EMMIE BOESE&nbsp; Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Director Lee Keele of Family Community Theatre’s upcoming production of 12 Angry Jurors, calls the plot line “a story of transformation.”&nbsp;

“We have one juror who is a hold out at the beginning who votes for acquittal and 11 who vote guilty,” Keele said. “Through the course of it of course they review the evidence and it’s the story of how the one juror through some measure of patience, manages to change everybody's mind.&nbsp;The story of transformation is in the life of the main protagonist. In this case, actually the protagonist doesn’t change. And everybody else does so that kind of makes it a little bit unique in that way but it’s a good story and we are going to tell a modern version of it.”&nbsp;

Based off the 1950s film 12 Angry Men set in New York City, the &nbsp;setting has been adapted to fit a co-ed cast of jurors.&nbsp;

“12 Angry Jurors was originally 12 Angry Men because back when it was written, women did not serve on juries,” Keele said. “I think the play was originally set in New York City because New York City used to have elevated trains. &nbsp;“We set it in Chicago because Chicago is the only major US city that still has an elevated train system and that’s a key piece of the plot story.”&nbsp;

This is Keele’s first time to direct a live stage play.&nbsp;

“I like leading teams,” Keele said. “I’ve led teams of different kinds over the years. I’ve been on the stage as an actor in several different productions and always enjoyed that and just kind of assumed knowing myself a little bit that I would enjoy directing and I have to say it’s been every bit as fun as being on the stage as an actor.”&nbsp; Showtimes for 12 Angry Jurors are June 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. and June 23 at 3 p.m. All performances are at the Flag Theater located at 310 N. Main St. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at <a href="https://www.familycommunitytheatre.org/tickets">familycommunitytheatre.org</a>.&nbsp;

Cast:&nbsp; Aaron Bartel - Court Clerk&nbsp; Wes Bartlett - Juror 3&nbsp; Linda-Ruth Cardozo - Juror 11&nbsp; Matthew Christian - Juror 12&nbsp; Skye Colaw - Juror 4&nbsp; Levi Julian - Judge&nbsp; Aaron Keller -Juror 8&nbsp; Kort Linam -Juror 7&nbsp; Renea Mikols - Juror 1 (Foreman)&nbsp; Maggie Newton - Juror 10&nbsp; Jellyann Ramos - Juror 2&nbsp; Nicole Roensch - Juror 5&nbsp; Diane Roth - Juror 9&nbsp; Ryan Sims - Court Bailiff&nbsp; Ronnie Voss - Juror 6

Production Staff:&nbsp; Director - Lee Keele&nbsp; Assistant Director - Mary Roensch&nbsp; Lighting - David Adcock&nbsp; Sound Board - Nicholas Amezola&nbsp; Costumes - Ginger Keele&nbsp; Props - Mary Roensch&nbsp; Makeup - Savannah Keele&nbsp; Set - Craig Williams, Robert Garrett&nbsp; Poster/Publicity - Lee Keele, Sam Wilk&nbsp; Front of House - Janice Wood

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<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718861529645.jpeg" alt="Family Community Theatre’s production of 12 Angry Jurors is directed by Lee Keele. Opening night is on Thursday, June 20 at &nbsp;7:30 p.m. Photo by Emmie Boese.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Family Community Theatre’s production of 12 Angry Jurors is directed by Lee Keele. Opening night is on Thursday, June 20 at &nbsp;7:30 p.m. Photo by Emmie Boese.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>EMMIE BOESE&nbsp; Hutch Post HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Director Lee Keele of Family Community Theatre’s upcoming production of 12 Angry Jurors, calls the plot line “a story of transformation.”&nbsp; “We have one juror who is a hold out at the beginning who votes for acquittal and 11 who vote guilty,” Keele said. “Through the course of it of course they review the evidence and it’s the story of how the one juror through some measure of patience, manages to change everybody's mind.&nbsp;The story of transformation is in the life of the main protagonist. In this case, actually the protagonist doesn’t change. And everybody else does so that kind of makes it a little bit unique in that way but it’s a good story and we are going to tell a modern version of it.”&nbsp; Based off the 1950s film 12 Angry Men set in New York City, the &nbsp;setting has been adapted to fit a co-ed cast of jurors.&nbsp; “12 Angry Jurors was originally 12 Angry Men because back when it was written, women did not serve on juries,” Keele said. “I think the play was originally set in New York City because New York City used to have elevated trains. &nbsp;“We set it in Chicago because Chicago is the only major US city that still has an elevated train system and that’s a key piece of the plot story.”&nbsp; This is Keele’s first time to direct a live stage play.&nbsp; “I like leading teams,” Keele said. “I’ve led teams of different kinds over the years. I’ve been on the stage as an actor in several different productions and always enjoyed that and just kind of assumed knowing myself a little bit that I would enjoy directing and I have to say it’s been every bit as fun as being on the stage as an actor.”&nbsp; Showtimes for 12 Angry Jurors are June 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. and June 23 at 3 p.m. All performances are at the Flag Theater located at 310 N. Main St. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at <a href="https://www.familycommunitytheatre.org/tickets">familycommunitytheatre.org</a>.&nbsp;Cast:&nbsp; Aaron Bartel - Court Clerk&nbsp; Wes Bartlett - Juror 3&nbsp; Linda-Ruth Cardozo - Juror 11&nbsp; Matthew Christian - Juror 12&nbsp; Skye Colaw - Juror 4&nbsp; Levi Julian - Judge&nbsp; Aaron Keller -Juror 8&nbsp; Kort Linam -Juror 7&nbsp; Renea Mikols - Juror 1 (Foreman)&nbsp; Maggie Newton - Juror 10&nbsp; Jellyann Ramos - Juror 2&nbsp; Nicole Roensch - Juror 5&nbsp; Diane Roth - Juror 9&nbsp; Ryan Sims - Court Bailiff&nbsp; Ronnie Voss - Juror 6Production Staff:&nbsp; Director - Lee Keele&nbsp; Assistant Director - Mary Roensch&nbsp; Lighting - David Adcock&nbsp; Sound Board - Nicholas Amezola&nbsp; Costumes - Ginger Keele&nbsp; Props - Mary Roensch&nbsp; Makeup - Savannah Keele&nbsp; Set - Craig Williams, Robert Garrett&nbsp; Poster/Publicity - Lee Keele, Sam Wilk&nbsp; Front of House - Janice Wood<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update. &nbsp; &nbsp;

12 Angry Jurors opens at the Flag this week

&nbsp; MOLLY M. CARVER Bethany College

LINDSBORG, Kan. — Bethany College is proud to announce the appointment of Shaun Day as the new Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Music. Day brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for music education, performance, and community engagement to his new role.

Day completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in instrumental conducting at the University of Washington, where he served as the director and conductor for the University of Washington Symphonic Band and the associate conductor for the Wind Ensemble. His extensive experience includes being the conductor and artistic director for the Mukilteo Community Orchestra, the annual Pacific Northwest Band Festival Coordinator, and the Washington Music Educators Association State Conference presenter. He has also been a guest clinician and conductor across the United States, Canada, and South Korea.

Originally from Cincinnati, Day earned his Bachelor of Music in music education with a concentration in trumpet performance and his Master of Music in wind conducting from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. His early career included a position as assistant band director at Turpin High School, where he developed a strong passion for teaching instrumental music.

Interim Academic Dean Tash Smith was enthusiastic about Day's arrival, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Shaun to Bethany College. His energy, expertise, and dedication to music education will be an excellent fit for our music department. Music and Fine arts hold a special place in both our college and the Lindsborg community, and we are excited to see the positive impact Prof. Day will bring."

Day shared his excitement about joining the Bethany College community: "I am incredibly impressed by the strong support for the arts and culture in this small community. Megan and I are thrilled to call Kansas our home, and I look forward to contributing to the vibrant musical life at Bethany College and within the Lindsborg community."

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718729072667.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Bethany College —Shaun Day" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Bethany College —Shaun Day</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp; MOLLY M. CARVER Bethany CollegeLINDSBORG, Kan. — Bethany College is proud to announce the appointment of Shaun Day as the new Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Music. Day brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for music education, performance, and community engagement to his new role.Day completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in instrumental conducting at the University of Washington, where he served as the director and conductor for the University of Washington Symphonic Band and the associate conductor for the Wind Ensemble. His extensive experience includes being the conductor and artistic director for the Mukilteo Community Orchestra, the annual Pacific Northwest Band Festival Coordinator, and the Washington Music Educators Association State Conference presenter. He has also been a guest clinician and conductor across the United States, Canada, and South Korea.Originally from Cincinnati, Day earned his Bachelor of Music in music education with a concentration in trumpet performance and his Master of Music in wind conducting from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. His early career included a position as assistant band director at Turpin High School, where he developed a strong passion for teaching instrumental music.Interim Academic Dean Tash Smith was enthusiastic about Day's arrival, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Shaun to Bethany College. His energy, expertise, and dedication to music education will be an excellent fit for our music department. Music and Fine arts hold a special place in both our college and the Lindsborg community, and we are excited to see the positive impact Prof. Day will bring."Day shared his excitement about joining the Bethany College community: "I am incredibly impressed by the strong support for the arts and culture in this small community. Megan and I are thrilled to call Kansas our home, and I look forward to contributing to the vibrant musical life at Bethany College and within the Lindsborg community."<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Bethany College hires assistant music professor

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing the financial management of all Pleasant View Home properties. The CFO is responsible for developing and implementing financial strategies, managing financial risk, and providing financial guidance to the organization's leadership team. The CFO is also responsible for ensuring the organization's financial health and stability, and making strategic decisions that drive long-term success.

<a href="https://www.pleasantviewhome.com/jobs-2/">CLICK HERE TO APPLY!</a>

1. Financial Planning and Strategy: •Develop and implement financial strategies that align with the organization's overall goals and objectives.

2. Financial Management: •Manage the organization's financial resources, forecasting, and cash management. •Oversee the preparation of financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. •Ensure compliance with accounting standards, laws, and regulations.

3. Risk Management: •Identify and assess financial risks to the organization. •Develop and implement strategies to mitigate these risks.

4. Financial Reporting: •Prepare and present financial reports to the CEO, Administrator, and Board of Directors. •Ensure timely and accurate reporting of financial results.

5. Financial Analysis: •Provide insights into management on financial performance and potential areas for improvement.

6. Leadership: •Provide strategic guidance to other departments on financial matters. •Lead and manage a team of finance professionals. •Collaborate with other senior leaders to develop and implement organizational strategies

1. Budgeting: Develop and manage the organization's budget.

2. Investments: Manage the organization's investments, including cash reserves and investments.

3. Treasury Management: Manage the organization's cash flow, including forecasting and cash management.

4. Insurance: Manage the organization's insurance policies, including property insurance, liability insurance, etc.

1. Education: •Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or related field; MBA or CPA preferred.

2. Skills: •Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. •Excellent communication and presentation skills. Strong leadership and management skills. •Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities. Proficiency in financial software and systems.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718224001309.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED!The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing the financial management of all Pleasant View Home properties. The CFO is responsible for developing and implementing financial strategies, managing financial risk, and providing financial guidance to the organization's leadership team. The CFO is also responsible for ensuring the organization's financial health and stability, and making strategic decisions that drive long-term success.<a href="https://www.pleasantviewhome.com/jobs-2/">CLICK HERE TO APPLY!</a>Key Responsibilities:1. Financial Planning and Strategy: •Develop and implement financial strategies that align with the organization's overall goals and objectives.2. Financial Management: •Manage the organization's financial resources, forecasting, and cash management. •Oversee the preparation of financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. •Ensure compliance with accounting standards, laws, and regulations.3. Risk Management: •Identify and assess financial risks to the organization. •Develop and implement strategies to mitigate these risks.4. Financial Reporting: •Prepare and present financial reports to the CEO, Administrator, and Board of Directors. •Ensure timely and accurate reporting of financial results.5. Financial Analysis: •Provide insights into management on financial performance and potential areas for improvement.6. Leadership: •Provide strategic guidance to other departments on financial matters. •Lead and manage a team of finance professionals. •Collaborate with other senior leaders to develop and implement organizational strategiesAdditional Responsibilities:1. Budgeting: Develop and manage the organization's budget.2. Investments: Manage the organization's investments, including cash reserves and investments.3. Treasury Management: Manage the organization's cash flow, including forecasting and cash management.4. Insurance: Manage the organization's insurance policies, including property insurance, liability insurance, etc.Requirements:1. Education: •Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or related field; MBA or CPA preferred.2. Skills: •Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. •Excellent communication and presentation skills. Strong leadership and management skills. •Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities. Proficiency in financial software and systems.

Pleasant View Home of Inman hiring CFO

TOPEKA, Kan. — Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced eight inaugural grant recipients of the Residential Opportunities on Main Street (ROOMS) program. A total of eight projects in Designated Kansas Main Street communities are receiving $50,000 each to create a total of 35 new residential units in the upper floors of downtown buildings.

The Hutch Post area project is in Newton, where&nbsp;Newton Main Street plans a project creating eight new one- and two-bedroom units in the Voelker Building across from the old city hall.

“There is a substantial amount of unused upper-floor space in downtown buildings throughout rural Kansas, and this is a unique opportunity to create additional housing units,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said.&nbsp;“Investing in rural downtown areas is critical for the quality of life in these communities, making them more appealing for current and future residents. With so many companies looking to locate or expand operations in rural Kansas, it is important that viable housing opportunities keep pace.”

This is the first grant of its kind designed specifically for Designated Kansas Main Street communities. Applicants go through a competitive process that demonstrates their commitment and active intent to revitalize their downtown commercial districts. As Designated Main Street communities, each will receive a high level of technical assistance and training from both the state and national Main Street programs. Currently, there are 30 active Designated communities participating in the Kansas Main Street program.

“We know that downtowns can play a role in helping solve the housing issues throughout Kansas, but the projects are very expensive,”&nbsp;Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell said.&nbsp;“These grants help create new housing opportunities in these communities and will make each of these downtowns more desirable for living, shopping and investing.”

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718731636518.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy Kansas Department of Commerce" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy Kansas Department of Commerce</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. — Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced eight inaugural grant recipients of the Residential Opportunities on Main Street (ROOMS) program. A total of eight projects in Designated Kansas Main Street communities are receiving $50,000 each to create a total of 35 new residential units in the upper floors of downtown buildings.The Hutch Post area project is in Newton, where&nbsp;Newton Main Street plans a project creating eight new one- and two-bedroom units in the Voelker Building across from the old city hall.“There is a substantial amount of unused upper-floor space in downtown buildings throughout rural Kansas, and this is a unique opportunity to create additional housing units,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said.&nbsp;“Investing in rural downtown areas is critical for the quality of life in these communities, making them more appealing for current and future residents. With so many companies looking to locate or expand operations in rural Kansas, it is important that viable housing opportunities keep pace.”This is the first grant of its kind designed specifically for Designated Kansas Main Street communities. Applicants go through a competitive process that demonstrates their commitment and active intent to revitalize their downtown commercial districts. As Designated Main Street communities, each will receive a high level of technical assistance and training from both the state and national Main Street programs. Currently, there are 30 active Designated communities participating in the Kansas Main Street program.“We know that downtowns can play a role in helping solve the housing issues throughout Kansas, but the projects are very expensive,”&nbsp;Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell said.&nbsp;“These grants help create new housing opportunities in these communities and will make each of these downtowns more desirable for living, shopping and investing.”<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Newton wins ROOMS grant

The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms and their effects on young people's lives, similar to those now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cigarette-graphic-pictures-warning-labels-cancer-bb9395a53f3e414decafc9efd0df52ab">mandatory on cigarette boxes</a>.

In a Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/opinion/social-media-health-warning.html">opinion piece</a>&nbsp;in the The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy said that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people.

“It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe,” Murthy said. “Evidence from tobacco studies show that warning labels can increase awareness and change behavior.”

Murthy said that the use of just a warning label wouldn't make social media safe for young people, but would be a part of the steps needed.

Social media use is prevalent among young people, with up to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/">95% of youth</a>&nbsp;ages 13 to 17 saying that they use a social media platform, and more than a third saying that they use social media “almost constantly,” according to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center.

“Social media today is like tobacco decades ago: It’s a product whose business model depends on addicting kids. And as with cigarettes, a surgeon general’s warning label is a critical step toward mitigating the threat to children," Josh Golin, executive director at Fairplay, an organization that is dedicated to ending marketing to children, said in a statement.

Actually getting the labels on social media platforms would take congressional action — and it's not clear how quickly that might happen, even with apparent bipartisan unity around child safety online. Lawmakers have held multiple congressional hearings on child online safety and there's legislation in the works. Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding.

“I am hoping that would be combined with a lot of other work that Congress has been trying to do to improve the safety and design and privacy of social media products,” said Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the University of Michigan and leader at the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Those those two things would have to go hand in hand, because there’s so much that Congress can do to follow the steps of the United Kingdom and the European Union in passing laws that take into account what kids need when they’re interacting with digital products.”

Even with Congressional approval, warning labels would likely be challenged in the courts by tech companies.

“Putting a warning label on online speech isn’t just scientifically unsound, it’s at odds with the constitutional right to free speech,” said Adam Kovacevich, CEO of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. “It’s surprising to see the U.S. Surgeon General attacking social media when teens themselves say it provides an important outlet for social connection.”

Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/surgeon-general-kids-social-media-teens-tiktok-instagram-443530d9baa3f91386bf9fbfb313bbaf">Murthy</a>&nbsp;warned that there wasn't enough evidence to show that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf">social media</a>&nbsp;is safe for children and teens. He said at the time that policymakers needed to address the harms of social media the same way they regulate things like car seats, baby formula, medication and other products children use.

To comply with federal regulation, social media companies already ban kids under 13 from signing up for their platforms — but children have been shown to easily get around the bans, both with and without their parents’ consent.

Other measures social platforms have taken to address concerns about children’s mental health can also be easily circumvented. For instance, TikTok introduced a default&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-minors-social-media-china-time-limit-f735bd496ea3513abfc6480e5637abd8">60-minute time limit</a>&nbsp;for users under 18. But once the limit is reached, minors can simply enter a passcode to keep watching.

Murthy believes the impact of social media on young people should be a more pressing concern.

"Why is it that we have failed to respond to the harms of social media when they are no less urgent or widespread than those posed by unsafe cars, planes or food? These harms are not a failure of willpower and parenting; they are the consequence of unleashing powerful technology without adequate safety measures, transparency or accountability,” he wrote.

In January the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-tiktok-snap-discord-zuckerberg-testify-senate-00754a6bea92aaad62585ed55f219932">testify</a>&nbsp;as parents worry that they're not doing enough to protect young people. The executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they’ve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.

Murthy said Monday that Congress needs to implement legislation that will protect young people from online harassment, abuse and exploitation and from exposure to extreme violence and sexual content.

“The measures should prevent platforms from collecting sensitive data from children and should restrict the use of features like push notifications, autoplay and infinite scroll, which prey on developing brains and contribute to excessive use,” Murthy wrote.

Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal supported Murthy's message Monday.

“We are pleased that the Surgeon General — America’s top doctor — continues to bring attention to the harmful impact that social media has on our children,” the senators said in a prepared statement.

The surgeon general is also recommending that companies be required to share all their data on health effects with independent scientists and the public, which they currently don't do, and allow independent safety audits.

Murthy said schools and parents also need to participate in providing phone-free times and that doctors, nurses and other clinicians should help guide families toward safer practices.

While Murthy pushes for more to be done about social media in the United States, the European Union enacted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-police-social-media-reform-52744e1d0f5b93a426f966138f2ccb52">groundbreaking new digital rules</a>&nbsp;last year. The Digital Services Act is part of a suite of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-act-artificial-intelligence-europe-regulation-94e2b38703b38fdbfabc9580f845ef9a">tech-focused regulations</a>&nbsp;crafted by the 27-nation bloc — long a global leader in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-europe-rules-906fc89d2561b200fa6eb40a06b946a5">cracking down on tech giants</a>.

The DSA is designed to keep users safe online and make it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twitter-russia-china-elon-musk-ukraine-2eedeabf7d555dc1d0a68b3724cfdd55">much harder to spread content</a>&nbsp;that’s either illegal, like hate speech or child sexual abuse, or violates a platform’s terms of service. It also looks to protect citizens' fundamental rights such as privacy and free speech.

Officials have warned tech companies that violations could bring fines worth up to 6% of their global revenue — which could amount to billions — or even a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence-rules-europe-1a249ab94593356940d8f56d15e8a019">ban from the EU</a>.

Murthy's focus is on teens and social media, but Radesky noted that adults could use a warning label too.

“What we’ve heard from teens is that they want their parents to be on social media less and on their devices less,” she said. “That's another behavior change we hope that parents will reflect on and think about — ‘where could I cut down or create some boundaries to create more family time or sleep time?’ — and not only hyper-focusing on what teens are doing, but really what all of us as a society are doing in terms of healthy relationships with technology."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718626581644.png" alt="U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in a photo from his social media page" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in a photo from his social media page</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718641231541.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms and their effects on young people's lives, similar to those now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cigarette-graphic-pictures-warning-labels-cancer-bb9395a53f3e414decafc9efd0df52ab">mandatory on cigarette boxes</a>.In a Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/opinion/social-media-health-warning.html">opinion piece</a>&nbsp;in the The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy said that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people.“It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe,” Murthy said. “Evidence from tobacco studies show that warning labels can increase awareness and change behavior.”Murthy said that the use of just a warning label wouldn't make social media safe for young people, but would be a part of the steps needed.Social media use is prevalent among young people, with up to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/">95% of youth</a>&nbsp;ages 13 to 17 saying that they use a social media platform, and more than a third saying that they use social media “almost constantly,” according to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center.“Social media today is like tobacco decades ago: It’s a product whose business model depends on addicting kids. And as with cigarettes, a surgeon general’s warning label is a critical step toward mitigating the threat to children," Josh Golin, executive director at Fairplay, an organization that is dedicated to ending marketing to children, said in a statement.Actually getting the labels on social media platforms would take congressional action — and it's not clear how quickly that might happen, even with apparent bipartisan unity around child safety online. Lawmakers have held multiple congressional hearings on child online safety and there's legislation in the works. Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding.“I am hoping that would be combined with a lot of other work that Congress has been trying to do to improve the safety and design and privacy of social media products,” said Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the University of Michigan and leader at the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Those those two things would have to go hand in hand, because there’s so much that Congress can do to follow the steps of the United Kingdom and the European Union in passing laws that take into account what kids need when they’re interacting with digital products.”Even with Congressional approval, warning labels would likely be challenged in the courts by tech companies.“Putting a warning label on online speech isn’t just scientifically unsound, it’s at odds with the constitutional right to free speech,” said Adam Kovacevich, CEO of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. “It’s surprising to see the U.S. Surgeon General attacking social media when teens themselves say it provides an important outlet for social connection.”Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/surgeon-general-kids-social-media-teens-tiktok-instagram-443530d9baa3f91386bf9fbfb313bbaf">Murthy</a>&nbsp;warned that there wasn't enough evidence to show that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf">social media</a>&nbsp;is safe for children and teens. He said at the time that policymakers needed to address the harms of social media the same way they regulate things like car seats, baby formula, medication and other products children use.To comply with federal regulation, social media companies already ban kids under 13 from signing up for their platforms — but children have been shown to easily get around the bans, both with and without their parents’ consent.Other measures social platforms have taken to address concerns about children’s mental health can also be easily circumvented. For instance, TikTok introduced a default&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-minors-social-media-china-time-limit-f735bd496ea3513abfc6480e5637abd8">60-minute time limit</a>&nbsp;for users under 18. But once the limit is reached, minors can simply enter a passcode to keep watching.Murthy believes the impact of social media on young people should be a more pressing concern."Why is it that we have failed to respond to the harms of social media when they are no less urgent or widespread than those posed by unsafe cars, planes or food? These harms are not a failure of willpower and parenting; they are the consequence of unleashing powerful technology without adequate safety measures, transparency or accountability,” he wrote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578090484280.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In January the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-tiktok-snap-discord-zuckerberg-testify-senate-00754a6bea92aaad62585ed55f219932">testify</a>&nbsp;as parents worry that they're not doing enough to protect young people. The executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they’ve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.Murthy said Monday that Congress needs to implement legislation that will protect young people from online harassment, abuse and exploitation and from exposure to extreme violence and sexual content.“The measures should prevent platforms from collecting sensitive data from children and should restrict the use of features like push notifications, autoplay and infinite scroll, which prey on developing brains and contribute to excessive use,” Murthy wrote.Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal supported Murthy's message Monday.“We are pleased that the Surgeon General — America’s top doctor — continues to bring attention to the harmful impact that social media has on our children,” the senators said in a prepared statement.The surgeon general is also recommending that companies be required to share all their data on health effects with independent scientists and the public, which they currently don't do, and allow independent safety audits.Murthy said schools and parents also need to participate in providing phone-free times and that doctors, nurses and other clinicians should help guide families toward safer practices.While Murthy pushes for more to be done about social media in the United States, the European Union enacted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-police-social-media-reform-52744e1d0f5b93a426f966138f2ccb52">groundbreaking new digital rules</a>&nbsp;last year. The Digital Services Act is part of a suite of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-act-artificial-intelligence-europe-regulation-94e2b38703b38fdbfabc9580f845ef9a">tech-focused regulations</a>&nbsp;crafted by the 27-nation bloc — long a global leader in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-europe-rules-906fc89d2561b200fa6eb40a06b946a5">cracking down on tech giants</a>.The DSA is designed to keep users safe online and make it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twitter-russia-china-elon-musk-ukraine-2eedeabf7d555dc1d0a68b3724cfdd55">much harder to spread content</a>&nbsp;that’s either illegal, like hate speech or child sexual abuse, or violates a platform’s terms of service. It also looks to protect citizens' fundamental rights such as privacy and free speech.Officials have warned tech companies that violations could bring fines worth up to 6% of their global revenue — which could amount to billions — or even a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence-rules-europe-1a249ab94593356940d8f56d15e8a019">ban from the EU</a>.Murthy's focus is on teens and social media, but Radesky noted that adults could use a warning label too.“What we’ve heard from teens is that they want their parents to be on social media less and on their devices less,” she said. “That's another behavior change we hope that parents will reflect on and think about — ‘where could I cut down or create some boundaries to create more family time or sleep time?’ — and not only hyper-focusing on what teens are doing, but really what all of us as a society are doing in terms of healthy relationships with technology."

Surgeon General demands warning label on social media apps

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Tony Helfrich started at Hutch Rec as the Director of Nature Education &amp; Outdoor Recreation at Dillon Nature Center on May 28. 

He comes to Hutch Rec with past parks and recreation experience, most recently as the Director of Wellness &amp; Adventure Programs at McPherson College. He also has a background in fitness administration as the director of a gym and aquatic facility. Helfrich was born and raised in Hutchinson and attended Kansas State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.

In his role at Hutch Rec, Helfrich is responsible for operations at Dillon Nature Center, including the facility and grounds as well as program development, namely in nature education and outdoor recreation. He offices at Dillon Nature Center, located at 3002 E. 30th Avenue in Hutchinson.

“I look forward to the next chapter of my career serving Hutch Rec and Dillon Nature Center. Four generations of my family have enjoyed creating memories at Dillon Nature Center and I have a deep respect for its history,” Helfrich says. “My vision is to honor the past by continuing to progress our mission of outdoor recreation and nature education into the future through increased programming, facility improvements, on-site engagement, and outreach efforts into our community.”

Jordan Gray started at Hutch Rec as the agency’s Sports Coordinator on May 6. He comes to Hutch Rec after working at the Hutchinson-Reno County YMCA in youth sports.

In his role at Hutch Rec, Gray is responsible for the coordination and implementation of youth and adult sports programs, including recreational and competitive leagues, tournaments, and non-traditional sports. He offices out of Hutch Rec Downtown, 17 E. 1st Ave and the Hutchinson Sports Arena. Gray graduated with an associate’s degree from Hutchinson Community College and is currently studying sports management at Wichita State University, where he will graduate with his bachelor’s degree in Spring 2025.

“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to dive into the exciting journey ahead at Hutch Rec,” Gray says. “I’m ready to take our community’s love for sports to the next level, combining my local roots with education to serve the community.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670462885414.jpeg" alt="Hutch Rec-Judd Weil" />
 <figcaption>Hutch Rec-Judd Weil</figcaption>
 </figure>AMY CONKLING Hutch RecHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Tony Helfrich started at Hutch Rec as the Director of Nature Education &amp; Outdoor Recreation at Dillon Nature Center on May 28. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718644948347.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>He comes to Hutch Rec with past parks and recreation experience, most recently as the Director of Wellness &amp; Adventure Programs at McPherson College. He also has a background in fitness administration as the director of a gym and aquatic facility. Helfrich was born and raised in Hutchinson and attended Kansas State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.In his role at Hutch Rec, Helfrich is responsible for operations at Dillon Nature Center, including the facility and grounds as well as program development, namely in nature education and outdoor recreation. He offices at Dillon Nature Center, located at 3002 E. 30th Avenue in Hutchinson.“I look forward to the next chapter of my career serving Hutch Rec and Dillon Nature Center. Four generations of my family have enjoyed creating memories at Dillon Nature Center and I have a deep respect for its history,” Helfrich says. “My vision is to honor the past by continuing to progress our mission of outdoor recreation and nature education into the future through increased programming, facility improvements, on-site engagement, and outreach efforts into our community.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718644981866.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jordan Gray started at Hutch Rec as the agency’s Sports Coordinator on May 6. He comes to Hutch Rec after working at the Hutchinson-Reno County YMCA in youth sports.In his role at Hutch Rec, Gray is responsible for the coordination and implementation of youth and adult sports programs, including recreational and competitive leagues, tournaments, and non-traditional sports. He offices out of Hutch Rec Downtown, 17 E. 1st Ave and the Hutchinson Sports Arena. Gray graduated with an associate’s degree from Hutchinson Community College and is currently studying sports management at Wichita State University, where he will graduate with his bachelor’s degree in Spring 2025.“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to dive into the exciting journey ahead at Hutch Rec,” Gray says. “I’m ready to take our community’s love for sports to the next level, combining my local roots with education to serve the community.”<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hutch Rec announces hiring of two new staff members

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As the U.S. dairy industry confronts a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-avian-flu-chickens-eggs-03793b5b1cb7429ce293e8577aef0358">bird flu outbreak</a>, with cases reported at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">dozens of farms</a>&nbsp;and the disease&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-cows-michigan-e409aa93e7fa8c637785048bc04dad47">spreading to people</a>, the egg industry could serve as an example of how to slow the disease but also shows how difficult it can be to eradicate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bird-flu">the virus</a>.

There have been earlier bird flu outbreaks in the U.S., but the current one started in February 2022 and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-iowa-how-many-chickens-6a8cd70e4293d0dee4fef6d0dcfbdce7">forced the slaughter</a>&nbsp;of nearly 100 million chickens and turkeys. Hot spots still occur, but their frequency has dropped in part because of biosecurity efforts at farms and a coordinated approach between companies and agricultural officials, experts say.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/avian-influenza-bird-flu-milk-h5n1-hpai-99ea2238ea2dfb5f97f559f770c5d06b">Dairy farmers</a>&nbsp;could try to implement similar safeguards, but the vast differences between the animals and the industries limit what lessons can be learned and applied.

How can a 1,500-pound cow and a 5-pound chicken have the same illness?

It's commonly called bird flu because the disease is largely spread by wild birds that can survive infections. Many mammals have caught the illness too, including sea lions and skunks.

Animals can be infected by eating an infected bird or by being exposed to environments where the virus is present. That said, there are big differences in how cows and chickens have fared after getting infected.

Bird flu is typically fatal to chickens and turkeys within days of an infection, leading to immediate mass killings of birds. That's not true for cows.

Dairies in several states have reported having to kill infected animals because symptoms continued to linger and their milk production didn't recover, but that’s not the norm, said Russ Daly, an extension veterinarian at South Dakota State University.

He said it appears that bird flu isn't usually fatal to cows but that an infected animal can be more vulnerable to other ailments typically founds in dairies, such as bacterial pneumonia and udder infections.

What has the egg industry done to protect chickens?

To prevent disease from spreading, egg producers require workers to shower and change into clean clothes before they enter a barn and shower again when they leave. They also frequently wash trucks and spray tires with solutions to kill off virus remnants.

Many egg operations even use lasers and install special fencing to discourage wild birds from stopping by for a visit.

“Gone is the day of the scarecrow,” said Emily Metz, president of the American Egg Board.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-iowa-animals-d76524dace2b34e2cb0dc25925cead65">Without these efforts</a>, the current outbreak would be much worse, said Jada Thompson, a University of Arkansas agriculture business professor. Still, maintaining such vigilance is difficult, even if the cost of allowing disease into an operation is so high, she said.

Chickens raised for meat, known as broilers, also have been infected with bird flu but such cases are less common. In part, that’s because broiler chickens are killed when they’re only 6 to 8 weeks old, so they have less time to get infected.

Can the same be done to protect cows and dairy workers?

Dairies can certainly reduce the spread of disease by limiting access to barns, so people and equipment don't bring in the virus from elsewhere. Workers could also wear eye protection, aprons and gloves to try to protect themselves, but there's no way around it: Big animals are messy.

“The parlor is a warm, humid place with lots of liquid flying around, whether it's urine, feces, water because they're spraying off areas. Cows might kick off a milk machine so you get milk splatter,” said Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Laboratory.

Dairies also don't have time or staff to disinfect milking equipment between animals, so equipment could become contaminated.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-h5n1-6398d2eda26eb41797ee2700cf9d036b">Pasteurization</a>&nbsp;kills bacteria and viruses in milk, making it safe for people to drink.

Poulsen said the dairy industry could follow a path laid by the poultry and pork industries and establish more formal, better funded research organizations so it could respond more quickly to problems like bird flu — or avoid them altogether.

The dairy industry also could tamp down disease spread by limiting the movement of lactating cows between states, Poulsen said.

Are there new efforts to fight the virus?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will soon begin testing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-mrna-vaccine-ab3cf2df5ef7dca8f56d279205a97ff7">a vaccine</a>&nbsp;that could be given to calves, offering the animals protection and also reducing the chance of worker illnesses.

The egg industry also is hopeful researchers can develop vaccines for poultry that could be quick, inexpensive and effective. Workers can't give shots to the millions of hens that might need a vaccine, but industry officials hope a vaccine could be distributed in the water the birds drink, in the pellets they eat or even before birds hatch from their eggs.

Efforts to develop vaccines have become even more important now that the disease has spread to dairy cows and even a few people, Thompson said.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As the U.S. dairy industry confronts a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-avian-flu-chickens-eggs-03793b5b1cb7429ce293e8577aef0358">bird flu outbreak</a>, with cases reported at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">dozens of farms</a>&nbsp;and the disease&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-cows-michigan-e409aa93e7fa8c637785048bc04dad47">spreading to people</a>, the egg industry could serve as an example of how to slow the disease but also shows how difficult it can be to eradicate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bird-flu">the virus</a>.There have been earlier bird flu outbreaks in the U.S., but the current one started in February 2022 and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-iowa-how-many-chickens-6a8cd70e4293d0dee4fef6d0dcfbdce7">forced the slaughter</a>&nbsp;of nearly 100 million chickens and turkeys. Hot spots still occur, but their frequency has dropped in part because of biosecurity efforts at farms and a coordinated approach between companies and agricultural officials, experts say.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/avian-influenza-bird-flu-milk-h5n1-hpai-99ea2238ea2dfb5f97f559f770c5d06b">Dairy farmers</a>&nbsp;could try to implement similar safeguards, but the vast differences between the animals and the industries limit what lessons can be learned and applied.<h2>How can a 1,500-pound cow and a 5-pound chicken have the same illness?</h2>It's commonly called bird flu because the disease is largely spread by wild birds that can survive infections. Many mammals have caught the illness too, including sea lions and skunks.Animals can be infected by eating an infected bird or by being exposed to environments where the virus is present. That said, there are big differences in how cows and chickens have fared after getting infected.Bird flu is typically fatal to chickens and turkeys within days of an infection, leading to immediate mass killings of birds. That's not true for cows.Dairies in several states have reported having to kill infected animals because symptoms continued to linger and their milk production didn't recover, but that’s not the norm, said Russ Daly, an extension veterinarian at South Dakota State University.He said it appears that bird flu isn't usually fatal to cows but that an infected animal can be more vulnerable to other ailments typically founds in dairies, such as bacterial pneumonia and udder infections.<h2>What has the egg industry done to protect chickens?</h2>Egg operators have become clean freaks.To prevent disease from spreading, egg producers require workers to shower and change into clean clothes before they enter a barn and shower again when they leave. They also frequently wash trucks and spray tires with solutions to kill off virus remnants.Many egg operations even use lasers and install special fencing to discourage wild birds from stopping by for a visit.“Gone is the day of the scarecrow,” said Emily Metz, president of the American Egg Board.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-iowa-animals-d76524dace2b34e2cb0dc25925cead65">Without these efforts</a>, the current outbreak would be much worse, said Jada Thompson, a University of Arkansas agriculture business professor. Still, maintaining such vigilance is difficult, even if the cost of allowing disease into an operation is so high, she said.Chickens raised for meat, known as broilers, also have been infected with bird flu but such cases are less common. In part, that’s because broiler chickens are killed when they’re only 6 to 8 weeks old, so they have less time to get infected.<h2>Can the same be done to protect cows and dairy workers?</h2>Yes and no.Dairies can certainly reduce the spread of disease by limiting access to barns, so people and equipment don't bring in the virus from elsewhere. Workers could also wear eye protection, aprons and gloves to try to protect themselves, but there's no way around it: Big animals are messy.“The parlor is a warm, humid place with lots of liquid flying around, whether it's urine, feces, water because they're spraying off areas. Cows might kick off a milk machine so you get milk splatter,” said Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Laboratory.Dairies also don't have time or staff to disinfect milking equipment between animals, so equipment could become contaminated.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-h5n1-6398d2eda26eb41797ee2700cf9d036b">Pasteurization</a>&nbsp;kills bacteria and viruses in milk, making it safe for people to drink.Poulsen said the dairy industry could follow a path laid by the poultry and pork industries and establish more formal, better funded research organizations so it could respond more quickly to problems like bird flu — or avoid them altogether.The dairy industry also could tamp down disease spread by limiting the movement of lactating cows between states, Poulsen said.<h2>Are there new efforts to fight the virus?</h2>The U.S. Department of Agriculture will soon begin testing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-mrna-vaccine-ab3cf2df5ef7dca8f56d279205a97ff7">a vaccine</a>&nbsp;that could be given to calves, offering the animals protection and also reducing the chance of worker illnesses.The egg industry also is hopeful researchers can develop vaccines for poultry that could be quick, inexpensive and effective. Workers can't give shots to the millions of hens that might need a vaccine, but industry officials hope a vaccine could be distributed in the water the birds drink, in the pellets they eat or even before birds hatch from their eggs.Efforts to develop vaccines have become even more important now that the disease has spread to dairy cows and even a few people, Thompson said.

Deadly bird flu: How can a cow and a chicken have the same illness?

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 170-year-old rivalry is flaring up as Kansas lawmakers try to snatch&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2024-score-chiefs-49ers-49b5dca51c05ab0f259cef0d7da76c2d">the Super Bowl champion</a>&nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs away from Missouri even though economists long ago concluded subsidizing pro sports isn't worth the cost.

The Kansas Legislature's top leaders endorsed helping the Chiefs and professional baseball's Kansas City Royals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-new-stadium-proposal-49fbfcc162dfbcf3790aa14c2763fd97">finance new stadiums</a>&nbsp;in Kansas ahead of a special session set to convene Tuesday. The plan would authorize state bonds for stadium construction and pay them off with revenues from sports betting, the Kansas Lottery and new tax dollars generated in and around the new venues.

The states' border runs through the metropolitan area of about 2.3 million people, and the teams would move only about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west.

Decades of research have concluded a pro sports franchise doesn't boost a local economy much, if any, because it mostly captures existing spending from other places in the same community. But for Kansas officials, spending would at least leave Missouri and come to Kansas, and one-upping Missouri has its own allure.

“I’ve wanted to see the Chiefs in Kansas my whole life, but I hope we can do it in a way that is enriching for these communities, rather than creating additional burdens for them," said Kansas state Rep. Jason Probst, a Democrat from central Kansas.

The rivalry between Kansas and Missouri can be traced as far back as the lead-up to the Civil War, before Kansas was even a state. People from Missouri came from the east,&nbsp;<a href="https://civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/border-ruffians">hoping in vain to create another slave state</a>&nbsp;like their own. Both sides looted, burned and killed across the border.

There also was a century-long sports rivalry between the University of Kansas and University of Missouri. And for years the two states burned through hundreds of millions of dollars to lure businesses to one side of the border or the other in the Kansas City area in the pursuit of jobs. They called an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/kansas-missouri-truce-over-jobs-conflict-appears-shaky-3edf5ce7015a44519ccd8b96c87511d0">uneasy truce</a>&nbsp;in 2019.

Missouri officials are pledging to be equally aggressive to keep the Royals and Chiefs, and not only because they view them as economic assets.

“They’re sources of great pride,” said Missouri state Rep. John Patterson, a suburban Kansas City Republican expected to be the next state House speaker.

Kansas legislators see the Chiefs and Royals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-stadium-dcb96d3d20aab5aaf589c9164a5e7d38">in play</a>&nbsp;because voters on the Missouri side&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212">refused in April</a>&nbsp;to extend a local sales tax for the upkeep of their side-by-side stadiums. They also argue that failing to take action risks having one or both teams leave the Kansas City area, though economists are skeptical that the threat is real.

While the lease for the two teams' stadium complex runs through January 2031, Kansas officials argue the teams must make decisions soon for new or renovated stadiums to be ready by then. They also are promising the Chiefs a stadium with a dome or retractable roof that can host Super Bowls, college basketball Final Fours and huge, indoor concerts.

“You’ve got this asset and all the businesses that move there as a result, or are created there,” said Kansas state Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican from the edge of his state’s Kansas City suburbs and a leader of the relocation effort. “You’ll get commerce out of that area every day.”

Roughly 60% of the area’s population lives in Missouri, but the Kansas side is growing more quickly.

Despite the legislative push in Kansas, Missouri lawmakers aren't rushing to propose alternatives. Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson told reporters Thursday that his state is “not just going to roll over" but also said, “We're just in the first quarter” of the contest.

Both states hold primary elections on Aug. 3, with most legislative seats on the ballot this year. The April vote in Missouri on the local stadium tax suggested subsidizing pro sports teams could be a political loser in that state, particularly with the conservative-leaning electorate in GOP primaries.

“In Missouri, the Republican Party used to be led by a business wing that might be in favor of this sort of thing, but in the Trump era, that’s not the case,” said David Kimball, a University of Missouri-St. Louis political science professor. “The more conservative, the more Trump-oriented wing, they’re not big supporters of spending taxpayer money on much of anything.”

Kansas Republicans face pressure on the right to avoid having the state pick economic winners and losers. For Probst, the Democrat, the concern is using government "to make rich people richer,” meaning team owners.

Economists have studied pro sports teams and subsidies for stadiums since at least the 1980s. J.C. Bradbury, an economics and finance professor from Kennesaw State University in Georgia, said studies show subsidizing stadiums is "a terrible channel for economic growth.”

While supporters of the Kansas effort have cited a report indicating large, positive economic implications, Bradbury said “phony” reports are a staple of stadium campaigns.

“Stadiums are poor public investment, and I would say it’s a near unanimous consensus,” said Bradbury, who has reviewed studies and done them himself.

Yet more than 30 lobbyists have registered to push for a stadium-financing plan from Kansas lawmakers, and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce's CEO has called this a “once in a lifetime opportunity" to attract the Chiefs.

The Chiefs not only have won three Super Bowl titles in five years, but they have an especially strong fanbase that has expanded because of tight end Travis Kelce’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-parade-super-bowl-taylor-swift-df383f3a00cc813dd0d852058a41e5b2">romance</a>&nbsp;with pop star Taylor Swift.

The National Football League is attractive to host cities because franchises are valued in the billions and wealthy owners and celebrity players command a media spotlight, said Judith Grant Long, an associate professor of sports management and urban planning at the University of Michigan and a director of its center on sports venues.

“All of these come together in a potent brew for politicians, civic officials and local business interests hoping to capitalize on its influence,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707336003255.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 170-year-old rivalry is flaring up as Kansas lawmakers try to snatch&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2024-score-chiefs-49ers-49b5dca51c05ab0f259cef0d7da76c2d">the Super Bowl champion</a>&nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs away from Missouri even though economists long ago concluded subsidizing pro sports isn't worth the cost.The Kansas Legislature's top leaders endorsed helping the Chiefs and professional baseball's Kansas City Royals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-new-stadium-proposal-49fbfcc162dfbcf3790aa14c2763fd97">finance new stadiums</a>&nbsp;in Kansas ahead of a special session set to convene Tuesday. The plan would authorize state bonds for stadium construction and pay them off with revenues from sports betting, the Kansas Lottery and new tax dollars generated in and around the new venues.The states' border runs through the metropolitan area of about 2.3 million people, and the teams would move only about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west.Decades of research have concluded a pro sports franchise doesn't boost a local economy much, if any, because it mostly captures existing spending from other places in the same community. But for Kansas officials, spending would at least leave Missouri and come to Kansas, and one-upping Missouri has its own allure.“I’ve wanted to see the Chiefs in Kansas my whole life, but I hope we can do it in a way that is enriching for these communities, rather than creating additional burdens for them," said Kansas state Rep. Jason Probst, a Democrat from central Kansas.The rivalry between Kansas and Missouri can be traced as far back as the lead-up to the Civil War, before Kansas was even a state. People from Missouri came from the east,&nbsp;<a href="https://civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/border-ruffians">hoping in vain to create another slave state</a>&nbsp;like their own. Both sides looted, burned and killed across the border.There also was a century-long sports rivalry between the University of Kansas and University of Missouri. And for years the two states burned through hundreds of millions of dollars to lure businesses to one side of the border or the other in the Kansas City area in the pursuit of jobs. They called an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/kansas-missouri-truce-over-jobs-conflict-appears-shaky-3edf5ce7015a44519ccd8b96c87511d0">uneasy truce</a>&nbsp;in 2019.Missouri officials are pledging to be equally aggressive to keep the Royals and Chiefs, and not only because they view them as economic assets.“They’re sources of great pride,” said Missouri state Rep. John Patterson, a suburban Kansas City Republican expected to be the next state House speaker.Kansas legislators see the Chiefs and Royals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-stadium-dcb96d3d20aab5aaf589c9164a5e7d38">in play</a>&nbsp;because voters on the Missouri side&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212">refused in April</a>&nbsp;to extend a local sales tax for the upkeep of their side-by-side stadiums. They also argue that failing to take action risks having one or both teams leave the Kansas City area, though economists are skeptical that the threat is real.While the lease for the two teams' stadium complex runs through January 2031, Kansas officials argue the teams must make decisions soon for new or renovated stadiums to be ready by then. They also are promising the Chiefs a stadium with a dome or retractable roof that can host Super Bowls, college basketball Final Fours and huge, indoor concerts.“You’ve got this asset and all the businesses that move there as a result, or are created there,” said Kansas state Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican from the edge of his state’s Kansas City suburbs and a leader of the relocation effort. “You’ll get commerce out of that area every day.”Roughly 60% of the area’s population lives in Missouri, but the Kansas side is growing more quickly.Despite the legislative push in Kansas, Missouri lawmakers aren't rushing to propose alternatives. Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson told reporters Thursday that his state is “not just going to roll over" but also said, “We're just in the first quarter” of the contest.Both states hold primary elections on Aug. 3, with most legislative seats on the ballot this year. The April vote in Missouri on the local stadium tax suggested subsidizing pro sports teams could be a political loser in that state, particularly with the conservative-leaning electorate in GOP primaries.“In Missouri, the Republican Party used to be led by a business wing that might be in favor of this sort of thing, but in the Trump era, that’s not the case,” said David Kimball, a University of Missouri-St. Louis political science professor. “The more conservative, the more Trump-oriented wing, they’re not big supporters of spending taxpayer money on much of anything.”Kansas Republicans face pressure on the right to avoid having the state pick economic winners and losers. For Probst, the Democrat, the concern is using government "to make rich people richer,” meaning team owners.Economists have studied pro sports teams and subsidies for stadiums since at least the 1980s. J.C. Bradbury, an economics and finance professor from Kennesaw State University in Georgia, said studies show subsidizing stadiums is "a terrible channel for economic growth.”While supporters of the Kansas effort have cited a report indicating large, positive economic implications, Bradbury said “phony” reports are a staple of stadium campaigns.“Stadiums are poor public investment, and I would say it’s a near unanimous consensus,” said Bradbury, who has reviewed studies and done them himself.Yet more than 30 lobbyists have registered to push for a stadium-financing plan from Kansas lawmakers, and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce's CEO has called this a “once in a lifetime opportunity" to attract the Chiefs.The Chiefs not only have won three Super Bowl titles in five years, but they have an especially strong fanbase that has expanded because of tight end Travis Kelce’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-parade-super-bowl-taylor-swift-df383f3a00cc813dd0d852058a41e5b2">romance</a>&nbsp;with pop star Taylor Swift.The National Football League is attractive to host cities because franchises are valued in the billions and wealthy owners and celebrity players command a media spotlight, said Judith Grant Long, an associate professor of sports management and urban planning at the University of Michigan and a director of its center on sports venues.“All of these come together in a potent brew for politicians, civic officials and local business interests hoping to capitalize on its influence,” she said.

Kan. lawmakers poised to lure Chiefs from Missouri, despite economists' concerns

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — As the dust settles on the state’s bumpy large-scale review of Medicaid eligibility, numbers show approximately 47% of Kansans kicked off of state health insurance coverage are 18 or younger.

Heather Braum, senior policy adviser with Kansas Action for Children, said health insurance gaps could lead to long-term damaging effects.

“Even short gaps in coverage cause children to miss vital prescriptions or not be able to see a doctor when they are sick,” Braum said. “These data indicate that thousands of Kansas children are likely going without the protection that health coverage provides, which will lead to poorer health in the short and long term while their families are exposed to high medical costs and medical debt. Health insurance coverage and access during childhood can change the trajectory of a child’s life, for better or worse.”

Of the 75,532 Kansans who lost health care coverage, 24,673 were between the ages of 0-12. Another 10,632 were between the ages of 13-18, according to the latest data.

“Why are these numbers so high?” Braum said. “Because children depend on their parents to turn in their renewal paperwork, and many factors can prevent that paperwork from being returned at all or in a timely fashion, some completely out of a family’s control. The mail system could hiccup on either end, incomplete paperwork could be returned and families never learn more information is needed.”

Braum pointed to early disorganization in the process.&nbsp;The state started the Medicaid review prograss, called unwinding, in&nbsp;April 2023 to determine who was eligible for state health coverage after pandemic-era federal protections ended.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal “continuous coverage” provisions meant Medicaid administrators couldn’t end health care eligibility unless the person in question moved away, died or asked to end coverage. With this stipulation, participation in KanCare increased from 410,000 to 540,000 people during the pandemic.

The early&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/29/state-official-on-kansas-medicaid-unwinding-we-probably-couldve-done-a-better-job/">months of Kansas’ unwinding process</a>, overseen by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,&nbsp;were marked by confusion over signatures, slow mail delivery, and a lack of clear communication from the state about what was needed for the renewal process.

The KDHE help line had more than 37,000 calls in May and June of 2023 as Kansans sought information. Some Medicaid renewal notices sent through the U.S. Postal Service took up to 10 days to reach eligible Kansas, and about an estimated 10 days for the return&nbsp;— causing some to miss the renewal deadline.

As unwinding continued, KDHE added more staff and resources to smooth over the process, but at the end of unwinding, completed May 31, thousands of Kansans still need to reapply for coverage, currently living without health insurance until reinstatement.

Extensive data on county-by-county loss of coverage can be found through the Kansas Health Institute, which provides state data through an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.khi.org/articles/kancare-unwinding-by-age-group-and-county-as-of-april-30-2024/">interactive map</a>.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kancare.ks.gov/about-kancare/unwinding/unwinding-data">most recent data</a>&nbsp;shows 318,791 people in the state will keep their coverage. Another 75,420 Kansans will need to reapply because they missed the reinstatement window.

Braum urged more KDHE outreach and education, especially to families stuck in the reinstatement window.

Across the country, more than 20 million people have been removed from services since the start of Medicaid unwinding, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/report-section/medicaid-enrollment-and-unwinding-tracker-overview/">KFF state tracking</a>. The health research institute reported the majority of people removed from services&nbsp;—&nbsp;69% across all states with available data&nbsp;—had their coverage terminated for procedural reasons, such as failure to complete the renewal process, or failure to turn in a renewal packet within the mandated time frame.&nbsp;

“High procedural disenrollment rates are concerning because many people who are disenrolled for these paperwork reasons may still be eligible for Medicaid coverage,” the report states.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy analysis of the most recent unwinding data estimates 5.13 million children have<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/subtopic/unwinding-phe/">&nbsp;lost Medicaid coverage</a>&nbsp;so far.

Alliance for a Healthy Kansas Executive Director April Holman said the organization was “deeply concerned” over the local loss of coverage.&nbsp;

“Nearly half of those who lost their Medicaid coverage were children, through no fault of their own,” Holman said. “Tens of thousands of Kansans who relied on Medicaid coverage as a lifeline now face everyday health struggles uninsured. All it takes is one accident or illness to put these families in financial jeopardy, where many might feel like they need to choose between seeing a doctor or paying for food, rent, or other necessities. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

Holman advocated for Medicaid expansion, which would expand state health insurance coverage for lower-income families. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government covers 90% of the extra cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to those at 138% of the federal poverty rate and below. Medicaid expansion would also unlock $700 million in annual federal funding.

Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated Legislature held hearings on Medicaid expansion for the first time in four years during the 2024 legislative session, following intense lobbying by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and advocacy groups. Due to top Republican legislative leadership opposition, the bill died in committee.&nbsp;

Holman said Medicaid expansion would have helped more Kansans retain health insurance access during unwinding.&nbsp;

“If we had already expanded Medicaid, many of these Kansans would still have access to affordable health insurance,” Holman said. “More parents would be eligible for coverage, and their children would be more likely to also be enrolled in coverage. Kansas lawmakers should make expanding Medicaid their top priority.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718390947374.png" alt="Alliance for a Healthy Kansas Executive Director April Holman said Medicaid expansion would have resulted in less Kansans losing access to state health insurance during the unwinding process. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Alliance for a Healthy Kansas Executive Director April Holman said Medicaid expansion would have resulted in less Kansans losing access to state health insurance during the unwinding process. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — As the dust settles on the state’s bumpy large-scale review of Medicaid eligibility, numbers show approximately 47% of Kansans kicked off of state health insurance coverage are 18 or younger.Heather Braum, senior policy adviser with Kansas Action for Children, said health insurance gaps could lead to long-term damaging effects.“Even short gaps in coverage cause children to miss vital prescriptions or not be able to see a doctor when they are sick,” Braum said. “These data indicate that thousands of Kansas children are likely going without the protection that health coverage provides, which will lead to poorer health in the short and long term while their families are exposed to high medical costs and medical debt. Health insurance coverage and access during childhood can change the trajectory of a child’s life, for better or worse.”Of the 75,532 Kansans who lost health care coverage, 24,673 were between the ages of 0-12. Another 10,632 were between the ages of 13-18, according to the latest data.“Why are these numbers so high?” Braum said. “Because children depend on their parents to turn in their renewal paperwork, and many factors can prevent that paperwork from being returned at all or in a timely fashion, some completely out of a family’s control. The mail system could hiccup on either end, incomplete paperwork could be returned and families never learn more information is needed.”Braum pointed to early disorganization in the process.&nbsp;The state started the Medicaid review prograss, called unwinding, in&nbsp;April 2023 to determine who was eligible for state health coverage after pandemic-era federal protections ended.During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal “continuous coverage” provisions meant Medicaid administrators couldn’t end health care eligibility unless the person in question moved away, died or asked to end coverage. With this stipulation, participation in KanCare increased from 410,000 to 540,000 people during the pandemic.The early&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/29/state-official-on-kansas-medicaid-unwinding-we-probably-couldve-done-a-better-job/">months of Kansas’ unwinding process</a>, overseen by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,&nbsp;were marked by confusion over signatures, slow mail delivery, and a lack of clear communication from the state about what was needed for the renewal process.The KDHE help line had more than 37,000 calls in May and June of 2023 as Kansans sought information. Some Medicaid renewal notices sent through the U.S. Postal Service took up to 10 days to reach eligible Kansas, and about an estimated 10 days for the return&nbsp;— causing some to miss the renewal deadline.As unwinding continued, KDHE added more staff and resources to smooth over the process, but at the end of unwinding, completed May 31, thousands of Kansans still need to reapply for coverage, currently living without health insurance until reinstatement.Extensive data on county-by-county loss of coverage can be found through the Kansas Health Institute, which provides state data through an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.khi.org/articles/kancare-unwinding-by-age-group-and-county-as-of-april-30-2024/">interactive map</a>.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kancare.ks.gov/about-kancare/unwinding/unwinding-data">most recent data</a>&nbsp;shows 318,791 people in the state will keep their coverage. Another 75,420 Kansans will need to reapply because they missed the reinstatement window.Braum urged more KDHE outreach and education, especially to families stuck in the reinstatement window.Across the country, more than 20 million people have been removed from services since the start of Medicaid unwinding, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/report-section/medicaid-enrollment-and-unwinding-tracker-overview/">KFF state tracking</a>. The health research institute reported the majority of people removed from services&nbsp;—&nbsp;69% across all states with available data&nbsp;—had their coverage terminated for procedural reasons, such as failure to complete the renewal process, or failure to turn in a renewal packet within the mandated time frame.&nbsp;“High procedural disenrollment rates are concerning because many people who are disenrolled for these paperwork reasons may still be eligible for Medicaid coverage,” the report states.&nbsp;&nbsp;A Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy analysis of the most recent unwinding data estimates 5.13 million children have<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/subtopic/unwinding-phe/">&nbsp;lost Medicaid coverage</a>&nbsp;so far.Alliance for a Healthy Kansas Executive Director April Holman said the organization was “deeply concerned” over the local loss of coverage.&nbsp;“Nearly half of those who lost their Medicaid coverage were children, through no fault of their own,” Holman said. “Tens of thousands of Kansans who relied on Medicaid coverage as a lifeline now face everyday health struggles uninsured. All it takes is one accident or illness to put these families in financial jeopardy, where many might feel like they need to choose between seeing a doctor or paying for food, rent, or other necessities. It doesn’t have to be this way.”Holman advocated for Medicaid expansion, which would expand state health insurance coverage for lower-income families. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government covers 90% of the extra cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to those at 138% of the federal poverty rate and below. Medicaid expansion would also unlock $700 million in annual federal funding.Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated Legislature held hearings on Medicaid expansion for the first time in four years during the 2024 legislative session, following intense lobbying by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and advocacy groups. Due to top Republican legislative leadership opposition, the bill died in committee.&nbsp;Holman said Medicaid expansion would have helped more Kansans retain health insurance access during unwinding.&nbsp;“If we had already expanded Medicaid, many of these Kansans would still have access to affordable health insurance,” Holman said. “More parents would be eligible for coverage, and their children would be more likely to also be enrolled in coverage. Kansas lawmakers should make expanding Medicaid their top priority.”

24K Kansas children lose health insurance in Medicaid ‘unwinding’ review

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S.-built pier to bring food to Gaza is facing one of its most serious challenges yet — its humanitarian partner is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pier-aid-us-gaza-israel-pause-70283c86da47591cd5bc8b9c196d6dff">deciding if it can safely and ethically keep delivering supplies</a>&nbsp;arriving by the U.S. sea route to starving Palestinians.

The United Nations, the player with the widest reach delivering aid within Gaza, has paused its work with the pier after a June 8 operation by Israeli security forces that rescued four hostages and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-06-09-2024-61eb1be9a9d0cf2dbf250cd4a8ed4dbf">killed more than 270 Palestinians</a>. Adding to the troubles, two U.S. officials said Friday that the pier would be detached again because of rough seas to prevent it from breaking apart as it did in bad weather last month.

Rushing out a mortally wounded Israeli commando after the raid,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-hostages-casualties-1458f5a1dfe7bd4d908231bb7090a559">Israeli rescuers</a>&nbsp;opted against returning the way they came, across a land border, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters. Instead, they sped toward the beach and the site of the U.S. aid hub on Gaza’s coast, he said. An Israeli helicopter touched down near the U.S.-built pier and helped whisk away hostages and the commando, according to the U.S. and Israeli militaries.

For the U.N. and independent humanitarian groups, the event made real one of their main doubts about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-humanitarian-aid-us-pier-77d0cf1c1bd420042dc4cb6f4ad76ccb">U.S. sea route</a>: whether aid workers could cooperate with the U.S. military-backed, Israeli military-secured project without violating core humanitarian principles of neutrality and independence and without risking aid workers becoming seen as U.S. and Israeli allies — and, in turn, targets in their own right.

Israel and the U.S. deny that any aspect of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-us-pier-05-17-2024-336c810724d107a41bb6628c721aea7c">month-old U.S. pier</a>&nbsp;was used in the Israeli raid. They say an area near it was used to fly home the hostages.

The U.N. World Food Program, which works with the U.S. to transfer aid from the $230 million pier to warehouses and local aid teams for distribution within Gaza, suspended cooperation as it conducts a security review.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-pier-humanitarian-aid-gaza-israel-war-9fcba9b89df3bdfa3acf16f92565ad97">Aid has been piling up</a>&nbsp;on the beach since.

“You can be damn sure we are going to be very careful about what we assess and what we conclude,” U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said.

Griffiths told reporters at an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-06-11-2024-d3733d55c6a66222da1a4a051997094c">aid conference in Jordan</a>&nbsp;this week that determining that the Israeli raid improperly used either the beach or roads around the pier “would put at risk any future humanitarian engagement in that operation.”

The U.N. has to look at the facts as well as what the Palestinian public and militants believe about any U.S., pier or aid worker involvement in the raid, spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters in New York.

“Humanitarian aid must not be used and must not be perceived as taking any side in a conflict,” Haq said. “The safety of our humanitarian workers depends on all sides and the communities on the ground trusting their impartiality.”

Rumors have swirled on social media, deepening the danger to aid workers, humanitarian groups say.

“Whether or not we've seen the pier used for military purposes is almost irrelevant. Because the perception of people in Gaza, civilians and armed groups, is that humanitarian aid has been instrumentalized" by parties in the conflict, said Suze van Meegen, head of operations in Gaza for the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Oxfam International and some other aid organizations said they are waiting for answers from the U.S. government because it's responsible for the agreements with the U.N. and other humanitarian groups on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-us-pier-05-17-2024-336c810724d107a41bb6628c721aea7c">how the pier and aid deliveries function</a>.

Questions include whether the Israeli helicopters and security forces used what the U.S. had promised aid groups would be a no-go area for the Israeli military around the pier, said Scott Paul, an associate director at Oxfam.

The suspension of deliveries is only one of the problems that have hindered the pier, which President Joe Biden announced in March as an additional way to get aid to Palestinians. The U.S. has said the project was never a solution and have urged Israel to lift restrictions on aid shipments through land crossings as famine looms.

The first aid from the sea route rolled onto shore May 17, and work has been up and down since:

— May 18: Crowds overwhelmed aid trucks coming from the pier, stripping some of the trucks of their cargo.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-pier-gaza-famine-israel-1feae14dac670bb4de0467988799c5c6">The WFP suspended deliveries from the pier</a>&nbsp;for at least two days while it worked out alternate routes with the U.S. and Israel.

— May 24: A bit more than 1,000 metric tons of aid had been delivered to Gaza from the pier, and the U.S. Agency for International Development later said all of it was distributed within Gaza.

— May 25: High winds and heavy seas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-pier-damage-weather-seas-boats-f45634fb85e2ac6aec9b814c36ea3526">damaged the pier</a>&nbsp;and four U.S. Army vessels ran aground, injuring three service members, one critically. Crews towed away part of the floating dock in what became a two-week pause in operations.

— June 8: The U.S. military announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-pier-aid-palestinians-00e83d1b302a23b5920c72e859430c15">deliveries resumed</a>&nbsp;off the repaired and reinstalled dock. The Israeli military operation unfolded the same day.

— Sunday: World Food Program chief Cindy McCain announced a “pause” in cooperation with the U.S. pier, citing the previous day's “incident” and the rocketing of two WFP warehouses that injured a staffer.

— Friday: The pier will be detached&nbsp; to prevent damage during rough seas and allow the military to reattach it more quickly later, according to the U.S. Central Command.

The pier has brought to Gaza more than 2,500 metric tons (about 5.6 million pounds) of aid, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said. About 1,000 metric tons of that was brought by ship Tuesday and Wednesday — after the WFP pause — and is being stored on the beach awaiting distribution.

“The WFP, of course, is taking the security measures that they need to do, and the reviews that they need to do, in order to feel safe and secure and to operate within Gaza,” Singh said.

Now, the question is whether the U.N. will rejoin the effort.

For aid workers who generally work without weapons or armed guards, and for those they serve, “the best guarantee of our security is the acceptance of communities” that aid workers are neutral, said Paul, the Oxfam official.

Palestinians already harbored deep doubts about the pier given the lead role of the U.S., which sends weapons and other support to its ally Israel, said Yousef Munayyer, a senior fellow at Washington's Arab Center, an independent organization researching Israeli-Arab issues.

Distrustful Palestinians suffering in the Israel-Hamas war are being asked to take America at its word, and that’s a hard sell, said Munayyer, an American of Palestinian heritage.

“So you know, perception matters a lot,” he said. “And for the people who are literally putting their lives on the line to get humanitarian aid moving around a war zone, perception gets you in danger.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718410108692.png" alt="Due to expected high seas, the temporary pier will be removed from its anchored position in Gaza and towed back to Ashdod, Israel. The safety of our service members is a top priority and temporarily relocating the pier will prevent structural damage caused by the heightened sea state.Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Due to expected high seas, the temporary pier will be removed from its anchored position in Gaza and towed back to Ashdod, Israel. The safety of our service members is a top priority and temporarily relocating the pier will prevent structural damage caused by the heightened sea state.Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S.-built pier to bring food to Gaza is facing one of its most serious challenges yet — its humanitarian partner is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pier-aid-us-gaza-israel-pause-70283c86da47591cd5bc8b9c196d6dff">deciding if it can safely and ethically keep delivering supplies</a>&nbsp;arriving by the U.S. sea route to starving Palestinians.The United Nations, the player with the widest reach delivering aid within Gaza, has paused its work with the pier after a June 8 operation by Israeli security forces that rescued four hostages and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-06-09-2024-61eb1be9a9d0cf2dbf250cd4a8ed4dbf">killed more than 270 Palestinians</a>. Adding to the troubles, two U.S. officials said Friday that the pier would be detached again because of rough seas to prevent it from breaking apart as it did in bad weather last month.Rushing out a mortally wounded Israeli commando after the raid,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-hostages-casualties-1458f5a1dfe7bd4d908231bb7090a559">Israeli rescuers</a>&nbsp;opted against returning the way they came, across a land border, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters. Instead, they sped toward the beach and the site of the U.S. aid hub on Gaza’s coast, he said. An Israeli helicopter touched down near the U.S.-built pier and helped whisk away hostages and the commando, according to the U.S. and Israeli militaries.For the U.N. and independent humanitarian groups, the event made real one of their main doubts about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-humanitarian-aid-us-pier-77d0cf1c1bd420042dc4cb6f4ad76ccb">U.S. sea route</a>: whether aid workers could cooperate with the U.S. military-backed, Israeli military-secured project without violating core humanitarian principles of neutrality and independence and without risking aid workers becoming seen as U.S. and Israeli allies — and, in turn, targets in their own right.Israel and the U.S. deny that any aspect of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-us-pier-05-17-2024-336c810724d107a41bb6628c721aea7c">month-old U.S. pier</a>&nbsp;was used in the Israeli raid. They say an area near it was used to fly home the hostages.The U.N. World Food Program, which works with the U.S. to transfer aid from the $230 million pier to warehouses and local aid teams for distribution within Gaza, suspended cooperation as it conducts a security review.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-pier-humanitarian-aid-gaza-israel-war-9fcba9b89df3bdfa3acf16f92565ad97">Aid has been piling up</a>&nbsp;on the beach since.“You can be damn sure we are going to be very careful about what we assess and what we conclude,” U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said.Griffiths told reporters at an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-06-11-2024-d3733d55c6a66222da1a4a051997094c">aid conference in Jordan</a>&nbsp;this week that determining that the Israeli raid improperly used either the beach or roads around the pier “would put at risk any future humanitarian engagement in that operation.”The U.N. has to look at the facts as well as what the Palestinian public and militants believe about any U.S., pier or aid worker involvement in the raid, spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters in New York.“Humanitarian aid must not be used and must not be perceived as taking any side in a conflict,” Haq said. “The safety of our humanitarian workers depends on all sides and the communities on the ground trusting their impartiality.”Rumors have swirled on social media, deepening the danger to aid workers, humanitarian groups say.“Whether or not we've seen the pier used for military purposes is almost irrelevant. Because the perception of people in Gaza, civilians and armed groups, is that humanitarian aid has been instrumentalized" by parties in the conflict, said Suze van Meegen, head of operations in Gaza for the Norwegian Refugee Council.Oxfam International and some other aid organizations said they are waiting for answers from the U.S. government because it's responsible for the agreements with the U.N. and other humanitarian groups on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-us-pier-05-17-2024-336c810724d107a41bb6628c721aea7c">how the pier and aid deliveries function</a>.Questions include whether the Israeli helicopters and security forces used what the U.S. had promised aid groups would be a no-go area for the Israeli military around the pier, said Scott Paul, an associate director at Oxfam.The suspension of deliveries is only one of the problems that have hindered the pier, which President Joe Biden announced in March as an additional way to get aid to Palestinians. The U.S. has said the project was never a solution and have urged Israel to lift restrictions on aid shipments through land crossings as famine looms.The first aid from the sea route rolled onto shore May 17, and work has been up and down since:— May 18: Crowds overwhelmed aid trucks coming from the pier, stripping some of the trucks of their cargo.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-pier-gaza-famine-israel-1feae14dac670bb4de0467988799c5c6">The WFP suspended deliveries from the pier</a>&nbsp;for at least two days while it worked out alternate routes with the U.S. and Israel.— May 24: A bit more than 1,000 metric tons of aid had been delivered to Gaza from the pier, and the U.S. Agency for International Development later said all of it was distributed within Gaza.— May 25: High winds and heavy seas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-pier-damage-weather-seas-boats-f45634fb85e2ac6aec9b814c36ea3526">damaged the pier</a>&nbsp;and four U.S. Army vessels ran aground, injuring three service members, one critically. Crews towed away part of the floating dock in what became a two-week pause in operations.— June 8: The U.S. military announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-pier-aid-palestinians-00e83d1b302a23b5920c72e859430c15">deliveries resumed</a>&nbsp;off the repaired and reinstalled dock. The Israeli military operation unfolded the same day.— Sunday: World Food Program chief Cindy McCain announced a “pause” in cooperation with the U.S. pier, citing the previous day's “incident” and the rocketing of two WFP warehouses that injured a staffer.— Friday: The pier will be detached&nbsp; to prevent damage during rough seas and allow the military to reattach it more quickly later, according to the U.S. Central Command.The pier has brought to Gaza more than 2,500 metric tons (about 5.6 million pounds) of aid, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said. About 1,000 metric tons of that was brought by ship Tuesday and Wednesday — after the WFP pause — and is being stored on the beach awaiting distribution.“The WFP, of course, is taking the security measures that they need to do, and the reviews that they need to do, in order to feel safe and secure and to operate within Gaza,” Singh said.Now, the question is whether the U.N. will rejoin the effort.For aid workers who generally work without weapons or armed guards, and for those they serve, “the best guarantee of our security is the acceptance of communities” that aid workers are neutral, said Paul, the Oxfam official.Palestinians already harbored deep doubts about the pier given the lead role of the U.S., which sends weapons and other support to its ally Israel, said Yousef Munayyer, a senior fellow at Washington's Arab Center, an independent organization researching Israeli-Arab issues.Distrustful Palestinians suffering in the Israel-Hamas war are being asked to take America at its word, and that’s a hard sell, said Munayyer, an American of Palestinian heritage.“So you know, perception matters a lot,” he said. “And for the people who are literally putting their lives on the line to get humanitarian aid moving around a war zone, perception gets you in danger.”

US-built pier in Gaza is facing more challenges

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — City of Hutchinson Public Works Director Brian Clennan will bring a traffic calming policy to the Hutchinson City Council at their meeting on Tuesday.

According to agenda documents,&nbsp;the Engineering Department receives numerous requests and complaints each year regarding traffic issues, particularly concerning speed and volume on residential streets.

Addressing these issues helps improve the livability and vitality of our neighborhoods. To evaluate and determine the necessity for traffic calming measures, JEO Consultants, in collaboration with city staff, has developed a comprehensive Traffic Calming Policy.

Implementing a traffic calming study is estimated to cost approximately $50,000, while the costs for implementing the measures are projected at around $150,000. It's important to note that these costs may vary depending on the size and scope of the traffic calming area.

Clennan and the consultants suggest three possible ways of funding the work.

1. Allocate $200,000 to a Traffic Calming CIP Reserve: This would create a reserve to address traffic issues as they arise. Note that CIP reserve funding would be evaluated annually based on usage.

2.&nbsp;Require the development of a benefit district: This option would involve residents petitioning for the project and agreeing to fund the cost of the study and the implementation of the traffic calming measures.

3.&nbsp;Develop a cost-sharing model between the City and benefit district.

City staff is seeking input and guidance on the proposed Traffic Calming Policy and funding strategies to help finalize the approach to effectively addressing these traffic issues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683043073149.jpeg" alt="City of Hutchinson generic-Photo by Nick Gosnell" />
 <figcaption>City of Hutchinson generic-Photo by Nick Gosnell</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — City of Hutchinson Public Works Director Brian Clennan will bring a traffic calming policy to the Hutchinson City Council at their meeting on Tuesday.According to agenda documents,&nbsp;the Engineering Department receives numerous requests and complaints each year regarding traffic issues, particularly concerning speed and volume on residential streets.Addressing these issues helps improve the livability and vitality of our neighborhoods. To evaluate and determine the necessity for traffic calming measures, JEO Consultants, in collaboration with city staff, has developed a comprehensive Traffic Calming Policy.Implementing a traffic calming study is estimated to cost approximately $50,000, while the costs for implementing the measures are projected at around $150,000. It's important to note that these costs may vary depending on the size and scope of the traffic calming area.Clennan and the consultants suggest three possible ways of funding the work.1. Allocate $200,000 to a Traffic Calming CIP Reserve: This would create a reserve to address traffic issues as they arise. Note that CIP reserve funding would be evaluated annually based on usage.2.&nbsp;Require the development of a benefit district: This option would involve residents petitioning for the project and agreeing to fund the cost of the study and the implementation of the traffic calming measures.3.&nbsp;Develop a cost-sharing model between the City and benefit district.City staff is seeking input and guidance on the proposed Traffic Calming Policy and funding strategies to help finalize the approach to effectively addressing these traffic issues.The Hutchinson City Council meets Tuesday at 9 a.m. at City Hall.&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;