WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;appeared torn Wednesday about a challenge to a Trump-era ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-bump-stocks-atf-weapons-9d881998cbf454f5707f46e52153398e">bump stocks</a>, a gun accessory that allows semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns and was used in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/las-vegas-mass-shooting">deadliest mass shooting</a>&nbsp;in modern U.S. history.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/22-976">Click here to listen</a> to the oral argument

The high court is weighing whether the Trump administration followed federal law when it reversed course and banned bump stocks after a gunman in Las Vegas attacked a country music festival with assault-style rifles in 2017. Many of the weapons were equipped with bump stocks and high-capacity magazines. More than 1,000 rounds were fired into the crowd in 11 minutes, killing 60 people and injuring hundreds more.

The arguments largely focused on whether guns with a bump stock can be considered illegal machine guns under federal law. A Texas gun shop owner argues that bump stocks don't change the core function of a semi-automatic weapon enough to make it illegal. The Biden administration says bump stocks fall firmly under the legal definition of machine gun.

The latest gun case to come before the justices offers a fresh test for a court with a conservative supermajority to define the limits of gun restrictions in an era where mass shootings are prevalent.

Conservative justices raised questions about whether machine-gun laws dating to the 1930s apply to bump stocks and about the Justice Department's previous finding that the accessories were legal.

“Intuitively, I am entirely sympathetic to your argument,” said Justice Amy Coney Barrett, “I think the question is, why didn't Congress pass that legislation to make this cover it more clearly?”

Justices from the court’s liberal wing suggested it was “common sense” that bump stocks would fall under laws aimed at Prohibition-era violence from gangsters such as Al Capone. “This is in the heartland of what they were concerned about, which is anything that takes just a little human action to produce more than one shot,” Justice Elena Kagan said.

Federal appeals courts have been divided over the bump stock rule.

A different case at the court challenges a federal law intended to keep guns away from people under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-restrictions-domestic-violence-f75dc9b59d8cd02acf17d220ecf6ebb9">domestic violence restraining orders</a>, stemming from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mississippi-state-government-delaware-california-massachusetts-3983cecfd1107c263d5309ec0d80a966">landmark 2022 decision</a>&nbsp;in which the six-justice conservative majority expanded gun rights.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-las-vegas-shootings-ff26110203da4a28bfd1d99022fb401c">bump stock</a>&nbsp;case is not directly about the Second Amendment. Instead, the plaintiffs argue that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives overstepped its authority in imposing the ban. The agency had previously decided bump stocks should not be classified as machine guns and therefore not be banned.

Marisa Marano, 42, survived the shooting at the show she attended with her sister, but struggles with the lasting effects on her life and and community. “I will never forget the sound of a machine gun firing into the crowd that night as Gina and I ran for our lives,” said Marano, who is now a volunteer for the group Moms Demand Action and hopes the Supreme Court upholds the ban.

Bump stocks are accessories that replace a rifle’s stock, the part that rests against the shoulder. They harness the gun’s recoil energy so that the trigger bumps against the shooter's stationary finger, allowing the gun to fire rapidly.

They were invented in the early 2000s. Under Republican President George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama, the ATF decided that bump stocks didn't transform semi-automatic weapons into machine guns. The agency revisited the issue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8e52e86face646999ed769c965840e63">at Trump's urging</a>&nbsp;after the Las Vegas shooting and reversed that decision.

The plaintiffs argue that rifles with bump stocks are different from machine guns because the shooter still must exert pressure on the weapon to keep the rapid fire going and the trigger keeps moving.

“It’s still one shot per function of the trigger, even though the shots are coming out of the barrel a lot faster than they were before,” said attorney Jonathan F. Mitchell, who argued on behalf of Texas gun shop owner and Army veteran Michael Cargill.

Government lawyers pointed out that traditional machine guns also require pressure from the shooter. They argue bump stocks fall under the legal definition of machine guns because the shooter's finger stays still while the gun fires hundreds of rounds per minute.

Brian Fletcher, principal deputy solicitor general, said that the ATF's previous findings were less in-depth than the review it undertook under Trump.

“After the Las Vegas shooting, the deadliest shooting in our nation’s history, I think it would have been irresponsible for the ATF not to take another look at this prior interpretation,” he said.

There were about 520,000 bump stocks in circulation when the ban went into effect in 2019, requiring people to either surrender or destroy them, at a combined estimated loss of $100 million, the plaintiffs said in court documents.

A panel of three judges on the federal appeals court in Washington upheld the ban, finding that “a bump stock is a self-regulating mechanism that allows a shooter to shoot more than one shot through a single pull of the trigger.” But the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-new-orleans-texas-state-government-b5990ed60ebb617055cc8d5c36a84050">invalidated the ban</a>, finding that the definition of machine guns under the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act does not apply to bump stocks.

The Supreme Court took up an appeal of the 5th Circuit’s decision.

The case also comes at a time when the 6-3 conservative majority has been increasingly skeptical of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-chevron-regulations-environment-fish-e0c83212c892887860f7800c1ae1e02b">powers of federal agencies.</a>&nbsp;This term, the justices also are weighing challenges to aspects of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;appeared torn Wednesday about a challenge to a Trump-era ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-bump-stocks-atf-weapons-9d881998cbf454f5707f46e52153398e">bump stocks</a>, a gun accessory that allows semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns and was used in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/las-vegas-mass-shooting">deadliest mass shooting</a>&nbsp;in modern U.S. history.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/22-976">Click here to listen</a> to the oral argumentThe high court is weighing whether the Trump administration followed federal law when it reversed course and banned bump stocks after a gunman in Las Vegas attacked a country music festival with assault-style rifles in 2017. Many of the weapons were equipped with bump stocks and high-capacity magazines. More than 1,000 rounds were fired into the crowd in 11 minutes, killing 60 people and injuring hundreds more.The arguments largely focused on whether guns with a bump stock can be considered illegal machine guns under federal law. A Texas gun shop owner argues that bump stocks don't change the core function of a semi-automatic weapon enough to make it illegal. The Biden administration says bump stocks fall firmly under the legal definition of machine gun.The latest gun case to come before the justices offers a fresh test for a court with a conservative supermajority to define the limits of gun restrictions in an era where mass shootings are prevalent.Conservative justices raised questions about whether machine-gun laws dating to the 1930s apply to bump stocks and about the Justice Department's previous finding that the accessories were legal.“Intuitively, I am entirely sympathetic to your argument,” said Justice Amy Coney Barrett, “I think the question is, why didn't Congress pass that legislation to make this cover it more clearly?”Justices from the court’s liberal wing suggested it was “common sense” that bump stocks would fall under laws aimed at Prohibition-era violence from gangsters such as Al Capone. “This is in the heartland of what they were concerned about, which is anything that takes just a little human action to produce more than one shot,” Justice Elena Kagan said.Federal appeals courts have been divided over the bump stock rule.A different case at the court challenges a federal law intended to keep guns away from people under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-restrictions-domestic-violence-f75dc9b59d8cd02acf17d220ecf6ebb9">domestic violence restraining orders</a>, stemming from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mississippi-state-government-delaware-california-massachusetts-3983cecfd1107c263d5309ec0d80a966">landmark 2022 decision</a>&nbsp;in which the six-justice conservative majority expanded gun rights.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-las-vegas-shootings-ff26110203da4a28bfd1d99022fb401c">bump stock</a>&nbsp;case is not directly about the Second Amendment. Instead, the plaintiffs argue that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives overstepped its authority in imposing the ban. The agency had previously decided bump stocks should not be classified as machine guns and therefore not be banned.That changed after Las Vegas.Marisa Marano, 42, survived the shooting at the show she attended with her sister, but struggles with the lasting effects on her life and and community. “I will never forget the sound of a machine gun firing into the crowd that night as Gina and I ran for our lives,” said Marano, who is now a volunteer for the group Moms Demand Action and hopes the Supreme Court upholds the ban.Bump stocks are accessories that replace a rifle’s stock, the part that rests against the shoulder. They harness the gun’s recoil energy so that the trigger bumps against the shooter's stationary finger, allowing the gun to fire rapidly.They were invented in the early 2000s. Under Republican President George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama, the ATF decided that bump stocks didn't transform semi-automatic weapons into machine guns. The agency revisited the issue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8e52e86face646999ed769c965840e63">at Trump's urging</a>&nbsp;after the Las Vegas shooting and reversed that decision.The plaintiffs argue that rifles with bump stocks are different from machine guns because the shooter still must exert pressure on the weapon to keep the rapid fire going and the trigger keeps moving.“It’s still one shot per function of the trigger, even though the shots are coming out of the barrel a lot faster than they were before,” said attorney Jonathan F. Mitchell, who argued on behalf of Texas gun shop owner and Army veteran Michael Cargill.Government lawyers pointed out that traditional machine guns also require pressure from the shooter. They argue bump stocks fall under the legal definition of machine guns because the shooter's finger stays still while the gun fires hundreds of rounds per minute.Brian Fletcher, principal deputy solicitor general, said that the ATF's previous findings were less in-depth than the review it undertook under Trump.“After the Las Vegas shooting, the deadliest shooting in our nation’s history, I think it would have been irresponsible for the ATF not to take another look at this prior interpretation,” he said.There were about 520,000 bump stocks in circulation when the ban went into effect in 2019, requiring people to either surrender or destroy them, at a combined estimated loss of $100 million, the plaintiffs said in court documents.A panel of three judges on the federal appeals court in Washington upheld the ban, finding that “a bump stock is a self-regulating mechanism that allows a shooter to shoot more than one shot through a single pull of the trigger.” But the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-new-orleans-texas-state-government-b5990ed60ebb617055cc8d5c36a84050">invalidated the ban</a>, finding that the definition of machine guns under the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act does not apply to bump stocks.The Supreme Court took up an appeal of the 5th Circuit’s decision.The case also comes at a time when the 6-3 conservative majority has been increasingly skeptical of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-chevron-regulations-environment-fish-e0c83212c892887860f7800c1ae1e02b">powers of federal agencies.</a>&nbsp;This term, the justices also are weighing challenges to aspects of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Securities and Exchange Commission.A decision is expected by early summer.

🎧 Supreme Court appears torn over challenge to gun 'bump stocks'

MONTGOMRY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an investigation.

On Feb. 26, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of burglaries in the Dearing and Coffeyville rural areas, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.

Patrol deputies led thorough investigations and conducted numerous follow-up investigations on the reported burglaries which resulted in a search warrant being executed at a residence located at 812 W. Minnesota in Coffeyville.

During the search of the residence, several items were recovered that were reported stolen from different jurisdictions including illegal narcotics were also recovered and seized from the residence.

Subsequently, Jerrod Lee Allison of Coffeyville, Kansas was arrested and booked into the Montgomery County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Possession of stimulants, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and possession of stolen property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1709124428187.png" alt="Allison-photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Allison-photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMRY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an investigation.On Feb. 26, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of burglaries in the Dearing and Coffeyville rural areas, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.Patrol deputies led thorough investigations and conducted numerous follow-up investigations on the reported burglaries which resulted in a search warrant being executed at a residence located at 812 W. Minnesota in Coffeyville.During the search of the residence, several items were recovered that were reported stolen from different jurisdictions including illegal narcotics were also recovered and seized from the residence.Subsequently, Jerrod Lee Allison of Coffeyville, Kansas was arrested and booked into the Montgomery County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Possession of stimulants, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and possession of stolen property.

Sheriff: Kansas man caught with stolen property, drugs

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. military C-130 cargo planes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-meloni-white-house-ukraine-112dacd932a45f42621a25b304ae5d99">dropped food</a>&nbsp;in pallets over Gaza on Saturday in the opening stage of an emergency humanitarian assistance authorized by President Joe Biden after more than 100 Palestinians who had surged to pull goods off an aid convoy were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-29-2024-f9b5a62a80d8b83eac4946d3c85af58b">killed during a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops</a>.

Three planes from Air Forces Central dropped 66 bundles containing about 38,000 meals into Gaza at 8:30 a.m. EST (3:30 p.m. local). The bundles were dropped in southwest Gaza, on the beach along the territory's Mediterranean coast. The airdrop was coordinated with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which said it had two food airdrops Saturday in northern Gaza and has conducted several rounds in recent months.

“The combined operation included U.S. Air Force and RJAF C-130 aircraft and respective Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of supplies, built bundles and ensured the safe drop of food aid,” U.S. Central Command said in a post on "X", formerly known as Twitter.

The U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/airdrops-israel-gaza-palestinians-biden-9e6cfb3a2c7d909ca2a8a2abd25793ca">airdrop</a>&nbsp;is expected to be the first of many.

Three Biden administration officials said the planes dropped the military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) — shelf-stable meals that contain a day's worth of calories in each sealed package — in locations that were thought would provide civilians with the greatest level of safety to access aid. Afterward, the U.S. monitored the sites and was able to see civilians approach and distribute food among themselves, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details that had not been made public.

President Joe Biden on Friday announced the U.S. would begin air dropping food to starving Gazans after at least 115 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more wounded in the Thursday attack as they scrambled for aid, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza</a>&nbsp;said.

Hundreds of people had rushed about 30 trucks bringing a predawn delivery of aid to the north. Palestinians said nearby Israeli troops shot into the crowds. Israel said they fired warning shots toward the crowd and insisted many of the dead were trampled.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Friday that the airdrops were being planned to deliver emergency humanitarian assistance in a safe way to people on the ground. The United States believes the airdrops will help address the dire situation in Gaza, but they are no replacement for trucks, which can transport far more aid more effectively, though Thursday’s events also showed the risks with ground transport.

Kirby said the airdrops have an advantage over trucks because planes can move aid to a particular location very quickly. But in terms of volume, the airdrops will be “a supplement to, not a replacement for moving things in by ground.”

<a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1555054/c-130-hercules/">The C-130 is widely used</a>&nbsp;to deliver aid to remote places because of its ability to land in austere environments.

A C-130 can airlift as much as 42,000 pounds of cargo and its crews know how to rig the cargo, which sometimes can include even vehicles, onto massive pallets that can be safely dropped out of the back of the aircraft.

Air Force loadmasters secure the bundles onto pallets with netting that is rigged for release in the back of a C-130, and then crews release it with a parachute when the aircraft reaches the intended delivery zone.

The Air Force's C-130 has been used in years past to air drop humanitarian into Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti and other locations and the airframe is used in an annual multi-national “Operation Christmas Drop” that air drops pallets of toys, supplies, nonperishable food and fishing supplies to remote locations in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.

Since the war began on Oct. 7, Israel has barred entry of food, water, medicine and other supplies, except for a trickle of aid entering the south from Egypt at the Rafah crossing and Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing.

The United Nations says one-quarter of Gaza’s 2.3 million people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-un-humanitarian-famine-gaza-malnutrition-cf622f843fe531fb6dbd5657a39d6b49">face starvation</a>. Aid officials have said that airdrops are not an efficient means of distributing aid and are a measure of last resort.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709398639068.png" alt="Photos U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photos U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. military C-130 cargo planes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-meloni-white-house-ukraine-112dacd932a45f42621a25b304ae5d99">dropped food</a>&nbsp;in pallets over Gaza on Saturday in the opening stage of an emergency humanitarian assistance authorized by President Joe Biden after more than 100 Palestinians who had surged to pull goods off an aid convoy were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-29-2024-f9b5a62a80d8b83eac4946d3c85af58b">killed during a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops</a>.Three planes from Air Forces Central dropped 66 bundles containing about 38,000 meals into Gaza at 8:30 a.m. EST (3:30 p.m. local). The bundles were dropped in southwest Gaza, on the beach along the territory's Mediterranean coast. The airdrop was coordinated with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which said it had two food airdrops Saturday in northern Gaza and has conducted several rounds in recent months.“The combined operation included U.S. Air Force and RJAF C-130 aircraft and respective Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of supplies, built bundles and ensured the safe drop of food aid,” U.S. Central Command said in a post on "X", formerly known as Twitter.The U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/airdrops-israel-gaza-palestinians-biden-9e6cfb3a2c7d909ca2a8a2abd25793ca">airdrop</a>&nbsp;is expected to be the first of many.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709398596719.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Three Biden administration officials said the planes dropped the military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) — shelf-stable meals that contain a day's worth of calories in each sealed package — in locations that were thought would provide civilians with the greatest level of safety to access aid. Afterward, the U.S. monitored the sites and was able to see civilians approach and distribute food among themselves, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details that had not been made public.President Joe Biden on Friday announced the U.S. would begin air dropping food to starving Gazans after at least 115 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more wounded in the Thursday attack as they scrambled for aid, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza</a>&nbsp;said.Hundreds of people had rushed about 30 trucks bringing a predawn delivery of aid to the north. Palestinians said nearby Israeli troops shot into the crowds. Israel said they fired warning shots toward the crowd and insisted many of the dead were trampled.White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Friday that the airdrops were being planned to deliver emergency humanitarian assistance in a safe way to people on the ground. The United States believes the airdrops will help address the dire situation in Gaza, but they are no replacement for trucks, which can transport far more aid more effectively, though Thursday’s events also showed the risks with ground transport.Kirby said the airdrops have an advantage over trucks because planes can move aid to a particular location very quickly. But in terms of volume, the airdrops will be “a supplement to, not a replacement for moving things in by ground.”<a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1555054/c-130-hercules/">The C-130 is widely used</a>&nbsp;to deliver aid to remote places because of its ability to land in austere environments.A C-130 can airlift as much as 42,000 pounds of cargo and its crews know how to rig the cargo, which sometimes can include even vehicles, onto massive pallets that can be safely dropped out of the back of the aircraft.Air Force loadmasters secure the bundles onto pallets with netting that is rigged for release in the back of a C-130, and then crews release it with a parachute when the aircraft reaches the intended delivery zone.The Air Force's C-130 has been used in years past to air drop humanitarian into Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti and other locations and the airframe is used in an annual multi-national “Operation Christmas Drop” that air drops pallets of toys, supplies, nonperishable food and fishing supplies to remote locations in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.Since the war began on Oct. 7, Israel has barred entry of food, water, medicine and other supplies, except for a trickle of aid entering the south from Egypt at the Rafah crossing and Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing.The United Nations says one-quarter of Gaza’s 2.3 million people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-un-humanitarian-famine-gaza-malnutrition-cf622f843fe531fb6dbd5657a39d6b49">face starvation</a>. Aid officials have said that airdrops are not an efficient means of distributing aid and are a measure of last resort.

US military aircraft airdrops meals, supplies into Gaza 

Doctor, politicians defend legislation viewed as a shield against child abuse

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas House Rep. Brenda Landwehr kicked the first person out of Thursday’s hearing on anti-transgender legislation for cradling a protest sign in the room.

Landwehr, a Wichita Republican and chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, bounced someone from the second row about 45 minutes later during questioning of proponents of legislation sharply restricting access by minors to gender-affirming medical care.

At the outset, she had warned the standing-room-only crowd that outbursts of any kind would be unacceptable and offenders would be asked to leave or be escorted out by uniformed officers of the Capitol Police.

“I said no talking, no disruption, and I meant it,” Landwehr said. “I think I was pretty plain.”

During questioning of a teacher opposed to intrusion of legislators into personal lives of school children, Landwehr warned the witness not to speak over her because “if you’re talking, you’re not listening.” Near conclusion of the day’s proceedings, Landwehr slapped her gavel to declare Lawrence transgender activist Iridescent Riffel out of order for asserting a vote in favor of anti-transgender bills meant the blood of children would “be on your hands.”

Landwehr didn’t hesitate to issue the expulsion order: “Please leave the room or we will escort you out.”

Mingled with those moments during the 100-minute hearing were insights from proponents and opponents of House legislation designed to curtail access by under-18 Kansans to transgender health services and medical interventions. The committee didn’t take action on the two bills subject to the House hearing.

A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/29/a-kansas-senator-heard-debate-on-an-anti-trans-bill-after-short-notice-for-the-public-to-prepare/">companion hearing on transgender legislation was conducted Thursday</a>&nbsp;in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. Eudora Republican Sen. Beverly Gossage, who serves as chair of the committee, said her desire was to “protect the children” in Kansas from medical professionals extending gender-affirming care to people under 18. Access to treatment, even if supported by parents, should be denied until the patient was an adult, she said.

Retired Nebraska physician Ivan Abdouch treated transgender individuals from Midwest states for 30 years. He said he typically didn’t appreciate government regulation of medicine, but intervention was required to protect young Kansans from gender-affirming care.

He urged the House committee to get behind legislation that would deny gender-affirming medical care for anyone under 18. House Bill 2791 would characterize treatment of minor patients whose gender identity was inconsistent with sex at birth as a form of child abuse. It would authorize lawsuits against doctors or nurses who violated the proposed statute, which must still run the gauntlet in the House and Senate and deal with a likely veto by Gov. Laura Kelly.

“How can we determine with certainty the gender trajectory of a child or adolescent for their lifetime? We can’t. No one can,”‘ Abdouch said. “What are potential consequences of erroneous medical or surgical treatment? Unjustifiable, irreversible harm with lifelong effects.”

To the contrary, Wichita marriage and family therapist Asher Wickell said he was alarmed by consideration of a bill denying health care to minors. He said it was an outrage to stop state-funded insurance from covering such care and to set the stage for medical providers to be sued for caring for all their patients. He said the legislation conflicted with standards and recommendations of major medical and mental health professional associations.

“Its sweeping, intrusive demands are reckless and dangerous in their disregard for the safety and well-being of Kansas’ children and families,” Wickell said. “Simultaneously, the bill creates unresolvable legal and ethical dilemmas for mental health providers, threatening to exacerbate the profound mental health shortfalls already impacting our state.”

The majority of people offering testimony to the House committee on HB 2791 were opposed to the legislation introduced by Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican and physician licensed to practice medicine in Texas but not in Kansas.

Bryce, who compared transgender surgery to the practice of treating depression by performing a lobotomy, told the House committee it was imperative the state forbid tax dollars from be used for “futile and unsafe gender-transition of children.” He said it was important state statute prohibit health professionals from advocating medical or surgical transitioning of a child at facilities receiving state support for treatment of psychological disorders.

He said Kansas should “move forward with what other civilized western cultures are doing” and forbid psychological treatment with “disturbing side effects” or medical intervention leaving individuals “barren or with permanently disfigured genitalia.”

Kansas Catholic Conference policy specialist Lucrecia Nold, speaking on behalf of Catholic bishops in Kansas, said the act of manipulating distinctions between men and women interfered with God’s will. Christians find identity in God through Scripture and tradition, she said. She said “divine gifts” of differences between males and females had to be nurtured in children and not subjected to assaults by those touting gender ideology.

“Allowing a person, especially a child, to participate in gender reassignment surgery or gender altering medication would be a disserve to them,” Nold said.

Jaelynn Abegg, a transgender woman from Wichita, and Anthony Alvarez, a 19-year-old transgender man and honor student at the University of Kansas, opposed the bill. Both urged legislators to consider benefits of gender-affirming care for the estimated 2,100 transgender children aged 13 to 17 in Kansas.

Their testimony made clear young Kansans would suffer or thrive based on decisions on a bill undermining the right of patients to make their own medical choices. Under the House measure, state lawmakers would weaken the concept of informed consent&nbsp; — an essential part of health care decisions that should be in the hands of patients, parents or guardians and physicians.

“Bills like HB 2791 clearly communicate this committee’s message that transgender people are not welcome here,” Abegg said. “As anti-trans bill after anti-trans bill works its way through the Legislature and to the governor’s desk, Kansas has earned a negative, high-risk or unsafe rating for gender identity policy.”

Alvarez, who has lived in Kansas for a decade, said he struggled as a child with intense anger and depression. He said that at age 15 he was was able to put a name — transgender — to discomfort that overshadowed his life. His parents were skeptical and felt out of their depth, he said. They all sought guidance from medical professionals, Alvarez said. That guidance led at age 16 to his transition as a minor in the state of Kansas.

“I was fortunate to have open-minded parents and an accepting school surrounding me when I began this process and, since then, I have grown into a young man my parents and I are proud of,” Alvarez said. “It pains me to think that the support systems that made me who I am today could be denied to other young Kansans by bills like this one. I used to believe that I would never be happy, but now I wake up every day excited and can see my future clearly — a future I hope is in the state of Kansas.”

The ACLU of Kansas raised questions about the bill’s potential violation of the Kansas Constitution, particularly the state Bill of Rights’ provision on bodily autonomy relied upon by the Kansas Supreme Court to affirm constitutional protection of abortion rights in Kansas.

Landwehr, the chairwoman of the House health committee, included in the Thursday agenda a brief hearing on a separate bill that would prohibit gender transition surgery for minors in Kansas.

Landwehr, who introduced House Bill 2792, said Kansas should make violation of the proposed ban of transgender surgery on minors an ethics infraction under the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, which could place professional licenses in jeopardy.

Her bill would require transgender care services and treatments in Kansas be conducted according to clinical practice guidelines specified in Wylie Hembree, a physician who died in 2022 after authoring the guide on gender care.

Kristen Satterwhite, an Overland Park mother of a 15-year-old transgender boy, said her son came out as transgender at 13. She opposed legislation forbidding gender transition surgery on minors because those decisions should be made by professionals in the field and the family involved.

“No one else,” she said. “I honestly resent that I had to take time away from my family and my responsibilities today to share my child’s private medical history with all of you, but I am very concerned that this bill will disrupt the care that we have worked so hard to secure.”

The state of Kansas had no business mandating transgender care follow guidelines published in 2017 and making it illegal for physicians to provide patients the most up-to-date care available, she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709323905207.png" alt=" Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, threw several people opposed to anti-transgender bills out of a Kansas House hearing Thursday for defying ground rules for decorum. The offenses ranged from holding a protest sign to testimony declaring legislators supporting health restrictions on transgender youth would have blood on their hands when teens died. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, threw several people opposed to anti-transgender bills out of a Kansas House hearing Thursday for defying ground rules for decorum. The offenses ranged from holding a protest sign to testimony declaring legislators supporting health restrictions on transgender youth would have blood on their hands when teens died. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Doctor, politicians defend legislation viewed as a shield against child abuse</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas House Rep. Brenda Landwehr kicked the first person out of Thursday’s hearing on anti-transgender legislation for cradling a protest sign in the room.Landwehr, a Wichita Republican and chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, bounced someone from the second row about 45 minutes later during questioning of proponents of legislation sharply restricting access by minors to gender-affirming medical care.At the outset, she had warned the standing-room-only crowd that outbursts of any kind would be unacceptable and offenders would be asked to leave or be escorted out by uniformed officers of the Capitol Police.“I said no talking, no disruption, and I meant it,” Landwehr said. “I think I was pretty plain.”During questioning of a teacher opposed to intrusion of legislators into personal lives of school children, Landwehr warned the witness not to speak over her because “if you’re talking, you’re not listening.” Near conclusion of the day’s proceedings, Landwehr slapped her gavel to declare Lawrence transgender activist Iridescent Riffel out of order for asserting a vote in favor of anti-transgender bills meant the blood of children would “be on your hands.”Landwehr didn’t hesitate to issue the expulsion order: “Please leave the room or we will escort you out.”Mingled with those moments during the 100-minute hearing were insights from proponents and opponents of House legislation designed to curtail access by under-18 Kansans to transgender health services and medical interventions. The committee didn’t take action on the two bills subject to the House hearing.A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/29/a-kansas-senator-heard-debate-on-an-anti-trans-bill-after-short-notice-for-the-public-to-prepare/">companion hearing on transgender legislation was conducted Thursday</a>&nbsp;in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. Eudora Republican Sen. Beverly Gossage, who serves as chair of the committee, said her desire was to “protect the children” in Kansas from medical professionals extending gender-affirming care to people under 18. Access to treatment, even if supported by parents, should be denied until the patient was an adult, she said.<h2>Unjustifiable ‘harm’</h2>Retired Nebraska physician Ivan Abdouch treated transgender individuals from Midwest states for 30 years. He said he typically didn’t appreciate government regulation of medicine, but intervention was required to protect young Kansans from gender-affirming care.He urged the House committee to get behind legislation that would deny gender-affirming medical care for anyone under 18. House Bill 2791 would characterize treatment of minor patients whose gender identity was inconsistent with sex at birth as a form of child abuse. It would authorize lawsuits against doctors or nurses who violated the proposed statute, which must still run the gauntlet in the House and Senate and deal with a likely veto by Gov. Laura Kelly.“How can we determine with certainty the gender trajectory of a child or adolescent for their lifetime? We can’t. No one can,”‘ Abdouch said. “What are potential consequences of erroneous medical or surgical treatment? Unjustifiable, irreversible harm with lifelong effects.”To the contrary, Wichita marriage and family therapist Asher Wickell said he was alarmed by consideration of a bill denying health care to minors. He said it was an outrage to stop state-funded insurance from covering such care and to set the stage for medical providers to be sued for caring for all their patients. He said the legislation conflicted with standards and recommendations of major medical and mental health professional associations.“Its sweeping, intrusive demands are reckless and dangerous in their disregard for the safety and well-being of Kansas’ children and families,” Wickell said. “Simultaneously, the bill creates unresolvable legal and ethical dilemmas for mental health providers, threatening to exacerbate the profound mental health shortfalls already impacting our state.”<h2>Texas doctor, Kansas bill</h2>The majority of people offering testimony to the House committee on HB 2791 were opposed to the legislation introduced by Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican and physician licensed to practice medicine in Texas but not in Kansas.Bryce, who compared transgender surgery to the practice of treating depression by performing a lobotomy, told the House committee it was imperative the state forbid tax dollars from be used for “futile and unsafe gender-transition of children.” He said it was important state statute prohibit health professionals from advocating medical or surgical transitioning of a child at facilities receiving state support for treatment of psychological disorders.He said Kansas should “move forward with what other civilized western cultures are doing” and forbid psychological treatment with “disturbing side effects” or medical intervention leaving individuals “barren or with permanently disfigured genitalia.”Kansas Catholic Conference policy specialist Lucrecia Nold, speaking on behalf of Catholic bishops in Kansas, said the act of manipulating distinctions between men and women interfered with God’s will. Christians find identity in God through Scripture and tradition, she said. She said “divine gifts” of differences between males and females had to be nurtured in children and not subjected to assaults by those touting gender ideology.“Allowing a person, especially a child, to participate in gender reassignment surgery or gender altering medication would be a disserve to them,” Nold said.<h2>Walk in my shoes</h2>Jaelynn Abegg, a transgender woman from Wichita, and Anthony Alvarez, a 19-year-old transgender man and honor student at the University of Kansas, opposed the bill. Both urged legislators to consider benefits of gender-affirming care for the estimated 2,100 transgender children aged 13 to 17 in Kansas.Their testimony made clear young Kansans would suffer or thrive based on decisions on a bill undermining the right of patients to make their own medical choices. Under the House measure, state lawmakers would weaken the concept of informed consent&nbsp; — an essential part of health care decisions that should be in the hands of patients, parents or guardians and physicians.“Bills like HB 2791 clearly communicate this committee’s message that transgender people are not welcome here,” Abegg said. “As anti-trans bill after anti-trans bill works its way through the Legislature and to the governor’s desk, Kansas has earned a negative, high-risk or unsafe rating for gender identity policy.”Alvarez, who has lived in Kansas for a decade, said he struggled as a child with intense anger and depression. He said that at age 15 he was was able to put a name — transgender — to discomfort that overshadowed his life. His parents were skeptical and felt out of their depth, he said. They all sought guidance from medical professionals, Alvarez said. That guidance led at age 16 to his transition as a minor in the state of Kansas.“I was fortunate to have open-minded parents and an accepting school surrounding me when I began this process and, since then, I have grown into a young man my parents and I are proud of,” Alvarez said. “It pains me to think that the support systems that made me who I am today could be denied to other young Kansans by bills like this one. I used to believe that I would never be happy, but now I wake up every day excited and can see my future clearly — a future I hope is in the state of Kansas.”The ACLU of Kansas raised questions about the bill’s potential violation of the Kansas Constitution, particularly the state Bill of Rights’ provision on bodily autonomy relied upon by the Kansas Supreme Court to affirm constitutional protection of abortion rights in Kansas.<h2>No minor surgery</h2>Landwehr, the chairwoman of the House health committee, included in the Thursday agenda a brief hearing on a separate bill that would prohibit gender transition surgery for minors in Kansas.Landwehr, who introduced House Bill 2792, said Kansas should make violation of the proposed ban of transgender surgery on minors an ethics infraction under the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, which could place professional licenses in jeopardy.Her bill would require transgender care services and treatments in Kansas be conducted according to clinical practice guidelines specified in Wylie Hembree, a physician who died in 2022 after authoring the guide on gender care.Kristen Satterwhite, an Overland Park mother of a 15-year-old transgender boy, said her son came out as transgender at 13. She opposed legislation forbidding gender transition surgery on minors because those decisions should be made by professionals in the field and the family involved.“No one else,” she said. “I honestly resent that I had to take time away from my family and my responsibilities today to share my child’s private medical history with all of you, but I am very concerned that this bill will disrupt the care that we have worked so hard to secure.”The state of Kansas had no business mandating transgender care follow guidelines published in 2017 and making it illegal for physicians to provide patients the most up-to-date care available, she said.

Critics of Kan. bills blocking transgender medical care to minors tossed from House hearing

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a woman's death February 19, in Kansas City now say they have another homicide investigation.

Just before midnight Monday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to 36th and Oakley Avenue for a body found, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders found woman, later identified as 26-year-old Ilaysha Gilliam, victimized in a field in Dunbar Park. She appeared to be suffering from trauma.

The case was initially investigated as a suspicious death. Now being investigated as a homicide, according to Forte'.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1709216931366.png" alt="Near the scene of the homicide investigation -photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Near the scene of the homicide investigation -photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a woman's death February 19, in Kansas City now say they have another homicide investigation.Just before midnight Monday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to 36th and Oakley Avenue for a body found, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders found woman, later identified as 26-year-old Ilaysha Gilliam, victimized in a field in Dunbar Park. She appeared to be suffering from trauma.The case was initially investigated as a suspicious death. Now being investigated as a homicide, according to Forte'.

Sheriff: KC woman's death now investigated as a homicide

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas jail deputy was injured during an altercation with an inmate Friday at the Sedgwick County Detention Facility.

Just after 8a.m. Friday, the deputy attempted to collect the breakfast tray of inmate 34-year-old Joshua Ratcliff in Pod 17 for it to be sent back to the kitchen to be cleaned, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While collecting the tray, the Ratcliff walked out of his cell and into the dayroom of the pod.&nbsp; Ratcliff was not authorized to be in the dayroom of the pod at that time and was directed to return to his cell.&nbsp; Ratcliff became upset and struck the deputy with a closed first to the side of the face.

A physical altercation ensued.&nbsp; At one point, Ratcliff attempted to drag the deputy inside of a cell.&nbsp; The deputy was able to free himself and returned to his desk in the dayroom.&nbsp; A response team arrived to assist the deputy.&nbsp; It was determined by on-site medical professionals that the deputy had a significant wound to the face; therefore, the deputy was taken to a local area hospital for care.

Ratcliff has been in the custody of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office since February 29, 2024, for a Parole violation. He has previous felony convictions for drugs and criminal Possession of a weapon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

 The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit is investigating the incident and will present their findings to the District Attorney’s Office for criminal charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709381383022.png" alt="Ratcliff-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Ratcliff-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas jail deputy was injured during an altercation with an inmate Friday at the Sedgwick County Detention Facility.Just after 8a.m. Friday, the deputy attempted to collect the breakfast tray of inmate 34-year-old Joshua Ratcliff in Pod 17 for it to be sent back to the kitchen to be cleaned, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.&nbsp;&nbsp;While collecting the tray, the Ratcliff walked out of his cell and into the dayroom of the pod.&nbsp; Ratcliff was not authorized to be in the dayroom of the pod at that time and was directed to return to his cell.&nbsp; Ratcliff became upset and struck the deputy with a closed first to the side of the face.A physical altercation ensued.&nbsp; At one point, Ratcliff attempted to drag the deputy inside of a cell.&nbsp; The deputy was able to free himself and returned to his desk in the dayroom.&nbsp; A response team arrived to assist the deputy.&nbsp; It was determined by on-site medical professionals that the deputy had a significant wound to the face; therefore, the deputy was taken to a local area hospital for care.Ratcliff has been in the custody of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office since February 29, 2024, for a Parole violation. He has previous felony convictions for drugs and criminal Possession of a weapon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit is investigating the incident and will present their findings to the District Attorney’s Office for criminal charges.

Kansas jail deputy hospitalized after attack by inmate

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas&nbsp;man has been sentenced to prison for stealing a car with two children inside.

On Monday, a Sedgwick County judge sentenced 32-year-old Tyler Kirkhart to just more than seven years in prison for aggravated child endangerment and theft, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In November of 2022, police were dispatched to an abduction in the 1000 block of West 31st St South in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

When police arrived on the scene, they learned a suspect later identified as Tyler Kirkhart, a man with nearly two dozen convictions over the past ten years, stole a white 2015 Chevy Cruz from a 26-year-old woman.

The woman's 3-year-old daughter and infant son were in car seats in the back when the vehicle was stolen.

The woman was attempting to air up her tires when Kirkhart offered to help. He then got into the vehicle and left the area traveling southbound.

Officers from all over the city began looking for the vehicle. A short time later officers located the vehicle abandoned in the 3500 block of South St. Francis. The children were located inside the vehicle and unharmed.

Officers continued to work to identify the Kirkhart. Information was shared through all media outlets as well as the department to locate him.

Within a few hours, officers located Kirkhart in the&nbsp;700 block of West Lockwood and took him into custody.

Kirkhart has previous convictions for theft, burglary, aggravated weapons violations, criminal damage to property, aggravated escape and for drugs. He has been in an out of jail since 2011.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667912805438.png" alt="Kirkhart-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Kirkhart-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas&nbsp;man has been sentenced to prison for stealing a car with two children inside.On Monday, a Sedgwick County judge sentenced 32-year-old Tyler Kirkhart to just more than seven years in prison for aggravated child endangerment and theft, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In November of 2022, police were dispatched to an abduction in the 1000 block of West 31st St South in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.When police arrived on the scene, they learned a suspect later identified as Tyler Kirkhart, a man with nearly two dozen convictions over the past ten years, stole a white 2015 Chevy Cruz from a 26-year-old woman.The woman's 3-year-old daughter and infant son were in car seats in the back when the vehicle was stolen.The woman was attempting to air up her tires when Kirkhart offered to help. He then got into the vehicle and left the area traveling southbound.Officers from all over the city began looking for the vehicle. A short time later officers located the vehicle abandoned in the 3500 block of South St. Francis. The children were located inside the vehicle and unharmed.Officers continued to work to identify the Kirkhart. Information was shared through all media outlets as well as the department to locate him.Within a few hours, officers located Kirkhart in the&nbsp;700 block of West Lockwood and took him into custody.Kirkhart has previous convictions for theft, burglary, aggravated weapons violations, criminal damage to property, aggravated escape and for drugs. He has been in an out of jail since 2011.

Prison time for Kansas carjacking with kids in the vehicle

DALLAS (AP) — Boeing said Friday that it is in preliminary talks to buy Spirit AeroSystems, which builds fuselages for Boeing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spirit-aerosystems-boeing-737-fuselage-28bceec61cef878005b965a016fa8787">737 Max jetliners</a>, including the one that suffered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jetliner-blowout-737-max-9-united-alaska-2f74f52bbad7fca26aa11786bd44c356">door-panel blowout</a>&nbsp;on an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

Boeing used to own Spirit, and it said that bringing the supplier back into the Boeing fold would improve plane quality and safety, which has come under increasing scrutiny by regulators, Congress and airlines.

Buying Spirit back would reverse a longtime Boeing strategy of outsourcing key work on its passenger planes. That approach has been criticized as problems at Spirit have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-supplier-slow-production-737-max-2525b4c5a27a7332b80b3016645918db">disrupted production</a>&nbsp;and delivery of popular Boeing jetliners including 737s and 787s.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-max-emergency-landing-alaska-airlines-79bc1ea98ee7fbc6edf46aff9319775b">Concerns about quality</a>&nbsp;came to a head after the Jan. 5 blowout of a panel on an Alaska 737 Max 9 at 16,000 feet over Oregon.

Days after the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-investigation-faa-panel-blowout-monitoring-06b098e57a8c65bdb0ba377f99290d32">increased oversight</a>&nbsp;of Boeing and Spirit. This week, the FAA gave Boeing 90 days to submit a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/faa-boeing-deadline-safety-plan-18f607ad102e6bbe6200671273ff990c">plan to improve quality</a>&nbsp;and address safety concerns raised by a panel of experts who spent a year studying the company.

Boeing CEO David Calhoun has long defended the outsourcing strategy, but his tone changed after the blowout. On Jan. 31, as Boeing reported a fourth-quarter loss, Calhoun said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-results-safety-airlines-max-d1becb66c3423034ed0586808a4b4eae">outsourcing probably went too far</a>.

In a statement Friday, the company said, “We believe that the reintegration of Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems’ manufacturing operations would further strengthen aviation safety, improve quality and serve the interests of our customers, employees, and shareholders."

A deal would give Boeing more control over its production chain, but fixing Spirit would present Boeing with new challenges while regulators are pressuring the company to improve its own work. And it could add to Boeing’s debt load, already at $52 billion.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/workers-strike-boeing-spirit-aerosystems-ff29cb8e49c79b88d832eccd8ce088a3">Spirit AeroSystems</a>&nbsp;also confirmed the talks, while cautioning that it could not make any promises about closing a deal or its terms.

Shares of Spirit rose more than 15% after media reports that the two companies were talking about a sale.

Boeing spun off Spirit in 2005. In recent years, quality problems have mounted at Spirit, including fuselage panels that didn't fit together precisely enough and holes that were improperly drilled.

Spirit — which is not related to Spirit Airlines —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spirit-aerosystems-announces-leadership-transition-301944352.html">removed its CEO</a>&nbsp;in October and replaced him with Patrick Shanahan, a former Boeing executive who served as acting defense secretary in the Trump administration.

Things seemed to be going more smoothly until the Alaska Airlines incident. Investigators said a panel used in place of an extra emergency door had been removed at a Boeing factory to let Spirit workers fix damaged rivets, and bolts that help hold the panel in place&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-emergency-landing-report-alaska-airlines-8543c90b68b4d932a700cf57ff8f1b8e">were missing</a>&nbsp;after the repair job. It is not clear who removed the bolts and failed to put them back.

Two weeks later, during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-investigation-safety-accident-alaska-airlines-8bd216f6c80e5070ec8cd397efd456fd">tour of the Spirit factory</a>&nbsp;in Wichita, Kansas, Calhoun and Shanahan pledged to work together to improve manufacturing quality. “We will restore confidence," Shanahan vowed.

About 70% of Spirit AeroSystems' revenue last year came from work done for Boeing, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/ixviewer/ix.html?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001364885/000162828024006331/spr-20231231.htm">Spirit's latest annual report</a>. That is up from 60% two years earlier. Most of the company's other revenue comes from making parts for Airbus, Boeing’s European rival.

The talks between Boeing and Spirit were first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which said Spirit hired bankers to consider strategic options and had held preliminary discussions about a sale to Boeing. Spirit also is looking into selling operations in Ireland that make parts for Airbus, the newspaper reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1580497975886.jpeg" alt="Fire photo -Spirit AeroSystems&nbsp; photo by Max. Elaine Thompson/AP/NPR" />
 <figcaption>Fire photo -Spirit AeroSystems&nbsp; photo by Max. Elaine Thompson/AP/NPR</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — Boeing said Friday that it is in preliminary talks to buy Spirit AeroSystems, which builds fuselages for Boeing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spirit-aerosystems-boeing-737-fuselage-28bceec61cef878005b965a016fa8787">737 Max jetliners</a>, including the one that suffered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jetliner-blowout-737-max-9-united-alaska-2f74f52bbad7fca26aa11786bd44c356">door-panel blowout</a>&nbsp;on an Alaska Airlines flight in January.Boeing used to own Spirit, and it said that bringing the supplier back into the Boeing fold would improve plane quality and safety, which has come under increasing scrutiny by regulators, Congress and airlines.Buying Spirit back would reverse a longtime Boeing strategy of outsourcing key work on its passenger planes. That approach has been criticized as problems at Spirit have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-supplier-slow-production-737-max-2525b4c5a27a7332b80b3016645918db">disrupted production</a>&nbsp;and delivery of popular Boeing jetliners including 737s and 787s.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-max-emergency-landing-alaska-airlines-79bc1ea98ee7fbc6edf46aff9319775b">Concerns about quality</a>&nbsp;came to a head after the Jan. 5 blowout of a panel on an Alaska 737 Max 9 at 16,000 feet over Oregon.Days after the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-investigation-faa-panel-blowout-monitoring-06b098e57a8c65bdb0ba377f99290d32">increased oversight</a>&nbsp;of Boeing and Spirit. This week, the FAA gave Boeing 90 days to submit a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/faa-boeing-deadline-safety-plan-18f607ad102e6bbe6200671273ff990c">plan to improve quality</a>&nbsp;and address safety concerns raised by a panel of experts who spent a year studying the company.Boeing CEO David Calhoun has long defended the outsourcing strategy, but his tone changed after the blowout. On Jan. 31, as Boeing reported a fourth-quarter loss, Calhoun said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-results-safety-airlines-max-d1becb66c3423034ed0586808a4b4eae">outsourcing probably went too far</a>.In a statement Friday, the company said, “We believe that the reintegration of Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems’ manufacturing operations would further strengthen aviation safety, improve quality and serve the interests of our customers, employees, and shareholders."A deal would give Boeing more control over its production chain, but fixing Spirit would present Boeing with new challenges while regulators are pressuring the company to improve its own work. And it could add to Boeing’s debt load, already at $52 billion.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/workers-strike-boeing-spirit-aerosystems-ff29cb8e49c79b88d832eccd8ce088a3">Spirit AeroSystems</a>&nbsp;also confirmed the talks, while cautioning that it could not make any promises about closing a deal or its terms.Shares of Spirit rose more than 15% after media reports that the two companies were talking about a sale.Boeing spun off Spirit in 2005. In recent years, quality problems have mounted at Spirit, including fuselage panels that didn't fit together precisely enough and holes that were improperly drilled.Spirit — which is not related to Spirit Airlines —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spirit-aerosystems-announces-leadership-transition-301944352.html">removed its CEO</a>&nbsp;in October and replaced him with Patrick Shanahan, a former Boeing executive who served as acting defense secretary in the Trump administration.Things seemed to be going more smoothly until the Alaska Airlines incident. Investigators said a panel used in place of an extra emergency door had been removed at a Boeing factory to let Spirit workers fix damaged rivets, and bolts that help hold the panel in place&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-emergency-landing-report-alaska-airlines-8543c90b68b4d932a700cf57ff8f1b8e">were missing</a>&nbsp;after the repair job. It is not clear who removed the bolts and failed to put them back.Two weeks later, during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-investigation-safety-accident-alaska-airlines-8bd216f6c80e5070ec8cd397efd456fd">tour of the Spirit factory</a>&nbsp;in Wichita, Kansas, Calhoun and Shanahan pledged to work together to improve manufacturing quality. “We will restore confidence," Shanahan vowed.About 70% of Spirit AeroSystems' revenue last year came from work done for Boeing, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/ixviewer/ix.html?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001364885/000162828024006331/spr-20231231.htm">Spirit's latest annual report</a>. That is up from 60% two years earlier. Most of the company's other revenue comes from making parts for Airbus, Boeing’s European rival.The talks between Boeing and Spirit were first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which said Spirit hired bankers to consider strategic options and had held preliminary discussions about a sale to Boeing. Spirit also is looking into selling operations in Ireland that make parts for Airbus, the newspaper reported.

Boeing in talks to buy Kan. based Spirit AeroSystems, key supplier on the 737 Max

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Friday shortened the prison sentence of former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid for a drunken driving crash that seriously injured a 5-year-old girl.

<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MOGOV/2024/03/01/file_attachments/2800812/February%202024%20Pardons%20and%20Commutations.pdf">Click here to see</a> the full list from the governor's office.

Parson's commutation converted the remainder of Reid's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-nfl-sports-football-ce0454049635803df51fc892aaff9dc4?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">three-year prison sentence</a>&nbsp;to house arrest, subject to several conditions. Reid had been sentenced in November 2022 after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury. He is the son of Chiefs Coach Andy Reid.

A Parson spokesman said the governor considered several factors when making this decision.

“Reid had completed his alcohol abuse treatment program and has served more prison time than most individuals convicted of similar offenses,” Parson spokesman Johnathan Shiflett said.

Reid's house arrest will continue until Oct. 31, 2025, with requirements for weekly meetings with a parole officer and peer support sponsor and attendance at behavioral counseling. He also will be required to work at least 30 hours a week and complete 10 hours a month of community service, among other things.

Chiefs spokespeople did not immediately respond to phone and email messages Friday seeking comment about the commutation from the team or Andy Reid.

Prosecutors said Reid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-football-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-d43b085c56ac1d0ec8445f30faa6a4d0">was intoxicated and driving about 84 mph</a>&nbsp;(135 kph) in a 65 mph zone when his Dodge truck hit the cars on an entrance ramp to Interstate 435 near Arrowhead Stadium on Feb. 4, 2021.

A girl inside one of the cars, Ariel Young, suffered a traumatic brain injury. A total of six people, including Reid, were injured. One of the vehicles he hit had stalled because of a dead battery, and the second was owned by Ariel’s mother, who had arrived to help.

Reid had a blood-alcohol level of 0.113% two hours after the crash, police said. The legal limit is 0.08%.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667349166252.png" alt="Reid photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Reid photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Friday shortened the prison sentence of former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid for a drunken driving crash that seriously injured a 5-year-old girl.<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MOGOV/2024/03/01/file_attachments/2800812/February%202024%20Pardons%20and%20Commutations.pdf">Click here to see</a> the full list from the governor's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709333157469.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Parson's commutation converted the remainder of Reid's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-nfl-sports-football-ce0454049635803df51fc892aaff9dc4?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">three-year prison sentence</a>&nbsp;to house arrest, subject to several conditions. Reid had been sentenced in November 2022 after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury. He is the son of Chiefs Coach Andy Reid.A Parson spokesman said the governor considered several factors when making this decision.“Reid had completed his alcohol abuse treatment program and has served more prison time than most individuals convicted of similar offenses,” Parson spokesman Johnathan Shiflett said.Reid's house arrest will continue until Oct. 31, 2025, with requirements for weekly meetings with a parole officer and peer support sponsor and attendance at behavioral counseling. He also will be required to work at least 30 hours a week and complete 10 hours a month of community service, among other things.Chiefs spokespeople did not immediately respond to phone and email messages Friday seeking comment about the commutation from the team or Andy Reid.Prosecutors said Reid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-football-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-d43b085c56ac1d0ec8445f30faa6a4d0">was intoxicated and driving about 84 mph</a>&nbsp;(135 kph) in a 65 mph zone when his Dodge truck hit the cars on an entrance ramp to Interstate 435 near Arrowhead Stadium on Feb. 4, 2021.A girl inside one of the cars, Ariel Young, suffered a traumatic brain injury. A total of six people, including Reid, were injured. One of the vehicles he hit had stalled because of a dead battery, and the second was owned by Ariel’s mother, who had arrived to help.Reid had a blood-alcohol level of 0.113% two hours after the crash, police said. The legal limit is 0.08%.

Gov. shortens DWI prison sentence of former Chiefs assistant Britt Reid

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and asking for help to identify the suspects who were involved.

On February 22, an innocent man was leaving a gas station in the 4500 Block of Cleveland Avenue and was asked for a dollar and gave it, according to KCPD Police Captain Jake Becchina. He was then shot and robbed.&nbsp;

When the man lays on the ground injured,&nbsp; one of three suspects goes through his pockets, looking for valuables.Towards the end of the security camera video, the suspects are seen inside the store.

If you can identify any of the suspects, please contact the Robbery Unit at 816-234-5230 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. You can also visit <a href="http://www.kccrimestoppers.com/?fbclid=IwAR3jBKi9xmmPxyTMzwAGF9rJjR4df96hINP36fA9YgeTOZOxr6nD7zxlDoo" target="_blank">www.kccrimestoppers.com/</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709326640151.png" alt="Image KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Image KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and asking for help to identify the suspects who were involved.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkcpolice%2Fvideos%2F924786385626652%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>On February 22, an innocent man was leaving a gas station in the 4500 Block of Cleveland Avenue and was asked for a dollar and gave it, according to KCPD Police Captain Jake Becchina. He was then shot and robbed.&nbsp;When the man lays on the ground injured,&nbsp; one of three suspects goes through his pockets, looking for valuables.Towards the end of the security camera video, the suspects are seen inside the store.If you can identify any of the suspects, please contact the Robbery Unit at 816-234-5230 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. You can also visit <a href="http://www.kccrimestoppers.com/?fbclid=IwAR3jBKi9xmmPxyTMzwAGF9rJjR4df96hINP36fA9YgeTOZOxr6nD7zxlDoo" target="_blank">www.kccrimestoppers.com/</a>

🎥 Police ask for help to ID suspects in violent KC armed robbery

KANSAS CITY — Multiple felonies have been filed against a Kansas City area man who fatally shot an Independence police officer and a 16th Circuit Court process server on Thursday, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2360/LDAcree-Redacted-Documents">Click here to read the full</a> charging documents

Larry D. Acree, 69, faces two counts of Murder in the 1st Degree, Assault in the 1st Degree for wounding a police officer and three additional counts of Armed Criminal Action charges. Acree remains hospitalized in intensive care and will be moved to the Jackson County Detention Center as soon as he is able, according to Baker. He faces a $2 million bond.

According to court record filed Friday, the process server identified as&nbsp;Drexel Mack had gone to a residence on North Elsea Smith Road in rural Jackson County to evict any person on the property.

On Feb. 23, a “Notice to Vacate” sign was posted at the property, according to the probable cause affidavit. It stemmed from court actions that began one year earlier. Acree “didn't have any right to be there," Baker said.

On Thursday, Mack and another process service arrived at the address to physically evict Acree. Both of the process servers removed a padlock from the gated drive, the statement said.

The two process servers then approached the front of the home, where they knocked and announced their presence. No one answered, so the property maintenance contractor drilled out the lock on the front door, the statement said. They then entered the home and were fired upon. Mack was struck and fell to the floor just inside the front door, court records said.

The other process server ran and sought help, court records said. Independence police then rushed to the home, where three officers entered the home and tried to retrieve Mack. They then came under additional gunfire, court records said.

Allen was struck in the head, and a second officer was struck in the torso, court records said.

Officers then returned fire, and the suspect was taken into custody. The wounded were taken to nearby Centerpoint Medical Hospital, where Mack and Allen were pronounced dead.

The officer struck in the torso underwent surgery and is expected to survive. That officer also sustained additional injuries to the arms and face.

The home where the eviction notice was being served had been sold recently and had delinquent taxes dating to at least 2019, records show.

Acree also had been ordered to pay a roofing company, with $32,155 due as of Aug. 1, according to court records. Records from later that month in the case signaled that a property sale was in the works.

The sale was completed on Aug. 14 for $260,000, with a judgment of $27,733.47 subtracted from the total, records show.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1709258563931.png" alt="Independence Officer Cody Allen was 35.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Independence Officer Cody Allen was 35.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — Multiple felonies have been filed against a Kansas City area man who fatally shot an Independence police officer and a 16th Circuit Court process server on Thursday, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2360/LDAcree-Redacted-Documents">Click here to read the full</a> charging documents<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709313405919.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Larry D. Acree, 69, faces two counts of Murder in the 1st Degree, Assault in the 1st Degree for wounding a police officer and three additional counts of Armed Criminal Action charges. Acree remains hospitalized in intensive care and will be moved to the Jackson County Detention Center as soon as he is able, according to Baker. He faces a $2 million bond.According to court record filed Friday, the process server identified as&nbsp;Drexel Mack had gone to a residence on North Elsea Smith Road in rural Jackson County to evict any person on the property.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1709244242928.png" alt="An ariel view of the property following the deadly shooting -courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>An ariel view of the property following the deadly shooting -courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>On Feb. 23, a “Notice to Vacate” sign was posted at the property, according to the probable cause affidavit. It stemmed from court actions that began one year earlier. Acree “didn't have any right to be there," Baker said.On Thursday, Mack and another process service arrived at the address to physically evict Acree. Both of the process servers removed a padlock from the gated drive, the statement said.The two process servers then approached the front of the home, where they knocked and announced their presence. No one answered, so the property maintenance contractor drilled out the lock on the front door, the statement said. They then entered the home and were fired upon. Mack was struck and fell to the floor just inside the front door, court records said.The other process server ran and sought help, court records said. Independence police then rushed to the home, where three officers entered the home and tried to retrieve Mack. They then came under additional gunfire, court records said.Allen was struck in the head, and a second officer was struck in the torso, court records said.Officers then returned fire, and the suspect was taken into custody. The wounded were taken to nearby Centerpoint Medical Hospital, where Mack and Allen were pronounced dead.The officer struck in the torso underwent surgery and is expected to survive. That officer also sustained additional injuries to the arms and face.The home where the eviction notice was being served had been sold recently and had delinquent taxes dating to at least 2019, records show.Acree also had been ordered to pay a roofing company, with $32,155 due as of Aug. 1, according to court records. Records from later that month in the case signaled that a property sale was in the works.The sale was completed on Aug. 14 for $260,000, with a judgment of $27,733.47 subtracted from the total, records show.-The AP contributed to this report

Prosecutor IDs suspect, files charges in death of officer, process server

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to stay in isolation for five days, U.S. health officials announced Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/respiratory-virus-guidance.html">changed its longstanding guidance</a>, saying that people can return to work or regular activities if their symptoms are mild and improving and it's been a day since they've had a fever.

The change comes at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#demographicsovertime">COVID-19 is no longer the public health menace</a>&nbsp;it once was. It dropped from being the nation's third leading cause of death early in the pandemic to 10th last year.

Most people have some degree of immunity to the coronavirus from past vaccinations or from infections. And many people are not following the five-day isolation guidance anyway, some experts say.

“Our goal here is to continue to protect those at risk for severe illness while also reassuring folks that these recommendation are simple, clear, easy to understand, and can be followed,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, the CDC’s director,

However, some experts worry that the change may increase the risk of infection for older people and others who are more vulnerable to getting seriously ill.

COVID-19 is not causing as many hospitalizations and deaths as it did in the first years of the pandemic. The change is an effort to streamline recommendations so they are similar to longstanding recommendations for flu and other respiratory viruses. Many people with a runny nose, cough or other symptoms aren't testing to distinguish whether it's COVID-19, flu, or something else, officials say.

It may not be as stringent, but the guidance emphasizes that all people with respiratory symptoms should stay home while they are sick, said Dr. David Margolius, the head of Cleveland's health department.

People are likely still contagious when they test positive, and that hasn’t changed, said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University’s School of Public Health.

“What has changed is how much COVID is harming us as a population,” Nuzzo said.

Officials noted that some other countries and California and Oregon have eased isolation guidance in a manner similar to CDC’s latest change — and did not see an increases in cases.

If you have symptoms, stay home until your symptoms are mild and improving and it’s been a day since you've had a fever. But then you can remain cautious by wearing a mask and keeping a distance from others.

However, the CDC guidance for workers at nursing homes and other health care facilities is staying the same. That includes a recommendation that medical personnel stay home at least seven days after symptoms first appear, and that they test negative within two days of returning to work.

The agency is emphasizing that everyone should still try to prevent infections in the first place, by getting vaccinated, washing their hands, and taking steps to bring in more outdoor fresh air.

Yes, and even some who understand the rationale for the change have concerns.

“My biggest worry in all of this is that employers will take this change in guidance to require employees to come back to work ... before they are ready to, before they feel well enough, and before they are not likely to pose harm to their co-workers,” Nuzzo said.

COVID-19 remains especially dangerous to older people and those with other medical conditions. There are still more than&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklyhospitaladmissions_select_00">20,000 hospitalizations</a>&nbsp;and more than&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklydeaths_select_00">2,000 deaths</a>&nbsp;each week due to the coronavirus, according to the CDC. Those 65 and older have the highest hospitalization and death rates.

This week, the CDC said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-shots-over-65-84bd91f6c51db7bbb334bd18a07e4f3b">seniors should get another dose</a>&nbsp;of the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

IS THIS THE FIRST CHANGE FOR ISOLATION GUIDELINES?

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to stay in isolation for five days, U.S. health officials announced Friday.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/respiratory-virus-guidance.html">changed its longstanding guidance</a>, saying that people can return to work or regular activities if their symptoms are mild and improving and it's been a day since they've had a fever.The change comes at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#demographicsovertime">COVID-19 is no longer the public health menace</a>&nbsp;it once was. It dropped from being the nation's third leading cause of death early in the pandemic to 10th last year.Most people have some degree of immunity to the coronavirus from past vaccinations or from infections. And many people are not following the five-day isolation guidance anyway, some experts say.“Our goal here is to continue to protect those at risk for severe illness while also reassuring folks that these recommendation are simple, clear, easy to understand, and can be followed,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, the CDC’s director,However, some experts worry that the change may increase the risk of infection for older people and others who are more vulnerable to getting seriously ill.WHY ARE THE GUIDELINES CHANGING?COVID-19 is not causing as many hospitalizations and deaths as it did in the first years of the pandemic. The change is an effort to streamline recommendations so they are similar to longstanding recommendations for flu and other respiratory viruses. Many people with a runny nose, cough or other symptoms aren't testing to distinguish whether it's COVID-19, flu, or something else, officials say.It may not be as stringent, but the guidance emphasizes that all people with respiratory symptoms should stay home while they are sick, said Dr. David Margolius, the head of Cleveland's health department.People are likely still contagious when they test positive, and that hasn’t changed, said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University’s School of Public Health.“What has changed is how much COVID is harming us as a population,” Nuzzo said.Officials noted that some other countries and California and Oregon have eased isolation guidance in a manner similar to CDC’s latest change — and did not see an increases in cases.WHAT ARE THE NEW GUIDELINES?If you have symptoms, stay home until your symptoms are mild and improving and it’s been a day since you've had a fever. But then you can remain cautious by wearing a mask and keeping a distance from others.However, the CDC guidance for workers at nursing homes and other health care facilities is staying the same. That includes a recommendation that medical personnel stay home at least seven days after symptoms first appear, and that they test negative within two days of returning to work.The agency is emphasizing that everyone should still try to prevent infections in the first place, by getting vaccinated, washing their hands, and taking steps to bring in more outdoor fresh air.IS THERE OPPOSITION TO THIS CHANGE?Yes, and even some who understand the rationale for the change have concerns.“My biggest worry in all of this is that employers will take this change in guidance to require employees to come back to work ... before they are ready to, before they feel well enough, and before they are not likely to pose harm to their co-workers,” Nuzzo said.COVID-19 remains especially dangerous to older people and those with other medical conditions. There are still more than&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklyhospitaladmissions_select_00">20,000 hospitalizations</a>&nbsp;and more than&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklydeaths_select_00">2,000 deaths</a>&nbsp;each week due to the coronavirus, according to the CDC. Those 65 and older have the highest hospitalization and death rates.This week, the CDC said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-shots-over-65-84bd91f6c51db7bbb334bd18a07e4f3b">seniors should get another dose</a>&nbsp;of the updated COVID-19 vaccine.IS THIS THE FIRST CHANGE FOR ISOLATION GUIDELINES?

U.S. health officials drop 5-day isolation time for COVID-19

TOPEKA — A committee in the Kansas House found bipartisan support for the idea of earmarking $450 million to lowering the unfunded liability of the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System.

On Thursday, about 24 hours after the initial vote, a majority on the House Appropriations Committee reversed course. The decision had something to do with the idea of maintaining a hefty cash balance that could be devoted to tax reform or spending priorities. Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a $1.6 billion tax bill, but Republicans in the House and Senate were expected to pull together an alternative within the next few weeks.

Representatives initially drawn to the KPERS idea said reconsideration was in order.

“Yesterday afternoon, you could say I had an epiphany,” said Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican. “It’s best to leave this money on the sidelines until we do have a tax plan.”

GOP Rep. Bill Sutton of Gardner confessed to second thoughts: “I’d agree what we did yesterday wasn’t the best direction.”

KPERS has $9.6 billion in unfunded liabilities, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t sufficient cash to meet obligations to retirees for years. The retirement system holds $27 billion in assets. The unfunded liability represented the gap between the trust fund’s assets and future benefit payments, and was a number useful in long-term planning.

The Democratic governor had proposed the Legislature use $450 million of the state’s multibillion-dollar budget surplus to pay off bond debt acquired by KPERS when the system borrowed to invest in the market under a scheme to generate supplemental revenue and chip away at the unfunded liability. A GOP-led House subcommittee didn’t like her idea of eradicating KPERS debt tied to relatively low interest rates.

“We just didn’t feel like it was something that needed to be done,” said Rep. Kyle Hoffman, R-Coldwater.

In the alternative, Rep. Henry Helgerson, D-Wichita, did convince the full appropriations committee Wednesday to apply $450 million to the unfunded liability. Good business sense was abandoned Thursday in favor of sitting on a stockpile of cash that could be part of a mega-tax bill, he said.

“A tax plan that will push us over the edge,” Helgerson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709319254597.png" alt="Rep. Henry Helgerson, D-Wichita, failed to convince colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee to stick with a plan to use $450 million from the state’s budget surplus to reduce the unfunded liability of the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Legislature’s YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Henry Helgerson, D-Wichita, failed to convince colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee to stick with a plan to use $450 million from the state’s budget surplus to reduce the unfunded liability of the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Legislature’s YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A committee in the Kansas House found bipartisan support for the idea of earmarking $450 million to lowering the unfunded liability of the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System.On Thursday, about 24 hours after the initial vote, a majority on the House Appropriations Committee reversed course. The decision had something to do with the idea of maintaining a hefty cash balance that could be devoted to tax reform or spending priorities. Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a $1.6 billion tax bill, but Republicans in the House and Senate were expected to pull together an alternative within the next few weeks.Representatives initially drawn to the KPERS idea said reconsideration was in order.“Yesterday afternoon, you could say I had an epiphany,” said Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican. “It’s best to leave this money on the sidelines until we do have a tax plan.”GOP Rep. Bill Sutton of Gardner confessed to second thoughts: “I’d agree what we did yesterday wasn’t the best direction.”KPERS has $9.6 billion in unfunded liabilities, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t sufficient cash to meet obligations to retirees for years. The retirement system holds $27 billion in assets. The unfunded liability represented the gap between the trust fund’s assets and future benefit payments, and was a number useful in long-term planning.The Democratic governor had proposed the Legislature use $450 million of the state’s multibillion-dollar budget surplus to pay off bond debt acquired by KPERS when the system borrowed to invest in the market under a scheme to generate supplemental revenue and chip away at the unfunded liability. A GOP-led House subcommittee didn’t like her idea of eradicating KPERS debt tied to relatively low interest rates.“We just didn’t feel like it was something that needed to be done,” said Rep. Kyle Hoffman, R-Coldwater.In the alternative, Rep. Henry Helgerson, D-Wichita, did convince the full appropriations committee Wednesday to apply $450 million to the unfunded liability. Good business sense was abandoned Thursday in favor of sitting on a stockpile of cash that could be part of a mega-tax bill, he said.“A tax plan that will push us over the edge,” Helgerson said.

House committee gets cold feet on plan to buy down $450 million in KPERS’ bonds

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri's attorney general filed a lawsuit Thursday accusing Planned Parenthood of illegally taking minors into Kansas to obtain abortions without parental consent, basing the allegation on a video from a conservative group that has promoted false claims on other issues.

Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey's lawsuit accuses Kansas City, Missouri-based Planned Parenthood Great Plains of violating Missouri law, which makes it illegal to “intentionally cause, aid, or assist a minor to obtain an abortion” without consent from a parent or guardian. The lawsuit filed in state district court in Columbia, Missouri, asks the court to stop Planned Parenthood from engaging in the conduct it alleges.

Bailey's lawsuit provides no evidence of the actions alleged outside of a hidden camera video from a conservative group, Project Veritas. The video is of a conversation between Planned Parenthood employees and someone impersonating someone seeking an abortion for a fictitious 13-year-old.

Project Veritas is known for conducting such hidden camera stings. Earlier this month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-pennsylvania-postmaster-ballots-2020-project-veritas-327d470d18ec40792ffe4ead61feeb92">it acknowledged</a>&nbsp;that claims it made in a video alleging ballot mishandling at a Pennsylvania post office in 2020 were untrue as it settled a lawsuit against the group by a postmaster. In 2021, a Project Veritas video fueled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-social-media-b0c5633662b18765458d7abfe9203708">a false claim</a>&nbsp;online that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine contains aborted fetal cells.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains President and CEO Emily Wales said the lawsuit is based on false information. She said in a statement that Planned Parenthood does not provide any form of transportation for patients. Besides, she said, Kansas law requires minor patients seeking abortion services to have parental consent or to show an order from a Kansas judge authorizing it.

“We will continue following state and federal laws and proudly providing Missourians with the compassionate sexual and reproductive care that remains available to them in a state with a total abortion ban,” Wales said.

Project Veritas did not immediately respond Thursday to a telephone message or email seeking comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709305902379.png" alt="The Planned Parenthood office at&nbsp;6013 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas-Google image" />
 <figcaption>The Planned Parenthood office at&nbsp;6013 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM SALTER and JOHN HANNA&nbsp;KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri's attorney general filed a lawsuit Thursday accusing Planned Parenthood of illegally taking minors into Kansas to obtain abortions without parental consent, basing the allegation on a video from a conservative group that has promoted false claims on other issues.Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey's lawsuit accuses Kansas City, Missouri-based Planned Parenthood Great Plains of violating Missouri law, which makes it illegal to “intentionally cause, aid, or assist a minor to obtain an abortion” without consent from a parent or guardian. The lawsuit filed in state district court in Columbia, Missouri, asks the court to stop Planned Parenthood from engaging in the conduct it alleges.Bailey's lawsuit provides no evidence of the actions alleged outside of a hidden camera video from a conservative group, Project Veritas. The video is of a conversation between Planned Parenthood employees and someone impersonating someone seeking an abortion for a fictitious 13-year-old.Project Veritas is known for conducting such hidden camera stings. Earlier this month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-pennsylvania-postmaster-ballots-2020-project-veritas-327d470d18ec40792ffe4ead61feeb92">it acknowledged</a>&nbsp;that claims it made in a video alleging ballot mishandling at a Pennsylvania post office in 2020 were untrue as it settled a lawsuit against the group by a postmaster. In 2021, a Project Veritas video fueled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-social-media-b0c5633662b18765458d7abfe9203708">a false claim</a>&nbsp;online that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine contains aborted fetal cells.Planned Parenthood Great Plains President and CEO Emily Wales said the lawsuit is based on false information. She said in a statement that Planned Parenthood does not provide any form of transportation for patients. Besides, she said, Kansas law requires minor patients seeking abortion services to have parental consent or to show an order from a Kansas judge authorizing it.“We will continue following state and federal laws and proudly providing Missourians with the compassionate sexual and reproductive care that remains available to them in a state with a total abortion ban,” Wales said.Project Veritas did not immediately respond Thursday to a telephone message or email seeking comment.Missouri is among several conservative-led states that adopted restrictive abortion laws in 2022, after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision</a>&nbsp;establishing the nationwide right to abortion. State law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-missouri-government-and-politics-7bb5798bae32c3f15abad3a10941dfb5">prohibits almost all abortions</a>, except in cases of “medical emergencies.”GOP lawmakers and state officials have long been at odds with Planned Parenthood. The Republican-led Missouri House on Wednesday gave initial approval to a bill that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-medicaid-planned-parenthood-abortion-e7e22d27dd201e32afed756653277aa0">bar Medicaid funding</a>&nbsp;from going to Planned Parenthood. Weeks earlier, the Missouri Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-medicaid-planned-parenthood-5e343d00de4cc4b3e3a7bcbe5f56">thwarted a previous attempt</a>&nbsp;to end that funding.Bailey said in a statement it is time to “eradicate Planned Parenthood once and for all."Bailey's lawsuit, based on the Project Vertias video, alleges that Planned Parenthood employees said they could take the girl to a Kansas clinic without parental knowledge, using a doctor’s note written by someone at Planned Parenthood to get the girl out of school.“This is the beginning of the end for Planned Parenthood in the State of Missouri. What they conceal and conspire to do in the dark of night has now been uncovered,” Bailey said.Bailey did not say whether he planned to file criminal charges against Planned Parenthood over the conduct the lawsuit alleges. His spokesperson said the office's investigation is ongoing but did not immediately respond to a question about whether criminal charges could be coming.But Wales said the Project Veritas video “is heavily doctored and edited.” She called the lawsuit “a press release dressed up as legal action from an unelected attorney general.”The lawsuit also asks the court to prohibit Planned Parenthood from referring minors for abortions, providing doctor's notes for minors, paying for lodging for out-of-state abortions for minors, or coordinating with others for any of those activities.Democratic House Minority Leader Crystal Quade told reporters that she believes that Bailey's action “falls in the bucket again of another lawsuit just to try to get some headlines in an election year.”Bailey was appointed attorney general by Republican Gov. Mike Parson after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-senate-race-2022-midterm-elections-91f950681a72abe1ea6bc20f45bf42ec#:~:text=(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Republican%20Missouri%20Attorney,for%20control%20of%20the%20Senate.">Eric Schmitt</a>&nbsp;was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2022. Bailey is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-missouri-ad410ff9ea2f278ba0058d56bf27f8b2">running for election</a>&nbsp;to the post this year.