TOKYO (AP) — An alternate on the United States women’s gymnastics team has tested positive for COVID-19 in a training camp in Japan, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said Monday.

The USOPC did not say if Olympic champion Simone Biles or any of the other favorites to win the team gold were isolated because of contact tracing. The positive test was the latest in growing line of daily reports of athletes and others testing positive at the pandemic-delayed Olympics. The unnamed gymnast was the first American.

“The health and safety of our athletes, coaches and staff is our top priority. We can confirm that an alternate on the women’s artistic gymnastics team tested positive for COVID-19,” the USOPC statement said. “In alignment with local rules and protocols, the athlete has been transferred to a hotel to quarantine. Out of respect for the individual’s privacy, we cannot provide more information at this time.”

The four alternates — Leanne Wong, Kayla DiCello, Emma Malabuyo and Kara Eaker — traveled to Japan with the six-woman U.S. delegation of Biles, Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee, MyKayla Skinner and Jade Carey.

The alternates are rooming and training with the alternates. While they have been traveling to training along with the actual team, they have been split into groups, with the team working on one apparatus while the alternates work on another.

The U.S. women’s team dealt with what USA Gymnastics called a “false positive” over the weekend for an unidentified athlete but the ensuing test results for the athlete were negative, according to the organization.

Biles, the defending world champion, and the rest of the regular team have been vaccinated.

The Games are set to open on Friday with a state of emergency in force in Tokyo, which means almost all venues will be without any fans with new cases rising in the capital. The women’s gymnastic team begins competing on Sunday.

The U.S. officials said the test took place when the team was training just outside Tokyo in Inzai City. Team members arrived last week for the camp to great fanfare at Narita airport.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Monday reported 727 new cases in the capital. It is the 30th straight day that cases were higher than the previous week. The cases last Monday were 502.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585573932484.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOKYO (AP) — An alternate on the United States women’s gymnastics team has tested positive for COVID-19 in a training camp in Japan, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said Monday.The USOPC did not say if Olympic champion Simone Biles or any of the other favorites to win the team gold were isolated because of contact tracing. The positive test was the latest in growing line of daily reports of athletes and others testing positive at the pandemic-delayed Olympics. The unnamed gymnast was the first American.“The health and safety of our athletes, coaches and staff is our top priority. We can confirm that an alternate on the women’s artistic gymnastics team tested positive for COVID-19,” the USOPC statement said. “In alignment with local rules and protocols, the athlete has been transferred to a hotel to quarantine. Out of respect for the individual’s privacy, we cannot provide more information at this time.”The four alternates — Leanne Wong, Kayla DiCello, Emma Malabuyo and Kara Eaker — traveled to Japan with the six-woman U.S. delegation of Biles, Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee, MyKayla Skinner and Jade Carey.The alternates are rooming and training with the alternates. While they have been traveling to training along with the actual team, they have been split into groups, with the team working on one apparatus while the alternates work on another.The U.S. women’s team dealt with what USA Gymnastics called a “false positive” over the weekend for an unidentified athlete but the ensuing test results for the athlete were negative, according to the organization.Biles, the defending world champion, and the rest of the regular team have been vaccinated.The Games are set to open on Friday with a state of emergency in force in Tokyo, which means almost all venues will be without any fans with new cases rising in the capital. The women’s gymnastic team begins competing on Sunday.The U.S. officials said the test took place when the team was training just outside Tokyo in Inzai City. Team members arrived last week for the camp to great fanfare at Narita airport.The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Monday reported 727 new cases in the capital. It is the 30th straight day that cases were higher than the previous week. The cases last Monday were 502.___

American gymnastics alternate tests positive at Olympics

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. surgeon general said Sunday that he's concerned about what lies ahead with cases of COVID-19 increasing in every state, millions still unvaccinated and a highly contagious virus variant spreading rapidly.

Noting that nearly all coronavirus deaths now are among the tens of millions of people who haven't received shots, despite widespread vaccine availability, Dr. Vivek Murthy painted an unsettling picture of what the future could hold.

“I am worried about what is to come because we are seeing increasing cases among the unvaccinated in particular. And while, if you are vaccinated, you are very well protected against hospitalization and death, unfortunately that is not true if you are not vaccinated," Murthy said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

U.S. cases of COVID-19 last week increased by 17,000 nationwide over a 14-day period for the first time since late fall, and an increase in death historically follows a spike in illness. Much of the worsening problem is being driven by the delta variant first identified in India, that has since hit the United Kingdom and other countries, said Murthy.

While U.S. case numbers and hospitalizations are still far below levels from the worst of the pandemic early this year, Murthy said the worsening situation shows the need to convince more people to get inoculations.

“It is our fastest, most effective way out of this pandemic,” he said.

About 186 million Americans have received at least one shot, but another 90 million eligible Americans haven't. Officials are trying to overcome a refusal among some — particularly conservative, rural white people — to get vaccinated, but it's unclear how to do that. So, for the meantime at least, some places have reverted to health precautions that had been cast aside.

In Las Vegas, some resorts and casinos are again requiring employees to wear masks in response to a recommendation issued by health officials amid rising COVID-19 case rates in Nevada; it ranks fifth among U.S. states for the most new cases per capita over the last two weeks.

Los Angeles County late Saturday reinstated rules&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-government-and-politics-los-angeles-coronavirus-pandemic-2a84d86250b0dcd3befa6b4bd266f5b6">requiring everyone to wear masks inside public buildings</a>. Around San Francisco's Bay Area, which has some of the highest vaccination rates in California, health officials have recommended that everyone again wear masks inside public buildings, regardless of their vaccination status.

But in conservative Alabama, where COVID-19 hospitalizations have more than doubled in a month and only about a third of the population is fully vaccinated, officials have refused to reinstitute statewide health rules or use gimmicks such as lotteries to boost immunizations.

“I think the best thing for us to do is just encourage everyone to use their common sense and practice personal responsibility and make themselves and their families safe,” Gov. Kay Ivey told reporters last week.

Cases also are on the rise in Springfield, Missouri, where Mayor Ken McClure told CBS-TV's “Face the Nation” that false information about the pandemic was hampering the fight to get people vaccinated.

“I think we are seeing a lot spread through social media as people are talking about fears which they have, health related fears, what it might do to them later on in their lives, what might be contained in the vaccinations,” he said.

Murthy, the surgeon general, said “not nearly enough” progress was being made in the fight against misinformation spread through social media about COVID-19 and vaccines. Individuals, not just platforms such as Facebook, need to combat the problem, he said.

"Each of us has a decision that we make every time we post something on social media, and I’m asking people to pause and to see, is a source accurate? Is it coming from a scientifically credible authority? And if it’s not, or if you’re not sure, don’t share,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626690532293.png" alt="Murthy said the worsening situation shows the need to convince more people to get inoculations.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Murthy said the worsening situation shows the need to convince more people to get inoculations.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. surgeon general said Sunday that he's concerned about what lies ahead with cases of COVID-19 increasing in every state, millions still unvaccinated and a highly contagious virus variant spreading rapidly.Noting that nearly all coronavirus deaths now are among the tens of millions of people who haven't received shots, despite widespread vaccine availability, Dr. Vivek Murthy painted an unsettling picture of what the future could hold.“I am worried about what is to come because we are seeing increasing cases among the unvaccinated in particular. And while, if you are vaccinated, you are very well protected against hospitalization and death, unfortunately that is not true if you are not vaccinated," Murthy said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”U.S. cases of COVID-19 last week increased by 17,000 nationwide over a 14-day period for the first time since late fall, and an increase in death historically follows a spike in illness. Much of the worsening problem is being driven by the delta variant first identified in India, that has since hit the United Kingdom and other countries, said Murthy.While U.S. case numbers and hospitalizations are still far below levels from the worst of the pandemic early this year, Murthy said the worsening situation shows the need to convince more people to get inoculations.“It is our fastest, most effective way out of this pandemic,” he said.About 186 million Americans have received at least one shot, but another 90 million eligible Americans haven't. Officials are trying to overcome a refusal among some — particularly conservative, rural white people — to get vaccinated, but it's unclear how to do that. So, for the meantime at least, some places have reverted to health precautions that had been cast aside.In Las Vegas, some resorts and casinos are again requiring employees to wear masks in response to a recommendation issued by health officials amid rising COVID-19 case rates in Nevada; it ranks fifth among U.S. states for the most new cases per capita over the last two weeks.Los Angeles County late Saturday reinstated rules&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-government-and-politics-los-angeles-coronavirus-pandemic-2a84d86250b0dcd3befa6b4bd266f5b6">requiring everyone to wear masks inside public buildings</a>. Around San Francisco's Bay Area, which has some of the highest vaccination rates in California, health officials have recommended that everyone again wear masks inside public buildings, regardless of their vaccination status.But in conservative Alabama, where COVID-19 hospitalizations have more than doubled in a month and only about a third of the population is fully vaccinated, officials have refused to reinstitute statewide health rules or use gimmicks such as lotteries to boost immunizations.“I think the best thing for us to do is just encourage everyone to use their common sense and practice personal responsibility and make themselves and their families safe,” Gov. Kay Ivey told reporters last week.Cases also are on the rise in Springfield, Missouri, where Mayor Ken McClure told CBS-TV's “Face the Nation” that false information about the pandemic was hampering the fight to get people vaccinated.“I think we are seeing a lot spread through social media as people are talking about fears which they have, health related fears, what it might do to them later on in their lives, what might be contained in the vaccinations,” he said.Murthy, the surgeon general, said “not nearly enough” progress was being made in the fight against misinformation spread through social media about COVID-19 and vaccines. Individuals, not just platforms such as Facebook, need to combat the problem, he said."Each of us has a decision that we make every time we post something on social media, and I’m asking people to pause and to see, is a source accurate? Is it coming from a scientifically credible authority? And if it’s not, or if you’re not sure, don’t share,” he said.

Surgeon General worried as COVID cases increase across U.S

KANSAS CITY – A Merriam Village, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court July 14 to sexually assaulting two young children to produce child pornography, and to receiving and distributing child pornography, after his wife pleaded guilty to the same charges last month, according to the United State's Attorney.

Mark John Millman, 37, a citizen of Great Britain and a legal alien resident, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of the sexual exploitation of minors and one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.

Millman’s wife and co-defendant, Tara Sau Millman, 41, pleaded guilty to the same charges on June 30, 2021. Both Mark and Tara Millman have been in federal custody since their arrest and remain detained without bail.

The Millmans admitted that Mark used Tara’s iPhone to record video of her performing a sexual act on a 2-year-old child, identified in court documents as John Doe. Mark Millman admitted that he sexually assaulted a 4-year-old child victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, which was also recorded on video. Investigators found images and videos of child pornography on the Millmans’ iPhones, including files that depicted the Millmans sexually assaulting both child victims.

Mark and Tara Millman each admitted they used a social media application to share child pornography over the internet, and that they viewed child pornography together.

The investigation began when agents with Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego, California, began investigating users of a cloud storage platform (identified in court documents as “Cloud Platform A”). The cloud platform provides encrypted, cloud-based services that enable private, secure online storage, communication, and collaboration for business and individuals. During the investigation, the agents accessed a weblink to an encrypted chat room with approximately 145 registered users. Files containing child pornography were uploaded/posted by participants in the chat room. Many users were actively involved in the distribution of child pornography. The child pornography distributed within the chat included 129 video files, 324 image files, and 43 cloud-storage weblinks which contained files of child pornography.

Mark Millman’s email was identified among the registered users of the chat room, and a search warrant was executed at the Millmans’ residence in Taney County, Mo., on Jan. 28, 2021.

Under federal statutes, Mark and Tara Millman each are subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 50 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled upon the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626654082643.png" alt="Mark John Millman" />
 <figcaption>Mark John Millman</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY – A Merriam Village, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court July 14 to sexually assaulting two young children to produce child pornography, and to receiving and distributing child pornography, after his wife pleaded guilty to the same charges last month, according to the United State's Attorney.Mark John Millman, 37, a citizen of Great Britain and a legal alien resident, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of the sexual exploitation of minors and one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626654060794.png" alt="Tara Sau Millman" />
 <figcaption>Tara Sau Millman</figcaption>
 </figure>Millman’s wife and co-defendant, Tara Sau Millman, 41, pleaded guilty to the same charges on June 30, 2021. Both Mark and Tara Millman have been in federal custody since their arrest and remain detained without bail.The Millmans admitted that Mark used Tara’s iPhone to record video of her performing a sexual act on a 2-year-old child, identified in court documents as John Doe. Mark Millman admitted that he sexually assaulted a 4-year-old child victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, which was also recorded on video. Investigators found images and videos of child pornography on the Millmans’ iPhones, including files that depicted the Millmans sexually assaulting both child victims.Mark and Tara Millman each admitted they used a social media application to share child pornography over the internet, and that they viewed child pornography together.The investigation began when agents with Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego, California, began investigating users of a cloud storage platform (identified in court documents as “Cloud Platform A”). The cloud platform provides encrypted, cloud-based services that enable private, secure online storage, communication, and collaboration for business and individuals. During the investigation, the agents accessed a weblink to an encrypted chat room with approximately 145 registered users. Files containing child pornography were uploaded/posted by participants in the chat room. Many users were actively involved in the distribution of child pornography. The child pornography distributed within the chat included 129 video files, 324 image files, and 43 cloud-storage weblinks which contained files of child pornography.Mark Millman’s email was identified among the registered users of the chat room, and a search warrant was executed at the Millmans’ residence in Taney County, Mo., on Jan. 28, 2021.Under federal statutes, Mark and Tara Millman each are subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 50 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled upon the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

Missouri husband, wife admit sexually assaulting two young children 

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A girl from Missouri was hospitalized after a large bolt and nut crashed through the windshield of the vehicle she was riding in.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said the incident happened in west Lawrence around 5 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of U.S. Highway 40 and Bob Billings Parkway.

Fifteen-year-old Linzie Sanders, of Willard, Missouri, was struck in the face by the bolt. The Highway Patrol did not say in the accident report where the nut and bolt came from.

None of the four other people riding in the 2017 Honda Pilot was injured when the bolt crashed through the windshield. The vehicle was driven by 45-year-old Andrew Sears and the passengers were 43-year-old Amanda Sue Sanders, 19-year-old Lauren Sears and 10-year-old Dylan Sears. Everyone in the vehicle is from Willard, Missouri.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A girl from Missouri was hospitalized after a large bolt and nut crashed through the windshield of the vehicle she was riding in.The Kansas Highway Patrol said the incident happened in west Lawrence around 5 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of U.S. Highway 40 and Bob Billings Parkway.Fifteen-year-old Linzie Sanders, of Willard, Missouri, was struck in the face by the bolt. The Highway Patrol did not say in the accident report where the nut and bolt came from.None of the four other people riding in the 2017 Honda Pilot was injured when the bolt crashed through the windshield. The vehicle was driven by 45-year-old Andrew Sears and the passengers were 43-year-old Amanda Sue Sanders, 19-year-old Lauren Sears and 10-year-old Dylan Sears. Everyone in the vehicle is from Willard, Missouri.

Girl hurt when bolt crashes through SUV's windshield on Kan. highway

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman whose family went on an Iowa amusement ride shortly before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adventureland-raging-river-accident-273dbf870b1cbab93f92ea1df8bff413">an accident</a>&nbsp;that killed an 11-year-old boy and critically injured his brother said Friday her boat also had problems floating properly and felt unsafe.

Amber Estrada, 31, said the boat carrying her and her husband, their three children and nephew at times struck and dragged along the bottom of the manmade river on the Raging River ride at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-iowa-accidents-d69eb5812a5c1938d5e3666ff3a86e36">Adventureland Park</a>&nbsp;in Altoona on July 3.

She said the boat made a grinding sound that she could feel under her feet. Estrada, of Eagle Grove, Iowa, said her husband told her that he felt scared and wanted to get off the ride.

The couple made the decision to lean forward in their seats with their children because they were worried it would tip over, she said. They were able to reach the end of the ride safely, but “unfortunately that did happen to another family,” she said.

A boat carrying six members of the Jaramillo family of Marion, Iowa capsized minutes later, trapping 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo and his now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ia-state-wire-iowa-travel-lifestyle-accidents-aeffcb63bef90c63920b207c1bffa227">16-year-old brother David</a>&nbsp;in their seatbelts underneath the water for several minutes. Michael died of his injuries the next day.

A funeral service for the boy, who was going into sixth grade, is scheduled for Saturday in Des Moines. His family remembered him in an obituary as a “fun, loving child,” who loved playing with his older brothers, cousins and friends and liked to play the violin and read the bible.

David remains in critical condition at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, unable to talk, family attorney Ryan Best said. Their father, also David Jaramillo, underwent a four-hour surgery Tuesday to repair broken bones in his shoulder, he said.

Iowa inspectors are looking into what caused the boat to flip, and the ride has been shut down until the investigation is complete and hazards are corrected.

A state report dated July 4 said that the Jaramillos’ boat “immediately began taking on water as the ride began” and touched the bottom of the trough multiple times. Inspectors said they saw scrape marks on the trough’s concrete bottom and gouges in wooden poles along the ride from boat contact.

The boat eventually overturned during the ride’s final curve, according to the report, first reported by The Des Moines Register.

Estrada said she saw the Jaramillos in line a few places behind her and witnessed emergency responders rushing to the scene after her family got off. She said she did not report her family’s negative experience to Adventureland staff because her autistic son was upset about a stolen toy, and they left.

Estrada said she has been on the ride many times and never experienced such problems. She said she later reached out to the Jaramillo family through their pastor, and shared her experience with their lawyer Thursday.

“My heart breaks for them,” she said. “I think something needs to be done about this ride.”

Best said Estrada’s account was consistent with what happened to the Jaramillos and suggests “the boats were not properly floating on the day of the incident.”

“There was a broader problem,” he said.

Adventureland attorney Guy Cook said Friday that the park was unaware of Estrada’s claims and that the investigation to date has “found no such narrative.”

“The senior operators have no reports of any difficulties with the boats from guests prior to the tragic accident,” he said. “Nevertheless, all information and reports will be considered as the investigation continues.”

The state report notes that the park’s maintenance staff took the Jaramillos’ boat and others out of service earlier that day “due to rafts on boats deflating.” Workers replaced the deflated bladders in the rafts before putting the boats back into service.

Cook said each boat’s raft has eight bladders, and they are monitored and routinely taken out so they can be refilled with air or replaced if they get deflated.

“There’s nothing unusual about that,” he said.

He noted that the Jaramillos’ boat was found after the accident with only one of its bladders deflated and an “exterior indentation in the outer rubber tube.” He said the boats, which weigh 1,700 pounds and have a heavy metal plate on the bottom for ballast, would not flip due to a single deflated bladder and it’s not clear when its deflation occurred.

“If you stay in your seat and the weight is evenly distributed regardless of whether a bladder is fully inflated, it’s very difficult to see how a 1,700-pound boat flips over,” he said. “That’s why it would appear there was some other factor at work on this day.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625693882938.png" alt="First responders at the park on the night of the accident -Photo courtesy KCCI" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the park on the night of the accident -Photo courtesy KCCI</figcaption>
 </figure>IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman whose family went on an Iowa amusement ride shortly before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adventureland-raging-river-accident-273dbf870b1cbab93f92ea1df8bff413">an accident</a>&nbsp;that killed an 11-year-old boy and critically injured his brother said Friday her boat also had problems floating properly and felt unsafe.Amber Estrada, 31, said the boat carrying her and her husband, their three children and nephew at times struck and dragged along the bottom of the manmade river on the Raging River ride at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-iowa-accidents-d69eb5812a5c1938d5e3666ff3a86e36">Adventureland Park</a>&nbsp;in Altoona on July 3.She said the boat made a grinding sound that she could feel under her feet. Estrada, of Eagle Grove, Iowa, said her husband told her that he felt scared and wanted to get off the ride.The couple made the decision to lean forward in their seats with their children because they were worried it would tip over, she said. They were able to reach the end of the ride safely, but “unfortunately that did happen to another family,” she said.A boat carrying six members of the Jaramillo family of Marion, Iowa capsized minutes later, trapping 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo and his now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ia-state-wire-iowa-travel-lifestyle-accidents-aeffcb63bef90c63920b207c1bffa227">16-year-old brother David</a>&nbsp;in their seatbelts underneath the water for several minutes. Michael died of his injuries the next day.A funeral service for the boy, who was going into sixth grade, is scheduled for Saturday in Des Moines. His family remembered him in an obituary as a “fun, loving child,” who loved playing with his older brothers, cousins and friends and liked to play the violin and read the bible.David remains in critical condition at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, unable to talk, family attorney Ryan Best said. Their father, also David Jaramillo, underwent a four-hour surgery Tuesday to repair broken bones in his shoulder, he said.Iowa inspectors are looking into what caused the boat to flip, and the ride has been shut down until the investigation is complete and hazards are corrected.A state report dated July 4 said that the Jaramillos’ boat “immediately began taking on water as the ride began” and touched the bottom of the trough multiple times. Inspectors said they saw scrape marks on the trough’s concrete bottom and gouges in wooden poles along the ride from boat contact.The boat eventually overturned during the ride’s final curve, according to the report, first reported by The Des Moines Register.Estrada said she saw the Jaramillos in line a few places behind her and witnessed emergency responders rushing to the scene after her family got off. She said she did not report her family’s negative experience to Adventureland staff because her autistic son was upset about a stolen toy, and they left.Estrada said she has been on the ride many times and never experienced such problems. She said she later reached out to the Jaramillo family through their pastor, and shared her experience with their lawyer Thursday.“My heart breaks for them,” she said. “I think something needs to be done about this ride.”Best said Estrada’s account was consistent with what happened to the Jaramillos and suggests “the boats were not properly floating on the day of the incident.”“There was a broader problem,” he said.Adventureland attorney Guy Cook said Friday that the park was unaware of Estrada’s claims and that the investigation to date has “found no such narrative.”“The senior operators have no reports of any difficulties with the boats from guests prior to the tragic accident,” he said. “Nevertheless, all information and reports will be considered as the investigation continues.”The state report notes that the park’s maintenance staff took the Jaramillos’ boat and others out of service earlier that day “due to rafts on boats deflating.” Workers replaced the deflated bladders in the rafts before putting the boats back into service.Cook said each boat’s raft has eight bladders, and they are monitored and routinely taken out so they can be refilled with air or replaced if they get deflated.“There’s nothing unusual about that,” he said.He noted that the Jaramillos’ boat was found after the accident with only one of its bladders deflated and an “exterior indentation in the outer rubber tube.” He said the boats, which weigh 1,700 pounds and have a heavy metal plate on the bottom for ballast, would not flip due to a single deflated bladder and it’s not clear when its deflation occurred.“If you stay in your seat and the weight is evenly distributed regardless of whether a bladder is fully inflated, it’s very difficult to see how a 1,700-pound boat flips over,” he said. “That’s why it would appear there was some other factor at work on this day.”

Woman says her boat had problems before Iowa ride accident

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado father has been convicted of murder and child abuse in the 2012 disappearance of his 13-year-old son. 

A jury on Friday convicted 59-year-old Mark Redwine in the death of his son Dylan.&nbsp;

The boy was reported missing in November 2012 while he was on a court-ordered Thanksgiving visit to his father's home outside the small city of Durango. 

Dylan's remains were found a few miles from his father’s home in 2013. His skull was found nearly three years later. 

Prosecutors argued that Mark Redwine killed Dylan after they argued over embarrassing photos of the elder Redwine. 

Defense attorneys said Dylan disappeared while his father was running errands. They suggested he was killed by a wild animal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626611673680.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — A Colorado father has been convicted of murder and child abuse in the 2012 disappearance of his 13-year-old son. A jury on Friday convicted 59-year-old Mark Redwine in the death of his son Dylan.&nbsp;The boy was reported missing in November 2012 while he was on a court-ordered Thanksgiving visit to his father's home outside the small city of Durango. Dylan's remains were found a few miles from his father’s home in 2013. His skull was found nearly three years later. Prosecutors argued that Mark Redwine killed Dylan after they argued over embarrassing photos of the elder Redwine. Defense attorneys said Dylan disappeared while his father was running errands. They suggested he was killed by a wild animal.

Colorado father convicted of killing his 13-year-old son

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/17/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-daca-and-legislation-for-dreamers/" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;said Saturday that the Justice Department intends to appeal a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-f01fc0f485a8983b5f072e7af324c43f">federal judge’s ruling</a>&nbsp;deeming illegal an Obama-era program that has protected hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation and he renewed his calls for Congress to create a permanent solution.

He said in a statement that&nbsp;<a href="https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/gov.uscourts.txsd_.1501682.575.0.pdf" target="_blank">Friday’s decision</a>&nbsp;was “deeply disappointing,” and although the judge’s order did not affect those already covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, it ”relegates hundreds of thousands of young immigrants to an uncertain future.”

The program has allowed thousands of young people who were brought illegally into the United States as children, or overstayed visas, to live, work and remain in the country. Many of the recipients, commonly known as “Dreamers,” have now been in the U.S. for a decade or longer.

But Texas and eight other states sued to halt DACA, arguing that President Barack Obama lacked the power to create the program because it circumvented Congress. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Houston agreed, and while his ruling left the program intact for existing recipients, it barred the government from approving any new applications.

In his statement, Biden urged Congress to move forward with legislation to permanently protect those covered by the program. “Only Congress can ensure a permanent solution by granting a path to citizenship for Dreamers that will provide the certainty and stability that these young people need and deserve,” the president said.

“I have repeatedly called on Congress to pass the American Dream and Promise Act, and I now renew that call with the greatest urgency,” he said. “It is my fervent hope that through reconciliation or other means, Congress will finally provide security to all Dreamers, who have lived too long in fear.”

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said, "The decision is a victory for the rule of law that reaffirms no president has the unilateral authority to rewrite or suspend our immigration laws. Even President Obama stated this obvious fact on numerous occasions until, capitulating to political pressure, he purported to create DACA by executive action. As I have said many times during the course of this lengthy litigation, DACA recipients are a sympathetic group with significant public support and a compelling argument that their circumstance is unique. But, because of President Obama’s unlawful executive action, for the past decade DACA recipients have lived under the cruel illusion of a program that in fact never could lawfully exist."

The House approved legislation in March creating a pathway toward citizenship for those impacted, but the measure has stalled in the Senate. Immigration advocates hope to include a provision in sweeping budget legislation Democrats want to pass this year, but it’s unclear whether that language will survive.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592492596183.png" alt="Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said, "The decision is a victory for the rule of law that reaffirms no president has the unilateral authority to rewrite or suspend our immigration laws.-photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said, "The decision is a victory for the rule of law that reaffirms no president has the unilateral authority to rewrite or suspend our immigration laws.-photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/17/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-daca-and-legislation-for-dreamers/" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;said Saturday that the Justice Department intends to appeal a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-f01fc0f485a8983b5f072e7af324c43f">federal judge’s ruling</a>&nbsp;deeming illegal an Obama-era program that has protected hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation and he renewed his calls for Congress to create a permanent solution.He said in a statement that&nbsp;<a href="https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/gov.uscourts.txsd_.1501682.575.0.pdf" target="_blank">Friday’s decision</a>&nbsp;was “deeply disappointing,” and although the judge’s order did not affect those already covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, it ”relegates hundreds of thousands of young immigrants to an uncertain future.”The program has allowed thousands of young people who were brought illegally into the United States as children, or overstayed visas, to live, work and remain in the country. Many of the recipients, commonly known as “Dreamers,” have now been in the U.S. for a decade or longer.But Texas and eight other states sued to halt DACA, arguing that President Barack Obama lacked the power to create the program because it circumvented Congress. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Houston agreed, and while his ruling left the program intact for existing recipients, it barred the government from approving any new applications.In his statement, Biden urged Congress to move forward with legislation to permanently protect those covered by the program. “Only Congress can ensure a permanent solution by granting a path to citizenship for Dreamers that will provide the certainty and stability that these young people need and deserve,” the president said.“I have repeatedly called on Congress to pass the American Dream and Promise Act, and I now renew that call with the greatest urgency,” he said. “It is my fervent hope that through reconciliation or other means, Congress will finally provide security to all Dreamers, who have lived too long in fear.”Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said, "The decision is a victory for the rule of law that reaffirms no president has the unilateral authority to rewrite or suspend our immigration laws. Even President Obama stated this obvious fact on numerous occasions until, capitulating to political pressure, he purported to create DACA by executive action. As I have said many times during the course of this lengthy litigation, DACA recipients are a sympathetic group with significant public support and a compelling argument that their circumstance is unique. But, because of President Obama’s unlawful executive action, for the past decade DACA recipients have lived under the cruel illusion of a program that in fact never could lawfully exist."The House approved legislation in March creating a pathway toward citizenship for those impacted, but the measure has stalled in the Senate. Immigration advocates hope to include a provision in sweeping budget legislation Democrats want to pass this year, but it’s unclear whether that language will survive.

Biden pledges appeal after judge ends DACA immigration program

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Kansas, say two men found near a crashed vehicle were homicide victims.

Police were called just before 5 a.m. Friday and found two men unconscious and not breathing near a vehicle that appeared to have crashed into a parked vehicle in an industrial area.

Officers determined that the men, described as Hispanic and in their 20s, had been shot. Their names have not been released. No arrests have been made.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police in Kansas City, Kansas, say two men found near a crashed vehicle were homicide victims.Police were called just before 5 a.m. Friday and found two men unconscious and not breathing near a vehicle that appeared to have crashed into a parked vehicle in an industrial area.Officers determined that the men, described as Hispanic and in their 20s, had been shot. Their names have not been released. No arrests have been made.

Police in Kansas investigate deaths of 2 men found in car

HARVEY COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just before 2p.m. Saturday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Lincoln MKZ driven by Denice K. Bina, 65, Marion was southbound on Interstate 135 two miles south of Newton.

The car left the roadway, traveled into the median and came back onto the roadway. The driver overcorrected and the car traveled across the median and into the northbound lanes.&nbsp; A 2019 Freightliner semi driven by Evan Matthew Newman, 25, Udall struck the Lincoln.

Bina and a passenger Raymond C. Bina, 71, Marion, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to the&nbsp; Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center.

Newman was not injured. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626576396845.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the fatal Saturday crash -photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the fatal Saturday crash -photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just before 2p.m. Saturday in Harvey County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Lincoln MKZ driven by Denice K. Bina, 65, Marion was southbound on Interstate 135 two miles south of Newton.The car left the roadway, traveled into the median and came back onto the roadway. The driver overcorrected and the car traveled across the median and into the northbound lanes.&nbsp; A 2019 Freightliner semi driven by Evan Matthew Newman, 25, Udall struck the Lincoln.Bina and a passenger Raymond C. Bina, 71, Marion, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to the&nbsp; Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center.Newman was not injured. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kan. couple killed after wrong-way I-135 crash

SALINE COUNTY —Investigations by the I-135/I-70 Drug Task Force helped officers make several recent arrests, seize multiple drug-related items and cash.

Since February, the task force has been conducting drug distribution investigations of individuals in Salina, according to a media release.

During the course of the investigations, the Task Force identified three individuals who were conducting ongoing drug distribution from residences in Salina.

Through information uncovered during the investigations, the task force was able to secure search warrants for three locations in Salina.

On July 8, the task force served a search warrant at a residence in the 1100 block of N. Ninth Street in Salina and seized more than five ounces of cocaine, More than three grams of psilocybin mushroom, More than $21,000 in cash, A .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and more than 20 grams of marijuana and THC gummies

According to information from the task force, arrests are pending in this investigation.

On Tuesday, the task force served a search warrant at 924 E. Kirwin Avenue and seized more than one pound of THC wax, more than $1,300 in cash, An AR-15 rifle, a 2005 BMW 325i and More than a pound of marijuana

Two people were arrested in connection to this search warrant, the task force noted.

Oscar Lopez-Garcia, 21, of Salina was arrested on requested charges that include Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Felony possession of drug paraphernalia, Drug tax stamp violation, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Criminal possession of a firearm.

Antonio Lopez, 22, of Salina was arrested on requested charges that include Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Felony possession of drug paraphernalia, Drug tax stamp violation, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Possession of drug proceeds.

On Thursday, the Salina Police Department served a search warrant at 627 Washington Street in Salina for the task force.&nbsp; and seized More than three grams of psilocybin mushrooms, More than $15,000 in cash, A Glock 9mm handgun with three magazines (two 33-round extended) and More than two pounds of marijuana

Zachary D. Swarts, 18, was arrested in connection to that search warrant on&nbsp; requested charges of Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Felony possession of drug paraphernalia, Drug tax stamp violation, Possession of drug paraphernalia Possession of drug proceeds and Possession of marijuana.

SALINE COUNTY —Investigations by the I-135/I-70 Drug Task Force helped officers make several recent arrests, seize multiple drug-related items and cash.Since February, the task force has been conducting drug distribution investigations of individuals in Salina, according to a media release.During the course of the investigations, the Task Force identified three individuals who were conducting ongoing drug distribution from residences in Salina.Through information uncovered during the investigations, the task force was able to secure search warrants for three locations in Salina.On July 8, the task force served a search warrant at a residence in the 1100 block of N. Ninth Street in Salina and seized more than five ounces of cocaine, More than three grams of psilocybin mushroom, More than $21,000 in cash, A .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and more than 20 grams of marijuana and THC gummies<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626458455519.png" alt="Items seized at the first house. Photos courtesy&nbsp;I-135/I-70 Drug Task Force" />
 <figcaption>Items seized at the first house. Photos courtesy&nbsp;I-135/I-70 Drug Task Force</figcaption>
 </figure>According to information from the task force, arrests are pending in this investigation.On Tuesday, the task force served a search warrant at 924 E. Kirwin Avenue and seized more than one pound of THC wax, more than $1,300 in cash, An AR-15 rifle, a 2005 BMW 325i and More than a pound of marijuana<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626458542721.png" alt="Items seized at the second house" />
 <figcaption>Items seized at the second house</figcaption>
 </figure>Two people were arrested in connection to this search warrant, the task force noted.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626269118486.jpeg" alt="Oscar Lopez-Garcia Photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Oscar Lopez-Garcia Photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>Oscar Lopez-Garcia, 21, of Salina was arrested on requested charges that include Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Felony possession of drug paraphernalia, Drug tax stamp violation, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Criminal possession of a firearm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626269000252.jpeg" alt="Antonio Lopez photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Antonio Lopez photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Antonio Lopez, 22, of Salina was arrested on requested charges that include Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Felony possession of drug paraphernalia, Drug tax stamp violation, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Possession of drug proceeds.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626458750073.png" alt="Items seized at third house. Photo Saline Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Items seized at third house. Photo Saline Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday, the Salina Police Department served a search warrant at 627 Washington Street in Salina for the task force.&nbsp; and seized More than three grams of psilocybin mushrooms, More than $15,000 in cash, A Glock 9mm handgun with three magazines (two 33-round extended) and More than two pounds of marijuana<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626436843243.jpeg" alt="Zachary Swarts. Photos Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Zachary Swarts. Photos Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>Zachary D. Swarts, 18, was arrested in connection to that search warrant on&nbsp; requested charges of Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Felony possession of drug paraphernalia, Drug tax stamp violation, Possession of drug paraphernalia Possession of drug proceeds and Possession of marijuana.

Drug task force finds cash, guns and makes 3 arrests

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Four endangered indigo snakes are the newest babies at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo &amp; Aquarium, marking a first-time birth of the species at the zoo. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the snakes made their appearance Wednesday and Thursday. 

Eastern indigos are native to the southeastern U.S. and are considered the largest non-venomous snake in the country. Some reach up to 8½ feet in length. 

Once they are able to feed on their own, the snakes will be moved to a habitat visible to the public.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626556927581.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Four endangered indigo snakes are the newest babies at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo &amp; Aquarium, marking a first-time birth of the species at the zoo. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the snakes made their appearance Wednesday and Thursday. Eastern indigos are native to the southeastern U.S. and are considered the largest non-venomous snake in the country. Some reach up to 8½ feet in length. Once they are able to feed on their own, the snakes will be moved to a habitat visible to the public.

Endangered snakes born at Omaha zoo

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Approvals for companies to drill for oil and gas on U.S. public lands are on pace this year to reach their highest level since George W. Bush was president, underscoring President Joe Biden’s reluctance to more forcefully curb petroleum production in the face of industry and Republican resistance.

The Interior Department approved about 2,500 permits to drill on public and tribal lands in the first six months of the year, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data. That includes more than 2,100 drilling approvals since Biden took office January 20.

New Mexico and Wyoming had the largest number of approvals. Montana, Colorado and Utah also had hundreds each.

Biden campaigned last year on a pledge to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-fact-check-joe-biden-donald-trump-pennsylvania-fa798602a357d0f4a765739e36f4f82b">end new drilling on federal lands&nbsp;</a>to rein in climate-changing emissions. His pick to oversee those lands, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, was an adamant opponent of drilling on federal lands while in Congress and a co-sponsor of the liberal Green New Deal.

But the steps taken by the administration to date on fossil fuels are more modest, including a temporary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-climate-climate-change-environment-energy-and-the-environment-71001caf45220548deb26343d3889816">suspension on new oil and gas leases</a>&nbsp;on federal lands that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-climate-change-environment-and-nature-business-9751c4909a8b1baba28f3bcff9d5fa6e">a judge blocked last month</a>, blocked petroleum sales in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alaska-arctic-wildlife-refuge-oil-gas-drilling-biden-b9f20088957d42e99b791ff94169198f">the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-alberta-2fbcce48372f5c29c3ae6f6f93907a6d">cancellation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline&nbsp;</a>from Canada.

Because vast fossil fuel reserves already are under lease, those actions did nothing to slow drilling on public lands and waters that account for about a quarter of U.S. oil production.

Further complicating Biden’s climate agenda is a recent rise in gasoline prices to $3 a gallon ($0.79 a liter) or more in many parts of the country. Any attempt to limit petroleum production could push gasoline prices even higher and risk souring economic recovery from the pandemic.

“He’s walking the tightrope,” said energy industry analyst Parker Fawcett with S&amp;P Global Platts, noting that Keystone and ANWR came without huge political costs because they were aimed at future projects.

“Those easy wins don’t necessarily have huge impacts on the market today,” Fawcett said. “He is definitely backing off taking drastic action that would rock the market. ... What you’re going to see is U.S. oil production is going to continue to rebound.”

Haaland has sought to tamp down Republican concern over potential constraints on the industry. She said during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing last month that there was no “plan right now for a permanent ban.”

“Gas and oil production will continue well into the future and we believe that is the reality of our economy and the world we’re living in,” Haaland told Colorado Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn.

Interior officials declined further comment on permits issued under Biden.

Under former President Donald Trump, a staunch industry supporter, the Interior Department reduced the time it takes to review drilling applications from a year or more in some cases, to just a few months.

Companies rushed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-climate-wyoming-coronavirus-pandemic-a917f51126fa2641e0713573424b2b11">lock in drilling rights</a>&nbsp;before the new administration. And in December, Trump’s last full month in office, agency officials approved more than 800 permits — far more than any prior month during his presidency.

The pace dropped when Biden first took office, under a temporary order that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-billings-a3a37acf2fce55449b704b01badc1f67">elevated review of permits to senior administration officials</a>. Approvals have since rebounded to a level that exceeds monthly numbers seen through most of Trump’s presidency.

The data obtained by AP from a government database is subject to change because of delays in transmitting data from Interior field offices to headquarters.

If the recent trends continue, the Interior Department could issue close to 6,000 permits by the end of the year. The last time so many were issued was fiscal year 2008, amid an oil boom driven by crude prices that reached an all-time high of $140 per barrel that June.

Decisions on about 4,700 drilling applications remained pending as of June 1, which means approvals are likely to continue at a heavy pace as officials work through a backlog left over from the Trump administration, said Fawcett, the industry analyst.

Environmentalists who share the administration’s goals on climate have expressed growing frustration in recent weeks as the prospects for a ban on drilling fade. They contend the administration has authority to take executive action that would stop further permits from being issued, but has caved to Republican pressure.

“Every indication is they have no plans of actually fulfilling their campaign promise,” said Mitch Jones, policy director for the environmental group Food &amp; Water Watch. “The result of that will be continued and increasing development of fossil fuels on public lands, which means more climate change.”

The administration’s defenders say that it’s been forced to be pragmatic in the face of a Senate split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans and questions over whether the government could legally stop drilling on leases already sold to companies.

That’s meant forgoing a drilling ban in hopes of getting bipartisan support for a huge infrastructure package that includes clean energy incentives and other measures to address global warming.

“It’s the long game. ... You’ve got to appease some of those oil and gas state senators,” said Jim Lyons, who was deputy assistant Interior secretary under Barack Obama and is now an environmental consultant. “It means jobs back home for thousands of workers. You can’t just pull the plug overnight.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1567081192406.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Approvals for companies to drill for oil and gas on U.S. public lands are on pace this year to reach their highest level since George W. Bush was president, underscoring President Joe Biden’s reluctance to more forcefully curb petroleum production in the face of industry and Republican resistance.The Interior Department approved about 2,500 permits to drill on public and tribal lands in the first six months of the year, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data. That includes more than 2,100 drilling approvals since Biden took office January 20.New Mexico and Wyoming had the largest number of approvals. Montana, Colorado and Utah also had hundreds each.Biden campaigned last year on a pledge to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-fact-check-joe-biden-donald-trump-pennsylvania-fa798602a357d0f4a765739e36f4f82b">end new drilling on federal lands&nbsp;</a>to rein in climate-changing emissions. His pick to oversee those lands, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, was an adamant opponent of drilling on federal lands while in Congress and a co-sponsor of the liberal Green New Deal.But the steps taken by the administration to date on fossil fuels are more modest, including a temporary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-climate-climate-change-environment-energy-and-the-environment-71001caf45220548deb26343d3889816">suspension on new oil and gas leases</a>&nbsp;on federal lands that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-climate-change-environment-and-nature-business-9751c4909a8b1baba28f3bcff9d5fa6e">a judge blocked last month</a>, blocked petroleum sales in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alaska-arctic-wildlife-refuge-oil-gas-drilling-biden-b9f20088957d42e99b791ff94169198f">the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-alberta-2fbcce48372f5c29c3ae6f6f93907a6d">cancellation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline&nbsp;</a>from Canada.Because vast fossil fuel reserves already are under lease, those actions did nothing to slow drilling on public lands and waters that account for about a quarter of U.S. oil production.Further complicating Biden’s climate agenda is a recent rise in gasoline prices to $3 a gallon ($0.79 a liter) or more in many parts of the country. Any attempt to limit petroleum production could push gasoline prices even higher and risk souring economic recovery from the pandemic.“He’s walking the tightrope,” said energy industry analyst Parker Fawcett with S&amp;P Global Platts, noting that Keystone and ANWR came without huge political costs because they were aimed at future projects.“Those easy wins don’t necessarily have huge impacts on the market today,” Fawcett said. “He is definitely backing off taking drastic action that would rock the market. ... What you’re going to see is U.S. oil production is going to continue to rebound.”Haaland has sought to tamp down Republican concern over potential constraints on the industry. She said during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing last month that there was no “plan right now for a permanent ban.”“Gas and oil production will continue well into the future and we believe that is the reality of our economy and the world we’re living in,” Haaland told Colorado Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn.Interior officials declined further comment on permits issued under Biden.Under former President Donald Trump, a staunch industry supporter, the Interior Department reduced the time it takes to review drilling applications from a year or more in some cases, to just a few months.Companies rushed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-climate-wyoming-coronavirus-pandemic-a917f51126fa2641e0713573424b2b11">lock in drilling rights</a>&nbsp;before the new administration. And in December, Trump’s last full month in office, agency officials approved more than 800 permits — far more than any prior month during his presidency.The pace dropped when Biden first took office, under a temporary order that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-billings-a3a37acf2fce55449b704b01badc1f67">elevated review of permits to senior administration officials</a>. Approvals have since rebounded to a level that exceeds monthly numbers seen through most of Trump’s presidency.The data obtained by AP from a government database is subject to change because of delays in transmitting data from Interior field offices to headquarters.If the recent trends continue, the Interior Department could issue close to 6,000 permits by the end of the year. The last time so many were issued was fiscal year 2008, amid an oil boom driven by crude prices that reached an all-time high of $140 per barrel that June.Decisions on about 4,700 drilling applications remained pending as of June 1, which means approvals are likely to continue at a heavy pace as officials work through a backlog left over from the Trump administration, said Fawcett, the industry analyst.Environmentalists who share the administration’s goals on climate have expressed growing frustration in recent weeks as the prospects for a ban on drilling fade. They contend the administration has authority to take executive action that would stop further permits from being issued, but has caved to Republican pressure.“Every indication is they have no plans of actually fulfilling their campaign promise,” said Mitch Jones, policy director for the environmental group Food &amp; Water Watch. “The result of that will be continued and increasing development of fossil fuels on public lands, which means more climate change.”The administration’s defenders say that it’s been forced to be pragmatic in the face of a Senate split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans and questions over whether the government could legally stop drilling on leases already sold to companies.That’s meant forgoing a drilling ban in hopes of getting bipartisan support for a huge infrastructure package that includes clean energy incentives and other measures to address global warming.“It’s the long game. ... You’ve got to appease some of those oil and gas state senators,” said Jim Lyons, who was deputy assistant Interior secretary under Barack Obama and is now an environmental consultant. “It means jobs back home for thousands of workers. You can’t just pull the plug overnight.”___

US drilling approvals increase despite Biden climate pledge

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drowning in Sedgwick County.

Just before 4p.m. Thursday, deputies were dispatched to a drowning involving a child at a residence in the 20200 block of west 21st Street North, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

During the investigation deputies learned the child accessed the above ground pool in the backyard of the residence without the knowledge of his guardians.

The child, 3-year-old Chasson Carver of Las Vegas, Nevada, died at the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626524644039.png" alt="First responders on the scene Thursday afternoon in Goddard -photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene Thursday afternoon in Goddard -photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drowning in Sedgwick County.Just before 4p.m. Thursday, deputies were dispatched to a drowning involving a child at a residence in the 20200 block of west 21st Street North, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.During the investigation deputies learned the child accessed the above ground pool in the backyard of the residence without the knowledge of his guardians.The child, 3-year-old Chasson Carver of Las Vegas, Nevada, died at the scene.

Sheriff IDs 3-year-old who drowned in pool at Kan. home

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials in Lincoln are defending their actions to remove a homeless encampment that had been set up in a wooded area. 

City officials say concerns from residents nearby prompted an investigation by Lincoln Fire and Rescue and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. 

Jon Carlson, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, told the Lincoln Journal Star that conditions were found to be dangerous for those who were living there. But some homeless advocates say it was unjust to demolish a community people made for themselves. 

About 20 people attended a protest and sought to raise donations to help those affected by the demolition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626530233929.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials in Lincoln are defending their actions to remove a homeless encampment that had been set up in a wooded area. City officials say concerns from residents nearby prompted an investigation by Lincoln Fire and Rescue and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. Jon Carlson, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, told the Lincoln Journal Star that conditions were found to be dangerous for those who were living there. But some homeless advocates say it was unjust to demolish a community people made for themselves. About 20 people attended a protest and sought to raise donations to help those affected by the demolition.

Lincoln officials defend removal of homeless encampment

News Release US Attorney's Office-Omaha

Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Timothy E. Caruso, 45, was found guilty on July 15 after a jury trial in Omaha, Nebraska, on charges of distributing of child pornography and accessing with intent to view child pornography. Caruso faces a sentence of imprisonment of not less than 15 years and up to 40 years.&nbsp; Chief United States District Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. will sentence Caruso on October 8at 11 a.m.

Caruso was on federal supervision after a prior conviction for failing to register as a sex offender. In December 2018, Caruso uploaded an image of child pornography to a private section of Pinterest. Pinterest reported the upload to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The image was traced back to a Google account used by Caruso and sent from an IP address where he was staying. Further investigation discovered Caruso’s search terms indicating an interest in young girls. His messages on Pinterest included that he had lost his child pornography collection and was seeking to trade child pornography and acquire new images.

This case was investigated by&nbsp;the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lecia E. Wright.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1567093537444.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release US Attorney's Office-OmahaActing United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Timothy E. Caruso, 45, was found guilty on July 15 after a jury trial in Omaha, Nebraska, on charges of distributing of child pornography and accessing with intent to view child pornography. Caruso faces a sentence of imprisonment of not less than 15 years and up to 40 years.&nbsp; Chief United States District Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. will sentence Caruso on October 8at 11 a.m.Caruso was on federal supervision after a prior conviction for failing to register as a sex offender. In December 2018, Caruso uploaded an image of child pornography to a private section of Pinterest. Pinterest reported the upload to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The image was traced back to a Google account used by Caruso and sent from an IP address where he was staying. Further investigation discovered Caruso’s search terms indicating an interest in young girls. His messages on Pinterest included that he had lost his child pornography collection and was seeking to trade child pornography and acquire new images.This case was investigated by&nbsp;the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lecia E. Wright.

Nebraska man found guilty on child porn charges

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (AP) — A confrontation between rival motorcycle gangs in a popular Lake of the Ozarks tourist spot has left one man dead and four people injured.

Dan Field, a spokesperson for the city of Lake Ozark said that authorities can't yet say which motorcycle clubs were involved in Thursday night's confrontation. The victims had not been identified Friday.

The shooting occurred around 7:45 p.m. Thursday near Casablanca, a bar and restaurant on the strip of businesses along the road that runs across the Bagnell Dam. A message Casablanca posted on its Facebook page said Thursday was “bike night.”

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/casablancaloz/posts/4184670098234678">The posting&nbsp;</a>called the shooting “an unfortunate event” and "an isolated incident” and said Casablanca's staff was safe.

Another fatal shooting occurred in the resort community on Memorial Day weekend at the Lazy Gators event venue, which is 7 miles west of the Bagnell strip.

Kansas City-based rapper Vonza Watson was shot in the chest during an altercation. No one has been charged with his killing, but the Camden County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is continuing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626524560087.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting Thursday night -photo courtesy KMIZ TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting Thursday night -photo courtesy KMIZ TV</figcaption>
 </figure>LAKE OZARK, Mo. (AP) — A confrontation between rival motorcycle gangs in a popular Lake of the Ozarks tourist spot has left one man dead and four people injured.Dan Field, a spokesperson for the city of Lake Ozark said that authorities can't yet say which motorcycle clubs were involved in Thursday night's confrontation. The victims had not been identified Friday.The shooting occurred around 7:45 p.m. Thursday near Casablanca, a bar and restaurant on the strip of businesses along the road that runs across the Bagnell Dam. A message Casablanca posted on its Facebook page said Thursday was “bike night.”<a href="https://www.facebook.com/casablancaloz/posts/4184670098234678">The posting&nbsp;</a>called the shooting “an unfortunate event” and "an isolated incident” and said Casablanca's staff was safe.Another fatal shooting occurred in the resort community on Memorial Day weekend at the Lazy Gators event venue, which is 7 miles west of the Bagnell strip.Kansas City-based rapper Vonza Watson was shot in the chest during an altercation. No one has been charged with his killing, but the Camden County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is continuing.--------

Biker gang clash at Missouri tourist spot leaves 1 dead, 4 injured

THOMAS COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 3p.m. Friday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by John L. McGuire, 47, Fort Cobb, Oklahoma, was southbound on Kansas 25 two miles north of U.S. 40.

The driver exited on the right while negotiating a curve. The motorcycle collided with Thomas County line sign and rolled an undeterminable amount of times. The motorcycle came to rest in the west ditch.

McGuire was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Baaumann Mortuary. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1559617385052.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>THOMAS COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 3p.m. Friday in Thomas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by John L. McGuire, 47, Fort Cobb, Oklahoma, was southbound on Kansas 25 two miles north of U.S. 40.The driver exited on the right while negotiating a curve. The motorcycle collided with Thomas County line sign and rolled an undeterminable amount of times. The motorcycle came to rest in the west ditch.McGuire was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Baaumann Mortuary. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Man dies after NW Kansas motorcycle accident

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the shooting death of a 40-year-old man at an apartment complex in northwest Omaha. 

The Omaha Police Department said Friday that Julian Lopez was taken into custody without incident. He was booked Friday morning into the Douglas County jail on suspicion of second-degree murder and using a weapon to commit a felony. 

The shooting happened just after 12:30 a.m. Friday. 

Police said that officers were called to a shooting at Tudor Heights Apartments just west of Interstate 680 and north of Maple Street. 

Officers found Jose Valenzuela dead inside an apartment unit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626487569019.png" alt="Lopez" />
 <figcaption>Lopez</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the shooting death of a 40-year-old man at an apartment complex in northwest Omaha. The Omaha Police Department said Friday that Julian Lopez was taken into custody without incident. He was booked Friday morning into the Douglas County jail on suspicion of second-degree murder and using a weapon to commit a felony. The shooting happened just after 12:30 a.m. Friday. Police said that officers were called to a shooting at Tudor Heights Apartments just west of Interstate 680 and north of Maple Street. Officers found Jose Valenzuela dead inside an apartment unit.

Police arrest 23-year-old man over shooting death in Omaha

WASHINGTON — The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. is becoming “a pandemic of the unvaccinated.”

Speaking during a White House briefing, Dr. Rochelle Walensky says cases in the U.S. are up about 70% over the last week, hospital admissions are up 36% and deaths rose by 26%. Nearly all hospital admissions and deaths, she says, are among the unvaccinated.

White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients echoed the pandemic is “one that predominantly threatens unvaccinated people.”

He says the Biden administration expects cases to increase in the weeks ahead because of spread in communities with low vaccination rates. Four states accounted for 40% of new cases last week, with one in five coming from Florida.

But Zients says there are signs that increased cases are driving more people in those communities to seek vaccination at rates faster than the national average.

WASHINGTON — The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. is becoming “a pandemic of the unvaccinated.”Speaking during a White House briefing, Dr. Rochelle Walensky says cases in the U.S. are up about 70% over the last week, hospital admissions are up 36% and deaths rose by 26%. Nearly all hospital admissions and deaths, she says, are among the unvaccinated.White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients echoed the pandemic is “one that predominantly threatens unvaccinated people.”He says the Biden administration expects cases to increase in the weeks ahead because of spread in communities with low vaccination rates. Four states accounted for 40% of new cases last week, with one in five coming from Florida.But Zients says there are signs that increased cases are driving more people in those communities to seek vaccination at rates faster than the national average.___

CDC Director: U.S. becoming pandemic of the unvaccinated

A federal judge in Texas on Friday ruled illegal an Obama-era program that prevents the deportation of some immigrants brought into the United States as children, putting new pressure for action on President Joe Biden and Democrats who control Congress for legislation to safeguard the people known as “Dreamers.”

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen ruled in favor of Texas and eight other conservative states that sued to halt the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides limited protections to about 650,000 people. People who are already enrolled won’t lose protections, but Hanen is barring the approval of any new applications.

On the decision, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said, “Today’s decision is a victory for the rule of law that reaffirms no president has the unilateral authority to rewrite or suspend our immigration laws. Even President Obama stated this obvious fact on numerous occasions until, capitulating to political pressure, he purported to create DACA by executive action. As I have said many times during the course of this lengthy litigation, DACA recipients are a sympathetic group with significant public support and a compelling argument that their circumstance is unique. But, because of President Obama’s unlawful executive action, for the past decade DACA recipients have lived under the cruel illusion of a program that in fact never could lawfully exist."

Hanen’s decision limits the immediate ability of Biden, who pledged during his campaign to protect DACA, to keep the program or something similar in place. His ruling is the second by a federal judge in Texas stopping Biden’s immigration plans, after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-texas-barack-obama-51688033e490d50867e52ef9c8ec574f">court barred enforcement of Biden’s 100-day stay</a>&nbsp;on most deportations. The program has been challenged in court since former President Barack Obama instituted it in June 2012.

In Friday’s ruling, Hanen wrote that the states proved “the hardship that the continued operation of DACA has inflicted on them.”

He continued: “Furthermore, the government has no legitimate interest in the continuation of an illegally implemented program.”

Biden has already proposed legislation that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-legislation-immigration-border-security-2179887c74cfd8d156bbd293abfc9fb0">provide a pathway to citizenship</a>&nbsp;for the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without authorization. He also ordered agencies to make efforts to preserve the program.

Supporters of DACA, including those who argued before Hanen to save it, have said a law passed by Congress is necessary to provide permanent relief. Hanen has said Congress must act if the U.S. wants to provide the protections in DACA to recipients commonly known as “Dreamers.”

The House approved legislation in March creating a pathway toward citizenship for “Dreamers,” but the measure has been stalled in the Senate. Immigration advocates hope to include a provision opening that citizenship doorway in sweeping budget legislation Democrats want to approve this year, but it’s unclear whether that language will survive.

Hanen’s ruling came after a nearly 3 1/2 hour&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-houston-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-program-immigration-us-supreme-court-bc19608c6aa54623902c44ded180d005">court hearing</a>&nbsp;Dec. 22 on DACA’s fate.

The states argued that Obama never had the authority in 2012 to create DACA because it circumvented Congress. The states also argued that the program drains their educational and healthcare resources.

By ASTRID GALVAN, Associated PressA federal judge in Texas on Friday ruled illegal an Obama-era program that prevents the deportation of some immigrants brought into the United States as children, putting new pressure for action on President Joe Biden and Democrats who control Congress for legislation to safeguard the people known as “Dreamers.”U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen ruled in favor of Texas and eight other conservative states that sued to halt the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides limited protections to about 650,000 people. People who are already enrolled won’t lose protections, but Hanen is barring the approval of any new applications.On the decision, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said, “Today’s decision is a victory for the rule of law that reaffirms no president has the unilateral authority to rewrite or suspend our immigration laws. Even President Obama stated this obvious fact on numerous occasions until, capitulating to political pressure, he purported to create DACA by executive action. As I have said many times during the course of this lengthy litigation, DACA recipients are a sympathetic group with significant public support and a compelling argument that their circumstance is unique. But, because of President Obama’s unlawful executive action, for the past decade DACA recipients have lived under the cruel illusion of a program that in fact never could lawfully exist."Hanen’s decision limits the immediate ability of Biden, who pledged during his campaign to protect DACA, to keep the program or something similar in place. His ruling is the second by a federal judge in Texas stopping Biden’s immigration plans, after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-texas-barack-obama-51688033e490d50867e52ef9c8ec574f">court barred enforcement of Biden’s 100-day stay</a>&nbsp;on most deportations. The program has been challenged in court since former President Barack Obama instituted it in June 2012.In Friday’s ruling, Hanen wrote that the states proved “the hardship that the continued operation of DACA has inflicted on them.”He continued: “Furthermore, the government has no legitimate interest in the continuation of an illegally implemented program.”Biden has already proposed legislation that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-legislation-immigration-border-security-2179887c74cfd8d156bbd293abfc9fb0">provide a pathway to citizenship</a>&nbsp;for the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without authorization. He also ordered agencies to make efforts to preserve the program.Supporters of DACA, including those who argued before Hanen to save it, have said a law passed by Congress is necessary to provide permanent relief. Hanen has said Congress must act if the U.S. wants to provide the protections in DACA to recipients commonly known as “Dreamers.”The House approved legislation in March creating a pathway toward citizenship for “Dreamers,” but the measure has been stalled in the Senate. Immigration advocates hope to include a provision opening that citizenship doorway in sweeping budget legislation Democrats want to approve this year, but it’s unclear whether that language will survive.Hanen’s ruling came after a nearly 3 1/2 hour&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-houston-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-program-immigration-us-supreme-court-bc19608c6aa54623902c44ded180d005">court hearing</a>&nbsp;Dec. 22 on DACA’s fate.The states argued that Obama never had the authority in 2012 to create DACA because it circumvented Congress. The states also argued that the program drains their educational and healthcare resources.Suing alongside Texas were Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, and West Virginia — states that all had Republican governors or state attorneys general.The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, which defended the program on behalf of a group of DACA recipients, argued Obama did have the authority and that the states lacked the standing to sue because they had not suffered any harm due to the program.Hanen rejected Texas’ request in 2018 to stop the program through a preliminary injunction. But in a foreshadowing of his latest ruling, he said he believed DACA as enacted was likely unconstitutional.“If the nation truly wants to have a DACA program, it is up to Congress to say so,” Hanen wrote in 2018.Hanen ruled in 2015 that Obama could not expand DACA protections or institute a program shielding their parents.While DACA is often described as a program for young immigrants, many recipients have lived in the U.S. for a decade or longer after being brought into the country without permission or overstaying visas. The liberal Center for American Progress says roughly 254,000 children have at least one parent relying on DACA. Some recipients are grandparents.The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump’s attempt to end DACA in 2017 was unlawful. A New York judge in December&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-immigration-courts-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-program-ab070236efdcadce2659800f88b68507">ordered</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration to restore the program as enacted by Obama.Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us, a progressive organization, expressed disappointment at Friday’s ruling, saying in a statement that DACA has been a big success that has transformed many lives.“Today makes absolutely clear: only a permanent legislative solution passed by Congress will eliminate the fear and uncertainty that DACA recipients have been forced to live with for years. We call on each and every elected office to do everything within their power so that DACA recipients and their families and communities can live free from fear, and continue to build their lives here,” Schulte said.