SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities obtained a search warrant as part of a months-long investigation into financial crimes involving multiple people and jurisdictions.

Early Monday, officers with the Wichita Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team – with assistance from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, Harvey County Sheriff's Office, Derby Police Department, and Sumner County Sheriff's Office – executed a search warrant on a property located near S 90th Street and E 71st Street South, near Derby. The search warrant was regarding stolen property located at that location, which was related to an extensive investigation involving theft, fraud, and other financial crimes committed in Kansas and Oklahoma.

The property contains several buildings and residences, necessitating multiple agencies' involvement to ensure safety and security as the warrant was executed.

Additionally, due to the size of the property and the volume of stolen goods, numerous officers were requested to assist with collecting and processing the evidence at the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670894923467.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities obtained a search warrant as part of a months-long investigation into financial crimes involving multiple people and jurisdictions.Early Monday, officers with the Wichita Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team – with assistance from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, Harvey County Sheriff's Office, Derby Police Department, and Sumner County Sheriff's Office – executed a search warrant on a property located near S 90th Street and E 71st Street South, near Derby. The search warrant was regarding stolen property located at that location, which was related to an extensive investigation involving theft, fraud, and other financial crimes committed in Kansas and Oklahoma.The property contains several buildings and residences, necessitating multiple agencies' involvement to ensure safety and security as the warrant was executed.Additionally, due to the size of the property and the volume of stolen goods, numerous officers were requested to assist with collecting and processing the evidence at the scene.

Police bust financial crime ring in Kansas, recover stolen property

By HANNAH RECHT <a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2022/12/12/paxlovid-has-been-free-now-comes-the-sticker-shock/">Kaiser Health News, courtesy Daily Montanan</a>

Nearly 6 million Americans have taken Paxlovid for free, courtesy of 
the federal government. The Pfizer pill has helped prevent many people 
infected with COVID-19 from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7148e2.htm">being hospitalized</a> or dying, and it may even <a target="_blank" href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.03.22281783v1">reduce the risk</a>
 of developing long COVID. But the government plans to stop footing the 
bill within months, and millions of people who are at the highest risk 
of severe illness and are least able to afford the drug — the uninsured 
and seniors — may have to pay the full price.

And that means fewer people will get the potentially lifesaving treatments, experts said.

“I think the numbers will go way down,” said Jill Rosenthal, director
 of public health policy at the Center for American Progress, a 
left-leaning think tank. A bill for several hundred dollars or more 
would lead many people to decide the medication isn’t worth the price, 
she said.

In response to the unprecedented public health crisis caused by 
COVID, the federal government spent billions of dollars on developing 
new vaccines and treatments, to swift success: Less than a year after 
the pandemic was declared, medical workers got their first vaccines. But
 as many people have refused the shots and stopped wearing masks, the 
virus still rages and mutates. In 2022 alone, 250,000 Americans <a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_totaldeaths_select_00">have died</a> from COVID, <a target="_blank" href="https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Monthly-Provisional-Counts-of-Deaths-by-Select-Cau/9dzk-mvmi/data">more than</a> from strokes or diabetes.

But soon the Department of Health and Human Services will stop 
supplying COVID treatments, and pharmacies will purchase and bill for 
them the same way they do for antibiotic pills or asthma inhalers. 
Paxlovid is expected to hit the private market in mid-2023, according to
 HHS plans shared in an October meeting with state health officials and 
clinicians. Merck’s Lagevrio, a less-effective COVID treatment pill, and
 AstraZeneca’s Evusheld, a preventive therapy for the immunocompromised,
 are on track to be commercialized sooner, sometime in the winter.

The U.S. government has so far purchased <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/26/fact-sheet-biden-administration-increases-access-to-covid-19-treatments-and-boosts-patient-and-provider-awareness/">20 million courses</a>
 of Paxlovid, priced at about $530 each, a discount for buying in bulk 
that Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called “really very attractive” to the 
federal government in a July earnings call. The drug will cost far more 
on the private market, although in a statement to KHN, Pfizer declined 
to share the planned price. The government will also stop paying for the
 company’s COVID vaccine next year — those shots will <a target="_blank" href="https://khn.org/news/article/pfizer-covid-cash-marketing-drugs/">quadruple in price</a>, from the discount rate the government pays of $30 to about $120.

Bourla told investors in November that he expects the move will make 
Paxlovid and its COVID vaccine “a multibillion-dollars franchise.”

Nearly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/11/28/covid-who-is-dying/">9 in 10 people</a> dying from the virus now are 65 or older. Yet federal law restricts Medicare Part D — the prescription drug program that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/medicare-beneficiaries-enrolled-in-part-d-coverage/?currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D">covers nearly 50 million seniors</a>
 — from covering the COVID treatment pills. The medications are meant 
for those most at risk of serious illness, including seniors.

Paxlovid and the other treatments are currently available under an 
emergency use authorization from the FDA, a fast-track review used in 
extraordinary situations. Although Pfizer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-announces-submission-new-drug-application-us-fda">applied for full approval</a>
 in June, the process can take anywhere from several months to years. 
And Medicare Part D can’t cover any medications without that full stamp 
of approval.

Paying out-of-pocket would be “a substantial barrier” for seniors on 
Medicare — the very people who would benefit most from the drug, wrote <a target="_blank" href="https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1072f5093254224ac902ca395387085c/coverage-considerations-covid-19.pdf">federal health experts</a>.

“From a public health perspective, and even from a health care 
capacity and cost perspective, it would just defy reason to not continue
 to make these drugs readily available,” said Dr. Larry Madoff, medical 
director of Massachusetts’ Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory 
Sciences. He’s hopeful that the federal health agency will find a way to
 set aside unused doses for seniors and people without insurance.

In mid-November, the White House requested that Congress approve an 
additional $2.5 billion for COVID therapeutics and vaccines to make sure
 people can afford the medications when they’re no longer free. But 
there’s little hope it will be approved — the Senate <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-votes-to-end-covid-19-emergency-declaration-11668559887">voted that same day to end</a> the public health emergency and denied similar requests in recent months.

Many Americans have already faced hurdles just <a target="_blank" href="https://khn.org/news/article/test-to-treat-biden-covid-failing-patients-pharmacies-cvs/">getting a prescription</a> for COVID treatment. Although the federal government <a target="_blank" href="https://khn.org/news/article/paxlovid-covid-pill-antiviral-access-data/">doesn’t track</a> who’s gotten the drug, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7143a2.htm">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study</a>
 using data from 30 medical centers found that Black and Hispanic 
patients with COVID were much less likely to receive Paxlovid than white
 patients. (Hispanic people can be of any race or combination of races.)
 And when the government is no longer picking up the tab, experts 
predict that these gaps by race, income, and geography will widen.

People in Northeastern states used the drug far more often than those
 in the rest of the country, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis 
of Paxlovid use in September and October. But it wasn’t because people 
in the region were getting sick from COVID at much higher rates — 
instead, many of those states offered better <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/report.htm">access to health care</a> to begin with and created special programs to get Paxlovid to their residents.

About 10 mostly Democratic states and several large counties in the 
Northeast and elsewhere created free “test-to-treat” programs that allow
 their residents to get an immediate doctor visit and prescription for 
treatment after testing positive for COVID. In Massachusetts, more than 
20,000 residents have used the state’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-telehealth-for-covid-19-treatment-with-paxlovid">video and phone hotline</a>,
 which is available seven days a week in 13 languages. Massachusetts, 
which has the highest insurance rate in the country and relatively low 
travel times to pharmacies, had the second-highest Paxlovid usage rate 
among states this fall.

States with higher COVID death rates, like Florida and Kentucky, 
where residents must travel farther for health care and are more likely 
to be uninsured, used the drug less often. Without no-cost test-to-treat
 options, <a target="_blank" href="https://khn.org/news/article/test-to-treat-biden-covid-failing-patients-pharmacies-cvs/">residents have struggled</a> to get prescriptions even though the drug itself is still free.

“If you look at access to medications for people who are uninsured, I
 think that there’s no question that will widen those disparities,” 
Rosenthal said.

People who get insurance through their jobs could face high copays at
 the register, too, just as they do for insulin and other expensive or 
brand-name drugs.

Most private insurance companies will end up covering COVID 
therapeutics to some extent, said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor
 at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. After 
all, the pills are cheaper than a hospital stay. But for most people who
 get insurance through their jobs, there are “really no rules at all,” 
she said. Some insurers could take months to add the drugs to their 
plans or decide not to pay for them.

And the additional cost means many people will go without the medication.

“We know from lots of research that when people face cost sharing for
 these drugs that they need to take, they will often forgo or cut back,”
 Corlette said.

One group doesn’t need to worry about sticker shock. Medicaid, the 
public insurance program for low-income adults and children, will cover 
the treatments in full until at least early 2024.

HHS officials could set aside any leftover taxpayer-funded medication
 for people who can’t afford to pay the full cost, but they haven’t 
shared any concrete plans to do so. The government purchased 20 million 
courses of Paxlovid and 3 million of Lagevrio. Fewer than a third have 
been used, and usage has fallen in recent months, according to KHN’s 
analysis of the data from HHS.

Sixty percent of the government’s supply of Evusheld is also still available, although the COVID prevention therapy is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-releases-important-information-about-risk-covid-19-due-certain-variants-not-neutralized-evusheld">less effective</a> against new strains of the virus. The health department in one state, <a target="_blank" href="https://files.constantcontact.com/8088728e101/558b11b0-e00f-47d7-8ec1-645904ec1905.pdf">New Mexico</a>, has recommended against using it.

HHS did not make officials available for an interview or answer written questions about the commercialization plans.

The government created a potential workaround when they moved 
bebtelovimab, another COVID treatment, to the private market this 
summer. It now retails for $2,100 per patient. The agency set aside the 
remaining 60,000 government-purchased doses that hospitals could use to 
treat uninsured patients in a convoluted <a target="_blank" href="https://aspr.hhs.gov/COVID-19/Therapeutics/Products/Bebtelovimab/Pages/default.aspx">dose-replacement process</a>. But it’s hard to tell how well that setup would work for Paxlovid: Bebtelovimab was already much less popular, and the FDA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-announces-bebtelovimab-not-currently-authorized-any-us-region">halted its use</a> on Nov. 30 because it’s less effective against current strains of the virus.

Federal officials and insurance companies would have good reason to 
make sure patients can continue to afford covid drugs: They’re far 
cheaper than if patients land in the emergency room.

“The medications are so worthwhile,” said Madoff, the Massachusetts 
health official. “They’re not expensive in the grand scheme of health 
care costs.”

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.khn.org/about-us">KHN</a> 
(Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth 
journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and 
Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/about-us">KFF</a> (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670875530434.png" alt="CDC image" />
 <figcaption>CDC image</figcaption>
 </figure>By HANNAH RECHT <a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2022/12/12/paxlovid-has-been-free-now-comes-the-sticker-shock/">Kaiser Health News, courtesy Daily Montanan</a>Nearly 6 million Americans have taken Paxlovid for free, courtesy of 
the federal government. The Pfizer pill has helped prevent many people 
infected with COVID-19 from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7148e2.htm">being hospitalized</a> or dying, and it may even <a target="_blank" href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.03.22281783v1">reduce the risk</a>
 of developing long COVID. But the government plans to stop footing the 
bill within months, and millions of people who are at the highest risk 
of severe illness and are least able to afford the drug — the uninsured 
and seniors — may have to pay the full price.And that means fewer people will get the potentially lifesaving treatments, experts said.“I think the numbers will go way down,” said Jill Rosenthal, director
 of public health policy at the Center for American Progress, a 
left-leaning think tank. A bill for several hundred dollars or more 
would lead many people to decide the medication isn’t worth the price, 
she said.In response to the unprecedented public health crisis caused by 
COVID, the federal government spent billions of dollars on developing 
new vaccines and treatments, to swift success: Less than a year after 
the pandemic was declared, medical workers got their first vaccines. But
 as many people have refused the shots and stopped wearing masks, the 
virus still rages and mutates. In 2022 alone, 250,000 Americans <a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_totaldeaths_select_00">have died</a> from COVID, <a target="_blank" href="https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Monthly-Provisional-Counts-of-Deaths-by-Select-Cau/9dzk-mvmi/data">more than</a> from strokes or diabetes.But soon the Department of Health and Human Services will stop 
supplying COVID treatments, and pharmacies will purchase and bill for 
them the same way they do for antibiotic pills or asthma inhalers. 
Paxlovid is expected to hit the private market in mid-2023, according to
 HHS plans shared in an October meeting with state health officials and 
clinicians. Merck’s Lagevrio, a less-effective COVID treatment pill, and
 AstraZeneca’s Evusheld, a preventive therapy for the immunocompromised,
 are on track to be commercialized sooner, sometime in the winter.The U.S. government has so far purchased <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/26/fact-sheet-biden-administration-increases-access-to-covid-19-treatments-and-boosts-patient-and-provider-awareness/">20 million courses</a>
 of Paxlovid, priced at about $530 each, a discount for buying in bulk 
that Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called “really very attractive” to the 
federal government in a July earnings call. The drug will cost far more 
on the private market, although in a statement to KHN, Pfizer declined 
to share the planned price. The government will also stop paying for the
 company’s COVID vaccine next year — those shots will <a target="_blank" href="https://khn.org/news/article/pfizer-covid-cash-marketing-drugs/">quadruple in price</a>, from the discount rate the government pays of $30 to about $120.Bourla told investors in November that he expects the move will make 
Paxlovid and its COVID vaccine “a multibillion-dollars franchise.”Nearly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/11/28/covid-who-is-dying/">9 in 10 people</a> dying from the virus now are 65 or older. Yet federal law restricts Medicare Part D — the prescription drug program that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/medicare-beneficiaries-enrolled-in-part-d-coverage/?currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D">covers nearly 50 million seniors</a>
 — from covering the COVID treatment pills. The medications are meant 
for those most at risk of serious illness, including seniors.Paxlovid and the other treatments are currently available under an 
emergency use authorization from the FDA, a fast-track review used in 
extraordinary situations. Although Pfizer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-announces-submission-new-drug-application-us-fda">applied for full approval</a>
 in June, the process can take anywhere from several months to years. 
And Medicare Part D can’t cover any medications without that full stamp 
of approval.Paying out-of-pocket would be “a substantial barrier” for seniors on 
Medicare — the very people who would benefit most from the drug, wrote <a target="_blank" href="https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1072f5093254224ac902ca395387085c/coverage-considerations-covid-19.pdf">federal health experts</a>.“From a public health perspective, and even from a health care 
capacity and cost perspective, it would just defy reason to not continue
 to make these drugs readily available,” said Dr. Larry Madoff, medical 
director of Massachusetts’ Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory 
Sciences. He’s hopeful that the federal health agency will find a way to
 set aside unused doses for seniors and people without insurance.In mid-November, the White House requested that Congress approve an 
additional $2.5 billion for COVID therapeutics and vaccines to make sure
 people can afford the medications when they’re no longer free. But 
there’s little hope it will be approved — the Senate <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-votes-to-end-covid-19-emergency-declaration-11668559887">voted that same day to end</a> the public health emergency and denied similar requests in recent months.Many Americans have already faced hurdles just <a target="_blank" href="https://khn.org/news/article/test-to-treat-biden-covid-failing-patients-pharmacies-cvs/">getting a prescription</a> for COVID treatment. Although the federal government <a target="_blank" href="https://khn.org/news/article/paxlovid-covid-pill-antiviral-access-data/">doesn’t track</a> who’s gotten the drug, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7143a2.htm">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study</a>
 using data from 30 medical centers found that Black and Hispanic 
patients with COVID were much less likely to receive Paxlovid than white
 patients. (Hispanic people can be of any race or combination of races.)
 And when the government is no longer picking up the tab, experts 
predict that these gaps by race, income, and geography will widen.People in Northeastern states used the drug far more often than those
 in the rest of the country, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis 
of Paxlovid use in September and October. But it wasn’t because people 
in the region were getting sick from COVID at much higher rates — 
instead, many of those states offered better <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/report.htm">access to health care</a> to begin with and created special programs to get Paxlovid to their residents.About 10 mostly Democratic states and several large counties in the 
Northeast and elsewhere created free “test-to-treat” programs that allow
 their residents to get an immediate doctor visit and prescription for 
treatment after testing positive for COVID. In Massachusetts, more than 
20,000 residents have used the state’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mass.gov/info-details/free-telehealth-for-covid-19-treatment-with-paxlovid">video and phone hotline</a>,
 which is available seven days a week in 13 languages. Massachusetts, 
which has the highest insurance rate in the country and relatively low 
travel times to pharmacies, had the second-highest Paxlovid usage rate 
among states this fall.States with higher COVID death rates, like Florida and Kentucky, 
where residents must travel farther for health care and are more likely 
to be uninsured, used the drug less often. Without no-cost test-to-treat
 options, <a target="_blank" href="https://khn.org/news/article/test-to-treat-biden-covid-failing-patients-pharmacies-cvs/">residents have struggled</a> to get prescriptions even though the drug itself is still free.“If you look at access to medications for people who are uninsured, I
 think that there’s no question that will widen those disparities,” 
Rosenthal said.People who get insurance through their jobs could face high copays at
 the register, too, just as they do for insulin and other expensive or 
brand-name drugs.Most private insurance companies will end up covering COVID 
therapeutics to some extent, said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor
 at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. After 
all, the pills are cheaper than a hospital stay. But for most people who
 get insurance through their jobs, there are “really no rules at all,” 
she said. Some insurers could take months to add the drugs to their 
plans or decide not to pay for them.And the additional cost means many people will go without the medication.“We know from lots of research that when people face cost sharing for
 these drugs that they need to take, they will often forgo or cut back,”
 Corlette said.One group doesn’t need to worry about sticker shock. Medicaid, the 
public insurance program for low-income adults and children, will cover 
the treatments in full until at least early 2024.HHS officials could set aside any leftover taxpayer-funded medication
 for people who can’t afford to pay the full cost, but they haven’t 
shared any concrete plans to do so. The government purchased 20 million 
courses of Paxlovid and 3 million of Lagevrio. Fewer than a third have 
been used, and usage has fallen in recent months, according to KHN’s 
analysis of the data from HHS.Sixty percent of the government’s supply of Evusheld is also still available, although the COVID prevention therapy is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-releases-important-information-about-risk-covid-19-due-certain-variants-not-neutralized-evusheld">less effective</a> against new strains of the virus. The health department in one state, <a target="_blank" href="https://files.constantcontact.com/8088728e101/558b11b0-e00f-47d7-8ec1-645904ec1905.pdf">New Mexico</a>, has recommended against using it.HHS did not make officials available for an interview or answer written questions about the commercialization plans.The government created a potential workaround when they moved 
bebtelovimab, another COVID treatment, to the private market this 
summer. It now retails for $2,100 per patient. The agency set aside the 
remaining 60,000 government-purchased doses that hospitals could use to 
treat uninsured patients in a convoluted <a target="_blank" href="https://aspr.hhs.gov/COVID-19/Therapeutics/Products/Bebtelovimab/Pages/default.aspx">dose-replacement process</a>. But it’s hard to tell how well that setup would work for Paxlovid: Bebtelovimab was already much less popular, and the FDA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-announces-bebtelovimab-not-currently-authorized-any-us-region">halted its use</a> on Nov. 30 because it’s less effective against current strains of the virus.Federal officials and insurance companies would have good reason to 
make sure patients can continue to afford covid drugs: They’re far 
cheaper than if patients land in the emergency room.“The medications are so worthwhile,” said Madoff, the Massachusetts 
health official. “They’re not expensive in the grand scheme of health 
care costs.”<a target="_blank" href="https://www.khn.org/about-us">KHN</a> 
(Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth 
journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and 
Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/about-us">KFF</a> (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

COVID treatment Paxlovid has been free; now comes the sticker shock

OSBORNE COUNTY —A Kansas man died in a house fire early Monday in Osborne.

Just after 5a.m. Monday, crews responded to a house fire at 335 South 3rd Street in Osborne, according to Police Chief&nbsp;Matt Pasilas. As crew arrived they found the home fully engulfed in flames.

 During the investigation it was determined that a 32-year-old&nbsp; David Dean, who resides at the residence did not make it out of the structure.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was recovered in the north east corner of the residence. The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire.

OSBORNE COUNTY —A Kansas man died in a house fire early Monday in Osborne.Just after 5a.m. Monday, crews responded to a house fire at 335 South 3rd Street in Osborne, according to Police Chief&nbsp;Matt Pasilas. As crew arrived they found the home fully engulfed in flames. During the investigation it was determined that a 32-year-old&nbsp; David Dean, who resides at the residence did not make it out of the structure.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was recovered in the north east corner of the residence. The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Police ID Kansas man who died in house fire

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has charged the former CEO of failed cryptocurrency firm FTX with orchestrating a scheme to defraud investors.

An SEC complaint filed Tuesday alleges that Sam Bankman-Fried raised more than $1.8 billion from equity investors since May 2019 by promoting FTX as a safe, responsible platform for trading crypto assets.

The civil complaint says Bankman-Fried diverted customer funds to Alameda Research LLC, his privately-held crypto fund, without telling them. The complaint also says Bankman-Fried commingled FTX customers’ funds at Alameda to make undisclosed venture investments, lavish real estate purchases, and large political donations.

Bankman-Fried was arrested Monday in the Bahamas at the request of the U.S. government, U.S. and Bahamian authorities said.

The arrest was made after the U.S. filed criminal charges that are expected to be unsealed Tuesday, according to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. Bankman-Fried had been under criminal investigation by U.S. and Bahamian authorities following the collapse last month of FTX, which filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 11, when it ran out of money after the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run.

The SEC charges are separate from the criminal charges expected to be unsealed later Tuesday.

A spokesman for Bankman-Fried had no comment Monday evening. Bankman-Fried has a right to contest his extradition, which could delay but not likely stop his transfer to the U.S.

Bankman-Fried’s arrest comes just a day before he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-bahamas-government-and-politics-bankruptcy-da5a931ef681d93ffb50a80988e91dfc">due to testify</a>&nbsp;in front of the House Financial Services Committee. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., chairwoman of the committee, said she was “disappointed” that the American public, and FTX’s customers, would not get to see Bankman-Fried&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-business-maxine-waters-801b709670d357ea60785cb505fa9300">testify under oath</a>.

That hearing, however, will be held Tuesday despite the arrest of Bankman-Fried.

Bankman-Fried was one of the world’s wealthiest people on paper, with an estimated net worth of $32 billion. He was a prominent personality in Washington, donating millions of dollars toward mostly left-leaning political causes and Democratic political campaigns. FTX grew to become the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world.

That all&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-technology-business-financial-crisis-a729281a5ef02a03ab3fcd95e152c2a8">unraveled quickly last month</a>, when reports called into question the strength of FTX’s balance sheet. Customers moved to withdraw billions of dollars, but FTX could not meet all the requests because it apparently used its customers deposits to cover bad bets at Bankman-Fried’s investment arm, Alameda Research.

Bankman-Fried said recently that he did not “knowingly” misuse customers’ funds, and said he believes his millions of angry customers will eventually be made whole.

NEW YORK (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-crypto-downfall-a2eaec231027dfd9f18426ff8982bbf8">former CEO of failed cryptocurrency firm FTX</a>, Sam Bankman-Fried, has been arrested in the Bahamas at the request of the U.S. government, U.S. and Bahamian authorities said Monday.

The arrest was made Monday after the U.S. filed criminal charges that are expected to be unsealed Tuesday, according to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. Bankman-Fried had been under criminal investigation by U.S. and Bahamian authorities following the collapse last month of FTX. The firm&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-technology-business-government-and-politics-9ab6a46f5b07d9a4fe7095d9d9589f84">filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 11</a>, when it ran out of money after the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run.

“We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time,” Williams said.

Bahamian Attorney General Ryan Pinder said the Bahamas would “promptly” extradite Bankman-Fried to the U.S. once the indictment is unsealed and U.S. authorities make a formal request. FTX is headquartered in the Bahamas and Bankman-Fried has largely remained in his Bahamian luxury compound in Nassau since the company's failure.

Bankman-Fried’s arrest comes just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-bahamas-government-and-politics-bankruptcy-da5a931ef681d93ffb50a80988e91dfc">a day before he was due to testify</a>&nbsp;in front of the House Financial Services Committee. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., chairwoman of the committee, said she was “disappointed” that the American public, and FTX's customers, would not get to see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-business-maxine-waters-801b709670d357ea60785cb505fa9300">Bankman-Fried testify under oath</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-technology-business-financial-crisis-a729281a5ef02a03ab3fcd95e152c2a8">That all unraveled quickly last month</a>, when reports called into question the strength of FTX’s balance sheet. Customers moved to withdraw billions of dollars, but FTX could not meet all the requests because it apparently used its customers deposits to cover bad bets at Bankman-Fried’s investment arm, Alameda Research.

The House Financial Services Committee is still expected to hear testimony Tuesday from current CEO John Ray III. Ray, who took over FTX on Nov. 11 and is a long-time restructuring specialist, has said in court filings that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftx-trading-former-ceo-d2c2b881dc0eb0ec37b454674f446b52">the financial conditions at FTX were worse than at Enron</a>.

Bahamian authorities plan to continue their own investigation into Bankman-Fried.

“The Bahamas and the United States have a shared interest in holding accountable all individuals associated with FTX who may have betrayed the public trust and broken the law,” said Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis, in a statement.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it had authorized separate charges related to alleged violations of securities laws and would file them publicly Tuesday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The former CEO of the failed cryptocurrency firm FTX will testify before a Congressional committee Tuesday, his first appearance under oath since FTX filed for bankruptcy roughly a month ago.

Sam Bankman-Fried is scheduled to testify in front of the House Financial Services Committee, along with the company's current CEO, John Ray III. Bankman-Fried has done several media interviews since his firm collapsed but has not publicly testified about what happened. He is expected to appear remotely from the Bahamas.

FTX filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 11, when the firm ran out of money after the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run. The collapse of crypto's second-largest exchange has garnered worldwide attention, and Bankman-Fried is under criminal investigation by U.S. and Bahamian authorities.

The atmosphere Tuesday should be markedly different from Bankman-Fried's previous trips to Congress, when he testified in favor of certain bills that would regulate the crypto industry in ways that favored FTX. He became prominent in Washington and donated millions of dollars toward mostly left-leaning political causes and Democrat political campaigns, and was hailed as the new face of the crypto industry.

A handful of members of the Financial Services Committee have previously taken political donations from FTX or Bankman-Fried, including Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J. and Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y.

It wasn't clear at first whether Bankman-Fried would voluntarily agree to testify, or whether the committee would have to subpoena him. He has, more or less, remained in his Bahamian luxury compound in Nassau, and temporarily out of reach of U.S. authorities.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California and chairwoman of the committee, said she planned to go forward with the hearing regardless of whether Bankman-Fried agreed to testify.

This will be the first public appearance by Ray since FTX's collapse as well. Before FTX, the restructuring expert was best known for having to clean up the mess at Enron roughly 20 years ago. Ray has said in court filings that the financial conditions at FTX were worse than at Enron, and that he has no confidence in FTX's bookkeeping before he took over the firm.

“FTX Group’s collapse appears to stem from the absolute concentration of control in the hands of a very small group of grossly inexperienced and unsophisticated individuals who failed to implement virtually any of the systems or controls that are necessary for a company that is entrusted with other people’s money or assets,” Ray said in his prepared remarks for Tuesday's hearing.

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has charged the former CEO of failed cryptocurrency firm FTX with orchestrating a scheme to defraud investors.An SEC complaint filed Tuesday alleges that Sam Bankman-Fried raised more than $1.8 billion from equity investors since May 2019 by promoting FTX as a safe, responsible platform for trading crypto assets.The civil complaint says Bankman-Fried diverted customer funds to Alameda Research LLC, his privately-held crypto fund, without telling them. The complaint also says Bankman-Fried commingled FTX customers’ funds at Alameda to make undisclosed venture investments, lavish real estate purchases, and large political donations.Bankman-Fried was arrested Monday in the Bahamas at the request of the U.S. government, U.S. and Bahamian authorities said.The arrest was made after the U.S. filed criminal charges that are expected to be unsealed Tuesday, according to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. Bankman-Fried had been under criminal investigation by U.S. and Bahamian authorities following the collapse last month of FTX, which filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 11, when it ran out of money after the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run.The SEC charges are separate from the criminal charges expected to be unsealed later Tuesday.A spokesman for Bankman-Fried had no comment Monday evening. Bankman-Fried has a right to contest his extradition, which could delay but not likely stop his transfer to the U.S.Bankman-Fried’s arrest comes just a day before he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-bahamas-government-and-politics-bankruptcy-da5a931ef681d93ffb50a80988e91dfc">due to testify</a>&nbsp;in front of the House Financial Services Committee. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., chairwoman of the committee, said she was “disappointed” that the American public, and FTX’s customers, would not get to see Bankman-Fried&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-business-maxine-waters-801b709670d357ea60785cb505fa9300">testify under oath</a>.That hearing, however, will be held Tuesday despite the arrest of Bankman-Fried.Bankman-Fried was one of the world’s wealthiest people on paper, with an estimated net worth of $32 billion. He was a prominent personality in Washington, donating millions of dollars toward mostly left-leaning political causes and Democratic political campaigns. FTX grew to become the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world.That all&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-technology-business-financial-crisis-a729281a5ef02a03ab3fcd95e152c2a8">unraveled quickly last month</a>, when reports called into question the strength of FTX’s balance sheet. Customers moved to withdraw billions of dollars, but FTX could not meet all the requests because it apparently used its customers deposits to cover bad bets at Bankman-Fried’s investment arm, Alameda Research.Bankman-Fried said recently that he did not “knowingly” misuse customers’ funds, and said he believes his millions of angry customers will eventually be made whole.---------NEW YORK (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-crypto-downfall-a2eaec231027dfd9f18426ff8982bbf8">former CEO of failed cryptocurrency firm FTX</a>, Sam Bankman-Fried, has been arrested in the Bahamas at the request of the U.S. government, U.S. and Bahamian authorities said Monday.The arrest was made Monday after the U.S. filed criminal charges that are expected to be unsealed Tuesday, according to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. Bankman-Fried had been under criminal investigation by U.S. and Bahamian authorities following the collapse last month of FTX. The firm&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-technology-business-government-and-politics-9ab6a46f5b07d9a4fe7095d9d9589f84">filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 11</a>, when it ran out of money after the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run.“We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time,” Williams said.Bahamian Attorney General Ryan Pinder said the Bahamas would “promptly” extradite Bankman-Fried to the U.S. once the indictment is unsealed and U.S. authorities make a formal request. FTX is headquartered in the Bahamas and Bankman-Fried has largely remained in his Bahamian luxury compound in Nassau since the company's failure.A spokesman for Bankman-Fried had no comment Monday evening. Bankman-Fried has a right to contest his extradition, which could delay but not likely stop his transfer to the U.S.Bankman-Fried’s arrest comes just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-bahamas-government-and-politics-bankruptcy-da5a931ef681d93ffb50a80988e91dfc">a day before he was due to testify</a>&nbsp;in front of the House Financial Services Committee. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., chairwoman of the committee, said she was “disappointed” that the American public, and FTX's customers, would not get to see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-business-maxine-waters-801b709670d357ea60785cb505fa9300">Bankman-Fried testify under oath</a>.Bankman-Fried was one of the world’s wealthiest people on paper, with an estimated net worth of $32 billion. He was a prominent personality in Washington, donating millions of dollars toward mostly left-leaning political causes and Democratic political campaigns. FTX grew to become the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cryptocurrency-technology-business-financial-crisis-a729281a5ef02a03ab3fcd95e152c2a8">That all unraveled quickly last month</a>, when reports called into question the strength of FTX’s balance sheet. Customers moved to withdraw billions of dollars, but FTX could not meet all the requests because it apparently used its customers deposits to cover bad bets at Bankman-Fried’s investment arm, Alameda Research.Bankman-Fried said recently that he did not “knowingly” misuse customers’ funds, and said he believes his millions of angry customers will eventually be made whole.The House Financial Services Committee is still expected to hear testimony Tuesday from current CEO John Ray III. Ray, who took over FTX on Nov. 11 and is a long-time restructuring specialist, has said in court filings that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftx-trading-former-ceo-d2c2b881dc0eb0ec37b454674f446b52">the financial conditions at FTX were worse than at Enron</a>.Bahamian authorities plan to continue their own investigation into Bankman-Fried.“The Bahamas and the United States have a shared interest in holding accountable all individuals associated with FTX who may have betrayed the public trust and broken the law,” said Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis, in a statement.The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it had authorized separate charges related to alleged violations of securities laws and would file them publicly Tuesday.-----------CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The former CEO of the failed cryptocurrency firm FTX will testify before a Congressional committee Tuesday, his first appearance under oath since FTX filed for bankruptcy roughly a month ago.Sam Bankman-Fried is scheduled to testify in front of the House Financial Services Committee, along with the company's current CEO, John Ray III. Bankman-Fried has done several media interviews since his firm collapsed but has not publicly testified about what happened. He is expected to appear remotely from the Bahamas.FTX filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 11, when the firm ran out of money after the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run. The collapse of crypto's second-largest exchange has garnered worldwide attention, and Bankman-Fried is under criminal investigation by U.S. and Bahamian authorities.The atmosphere Tuesday should be markedly different from Bankman-Fried's previous trips to Congress, when he testified in favor of certain bills that would regulate the crypto industry in ways that favored FTX. He became prominent in Washington and donated millions of dollars toward mostly left-leaning political causes and Democrat political campaigns, and was hailed as the new face of the crypto industry.A handful of members of the Financial Services Committee have previously taken political donations from FTX or Bankman-Fried, including Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J. and Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y.It wasn't clear at first whether Bankman-Fried would voluntarily agree to testify, or whether the committee would have to subpoena him. He has, more or less, remained in his Bahamian luxury compound in Nassau, and temporarily out of reach of U.S. authorities.Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California and chairwoman of the committee, said she planned to go forward with the hearing regardless of whether Bankman-Fried agreed to testify.This will be the first public appearance by Ray since FTX's collapse as well. Before FTX, the restructuring expert was best known for having to clean up the mess at Enron roughly 20 years ago. Ray has said in court filings that the financial conditions at FTX were worse than at Enron, and that he has no confidence in FTX's bookkeeping before he took over the firm.“FTX Group’s collapse appears to stem from the absolute concentration of control in the hands of a very small group of grossly inexperienced and unsophisticated individuals who failed to implement virtually any of the systems or controls that are necessary for a company that is entrusted with other people’s money or assets,” Ray said in his prepared remarks for Tuesday's hearing.

FTX CEO arrested, charged in billion dollar investor fraud scheme

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a two vehicle crash involving a police officer who were responding to a robbery.

Just before 9p.m. Monday, a police officer was responding to a report of a robbery in the 2900 block of SE California, according to Lt. Kerry Connell.

A citizen vehicle collided with the patrol vehicle in the 2700 block of SE California. Two passengers from the citizen vehicle were transported with to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The police officer was transported to a local hospital for assessment and released. 

The Topeka Police Department has requested the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office investigate the officer involved accident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670929445638.png" alt="The Shawnee Co. Sheriff's office is in charge of the accident investigation -Photo by Ashley Hoback courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The Shawnee Co. Sheriff's office is in charge of the accident investigation -Photo by Ashley Hoback courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a two vehicle crash involving a police officer who were responding to a robbery.Just before 9p.m. Monday, a police officer was responding to a report of a robbery in the 2900 block of SE California, according to Lt. Kerry Connell.A citizen vehicle collided with the patrol vehicle in the 2700 block of SE California. Two passengers from the citizen vehicle were transported with to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The police officer was transported to a local hospital for assessment and released. The Topeka Police Department has requested the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office investigate the officer involved accident.

Kansas officer responding to robbery call involved in crash

TOPEKA&nbsp; – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt on Monday announced that his office has secured at least $77 million for Kansas as part of settlements with Walgreens and CVS pharmacies to resolve allegations that the companies contributed to the opioid addiction crisis by failing to appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at its stores, according to a statement from the AG's office.

As details are finalized, the Kansas share is likely to increase, perhaps substantially.

Schmidt said the two settlements will provide more than $10.7 billion nationally and will require significant improvements in how the pharmacies handle opioids. The proceeds from the settlement must be used to provide treatment and recovery services for people struggling with opioid use disorder, while pharmacies must provide for broad, court-ordered requirements to their pharmacy practices, including robust oversight to prevent fraudulent prescriptions and flag suspicious prescriptions.

The settlements now go to the participating states to review by the end of 2022, allowing for certain additional parties to join during the first quarter of 2023. With this settlement, Schmidt’s office has now recovered more than $278 million related to unlawful opioid manufacturing, marketing and distribution.

“We have worked tirelessly to hold these companies accountable for the addiction and human suffering caused by years of their unlawful business practices,” Schmidt said. “These settlements have been complex, but they are the fruits of the efforts of many to provide justice for the harm of past actions. The money Kansas receives will help repair broken lives.”

Schmidt said Kansas also is engaged in ongoing investigations and negotiations with other companies the state believes played a role in illegally fueling opioid addiction.

Under the Kansas Fights Addiction Act, proposed by Schmidt and enacted last year by the Legislature, money recovered by the attorney general pursuant to opioid litigation will be used to address substance abuse and help ensure addiction services are provided throughout the state. Funding will be available through a&nbsp;<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/about-the-office/affiliated-orgs/kansas-fights-addiction-act-grant-review-board">grant review board</a>&nbsp;created by the statute. State agencies, local governments and not-for-profit entities may apply for funding for addiction treatment and abatement through the board. Additional information on the grant application and review process will be announced soon.

Under Schmidt’s leadership, since 2011 the attorney general’s office has recovered more than $1.1 billion for Kansas consumers and taxpayers, far more than any prior administration. The opioid recoveries are in addition to that amount.

TOPEKA&nbsp; – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt on Monday announced that his office has secured at least $77 million for Kansas as part of settlements with Walgreens and CVS pharmacies to resolve allegations that the companies contributed to the opioid addiction crisis by failing to appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at its stores, according to a statement from the AG's office.As details are finalized, the Kansas share is likely to increase, perhaps substantially.Schmidt said the two settlements will provide more than $10.7 billion nationally and will require significant improvements in how the pharmacies handle opioids. The proceeds from the settlement must be used to provide treatment and recovery services for people struggling with opioid use disorder, while pharmacies must provide for broad, court-ordered requirements to their pharmacy practices, including robust oversight to prevent fraudulent prescriptions and flag suspicious prescriptions.The settlements now go to the participating states to review by the end of 2022, allowing for certain additional parties to join during the first quarter of 2023. With this settlement, Schmidt’s office has now recovered more than $278 million related to unlawful opioid manufacturing, marketing and distribution.“We have worked tirelessly to hold these companies accountable for the addiction and human suffering caused by years of their unlawful business practices,” Schmidt said. “These settlements have been complex, but they are the fruits of the efforts of many to provide justice for the harm of past actions. The money Kansas receives will help repair broken lives.”Schmidt said Kansas also is engaged in ongoing investigations and negotiations with other companies the state believes played a role in illegally fueling opioid addiction.Under the Kansas Fights Addiction Act, proposed by Schmidt and enacted last year by the Legislature, money recovered by the attorney general pursuant to opioid litigation will be used to address substance abuse and help ensure addiction services are provided throughout the state. Funding will be available through a&nbsp;<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/about-the-office/affiliated-orgs/kansas-fights-addiction-act-grant-review-board">grant review board</a>&nbsp;created by the statute. State agencies, local governments and not-for-profit entities may apply for funding for addiction treatment and abatement through the board. Additional information on the grant application and review process will be announced soon.Under Schmidt’s leadership, since 2011 the attorney general’s office has recovered more than $1.1 billion for Kansas consumers and taxpayers, far more than any prior administration. The opioid recoveries are in addition to that amount.

AG: Kan. to receive at least $77M in opioid settlement

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

Two men accused in the armed robbery of the&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8d523281-0396-4e58-8408-b55867c02a0b">Hays Dollar General this summer</a>&nbsp;both pleaded not guilty to several charges this month in Ellis County District Court.

On Monday, Batalova Olatide Senuoke, 38, Columbus, Ohio, pleaded not guilty to four felony counts in connection with the July 24&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8d523281-0396-4e58-8408-b55867c02a0b">armed robbery&nbsp;</a>of the Dollar General Store at 1208 E. 27th, Hays.

Senuoke was charged with aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated battery and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon.

According to the Hays Police Department, Senuoke entered the Dollar General at approximately 10:30 a.m. July 24 and threatened the cashier with a gun. He left the store with the money and then Senuoke and two other suspects fled the area.

Their vehicle was located in Oakley and, after a brief chase involving the Kansas Highway Patrol, all three suspects were taken into custody just 12:30 p.m. July 24.

In Kansas, if convicted for aggravated robbery, Senuoke faces between 55 and 247 months in prison.

The conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery charge carries a sentence of 31 to 136 months. The potential sentence for aggravated battery is 11 to 34 months and for criminal possession of a weapon by a felon the sentence is seven to 33 months. All four felony charges also carry a fine.

The state anticipates Senuoke’s criminal history will be the highest of the sentencing grid and he could face the maximum penalty on all four charges.

Bryan Anthony Parsley, 42, Columbus, Ohio, was identified as the second suspect allegedly involved in the robbery.

On Friday, Parsley pleaded not guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and a misdemeanor charge of theft.

A third person — an unidentified female — was also taken into custody following the incident in July but has not been charged.

The court has scheduled a status hearing for later this month to determine if they will join the cases and try them together or separate.

If there is a jury trial or trials, they would be held sometime next year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670891099222.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostTwo men accused in the armed robbery of the&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8d523281-0396-4e58-8408-b55867c02a0b">Hays Dollar General this summer</a>&nbsp;both pleaded not guilty to several charges this month in Ellis County District Court.On Monday, Batalova Olatide Senuoke, 38, Columbus, Ohio, pleaded not guilty to four felony counts in connection with the July 24&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8d523281-0396-4e58-8408-b55867c02a0b">armed robbery&nbsp;</a>of the Dollar General Store at 1208 E. 27th, Hays.Senuoke was charged with aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated battery and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon.According to the Hays Police Department, Senuoke entered the Dollar General at approximately 10:30 a.m. July 24 and threatened the cashier with a gun. He left the store with the money and then Senuoke and two other suspects fled the area.Their vehicle was located in Oakley and, after a brief chase involving the Kansas Highway Patrol, all three suspects were taken into custody just 12:30 p.m. July 24.In Kansas, if convicted for aggravated robbery, Senuoke faces between 55 and 247 months in prison.The conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery charge carries a sentence of 31 to 136 months. The potential sentence for aggravated battery is 11 to 34 months and for criminal possession of a weapon by a felon the sentence is seven to 33 months. All four felony charges also carry a fine.The state anticipates Senuoke’s criminal history will be the highest of the sentencing grid and he could face the maximum penalty on all four charges.Bryan Anthony Parsley, 42, Columbus, Ohio, was identified as the second suspect allegedly involved in the robbery.On Friday, Parsley pleaded not guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and a misdemeanor charge of theft.A third person — an unidentified female — was also taken into custody following the incident in July but has not been charged.The court has scheduled a status hearing for later this month to determine if they will join the cases and try them together or separate.If there is a jury trial or trials, they would be held sometime next year.

2 charged for armed robbery at Dollar General in Hays

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple allegations after a holiday party.

Just before 3:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the area of Taylor Avenue and Mulberry Street in Garden City for a fight between two women. Upon arrival, Officers met with a woman and a man with visible injuries and learned they had been in an altercation with another woman.

The investigation revealed the man and woman offered 31-year-old Raquel Contreras of Garden City, a ride home from a party. During the ride, Contreras became upset and attacked both individuals with her fists and feet. 

Contreras also struck the man in the head with a glass bottle, causing a laceration to his head. 

During the altercation, Contreras attempted to drive away in the car without permission before fleeing the area on foot. The man was transported to St. Catherine Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Police later located Contreras in the area and took her into custody without incident. Contreras is being held on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Battery, Interference LEO (F), and Attempted Auto Theft.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670861210730.png" alt="Contreras" />
 <figcaption>Contreras</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple allegations after a holiday party.Just before 3:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the area of Taylor Avenue and Mulberry Street in Garden City for a fight between two women. Upon arrival, Officers met with a woman and a man with visible injuries and learned they had been in an altercation with another woman.The investigation revealed the man and woman offered 31-year-old Raquel Contreras of Garden City, a ride home from a party. During the ride, Contreras became upset and attacked both individuals with her fists and feet. Contreras also struck the man in the head with a glass bottle, causing a laceration to his head. During the altercation, Contreras attempted to drive away in the car without permission before fleeing the area on foot. The man was transported to St. Catherine Hospital for treatment of his injuries.Police later located Contreras in the area and took her into custody without incident. Contreras is being held on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Battery, Interference LEO (F), and Attempted Auto Theft.

SW Kan. woman jailed for alleged car theft, fight after holiday party

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas sex offender arrested in September of 2020 in connection with two cases of rape was sentenced on Thursday.

Patrick Newborn, 35, was sentenced to 105 years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. 

In September a jury found him guilty rape. He was originally charged with criminal threat, 2 counts of domestic battery, criminal trespass, 4 counts of aggravated burglary, 6 counts of aggravated robbery, 6 counts of rape, 7 counts of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, 2 counts of aggravated intimidation of a witness, 3 counts of aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, 2 counts of aggravated battery, attempted rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, interference with a law enforcement officer, battery (misdemeanor), according to the District Attorney's office.

On August 29, 2020 Wichita police began a sexual assault and robbery investigation following an incident reported in the 6100 Block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Captain Jason Stephens.

Two victims reported an attempted robbery at gunpoint. The female victims reported the suspect, later identified as Patrick Newborn had committed a sexual assault against her one to two weeks earlier, according to Stephens.

On Sept. 13, 2020 police investigated another sexual assault involving a different victim at a residence in the 700 Block of South Pershing in Wichita. Investigators determined the cases were likely connected and later confirmed that.

Special Weapons and Tactics team on the scene of the 7-hour standoff and arrest late Tuesday -photo courtesy KWCH

On Sept. 15, 2020 police learned that Newborn was wanted on a felony warrant for being a parole absconder, according to Stephens. Officers located him Tuesday in 9100 Block of East Harry in Wichita. Upon confronting him, Newborn pulled a handgun and threatened the officers.

The officers retreated from the residence and called in the SWAT team. The SWAT team established a perimeter around the location and spent 7 hours communicating with Newborn.

Just after 1a.m. Sept. 16, 2020 he gave himself up and was taken into custody without further incident, according to Stephens.

He has a previous conviction for Aggravated Indecent Liberties, Sex Intercourse with a victim under the age of 16, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600269243259.png" alt="Newborn -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Newborn -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas sex offender arrested in September of 2020 in connection with two cases of rape was sentenced on Thursday.Patrick Newborn, 35, was sentenced to 105 years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. In September a jury found him guilty rape. He was originally charged with criminal threat, 2 counts of domestic battery, criminal trespass, 4 counts of aggravated burglary, 6 counts of aggravated robbery, 6 counts of rape, 7 counts of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, 2 counts of aggravated intimidation of a witness, 3 counts of aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, 2 counts of aggravated battery, attempted rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, interference with a law enforcement officer, battery (misdemeanor), according to the District Attorney's office.On August 29, 2020 Wichita police began a sexual assault and robbery investigation following an incident reported in the 6100 Block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Captain Jason Stephens.Two victims reported an attempted robbery at gunpoint. The female victims reported the suspect, later identified as Patrick Newborn had committed a sexual assault against her one to two weeks earlier, according to Stephens.On Sept. 13, 2020 police investigated another sexual assault involving a different victim at a residence in the 700 Block of South Pershing in Wichita. Investigators determined the cases were likely connected and later confirmed that.Special Weapons and Tactics team on the scene of the 7-hour standoff and arrest late Tuesday -photo courtesy KWCHOn Sept. 15, 2020 police learned that Newborn was wanted on a felony warrant for being a parole absconder, according to Stephens. Officers located him Tuesday in 9100 Block of East Harry in Wichita. Upon confronting him, Newborn pulled a handgun and threatened the officers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600271410562.png" alt="Special Weapons and Tactics team on the scene of the 7-hour standoff and arrest late Tuesday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Special Weapons and Tactics team on the scene of the 7-hour standoff and arrest late Tuesday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>The officers retreated from the residence and called in the SWAT team. The SWAT team established a perimeter around the location and spent 7 hours communicating with Newborn.Just after 1a.m. Sept. 16, 2020 he gave himself up and was taken into custody without further incident, according to Stephens.He has a previous conviction for Aggravated Indecent Liberties, Sex Intercourse with a victim under the age of 16, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.----

Kan. sex offender caught after SWAT standoff sentenced for rape 

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — The NCAA placed Missouri Southern State's football program on three years of probation after finding that former coach Jeff Sims acted as if he and his staff did not have to follow compliance regulations.

The school in Joplin, Missouri, hired Sims shortly after one of his football players died of heat stroke while he was coaching at Garden City (Kansas) Community College in 2018.

In a report released Friday by the NCAA's Division II Committee on Infractions, Sims is accused of running a program where he "actively promoted an atmosphere of noncompliance" with NCAA regulations.

The committee also found that the university failed to monitor its football program.

Among other violations, the NCAA said the program allowed impermissible recruiting inducements and benefits, academic misconduct and violations of limits on athletically related activities.

For example, Simms persuaded a booster to pay $8,080 in back tuition for a former Garden City Community College player so he could play for Missouri Southern, the NCAA said. Sims also threatened his staffers' jobs if the athletes did not perform will academically and promoted a confrontational relationship with athletics administration and compliance officials, according to the report.

A former assistant coach and a former academic adviser also were sanctioned by the NCAA for their roles in the compliance violations.

Before he was hired at Missouri Southern, Sims was coaching at Garden City Community College when freshman offensive lineman Braedon Bradforth, of Neptune, New Jersey, died of heat stroke after a football workout in August 2018.

An investigation found that Bradforth's death was caused by "a striking lack of leadership" by top college officials, including Sims.

Bradforth's family settled a lawsuit against the college in 2020 for $500,000.

Current Missouri Southern athletic director Robert Mallory declined to comment beyond a statement issued by school President Dean Van Galen, who noted that all the infractions occurred in 2019 and 2020, before current coach Atiba Bradley was hired, and that no current coaches or staff members were involved.

"I have 100% confidence that under Coach Bradley's leadership that Lions' football is operating with the highest levels of integrity and transparency," Van Galen said.

Sims, who was fired in 2020 during his second season at Missouri Southern, did not immediately return messages seeking comment left on phone numbers listed for him. His team went 2-9 in his first year and didn't play in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The school began an investigation in April 2020 when the human resources department learned of potential violations during an exit interview with an assistant coach. During the investigation, other former members of the football staff and former athletes raised similar concerns, prompting the school to contact the NCAA.

Besides probation, Missouri Southern and the NCAA also agreed to a reduction in football scholarships from 36 to 34.2, a $5,000 fine and vacating all football records in which athletes competed while ineligible.

Sims, who initially denied knowing about the infractions and then stopped cooperating with the investigation, was issued a seven-year show-cause order, which could penalize any institution that hired him as a coach.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670878523425.png" alt="Missouri Southern fired Simms in Dec. 2020" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Southern fired Simms in Dec. 2020</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARGARET STAFFORDJOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — The NCAA placed Missouri Southern State's football program on three years of probation after finding that former coach Jeff Sims acted as if he and his staff did not have to follow compliance regulations.The school in Joplin, Missouri, hired Sims shortly after one of his football players died of heat stroke while he was coaching at Garden City (Kansas) Community College in 2018.In a report released Friday by the NCAA's Division II Committee on Infractions, Sims is accused of running a program where he "actively promoted an atmosphere of noncompliance" with NCAA regulations.The committee also found that the university failed to monitor its football program.Among other violations, the NCAA said the program allowed impermissible recruiting inducements and benefits, academic misconduct and violations of limits on athletically related activities.For example, Simms persuaded a booster to pay $8,080 in back tuition for a former Garden City Community College player so he could play for Missouri Southern, the NCAA said. Sims also threatened his staffers' jobs if the athletes did not perform will academically and promoted a confrontational relationship with athletics administration and compliance officials, according to the report.A former assistant coach and a former academic adviser also were sanctioned by the NCAA for their roles in the compliance violations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607354101143.png" alt="The family of Braeden Bradforth, pictured here with his mother, alleges medical personnel did not adhere to "professional standards" during the crucial final minutes of his life. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The family of Braeden Bradforth, pictured here with his mother, alleges medical personnel did not adhere to "professional standards" during the crucial final minutes of his life. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Before he was hired at Missouri Southern, Sims was coaching at Garden City Community College when freshman offensive lineman Braedon Bradforth, of Neptune, New Jersey, died of heat stroke after a football workout in August 2018.An investigation found that Bradforth's death was caused by "a striking lack of leadership" by top college officials, including Sims.Bradforth's family settled a lawsuit against the college in 2020 for $500,000.Current Missouri Southern athletic director Robert Mallory declined to comment beyond a statement issued by school President Dean Van Galen, who noted that all the infractions occurred in 2019 and 2020, before current coach Atiba Bradley was hired, and that no current coaches or staff members were involved."I have 100% confidence that under Coach Bradley's leadership that Lions' football is operating with the highest levels of integrity and transparency," Van Galen said.Sims, who was fired in 2020 during his second season at Missouri Southern, did not immediately return messages seeking comment left on phone numbers listed for him. His team went 2-9 in his first year and didn't play in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.The school began an investigation in April 2020 when the human resources department learned of potential violations during an exit interview with an assistant coach. During the investigation, other former members of the football staff and former athletes raised similar concerns, prompting the school to contact the NCAA.Besides probation, Missouri Southern and the NCAA also agreed to a reduction in football scholarships from 36 to 34.2, a $5,000 fine and vacating all football records in which athletes competed while ineligible.Sims, who initially denied knowing about the infractions and then stopped cooperating with the investigation, was issued a seven-year show-cause order, which could penalize any institution that hired him as a coach.___

NCAA violations followed former Kan. community college coach

Millions of Americans were — for a time — eligible for student loan forgiveness, but a legal battle over the constitutionality of the Biden administration's plan put everything on hold.

Monday evening, the U.S. Department of Education pulled a mea culpa on emails sent in late November that told recipients they were approved for student loan forgiveness, citing a "vendor error."

Due to a vendor error, you recently received an email with a subject line indicating your application for the one-time Student Loan Debt Relief Plan had been approved. The subject line was inaccurate. The body of the previous email was accurate.&nbsp;

We have received your application but are not permitted to review your eligibility because of ongoing litigation. We will keep your application information and review your eligibility if and when we prevail in court.

We apologize for the confusion, and you do not need to take any further action at this time. We will keep you updated with any developments.

Millions of Americans were — for a time — eligible for student loan forgiveness, but a legal battle over the constitutionality of the Biden administration's plan put everything on hold.Monday evening, the U.S. Department of Education pulled a mea culpa on emails sent in late November that told recipients they were approved for student loan forgiveness, citing a "vendor error."-----The correction read:Due to a vendor error, you recently received an email with a subject line indicating your application for the one-time Student Loan Debt Relief Plan had been approved. The subject line was inaccurate. The body of the previous email was accurate.&nbsp;We have received your application but are not permitted to review your eligibility because of ongoing litigation. We will keep your application information and review your eligibility if and when we prevail in court.We apologize for the confusion, and you do not need to take any further action at this time. We will keep you updated with any developments.

U.S. Dept. of Ed issues correction to loan forgiveness email

By DYLAN LYSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-12-12/250-workers-deployed-to-the-keystone-pipeline-spill-in-kansas-but-the-end-to-cleanup-isnt-in-sight">Kansas News Service</a>

The largest inland oil spill in nearly a decade has prompted the 
owner of the Keystone pipeline to build an earthen dam three miles 
downstream from the release in an attempt to limit the contamination in 
north-central Kansas.

Canadian company TC Energy also said it’s 
deployed some 250 workers to limit the damage from the pipeline’s 
rupture last week and the release of 14,000 barrels worth of crude — 
enough sludge to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Meantime, federal regulators said it appears the oil has not fouled groundwater.

TC
 Energy says it’s unclear how long it will take to clean up the damage 
and remediate the soil in Washington County, just south of the Nebraska 
border.

On Monday, its workers further surveyed the damage and 
prepared for rainy weather in the forecast. The pipeline company said 
it’s also conducting air quality checks, but it has detected no reason 
for public health concerns.

The company said it will continue 
clean-up efforts at the site until it is completely remedied and the 
pipeline will not restart until regulators say it’s safe.

“The 
health and safety of onsite staff and personnel, the surrounding 
community, and mitigating risk to the environment is our primary focus 
right now,” TC Energy said on its website.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3eeb9a56-7c04-4a38-b0b7-0739d7358e02">Click HERE for drone footage of the spill site.</a>

The spill of roughly 580,000 gallons came with <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-12-08/keystone-pipeline-spills-in-kansas-dirtying-creek-and-causing-oil-prices-to-spike" target="_blank">pipeline rupture last week</a> that had residents waking up to an odor that smelled like petroleum.

Kellen
 Ashford, a spokesperson for the U.S. The Environmental Protection 
Agency, said Monday the cause of the rupture will be determined by crews
 from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which 
is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Officials for that 
agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ashford said the EPA has no timeline for TC Energy’s remediation efforts.

The
 oil had made it about three miles downstream in Mill Creek but was 
contained within the dam waterway. No groundwater has been affected, 
Ashford said.

“The only water that has been impacted has been the 
surface water in the creek,” the EPA spokesperson said. “The drinking 
water has not been impacted by the pipeline rupture.”

The type of 
oil in the Keystone pipeline is sludgy and often sinks to the bottom of 
waterways – making it more difficult to clean than conventional crude 
oil. The pipeline carries oil from Canada to American refineries. It has
 previously leaked in South Dakota and North Dakota, CNN reported.

TC
 Energy had planned to build an additional pipeline called the Keystone 
XL, which sparked years of political debate, legal wrestling and 
protests — primarily generated by environmental groups worried that 
expanding fossil fuels infrastructure would hurt efforts to fight carbon
 emissions and slow climate change. President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/inauguration-day-live-updates/2021/01/20/958823085/biden-order-blocks-keystone-xl-pipeline" target="_blank">blocked the XL pipeline</a> immediately upon taking office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670881926358.png" alt="A massive oil spill in north-central Kansas seeped into Mill Creek and traveled about three miles downstream. Clean up crews contained the spill with a dam about four miles downstream. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency" />
 <figcaption>A massive oil spill in north-central Kansas seeped into Mill Creek and traveled about three miles downstream. Clean up crews contained the spill with a dam about four miles downstream. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</figcaption>
 </figure>By DYLAN LYSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-12-12/250-workers-deployed-to-the-keystone-pipeline-spill-in-kansas-but-the-end-to-cleanup-isnt-in-sight">Kansas News Service</a>The largest inland oil spill in nearly a decade has prompted the 
owner of the Keystone pipeline to build an earthen dam three miles 
downstream from the release in an attempt to limit the contamination in 
north-central Kansas.Canadian company TC Energy also said it’s 
deployed some 250 workers to limit the damage from the pipeline’s 
rupture last week and the release of 14,000 barrels worth of crude — 
enough sludge to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.Meantime, federal regulators said it appears the oil has not fouled groundwater.TC
 Energy says it’s unclear how long it will take to clean up the damage 
and remediate the soil in Washington County, just south of the Nebraska 
border.On Monday, its workers further surveyed the damage and 
prepared for rainy weather in the forecast. The pipeline company said 
it’s also conducting air quality checks, but it has detected no reason 
for public health concerns.The company said it will continue 
clean-up efforts at the site until it is completely remedied and the 
pipeline will not restart until regulators say it’s safe.“The 
health and safety of onsite staff and personnel, the surrounding 
community, and mitigating risk to the environment is our primary focus 
right now,” TC Energy said on its website.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3eeb9a56-7c04-4a38-b0b7-0739d7358e02">Click HERE for drone footage of the spill site.</a>The spill of roughly 580,000 gallons came with <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-12-08/keystone-pipeline-spills-in-kansas-dirtying-creek-and-causing-oil-prices-to-spike" target="_blank">pipeline rupture last week</a> that had residents waking up to an odor that smelled like petroleum.Kellen
 Ashford, a spokesperson for the U.S. The Environmental Protection 
Agency, said Monday the cause of the rupture will be determined by crews
 from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which 
is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Officials for that 
agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Ashford said the EPA has no timeline for TC Energy’s remediation efforts.The
 oil had made it about three miles downstream in Mill Creek but was 
contained within the dam waterway. No groundwater has been affected, 
Ashford said.“The only water that has been impacted has been the 
surface water in the creek,” the EPA spokesperson said. “The drinking 
water has not been impacted by the pipeline rupture.”The type of 
oil in the Keystone pipeline is sludgy and often sinks to the bottom of 
waterways – making it more difficult to clean than conventional crude 
oil. The pipeline carries oil from Canada to American refineries. It has
 previously leaked in South Dakota and North Dakota, CNN reported.TC
 Energy had planned to build an additional pipeline called the Keystone 
XL, which sparked years of political debate, legal wrestling and 
protests — primarily generated by environmental groups worried that 
expanding fossil fuels infrastructure would hurt efforts to fight carbon
 emissions and slow climate change. President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/inauguration-day-live-updates/2021/01/20/958823085/biden-order-blocks-keystone-xl-pipeline" target="_blank">blocked the XL pipeline</a> immediately upon taking office.

250 deployed to Kan. pipeline spill; cleanup's end isn't in sight

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Chris Beard, who coached Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA championship game and was hired away by Texas with expectations he’d elevate his alma mater to the same elite level, was arrested early Monday on a felony family violence charge after a woman told police he strangled and bit her.

The school suspended Beard without pay “until further notice” and said assistant Rodney Terry would coach the No. 7 Longhorns against Rice on Monday night.

Beard was arrested by Austin police and booked at the Travis County jail at 4:18 a.m. on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded. The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible punishment of two to 10 years in prison.

According to the arrest affidavit first reported by the Austin American-Statesman, the woman told police she is his fiance and they have been in a relationship for six years. She said they had been in an argument where she broke his glasses before he “just snapped on me and became super violent.”

According to the affidavit, the woman told police “he choked me, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around and going nuts.”

She told police Beard choked her from behind with his arm around her neck and she couldn’t breathe for about five seconds. Police say she she had a bite mark on her right arm and an abrasion to her right temple among other visible injuries.

When questioned by police, Beard said he had audio recordings of the incident that would show he was not the primary aggressor. But he refused to share them with officers, police said.

Beard went before a magistrate judge for his bond hearing, wearing jailhouse black-and-grey stripes and his hands cuffed in front at his waist. Beard was told he could communicate with the woman but not in a threatening manner, was ordered to stay 200 yards away from the residence where police were called and was told he is barred from possessing a firearm.

Beard nodded his head and answered “yes, sir” several times when addressing the judge. Jail records show Beard posted $10,000 bond. He didn’t answer questions when he left the jail with his attorney Perry Minton.

Minton declined comment but earlier told the American-Statesman the coach is innocent.

“He should never have been arrested,” Minton told the newspaper. “The complainant wants him released immediately and all charges dismissed. It is truly inconceivable.”

It wasn’t immediately known if the woman has an attorney. She was identified in the affidavit, but The Associated Press does not typically identify alleged victims of extreme violence without their consent.

“The university takes matters of interpersonal violence involving members of its community seriously,” the school said in announcing Beard’s suspension. It did not commit to Terry as the acting coach beyond Monday night. Terry was a head coach at UTEP (2018-21) and Fresno State (2011-18).

Beard is in his second season of a seven-year guaranteed contract that pays him more than $5 million per year. Before that, he was 112-55 in five seasons with the Red Raiders. He was named The Associated Press coach of the year in 2019 as he guided Texas Tech to a 31-7 finish and lost in an overtime thriller to Virginia in the national championship game.

His departure for Texas — a deal reached after a meeting with Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte that included a McDonald’s breakfast an hour’s drive north of Lubbock — left Texas Tech officials frustrated.

Beard said it was a difficult move, but he could not turn down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/basketball-texas-longhorns-mens-basketball-texas-tech-red-raiders-mens-basketball-chris-beard-texas-a65e56eee131de24a128b0f9f9cb4d2c">a chance to coach at his alma mater, where he was a student assistant three decades ago.</a>&nbsp;Earlier this year, he led Texas to a first-round victory over Virginia Tech that was the Longhorns’ first NCAA Tournament win since 2014.

Beard’s contract includes a provision under which he can be fired for cause for conduct the administration reasonably determines reflects poorly on the coach, program, school or university system. That includes being charged with a felony. University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife did not return a message seeking comment.

Texas freshman guard Arterio Morris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-texas-mens-college-basketball-chris-beard-fed29b4832f13e492868d779e3207406">faces a misdemeanor family violence charge stemming from a June arrest after an incident with a former girlfriend.</a>&nbsp;He faces a Wednesday court hearing in Denton County near Dallas.

Morris, a top national recruit, has been allowed to play this season despite the charge, and averages 17 minutes and 6.5 points per game. Morris’ attorney, Justin Moore, has said Moore is innocent of the assault charge.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas men’s basketball coach Chris Beard was arrested early Monday on a felony family violence charge, according to Travis County Jail records.&nbsp;

Just after midnight, police responded to a 911 call for a disturbance at a home in the 1900 Block of Vista Lane, according to a media release from Austin Police. The caller reported the disturbance was no longer ongoing and one of the individuals had left the house.&nbsp;

Police responded and found a woman a woman who stated she had been assaulted and strangled by Chris Beard.

The county Sheriff’s Office said the 49-year-old Beard was arrested by Austin police and booked at 4:18 a.m. on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded, or choking, in common terms.

The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible punishment of two to 10 years in prison. The jail records showed Beard had not yet posted bond as of Monday morning and did not indicate when he would be making an initial court appearance. No attorney for him was listed.

“The university is aware of the situation regarding Chris Beard. We are continuing to gather information and monitoring the legal process,” the school said in a statement.

The Longhorns (7-1), who have been ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 this season, host Rice on Monday night.

Beard is in his second season of a seven-year guaranteed contract that pays him more than $5 million per year. Before coming to Texas, he Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA Tournament championship game.

Texas freshman guard Arterio Morris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-texas-mens-college-basketball-chris-beard-fed29b4832f13e492868d779e3207406">also faces a misdemeanor family violence charge stemming from a June arrest after an incident with a former girlfriend</a>&nbsp;and faces a Wednesday court hearing in Denton County near Dallas.

Morris was a top national recruit out of Dallas and has been allowed to play this season despite the charge, and averages 17 minutes and 6.5 points per game. Morris’ attorney Justin Moore has said Moore is innocent of the assault charge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670872672542.png" alt="Beard-photo Travis County" />
 <figcaption>Beard-photo Travis County</figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Chris Beard, who coached Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA championship game and was hired away by Texas with expectations he’d elevate his alma mater to the same elite level, was arrested early Monday on a felony family violence charge after a woman told police he strangled and bit her.The school suspended Beard without pay “until further notice” and said assistant Rodney Terry would coach the No. 7 Longhorns against Rice on Monday night.Beard was arrested by Austin police and booked at the Travis County jail at 4:18 a.m. on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded. The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible punishment of two to 10 years in prison.According to the arrest affidavit first reported by the Austin American-Statesman, the woman told police she is his fiance and they have been in a relationship for six years. She said they had been in an argument where she broke his glasses before he “just snapped on me and became super violent.”According to the affidavit, the woman told police “he choked me, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around and going nuts.”She told police Beard choked her from behind with his arm around her neck and she couldn’t breathe for about five seconds. Police say she she had a bite mark on her right arm and an abrasion to her right temple among other visible injuries.When questioned by police, Beard said he had audio recordings of the incident that would show he was not the primary aggressor. But he refused to share them with officers, police said.Beard went before a magistrate judge for his bond hearing, wearing jailhouse black-and-grey stripes and his hands cuffed in front at his waist. Beard was told he could communicate with the woman but not in a threatening manner, was ordered to stay 200 yards away from the residence where police were called and was told he is barred from possessing a firearm.Beard nodded his head and answered “yes, sir” several times when addressing the judge. Jail records show Beard posted $10,000 bond. He didn’t answer questions when he left the jail with his attorney Perry Minton.Minton declined comment but earlier told the American-Statesman the coach is innocent.“He should never have been arrested,” Minton told the newspaper. “The complainant wants him released immediately and all charges dismissed. It is truly inconceivable.”It wasn’t immediately known if the woman has an attorney. She was identified in the affidavit, but The Associated Press does not typically identify alleged victims of extreme violence without their consent.“The university takes matters of interpersonal violence involving members of its community seriously,” the school said in announcing Beard’s suspension. It did not commit to Terry as the acting coach beyond Monday night. Terry was a head coach at UTEP (2018-21) and Fresno State (2011-18).Beard is in his second season of a seven-year guaranteed contract that pays him more than $5 million per year. Before that, he was 112-55 in five seasons with the Red Raiders. He was named The Associated Press coach of the year in 2019 as he guided Texas Tech to a 31-7 finish and lost in an overtime thriller to Virginia in the national championship game.His departure for Texas — a deal reached after a meeting with Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte that included a McDonald’s breakfast an hour’s drive north of Lubbock — left Texas Tech officials frustrated.Beard said it was a difficult move, but he could not turn down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/basketball-texas-longhorns-mens-basketball-texas-tech-red-raiders-mens-basketball-chris-beard-texas-a65e56eee131de24a128b0f9f9cb4d2c">a chance to coach at his alma mater, where he was a student assistant three decades ago.</a>&nbsp;Earlier this year, he led Texas to a first-round victory over Virginia Tech that was the Longhorns’ first NCAA Tournament win since 2014.Beard’s contract includes a provision under which he can be fired for cause for conduct the administration reasonably determines reflects poorly on the coach, program, school or university system. That includes being charged with a felony. University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife did not return a message seeking comment.Texas freshman guard Arterio Morris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-texas-mens-college-basketball-chris-beard-fed29b4832f13e492868d779e3207406">faces a misdemeanor family violence charge stemming from a June arrest after an incident with a former girlfriend.</a>&nbsp;He faces a Wednesday court hearing in Denton County near Dallas.Morris, a top national recruit, has been allowed to play this season despite the charge, and averages 17 minutes and 6.5 points per game. Morris’ attorney, Justin Moore, has said Moore is innocent of the assault charge.-------------AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas men’s basketball coach Chris Beard was arrested early Monday on a felony family violence charge, according to Travis County Jail records.&nbsp;Just after midnight, police responded to a 911 call for a disturbance at a home in the 1900 Block of Vista Lane, according to a media release from Austin Police. The caller reported the disturbance was no longer ongoing and one of the individuals had left the house.&nbsp;Police responded and found a woman a woman who stated she had been assaulted and strangled by Chris Beard.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670863360648.png" alt="Travis County jail records" />
 <figcaption>Travis County jail records</figcaption>
 </figure>The county Sheriff’s Office said the 49-year-old Beard was arrested by Austin police and booked at 4:18 a.m. on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded, or choking, in common terms.The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible punishment of two to 10 years in prison. The jail records showed Beard had not yet posted bond as of Monday morning and did not indicate when he would be making an initial court appearance. No attorney for him was listed.“The university is aware of the situation regarding Chris Beard. We are continuing to gather information and monitoring the legal process,” the school said in a statement.The Longhorns (7-1), who have been ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 this season, host Rice on Monday night.Beard is in his second season of a seven-year guaranteed contract that pays him more than $5 million per year. Before coming to Texas, he Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA Tournament championship game.Texas freshman guard Arterio Morris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-texas-mens-college-basketball-chris-beard-fed29b4832f13e492868d779e3207406">also faces a misdemeanor family violence charge stemming from a June arrest after an incident with a former girlfriend</a>&nbsp;and faces a Wednesday court hearing in Denton County near Dallas.Morris was a top national recruit out of Dallas and has been allowed to play this season despite the charge, and averages 17 minutes and 6.5 points per game. Morris’ attorney Justin Moore has said Moore is innocent of the assault charge.