SEDGWICK COUNTY —Three suspects arrested after a fatal drug deal shooting appeared before a judge Friday to face charges.

Brian Youngman, 20 of Wichita, was charged with 1st degree murder and attempted distribution of a controlled substance, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Myrashia Griffin, 20 and&nbsp;Lanita Baugh, 19, both of Wichita, were charged with 1st degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery, according to the DA's office.

Just after 7:30p.m. July 11, deputies were sent to a shooting call near the intersection of 47th Street South and Clifton in Wichita, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

 The call location was quickly updated to the QuikTrip at 47th Street South and Hydraulic. When deputies arrived at the convenience store they found a 19-year-old later identified as Donovan Graves of Wichita, in a vehicle deceased from a gunshot wound. Two adult woman were with him.

Deputies were directed to a mobile home in the 5200 block of south Clifton where the shooting occurred. 

Deputies arrested 20-year-old Brian Youngman of Wichita at the mobile home and booked him on requested charges of first degree murder.

Investigators learned that Graves, 19-year-old Lanita Baugh and 20-year-old Myrashia Griffin drove to the 5200 Block of South Clifton for a drug transaction, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter. 

Graves attempted to rob a 17-year-old girl of marijuana, according to Easter. Youngman pulled a gun and shot Graves during the robbery.

Deputies arrested the two women with Graves, according to Blick.&nbsp; Deputies also arrested the 17-year-old girl for marijuana possession with intent to sell, according to Easter. She and Graves knew each other.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the trio on July 21 before Judge Kevin Smith, according to the district attorney's office. Each is being held on a $500,000 bond

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657641940268.png" alt="Youngman-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Youngman-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Three suspects arrested after a fatal drug deal shooting appeared before a judge Friday to face charges.Brian Youngman, 20 of Wichita, was charged with 1st degree murder and attempted distribution of a controlled substance, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Myrashia Griffin, 20 and&nbsp;Lanita Baugh, 19, both of Wichita, were charged with 1st degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery, according to the DA's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657634255367.png" alt="Deputies on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Deputies on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 7:30p.m. July 11, deputies were sent to a shooting call near the intersection of 47th Street South and Clifton in Wichita, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick. The call location was quickly updated to the QuikTrip at 47th Street South and Hydraulic. When deputies arrived at the convenience store they found a 19-year-old later identified as Donovan Graves of Wichita, in a vehicle deceased from a gunshot wound. Two adult woman were with him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657636612949.png" alt="Griffin-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Griffin-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies were directed to a mobile home in the 5200 block of south Clifton where the shooting occurred. Deputies arrested 20-year-old Brian Youngman of Wichita at the mobile home and booked him on requested charges of first degree murder.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657636527733.png" alt="Baugh-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Baugh-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators learned that Graves, 19-year-old Lanita Baugh and 20-year-old Myrashia Griffin drove to the 5200 Block of South Clifton for a drug transaction, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter. Graves attempted to rob a 17-year-old girl of marijuana, according to Easter. Youngman pulled a gun and shot Graves during the robbery.Deputies arrested the two women with Graves, according to Blick.&nbsp; Deputies also arrested the 17-year-old girl for marijuana possession with intent to sell, according to Easter. She and Graves knew each other.A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the trio on July 21 before Judge Kevin Smith, according to the district attorney's office. Each is being held on a $500,000 bond

3 charged in Kan. killing during attempt to steal marijuana 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—The 190th Air refueling wing of the Kansas Air National guard remembered fondly a Kansas pilot who died in a small plane crash Saturday morning in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 PV-7 piloted by 72-year-old Steven D. Stuckey of Topeka took off southbound.

The pilot attempted to incline and turn west when the plane stalled, flipped and went nose first into the ground at 5501 NE Shaffer Road in Topeka.

Stuckey was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics. He was the only person on the aircraft. The FAA is investigating.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—The 190th Air refueling wing of the Kansas Air National guard remembered fondly a Kansas pilot who died in a small plane crash Saturday morning in Shawnee County.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F190ARW%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02gv1y4gd2rKQdT885Es7wLKPQUeDN2PfyY98F5vxGCtRVdwbrggLnWr8YFR8VBVMdl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="787" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 PV-7 piloted by 72-year-old Steven D. Stuckey of Topeka took off southbound.The pilot attempted to incline and turn west when the plane stalled, flipped and went nose first into the ground at 5501 NE Shaffer Road in Topeka.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658174190289.png" alt="Photo by Rick Felsburg courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Rick Felsburg courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Stuckey was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics. He was the only person on the aircraft. The FAA is investigating.

Kan. Air National Guard honors pilot who died in weekend crash

By KATHRYN H. JACOBSEN <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-monkeypox-a-pandemic-an-epidemiologist-explains-why-it-isnt-likely-to-become-as-widespread-as-covid-19-but-is-worth-watching-186872">The Conversation</a>

Monkeypox is the latest global public health threat to make 
headlines. Most people who contract the monkeypox virus experience 
flu-like symptoms and a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/symptoms.html">blistery rash</a> that lasts two to four weeks, but a small percentage of infected people develop sepsis or other severe and <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox">potentially fatal complications</a>.

It is not uncommon for there to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007791">small outbreaks of monkeypox</a> in Central and West Africa, but in the last few weeks, dozens of countries from other world regions have reported <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/monkeypox">thousands of cases of monkeypox</a>.

As an infectious disease epidemiologist, I’ve received many inquiries
 from colleagues and friends about whether a monkeypox pandemic will be 
the next big disruption to our lives. A disease is considered to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192897855.003.0002">pandemic</a>
 when two separate conditions are met: cases are occurring globally and 
the number of cases being diagnosed is large enough to qualify as <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-pandemic-epidemic-and-outbreak-133048">epidemic</a>. An epidemic is characterized by new cases of a disease occurring at a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section11.html">higher than typical rate in at least several communities</a>.

While the monkeypox situation is certainly newsworthy, as of mid-July
 2022, it did not clearly meet both of the requirements for pandemic 
status. More importantly, the current evidence suggests that <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-monkeypox-a-microbiologist-explains-whats-known-about-this-smallpox-cousin-183499">monkeypox</a> is very unlikely to become a global health catastrophe even if the virus spreads and becomes pandemic.

Both the 2009 <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/influenza-a-(h1n1)-outbreak">H1N1 influenza</a> virus and the <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019">SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus</a>
 that emerged in 2019 quickly spread to every region of the world. 
Global health experts were in full agreement that those were pandemic 
events. By contrast, the <a href="https://www.who.int/groups/ebola-virus-disease-in-west-africa-(2014-2015)-ihr-emergency-committee">Ebola virus</a> epidemic in West Africa from 2014 to 2016 was mostly contained to just that one region of the world and never spread globally.

The <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/monkeypox-oubreak-2022">current distribution</a> of monkeypox cases is somewhere between those two scenarios. As of mid-July 2022, about <a href="https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-covid-19-media-briefing--12-july-2022">9,200 total cases</a>
 of monkeypox had been reported by 63 countries. For reasons that are 
not yet fully understood, almost all of those cases happened in <a href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/2021-dha-docs/20220706_monkeypox_external_sitrep_final.pdf">Europe and the Americas</a>, and only a few cases were reported by <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/monkeypox">African, Asian and Middle Eastern</a> countries.

Is that distribution sufficiently global to meet the definition of a pandemic? Maybe. 

The next condition to meet the pandemic threshold is whether places where monkeypox is present are experiencing epidemics.

Europe and the Americas typically have <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010141">zero cases</a> of monkeypox per year, so the current case counts in these regions are much higher than normal.

But it is also important to look at how much community transmission 
is happening. If hundreds of people get sick after attending a single 
event – like a concert or festival – that would typically be classified 
as an outbreak. The situation would only become an epidemic if 
infections started occurring among many people who were not close 
contacts of event attendees. Once widespread and sustained community 
transmission begins occurring, it is much harder to control a virus. 

Most of the people diagnosed with monkeypox in May and June 2022 were 20- to 50-year-old men who identify as members of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.add5497">LGBT+ community</a>. In July 2022, cases were not yet occurring at significant levels in multiple age and sociodemographic groups.

Is the current pattern of spread sufficient to classify monkeypox as 
an epidemic rather than an outbreak? Maybe, but only in some of the 
countries that have reported monkeypox cases this year.

Since the answers to whether monkeypox is global and an epidemic are 
both “maybe” rather than “yes,” this suggests that monkeypox is not a 
pandemic – at least not yet. But it could become one soon.

How worried should you be about monkeypox?

Pathogens like <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00241">monkeypox</a> are usually spread through touch and other types of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/transmission.html">close contact</a>
 with an infected person. Epidemiologists worry much less about 
pathogens with “person-to-person” transmission than they do about 
respiratory viruses like influenza and the coronavirus that can spread 
easily through the air.

Over the course of just a few months, COVID-19 transitioned from a 
local concern in Wuhan, China, into the worst pandemic in a century. 
That is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cit703">not going to happen with monkeypox</a>.

Why? First, the monkeypox virus is <a href="https://doi.org/10.2471%2FBLT.19.242347">much less contagious</a> than the circulating strains of coronavirus. Second, monkeypox is less deadly than COVID-19. The <a href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/2021-dha-docs/20220706_monkeypox_external_sitrep_final.pdf">case fatality rate</a>
 during the current international outbreak is less than one death for 
every 1,000 adult cases, which is lower than the percentage of 
unvaccinated people who die after getting <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30244-9">COVID-19</a>. And, third, <a href="https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1433527/retrieve">existing vaccines</a> will be able to help slow the spread of monkeypox in high-risk populations if <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/public-health-clinics-running-out-of-monkeypox-vaccine-as-lines-form-and-systems-crash/ar-AAZxMuv">problems with limited supplies</a> can be resolved.

The World Health Organization follows a set of rules called the <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241580496">International Health Regulations</a>
 that guide global public health responses to emerging threats. Under 
these regulations, the WHO has the authority to declare a “public health
 emergency of international concern” – commonly shortened to the acronym
 <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fjtm%2Ftaaa227">PHEIC</a> – when an 
infectious disease is spreading internationally and might “potentially 
require a coordinated international response.” The goal is to detect and
 respond to potential global health crises and prevent them from 
becoming pandemics.

An <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/monkeypox-oubreak-2022">expert panel convened by the World Health Organization on June 23</a>
 determined that monkeypox was a “multi-country outbreak” but did not 
meet the criteria to be a public health emergency of international 
concern. The panel will meet again on July 21 to examine the 
distribution and frequency of new case reports. If the rate of new cases
 continues to increase and there is evidence of transmission within more
 diverse populations, monkeypox may be declared a public health 
emergency.

But even if monkeypox is declared to be a public health emergency of 
international concern, it is not going to become a devastating pandemic 
like COVID-19.

Kathryn H. Jacobsen is William E. Cooper Distinguished University Chair, Professor of Health Studies, University of Richmond.

By KATHRYN H. JACOBSEN <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-monkeypox-a-pandemic-an-epidemiologist-explains-why-it-isnt-likely-to-become-as-widespread-as-covid-19-but-is-worth-watching-186872">The Conversation</a>Monkeypox is the latest global public health threat to make 
headlines. Most people who contract the monkeypox virus experience 
flu-like symptoms and a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/symptoms.html">blistery rash</a> that lasts two to four weeks, but a small percentage of infected people develop sepsis or other severe and <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox">potentially fatal complications</a>.It is not uncommon for there to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007791">small outbreaks of monkeypox</a> in Central and West Africa, but in the last few weeks, dozens of countries from other world regions have reported <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/monkeypox">thousands of cases of monkeypox</a>. As an infectious disease epidemiologist, I’ve received many inquiries
 from colleagues and friends about whether a monkeypox pandemic will be 
the next big disruption to our lives. A disease is considered to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192897855.003.0002">pandemic</a>
 when two separate conditions are met: cases are occurring globally and 
the number of cases being diagnosed is large enough to qualify as <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-pandemic-epidemic-and-outbreak-133048">epidemic</a>. An epidemic is characterized by new cases of a disease occurring at a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section11.html">higher than typical rate in at least several communities</a>.While the monkeypox situation is certainly newsworthy, as of mid-July
 2022, it did not clearly meet both of the requirements for pandemic 
status. More importantly, the current evidence suggests that <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-monkeypox-a-microbiologist-explains-whats-known-about-this-smallpox-cousin-183499">monkeypox</a> is very unlikely to become a global health catastrophe even if the virus spreads and becomes pandemic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657902105594.png" alt=" As of mid-July 2022, monkeypox cases associated with the current outbreak (shown in red on the map, with previous outbreaks in other colors) were occurring mostly in Europe and the Americas, and few cases were being reported from Africa and Asia. ArcMachaon/Wikimedia Commons " />
 <figcaption> As of mid-July 2022, monkeypox cases associated with the current outbreak (shown in red on the map, with previous outbreaks in other colors) were occurring mostly in Europe and the Americas, and few cases were being reported from Africa and Asia. ArcMachaon/Wikimedia Commons </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Is monkeypox global?</h2>Both the 2009 <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/influenza-a-(h1n1)-outbreak">H1N1 influenza</a> virus and the <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019">SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus</a>
 that emerged in 2019 quickly spread to every region of the world. 
Global health experts were in full agreement that those were pandemic 
events. By contrast, the <a href="https://www.who.int/groups/ebola-virus-disease-in-west-africa-(2014-2015)-ihr-emergency-committee">Ebola virus</a> epidemic in West Africa from 2014 to 2016 was mostly contained to just that one region of the world and never spread globally. The <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/monkeypox-oubreak-2022">current distribution</a> of monkeypox cases is somewhere between those two scenarios. As of mid-July 2022, about <a href="https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-covid-19-media-briefing--12-july-2022">9,200 total cases</a>
 of monkeypox had been reported by 63 countries. For reasons that are 
not yet fully understood, almost all of those cases happened in <a href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/2021-dha-docs/20220706_monkeypox_external_sitrep_final.pdf">Europe and the Americas</a>, and only a few cases were reported by <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/monkeypox">African, Asian and Middle Eastern</a> countries.Is that distribution sufficiently global to meet the definition of a pandemic? Maybe. <h2>Is monkeypox an epidemic?</h2>The next condition to meet the pandemic threshold is whether places where monkeypox is present are experiencing epidemics.Europe and the Americas typically have <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010141">zero cases</a> of monkeypox per year, so the current case counts in these regions are much higher than normal. But it is also important to look at how much community transmission 
is happening. If hundreds of people get sick after attending a single 
event – like a concert or festival – that would typically be classified 
as an outbreak. The situation would only become an epidemic if 
infections started occurring among many people who were not close 
contacts of event attendees. Once widespread and sustained community 
transmission begins occurring, it is much harder to control a virus. Most of the people diagnosed with monkeypox in May and June 2022 were 20- to 50-year-old men who identify as members of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.add5497">LGBT+ community</a>. In July 2022, cases were not yet occurring at significant levels in multiple age and sociodemographic groups. Is the current pattern of spread sufficient to classify monkeypox as 
an epidemic rather than an outbreak? Maybe, but only in some of the 
countries that have reported monkeypox cases this year.Since the answers to whether monkeypox is global and an epidemic are 
both “maybe” rather than “yes,” this suggests that monkeypox is not a 
pandemic – at least not yet. But it could become one soon.<h2>How worried should you be about monkeypox?</h2>Pathogens like <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00241">monkeypox</a> are usually spread through touch and other types of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/transmission.html">close contact</a>
 with an infected person. Epidemiologists worry much less about 
pathogens with “person-to-person” transmission than they do about 
respiratory viruses like influenza and the coronavirus that can spread 
easily through the air.Over the course of just a few months, COVID-19 transitioned from a 
local concern in Wuhan, China, into the worst pandemic in a century. 
That is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cit703">not going to happen with monkeypox</a>.Why? First, the monkeypox virus is <a href="https://doi.org/10.2471%2FBLT.19.242347">much less contagious</a> than the circulating strains of coronavirus. Second, monkeypox is less deadly than COVID-19. The <a href="https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/2021-dha-docs/20220706_monkeypox_external_sitrep_final.pdf">case fatality rate</a>
 during the current international outbreak is less than one death for 
every 1,000 adult cases, which is lower than the percentage of 
unvaccinated people who die after getting <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30244-9">COVID-19</a>. And, third, <a href="https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1433527/retrieve">existing vaccines</a> will be able to help slow the spread of monkeypox in high-risk populations if <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/public-health-clinics-running-out-of-monkeypox-vaccine-as-lines-form-and-systems-crash/ar-AAZxMuv">problems with limited supplies</a> can be resolved.The World Health Organization follows a set of rules called the <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241580496">International Health Regulations</a>
 that guide global public health responses to emerging threats. Under 
these regulations, the WHO has the authority to declare a “public health
 emergency of international concern” – commonly shortened to the acronym
 <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fjtm%2Ftaaa227">PHEIC</a> – when an 
infectious disease is spreading internationally and might “potentially 
require a coordinated international response.” The goal is to detect and
 respond to potential global health crises and prevent them from 
becoming pandemics.An <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/monkeypox-oubreak-2022">expert panel convened by the World Health Organization on June 23</a>
 determined that monkeypox was a “multi-country outbreak” but did not 
meet the criteria to be a public health emergency of international 
concern. The panel will meet again on July 21 to examine the 
distribution and frequency of new case reports. If the rate of new cases
 continues to increase and there is evidence of transmission within more
 diverse populations, monkeypox may be declared a public health 
emergency. But even if monkeypox is declared to be a public health emergency of 
international concern, it is not going to become a devastating pandemic 
like COVID-19.Kathryn H. Jacobsen is William E. Cooper Distinguished University Chair, Professor of Health Studies, University of Richmond.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/186872/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1"></iframe></div>

Epidemiologist: Monkeypox not a pandemic yet — but worth watching

WASHINGTON—&nbsp;Every physician serving in the U.S. Senate released a public service announcement (PSA) warning about the dangers of illicit&nbsp;fentanyl&nbsp;that is wreaking havoc in communities throughout the nation and killing Americans at record rates.

 U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS) was joined by Senators John Barrasso, M.D. (WY), John Boozman, O.D. (AR), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA), and Rand Paul M.D. (KY). The Senators said in part,

“I come to you today, not only as a U.S. Senator, but as a physician concerned for the health and safety of our nation.&nbsp;Fentanyl&nbsp;is killing over 200 Americans every day. Unfortunately, many Americans who have died from an overdose didn’t even know they were taking the deadliest drug our nation has ever seen… They didn’t know that just one pill can kill… As physicians in the Senate, we know&nbsp;Fentanyl&nbsp;is everywhere – no community is sparred… Never take any drug except those personally prescribed by your physician and filled by your pharmacist. Parents, teachers: please talk to your children before it’s too late…&nbsp;By working together we can make a difference and stop the drug traffickers that are driving addiction and poisoning our neighbors and children.

On July 14,&nbsp; law enforcement held a joint town hall meeting to discuss the fentanyl crisis in Wichita.

WASHINGTON—&nbsp;Every physician serving in the U.S. Senate released a public service announcement (PSA) warning about the dangers of illicit&nbsp;fentanyl&nbsp;that is wreaking havoc in communities throughout the nation and killing Americans at record rates.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/32y9u5T44C4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS) was joined by Senators John Barrasso, M.D. (WY), John Boozman, O.D. (AR), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA), and Rand Paul M.D. (KY). The Senators said in part,“I come to you today, not only as a U.S. Senator, but as a physician concerned for the health and safety of our nation.&nbsp;Fentanyl&nbsp;is killing over 200 Americans every day. Unfortunately, many Americans who have died from an overdose didn’t even know they were taking the deadliest drug our nation has ever seen… They didn’t know that just one pill can kill… As physicians in the Senate, we know&nbsp;Fentanyl&nbsp;is everywhere – no community is sparred… Never take any drug except those personally prescribed by your physician and filled by your pharmacist. Parents, teachers: please talk to your children before it’s too late…&nbsp;By working together we can make a difference and stop the drug traffickers that are driving addiction and poisoning our neighbors and children.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658155187556.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On July 14,&nbsp; law enforcement held a joint town hall meeting to discuss the fentanyl crisis in Wichita.

🎥 Marshall, Senate doctors release fentanyl awareness PSA

DOUGLAS COUNTY— Deputies and game wardens searching Clinton Lake on Saturday evening recovered&nbsp; the body of a missing swimmer identified as 22-year-old Isaiah Rodriguez formerly of Ottawa, Kansas, according to Douglas County Sheriff's Department spokesman George Diepenbrock.

Friends reported Rodriguez missing just before&nbsp; 4p.m. Saturday and several agencies in Douglas County responded to the lake to search for him.

Rodriguez most recently had lived in Pennsylvania for work and school, according to Diepenbrock.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658062394400.png" alt="First responders at Clinton Lake on Saturday -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>First responders at Clinton Lake on Saturday -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY— Deputies and game wardens searching Clinton Lake on Saturday evening recovered&nbsp; the body of a missing swimmer identified as 22-year-old Isaiah Rodriguez formerly of Ottawa, Kansas, according to Douglas County Sheriff's Department spokesman George Diepenbrock.Friends reported Rodriguez missing just before&nbsp; 4p.m. Saturday and several agencies in Douglas County responded to the lake to search for him.Rodriguez most recently had lived in Pennsylvania for work and school, according to Diepenbrock.

Sheriff IDs man who drowned at Kansas lake

PUEBLO COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and asking for help in locating 33-year-old Tyler Jordan Mitchell.

On Wednesday, officials in Colorado issued a warrant for Mitchell’s arrest for the crime of 1st Degree Murder in relation to the death of a 33-year-old woman, according to a media release.

Mitchell is described as a white male, approximately 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds. He has a large tattoo on his left forearm that states “Est. 1989”. 

His&nbsp; right arm is deformed, and he usually keeps it in a shoulder sling. 

He is frequently seen on the north side of Pueblo, but may be in route to the Wichita, Kansas area.

Mitchell should be considered dangerous and if you see him, do not approach him.&nbsp;

  If you have any information about the whereabouts of Tyler J. Mitchell, please contact the Pueblo Police Department (719-553-2502), or local law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657832190500.png" alt="Mitchell-photo Pueblo Police" />
 <figcaption>Mitchell-photo Pueblo Police</figcaption>
 </figure>PUEBLO COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and asking for help in locating 33-year-old Tyler Jordan Mitchell.On Wednesday, officials in Colorado issued a warrant for Mitchell’s arrest for the crime of 1st Degree Murder in relation to the death of a 33-year-old woman, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657832368816.png" alt="He has a large tattoo on his left forearm that states “Est. 1989”.Photo Pueblo Police" />
 <figcaption>He has a large tattoo on his left forearm that states “Est. 1989”.Photo Pueblo Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Mitchell is described as a white male, approximately 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds. He has a large tattoo on his left forearm that states “Est. 1989”. His&nbsp; right arm is deformed, and he usually keeps it in a shoulder sling. He is frequently seen on the north side of Pueblo, but may be in route to the Wichita, Kansas area.Mitchell should be considered dangerous and if you see him, do not approach him.&nbsp; If you have any information about the whereabouts of Tyler J. Mitchell, please contact the Pueblo Police Department (719-553-2502), or local law enforcement.

Search continues: Murder suspect may be traveling to Kansas

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A man says in a class-action lawsuit against Bass Pro that the outdoor outfitter is refusing to honor its lifetime warranty on socks.

Kent Slaughter of Springfield said that after years of exchanging his “Redhead Lifetime Guarantee All-Purpose Wool Socks” every time they wore out, the Springfield-based company changed its policy in 2021 before he tried to return four pairs of socks. Instead of getting another pair with a lifetime warranty, Slaughter said he was given socks that only carried a 60-day warranty,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/2022/07/15/springfield-man-files-lawsuit-against-bass-pro-claims-false-advertising-clothing-business/10037281002/" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the Springfield News-Leader.

A Bass Pro representative said the company won’t comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit said Bass Pro is misrepresenting the socks in its ads because it says they are “The last sock you’ll ever need to buy” because of the lifetime warranty.

Slaughter said in the lawsuit that the warranty was a major factor in his decision to buy the socks.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A man says in a class-action lawsuit against Bass Pro that the outdoor outfitter is refusing to honor its lifetime warranty on socks.Kent Slaughter of Springfield said that after years of exchanging his “Redhead Lifetime Guarantee All-Purpose Wool Socks” every time they wore out, the Springfield-based company changed its policy in 2021 before he tried to return four pairs of socks. Instead of getting another pair with a lifetime warranty, Slaughter said he was given socks that only carried a 60-day warranty,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/2022/07/15/springfield-man-files-lawsuit-against-bass-pro-claims-false-advertising-clothing-business/10037281002/" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the Springfield News-Leader.A Bass Pro representative said the company won’t comment on pending litigation.The lawsuit said Bass Pro is misrepresenting the socks in its ads because it says they are “The last sock you’ll ever need to buy” because of the lifetime warranty.Slaughter said in the lawsuit that the warranty was a major factor in his decision to buy the socks.

Lawsuit says Bass Pro won’t honor lifetime warranty on socks

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double shooting that left one dead and one in critical condition in Kansas City.

Just after 11:30p.m., police were dispatched to the 1400 Block of North Fifth Street in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. First responders found two men outside, the victims of apparent gunfire.

EMS pronounced one man dead at the scene and transported the other to an area hospital with possible life threatening injuries. Police released no additional details early Monday.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double shooting that left one dead and one in critical condition in Kansas City.Just after 11:30p.m., police were dispatched to the 1400 Block of North Fifth Street in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. First responders found two men outside, the victims of apparent gunfire.EMS pronounced one man dead at the scene and transported the other to an area hospital with possible life threatening injuries. Police released no additional details early Monday.

Police: 1 dead, another critically injured in Kansas shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) —A judge has temporarily barred two federal agencies from enforcing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-business-us-supreme-court-c462bcdd2ef65573712a916177e1ca32">directives issued by President Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;administration that extended protections for LGBTQ people in schools and workplaces.

U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley Jr. in an order on Friday ruled for the 20 state attorneys general including Derek Schmidt of Kansas who sued last August claiming the Biden administration directives infringe on states' right to enact laws that, for example, prevent students from participating in sports based on their gender identity or requiring schools and businesses to provide bathrooms and showers to accommodate transgender people.

Atchley, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020, agreed with the attorneys generals’ argument and issued a temporary injunction that prevents the agencies from applying that guidance on LGBTQ discrimination until the matter can be resolved by courts.

“As demonstrated above, the harm alleged by Plaintiff States is already occurring — their sovereign power to enforce their own legal code is hampered by the issuance of Defendants’ guidance and they face substantial pressure to change their state laws as a result,” Atchley wrote.

The attorneys general are from Kansas, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia.

The directives regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation was issued by the U.S. Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in June following a landmark civil rights decision by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-supreme-courts-mi-state-wire-neil-gorsuch-ap-top-news-5a7b0e41a47a3c571dda69194758e7b1">U.S. Supreme Court in 2020</a>&nbsp;that, under a provision called Title VII, protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from discrimination in the workplace.

The Department of Education guidance from June 2021 said discrimination based on a student's sexual orientation or gender identity would be treated as a violation of Title IX, the 1972 federal law that protects sex discrimination in education.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released guidance that month about what could constitute discrimination against LGBTQ people and advised the public about how to file a complaint.

With its guidance, the Biden administration in part took a stand against laws and proposals in a growing number of states that aim to forbid transgender girls from participating on female sports teams. The state attorneys general contend that the authority over such policies “properly belongs to Congress, the States, and the people.”

The education policy carried the possibility of federal sanctions against schools and colleges that fail to protect gay and transgender students.

The attorneys general argued that a delaying a legal review of the directives would “cause them significant hardship, as Defendants would be allowed to use the ‘fear of future sanctions’ to force ‘immediate compliance’ with the challenged guidance,” Atchley wrote.

“The Court finds that Plaintiffs have shown a credible threat of enforcement,” Atchley wrote. “Plaintiffs highlight that private litigants are relying on Defendants’ guidance to challenge Plaintiffs’ state laws.”

Atchley noted that the U.S. Department of Education has filed a statement of interest in a West Virginia lawsuit taking a position that Title IX prohibits the state from excluding transgender girls from participating in single-sex sports restricted to girls.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656352811868.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —A judge has temporarily barred two federal agencies from enforcing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-business-us-supreme-court-c462bcdd2ef65573712a916177e1ca32">directives issued by President Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;administration that extended protections for LGBTQ people in schools and workplaces.U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley Jr. in an order on Friday ruled for the 20 state attorneys general including Derek Schmidt of Kansas who sued last August claiming the Biden administration directives infringe on states' right to enact laws that, for example, prevent students from participating in sports based on their gender identity or requiring schools and businesses to provide bathrooms and showers to accommodate transgender people.Atchley, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020, agreed with the attorneys generals’ argument and issued a temporary injunction that prevents the agencies from applying that guidance on LGBTQ discrimination until the matter can be resolved by courts.“As demonstrated above, the harm alleged by Plaintiff States is already occurring — their sovereign power to enforce their own legal code is hampered by the issuance of Defendants’ guidance and they face substantial pressure to change their state laws as a result,” Atchley wrote.The attorneys general are from Kansas, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia.The directives regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation was issued by the U.S. Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in June following a landmark civil rights decision by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-supreme-courts-mi-state-wire-neil-gorsuch-ap-top-news-5a7b0e41a47a3c571dda69194758e7b1">U.S. Supreme Court in 2020</a>&nbsp;that, under a provision called Title VII, protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from discrimination in the workplace.The Department of Education guidance from June 2021 said discrimination based on a student's sexual orientation or gender identity would be treated as a violation of Title IX, the 1972 federal law that protects sex discrimination in education.The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released guidance that month about what could constitute discrimination against LGBTQ people and advised the public about how to file a complaint.With its guidance, the Biden administration in part took a stand against laws and proposals in a growing number of states that aim to forbid transgender girls from participating on female sports teams. The state attorneys general contend that the authority over such policies “properly belongs to Congress, the States, and the people.”The education policy carried the possibility of federal sanctions against schools and colleges that fail to protect gay and transgender students.The attorneys general argued that a delaying a legal review of the directives would “cause them significant hardship, as Defendants would be allowed to use the ‘fear of future sanctions’ to force ‘immediate compliance’ with the challenged guidance,” Atchley wrote.“The Court finds that Plaintiffs have shown a credible threat of enforcement,” Atchley wrote. “Plaintiffs highlight that private litigants are relying on Defendants’ guidance to challenge Plaintiffs’ state laws.”Atchley noted that the U.S. Department of Education has filed a statement of interest in a West Virginia lawsuit taking a position that Title IX prohibits the state from excluding transgender girls from participating in single-sex sports restricted to girls.

Win for Kan. AG: US agencies barred from enforcing LGBTQ guidance

FORD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.

Just after 8a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a stabbing in the 2800 block of 6th Avenue in Dodge City, according to a media release.

When officers arrived they located 24-year-old Christian Zamora of Dodge City suffering from multiple stab wounds. 

EMS transported Zamora to St. Catherine’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police are asking the public for help in locating 27-year-old Aaron Andres Arreola, for questioning.  He was last seen driving a black 2013 Cadillac CTS bearing Kansas tag DEDPULL.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658141137352.png" alt=" Arreola-photo Dodge City Police" />
 <figcaption> Arreola-photo Dodge City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.Just after 8a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a stabbing in the 2800 block of 6th Avenue in Dodge City, according to a media release.When officers arrived they located 24-year-old Christian Zamora of Dodge City suffering from multiple stab wounds. EMS transported Zamora to St. Catherine’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.Police are asking the public for help in locating 27-year-old Aaron Andres Arreola, for questioning. He was last seen driving a black 2013 Cadillac CTS bearing Kansas tag DEDPULL.

Police ask for help to locate suspect in deadly SW Kansas stabbing

JEFFERSON COUNTY— Two people died in an accident and one was arrested just after 2:30a.m. Sunday in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Joseph Platt, 27, Meriden, was&nbsp; northbound on Kansas Highway 4 and NE Spring Creek Road&nbsp;

The motorcycle struck the passenger side rear door of a southbound 2003 Nissan Xterra driven by Jeremy Burd, 20, Topeka, that was turning left into a private drive.

Platt and a passenger in the Nissan 22-year-old Cameron Meinholdt of Topeka were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Barnett Family Funeral Home.&nbsp;

EMS transported a passenger 20-year-old Grace Sheets of Topeka to Stormont Vail.&nbsp; A third passenger in the Nissan was not injured.

Burd is being held on a $100,000 bond on requested charges of Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol; 1st conv;competent evidence of blood/breath .08+: STAT and Vehicular homicide, according to online jail records. 

Meinholdt was not wearing a seat belt and Platt was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

JEFFERSON COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Jefferson&nbsp; County.

A vehicle northbound on Kansas Highway 4 and NE Spring Creek Road struck the passenger side rear door of a southbound vehicle that was turning left into a private drive.

The KHP released no additional details early Sunday afternoon. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658089631924.png" alt="Burd photo Jefferson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Burd photo Jefferson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON COUNTY— Two people died in an accident and one was arrested just after 2:30a.m. Sunday in Jefferson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Joseph Platt, 27, Meriden, was&nbsp; northbound on Kansas Highway 4 and NE Spring Creek Road&nbsp;The motorcycle struck the passenger side rear door of a southbound 2003 Nissan Xterra driven by Jeremy Burd, 20, Topeka, that was turning left into a private drive.Platt and a passenger in the Nissan 22-year-old Cameron Meinholdt of Topeka were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Barnett Family Funeral Home.&nbsp;EMS transported a passenger 20-year-old Grace Sheets of Topeka to Stormont Vail.&nbsp; A third passenger in the Nissan was not injured.Burd is being held on a $100,000 bond on requested charges of Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol; 1st conv;competent evidence of blood/breath .08+: STAT and Vehicular homicide, according to online jail records. Meinholdt was not wearing a seat belt and Platt was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.------JEFFERSON COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Jefferson&nbsp; County.A vehicle northbound on Kansas Highway 4 and NE Spring Creek Road struck the passenger side rear door of a southbound vehicle that was turning left into a private drive.The KHP released no additional details early Sunday afternoon. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

Kansas man jailed after 2 killed in crash

HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Mark Tallman with the Kansas Association of School Boards noted in his <a href="https://www.kasb.org/45132?articleID=110322">latest blog post</a> that the underfunding of special education is not just a state issue, it also is supposed to include money under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

"One thing that has never happened is that the federal government has not provided the level of funding that they indicated would be done when that law was passed," Tallman said. "The law says that the federal government is supposed to contribute 40 percent of the excess cost of special education, which is basically a calculation of how much more it costs to students to have additional services. That has not been done. The calculation that we have seen is that equals a shortfall of about $223 million to Kansas school districts. In other words, if the federal government were providing that, we would be receiving that much more dollars."

Combine that with the under resourcing at the state level, and it is significant.

"That is also about the shortfall of the fact that the state has not kept its commitment to fund 92 percent of the excess cost, after federal aid is taken into account," Tallman said. "In other words, the federal law is basically saying, calculate excess cost, we'll pay 40%, but they are not. State law basically says, calculate excess cost, see how much the federal government is providing in federal aid. The difference, the state legislature said, we'll pay 92 percent. They're not doing that. The shortfall there again is over $200 million."

Why should this matter to non special education parents? Because that money is backfilled from a school district's general fund. However, recent action by the State Board of Ed may be at least somewhat encouraging.

"They are going to endorse a five-year plan to try to get the state back to 92 percent," Tallman said. "Instead of adding two hundred some million all at once, their proposal is, you do it over five years. Now, they factor in inflation, so the total amount will be more than that. The idea is to kind of phase it in. The challenges with those is, sometimes it's very hard, at a governmental body level, to keep to a path like that. There's always other issues coming up."

One of those issues will be a new crop of legislators coming in after the 2022 elections and new leadership on the House side specifically and where their budget priorities lie.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582221969260.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Mark Tallman with the Kansas Association of School Boards noted in his <a href="https://www.kasb.org/45132?articleID=110322">latest blog post</a> that the underfunding of special education is not just a state issue, it also is supposed to include money under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act."One thing that has never happened is that the federal government has not provided the level of funding that they indicated would be done when that law was passed," Tallman said. "The law says that the federal government is supposed to contribute 40 percent of the excess cost of special education, which is basically a calculation of how much more it costs to students to have additional services. That has not been done. The calculation that we have seen is that equals a shortfall of about $223 million to Kansas school districts. In other words, if the federal government were providing that, we would be receiving that much more dollars."Combine that with the under resourcing at the state level, and it is significant."That is also about the shortfall of the fact that the state has not kept its commitment to fund 92 percent of the excess cost, after federal aid is taken into account," Tallman said. "In other words, the federal law is basically saying, calculate excess cost, we'll pay 40%, but they are not. State law basically says, calculate excess cost, see how much the federal government is providing in federal aid. The difference, the state legislature said, we'll pay 92 percent. They're not doing that. The shortfall there again is over $200 million."Why should this matter to non special education parents? Because that money is backfilled from a school district's general fund. However, recent action by the State Board of Ed may be at least somewhat encouraging."They are going to endorse a five-year plan to try to get the state back to 92 percent," Tallman said. "Instead of adding two hundred some million all at once, their proposal is, you do it over five years. Now, they factor in inflation, so the total amount will be more than that. The idea is to kind of phase it in. The challenges with those is, sometimes it's very hard, at a governmental body level, to keep to a path like that. There's always other issues coming up."One of those issues will be a new crop of legislators coming in after the 2022 elections and new leadership on the House side specifically and where their budget priorities lie.

Tallman: Special ed underfunding is not just state issue

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend shooting have identified the victim as Kirk Sexton, 34, of Topeka.

Just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 900 Block of SW 8th Street in Topeka, according to Police LT Ronnie Connell.

First responders found Sexton suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend shooting have identified the victim as Kirk Sexton, 34, of Topeka.Just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 900 Block of SW 8th Street in Topeka, according to Police LT Ronnie Connell.First responders found Sexton suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

Police ID Kansas man who died in weekend shooting

HARVEY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Sunday in Harvey County.

According to the Harvey County Sheriff's Office, a vehicle driven by a woman from Hesston was southbound on Interstate 135 just before the Lincoln Blvd. exit.

The vehicle left the roadway, traveled through the median and struck another vehicle head-on.&nbsp; The impact caused the other vehicle to roll and the driver, a woman from Oklahoma, was partially ejected.

EMS transported both drivers to a hospital in Wichita.

Northbound  Interstate 135 south of Hesston was temporarily closed while crews worked to clear the accident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658089308889.jpeg" alt="First responders at the scene of Sunday's crash" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of Sunday's crash</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Sunday in Harvey County.According to the Harvey County Sheriff's Office, a vehicle driven by a woman from Hesston was southbound on Interstate 135 just before the Lincoln Blvd. exit.The vehicle left the roadway, traveled through the median and struck another vehicle head-on.&nbsp; The impact caused the other vehicle to roll and the driver, a woman from Oklahoma, was partially ejected.EMS transported both drivers to a hospital in Wichita.Northbound Interstate 135 south of Hesston was temporarily closed while crews worked to clear the accident.

2 critically injured after Interstate 135 head-on crash

BOURBON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on child porn allegations.

According to the United State's Attorney, 41-year-old Jesse Edwards of Fort Scott was indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. 

Homeland Security is investigating the case.&nbsp; After an arrest on Wednesday in Bourbon County, Edwards remains jailed without bond in Butler County, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657997715578.png" alt="Edwards-photo Bourbon Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Edwards-photo Bourbon Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>BOURBON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on child porn allegations.According to the United State's Attorney, 41-year-old Jesse Edwards of Fort Scott was indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Homeland Security is investigating the case.&nbsp; After an arrest on Wednesday in Bourbon County, Edwards remains jailed without bond in Butler County, according to online jail records.

Homeland Security investigates Kan. man for child porn distribution

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with shots fired early Saturday in Topeka.

Just after midnight, police&nbsp;were dispatched to the 200 Block of NE Lake in Topeka reference to reports of an assault that involved shots being fired, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.

As a result of the investigation police arrested 29-year-old Alejandro Espinoza-Hinostroza. He was booked into Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Assault, Battery and Possession of a stolen firearm.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657998735503.png" alt="Espinoza-Hinostroza-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Espinoza-Hinostroza-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with shots fired early Saturday in Topeka.Just after midnight, police&nbsp;were dispatched to the 200 Block of NE Lake in Topeka reference to reports of an assault that involved shots being fired, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.As a result of the investigation police arrested 29-year-old Alejandro Espinoza-Hinostroza. He was booked into Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Assault, Battery and Possession of a stolen firearm.

Police: Kansas man used stolen gun in Saturday assault

NUCKOLLS COUNTY, NE. — The U.S. Geological Survey says an earthquake centered near the Kansas, Nebraska state line in Nuckolls County had a preliminary magnitude of 3.7.

 The quake was reported just before 8a.m. Sunday, 4.3 miles southwest of Superior, Nebraska and was felt in many areas of Jewell County, Kansas. The Kansas Geological Survey indicated the quake measured magnitude 4.0.&nbsp;There were no immediate reports of damage.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658096570056.png" alt="Location of Sunday's quake -USGS image" />
 <figcaption>Location of Sunday's quake -USGS image</figcaption>
 </figure>NUCKOLLS COUNTY, NE. — The U.S. Geological Survey says an earthquake centered near the Kansas, Nebraska state line in Nuckolls County had a preliminary magnitude of 3.7. The quake was reported just before 8a.m. Sunday, 4.3 miles southwest of Superior, Nebraska and was felt in many areas of Jewell County, Kansas. The Kansas Geological Survey indicated the quake measured magnitude 4.0.&nbsp;There were no immediate reports of damage.&nbsp;

Earthquake reported near the Kansas, Nebraska state line

FINNEY COUNTY —Sometimes a school bus is more than just a school bus. In Garden City Public Schools, it’s now a rolling WiFi hotspot, according to a media release from USD 457.

This summer the district’s Technology and Transportation departments worked together to get WiFi installed on all USD 457 buses.

If you have a child who rides the bus to school, there’s no excuse now for them not doing homework on those long trips. The connections are now available to any student who wishes to use their time to do homework on the bus to be connected to the internet.

“We felt it was important to offer this service to our students who need access and ability to use the time they have riding to and from school to complete their school assignments,” said Charlie Stillian, the district’s transportation director. “This will be especially useful for our students who are traveling long distances or to games and other school activities.”

The district’s iPads will connect to the WiFi just as if they are in a classroom at school. There are filter and access settings in place that are compliant to school district policy and can be further managed by the school district’s technology department.

This opportunity to install WiFi on the school buses was made possible through Emergency Connectivity Funding, which provides dollars for connectivity for remote learning.

The first day of school for the 2022-23 school year will be Wednesday, August 17th, with a half-day orientation for students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade, seventh grade, ninth and tenth grades and all students new to Garden City Public Schools.&nbsp; The first full day of school for the district will be Thursday, August 18.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657902051184.png" alt="The district’s iPads will connect to the WiFi just as if they are in a classroom at school.-photo courtesy USD 457" />
 <figcaption>The district’s iPads will connect to the WiFi just as if they are in a classroom at school.-photo courtesy USD 457</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Sometimes a school bus is more than just a school bus. In Garden City Public Schools, it’s now a rolling WiFi hotspot, according to a media release from USD 457.This summer the district’s Technology and Transportation departments worked together to get WiFi installed on all USD 457 buses.If you have a child who rides the bus to school, there’s no excuse now for them not doing homework on those long trips. The connections are now available to any student who wishes to use their time to do homework on the bus to be connected to the internet.“We felt it was important to offer this service to our students who need access and ability to use the time they have riding to and from school to complete their school assignments,” said Charlie Stillian, the district’s transportation director. “This will be especially useful for our students who are traveling long distances or to games and other school activities.”The district’s iPads will connect to the WiFi just as if they are in a classroom at school. There are filter and access settings in place that are compliant to school district policy and can be further managed by the school district’s technology department.This opportunity to install WiFi on the school buses was made possible through Emergency Connectivity Funding, which provides dollars for connectivity for remote learning.The first day of school for the 2022-23 school year will be Wednesday, August 17th, with a half-day orientation for students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade, seventh grade, ninth and tenth grades and all students new to Garden City Public Schools.&nbsp; The first full day of school for the district will be Thursday, August 18.

SW Kansas district now has WiFi on school buses

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-offers-free-drawings-for-special-hunts-in-restricted-areas/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas hunters can sign 
up for a drawing to gain access to wildlife areas, state parks, lakes 
and other areas where hunting is typically restricted.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will accept applications 
for these “special hunts” in advance of drawings scheduled for Aug. 8, 
Sept. 26 and Dec. 12. The application is free, but hunters must still 
pay for required licenses, permits, stamps and education.

There will be <a target="_blank" href="https://programs.ksoutdoors.com/Programs/Special-Hunts/2022-Fall-Winter-Hunts/(view)/1">370 opportunities available</a>
 to hunt deer, duck, geese, turkeys, doves and furbearers, depending on 
the location and season, with various weaponry. They are scheduled from 
September to February at 21 department-owned areas, six state parks, 
three state fishing lakes, three county-owned properties, two private 
lands, two national wildlife refuges, and a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
 lake.

Hunters can apply in four categories: youth, mentor, disabled, and 
open hunts. Out-of-state residents may apply for some of the hunts.

Applications and a full list of special hunts are available at <a target="_blank" href="https://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Special-Hunts-Information">ksoutdoors.com</a>.

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-offers-free-drawings-for-special-hunts-in-restricted-areas/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas hunters can sign 
up for a drawing to gain access to wildlife areas, state parks, lakes 
and other areas where hunting is typically restricted.The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will accept applications 
for these “special hunts” in advance of drawings scheduled for Aug. 8, 
Sept. 26 and Dec. 12. The application is free, but hunters must still 
pay for required licenses, permits, stamps and education.There will be <a target="_blank" href="https://programs.ksoutdoors.com/Programs/Special-Hunts/2022-Fall-Winter-Hunts/(view)/1">370 opportunities available</a>
 to hunt deer, duck, geese, turkeys, doves and furbearers, depending on 
the location and season, with various weaponry. They are scheduled from 
September to February at 21 department-owned areas, six state parks, 
three state fishing lakes, three county-owned properties, two private 
lands, two national wildlife refuges, and a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
 lake.Hunters can apply in four categories: youth, mentor, disabled, and 
open hunts. Out-of-state residents may apply for some of the hunts.Applications and a full list of special hunts are available at <a target="_blank" href="https://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Special-Hunts-Information">ksoutdoors.com</a>.

Kan. offers free drawings for ‘special hunts’ in restricted areas

DOUGLAS COUNTY— Deputies and game wardens searching Clinton Lake on Saturday evening recovered&nbsp; the body of a man reported missing, according to a statement from the Douglas County Sheriff's office.

Just before 4p.m. Saturday, several agencies in Douglas County responded to Clinton Lake to search for a man had been swimming.

 The Sheriff’s office and other agencies had boats involved in the search. Officials have not released the name of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658062270534.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY— Deputies and game wardens searching Clinton Lake on Saturday evening recovered&nbsp; the body of a man reported missing, according to a statement from the Douglas County Sheriff's office.Just before 4p.m. Saturday, several agencies in Douglas County responded to Clinton Lake to search for a man had been swimming. The Sheriff’s office and other agencies had boats involved in the search. Officials have not released the name of the victim.

Sheriff: Body of missing swimmer recovered from Kan. lake

Eagle Radio operates <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">nine Post news sites</a> in communities across Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.

Here is a sampling of stories from last week:

<a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/c6b40452-04cf-43f9-9543-51f0dc203a79">🎥: Kansas-native plays Country Stampede for 10th time</a> From Little Apple Post

<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/406c2e91-d9da-4b84-9332-990b9cc7fb74#//">It's not too late to seek a new career, Missouri Western can help</a> From St. Joseph Post

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/63c386cd-e851-43c7-b628-073b8f2d09bf">NAMI brings mental health support to jails, prisons</a> From Hays Post

<a href="https://panhandlepost.com/posts/e2a29261-117a-4410-a9ac-44d9ca43da85">A-Town Zesto continues burger legacy in Alliance</a> From Panhandle Post

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/a9425a02-e0c5-4309-95ef-4cc50c2acd9e">$60,000 customized car missing from Salina dealership</a> From Salina Post

<a href="https://jcpost.com/posts/e942541b-d464-490b-b88d-8cc5d6ef7a67">Concrete grandstand at Al Simpler Stadium is taken down</a> From JC Post

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/257df2ac-df7b-496b-9643-3eefc15df397">Edward's Street Brew &amp; Bites cuts ribbon in Larned</a> From Great Bend Post

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/ca578a56-f6d6-4f47-9ebc-f854801e657f">Communities That Care data shows kids in Reno County need help</a> From Hutch Post

<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/9e9ec18a-adf5-45ab-a8e0-80c7991fdf01">Eagle Radio employee-owner, Schmidt Foundation make donation to North Platte Habitat for Humanity</a> From North Platte Post

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587155364471.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Eagle Radio operates <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">nine Post news sites</a> in communities across Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.Here is a sampling of stories from last week:<a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/c6b40452-04cf-43f9-9543-51f0dc203a79">🎥: Kansas-native plays Country Stampede for 10th time</a> From Little Apple Post<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/406c2e91-d9da-4b84-9332-990b9cc7fb74#//">It's not too late to seek a new career, Missouri Western can help</a> From St. Joseph Post<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/63c386cd-e851-43c7-b628-073b8f2d09bf">NAMI brings mental health support to jails, prisons</a> From Hays Post<a href="https://panhandlepost.com/posts/e2a29261-117a-4410-a9ac-44d9ca43da85">A-Town Zesto continues burger legacy in Alliance</a> From Panhandle Post<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/a9425a02-e0c5-4309-95ef-4cc50c2acd9e">$60,000 customized car missing from Salina dealership</a> From Salina Post<a href="https://jcpost.com/posts/e942541b-d464-490b-b88d-8cc5d6ef7a67">Concrete grandstand at Al Simpler Stadium is taken down</a> From JC Post<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/257df2ac-df7b-496b-9643-3eefc15df397">Edward's Street Brew &amp; Bites cuts ribbon in Larned</a> From Great Bend Post<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/ca578a56-f6d6-4f47-9ebc-f854801e657f">Communities That Care data shows kids in Reno County need help</a> From Hutch Post<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/9e9ec18a-adf5-45ab-a8e0-80c7991fdf01">Eagle Radio employee-owner, Schmidt Foundation make donation to North Platte Habitat for Humanity</a> From North Platte Post

News From Around the Post News Network

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Long lines are back at food banks around the U.S. as working Americans overwhelmed by inflation turn to handouts to help feed their families.

With gas prices soaring along with grocery costs, many people are seeking charitable food for the first time, and more are arriving on foot.

Inflation in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">is at a 40-year high</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-us-supreme-court-united-states-prices-congress-fd9b475349dc1d8365fbc2497a07de3b">gas prices have been surging</a>&nbsp;since April 2020, with the average cost nationwide briefly hitting $5 a gallon in June. Rapidly rising rents and an end to federal COVID-19 relief have also taken a financial toll.

The food banks, which had started to see some relief as people returned to work after pandemic shutdowns, are struggling to meet the latest need even as federal programs provide less food to distribute, grocery store donations wane and cash gifts don’t go nearly as far.

Tomasina John was among hundreds of families lined up in several lanes of cars that went around the block one recent day outside St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix. John said her family had never visited a food bank before because her husband had easily supported her and their four children with his construction work.

“But it’s really impossible to get by now without some help,” said John, who traveled with a neighbor to share gas costs as they idled under a scorching desert sun. “The prices are way too high.”

“It’s a real struggle,” said Pascual, a janitor who estimated he spends several hundred dollars a month on groceries for him, his wife and their five children aged 11 to 19.

The same scene is repeated across the nation, where food bank workers predict a rough summer keeping ahead of demand.

The surge in food prices comes after state governments&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-nebraska-iowa-des-moines-4ff5e0d51f61e6704f44dfc31279376a">ended COVID-19 disaster declarations</a>&nbsp;that temporarily allowed increased benefits under SNAP, the federal food stamp program covering some 40 million Americans .

“It does not look like it’s going to get better overnight,” said Katie Fitzgerald, president and chief operating officer for the national food bank network Feeding America. “Demand is really making the supply challenges complex.”

Charitable food distribution&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-hunger-coronavirus-pandemic-4c7f1705c6d8ef5bac241e6cc8e331bb">has remained far above amounts given away before the coronavirus pandemic</a>, even though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-united-states-health-hunger-2c509e7e1ce108c47287b42315e2a0c3">demand tapered off somewhat late last year</a>.

Feeding America officials say second quarter data won't be ready until August, but they are hearing anecdotally from food banks nationwide that demand is soaring.

The Phoenix food bank's main distribution center doled out food packages to 4,271 families during the third week in June, a 78% increase over the 2,396 families served during the same week last year, said St. Mary's spokesman Jerry Brown.

More than 900 families line up at the distribution center every weekday for an emergency government food box stuffed with goods such as canned beans, peanut butter and rice, said Brown. St. Mary’s adds products purchased with cash donations, as well as food provided by local supermarkets like bread, carrots and pork chops for a combined package worth about $75.

Distribution by the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Northern California has ticked up since hitting a pandemic low at the beginning of this year, increasing from 890 households served on the third Friday in January to 1,410 households on the third Friday in June, said marketing director Michael Altfest.

At the Houston Food Bank, the largest food bank in the U.S. where food distribution levels earlier in the pandemic briefly peaked at a staggering 1 million pounds a day, an average of 610,000 pounds is now being given out daily.

That's up from about 500,000 pounds a day before the pandemic, said spokeswoman Paula Murphy said.

Murphy said cash donations have not eased, but inflation ensures they don’t go as far.

Food bank executives said the sudden surge in demand caught them off guard.

“Last year, we had expected a decrease in demand for 2022 because the economy had been doing so well,” said Michael Flood, CEO for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “This issue with inflation came on pretty suddenly.”

“A lot of these are people who are working and did OK during the pandemic and maybe even saw their wages go up,” said Flood. “But they have also seen food prices go up beyond their budgets.”

The Los Angeles bank gave away about 30 million pounds of food during the first three months of this year, slightly less than the previous quarter but still far more than the 22 million pounds given away during the first quarter of 2020.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657814437167.png" alt="The surge in food prices comes after state governments&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-nebraska-iowa-des-moines-4ff5e0d51f61e6704f44dfc31279376a">ended COVID-19 disaster declarations</a>&nbsp;that temporarily allowed increased benefits under SNAP, the federal food stamp program covering some 40 million Americans." />
 <figcaption>The surge in food prices comes after state governments&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-nebraska-iowa-des-moines-4ff5e0d51f61e6704f44dfc31279376a">ended COVID-19 disaster declarations</a>&nbsp;that temporarily allowed increased benefits under SNAP, the federal food stamp program covering some 40 million Americans.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Long lines are back at food banks around the U.S. as working Americans overwhelmed by inflation turn to handouts to help feed their families.With gas prices soaring along with grocery costs, many people are seeking charitable food for the first time, and more are arriving on foot.Inflation in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">is at a 40-year high</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-us-supreme-court-united-states-prices-congress-fd9b475349dc1d8365fbc2497a07de3b">gas prices have been surging</a>&nbsp;since April 2020, with the average cost nationwide briefly hitting $5 a gallon in June. Rapidly rising rents and an end to federal COVID-19 relief have also taken a financial toll.The food banks, which had started to see some relief as people returned to work after pandemic shutdowns, are struggling to meet the latest need even as federal programs provide less food to distribute, grocery store donations wane and cash gifts don’t go nearly as far.Tomasina John was among hundreds of families lined up in several lanes of cars that went around the block one recent day outside St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix. John said her family had never visited a food bank before because her husband had easily supported her and their four children with his construction work.“But it’s really impossible to get by now without some help,” said John, who traveled with a neighbor to share gas costs as they idled under a scorching desert sun. “The prices are way too high.”Jesus Pascual was also in the queue.“It’s a real struggle,” said Pascual, a janitor who estimated he spends several hundred dollars a month on groceries for him, his wife and their five children aged 11 to 19.The same scene is repeated across the nation, where food bank workers predict a rough summer keeping ahead of demand.The surge in food prices comes after state governments&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-nebraska-iowa-des-moines-4ff5e0d51f61e6704f44dfc31279376a">ended COVID-19 disaster declarations</a>&nbsp;that temporarily allowed increased benefits under SNAP, the federal food stamp program covering some 40 million Americans .“It does not look like it’s going to get better overnight,” said Katie Fitzgerald, president and chief operating officer for the national food bank network Feeding America. “Demand is really making the supply challenges complex.”Charitable food distribution&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-hunger-coronavirus-pandemic-4c7f1705c6d8ef5bac241e6cc8e331bb">has remained far above amounts given away before the coronavirus pandemic</a>, even though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-united-states-health-hunger-2c509e7e1ce108c47287b42315e2a0c3">demand tapered off somewhat late last year</a>.Feeding America officials say second quarter data won't be ready until August, but they are hearing anecdotally from food banks nationwide that demand is soaring.The Phoenix food bank's main distribution center doled out food packages to 4,271 families during the third week in June, a 78% increase over the 2,396 families served during the same week last year, said St. Mary's spokesman Jerry Brown.More than 900 families line up at the distribution center every weekday for an emergency government food box stuffed with goods such as canned beans, peanut butter and rice, said Brown. St. Mary’s adds products purchased with cash donations, as well as food provided by local supermarkets like bread, carrots and pork chops for a combined package worth about $75.Distribution by the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Northern California has ticked up since hitting a pandemic low at the beginning of this year, increasing from 890 households served on the third Friday in January to 1,410 households on the third Friday in June, said marketing director Michael Altfest.At the Houston Food Bank, the largest food bank in the U.S. where food distribution levels earlier in the pandemic briefly peaked at a staggering 1 million pounds a day, an average of 610,000 pounds is now being given out daily.That's up from about 500,000 pounds a day before the pandemic, said spokeswoman Paula Murphy said.Murphy said cash donations have not eased, but inflation ensures they don’t go as far.Food bank executives said the sudden surge in demand caught them off guard.“Last year, we had expected a decrease in demand for 2022 because the economy had been doing so well,” said Michael Flood, CEO for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “This issue with inflation came on pretty suddenly.”“A lot of these are people who are working and did OK during the pandemic and maybe even saw their wages go up,” said Flood. “But they have also seen food prices go up beyond their budgets.”The Los Angeles bank gave away about 30 million pounds of food during the first three months of this year, slightly less than the previous quarter but still far more than the 22 million pounds given away during the first quarter of 2020.Feeding America's Fitzgerald is calling on USDA and Congress to find a way to restore hundreds of millions of dollars worth of commodities recently lost with the end of several temporary programs to provide food to people in need. USDA commodities, which generally can represent as much as 30% of the food the banks disperse, accounted for more than 40% of all food distributed in fiscal year 2021 by the Feeding America network.“There is a critical need for the public sector to purchase more food now," said Fitzgerald.During the Trump administration, USDA bought several billions of dollars in pork, apples, dairy, potatoes and other products in a program that gave most of it to food banks. The “Food Purchase &amp; Distribution Program” designed to help American farmers harmed by tariffs and other practices of U.S. trade partners has since ended. There was $1.2 billion authorized for the 2019 fiscal year and another $1.4 billion authorized for fiscal 2020.Another temporary&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box">USDA “Farmers to Families” program</a>&nbsp;that provided emergency relief provided more than 155 million food boxes for families in need across the U.S. during the height of the pandemic before ending May 31, 2021.For now, there's enough food, but there might not be in the future, said Michael G. Manning, president and CEO at Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank in Louisiana. He said high fuel costs also make it far more expensive to collect and distribute food.The USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which included Farmers to Families, was "a boon” for the Alameda County Community Food Bank, providing 5 billion pounds of commodities over a single year, said spokesman Altfest.“So losing that was a big hit,” he said.Altfest said as many as 10% of the people now seeking food are first timers, and a growing number are showing up on foot rather than in cars to save gas.“The food they get from us is helping them save already-stretched budgets for other expenses like gas, rent, diapers and baby formula,” he said.Meanwhile, food purchases by the bank have jumped from a monthly average of $250,000 before the pandemic to as high as $1.5 million now because of food prices. Rocketing gasoline costs forced the bank to increase its fuel budget by 66%, Altfest said.Supply chain issues are also a problem, requiring the food bank to become more aggressive with procurement.“We used to reorder when our inventory dropped to three weeks’ worth, now we reorder up to six weeks out,” said Altfest.He said the food bank has already ordered and paid for whole chickens, stuffing, cranberries and other holiday feast items it will distribute for Thanksgiving, the busiest time of the year.At the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation in Montebello east of Los Angeles, workers say they are seeing many families along with older people like Diane Martinez, who lined up one recent morning on foot.Some of the hundreds of mostly Spanish-speaking recipients had cars parked nearby. They carried cloth bags, cardboard boxes or shoved pushcarts to pick up their food packages from the distribution site the Los Angeles bank serves.“The prices of food are so high and they’re going up higher every day,” said Martinez, who expressed gratitude for the bags of black beans, ground beef and other groceries. “I’m so glad that they’re able to help us.”