By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Iran’s leaders regularly espouse the goal of eradicating the state of Israel. Earlier this month, Iran acted on that goal, launching for the first time an attack on Israel from its own soil. Iranian leaders have threatened future responses from Iranian territory.

A line has been crossed. This attack and any future escalation pose a threat to Israel and regional stability, as well as to U.S. troops stationed in the region.

Just as concerning: Iran is increasing its defense cooperation with Russia and China, participating in military exercises with both countries, and pursuing advanced military equipment from and to Moscow.

Meanwhile, the Iranian regime continues to provide support to terrorist groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza, where Israel continues its battle against those responsible for the Oct. 7 attack. Iran also has the technical capability to develop a nuclear weapon if the Supreme Leader orders it.

But Iran’s nefarious plans require funding, and the regime’s economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which represent up to 70% of its government revenues. By cutting off Iran’s lucrative oil market, we can drain their terrorist slush funds and weaken Iran’s ability to promote further violence.

Since 2010, Congress has passed numerous bipartisan laws to restrict Iran’s oil exports. In the last six months alone, there have been more than 100 bills introduced in Congress aimed at diminishing Iranian oil sales.

Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of the president to enforce these sanctions, and the Biden administration has failed to do so in any meaningful way.

After the Trump administration withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and began its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that Iran’s crude oil fell from 2.5 million barrels per day in 2017 to a mere 400,000 in 2020.

The Biden administration recently announced plans to impose new sanctions on Iran, stating, “These new sanctions and other measures will continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran’s military capacity and effectiveness.”

Yet this administration has steadily reduced pressure on Iran and failed to enforce bipartisan sanctions already in place — allowing Iran to return to exporting 1.6 to 1.8 million barrels of oil a day.

I have no confidence in the White House to enforce these new sanctions. Posturing and using one-word phrases mean nothing to Iran.

Six months have passed since the greatest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust, and Iranian oil prices and production have reached a multi-year high. Since then, an Iran-backed group killed three American servicemembers, and another has effectively closed the Red Sea to commercial shipping. Iranian intelligence continues to plot to assassinate U.S. officials. Whatever goodwill the president hoped to earn from Tehran by looking the other way on sanctions, his policy has only reaped chaos.

The greatest beneficiary of Biden’s policy, besides Iran, is China, which is the primary customer of Iran’s oil — buying up to 90% of it at a substantial discount. This, in turn, supports China’s economy and its rapid military modernization that is a threat to the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. officials “have privately acknowledged a gradual relaxation of enforcement on Iranian oil sales.” Any relaxation of congressionally-mandated sanctions against Iran while our trusted allies in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific endure threats to their security and stability is wholly unacceptable.

To be sure, sanctions alone are not a panacea to the Iran challenge. They are one tool to be coupled with military and diplomatic pressure to achieve the outcomes we seek. But they are a tool to be wielded. It is far past time for Biden to do so.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698779613018.jpeg" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, member of the Senate Select Committee on IntelligenceIran’s leaders regularly espouse the goal of eradicating the state of Israel. Earlier this month, Iran acted on that goal, launching for the first time an attack on Israel from its own soil. Iranian leaders have threatened future responses from Iranian territory.A line has been crossed. This attack and any future escalation pose a threat to Israel and regional stability, as well as to U.S. troops stationed in the region.Just as concerning: Iran is increasing its defense cooperation with Russia and China, participating in military exercises with both countries, and pursuing advanced military equipment from and to Moscow.Meanwhile, the Iranian regime continues to provide support to terrorist groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza, where Israel continues its battle against those responsible for the Oct. 7 attack. Iran also has the technical capability to develop a nuclear weapon if the Supreme Leader orders it.But Iran’s nefarious plans require funding, and the regime’s economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which represent up to 70% of its government revenues. By cutting off Iran’s lucrative oil market, we can drain their terrorist slush funds and weaken Iran’s ability to promote further violence.Since 2010, Congress has passed numerous bipartisan laws to restrict Iran’s oil exports. In the last six months alone, there have been more than 100 bills introduced in Congress aimed at diminishing Iranian oil sales.Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of the president to enforce these sanctions, and the Biden administration has failed to do so in any meaningful way.After the Trump administration withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and began its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that Iran’s crude oil fell from 2.5 million barrels per day in 2017 to a mere 400,000 in 2020.The Biden administration recently announced plans to impose new sanctions on Iran, stating, “These new sanctions and other measures will continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran’s military capacity and effectiveness.”Yet this administration has steadily reduced pressure on Iran and failed to enforce bipartisan sanctions already in place — allowing Iran to return to exporting 1.6 to 1.8 million barrels of oil a day.I have no confidence in the White House to enforce these new sanctions. Posturing and using one-word phrases mean nothing to Iran.Six months have passed since the greatest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust, and Iranian oil prices and production have reached a multi-year high. Since then, an Iran-backed group killed three American servicemembers, and another has effectively closed the Red Sea to commercial shipping. Iranian intelligence continues to plot to assassinate U.S. officials. Whatever goodwill the president hoped to earn from Tehran by looking the other way on sanctions, his policy has only reaped chaos.The greatest beneficiary of Biden’s policy, besides Iran, is China, which is the primary customer of Iran’s oil — buying up to 90% of it at a substantial discount. This, in turn, supports China’s economy and its rapid military modernization that is a threat to the Indo-Pacific region.U.S. officials “have privately acknowledged a gradual relaxation of enforcement on Iranian oil sales.” Any relaxation of congressionally-mandated sanctions against Iran while our trusted allies in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific endure threats to their security and stability is wholly unacceptable.To be sure, sanctions alone are not a panacea to the Iran challenge. They are one tool to be coupled with military and diplomatic pressure to achieve the outcomes we seek. But they are a tool to be wielded. It is far past time for Biden to do so.

Moran:  Biden’s failure to enforce sanctions fuels Iranian aggression

KANSAS CITY —KC Scout, the bi-state initiative between the Missouri and Kansas Departments of Transportation to provide travel and traffic information and service for the Kansas City metro area, suffered a cyberattack on April 25. 

Services continue to be offline which includes dynamic message boards, the website and cameras connected to KC Scout. Staff have and continue to evaluate impacts. 

Immediate and critical traffic information impacting the KC metro area is being shared through<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmodot.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0MkWArSrslcQ8o4OoTdnIgr4MR2EOP9an4Ywdo0-3zL6tTmxNrkUp8Q_8_aem_AcdfCS28-5jf3LfldWVKiQrjCBPNkhBzL2DelJsdhnkzDNmht0Ju0woDbizy3V88v1nyfAMkeoLjFzjnvPX1wNGZ&amp;h=AT0WpIBlyqApkbXx-3GHGRyURvKm5lABRhWb6i80ZF5zfXy_eOEWSFcOJdJA3xjEFhS6IPXV6N7STVzNencCLbic1jblIVNwhN5NcFvIwb-jx6l9JWEV5m67kfjbOt7gKhAW-Ho&amp;__tn__=-UK-y-R&amp;c[0]=AT0HhVsYpKMTI-TOZUgIil0foKcQ98Yl3d7UOFf_7iyzaHmEyUiRC-gqM3_HJHP2LdcAcZAmBnL7r0vPf7afnM2xKwDNkzT_a6GeRHZ4rwFhNc8kGFpHPoftAQrOnFH5f2iFyLDXIR8EMTiG76wPPeQqTOk6rrbuzKHe77RkS5ZkjldTVuNXaDxW8H5mWOhY_bz2U096mCkKrkFnatJ3wliwWU2FdiMjqHxQ8l8ODF--oIXE_uprlG2sAp58QRRPXRXywPOj3zBzagk6Xdr2" target="_blank"> modot.or</a>g in Missouri and<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2FKanDrive.gov%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3FCf7UwI9hZ8a4IoFoYfzDOg_2PZixcearl5EeNpilFuK8Uq96caa3IQI_aem_AcePjOOMj6DpoKA9HGuOhRD8skBy_ouar0hEUZ2bah1KozGAHAIZ_W688TAV8E79QD5CdpxQXuwKmIs1-qSyI43T&amp;h=AT1Ahgn74d2jXYNLsQamdvGVOoKozi3uZKVfD-iyn6OvLM1fH-wcE-ttw9TB765ErKtw0HTvQJtpI8qHdkN70L9Qidzmlf0x8rHWqvMwvwNassxLFx3hUrWBvwwg2HuO7hwI2BU&amp;__tn__=-UK-y-R&amp;c[0]=AT0HhVsYpKMTI-TOZUgIil0foKcQ98Yl3d7UOFf_7iyzaHmEyUiRC-gqM3_HJHP2LdcAcZAmBnL7r0vPf7afnM2xKwDNkzT_a6GeRHZ4rwFhNc8kGFpHPoftAQrOnFH5f2iFyLDXIR8EMTiG76wPPeQqTOk6rrbuzKHe77RkS5ZkjldTVuNXaDxW8H5mWOhY_bz2U096mCkKrkFnatJ3wliwWU2FdiMjqHxQ8l8ODF--oIXE_uprlG2sAp58QRRPXRXywPOj3zBzagk6Xdr2" target="_blank"> KanDrive.go</a>v in Kansas.

The Missouri and Kansas Departments of Transportation understand this is frustrating to partners and the traveling public. Work on service restoration is underway. 

It is too early to provide an estimate, but it is expected to be months before restoration can be anticipated. The DOTs and KC Scout ask for continued patience from partners and the public as efforts to restore services continue.

The Kansas and Missouri DOTs remind motorists that emergency services are still available in Kansas and Missouri. Kansas Highway Patrol Motorist Assist Vehicle (MAV) continue to proactively run routes and respond to incidents in their jurisdiction. 

MoDOT Emergency Response Continue to proactively run routes and respond to incidents in their jurisdiction. While real-time data is not available via KC Scout services, the Missouri and Kansas traveler information sites, apps, and phone numbers are providing limited information on the KC metro area via phone and website/app:• Missouri: Call 888.275.6636 or visit <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modot.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2rvcGGe7BEKiU8YTX4NGc0UjnQmsrdOj7Qyek0DbprTHxdsXz1B-JBVlI_aem_AcdOfwPj9WaSMSf9p6RhtgM-Bz8do93ELxvioRJb1Ob7-Y-sWS3cuG8BM7Q2Mt3dnioKeD_BQvhycPgVl-KCYH0b&amp;h=AT2bdMjGT0slZRGfC5xEAWaHElBxz3hjZZGsFoPrjmnoh0ZEKkMc4-7eKR6iMZgskemnO_3ndgozfODiyPEhk8YwAM0hHRIxD9Q8HPRYeQ8Lh_b7XkK8jqCo_892ReVJLbdNtxI&amp;__tn__=-UK-y-R&amp;c[0]=AT0HhVsYpKMTI-TOZUgIil0foKcQ98Yl3d7UOFf_7iyzaHmEyUiRC-gqM3_HJHP2LdcAcZAmBnL7r0vPf7afnM2xKwDNkzT_a6GeRHZ4rwFhNc8kGFpHPoftAQrOnFH5f2iFyLDXIR8EMTiG76wPPeQqTOk6rrbuzKHe77RkS5ZkjldTVuNXaDxW8H5mWOhY_bz2U096mCkKrkFnatJ3wliwWU2FdiMjqHxQ8l8ODF--oIXE_uprlG2sAp58QRRPXRXywPOj3zBzagk6Xdr2" target="_blank">www.modot.org</a>• Kansas: Call 511 or visit <a href="https://kandrive.gov/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR20BfEiRlrvCT9_coIAXs3kTPXe7IZHOZUNnm1ffNgjHoWuAZyPljvlNQU_aem_AceAMHvxzuvNXm3Aa67-GCbuD50SVy8zK1lJLxO_wK0KeJO0LBNM_N51awMfY527P6MXSTe0JmRB7RG2Pr8l7uhh" target="_blank">KanDrive.gov</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714681676254.png" alt="Image from a traffic crash in May of 2023" />
 <figcaption>Image from a traffic crash in May of 2023</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —KC Scout, the bi-state initiative between the Missouri and Kansas Departments of Transportation to provide travel and traffic information and service for the Kansas City metro area, suffered a cyberattack on April 25. Services continue to be offline which includes dynamic message boards, the website and cameras connected to KC Scout. Staff have and continue to evaluate impacts. Immediate and critical traffic information impacting the KC metro area is being shared through<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmodot.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0MkWArSrslcQ8o4OoTdnIgr4MR2EOP9an4Ywdo0-3zL6tTmxNrkUp8Q_8_aem_AcdfCS28-5jf3LfldWVKiQrjCBPNkhBzL2DelJsdhnkzDNmht0Ju0woDbizy3V88v1nyfAMkeoLjFzjnvPX1wNGZ&amp;h=AT0WpIBlyqApkbXx-3GHGRyURvKm5lABRhWb6i80ZF5zfXy_eOEWSFcOJdJA3xjEFhS6IPXV6N7STVzNencCLbic1jblIVNwhN5NcFvIwb-jx6l9JWEV5m67kfjbOt7gKhAW-Ho&amp;__tn__=-UK-y-R&amp;c[0]=AT0HhVsYpKMTI-TOZUgIil0foKcQ98Yl3d7UOFf_7iyzaHmEyUiRC-gqM3_HJHP2LdcAcZAmBnL7r0vPf7afnM2xKwDNkzT_a6GeRHZ4rwFhNc8kGFpHPoftAQrOnFH5f2iFyLDXIR8EMTiG76wPPeQqTOk6rrbuzKHe77RkS5ZkjldTVuNXaDxW8H5mWOhY_bz2U096mCkKrkFnatJ3wliwWU2FdiMjqHxQ8l8ODF--oIXE_uprlG2sAp58QRRPXRXywPOj3zBzagk6Xdr2" target="_blank"> modot.or</a>g in Missouri and<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2FKanDrive.gov%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3FCf7UwI9hZ8a4IoFoYfzDOg_2PZixcearl5EeNpilFuK8Uq96caa3IQI_aem_AcePjOOMj6DpoKA9HGuOhRD8skBy_ouar0hEUZ2bah1KozGAHAIZ_W688TAV8E79QD5CdpxQXuwKmIs1-qSyI43T&amp;h=AT1Ahgn74d2jXYNLsQamdvGVOoKozi3uZKVfD-iyn6OvLM1fH-wcE-ttw9TB765ErKtw0HTvQJtpI8qHdkN70L9Qidzmlf0x8rHWqvMwvwNassxLFx3hUrWBvwwg2HuO7hwI2BU&amp;__tn__=-UK-y-R&amp;c[0]=AT0HhVsYpKMTI-TOZUgIil0foKcQ98Yl3d7UOFf_7iyzaHmEyUiRC-gqM3_HJHP2LdcAcZAmBnL7r0vPf7afnM2xKwDNkzT_a6GeRHZ4rwFhNc8kGFpHPoftAQrOnFH5f2iFyLDXIR8EMTiG76wPPeQqTOk6rrbuzKHe77RkS5ZkjldTVuNXaDxW8H5mWOhY_bz2U096mCkKrkFnatJ3wliwWU2FdiMjqHxQ8l8ODF--oIXE_uprlG2sAp58QRRPXRXywPOj3zBzagk6Xdr2" target="_blank"> KanDrive.go</a>v in Kansas.The Missouri and Kansas Departments of Transportation understand this is frustrating to partners and the traveling public. Work on service restoration is underway. It is too early to provide an estimate, but it is expected to be months before restoration can be anticipated. The DOTs and KC Scout ask for continued patience from partners and the public as efforts to restore services continue.The Kansas and Missouri DOTs remind motorists that emergency services are still available in Kansas and Missouri. Kansas Highway Patrol Motorist Assist Vehicle (MAV) continue to proactively run routes and respond to incidents in their jurisdiction. MoDOT Emergency Response Continue to proactively run routes and respond to incidents in their jurisdiction. While real-time data is not available via KC Scout services, the Missouri and Kansas traveler information sites, apps, and phone numbers are providing limited information on the KC metro area via phone and website/app:• Missouri: Call 888.275.6636 or visit <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modot.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2rvcGGe7BEKiU8YTX4NGc0UjnQmsrdOj7Qyek0DbprTHxdsXz1B-JBVlI_aem_AcdOfwPj9WaSMSf9p6RhtgM-Bz8do93ELxvioRJb1Ob7-Y-sWS3cuG8BM7Q2Mt3dnioKeD_BQvhycPgVl-KCYH0b&amp;h=AT2bdMjGT0slZRGfC5xEAWaHElBxz3hjZZGsFoPrjmnoh0ZEKkMc4-7eKR6iMZgskemnO_3ndgozfODiyPEhk8YwAM0hHRIxD9Q8HPRYeQ8Lh_b7XkK8jqCo_892ReVJLbdNtxI&amp;__tn__=-UK-y-R&amp;c[0]=AT0HhVsYpKMTI-TOZUgIil0foKcQ98Yl3d7UOFf_7iyzaHmEyUiRC-gqM3_HJHP2LdcAcZAmBnL7r0vPf7afnM2xKwDNkzT_a6GeRHZ4rwFhNc8kGFpHPoftAQrOnFH5f2iFyLDXIR8EMTiG76wPPeQqTOk6rrbuzKHe77RkS5ZkjldTVuNXaDxW8H5mWOhY_bz2U096mCkKrkFnatJ3wliwWU2FdiMjqHxQ8l8ODF--oIXE_uprlG2sAp58QRRPXRXywPOj3zBzagk6Xdr2" target="_blank">www.modot.org</a>• Kansas: Call 511 or visit <a href="https://kandrive.gov/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR20BfEiRlrvCT9_coIAXs3kTPXe7IZHOZUNnm1ffNgjHoWuAZyPljvlNQU_aem_AceAMHvxzuvNXm3Aa67-GCbuD50SVy8zK1lJLxO_wK0KeJO0LBNM_N51awMfY527P6MXSTe0JmRB7RG2Pr8l7uhh" target="_blank">KanDrive.gov</a>

Cyberattack: Network of KC traffic cameras expected down for months

FINNEY COUNTY—Friends started an online fundraiser to assist the family of 16-year-old Israel Adrian Garcia of Garden City&nbsp; who died in an accident&nbsp; just after 6:30a.m. April 22,&nbsp; in Finney County.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/tqwhx-israel-garcia">Click here to </a>view the fundraiser

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a vehicle was southbound in the 4600 Block of Big Lowe Road.

The vehicle left the roadway to the right and came back onto the road. It then traveled across the center line into the northbound lane, off the roadway to the left and rolled into a ditch.

The KHP released no additional details on the crash but have confirmed a 16-year-old died in the crash.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.garnandfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Israel-Adrian-Garcia?obId=31281797">The funeral </a>for Garcia was April 26.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713983659719.jpeg" alt="Israel Adrian Garcia courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Israel Adrian Garcia courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Friends started an online fundraiser to assist the family of 16-year-old Israel Adrian Garcia of Garden City&nbsp; who died in an accident&nbsp; just after 6:30a.m. April 22,&nbsp; in Finney County.<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/tqwhx-israel-garcia">Click here to </a>view the fundraiserAccording to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a vehicle was southbound in the 4600 Block of Big Lowe Road.The vehicle left the roadway to the right and came back onto the road. It then traveled across the center line into the northbound lane, off the roadway to the left and rolled into a ditch.The KHP released no additional details on the crash but have confirmed a 16-year-old died in the crash.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.garnandfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Israel-Adrian-Garcia?obId=31281797">The funeral </a>for Garcia was April 26.

Patrol confirms 16-year-old died in Kansas crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday defended the right to protest but insisted that “order must prevail” as college campuses across the country face unrest over the war in Gaza.

“Dissent is essential for democracy," he said at the White House. "But dissent must never lead to disorder.”

Tensions have been building for days as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove campus encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to police&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.

Biden said he did not support calls to send in the National Guard. He also said that the protests have not prompted him to reconsider his approach to the war. The Democratic president has occasionally criticized Israel's conduct but continued to supply it with weapons.

His remarks, occurring shortly before he left the White House for a trip to North Carolina, came after days of silence about the protests. Republicans have tried to turn the scenes of unrest into a campaign cudgel, and Biden said he rejected efforts to use the situation to “score political points.”

“This isn’t a moment for politics," he said. "It’s a moment for clarity.”

Biden's last previous public comment on the protests came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”

The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, had gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.

(Click below to watch Jean-Pierre's comments from Wednesday)

“Forcibly taking over a building," such as what happened at Columbia University in New York, "is not peaceful," she said. "It’s just not.”

Biden has never been much for protesting. His career in elected office began as a county official when he was only 28 years old, and he’s always espoused the political importance of compromise over zealousness.

As college campuses convulsed with anger over the Vietnam War in 1968, Biden was in law school at Syracuse University.

“I’m not big on flak jackets and tie-dyed shirts,” he said years later. “You know, that’s not me.″

Despite the White House's criticism and Biden's refusal to heed protesters' demands to cut off U.S. support for Israel, Republicans blame Democrats for the disorder and have used it as a backdrop for press conferences.

“We need the president of the United States to speak to the issue and say this is wrong," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said on Tuesday. "What’s happening on college campuses right now is wrong.”

Johnson visited Columbia with other members of his caucus last week. House Republicans sparred with protesters while speaking to the media at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

Former President Donald Trump, his party's presumptive nominee, also criticized Biden in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.

“Biden has to do something,” he said. “Biden is supposed to be the voice of our country, and it’s certainly not much of a voice. It’s a voice that nobody’s heard.”

He repeated his criticisms on Wednesday during a campaign event in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

“The radical extremists and far-left agitators are terrorizing college campuses, as you possibly noticed," Trump said. “And Biden’s nowhere to be found. He hasn’t said anything."

Kate Berner, who served as deputy communications director for Biden’s campaign in 2020, said Republicans already tried the same tactic four years ago during protests over George Floyd’s murder by a police officer.

“People rejected that,” she said. “They saw that it was just fearmongering. They saw that it wasn’t based in reality.”

Apart from condemning antisemitism, the White House has been reluctant to directly engage on the issue.

Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions during a briefing on Monday.

Asked whether protesters should be disciplined by their schools, she said “universities and colleges make their own decisions” and "we’re not going to weigh in from here.”

Pressed on whether police should be called in, she said “that's up to the colleges and universities.”

When quizzed about administrators rescheduling graduation ceremonies, she said “that is a decision that they have to decide" and “that is on them.”

Biden will make his own visit to a college campus on May 19 when he's scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse University in Atlanta.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is staying mum about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-university-student-protests-mideast-media-israel-hamas-war-b761cdbe7b912a491bfcfe7d59c63c26">student protests and police crackdowns</a>&nbsp;as Republicans try to turn campus unrest over the war in Gaza into a campaign cudgel against Democrats.

Tension at colleges and universities has been building for days as some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to law enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.

But Biden's last public comment came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”

The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, has gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714585191259.png" alt="Protests Wednesday at the University of Kansas -Photo by JuYeon Kim courtesy KSHB TV" />
 <figcaption>Protests Wednesday at the University of Kansas -Photo by JuYeon Kim courtesy KSHB TV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday defended the right to protest but insisted that “order must prevail” as college campuses across the country face unrest over the war in Gaza.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden on college campus protests: &quot;There&#39;s the right to protest, but not the right to chaos.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/wtmvjOrLWH">pic.twitter.com/wtmvjOrLWH</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1786053574687859056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Dissent is essential for democracy," he said at the White House. "But dissent must never lead to disorder.”Tensions have been building for days as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove campus encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to police&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.Biden said he did not support calls to send in the National Guard. He also said that the protests have not prompted him to reconsider his approach to the war. The Democratic president has occasionally criticized Israel's conduct but continued to supply it with weapons.His remarks, occurring shortly before he left the White House for a trip to North Carolina, came after days of silence about the protests. Republicans have tried to turn the scenes of unrest into a campaign cudgel, and Biden said he rejected efforts to use the situation to “score political points.”“This isn’t a moment for politics," he said. "It’s a moment for clarity.”Biden's last previous public comment on the protests came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, had gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.(Click below to watch Jean-Pierre's comments from Wednesday)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1525716921659036%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=390" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“Forcibly taking over a building," such as what happened at Columbia University in New York, "is not peaceful," she said. "It’s just not.”Biden has never been much for protesting. His career in elected office began as a county official when he was only 28 years old, and he’s always espoused the political importance of compromise over zealousness.As college campuses convulsed with anger over the Vietnam War in 1968, Biden was in law school at Syracuse University.“I’m not big on flak jackets and tie-dyed shirts,” he said years later. “You know, that’s not me.″<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714585098880.png" alt="Protesters letter to KU Chancellor" />
 <figcaption>Protesters letter to KU Chancellor</figcaption>
 </figure>Despite the White House's criticism and Biden's refusal to heed protesters' demands to cut off U.S. support for Israel, Republicans blame Democrats for the disorder and have used it as a backdrop for press conferences.“We need the president of the United States to speak to the issue and say this is wrong," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said on Tuesday. "What’s happening on college campuses right now is wrong.”Johnson visited Columbia with other members of his caucus last week. House Republicans sparred with protesters while speaking to the media at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.Former President Donald Trump, his party's presumptive nominee, also criticized Biden in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.“Biden has to do something,” he said. “Biden is supposed to be the voice of our country, and it’s certainly not much of a voice. It’s a voice that nobody’s heard.”He repeated his criticisms on Wednesday during a campaign event in Waukesha, Wisconsin.“The radical extremists and far-left agitators are terrorizing college campuses, as you possibly noticed," Trump said. “And Biden’s nowhere to be found. He hasn’t said anything."Kate Berner, who served as deputy communications director for Biden’s campaign in 2020, said Republicans already tried the same tactic four years ago during protests over George Floyd’s murder by a police officer.“People rejected that,” she said. “They saw that it was just fearmongering. They saw that it wasn’t based in reality.”Apart from condemning antisemitism, the White House has been reluctant to directly engage on the issue.Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions during a briefing on Monday.Asked whether protesters should be disciplined by their schools, she said “universities and colleges make their own decisions” and "we’re not going to weigh in from here.”Pressed on whether police should be called in, she said “that's up to the colleges and universities.”When quizzed about administrators rescheduling graduation ceremonies, she said “that is a decision that they have to decide" and “that is on them.”Biden will make his own visit to a college campus on May 19 when he's scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse University in Atlanta.-------------------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is staying mum about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-university-student-protests-mideast-media-israel-hamas-war-b761cdbe7b912a491bfcfe7d59c63c26">student protests and police crackdowns</a>&nbsp;as Republicans try to turn campus unrest over the war in Gaza into a campaign cudgel against Democrats.Tension at colleges and universities has been building for days as some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to law enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.But Biden's last public comment came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, has gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.“Forcibly taking over a building," such as what happened at Columbia University in New York, "is not peaceful," she said. "It’s just not.”Biden has never been much for protesting. His career in elected office began as a county official when he was only 28 years old, and he’s always espoused the political importance of compromise over zealousness.As college campuses convulsed with anger over the Vietnam War in 1968, Biden was in law school at Syracuse University.“I’m not big on flak jackets and tie-dyed shirts,” he said years later. “You know, that’s not me.″Despite the White House's criticism and Biden's refusal to heed protesters' demands to cut off U.S. support for Israel, Republicans blame Democrats for the disorder and have used it as a backdrop for press conferences.“We need the president of the United States to speak to the issue and say this is wrong," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said on Tuesday. "What’s happening on college campuses right now is wrong.”Johnson visited Columbia with other members of his caucus last week. House Republicans sparred with protesters while speaking to the media at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.Former President Donald Trump, his party's presumptive nominee, also criticized Biden in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.“Biden has to do something,” he said. “Biden is supposed to be the voice of our country, and it’s certainly not much of a voice. It’s a voice that nobody’s heard.”He repeated his criticisms on Wednesday during a campaign event in Waukesha, Wisconsin.“The radical extremists and far-left agitators are terrorizing college campuses, as you possibly noticed," Trump said. “And Biden’s nowhere to be found. He hasn’t said anything."Kate Berner, who served as deputy communications director for Biden’s campaign in 2020, said Republicans already tried the same tactic four years ago during protests over George Floyd’s murder by a police officer.“People rejected that,” she said. “They saw that it was just fearmongering. They saw that it wasn’t based in reality.”Apart from condemning antisemitism, the White House has been reluctant to directly engage on the issue.Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions during a briefing on Monday.Asked whether protesters should be disciplined by their schools, she said “universities and colleges make their own decisions” and "we’re not going to weigh in from here.”Pressed on whether police should be called in, she said “that's up to the colleges and universities.”When quizzed about administrators rescheduling graduation ceremonies, she said “that is a decision that they have to decide" and “that is on them.”Biden will make his own visit to a college campus on May 19 when he's scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse University in Atlanta.___

🎥Biden breaks silence on campus protests over the war in Gaza

SEDGWICK&nbsp; COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a racially motivated killing.

Last month Judge Chrystal Krier sentenced 29-year-old Roger Gale, Jr. of Wichita to 27-years in prison for the May 2022 shooting death of&nbsp;Emmanuel Hardy, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In March, Gale pled guilty to second degree murder with the added stipulation that the State possessed sufficient facts to establish that the crime was “racially motivated."

In May of 2022, officers responded to a shooting at an apartment complex&nbsp;in the 4900 block of East Harry. Upon their arrival, they located 30-year-old Emmanuel Hardy of Wichita outside of the residence with gunshot wounds, according to Office Paul Cruz. EMS transported Hardy&nbsp;to an area hospital where he died.

The investigation revealed Gale and Hardy were in a verbal disturbance that&nbsp;stemmed from a prior verbal argument while Gale was walking his dog, according to Cruz.&nbsp;

During the disturbance Gale fired several shots at a 39-year-old woman and Hardy. Hardy was shot several times which caused his fatal injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653857468279.png" alt="Gale-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Gale-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK&nbsp; COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a racially motivated killing.Last month Judge Chrystal Krier sentenced 29-year-old Roger Gale, Jr. of Wichita to 27-years in prison for the May 2022 shooting death of&nbsp;Emmanuel Hardy, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In March, Gale pled guilty to second degree murder with the added stipulation that the State possessed sufficient facts to establish that the crime was “racially motivated."In May of 2022, officers responded to a shooting at an apartment complex&nbsp;in the 4900 block of East Harry. Upon their arrival, they located 30-year-old Emmanuel Hardy of Wichita outside of the residence with gunshot wounds, according to Office Paul Cruz. EMS transported Hardy&nbsp;to an area hospital where he died.The investigation revealed Gale and Hardy were in a verbal disturbance that&nbsp;stemmed from a prior verbal argument while Gale was walking his dog, according to Cruz.&nbsp;During the disturbance Gale fired several shots at a 39-year-old woman and Hardy. Hardy was shot several times which caused his fatal injuries.

Kan. man going to prison for deadly dispute while walking dog

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri voters on Wednesday got a step closer to getting to decide whether to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour, after a group behind the effort said it turned in nearly double the required number of signatures.

The ballot measure backed by Missouri Jobs with Justice would raise the minimum wage from its current $12.30 an hour to $13.75 an hour next year and then to $15 an hour in 2026.

Citizen-driven amendments to Missouri law require more than 100,000 voter signatures to get on the ballot, and Missouri Jobs with Justice said it submitted about 210,000. Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft's office must next determine if at least 115,000 or so are valid.

“We feel confident that voters will have an opportunity to pass this important initiative this fall," Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action, said in a statement.

Missouri voters historically have supported minimum wage hikes.

After the Republican-led Legislature in 2017&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-7923cc9ee82a4fc599ea6794fd545096">blocked</a>&nbsp;St. Louis and Kansas City from raising wages in those cities, voters in 2018 approved a statewide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9bed3bde87cd46dbbe2ba7a81b782abd">minimum wage hike</a>.

Under that plan, the wage floor — then $7.85 an hour — rose by 85 cents per year until it hit $12 in 2023. Pay rose again this year because of automatic increases tied to inflation.

The latest proposal also includes a requirement that workers get paid sick leave.

Employees currently not guaranteed sick days would earn an hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked under the measure.

Businesses with fewer employees would be required to allow a minimum of five paid sick days per year, and larger companies would be required to offer at least seven paid sick days.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714599645166.png" alt="-Photo courtesy Missouri Jobs with Justice" />
 <figcaption>-Photo courtesy Missouri Jobs with Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri voters on Wednesday got a step closer to getting to decide whether to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour, after a group behind the effort said it turned in nearly double the required number of signatures.The ballot measure backed by Missouri Jobs with Justice would raise the minimum wage from its current $12.30 an hour to $13.75 an hour next year and then to $15 an hour in 2026.Citizen-driven amendments to Missouri law require more than 100,000 voter signatures to get on the ballot, and Missouri Jobs with Justice said it submitted about 210,000. Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft's office must next determine if at least 115,000 or so are valid.“We feel confident that voters will have an opportunity to pass this important initiative this fall," Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action, said in a statement.Missouri voters historically have supported minimum wage hikes.After the Republican-led Legislature in 2017&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-7923cc9ee82a4fc599ea6794fd545096">blocked</a>&nbsp;St. Louis and Kansas City from raising wages in those cities, voters in 2018 approved a statewide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9bed3bde87cd46dbbe2ba7a81b782abd">minimum wage hike</a>.Under that plan, the wage floor — then $7.85 an hour — rose by 85 cents per year until it hit $12 in 2023. Pay rose again this year because of automatic increases tied to inflation.The latest proposal also includes a requirement that workers get paid sick leave.Employees currently not guaranteed sick days would earn an hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked under the measure.Businesses with fewer employees would be required to allow a minimum of five paid sick days per year, and larger companies would be required to offer at least seven paid sick days.

Campaign aims to raise Missouri's minimum wage to $15 an hour

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives are investigating the eighth homicide of the year in Kansas City, Kansas.

Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police&nbsp; were dispatched to a shooting in the 1700 block of Cleveland Avenue, according to a media release.&nbsp;

First responders discovered two men with apparent gunshot wounds. They was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

A third man was located outside of the residence with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased on scene. 

 This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714658439034.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>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives are investigating the eighth homicide of the year in Kansas City, Kansas.Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police&nbsp; were dispatched to a shooting in the 1700 block of Cleveland Avenue, according to a media release.&nbsp;First responders discovered two men with apparent gunshot wounds. They was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;A third man was located outside of the residence with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased on scene. This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

Police: 1 dead, 2 hospitalized after shooting at Kansas home

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;</a>

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers approved a new, slightly smaller&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_sb37_02_43024.pdf">package of tax cuts</a>&nbsp;before adjourning their annual session early Wednesday, expecting Gov. Laura Kelly to veto it and call a special legislative session to push for a plan more to her liking.

The Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature agree on a good deal of policy that would save taxpayers a total of between $1.42 billion and $1.92 billion over the next three years on their income, sales and property taxes. Their remaining differences are over how the state's personal income tax is structured and whether the state can avoid future budget shortfalls if the tax cuts are worth much more than $430 million a year as of 2029.

The impasse over cutting taxes, particularly income taxes,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-tax-cuts-kansas-state-budget-immigration-44e6e4a592c8483d3b102664611a97fd">has continued</a>&nbsp;over the past 18 months. Kansas has been unable to enact major tax cuts even though its coffers are bulging with surplus revenues.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result,” Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said just before senators adjourned for the year, quoting scientist Albert Einstein. “I will see you all in a couple of weeks.”

Republican leaders spent Tuesday afternoon and evening revising one last tax bill after they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-tax-cuts-kansas-budget-1c53e86eec7e2d1c8b1c649dc05585d4">couldn't muster</a>&nbsp;the two-thirds majority necessary in the Senate on Monday to override Kelly's veto of a bill approved earlier this month that would cut taxes by $1.56 billion over the next three years. They needed 27 of 40 votes and were one short, thanks to what has become&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240429162206_838387/print/">a solid bloc</a>&nbsp;of the Senate's 11 Democrats and three GOP dissidents.

The governor's stance has increasingly exasperated some fellow Democrats in the House, most of whom supported both the last bill she vetoed and the one headed to her desk. The latest version of the big tax bill, one of four measures cutting taxes, would save taxpayers $1.46 billion over three years.

Republican leaders said their differences with the governor amount to only a few million dollars in cuts a year.

“If we can't get a signature on this, I'm not sure what she will sign,” House Taxation Committee Chair Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican, told fellow Republicans during a meeting before the House approved the big tax bill.

The votes on the bill were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240430234739_959465/print/">108-11</a>&nbsp;in the House and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240501001454_868874/print/">25-9</a>&nbsp;in the Senate. While five senators were absent and one passed, there's still no sense that GOP leaders can muster a two-thirds majority.

Kelly and top Republicans have agreed on eliminating state income taxes on retirees' Social Security benefits, which kick in when they earn $75,000 a year. They also agree on reducing a state property tax for schools and eliminating the state's already set-to-expire 2% sales tax on groceries six months early, on July 1.

But top Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-income-tax-cuts-budget-8fbaf4d7aa99b0b23f38daddd7dc2c28">began the year</a>&nbsp;hoping to move Kansas from its current three personal income tax rates to a single rate. They view that as simpler and fairer, though Kelly told them&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-income-tax-cuts-budget-veto-kelly-1c321169e87d69480efe91db0ef55f28">in vetoing their first plan</a>&nbsp;this year in January that the move would benefit the “super wealthy.”

The plan Kelly vetoed earlier this month and the one approved late Tuesday night would move Kansas to two personal income tax rates. The highest rate, now 5.7%, would have been 5.55% under the bill Kelly vetoed and would be 5.57% under the one going to her desk.

Kelly told House Democrats earlier this month that she sees going to two personal income tax rates as a step toward the single-rate “flat” tax that she opposes.

But she has focused far more of her criticism in recent weeks on predicting that GOP proposals would lead to budget shortfalls in five or six years. She contends they would eat away too quickly at the $4.3 billion in surplus funds the state expects to have on hand at the end of June — equal to 41% of the state's annual general tax revenues.

“The governor has moved the goalposts on us many, many times,” House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said during the caucus before the House vote on the last big tax bill. “Quite frankly, it's on her. What we have right now is as close to what she wants as we can give her.”

Kelly has argued that tax cuts should cost no more than $433 million during the state's 2029 budget year. The latest version of the big tax bill came in at $439 million, compared with the $469 million for the last bill Kelly vetoed.

Legislators ended their annual session the same day the Kansas Department of Revenue reported that&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/10_April_Revenue_FY2024_05-01-2024_Final.pdf">the state’s tax collections</a>&nbsp;in April exceed expectations by nearly $102 million, or almost 8%.

“What we’re arguing over is almost silly,” Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said during a post-adjournment news conference with other GOP leaders. “In the scope of the Kansas budget, it is a fraction of a percent apart, and we’re supposed to believe that one is sustainable and one is devastating.”

But Kelly and her staff argue that Republicans' math is faulty because their figures don't include other tax bills.

Kelly's top figure of $433 million a year for 2029 includes one of them, and when that one is added to the latest bill, its 2029 cost is $487 million, a gap of $54 million between it and Kelly's top number.

“They just want to pretend that those bills don’t count towards this,” her chief of staff, Will Lawrence, told reporters Tuesday evening. “She’s the only one who’s been responsible in that scenario.”

But some lawmakers have grown weary of the back and forth. With elections for all legislative seats looming this year, they just want to confirm for their constituents that big tax cuts are coming.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;</a>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers approved a new, slightly smaller&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_sb37_02_43024.pdf">package of tax cuts</a>&nbsp;before adjourning their annual session early Wednesday, expecting Gov. Laura Kelly to veto it and call a special legislative session to push for a plan more to her liking.The Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature agree on a good deal of policy that would save taxpayers a total of between $1.42 billion and $1.92 billion over the next three years on their income, sales and property taxes. Their remaining differences are over how the state's personal income tax is structured and whether the state can avoid future budget shortfalls if the tax cuts are worth much more than $430 million a year as of 2029.The impasse over cutting taxes, particularly income taxes,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-tax-cuts-kansas-state-budget-immigration-44e6e4a592c8483d3b102664611a97fd">has continued</a>&nbsp;over the past 18 months. Kansas has been unable to enact major tax cuts even though its coffers are bulging with surplus revenues.“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result,” Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said just before senators adjourned for the year, quoting scientist Albert Einstein. “I will see you all in a couple of weeks.”Republican leaders spent Tuesday afternoon and evening revising one last tax bill after they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-tax-cuts-kansas-budget-1c53e86eec7e2d1c8b1c649dc05585d4">couldn't muster</a>&nbsp;the two-thirds majority necessary in the Senate on Monday to override Kelly's veto of a bill approved earlier this month that would cut taxes by $1.56 billion over the next three years. They needed 27 of 40 votes and were one short, thanks to what has become&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240429162206_838387/print/">a solid bloc</a>&nbsp;of the Senate's 11 Democrats and three GOP dissidents.The governor's stance has increasingly exasperated some fellow Democrats in the House, most of whom supported both the last bill she vetoed and the one headed to her desk. The latest version of the big tax bill, one of four measures cutting taxes, would save taxpayers $1.46 billion over three years.Republican leaders said their differences with the governor amount to only a few million dollars in cuts a year.“If we can't get a signature on this, I'm not sure what she will sign,” House Taxation Committee Chair Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican, told fellow Republicans during a meeting before the House approved the big tax bill.The votes on the bill were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240430234739_959465/print/">108-11</a>&nbsp;in the House and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240501001454_868874/print/">25-9</a>&nbsp;in the Senate. While five senators were absent and one passed, there's still no sense that GOP leaders can muster a two-thirds majority.Kelly and top Republicans have agreed on eliminating state income taxes on retirees' Social Security benefits, which kick in when they earn $75,000 a year. They also agree on reducing a state property tax for schools and eliminating the state's already set-to-expire 2% sales tax on groceries six months early, on July 1.But top Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-income-tax-cuts-budget-8fbaf4d7aa99b0b23f38daddd7dc2c28">began the year</a>&nbsp;hoping to move Kansas from its current three personal income tax rates to a single rate. They view that as simpler and fairer, though Kelly told them&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-income-tax-cuts-budget-veto-kelly-1c321169e87d69480efe91db0ef55f28">in vetoing their first plan</a>&nbsp;this year in January that the move would benefit the “super wealthy.”The plan Kelly vetoed earlier this month and the one approved late Tuesday night would move Kansas to two personal income tax rates. The highest rate, now 5.7%, would have been 5.55% under the bill Kelly vetoed and would be 5.57% under the one going to her desk.Kelly told House Democrats earlier this month that she sees going to two personal income tax rates as a step toward the single-rate “flat” tax that she opposes.But she has focused far more of her criticism in recent weeks on predicting that GOP proposals would lead to budget shortfalls in five or six years. She contends they would eat away too quickly at the $4.3 billion in surplus funds the state expects to have on hand at the end of June — equal to 41% of the state's annual general tax revenues.“The governor has moved the goalposts on us many, many times,” House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said during the caucus before the House vote on the last big tax bill. “Quite frankly, it's on her. What we have right now is as close to what she wants as we can give her.”Kelly has argued that tax cuts should cost no more than $433 million during the state's 2029 budget year. The latest version of the big tax bill came in at $439 million, compared with the $469 million for the last bill Kelly vetoed.Legislators ended their annual session the same day the Kansas Department of Revenue reported that&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/10_April_Revenue_FY2024_05-01-2024_Final.pdf">the state’s tax collections</a>&nbsp;in April exceed expectations by nearly $102 million, or almost 8%.“What we’re arguing over is almost silly,” Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said during a post-adjournment news conference with other GOP leaders. “In the scope of the Kansas budget, it is a fraction of a percent apart, and we’re supposed to believe that one is sustainable and one is devastating.”But Kelly and her staff argue that Republicans' math is faulty because their figures don't include other tax bills.Kelly's top figure of $433 million a year for 2029 includes one of them, and when that one is added to the latest bill, its 2029 cost is $487 million, a gap of $54 million between it and Kelly's top number.“They just want to pretend that those bills don’t count towards this,” her chief of staff, Will Lawrence, told reporters Tuesday evening. “She’s the only one who’s been responsible in that scenario.”But some lawmakers have grown weary of the back and forth. With elections for all legislative seats looming this year, they just want to confirm for their constituents that big tax cuts are coming.

Kan. legislators expect governor to veto latest tax cuts, call a special session

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an unattended death at a home in the 2100 block of S. Volutsia in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.

Police received an anonymous tip that a person had been deceased inside a residence for two weeks.

Just after 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, investigators attempted a welfare check on a person living in a home on Volutsia. However, they were unable to enter the house. 

Investigators remained on location while working to obtain a search warrant. During that time, investigators learned that multiple propane tanks were inside the residence. After obtaining the search warrant and before entering, they requested assistance from WPD's Ordinance Disposal Unit to ensure that the residence was safe to enter.

Upon entering and clearing the residence for safety, officers discovered a victim. Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and pronounced the victim deceased, according to Ford.

The identity of the individual, as well as the cause and manner of death, are still pending further investigation and confirmation from the Sedgwick County Medical Examiner's Office.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an unattended death at a home in the 2100 block of S. Volutsia in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.Police received an anonymous tip that a person had been deceased inside a residence for two weeks.Just after 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, investigators attempted a welfare check on a person living in a home on Volutsia. However, they were unable to enter the house. Investigators remained on location while working to obtain a search warrant. During that time, investigators learned that multiple propane tanks were inside the residence. After obtaining the search warrant and before entering, they requested assistance from WPD's Ordinance Disposal Unit to ensure that the residence was safe to enter.Upon entering and clearing the residence for safety, officers discovered a victim. Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and pronounced the victim deceased, according to Ford.The identity of the individual, as well as the cause and manner of death, are still pending further investigation and confirmation from the Sedgwick County Medical Examiner's Office.

Police: Death inside Kansas home occurred two weeks ago

LYON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Wednesday in Emporia.

According to Emporia Police Captain Ray Mattas, a Toyota Camry was northbound on Mechanic Street. The driver failed to yield at the stop sign at 12th Avenue.

The car crossed 12th Avenue, left the roadway, traveled onto Emporia State University property and struck a tree.&nbsp; EMS transported the driver to Newman Regional Health where they were pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the driver.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714607568367.png" alt="Photo by Chuck Samples courtesy KVOE" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Chuck Samples courtesy KVOE</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Wednesday in Emporia.According to Emporia Police Captain Ray Mattas, a Toyota Camry was northbound on Mechanic Street. The driver failed to yield at the stop sign at 12th Avenue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714603639346.png" alt="Photo by Chuck Samples courtesy KVOE" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Chuck Samples courtesy KVOE</figcaption>
 </figure>The car crossed 12th Avenue, left the roadway, traveled onto Emporia State University property and struck a tree.&nbsp; EMS transported the driver to Newman Regional Health where they were pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the driver.

Driver dies after crash into tree on Emporia State campus

WASHINGTON— Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Wednesday.

The raw ground beef items were produced on April 26-27, 2024. The following products are subject to recall&nbsp; Click <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-05/recall-labels-016-2024.pdf">here to view all labels</a>

The products subject to recall all bear the USDA mark of inspection on the front of the product label, and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the product label. These items were shipped to Walmart retail locations nationwide.

The establishment reported the issue to FSIS after they identified that previously segregated product had been inadvertently utilized in the production of ground beef.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

E. coli&nbsp;O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Cargill Meat Solutions at 1-844-419-1574. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Chuck Miller, Senior Communications Manager, Cargill Meat Solutions at 612-430-2882 or media@cargill.com.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at&nbsp;<a href="https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714614484262.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON— Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Wednesday.The raw ground beef items were produced on April 26-27, 2024. The following products are subject to recall&nbsp; Click <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-05/recall-labels-016-2024.pdf">here to view all labels</a><ul>
 <li>2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing "93% LEAN 7% FAT ALL NATURAL LEAN GROUND BEEF" with lot code 117 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four "PRIME RIB BEEF STEAK BURGERS PATTIES" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing "85% LEAN 15% FAT ALL NATURAL ANGUS PREMIUM GROUND BEEF" with lot code 117 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing "80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four "80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four "90% LEAN 10% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN PATTIES" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li>
 </ul>The products subject to recall all bear the USDA mark of inspection on the front of the product label, and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the product label. These items were shipped to Walmart retail locations nationwide.The establishment reported the issue to FSIS after they identified that previously segregated product had been inadvertently utilized in the production of ground beef.There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.E. coli&nbsp;O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Cargill Meat Solutions at 1-844-419-1574. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Chuck Miller, Senior Communications Manager, Cargill Meat Solutions at 612-430-2882 or media@cargill.com.Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at&nbsp;<a href="https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>

16,000 pounds of ground beef recalled nationwide over E. coli concern

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Wednesday announced that&nbsp;total tax collections&nbsp;for April&nbsp;were&nbsp;$1.42 billion. That is $101 million, or 7.7%,&nbsp;more than&nbsp;the&nbsp;monthly&nbsp;estimate. Total tax collections are up 9.6% from April 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyNC8wNS8xMF9BcHJpbF9SZXZlbnVlX0ZZMjAyNF8wNS0wMS0yMDI0X0ZpbmFsLnBkZiIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyNDA1MDEuOTQxNzIxMjEifQ.n8ER-HXnPo56i_SbBk8n5cf8MxEqlCJguWDAsuvKjNU/s/1303160919/br/241700669252-l" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to view the April 2024 revenue numbers.&nbsp;

"These revenue numbers underscore how important it is to provide responsible tax relief now,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “I remain committed to cutting taxes in a fiscally responsible, comprehensive manner that doesn’t jeopardize the progress we’ve made.”&nbsp;

“The overage for April is largely&nbsp;due&nbsp;to the&nbsp;fact that&nbsp;we are processing&nbsp;63,000 more&nbsp;‘balance due’&nbsp;checks&nbsp;from taxpayers this year than we were at the same time last year,”&nbsp;Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart said.&nbsp;“A combination of two&nbsp;additional&nbsp;processing days and recently upgraded check remittance technology at the Department of Revenue have allowed payments to be processed&nbsp;faster and&nbsp;much more efficiently.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Secretary Burghart went on to say, “the spike in processed payments for April is&nbsp;really just&nbsp;a carrying forward of payments that would normally be processed in May. As a result, individual income tax receipts for May will&nbsp;likely be&nbsp;lower than the estimate.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Individual income tax collections were $740.3 million&nbsp;in April 2024. That is $91.0 million, or 14.0%,&nbsp;more than&nbsp;the estimate, and up 24.7% from April 2023.&nbsp;

Corporate income tax collections were $338.2 million&nbsp;last month, which is $6.3 million, or 1.9%, more than estimates. It does, however, reflect a 4.5% drop from corporate income tax collections at this same time last year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $295.1&nbsp;million, which is $3.1 million, or 1.1%&nbsp;more than&nbsp;the estimate&nbsp;but&nbsp;down $13.5 million, or 4.4%, from April 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Consensus Revenue Estimating group met on April 19 to revise estimates for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Wednesday announced that&nbsp;total tax collections&nbsp;for April&nbsp;were&nbsp;$1.42 billion. That is $101 million, or 7.7%,&nbsp;more than&nbsp;the&nbsp;monthly&nbsp;estimate. Total tax collections are up 9.6% from April 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyNC8wNS8xMF9BcHJpbF9SZXZlbnVlX0ZZMjAyNF8wNS0wMS0yMDI0X0ZpbmFsLnBkZiIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyNDA1MDEuOTQxNzIxMjEifQ.n8ER-HXnPo56i_SbBk8n5cf8MxEqlCJguWDAsuvKjNU/s/1303160919/br/241700669252-l" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to view the April 2024 revenue numbers.&nbsp;"These revenue numbers underscore how important it is to provide responsible tax relief now,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “I remain committed to cutting taxes in a fiscally responsible, comprehensive manner that doesn’t jeopardize the progress we’ve made.”&nbsp;“The overage for April is largely&nbsp;due&nbsp;to the&nbsp;fact that&nbsp;we are processing&nbsp;63,000 more&nbsp;‘balance due’&nbsp;checks&nbsp;from taxpayers this year than we were at the same time last year,”&nbsp;Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart said.&nbsp;“A combination of two&nbsp;additional&nbsp;processing days and recently upgraded check remittance technology at the Department of Revenue have allowed payments to be processed&nbsp;faster and&nbsp;much more efficiently.&nbsp;&nbsp;Secretary Burghart went on to say, “the spike in processed payments for April is&nbsp;really just&nbsp;a carrying forward of payments that would normally be processed in May. As a result, individual income tax receipts for May will&nbsp;likely be&nbsp;lower than the estimate.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Individual income tax collections were $740.3 million&nbsp;in April 2024. That is $91.0 million, or 14.0%,&nbsp;more than&nbsp;the estimate, and up 24.7% from April 2023.&nbsp;Corporate income tax collections were $338.2 million&nbsp;last month, which is $6.3 million, or 1.9%, more than estimates. It does, however, reflect a 4.5% drop from corporate income tax collections at this same time last year.&nbsp;&nbsp;Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $295.1&nbsp;million, which is $3.1 million, or 1.1%&nbsp;more than&nbsp;the estimate&nbsp;but&nbsp;down $13.5 million, or 4.4%, from April 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Consensus Revenue Estimating group met on April 19 to revise estimates for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas total tax collections up for second straight month

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for allegedly contaminating food.

On April 25, the Leawood Police Department received a tip that a Leawood restaurant may have someone intentionally contaminating food.

Police immediately began an investigation that led to the Hereford House, 5001 Town Center Drive in Leawood, where detectives spoke with restaurant management to identify a suspect 21-year-old&nbsp;Jace Christian Hanson of Kansas City.

On Monday, Hanson was charged with food adulteration, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office. The alleged crime occurred between March 26 and April 25.

Customers who ate at the steakhouse between those dates and experienced health issues are to contact Leawood police.

&nbsp;Hanson is scheduled for a court appearance on May 2, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714486969300.png" alt="Hanson-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hanson-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for allegedly contaminating food.On April 25, the Leawood Police Department received a tip that a Leawood restaurant may have someone intentionally contaminating food.Police immediately began an investigation that led to the Hereford House, 5001 Town Center Drive in Leawood, where detectives spoke with restaurant management to identify a suspect 21-year-old&nbsp;Jace Christian Hanson of Kansas City.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Leawood Police have arrested a subject for intentionally contaminating food at the Leawood Hereford House. If you ate at the restaurant between March 26 and April 25, 2024, and later experienced health issues, please contact us: tips@leawood.org or 913-266-0696. <a href="https://t.co/7Ye056ObBH">pic.twitter.com/7Ye056ObBH</a>&mdash; Leawood Police (@LeawoodPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeawoodPolice/status/1785327499137749138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On Monday, Hanson was charged with food adulteration, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office. The alleged crime occurred between March 26 and April 25.Customers who ate at the steakhouse between those dates and experienced health issues are to contact Leawood police.&nbsp;Hanson is scheduled for a court appearance on May 2, according to the district attorney's office.

Man accused of intentionally contaminating food at Kan. steakhouse

FORD COUNTY—A Kansas pilot avoided injury after a mishap just after 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Ford County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Turbo-prop&nbsp;S2R-T34 fixed wing, single engine aircraft piloted by&nbsp;Dawson Lance&nbsp;Dreyer, 23, Spring Hill, had landing gear issues.

The airplane missed the grass landing strip that runs South of Center Street and West of South Washington Street in Bucklin. 

The aircraft came to a stop in a residential yard at 710 West Center Street, in Bucklin. There were no injuries, just minor damages to the aircraft from the landing that were being repaired on scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714615556116.png" alt="-The aircraft came to a stop in a residential yard at 710 West Center Street in Bucklin. There were no injuries, just minor damages to the aircraft from the landing that were being repaired on scene.-Google image" />
 <figcaption>-The aircraft came to a stop in a residential yard at 710 West Center Street in Bucklin. There were no injuries, just minor damages to the aircraft from the landing that were being repaired on scene.-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY—A Kansas pilot avoided injury after a mishap just after 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Ford County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Turbo-prop&nbsp;S2R-T34 fixed wing, single engine aircraft piloted by&nbsp;Dawson Lance&nbsp;Dreyer, 23, Spring Hill, had landing gear issues.The airplane missed the grass landing strip that runs South of Center Street and West of South Washington Street in Bucklin. The aircraft came to a stop in a residential yard at 710 West Center Street, in Bucklin. There were no injuries, just minor damages to the aircraft from the landing that were being repaired on scene.

Airplane missed landing strip, stops in front yard of Kan. home

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects for alleged theft and other crimes after a three county chase.

On April 29, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call reporting the theft of a Penske box truck from Pete's Gas Station, 401 W. Main in Independence, Kansas, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.

 The caller indicated that the stolen truck was traveling east on U.S. 160, east of Independence. Deputies quickly located the truck on U.S. 160 and County Road 5100. Despite activating their lights and sirens, the truck failed to stop, leading to a vehicle pursuit. 

The truck turned north onto U.S. 169, where the Cherryvale Police Department joined the chase and attempted to use spike strips to stop the truck. 

However, the initial attempt with stop sticks was unsuccessful, and the truck continued, turning east onto U.S. 400. The Parsons Police Department made another attempt to deploy stop sticks, but the suspects made dangerous maneuvers to avoid them. 

The Labette County Sheriff's Office then joined the pursuit, with the truck weaving through various county roads in Labette County before rejoining U.S. 400 and heading into Cherokee County. 

 The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Crawford County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit. This time, the use of stop sticks was successful, and the truck eventually came to a halt in the middle of the roadway. 

Deputies took into custody two female suspects, identified as 34-year-old Sumer Young of Independence, Kansas, and 36-year-old Sierra Vernon of Coffeyville, Kansas.

Both suspects remain in the Montgomery County Department of Corrections (DOC). Young is being held on requested charges including fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, theft, failure to stop at a stop sign, driving with a suspended license, and driving left of center. 

Vernon was booked on a requested charge of theft. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714355806928.png" alt="Vernon-photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Vernon-photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects for alleged theft and other crimes after a three county chase.On April 29, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call reporting the theft of a Penske box truck from Pete's Gas Station, 401 W. Main in Independence, Kansas, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714355765859.png" alt="Young -photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Young -photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> The caller indicated that the stolen truck was traveling east on U.S. 160, east of Independence. Deputies quickly located the truck on U.S. 160 and County Road 5100. Despite activating their lights and sirens, the truck failed to stop, leading to a vehicle pursuit. The truck turned north onto U.S. 169, where the Cherryvale Police Department joined the chase and attempted to use spike strips to stop the truck. However, the initial attempt with stop sticks was unsuccessful, and the truck continued, turning east onto U.S. 400. The Parsons Police Department made another attempt to deploy stop sticks, but the suspects made dangerous maneuvers to avoid them. The Labette County Sheriff's Office then joined the pursuit, with the truck weaving through various county roads in Labette County before rejoining U.S. 400 and heading into Cherokee County. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Crawford County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit. This time, the use of stop sticks was successful, and the truck eventually came to a halt in the middle of the roadway. Deputies took into custody two female suspects, identified as 34-year-old Sumer Young of Independence, Kansas, and 36-year-old Sierra Vernon of Coffeyville, Kansas.Both suspects remain in the Montgomery County Department of Corrections (DOC). Young is being held on requested charges including fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, theft, failure to stop at a stop sign, driving with a suspended license, and driving left of center. Vernon was booked on a requested charge of theft.

2 Kan. women caught after 3 county chase in stolen box truck

COWLEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Tuesday in Cowley County.

&nbsp;A Brush Hog riding lawn mower driven by 82-year-old George Hawkins Jr., of Arkansas, was traveling in the north ditch in the&nbsp;13000 block of 212th Road, according to Sheriff Dave Faletti.

The mower’s front wheels dug into the mud and overturned onto Hawkins pinning him to the ground.

Several Good Samaritans stopped, called 911, and were able to get the mower off Hawkins. Life saving measures were administered by Deputies and taken over by Winfield EMS. EagleMed was requested to launch and land at the scene. Prior to EagleMeds arrival Winfield EMS transported Hawkins to William Newton Memorial Hospital. Hawkins was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

COWLEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Tuesday in Cowley County.&nbsp;A Brush Hog riding lawn mower driven by 82-year-old George Hawkins Jr., of Arkansas, was traveling in the north ditch in the&nbsp;13000 block of 212th Road, according to Sheriff Dave Faletti.The mower’s front wheels dug into the mud and overturned onto Hawkins pinning him to the ground.Several Good Samaritans stopped, called 911, and were able to get the mower off Hawkins. Life saving measures were administered by Deputies and taken over by Winfield EMS. EagleMed was requested to launch and land at the scene. Prior to EagleMeds arrival Winfield EMS transported Hawkins to William Newton Memorial Hospital. Hawkins was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Kansas man dies in mower accident

LAWRENCE —Student&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">protests over the Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;have popped up at many college campuses nationwide including the University of Kansas after being inspired by demonstrators at Columbia University.

&nbsp;A group calling itself University of Kansas Students for Justice in Palestine sent a letter Wednesday to the Office of the Chancellor at the University.&nbsp; Read the letter below.

Students nationwide are calling for universities to separate themselves from companies advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza and in some cases from Israel itself. Police have arrested hundreds nationwide since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-protests-israel-palestinian-hirsi-cd80372939c7c08a40346e8b7d546da1">detainments at Columbia</a>&nbsp;on April 18.

Officials are trying to resolve the protests as the academic year winds down, but students have dug in at several high-profile universities.

Police have cleared 30 to 40 people from inside Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall late Tuesday after pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the administration building in New York earlier in the day. The scene unfolded shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday as police, wearing helmets and carrying zip ties and riot shields, massed at the Ivy League university’s entrance. Officers breached Hamilton Hall, an administration building on campus, to clear out the structure. The demonstrators had occupied Hamilton Hall more than 12 hours earlier, spreading their reach from an encampment elsewhere on the grounds that’s been there for nearly two weeks. Columbia’s protests earlier this month kicked off demonstrations that now span from California to Massachusetts.

Columbia said Tuesday that students occupying the building face expulsion, that those who did not abide by the deadline terms were being suspended and seniors will be ineligible to graduate on May 15.

CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, HUMBOLDT

A weeklong occupation of the administration building at the California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, ended about 3 a.m. Tuesday, when dozens of police officers wearing helmets and wielding batons cleared protesters from campus. The university said 25 people were arrested and taken to jail. A group of demonstrators showed up at the jail later Tuesday, waving Palestinian flags as they rallied for their release.

The university on the state’s rural north coast earlier announced a “hard closure,” meaning that people were not permitted to enter or be on the 8,000-student campus without authorization.

Arrest footage posted on the Lost Coast Outpost, a digital publication, showed about 100 police officers in riot gear arriving in vans and buses and then marching in with shields at the ready.

Some officers approached a group of protesters who were chanting “Viva, viva Palestina!” and sitting in a circle outside the administration building. Police picked them up one by one, tied their hands behind their back with zip ties and led them off campus.

Damage to the school since protests started on April 22 is estimated to be over $1 million, California state Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, a Democrat whose district includes the campus, said Tuesday.

“Let’s be clear – it’s going to take time to heal, McGuire said. “Cal Poly Humboldt must be a campus where all faiths and students of all backgrounds feel safe, respected, and included. This has not been the case for Humboldt’s Jewish students and others over the past week.”

Yale authorities cleared a protesters’ encampment Tuesday morning after students heeded final warnings to leave, university officials said. Yale and New Haven, Connecticut, police officers were at the site, but no arrests were reported. Yale officials said they warned that students could be arrested and face discipline, including suspension, if they didn’t clear the grassy quad area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714585191259.png" alt="Photo by JuYeon Kim courtesy KSHB TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo by JuYeon Kim courtesy KSHB TV</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE —Student&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">protests over the Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;have popped up at many college campuses nationwide including the University of Kansas after being inspired by demonstrators at Columbia University.&nbsp;A group calling itself University of Kansas Students for Justice in Palestine sent a letter Wednesday to the Office of the Chancellor at the University.&nbsp; Read the letter below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714585098880.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>Students nationwide are calling for universities to separate themselves from companies advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza and in some cases from Israel itself. Police have arrested hundreds nationwide since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-protests-israel-palestinian-hirsi-cd80372939c7c08a40346e8b7d546da1">detainments at Columbia</a>&nbsp;on April 18.Officials are trying to resolve the protests as the academic year winds down, but students have dug in at several high-profile universities.A look at protests on other campuses:COLUMBIA UNIVERSITYPolice have cleared 30 to 40 people from inside Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall late Tuesday after pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the administration building in New York earlier in the day. The scene unfolded shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday as police, wearing helmets and carrying zip ties and riot shields, massed at the Ivy League university’s entrance. Officers breached Hamilton Hall, an administration building on campus, to clear out the structure. The demonstrators had occupied Hamilton Hall more than 12 hours earlier, spreading their reach from an encampment elsewhere on the grounds that’s been there for nearly two weeks. Columbia’s protests earlier this month kicked off demonstrations that now span from California to Massachusetts.Columbia said Tuesday that students occupying the building face expulsion, that those who did not abide by the deadline terms were being suspended and seniors will be ineligible to graduate on May 15.CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, HUMBOLDTA weeklong occupation of the administration building at the California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, ended about 3 a.m. Tuesday, when dozens of police officers wearing helmets and wielding batons cleared protesters from campus. The university said 25 people were arrested and taken to jail. A group of demonstrators showed up at the jail later Tuesday, waving Palestinian flags as they rallied for their release.The university on the state’s rural north coast earlier announced a “hard closure,” meaning that people were not permitted to enter or be on the 8,000-student campus without authorization.Arrest footage posted on the Lost Coast Outpost, a digital publication, showed about 100 police officers in riot gear arriving in vans and buses and then marching in with shields at the ready.Some officers approached a group of protesters who were chanting “Viva, viva Palestina!” and sitting in a circle outside the administration building. Police picked them up one by one, tied their hands behind their back with zip ties and led them off campus.Damage to the school since protests started on April 22 is estimated to be over $1 million, California state Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, a Democrat whose district includes the campus, said Tuesday.“Let’s be clear – it’s going to take time to heal, McGuire said. “Cal Poly Humboldt must be a campus where all faiths and students of all backgrounds feel safe, respected, and included. This has not been the case for Humboldt’s Jewish students and others over the past week.”YALE UNIVERSITYYale authorities cleared a protesters’ encampment Tuesday morning after students heeded final warnings to leave, university officials said. Yale and New Haven, Connecticut, police officers were at the site, but no arrests were reported. Yale officials said they warned that students could be arrested and face discipline, including suspension, if they didn’t clear the grassy quad area.Demonstrators moved their gathering to a public sidewalk area. It was the second encampment removed since last week. On April 22, police arrested nearly 50 people, including 44 students, and took down dozens of tents.UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUTPolice moved in on a campus encampment at the Storrs, Connecticut, school Tuesday morning and arrested 25 protesters after giving them several warnings to leave, UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said.Twenty-four of those arrested were students; one was a former student. They were charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct after university officials said they repeatedly ignored directives by campus police to remove tents and disperse from an encampment first set up on April 24.Tuesday’s arrests came a day after protest leaders met with university officials.HARVARD UNIVERSITYIn a statement, protesters said the Cambridge, Massachusetts, school “has sought to shut off all outside access and visibility to the encampment.""Meanwhile, the Harvard administration has initiated disciplinary action against nearly forty students and student workers,” the statement said.Last week, Harvard limited access to its famous Harvard Yard to those with school identification after a camp was set up.PRINCETON UNIVERSITYThe university's president, Chris Eisgruber, posted a statement on Instagram saying 13 protesters — 12 affiliated with the university — were arrested Monday night after briefly occupying Clio Hall, the campus graduate school building.“All those arrested received summonses for trespassing and have been barred from campus,” Eisgruber said in the statement. “The students will also face University discipline, which may extend to suspension or expulsion.”BROWN UNIVERSITYProtesters at Brown University in Rhode Island agreed to dismantle their pro-Palestinian encampment Tuesday after school officials said five students will be invited to meet with five members of the Corporation of Brown University in May to present their arguments to divest Brown’s endowment from companies contributing to and profiting from the war in Gaza.In addition, Brown President Christina Paxson will ask an advisory committee to make a recommendation on divestment by Sept. 30, which will be brought before the school’s governing corporation for a vote in October.NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYThe school in Evanston, Illinois, said Monday that it had reached an agreement with students and faculty who represent the majority of protesters on its campus since Thursday.The university said in a statement that it agrees to answer questions within 30 days about specific holdings and investments. It also said it would reconvene an advisory committee to ensure “any vendor who profits from the Israeli occupation" will not provide services on campus. The statement said the university plans to further invest in supporting Muslim and Jewish life on campus.Northwestern says it will permit peaceful demonstrations that comply with university policies through June 1, which is the end of spring quarter classes.UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTINIn a confrontation between police and protesters at the Austin school late Monday, 79 people involved were jailed, according to the Travis County sheriff’s department. Most were charged with criminal trespass.About 150 protesters sat on the ground as state troopers and police encircled them, with hundreds of others shouting when officers dragged someone away. After police cleared the original group of demonstrators, hundreds of students and protesters ran to block officers from leaving campus. Protesters pushed in on officers, creating a mass of shoving bodies before police used pepper spray and set off flash-bang devices to clear a path for a van to take those arrested off campus.UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAEncampment organizers met with university President Carol Folt for about 90 minutes Monday. Folt declined to discuss details of what was discussed but said the purpose of the meeting was to allow her to hear the concerns of protesters. Another meeting was scheduled for Tuesday.The university has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestine-war-campus-protests-usc-cff0c1e59fc6164f615a2686d7f1b401">canceled its main graduation ceremony</a>, set for May 10. It already canceled a commencement speech by the school’s pro-Palestinian valedictorian, citing safety concerns.UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELESSecurity was tightened Tuesday at the campus a day after officials said there were “physical altercations” between dueling factions of protesters.Mary Osako, vice chancellor for UCLA Strategic Communications, said in a Tuesday statement that anyone involved in blocking classroom access could face expulsion or suspension.GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITYBefore dawn Monday, demonstrators at the school in Washington, D.C., tore down metal barricades confining them to University Yard and set up more than a dozen tents in the middle of a street.Later in the day, there were no signs of conflict. The Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement that it will continue monitoring the situation and that the protest remained peaceful.The university said it will move law school finals to a different building because of noise from the protests.VIRGINIA TECHA protest at the school in Blacksburg resulted in 82 arrests, including 53 students, a university spokesperson said Monday.Protesters began occupying the lawn of the graduate life center Friday. After protesters took further steps to occupy the lawn and outdoor spaces Sunday, the university advised those gathered to disperse. Those who failed to comply were warned they would be charged with trespassing, the university said.DEPAUL UNIVERSITYTents were erected Tuesday on the school's Chicago-area campus. The university said in a letter that tents and other structures without permits violate school policies. The school also warned that actions that interfere with operations, damage property or are disruptive will lead to disciplinary measures, including suspension, expulsion and criminal sanctions.CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITYDozens of students, faculty and staff camped out overnight at the Cleveland school hours after a similar encampment had been broken up and more than 20 people were detained but later released.School officials initially had said protests would be limited to daylight hours but announced Monday night that students and others affiliated with the school would be allowed to stay at the makeshift encampment on the school’s public green.Officials were checking the participants’ identification before they were given wristbands signifying they could remain at the site. Roughly 100 people camped out overnight without incident, officials said.UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILLAbout 30 people were detained by campus police Tuesday morning after the university said encampment protesters refused to leave. At 5:30 a.m., a university statement said protesters needed to remove tents and other items and leave the area by 6 a.m. or risk arrest.Clearing out the encampment took approximately 45 minutes, according to the university. The university had not responded to a query about whether protesters were arrested and charged.Tensions escalated Tuesday afternoon when protesters removed the American flag from a flagpole on campus central grounds and replaced it with a Palestinian flag, according to news outlets on the scene. Police then rehung the American flag as protesters and counter-protesters circled the area.The university issued an alert that classes were canceled for the rest of Tuesday, the last day of scheduled classes.UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDANine people, including six students, were arrested at the Gainesville university — where about 50 people began protesting last week — by campus police and state troopers Monday.Steve Orlando, the school’s associate vice president of communications, said many of the protesters were “outside agitators” and they had been warned for many days that prohibited activities would result in a trespassing order, barring them from campus for three years. Individuals who didn’t comply were arrested after campus police gave them multiple warnings, he said.Last week, university officials warned that students could face suspension and employees could be fired if they violated a series of rules.UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANThe Ann Arbor school told students, staff and faculty in a letter Friday that its upcoming commencement ceremonies likely will be the site of “various student expressions, including possible demonstrations.” Last week, a demonstration at the center of the campus had grown to nearly 40 tents.The letter noted that school policies “make clear that interfering with speakers and events is not protected speech and is a violation of university policy.”VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITYAt the Richmond, Virginia, campus, demonstrators protesting the Israel-Hamas war clashed with police Monday night after officers tried to remove a makeshift encampment.Protesters put up tents and built a barricade with shipping pallets. Police, some wearing riot gear, charged the line of demonstrators to clear the crowd, the Richmond Times-Dispatch&nbsp;<a href="https://richmond.com/news/local/education/palestine-protesters-vcu-campus-israel-gaza-war-ceasrefire-hostages-hamas-glenn-youngkin/article_f6452cb8-0656-11ef-886c-d3211f176ada.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">reported.</a>&nbsp;Some protesters were seen hurling water bottles and other objects at police.VCU said in a statement Tuesday that 13 people, including six VCU students, were charged with unlawful assembly and trespassing. VCU said officers used pepper spray to disperse the crowd.PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITYA small group of students at the downtown Portland, Oregon, school broke into its library late Monday. Students have been protesting in a park on campus and on the library steps since Thursday.Campus was closed Tuesday as a result of the library occupation. District Attorney Mike Schmidt said the protesters’ actions had crossed into criminal behavior and those arrested would be prosecuted.TULANE UNIVERSITYSeveral dozen protesters camped in about a dozen small tents on a grassy area near an administration building Monday at Tulane University in New Orleans.Tulane police “moved in immediately to attempt to stop the encampment," the administration said in a Tuesday afternoon news release. It added that university officials are “now focused on containing and ending the protest” at the direction of New Orleans police and Louisiana state police.The university said six people were arrested and five students suspended after a Monday confrontation with police. The Students for a Democratic Society organization also was suspended.About 2 p.m. Tuesday, university officials wheeled a portable electronic sign onto the lawn. “PRIVATE PROPERTY—NO TRESPASSING,” it read. “Everyone must leave this area immediately.”The university said some classes would be held remotely.UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIAPolice arrested protesters Monday who tried to set up an encampment at the university northeast of Atlanta. A spokesperson wouldn’t say how many people were arrested on the final day of classes before spring exams.Athens-Clarke County jail records showed that University of Georgia police had booked 12 people into the jail by midafternoon on criminal trespassing charges. State troopers aided university police.UNIVERSITY OF UTAHProtesters erected an encampment at the Salt Lake City school Monday. About two dozen tents were set up on the lawn outside the university president’s office, and roughly 200 students held protest signs and Palestinian flags. Later Monday, dozens of officers in riot gear sought to break up the encampment.Police dragged students off by their hands and feet, snapping the poles holding up tents and zip-tying those who refused to disperse. Twenty arrests were made. The university says it is against code to camp overnight on school property, and the students were given several warnings to disperse before police were called in.UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAStudent protest groups posted on social media Tuesday that their encampment of dozens of tents and hundreds of people was still standing, even after police ordered them to disperse Monday night. More than 10 university buildings, including a student union and large library, near the encampment remained closed in anticipation of continued protests.UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICOIn Albuquerque, police in tactical gear tore down tents and clashed briefly with protesters who occupied the University of New Mexico’s student union building for about seven hours Monday night into Tuesday morning.University officials said 16 people were arrested, including five students and 11 people not affiliated with the school. They said the protesters vandalized the student union building and sprayed-painted graffiti across campus. They didn’t immediately provide a damage estimate.