JOHNSON COUNTY&nbsp; —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit-and-run are asking the public for assistance in locating a white Truck Tractor with silver tank trailer, according to the Overland Park Police Department.

 This vehicle was involved in the fatality hit-and-run October 9 on Interstate 435 at Metcalf Avenue.

&nbsp;The vehicle pulled over and stopped westbound Interstate 435 in the area of Antioch Road.  After a brief time, the driver continued westbound&nbsp; and then exited to southbound Interstate 35. 

Police are continuing to track the movements through the use of cameras.  Any help identifying this vehicle with markings or company names email: pdtrafficunit@opkansas.org&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697226335288.png" alt="Photo Overland Park Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Overland Park Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY&nbsp; —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit-and-run are asking the public for assistance in locating a white Truck Tractor with silver tank trailer, according to the Overland Park Police Department. This vehicle was involved in the fatality hit-and-run October 9 on Interstate 435 at Metcalf Avenue.&nbsp;The vehicle pulled over and stopped westbound Interstate 435 in the area of Antioch Road. After a brief time, the driver continued westbound&nbsp; and then exited to southbound Interstate 35. Police are continuing to track the movements through the use of cameras. Any help identifying this vehicle with markings or company names email: pdtrafficunit@opkansas.org&nbsp;

Police looking for semi involved in fatal Kan. hit-and-run

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/kelciemoseley-morris/">KELCIE MOSELEY-MORRIS</a>

A group of more than 600 Democratic legislators from Kansas, Missouri and 47 other states have signed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court urging the justices to overturn an appellate court decision that would roll back access to mifepristone, one of two drugs used to safely terminate early pregnancies and treat miscarriages.

The amicus brief, also called a “friend of the court” brief, was organized by State Innovation Exchange’s Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council and assembled over the past week, said Jennifer Driver, the group’s senior director of reproductive rights. Driver said&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://stateinnovation.org/">State Innovation Exchange</a>, also known as SiX, provides tools and resources for state legislators to advocate for progressive public policies after being elected to office.

Driver said SiX did ask Republican legislators to sign on as well, but didn’t manage to garner any bipartisan support.

Every state, with the exception of Mississippi, had Democratic legislators who signed their names to the brief, with the highest number of participants from Illinois, followed by North Carolina, New York and Colorado. Driver said 13 state representatives from Arkansas also signed on.

“This statement should say that across the country, in almost every state, there are legislators that are saying their ability to protect their community should not be interfered with,” Driver said. “Even in ruby red states, there are legislators who are still fighting for abortion access, and they understand the ramifications of what happened in Dobbs and what could happen in this case.”

Upholding 5th Circuit would mean reinstating prior restrictions on pill&nbsp;

The Supreme Court has<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-justice-department-asks-supreme-court-take-abortion-pill-case">&nbsp;not yet accepted</a>&nbsp;the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine’s case against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but the court already involved itself in April by<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-preserves-access-abortion-pill-lawsuit-continues">&nbsp;temporarily blocking</a>&nbsp;the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision. If the high court declines to hear the case or upholds the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/23/23-10362-CV1.pdf">&nbsp;appellate court’s ruling</a>, the FDA’s rules that allowed expanded access of mifepristone would be struck down.

That would include the ability for providers to prescribe the medication via telehealth or send the medication in the mail, and it would decrease the time limit from 10 weeks of pregnancy to seven weeks. The results of most pregnancy tests are not reliable until after an individual has already missed a period at four weeks of pregnancy.

It would also require patients to see providers at three separate clinic appointments in person, which would be especially difficult for those traveling from one of the 14 states with abortion bans to access care.

The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine is a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://clearinghouse.net/case/43886/">group</a>&nbsp;of four anti-abortion organizations and four doctors that formed in 2022 and incorporated in Amarillo, Texas. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who is in Amarillo, made the initial ruling that would have revoked mifepristone’s approval in its entirety, leading some to conclude the plaintiffs chose to incorporate there for a favorable outcome in Kacsmaryk’s court.

The plaintiffs are represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious conservative group that recruits and trains attorneys to litigate cultural issue cases, including abortion, anti-LGBTQ legislation and what they consider violations of Christian religious freedom. The same organization was also involved in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning the constitutional right to an abortion. The attorneys have argued the FDA illegally approved mifepristone in 2000, and have repeatedly contended that the drug is unsafe and responsible for many deaths — a claim that is<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/suspect-science-and-claims-center-abortion-pill-lawsuit">&nbsp;not backed</a>&nbsp;by credible sources.

According to the FDA, 28 deaths out of an estimated 5.6 million people in 23 years have been associated with mifepristone’s regimen for terminating a pregnancy, which is a markedly lower rate than many common FDA-approved drugs, like<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-02-17/abortion-pill-mifepristone-is-safer-than-tylenol-and-almost-impossible-to-get">&nbsp;Tylenol and Viagra</a>. And as the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/media/164331/download">&nbsp;FDA notes</a>, that small number includes fatal cases “regardless of causal attribution to mifepristone,” including people who died from homicide, suicide and pulmonary emphysema.

Legislators in Minnesota, North Carolina take the lead on brief

In the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf">&nbsp;Dobbs decision</a>, written by Justice Samuel Alito and issued in June 2022, the justices in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade said the regulation of abortion should be left to the states, “in accordance with the views of its citizens,” just as it was prior to the Roe ruling in 1973.

“It is time to heed the (U.S.) Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives,” Alito wrote.

That’s one of the reasons why the legislators decided to submit the brief, said Minnesota Democratic state Sen. Erin Maye Quade, one of two lawmakers leading the effort. While the legislators who signed on aren’t saying they agree with the Dobbs decision or the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the law, the justices’ own logic for the decision demonstrates that federal courts should not come between state laws on the issue of abortion.

“This (case) gives them an opportunity to decide whether abortion is really going to be up to states or not,” Maye Quade told States Newsroom on Tuesday.

The representatives and senators also argue that elected officials rely on the FDA’s authority to approve medications on the market, and allowing the 5th Circuit’s ruling to stand would undermine that authority. In a state like Minnesota, which is almost entirely surrounded by states with abortion bans, access to mifepristone is vital, Maye Quade said. Following Texas’ implementation of its abortion ban prior to the Dobbs ruling in 2022, Minnesota started to see an increase in patients seeking care. Maye Quade said there was a 20% increase in the state in 2022, and in 2023, the numbers continue to increase.

The other lawmaker leading the case is Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Democrat in North Carolina’s General Assembly. The legislature in North Carolina passed Senate Bill 20 earlier this year, banning abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy and requiring patients to receive counseling at least 72 hours before the termination is scheduled to take place. A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2023/10/first-month-after-north-carolinas-latest-abortion-restrictions-facility-based-abortions?utm_source=Guttmacher+Email+Alerts&amp;utm_campaign=bdacbbe2a3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_10_09_06_20&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_-bdacbbe2a3-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D">report issued Wednesday</a>&nbsp;by the Guttmacher Institute showed between June and July, when the law went into effect, abortions decreased by 31%. North Carolina was an access point for many people in surrounding states, von Haefen said, and that drop was jarring.

“We just believe that the Supreme Court made this decision in Dobbs, and they have to step in and say, ‘No more, we have to leave these decisions to state legislators,’” von Haefen said.

According to the U.S. Supreme Court’s<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-235.html">&nbsp;docket</a>, attorneys for the plaintiffs are scheduled to file their brief in opposition to the court taking the case by Nov. 9.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967437018.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/kelciemoseley-morris/">KELCIE MOSELEY-MORRIS</a>A group of more than 600 Democratic legislators from Kansas, Missouri and 47 other states have signed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court urging the justices to overturn an appellate court decision that would roll back access to mifepristone, one of two drugs used to safely terminate early pregnancies and treat miscarriages.The amicus brief, also called a “friend of the court” brief, was organized by State Innovation Exchange’s Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council and assembled over the past week, said Jennifer Driver, the group’s senior director of reproductive rights. Driver said&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://stateinnovation.org/">State Innovation Exchange</a>, also known as SiX, provides tools and resources for state legislators to advocate for progressive public policies after being elected to office.Driver said SiX did ask Republican legislators to sign on as well, but didn’t manage to garner any bipartisan support.Every state, with the exception of Mississippi, had Democratic legislators who signed their names to the brief, with the highest number of participants from Illinois, followed by North Carolina, New York and Colorado. Driver said 13 state representatives from Arkansas also signed on.“This statement should say that across the country, in almost every state, there are legislators that are saying their ability to protect their community should not be interfered with,” Driver said. “Even in ruby red states, there are legislators who are still fighting for abortion access, and they understand the ramifications of what happened in Dobbs and what could happen in this case.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697231554048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697231693781.png" alt="A group of more than 600 Democratic legislators from 49 states signed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court urging the justices to overturn an appellate court decision that would roll back access to mifepristone, one of two drugs used to safely terminate early pregnancies and treat miscarriages." />
 <figcaption>A group of more than 600 Democratic legislators from 49 states signed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court urging the justices to overturn an appellate court decision that would roll back access to mifepristone, one of two drugs used to safely terminate early pregnancies and treat miscarriages.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Upholding 5th Circuit would mean reinstating prior restrictions on pill&nbsp;</h2>The Supreme Court has<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-justice-department-asks-supreme-court-take-abortion-pill-case">&nbsp;not yet accepted</a>&nbsp;the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine’s case against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but the court already involved itself in April by<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-preserves-access-abortion-pill-lawsuit-continues">&nbsp;temporarily blocking</a>&nbsp;the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision. If the high court declines to hear the case or upholds the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/23/23-10362-CV1.pdf">&nbsp;appellate court’s ruling</a>, the FDA’s rules that allowed expanded access of mifepristone would be struck down.That would include the ability for providers to prescribe the medication via telehealth or send the medication in the mail, and it would decrease the time limit from 10 weeks of pregnancy to seven weeks. The results of most pregnancy tests are not reliable until after an individual has already missed a period at four weeks of pregnancy.It would also require patients to see providers at three separate clinic appointments in person, which would be especially difficult for those traveling from one of the 14 states with abortion bans to access care.The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine is a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://clearinghouse.net/case/43886/">group</a>&nbsp;of four anti-abortion organizations and four doctors that formed in 2022 and incorporated in Amarillo, Texas. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who is in Amarillo, made the initial ruling that would have revoked mifepristone’s approval in its entirety, leading some to conclude the plaintiffs chose to incorporate there for a favorable outcome in Kacsmaryk’s court.The plaintiffs are represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious conservative group that recruits and trains attorneys to litigate cultural issue cases, including abortion, anti-LGBTQ legislation and what they consider violations of Christian religious freedom. The same organization was also involved in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning the constitutional right to an abortion. The attorneys have argued the FDA illegally approved mifepristone in 2000, and have repeatedly contended that the drug is unsafe and responsible for many deaths — a claim that is<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/suspect-science-and-claims-center-abortion-pill-lawsuit">&nbsp;not backed</a>&nbsp;by credible sources.According to the FDA, 28 deaths out of an estimated 5.6 million people in 23 years have been associated with mifepristone’s regimen for terminating a pregnancy, which is a markedly lower rate than many common FDA-approved drugs, like<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-02-17/abortion-pill-mifepristone-is-safer-than-tylenol-and-almost-impossible-to-get">&nbsp;Tylenol and Viagra</a>. And as the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/media/164331/download">&nbsp;FDA notes</a>, that small number includes fatal cases “regardless of causal attribution to mifepristone,” including people who died from homicide, suicide and pulmonary emphysema.<h2>Legislators in Minnesota, North Carolina take the lead on brief</h2>In the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf">&nbsp;Dobbs decision</a>, written by Justice Samuel Alito and issued in June 2022, the justices in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade said the regulation of abortion should be left to the states, “in accordance with the views of its citizens,” just as it was prior to the Roe ruling in 1973.“It is time to heed the (U.S.) Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives,” Alito wrote.That’s one of the reasons why the legislators decided to submit the brief, said Minnesota Democratic state Sen. Erin Maye Quade, one of two lawmakers leading the effort. While the legislators who signed on aren’t saying they agree with the Dobbs decision or the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the law, the justices’ own logic for the decision demonstrates that federal courts should not come between state laws on the issue of abortion.“This (case) gives them an opportunity to decide whether abortion is really going to be up to states or not,” Maye Quade told States Newsroom on Tuesday.The representatives and senators also argue that elected officials rely on the FDA’s authority to approve medications on the market, and allowing the 5th Circuit’s ruling to stand would undermine that authority. In a state like Minnesota, which is almost entirely surrounded by states with abortion bans, access to mifepristone is vital, Maye Quade said. Following Texas’ implementation of its abortion ban prior to the Dobbs ruling in 2022, Minnesota started to see an increase in patients seeking care. Maye Quade said there was a 20% increase in the state in 2022, and in 2023, the numbers continue to increase.The other lawmaker leading the case is Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Democrat in North Carolina’s General Assembly. The legislature in North Carolina passed Senate Bill 20 earlier this year, banning abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy and requiring patients to receive counseling at least 72 hours before the termination is scheduled to take place. A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2023/10/first-month-after-north-carolinas-latest-abortion-restrictions-facility-based-abortions?utm_source=Guttmacher+Email+Alerts&amp;utm_campaign=bdacbbe2a3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_10_09_06_20&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_-bdacbbe2a3-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D">report issued Wednesday</a>&nbsp;by the Guttmacher Institute showed between June and July, when the law went into effect, abortions decreased by 31%. North Carolina was an access point for many people in surrounding states, von Haefen said, and that drop was jarring.“We just believe that the Supreme Court made this decision in Dobbs, and they have to step in and say, ‘No more, we have to leave these decisions to state legislators,’” von Haefen said.According to the U.S. Supreme Court’s<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-235.html">&nbsp;docket</a>, attorneys for the plaintiffs are scheduled to file their brief in opposition to the court taking the case by Nov. 9.

Legislators in Kan., Mo. ask SCOTUS to preserve access to abortion pill

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Kansas City-area shooting have a suspect in custody.

&nbsp;The shooting occurred Wednesday at a school bus stop in the 900 Block of Imperial Lane, according to the Blue Springs Police Department.&nbsp; The victim was transported to the hospital.

On Thursday police reported the arrest of&nbsp; 24-year-old Vatece Davis of Lee’s Summit on requested charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Armed Criminal Action and Stealing. She is being held on a $200,000 bond.

Police have not reported an update on the condition of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697157999338.png" alt="Security camera image Blue Springs Police" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image Blue Springs Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Kansas City-area shooting have a suspect in custody.&nbsp;The shooting occurred Wednesday at a school bus stop in the 900 Block of Imperial Lane, according to the Blue Springs Police Department.&nbsp; The victim was transported to the hospital.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697229669535.png" alt="Davis-photo Jackson County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Davis-photo Jackson County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday police reported the arrest of&nbsp; 24-year-old Vatece Davis of Lee’s Summit on requested charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Armed Criminal Action and Stealing. She is being held on a $200,000 bond.Police have not reported an update on the condition of the victim.

Police capture woman in KC-area bus stop shooting 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man charged in the museum heist of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/solen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-5d142469ad5f052f6af053d20dbf20c4">a pair of ruby slippers</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/judy-garland">Judy Garland</a>&nbsp;wore in the “The Wizard of Oz” pleaded guilty Friday in a deal that could keep him out of prison due to his failing health, but only cleared up some of the mystery that dates back 18 years.

Terry Jon Martin, 76, pleaded guilty to a single count of theft of a major artwork. The shoes were stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and recovered by the FBI in 2018.

No one was arrested until Martin, who lives near Grand Rapids, was charged this year. During his change-of-plea hearing in federal court in Duluth, Martin said he used a hammer to smash the glass of the museum door and display case to take the slippers. He said he thought the slippers had real rubies and that he had hoped to sell the gems. But when a fence told him the rubies were glass, he said he got rid of the slippers.

Martin did not say how he got rid of them or to whom he gave them, leaving the slippers' whereabouts during the ensuing years a mystery. He did say that the theft had nothing to do with trying to get insurance money, as some have speculated.

“Terry has no idea where they were and how they were recovered," Martin’s attorney, Dane DeKrey, said afterward. "His involvement was that two-day period in 2005.”

Under the plea agreement, DeKrey and federal prosecutor Matt Greenley recommended that Martin not face any time behind bars because of his age and poor health. Martin, who appeared in court in a wheelchair with supplemental oxygen, has advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and struggles to breathe, DeKrey said. The proposed sentence would let Martin die at home, the attorney said.

“He's basically slowly suffocating to death,” DeKrey said.

Martin, who has a 1988 conviction for receiving stolen goods, remained free on his own recognizance after the hearing. U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz, the chief federal judge for Minnesota, ordered a presentence investigation and said he'd likely schedule the sentencing for about 2 1/2 months from now.

Schiltz told Martin that he isn't legally bound by the sentencing recommendation by the defense and prosecution. According to DeKrey, the nonbinding federal sentencing guidelines recommended eight to 10 years in similar cases.

The U.S. attorney's office said it would have no comment until after Martin is sentenced.

Garland wore several pairs of ruby slippers during filming of the classic 1939 musical, but only four authentic pairs are known to remain. The stolen slippers were insured for $1 million, but federal prosecutors put the current market value at about $3.5 million.

The FBI said a man approached the insurer in 2017 and said he could help get them back. The slippers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f15402e28f04341b6a25d179b070fc5">recovered during an FBI sting</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis. The FBI has never disclosed how it tracked down the slippers, which remain in the agency's custody.

The slippers were on loan to the museum from Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw when Martin stole them. Three other pairs that Garland wore in the movie are held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.si.edu/object/dorothys-ruby-slippers:nmah_670130">Smithsonian Museum of American History</a>&nbsp;and a private collector.

Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/958ee83929104907b80b387d92bb71e8">rewards were offered</a>&nbsp;over the years in hopes of figuring out who stole the slippers, which were key props in the 1939 movie. Garland’s character, Dorothy, has to click the slippers' heels three times and repeat, “There’s no place like home,” to return home to Kansas.

Garland was born Frances Gumm in 1922. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/16889e9c55dd4728a45ee11a783b74de">lived in Grand Rapids,</a>&nbsp;about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Minneapolis, until she was 4, when her family moved to Los Angeles. She died in 1969.

The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com/">Judy Garland Museum,</a>&nbsp;which is in the house where she lived, says it has the world’s largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684352824766.png" alt="FILE - A pair of ruby slippers once worn by actress Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz" sit on display at a news conference on Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Federal prosecutors say a man has been indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, on charges of stealing a pair of ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz.” The FBI recovered the slippers in 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - A pair of ruby slippers once worn by actress Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz" sit on display at a news conference on Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Federal prosecutors say a man has been indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, on charges of stealing a pair of ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz.” The FBI recovered the slippers in 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man charged in the museum heist of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/solen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-5d142469ad5f052f6af053d20dbf20c4">a pair of ruby slippers</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/judy-garland">Judy Garland</a>&nbsp;wore in the “The Wizard of Oz” pleaded guilty Friday in a deal that could keep him out of prison due to his failing health, but only cleared up some of the mystery that dates back 18 years.Terry Jon Martin, 76, pleaded guilty to a single count of theft of a major artwork. The shoes were stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and recovered by the FBI in 2018.No one was arrested until Martin, who lives near Grand Rapids, was charged this year. During his change-of-plea hearing in federal court in Duluth, Martin said he used a hammer to smash the glass of the museum door and display case to take the slippers. He said he thought the slippers had real rubies and that he had hoped to sell the gems. But when a fence told him the rubies were glass, he said he got rid of the slippers.Martin did not say how he got rid of them or to whom he gave them, leaving the slippers' whereabouts during the ensuing years a mystery. He did say that the theft had nothing to do with trying to get insurance money, as some have speculated.“Terry has no idea where they were and how they were recovered," Martin’s attorney, Dane DeKrey, said afterward. "His involvement was that two-day period in 2005.”Under the plea agreement, DeKrey and federal prosecutor Matt Greenley recommended that Martin not face any time behind bars because of his age and poor health. Martin, who appeared in court in a wheelchair with supplemental oxygen, has advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and struggles to breathe, DeKrey said. The proposed sentence would let Martin die at home, the attorney said.“He's basically slowly suffocating to death,” DeKrey said.Martin, who has a 1988 conviction for receiving stolen goods, remained free on his own recognizance after the hearing. U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz, the chief federal judge for Minnesota, ordered a presentence investigation and said he'd likely schedule the sentencing for about 2 1/2 months from now.Schiltz told Martin that he isn't legally bound by the sentencing recommendation by the defense and prosecution. According to DeKrey, the nonbinding federal sentencing guidelines recommended eight to 10 years in similar cases.The U.S. attorney's office said it would have no comment until after Martin is sentenced.Garland wore several pairs of ruby slippers during filming of the classic 1939 musical, but only four authentic pairs are known to remain. The stolen slippers were insured for $1 million, but federal prosecutors put the current market value at about $3.5 million.The FBI said a man approached the insurer in 2017 and said he could help get them back. The slippers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f15402e28f04341b6a25d179b070fc5">recovered during an FBI sting</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis. The FBI has never disclosed how it tracked down the slippers, which remain in the agency's custody.The slippers were on loan to the museum from Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw when Martin stole them. Three other pairs that Garland wore in the movie are held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.si.edu/object/dorothys-ruby-slippers:nmah_670130">Smithsonian Museum of American History</a>&nbsp;and a private collector.Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/958ee83929104907b80b387d92bb71e8">rewards were offered</a>&nbsp;over the years in hopes of figuring out who stole the slippers, which were key props in the 1939 movie. Garland’s character, Dorothy, has to click the slippers' heels three times and repeat, “There’s no place like home,” to return home to Kansas.Garland was born Frances Gumm in 1922. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/16889e9c55dd4728a45ee11a783b74de">lived in Grand Rapids,</a>&nbsp;about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Minneapolis, until she was 4, when her family moved to Los Angeles. She died in 1969.The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com/">Judy Garland Museum,</a>&nbsp;which is in the house where she lived, says it has the world’s largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.___

Man admits stealing 'Wizard of Oz' ruby slippers from museum 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a third homicide in Topeka since Tuesday in Topeka.

Just before 1:30 a.m. Friday, police responded to a report of a shooting victim at a local hospital, according to Topeka Police Captain Jerry Monasmith.

At the hospital, officers located 17-year-old Damayah Calhoun suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.&nbsp; Medical personnel pronounce Calhoun deceased. 

This incident is being investigated as a homicide. Police have not indicated a connection with two other teen murders this week.

Just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a shooting in the 1200 block of SW Clay Street in Topeka.&nbsp; First responders located&nbsp;Ra’Juan Spicer, 18, Topeka, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.

EMS personnel pronounced him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

At 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania Street in Topeka.

First responders located 17-year-old Victor Carlton suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest in these cases.

Friday's death is the 29th homicide in Topeka in 2023, according to Monasmith.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215827398.png" alt="Scene of the police investigation Friday morning -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the police investigation Friday morning -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a third homicide in Topeka since Tuesday in Topeka.Just before 1:30 a.m. Friday, police responded to a report of a shooting victim at a local hospital, according to Topeka Police Captain Jerry Monasmith.At the hospital, officers located 17-year-old Damayah Calhoun suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.&nbsp; Medical personnel pronounce Calhoun deceased. This incident is being investigated as a homicide. Police have not indicated a connection with two other teen murders this week.Just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a shooting in the 1200 block of SW Clay Street in Topeka.&nbsp; First responders located&nbsp;Ra’Juan Spicer, 18, Topeka, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.EMS personnel pronounced him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;At 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania Street in Topeka.First responders located 17-year-old Victor Carlton suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest in these cases.Friday's death is the 29th homicide in Topeka in 2023, according to Monasmith.

Homicide: 3 Kansas teens dead in 4 days of violence

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans chose firebrand Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jim-jordan">Jim Jordan</a>&nbsp;as their new nominee for House speaker during internal voting Friday, putting the gavel within reach of the staunch ally of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump.

Electing Jordan, a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, to the powerful position second in line to the presidency would move the GOP’s far right into a central seat of U.S. power. A groundswell of high-profile backers including Fox News’ Sean Hannity publicly pressured lawmakers to vote Jordan into the speaker’s office after the stunning ouster of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555">Kevin McCarthy</a>.

Jordan, of Ohio, will now try to unite colleagues from the deeply&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-ousted-mccarthy-3fccfca11fe61c36fe399880f2679f12">divided House GOP majority</a>&nbsp;ahead of a public vote on the floor, which could push to next week. Republicans split 124-81 in Friday's private vote, though a second secret ballot nudged his tally higher.

“I think Jordan would do a great job,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said ahead of the vote. “We got to get this back on track.”

Frustrated House Republicans have been fighting bitterly over whom they should elect to replace McCarthy to lead their party after his unprecedented ouster by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">handful of hardliners</a>. The stalemate between the factions, now in its second week, has thrown the House into chaos, grinding all other business to a halt.

Attention swiftly turned to Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman and founder of the far-right Freedom Caucus, as the next potential candidate after Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/Handfuls%20of%20hard-liners%20announced%20they%20were%20sticking%20with%20Jordan,%20McCarthy%20or%20someone%20other%20than%20Scalise.">Steve Scalise</a>&nbsp;abruptly ended his bid when it became clear holdouts would refuse to back his nomination.

But not all Republicans want to see Jordan as speaker.

Jordan is known for his close&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speaker-mccarthy-capitol-hill-432f89f6826b2b4f51990ae4b4d293fb">alliance with Trump</a>, particularly when the then-president was working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

His rise would all but complete the far-rightward shift of the party, and boost its defense of Trump in four separate legal cases, including over 2020 election fraud. During Trump’s impeachment proceedings over the Jan. 6 attack, Jordan was his chief defender in Congress. Trump awarded him the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jim-jordan-impeachments-capitol-siege-eeadab127460dd5170e79608f654aca6">Medal of Freedom</a>&nbsp;days later.

The work of Congress, including next month’s Nov. 17 deadline to fund the government or risk a federal shutdown, would be almost certain to become anything but routine. Jordan’s wing of the party has already demanded severe budget cuts that he has promised to deliver, and aid to Ukraine would be seriously in doubt. Investigations into Biden and his family would push to the forefront.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries immediately gathered his party on the Capitol steps urging Republicans off giving the gavel to Jordan — an “extremist extraordinaire” — and urging GOP lawmakers to partner with them to reopen the House.

Overwhelmed and exhausted, anxious GOP lawmakers worry their House majority is being frittered away to countless rounds of infighting and some don't want to reward the speaker's gavel to Jordan's wing, which sparked the turmoil.

“If we’re going to be the majority party, we have to act like the majority party,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/64b634a91a2d4933b8bca4c95baa1309">Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.,</a>&nbsp;a former president of the “tea party” freshmen class of 2011 who posed a last-ditch challenge to Jordan.

Jordan’s tally Friday was not much better than the 113-99 vote he lost to Scalise at the start of the week, showing the long road ahead. Though the second Friday ballot pushed his tally to 152-55.

“He's got some work to do,” said veteran Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.

While Jordan has a long list of detractors, his supporters said voting against the Trump ally during a public vote on the House floor would be tougher since he is so popular and well known among more conservative GOP voters.

Heading into a morning meeting, Jordan said, “I feel real good.”

The House, without a speaker, is essentially unable to function during a time of turmoil in the U.S. and wars overseas. The political pressure increasingly is on Republicans to reverse course, reassert majority control and govern in Congress.

With the House narrowly split 221-212, with two vacancies, any nominee can lose just a few Republicans before they fail to reach the 217 majority needed in the face of opposition from Democrats, who will most certainly back their own leader, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

Absences could lower the majority threshold needed, and Republicans were down about a dozen lawmakers as of midday Friday. No floor votes were scheduled.

Other potential speaker choices were also being floated. Some Republicans proposed simply giving Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who was appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-powers-mchenry-875bebd218096a5252840cd8f52cc137">interim speaker pro tempore</a>, greater authority to lead the House for some time.

On Friday, California Republican Rep. Tom McClintock, had introduced a motion to reinstate McCarthy during the morning meeting, but it was shelved.

In announcing his decision to withdraw from the nomination, Scalise declined to throw his support behind Jordan as the bitter rivalry deepened. “It’s got to be people that aren’t doing it for themselves,” he said late Thursday.

But Jordan's allies swung into high gear at a chance for the hard-right leader to seize the gavel.

Jordan also received an important nod Friday from the Republican Party’s campaign chairman, Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., who made an attempt to unify the fighting factions.

“Removing Speaker Kevin McCarthy was a mistake,” Hudson wrote on social media, saying the party found itself at a crossroads also blocking Scalise. “We must unite around one leader.”

Just as handfuls of Republicans announced they wouldn't go for Scalise, on Friday the situation flipped and holdouts were sticking with Scalise, McCarthy or someone other than Jordan.

Trump, the early front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, had announced his preference early for Jordan, and repeatedly discussed Scalise’s health during a radio interview that aired Thursday.

Scalise has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-scalise-blood-cancer-house-republican-leader-f98d35f1d09e8c8009e180068b191daa">diagnosed with a form of blood cancer</a>&nbsp;and is being treated, but he has also said he was definitely up for the speaker's job.

Jordan himself faces questions about his past. Some years ago, Jordan and his office&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-6fb5bfff7db9439883907efce5c119fb">denied allegations</a>&nbsp;from former wrestlers during his time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University who accused him of knowing about claims they were inappropriately groped by an Ohio doctor. Jordan and his office have said he was never aware of any abuse.

The situation is not fully different from the start of the year, when McCarthy faced a similar backlash from a different group of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">far-right holdouts</a>&nbsp;who ultimately gave their votes to elect him speaker, then engineered his historic downfall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697233160422.png" alt="Rep. Jim Jordan-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Jim Jordan-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans chose firebrand Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jim-jordan">Jim Jordan</a>&nbsp;as their new nominee for House speaker during internal voting Friday, putting the gavel within reach of the staunch ally of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump.Electing Jordan, a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, to the powerful position second in line to the presidency would move the GOP’s far right into a central seat of U.S. power. A groundswell of high-profile backers including Fox News’ Sean Hannity publicly pressured lawmakers to vote Jordan into the speaker’s office after the stunning ouster of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555">Kevin McCarthy</a>.Jordan, of Ohio, will now try to unite colleagues from the deeply&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-ousted-mccarthy-3fccfca11fe61c36fe399880f2679f12">divided House GOP majority</a>&nbsp;ahead of a public vote on the floor, which could push to next week. Republicans split 124-81 in Friday's private vote, though a second secret ballot nudged his tally higher.“I think Jordan would do a great job,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said ahead of the vote. “We got to get this back on track.”Frustrated House Republicans have been fighting bitterly over whom they should elect to replace McCarthy to lead their party after his unprecedented ouster by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">handful of hardliners</a>. The stalemate between the factions, now in its second week, has thrown the House into chaos, grinding all other business to a halt.Attention swiftly turned to Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman and founder of the far-right Freedom Caucus, as the next potential candidate after Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/Handfuls%20of%20hard-liners%20announced%20they%20were%20sticking%20with%20Jordan,%20McCarthy%20or%20someone%20other%20than%20Scalise.">Steve Scalise</a>&nbsp;abruptly ended his bid when it became clear holdouts would refuse to back his nomination.But not all Republicans want to see Jordan as speaker.Jordan is known for his close&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speaker-mccarthy-capitol-hill-432f89f6826b2b4f51990ae4b4d293fb">alliance with Trump</a>, particularly when the then-president was working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.His rise would all but complete the far-rightward shift of the party, and boost its defense of Trump in four separate legal cases, including over 2020 election fraud. During Trump’s impeachment proceedings over the Jan. 6 attack, Jordan was his chief defender in Congress. Trump awarded him the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jim-jordan-impeachments-capitol-siege-eeadab127460dd5170e79608f654aca6">Medal of Freedom</a>&nbsp;days later.The work of Congress, including next month’s Nov. 17 deadline to fund the government or risk a federal shutdown, would be almost certain to become anything but routine. Jordan’s wing of the party has already demanded severe budget cuts that he has promised to deliver, and aid to Ukraine would be seriously in doubt. Investigations into Biden and his family would push to the forefront.House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries immediately gathered his party on the Capitol steps urging Republicans off giving the gavel to Jordan — an “extremist extraordinaire” — and urging GOP lawmakers to partner with them to reopen the House.Overwhelmed and exhausted, anxious GOP lawmakers worry their House majority is being frittered away to countless rounds of infighting and some don't want to reward the speaker's gavel to Jordan's wing, which sparked the turmoil.“If we’re going to be the majority party, we have to act like the majority party,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/64b634a91a2d4933b8bca4c95baa1309">Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.,</a>&nbsp;a former president of the “tea party” freshmen class of 2011 who posed a last-ditch challenge to Jordan.Jordan’s tally Friday was not much better than the 113-99 vote he lost to Scalise at the start of the week, showing the long road ahead. Though the second Friday ballot pushed his tally to 152-55.“He's got some work to do,” said veteran Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.While Jordan has a long list of detractors, his supporters said voting against the Trump ally during a public vote on the House floor would be tougher since he is so popular and well known among more conservative GOP voters.Heading into a morning meeting, Jordan said, “I feel real good.”The House, without a speaker, is essentially unable to function during a time of turmoil in the U.S. and wars overseas. The political pressure increasingly is on Republicans to reverse course, reassert majority control and govern in Congress.With the House narrowly split 221-212, with two vacancies, any nominee can lose just a few Republicans before they fail to reach the 217 majority needed in the face of opposition from Democrats, who will most certainly back their own leader, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.Absences could lower the majority threshold needed, and Republicans were down about a dozen lawmakers as of midday Friday. No floor votes were scheduled.Other potential speaker choices were also being floated. Some Republicans proposed simply giving Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who was appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-powers-mchenry-875bebd218096a5252840cd8f52cc137">interim speaker pro tempore</a>, greater authority to lead the House for some time.On Friday, California Republican Rep. Tom McClintock, had introduced a motion to reinstate McCarthy during the morning meeting, but it was shelved.In announcing his decision to withdraw from the nomination, Scalise declined to throw his support behind Jordan as the bitter rivalry deepened. “It’s got to be people that aren’t doing it for themselves,” he said late Thursday.But Jordan's allies swung into high gear at a chance for the hard-right leader to seize the gavel.Jordan also received an important nod Friday from the Republican Party’s campaign chairman, Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., who made an attempt to unify the fighting factions.“Removing Speaker Kevin McCarthy was a mistake,” Hudson wrote on social media, saying the party found itself at a crossroads also blocking Scalise. “We must unite around one leader.”Just as handfuls of Republicans announced they wouldn't go for Scalise, on Friday the situation flipped and holdouts were sticking with Scalise, McCarthy or someone other than Jordan.Trump, the early front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, had announced his preference early for Jordan, and repeatedly discussed Scalise’s health during a radio interview that aired Thursday.Scalise has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-scalise-blood-cancer-house-republican-leader-f98d35f1d09e8c8009e180068b191daa">diagnosed with a form of blood cancer</a>&nbsp;and is being treated, but he has also said he was definitely up for the speaker's job.Jordan himself faces questions about his past. Some years ago, Jordan and his office&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-6fb5bfff7db9439883907efce5c119fb">denied allegations</a>&nbsp;from former wrestlers during his time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University who accused him of knowing about claims they were inappropriately groped by an Ohio doctor. Jordan and his office have said he was never aware of any abuse.The situation is not fully different from the start of the year, when McCarthy faced a similar backlash from a different group of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">far-right holdouts</a>&nbsp;who ultimately gave their votes to elect him speaker, then engineered his historic downfall.___

Republicans pick Trump ally Jim Jordan as nominee for House speaker

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of a deadly fire in Wyandotte County.

Just after 3:30a.m.&nbsp; Friday, crews responded to a fire at a home. First arriving crew reported heavy smoke&nbsp; flames. Firefighters found a victim whose identity has not been verified.  A 72- year-old woman is known to be an occupant of this residence.&nbsp;

Officials released no additional details Friday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697225972995.png" alt="Photo KCK Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCK Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of a deadly fire in Wyandotte County.Just after 3:30a.m.&nbsp; Friday, crews responded to a fire at a home. First arriving crew reported heavy smoke&nbsp; flames. Firefighters found a victim whose identity has not been verified. A 72- year-old woman is known to be an occupant of this residence.&nbsp;Officials released no additional details Friday afternoon.

Authorities investigating deadly Kansas house fire

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kyledavidson/">KYLE DAVIDSON</a>

Four weeks into the United Auto Workers strike against the Detroit Three automakers, union President Shawn Fain announced in a livestream that the union would no longer wait until Fridays to expand its strike to new plants.

“We’re entering a new phase of this fight, and it demands a new approach,” Fain said Friday.

While Fain did not call for additional strikes against General Motors, Ford or Stellantis during the livestream, he said the UAW was prepared to call more local unions to walk out at any time.

“When I tell all you members to be ready to stand up, I mean it. We’re not waiting until Fridays anymore,” Fain said.

About 8,700 workers from Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/12/at-fords-most-lucrative-plant-strikers-say-they-dont-see-their-share-of-the-profits/">were called to join&nbsp;</a>the strike Wednesday night, with Fain saying Ford “hasn’t gotten the message” in contract negotiations.

During the stream, Fain said the company offered them the same deal the union had rejected two weeks ago, after telling the union there was more money that could be offered.

“At that point, I’d said, ‘That’s all you have for us? Our members’ lives and my handshake are worth more than that. You just cost yourself Kentucky truck plant.’…We didn’t wait ‘til Friday and we didn’t wait a minute,” Fain said.

Ford Vice President of Communications Mark Truby issued a statement calling the decision to call a strike at the company’s largest plant “grossly irresponsible but unsurprising.”

Fain criticized Ford’s statement during the stream.

“Ford made a lot of noise after we took out Kentucky truck plant. As the saying goes, a hit dog will holler,” Fain said.

“They admitted that Kentucky Truck generates $25 billion in revenue a year, that’s $48,000 a minute. Our labor at Kentucky truck generates more revenue each minute than thousands of our members make in a year,” Fain said.

Fain also accused Ford of waiting until Fridays to make progress on bargaining.

Ford thought they could sit back and not make further progress in bargaining because they thought they had the best deal on the table. Ford thought they could wait until Friday morning and then just make a better offer,” Fain said.

“They stopped being interested in reaching a fair deal now and only became interested in gaming our system of announcing strike expansions on Friday. They thought they figured out the so-called rules of the game, so we changed the rules. And now there’s only one rule: Pony up,” Fain said.

Fain said the UAW is continuing to look for a deal.

“I wish I had more updates or good news for all of you out of GM or Stellantis, but the fact is, we’re still bargaining hard with both of those companies. And they’re now on notice that we’re entering a new phase in this fight,” Fain said.

Fain also addressed criticism that he was setting UAW members too high.

“I want to be clear on this point. I didn’t raise members’ expectations. Our broken economy is what’s raising our members’ expectations. And our members are right to be angry. … Income inequality in the United States has now risen to heights not seen since the Great Depression. So I’m not the cause of raised expectations. The cause is overflowing corporate bank accounts,” Fain said.

Unless employers come to their senses and begin offering contracts that match gains on Wall Street, there will be more strikes on the horizon, Fain predicted.

There’s been a flurry of labor actions this fall.

More than 1,000 UAW Local 2500 members who work at Blue Cross Blue Shield went on strike last month. The union represents the company’s customer service call center department and other workers.

<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/12/detroit-casino-union-leader-were-calling-on-these-companies-to-stop-gambling-on-our-livelihoods/">Nearly 4,000 workers in the Detroit Casino Council</a>&nbsp;are preparing for a strike, almost 1,000 of whom are UAW members, Fain said.

Another 1,100 UAW members&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/UAW/status/1711877806047551545">working at General Dynamics</a>&nbsp;in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, voted 97% in favor of authorizing a strike. Their contract expires on Oct. 22.

Additionally,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/11/striking-mack-trucks-workers-in-pennsylvania-we-deserve-our-fair-share-too/">Mack Truck workers voted down a tentative agreement</a>, seeking better wages, job security and reinstatement of cost of living increases. The strike involves 4,000 UAW workers across three states.

“Our union is done playing defense. We’re going on offense. We’re done aiming low and settling lower. It’s time we started aiming high and seeing how close we can get to total economic and social justice,” Fain said.

“What we win isn’t up to me,” Fain said. “It isn’t up to your executive board. It isn’t up to your local president or the president of the United States. What we win, it’s up to us — all of us.”

This story was originally published by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/13/uaw-changes-the-rules-as-strike-drags-on-tells-members-to-prepare-for-walkouts-at-any-time/">the Michigan Advance</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695471687000.png" alt="Photo UAW" />
 <figcaption>Photo UAW</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kyledavidson/">KYLE DAVIDSON</a>Four weeks into the United Auto Workers strike against the Detroit Three automakers, union President Shawn Fain announced in a livestream that the union would no longer wait until Fridays to expand its strike to new plants.“We’re entering a new phase of this fight, and it demands a new approach,” Fain said Friday.While Fain did not call for additional strikes against General Motors, Ford or Stellantis during the livestream, he said the UAW was prepared to call more local unions to walk out at any time.“When I tell all you members to be ready to stand up, I mean it. We’re not waiting until Fridays anymore,” Fain said.About 8,700 workers from Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/12/at-fords-most-lucrative-plant-strikers-say-they-dont-see-their-share-of-the-profits/">were called to join&nbsp;</a>the strike Wednesday night, with Fain saying Ford “hasn’t gotten the message” in contract negotiations.During the stream, Fain said the company offered them the same deal the union had rejected two weeks ago, after telling the union there was more money that could be offered.“At that point, I’d said, ‘That’s all you have for us? Our members’ lives and my handshake are worth more than that. You just cost yourself Kentucky truck plant.’…We didn’t wait ‘til Friday and we didn’t wait a minute,” Fain said.Ford Vice President of Communications Mark Truby issued a statement calling the decision to call a strike at the company’s largest plant “grossly irresponsible but unsurprising.”Fain criticized Ford’s statement during the stream.“Ford made a lot of noise after we took out Kentucky truck plant. As the saying goes, a hit dog will holler,” Fain said.“They admitted that Kentucky Truck generates $25 billion in revenue a year, that’s $48,000 a minute. Our labor at Kentucky truck generates more revenue each minute than thousands of our members make in a year,” Fain said.Fain also accused Ford of waiting until Fridays to make progress on bargaining.Ford thought they could sit back and not make further progress in bargaining because they thought they had the best deal on the table. Ford thought they could wait until Friday morning and then just make a better offer,” Fain said.“They stopped being interested in reaching a fair deal now and only became interested in gaming our system of announcing strike expansions on Friday. They thought they figured out the so-called rules of the game, so we changed the rules. And now there’s only one rule: Pony up,” Fain said.Fain said the UAW is continuing to look for a deal.“I wish I had more updates or good news for all of you out of GM or Stellantis, but the fact is, we’re still bargaining hard with both of those companies. And they’re now on notice that we’re entering a new phase in this fight,” Fain said.Fain also addressed criticism that he was setting UAW members too high.“I want to be clear on this point. I didn’t raise members’ expectations. Our broken economy is what’s raising our members’ expectations. And our members are right to be angry. … Income inequality in the United States has now risen to heights not seen since the Great Depression. So I’m not the cause of raised expectations. The cause is overflowing corporate bank accounts,” Fain said.Unless employers come to their senses and begin offering contracts that match gains on Wall Street, there will be more strikes on the horizon, Fain predicted.There’s been a flurry of labor actions this fall.More than 1,000 UAW Local 2500 members who work at Blue Cross Blue Shield went on strike last month. The union represents the company’s customer service call center department and other workers.<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/12/detroit-casino-union-leader-were-calling-on-these-companies-to-stop-gambling-on-our-livelihoods/">Nearly 4,000 workers in the Detroit Casino Council</a>&nbsp;are preparing for a strike, almost 1,000 of whom are UAW members, Fain said.Another 1,100 UAW members&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/UAW/status/1711877806047551545">working at General Dynamics</a>&nbsp;in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, voted 97% in favor of authorizing a strike. Their contract expires on Oct. 22.Additionally,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/11/striking-mack-trucks-workers-in-pennsylvania-we-deserve-our-fair-share-too/">Mack Truck workers voted down a tentative agreement</a>, seeking better wages, job security and reinstatement of cost of living increases. The strike involves 4,000 UAW workers across three states.“Our union is done playing defense. We’re going on offense. We’re done aiming low and settling lower. It’s time we started aiming high and seeing how close we can get to total economic and social justice,” Fain said.“What we win isn’t up to me,” Fain said. “It isn’t up to your executive board. It isn’t up to your local president or the president of the United States. What we win, it’s up to us — all of us.”This story was originally published by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/13/uaw-changes-the-rules-as-strike-drags-on-tells-members-to-prepare-for-walkouts-at-any-time/">the Michigan Advance</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;

UAW ‘changes the rules’ tells members to prepare for walkouts at any time

TOPEKA —As tens of thousands of Muslims demonstrated Friday across the Middle East and in the United States in support of the Palestinians and against the intensifying Israeli bombardment of Gaza, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation&nbsp; issued a statement.

"In the past few days this war has intensified, creating tensions around the world. Hamas founder Khaled Mashal recently issued a statement declaring Friday, October 13, the “Friday of Al-Aqsa Flood” or a day of general mobilization."

"Many refer to Khaled Mashal’s statement as a call for a “global day of jihad.” Jihad is a term often used by militants when referring to a holy war or religious struggle."

"At the KBI, we are aggressively monitoring these events as they unfold and are in constant communication with federal, state and local law enforcement partners in Kansas."

"Presently, there are no credible threats to our state. We will continue working with all levels of law enforcement as our top priority is the safety and security of Kansans.We ask everyone to remain vigilant, and report any suspicious or concerning activity to local law enforcement and to the KBI by<a href="https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar?fbclid=IwAR26eefFmiRJMHndYUYtoVNaNYvSJ0nniu4yA05YL6_MM6G-pdp3Srb9Wus"> clicking here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696679013332.png" alt="Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis on Saturday, Oct. 7, . (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud)" />
 <figcaption>Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis on Saturday, Oct. 7, . (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud)</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —As tens of thousands of Muslims demonstrated Friday across the Middle East and in the United States in support of the Palestinians and against the intensifying Israeli bombardment of Gaza, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation&nbsp; issued a statement."In the past few days this war has intensified, creating tensions around the world. Hamas founder Khaled Mashal recently issued a statement declaring Friday, October 13, the “Friday of Al-Aqsa Flood” or a day of general mobilization.""Many refer to Khaled Mashal’s statement as a call for a “global day of jihad.” Jihad is a term often used by militants when referring to a holy war or religious struggle.""At the KBI, we are aggressively monitoring these events as they unfold and are in constant communication with federal, state and local law enforcement partners in Kansas.""Presently, there are no credible threats to our state. We will continue working with all levels of law enforcement as our top priority is the safety and security of Kansans.We ask everyone to remain vigilant, and report any suspicious or concerning activity to local law enforcement and to the KBI by<a href="https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar?fbclid=IwAR26eefFmiRJMHndYUYtoVNaNYvSJ0nniu4yA05YL6_MM6G-pdp3Srb9Wus"> clicking here</a>.

KBI monitoring threats in Kan. after terror chief calls for protests

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating an officer shooting and an&nbsp;armed suspect who died inside a Kansas home identified the suspect as&nbsp;33-year-old Dane Laing from Olathe, according to Police Sergeant John Moncayo.&nbsp;&nbsp;Laing died as a result of a gunshot wound.&nbsp; Moncayo did not confirm whether the officer who fired at Laing struck him as the investigation continues.

Just before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a previous assault investigation in the 23500 block of West 126th&nbsp;Terrace in Olathe, according to a media release.

Officers arrived and contacted the reporting party. During the course of the investigation, the suspect, later identified as Laing, ran past officers and was carrying a handgun.

As Laing was gaining entry into a neighbor’s house, one officer discharged their department issued handgun at him. Laing then ran inside the neighbor’s house and residents ran outside.

A police react team was established, and a drone was used to clear the residence. Police found Laing deceased inside the home.&nbsp;&nbsp;Officers were not injured.

&nbsp;Investigators from multiple agencies are leading the investigation of the incident.&nbsp; The Johnson County Crime Lab is processed the scene.

As a matter of standard procedure, the involved Officers will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation by the Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team&nbsp;&nbsp; Authorities have released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697020259585.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating an officer shooting and an&nbsp;armed suspect who died inside a Kansas home identified the suspect as&nbsp;33-year-old Dane Laing from Olathe, according to Police Sergeant John Moncayo.&nbsp;&nbsp;Laing died as a result of a gunshot wound.&nbsp; Moncayo did not confirm whether the officer who fired at Laing struck him as the investigation continues.Just before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a previous assault investigation in the 23500 block of West 126th&nbsp;Terrace in Olathe, according to a media release.Officers arrived and contacted the reporting party. During the course of the investigation, the suspect, later identified as Laing, ran past officers and was carrying a handgun.As Laing was gaining entry into a neighbor’s house, one officer discharged their department issued handgun at him. Laing then ran inside the neighbor’s house and residents ran outside.A police react team was established, and a drone was used to clear the residence. Police found Laing deceased inside the home.&nbsp;&nbsp;Officers were not injured.&nbsp;Investigators from multiple agencies are leading the investigation of the incident.&nbsp; The Johnson County Crime Lab is processed the scene.As a matter of standard procedure, the involved Officers will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation by the Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team&nbsp;&nbsp; Authorities have released no additional details.

Police ID armed suspect found dead after entering Kan. home 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities are working to investigating the cause of a fatal apartment building fire in Wichita.

Just after 4a.m. Friday, crews responded to the fire in the&nbsp;8100 block of E. Central, according to a social media report from the Wichita Fire Department.

Crews issued a second alarm, reported a person trapped and also issued a May day call.  There were four victims transported for treatment including one code blue, one code red and two were code yellow, according to the fire department. On Friday afternoon, the fire department reported one of those transported, a 22-year-old died of her injuries.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities are working to investigating the cause of an apartment building fire in Wichita.

Crews issued a second alarm, reported a person trapped and also issued a May day call.&nbsp; There were four victims transported for treatment including one code blue, one code red and two were code yellow, according to the fire department. Authorities released no additional details early Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697198255875.png" alt="Photo Wichita Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo Wichita Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities are working to investigating the cause of a fatal apartment building fire in Wichita.Just after 4a.m. Friday, crews responded to the fire in the&nbsp;8100 block of E. Central, according to a social media report from the Wichita Fire Department.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697206015603.png" alt="photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Crews issued a second alarm, reported a person trapped and also issued a May day call. There were four victims transported for treatment including one code blue, one code red and two were code yellow, according to the fire department. On Friday afternoon, the fire department reported one of those transported, a 22-year-old died of her injuries.------------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities are working to investigating the cause of an apartment building fire in Wichita.Just after 4a.m. Friday, crews responded to the fire in the&nbsp;8100 block of E. Central, according to a social media report from the Wichita Fire Department.Crews issued a second alarm, reported a person trapped and also issued a May day call.&nbsp; There were four victims transported for treatment including one code blue, one code red and two were code yellow, according to the fire department. Authorities released no additional details early Friday.

22-year-old dead after Kansas apartment building fire

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 238,000 Explorers in the U.S. because a rear axle bolt can fail, potentially causing a loss of drive power or allowing the SUVs to roll away while in park.

The recall comes after U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into the problem after getting two complaints that repairs didn't work in two previous recalls this year and in 2022.

Affected are&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCAK-23V675-9899.pdf">certain Explorers from the 2020 through 2022</a>&nbsp;model years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted Friday on its website that the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt can fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will replace a bushing and the rear axle bolt. They also will inspect the rear axle cover for damage near the bolt hole and replace the cover if damage is found. Owners will be notified by letter starting Nov. 6.

Ford said in documents that it knows of 396 reports of rear axle bolt failures, and fewer than 5% caused loss of power or let vehicles roll while they were in park. The company says it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries.

NHTSA opened its&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2023/INOA-RQ23002-8721.PDF">investigation in June</a>&nbsp;after getting complaints alleging loss of power due to failure of rear axle bolts even though the Explorers had received repairs under the previous recalls.

Ford's remedy was to update software that automatically applied the parking brake to keep the vehicles from rolling away. But the agency said in documents that there was no remedy addressing the failed axle bolt.

Ford said Friday that it was replacing axle bolts under service campaigns before the latest recall.

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 238,000 Explorers in the U.S. because a rear axle bolt can fail, potentially causing a loss of drive power or allowing the SUVs to roll away while in park.The recall comes after U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into the problem after getting two complaints that repairs didn't work in two previous recalls this year and in 2022.Affected are&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCAK-23V675-9899.pdf">certain Explorers from the 2020 through 2022</a>&nbsp;model years.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted Friday on its website that the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt can fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect, increasing the risk of a crash.Dealers will replace a bushing and the rear axle bolt. They also will inspect the rear axle cover for damage near the bolt hole and replace the cover if damage is found. Owners will be notified by letter starting Nov. 6.Ford said in documents that it knows of 396 reports of rear axle bolt failures, and fewer than 5% caused loss of power or let vehicles roll while they were in park. The company says it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries.NHTSA opened its&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2023/INOA-RQ23002-8721.PDF">investigation in June</a>&nbsp;after getting complaints alleging loss of power due to failure of rear axle bolts even though the Explorers had received repairs under the previous recalls.Ford's remedy was to update software that automatically applied the parking brake to keep the vehicles from rolling away. But the agency said in documents that there was no remedy addressing the failed axle bolt.Ford said Friday that it was replacing axle bolts under service campaigns before the latest recall.

Ford recalls over 238,000 Explorers to replace axle bolts that can fail

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and Qatar have reached an agreement that the Qataris will not act on any request from Tehran for the time being to access $6 billion in Iranian funds that were unblocked as part of a prisoner swap last month, a U.S. official said Thursday.

The move, which stops short of a full refreezing of Iranian funds in Qatar's banking system, follows the deadly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">attacks by Hamas on Israel</a>&nbsp;and continued Republican criticism of the Biden administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-prisoner-swap-sanctions-assets-4e1fa477f8e6af45fb764acd259c2f1a">deal with Iran</a>, in which $6 billion was unfrozen in exchange for the release of five detained Americans. The official who outlined the understanding between the U.S. and Qatar was not authorized to comment and spoke on condition of anonymity.

U.S. officials have strenuously pushed back against the criticism, noting that the money had yet to be spent by Iran and can only be used for humanitarian needs.

“None of the funds that have now gone to Qatar have actually been spent or accessed in any way by Iran,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Israel on Thursday when asked about the funds. “Indeed, funds from that account are overseen by the Treasury Department, can only be dispensed for humanitarian goods — food, medicine, medical equipment — and never touch Iranian hands.”

The White House has said it has yet to uncover information that Iran was directly involved in the multipronged Hamas operation — the biggest attack on Israel in decades. Even so, Iran is the principal financial and military sponsor of Hamas. U.S. officials have said their intelligence does not show a direct role by Iran and have not pointed blame at Tehran.

As Israel prepares to escalate retaliatory action against Hamas militants for the weekend attacks, the White House announced the U.S. government will begin evacuation flights on Friday for Americans who want to leave Israel.

In a deliberate show of support for Israel, a U.S. official confirmed that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit on Friday, following Thursday's visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Austin is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to determine what additional military aid is needed in the war with Hamas, said the U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive travel details

Speaking to reporters in Brussels on Thursday, Austin said the U.S. is “working urgently to get Israel what it needs to defend itself, including munitions and our iron Dome interceptor interceptors.”

The White House confirmed that the death toll in the fighting now includes at least 27 Americans, while 14 more U.S. citizens in Israel remain unaccounted for. The White House has said a “handful” of Americans are among the dozens of people that Hamas took hostage.

U.S. officials estimate 160,000-170,000 Americans are in Israel, as residents, tourists or in some other capacity. An estimated 500 to 600 American citizens are in Gaza, including people who have been working as humanitarian workers or visiting relatives. Israel has sealed its crossing out of Gaza as part of a harsh siege on the territory since Saturday's Hamas attacks. And Gaza’s sole crossing point with Egypt was forced to close after Israeli airstrikes hit nearby.

The U.S. government is arranging for at least four charter flights a day out of Israel, according to people familiar with the planning.

The State Department said it expects to facilitate the departure of thousands of U.S. citizens per week from Israel. The overall security situation, availability and reliability of commercial transportation, and U.S. citizen demand will all influence the duration of this departure assistance. The department asked U.S. citizens in need of evacuation assistance to complete the crisis intake form at&nbsp;<a href="http://travel.state.gov/">travel.state.gov</a>.

There are still some commercial carriers flying in and out of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport, and ground routes are open to leave Israel. White House officials, however, have voiced concern that those options may not be feasible or affordable for some Americans in Israel who want to leave.

Blinken visited Israel on Thursday to meet with Netanyahu and Israeli citizens. He was joined by the deputy special representative for hostage affairs, Steve Gillen, who will stay in Israel to to support the efforts to free the hostages.

Blinken said Americans would continue pushing regional countries for a safe passage in and out of Gaza, which could help the hundreds of American civilians trapped in the blockaded enclave.

Israeli defense officials have yet to order a ground invasion of the pummeled territory, but have been planning for the possibility. The military has called over 300,000 reservists into action in preparation.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who joined from Air Force Two en route to Las Vegas met on Thursday with senior administration officials to discuss efforts to safeguard the U.S., including Jewish, Arab and Muslim communities, following the Hamas attacks in Israel.

Biden administration officials have been speaking with lawmakers about the contours of a supplemental aid package as it continues to determine Israel’s needs.

Some key Republicans, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, have advocated for a larger package that would lump in funding for Ukraine, Taiwan and border security along with Israel aid, and the White House has started to prepare such a package, according to an official familiar with the deliberations. The person was granted anonymity to speak about private conversations, and no final decisions have been made on a supplemental package.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697159427463.png" alt="The White House has said it has yet to uncover information that Iran was directly involved in the multipronged Hamas operation- President Biden meeting with the national security team on Thursday-White House Photo" />
 <figcaption>The White House has said it has yet to uncover information that Iran was directly involved in the multipronged Hamas operation- President Biden meeting with the national security team on Thursday-White House Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and Qatar have reached an agreement that the Qataris will not act on any request from Tehran for the time being to access $6 billion in Iranian funds that were unblocked as part of a prisoner swap last month, a U.S. official said Thursday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We&#39;re calling on Joe Biden to IMMEDIATELY freeze the $6B he signed over to Iran. Iran has bankrolled Hamas and helped them plan their barbaric attacks on Israel. The president should have NEVER brokered billion-dollar deals with rogue nations like Iran. <a href="https://t.co/HPAKjUHbWl">https://t.co/HPAKjUHbWl</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1711797706476183970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">One month ago, Joe Biden paid a $6 BILLION ransom to Iran—the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world. Now Iran-backed Hamas terrorists are slaughtering innocent Israeli citizens. The Biden administration should IMMEDIATELY freeze these funds.&mdash; Rep. Jake LaTurner (@RepLaTurner) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLaTurner/status/1712215925527662782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The move, which stops short of a full refreezing of Iranian funds in Qatar's banking system, follows the deadly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">attacks by Hamas on Israel</a>&nbsp;and continued Republican criticism of the Biden administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-prisoner-swap-sanctions-assets-4e1fa477f8e6af45fb764acd259c2f1a">deal with Iran</a>, in which $6 billion was unfrozen in exchange for the release of five detained Americans. The official who outlined the understanding between the U.S. and Qatar was not authorized to comment and spoke on condition of anonymity.U.S. officials have strenuously pushed back against the criticism, noting that the money had yet to be spent by Iran and can only be used for humanitarian needs.“None of the funds that have now gone to Qatar have actually been spent or accessed in any way by Iran,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Israel on Thursday when asked about the funds. “Indeed, funds from that account are overseen by the Treasury Department, can only be dispensed for humanitarian goods — food, medicine, medical equipment — and never touch Iranian hands.”The White House has said it has yet to uncover information that Iran was directly involved in the multipronged Hamas operation — the biggest attack on Israel in decades. Even so, Iran is the principal financial and military sponsor of Hamas. U.S. officials have said their intelligence does not show a direct role by Iran and have not pointed blame at Tehran.As Israel prepares to escalate retaliatory action against Hamas militants for the weekend attacks, the White House announced the U.S. government will begin evacuation flights on Friday for Americans who want to leave Israel.In a deliberate show of support for Israel, a U.S. official confirmed that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit on Friday, following Thursday's visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.Austin is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to determine what additional military aid is needed in the war with Hamas, said the U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive travel detailsSpeaking to reporters in Brussels on Thursday, Austin said the U.S. is “working urgently to get Israel what it needs to defend itself, including munitions and our iron Dome interceptor interceptors.”The White House confirmed that the death toll in the fighting now includes at least 27 Americans, while 14 more U.S. citizens in Israel remain unaccounted for. The White House has said a “handful” of Americans are among the dozens of people that Hamas took hostage.U.S. officials estimate 160,000-170,000 Americans are in Israel, as residents, tourists or in some other capacity. An estimated 500 to 600 American citizens are in Gaza, including people who have been working as humanitarian workers or visiting relatives. Israel has sealed its crossing out of Gaza as part of a harsh siege on the territory since Saturday's Hamas attacks. And Gaza’s sole crossing point with Egypt was forced to close after Israeli airstrikes hit nearby.The U.S. government is arranging for at least four charter flights a day out of Israel, according to people familiar with the planning.The State Department said it expects to facilitate the departure of thousands of U.S. citizens per week from Israel. The overall security situation, availability and reliability of commercial transportation, and U.S. citizen demand will all influence the duration of this departure assistance. The department asked U.S. citizens in need of evacuation assistance to complete the crisis intake form at&nbsp;<a href="http://travel.state.gov/">travel.state.gov</a>.There are still some commercial carriers flying in and out of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport, and ground routes are open to leave Israel. White House officials, however, have voiced concern that those options may not be feasible or affordable for some Americans in Israel who want to leave.Blinken visited Israel on Thursday to meet with Netanyahu and Israeli citizens. He was joined by the deputy special representative for hostage affairs, Steve Gillen, who will stay in Israel to to support the efforts to free the hostages.Blinken said Americans would continue pushing regional countries for a safe passage in and out of Gaza, which could help the hundreds of American civilians trapped in the blockaded enclave.Israeli defense officials have yet to order a ground invasion of the pummeled territory, but have been planning for the possibility. The military has called over 300,000 reservists into action in preparation.Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who joined from Air Force Two en route to Las Vegas met on Thursday with senior administration officials to discuss efforts to safeguard the U.S., including Jewish, Arab and Muslim communities, following the Hamas attacks in Israel.Biden administration officials have been speaking with lawmakers about the contours of a supplemental aid package as it continues to determine Israel’s needs.Some key Republicans, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, have advocated for a larger package that would lump in funding for Ukraine, Taiwan and border security along with Israel aid, and the White House has started to prepare such a package, according to an official familiar with the deliberations. The person was granted anonymity to speak about private conversations, and no final decisions have been made on a supplemental package.

Kan. lawmakers demand: U.S.denies Iran access to $6 Billion in prisoner swap

WICHITA (AP) — A rare&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ring-of-fire-eclipse-what-to-know-df2bd3b1d69854421f241bf9b49cf123">“ring of fire” eclipse of the sun</a>&nbsp;cuts across the Americas on Saturday, stretching from Oregon to Brazil.

For the small towns and cities along its narrow path, there was a mix of excitement, worries about the weather and concerns they'd be overwhelmed by visitors flocking to see the celestial event, also called an annular solar eclipse.

Unlike a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/11d5c10bf3be44c994eedab6e39f4e6f">total solar eclipse</a>, the moon doesn’t completely cover the sun during a ring of fire eclipse. When the moon lines up between Earth and the sun, it leaves a bright, blazing border.

Saturday’s path: Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas in the U.S., with a sliver of California, Arizona and Colorado. Next: Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Brazil. Much of the rest of the Western Hemisphere gets a partial eclipse.

Viewing all depends on clear skies — part of the U.S. path could see clouds. NASA and other groups planned to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlY79zjud-Q&amp;ab_channel=NASA">livestream it</a>.

With a chance of rain in its forecast, the small town of Reedsport near Oregon's Pacific Coast moved its eclipse festival inside so that a bounce house and games wouldn’t get soaked in the mud.

"But we’re still hoping that we might get a glimpse of it,” said city official Rosa Solano.

Weather was less of a concern in tiny Baker, Nevada, where the population hovers around 100. Inn and general store owner Liz Woolsey made T-shirts and planned a slate of activities including a drum circle and a dance party. Her seven rooms have been booked for over a year.

“For a little place, we’re putting on a good show," said Woolsey, who became an eclipse enthusiast after seeing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/11d5c10bf3be44c994eedab6e39f4e6f">2017 total solar eclipse</a>&nbsp;that swept the U.S. from coast to coast.

Tens of thousands could get a double treat in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For the city's annual air balloon fiesta, which ends this weekend, hundreds of colorful hot air balloons lift off around dawn, hours before the eclipse briefly dims the skies.

Colombia’s Tatacoa desert was playing host to astronomers helping a group of visually impaired people experience the eclipse through raised maps and temperature changes as the moon blots out the sun.

At the Cancun Planetarium, young visitors built box projectors to indirectly and safely view the ring of fire. The ancient Maya — who called eclipses “broken sun” — may have used dark volcanic glass to protect their eyes, said archeologist Arturo Montero of Tepeyac University in Mexico City.

WICHITA (AP) — A rare&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ring-of-fire-eclipse-what-to-know-df2bd3b1d69854421f241bf9b49cf123">“ring of fire” eclipse of the sun</a>&nbsp;cuts across the Americas on Saturday, stretching from Oregon to Brazil.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A partial solar eclipse of the sun will occur late this morning across southwest KS. The obscuration of the sun by the moon will be anywhere between 70% at Hays to around 80% at Elkhart. Maximum eclipse of the sun across all of southwest KS will occur at 11:43 AM CDT. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/tHdzv2o4cn">pic.twitter.com/tHdzv2o4cn</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1713160279167746121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>For the small towns and cities along its narrow path, there was a mix of excitement, worries about the weather and concerns they'd be overwhelmed by visitors flocking to see the celestial event, also called an annular solar eclipse.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Here&#39;s some additional information on the solar eclipse that will take place on Saturday. Additional safety info can be found here: <a href="https://t.co/1A6W8Iyjta">https://t.co/1A6W8Iyjta</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/iVJSCzgU15">pic.twitter.com/iVJSCzgU15</a>&mdash; NWS Wichita (@NWSWichita) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSWichita/status/1712999444734709954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Unlike a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/11d5c10bf3be44c994eedab6e39f4e6f">total solar eclipse</a>, the moon doesn’t completely cover the sun during a ring of fire eclipse. When the moon lines up between Earth and the sun, it leaves a bright, blazing border.Saturday’s path: Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas in the U.S., with a sliver of California, Arizona and Colorado. Next: Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Brazil. Much of the rest of the Western Hemisphere gets a partial eclipse.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As expected, we&#39;re waking up to widespread clouds across eastern Kansas this morning. This will unfortunately spoil our viewing of today&#39;s annular solar eclipse. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/UGGJt2DVSF">pic.twitter.com/UGGJt2DVSF</a>&mdash; NWS Topeka (@NWSTopeka) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSTopeka/status/1713189464254849381?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Viewing all depends on clear skies — part of the U.S. path could see clouds. NASA and other groups planned to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlY79zjud-Q&amp;ab_channel=NASA">livestream it</a>.With a chance of rain in its forecast, the small town of Reedsport near Oregon's Pacific Coast moved its eclipse festival inside so that a bounce house and games wouldn’t get soaked in the mud."But we’re still hoping that we might get a glimpse of it,” said city official Rosa Solano.Weather was less of a concern in tiny Baker, Nevada, where the population hovers around 100. Inn and general store owner Liz Woolsey made T-shirts and planned a slate of activities including a drum circle and a dance party. Her seven rooms have been booked for over a year.“For a little place, we’re putting on a good show," said Woolsey, who became an eclipse enthusiast after seeing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/11d5c10bf3be44c994eedab6e39f4e6f">2017 total solar eclipse</a>&nbsp;that swept the U.S. from coast to coast.Tens of thousands could get a double treat in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For the city's annual air balloon fiesta, which ends this weekend, hundreds of colorful hot air balloons lift off around dawn, hours before the eclipse briefly dims the skies.Colombia’s Tatacoa desert was playing host to astronomers helping a group of visually impaired people experience the eclipse through raised maps and temperature changes as the moon blots out the sun.At the Cancun Planetarium, young visitors built box projectors to indirectly and safely view the ring of fire. The ancient Maya — who called eclipses “broken sun” — may have used dark volcanic glass to protect their eyes, said archeologist Arturo Montero of Tepeyac University in Mexico City.Towns and national parks in the path braced for a huge throngs. Officials in Oregon's Klamath County urged residents to stock up on groceries and fill their gas tanks in case traffic backs up on its two-lane highways. Utah's Bryce Canyon expected Saturday to be the park's busiest day of the year, spokesperson Peter Densmore said. Brazil's Pedra da Boca state park, known for its rocky outcrops for climbing and rappelling was also expecting crowds.The entire eclipse — from the moment the moon starts to obscure the sun until it’s back to normal — is 2 1/2 to three hours at any given spot. The ring of fire portion lasts from three to five minutes, depending on location.Next April, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/where-to-see-2024-total-solar-eclipse-113061a08d63e579c698017312f7eea0">total solar eclipse</a>&nbsp;will crisscross the U.S. in the opposite direction. That one will begin in Mexico and go from Texas to New England before ending in eastern Canada.The next ring of fire eclipse is in October next year at the southernmost tip of South America. Antarctica gets one in 2026. It will be 2039 before another ring of fire is visible in the U.S., and Alaska will be the only state in its direct path.