TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A cyberattack on the Ascension health system operating in Kansas and 18 other states across the U.S. forced some of its 140 hospitals to divert ambulances, caused patients to postpone medical tests and blocked online access to patient records.

An Ascension spokesperson said it detected “unusual activity” Wednesday on its computer network systems. Officials refused to say whether the non-profit Catholic health system, based in St. Louis, was the victim of a ransomware attack or whether it had paid a ransom, and it did not immediately respond to an email seeking updates.

But the attack had the hallmarks of a ransomware, and Ascension said it had called in Mandiant, the Google cybersecurity unit that is a leading responder to such attacks. Earlier this year, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealth-change-cyberattack-50e7e86ace92e95711dfbf8914d27db1">cyberattack</a>&nbsp;on Change Healthcare disrupted care systems nationwide, and the CEO of its parent, UnitedHealth Group Inc., acknowledged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/change-healthcare-cyberattack-unitedhealth-senate-9e2fff70ce4f93566043210bdd347a1f">in testimony to Congress</a>&nbsp;that it had paid a ransom of $22 million in bitcoin.

Ascension said that both its electronic records system and the MyChart system that gives patients access to their records and allows them to communicate with their doctors were offline.

“We have determined this is a cybersecurity incident,” the national Ascension spokesperson’s&nbsp;<a href="https://about.ascension.org/cybersecurity-event">statement</a>&nbsp;said. “Our investigation and restoration work will take time to complete, and we do not have a timeline for completion.”

To prevent the automated spread of ransomware, hospital IT officials typically take electronic medical records and appointment-scheduling systems offline. UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty told congressional committees that Change Healthcare immediately disconnected from other systems to prevent the attack from spreading during its incident.

The Ascension spokesperson's latest statement, issued Thursday, said ambulances had been diverted from “several” hospitals without naming them.

In Wichita, Kansas, local news reports said the local emergency medical services started diverting all ambulance calls from its hospitals there Wednesday, though the health system's spokesperson there said Friday that the full diversion of ambulances ended Thursday afternoon.

The EMS service for Pensacola, Florida, also diverted patients from the Ascension hospital there to other hospitals, its spokesperson&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2024/05/09/ascension-hacked-cyberattack/73627088007/">told the Pensacola News Journal.</a>

And&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/patients-continue-to-be-turned-away-because-of-ascension-cyber-attack">WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee reported</a>&nbsp;that Ascension patients in the area said they were missing CT scans and mammograms and couldn't refill prescriptions.

Connie Smith, president of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, is among the Ascension providers turning to paper records this week to cope. Smith, who coordinates surgeries at Ascension St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee, said the hospital didn’t cancel any surgical procedures and continued treating emergency patients.

But she said everything has slowed down because electronic systems are built into the hospital’s daily operations. Younger providers are often unfamiliar with paper copies of essential records and it takes more time to document patient care, check the results of prior lab tests and verify information with doctors’ offices, she said.

Smith said union leaders feel staff and service cutbacks have made the situation even tougher. Hospital staff also have received little information about what led to the attack or when operations might get closer to normal, she said.

“You’re doing everything to the best of your ability but you leave feeling frustrated because you know you could have done things faster or gotten that patient home sooner if you just had some extra hands,” Smith said.

Ascension said its system expected to use “downtime” procedures “for some time” and advised patients to bring notes on their symptoms and a list of prescription numbers or prescription bottles with them to appointments.

Cybersecurity experts say ransomware attacks have increased substantially in recent years, especially in the health care sector. Increasingly, ransomware gangs steal data before activating data-scrambling malware that paralyzes networks. The threat of making stolen data public is used to extort payments. That data can also be sold online.

“We are working around the clock with internal and external advisors to investigate, contain, and restore our systems,” the Ascension spokesperson's latest statement said.

The attack against Change Healthcare earlier this year delayed insurance reimbursements and heaped stress on doctor’s offices around the country. Change Healthcare provides technology used by doctor offices and other care providers to submit and process billions of insurance claims a year.

It was unclear Friday whether the same group was responsible for both attacks.

Witty said Change Healthcare's core systems were now fully functional. But company officials have said it may take several months of analysis to identify and notify those who were affected by the attack.

They also have said they see no signs that doctor charts or full medical histories were released after the attack. Witty told senators that UnitedHealth repels an attempted intrusion every 70 seconds.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ransomware-attack-hospitals-emergency-rooms-0841defe1b881b71eccb8826ed46130e">ransomware attack in November</a>&nbsp;prompted the Ardent Health Services system, operating 30 hospitals in six states, to divert patients from some of its emergency rooms to other hospitals while postponing certain elective procedures.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715251352366.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A cyberattack on the Ascension health system operating in Kansas and 18 other states across the U.S. forced some of its 140 hospitals to divert ambulances, caused patients to postpone medical tests and blocked online access to patient records.An Ascension spokesperson said it detected “unusual activity” Wednesday on its computer network systems. Officials refused to say whether the non-profit Catholic health system, based in St. Louis, was the victim of a ransomware attack or whether it had paid a ransom, and it did not immediately respond to an email seeking updates.But the attack had the hallmarks of a ransomware, and Ascension said it had called in Mandiant, the Google cybersecurity unit that is a leading responder to such attacks. Earlier this year, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealth-change-cyberattack-50e7e86ace92e95711dfbf8914d27db1">cyberattack</a>&nbsp;on Change Healthcare disrupted care systems nationwide, and the CEO of its parent, UnitedHealth Group Inc., acknowledged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/change-healthcare-cyberattack-unitedhealth-senate-9e2fff70ce4f93566043210bdd347a1f">in testimony to Congress</a>&nbsp;that it had paid a ransom of $22 million in bitcoin.Ascension said that both its electronic records system and the MyChart system that gives patients access to their records and allows them to communicate with their doctors were offline.“We have determined this is a cybersecurity incident,” the national Ascension spokesperson’s&nbsp;<a href="https://about.ascension.org/cybersecurity-event">statement</a>&nbsp;said. “Our investigation and restoration work will take time to complete, and we do not have a timeline for completion.”To prevent the automated spread of ransomware, hospital IT officials typically take electronic medical records and appointment-scheduling systems offline. UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty told congressional committees that Change Healthcare immediately disconnected from other systems to prevent the attack from spreading during its incident.The Ascension spokesperson's latest statement, issued Thursday, said ambulances had been diverted from “several” hospitals without naming them.In Wichita, Kansas, local news reports said the local emergency medical services started diverting all ambulance calls from its hospitals there Wednesday, though the health system's spokesperson there said Friday that the full diversion of ambulances ended Thursday afternoon.The EMS service for Pensacola, Florida, also diverted patients from the Ascension hospital there to other hospitals, its spokesperson&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2024/05/09/ascension-hacked-cyberattack/73627088007/">told the Pensacola News Journal.</a>And&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/patients-continue-to-be-turned-away-because-of-ascension-cyber-attack">WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee reported</a>&nbsp;that Ascension patients in the area said they were missing CT scans and mammograms and couldn't refill prescriptions.Connie Smith, president of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, is among the Ascension providers turning to paper records this week to cope. Smith, who coordinates surgeries at Ascension St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee, said the hospital didn’t cancel any surgical procedures and continued treating emergency patients.But she said everything has slowed down because electronic systems are built into the hospital’s daily operations. Younger providers are often unfamiliar with paper copies of essential records and it takes more time to document patient care, check the results of prior lab tests and verify information with doctors’ offices, she said.Smith said union leaders feel staff and service cutbacks have made the situation even tougher. Hospital staff also have received little information about what led to the attack or when operations might get closer to normal, she said.“You’re doing everything to the best of your ability but you leave feeling frustrated because you know you could have done things faster or gotten that patient home sooner if you just had some extra hands,” Smith said.Ascension said its system expected to use “downtime” procedures “for some time” and advised patients to bring notes on their symptoms and a list of prescription numbers or prescription bottles with them to appointments.Cybersecurity experts say ransomware attacks have increased substantially in recent years, especially in the health care sector. Increasingly, ransomware gangs steal data before activating data-scrambling malware that paralyzes networks. The threat of making stolen data public is used to extort payments. That data can also be sold online.“We are working around the clock with internal and external advisors to investigate, contain, and restore our systems,” the Ascension spokesperson's latest statement said.The attack against Change Healthcare earlier this year delayed insurance reimbursements and heaped stress on doctor’s offices around the country. Change Healthcare provides technology used by doctor offices and other care providers to submit and process billions of insurance claims a year.It was unclear Friday whether the same group was responsible for both attacks.Witty said Change Healthcare's core systems were now fully functional. But company officials have said it may take several months of analysis to identify and notify those who were affected by the attack.They also have said they see no signs that doctor charts or full medical histories were released after the attack. Witty told senators that UnitedHealth repels an attempted intrusion every 70 seconds.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ransomware-attack-hospitals-emergency-rooms-0841defe1b881b71eccb8826ed46130e">ransomware attack in November</a>&nbsp;prompted the Ardent Health Services system, operating 30 hospitals in six states, to divert patients from some of its emergency rooms to other hospitals while postponing certain elective procedures.

Ascension hospitals continue to battle massive cyberattack

KANSAS CITY —An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth produced stunning displays of color in the skies across the Northern Hemisphere, with no immediate reports of disruptions to power and communications.

The effects of the Northern Lights, which were prominently on display in Kansas and Missouri were due to last through the weekend and possibly into next week.

The agency says the sun is producing strong solar flares and has hurled at least seven outbursts of plasma our way. NOAA has alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit to take precautions.

KANSAS CITY —An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth produced stunning displays of color in the skies across the Northern Hemisphere, with no immediate reports of disruptions to power and communications.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Aurora — at NWS Goodland ~8:45–10:25 pm MDT on Friday May 10, 2024. View toward the north. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cowx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cowx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/newx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#newx</a> <a href="https://t.co/jzSMPXQSli">pic.twitter.com/jzSMPXQSli</a>&mdash; NWS Goodland (@NWSGoodland) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSGoodland/status/1789154844131082648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The effects of the Northern Lights, which were prominently on display in Kansas and Missouri were due to last through the weekend and possibly into next week.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Here is our view of the Northern Lights and some additional science relating to them. The best chance to see them will be through 2 AM. For best viewing try to get away from cities or large light producers and use the &quot;night&quot; mode/setting on your phone for best results! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/pL7N0iGP1z">pic.twitter.com/pL7N0iGP1z</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1789171761835364559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Don&#39;t let the mesmerizing <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NorthernLights?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NorthernLights</a> in Northwest Missouri distract you. If you wish to enjoy the view, find a safe location to pull over to ensure everyone gets to their destination safely. <a href="https://t.co/zbhQ02Y3iL">pic.twitter.com/zbhQ02Y3iL</a>&mdash; MSHP Troop H (@MSHPTrooperH) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSHPTrooperH/status/1789172241076199699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The agency says the sun is producing strong solar flares and has hurled at least seven outbursts of plasma our way. NOAA has alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit to take precautions.

🎥Stunning display: Northern lights showing off across Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' Democratic governor on Friday vetoed a bill aimed at ensuring that child support payments cover fetuses, a measure critics saw as a move by anti-abortion groups toward&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/embryos-ivf-abortion-personhood-laws-ffe4f4d326469a97fef999254ca86eea">giving them the same rights</a>&nbsp;as the mothers-to-be carrying them.

The measure scuttled by Gov. Laura Kelly was similar to a Georgia law and measures introduced in at least five other states, according to an Associated Press analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural. Supporters in the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature argued that they were trying to make sure that the costs associated with a pregnancy and a birth are covered.

But Kelly, a strong supporter of abortion rights, called the measure “a blatant attempt” by “extreme” lawmakers to control women and families' private medical decisions. She also said it conflicts with the will of voters statewide, who affirmed abortion rights in August 2022 — three years after the Kansas Supreme Court declared that the state constitution protects access to abortion as part of a “fundamental” right to bodily autonomy.

“Kansans already made it very clear that they don’t want lawmakers involved in personal matters," Kelly wrote. "It’s time we listen to them.”

The Legislature has long had supermajorities that oppose abortion and GOP lawmakers this year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ban-law-states-kansas-lousiana-81e9da53aaa0903fdd958421bd941a3a">overrode Kelly's vetoes</a>&nbsp;of four other measures backed by anti-abortion groups.

“Now she won’t allow women to have the potential for additional child support," said Jeanne Gawdun, a lobbyist for Kansans for Life, the state's most politically influential anti-abortion group. “This will not deter those of us who actually have compassion for women in difficult situations.”

Legislators cannot consider overriding the latest veto because they adjourned their annual session May 1 — though they could pass another version during a special session Kelly has promised to call on cutting taxes.

Under the bill, judges would have had to consider the “direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses” of the mother before a child's birth, back to conception, in setting the child support payments required of either parent.

Abortion rights advocates nationally saw new reason to be concerned about proposals to treat embryos and fetuses as full persons following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-supreme-court-from-embryos-161390f0758b04a7638e2ddea20df7ca">an Alabama Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;in February declaring that frozen embryos could be considered children under that state's laws.

But supporters of the child support bill said Kansas has long granted some legal protections to fetuses.

Kansas has had&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/statute/021_000_0000_chapter/021_054_0000_article/021_054_0019_section/021_054_0019_k/">a law in place since 2007</a>&nbsp;that allows people to face separate charges for what it considers crimes against fetuses — including assault, manslaughter and even capital murder.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/statute/065_000_0000_chapter/065_067_0000_article/065_067_0032_section/065_067_0032_k/">A 2013 state law</a>&nbsp;also declares that “unborn children have interests in life, health and well-being,” though it isn’t enforced as a limit on abortion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704940624118.png" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' Democratic governor on Friday vetoed a bill aimed at ensuring that child support payments cover fetuses, a measure critics saw as a move by anti-abortion groups toward&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/embryos-ivf-abortion-personhood-laws-ffe4f4d326469a97fef999254ca86eea">giving them the same rights</a>&nbsp;as the mothers-to-be carrying them.The measure scuttled by Gov. Laura Kelly was similar to a Georgia law and measures introduced in at least five other states, according to an Associated Press analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural. Supporters in the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature argued that they were trying to make sure that the costs associated with a pregnancy and a birth are covered.But Kelly, a strong supporter of abortion rights, called the measure “a blatant attempt” by “extreme” lawmakers to control women and families' private medical decisions. She also said it conflicts with the will of voters statewide, who affirmed abortion rights in August 2022 — three years after the Kansas Supreme Court declared that the state constitution protects access to abortion as part of a “fundamental” right to bodily autonomy.“Kansans already made it very clear that they don’t want lawmakers involved in personal matters," Kelly wrote. "It’s time we listen to them.”The Legislature has long had supermajorities that oppose abortion and GOP lawmakers this year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ban-law-states-kansas-lousiana-81e9da53aaa0903fdd958421bd941a3a">overrode Kelly's vetoes</a>&nbsp;of four other measures backed by anti-abortion groups.“Now she won’t allow women to have the potential for additional child support," said Jeanne Gawdun, a lobbyist for Kansans for Life, the state's most politically influential anti-abortion group. “This will not deter those of us who actually have compassion for women in difficult situations.”Legislators cannot consider overriding the latest veto because they adjourned their annual session May 1 — though they could pass another version during a special session Kelly has promised to call on cutting taxes.Under the bill, judges would have had to consider the “direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses” of the mother before a child's birth, back to conception, in setting the child support payments required of either parent.Abortion rights advocates nationally saw new reason to be concerned about proposals to treat embryos and fetuses as full persons following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-supreme-court-from-embryos-161390f0758b04a7638e2ddea20df7ca">an Alabama Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;in February declaring that frozen embryos could be considered children under that state's laws.But supporters of the child support bill said Kansas has long granted some legal protections to fetuses.Kansas has had&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/statute/021_000_0000_chapter/021_054_0000_article/021_054_0019_section/021_054_0019_k/">a law in place since 2007</a>&nbsp;that allows people to face separate charges for what it considers crimes against fetuses — including assault, manslaughter and even capital murder.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/statute/065_000_0000_chapter/065_067_0000_article/065_067_0032_section/065_067_0032_k/">A 2013 state law</a>&nbsp;also declares that “unborn children have interests in life, health and well-being,” though it isn’t enforced as a limit on abortion.

Kansas governor vetoes a bill for extending child support to fetuses

ANDREW COUNTY —A man died in an accident with a Kansas driver just after 8:30p.m. Friday in Andrew County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Victory motorcycle driven by Nathaniel T. Kuster, 34, Union Star, Missouri, was northbound on U.S. 169 four miles north of St. Joseph.

The motorcycle crossed the center of the road after cresting a hill.&nbsp; The motorcycle struck the front drivers corner of a southbound 2009 Chevy Silverado driven by Robert M. West, 27, Atchison, Kansas.&nbsp;

Kuster was ejected from motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene. West was not injured. Kuster was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

ANDREW COUNTY —A man died in an accident with a Kansas driver just after 8:30p.m. Friday in Andrew County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Victory motorcycle driven by Nathaniel T. Kuster, 34, Union Star, Missouri, was northbound on U.S. 169 four miles north of St. Joseph.The motorcycle crossed the center of the road after cresting a hill.&nbsp; The motorcycle struck the front drivers corner of a southbound 2009 Chevy Silverado driven by Robert M. West, 27, Atchison, Kansas.&nbsp;Kuster was ejected from motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene. West was not injured. Kuster was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Kansas driver involved in fatal motorcycle,  pickup crash

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's defense attorney on Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stormy-daniels-donald-trump-trial-takeaways-f34f094124fc7ec455d6a73cbb6eec21">accused Stormy Daniels</a>&nbsp;of slowly altering the details of an alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, trying to persuade jurors that a key prosecution witness in the former president's hush money trial cannot be believed.

“You made all this up, right?” attorney Susan Necheles asked. “No,” Daniels shot back.

<a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/5-09-2024/00004.html">Click here to read the transcript </a>of Stormy Daniels' testimony Day 2

<a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/5-7-2024/00054.html">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the transcript of Stormy Daniels' testimony Day 1

As the jury looked on, the two women traded barbs over what Necheles said were inconsistencies in Daniels' description of the encounter with Trump in a hotel room. He denies the whole story.

But despite all the talk over what may have happened in that hotel room, despite the discomfiting testimony by the adult film actor that she consented to sex in part because of a “power imbalance," the case against Trump doesn’t rise or fall on whether her account is true or even believable. It’s a trial about money changing hands — business transactions — and whether those payments were made to illegally influence the 2016 election.

Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying internal Trump Organization business records. The charges stem from paperwork such as invoices and checks that were deemed legal expenses in company records. Prosecutors say those payments largely were reimbursements to Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who paid Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet.

The testimony over the past three weeks has seesawed between bookkeepers and bankers relaying the nuts and bolts of check-paying procedures and wire transfers to unflattering, seamy stories about Trump and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-enquirer-catch-kill-57f0c462af437fb07967a041b6f66022">tabloid world machinations</a>&nbsp;meant to keep them secret.

This criminal case could be the only one&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">against the presumptive Republican presidential nominee</a>&nbsp;to go to trial before voters decide in November whether to send him back to the White House. Trump has pleaded not guilty and casts himself as the victim of a politically tainted justice system working to deny him another term.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-gag-order-d853768fff5fafbdee55623579889140">as the threat of jail looms</a>&nbsp;over Trump following his repeated gag order violations, his attorneys are fighting Judge Juan M. Merchan's order and seeking a fast decision in an appeals court. If the court refuses to lift the gag order, Trump’s lawyers want permission to take their appeal to the state’s high court.

At the same time, they also asked Merchan to modify the order so that Trump could publicly respond to Daniels’ testimony. Merchan denied the request, as well as two requests for a mistrial.

“My concern is not just with protecting Ms. Daniels or a witness who has already testified. My concern is with protecting the integrity of these proceedings as a whole,” Merchan said.

Trump fumed outside the courtroom at the end of the day.

“I’m innocent,” he said. “I’m being held in this court with a corrupt judge who’s totally conflicted.”

At the time of the payment to Daniels, Trump and his campaign were reeling from the October 2016 publication of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-access-hollywood-hush-money-new-york-2c52279a45ede2a111ff1fe447d2fdac">never-before-seen 2005 “Access Hollywood” footage</a>&nbsp;in which he boasted about grabbing women’s genitals without their permission.

Prosecutors have argued that the political firestorm over the “Access Hollywood” tape hastened Cohen’s payment to keep Daniels from going public with her claims that could further hurt Trump in the eyes of female voters.

The tape rattled the Republican National Committee leadership, and “there were conversations about how it would be possible to replace him as the candidate if it came to that," according to testimony from Madeleine Westerhout, a Trump aide who was working at the RNC when the recording leaked.

Daniels was on the stand for 7 1/2 hours over two days. During questioning from prosecutors, she relayed in graphic detail what she said happened during their encounter, after the two met at a celebrity golf outing at Lake Tahoe where sponsors included the adult film studio where she worked.

Trump scowled and shook his head through much of Daniels’ description, including how she found him sitting on the hotel bed in his underwear after she returned from the bathroom and that he did not use a condom. At one point, the judge told defense lawyers during a sidebar conversation — out of earshot of the jury and the public — that he could hear Trump “cursing audibly.”

Trump’s lawyers have sought to paint Daniels as a liar and extortionist who’s trying to take down Trump after drawing money and fame from her story about him. And they say the hush money payments were an effort to protect his reputation and family — not his campaign — by shielding them from embarrassing stories about his personal life.

On Thursday, Necheles grilled Daniels on her description of the encounter in which she described fear and discomfort even as she consented to sex. She testified earlier this week that while she wasn’t physically menaced, she felt a “power imbalance” as Trump, in his hotel bedroom, stood between her and the door and propositioned her.

As for whether she felt compelled to have sex with him, she reiterated Thursday that he didn’t drug her or physically threaten her. But, she said, “My own insecurities, in that moment, kept me from saying no.”

Necheles suggested that her work in porn meant her story about being shocked and frightened by Trump’s alleged sexual advances was not believable.

“You’ve acted and had sex in over 200 porn movies, right?” Necheles asked. “And there are naked men and women having sex, including yourself, in those movies?”

Necheles continued: “But according to you, seeing a man sitting on a bed in a T-shirt and boxers was so upsetting that you got lightheaded.”

The experience with Trump was different from porn for a number of reasons, Daniels explained, including the fact that Trump was more than twice her age, larger than she and that she was not expecting to find him undressed when she emerged from the bathroom.

“I came out of a bathroom seeing an older man that I wasn’t expecting to be there,” she said.

Necheles pressed her on why she accepted the payout to keep quiet instead of going public.

“Why didn’t you do that?” she asked, wondering why Daniels didn’t hold a news conference as she had planned.

“Because we were running out of time,” Daniels said.

Did she mean, Necheles asked, that she was running out of time to use the claim to make money?

“To get the story out,” Daniels countered. The negotiations were happening in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign.

She testified that she never spoke with Trump about payment, and said she had no knowledge of whether Trump was aware of or involved in the transaction.

“You have no personal knowledge about his involvement in that transaction or what he did or didn’t do,” Necheles asked.

“Not directly, no,” Daniels responded.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger later asked Daniels: “Have you been telling lies about Mr. Trump or the truth about Mr. Trump?”

“The truth,” said Daniels, who also said that although she has made money since her story emerged, she also has had to spend a lot to hire security, move homes and take other precautions, and she still owes Trump hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorneys fees.

“On balance, has publicly telling the truth about Mr. Trump been a net positive or net negative in your life?” Hoffinger asked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715113495617.png" alt="-Photo of Trump and Stormy Daniels entered into evidence released by the New York State Court System&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>-Photo of Trump and Stormy Daniels entered into evidence released by the New York State Court System&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's defense attorney on Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stormy-daniels-donald-trump-trial-takeaways-f34f094124fc7ec455d6a73cbb6eec21">accused Stormy Daniels</a>&nbsp;of slowly altering the details of an alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, trying to persuade jurors that a key prosecution witness in the former president's hush money trial cannot be believed.“You made all this up, right?” attorney Susan Necheles asked. “No,” Daniels shot back.<a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/5-09-2024/00004.html">Click here to read the transcript </a>of Stormy Daniels' testimony Day 2<a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/5-7-2024/00054.html">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the transcript of Stormy Daniels' testimony Day 1<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715384676922.png" alt="On Friday night, the New York State Courts released day two of Stormy Daniels' testimony from the historic Trump trial&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>On Friday night, the New York State Courts released day two of Stormy Daniels' testimony from the historic Trump trial&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>As the jury looked on, the two women traded barbs over what Necheles said were inconsistencies in Daniels' description of the encounter with Trump in a hotel room. He denies the whole story.But despite all the talk over what may have happened in that hotel room, despite the discomfiting testimony by the adult film actor that she consented to sex in part because of a “power imbalance," the case against Trump doesn’t rise or fall on whether her account is true or even believable. It’s a trial about money changing hands — business transactions — and whether those payments were made to illegally influence the 2016 election.Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying internal Trump Organization business records. The charges stem from paperwork such as invoices and checks that were deemed legal expenses in company records. Prosecutors say those payments largely were reimbursements to Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who paid Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet.The testimony over the past three weeks has seesawed between bookkeepers and bankers relaying the nuts and bolts of check-paying procedures and wire transfers to unflattering, seamy stories about Trump and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-enquirer-catch-kill-57f0c462af437fb07967a041b6f66022">tabloid world machinations</a>&nbsp;meant to keep them secret.This criminal case could be the only one&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">against the presumptive Republican presidential nominee</a>&nbsp;to go to trial before voters decide in November whether to send him back to the White House. Trump has pleaded not guilty and casts himself as the victim of a politically tainted justice system working to deny him another term.Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-gag-order-d853768fff5fafbdee55623579889140">as the threat of jail looms</a>&nbsp;over Trump following his repeated gag order violations, his attorneys are fighting Judge Juan M. Merchan's order and seeking a fast decision in an appeals court. If the court refuses to lift the gag order, Trump’s lawyers want permission to take their appeal to the state’s high court.At the same time, they also asked Merchan to modify the order so that Trump could publicly respond to Daniels’ testimony. Merchan denied the request, as well as two requests for a mistrial.“My concern is not just with protecting Ms. Daniels or a witness who has already testified. My concern is with protecting the integrity of these proceedings as a whole,” Merchan said.Trump fumed outside the courtroom at the end of the day.“I’m innocent,” he said. “I’m being held in this court with a corrupt judge who’s totally conflicted.”At the time of the payment to Daniels, Trump and his campaign were reeling from the October 2016 publication of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-access-hollywood-hush-money-new-york-2c52279a45ede2a111ff1fe447d2fdac">never-before-seen 2005 “Access Hollywood” footage</a>&nbsp;in which he boasted about grabbing women’s genitals without their permission.Prosecutors have argued that the political firestorm over the “Access Hollywood” tape hastened Cohen’s payment to keep Daniels from going public with her claims that could further hurt Trump in the eyes of female voters.The tape rattled the Republican National Committee leadership, and “there were conversations about how it would be possible to replace him as the candidate if it came to that," according to testimony from Madeleine Westerhout, a Trump aide who was working at the RNC when the recording leaked.Daniels was on the stand for 7 1/2 hours over two days. During questioning from prosecutors, she relayed in graphic detail what she said happened during their encounter, after the two met at a celebrity golf outing at Lake Tahoe where sponsors included the adult film studio where she worked.Trump scowled and shook his head through much of Daniels’ description, including how she found him sitting on the hotel bed in his underwear after she returned from the bathroom and that he did not use a condom. At one point, the judge told defense lawyers during a sidebar conversation — out of earshot of the jury and the public — that he could hear Trump “cursing audibly.”Trump’s lawyers have sought to paint Daniels as a liar and extortionist who’s trying to take down Trump after drawing money and fame from her story about him. And they say the hush money payments were an effort to protect his reputation and family — not his campaign — by shielding them from embarrassing stories about his personal life.On Thursday, Necheles grilled Daniels on her description of the encounter in which she described fear and discomfort even as she consented to sex. She testified earlier this week that while she wasn’t physically menaced, she felt a “power imbalance” as Trump, in his hotel bedroom, stood between her and the door and propositioned her.As for whether she felt compelled to have sex with him, she reiterated Thursday that he didn’t drug her or physically threaten her. But, she said, “My own insecurities, in that moment, kept me from saying no.”Necheles suggested that her work in porn meant her story about being shocked and frightened by Trump’s alleged sexual advances was not believable.“You’ve acted and had sex in over 200 porn movies, right?” Necheles asked. “And there are naked men and women having sex, including yourself, in those movies?”Necheles continued: “But according to you, seeing a man sitting on a bed in a T-shirt and boxers was so upsetting that you got lightheaded.”The experience with Trump was different from porn for a number of reasons, Daniels explained, including the fact that Trump was more than twice her age, larger than she and that she was not expecting to find him undressed when she emerged from the bathroom.“I came out of a bathroom seeing an older man that I wasn’t expecting to be there,” she said.Necheles pressed her on why she accepted the payout to keep quiet instead of going public.“Why didn’t you do that?” she asked, wondering why Daniels didn’t hold a news conference as she had planned.“Because we were running out of time,” Daniels said.Did she mean, Necheles asked, that she was running out of time to use the claim to make money?“To get the story out,” Daniels countered. The negotiations were happening in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign.She testified that she never spoke with Trump about payment, and said she had no knowledge of whether Trump was aware of or involved in the transaction.“You have no personal knowledge about his involvement in that transaction or what he did or didn’t do,” Necheles asked.“Not directly, no,” Daniels responded.Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger later asked Daniels: “Have you been telling lies about Mr. Trump or the truth about Mr. Trump?”“The truth,” said Daniels, who also said that although she has made money since her story emerged, she also has had to spend a lot to hire security, move homes and take other precautions, and she still owes Trump hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorneys fees.“On balance, has publicly telling the truth about Mr. Trump been a net positive or net negative in your life?” Hoffinger asked.“Negative,” Daniels replied quietly.

Read transcript day 2 of Stormy Daniels' testimony in historic Trump trial

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man has been sentenced in federal court for leading a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in an overdose death, according to the United State's Attorney.

Dmitry Cattell, 24, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 21 years in federal prison without parole.

On Nov. 21, 2023, Cattell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, two counts of distributing fentanyl, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being an illegal drug user in possession of a firearm.

Cattell distributed at least 6,225 doses of fentanyl during the conspiracy from Sept. 12, 2019, to April 5, 2022. Cattell admitted that the conspiracy also involved at least 1.1 kilograms of cocaine.

Evidence was presented during yesterday’s sentencing hearing related to the delivery of fentanyl, the use of which caused the death of another person on May 18, 2020. The victim of the fatal overdose is not identified in court documents.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers responded four times to Cattell’s residence for drug overdoses. After Cattell sold a pill to his sister, which caused her overdose, a search warrant was executed at his residence on Nov. 10, 2020. Law enforcement officers found drug paraphernalia and a Taurus handgun with a defaced serial number, which was under the pillow on Cattell’s bed. Cattell admitted selling fentanyl to a woman (who crashed her vehicle in front of his residence), his girlfriend, and his sister, who all overdosed. All of these narcotics were distributed by Cattell at his residence.

Cattell is among 11 defendants who have been convicted in this case, and the second defendant to be sentenced. Co-defendant Dominic E. Holland, 25, was sentenced on Nov. 21, 2023, to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714765868202.png" alt="Cattell-photo Clay Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Cattell-photo Clay Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man has been sentenced in federal court for leading a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in an overdose death, according to the United State's Attorney.Dmitry Cattell, 24, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 21 years in federal prison without parole.On Nov. 21, 2023, Cattell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, two counts of distributing fentanyl, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being an illegal drug user in possession of a firearm.Cattell distributed at least 6,225 doses of fentanyl during the conspiracy from Sept. 12, 2019, to April 5, 2022. Cattell admitted that the conspiracy also involved at least 1.1 kilograms of cocaine.Evidence was presented during yesterday’s sentencing hearing related to the delivery of fentanyl, the use of which caused the death of another person on May 18, 2020. The victim of the fatal overdose is not identified in court documents.According to court documents, law enforcement officers responded four times to Cattell’s residence for drug overdoses. After Cattell sold a pill to his sister, which caused her overdose, a search warrant was executed at his residence on Nov. 10, 2020. Law enforcement officers found drug paraphernalia and a Taurus handgun with a defaced serial number, which was under the pillow on Cattell’s bed. Cattell admitted selling fentanyl to a woman (who crashed her vehicle in front of his residence), his girlfriend, and his sister, who all overdosed. All of these narcotics were distributed by Cattell at his residence.Cattell is among 11 defendants who have been convicted in this case, and the second defendant to be sentenced. Co-defendant Dominic E. Holland, 25, was sentenced on Nov. 21, 2023, to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole

Kansas City man distributed at least 6,225 doses of fentanyl

RENO COUNTY —Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmate Scott Edward Wood, 49, died Friday, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections. 

He was found unresponsive in his cell Friday afternoon. Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived. Wood was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased by medical staff. 

Wood was serving a 50-month sentence for convictions of drug possession and aggravated escape committed in Sedgwick County, Kansas. He had ten previous convictions including for indecent liberties with a child, burglary and theft, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715370106298.png" alt="Wood-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Wood-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmate Scott Edward Wood, 49, died Friday, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections. He was found unresponsive in his cell Friday afternoon. Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived. Wood was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased by medical staff. Wood was serving a 50-month sentence for convictions of drug possession and aggravated escape committed in Sedgwick County, Kansas. He had ten previous convictions including for indecent liberties with a child, burglary and theft, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Kansas inmate with long history of crime dies in prison

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A woman shot by a man who was injured after a dog got loose and attacked him while he was walking his dog in the 700 Block of Ash Street in Lawrence is out of the hospital.

The woman is home and recovering, according to a statement from Lawrence Police.

The incident happened around noon Monday. The man stopped the attack by shooting the attacking dog and killing it, but he also struck the dog's owner, in her upper leg as she was trying to restrain the dog.

&nbsp;The woman told police the shelter in Kansas City where she rescued the now deceased dog in 2020 said the dog was a pit-mix. The woman was letting the dog out back with her other dog when she says the dog escaped.&nbsp; She immediately ran after the dog. 

Detectives will discuss the facts of the case with the District Attorney.

The man attacked by the dog was seen by medics, but declined further treatment on scene. Police have not reported the name's of those involved.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A woman shot by a man who was injured after a dog got loose and attacked him while he was walking his dog in the 700 Block of Ash Street in Lawrence is out of the hospital.The woman is home and recovering, according to a statement from Lawrence Police.The incident happened around noon Monday. The man stopped the attack by shooting the attacking dog and killing it, but he also struck the dog's owner, in her upper leg as she was trying to restrain the dog.&nbsp;The woman told police the shelter in Kansas City where she rescued the now deceased dog in 2020 said the dog was a pit-mix. The woman was letting the dog out back with her other dog when she says the dog escaped.&nbsp; She immediately ran after the dog. Detectives will discuss the facts of the case with the District Attorney.The man attacked by the dog was seen by medics, but declined further treatment on scene. Police have not reported the name's of those involved.

Police: Kansas woman shot during dog attack is recovering 

ATCHISON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 2p.m. Friday in Atchison County.

According to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson,&nbsp; a Buick SUV driven by Mary Krier, 93, Effingham, was westbound in the 500 block of U.S.59.

The SUV turned north into a fence on the north side of the roadway and landed on its top in the parking lot below U.S. 59. 

Mrs. Krier was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Wilson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ATCHISON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 2p.m. Friday in Atchison County.According to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson,&nbsp; a Buick SUV driven by Mary Krier, 93, Effingham, was westbound in the 500 block of U.S.59.The SUV turned north into a fence on the north side of the roadway and landed on its top in the parking lot below U.S. 59. Mrs. Krier was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Wilson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas woman dies after SUV overturns

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge on Friday ordered University of Illinois basketball standout Terrence Shannon Jr. to stand trial on a rape charge following testimony from a woman who said she was “terrified” as she was being assaulted.

Shannon, 23, of Champaign, Illinois, is accused of committing sexual assault on Sept. 9, in Lawrence, Kansas. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/public-safety/2024/may/10/illinois-basketball-player-ordered-to-stand-trial-on-lawrence-rape-charge/">Lawrence Journal-World</a>&nbsp;reported that Shannon was in Lawrence that day to watch a football game between the Illini and the University of Kansas.

He has been charged with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery. The charge led to Shannon being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-illinois-shannon-7c583e420164a83b3ac9eaaddbcfc1ba">suspended for six games</a>&nbsp;before a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/terrence-shannon-jr-illinois-basketball-rape-charge-9d4bb7e676fa2ba6f0d83018c5f5f463">reinstated him</a>, ruling his civil rights had been violated.

A woman told police she was at a bar when a man she later identified as Shannon grabbed her buttocks and reached under her skirt and touched her sexually. The woman said the bar was crowded, so she couldn't move.

Shannon testified on Friday that he never touched the woman, the Journal-World reported.

Judge Sally Pokorny ordered Shannon to stand trial and allowed him to remain free on $50,000 bond.

As a fifth-year student this past season, Shannon led the Illini in scoring and helped them reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-march-madness-elite-eight-e259b3e8cc56caaae96cb198f8215ac2">losing to eventual champion Connecticut</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703798657514.png" alt="Shannon photo courtesy University of Illinois Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Shannon photo courtesy University of Illinois Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge on Friday ordered University of Illinois basketball standout Terrence Shannon Jr. to stand trial on a rape charge following testimony from a woman who said she was “terrified” as she was being assaulted.Shannon, 23, of Champaign, Illinois, is accused of committing sexual assault on Sept. 9, in Lawrence, Kansas. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/public-safety/2024/may/10/illinois-basketball-player-ordered-to-stand-trial-on-lawrence-rape-charge/">Lawrence Journal-World</a>&nbsp;reported that Shannon was in Lawrence that day to watch a football game between the Illini and the University of Kansas.He has been charged with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery. The charge led to Shannon being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-illinois-shannon-7c583e420164a83b3ac9eaaddbcfc1ba">suspended for six games</a>&nbsp;before a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/terrence-shannon-jr-illinois-basketball-rape-charge-9d4bb7e676fa2ba6f0d83018c5f5f463">reinstated him</a>, ruling his civil rights had been violated.A woman told police she was at a bar when a man she later identified as Shannon grabbed her buttocks and reached under her skirt and touched her sexually. The woman said the bar was crowded, so she couldn't move.Shannon testified on Friday that he never touched the woman, the Journal-World reported.Judge Sally Pokorny ordered Shannon to stand trial and allowed him to remain free on $50,000 bond.As a fifth-year student this past season, Shannon led the Illini in scoring and helped them reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-march-madness-elite-eight-e259b3e8cc56caaae96cb198f8215ac2">losing to eventual champion Connecticut</a>.

Illinois basketball star ordered to stand trial on rape charge in Kansas

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth could produce northern lights in the U.S. this weekend and potentially disrupt power and communications.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner than anticipated. The effects were due to last through the weekend and possibly into next week.

NOAA alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit to take precautions, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“For most people here on planet Earth, they won’t have to do anything,” said Rob Steenburgh, a scientist with NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

The storm could produce northern lights as far south in the U.S. as Alabama and Northern California, according to NOAA. But it was hard to predict and experts stressed it would not be the dramatic curtains of color normally associated with the northern lights, but more like splashes of greenish hues.

“That’s really the gift from space weather — the aurora,” said Steenburgh. He and his colleagues said the best aurora views may come from phone cameras, which are better at capturing light than the naked eye.

Snap a picture of the sky and “there might be actually a nice little treat there for you,” said Mike Bettwy, operations chief for the prediction center.

The most intense solar storm in recorded history, in 1859, prompted auroras in central America and possibly even Hawaii. “We are not anticipating that” but it could come close, said NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl.

This storm — ranked 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 — poses a risk for high-voltage transmission lines for power grids, not the electrical lines ordinarily found in people's homes, Dahl told reporters. Satellites also could be affected, which in turn could disrupt navigation and communication services here on Earth.

An extreme geomagnetic storm in 2003, for example, took out power in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa.

Even when the storm is over, signals between GPS satellites and ground receivers could be scrambled or lost, according to NOAA. But there are so many navigation satellites that any outages should not last long, Steenburgh noted.

The sun has produced strong solar flares since Wednesday, resulting in at least seven outbursts of plasma. Each eruption — known as a coronal mass ejection — can contain billions of tons of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona.

The flares seem to be associated with a sunspot that’s 16 times the diameter of Earth, according to NOAA. It's all part of the solar activity that's ramping up as the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year cycle.

NASA said the storm posed no serious threat to the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The biggest concern is the increased radiation levels, and the crew could move to a better shielded part of the station if necessary, according to Steenburgh.

Increased radiation also could threaten some of NASA's science satellites. Extremely sensitive instruments will be turned off, if necessary, to avoid damage, said Antti Pulkkinen, director of the space agency's heliophysics science division.

Several sun-focused spacecraft are monitoring all the action.

"This is exactly the kinds of things we want to observe,” Pulkkinen said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715344219111.png" alt="NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite captured the eruption from the sun that occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024. Credit: NOAA" />
 <figcaption>NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite captured the eruption from the sun that occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024. Credit: NOAA</figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth could produce northern lights in the U.S. this weekend and potentially disrupt power and communications.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Large sunspot groups and strong solar flares led to the issuance of SWPC&#39;s first G4 Watch since 2005... <a href="https://t.co/oi55cTPXhP">pic.twitter.com/oi55cTPXhP</a>&mdash; NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSWPC/status/1788671368629772306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner than anticipated. The effects were due to last through the weekend and possibly into next week.NOAA alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit to take precautions, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.“For most people here on planet Earth, they won’t have to do anything,” said Rob Steenburgh, a scientist with NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.The storm could produce northern lights as far south in the U.S. as Alabama and Northern California, according to NOAA. But it was hard to predict and experts stressed it would not be the dramatic curtains of color normally associated with the northern lights, but more like splashes of greenish hues.“That’s really the gift from space weather — the aurora,” said Steenburgh. He and his colleagues said the best aurora views may come from phone cameras, which are better at capturing light than the naked eye.Snap a picture of the sky and “there might be actually a nice little treat there for you,” said Mike Bettwy, operations chief for the prediction center.The most intense solar storm in recorded history, in 1859, prompted auroras in central America and possibly even Hawaii. “We are not anticipating that” but it could come close, said NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl.This storm — ranked 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 — poses a risk for high-voltage transmission lines for power grids, not the electrical lines ordinarily found in people's homes, Dahl told reporters. Satellites also could be affected, which in turn could disrupt navigation and communication services here on Earth.An extreme geomagnetic storm in 2003, for example, took out power in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa.Even when the storm is over, signals between GPS satellites and ground receivers could be scrambled or lost, according to NOAA. But there are so many navigation satellites that any outages should not last long, Steenburgh noted.The sun has produced strong solar flares since Wednesday, resulting in at least seven outbursts of plasma. Each eruption — known as a coronal mass ejection — can contain billions of tons of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona.The flares seem to be associated with a sunspot that’s 16 times the diameter of Earth, according to NOAA. It's all part of the solar activity that's ramping up as the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year cycle.NASA said the storm posed no serious threat to the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The biggest concern is the increased radiation levels, and the crew could move to a better shielded part of the station if necessary, according to Steenburgh.Increased radiation also could threaten some of NASA's science satellites. Extremely sensitive instruments will be turned off, if necessary, to avoid damage, said Antti Pulkkinen, director of the space agency's heliophysics science division.Several sun-focused spacecraft are monitoring all the action."This is exactly the kinds of things we want to observe,” Pulkkinen said.--------------

Strong solar storm hits Earth, could disrupt communications 

JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a U.S. threat to withhold some arms would not prevent Israel from continuing its offensive in Gaza, indicating it might proceed with an invasion of the packed city of Rafah against the wishes of its closest ally.

Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined a group of Senators on Thursday critical of the President's decision.

President Joe Biden has urged Israel not to go ahead with such an operation over fears it would exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe in the Palestinian enclave. On Wednesday, he said the United States would not provide offensive weapons for a Rafah offensive, raising pressure on Netanyahu.

But in a statement released Thursday, Netanyahu said “if we have to stand alone, we will stand alone. If we need to, we will fight with our fingernails. But we have much more than fingernails.”

Israel’s top military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, also appeared to downplay the practical impact of any arms holdup. “The army has munitions for the missions it plans, and for the missions in Rafah, too -- we have what we need,” he said in response to a question at a news conference.

Israel has repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-israel-gaza-war-hamas-evacuation-e0754cdae0f3786982038e80feaa159e">threatened to invade Rafah</a>, where some 1.3 million Palestinians — over half the population — have sought refuge. The city in southern Gaza is also the main hub for humanitarian operations, which have been severely hindered by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-crossings-aid-gaza-f654871ba67c42e6345b6f709427b664">the closure of Gaza's two main crossings</a>&nbsp;this week.

Israel says Rafah is the last stronghold of Hamas and that the army must go in if it hopes to dismantle the group and return scores of hostages captured in the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war.

In an earlier response to Biden's decision, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote a post on the platform X with a heart between the words “Hamas” and “Biden.” He and other ultra-nationalist members of Netanyahu’s coalition support a large-scale Rafah operation and have threatened to bring down his government if it doesn’t happen.

Aid groups say a Rafah invasion would be catastrophic. The U.N. says most of the territory’s 2.3 million Palestinians suffer from hunger and that northern Gaza is already experiencing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-famine-world-food-program-israel-hamas-war-476941bf2dc259f85a706408b2a665ff">“full-blown famine.”</a>

Even the limited operation Israel launched earlier this week, in which a tank brigade captured the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, has thrown humanitarian operations into crisis.

It also complicated what had been months of efforts by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt to broker a cease-fire and the release of hostages. Hamas this week said it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal, but Israel says the plan does not meet its “core” demands. Several days of follow-up talks appeared to end inconclusively on Thursday.

Some analysts said Biden's tough line against Israel, and the rift between the allies, threatened to weaken Israel's negotiating position and harden Hamas' stances. Hamas has demanded guarantees for an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of any deal — steps Israel has ruled out.

“It sends a discordant message at a time when Hamas is holding out on a hostage deal in the hopes that pressure will grow on Israel and it will gain a cease-fire without having to give anything in return,” said the Israel Policy Forum, a pro-Israel organization based in New York.

The war began with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-hostages-0c14750240138853a70e38b0c09ef157">Hamas’ surprise attack into southern Israel</a>, in which it killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 250 hostage. The militants are still holding some 100 captives and the remains of more than 30 after most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year.

The war has killed over 34,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel’s offensive, waged with U.S.-supplied munitions, has caused widespread devastation and forced some 80% of Gaza’s population to flee their homes.

Israel's capture of the Rafah crossing Tuesday forced the closure of a key entry point for fuel, and it's unclear when it will reopen. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, said it only has enough stocks to maintain operations for a few days and has started rationing.

Israel reopened its side of the nearby Kerem Shalom crossing — Gaza’s main cargo terminal — after a rocket attack over the weekend, but UNRWA, the main provider of aid in Gaza, says aid cannot be brought in on the Palestinian side because of the security situation.

A recently reopened route in the north is still functioning, but only 60 trucks entered on Tuesday, far below the 500 that entered Gaza each day before the war.

The first aid ship bound for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-humanitarian-aid-pier-israel-us-7fd8cf63c60e4155479e761f3c79914d">an American-built floating pier</a>&nbsp;to be installed in Gaza departed early Thursday. But it's unclear when that corridor will be up and running, and even then it won't be able to handle as much aid as Gaza’s two main land crossings.

Maj. Pete Nguyen, a Pentagon spokesman, said Thursday that parts of the pier are still in the Israeli port of Ashdod awaiting more favorable seas before being moved into position off Gaza. He said the U.S. vessel Sagamore, which left Cyprus, would transport aid to another ship, the Roy P. Benavidez, which is off the coast of Gaza.

“In the coming days, the U.S. will commence an international community-backed effort to expand the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza using a floating pier,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715273626077.png" alt="&nbsp;Ted Cruz of Texas and Roger Marshall of Kansas were among GOP&nbsp; Senators who condemned Biden for the restriction on weapons for Israel-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Ted Cruz of Texas and Roger Marshall of Kansas were among GOP&nbsp; Senators who condemned Biden for the restriction on weapons for Israel-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a U.S. threat to withhold some arms would not prevent Israel from continuing its offensive in Gaza, indicating it might proceed with an invasion of the packed city of Rafah against the wishes of its closest ally.Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined a group of Senators on Thursday critical of the President's decision.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Where does the President stand? Does he stand with Israel, or does he stand with Hamas and the anti-American protestors rioting across America’s college campuses? <a href="https://t.co/lL3niDpDYa">pic.twitter.com/lL3niDpDYa</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1788633812290986126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>President Joe Biden has urged Israel not to go ahead with such an operation over fears it would exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe in the Palestinian enclave. On Wednesday, he said the United States would not provide offensive weapons for a Rafah offensive, raising pressure on Netanyahu.But in a statement released Thursday, Netanyahu said “if we have to stand alone, we will stand alone. If we need to, we will fight with our fingernails. But we have much more than fingernails.”Israel’s top military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, also appeared to downplay the practical impact of any arms holdup. “The army has munitions for the missions it plans, and for the missions in Rafah, too -- we have what we need,” he said in response to a question at a news conference.Israel has repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-israel-gaza-war-hamas-evacuation-e0754cdae0f3786982038e80feaa159e">threatened to invade Rafah</a>, where some 1.3 million Palestinians — over half the population — have sought refuge. The city in southern Gaza is also the main hub for humanitarian operations, which have been severely hindered by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-crossings-aid-gaza-f654871ba67c42e6345b6f709427b664">the closure of Gaza's two main crossings</a>&nbsp;this week.Israel says Rafah is the last stronghold of Hamas and that the army must go in if it hopes to dismantle the group and return scores of hostages captured in the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war.In an earlier response to Biden's decision, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote a post on the platform X with a heart between the words “Hamas” and “Biden.” He and other ultra-nationalist members of Netanyahu’s coalition support a large-scale Rafah operation and have threatened to bring down his government if it doesn’t happen.Aid groups say a Rafah invasion would be catastrophic. The U.N. says most of the territory’s 2.3 million Palestinians suffer from hunger and that northern Gaza is already experiencing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-famine-world-food-program-israel-hamas-war-476941bf2dc259f85a706408b2a665ff">“full-blown famine.”</a>Even the limited operation Israel launched earlier this week, in which a tank brigade captured the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, has thrown humanitarian operations into crisis.It also complicated what had been months of efforts by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt to broker a cease-fire and the release of hostages. Hamas this week said it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal, but Israel says the plan does not meet its “core” demands. Several days of follow-up talks appeared to end inconclusively on Thursday.Some analysts said Biden's tough line against Israel, and the rift between the allies, threatened to weaken Israel's negotiating position and harden Hamas' stances. Hamas has demanded guarantees for an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of any deal — steps Israel has ruled out.“It sends a discordant message at a time when Hamas is holding out on a hostage deal in the hopes that pressure will grow on Israel and it will gain a cease-fire without having to give anything in return,” said the Israel Policy Forum, a pro-Israel organization based in New York.The war began with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-hostages-0c14750240138853a70e38b0c09ef157">Hamas’ surprise attack into southern Israel</a>, in which it killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 250 hostage. The militants are still holding some 100 captives and the remains of more than 30 after most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year.The war has killed over 34,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel’s offensive, waged with U.S.-supplied munitions, has caused widespread devastation and forced some 80% of Gaza’s population to flee their homes.Israel's capture of the Rafah crossing Tuesday forced the closure of a key entry point for fuel, and it's unclear when it will reopen. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, said it only has enough stocks to maintain operations for a few days and has started rationing.Israel reopened its side of the nearby Kerem Shalom crossing — Gaza’s main cargo terminal — after a rocket attack over the weekend, but UNRWA, the main provider of aid in Gaza, says aid cannot be brought in on the Palestinian side because of the security situation.A recently reopened route in the north is still functioning, but only 60 trucks entered on Tuesday, far below the 500 that entered Gaza each day before the war.The first aid ship bound for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-humanitarian-aid-pier-israel-us-7fd8cf63c60e4155479e761f3c79914d">an American-built floating pier</a>&nbsp;to be installed in Gaza departed early Thursday. But it's unclear when that corridor will be up and running, and even then it won't be able to handle as much aid as Gaza’s two main land crossings.Maj. Pete Nguyen, a Pentagon spokesman, said Thursday that parts of the pier are still in the Israeli port of Ashdod awaiting more favorable seas before being moved into position off Gaza. He said the U.S. vessel Sagamore, which left Cyprus, would transport aid to another ship, the Roy P. Benavidez, which is off the coast of Gaza.“In the coming days, the U.S. will commence an international community-backed effort to expand the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza using a floating pier,” he said.

🎥Kan. Senator joins condemnation of restriction on weapons for Israel

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The City of Wichita report Friday that certain online City services may be unavailable as they thoroughly review and assess an incident that affected some of their computer systems, according to a statement from the city.

As part of this assessment, the city turned off their computer network. This decision was not made lightly but was necessary to ensure that systems are securely vetted before returning to service.

The following are updates to the city's Frequently Asked Questions regarding the cyber security incident.&nbsp;

The information technology department and its security partners continue to work around the clock to address the cyber security incident. Many City systems are down as security experts determine the source and extent of the incident. There is no timetable for when systems could be coming back online. We appreciate your patience as we work through this incident as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. Incident recovery information and FAQs are accurate as to the time of the most current information release. For the most current updates, please continue visiting &nbsp;<a href="http://www.wichita.gov/Alert.%C2%A0" target="_blank">http://www.wichita.gov/Alert</a>.

When will this incident be resolved?&nbsp;

Staff are working diligently and will have resolve the cyber security incident as soon as possible.&nbsp;

When will we know more?&nbsp;The City is dedicated to providing updates as soon as more information is available.&nbsp;

How do I make a payment to the City of Wichita?&nbsp;Credit cards payments are not being accepted at this time. Please refer to the service you are making payment to for further information about cash or check payments.

Will live streaming continue for boards and commissions?&nbsp;The City will make every effort to live stream or record board and commission meetings. There is no guarantee that live streaming will be available, so plan on attending those meetings in person. Wichita City Council meetings will be broadcast on Cox cable channel 7 as well as the City's YouTube channel.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Is there any impact to Wichita Fire Department operations?&nbsp;&nbsp;There is NO EXPECTED IMPACT TO RESIDENTS needing fire services. WFD has a system in place to monitor and respond to calls for service.&nbsp;

Is there any impact to Wichita Police Department operations?&nbsp;&nbsp;WPD implemented continuity measures to mitigate the impact. Our core responsibility remains the same, which is to ensure public safety and provide exceptional customer service to Wichita, thus keeping our community safe.&nbsp;

Are water systems in any way compromised by the cyber security event?&nbsp;No. All water systems are secure and functioning as normal.

How do I pay my water bill?&nbsp;During the cyber security incident we will not shut off water accounts. Those who have experienced a water shut off may bring payment or proof of payment to City Hall and their water will be reconnected. Anyone having difficulty paying their bill will not receive penalties or late fees until the cyber incident is resolved. Bills may still be paid via cash by coming to City Hall or by mailing payment. Customers looking to set up a new water account may do so by coming to City Hall. Auto payments are suspended for the time being.&nbsp;

If my water is shut off, how do I get reconnected?&nbsp;&nbsp;During the data breach, we will not be shutting off any water accounts. Those who have experience a water shut off may bring payment or proof of payment to City Hall and their water will be reconnected.&nbsp;

The City of Wichita Call Center phone numbers are working but live chat on&nbsp;wichita.gov&nbsp;is unavailable at this time.

How will I get a bus ticket or pay bus fare?&nbsp;&nbsp;All Wichita Transit and paratransit services are fare-free until further notice.

How do I request paratransit services?&nbsp;Please call 316-352-4824 or 316-352-4810.

I am a vendor for the City of Wichita – how do I get paid?&nbsp;

Please contact your City of Wichita liaison for further information.&nbsp;

Bid Opening for Friday May 10, 2024 is cancelled.Any Request for Bid, Proposal, or Qualifications with a stated Due Date of May 10, 2024 are deferred until 10:00am Friday May 17, 2024.&nbsp;Please call the Purchasing Office at 316-268-4636 for any questions or technical assistance.

Wichita Park &amp; Recreation is unable to facilitate credit card transactions, whether conducted online or in-person. Patrons are kindly asked to register for the diverse range of programming outlined below at any of our designated recreation centers during respective operating hours. Detailed information regarding the operational schedules of the centers is conveniently accessible at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wichita.gov/722/Recreation-Centers" target="_blank">https://www.wichita.gov/722/Recreation-Centers</a>.

Those seeking to procure the rental services of athletic fields, equipment, swimming pools, or venues are encouraged to contact our administrative office directly at 316-268-4361.

For inquiries pertaining to programming at the Riverside Tennis Center, individuals are directed to personally visit the facility during its standard operational hours to complete the registration process. Detailed information regarding the operational hours of the Riverside Tennis Center can be found online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wichita.gov/1353/Riverside-Tennis-Center" target="_blank">https://www.wichita.gov/1353/Riverside-Tennis-Center</a>.

Golf Wichita is presently unable to facilitate credit card transactions, whether conducted online or in-person. We kindly request patrons to ensure they have cash or a check available when visiting any of our golf courses.

Our online booking engine is unavailable. All reservations will be taken by calling your local clubhouse or in person.

We are unable to process registrations for group lessons, tournaments, or the Junior Tour via online. Interested individuals are advised to register for group lessons or tournaments by visiting the respective host locations. For Junior Tour registration, please contact us directly at 316-268-4653.

Please note that Golf Wichita is presently not accepting new membership applications. Existing members with inquiries are encouraged to reach out to us by phone at 316-268-4653 or email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:GolfWichita@wichita.gov">GolfWichita@wichita.gov</a>.

Can I pay for or obtain a license through the City?&nbsp;&nbsp;Licenses may be paid for and obtained by coming to City Hall.&nbsp;

Will City Council, committees and other advisory board meetings be streamed?&nbsp;&nbsp;While best efforts will be made to continue streaming any previously streamed public meetings or media opportunities, at this time, please plan to attend any City meetings in person.&nbsp;

Are landfill operations still in service?&nbsp;&nbsp;The landfill is accepting cash only at this time.&nbsp;

Are cultural institutions impacted?&nbsp;&nbsp;Cultural institutions for the City including CityArts, Cowtown and Indian Museum are able to hold events as scheduled but payments will only be accepted by cash or check. Century II, Botanica and the Wichita Art Museum are not affected.&nbsp;

Municipal Court customer service staff has access to docket and warrant information. Individuals may contact 316-268-4611 for their current court dates. There will be ample time for people to clear warrants once we are fully operational. We appreciate your patience during this time and we are sorry inconvenience. Once information services are restored, there will be a process for those who lost contact with the court and received a warrant to clear the warrant without arrest.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The City of Wichita report Friday that certain online City services may be unavailable as they thoroughly review and assess an incident that affected some of their computer systems, according to a statement from the city.As part of this assessment, the city turned off their computer network. This decision was not made lightly but was necessary to ensure that systems are securely vetted before returning to service.The following are updates to the city's Frequently Asked Questions regarding the cyber security incident.&nbsp;The information technology department and its security partners continue to work around the clock to address the cyber security incident. Many City systems are down as security experts determine the source and extent of the incident. There is no timetable for when systems could be coming back online. We appreciate your patience as we work through this incident as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. Incident recovery information and FAQs are accurate as to the time of the most current information release. For the most current updates, please continue visiting &nbsp;<a href="http://www.wichita.gov/Alert.%C2%A0" target="_blank">http://www.wichita.gov/Alert</a>.When will this incident be resolved?&nbsp;Staff are working diligently and will have resolve the cyber security incident as soon as possible.&nbsp;When will we know more?&nbsp;The City is dedicated to providing updates as soon as more information is available.&nbsp;How do I make a payment to the City of Wichita?&nbsp;Credit cards payments are not being accepted at this time. Please refer to the service you are making payment to for further information about cash or check payments.Will live streaming continue for boards and commissions?&nbsp;The City will make every effort to live stream or record board and commission meetings. There is no guarantee that live streaming will be available, so plan on attending those meetings in person. Wichita City Council meetings will be broadcast on Cox cable channel 7 as well as the City's YouTube channel.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Public Safety:&nbsp;</h2>Is there any impact to Wichita Fire Department operations?&nbsp;&nbsp;There is NO EXPECTED IMPACT TO RESIDENTS needing fire services. WFD has a system in place to monitor and respond to calls for service.&nbsp;Is there any impact to Wichita Police Department operations?&nbsp;&nbsp;WPD implemented continuity measures to mitigate the impact. Our core responsibility remains the same, which is to ensure public safety and provide exceptional customer service to Wichita, thus keeping our community safe.&nbsp;<h2>Water:</h2>Are water systems in any way compromised by the cyber security event?&nbsp;No. All water systems are secure and functioning as normal.How do I pay my water bill?&nbsp;During the cyber security incident we will not shut off water accounts. Those who have experienced a water shut off may bring payment or proof of payment to City Hall and their water will be reconnected. Anyone having difficulty paying their bill will not receive penalties or late fees until the cyber incident is resolved. Bills may still be paid via cash by coming to City Hall or by mailing payment. Customers looking to set up a new water account may do so by coming to City Hall. Auto payments are suspended for the time being.&nbsp;If my water is shut off, how do I get reconnected?&nbsp;&nbsp;During the data breach, we will not be shutting off any water accounts. Those who have experience a water shut off may bring payment or proof of payment to City Hall and their water will be reconnected.&nbsp;<h2>Call Center:</h2><h2>The City of Wichita Call Center phone numbers are working but live chat on&nbsp;wichita.gov&nbsp;is unavailable at this time.</h2><h2>Transit:</h2>How will I get a bus ticket or pay bus fare?&nbsp;&nbsp;All Wichita Transit and paratransit services are fare-free until further notice.How do I request paratransit services?&nbsp;Please call 316-352-4824 or 316-352-4810.<h2>City Vendors:</h2><h2>I am a vendor for the City of Wichita – how do I get paid?&nbsp;</h2>Please contact your City of Wichita liaison for further information.&nbsp;<h2>Purchasing:</h2>Bid Opening for Friday May 10, 2024 is cancelled.Any Request for Bid, Proposal, or Qualifications with a stated Due Date of May 10, 2024 are deferred until 10:00am Friday May 17, 2024.&nbsp;Please call the Purchasing Office at 316-268-4636 for any questions or technical assistance.<h2>Park and Recreation:</h2>Wichita Park &amp; Recreation is unable to facilitate credit card transactions, whether conducted online or in-person. Patrons are kindly asked to register for the diverse range of programming outlined below at any of our designated recreation centers during respective operating hours. Detailed information regarding the operational schedules of the centers is conveniently accessible at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wichita.gov/722/Recreation-Centers" target="_blank">https://www.wichita.gov/722/Recreation-Centers</a>.The offerings encompass:Athletics:<ul>
 <li>Adult Leagues</li><li>Youth Leagues</li><li>Miracle League of Wichita</li>
 </ul>Aquatics:<ul>
 <li>Swim Classes</li><li>Scuba</li><li>Swim Team</li><li>Swimming Pool Memberships</li>
 </ul>Recreation:<ul>
 <li>Camps</li><li>Classes</li>
 </ul>Those seeking to procure the rental services of athletic fields, equipment, swimming pools, or venues are encouraged to contact our administrative office directly at 316-268-4361.For inquiries pertaining to programming at the Riverside Tennis Center, individuals are directed to personally visit the facility during its standard operational hours to complete the registration process. Detailed information regarding the operational hours of the Riverside Tennis Center can be found online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wichita.gov/1353/Riverside-Tennis-Center" target="_blank">https://www.wichita.gov/1353/Riverside-Tennis-Center</a>.<h2>Golf Wichita</h2>Golf Wichita is presently unable to facilitate credit card transactions, whether conducted online or in-person. We kindly request patrons to ensure they have cash or a check available when visiting any of our golf courses.Our online booking engine is unavailable. All reservations will be taken by calling your local clubhouse or in person.We are unable to process registrations for group lessons, tournaments, or the Junior Tour via online. Interested individuals are advised to register for group lessons or tournaments by visiting the respective host locations. For Junior Tour registration, please contact us directly at 316-268-4653.Please note that Golf Wichita is presently not accepting new membership applications. Existing members with inquiries are encouraged to reach out to us by phone at 316-268-4653 or email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:GolfWichita@wichita.gov">GolfWichita@wichita.gov</a>.<h2>City Licenses:&nbsp;</h2>Can I pay for or obtain a license through the City?&nbsp;&nbsp;Licenses may be paid for and obtained by coming to City Hall.&nbsp;<h2>City Meetings:&nbsp;</h2>Will City Council, committees and other advisory board meetings be streamed?&nbsp;&nbsp;While best efforts will be made to continue streaming any previously streamed public meetings or media opportunities, at this time, please plan to attend any City meetings in person.&nbsp;<h2>Landfill:&nbsp;</h2>Are landfill operations still in service?&nbsp;&nbsp;The landfill is accepting cash only at this time.&nbsp;<h2>Arts and Culture:&nbsp;</h2>Are cultural institutions impacted?&nbsp;&nbsp;Cultural institutions for the City including CityArts, Cowtown and Indian Museum are able to hold events as scheduled but payments will only be accepted by cash or check. Century II, Botanica and the Wichita Art Museum are not affected.&nbsp;<h2>Municipal Court:&nbsp;</h2>Municipal Court customer service staff has access to docket and warrant information. Individuals may contact 316-268-4611 for their current court dates. There will be ample time for people to clear warrants once we are fully operational. We appreciate your patience during this time and we are sorry inconvenience. Once information services are restored, there will be a process for those who lost contact with the court and received a warrant to clear the warrant without arrest.Is Municipal Court still in operation?&nbsp;All scheduled dockets will proceed as planned. There is no walk in docket at this time.&nbsp;What if I have to pay a Municipal Court fine?&nbsp;&nbsp;Payments to Municipal Court may be made in person. At this time, only cash and check are being accepted.&nbsp;<h2>Airport:&nbsp;</h2>What impact does this have to the Airport?&nbsp;&nbsp;No public wi-fi is available at the terminal and arrival and departure screens are not currently working. Flights are operating normally.&nbsp;<h2>Library:</h2>Is the Library open?&nbsp;&nbsp;Public WiFi is available at the following locations: Alford, Angelou, Rockwell and Westlink branches as well as Libby. Staff can check out materials, but checking in materials, pulling holds and transferring materials between locations might be paused. We are a fine-free library, but will monitor accounts to make sure other fees are not assessed during this time. Public wifi is not available at the following locations: Advanced Learning Library, Evergreen and Walters branches. Other services that may be impacted include: staff email through the City network (if you email us, we might not be able to respond during this outage), the library website, most databases, including Kanopy, LinkedIn Learning, etc, the online catalog, the Self-service print release stations, the self-check stations, the automated materials handler at the Advanced Learning Library – place returns in the manual book drop, most incoming phone call capability.&nbsp;<h2>Resource Centers:&nbsp;</h2>Are neighborhood resource centers still operational?&nbsp;&nbsp;Wi-fi and phones are currently down. Unless otherwise noted, all scheduled events services are operational.<h2>Planning:</h2>Is Planning still able to process cases?&nbsp;&nbsp;All planning activities will continue. Payments may be made with cash or check.&nbsp;<h2>MABCD:&nbsp;</h2>Is MABCD operational?&nbsp;&nbsp;There is no expected interruption to MABCD activities.&nbsp;<h2>Housing:&nbsp;</h2>How is Housing and Community Services impacted?&nbsp;&nbsp;At this time, staff are working to serve those needing Housing and Community services Assistance as well as we can. Staff will contact those needing service as soon as possible.&nbsp;<h2>General Information</h2>What Happened?&nbsp;On May 5, 2024, certain City systems were encrypted by malware. In response, some computer network and systems were shut down to prevent the spread of the malware. Certain services may be temporarily unavailable while systems are offline. The City is enabling business continuity measures, where appropriate, to minimize disruption and is working with third-party specialists to safely and securely restore the computer network.What is encryption malware?&nbsp;Encryption malware is a type of computer virus that locks files without permission. A third party then seeks payment for a key to unlock the computer files. This is often called ransomware, which uses computer software to lock files and withhold the key to unlock the files until a payment is made. Unfortunately, government organizations are often targeted by these groups.Has law enforcement been notified?&nbsp;Yes, federal and local law enforcement authorities are assisting with this matter.What group is claiming responsibility?&nbsp;This is not being shared for operational security purposes.What is the impact on data?&nbsp;We are completing a thorough review and assessment of this matter, including the potential impact on data. Detailed assessments of these types of incidents take time. We thank you for your patience, understanding, and respect for the integrity of this review process.Are first responders (Fire/Police) still providing services?&nbsp;Yes, they are. They are prepared for these matters and have switched to business continuity measures where appropriate to continue providing exceptional service.When will systems be back online?&nbsp;We are working with specialists to thoroughly review and assess systems before putting them back online. Systems will be restored on a staggered basis to minimize disruptions. We do not have a definitive timeline for returning all systems to production.