KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly drive-by shooting have identified the teen who died as&nbsp;17-year-old Therrell K. "TJ" Jackson of Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 9p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; multiple 911 callers reported the sound of shots fired, according to a statement from the Clay County Sheriff's Office. Shortly thereafter, a caller reported someone had been shot in the 3200 block of N.E. Excelsior Street in the north Kansas City community of Avondale. EMS transported Jackson to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Detectives spoke to witnesses and gathered evidence. The Kansas City Police Crime Scene Investigations Unit is helping process the scene. Initially, it appears a drive-by shooting took place.

Investigators have identified a suspect vehicle.

The vehicle appears to be a dark blue or black 1996-98 Chevy Silverado Z71 4x4 with the driver’s side headlight out.

If anyone has any information that can help solve this case, please contact the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722545705390.png" alt="Therrell K. 'TJ' Jackson -courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Therrell K. 'TJ' Jackson -courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly drive-by shooting have identified the teen who died as&nbsp;17-year-old Therrell K. "TJ" Jackson of Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 9p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; multiple 911 callers reported the sound of shots fired, according to a statement from the Clay County Sheriff's Office. Shortly thereafter, a caller reported someone had been shot in the 3200 block of N.E. Excelsior Street in the north Kansas City community of Avondale. EMS transported Jackson to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We&#39;re investigating an apparent drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of a teenager in Avondale about 9 p.m. tonight. This is the suspect vehicle. Contact <a href="https://twitter.com/KCCrimeStop?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KCCrimeStop</a> @ 816-474-TIPS with any info. that could help us solve this. More: <a href="https://t.co/U9sq7dbtRR">https://t.co/U9sq7dbtRR</a> <a href="https://t.co/5LrGs3msvG">pic.twitter.com/5LrGs3msvG</a>&mdash; Clay County, Missouri Sheriff (@SheriffClayCo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SheriffClayCo/status/1818505232189378894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Detectives spoke to witnesses and gathered evidence. The Kansas City Police Crime Scene Investigations Unit is helping process the scene. Initially, it appears a drive-by shooting took place.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722545482919.png" alt="The Sheriff released an additional image of the&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The Sheriff released an additional image of the&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators have identified a suspect vehicle.The vehicle appears to be a dark blue or black 1996-98 Chevy Silverado Z71 4x4 with the driver’s side headlight out.If anyone has any information that can help solve this case, please contact the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

Sheriff IDs teen who died in KC area drive-by shooting

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —A Kansas man is going to prison for a deadly shooting in April of 2020.

A Jackson County judge sentenced 37-year-old Ivan D. Mock of Kansas City, Kansas to 40 years in prison for the murder of Daniel Washington.&nbsp; Police found Washington with a fatal gunshot wound in a vehicle near 39th and Main, according to court records.&nbsp;Witnesses identified Mock as the shooter.

The judge imposed a 30-year sentence for Mock's second-degree murder conviction and an additional ten years for his conviction of armed criminal action, with the sentences to run consecutively.

Mock was convicted during a trial in January.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705251290620.png" alt="Mock photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Mock photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. —A Kansas man is going to prison for a deadly shooting in April of 2020.A Jackson County judge sentenced 37-year-old Ivan D. Mock of Kansas City, Kansas to 40 years in prison for the murder of Daniel Washington.&nbsp; Police found Washington with a fatal gunshot wound in a vehicle near 39th and Main, according to court records.&nbsp;Witnesses identified Mock as the shooter.The judge imposed a 30-year sentence for Mock's second-degree murder conviction and an additional ten years for his conviction of armed criminal action, with the sentences to run consecutively.Mock was convicted during a trial in January..

Witnesses ID Kan. man in murder that will send him to prison

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The State of Kansas ended July 2024 with total tax collections at $660.3 million. That is $6.4 million, or 1.0%, below the estimate. Total tax collections are down 3.0% from July 2023, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Revenue.

Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vY29udGVudC5nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeS5jb20vYXR0YWNobWVudHMvS1NPRy8yMDI0LzA4LzAxL2ZpbGVfYXR0YWNobWVudHMvMjk1NDI4Mi8wMV9KdWx5X1JldmVudWVfRlkyMDI1XzA4LTAxLTIwMjRfRmluYWwucGRmIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDI0MDgwMS45ODQ0ODAwMSJ9.Wt_2ht_5X4_7NnbSphw0D0sdv2cnydJfdtTompV_m10/s/1303160919/br/246761078494-l">here</a>&nbsp;to view the July 2024 revenue numbers.

Individual income tax collections were $308.5 million, which is $8.5 million, or 2.8% above the estimate and down 1.7% from July 2023. Corporate income tax collections were $34.3 million, which is $15.7 million, or 31.4%, below the estimate and down 23.3% from July 2023.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $305.1 million, which is $4.1 million, or 1.4% above the estimate, and down $10.1 million, or 3.2%, from July 2023. Retail sales tax receipts are 3.7% less than the July 2023 collections as Kansans continue to save money on groceries from the reduced state food sales tax rate.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The State of Kansas ended July 2024 with total tax collections at $660.3 million. That is $6.4 million, or 1.0%, below the estimate. Total tax collections are down 3.0% from July 2023, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Revenue.Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vY29udGVudC5nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeS5jb20vYXR0YWNobWVudHMvS1NPRy8yMDI0LzA4LzAxL2ZpbGVfYXR0YWNobWVudHMvMjk1NDI4Mi8wMV9KdWx5X1JldmVudWVfRlkyMDI1XzA4LTAxLTIwMjRfRmluYWwucGRmIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDI0MDgwMS45ODQ0ODAwMSJ9.Wt_2ht_5X4_7NnbSphw0D0sdv2cnydJfdtTompV_m10/s/1303160919/br/246761078494-l">here</a>&nbsp;to view the July 2024 revenue numbers.Individual income tax collections were $308.5 million, which is $8.5 million, or 2.8% above the estimate and down 1.7% from July 2023. Corporate income tax collections were $34.3 million, which is $15.7 million, or 31.4%, below the estimate and down 23.3% from July 2023.Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $305.1 million, which is $4.1 million, or 1.4% above the estimate, and down $10.1 million, or 3.2%, from July 2023. Retail sales tax receipts are 3.7% less than the July 2023 collections as Kansans continue to save money on groceries from the reduced state food sales tax rate.

July total tax collections in Kansas slightly below estimate

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

TOPEKA — A Wichita man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to hate crimes by waving a gun and using racial slurs to threaten two Black juveniles entering a convenience store and to prevent a Black adult from intervening on behalf of the minors.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said Austin Schoemann’s “hate-fueled crime spree” led to pleas on two counts of interference with federally protected activities, two counts of interstate threats and one count of interference with housing. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2023.

“This defendant committed serious hate crimes when he used guns and death threats to terrorize two Black children and an adult who came to their aid,” Clarke said. “Racially motivated threats and violence, in any form, are unacceptable in our society.”

Schoemann acknowledged that from January to August 2022 he interfered with federally protected housing rights of a white woman by making threats to shoot or kill any Black people who visited her home. He admitted to sending videos and messages to the woman’s family members and others that included threats to harm Black people.

“Racially based violence and threats of violence should never be tolerated,” said Kate Brubacher, the U.S. attorney for the District of Kansas. “The Justice Department will defend civil rights and prosecute anyone who harasses and threatens people based on their race.”

A federal judge scheduled sentencing of Schoemann for Oct. 16. The plea agreement says he could be sentenced to 63 months to 84 months in prison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685477437664.png" alt="Schoemann is being held in Butler County" />
 <figcaption>Schoemann is being held in Butler County</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A Wichita man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to hate crimes by waving a gun and using racial slurs to threaten two Black juveniles entering a convenience store and to prevent a Black adult from intervening on behalf of the minors.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said Austin Schoemann’s “hate-fueled crime spree” led to pleas on two counts of interference with federally protected activities, two counts of interstate threats and one count of interference with housing. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2023.“This defendant committed serious hate crimes when he used guns and death threats to terrorize two Black children and an adult who came to their aid,” Clarke said. “Racially motivated threats and violence, in any form, are unacceptable in our society.”Schoemann acknowledged that from January to August 2022 he interfered with federally protected housing rights of a white woman by making threats to shoot or kill any Black people who visited her home. He admitted to sending videos and messages to the woman’s family members and others that included threats to harm Black people.“Racially based violence and threats of violence should never be tolerated,” said Kate Brubacher, the U.S. attorney for the District of Kansas. “The Justice Department will defend civil rights and prosecute anyone who harasses and threatens people based on their race.”A federal judge scheduled sentencing of Schoemann for Oct. 16. The plea agreement says he could be sentenced to 63 months to 84 months in prison.

Kan. man pleads guilty to series of federal hate crimes, faces 5 to 7 years in prison

PARIS (AP) — Simone Biles remains peerless. Even when she's not quite perfect.

The American gymnastics star edged Brazil's Rebeca Andrade during a tense&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/simone-biles-olympics-gymnastics-updates">Olympic all-around final</a>&nbsp;Thursday. Biles' total of 59.131 was just over a point ahead of Andrade at 57.932, one of the closest calls Biles has ever endured at a major international event.

Sunisa Lee, the Tokyo Olympics champion, earned bronze despite spending much of the last 15 months dealing with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-suni-lee-gymnastics-paris-7405ae9182a808aa95941e16add839a5">multiple kidney diseases</a>&nbsp;that left her return to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games">Games</a>&nbsp;very much in doubt.

Still, the meet ended just like all the ones Biles has started and finished over the last 11 years: with hugs and gold on the way.

The margin was the smallest in a major international event since Biles captured the third of her record six world championships in 2015.

She was a teenager then. She's an icon now.

The 27-year-old who is redefining what a gymnast can do — and just as notably, for how long she can do it — became the third woman to become a two-time Olympic champion, joining Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union in 1956 and 1960 and Vera Caslavska of Czechoslovakia in 1964 and 1968.

Biles also is the oldest woman to claim the biggest title in her sport since then 30-year-old Maria Gorokhovskaya of the Soviet Union won the first-ever Olympic all-around in Melbourne in 1952.

Yet the sixth gold and ninth overall medal — the same as Romanian great Nadia Comaneci, who was among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-simone-basketball-db19a0714f946fd14d82e1940a50daa0">star-studded crowd that included the U.S. men's basketball team</a>&nbsp;— of Biles' unparalleled career did not come as easy as so many that came before.

She misjudged a transition on uneven bars, the weakest of her four events, letting go of the upper bar too soon and forcing her to reach for a larger-than-expect gap.

While she didn't fall — Biles muscled her way back into the routine — it blunted her momentum and led to major deductions that left her trailing Andrade through two rotations.

Biles responded with a largely wobble-free 14.566 on the balance beam, the highest of the night among the 24 finalists, while Andrade was forced to do a major balance check during her slightly easier set that dropped her down to second heading into floor exercise, Biles' signature event.

Andrade, the silver medalist behind Lee in 2021, needed the best floor set of her life to catch Biles. It didn't quite happen. Andrade stepped out of bounds at one point, a minor problem but enough to create plenty of wiggle room for Biles.

Biles incorporated music from pop icons Taylor Swift and Beyonce into her current routine, a 75-second set that began with the opening bars of Swift's hit “Ready For It?" and featured the hardest tumbling done by a woman in the history of the sport.

When she was done — sealing gold that served as a redemption of sorts three years after pulling out of multiple finals in Tokyo to focus on her mental health — Biles sprinted to hug Lee just off the podium and blew kisses to the cameras that have become fixtures wherever she goes under the Olympic rings.

After the final score was announced, Biles and Lee — both Olympic champions — bolted onto the floor, waving an American flag. Lee, the Tokyo winner with Biles sidelined, is the first to win gold in all-around one Games then earn another medal in the next since Comaneci in 1976 and '80.

While there may be more medals on the way — Biles is in three event finals later in the Games — the all-around puts her into the conversation as perhaps the greatest American Olympian ever.

Biles is no longer the prodigy who triumphed in Rio de Janeiro eight years ago.

She's married and a vocal advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and the importance of proper mental health. She openly volunteered after the Americans won gold in the team final on Tuesday that she met with her personal therapist that morning to help get her in the right mindset.

Biles relied on the internal work she's done over the years after that rocky bars routine. She sat with her legs crossed on a chair in her blue sequined leotard and closed her eyes, immune to the cameras that followed her every move.

When she opened them, she was ready to move on.

It's what she does. She has said repeatedly over the last three years that what happened in Tokyo is a part of her past, not a part of her present, and if critics have a problem with it, that's their issue, not hers.

She's moved on to bigger things. Like setting a standard that may never be reached.

PARIS (AP) — Simone Biles remains peerless. Even when she's not quite perfect.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">SHE&#39;S DONE IT! 🐐<a href="https://twitter.com/Simone_Biles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Simone_Biles</a> becomes the first Woman to win two Olympic All-Around Titles since Vera Caslavska in 1964 and 1968! <a href="https://t.co/NzjVWSdoSB">pic.twitter.com/NzjVWSdoSB</a>&mdash; USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAGym/status/1819078159523893394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The American gymnastics star edged Brazil's Rebeca Andrade during a tense&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/simone-biles-olympics-gymnastics-updates">Olympic all-around final</a>&nbsp;Thursday. Biles' total of 59.131 was just over a point ahead of Andrade at 57.932, one of the closest calls Biles has ever endured at a major international event.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">DUO GOING DOWN IN HISTORY 🇺🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParisOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ParisOlympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/A3YOvrvuG3">pic.twitter.com/A3YOvrvuG3</a>&mdash; Team USA (@TeamUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/1819088067355201564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Sunisa Lee, the Tokyo Olympics champion, earned bronze despite spending much of the last 15 months dealing with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-suni-lee-gymnastics-paris-7405ae9182a808aa95941e16add839a5">multiple kidney diseases</a>&nbsp;that left her return to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games">Games</a>&nbsp;very much in doubt.Still, the meet ended just like all the ones Biles has started and finished over the last 11 years: with hugs and gold on the way.The margin was the smallest in a major international event since Biles captured the third of her record six world championships in 2015.She was a teenager then. She's an icon now.The 27-year-old who is redefining what a gymnast can do — and just as notably, for how long she can do it — became the third woman to become a two-time Olympic champion, joining Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union in 1956 and 1960 and Vera Caslavska of Czechoslovakia in 1964 and 1968.Biles also is the oldest woman to claim the biggest title in her sport since then 30-year-old Maria Gorokhovskaya of the Soviet Union won the first-ever Olympic all-around in Melbourne in 1952.Yet the sixth gold and ninth overall medal — the same as Romanian great Nadia Comaneci, who was among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-simone-basketball-db19a0714f946fd14d82e1940a50daa0">star-studded crowd that included the U.S. men's basketball team</a>&nbsp;— of Biles' unparalleled career did not come as easy as so many that came before.She misjudged a transition on uneven bars, the weakest of her four events, letting go of the upper bar too soon and forcing her to reach for a larger-than-expect gap.While she didn't fall — Biles muscled her way back into the routine — it blunted her momentum and led to major deductions that left her trailing Andrade through two rotations.The deficit didn't last.Biles responded with a largely wobble-free 14.566 on the balance beam, the highest of the night among the 24 finalists, while Andrade was forced to do a major balance check during her slightly easier set that dropped her down to second heading into floor exercise, Biles' signature event.Andrade, the silver medalist behind Lee in 2021, needed the best floor set of her life to catch Biles. It didn't quite happen. Andrade stepped out of bounds at one point, a minor problem but enough to create plenty of wiggle room for Biles.Biles incorporated music from pop icons Taylor Swift and Beyonce into her current routine, a 75-second set that began with the opening bars of Swift's hit “Ready For It?" and featured the hardest tumbling done by a woman in the history of the sport.When she was done — sealing gold that served as a redemption of sorts three years after pulling out of multiple finals in Tokyo to focus on her mental health — Biles sprinted to hug Lee just off the podium and blew kisses to the cameras that have become fixtures wherever she goes under the Olympic rings.After the final score was announced, Biles and Lee — both Olympic champions — bolted onto the floor, waving an American flag. Lee, the Tokyo winner with Biles sidelined, is the first to win gold in all-around one Games then earn another medal in the next since Comaneci in 1976 and '80.While there may be more medals on the way — Biles is in three event finals later in the Games — the all-around puts her into the conversation as perhaps the greatest American Olympian ever.Biles is no longer the prodigy who triumphed in Rio de Janeiro eight years ago.She's married and a vocal advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and the importance of proper mental health. She openly volunteered after the Americans won gold in the team final on Tuesday that she met with her personal therapist that morning to help get her in the right mindset.Biles relied on the internal work she's done over the years after that rocky bars routine. She sat with her legs crossed on a chair in her blue sequined leotard and closed her eyes, immune to the cameras that followed her every move.When she opened them, she was ready to move on.It's what she does. She has said repeatedly over the last three years that what happened in Tokyo is a part of her past, not a part of her present, and if critics have a problem with it, that's their issue, not hers.She's moved on to bigger things. Like setting a standard that may never be reached.In her sport. And maybe all others, too.

Simone Biles wins Olympic all-around gymnastics title

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>&nbsp;

WASHINGTON — Though the Biden administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-plan-reverse-final-title-ix-rule-passes-us-house-biden-says-hed-veto%C2%A0%C2%A0" target="_blank">final rule for Title IX</a>&nbsp;extending federal protections for LGBTQ students went into effect nationwide Thursday, a slew of legal challenges has temporarily blocked over half of all states from enforcing the updated regulations.

After the Department of Education&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/more-half-states-sue-block-biden-title-ix-rule-protecting-lgbtq-students" target="_blank">released the final rule</a>&nbsp;in April, 26 states — all with GOP attorneys general — rushed to challenge the measure. Given the myriad legal challenges, the updated regulations only went into effect Thursday in 24 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Catherine Lhamon, assistant secretary for the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, celebrated the final rule on Thursday during a briefing.

Cardona said the updated regulations “are the culmination of a lengthy and thorough process that included unprecedented public input from students, parents, educators, administrators, experts and other stakeholders.”

“These regulations make crystal clear that everyone has the right to schools that respect their rights and offer safe, welcoming learning environments,” he added.

Lhamon said it’s “a very fluid legal environment” and the department continues “to defend the rule we believe in in these cases, with the Department of Justice as our counsel in the courts.”

“We anticipated this moment when we were finalizing the 2024 regulations, and we know they are legally sound,” she said, noting that the department has appealed the injunctions that have so far been issued and sought clarification of their application.

“While the appeals of these rulings are pending, we have asked the United States Supreme Court to allow the unchallenged provisions — which are the bulk of the final rule —&nbsp; to take effect in the enjoined states as scheduled,” Lhamon said.

But the Supreme Court has yet to decide on that emergency request, which came in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A78/319569/20240722154922885_Title%20IX%20Louisiana%20Stay%20Application.pdf" target="_blank">pair</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A79/319576/20240722155838924_Title%20IX%20Tennessee%20Stay%20Application.pdf" target="_blank">filings</a>&nbsp;from U.S. Solicitor General&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/07/federal-government-asks-court-to-allow-enforcement-of-title-ix-rule/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Prelogar</a>&nbsp;last week.

The final rule “protects against discrimination based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics,” per the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-releases-final-title-ix-regulations-providing-vital-protections-against-sex-discrimination" target="_blank">department</a>. The updated regulations are also aimed at “restoring and strengthening full protection from sexual violence and other sex-based harassment.”

The administration initially&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/appeals-court-blocks-title-ix-rule-protecting-lgbtq-kids-reversing-alabama-federal-judge-0" target="_blank">scored a legal win</a>&nbsp;Tuesday when an Alabama federal judge rejected an attempt by Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina to halt enforcement of the final rule. But a federal appeals court granted the states’ request for an administrative injunction Wednesday, which temporarily blocked the final rule from taking effect in those Southern states.

Judge Jodi W. Dishman of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma also&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.okwd.126841/gov.uscourts.okwd.126841.48.0.pdf" target="_blank">halted the final rule</a>&nbsp;from taking effect in the state on Wednesday after the state individually sued the administration back in May.

The final rule is temporarily blocked in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

But the challenges to Title IX span beyond the 26 states that initially sued the administration —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scag.gov/media/pskl4phx/ks-v-u-s-dept-of-education-list-of-schools-enjoined.pdf" target="_blank">affecting schools</a>&nbsp;across the country.

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/07/03/kansas-judge-issues-injunction-blocking-new-federal-anti-discrimination-rules-in-education/">Judge John Broomes</a>&nbsp;of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ksd.152561/gov.uscourts.ksd.152561.53.0.pdf" target="_blank">expanded the temporary blockage</a>&nbsp;to also include “the schools attended by the members of Young America’s Foundation or Female Athletes United, as well as the schools attended by the children of the members of Moms for Liberty.”

These groups sued alongside Kansas, Alaska, Utah and Wyoming earlier this year.

Congressional Republicans have fiercely opposed the final rule.

In July, the GOP-controlled House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-plan-reverse-final-title-ix-rule-passes-us-house-biden-says-hed-veto%C2%A0%C2%A0" target="_blank">passed a measure</a>&nbsp;to reverse the updated regulations under the Congressional Review Act — a procedural tool Congress can use to overturn certain actions from federal agencies.

But the measure is unlikely to find success in the Democratic-controlled Senate, and President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the legislation should it land on his desk.

LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have pushed back against GOP-led efforts to block the final rule from taking effect.

“Every student in this country deserves access to an education without fear of bullying and discrimination,” Brandon Wolf, national press secretary for the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, said in an emailed statement to States Newsroom.

“But MAGA politicians, promoting blatant discrimination, have fueled eight preliminary injunctions blocking enforcement of the Biden administration’s new Title IX rules in 26 states.”

Wolf added that “we must continue to fight for LGBTQ+ students across the country because everyone deserves a safe educational experience — full stop.”

Meanwhile, the department has yet to decide on a separate rule establishing new criteria regarding transgender athletes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711150983660.png" alt="File photo U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and University of Kansas Chancellor Doug Girod during a visit to the campus in 2023-photo KU" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and University of Kansas Chancellor Doug Girod during a visit to the campus in 2023-photo KU</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>&nbsp;WASHINGTON — Though the Biden administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-plan-reverse-final-title-ix-rule-passes-us-house-biden-says-hed-veto%C2%A0%C2%A0" target="_blank">final rule for Title IX</a>&nbsp;extending federal protections for LGBTQ students went into effect nationwide Thursday, a slew of legal challenges has temporarily blocked over half of all states from enforcing the updated regulations.After the Department of Education&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/more-half-states-sue-block-biden-title-ix-rule-protecting-lgbtq-students" target="_blank">released the final rule</a>&nbsp;in April, 26 states — all with GOP attorneys general — rushed to challenge the measure. Given the myriad legal challenges, the updated regulations only went into effect Thursday in 24 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Catherine Lhamon, assistant secretary for the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, celebrated the final rule on Thursday during a briefing.Cardona said the updated regulations “are the culmination of a lengthy and thorough process that included unprecedented public input from students, parents, educators, administrators, experts and other stakeholders.”“These regulations make crystal clear that everyone has the right to schools that respect their rights and offer safe, welcoming learning environments,” he added.Lhamon said it’s “a very fluid legal environment” and the department continues “to defend the rule we believe in in these cases, with the Department of Justice as our counsel in the courts.”“We anticipated this moment when we were finalizing the 2024 regulations, and we know they are legally sound,” she said, noting that the department has appealed the injunctions that have so far been issued and sought clarification of their application.“While the appeals of these rulings are pending, we have asked the United States Supreme Court to allow the unchallenged provisions — which are the bulk of the final rule —&nbsp; to take effect in the enjoined states as scheduled,” Lhamon said.But the Supreme Court has yet to decide on that emergency request, which came in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A78/319569/20240722154922885_Title%20IX%20Louisiana%20Stay%20Application.pdf" target="_blank">pair</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A79/319576/20240722155838924_Title%20IX%20Tennessee%20Stay%20Application.pdf" target="_blank">filings</a>&nbsp;from U.S. Solicitor General&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/07/federal-government-asks-court-to-allow-enforcement-of-title-ix-rule/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Prelogar</a>&nbsp;last week.<h2>Discrimination protection</h2>The final rule “protects against discrimination based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics,” per the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-releases-final-title-ix-regulations-providing-vital-protections-against-sex-discrimination" target="_blank">department</a>. The updated regulations are also aimed at “restoring and strengthening full protection from sexual violence and other sex-based harassment.”The administration initially&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/appeals-court-blocks-title-ix-rule-protecting-lgbtq-kids-reversing-alabama-federal-judge-0" target="_blank">scored a legal win</a>&nbsp;Tuesday when an Alabama federal judge rejected an attempt by Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina to halt enforcement of the final rule. But a federal appeals court granted the states’ request for an administrative injunction Wednesday, which temporarily blocked the final rule from taking effect in those Southern states.Judge Jodi W. Dishman of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma also&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.okwd.126841/gov.uscourts.okwd.126841.48.0.pdf" target="_blank">halted the final rule</a>&nbsp;from taking effect in the state on Wednesday after the state individually sued the administration back in May.The final rule is temporarily blocked in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.<h2>Challenges affect more schools</h2>But the challenges to Title IX span beyond the 26 states that initially sued the administration —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scag.gov/media/pskl4phx/ks-v-u-s-dept-of-education-list-of-schools-enjoined.pdf" target="_blank">affecting schools</a>&nbsp;across the country.<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/07/03/kansas-judge-issues-injunction-blocking-new-federal-anti-discrimination-rules-in-education/">Judge John Broomes</a>&nbsp;of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ksd.152561/gov.uscourts.ksd.152561.53.0.pdf" target="_blank">expanded the temporary blockage</a>&nbsp;to also include “the schools attended by the members of Young America’s Foundation or Female Athletes United, as well as the schools attended by the children of the members of Moms for Liberty.”These groups sued alongside Kansas, Alaska, Utah and Wyoming earlier this year.<h2>House GOP tries to stop rule</h2>Congressional Republicans have fiercely opposed the final rule.In July, the GOP-controlled House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-plan-reverse-final-title-ix-rule-passes-us-house-biden-says-hed-veto%C2%A0%C2%A0" target="_blank">passed a measure</a>&nbsp;to reverse the updated regulations under the Congressional Review Act — a procedural tool Congress can use to overturn certain actions from federal agencies.But the measure is unlikely to find success in the Democratic-controlled Senate, and President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the legislation should it land on his desk.<h2>LGBTQ+ students</h2>LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have pushed back against GOP-led efforts to block the final rule from taking effect.“Every student in this country deserves access to an education without fear of bullying and discrimination,” Brandon Wolf, national press secretary for the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, said in an emailed statement to States Newsroom.“But MAGA politicians, promoting blatant discrimination, have fueled eight preliminary injunctions blocking enforcement of the Biden administration’s new Title IX rules in 26 states.”Wolf added that “we must continue to fight for LGBTQ+ students across the country because everyone deserves a safe educational experience — full stop.”Meanwhile, the department has yet to decide on a separate rule establishing new criteria regarding transgender athletes.

Much-attacked final Title IX rule goes into effect while still blocked in 26 states

SEDGWICK COUNTY —City Manager Robert Layton declared that Wichita is moving to Stage 2 of the City’s drought response plan, according to a statement released Thursday.

 In July, levels at Cheney Reservoir dropped below the original Stage 2 trigger of a 12-month average of Cheney conservation pool water levels below 69% full.

Staff determined that the most prudent action at this time is to enact Stage 2 restrictions for two months to get the City past prime irrigation season with a goal to reduce community-wide usage by 10%. The City will monitor levels and will extend Stage 2 into the fall months if necessary.

Beginning August 5, all City of Wichita water customers, including residential users, businesses, wholesale and commercial customers, will be limited to watering their lawns to once a week, based on their location.

Outdoor water usage is limited to one day per week, determined by location:

o Monday - Northwest of Central and Broadway intersection

o Tuesday - Northeast of Central and Broadway intersection

o Wednesday - Southwest of Central and Broadway intersection

o Thursday - Southeast of Central and Broadway intersection

o Friday, Saturday, Sunday - no outdoor water usage allowed

Some exemptions for businesses dependent on water use for their operations such as nurseries, hospitals, car washes and more are applicable. Wichita Public Works staff will monitor accounts of excessive water users and send a warning letter should water use continue to be high throughout Stage 2 restrictions. 

If high water use continues after they receive a letter, water users will be levied a $50 penalty the next time they exceed their average winter consumption, and a $100 penalty for each subsequent violation.

Consumers with water usage or drought concerns may report them on the Wichita Report app or by contacting the call center at (316) 942-4482.

Residents on well water or who use well water for irrigation are encouraged to continue to conserve water but are exempt from outdoor watering restrictions.

The City enacted Stage 2 water restrictions for its operations voluntarily in 2023. Stage 3 would be discussed should water levels within Cheney’s conservation pool reach a 12-month average of below 50%.

<a href="https://www.wichita.gov/499/Save-Wichita-Water">Click here for more</a> tips and information on Wichita’s drought response.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722530622759.png" alt="Stage 2 drought watering schedule-image city of Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Stage 2 drought watering schedule-image city of Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —City Manager Robert Layton declared that Wichita is moving to Stage 2 of the City’s drought response plan, according to a statement released Thursday. In July, levels at Cheney Reservoir dropped below the original Stage 2 trigger of a 12-month average of Cheney conservation pool water levels below 69% full.Staff determined that the most prudent action at this time is to enact Stage 2 restrictions for two months to get the City past prime irrigation season with a goal to reduce community-wide usage by 10%. The City will monitor levels and will extend Stage 2 into the fall months if necessary.Beginning August 5, all City of Wichita water customers, including residential users, businesses, wholesale and commercial customers, will be limited to watering their lawns to once a week, based on their location.Outdoor water usage is limited to one day per week, determined by location:o Monday - Northwest of Central and Broadway intersectiono Tuesday - Northeast of Central and Broadway intersectiono Wednesday - Southwest of Central and Broadway intersectiono Thursday - Southeast of Central and Broadway intersectiono Friday, Saturday, Sunday - no outdoor water usage allowedSome exemptions for businesses dependent on water use for their operations such as nurseries, hospitals, car washes and more are applicable. Wichita Public Works staff will monitor accounts of excessive water users and send a warning letter should water use continue to be high throughout Stage 2 restrictions. If high water use continues after they receive a letter, water users will be levied a $50 penalty the next time they exceed their average winter consumption, and a $100 penalty for each subsequent violation.Consumers with water usage or drought concerns may report them on the Wichita Report app or by contacting the call center at (316) 942-4482.Residents on well water or who use well water for irrigation are encouraged to continue to conserve water but are exempt from outdoor watering restrictions.The City enacted Stage 2 water restrictions for its operations voluntarily in 2023. Stage 3 would be discussed should water levels within Cheney’s conservation pool reach a 12-month average of below 50%.<a href="https://www.wichita.gov/499/Save-Wichita-Water">Click here for more</a> tips and information on Wichita’s drought response.

Mandatory water restrictions set to begin in Wichita 

KANSAS CITY —A man and woman have been charged with failing to protect a toddler from substantial risk, resulting&nbsp;&nbsp;in the death of the child, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Moses Lee Bass, 31, and Destiny Leeann Randle, 29, of both of Independence each faced the class A felony of Endangering the Welfare of a Child in the 1st Degree.

According to court records, on the morning of July 29, police officers in&nbsp; responded to a call that an infant had fallen from an apartment window, eight stories above the ground.

Officers arrived as fire crews were conducting life-saving measures on the child, located on the ground next to children's toys. 

The father of the child told police he had left the child with his girlfriend and gone to take the dog out. Randle told police she was in a bedroom in the apartment and the window that the child fell from was closed and secured. She told police she knew the window did not properly lock. She and Bass usually secure it with a blue pole, she stated.&nbsp; When officers checked the room they saw no blue pole. Three children were placed in custody of Children's Division and transported to the Child Protection Center for forensic interviews. Defendants told police they knew of the safety hazards with the window that couldn't be kept closed or locked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722474041203.png" alt="Bass photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bass photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A man and woman have been charged with failing to protect a toddler from substantial risk, resulting&nbsp;&nbsp;in the death of the child, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Moses Lee Bass, 31, and Destiny Leeann Randle, 29, of both of Independence each faced the class A felony of Endangering the Welfare of a Child in the 1st Degree.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722283328393.png" alt="Independence Towers where the tragedy occurred -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Independence Towers where the tragedy occurred -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>According to court records, on the morning of July 29, police officers in&nbsp; responded to a call that an infant had fallen from an apartment window, eight stories above the ground.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722474098361.png" alt="Randle photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Randle photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers arrived as fire crews were conducting life-saving measures on the child, located on the ground next to children's toys. The father of the child told police he had left the child with his girlfriend and gone to take the dog out. Randle told police she was in a bedroom in the apartment and the window that the child fell from was closed and secured. She told police she knew the window did not properly lock. She and Bass usually secure it with a blue pole, she stated.&nbsp; When officers checked the room they saw no blue pole. Three children were placed in custody of Children's Division and transported to the Child Protection Center for forensic interviews. Defendants told police they knew of the safety hazards with the window that couldn't be kept closed or locked.Prosecutors requested a $100,000 bond.

Records: Father knew window was broken before toddler fell to his death

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A look at some of those released Thursday in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-gershkovich-whelan-d803e266cb4e60135ec5d668d684529f">largest East-West civilian prisoner swap</a>&nbsp;since the Cold War:

EVAN GERSHKOVICH,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/evan-gershkovich-russia-espionage-trial-ef2e9fffc44570cf797e97aa6afa50a1">a Wall Street Journal reporter</a>, was detained in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in March 2023. Without providing evidence, authorities accused him of “gathering secret information” at the CIA’s behest about a military equipment factory — an allegation that Gershkovich, his employer and the U.S. government vehemently denied. Jailed since then, a court convicted Gershkovich, 32, of espionage in July after a closed trial and sentenced him to 16 years in prison.

PAUL WHELAN, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-politics-paul-whelan-united-states-government-russia-12269e0de0292a5cd590f034b2700b36">corporate security executive</a>&nbsp;from Michigan, was arrested in 2018 in Moscow, where he was attending a friend’s wedding. He was accused of espionage, convicted in 2020 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Whelan, 54, has rejected the charges as fabricated.

ILYA YASHIN is a prominent Kremlin critic who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/putin-moscow-ukraine-government-ilya-yashin-russia-2967e1e91816f74eaab8cb7cd661eec6">serving an 8 1/2-year sentence</a>&nbsp;for criticizing Russia’s war in Ukraine. Yashin, a former member of a Moscow municipal council, was one of the few well-known opposition activists to stay in Russia since the war.

RICO KRIEGER,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/belarus-german-sentenced-krieger-lukashenko-krasikov-f7d3d4c18245487557623c27664aedaf">a German medical worker</a>, was convicted in Belarus of terrorism charges in June, and sentenced to death. He was pardoned Tuesday by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.

VADIM KRASIKOV was convicted in 2021 of shooting to death Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian citizen of Chechen ethnicity, in a Berlin park. The German judges concluded it was an assassination ordered by the Russian security services.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vadim-krasikov-navalny-prisoner-swap-russia-germany-db84e1f39b8c5dc0cbeedf3bcd22860c">Krasikov, 58,</a>&nbsp;was sentenced to life imprisonment. President Vladimir Putin this year hinted at a possible swap for Krasikov.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on Thursday, with Moscow releasing journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/evan-gershkovich">Evan Gershkovich</a>&nbsp;and fellow American former U.S. Marine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/paul-whelan">Paul Whelan</a>&nbsp;in a multinational deal that set some two dozen people free, according to officials in Turkey, where the exchange took place.

The trade followed years of secretive back-channel negotiations despite relations between Washington and Moscow being at their lowest point since the Cold War after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-business-europe-moscow-e88497e7e8d4ad178057b599cc9ec8f6">February 2022 invasion of Ukraine</a>.

The sprawling deal, the latest in a series of prisoner swaps negotiated between Russia and the U.S. in the last two years but the first to require significant concessions from other countries. But the release of Americans has come at a price: Russia has secured the freedom of its own nationals convicted of serious crimes in the West by trading them for journalists, dissidents and other Westerners convicted and sentenced in a highly politicized legal system on charges the U.S. considers bogus.

In a statement posted online, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President and CEO Stephen Capus acknowledged media reports that a journalist working for the broadcaster,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-kurmasheva-crackdown-journalist-rferl-7a9bfe693edbfc8dd222e24d9baac46e">Alsu Kurmasheva</a>, would be released as part of the deal.

Capus said the broadcaster welcomed ’’news of Alsu’s imminent release and are grateful to the American government and all who worked tirelessly to end her unjust treatment by Russia.” Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, was convicted in July of spreading false information about the Russian military, accusations her family and employer have rejected.

The deal would be the latest exchange in the last two years between Washington and Moscow, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-middle-east-united-states-government-and-politics-5b4736d2428014066683605731affa8a">a December 2022 trade that brought WNBA star Brittney Griner</a>&nbsp;back to the U.S. in exchange for notorious arms trafficker Viktor Bout and a swap earlier that year of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trevor-reed-russia-prisoner-marine-ukraine-bdfe9b245571f479c25a09d1872ac726">Marine veteran Trevor Reed for Konstantin Yaroshenko</a>, a Russian pilot convicted in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

President Joe Biden placed securing the release of Americans held wrongfully overseas at the top of his foreign policy agenda for the six months before he leaves office. In his Oval Office address to the American people discussing his recent decision to drop his bid for a second term, the Democrat said, “We’re also working around the clock to bring home Americans being unjustly detained all around the world.”

Russia has long been interested in getting back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/belarus-german-sentenced-krieger-lukashenko-krasikov-f7d3d4c18245487557623c27664aedaf">Vadim Krasikov</a>, who was convicted in Germany in 2021 of killing a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park two years earlier, apparently on the orders of Moscow’s security services.

Speculation had mounted for weeks that a swap was near because of a confluence of unusual developments, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/evan-gershkovich-russia-espionage-trial-ef2e9fffc44570cf797e97aa6afa50a1#:~:text=YEKATERINBURG%2C%20Russia%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94,government%20have%20rejected%20as%20fabricated.">a startingly quick trial and conviction for Gershkovich</a>&nbsp;that Washington regarded as a sham. He was sentenced to 16 years in a maximum-security prison.

Also in recent days,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-prisoners-dissident-yashin-06e10d17e2552393b6c517e6022103cf">several other figures imprisoned</a>&nbsp;in Russia for speaking out against the war in Ukraine or over their work with the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were moved from prison to unknown locations.

Gershkovich was arrested March 29, 2023, while on a reporting trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg. Authorities claimed, without offering any evidence, that he was gathering secret information for the U.S. The son of Soviet emigres who settled in New Jersey, he moved to the country in 2017 to work for The Moscow Times newspaper before being hired by the Journal in 2022.

He had more than a dozen closed hearings over the extension of his pretrial detention or appeals for his release. He was taken to the courthouse in handcuffs and appeared in the defendants’ cage, often smiling for the many cameras.

U.S. officials last year made an offer to swap Gershkovich that was rejected by Russia, and Biden’s Democratic administration had not made public any possible deals since then.

Gershkovich was designated as wrongfully detained, as was Whelan, who was detained in December 2018 after traveling to Russia for a wedding. Whelan was convicted of espionage charges, which he and the U.S. have also said were false and trumped up, and he is serving a 16-year prison sentence.

Whelan had been excluded from prior high-profile deals involving Russia, including those involving Reed and Griner.

Litvinova reported from Tallinn, Estonia, and Lee from Mongolia. Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681820900687.png" alt="File photo Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom at the Moscow City Court, in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)" />
 <figcaption>File photo Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom at the Moscow City Court, in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)</figcaption>
 </figure>TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A look at some of those released Thursday in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-gershkovich-whelan-d803e266cb4e60135ec5d668d684529f">largest East-West civilian prisoner swap</a>&nbsp;since the Cold War:<h2>Released by Russia and Belarus</h2>EVAN GERSHKOVICH,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/evan-gershkovich-russia-espionage-trial-ef2e9fffc44570cf797e97aa6afa50a1">a Wall Street Journal reporter</a>, was detained in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in March 2023. Without providing evidence, authorities accused him of “gathering secret information” at the CIA’s behest about a military equipment factory — an allegation that Gershkovich, his employer and the U.S. government vehemently denied. Jailed since then, a court convicted Gershkovich, 32, of espionage in July after a closed trial and sentenced him to 16 years in prison.PAUL WHELAN, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-politics-paul-whelan-united-states-government-russia-12269e0de0292a5cd590f034b2700b36">corporate security executive</a>&nbsp;from Michigan, was arrested in 2018 in Moscow, where he was attending a friend’s wedding. He was accused of espionage, convicted in 2020 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Whelan, 54, has rejected the charges as fabricated.ILYA YASHIN is a prominent Kremlin critic who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/putin-moscow-ukraine-government-ilya-yashin-russia-2967e1e91816f74eaab8cb7cd661eec6">serving an 8 1/2-year sentence</a>&nbsp;for criticizing Russia’s war in Ukraine. Yashin, a former member of a Moscow municipal council, was one of the few well-known opposition activists to stay in Russia since the war.RICO KRIEGER,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/belarus-german-sentenced-krieger-lukashenko-krasikov-f7d3d4c18245487557623c27664aedaf">a German medical worker</a>, was convicted in Belarus of terrorism charges in June, and sentenced to death. He was pardoned Tuesday by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.<h2>Released by Germany</h2>VADIM KRASIKOV was convicted in 2021 of shooting to death Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian citizen of Chechen ethnicity, in a Berlin park. The German judges concluded it was an assassination ordered by the Russian security services.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vadim-krasikov-navalny-prisoner-swap-russia-germany-db84e1f39b8c5dc0cbeedf3bcd22860c">Krasikov, 58,</a>&nbsp;was sentenced to life imprisonment. President Vladimir Putin this year hinted at a possible swap for Krasikov.--------------WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on Thursday, with Moscow releasing journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/evan-gershkovich">Evan Gershkovich</a>&nbsp;and fellow American former U.S. Marine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/paul-whelan">Paul Whelan</a>&nbsp;in a multinational deal that set some two dozen people free, according to officials in Turkey, where the exchange took place.The trade followed years of secretive back-channel negotiations despite relations between Washington and Moscow being at their lowest point since the Cold War after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-business-europe-moscow-e88497e7e8d4ad178057b599cc9ec8f6">February 2022 invasion of Ukraine</a>.The sprawling deal, the latest in a series of prisoner swaps negotiated between Russia and the U.S. in the last two years but the first to require significant concessions from other countries. But the release of Americans has come at a price: Russia has secured the freedom of its own nationals convicted of serious crimes in the West by trading them for journalists, dissidents and other Westerners convicted and sentenced in a highly politicized legal system on charges the U.S. considers bogus.In a statement posted online, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President and CEO Stephen Capus acknowledged media reports that a journalist working for the broadcaster,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-kurmasheva-crackdown-journalist-rferl-7a9bfe693edbfc8dd222e24d9baac46e">Alsu Kurmasheva</a>, would be released as part of the deal.Capus said the broadcaster welcomed ’’news of Alsu’s imminent release and are grateful to the American government and all who worked tirelessly to end her unjust treatment by Russia.” Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, was convicted in July of spreading false information about the Russian military, accusations her family and employer have rejected.The deal would be the latest exchange in the last two years between Washington and Moscow, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-middle-east-united-states-government-and-politics-5b4736d2428014066683605731affa8a">a December 2022 trade that brought WNBA star Brittney Griner</a>&nbsp;back to the U.S. in exchange for notorious arms trafficker Viktor Bout and a swap earlier that year of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trevor-reed-russia-prisoner-marine-ukraine-bdfe9b245571f479c25a09d1872ac726">Marine veteran Trevor Reed for Konstantin Yaroshenko</a>, a Russian pilot convicted in a drug trafficking conspiracy.President Joe Biden placed securing the release of Americans held wrongfully overseas at the top of his foreign policy agenda for the six months before he leaves office. In his Oval Office address to the American people discussing his recent decision to drop his bid for a second term, the Democrat said, “We’re also working around the clock to bring home Americans being unjustly detained all around the world.”Russia has long been interested in getting back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/belarus-german-sentenced-krieger-lukashenko-krasikov-f7d3d4c18245487557623c27664aedaf">Vadim Krasikov</a>, who was convicted in Germany in 2021 of killing a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park two years earlier, apparently on the orders of Moscow’s security services.Speculation had mounted for weeks that a swap was near because of a confluence of unusual developments, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/evan-gershkovich-russia-espionage-trial-ef2e9fffc44570cf797e97aa6afa50a1#:~:text=YEKATERINBURG%2C%20Russia%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94,government%20have%20rejected%20as%20fabricated.">a startingly quick trial and conviction for Gershkovich</a>&nbsp;that Washington regarded as a sham. He was sentenced to 16 years in a maximum-security prison.Also in recent days,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-prisoners-dissident-yashin-06e10d17e2552393b6c517e6022103cf">several other figures imprisoned</a>&nbsp;in Russia for speaking out against the war in Ukraine or over their work with the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were moved from prison to unknown locations.Gershkovich was arrested March 29, 2023, while on a reporting trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg. Authorities claimed, without offering any evidence, that he was gathering secret information for the U.S. The son of Soviet emigres who settled in New Jersey, he moved to the country in 2017 to work for The Moscow Times newspaper before being hired by the Journal in 2022.He had more than a dozen closed hearings over the extension of his pretrial detention or appeals for his release. He was taken to the courthouse in handcuffs and appeared in the defendants’ cage, often smiling for the many cameras.U.S. officials last year made an offer to swap Gershkovich that was rejected by Russia, and Biden’s Democratic administration had not made public any possible deals since then.Gershkovich was designated as wrongfully detained, as was Whelan, who was detained in December 2018 after traveling to Russia for a wedding. Whelan was convicted of espionage charges, which he and the U.S. have also said were false and trumped up, and he is serving a 16-year prison sentence.Whelan had been excluded from prior high-profile deals involving Russia, including those involving Reed and Griner.____Litvinova reported from Tallinn, Estonia, and Lee from Mongolia. Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.

History: Reporter, ex-Marine free after massive U.S., Russia prisoner swap 

KANSAS CITY—Two Texas men made their initial appearances after a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment on charges related to stolen merchandise, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Gerald Ditz, 31, and Michael Alaniz, 35, both of El Paso, Texas, are charged with one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property, one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, one count of mail and wire fraud conspiracy, and one count of mail fraud.

Between May 2023 and May 2024, Ditz and Alaniz are accused of using their employment at a freight-contracting company that serves a train station in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to unlawfully obtain Garmin brand watches that were in transit to Garmin’s warehouse in Olathe, Kansas. Ditz and Alaniz allegedly sold dozens of the stolen Garmin watches over the Internet to unwitting buyers.

According to the indictment, in addition to the watches allegedly associated with or sold by Ditz and Alaniz, other watches stolen from the Garmin shipping container have registrations that appear to be connected to more than a dozen individuals (approximately fifteen percent of the workforce) assigned or formerly assigned at the Santa Teresa train station.

Ditz made his initial court appearance on July 29, 2024, before a Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Texas. Alaniz made his initial court appearance July 30, 2024, before a Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Texas.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722457994982.png" alt="Photo Garmin" />
 <figcaption>Photo Garmin</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Two Texas men made their initial appearances after a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment on charges related to stolen merchandise, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Gerald Ditz, 31, and Michael Alaniz, 35, both of El Paso, Texas, are charged with one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property, one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, one count of mail and wire fraud conspiracy, and one count of mail fraud.Between May 2023 and May 2024, Ditz and Alaniz are accused of using their employment at a freight-contracting company that serves a train station in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to unlawfully obtain Garmin brand watches that were in transit to Garmin’s warehouse in Olathe, Kansas. Ditz and Alaniz allegedly sold dozens of the stolen Garmin watches over the Internet to unwitting buyers.According to the indictment, in addition to the watches allegedly associated with or sold by Ditz and Alaniz, other watches stolen from the Garmin shipping container have registrations that appear to be connected to more than a dozen individuals (approximately fifteen percent of the workforce) assigned or formerly assigned at the Santa Teresa train station.Ditz made his initial court appearance on July 29, 2024, before a Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Texas. Alaniz made his initial court appearance July 30, 2024, before a Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Texas.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case

Two accused of selling watches stolen from Kan. based company

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday that former President Donald Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-black-journalists-convention-nabj-1e96aa530e88013ed6f577feaf89ccb6">false assertions about her race</a>&nbsp;were the “same old show" as she emphasized the need for Black women to organize for his defeat this November.

Addressing the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. — one of "Divine Nine" historically Black fraternities and sororities — in Houston, Harris told the crowd, "When I look out at everyone here, I see family.”

She drew knowing chuckles from the audience as she mentioned Trump’s comments earlier in the day at the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists. Trump said Harris,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-vice-president-f86d6be83bf83fe9b823ae7e21f94796">the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as vice president</a>, had in the past promoted only her Indian heritage.

“I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” Trump said while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-black-journalists-convention-nabj-c84311a4e3bec3fe3052236151597d81">addressing the NABJ in Chicago</a>.

Harris responded briefly during her address to the sorority, saying Trump's display was "the same old show: the divisiveness and the disrespect.”

She added: “And let me just say, the American people deserve better. The American people deserve better.”

“Our differences do not divide us, they are an essential source of our strength,” Harris said.

Referencing the combative tone of Trump's interview at the NABJ convention, she said, “The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth, a leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts.”

Harris is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, both immigrants to the U.S. As an undergraduate, Harris attended Howard University, one of the nation’s most prominent historically Black colleges and universities, where she also pledged the historically Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. As a U.S. senator, Harris was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Speaking to Sigma Gamma Rho members, Harris said, “Our nation is counting on you" to register people to vote and ensure they go to the polls. “When we organize, mountains move," she said.

Black Greek life is often seen as a lifelong involvement, leading many members to return to regular gatherings — or “boulés” in the organizations’ phrasing — that gather tens of thousands of members each. Harris has attended three such events in the last month, including the boulé for her own sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.

The Divine Nine organizations, which are officially apolitical, emphasize public service as a mission and have deep networks in politics, business and media.

June Penny, 66, of Georgia, an attendee at Harris' speech in Houston, said Trump’s comments about Harris’ race reminded her of how he tried to discredit then-President Barack Obama.

“I’m not surprised he would try to find something like that,” Penny said.

She said Trump’s views don’t reflect the reality of race in the country, noting, “I have biracial grandchildren” -- her son-in-law is white -- “and the world views them as black.”

More than 30 members of Congress are affiliated with a Black Greek letter organization. Close advisers to President Joe Biden, including Stephen Benjamin, Cedric Richmond and Keisha Lance Bottoms, are members of Divine Nine organizations. Harris has welcomed such connections to staff her operation and build her own network in Washington.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday that former President Donald Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-black-journalists-convention-nabj-1e96aa530e88013ed6f577feaf89ccb6">false assertions about her race</a>&nbsp;were the “same old show" as she emphasized the need for Black women to organize for his defeat this November.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VP <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KamalaHarris</a> reacts to former President Trump: &quot;The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth, a leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts. We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/1tqNGPIpLo">pic.twitter.com/1tqNGPIpLo</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1818817157704061039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Addressing the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. — one of "Divine Nine" historically Black fraternities and sororities — in Houston, Harris told the crowd, "When I look out at everyone here, I see family.”She drew knowing chuckles from the audience as she mentioned Trump’s comments earlier in the day at the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists. Trump said Harris,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-vice-president-f86d6be83bf83fe9b823ae7e21f94796">the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as vice president</a>, had in the past promoted only her Indian heritage.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump on Vice President Kamala Harris: &quot;She was Indian all the way and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she went, she became a Black person. I think somebody should look into that.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/RpEuRq6p5m">pic.twitter.com/RpEuRq6p5m</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1818717916285509891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” Trump said while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-black-journalists-convention-nabj-c84311a4e3bec3fe3052236151597d81">addressing the NABJ in Chicago</a>.Harris responded briefly during her address to the sorority, saying Trump's display was "the same old show: the divisiveness and the disrespect.”She added: “And let me just say, the American people deserve better. The American people deserve better.”“Our differences do not divide us, they are an essential source of our strength,” Harris said.Referencing the combative tone of Trump's interview at the NABJ convention, she said, “The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth, a leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts.”Harris is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, both immigrants to the U.S. As an undergraduate, Harris attended Howard University, one of the nation’s most prominent historically Black colleges and universities, where she also pledged the historically Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. As a U.S. senator, Harris was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.Speaking to Sigma Gamma Rho members, Harris said, “Our nation is counting on you" to register people to vote and ensure they go to the polls. “When we organize, mountains move," she said.Black Greek life is often seen as a lifelong involvement, leading many members to return to regular gatherings — or “boulés” in the organizations’ phrasing — that gather tens of thousands of members each. Harris has attended three such events in the last month, including the boulé for her own sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.The Divine Nine organizations, which are officially apolitical, emphasize public service as a mission and have deep networks in politics, business and media.June Penny, 66, of Georgia, an attendee at Harris' speech in Houston, said Trump’s comments about Harris’ race reminded her of how he tried to discredit then-President Barack Obama.“I’m not surprised he would try to find something like that,” Penny said.She said Trump’s views don’t reflect the reality of race in the country, noting, “I have biracial grandchildren” -- her son-in-law is white -- “and the world views them as black.”More than 30 members of Congress are affiliated with a Black Greek letter organization. Close advisers to President Joe Biden, including Stephen Benjamin, Cedric Richmond and Keisha Lance Bottoms, are members of Divine Nine organizations. Harris has welcomed such connections to staff her operation and build her own network in Washington.

🎥Vice President Harris blasts Trump’s claim that she 'became Black'

SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person is dead after an officer-involved shooting in Wichita.

Just before&nbsp; 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, police officers conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block of Hillside, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.

 During the stop, the officers told the rear-seat passenger, who was a suspect, that he was going to be detained and asked him to get out of the vehicle. 

The suspect refused multiple verbal commands, leading to a struggle. The suspect was able to free himself from the officers while still seated in the vehicle and then produced a firearm. 

The officers retreated to the rear of the vehicle while shouting "gun, gun, gun."&nbsp; As they did so, a gunshot was heard from inside the vehicle. This caused the officers to fear for their safety, prompting them to return fire inside the vehicle, striking the suspect. 

The suspect was pronounced dead on scene at 11:26p.m. by Sedgwick County EMS.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is in charge of the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722508150709.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person is dead after an officer-involved shooting in Wichita.Just before&nbsp; 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, police officers conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block of Hillside, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. During the stop, the officers told the rear-seat passenger, who was a suspect, that he was going to be detained and asked him to get out of the vehicle. The suspect refused multiple verbal commands, leading to a struggle. The suspect was able to free himself from the officers while still seated in the vehicle and then produced a firearm. The officers retreated to the rear of the vehicle while shouting "gun, gun, gun."&nbsp; As they did so, a gunshot was heard from inside the vehicle. This caused the officers to fear for their safety, prompting them to return fire inside the vehicle, striking the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead on scene at 11:26p.m. by Sedgwick County EMS.The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is in charge of the investigation.

Man dead after Kansas officer-involved shooting

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent knife attack outside a gentlemen's club in Derby.

At approximately 2:18 a.m. on Wednesday, police were dispatched to a cutting call at 1430 N. Nelson Drive in Derby, according to a media release.

On arrival, officers made contact with two 29-year-old men in a vehicle in the parking lot. Both had injuries consistent with those from a knife. The victims reported being in an altercation in the parking lot of Michelle’s Beach House in the 200 block of W. Greenway. 

The victims were transported to Wesley Hospital. One was treated and released; the other was still in the hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Detectives and police officers conducted further investigation, interviews and evidence collection. All individuals involved have been contacted and interviewed.&nbsp; A 21-year-old woman from Newton identified as Kayndal Jo Peck, according to arrest records, was taken into custody.&nbsp;

A knife was found in a vehicle associated with Peck, according to Police. Derby Detectives are following up with any potential witnesses. Peck is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery on a $75,000 bond, according to online jail records.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Derby Police Department at 316-788-1557 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722509132457.png" alt="Peck-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Peck-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent knife attack outside a gentlemen's club in Derby.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722453695356.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>At approximately 2:18 a.m. on Wednesday, police were dispatched to a cutting call at 1430 N. Nelson Drive in Derby, according to a media release.On arrival, officers made contact with two 29-year-old men in a vehicle in the parking lot. Both had injuries consistent with those from a knife. The victims reported being in an altercation in the parking lot of Michelle’s Beach House in the 200 block of W. Greenway. The victims were transported to Wesley Hospital. One was treated and released; the other was still in the hospital Wednesday afternoon.Detectives and police officers conducted further investigation, interviews and evidence collection. All individuals involved have been contacted and interviewed.&nbsp; A 21-year-old woman from Newton identified as Kayndal Jo Peck, according to arrest records, was taken into custody.&nbsp;A knife was found in a vehicle associated with Peck, according to Police. Derby Detectives are following up with any potential witnesses. Peck is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery on a $75,000 bond, according to online jail records.All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Anyone with information is asked to call the Derby Police Department at 316-788-1557 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Kan. woman jailed for stabbing outside gentlemen's club

JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo. —Fire crews 60 miles southeast of Kansas City made a daring rescue this week.

On Tuesday afternoon,&nbsp; the Warrensburg Fire Department responded to a mutual aid request from the Higginsville Fire Protection District to rescue of a worker that was stuck on the side of a water tower due to a safety equipment malfunction, according to a media release.

 The worker was in a safety harness with fall protection devices.  One of the devices locked or seized up.  The worker was stranded approximately 100 feet off the ground.

 Crews responded in a tower ladder truck with technical rescue equipment and were able to quickly remove him from the side of the water tower. 

 From arrival on scene to the patient being transferred to EMS care was 18 minutes. 

The Warrensburg Fire Department wrote, "We are glad we could assist our neighboring department and bring the situation to a positive outcome. "

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722473584826.png" alt="Photo Warrensburg Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Photo Warrensburg Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo. —Fire crews 60 miles southeast of Kansas City made a daring rescue this week.On Tuesday afternoon,&nbsp; the Warrensburg Fire Department responded to a mutual aid request from the Higginsville Fire Protection District to rescue of a worker that was stuck on the side of a water tower due to a safety equipment malfunction, according to a media release. The worker was in a safety harness with fall protection devices. One of the devices locked or seized up. The worker was stranded approximately 100 feet off the ground.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722473823597.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> Crews responded in a tower ladder truck with technical rescue equipment and were able to quickly remove him from the side of the water tower. From arrival on scene to the patient being transferred to EMS care was 18 minutes. The Warrensburg Fire Department wrote, "We are glad we could assist our neighboring department and bring the situation to a positive outcome. "

 Firefighters rescue stranded utility worker trapped on water tower

KYIV (AP)— <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukraine</a>&nbsp;has received the first F-16 fighter jets that it has sought for months to fight back against an onslaught of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russian</a>&nbsp;missile strikes, a U.S. official confirmed to The Associated Press.

A Ukrainian lawmaker also confirmed Ukraine had received a small number of F-16 fighter jets. The two officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to speak on the subject publicly.

Ukraine has been pushing its Western allies for F-16s for Ukraine for months, saying they were critically needed to fight back against the onslaught of missiles Russia has fired against it. The F-16 is specialized in suppressing enemy air defenses. The West has hesitantly moved toward providing the jets, after previous concerns that arming Ukraine with advanced weaponry would further escalate the war with Russia.

The U.S. has also been training Ukrainian pilots on how to fly the jets and has already graduated the first group of pilots on its operation.

During his visit to Washington earlier this month for the NATO summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed NATO allies to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-summit-ukraine-russia-china-biden-66656f03cd5e203d4074bdb2ead8abd8">remove all limitations</a>&nbsp;on how Western-provided weapons are used, specifically allowing Ukraine to fire Western-provided weapons against an expanded set of Russian targets.

It’s not clear how many jets were provided in the first tranche or which nations provided them. The Ukrainian government has not confirmed receipt of the jets.

U.S. President Joe Biden authorized sending the U.S.-built warplanes to Ukraine in August 2023. That came after months of pressure from Kyiv and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-f16-decision-russia-64538af7c10489d7c2243dadbad31008">internal debate</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. administration where officials feared the move could escalate tensions with the Kremlin.

Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway — all NATO members — have committed to providing Ukraine with more than 60 planes. That number is dwarfed by the Russian jet fighter fleet, which is estimated to be around 10 times larger.

Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-offensive-aid-16e276766b7100485fe97b674700ac6c">needs at least 130</a>&nbsp;F-16 fighter jets to neutralize Russian air power, Ukrainian officials say. F-16s can fly up to twice the speed of sound and have a maximum range of more than 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers).

The arrival of the jets was first reported by Bloomberg.

Andrew Meldrum in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, contributed to this story.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718381433841.png" alt="File photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22TARA%20COPP%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By TARA COPP&nbsp;</a>KYIV (AP)— <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukraine</a>&nbsp;has received the first F-16 fighter jets that it has sought for months to fight back against an onslaught of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russian</a>&nbsp;missile strikes, a U.S. official confirmed to The Associated Press.A Ukrainian lawmaker also confirmed Ukraine had received a small number of F-16 fighter jets. The two officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to speak on the subject publicly.Ukraine has been pushing its Western allies for F-16s for Ukraine for months, saying they were critically needed to fight back against the onslaught of missiles Russia has fired against it. The F-16 is specialized in suppressing enemy air defenses. The West has hesitantly moved toward providing the jets, after previous concerns that arming Ukraine with advanced weaponry would further escalate the war with Russia.The U.S. has also been training Ukrainian pilots on how to fly the jets and has already graduated the first group of pilots on its operation.During his visit to Washington earlier this month for the NATO summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed NATO allies to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-summit-ukraine-russia-china-biden-66656f03cd5e203d4074bdb2ead8abd8">remove all limitations</a>&nbsp;on how Western-provided weapons are used, specifically allowing Ukraine to fire Western-provided weapons against an expanded set of Russian targets.It’s not clear how many jets were provided in the first tranche or which nations provided them. The Ukrainian government has not confirmed receipt of the jets.U.S. President Joe Biden authorized sending the U.S.-built warplanes to Ukraine in August 2023. That came after months of pressure from Kyiv and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-f16-decision-russia-64538af7c10489d7c2243dadbad31008">internal debate</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. administration where officials feared the move could escalate tensions with the Kremlin.Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway — all NATO members — have committed to providing Ukraine with more than 60 planes. That number is dwarfed by the Russian jet fighter fleet, which is estimated to be around 10 times larger.Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-offensive-aid-16e276766b7100485fe97b674700ac6c">needs at least 130</a>&nbsp;F-16 fighter jets to neutralize Russian air power, Ukrainian officials say. F-16s can fly up to twice the speed of sound and have a maximum range of more than 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers).The arrival of the jets was first reported by Bloomberg.—-Andrew Meldrum in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, contributed to this story.

Ukraine finally has  American-made F-16 jets to fight Russia

KANSAS CITY—One person died in standing outside a vehicle after accident&nbsp; Wednesday in Kansas City.

 A Ram 1500 was westbound on 210 Highway and had stopped in traffic and just prior to the light at North Norfleet, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez

A westbound Hyundai Accent was unable to stop in time and rear-ended f the Ram 1500. Both drivers exited their vehicles and 9-1-1 was called. 

While waiting for the Police to arrive, the driver of the Hyundai was standing by his driver's door, on the yellow line, south shoulder of the roadway. 

KANSAS CITY—One person died in standing outside a vehicle after accident&nbsp; Wednesday in Kansas City. A Ram 1500 was westbound on 210 Highway and had stopped in traffic and just prior to the light at North Norfleet, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Officer Alayna GonzalezA westbound Hyundai Accent was unable to stop in time and rear-ended f the Ram 1500. Both drivers exited their vehicles and 9-1-1 was called. While waiting for the Police to arrive, the driver of the Hyundai was standing by his driver's door, on the yellow line, south shoulder of the roadway. Just after 6a.m., the driver of a westbound Chevy Silverado did not see the flashers on the Hyundai until the last second.&nbsp; The Silverado swerved to the left and struck the driver of the Hyundai.&nbsp;He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Chevy Silverado was not injured in the collision. All lanes of westbound 210 Highway were closed for about 3 1/2 hours. This is traffic death 55 in 2024 compared to 51 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez.