By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/06/aclu-motorists-challenge-roadside-detention-dog-searches-triggered-by-trooper-two-step/">Kansas Reflector</a>

KANSAS CITY, Kansas — Detention 
of Blaine Shaw after stopped for speeding on Interstate 70 while on a 
trip from Oklahoma to Colorado snowballed Monday into a trial 
challenging constitutionality of the Kansas Highway Patrol’s policy of 
targeting out-of-staters and other suspicious people for vehicle 
searches by drug-sniffing dogs.

Shaw and his brother, members of the Osage Nation and residents of 
Oklahoma City, were on their way to Denver to visit family and friends 
in December 2017 when pulled over near Hays. KHP trooper Doug Schulte 
reported he clocked Shaw driving 91 mph in the 75-mph zone. The trooper 
wrote a ticket for the infraction to conclude the stated purpose of the 
stop and told the brothers to have a safe trip. Schulte began to walk 
away, but executed a maneuver cynically known as the “trooper two-step” 
and returned to Shaw’s open window.

“Hey Blaine,” his lawyer recounted during opening argument of Blaine 
Shaw’s lawsuit against Schulte, “can I ask you another question?”

What happened over the next 45 minutes or so, much of it recorded on 
Shaw’s cellular telephone or by KHP vehicle or body cameras, became 
grist for a jury trial in U.S. District Court challenging the state 
patrol’s approach to securing “reasonable suspicion” necessary to detain
 motorists and compel vehicle searches by K-9 units.

Sharon Brett, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of
 Kansas, told the eight-person jury in the Robert J. Dole Federal 
Courthouse that Schulte violated the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. 
Constitution with the rogue search of her client’s vehicle.

“The evidence will show trooper Schulte was going off no more than a 
hunch,” Brett said. “Did trooper Schulte have reasonable suspicion to 
detain Blaine Shaw for a K-9 sniff? Was he playing by the rules he was 
sworn to follow?”

This trial was the first of possibly three constitutional challenges 
inspired by comparable stops by KHP of Shaw, Wichita resident Joshua 
Bosire and Ohio residents Mark Erich and Shawna Maloney.

Court documents show Bosire’s suit, scheduled for trial Feb. 13, 
alleged misconduct was committed by KHP trooper Brandon McMillan when he
 stopped a rental car with Missouri license plates being driving on I-70
 in February 2019. Bosire said in court documents he was on his way home
 after visiting his daughter in Colorado when pulled over for speeding.

McMillan said he wouldn’t issue Bosire a speeding ticket but called 
in the canine unit because Bosier refused to clarify his travel plans 
and might be hauling something illegal. The dog didn’t alert to possible
 presence of illegal drugs and Bosire was released after 45 minutes.

In the other case, Erich and Maloney of Willowick, Ohio, were 
traveling eastbound on I-70 in a recreational vehicle with Colorado 
temporary tags when stopped by KHP trooper Justin Rohr because he 
observed a wheel touch a painted line on the side of the highway. Rohr 
issued a warning, took a couple steps away before turning to ask about 
their travel plans. Erich said he preferred not to answer any other 
questions.

Court documents say Rohr detained Erich and Maloney, along with their
 children 10 and 13 years of age, because there was reasonable suspicion
 the RV had a false compartment. Rohr ordered a canine sniff of the 
vehicle, but no concealed drugs were discovered. They were released 
after 45 minutes.

Erich and Maloney filed a lawsuit against Rohr and named KHP 
superintendent Herman Jones as a defendant. In pretrial testimony, Rohr 
said a vehicle’s state of origin was indicative of criminal activity if 
it was a state such as Colorado and California that legalized 
recreational marijuana. A trial in federal court related to the third 
traffic stop by KHP hasn’t been scheduled.

U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Vratil previously rejected KHP’s 
motion for summary judgment. In June, the U.S. Court of Appeals in 
Denver denied a claim by the KHP employees seeking qualified immunity 
from lawsuits for their actions as law enforcement officers.

Shaw, in a dark suit with long black hair tied in a ponytail, sat at 
the counsel table with a portion of his legal team, including Patrick 
McInerny and Madison Perry of a Kansas City, Missouri, law firm. 
Schulte, in his blue KHP uniform minus a firearm, sat with his attorney 
at a table further away from the jury. Shaw and Schulte were expected to
 testify along with a former police chief serving as the plaintiff’s 
expert witness on law enforcement procedure.

Arthur Chalmers, the assistant Kansas attorney general assigned to 
represent KHP employees in the litigation, said evidence would prove 
Schulte relied on years of training and field experience to formulate 
suspicion of a possible crime and justify detention of Shaw for purposes
 of the dog search. He told the jury in opening statements the 
traffic-violation portion of the Shaw-Schulte encounter wasn’t at issue.

“This case is about the 28 and one-half minutes when a vehicle was on
 the side of the road,” Chalmers said. “It’s important from my client’s 
perspective that you keep an open mind.”

He said the heart of the dispute was what transpired after Schulte 
delivered the speeding citation to Shaw, took a few steps toward his own
 vehicle and made the decision to pose more questions to Shaw. It was 
the out-of-staters’ lack of candor that sealed the decision by Schulte 
to hold the Shaws on suspicion of engaging in drug trafficking, Chalmers
 said.

Chalmers said testimony would show Shaw raised suspicion by not 
pulling over promptly after Schulte activated lights on his cruiser. The
 “untimely” stop by Shaw could have been related to criminals trying to 
get a story straight or to an attempt to hide contraband in a vehicle, 
Chalmers said.

In addition, Chalmers said, Schulte’s antenna went up when he noticed
 the van contained gear as if the brothers were temporarily living in it
 while making a quick trip to Colorado to buy marijuana and deliver it 
to Oklahoma. Chalmers said it was suspicious to the KHP trooper that 
Shaw was driving his father’s van because traffickers generally didn’t 
use their own cars or trucks when hauling drugs due to asset forfeiture 
laws.

Chalmers said Schulte noticed Samuel Shaw, the brother and a 
passenger in the van, was acting in a peculiar manner and giving off a 
“nothing-to-see-here” vibe. Finally, Chalmers said Schulte’s reasonable 
suspicion was reinforced when told by dispatch that Shaw had been 
charged previously with possession of narcotics.

“The final straw is that they’re not traveling local. It is instead a
 trip to a place where you can access drugs,” Chalmers said.

In the end, the KHP brought in a dog to join in a search of the 
Shaws’ 2010 Chrysler van. The dog alerted to the scent of illegal 
substances, Chalmers said, but troopers didn’t find evidence to charge 
anyone with possession. KHP required Shaw to report to a nearby law 
enforcement office so copies could be made of his medical records, 
Colorado identification card and medical marijuana registration.

Brett framed for the jury Shaw’s interaction with KHP troopers from a
 different perspective. She spoke to a jury that included two nurses and
 an IT specialist, a human resources manager, an accountant and a sales 
manager from eastern Kansas.

She said Shaw didn’t immediately pull over because Schulte turned on 
his SUV’s patrol lights while still in front of Shaw’s white van. She 
said Shaw initially assumed the trooper was after someone else. The van 
was packed with gear for the pre-Christmas camping trip and had a cot in
 back, because Shaw needed to stretch after long periods sitting due to a
 back injury sustained in a 2009 traffic accident, Brett said.

Brett said Blaine Shaw. who earned a criminal justice degree at 
college, videotaped much of the communication with KHP. She said he 
accepted the speeding ticket from KHP, but didn’t believe he should 
drive away while Schulte peppered him with additional questions. The 
recording revealed Schulte scolded Shaw for driving too fast and not 
pulling over quickly. It also confirmed Schulte performed the trooper 
two-step.

Brett said the technique taught KHP troopers called for breaking off 
the initial traffic detention and reengaging with the driver to gain 
possibly incriminatory information under what could be viewed as a 
consensual conversation. Schulte asked the Shaws about travel plans. The
 trooper inquired as to whether they were hauling anything illegal, such
 as firearms, large amounts of cash or narcotics.

She said Blaine Shaw said no to those questions. But when Schulte 
asked if he could search the van, Blaine Shaw refused to grant 
permission.

“Wait right here,” Brett said the trooper told the Shaws.

At this point, Schulte requested the K-9 unit.

Brett said Schulte apparently misinterpreted the behavior of Shaw’s 
brother, Samuel, as someone being evasive. In fact, Brett said, Samuel 
Shaw sustained a traumatic brain injury playing football in high school 
and could get “frequently confused” by strange surroundings or events.

She said Blaine Shaw was unconstitutionally detained because Schulte 
didn’t come close to a “specific articulable reasonable suspicion” a 
crime was about to be committed, was occurring or could be expected to 
transpire. She said Blaine Shaw deserved compensation for the 
constitutional violation and for generating anxiety and fear in Blaine 
Shaw that resulted in lost wages after missing work.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675807118949.png" alt="The ACLU of Kansas on behalf of four clients allege at trial in federal court the Kansas Highway Patrol engages in unconstitutional detention of motorists on Kansas highways before conducting improper vehicle searches by drug-sniffing dogs. Two KHP troopers and KHP Col. Herman Jones, in uniform at the Capitol, were named as defendants. Jones, who faces federal lawsuits over sexual harassment and retaliation, will retire this summer the governor announced Wednesday(Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The ACLU of Kansas on behalf of four clients allege at trial in federal court the Kansas Highway Patrol engages in unconstitutional detention of motorists on Kansas highways before conducting improper vehicle searches by drug-sniffing dogs. Two KHP troopers and KHP Col. Herman Jones, in uniform at the Capitol, were named as defendants. Jones, who faces federal lawsuits over sexual harassment and retaliation, will retire this summer the governor announced Wednesday(Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/06/aclu-motorists-challenge-roadside-detention-dog-searches-triggered-by-trooper-two-step/">Kansas Reflector</a>KANSAS CITY, Kansas — Detention 
of Blaine Shaw after stopped for speeding on Interstate 70 while on a 
trip from Oklahoma to Colorado snowballed Monday into a trial 
challenging constitutionality of the Kansas Highway Patrol’s policy of 
targeting out-of-staters and other suspicious people for vehicle 
searches by drug-sniffing dogs.Shaw and his brother, members of the Osage Nation and residents of 
Oklahoma City, were on their way to Denver to visit family and friends 
in December 2017 when pulled over near Hays. KHP trooper Doug Schulte 
reported he clocked Shaw driving 91 mph in the 75-mph zone. The trooper 
wrote a ticket for the infraction to conclude the stated purpose of the 
stop and told the brothers to have a safe trip. Schulte began to walk 
away, but executed a maneuver cynically known as the “trooper two-step” 
and returned to Shaw’s open window.“Hey Blaine,” his lawyer recounted during opening argument of Blaine 
Shaw’s lawsuit against Schulte, “can I ask you another question?”What happened over the next 45 minutes or so, much of it recorded on 
Shaw’s cellular telephone or by KHP vehicle or body cameras, became 
grist for a jury trial in U.S. District Court challenging the state 
patrol’s approach to securing “reasonable suspicion” necessary to detain
 motorists and compel vehicle searches by K-9 units.Sharon Brett, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of
 Kansas, told the eight-person jury in the Robert J. Dole Federal 
Courthouse that Schulte violated the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. 
Constitution with the rogue search of her client’s vehicle.“The evidence will show trooper Schulte was going off no more than a 
hunch,” Brett said. “Did trooper Schulte have reasonable suspicion to 
detain Blaine Shaw for a K-9 sniff? Was he playing by the rules he was 
sworn to follow?”<h2>ACLU times three</h2>This trial was the first of possibly three constitutional challenges 
inspired by comparable stops by KHP of Shaw, Wichita resident Joshua 
Bosire and Ohio residents Mark Erich and Shawna Maloney.Court documents show Bosire’s suit, scheduled for trial Feb. 13, 
alleged misconduct was committed by KHP trooper Brandon McMillan when he
 stopped a rental car with Missouri license plates being driving on I-70
 in February 2019. Bosire said in court documents he was on his way home
 after visiting his daughter in Colorado when pulled over for speeding.McMillan said he wouldn’t issue Bosire a speeding ticket but called 
in the canine unit because Bosier refused to clarify his travel plans 
and might be hauling something illegal. The dog didn’t alert to possible
 presence of illegal drugs and Bosire was released after 45 minutes.In the other case, Erich and Maloney of Willowick, Ohio, were 
traveling eastbound on I-70 in a recreational vehicle with Colorado 
temporary tags when stopped by KHP trooper Justin Rohr because he 
observed a wheel touch a painted line on the side of the highway. Rohr 
issued a warning, took a couple steps away before turning to ask about 
their travel plans. Erich said he preferred not to answer any other 
questions.Court documents say Rohr detained Erich and Maloney, along with their
 children 10 and 13 years of age, because there was reasonable suspicion
 the RV had a false compartment. Rohr ordered a canine sniff of the 
vehicle, but no concealed drugs were discovered. They were released 
after 45 minutes.Erich and Maloney filed a lawsuit against Rohr and named KHP 
superintendent Herman Jones as a defendant. In pretrial testimony, Rohr 
said a vehicle’s state of origin was indicative of criminal activity if 
it was a state such as Colorado and California that legalized 
recreational marijuana. A trial in federal court related to the third 
traffic stop by KHP hasn’t been scheduled.U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Vratil previously rejected KHP’s 
motion for summary judgment. In June, the U.S. Court of Appeals in 
Denver denied a claim by the KHP employees seeking qualified immunity 
from lawsuits for their actions as law enforcement officers.Shaw, in a dark suit with long black hair tied in a ponytail, sat at 
the counsel table with a portion of his legal team, including Patrick 
McInerny and Madison Perry of a Kansas City, Missouri, law firm. 
Schulte, in his blue KHP uniform minus a firearm, sat with his attorney 
at a table further away from the jury. Shaw and Schulte were expected to
 testify along with a former police chief serving as the plaintiff’s 
expert witness on law enforcement procedure.<h2>‘Keep an open mind’</h2>Arthur Chalmers, the assistant Kansas attorney general assigned to 
represent KHP employees in the litigation, said evidence would prove 
Schulte relied on years of training and field experience to formulate 
suspicion of a possible crime and justify detention of Shaw for purposes
 of the dog search. He told the jury in opening statements the 
traffic-violation portion of the Shaw-Schulte encounter wasn’t at issue.“This case is about the 28 and one-half minutes when a vehicle was on
 the side of the road,” Chalmers said. “It’s important from my client’s 
perspective that you keep an open mind.”He said the heart of the dispute was what transpired after Schulte 
delivered the speeding citation to Shaw, took a few steps toward his own
 vehicle and made the decision to pose more questions to Shaw. It was 
the out-of-staters’ lack of candor that sealed the decision by Schulte 
to hold the Shaws on suspicion of engaging in drug trafficking, Chalmers
 said.Chalmers said testimony would show Shaw raised suspicion by not 
pulling over promptly after Schulte activated lights on his cruiser. The
 “untimely” stop by Shaw could have been related to criminals trying to 
get a story straight or to an attempt to hide contraband in a vehicle, 
Chalmers said.In addition, Chalmers said, Schulte’s antenna went up when he noticed
 the van contained gear as if the brothers were temporarily living in it
 while making a quick trip to Colorado to buy marijuana and deliver it 
to Oklahoma. Chalmers said it was suspicious to the KHP trooper that 
Shaw was driving his father’s van because traffickers generally didn’t 
use their own cars or trucks when hauling drugs due to asset forfeiture 
laws.Chalmers said Schulte noticed Samuel Shaw, the brother and a 
passenger in the van, was acting in a peculiar manner and giving off a 
“nothing-to-see-here” vibe. Finally, Chalmers said Schulte’s reasonable 
suspicion was reinforced when told by dispatch that Shaw had been 
charged previously with possession of narcotics.“The final straw is that they’re not traveling local. It is instead a
 trip to a place where you can access drugs,” Chalmers said.In the end, the KHP brought in a dog to join in a search of the 
Shaws’ 2010 Chrysler van. The dog alerted to the scent of illegal 
substances, Chalmers said, but troopers didn’t find evidence to charge 
anyone with possession. KHP required Shaw to report to a nearby law 
enforcement office so copies could be made of his medical records, 
Colorado identification card and medical marijuana registration.<h2>‘Wait right here’</h2>Brett framed for the jury Shaw’s interaction with KHP troopers from a
 different perspective. She spoke to a jury that included two nurses and
 an IT specialist, a human resources manager, an accountant and a sales 
manager from eastern Kansas.She said Shaw didn’t immediately pull over because Schulte turned on 
his SUV’s patrol lights while still in front of Shaw’s white van. She 
said Shaw initially assumed the trooper was after someone else. The van 
was packed with gear for the pre-Christmas camping trip and had a cot in
 back, because Shaw needed to stretch after long periods sitting due to a
 back injury sustained in a 2009 traffic accident, Brett said.Brett said Blaine Shaw. who earned a criminal justice degree at 
college, videotaped much of the communication with KHP. She said he 
accepted the speeding ticket from KHP, but didn’t believe he should 
drive away while Schulte peppered him with additional questions. The 
recording revealed Schulte scolded Shaw for driving too fast and not 
pulling over quickly. It also confirmed Schulte performed the trooper 
two-step.Brett said the technique taught KHP troopers called for breaking off 
the initial traffic detention and reengaging with the driver to gain 
possibly incriminatory information under what could be viewed as a 
consensual conversation. Schulte asked the Shaws about travel plans. The
 trooper inquired as to whether they were hauling anything illegal, such
 as firearms, large amounts of cash or narcotics.She said Blaine Shaw said no to those questions. But when Schulte 
asked if he could search the van, Blaine Shaw refused to grant 
permission.“Wait right here,” Brett said the trooper told the Shaws.At this point, Schulte requested the K-9 unit.Brett said Schulte apparently misinterpreted the behavior of Shaw’s 
brother, Samuel, as someone being evasive. In fact, Brett said, Samuel 
Shaw sustained a traumatic brain injury playing football in high school 
and could get “frequently confused” by strange surroundings or events.She said Blaine Shaw was unconstitutionally detained because Schulte 
didn’t come close to a “specific articulable reasonable suspicion” a 
crime was about to be committed, was occurring or could be expected to 
transpire. She said Blaine Shaw deserved compensation for the 
constitutional violation and for generating anxiety and fear in Blaine 
Shaw that resulted in lost wages after missing work.

ACLU, motorists challenge Kan. roadside detention, dog searches

FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged threat at a southwest Kansas school.

On Wednesday, an upset parent made a call to Sunnyside Elementary, 511, Sunnyside Avenue in Dodge City, and threatened to blow up the school, according to a media release from police.

The parent arrived at the school shortly after the call&nbsp;to pick up her children and police were notified.&nbsp;&nbsp;When officers arrived, they contacted a 31-year old woman from Dodge City in the building entryway. 

Due to security measures at the school, she only entered the entry doors and not the locked interior doors.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Officers arrested her immediately without incident. They found no explosive materials. 

She was booked into the Ford County Jail on a requested felony charge of criminal threat and the case will be forwarded to the Ford County Attorney's office. Police did not release her name.

FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged threat at a southwest Kansas school.On Wednesday, an upset parent made a call to Sunnyside Elementary, 511, Sunnyside Avenue in Dodge City, and threatened to blow up the school, according to a media release from police.The parent arrived at the school shortly after the call&nbsp;to pick up her children and police were notified.&nbsp;&nbsp;When officers arrived, they contacted a 31-year old woman from Dodge City in the building entryway. Due to security measures at the school, she only entered the entry doors and not the locked interior doors.&nbsp;&nbsp;Officers arrested her immediately without incident. They found no explosive materials. She was booked into the Ford County Jail on a requested felony charge of criminal threat and the case will be forwarded to the Ford County Attorney's office. Police did not release her name.

Police: SW Kan. woman threatened to blow up elementary school

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp;are investigating a fight on Monday that led to the the death of an 18-year-old in Leavenworth as a homicide.

According to Leavenworth Police, the fight happened in the 600 block of Shawnee Street after a basketball game between Eric Miller and a 19-year-old suspect. Police responded to report of the disturbance and found the teen with critical injuries. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he died.

On their social media page, the Leavenworth Football Booster Club shared their grief over Miller's death on Tuesday evening. He was a member of the Leavenworth High School football team. 

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp;are investigating a fight on Monday that led to the the death of an 18-year-old in Leavenworth as a homicide.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLeavenworthFootballBoosterClub%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0JxXRkDNSXDCc6nRVWRiEsci2aTnT36GcjhEiv78PgCCAX21K8G5AXGds4CnHc6ngl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="653" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>According to Leavenworth Police, the fight happened in the 600 block of Shawnee Street after a basketball game between Eric Miller and a 19-year-old suspect. Police responded to report of the disturbance and found the teen with critical injuries. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he died.On their social media page, the Leavenworth Football Booster Club shared their grief over Miller's death on Tuesday evening. He was a member of the Leavenworth High School football team. Police have not reported an arrest.

Homicide: Kan. high school football player dead after fight

ANTAKYA, Turkey (AP) — Thousands who lost their homes in a catastrophic earthquake huddled around campfires and clamored for food and water in the bitter cold, three days after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/earthquake-shakes-turkey-b927808f6a5c54bdb669120faa40b7bc">the temblor and a series of aftershocks</a>&nbsp;hit Turkey and Syria, killing more than 19,300.

&nbsp;The U.S. State Department confirmed that three U.S. citizens are among&nbsp; those who died.&nbsp; Officials did not release their names late Wednesday.

Emergency crews used pick axes, shovels and jackhammers to dig through twisted metal and concrete — and occasionally still pulled survivors out. But in some places, they switched the focus to demolishing unsteady buildings.

While stories of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/newborn-rescued-earthquake-syria-899ba2d62631d3f5c77761b935f9f7e9">miraculous rescues</a>&nbsp;briefly buoyed spirits, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/earthquake-turkey-syria-photo-gallery-feb-8-c22cec8eb554cc72a41a72212c52d2bb">grim reality</a>&nbsp;of the hardship facing tens of thousands who survived the disaster cast a pall. The number of deaths has surpassed the toll in a 2011 earthquake off Japan that triggered a tsunami, killing more than 18,400 people.

In northwest Syria, the first U.N. aid trucks to enter the rebel-controlled area from Turkey since the quake arrived — underscoring the difficulty of getting help to people in the country riven by civil war. In the Turkish city of Antakya, meanwhile, dozens of people scrambled for aid in front of a truck distributing children's coats and other supplies.

One survivor, Ahmet Tokgoz, called for the government to evacuate people from the devastated region. While many of the tens of thousands who have lost their homes have found shelter in tents, stadiums and other temporary accommodation, others have spent the nights outdoors.

“Especially in this cold, it is not possible to live here,” he said. “If people haven’t died from being stuck under the rubble, they’ll die from the cold.”

Winter weather and damage to roads and airports have hampered the response in both Turkey and Syria, where a civil war that displaced millions has further complicated efforts. Some in Turkey have complained the response was too slow — a perception that could hurt President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a time when he faces a tough battle for reelection in May.

In the Turkish town of Elbistan, rescuers stood atop a high stack of rubble from a collapsed home and fished out an elderly woman who had been submerged.

Teams&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/turkey-syria-earthquakes-f4086948f1c77eb519ad07590ae09568">urged quiet</a>&nbsp;in the hopes of hearing stifled pleas for help, and the Syrian paramedic group in the rebel-held northwest known as White Helmets noted that “every second could mean saving a life.”

But more and more often, the teams pulled out dead bodies from under the rubble. In Turkey's Antakya, over 100 bodies, covered by blankets and awaiting identification, lay in a makeshift morgue outside a hospital and in refrigerated trucks.

With the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-syria-turkey-health-earthquakes-673a3be02bfa996bad99dbba90ad7b7f">chances of finding people alive in the rubble dwindling</a>, teams in some places began demolishing buildings. In others, they simply had to move on.

In Adiyaman, Associated Press journalists saw a local resident plead with rescuers to come and sift through the rubble of a building where relatives were trapped. The crew refused, saying there was no one alive there, and they had to prioritize areas where there may be survivors.

A man, who gave only his name as Ahmet out of fear of government retribution, later asked the AP: “How can I go home and sleep? My brother is there. He may still be alive.”

In Nurdagi, throngs of onlookers — mostly family members of people trapped inside — watched as heavy machines ripped at one building that had collapsed, its six floors pancaked together.

Mehmet Yilmaz watched from a distance, estimating that around 80 people were still beneath the rubble — but that it was unlikely any would be recovered alive.

“There’s no hope," said Yilmaz, 67, who had six relatives, including a 3-month-old baby, trapped inside. "We can’t give up our hope in God, but they entered the building with listening devices and dogs and there was nothing.”

Authorities called off search-and-rescue operations on Thursday in the cities of Kilis and Sanliurfa, where destruction was not as severe as in other impacted regions.

Across the border in war-riven Syria, assistance trickled in. Smaller aid organizations have sent in shipments to Syria's rebel-held northwest, but the first U.N. trucks arrived Thursday. The U.N. is only authorized to deliver aid through one border crossing and road damage has prevented that thus far.

U.N. officials said more was needed, and they pleaded for humanitarian concerns to take precedence over politics.

The scale of loss and suffering to tend to remained massive. Turkish authorities said Thursday that the death toll had risen to more than 16,100 in the country, with more than 64,000 injured. On the Syrian side, which includes in government-held and rebel-held areas, of the border, more than 3,100 have been reported dead and more than 5,000 injured.

It was not clear how many people were still unaccounted for in both countries.

Among the missing were members of a high-school volleyball team from northern Cyprus, as well as teachers and parents who had been staying in a hotel that collapsed, said Nazim Cavusoglu, the education minister in the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north, on Turkey’s NTV television.

Turkey’s disaster management agency said more than 110,000 rescue personnel were now taking part in the effort and more than 5,500 vehicles, including tractors, cranes, bulldozers and excavators had been shipped. Teams from places as diverse as Poland, Switzerland, Israel and the West Bank were contributing to the deployment to Turkey.

But international aid for Syria was far more sparse, where efforts have been hampered by the ongoing war and the isolation of the rebel-held region along the border that is surrounded by Russia-backed government forces. Syria itself is an international pariah under Western sanctions linked to the war.

The U.N. shipment was scheduled before the earthquake happened but was delayed by road damage. U.N. officials said more trucks were set to follow.

Erdogan, who continued touring devastated areas Thursday, has sought to deflect criticism of the response — and vowed it was improving. He renewed a promise to quake survivors that destroyed homes would be rebuilt within a year. He has said the government will distribute 10,000 Turkish lira ($532) to affected families.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675651936627.png" alt="To date, the United States has deployed more than 150 search-and-rescue personnel, along with teams of canines, to join the life-saving efforts in Turkey, according to the State Department. U.S. teams include experienced emergency managers, hazardous materials technicians, engineers, logisticians, paramedics, and planners, among others – along with 170,000 pounds of specialized tools and equipment.-USGS image&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>To date, the United States has deployed more than 150 search-and-rescue personnel, along with teams of canines, to join the life-saving efforts in Turkey, according to the State Department. U.S. teams include experienced emergency managers, hazardous materials technicians, engineers, logisticians, paramedics, and planners, among others – along with 170,000 pounds of specialized tools and equipment.-USGS image&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>ANTAKYA, Turkey (AP) — Thousands who lost their homes in a catastrophic earthquake huddled around campfires and clamored for food and water in the bitter cold, three days after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/earthquake-shakes-turkey-b927808f6a5c54bdb669120faa40b7bc">the temblor and a series of aftershocks</a>&nbsp;hit Turkey and Syria, killing more than 19,300.&nbsp;The U.S. State Department confirmed that three U.S. citizens are among&nbsp; those who died.&nbsp; Officials did not release their names late Wednesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecBlinken?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecBlinken</a> on the initial U.S. earthquake response for Turkiye &amp; Syria: We’ve deployed experienced emergency managers, hazardous materials technicians, engineers, logisticians, paramedics, planners, others, along with about 170,000 lbs of specialized tools &amp; equipment. <a href="https://t.co/zwUf3PEpmk">pic.twitter.com/zwUf3PEpmk</a>&mdash; Department of State (@StateDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1623412338937196545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Emergency crews used pick axes, shovels and jackhammers to dig through twisted metal and concrete — and occasionally still pulled survivors out. But in some places, they switched the focus to demolishing unsteady buildings.While stories of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/newborn-rescued-earthquake-syria-899ba2d62631d3f5c77761b935f9f7e9">miraculous rescues</a>&nbsp;briefly buoyed spirits, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/earthquake-turkey-syria-photo-gallery-feb-8-c22cec8eb554cc72a41a72212c52d2bb">grim reality</a>&nbsp;of the hardship facing tens of thousands who survived the disaster cast a pall. The number of deaths has surpassed the toll in a 2011 earthquake off Japan that triggered a tsunami, killing more than 18,400 people.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675906856525.png" alt="Two USAID Urban Search and Rescue teams arrived to the 39th Air Base Wing in Incirlik to help with rescue and recovery efforts after the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye. U.S Ambassador to Türkiye Jeffry Flake and Mrs. Flake thank the Los Angels County Fire Department and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s Urban Search and Rescue team for providing urgent support to our NATO Ally. (State Department photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Türkiye)" />
 <figcaption>Two USAID Urban Search and Rescue teams arrived to the 39th Air Base Wing in Incirlik to help with rescue and recovery efforts after the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye. U.S Ambassador to Türkiye Jeffry Flake and Mrs. Flake thank the Los Angels County Fire Department and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s Urban Search and Rescue team for providing urgent support to our NATO Ally. (State Department photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Türkiye)</figcaption>
 </figure>In northwest Syria, the first U.N. aid trucks to enter the rebel-controlled area from Turkey since the quake arrived — underscoring the difficulty of getting help to people in the country riven by civil war. In the Turkish city of Antakya, meanwhile, dozens of people scrambled for aid in front of a truck distributing children's coats and other supplies.One survivor, Ahmet Tokgoz, called for the government to evacuate people from the devastated region. While many of the tens of thousands who have lost their homes have found shelter in tents, stadiums and other temporary accommodation, others have spent the nights outdoors.“Especially in this cold, it is not possible to live here,” he said. “If people haven’t died from being stuck under the rubble, they’ll die from the cold.”Winter weather and damage to roads and airports have hampered the response in both Turkey and Syria, where a civil war that displaced millions has further complicated efforts. Some in Turkey have complained the response was too slow — a perception that could hurt President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a time when he faces a tough battle for reelection in May.In the Turkish town of Elbistan, rescuers stood atop a high stack of rubble from a collapsed home and fished out an elderly woman who had been submerged.Teams&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/turkey-syria-earthquakes-f4086948f1c77eb519ad07590ae09568">urged quiet</a>&nbsp;in the hopes of hearing stifled pleas for help, and the Syrian paramedic group in the rebel-held northwest known as White Helmets noted that “every second could mean saving a life.”But more and more often, the teams pulled out dead bodies from under the rubble. In Turkey's Antakya, over 100 bodies, covered by blankets and awaiting identification, lay in a makeshift morgue outside a hospital and in refrigerated trucks.With the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-syria-turkey-health-earthquakes-673a3be02bfa996bad99dbba90ad7b7f">chances of finding people alive in the rubble dwindling</a>, teams in some places began demolishing buildings. In others, they simply had to move on.In Adiyaman, Associated Press journalists saw a local resident plead with rescuers to come and sift through the rubble of a building where relatives were trapped. The crew refused, saying there was no one alive there, and they had to prioritize areas where there may be survivors.A man, who gave only his name as Ahmet out of fear of government retribution, later asked the AP: “How can I go home and sleep? My brother is there. He may still be alive.”In Nurdagi, throngs of onlookers — mostly family members of people trapped inside — watched as heavy machines ripped at one building that had collapsed, its six floors pancaked together.Mehmet Yilmaz watched from a distance, estimating that around 80 people were still beneath the rubble — but that it was unlikely any would be recovered alive.“There’s no hope," said Yilmaz, 67, who had six relatives, including a 3-month-old baby, trapped inside. "We can’t give up our hope in God, but they entered the building with listening devices and dogs and there was nothing.”Authorities called off search-and-rescue operations on Thursday in the cities of Kilis and Sanliurfa, where destruction was not as severe as in other impacted regions.Across the border in war-riven Syria, assistance trickled in. Smaller aid organizations have sent in shipments to Syria's rebel-held northwest, but the first U.N. trucks arrived Thursday. The U.N. is only authorized to deliver aid through one border crossing and road damage has prevented that thus far.U.N. officials said more was needed, and they pleaded for humanitarian concerns to take precedence over politics.The scale of loss and suffering to tend to remained massive. Turkish authorities said Thursday that the death toll had risen to more than 16,100 in the country, with more than 64,000 injured. On the Syrian side, which includes in government-held and rebel-held areas, of the border, more than 3,100 have been reported dead and more than 5,000 injured.It was not clear how many people were still unaccounted for in both countries.Among the missing were members of a high-school volleyball team from northern Cyprus, as well as teachers and parents who had been staying in a hotel that collapsed, said Nazim Cavusoglu, the education minister in the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north, on Turkey’s NTV television.Turkey’s disaster management agency said more than 110,000 rescue personnel were now taking part in the effort and more than 5,500 vehicles, including tractors, cranes, bulldozers and excavators had been shipped. Teams from places as diverse as Poland, Switzerland, Israel and the West Bank were contributing to the deployment to Turkey.But international aid for Syria was far more sparse, where efforts have been hampered by the ongoing war and the isolation of the rebel-held region along the border that is surrounded by Russia-backed government forces. Syria itself is an international pariah under Western sanctions linked to the war.The U.N. shipment was scheduled before the earthquake happened but was delayed by road damage. U.N. officials said more trucks were set to follow.Erdogan, who continued touring devastated areas Thursday, has sought to deflect criticism of the response — and vowed it was improving. He renewed a promise to quake survivors that destroyed homes would be rebuilt within a year. He has said the government will distribute 10,000 Turkish lira ($532) to affected families.___

🎥 Americans among thousands dead in massive earthquake

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The rape case against a former Hutchinson police officer will have its pretrial hearing in April.

Following a Wednesday status conference, Judge Daniel Gilligan set the pretrial hearing for Todd W. Allen for April 10 at 8:30 a.m.

The formal charges filed against Allen include 17 felonies and seven misdemeanors.&nbsp;

Allen was arrested August 17&nbsp;and is charged with two counts of rape or alternative counts of aggravated sexual battery. &nbsp;

The charges also include three counts of attempted rape or alternative counts of aggravated sexual battery, two more counts of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of attempted aggravated sexual battery. &nbsp;

The two counts of rape are level one person felonies.&nbsp; Allen also faces five counts of breach of privacy and two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. &nbsp;He is currently free on a $250,000 bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660773528862.png" alt="Allen remains free on a $250,000 bond-photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Allen remains free on a $250,000 bond-photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The rape case against a former Hutchinson police officer will have its pretrial hearing in April.Following a Wednesday status conference, Judge Daniel Gilligan set the pretrial hearing for Todd W. Allen for April 10 at 8:30 a.m.The formal charges filed against Allen include 17 felonies and seven misdemeanors.&nbsp;Allen was arrested August 17&nbsp;and is charged with two counts of rape or alternative counts of aggravated sexual battery. &nbsp;The charges also include three counts of attempted rape or alternative counts of aggravated sexual battery, two more counts of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of attempted aggravated sexual battery. &nbsp;The two counts of rape are level one person felonies.&nbsp; Allen also faces five counts of breach of privacy and two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. &nbsp;He is currently free on a $250,000 bond.&nbsp;

Preliminary hearing set for ex Kan. cop charged with rape

KANSAS CITY—A jury has convicted a Kansas City man on multiple child sex charges for sexual abuse he perpetrated on a child, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Robert J. Warren, 63, was convicted of Statutory Rape 1st Degree, Statutory Rape 2nd Degree, Sexual Misconduct Involving a Child, two counts of Child Molestation 4th Degree and Enticing/Attempting to Entice a Child. He will be sentenced on April 27.

According to court records, in August 2017, Kansas City police were alerted to sexual abuse involving a 14-year-old child. Forensic interviews of the victim confirmed the abuse on more than one occasion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675437690536.png" alt="Warren-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Warren-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A jury has convicted a Kansas City man on multiple child sex charges for sexual abuse he perpetrated on a child, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Robert J. Warren, 63, was convicted of Statutory Rape 1st Degree, Statutory Rape 2nd Degree, Sexual Misconduct Involving a Child, two counts of Child Molestation 4th Degree and Enticing/Attempting to Entice a Child. He will be sentenced on April 27.According to court records, in August 2017, Kansas City police were alerted to sexual abuse involving a 14-year-old child. Forensic interviews of the victim confirmed the abuse on more than one occasion.

Jury: Kansas City man guilty of multiple child sex crimes

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged theft and forgery.

On February 3, police began an investigation that focused on the unlawful use of a donation that was intended for the Salvation Army, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 This donation was made with gift cards which were used in transactions at an Atchison business on various dates in December.

On Tuesday, police arrested Pamela S. Bilderback, 39, Atchison, on requested charges that include theft by deception, forgery, criminal use of a financial card, and unlawful computer acts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675874175185.png" alt="Bilderback-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Bilderback-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged theft and forgery.On February 3, police began an investigation that focused on the unlawful use of a donation that was intended for the Salvation Army, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. This donation was made with gift cards which were used in transactions at an Atchison business on various dates in December.On Tuesday, police arrested Pamela S. Bilderback, 39, Atchison, on requested charges that include theft by deception, forgery, criminal use of a financial card, and unlawful computer acts.

Police: Kan. woman used gift cards donated to Salvation Army

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities took three suspects into custody after a car struck a deputy's vehicle who was involved in an earlier traffic stop.

Just after 8p.m. Sunday,&nbsp;Corporal Roger Wilt with the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office was on a traffic stop in the 26,000 block of 85th Road, according to Sheriff Dave Faletti.

Wilt’s patrol vehicle had the rear emergency lights activated for other drivers on the roadway and was standing outside of his patrol vehicle speaking with the driver of the stopped vehicle when he saw a Red Saturn Vue approaching the area. 

The Saturn failed to slow down, struck his patrol vehicle, and continued southbound toward 71st Road at a high rate of speed. Wilt pursued the Saturn driven by&nbsp;Kenneth Raye Corcran, 20 of Arkansas City.

As the Saturn approached 71s Road, Corcran appeared to lose control of the vehicle. It rolled on its side and came to rest on its wheels. All occupants of the vehicle were removed from the vehicle. Arkansas City Fire and EMS checked all occupants of the car. All refused treatment.

The deputy arrested Corcran on requested charge of Driving while Under the Influence, Flee or attempt to Elude, Criminal Restraint, Duty of Driver to report Accident, No Driver’s License, No Proof of Insurance, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and reckless driving.&nbsp;

A passenger, Daniel Laszlo Soproni, age 22 of Arkansas City, Ks. was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp; A second Aaron Christian Griffith, 23 of Arkansas City&nbsp; was arrested on a requested charge of Failure to Appear Warrant and a fourth passenger was released at the scene with no charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675724981134.png" alt="Corcran-photo Cowley County" />
 <figcaption>Corcran-photo Cowley County</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities took three suspects into custody after a car struck a deputy's vehicle who was involved in an earlier traffic stop.Just after 8p.m. Sunday,&nbsp;Corporal Roger Wilt with the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office was on a traffic stop in the 26,000 block of 85th Road, according to Sheriff Dave Faletti.Wilt’s patrol vehicle had the rear emergency lights activated for other drivers on the roadway and was standing outside of his patrol vehicle speaking with the driver of the stopped vehicle when he saw a Red Saturn Vue approaching the area. The Saturn failed to slow down, struck his patrol vehicle, and continued southbound toward 71st Road at a high rate of speed. Wilt pursued the Saturn driven by&nbsp;Kenneth Raye Corcran, 20 of Arkansas City.As the Saturn approached 71s Road, Corcran appeared to lose control of the vehicle. It rolled on its side and came to rest on its wheels. All occupants of the vehicle were removed from the vehicle. Arkansas City Fire and EMS checked all occupants of the car. All refused treatment.The deputy arrested Corcran on requested charge of Driving while Under the Influence, Flee or attempt to Elude, Criminal Restraint, Duty of Driver to report Accident, No Driver’s License, No Proof of Insurance, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and reckless driving.&nbsp;A passenger, Daniel Laszlo Soproni, age 22 of Arkansas City, Ks. was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp; A second Aaron Christian Griffith, 23 of Arkansas City&nbsp; was arrested on a requested charge of Failure to Appear Warrant and a fourth passenger was released at the scene with no charges.

SUV struck Kan. deputy's patrol vehicle on a traffic stop

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/07/new-kansas-bill-would-set-cap-on-insulin-prices-restrict-costs-for-diabetes-equipment/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Rep. Heather Meyer is familiar with the battle between lifesaving medication and crippling medical debt.

Meyer, who was diagnosed with type 1 
diabetes at the age of 12, grew up with a single father who also had 
type 1 diabetes. With finances tight and health insurance unaffordable, 
the two had to ration bottles of insulin, reuse syringes and go without 
proper testing equipment, trying to gauge their blood sugar levels based
 on how they were feeling.

“We struggled constantly,” Meyer 
said. “And it was between rationing insulin and paying bills. And which 
are we going to do? We know we need to stay alive and we want to live. 
So we’re going to do our best with what we have to stay alive. But that 
meant our blood sugars were always running on the high side, or they 
would tank out because we were overcorrecting for a hike.”

To help out <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/14/as-insulin-costs-soar-diabetics-say-a-35-cap-on-co-pays-is-not-enough/">families in similar situations</a>,
 Meyer is championing legislation that would set limits on insulin 
prices. The bill is an attempt to lessen the financial burden of the 
thousands of Kansans living with diabetes.&nbsp;

The bill was introduced Monday in the
 House Health and Human Services Committee by Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee
 Democrat, on behalf of Meyer, a Overland Park Democrat. The legislation
 had not been published on the Legislature’s website as of Tuesday 
evening. Meyer said the financial impact of the bill is still unknown, 
and she is working with the state’s insurance commissioner to hammer out
 fiscal details.

The bill would set the maximum co-pay
 at $35 per month for insulin and insulin products under a qualifying 
program, eligible to both uninsured and insured people. The only 
exception would be people on Medicaid or Medicare, because federal 
insurance already has provisions for people with diabetes.

Meyer said another component of the 
bill was a provision allowing for a 30-day emergency supply of insulin 
per year, along with setting price caps on diabetic supplies, such as 
glucometers and syringes. The price cap for equipment would be set at 
$100.

“We wanted to make sure that was 
included because you know things happen,” Meyer said. “Your insulin can 
go bad. You can leave it in your car and it freezes or gets too hot. You
 can drop it on the floor and break your vial. You can, like I did, 
accidentally leave it at work.”

Meyer said she has dealt with soaring
 insulin prices for much of her life, paying more than $300 dollars per 
month for insulin at times. Though her insurance as a legislator is 
better than her past insurance, she said she is still struggling with 
exorbitant costs for necessary equipment.

Meyer said she recently had to pay 
out of pocket for her testing supplies, which cost her $1,500 for 
glucose monitoring equipment and a transmitter that would relay 
information about her blood sugar levels. With expenses so high, she 
said, she has had to pick and choose between medically necessary 
equipment.

“I’m currently not even using a 
continuous glucose monitor to pair with my insulin pump, because I’m 
waiting on it because I had to wait to figure out how to budget that 
out,” Meyer said. “I ended up using three different credit cards to pay 
for it.”

Meyer said she had similar stories 
from families across the state who were struggling to pay for diabetic 
equipment and insulin itself.

About 11.4% of the state’s adult 
population, about 255,215 people, have been diagnosed with diabetes, 
according to the American Diabetes Association. The organization 
estimated that total direct medical expenses for managing diabetes in 
the state were around $1.7 billion in 2017, with medical expenses about 
2.3 times higher for people who have diabetes than those who don’t have 
the conditions.

She said it is time to reduce the 
financial strain on Kansas families, especially parents worrying how to 
provide for their children.

“They have to shell out thousands of 
dollars a year just to ensure that their child, their minor child, does 
not die,” Meyer said. “I mean, that is absolutely ridiculous.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675869340143.png" alt="Rep. Heather Meyer, an Overland Park Democrat who has type 1 diabetes, is championing new legislation that would set a cap on insulin costs. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Heather Meyer, an Overland Park Democrat who has type 1 diabetes, is championing new legislation that would set a cap on insulin costs. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/07/new-kansas-bill-would-set-cap-on-insulin-prices-restrict-costs-for-diabetes-equipment/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Rep. Heather Meyer is familiar with the battle between lifesaving medication and crippling medical debt.Meyer, who was diagnosed with type 1 
diabetes at the age of 12, grew up with a single father who also had 
type 1 diabetes. With finances tight and health insurance unaffordable, 
the two had to ration bottles of insulin, reuse syringes and go without 
proper testing equipment, trying to gauge their blood sugar levels based
 on how they were feeling.“We struggled constantly,” Meyer 
said. “And it was between rationing insulin and paying bills. And which 
are we going to do? We know we need to stay alive and we want to live. 
So we’re going to do our best with what we have to stay alive. But that 
meant our blood sugars were always running on the high side, or they 
would tank out because we were overcorrecting for a hike.”To help out <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/14/as-insulin-costs-soar-diabetics-say-a-35-cap-on-co-pays-is-not-enough/">families in similar situations</a>,
 Meyer is championing legislation that would set limits on insulin 
prices. The bill is an attempt to lessen the financial burden of the 
thousands of Kansans living with diabetes.&nbsp;The bill was introduced Monday in the
 House Health and Human Services Committee by Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee
 Democrat, on behalf of Meyer, a Overland Park Democrat. The legislation
 had not been published on the Legislature’s website as of Tuesday 
evening. Meyer said the financial impact of the bill is still unknown, 
and she is working with the state’s insurance commissioner to hammer out
 fiscal details.The bill would set the maximum co-pay
 at $35 per month for insulin and insulin products under a qualifying 
program, eligible to both uninsured and insured people. The only 
exception would be people on Medicaid or Medicare, because federal 
insurance already has provisions for people with diabetes.Meyer said another component of the 
bill was a provision allowing for a 30-day emergency supply of insulin 
per year, along with setting price caps on diabetic supplies, such as 
glucometers and syringes. The price cap for equipment would be set at 
$100.“We wanted to make sure that was 
included because you know things happen,” Meyer said. “Your insulin can 
go bad. You can leave it in your car and it freezes or gets too hot. You
 can drop it on the floor and break your vial. You can, like I did, 
accidentally leave it at work.”Meyer said she has dealt with soaring
 insulin prices for much of her life, paying more than $300 dollars per 
month for insulin at times. Though her insurance as a legislator is 
better than her past insurance, she said she is still struggling with 
exorbitant costs for necessary equipment.Meyer said she recently had to pay 
out of pocket for her testing supplies, which cost her $1,500 for 
glucose monitoring equipment and a transmitter that would relay 
information about her blood sugar levels. With expenses so high, she 
said, she has had to pick and choose between medically necessary 
equipment.“I’m currently not even using a 
continuous glucose monitor to pair with my insulin pump, because I’m 
waiting on it because I had to wait to figure out how to budget that 
out,” Meyer said. “I ended up using three different credit cards to pay 
for it.”Meyer said she had similar stories 
from families across the state who were struggling to pay for diabetic 
equipment and insulin itself.About 11.4% of the state’s adult 
population, about 255,215 people, have been diagnosed with diabetes, 
according to the American Diabetes Association. The organization 
estimated that total direct medical expenses for managing diabetes in 
the state were around $1.7 billion in 2017, with medical expenses about 
2.3 times higher for people who have diabetes than those who don’t have 
the conditions.She said it is time to reduce the 
financial strain on Kansas families, especially parents worrying how to 
provide for their children.“They have to shell out thousands of 
dollars a year just to ensure that their child, their minor child, does 
not die,” Meyer said. “I mean, that is absolutely ridiculous.”

New Kansas bill would set cap on insulin prices

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating an abduction have made an arrest.

Just after 12:30p.m. Tuesday, police responded to the 1200 block of E. Mt. Vernon in Wichita for a disturbance, abduction call, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. 

A witnesses reported seeing two men arguing with a woman and forcibly placing her inside a vehicle and leaving the area.

Officers immediately began checking the area for the vehicle, and with the information provided by one of the witnesses following Atkinson’s vehicle, officers were able to locate the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but a suspect later identified as 26-year-old Daivon Atkinson refused to stop, and a chase ensued.

Officers were able to stop Atkinson’s vehicle after a brief pursuit at the intersection of 10th Street North and Madison.&nbsp; The officers arrested Atkinson after a foot pursuit.

The investigation revealed that Atkinson confronted his girlfriend, the 33-year-old victim, over an unknown circumstance. Atkinson told the victim to get in the car, and she refused. Atkinson and an acquaintance of the victim grabbed her and placed her inside the vehicle before fleeing the area.

This case would not have been solved so quickly without our officers’ and DIVERT officer’s quick response and help from the witnesses. Atkinson was booked on requested traffic charges and a requested aggravated assault charge not related to the initial disturbance, according to Rebolledo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675860596880.png" alt="ATKINSON-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>ATKINSON-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating an abduction have made an arrest.Just after 12:30p.m. Tuesday, police responded to the 1200 block of E. Mt. Vernon in Wichita for a disturbance, abduction call, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. A witnesses reported seeing two men arguing with a woman and forcibly placing her inside a vehicle and leaving the area.Officers immediately began checking the area for the vehicle, and with the information provided by one of the witnesses following Atkinson’s vehicle, officers were able to locate the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but a suspect later identified as 26-year-old Daivon Atkinson refused to stop, and a chase ensued.Officers were able to stop Atkinson’s vehicle after a brief pursuit at the intersection of 10th Street North and Madison.&nbsp; The officers arrested Atkinson after a foot pursuit.The investigation revealed that Atkinson confronted his girlfriend, the 33-year-old victim, over an unknown circumstance. Atkinson told the victim to get in the car, and she refused. Atkinson and an acquaintance of the victim grabbed her and placed her inside the vehicle before fleeing the area.This case would not have been solved so quickly without our officers’ and DIVERT officer’s quick response and help from the witnesses. Atkinson was booked on requested traffic charges and a requested aggravated assault charge not related to the initial disturbance, according to Rebolledo.

Kansas man accused in girlfriend's abduction 

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Three Salina residents have been arrested in connection to the shooting death of Dylan Eugene Garman on May 7, in Salina.

The Salina Police Department announced Wednesday that Dalton Levi Palmer, 29; Dakota Wayne Bunting, 24 and Tataum Elois Escamilla, 19, all of Salina, all have been arrested in connection to the shooting death.

At approximately 3:20 a.m. on May 7, 2022, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of S. College Avenue in Salina for a report of several gunshots in the area. Although they located multiple spent ammunition casings in the street at that location, officers did not find any victims or witnesses at the scene, the department noted in a news release.

That same morning, at 3:23 a.m., officers were dispatched to the emergency department of Salina Regional Health Center, 400 S. Santa Fe Avenue, for the report of two gunshot victims there: an 18-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man. The man, who was pronounced deceased by medical staff, was later identified as Garman.

At 3:34 a.m. on May 7, 2022, officers were sent to a residence in the 500 block of E. Cloud Street in Salina for the report of a person lying in the front yard who had been shot multiple times. Officers located a 23-year-old man who had multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported by EMS to Salina Regional where he underwent emergency surgery. He later was transferred to a hospital in Wichita, the Salina Police Department noted.

Also on May 7, 2022, police identified Palmer as a person of interest and warned the public that due to Palmer's past criminal behavior, he should be considered armed and dangerous. Palmer was located at a north Salina residence and arrested by agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on Jan. 31, the Salina Police Department noted in a news release issued Wednesday afternoon.

Additionally, Escamilla was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Benton County, Ark., on Feb. 1 and Bunting was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Bryant County, Okla., on Monday, according to information provided today by the Salina Police Department.

"The Salina Police Department would like to thank the public, the U.S. Marshals, and Kansas Bureau of Investigation for their assistance with this investigation," the Salina Police Department noted.

Dalton Levi Palmer is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;First degree murder, Attempted first degree murder and Criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle

Dakota Wayne Bunting is jailed on requested charges of&nbsp;Voluntary manslaughter, Criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and Unlawful possession of marijuana.

Tataum Elois Escamilla is in custody on requested charges of&nbsp;First degree murder and Attempted first degree murder,

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675262559179.jpeg" alt="Dalton Levi Palmer -Photo Salina Police Department" />
 <figcaption>Dalton Levi Palmer -Photo Salina Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostThree Salina residents have been arrested in connection to the shooting death of Dylan Eugene Garman on May 7, in Salina.The Salina Police Department announced Wednesday that Dalton Levi Palmer, 29; Dakota Wayne Bunting, 24 and Tataum Elois Escamilla, 19, all of Salina, all have been arrested in connection to the shooting death.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675889245921.png" alt="Dakota Wayne Bunting-photo Salina Police" />
 <figcaption>Dakota Wayne Bunting-photo Salina Police</figcaption>
 </figure>At approximately 3:20 a.m. on May 7, 2022, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of S. College Avenue in Salina for a report of several gunshots in the area. Although they located multiple spent ammunition casings in the street at that location, officers did not find any victims or witnesses at the scene, the department noted in a news release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675889269229.png" alt="Tataum Elois Escamilla-photo Salina Police" />
 <figcaption>Tataum Elois Escamilla-photo Salina Police</figcaption>
 </figure>That same morning, at 3:23 a.m., officers were dispatched to the emergency department of Salina Regional Health Center, 400 S. Santa Fe Avenue, for the report of two gunshot victims there: an 18-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man. The man, who was pronounced deceased by medical staff, was later identified as Garman.At 3:34 a.m. on May 7, 2022, officers were sent to a residence in the 500 block of E. Cloud Street in Salina for the report of a person lying in the front yard who had been shot multiple times. Officers located a 23-year-old man who had multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported by EMS to Salina Regional where he underwent emergency surgery. He later was transferred to a hospital in Wichita, the Salina Police Department noted.Also on May 7, 2022, police identified Palmer as a person of interest and warned the public that due to Palmer's past criminal behavior, he should be considered armed and dangerous. Palmer was located at a north Salina residence and arrested by agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on Jan. 31, the Salina Police Department noted in a news release issued Wednesday afternoon.Additionally, Escamilla was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Benton County, Ark., on Feb. 1 and Bunting was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Bryant County, Okla., on Monday, according to information provided today by the Salina Police Department."The Salina Police Department would like to thank the public, the U.S. Marshals, and Kansas Bureau of Investigation for their assistance with this investigation," the Salina Police Department noted.Dalton Levi Palmer is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;First degree murder, Attempted first degree murder and Criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicleDakota Wayne Bunting is jailed on requested charges of&nbsp;Voluntary manslaughter, Criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and Unlawful possession of marijuana.Tataum Elois Escamilla is in custody on requested charges of&nbsp;First degree murder and Attempted first degree murder,

3 accused in May shooting death in Salina

By ADAM GOLDSTEIN <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/07/usda-projects-farm-income-will-fall-in-2023-after-two-robust-years/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — After two strong years 
of growth, U.S. farm income is forecast to drop substantially in 2023 as
 commodity prices fall and expenses rise, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Economic Research Service reported Tuesday.

And with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/">food prices projected to rise into 2023</a>, the nation’s producers will not be reaping the financial benefits.

The economic team said 
inflation-adjusted net cash profits are expected to decline from a 
record-high $195.3 billion last year to $150.3 billion in calendar year 
2023, a drop of 22.9%.

Projected net farm income will fall 
to $136.9 billion, according to the ERS, 18.2% below the calendar year 
2022 levels when adjusted for inflation. 2022 marked the best year on 
record for inflation-adjusted net farm income since 1973.

The division added that declines in 
farm income are expected to affect nearly all specialty operations and 
regions across the country.

The farm sector income and wealth 
forecast was the first of 2023. ERS senior economist Carrie Litkowski 
also spoke on a webinar about what the details of the forecast hold for 
farmers and legislators.

“The goal of forecasting is not to 
predict the future, but to tell you what you need to know to take 
meaningful action in the present,” Litkowski said.

She said that USDA data on farm income and wealth can contribute to discussions in Congress this year on <a target="_blank" href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/02/03/trade-agreements-access-to-foreign-markets-debated-in-u-s-senate-farm-bill-hearing/">the upcoming farm bill.</a>

The U.S. farm sector comprises roughly 2 million farms, which operate close to 900 million acres of land.

Litkowski said that the drop in net 
farm cash income and net farm income levels can be largely attributed to
 lower commodity prices. She noted the ERS forecast a 4% reduction in 
commodity cash receipts from calendar years 2022 to 2023, equal to $23.6
 billion.&nbsp;

Litkowski added that total crop cash 
receipts are expected to decline close to 6% from 2022, with corn and 
soy most affected. Still, Litkowski said cash receipts for both crops 
will remain at relatively high levels.&nbsp;

The economist also cited the impacts 
of a $5.4 billion reduction in direct government payments to farmers in 
2023, to $10.8 billion. This number reflects a forecast 34.4% drop in 
federal spending, which Litkowski attributed to declining payouts for 
USDA pandemic aid and disaster assistance programs.&nbsp;

Litkowski also attributed net farm 
income declines to growing production costs, forecast to increase by an 
inflation-adjusted $18.3 billion from 2022. Litkowski said these cost 
increases are driven predominantly by growth in interest rates, 
livestock and poultry expenses, and labor expenses.&nbsp;

The economists also cited growing 
operator dwelling expenses as affecting production costs for farmers, 
including factors like property taxes.

Litkowski noted that all farm 
businesses in the report, regardless of location or crop specialty, are 
forecast to see declines in cash receipts and government payments along 
with increasing costs.&nbsp;

The ERS noted that average net cash 
farm income for farm businesses is expected to fall 17.7% in nominal 
terms, to $92,400. A nominal dollar measure is an amount of money that 
has not had its value adjusted for the effects of inflation.&nbsp;

The economists added that all 
commodity specializations of farm businesses are forecast to receive 
lower average cash net income.&nbsp;

Total animal cash receipts are 
forecast to decline 8% from calendar years 2022 to 2023. The largest 
dollar decline for commodities is milk, which is forecast to see a $10 
billion decrease in cash receipts.&nbsp;

“Milk receipts will fall in 2023 because of a lower milk price,” Litkowski said.&nbsp;

Dairy and hog farmers are expected to see the largest relative decline in animal cash receipts from calendar years 2022 to 2023.

Cash receipts for eggs are also expected to decline 26% in 2023, compared to calendar year 2022.&nbsp;

Litkowski noted that avian flu caused
 the price of eggs to skyrocket over the past three years, and that the 
sector will start to recover from the shocks of these outbreaks in 2023.

Litkowski said that farmers growing cotton and specialty crops are also expected to see large nominal dollar declines.

Geographically, farm businesses in 
the Fruitful Rim and Northern Crescent regions are among those expected 
to see the largest net farm income declines.&nbsp;

The Fruitful Rim includes western 
Oregon, western Washington, south-central Idaho, western California, 
most of Arizona, the southern rim of Texas, Florida, southern Alabama 
and southern Georgia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Northern Crescent includes the 
upper Midwest and the Northeast, including Wisconsin, eastern Minnesota,
 Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, 
Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.&nbsp;

Farm businesses in the Fruitful Rim 
region are forecast to see the largest median nominal dollar decrease, 
of $46,700, and those in the Northern Crescent region are forecast to 
see the largest median percentage decrease in net cash farm income at 
29.9% per farm, according to the ERS.

The wellbeing of farm operator 
households is determined by a combination of on-farm and off-farm 
activity. Most income for many of these households comes from off the 
farm, according to the ERS.

The government service found that 
median total farm household income is forecast to decrease 0.4% in 2023 
from 2022, to $96,715, when adjusted for inflation. Yet median net farm 
income earned by farm households is expected to drop another $442, 
producing a median average of $1,123 in adjusted net farm household 
income losses in 2023.&nbsp;

Litkowski said this number should not cause panic.

“At the median, farm income is 
negative,” Litkowski explained. “But recall that half of all farms are 
what we call residential farms, where the primary occupation of the 
operator is not farming. So this results in a low and usually negative 
farm income at the median.”

Litkowski added that median off-farm 
income in 2023 is projected to grow to $91,080, a 0.4% increase from 
2022 when adjusted for inflation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675869239225.png" alt="Projected net farm income will fall an estimated 18.2% below the calendar year 2022 levels when adjusted for inflation, according to a USDA forecast. (Perry Beeman/Iowa Capital Dispatch)" />
 <figcaption>Projected net farm income will fall an estimated 18.2% below the calendar year 2022 levels when adjusted for inflation, according to a USDA forecast. (Perry Beeman/Iowa Capital Dispatch)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ADAM GOLDSTEIN <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/07/usda-projects-farm-income-will-fall-in-2023-after-two-robust-years/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — After two strong years 
of growth, U.S. farm income is forecast to drop substantially in 2023 as
 commodity prices fall and expenses rise, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Economic Research Service reported Tuesday.And with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/">food prices projected to rise into 2023</a>, the nation’s producers will not be reaping the financial benefits. The economic team said 
inflation-adjusted net cash profits are expected to decline from a 
record-high $195.3 billion last year to $150.3 billion in calendar year 
2023, a drop of 22.9%.Projected net farm income will fall 
to $136.9 billion, according to the ERS, 18.2% below the calendar year 
2022 levels when adjusted for inflation. 2022 marked the best year on 
record for inflation-adjusted net farm income since 1973.The division added that declines in 
farm income are expected to affect nearly all specialty operations and 
regions across the country.The farm sector income and wealth 
forecast was the first of 2023. ERS senior economist Carrie Litkowski 
also spoke on a webinar about what the details of the forecast hold for 
farmers and legislators.“The goal of forecasting is not to 
predict the future, but to tell you what you need to know to take 
meaningful action in the present,” Litkowski said.She said that USDA data on farm income and wealth can contribute to discussions in Congress this year on <a target="_blank" href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/02/03/trade-agreements-access-to-foreign-markets-debated-in-u-s-senate-farm-bill-hearing/">the upcoming farm bill.</a>The U.S. farm sector comprises roughly 2 million farms, which operate close to 900 million acres of land.<h2>Broader farm income&nbsp;</h2>Litkowski said that the drop in net 
farm cash income and net farm income levels can be largely attributed to
 lower commodity prices. She noted the ERS forecast a 4% reduction in 
commodity cash receipts from calendar years 2022 to 2023, equal to $23.6
 billion.&nbsp;Litkowski added that total crop cash 
receipts are expected to decline close to 6% from 2022, with corn and 
soy most affected. Still, Litkowski said cash receipts for both crops 
will remain at relatively high levels.&nbsp;The economist also cited the impacts 
of a $5.4 billion reduction in direct government payments to farmers in 
2023, to $10.8 billion. This number reflects a forecast 34.4% drop in 
federal spending, which Litkowski attributed to declining payouts for 
USDA pandemic aid and disaster assistance programs.&nbsp;Litkowski also attributed net farm 
income declines to growing production costs, forecast to increase by an 
inflation-adjusted $18.3 billion from 2022. Litkowski said these cost 
increases are driven predominantly by growth in interest rates, 
livestock and poultry expenses, and labor expenses.&nbsp;The economists also cited growing 
operator dwelling expenses as affecting production costs for farmers, 
including factors like property taxes.<h2>Farm businesses</h2>Litkowski noted that all farm 
businesses in the report, regardless of location or crop specialty, are 
forecast to see declines in cash receipts and government payments along 
with increasing costs.&nbsp;The ERS noted that average net cash 
farm income for farm businesses is expected to fall 17.7% in nominal 
terms, to $92,400. A nominal dollar measure is an amount of money that 
has not had its value adjusted for the effects of inflation.&nbsp;The economists added that all 
commodity specializations of farm businesses are forecast to receive 
lower average cash net income.&nbsp;Total animal cash receipts are 
forecast to decline 8% from calendar years 2022 to 2023. The largest 
dollar decline for commodities is milk, which is forecast to see a $10 
billion decrease in cash receipts.&nbsp;“Milk receipts will fall in 2023 because of a lower milk price,” Litkowski said.&nbsp;Dairy and hog farmers are expected to see the largest relative decline in animal cash receipts from calendar years 2022 to 2023.Cash receipts for eggs are also expected to decline 26% in 2023, compared to calendar year 2022.&nbsp;Litkowski noted that avian flu caused
 the price of eggs to skyrocket over the past three years, and that the 
sector will start to recover from the shocks of these outbreaks in 2023.Litkowski said that farmers growing cotton and specialty crops are also expected to see large nominal dollar declines.Geographically, farm businesses in 
the Fruitful Rim and Northern Crescent regions are among those expected 
to see the largest net farm income declines.&nbsp;The Fruitful Rim includes western 
Oregon, western Washington, south-central Idaho, western California, 
most of Arizona, the southern rim of Texas, Florida, southern Alabama 
and southern Georgia.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Northern Crescent includes the 
upper Midwest and the Northeast, including Wisconsin, eastern Minnesota,
 Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, 
Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.&nbsp;Farm businesses in the Fruitful Rim 
region are forecast to see the largest median nominal dollar decrease, 
of $46,700, and those in the Northern Crescent region are forecast to 
see the largest median percentage decrease in net cash farm income at 
29.9% per farm, according to the ERS.<h2>Farm household income&nbsp;</h2>The wellbeing of farm operator 
households is determined by a combination of on-farm and off-farm 
activity. Most income for many of these households comes from off the 
farm, according to the ERS.The government service found that 
median total farm household income is forecast to decrease 0.4% in 2023 
from 2022, to $96,715, when adjusted for inflation. Yet median net farm 
income earned by farm households is expected to drop another $442, 
producing a median average of $1,123 in adjusted net farm household 
income losses in 2023.&nbsp;Litkowski said this number should not cause panic.“At the median, farm income is 
negative,” Litkowski explained. “But recall that half of all farms are 
what we call residential farms, where the primary occupation of the 
operator is not farming. So this results in a low and usually negative 
farm income at the median.”Litkowski added that median off-farm 
income in 2023 is projected to grow to $91,080, a 0.4% increase from 
2022 when adjusted for inflation.

USDA projects farm income will fall in 2023 after two robust years

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/08/no-fooling-house-committee-shopping-april-1-demise-of-state-sales-tax-on-groceries/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Sisters of Charity coordinator Rebecca Metz says legislation
 to do away April 1 with the state’s portion of sales tax charged on 
groceries would do more than alleviate the tax burden of low- and 
middle-income individuals and families.

Action by the 2023 Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly to eliminate the 
state food sales tax on groceries in less than two months rather than in
 two years would enable ministries providing meals to food-insecure 
people across the state to stretch their budgets, she said. Many of 
these ministries don’t have the benefit of nonprofit tax status and rely
 on generosity of people who contribute without of a tax break.

“Please support everyday Kansans trying to meet their immediate food 
needs as well as helping increase the impact of various ministries 
working on food insecurity,” Metz said.

The House Tax Committee began Tuesday an exploration of House Bill 
2111, which would zero out the state sales tax for food and food 
ingredients. The bill included an exemption from the Kansas sales tax — 
local sales taxes would remain — on children’s diapers and feminine 
hygiene products. Another element of the bill would start a special fund
 to account for revenue losses by grocery stores in special economic 
development zones financed through state-backed STAR bonds.

The initiative has a long road to passage by the House and Senate. 
Some lawmakers oppose the change, while others expressed interest in 
merging this reform with tax policy not as palatable to all parties. 
Gov. Laura Kelly urged legislators to swiftly end the state tax on 
groceries and expressed confidence an agreement to do that could be 
reached. She’s met with Senate and House leadership to seek a deal.

“We just had discussions this morning,” Kelly said Tuesday in an interview. “I’m optimistic we will come to some consensus.”

In the 2022 legislative session, Kelly proposed the Legislature 
terminate the state’s 6.5% sales tax on groceries. Legislators balked at
 that approach during an election year, but approved a bill cutting the 
rate to 4% on Jan. 1, 2023, 2% on Jan. 1, 2024 and zero on Jan. 1, 2025.
 Kelly signed it into law.

“We had quite a debate on food sales tax and I know it wasn’t what 
the governor wanted back then, but we came up with what I think was a 
compromise plan and the governor signed it,” said Rep. Clarke Sanders, 
R-Salina. “Relative to food, I don’t see any reason to revisit that 
now.”

Existence of a large state government revenue surplus in Kansas 
raised the prospect of advancing legislation this session to speed 
transition to the zero tax rate on food sales. That change would match 
sales tax laws in Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa. Missouri’s sales tax on 
groceries stands at 1.2%, which has enticed Kansans to cross the border 
to grocery shop. Oklahoma assesses a rate of 4.5% on grocery sales.

Topeka Rep. Vic Miller, leader of the House Democratic caucus, said 
the bill could be an example of bipartisanship leading to good public 
policy. He asked the committee to consider expanding the list of 
sanitary items covered by the bill to include soap, shampoo, toilet 
tissue, toothpaste and deodorant that would cut $14 million from annual 
state tax revenue.

The Kansas Department of Revenue estimated the original version of 
the House bill would cost the state treasury $40 million in the fiscal 
year ending June 30, $301 million in the next fiscal year and $136 
million in the subsequent fiscal year. The projection was based on an 
assumption 15% of all sales tax collections were related to groceries.

“I say go fast and do it now,” Miller said. “Let us not concern 
ourselves with who gets credit for eliminating the sales tax on the 
items mentioned in the bill. Let us go about the state declaring that we
 all did something good that will benefit every Kansan.”

There was no public testimony in opposition to food sales tax reform 
at the House hearing, but several proponents specifically requested the 
House exempt diapers and hygiene products.

Becca Houlehan of Leawood and Izzy Zschoche of Prairie Village, both 
students at Notre Dame de Sion High School, said they formed an 
organization last year known as “Equity.Period.” The goal was to provide
 feminine hygiene products in restrooms at their school. They later 
expanded to other locations and have donated 12,000 items. They do shop 
in Missouri, which has a lower state sales tax, to maximize value of 
donations.

“Still, we know this isn’t enough,” Houlehan said. “Basic human 
necessities are increasing in price to the point it’s cost prohibitive 
for many. We believe Kansas is better than this. Humanity should be 
better than this.”

Jon McCormick, president and chief executive officer of the Retail 
Grocers Association of Kansas and Missouri, suggested the committee 
examine the issue from both sides of the checkout counter. He represents
 125 supermarket and convenience stores.

“There are two goals here. One, help the Kansans have a lower food 
bill — now,” he said. “The people who spend most of their food dollars 
in grocery stores are the people who need this implementation of the 
reduction in the food tax sped up. They cook meals at home and rarely 
can afford to eat out.”

He said sales tax reform would help Kansas retailers stay in business
 because they would take a step closer to be competitive on taxation.

“We’ve lost about 100 stores since 2008. Most of them have been independent stores and they’re all in small towns,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675869083556.png" alt="Democratic Rep. Tom Sawyer, left, and Republican Rep. Adam Smith were among House Tax Committee members considering a bill Tuesday ending the state’s 4% sales tax on groceries. Under current state law, that state tax would end Jan. 1, 2025. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Democratic Rep. Tom Sawyer, left, and Republican Rep. Adam Smith were among House Tax Committee members considering a bill Tuesday ending the state’s 4% sales tax on groceries. Under current state law, that state tax would end Jan. 1, 2025. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/08/no-fooling-house-committee-shopping-april-1-demise-of-state-sales-tax-on-groceries/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Sisters of Charity coordinator Rebecca Metz says legislation
 to do away April 1 with the state’s portion of sales tax charged on 
groceries would do more than alleviate the tax burden of low- and 
middle-income individuals and families.Action by the 2023 Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly to eliminate the 
state food sales tax on groceries in less than two months rather than in
 two years would enable ministries providing meals to food-insecure 
people across the state to stretch their budgets, she said. Many of 
these ministries don’t have the benefit of nonprofit tax status and rely
 on generosity of people who contribute without of a tax break.“Please support everyday Kansans trying to meet their immediate food 
needs as well as helping increase the impact of various ministries 
working on food insecurity,” Metz said.The House Tax Committee began Tuesday an exploration of House Bill 
2111, which would zero out the state sales tax for food and food 
ingredients. The bill included an exemption from the Kansas sales tax — 
local sales taxes would remain — on children’s diapers and feminine 
hygiene products. Another element of the bill would start a special fund
 to account for revenue losses by grocery stores in special economic 
development zones financed through state-backed STAR bonds.The initiative has a long road to passage by the House and Senate. 
Some lawmakers oppose the change, while others expressed interest in 
merging this reform with tax policy not as palatable to all parties. 
Gov. Laura Kelly urged legislators to swiftly end the state tax on 
groceries and expressed confidence an agreement to do that could be 
reached. She’s met with Senate and House leadership to seek a deal.“We just had discussions this morning,” Kelly said Tuesday in an interview. “I’m optimistic we will come to some consensus.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675869149141.png" alt="Salina GOP Rep. Clarke Sanders said he didn’t support a bill terminating April 1 the state’s 4% sales tax on groceries and would prefer to stick with a 2022 law phasing out that tax Jan. 1, 2025. Colorado and Nebraska don’t have a state sales tax on groceries. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Salina GOP Rep. Clarke Sanders said he didn’t support a bill terminating April 1 the state’s 4% sales tax on groceries and would prefer to stick with a 2022 law phasing out that tax Jan. 1, 2025. Colorado and Nebraska don’t have a state sales tax on groceries. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Don’t see a reason’</h2>In the 2022 legislative session, Kelly proposed the Legislature 
terminate the state’s 6.5% sales tax on groceries. Legislators balked at
 that approach during an election year, but approved a bill cutting the 
rate to 4% on Jan. 1, 2023, 2% on Jan. 1, 2024 and zero on Jan. 1, 2025.
 Kelly signed it into law.“We had quite a debate on food sales tax and I know it wasn’t what 
the governor wanted back then, but we came up with what I think was a 
compromise plan and the governor signed it,” said Rep. Clarke Sanders, 
R-Salina. “Relative to food, I don’t see any reason to revisit that 
now.”Existence of a large state government revenue surplus in Kansas 
raised the prospect of advancing legislation this session to speed 
transition to the zero tax rate on food sales. That change would match 
sales tax laws in Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa. Missouri’s sales tax on 
groceries stands at 1.2%, which has enticed Kansans to cross the border 
to grocery shop. Oklahoma assesses a rate of 4.5% on grocery sales.Topeka Rep. Vic Miller, leader of the House Democratic caucus, said 
the bill could be an example of bipartisanship leading to good public 
policy. He asked the committee to consider expanding the list of 
sanitary items covered by the bill to include soap, shampoo, toilet 
tissue, toothpaste and deodorant that would cut $14 million from annual 
state tax revenue.The Kansas Department of Revenue estimated the original version of 
the House bill would cost the state treasury $40 million in the fiscal 
year ending June 30, $301 million in the next fiscal year and $136 
million in the subsequent fiscal year. The projection was based on an 
assumption 15% of all sales tax collections were related to groceries.“I say go fast and do it now,” Miller said. “Let us not concern 
ourselves with who gets credit for eliminating the sales tax on the 
items mentioned in the bill. Let us go about the state declaring that we
 all did something good that will benefit every Kansan.”There was no public testimony in opposition to food sales tax reform 
at the House hearing, but several proponents specifically requested the 
House exempt diapers and hygiene products.<h2>‘Kansas is better than this’</h2>Becca Houlehan of Leawood and Izzy Zschoche of Prairie Village, both 
students at Notre Dame de Sion High School, said they formed an 
organization last year known as “Equity.Period.” The goal was to provide
 feminine hygiene products in restrooms at their school. They later 
expanded to other locations and have donated 12,000 items. They do shop 
in Missouri, which has a lower state sales tax, to maximize value of 
donations.“Still, we know this isn’t enough,” Houlehan said. “Basic human 
necessities are increasing in price to the point it’s cost prohibitive 
for many. We believe Kansas is better than this. Humanity should be 
better than this.”Jon McCormick, president and chief executive officer of the Retail 
Grocers Association of Kansas and Missouri, suggested the committee 
examine the issue from both sides of the checkout counter. He represents
 125 supermarket and convenience stores.“There are two goals here. One, help the Kansans have a lower food 
bill — now,” he said. “The people who spend most of their food dollars 
in grocery stores are the people who need this implementation of the 
reduction in the food tax sped up. They cook meals at home and rarely 
can afford to eat out.”He said sales tax reform would help Kansas retailers stay in business
 because they would take a step closer to be competitive on taxation.“We’ve lost about 100 stores since 2008. Most of them have been independent stores and they’re all in small towns,” he said.