WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate moved quickly Thursday to avert a rail strike that the Biden administration and business leaders warned would have had devastating consequences for the nation's economy.

The Senate passed a bill to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached between the rail companies and union leaders in September. That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike beginning Dec. 9.

The Senate vote was 80-15. It came one day after the House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b">voted</a>&nbsp;to impose the agreement. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.

“I’m very glad that the two sides got together to avoid a shutdown, which would have been devastating for the American people, to the American economy and so many workers across the country,” Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters.

Just before the final vote, an amendment to include 7 days of paid sick leave for rail workers failed 52-43. It needed 60 votes to pass. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted against including paid sick leave.  Republican Senators Hawley, Graham, Rubio, Cruz, Braun and Kennedy voted in favor.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate was moving quickly Thursday in an effort to avert a rail strike that the Biden administration and business leaders say would greatly damage the economy.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a deal to hold a series of three votes related to the rail negotiations, with the final vote on whether to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached in September.

That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike. The House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b">has already voted</a>&nbsp;to impose that agreement anyway.

“I’m very glad that the two sides got together to avoid a shutdown, which would have been devastating for the American people, to the American economy and so many workers across the country,” Democrat Schumer told reporters.

He spoke as Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>&nbsp;emphasized to Democratic senators that rail companies would begin shutting down operations well before a potential strike would begin on Dec. 9.

Shortly before Thursday's votes, President Joe Biden — who had urged Congress to intervene earlier this week — defended the contract that four of the unions had rejected, noting the wage increases it contains.

“I negotiated a contract no one else could negotiate,” Biden said at a news briefing with French President Emmanuel Macron. “What was negotiated was so much better than anything they ever had.”

Critics say that contract that did not receive backing from enough union members lacked sufficient levels of paid leave for rail workers. Biden said he wants paid leave for “everybody” so that it wouldn’t have to be negotiated in employment contracts, but Republican lawmakers have blocked measures to require time off work for medical and family reasons. The U.S. president said that Congress should now impose the contract to avoid a strike that Biden said could cause 750,000 job losses and a recession.

Railways say that halting rail service would cause a devastating $2 billion-per-day hit to the economy. A freight rail strike also would have a big potential impact on passenger rail, with Amtrak and many commuter railroads relying on tracks owned by the freight railroads.

The rail companies and 12 unions have been engaged in high-stakes negotiations. The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-strikes-congress-94089be6a4f469444da99fec9dde1b3e">helped broker deals</a>&nbsp;between the railroads and union leaders in September, but four of the unions rejected the deals. Eight others approved five-year deals and are getting back pay for their workers for the 24% raises that are retroactive to 2020.

On Monday, with a Dec. 9 strike looming, Biden called on Congress to impose the tentative agreement reached in September. Congress has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-business-strikes-congress-34e0ccd4b29b55bf8bd3844eb03b5bed">the authority to do so</a>&nbsp;and has enacted legislation in the past to delay or prohibit railway and airline strikes. But most lawmakers would prefer the parties work out their differences on their own.

The intervention was particularly difficult for Democratic lawmakers who traditionally align themselves with the politically powerful labor unions that criticized Biden’s move to intervene in the contract dispute and block a strike.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., responded to that concern by holding a second vote Wednesday on a bill that would add seven days of paid sick leave per year for rail workers covered under the agreement. The call for paid sick leave was a major sticking point in the talks along with other quality-of-life concerns. The railroads say the unions have agreed in negotiations over the decades to forgo paid sick time in favor of higher wages and strong short-term disability benefits.

The unions maintain that railroads can easily afford to add paid sick time when they are recording record profits. Several of the big railroads involved in these contract talks reported more than $1 billion profit in the third quarter.

Schumer said he understands the urgency and the stakes for the economy of a drawn-out fight.

“Senators are working morning, noon and night to reach an agreement for us to act on this measure ASAP," Schumer said. “The Senate cannot leave until we get the job done. And Democrats will keep working with Republicans to find a path forward that everyone can support."

The House passed the legislation enacting September's labor agreement with broad bipartisan support. But a second measure adding seven paid sick days for rail workers passed on a mostly party-line vote, signaling dim prospects for that effort in the evenly divided Senate.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy would face a severe economic shock if senators don't pass legislation this week to avert a freight rail worker strike. That's the message the Biden administration is delivering personally to Democratic senators in a closed-door session Thursday.

The House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b">acted soon</a>&nbsp;after a request from President Joe Biden and on Wednesday passed legislation that would bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached in September but rejected by some of the 12 unions involved. But the Senate often works at a slower pace, and the timing of final votes is unclear.

Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>&nbsp;are meeting with Democratic senators Thursday to underscore that rail companies will begin shuttering operations well before a potential strike begins on Dec. 9.

“If there's even the possibility of a shutdown, about five days in advance of that, the railroads would have to begin winding down their acceptance of things like hazardous material shipments that you can't allow to get stranded," Buttigieg said in a CNBC interview.

“So my goal today speaking to the senators will be to make sure they understand the implications of a shutdown or even getting close to a shutdown," he said. “It wouldn't just bring down our rail system. It would really shut down our economy."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he understands the urgency and the stakes for the economy of a drawn-out fight.

Schumer said a priority for him would be holding a vote to provide seven days of paid sick leave. But he'll have to work out an agreement as any senator can block speedy consideration of the rail measure.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1669926736793.png" alt="The amendment to include 7 days of paid sick leave for rail workers failed 52-43. It needed 60 votes to pass. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted against including paid sick leave.&nbsp; Republican Senators Hawley, Graham, Rubio, Cruz, Braun and Kennedy voted in favor-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The amendment to include 7 days of paid sick leave for rail workers failed 52-43. It needed 60 votes to pass. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted against including paid sick leave.&nbsp; Republican Senators Hawley, Graham, Rubio, Cruz, Braun and Kennedy voted in favor-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate moved quickly Thursday to avert a rail strike that the Biden administration and business leaders warned would have had devastating consequences for the nation's economy.The Senate passed a bill to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached between the rail companies and union leaders in September. That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike beginning Dec. 9.The Senate vote was 80-15. It came one day after the House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b">voted</a>&nbsp;to impose the agreement. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.“I’m very glad that the two sides got together to avoid a shutdown, which would have been devastating for the American people, to the American economy and so many workers across the country,” Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters.Just before the final vote, an amendment to include 7 days of paid sick leave for rail workers failed 52-43. It needed 60 votes to pass. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted against including paid sick leave. Republican Senators Hawley, Graham, Rubio, Cruz, Braun and Kennedy voted in favor.-----------WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate was moving quickly Thursday in an effort to avert a rail strike that the Biden administration and business leaders say would greatly damage the economy.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a deal to hold a series of three votes related to the rail negotiations, with the final vote on whether to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached in September.That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike. The House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b">has already voted</a>&nbsp;to impose that agreement anyway.“I’m very glad that the two sides got together to avoid a shutdown, which would have been devastating for the American people, to the American economy and so many workers across the country,” Democrat Schumer told reporters.He spoke as Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>&nbsp;emphasized to Democratic senators that rail companies would begin shutting down operations well before a potential strike would begin on Dec. 9.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Joe Biden and the suits on one side, railroad workers on the other side. Easy call&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1598393068977532928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Shortly before Thursday's votes, President Joe Biden — who had urged Congress to intervene earlier this week — defended the contract that four of the unions had rejected, noting the wage increases it contains.“I negotiated a contract no one else could negotiate,” Biden said at a news briefing with French President Emmanuel Macron. “What was negotiated was so much better than anything they ever had.”Critics say that contract that did not receive backing from enough union members lacked sufficient levels of paid leave for rail workers. Biden said he wants paid leave for “everybody” so that it wouldn’t have to be negotiated in employment contracts, but Republican lawmakers have blocked measures to require time off work for medical and family reasons. The U.S. president said that Congress should now impose the contract to avoid a strike that Biden said could cause 750,000 job losses and a recession.Railways say that halting rail service would cause a devastating $2 billion-per-day hit to the economy. A freight rail strike also would have a big potential impact on passenger rail, with Amtrak and many commuter railroads relying on tracks owned by the freight railroads.The rail companies and 12 unions have been engaged in high-stakes negotiations. The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-strikes-congress-94089be6a4f469444da99fec9dde1b3e">helped broker deals</a>&nbsp;between the railroads and union leaders in September, but four of the unions rejected the deals. Eight others approved five-year deals and are getting back pay for their workers for the 24% raises that are retroactive to 2020.On Monday, with a Dec. 9 strike looming, Biden called on Congress to impose the tentative agreement reached in September. Congress has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-business-strikes-congress-34e0ccd4b29b55bf8bd3844eb03b5bed">the authority to do so</a>&nbsp;and has enacted legislation in the past to delay or prohibit railway and airline strikes. But most lawmakers would prefer the parties work out their differences on their own.The intervention was particularly difficult for Democratic lawmakers who traditionally align themselves with the politically powerful labor unions that criticized Biden’s move to intervene in the contract dispute and block a strike.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., responded to that concern by holding a second vote Wednesday on a bill that would add seven days of paid sick leave per year for rail workers covered under the agreement. The call for paid sick leave was a major sticking point in the talks along with other quality-of-life concerns. The railroads say the unions have agreed in negotiations over the decades to forgo paid sick time in favor of higher wages and strong short-term disability benefits.The unions maintain that railroads can easily afford to add paid sick time when they are recording record profits. Several of the big railroads involved in these contract talks reported more than $1 billion profit in the third quarter.Schumer said he understands the urgency and the stakes for the economy of a drawn-out fight.“Senators are working morning, noon and night to reach an agreement for us to act on this measure ASAP," Schumer said. “The Senate cannot leave until we get the job done. And Democrats will keep working with Republicans to find a path forward that everyone can support."The House passed the legislation enacting September's labor agreement with broad bipartisan support. But a second measure adding seven paid sick days for rail workers passed on a mostly party-line vote, signaling dim prospects for that effort in the evenly divided Senate.----------------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669762218251.png" alt="On Monday, with a Dec. 9 strike looming, Biden called on Congress to impose the tentative agreement reached in September-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>On Monday, with a Dec. 9 strike looming, Biden called on Congress to impose the tentative agreement reached in September-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy would face a severe economic shock if senators don't pass legislation this week to avert a freight rail worker strike. That's the message the Biden administration is delivering personally to Democratic senators in a closed-door session Thursday.The House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b">acted soon</a>&nbsp;after a request from President Joe Biden and on Wednesday passed legislation that would bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached in September but rejected by some of the 12 unions involved. But the Senate often works at a slower pace, and the timing of final votes is unclear.Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>&nbsp;are meeting with Democratic senators Thursday to underscore that rail companies will begin shuttering operations well before a potential strike begins on Dec. 9.“If there's even the possibility of a shutdown, about five days in advance of that, the railroads would have to begin winding down their acceptance of things like hazardous material shipments that you can't allow to get stranded," Buttigieg said in a CNBC interview.“So my goal today speaking to the senators will be to make sure they understand the implications of a shutdown or even getting close to a shutdown," he said. “It wouldn't just bring down our rail system. It would really shut down our economy."Railways say that halting rail service would cause a devastating $2 billion-per-day hit to the economy. A freight rail strike also would have a big potential impact on passenger rail, with Amtrak and many commuter railroads relying on tracks owned by the freight railroads.The rail companies and 12 unions have been engaged in high-stakes negotiations. The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-strikes-congress-94089be6a4f469444da99fec9dde1b3e">helped broker deals</a>&nbsp;between the railroads and union leaders in September, but four of the unions rejected the deals. Eight others approved five-year deals and are getting back pay for their workers for the 24% raises that are retroactive to 2020.On Monday, with a Dec. 9 strike looming, Biden called on Congress to impose the tentative agreement reached in September. Congress has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-business-strikes-congress-34e0ccd4b29b55bf8bd3844eb03b5bed">the authority to do so</a>&nbsp;and has enacted legislation in the past to delay or prohibit railway and airline strikes. But most lawmakers would prefer the parties work out their differences on their own.The intervention was particularly difficult for Democratic lawmakers who traditionally align themselves with the politically powerful labor unions that criticized Biden’s move to intervene in the contract dispute and block a strike.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., responded to that concern by holding a second vote Wednesday on a bill that would add seven days of paid sick leave per year for rail workers covered under the agreement. The call for paid sick leave was a major sticking point in the talks along with other quality-of-life concerns. The railroads say the unions have agreed in negotiations over the decades to forgo paid sick time in favor of higher wages and strong short-term disability benefits.The unions maintain that railroads can easily afford to add paid sick time when they are recording record profits. Several of the big railroads involved in these contract talks reported more than $1 billion profit in the third quarter.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he understands the urgency and the stakes for the economy of a drawn-out fight.“Senators are working morning, noon and night to reach an agreement for us to act on this measure ASAP," Schumer said. “The Senate cannot leave until we get the job done. And Democrats will keep working with Republicans to find a path forward that everyone can support."Schumer said a priority for him would be holding a vote to provide seven days of paid sick leave. But he'll have to work out an agreement as any senator can block speedy consideration of the rail measure.The House passed the legislation enacting September's labor agreement with broad bipartisan support. But a second measure adding seven paid sick days for rail workers passed on a mostly party-line vote, signaling dim prospects for that effort in the evenly divided Senate.

Senate vote averts rail strike; Moran, Marshall vote no on paid sick leave

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting.

Just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a parking lot in the 1100 Block of Johnson Drive to check the welfare of a man, according to a media release.

The man had a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. City of Shawnee police detectives and the Johnson County Criminalistics Lab Crime Scene investigation unit were working to identify evidence.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting.Just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a parking lot in the 1100 Block of Johnson Drive to check the welfare of a man, according to a media release.The man had a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. City of Shawnee police detectives and the Johnson County Criminalistics Lab Crime Scene investigation unit were working to identify evidence.

Police: Kan. man found with gunshot wound in parking lot

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kirk Thompson, Director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the premier statewide criminal investigative agency, has announced his upcoming retirement, effective January 10, 2023, according to a media release from the agency.

Kirk Thompson has served as KBI Director for over 11 years. His distinguished law enforcement service spanned more than 46 years.

Thompson first entered law enforcement in 1976, at the age of 19, as a deputy sheriff with the Barton County Sheriff’s Office. In this role he served the central Kansas community of Great Bend where he grew up. He then moved to Topeka in 1979, after joining the KBI as a special agent.

Thompson is a graduate of Washburn University, the FBI National Academy, the Kansas Certified Pubic Manager program, and has completed numerous other law enforcement leadership programs.

Over the course of his KBI career, Thompson served in several supervisory roles, working his way up the ranks to Assistant Director and Associate Director. Then in July of 2011, Attorney General Derek Schmidt appointed Thompson as the 12th&nbsp;Director of the KBI.

Thompson devoted more than a decade serving in the KBI’s top post. During his tenure he enhanced every division of the Bureau. In 2012, in partnership with the FBI, the first satellite Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory in the nation was established at KBI headquarters to conduct timely analysis of digital forensic evidence. Then in 2015, the Bureau opened its Forensic Science Center, a new state-of-the art laboratory located on the campus of Washburn University. Also during his time as Director, Thompson expanded the KBI child victims unit, to include the 2018 creation of the Northeast Child Victim Task Force, a team and facility focused on investigating major crimes perpetrated against children.

In 2017, Thompson successfully advocated for additional forensic scientists to test the statewide accumulation of sexual assault kits discovered during the KBI-led Kansas Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, and to expedite future submission and testing of this valuable forensic evidence. In 2019, under Thompson, the KBI established a cyber crime unit to investigate large-scale cyber threats in Kansas. Thompson also secured multi-million dollar funding and support for major updates to several critical criminal justice systems&nbsp;-&nbsp;the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), the Kansas Incident Based Reporting System (KIBRS), and the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System (KCJIS).

During his time at the KBI, Thompson served on the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training, the Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board, the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive Board, the Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Advisory Board, the Kansas Commission on Emergency Planning and Response, and many other boards, committees, and commissions. Thompson was also an active member of the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association, the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, the Kansas Peace Officers Association, and the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt said of Thompson’s service, "Kirk Thompson has served as an exceptional leader for the KBI. Never drawing attention to himself, he always has insisted on the highest standards of professionalism and has moved the Bureau forward in so many quiet but critical ways. I am tremendously grateful he answered this call to service more than 11 years ago, and wish Kirk and his family well in life's next chapter."

“Serving as Director of the KBI has been the highpoint of my career. I am grateful to Attorney General Schmidt for allowing me the opportunity to work with the exceptional men and women of the KBI, and alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” said Thompson.

“I’m very proud of what this agency has accomplished over the past decade to safeguard the public, and pursue justice for victims of violent crimes. While many public safety challenges still face our state, I am absolutely certain the KBI will continue to successfully engage those challenges and strive to make Kansas a better place to live,” Thompson added.

Thompson began discussions about retirement several months ago, and KBI employees were formally notified of his retirement plans in early November. He agreed to serve through the end of the year.

In retirement, Thompson plans to travel with his wife, Stephanie, and spend additional time with his daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren. He also looks forward to devoting free time to volunteer opportunities and newfound hobbies.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1669915903239.png" alt="Kirk Thompson-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kirk Thompson-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kirk Thompson, Director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the premier statewide criminal investigative agency, has announced his upcoming retirement, effective January 10, 2023, according to a media release from the agency.Kirk Thompson has served as KBI Director for over 11 years. His distinguished law enforcement service spanned more than 46 years.Thompson first entered law enforcement in 1976, at the age of 19, as a deputy sheriff with the Barton County Sheriff’s Office. In this role he served the central Kansas community of Great Bend where he grew up. He then moved to Topeka in 1979, after joining the KBI as a special agent.Thompson is a graduate of Washburn University, the FBI National Academy, the Kansas Certified Pubic Manager program, and has completed numerous other law enforcement leadership programs.Over the course of his KBI career, Thompson served in several supervisory roles, working his way up the ranks to Assistant Director and Associate Director. Then in July of 2011, Attorney General Derek Schmidt appointed Thompson as the 12th&nbsp;Director of the KBI.Thompson devoted more than a decade serving in the KBI’s top post. During his tenure he enhanced every division of the Bureau. In 2012, in partnership with the FBI, the first satellite Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory in the nation was established at KBI headquarters to conduct timely analysis of digital forensic evidence. Then in 2015, the Bureau opened its Forensic Science Center, a new state-of-the art laboratory located on the campus of Washburn University. Also during his time as Director, Thompson expanded the KBI child victims unit, to include the 2018 creation of the Northeast Child Victim Task Force, a team and facility focused on investigating major crimes perpetrated against children.In 2017, Thompson successfully advocated for additional forensic scientists to test the statewide accumulation of sexual assault kits discovered during the KBI-led Kansas Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, and to expedite future submission and testing of this valuable forensic evidence. In 2019, under Thompson, the KBI established a cyber crime unit to investigate large-scale cyber threats in Kansas. Thompson also secured multi-million dollar funding and support for major updates to several critical criminal justice systems&nbsp;-&nbsp;the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), the Kansas Incident Based Reporting System (KIBRS), and the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System (KCJIS).During his time at the KBI, Thompson served on the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training, the Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board, the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive Board, the Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Advisory Board, the Kansas Commission on Emergency Planning and Response, and many other boards, committees, and commissions. Thompson was also an active member of the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association, the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, the Kansas Peace Officers Association, and the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies.Attorney General Derek Schmidt said of Thompson’s service, "Kirk Thompson has served as an exceptional leader for the KBI. Never drawing attention to himself, he always has insisted on the highest standards of professionalism and has moved the Bureau forward in so many quiet but critical ways. I am tremendously grateful he answered this call to service more than 11 years ago, and wish Kirk and his family well in life's next chapter."“Serving as Director of the KBI has been the highpoint of my career. I am grateful to Attorney General Schmidt for allowing me the opportunity to work with the exceptional men and women of the KBI, and alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” said Thompson.“I’m very proud of what this agency has accomplished over the past decade to safeguard the public, and pursue justice for victims of violent crimes. While many public safety challenges still face our state, I am absolutely certain the KBI will continue to successfully engage those challenges and strive to make Kansas a better place to live,” Thompson added.Thompson began discussions about retirement several months ago, and KBI employees were formally notified of his retirement plans in early November. He agreed to serve through the end of the year.In retirement, Thompson plans to travel with his wife, Stephanie, and spend additional time with his daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren. He also looks forward to devoting free time to volunteer opportunities and newfound hobbies.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

KBI Director Kirk Thompson set to retire next month

OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a traffic stop.

Just before 10p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp;a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 35 near the Williamsburg/Pomona exit for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells

During the stop, deputies located narcotics.

The driver of the vehicle, Nathan W. Rodriguez, 30, of Emporia, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, Criminal use of a weapon, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of marijuana and No drug tax stamp.

He has three previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669827281920.png" alt="Rodriguez has three previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.-photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>Rodriguez has three previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.-photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a traffic stop.Just before 10p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp;a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 35 near the Williamsburg/Pomona exit for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Sheriff Chris WellsDuring the stop, deputies located narcotics.The driver of the vehicle, Nathan W. Rodriguez, 30, of Emporia, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, Criminal use of a weapon, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of marijuana and No drug tax stamp.He has three previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Kan. man with previous drug convictions accused of selling meth

NEW YORK (AP) — The former CEO of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX said Wednesday that he did not "knowingly" misuse customers' funds, and said he believes his millions of angry customers will eventually be made whole.

The comments from Sam Bankman-Fried came during an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin at a conference put on by The New York Times. Bankman-Fried has done a handful of media interviews&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftx-crypto-bankruptcy-filing-ed0f06c5db468e285f58af2d8766b51a">since FTX collapsed in mid-November</a>, but Wednesday's was his first video interview since it filed for bankruptcy protection on Nov. 11.

“I didn’t ever want to commit fraud on anyone. I was shocked at what happened this month,” Bankman-Fried said.

FTX failed in the cryptocurrency version of a bank run, when customers tried to withdraw their assets all at once because of growing doubts about the financial strength of the company and its affiliated trading arm, Alameda Research. Since its collapse, FTX's new management has called the cryptocurrency exchange's management&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftx-trading-former-ceo-d2c2b881dc0eb0ec37b454674f446b52">a “complete failure of corporate controls.”</a>

Bankman-Fried said that he took responsibility for FTX's collapse and said he failed to grasp the amount of risk FTX and Alameda were taking on across both businesses. One of the accusations made against Bankman-Fried is that he arranged for Alameda to use customers' assets in FTX to place bets in the market. Bankman-Fried told Sorkin he did not “knowingly” co-mingle customers' assets with Alameda.

Exchanges like FTX are supposed to segregate customers' deposits from any bets they place in the markets. Other financial companies have gotten into legal hot water for misusing customers deposits, one example being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-cme-group-inc-jon-corzine-299e5e839e724c049f349ad437ff4564">MF Global roughly 10 years ago.</a>

“Whatever happened, why it happened, I had a duty to our stakeholders, our customers, our investors, the regulators of the world, to do right by them,” Bankman Fried said.

Sorkin pushed Bankman-Fried on how and when investors will get their money back, to which Bankman-Fried said he largely believed the U.S. affiliate of FTX was entirely solvent and could start processing withdrawals at once. As for the rest of FTX, which was significantly larger than the U.S. division, he said the fate of customers' funds were largely out of his control at this point.

Bankman-Fried, who was once one of the richest people in the world on paper, now says he likely has less than $100,000 to his name after FTX's failure. He's getting by on one credit card while still in the Bahamas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668439258946.png" alt="FTX Arena, where the Miami Heat basketball team plays -Google image" />
 <figcaption>FTX Arena, where the Miami Heat basketball team plays -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The former CEO of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX said Wednesday that he did not "knowingly" misuse customers' funds, and said he believes his millions of angry customers will eventually be made whole.The comments from Sam Bankman-Fried came during an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin at a conference put on by The New York Times. Bankman-Fried has done a handful of media interviews&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftx-crypto-bankruptcy-filing-ed0f06c5db468e285f58af2d8766b51a">since FTX collapsed in mid-November</a>, but Wednesday's was his first video interview since it filed for bankruptcy protection on Nov. 11.“I didn’t ever want to commit fraud on anyone. I was shocked at what happened this month,” Bankman-Fried said.FTX failed in the cryptocurrency version of a bank run, when customers tried to withdraw their assets all at once because of growing doubts about the financial strength of the company and its affiliated trading arm, Alameda Research. Since its collapse, FTX's new management has called the cryptocurrency exchange's management&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ftx-trading-former-ceo-d2c2b881dc0eb0ec37b454674f446b52">a “complete failure of corporate controls.”</a>Bankman-Fried said that he took responsibility for FTX's collapse and said he failed to grasp the amount of risk FTX and Alameda were taking on across both businesses. One of the accusations made against Bankman-Fried is that he arranged for Alameda to use customers' assets in FTX to place bets in the market. Bankman-Fried told Sorkin he did not “knowingly” co-mingle customers' assets with Alameda.Exchanges like FTX are supposed to segregate customers' deposits from any bets they place in the markets. Other financial companies have gotten into legal hot water for misusing customers deposits, one example being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-cme-group-inc-jon-corzine-299e5e839e724c049f349ad437ff4564">MF Global roughly 10 years ago.</a>“Whatever happened, why it happened, I had a duty to our stakeholders, our customers, our investors, the regulators of the world, to do right by them,” Bankman Fried said.Sorkin pushed Bankman-Fried on how and when investors will get their money back, to which Bankman-Fried said he largely believed the U.S. affiliate of FTX was entirely solvent and could start processing withdrawals at once. As for the rest of FTX, which was significantly larger than the U.S. division, he said the fate of customers' funds were largely out of his control at this point.Bankman-Fried, who was once one of the richest people in the world on paper, now says he likely has less than $100,000 to his name after FTX's failure. He's getting by on one credit card while still in the Bahamas.

Missing billions: FTX CEO says didn't misuse clients' funds

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a multi-vehicle crash following a crash that sent a police officer to the hospital.

Just before 4p.m. Wednesday, police attempted to stop a stolen vehicle in the 14400 block of West 135th&nbsp;Street in Olathe, according to a media release.&nbsp; The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and struck an Olathe Police Officer's vehicle in the process. 

The vehicle failed to yield to other responding officers.&nbsp; A pursuit was initiated and taken over by several neighboring police departments.

The officer, who has not been identified, was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. 

Police took the driver of the stolen vehicle, an adult male, into custody in Lenexa after a four vehicle crash at 87th Street at Allman Road.&nbsp; EMS transported the suspect and one other driver for treatment. Police have not released the suspect's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1669894514163.png" alt="Police captured the suspect after a 4-vehicle crash in Overland Park-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police captured the suspect after a 4-vehicle crash in Overland Park-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a multi-vehicle crash following a crash that sent a police officer to the hospital.Just before 4p.m. Wednesday, police attempted to stop a stolen vehicle in the 14400 block of West 135th&nbsp;Street in Olathe, according to a media release.&nbsp; The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and struck an Olathe Police Officer's vehicle in the process. The vehicle failed to yield to other responding officers.&nbsp; A pursuit was initiated and taken over by several neighboring police departments.The officer, who has not been identified, was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. Police took the driver of the stolen vehicle, an adult male, into custody in Lenexa after a four vehicle crash at 87th Street at Allman Road.&nbsp; EMS transported the suspect and one other driver for treatment. Police have not released the suspect's name.

Kan. officer injured in crash that prompted chase, 4-vehicle crash

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Mickey Joseph, Nebraska's interim football coach for nine games after Scott Frost's firing, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of strangulation and third-degree domestic assault.

Police went to a Lincoln residence in the afternoon after a report of a domestic disturbance. Following an investigation, the 54-year-old Joseph was arrested at another location. He was being held at Lancaster Country Jail.

“While the Lincoln Police Department does not normally provide a news release for a domestic-related arrest, due to the high-profile nature of the person involved and, in an effort, to provide transparency on an arrest involving a public figure, notification of the arrest is being made,” police said in a statement.

Matt Rhule was introduced as the Cornhuskers' head coach Monday. Athletic director Trev Alberts had said he spoke with Joseph about the job before Rhule's hiring.

Rhule had not announced whether Joseph would be retained on his staff. Rhule declined comment through an athletic department spokesman Wednesday night.

Joseph was a quarterback for the Cornhuskers from 1988-91 and had run-ins with police during his playing days.

He was arrested in September 1990 on suspicion of criminal mischief for allegedly breaking an exterior window and damaging an inner window while trying to enter his girlfriend’s apartment. According to police reports, the girlfriend’s roommate told officers there had been a domestic dispute going on for several hours before the incident occurred. No charges were filed in that case because of uncooperative witnesses.

Joseph also was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Lincoln in 1989 and suspended for one game.

Joseph's 25-year coaching career has taken him to all levels of the college game. Rivals.com named him one of the nation's top 25 recruiters in 2019, and he developed four receivers selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft in five years at LSU.

He returned to Nebraska last December as receivers coach and was named interim head coach Sept. 11 after Alberts fired Frost. The Huskers were 3-6 under Joseph and finished the season 4-8.

“I was made aware of the charges against Coach Joseph and given the nature of the allegations and based on University policy he has been placed on administrative leave," Alberts said in a statement. "We will have no additional comment at this time.”

Joseph had said at his first news conference as interim coach that he wanted the job full-time. He extended scholarship offers to several prospects during his 10 weeks on the job, and he vowed in September to leave the program in better shape than he found it.

“We’re going to do the job the right way,” he said. “We’re not going to sabotage the place.”

When asked Monday by The Associated Press how Joseph reacted when told Rhule would be hired, Alberts said, “He took it really good.”

Alberts did not answer directly Monday when asked if Joseph were a serious candidate. Alberts has repeatedly lauded Joseph for creating positive energy around the team and motivating players to play hard.

“Mickey's an outstanding coach, and he's obviously got a huge and bright future in the business, and we'll see whether it continues here,” Alberts said Monday. “Coach Rhule wants to sit down with him. I have so much respect for Mickey Joseph and what he's done for our program, and our players do as well.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1669892752505.png" alt="Joseph-photo Lincoln Police" />
 <figcaption>Joseph-photo Lincoln Police</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Mickey Joseph, Nebraska's interim football coach for nine games after Scott Frost's firing, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of strangulation and third-degree domestic assault.Police went to a Lincoln residence in the afternoon after a report of a domestic disturbance. Following an investigation, the 54-year-old Joseph was arrested at another location. He was being held at Lancaster Country Jail.“While the Lincoln Police Department does not normally provide a news release for a domestic-related arrest, due to the high-profile nature of the person involved and, in an effort, to provide transparency on an arrest involving a public figure, notification of the arrest is being made,” police said in a statement.Further details weren't released.Matt Rhule was introduced as the Cornhuskers' head coach Monday. Athletic director Trev Alberts had said he spoke with Joseph about the job before Rhule's hiring.Rhule had not announced whether Joseph would be retained on his staff. Rhule declined comment through an athletic department spokesman Wednesday night.Joseph was a quarterback for the Cornhuskers from 1988-91 and had run-ins with police during his playing days.He was arrested in September 1990 on suspicion of criminal mischief for allegedly breaking an exterior window and damaging an inner window while trying to enter his girlfriend’s apartment. According to police reports, the girlfriend’s roommate told officers there had been a domestic dispute going on for several hours before the incident occurred. No charges were filed in that case because of uncooperative witnesses.Joseph also was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Lincoln in 1989 and suspended for one game.Joseph's 25-year coaching career has taken him to all levels of the college game. Rivals.com named him one of the nation's top 25 recruiters in 2019, and he developed four receivers selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft in five years at LSU.He returned to Nebraska last December as receivers coach and was named interim head coach Sept. 11 after Alberts fired Frost. The Huskers were 3-6 under Joseph and finished the season 4-8.“I was made aware of the charges against Coach Joseph and given the nature of the allegations and based on University policy he has been placed on administrative leave," Alberts said in a statement. "We will have no additional comment at this time.”Joseph had said at his first news conference as interim coach that he wanted the job full-time. He extended scholarship offers to several prospects during his 10 weeks on the job, and he vowed in September to leave the program in better shape than he found it.“We’re going to do the job the right way,” he said. “We’re not going to sabotage the place.”When asked Monday by The Associated Press how Joseph reacted when told Rhule would be hired, Alberts said, “He took it really good.”Alberts did not answer directly Monday when asked if Joseph were a serious candidate. Alberts has repeatedly lauded Joseph for creating positive energy around the team and motivating players to play hard.“Mickey's an outstanding coach, and he's obviously got a huge and bright future in the business, and we'll see whether it continues here,” Alberts said Monday. “Coach Rhule wants to sit down with him. I have so much respect for Mickey Joseph and what he's done for our program, and our players do as well.”

Univ. of Nebraska coach arrested for alleged domestic assault

NEW YORK (AP) — GivingTuesday raised a record $3.1 billion in 24 hours for charitable causes in the U.S. earlier this week, as the event that started as a hashtag in 2012 celebrated its 10th anniversary and its status as a staple of fundraising for nonprofits, the group's leader said Wednesday.

Despite the difficult economic year that many households have experienced, with inflation in the costs of basic goods, gas and housing, people were still willing to give, said GivingTuesday CEO Asha Curran.

“That’s really what we saw yesterday,” she told The Associated Press. “That whatever it is that people are experiencing, they were as generous as they had the capacity to be.”

GivingTuesday estimated that giving increased about 15% from 2021′s $2.7 billion, outpacing inflation. Donations were tallied using an array of data sources that includes major community foundations, companies that offer fundraising software, the payment processor PayPal and large grantmakers like Fidelity Charitable and Vanguard Charitable. Their methodology for compiling the estimate seeks to eliminate duplicate data points, Curran said.

In another measure of the resilience of donations, Fidelity Charitable said Tuesday that for the first time since 2018, the value of grants from its donor advised funds&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-philanthropy-4189a7e3678bc73607796d86364f2306">exceeds the value of investments going into the funds</a>.

The organization said this year's totals marked the largest amount donated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving since the group started tracking it.

The hashtag to promote fundraising on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving started in 2012 as a project of the 92nd Street Y and the organization GivingTuesday became an independent nonprofit in 2020. The organization has also launched a campaign to raise $26 million over five years to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-philanthropy-melinda-french-gates-0029c421cd69d742191a0acf123a5117">expand their database of giving</a>.

In the tenth year of nonprofits and donors marking the day, Curran said, people continue to show incredible generosity.

“They give in a multitude of ways. It does not always have to do with money. It often has to do with community. It is very collective. It has a lot to do with people feeling like they are a fractal of a larger whole,” Curran said. “And yesterday was just one more reaffirmation of that.”

NEW YORK (AP) — GivingTuesday raised a record $3.1 billion in 24 hours for charitable causes in the U.S. earlier this week, as the event that started as a hashtag in 2012 celebrated its 10th anniversary and its status as a staple of fundraising for nonprofits, the group's leader said Wednesday.Despite the difficult economic year that many households have experienced, with inflation in the costs of basic goods, gas and housing, people were still willing to give, said GivingTuesday CEO Asha Curran.“That’s really what we saw yesterday,” she told The Associated Press. “That whatever it is that people are experiencing, they were as generous as they had the capacity to be.”GivingTuesday estimated that giving increased about 15% from 2021′s $2.7 billion, outpacing inflation. Donations were tallied using an array of data sources that includes major community foundations, companies that offer fundraising software, the payment processor PayPal and large grantmakers like Fidelity Charitable and Vanguard Charitable. Their methodology for compiling the estimate seeks to eliminate duplicate data points, Curran said.In another measure of the resilience of donations, Fidelity Charitable said Tuesday that for the first time since 2018, the value of grants from its donor advised funds&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-philanthropy-4189a7e3678bc73607796d86364f2306">exceeds the value of investments going into the funds</a>.The organization said this year's totals marked the largest amount donated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving since the group started tracking it.The hashtag to promote fundraising on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving started in 2012 as a project of the 92nd Street Y and the organization GivingTuesday became an independent nonprofit in 2020. The organization has also launched a campaign to raise $26 million over five years to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-philanthropy-melinda-french-gates-0029c421cd69d742191a0acf123a5117">expand their database of giving</a>.In the tenth year of nonprofits and donors marking the day, Curran said, people continue to show incredible generosity.“They give in a multitude of ways. It does not always have to do with money. It often has to do with community. It is very collective. It has a lot to do with people feeling like they are a fractal of a larger whole,” Curran said. “And yesterday was just one more reaffirmation of that.”

GivingTuesday raises $3.1B for charities in tough economy

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) —Twitter will no longer enforce its policy against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-coronavirus-pandemic-misinformation-50d081bad2f76f097b6de57356ef8ab0">COVID-19 misinformation</a>, raising concerns among public health experts and social media researchers that the change could have serious consequences if it discourages vaccination and other efforts to combat the still-spreading virus.

Eagle-eyed users spotted the change Monday night, noting that a one-sentence update had been made to Twitter's online rules: "Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twitter-vaccine-misinformation-crackdown-3190793914e7d6aded43c19521954cde">misleading information policy</a>.”

By Tuesday, some Twitter accounts were testing the new boundaries and celebrating the platform's hands-off approach, which comes after Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk.

“This policy was used to silence people across the world who questioned the media narrative surrounding the virus and treatment options,” tweeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-misinformation-8407e477767045a428664194aebabbe3">Dr. Simone Gold</a>, a physician and leading purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation. “A win for free speech and medical freedom!”

Twitter's decision to no longer remove false claims about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines disappointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-misinformation-health-433991ea434e12ccfdf97b5db415310d">public health officials</a>, however, who said it could lead to more false claims about the virus, or the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

“Bad news,” tweeted epidemiologist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-business-health-travel-lifestyle-ae387f22e84ff86822fa3a86ad4c6961">Eric Feigl-Ding</a>, who urged people not to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-spacex-twitter-inc-technology-racial-injustice-a293ceb59d58a4dd37c0d43adab2e5d9">flee Twitter</a>&nbsp;but to keep up the fight against bad information about the virus. “Stay folks — do NOT cede the town square to them!”

While Twitter's efforts to stop false claims about COVID weren't perfect, the company's decision to reverse course is an abdication of its duty to its users, said Paul Russo, a social media researcher and dean of the Katz School of Science and Health at Yeshiva University in New York.

Russo added that it's the latest of several recent moves by Twitter that could ultimately scare away some users and even advertisers. Some big names in business have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-business-0bafafecbcf4cbae2f484d83d483b168">already paused their ads on Twitter</a>&nbsp;over questions about its direction under Musk.

“It is 100% the responsibility of the platform to protect its users from harmful content,” Russo said. “This is absolutely unacceptable.”

The virus, meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-travel-covid-ce0a33a3eb7185184310d2b7b5df19e2">continues to spread</a>. Nationally, new COVID cases averaged nearly 38,800 a day as of Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University — far lower than last winter but a vast undercount because of reduced testing and reporting. About 28,100 people with COVID were hospitalized daily and about 313 died, according to the most recent federal daily averages.

Cases and deaths were up from two weeks earlier. Yet a fifth of the U.S. population hasn’t been vaccinated, most Americans haven’t gotten the latest boosters, and many have stopped wearing masks.

Musk,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-spacex-twitter-inc-technology-health-824eeda320bc3ea03c9e6aecd6a7df19">who has himself spread COVID misinformation on Twitter</a>, has signaled an interest in rolling back many of the platform's previous rules meant to combat misinformation.

Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-donald-trump-business-misinformation-c60bc41229339eaec5008188fa6d057c">Musk said he would grant “amnesty”</a>&nbsp;to account holders who had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-steve-bannon-spacex-covid-technology-f8027a70b71e30d377d7f450985a9130">kicked off Twitter</a>. He's also reinstated the accounts for several people who spread COVID misinformation, including that of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-technology-health-business-media-0ebae275423fc33a707235c67a0e71b2">whose personal account was suspended</a>&nbsp;this year for repeatedly violating Twitter's COVID rules.

Greene's most recent tweets include ones questioning the effectiveness of masks and making baseless claims about the safety of COVID vaccines.

Since the pandemic began, platforms like Twitter and Facebook have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/anti-vaccine-accounts-thrive-social-media-e796aaf1ce32d02e215d3b2021a33599">struggled to respond</a>&nbsp;to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-ap-top-news-understanding-the-outbreak-health-media-86f61f3ffb6173c29bc7db201c10f141">torrent of misinformation about the virus</a>, its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conspiracy-theories-iran-only-on-ap-media-misinformation-bfca6d5b236a29d61c4dd38702495ffe">origins</a>&nbsp;and the response to it.

Under the policy enacted in January 2020, Twitter prohibited false claims about COVID-19 that the platform determined could lead to real-world harms. More than 11,000 accounts were suspended for violating the rules, and nearly 100,000 pieces of content were removed from the platform, according to Twitter's latest numbers.

Despite its rules prohibiting COVID misinformation, Twitter has struggled with enforcement. Posts making bogus claims about home remedies or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/misinformation-immunizations-coronavirus-pandemic-085cc1b49a5d488026f2e59d8f32d590">vaccines</a>&nbsp;could still be found, and it was difficult on Tuesday to identify exactly how the platform's rules may have changed.

Messages left with San Francisco-based Twitter seeking more information about its policy on COVID-19 misinformation were not immediately returned Tuesday.

A search for common terms associated with COVID misinformation on Tuesday yielded lots of misleading content, but also automatic links to helpful resources about the virus as well as authoritative sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Ashish Jha, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-congress-a05afb7ebfa102992c354c99619fa944">White House COVID-19 coordinator</a>, said Tuesday that the problem of COVID-19 misinformation is far larger than one platform, and that policies prohibiting COVID misinformation weren't the best solution anyway.

Speaking at a Knight Foundation forum Tuesday, Jha said misinformation about the virus spread for a number of reasons, including legitimate uncertainty about a deadly illness. Simply prohibiting certain kinds of content isn't going to help people find good information, or make them feel more confident about what they're hearing from their medical providers, he said.

“I think we all have a collective responsibility,” Jha said of combating misinformation about COVID. “The consequences of not getting this right — of spreading that misinformation — is literally tens of thousands of people dying unnecessarily.”

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) —Twitter will no longer enforce its policy against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-coronavirus-pandemic-misinformation-50d081bad2f76f097b6de57356ef8ab0">COVID-19 misinformation</a>, raising concerns among public health experts and social media researchers that the change could have serious consequences if it discourages vaccination and other efforts to combat the still-spreading virus.Eagle-eyed users spotted the change Monday night, noting that a one-sentence update had been made to Twitter's online rules: "Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twitter-vaccine-misinformation-crackdown-3190793914e7d6aded43c19521954cde">misleading information policy</a>.”By Tuesday, some Twitter accounts were testing the new boundaries and celebrating the platform's hands-off approach, which comes after Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk.“This policy was used to silence people across the world who questioned the media narrative surrounding the virus and treatment options,” tweeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-misinformation-8407e477767045a428664194aebabbe3">Dr. Simone Gold</a>, a physician and leading purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation. “A win for free speech and medical freedom!”Twitter's decision to no longer remove false claims about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines disappointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-misinformation-health-433991ea434e12ccfdf97b5db415310d">public health officials</a>, however, who said it could lead to more false claims about the virus, or the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.“Bad news,” tweeted epidemiologist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-business-health-travel-lifestyle-ae387f22e84ff86822fa3a86ad4c6961">Eric Feigl-Ding</a>, who urged people not to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-spacex-twitter-inc-technology-racial-injustice-a293ceb59d58a4dd37c0d43adab2e5d9">flee Twitter</a>&nbsp;but to keep up the fight against bad information about the virus. “Stay folks — do NOT cede the town square to them!”While Twitter's efforts to stop false claims about COVID weren't perfect, the company's decision to reverse course is an abdication of its duty to its users, said Paul Russo, a social media researcher and dean of the Katz School of Science and Health at Yeshiva University in New York.Russo added that it's the latest of several recent moves by Twitter that could ultimately scare away some users and even advertisers. Some big names in business have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-business-0bafafecbcf4cbae2f484d83d483b168">already paused their ads on Twitter</a>&nbsp;over questions about its direction under Musk.“It is 100% the responsibility of the platform to protect its users from harmful content,” Russo said. “This is absolutely unacceptable.”The virus, meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-travel-covid-ce0a33a3eb7185184310d2b7b5df19e2">continues to spread</a>. Nationally, new COVID cases averaged nearly 38,800 a day as of Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University — far lower than last winter but a vast undercount because of reduced testing and reporting. About 28,100 people with COVID were hospitalized daily and about 313 died, according to the most recent federal daily averages.Cases and deaths were up from two weeks earlier. Yet a fifth of the U.S. population hasn’t been vaccinated, most Americans haven’t gotten the latest boosters, and many have stopped wearing masks.Musk,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-spacex-twitter-inc-technology-health-824eeda320bc3ea03c9e6aecd6a7df19">who has himself spread COVID misinformation on Twitter</a>, has signaled an interest in rolling back many of the platform's previous rules meant to combat misinformation.Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-donald-trump-business-misinformation-c60bc41229339eaec5008188fa6d057c">Musk said he would grant “amnesty”</a>&nbsp;to account holders who had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-steve-bannon-spacex-covid-technology-f8027a70b71e30d377d7f450985a9130">kicked off Twitter</a>. He's also reinstated the accounts for several people who spread COVID misinformation, including that of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-technology-health-business-media-0ebae275423fc33a707235c67a0e71b2">whose personal account was suspended</a>&nbsp;this year for repeatedly violating Twitter's COVID rules.Greene's most recent tweets include ones questioning the effectiveness of masks and making baseless claims about the safety of COVID vaccines.Since the pandemic began, platforms like Twitter and Facebook have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/anti-vaccine-accounts-thrive-social-media-e796aaf1ce32d02e215d3b2021a33599">struggled to respond</a>&nbsp;to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-ap-top-news-understanding-the-outbreak-health-media-86f61f3ffb6173c29bc7db201c10f141">torrent of misinformation about the virus</a>, its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conspiracy-theories-iran-only-on-ap-media-misinformation-bfca6d5b236a29d61c4dd38702495ffe">origins</a>&nbsp;and the response to it.Under the policy enacted in January 2020, Twitter prohibited false claims about COVID-19 that the platform determined could lead to real-world harms. More than 11,000 accounts were suspended for violating the rules, and nearly 100,000 pieces of content were removed from the platform, according to Twitter's latest numbers.Despite its rules prohibiting COVID misinformation, Twitter has struggled with enforcement. Posts making bogus claims about home remedies or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/misinformation-immunizations-coronavirus-pandemic-085cc1b49a5d488026f2e59d8f32d590">vaccines</a>&nbsp;could still be found, and it was difficult on Tuesday to identify exactly how the platform's rules may have changed.Messages left with San Francisco-based Twitter seeking more information about its policy on COVID-19 misinformation were not immediately returned Tuesday.A search for common terms associated with COVID misinformation on Tuesday yielded lots of misleading content, but also automatic links to helpful resources about the virus as well as authoritative sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Dr. Ashish Jha, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-congress-a05afb7ebfa102992c354c99619fa944">White House COVID-19 coordinator</a>, said Tuesday that the problem of COVID-19 misinformation is far larger than one platform, and that policies prohibiting COVID misinformation weren't the best solution anyway.Speaking at a Knight Foundation forum Tuesday, Jha said misinformation about the virus spread for a number of reasons, including legitimate uncertainty about a deadly illness. Simply prohibiting certain kinds of content isn't going to help people find good information, or make them feel more confident about what they're hearing from their medical providers, he said.“I think we all have a collective responsibility,” Jha said of combating misinformation about COVID. “The consequences of not getting this right — of spreading that misinformation — is literally tens of thousands of people dying unnecessarily.”

Twitter ends enforcement of COVID misinformation policy

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

After a case lasting almost four years, the former owner of the Plainville Livestock Commission was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Kansas City&nbsp; on a multimillion check kiting scheme.

Tyler Gillum, former owner of the Plainville Livestock Commission, per a sentencing agreement, was sentenced by Judge Daniel Crabtree to 60 months in prison and more than $7.2 million in restitution.

Gillum's sentences on all counts will run concurrently. He will be required to serve three years of post-release supervision.

The restitution included $6.8 million to Landmark National Bank of Manhattan, Kan., $250,000 to Federal Insurance Company and $208,000 to TBK Bank of Dallas.

Gillum will owe an additional $3,300 in fines.

As a part of his sentencing agreement, he has agreed not to appeal his conviction or sentencing.

Gillum was convicted on 33 federal counts, including 31 counts of bank fraud, one count of making a false statement in connection with a Small Business Administration guaranteed loan, and one count of making a false statement in a loan or credit card application.

In the aftermath of Gillum's crimes, payments to ranchers for the sale of their cattle were delayed almost a year, banks were defrauded of millions of dollars and a rural bank closed.

Gillum owned and operated Plainville Livestock Commission Inc. from 2006 until 2019.

Between January 2015 and August 2017, Gillum wrote checks and made wire transfers between various accounts under his control at various banks in a scheme commonly known as check kiting, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

This is when checks are continually written back and forth to fraudulently inflate account balances, tricking banks into honoring checks written with insufficient funds. Gillum’s scheme resulted in losses of more than $10 million to the banking system, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Bank officials stepped in in February 2019. Almena Bank froze Gillum's accounts, including a custodial account, which was supposed to hold money due to ranchers who sold cattle at Gillum's livestock auctions.

Checks from the Plainville Livestock Commission for two sales — one at the end of January 2019 and the other on Feb. 5, 2019 — bounced.

Ranchers who were due more than $900,000 in auction proceeds had to wait more than 10 months to receive payment for their cattle.

Plainville Livestock Commission declared bankruptcy on March 1, 2019

In October 2020, Almena Bank failed. "The $69 million-asset bank was closed by its state regulator, then sold by the FDIC to Equity Bank in Andover," according to a story in the American Banker on March 26, 2021.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e0ef87c4-7036-4352-a580-28d25241adc0">The delayed payment to ranchers and Plainville Livestock Commission bankruptcy had lasting effects on the Plainville and area ag communities.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575404210576.jpeg" alt="Plainville Livestock Commission" />
 <figcaption>Plainville Livestock Commission</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostAfter a case lasting almost four years, the former owner of the Plainville Livestock Commission was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Kansas City&nbsp; on a multimillion check kiting scheme.Tyler Gillum, former owner of the Plainville Livestock Commission, per a sentencing agreement, was sentenced by Judge Daniel Crabtree to 60 months in prison and more than $7.2 million in restitution.Gillum's sentences on all counts will run concurrently. He will be required to serve three years of post-release supervision.The restitution included $6.8 million to Landmark National Bank of Manhattan, Kan., $250,000 to Federal Insurance Company and $208,000 to TBK Bank of Dallas.Gillum will owe an additional $3,300 in fines.As a part of his sentencing agreement, he has agreed not to appeal his conviction or sentencing. Gillum was convicted on 33 federal counts, including 31 counts of bank fraud, one count of making a false statement in connection with a Small Business Administration guaranteed loan, and one count of making a false statement in a loan or credit card application. In the aftermath of Gillum's crimes, payments to ranchers for the sale of their cattle were delayed almost a year, banks were defrauded of millions of dollars and a rural bank closed. Gillum owned and operated Plainville Livestock Commission Inc. from 2006 until 2019.Between January 2015 and August 2017, Gillum wrote checks and made wire transfers between various accounts under his control at various banks in a scheme commonly known as check kiting, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. This is when checks are continually written back and forth to fraudulently inflate account balances, tricking banks into honoring checks written with insufficient funds. Gillum’s scheme resulted in losses of more than $10 million to the banking system, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Bank officials stepped in in February 2019. Almena Bank froze Gillum's accounts, including a custodial account, which was supposed to hold money due to ranchers who sold cattle at Gillum's livestock auctions.Checks from the Plainville Livestock Commission for two sales — one at the end of January 2019 and the other on Feb. 5, 2019 — bounced.Ranchers who were due more than $900,000 in auction proceeds had to wait more than 10 months to receive payment for their cattle.Plainville Livestock Commission declared bankruptcy on March 1, 2019In October 2020, Almena Bank failed. "The $69 million-asset bank was closed by its state regulator, then sold by the FDIC to Equity Bank in Andover," according to a story in the American Banker on March 26, 2021.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e0ef87c4-7036-4352-a580-28d25241adc0">The delayed payment to ranchers and Plainville Livestock Commission bankruptcy had lasting effects on the Plainville and area ag communities.</a>

NW Kan. man sentenced for scheme that cost banks millions

KANSAS CITY —A&nbsp; judge Monday sentenced a Kansas City-area man to 12 years in prison after he was convicted of multiple&nbsp; burglaries and thefts, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

In October, Isaiah J.J. Brown, 31, pleaded guilty to Burglary 2nd Degree, Stealing, two counts of Tampering with a Motor Vehicle, Property Damage 1st Degree and two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

The judge sentenced Brown to six years on each of five counts, with those six-year sentences running concurrently. In addition, the judge ordered six-year sentences on the two Unlawful Possession of a Firearm convictions, setting them to run concurrently. The judge then set those two six-year sentences to run consecutively. That set a total sentence of 12 years.

According to court records, on Nov. 8, 2020, Kansas City police responded to a residence on West Gregory Blvd and the homeowner reported that valuable electronic items were stolen from the residence while she was in the front yard doing yard work. 

A police DNA-trained officer processed the scene for DNA of the suspect. A cigarette butt was also recovered from the vehicle at the residence. The DNA from the cigarette later was matched to the defendant, who was also seen on surveillance video parking his vehicle and entering the residence. Police connected the defendant to or the defendant admitted to other vehicle thefts in Kansas City. When taken into custody two firearms were found.

The victim of the home burglary made a statement Monday to the court for both he and his wife. He thanked the officers, detectives and crime lab staff that helped investigate the crime, as well as the prosecutor's office. But he said he and his family's losses have left a significant and devastating toll on the family, taking not only thousands of dollars in electronic equipment but also damaging their sense of security as well as their emotional and mental well being. &nbsp;"The impact of Isaiah Brown's callous and indifferent criminal actions on our family since has been dramatic," the victim's wife stated. &nbsp;"Isaiah Brown non only ransacked our house, he ransacked our life."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669673039124.png" alt="Brown-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Brown-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A&nbsp; judge Monday sentenced a Kansas City-area man to 12 years in prison after he was convicted of multiple&nbsp; burglaries and thefts, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.In October, Isaiah J.J. Brown, 31, pleaded guilty to Burglary 2nd Degree, Stealing, two counts of Tampering with a Motor Vehicle, Property Damage 1st Degree and two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.The judge sentenced Brown to six years on each of five counts, with those six-year sentences running concurrently. In addition, the judge ordered six-year sentences on the two Unlawful Possession of a Firearm convictions, setting them to run concurrently. The judge then set those two six-year sentences to run consecutively. That set a total sentence of 12 years.According to court records, on Nov. 8, 2020, Kansas City police responded to a residence on West Gregory Blvd and the homeowner reported that valuable electronic items were stolen from the residence while she was in the front yard doing yard work. A police DNA-trained officer processed the scene for DNA of the suspect. A cigarette butt was also recovered from the vehicle at the residence. The DNA from the cigarette later was matched to the defendant, who was also seen on surveillance video parking his vehicle and entering the residence. Police connected the defendant to or the defendant admitted to other vehicle thefts in Kansas City. When taken into custody two firearms were found.The victim of the home burglary made a statement Monday to the court for both he and his wife. He thanked the officers, detectives and crime lab staff that helped investigate the crime, as well as the prosecutor's office. But he said he and his family's losses have left a significant and devastating toll on the family, taking not only thousands of dollars in electronic equipment but also damaging their sense of security as well as their emotional and mental well being. &nbsp;"The impact of Isaiah Brown's callous and indifferent criminal actions on our family since has been dramatic," the victim's wife stated. &nbsp;"Isaiah Brown non only ransacked our house, he ransacked our life."

Victim: Kansas City man ransacked our home, our life

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug allegations.

On Tuesday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and Shawnee County Drug Task Force served three search warrants in the 1200 BLK NW Polk Street related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police LT. Ronnie Connell.

While conducting the search warrants, officers located cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

They arrested 55-year-old Mark Schumacher, 62-year-old Peggy Long and 34-year-old&nbsp;Dominic Montano.

Schumacher is being held on requested charges that include Distribution of methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine, Distribution of Marijuana, Possession of paraphernalia and&nbsp; Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance using a communication facility

&nbsp;Long and Montano are being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669809146075.png" alt="Schumacher-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Schumacher-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug allegations.On Tuesday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and Shawnee County Drug Task Force served three search warrants in the 1200 BLK NW Polk Street related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police LT. Ronnie Connell.While conducting the search warrants, officers located cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669809076291.png" alt="Long-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Long-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>They arrested 55-year-old Mark Schumacher, 62-year-old Peggy Long and 34-year-old&nbsp;Dominic Montano.Schumacher is being held on requested charges that include Distribution of methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine, Distribution of Marijuana, Possession of paraphernalia and&nbsp; Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance using a communication facility<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669809211207.png" alt="Montano-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Montano-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Long and Montano are being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia

Police find cocaine, meth and marijuana during Kansas drug bust

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department said Wednesday it has complied with a court order to make former President Donald Trump's tax returns available to a congressional committee.

The Supreme Court last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-donald-trump-business-john-roberts-congress-8ea516dace48875ad7c5dd472dd16dcf">rejected Trump’s request</a>&nbsp;for an order that would have prevented the Treasury Department from giving six years of tax returns for Trump and some of his businesses to the Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee.

The court, without dissent, cleared the legal obstacle to disclosure of Trump's tax returns.

A department spokesperson said “Treasury has complied with last week’s court decision” but declined to say whether the committee had accessed the documents. The spokesperson declined to be identified by name because of privacy constraints.

Trump refused to release his tax returns during his 2016 presidential campaign or his four years in the White House.

After the Supreme Court action, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., said in a statement that “since the Magna Carta, the principle of oversight has been upheld, and today is no different. This rises above politics, and the Committee will now conduct the oversight that we’ve sought for the last three and a half years.”

Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the dispute over his tax returns, the Treasury Department had refused to provide the records during Trump’s presidency. But the Biden administration said federal law is clear that the committee has the right to examine any taxpayer’s return, including the president’s.

Lower courts agreed that the committee has broad authority to obtain tax returns and rejected Trump’s claims that it was overstepping and only wanted the documents so they could be made public.

Chief Justice John Roberts imposed a temporary freeze on Nov. 1 to allow the court to weigh the legal issues raised by Trump’s lawyers and the counter-arguments of the administration and the House of Representatives.

Just over three weeks later, the court lifted Roberts’ order without comment.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department said Wednesday it has complied with a court order to make former President Donald Trump's tax returns available to a congressional committee.The Supreme Court last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-donald-trump-business-john-roberts-congress-8ea516dace48875ad7c5dd472dd16dcf">rejected Trump’s request</a>&nbsp;for an order that would have prevented the Treasury Department from giving six years of tax returns for Trump and some of his businesses to the Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee.The court, without dissent, cleared the legal obstacle to disclosure of Trump's tax returns.A department spokesperson said “Treasury has complied with last week’s court decision” but declined to say whether the committee had accessed the documents. The spokesperson declined to be identified by name because of privacy constraints.Trump refused to release his tax returns during his 2016 presidential campaign or his four years in the White House.After the Supreme Court action, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., said in a statement that “since the Magna Carta, the principle of oversight has been upheld, and today is no different. This rises above politics, and the Committee will now conduct the oversight that we’ve sought for the last three and a half years.”Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.In the dispute over his tax returns, the Treasury Department had refused to provide the records during Trump’s presidency. But the Biden administration said federal law is clear that the committee has the right to examine any taxpayer’s return, including the president’s.Lower courts agreed that the committee has broad authority to obtain tax returns and rejected Trump’s claims that it was overstepping and only wanted the documents so they could be made public.Chief Justice John Roberts imposed a temporary freeze on Nov. 1 to allow the court to weigh the legal issues raised by Trump’s lawyers and the counter-arguments of the administration and the House of Representatives.Just over three weeks later, the court lifted Roberts’ order without comment.___

Treasury making Trump taxes available to House committee

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating weekend fentanyl deaths at an unhoused encampment in Sedgwick County have identified two more victims as&nbsp;35-year-old Brandon Randall and 31-year-old Cody Maxey both of Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

Just after 8a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to an overdose call in the 2900 hundred block of South Washington in Wichita, according to Ditch.

First responders found the body of a 20-year-old woman identified as Stevie Metts of Wichita and Randall unresponsive and unconscious. They were pronounced deceased on the scene. 

&nbsp;Maxey and a 41-year-old woman were also located nearby unresponsive and unconscious.&nbsp; EMS transported them to a local hospital in grave condition. 

On Wednesday, Ditch reported Maxey died at the hospital. The woman remains hospitalized in critical condition.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police believe these are cases of fentanyl poisoning.

The Wichita Police Department reminds the public to only take prescription pills given to you by a Doctor.

Anyone who might know anything about this case is asked to call investigators at 316-268-4407, Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111, or the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581438940073.png" alt="Police continue warning that drugs laced with fentanyl are contributing to overdose deaths -photo courtesy Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Police continue warning that drugs laced with fentanyl are contributing to overdose deaths -photo courtesy Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating weekend fentanyl deaths at an unhoused encampment in Sedgwick County have identified two more victims as&nbsp;35-year-old Brandon Randall and 31-year-old Cody Maxey both of Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.Just after 8a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to an overdose call in the 2900 hundred block of South Washington in Wichita, according to Ditch.First responders found the body of a 20-year-old woman identified as Stevie Metts of Wichita and Randall unresponsive and unconscious. They were pronounced deceased on the scene. &nbsp;Maxey and a 41-year-old woman were also located nearby unresponsive and unconscious.&nbsp; EMS transported them to a local hospital in grave condition. On Wednesday, Ditch reported Maxey died at the hospital. The woman remains hospitalized in critical condition.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police believe these are cases of fentanyl poisoning.The Wichita Police Department reminds the public to only take prescription pills given to you by a Doctor.Anyone who might know anything about this case is asked to call investigators at 316-268-4407, Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111, or the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282

Police: 3rd victim dies in Kan. fentanyl death investigation

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/economic-instability-pushing-kpers-investment-returns-into-negative-territory/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Volatility in the stock 
market will push annual return on investment to the Kansas Public 
Employees Retirement System into negative territory at close of the 
year, the pension system’s executive director said Tuesday.

The assumed investment return for KPERS was adjusted downward in May 
from 7.75% to 7%. To strengthen the bottom line, the Kansas Legislature 
agreed to pump an extra $1.1 billion into the system.

The snapshot on investment return will be calculated based on 
financial position of the portfolio Dec. 31, said Alan Conroy, executive
 director of KPERS.

“If you have the strength to watch the markets these days, the 
volatility — October was a great month, but some of the months have not 
been so good,” Conroy told House and Senate members at the Capitol. 
“We’ll see where we end up at the end of December. But, I think, where 
we stand right now, the return will probably be negative for calendar 
year 2022.”

Conroy didn’t offer a projection as to how far under water the $24.8 
billion portfolio would be at close of this year’s business.

Advocates of KPERS’ 300,000 members with careers in schools, the 
judiciary, law enforcement, firefighting and other government entities 
have pressured the Legislature for years to approve a cost of living 
increase, with many of those proposals ranging from 1% to 5%.

In Kansas, the last cost of living adjustment was issued in 1998 and 
the last one-time cash bonus to retirees was made in 2008. The 
Legislature authorized 16 cost-of-living adjustments from 1971 to 1997.

Sen. Rick Billinger, a Goodland Republican and chairman of the Senate
 Ways and Means Committee, said he wasn’t convinced the state should 
grant a COLA because it would inflate the system’s long term unfunded 
liability above the current $9.8 billion. KPERS is a prefunded system 
that invests employee and employer contributions to pay benefits years 
into the future. A COLA, which can be viewed as an unfunded benefit 
change, would exacerbate the unfunded liability.

“The stock market is down today,” Billinger told Conroy during a 
meeting of an interim House-Senate committee. “And, you’re going to 
probably be negative or this year. We’re not going to short anybody what
 we have been paying them all along. They’re going to continue to get 
that check, even though the market is down.”

The senator said a COLA would repeat mistakes of the past when the 
Legislature made a series of insufficient contributions to KPERS.

“That’s the problem with our whole system now,” Billinger said. “We 
didn’t make the required contributions when we were supposed to.”

Rep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, said only 10% of current KPERS 
retires were around in 1998 when the last COLA was approved. He said 
various legislative committees with ties to KPERS ought to seriously 
consider making the first adjustment in a quarter century.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669762731523.png" alt="Alan Conroy, executive director of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, said the pension system’s return on investment would be in the negative for 2022. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Alan Conroy, executive director of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, said the pension system’s return on investment would be in the negative for 2022. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/economic-instability-pushing-kpers-investment-returns-into-negative-territory/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Volatility in the stock 
market will push annual return on investment to the Kansas Public 
Employees Retirement System into negative territory at close of the 
year, the pension system’s executive director said Tuesday.The assumed investment return for KPERS was adjusted downward in May 
from 7.75% to 7%. To strengthen the bottom line, the Kansas Legislature 
agreed to pump an extra $1.1 billion into the system.The snapshot on investment return will be calculated based on 
financial position of the portfolio Dec. 31, said Alan Conroy, executive
 director of KPERS.“If you have the strength to watch the markets these days, the 
volatility — October was a great month, but some of the months have not 
been so good,” Conroy told House and Senate members at the Capitol. 
“We’ll see where we end up at the end of December. But, I think, where 
we stand right now, the return will probably be negative for calendar 
year 2022.”Conroy didn’t offer a projection as to how far under water the $24.8 
billion portfolio would be at close of this year’s business.Advocates of KPERS’ 300,000 members with careers in schools, the 
judiciary, law enforcement, firefighting and other government entities 
have pressured the Legislature for years to approve a cost of living 
increase, with many of those proposals ranging from 1% to 5%.In Kansas, the last cost of living adjustment was issued in 1998 and 
the last one-time cash bonus to retirees was made in 2008. The 
Legislature authorized 16 cost-of-living adjustments from 1971 to 1997.Sen. Rick Billinger, a Goodland Republican and chairman of the Senate
 Ways and Means Committee, said he wasn’t convinced the state should 
grant a COLA because it would inflate the system’s long term unfunded 
liability above the current $9.8 billion. KPERS is a prefunded system 
that invests employee and employer contributions to pay benefits years 
into the future. A COLA, which can be viewed as an unfunded benefit 
change, would exacerbate the unfunded liability.“The stock market is down today,” Billinger told Conroy during a 
meeting of an interim House-Senate committee. “And, you’re going to 
probably be negative or this year. We’re not going to short anybody what
 we have been paying them all along. They’re going to continue to get 
that check, even though the market is down.”The senator said a COLA would repeat mistakes of the past when the 
Legislature made a series of insufficient contributions to KPERS.“That’s the problem with our whole system now,” Billinger said. “We 
didn’t make the required contributions when we were supposed to.”Rep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, said only 10% of current KPERS 
retires were around in 1998 when the last COLA was approved. He said 
various legislative committees with ties to KPERS ought to seriously 
consider making the first adjustment in a quarter century.