WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has finished efforts to recover the remnants of the large balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina, and analysis of the debris so far reinforces conclusions that it was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chinese-balloon-military-involvement-e45c759cb00294e83989fa35970935bc">Chinese spy balloon</a>, U.S. officials said Friday.

Officials said the U.S. believes that Navy, Coast Guard and FBI personnel collected all of the balloon debris off the ocean floor, which included key equipment from the payload that could reveal what information it was able to monitor and collect. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said a significant amount of debris was recovered and it included “electronics and optics” from the payload. He declined to say what, if anything, the U.S. has learned from the wreckage so far.

U.S. Northern Command said in a statement that the recovery operations ended Thursday and the final pieces are on their way to the FBI lab in Virginia for analysis. It said air and maritime restrictions off South Carolina have been lifted.

The announcement capped three dramatic weeks that saw U.S. fighter jets shoot down four airborne objects — the large Chinese balloon on Feb. 4 and three much smaller objects about a week later over Canada, Alaska and Lake Huron. They are the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-charles-schumer-jake-sullivan-china-acc1a333326c50ee9649760c569c300f">first known peacetime shootdowns</a>&nbsp;of unauthorized objects in U.S. airspace.

The officials also said the search for the small airborne object that was shot down over Lake Huron has stopped, and nothing has been recovered. U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The U.S. and Canada have also failed to recover any debris so far from the other two objects which were shot down over the Yukon and northern Alaska.

While the military is confident the balloon shot down off South Carolina was a surveillance airship operated by China, the Biden administration has admitted that the three smaller objects were likely civilian-owned balloons that were targeted during the heightened response, after U.S. homeland defense radars were recalibrated to detect slower moving airborne items.

Due to their small size and the remote areas where they were shot down, officials acknowledge that recovering any debris is difficult and probably unlikely. Those last two searches, however, have not been formally called off.

Much of the Chinese balloon fell into about 50 feet (15 meters) of water, and the Navy was able to collect remnants floating on the surface, and divers and unmanned naval vessels pulled up the rest from the bottom of the ocean. Northern Command said Friday that all of the Navy and Coast Guard ships have left the area.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden directed national security adviser Jake Sullivan to lead an interagency team&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-guam-karine-jean-pierre-6457aaf3e7322dd24e2b7274c3ba4813">to establish “sharper rules”</a>&nbsp;to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects.

Meanwhile, key questions about the Chinese balloon remain unanswered, including what, if any, intelligence it was able to collect as it flew over sensitive military sites in the United States, and whether it was able to transmit anything back to China.

The U.S. tracked it for several days after it left China, said a U.S. official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence. It appears to have been blown off its initial trajectory, which was toward the U.S. territory of Guam, and ultimately flew over the continental U.S., the official said.

Balloons and other unidentified objects have been previously spotted over Guam, a strategic hub for the U.S. Navy and Air Force in the western Pacific.

It’s unclear how much control China retained over the balloon once it veered from its original trajectory. A second U.S. official said the balloon could have been externally maneuvered or directed to loiter over a specific target, but it’s unclear whether Chinese forces did so.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676045566817.png" alt="Officials said the U.S. believes that Navy, Coast Guard and FBI personnel collected all of the balloon debris off the ocean floor-photo courtesy FBI" />
 <figcaption>Officials said the U.S. believes that Navy, Coast Guard and FBI personnel collected all of the balloon debris off the ocean floor-photo courtesy FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has finished efforts to recover the remnants of the large balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina, and analysis of the debris so far reinforces conclusions that it was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chinese-balloon-military-involvement-e45c759cb00294e83989fa35970935bc">Chinese spy balloon</a>, U.S. officials said Friday.Officials said the U.S. believes that Navy, Coast Guard and FBI personnel collected all of the balloon debris off the ocean floor, which included key equipment from the payload that could reveal what information it was able to monitor and collect. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said a significant amount of debris was recovered and it included “electronics and optics” from the payload. He declined to say what, if anything, the U.S. has learned from the wreckage so far.U.S. Northern Command said in a statement that the recovery operations ended Thursday and the final pieces are on their way to the FBI lab in Virginia for analysis. It said air and maritime restrictions off South Carolina have been lifted.The announcement capped three dramatic weeks that saw U.S. fighter jets shoot down four airborne objects — the large Chinese balloon on Feb. 4 and three much smaller objects about a week later over Canada, Alaska and Lake Huron. They are the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-charles-schumer-jake-sullivan-china-acc1a333326c50ee9649760c569c300f">first known peacetime shootdowns</a>&nbsp;of unauthorized objects in U.S. airspace.The officials also said the search for the small airborne object that was shot down over Lake Huron has stopped, and nothing has been recovered. U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The U.S. and Canada have also failed to recover any debris so far from the other two objects which were shot down over the Yukon and northern Alaska.While the military is confident the balloon shot down off South Carolina was a surveillance airship operated by China, the Biden administration has admitted that the three smaller objects were likely civilian-owned balloons that were targeted during the heightened response, after U.S. homeland defense radars were recalibrated to detect slower moving airborne items.Due to their small size and the remote areas where they were shot down, officials acknowledge that recovering any debris is difficult and probably unlikely. Those last two searches, however, have not been formally called off.Much of the Chinese balloon fell into about 50 feet (15 meters) of water, and the Navy was able to collect remnants floating on the surface, and divers and unmanned naval vessels pulled up the rest from the bottom of the ocean. Northern Command said Friday that all of the Navy and Coast Guard ships have left the area.On Thursday, President Joe Biden directed national security adviser Jake Sullivan to lead an interagency team&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-guam-karine-jean-pierre-6457aaf3e7322dd24e2b7274c3ba4813">to establish “sharper rules”</a>&nbsp;to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects.Meanwhile, key questions about the Chinese balloon remain unanswered, including what, if any, intelligence it was able to collect as it flew over sensitive military sites in the United States, and whether it was able to transmit anything back to China.The U.S. tracked it for several days after it left China, said a U.S. official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence. It appears to have been blown off its initial trajectory, which was toward the U.S. territory of Guam, and ultimately flew over the continental U.S., the official said.Balloons and other unidentified objects have been previously spotted over Guam, a strategic hub for the U.S. Navy and Air Force in the western Pacific.It’s unclear how much control China retained over the balloon once it veered from its original trajectory. A second U.S. official said the balloon could have been externally maneuvered or directed to loiter over a specific target, but it’s unclear whether Chinese forces did so.____

U.S. military finishes recovering Chinese spy balloon debris

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Residents of the Ohio village upended by a freight train derailment packed a school gym on Wednesday to seek answers about whether they were safe from toxic chemicals that spilled or were burned off.

Hundreds of worried people gathered to hear state officials tell them — as they did earlier in the day — that testing so far has shown local air is safe to breathe and to promise that safety testing of the air and water would continue.

But residents had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-bcc6198dfbde42feefdeca8f24ccaea8">many questions over health hazards</a>&nbsp;and they demanded more transparency from the railroad operator, Norfolk Southern, which did not attend the gathering, citing safety concerns for its staff.

“They just danced around the questions a lot," said Danielle Deal, who lives about three miles from the derailment site. “Norfolk needed to be here.”

In a statement, Norfolk Southern said it was not attending Wednesday's open house gathering with local, state and federal officials because of a “growing physical threat to our employees and members of the community around this event."

Deal called that a “copout" and noted the seriousness of the incident.

Deal and her two children left home to stay with her mother, 13 miles away “and we could still see the mushroom cloud, plain as day,” she said.

Wednesday's meeting came amid continuing concerns about the huge plumes of smoke, persisting odors, questions over potential threats to pets and wild animals, any potential impact on drinking water and what was happening with cleanup.

Even as school resumed and trains were rolling again, people were worried.

“Why are they being hush-hush?" Kathy Dyke said of the railroad. “They’re not out here supporting, they’re not out here answering questions. For three days we didn’t even know what was on the train."

“I have three grandbabies,” she said. “Are they going to grow up here in five years and have cancer? So those are all factors that play on my mind.”

In and around East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania state line, residents said they wanted assistance navigating the financial help the railroad offered hundreds of families who evacuated, and they want to know whether it will be held responsible for what happened.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost advised Norfolk Southern on Wednesday that his office is considering legal action against the rail operator.

“The pollution, which continues to contaminate the area around East Palestine, created a nuisance, damage to natural resources and caused environmental harm,” Yost said in a letter to the company.

The state's Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that the latest tests show water from five wells supplying the village's drinking water are free from contaminants. But the EPA also is recommending testing for private water wells because they are closer to the surface.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimates the spill affected more than seven miles (11.2 kilometers) of streams and killed some 3,500 fish, mostly small ones such as minnows and darters.

There hadn’t been any confirmed deaths of other wildlife, including livestock, state officials said.

Norfolk Southern announced Tuesday that it is creating a $1 million fund to help the community of some 4,700 people while continuing remediation work, including removing spilled contaminants from the ground and streams and monitoring air quality.

It also will expand how many residents can be reimbursed for their evacuation costs, covering the entire village and surrounding area.

“We will be judged by our actions," Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw said in a statement. "We are cleaning up the site in an environmentally responsible way, reimbursing residents affected by the derailment, and working with members of the community to identify what is needed to help East Palestine recover and thrive.”

No one was injured when about 50 cars&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">derailed in a fiery, mangled mess</a>&nbsp;on the outskirts of East Palestine on Feb. 3. As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-quality-evacuations-fires-pennsylvania-ohio-50644fb91216cf775e4a356e4f21cb9b">fears grew about a potential explosion,</a>&nbsp;officials seeking to avoid an uncontrolled blast had the area evacuated and opted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">release and burn toxic vinyl chloride</a>&nbsp;from five rail cars, sending flames and black smoke billowing into the sky again.

A mechanical issue with a rail car axle is suspected to be the cause of the derailment, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it has video appearing to show a wheel bearing overheating just beforehand. The NTSB said it expects its preliminary report in about two weeks.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-Ohio-contamination-map-411989877238">Misinformation and exaggerations spread online</a>, and state and federal officials have repeatedly offered assurances that air monitoring hasn't detected any remaining concerns. Even low levels of contaminants that aren’t considered hazardous can create lingering odors or symptoms such as headaches, Ohio’s health director said Tuesday.

Precautions also are being taken to ensure contaminants that reached the Ohio River don't make it into drinking water.

Associated Press<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676651602893.jpeg" alt="A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)" />
 <figcaption>A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)</figcaption>
 </figure>EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Residents of the Ohio village upended by a freight train derailment packed a school gym on Wednesday to seek answers about whether they were safe from toxic chemicals that spilled or were burned off.Hundreds of worried people gathered to hear state officials tell them — as they did earlier in the day — that testing so far has shown local air is safe to breathe and to promise that safety testing of the air and water would continue.But residents had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-bcc6198dfbde42feefdeca8f24ccaea8">many questions over health hazards</a>&nbsp;and they demanded more transparency from the railroad operator, Norfolk Southern, which did not attend the gathering, citing safety concerns for its staff.“They just danced around the questions a lot," said Danielle Deal, who lives about three miles from the derailment site. “Norfolk needed to be here.”In a statement, Norfolk Southern said it was not attending Wednesday's open house gathering with local, state and federal officials because of a “growing physical threat to our employees and members of the community around this event."Deal called that a “copout" and noted the seriousness of the incident.Deal and her two children left home to stay with her mother, 13 miles away “and we could still see the mushroom cloud, plain as day,” she said.Wednesday's meeting came amid continuing concerns about the huge plumes of smoke, persisting odors, questions over potential threats to pets and wild animals, any potential impact on drinking water and what was happening with cleanup.Even as school resumed and trains were rolling again, people were worried.“Why are they being hush-hush?" Kathy Dyke said of the railroad. “They’re not out here supporting, they’re not out here answering questions. For three days we didn’t even know what was on the train."“I have three grandbabies,” she said. “Are they going to grow up here in five years and have cancer? So those are all factors that play on my mind.”In and around East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania state line, residents said they wanted assistance navigating the financial help the railroad offered hundreds of families who evacuated, and they want to know whether it will be held responsible for what happened.Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost advised Norfolk Southern on Wednesday that his office is considering legal action against the rail operator.“The pollution, which continues to contaminate the area around East Palestine, created a nuisance, damage to natural resources and caused environmental harm,” Yost said in a letter to the company.The state's Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that the latest tests show water from five wells supplying the village's drinking water are free from contaminants. But the EPA also is recommending testing for private water wells because they are closer to the surface.The Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimates the spill affected more than seven miles (11.2 kilometers) of streams and killed some 3,500 fish, mostly small ones such as minnows and darters.There hadn’t been any confirmed deaths of other wildlife, including livestock, state officials said.Norfolk Southern announced Tuesday that it is creating a $1 million fund to help the community of some 4,700 people while continuing remediation work, including removing spilled contaminants from the ground and streams and monitoring air quality.It also will expand how many residents can be reimbursed for their evacuation costs, covering the entire village and surrounding area.“We will be judged by our actions," Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw said in a statement. "We are cleaning up the site in an environmentally responsible way, reimbursing residents affected by the derailment, and working with members of the community to identify what is needed to help East Palestine recover and thrive.”No one was injured when about 50 cars&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">derailed in a fiery, mangled mess</a>&nbsp;on the outskirts of East Palestine on Feb. 3. As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-quality-evacuations-fires-pennsylvania-ohio-50644fb91216cf775e4a356e4f21cb9b">fears grew about a potential explosion,</a>&nbsp;officials seeking to avoid an uncontrolled blast had the area evacuated and opted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">release and burn toxic vinyl chloride</a>&nbsp;from five rail cars, sending flames and black smoke billowing into the sky again.A mechanical issue with a rail car axle is suspected to be the cause of the derailment, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it has video appearing to show a wheel bearing overheating just beforehand. The NTSB said it expects its preliminary report in about two weeks.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-Ohio-contamination-map-411989877238">Misinformation and exaggerations spread online</a>, and state and federal officials have repeatedly offered assurances that air monitoring hasn't detected any remaining concerns. Even low levels of contaminants that aren’t considered hazardous can create lingering odors or symptoms such as headaches, Ohio’s health director said Tuesday.Precautions also are being taken to ensure contaminants that reached the Ohio River don't make it into drinking water.

Upset Ohio town residents seek answers over train derailment

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-joins-other-states-to-fight-new-wotus-rule/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska on Thursday joined
 24 other states in a lawsuit against the Biden administration’s new 
rule defining so-called Waters of the United States, or WOTUS.

The multi-state coalition said the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers rushed 
to publish the new rule, even though the Supreme Court is expected to 
issue a key decision on the scope of WOTUS in a few weeks.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike 
Hilgers, in a statement announcing Nebraska’s role in the lawsuit, said 
the new rule would detrimentally affect farmers who may need to get 
permission from the EPA and Corps of Engineers to fill or dredge 
wetlands or waterways, depending on whether those features fall under 
the federal government’s purview.

Likewise, his statement said, 
developers, homebuilders, miners and other property owners face 
implications in making changes or improvements to their land.

“If the final rule is left in place, 
then ranchers, farmers, miners, homebuilders, and other landowners 
across the country will struggle to undertake even the simplest of 
activities on their own property without fear of drawing the ire of the 
federal government,” according to the coalition’s lawsuit.

It continues: “Landowning Americans 
of all stripes will thus be left with a choice: fight their way through 
an expensive and lengthy administrative process to obtain complex 
jurisdictional determination and permits or face substantial civil and 
criminal penalties.”

The final rule followed a 
decades-long process to define the geographical reach and authority of 
the EPA and Corps of Engineers in regulating streams, wetlands and other
 water bodies under the Clean Water Act.

The Obama administration in 2015 
sought to clarify what waters on private properties the EPA and Corps of
 Engineers could regulate. The Trump administration replaced the WOTUS 
rule with the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which was finalized in 
2020 and which significantly narrowed what could be included.

Notably, Hilgers’ statement said, the
 new rule redefines “navigable waters” to include ponds, certain 
streams, ditches and other bodies of water under the Clean Water Act, as
 determined by the EPA and the Corps of Engineers.

Others in the coalition are Alabama, 
Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, 
Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West 
Virginia and Wyoming.

The states have announced a motion 
for preliminary injunction to stop the Biden Administration’s new WOTUS 
rule while it’s under litigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676642365194.png" alt=".S. House Republicans are renewing the decades-long fight over the so-called Waters of the U.S. rule, or WOTUS. (Courtesy of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources)" />
 <figcaption>.S. House Republicans are renewing the decades-long fight over the so-called Waters of the U.S. rule, or WOTUS. (Courtesy of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-joins-other-states-to-fight-new-wotus-rule/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska on Thursday joined
 24 other states in a lawsuit against the Biden administration’s new 
rule defining so-called Waters of the United States, or WOTUS.The multi-state coalition said the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers rushed 
to publish the new rule, even though the Supreme Court is expected to 
issue a key decision on the scope of WOTUS in a few weeks.Nebraska Attorney General Mike 
Hilgers, in a statement announcing Nebraska’s role in the lawsuit, said 
the new rule would detrimentally affect farmers who may need to get 
permission from the EPA and Corps of Engineers to fill or dredge 
wetlands or waterways, depending on whether those features fall under 
the federal government’s purview.<h2>Felt by farmers, homebuilders </h2>Likewise, his statement said, 
developers, homebuilders, miners and other property owners face 
implications in making changes or improvements to their land.“If the final rule is left in place, 
then ranchers, farmers, miners, homebuilders, and other landowners 
across the country will struggle to undertake even the simplest of 
activities on their own property without fear of drawing the ire of the 
federal government,” according to the coalition’s lawsuit.It continues: “Landowning Americans 
of all stripes will thus be left with a choice: fight their way through 
an expensive and lengthy administrative process to obtain complex 
jurisdictional determination and permits or face substantial civil and 
criminal penalties.”The final rule followed a 
decades-long process to define the geographical reach and authority of 
the EPA and Corps of Engineers in regulating streams, wetlands and other
 water bodies under the Clean Water Act.<h2>Extended battle </h2>The Obama administration in 2015 
sought to clarify what waters on private properties the EPA and Corps of
 Engineers could regulate. The Trump administration replaced the WOTUS 
rule with the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which was finalized in 
2020 and which significantly narrowed what could be included.President Biden expanded the rule again.Notably, Hilgers’ statement said, the
 new rule redefines “navigable waters” to include ponds, certain 
streams, ditches and other bodies of water under the Clean Water Act, as
 determined by the EPA and the Corps of Engineers.Others in the coalition are Alabama, 
Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, 
Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West 
Virginia and Wyoming.The states have announced a motion 
for preliminary injunction to stop the Biden Administration’s new WOTUS 
rule while it’s under litigation.

Nebraska joins other states to fight new WOTUS rule

WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite testing positive twice last year for the coronavirus, President&nbsp;Joe Biden&nbsp;has no long-term symptoms and has been declared “healthy, vigorous” and “fit” to handle his White House responsibilities, according to a routine medical checkup performed Thursday.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Health-Summary-2.16.pdf">Click here to read the Doctor</a> summary on the President's health

The findings were contained in a memo by Biden's doctor, summarizing the exams conducted during a three-hour stay at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

The conclusions reached by Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the president's personal physician since 2009, are likely to be highly scrutinized as the oldest president in history makes plans for an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-republican-party-democratic-b6a4d89a5629e768e92485067a220797">expected reelection campaign</a>.

O'Connor concluded in a five-page memo that Biden “remains a healthy, vigorous 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency." But the doctor did not speculate about where Biden's health might be at age 86, when a second term might end.

The president had a lesion removed from his chest that is undergoing a traditional biopsy. But Thursday's results largely matched the findings after the president's last exam in November 2021, which said his coughing was due to acid reflux and his stiffened gait was the result of spinal arthritis, a previously broken foot and neuropathy in his feet.

The memo generally labeled Biden's health as “stable" compared to his last exam, though it noted that his calves and hamstrings had possibly tightened.

Biden tested positive in July for COVID-19 and experienced “very mild symptoms,” according to the White House. He also had a rebound infection and ultimately tested negative on Aug. 6 of last year. The president continued to work even as he isolated himself in the White House.

“Well, everything really went well," Biden told NBC News on Thursday about the exam ahead of the memo's release.

Many people, including Democrats, have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-biden-2024-presidential-prospects-c843c5af6775b4c8a0cff8e2b1db03f6">expressed reservations about Biden</a>&nbsp;seeking a second term in 2024. Only 37% of Democrats say Biden should pursue reelection, down from 52% before last November's elections, according to a recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Overall, 22% of U.S. adults said he ought to run again.

Follow-up interviews with people in the survey indicated that Biden's age was a major concern. They took note of his coughing, a greater sense of fragility in his walking and moments when he misspoke.

Biden had a colonoscopy in 2021, in which a 3-millimeter “benign-appearing polyp” was identified and removed. He did not undergo a colonoscopy during Thursday's checkup.

Asked in a recent PBS interview about his age and ability to be president, Biden responded with what has become his stock line: “Watch me. It's all I can say.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676592591396.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite testing positive twice last year for the coronavirus, President&nbsp;Joe Biden&nbsp;has no long-term symptoms and has been declared “healthy, vigorous” and “fit” to handle his White House responsibilities, according to a routine medical checkup performed Thursday.<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Health-Summary-2.16.pdf">Click here to read the Doctor</a> summary on the President's health<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676592751907.png" alt="Asked in a recent PBS interview about his age and ability to be president, Biden responded with what has become his stock line: “Watch me. It's all I can say.”-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Asked in a recent PBS interview about his age and ability to be president, Biden responded with what has become his stock line: “Watch me. It's all I can say.”-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The findings were contained in a memo by Biden's doctor, summarizing the exams conducted during a three-hour stay at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.The conclusions reached by Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the president's personal physician since 2009, are likely to be highly scrutinized as the oldest president in history makes plans for an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-republican-party-democratic-b6a4d89a5629e768e92485067a220797">expected reelection campaign</a>.O'Connor concluded in a five-page memo that Biden “remains a healthy, vigorous 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency." But the doctor did not speculate about where Biden's health might be at age 86, when a second term might end.The president had a lesion removed from his chest that is undergoing a traditional biopsy. But Thursday's results largely matched the findings after the president's last exam in November 2021, which said his coughing was due to acid reflux and his stiffened gait was the result of spinal arthritis, a previously broken foot and neuropathy in his feet.The memo generally labeled Biden's health as “stable" compared to his last exam, though it noted that his calves and hamstrings had possibly tightened.Biden tested positive in July for COVID-19 and experienced “very mild symptoms,” according to the White House. He also had a rebound infection and ultimately tested negative on Aug. 6 of last year. The president continued to work even as he isolated himself in the White House.“Well, everything really went well," Biden told NBC News on Thursday about the exam ahead of the memo's release.Many people, including Democrats, have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-biden-2024-presidential-prospects-c843c5af6775b4c8a0cff8e2b1db03f6">expressed reservations about Biden</a>&nbsp;seeking a second term in 2024. Only 37% of Democrats say Biden should pursue reelection, down from 52% before last November's elections, according to a recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Overall, 22% of U.S. adults said he ought to run again.Follow-up interviews with people in the survey indicated that Biden's age was a major concern. They took note of his coughing, a greater sense of fragility in his walking and moments when he misspoke.Biden had a colonoscopy in 2021, in which a 3-millimeter “benign-appearing polyp” was identified and removed. He did not undergo a colonoscopy during Thursday's checkup.Asked in a recent PBS interview about his age and ability to be president, Biden responded with what has become his stock line: “Watch me. It's all I can say.”

Read the doctor's report following Biden's annual physical

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A third person who played a role in an internet romance scam that cheated multiple victims across the country out of a total of about $3.2 million has pleaded guilty, federal prosecutors said.

Sadae Mills, 28, of Houston, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence on Wednesday to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Mills' role in the scheme was to receive payments that she knew had been fraudulently obtained through internet and app-based romance scams, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Over a three-month period in 2018, she took the payments, mostly in the form of money orders, cash, or wire transfers, and deposited them into her bank account. She then withdrew or transferred the money when directed to do so by one of her accomplices, prosecutors said.

The victims were from Rhode Island, New York, Arkansas, Colorado, North Carolina, Missouri and Florida, prosecutors said.

Two other participants in the conspiracy previously pleaded guilty.

Dominique Golden, 31, of Houston, pleaded guilty in September and was sentenced last month to more than six years in prison. Breauna Williams, 29, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, awaits sentencing in April after pleading guilty last month.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A third person who played a role in an internet romance scam that cheated multiple victims across the country out of a total of about $3.2 million has pleaded guilty, federal prosecutors said.Sadae Mills, 28, of Houston, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence on Wednesday to conspiracy to commit money laundering.Mills' role in the scheme was to receive payments that she knew had been fraudulently obtained through internet and app-based romance scams, according to the U.S. attorney's office.Over a three-month period in 2018, she took the payments, mostly in the form of money orders, cash, or wire transfers, and deposited them into her bank account. She then withdrew or transferred the money when directed to do so by one of her accomplices, prosecutors said.The victims were from Rhode Island, New York, Arkansas, Colorado, North Carolina, Missouri and Florida, prosecutors said.Mills faces sentencing on May 23.Two other participants in the conspiracy previously pleaded guilty.Dominique Golden, 31, of Houston, pleaded guilty in September and was sentenced last month to more than six years in prison. Breauna Williams, 29, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, awaits sentencing in April after pleading guilty last month.Two other suspects await trial.

3rd person pleads guilty in nationwide romance scam 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that the U.S. is developing “sharper rules” to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects, following three weeks of high-stakes drama sparked by the discovery of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-antony-blinken-china-314302278a5f05bdc2df146ed5b35ec6">a suspected Chinese spy balloon</a>&nbsp;transiting much of the country.

(Click to watch the President's statement)

The president has directed national security adviser Jake Sullivan to lead an “interagency team” to review U.S. procedures after the U.S. shot down the Chinese balloon, as well as three other objects that Biden said the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aerial-objects-shot-down-lake-huron-8d60c429b1bf549a791434f8bd1bcc81">U.S. now believes are most likely “benign” objects</a>&nbsp;launched by private companies or research institutions.

While not expressing regret for downing the three still-unidentified objects, Biden said he hoped the new rules would help “distinguish between those that are likely to pose safety and security risks that necessitate action and those that do not.”

“Make no mistake, if any object presents a threat to the safety and security of the American people I will take it down,” he added, repeating the legal justification cited for the downings — that the objects, flying between 20,000 and 40,000 feet posed a remote risk to civilian planes.

The downing of the Chinese surveillance craft was the first known peacetime shootdown of an unauthorized object in U.S. airspace — a feat repeated three times a week later.

Biden sharply criticized China's surveillance program, saying the shootdown sent a “clear message, the violation of our sovereignty is unacceptable," but said he looks to maintain open lines of communication with Beijing. Secretary of State Anthony&nbsp;<a>Blinken postponed his first planned trip</a>&nbsp;to China as the balloon was flying over the U.S., and a new meeting with his Chinese counterpart has yet to be scheduled.

“I expect to be speaking with President Xi and I hope we can get to the bottom of this,” Biden said, adding, “But I make no apologies for taking down that balloon.”

Biden said the rules would remain classified so as not to “give a roadmap to our enemies to try to evade our defenses.”

The Chinese balloon has escalated tensions between the U.S. and China.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-politics-turkey-government-united-states-59f33c71d33a7f77bcc9d3e1800a09d3">Blinken travels Thursday to the Munich Security Conference</a>&nbsp;and there is speculation he might use the opportunity to meet top Chinese foreign policy official Wang Yi, who will also be attending the conference.

Biden had remained largely silent on the objects downed Friday off the coast of Alaska, Saturday over Canada and Sunday over Lake Huron. On Monday, the White House announced earnestly there was no indication of “aliens or extraterrestrial activity.” By Wednesday, U.S. officials said they were still working to locate the wreckage from the objects, but that they expected all three to be unrelated to surveillance efforts.

“The intelligence community is considering as a leading explanation that these could just be balloons tied to some commercial or benign purpose,” said White House national security spokesman John Kirby. No country or private company has come forward to claim any of the objects, Kirby said. They do not appear to have been operated by the U.S. government.

Still unaddressed are questions about the original balloon, including what spying capabilities it had and whether it was transmitting signals as it flew over sensitive military sites in the United States. It was believed by American intelligence to have initially been on a track toward the U.S. territory of Guam, according to a U.S. official.

The U.S. tracked it for several days after it left China, said the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence. It appears to have been blown off its initial trajectory and ultimately flew over the continental U.S., the official said.

After the balloon was shot down, the White House revealed that such balloons had traversed U.S. territory at least three times during President Donald Trump’s administration unknown to Trump or his aides — and that others have flown over dozens of nations across five continents. Kirby emphasized Monday that they were only detected by the Biden administration.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that the U.S. is developing “sharper rules” to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects, following three weeks of high-stakes drama sparked by the discovery of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-antony-blinken-china-314302278a5f05bdc2df146ed5b35ec6">a suspected Chinese spy balloon</a>&nbsp;transiting much of the country.(Click to watch the President's statement)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1435977713882099%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The president has directed national security adviser Jake Sullivan to lead an “interagency team” to review U.S. procedures after the U.S. shot down the Chinese balloon, as well as three other objects that Biden said the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aerial-objects-shot-down-lake-huron-8d60c429b1bf549a791434f8bd1bcc81">U.S. now believes are most likely “benign” objects</a>&nbsp;launched by private companies or research institutions.While not expressing regret for downing the three still-unidentified objects, Biden said he hoped the new rules would help “distinguish between those that are likely to pose safety and security risks that necessitate action and those that do not.”“Make no mistake, if any object presents a threat to the safety and security of the American people I will take it down,” he added, repeating the legal justification cited for the downings — that the objects, flying between 20,000 and 40,000 feet posed a remote risk to civilian planes.The downing of the Chinese surveillance craft was the first known peacetime shootdown of an unauthorized object in U.S. airspace — a feat repeated three times a week later.Biden sharply criticized China's surveillance program, saying the shootdown sent a “clear message, the violation of our sovereignty is unacceptable," but said he looks to maintain open lines of communication with Beijing. Secretary of State Anthony&nbsp;<a>Blinken postponed his first planned trip</a>&nbsp;to China as the balloon was flying over the U.S., and a new meeting with his Chinese counterpart has yet to be scheduled.“I expect to be speaking with President Xi and I hope we can get to the bottom of this,” Biden said, adding, “But I make no apologies for taking down that balloon.”Biden said the rules would remain classified so as not to “give a roadmap to our enemies to try to evade our defenses.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676045566817.png" alt="Agents assigned to the evidence response team process material recovered from the China spy balloon recovered off the coast of South Carolina-photo FBI" />
 <figcaption>Agents assigned to the evidence response team process material recovered from the China spy balloon recovered off the coast of South Carolina-photo FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>The Chinese balloon has escalated tensions between the U.S. and China.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-politics-turkey-government-united-states-59f33c71d33a7f77bcc9d3e1800a09d3">Blinken travels Thursday to the Munich Security Conference</a>&nbsp;and there is speculation he might use the opportunity to meet top Chinese foreign policy official Wang Yi, who will also be attending the conference.Biden had remained largely silent on the objects downed Friday off the coast of Alaska, Saturday over Canada and Sunday over Lake Huron. On Monday, the White House announced earnestly there was no indication of “aliens or extraterrestrial activity.” By Wednesday, U.S. officials said they were still working to locate the wreckage from the objects, but that they expected all three to be unrelated to surveillance efforts.“The intelligence community is considering as a leading explanation that these could just be balloons tied to some commercial or benign purpose,” said White House national security spokesman John Kirby. No country or private company has come forward to claim any of the objects, Kirby said. They do not appear to have been operated by the U.S. government.Still unaddressed are questions about the original balloon, including what spying capabilities it had and whether it was transmitting signals as it flew over sensitive military sites in the United States. It was believed by American intelligence to have initially been on a track toward the U.S. territory of Guam, according to a U.S. official.The U.S. tracked it for several days after it left China, said the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence. It appears to have been blown off its initial trajectory and ultimately flew over the continental U.S., the official said.Balloons and other unidentified objects have been previously spotted over Guam, a strategic hub for the U.S. Navy and Air Force in the western Pacific.It’s unclear how much control China retained over the balloon once it veered from its original trajectory. A second U.S. official said the balloon could have been externally maneuvered or directed to loiter over a specific target, but it’s unclear whether Chinese forces did so.After the balloon was shot down, the White House revealed that such balloons had traversed U.S. territory at least three times during President Donald Trump’s administration unknown to Trump or his aides — and that others have flown over dozens of nations across five continents. Kirby emphasized Monday that they were only detected by the Biden administration.—

🎥Biden: 3 downed UFOs not linked to China spy program

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. has suspended production and halted shipments of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup after a battery caught fire during a pre-delivery quality check.

Production at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, has been stopped until at least the end of next week.

The automaker said in a statement Wednesday night it has no reason to believe electric pickups already in use by customers are affected by the battery issue.

“By the end of next week, we expect to conclude our investigation and apply what we learn to the truck’s battery production processes,” Ford spokeswoman Emma Bergg said in the statement. “This could take a few weeks.”

The fire happened at an outdoor lot nearby in Dearborn where vehicles are held for quality checks. The truck with the battery problem and two nearby vehicles were damaged by the fire, Bergg said. No injuries were reported.

The company believes it has identified the root cause of the battery problem, including the likely population of trucks affected by it. “We monitor vehicle data to help ensure our vehicles are performing as expected in the field,” Bergg said.

The company will continue to hold completed trucks until engineering and production changes are made.

Batteries for the trucks are supplied by SK Innovation, a Korean supplier with a factory in Georgia.

The production halt comes at an inopportune time for Ford, which has struggled with quality issues, recalls and high warranty costs for several years.

The problem also stops production of a popular product. Bergg said the company is still working through a backlog of nearly 200,000 reservations for the F-150 Lightning since it stopped taking them in December 2021. Reservation holders put down $100 deposits, which Ford was converting to orders.

Last year, Ford sold more than 15,000 of the trucks in its first full year of production.

There have been previous problems with the lithium-ion batteries used in most electric vehicles. Fires in the batteries can burn very hot and take thousands of gallons of water to extinguish, which has caused difficulty for firefighters attempting to put out battery fires in several Teslas after crashes. General Motors, Hyundai, BMW and others have issued recalls of the batteries.

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. has suspended production and halted shipments of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup after a battery caught fire during a pre-delivery quality check.Production at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, has been stopped until at least the end of next week.The automaker said in a statement Wednesday night it has no reason to believe electric pickups already in use by customers are affected by the battery issue.“By the end of next week, we expect to conclude our investigation and apply what we learn to the truck’s battery production processes,” Ford spokeswoman Emma Bergg said in the statement. “This could take a few weeks.”The fire happened at an outdoor lot nearby in Dearborn where vehicles are held for quality checks. The truck with the battery problem and two nearby vehicles were damaged by the fire, Bergg said. No injuries were reported.The company believes it has identified the root cause of the battery problem, including the likely population of trucks affected by it. “We monitor vehicle data to help ensure our vehicles are performing as expected in the field,” Bergg said.The company will continue to hold completed trucks until engineering and production changes are made.Batteries for the trucks are supplied by SK Innovation, a Korean supplier with a factory in Georgia.The production halt comes at an inopportune time for Ford, which has struggled with quality issues, recalls and high warranty costs for several years.The problem also stops production of a popular product. Bergg said the company is still working through a backlog of nearly 200,000 reservations for the F-150 Lightning since it stopped taking them in December 2021. Reservation holders put down $100 deposits, which Ford was converting to orders.Last year, Ford sold more than 15,000 of the trucks in its first full year of production.There have been previous problems with the lithium-ion batteries used in most electric vehicles. Fires in the batteries can burn very hot and take thousands of gallons of water to extinguish, which has caused difficulty for firefighters attempting to put out battery fires in several Teslas after crashes. General Motors, Hyundai, BMW and others have issued recalls of the batteries.

Ford stops production of electric F-150 due to battery failure

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-15/ice-muck-and-a-480-million-price-tag-the-keystone-oil-spill-cleanup-carries-on-in-kansas">Kansas News Service</a>

In the two months since the Keystone pipeline erupted in Washington 
County, Mill Creek has gone from being coated in floating oil nearly a 
foot deep, to a layer less than one inch.

About four miles of the creek <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/crews-are-diverting-a-kansas-creek-as-they-race-to-clean-an-oil-spill-and-prevent-further-pollution" target="_blank">remain shut off</a> from the normal flow of water as part of the ongoing, round-the-clock cleanup.

Workers
 have pulled nearly 2 million gallons of oily water out of Mill Creek, 
carrying on in freezing temperatures by breaking and melting ice.

In mid-December, the Environmental Protection Agency says, about 1.5 
miles of the stream were coated bank-to-bank in floating oil that pooled
 more than 10 inches deep in some places.

By Jan. 25, less than 
one-tenth of a mile remained coated bank-to-bank in floating oil that 
had dropped to less than one inch deep.

Now, no areas of the creek remain coated bank-to-bank, the federal agency says, though workers are still recovering oil.

Since workers <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/crews-are-diverting-a-kansas-creek-as-they-race-to-clean-an-oil-spill-and-prevent-further-pollution" target="_blank">bypassed about four miles of Mill Creek</a>
 to help with the cleanup and stop chemicals and bitumen from washing 
downstream, part of the isolated stream now has little water left and 
workers are pulling ice and sediment from the creek bed and banks, the 
EPA says.

The agency says oil company TC Energy and state 
environmental officials have taken samples from drinking water wells 
near the spill site, but tests haven’t turned up any chemicals from the 
spill.

Springtime brings heavier rains to the area, and landowners
 worry about the risk that hard rains could cause the creek to overflow 
its banks.

The EPA says workers built a spillway in case of 
flooding. The National Weather Service provides daily input. And two 
weeks ago, TC Energy began work to increase the pumping capacity for 
diverting water.

The
 nearly 2 million gallons of fluid pulled out of Mill Creek so far go 
into huge tanks or treatment ponds to separate the water and oil before 
transporting the oil to a refinery.

Workers inject air into the contaminated water to help vaporize some of the remaining chemicals. They also treat the water with <a href="https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/hazardous/topics/gac.html" target="_blank">granular activated carbon</a>, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says.

Next,
 samples of the treated water will go to a lab for analysis to determine
 whether workers can pour the water back into the creek downstream from 
the cleanup site.

“If not, the water will be re-treated until all 
contaminants are removed,” said KDHE, which oversees water treatment and
 discharge.

The EPA says construction is ongoing for a large water
 treatment system, including 5 acres of pond or ponds for the 
contaminated surface water. It says the ponds will be more efficient 
than the tanks now that most of the oil has been pulled from Mill Creek.

TC
 Energy says crews have recovered about 90% of the spilled oil. It has 
deleted from its website a counter that showed updates on how many 
barrels have been recovered.

A Nebraska landfill agreed to take the contaminated soil from the Keystone oil spill.

Trucks
 began hauling away the topsoil on Jan. 17 from the site in Washington 
County where the Keystone ruptured on Dec. 7 and sprayed extra sticky 
tar sands oil called diluted bitumen, or dilbit, onto several acres of 
prairie, cropland and Mill Creek.

“Laboratory analysis of the oil and waste defined it as not being hazardous,” KDHE said in an email.

A
 Shawnee County landfill north of Topeka, Rolling Meadows, had 
previously been named as a potential destination for waste from the oil 
spill.

“Landfills have discretion on whether or not they wish to 
receive waste,” KDHE said. “Pheasant Point Landfill (near Omaha) 
accepted the waste.”

In addition to the contaminated soil, 
Pheasant Point will take other waste from the site, such as oily 
protective clothing and absorbent pads, and floating booms used to block
 the oil slick on the surface of Mill Creek.

Separately,
 the Canadian company behind the oil spill will donate $60,000 to 
Washington County Hospital as part of a campaign it launched after the 
incident to match donations from the public.

TC Energy has also said it would give $7,500 to equip local emergency responders with better mobile and radio equipment.

TC Energy reported an annual revenue of nearly $10 billion and a net income of more than $1.5 billion in its most recent <a href="https://www.tcenergy.com/siteassets/pdfs/investors/reports-and-filings/annual-and-quarterly-reports/2021/tc-2021-annual-report.pdf" target="_blank">yearly report</a>.

Last week <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-09/keystone-pipeline-operator-says-faulty-welding-and-other-problems-led-to-the-kansas-oil-spill" target="_blank">the company estimated</a> that cleaning up and investigating the Keystone spill will cost $480 million, and said it has “appropriate insurance coverage.”

The
 company is still investigating why the pipeline erupted, but has so far
 said that “bending stress on the pipe and a weld flaw” played a role.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492082551.png" alt="In freezing conditions, crews keep up the oil spill cleanup by breaking and melting ice at Mill Creek. EPA photo" />
 <figcaption>In freezing conditions, crews keep up the oil spill cleanup by breaking and melting ice at Mill Creek. EPA photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-15/ice-muck-and-a-480-million-price-tag-the-keystone-oil-spill-cleanup-carries-on-in-kansas">Kansas News Service</a>In the two months since the Keystone pipeline erupted in Washington 
County, Mill Creek has gone from being coated in floating oil nearly a 
foot deep, to a layer less than one inch.About four miles of the creek <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/crews-are-diverting-a-kansas-creek-as-they-race-to-clean-an-oil-spill-and-prevent-further-pollution" target="_blank">remain shut off</a> from the normal flow of water as part of the ongoing, round-the-clock cleanup.Workers
 have pulled nearly 2 million gallons of oily water out of Mill Creek, 
carrying on in freezing temperatures by breaking and melting ice.In mid-December, the Environmental Protection Agency says, about 1.5 
miles of the stream were coated bank-to-bank in floating oil that pooled
 more than 10 inches deep in some places.By Jan. 25, less than 
one-tenth of a mile remained coated bank-to-bank in floating oil that 
had dropped to less than one inch deep.Now, no areas of the creek remain coated bank-to-bank, the federal agency says, though workers are still recovering oil.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673624165345.png" alt="This map shows where TC Energy will divert Mill Creek to avoid a 4-mile stretch that needs intensive cleanup. TC Energy" />
 <figcaption>This map shows where TC Energy will divert Mill Creek to avoid a 4-mile stretch that needs intensive cleanup. TC Energy</figcaption>
 </figure>Since workers <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/crews-are-diverting-a-kansas-creek-as-they-race-to-clean-an-oil-spill-and-prevent-further-pollution" target="_blank">bypassed about four miles of Mill Creek</a>
 to help with the cleanup and stop chemicals and bitumen from washing 
downstream, part of the isolated stream now has little water left and 
workers are pulling ice and sediment from the creek bed and banks, the 
EPA says.The agency says oil company TC Energy and state 
environmental officials have taken samples from drinking water wells 
near the spill site, but tests haven’t turned up any chemicals from the 
spill.Springtime brings heavier rains to the area, and landowners
 worry about the risk that hard rains could cause the creek to overflow 
its banks.The EPA says workers built a spillway in case of 
flooding. The National Weather Service provides daily input. And two 
weeks ago, TC Energy began work to increase the pumping capacity for 
diverting water.<h2>Contaminated water</h2>The
 nearly 2 million gallons of fluid pulled out of Mill Creek so far go 
into huge tanks or treatment ponds to separate the water and oil before 
transporting the oil to a refinery.Workers inject air into the contaminated water to help vaporize some of the remaining chemicals. They also treat the water with <a href="https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/hazardous/topics/gac.html" target="_blank">granular activated carbon</a>, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says.Next,
 samples of the treated water will go to a lab for analysis to determine
 whether workers can pour the water back into the creek downstream from 
the cleanup site.“If not, the water will be re-treated until all 
contaminants are removed,” said KDHE, which oversees water treatment and
 discharge.The EPA says construction is ongoing for a large water
 treatment system, including 5 acres of pond or ponds for the 
contaminated surface water. It says the ponds will be more efficient 
than the tanks now that most of the oil has been pulled from Mill Creek.TC
 Energy says crews have recovered about 90% of the spilled oil. It has 
deleted from its website a counter that showed updates on how many 
barrels have been recovered.<h2>Soil to Nebraska</h2>A Nebraska landfill agreed to take the contaminated soil from the Keystone oil spill.Trucks
 began hauling away the topsoil on Jan. 17 from the site in Washington 
County where the Keystone ruptured on Dec. 7 and sprayed extra sticky 
tar sands oil called diluted bitumen, or dilbit, onto several acres of 
prairie, cropland and Mill Creek.“Laboratory analysis of the oil and waste defined it as not being hazardous,” KDHE said in an email.A
 Shawnee County landfill north of Topeka, Rolling Meadows, had 
previously been named as a potential destination for waste from the oil 
spill.“Landfills have discretion on whether or not they wish to 
receive waste,” KDHE said. “Pheasant Point Landfill (near Omaha) 
accepted the waste.”In addition to the contaminated soil, 
Pheasant Point will take other waste from the site, such as oily 
protective clothing and absorbent pads, and floating booms used to block
 the oil slick on the surface of Mill Creek.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492196938.png" alt="EPA photo" />
 <figcaption>EPA photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Cleanup costs and corporate donations</h2>Separately,
 the Canadian company behind the oil spill will donate $60,000 to 
Washington County Hospital as part of a campaign it launched after the 
incident to match donations from the public.TC Energy has also said it would give $7,500 to equip local emergency responders with better mobile and radio equipment.TC Energy reported an annual revenue of nearly $10 billion and a net income of more than $1.5 billion in its most recent <a href="https://www.tcenergy.com/siteassets/pdfs/investors/reports-and-filings/annual-and-quarterly-reports/2021/tc-2021-annual-report.pdf" target="_blank">yearly report</a>.Last week <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-09/keystone-pipeline-operator-says-faulty-welding-and-other-problems-led-to-the-kansas-oil-spill" target="_blank">the company estimated</a> that cleaning up and investigating the Keystone spill will cost $480 million, and said it has “appropriate insurance coverage.”The
 company is still investigating why the pipeline erupted, but has so far
 said that “bending stress on the pipe and a weld flaw” played a role.

$480M Keystone oil spill cleanup carries on in Kansas

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that he will challenge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-michael-pence-donald-trump-subpoenas-866034edd3ce3dfbc722b31a3d0e465f">a subpoena by the special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing Trump investigations to compel his testimony before a grand jury — pursuing it to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Special counsel Jack Smith, appointed by the Justice Department, is investigating efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump spent the days before Jan. 6, 2021, aggressively pressuring Pence to reject the outcome, even though Pence had no power to do so. Pence was at the U.S. Capitol presiding over a joint session of Congress as Trump's supporters violently stormed the building that day.

“Let me first be clear: I’m going to fight the Biden DOJ subpoena for me to appear before the grand jury because I believe it’s unconstitutional and it’s unprecedented," Pence told reporters in Iowa, the state that will hold the first contest of the 2024 nominating sequence.

“Never before in American history has a vice president been summoned to appear in court to testify against the president with whom they serve," he said.

Pence said he was prepared to take the case “as far as it needs to go, if needs be to the Supreme Court of the United States.”

The posture marks an aggressive turn for Pence, who has been laying the groundwork for a likely presidential run. While it remains unclear whether Pence will succeed in delaying or limiting the scope of his testimony, the posture gives the former vice president a new opening to attack the Justice Department, which has become increasingly unpopular among conservatives, in part due to Trump's constant attacks.

Indeed, Pence repeatedly criticized the department Wednesday, complaining of a "two-tiered justice system that Republicans have been dealing with throughout the Biden administration.”

The Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-subpoena-trump-special-counsel-3d91f095101d4eca30c22582341f8422">previously reported</a>&nbsp;that Pence was ready to contest Smith's demand for his appearance on constitutional grounds. He argues that because he was serving in his role as president of the Senate on Jan. 6, he is protected under the Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-georgia-presidential-atlanta-donald-trump-aebfa86c7c9912c3a720f52ae60a1c87">“speech or debate” clause</a>&nbsp;from being forced to testify. That provision is intended to protect members of Congress from questioning about official legislative acts.

A spokesman for Smith declined to comment. The Justice Department, which had earlier declined to comment on Pence’s subpoena, is expected to oppose the former vice president's efforts and make the case that his cooperation is essential.

Pence noted during an earlier stop in Minneapolis that he had written and spoken extensively about Trump's efforts to pressure him to overturn the results of the election —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-275776015398">something he did not have power to do</a>&nbsp;— and has repeatedly denounced Trump's efforts as "reckless" and “dangerous.”

“I have nothing to hide and I’m proud of what we accomplished. But for me, this is a moment where you have to decide where you stand, and I stand on the Constitution of the United States,” he said.

He added that he expects Trump to try to assert&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-michael-pence-disaster-planning-and-response-district-of-columbia-donald-trump-58ce3d93baf0c4e1a9567c4a563b658f">executive privilege</a>&nbsp;to block his own testimony. "That’s not my fight. My fight is on the separation of powers,” Pence said.

Pence made his remarks after headlining events in Minneapolis and Cedar Rapids aimed at rallying conservative parents opposed to transgender-affirming policies in public schools. The events came as a federal appeals court was expected to hear oral arguments in St. Paul, Minnesota, in a case brought last summer by a national group representing parents of students in Linn-Mar Community School District in Marion, Iowa, near Cedar Rapids.

Parents Defending Education is trying to overturn a policy adopted by the school board last year allowing transgender students to request a gender support plan to begin socially transitioning at school without the permission of their parents. Pence’s advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, has filed an amicus brief in the case, as have dozens of mostly conservative groups and several conservative states.

“Across the country, parents' rights are being trampled by a politically correct nanny state that’s ruining our schools and telling our parents that they have no role in their children’s most important decisions,” Pence said in Minneapolis, where he argued that parents must be informed of such decisions. “You do not craft a gender transition plan for my child without my knowledge or consent," he said.

Though Pence says he has yet to make a decision about 2024, he has visited leadoff Iowa several times since the 2020 election. And his Wednesday event had the look and feel of a campaign stop, held in a pizza restaurant where candidates commonly hold court with voters.

Pence is hoping to draw the support of social and religious conservatives in what could be a crowded primary contest that already includes Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who formally launched her campaign Wednesday.

To that end, Pence's advocacy group launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-pence-south-carolina-2022-midterm-elections-minnesota-iowa-343e37e3967e52e66b21461401973cf8">new campaign last week on the schools issue</a>, a flashpoint for many on the right, as Haley and other presidential prospects, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, prepare for their own visits to the state this month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676509558775.png" alt="Pence in Iowa Wednesday said he was prepared to take the case “as far as it needs to go, if needs be to the Supreme Court of the United States.”-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Pence in Iowa Wednesday said he was prepared to take the case “as far as it needs to go, if needs be to the Supreme Court of the United States.”-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that he will challenge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-michael-pence-donald-trump-subpoenas-866034edd3ce3dfbc722b31a3d0e465f">a subpoena by the special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing Trump investigations to compel his testimony before a grand jury — pursuing it to the Supreme Court if necessary.Special counsel Jack Smith, appointed by the Justice Department, is investigating efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump spent the days before Jan. 6, 2021, aggressively pressuring Pence to reject the outcome, even though Pence had no power to do so. Pence was at the U.S. Capitol presiding over a joint session of Congress as Trump's supporters violently stormed the building that day.“Let me first be clear: I’m going to fight the Biden DOJ subpoena for me to appear before the grand jury because I believe it’s unconstitutional and it’s unprecedented," Pence told reporters in Iowa, the state that will hold the first contest of the 2024 nominating sequence.“Never before in American history has a vice president been summoned to appear in court to testify against the president with whom they serve," he said.Pence said he was prepared to take the case “as far as it needs to go, if needs be to the Supreme Court of the United States.”The posture marks an aggressive turn for Pence, who has been laying the groundwork for a likely presidential run. While it remains unclear whether Pence will succeed in delaying or limiting the scope of his testimony, the posture gives the former vice president a new opening to attack the Justice Department, which has become increasingly unpopular among conservatives, in part due to Trump's constant attacks.Indeed, Pence repeatedly criticized the department Wednesday, complaining of a "two-tiered justice system that Republicans have been dealing with throughout the Biden administration.”The Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-subpoena-trump-special-counsel-3d91f095101d4eca30c22582341f8422">previously reported</a>&nbsp;that Pence was ready to contest Smith's demand for his appearance on constitutional grounds. He argues that because he was serving in his role as president of the Senate on Jan. 6, he is protected under the Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-georgia-presidential-atlanta-donald-trump-aebfa86c7c9912c3a720f52ae60a1c87">“speech or debate” clause</a>&nbsp;from being forced to testify. That provision is intended to protect members of Congress from questioning about official legislative acts.A spokesman for Smith declined to comment. The Justice Department, which had earlier declined to comment on Pence’s subpoena, is expected to oppose the former vice president's efforts and make the case that his cooperation is essential.Pence noted during an earlier stop in Minneapolis that he had written and spoken extensively about Trump's efforts to pressure him to overturn the results of the election —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-275776015398">something he did not have power to do</a>&nbsp;— and has repeatedly denounced Trump's efforts as "reckless" and “dangerous.”“I have nothing to hide and I’m proud of what we accomplished. But for me, this is a moment where you have to decide where you stand, and I stand on the Constitution of the United States,” he said.He added that he expects Trump to try to assert&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-michael-pence-disaster-planning-and-response-district-of-columbia-donald-trump-58ce3d93baf0c4e1a9567c4a563b658f">executive privilege</a>&nbsp;to block his own testimony. "That’s not my fight. My fight is on the separation of powers,” Pence said.Pence made his remarks after headlining events in Minneapolis and Cedar Rapids aimed at rallying conservative parents opposed to transgender-affirming policies in public schools. The events came as a federal appeals court was expected to hear oral arguments in St. Paul, Minnesota, in a case brought last summer by a national group representing parents of students in Linn-Mar Community School District in Marion, Iowa, near Cedar Rapids.Parents Defending Education is trying to overturn a policy adopted by the school board last year allowing transgender students to request a gender support plan to begin socially transitioning at school without the permission of their parents. Pence’s advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, has filed an amicus brief in the case, as have dozens of mostly conservative groups and several conservative states.“Across the country, parents' rights are being trampled by a politically correct nanny state that’s ruining our schools and telling our parents that they have no role in their children’s most important decisions,” Pence said in Minneapolis, where he argued that parents must be informed of such decisions. “You do not craft a gender transition plan for my child without my knowledge or consent," he said.Though Pence says he has yet to make a decision about 2024, he has visited leadoff Iowa several times since the 2020 election. And his Wednesday event had the look and feel of a campaign stop, held in a pizza restaurant where candidates commonly hold court with voters.Pence is hoping to draw the support of social and religious conservatives in what could be a crowded primary contest that already includes Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who formally launched her campaign Wednesday.To that end, Pence's advocacy group launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-pence-south-carolina-2022-midterm-elections-minnesota-iowa-343e37e3967e52e66b21461401973cf8">new campaign last week on the schools issue</a>, a flashpoint for many on the right, as Haley and other presidential prospects, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, prepare for their own visits to the state this month.

Pence says he will fight subpoena as far as Supreme Court

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Adam Kellogg was a nerdy 16-year-old preparing to board a flight from Kansas City to Florida for a space and science camp trip to Cape Canaveral when security held him up for 30 minutes because his driver's license identified him as female.

Three years later, the University of Kansas student's driver's license identifies him as male, but legislative proposals in at least eight states could prevent transgender people like him from changing their driver's licenses and birth certificates. The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature is considering a bill that would define male and female in state law and base people's legal gender identities on their anatomy at birth.

Nationally, conservatives are pushing dozens of proposals in statehouses to restrict transgender athletes,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-tennessee-state-government-bill-lee-gender-979fc5aaccd5bf6476fcc6942506f6c8">gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-arkansas-children-9ba1ccb44ede4668b10ceb26182cbf24">drag shows.</a>&nbsp;But in measures like Kansas', LGBTQ-rights advocates see a new, sweeping effort to erase trans people's legal existence, deny recognition to nonbinary or gender-fluid people and ignore those who are intersex — people born with genitalia, reproductive organs, chromosomes and/or hormone levels that don’t fit typical definitions for male or female.

“Something that's really important for me is being able to just simply exist as a man, not even think about it," Kellogg said this week while visiting the Statehouse with other transgender people and LGBTQ advocates.

Kellogg laughs now about his experience at the airport, but it was no laughing matter at the time. Back then, he bound the breasts that he'd later have surgically removed and, “They thought I had a bomb strapped to me.”

Doctors say reproductive anatomy at birth doesn’t always align with strict definitions of sex and that binary views of sexual identity can miss biological nuances.

LGBTQ-rights advocates say having a driver's license or birth certificate confirm a transgender person's identity is important by itself but also can prevent daily hassles or harassment. They believe Kansas' bill also would prevent transgender people from using restrooms and other facilities aligned with their gender identities.

Republicans have put transgender issues at the center of their agenda, a tactic that many observers see as an effort to keep conservative voters energized and to push voters sympathetic to Democrats on other issues into the GOP camp. In the Republican response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders derided the Democratic president as “the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is.”

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/sb180_00_0000.pdf">The Kansas bill</a>&nbsp;had a hearing Wednesday before the state Senate's health committee and is similar to a Republican measure&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-resolution/1136/text">introduced in the U.S. House</a>&nbsp;last year. Oklahoma's Legislature is weighing a similar proposal, while&nbsp;<a href="https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/documents/23-3027-03000.pdf">North Dakota lawmakers</a>&nbsp;are considering a resolution that would urge public schools and other “public entities” to distinguish “between the sexes according to biological sex at birth.” Mississippi lawmakers had three proposals like Kansas', but none advanced this year.

New Hampshire, Tennessee and Texas also have proposals to define male and female in state law, and a Republican lawmaker in South Carolina has proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/276.htm">an amendment to the state's constitution</a>&nbsp;to declare that legally, a person's gender would be based on anatomy at birth, not a “psychological, chosen, or subjective experience of gender.”

“They’re afraid of what they don’t understand," said Luc Bensimon, a transgender man who serves on Topeka's anti-discrimination commission and is an activist for the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition. ”Anything or any lifestyle that is different or outside the norm, they’re not OK."

The Kansas measure would declare that legally, “sex” means “biological” sex, “either male or female, at birth.” It says females have a reproductive system “developed to produce ova,” while males have one “developed to fertilize the ova.”

It's not clear how far the measure will go, though the state Senate committee could vote on it next week. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/topeka-kansas-legislature-libraries-9ffb07cf3b25faf848dda6d78bff8856">twice vetoed bills</a>&nbsp;to ban transgender athletes from girls' and women's club, K-12 and college sports, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-city-state-government-gender-7f11f63aaf26e193aa9d30d935747002">she opposes restricting</a>&nbsp;gender affirming care.

Supporters of the Kansas bill contend that they're responding to parents and others who are uncomfortable with “biological men” or “biological boys” sharing spaces meant for women and girls — especially bathrooms and locker rooms but also prisons and domestic violence shelters.

They also are trying to frame the debate as protecting the rights of “biological” women, and the Kansas bill is called, “The Women's Bill of Rights.”

In Kansas, Republican state Sen. Renee Erickson, the Senate health committee's vice chair, asked it to sponsor the measure. A former college basketball player, she has also led the push to restrict transgender athletes. She said defining male and female in state law would not prevent anyone from “living how they choose to live."

In North Dakota, Republican state Rep. SuAnn Olson decried what she called “radical gender ideologues” and said they want to redefine womanhood as a subjective state. In Kansas, conservative activist and Statehouse lobbyist Phillip Cosby called young people's increased identity as transgender or nonbinary “a social contagion.”

Dr. Kristyn Brandi, a fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said she doesn’t automatically assume female reproductive anatomy means female gender.

“It’s helpful to know what anatomical structures are present when I’m doing an exam, when I’m recommending tests,” she said. “I often ask my patient, how do they like to be identified? And I go with that.’’

Brandi also said proclaiming that sex is binary ignores that intersex conditions and differences in gender identity exist.

At birth, external genital anatomy can be ambiguous, sometimes because of differences in sex development, or intersex conditions, which affect about 1% of the population.

Intersex conditions can involve external genitals that don’t match a person’s sex chromosomes. In one condition, testes develop internally but external genitals and breasts appear female. These babies are usually assigned female at birth, but their bodies will never produce eggs.

“There’s variation,’’ Brandi said. “Not everyone fits into this exact box.’’

Jae Moyer, a Kansas City-area activist, has a driver's license and birth certificate identifying them as male, although they identify as nonbinary. The Kansas measure feels designed to force them into “molds that I personally don’t fit into.”

“They want to make sure that they’re taking every avenue possible to just erase who I am as a person,” Moyer said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676486487293.png" alt="Members of the Kansas House LGBTQ caucus Rep. Brandon Woodard,&nbsp;Rep. Heather Meyer and Rep. Susan Ruiz-photo courtesy Rep. Woodard" />
 <figcaption>Members of the Kansas House LGBTQ caucus Rep. Brandon Woodard,&nbsp;Rep. Heather Meyer and Rep. Susan Ruiz-photo courtesy Rep. Woodard</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Adam Kellogg was a nerdy 16-year-old preparing to board a flight from Kansas City to Florida for a space and science camp trip to Cape Canaveral when security held him up for 30 minutes because his driver's license identified him as female.Three years later, the University of Kansas student's driver's license identifies him as male, but legislative proposals in at least eight states could prevent transgender people like him from changing their driver's licenses and birth certificates. The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature is considering a bill that would define male and female in state law and base people's legal gender identities on their anatomy at birth.Nationally, conservatives are pushing dozens of proposals in statehouses to restrict transgender athletes,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-tennessee-state-government-bill-lee-gender-979fc5aaccd5bf6476fcc6942506f6c8">gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-arkansas-children-9ba1ccb44ede4668b10ceb26182cbf24">drag shows.</a>&nbsp;But in measures like Kansas', LGBTQ-rights advocates see a new, sweeping effort to erase trans people's legal existence, deny recognition to nonbinary or gender-fluid people and ignore those who are intersex — people born with genitalia, reproductive organs, chromosomes and/or hormone levels that don’t fit typical definitions for male or female.“Something that's really important for me is being able to just simply exist as a man, not even think about it," Kellogg said this week while visiting the Statehouse with other transgender people and LGBTQ advocates.Kellogg laughs now about his experience at the airport, but it was no laughing matter at the time. Back then, he bound the breasts that he'd later have surgically removed and, “They thought I had a bomb strapped to me.”Doctors say reproductive anatomy at birth doesn’t always align with strict definitions of sex and that binary views of sexual identity can miss biological nuances.LGBTQ-rights advocates say having a driver's license or birth certificate confirm a transgender person's identity is important by itself but also can prevent daily hassles or harassment. They believe Kansas' bill also would prevent transgender people from using restrooms and other facilities aligned with their gender identities.Republicans have put transgender issues at the center of their agenda, a tactic that many observers see as an effort to keep conservative voters energized and to push voters sympathetic to Democrats on other issues into the GOP camp. In the Republican response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders derided the Democratic president as “the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is.”<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/sb180_00_0000.pdf">The Kansas bill</a>&nbsp;had a hearing Wednesday before the state Senate's health committee and is similar to a Republican measure&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-resolution/1136/text">introduced in the U.S. House</a>&nbsp;last year. Oklahoma's Legislature is weighing a similar proposal, while&nbsp;<a href="https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/documents/23-3027-03000.pdf">North Dakota lawmakers</a>&nbsp;are considering a resolution that would urge public schools and other “public entities” to distinguish “between the sexes according to biological sex at birth.” Mississippi lawmakers had three proposals like Kansas', but none advanced this year.New Hampshire, Tennessee and Texas also have proposals to define male and female in state law, and a Republican lawmaker in South Carolina has proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/276.htm">an amendment to the state's constitution</a>&nbsp;to declare that legally, a person's gender would be based on anatomy at birth, not a “psychological, chosen, or subjective experience of gender.”“They’re afraid of what they don’t understand," said Luc Bensimon, a transgender man who serves on Topeka's anti-discrimination commission and is an activist for the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition. ”Anything or any lifestyle that is different or outside the norm, they’re not OK."The Kansas measure would declare that legally, “sex” means “biological” sex, “either male or female, at birth.” It says females have a reproductive system “developed to produce ova,” while males have one “developed to fertilize the ova.”It's not clear how far the measure will go, though the state Senate committee could vote on it next week. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/topeka-kansas-legislature-libraries-9ffb07cf3b25faf848dda6d78bff8856">twice vetoed bills</a>&nbsp;to ban transgender athletes from girls' and women's club, K-12 and college sports, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-city-state-government-gender-7f11f63aaf26e193aa9d30d935747002">she opposes restricting</a>&nbsp;gender affirming care.Supporters of the Kansas bill contend that they're responding to parents and others who are uncomfortable with “biological men” or “biological boys” sharing spaces meant for women and girls — especially bathrooms and locker rooms but also prisons and domestic violence shelters.They also are trying to frame the debate as protecting the rights of “biological” women, and the Kansas bill is called, “The Women's Bill of Rights.”In Kansas, Republican state Sen. Renee Erickson, the Senate health committee's vice chair, asked it to sponsor the measure. A former college basketball player, she has also led the push to restrict transgender athletes. She said defining male and female in state law would not prevent anyone from “living how they choose to live."In North Dakota, Republican state Rep. SuAnn Olson decried what she called “radical gender ideologues” and said they want to redefine womanhood as a subjective state. In Kansas, conservative activist and Statehouse lobbyist Phillip Cosby called young people's increased identity as transgender or nonbinary “a social contagion.”Dr. Kristyn Brandi, a fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said she doesn’t automatically assume female reproductive anatomy means female gender.“It’s helpful to know what anatomical structures are present when I’m doing an exam, when I’m recommending tests,” she said. “I often ask my patient, how do they like to be identified? And I go with that.’’Brandi also said proclaiming that sex is binary ignores that intersex conditions and differences in gender identity exist.At birth, external genital anatomy can be ambiguous, sometimes because of differences in sex development, or intersex conditions, which affect about 1% of the population.Intersex conditions can involve external genitals that don’t match a person’s sex chromosomes. In one condition, testes develop internally but external genitals and breasts appear female. These babies are usually assigned female at birth, but their bodies will never produce eggs.“There’s variation,’’ Brandi said. “Not everyone fits into this exact box.’’Jae Moyer, a Kansas City-area activist, has a driver's license and birth certificate identifying them as male, although they identify as nonbinary. The Kansas measure feels designed to force them into “molds that I personally don’t fit into.”“They want to make sure that they’re taking every avenue possible to just erase who I am as a person,” Moyer said.

States' push to define sex decried as erasing trans people

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fans lined up Wednesday to get a prime spot in downtown Kansas City as the city celebrates the Kansas City Chiefs' second&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;championship in four NFL seasons.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes were riding in double-decker buses, joined by teammates, family and Chiefs officials, in front of fans standing up to 10 people deep as the parade rolled down a main downtown street on the way to a rally at Union Station.

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt stood in one of the buses holding the Lombardi Trophy, denoting the Chiefs 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Sunday. He later handed it off to players, who passed it around.

Most schools, many businesses and some government offices in the Kansas City metro area <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/e93ae229-1f73-4427-8e55-f5c93e6ac7d2">and beyond</a> were closed to allow fans to enjoy the festivities.

Fans were generally happy and in good spirits while waiting in long lines for food trucks, merchandise trucks and, of course, portable toilets. Some people slept overnight to get prime spots across from Union Station.

But Shellie Diehl, 46, of Kansas City, was seated along a street about a block from Union Station as the crowd became more congested in front of the rally site. She was joined by her 8-year-old daughter, Skyler; 16-year-old daughter, Taylor; and a friend.

Diehl said she came to the Chiefs parade in 2020 and decided to have mother-daughter time while celebrating Skyler's first parade.

“The last one was so much fun, we decided we had to come to this one,” Diehl said. “We're big Chiefs fans, and we wanted to celebrate a great day with the community.”

After decades of championship drought, the city is gaining experience with victory parades. Four seasons ago, the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers for the team’s first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. That followed the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015, the city’s first baseball championship in 30 years.

Some fans admitted that Kansas City might be getting a little spoiled.

“Kind of getting used to it, but that's OK,” said Liz Barber, 50, of Shawnee, Kansas. “It is good.”

David Cordray, 38, from Kansas City, said “We had a 50-year-drought, so it's about time we had our own dynasty.”

A group of about 25 Chiefs fans from Kansas City who arrived about 6 a.m. cooked up a breakfast feast, complete with corn on the cob, bacon and potatoes and all the trimmings — and they had steaks ready for later in the day.

Dominic Zamora, 18, of Kansas City, said the friends arrived about 6 a.m. to set up their tailgate, continuing a tradition whenever he and his friends attend Chiefs games. He said he expects to return for more parades in the coming years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676490712326.png" alt="Photos courtesy KSHB TV" />
 <figcaption>Photos courtesy KSHB TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fans lined up Wednesday to get a prime spot in downtown Kansas City as the city celebrates the Kansas City Chiefs' second&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;championship in four NFL seasons.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676491690062.png" alt="Chiefs coach Andy Reid acknowledges the crowd during the Union Station portion of the celebration-image courtesy KSHB TV" />
 <figcaption>Chiefs coach Andy Reid acknowledges the crowd during the Union Station portion of the celebration-image courtesy KSHB TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes were riding in double-decker buses, joined by teammates, family and Chiefs officials, in front of fans standing up to 10 people deep as the parade rolled down a main downtown street on the way to a rally at Union Station.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492639699.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Chiefs owner Clark Hunt stood in one of the buses holding the Lombardi Trophy, denoting the Chiefs 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Sunday. He later handed it off to players, who passed it around.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676491667840.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Most schools, many businesses and some government offices in the Kansas City metro area <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/e93ae229-1f73-4427-8e55-f5c93e6ac7d2">and beyond</a> were closed to allow fans to enjoy the festivities.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It is an honor to be in the Victory Parade today in <a href="https://twitter.com/KansasCity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KansasCity</a> to continue to celebrate our <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chiefs</a>. It’s always a good day to be part of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChiefsKingdom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChiefsKingdom</a>! <a href="https://t.co/G9X6XnbUpg">pic.twitter.com/G9X6XnbUpg</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1625936503871250434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Fans were generally happy and in good spirits while waiting in long lines for food trucks, merchandise trucks and, of course, portable toilets. Some people slept overnight to get prime spots across from Union Station.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492703682.png" alt="photo courtesy KSHB TV" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KSHB TV</figcaption>
 </figure>But Shellie Diehl, 46, of Kansas City, was seated along a street about a block from Union Station as the crowd became more congested in front of the rally site. She was joined by her 8-year-old daughter, Skyler; 16-year-old daughter, Taylor; and a friend.Diehl said she came to the Chiefs parade in 2020 and decided to have mother-daughter time while celebrating Skyler's first parade.“The last one was so much fun, we decided we had to come to this one,” Diehl said. “We're big Chiefs fans, and we wanted to celebrate a great day with the community.”After decades of championship drought, the city is gaining experience with victory parades. Four seasons ago, the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers for the team’s first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. That followed the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015, the city’s first baseball championship in 30 years.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676487685664.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Some fans admitted that Kansas City might be getting a little spoiled.“Kind of getting used to it, but that's OK,” said Liz Barber, 50, of Shawnee, Kansas. “It is good.”David Cordray, 38, from Kansas City, said “We had a 50-year-drought, so it's about time we had our own dynasty.”A group of about 25 Chiefs fans from Kansas City who arrived about 6 a.m. cooked up a breakfast feast, complete with corn on the cob, bacon and potatoes and all the trimmings — and they had steaks ready for later in the day.Dominic Zamora, 18, of Kansas City, said the friends arrived about 6 a.m. to set up their tailgate, continuing a tradition whenever he and his friends attend Chiefs games. He said he expects to return for more parades in the coming years.“With Mahomes, there's more to come,” Zamora said. “It's going to be fun, and I'm excited to show up."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676477589551.png" alt="photo 10 a.m. from the KC Police helicopter&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>photo 10 a.m. from the KC Police helicopter&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Manuel Palacio, 48, of Kansas City, was dressed in a cow's suit in a tribute to Kansas City's “Cowtown” nickname. He said he was a longtime Buffalo Bills fan who converted to the Chiefs in about 1993 after losing a bet with a Chiefs fan.“I had to convert,” Palacio said. “It's like being an Oakland Raiders fan; at some point you have to cheer for the team who keeps winning,” he said, laughing.Palacio said he and his extended family spend the season watching the Chiefs games at home and decided “when — not if — we win the Super Bowl, we're going to go down there and have some fun, celebrate together.”Officials began planning the parade weeks before the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">defeated the Eagles</a>&nbsp;on a field goal with 8 seconds remaining in the game.Kansas City police said about 675 law enforcement officers from more than 20 agencies, along with fire departments and transportation leaders, were fanned out along the route for the anticipated crowd.The City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee agreed to earmark $750,000 for parade-related expenses, and Mayor Quinton Lucas estimated overtime costs for police and firefighters would total more than $1.5 million.The the Kansas City Sports Commission is expected to contribute another $1 million in private donations, and the Jackson County Legislature voted to add $75,000.---------KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fans lined up Wednesday morning to get a prime spot in downtown Kansas City as the city celebrates the Kansas City Chiefs' second&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;championship in two years.<a href="https://www.visitkc.com/chiefs/champions-parade-live">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;the parade that begins at noon courtesy Visit KC and KSHB-TVChiefs coach Andy Reid and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes will join teammates, family and Chiefs officials as they ride in open-air vehicles down a main downtown streets to a rally at Union Station.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Celebration ready ❤️💛 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChiefsKingdom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChiefsKingdom</a> <a href="https://t.co/HL1ErOwoPW">pic.twitter.com/HL1ErOwoPW</a>&mdash; Union Station KC (@UnionStationKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnionStationKC/status/1625850767293947904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Most schools, many businesses and some government offices in the Kansas City metro area were closed to allow fans to enjoy the festivities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676467622628.png" alt="Fans along the parade route 7:30a.m. Wednesday-image courtesy KSHB" />
 <figcaption>Fans along the parade route 7:30a.m. Wednesday-image courtesy KSHB</figcaption>
 </figure>Fans endured a chilly wind as the sun came up to wait in long lines for food trucks and merchandise trucks, and even at a tent where a barber was giving free haircuts. Tents of those who slept overnight to get a prime spot dotted the area around Union Station, and some people were fast asleep hours before the parade began.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Good morning, Chiefs Kingdom! Who’s ready to celebrate our SUPER BOWL CHAMPION Kansas City Chiefs! Parking is currently still available in Union Station’s West Yards Garage with access from Pershing and Broadway. <a href="https://t.co/3gDvXjQQty">pic.twitter.com/3gDvXjQQty</a>&mdash; Union Station KC (@UnionStationKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnionStationKC/status/1625830189266796545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A group of about 25 Chiefs fans from Kansas City cooked up a breakfast feast, complete with corn on the cob, bacon and potatoes and all the trimmings — and they had steaks ready for later in the day.Dominic Zamora, 18, of Kansas City, said the friends arrived about 6 a.m. to set up their tailgate, continuing a tradition whenever he and his friends attend Chiefs games. He said he expects to return for more parades in the coming years.“With Mahomes, there's more to come,” Zamora said. “It's going to be fun, and I'm excited to show up."Manuel Palacio, 48, of Kansas City, was dressed in a cow's suit in a tribute to Kansas City's “Cowtown” nickname.He said he was a longtime Buffalo Bills fan who converted to the Chiefs in about 1993 after losing a bet with a Chiefs fan.“I had to convert,” Palacio said. “It's like being an Oakland Raiders fan; at some point you have to cheer for the team who keeps winning,” he said, laughing.Palacio said he and his extended family spend the season watching the Chiefs games at home and decided “when — not if — we win the Super Bowl, we're going to go down there and have some fun, celebrate together.”Officials began planning the parade even before the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35</a>&nbsp;Sunday on a field goal with 8 seconds remaining in the game.Officials said that more than 19 local and area law enforcement agencies, along with fire departments and transportation leaders are ready for the anticipated crowd.The City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee agreed to earmark $750,000 for parade-related expenses, and Mayor Quinton Lucas estimated overtime costs for police and firefighters would total more than $1.5 million.The the Kansas City Sports Commission is expected to contribute another $1 million in private donations, and the Jackson County Legislature voted to add $75,000.After decades of championship drought, the city is gaining experience with victory parades. Two years ago, the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-49ers-sports-general-super-bowl-football-ap-top-news-8f6178fbfa3844677b5fc374bc53b80f">defeated the San Francisco 49ers</a>&nbsp;for the team's first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. That followed the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015, the city's first baseball championship in 30 years.---------KANSAS CITY(AP) — Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to line the streets of downtown Kansas City on Wednesday as the city celebrates the Kansas City Chiefs' second&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;championship in two years.<a href="https://www.visitkc.com/chiefs/champions-parade-live">Click here to watch</a> the parade that begins at noon. The rally at Union Station&nbsp;and the National&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theworldwar.org/">WWI Museum and Memorial north lawn&nbsp;</a>will begin at approximately 1:45p.m and last approximately 1 hour.Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be joined by teammates, family and Chiefs officials as they ride in open-air vehicles down one of the city’s main downtown streets.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Good morning, Chiefs Kingdom! Who’s ready to celebrate our SUPER BOWL CHAMPION Kansas City Chiefs! Parking is currently still available in Union Station’s West Yards Garage with access from Pershing and Broadway. <a href="https://t.co/3gDvXjQQty">pic.twitter.com/3gDvXjQQty</a>&mdash; Union Station KC (@UnionStationKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnionStationKC/status/1625830189266796545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Most schools, many businesses and some government offices in the Kansas City metro area will be closed so people can celebrate. The event starts at noon and will end with a victory rally at the city’s Union Station.Officials began planning the parade even before the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35</a>&nbsp;Sunday on a field goal with 8 seconds remaining in the game.Officials said that more than 19 local and area law enforcement agencies, along with fire departments and transportation leaders are ready for the anticipated crowd.The City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee agreed to earmark $750,000 for parade-related expenses, and Mayor Quinton Lucas estimated overtime costs for police and firefighters would total more than $1.5 million.The the Kansas City Sports Commission is expected to contribute another $1 million in private donations, and the Jackson County Legislature voted to add $75,000.After decades of championship drought, the city is gaining experience with victory parades. Two years ago, the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-49ers-sports-general-super-bowl-football-ap-top-news-8f6178fbfa3844677b5fc374bc53b80f">defeated the San Francisco 49ers</a>&nbsp;for the team's first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. That followed the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015, the city's first baseball championship in 30 years.