WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Monday decried Beijing's rhetoric over an expected visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, vowing the United States “will not take the bait or engage in saber rattling” and has no interest in increasing tensions with China.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby underscored that the decision on whether to visit the self-ruled island that China claims as its own was ultimately Pelosi's. He noted that members of Congress have routinely visited Taiwan over the years.

Kirby said administration officials are concerned that Beijing could use the visit as an excuse to take provocative retaliatory steps, including military action such as firing missiles in the Taiwan Strait or around Taiwan, flying sorties into Taiwan's airspace and carrying out large-scale naval exercises in the strait.

“Put simply, there is no reason for Beijing to turn a potential visit consistent with long-standing U.S. policy into some sort of crisis or use it as a pretext to increase aggressive military activity in or around the Taiwan Strait,” Kirby said.

The Biden administration pushed back on Beijing as Pelosi held talks with officials in Singapore on Monday at the start of her Asian tour.

While there have been no official announcements, local media in Taiwan reported that Pelosi will arrive Tuesday night, making her the highest-ranking elected U.S. official to visit in more than 25 years. The United Daily News, Liberty Times and China Times — Taiwan's three largest national newspapers — cited unidentified sources as saying she would arrive in Taipei after visiting Malaysia and spend the night.

Talk of such a visit is sparking fury in Beijing, which regards Taiwan as its own territory and has repeatedly warned of “serious consequences" if the reported trip goes ahead.

“If Pelosi insists on visiting Taiwan, China will take resolute and strong measures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in Beijing, without giving details.

“Those who play with fire will perish by it,” Zhao said. “We would like to once again admonish the U.S. that we are fully prepared for any eventuality and the PLA will never sit idly by.” The People's Liberation Army is China's military.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also warned the U.S. against meddling in Beijing’s dealings with the island in a phone call last week with President Joe Biden.

China has been steadily ratcheting up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan. Threats of retaliation for a visit by Pelosi have driven concerns of a new crisis in the Taiwan Strait, which separates the two sides, that could roil global markets and supply chains.

Beijing sees official American contact with Taiwan as encouragement to make the island's decades-old de facto independence permanent, a step U.S. leaders say they don’t support. Pelosi, head of one of three branches of the U.S. government, would be the highest-ranking elected American official to visit Taiwan since then-Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1997.

The Biden administration has tried to assure Beijing there was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-asia-nancy-pelosi-taiwan-john-kirby-364d56ced8e6a51f8fb302c215f675c5">no reason to “come to blows”</a>&nbsp;and that if such a visit occurred, it would signal no change in U.S. policy. Administration officials on Monday called on China to tone down the rhetoric, underscoring that there was no reason for Beijing to escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait over the potential visit. Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee were to receive a classified briefing on Taiwan from senior Pentagon and State Department officials on Monday evening.

“What I can say is this: this is very much precedent in the sense that previous speakers have visited Taiwan, many members of Congress go to Taiwan, including this year,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. “And so, if the speaker does decide to visit and China tries to create some kind of crisis or otherwise escalate tensions, that would be entirely on Beijing.”

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after the Communists won a civil war on the mainland. Both sides say they are one country but disagree over which government is entitled to national leadership. They have no official relations but are linked by billions of dollars of trade and investment.

The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but maintains informal relations with the island. Washington is obligated by the Taiwan Relations Act, a federal law, to see that Taiwan has the means to defend itself.

Washington’s “One China policy” says it takes no position on the status of the two sides but wants their dispute resolved peacefully. Beijing promotes an alternative “One China principle” that says they are one country and the Communist Party is its leader.

“We expect to see Beijing continue to use inflammatory rhetoric and disinformation in the coming days,” Kirby said. “The United States, by contrast, will act with transparency.”

On Monday, Pelosi met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President Halimah Yacob and other Cabinet members.

Singapore's Foreign Ministry said Lee welcomed a U.S. commitment to strong engagement with the region, and the two sides discussed ways to deepen U.S. economic involvement through initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

Lee and Pelosi also discussed the war in Ukraine, tensions surrounding Taiwan and mainland China, and climate change, it said in a statement. Lee “highlighted the importance of stable U.S.-China relations for regional peace and security,” it added, in an apparent allusion to reports of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Pelosi has said she is visiting Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan in a tour to discuss trade, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, security and “democratic governance.”

On Thursday, Pelosi is to meet with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin Pyo in Seoul for talks on security in the Indo-Pacific region, economic cooperation and the climate crisis, Kim’s office said in a statement.

It declined to provide further details about her itinerary, including when she is arriving in South Korea and how long she’ll stay. Pelosi’s schedule for Wednesday remains unclear and there were no details on when she will head to Japan.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Monday decried Beijing's rhetoric over an expected visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, vowing the United States “will not take the bait or engage in saber rattling” and has no interest in increasing tensions with China.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F786259825841593%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=373" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby underscored that the decision on whether to visit the self-ruled island that China claims as its own was ultimately Pelosi's. He noted that members of Congress have routinely visited Taiwan over the years.Kirby said administration officials are concerned that Beijing could use the visit as an excuse to take provocative retaliatory steps, including military action such as firing missiles in the Taiwan Strait or around Taiwan, flying sorties into Taiwan's airspace and carrying out large-scale naval exercises in the strait.“Put simply, there is no reason for Beijing to turn a potential visit consistent with long-standing U.S. policy into some sort of crisis or use it as a pretext to increase aggressive military activity in or around the Taiwan Strait,” Kirby said.The Biden administration pushed back on Beijing as Pelosi held talks with officials in Singapore on Monday at the start of her Asian tour.While there have been no official announcements, local media in Taiwan reported that Pelosi will arrive Tuesday night, making her the highest-ranking elected U.S. official to visit in more than 25 years. The United Daily News, Liberty Times and China Times — Taiwan's three largest national newspapers — cited unidentified sources as saying she would arrive in Taipei after visiting Malaysia and spend the night.Talk of such a visit is sparking fury in Beijing, which regards Taiwan as its own territory and has repeatedly warned of “serious consequences" if the reported trip goes ahead.“If Pelosi insists on visiting Taiwan, China will take resolute and strong measures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in Beijing, without giving details.“Those who play with fire will perish by it,” Zhao said. “We would like to once again admonish the U.S. that we are fully prepared for any eventuality and the PLA will never sit idly by.” The People's Liberation Army is China's military.Chinese President Xi Jinping also warned the U.S. against meddling in Beijing’s dealings with the island in a phone call last week with President Joe Biden.China has been steadily ratcheting up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan. Threats of retaliation for a visit by Pelosi have driven concerns of a new crisis in the Taiwan Strait, which separates the two sides, that could roil global markets and supply chains.Beijing sees official American contact with Taiwan as encouragement to make the island's decades-old de facto independence permanent, a step U.S. leaders say they don’t support. Pelosi, head of one of three branches of the U.S. government, would be the highest-ranking elected American official to visit Taiwan since then-Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1997.The Biden administration has tried to assure Beijing there was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-asia-nancy-pelosi-taiwan-john-kirby-364d56ced8e6a51f8fb302c215f675c5">no reason to “come to blows”</a>&nbsp;and that if such a visit occurred, it would signal no change in U.S. policy. Administration officials on Monday called on China to tone down the rhetoric, underscoring that there was no reason for Beijing to escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait over the potential visit. Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee were to receive a classified briefing on Taiwan from senior Pentagon and State Department officials on Monday evening.“What I can say is this: this is very much precedent in the sense that previous speakers have visited Taiwan, many members of Congress go to Taiwan, including this year,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. “And so, if the speaker does decide to visit and China tries to create some kind of crisis or otherwise escalate tensions, that would be entirely on Beijing.”Taiwan and China split in 1949 after the Communists won a civil war on the mainland. Both sides say they are one country but disagree over which government is entitled to national leadership. They have no official relations but are linked by billions of dollars of trade and investment.The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but maintains informal relations with the island. Washington is obligated by the Taiwan Relations Act, a federal law, to see that Taiwan has the means to defend itself.Washington’s “One China policy” says it takes no position on the status of the two sides but wants their dispute resolved peacefully. Beijing promotes an alternative “One China principle” that says they are one country and the Communist Party is its leader.“We expect to see Beijing continue to use inflammatory rhetoric and disinformation in the coming days,” Kirby said. “The United States, by contrast, will act with transparency.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our delegation met with Singapore’s Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean. In our meeting, our Members saluted Singapore’s commitment to a free &amp; open Indo-Pacific &amp; advancing security &amp; stability in the region. We also learned about Singapore’s efforts to address the climate crisis. <a href="https://t.co/bhLoqrEtjw">pic.twitter.com/bhLoqrEtjw</a>&mdash; Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1554149967882862595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On Monday, Pelosi met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President Halimah Yacob and other Cabinet members.Singapore's Foreign Ministry said Lee welcomed a U.S. commitment to strong engagement with the region, and the two sides discussed ways to deepen U.S. economic involvement through initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.Lee and Pelosi also discussed the war in Ukraine, tensions surrounding Taiwan and mainland China, and climate change, it said in a statement. Lee “highlighted the importance of stable U.S.-China relations for regional peace and security,” it added, in an apparent allusion to reports of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.Pelosi has said she is visiting Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan in a tour to discuss trade, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, security and “democratic governance.”On Thursday, Pelosi is to meet with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin Pyo in Seoul for talks on security in the Indo-Pacific region, economic cooperation and the climate crisis, Kim’s office said in a statement.It declined to provide further details about her itinerary, including when she is arriving in South Korea and how long she’ll stay. Pelosi’s schedule for Wednesday remains unclear and there were no details on when she will head to Japan.

🎥Taiwan expects visit from Pelosi despite warning from China

WASHINGTON (AP) — When asked if he’d support legislation to protect same-sex marriage, one conservative Republican senator was almost nonchalant.

“I see no reason to oppose it,” Ron Johnson of Wisconsin told reporters, bringing Democrats one vote closer to an unexpected victory as they move to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-race-and-ethnicity-gay-rights-marriage-social-issues-77ec6e2a60b5990ceaf7c396fee42016">safeguard same-sex marriage</a>&nbsp;and other rights after the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>, which legalized abortion nationwide.

Johnson’s answer, which came after 47 Republicans voted for the bill in the House last week, was reflective of a stark shift in GOP positioning after decades of fighting same-sex marriage. Ten years ago, most Republicans proudly espoused that marriage could only be between a man and a woman. Now, a federal law protecting same-sex marriage is within reach in an election year, with some Republican backing.

The signal of possible support from Johnson — arguably the most vulnerable Republican senator up for reelection this year — comes as Wisconsin’s other senator, Tammy Baldwin, is the lead Democrat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-marriage-congress-government-and-politics-b500cb024ea5776c4e8ebca228c22480">charged with persuading</a>&nbsp;the necessary 10 Republicans to vote for the bill. Baldwin, who is the first openly gay senator and has been working on gay rights issues since she first entered state politics in 1986, says the “world has changed,” especially since the Supreme Court’s 2015&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-courts-marriage-supreme-court-of-the-united-states-united-states-government-9e1933cd1e1a4e969ab45f5952bbb45f">Obergefell v. Hodges decision upholding gay marriage</a>.

A Gallup poll conducted in May showed broad support for same-sex marriage, with 71% of U.S. adults saying they think such unions should be recognized by law, including 55% of Republicans. Polling in Wisconsin mirrors that national survey, with 54% of Republicans in the state saying that they favor same-sex marriage in a Marquette Law School poll from April. In May 2014, the state poll found support from only 23% of Republicans.

“People began to see that the sky has not fallen," Baldwin said in an interview, and that the 2015 decision gave legal protections to families who did not previously have them. She says every member of Congress now has friends, family or staff who are openly gay.

“That probably has the biggest impact on where people land,” she said. “This is a vote of conscience.”

The bill pending in the Senate would repeal the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act that allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages and instead require states to recognize all marriages that were legal where they were performed. The new Respect for Marriage Act would also protect interracial marriages by requiring states to recognize legal marriages regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.”

A vote could come as soon as next week, but it will more likely be in September when Congress returns from the August recess.

Republican Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio, Susan Collins of Maine and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have also said they will vote for the legislation; Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski has also supported same-sex marriage in the past. Several other Republicans have said they are undecided, including Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst and Indiana Sen. Mike Braun.

Notably silent is Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who has declined to comment until Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer holds a vote.

Baldwin and other advocates say more GOP senators are quietly contemplating the bill. Democrats need 10 Republican votes to overcome a filibuster and get a bill through the 50-50 Senate.

A range of Republicans voted for the bill in the House, including New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the No. 3 House Republican; Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry, the chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus; and all four Republican members of Utah’s congressional delegation.

Still, the majority of House Republicans voted against it, and a similar dynamic is expected in the Senate.

Republicans opposing the bill give a variety of reasons, with most arguing that the Supreme Court is unlikely to overturn Obergefell and that Senate Democrats are playing politics by putting the bill on the floor. Democrats point to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-gun-politics-gay-rights-marriage-b9062feb4f80c49de088c36b0f17aa7c">Justice Clarence Thomas</a>&nbsp;’ concurring opinion to the June ruling overturning Roe in which he said that high court rulings protecting same-sex marriage and the right for couples to use contraception should also be reconsidered.

Asked about their opposition, many Republicans have focused on the process rather than the substance.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who is up for reelection this year, told CNN last week that he thinks the bill is a “stupid waste of time.” He said later that he believes “there is zero chance, below zero chance, that the Supreme Court or anyone is going to outlaw gay marriage in this country."

Even Johnson blamed Democrats as he said he was unlikely to oppose it, arguing that it was settled law and the vote is unnecessary. He said he still believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. But “society has pretty well accepted it and moved on,” he said.

Other Republicans have made similar arguments, shifting from the more ideologically rigid statements of years past.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who will vote against the bill, said he recognizes that “reasonable people can disagree" with him that marriage should be between a man and a woman, “and there is room for a diversity of views on that question.”

North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer says he will vote against it “unless I can be compelled somehow." He says he believes because of his evangelical Christian faith that marriage is between a man and a woman, but “it’s not like I feel super strongly about it, either.”

Cramer said he thinks the Senate will get the 60 votes needed to pass the bill. “It’s more that people are ambivalent about it,” he said.

Portman, who is pushing to get more votes from his party, notes that public opinion has changed substantially over the years. He has supported same-sex marriage since 2013,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bf4088a3b84a4d3888724f2ffd92875e">when he announced that one of his sons is gay</a>&nbsp;and that he believes people should be respected for who they are.

He faced criticism from some fellow Republicans at the time, but he says people now come up to him frequently to thank him for his support.

It’s not just Republicans who have evolved on the issue. Former President Barack Obama didn’t&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/63f51fcd69bb4ce18ed6b7306d1b3c89">publicly support same-sex marriage</a>&nbsp;until 2012, pushed in part by then-Vice President Joe Biden, who had come out in support a few days earlier. When the Defense of Marriage Act passed the Senate in 1996, only 14 Democrats opposed it.

David Stacy, a lead lobbyist for the Human Rights Campaign, says advocates for same-sex marriage faced many setbacks in the early 2000s, including state ballot measures to ban gay marriages. But he says he believes Republicans created a backlash of sorts by trying to use the issue against Democrats.

While the advocates lost many of those fights, “we were educating the public and moving public opinion,” Stacy says.

WASHINGTON (AP) — When asked if he’d support legislation to protect same-sex marriage, one conservative Republican senator was almost nonchalant.“I see no reason to oppose it,” Ron Johnson of Wisconsin told reporters, bringing Democrats one vote closer to an unexpected victory as they move to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-race-and-ethnicity-gay-rights-marriage-social-issues-77ec6e2a60b5990ceaf7c396fee42016">safeguard same-sex marriage</a>&nbsp;and other rights after the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>, which legalized abortion nationwide.Johnson’s answer, which came after 47 Republicans voted for the bill in the House last week, was reflective of a stark shift in GOP positioning after decades of fighting same-sex marriage. Ten years ago, most Republicans proudly espoused that marriage could only be between a man and a woman. Now, a federal law protecting same-sex marriage is within reach in an election year, with some Republican backing.The signal of possible support from Johnson — arguably the most vulnerable Republican senator up for reelection this year — comes as Wisconsin’s other senator, Tammy Baldwin, is the lead Democrat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-marriage-congress-government-and-politics-b500cb024ea5776c4e8ebca228c22480">charged with persuading</a>&nbsp;the necessary 10 Republicans to vote for the bill. Baldwin, who is the first openly gay senator and has been working on gay rights issues since she first entered state politics in 1986, says the “world has changed,” especially since the Supreme Court’s 2015&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-courts-marriage-supreme-court-of-the-united-states-united-states-government-9e1933cd1e1a4e969ab45f5952bbb45f">Obergefell v. Hodges decision upholding gay marriage</a>.A Gallup poll conducted in May showed broad support for same-sex marriage, with 71% of U.S. adults saying they think such unions should be recognized by law, including 55% of Republicans. Polling in Wisconsin mirrors that national survey, with 54% of Republicans in the state saying that they favor same-sex marriage in a Marquette Law School poll from April. In May 2014, the state poll found support from only 23% of Republicans.“People began to see that the sky has not fallen," Baldwin said in an interview, and that the 2015 decision gave legal protections to families who did not previously have them. She says every member of Congress now has friends, family or staff who are openly gay.“That probably has the biggest impact on where people land,” she said. “This is a vote of conscience.”The bill pending in the Senate would repeal the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act that allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages and instead require states to recognize all marriages that were legal where they were performed. The new Respect for Marriage Act would also protect interracial marriages by requiring states to recognize legal marriages regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.”A vote could come as soon as next week, but it will more likely be in September when Congress returns from the August recess.Republican Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio, Susan Collins of Maine and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have also said they will vote for the legislation; Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski has also supported same-sex marriage in the past. Several other Republicans have said they are undecided, including Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst and Indiana Sen. Mike Braun.Notably silent is Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who has declined to comment until Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer holds a vote.Baldwin and other advocates say more GOP senators are quietly contemplating the bill. Democrats need 10 Republican votes to overcome a filibuster and get a bill through the 50-50 Senate.A range of Republicans voted for the bill in the House, including New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the No. 3 House Republican; Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry, the chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus; and all four Republican members of Utah’s congressional delegation.Still, the majority of House Republicans voted against it, and a similar dynamic is expected in the Senate.Republicans opposing the bill give a variety of reasons, with most arguing that the Supreme Court is unlikely to overturn Obergefell and that Senate Democrats are playing politics by putting the bill on the floor. Democrats point to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-gun-politics-gay-rights-marriage-b9062feb4f80c49de088c36b0f17aa7c">Justice Clarence Thomas</a>&nbsp;’ concurring opinion to the June ruling overturning Roe in which he said that high court rulings protecting same-sex marriage and the right for couples to use contraception should also be reconsidered.Asked about their opposition, many Republicans have focused on the process rather than the substance.Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who is up for reelection this year, told CNN last week that he thinks the bill is a “stupid waste of time.” He said later that he believes “there is zero chance, below zero chance, that the Supreme Court or anyone is going to outlaw gay marriage in this country."Even Johnson blamed Democrats as he said he was unlikely to oppose it, arguing that it was settled law and the vote is unnecessary. He said he still believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. But “society has pretty well accepted it and moved on,” he said.Other Republicans have made similar arguments, shifting from the more ideologically rigid statements of years past.Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who will vote against the bill, said he recognizes that “reasonable people can disagree" with him that marriage should be between a man and a woman, “and there is room for a diversity of views on that question.”North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer says he will vote against it “unless I can be compelled somehow." He says he believes because of his evangelical Christian faith that marriage is between a man and a woman, but “it’s not like I feel super strongly about it, either.”Cramer said he thinks the Senate will get the 60 votes needed to pass the bill. “It’s more that people are ambivalent about it,” he said.Portman, who is pushing to get more votes from his party, notes that public opinion has changed substantially over the years. He has supported same-sex marriage since 2013,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bf4088a3b84a4d3888724f2ffd92875e">when he announced that one of his sons is gay</a>&nbsp;and that he believes people should be respected for who they are.He faced criticism from some fellow Republicans at the time, but he says people now come up to him frequently to thank him for his support.It’s not just Republicans who have evolved on the issue. Former President Barack Obama didn’t&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/63f51fcd69bb4ce18ed6b7306d1b3c89">publicly support same-sex marriage</a>&nbsp;until 2012, pushed in part by then-Vice President Joe Biden, who had come out in support a few days earlier. When the Defense of Marriage Act passed the Senate in 1996, only 14 Democrats opposed it.David Stacy, a lead lobbyist for the Human Rights Campaign, says advocates for same-sex marriage faced many setbacks in the early 2000s, including state ballot measures to ban gay marriages. But he says he believes Republicans created a backlash of sorts by trying to use the issue against Democrats.While the advocates lost many of those fights, “we were educating the public and moving public opinion,” Stacy says.

Some Republicans see good politics in same-sex marriage bill

OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a child found unresponsive inside a vehicle in Scranton on Sunday.

Just after 3:30p.m. Sunday, a family member found the 2-year-old child unresponsive,&nbsp; according to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office.

First responders began life-saving measures immediately and transported the child to a Topeka hospital. The child was pronounced dead late Sunday afternoon. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death, according to the sheriff's office.

Scranton is located 30 minutes south of Topeka.

OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a child found unresponsive inside a vehicle in Scranton on Sunday.Just after 3:30p.m. Sunday, a family member found the 2-year-old child unresponsive,&nbsp; according to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office.First responders began life-saving measures immediately and transported the child to a Topeka hospital. The child was pronounced dead late Sunday afternoon. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death, according to the sheriff's office.Scranton is located 30 minutes south of Topeka.

Sheriff: 2-year-old Kan. child dies after found in vehicle

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Now that Roe v. Wade has been toppled, abortion opponents are taking a multifaceted approach in their quest to end abortions nationwide, targeting their strategies to the dynamics of each state as they attempt to create new laws and defend bans in courts.

One anti-abortion group has proposed model legislation that would ban all abortions except to prevent the death of a pregnant woman. New legal frontiers could include prosecuting doctors who defy bans, and skirmishes over access to medication abortions already are underway. Others hope to get more conservatives elected in November to advance an anti-abortion agenda.

“For Republicans, the post-Roe world will be significantly different, from a legal perspective,” said Jonathan Turley, a professor at George Washington University Law School. “For the last 50 years, Republicans have been on the offense by chipping away on the edges of Roe. Now they are going to be playing defense in all 50 states.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">The U.S. Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;said abortion is not a right under the Constitution, creating an opening for states pushing to get more restrictions on the books. Most recently,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-west-virginia-charleston-792346e76179351718fcd771b7d8e1ca">lawmakers in West Virginia</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-indiana-indianapolis-legislature-3be0e2a10d9de57b16e2968c5473681a">Indiana</a>&nbsp;have pushed ahead with new restrictions, with varying success.

James Bopp Jr., general counsel for National Right to Life, has worked on model legislation for states, but said with few legislatures in session “the process of adopting new laws is really just beginning.”

It recommends banning all abortions except to prevent the death of a pregnant woman, though it provides language for states that want to make exceptions in cases of rape or incest. It also recommends criminal penalties for any person, including a doctor, who knowingly or intentionally causes or aids an “unlawful abortion.”

The model law would not criminalize a woman who gets an abortion.

A memo attached to the model language suggests anyone who aids and abets or conspires to cause an “unlawful abortion” also could be prosecuted, including those who provide instructions on how to self-administer or get an abortion deemed unlawful under the law. That person would have to know the woman was seeking an abortion and intentionally help her to get one.

“General providing of information is protected by the First Amendment,” Bopp said.

It also has language that allows for prosecution of a person — other than a pharmacist or drug manufacturer — who knows a woman plans to use an abortion-inducing drug to cause an unlawful abortion, and intentionally delivers the drug or advertises such a drug for sale.

But in the meantime, Bopp said abortion opponents are looking to November, when they hope to elect anti-abortion candidates who will enact such laws.

With that goal in mind, many conservatives are taking a “cautious pause” on the abortion issue, according to Larry Jacobs, a politics professor at the University of Minnesota.

“Republicans have a much better chance of winning competitive races around the country talking about inflation, crime and Joe Biden,” Jacobs said. “When they are talking about abortion, they are doing Democrats a favor.”

Conservatives also see new courtroom battles on the horizon.

Jonathan Mitchell, the former Texas solicitor general who is now a private practice attorney, came up with some of the key components of a Texas law that bans abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected. His innovation was to make violations enforceable through lawsuits filed by citizens, rather than the government.

Mitchell, who represents Texas and South Dakota in abortion lawsuits and has helped lawmakers in multiple states develop abortion bans and restrictions, said future legal fights could center around those who pay for abortions for people living in states with bans that are not being enforced due to court injunctions.

“Abortion is still a criminal offense in every state with a trigger law or pre-Roe ban, regardless of whether a state-court injunction is in effect,” Mitchell said in an email to The Associated Press. He said an injunction doesn’t actually block a law as many believe, but temporarily keeps it from being enforced.

He said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-de9e1e2c764bf61b95aeef756a66f8a5">employers or those who help fund abortions</a>&nbsp;in states such as Utah, Kentucky, Louisiana, or West Virginia are violating the law and could be prosecuted. He said if bans exist but are on hold, abortion providers could be prosecuted retroactively.

“And the mere risk of potential lawsuits may be enough to deter abortion providers from offering abortions to out-of-state residents, especially when these lawsuits can be brought,” he wrote, “not only against the physician but everyone else involved.”

Melissa Murray, a professor at New York University School of Law, said the question of whether those who pay for out-of-state abortions could be charged is “uncharted ground.” Employers and funds could argue they’re exercising their free speech rights, she said in an email. “That said, a state could argue that (the groups) are facilitating the violation of a criminal law — essentially, they’re functioning as accomplices.”

The fear of prosecution has already led to victories of sorts for abortion foes; some clinics have shut down over the confusion, reopened, then shut down again. It has also led doctors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-lupus-e4042947e4cc0c45e38837d394199033">to withhold emergency treatment</a>&nbsp;until it became clear that a fetus was dead or a woman’s life was at stake.

Erin Hawley, a lawyer at the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom and the wife of Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, expects continuing litigation over medication abortions.

She pointed to a court battle underway in Mississippi, where drugmaker GenBioPro is suing the state over its provisions that make it harder to get a prescription for mifepristone, a drug that can induce abortion. The state's policies are at odds with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, which courts have generally found take precedence over state law.

But Hawley said that might not apply here.

“It’s always a big deal for a federal agency or law to trump state law,” Hawley said.

Some states are taking different approaches.

In Louisiana, the State Bond Commission voted last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-louisiana-lawsuits-939142833577eadb8d73d4bf31f62f82">to withhold a $39 million line of credit</a>&nbsp;for a New Orleans sewer and water project to “send a message” after city and local officials said they would not enforce that state’s abortion ban. The law is currently blocked by a court and not enforceable anyway.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-lawsuits-xavier-becerra-ken-paxton-79b4db553df2d9f757e105eb7a64ada4">Texas sued the federal government</a>&nbsp;in mid-July after the Biden administration issued guidance that stated hospitals are required to provide abortions if necessary to save a mother’s life.

On Tuesday, Kansas voters will consider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-ee885ee70503518fa02f982a7ffff464">the first statewide referendum on abortion since Roe was overturned</a>. If approved, it could make Kansas the fifth state to declare its constitution doesn’t grant the right to abortion and would open the door for the Legislature to further restrict or ban abortion.

Bopp said while court battles and midterm elections are the current focus, abortion opponents would eventually like to see federal and state constitutional amendments that would explicitly protect the unborn, though he acknowledged that would be a challenge.

“A constitutional amendment has been one of our goals. But this requires a hell of a consensus,” he said.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Now that Roe v. Wade has been toppled, abortion opponents are taking a multifaceted approach in their quest to end abortions nationwide, targeting their strategies to the dynamics of each state as they attempt to create new laws and defend bans in courts.One anti-abortion group has proposed model legislation that would ban all abortions except to prevent the death of a pregnant woman. New legal frontiers could include prosecuting doctors who defy bans, and skirmishes over access to medication abortions already are underway. Others hope to get more conservatives elected in November to advance an anti-abortion agenda.“For Republicans, the post-Roe world will be significantly different, from a legal perspective,” said Jonathan Turley, a professor at George Washington University Law School. “For the last 50 years, Republicans have been on the offense by chipping away on the edges of Roe. Now they are going to be playing defense in all 50 states.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">The U.S. Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;said abortion is not a right under the Constitution, creating an opening for states pushing to get more restrictions on the books. Most recently,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-west-virginia-charleston-792346e76179351718fcd771b7d8e1ca">lawmakers in West Virginia</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-indiana-indianapolis-legislature-3be0e2a10d9de57b16e2968c5473681a">Indiana</a>&nbsp;have pushed ahead with new restrictions, with varying success.James Bopp Jr., general counsel for National Right to Life, has worked on model legislation for states, but said with few legislatures in session “the process of adopting new laws is really just beginning.”It recommends banning all abortions except to prevent the death of a pregnant woman, though it provides language for states that want to make exceptions in cases of rape or incest. It also recommends criminal penalties for any person, including a doctor, who knowingly or intentionally causes or aids an “unlawful abortion.”The model law would not criminalize a woman who gets an abortion.A memo attached to the model language suggests anyone who aids and abets or conspires to cause an “unlawful abortion” also could be prosecuted, including those who provide instructions on how to self-administer or get an abortion deemed unlawful under the law. That person would have to know the woman was seeking an abortion and intentionally help her to get one.“General providing of information is protected by the First Amendment,” Bopp said.It also has language that allows for prosecution of a person — other than a pharmacist or drug manufacturer — who knows a woman plans to use an abortion-inducing drug to cause an unlawful abortion, and intentionally delivers the drug or advertises such a drug for sale.But in the meantime, Bopp said abortion opponents are looking to November, when they hope to elect anti-abortion candidates who will enact such laws.With that goal in mind, many conservatives are taking a “cautious pause” on the abortion issue, according to Larry Jacobs, a politics professor at the University of Minnesota.“Republicans have a much better chance of winning competitive races around the country talking about inflation, crime and Joe Biden,” Jacobs said. “When they are talking about abortion, they are doing Democrats a favor.”Conservatives also see new courtroom battles on the horizon.Jonathan Mitchell, the former Texas solicitor general who is now a private practice attorney, came up with some of the key components of a Texas law that bans abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected. His innovation was to make violations enforceable through lawsuits filed by citizens, rather than the government.Mitchell, who represents Texas and South Dakota in abortion lawsuits and has helped lawmakers in multiple states develop abortion bans and restrictions, said future legal fights could center around those who pay for abortions for people living in states with bans that are not being enforced due to court injunctions.“Abortion is still a criminal offense in every state with a trigger law or pre-Roe ban, regardless of whether a state-court injunction is in effect,” Mitchell said in an email to The Associated Press. He said an injunction doesn’t actually block a law as many believe, but temporarily keeps it from being enforced.He said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-de9e1e2c764bf61b95aeef756a66f8a5">employers or those who help fund abortions</a>&nbsp;in states such as Utah, Kentucky, Louisiana, or West Virginia are violating the law and could be prosecuted. He said if bans exist but are on hold, abortion providers could be prosecuted retroactively.“And the mere risk of potential lawsuits may be enough to deter abortion providers from offering abortions to out-of-state residents, especially when these lawsuits can be brought,” he wrote, “not only against the physician but everyone else involved.”Melissa Murray, a professor at New York University School of Law, said the question of whether those who pay for out-of-state abortions could be charged is “uncharted ground.” Employers and funds could argue they’re exercising their free speech rights, she said in an email. “That said, a state could argue that (the groups) are facilitating the violation of a criminal law — essentially, they’re functioning as accomplices.”The fear of prosecution has already led to victories of sorts for abortion foes; some clinics have shut down over the confusion, reopened, then shut down again. It has also led doctors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-lupus-e4042947e4cc0c45e38837d394199033">to withhold emergency treatment</a>&nbsp;until it became clear that a fetus was dead or a woman’s life was at stake.Erin Hawley, a lawyer at the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom and the wife of Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, expects continuing litigation over medication abortions.She pointed to a court battle underway in Mississippi, where drugmaker GenBioPro is suing the state over its provisions that make it harder to get a prescription for mifepristone, a drug that can induce abortion. The state's policies are at odds with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, which courts have generally found take precedence over state law.But Hawley said that might not apply here.“It’s always a big deal for a federal agency or law to trump state law,” Hawley said.Some states are taking different approaches.In Louisiana, the State Bond Commission voted last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-louisiana-lawsuits-939142833577eadb8d73d4bf31f62f82">to withhold a $39 million line of credit</a>&nbsp;for a New Orleans sewer and water project to “send a message” after city and local officials said they would not enforce that state’s abortion ban. The law is currently blocked by a court and not enforceable anyway.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-lawsuits-xavier-becerra-ken-paxton-79b4db553df2d9f757e105eb7a64ada4">Texas sued the federal government</a>&nbsp;in mid-July after the Biden administration issued guidance that stated hospitals are required to provide abortions if necessary to save a mother’s life.On Tuesday, Kansas voters will consider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-ee885ee70503518fa02f982a7ffff464">the first statewide referendum on abortion since Roe was overturned</a>. If approved, it could make Kansas the fifth state to declare its constitution doesn’t grant the right to abortion and would open the door for the Legislature to further restrict or ban abortion.Bopp said while court battles and midterm elections are the current focus, abortion opponents would eventually like to see federal and state constitutional amendments that would explicitly protect the unborn, though he acknowledged that would be a challenge.“A constitutional amendment has been one of our goals. But this requires a hell of a consensus,” he said.

Overturning Roe v. Wade isn't the end for abortion opponents

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7p.m. Sunday in Montgomery County.

&nbsp;A 2003 Audi A4 driven by 40-year-old Amber Beckenholdt of Elk City, Kansas, was traveling on County Road 5600/Sweeney Hill Drive and Chism Lane northwest of Independence, Kansas.

First responders found the car upside down in the ditch. Beckenholdt was pronounced dead at the scene. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to Sheriff Ron Wade. The accident remains under investigation.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7p.m. Sunday in Montgomery County.&nbsp;A 2003 Audi A4 driven by 40-year-old Amber Beckenholdt of Elk City, Kansas, was traveling on County Road 5600/Sweeney Hill Drive and Chism Lane northwest of Independence, Kansas.First responders found the car upside down in the ditch. Beckenholdt was pronounced dead at the scene. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to Sheriff Ron Wade. The accident remains under investigation.

Kansas woman dies in rollover crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon with a history of crime including his involvement in a 2019 fatal crash in a stolen SUV that killed two people is facing a murder charge from a 2020 killing.

On Friday, 42-year-old Christopher English was charged&nbsp;with 1st degree murder, criminal discharge of a weapon, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.&nbsp;

In December of 2020, police responded to a shooting call at a residence in the 1800 block of South Main in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.

Upon arrival, they located 49-year-old Michael Horn with a gunshot wound to his head. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he died.&nbsp; On Thursday, Police arrested English in connection with Horn's murder.

In 2019, English was on parole and a passenger in a stolen BMW sport utility vehicle driven by Mia Collins who led officers on a chase. After about one mile, the car collided with a car and another SUV at an intersection.

The crash killed 70-year-old Maria Wood and 12-year-old Rosemary McElroy and critically injured 36-year-old Jenny Wood, a popular Wichita musician known for performing with children.&nbsp; Collins was sentenced to life in prison.

English has previous convictions for drugs and weapons, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. H remains jailed on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to return to court August 8, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659213439450.png" alt="English-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>English-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon with a history of crime including his involvement in a 2019 fatal crash in a stolen SUV that killed two people is facing a murder charge from a 2020 killing.On Friday, 42-year-old Christopher English was charged&nbsp;with 1st degree murder, criminal discharge of a weapon, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.&nbsp;In December of 2020, police responded to a shooting call at a residence in the 1800 block of South Main in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.Upon arrival, they located 49-year-old Michael Horn with a gunshot wound to his head. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he died.&nbsp; On Thursday, Police arrested English in connection with Horn's murder.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597432907464.png" alt="Collins-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Collins-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>In 2019, English was on parole and a passenger in a stolen BMW sport utility vehicle driven by Mia Collins who led officers on a chase. After about one mile, the car collided with a car and another SUV at an intersection.The crash killed 70-year-old Maria Wood and 12-year-old Rosemary McElroy and critically injured 36-year-old Jenny Wood, a popular Wichita musician known for performing with children.&nbsp; Collins was sentenced to life in prison.English has previous convictions for drugs and weapons, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. H remains jailed on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to return to court August 8, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man with a history of crime is charged in 2020 murder

SEDGWICK COUNTY —After multiple mass shootings nationwide during the last three months, the Wichita Police Department is set to host active shooter training for churches in the region.

According to the department's social media page, the training is for all houses of worship. A date for training has not been scheduled. The department requires the church worship leader and head of security muse be present for the training. 

Those interested are asked to email Police Lt. Lemons at CLemons@wichita.gov.

In 2022, there have been 372 mass shootings in the United States, according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/">Gun Violence Archive</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659219142731.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —After multiple mass shootings nationwide during the last three months, the Wichita Police Department is set to host active shooter training for churches in the region.According to the department's social media page, the training is for all houses of worship. A date for training has not been scheduled. The department requires the church worship leader and head of security muse be present for the training. Those interested are asked to email Police Lt. Lemons at CLemons@wichita.gov.In 2022, there have been 372 mass shootings in the United States, according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/">Gun Violence Archive</a>.

Police hosting active shooter training for Kan. houses of worship

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 for a third straight day, in a case of “rebound” following treatment with an anti-viral drug.

White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor says in a letter Monday that the third positive test was anticipated.

"The president will continue his strict isolation measures."&nbsp; 

&nbsp;After Biden tested positive on Saturday, he canceled upcoming plans to travel and hold in-person events. He's isolating for at least five days in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. 

The 79-year-old Biden first tested positive on July 21. He was treated with the anti-viral drug Paxlovid and he had ended his isolation on Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659220712719.png" alt="President Biden was treated with the anti-viral drug Paxlovid and he had ended his isolation on Wednesday before he tested positive again Saturday-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden was treated with the anti-viral drug Paxlovid and he had ended his isolation on Wednesday before he tested positive again Saturday-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 for a third straight day, in a case of “rebound” following treatment with an anti-viral drug.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659365430199.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor says in a letter Monday that the third positive test was anticipated."The president will continue his strict isolation measures."&nbsp; &nbsp;After Biden tested positive on Saturday, he canceled upcoming plans to travel and hold in-person events. He's isolating for at least five days in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The 79-year-old Biden first tested positive on July 21. He was treated with the anti-viral drug Paxlovid and he had ended his isolation on Wednesday.

Biden continues to test positive for COVID in rebound case

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating 4 suspects after a large drug bust.

On July 28, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) as part of the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed two search warrants in the 200 block of SE Klein Street and the 1800 block of SE Chandler Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, deputies found illegal narcotics and arrested multiple suspects were arrested. Deputies also found three juveniles&nbsp; inside the homes.

Courtney L. Crockett, 46, of Topeka is being held on requested charges of&nbsp; Criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, Possession with intent to distribute an opiate, Possession with intent to distribute a hallucinogenic and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

 Angelelah A. Brooks, 40, of Topeka is jailed on requested charges of Possession with intent to distribute a hallucinogenic;&nbsp;Anthony J. Jackson Jr., 37, of Topeka is jailed on a requested charge of Possession with intent to distribute a stimulant and&nbsp;Travelle L. Gueary 43, of Topeka is jailed on a requested charge of&nbsp; Possession of marijuana and Warrants.

The Topeka Police Department and Rossville Police Department assisted with these search warrants, according to Christian.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659215821863.png" alt="Crockett photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Crockett photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating 4 suspects after a large drug bust.On July 28, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) as part of the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed two search warrants in the 200 block of SE Klein Street and the 1800 block of SE Chandler Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659215917431.png" alt="Jackson-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Jackson-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the investigation, deputies found illegal narcotics and arrested multiple suspects were arrested. Deputies also found three juveniles&nbsp; inside the homes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659216017582.png" alt="Gueary-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Gueary-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtney L. Crockett, 46, of Topeka is being held on requested charges of&nbsp; Criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, Possession with intent to distribute an opiate, Possession with intent to distribute a hallucinogenic and Possession of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659215958798.png" alt="Brooks-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Brooks-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> Angelelah A. Brooks, 40, of Topeka is jailed on requested charges of Possession with intent to distribute a hallucinogenic;&nbsp;Anthony J. Jackson Jr., 37, of Topeka is jailed on a requested charge of Possession with intent to distribute a stimulant and&nbsp;Travelle L. Gueary 43, of Topeka is jailed on a requested charge of&nbsp; Possession of marijuana and Warrants.The Topeka Police Department and Rossville Police Department assisted with these search warrants, according to Christian.

Sheriff: 4 adults arrested, 3 juveniles found during Kan. drug bust

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Overland Park.

Just before 4:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a shooting at a gas station at the intersection of Antioch Road and College Boulevard, according to a media release.

EMS transported the victim to a local hospital where they were pronounced deceased.

Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659349398024.png" alt="Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation -Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation -Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Overland Park.Just before 4:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a shooting at a gas station at the intersection of Antioch Road and College Boulevard, according to a media release.EMS transported the victim to a local hospital where they were pronounced deceased.Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect information.

Police: One dead after shooting at Kansas gas station

SHELTON, CT (AP) —The maker of Banana Boat sunscreen is recalling a scalp spray because it contains trace amounts of benzene, a chemical which can cause cancer with repeated exposure.

<a href="https://edgewell.com/">Edgewell Personal Care Co.</a> <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/edgewell-personal-care-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-banana-boat-hair-scalp-sunscreen-due">announced the voluntary recall </a>over the weekend.&nbsp;It said benzene was detected in internal reviews of Banana Boat Hair and Scalp Spray SPF 30.

Three batches of the spray are included in the recall, with lot codes 20016AF, 20084BF and 21139AF. Edgewell said no other batches of this spray, and no other Banana Boat products, are included in the recall.

Edgewell didn’t say how many cans it is recalling. The Associated Press left a message with the company seeking comment.

Shelton, Connecticut-based Edgewell said it hasn’t received any reports of adverse events related to the recall. The company has directed retailers to remove the spray from their shelves. It’s also offering to reimburse customers who have already bought the product.

The recall comes a little over a year after Johnson &amp; Johnson recalled five sunscreens because they were found to contain benzene. That recall included Aveeno and Neutrogena products in aerosol cans.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659351249723.png" alt="Three batches of the spray are included in the recall-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Three batches of the spray are included in the recall-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SHELTON, CT (AP) —The maker of Banana Boat sunscreen is recalling a scalp spray because it contains trace amounts of benzene, a chemical which can cause cancer with repeated exposure.<a href="https://edgewell.com/">Edgewell Personal Care Co.</a> <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/edgewell-personal-care-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-banana-boat-hair-scalp-sunscreen-due">announced the voluntary recall </a>over the weekend.&nbsp;It said benzene was detected in internal reviews of Banana Boat Hair and Scalp Spray SPF 30.Three batches of the spray are included in the recall, with lot codes 20016AF, 20084BF and 21139AF. Edgewell said no other batches of this spray, and no other Banana Boat products, are included in the recall.Edgewell didn’t say how many cans it is recalling. The Associated Press left a message with the company seeking comment.Shelton, Connecticut-based Edgewell said it hasn’t received any reports of adverse events related to the recall. The company has directed retailers to remove the spray from their shelves. It’s also offering to reimburse customers who have already bought the product.The recall comes a little over a year after Johnson &amp; Johnson recalled five sunscreens because they were found to contain benzene. That recall included Aveeno and Neutrogena products in aerosol cans.

Popular sunscreen spray recalled for cancer risk

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated robbery and asking the public for help to locate two suspects identified as&nbsp;Nicole R. A. Fox, 41, and London D. Pike, 20, both of Topeka.

Just after&nbsp;8p.m. July 16, sheriff's deputies were dispatched for an unknown problem in the 11,000 block of SW 29th Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

&nbsp;A 27-year-old female victim was taken at gun point from Topeka to this location.

During this time, the victim was struck in the head with a firearm, threatened and stripped of her outer clothing. The victim’s black 2017 Chevrolet Malibu was stolen and she was left in the roadway. A citizen found her walking and called 911.

The victim received medical attention on scene by American Medical Response&nbsp;and was then transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Christian.

Throughout the investigation, two suspects have been identified as Fox and Pike. Anyone with information on them is asked to contact police or call 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659024111950.png" alt="Pike-photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Pike-photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated robbery and asking the public for help to locate two suspects identified as&nbsp;Nicole R. A. Fox, 41, and London D. Pike, 20, both of Topeka.Just after&nbsp;8p.m. July 16, sheriff's deputies were dispatched for an unknown problem in the 11,000 block of SW 29th Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp;A 27-year-old female victim was taken at gun point from Topeka to this location.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659024081286.png" alt="Fox photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Fox photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>During this time, the victim was struck in the head with a firearm, threatened and stripped of her outer clothing. The victim’s black 2017 Chevrolet Malibu was stolen and she was left in the roadway. A citizen found her walking and called 911.The victim received medical attention on scene by American Medical Response&nbsp;and was then transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Christian.Throughout the investigation, two suspects have been identified as Fox and Pike. Anyone with information on them is asked to contact police or call 911.

Search continues for suspects in violent Kan. armed robbery

WASHINGTON (AP) —A deal on Capitol Hill that could cut prescription drug costs for millions of Medicare beneficiaries was cautiously cheered by older Americans and their advocates this week even as many worried it might never come to fruition.

The health care and climate agreement struck by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin includes landmark provisions that could help senior citizens, including a cap on out-of-pocket Medicare drug costs and a requirement that the government negotiate prices on some high-cost drugs.

Some of the issues addressed in the deal have been talked about for decades and proved elusive. But Manchin's backing brought new optimism to many who have lobbied and prayed for relief.

“We worry constantly, ‘Will we be able to afford this?’” said Becky Miller, a 67-year-old retired teacher from Bradenton, Florida, who spends thousands of dollars each year for drugs to treat epilepsy, heart problems and an inflammatory disease that affects her spine.

She is afraid the powerful pharmaceutical lobby might still thwart the plan, but said, “If this goes through, it will help a lot of people.”

Several prongs of the proposal have the potential to bring relief to millions of people:

— It would cap out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 a year for Medicare beneficiaries. No such limit exists today, and some older people on costly drugs can run up bills of tens of thousands of dollars.

— It would give Medicare, for the first time, the ability to directly negotiate with pharmaceutical companies over the price of drugs, though the number of medications subject to the provision would be limited.

— It would create a new “inflation rebate” requiring drug companies to give refunds to Medicare beneficiaries for increases in prescription drug prices that exceed the rate of inflation.

— It would provide coverage of vaccines for senior citizens. Some Medicare beneficiaries have had to pay out of pocket for recommended immunizations, such as the one against shingles.

Earlier proposals were more generous and, along the way, provisions to pay for senior citizens’ glasses, hearing aids and dental care were trimmed. But news of a possible deal still drew applause.

“This would nonetheless be transformational, just not as transformational," said David Lipschutz, associate director of the nonpartisan Center for Medicare Advocacy. “It might not have been everything that everyone hoped for from the beginning, but this is nonetheless a huge step.”

Tricia Neuman, a Medicare expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, was likewise optimistic, saying, “Congress is on the cusp of making major changes to the Medicare drug benefit that could provide significant help to people struggling with their drug costs."

If passed, an estimated 4.1 million Medicare beneficiaries would start getting free vaccines as soon as next year, Neuman said. Drug companies would also be required to start giving the rebates next year.

Other proposals would take longer to kick in. The cap on out-of-pocket spending — estimated to help 1.45 million people — would start in 2025. And in 2026, the government would be able to start negotiating prices, beginning with 10 drugs and increasing to 20 by 2029.

The Senate is expected to vote on the wide-ranging measure next week, but with the chamber divided 50-50 and the Republicans staunchly opposed, the Democrats will have no votes to spare. A House vote would follow, perhaps later in August.

One key vote, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., was still reviewing the agreement, a spokeswoman said. Sinema backed Manchin last year in insisting on making the legislation less expensive but objected to proposals to raise tax rates.

Pamela Stevens, a 69-year-old from San Dimas, California, pays around $10,000 annually in out-of-pocket expenses for drugs to treat diabetes and other conditions. She is a retired nurse and her husband a retired accountant, and said that while they aren't poor, drug costs leave them little wiggle room. They never go out to eat or on vacation, and she sometimes goes without cholesterol drugs to cut costs.

Passage of the proposal, Stevens said, would give her some freedom and a chance to do more than just sit home watching TV. But she is not convinced it will happen.

“I am not going to hold my breath,” she said. “My hopes have been dashed too many times.”

In Oakland, California, 67-year-old Gay Cohen will pay $14,000 this year out of pocket for a generic version of the cancer drug Revlimid. Cohen, who worked on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the Obama administration, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2020.

“It’s scandalous to pay that much money for something that is literally keeping me alive,” Cohen said. The cap on out-of-pocket costs would help him once it kicks in.

He added: “I’m really excited it’s happening. I wish it were coming sooner.”

WASHINGTON (AP) —A deal on Capitol Hill that could cut prescription drug costs for millions of Medicare beneficiaries was cautiously cheered by older Americans and their advocates this week even as many worried it might never come to fruition.The health care and climate agreement struck by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin includes landmark provisions that could help senior citizens, including a cap on out-of-pocket Medicare drug costs and a requirement that the government negotiate prices on some high-cost drugs.Some of the issues addressed in the deal have been talked about for decades and proved elusive. But Manchin's backing brought new optimism to many who have lobbied and prayed for relief.“We worry constantly, ‘Will we be able to afford this?’” said Becky Miller, a 67-year-old retired teacher from Bradenton, Florida, who spends thousands of dollars each year for drugs to treat epilepsy, heart problems and an inflammatory disease that affects her spine.She is afraid the powerful pharmaceutical lobby might still thwart the plan, but said, “If this goes through, it will help a lot of people.”Several prongs of the proposal have the potential to bring relief to millions of people:— It would cap out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 a year for Medicare beneficiaries. No such limit exists today, and some older people on costly drugs can run up bills of tens of thousands of dollars.— It would give Medicare, for the first time, the ability to directly negotiate with pharmaceutical companies over the price of drugs, though the number of medications subject to the provision would be limited.— It would create a new “inflation rebate” requiring drug companies to give refunds to Medicare beneficiaries for increases in prescription drug prices that exceed the rate of inflation.— It would provide coverage of vaccines for senior citizens. Some Medicare beneficiaries have had to pay out of pocket for recommended immunizations, such as the one against shingles.Earlier proposals were more generous and, along the way, provisions to pay for senior citizens’ glasses, hearing aids and dental care were trimmed. But news of a possible deal still drew applause.“This would nonetheless be transformational, just not as transformational," said David Lipschutz, associate director of the nonpartisan Center for Medicare Advocacy. “It might not have been everything that everyone hoped for from the beginning, but this is nonetheless a huge step.”Tricia Neuman, a Medicare expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, was likewise optimistic, saying, “Congress is on the cusp of making major changes to the Medicare drug benefit that could provide significant help to people struggling with their drug costs."If passed, an estimated 4.1 million Medicare beneficiaries would start getting free vaccines as soon as next year, Neuman said. Drug companies would also be required to start giving the rebates next year.Other proposals would take longer to kick in. The cap on out-of-pocket spending — estimated to help 1.45 million people — would start in 2025. And in 2026, the government would be able to start negotiating prices, beginning with 10 drugs and increasing to 20 by 2029.The Senate is expected to vote on the wide-ranging measure next week, but with the chamber divided 50-50 and the Republicans staunchly opposed, the Democrats will have no votes to spare. A House vote would follow, perhaps later in August.One key vote, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., was still reviewing the agreement, a spokeswoman said. Sinema backed Manchin last year in insisting on making the legislation less expensive but objected to proposals to raise tax rates.Pamela Stevens, a 69-year-old from San Dimas, California, pays around $10,000 annually in out-of-pocket expenses for drugs to treat diabetes and other conditions. She is a retired nurse and her husband a retired accountant, and said that while they aren't poor, drug costs leave them little wiggle room. They never go out to eat or on vacation, and she sometimes goes without cholesterol drugs to cut costs.Passage of the proposal, Stevens said, would give her some freedom and a chance to do more than just sit home watching TV. But she is not convinced it will happen.“I am not going to hold my breath,” she said. “My hopes have been dashed too many times.”In Oakland, California, 67-year-old Gay Cohen will pay $14,000 this year out of pocket for a generic version of the cancer drug Revlimid. Cohen, who worked on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the Obama administration, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2020.“It’s scandalous to pay that much money for something that is literally keeping me alive,” Cohen said. The cap on out-of-pocket costs would help him once it kicks in.He added: “I’m really excited it’s happening. I wish it were coming sooner.”

Deal on Capitol Hill could ease seniors' health costs

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double murder and have a suspect in custody after a high-speed chase that included shots fired at police.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, police received 911 calls about shots fired in the 1100 block of Tennessee in Lawrence, according to Police spokesperson Laura McCabe.&nbsp; 

Officers arrived at the home and found a 53-year-old man critically injured with gunshot wounds. Emergency Responders helped transfer him to a Kansas City trauma department where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp;

Not long after, another call came in about shots fired in the 300 block of Northwood Lane.&nbsp; Officers found another victim at that location.&nbsp; The 43-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Investigators worked through the night to identify a suspect, located him, and tried to pull him over in the 900 Block of Lawrence Avenue about 6:00 am.&nbsp; 

The suspect later identified as 51-year-old Rodney Ericson Marshall did not comply and a led officers on a pursuit through town, down Haskell and to the Bypass accessing K-10 toward Kansas City.&nbsp; 

Marshall fired several times at officers while on K-10 until eventually hitting the stop sticks near Eudora and was taken into custody.&nbsp; A female passenger was also in the car at the time of the arrest and is being questioned by investigators.

This investigation involves multiple agencies, several locations, two victims, and the attempted murder of several Law Enforcement Officers, according to McCabe.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released names of the victims.

Marshall has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal threat, criminal deprivation of property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659312423011.png" alt="Marshall has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal threat, criminal deprivation of property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Marshall has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal threat, criminal deprivation of property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double murder and have a suspect in custody after a high-speed chase that included shots fired at police.Just after 1a.m. Sunday, police received 911 calls about shots fired in the 1100 block of Tennessee in Lawrence, according to Police spokesperson Laura McCabe.&nbsp; Officers arrived at the home and found a 53-year-old man critically injured with gunshot wounds. Emergency Responders helped transfer him to a Kansas City trauma department where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp;Not long after, another call came in about shots fired in the 300 block of Northwood Lane.&nbsp; Officers found another victim at that location.&nbsp; The 43-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Investigators worked through the night to identify a suspect, located him, and tried to pull him over in the 900 Block of Lawrence Avenue about 6:00 am.&nbsp; The suspect later identified as 51-year-old Rodney Ericson Marshall did not comply and a led officers on a pursuit through town, down Haskell and to the Bypass accessing K-10 toward Kansas City.&nbsp; Marshall fired several times at officers while on K-10 until eventually hitting the stop sticks near Eudora and was taken into custody.&nbsp; A female passenger was also in the car at the time of the arrest and is being questioned by investigators.This investigation involves multiple agencies, several locations, two victims, and the attempted murder of several Law Enforcement Officers, according to McCabe.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released names of the victims.Marshall has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal threat, criminal deprivation of property and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Police arrest Kan. double murder suspect after high-speed chase

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Texas man on drug charges after an arrest.

 Sheriff Tim Morse reports that a Texas man was arrested on Wednesday following a traffic stop near 102nd and U.S. 75 Hwy. 

On July 27, a sheriff's deputy stopped a tractor-trailer in reference to a complaint of erratic driving near&nbsp;near 102nd and U.S. 75 Highway. according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Subsequent investigation into the matter resulted in the arrest of the driver, Christopher James Caldwell, 31, of Cypress, Texas. 

 Caldwell was booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of cocaine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659183453195.png" alt="Caldwell-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Caldwell-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Texas man on drug charges after an arrest. Sheriff Tim Morse reports that a Texas man was arrested on Wednesday following a traffic stop near 102nd and U.S. 75 Hwy. On July 27, a sheriff's deputy stopped a tractor-trailer in reference to a complaint of erratic driving near&nbsp;near 102nd and U.S. 75 Highway. according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Subsequent investigation into the matter resulted in the arrest of the driver, Christopher James Caldwell, 31, of Cypress, Texas. Caldwell was booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of cocaine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Semi driver caught with cocaine on Kansas highway

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-07-27/ku-research-suggests-more-food-assistance-for-families-can-keep-kids-out-of-foster-care">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — A new study gives fuel to arguments that the 
state could significantly spare children from landing in foster care if 
the state spent more on things like food benefits for struggling 
families.

A University of Kansas study estimated foster care 
caseloads could drop by 14% if taxpayers spent more heavily on family 
food benefits.

Nearly three out of four cases of maltreatment of 
children — something that can land kids in the chaos of foster care — 
stem from neglect that happens when families can’t make rent, struggle 
to buy groceries or pay for utilities.

The KU study found that in 
2016 Kansas sat near the bottom for “income generosity” programs that 
make families eligible for government help. For instance, some states 
don’t count child support against how much assistance a family might 
qualify for.

Donna Ginther, the director of the Institute for 
Policy and Social Research at KU, said food assistance drives down 
reports of children being mistreated or neglected because it gives 
families more financial flexibility.

“People receiving SNAP 
(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps) benefits are
 really low income and any amount of money at the margin will make a 
difference,” she said. “The more generous a state is, the better the 
outcomes for children.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658935821345.png" alt="Food assistance programs cut foster care caseloads by 14%, the KU study says. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Food assistance programs cut foster care caseloads by 14%, the KU study says. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-07-27/ku-research-suggests-more-food-assistance-for-families-can-keep-kids-out-of-foster-care">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — A new study gives fuel to arguments that the 
state could significantly spare children from landing in foster care if 
the state spent more on things like food benefits for struggling 
families.A University of Kansas study estimated foster care 
caseloads could drop by 14% if taxpayers spent more heavily on family 
food benefits.Nearly three out of four cases of maltreatment of 
children — something that can land kids in the chaos of foster care — 
stem from neglect that happens when families can’t make rent, struggle 
to buy groceries or pay for utilities.The KU study found that in 
2016 Kansas sat near the bottom for “income generosity” programs that 
make families eligible for government help. For instance, some states 
don’t count child support against how much assistance a family might 
qualify for.Donna Ginther, the director of the Institute for 
Policy and Social Research at KU, said food assistance drives down 
reports of children being mistreated or neglected because it gives 
families more financial flexibility.“People receiving SNAP 
(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps) benefits are
 really low income and any amount of money at the margin will make a 
difference,” she said. “The more generous a state is, the better the 
outcomes for children.”Ginther’s study looked at food assistance,
 but people advocating for more government assistance to poor families 
contend other social safety programs also can prevent the sort of 
household collapses that can put children in foster care. Another <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740916303139" target="_blank">study in 2017</a> said a $1 increase in the minimum wage decreases child neglect reports by 9.6%.Ginther
 called on lawmakers to be more generous with such programs, but they 
don’t enjoy much political support among lawmakers who’d have to approve
 increases. In 2015, Kansas passed a series of welfare program reforms 
called the HOPE Act. It barred state agencies from promoting food 
benefits, limited ATM withdrawals of welfare money to $25 a day and 
lowered lifetime eligibility for the Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families program.Lawmakers at the time said that bill would break
 people from dependency on government assistance and get more people 
back in the workforce.“A person has the right to refuse to work, 
but the taxpayer also has a right to not support that person,” said 
then-Department for Children and Families Secretary Phyllis Gilmore in <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2015-04-16/brownback-says-welfare-reform-aims-to-break-cycles-of-dependency" target="_blank">2015</a>. “We have an obligation to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. And these are policies that help everyone win.”The
 HOPE Act also required 20-hour work weeks or job training programs. 
People who didn't comply were booted off state-funded support. Kansas 
Republicans <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2448/" target="_blank">passed similar legislation</a> this year while echoing comments from 2015.“We
 got a lot of folks that are trapped in poverty,” said Rep. Pat Proctor,
 a Leavenworth Republican, on the House floor this year. “It is morally 
wrong to perpetuate a system that keeps people poor. If we have the 
opportunity to give these folks … job training so they can be more 
successful … that’s a 100% good thing.”Despite past legislation, 
Quinn Ried, policy research analyst for Kansas Appleseed, is becoming 
more optimistic about the future. He said more bipartisan support exists
 for some measures, like removing a part of state law that prohibits 
some drug felons from getting food assistance.Ried said the 
number of foster kids has dropped in recent years, which he attributes 
to more liberal welfare programs that grew during the pandemic.“Two
 years ago, there wasn’t even a hearing on it,” he said. “There was good
 groundwork laid in that regard last session, and I think we can build 
on it going forward.”Ried said spending upfront saves taxpayers 
in the long run. Foster families are paid different rates depending on 
the level of care for the child, but the cheapest foster rates for one 
child are around $300 a month, other rates top $700. The maximum SNAP 
benefit for a household of three people is $658.Even if political
 opposition stalls any changes next spring, the Kansas Department for 
Children and Families is trying to address the issue now.In 2014,
 half the children in foster care entered because of a FINA removal. 
FINA, or families in need of assessment, could be a caregiver struggling
 with substance abuse or struggling to adequately care for a child. In 
2022, only one in three children enter foster care because of FINA.DCF
 Secretary Laura Howard said that’s the result of a push by DCF to help 
families and keep kids with their parents. She said foster care is 
traumatic and providing family support matters.“We don’t really 
want to be a state or a society that says, ‘Because you’re poor or 
because you’re struggling to deal with a child … that we want to take 
your child away from you,’” she said. “We want to support that family.”Blaise
 Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas 
News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or 
email him at blaise@kcur.org.