WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on this week rejected a Republican push that could have blocked more than 41,000 Arizona voters from casting ballots for president in the closely contested swing state, but allowed some parts of a law requiring proof of citizenship to be enforced.

The 5-4 order came after emergency appeal filed by state and national Republicans. It sought to give full effect to voting measures that were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-us-supreme-court-legislature-elections-9cb2f7395ce3150e0aa6548aa492c138">enacted</a>&nbsp;after President Joe Biden won the state over Republican Donald Trump with less than 11,000 votes. The measures have drawn fierce opposition from voting rights advocates.

The case could be one of multiple election disputes to come before the high court with the November election less than 90 days away.

Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch would have allowed the law to be fully enforced. But Justice Amy Coney Barrett would have joined with the court’s three liberals in fully rejecting the push, the order states.

The justices did not detail their reasoning in a brief order, as is typical in emergency appeals.

Trump applauded the high court’s decision, saying the high court has “great courage in doing what they’re doing.”

The high court's order allows the enforcement of restrictions that bar people from voting in state and local elections if they don’t provide proof of citizenship when they register while the legal fight continues in lower courts.

State voter registration forms submitted without “documentary proof of citizenship” will now be rejected by Arizona counties, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said. People can still register to vote in presidential and congressional elections with a different federal form that requires people to swear they are citizens under penalty of perjury, but does not require proof.

“My concern is that changes to the process should not occur this close to an election, it creates confusion for voters,” Fontes said in a statement. “We respect the Court’s decision and will implement these changes while continuing to protect voter access and make a voting simple process.”

Rick Hasen, an election law expert and professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote in a blog post that proof of citizenship laws “matter a lot. They stand to literally disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters for no good reason.”

Proponents say the measure is about eliminating opportunities for fraud. National and state Republicans had asked the Supreme Court to get involved in a legal fight over voter registration restrictions that Republicans enacted in Arizona in 2022 following Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-arizona-phoenix-elections-9638adedbe826b31b5d172ba3a1c7c3a">narrow victory</a>&nbsp;in the state in 2020.

The court’s action came after a lower court had blocked a requirement that called for state voter registration forms to be rejected if they are not accompanied by documents proving U.S. citizenship. A second measure would have prohibited voting in presidential elections or by mail if registrants don’t prove they are U.S. citizens.

An appellate panel of three Trump appointees initially blocked the lower court ruling in part and allowed enforcement of a provision dealing with state voter registration forms. But another appellate panel voted 2-1 to keep both provisions on hold, with two Bill Clinton appointees allowing the voter registrations to go forward over the dissent of a Trump appointee.

The measures were passed on party-line votes and signed into law by then-Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, amid a wave of proposals that Republicans introduced around the country after Biden’s 2020 victory over Trump, including in Arizona.

For state and local elections, voters must provide proof of citizenship when they register or have it on file with the state. Since that isn’t a requirement for federal elections for Congress or president, tens of thousands of voters who haven’t provided proof of citizenship are registered only for federal elections.

There were 41,352 of those voters registered as of August 9 in Arizona, Fontes, a Democrat, said.

The GOP push to block those voters would most impact military service members, students and Native Americans, Fontes said. About 27% of those voters are registered Democrats and 15% are Republicans. More than half, 54%, are registered independents, according to state data.

Voting rights groups and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-us-supreme-court-legislature-arizona-bc2fa3b59f7b7c81d27fde7df9e1ed9b">Biden administration had sued</a>&nbsp;over the Arizona laws.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach led Republican attorneys general in 24 states in supporting the restrictions.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, who along with Senate President Warren Petersen had asked the court to take up the issue, said in a statement that Thursday's order was “a step in the right direction to require proof of citizenship in all our elections.” Toma and Petersen are both Republicans.

Federal-only voters have been a subject of political wrangling since the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that Arizona cannot require documentary proof of citizenship for people to vote in national elections. The state responded by creating two classes of voters: those who can vote in all races and those who can vote only in federal elections.

One of the new laws sought to further divide voters, allowing votes in congressional elections without proof of citizenship, but denying the vote in presidential contests.

The Legislature’s own lawyers had said much of the measure was unconstitutional, directly contradicted the earlier Supreme Court decision and was likely to be thrown out in court.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled on a handful of other election-related cases Thursday, clearing the way for ballot measures that were facing legal challenges to now appear before voters. Arizona voters will have a chance to decide on whether they want to establish open primary elections in which all candidates compete regardless of their party affiliation — changing the state’s primaries from closed to open.

The justices bucked two of opponents’ multiple arguments. The measure faces one pending challenge, but if it is not ruled on by early Friday morning, the measure will officially be kept on the ballot.

Voters in other states, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-ranked-choice-voting-primary-lawsuit-b0a5923cee968f2f65855d0999e9842e">Idaho</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-dakota-open-primary-ballot-initiative-cdc43a6cee1447fd53d06de79bfb325d">South Dakota</a>&nbsp;and Nevada, will also decide on similar ballot measures concerning open primary elections this November.

The high court also ruled the title of a measure to decrease workers’ wages up to 25% per hour if they are tipped was not misleading, placing it on the November ballot.

Billeaud reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writers Mark Sherman in Washington as well as Sejal Govindarao and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this story.

But in a 5-4 order, the high court allowed some enforcement of regulations barring people from voting if they don’t provide proof of citizenship when they register.

The justices acted on an emergency appeal filed by state and national Republicans that sought to give full effect to voting measures&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-us-supreme-court-legislature-elections-9cb2f7395ce3150e0aa6548aa492c138">enacted in 2022</a>&nbsp;following Biden's narrow win over Republican Donald Trump.

The court did not detail its reasoning in a brief order. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch would have allowed the law to be fully enforced, while Justice Amy Coney Barrett would have joined with the court’s three liberals in fully rejecting the push, the order states.

The legal fight will continue in lower courts.

National and state Republicans had asked the Supreme Court to get involved in a legal fight over voter registration restrictions that Republicans enacted in Arizona in 2022 following Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-arizona-phoenix-elections-9638adedbe826b31b5d172ba3a1c7c3a">thin victory</a>&nbsp;in the state in 2020.

The court’s action came after a lower court had blocked a requirement that called for state voter registration forms to be rejected if they are not accompanied by documents proving U.S. citizenship. A second measure, also not in effect, would have prohibited voting in presidential elections or by mail if registrants don’t prove they are U.S. citizens. Federal law requires voters to swear they are U.S. citizens under penalty of perjury but does not require proof of citizenship either to vote in federal elections in person or cast ballots by mail.

There were 41,352 of those voters registered as of August 9 in Arizona, Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said.

Fontes warned in a court filing that an order in favor of the state and national Republicans this close to the November election “will create chaos and confusion.”

The voters most affected would include military service members, students and Native Americans, Fontes said. About 27% of those voters are registered Democrats and 15% are Republicans. More than half, 54%, are registered independents, according to state data.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach led Republican attorneys general in 24 states in supporting the restrictions, saying the “case threatens to continue chipping away Arizona’s authority to secure its own elections.”

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, who along with Senate President Warren Petersen had asked the court to take up the issue, said in a statement that the order was “a step in the right direction to require proof of citizenship in all our elections.” Toma and Peterson are both Republicans.

The 2022 law has drawn fierce opposition from voting rights advocates, who described the statute as an attempt to get the issue back in front of the now more conservative Supreme Court.

Proponents say the measure is about eliminating opportunities for fraud. There is no evidence that the existence of federal-only voters has allowed noncitizens to illegally vote, but Republican skeptics have nonetheless worked aggressively to crack down on federal-only voting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718044194207.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on this week rejected a Republican push that could have blocked more than 41,000 Arizona voters from casting ballots for president in the closely contested swing state, but allowed some parts of a law requiring proof of citizenship to be enforced.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724356826324.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The 5-4 order came after emergency appeal filed by state and national Republicans. It sought to give full effect to voting measures that were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-us-supreme-court-legislature-elections-9cb2f7395ce3150e0aa6548aa492c138">enacted</a>&nbsp;after President Joe Biden won the state over Republican Donald Trump with less than 11,000 votes. The measures have drawn fierce opposition from voting rights advocates.The case could be one of multiple election disputes to come before the high court with the November election less than 90 days away.Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch would have allowed the law to be fully enforced. But Justice Amy Coney Barrett would have joined with the court’s three liberals in fully rejecting the push, the order states.The justices did not detail their reasoning in a brief order, as is typical in emergency appeals.Trump applauded the high court’s decision, saying the high court has “great courage in doing what they’re doing.”The high court's order allows the enforcement of restrictions that bar people from voting in state and local elections if they don’t provide proof of citizenship when they register while the legal fight continues in lower courts.State voter registration forms submitted without “documentary proof of citizenship” will now be rejected by Arizona counties, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said. People can still register to vote in presidential and congressional elections with a different federal form that requires people to swear they are citizens under penalty of perjury, but does not require proof.“My concern is that changes to the process should not occur this close to an election, it creates confusion for voters,” Fontes said in a statement. “We respect the Court’s decision and will implement these changes while continuing to protect voter access and make a voting simple process.”Rick Hasen, an election law expert and professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote in a blog post that proof of citizenship laws “matter a lot. They stand to literally disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters for no good reason.”Proponents say the measure is about eliminating opportunities for fraud. National and state Republicans had asked the Supreme Court to get involved in a legal fight over voter registration restrictions that Republicans enacted in Arizona in 2022 following Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-arizona-phoenix-elections-9638adedbe826b31b5d172ba3a1c7c3a">narrow victory</a>&nbsp;in the state in 2020.The court’s action came after a lower court had blocked a requirement that called for state voter registration forms to be rejected if they are not accompanied by documents proving U.S. citizenship. A second measure would have prohibited voting in presidential elections or by mail if registrants don’t prove they are U.S. citizens.An appellate panel of three Trump appointees initially blocked the lower court ruling in part and allowed enforcement of a provision dealing with state voter registration forms. But another appellate panel voted 2-1 to keep both provisions on hold, with two Bill Clinton appointees allowing the voter registrations to go forward over the dissent of a Trump appointee.The measures were passed on party-line votes and signed into law by then-Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, amid a wave of proposals that Republicans introduced around the country after Biden’s 2020 victory over Trump, including in Arizona.For state and local elections, voters must provide proof of citizenship when they register or have it on file with the state. Since that isn’t a requirement for federal elections for Congress or president, tens of thousands of voters who haven’t provided proof of citizenship are registered only for federal elections.There were 41,352 of those voters registered as of August 9 in Arizona, Fontes, a Democrat, said.The GOP push to block those voters would most impact military service members, students and Native Americans, Fontes said. About 27% of those voters are registered Democrats and 15% are Republicans. More than half, 54%, are registered independents, according to state data.Voting rights groups and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-us-supreme-court-legislature-arizona-bc2fa3b59f7b7c81d27fde7df9e1ed9b">Biden administration had sued</a>&nbsp;over the Arizona laws.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715730270249.png" alt="Kansas AG Kris Kobach courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas AG Kris Kobach courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach led Republican attorneys general in 24 states in supporting the restrictions.Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, who along with Senate President Warren Petersen had asked the court to take up the issue, said in a statement that Thursday's order was “a step in the right direction to require proof of citizenship in all our elections.” Toma and Petersen are both Republicans.Federal-only voters have been a subject of political wrangling since the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that Arizona cannot require documentary proof of citizenship for people to vote in national elections. The state responded by creating two classes of voters: those who can vote in all races and those who can vote only in federal elections.One of the new laws sought to further divide voters, allowing votes in congressional elections without proof of citizenship, but denying the vote in presidential contests.The Legislature’s own lawyers had said much of the measure was unconstitutional, directly contradicted the earlier Supreme Court decision and was likely to be thrown out in court.Meanwhile, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled on a handful of other election-related cases Thursday, clearing the way for ballot measures that were facing legal challenges to now appear before voters. Arizona voters will have a chance to decide on whether they want to establish open primary elections in which all candidates compete regardless of their party affiliation — changing the state’s primaries from closed to open.The justices bucked two of opponents’ multiple arguments. The measure faces one pending challenge, but if it is not ruled on by early Friday morning, the measure will officially be kept on the ballot.Voters in other states, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-ranked-choice-voting-primary-lawsuit-b0a5923cee968f2f65855d0999e9842e">Idaho</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-dakota-open-primary-ballot-initiative-cdc43a6cee1447fd53d06de79bfb325d">South Dakota</a>&nbsp;and Nevada, will also decide on similar ballot measures concerning open primary elections this November.The high court also ruled the title of a measure to decrease workers’ wages up to 25% per hour if they are tipped was not misleading, placing it on the November ballot.___Billeaud reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writers Mark Sherman in Washington as well as Sejal Govindarao and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this story.But in a 5-4 order, the high court allowed some enforcement of regulations barring people from voting if they don’t provide proof of citizenship when they register.The justices acted on an emergency appeal filed by state and national Republicans that sought to give full effect to voting measures&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-us-supreme-court-legislature-elections-9cb2f7395ce3150e0aa6548aa492c138">enacted in 2022</a>&nbsp;following Biden's narrow win over Republican Donald Trump.The court did not detail its reasoning in a brief order. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch would have allowed the law to be fully enforced, while Justice Amy Coney Barrett would have joined with the court’s three liberals in fully rejecting the push, the order states.The legal fight will continue in lower courts.National and state Republicans had asked the Supreme Court to get involved in a legal fight over voter registration restrictions that Republicans enacted in Arizona in 2022 following Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-arizona-phoenix-elections-9638adedbe826b31b5d172ba3a1c7c3a">thin victory</a>&nbsp;in the state in 2020.The court’s action came after a lower court had blocked a requirement that called for state voter registration forms to be rejected if they are not accompanied by documents proving U.S. citizenship. A second measure, also not in effect, would have prohibited voting in presidential elections or by mail if registrants don’t prove they are U.S. citizens. Federal law requires voters to swear they are U.S. citizens under penalty of perjury but does not require proof of citizenship either to vote in federal elections in person or cast ballots by mail.An appellate panel of three Trump appointees initially blocked the lower court ruling in part and allowed enforcement of a provision dealing with state voter registration forms. But another appellate panel voted 2-1 to keep both provisions on hold, with two Bill Clinton appointees allowing the voter registrations to go forward over the dissent of a Trump appointee.The measures were passed on party-line votes and signed into law by then-Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, amid a wave of proposals that Republicans introduced around the country after Biden’s 2020 victory over Trump, including in Arizona.For state and local elections, voters must provide proof of citizenship when they register or have it on file with the state. Since that isn’t a requirement for federal elections for Congress or president, tens of thousands of voters who haven’t provided proof of citizenship are registered only for federal elections.There were 41,352 of those voters registered as of August 9 in Arizona, Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said.Fontes warned in a court filing that an order in favor of the state and national Republicans this close to the November election “will create chaos and confusion.”The voters most affected would include military service members, students and Native Americans, Fontes said. About 27% of those voters are registered Democrats and 15% are Republicans. More than half, 54%, are registered independents, according to state data.Voting rights groups and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-us-supreme-court-legislature-arizona-bc2fa3b59f7b7c81d27fde7df9e1ed9b">Biden administration had sued</a>&nbsp;over the Arizona laws.Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach led Republican attorneys general in 24 states in supporting the restrictions, saying the “case threatens to continue chipping away Arizona’s authority to secure its own elections.”Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, who along with Senate President Warren Petersen had asked the court to take up the issue, said in a statement that the order was “a step in the right direction to require proof of citizenship in all our elections.” Toma and Peterson are both Republicans.Federal-only voters have been a subject of political wrangling since the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that Arizona cannot require documentary proof of citizenship for people to vote in national elections. The state responded by creating two classes of voters: those who can vote in all races and those who can vote only in federal elections.One of the new laws sought to further divide voters, allowing votes in congressional elections without proof of citizenship, but denying the vote in presidential contests.The 2022 law has drawn fierce opposition from voting rights advocates, who described the statute as an attempt to get the issue back in front of the now more conservative Supreme Court.Proponents say the measure is about eliminating opportunities for fraud. There is no evidence that the existence of federal-only voters has allowed noncitizens to illegally vote, but Republican skeptics have nonetheless worked aggressively to crack down on federal-only voting.The Legislature’s own lawyers had said much of the measure was unconstitutional, directly contradicted the earlier Supreme Court decision and was likely to be thrown out in court.

Kan. AG led effort: Court OKs law requiring proof of citizenship to vote

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide&nbsp; continue asking for the public’s help in locating 19-year-old Nassir Gill of Topeka, according to a media release from police.

 Gill is a person of interest in the homicide of Brian M. Wright Jr., 23, that occurred on June 21, in the 3100 block of SW Westover Road in Topeka.

Gill is described as 5-foot-6 and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He may no longer have blue/green hair, as seen in the photo released by police.

If you see or know where Gill may be, please call or email investigators at 785-368-9551 and telltpd@topeka.org. You can also report anonymously to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or online at www.p3tips.com/128.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719693545861.png" alt="Gill is described as 5-foot-6 and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He may no longer have blue/green hair, as seen in the photo released by police." />
 <figcaption>Gill is described as 5-foot-6 and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He may no longer have blue/green hair, as seen in the photo released by police.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide&nbsp; continue asking for the public’s help in locating 19-year-old Nassir Gill of Topeka, according to a media release from police. Gill is a person of interest in the homicide of Brian M. Wright Jr., 23, that occurred on June 21, in the 3100 block of SW Westover Road in Topeka.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719001082126.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Gill is described as 5-foot-6 and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He may no longer have blue/green hair, as seen in the photo released by police.If you see or know where Gill may be, please call or email investigators at 785-368-9551 and telltpd@topeka.org. You can also report anonymously to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or online at www.p3tips.com/128.

Kansas teen homicide suspect still hiding from police

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is sending about $125 million in new military aid to Ukraine, the Defense Department said Friday, even as Washington works to get a better understanding of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-incursion-bridge-invasion-43d6579c82c24ffc5cfabd99d07c66db">Kyiv's incursion into Russia</a>&nbsp;and how it advances the broader battlefield goals more than two years into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the war</a>.

The latest package of aid includes air defense missiles, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Javelins and an array of other anti-armor missiles, counter-drone and counter-electronic warfare systems and equipment, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, vehicles and other equipment.

The formal announcement came on Friday, which is the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day.

The weapons are being provided through presidential drawdown authority, which means they are taken from Pentagon stockpiles and can be delivered more quickly.

The aid comes as Ukrainian forces continue to broaden their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-incursion-putin-1178b99b32b476816db3a48ffa06b11a">surprise offensive into Russia</a>, where officials say they have taken about 100 square kilometers (62 square miles) of territory in the Kursk region. Russian troops, meanwhile, are making gains in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, around&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-evacuation-order-pokrovsk-b8c4c6cc0dd81658fecdf1c83145908d">the city of Pokrovsk</a>, a critical logistics hub.

Pentagon officials have said repeatedly that the U.S. has been talking with Ukrainian leaders to get a better assessment of their longer-term goals for the Kursk operation, particularly as they see Russia advancing near Pokrovsk.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-pokrovsk-df997d0f23bd7dcdfc6f20080ab133e7">If Pokrovsk falls</a>, the defeat would imperil Ukraine’s defenses and bring Russia closer to its stated aim of capturing the Donetsk region. Russian soldiers are now just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) away.

Asked about the Kursk operation, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Thursday that “we are still working with Ukraine on how that fits into their strategic objectives on the battlefield itself.”

The U.S., she said, understands that Ukraine wants to build a buffer zone along the border, but the administration still has more questions about how it furthers Ukraine's broader war effort.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-volgograd-92ba09ebaef0e8fd1777df56b3d8a706">Zelenskyy made his first visit</a>&nbsp;Thursday to the border area where his forces launched the offensive on Aug. 6. He said Kyiv’s military had taken control of another Russian village and captured more prisoners of war.

The latest package of aid brings the total amount of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine to more than $55.7 billion since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718381386945.png" alt="File photo White House&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is sending about $125 million in new military aid to Ukraine, the Defense Department said Friday, even as Washington works to get a better understanding of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-incursion-bridge-invasion-43d6579c82c24ffc5cfabd99d07c66db">Kyiv's incursion into Russia</a>&nbsp;and how it advances the broader battlefield goals more than two years into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the war</a>.The latest package of aid includes air defense missiles, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Javelins and an array of other anti-armor missiles, counter-drone and counter-electronic warfare systems and equipment, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, vehicles and other equipment.The formal announcement came on Friday, which is the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day.The weapons are being provided through presidential drawdown authority, which means they are taken from Pentagon stockpiles and can be delivered more quickly.The aid comes as Ukrainian forces continue to broaden their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-incursion-putin-1178b99b32b476816db3a48ffa06b11a">surprise offensive into Russia</a>, where officials say they have taken about 100 square kilometers (62 square miles) of territory in the Kursk region. Russian troops, meanwhile, are making gains in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, around&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-evacuation-order-pokrovsk-b8c4c6cc0dd81658fecdf1c83145908d">the city of Pokrovsk</a>, a critical logistics hub.Pentagon officials have said repeatedly that the U.S. has been talking with Ukrainian leaders to get a better assessment of their longer-term goals for the Kursk operation, particularly as they see Russia advancing near Pokrovsk.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-pokrovsk-df997d0f23bd7dcdfc6f20080ab133e7">If Pokrovsk falls</a>, the defeat would imperil Ukraine’s defenses and bring Russia closer to its stated aim of capturing the Donetsk region. Russian soldiers are now just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) away.Asked about the Kursk operation, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Thursday that “we are still working with Ukraine on how that fits into their strategic objectives on the battlefield itself.”The U.S., she said, understands that Ukraine wants to build a buffer zone along the border, but the administration still has more questions about how it furthers Ukraine's broader war effort.Ukrainian President Volodymyr&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-volgograd-92ba09ebaef0e8fd1777df56b3d8a706">Zelenskyy made his first visit</a>&nbsp;Thursday to the border area where his forces launched the offensive on Aug. 6. He said Kyiv’s military had taken control of another Russian village and captured more prisoners of war.The latest package of aid brings the total amount of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine to more than $55.7 billion since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

US sending $125 million in new military aid to Ukraine

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating&nbsp; the discovery of a man's body in the trunk of a car in a vacant lot in Wichita identified the victim as 39-year-old Kyce Barnes of Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.

Barnes had a long history of crime. He spent time in the Kansas Department of Corrections for drug convictions in Cowley County. He was released from prison in 2020.&nbsp; On Monday, police booked Barnes into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges that included possession of stolen property and drug possession, according to jail booking records. He was released from the Sedgwick County jail just after 3p.m. Tuesday.

Police in Wichita also arrested him in 2022 on requested charges of theft, violation of a protection order, domestic battery and failure to appear.&nbsp;

Just after 8a.m. Wednesday, police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in a vacant lot located in the 8200 block of West Irving Street in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.

Officers were directed to a white four door Mercedes and discovered a deceased 39-year-old man in the trunk of the vehicle.

The victim was found wrapped in blood-stained bedding with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body. His remains were transported to the Sedgwick County Medical Examiner's Office for further examination.

During the investigation, detectives identified the Deluxe Motel at 8401 W. Kellogg Drive as the original crime scene. Police have not released the identity of the victim.

Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Wichita Police Department Homicide Investigators at (316) 268-4407. For those who wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724361881332.png" alt="Kyce Barnes from a 2022 arrest in Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Kyce Barnes from a 2022 arrest in Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating&nbsp; the discovery of a man's body in the trunk of a car in a vacant lot in Wichita identified the victim as 39-year-old Kyce Barnes of Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.Barnes had a long history of crime. He spent time in the Kansas Department of Corrections for drug convictions in Cowley County. He was released from prison in 2020.&nbsp; On Monday, police booked Barnes into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges that included possession of stolen property and drug possession, according to jail booking records. He was released from the Sedgwick County jail just after 3p.m. Tuesday.Police in Wichita also arrested him in 2022 on requested charges of theft, violation of a protection order, domestic battery and failure to appear.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724266152157.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigaiton-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigaiton-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 8a.m. Wednesday, police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in a vacant lot located in the 8200 block of West Irving Street in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.Officers were directed to a white four door Mercedes and discovered a deceased 39-year-old man in the trunk of the vehicle.The victim was found wrapped in blood-stained bedding with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body. His remains were transported to the Sedgwick County Medical Examiner's Office for further examination.During the investigation, detectives identified the Deluxe Motel at 8401 W. Kellogg Drive as the original crime scene. Police have not released the identity of the victim.Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Wichita Police Department Homicide Investigators at (316) 268-4407. For those who wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111

Kan. man found dead in the trunk of car had just been released from jail

KANSAS CITY —Brittany Mahomes, wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wrote a statement on social media in response to criticism after ‘liking’&nbsp; an Instagram post from former President Donald Trump.

Brittany defended her support for 'liking; the Trump post, and standing up to "haters for not healing from issues they had from childhood."

She wrote,"To be a hater as an adult, you have to have some deep rooted issues you refuse to heal from childhood. There's no reason your brain is fully developed and you hate to see others doing well.”

Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs open the NFL season Thursday in Kansas City against the Baltimore Ravens.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724461026275.png" alt="File photo Brittany Mahomes (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)" />
 <figcaption>File photo Brittany Mahomes (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Brittany Mahomes, wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wrote a statement on social media in response to criticism after ‘liking’&nbsp; an Instagram post from former President Donald Trump.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724460661858.png" alt="Instagram screenshot" />
 <figcaption>Instagram screenshot</figcaption>
 </figure>Brittany defended her support for 'liking; the Trump post, and standing up to "haters for not healing from issues they had from childhood."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724460634025.png" alt="Instagram screenshot" />
 <figcaption>Instagram screenshot</figcaption>
 </figure>She wrote,"To be a hater as an adult, you have to have some deep rooted issues you refuse to heal from childhood. There's no reason your brain is fully developed and you hate to see others doing well.”Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs open the NFL season Thursday in Kansas City against the Baltimore Ravens.

Wife of Patrick Mahomes responds to critics after “liking” a Donald Trump post

DAMASCUS —U.S. forces killed&nbsp;Abu-’Abd al-Rahman al-Makki, a senior leader and commander with the Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group, Hurras al-Din,&nbsp; on Friday in a U.S. drone Strike in northwestern Syria, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

Abu-’Abd al-Rahman al-Makki was a Hurras al-Din Shura was responsible for overseeing terrorist operations from Syria.

“CENTCOM remains committed to the enduring defeat of terrorists in the CENTCOM area of responsibility who threaten the United States, its allies and partners, and regional stability," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command. 

Hurras al-Din is an Al Qaeda-associated force based in Syria that shares Al Qaeda’s global aspirations to conduct attacks against U.S. and Western interests.

DAMASCUS —U.S. forces killed&nbsp;Abu-’Abd al-Rahman al-Makki, a senior leader and commander with the Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group, Hurras al-Din,&nbsp; on Friday in a U.S. drone Strike in northwestern Syria, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.Abu-’Abd al-Rahman al-Makki was a Hurras al-Din Shura was responsible for overseeing terrorist operations from Syria.“CENTCOM remains committed to the enduring defeat of terrorists in the CENTCOM area of responsibility who threaten the United States, its allies and partners, and regional stability," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command. Hurras al-Din is an Al Qaeda-associated force based in Syria that shares Al Qaeda’s global aspirations to conduct attacks against U.S. and Western interests.

U.S. forces use drone strike in Syria to kill senior terrorist leader 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit-and-run incident and have released a security camera image of a pickup involved.

According to Wichita Police, on August 18, a bicyclist was struck by a Nissan Frontier in the area of 47th and Water in Wichita.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene before officers arrived. The pickup has a black, driver's side rear wheel, is missing a portion of the front air spoiler and part of the left rear wheelhouse inner fender cover. Investigators are seeking assistance in locating and identifying the involved Nissan Frontier.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724440717023.png" alt="Photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit-and-run incident and have released a security camera image of a pickup involved.According to Wichita Police, on August 18, a bicyclist was struck by a Nissan Frontier in the area of 47th and Water in Wichita.The driver of the vehicle fled the scene before officers arrived. The pickup has a black, driver's side rear wheel, is missing a portion of the front air spoiler and part of the left rear wheelhouse inner fender cover. Investigators are seeking assistance in locating and identifying the involved Nissan Frontier.

Police ask for help to ID pickup involved in Kansas hit-and-run

PHOENIX (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;suspended his independent campaign for president Friday and endorsed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, a late-stage shakeup of the presidential race that could give the former president a modest boost from Kennedy’s supporters.

Kennedy said his internal polls had shown that his presence in the race would hurt Trump and help Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, though recent public polls don’t provide a clear indication that he is having an outsize impact on support for either major-party candidate.

Kennedy cited free speech, the war in Ukraine and “a war on our children” as among the reasons he would try to remove his name from the ballot in battleground states.

“These are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to throw my support to President Trump,” Kennedy said.

However, he made clear that he wasn’t formally ending his bid and said his supporters could continue to back him in the majority of states where they are unlikely to sway the outcome. Kennedy took steps to withdraw his candidacy in at least two states late this week, Arizona and Pennsylvania, but in the battlegrounds of Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin, election officials said it’s too late for him to take his name off the ballot even if he wants to do so.

Kennedy said his actions followed conversations with Trump over the past few weeks. He cast their alliance as “a unity party," an arrangement that would "allow us to disagree publicly and privately and seriously.”

Hours after Kennedy made his announcement in Phoenix, Trump was to hold a rally in neighboring Glendale. Trump’s campaign teased that he would be joined by “a special guest,” though neither campaign responded to messages about whether Kennedy would be that guest.

A year ago, some would have thought it inconceivable that a member of arguably the most storied family in Democratic politics would work with Trump to keep a Democrat out of the White House. Even in recent months, Kennedy has accused Trump of betraying his followers, while Trump has criticized Kennedy as “the most radical left candidate in the race.”

Five of Kennedy’s family members issued a statement on Friday calling his support for Trump “a sad ending to a sad story.”

“We want an America filled with hope and bound together by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise and national pride,” read the statement, which his sister Kerry Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KerryKennedyRFK/status/1827061350452887816">posted on X</a>. “We believe in Harris and Walz. Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear.”

Kennedy Jr., the son of the late Attorney General and Sen. Robert Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, acknowledged his decision had caused tension with his immediate family. He is married to actress Cheryl Hines.

“This decision is agonizing for me because of the difficulties it causes my wife and my children and my friends,” Kennedy said. "But I have the certainty that this is what I’m meant to do. And that certainty gives me internal peace, even in storms.”

The Kennedy and Trump campaigns have ramped up their compliments of each other and engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions in recent weeks, according to those familiar with the efforts. Both campaigns have spent months accusing Democrats of weaponizing the legal system for their own benefit. And both have hinted publicly that they could be open to joining forces, with the shared goal of limiting Harris' chances.

Last month, during the Republican National Convention, Kennedy’s son posted and then quickly deleted a video showing a phone call between Kennedy and Trump, in which the former president appeared to try to talk Kennedy into siding with him.

Talks between the two camps continued, with close Trump allies quietly lobbying Kennedy to drop out of the race and support the Republican nominee, according to a person familiar with the efforts who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Trump told CNN on Tuesday that he would “love” an endorsement from Kennedy, whom he called a “brilliant guy.” He also said he would “certainly” be open to Kennedy playing a role in his administration if Kennedy dropped out and endorsed him.

Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan, also suggested on a podcast this week that his campaign might “walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump.” While she clarified that she is not personally in talks with Trump, she entertained the idea that Kennedy could join Trump's administration as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

“I think that Bobby in a role like that would be excellent,” Shanahan said. “I fully support it. I have high hopes.”

Earlier Friday, Shanahan posted on X that she isn’t a Kamala Democrat or a Trump Republican.

“I’m an INDEPENDENT American who is endorsing ideas, not a person or a party,” she wrote. “I will continue working to give a voice to the voiceless and bring power back to the people.”

At Kennedy's Phoenix event, 38-year-old Casey Westerman, a Chandler, Arizona, resident who works in software sales, said she trusted Kennedy’s judgment and had planned to vote for him, but would support Trump if Kennedy said that was who he was endorsing.

“My decision would really be based on who he thinks is best suited to run this country,” said Westerman, who wore a “Kennedy 2024” trucker hat and voted for Trump in the last two presidential elections.

Kennedy first entered the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat but left the party last fall to run as an independent. He built an unusually strong base for a third-party bid, fueled in part by anti-establishment voters and vaccine skeptics who have followed his anti-vaccine work since the COVID-19 pandemic. But he has since faced strained campaign finances and mounting legal challenges.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-jr-polls-rfk-trump-harris-fd8463cfcdd1bb9399466be59ce0db97">Recent polls</a>&nbsp;put his support in the mid-single digits. And it's unclear if he’d get even that in a general election, since third-party candidates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-biden-trump-third-party-2024-election-71ffff6d34b0bad8b92cb8e82369d2e8">frequently don’t live up to their early poll numbers</a>&nbsp;when voters actually cast their ballots.

There's some evidence that Kennedy's staying in the race would hurt Trump more than Harris. According to a July AP-NORC poll, Republicans were significantly more likely than Democrats to have a favorable view of Kennedy. And those with a positive impression of Kennedy were significantly more likely to also have a favorable view of Trump (52%) than Harris (37%).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724439922965.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>PHOENIX (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;suspended his independent campaign for president Friday and endorsed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, a late-stage shakeup of the presidential race that could give the former president a modest boost from Kennedy’s supporters.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RobertKennedyJr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RobertKennedyJr</a> suspends campaign and endorses Trump: &quot;In about 10 battleground states where my presence would be a spoiler I am going to remove my name...&quot; Full video here: <a href="https://t.co/wpxrw1xNWC">https://t.co/wpxrw1xNWC</a> <a href="https://t.co/oDpnO4E4po">pic.twitter.com/oDpnO4E4po</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1827064363565592749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kennedy said his internal polls had shown that his presence in the race would hurt Trump and help Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, though recent public polls don’t provide a clear indication that he is having an outsize impact on support for either major-party candidate.Kennedy cited free speech, the war in Ukraine and “a war on our children” as among the reasons he would try to remove his name from the ballot in battleground states.“These are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to throw my support to President Trump,” Kennedy said.However, he made clear that he wasn’t formally ending his bid and said his supporters could continue to back him in the majority of states where they are unlikely to sway the outcome. Kennedy took steps to withdraw his candidacy in at least two states late this week, Arizona and Pennsylvania, but in the battlegrounds of Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin, election officials said it’s too late for him to take his name off the ballot even if he wants to do so.Kennedy said his actions followed conversations with Trump over the past few weeks. He cast their alliance as “a unity party," an arrangement that would "allow us to disagree publicly and privately and seriously.”Hours after Kennedy made his announcement in Phoenix, Trump was to hold a rally in neighboring Glendale. Trump’s campaign teased that he would be joined by “a special guest,” though neither campaign responded to messages about whether Kennedy would be that guest.A year ago, some would have thought it inconceivable that a member of arguably the most storied family in Democratic politics would work with Trump to keep a Democrat out of the White House. Even in recent months, Kennedy has accused Trump of betraying his followers, while Trump has criticized Kennedy as “the most radical left candidate in the race.”Five of Kennedy’s family members issued a statement on Friday calling his support for Trump “a sad ending to a sad story.”“We want an America filled with hope and bound together by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise and national pride,” read the statement, which his sister Kerry Kennedy&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KerryKennedyRFK/status/1827061350452887816">posted on X</a>. “We believe in Harris and Walz. Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear.”Kennedy Jr., the son of the late Attorney General and Sen. Robert Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, acknowledged his decision had caused tension with his immediate family. He is married to actress Cheryl Hines.“This decision is agonizing for me because of the difficulties it causes my wife and my children and my friends,” Kennedy said. "But I have the certainty that this is what I’m meant to do. And that certainty gives me internal peace, even in storms.”The Kennedy and Trump campaigns have ramped up their compliments of each other and engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions in recent weeks, according to those familiar with the efforts. Both campaigns have spent months accusing Democrats of weaponizing the legal system for their own benefit. And both have hinted publicly that they could be open to joining forces, with the shared goal of limiting Harris' chances.Last month, during the Republican National Convention, Kennedy’s son posted and then quickly deleted a video showing a phone call between Kennedy and Trump, in which the former president appeared to try to talk Kennedy into siding with him.Talks between the two camps continued, with close Trump allies quietly lobbying Kennedy to drop out of the race and support the Republican nominee, according to a person familiar with the efforts who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.Trump told CNN on Tuesday that he would “love” an endorsement from Kennedy, whom he called a “brilliant guy.” He also said he would “certainly” be open to Kennedy playing a role in his administration if Kennedy dropped out and endorsed him.Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan, also suggested on a podcast this week that his campaign might “walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump.” While she clarified that she is not personally in talks with Trump, she entertained the idea that Kennedy could join Trump's administration as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.“I think that Bobby in a role like that would be excellent,” Shanahan said. “I fully support it. I have high hopes.”Earlier Friday, Shanahan posted on X that she isn’t a Kamala Democrat or a Trump Republican.“I’m an INDEPENDENT American who is endorsing ideas, not a person or a party,” she wrote. “I will continue working to give a voice to the voiceless and bring power back to the people.”At Kennedy's Phoenix event, 38-year-old Casey Westerman, a Chandler, Arizona, resident who works in software sales, said she trusted Kennedy’s judgment and had planned to vote for him, but would support Trump if Kennedy said that was who he was endorsing.“My decision would really be based on who he thinks is best suited to run this country,” said Westerman, who wore a “Kennedy 2024” trucker hat and voted for Trump in the last two presidential elections.Kennedy first entered the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat but left the party last fall to run as an independent. He built an unusually strong base for a third-party bid, fueled in part by anti-establishment voters and vaccine skeptics who have followed his anti-vaccine work since the COVID-19 pandemic. But he has since faced strained campaign finances and mounting legal challenges.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-jr-polls-rfk-trump-harris-fd8463cfcdd1bb9399466be59ce0db97">Recent polls</a>&nbsp;put his support in the mid-single digits. And it's unclear if he’d get even that in a general election, since third-party candidates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-biden-trump-third-party-2024-election-71ffff6d34b0bad8b92cb8e82369d2e8">frequently don’t live up to their early poll numbers</a>&nbsp;when voters actually cast their ballots.There's some evidence that Kennedy's staying in the race would hurt Trump more than Harris. According to a July AP-NORC poll, Republicans were significantly more likely than Democrats to have a favorable view of Kennedy. And those with a positive impression of Kennedy were significantly more likely to also have a favorable view of Trump (52%) than Harris (37%).

🎥 Why RFK Jr. suspended his bid for President, endorsed Trump

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.&nbsp;– An abundance of flying activity&nbsp; over the Air Capital this week with the arrival of aircraft for the 2024 Frontiers in Flight Airshow at McConnell Air Force Base. Big crowds are expected to attend.

On Wednesday Doc arrived at McConnell. That B-29 Superfortress will be part of the center display for the airshow, along with two KC-135 Stratotankers and two KC-46 Pegasus tankers.

On Thursday, the Blue Angels arrived. In addition, three Army helicopters from Fort Riley arrived.&nbsp; The helicopters will be on ground display for the airshow.

On Friday, several small aircraft were scheduled to arrive from Stearman Field. The airshows aerial performers were going to conduct a practice airshow starting at noon, with the Blue Angels taking to the skies at 3 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, flying activities begin at noon, and the Blue Angels will again take to the skies at 3 p.m. each day.&nbsp;The airshow runs August 24-25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at McConnell Air Force Base, with both admission and parking being free.&nbsp;

All attendees over the age of 18 are required to present a state- or federal government-issued photo ID for entry, such as a driver’s license or passport. Non-U.S. citizen over the age of 18 can use a passport or permanent resident alien card for entry.

Guests are allowed and encouraged to bring their own drinking water in a non-glass container, filled, to use and refill throughout the day to help prevent heat injuries.

There will be free water fill locations in the general public parking lot and on the airshow ramp for refilling personal water containers. Those locations are marked on the map, along with cooling tents, port-a-potties and first aid stations.

<a>While that parking is available, there will still be large distances of walking, given the overall size of the flightline. The airshow area itself measures 0.67 miles north to south, and will be full of parked aircraft, booths and displays.</a>

Parking will be provided off-base, in the fields owned by Cessna, north of McConnell, west of Rock Road and south of Pawnee Street. Distance from the regular parking area to the airshow entrance is approximately 0.5 miles. As such, the base has organized busses to be available at the center of the general parking area to transport people to and from there and the airshow entrance (Entry #1 on the Airshow map). These distances, combined with the typical August temperatures in Kansas and the heat-amplifying effects of concrete runways make hydration especially important for airshow attendees and staff.

Accessibility parking is available by filling out the following form online:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersinflight.com/guestinfo#accessibility" target="_blank">https://www.frontiersinflight.com/guestinfo#accessibility</a>

Those who are approved for this parking will be e-mailed a parking pass, which they will have to print out. That pass will enable parking at select locations on base.

For those bringing small children, wristbands are available at the entry points to the flightline, to allow adults to write a phone number on the band and put it on the child’s wrist. Should the adults and children become separated, that phone number will facilitate a quick reunion with their adults.&nbsp; The Lost Child RV will be located near the Kids Zone and close to the Boeing Dreamlifter.&nbsp; The Dreamlifter will be the largest aircraft on the ramp, on the north end of the runway area and near the STEAM and Kid Zones. Changing stations and a dedicated nursing area will also be nearby.

A full list of items that guests are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersinflight.com/guestinfo#bring" target="_blank">allowed to bring</a>, as well as a list of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersinflight.com/guestinfo#nobring" target="_blank">prohibited items</a>, is available at the airshow website,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.frontiersinflight.com/" target="_blank">www.frontiersinflight.com</a>

Aerial performances begin at noon each day. The headline act, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, takes to the skies at approximately 3 p.m. each day of the airshow.

The confirmed aerial performers for the airshow are:

The Budweiser Clydesdales hitch is scheduled to make an appearance at 11:30 a.m., each day of the airshow.

The confirmed aircraft on static display are shown on the airshow map, current as of its publication date. Those aircraft on display will be:

Wichita’s military presence is more than just Air Force, with a number of Reserve and Guard units in the area from across the military branches. The largest of these locally is the Army Reserve’s 451st&nbsp;Expeditionary Sustainment Command, which is headquartered here. The 451st&nbsp;ESC has coordinated the appearance of several Army aviation and ground assets at the event, bringing a little extra steel and firepower for visitors to see. These will include:

<a href="https://www.frontiersinflight.com/">Click here for </a>more information on the air show

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724252189685.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.&nbsp;– An abundance of flying activity&nbsp; over the Air Capital this week with the arrival of aircraft for the 2024 Frontiers in Flight Airshow at McConnell Air Force Base. Big crowds are expected to attend.On Wednesday Doc arrived at McConnell. That B-29 Superfortress will be part of the center display for the airshow, along with two KC-135 Stratotankers and two KC-46 Pegasus tankers.On Thursday, the Blue Angels arrived. In addition, three Army helicopters from Fort Riley arrived.&nbsp; The helicopters will be on ground display for the airshow.On Friday, several small aircraft were scheduled to arrive from Stearman Field. The airshows aerial performers were going to conduct a practice airshow starting at noon, with the Blue Angels taking to the skies at 3 p.m.On Saturday and Sunday, flying activities begin at noon, and the Blue Angels will again take to the skies at 3 p.m. each day.&nbsp;The airshow runs August 24-25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at McConnell Air Force Base, with both admission and parking being free.&nbsp;All attendees over the age of 18 are required to present a state- or federal government-issued photo ID for entry, such as a driver’s license or passport. Non-U.S. citizen over the age of 18 can use a passport or permanent resident alien card for entry.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Hot and humid conditions will return to portions of Kansas this weekend as heat indices ranging from 100 to 110 degrees are expected for both Saturday and Sunday. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/MAgNkjJRQx">pic.twitter.com/MAgNkjJRQx</a>&mdash; NWS Wichita (@NWSWichita) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSWichita/status/1826894755642384433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Guests are allowed and encouraged to bring their own drinking water in a non-glass container, filled, to use and refill throughout the day to help prevent heat injuries.There will be free water fill locations in the general public parking lot and on the airshow ramp for refilling personal water containers. Those locations are marked on the map, along with cooling tents, port-a-potties and first aid stations.Distances<a>While that parking is available, there will still be large distances of walking, given the overall size of the flightline. The airshow area itself measures 0.67 miles north to south, and will be full of parked aircraft, booths and displays.</a>General ParkingParking will be provided off-base, in the fields owned by Cessna, north of McConnell, west of Rock Road and south of Pawnee Street. Distance from the regular parking area to the airshow entrance is approximately 0.5 miles. As such, the base has organized busses to be available at the center of the general parking area to transport people to and from there and the airshow entrance (Entry #1 on the Airshow map). These distances, combined with the typical August temperatures in Kansas and the heat-amplifying effects of concrete runways make hydration especially important for airshow attendees and staff.Accessibility ParkingAccessibility parking is available by filling out the following form online:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersinflight.com/guestinfo#accessibility" target="_blank">https://www.frontiersinflight.com/guestinfo#accessibility</a>Those who are approved for this parking will be e-mailed a parking pass, which they will have to print out. That pass will enable parking at select locations on base.Lost ChildrenFor those bringing small children, wristbands are available at the entry points to the flightline, to allow adults to write a phone number on the band and put it on the child’s wrist. Should the adults and children become separated, that phone number will facilitate a quick reunion with their adults.&nbsp; The Lost Child RV will be located near the Kids Zone and close to the Boeing Dreamlifter.&nbsp; The Dreamlifter will be the largest aircraft on the ramp, on the north end of the runway area and near the STEAM and Kid Zones. Changing stations and a dedicated nursing area will also be nearby.Allowed &amp; Prohibited ItemsA full list of items that guests are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersinflight.com/guestinfo#bring" target="_blank">allowed to bring</a>, as well as a list of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersinflight.com/guestinfo#nobring" target="_blank">prohibited items</a>, is available at the airshow website,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.frontiersinflight.com/" target="_blank">www.frontiersinflight.com</a>Aerial Performance TimesAerial performances begin at noon each day. The headline act, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, takes to the skies at approximately 3 p.m. each day of the airshow.Aerial PerformersThe confirmed aerial performers for the airshow are:<ul>
 <li>Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornets</li><li>Fat Albert (Blue Angels support C-130J Super Hercules)</li><li>F-35 Lightning Demo Team</li><li>P-51 Heritage Flight</li><li>2x A-10 Thunderbolt II Formation Demo</li><li>Tora Tora Tora</li><li>“Swamp Fox” P-51</li><li>Twin Beech 18 “Matt Younkin”</li><li>Havilland D.H. 115 “Vampire”</li><li>Bill Stien “Edge 540”</li><li>Tom Larkin “Mini Jet”</li><li>Brian Correll “Pitts II”</li><li>KC-135/KC-46 Refuel Demo</li><li>Precision Exotics “Super Cars”</li>
 </ul>ClydesdalesThe Budweiser Clydesdales hitch is scheduled to make an appearance at 11:30 a.m., each day of the airshow.Aircraft on DisplayThe confirmed aircraft on static display are shown on the airshow map, current as of its publication date. Those aircraft on display will be:<ul>
 <li>Doc B-29 Superfortress</li><li>KC-135 Stratotankers</li><li>KC-46 Pegasus</li><li>Fat Albert (C-130J Super Hercules)</li><li>A-10 Thunderbolt IIs</li><li>F-15 Eagles</li><li>F-16 Fighting Falcons</li><li>F-22 Raptors</li><li>F-35 Lightning IIs</li><li>B-1 Lancer</li><li>B-52 Stratofortress</li><li>Navy P-8 Poseidon</li><li>C-17 Globemaster III</li><li>RC-135 Rivet Joint</li><li>T-38 Talons</li><li>T-6 Texans</li><li>T-1A Jayhawk</li><li>T-41 Mescalero (Cessna 172)</li><li>T-53A Kadet II (Cirrus SR-20)</li><li>Boeing Dreamlifter</li><li>A-26 Invader “Lady Liberty”</li><li>LearJet 36A – Around the world&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-07-02/learjet-global-circumnavigation-deemed-world-record" target="_blank">record holder</a></li><li>Stearman Biplanes</li>
 </ul>Army Displays:Wichita’s military presence is more than just Air Force, with a number of Reserve and Guard units in the area from across the military branches. The largest of these locally is the Army Reserve’s 451st&nbsp;Expeditionary Sustainment Command, which is headquartered here. The 451st&nbsp;ESC has coordinated the appearance of several Army aviation and ground assets at the event, bringing a little extra steel and firepower for visitors to see. These will include:<ul>
 <li>Light Medium Tactical Vehicle</li><li>High-Mobility, Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)</li><li>Joint Light Tactical Vehicle</li><li>UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter</li><li>HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter</li><li>CH-47 Chinook helicopter</li>
 </ul><a href="https://www.frontiersinflight.com/">Click here for </a>more information on the air show

Big crowds, hot weather expected for McConnell Airshow this weekend

JOHNSON COUNTY —Ohio Senator and Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance made a campaign fundraising stop in Mission Hills Thursday evening.

Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall shared on social media a photo welcoming Vance to Kansas.

The campaign charged $5,000 per couple to attend the fundraiser and $10,000 per couple for photos.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724374186136.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Ohio Senator and Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance made a campaign fundraising stop in Mission Hills Thursday evening.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724427243614.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall shared on social media a photo welcoming Vance to Kansas.The campaign charged $5,000 per couple to attend the fundraiser and $10,000 per couple for photos.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trump's running mate makes campaign stop in Kansas

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal house explosion in rural Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Just after 4:30 a.m. Friday, the Clay County Sheriff's office reported they were contacted about a house that exploded in the 14400 block of Kimberly Drive.

Deputies found the house was completely destroyed, and a fire was burning. The blast could be felt and seen for many miles and blew open the doors of neighbors’ houses.

Two people lived at the home, and initially investigators did not know whether they were home at the time of the blast.

Just after noon Friday the sheriff's office reported deputies and firefighters located two bodies in the rubble of the home, believed to be the residents. 

 Deputies also located a dog that appears to have been killed by the explosion. The Missouri Search and Rescue Canines and the Excelsior Springs Fire Department, assisted in the search for victims.

Investigators have found no evidence of foul play at this point. The Missouri State Fire Marshall’s Office is on scene working to determine the cause. Representatives from the Missouri Propane Safety Commission also are on scene. The house used propane, according to the sheriff's office.&nbsp;Excelsior Springs is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Kansas City.

The Medical Examiner responded to the scene officials will release names of the deceased once their identities have been confirmed and next-of-kin notification is complete.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724431776251.jpeg" alt="Image Clay Couinty Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Image Clay Couinty Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal house explosion in rural Excelsior Springs, Missouri.Just after 4:30 a.m. Friday, the Clay County Sheriff's office reported they were contacted about a house that exploded in the 14400 block of Kimberly Drive.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSheriffClayCo%2Fvideos%2F862240312124026%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Deputies found the house was completely destroyed, and a fire was burning. The blast could be felt and seen for many miles and blew open the doors of neighbors’ houses.Two people lived at the home, and initially investigators did not know whether they were home at the time of the blast.Just after noon Friday the sheriff's office reported deputies and firefighters located two bodies in the rubble of the home, believed to be the residents. Deputies also located a dog that appears to have been killed by the explosion. The Missouri Search and Rescue Canines and the Excelsior Springs Fire Department, assisted in the search for victims.Investigators have found no evidence of foul play at this point. The Missouri State Fire Marshall’s Office is on scene working to determine the cause. Representatives from the Missouri Propane Safety Commission also are on scene. The house used propane, according to the sheriff's office.&nbsp;Excelsior Springs is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Kansas City.The Medical Examiner responded to the scene officials will release names of the deceased once their identities have been confirmed and next-of-kin notification is complete.

🎥Sheriff: KC area house explosion felt for miles; 2 bodies found

JACKSON, Wyoming (AP) — With inflation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-f8de2672173407d3a126cc13493fed85">nearly defeated</a>&nbsp;and the job market cooling, the Federal Reserve is prepared to start cutting its key interest rate from its current 23-year high, Chair Jerome Powell said Friday.

Powell did not say when rate cuts would begin or how large they might be, but the Fed is widely expected to announce a modest quarter-point cut in its benchmark rate when it meets in mid-September.

“The time has come for policy to adjust," Powell said in his keynote speech at the Fed's annual economic conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. “The direction of travel is clear, and the timing and pace of rate cuts will depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks.”

His reference to multiple rate cuts was the only hint that a series of reductions is likely, as economists have forecast. Powell emphasized that inflation, after the worst price spike in four decades inflicted pain on millions of households, appears&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-election-federal-reserve-rates-economy-d8d44ca753aace952831a8f0cb42b97c">largely under control</a>:

“My confidence has grown," he said, “that inflation is on a sustainable path back to 2%.”

According to the Fed’s preferred measure, inflation fell to 2.5% last month, far below its peak of 7.1% two years ago and only slightly above the central bank's 2% target level.

The Fed chair's assurance that rate cuts are coming helped fuel a rally on Wall Street. Bond yields fell and stock indexes were broadly higher, with the S&amp;P 500 index surging more than 1% in late-morning trading.

“The only question remaining for the Sept. 18 meeting is: By how much will the Fed be cutting?” said Joseph LaVorgna, chief economist at SMBC Nikko Securities.

“The outcome of the August employment report," which will be reported Sept. 6, LaVorgna said, "is obviously critical.” If that report shows a second straight month of weak hiring, the Fed may cut its key rate by a more aggressive half-point.

Most economists expect the Fed to cut its benchmark rate by a quarter-point at each of its final three meetings this year. Wall Street traders, though, foresee a one-in-three likelihood that the Fed will cut by a half-point at one of those meetings, according to futures prices. A lower Fed benchmark rate will lead eventually to lower rates for auto loans, mortgages and other forms of consumer borrowing and could also boost stock prices.

In his remarks Friday, the Fed chair suggested that rate cuts should maintain the economy's growth and sustain hiring, which slowed last month. Continued growth could boost Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, even as most Americans say they're dissatisfied with the Biden-Harris administration's economic record, largely because average prices remain far above where they were before the pandemic.

“We will do everything we can," Powell said, “to support a strong labor market as we make further progress toward price stability.”

By cutting rates, he said, “there is good reason to think that the economy will get back to 2% inflation while maintaining a strong labor market.”

A rate cut in mid-September, coming less than two months before the presidential election, could bring some unwelcome political heat on the Fed, which seeks to avoid becoming entangled in election-year politics. Former President Donald Trump has argued that the Fed shouldn’t cut rates so close to an election. But Powell has repeatedly underscored that the central bank would make its rate decisions based purely on economic data, without regard to the political calendar.

In his remarks, Powell said the Fed has grown concerned about slower hiring and a rising unemployment rate, even while it still wants to see inflation fall further. That dual focus is replacing the Fed's previous singular focus on inflation.

“The cooling in labor market conditions is unmistakable,” the Fed chair said. “Job gains remain solid but have slowed this year. ... We do not seek or welcome further cooling in labor market conditions."

In what amounted to something of a victory lap, Powell noted in his speech that the Fed had succeeded in conquering high inflation without causing a recession or a sharp rise in unemployment, which many economists had long predicted. He attributed that outcome to the unraveling of the pandemic's disruptions to supply chains and labor markets and a reduction in job vacancies, which allowed wage growth to cool.

Powell also noted that, according to surveys and financial market gauges, Americans never really expected high inflation to stick. Such expectations can become self-fulfilling: If people expect inflation to stay high, they typically demand ever-higher pay or they accelerate their purchases before prices rise still further. Those steps can perpetuate higher inflation.

But “inflation expectations” rose only modestly and have since largely fallen back to pre-pandemic levels.

“The healing from pandemic distortions,” the Fed’s rate hikes and the fact that Americans did not expect higher inflation, “have worked together to put inflation on what increasingly appears to be a sustainable path to our 2% objective,” the Fed chair said.

Powell also addressed criticism that the Fed was too slow to raise rates even after inflation had begun surging once the pandemic recession ended. Fed officials had initially argued that the price spikes coming out of the pandemic in early 2021 were merely “transitory” and would soon fade as the supply chain disruptions that left some grocery shelves bare and auto lots empty had healed.

Powell acknowledged that the healing of supply disruptions took much longer than the Fed had expected — and so did the persistence of high inflation.

“The good ship transitory was a crowded one, with most mainstream analysts and advanced-economy central bankers on board,” Powell said. “I think I see some ship-mates out there today,” he said, in an ad-libbed remark addressed to the economists and central banks assembled for the conference.

After the government reported this month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-unemployment-federal-reserve-inflation-22095766804d9c1532b4fcc29565be49">hiring in July was much less than expected and that the jobless rate reached 4.3%</a>, the highest in three years, stock prices plunged for two days on fears that the U.S. might fall into a recession. Some economists began speculating about a half-point Fed rate cut in September and perhaps another identical cut in November.

But healthier economic reports last week, including another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-f8de2672173407d3a126cc13493fed85">decline in inflation</a>&nbsp;and a robust gain in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retailers-spending-consumers-inflation-stores-shoppers-economy-7032cf170e9fe2400715097dbffb74ab">retail sales</a>, partly dispelled those concerns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724424078216.png" alt="“The time has come for policy to adjust," Powell said in his keynote speech at the Fed's annual economic conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>“The time has come for policy to adjust," Powell said in his keynote speech at the Fed's annual economic conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON, Wyoming (AP) — With inflation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-f8de2672173407d3a126cc13493fed85">nearly defeated</a>&nbsp;and the job market cooling, the Federal Reserve is prepared to start cutting its key interest rate from its current 23-year high, Chair Jerome Powell said Friday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/federalreserve?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@federalreserve</a> Chair Jerome Powell: &quot;The time has come for policy to adjust...with an appropriate dialing back of policy restraint there is good reason to think that the economy will get back to 2% inflation while maintaining a strong labor market.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/1QaWmsQbRe">pic.twitter.com/1QaWmsQbRe</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1826997847364919537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Powell did not say when rate cuts would begin or how large they might be, but the Fed is widely expected to announce a modest quarter-point cut in its benchmark rate when it meets in mid-September.“The time has come for policy to adjust," Powell said in his keynote speech at the Fed's annual economic conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. “The direction of travel is clear, and the timing and pace of rate cuts will depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks.”His reference to multiple rate cuts was the only hint that a series of reductions is likely, as economists have forecast. Powell emphasized that inflation, after the worst price spike in four decades inflicted pain on millions of households, appears&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-election-federal-reserve-rates-economy-d8d44ca753aace952831a8f0cb42b97c">largely under control</a>:“My confidence has grown," he said, “that inflation is on a sustainable path back to 2%.”According to the Fed’s preferred measure, inflation fell to 2.5% last month, far below its peak of 7.1% two years ago and only slightly above the central bank's 2% target level.The Fed chair's assurance that rate cuts are coming helped fuel a rally on Wall Street. Bond yields fell and stock indexes were broadly higher, with the S&amp;P 500 index surging more than 1% in late-morning trading.“The only question remaining for the Sept. 18 meeting is: By how much will the Fed be cutting?” said Joseph LaVorgna, chief economist at SMBC Nikko Securities.“The outcome of the August employment report," which will be reported Sept. 6, LaVorgna said, "is obviously critical.” If that report shows a second straight month of weak hiring, the Fed may cut its key rate by a more aggressive half-point.Most economists expect the Fed to cut its benchmark rate by a quarter-point at each of its final three meetings this year. Wall Street traders, though, foresee a one-in-three likelihood that the Fed will cut by a half-point at one of those meetings, according to futures prices. A lower Fed benchmark rate will lead eventually to lower rates for auto loans, mortgages and other forms of consumer borrowing and could also boost stock prices.In his remarks Friday, the Fed chair suggested that rate cuts should maintain the economy's growth and sustain hiring, which slowed last month. Continued growth could boost Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, even as most Americans say they're dissatisfied with the Biden-Harris administration's economic record, largely because average prices remain far above where they were before the pandemic.“We will do everything we can," Powell said, “to support a strong labor market as we make further progress toward price stability.”By cutting rates, he said, “there is good reason to think that the economy will get back to 2% inflation while maintaining a strong labor market.”A rate cut in mid-September, coming less than two months before the presidential election, could bring some unwelcome political heat on the Fed, which seeks to avoid becoming entangled in election-year politics. Former President Donald Trump has argued that the Fed shouldn’t cut rates so close to an election. But Powell has repeatedly underscored that the central bank would make its rate decisions based purely on economic data, without regard to the political calendar.In his remarks, Powell said the Fed has grown concerned about slower hiring and a rising unemployment rate, even while it still wants to see inflation fall further. That dual focus is replacing the Fed's previous singular focus on inflation.“The cooling in labor market conditions is unmistakable,” the Fed chair said. “Job gains remain solid but have slowed this year. ... We do not seek or welcome further cooling in labor market conditions."In what amounted to something of a victory lap, Powell noted in his speech that the Fed had succeeded in conquering high inflation without causing a recession or a sharp rise in unemployment, which many economists had long predicted. He attributed that outcome to the unraveling of the pandemic's disruptions to supply chains and labor markets and a reduction in job vacancies, which allowed wage growth to cool.Powell also noted that, according to surveys and financial market gauges, Americans never really expected high inflation to stick. Such expectations can become self-fulfilling: If people expect inflation to stay high, they typically demand ever-higher pay or they accelerate their purchases before prices rise still further. Those steps can perpetuate higher inflation.But “inflation expectations” rose only modestly and have since largely fallen back to pre-pandemic levels.“The healing from pandemic distortions,” the Fed’s rate hikes and the fact that Americans did not expect higher inflation, “have worked together to put inflation on what increasingly appears to be a sustainable path to our 2% objective,” the Fed chair said.Powell also addressed criticism that the Fed was too slow to raise rates even after inflation had begun surging once the pandemic recession ended. Fed officials had initially argued that the price spikes coming out of the pandemic in early 2021 were merely “transitory” and would soon fade as the supply chain disruptions that left some grocery shelves bare and auto lots empty had healed.Powell acknowledged that the healing of supply disruptions took much longer than the Fed had expected — and so did the persistence of high inflation.“The good ship transitory was a crowded one, with most mainstream analysts and advanced-economy central bankers on board,” Powell said. “I think I see some ship-mates out there today,” he said, in an ad-libbed remark addressed to the economists and central banks assembled for the conference.After the government reported this month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-unemployment-federal-reserve-inflation-22095766804d9c1532b4fcc29565be49">hiring in July was much less than expected and that the jobless rate reached 4.3%</a>, the highest in three years, stock prices plunged for two days on fears that the U.S. might fall into a recession. Some economists began speculating about a half-point Fed rate cut in September and perhaps another identical cut in November.But healthier economic reports last week, including another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-f8de2672173407d3a126cc13493fed85">decline in inflation</a>&nbsp;and a robust gain in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retailers-spending-consumers-inflation-stores-shoppers-economy-7032cf170e9fe2400715097dbffb74ab">retail sales</a>, partly dispelled those concerns.

🎥Good news for borrowers: Fed Chair says interest rate cuts ahead

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man who cut off his ankle monitor and skipped an August 16, sentencing hearing for his role in a homicide is back in jail.&nbsp;

Just after 9p.m. Thursday, 64-year-old Kevin Harris was arrested in Topeka and booked into the Shawnee County Jail where he awaits transfer back to Sedgwick County, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

In August of 2023, police arrested Harris of Lawrence after a 16-hour standoff in Lawrence for the death of&nbsp;51-year-old Jose Lumbreras of Wichita.

Just after 11 p.m. August 22, police learned Harris had fled Wichita and was believed to be inside an apartment in the 1400 block of Bristol Terrace in Lawrence, according to Police Sgt. Drew Fennelly

While working to gather more information from Wichita, officers in Lawrence set up a perimeter on the apartment building, and gathered information that led investigators to believe Harris was there.

The Lawrence Police Crisis Response Team was activated and responded to the area, as well our Crisis Response Negotiators and&nbsp; the Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle team.

Crisis Negotiators were able to establish contact with people in the apartment and verified Harris was there. The Lawrence Police tactical team then began methodically evacuating the apartment building when it was clear the suspect was not going to come out, and was allegedly armed.

After multiple hours of discussion, negotiators were able to convince Harris to allow a woman in the apartment to leave.&nbsp; Following multiple additional hours of discussion, negotiators convinced Harris to also leave the apartment and he peacefully surrendered at&nbsp;3:30 p.m., according to Fennelly.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724420271248.png" alt="Harris is being held in Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Harris is being held in Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man who cut off his ankle monitor and skipped an August 16, sentencing hearing for his role in a homicide is back in jail.&nbsp;Just after 9p.m. Thursday, 64-year-old Kevin Harris was arrested in Topeka and booked into the Shawnee County Jail where he awaits transfer back to Sedgwick County, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.In August of 2023, police arrested Harris of Lawrence after a 16-hour standoff in Lawrence for the death of&nbsp;51-year-old Jose Lumbreras of Wichita.Just after 11 p.m. August 22, police learned Harris had fled Wichita and was believed to be inside an apartment in the 1400 block of Bristol Terrace in Lawrence, according to Police Sgt. Drew FennellyWhile working to gather more information from Wichita, officers in Lawrence set up a perimeter on the apartment building, and gathered information that led investigators to believe Harris was there.The Lawrence Police Crisis Response Team was activated and responded to the area, as well our Crisis Response Negotiators and&nbsp; the Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle team.Crisis Negotiators were able to establish contact with people in the apartment and verified Harris was there. The Lawrence Police tactical team then began methodically evacuating the apartment building when it was clear the suspect was not going to come out, and was allegedly armed.After multiple hours of discussion, negotiators were able to convince Harris to allow a woman in the apartment to leave.&nbsp; Following multiple additional hours of discussion, negotiators convinced Harris to also leave the apartment and he peacefully surrendered at&nbsp;3:30 p.m., according to Fennelly.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Police capture Kan. man who cut off ankle monitor, skipped sentencing 

This story has been updated with a statement from the Hutchinson Clinic.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Clinic and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas are still at an impasse when it comes to 2025 rates for customers that have BCBS coverage through an employer.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/f9db6853-fae1-46d6-95c8-d7c3a92fb811">In a letter sent to local companies obtained by Hutch Post earlier this summer</a>, the Hutchinson Clinic announced then it will not be doing business with Blue Cross Blue Shield in-network next year. This decision, if it stands, will effect a little over 26,000 Hutch Clinic patients.

Spokesperson Kristi Zears for Blue Cross Blue Shield emailed Hutch Post Thursday with an update. That statement is below.

"As a long-standing partner with Hutchinson Clinic, we are disappointed with their decision to terminate the contract. This decision, which was shared prior to the release of the 2025 reimbursement rates, limits provider choice for members in the Hutchinson area. We have had continued conversations with Hutchinson Clinic and have provided them an opportunity to reconsider their decision until September 3. We hope they will do what is in the best interest of the community.

"As always, with nearly 100 percent of providers and hospitals in our network, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is committed to serving our members and helping them through their health journeys."

Hutch Clinic was also contacted and sent this response on Friday.

"The Hutchinson Clinic has been working diligently to analyze the complex Fee Schedule received from BCBSKS on July 31. The Clinic has requested a meeting with BCBSKS for the week of Aug. 26 to clarify some outstanding questions. Regardless of the outcome of this meeting, the Hutchinson Clinic will always prioritize patient care. Should we ultimately end up out of network with BCBSKS, the Hutchinson Clinic will provide affordable out-of-network options so our patients can continue seeking treatment with their physicians at our Clinic."

BCBS is still in network for employer-provided coverage through the remainder of 2024. This decision is not connected with Medicare Advantage coverage, as that is under a separate arrangement.

Hutch Clinic was also contacted and had not responded as of the publication of this piece on Friday morning.

This story has been updated with a statement from the Hutchinson Clinic.NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Clinic and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas are still at an impasse when it comes to 2025 rates for customers that have BCBS coverage through an employer.&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/f9db6853-fae1-46d6-95c8-d7c3a92fb811">In a letter sent to local companies obtained by Hutch Post earlier this summer</a>, the Hutchinson Clinic announced then it will not be doing business with Blue Cross Blue Shield in-network next year. This decision, if it stands, will effect a little over 26,000 Hutch Clinic patients.Spokesperson Kristi Zears for Blue Cross Blue Shield emailed Hutch Post Thursday with an update. That statement is below."As a long-standing partner with Hutchinson Clinic, we are disappointed with their decision to terminate the contract. This decision, which was shared prior to the release of the 2025 reimbursement rates, limits provider choice for members in the Hutchinson area. We have had continued conversations with Hutchinson Clinic and have provided them an opportunity to reconsider their decision until September 3. We hope they will do what is in the best interest of the community."As always, with nearly 100 percent of providers and hospitals in our network, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is committed to serving our members and helping them through their health journeys."Hutch Clinic was also contacted and sent this response on Friday."The Hutchinson Clinic has been working diligently to analyze the complex Fee Schedule received from BCBSKS on July 31. The Clinic has requested a meeting with BCBSKS for the week of Aug. 26 to clarify some outstanding questions. Regardless of the outcome of this meeting, the Hutchinson Clinic will always prioritize patient care. Should we ultimately end up out of network with BCBSKS, the Hutchinson Clinic will provide affordable out-of-network options so our patients can continue seeking treatment with their physicians at our Clinic."BCBS is still in network for employer-provided coverage through the remainder of 2024. This decision is not connected with Medicare Advantage coverage, as that is under a separate arrangement.-----HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Clinic and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas are still at an impasse when it comes to 2025 rates for customers that have BCBS coverage through an employer.&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/f9db6853-fae1-46d6-95c8-d7c3a92fb811">In a letter sent to local companies obtained by Hutch Post earlier this summer</a>, the Hutchinson Clinic announced then it will not be doing business with Blue Cross Blue Shield in-network next year. This decision, if it stands, will effect a little over 26,000 Hutch Clinic patients.Spokesperson Kristi Zears for Blue Cross Blue Shield emailed Hutch Post Thursday with an update. That statement is below."As a long-standing partner with Hutchinson Clinic, we are disappointed with their decision to terminate the contract. This decision, which was shared prior to the release of the 2025 reimbursement rates, limits provider choice for members in the Hutchinson area. We have had continued conversations with Hutchinson Clinic and have provided them an opportunity to reconsider their decision until September 3. We hope they will do what is in the best interest of the community."As always, with nearly 100 percent of providers and hospitals in our network, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is committed to serving our members and helping them through their health journeys."Hutch Clinic was also contacted and had not responded as of the publication of this piece on Friday morning.BCBS is still in network for employer-provided coverage through the remainder of 2024. This decision is not connected with Medicare Advantage coverage, as that is under a separate arrangement.