BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">JACOB FISCHLER</a>

President Joe Biden called for a de-escalation in political rhetoric but kept up criticism of former President Donald Trump on Monday, in Biden’s first interview since a Saturday assassination attempt on Trump.

Talking to NBC News anchor Lester Holt, Biden said he called the injured Trump on Saturday to convey his well wishes.

But he argued to Holt that Trump, whom Republicans officially nominated as their presidential candidate at their convention Monday, remains a threat to U.S. democracy who routinely employed violent rhetoric and led an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Biden said it was a mistake to use the word “bullseye” on a call with Democratic donors last week, when telling them to concentrate on the Republican candidate instead of the fallout from Biden’s poor debate performance.

Many elected officials and fundraisers after the debate wondered if Biden should withdraw from his reelection campaign.

“I meant focus on him,” Biden said of Trump. “Focus on what he’s doing. Focus on his policies.”

The former president survived a shooting on Saturday that killed one person and left two others injured at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gunman was killed at the scene.

Biden said he did not intentionally use violent rhetoric, but did not apologize or back down from his criticisms of Trump as a “threat to democracy.”

“How do you talk about the threat to democracy, which is real, when a president says things like he says?” Biden said.

“I’m not engaged in that rhetoric,” Biden said. “My opponent is engaged in that rhetoric, talking about there will be a bloodbath if he loses.”

He also noted Trump said he would commute the sentences of those convicted for attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and mocked then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband after he was assaulted by a man with a hammer during a home invasion.

“This doesn’t sound like you’re turning down the heat,” Holt said.

Biden responded that some ideas that Trump champions — continuing to challenge the 2020 election results despite losing in dozens of court cases, demanding a loyalty pledge from Republicans, calling political opponents “vermin” and saying he would be a dictator on day one of a second term — were antithetical to democracy.

Biden focused especially on the Jan. 6 attack, when a mob of Trump supporters sought to stop Congress and Vice President Mike Pence from certifying Biden’s 2020 victory over then-President Trump.

“When you say there’s nothing wrong with going to the Capitol, breaking in, threatening people, a couple cops dying, putting up a noose and gallows for the former vice president, and then you say you’re going to forgive people for that? That you’re going to pardon them?” Biden said.

“Violence is never appropriate,” he said. “Never, never, never, never, never in politics.”

He pledged to “keep talking about the issues” and chastised Holt and the rest of the news media for what he said was a lack of focus on real policy issues.

“Sometime come and talk to me about what we should be talking about, OK? The issues,” Biden said at the close of the roughly 20-minute interview.

Holt asked Biden about the news earlier Monday that Judge Aileen Cannon, a federal judge in South Florida,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-dismisses-trump-classified-documents-criminal-case" target="_blank">dismissed the charges</a>&nbsp;against Trump in a case accusing him of improperly storing classified documents from his presidency.

Biden said he felt the decision from a Trump-appointed federal judge was reached in error.

“I’m not surprised,” Biden said. “But my generic point is that … the basis upon which the case was thrown out, I find specious.”

Asked by Holt if he’d “weathered the storm” of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-camp-works-stem-growing-democratic-unease-over-reelection-prospects" target="_blank">Democratic discontent</a>&nbsp;over&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-and-trump-trade-insults-accusations-lying-acrimonious-presidential-debate" target="_blank">his June 27 debate</a>&nbsp;performance that shook confidence in his candidacy, Biden said he was staying in the race, citing his victories in primaries and caucuses that didn’t see a serious challenge to his reelection.

“Look, 14 million people voted for me to be the nominee in the Democratic Party, OK?” Biden said. “I listen to them.”

Biden again conceded he’d “had a bad, bad night” at the debate, but told Holt that news reports should have paid more attention to Trump’s performance.

“I screwed up,” Biden said. “Why didn’t the press cover all the lies he told?”

Asked about comments from senior members of his party in Congress, including Pelosi and former No. 3 House Democrat Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, seeming to leave open the possibility he could step aside, Biden said he remained ready to campaign on a strong record.

The race remains close even after the poor debate, Biden said. He added that he’s had one of the most successful presidencies since Franklin Roosevelt nearly 100 years ago.

“I’ve gotten more done than any president has in a long, long time in three-and-a-half years, so I’m willing to be judged on that.”

Biden, 81, said he understood the concerns about his age and called it a “legitimate question” to ask how he would perform over the next four years.

But when Holt asked if Biden was motivated to “get back on the horse” and debate Trump again “in the next few weeks,” Biden pushed back, noting a packed public schedule since the debate.

“I’m on the horse,” he told the interviewer. “Where you been?”

Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/former-president-trump-taps-ohio-us-sen-jd-vance-running-mate-2024" target="_blank">choice of U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio</a>&nbsp;as his running mate showed that he would surround himself “with people who agree completely with him,” Biden said.

Holt noted Vance has made comments about Biden, but the president urged Holt to examine Vance’s comments about Trump. In 2016, as a private citizen with a somewhat public profile as a businessperson and memoirist, Vance made&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/opioid-of-the-masses/489911/" target="_blank">several harsh comments</a>&nbsp;about Trump.

Biden expressed some frustration that Holt did not seem interested in that history.

“He said some things about me, but see what he said about Trump,” Biden said. “What’s with you guys? Come on, man.”

The president said Vance has endorsed Republican positions to severely restrict abortion, cut taxes on high-income earners and to deny climate change.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">JACOB FISCHLER</a>President Joe Biden called for a de-escalation in political rhetoric but kept up criticism of former President Donald Trump on Monday, in Biden’s first interview since a Saturday assassination attempt on Trump.Talking to NBC News anchor Lester Holt, Biden said he called the injured Trump on Saturday to convey his well wishes.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">There’s no place at all for violence in politics at all in America. Zero.<a href="https://t.co/BrDeLD8bKq">pic.twitter.com/BrDeLD8bKq</a>&mdash; Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1813033120998039586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But he argued to Holt that Trump, whom Republicans officially nominated as their presidential candidate at their convention Monday, remains a threat to U.S. democracy who routinely employed violent rhetoric and led an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election.Biden said it was a mistake to use the word “bullseye” on a call with Democratic donors last week, when telling them to concentrate on the Republican candidate instead of the fallout from Biden’s poor debate performance.Many elected officials and fundraisers after the debate wondered if Biden should withdraw from his reelection campaign.“I meant focus on him,” Biden said of Trump. “Focus on what he’s doing. Focus on his policies.”The former president survived a shooting on Saturday that killed one person and left two others injured at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gunman was killed at the scene.Biden said he did not intentionally use violent rhetoric, but did not apologize or back down from his criticisms of Trump as a “threat to democracy.”“How do you talk about the threat to democracy, which is real, when a president says things like he says?” Biden said.“I’m not engaged in that rhetoric,” Biden said. “My opponent is engaged in that rhetoric, talking about there will be a bloodbath if he loses.”He also noted Trump said he would commute the sentences of those convicted for attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and mocked then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband after he was assaulted by a man with a hammer during a home invasion.“This doesn’t sound like you’re turning down the heat,” Holt said.Biden responded that some ideas that Trump champions — continuing to challenge the 2020 election results despite losing in dozens of court cases, demanding a loyalty pledge from Republicans, calling political opponents “vermin” and saying he would be a dictator on day one of a second term — were antithetical to democracy.Biden focused especially on the Jan. 6 attack, when a mob of Trump supporters sought to stop Congress and Vice President Mike Pence from certifying Biden’s 2020 victory over then-President Trump.“When you say there’s nothing wrong with going to the Capitol, breaking in, threatening people, a couple cops dying, putting up a noose and gallows for the former vice president, and then you say you’re going to forgive people for that? That you’re going to pardon them?” Biden said.“Violence is never appropriate,” he said. “Never, never, never, never, never in politics.”He pledged to “keep talking about the issues” and chastised Holt and the rest of the news media for what he said was a lack of focus on real policy issues.“Sometime come and talk to me about what we should be talking about, OK? The issues,” Biden said at the close of the roughly 20-minute interview.<h2>Classified documents charges</h2>Holt asked Biden about the news earlier Monday that Judge Aileen Cannon, a federal judge in South Florida,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-dismisses-trump-classified-documents-criminal-case" target="_blank">dismissed the charges</a>&nbsp;against Trump in a case accusing him of improperly storing classified documents from his presidency.Biden said he felt the decision from a Trump-appointed federal judge was reached in error.“I’m not surprised,” Biden said. “But my generic point is that … the basis upon which the case was thrown out, I find specious.”<h2>Debate fallout</h2>Asked by Holt if he’d “weathered the storm” of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-camp-works-stem-growing-democratic-unease-over-reelection-prospects" target="_blank">Democratic discontent</a>&nbsp;over&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-and-trump-trade-insults-accusations-lying-acrimonious-presidential-debate" target="_blank">his June 27 debate</a>&nbsp;performance that shook confidence in his candidacy, Biden said he was staying in the race, citing his victories in primaries and caucuses that didn’t see a serious challenge to his reelection.“Look, 14 million people voted for me to be the nominee in the Democratic Party, OK?” Biden said. “I listen to them.”Biden again conceded he’d “had a bad, bad night” at the debate, but told Holt that news reports should have paid more attention to Trump’s performance.“I screwed up,” Biden said. “Why didn’t the press cover all the lies he told?”Asked about comments from senior members of his party in Congress, including Pelosi and former No. 3 House Democrat Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, seeming to leave open the possibility he could step aside, Biden said he remained ready to campaign on a strong record.The race remains close even after the poor debate, Biden said. He added that he’s had one of the most successful presidencies since Franklin Roosevelt nearly 100 years ago.“I’ve gotten more done than any president has in a long, long time in three-and-a-half years, so I’m willing to be judged on that.”Biden, 81, said he understood the concerns about his age and called it a “legitimate question” to ask how he would perform over the next four years.But when Holt asked if Biden was motivated to “get back on the horse” and debate Trump again “in the next few weeks,” Biden pushed back, noting a packed public schedule since the debate.“I’m on the horse,” he told the interviewer. “Where you been?”<h2>Vance pick</h2>Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/former-president-trump-taps-ohio-us-sen-jd-vance-running-mate-2024" target="_blank">choice of U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio</a>&nbsp;as his running mate showed that he would surround himself “with people who agree completely with him,” Biden said.Holt noted Vance has made comments about Biden, but the president urged Holt to examine Vance’s comments about Trump. In 2016, as a private citizen with a somewhat public profile as a businessperson and memoirist, Vance made&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/opioid-of-the-masses/489911/" target="_blank">several harsh comments</a>&nbsp;about Trump.Biden expressed some frustration that Holt did not seem interested in that history.“He said some things about me, but see what he said about Trump,” Biden said. “What’s with you guys? Come on, man.”The president said Vance has endorsed Republican positions to severely restrict abortion, cut taxes on high-income earners and to deny climate change.

Biden says ‘bullseye’ remark about Trump was a mistake but defends criticism

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Transportation Security officers at Wichita Eisenhower Airport prevented a loaded firearm from making it on-board an airplane Sunday, according to a social media report from the TSA on Tuesday afternoon.

"During season more travelers are bringing prohibited items in carry-on. Start with empty bag when packing and avoid fines, travel delays and possible arrest."

Travelers face a fine of up to $15,000, suspension of&nbsp; the right to&nbsp; participation in TSAPreCheck, and go through an additional inspection.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721156450490.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Transportation Security officers at Wichita Eisenhower Airport prevented a loaded firearm from making it on-board an airplane Sunday, according to a social media report from the TSA on Tuesday afternoon."During season more travelers are bringing prohibited items in carry-on. Start with empty bag when packing and avoid fines, travel delays and possible arrest."Travelers face a fine of up to $15,000, suspension of&nbsp; the right to&nbsp; participation in TSAPreCheck, and go through an additional inspection.

Loaded gun found in traveler's bag at Kansas airport

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-sales-tiktok-walmart-target-c6528ad3dd10750b9dfb1274a7ad349a">Prime Day</a>&nbsp;is here, and experts are reminding consumers to be wary of scams.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-acquihires-amazon-adept-wyden-fa3cd0502a757e5a9ccb83d00bf9ad55">Deceptions</a>&nbsp;such as phony emails from people impersonating online retailers like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-acquihires-amazon-adept-wyden-fa3cd0502a757e5a9ccb83d00bf9ad55">Amazon</a>&nbsp;are nothing new. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/scams-phishing-robocalls-facebook-marketplace-291255fc54f4bef161cb6155af562d96">phishing attempts</a>&nbsp;increase amid the heavy spending seen during significant sales events, whether it's Black Friday or Prime Day, according to the Better Business Bureau.

“This is a huge moment on the retail calendar," Josh Planos, vice president of communications and public relations at the Better Business Bureau, previously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-scams-e566568c665f76ce9949f9c5e9402499">told The Associated Press</a>. "And because of that, it represents an enormous opportunity for a scammer, con artist or even just an unethical business or organization to capitalize on the moment and separate folks from their hard-earned money.”

Prime Day, a two-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-megan-thee-stallion-3ca784b3c7b09e056de589f395c990fa">discount event</a>&nbsp;for Amazon Prime members, kicks off on Tuesday and runs through Wednesday. In updated guidance published last week, the Better Business Bureau reminded consumers to watch out for lookalike websites, too-good-to-be-true social media ads, and unsolicited emails or calls during sales events this month.

Consumers might need to be more vigilant this year than ever before. In June, the Better Business Bureau published a report that said it received a record number of phishing reports in 2023. Reports are also trending up so far this year, the organization said.

Meanwhile, in a report released this month, the Israel-founded cybersecurity company Check Point Software Technologies said more than 1,230 new websites that associated themselves with Amazon popped up in June. The vast majority of them were malicious or appeared suspicious, according to Check Point.

Scott Knapp, director of worldwide buyer risk prevention at Amazon, identifies two areas that the company has seen hoaxes around come Prime Day in recent years:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-ftc-lawsuit-9e60955fc71d9891ed16c5b856222279">Prime membership</a>&nbsp;and order confirmations.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-discount-sale-876229de851338c0e0cd6039cae24829">Last year</a>, for example, more than two-third of scams reported by Amazon customers claimed to be related to order or account issues, Knapp wrote in an emailed statement. People reported getting unsolicited calls or emails saying there was something wrong with their Prime membership and seeking bank account or other payment information to reinstate the accounts, Knapp explained.

Urging consumers to confirm an order they didn't place is also a common tactic at this time of year, he added. Scammers might pick something expensive, like a smartphone, to get attention — and again ask for payment information or send a malicious link. They might also try to lure in consumers with promises of a giveaway, or by using language that creates a false sense of urgency.

Amazon is attempting “to ensure scammers are not using our brand to take advantage of people who trust us,” Knapp wrote, adding that customers can confirm their purchases and verify messages from the company on its app or website.

Additional scams are probably out there, but it's hard to know what form they might take before this year's Prime Day begins. Still, experts note that the same shopping scams tend to resurface year after year.

“Typically, the bones remain the same,” Planos said, pointing to fake delivery scams, email phishing and other repeated methods. “It’s always a ploy to separate consumers from (their) personal and payment information.”

But online hoaxes are also constantly evolving to become more sophisticated, Planos and others warn. That means images might look more legitimate, text messages may sound more convincing and fake websites that look very similar to real shopping destinations.

Amazon's Knapp has said that with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-perplexity-online-content-scraping-investigation-eb1d6bc1caf3dfe0c97db6f4fc691bc9">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;“starting to leak in," the scams targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/e-commerce">e-commerce</a>&nbsp;shoppers follow the same approach but with a machine populating an email or text instead of a person.

According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing about $10 billion to fraud in 2023, a 14% jump from 2022. Online shopping scams were the second most-reported form of fraud, following impostor scams, the FTC said.

Both the FTC and Better Business Bureau provide consumers with&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam">tips</a>&nbsp;to avoid scams year-round. Guidance includes blocking unwanted messages, not giving financial information to unsolicited callers and checking links before clicking — secure websites, for example, will have “HTTPS” in the URL, Planos notes, never “HTTP.”

Scammers will often pressure you to act immediately, experts say. It's important to pause and trust your gut. Experts also urge consumers to report scams to regulators.

Beyond scams that impersonate companies or retailers, it's also important to be cautious of counterfeit products and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fake-reviews-amazon-glassdoor-expedia-trustpilot-43a478ac0b27d6bb773a3bbdba1858b1">fake reviews</a>&nbsp;on the sites of trusted retailers. Just because you’re shopping on Amazon, for example, doesn’t mean you’re buying from Amazon. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-scams-e566568c665f76ce9949f9c5e9402499">online shopping giant</a>, like eBay, Walmart and others, has vast third-party marketplaces.

The quality and look of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-amazoncom-inc-business-a2acdc595acd792e45fc3e1bdbc5025e">counterfeit products</a>&nbsp;has significantly increased over recent years, Planos notes, making the activity difficult to police. A good rule of thumb is looking at the price tag — if the product is being sold for less than 75% of its year-round market rate, “that's a pretty big red flag,” he says.

Sketchy sellers can show up on different platforms, including sites like Amazon, “all the time” Planos said, urging consumers to check out companies on the Better Business Bureau's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/">website</a>. Like other scams, counterfeit products may increase around high spending periods.

Amid increasing pressure to tackle counterfeit products, Amazon has reported getting rid of millions of phony products in recent years. The company said it also blocked billions of bad listings from making it on to its site. In 2023, Amazon the company said more than 7 million counterfeit items were "identified, seized and appropriately disposed of.” The online retailer has also filed multiple&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-lawsuits-amazoncom-inc-03329beafb3b1eba170a13c99ee0d318">lawsuits against fake review brokers</a>.

Amazon notes customers can also report fake reviews and other scams on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GRGRY7AQ3LMPXVCV">website</a>. If a shopper purchases a counterfeit item detected by the company, Amazon has said it will “proactively contact” the customer and provide a refund.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687381032231.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-sales-tiktok-walmart-target-c6528ad3dd10750b9dfb1274a7ad349a">Prime Day</a>&nbsp;is here, and experts are reminding consumers to be wary of scams.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-acquihires-amazon-adept-wyden-fa3cd0502a757e5a9ccb83d00bf9ad55">Deceptions</a>&nbsp;such as phony emails from people impersonating online retailers like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-acquihires-amazon-adept-wyden-fa3cd0502a757e5a9ccb83d00bf9ad55">Amazon</a>&nbsp;are nothing new. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/scams-phishing-robocalls-facebook-marketplace-291255fc54f4bef161cb6155af562d96">phishing attempts</a>&nbsp;increase amid the heavy spending seen during significant sales events, whether it's Black Friday or Prime Day, according to the Better Business Bureau.“This is a huge moment on the retail calendar," Josh Planos, vice president of communications and public relations at the Better Business Bureau, previously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-scams-e566568c665f76ce9949f9c5e9402499">told The Associated Press</a>. "And because of that, it represents an enormous opportunity for a scammer, con artist or even just an unethical business or organization to capitalize on the moment and separate folks from their hard-earned money.”Prime Day, a two-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-megan-thee-stallion-3ca784b3c7b09e056de589f395c990fa">discount event</a>&nbsp;for Amazon Prime members, kicks off on Tuesday and runs through Wednesday. In updated guidance published last week, the Better Business Bureau reminded consumers to watch out for lookalike websites, too-good-to-be-true social media ads, and unsolicited emails or calls during sales events this month.Consumers might need to be more vigilant this year than ever before. In June, the Better Business Bureau published a report that said it received a record number of phishing reports in 2023. Reports are also trending up so far this year, the organization said.Meanwhile, in a report released this month, the Israel-founded cybersecurity company Check Point Software Technologies said more than 1,230 new websites that associated themselves with Amazon popped up in June. The vast majority of them were malicious or appeared suspicious, according to Check Point.Scott Knapp, director of worldwide buyer risk prevention at Amazon, identifies two areas that the company has seen hoaxes around come Prime Day in recent years:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-ftc-lawsuit-9e60955fc71d9891ed16c5b856222279">Prime membership</a>&nbsp;and order confirmations.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-discount-sale-876229de851338c0e0cd6039cae24829">Last year</a>, for example, more than two-third of scams reported by Amazon customers claimed to be related to order or account issues, Knapp wrote in an emailed statement. People reported getting unsolicited calls or emails saying there was something wrong with their Prime membership and seeking bank account or other payment information to reinstate the accounts, Knapp explained.Urging consumers to confirm an order they didn't place is also a common tactic at this time of year, he added. Scammers might pick something expensive, like a smartphone, to get attention — and again ask for payment information or send a malicious link. They might also try to lure in consumers with promises of a giveaway, or by using language that creates a false sense of urgency.Amazon is attempting “to ensure scammers are not using our brand to take advantage of people who trust us,” Knapp wrote, adding that customers can confirm their purchases and verify messages from the company on its app or website.Additional scams are probably out there, but it's hard to know what form they might take before this year's Prime Day begins. Still, experts note that the same shopping scams tend to resurface year after year.“Typically, the bones remain the same,” Planos said, pointing to fake delivery scams, email phishing and other repeated methods. “It’s always a ploy to separate consumers from (their) personal and payment information.”But online hoaxes are also constantly evolving to become more sophisticated, Planos and others warn. That means images might look more legitimate, text messages may sound more convincing and fake websites that look very similar to real shopping destinations.Amazon's Knapp has said that with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-perplexity-online-content-scraping-investigation-eb1d6bc1caf3dfe0c97db6f4fc691bc9">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;“starting to leak in," the scams targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/e-commerce">e-commerce</a>&nbsp;shoppers follow the same approach but with a machine populating an email or text instead of a person.According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing about $10 billion to fraud in 2023, a 14% jump from 2022. Online shopping scams were the second most-reported form of fraud, following impostor scams, the FTC said.Both the FTC and Better Business Bureau provide consumers with&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam">tips</a>&nbsp;to avoid scams year-round. Guidance includes blocking unwanted messages, not giving financial information to unsolicited callers and checking links before clicking — secure websites, for example, will have “HTTPS” in the URL, Planos notes, never “HTTP.”Scammers will often pressure you to act immediately, experts say. It's important to pause and trust your gut. Experts also urge consumers to report scams to regulators.Beyond scams that impersonate companies or retailers, it's also important to be cautious of counterfeit products and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fake-reviews-amazon-glassdoor-expedia-trustpilot-43a478ac0b27d6bb773a3bbdba1858b1">fake reviews</a>&nbsp;on the sites of trusted retailers. Just because you’re shopping on Amazon, for example, doesn’t mean you’re buying from Amazon. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-scams-e566568c665f76ce9949f9c5e9402499">online shopping giant</a>, like eBay, Walmart and others, has vast third-party marketplaces.The quality and look of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-amazoncom-inc-business-a2acdc595acd792e45fc3e1bdbc5025e">counterfeit products</a>&nbsp;has significantly increased over recent years, Planos notes, making the activity difficult to police. A good rule of thumb is looking at the price tag — if the product is being sold for less than 75% of its year-round market rate, “that's a pretty big red flag,” he says.Sketchy sellers can show up on different platforms, including sites like Amazon, “all the time” Planos said, urging consumers to check out companies on the Better Business Bureau's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/">website</a>. Like other scams, counterfeit products may increase around high spending periods.Amid increasing pressure to tackle counterfeit products, Amazon has reported getting rid of millions of phony products in recent years. The company said it also blocked billions of bad listings from making it on to its site. In 2023, Amazon the company said more than 7 million counterfeit items were "identified, seized and appropriately disposed of.” The online retailer has also filed multiple&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-lawsuits-amazoncom-inc-03329beafb3b1eba170a13c99ee0d318">lawsuits against fake review brokers</a>.Amazon notes customers can also report fake reviews and other scams on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GRGRY7AQ3LMPXVCV">website</a>. If a shopper purchases a counterfeit item detected by the company, Amazon has said it will “proactively contact” the customer and provide a refund.

Amazon Prime Day is a big event for scammers, experts warn

WASHINGTON COUNTY —A Manhattan man died in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Tuesday in Washington County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp;Brian L&nbsp;Dowling, 46, Manhattan, was eastbound on U.S. 36 five miles east of Cuba, Kansas.&nbsp;

The driver was attempting to pass another vehicle, didn't return to the driving lane and struck a westbound 2023 Peterbilt semi driven by Wayne M&nbsp;&nbsp;Thomsen, 71, Waterville.

EMS transported Dowling to the Washington County Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Thomsen was not injured. Dowling was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WASHINGTON COUNTY —A Manhattan man died in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Tuesday in Washington County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp;Brian L&nbsp;Dowling, 46, Manhattan, was eastbound on U.S. 36 five miles east of Cuba, Kansas.&nbsp;The driver was attempting to pass another vehicle, didn't return to the driving lane and struck a westbound 2023 Peterbilt semi driven by Wayne M&nbsp;&nbsp;Thomsen, 71, Waterville.EMS transported Dowling to the Washington County Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Thomsen was not injured. Dowling was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after pickup, semi crash

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating teenagers playing with a gun that led to a shooting.

Just before noon Monday, police were dispatched to a home in the 10600 block of College Avenue in Kansas to investigate a reported shooting in which the victim was a juvenile, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

At the home, police found a teenager suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported the teen to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said the initial investigation into the incident revealed teenagers were playing with a gun at that location when it reportedly "accidentally" went off, striking one of the teens.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating teenagers playing with a gun that led to a shooting.Just before noon Monday, police were dispatched to a home in the 10600 block of College Avenue in Kansas to investigate a reported shooting in which the victim was a juvenile, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.At the home, police found a teenager suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported the teen to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.Police said the initial investigation into the incident revealed teenagers were playing with a gun at that location when it reportedly "accidentally" went off, striking one of the teens.Police released no additional details.

KCPD: Teens were playing with a gun when one was shot

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-menendez">U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday of all the counts he faced at his corruption trial, including accepting bribes of gold and cash from three New Jersey businessmen and acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government.

The jury’s verdict followed a nine-week trial in which prosecutors said the Democrat abused the power of his office to protect allies from criminal investigations and enrich associates, including his wife, through acts that included meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials and helping that country access millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.

As the verdict was read in court, Menendez, 70, looked toward the jury at times as he appeared to mark a document in front of him. Afterward, he sat resting his chin against his closed hands, elbows on the table.

Menendez did not testify at the trial, but insisted publicly he was only doing his job as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said the gold bars found in his New Jersey home by the FBI belonged to his wife, Nadine Menendez. She too was charged but her trial was postponed so she could recover from breast cancer surgery. She has pleaded not guilty.

The verdict, delivered at a federal courthouse in Manhattan, comes four months before Election Day and potentially dooms Menendez’s chances of campaigning for reelection as an independent candidate.

Immediately after the verdict, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in statement called on Menendez to resign.

“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Schumer said.

Menendez faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term when he is sentenced on Oct. 29. Of the 16 counts on which he was convicted, the most serious carry a potential prison sentence of 20 years.

Rep. Andy Kim, the Democratic nominee for the seat currently held by Menendez also called for his resignation, posting on social media that “the people of New Jersey deserve better.”

Menendez went on trial in mid-May along with two New Jersey businessmen who were accused of paying bribes: Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. All three had pleaded not guilty. A third businessman, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty prior to trial and testified against the others. Hana and Daibes were convicted of the charges they faced as well. They walked out the rear courthouse entry with their lawyers and declined to comment.

The trial was the second time that the New Jersey Democrat has faced corruption allegations. An earlier prosecution on unrelated charges in 2017 ended with a deadlocked jury.

The jury’s decision is a culmination of a lengthy investigation that included a June 2022 FBI raid on the couple’s home in Englewood Cliffs, a wealthy community just across the Hudson River from New York City. In the home, FBI agents found gold bars worth nearly $150,000 and cash, mostly in stacks of $100 bills, totaling over $480,000. In the garage was a Mercedes-Benz convertible.

A supervising agent testified that he ordered the valuables seized because he suspected they might be the proceeds of a crime. Stacks of cash, he said, were found stuffed in boots, shoeboxes and jackets belonging to the senator.

At trial, prosecutors argued that the gold bars, cash and car were bribes. Defense lawyers disputed that, arguing that the gold belonged to his wife and she had kept him in the dark about financial troubles so grim that she nearly lost the home to foreclosure. They said the cash stemmed from the senator’s habitual hoarding of cash at home after hearing how his parents escaped Cuba in 1951 with only the cash they had hidden in a grandfather clock.

More shocking than the cash or gold, though, were allegations that Menendez had earned some of it by using his powerful perch on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to take actions that benefited Egypt, an important U.S. ally but one that is also often subject to American criticism over alleged human rights abuses.

Prosecutors said Nadine Menendez held herself out as a conduit to her powerful husband, exchanging texts with an Egyptian general and helping to arrange a Washington visit by the chief of Egypt’s intelligence service. To one general she texted, “Anytime you need anything you have my number and we will make everything happen.”

Sen. Menendez, prosecutors said, took actions to ingratiate himself with Egyptian officials, including providing them with information about the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and ghostwriting a letter to fellow senators encouraging them to lift a hold on $300 million in military aid to Egypt. The senator also told his wife to let her Egyptian contacts know that he planned to sign off on $99 million in tank ammunition.

Charges, originally announced last September, were expanded over time, eventually including bribery, extortion, fraud, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and, for Menendez, acting as a foreign agent of Egypt.

Prosecutors said serial numbers on the gold bars and fingerprints on tape that bound together the stacks of cash were traced to Hana and Daibes. Some fingerprints on tape, they said, belonged to Menendez.

In return for bribes, prosecutors said, Menendez took numerous actions to benefit the businessmen.

Those included protecting Egypt’s decision to award Hana a lucrative monopoly to certify that meat sent to Egypt met Islamic dietary requirements. Menendez asked a U.S. agriculture official to drop his opposition to the monopoly deal, which he had questioned over fears it would drive up prices.

Uribe testified at the trial that he paid for Nadine Menendez to get a Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for the senator’s help assuring that his insurance business would not be affected by New Jersey criminal probes of a trucking company belonging to his friend.

Prosecutors also said Sen. Menendez attempted to interfere in a federal criminal prosecution of Daibes, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bob-menendez-fred-daibes-new-jersey-indictment-b533417693a82f83865ce9df26253708">politically influential real estate developer</a>&nbsp;accused of bank fraud. The U.S. attorney for New Jersey, Philip Sellinger, testified at the trial that Menendez questioned him about the Daibes prosecution and said he believed he was “being treated unfairly.”

Prosecutors also presented evidence that Menendez took actions favorable to Qatar’s government to help Daibes secure a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund.

Menendez’s political career began in 1974 when, only two years out of high school, he was elected to the education board in Union City, New Jersey. He later served in the state legislature, then was elected to the U.S. House in 1992. He became a U.S. senator in 2006.

Menendez had the dubious distinction of being the only U.S. senator indicted twice.

In 2015, he was charged with letting a wealthy Florida eye doctor buy his influence through luxury vacations and campaign contributions. After a jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict in 2017, New Jersey federal prosecutors dropped the case rather than put him on trial again.

Voters accepted the mistrial as an exoneration and returned Menendez to the Senate.

After his second indictment last summer, Menendez claimed he was being persecuted, saying some people “cannot accept that a first-generation Latino American from humble beginnings could rise to be a U.S. Senator.”

While the trial was underway, he announced he would run for reelection as an independent.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721150824503.png" alt="One of the gold bars found at Menendez's house during a law enforcement search-photo. US District Court Southern District of New York" />
 <figcaption>One of the gold bars found at Menendez's house during a law enforcement search-photo. US District Court Southern District of New York</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-menendez">U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday of all the counts he faced at his corruption trial, including accepting bribes of gold and cash from three New Jersey businessmen and acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government.The jury’s verdict followed a nine-week trial in which prosecutors said the Democrat abused the power of his office to protect allies from criminal investigations and enrich associates, including his wife, through acts that included meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials and helping that country access millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) following a guilty verdict on all 16 counts in his federal bribery and corruption trial &quot;I have never violated my public oath. I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country. I have never ever been a foreign agent.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/GW0RK5g2cc">pic.twitter.com/GW0RK5g2cc</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1813297050013859883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>As the verdict was read in court, Menendez, 70, looked toward the jury at times as he appeared to mark a document in front of him. Afterward, he sat resting his chin against his closed hands, elbows on the table.Menendez did not testify at the trial, but insisted publicly he was only doing his job as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said the gold bars found in his New Jersey home by the FBI belonged to his wife, Nadine Menendez. She too was charged but her trial was postponed so she could recover from breast cancer surgery. She has pleaded not guilty.The verdict, delivered at a federal courthouse in Manhattan, comes four months before Election Day and potentially dooms Menendez’s chances of campaigning for reelection as an independent candidate.Immediately after the verdict, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in statement called on Menendez to resign.“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Schumer said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today&#39;s verdict finding Senator Bob Menendez guilty on 16 counts demonstrates that the Senator broke the law, violated the trust of his constituents, and betrayed his oath of office. In America, everyone – no matter how powerful – is accountable to our laws. <a href="https://t.co/ljJrQFB2eu">pic.twitter.com/ljJrQFB2eu</a>&mdash; Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovMurphy/status/1813264740581249273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Menendez faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term when he is sentenced on Oct. 29. Of the 16 counts on which he was convicted, the most serious carry a potential prison sentence of 20 years.Rep. Andy Kim, the Democratic nominee for the seat currently held by Menendez also called for his resignation, posting on social media that “the people of New Jersey deserve better.”Menendez went on trial in mid-May along with two New Jersey businessmen who were accused of paying bribes: Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. All three had pleaded not guilty. A third businessman, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty prior to trial and testified against the others. Hana and Daibes were convicted of the charges they faced as well. They walked out the rear courthouse entry with their lawyers and declined to comment.The trial was the second time that the New Jersey Democrat has faced corruption allegations. An earlier prosecution on unrelated charges in 2017 ended with a deadlocked jury.The jury’s decision is a culmination of a lengthy investigation that included a June 2022 FBI raid on the couple’s home in Englewood Cliffs, a wealthy community just across the Hudson River from New York City. In the home, FBI agents found gold bars worth nearly $150,000 and cash, mostly in stacks of $100 bills, totaling over $480,000. In the garage was a Mercedes-Benz convertible.A supervising agent testified that he ordered the valuables seized because he suspected they might be the proceeds of a crime. Stacks of cash, he said, were found stuffed in boots, shoeboxes and jackets belonging to the senator.At trial, prosecutors argued that the gold bars, cash and car were bribes. Defense lawyers disputed that, arguing that the gold belonged to his wife and she had kept him in the dark about financial troubles so grim that she nearly lost the home to foreclosure. They said the cash stemmed from the senator’s habitual hoarding of cash at home after hearing how his parents escaped Cuba in 1951 with only the cash they had hidden in a grandfather clock.More shocking than the cash or gold, though, were allegations that Menendez had earned some of it by using his powerful perch on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to take actions that benefited Egypt, an important U.S. ally but one that is also often subject to American criticism over alleged human rights abuses.Prosecutors said Nadine Menendez held herself out as a conduit to her powerful husband, exchanging texts with an Egyptian general and helping to arrange a Washington visit by the chief of Egypt’s intelligence service. To one general she texted, “Anytime you need anything you have my number and we will make everything happen.”Sen. Menendez, prosecutors said, took actions to ingratiate himself with Egyptian officials, including providing them with information about the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and ghostwriting a letter to fellow senators encouraging them to lift a hold on $300 million in military aid to Egypt. The senator also told his wife to let her Egyptian contacts know that he planned to sign off on $99 million in tank ammunition.Charges, originally announced last September, were expanded over time, eventually including bribery, extortion, fraud, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and, for Menendez, acting as a foreign agent of Egypt.Prosecutors said serial numbers on the gold bars and fingerprints on tape that bound together the stacks of cash were traced to Hana and Daibes. Some fingerprints on tape, they said, belonged to Menendez.In return for bribes, prosecutors said, Menendez took numerous actions to benefit the businessmen.Those included protecting Egypt’s decision to award Hana a lucrative monopoly to certify that meat sent to Egypt met Islamic dietary requirements. Menendez asked a U.S. agriculture official to drop his opposition to the monopoly deal, which he had questioned over fears it would drive up prices.Uribe testified at the trial that he paid for Nadine Menendez to get a Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for the senator’s help assuring that his insurance business would not be affected by New Jersey criminal probes of a trucking company belonging to his friend.Prosecutors also said Sen. Menendez attempted to interfere in a federal criminal prosecution of Daibes, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bob-menendez-fred-daibes-new-jersey-indictment-b533417693a82f83865ce9df26253708">politically influential real estate developer</a>&nbsp;accused of bank fraud. The U.S. attorney for New Jersey, Philip Sellinger, testified at the trial that Menendez questioned him about the Daibes prosecution and said he believed he was “being treated unfairly.”Prosecutors also presented evidence that Menendez took actions favorable to Qatar’s government to help Daibes secure a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund.Menendez’s political career began in 1974 when, only two years out of high school, he was elected to the education board in Union City, New Jersey. He later served in the state legislature, then was elected to the U.S. House in 1992. He became a U.S. senator in 2006.Menendez had the dubious distinction of being the only U.S. senator indicted twice.In 2015, he was charged with letting a wealthy Florida eye doctor buy his influence through luxury vacations and campaign contributions. After a jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict in 2017, New Jersey federal prosecutors dropped the case rather than put him on trial again.Voters accepted the mistrial as an exoneration and returned Menendez to the Senate.After his second indictment last summer, Menendez claimed he was being persecuted, saying some people “cannot accept that a first-generation Latino American from humble beginnings could rise to be a U.S. Senator.”While the trial was underway, he announced he would run for reelection as an independent.

U.S. Senator guilty in trial that featured tales of bribes paid in gold

By SUMMER BALLENTINE and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH&nbsp;

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man facing trial on kidnapping and sexual assault charges after a woman said she escaped weeks in his captivity was arraigned Friday on a new charge of murder. Authorities say they linked him to the remains of a woman found in a barrel by the Missouri River.

The case against Timothy M. Haslett gained renewed attention this week when the murder charge was filed. Prosecutors say Haslett killed 36-year-old Jaynie Crosdale. At the same time, police accounts have laid out the extent of the brutality the surviving woman described.

Haslett, 41, appeared in court Friday and entered a plea of not guilty.

The case against Haslett emerged in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-kidnapping-missouri-fb3dd5739aaa2a2d037f858163adb322">October 2022</a>&nbsp;after a woman told law enforcement she escaped from weeks of torture in his locked basement, according to a probable cause statement. Police said she bore marks on her back from whippings.

The survivor said she met Haslett while walking in a Kansas City area known for prostitution. She said Haslett offered her money, and she agreed to go with him to his home. Once she was in his pickup truck, the woman told law enforcement that he held a gun to her, raped her and forced her to take narcotics.

He then took her to his basement, which police described as a “dungeon” filled with torture devices, cameras and restraints. She said he raped and tortured her every day, and would cut off her breathing.

She escaped while she believed he was taking his child to school.

Police said they found photos of Haslett and two different women taken inside the dungeon room below his single-story home in Excelsior Springs, about 40 minutes northeast of Kansas City. A search of his phone uncovered more than 100,000 photos and videos, mainly screenshots from porn sites, of women being choked, masked and restrained.

A public defender for Haslett had not responded by Friday evening to multiple emails seeking comment.

The woman who survived said Haslett described killing two other women he previously kidnapped: one by suffocating her, and another who died after violent sexual torture.

He told her “if she did not listen to him, he would suffocate her and put her in a barrel like the rest of ‘them,’” according to the probable cause statement.

Haslett's phone also had saved maps of the Missouri River, where Crosdale’s body was found.

Authorities said they had been looking for Crosdale as a potential witness in the case after identifying her in photos found at Haslett's home.

Kayakers in June 2023 found a blue 30-gallon barrel with her remains inside while camping off the river in Saline County, according to police.

Haslett was indicted for first-degree murder in Crosdale's death this week.

He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indictments-child-endangerment-missouri-crime-kidnapping-e666d09d04a08170ca843eb6863a080e">previously indicted</a>&nbsp;on one count of rape, four counts of sodomy, two counts of second-degree assault and one count each of kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child. Haslett is being held in the Clay County Detention Center on $5 million bond.

It's not clear if there is a third victim. The charges filed this week are based on the evidence authorities currently have, and Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said the investigation is ongoing. He urged anyone with information to come forward.

“Today’s indictment represents the next step in our pursuit of justice for the victims, the families and our community,” Thompson said Tuesday.

In an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.savoryandsonsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Jaynie-Crosdale/#!/Obituary">obituary</a>, her family said Crosdale competed in track and field in grade school and “was known for her superior speed in sprints.”

“Her family never stopped looking for her; and although the outcome wasn’t what we prayed for, we found peace in finally being able to properly put her to rest last year,” the family said in a statement. “We find more peace in knowing that we are one step closer to getting her the justice she deserves.”

Family wrote in her obituary that she “accepted Christ at an early age.”

But life was hard for her. She lived on the streets, and struggled with mental illness and drug addiction, said Kris Wade, executive director of The Justice Project KC, who met her through outreach efforts.

She said when she heard Crosdale was missing, she instantly knew she was dead.

“I am really thankful that there will be justice for her and her family,” she said. “That’s the main thing I’m thankful for right now. She was really intelligent, really bright person. She had a lot of issues.”

Thompson says the evidence shows Crosdale was previously arrested for sex work, which was how she and Haslett met.

“In Clay County, regardless of who you are, how much money you have, what the color of your skin is, everyone is entitled to equal protection under the law,” Thompson said Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665352038142.png" alt="Haslett -photo Clay Co." />
 <figcaption>Haslett -photo Clay Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUMMER BALLENTINE and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH&nbsp;LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man facing trial on kidnapping and sexual assault charges after a woman said she escaped weeks in his captivity was arraigned Friday on a new charge of murder. Authorities say they linked him to the remains of a woman found in a barrel by the Missouri River.The case against Timothy M. Haslett gained renewed attention this week when the murder charge was filed. Prosecutors say Haslett killed 36-year-old Jaynie Crosdale. At the same time, police accounts have laid out the extent of the brutality the surviving woman described.Haslett, 41, appeared in court Friday and entered a plea of not guilty.Here are some details about the case:<h2>What happened?</h2>The case against Haslett emerged in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-kidnapping-missouri-fb3dd5739aaa2a2d037f858163adb322">October 2022</a>&nbsp;after a woman told law enforcement she escaped from weeks of torture in his locked basement, according to a probable cause statement. Police said she bore marks on her back from whippings.The survivor said she met Haslett while walking in a Kansas City area known for prostitution. She said Haslett offered her money, and she agreed to go with him to his home. Once she was in his pickup truck, the woman told law enforcement that he held a gun to her, raped her and forced her to take narcotics.He then took her to his basement, which police described as a “dungeon” filled with torture devices, cameras and restraints. She said he raped and tortured her every day, and would cut off her breathing.She escaped while she believed he was taking his child to school.Police said they found photos of Haslett and two different women taken inside the dungeon room below his single-story home in Excelsior Springs, about 40 minutes northeast of Kansas City. A search of his phone uncovered more than 100,000 photos and videos, mainly screenshots from porn sites, of women being choked, masked and restrained.A public defender for Haslett had not responded by Friday evening to multiple emails seeking comment.<h2>What about the murder charge?</h2>The woman who survived said Haslett described killing two other women he previously kidnapped: one by suffocating her, and another who died after violent sexual torture.He told her “if she did not listen to him, he would suffocate her and put her in a barrel like the rest of ‘them,’” according to the probable cause statement.Haslett's phone also had saved maps of the Missouri River, where Crosdale’s body was found.Authorities said they had been looking for Crosdale as a potential witness in the case after identifying her in photos found at Haslett's home.Kayakers in June 2023 found a blue 30-gallon barrel with her remains inside while camping off the river in Saline County, according to police.Haslett was indicted for first-degree murder in Crosdale's death this week.He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indictments-child-endangerment-missouri-crime-kidnapping-e666d09d04a08170ca843eb6863a080e">previously indicted</a>&nbsp;on one count of rape, four counts of sodomy, two counts of second-degree assault and one count each of kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child. Haslett is being held in the Clay County Detention Center on $5 million bond.<h2>Here's what we still don't know</h2>It's not clear if there is a third victim. The charges filed this week are based on the evidence authorities currently have, and Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said the investigation is ongoing. He urged anyone with information to come forward.“Today’s indictment represents the next step in our pursuit of justice for the victims, the families and our community,” Thompson said Tuesday.<h2>Who was Crosdale?</h2>In an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.savoryandsonsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Jaynie-Crosdale/#!/Obituary">obituary</a>, her family said Crosdale competed in track and field in grade school and “was known for her superior speed in sprints.”“Her family never stopped looking for her; and although the outcome wasn’t what we prayed for, we found peace in finally being able to properly put her to rest last year,” the family said in a statement. “We find more peace in knowing that we are one step closer to getting her the justice she deserves.”Family wrote in her obituary that she “accepted Christ at an early age.”But life was hard for her. She lived on the streets, and struggled with mental illness and drug addiction, said Kris Wade, executive director of The Justice Project KC, who met her through outreach efforts.She said when she heard Crosdale was missing, she instantly knew she was dead.“I am really thankful that there will be justice for her and her family,” she said. “That’s the main thing I’m thankful for right now. She was really intelligent, really bright person. She had a lot of issues.”Thompson says the evidence shows Crosdale was previously arrested for sex work, which was how she and Haslett met.“In Clay County, regardless of who you are, how much money you have, what the color of your skin is, everyone is entitled to equal protection under the law,” Thompson said Tuesday.

Woman escaped a 'dungeon’ beneath a KC area home, another was killed

KANSAS CITY—One person died in a three vehicle accident just before 11p.m. Monday in Kansas City.

A&nbsp; Kawasaki motorcycle was southbound on Interstate 435 at Bannister Road at a very high rate of speed, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

The driver lost control of the motorcycle when the Kawasaki struck the right rear corner of a Ford Edge. The Kawasaki driver was ejected from the motorcycle.&nbsp; He struck the guard rail on the west side of the highway, just prior to Bannister Road and was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was not wearing a helmet, according to DiMartino.&nbsp; As the Kawasaki motorcycle was coming to rest on the highway, a Toyota Sienna struck the Kawasaki. The driver of the Ford Edge was not injured. The driver and passenger in the Toyota Sienna had minor injuries and refused EMS. All southbound lanes were closed for approximately three hours.

Police have not released the name of the victim.

KANSAS CITY—One person died in a three vehicle accident just before 11p.m. Monday in Kansas City.A&nbsp; Kawasaki motorcycle was southbound on Interstate 435 at Bannister Road at a very high rate of speed, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.The driver lost control of the motorcycle when the Kawasaki struck the right rear corner of a Ford Edge. The Kawasaki driver was ejected from the motorcycle.&nbsp; He struck the guard rail on the west side of the highway, just prior to Bannister Road and was pronounced dead at the scene.He was not wearing a helmet, according to DiMartino.&nbsp; As the Kawasaki motorcycle was coming to rest on the highway, a Toyota Sienna struck the Kawasaki. The driver of the Ford Edge was not injured. The driver and passenger in the Toyota Sienna had minor injuries and refused EMS. All southbound lanes were closed for approximately three hours.Police have not released the name of the victim.

KCPD: Motorcyclist died in three vehicle crash

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former President Donald Trump on Monday chose U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-vice-president-vance-rubio-burgum-rnc-6cc438a8370a21b2631f5a53b06b71d0">Sen. JD Vance of Ohio</a>&nbsp;to be his running mate as he looks to return to the White House.

Two members of the Kansas congressional delegation used social media to show their support for the choice.

Here are some things to know about Vance, a 39-year-old Republican now in his first term in the Senate:

Vance rose to prominence with the memoir ‘Hillbilly Elegy’

Vance was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio. He joined the Marines and served in Iraq, and later earned degrees from Ohio State University and Yale Law School. He also worked as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley.

Vance made a name for himself with his memoir, the 2016 bestseller&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-arts-and-ohio-8c7a70bad96c48df9544049a38584cb8">“Hillbilly Elegy</a>," which was published as Trump was first running for president. The book earned Vance a reputation as someone who could help explain the maverick New York businessman’s appeal in middle America, especially among the working class, rural white voters who helped Trump win the presidency.

“Hillbilly Elegy” also introduced Vance to the Trump family. Donald Trump Jr. loved the book and knew of Vance when he went to launch his political career. The two hit it off and have remained friends.

He was first elected to public office in 2022

After Donald Trump won the 2016 election, Vance&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9f3517a87604417eab5e9ad0063cd589">returned to his native Ohio</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/took%20to%20the%20lecture%20circuit">set up an anti-opioid charity</a>. He also took to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-business-ohio-education-186ca3f092a60603891b60e199a3fa02">lecture circuit</a>&nbsp;and was a favored guest at Republican Lincoln Day dinners where his personal story — including the hardship Vance endured because of his mother’s drug addiction — resonated.

Vance's appearances were opportunities to sell his ideas for fixing the country and helped lay the groundwork for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arts-and-entertainment-government-and-politics-83e8bf8e1c90d88164b5a51fb1baf3c7">entering politics in 2021</a>, when he sought the Senate seat vacated by Republican Rob Portman, who retired.

Trump endorsed Vance. Vance went on to win&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-ohio-senate-9eeeed38cff92dbd88f1a7d48dcbfefc">a crowded Republican primary</a>&nbsp;and the general election.

Personal relationships are extremely important to the former president and he and Vance have developed a strong rapport over years, speaking on the phone regularly.

Trump has also complimented Vance’s beard, saying he “looks like a young Abraham Lincoln.”

Vance went from never-Trumper to fierce ally

Vance was a “never Trump” Republican in 2016. He called Trump “dangerous” and “unfit” for office. Vance, whose wife, lawyer Usha Chilukuri Vance, is Indian American and the mother of their three children, also criticized Trump’s racist rhetoric, saying he could be “America’s Hitler.”

But by the time Vance met Trump in 2021, he had reversed his opinion, citing Trump’s accomplishments as president. Both men downplayed Vance's past scathing criticism.

Once elected, Vance became a fierce Trump ally on Capitol Hill, unceasingly defending Trump’s policies and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-court-allies-jd-vance-2666cc432e5291e8fa7dd7fba9c2ffad">behavior</a>.

Kevin Roberts, president of the conservative Heritage Foundation, called Vance a leading voice for the conservative movement, on key issues including a shift away from interventionist foreign policy, free market economics and “American culture writ large.”

Democrats call him an extremist, citing provocative positions Vance has taken but sometimes later amended. Vance signaled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-tim-ryan-biden-6b00b57614dff12903d4228e74c37ac8">support for a national 15-week abortion ban</a>&nbsp;during his Senate run, for instance, then softened that stance once&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-amendment-election-2023-fe3e06747b616507d8ca21ea26485270">Ohio voters overwhelmingly backed</a>&nbsp;a 2023 abortion rights amendment.

Vance has adopted Trump's rhetoric about Jan. 6

On the 2020 election, he said he wouldn't have certified the results immediately if he had been vice president and said Trump had “a very legitimate grievance.” He has put conditions on honoring the results of the 2024 election that echo&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2024-election-lies-voter-fraud-biden-f3f3691c2ea0667ad694e3bee577d802">Trump's</a>. A litany of government and outside investigations have not found any election fraud that could have swung the outcome of Trump's 2020 loss to Democratic President Joe Biden.

In the Senate, Vance sometimes embraces bipartisanship. He and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown</a>&nbsp;co-sponsored a railway safety bill following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">fiery train derailment in the Ohio village of East Palestine</a>. He's sponsored legislation extending and increasing funding for Great Lakes restoration, and supported bipartisan legislation boosting workers and families.

People familiar with the vice presidential vetting process said Vance would bring to the GOP ticket debating skills and the ability to articulate Trump’s vision.

Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative activist group Turning Point USA, said Vance compellingly articulates the America First world view and could help Trump in states he closely lost in 2020, such as Michigan and Wisconsin, that share Ohio’s values, demographics and economy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721141641503.png" alt="Trump greeting Vance during the RNC Monday night-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Trump greeting Vance during the RNC Monday night-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former President Donald Trump on Monday chose U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-vice-president-vance-rubio-burgum-rnc-6cc438a8370a21b2631f5a53b06b71d0">Sen. JD Vance of Ohio</a>&nbsp;to be his running mate as he looks to return to the White House.Two members of the Kansas congressional delegation used social media to show their support for the choice.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I couldn’t be more proud of <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance1</a>. Trump made the perfect choice. JD is not only a colleague of mine, but he’s become a trusted friend that I have gotten to know very well. At this hour in America, we need a new generation of fighters, and there&#39;s no better name to aid…&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1812927349320786304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump has chosen a vice president that will get our country back on track. <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance1</a> will fight for Main Street and our American values. Congratulations, Senator &amp; congratulations President Trump on an incredible pick. I’m looking forward to November! <a href="https://t.co/4ClYjsrrR3">pic.twitter.com/4ClYjsrrR3</a>&mdash; Tracey Mann (@RepMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMann/status/1812953820135367148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Here are some things to know about Vance, a 39-year-old Republican now in his first term in the Senate:<h2>Vance rose to prominence with the memoir ‘Hillbilly Elegy’</h2>Vance was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio. He joined the Marines and served in Iraq, and later earned degrees from Ohio State University and Yale Law School. He also worked as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley.Vance made a name for himself with his memoir, the 2016 bestseller&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-arts-and-ohio-8c7a70bad96c48df9544049a38584cb8">“Hillbilly Elegy</a>," which was published as Trump was first running for president. The book earned Vance a reputation as someone who could help explain the maverick New York businessman’s appeal in middle America, especially among the working class, rural white voters who helped Trump win the presidency.“Hillbilly Elegy” also introduced Vance to the Trump family. Donald Trump Jr. loved the book and knew of Vance when he went to launch his political career. The two hit it off and have remained friends.<h2>He was first elected to public office in 2022</h2>After Donald Trump won the 2016 election, Vance&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9f3517a87604417eab5e9ad0063cd589">returned to his native Ohio</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/took%20to%20the%20lecture%20circuit">set up an anti-opioid charity</a>. He also took to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-business-ohio-education-186ca3f092a60603891b60e199a3fa02">lecture circuit</a>&nbsp;and was a favored guest at Republican Lincoln Day dinners where his personal story — including the hardship Vance endured because of his mother’s drug addiction — resonated.Vance's appearances were opportunities to sell his ideas for fixing the country and helped lay the groundwork for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arts-and-entertainment-government-and-politics-83e8bf8e1c90d88164b5a51fb1baf3c7">entering politics in 2021</a>, when he sought the Senate seat vacated by Republican Rob Portman, who retired.Trump endorsed Vance. Vance went on to win&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-ohio-senate-9eeeed38cff92dbd88f1a7d48dcbfefc">a crowded Republican primary</a>&nbsp;and the general election.<h2>He and Trump have personal chemistry</h2>Personal relationships are extremely important to the former president and he and Vance have developed a strong rapport over years, speaking on the phone regularly.Trump has also complimented Vance’s beard, saying he “looks like a young Abraham Lincoln.”<h2>Vance went from never-Trumper to fierce ally</h2>Vance was a “never Trump” Republican in 2016. He called Trump “dangerous” and “unfit” for office. Vance, whose wife, lawyer Usha Chilukuri Vance, is Indian American and the mother of their three children, also criticized Trump’s racist rhetoric, saying he could be “America’s Hitler.”But by the time Vance met Trump in 2021, he had reversed his opinion, citing Trump’s accomplishments as president. Both men downplayed Vance's past scathing criticism.Once elected, Vance became a fierce Trump ally on Capitol Hill, unceasingly defending Trump’s policies and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-court-allies-jd-vance-2666cc432e5291e8fa7dd7fba9c2ffad">behavior</a>.<h2>He is a leading conservative voice</h2>Kevin Roberts, president of the conservative Heritage Foundation, called Vance a leading voice for the conservative movement, on key issues including a shift away from interventionist foreign policy, free market economics and “American culture writ large.”Democrats call him an extremist, citing provocative positions Vance has taken but sometimes later amended. Vance signaled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-tim-ryan-biden-6b00b57614dff12903d4228e74c37ac8">support for a national 15-week abortion ban</a>&nbsp;during his Senate run, for instance, then softened that stance once&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-amendment-election-2023-fe3e06747b616507d8ca21ea26485270">Ohio voters overwhelmingly backed</a>&nbsp;a 2023 abortion rights amendment.<h2>Vance has adopted Trump's rhetoric about Jan. 6</h2>On the 2020 election, he said he wouldn't have certified the results immediately if he had been vice president and said Trump had “a very legitimate grievance.” He has put conditions on honoring the results of the 2024 election that echo&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2024-election-lies-voter-fraud-biden-f3f3691c2ea0667ad694e3bee577d802">Trump's</a>. A litany of government and outside investigations have not found any election fraud that could have swung the outcome of Trump's 2020 loss to Democratic President Joe Biden.In the Senate, Vance sometimes embraces bipartisanship. He and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown</a>&nbsp;co-sponsored a railway safety bill following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">fiery train derailment in the Ohio village of East Palestine</a>. He's sponsored legislation extending and increasing funding for Great Lakes restoration, and supported bipartisan legislation boosting workers and families.<h2>Vance can articulate Trump's vision</h2>People familiar with the vice presidential vetting process said Vance would bring to the GOP ticket debating skills and the ability to articulate Trump’s vision.Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative activist group Turning Point USA, said Vance compellingly articulates the America First world view and could help Trump in states he closely lost in 2020, such as Michigan and Wisconsin, that share Ohio’s values, demographics and economy.

2 Kansas lawmakers like Trump's choice for Vice President

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Members of the Douglas County Underwater Search and Recovery Team recovered the body of 23-year-old Cesar Cardenas Olivas at Clinton Lake Saturday evening, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman&nbsp;George Diepenbrock.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday, deputies and first responders were called to the lake after a report that friends saw Olivas struggling in the water.

The Doughals County Underwater Search and Recovery Team responded to the Bloomington Beach area.&nbsp; According to preliminary information, Olivas and his friends, about 5p.m., were in the area recommended to be closed to swimmers due to flooding before he went missing.

Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical and game wardens with Kansas Wildlife and Parks also responded to the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703204320774.png" alt="File photo Douglas County Underwater Search and Recovery Team" />
 <figcaption>File photo Douglas County Underwater Search and Recovery Team</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY — Members of the Douglas County Underwater Search and Recovery Team recovered the body of 23-year-old Cesar Cardenas Olivas at Clinton Lake Saturday evening, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman&nbsp;George Diepenbrock.Just before 7p.m. Saturday, deputies and first responders were called to the lake after a report that friends saw Olivas struggling in the water.The Doughals County Underwater Search and Recovery Team responded to the Bloomington Beach area.&nbsp; According to preliminary information, Olivas and his friends, about 5p.m., were in the area recommended to be closed to swimmers due to flooding before he went missing.Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical and game wardens with Kansas Wildlife and Parks also responded to the scene.

Sheriff IDs Kan. drowning victim who was in area closed to swimmers

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is ready to propose a 5% cap on annual rent increases for tenants of major landlords as he tries to show he’s doing something about the high cost of housing, according to a person familiar with the plan.

The proposal, to be announced while the president visits Nevada on Tuesday, is being championed by Biden in the middle of a tense presidential campaign and a time when housing costs have been a major driver of overall inflation.

But the plan would require solid Democratic control of Congress to become law. Additionally, most policymakers have said the best way to limit housing costs would be through more construction and changes to land use regulations.

The person familiar with the plan spoke on the condition of anonymity because the proposal has not yet been formally announced.

Biden himself previewed the announcement at his NATO news conference Thursday, folding it into comments that blamed inflation on companies trying to maximize their profits in the aftermath of the pandemic.

“It’s time things get back in order a little bit,” Biden said. “If I’m reelected, we’re going to make sure that rents are kept at 5% increase.”

The Washington Post first reported Monday the details of the plan, which would only apply to landlords who own 50 or more units. The price cap would not apply to units that have yet to be built.

White House officials declined to comment.

The median national rent was $1,411 a month in June, up from roughly $1,150 in early 2021 when Biden became president, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/national-rent-data" target="_blank">Apartment List</a>.

Asking prices for rentals jumped in the aftermath of the pandemic and have since cooled, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/americas-rental-housing-2024" target="_blank">Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies</a>&nbsp;found in its most recent report that half of renters were “cost burdened” because they spend more than 30% of their income on housing and utilities.

In recent months, housing has been a primary contributor to keeping the consumer price index elevated at 3% annually. Inflation has been a fundamental obstacle for Biden politically as he competes against Donald Trump, the former president and Republican nominee.

The president has proposed policies designed to increase home construction, but industry representatives were quick to criticize the rent cap as ineffective for addressing the overall shortage and possibly leading to fewer habitable units than the country would otherwise have.

“This is not going to create a single unit of housing — which is what is needed to create more housing opportunities for Americans,” said Sharon Wilson Géno, CEO of the National Multifamily Housing Council. “This is really a campaign-driven piece of rhetoric.”

Géno noted that landlords need to be able to keep up with costs such as maintenance, insurance and state and local taxes. If those costs exceed what they can charge for rent, the risk is that landlords will do less to maintain their properties and tenants could be worse off.

“What does that mean — the quality of the housing suffers,” she said.

But affordable housing advocates said that if Biden’s proposal had already been in effect, it would have likely reduced evictions and homelessness.

“The recent unprecedented increases in homelessness in communities across the country are the result of those equally unprecedented — and unjustified — rent hikes of a couple years ago,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “Had such protections against rent gouging been in place then, many families could have avoided homelessness and stayed stably housed.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is ready to propose a 5% cap on annual rent increases for tenants of major landlords as he tries to show he’s doing something about the high cost of housing, according to a person familiar with the plan.The proposal, to be announced while the president visits Nevada on Tuesday, is being championed by Biden in the middle of a tense presidential campaign and a time when housing costs have been a major driver of overall inflation.But the plan would require solid Democratic control of Congress to become law. Additionally, most policymakers have said the best way to limit housing costs would be through more construction and changes to land use regulations.The person familiar with the plan spoke on the condition of anonymity because the proposal has not yet been formally announced.Biden himself previewed the announcement at his NATO news conference Thursday, folding it into comments that blamed inflation on companies trying to maximize their profits in the aftermath of the pandemic.“It’s time things get back in order a little bit,” Biden said. “If I’m reelected, we’re going to make sure that rents are kept at 5% increase.”The Washington Post first reported Monday the details of the plan, which would only apply to landlords who own 50 or more units. The price cap would not apply to units that have yet to be built.White House officials declined to comment.The median national rent was $1,411 a month in June, up from roughly $1,150 in early 2021 when Biden became president, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/national-rent-data" target="_blank">Apartment List</a>.Asking prices for rentals jumped in the aftermath of the pandemic and have since cooled, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/americas-rental-housing-2024" target="_blank">Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies</a>&nbsp;found in its most recent report that half of renters were “cost burdened” because they spend more than 30% of their income on housing and utilities.In recent months, housing has been a primary contributor to keeping the consumer price index elevated at 3% annually. Inflation has been a fundamental obstacle for Biden politically as he competes against Donald Trump, the former president and Republican nominee.The president has proposed policies designed to increase home construction, but industry representatives were quick to criticize the rent cap as ineffective for addressing the overall shortage and possibly leading to fewer habitable units than the country would otherwise have.“This is not going to create a single unit of housing — which is what is needed to create more housing opportunities for Americans,” said Sharon Wilson Géno, CEO of the National Multifamily Housing Council. “This is really a campaign-driven piece of rhetoric.”Géno noted that landlords need to be able to keep up with costs such as maintenance, insurance and state and local taxes. If those costs exceed what they can charge for rent, the risk is that landlords will do less to maintain their properties and tenants could be worse off.“What does that mean — the quality of the housing suffers,” she said.But affordable housing advocates said that if Biden’s proposal had already been in effect, it would have likely reduced evictions and homelessness.“The recent unprecedented increases in homelessness in communities across the country are the result of those equally unprecedented — and unjustified — rent hikes of a couple years ago,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “Had such protections against rent gouging been in place then, many families could have avoided homelessness and stayed stably housed.”

Biden to call for 5% cap on annual rent increases

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Just before 5a.m. Monday, police in Wichita reported they located a 2-year-old boy, the subject of an Amber Alert, who was now safe and the boy's father 25-year-old <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=749526">Richard Ramones was custody. </a>

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation then canceled the Amber Alert.&nbsp;Some members of the public who received the Amber Alert message wondered why the alert was not sent earlier.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721095041684.png" alt="Ramones-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ramones-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Just before 5a.m. Monday, police in Wichita reported they located a 2-year-old boy, the subject of an Amber Alert, who was now safe and the boy's father 25-year-old <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=749526">Richard Ramones was custody. </a>The Kansas Bureau of Investigation then canceled the Amber Alert.&nbsp;Some members of the public who received the Amber Alert message wondered why the alert was not sent earlier.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the KBI, at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, the boy was physically taken from his mother by Ramones, who assaulted the mother. She was holding boy at the time of the assault and the father fell into furniture with the child, possibly causing injury to him.&nbsp;The child was believed to be injured and in imminent danger.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation explained the delay. "Wichita Police contacted KBI at 3 a.m. Monday related to this incident. Just before 3:40 a.m. it was decided that the abduction met the Department of Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AMBERalert?__cft__[0]=AZU1kAkO4kM3-JBIR9cWYdjqRQi5Rq_MBUA6Yl2q2taLaxGmYKlakt1fAMuYTR4vMqSbPZwhHPEf5a8i-6PCCL1itcT8UIQv5rKzdsPp8H7cpo-vkw9YhqUNstQDa4ITx4GumKOQO0hwQrSrPq0e0gTQS4EIVLYoHbBTz_GrEdysS_InRLyEFE8U6yB4awkp-LDICe_eVurbiZWkl1GBFypz&amp;__tn__=R]-R">AMBER Alert</a>&nbsp;criteria. Then at 4:03 a.m. the KBI sent notifications to media and other subscribers&nbsp;of the AMBER alert." "Between 3 and 4 a.m., KBI gained and reviewed case facts, obtained necessary info about the child and suspects (including their photographs) and entered it into multiple AMBER alert systems to coordinate the WEA, EAS, website, social media and more."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721037613565.png" alt="Photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=749526">Ramones remains jailed on</a> requested charges of domestic battery and aggravated endangering a child, according to online jail records.