TOKYO (AP) — A search continued Saturday for seven missing military personnel following the crash of an Osprey off the coast of southern Japan, and a body pulled from the ocean was formally identified.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was formally identified by the the Air Force Special Operations Command on Saturday, after tributes had begun pouring in the day before.

His family issued a statement Saturday saying it was in mourning and asking for privacy and prayers for his wife, two children and other family members.

“Jacob was an incredible son, brother, husband, father and friend to so many. His short life touched and made better the lives of hundreds, if not thousands in Pittsfield, in this region and everywhere he served,” the family said. “Jacob lived to serve his family, his country and the people he loved.”

Galliher was the only crew member recovered while the others remained missing after the crash on Wednesday off Yakushima Island. Participants in the search operation Saturday included the U.S military, Japanese Self Defense Force, Coast Guard, law enforcement and civilian volunteers.

“We want to assure our air commandos’ families that our efforts will continue and include every possible capability at our disposal,” said Rear Adm. Jeromy Williams, Pacific commander for the Special Operations Command.

The cause of the crash, which occurred during a training mission, was under investigation.

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command said the CV-22B Osprey was one of six deployed to Yokota Air Base, home to U.S. Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force, and assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing.

The Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter but can tilt its propellers horizontally to fly like an airplane while aloft. U.S. Osprey operations continued in Japan, but the remaining five Ospreys from the squadron involved in Wednesday’s crash weren’t flying, officials said Friday.

TOKYO (AP) — A search continued Saturday for seven missing military personnel following the crash of an Osprey off the coast of southern Japan, and a body pulled from the ocean was formally identified.Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was formally identified by the the Air Force Special Operations Command on Saturday, after tributes had begun pouring in the day before.His family issued a statement Saturday saying it was in mourning and asking for privacy and prayers for his wife, two children and other family members.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPittsfieldPolice%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0BvaGmgPeiZjkGG5bGr2VHxDeo1FuN93JavXpKbpoAvfnPQ1mfme5hvTjRPvVLBvNl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="775" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>“Jacob was an incredible son, brother, husband, father and friend to so many. His short life touched and made better the lives of hundreds, if not thousands in Pittsfield, in this region and everywhere he served,” the family said. “Jacob lived to serve his family, his country and the people he loved.”Galliher was the only crew member recovered while the others remained missing after the crash on Wednesday off Yakushima Island. Participants in the search operation Saturday included the U.S military, Japanese Self Defense Force, Coast Guard, law enforcement and civilian volunteers.“We want to assure our air commandos’ families that our efforts will continue and include every possible capability at our disposal,” said Rear Adm. Jeromy Williams, Pacific commander for the Special Operations Command.The cause of the crash, which occurred during a training mission, was under investigation.U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command said the CV-22B Osprey was one of six deployed to Yokota Air Base, home to U.S. Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force, and assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing.The Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter but can tilt its propellers horizontally to fly like an airplane while aloft. U.S. Osprey operations continued in Japan, but the remaining five Ospreys from the squadron involved in Wednesday’s crash weren’t flying, officials said Friday.

Remains of U.S. airman from Osprey crash identified, others remain missing

DALLAS —Over the last 30 years, Dr Pepper has awarded over $17.5M in tuition to deserving students. The company is giving away more than anticipated this year. The showdown for tuition at halftime of the Big 12 championship, where two contestants throw footballs into a massive Dr Pepper cans, had a double overtime finish and ultimately a shootout.&nbsp;

It didn't end there. A few hours later Dr. Pepper announced that an on-field technical error was responsible for officials incorrectly breaking the tie. Anyone who knows how to count and was watching probably saw the mistake.&nbsp;

Dr. Pepper decided to give both finalists, Gavin from Ohio State and Ryan from Penn, the $100,000 tuition prize.&nbsp;

DALLAS —Over the last 30 years, Dr Pepper has awarded over $17.5M in tuition to deserving students. The company is giving away more than anticipated this year. The showdown for tuition at halftime of the Big 12 championship, where two contestants throw footballs into a massive Dr Pepper cans, had a double overtime finish and ultimately a shootout.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway (chest pass) contest went to DOUBLE OVERTIME at the Big 12 Championship. 🏈🚨🚨 <a href="https://t.co/2vo0DZOVla">pic.twitter.com/2vo0DZOVla</a>&mdash; Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) <a href="https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1731031297806713275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It didn't end there. A few hours later Dr. Pepper announced that an on-field technical error was responsible for officials incorrectly breaking the tie. Anyone who knows how to count and was watching probably saw the mistake.&nbsp;Dr. Pepper decided to give both finalists, Gavin from Ohio State and Ryan from Penn, the $100,000 tuition prize.&nbsp;

🎥: Dr. Pepper tuition giveaway ends in double OT controversy

WASHINGTON — Aircraft from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) Carrier Air Wing intercepted an Iranian Mohajer-6 Surveillance and Attack Drone Saturday, according to a statement of U.S. Central Command.

The drone was Operating in an “Unsafe and Unprofessional Manner” near Carrier Strike Group 2 (CSG-2) in the Persian Gulf; there was no damage to ships or crew during the Interception.

A U.S. Navy warship sailing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait shot down a drone launched from Yemen on Wednesday, the U.S. military said, in the latest in a string of threats from Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

U.S. Central Command said the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, downed the drone — an Iranian-made KAS-04 — which was launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen and was heading toward the warship.

The ship was operating in the the southern Red Sea and was moving toward the strait. At the time of the morning shootdown, the Carney was escorting the USNS Supply, a Military Sealift Command fast combat supply ship, as well as another U.S. flagged and crewed ship carrying military equipment to the region. There were no injuries to U.S. personnel and no damage to the ships, the command said in a statement.

The shootdown came a day after a Iranian drone flew within 1,500 yards (1,370 meters) of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier as it was conducting flight operations in international waters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701554833967.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — Aircraft from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) Carrier Air Wing intercepted an Iranian Mohajer-6 Surveillance and Attack Drone Saturday, according to a statement of U.S. Central Command.The drone was Operating in an “Unsafe and Unprofessional Manner” near Carrier Strike Group 2 (CSG-2) in the Persian Gulf; there was no damage to ships or crew during the Interception.A U.S. Navy warship sailing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait shot down a drone launched from Yemen on Wednesday, the U.S. military said, in the latest in a string of threats from Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.U.S. Central Command said the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, downed the drone — an Iranian-made KAS-04 — which was launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen and was heading toward the warship.The ship was operating in the the southern Red Sea and was moving toward the strait. At the time of the morning shootdown, the Carney was escorting the USNS Supply, a Military Sealift Command fast combat supply ship, as well as another U.S. flagged and crewed ship carrying military equipment to the region. There were no injuries to U.S. personnel and no damage to the ships, the command said in a statement.The shootdown came a day after a Iranian drone flew within 1,500 yards (1,370 meters) of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier as it was conducting flight operations in international waters.

US carrier group in Mideast intercepts Iranian-produced drone

SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a registered sex offender on new allegations.

This week, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigations Division conducted an investigation into child sex crimes and made an arrest.

Deputies took 54-year-old&nbsp; Craig Melvin Wilson Jr. into custody on requested charges of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child and an Offender Registration Violation, according to Sheriff's Lt. Scott Wanamaker.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701364633603.png" alt="Wilson-photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Wilson-photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a registered sex offender on new allegations.This week, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigations Division conducted an investigation into child sex crimes and made an arrest.Deputies took 54-year-old&nbsp; Craig Melvin Wilson Jr. into custody on requested charges of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child and an Offender Registration Violation, according to Sheriff's Lt. Scott Wanamaker.

Kansas sex offender accused of new child sex crimes

KANSAS CITY –A&nbsp; judge sentenced a Kansas City man this week to 25 years in state prison for the fatal shooting of a Kansas City man in June 2022, as well as the wounding of a female victim, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Andrew Young, 30, pleaded guilty earlier this year to Murder 2nd Degree, Assault in the 1st Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action. As part of a plea agreement, the defendant was sentenced to 22 years on the Murder 2nd Degree and Assault convictions, while three more years were added for the Armed Criminal Action convictions. The total sentence was 25 years.&nbsp;

According to court records, Kansas City police officers responded to the 4500 block of Colonial Terrace on a reported shooting. A woman victim told them she had been struck by gunfire and officers found a second victim deceased in the residence. 

The woman stated the deceased victim had been involved in a car deal with a man who arrived at the residence and fired shots at both, wounding the woman and fatally wounding the man.

 While at the residence, the defendant drank a beer, which detectives were able to connect to the defendant through DNA. Phone records and the defendant himself subsequently confirmed that the two were communicating about selling a car.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701192565939.png" alt="Young-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Young-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY –A&nbsp; judge sentenced a Kansas City man this week to 25 years in state prison for the fatal shooting of a Kansas City man in June 2022, as well as the wounding of a female victim, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Andrew Young, 30, pleaded guilty earlier this year to Murder 2nd Degree, Assault in the 1st Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action. As part of a plea agreement, the defendant was sentenced to 22 years on the Murder 2nd Degree and Assault convictions, while three more years were added for the Armed Criminal Action convictions. The total sentence was 25 years.&nbsp;According to court records, Kansas City police officers responded to the 4500 block of Colonial Terrace on a reported shooting. A woman victim told them she had been struck by gunfire and officers found a second victim deceased in the residence. The woman stated the deceased victim had been involved in a car deal with a man who arrived at the residence and fired shots at both, wounding the woman and fatally wounding the man. While at the residence, the defendant drank a beer, which detectives were able to connect to the defendant through DNA. Phone records and the defendant himself subsequently confirmed that the two were communicating about selling a car.

Kansas City man sentenced for killing over car deal

WICHITA —A federal grand jury in Wichita&nbsp;returned an indictment charging two men with drug crimes.

According to court documents, Omar Cebreros, 42 and Mario Ahumada-Adame, 32, both of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, were indicted on two counts of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession with intention to distribute methamphetamine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Kansas Highway Patrol are investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701287865847.png" alt="Cebreros-photo Butler Co." />
 <figcaption>Cebreros-photo Butler Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —A federal grand jury in Wichita&nbsp;returned an indictment charging two men with drug crimes.According to court documents, Omar Cebreros, 42 and Mario Ahumada-Adame, 32, both of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, were indicted on two counts of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession with intention to distribute methamphetamine.The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Kansas Highway Patrol are investigating the case.

2 from Mexico accused of selling fentanyl, cocaine in Kansas

By&nbsp;RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A leading Kansas civil rights organization says an estimated 30,000 people living in the state should be informed they have the right to vote.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas launched a campaign to reach out to Kansans with felony records and encourage them to register to vote and to participate in local, state and national elections.

“Many Kansans don’t know their voting rights have been restored after they complete probation or parole, but the law is clear that they have the right to vote,” said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas. “We invite everyone in our state, including and especially election and corrections officials, to join us in this work to inform our fellow Kansans when they are eligible and how to register to vote.”

Kansas has more stringent voting restrictions than about half of the country, the ACLU said. In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/felon-voting-rights">more than 20 states</a>, including Indiana and Ohio, voting rights are only restricted while the person is incarcerated. In Maine, Vermont and Washington, D.C., people never lose the right to vote, even while in prison or jail.&nbsp;

In Kansan, individuals who complete their sentences and fulfill their incarceration and supervised release requirements — which can sometimes be a long and arduous process— have voting rights restored&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch22/022_037_0022.html">under statute</a>.

Eliza Barr, executive director of Reaching Out from Within, an organization focused on rehabilitation and healing for people involved in the corrections system, said felony disenfranchisement laws are rooted in racism.&nbsp; In a statement announcing the voting rights campaign in Kansas, Barr said the justice system disproportionately targets Black people, people of color and poorer citizens.&nbsp;

“Withholding access to vote – even if that’s just through voter confusion or lack of clarity – still prolongs punishment against those who have already served their sentence,” Barr said. “When Kansans have had their voting rights restored, we should be enthusiastically empowering them to register to vote if they wish to.”

“Anything short of proactively including system-impacted Kansans in the voting process contradicts what it means for us to be the Free State,” Barr said.&nbsp;

The ACLU’s current goal is to register a minimum of 2,400 eligible voters in Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701356450030.png" alt="Thousands of Kansans with felony records are eligible to vote, according to the ACLU of Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Thousands of Kansans with felony records are eligible to vote, according to the ACLU of Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A leading Kansas civil rights organization says an estimated 30,000 people living in the state should be informed they have the right to vote.The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas launched a campaign to reach out to Kansans with felony records and encourage them to register to vote and to participate in local, state and national elections.“Many Kansans don’t know their voting rights have been restored after they complete probation or parole, but the law is clear that they have the right to vote,” said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas. “We invite everyone in our state, including and especially election and corrections officials, to join us in this work to inform our fellow Kansans when they are eligible and how to register to vote.”Kansas has more stringent voting restrictions than about half of the country, the ACLU said. In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/felon-voting-rights">more than 20 states</a>, including Indiana and Ohio, voting rights are only restricted while the person is incarcerated. In Maine, Vermont and Washington, D.C., people never lose the right to vote, even while in prison or jail.&nbsp;In Kansan, individuals who complete their sentences and fulfill their incarceration and supervised release requirements — which can sometimes be a long and arduous process— have voting rights restored&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch22/022_037_0022.html">under statute</a>.Eliza Barr, executive director of Reaching Out from Within, an organization focused on rehabilitation and healing for people involved in the corrections system, said felony disenfranchisement laws are rooted in racism.&nbsp; In a statement announcing the voting rights campaign in Kansas, Barr said the justice system disproportionately targets Black people, people of color and poorer citizens.&nbsp;“Withholding access to vote – even if that’s just through voter confusion or lack of clarity – still prolongs punishment against those who have already served their sentence,” Barr said. “When Kansans have had their voting rights restored, we should be enthusiastically empowering them to register to vote if they wish to.”“Anything short of proactively including system-impacted Kansans in the voting process contradicts what it means for us to be the Free State,” Barr said.&nbsp;The ACLU’s current goal is to register a minimum of 2,400 eligible voters in Kansas.&nbsp;

ACLU launches effort to inform Kansans with felony records of their voting rights

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas felon accused in a Thanksgiving week fatal crash made his first court appearance this week.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=150467">Dalton Huffman,</a> 30, was charged&nbsp;with&nbsp;involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and driving while suspended, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 10p.m. November 22, a pickup driven by Huffman was southbound near Central and Ridge Road in Wichita, according to police. The pickup collided with a northbound vehicle driven by 24-year-old Anastasia Carter of Wichita.

EMS transported both drivers to an area hospital where Carter was pronounced deceased. Huffman was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and booked into jail on Thanksgiving.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Huffman has a previous conviction for drug possession in Ford County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He is being held jailed on $250,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701194075344.png" alt="Huffman-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Huffman-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas felon accused in a Thanksgiving week fatal crash made his first court appearance this week.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=150467">Dalton Huffman,</a> 30, was charged&nbsp;with&nbsp;involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and driving while suspended, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 10p.m. November 22, a pickup driven by Huffman was southbound near Central and Ridge Road in Wichita, according to police. The pickup collided with a northbound vehicle driven by 24-year-old Anastasia Carter of Wichita.EMS transported both drivers to an area hospital where Carter was pronounced deceased. Huffman was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and booked into jail on Thanksgiving.&nbsp;&nbsp;Huffman has a previous conviction for drug possession in Ford County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He is being held jailed on $250,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. felon makes court appearance for crash that killed woman

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. life expectancy rose last year — by more than a year — but still isn't close to what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2022 rise was mainly due to the waning pandemic, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr031.pdf">said Wednesday</a>. But even with the large increase, U.S. life expectancy is only back to 77 years, 6 months — about what it was two decades ago.

Life expectancy is an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live, assuming the death rates at that time hold constant. The snapshot statistic is considered one of the most important measures of the health of the U.S. population. The 2022 calculations released Wednesday are provisional, and could change a little as the math is finalized.

For decades, U.S. life expectancy rose a little nearly every year. But about a decade ago, the trend flattened and even declined some years — a stall blamed largely on overdose deaths and suicides.

Then came the coronavirus, which has killed&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home">more than 1.1 million people</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. since early 2020. The measure of American longevity plunged, dropping from 78 years, 10 months in 2019 to 77 years in 2020, and then to 76 years, 5 months in 2021.

“We basically have lost 20 years of gains,” said the CDC’s Elizabeth Arias.

A decline in COVID-19 deaths drove 2022’s improvement.

In 2021, COVID was the nation's third leading cause of death (after heart disease and cancer). Last year, it fell to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7218a3.htm">fourth leading cause</a>. With more than a month left in the current year, preliminary data suggests COVID-19 could end up being the ninth or 10th leading cause of death in 2023.

But the U.S. is battling other issues, including drug overdose deaths and suicides.

The number of U.S. suicides reached an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/suicides-record-2022-guns-48511d74deb24d933e66cec1b6f2d545">all-time high</a>&nbsp;last year, and the national suicide rate was the highest seen since 1941, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr034.pdf">a second CDC report</a>&nbsp;released Wednesday.

Drug overdose deaths in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-overdose-deaths-cdc-3c3848da5f8aa01d7b9f232ba5a34152">went up slightly</a>&nbsp;last year after two big leaps at the beginning of the pandemic. And through the first six months of this year, the estimated overdose death toll&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm">continued to inch up</a>.

U.S. life expectancy also continues to be lower than that of dozens of other countries. It also didn't rebound as quickly as it did in other places, including France, Italy, Spain and Sweden.

Steven Woolf, a mortality researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University, said he expects the U.S. to eventually get back to the pre-pandemic life expectancy.

But “what I’m trying to say is: That is not a great place to be,” he added.

Some other highlights from the new report:

— Life expectancy increased for both men and women, and for every racial and ethnic group.

— The decline in COVID-19 deaths drove 84% of the increase in life expectancy. The next largest contributor was a decline in heart disease deaths, credited with about 4% of the increase. But experts note that heart disease deaths increased during COVID-19, and both factored into many pandemic-era deaths.

— Changes in life expectancy varied by race and ethnicity. Hispanic Americans and American Indians and Alaska Natives saw life expectancy rise more than two years in 2022. Black life expectancy rose more than 1 1/2 years. Asian American life expectancy rose one year and white life expectancy rose about 10 months.

But the changes are relative, because Hispanic Americans and Native Americans were hit harder at the beginning of COVID-19. Hispanic life expectancy dropped more than four years between 2019 and 2021, and Native American life expectancy fell more than six years.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. life expectancy rose last year — by more than a year — but still isn't close to what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.The 2022 rise was mainly due to the waning pandemic, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr031.pdf">said Wednesday</a>. But even with the large increase, U.S. life expectancy is only back to 77 years, 6 months — about what it was two decades ago.Life expectancy is an estimate of the average number of years a baby born in a given year might expect to live, assuming the death rates at that time hold constant. The snapshot statistic is considered one of the most important measures of the health of the U.S. population. The 2022 calculations released Wednesday are provisional, and could change a little as the math is finalized.For decades, U.S. life expectancy rose a little nearly every year. But about a decade ago, the trend flattened and even declined some years — a stall blamed largely on overdose deaths and suicides.Then came the coronavirus, which has killed&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home">more than 1.1 million people</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. since early 2020. The measure of American longevity plunged, dropping from 78 years, 10 months in 2019 to 77 years in 2020, and then to 76 years, 5 months in 2021.“We basically have lost 20 years of gains,” said the CDC’s Elizabeth Arias.A decline in COVID-19 deaths drove 2022’s improvement.In 2021, COVID was the nation's third leading cause of death (after heart disease and cancer). Last year, it fell to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7218a3.htm">fourth leading cause</a>. With more than a month left in the current year, preliminary data suggests COVID-19 could end up being the ninth or 10th leading cause of death in 2023.But the U.S. is battling other issues, including drug overdose deaths and suicides.The number of U.S. suicides reached an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/suicides-record-2022-guns-48511d74deb24d933e66cec1b6f2d545">all-time high</a>&nbsp;last year, and the national suicide rate was the highest seen since 1941, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr034.pdf">a second CDC report</a>&nbsp;released Wednesday.Drug overdose deaths in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-overdose-deaths-cdc-3c3848da5f8aa01d7b9f232ba5a34152">went up slightly</a>&nbsp;last year after two big leaps at the beginning of the pandemic. And through the first six months of this year, the estimated overdose death toll&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm">continued to inch up</a>.U.S. life expectancy also continues to be lower than that of dozens of other countries. It also didn't rebound as quickly as it did in other places, including France, Italy, Spain and Sweden.Steven Woolf, a mortality researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University, said he expects the U.S. to eventually get back to the pre-pandemic life expectancy.But “what I’m trying to say is: That is not a great place to be,” he added.Some other highlights from the new report:— Life expectancy increased for both men and women, and for every racial and ethnic group.— The decline in COVID-19 deaths drove 84% of the increase in life expectancy. The next largest contributor was a decline in heart disease deaths, credited with about 4% of the increase. But experts note that heart disease deaths increased during COVID-19, and both factored into many pandemic-era deaths.— Changes in life expectancy varied by race and ethnicity. Hispanic Americans and American Indians and Alaska Natives saw life expectancy rise more than two years in 2022. Black life expectancy rose more than 1 1/2 years. Asian American life expectancy rose one year and white life expectancy rose about 10 months.But the changes are relative, because Hispanic Americans and Native Americans were hit harder at the beginning of COVID-19. Hispanic life expectancy dropped more than four years between 2019 and 2021, and Native American life expectancy fell more than six years.

New life expectancy data shows slow rebound from COVID

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting at a Kansas City home have identified the victim as 50-year-old John M. Buckley.

Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, officers were dispatched to a reported EMS event at a home in the 11700 block of&nbsp;Troost&nbsp;Avenue in Kansas City, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.

First responders were directed inside the home and located Buckley suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; EMS pronounced him deceased.

The circumstances leading up to the homicide are unknown.&nbsp; Police have taken a subject of interest into custody.

Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to the scene to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses.&nbsp; This is the 173rd homicide in Kansas City in 2023, according to Sheriff Forte'.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701437866036.png" alt="Photo courtesy Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting at a Kansas City home have identified the victim as 50-year-old John M. Buckley.Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, officers were dispatched to a reported EMS event at a home in the 11700 block of&nbsp;Troost&nbsp;Avenue in Kansas City, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.First responders were directed inside the home and located Buckley suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; EMS pronounced him deceased.The circumstances leading up to the homicide are unknown.&nbsp; Police have taken a subject of interest into custody.Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to the scene to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses.&nbsp; This is the 173rd homicide in Kansas City in 2023, according to Sheriff Forte'.

KCPD IDs  50-year-old homicide victim found in his home 

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY — The search continues for an inmate who escaped from a satellite camp at the Leavenworth Penitentiary, according to a statement from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons on Dec. 1.

Just after 4p.m. Nov. 10, authorities discovered&nbsp; 50-year-old James Thompson was missing.

Thompson is described as white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He’s 6-foot-2 and weighs approximately 202 pounds.

U.S. Marshals and the FBI were informed that he’s missing from the minimum security facility. Thompson was sentenced to 80 months in prison in the Northern District of Georgia for mail fraud.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699585891299.png" alt="Thompson-photo Bureau of Prisons" />
 <figcaption>Thompson-photo Bureau of Prisons</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH COUNTY — The search continues for an inmate who escaped from a satellite camp at the Leavenworth Penitentiary, according to a statement from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons on Dec. 1.Just after 4p.m. Nov. 10, authorities discovered&nbsp; 50-year-old James Thompson was missing.Thompson is described as white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He’s 6-foot-2 and weighs approximately 202 pounds.U.S. Marshals and the FBI were informed that he’s missing from the minimum security facility. Thompson was sentenced to 80 months in prison in the Northern District of Georgia for mail fraud.

Inmate who escaped satellite camp at Kan. penitentiary still missing

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The State of Kansas ends November 2023 with total tax collections at $649.6 million. That is $13.8 million, or 2.1%, below the estimate. Total tax collections are up 1.1% from November 2022, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Revenue.

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYnVkZ2V0LmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzA1X05vdmVtYmVyX1JldmVudWVfRlkyMDI0XzEyLTAxLTIwMjNfRmluYWwucGRmIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTIwMS44NjQ3NTYzMSJ9.KxHcYL5WkYVqyEfi9Ds4b3KatkX4BSvc7AioeiRutek/s/1303160919/br/232058567016-l" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to view the November 2023 revenue numbers.

Individual income tax collections were $291.8 million. That is $10.7 million, or 3.5%, below the estimate, and down 0.2% from November 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $35.5 million. That is $10.4 million, or 41.5%, higher than the estimate and up 168.8% from November 2022.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $291.0 million, which is $14.2 million, or 4.7%, below the estimate and down $13.9 million, or 4.5%, from November 2022.&nbsp;

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The State of Kansas ends November 2023 with total tax collections at $649.6 million. That is $13.8 million, or 2.1%, below the estimate. Total tax collections are up 1.1% from November 2022, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Revenue.Click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYnVkZ2V0LmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzA1X05vdmVtYmVyX1JldmVudWVfRlkyMDI0XzEyLTAxLTIwMjNfRmluYWwucGRmIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTIwMS44NjQ3NTYzMSJ9.KxHcYL5WkYVqyEfi9Ds4b3KatkX4BSvc7AioeiRutek/s/1303160919/br/232058567016-l" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to view the November 2023 revenue numbers.Individual income tax collections were $291.8 million. That is $10.7 million, or 3.5%, below the estimate, and down 0.2% from November 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $35.5 million. That is $10.4 million, or 41.5%, higher than the estimate and up 168.8% from November 2022.Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $291.0 million, which is $14.2 million, or 4.7%, below the estimate and down $13.9 million, or 4.5%, from November 2022.&nbsp;

Kan. total tax collections are up from November 2022

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in the Nov. 21, , fatal shooting of a man in Kansas City, as well as the wounding of a woman, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Wayne A. Hunt, 44, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Assault in the 1st Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.

According to court records, Kansas City police officers responded on Nov. 21, 2023 to a reported shooting. They found a female victim suffering from gunshot wounds and a second victim suffering from life threatening injuries. The wounded victim identified the defendant as the shooter.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701464159942.png" alt="Hunt-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hunt-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in the Nov. 21, , fatal shooting of a man in Kansas City, as well as the wounding of a woman, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Wayne A. Hunt, 44, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Assault in the 1st Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.According to court records, Kansas City police officers responded on Nov. 21, 2023 to a reported shooting. They found a female victim suffering from gunshot wounds and a second victim suffering from life threatening injuries. The wounded victim identified the defendant as the shooter.&nbsp;

Woman IDs KC man as suspect in deadly shooting

BUTLER COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Friday in Butler County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Chevy Blazer driven by David A.&nbsp;Seabolt, 27, Wichita, was eastbound on U.S. 400 just&nbsp; west of SE Flinthills Road.

The SUV cross the center line and struck a westbound 2010 Freightliner semi driven by Rodney L&nbsp;Knoffloch, 49. Augusta, head-on.

Seabolt was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Carlson Funeral Home. EMS transported Knoffloch to&nbsp;Via Christ St. Francis. Seabolt was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701453714320.png" alt="First responders at the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Friday in Butler County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Chevy Blazer driven by David A.&nbsp;Seabolt, 27, Wichita, was eastbound on U.S. 400 just&nbsp; west of SE Flinthills Road.The SUV cross the center line and struck a westbound 2010 Freightliner semi driven by Rodney L&nbsp;Knoffloch, 49. Augusta, head-on.Seabolt was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Carlson Funeral Home. EMS transported Knoffloch to&nbsp;Via Christ St. Francis. Seabolt was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after head-on SUV, semi crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — Olympic gold medalist swimmer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/klete-keller">Klete Keller</a>, who threw his USA team jacket in a trash can after he stormed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">the U.S. Capitol</a>, was sentenced on Friday to six months of home detention for joining the mob's Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the seat of American democracy.

At 6-foot-6, Keller towered over police officers guarding the Capitol and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;supporters who breached the building, and he was quickly identified by authorities. He pleaded guilty in 2021 to a felony charge and was one of the first rioters to publicly agree to cooperate with authorities investigating the Capitol attack.

Video captured Keller leading profane chants directed at then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats. He also joined a chorus of rioters in singing the national anthem in the middle of the Capitol. He resisted efforts to remove him from the Capitol, ripping an elbow away and shaking off a police officer, prosecutors said.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon sentenced Keller to three years of probation, including six months of home detention, and ordered him to perform 360 hours of community service.

Keller told the judge he knew his actions on Jan. 6 left lawmakers in fear and made it more difficult for police to do their job.

“I have no excuse for why I am in front of you today,” he said. “I understand my actions were criminal and that I am fully responsible for my conduct.”

During the Jan. 6 riot, Keller wore a jacket with an American flag on a sleeve, an Olympic team patch on the front and the letters “U.S.A.” across the back. Prosecutors said he tossed the jacket into a trash can on his way back to a hotel and later smashed his cellphone with a hammer because he knew he was “fleeing a crime scene."

“Klete Derik Keller once wore the American flag as an Olympian. On January 6, 2021, he threw that flag in a trash can,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.51.0.pdf">prosecutors wrote in a court filing</a>.

Keller's lawyer said he threw away the jacket out of shame after leaving the Capitol and encountering a young boy and his father on a train. The boy asked Keller about his Olympic career and requested a photo with him, defense attorney Zachary Deubler&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.52.0.pdf">said in a court filing</a>.

Keller felt that “he let this young man down by behaving the way that he did, and the moment that this young man and father find out what he did, their admiration for him would be shattered,” Deubler wrote.

Investigators never recovered the jacket or any cellphone videos or photos that he recorded at the Capitol. Keller&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-donald-trump-klete-keller-2020-tokyo-olympics-a1845b8b2490d3642689fa877b1639d6">surrendered to authorities</a>&nbsp;about a week after returning home to Colorado.

Keller has been cooperating with investigators since he pleaded guilty to obstructing the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory. Prosecutors pointed to Keller's “substantial assistance” as grounds for leniency. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a term of imprisonment ranging from 15 to 21 months.

Prosecutors said his early guilty plea “undoubtedly reached thousands of others weighing whether to turn themselves in, plead guilty, or even cooperate." They added that his “public acknowledgement that his interference with the peaceful transfer of power was, in fact, a serious crime provided an important counterweight to the false narrative that January 6 was a peaceful, lawful protest.”

Keller experienced personal and financial problems after retiring from professional swimming. After separating from his wife in 2014, Keller lived out of his car for nearly a year while working three jobs to pay for child support and other expenses, according to his attorney.

After the Capitol riot, he lost a job and regular visitation with his children. Last year, he signed the paperwork for his children to be adopted by their stepfather, his attorney said.

“I hope my case serves as a warning to anyone who rationalizes illegal conduct, especially in a moment of political fervor,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.52.1.pdf">Keller wrote in a letter to the judge</a>. “The consequences of my behavior will follow me and my family for the rest of our lives.”

On Jan. 6, Keller attended then-President Donald Trump's “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House with a friend before marching with a crowd to the Capitol. He entered the building through an open door on the Upper West Terrace and remained inside for nearly an hour.

Keller came within 50 feet of the Senate chamber, which lawmakers evacuated as the mob swarmed the building. Police officers had to forcibly remove Keller and other rioters from the Capitol through the East Rotunda lobby.

<a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/klete-keller">Keller won five medals</a>, including two golds, while competing for the U.S. at three summer Olympics. At the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia, he won an individual bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle event and a silver medal as the anchor leg of a relay.

At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Keller swam the anchor leg when the U.S. won gold medals in the 800-meter freestyle relay, He and teammates Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Peter Vanderkaay&nbsp;<a href="https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/2004/08/18/keller-holds-off-thorpe/50322729007/">narrowly held off a rival Australian team.</a>&nbsp;At the 2008 games in Beijing, China, Mr. Keller won another gold medal in a freestyle relay.

Approximately 1,200 people have been charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/jan-6-prosecutions/">Capitol riot-related federal crimes</a>. Nearly 900 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a judge or jury after trials. Over 700 of them have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds receiving prison sentences ranging from three days to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-da60222b3e1e54902db2bbbb219dc3fb">22 years</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701469216678.png" alt="Keller as shown in an image from a video from the Jan. 6 committee" />
 <figcaption>Keller as shown in an image from a video from the Jan. 6 committee</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Olympic gold medalist swimmer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/klete-keller">Klete Keller</a>, who threw his USA team jacket in a trash can after he stormed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">the U.S. Capitol</a>, was sentenced on Friday to six months of home detention for joining the mob's Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the seat of American democracy.At 6-foot-6, Keller towered over police officers guarding the Capitol and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;supporters who breached the building, and he was quickly identified by authorities. He pleaded guilty in 2021 to a felony charge and was one of the first rioters to publicly agree to cooperate with authorities investigating the Capitol attack.Video captured Keller leading profane chants directed at then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats. He also joined a chorus of rioters in singing the national anthem in the middle of the Capitol. He resisted efforts to remove him from the Capitol, ripping an elbow away and shaking off a police officer, prosecutors said.U.S. District Judge Richard Leon sentenced Keller to three years of probation, including six months of home detention, and ordered him to perform 360 hours of community service.Keller told the judge he knew his actions on Jan. 6 left lawmakers in fear and made it more difficult for police to do their job.“I have no excuse for why I am in front of you today,” he said. “I understand my actions were criminal and that I am fully responsible for my conduct.”During the Jan. 6 riot, Keller wore a jacket with an American flag on a sleeve, an Olympic team patch on the front and the letters “U.S.A.” across the back. Prosecutors said he tossed the jacket into a trash can on his way back to a hotel and later smashed his cellphone with a hammer because he knew he was “fleeing a crime scene."“Klete Derik Keller once wore the American flag as an Olympian. On January 6, 2021, he threw that flag in a trash can,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.51.0.pdf">prosecutors wrote in a court filing</a>.Keller's lawyer said he threw away the jacket out of shame after leaving the Capitol and encountering a young boy and his father on a train. The boy asked Keller about his Olympic career and requested a photo with him, defense attorney Zachary Deubler&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.52.0.pdf">said in a court filing</a>.Keller felt that “he let this young man down by behaving the way that he did, and the moment that this young man and father find out what he did, their admiration for him would be shattered,” Deubler wrote.Investigators never recovered the jacket or any cellphone videos or photos that he recorded at the Capitol. Keller&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-donald-trump-klete-keller-2020-tokyo-olympics-a1845b8b2490d3642689fa877b1639d6">surrendered to authorities</a>&nbsp;about a week after returning home to Colorado.Keller has been cooperating with investigators since he pleaded guilty to obstructing the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory. Prosecutors pointed to Keller's “substantial assistance” as grounds for leniency. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a term of imprisonment ranging from 15 to 21 months.Prosecutors said his early guilty plea “undoubtedly reached thousands of others weighing whether to turn themselves in, plead guilty, or even cooperate." They added that his “public acknowledgement that his interference with the peaceful transfer of power was, in fact, a serious crime provided an important counterweight to the false narrative that January 6 was a peaceful, lawful protest.”Keller experienced personal and financial problems after retiring from professional swimming. After separating from his wife in 2014, Keller lived out of his car for nearly a year while working three jobs to pay for child support and other expenses, according to his attorney.After the Capitol riot, he lost a job and regular visitation with his children. Last year, he signed the paperwork for his children to be adopted by their stepfather, his attorney said.“I hope my case serves as a warning to anyone who rationalizes illegal conduct, especially in a moment of political fervor,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.52.1.pdf">Keller wrote in a letter to the judge</a>. “The consequences of my behavior will follow me and my family for the rest of our lives.”On Jan. 6, Keller attended then-President Donald Trump's “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House with a friend before marching with a crowd to the Capitol. He entered the building through an open door on the Upper West Terrace and remained inside for nearly an hour.Keller came within 50 feet of the Senate chamber, which lawmakers evacuated as the mob swarmed the building. Police officers had to forcibly remove Keller and other rioters from the Capitol through the East Rotunda lobby.<a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/klete-keller">Keller won five medals</a>, including two golds, while competing for the U.S. at three summer Olympics. At the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia, he won an individual bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle event and a silver medal as the anchor leg of a relay.At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Keller swam the anchor leg when the U.S. won gold medals in the 800-meter freestyle relay, He and teammates Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Peter Vanderkaay&nbsp;<a href="https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/2004/08/18/keller-holds-off-thorpe/50322729007/">narrowly held off a rival Australian team.</a>&nbsp;At the 2008 games in Beijing, China, Mr. Keller won another gold medal in a freestyle relay.Approximately 1,200 people have been charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/jan-6-prosecutions/">Capitol riot-related federal crimes</a>. Nearly 900 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a judge or jury after trials. Over 700 of them have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds receiving prison sentences ranging from three days to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-da60222b3e1e54902db2bbbb219dc3fb">22 years</a>.

Olympic gold medal swimmer sentenced for Jan. 6 Capitol riot

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted on Friday to expel Republican Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-santos.">George Santos</a>&nbsp;of New York after a critical ethics report on his conduct that accused him of converting campaign donations for his own use. He was just the&nbsp;<a href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/">sixth member</a>&nbsp;in the chamber's history to be ousted by colleagues.

The vote to expel was 311-114. Expulsion requires support from two-thirds of the House, a purposefully high bar, but a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethics-congress-santos-5ebffe514d8779fbc16a77fa1ab5e0df">blistering House Ethics Committee report</a>&nbsp;that accused Santos of breaking federal law proved decisive. All four members of the Kansas delegation voted to expel Santos.

GOP members of the Missouri delegation including Mark Alford, Eric Burlison, Sam Graves, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Ann Wagner voted against the measure. The democrat members of the Missouri delegation Emanuel Cleaver and Cori Bush voted to expel. Just before noon eastern time Friday, Rep. Jason Smith's office could not confirm his vote.

As it became clear that he would be expelled, Santos placed his overcoat over his shoulders, shook hands with conservative members who voted against his expulsion and departed the House chamber.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., soon took the gavel, quieted the chamber and solemnly instructed the House clerk to inform the governor of New York that Santos’ former House seat was now vacant.

Santos had fought the expulsion effort, leading his own defense during House floor debate and in conducting a news conference and interviews.

“I will not stand by quietly,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-house-expulsion-vote-ethics-d24b4b727da4f6b9af26e5aa902db992">Santos declared</a>&nbsp;as lawmakers on Thursday evening debated his removal. “The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, you’re going to have to go silence those people and go take the hard vote.”

Of the previous expulsions in the House, three were for disloyalty to the Union during the Civil War. The remaining two occurred after the lawmakers were convicted of crimes in federal court. Santos made his case for remaining in office by appealing directly to lawmakers who worry they are setting a new precedent that could make expulsions more common.

Johnson was among those who voiced concerns about removing Santos, though he has told members to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/santos-expel-house-speaker-johnson-ethics-committee-b84a4f00b92825c671b6a91061442865">vote their conscience</a>. Others in leadership agreed with his reasoning and opposed expulsion. But some Republicans, including Santos' colleagues from New York, said voters would welcome lawmakers being held to a higher standard.

“I’m pretty confident the American people would applaud that. I’m pretty confident that the American people expect that," Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, whose district adjoins Santos', said before the vote.

Santos warned lawmakers they would regret removing a member before they have had their day in court.

“This will haunt them in the future where mere allegations are sufficient to have members removed from office when duly elected by their people in their respective states and districts,” Santos said.

The expulsion was the final congressional chapter in what was a spectacular fall from grace for Santos. The first-term lawmaker initially was celebrated as an up-and-comer after he flipped a district from Democrats last year and helped Republicans win control of the House. But soon after, troubles began.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-business-queens-ae463f9ef3497ce4479f9fe5f2defde1">Reports began to emerge</a>&nbsp;that Santos had lied about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree. His presence in the House quickly became a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-lies-congress-new-york-republicans-9e4fd69b75894addb5bd2d4d5e8171ff">distraction</a>&nbsp;and an embarrassment to the party.

In early March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into Santos. Then in May, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York indicted Santos, accusing him of duping donors, stealing from his campaign and lying to Congress. Prosecutors would later add more charges in an updated 23-count indictment.

The indictment alleges he stole the identities of campaign donors and then used their credit cards to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges. Federal prosecutors say Santos, who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-federal-charges-updates-33667a0900271e5002459ab748d8fdc8">pleaded not guilty</a>, wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pad his campaign coffers.

Meanwhile, Ethics Committee investigators spent eight months investigating Santos and interviewing witnesses. When their work was complete, the panel said it had amassed “overwhelming evidence” of lawbreaking by Santos that it sent to the Justice Department.

Among other things, the committee said Santos knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission, used campaign funds for personal purposes and violated the Ethics in Government Act with his financial disclosure statements.

Arguing against expulsion during debate on Thursday, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said that while he respected the committee, he had concerns about how the Santos case was handled. He said he was troubled that a Republican-led committee would submit a report that was so judgmental and publicized.

“The totality of circumstance appears biased," Higgins said. "It stinks of politics and I'll oppose this action in every way.”

While the committee does have a Republican chairman, its membership is evenly divided. Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the committee, reminded members that the decision approving the investigators' findings was unanimous.

“As the Ethics Committee's report lays out in thorough detail, Mr. Santos has repeatedly, egregiously and brazenly violated the public's trust,” Wild said. “Mr. Santos is not a victim. He is a perpetrator of a massive fraud on his constituents and the American people.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701465529625.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted on Friday to expel Republican Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-santos.">George Santos</a>&nbsp;of New York after a critical ethics report on his conduct that accused him of converting campaign donations for his own use. He was just the&nbsp;<a href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/">sixth member</a>&nbsp;in the chamber's history to be ousted by colleagues.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sign removed from the office of former Rep. George Santos (R-NY). Note: Video has no audio. <a href="https://t.co/h3GarHm84M">pic.twitter.com/h3GarHm84M</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1730687645603229758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former Rep. George Santos departs the U.S. Capitol following his expulsion. <a href="https://t.co/XZrvGdtyaU">pic.twitter.com/XZrvGdtyaU</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1730621201511334169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The vote to expel was 311-114. Expulsion requires support from two-thirds of the House, a purposefully high bar, but a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethics-congress-santos-5ebffe514d8779fbc16a77fa1ab5e0df">blistering House Ethics Committee report</a>&nbsp;that accused Santos of breaking federal law proved decisive. All four members of the Kansas delegation voted to expel Santos.GOP members of the Missouri delegation including Mark Alford, Eric Burlison, Sam Graves, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Ann Wagner voted against the measure. The democrat members of the Missouri delegation Emanuel Cleaver and Cori Bush voted to expel. Just before noon eastern time Friday, Rep. Jason Smith's office could not confirm his vote.As it became clear that he would be expelled, Santos placed his overcoat over his shoulders, shook hands with conservative members who voted against his expulsion and departed the House chamber.House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., soon took the gavel, quieted the chamber and solemnly instructed the House clerk to inform the governor of New York that Santos’ former House seat was now vacant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701446532648.png" alt="House Speaker Mike Johnson, who voted against the measure, delivers the news on the final result of the vote-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Mike Johnson, who voted against the measure, delivers the news on the final result of the vote-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Santos had fought the expulsion effort, leading his own defense during House floor debate and in conducting a news conference and interviews.“I will not stand by quietly,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-house-expulsion-vote-ethics-d24b4b727da4f6b9af26e5aa902db992">Santos declared</a>&nbsp;as lawmakers on Thursday evening debated his removal. “The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, you’re going to have to go silence those people and go take the hard vote.”Of the previous expulsions in the House, three were for disloyalty to the Union during the Civil War. The remaining two occurred after the lawmakers were convicted of crimes in federal court. Santos made his case for remaining in office by appealing directly to lawmakers who worry they are setting a new precedent that could make expulsions more common.Johnson was among those who voiced concerns about removing Santos, though he has told members to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/santos-expel-house-speaker-johnson-ethics-committee-b84a4f00b92825c671b6a91061442865">vote their conscience</a>. Others in leadership agreed with his reasoning and opposed expulsion. But some Republicans, including Santos' colleagues from New York, said voters would welcome lawmakers being held to a higher standard.“I’m pretty confident the American people would applaud that. I’m pretty confident that the American people expect that," Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, whose district adjoins Santos', said before the vote.Santos warned lawmakers they would regret removing a member before they have had their day in court.“This will haunt them in the future where mere allegations are sufficient to have members removed from office when duly elected by their people in their respective states and districts,” Santos said.The expulsion was the final congressional chapter in what was a spectacular fall from grace for Santos. The first-term lawmaker initially was celebrated as an up-and-comer after he flipped a district from Democrats last year and helped Republicans win control of the House. But soon after, troubles began.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-business-queens-ae463f9ef3497ce4479f9fe5f2defde1">Reports began to emerge</a>&nbsp;that Santos had lied about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree. His presence in the House quickly became a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-lies-congress-new-york-republicans-9e4fd69b75894addb5bd2d4d5e8171ff">distraction</a>&nbsp;and an embarrassment to the party.In early March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into Santos. Then in May, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York indicted Santos, accusing him of duping donors, stealing from his campaign and lying to Congress. Prosecutors would later add more charges in an updated 23-count indictment.The indictment alleges he stole the identities of campaign donors and then used their credit cards to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges. Federal prosecutors say Santos, who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-federal-charges-updates-33667a0900271e5002459ab748d8fdc8">pleaded not guilty</a>, wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pad his campaign coffers.Meanwhile, Ethics Committee investigators spent eight months investigating Santos and interviewing witnesses. When their work was complete, the panel said it had amassed “overwhelming evidence” of lawbreaking by Santos that it sent to the Justice Department.Among other things, the committee said Santos knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission, used campaign funds for personal purposes and violated the Ethics in Government Act with his financial disclosure statements.Arguing against expulsion during debate on Thursday, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said that while he respected the committee, he had concerns about how the Santos case was handled. He said he was troubled that a Republican-led committee would submit a report that was so judgmental and publicized.“The totality of circumstance appears biased," Higgins said. "It stinks of politics and I'll oppose this action in every way.”While the committee does have a Republican chairman, its membership is evenly divided. Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the committee, reminded members that the decision approving the investigators' findings was unanimous.“As the Ethics Committee's report lays out in thorough detail, Mr. Santos has repeatedly, egregiously and brazenly violated the public's trust,” Wild said. “Mr. Santos is not a victim. He is a perpetrator of a massive fraud on his constituents and the American people.”

🎥History: Santos is booted from the House, lost his office 

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the drive=by killing of a trophy buck in Riley County.

Just after 10:30a.m. November 24, someone shot a buck a few miles south of Zendale in Southern Riley County, according to a social media report from the Kansas Game Wardens.

The buck was shot with a rifle through the hind end and died. A local farmer was feeding&nbsp; cattle, and only a few yards away, out ran the deer. At that same time, a white Chevy truck was driving south down the road and fired one shot from the passenger side of the truck, striking the deer. 

The farmer was walking in the pasture near the cattle and witnessed the shot, first assuming it was towards them, which was only ~100 yds from the roadway, according to game wardens.

The truck then sped off. The farmer provided law enforcement with a partial tag and vehicle description.

If anyone has any information about this incident, please contact Warden Jedlicka at (785) 256-3614 or Lieutenant Gehrt at (785) 256-1199. Hopefully, with the information provided, officers can track down a suspect(s). 

Unfortunately, a first-time youth archery hunter has been hunting this trophy relentlessly and was devastated to see the warrior fall this way. The meat was salvaged and did not go to waste.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701458740248.png" alt="Photo Kansas game wardens" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas game wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the drive=by killing of a trophy buck in Riley County.Just after 10:30a.m. November 24, someone shot a buck a few miles south of Zendale in Southern Riley County, according to a social media report from the Kansas Game Wardens.The buck was shot with a rifle through the hind end and died. A local farmer was feeding&nbsp; cattle, and only a few yards away, out ran the deer. At that same time, a white Chevy truck was driving south down the road and fired one shot from the passenger side of the truck, striking the deer. The farmer was walking in the pasture near the cattle and witnessed the shot, first assuming it was towards them, which was only ~100 yds from the roadway, according to game wardens.The truck then sped off. The farmer provided law enforcement with a partial tag and vehicle description.If anyone has any information about this incident, please contact Warden Jedlicka at (785) 256-3614 or Lieutenant Gehrt at (785) 256-1199. Hopefully, with the information provided, officers can track down a suspect(s). Unfortunately, a first-time youth archery hunter has been hunting this trophy relentlessly and was devastated to see the warrior fall this way. The meat was salvaged and did not go to waste.&nbsp;

Suspect wanted: Trophy buck shot in Kan. drive-by

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a 29-year-old murder and are asking the public for help with information.

On the morning of October 29, 1994 while cleaning the ditches and tree row’s in the 5600 block of west 47th&nbsp;Street South, workers with the Kansas Gas and Electric Company came across human remains buried in a shallow grave, according to a media release from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office.

Following an examination by the Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office and a Forensic Anthropologist the manner of death was determined to be homicide.&nbsp;

Until May of 2023 the identity of the victim has remained unknown to detectives, greatly hampering the investigation.&nbsp; In late 2022 Sgt. Michael Guthrie of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office submitted and was awarded a grant for DNA testing of the victim by Othram Inc.

In May of 2023 Othram was able to utilize DNA technology to identify a relative of the victim and through further investigation an identification was made.&nbsp; Harold “James” Crawford, date of birth January 11th, 1973 was identified as the unknown victim.&nbsp; James was 21 at the time of his death and lived in an apartment complex on the east side of Wichita.&nbsp;

If you knew James or have any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, you’re asked to contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp; You can call the Cold Case Hotline at (316)660-3799, Crime Stoppers at (316)267-2111 or Email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:coldcase@sedgwick.gov">coldcase@sedgwick.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701453422466.png" alt="Harold 'James' Crawford-photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Harold 'James' Crawford-photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a 29-year-old murder and are asking the public for help with information.On the morning of October 29, 1994 while cleaning the ditches and tree row’s in the 5600 block of west 47th&nbsp;Street South, workers with the Kansas Gas and Electric Company came across human remains buried in a shallow grave, according to a media release from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office.Following an examination by the Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office and a Forensic Anthropologist the manner of death was determined to be homicide.&nbsp;Until May of 2023 the identity of the victim has remained unknown to detectives, greatly hampering the investigation.&nbsp; In late 2022 Sgt. Michael Guthrie of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office submitted and was awarded a grant for DNA testing of the victim by Othram Inc.In May of 2023 Othram was able to utilize DNA technology to identify a relative of the victim and through further investigation an identification was made.&nbsp; Harold “James” Crawford, date of birth January 11th, 1973 was identified as the unknown victim.&nbsp; James was 21 at the time of his death and lived in an apartment complex on the east side of Wichita.&nbsp;If you knew James or have any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, you’re asked to contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp; You can call the Cold Case Hotline at (316)660-3799, Crime Stoppers at (316)267-2111 or Email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:coldcase@sedgwick.gov">coldcase@sedgwick.gov</a>.

Sheriff IDs victim in 29-year-old Kansas unsolved murder

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Although a new forensics nurse program opened this spring in northwest Kansas, access to these exams for rape and incest victims is still difficult to access in rural areas of the state.

Many victims have to drive for hours to find nurses who are trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, which can significantly delay treatment and evidence collection.

New legislation went into effect in July 2022 to increase access to SANE exams.

Although hospitals, as defined in state statute, must collect a sexual assault evidence kit if it is requested by the victim, only two hospitals in northwest Kansas — Goodland and Hays — have staff who are trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, who are also known as SANEs.

Jessica Albers is a SANE from Hays who works as a statewide clinical consultant for the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.

"In terms of rape kits and SANE exams, I think there is a huge lack of access,” Albers said.&nbsp;

Victims travel across state to receive services

HaysMed's SANE program cared for 43 victims from Ellis County in 2022 and 35 in 2021. In 2022, the program cared for 106 victims from 23 Kansas counties from as far away as Barber County on the Oklahoma border and Sherman County on the Colorado border and Butler County in southeast Kansas.

“Three or four hours is a long way to drive for a sexual assault exam, especially after you have been sexually assaulted,” Jennifer Hecker, executive director of Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services said. The advocacy and victims services organization is based in Hays but serves 18 counties in northwest Kansas.&nbsp;

Hays has been the most northwest program for 12 to 13 years until Goodland opened its program this spring and Great Bend opened a program in October. In southwest Kansas, there are SANE programs in Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal. The Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center Medical Mobile Unit based out of Scott City does exams for children through its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wkcac.com/medical-mobile-unit" target="_blank">Medical Mobile Unit</a>.

However, not all programs have 24-7 coverage.

As a SANE, Albers has worked with patients who traveled great distances to receive exams from a certified provider — some traveling hours one way to get an exam.

Albers said she is concerned that some health care facilities may not be aware that providing sexual assault exams is required by the law. Patients also don’t always know where to go. All sexual assault exams exams are free.

The new law has expanded where kits can be collected, including health clinics, health departments and child advocacy clinics.

“We are hopeful that language will open access among those facilities,” Albers said, “and they will be willing to provide the service to victims."

In some rural communities, health departments or clinics may be patients' only health care choice. According to the Kansas Hospital Association, 10 counties in Kansas including Bourbon, Chase, Doniphan, Elk, Gray, Linn, Osage, Wabaunsee, Wallace and Woodson have no hospital. HaysMed's SANE program cared for four victims from Wallace County in 2022.

Few hospitals in the state have SANE programs.

The advantage of a SANE performing the exam is the victim is receiving a more specialized exam, Albers said. They may take forensics photos if that is appropriate and approved by the victim. Alternative light sources can help detect fibers or dried secretions or enhance the visibility of bruises.

The SANE exam is one step in a multi-tier approach to caring for sexual crime victims and gathering evidence to hold perpetrators accountable.

“The police officer’s role is to hold the perpetrator accountable and to just get information. The nurse's job is to collect the evidence and to provide health care," Hecker said. "The advocate’s job is to be a voice for the survivor while they are going through this and to attend to their emotional safety and make sure they know what’s going to happen.

“There are already so many unknowns, and that is one of the most frightening pieces,” Hecker said. “We want to reduce those barriers about what is about to happen. We are trying to tie them back all the control that has been lost.”

SANEs are trained to work with trauma victims and try to help ease fears as they walk victims through the exam process.

“The fear of the unknown of the exam is probably stressful for the victim anyways," Albers said. "Then if you have the complication of not knowing where they can get an exam or having to travel to get to an exam or having to wait for an exam to happen it's an extra hurdle for them to get through."

Albers said if a victim has to wait for an exam she said she hoped at least that victim could be connected with an advocate. Those advocacy services are provided by organizations such as Options.

Hecker said although the law allows medical professionals who are not SANE trained to perform sexual assault exams, she was concerned providers who are not trained&nbsp;may retraumatize victims. Improperly collected evidence might not be able to be used in the prosecutions of perpetrators, she said.

“We as a community and a culture, tell survivors to go and get that exam, so their perpetrator can be held accountable,” Hecker said. “If we are telling people to do that, then we have a responsibility as a community to make sure the safety net is there so the survivors can do that.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701278764783.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay." />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostAlthough a new forensics nurse program opened this spring in northwest Kansas, access to these exams for rape and incest victims is still difficult to access in rural areas of the state.Many victims have to drive for hours to find nurses who are trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, which can significantly delay treatment and evidence collection.New legislation went into effect in July 2022 to increase access to SANE exams.Although hospitals, as defined in state statute, must collect a sexual assault evidence kit if it is requested by the victim, only two hospitals in northwest Kansas — Goodland and Hays — have staff who are trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, who are also known as SANEs.Jessica Albers is a SANE from Hays who works as a statewide clinical consultant for the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence."In terms of rape kits and SANE exams, I think there is a huge lack of access,” Albers said.&nbsp;<h2>Victims travel across state to receive services</h2>HaysMed's SANE program cared for 43 victims from Ellis County in 2022 and 35 in 2021. In 2022, the program cared for 106 victims from 23 Kansas counties from as far away as Barber County on the Oklahoma border and Sherman County on the Colorado border and Butler County in southeast Kansas.“Three or four hours is a long way to drive for a sexual assault exam, especially after you have been sexually assaulted,” Jennifer Hecker, executive director of Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services said. The advocacy and victims services organization is based in Hays but serves 18 counties in northwest Kansas.&nbsp;Hays has been the most northwest program for 12 to 13 years until Goodland opened its program this spring and Great Bend opened a program in October. In southwest Kansas, there are SANE programs in Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal. The Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center Medical Mobile Unit based out of Scott City does exams for children through its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wkcac.com/medical-mobile-unit" target="_blank">Medical Mobile Unit</a>.However, not all programs have 24-7 coverage.As a SANE, Albers has worked with patients who traveled great distances to receive exams from a certified provider — some traveling hours one way to get an exam.Albers said she is concerned that some health care facilities may not be aware that providing sexual assault exams is required by the law. Patients also don’t always know where to go. All sexual assault exams exams are free.The new law has expanded where kits can be collected, including health clinics, health departments and child advocacy clinics.“We are hopeful that language will open access among those facilities,” Albers said, “and they will be willing to provide the service to victims."In some rural communities, health departments or clinics may be patients' only health care choice. According to the Kansas Hospital Association, 10 counties in Kansas including Bourbon, Chase, Doniphan, Elk, Gray, Linn, Osage, Wabaunsee, Wallace and Woodson have no hospital. HaysMed's SANE program cared for four victims from Wallace County in 2022.<h2>Everyone has a job</h2>Few hospitals in the state have SANE programs.The advantage of a SANE performing the exam is the victim is receiving a more specialized exam, Albers said. They may take forensics photos if that is appropriate and approved by the victim. Alternative light sources can help detect fibers or dried secretions or enhance the visibility of bruises.The SANE exam is one step in a multi-tier approach to caring for sexual crime victims and gathering evidence to hold perpetrators accountable.“The police officer’s role is to hold the perpetrator accountable and to just get information. The nurse's job is to collect the evidence and to provide health care," Hecker said. "The advocate’s job is to be a voice for the survivor while they are going through this and to attend to their emotional safety and make sure they know what’s going to happen.“There are already so many unknowns, and that is one of the most frightening pieces,” Hecker said. “We want to reduce those barriers about what is about to happen. We are trying to tie them back all the control that has been lost.”SANEs are trained to work with trauma victims and try to help ease fears as they walk victims through the exam process.“The fear of the unknown of the exam is probably stressful for the victim anyways," Albers said. "Then if you have the complication of not knowing where they can get an exam or having to travel to get to an exam or having to wait for an exam to happen it's an extra hurdle for them to get through."Albers said if a victim has to wait for an exam she said she hoped at least that victim could be connected with an advocate. Those advocacy services are provided by organizations such as Options.Hecker said although the law allows medical professionals who are not SANE trained to perform sexual assault exams, she was concerned providers who are not trained&nbsp;may retraumatize victims. Improperly collected evidence might not be able to be used in the prosecutions of perpetrators, she said.“We as a community and a culture, tell survivors to go and get that exam, so their perpetrator can be held accountable,” Hecker said. “If we are telling people to do that, then we have a responsibility as a community to make sure the safety net is there so the survivors can do that.“There is a gap between what we tell people what services are available or that they should be able to engage with and what is actually available in their communities. That is also very disheartening.”“We are really not helping survivors in the best way possible,” she said.<h2>What happens during a SANE exam?</h2>Albers emphasized all parts of a SANE exam are voluntary. A victim can stop the exam at any time and refuse any portion of the exam.“We work really hard to build a rapport with the patient and make sure we are offering them choices, supporting the choices and decisions they make and how they want to proceed through the exam," she said.Hecker said victims don't have to go through the exam alone. They can have a family member, friend or advocate with them during the exam. They are allowed to have someone in the room with them holding their hand if they choose.Advocates will meet with the victim as soon as possible. SANEs, advocates and law enforcement try to work together so the victim doesn't have to tell his or her story over and over.Although clothing is often taken as evidence, an advocate or SANE will provide fresh clothing for the victim to wear home. Advocates follow up with the victim and can offer a variety of support services as well as meet with family members if the victim requests.The SANEs are also well connected to the other resources in the communities, including law enforcement and advocacy organizations such as Options in northwest Kansas.Consenting to a sexual assault exam does not automatically mean the case will be reported. The exam preserves the evidence. The adult victim can choose to make a report with law enforcement at a later date or never. Unreported kits are sent to the KBI where they are stored for 20 years untested.<h2>Testing evidence</h2>According to state law, all&nbsp;reported&nbsp;sexual assault exam kits have to be submitted for testing.In 2015, a backlog of 2,200 untested kits was discovered in evidence property rooms in Kansas. All of the untested kits were processed, and the law was changed in an attempt to prevent a future backlog, Albers said.&nbsp;Although physical evidence from a sexual assault exam is not a guarantee of a conviction, Hecker said it helps.“Rape kits are so important because so many victims of sexual assault are simply not believed,” she said.She added, “The community has to do better. We have to make sure that the system accepts the report and collects the evidence, and we do something with the evidence, and we take action afterward. Rape is not he said/she said, but we like to think they are.”<h2>Sexual assault exams are health care</h2>The victim can receive treatment to prevent infection or any other injuries at the time of a SANE exam.Trisha Haskell, forensic program coordinator for HaysMed, said SANE exams are not just about collecting evidence. They allow for expert assessment of all areas of the body."Forensic exams help to ensure the health and safety of our patients," she said. "This exam is performed by a specially trained nurse who has expertise in providing patient-centered care that includes history taking, collection of evidence and documentation. This creates an unbiased, objective opportunity to preserve evidence from a patient’s body while facilitating the healing process."Based on history, patients are offered medication to help prevent sexually transmitted infections and HIV.&nbsp;Working closely with a physician, the program offers testing, treatment and follow-up care, Haskell said.Time is also important for the health of the victim, Haskel said."As with many medical conditions, timely treatment is always the preferred situation," she said. "Before HaysMed offered the SANE program, people in western Kansas had to travel to eastern Kansas to be treated. "Having the program here in Hays has improved access for many patients in the rural areas of the state. Prompt response times are advantageous no matter what the situation is."<h2>Overcoming misconceptions</h2>Although access is a barrier, so are myths, Albers said.“There is the misconception that our exam is really invasive," Albers said, "'and we don’t want to put people through that.’ We work really hard to make sure to not make it traumatic. We don’t want to retraumatize the victim. That’s why it’s so important to build the rapport and comfort level with the patient before we start getting into the exam itself.”Twenty-five of&nbsp; the victims cared for by HaysMed in 2022 were 17 years old or younger. Albers wanted to reassure parents that SANE exams are not invasive for children."They (mothers) think it’s like their pap smear. Before a girl reaches puberty, all we do is external examination. We don’t put anything in the vagina. We don’t pull put swabs from inside the vagina," she said.SANEs are trained to work with victims of any gender. This includes gender nonconforming or transgender individuals.Although the majority of SANE exams are performed on women and girls, five to 15 exams per year at HaysMed are performed on men or boys.“We want everyone to know they are welcome to come for services regardless of their age, gender or identity,” Albers said. “We want to help. We want to help start them on that journey to healing and preserve that evidence so that if it can be used in the criminal justice system it can be preserved and the information is documented by us.”<h2>Barriers to expanding services</h2>The training to become SANE is long and costly. Training requires 160 to 180 hours.You do not have to acquire your certification to practice as a SANE-trained nurse. However, a nurse must accrue 300 hours of SANE practice before he or she can test for SANE certification. As of April, Kansas had only 30 SANE-certified nurses in the state, according to Haskel.<a href="https://www.pittstate.edu/nursing/sane-program.html">The Pittsburg State University, School of Nursing was awarded a SANE grant in 2018 and again in 2021 through the Health Resources and Services Administration. In July 2021, PSU received $1.5 million for a three-year extension, to recruit, train and retain RNs and APRNs in rural areas of Kansas for SANE training, resources and certification.</a>"It is a really tough area to work in," Albers said. "You have to be the right kind of person, and it has to be something you want to do."A hospital or clinic also must have the space and equipment to have a SANE program.&nbsp;“Administration has to recognize that this is really a community benefit service that is being offered, but it isn’t a department that is going to make money for the facility,” she said.Most programs require more than one or two SANE-trained staff members, Albers said. Most SANEs hold a full-time job in addition to being on-call for sexual assault exams.&nbsp;Turnover is high in the field, she said.The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence&nbsp;provides one-day training for medical providers who are not SANE trained.&nbsp;The agency has offered the class for three years, but it has been hard getting health care providers to sign up to take the class, Albers said.“I think it is extremely important to have another access point for the northwest part of the state,” Albers said. “That will give one additional access point for care and hopefully [victims will ] not have to drive three hours to Hays, instead drive 30 minutes to Goodland.”<h2>Not just a Kansas problem</h2>Albers and Haskel both said multiple barriers exist to expanding SANE programs in rural areas, and it's not just a problem in Kansas."With most of the United States being rural, it has been identified as a challenge nationwide," Haskel said. "Collaboration and education allow for all rural areas to expand their reach and knowledge to ensure all persons seeking care after experiencing violence receive adequate care."Kansas as a whole does a great job of ensuring equal access for sexual assault survivors regardless of their location. It is a state statute that all medical care facilities within the state offer a sexual assault evidence collection kit to any person requesting one."