ALLEN, Texas — Officials have have positively identified the victims killed in&nbsp; the Dallas-area mall shooting on Sunday. They include a 3-year-old boy and two grade-school girls.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, "it is with great sorrow that we share this information. Each of these individuals were members of our North Texas community and their loss is felt with heavy hearts. No agency will release the name of anyone under 18 or victims who are injured."

The victims are 11-year-old girl, Sachse, Texas

Kyu Song Cho, male, age 37, Dallas, Texas

Cindy&nbsp;Cho, female, age 35, Dallas, Texas

Christian LaCour, male, age 20, Nevada, Texas

 Elio Cumana-Rivas, male, age 32, Dallas, Texas

Aishwarya Thatikonda, female, age 26, McKinney, Texas.

Several verified funds have been established to support victims’ families. <a href="https://www.cityofallen.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=5028&amp;fbclid=IwAR1bVBXta2-vYy8ZcOmdfPqXuJSq0hTUFITLQXQHPQW-k9rqWIKj5Gxp_ck">Click here for details</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683592555152.png" alt="A memorial outside the Allen Premium Outlet Mall-Photo Allen, Texas Police" />
 <figcaption>A memorial outside the Allen Premium Outlet Mall-Photo Allen, Texas Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ALLEN, Texas — Officials have have positively identified the victims killed in&nbsp; the Dallas-area mall shooting on Sunday. They include a 3-year-old boy and two grade-school girls.According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, "it is with great sorrow that we share this information. Each of these individuals were members of our North Texas community and their loss is felt with heavy hearts. No agency will release the name of anyone under 18 or victims who are injured."The victims are 11-year-old girl, Sachse, Texas8-year-old girl Sachse, Texas3-year-old boy Dallas, TexasKyu Song Cho, male, age 37, Dallas, TexasCindy&nbsp;Cho, female, age 35, Dallas, TexasChristian LaCour, male, age 20, Nevada, Texas Elio Cumana-Rivas, male, age 32, Dallas, TexasAishwarya Thatikonda, female, age 26, McKinney, Texas.Several verified funds have been established to support victims’ families. <a href="https://www.cityofallen.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=5028&amp;fbclid=IwAR1bVBXta2-vYy8ZcOmdfPqXuJSq0hTUFITLQXQHPQW-k9rqWIKj5Gxp_ck">Click here for details</a>

Officials ID victims killed in Texas mall shooting

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-inflation-interest-rate-hikes-recession-aba096229d327d8abeb4bc13d85d1b2b">raised its key interest rate</a>&nbsp;yet again in its drive to cool inflation, a move that will directly affect most Americans.

On Wednesday, the central bank boosted its benchmark rate by a quarter-point to 5.1%. Rates on credit cards, mortgages and auto loans, which have been surging since the Fed began raising rates last year, all stand to rise even more. The result will be more burdensome loan costs for both consumers and businesses.

On the other hand, many banks are now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rate-banks-saving-high-yield-cd-e44a5c704006035187a2c487a8817dd6">offering higher rates on savings accounts</a>, giving savers the opportunity to earn more interest.

Economists worry, though, that the Fed’s streak of 10 rate hikes since March 2022 could eventually cause the economy to slow too much and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/recession-gdp-economy-inflation-interest-rates-growth-b6276997368000bdd2bb12bdcf34f3b8">cause a recession</a>.

The short answer: inflation. Inflation has been slowing in recent months, but it's still high. Measured over a year earlier, consumer prices were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-recession-prices-d933973089cce63f07cceb6da1e5dbc9">up 5% in March</a>, down sharply from February’s 6% year-over-year increase.

The Fed’s goal is to slow consumer spending, thereby reducing demand for homes, cars and other goods and services, eventually cooling the economy and lowering prices.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell has acknowledged in the past that aggressively raising rates would bring “some pain” for households but said that doing so is necessary to crush high inflation.

Anyone borrowing money to make a large purchase, such as a home, car or large appliance, will likely take a hit. The new rate will also increase monthly payments and costs for any consumer who is already paying interest on credit card debt.

“Consumers should focus on building up emergency savings and paying down debt,” said Greg McBride, Bankrate.com's chief financial analyst. “Even if this proves to be the final Fed rate hike, interest rates are still high and will remain that way.”

Even before the Fed’s latest move,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-credit-card-debt-interest-rates-a2e1d35cb957153058d188652570c48e">credit card borrowing</a>&nbsp;had reached the highest level since 1996, according to Bankrate.com.

The most recent data available showed that 46% of people were carrying debt from month to month, up from 39% a year ago. Total credit card balances were $986 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to the Fed, a record high, though that amount isn’t adjusted for inflation.

For those who don’t qualify for low-rate credit cards because of weak credit scores, the higher interest rates are already affecting their balances.

HOW WILL AN INCREASE AFFECT CREDIT CARD RATES?

The Fed doesn’t directly dictate how much interest you pay on your&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-0a536993ce494fc8d6fe2c5d637da5b5">credit card debt</a>. But the Fed’s rate is the basis for your bank’s prime rate. In combination with other factors, such as your credit score, the prime rate helps determine the Annual Percentage Rate, or APR, on your credit card.

The latest increase will likely raise the APR on your credit card 0.25%. So, if you have a 20.9% rate, which is the average according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/current/">the Fed's data</a>, it might increase to 21.15%.

If you don’t carry a balance from month to month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rates-credit-cards-a1a5c342b60b63f45d1a700798b70b3a">the APR is less important</a>.

But suppose you have a $4,000 credit balance and your interest rate is 20%. If you made only a fixed payment of $110 per month, it would take you a bit under five years to pay off your credit card debt, and you would pay about $2,200 in interest.

If your APR increased by a percentage point, paying off your balance would take two months longer and cost an additional $215.

After years of paying low rates for savers, some banks are finally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rate-banks-saving-high-yield-cd-e44a5c704006035187a2c487a8817dd6">offering better interest on deposits</a>. Though the increases may seem small, compounding interest adds up over the years.

Interest on savings accounts doesn't always track what the Fed does. But as rates have continued to rise, some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/banks-savings-cds-money-markets-deposits-08cde0e6bb4263c9194fa6544851a78f">banks have improved their terms</a>&nbsp;for savers as well. Even if you’re only keeping modest savings in your bank account, you could make more significant gains over the long term by finding an account with a better rate.

While the biggest national banks have yet to dramatically change the rates on their savings accounts (clocking in at an average of just 0.23%, according to Bankrate), some mid-size and smaller banks have made changes more in line with the Fed’s moves.

Online banks in particular — which save money by not having brick-and-mortar branches and associated expenses — are now offering savings accounts with annual percentage yields of between 3% and 4%, or even higher, as well as 4% or higher on one-year Certificates of Deposit (CDs). Some promotional rates can reach as high as 5%.

Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-interest-home-loan-real-estate-6357ce36e617f387fb99679b6060f6a9">mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported</a>&nbsp;that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year mortgage edged up to 6.43% from 6.39% the week prior. A year ago, the average rate was lower: 5.10%. Higher rates can add hundreds of dollars a month to mortgage payments.

Rates for 30-year mortgages usually track the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield. Rates can also be influenced by investors’ expectations for future inflation, global demand for U.S. Treasuries and what the Fed does.

Most mortgages last for decades, so if you already have a mortgage, you won't be impacted. But if you're looking to buy and already paying more for food, gas and other necessities, a higher mortgage rate could put home ownership out of reach.

With shortages of computer chips and other parts easing, automakers are producing more vehicles. Many are even reducing prices or offering limited discounts. But rising loan rates and lower used-vehicle trade-in values have erased much of the savings on monthly payments.

Since the Fed began raising rates in March 2022, the average new-vehicle loan rate has jumped from 4.5% to 7%, according to Edmunds data. Used vehicle loans dropped slightly to 11.1%. Loan durations average around 70 months — nearly six years — for new and used vehicles.

Largely because of rate increases, the average monthly payment for both new and used vehicles has risen since March 2022, Edmunds says. The average new vehicle payment is up $72 to $729, Edmunds says. For used vehicles, the payment rose $20 a month to $546.

The higher rates will keep out of the market people who have the ability to wait for more favorable terms, said Joseph Yoon, Edmunds’ consumer insights analyst.

“But with inventory levels improving, it’s a matter of time before discounts and incentives start coming back into the equation," attracting more buyers, Yoon said.

New vehicle average prices are down from the end of last year to $47,749. But they're still high compared with even a year ago. The average used vehicle price dropped 7% from last May's peak, to $28,729, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/used-cars-prices-new-vehicles-supply-522266dc94e089859f6eb393a4a786e1">prices are edging back up</a>.

Financing a new vehicle now costs $8,655 in interest. Analysts say that's enough to chase many out of the auto market.

Any Fed rate increase is typically passed through to auto borrowers, though it will be offset a bit by subsidized rates from manufacturers.

The nation’s employers kept hiring in March,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-inflation-layoffs-economy-federal-reserve-40add7d390eca72a0294c8d5c80b2dd6">adding a healthy 236,000 jobs</a>. The unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, just above the 53-year low of 3.4% set in January. At the same time, the report from the Labor Department suggested a slowdown, with pay growth also easing.

Some economists argue that layoffs could help slow rising prices, and that a tight labor market fuels wage growth and higher inflation.

Economists expect the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-employment-labor-31bb6127bb22135711bee3834f47e4be">unemployment rate to go up</a>&nbsp;to 3.6% in April, a slight increase from January's half-century low of 3.4%.

Borrowers who take out new private student loans should prepare to pay more as as rates increase. The current range for federal loans is between about 5% and 7.5%.

That said,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-scotus-what-to-know-06a8ac6187fb39b2edc2cf5a379c22c0">payments on federal student loans</a>&nbsp;are suspended with zero interest until summer 2023 as part of an emergency measure put in place early in the pandemic. President Joe Biden has also announced some loan forgiveness, of up to $10,000 for most borrowers, and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients — a policy that’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-case-explained-8c62622e87c4ebff995f971263d932fc">now being challenged in the courts.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587780450451.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-inflation-interest-rate-hikes-recession-aba096229d327d8abeb4bc13d85d1b2b">raised its key interest rate</a>&nbsp;yet again in its drive to cool inflation, a move that will directly affect most Americans.On Wednesday, the central bank boosted its benchmark rate by a quarter-point to 5.1%. Rates on credit cards, mortgages and auto loans, which have been surging since the Fed began raising rates last year, all stand to rise even more. The result will be more burdensome loan costs for both consumers and businesses.On the other hand, many banks are now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rate-banks-saving-high-yield-cd-e44a5c704006035187a2c487a8817dd6">offering higher rates on savings accounts</a>, giving savers the opportunity to earn more interest.Economists worry, though, that the Fed’s streak of 10 rate hikes since March 2022 could eventually cause the economy to slow too much and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/recession-gdp-economy-inflation-interest-rates-growth-b6276997368000bdd2bb12bdcf34f3b8">cause a recession</a>.Here’s what to know:WHAT’S PROMPTING THE RATE INCREASES?The short answer: inflation. Inflation has been slowing in recent months, but it's still high. Measured over a year earlier, consumer prices were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-recession-prices-d933973089cce63f07cceb6da1e5dbc9">up 5% in March</a>, down sharply from February’s 6% year-over-year increase.The Fed’s goal is to slow consumer spending, thereby reducing demand for homes, cars and other goods and services, eventually cooling the economy and lowering prices.Fed Chair Jerome Powell has acknowledged in the past that aggressively raising rates would bring “some pain” for households but said that doing so is necessary to crush high inflation.WHO IS MOST AFFECTED?Anyone borrowing money to make a large purchase, such as a home, car or large appliance, will likely take a hit. The new rate will also increase monthly payments and costs for any consumer who is already paying interest on credit card debt.“Consumers should focus on building up emergency savings and paying down debt,” said Greg McBride, Bankrate.com's chief financial analyst. “Even if this proves to be the final Fed rate hike, interest rates are still high and will remain that way.”WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CREDIT CARDS?Even before the Fed’s latest move,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-credit-card-debt-interest-rates-a2e1d35cb957153058d188652570c48e">credit card borrowing</a>&nbsp;had reached the highest level since 1996, according to Bankrate.com.The most recent data available showed that 46% of people were carrying debt from month to month, up from 39% a year ago. Total credit card balances were $986 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to the Fed, a record high, though that amount isn’t adjusted for inflation.For those who don’t qualify for low-rate credit cards because of weak credit scores, the higher interest rates are already affecting their balances.HOW WILL AN INCREASE AFFECT CREDIT CARD RATES?The Fed doesn’t directly dictate how much interest you pay on your&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-0a536993ce494fc8d6fe2c5d637da5b5">credit card debt</a>. But the Fed’s rate is the basis for your bank’s prime rate. In combination with other factors, such as your credit score, the prime rate helps determine the Annual Percentage Rate, or APR, on your credit card.The latest increase will likely raise the APR on your credit card 0.25%. So, if you have a 20.9% rate, which is the average according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/current/">the Fed's data</a>, it might increase to 21.15%.If you don’t carry a balance from month to month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rates-credit-cards-a1a5c342b60b63f45d1a700798b70b3a">the APR is less important</a>.But suppose you have a $4,000 credit balance and your interest rate is 20%. If you made only a fixed payment of $110 per month, it would take you a bit under five years to pay off your credit card debt, and you would pay about $2,200 in interest.If your APR increased by a percentage point, paying off your balance would take two months longer and cost an additional $215.WHAT IF I HAVE MONEY TO SAVE?After years of paying low rates for savers, some banks are finally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rate-banks-saving-high-yield-cd-e44a5c704006035187a2c487a8817dd6">offering better interest on deposits</a>. Though the increases may seem small, compounding interest adds up over the years.Interest on savings accounts doesn't always track what the Fed does. But as rates have continued to rise, some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/banks-savings-cds-money-markets-deposits-08cde0e6bb4263c9194fa6544851a78f">banks have improved their terms</a>&nbsp;for savers as well. Even if you’re only keeping modest savings in your bank account, you could make more significant gains over the long term by finding an account with a better rate.While the biggest national banks have yet to dramatically change the rates on their savings accounts (clocking in at an average of just 0.23%, according to Bankrate), some mid-size and smaller banks have made changes more in line with the Fed’s moves.Online banks in particular — which save money by not having brick-and-mortar branches and associated expenses — are now offering savings accounts with annual percentage yields of between 3% and 4%, or even higher, as well as 4% or higher on one-year Certificates of Deposit (CDs). Some promotional rates can reach as high as 5%.WILL THIS AFFECT HOME OWNERSHIP?Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-interest-home-loan-real-estate-6357ce36e617f387fb99679b6060f6a9">mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported</a>&nbsp;that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year mortgage edged up to 6.43% from 6.39% the week prior. A year ago, the average rate was lower: 5.10%. Higher rates can add hundreds of dollars a month to mortgage payments.Rates for 30-year mortgages usually track the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield. Rates can also be influenced by investors’ expectations for future inflation, global demand for U.S. Treasuries and what the Fed does.Most mortgages last for decades, so if you already have a mortgage, you won't be impacted. But if you're looking to buy and already paying more for food, gas and other necessities, a higher mortgage rate could put home ownership out of reach.WHAT IF I WANT TO BUY A CAR?With shortages of computer chips and other parts easing, automakers are producing more vehicles. Many are even reducing prices or offering limited discounts. But rising loan rates and lower used-vehicle trade-in values have erased much of the savings on monthly payments.Since the Fed began raising rates in March 2022, the average new-vehicle loan rate has jumped from 4.5% to 7%, according to Edmunds data. Used vehicle loans dropped slightly to 11.1%. Loan durations average around 70 months — nearly six years — for new and used vehicles.Largely because of rate increases, the average monthly payment for both new and used vehicles has risen since March 2022, Edmunds says. The average new vehicle payment is up $72 to $729, Edmunds says. For used vehicles, the payment rose $20 a month to $546.The higher rates will keep out of the market people who have the ability to wait for more favorable terms, said Joseph Yoon, Edmunds’ consumer insights analyst.“But with inventory levels improving, it’s a matter of time before discounts and incentives start coming back into the equation," attracting more buyers, Yoon said.New vehicle average prices are down from the end of last year to $47,749. But they're still high compared with even a year ago. The average used vehicle price dropped 7% from last May's peak, to $28,729, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/used-cars-prices-new-vehicles-supply-522266dc94e089859f6eb393a4a786e1">prices are edging back up</a>.Financing a new vehicle now costs $8,655 in interest. Analysts say that's enough to chase many out of the auto market.Any Fed rate increase is typically passed through to auto borrowers, though it will be offset a bit by subsidized rates from manufacturers.WHAT ABOUT MY JOB?The nation’s employers kept hiring in March,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-inflation-layoffs-economy-federal-reserve-40add7d390eca72a0294c8d5c80b2dd6">adding a healthy 236,000 jobs</a>. The unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, just above the 53-year low of 3.4% set in January. At the same time, the report from the Labor Department suggested a slowdown, with pay growth also easing.Some economists argue that layoffs could help slow rising prices, and that a tight labor market fuels wage growth and higher inflation.Economists expect the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-employment-labor-31bb6127bb22135711bee3834f47e4be">unemployment rate to go up</a>&nbsp;to 3.6% in April, a slight increase from January's half-century low of 3.4%.WILL THIS AFFECT STUDENT LOANS?Borrowers who take out new private student loans should prepare to pay more as as rates increase. The current range for federal loans is between about 5% and 7.5%.That said,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-scotus-what-to-know-06a8ac6187fb39b2edc2cf5a379c22c0">payments on federal student loans</a>&nbsp;are suspended with zero interest until summer 2023 as part of an emergency measure put in place early in the pandemic. President Joe Biden has also announced some loan forgiveness, of up to $10,000 for most borrowers, and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients — a policy that’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-case-explained-8c62622e87c4ebff995f971263d932fc">now being challenged in the courts.</a>___

How the interest rate increase could affect credit card debt, auto loans

WASHINGTON— The Department of Defense announced&nbsp; additional security assistance to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs, according to a statement from the agency.

 This authorization is the Biden Administration’s thirty-seventh drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.&nbsp;

<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2023/May/03/2003214586/-1/-1/1/UKRAINE-FACT-SHEET-MAY-3.PDF">Click here to read more </a>on the U.S. security assistance spending in Ukraine.

The latest assistance includes additional ammunition for U.S.-provided HIMARS, additional howitzers, artillery and mortar rounds, and anti-armor capabilities that Ukraine is using to push back against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression valued at up to $300 million.

The capabilities in this package include:

The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements.

In total, the United States has committed more than $36.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration, including more than $35.7 billion since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked and brutal invasion on February 24, 2022.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661277535073.png" alt="In total, the United States has committed more than $36.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>In total, the United States has committed more than $36.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON— The Department of Defense announced&nbsp; additional security assistance to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs, according to a statement from the agency. This authorization is the Biden Administration’s thirty-seventh drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.&nbsp;<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2023/May/03/2003214586/-1/-1/1/UKRAINE-FACT-SHEET-MAY-3.PDF">Click here to read more </a>on the U.S. security assistance spending in Ukraine.The latest assistance includes additional ammunition for U.S.-provided HIMARS, additional howitzers, artillery and mortar rounds, and anti-armor capabilities that Ukraine is using to push back against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression valued at up to $300 million.The capabilities in this package include:<ul>
 <li>Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);</li><li>155mm Howitzers;&nbsp;</li><li>155mm artillery rounds;</li><li>120mm, 81mm, and 60mm mortar rounds;</li><li>Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;</li><li>AT-4 and Carl Gustaf anti-armor weapon systems;</li><li>Hydra-70 aircraft rockets;&nbsp;</li><li>Small arms and small arms ammunition;&nbsp;</li><li>Demolition munitions for obstacle clearing;</li><li>Trucks and trailers to transport heavy equipment;&nbsp;</li><li>Testing and diagnostic equipment to support vehicle maintenance and repair;</li><li>Spare parts and other field equipment.</li>
 </ul>The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements.In total, the United States has committed more than $36.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration, including more than $35.7 billion since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked and brutal invasion on February 24, 2022.

U.S. sending another $300 million military aid to Ukraine

WASHINGTON — A group of 43 Republican Senators including Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Saturday expressing&nbsp; a collective commitment to oppose raising the debt ceiling without substantive spending and budget reforms. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall of Kansas also signed the letter.

Of the letter,&nbsp;Sen. Mike Lee of Utah said,&nbsp;“It is now clear that Senate Republicans aren’t going to bail out Biden and Schumer, they have to negotiate. I thank my colleagues for joining my effort to emphasize this point in the clearest possible terms.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675989554413.png" alt="photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — A group of 43 Republican Senators including Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Saturday expressing&nbsp; a collective commitment to oppose raising the debt ceiling without substantive spending and budget reforms. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall of Kansas also signed the letter.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683404763018.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Of the letter,&nbsp;Sen. Mike Lee of Utah said,&nbsp;“It is now clear that Senate Republicans aren’t going to bail out Biden and Schumer, they have to negotiate. I thank my colleagues for joining my effort to emphasize this point in the clearest possible terms.”

Fischer, Ricketts sign letter against raising debt limit without spending reforms

The Silver Alert has been canceled. Roy W. McGonigal Jr. was located in Schuyler, Nebraska. He was disoriented but otherwise in good condition.&nbsp;

HARVEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Newton Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Arkansas man who was last seen in Newton, Kansas.

The whereabouts of 79-year-old Roy W. McGonigal Jr. are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.

Roy was last seen leaving a residence in the 400 block of East 10th&nbsp;St. in Newton, around 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, according to a media release from the KBI.&nbsp; 

Roy did not arrive at his hotel in Newton and hasn’t been heard from since. Roy drives a light blue 2013 Toyota Corolla bearing Arkansas tag USACRXD. He was last seen wearing a white collared shirt, black pants, and black shoes.

Roy is a white male, approximately 5 ft. 8 in. tall, weighing around 184 pounds. He has brown eyes and wears glasses. Roy has a white beard and is balding with white hair. He requires oxygen to breathe, as he has been diagnosed with COPD and emphysema.

If you see Roy McGonigal, Jr., or his vehicle, please immediately contact 911. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call&nbsp;Harvey County Communications at 316-283-4190.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683507107631.png" alt="photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>The Silver Alert has been canceled. Roy W. McGonigal Jr. was located in Schuyler, Nebraska. He was disoriented but otherwise in good condition.&nbsp;HARVEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Newton Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Arkansas man who was last seen in Newton, Kansas.The whereabouts of 79-year-old Roy W. McGonigal Jr. are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.Roy was last seen leaving a residence in the 400 block of East 10th&nbsp;St. in Newton, around 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, according to a media release from the KBI.&nbsp; Roy did not arrive at his hotel in Newton and hasn’t been heard from since. Roy drives a light blue 2013 Toyota Corolla bearing Arkansas tag USACRXD. He was last seen wearing a white collared shirt, black pants, and black shoes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683507155552.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Roy is a white male, approximately 5 ft. 8 in. tall, weighing around 184 pounds. He has brown eyes and wears glasses. Roy has a white beard and is balding with white hair. He requires oxygen to breathe, as he has been diagnosed with COPD and emphysema.If you see Roy McGonigal, Jr., or his vehicle, please immediately contact 911. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call&nbsp;Harvey County Communications at 316-283-4190.

KBI: Silver Alert canceled, missing man found in Nebraska

ALLEN, Texas (AP) — The gunman who killed eight people at a Texas outlet mall was identified as a person who had been staying at a Dallas-area motel, but his motive was a mystery Sunday, a day after the attack turned an afternoon of shopping into a massacre.

Three law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press named the gunman as Mauricio Garcia, 33, who was fatally shot Saturday by a police officer who happened to be near the suburban Dallas mall. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss details of an ongoing investigation.

One of the officials said investigators have been searching the motel, and two of the officials said investigators searched a home in the Dallas area connected to the suspect. The official said police also found multiple weapons at the scene after Garcia was killed, including an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun.

Authorities released few details in the aftermath of the assault. They offered no clues about why Garcia would open fire on strangers or any details about those who were killed, including their names.

The shooting was the latest attack to contribute to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-killings-record-pace-2023-d685a6cd67e0f449f3f9d1d8713d451c">unprecedented pace of mass killings</a>&nbsp;this year in the U.S. Barely a week before,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-mass-shooting-immigrants-victims-df61a57ec5fb0db16be7b2f2cbd3d5e5">five people</a>&nbsp;were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-mass-shooting-manhunt-arrest-73ae0cc7cacd14c732cf6f6fc189aea8">fatally shot in Cleveland, Texas</a>, after a neighbor asked a man to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept, authorities said.

The name of the gunman in Allen emerged as the community mourned for the dead and awaited word on the seven people who were wounded.

John Mark Caton, senior pastor at Cottonwood Creek Church, about two miles from the mall, offered prayers during his weekly service for victims, first responders and the shoppers and employees who “walked out past things they never should have seen.”

“Some of our people were there. Some perhaps in this room. Some of our students were working in those stores and will be changed forever by this,” Caton said.

Recalling phone conversations with police officers, he said: “There wasn’t an officer that I talked to yesterday that at some point in the call didn’t cry.”

The attack unfolded at Allen Premium Outlets, a sprawling outdoor shopping center. Witnesses reported seeing children among the victims. Some said they also saw what appeared to be a police officer and a mall security guard unconscious on the ground.

Andria Gaither, the assistant manager at the Tommy Hilfiger clothing store, said she was at the back of the store Saturday afternoon when she saw two young girls trying to hide in a dressing room. At first, she thought they were playing. Then she heard one say shots were being fired.

Gaither looked around to see customers and the store manager running to the back of the business. Eventually, Gaither and the others ran out a back door.

“As soon as I got outside the back of the store, you could hear the shooting,” Gaither said Sunday. “It was so loud. I’d never ever heard anything like that in my life. It was deafening."

She started running the length of the mall and eventually got in the vehicle of another worker who was leaving.

Dashcam video circulating online showed the gunman getting out of a car and shooting at people on the sidewalk. More than three dozen shots could be heard as the vehicle that was recording the video drove off.

Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said seven people, including the shooter, died at the scene. Two other people died at hospitals.

The wounded remained hospitalized Sunday — three in critical condition and four in fair condition, the Allen Police Department said in a statement.

An Allen police officer was in the area on an unrelated call when he heard shots at 3:36 p.m., the department wrote on Facebook.

“The officer engaged the suspect and neutralized the threat. He then called for emergency personnel,” the post said.

Mass killings have happened with staggering frequency in the United States this year, with an average of about one per week, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">database</a>&nbsp;maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

In a statement, President Joe Biden said the assailant wore tactical gear and fired an AR-15-style weapon. He urged Congress to enact tighter restrictions on firearms and ammunition.

“Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar. And yet, American communities have suffered roughly 200 mass shootings already this year, according to leading counts,” said Biden, who ordered flags lowered to half-staff.

Republicans in Congress, he said, “cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug.”

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has signed laws&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a69166e1f1074a0196deb70ef6e7f8b4">easing firearms restrictions following past mass shootings</a>, called the mall attack an “unspeakable tragedy.”

Video shared on social media showed people running through a parking lot amid the sound of gunshots.

Fontayne Payton, 35, was at H&amp;M when he heard gunshots through his headphones.

“It was so loud, it sounded like it was right outside,” Payton said.

People in the store scattered before employees ushered the group into the fitting rooms and then a lockable back room, he said. When they were given the all-clear to leave, Payton saw the store had broken windows and a trail of blood to the door. Discarded sandals and bloodied clothes lay nearby.

“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” he said. The bodies were covered in white towels, slumped over bags on the ground. “It broke me when I walked out to see that."

Further away, he saw the body of a heavyset man wearing all black. He assumed it was the shooter, Payton said, because unlike the other bodies it had not been covered.

ALLEN, Texas (AP) — The assailant who killed eight people at a Texas outlet mall was identified by authorities Sunday as a 33-year-old man who had been staying at a nearby motel.

Three law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press named the gunman as Mauricio Garcia, who was fatally shot by a police officer who happened to be near the suburban Dallas mall. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss details of an ongoing investigation.

One of the officials said Garcia had been staying at a nearby motel. The official said investigators have been searching the motel and a home in the Dallas area connected to the suspect.

The official said police also found multiple weapons at the scene after Garcia was fatally shot by a police officer. The weapons included an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, according to the official.

The gunman's name emerged as the community of Allen mourned for the dead and awaited word on the seven people who were wounded.

The church planned an evening prayer vigil in the aftermath of the shooting, which was the latest attack to contribute to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-killings-record-pace-2023-d685a6cd67e0f449f3f9d1d8713d451c">the unprecedented pace of mass killings this year.</a>&nbsp;Barely a week before,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-mass-shooting-immigrants-victims-df61a57ec5fb0db16be7b2f2cbd3d5e5">five people</a>&nbsp;were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-mass-shooting-manhunt-arrest-73ae0cc7cacd14c732cf6f6fc189aea8">fatally shot in Cleveland, Texas</a>, after a neighbor asked a man to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept, authorities said.

Police did not immediately provide details about the victims at Allen Premium Outlets, a sprawling outdoor shopping center, but witnesses reported seeing children among them. Some said they also saw what appeared to be a police officer and a mall security guard unconscious on the ground.

A 16-year-old pretzel stand employee, Maxwell Gum, described a virtual stampede of shoppers. He and others sheltered in a storage room.

“We started running. Kids were getting trampled," Gum said. "My co-worker picked up a 4-year-old girl and gave her to her parents.”

Seven people remained hospitalized Sunday — three in critical condition and four in fair condition, the Allen Police Department said in a statement.

In a statement, President Biden said the assailant wore tactical gear and fired an AR-15-style weapon. He urged Congress to enact tighter restrictions on firearms and ammunition.

Tarakram Nunna, 25, and Ramakrishna Mullapudi, 26, said they saw what appeared to be three people motionless on the ground, including one who seemed to be a police officer and another who resembled a mall security guard.

Another shopper, Sharkie Mouli, 24, said he hid in a Banana Republic. As he left, he saw someone who looked like a police officer lying unconscious next to another unconscious person outside the store.

“I have seen his gun lying right next to him and a guy who is like passing out right next to him,” Mouli said.

Stan and Mary Ann Greene were browsing in a Columbia sportswear store when the shooting started.

“We had just gotten in, just a couple minutes earlier, and we just heard a lot of loud popping,” Mary Ann Greene told The Associated Press.

Employees rolled down the security gate and brought everyone to the rear of the store until police arrived and escorted them out, the Greenes said.

Eber Romero was at an Under Armour store when a cashier mentioned there was a shooting.

As he left, the mall appeared empty and all the shops had their security gates down, Romero said. That is when he started seeing broken glass and victims of the shooting on the floor of the shopping center.

Allen, a city of 105,000 residents, is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown Dallas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683489834767.png" alt="First responders at the scene Saturday -photo courtesy WFAA" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene Saturday -photo courtesy WFAA</figcaption>
 </figure>ALLEN, Texas (AP) — The gunman who killed eight people at a Texas outlet mall was identified as a person who had been staying at a Dallas-area motel, but his motive was a mystery Sunday, a day after the attack turned an afternoon of shopping into a massacre.Three law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press named the gunman as Mauricio Garcia, 33, who was fatally shot Saturday by a police officer who happened to be near the suburban Dallas mall. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss details of an ongoing investigation.One of the officials said investigators have been searching the motel, and two of the officials said investigators searched a home in the Dallas area connected to the suspect. The official said police also found multiple weapons at the scene after Garcia was killed, including an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun.Authorities released few details in the aftermath of the assault. They offered no clues about why Garcia would open fire on strangers or any details about those who were killed, including their names.The shooting was the latest attack to contribute to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-killings-record-pace-2023-d685a6cd67e0f449f3f9d1d8713d451c">unprecedented pace of mass killings</a>&nbsp;this year in the U.S. Barely a week before,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-mass-shooting-immigrants-victims-df61a57ec5fb0db16be7b2f2cbd3d5e5">five people</a>&nbsp;were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-mass-shooting-manhunt-arrest-73ae0cc7cacd14c732cf6f6fc189aea8">fatally shot in Cleveland, Texas</a>, after a neighbor asked a man to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept, authorities said.The name of the gunman in Allen emerged as the community mourned for the dead and awaited word on the seven people who were wounded.John Mark Caton, senior pastor at Cottonwood Creek Church, about two miles from the mall, offered prayers during his weekly service for victims, first responders and the shoppers and employees who “walked out past things they never should have seen.”“Some of our people were there. Some perhaps in this room. Some of our students were working in those stores and will be changed forever by this,” Caton said.Recalling phone conversations with police officers, he said: “There wasn’t an officer that I talked to yesterday that at some point in the call didn’t cry.”The attack unfolded at Allen Premium Outlets, a sprawling outdoor shopping center. Witnesses reported seeing children among the victims. Some said they also saw what appeared to be a police officer and a mall security guard unconscious on the ground.Andria Gaither, the assistant manager at the Tommy Hilfiger clothing store, said she was at the back of the store Saturday afternoon when she saw two young girls trying to hide in a dressing room. At first, she thought they were playing. Then she heard one say shots were being fired.Gaither looked around to see customers and the store manager running to the back of the business. Eventually, Gaither and the others ran out a back door.“As soon as I got outside the back of the store, you could hear the shooting,” Gaither said Sunday. “It was so loud. I’d never ever heard anything like that in my life. It was deafening."She started running the length of the mall and eventually got in the vehicle of another worker who was leaving.Dashcam video circulating online showed the gunman getting out of a car and shooting at people on the sidewalk. More than three dozen shots could be heard as the vehicle that was recording the video drove off.Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said seven people, including the shooter, died at the scene. Two other people died at hospitals.The wounded remained hospitalized Sunday — three in critical condition and four in fair condition, the Allen Police Department said in a statement.An Allen police officer was in the area on an unrelated call when he heard shots at 3:36 p.m., the department wrote on Facebook.“The officer engaged the suspect and neutralized the threat. He then called for emergency personnel,” the post said.Mass killings have happened with staggering frequency in the United States this year, with an average of about one per week, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">database</a>&nbsp;maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.In a statement, President Joe Biden said the assailant wore tactical gear and fired an AR-15-style weapon. He urged Congress to enact tighter restrictions on firearms and ammunition.“Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar. And yet, American communities have suffered roughly 200 mass shootings already this year, according to leading counts,” said Biden, who ordered flags lowered to half-staff.Republicans in Congress, he said, “cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug.”Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has signed laws&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a69166e1f1074a0196deb70ef6e7f8b4">easing firearms restrictions following past mass shootings</a>, called the mall attack an “unspeakable tragedy.”Video shared on social media showed people running through a parking lot amid the sound of gunshots.Fontayne Payton, 35, was at H&amp;M when he heard gunshots through his headphones.“It was so loud, it sounded like it was right outside,” Payton said.People in the store scattered before employees ushered the group into the fitting rooms and then a lockable back room, he said. When they were given the all-clear to leave, Payton saw the store had broken windows and a trail of blood to the door. Discarded sandals and bloodied clothes lay nearby.Once outside, Payton saw bodies.“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” he said. The bodies were covered in white towels, slumped over bags on the ground. “It broke me when I walked out to see that."Further away, he saw the body of a heavyset man wearing all black. He assumed it was the shooter, Payton said, because unlike the other bodies it had not been covered.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683489811468.png" alt="Photo courtesy WFAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WFAA</figcaption>
 </figure>ALLEN, Texas (AP) — The assailant who killed eight people at a Texas outlet mall was identified by authorities Sunday as a 33-year-old man who had been staying at a nearby motel.Three law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press named the gunman as Mauricio Garcia, who was fatally shot by a police officer who happened to be near the suburban Dallas mall. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss details of an ongoing investigation.One of the officials said Garcia had been staying at a nearby motel. The official said investigators have been searching the motel and a home in the Dallas area connected to the suspect.The official said police also found multiple weapons at the scene after Garcia was fatally shot by a police officer. The weapons included an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, according to the official.The gunman's name emerged as the community of Allen mourned for the dead and awaited word on the seven people who were wounded.John Mark Caton, senior pastor at Cottonwood Creek Church, about two miles from the mall, offered prayers during his weekly service for victims, first responders and the shoppers and employees who “walked out past things they never should have seen.”“Some of our people were there. Some perhaps in this room. Some of our students were working in those stores and will be changed forever by this,” Caton said.Recalling phone conversations with police officers, he said: “There wasn’t an officer that I talked to yesterday that at some point in the call didn’t cry.”The church planned an evening prayer vigil in the aftermath of the shooting, which was the latest attack to contribute to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-killings-record-pace-2023-d685a6cd67e0f449f3f9d1d8713d451c">the unprecedented pace of mass killings this year.</a>&nbsp;Barely a week before,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-mass-shooting-immigrants-victims-df61a57ec5fb0db16be7b2f2cbd3d5e5">five people</a>&nbsp;were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-mass-shooting-manhunt-arrest-73ae0cc7cacd14c732cf6f6fc189aea8">fatally shot in Cleveland, Texas</a>, after a neighbor asked a man to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept, authorities said.Police did not immediately provide details about the victims at Allen Premium Outlets, a sprawling outdoor shopping center, but witnesses reported seeing children among them. Some said they also saw what appeared to be a police officer and a mall security guard unconscious on the ground.A 16-year-old pretzel stand employee, Maxwell Gum, described a virtual stampede of shoppers. He and others sheltered in a storage room.“We started running. Kids were getting trampled," Gum said. "My co-worker picked up a 4-year-old girl and gave her to her parents.”Dashcam video circulating online showed the gunman getting out of a car and shooting at people on the sidewalk. More than three dozen shots could be heard as the vehicle that was recording the video drove off.Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said seven people, including the shooter, died at the scene. Two other people died at hospitals.Seven people remained hospitalized Sunday — three in critical condition and four in fair condition, the Allen Police Department said in a statement.An Allen police officer was in the area on an unrelated call when he heard shots at 3:36 p.m., the department wrote on Facebook.“The officer engaged the suspect and neutralized the threat. He then called for emergency personnel,” the post said.Mass killings have happened with staggering frequency in the United States this year, with an average of about one per week, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">database</a>&nbsp;maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.In a statement, President Biden said the assailant wore tactical gear and fired an AR-15-style weapon. He urged Congress to enact tighter restrictions on firearms and ammunition.“Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar. And yet, American communities have suffered roughly 200 mass shootings already this year, according to leading counts,” said Biden, who ordered flags lowered to half-staff.Republicans in Congress, he said, “cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug.”Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has signed laws&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a69166e1f1074a0196deb70ef6e7f8b4">easing firearms restrictions following past mass shootings</a>, called the mall attack an “unspeakable tragedy.”Video shared on social media showed people running through a parking lot amid the sound of gunshots.Fontayne Payton, 35, was at H&amp;M when he heard gunshots through his headphones.“It was so loud, it sounded like it was right outside,” Payton said.People in the store scattered before employees ushered the group into the fitting rooms and then a lockable back room, he said. When they were given the all-clear to leave, Payton saw the store had broken windows and a trail of blood to the door. Discarded sandals and bloodied clothes lay nearby.Once outside, Payton saw bodies.“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” he said. The bodies were covered in white towels, slumped over bags on the ground. “It broke me when I walked out to see that."Further away, he saw the body of a heavyset man wearing all black. He assumed it was the shooter, Payton said, because unlike the other bodies it had not been covered.Tarakram Nunna, 25, and Ramakrishna Mullapudi, 26, said they saw what appeared to be three people motionless on the ground, including one who seemed to be a police officer and another who resembled a mall security guard.Another shopper, Sharkie Mouli, 24, said he hid in a Banana Republic. As he left, he saw someone who looked like a police officer lying unconscious next to another unconscious person outside the store.“I have seen his gun lying right next to him and a guy who is like passing out right next to him,” Mouli said.Stan and Mary Ann Greene were browsing in a Columbia sportswear store when the shooting started.“We had just gotten in, just a couple minutes earlier, and we just heard a lot of loud popping,” Mary Ann Greene told The Associated Press.Employees rolled down the security gate and brought everyone to the rear of the store until police arrived and escorted them out, the Greenes said.Eber Romero was at an Under Armour store when a cashier mentioned there was a shooting.As he left, the mall appeared empty and all the shops had their security gates down, Romero said. That is when he started seeing broken glass and victims of the shooting on the floor of the shopping center.Allen, a city of 105,000 residents, is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown Dallas.

Suspect in Texas mall mass shooting identified as 33-year-old 

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators are weighing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-birth-control-861d6d425e692ee1ead1d59926e5f3cd">first-ever request</a>&nbsp;to make a birth control pill available without a prescription.

Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration meet next week to review drugmaker Perrigo's application to sell a decades-old pill over the counter. The two-day public meeting is one of the last steps before an FDA decision.

If the FDA grants the company's request, Opill would become the first contraceptive pill to be moved out from behind the pharmacy counter onto store shelves or online.

But in an initial review posted Friday, the FDA raised numerous concerns about studies of Opill, citing problems with the reliability of some of the company's data and questions about whether women with certain other medical conditions would correctly opt out of taking it. It also noted signs that study participants had trouble understanding the labeling instructions.

The agency will ask the panel to consider whether younger teenagers will be able to understand and follow the instructions.

At the end of the meeting, the FDA panel will vote on whether the benefits of making the pill more widely available outweigh the potential risks. The panel vote is not binding and the FDA is expected to make its final decision this summer.

Perrigo executives say Opill could be an important new option for the estimated 15 million U.S. women — or one-fifth of those who are child-bearing age — who currently use no birth control or less effective methods, such as condoms.

“We have no doubt that our data clearly shows that women of all ages can safely use Opill in the over-the-counter setting,” Frederique Welgryn, the company's global vice president for women's health, said this week.

The company's application has no relation to the ongoing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-supreme-court-texas-misoprostol-d9d5ab96096ef8760c745d09b8e1b328">lawsuits</a>&nbsp;over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">abortion pill mifepristone</a>, which is not a contraceptive. Research for over-the-counter sales of the pill began nearly a decade ago.

Hormone-based pills, like Opill, have long been the most common form of birth control in the U.S., used by tens of millions of women since the 1960s.

Opill was first approved in the U.S. 50 years ago. Perrigo acquired rights to the drug last year with its buyout of Paris-based HRA Pharma, which bought the pill from Pfizer in 2014. It’s not currently marketed in the U.S. but is sold without a prescription in the U.K.

FDA's decision won't apply to other birth control pills, only Opill, although advocates hope that an approval decision might push other pill makers to seek over-the-counter sales. Birth control pills are available without a prescription across much of South America, Asia and Africa.

Many common medications have made the over-the-counter switch, including drugs for pain relief, heartburn and allergies. Generally, drugmakers must show that consumers can accurately understand and follow the labeling instructions to safely and effectively use the drug. Non-prescription medicines are usually cheaper, but generally not covered by insurance. Forcing insurers to cover over-the-counter birth control would require a regulatory change by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Perrigo’s main study tracked nearly 900 U.S. women taking its pill without professional supervision for up to six months. The group included women of different ages, races, educational and cultural backgrounds.

Women were paid to track and record their use of the pill, including whether they followed instructions to take it during the same 3-hour window each day. That consistency is key to the drug’s ability to block pregnancy.

But after Perrigo wrapped up its study, the FDA identified a problem: nearly 30% of women erroneously reported taking more pills than they were actually supplied.

The FDA said Friday these cases of “improbable dosing” call into question the company's results.

Perrigo will present a reanalysis of the data that excludes the participants who overreported. The company says the results showed the study still achieved its goal of demonstrating that most women used the pill correctly.

Women reported taking the pill on a daily basis 92% of the time during the study, the company says.

The company says its data show there would be about two pregnancies for every 100 women who take its pill for a year. But the FDA called this figure “an imprecise estimate” because the study was significantly smaller than those typically used to evaluate contraceptive effectiveness.

The most popular birth control pills today contain the synthetic hormone progestin, which helps block pregnancy, plus estrogen. The addition of estrogen can help make periods lighter and more regular but it also carries the risk of rare blood clots.

Opill contains only progestin, making it a safer option and, according to experts, an easier regulatory switch to over-the-counter status. But progestin-only pills have downsides, including reduced effectiveness if they’re not taken at the same time daily.

The FDA review also flagged concerns that women with potential health problems will appropriately avoid taking the drug.

Women with a history of breast cancer should not take the pill, though a few participants in preliminary research incorrectly said they thought they could. And women who have unusual vaginal bleeding are instructed to talk to a doctor first, because it could indicate a medical problem. But the FDA notes that half of women in Perrigo’s study who had unexplained bleeding incorrectly said Opill would be appropriate for them.

Several major U.S. medical groups, including the American Medical Association, support making the drugs available over the counter. The 60-year history of birth control pills shows “the benefits of widespread, nonprescription availability far outweigh the limited risk,” the group stated in comments submitted to the FDA.

Catholic groups, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, are opposing Opill's application, saying women should be evaluated by a doctor before getting it.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators are weighing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-birth-control-861d6d425e692ee1ead1d59926e5f3cd">first-ever request</a>&nbsp;to make a birth control pill available without a prescription.Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration meet next week to review drugmaker Perrigo's application to sell a decades-old pill over the counter. The two-day public meeting is one of the last steps before an FDA decision.If the FDA grants the company's request, Opill would become the first contraceptive pill to be moved out from behind the pharmacy counter onto store shelves or online.But in an initial review posted Friday, the FDA raised numerous concerns about studies of Opill, citing problems with the reliability of some of the company's data and questions about whether women with certain other medical conditions would correctly opt out of taking it. It also noted signs that study participants had trouble understanding the labeling instructions.The agency will ask the panel to consider whether younger teenagers will be able to understand and follow the instructions.At the end of the meeting, the FDA panel will vote on whether the benefits of making the pill more widely available outweigh the potential risks. The panel vote is not binding and the FDA is expected to make its final decision this summer.Perrigo executives say Opill could be an important new option for the estimated 15 million U.S. women — or one-fifth of those who are child-bearing age — who currently use no birth control or less effective methods, such as condoms.“We have no doubt that our data clearly shows that women of all ages can safely use Opill in the over-the-counter setting,” Frederique Welgryn, the company's global vice president for women's health, said this week.The company's application has no relation to the ongoing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-supreme-court-texas-misoprostol-d9d5ab96096ef8760c745d09b8e1b328">lawsuits</a>&nbsp;over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">abortion pill mifepristone</a>, which is not a contraceptive. Research for over-the-counter sales of the pill began nearly a decade ago.Hormone-based pills, like Opill, have long been the most common form of birth control in the U.S., used by tens of millions of women since the 1960s.Opill was first approved in the U.S. 50 years ago. Perrigo acquired rights to the drug last year with its buyout of Paris-based HRA Pharma, which bought the pill from Pfizer in 2014. It’s not currently marketed in the U.S. but is sold without a prescription in the U.K.FDA's decision won't apply to other birth control pills, only Opill, although advocates hope that an approval decision might push other pill makers to seek over-the-counter sales. Birth control pills are available without a prescription across much of South America, Asia and Africa.Many common medications have made the over-the-counter switch, including drugs for pain relief, heartburn and allergies. Generally, drugmakers must show that consumers can accurately understand and follow the labeling instructions to safely and effectively use the drug. Non-prescription medicines are usually cheaper, but generally not covered by insurance. Forcing insurers to cover over-the-counter birth control would require a regulatory change by the Department of Health and Human Services.Perrigo’s main study tracked nearly 900 U.S. women taking its pill without professional supervision for up to six months. The group included women of different ages, races, educational and cultural backgrounds.Women were paid to track and record their use of the pill, including whether they followed instructions to take it during the same 3-hour window each day. That consistency is key to the drug’s ability to block pregnancy.But after Perrigo wrapped up its study, the FDA identified a problem: nearly 30% of women erroneously reported taking more pills than they were actually supplied.The FDA said Friday these cases of “improbable dosing” call into question the company's results.Perrigo will present a reanalysis of the data that excludes the participants who overreported. The company says the results showed the study still achieved its goal of demonstrating that most women used the pill correctly.Women reported taking the pill on a daily basis 92% of the time during the study, the company says.The company says its data show there would be about two pregnancies for every 100 women who take its pill for a year. But the FDA called this figure “an imprecise estimate” because the study was significantly smaller than those typically used to evaluate contraceptive effectiveness.The most popular birth control pills today contain the synthetic hormone progestin, which helps block pregnancy, plus estrogen. The addition of estrogen can help make periods lighter and more regular but it also carries the risk of rare blood clots.Opill contains only progestin, making it a safer option and, according to experts, an easier regulatory switch to over-the-counter status. But progestin-only pills have downsides, including reduced effectiveness if they’re not taken at the same time daily.The FDA review also flagged concerns that women with potential health problems will appropriately avoid taking the drug.Women with a history of breast cancer should not take the pill, though a few participants in preliminary research incorrectly said they thought they could. And women who have unusual vaginal bleeding are instructed to talk to a doctor first, because it could indicate a medical problem. But the FDA notes that half of women in Perrigo’s study who had unexplained bleeding incorrectly said Opill would be appropriate for them.Several major U.S. medical groups, including the American Medical Association, support making the drugs available over the counter. The 60-year history of birth control pills shows “the benefits of widespread, nonprescription availability far outweigh the limited risk,” the group stated in comments submitted to the FDA.Catholic groups, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, are opposing Opill's application, saying women should be evaluated by a doctor before getting it.

FDA weighing 1st over-the-counter birth control pill

&nbsp; BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/arianafigueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>

WASHINGTON — Children as young as 10 were found working past midnight at a&nbsp;McDonald’s restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, the U.S. Department of Labor said in announcing numerous civil penalties levied on fast-food franchises.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20230502-0">As part of an investigation</a>&nbsp;into federal child labor law violations in the Southeast, the Department of Labor said that three separate franchises that operate a total of 62 McDonald’s restaurants across Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland and Ohio “employed&nbsp;305 children to work more than the legally permitted hours and perform tasks prohibited by law for young workers,” the agency wrote in a Tuesday press release.

All together, those franchises, Bauer Food LLC, Archways Richwood LLC and Bell Restaurant Group I LLC, were fined $212,744 in civil penalties, the agency said. The Department of Labor&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/newsreleases/2023/05/WHD20230685.pdf">listed the franchise locations</a>&nbsp;but did not specify which violations occurred where, other than saying the 10-year-olds were found working in Louisville.&nbsp;

McDonald’s corporate office as well as the three employers who were fined did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday from States Newsroom.

“Too often, employers fail to follow the child labor laws that protect young workers,” Wage and Hour Division District Director Karen Garnett-Civils in Louisville said in a statement. “Under no circumstances should there ever be a 10-year-old child working in a fast-food kitchen around hot grills, ovens and deep fryers.”

Garnett-Civils said the agency is seeing an increase in federal child labor law violations, “including allowing minors to operate equipment or handle types of work that endangers them or employs them for more hours or later in the day than federal law allows.”

The Department of Labor has found a 69% increase in children employed illegally by companies since 2018. During fiscal 2022, 835 companies employed more than 3,800 children in violation of labor laws.&nbsp;

Despite the increase in federal child labor law violations, multiple<a target="_blank" href="https://newjerseymonitor.com/2023/04/07/kids-at-work-states-try-to-ease-child-labor-laws-at-behest-of-industry/">&nbsp;states have either passed or introduced legislation to roll back child labor laws</a>, a push from businesses and conservative lawmakers.&nbsp;

The Labor Department’s investigation into Bauer Food, which is based in Louisville and operates 10 McDonald’s locations in Kentucky and Indiana, alleged the company employed 24 children under the age of 16 to work more than the legal hours permitted for minors.&nbsp;

“These children sometimes worked more hours a day or week than the law permits, whether or not school is in session,” according to the Department of Labor.

That investigation also found two 10-year-old children who were employed, but not paid, and sometimes worked as late as 2 a.m. They prepared food orders, cleaned the store, worked the drive-through window and operated a register.&nbsp;

The agency did not explain why the children were not paid.

The agency found that one of the two 10-year-old children was allowed to operate a deep fryer, which is prohibited for working minors under 16.&nbsp;

DOL investigators found that Archways Richwood, which operates 27 McDonald’s locations in Kentucky and Ohio, let 242 children between the ages of 14 and 15 work beyond hours allowed for minors.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The company was fined $143,566 in civil penalties.

Bell Restaurant Group I, also based in Louisville, operates four McDonald’s and is part of Brdancat Management Inc., which includes Jesse Bell I, Jesse Bell V and Bell Restaurant Group II operating an additional 20 locations in Maryland, Indiana and Kentucky. The employer was fined $29,267 in civil penalties. DOL investigators found 39 children between the ages of 14 and 15 were allowed to work more hours than the legal limit, and two of the minors worked during school hours.&nbsp;

DOL investigators also found that the employer “systemically failed to pay workers overtime wages they were due and as a result, the division recovered $14,730 in back wages and liquidated damages for 58 workers.”

&nbsp; BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/arianafigueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683306486531.jpeg" alt="A McDonalds sign hangs outside the fast food restaurant on July 26, 2022, in Miami. Several McDonald’s franchises have been fined for violation of child labor laws in Kentucky and other nearby states. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)" />
 <figcaption>A McDonalds sign hangs outside the fast food restaurant on July 26, 2022, in Miami. Several McDonald’s franchises have been fined for violation of child labor laws in Kentucky and other nearby states. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — Children as young as 10 were found working past midnight at a&nbsp;McDonald’s restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, the U.S. Department of Labor said in announcing numerous civil penalties levied on fast-food franchises.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20230502-0">As part of an investigation</a>&nbsp;into federal child labor law violations in the Southeast, the Department of Labor said that three separate franchises that operate a total of 62 McDonald’s restaurants across Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland and Ohio “employed&nbsp;305 children to work more than the legally permitted hours and perform tasks prohibited by law for young workers,” the agency wrote in a Tuesday press release.All together, those franchises, Bauer Food LLC, Archways Richwood LLC and Bell Restaurant Group I LLC, were fined $212,744 in civil penalties, the agency said. The Department of Labor&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/newsreleases/2023/05/WHD20230685.pdf">listed the franchise locations</a>&nbsp;but did not specify which violations occurred where, other than saying the 10-year-olds were found working in Louisville.&nbsp;McDonald’s corporate office as well as the three employers who were fined did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday from States Newsroom.“Too often, employers fail to follow the child labor laws that protect young workers,” Wage and Hour Division District Director Karen Garnett-Civils in Louisville said in a statement. “Under no circumstances should there ever be a 10-year-old child working in a fast-food kitchen around hot grills, ovens and deep fryers.”Garnett-Civils said the agency is seeing an increase in federal child labor law violations, “including allowing minors to operate equipment or handle types of work that endangers them or employs them for more hours or later in the day than federal law allows.”The Department of Labor has found a 69% increase in children employed illegally by companies since 2018. During fiscal 2022, 835 companies employed more than 3,800 children in violation of labor laws.&nbsp;Despite the increase in federal child labor law violations, multiple<a target="_blank" href="https://newjerseymonitor.com/2023/04/07/kids-at-work-states-try-to-ease-child-labor-laws-at-behest-of-industry/">&nbsp;states have either passed or introduced legislation to roll back child labor laws</a>, a push from businesses and conservative lawmakers.&nbsp;The Labor Department’s investigation into Bauer Food, which is based in Louisville and operates 10 McDonald’s locations in Kentucky and Indiana, alleged the company employed 24 children under the age of 16 to work more than the legal hours permitted for minors.&nbsp;“These children sometimes worked more hours a day or week than the law permits, whether or not school is in session,” according to the Department of Labor.That investigation also found two 10-year-old children who were employed, but not paid, and sometimes worked as late as 2 a.m. They prepared food orders, cleaned the store, worked the drive-through window and operated a register.&nbsp;The agency did not explain why the children were not paid.The agency found that one of the two 10-year-old children was allowed to operate a deep fryer, which is prohibited for working minors under 16.&nbsp;Bauer was fined $39,711.DOL investigators found that Archways Richwood, which operates 27 McDonald’s locations in Kentucky and Ohio, let 242 children between the ages of 14 and 15 work beyond hours allowed for minors.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company was fined $143,566 in civil penalties.Bell Restaurant Group I, also based in Louisville, operates four McDonald’s and is part of Brdancat Management Inc., which includes Jesse Bell I, Jesse Bell V and Bell Restaurant Group II operating an additional 20 locations in Maryland, Indiana and Kentucky. The employer was fined $29,267 in civil penalties. DOL investigators found 39 children between the ages of 14 and 15 were allowed to work more hours than the legal limit, and two of the minors worked during school hours.&nbsp;DOL investigators also found that the employer “systemically failed to pay workers overtime wages they were due and as a result, the division recovered $14,730 in back wages and liquidated damages for 58 workers.”

At a McDonald’s in Kentucky, 10-year-olds worked past midnight, Department of Labor finds

ALLEN, Texas (AP) — Hundreds of terrified shoppers fled in panic after a gunman stepped out of a silver sedan and opened fire at a Dallas-area outlet mall, killing eight and wounding seven before being killed by a police officer who happened to be nearby, authorities said.

The shooting in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was the latest eruption of what has been an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-killings-record-pace-2023-d685a6cd67e0f449f3f9d1d8713d451c">unprecedented pace of mass killings in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;Barely a week before, authorities say,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-mass-shooting-manhunt-arrest-73ae0cc7cacd14c732cf6f6fc189aea8">a man fatally shot five people in Cleveland, Texas</a>, after a neighbor asked him to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept.

Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said seven people including the shooter died at the scene. Nine victims were taken to area hospitals, but two of them died.

Three of the wounded were in critical condition in the evening, Boyd said, and four were stable.

An Allen Police Department officer was in the area on an unrelated call when he heard shots at 3:36 p.m., the department wrote on Facebook.

Mass killings are happening with staggering frequency in the United States this year: an average of about one per week, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">database</a>&nbsp;maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

President Biden was briefed on the shooting in Allen and the administration offered support to local officials, the White House said. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has signed laws&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a69166e1f1074a0196deb70ef6e7f8b4">easing firearms restrictions following past mass shootings</a>, called the mall shooting an “unspeakable tragedy.”

A live aerial broadcast from a news station showed armored trucks and other law enforcement vehicles outside the mall. More than 30 police cruisers with lights flashing blocked an entrance, with multiple ambulances on the scene in the city of roughly 105,000 residents about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown Dallas.

Fontayne Payton, 35, was at H&amp;M when he heard the sound of gunshots through his headphones.

Tarakram Nunna, 25, and Ramakrishna Mullapudi, 26, said they saw what appeared to be three people motionless on the ground, including one who appeared to be a police officer and another who seemed to be a mall security guard.

Another shopper, Sharkie Mouli, 24, said he hid in a Banana Republic during the shooting. As he left, he saw what appeared to be an unconscious police officer lying next to another unconscious person outside the outlet store.

As he left, Romero said, the mall appeared empty and all the shops had their security gates down. That is when he started seeing broken glass and victims of the shooting on the floor of the shopping center.

ALLEN, Texas (AP) — A gunman stepped out of a silver sedan and began shooting people at an outlet mall in the Dallas suburb of Allen, Texas, on Saturday, killing an unknown number and sending hundreds of shoppers fleeing in panic in the latest gun violence to strike the country.

Witnesses who were at the Allen Premium Outlets told The Associated Press they saw multiple victims, including some who appeared to be children, and that they saw a police officer and a mall security guard who appeared to be unconscious on the ground.

Allen police said in a Facebook post that nine victims had been taken to hospitals. Medical City Healthcare, a Dallas-area hospital system, said in a written statement it was treating eight between the ages of 5 and 61. Their conditions were unknown.

Dashcam video that circulated online showed a gunman step out of a vehicle outside the mall and immediately start shooting at people on the sidewalk. More than three dozen shots could be heard as the vehicle recording the video drove off.

An Allen Police officer was in the area on an unrelated call when he heard shots at 3:36 p.m., the police department wrote on Facebook.

“The officer engaged the suspect and neutralized the threat. He then called for emergency personnel. Nine victims were transported to local hospitals by Allen Fire Department,” the agency wrote in the Facebook post. “There is no longer an active threat.”

A crowd of hundreds of people who had been shopping stood outside, across the street from the mall, Saturday evening. Officers circulated among them asking if anyone had seen what happened.

Fontayne Payton, 35, was at H&amp;M when he heard the sound of gunshots through the headphones he was wearing.

People in the store scattered before employees ushered the group into the fitting rooms and then a lockable back room, he said. When they were given the all-clear to leave, Payton saw the store had broken windows and a trail of blood to the door. Discarded sandals and bloodied clothes were laying nearby.

“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” he said. The bodies were covered in white towels, slumped over bags on the ground, he said.

“It broke me when I walked out to see that,” he said.

Further away, he saw the body of a heavyset man wearing all black. He assumed it was the shooter, Payton said, because unlike the other bodies it had not been covered up.

Tarakram Nunna, 25, and Ramakrishna Mullapudi, 26, said they saw what appeared to be three people lying motionless on the ground, including one who appeared to be a police officer and another who appeared to be a mall security guard.

Another shopper, Sharkie Mouli, 24, said he hid in a Banana Republic store during the shooting. As he left, he saw what appeared to be an unconscious police officer lying next to another unconscious person outside the outlet store.

"I have seen his gun lying right next to him and a guy who is like passing out right next to him,” Mouli said.

Stan and Mary Ann Greene were browsing in the Columbia sportswear store when the shooting started.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683452857281.png" alt="Video shared on social media showed people running through a parking lot amid the sound of gunshots.- Photo courtesy WFAA" />
 <figcaption>Video shared on social media showed people running through a parking lot amid the sound of gunshots.- Photo courtesy WFAA</figcaption>
 </figure>ALLEN, Texas (AP) — Hundreds of terrified shoppers fled in panic after a gunman stepped out of a silver sedan and opened fire at a Dallas-area outlet mall, killing eight and wounding seven before being killed by a police officer who happened to be nearby, authorities said.The shooting in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was the latest eruption of what has been an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-killings-record-pace-2023-d685a6cd67e0f449f3f9d1d8713d451c">unprecedented pace of mass killings in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;Barely a week before, authorities say,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-mass-shooting-manhunt-arrest-73ae0cc7cacd14c732cf6f6fc189aea8">a man fatally shot five people in Cleveland, Texas</a>, after a neighbor asked him to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept.Police did not immediately provide details about the victims at Allen Premium Outlets, a sprawling outdoor shopping center, but witnesses reported seeing children among them. Some said they also saw what appeared to be a police officer and a mall security guard unconscious on the ground.A 16-year-old pretzel stand employee, Maxwell Gum, described a virtual stampede of shoppers. He and others sheltered in a storage room.“We started running. Kids were getting trampled," Gum said. "My co-worker picked up a 4-year-old girl and gave her to her parents.”Dashcam video circulating online showed the gunman getting out of a car and shooting at people on the sidewalk. More than three dozen shots could be heard as the vehicle that was recording the video drove off.Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said seven people including the shooter died at the scene. Nine victims were taken to area hospitals, but two of them died.Three of the wounded were in critical condition in the evening, Boyd said, and four were stable.An Allen Police Department officer was in the area on an unrelated call when he heard shots at 3:36 p.m., the department wrote on Facebook.“The officer engaged the suspect and neutralized the threat. He then called for emergency personnel,” the post said.Mass killings are happening with staggering frequency in the United States this year: an average of about one per week, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">database</a>&nbsp;maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.President Biden was briefed on the shooting in Allen and the administration offered support to local officials, the White House said. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has signed laws&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a69166e1f1074a0196deb70ef6e7f8b4">easing firearms restrictions following past mass shootings</a>, called the mall shooting an “unspeakable tragedy.”A live aerial broadcast from a news station showed armored trucks and other law enforcement vehicles outside the mall. More than 30 police cruisers with lights flashing blocked an entrance, with multiple ambulances on the scene in the city of roughly 105,000 residents about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown Dallas.Video shared on social media showed people running through a parking lot amid the sound of gunshots.Fontayne Payton, 35, was at H&amp;M when he heard the sound of gunshots through his headphones.“It was so loud, it sounded like it was right outside,” Payton said.People in the store scattered before employees ushered the group into the fitting rooms and then a lockable back room, he said. When they were given the all-clear to leave, Payton saw the store had broken windows and a trail of blood to the door. Discarded sandals and bloodied clothes lay nearby.Once outside, Payton saw bodies.“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” he said. The bodies were covered in white towels, slumped over bags on the ground. “It broke me when I walked out to see that."Further away, he saw the body of a heavyset man wearing all black. He assumed it was the shooter, Payton said, because unlike the other bodies it had not been covered.Tarakram Nunna, 25, and Ramakrishna Mullapudi, 26, said they saw what appeared to be three people motionless on the ground, including one who appeared to be a police officer and another who seemed to be a mall security guard.Another shopper, Sharkie Mouli, 24, said he hid in a Banana Republic during the shooting. As he left, he saw what appeared to be an unconscious police officer lying next to another unconscious person outside the outlet store.“I have seen his gun lying right next to him and a guy who is like passing out right next to him,” Mouli said.Stan and Mary Ann Greene were browsing in a Columbia sportswear store when the shooting started.“We had just gotten in, just a couple minutes earlier, and we just heard a lot of loud popping,” Mary Ann Greene told The Associated Press.Employees rolled down the security gate and brought everyone to the rear of the store until police arrived and escorted them out, the Greenes said.Eber Romero was at an Under Armour store when a cashier mentioned there was a shooting.As he left, Romero said, the mall appeared empty and all the shops had their security gates down. That is when he started seeing broken glass and victims of the shooting on the floor of the shopping center.___<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683421148600.png" alt="Calls reporting gunshots came in about 3:40 p.m. from the Allen Premium Outlets.-photo courtesy WFAA" />
 <figcaption>Calls reporting gunshots came in about 3:40 p.m. from the Allen Premium Outlets.-photo courtesy WFAA</figcaption>
 </figure>ALLEN, Texas (AP) — A gunman stepped out of a silver sedan and began shooting people at an outlet mall in the Dallas suburb of Allen, Texas, on Saturday, killing an unknown number and sending hundreds of shoppers fleeing in panic in the latest gun violence to strike the country.Witnesses who were at the Allen Premium Outlets told The Associated Press they saw multiple victims, including some who appeared to be children, and that they saw a police officer and a mall security guard who appeared to be unconscious on the ground.Allen police said in a Facebook post that nine victims had been taken to hospitals. Medical City Healthcare, a Dallas-area hospital system, said in a written statement it was treating eight between the ages of 5 and 61. Their conditions were unknown.Dashcam video that circulated online showed a gunman step out of a vehicle outside the mall and immediately start shooting at people on the sidewalk. More than three dozen shots could be heard as the vehicle recording the video drove off.An Allen Police officer was in the area on an unrelated call when he heard shots at 3:36 p.m., the police department wrote on Facebook.“The officer engaged the suspect and neutralized the threat. He then called for emergency personnel. Nine victims were transported to local hospitals by Allen Fire Department,” the agency wrote in the Facebook post. “There is no longer an active threat.”A crowd of hundreds of people who had been shopping stood outside, across the street from the mall, Saturday evening. Officers circulated among them asking if anyone had seen what happened.Fontayne Payton, 35, was at H&amp;M when he heard the sound of gunshots through the headphones he was wearing.“It was so loud, it sounded like it was right outside,” Payton said.People in the store scattered before employees ushered the group into the fitting rooms and then a lockable back room, he said. When they were given the all-clear to leave, Payton saw the store had broken windows and a trail of blood to the door. Discarded sandals and bloodied clothes were laying nearby.Once outside, Payton saw bodies.“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” he said. The bodies were covered in white towels, slumped over bags on the ground, he said.“It broke me when I walked out to see that,” he said.Further away, he saw the body of a heavyset man wearing all black. He assumed it was the shooter, Payton said, because unlike the other bodies it had not been covered up.Tarakram Nunna, 25, and Ramakrishna Mullapudi, 26, said they saw what appeared to be three people lying motionless on the ground, including one who appeared to be a police officer and another who appeared to be a mall security guard.Another shopper, Sharkie Mouli, 24, said he hid in a Banana Republic store during the shooting. As he left, he saw what appeared to be an unconscious police officer lying next to another unconscious person outside the outlet store."I have seen his gun lying right next to him and a guy who is like passing out right next to him,” Mouli said.Stan and Mary Ann Greene were browsing in the Columbia sportswear store when the shooting started.“We had just gotten in, just a couple minutes earlier, and we just heard a lot of loud popping,” Mary Ann Greene told The Associated Press.Employees immediately rolled down the security gate and brought everyone to the rear of the store until police arrived and escorted them out, the Greenes said.Eber Romero was at the Under Armour store when a cashier mentioned that there was a shooting.As he left the store, Romero said, the mall appeared empty, and all the shops had their security gates down. That is when he started seeing broken glass and people who had been shot on the floor.Video shared on social media showed people running through a parking lot while gunfire could be heard.More than 30 police cruisers with lights flashing were blocking an entrance to the mall, with multiple ambulances on the scene.A live aerial broadcast from the news station showed armored trucks and other law enforcement vehicles stationed outside the sprawling outdoor mall.Ambulances from several neighboring cities responded to the scene.The Dallas office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded.Allen, a suburb about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown Dallas, has roughly 105,000 residents.------------------ALLEN, Texas (AP) — A gunman shot multiple people at an outlet mall in the Dallas suburb of Allen, Texas, on Saturday, killing an unknown number and sending hundreds of shoppers fleeing in panic in the latest gun violence to strike the country, officials said.Calls reporting gunshots came in about 3:40 p.m. from the Allen Premium Outlets.Witnesses told The Associated Press they saw multiple victims, including some who appeared to be children, and that they saw a police officer and a mall security guard who appeared to be unconcious on the ground.Allen police said in a Facebook post that nine victims had been taken to hospitals. Medical City Healthcare, a Dallas-area hospital system, said in a written statement it was treating eight between the ages of 5 and 61. Their conditions were unknown.An Allen Police officer was in the area on an unrelated call when the officer heard gunshots at Allen Premium Outlets at 3:36 p.m, the police department wrote on Facebook.“The officer engaged the suspect and neutralized the threat. He then called for emergency personnel. Nine victims were transported to local hospitals by Allen Fire Department,” the agency wrote in the Facebook post. “There is no longer an active threat.”A crowd of hundreds of people who had been shopping stood outside, across the street from the mall, Saturday evening. Officers circulated among them asking if anyone had seen what happened.Fontayne Payton, 35, was at H&amp;M when he heard the sound of gunshots through the headphones he was wearing.“It was so loud, it sounded like it was right outside,” Payton said.People in the store scattered before employees ushered the group into the fitting rooms and then a lockable back room, he said. When they were given the all-clear to leave, Payton saw the store had broken windows and a trail of blood to the door. Discarded sandals and bloodied clothes were laying nearby.Once outside, Payton saw bodies.“I pray it wasn’t kids, but it looked like kids,” he said. The bodies were covered in white towels, slumped over bags on the ground, he said.“It broke me when I walked out to see that,” he said.Further away, he saw the body of a heavyset man wearing all black. He assumed it was the shooter, Payton said, because unlike the other bodies it had not been covered up.Tarakram Nunna, 25, and Ramakrishna Mullapudi, 26, said they saw what appeared to be three people lying motionless on the ground, including one who appeared to be a police officer and another who appeared to be a mall security guard.Another shopper, Sharkie Mouli, 24, said he hid in a Banana Republic store during the shooting. As he left, he saw what appeared to be an unconscious police officer lying next to another unconscious person outside the outlet store."I have seen his gun lying right next to him and a guy who is like passing out right next to him,” Mouli said.Stan and Mary Ann Greene were browsing in the Columbia sportswear store when the shooting started.“We had just gotten in, just a couple minutes earlier, and we just heard a lot of loud popping,” Mary Ann Greene told The Associated Press.Employees immediately rolled down the security gate and brought everyone to the rear of the store until police arrived and escorted them out, the Greenes said.Eber Romero was at the Under Armour store when a cashier mentioned that there was a shooting.As he left the store, Romero said, the mall appeared empty, and all the shops had their security gates down. That is when he started seeing broken glass and people who had been shot on the floor.Video shared on social media showed people running through a parking lot while gunfire could be heard.More than 30 police cruisers with lights flashing were blocking an entrance to the mall, with multiple ambulances on the scene.A live aerial broadcast from the news station showed armored trucks and other law enforcement vehicles stationed outside the sprawling outdoor mall.Ambulances from several neighboring cities responded to the scene.The Dallas office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded.Allen, a suburb about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown Dallas, has roughly 105,000 residents.