DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a murder in Lawrence have identified the victim as&nbsp; 25-year-old Regan Noelle Marek Gibbs of Lawrence, according to&nbsp; police spokesperson Kim L. Murphree.

Detectives with the Lawrence Police Department (LPD) worked through the night and continue to investigate the murder.

Just before 7:30p.m. Monday, police responded to a home in the 2500 Block of West 6th Street where the victim lived.

The suspect identified as 26-year old Chad Joseph Marek, of Lawrence also lived at the home and was the victim's husband, according to Police Chief Rich Lockhart. 

Police arrested him at the scene on a requested charge of murder, according to Murphree. Domestic violence is being investigated as a contributing factor. An Affidavit was prepared by police detectives and has been sent to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for review.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder in Lawrence.

Just before 7:30p.m. Monday, police responded to a north-central Lawrence home, according to police spokesperson&nbsp;Kim L. Murphree.

Officers encountered a 26-year-old suspect and a woman with critical injuries. First responders pronounced her deceased at the scene. Police arrested the man on suspicion of murder, according to Murphree.

The man and victim were known to each other.&nbsp; Police have not released names of the suspect or victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652810277064.png" alt="Marek-photo Douglas Co." />
 <figcaption>Marek-photo Douglas Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a murder in Lawrence have identified the victim as&nbsp; 25-year-old Regan Noelle Marek Gibbs of Lawrence, according to&nbsp; police spokesperson Kim L. Murphree.Detectives with the Lawrence Police Department (LPD) worked through the night and continue to investigate the murder.Just before 7:30p.m. Monday, police responded to a home in the 2500 Block of West 6th Street where the victim lived.The suspect identified as 26-year old Chad Joseph Marek, of Lawrence also lived at the home and was the victim's husband, according to Police Chief Rich Lockhart. Police arrested him at the scene on a requested charge of murder, according to Murphree. Domestic violence is being investigated as a contributing factor. An Affidavit was prepared by police detectives and has been sent to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for review.----------DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder in Lawrence.Just before 7:30p.m. Monday, police responded to a north-central Lawrence home, according to police spokesperson&nbsp;Kim L. Murphree.Officers encountered a 26-year-old suspect and a woman with critical injuries. First responders pronounced her deceased at the scene. Police arrested the man on suspicion of murder, according to Murphree.The man and victim were known to each other.&nbsp; Police have not released names of the suspect or victim.

Police: Kansas man accused of wife's murder 

LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating six suspects in connection with a home-invasion violent attack.

On May 2, police responded to an apartment building in northeast Emporia after multiple 911 calls indicating people were running in the area and one person was reported yelling for help, according to Police Captain Lisa Hayes.

At the scene, officers found an injured victim and leaned multiple suspects armed with guns and knives entered an apartment and beat and burned the victim. The suspects then fled.

Detectives in Lyon County conducted a lengthy investigation and arrested six suspects.&nbsp; Alfredo Perez, Jr., 21 and Lucas Aleman-Torres, 22, both of Emporia are being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and aggravated burglary.

Christopher A. Diaz, 24, of Emporia is being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, possession of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and additional drug allegations.

Amber N. Spencer, 18, Emporia is being held on requested charges of interference with law enforcement and aid and abet aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and aggravated burglary.

Raul A. Diaz III, 20, of Emporia is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and aggravated burglary.

Jonathan Manzano, 21, Emporia is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, possesion of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

The Lyon County Attorney is reviewing the case.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652805300411.png" alt="Perez" />
 <figcaption>Perez</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating six suspects in connection with a home-invasion violent attack.On May 2, police responded to an apartment building in northeast Emporia after multiple 911 calls indicating people were running in the area and one person was reported yelling for help, according to Police Captain Lisa Hayes.At the scene, officers found an injured victim and leaned multiple suspects armed with guns and knives entered an apartment and beat and burned the victim. The suspects then fled.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652805388823.png" alt="Aleman-Torres" />
 <figcaption>Aleman-Torres</figcaption>
 </figure>Detectives in Lyon County conducted a lengthy investigation and arrested six suspects.&nbsp; Alfredo Perez, Jr., 21 and Lucas Aleman-Torres, 22, both of Emporia are being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and aggravated burglary.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652805264385.png" alt="Christopher Diaz&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Christopher Diaz&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Christopher A. Diaz, 24, of Emporia is being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, possession of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and additional drug allegations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652805335748.png" alt="Spencer" />
 <figcaption>Spencer</figcaption>
 </figure>Amber N. Spencer, 18, Emporia is being held on requested charges of interference with law enforcement and aid and abet aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and aggravated burglary.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652805211826.png" alt="Raul Diaz" />
 <figcaption>Raul Diaz</figcaption>
 </figure>Raul A. Diaz III, 20, of Emporia is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and aggravated burglary.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652805166077.png" alt="Manzano" />
 <figcaption>Manzano</figcaption>
 </figure>Jonathan Manzano, 21, Emporia is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, possesion of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;The Lyon County Attorney is reviewing the case.&nbsp;

Police: Suspects beat, burned victim during Kan. home robbery

KANSAS CITY —A&nbsp; Kansas City man has been charged in connection with the May 10, fatal shooting of Terylle Gorham in a parking lot near 49th and Bellefontaine in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Paul Wright, 61, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Armed Criminal Action and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm charges.

According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the area of 49th and Bellefontaine and found the victim Terylle Gorham in a parking lot, beneath a truck. 

He was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and several spent .45 caliber shell casings were located in the area. 

Residents from the area told police that the defendant was the suspected shooter; he lived nearby. Witnesses told police the defendant was seen in the area with the victim; the suspect had a handgun in his waistband. 

Another witnesses told police that surveillance video from the residence showed the defendant go to the spot where the homicide occurs, then walk back later with what appears to be a gun in his hand. 

After obtaining a search warrant, police recovered a .45 caliber handgun from the glove box of a vehicle that the defendant had earlier been stopped in while he was a passenger.&nbsp; Prosecutors requested a bond of $500,000 cash only.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652735051845.png" alt="Wright-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Wright-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A&nbsp; Kansas City man has been charged in connection with the May 10, fatal shooting of Terylle Gorham in a parking lot near 49th and Bellefontaine in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Paul Wright, 61, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Armed Criminal Action and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm charges.According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the area of 49th and Bellefontaine and found the victim Terylle Gorham in a parking lot, beneath a truck. He was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and several spent .45 caliber shell casings were located in the area. Residents from the area told police that the defendant was the suspected shooter; he lived nearby. Witnesses told police the defendant was seen in the area with the victim; the suspect had a handgun in his waistband. Another witnesses told police that surveillance video from the residence showed the defendant go to the spot where the homicide occurs, then walk back later with what appears to be a gun in his hand. After obtaining a search warrant, police recovered a .45 caliber handgun from the glove box of a vehicle that the defendant had earlier been stopped in while he was a passenger.&nbsp; Prosecutors requested a bond of $500,000 cash only.

Police found murder weapon in glove box of KC man's vehicle

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress held its first hearing in half a century Tuesday on unidentified flying objects. And no, there is still no government confirmation of extraterrestrial life.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?520133-1/hearing-government-investigation-ufos">Click here to watch </a>a replay of the hearing

Testifying before a House Intelligence subcommittee, Pentagon officials did not disclose additional information from their ongoing investigation of hundreds of unexplained sightings in the sky. But they said they had picked a director for a new task force to coordinate data collection efforts on what the government has officially labeled “unidentified aerial phenomena.”

Ronald Moultrie, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence, said the Pentagon was also trying to destigmatize the issue and encourage pilots and other military personnel to report anything unusual they see.

“We want to know what’s out there as much as you want to know what’s out there,” Moultrie told lawmakers, adding that he was a fan of science fiction himself. “We get the questions not just from you. We get it from family and we get them night and day.”

Lawmakers from both parties say UFOs are a national security concern. Sightings of what appear to be aircraft flying without discernible means of propulsion have been reported near military bases and coastlines, raising the prospect that witnesses have spotted undiscovered or secret Chinese or Russian technology.

But the sightings are usually fleeting. Some appear for no more than an instant on camera — and then sometimes end up distorted by the camera lens. The U.S. government is believed to hold additional technical information on the sightings that it has not disclosed publicly.

An interim report&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-government-and-politics-f5f24502d97072fd4bef34b6fe36c81d">released by intelligence officials last year</a>&nbsp;counted 144 sightings of aircraft or other devices apparently flying at mysterious speeds or trajectories. In all but one of the sightings investigated, there was too little information for investigators to even broadly characterize the nature of the incident.

A top Pentagon official on Tuesday briefly demonstrated the challenge. Scott Bray, deputy director of naval intelligence, stood next to a television to show a short video taken from an F-18 military plane. The video shows a blue sky with passing clouds. In a single frame — which it took several minutes for staff in the room to queue up — there is an image of one balloon-like shape.

“As you can see, finding UAP is harder than you may think,” Bray said, using the acronym for “unidentified aerial phenomena.”

Rep. André Carson, an Indiana Democrat who chaired the hearing, called on investigators to show they “are willing to follow the facts where they lead.”

Rep. Rick Crawford, an Arkansas Republican, noted that the investigations were not “about finding alien spacecraft but about delivering dominant intelligence.”

“The inability to understand objects in our sensitive operating areas is tantamount to intelligence failure that we certainly want to avoid,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652802167906.png" alt="Scott Bray, deputy director of naval intelligence, stood next to a television to show a short video taken from an F-18 military plane. The video shows a blue sky with passing clouds. In a single frame — which it took several minutes for staff in the room to queue up — there is an image of one balloon-like shape-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Scott Bray, deputy director of naval intelligence, stood next to a television to show a short video taken from an F-18 military plane. The video shows a blue sky with passing clouds. In a single frame — which it took several minutes for staff in the room to queue up — there is an image of one balloon-like shape-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress held its first hearing in half a century Tuesday on unidentified flying objects. And no, there is still no government confirmation of extraterrestrial life.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?520133-1/hearing-government-investigation-ufos">Click here to watch </a>a replay of the hearingTestifying before a House Intelligence subcommittee, Pentagon officials did not disclose additional information from their ongoing investigation of hundreds of unexplained sightings in the sky. But they said they had picked a director for a new task force to coordinate data collection efforts on what the government has officially labeled “unidentified aerial phenomena.”Ronald Moultrie, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence, said the Pentagon was also trying to destigmatize the issue and encourage pilots and other military personnel to report anything unusual they see.“We want to know what’s out there as much as you want to know what’s out there,” Moultrie told lawmakers, adding that he was a fan of science fiction himself. “We get the questions not just from you. We get it from family and we get them night and day.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622822273014.png" alt="UFO image courtesy U.S. Department of Defense Naval Air System Command" />
 <figcaption>UFO image courtesy U.S. Department of Defense Naval Air System Command</figcaption>
 </figure>Lawmakers from both parties say UFOs are a national security concern. Sightings of what appear to be aircraft flying without discernible means of propulsion have been reported near military bases and coastlines, raising the prospect that witnesses have spotted undiscovered or secret Chinese or Russian technology.But the sightings are usually fleeting. Some appear for no more than an instant on camera — and then sometimes end up distorted by the camera lens. The U.S. government is believed to hold additional technical information on the sightings that it has not disclosed publicly.An interim report&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-government-and-politics-f5f24502d97072fd4bef34b6fe36c81d">released by intelligence officials last year</a>&nbsp;counted 144 sightings of aircraft or other devices apparently flying at mysterious speeds or trajectories. In all but one of the sightings investigated, there was too little information for investigators to even broadly characterize the nature of the incident.A top Pentagon official on Tuesday briefly demonstrated the challenge. Scott Bray, deputy director of naval intelligence, stood next to a television to show a short video taken from an F-18 military plane. The video shows a blue sky with passing clouds. In a single frame — which it took several minutes for staff in the room to queue up — there is an image of one balloon-like shape.“As you can see, finding UAP is harder than you may think,” Bray said, using the acronym for “unidentified aerial phenomena.”Rep. André Carson, an Indiana Democrat who chaired the hearing, called on investigators to show they “are willing to follow the facts where they lead.”Rep. Rick Crawford, an Arkansas Republican, noted that the investigations were not “about finding alien spacecraft but about delivering dominant intelligence.”“The inability to understand objects in our sensitive operating areas is tantamount to intelligence failure that we certainly want to avoid,” he said.

🎥Congress dives into UFOs, but no signs of extraterrestrials

MONTGOMERY COUNTY–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Coffeyville Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a homicide investigation after a man was shot and killed inside a Coffeyville home, according to a media release from the agency.

Just before 10:30a.m. Monday morning,&nbsp; the Kansas City Missouri Police Department contacted the Coffeyville Police Department when they received a crime line tip indicating that a dead body could be found at 1301 W. 7th&nbsp;St. in Coffeyville, Kansas.

Officers from the Coffeyville Police Department responded to the area. They began observing the residence until a male subject, David A. Jackson, 61, of Coffeyville, exited the duplex. The officers briefly questioned Jackson, and then entered the residence. Once inside, officers located the body of 47-year-old Melvin Simpson Jr., of Coffeyville. Simpson had been shot, and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Jackson was arrested and detained on unrelated charges. An autopsy is scheduled.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Coffeyville Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a homicide investigation after a man was shot and killed inside a Coffeyville home, according to a media release from the agency.Just before 10:30a.m. Monday morning,&nbsp; the Kansas City Missouri Police Department contacted the Coffeyville Police Department when they received a crime line tip indicating that a dead body could be found at 1301 W. 7th&nbsp;St. in Coffeyville, Kansas.Officers from the Coffeyville Police Department responded to the area. They began observing the residence until a male subject, David A. Jackson, 61, of Coffeyville, exited the duplex. The officers briefly questioned Jackson, and then entered the residence. Once inside, officers located the body of 47-year-old Melvin Simpson Jr., of Coffeyville. Simpson had been shot, and was pronounced deceased at the scene.Jackson was arrested and detained on unrelated charges. An autopsy is scheduled.

Police: Crime line tip leads to Kansas homicide investigation

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-05-16/do-kansas-colleges-offer-too-many-degrees-a-state-board-could-put-some-on-the-chopping-block">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — The number of people enrolling at public 
colleges in Kansas keeps heading downward — a trend that could bring on 
more than the usual budgetary nips and tucks.

The most drastic 
changes, and cuts, pose a particular threat to regional schools in Hays,
 Emporia and Pittsburg that could steal away a source of jobs and prestige 
that help define the communities that surround the campuses.

Any 
changes to higher education in Kansas look bound to face resistance — 
from faculty, students, administrators and businesses invested heavily 
in one campus or the next.

Yet the Kansas Board of Regents voted unanimously in February to hire the Maryland-based <a href="https://rpkgroup.com/" target="_blank">RPK Group</a>,
 a business and education consulting firm, to review degree programs at 
all six major universities. It will analyze areas of duplication, 
workforce needs and the varying rates of demand among academic programs.

Kansas
 taxpayers subsidize six traditional, four-year universities and more 
than two dozen smaller community colleges and technical schools. Nearly 
250,000 students are enrolled in at least one class. Collectively, they 
pay nearly $800 million a year in tuition. The state kicks in another 
$580 million in funding.

Together, the big six universities — the 
University of Kansas, Kansas State, Wichita State, Emporia State, Fort 
Hays State, and Pittsburg State — offer more than 1,500 degree programs. 
Some experts say that’s too much.

“It is not sustainable, and 
things that aren’t sustainable will ultimately stop,” said Rick 
Staisloff, founder of RPK Group. “If we don’t want it to stop, it means 
we have to get ahead of the curve and start making change now.”

Republican
 Rep. Barbara Wasinger, co-chair of the House Higher Education Budget 
Committee, spent much of the past legislative session drilling 
university leaders about declining enrollment, rising budgets and 
expanding course offerings.

“Have you gone through your curriculum
 and your colleges to see which ones you might be able to weed out?” 
Wasinger asked Fort Hays State President Tisa Mason.

When Regents President Blake Flanders addressed the committee, it was the same story.

“Have
 you … found what kind of programs just are not making the grade?” 
Wasinger asked. “Are you constantly going through to check to see what’s
 working and what isn’t, and what you should delete?”

That line of questioning, paired with RPK’s system-wide analysis due 
out this summer, has university officials nervous about what could 
happen next.

When RPK conducted a similar review in Vermont, it led to the <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/board-votes-to-unite-3-merging-vermont-colleges-under-the-name-vermont-stat/607498/" target="_blank">consolidation of several state colleges</a>.

At KU, officials are considering <a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/ku/2022/feb/15/ku-faculty-expressing-concern-about-possible-cutting-of-degrees-board-of-regents-to-consider-statewide-review-of-degrees/" target="_blank">cutting dozens of programs and degrees</a>,
 including some humanities degrees, art education, and peace and 
conflict studies. Chancellor Doug Girod said it could happen without 
faculty reductions. Savings would come from ditching low-enrollment 
classes for higher-demand ones that make more money for the university, 
he said.

At Fort Hays State, officials recently proposed <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3998b4da-514c-41d4-8ae5-33aa6416fe49" target="_blank">consolidating 11 liberal arts departments</a>
 into five schools. The plan — which was put on pause after an outcry 
from students and faculty — would eliminate five department chairs and 
several administrative assistants. University officials said they’d try 
to reassign workers if possible.

“We have to look at the expense 
side of the equation,” said Staisloff, the RPK founder. “Why does it 
cost what it costs to offer quality higher education, and what are the 
levers under our control that could reduce that cost?”

The 
COVID-19 pandemic caused a steep drop in enrollment. Most of those 
students haven’t returned. Over the past five years, enrollment at the 
six major Kansas universities fell by more than 8%. Community colleges 
and technical schools were even worse, dropping 17%. Economists predict 
the population of college students nationwide will drop another 15% over
 the next eight years.

And the higher education <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-08-09/covid-19-challenged-the-business-model-at-kansas-universities-and-revealed-a-tectonic-shift" target="_blank">business model that leaned heavily on students living on campus was broken</a> even before the pandemic.

“Why go back to a model that wasn’t really getting the job done?” Staisloff said.

Consultants
 have already hinted that the state’s university system is unwieldy and 
not meeting workforce needs. About two-thirds of Kansas college students
 are enrolled in just a handful of degree programs – fields like 
business, engineering and health. For lower-demand degrees like 
philosophy, music or liberal arts, Staisloff says some schools might 
consider offering courses in those areas even as they ditch full degree 
programs.

“We can ensure that students are becoming the 
well-rounded human beings we want to create,” he said, “but we can do it
 in a way that is much more efficient.”

It might make sense to 
have major programs centered at a few universities and to cut back or 
consolidate elsewhere, but that could devastate communities like 
Emporia, Pittsburg and Hays, where colleges are major factors in the 
local economy and way of life.

Tisa Mason, president of Fort Hays 
State University, told lawmakers recently that the school’s interaction 
with the community is “tight for a lot of reasons.”

Local high 
schools play football at the university’s stadium. Residents depend on 
the school’s theater, orchestra and other fine arts programs for their 
cultural value. Technology students from Fort Hays even <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/news/2018/04/collaboration-key-in-latest-project-of-fhsu-applied-technology-students" target="_blank">helped design and build a downtown pavilion</a> and parking garage.

“There are so many ways that we are interacting every single day in that community,” Mason said. “Our presence matters.”

A
 large portion of a university’s enrollment — particularly in rural 
areas — comes from nearby communities. Research shows that more than 40%
 of first-year college students opt for schools that are less than 50 
miles away from home.

Regent Wint Winter said the board should be 
tuned into student needs and each university’s mission as well as the 
bottom line. But he voted in favor of the RPK study because enrollment 
figures are bad and getting worse.

“Advocates of higher education 
need to be mindful of … these trends and (ask) ourselves: Are they 
permanent? Are they transitory?” he said. “If they’re not, what can we 
do to turn that around?”

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652797058366.png" alt="Members of the University of Kansas faculty walk into the football stadium for the 2022 commencement ceremony. Suzanne Perez / KMUW" />
 <figcaption>Members of the University of Kansas faculty walk into the football stadium for the 2022 commencement ceremony. Suzanne Perez / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-05-16/do-kansas-colleges-offer-too-many-degrees-a-state-board-could-put-some-on-the-chopping-block">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — The number of people enrolling at public 
colleges in Kansas keeps heading downward — a trend that could bring on 
more than the usual budgetary nips and tucks.The most drastic 
changes, and cuts, pose a particular threat to regional schools in Hays,
 Emporia and Pittsburg that could steal away a source of jobs and prestige 
that help define the communities that surround the campuses.Any 
changes to higher education in Kansas look bound to face resistance — 
from faculty, students, administrators and businesses invested heavily 
in one campus or the next.Yet the Kansas Board of Regents voted unanimously in February to hire the Maryland-based <a href="https://rpkgroup.com/" target="_blank">RPK Group</a>,
 a business and education consulting firm, to review degree programs at 
all six major universities. It will analyze areas of duplication, 
workforce needs and the varying rates of demand among academic programs.Kansas
 taxpayers subsidize six traditional, four-year universities and more 
than two dozen smaller community colleges and technical schools. Nearly 
250,000 students are enrolled in at least one class. Collectively, they 
pay nearly $800 million a year in tuition. The state kicks in another 
$580 million in funding.Together, the big six universities — the 
University of Kansas, Kansas State, Wichita State, Emporia State, Fort 
Hays State, and Pittsburg State — offer more than 1,500 degree programs. 
Some experts say that’s too much.“It is not sustainable, and 
things that aren’t sustainable will ultimately stop,” said Rick 
Staisloff, founder of RPK Group. “If we don’t want it to stop, it means 
we have to get ahead of the curve and start making change now.”Republican
 Rep. Barbara Wasinger, co-chair of the House Higher Education Budget 
Committee, spent much of the past legislative session drilling 
university leaders about declining enrollment, rising budgets and 
expanding course offerings.“Have you gone through your curriculum
 and your colleges to see which ones you might be able to weed out?” 
Wasinger asked Fort Hays State President Tisa Mason.When Regents President Blake Flanders addressed the committee, it was the same story.“Have
 you … found what kind of programs just are not making the grade?” 
Wasinger asked. “Are you constantly going through to check to see what’s
 working and what isn’t, and what you should delete?”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652797140856.png" alt="Jane Lickteig, a recruitment specialist for Wichita State University, presents an overview of WSU to prospective students. Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Jane Lickteig, a recruitment specialist for Wichita State University, presents an overview of WSU to prospective students. Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>That line of questioning, paired with RPK’s system-wide analysis due 
out this summer, has university officials nervous about what could 
happen next.When RPK conducted a similar review in Vermont, it led to the <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/board-votes-to-unite-3-merging-vermont-colleges-under-the-name-vermont-stat/607498/" target="_blank">consolidation of several state colleges</a>.At KU, officials are considering <a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/ku/2022/feb/15/ku-faculty-expressing-concern-about-possible-cutting-of-degrees-board-of-regents-to-consider-statewide-review-of-degrees/" target="_blank">cutting dozens of programs and degrees</a>,
 including some humanities degrees, art education, and peace and 
conflict studies. Chancellor Doug Girod said it could happen without 
faculty reductions. Savings would come from ditching low-enrollment 
classes for higher-demand ones that make more money for the university, 
he said.At Fort Hays State, officials recently proposed <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3998b4da-514c-41d4-8ae5-33aa6416fe49" target="_blank">consolidating 11 liberal arts departments</a>
 into five schools. The plan — which was put on pause after an outcry 
from students and faculty — would eliminate five department chairs and 
several administrative assistants. University officials said they’d try 
to reassign workers if possible.“We have to look at the expense 
side of the equation,” said Staisloff, the RPK founder. “Why does it 
cost what it costs to offer quality higher education, and what are the 
levers under our control that could reduce that cost?”The 
COVID-19 pandemic caused a steep drop in enrollment. Most of those 
students haven’t returned. Over the past five years, enrollment at the 
six major Kansas universities fell by more than 8%. Community colleges 
and technical schools were even worse, dropping 17%. Economists predict 
the population of college students nationwide will drop another 15% over
 the next eight years.And the higher education <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-08-09/covid-19-challenged-the-business-model-at-kansas-universities-and-revealed-a-tectonic-shift" target="_blank">business model that leaned heavily on students living on campus was broken</a> even before the pandemic.“Why go back to a model that wasn’t really getting the job done?” Staisloff said.Consultants
 have already hinted that the state’s university system is unwieldy and 
not meeting workforce needs. About two-thirds of Kansas college students
 are enrolled in just a handful of degree programs – fields like 
business, engineering and health. For lower-demand degrees like 
philosophy, music or liberal arts, Staisloff says some schools might 
consider offering courses in those areas even as they ditch full degree 
programs.“We can ensure that students are becoming the 
well-rounded human beings we want to create,” he said, “but we can do it
 in a way that is much more efficient.”It might make sense to 
have major programs centered at a few universities and to cut back or 
consolidate elsewhere, but that could devastate communities like 
Emporia, Pittsburg and Hays, where colleges are major factors in the 
local economy and way of life.Tisa Mason, president of Fort Hays 
State University, told lawmakers recently that the school’s interaction 
with the community is “tight for a lot of reasons.”Local high 
schools play football at the university’s stadium. Residents depend on 
the school’s theater, orchestra and other fine arts programs for their 
cultural value. Technology students from Fort Hays even <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/news/2018/04/collaboration-key-in-latest-project-of-fhsu-applied-technology-students" target="_blank">helped design and build a downtown pavilion</a> and parking garage.“There are so many ways that we are interacting every single day in that community,” Mason said. “Our presence matters.”A
 large portion of a university’s enrollment — particularly in rural 
areas — comes from nearby communities. Research shows that more than 40%
 of first-year college students opt for schools that are less than 50 
miles away from home.Regent Wint Winter said the board should be 
tuned into student needs and each university’s mission as well as the 
bottom line. But he voted in favor of the RPK study because enrollment 
figures are bad and getting worse.“Advocates of higher education 
need to be mindful of … these trends and (ask) ourselves: Are they 
permanent? Are they transitory?” he said. “If they’re not, what can we 
do to turn that around?”Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

State board could put Kansas college majors on chopping block

WASHINGTON (AP) — Signs of Republican resistance are mounting over a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-europe-0ac5c758d32dbea64c437b50e829bbb2">$40 billion aid package to Ukraine</a>, a reemergence of the Trump-led isolationist wing of the GOP that’s coming at a crucial moment as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war against the Russian invasion&nbsp;</a>deepens.

The Senate voted late Monday to advance the Ukraine aid bill 81-11, pushing it toward President Joe Biden’s desk by week’s end to become law. But more vocal objections from Republicans in Congress are sending warning signs after what has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-europe-nancy-pelosi-impeachments-dbef6b1eadb5ee1794d56878d1046ed9">rare and united support for Ukraine&nbsp;</a>as it desperately battles hostile Russia. All 11 no votes came from Republican senators including Kansas Senator Roger Marshall and Missouri Senator Josh Hawley. Kansas Senator Jerry Moran voted in favor of the measure along with Missouri Senator Roy Blunt.

It comes as Senate Republican leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-mitch-mcconnell-finland-john-cornyn-susan-collins-2e21fbc47f45788ad3448b27364bde84">Mitch McConnell led a delegation of GOP senators to visit&nbsp;</a>the region over the weekend in a show of support, vowing to push past detractors, finish up the aid package and vote this summer on expanding NATO to welcome Sweden and Finland. The leader finds himself holding down the GOP’s more traditional foreign policy approach, in direct confrontation with the GOP’s “America First” flank, including Donald Trump, the former president.

“There’s always been isolationist voices in the Republican Party,” McConnell told reporters on a conference call over the weekend from Stockholm. “It won’t create a problem, we’ll get the job done.

The shift in Congress opens a new political phase in Ukraine’s fight for its survival against the Russian invasion, offering a wake-up call for the Biden administration about its strategy as it resists direct U.S. military troop involvement and depends on votes in the House and Senate to fund the military and humanitarian relief effort.

While a strong bipartisan majority is poised to approve the latest round of Ukraine aid, bringing the U.S. total to $53 billion since the start of Russia’s invasion, it’s clear that Republicans, and some Democrats, are wary of a prolonged intervention and demanding a more fulsome accounting of the U.S. role overseas. While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-europe-0ac5c758d32dbea64c437b50e829bbb2">the House overwhelmingly approved the $40 billion package&nbsp;</a>last week, 57 Republicans voted against it.

The most vocal lawmakers are insisting Congress will not become a blank check for overseas action amid domestic needs as they move away from the U.S.’s longstanding role of championing democracy abroad.

“We have got to take care of things here at home first,” said Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, the former Trump administration’s ambassador to Japan, on Fox’s “Sunday Morning Futures.”

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri tweeted of his no vote: “That’s not isolationism. That’s nationalism.”

It’s stronger pushback than just a few months ago, at the start of war in February, when Congress made a rare show of bipartisan unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion and rushed to Ukraine’s aid.

And it comes as the midterm election season is underway in the U.S., with Trump’s influence looming large, particularly with Republican lawmakers desperate for his campaign endorsements and support and afraid to go against him.

“We have a moral obligation to pass this aid as soon as we can,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday ahead of the procedural vote.

Trump weighed in, breaking the civic norm in the U.S. that former presidents traditionally step aside to allow one president at a time to lead, particularly on foreign policy.

The former president, whose “America First” strategy sought to pull back from U.S. commitments around the world and criticized the NATO military alliance confronting Russia, complained that Democrats are “sending another $40 billion to Ukraine, yet America’s parents are struggling to even feed their children.”

Trump had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-politics-election-2020-d78192d45b176f73ad435ae9fb926ed3">impeached by the House in 2019&nbsp;</a>after he withheld military aid to Ukraine and pressured President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a favor digging up dirt on Biden ahead of the U.S. presidential election, though he was later acquitted by the Senate.

On the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-jd-vance-vladimir-putin-russia-58ad695dd865df38b390d6e830bf38a1">campaign trail in Ohio</a>, the U.S. Senate candidates, Democrat Tim Ryan and Trump-backed Republican JD Vance, have been brawling over the Ukraine assistance.

Vance, who quipped some months ago that he doesn’t really care what happens in Ukraine, tweeted last week that Ryan “is pushing billions in foreign aid while the communities he serves in Congress have been decimated.”

Ryan’s team released an ad suggesting Vance as a venture capitalist had profited off a social media platform that is used to spread Russian propaganda.

The Senate was set to begin voting Monday evening on the $40 billion package, pushing past a Republican filibuster to advance the bill toward approval by Thursday.

The first round of Ukraine aid,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-covid-health-business-fa702b0f9efa4805b622739d302bc4cf">$13.9 billion</a>, was swiftly approved by Congress in March as part of a broader bill to fund the government. It came just before Zelenskyy delivered an address at a joint meeting of Congress to several standing ovations.

“Tonight, we are all Ukrainians,” said Democratic Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts during the floor debate on the bill’s passage.

But as months drag on, the lawmakers, particularly Republicans, are more assertive in their resistance, posing questions for the U.S. strategy ahead.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky single-handedly blocked a vote on the latest package last week as he demanded an inspector general’s report on how the money is being spent.

The libertarian-leaning Paul routinely blocks spending bills with a filibuster, but he is also a non-interventionist when it comes to foreign policy who had great sway during the Trump era, encouraging the then-president’s instincts against engaging in overseas actions.

“While I sympathize with the people of Ukraine, and commend their fight against Putin, we cannot continue to spend money we don’t have,” Paul said in a series of tweets about his blockade.

“It’s frankly a slap in the face to millions of taxpayers who are struggling to buy gas, groceries, and find baby formula.”

Outside groups influential with Republicans, including Heritage Action, have raised questions about the Ukraine spending. Fox News host Tucker Carlson said on his show last week he was calling every senators’ office to see where they stood on the issue, putting pressure on the lawmakers.

McConnell a longtime advocate of the U.S. commitment to the NATO western military alliance and its broader role overseas, was the highest-ranking Republican to meet with Zelenskyy over the weekend in Kyiv.

McConnell said the Ukrainian president and people have been an inspiration as they fight the Russian invasion, and vowed the U.S.’s continued support and swift approval of Sweden and Finland’s requests to join NATO before August.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652792332905.png" alt="Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell led a delegation of GOP Senators to visit the region over the weekend -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell led a delegation of GOP Senators to visit the region over the weekend -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Signs of Republican resistance are mounting over a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-europe-0ac5c758d32dbea64c437b50e829bbb2">$40 billion aid package to Ukraine</a>, a reemergence of the Trump-led isolationist wing of the GOP that’s coming at a crucial moment as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war against the Russian invasion&nbsp;</a>deepens.The Senate voted late Monday to advance the Ukraine aid bill 81-11, pushing it toward President Joe Biden’s desk by week’s end to become law. But more vocal objections from Republicans in Congress are sending warning signs after what has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-europe-nancy-pelosi-impeachments-dbef6b1eadb5ee1794d56878d1046ed9">rare and united support for Ukraine&nbsp;</a>as it desperately battles hostile Russia. All 11 no votes came from Republican senators including Kansas Senator Roger Marshall and Missouri Senator Josh Hawley. Kansas Senator Jerry Moran voted in favor of the measure along with Missouri Senator Roy Blunt.It comes as Senate Republican leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-mitch-mcconnell-finland-john-cornyn-susan-collins-2e21fbc47f45788ad3448b27364bde84">Mitch McConnell led a delegation of GOP senators to visit&nbsp;</a>the region over the weekend in a show of support, vowing to push past detractors, finish up the aid package and vote this summer on expanding NATO to welcome Sweden and Finland. The leader finds himself holding down the GOP’s more traditional foreign policy approach, in direct confrontation with the GOP’s “America First” flank, including Donald Trump, the former president.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Spending $40 billion on Ukraine aid - more than three times what all of Europe has spent combined - is not in America’s interests. It neglects priorities at home (the border), allows Europe to freeload, short changes critical interests abroad and comes w/ no meaningful oversight&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1526323883980242949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“There’s always been isolationist voices in the Republican Party,” McConnell told reporters on a conference call over the weekend from Stockholm. “It won’t create a problem, we’ll get the job done.The shift in Congress opens a new political phase in Ukraine’s fight for its survival against the Russian invasion, offering a wake-up call for the Biden administration about its strategy as it resists direct U.S. military troop involvement and depends on votes in the House and Senate to fund the military and humanitarian relief effort.While a strong bipartisan majority is poised to approve the latest round of Ukraine aid, bringing the U.S. total to $53 billion since the start of Russia’s invasion, it’s clear that Republicans, and some Democrats, are wary of a prolonged intervention and demanding a more fulsome accounting of the U.S. role overseas. While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-europe-0ac5c758d32dbea64c437b50e829bbb2">the House overwhelmingly approved the $40 billion package&nbsp;</a>last week, 57 Republicans voted against it.The most vocal lawmakers are insisting Congress will not become a blank check for overseas action amid domestic needs as they move away from the U.S.’s longstanding role of championing democracy abroad.“We have got to take care of things here at home first,” said Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, the former Trump administration’s ambassador to Japan, on Fox’s “Sunday Morning Futures.”Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri tweeted of his no vote: “That’s not isolationism. That’s nationalism.”It’s stronger pushback than just a few months ago, at the start of war in February, when Congress made a rare show of bipartisan unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion and rushed to Ukraine’s aid.And it comes as the midterm election season is underway in the U.S., with Trump’s influence looming large, particularly with Republican lawmakers desperate for his campaign endorsements and support and afraid to go against him.“We have a moral obligation to pass this aid as soon as we can,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday ahead of the procedural vote.Trump weighed in, breaking the civic norm in the U.S. that former presidents traditionally step aside to allow one president at a time to lead, particularly on foreign policy.The former president, whose “America First” strategy sought to pull back from U.S. commitments around the world and criticized the NATO military alliance confronting Russia, complained that Democrats are “sending another $40 billion to Ukraine, yet America’s parents are struggling to even feed their children.”Trump had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-politics-election-2020-d78192d45b176f73ad435ae9fb926ed3">impeached by the House in 2019&nbsp;</a>after he withheld military aid to Ukraine and pressured President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a favor digging up dirt on Biden ahead of the U.S. presidential election, though he was later acquitted by the Senate.On the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-jd-vance-vladimir-putin-russia-58ad695dd865df38b390d6e830bf38a1">campaign trail in Ohio</a>, the U.S. Senate candidates, Democrat Tim Ryan and Trump-backed Republican JD Vance, have been brawling over the Ukraine assistance.Vance, who quipped some months ago that he doesn’t really care what happens in Ukraine, tweeted last week that Ryan “is pushing billions in foreign aid while the communities he serves in Congress have been decimated.”Ryan’s team released an ad suggesting Vance as a venture capitalist had profited off a social media platform that is used to spread Russian propaganda.The Senate was set to begin voting Monday evening on the $40 billion package, pushing past a Republican filibuster to advance the bill toward approval by Thursday.The first round of Ukraine aid,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-covid-health-business-fa702b0f9efa4805b622739d302bc4cf">$13.9 billion</a>, was swiftly approved by Congress in March as part of a broader bill to fund the government. It came just before Zelenskyy delivered an address at a joint meeting of Congress to several standing ovations.“Tonight, we are all Ukrainians,” said Democratic Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts during the floor debate on the bill’s passage.But as months drag on, the lawmakers, particularly Republicans, are more assertive in their resistance, posing questions for the U.S. strategy ahead.Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky single-handedly blocked a vote on the latest package last week as he demanded an inspector general’s report on how the money is being spent.The libertarian-leaning Paul routinely blocks spending bills with a filibuster, but he is also a non-interventionist when it comes to foreign policy who had great sway during the Trump era, encouraging the then-president’s instincts against engaging in overseas actions.“While I sympathize with the people of Ukraine, and commend their fight against Putin, we cannot continue to spend money we don’t have,” Paul said in a series of tweets about his blockade.“It’s frankly a slap in the face to millions of taxpayers who are struggling to buy gas, groceries, and find baby formula.”Outside groups influential with Republicans, including Heritage Action, have raised questions about the Ukraine spending. Fox News host Tucker Carlson said on his show last week he was calling every senators’ office to see where they stood on the issue, putting pressure on the lawmakers.McConnell a longtime advocate of the U.S. commitment to the NATO western military alliance and its broader role overseas, was the highest-ranking Republican to meet with Zelenskyy over the weekend in Kyiv.McConnell said the Ukrainian president and people have been an inspiration as they fight the Russian invasion, and vowed the U.S.’s continued support and swift approval of Sweden and Finland’s requests to join NATO before August.

Kan. Senators split on approval of $40B aid package for Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. regulators on Tuesday authorized a COVID-19 booster shot for healthy 5- to 11-year-olds, hoping an extra vaccine dose will enhance their protection as infections once again creep upward.

Everyone 12 and older already was supposed to get one booster dose for the best protection against the newest coronavirus variants -- and some people, including those 50 and older, can choose a second booster.

The Food and Drug Administration’s authorization now opens a third shot to elementary-age kids, too — at least five months after their last dose.

There is one more hurdle: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must decide whether to formally recommend the booster for this age group. The CDC’s scientific advisers are scheduled to meet on Thursday.

Pfizer’s shot is the only COVID-19 vaccine available for children of any age in the U.S. Those ages 5 to 11 receive one-third of the dose given to everyone 12 and older.

Whether elementary-age children need a booster has been overshadowed by parents’ outcry to vaccinate even younger tots, those under 5 -- the only group not yet eligible in the U.S. Both Pfizer and rival Moderna have been studying their shots in the youngest children, and the FDA is expected to evaluate data from one or both companies sometime next month.

For the 5- to 11-year-olds, it’s not clear how much demand there will be for boosters. Only about 30% of that age group have had the initial two Pfizer doses since vaccinations opened to them in November.

But in a small study, Pfizer found a booster revved up those kids’ levels of virus-fighting antibodies -- including those able to fight omicron -- the same kind of jump adults get from an extra shot.

While the coronavirus is more dangerous to adults than to children, youngsters can get severely ill -- and more than 350 children ages 5 to 11 have died, according to CDC’s count.

Adding to public confusion, the CDC estimates 3 out of every 4 U.S. children of all ages have been infected with the coronavirus since the pandemic’s start -- many of them during the winter omicron wave. Still, health authorities urge vaccination even in people who’ve previously had COVID-19, to strengthen their protection.

Vaccination may not always prevent milder infections, especially as omicron and its siblings are better than some prior variants at slipping past those defenses. But health authorities agree the vaccinations continue to offer strong protection against the worst outcomes of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635537216378.png" alt="Children's vaccine photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>Children's vaccine photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. regulators on Tuesday authorized a COVID-19 booster shot for healthy 5- to 11-year-olds, hoping an extra vaccine dose will enhance their protection as infections once again creep upward.Everyone 12 and older already was supposed to get one booster dose for the best protection against the newest coronavirus variants -- and some people, including those 50 and older, can choose a second booster.The Food and Drug Administration’s authorization now opens a third shot to elementary-age kids, too — at least five months after their last dose.There is one more hurdle: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must decide whether to formally recommend the booster for this age group. The CDC’s scientific advisers are scheduled to meet on Thursday.Pfizer’s shot is the only COVID-19 vaccine available for children of any age in the U.S. Those ages 5 to 11 receive one-third of the dose given to everyone 12 and older.Whether elementary-age children need a booster has been overshadowed by parents’ outcry to vaccinate even younger tots, those under 5 -- the only group not yet eligible in the U.S. Both Pfizer and rival Moderna have been studying their shots in the youngest children, and the FDA is expected to evaluate data from one or both companies sometime next month.For the 5- to 11-year-olds, it’s not clear how much demand there will be for boosters. Only about 30% of that age group have had the initial two Pfizer doses since vaccinations opened to them in November.But in a small study, Pfizer found a booster revved up those kids’ levels of virus-fighting antibodies -- including those able to fight omicron -- the same kind of jump adults get from an extra shot.While the coronavirus is more dangerous to adults than to children, youngsters can get severely ill -- and more than 350 children ages 5 to 11 have died, according to CDC’s count.Adding to public confusion, the CDC estimates 3 out of every 4 U.S. children of all ages have been infected with the coronavirus since the pandemic’s start -- many of them during the winter omicron wave. Still, health authorities urge vaccination even in people who’ve previously had COVID-19, to strengthen their protection.Vaccination may not always prevent milder infections, especially as omicron and its siblings are better than some prior variants at slipping past those defenses. But health authorities agree the vaccinations continue to offer strong protection against the worst outcomes of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.___

FDA: Kids ages 5 to 11 can now get a COVID-19 booster

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under fire from parents and politicians, President Joe Biden’s administration announced steps Monday to ease a nationwide shortage of baby formula, including reopening the largest domestic manufacturing plant and increasing imports from overseas.

The Food and Drug Administration said it was streamlining its review process to make it easier for foreign manufacturers to begin shipping more formula into the U.S.

“The FDA expects that the measures and steps it’s taking with infant formula manufacturers and others will mean more and more supply is on the way or on store shelves moving forward,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf told reporters.

Califf said the U.S. will prioritize companies that can provide the largest shipments and quickly show documentation that their formulas are safe and compatible with U.S. nutrition standards. The policy is structured as a temporary measure lasting six months.

The imports announcement came shortly after regulators said they’d reached a deal to allow Abbott Nutrition to restart its Sturgis, Michigan-based plant, which has been closed since February due to contamination issues. The company must overhaul its safety protocols and procedures before resuming production.

Neither step will have an immediate effect on tight supplies that have left many parents searching for formula online or in food banks.

After getting the FDA’s OK, Abbott said it will take eight to ten weeks before new products begin arriving in stores. The company didn’t set a timeline to restart manufacturing.

Getting imports into the U.S. supply chain will also take several weeks, according to administration officials. Products from Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. are expected to meet the standards needed for importation.

But regulators said national industry data shows most U.S. stores, on average, still have 80% of their formula inventory in stock. They suggested some of the empty shelves seen in recent days may be due to panic buying by parents.

Monday’s announcement was previewed last week by the White House, which has been leaning on the FDA and formula makers to quickly find ways to alleviate the shortage. Outrage over the issue has quickly snowballed and handed Republicans a fresh talking point to use against President Biden ahead of November elections.

The shortage stems from a February recall by Abbott that exacerbated ongoing supply chain disruptions among formula makers, leaving fewer options on stores shelves across much of the country. The shortage has led retailers like CVS and Walgreens to limit how many containers customers can purchase per visit.

Abbott’s voluntary recall was triggered by four illnesses reported in babies who had consumed powdered formula from its plant. All four infants were hospitalized with a rare type of bacterial infection and two died.

After a six-week inspection, FDA investigators published a list of problems in March, including lax safety and sanitary standards and a history of bacterial contamination in several parts of the plant. Under Monday’s agreement, Abbott must regularly consult with an outside safety expert to restart and maintain production.

Chicago-based Abbott has emphasized that its products have not been directly linked to the bacterial infections in children. Samples of the bacteria found at its plant did not match the strains collected from two babies by federal investigators.

But FDA officials pushed back on that reasoning Monday on a call with reporters— their first time publicly addressing the company’s argument. FDA staffers noted they were unable to collect bacterial strains from two of the four patients, limiting their chances of finding a match

“Right from the get-go we were limited in our ability to determine with a causal link whether the product was linked to these four cases because we only had sequences on two,” FDA’s food director Susan Mayne said.

Fixing the violations uncovered at Abbott’s plant takes time, according to former FDA officials. Companies need to exhaustively clean the facility and equipment, retrain staff, repeatedly test and document there is no contamination.

As part of the FDA’s new import policy, regulators said companies would need to provide documentation of their factory’s inspections.

Pediatricians say baby formulas produced in Canada and Europe are roughly equivalent to those in the U.S. But traditionally, 98% of the infant formula supply in the U.S. is made domestically. Companies seeking to enter the U.S. face several major hurdles, including rigorous research and manufacturing standards imposed by the FDA.

San Diego father Steven Hyde has faced heart-wrenching challenges finding formula for his medical fragile daughter, who was on an Abbott formula but has had to switch with the recall and subsequent shortages in other brands.

Zoie Hyde was born 19 months ago with no kidneys, a rare life-threatening condition that requires dialysis and a feeding tube until she weighs enough for a kidney transplant.

Hyde said he used an organic brand from overseas until costs and customs hurdles made that too difficult. Friends and strangers from out of state have sent him other brands, but each time she switches requires more blood tests and monitoring, Davis said.

Despite her challenges, Zoie is walking, talking and “doing pretty good” on other developmental milestones, Davis said.

“She’s a shining light in my life,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652716180802.png" alt="President Biden spoke with retailers and manufacturers last week to discuss ways to do more to help families access infant formula.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden spoke with retailers and manufacturers last week to discuss ways to do more to help families access infant formula.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Under fire from parents and politicians, President Joe Biden’s administration announced steps Monday to ease a nationwide shortage of baby formula, including reopening the largest domestic manufacturing plant and increasing imports from overseas.The Food and Drug Administration said it was streamlining its review process to make it easier for foreign manufacturers to begin shipping more formula into the U.S.“The FDA expects that the measures and steps it’s taking with infant formula manufacturers and others will mean more and more supply is on the way or on store shelves moving forward,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf told reporters.Califf said the U.S. will prioritize companies that can provide the largest shipments and quickly show documentation that their formulas are safe and compatible with U.S. nutrition standards. The policy is structured as a temporary measure lasting six months.The imports announcement came shortly after regulators said they’d reached a deal to allow Abbott Nutrition to restart its Sturgis, Michigan-based plant, which has been closed since February due to contamination issues. The company must overhaul its safety protocols and procedures before resuming production.Neither step will have an immediate effect on tight supplies that have left many parents searching for formula online or in food banks.After getting the FDA’s OK, Abbott said it will take eight to ten weeks before new products begin arriving in stores. The company didn’t set a timeline to restart manufacturing.Getting imports into the U.S. supply chain will also take several weeks, according to administration officials. Products from Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. are expected to meet the standards needed for importation.But regulators said national industry data shows most U.S. stores, on average, still have 80% of their formula inventory in stock. They suggested some of the empty shelves seen in recent days may be due to panic buying by parents.Monday’s announcement was previewed last week by the White House, which has been leaning on the FDA and formula makers to quickly find ways to alleviate the shortage. Outrage over the issue has quickly snowballed and handed Republicans a fresh talking point to use against President Biden ahead of November elections.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648164055231.png" alt="The shortage stems from a February recall by Abbott-FDA photo" />
 <figcaption>The shortage stems from a February recall by Abbott-FDA photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The shortage stems from a February recall by Abbott that exacerbated ongoing supply chain disruptions among formula makers, leaving fewer options on stores shelves across much of the country. The shortage has led retailers like CVS and Walgreens to limit how many containers customers can purchase per visit.Abbott’s voluntary recall was triggered by four illnesses reported in babies who had consumed powdered formula from its plant. All four infants were hospitalized with a rare type of bacterial infection and two died.After a six-week inspection, FDA investigators published a list of problems in March, including lax safety and sanitary standards and a history of bacterial contamination in several parts of the plant. Under Monday’s agreement, Abbott must regularly consult with an outside safety expert to restart and maintain production.Chicago-based Abbott has emphasized that its products have not been directly linked to the bacterial infections in children. Samples of the bacteria found at its plant did not match the strains collected from two babies by federal investigators.But FDA officials pushed back on that reasoning Monday on a call with reporters— their first time publicly addressing the company’s argument. FDA staffers noted they were unable to collect bacterial strains from two of the four patients, limiting their chances of finding a match“Right from the get-go we were limited in our ability to determine with a causal link whether the product was linked to these four cases because we only had sequences on two,” FDA’s food director Susan Mayne said.Fixing the violations uncovered at Abbott’s plant takes time, according to former FDA officials. Companies need to exhaustively clean the facility and equipment, retrain staff, repeatedly test and document there is no contamination.As part of the FDA’s new import policy, regulators said companies would need to provide documentation of their factory’s inspections.Pediatricians say baby formulas produced in Canada and Europe are roughly equivalent to those in the U.S. But traditionally, 98% of the infant formula supply in the U.S. is made domestically. Companies seeking to enter the U.S. face several major hurdles, including rigorous research and manufacturing standards imposed by the FDA.San Diego father Steven Hyde has faced heart-wrenching challenges finding formula for his medical fragile daughter, who was on an Abbott formula but has had to switch with the recall and subsequent shortages in other brands.Zoie Hyde was born 19 months ago with no kidneys, a rare life-threatening condition that requires dialysis and a feeding tube until she weighs enough for a kidney transplant.Hyde said he used an organic brand from overseas until costs and customs hurdles made that too difficult. Friends and strangers from out of state have sent him other brands, but each time she switches requires more blood tests and monitoring, Davis said.Despite her challenges, Zoie is walking, talking and “doing pretty good” on other developmental milestones, Davis said.“She’s a shining light in my life,” he said.

US allows more baby formula imports to fight shortage

By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>

GREAT BEND — The cost of the new police station in Great Bend has gone up more than
$1 million in the span of just over three months. The Great Bend City Council
voted 6-2 Monday to move forward with the inflation expenses for a facility now
projected to cost more than $9.1 million. 
In early February, the city council approved a conceptual design and budget
estimate for the new police station to be built at the southwest corner of the
12th Street and Baker Avenue intersection. At that time, the cost was more than
$383,000 above budget at $8,083,387. 
Due to rising costs of materials, construction and architect officials told the
city council the estimated price has increased again. Paul Michell, Managing
Vice President with GLMV Architecture, presented options to reduce 3,400 square
feet of the facility. 
"Reducing the quality of things like carpet, paint, ceilings and the 
outside of the building moves the needle on the cost, but not to the 
degree of square footage on the project. That's where you're really 
going to save dollars." 
The proposed 20,100 square-foot police station includes a new municipal courtroom.
Michell presented a plan to eliminate the court room from the design, saving
the city $1.2 million. This would force the courtroom to remain in its current
location, attached to the police station on Williams Street. The council voted
in favor of keeping the new courtroom as part of the construction. 
"We as designers, feel there is a lot of synergy to keeping the police 
and court together," said Michell. "In the event that there's an 
incident at the court, the police station is right there for an easy 
response." 
Citizens voted in favor of a .10% sales tax increase last November to go
towards bond debt for the police station. The city anticipates more than $5.6
million from the bond proceeds over the 20-year sunset. The city will find
savings to make up the difference.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Very early estimates from 
last September projected a cost of $5.8 million for the project. The new
 $9,114,833 figure includes a 2% contingency cost of $178,722.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652798386526.png" alt="The new project cost for the Great Bend police station construction is $9,114,833. The price was just over $8 million in early February." />
 <figcaption>The new project cost for the Great Bend police station construction is $9,114,833. The price was just over $8 million in early February.</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — The cost of the new police station in Great Bend has gone up more than
$1 million in the span of just over three months. The Great Bend City Council
voted 6-2 Monday to move forward with the inflation expenses for a facility now
projected to cost more than $9.1 million. 
In early February, the city council approved a conceptual design and budget
estimate for the new police station to be built at the southwest corner of the
12th Street and Baker Avenue intersection. At that time, the cost was more than
$383,000 above budget at $8,083,387. 
Due to rising costs of materials, construction and architect officials told the
city council the estimated price has increased again. Paul Michell, Managing
Vice President with GLMV Architecture, presented options to reduce 3,400 square
feet of the facility. 
"Reducing the quality of things like carpet, paint, ceilings and the 
outside of the building moves the needle on the cost, but not to the 
degree of square footage on the project. That's where you're really 
going to save dollars." 
The proposed 20,100 square-foot police station includes a new municipal courtroom.
Michell presented a plan to eliminate the court room from the design, saving
the city $1.2 million. This would force the courtroom to remain in its current
location, attached to the police station on Williams Street. The council voted
in favor of keeping the new courtroom as part of the construction. 
"We as designers, feel there is a lot of synergy to keeping the police 
and court together," said Michell. "In the event that there's an 
incident at the court, the police station is right there for an easy 
response." 
Citizens voted in favor of a .10% sales tax increase last November to go
towards bond debt for the police station. The city anticipates more than $5.6
million from the bond proceeds over the 20-year sunset. The city will find
savings to make up the difference.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Very early estimates from 
last September projected a cost of $5.8 million for the project. The new
 $9,114,833 figure includes a 2% contingency cost of $178,722.

Cost of new Great Bend police station increases by $1 million 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit and run have identified the victim as 53-year-old Sam Rice of Topeka.

Just before 3:30 a.m., Sunday, police responded to a report of a motorcycle vs passenger vehicle accident at SE 6th Street and SE Chandler Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

Officers arrived on scene and found Sam Rice in the roadway.&nbsp; First responders pronounced him deceased at the scene.

Following an investigation by the Topeka Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team, police arrested 23-year-old&nbsp;Geovany Arellano of Topeka, on requested charges of&nbsp;Murder in the 1st Degree, Aggravated Assault and&nbsp;Reckless Driving, according to Monasmith.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652662672522.png" alt="Police arrested 23-year-old Geovany Arellano for his role in the crash -photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Police arrested 23-year-old Geovany Arellano for his role in the crash -photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit and run have identified the victim as 53-year-old Sam Rice of Topeka.Just before 3:30 a.m., Sunday, police responded to a report of a motorcycle vs passenger vehicle accident at SE 6th Street and SE Chandler Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith.Officers arrived on scene and found Sam Rice in the roadway.&nbsp; First responders pronounced him deceased at the scene.Following an investigation by the Topeka Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team, police arrested 23-year-old&nbsp;Geovany Arellano of Topeka, on requested charges of&nbsp;Murder in the 1st Degree, Aggravated Assault and&nbsp;Reckless Driving, according to Monasmith.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name.

Police: 53-year-old Kan. man died in hit-and-run crash

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday she has signed House Bill 2567, which fully funds K-12 education for the fourth consecutive year and guarantees funding through the 2024 fiscal year, according to a statement from her office.

 Signing HB 2567 makes Governor Kelly the first governor in more than 20 years to fulfill Kansas students’ constitutional right to school funding.

"I am pleased to be able to uphold my commitment to fully fund our public schools,"&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;"Providing schools with the funding and resources they need will create lifelong learners, which are the foundation of our state’s strong workforce and future economic growth.”

In addition to fully funding education in Kansas, HB 2567 enacts the Governor's Budget Recommendations for the Department of Education and the Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund. These funds represent historic investments in early childhood and K-12 education.&nbsp;

HB 2567 makes the necessary adjustments to enable school districts with many military students to keep federal funding. It also improves how students at Kansas community and technical colleges receive financial aid.

While HB 2567 provides historic constitutional levels of funding, it does not include the additional $30 million in funding to increase the special education services Governor Kelly recommended in April.

"Republicans and Democrats agree funds for special education are vital for our schools to provide quality instruction to special education students. I call on the legislature to swiftly appropriate these funds when they return on May 23rd,"&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;

Governor Kelly also called on the legislature to further review a provision requiring school districts to set policies allowing enrollment of out-of-district students.

“Before taking effect during the 2024-2025 school year, the Legislature must work with educators and administrators to make the necessary modifications to ensure that elected school board members maintain local control,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652792305085.png" alt="On Monday, Governor Laura Kelly filed for reelection-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>On Monday, Governor Laura Kelly filed for reelection-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday she has signed House Bill 2567, which fully funds K-12 education for the fourth consecutive year and guarantees funding through the 2024 fiscal year, according to a statement from her office. Signing HB 2567 makes Governor Kelly the first governor in more than 20 years to fulfill Kansas students’ constitutional right to school funding."I am pleased to be able to uphold my commitment to fully fund our public schools,"&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;"Providing schools with the funding and resources they need will create lifelong learners, which are the foundation of our state’s strong workforce and future economic growth.”In addition to fully funding education in Kansas, HB 2567 enacts the Governor's Budget Recommendations for the Department of Education and the Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund. These funds represent historic investments in early childhood and K-12 education.&nbsp;HB 2567 includes:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>$520.4 million for Special Education Services Aid&nbsp;</li><li>$199.6 million to eliminate the Delayed School Payment</li><li>$20.7 million in Children's Initiative Fund grants&nbsp;</li><li>$10.5 million for Mental Health Intervention Teams, which help eliminate barriers for students in need of care</li><li>$8.4 million for the Parents as Teacher program&nbsp;</li><li>$5 million for school safety and security grants</li><li>$4.1 million for the Pre-K Pilot Program&nbsp;</li><li>$4 million for a virtual math program</li><li>$1.8 million for teacher professional development aid</li><li>$1.5 million for student transportation to career and technical education opportunities&nbsp;</li><li>$1.4 million for Early Childhood Infrastructure&nbsp;</li><li>$1.3 million for the Mentor Teacher Program&nbsp;</li><li>$1 million for Computer Science Education Advancement Grants&nbsp;</li><li>$500,000 for the statewide expansion of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library</li><li>$40,000 for a new career and technical education credentialing pilot program&nbsp;</li><li>Full funding for all-day Kindergarten&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>HB 2567 makes the necessary adjustments to enable school districts with many military students to keep federal funding. It also improves how students at Kansas community and technical colleges receive financial aid.While HB 2567 provides historic constitutional levels of funding, it does not include the additional $30 million in funding to increase the special education services Governor Kelly recommended in April."Republicans and Democrats agree funds for special education are vital for our schools to provide quality instruction to special education students. I call on the legislature to swiftly appropriate these funds when they return on May 23rd,"&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;Governor Kelly also called on the legislature to further review a provision requiring school districts to set policies allowing enrollment of out-of-district students.“Before taking effect during the 2024-2025 school year, the Legislature must work with educators and administrators to make the necessary modifications to ensure that elected school board members maintain local control,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.

Governor fully funds Kan. K-12 education 4th consecutive year

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder in Lawrence.Just before 7:30p.m. Monday, police responded to a north-central Lawrence home, according to police spokesperson&nbsp;Kim L. Murphree.Officers encountered a 26-year-old suspect and a woman with critical injuries. First responders pronounced her deceased at the scene. Police arrested the man on suspicion of murder, according to Murphree.The man and victim were known to each other.&nbsp; Police have not released names of the suspect or victim.

Police arrest 26-year-old man for murder of woman at Kan. home

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Two people have died and two others were injured in two separate accident just after 2a.m. Saturday in Wichita. Police identified the motorcyclist who died as&nbsp;&nbsp;38-year-old Justin Cunningham of Andover, according to Officer Trevor Macy. The Good Samaritan who observed the initial accident and attempted to help the occupants before she was struck by the motorcycle also died on Monday, according to Macy.

The initial 911 call reported a single vehicle had rolled over in the eastbound lanes in the 6600 Block of Kellogg near Armour with two people inside, according to Macy.

As officers arrived on scene, they learned that a second accident involving a motorcycle had occurred just after the first crash.

Officers located the motorcycle driver Justin Cunningham deceased at the scene. They also&nbsp;found three additional people with critical injuries who were all transported to area hospitals. Another person was located uninjured.

Through the investigation, officers learned that a silver SUV was eastbound on Kellogg with two occupants – a 48-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man– when the&nbsp;driver lost control of the vehicle and struck the median, causing the SUV to roll.

An uninvolved person, a woman, witnessed the turned-over SUV and began rendering aid to the occupants.

As she was rendering aid, a motorcycle with two occupants traveled eastbound on Kellogg. The motorcycle struck the 19-year-old Good Samaritan then hit the SUV.

Cunningham, who was driving the motorcycle, was pronounced deceased on scene. EMS&nbsp; transported the female SUV driver, a female motorcycle passenger and the 19-year-old woman struck by the motorcycle to area hospitals for treatment of serious injuries, according to Macy. The Good Samaritan died on Monday. Police have not released her name.

The passenger of the SUV was uninjured.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652552821114.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the crash early Saturday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the crash early Saturday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Two people have died and two others were injured in two separate accident just after 2a.m. Saturday in Wichita. Police identified the motorcyclist who died as&nbsp;&nbsp;38-year-old Justin Cunningham of Andover, according to Officer Trevor Macy. The Good Samaritan who observed the initial accident and attempted to help the occupants before she was struck by the motorcycle also died on Monday, according to Macy.The initial 911 call reported a single vehicle had rolled over in the eastbound lanes in the 6600 Block of Kellogg near Armour with two people inside, according to Macy.As officers arrived on scene, they learned that a second accident involving a motorcycle had occurred just after the first crash.Officers located the motorcycle driver Justin Cunningham deceased at the scene. They also&nbsp;found three additional people with critical injuries who were all transported to area hospitals. Another person was located uninjured.Through the investigation, officers learned that a silver SUV was eastbound on Kellogg with two occupants – a 48-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man– when the&nbsp;driver lost control of the vehicle and struck the median, causing the SUV to roll.An uninvolved person, a woman, witnessed the turned-over SUV and began rendering aid to the occupants.As she was rendering aid, a motorcycle with two occupants traveled eastbound on Kellogg. The motorcycle struck the 19-year-old Good Samaritan then hit the SUV.Cunningham, who was driving the motorcycle, was pronounced deceased on scene. EMS&nbsp; transported the female SUV driver, a female motorcycle passenger and the 19-year-old woman struck by the motorcycle to area hospitals for treatment of serious injuries, according to Macy. The Good Samaritan died on Monday. Police have not released her name.The passenger of the SUV was uninjured.&nbsp;

Good Samaritan struck by motorcycle at Kan. crash scene has died

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an order Monday to redeploy hundreds of U.S. troops to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-elections-presidential-somalia-mohamed-abdullahi-15c69062ac1ba6dfa60c24e173cf72b1">Somalia</a>&nbsp;to counter the Islamic extremist rebel group&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-somalia-mogadishu-al-shabab-1f68208d223285db793386bfcbb96263">al-Shabab</a>, an effort that American military leaders said had been hampered by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-counterterrorism-east-africa-africa-somalia-64eb33d761c52c3813e89f3368755834">President Donald Trump’s late-term decision</a>&nbsp;to withdraw forces from the country.

U.S. troops will be repositioned from elsewhere in Africa to train and provide other support to Somali forces in their fight against al-Shabab, which is considered the largest and wealthiest affiliate of the al-Qaida extremist organization.

It’s a reminder that the U.S. remains engaged in the long fight against Islamic extremists around the world, even if the effort has been eclipsed by the war in Ukraine and other matters.

The decision to station forces again in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/somalia">Somalia</a>, rather than rotate them in and out, is intended “to maximize the safety and effectiveness of our forces and enable them to provide more efficient support to our partners,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in announcing the redeployment.

U.S. forces in Somalia will total “under 500” and are not being sent to engage in direct combat, according to a senior Biden administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to brief journalists on the rationale behind the decision.

Instead, the troops will work with Somali forces and provide security to personnel from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development as they work with the government to emerge from years of turmoil, the official said.

Trump abruptly ordered the withdrawal of approximately 700 troops from Somalia at the end of his term in January 2021, an extension of a broader policy of seeking to pull the U.S. out of what he derisively referred to as “endless wars” around the world.

But military leaders said that came at a cost, wasting time, money and momentum as troops had to rotate in and out of the country.

Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of U.S. Africa Command, told Congress in March that the rotations, which he called “commuting to work,” were not efficient or effective and put American troops at greater risk.

“In my view, we are marching in place at best. We may be backsliding,” Townsend told the Senate Armed Forces Committee.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requested the deployment “to reestablish a persistent U.S. military presence in Somalia to enable a more effective fight against al-Shabaab, which has increased in strength and poses a heightened threat,” said an administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the plan before the White House announcement.

Biden’s decision to sign the order was first reported by The New York Times, which also said the the president had a approved a Pentagon request for standing authority to target about a dozen suspected leaders of al-Shabab.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an order Monday to redeploy hundreds of U.S. troops to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-elections-presidential-somalia-mohamed-abdullahi-15c69062ac1ba6dfa60c24e173cf72b1">Somalia</a>&nbsp;to counter the Islamic extremist rebel group&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-somalia-mogadishu-al-shabab-1f68208d223285db793386bfcbb96263">al-Shabab</a>, an effort that American military leaders said had been hampered by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-counterterrorism-east-africa-africa-somalia-64eb33d761c52c3813e89f3368755834">President Donald Trump’s late-term decision</a>&nbsp;to withdraw forces from the country.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDeptofDefense%2Fvideos%2F370163751742685%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=986" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>U.S. troops will be repositioned from elsewhere in Africa to train and provide other support to Somali forces in their fight against al-Shabab, which is considered the largest and wealthiest affiliate of the al-Qaida extremist organization.It’s a reminder that the U.S. remains engaged in the long fight against Islamic extremists around the world, even if the effort has been eclipsed by the war in Ukraine and other matters.The decision to station forces again in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/somalia">Somalia</a>, rather than rotate them in and out, is intended “to maximize the safety and effectiveness of our forces and enable them to provide more efficient support to our partners,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in announcing the redeployment.U.S. forces in Somalia will total “under 500” and are not being sent to engage in direct combat, according to a senior Biden administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to brief journalists on the rationale behind the decision.Instead, the troops will work with Somali forces and provide security to personnel from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development as they work with the government to emerge from years of turmoil, the official said.Trump abruptly ordered the withdrawal of approximately 700 troops from Somalia at the end of his term in January 2021, an extension of a broader policy of seeking to pull the U.S. out of what he derisively referred to as “endless wars” around the world.But military leaders said that came at a cost, wasting time, money and momentum as troops had to rotate in and out of the country.Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of U.S. Africa Command, told Congress in March that the rotations, which he called “commuting to work,” were not efficient or effective and put American troops at greater risk.“In my view, we are marching in place at best. We may be backsliding,” Townsend told the Senate Armed Forces Committee.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requested the deployment “to reestablish a persistent U.S. military presence in Somalia to enable a more effective fight against al-Shabaab, which has increased in strength and poses a heightened threat,” said an administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the plan before the White House announcement.Biden’s decision to sign the order was first reported by The New York Times, which also said the the president had a approved a Pentagon request for standing authority to target about a dozen suspected leaders of al-Shabab.The group has killed more than a dozen Americans in East Africa, including three in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/somalia-us-news-ap-top-news-international-news-east-africa-65926ee82091f779d28d6a9644fb739f">January 2020 attack on a base used by U.S. counterterrorism forces&nbsp;</a>in Kenya. Later that year, the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indictments-us-news-united-states-d53d808597763855815d47b3dc917617">charged a Kenyan&nbsp;</a>who had been taking flight lessons in the Philippines with planning a 9/11-style hijacking attack on behalf of al-Shabab.The rebel group has made territorial gains against Somalia’s federal government in recent months, reversing the gains of African Union peacekeepers who once had pushed the militants into remote areas of the country.Word of the deployment decision came after Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who served as Somalia’s president between 2012 and 2017, was announced on Sunday as the winner of a protracted election.Somalia began to fall apart in 1991 when warlords ousted dictator&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9fed60a380756a12bf4e227a5054e496">Siad Barre</a>&nbsp;and then turned on each other. Years of conflict and al-Shabab attacks, along with famine, have shattered the country which has a long, strategic coastline by the Indian Ocean.American soldiers deployed there in 1992 to stave off a national famine on a peacekeeping mission that lasted until their 1994 withdrawal — about five months after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/205ae5064bb64ac6a3307916cf6a2c47">the humiliating “Black Hawk Down” debacle&nbsp;</a>in late 1993 when Somali militiamen shot down two U.S. helicopters; 18 servicemen were killed in the crash and subsequent rescue attempt.