KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man pleaded guilty in federal court this week to illegally possessing the firearm used in the fatal shooting of an Independence, Mo., firefighter during an altercation in a liquor store parking lot, according to the United State's Attorney.

Ja’Von L. Taylor, 23, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a machine gun. Taylor has been detained in federal custody without bond since his arrest.

By pleading guilty, Taylor admitted he was in possession of a Glock .40-caliber handgun, which had been converted to a machine gun. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Taylor has prior felony convictions for robbery and distributing marijuana.

According to court documents, Independence police officers were dispatched to Liquor Land, 11100 E. U.S. 40 Highway in Independence, on a reported shooting of an Independence firefighter on Oct. 6, 2022. &nbsp;Taylor was located across the street and taken into custody.

Officers searched Taylor’s vehicle and found the Glock machine gun, a broken extended magazine, and a 15-round magazine. Taylor told investigators that he bought the gun from a guy off the street a few months ago for $500.

Under federal statutes, Taylor is subject to a sentence of up to 25 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 is scheduled on Aug. 3, 2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678402127365.png" alt="The weapon owned by Ja’Von L. Taylor used in the fatal shooting -image from the video of the incident released by police" />
 <figcaption>The weapon owned by Ja’Von L. Taylor used in the fatal shooting -image from the video of the incident released by police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man pleaded guilty in federal court this week to illegally possessing the firearm used in the fatal shooting of an Independence, Mo., firefighter during an altercation in a liquor store parking lot, according to the United State's Attorney.Ja’Von L. Taylor, 23, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a machine gun. Taylor has been detained in federal custody without bond since his arrest.By pleading guilty, Taylor admitted he was in possession of a Glock .40-caliber handgun, which had been converted to a machine gun. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Taylor has prior felony convictions for robbery and distributing marijuana.According to court documents, Independence police officers were dispatched to Liquor Land, 11100 E. U.S. 40 Highway in Independence, on a reported shooting of an Independence firefighter on Oct. 6, 2022. &nbsp;Taylor was located across the street and taken into custody.Officers searched Taylor’s vehicle and found the Glock machine gun, a broken extended magazine, and a 15-round magazine. Taylor told investigators that he bought the gun from a guy off the street a few months ago for $500.Under federal statutes, Taylor is subject to a sentence of up to 25 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 is scheduled on Aug. 3, 2023.

KC man admits owning machine gun used in killing fireman

By CHLOE ANDERSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/09/theyre-trying-to-silence-people-university-of-kansas-group-rallies-in-support-of-iranian-women/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LAWRENCE — Members of the University 
of Kansas Iranian Community Association gathered Wednesday in front of 
Wescoe Hall to rally in support of Iranian women.

People across the globe held International Women’s Day rallies to highlight recent <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/25/in-iran-women-have-put-their-lives-on-the-line-for-basic-rights-in-kansas-we-barely-notice/">violence against Iranian women</a> and demand equal rights. Iranians started protesting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s
 regime following the Sept. 13, 2022, arrest of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
 Amini, who was arrested for wearing her hijab unlawfully, died in 
police custody three days later.

Iranian security forces have killed 
hundreds of civilians since the protests began. Still, women and 
schoolgirls risk their lives every day to stand up against the 
injustices. But because independent news media were banned from 
reporting in Iran and authorities have disrupted internet usage, many 
outside of the country remain unaware of the situation.

In addition to extreme measures used 
to suppress Iranian protesters, authorities also have been poisoning 
schoolgirls with mysterious gas. According to the BBC, more than 1,000 
students <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64816750">have been hospitalized</a> since the attacks started in November.

“There’s not a lot of information 
that’s known, because that’s what the government’s trying to do — 
they’re trying to silence people,” said Mercedeh Tavacoli, a dual 
citizen born in Kansas with family in Iran. “That’s an even bigger 
issue, because this is the first ever women-led revolution.”

According to an article from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/women-life-freedom">History Today</a>, “women, life, freedom” became the revolution’s slogan during Amini’s funeral on Sept. 17 in Saqqez.

Following her death, Iranian women 
took to the streets, removing and burning their hijabs and even cutting 
their hair. By continuing to do so, they’re risking their lives by 
defying the country’s “morality police,” an Islamic religious force 
designed to enforce the strict laws regarding women’s behavior.

Young Iranian girls and teenagers are
 involved in the uprising, removing their hijabs in schoolyards and 
chanting “women, life, freedom” in classrooms.

In the months following the uprising, Khamenei threatened punishment for protesters, saying the punishment for young women would be “special.” On Monday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/06/iran-supreme-leader-schoolgirl-poisonings-unforgivable">he publicly acknowledged the gas attacks</a> for the first time, calling them “unforgivable” and saying the culprits should be “severely punished.”

Khamenei has downplayed the attacks 
on protesters and alleged that demonstrations were orchestrated by 
Iranian enemies like the United States and Israel. Authorities have 
denied killing peaceful demonstrators, but video footage has captured 
them shooting at civilians during protests.

Several of the KU students, staff and
 community members gathered in front of Wescoe Hall have family members 
in Iran and fear for their loved ones’ safety as tensions escalate.

“There are a lot of people who have been shot and killed who weren’t even protesting,” Tavacoli said. “They were kind of collateral damage.”

Neda Hejazi, a postdoctoral 
researcher from Isfahan, said members of her extended family are 
terrified to send their children to school following the gas attack 
Monday on the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences campus, but 
government officials won’t allow them to keep their children home.

“They’re forced — by government 
authorities — to attend in-person classes,” Hejazi said.&nbsp; “It doesn’t 
make any sense. They’re just kids.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678372901239.png" alt="Retired University of Kansas faculty Susan Elkins and Jack Winerock hold a sign reading “Iran is bleeding” during a rally March 8, 2023, in front of Wescoe Hall. (Chloe Anderson for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Retired University of Kansas faculty Susan Elkins and Jack Winerock hold a sign reading “Iran is bleeding” during a rally March 8, 2023, in front of Wescoe Hall. (Chloe Anderson for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CHLOE ANDERSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/09/theyre-trying-to-silence-people-university-of-kansas-group-rallies-in-support-of-iranian-women/">Kansas Reflector</a>LAWRENCE — Members of the University 
of Kansas Iranian Community Association gathered Wednesday in front of 
Wescoe Hall to rally in support of Iranian women.People across the globe held International Women’s Day rallies to highlight recent <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/25/in-iran-women-have-put-their-lives-on-the-line-for-basic-rights-in-kansas-we-barely-notice/">violence against Iranian women</a> and demand equal rights. Iranians started protesting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s
 regime following the Sept. 13, 2022, arrest of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
 Amini, who was arrested for wearing her hijab unlawfully, died in 
police custody three days later.Iranian security forces have killed 
hundreds of civilians since the protests began. Still, women and 
schoolgirls risk their lives every day to stand up against the 
injustices. But because independent news media were banned from 
reporting in Iran and authorities have disrupted internet usage, many 
outside of the country remain unaware of the situation.In addition to extreme measures used 
to suppress Iranian protesters, authorities also have been poisoning 
schoolgirls with mysterious gas. According to the BBC, more than 1,000 
students <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64816750">have been hospitalized</a> since the attacks started in November.“There’s not a lot of information 
that’s known, because that’s what the government’s trying to do — 
they’re trying to silence people,” said Mercedeh Tavacoli, a dual 
citizen born in Kansas with family in Iran. “That’s an even bigger 
issue, because this is the first ever women-led revolution.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678372965859.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to an article from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/women-life-freedom">History Today</a>, “women, life, freedom” became the revolution’s slogan during Amini’s funeral on Sept. 17 in Saqqez.Following her death, Iranian women 
took to the streets, removing and burning their hijabs and even cutting 
their hair. By continuing to do so, they’re risking their lives by 
defying the country’s “morality police,” an Islamic religious force 
designed to enforce the strict laws regarding women’s behavior.Young Iranian girls and teenagers are
 involved in the uprising, removing their hijabs in schoolyards and 
chanting “women, life, freedom” in classrooms.In the months following the uprising, Khamenei threatened punishment for protesters, saying the punishment for young women would be “special.” On Monday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/06/iran-supreme-leader-schoolgirl-poisonings-unforgivable">he publicly acknowledged the gas attacks</a> for the first time, calling them “unforgivable” and saying the culprits should be “severely punished.”Khamenei has downplayed the attacks 
on protesters and alleged that demonstrations were orchestrated by 
Iranian enemies like the United States and Israel. Authorities have 
denied killing peaceful demonstrators, but video footage has captured 
them shooting at civilians during protests.Several of the KU students, staff and
 community members gathered in front of Wescoe Hall have family members 
in Iran and fear for their loved ones’ safety as tensions escalate.“There are a lot of people who have been shot and killed who weren’t even protesting,” Tavacoli said. “They were kind of collateral damage.”Neda Hejazi, a postdoctoral 
researcher from Isfahan, said members of her extended family are 
terrified to send their children to school following the gas attack 
Monday on the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences campus, but 
government officials won’t allow them to keep their children home.“They’re forced — by government 
authorities — to attend in-person classes,” Hejazi said.&nbsp; “It doesn’t 
make any sense. They’re just kids.”

University of Kansas group rallies in support of Iranian women

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/22/house-passes-kansas-bill-creating-method-of-anonymously-surrendering-an-infant/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas House approved a $17 million sales tax exemption on equipment purchases by telecommunication companies after rejecting amendments to exclude hygiene products from the state’s 6.5% sales tax and to increase an exemption on state property tax collected to finance K-12 public schools.

The House also sent the Senate a bill Thursday requiring counties to alter annual property tax notices to include information about the previous four tax years rather than a single year. Another bill moved across the Capitol rotunda would require the state to pay for mailing notices to taxpayers when a county intended to raise more tax revenue.

Haysville Rep. Brian Bergkamp, who described himself as a skeptic of sales tax breaks, said a sense of fairness compelled him to speak up for House Bill 2106’s concession to the telecommunication industry. Kansas chose not to assess a general sales tax on business-to-business machinery and equipment transactions, he said, but that treatment hadn’t been extended to communications companies.

He said 24 states had a comparable sales tax exemption for equipment acquisitions by telecommunication businesses.

“Some of you might be asking, ‘Why in the wide world am I up here talking about a sales tax exemption?'” Bergkamp said. “To me, one of the most important things we can do as a body is to create fairness across the playing field. It’s about creating parity across different industries.”

Rep. Randy Garber, a Sabetha Republican, said he understood reasoning for the new exemption, but was weary of steady growth in the state’s roster of sales tax exemptions. He said exemptions from sales tax cost the state treasury an estimated $8 billion annually.

“Now, we’re going to add another one,” Garber said. “When are we going to stop giving sales tax exemptions to just a certain group of people?”

To punctuate the point, Garber proposed an amendment setting a five-year expiration date on the telecommunication sales tax exemption. The House approved his idea 64-47, despite arguments the industry’s timeline for infrastructure projects extended went well beyond five years and a 2028 expiration would be a nuisance for the industry’s lobbyists.

The GOP-led House rejected the $20 million sales tax exemption on hygiene products sought by Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka. He said tax relief approved by the Legislature ought to be directed at people who would benefit most from changes in the tax code.

Miller also was rebuffed when he proposed an amendment to House Bill 2201 that would raise the exemption on residential property taxes assessed to finance K-12 public schools. The state collects a 20-mill tax for education. For years, the first $20,000 of a home’s valuation was exempted. The 2022 Legislature doubled the exemption to $40,000. In his amendment, Miller wanted to boost the exemption to $65,000.

The House didn’t have a chance to vote on Miller’s property tax relief idea because a parliamentary maneuver led to a ruling the amendment wasn’t germane to the underlying bill.

Rep. Francis Awerkamp, R-St. Marys, said House Bill 2201 would simply require annual property valuation notices to include appraised and assessed values for each property for the current year and the previous four years. County officials are currently required to provide information on the current and last tax year.

“It’s a decent amount of information for the property owner just so they can better see the trends over five years,” Awerkamp said.

Miller, in collaboration with other House Democrats, complained Republicans were tone deaf to spiking home property tax valuations in Kansas. Here are average increases for selected counties: Wallace County, 20%; Leavenworth County, 14.8%; Shawnee County, 13%; Johnson County, 12%; and Douglas County, 9%.

“I am certain my colleagues across the aisle are hearing from their constituents about property valuations just as much as I’m hearing from mine, if not more,” Miller said.

The House approved a bill advocated by Rep. Brett Fairchild, R-St. John, that shifted the burden of paying for notices to taxpayers whenever county governments wanted to raise property taxes

Existing law required the state pay printing and postage costs of notifications in tax years 2022 and 2023. The bill would permanently place responsibility with the state government for the estimated $1.3 million annual cost of the notices, he said.

More than 100 House members voted for that bill, but Topeka GOP Rep. Ken Corbet said the state was sending counties the wrong message by picking up the tab for mailings related to county plans to hike spending. The idea for the disclosure law, he said, was to put pressure on counties to contain expenditures.

“Whoever in the county that busts that line should pay for the mailing,” Corbet said. “It’s silly for us to reward people in the county for raising your taxes.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/P3031908-2-1024x576.jpg" alt="- Rep. Brian Bergkamp, R-Haysville, seen during a March 2021 committee hearing, convinced the House to pass a bill delivering a sales tax exemption on equipment purchases by the telecommunications industry. Two dozen states have comparable laws, and if implemented in Kansas it would cost the state about $17 million annually. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>- Rep. Brian Bergkamp, R-Haysville, seen during a March 2021 committee hearing, convinced the House to pass a bill delivering a sales tax exemption on equipment purchases by the telecommunications industry. Two dozen states have comparable laws, and if implemented in Kansas it would cost the state about $17 million annually. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/22/house-passes-kansas-bill-creating-method-of-anonymously-surrendering-an-infant/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas House approved a $17 million sales tax exemption on equipment purchases by telecommunication companies after rejecting amendments to exclude hygiene products from the state’s 6.5% sales tax and to increase an exemption on state property tax collected to finance K-12 public schools.The House also sent the Senate a bill Thursday requiring counties to alter annual property tax notices to include information about the previous four tax years rather than a single year. Another bill moved across the Capitol rotunda would require the state to pay for mailing notices to taxpayers when a county intended to raise more tax revenue.Haysville Rep. Brian Bergkamp, who described himself as a skeptic of sales tax breaks, said a sense of fairness compelled him to speak up for House Bill 2106’s concession to the telecommunication industry. Kansas chose not to assess a general sales tax on business-to-business machinery and equipment transactions, he said, but that treatment hadn’t been extended to communications companies.He said 24 states had a comparable sales tax exemption for equipment acquisitions by telecommunication businesses.“Some of you might be asking, ‘Why in the wide world am I up here talking about a sales tax exemption?'” Bergkamp said. “To me, one of the most important things we can do as a body is to create fairness across the playing field. It’s about creating parity across different industries.”Rep. Randy Garber, a Sabetha Republican, said he understood reasoning for the new exemption, but was weary of steady growth in the state’s roster of sales tax exemptions. He said exemptions from sales tax cost the state treasury an estimated $8 billion annually.“Now, we’re going to add another one,” Garber said. “When are we going to stop giving sales tax exemptions to just a certain group of people?”To punctuate the point, Garber proposed an amendment setting a five-year expiration date on the telecommunication sales tax exemption. The House approved his idea 64-47, despite arguments the industry’s timeline for infrastructure projects extended went well beyond five years and a 2028 expiration would be a nuisance for the industry’s lobbyists.<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/P2130962-1024x576.jpg" alt="-Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, was unable to convince the Kansas House to support a $20 million state sales tax exemption on hygiene products and expansion of a residential property tax exemption tied to state funding of K-12 public education. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>-Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, was unable to convince the Kansas House to support a $20 million state sales tax exemption on hygiene products and expansion of a residential property tax exemption tied to state funding of K-12 public education. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Property, sales tax ideas</h2>The GOP-led House rejected the $20 million sales tax exemption on hygiene products sought by Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka. He said tax relief approved by the Legislature ought to be directed at people who would benefit most from changes in the tax code.Miller also was rebuffed when he proposed an amendment to House Bill 2201 that would raise the exemption on residential property taxes assessed to finance K-12 public schools. The state collects a 20-mill tax for education. For years, the first $20,000 of a home’s valuation was exempted. The 2022 Legislature doubled the exemption to $40,000. In his amendment, Miller wanted to boost the exemption to $65,000.The House didn’t have a chance to vote on Miller’s property tax relief idea because a parliamentary maneuver led to a ruling the amendment wasn’t germane to the underlying bill.Rep. Francis Awerkamp, R-St. Marys, said House Bill 2201 would simply require annual property valuation notices to include appraised and assessed values for each property for the current year and the previous four years. County officials are currently required to provide information on the current and last tax year.“It’s a decent amount of information for the property owner just so they can better see the trends over five years,” Awerkamp said.Miller, in collaboration with other House Democrats, complained Republicans were tone deaf to spiking home property tax valuations in Kansas. Here are average increases for selected counties: Wallace County, 20%; Leavenworth County, 14.8%; Shawnee County, 13%; Johnson County, 12%; and Douglas County, 9%.“I am certain my colleagues across the aisle are hearing from their constituents about property valuations just as much as I’m hearing from mine, if not more,” Miller said.<h2>Taxpayer notices</h2>The House approved a bill advocated by Rep. Brett Fairchild, R-St. John, that shifted the burden of paying for notices to taxpayers whenever county governments wanted to raise property taxesExisting law required the state pay printing and postage costs of notifications in tax years 2022 and 2023. The bill would permanently place responsibility with the state government for the estimated $1.3 million annual cost of the notices, he said.More than 100 House members voted for that bill, but Topeka GOP Rep. Ken Corbet said the state was sending counties the wrong message by picking up the tab for mailings related to county plans to hike spending. The idea for the disclosure law, he said, was to put pressure on counties to contain expenditures.“Whoever in the county that busts that line should pay for the mailing,” Corbet said. “It’s silly for us to reward people in the county for raising your taxes.”

Kan. House blocks residential property tax break, passes telecom sales tax exemption

MORRIS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities searching for a drug suspect have made an arrest.

Just after 11p.m. Friday, authorities arrested Colton&nbsp;Brady after a search warrant was executed at #42 Pioneer Village, according to Council Grove Police. On Wednesday, Brady ran from a domestic disturbance in the 200 Block of North Union Street and police asked for help to locate him.

He is being held on requested charges of Felony interference with Law Enforcement-Possession of fentanyl, Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia and an Outstanding Felony Warrant.

Officers also arrested Morgan Ross, of Council Grove on requested charges of Felony interference with Law Enforcement, Introducing contraband into a correctional facility, Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of marijuana.

COUNCIL GROVE -Law enforcement authorities are investigating a domestic disturbance and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.

Just after 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 200 block of North Union Street in Council Grove on the report of a domestic disturbance, according to a media release.

Colton Brady ran from the scene on 825 Road, north of Council Grove and is wanted for questioning in regards to&nbsp; Interference with Law Enforcement, Possession of Fentanyl, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Additionally, a felony warrant has been issued for Brady, who is known to be armed.

If you see Brady you are asked to&nbsp;call 911 immediately. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please call the Morris County Sheriff's Office at (620) 767-6310

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678380756306.jpeg" alt="Colton Brady, pic from Morris Co. Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Colton Brady, pic from Morris Co. Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>MORRIS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities searching for a drug suspect have made an arrest.Just after 11p.m. Friday, authorities arrested Colton&nbsp;Brady after a search warrant was executed at #42 Pioneer Village, according to Council Grove Police. On Wednesday, Brady ran from a domestic disturbance in the 200 Block of North Union Street and police asked for help to locate him.He is being held on requested charges of Felony interference with Law Enforcement-Possession of fentanyl, Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia and an Outstanding Felony Warrant.Officers also arrested Morgan Ross, of Council Grove on requested charges of Felony interference with Law Enforcement, Introducing contraband into a correctional facility, Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of marijuana.-----------COUNCIL GROVE -Law enforcement authorities are investigating a domestic disturbance and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.Just after 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 200 block of North Union Street in Council Grove on the report of a domestic disturbance, according to a media release.Colton Brady ran from the scene on 825 Road, north of Council Grove and is wanted for questioning in regards to&nbsp; Interference with Law Enforcement, Possession of Fentanyl, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.Additionally, a felony warrant has been issued for Brady, who is known to be armed.If you see Brady you are asked to&nbsp;call 911 immediately. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please call the Morris County Sheriff's Office at (620) 767-6310

Police capture Kan. drug suspect who ran from domestic disturbance

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office received information concerning a Detention Deputy being involved in illegal activity, according to a media release from Sheriff Jeff Easter.

The Investigation’s Division and the Professional Standards Unit, investigated the complaint and determined enough probable cause existed to arrest 27-year-old Detention Deputy Victor Garcia for three felony charges in regards to unlawful acts concerning computers: "knowingly exceeding the limits of authorization and damage, modify, alter, destroy, copy, disclose or take possession of a computer, computer system, computer network or any other property."

Just before 5:30p.m. Thursday, he was booked into the jail and bonded out later in the day, according to online jail records.

Garcia, began employment with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in July of 2015. He has been placed on suspension without pay, pending the outcome of judicial proceeding, according to the release. In December 2019, the sheriff's office recognized Garcia as the Detention Bureau Employee of the Month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678463330024.png" alt="Garcia-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Garcia-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office received information concerning a Detention Deputy being involved in illegal activity, according to a media release from Sheriff Jeff Easter.The Investigation’s Division and the Professional Standards Unit, investigated the complaint and determined enough probable cause existed to arrest 27-year-old Detention Deputy Victor Garcia for three felony charges in regards to unlawful acts concerning computers: "knowingly exceeding the limits of authorization and damage, modify, alter, destroy, copy, disclose or take possession of a computer, computer system, computer network or any other property."Just before 5:30p.m. Thursday, he was booked into the jail and bonded out later in the day, according to online jail records.Garcia, began employment with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in July of 2015. He has been placed on suspension without pay, pending the outcome of judicial proceeding, according to the release. In December 2019, the sheriff's office recognized Garcia as the Detention Bureau Employee of the Month.

Kansas jail deputy accused of computer crimes

WASHINGTON— As political gridlock puts the government at risk of defaulting, President Joe Biden on Thursday made an opening bid with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-budget-deficit-trillion-republicans-economy-810ff80dcd8812f2138eef571f2444f3">budget plan</a>&nbsp;that he says would cut deficits by $2.9 trillion over the next decade — a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-budget-highlights-taxes-deficits-medicare-3f0d64293eb6bf84d114d937627119b8">proposal that Republicans already intend to reject</a>.

The White House released additional specifics on the plan. Lowering Costs and Giving Families More Breathing Room As our economy transitions from a historically strong recovery to stable and steady growth, the President has remained laser-focused on continuing to lower costs for families and giving them more breathing room, without giving up the historic economic gains we’ve made. While more work remains, there are clear signs that the President’s strategy is working. Annual inflation is lower than it was seven months ago, gas prices are down $1.60 per gallon since their peak last summer, and unemployment remains at its lowest level in 54 years, while take home pay has gone up. And the Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic action to lower the costs of health care, clean energy, and prescription drugs, eliminate junk fees that make it harder for families to make ends meet, promote greater competition to lower costs, and address pandemic-driven supply chain bottlenecks. While some Congressional Republicans have proposed repealing the Inflation Reduction Act and taken other actions that would raise costs for working families, the President’s Budget takes a very different approach—proposing a package of policies to continue lowering everyday costs for the American people. Cuts Taxes for Families with Children and American Workers.&nbsp;

The President is calling for the restoration of the full Child Tax Credit enacted in the American Rescue Plan, which cut child poverty in half in 2021, to the lowest level in history. The Budget would expand the credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children six years old and above, and to $3,600 per child for children under six. The Budget would also permanently reform the credit to make it fully refundable. The President also calls on the Congress to make the Earned Income Tax Credit expansion for childless workers permanent, which would help pull low-paid workers out of poverty. Lowers Health Care Costs.&nbsp;

The President believes that health care should be a right, not a privilege. With enrollment in affordable health coverage at an all-time high, the Budget builds on the remarkable success of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), by making permanent the average $800 per year premium cuts through expanded premium tax credits that the Inflation Reduction Act extended. It also provides Medicaid-like coverage to individuals in States that have not adopted Medicaid expansion under the ACA, paired with financial incentives to ensure States maintain their existing expansions.&nbsp; Reduces Prescription Drug Costs for All Americans.&nbsp;

The Budget builds upon the Inflation Reduction Act to continue lowering the cost of prescription drugs. For Medicare, this includes further strengthening the newly established negotiation power by extending it to more drugs and bringing drugs into negotiation sooner after they launch. The Budget also proposes to limit Medicare Part D cost-sharing for high-value generic drugs used for certain chronic conditions like hypertension and high cholesterol to no more than $2. For Medicaid, the Budget includes proposals to ensure Medicaid and CHIP programs are prudent purchasers of prescription drugs, authorizing HHS to negotiate supplemental drug rebates on behalf of interested States in order to pool purchasing power. For the commercial market, the Budget includes proposals to curb inflation in prescription drug prices and cap the prices of insulin products at $35 for a monthly prescription.&nbsp; Expands Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care.&nbsp;

The Budget invests $150 billion over 10 years to improve and expand Medicaid home and community-based services, such as personal care services, which would allow seniors and individuals with disabilities to remain in their homes and stay active in their communities as well as improve the quality of jobs for home care workers. And because community health centers—which provide comprehensive services regardless of ability to pay—serve one in three people living in poverty and one in five rural residents, the Budget puts the Health Center Program on a path to double its size and expand its reach. To bolster the health care workforce, the Budget provides a total of $966 million in 2024 to expand the National Health Service Corps, which provides loan repayment and scholarships to health care professionals in exchange for practicing in underserved areas, and a total of $350 million to expand programs that train and support the nursing workforce.&nbsp;&nbsp; Expands Access to Affordable, High-Quality Early Child Care and Learning.&nbsp;

Too many families across America cannot access high-quality, affordable child care—preventing parents from working and holding back our entire economy. The President’s Budget enables states to increase child care options for more than 16 million young children and lowers costs so that parents can afford to send their children to high-quality child care. The Budget also funds a Federal-State partnership that provides high-quality, universal, free preschool to support healthy child development and ensure children enter kindergarten ready to succeed. Lowers Housing Costs by Increasing Affordable Housing Supply and Expanding Access to Homeownership and Affordable Rent.&nbsp;

The President believes that everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to live. To address the critical shortage of affordable housing in communities throughout the country that has exacerbated inflation, the Budget includes $59 billion in mandatory funding and tax incentives aimed at increasing the affordable housing supply, including for extremely low-income households. The Budget also includes $10 billion in mandatory funding to incentivize State, local, and regional jurisdictions to make progress in removing barriers to affordable housing developments, such as restrictive zoning. By expanding the supply of housing, the Budget would help prevent the kind of rapid increases in rental and homeownership costs we have seen in recent years. The Budget also includes $10 billion in mandatory funding for a new First-Generation Down Payment Assistance program to help address racial and ethnic homeownership and wealth gaps—making homeownership more attainable for Americans who have been locked out of the generational wealth building that can come with owning a home. And the Budget expands access to affordable rent through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program to well over 200,000 additional households. In addition to assisting all current voucher recipients and providing new vouchers for tens of thousands of additional families, the Budget includes mandatory funding to support two populations that are particularly vulnerable to homelessness—guaranteed assistance for all 20,000 youth who age out of foster care annually and an incremental expansion to cover the 450,000 extremely low-income (ELI) veteran families nationwide. Improves College Affordability and Expands Free Community College.&nbsp;

The Budget proposes to increase the discretionary maximum Pell Grant by $500—helping more than 6.8 million students pay for college, building on successful bipartisan efforts to increase the maximum Pell Grant award by $900 over the past two years, and laying out a path to double the award by 2029. The Budget also invests mandatory and discretionary funding to expand free community college, and provides mandatory funding for two years of subsidized tuition for students from families earning less than $125,000 enrolled in a participating four-year Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Tribally-Controlled College or University (TCCU), or Minority-Serving Institution (MSI).&nbsp; Lowers Home Energy and Water Costs.&nbsp;

The Budget provides $4.1 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), building on the $13 billion provided in the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce energy bills for families, expand clean energy, transform rural power production, and create thousands of good-paying jobs for people across rural America. Since the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) expires at the end of 2023, the Budget proposes to expand LIHEAP funding and allow States the option to use a portion of their LIHEAP funds to provide water bill assistance to low-income households. Increases Food Security.&nbsp;

As called for in the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, the Budget provides over $15 billion to allow more States and schools to leverage participation in the Community Eligibility Program and provide healthy and free school meals to an additional 9 million children. The Budget also includes $6.3 billion to support the 6.5 million individuals expected to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Protecting and Strengthening Medicare and Social Security The President has always believed that Medicare and Social Security are a promise—a rock-solid guarantee generations of Americans have counted on to be able to retire with dignity and security. The President will reject any efforts to cut the Medicare or Social Security benefits that seniors and people with disabilities have earned and paid into their entire working lives. The Budget honors that ironclad commitment—not only by rejecting benefit cuts, but by embracing reforms and investments that will protect and strengthen both programs. The President is committed to working with Congress to ensure Medicare and Social Security remain strong for their beneficiaries, now and in the future. Protects and Strengthens Medicare.&nbsp;The Budget strengthens Medicare by extending the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund by at least 25 years, without cutting any benefits or raising costs for beneficiaries. The Budget includes key reforms to the tax code to ensure high-income individuals pay their fair share into the Medicare HI trust fund. It also directs the revenue from the Net Investment Income Tax into the HI trust fund as was originally intended. Finally, the Budget directs the savings from the Budget’s proposed Medicare drug reforms into the HI trust fund.&nbsp; Protects the Social Security Benefits that Americans Have Earned.&nbsp;

The Administration is committed to protecting and strengthening Social Security and opposes any attempt to cut Social Security benefits for current or future recipients. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress to responsibly strengthen Social Security by ensuring that high-income individuals pay their fair share. The Budget also invests in staff, information technology, and other improvements at the Social Security Administration, providing an increase of $1.4 billion, a 10 percent increase, over the 2023 enacted level.&nbsp; These funds would improve customer service at Social Security Administration field offices, State disability determination services, and teleservice centers for retirees, individuals with disabilities, and their families. Growing the Economy from the Bottom up and Middle Out by Investing in America and Its People The Budget proposes smart, targeted investments to grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out, not the top down, by investing in America and its people—investing in the foundations of our country’s economic strength; confronting the climate crisis while creating clean energy jobs; and advancing equity, dignity, and opportunity and strengthening our democracy. Investing in the Foundations of Our Economic Strength Invests in American Manufacturing.&nbsp;The Budget provides $375 million for the National Institutes of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Industrial Technology Services to support the progress of NIST’s existing manufacturing institute, fund a new institute to be launched in 2023, and promote domestic production of institute-developed technologies. The Budget also includes $277 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a public-private partnership that offers advisory services to small and medium enterprises. Makes Historic Investments in Innovation and Cutting-Edge Research.&nbsp;

The Budget provides almost $21 billion in discretionary spending for CHIPS and Science Act-authorized activities. This funding includes $1.2 billion for the CHIPS and Science Act-authorized Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships to help accelerate and translate scientific research into innovations, industries, and jobs, as well as $300 million for NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines program to galvanize use-inspired research, technology translation, and workforce development. Within DOE’s Office of Science, the Budget also supports cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, quantum information sciences, microelectronics, and isotope production at the national laboratories and universities. In addition, the Budget requests $4 billion in new mandatory funding for the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program at the Economic Development Administration. And the Budget provides $210 billion for Federal research and development, an historic level of investment in American science, technology and innovation. Provides National, Comprehensive Paid Family and Medical Leave and Calls for Paid Sick Leave for All Workers.&nbsp;

Workers power our economy—and when they thrive, our economy thrives. The Budget proposes to establish a national, comprehensive paid family and medical leave program, providing up to 12 weeks of leave to allow eligible workers to take time off to care and bond with a new child; care for a seriously ill loved one; heal from their own serious illness; address circumstances arising from a loved one’s military deployment; or find safety from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The President also calls on Congress to require employers to provide seven job-protected paid sick days each year to all workers. Expands Workforce Training that Provides Pathways to Good Jobs.&nbsp;

The Budget invests in evidence-based training models to ensure all workers—including women, workers of color, and workers in rural areas—have the skills they need for the good jobs being created by the President’s historic legislative accomplishments. The Budget invests $335 million in Registered Apprenticeship, an earn-and-learn model, to provide debt-free pathways to careers in construction, clean energy, semiconductor manufacturing, and other in-demand industries. The Budget also provides $200 million for the new Sectoral Employment through Career Training for Occupational Readiness (SECTOR) program, which will support development and expansion of public-private partnerships to equitably deliver high-quality training in growing industries, and invests $100 million to help community colleges partner with employers and the public workforce system to design and deliver effective training models in communities across the Nation. Invests in High-Poverty Schools.&nbsp;

The Budget provides $20.5 billion for Title I, a $2.2 billion increase above the 2023 enacted level, delivering critical funding to 90 percent of school districts across the Nation and helping them provide students in low-income communities the academic opportunities and support they need to succeed. This increase in funding addresses chronic funding gaps between high-poverty schools—which disproportionately serve students of color—and their wealthier counterparts.&nbsp;&nbsp; Taking Historic Action to Cut Energy Bills for Families and Confront the Climate Crisis While Creating Clean Energy Jobs Across America Cuts Energy Bills for Families and Creates Jobs Building Clean Energy Infrastructure.&nbsp;The Budget invests $4.5 billion in clean energy across America, bringing jobs to rural communities and cities, leaving no one behind. The Budget supports clean energy workforce development and sustainable infrastructure projects across the country, including $1.8 billion to weatherize and retrofit low-income Americans’ homes, and $83 million to electrify Tribal homes and transition Tribal Colleges and universities to renewable energy. Makes Historic Investments in Science &amp; Research to Continue to Cut the Cost of Clean Energy.&nbsp;

To boost American innovation and sustain American leadership in research and scientific discovery, the Budget also provides a historic investment of $16.5 billion in climate science and clean energy innovation. The Budget includes $3.5 billion of the $8.8 billion total for DOE’s Office of Science and $1.6 billion at NSF, and makes advancements toward the CHIPS and Science Act authorizations, including $1 billion for fusion, the largest ever investment in the promise of a clean energy power source. Cuts Global Warming Pollution.&nbsp;

The Budget invests in reducing global warming pollution and achieving the President’s target to cut greenhouse gas emissions 50-52 percent by 2030. These investments include an additional $64.4 million at EPA to implement the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act and continue phasing out potent greenhouse gases known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The Budget supports $1.2 billion in DOE industrial decarbonization activities. Helps Increase Climate Resilience and Bolsters Conservation.&nbsp;

The Budget invests more than $24 billion to help build communities’ resilience to floods, wildfires, storms, extreme heat, and drought brought on by climate change, expand conservation and ecosystem management, strengthen America’s natural disaster response capabilities, increase the resilience of rural housing to the impacts of climate change while reducing rent burdens, and ensure the resilience of our nation’s defense to climate change. Advances Equity and Environmental Justice.&nbsp;

The Administration continues to prioritize efforts to deliver environmental justice in communities across the United States, including meeting the President’s Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of Federal investments in climate and clean energy reach disadvantaged communities, including rural and Tribal communities. The Budget bolsters these efforts by investing nearly $1.8 billion at EPA across numerous programs that will support securing environmental justice for communities that bear the brunt of toxic pollution and climate change. The Budget also provides EPA $219 million to help remediate lead contamination in water, an increase of $163 million over the 2023 enacted level. Increases Global Energy Security, Infrastructure, and Resilience.&nbsp;

The Budget supports the President’s pledges to more than quadruple international climate finance and to provide more than $3 billion for the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE). This includes a $1.6 billion contribution to the Green Climate Fund and a $1.2 billion loan to the Clean Technology Fund. The Budget also advances new tools, such as loan guarantees, to re-assert U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific to finance energy security and infrastructure projects and reduce reliance on volatile energy supplies and prices. Expanding Access to High-Quality Health Care and Improving Health Outcomes Advances Maternal Health and Health Equity.&nbsp;The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, and rates are disproportionately high for Black and American Indian and Alaska Native women. The Budget includes $471 million to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates; expand maternal health initiatives in rural communities; implement implicit bias training for health care providers; create pregnancy medical home demonstration projects; and address the highest rates of perinatal health disparities, including by supporting the perinatal health workforce. In addition, the Budget requires all States to provide continuous Medicaid coverage for 12 months postpartum, eliminating gaps in health insurance at a critical time. Advances Cancer Moonshot Goals.

&nbsp;The Cancer Moonshot aims to reduce the cancer death rate by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years and improve the experience of people who are living with or have survived cancer, their families, and caregivers. The Budget includes $1.7 billion for dedicated Cancer Moonshot activities across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in addition to targeted investments at the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Agriculture, and other Cancer Cabinet agencies, and a total investment of $7.8 billion at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to drive progress on ways to prevent, detect, and treat cancer. The Budget also provides an increase of $1 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), for a total of $2.5 billion, to drive innovative health research and speed the implementation of breakthroughs that would transform the treatment, prevention, and early detection of cancer and other diseases. Transforms Behavioral Health Care.&nbsp;

The United States is facing a mental health crisis. While recently enacted legislation takes significant steps to address this crisis, much more can be done. For people with private health insurance, the Budget expands coverage of mental health benefits and strengthens the network of behavioral health providers. For people with Medicare, the Budget lowers patients’ costs for mental health services, requires parity in coverage between behavioral health and medical benefits, and expands coverage for behavioral health providers. The Budget provides historic investments in the behavioral health workforce, youth mental health care, Certified Community Based Behavioral Health Clinics, Community Mental Health Centers, and mental health research. Making Our Communities Safer, Advancing Equity and Opportunity, and Strengthening American Democracy Invests in Federal Law Enforcement, Community Violence Interventions, and Prevention to Combat Gun Violence and Other Violent Crime.&nbsp;The Budget continues to fund the President’s comprehensive Safer America Plan, including funding to put 100,000 additional police officers on our streets for accountable, community-oriented policing; $19.4 billion over 10 years for crime prevention strategies; and $5 billion over 10 years for community violence interventions. The Budget also includes $17.8 billion for DOJ law enforcement, including a total of nearly $2 billion for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to expand multijurisdictional gun trafﬁcking strike forces with additional personnel, increase regulation of the ﬁrearms industry, and implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The Budget also includes $1.9 billion for the U.S. Marshals Service to support personnel dedicated to ﬁghting violent crime, as well as $51 million to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to support the continued implementation of enhanced background checks required by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Prioritizes Efforts to End Gender-Based Violence.&nbsp;

The Budget proposes $1 billion to support implementation of programs through the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA), which was recently reauthorized and strengthened in 2022. The Budget supports substantial increases for longstanding VAWA programs, including key investments in legal assistance for victims, transitional housing, and sexual assault services. The Budget also includes $519 million for the Family Violence Prevention and Services (FVPSA) program and the National Domestic Violence Hotline to support domestic violence survivors—double the 2023 enacted level. Advances Child and Family Well-Being in the Child Welfare System.&nbsp;The Budget proposes to expand and incentivize the use of evidence-based foster care prevention services to keep families safely together and reduce the number of children entering foster care. The Budget provides States with support to place more foster children with relatives or other adults who have an existing emotional bond with the children, while also providing additional funding to support youth who age out of care without a permanent caregiver. In addition, the Budget proposes to make the adoption tax credit refundable and to extend the credit to legal guardianships. This would reduce the financial burden on low- and moderate-income families wishing to pursue adoption, as well as for families who opt for legal guardianship. Strengthens Our Democracy.&nbsp;

To continue efforts to restore and strengthen American democracy, the Budget proposes $5 billion in new election assistance funding to be allocated over 10 years, $1.5 billion to support increasing the living allowance provided to AmeriCorps members so that national service is a more accessible pathway to success, and $73 million to support American history and civics education programs. Keeping America Safe and Confronting Global Challenges Even as he has taken decisive action to strengthen America at home, the President has worked with allies and partners to confront pressing global challenges. The Budget builds on that progress through proposals to continue addressing threats to global security and strengthening the U.S. military, addressing pressing global challenges, strengthening border security and the U.S. immigration system, and honoring America’s commitment to veterans, servicemembers, families, caregivers, and survivors. Supports Ukraine, European Allies, and Partners.&nbsp;

The Budget continues support for Ukraine, the United States’ strong alliance with the states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and other European partner states by prioritizing funding to enhance the capabilities and readiness of U.S. forces, NATO allies, and regional partners in the face of continued Russian aggression. Invests in New Ways to Out-Compete China and Deepens Alliances and Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

&nbsp;China is the United States’ only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it. During these unprecedented and extraordinary times, the Budget requests both discretionary and mandatory resources to out-compete China and advance American prosperity globally. The mandatory proposal will strengthen the U.S. role in the Indo-Pacific, and advance the U.S. economy by investing $2 billion to create a new International Infrastructure Fund to support “hard” critical infrastructure; $2 billion to create a new equity revolving fund at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to support equity investments; and $2 billion to make game-changing investments in the Indo-Pacific to strengthen partner economies and support their efforts in pushing back against predatory efforts. As part of this mandatory proposal, the Budget also requests a total of $7.1 billion over the next 20 years for the Compacts of Free Association with the Freely Associated States of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau. Promotes Integrated Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and Globally.&nbsp;

The Budget prioritizes China as America’s pacing challenge in line with the 2022 National Defense Strategy. The Department of Defense’s 2024 Pacific Deterrence Initiative highlights $9.1 billion of targeted investments the Department is making to U.S. force posture, infrastructure, presence, and readiness as well as efforts to bolster the capacity and capabilities of U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Strengthens Democracy and Promotes Human Rights Globally.&nbsp;

The Budget provides more than $3.4 billion to advance democratic governance and foster democratic renewal globally. The Budget would strengthen free and independent media, fight corruption, bolster democratic institutions, advance technology for democracy, promote gender equality and women’s civic and political participation, and defend free and fair elections and political processes. Enhances Border Security and Immigration Enforcement.&nbsp;

Strengthening border security and providing safe, lawful pathways for migration remain top priorities for the Administration. The Budget includes nearly $25 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Budget includes funds for CBP to hire an additional 350 Border Patrol Agents, $535 million for border technology at and between ports of entry, $40 million to combat fentanyl trafficking and disrupt transnational criminal organizations, and funds to hire an additional 460 processing assistants at CBP and ICE. Expands Health Care, Benefits, and Services for Military Environmental Exposures.&nbsp;

The PACT Act represents the most significant expansion of VA health care and disability compensation benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other environmental exposures in more than 30 years. As part of the PACT Act, the Congress authorized the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF) to fund increased costs above 2021 funding levels for health care and benefits delivery for veterans exposed to a number of environmental hazards—and ensure there is sufficient funding available to cover these costs without shortchanging other elements of veteran medical care and benefit delivery. The Budget provides $20.3 billion for the TEF in 2024, which is $15.3 billion above the 2023 enacted level. Reducing Deficits by Nearly $3 Trillion by Making the Wealthy and Big Corporations Pay Their Fair Share and Cutting Wasteful Spending on Big Pharma, Big Oil, and Special Interests After inheriting historically high deficits from the previous Administration, President Biden told the American people he would reduce the deficit, pay for his proposals, and ensure that no one making less than $400,000 a year would pay a penny more in new taxes. That’s exactly what he has done—and exactly what he will continue to do. The President’s Budget builds on the record-breaking deficit reduction he achieved during his first two years in office.&nbsp;It more than fully pays for its investments, reduces deficits by nearly $3 trillion over the next decade by making the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share and cutting wasteful spending on Big Pharma, Big Oil, and other special interests, and ensures that no one making less than $400,000 per year will pay a penny more in new taxes. The Budget reflects the President’s ironclad belief that we need a tax system that rewards work, not wealth—and that ensures the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations don’t pay lower tax rates than teachers or firefighters. That’s in sharp contrast with Congressional Republicans, who in recent months have proposed policies that would add $3 trillion to the debt over the next decade while handing out tax giveaways to the wealthy and big corporations. Building on the progress the President has already made to promote a fairer tax code, the Budget proposes additional reforms that would ensure the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share while cutting wasteful spending on Big Pharma, Big Oil, and other special interests. Proposes a Minimum Tax on Billionaires.&nbsp;

The tax code currently offers special treatment for the types of income that wealthy people enjoy. While the wages and salaries that everyday Americans earn are taxed as ordinary income, billionaires make their money in ways that are taxed at lower rates, and sometimes not taxed at all. This special treatment, combined with sophisticated tax planning and giant loopholes, allows many of the wealthiest Americans to pay lower rates on their full income than many middle-class households pay. To finally address this glaring problem, the Budget includes a 25 percent minimum tax on the wealthiest 0.01 percent. Ensures Corporations Pay Their Fair Share.&nbsp;

The Budget includes an increase to the rate that corporations pay in taxes on their profits. Corporations received an enormous tax break in 2017, cutting effective U.S. tax rates for U.S. corporations to a low of less than 10 percent. While their profits soared, their investment in the economy did not. Their shareholders and top executives reaped the benefits, without the promised trickle down to workers, consumers, or communities. The Budget would set the corporate tax rate at 28 percent, still well below the 35 percent rate that prevailed prior to the 2017 tax law. This tax rate change is complemented by other proposals to incentivize job creation and investment in the United States and ensure large corporations pay their fair share. Stops the Race to the Bottom in International Corporate Tax and End Tax Breaks for Offshoring.&nbsp;

For decades, countries have competed for multinational business by slashing tax rates, at the expense of having adequate revenues to finance core services. Thanks in part to the Administration’s leadership, more than 130 nations signed on to a global tax framework to finally address this race to the bottom. Building on that framework, the Budget proposes to reform the international tax system to reduce the incentives to book profits in low-tax jurisdictions, stop corporate inversions to tax havens, and raise the tax rate on U.S. multinationals’ foreign earnings from 10.5 percent to 21 percent. These reforms will ensure that profitable multinational corporations pay their fair share. Quadruples the Stock Buybacks Tax.&nbsp;

Last year, the President signed into law a surcharge on corporate stock buybacks, which reduces the differential tax treatment between buybacks and dividends and encourages businesses to invest and grow as opposed to funneling tax-preferred profits to foreign shareholders. The Budget proposes quadrupling the stock buybacks tax from one percent to four percent to address the continued tax advantage for buybacks and encourage corporations to invest in productivity and the broader economy. Repeals Trump Tax Cuts for the Wealthy and Reform Capital Gains Tax to Ensure the Wealthy Pay Their Fair Share.&nbsp;

The 2017 tax law lowered rates for the wealthiest Americans, delivering massive tax cuts to the top one percent. The Budget repeals the Trump tax cuts for the highest-income Americans, restoring the top tax rate of 39.6 percent for single filers making more than $400,000 a year and married couples making more than $450,000 per year. It also proposes taxing capital gains at the same rate as wage income for those with more than $1 million in income and finally closes the carried interest loophole that allows some wealthy investment fund managers to pay tax at lower rates than their secretaries. Cuts Wasteful Spending on Big Pharma, Big Oil, and Other Special Interests, Combats Fraud, and Makes Programs More Efficient.&nbsp;

The Budget puts forward reforms that cut wasteful spending on Big Pharma, Big Oil, and other special interests, crack down on fraud, and strengthen program integrity—saving taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. For example, the Budget cuts Federal spending by $160 billion—and saves billions of dollars for seniors—by increasing the number of drugs Medicare can select for negotiation and bringing more drugs into the negotiation process sooner, building on the Inflation Reduction Act’s reforms. It also includes a package of reforms to crack down on systemic fraud—combatting identity theft and other fraud in Unemployment Insurance, increasing funding for the Anti-Pandemic Fraud Strike Force, and investing in Inspectors General.

White House details specifics of Biden's $6.8T budget plan

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Federal law enforcement agents were involved in a standoff at a Kansas apartment complex Friday evening after a suspect and an agent exchanged gunfire while authorities attempted to serve a warrant, police said.

John Lacy of the Overland Park Police Department said the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI attempted to serve a felony warrant around 5 p.m. at the Villa Medici apartments,&nbsp;WDAF-TV reported.

Officers barricaded the suspect into the complex and the man fired a gun at agents before running into an apartment, Lacy said.

A U.S. Marshal returned fire but it was unclear if the suspect was hit, police said. The man remained inside the apartment as of 7 p.m. Friday, the station reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678539308842.png" alt="Police on the scene of the standoff Friday night =photo courtesy Fox4Kansas CIty" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the standoff Friday night =photo courtesy Fox4Kansas CIty</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Federal law enforcement agents were involved in a standoff at a Kansas apartment complex Friday evening after a suspect and an agent exchanged gunfire while authorities attempted to serve a warrant, police said.John Lacy of the Overland Park Police Department said the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI attempted to serve a felony warrant around 5 p.m. at the Villa Medici apartments,&nbsp;WDAF-TV reported.Officers barricaded the suspect into the complex and the man fired a gun at agents before running into an apartment, Lacy said.A U.S. Marshal returned fire but it was unclear if the suspect was hit, police said. The man remained inside the apartment as of 7 p.m. Friday, the station reported.

U.S. Marshals involved in Kan. standoff after exchange of gunfire

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. government regulators have stopped allowing a large part of the Keystone oil pipeline to operate at higher-than-normal pressures following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-business-texas-canada-kansas-34d8391337583fc242407141d24d66c2">a massive oil spill</a>&nbsp;in northeastern Kansas in December.

The order this week from the U.S. Department of Transportation's pipeline safety arm covers 1,220 miles (1,963 kilometers) of the Keystone pipeline in seven U.S. states. Regulators already had ordered the system's operator, Canada-based TC Energy, to reduce the pressure on a 96-mile (155-kilometer) segment of the pipeline from southern Nebraska near the Kansas border into central Kansas, where the spill occurred.

The regulators' action came ahead of the first hearings in the Kansas Legislature on the spill. A TC Energy official is set to face questions from lawmakers Tuesday during a joint meeting of two House committees.

TC Energy said in a statement Friday that it was already operating within the pressure limits set by this week's order and that it would continue to comply.

“Our commitment to the safe operations of our system is unwavering,” the company said.

But Zack Pistora, a lobbyist in Kansas for the Sierra Club, said Friday that perhaps regulators should reconsider the Keystone pipeline’s operation “in its entirety.” The system has had more than 20 spills since it began operations in 2010, and the one in Kansas was the system's largest and the largest U.S. onshore spill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-business-texas-kansas-us-environmental-protection-agency-eda391fc0924b34a08ff840615a7bc58">in nine years,</a>&nbsp;according to the regulators.

”There’s no confidence that this pipeline won’t be breaking again in the near future, even with less pressure," Pistora said.

The latest order from regulators directed TC Energy to lower the maximum pressure by 10% on the pipeline from North Dakota's border with Canada to northern Oklahoma, as well as the system's spur from southern Nebraska through Missouri into central Illinois. That would bring the maximum pressure into line with what's normally allowed after TC Energy had received a special permit to exceed it six years ago.

A pipeline rupture Dec. 7 dumped nearly 13,000 barrels — each with enough crude to fill a standard household bathtub — in a creek through rural pasture land in Washington County, Kansas, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Kansas City.

No one was evacuated following the spill, and officials said it did not affect the two larger rivers and reservoir downstream from the affected creek. With regulators’ permission, the company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-kansas-climate-and-environment-business-75a71d7cb8d59546d9c49efbedffbe6d">reopened the affected segment</a>&nbsp;a little more than three weeks after the spill.

However, in a separate Jan. 6 cleanup order, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the amount of oil spilled was “a harmful quantity” violating the nation's clean water laws. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the EPA order through a Freedom of Information Act request.

TC Energy must notify the state and the EPA's on-site coordinator before shipping out any hazardous materials. Also, the company will pay the U.S. government's costs from the cleanup and faces a fine of nearly $52,000 a day if it violates the EPA order.

<a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-588.pdf">A U.S. Governmental Accountability Office report</a>&nbsp;to Congress in July 2021 noted that pipeline regulators had allowed the higher-than-normal maximum pressure on the Keystone system starting in 2017. The regulators concluded the operating at the higher pressures was safe if TC Energy met more than 50 conditions.

TC Energy said last month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-kansas-climate-and-environment-business-a836f44e3d07a840a0313209eef051bf">a flawed weld</a>&nbsp;caused a crack that grew over time because of the stress on a bend in the pipeline where the rupture occurred. The company has estimated that the cleanup will cost $480 million, and it has an average of 800 people on site in any given 24-hour period.

“We continue to progress,” on the cleanup and investigating the root cause of the pipeline rupture, the company said in its statement.

The 2,700-mile (4,345-kilometer) Keystone system carries heavy crude oil extracted from tar sands in western Canada to the Gulf Coast and to central Illinois.

Concerns that spills could pollute waterways spurred opposition to plans by TC Energy to build another crude oil pipeline in the same system, the 1,200-mile (1,900-kilometer) Keystone XL, across Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. President Joe Biden’s cancelation of a permit led the company to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-keystone-pipeline-canada-environment-and-nature-141eabd7cca6449dfbd2dab8165812f2">pull the plug on the project</a>&nbsp;in 2021.

The pipeline regulators' order this week also requires TC Energy to review the pipeline pressure and consider potential problems each month on the 291-mile (468-kilometer) Keystone segment from southern Nebraska into northern Oklahoma.

The order said that not reducing the pressure on more of the pipeline and requiring other measures would make pipeline operations “hazardous to life, property or the environment.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492082551.png" alt="The regulators' action came ahead of the first hearings in the Kansas Legislature on the spill.-EPA photo" />
 <figcaption>The regulators' action came ahead of the first hearings in the Kansas Legislature on the spill.-EPA photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. government regulators have stopped allowing a large part of the Keystone oil pipeline to operate at higher-than-normal pressures following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-business-texas-canada-kansas-34d8391337583fc242407141d24d66c2">a massive oil spill</a>&nbsp;in northeastern Kansas in December.The order this week from the U.S. Department of Transportation's pipeline safety arm covers 1,220 miles (1,963 kilometers) of the Keystone pipeline in seven U.S. states. Regulators already had ordered the system's operator, Canada-based TC Energy, to reduce the pressure on a 96-mile (155-kilometer) segment of the pipeline from southern Nebraska near the Kansas border into central Kansas, where the spill occurred.The regulators' action came ahead of the first hearings in the Kansas Legislature on the spill. A TC Energy official is set to face questions from lawmakers Tuesday during a joint meeting of two House committees.TC Energy said in a statement Friday that it was already operating within the pressure limits set by this week's order and that it would continue to comply.“Our commitment to the safe operations of our system is unwavering,” the company said.But Zack Pistora, a lobbyist in Kansas for the Sierra Club, said Friday that perhaps regulators should reconsider the Keystone pipeline’s operation “in its entirety.” The system has had more than 20 spills since it began operations in 2010, and the one in Kansas was the system's largest and the largest U.S. onshore spill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-business-texas-kansas-us-environmental-protection-agency-eda391fc0924b34a08ff840615a7bc58">in nine years,</a>&nbsp;according to the regulators.”There’s no confidence that this pipeline won’t be breaking again in the near future, even with less pressure," Pistora said.The latest order from regulators directed TC Energy to lower the maximum pressure by 10% on the pipeline from North Dakota's border with Canada to northern Oklahoma, as well as the system's spur from southern Nebraska through Missouri into central Illinois. That would bring the maximum pressure into line with what's normally allowed after TC Energy had received a special permit to exceed it six years ago.A pipeline rupture Dec. 7 dumped nearly 13,000 barrels — each with enough crude to fill a standard household bathtub — in a creek through rural pasture land in Washington County, Kansas, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Kansas City.No one was evacuated following the spill, and officials said it did not affect the two larger rivers and reservoir downstream from the affected creek. With regulators’ permission, the company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-kansas-climate-and-environment-business-75a71d7cb8d59546d9c49efbedffbe6d">reopened the affected segment</a>&nbsp;a little more than three weeks after the spill.However, in a separate Jan. 6 cleanup order, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the amount of oil spilled was “a harmful quantity” violating the nation's clean water laws. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the EPA order through a Freedom of Information Act request.TC Energy must notify the state and the EPA's on-site coordinator before shipping out any hazardous materials. Also, the company will pay the U.S. government's costs from the cleanup and faces a fine of nearly $52,000 a day if it violates the EPA order.<a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-588.pdf">A U.S. Governmental Accountability Office report</a>&nbsp;to Congress in July 2021 noted that pipeline regulators had allowed the higher-than-normal maximum pressure on the Keystone system starting in 2017. The regulators concluded the operating at the higher pressures was safe if TC Energy met more than 50 conditions.TC Energy said last month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-spills-kansas-climate-and-environment-business-a836f44e3d07a840a0313209eef051bf">a flawed weld</a>&nbsp;caused a crack that grew over time because of the stress on a bend in the pipeline where the rupture occurred. The company has estimated that the cleanup will cost $480 million, and it has an average of 800 people on site in any given 24-hour period.“We continue to progress,” on the cleanup and investigating the root cause of the pipeline rupture, the company said in its statement.The 2,700-mile (4,345-kilometer) Keystone system carries heavy crude oil extracted from tar sands in western Canada to the Gulf Coast and to central Illinois.Concerns that spills could pollute waterways spurred opposition to plans by TC Energy to build another crude oil pipeline in the same system, the 1,200-mile (1,900-kilometer) Keystone XL, across Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. President Joe Biden’s cancelation of a permit led the company to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-keystone-pipeline-canada-environment-and-nature-141eabd7cca6449dfbd2dab8165812f2">pull the plug on the project</a>&nbsp;in 2021.The pipeline regulators' order this week also requires TC Energy to review the pipeline pressure and consider potential problems each month on the 291-mile (468-kilometer) Keystone segment from southern Nebraska into northern Oklahoma.The order said that not reducing the pressure on more of the pipeline and requiring other measures would make pipeline operations “hazardous to life, property or the environment.”___

Regulators cut pressure on pipeline after Kansas oil spill

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit-and-run accident that led to man being critically injured near 21st and Parkwood in Wichita.

Just after 9:30p.m. Friday,&nbsp; police reported they had located the Silver Kia Optima, according to Officer Chad Ditch.&nbsp; Investigators continue to search for the 2007 Ford Focus.

Just before 8p.m., Thursday, police were dispatched to an injury accident involving a 54-year-old pedestrian. Officers arrived on the scene and located the victim conscious and breathing, according to Officer Chad Ditch. EMS transported the man to a local hospital in critical but stable condition..

The investigation revealed that the man was walking across 21st Street to the south when a westbound Silver KIA Optima struck him. The car has a Colorado plate BGGK55

After impact, the pedestrian landed in eastbound traffic and a maroon 2007 Ford Focus struck him. The Ford has a Kansas plate 337RNB.&nbsp; Both vehicles left the scene of the incident, according to Dith.

Police are asking for the public’s help in locating these vehicles as well as the owners and drivers of the vehicles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678481391159.png" alt="The Kia has a Colorado plate BGGK55-Photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>The Kia has a Colorado plate BGGK55-Photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit-and-run accident that led to man being critically injured near 21st and Parkwood in Wichita.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678481362565.png" alt="The Ford has a Kansas plate 337RNB-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>The Ford has a Kansas plate 337RNB-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 9:30p.m. Friday,&nbsp; police reported they had located the Silver Kia Optima, according to Officer Chad Ditch.&nbsp; Investigators continue to search for the 2007 Ford Focus.Just before 8p.m., Thursday, police were dispatched to an injury accident involving a 54-year-old pedestrian. Officers arrived on the scene and located the victim conscious and breathing, according to Officer Chad Ditch. EMS transported the man to a local hospital in critical but stable condition..The investigation revealed that the man was walking across 21st Street to the south when a westbound Silver KIA Optima struck him. The car has a Colorado plate BGGK55After impact, the pedestrian landed in eastbound traffic and a maroon 2007 Ford Focus struck him. The Ford has a Kansas plate 337RNB.&nbsp; Both vehicles left the scene of the incident, according to Dith.Police are asking for the public’s help in locating these vehicles as well as the owners and drivers of the vehicles.---------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit-and-run accident that led to man being critically injured near 21st and Parkwood in Wichita.Just before 8p.m., Thursday, police were dispatched to an injury accident involving a 54-year-old pedestrian. Officers arrived on the scene and located the victim conscious and breathing, according to Officer Chad Ditch. EMS transported the man to a local hospital in critical but stable condition..The investigation revealed that the man was walking across 21st Street to the south when a westbound Silver KIA Optima struck him. The car has a Colorado plate BGGK55<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678481362565.png" alt="The Ford has a Kansas plate 337RNB-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>The Ford has a Kansas plate 337RNB-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>After impact, the pedestrian landed in eastbound traffic and a maroon 2007 Ford Focus struck him. The Ford has a Kansas plate 337RNB.&nbsp; Both vehicles left the scene of the incident, according to Dith.Police are asking for the public’s help in locating these vehicles as well as the owners and drivers of the vehicles.

UPDATE: 2 cars struck Kansas pedestrian and fled scene

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Olathe, Kansas, man who led police officers on a high-speed chase down a runway at the downtown airport pleaded guilty in federal court today to disrupting airport operations as well as illegally possessing a firearm.

Efren Torres-Rodriguez, 35, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to one count of damaging or disrupting an international airport and one count of being a felon and an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.

Kansas City, Mo., police officers were notified of a suspicious car, a Dodge Charger, parked near a gate at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport on Feb. 1, 2022. When officers arrived, they found Torres-Rodriguez passed out in the driver’s seat of the running car. Officers turned off the car and opened the door, which woke up Torres-Rodriguez.

Officers ordered Torres-Rodriguez out of the car, but he refused. Instead, Torres-Rodriguez started the vehicle. An officer discharged his taser as Torres-Rodriguez drove away. Officers pursued Torres-Rodriguez, who crashed through the gate to the airfield. Torres-Rodriguez drove at speeds up to 100 miles per hour down the airport runway, with officers in pursuit. Torres-Rodriguez drove on a tarmac on the west side of the airfield. When he attempted to cross over the airstrip into a grassy area, his vehicle became inoperable.

Officers removed Torres-Rodriguez from the vehicle after he refused to get out, and placed him under arrest. Officers found a clear plastic bag in his pants pocket that contained 4.6 grams of methamphetamine.

When officers searched Torres-Rodriguez’s vehicle, they found a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine, which were both empty of ammunition, under the driver’s seat. They also found several rounds of ammunition and drug paraphernalia.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Torres-Rodriguez has prior felony convictions for possession of a firearm with a prior violent offense, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and for robbery.

Torres-Rodriguez was interviewed by law enforcement officials and admitted to using methamphetamine every other day and to smoking marijuana daily since he was 15 years old.

As a result of Torres-Rodriguez’s actions, the airport’s activities were significantly disrupted. For approximately 40 minutes, operations at the airport were closed and planes were not allowed to land or take off. Torres-Rodriguez’s further interfered with the operations at the airport as two aircraft had delayed departures, one aircraft had a delayed arrival and had to remain airborne for approximately 50 minutes, one aircraft had to cancel its flight and one aircraft did not depart. Torres-Rodriguez destroyed the gate and caused serious damage to the air navigation facility’s fence that is designed to keep both trespassers and animals away from the runways. In addition to disrupting the airport’s aviation services, Torres-Rodriguez’s actions endangered the safety of those utilizing the airport.

Under federal statutes, Torres-Rodriguez is subject to a sentence of up to 30 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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678403533033.png" alt="Charles B. Wheeler Downtown airport -Google map" />
 <figcaption>Charles B. Wheeler Downtown airport -Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Olathe, Kansas, man who led police officers on a high-speed chase down a runway at the downtown airport pleaded guilty in federal court today to disrupting airport operations as well as illegally possessing a firearm.Efren Torres-Rodriguez, 35, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to one count of damaging or disrupting an international airport and one count of being a felon and an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.Kansas City, Mo., police officers were notified of a suspicious car, a Dodge Charger, parked near a gate at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport on Feb. 1, 2022. When officers arrived, they found Torres-Rodriguez passed out in the driver’s seat of the running car. Officers turned off the car and opened the door, which woke up Torres-Rodriguez.Officers ordered Torres-Rodriguez out of the car, but he refused. Instead, Torres-Rodriguez started the vehicle. An officer discharged his taser as Torres-Rodriguez drove away. Officers pursued Torres-Rodriguez, who crashed through the gate to the airfield. Torres-Rodriguez drove at speeds up to 100 miles per hour down the airport runway, with officers in pursuit. Torres-Rodriguez drove on a tarmac on the west side of the airfield. When he attempted to cross over the airstrip into a grassy area, his vehicle became inoperable.Officers removed Torres-Rodriguez from the vehicle after he refused to get out, and placed him under arrest. Officers found a clear plastic bag in his pants pocket that contained 4.6 grams of methamphetamine.When officers searched Torres-Rodriguez’s vehicle, they found a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine, which were both empty of ammunition, under the driver’s seat. They also found several rounds of ammunition and drug paraphernalia.Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Torres-Rodriguez has prior felony convictions for possession of a firearm with a prior violent offense, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and for robbery.Torres-Rodriguez was interviewed by law enforcement officials and admitted to using methamphetamine every other day and to smoking marijuana daily since he was 15 years old.As a result of Torres-Rodriguez’s actions, the airport’s activities were significantly disrupted. For approximately 40 minutes, operations at the airport were closed and planes were not allowed to land or take off. Torres-Rodriguez’s further interfered with the operations at the airport as two aircraft had delayed departures, one aircraft had a delayed arrival and had to remain airborne for approximately 50 minutes, one aircraft had to cancel its flight and one aircraft did not depart. Torres-Rodriguez destroyed the gate and caused serious damage to the air navigation facility’s fence that is designed to keep both trespassers and animals away from the runways. In addition to disrupting the airport’s aviation services, Torres-Rodriguez’s actions endangered the safety of those utilizing the airport.Under federal statutes, Torres-Rodriguez is subject to a sentence of up to 30 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 man admits using airport runway to escape police

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —Police arrested a Kansas man early Friday morning on requested charges that included attempted aggravated burglary and stalking.

Just after 2:30a.m., a 30-year-old Salina woman reported at&nbsp; Brandon Letourneau, 28, of Salina, was attempting to force his way into her residence in the 900 block of Park Street in Salina, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester&nbsp; 

Letourneau allegedly was striking the front door of the residence hard enough to leave dents in the door. The door sustained $150 in damage.

Forrester said the woman was home with three children and was able to identify Letourneau from her window.

Letourneau fled the scene before officers arrived, however, they found him hiding in the 200 block of N. College Avenue and arrested him on&nbsp; requested charges of Attempted aggravated burglary, Stalking, Violation of a protection order and Damage to property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678455884570.jpeg" alt="Brandon Letourneau-photo&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Brandon Letourneau-photo&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —Police arrested a Kansas man early Friday morning on requested charges that included attempted aggravated burglary and stalking.Just after 2:30a.m., a 30-year-old Salina woman reported at&nbsp; Brandon Letourneau, 28, of Salina, was attempting to force his way into her residence in the 900 block of Park Street in Salina, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester&nbsp; Letourneau allegedly was striking the front door of the residence hard enough to leave dents in the door. The door sustained $150 in damage.Forrester said the woman was home with three children and was able to identify Letourneau from her window.Letourneau fled the scene before officers arrived, however, they found him hiding in the 200 block of N. College Avenue and arrested him on&nbsp; requested charges of Attempted aggravated burglary, Stalking, Violation of a protection order and Damage to property.

Kan. man attempted to break into home of woman, 3 children

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A Hays man was sentenced Friday in Ellis County District Court to the maximum sentence under a plea agreement on charges he shot and killed his roommate in August 2021.

Defendant Brian Finger, 24, Hays initially told police he was preparing to repair his firearm, when the gun fired, hitting his roommate in the head and killing him.

However, testimony at his preliminary hearing showed a pattern of threatening and reckless use of firearms.

The parents of victim Christian Leonel Cortes-Alfaro, 22, gave tearful statements in court Friday, asking Judge Glenn Braun to impose the maximum sentence possible for Finger.

Finger was sentenced to 55 months in prison on a charge of involuntary manslaughter and 13 months in prison on a count of aggravated assault in connection with&nbsp;&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's death.

In a separate case, Finger was charged with aggravated assault after pointing a gun at another victim. In that case, he was sentenced Friday to 31 months in prison.&nbsp;

Braun ordered Finger to serve his sentences consecutively for a total of 99 months in prison with 36 months of post-release supervision.&nbsp;

Finger was out on bond prior to the sentencing and was taken into custody Friday to be remanded to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Laura Hildenbrand,&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's mother, pled for justice for her son. who she described as smart, loving and giving.&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro was Hildenbrand's only child.

"A mother should not have to bury her child," she said. "When I lost Christian, I felt lost. My heart was broken. I felt like I was going crazy.&nbsp; I had an emptiness in my life."

She said she has suffered from depression since her son's death, her husband adding later that she had been suicidal.&nbsp;

"Christian was a good person, respectful, generous with a big heart, she said.&nbsp; Cortes-Alfaro's organs were donated, so even in death he helped others, his mother said.

Hildenbrand said her son had hoped to earn his Ph.D. and pursue medical research. Fort Hays State University awarded&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro his science degree posthumously.

"Brian Finger took away a life of dreams and a future," she said. "This will affect me the rest of my life."

Both Laura and Jim Hildenbrand noted in their statements to the court multiple people had testified at Finger's preliminary hearing that Finger had previously pointed guns to people's heads and dry-fired the weapons. This included friends, family members and even a child.

Jim Hildenbrand called Finger a menace to the community and society.

"His life goes on, and my son's life is over," he said.

Dean Barney, one of&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's friends, said in his statement during sentencing that Finger had also pointed a gun at him. He said he felt great guilt. He said he regretted not trying to convince&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro to move out of the apartment he shared with Finger.

Barney said he too had been depressed since his friend died. He dropped out of school and has struggled to keep a steady job since the shooting.

County Attorney Robert Anderson argued for the maximum sentence of 99 months in prison, saying that Finger did not adhere to even the basic safety measures when handling a firearm — any of which could have prevented&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's death.

Finger's attorney argued for a sentence of 52 months in prison, arguing in an involuntary mansluaghter case in 2021 involving a DUI, the defendant was sentenced to 41 months in prison.

He called&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's death a terrible accident.

During his allocution, Finger said he was sorry to&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's family and friends.

"I regret the moments leading to this tragedy," he said, adding that&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's death will haunt him for the rest of his life.

"I deserve justice for my actions, and it is my hope that in some way will ease the pain of those I've wronged," he said.&nbsp;

Braun read that portion of Finger's statement again right before he imposed the sentence.&nbsp;

He said he was shocked by Finger's reckless use of firearms. He said had Finger not killed&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro, it was only a matter of time before he killed someone.

Braun said he considered several factors in imposing the sentence, including public safety, punishment and responsibility, as well as the sentence acting as a deterrent to possible future offenders.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678484578544.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA Hays man was sentenced Friday in Ellis County District Court to the maximum sentence under a plea agreement on charges he shot and killed his roommate in August 2021.Defendant Brian Finger, 24, Hays initially told police he was preparing to repair his firearm, when the gun fired, hitting his roommate in the head and killing him.However, testimony at his preliminary hearing showed a pattern of threatening and reckless use of firearms.The parents of victim Christian Leonel Cortes-Alfaro, 22, gave tearful statements in court Friday, asking Judge Glenn Braun to impose the maximum sentence possible for Finger.Finger was sentenced to 55 months in prison on a charge of involuntary manslaughter and 13 months in prison on a count of aggravated assault in connection with&nbsp;&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's death.In a separate case, Finger was charged with aggravated assault after pointing a gun at another victim. In that case, he was sentenced Friday to 31 months in prison.&nbsp;Braun ordered Finger to serve his sentences consecutively for a total of 99 months in prison with 36 months of post-release supervision.&nbsp;Finger was out on bond prior to the sentencing and was taken into custody Friday to be remanded to the Kansas Department of Corrections.Laura Hildenbrand,&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's mother, pled for justice for her son. who she described as smart, loving and giving.&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro was Hildenbrand's only child."A mother should not have to bury her child," she said. "When I lost Christian, I felt lost. My heart was broken. I felt like I was going crazy.&nbsp; I had an emptiness in my life."She said she has suffered from depression since her son's death, her husband adding later that she had been suicidal.&nbsp;"Christian was a good person, respectful, generous with a big heart, she said.&nbsp; Cortes-Alfaro's organs were donated, so even in death he helped others, his mother said.Hildenbrand said her son had hoped to earn his Ph.D. and pursue medical research. Fort Hays State University awarded&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro his science degree posthumously."Brian Finger took away a life of dreams and a future," she said. "This will affect me the rest of my life."Both Laura and Jim Hildenbrand noted in their statements to the court multiple people had testified at Finger's preliminary hearing that Finger had previously pointed guns to people's heads and dry-fired the weapons. This included friends, family members and even a child.Jim Hildenbrand called Finger a menace to the community and society."His life goes on, and my son's life is over," he said.Dean Barney, one of&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's friends, said in his statement during sentencing that Finger had also pointed a gun at him. He said he felt great guilt. He said he regretted not trying to convince&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro to move out of the apartment he shared with Finger.Barney said he too had been depressed since his friend died. He dropped out of school and has struggled to keep a steady job since the shooting.County Attorney Robert Anderson argued for the maximum sentence of 99 months in prison, saying that Finger did not adhere to even the basic safety measures when handling a firearm — any of which could have prevented&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's death.Finger's attorney argued for a sentence of 52 months in prison, arguing in an involuntary mansluaghter case in 2021 involving a DUI, the defendant was sentenced to 41 months in prison.He called&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's death a terrible accident.During his allocution, Finger said he was sorry to&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's family and friends."I regret the moments leading to this tragedy," he said, adding that&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro's death will haunt him for the rest of his life."I deserve justice for my actions, and it is my hope that in some way will ease the pain of those I've wronged," he said.&nbsp;Braun read that portion of Finger's statement again right before he imposed the sentence.&nbsp;He said he was shocked by Finger's reckless use of firearms. He said had Finger not killed&nbsp;Cortes-Alfaro, it was only a matter of time before he killed someone.Braun said he considered several factors in imposing the sentence, including public safety, punishment and responsibility, as well as the sentence acting as a deterrent to possible future offenders.

Kansas man sentenced; reckless use of firearm killed his roommate

SHAWNEE COUNTY —The Kansas State Fire Marshal's office is working to determine the cause of the large&nbsp;industrial warehouse fire at 929 SW University Boulevard in Topeka.

Crews responded to the fire just before 4p.m. Thursday and remained on the scene through the night. Multiple business used the building, according to Shawnee Heights Fire Department Chief Rick Deibert.&nbsp;

MTAA Fire Department, 190th Air National Guard Fire Department, Topeka Fire Department and the  Mission Township Fire Department all battled the blaze.&nbsp; Check

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678414055676.png" alt="Crews on the scene of the multi-building industrial complex fire Thursday photo courtesy WIBW-TV" />
 <figcaption>Crews on the scene of the multi-building industrial complex fire Thursday photo courtesy WIBW-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —The Kansas State Fire Marshal's office is working to determine the cause of the large&nbsp;industrial warehouse fire at 929 SW University Boulevard in Topeka.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678482070177.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW -TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW -TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Crews responded to the fire just before 4p.m. Thursday and remained on the scene through the night. Multiple business used the building, according to Shawnee Heights Fire Department Chief Rick Deibert.&nbsp;There were no injuries.MTAA Fire Department, 190th Air National Guard Fire Department, Topeka Fire Department and the Mission Township Fire Department all battled the blaze.&nbsp; Check

Cause of Kan. industrial complex fire still under investigation

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S rushed to seize the assets of Silicon Valley Bank on Friday after it experienced a run on the bank, the largest failure of a financial institution since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/08aeb5a6c9d542ccb6d6154d4fa1e3a6">Washington Mutual</a>&nbsp;during the height of the financial crisis more than a decade ago.

Silicon Valley, the nation's 16th largest bank, failed after depositors — mostly technology workers and venture capital-backed companies — hurried to withdraw money this week as anxiety over the bank's balance sheet spread. It is the second biggest bank failure in history, behind Washington Mutual.

Silicon Valley was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-amazoncom-inc-europe-software-business-b23cd72310f20ce2320a36eadc26eded">heavily exposed to tech industry</a>&nbsp;and there is little chance of contagion in the banking sector similar to the chaos in the months leading up to the Great Recession more than a decade ago. The biggest banks — those most likely to cause a systemic economic issue — have healthy balance sheets and plenty of capital.

In 2007, the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression rippled across the globe after mortgage-backed securities tied to ill-advised housing loans rippled from the U.S. to Asia and Europe. The panic on Wall Street led to the collapse of the storied Lehman Brothers, founded in 1847. Because major banks had extensive exposure to one another, it led to cascading disruption throughout the global financial system, putting millions out of work.

However, there has been unease in the banking sector all week and the collapse of Silicon Valley pushed shares of almost all financial institutions lower Friday, shares that had already tumbled by double digits since Monday.

Silicon Valley Bank’s failure arrived with incredible speed, with some industry analysts on Friday suggesting it was a good company and still likely a wise investment. Silicon Valley Bank executives were trying to raise capital early Friday and find additional investors. However, trading in the bank’s shares was halted before the opening bell due to extreme volatility.

Shortly before noon eastern, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation moved to shutter the bank. Notably, the FDIC did not wait until the close of business to seize the bank, as is typical in an orderly wind down of a financial institution. The FDIC could not immediately find a buyer for the bank's assets, signaling how fast depositors had cashed out. The bank's remaining uninsured deposits will now be locked up in receivership.

The bank had $209 billion in total assets at the time of failure, the FDIC said. It was unclear how much of its deposits were above the $250,000 insurance limit at the moment, but previous regulatory reports showed that much of Silicon Valley Bank's deposits exceeded that limit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678473965518.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S rushed to seize the assets of Silicon Valley Bank on Friday after it experienced a run on the bank, the largest failure of a financial institution since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/08aeb5a6c9d542ccb6d6154d4fa1e3a6">Washington Mutual</a>&nbsp;during the height of the financial crisis more than a decade ago.Silicon Valley, the nation's 16th largest bank, failed after depositors — mostly technology workers and venture capital-backed companies — hurried to withdraw money this week as anxiety over the bank's balance sheet spread. It is the second biggest bank failure in history, behind Washington Mutual.Silicon Valley was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-amazoncom-inc-europe-software-business-b23cd72310f20ce2320a36eadc26eded">heavily exposed to tech industry</a>&nbsp;and there is little chance of contagion in the banking sector similar to the chaos in the months leading up to the Great Recession more than a decade ago. The biggest banks — those most likely to cause a systemic economic issue — have healthy balance sheets and plenty of capital.In 2007, the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression rippled across the globe after mortgage-backed securities tied to ill-advised housing loans rippled from the U.S. to Asia and Europe. The panic on Wall Street led to the collapse of the storied Lehman Brothers, founded in 1847. Because major banks had extensive exposure to one another, it led to cascading disruption throughout the global financial system, putting millions out of work.However, there has been unease in the banking sector all week and the collapse of Silicon Valley pushed shares of almost all financial institutions lower Friday, shares that had already tumbled by double digits since Monday.Silicon Valley Bank’s failure arrived with incredible speed, with some industry analysts on Friday suggesting it was a good company and still likely a wise investment. Silicon Valley Bank executives were trying to raise capital early Friday and find additional investors. However, trading in the bank’s shares was halted before the opening bell due to extreme volatility.Shortly before noon eastern, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation moved to shutter the bank. Notably, the FDIC did not wait until the close of business to seize the bank, as is typical in an orderly wind down of a financial institution. The FDIC could not immediately find a buyer for the bank's assets, signaling how fast depositors had cashed out. The bank's remaining uninsured deposits will now be locked up in receivership.The bank had $209 billion in total assets at the time of failure, the FDIC said. It was unclear how much of its deposits were above the $250,000 insurance limit at the moment, but previous regulatory reports showed that much of Silicon Valley Bank's deposits exceeded that limit.The FDIC said Friday that deposits below the $250,000 limit would be available Monday morning.Silicon Valley Bank still appeared stable this year, but on Thursday it announced plans to raise up to $1.75 billion in order to strengthen its capital position. That sent investors scurrying and shares plunged 60%. They rocketed lower again Friday before the open of the Nasdaq where it is traded.As its name implied, Silicon Valley Bank was a major financial conduit between the technology sector, its founders and startups as well as its workers. Hundreds of companies held their operating capital with the bank, and it was seen as good business sense to develop a relationship with Silicon Valley Bank if a founder wanted to find new investors or go public.“We saw building a relationship with Silicon Valley Bank as a logical step, given their reach,” said Ashley Tyrner, CEO of FarmboxRx, a company that delivers food as medicine to Medicaid and Medicare recipients. While Tyrner has money in other banks and can make payroll, she said a good portion of her business' profits are now locked up with the bank.But Silicon Valley's connections to the tech sector became a liability rapidly. Technology stocks have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-amazoncom-inc-europe-software-business-b23cd72310f20ce2320a36eadc26eded">hit hard in the past 18 months</a>&nbsp;after a growth surge during the pandemic and layoffs have spread throughout the industry.At the same time, the bank was hit hard by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-powell-unemployment-79b7ead4530ab381a17638a6c9df2d90">Federal Reserve's fight against inflation</a>&nbsp;and an aggressive series of interest rate hikes to cool the economy.As the Fed raises its benchmark interest rate, the value of bonds, typically a stable asset, start to fall. That is not typically a problem as the declines lead to “unrealized losses,” or losses that are not counted against them when calculating the capital cushion than banks can use should there be a downturn in the future.However, when depositors grow anxious and begin withdrawing their money, banks sometimes have to sell those bonds before they mature to cover that exodus.That is exactly what happened to Silicon Valley Bank, which had to sell $21 billion in highly liquid assets to cover the exodus of deposits. It took a $1.8 billion loss on that sale.Tyrner said she's spoken to several friends who are backed by venture capital. She described those friends as being “beside themselves” over the bank's failure. Tyrner's chief operating officer tried to withdraw her company's funds on Thursday, but failed to do so in time.“One friend said they couldn't make payroll today and cried when they had to inform 200 employees because of this issue,” Tyrner said.---------------------