue to add to our workforce in Kansas where our teams are eager to meet tomorrow’s challenges and serve are customers who are also our neighbors.”

Michelin to invest more than $100 million into Junction City operation

BUTLER COUNTY —A toddler died from injuries in an accident Friday in rural Butler County. Friends <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/rip-baby-eden">established a GoFundMe</a> to assist the family.

Just after 4p.m., emergency crews responded to the report of an unresponsive child in the 500 block of S. Main in Leon, Kansas, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.

 The 21-month-old boy had been run over by a vehicle in the driveway of the home by a family member.&nbsp; Butler County EMS transported the child to Wesley Medical Center, in extremely critical condition, where he later died.

The incident is being investigated as accidental.&nbsp; The accident is not believed to be alcohol or drug related, according to Cundiff.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686966501599.png" alt="First responders on the scene Friday-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene Friday-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —A toddler died from injuries in an accident Friday in rural Butler County. Friends <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/rip-baby-eden">established a GoFundMe</a> to assist the family.Just after 4p.m., emergency crews responded to the report of an unresponsive child in the 500 block of S. Main in Leon, Kansas, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687048550064.png" alt="Photo of Eden from the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/rip-baby-eden">GoFundMe page</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of Eden from the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/rip-baby-eden">GoFundMe page</a></figcaption>
 </figure> The 21-month-old boy had been run over by a vehicle in the driveway of the home by a family member.&nbsp; Butler County EMS transported the child to Wesley Medical Center, in extremely critical condition, where he later died.The incident is being investigated as accidental.&nbsp; The accident is not believed to be alcohol or drug related, according to Cundiff.

Friends helping family of Kansas toddler who died in accident

WICHITA (AP) — Americans in Kansas and across the country this weekend celebrated Juneteenth, marking the relatively&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/juneteenth-holiday-beginner-celebration-guide-460084b8008206febf23bd8d083170fa">new national holiday</a>&nbsp;with cookouts, parades and other gatherings as they commemorated the end of slavery after the Civil War.

While many have treated the long holiday weekend as a reason for a party, others urged quiet reflection on America's often violent and oppressive treatment of its Black citizens. And still others have remarked at the strangeness of celebrating a federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the nation while many Americans are trying to stop parts of that history from being taught in public schools.

“Is&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Juneteenth?src=hashtag_click">#Juneteenth</a>&nbsp;the only federal holiday that some states have banned the teaching of its history and significance?” Author Michelle Duster asked on Twitter this weekend, referring to measures in Florida, Oklahoma and Alabama prohibiting an Advancement Placement African American studies course or the teaching of certain concepts of race and racism.

Monday’s federal holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued during the bloody Civil War.

On Juneteenth weekend, a Roman Catholic church in Detroit devoted its service to urging parishioners to take a deeper look at the lessons from the holiday.

“In order to have justice we must work for peace. And in order to have peace we must work for justice,” John Thorne, executive director of the Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance, said to the congregation at Gesu Catholic Church in Detroit.

Standing before paintings of a Black Jesus and Mary, Thorne said Juneteenth is a day of celebration, but it also “has to be much more.”

It was important to speak about Juneteenth during Sunday Mass, the Rev. Lorn Snow told a reporter as the service was ending.

“The struggle’s still not over with. There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said.

Most Black Americans agree, according to a recent poll. A full 70% of Black adults&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-george-floyd-only-on-ap-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-police-9a73b306d00aa423e330d26d99f973a1">queried in a AP-NORC poll</a>&nbsp;said “a lot” needs to be done to achieve equal treatment for African Americans in policing. And Black Americans suffer from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/black-americans-health-disparities-takeaways-434d87016d1e1e7ebd88752792be9acc">significantly worse health outcomes than their white peers</a>&nbsp;across a variety of measures, including rates of maternal mortality, asthma, high blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease.

Although end-of-slavery celebrations are new in many parts of the country, in Memphis, where the slave trade once thrived, the Juneteenth holiday has been celebrated since long before it became a designated federal holiday in 2021. The Tennessee Legislature passed a bill earlier this year making it a state holiday, as well.

Festivities there include a multi-day festival including food, music, arts and crafts, and cultural exhibitions in a tree-lined park in the city's medical district. The Memphis park once held an equestrian statue and the grave of slave trader and Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest. The statue and the body were moved in recent years.

Memphis is home to the National Civil Rights Museum located at the site of the old Lorraine Motel, the former Black-owned hotel where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in 1968. The museum is offering free admission on Monday to mark the holiday. At the museum, visitors can hear recorded speeches from civil rights leaders including King, Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers and others.

Ryan Jones, the museum’s associate curator, said Juneteenth should be celebrated in the U.S. with the same emphasis that July 4 receives as Independence Day.

“It is the independence of a people that were forced to endure oppression and discrimination based on the color of their skin,” Jones said.

The Juneteenth holiday, Jones said, should also be viewed as more than a day when people attend parties and cookouts. In fact, he said, it is a time to reflect on the past.

“It acknowledges the sacrifices of those early civil rights veterans between World War I and World War II, and of course in the modern society, the protests, the demonstrations, the non-violence, the marches,” Jones said.

As Americans gathered to mark the holiday, it wasn't without incident. In a Chicago suburb late Saturday night,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/willowbrook-illinois-party-shooting-a730bb6b0dbfbfd31b89f9784d469edc">one person was killed and 22 were injured</a>&nbsp;in a shooting still being investigated Sunday by police. One witness said the party in the parking lot of a Willowbrook, Illinois, strip-mall was a Juneteenth celebration.

The White House released a statement Sunday afternoon, saying: “The President and First Lady are thinking of those killed and injured in the shooting in Illinois last night. We have reached out to offer assistance to state and local leaders in the wake of this tragedy at a community Juneteenth celebration.”

The holiday observance continues Monday with Vice President Kamala Harris appearing on a CNN special with musical guests including Miguel and Charlie Wilson.

Schools and federal buildings will be closed Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687139012959.png" alt="Juneteenth events over the weekend in Wichita-photos courtesy Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Juneteenth events over the weekend in Wichita-photos courtesy Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA (AP) — Americans in Kansas and across the country this weekend celebrated Juneteenth, marking the relatively&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/juneteenth-holiday-beginner-celebration-guide-460084b8008206febf23bd8d083170fa">new national holiday</a>&nbsp;with cookouts, parades and other gatherings as they commemorated the end of slavery after the Civil War.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Juneteenth commemorates the end of nearly 250 years of slavery – a remarkable moment in our nation&#39;s history. I encourage all Kansans to join me in celebrating today and seizing every opportunity to remind friends and family of Kansas’ rich and diverse heritage. <a href="https://t.co/TurpplivlN">pic.twitter.com/TurpplivlN</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1670801125447016449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>While many have treated the long holiday weekend as a reason for a party, others urged quiet reflection on America's often violent and oppressive treatment of its Black citizens. And still others have remarked at the strangeness of celebrating a federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the nation while many Americans are trying to stop parts of that history from being taught in public schools.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687139151742.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Is&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Juneteenth?src=hashtag_click">#Juneteenth</a>&nbsp;the only federal holiday that some states have banned the teaching of its history and significance?” Author Michelle Duster asked on Twitter this weekend, referring to measures in Florida, Oklahoma and Alabama prohibiting an Advancement Placement African American studies course or the teaching of certain concepts of race and racism.Monday’s federal holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued during the bloody Civil War.On Juneteenth weekend, a Roman Catholic church in Detroit devoted its service to urging parishioners to take a deeper look at the lessons from the holiday.“In order to have justice we must work for peace. And in order to have peace we must work for justice,” John Thorne, executive director of the Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance, said to the congregation at Gesu Catholic Church in Detroit.Standing before paintings of a Black Jesus and Mary, Thorne said Juneteenth is a day of celebration, but it also “has to be much more.”It was important to speak about Juneteenth during Sunday Mass, the Rev. Lorn Snow told a reporter as the service was ending.“The struggle’s still not over with. There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said.Most Black Americans agree, according to a recent poll. A full 70% of Black adults&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-george-floyd-only-on-ap-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-police-9a73b306d00aa423e330d26d99f973a1">queried in a AP-NORC poll</a>&nbsp;said “a lot” needs to be done to achieve equal treatment for African Americans in policing. And Black Americans suffer from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/black-americans-health-disparities-takeaways-434d87016d1e1e7ebd88752792be9acc">significantly worse health outcomes than their white peers</a>&nbsp;across a variety of measures, including rates of maternal mortality, asthma, high blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease.Although end-of-slavery celebrations are new in many parts of the country, in Memphis, where the slave trade once thrived, the Juneteenth holiday has been celebrated since long before it became a designated federal holiday in 2021. The Tennessee Legislature passed a bill earlier this year making it a state holiday, as well.Festivities there include a multi-day festival including food, music, arts and crafts, and cultural exhibitions in a tree-lined park in the city's medical district. The Memphis park once held an equestrian statue and the grave of slave trader and Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest. The statue and the body were moved in recent years.Memphis is home to the National Civil Rights Museum located at the site of the old Lorraine Motel, the former Black-owned hotel where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in 1968. The museum is offering free admission on Monday to mark the holiday. At the museum, visitors can hear recorded speeches from civil rights leaders including King, Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers and others.Ryan Jones, the museum’s associate curator, said Juneteenth should be celebrated in the U.S. with the same emphasis that July 4 receives as Independence Day.“It is the independence of a people that were forced to endure oppression and discrimination based on the color of their skin,” Jones said.The Juneteenth holiday, Jones said, should also be viewed as more than a day when people attend parties and cookouts. In fact, he said, it is a time to reflect on the past.“It acknowledges the sacrifices of those early civil rights veterans between World War I and World War II, and of course in the modern society, the protests, the demonstrations, the non-violence, the marches,” Jones said.As Americans gathered to mark the holiday, it wasn't without incident. In a Chicago suburb late Saturday night,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/willowbrook-illinois-party-shooting-a730bb6b0dbfbfd31b89f9784d469edc">one person was killed and 22 were injured</a>&nbsp;in a shooting still being investigated Sunday by police. One witness said the party in the parking lot of a Willowbrook, Illinois, strip-mall was a Juneteenth celebration.The White House released a statement Sunday afternoon, saying: “The President and First Lady are thinking of those killed and injured in the shooting in Illinois last night. We have reached out to offer assistance to state and local leaders in the wake of this tragedy at a community Juneteenth celebration.”The holiday observance continues Monday with Vice President Kamala Harris appearing on a CNN special with musical guests including Miguel and Charlie Wilson.Schools and federal buildings will be closed Monday.

Kansans mark Juneteenth with parties, events, quiet reflection on end of slavery

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. —Two teens were injured in an accident just before 6:30p.mm. Friday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Seado jet ski driven by a 15-year-old from Derby, Kansas struck a 2021 Seado jet ski driven by a 16-year-old from Rose Hill near the 7-mile mark of the Big Niangua.

After impact, both teens were ejected into the water.&nbsp; Mid County ambulance transported both to Lake Regional Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.&nbsp; The MSHP reported no additional details.

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. —Two teens were injured in an accident just before 6:30p.mm. Friday at Lake of the Ozarks.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Seado jet ski driven by a 15-year-old from Derby, Kansas struck a 2021 Seado jet ski driven by a 16-year-old from Rose Hill near the 7-mile mark of the Big Niangua.After impact, both teens were ejected into the water.&nbsp; Mid County ambulance transported both to Lake Regional Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.&nbsp; The MSHP reported no additional details.

2 Kan. teens injured after jet ski crash at Lake of the Ozarks

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of shootings in Topeka that left one dead and two others with injuries.

Just after 10p.m. Sunday police responded to report of a disturbance in the 3100 Block of SW Clay in Topeka, according to Lt. Edward Stanley. First responders found a shooting victim who was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Just before 11:30p..m. Sunday police responded to 4100 Block of Southwest of Twilight in Topeka, according to Stanley.

First responders found one person with a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Just after 1:30.a.m. on Monday, police responded to the 1300 Block&nbsp; of Western Avenue in Topeka on reports of multiple gunshots in the area.

Officers found one person with a&nbsp;non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to Stanley.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police have not released any additional details or suspect information on these incidents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687170616581.png" alt="Police were busy Sunday night and early Monday in Topeka" />
 <figcaption>Police were busy Sunday night and early Monday in Topeka</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of shootings in Topeka that left one dead and two others with injuries.Just after 10p.m. Sunday police responded to report of a disturbance in the 3100 Block of SW Clay in Topeka, according to Lt. Edward Stanley. First responders found a shooting victim who was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Just before 11:30p..m. Sunday police responded to 4100 Block of Southwest of Twilight in Topeka, according to Stanley.First responders found one person with a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.Just after 1:30.a.m. on Monday, police responded to the 1300 Block&nbsp; of Western Avenue in Topeka on reports of multiple gunshots in the area.Officers found one person with a&nbsp;non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to Stanley.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police have not released any additional details or suspect information on these incidents.

1 dead, two injured in series of shootings in Kansas

BEIJING (AP) — The United States and China have pledged to stabilize their badly deteriorated ties during a critical visit to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Xi pronounced himself satisfied with progress made during talks in Beijing. But, Blinken told media, China refused to resume military to military communications, a U.S. priority.

It remains to be seen whether the two countries can resolve their most important disagreements, many of which have international financial, security and stability implications.

The two sides expressed a willingness to hold more talks, but there was little indication that either is prepared to bend from its positions on issues including trade, Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong, Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea, and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Blinken said later that the U.S. set limited objectives for the trip, and achieved them. Blinken added that he had raised the issue of military to military communications “repeatedly."

“It is absolutely vital that we have these kinds of communications,” he said. “This is something we’re going to keep working on.”

The U.S. has said that, since 2021, China has declined or failed to respond to over a dozen requests from the Department of Defense for top-level dialogues.

According to a transcript of the meeting with Blinken, Xi pronounced himself pleased with the outcome of Blinken's earlier meetings with two top Chinese diplomats, and said the two countries had agreed to resume a program of understandings that he and President Joe Biden agreed to at a meeting in Bali last year.

“The Chinese side has made our position clear, and the two sides have agreed to follow through the common understandings President Biden and I had reached in Bali,” Xi said.

That agenda had been thrown into jeopardy in recent months, notably after the U.S. shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon over its airspace in February, and amid escalated military activity in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. Combined with disputes over human rights, trade and opiate production, the list of problem areas is daunting.

But Xi suggested the worst could be over.

“The two sides have also made progress and reached agreement on some specific issues,” Xi said without elaborating, according to a transcript of the remarks released by the State Department. “This is very good.”

“I hope that through this visit, Mr. Secretary, you will make more positive contributions to stabilizing China-U.S. relations,” Xi added.

In his remarks to Xi during the 35-minute session at the Great Hall of the People, which was not announced until an hour before it started, Blinken said “the United States and China have an obligation and responsibility to manage our relationship.”

“The United States is committed to doing that,” Blinken said. “It’s in the interest of the United States, in the interests of China, and in the interest of the world.”

Blinken described his earlier discussions with senior Chinese officials as “candid and constructive.”

Despite his presence in China, Blinken and other U.S. officials had played down the prospects for any significant breakthroughs on the most vexing issues facing the planet’s two largest economies.

Instead, these officials have emphasized the importance of the two countries establishing and maintaining better lines of communication.

Blinken is the highest-level U.S. official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office, and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years. His visit is expected to usher in a new round of visits by senior U.S. and Chinese officials, possibly including a meeting between Xi and Biden in the coming months.

Blinken met earlier Monday with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi for about three hours, according to a U.S. official.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in a statement that Blinken's visit "coincides with a critical juncture in China-U.S. relations, and it is necessary to make a choice between dialogue or confrontation, cooperation or conflict,” and blamed the “U.S. side’s erroneous perception of China, leading to incorrect policies towards China” for the current “low point” in relations.

It said the U.S. had a responsibility to halt “the spiraling decline of China-U.S. relations to push it back to a healthy and stable track” and that Wang had "demanded that the U.S. stop hyping up the ‘China threat theory,’ lift illegal unilateral sanctions against China, abandon suppression of China’s technological development, and refrain from arbitrary interference in China’s internal affairs.”

The State Department said Blinken “underscored the importance of responsibly managing the competition between the United States and the PRC through open channels of communication to ensure competition does not veer into conflict."

In the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-china-relations-blinken-afb39654e07ff1022bf8a3bf8296c686">first round of talks</a>&nbsp;on Sunday, Blinken met for nearly six hours with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, after which both countries said they had agreed to continue high-level discussions. However, there was no sign that any of the most fractious issues between them were closer to resolution.

Both the U.S. and China said Qin had accepted an invitation from Blinken to visit Washington but Beijing made clear that “the China-U.S. relationship is at the lowest point since its establishment.” That sentiment is widely shared by U.S. officials.

Blinken's visit comes after his initial plans to travel to China were postponed in February after the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the U.S.

A snub by the Chinese leader would have been a major setback to the effort to restore and maintain communications at senior levels.

And Biden said over the weekend that he hoped to be able to meet with Xi in the coming months to take up the plethora of differences that divide them.

In his meetings on Sunday, Blinken also pressed the Chinese to release detained American citizens and to take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that are fueling the opioid crisis in the United States.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/xi-jinping-bill-gates-china-blinken-e015b97ad324bc2a6459837591711eee?utm_source=RecoReel&amp;utm_medium=articlePage&amp;utm_id=Taboola">Xi had offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions</a>&nbsp;on Friday, saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates that the United States and China can cooperate to “benefit our two countries.”

Since the cancellation of Blinken’s trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-cia-william-burns-f4dc997405970bca1bc02e6f625fdaf6">traveled to China</a>&nbsp;in May, while China’s commerce minister traveled to the U.S. And Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-china-diplomacy-jake-sullivan-wang-yi-118132affe809b4fd99c627cb22f8878">met with senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Wang Yi in Vienna</a>&nbsp;in May.

But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both countries over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, China’s refusal to condemn Russia for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">its war against Ukraine</a>, and U.S. allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-cuba-spy-base-us-intelligence-0f655b577ae4141bdbeabc35d628b18f">its worldwide surveillance capabilities</a>, including in Cuba.

And, earlier this month, China’s defense minister rebuffed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-china-lloyd-austin-defense-asia-de10a9233bf226288faf86676486eef3">a request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin</a>&nbsp;for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.

BEIJING (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, as the top U.S. diplomat wrapped up a high-stakes two-day visit to Beijing aimed at easing soaring tensions between the countries.

The 35-minute meeting at the Great Hall of the People had been expected and was seen as key to the success of the trip, but neither side confirmed it would happen until a State Department official announced it just an hour beforehand.