SEDGWICK COUNTY —A funeral for Firefighter Ty Voth, who died battling a fire, was held at 10 a.m. on Friday at Hartman Arena, 8151 N Hartman Arena Drive in Park City.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/wichitafiredepartment">Click here to watch a</a> replay of the service

Before the funeral, there was a public viewing at 9 a.m. at Hartman Arena.&nbsp;

Following the service, Voth was transported to Whitewater Cemetery in Whitewater, Kansas.

Official Procession Route from the Park City Arena:

Park City Arena, 8151 N Hartman Arena Dr, Park City, KS 67147 To Whitewater Cemetery, 10881-11579 SE 72nd St, Whitewater, KS 67154

Voth was a 2015 graduate of Newton High School and attended Hutchinson Community College, graduating from the Fire Science Program in 2017. He then went on to work at the Manhattan Fire Department until 2019. From there, he was hired on to the Wichita Fire Department, to be closer to his family.

From day one, Ty’s passion was to be a firefighter. He was a second generation firefighter, following in his father's and uncle’s footsteps. In his spare time, he was an avid outdoorsmen, spending most of his time out in the field hunting beside his grandpa, Jack; his brother, Nic; brother-in-law, Matt; cousin, Matthew; his best friends; along with his hunting dog, Mossy.

Ty’s life revolved around his family. He was always there to help when needed and made sure his mother and family were always taken care of. The help and care that he showed extended out to his buddies and their families.

Everyone has their kin family, but Ty was lucky enough to have a second family in Station Five B-Shift. Not only were they firefighters, they enjoyed time together outside of the station, taking vacations and making memories.

He was preceded in death by: his grandmother, Jeannie Belcher; his grandfather, Ray Voth; his uncle, Mike Belcher; his cousin, Ryan Booth; along with his hunting dog, Mossy Girl.

He is survived by: his mother, Angie Voth; his father, Chad Voth; his sister, Riley (Matt); his nephew, Mason; his brother, Nic (Leticia); his sister, Lindsey; his grandpa, Jack; his grandma, Sherry "Bud"; his aunts, Kathy (Tony) and Dana (Kent); his uncle, Kyle; his cousins, Matthew (Deana), Michael (Sydney), and Chad; along with his childhood buddies.

On behalf of the family, they would like to thank the Wichita Fire Department for their support and compassion during this difficult time.

There has been a memorial fund in honor of Ty Voth that may be designated to the Wichita Police and Fire Foundation, PO Box 782736, Wichita, Kansas 67278 or the Wichita Firefighters Charitable Fund, 428 N. St. Francis, Wichita, Kansas 67202.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722607741656.png" alt="Ty Voth courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Ty Voth courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A funeral for Firefighter Ty Voth, who died battling a fire, was held at 10 a.m. on Friday at Hartman Arena, 8151 N Hartman Arena Drive in Park City.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/wichitafiredepartment">Click here to watch a</a> replay of the service<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Below are the links for Firefighter Voth&#39;s obituary and for those who have asked, direct links to the memorials established in his honor. <a href="https://t.co/jFhklb01lI">https://t.co/jFhklb01lI</a><a href="https://t.co/dPD1epLuLB">https://t.co/dPD1epLuLB</a><a href="https://t.co/9s3dRb6YWk">https://t.co/9s3dRb6YWk</a> <a href="https://t.co/c4D8q8ZEwD">pic.twitter.com/c4D8q8ZEwD</a>&mdash; WichitaFireDept (@WichitaFireDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaFireDept/status/1821182072787968068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Before the funeral, there was a public viewing at 9 a.m. at Hartman Arena.&nbsp;Following the service, Voth was transported to Whitewater Cemetery in Whitewater, Kansas.Official Procession Route from the Park City Arena:Park City Arena, 8151 N Hartman Arena Dr, Park City, KS 67147 To Whitewater Cemetery, 10881-11579 SE 72nd St, Whitewater, KS 67154<ol>
 <li>Exit Park City Arena using the southwest exit (E. Briar Rose Ln.)</li><li>Turn right (west) on E. Briar Rose Ln. and proceed to Broadway</li><li>Turn right (north) on Broadway and proceed approximately 9 miles</li><li>Turn right (east) onto K-196/SE 72nd and proceed east for approximately 8 miles</li><li>Cross Harvest Hill Rd. and attendants will assist in parking in the appropriate location upon arrival to the cemetery</li>
 </ol>His obituary is belowVoth was a 2015 graduate of Newton High School and attended Hutchinson Community College, graduating from the Fire Science Program in 2017. He then went on to work at the Manhattan Fire Department until 2019. From there, he was hired on to the Wichita Fire Department, to be closer to his family.From day one, Ty’s passion was to be a firefighter. He was a second generation firefighter, following in his father's and uncle’s footsteps. In his spare time, he was an avid outdoorsmen, spending most of his time out in the field hunting beside his grandpa, Jack; his brother, Nic; brother-in-law, Matt; cousin, Matthew; his best friends; along with his hunting dog, Mossy.Ty’s life revolved around his family. He was always there to help when needed and made sure his mother and family were always taken care of. The help and care that he showed extended out to his buddies and their families.Everyone has their kin family, but Ty was lucky enough to have a second family in Station Five B-Shift. Not only were they firefighters, they enjoyed time together outside of the station, taking vacations and making memories.He was preceded in death by: his grandmother, Jeannie Belcher; his grandfather, Ray Voth; his uncle, Mike Belcher; his cousin, Ryan Booth; along with his hunting dog, Mossy Girl.He is survived by: his mother, Angie Voth; his father, Chad Voth; his sister, Riley (Matt); his nephew, Mason; his brother, Nic (Leticia); his sister, Lindsey; his grandpa, Jack; his grandma, Sherry "Bud"; his aunts, Kathy (Tony) and Dana (Kent); his uncle, Kyle; his cousins, Matthew (Deana), Michael (Sydney), and Chad; along with his childhood buddies.On behalf of the family, they would like to thank the Wichita Fire Department for their support and compassion during this difficult time.There has been a memorial fund in honor of Ty Voth that may be designated to the Wichita Police and Fire Foundation, PO Box 782736, Wichita, Kansas 67278 or the Wichita Firefighters Charitable Fund, 428 N. St. Francis, Wichita, Kansas 67202.

Funeral for fallen Kansas firefighter

JERUSALEM—U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on Thursday as part of U.S. force posture changes in the region to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or its proxies, according to a statement from Central Command.

In addition, U.S. Forces in the Middle East continue to face daily threats.

Since Tuesday, U.S. forces successfully destroyed seven Iranian-backed Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and one Houthi ground control station in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. 

Additionally, on Wednesday and Thursday U.S. forces successfully destroyed four Houthi uncrewed surface vessels in the Red Sea, two&nbsp; drones and one Houthi ground control station.

These weapons presented a clear and imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. This reckless and dangerous behavior by Iranian-backed Houthis continues to threaten regional stability and security.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723133168145.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM—U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on Thursday as part of U.S. force posture changes in the region to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or its proxies, according to a statement from Central Command.In addition, U.S. Forces in the Middle East continue to face daily threats.Since Tuesday, U.S. forces successfully destroyed seven Iranian-backed Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and one Houthi ground control station in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Additionally, on Wednesday and Thursday U.S. forces successfully destroyed four Houthi uncrewed surface vessels in the Red Sea, two&nbsp; drones and one Houthi ground control station.These weapons presented a clear and imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. This reckless and dangerous behavior by Iranian-backed Houthis continues to threaten regional stability and security.

U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors arrive in Middle East

SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp; A&nbsp; Kansas woman who hid from police for 17-days after a deadly shooting is scheduled for sentencing Friday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In March, a jury found&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=740335">La’Niha Banks, 19,</a>&nbsp; guilty of murder&nbsp; in the first degree in the commission of a felony and Criminal discharge of a firearm.

Just after 11 pm May 20, 2023 police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1000 block of E 1st Street N. in Wichita's Old Town. Upon arrival, officers located&nbsp; 19-year-old Lationna Johnson &nbsp;with two gunshot wounds to her upper body.

EMS transported Johnson to an area hospital in critical condition and with life-threatening injuries. She died on May 23, accord to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

The investigation revealed that Johnson was trying to break up a physical altercation between an acquaintance of hers and Banks in a parking lot. After the victim managed to stop the fight, Johnson started to drive away, but Banks produced a handgun and started to shoot into the occupied vehicle.

Banks hid from police who finally arrested her on&nbsp;On June 6.&nbsp; She quickly was able to meet the requirements of a $500,000 bond and was out of custody. After the jury verdict, Banks is in <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=740335">custody on a&nbsp;$1,000,000.00</a> bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686138861430.png" alt="Banks-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Banks-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp; A&nbsp; Kansas woman who hid from police for 17-days after a deadly shooting is scheduled for sentencing Friday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In March, a jury found&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=740335">La’Niha Banks, 19,</a>&nbsp; guilty of murder&nbsp; in the first degree in the commission of a felony and Criminal discharge of a firearm.Just after 11 pm May 20, 2023 police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1000 block of E 1st Street N. in Wichita's Old Town. Upon arrival, officers located&nbsp; 19-year-old Lationna Johnson &nbsp;with two gunshot wounds to her upper body.EMS transported Johnson to an area hospital in critical condition and with life-threatening injuries. She died on May 23, accord to Officer Juan Rebolledo.The investigation revealed that Johnson was trying to break up a physical altercation between an acquaintance of hers and Banks in a parking lot. After the victim managed to stop the fight, Johnson started to drive away, but Banks produced a handgun and started to shoot into the occupied vehicle.Banks hid from police who finally arrested her on&nbsp;On June 6.&nbsp; She quickly was able to meet the requirements of a $500,000 bond and was out of custody. After the jury verdict, Banks is in <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=740335">custody on a&nbsp;$1,000,000.00</a> bond.

Sentencing day: Kan. woman hid from police 17 days after a murder

JOHNSON COUNTY— Two people were injured in an accident Thursday in Johnson County.

Just after 5:00 p.m. near Maurer Road and Shawnee Mission Parkway, the Shawnee Police Department responded to a crash involving pedestrians, according to a media release.

One woman was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.



According to an initial investigation, following a minor two-vehicle non-injury crash, both drivers exited their vehicles.

As one driver tried to move one of the vehicles involved in the crash, he ran over the other driver, then fell out of the vehicle he was trying to move and was run over by the same vehicle.



Maurer Road over Shawnee Mission Parkway was closed until the investigation was completed. The crash remains under investigation by the Traffic Safety Unit. The Shawnee Fire Department and Johnson County MED-ACT also responded to the crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723199475786.png" alt="Photo Shawnee Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Shawnee Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY— Two people were injured in an accident Thursday in Johnson County.Just after 5:00 p.m. near Maurer Road and Shawnee Mission Parkway, the Shawnee Police Department responded to a crash involving pedestrians, according to a media release.One woman was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.

According to an initial investigation, following a minor two-vehicle non-injury crash, both drivers exited their vehicles.

As one driver tried to move one of the vehicles involved in the crash, he ran over the other driver, then fell out of the vehicle he was trying to move and was run over by the same vehicle.

Maurer Road over Shawnee Mission Parkway was closed until the investigation was completed. The crash remains under investigation by the Traffic Safety Unit. The Shawnee Fire Department and Johnson County MED-ACT also responded to the crash.

2 injured when run over by a car after Kansas crash

KANSAS CITY —A victim is recovering after fall into the river in Kansas City.

Just before 8p.m. Thursday, the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported water rescue in the Blue River, the 39.8-mile-long stream that flows through Johnson County, Kansas, and Jackson County, Missouri.

The victim fell approximately 20-25 feet from an old railroad bridge West of 435 near Hawthorne access road, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

The Kansas City Fire Department deployed the Rescue division. Multiple units went to the Hawthorn location along with the Drone. 

One rescue deployed boats from the River Front Park ramp and made their way to the mouth of the Blue River. The victim was located and removed from the river 36-minutes after the call, was transported to the boat ramp and then to a local hospital for treatment of possible fractures but was alert and oriented and stable, according to Hopkins.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721952217492.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A victim is recovering after fall into the river in Kansas City.Just before 8p.m. Thursday, the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported water rescue in the Blue River, the 39.8-mile-long stream that flows through Johnson County, Kansas, and Jackson County, Missouri.The victim fell approximately 20-25 feet from an old railroad bridge West of 435 near Hawthorne access road, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.The Kansas City Fire Department deployed the Rescue division. Multiple units went to the Hawthorn location along with the Drone. One rescue deployed boats from the River Front Park ramp and made their way to the mouth of the Blue River. The victim was located and removed from the river 36-minutes after the call, was transported to the boat ramp and then to a local hospital for treatment of possible fractures but was alert and oriented and stable, according to Hopkins..

 Crews rescue victim who fell in river from KC railroad bridge

VIENNA (AP) — A third teenager has been arrested in connection with a foiled attack on now-canceled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, Austria's interior minister said Friday.

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said an 18-year-old was taken into custody Thursday evening in Vienna after allegedly being in contact with the main suspect. Karner announced the arrest during an unrelated news conference Friday.

Investigators are scrutinizing the “networks” of the suspects, the Austrian interior ministry told The Associated Press on Friday, adding in a statement that investigators have turned to evaluating physical and electronic evidence.

The 19-year-old main suspect and a 17-year-old were arrested Tuesday, while a 15-year-old was also interrogated but was not arrested. Officials said Thursday afternoon that no additional suspects were being sought. They did not immediately offer further details Friday.

Authorities say the plot appeared to have been inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida. Investigators found bomb-making materials at one of the suspects' homes. Officials say one suspect has confessed to planning to “kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.”

Officials say the main suspect and the 18-year-old arrested Friday both pledged “oaths of allegiance” to the Islamic State group.

“He had been in contact with the main perpetrator, but is not directly connected to the attack plans,” Karner said. “But, as was found out a few days ago, he took an oath of allegiance specifically to the IS on Aug. 6.”

The 18-year-old “comes from the social environment” of the main suspect, Karner said.

Three sold-out concerts were canceled Wednesday because of the plot,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-fans-austria-concerts-canceled-swifties-003644f97d8bd7064b3dfe0585704f6c">devastating Swifties</a>&nbsp;from across the globe. Many of them had dropped thousands of euros (dollars) on travel and lodging in Austria’s expensive capital city to attend the Eras Tour shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium, which sat empty Thursday morning.

Europe is enamored with the American superstar: The German town of Gelsenkirchen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/germany-taylor-swift-rename-gelsenkirchen-swiftkirchen-63a8cf1b2c6e7bcc44d09c00839e1b29">renamed itself “Swiftkirchen”</a>&nbsp;before its mid-July concerts.

Concert organizers in Austria said they had expected up to 65,000 fans inside the stadium at each concert and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside, where authorities said the suspects planned to strike. The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, according to Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer defended the decision to cancel the concerts, saying the arrests of the suspects took place too close to the shows, scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

“I understand very well that those who wanted to experience the concert live are very sad,” Nehammer told a news conference Thursday. “Moms and dads are looking after their daughters and sons, who were full of enthusiasm and anticipation for this concert. But it’s also important that in such serious moments as now, it’s inevitable that safety comes first.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Swift</a>&nbsp;is also scheduled to perform at London’s Wembley stadium in five concerts between Aug. 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her record-setting Eras Tour.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that while he understood Vienna’s reasons for canceling, “We’re going to carry on.” Khan said the capital’s authorities were prepared for shows there following lessons learned from a 2017 attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9d813da59c6342b09c7ea57f62a5d9a8">at an Ariana Grande concert</a>&nbsp;in Manchester, England, that killed 22 people.

A suicide bomber had set up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manchester-ariana-grande-concert-bombing-lawsuit-f2e8298cb045501eff5245392522d29c">a knapsack</a>&nbsp;with explosives in Manchester Arena. The bomb detonated at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving.

Last month, an attacker in England&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-southport-stabbing-police-britain-fe16d43c8fc92b7b19c63ba4889c4850">killed three girls and wounded 10</a>&nbsp;people in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class. Swift at the time said she was ‘’completely in shock’’ over the violence.

In Austria, the main suspect confessed that he had started planning the attack in July, authorities said. The 19-year-old just a few weeks ago uploaded to the internet an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group.

He was “clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels,” said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence.

Haijawi-Pirchner added that the suspect "wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made."

During a raid of the suspect's home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices that indicated “concrete preparatory acts,” said Franz Ruf, director general for public security at the Ministry of the Interior.

Authorities said they also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, who is 17. That suspect, who has so far refused to talk, was employed a few days ago by a company providing unspecified services at the venue for the concerts.

Both teens were arrested Tuesday. Neither of their names was released, in line with Austrian privacy rules.

The suspects had undergone clear social changes recently, authorities said. The 19-year-old had quit his job but said he “still had big plans,” while the other broke up with his girlfriend. Neither suspect appeared to have a ticket to any of the shows, Haijawi-Pirchner said.

Karner said that Austria's intelligence service had worked closely together with foreign intelligence services to capture the two teens. He did not identify the agencies, but added that the help was needed because Austrian investigators, unlike some foreign services, can't legally monitor text messages.

The CIA declined to say Thursday whether U.S. intelligence agencies played any role in the investigation. The U.S. State Department and the broader U.S. government have been in contact with Austrian officials about the alleged plot, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

No other suspects are being sought, though a 15-year-old who had been in contact with both suspects was also interrogated by police, Karner said.

“The situation is serious. But we can also say: A tragedy was prevented,” he said.

Concert organizer Barracuda Music said in an Instagram post late Wednesday that it had "no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”

Barracuda said all tickets would be refunded. The same message was posted under the Vienna dates on Swift’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.taylorswift.com/tour/">official website</a>. Austrian rail operator OeBB in the meantime said that it would reimburse fans for unused train tickets for the concerts.

Swift has not spoken publicly about the plot or canceled shows. “Taylor Nation,” a verified Instagram page widely believed to be run by her team, reposted the announcement from Barracuda Music in a “story,” which is only visible for 24 hours. Her main account has not posted anything.

Swift’s biggest fear has always been that such large-scale violence could take place at her concerts, the superstar told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a26628467/taylor-swift-30th-birthday-lessons/">Elle magazine</a>&nbsp;in 2019 ahead of her Lover Tour, which was ultimately canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The attack at Grande’s concert, as well as a 2017 mass shooting at an outdoor country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip where 58 people were killed, worried Swift as she prepared to circle the globe.

“I was completely terrified to go on (the Lover Tour) this time because I didn’t know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months,” she told the magazine. “There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe.”

An official&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mi5-manchester-arena-concert-bombing-inquiry-uk-3563d529056ae51e201ae8d379f930b5">inquiry reported in 2023</a>&nbsp;that Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didn’t act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the Manchester bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the United Kingdom in recent years.

Terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp, based at the Swedish Defense University in Stockholm, told The Associated Press by phone that any mass public event constitutes a potential threat now.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706236308205.png" alt="FILE - Taylor Swift&nbsp; (AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Taylor Swift&nbsp; (AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>VIENNA (AP) — A third teenager has been arrested in connection with a foiled attack on now-canceled Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, Austria's interior minister said Friday.Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said an 18-year-old was taken into custody Thursday evening in Vienna after allegedly being in contact with the main suspect. Karner announced the arrest during an unrelated news conference Friday.Investigators are scrutinizing the “networks” of the suspects, the Austrian interior ministry told The Associated Press on Friday, adding in a statement that investigators have turned to evaluating physical and electronic evidence.The 19-year-old main suspect and a 17-year-old were arrested Tuesday, while a 15-year-old was also interrogated but was not arrested. Officials said Thursday afternoon that no additional suspects were being sought. They did not immediately offer further details Friday.Authorities say the plot appeared to have been inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida. Investigators found bomb-making materials at one of the suspects' homes. Officials say one suspect has confessed to planning to “kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.”Officials say the main suspect and the 18-year-old arrested Friday both pledged “oaths of allegiance” to the Islamic State group.“He had been in contact with the main perpetrator, but is not directly connected to the attack plans,” Karner said. “But, as was found out a few days ago, he took an oath of allegiance specifically to the IS on Aug. 6.”The 18-year-old “comes from the social environment” of the main suspect, Karner said.Three sold-out concerts were canceled Wednesday because of the plot,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-fans-austria-concerts-canceled-swifties-003644f97d8bd7064b3dfe0585704f6c">devastating Swifties</a>&nbsp;from across the globe. Many of them had dropped thousands of euros (dollars) on travel and lodging in Austria’s expensive capital city to attend the Eras Tour shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium, which sat empty Thursday morning.Europe is enamored with the American superstar: The German town of Gelsenkirchen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/germany-taylor-swift-rename-gelsenkirchen-swiftkirchen-63a8cf1b2c6e7bcc44d09c00839e1b29">renamed itself “Swiftkirchen”</a>&nbsp;before its mid-July concerts.Concert organizers in Austria said they had expected up to 65,000 fans inside the stadium at each concert and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside, where authorities said the suspects planned to strike. The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, according to Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner.Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer defended the decision to cancel the concerts, saying the arrests of the suspects took place too close to the shows, scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.“I understand very well that those who wanted to experience the concert live are very sad,” Nehammer told a news conference Thursday. “Moms and dads are looking after their daughters and sons, who were full of enthusiasm and anticipation for this concert. But it’s also important that in such serious moments as now, it’s inevitable that safety comes first.”<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Swift</a>&nbsp;is also scheduled to perform at London’s Wembley stadium in five concerts between Aug. 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her record-setting Eras Tour.London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that while he understood Vienna’s reasons for canceling, “We’re going to carry on.” Khan said the capital’s authorities were prepared for shows there following lessons learned from a 2017 attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9d813da59c6342b09c7ea57f62a5d9a8">at an Ariana Grande concert</a>&nbsp;in Manchester, England, that killed 22 people.A suicide bomber had set up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manchester-ariana-grande-concert-bombing-lawsuit-f2e8298cb045501eff5245392522d29c">a knapsack</a>&nbsp;with explosives in Manchester Arena. The bomb detonated at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving.Last month, an attacker in England&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-southport-stabbing-police-britain-fe16d43c8fc92b7b19c63ba4889c4850">killed three girls and wounded 10</a>&nbsp;people in a knife attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class. Swift at the time said she was ‘’completely in shock’’ over the violence.In Austria, the main suspect confessed that he had started planning the attack in July, authorities said. The 19-year-old just a few weeks ago uploaded to the internet an oath of allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group.He was “clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels,” said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence.Haijawi-Pirchner added that the suspect "wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made."During a raid of the suspect's home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices that indicated “concrete preparatory acts,” said Franz Ruf, director general for public security at the Ministry of the Interior.Authorities said they also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, who is 17. That suspect, who has so far refused to talk, was employed a few days ago by a company providing unspecified services at the venue for the concerts.Both teens were arrested Tuesday. Neither of their names was released, in line with Austrian privacy rules.The suspects had undergone clear social changes recently, authorities said. The 19-year-old had quit his job but said he “still had big plans,” while the other broke up with his girlfriend. Neither suspect appeared to have a ticket to any of the shows, Haijawi-Pirchner said.Karner said that Austria's intelligence service had worked closely together with foreign intelligence services to capture the two teens. He did not identify the agencies, but added that the help was needed because Austrian investigators, unlike some foreign services, can't legally monitor text messages.The CIA declined to say Thursday whether U.S. intelligence agencies played any role in the investigation. The U.S. State Department and the broader U.S. government have been in contact with Austrian officials about the alleged plot, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.No other suspects are being sought, though a 15-year-old who had been in contact with both suspects was also interrogated by police, Karner said.“The situation is serious. But we can also say: A tragedy was prevented,” he said.Concert organizer Barracuda Music said in an Instagram post late Wednesday that it had "no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”Barracuda said all tickets would be refunded. The same message was posted under the Vienna dates on Swift’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.taylorswift.com/tour/">official website</a>. Austrian rail operator OeBB in the meantime said that it would reimburse fans for unused train tickets for the concerts.Swift has not spoken publicly about the plot or canceled shows. “Taylor Nation,” a verified Instagram page widely believed to be run by her team, reposted the announcement from Barracuda Music in a “story,” which is only visible for 24 hours. Her main account has not posted anything.Swift’s biggest fear has always been that such large-scale violence could take place at her concerts, the superstar told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a26628467/taylor-swift-30th-birthday-lessons/">Elle magazine</a>&nbsp;in 2019 ahead of her Lover Tour, which was ultimately canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The attack at Grande’s concert, as well as a 2017 mass shooting at an outdoor country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip where 58 people were killed, worried Swift as she prepared to circle the globe.“I was completely terrified to go on (the Lover Tour) this time because I didn’t know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months,” she told the magazine. “There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe.”An official&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mi5-manchester-arena-concert-bombing-inquiry-uk-3563d529056ae51e201ae8d379f930b5">inquiry reported in 2023</a>&nbsp;that Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didn’t act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the Manchester bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the United Kingdom in recent years.Terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp, based at the Swedish Defense University in Stockholm, told The Associated Press by phone that any mass public event constitutes a potential threat now.

3rd person in custody in foiled plot targeting canceled Taylor Swift shows

KANSAS CITY — Police are investigating another homicide in Kansas City. Just after 10a.m. Thursday,&nbsp; police responded to a home at 95th and Harrison, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders located a man in the doorway of the residence suffering from gunshot wounds

EMS transported him to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp; Authorities are working to determine a suspect and released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723145080716.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — Police are investigating another homicide in Kansas City. Just after 10a.m. Thursday,&nbsp; police responded to a home at 95th and Harrison, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders located a man in the doorway of the residence suffering from gunshot woundsEMS transported him to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp; Authorities are working to determine a suspect and released no additional details.

Homicide: Man found with gunshot wound in doorway of KC home

NEW YORK (AP) — Samsung is recalling more than 1.12 million electric ranges used for stovetops after reports of 250 fires and dozens of injuries.

According to a Thursday notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, these slide-in ranges have front-mounted knobs that can be activated by accident if humans or pets unintentionally contact or bump into them. That poses a fire hazard.

To date, Samsung has received more than 300 reports of the knobs activating unintentionally since 2013, the CPSC noted, and the now-recalled ranges have been involved in about 250 fires. At least 18 of those fires caused extensive property damage and seven involved pet deaths, according to the Commission.

In addition, the CPSC added, about 40 injuries have been reported, including eight that required medical attention.

Consumers can identify whether their slide-in electric range is included in this recall by looking at the model number printed on the product. Both&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/support/range-knob-kit/">Samsung</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Samsung-Recalls-Slide-In-Electric-Ranges-Due-to-Fire-Hazard">the CPSC</a>&nbsp;have published a list of affected models online.

The recalled ranges were sold between May 2013 and August 2024 online at Samsung.com as well as in retailers nationwide — including Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot and Lowe's.

Consumers in possession of a recalled range are urged to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/support/range-knob-kit/">contact</a>&nbsp;New Jersey-based Samsung Electronics America for a free set of knob locks or covers compatible for installation with their model. In the meantime, those impacted should take extra caution to keep children and pets away from the knobs, and check their range before leaving the house or going to bed to make sure it's off, the CPSC said.

As part of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/3001_Stove_SafetyAlert_v10.pdf?VersionId=xH8sKk5wnN.bucSj_0PgOQEbluaKpj2E">general stovetop and oven safety</a>, the Commission added that consumers should “never place, leave, or store anything on the top of your range” when not in use — as such items can ignite if it's accidentally activated.

To receive a set of free knob locks or covers, depending on their model, customers can visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/support/range-knob-kit/">https://www.samsung.com/us/support/range-knob-kit/</a>, contact Samsung toll-free at 1-833-775-0120 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or by email at rangesupport@sea.samsung.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723166195449.png" alt="Image Consumer Product Safety Commission" />
 <figcaption>Image Consumer Product Safety Commission</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Samsung is recalling more than 1.12 million electric ranges used for stovetops after reports of 250 fires and dozens of injuries.According to a Thursday notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, these slide-in ranges have front-mounted knobs that can be activated by accident if humans or pets unintentionally contact or bump into them. That poses a fire hazard.To date, Samsung has received more than 300 reports of the knobs activating unintentionally since 2013, the CPSC noted, and the now-recalled ranges have been involved in about 250 fires. At least 18 of those fires caused extensive property damage and seven involved pet deaths, according to the Commission.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RECALL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RECALL</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/SamsungUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SamsungUS</a> recalls 1,120,905 Slide-in Electric Ranges. Front-mounted knobs can be accidentally activated by humans or pets; fire hazard. Get repair. CONTACT: Toll-free 833-775-0120, email rangesupport@sea.samsung.com or <a href="https://t.co/W8Uvqwea1i">https://t.co/W8Uvqwea1i</a>.<a href="https://t.co/zwemjV3gTL">https://t.co/zwemjV3gTL</a> <a href="https://t.co/m5YahPC1fI">pic.twitter.com/m5YahPC1fI</a>&mdash; US Consumer Product Safety Commission (@USCPSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/USCPSC/status/1821539790119911731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In addition, the CPSC added, about 40 injuries have been reported, including eight that required medical attention.Consumers can identify whether their slide-in electric range is included in this recall by looking at the model number printed on the product. Both&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/support/range-knob-kit/">Samsung</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Samsung-Recalls-Slide-In-Electric-Ranges-Due-to-Fire-Hazard">the CPSC</a>&nbsp;have published a list of affected models online.The recalled ranges were sold between May 2013 and August 2024 online at Samsung.com as well as in retailers nationwide — including Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot and Lowe's.Consumers in possession of a recalled range are urged to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/support/range-knob-kit/">contact</a>&nbsp;New Jersey-based Samsung Electronics America for a free set of knob locks or covers compatible for installation with their model. In the meantime, those impacted should take extra caution to keep children and pets away from the knobs, and check their range before leaving the house or going to bed to make sure it's off, the CPSC said.As part of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/3001_Stove_SafetyAlert_v10.pdf?VersionId=xH8sKk5wnN.bucSj_0PgOQEbluaKpj2E">general stovetop and oven safety</a>, the Commission added that consumers should “never place, leave, or store anything on the top of your range” when not in use — as such items can ignite if it's accidentally activated.To receive a set of free knob locks or covers, depending on their model, customers can visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/support/range-knob-kit/">https://www.samsung.com/us/support/range-knob-kit/</a>, contact Samsung toll-free at 1-833-775-0120 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or by email at rangesupport@sea.samsung.com.

Samsung recalls electric ranges after numerous fire and injury reports

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas teen is guilty in a gun sale robbery that left another teen dead.

On August 2, a jury convicted 19-year-old Deon Eugene Austin guilty of first degree murder, aggravated battery; great bodily harm in the death of 16-year-old Jammal Blacknoll, Jr. who died of gunshot wounds, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

Just before 9p.m. April 10, 2022, the&nbsp;Mission, Kansas, Police Department&nbsp;was called to a shooting in the parking lot of an apartment complex In the 5100 block of Foxridge Drive, according to court records.

First responders found Jammaal Blacknoll, Jr. had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Austin also suffered a gunshot wound to the left leg. He was transported to to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.childrensmercy.org/" target="_blank">Children’s Mercy Hospital&nbsp;</a>for treatment.

Investigators said a baggie that contained marijuana and a handgun were found at the scene of the shooting. A search of Austin and Blacknoll’s phones confirmed the pair had met to purchase firearms. Witness statements confirmed the incident to be a firearms sale gone wrong as Austin attempted to rob Blacknoll.

An autopsy confirmed Blacknoll had been shot 11 times. Austin was 17 at the time of the shooting but was tried as an adult.

Austin is scheduled for sentencing September 26, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723061153324.png" alt="Austin-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Austin-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas teen is guilty in a gun sale robbery that left another teen dead.On August 2, a jury convicted 19-year-old Deon Eugene Austin guilty of first degree murder, aggravated battery; great bodily harm in the death of 16-year-old Jammal Blacknoll, Jr. who died of gunshot wounds, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.Just before 9p.m. April 10, 2022, the&nbsp;Mission, Kansas, Police Department&nbsp;was called to a shooting in the parking lot of an apartment complex In the 5100 block of Foxridge Drive, according to court records.First responders found Jammaal Blacknoll, Jr. had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Austin also suffered a gunshot wound to the left leg. He was transported to to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.childrensmercy.org/" target="_blank">Children’s Mercy Hospital&nbsp;</a>for treatment.Investigators said a baggie that contained marijuana and a handgun were found at the scene of the shooting. A search of Austin and Blacknoll’s phones confirmed the pair had met to purchase firearms. Witness statements confirmed the incident to be a firearms sale gone wrong as Austin attempted to rob Blacknoll.An autopsy confirmed Blacknoll had been shot 11 times. Austin was 17 at the time of the shooting but was tried as an adult.Austin is scheduled for sentencing September 26, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas gun sale robbery left 16-year-old dead

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A dog chomping on a lithium-ion battery sparked a serious house fire in Oklahoma, and video of the moment the sparks began to fly has been enlisted by a fire department to show the potential dangers of those batteries.

The footage taken from the home and posted last week on the Tulsa Fire Department's Facebook page shows the dog gnawing on its choice of a chew toy atop one of two cushions set on the floor of a living room. Another dog can be seen on a couch and a cat on the floor as the dog bites down and sparks begin to shoot from the battery.

The dog pulls back and soon the cushions are ablaze. Both dogs watch the growing fire at one point.

The fire department said the Tulsa-area home was significantly damaged by the fire in May but the two dogs and the cat escaped through a pet door.

Fire department spokesman Andy Little said in the post that the battery the dog was chewing was intended for charging cell phones. He said lithium-ion batteries can store “a significant amount of energy in a compact space” but when that energy “is released uncontrollably, it can generate heat, produce flammable and toxic gasses and even lead to explosions.” He said the batteries can possibly become dangerous when they are damaged, overcharged or exposed to extreme heat.

Fortunately for the pets, Little said, all escaped the flames uninjured.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A dog chomping on a lithium-ion battery sparked a serious house fire in Oklahoma, and video of the moment the sparks began to fly has been enlisted by a fire department to show the potential dangers of those batteries.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTulsaFireDept%2Fvideos%2F1018753546612123%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=65" 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>The footage taken from the home and posted last week on the Tulsa Fire Department's Facebook page shows the dog gnawing on its choice of a chew toy atop one of two cushions set on the floor of a living room. Another dog can be seen on a couch and a cat on the floor as the dog bites down and sparks begin to shoot from the battery.The dog pulls back and soon the cushions are ablaze. Both dogs watch the growing fire at one point.The fire department said the Tulsa-area home was significantly damaged by the fire in May but the two dogs and the cat escaped through a pet door.Fire department spokesman Andy Little said in the post that the battery the dog was chewing was intended for charging cell phones. He said lithium-ion batteries can store “a significant amount of energy in a compact space” but when that energy “is released uncontrollably, it can generate heat, produce flammable and toxic gasses and even lead to explosions.” He said the batteries can possibly become dangerous when they are damaged, overcharged or exposed to extreme heat.Fortunately for the pets, Little said, all escaped the flames uninjured.

Video shows dog chewing on lithium-ion battery, sparking house fire

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump gave an hourlong news conference Wednesday in which he recommitted to debating Vice President Kamala Harris and taunted her while also repeating old falsehoods and lashing out at questions about the enthusiasm her campaign is receiving.

As Trump addressed reporters at his Palm Beach, Florida, estate, ABC announced that Trump and Harris, the Democratic nominee, have agreed to a Sept. 10 presidential debate, setting up a widely anticipated faceoff in an already unparalleled presidential election. Trump said he had proposed three presidential debates with three television networks in September.

Trump again insisted there had been a “peaceful transfer of power” in 2021 and renewed attacks on Republican rivals like Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, whom Trump has harshly criticized since Kemp refused to go along with his false theories of election fraud. In taking more than a dozen questions from reporters, however, Trump tried to draw a contrast with Harris, who has not held a news conference since she became the likely Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race.

Another key moment in the election is set

Trump's decision to go on ABC, days after posting on his social media account that he would not appear on the network, sets up a highly anticipated moment in an election where Biden's catastrophic performance in the last debate set in motion his withdrawal.

“I think it's very important to have debates,” Trump said Thursday. “I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight.”

The Harris campaign had no immediate comment.

Thursday's event was Trump's first public appearance since Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Trump called Walz a “radical left man.”

“Between her and him, there’s never been anything like this,” Trump said. “There’s certainly never been anybody so liberal like these two.”

He repeatedly suggested Harris was not intelligent enough to debate him. Harris, for her part, has tried to goad Trump into debating and told an audience in Atlanta recently that if he had anything to say about her, he should "&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-georgia-trump-rally-atlanta-4454ff5825d8f6cf90929147f5b84a71">say it to my face</a>.”

Trump grew visibly perturbed when pressed on Harris’ crowds and newfound Democratic enthusiasm, dismissing a question about his lighter campaign schedule as stupid.

Trump says he has not “recalibrated” his campaign despite facing a new opponent, a dynamic some Republican strategists have quietly complained about.

When asked what assets Harris possessed, Trump said: “She’s a woman. She represents certain groups of people.”

Trump has repeatedly — and falsely — accused Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, of previously downplaying that she is Black.

Trump suggested abortion will not be a major issue in the campaign and the outcome in November.

He insisted that the matter “has become much less of an issue” since the Supreme Court ended the federal constitutional right to abortion services and returned control of the matter to state governments. But the issue is widely seen as a general election liability, and Trump named states such as Ohio and Kansas that have since voted to protect abortion rights.

Trump also said he expected Florida “will go in a little more liberal way than people thought” when it votes to repeal an abortion ban later this year, but he did not respond to questions asking how he would vote.

Trump argued that Democrats, Republicans and “everybody” are pleased with the results of the 2022 ruling that overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

Trump’s actions within the GOP, however, suggest he knows that Democrats already have capitalized on Republican opposition to abortion rights and could do so again this fall. Trump single-handedly ensured that the Republican Party platform adopted at the 2024 convention in Milwaukee does not call for a national ban on abortion, and he has said repeatedly that hardliners in the party could cost the GOP in November.

The court’s decision, issued months ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, is widely cited as a reason that Democrats fared much better than expected in House and Senate contests. And Democrats have hammered Trump in paid advertisements blaming him and the justices he appointed for ending Roe.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723150429787.png" alt="Trump addressed reporters at his Palm Beach, Florida estate-Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Trump addressed reporters at his Palm Beach, Florida estate-Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump gave an hourlong news conference Wednesday in which he recommitted to debating Vice President Kamala Harris and taunted her while also repeating old falsehoods and lashing out at questions about the enthusiasm her campaign is receiving.As Trump addressed reporters at his Palm Beach, Florida, estate, ABC announced that Trump and Harris, the Democratic nominee, have agreed to a Sept. 10 presidential debate, setting up a widely anticipated faceoff in an already unparalleled presidential election. Trump said he had proposed three presidential debates with three television networks in September.Trump again insisted there had been a “peaceful transfer of power” in 2021 and renewed attacks on Republican rivals like Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, whom Trump has harshly criticized since Kemp refused to go along with his false theories of election fraud. In taking more than a dozen questions from reporters, however, Trump tried to draw a contrast with Harris, who has not held a news conference since she became the likely Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race.<h2>Another key moment in the election is set</h2>Trump's decision to go on ABC, days after posting on his social media account that he would not appear on the network, sets up a highly anticipated moment in an election where Biden's catastrophic performance in the last debate set in motion his withdrawal.“I think it's very important to have debates,” Trump said Thursday. “I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight.”The Harris campaign had no immediate comment.Thursday's event was Trump's first public appearance since Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Trump called Walz a “radical left man.”“Between her and him, there’s never been anything like this,” Trump said. “There’s certainly never been anybody so liberal like these two.”He repeatedly suggested Harris was not intelligent enough to debate him. Harris, for her part, has tried to goad Trump into debating and told an audience in Atlanta recently that if he had anything to say about her, he should "&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-georgia-trump-rally-atlanta-4454ff5825d8f6cf90929147f5b84a71">say it to my face</a>.”Trump grew visibly perturbed when pressed on Harris’ crowds and newfound Democratic enthusiasm, dismissing a question about his lighter campaign schedule as stupid.Trump says he has not “recalibrated” his campaign despite facing a new opponent, a dynamic some Republican strategists have quietly complained about.When asked what assets Harris possessed, Trump said: “She’s a woman. She represents certain groups of people.”Trump has repeatedly — and falsely — accused Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, of previously downplaying that she is Black.<h2>Trump takes questions about abortion</h2>Trump suggested abortion will not be a major issue in the campaign and the outcome in November.He insisted that the matter “has become much less of an issue” since the Supreme Court ended the federal constitutional right to abortion services and returned control of the matter to state governments. But the issue is widely seen as a general election liability, and Trump named states such as Ohio and Kansas that have since voted to protect abortion rights.Trump also said he expected Florida “will go in a little more liberal way than people thought” when it votes to repeal an abortion ban later this year, but he did not respond to questions asking how he would vote.Trump argued that Democrats, Republicans and “everybody” are pleased with the results of the 2022 ruling that overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.Trump’s actions within the GOP, however, suggest he knows that Democrats already have capitalized on Republican opposition to abortion rights and could do so again this fall. Trump single-handedly ensured that the Republican Party platform adopted at the 2024 convention in Milwaukee does not call for a national ban on abortion, and he has said repeatedly that hardliners in the party could cost the GOP in November.The court’s decision, issued months ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, is widely cited as a reason that Democrats fared much better than expected in House and Senate contests. And Democrats have hammered Trump in paid advertisements blaming him and the justices he appointed for ending Roe.

Trump and Harris to debate on ABC News in September

KANSAS CITY— A death investigation is underway after Kansas City Police reported on Thursday the body of a missing man had been found in a wooded area, according to Kansas City Police.

Terry Day, 65,&nbsp; was last seen just after 7p.m. August 1, walking with his mixed breed dog in the area of E. 94th Street and Pleasant Avenue in southeast Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD.

Law enforcement are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of his death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723148357872.png" alt="Terry Day courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Terry Day courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— A death investigation is underway after Kansas City Police reported on Thursday the body of a missing man had been found in a wooded area, according to Kansas City Police.Terry Day, 65,&nbsp; was last seen just after 7p.m. August 1, walking with his mixed breed dog in the area of E. 94th Street and Pleasant Avenue in southeast Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723148650848.png" alt="Terry Day courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Terry Day courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Law enforcement are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of his death.

Body of missing man found in wooded area of Kansas City

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rallied Thursday in Wall Street’s latest sharp swerve after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-4e843e0b32f6607e314ef793a22cac9d">better-than-expected report</a>&nbsp;on unemployment eased worries about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-unemployment-federal-reserve-inflation-22095766804d9c1532b4fcc29565be49">slowing economy</a>.

The S&amp;P 500 jumped 2.3% for its best day since 2022 and shaved off all but 0.5% of its loss from what was a brutal start to the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 683 points, or 1.8%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 2.9% as Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks helped lead the way.

Treasury yields also climbed in the bond market in a signal investors are feeling less&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-recession-jobs-unemployment-c7f1985b1ab3a7b781920c2693cd0438">worried about the economy</a>&nbsp;after a report showed fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week. The number was better than economists expected.

It was exactly a week ago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-87b2c1f2511ca47f91587c9dd25aba51">worse-than-expected data</a>&nbsp;on unemployment claims helped enflame worries that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-federal-reserve-interest-rates-04d2877f47f3913acc2f992d8ef1581b">Federal Reserve</a>&nbsp;has kept&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-837101506a276eb78044fbd72771a479">interest rates</a>&nbsp;at too high of an economy-slowing level for too long in order to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-election-federal-reserve-rates-economy-d8d44ca753aace952831a8f0cb42b97c">beat inflation</a>. That helped send markets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-yen-inflation-20ce445cdd86be98fb3682a33e88442b">reeling worldwide</a>, along with a rate hike by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-economy-rates-boj-yen-e00919b053412fabf7a800ed78a9ad7a">Bank of Japan</a>&nbsp;that sent shockwaves worldwide by scrambling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-carry-japan-currency-9611229d14e547e11f7e0299f2a6d00a">a favorite trade</a>&nbsp;among some hedge funds.

At the worst of it, at least so far, the S&amp;P 500 was down nearly 10% from its all-time set last month. Such drops are regular occurrences on Wall Street, and “corrections” of 10% happen roughly every year or two. After Thursday's jump, the index is back within about 6% of its record.

What made this decline particularly scary was how quickly it happened. A measure of how much investors are paying to protect themselves from future drops for the S&amp;P 500 briefly surged toward its highest level since the COVID crash of 2020.

Still, the market’s swings look more like a “positioning-driven crash” caused by too many investors piling into similar trades and then exiting them together, rather than the start of a long-term downward market caused by a recession, according to strategists at BNP Paribas.

They say it looks more similar to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-8888a416bb764f58be752c9ae3faf189">“flash crash” of 2010</a>&nbsp;than the 2008 global financial crisis or the 2020 recession caused by the pandemic.

Of course, markets have been quick to turn over the past week regardless of any long-term predictions.

“Today’s jobless claims data may ease some of the concerns raised by last week’s soft jobs report,” said Chris Larkin, managing director, trading and investing, at E-Trade from Morgan Stanley. “But with inflation data due out next week and the stock market still working through its biggest pullback of the year, it’s unclear how much this will move the sentiment needle.”

In the meantime, big U.S. companies continue to turn in profit reports for the spring that are mostly better than analysts expected.

Eli Lilly jumped 9.5% to help lead the market after it delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eli-lilly-mounjaro-zepbound-7a4a24e8ce15e152ac92a1d23a82524d">stronger profit and revenue</a>&nbsp;than Wall Street had forecast. Sales of its Mounjaro diabetes treatment and its Zepbound weight-loss counterpart are booming, and the company raised its financial forecast for the year.

Big Tech stocks also rose to claw back some of their sharp losses from the last month.

After a handful of them almost singlehandedly drove the S&amp;P 500 to dozens of all-time highs this year, the group known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wall-street-stocks-magnificent-seven-a6e1da1a8c85c0a56f9e9c85e001ebff">“Magnificent Seven”</a>&nbsp;lost momentum last month amid criticism their prices soared too high in investors’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-chip-ai-apple-microsoft-51cc2b56e5871111907de6ad9cab59ae">frenzy around artificial-intelligence</a>&nbsp;technology.

How this handful of stocks performs carries extra impact on the S&amp;P 500 and other indexes because they’re by far the market’s most valuable companies.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-artificial-intelligence-ai-gaming-1acc94ebbe6a59f728742ca20b3532cf">Nvidia</a>, which has become the poster child for the AI trade, rose 6.1% to trim its loss for the week so far to 2.1%, and it was the day’s strongest single force pushing upward on the S&amp;P 500.

Gains of 1.7% for Apple and 4.2% for Meta Platforms were also big propellants, along with Eli Lilly.

They helped offset a drop of 11.3% for McKesson, which topped analysts’ expectations for profit in the latest quarter but fell short on revenue. It said growth slowed in its medical-surgical business.

Bumble, the Texas-based dating app, lost more than a quarter of its value, 29.2%, after its forecast for revenue in the third quarter came in well below Wall Street’s.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rallied 119.81 points to 5,319.31. The Dow gained 683.04 to 39,446.49, and the Nasdaq composite rose 464.22 to 16,660.02.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 3.99% from 3.95% late Wednesday.

In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed across Asia and Europe. In Japan, which has been home to some of the wildest moves in global markets, the Nikkei 225 ticked down by 0.7%. That looked like a ripple following its tidal swings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-stocks-nikkei-markets-yen-9fc2c2d7b2f85be89e8dd2db4054b9c5">down 12.4%</a>&nbsp;and up 10.2% to start the week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584366201093.png" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rallied Thursday in Wall Street’s latest sharp swerve after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-4e843e0b32f6607e314ef793a22cac9d">better-than-expected report</a>&nbsp;on unemployment eased worries about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-unemployment-federal-reserve-inflation-22095766804d9c1532b4fcc29565be49">slowing economy</a>.The S&amp;P 500 jumped 2.3% for its best day since 2022 and shaved off all but 0.5% of its loss from what was a brutal start to the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 683 points, or 1.8%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 2.9% as Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks helped lead the way.Treasury yields also climbed in the bond market in a signal investors are feeling less&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-recession-jobs-unemployment-c7f1985b1ab3a7b781920c2693cd0438">worried about the economy</a>&nbsp;after a report showed fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week. The number was better than economists expected.It was exactly a week ago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-87b2c1f2511ca47f91587c9dd25aba51">worse-than-expected data</a>&nbsp;on unemployment claims helped enflame worries that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-federal-reserve-interest-rates-04d2877f47f3913acc2f992d8ef1581b">Federal Reserve</a>&nbsp;has kept&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-837101506a276eb78044fbd72771a479">interest rates</a>&nbsp;at too high of an economy-slowing level for too long in order to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-election-federal-reserve-rates-economy-d8d44ca753aace952831a8f0cb42b97c">beat inflation</a>. That helped send markets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-yen-inflation-20ce445cdd86be98fb3682a33e88442b">reeling worldwide</a>, along with a rate hike by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-economy-rates-boj-yen-e00919b053412fabf7a800ed78a9ad7a">Bank of Japan</a>&nbsp;that sent shockwaves worldwide by scrambling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-carry-japan-currency-9611229d14e547e11f7e0299f2a6d00a">a favorite trade</a>&nbsp;among some hedge funds.At the worst of it, at least so far, the S&amp;P 500 was down nearly 10% from its all-time set last month. Such drops are regular occurrences on Wall Street, and “corrections” of 10% happen roughly every year or two. After Thursday's jump, the index is back within about 6% of its record.What made this decline particularly scary was how quickly it happened. A measure of how much investors are paying to protect themselves from future drops for the S&amp;P 500 briefly surged toward its highest level since the COVID crash of 2020.Still, the market’s swings look more like a “positioning-driven crash” caused by too many investors piling into similar trades and then exiting them together, rather than the start of a long-term downward market caused by a recession, according to strategists at BNP Paribas.They say it looks more similar to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-8888a416bb764f58be752c9ae3faf189">“flash crash” of 2010</a>&nbsp;than the 2008 global financial crisis or the 2020 recession caused by the pandemic.Of course, markets have been quick to turn over the past week regardless of any long-term predictions.“Today’s jobless claims data may ease some of the concerns raised by last week’s soft jobs report,” said Chris Larkin, managing director, trading and investing, at E-Trade from Morgan Stanley. “But with inflation data due out next week and the stock market still working through its biggest pullback of the year, it’s unclear how much this will move the sentiment needle.”In the meantime, big U.S. companies continue to turn in profit reports for the spring that are mostly better than analysts expected.Eli Lilly jumped 9.5% to help lead the market after it delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eli-lilly-mounjaro-zepbound-7a4a24e8ce15e152ac92a1d23a82524d">stronger profit and revenue</a>&nbsp;than Wall Street had forecast. Sales of its Mounjaro diabetes treatment and its Zepbound weight-loss counterpart are booming, and the company raised its financial forecast for the year.Big Tech stocks also rose to claw back some of their sharp losses from the last month.After a handful of them almost singlehandedly drove the S&amp;P 500 to dozens of all-time highs this year, the group known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wall-street-stocks-magnificent-seven-a6e1da1a8c85c0a56f9e9c85e001ebff">“Magnificent Seven”</a>&nbsp;lost momentum last month amid criticism their prices soared too high in investors’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-chip-ai-apple-microsoft-51cc2b56e5871111907de6ad9cab59ae">frenzy around artificial-intelligence</a>&nbsp;technology.How this handful of stocks performs carries extra impact on the S&amp;P 500 and other indexes because they’re by far the market’s most valuable companies.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-artificial-intelligence-ai-gaming-1acc94ebbe6a59f728742ca20b3532cf">Nvidia</a>, which has become the poster child for the AI trade, rose 6.1% to trim its loss for the week so far to 2.1%, and it was the day’s strongest single force pushing upward on the S&amp;P 500.Gains of 1.7% for Apple and 4.2% for Meta Platforms were also big propellants, along with Eli Lilly.They helped offset a drop of 11.3% for McKesson, which topped analysts’ expectations for profit in the latest quarter but fell short on revenue. It said growth slowed in its medical-surgical business.Bumble, the Texas-based dating app, lost more than a quarter of its value, 29.2%, after its forecast for revenue in the third quarter came in well below Wall Street’s.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rallied 119.81 points to 5,319.31. The Dow gained 683.04 to 39,446.49, and the Nasdaq composite rose 464.22 to 16,660.02.In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 3.99% from 3.95% late Wednesday.In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed across Asia and Europe. In Japan, which has been home to some of the wildest moves in global markets, the Nikkei 225 ticked down by 0.7%. That looked like a ripple following its tidal swings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-stocks-nikkei-markets-yen-9fc2c2d7b2f85be89e8dd2db4054b9c5">down 12.4%</a>&nbsp;and up 10.2% to start the week.___

Wall Street rallies to its best day since 2022; S&P 500 jumps 2.3%

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEVNA%20BOSE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEVNA BOSE AP Health Writer</a>

Three people have now died in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boars-head-deli-meat-listeria-outbreak-1dab4ab6cb7678f4691e3572758d55f6">a listeria food poisoning outbreak</a>&nbsp;linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boars-head-listeria-deli-meat-ebff78f4d6e5dad8483a6063623cd9a1">Boar's Head deli meats</a>, federal food safety officials announced Thursday, and the overall number of people sickened rose to 43.

The additional death happened in Virginia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a news release Thursday. The other two deaths were in New Jersey and Illinois. The CDC also said nine more cases were reported since a July 31 release about the outbreak, which started in late May.

Boar’s Head&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boars-head-listeria-deli-meat-ebff78f4d6e5dad8483a6063623cd9a1">recalled 7 million pounds</a>&nbsp;of deli meats on July 30, expanding an initial recall on July 25 after a liverwurst sample collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. The CDC said Thursday that a New York health officials tested a liverwurst sample and confirmed the same strain of listeria.

The recall includes more than 70 products — including liverwurst, ham, beef salami and bologna — made at the company's plant in Jarratt, Virginia.

Boar’s Head already faces two lawsuits over the outbreak, one in a Missouri court and the other a class action suit in federal court in New York.

The meat was distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama. Consumers should not eat the recalled meats and should discard them or return them to the store for a refund. Listeria bacteria can survive and grow in the refrigerator, so officials say people who had recalled products should thoroughly clean and sanitize the fridge to prevent contamination.

The CDC estimates 1,600 people a year get&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boars-head-deli-meat-listeria-outbreak-1dab4ab6cb7678f4691e3572758d55f6">listeria food poisoning</a>&nbsp;and about 260 of those people die.

The most common symptoms include fever, muscle aches and fatigue, though infections may also cause confusion and convulsions. Infections are most dangerous for people older than 65, people with weak immune systems and pregnant people. Symptoms may not appear for weeks after eating contaminated food.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721435735887.png" alt="FILE - This 2002 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a Listeria monocytogenes bacterium, responsible for the food borne illness listeriosis. (Elizabeth White/CDC via AP, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - This 2002 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a Listeria monocytogenes bacterium, responsible for the food borne illness listeriosis. (Elizabeth White/CDC via AP, File)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEVNA%20BOSE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEVNA BOSE AP Health Writer</a>Three people have now died in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boars-head-deli-meat-listeria-outbreak-1dab4ab6cb7678f4691e3572758d55f6">a listeria food poisoning outbreak</a>&nbsp;linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boars-head-listeria-deli-meat-ebff78f4d6e5dad8483a6063623cd9a1">Boar's Head deli meats</a>, federal food safety officials announced Thursday, and the overall number of people sickened rose to 43.The additional death happened in Virginia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a news release Thursday. The other two deaths were in New Jersey and Illinois. The CDC also said nine more cases were reported since a July 31 release about the outbreak, which started in late May.Boar’s Head&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boars-head-listeria-deli-meat-ebff78f4d6e5dad8483a6063623cd9a1">recalled 7 million pounds</a>&nbsp;of deli meats on July 30, expanding an initial recall on July 25 after a liverwurst sample collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. The CDC said Thursday that a New York health officials tested a liverwurst sample and confirmed the same strain of listeria.The recall includes more than 70 products — including liverwurst, ham, beef salami and bologna — made at the company's plant in Jarratt, Virginia.Boar’s Head already faces two lawsuits over the outbreak, one in a Missouri court and the other a class action suit in federal court in New York.The meat was distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama. Consumers should not eat the recalled meats and should discard them or return them to the store for a refund. Listeria bacteria can survive and grow in the refrigerator, so officials say people who had recalled products should thoroughly clean and sanitize the fridge to prevent contamination.The CDC estimates 1,600 people a year get&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boars-head-deli-meat-listeria-outbreak-1dab4ab6cb7678f4691e3572758d55f6">listeria food poisoning</a>&nbsp;and about 260 of those people die.The most common symptoms include fever, muscle aches and fatigue, though infections may also cause confusion and convulsions. Infections are most dangerous for people older than 65, people with weak immune systems and pregnant people. Symptoms may not appear for weeks after eating contaminated food.___

Another death reported in listeria outbreak tied to deli meats

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Kansas Gas Service agreed to impose a smaller rate hike on customers, increasing bills by an average of $3.83 per month, state regulators announced Thursday.

The deal, which the company and state regulators struck last week, needs approval by the Kansas Corporation Commission. The state agency announced Thursday it would hold a hearing on the proposal next week.

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/tag/kansas-gas-service/">Kansas Gas Service</a>, which serves almost 650,000 residential customers, filed its periodic request with the KCC to increase rates this spring. The KCC, which regulates monopoly utilities, has been hearing testimony from the company, regulatory staff and consumer advocates.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/14/theres-too-much-profit-customers-decry-proposed-natural-gas-rate-increase/">company initially asked to create a two-tiered rate system</a>&nbsp;based on how much gas customers used. Customers who used less than 73,000 cubic feet of gas would have seen a 10.41% hike, which would represent an average increase of $6.71 per month. Kansas Gas Service proposed a smaller rate hike of 8.25% on larger customers. The company said that would result in an average $9.48 increase in monthly bills for major users.

KGS’s agreement with regulators would not impose a second rate tier, but rather impose the average $3.83 increase for all customers.

The hikes KGS requested would have brought in $58.1 million annually for the company from customer bills. But KCC staff argued the company could only justify a $31.7 million increase in customers’ rates. The Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board, which advocates for residential and small commercial customers, recommended only a $10.7 million rate hike from customers’ bills.

In a statement, KGS spokeswoman Dawn Tripp said the company is “committed to keeping rates as reasonable as possible.”

“This request is necessary to recover the investments made to maintain a safe and reliable pipeline system,” Tripp said. “Thanks to consistent long-term investments, we have a 999% reliability rate, which means our customers can depend on natural gas for their daily needs, even during challenging weather.”&nbsp;

Commissioners will hear testimony on the proposed agreement Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the KCC office in Topeka. They can approve, reject or modify the agreement and need to issue an order on natural gas rates by Oct. 25.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723139909574.png" alt="Kansas Gas Service customers could see an average $3.83 increase on their bills each month under an agreement the company reached with state regulators. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Gas Service customers could see an average $3.83 increase on their bills each month under an agreement the company reached with state regulators. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a> Kansas Gas Service agreed to impose a smaller rate hike on customers, increasing bills by an average of $3.83 per month, state regulators announced Thursday.The deal, which the company and state regulators struck last week, needs approval by the Kansas Corporation Commission. The state agency announced Thursday it would hold a hearing on the proposal next week.<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/tag/kansas-gas-service/">Kansas Gas Service</a>, which serves almost 650,000 residential customers, filed its periodic request with the KCC to increase rates this spring. The KCC, which regulates monopoly utilities, has been hearing testimony from the company, regulatory staff and consumer advocates.The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/14/theres-too-much-profit-customers-decry-proposed-natural-gas-rate-increase/">company initially asked to create a two-tiered rate system</a>&nbsp;based on how much gas customers used. Customers who used less than 73,000 cubic feet of gas would have seen a 10.41% hike, which would represent an average increase of $6.71 per month. Kansas Gas Service proposed a smaller rate hike of 8.25% on larger customers. The company said that would result in an average $9.48 increase in monthly bills for major users.KGS’s agreement with regulators would not impose a second rate tier, but rather impose the average $3.83 increase for all customers.The hikes KGS requested would have brought in $58.1 million annually for the company from customer bills. But KCC staff argued the company could only justify a $31.7 million increase in customers’ rates. The Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board, which advocates for residential and small commercial customers, recommended only a $10.7 million rate hike from customers’ bills.In a statement, KGS spokeswoman Dawn Tripp said the company is “committed to keeping rates as reasonable as possible.”“This request is necessary to recover the investments made to maintain a safe and reliable pipeline system,” Tripp said. “Thanks to consistent long-term investments, we have a 999% reliability rate, which means our customers can depend on natural gas for their daily needs, even during challenging weather.”&nbsp;Commissioners will hear testimony on the proposed agreement Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the KCC office in Topeka. They can approve, reject or modify the agreement and need to issue an order on natural gas rates by Oct. 25.

Kansas Gas Service agrees to smaller rate hike for customers

SHAWNEE COUNTY — The City of Topeka is assisting 18 residents after the discovery of unsanitary conditions and a carbon monoxide leak at an apartment building on Wednesday afternoon in East Topeka, according to a media release from the city.

Just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, crews from the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) responded to a reported chemical odor at a residential building located at 313 SE Lime Street.&nbsp; Firefighters measured unsafe levels of carbon monoxide and immediately notified the Kansas Gas Service and the Topeka Police Department’s Property Maintenance Unit (PMU).

Two juveniles were transported to a local hospital by medical personnel to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

As a result of PMU’s investigation, raw sewage was found and four apartments have been condemned.

The City of Topeka’s Housing Services Division responded and is working with the affected residents to provide relocation assistance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723121231086.png" alt="Images courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Images courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — The City of Topeka is assisting 18 residents after the discovery of unsanitary conditions and a carbon monoxide leak at an apartment building on Wednesday afternoon in East Topeka, according to a media release from the city.Just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, crews from the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) responded to a reported chemical odor at a residential building located at 313 SE Lime Street.&nbsp; Firefighters measured unsafe levels of carbon monoxide and immediately notified the Kansas Gas Service and the Topeka Police Department’s Property Maintenance Unit (PMU).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723121592701.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Two juveniles were transported to a local hospital by medical personnel to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.As a result of PMU’s investigation, raw sewage was found and four apartments have been condemned.The City of Topeka’s Housing Services Division responded and is working with the affected residents to provide relocation assistance.

Children hospitalized after raw sewage found at Kan. apartments

RENO COUNTY —The cause of a large commercial building fire in Hutchinson is still under investigation, according to a media release from the Hutchinson Fire Department.

(Click below to watch video that shows intensity of the fire)

During the response, dispatch advised bystanders were reporting large amounts of smoke and fire. from the building at at 2404 E 4th Avenue. Crews were able to see a large glow and smoke plume while leaving the station.

The first arriving crew found heavy fire and initiated defensive fire operations. The assignment was immediately upgraded to request mutual aid from multiple agencies. Firefighters encountered numerous hazards while fighting the fire that included down charged power lines, numerous explosions, and high heat.

Due to the extensive heat, crews were presented with additional building fires to the surrounding structures that required attention to minimize surrounding structure damage.&nbsp;

Fire crews implemented rigorous on scene rehabilitation procedures to ensure all members were staying hydrated, checked their vital signs, and were able to continue fire suppression efforts. Due to the heat and environmental conditions, two firefighters were hospitalized. They have since been released and cleared for duty.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722955243029.jpeg" alt="Photo by Sean Boston" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Sean Boston</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —The cause of a large commercial building fire in Hutchinson is still under investigation, according to a media release from the Hutchinson Fire Department.(Click below to watch video that shows intensity of the fire)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHutchinsonFireDept%2Fvideos%2F862524525769228%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" 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>During the response, dispatch advised bystanders were reporting large amounts of smoke and fire. from the building at at 2404 E 4th Avenue. Crews were able to see a large glow and smoke plume while leaving the station.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722979258133.jpeg" alt="Photo by Sean Boston." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Sean Boston.</figcaption>
 </figure>The first arriving crew found heavy fire and initiated defensive fire operations. The assignment was immediately upgraded to request mutual aid from multiple agencies. Firefighters encountered numerous hazards while fighting the fire that included down charged power lines, numerous explosions, and high heat.Due to the extensive heat, crews were presented with additional building fires to the surrounding structures that required attention to minimize surrounding structure damage.&nbsp;Fire crews implemented rigorous on scene rehabilitation procedures to ensure all members were staying hydrated, checked their vital signs, and were able to continue fire suppression efforts. Due to the heat and environmental conditions, two firefighters were hospitalized. They have since been released and cleared for duty.&nbsp;During the fire, Hutchinson Fire was flowing approximately 7,000 gallons of water per minute. The fire required the use of ten Engines and two&nbsp; Ladder Trucks to sustain suppression efforts. The fire took three 3 hours to bring under control, concluded with three hours of investigation by HFD, HPD, Reno County Sherriff, and the State Fire Marshal. The fire continues to be under investigation pending further interviews.