KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Three people died and three others were injured after two weekend shootings in Kansas City, Kansas. 

A spokesman for the police department in Kansas City, Kansas, Officer Marshee London said one shooting happened late Saturday while the second one was reported shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday. The Kansas City Star reports that in the first shooting, officers found two people who had been fatally wounded in the 1800 block of North 26th Street. 

A third person who had also been shot was taken to the hospital. On Sunday morning, police found one dead person and two wounded individuals in the 200 block of North 6th Street. Police did not immediately name the victims or report any arrests.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Three people died and three others were injured after two weekend shootings in Kansas City, Kansas. A spokesman for the police department in Kansas City, Kansas, Officer Marshee London said one shooting happened late Saturday while the second one was reported shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday. The Kansas City Star reports that in the first shooting, officers found two people who had been fatally wounded in the 1800 block of North 26th Street. A third person who had also been shot was taken to the hospital. On Sunday morning, police found one dead person and two wounded individuals in the 200 block of North 6th Street. Police did not immediately name the victims or report any arrests.

Three killed in two separate shootings in Kansas 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after an arrest.

On April 27, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office received information on where an individual with a federal arrest warrant for felon in possession of a firearm was located, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.

An on scene investigation confirmed that the individual was staying at a hotel in the 3700 block of SW Topeka Boulevard. 

The United States Marshals Service Task Force Officer from the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit assisted with the arrest of 32-year-old Martwan L. Cay of Topeka. 

During the execution of a subsequent search warrant initiated by the Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit, officers found a handgun, ammunition, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and pills believed to contain fentanyl.

Cay was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the federal arrest warrant. He also faces charges of felony interference, felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of opiates, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651182000028.png" alt="Cay-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Cay-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after an arrest.On April 27, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office received information on where an individual with a federal arrest warrant for felon in possession of a firearm was located, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.An on scene investigation confirmed that the individual was staying at a hotel in the 3700 block of SW Topeka Boulevard. The United States Marshals Service Task Force Officer from the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit assisted with the arrest of 32-year-old Martwan L. Cay of Topeka. During the execution of a subsequent search warrant initiated by the Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit, officers found a handgun, ammunition, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and pills believed to contain fentanyl.Cay was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the federal arrest warrant. He also faces charges of felony interference, felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of opiates, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

U.S. Marshals find pills with fentanyl during arrest at Kansas motel

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Federal Emergency Management Agency may have been double-billed for the funerals of hundreds of people who died of COVID-19, the Government Accountability Office said in a new report Wednesday.

The GAO identified 374 people who died and were listed on more than one application that received an award from the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance fund. That amounts to about $4.8 million in assistance that could have been improper or potentially fraudulent payments, the report said.

FEMA spokesperson Jaclyn Rothenberg said Wednesday that this was not an example of large-scale fraud and the amount of funeral assistance identified as at-risk was relatively small, with FEMA’s “multi-layered internal quality controls and fraud controls” resulting in improper payments of less than 1%.

“Unfortunately, fraud, particularly identity theft, is common. FEMA has controls in place to detect instances and can and will prosecute anyone who would apply for assistance fraudulently,” Rothenberg said in a statement.

FEMA told the GAO that some duplicative applications were incorrectly awarded funeral assistance due to processing errors, not fraud, and benefits were not actually paid twice in some of the cases, the report said.

The cases have been sent to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General to consider whether to launch any fraud investigations, said Chris Currie, who leads GAO’s work on emergency management and disaster response and recovery, and Rebecca Shea, who oversees GAO audits to identify fraud, waste and abuse.

Shea said they could not confirm whether FEMA did or did not pay twice in all of the cases. She said she thinks fraudsters likely targeted the fund and some of it is data entry mistakes.

“Given everything we’ve seen in the pandemic programs over the past two years, if fraudsters did not try to gain from this system, that would be surprising to me,” she said Wednesday.

As of late last year, FEMA had awarded about $1.5 billion in assistance in response to about 235,000 applications for nearly 237,000 people who died due to COVID-19, the report said. While the duplicates are less than .2% of those applications, the GAO said the findings are significant due to the possibility of improper payments and potential fraud in this disaster and future disasters.

There were only about 6,000 applications for funeral assistance after other disasters in the decade before the pandemic. Use of the program “exploded” since Congress expanded it for COVID-19 by making the $50 billion in the Disaster Relief Fund available for such assistance, prompting GAO to do a forensic audit, Currie said.

FEMA said Wednesday that it has now awarded more than $2.1 billion to more than 355,000 recipients.

Most of the 374 deceased individuals identified on more than one application were listed by different applicants, the GAO said. The GAO provided three examples to FEMA. FEMA said there were processing errors and started trying to recoup the money in two of the cases in January, the report said.

About 50 deceased individuals were listed on multiple applications from the same applicant, the report said. FEMA initially said there were duplicates in the system due to a change in geographic coding and only one of the applications was paid in each case, but when the GAO provided examples, FEMA confirmed the duplicative applications were paid, the report said.

In addition, the GAO said it identified another 400 applications that received more than the maximum benefit of $9,000 for each person who died — some up to nearly $20,000 — for another roughly $4.7 million in assistance that could’ve been improper or potentially fraudulent payments.

There were thousands of awards given in instances where there was a missing or invalid death date according to the data that FEMA provided, the GAO said. Sometimes a deceased person was listed as the applicant or the date listed for the decedent was before the pandemic started, raising questions about how FEMA determined eligibility in those cases, Shea said.

“That shouldn’t be happening,” she said. “You know, dead can’t apply for benefits.”

The GAO is recommending FEMA put additional controls in place to prevent and detect improper payments and potential fraud, and address deficiencies in the data by updating records as data is verified and adding data fields where necessary.

Rothenberg said FEMA established additional controls prior to implementing COVID-19 Funeral Assistance to mitigate the risk of fraud and identity theft. She said FEMA requires verifiable documentation for funeral expenses, including funeral home contracts and receipts, and conducts multiple verification checks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608503689153.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The Federal Emergency Management Agency may have been double-billed for the funerals of hundreds of people who died of COVID-19, the Government Accountability Office said in a new report Wednesday.The GAO identified 374 people who died and were listed on more than one application that received an award from the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance fund. That amounts to about $4.8 million in assistance that could have been improper or potentially fraudulent payments, the report said.FEMA spokesperson Jaclyn Rothenberg said Wednesday that this was not an example of large-scale fraud and the amount of funeral assistance identified as at-risk was relatively small, with FEMA’s “multi-layered internal quality controls and fraud controls” resulting in improper payments of less than 1%.“Unfortunately, fraud, particularly identity theft, is common. FEMA has controls in place to detect instances and can and will prosecute anyone who would apply for assistance fraudulently,” Rothenberg said in a statement.FEMA told the GAO that some duplicative applications were incorrectly awarded funeral assistance due to processing errors, not fraud, and benefits were not actually paid twice in some of the cases, the report said.The cases have been sent to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General to consider whether to launch any fraud investigations, said Chris Currie, who leads GAO’s work on emergency management and disaster response and recovery, and Rebecca Shea, who oversees GAO audits to identify fraud, waste and abuse.Shea said they could not confirm whether FEMA did or did not pay twice in all of the cases. She said she thinks fraudsters likely targeted the fund and some of it is data entry mistakes.“Given everything we’ve seen in the pandemic programs over the past two years, if fraudsters did not try to gain from this system, that would be surprising to me,” she said Wednesday.As of late last year, FEMA had awarded about $1.5 billion in assistance in response to about 235,000 applications for nearly 237,000 people who died due to COVID-19, the report said. While the duplicates are less than .2% of those applications, the GAO said the findings are significant due to the possibility of improper payments and potential fraud in this disaster and future disasters.There were only about 6,000 applications for funeral assistance after other disasters in the decade before the pandemic. Use of the program “exploded” since Congress expanded it for COVID-19 by making the $50 billion in the Disaster Relief Fund available for such assistance, prompting GAO to do a forensic audit, Currie said.FEMA said Wednesday that it has now awarded more than $2.1 billion to more than 355,000 recipients.Most of the 374 deceased individuals identified on more than one application were listed by different applicants, the GAO said. The GAO provided three examples to FEMA. FEMA said there were processing errors and started trying to recoup the money in two of the cases in January, the report said.About 50 deceased individuals were listed on multiple applications from the same applicant, the report said. FEMA initially said there were duplicates in the system due to a change in geographic coding and only one of the applications was paid in each case, but when the GAO provided examples, FEMA confirmed the duplicative applications were paid, the report said.In addition, the GAO said it identified another 400 applications that received more than the maximum benefit of $9,000 for each person who died — some up to nearly $20,000 — for another roughly $4.7 million in assistance that could’ve been improper or potentially fraudulent payments.There were thousands of awards given in instances where there was a missing or invalid death date according to the data that FEMA provided, the GAO said. Sometimes a deceased person was listed as the applicant or the date listed for the decedent was before the pandemic started, raising questions about how FEMA determined eligibility in those cases, Shea said.“That shouldn’t be happening,” she said. “You know, dead can’t apply for benefits.”The GAO is recommending FEMA put additional controls in place to prevent and detect improper payments and potential fraud, and address deficiencies in the data by updating records as data is verified and adding data fields where necessary.Rothenberg said FEMA established additional controls prior to implementing COVID-19 Funeral Assistance to mitigate the risk of fraud and identity theft. She said FEMA requires verifiable documentation for funeral expenses, including funeral home contracts and receipts, and conducts multiple verification checks.___

Once dead, twice billed: GAO questions COVID funeral awards

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) —&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;will be tightening its rules for adults receiving food assistance even though critics have warned that its new law is so sloppily written that it will apply to thousands more people than supporters intended.

The Republican-controlled Legislature on Thursday overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of a GOP bill imposing a new job-training requirement for non-disabled adults. The changes will take effect July 1.

Republicans could overturn Kelly's action on their own because they have more than the two-thirds majorities in both chambers needed to do it. The votes were 86-36 in the House and 29-11 in the Senate, and almost no Democrats supported the override attempt.

GOP lawmakers have long argued that tighter rules for people receiving public assistance, coupled with state-provided job training, moves people from being dependent on the state's help into jobs.

“What is the central solution to poverty? It’s work,” said Republican state Rep. Susan Humphries, of Wichita. "Work is not a punishment, it’s a blessing. Helping someone move to a place of self sufficiency is as gift to them.”

In her veto message earlier this month, Kelly said the measure would “unnecessarily burden” some 30,000 adults. Republicans have put the number affected at less than half that, or about 12,000 adults.

Republicans said the new law applies only to non-disabled adults from 18 through 49 who do not have children. But Democrats said because of the bill's language, it could apply to both that group and all adults not working at least 30 hours a week.

“There already were issues with this bill,” Sen. Pat Pettey, a Kansas City Democrat, said Thursday in supporting Kelly's veto. “We don’t know with this additional language whether that is going that far.”

Since July 2021, an average of nearly 199,000 people, including nearly 87,000 children, have received food assistance each month, with an average benefit of $300, according to the state Department for Children and Families.

The state tightened its rules for people receiving cash assistance in 2015 and 2016 under then-Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. Kansas gained national attention in 2015 for adding to state law a list of several dozen items that couldn't be purchased with the state aid, including tattoos, lingerie, concert tickets or sessions with a psychic.

Critics of those changes argued that they mostly kicked needy people off cash assistance and that many of those who obtained jobs still didn't earn enough to escape poverty. Advocates for the poor, social services agencies and food bank operators all said this year's bill simply would result in more struggling families going hungry.

They also argued that the tougher rules would increase bureaucracy, citing estimates that the state would have to spend $3 million to $5 million on additional staffing to enforce the new requirements.

“It’s punitive in nature," said state Rep. Jason Probst, a Hutchinson Democrat. "We are going to harm people with this if we do this override.”

Supporters of the bill countered that the extra state staffing and spending would be an investment in improving poor families' lives.

“We do nothing more than allow more people to be able to go to work, have an even better job and allow our employers to hire people who are better trained,” said Republican Sen. Beverly Gossage, of Eudora.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1571410354379.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA and MARGARET STAFFORDTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) —&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;will be tightening its rules for adults receiving food assistance even though critics have warned that its new law is so sloppily written that it will apply to thousands more people than supporters intended.The Republican-controlled Legislature on Thursday overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of a GOP bill imposing a new job-training requirement for non-disabled adults. The changes will take effect July 1.Republicans could overturn Kelly's action on their own because they have more than the two-thirds majorities in both chambers needed to do it. The votes were 86-36 in the House and 29-11 in the Senate, and almost no Democrats supported the override attempt.GOP lawmakers have long argued that tighter rules for people receiving public assistance, coupled with state-provided job training, moves people from being dependent on the state's help into jobs.“What is the central solution to poverty? It’s work,” said Republican state Rep. Susan Humphries, of Wichita. "Work is not a punishment, it’s a blessing. Helping someone move to a place of self sufficiency is as gift to them.”In her veto message earlier this month, Kelly said the measure would “unnecessarily burden” some 30,000 adults. Republicans have put the number affected at less than half that, or about 12,000 adults.Republicans said the new law applies only to non-disabled adults from 18 through 49 who do not have children. But Democrats said because of the bill's language, it could apply to both that group and all adults not working at least 30 hours a week.“There already were issues with this bill,” Sen. Pat Pettey, a Kansas City Democrat, said Thursday in supporting Kelly's veto. “We don’t know with this additional language whether that is going that far.”Since July 2021, an average of nearly 199,000 people, including nearly 87,000 children, have received food assistance each month, with an average benefit of $300, according to the state Department for Children and Families.The state tightened its rules for people receiving cash assistance in 2015 and 2016 under then-Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. Kansas gained national attention in 2015 for adding to state law a list of several dozen items that couldn't be purchased with the state aid, including tattoos, lingerie, concert tickets or sessions with a psychic.Critics of those changes argued that they mostly kicked needy people off cash assistance and that many of those who obtained jobs still didn't earn enough to escape poverty. Advocates for the poor, social services agencies and food bank operators all said this year's bill simply would result in more struggling families going hungry.They also argued that the tougher rules would increase bureaucracy, citing estimates that the state would have to spend $3 million to $5 million on additional staffing to enforce the new requirements.“It’s punitive in nature," said state Rep. Jason Probst, a Hutchinson Democrat. "We are going to harm people with this if we do this override.”Supporters of the bill countered that the extra state staffing and spending would be an investment in improving poor families' lives.“We do nothing more than allow more people to be able to go to work, have an even better job and allow our employers to hire people who are better trained,” said Republican Sen. Beverly Gossage, of Eudora.

Kansas tightening rules for adults receiving food assistance

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A U.S. congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the courage of the Ukrainian people in remarks during a visit to Poland on Sunday, a day after a surprise trip to Kyiv to meet with President Volodymr Zelenskyy.

The American legislators assessed Ukraine’s needs for the next phase of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war</a>, with Pelosi vowing that Washington would stand with the country until it defeats Russia.

Pelosi, a California Democrat who is second in line to the presidency after the vice president, was the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russia’s war began more than two months ago. Her previously unannounced visit came just days after Moscow bombed the Ukrainian capital while the U.N. secretary-general was there.

Pelosi and a half-dozen U.S. lawmakers met for three hours late Saturday with Zelenskyy and his top aides to get a first-hand assessment of the war effort to date. Speaking to reporters Sunday in Poland, the delegation members were unanimous in praising Ukraine’s defenses so far, in painting the battle of one as good against evil and in assuring continued long-term U.S. military, humanitarian and economic support.“

“We were proud to convey to him the message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage,” Pelosi said.

Their visit came two days after U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to bolster Ukraine’s fight against Russia, more than twice the size of the initial $13.6 billion aid measure that Congress enacted early last month and now is almost drained. With the war dragging into its third month, the measure was designed to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that U.S. weaponry and other forms of assistance weren’t going away.

“This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York.

“This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California. “And in that struggle, Ukraine is on the front lines.”

Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committee, said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: “Weapons, weapons and weapons.”

“We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win. What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so.”

“The United States of America is in this to win, and we will stand with Ukraine until victory is won,” he added.

The full congressional delegation included Meeks, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Schiff, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee; Jim McGovern of Massachusetts who chairs the House Rules Committee; Crow, Barbara Lee of California; and Bill Keating of Massachusetts.

“You all are welcome,” Zelenskyy told the delegation, according to a video of the encounter released by his office.

Pelosi told Zelenskyy: “We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom.”

“We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done,” Pelosi added.

The delegation continued its trip in southeast Poland, and members were later visiting the capital, Warsaw, to meet with President Andrzej Duda and other senior officials. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24.

“We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts,” Pelosi said.

Speaking at a news conference in Poland, Pelosi said she and others in the delegation applauded the courage of the Ukrainian people. She added that the delegation brought Zelenskyy “a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership.”

McGovern said Russia’s war had repercussions far beyond Ukraine, saying it was exacerbating a food crisis that would be disastrous for poor people across the globe.

“Putin’s brutal war is no longer only a war against the people of Ukraine,” McGovern said. “It’s also a war against the world’s most vulnerable.”

He added that Ukraine is a “breadbasket of the world.”

“I don’t think that Putin cares if he starves the world,” McGovern said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651407478901.png" alt="Pelosi and a half-dozen U.S. lawmakers met for three hours late Saturday with Zelenskyy -photo courtesy President Zelenskyy press office" />
 <figcaption>Pelosi and a half-dozen U.S. lawmakers met for three hours late Saturday with Zelenskyy -photo courtesy President Zelenskyy press office</figcaption>
 </figure>WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A U.S. congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the courage of the Ukrainian people in remarks during a visit to Poland on Sunday, a day after a surprise trip to Kyiv to meet with President Volodymr Zelenskyy.The American legislators assessed Ukraine’s needs for the next phase of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war</a>, with Pelosi vowing that Washington would stand with the country until it defeats Russia.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Зустріч зі спікером Палати представників Конгресу США <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerPelosi</a> в Києві. Сполучені Штати є лідером потужної підтримки України в боротьбі з агресією РФ. Дякуємо, що допомагаєте захищати суверенітет і територіальну цілісність нашої держави! <a href="https://t.co/QXSBPFoGQh">pic.twitter.com/QXSBPFoGQh</a>&mdash; Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1520644107751809024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Pelosi, a California Democrat who is second in line to the presidency after the vice president, was the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russia’s war began more than two months ago. Her previously unannounced visit came just days after Moscow bombed the Ukrainian capital while the U.N. secretary-general was there.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Join Members of our delegation and me in Rzeszów, Poland for a press conference on the situation in Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/QbuHSRk11i">https://t.co/QbuHSRk11i</a>&mdash; Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1520693888507383810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Pelosi and a half-dozen U.S. lawmakers met for three hours late Saturday with Zelenskyy and his top aides to get a first-hand assessment of the war effort to date. Speaking to reporters Sunday in Poland, the delegation members were unanimous in praising Ukraine’s defenses so far, in painting the battle of one as good against evil and in assuring continued long-term U.S. military, humanitarian and economic support.“<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651407269254.png" alt="“We were proud to convey to him the message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage,” Pelosi said.-photo courtesy House Speaker's Office" />
 <figcaption>“We were proud to convey to him the message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage,” Pelosi said.-photo courtesy House Speaker's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>“We were proud to convey to him the message of unity from the Congress of the United States, a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership and admiration for the people of Ukraine for their courage,” Pelosi said.Their visit came two days after U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to bolster Ukraine’s fight against Russia, more than twice the size of the initial $13.6 billion aid measure that Congress enacted early last month and now is almost drained. With the war dragging into its third month, the measure was designed to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that U.S. weaponry and other forms of assistance weren’t going away.“This is a time we stand up for democracy or we allow autocracy to rule the day,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York.“This is a struggle of freedom against tyranny,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California. “And in that struggle, Ukraine is on the front lines.”Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, a veteran and a member of the House intelligence and armed services committee, said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: “Weapons, weapons and weapons.”“We have to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win. What we have seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so.”“The United States of America is in this to win, and we will stand with Ukraine until victory is won,” he added.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651407042206.png" alt="Photo courtesy House Speaker's Office" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy House Speaker's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>The full congressional delegation included Meeks, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Schiff, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee; Jim McGovern of Massachusetts who chairs the House Rules Committee; Crow, Barbara Lee of California; and Bill Keating of Massachusetts.“You all are welcome,” Zelenskyy told the delegation, according to a video of the encounter released by his office.Pelosi told Zelenskyy: “We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom.”“We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done,” Pelosi added.The delegation continued its trip in southeast Poland, and members were later visiting the capital, Warsaw, to meet with President Andrzej Duda and other senior officials. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its war on Feb. 24.“We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts,” Pelosi said.Speaking at a news conference in Poland, Pelosi said she and others in the delegation applauded the courage of the Ukrainian people. She added that the delegation brought Zelenskyy “a message of appreciation from the American people for his leadership.”McGovern said Russia’s war had repercussions far beyond Ukraine, saying it was exacerbating a food crisis that would be disastrous for poor people across the globe.“Putin’s brutal war is no longer only a war against the people of Ukraine,” McGovern said. “It’s also a war against the world’s most vulnerable.”He added that Ukraine is a “breadbasket of the world.”“I don’t think that Putin cares if he starves the world,” McGovern said.___

Pelosi leads delegation on secret trip to Ukraine; vows US support

ANDOVER&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly today traveled to Andover to survey the damage left in the path of a tornado that tore through the town on Friday. The National Weather Service preliminary damage estimate of F tornado indicates the tornado an EF-3 with winds near 160 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm was on the ground from 8:10 to 8:31p.m. and moved from northeast from eastern Sedgwick County into Andover and then toward Benton.

 Governor Kelly met with first responders, local government officials, and Kansas families affected to assess the community’s needs.

“As I surveyed the damage of Friday night’s tornado, one thing is clear – Kansans are resilient and we will get through this together,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“My administration will work with local leaders to help Kansans impacted by this storm get back on their feet.”

“I am deeply appreciative of all who are helping our community of Andover as we assess the devastating impact of the tornado,”&nbsp;Senate President Ty Masterson, District 16, said.&nbsp;“The extent of the damage is stunning and heartbreaking, and we are so thankful no lives were lost. As Andover recovers and rebuilds, we stand ready to assist those in need. Prayers continue.”

“To my friends and neighbors in Andover, we’ve suffered a sudden and devastating loss. My family and I offer our heartfelt prayers to those most directly affected by last night’s storm. We are with you and we will stand and work beside you. Our gratitude goes out to the agencies and individuals who work tirelessly to keep us safe and support our community,”&nbsp;Representative Susan Humphries, District 99, said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651369467010.png" alt="“As I surveyed the damage of Friday night’s tornado, one thing is clear – Kansans are resilient and we will get through this together,” Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>“As I surveyed the damage of Friday night’s tornado, one thing is clear – Kansans are resilient and we will get through this together,” Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>ANDOVER&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly today traveled to Andover to survey the damage left in the path of a tornado that tore through the town on Friday. The National Weather Service preliminary damage estimate of F tornado indicates the tornado an EF-3 with winds near 160 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.The storm was on the ground from 8:10 to 8:31p.m. and moved from northeast from eastern Sedgwick County into Andover and then toward Benton. Governor Kelly met with first responders, local government officials, and Kansas families affected to assess the community’s needs.“As I surveyed the damage of Friday night’s tornado, one thing is clear – Kansans are resilient and we will get through this together,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“My administration will work with local leaders to help Kansans impacted by this storm get back on their feet.”“I am deeply appreciative of all who are helping our community of Andover as we assess the devastating impact of the tornado,”&nbsp;Senate President Ty Masterson, District 16, said.&nbsp;“The extent of the damage is stunning and heartbreaking, and we are so thankful no lives were lost. As Andover recovers and rebuilds, we stand ready to assist those in need. Prayers continue.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651369443627.png" alt="photo courtesy office of Governor" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy office of Governor</figcaption>
 </figure>“To my friends and neighbors in Andover, we’ve suffered a sudden and devastating loss. My family and I offer our heartfelt prayers to those most directly affected by last night’s storm. We are with you and we will stand and work beside you. Our gratitude goes out to the agencies and individuals who work tirelessly to keep us safe and support our community,”&nbsp;Representative Susan Humphries, District 99, said.

Governor surveys damage from EF-3 tornado in Andover 

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kanas woman avoids jail time in connection with the abuse of her stepdaughter.

Amanda Moore, 31,&nbsp; Wichita, was sentenced this week to 36 months of probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

If she violates probation, Moore could face three years in prison.

In February of 2019, police responded to home in the 1700 block of South Faulder in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

A 2-year-old girl's father found his daughter vomiting and then not breathing.&nbsp;

The father began lifesaving measures and the girl was taken to a local hospital where it was discovered she'd suffered critical head injuries, according to Davidson. Police arrested Moore, identified as the girl's stepmother on a requested charge of child abuse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650999988247.png" alt="Moore photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Moore photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kanas woman avoids jail time in connection with the abuse of her stepdaughter.Amanda Moore, 31,&nbsp; Wichita, was sentenced this week to 36 months of probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.If she violates probation, Moore could face three years in prison.In February of 2019, police responded to home in the 1700 block of South Faulder in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.A 2-year-old girl's father found his daughter vomiting and then not breathing.&nbsp;The father began lifesaving measures and the girl was taken to a local hospital where it was discovered she'd suffered critical head injuries, according to Davidson. Police arrested Moore, identified as the girl's stepmother on a requested charge of child abuse.

Kan. woman sentenced for abuse of 2-year-old stepdaughter 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —For the second time this week a Kansas Trooper was struck on the side of a highway, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kshighwayPatrol">Kansas Highway Patrol Facebook page</a>:

"Master Trooper White had just finished assisting a motorist that had stopped on the shoulder on the Kansas Turnpike just south of Topeka.  His vehicle was struck by a commercial motor vehicle that failed to move over for him and he was initially trapped inside his vehicle. Thankfully he will be okay and make it home to his family today."

"There are too many first responders being struck across our state and country! It doesn’t take much to Move Over, and you could be the one that shows others they should be moving over. 

Only 3 feet separates us from traffic at highway speeds, and keeping first responders safe is the 1st line of keeping our highways safe! 

Kansas law requires motorists to Move Over for emergency vehicles and if unable then they must slow down."

On April 26, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper avoided serious injury after a semi failed to move over for him while he was performing a roadside safety inspection on another semi just before 9a.m. Tuesday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Kenworth semi driven by Ricky L.&nbsp;Ferrell, 63, Valley Falls, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just west of Ellis.

The driver failed to move left, crossed outside the fog line and struck a Kansas Highway Patrol 2020 Dodge Challenger,&nbsp; Trooper Shawn W. Summers, 48, Hays and a 2020 Volvo semi. The Trooper was outside his vehicle conducting an inspection of the Volvo.

After impact, the Kenworth continued eastbound, traveled off the road through the KDOT fence and came to rest.

EMS transported Summers to Hays Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

The driver of the Volvo semi identified as Khadija A.&nbsp; Qadri, 57, Fort Collins, Colorado, who was outside the vehicle during the inspection and&nbsp;Ferrell were not injured.

READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/0f9bf686-fdb6-4b22-a09a-7cd33c6cffb3">KHP Trooper injured in crash during I-70 truck inspection</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651369615487.jpeg" alt="First responders rescue the trooper who was trapped in his vehicle when it was struck on the side of the road. Photos courtesy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kshighwayPatrol">Kansas Highway Patrol Facebook page</a>" />
 <figcaption>First responders rescue the trooper who was trapped in his vehicle when it was struck on the side of the road. Photos courtesy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kshighwayPatrol">Kansas Highway Patrol Facebook page</a></figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —For the second time this week a Kansas Trooper was struck on the side of a highway, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kshighwayPatrol">Kansas Highway Patrol Facebook page</a>:"Master Trooper White had just finished assisting a motorist that had stopped on the shoulder on the Kansas Turnpike just south of Topeka. His vehicle was struck by a commercial motor vehicle that failed to move over for him and he was initially trapped inside his vehicle. Thankfully he will be okay and make it home to his family today."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651369753780.jpeg" alt="The trooper who was trapped in this vehicle will be okay, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol." />
 <figcaption>The trooper who was trapped in this vehicle will be okay, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.</figcaption>
 </figure>"There are too many first responders being struck across our state and country! It doesn’t take much to Move Over, and you could be the one that shows others they should be moving over. Only 3 feet separates us from traffic at highway speeds, and keeping first responders safe is the 1st line of keeping our highways safe! Kansas law requires motorists to Move Over for emergency vehicles and if unable then they must slow down."On April 26, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper avoided serious injury after a semi failed to move over for him while he was performing a roadside safety inspection on another semi just before 9a.m. Tuesday in Ellis County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Kenworth semi driven by Ricky L.&nbsp;Ferrell, 63, Valley Falls, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just west of Ellis.The driver failed to move left, crossed outside the fog line and struck a Kansas Highway Patrol 2020 Dodge Challenger,&nbsp; Trooper Shawn W. Summers, 48, Hays and a 2020 Volvo semi. The Trooper was outside his vehicle conducting an inspection of the Volvo.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651022555288.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>After impact, the Kenworth continued eastbound, traveled off the road through the KDOT fence and came to rest.EMS transported Summers to Hays Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.The driver of the Volvo semi identified as Khadija A.&nbsp; Qadri, 57, Fort Collins, Colorado, who was outside the vehicle during the inspection and&nbsp;Ferrell were not injured.READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/0f9bf686-fdb6-4b22-a09a-7cd33c6cffb3">KHP Trooper injured in crash during I-70 truck inspection</a>

KHP: 2nd trooper struck on side of highway this week

BUTLER COUNTY —The National Weather Service preliminary damage estimate of Friday's tornado in portion of Butler and Sedgwick County indicates the tornado an EF-3.

The National Weather Service preliminary damage survey of Friday night's storm confirmed four tornadoes in Marion County. Two of them had an EF-1 rating.

At 7:57p.m. a Tornado was reported four miles north of Tampa. It had maximum wind gusts of&nbsp; 96 miles per hour (EF-1), a maximum width of 30 yards and traveled .9 miles.&nbsp;

At 8:03p.m. another a tornado hit three miles southeast of Durham. It had maximum wind gusts of 95 miles per hour (EF-1) a maximum width of 50 yards and traveled .9 miles. There were no injuries or deaths from these storms.

The storms in the Wamego, Belvue area indicates an EF-1 tornado with wind speeds at 93 miles per hour.

The tornado started at 8:03 p.m., traveled 11.48 miles and ended a ended at 8:18p.m.&nbsp; The tornado's maximum width was 100 yards. There were no injuries or death from the tornado, according to the National Weather Service.

The survey of damage in the Herington area shows the tornado that started at 8:06p.m. rated as an EF-1 with winds of 97 miles per hour. It was on the ground for 17 miles and ended at 8:28p.m. The storm had a maximum width of 75 yards. There were no injuries or deaths from this storm.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas damaged multiple buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power, officials said Saturday.

Officials said the suspected twister moved though parts of southeast Wichita and Andover on Friday evening. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said during a news conference early Saturday morning that 50 to 100 buildings were damaged in Sedgwick County, though it was not immediately known how many buildings were damaged in Andover.

Russell said in some neighborhoods homes “were completely blown away.”

Officials said only a few injuries had been reported. In Sedgwick County, three people were injured, including one woman who suffered serious injuries. Russell said no injuries had been reported in Butler County, but a secondary assessment would be conducted Saturday morning.

He said some neighborhoods were “damaged enough that houses were completely blown down” and cited areas that suffered “very bad damage.”

City Hall also sustained damage, which hampered “some of our efforts,” Russell said. Other buildings reportedly damaged included the Dr. Jim Farha Andover YMCA and Prairie Creek Elementary School.

Gov. Laura Kelly declared a State of Disaster Emergency for the hardest hit areas. The declaration makes state resources available to help local jurisdictions with response and recovery efforts in areas impacted statewide.

In addition to the tornadoes, large hail was reported in several towns across the Plains. Hail the size of softballs was spotted near Holbrook, Nebraska, and Enterprise, Kansas, according to the National Weather Service and storm spotters.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A suspected tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas damaged multiple buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power, officials said Saturday.

Russell said that while it was not immediately known how many buildings had been damaged, more than 900 structures were in the suspected tornado’s path.

Because of tornado damage in the Andover area, U.S. 54/400 is closed from 159th on the west to Santa Fe Lake Road on the east. Traffic is being diverted, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Several tornadoes were reported in Wabaunsee County on Friday evening. One home was was destroyed, according to the sheriff's office. There were no injuries.

BUTLER COUNTY —The National Weather Service reported strong winds, four inch diameter hail and several tornadoes in Kansas on Friday evening.

From the hail in Phillips, Rooks and Smith counties to tornadoes in Dickinson, Butler Wabaunsee and Atchinson County, it was a busy weather night.

There were some reports of power outages and damage. There are no early reports of injuries. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651286221103.png" alt="Friday night tornado in Butler County -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Friday night tornado in Butler County -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —The National Weather Service preliminary damage estimate of Friday's tornado in portion of Butler and Sedgwick County indicates the tornado an EF-3.The storm was on the ground from 8:10 to 8:31p.m. and moved from northeast from eastern Sedgwick County into Andover and then toward Benton.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651356131543.png" alt="Storm damage in Marion County-photo National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Storm damage in Marion County-photo National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service preliminary damage survey of Friday night's storm confirmed four tornadoes in Marion County. Two of them had an EF-1 rating.At 7:57p.m. a Tornado was reported four miles north of Tampa. It had maximum wind gusts of&nbsp; 96 miles per hour (EF-1), a maximum width of 30 yards and traveled .9 miles.&nbsp;At 8:03p.m. another a tornado hit three miles southeast of Durham. It had maximum wind gusts of 95 miles per hour (EF-1) a maximum width of 50 yards and traveled .9 miles. There were no injuries or deaths from these storms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651355141053.png" alt="Storm damage in Wamego area- phot0 National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Storm damage in Wamego area- phot0 National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure>The storms in the Wamego, Belvue area indicates an EF-1 tornado with wind speeds at 93 miles per hour.The tornado started at 8:03 p.m., traveled 11.48 miles and ended a ended at 8:18p.m.&nbsp; The tornado's maximum width was 100 yards. There were no injuries or death from the tornado, according to the National Weather Service.The survey of damage in the Herington area shows the tornado that started at 8:06p.m. rated as an EF-1 with winds of 97 miles per hour. It was on the ground for 17 miles and ended at 8:28p.m. The storm had a maximum width of 75 yards. There were no injuries or deaths from this storm.---------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas damaged multiple buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power, officials said Saturday.Officials said the suspected twister moved though parts of southeast Wichita and Andover on Friday evening. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said during a news conference early Saturday morning that 50 to 100 buildings were damaged in Sedgwick County, though it was not immediately known how many buildings were damaged in Andover.Russell said in some neighborhoods homes “were completely blown away.”Officials said only a few injuries had been reported. In Sedgwick County, three people were injured, including one woman who suffered serious injuries. Russell said no injuries had been reported in Butler County, but a secondary assessment would be conducted Saturday morning.He said some neighborhoods were “damaged enough that houses were completely blown down” and cited areas that suffered “very bad damage.”City Hall also sustained damage, which hampered “some of our efforts,” Russell said. Other buildings reportedly damaged included the Dr. Jim Farha Andover YMCA and Prairie Creek Elementary School.Gov. Laura Kelly declared a State of Disaster Emergency for the hardest hit areas. The declaration makes state resources available to help local jurisdictions with response and recovery efforts in areas impacted statewide.In addition to the tornadoes, large hail was reported in several towns across the Plains. Hail the size of softballs was spotted near Holbrook, Nebraska, and Enterprise, Kansas, according to the National Weather Service and storm spotters.--------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A suspected tornado that barreled through parts of Kansas damaged multiple buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power, officials said Saturday.Officials said the suspected twister moved though parts of southeast Wichita and Andover on Friday evening. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said during a news conference early Saturday morning that 50 to 100 buildings were damaged in Sedgwick County, though it was not immediately known how many buildings were damaged in Andover.Russell said in some neighborhoods homes “were completely blown away.”Officials said only a few injuries had been reported. In Sedgwick County, three people were injured, including one woman who suffered serious injuries. Russell said no injuries had been reported in Butler County, but a secondary assessment would be conducted Saturday morning.Russell said that while it was not immediately known how many buildings had been damaged, more than 900 structures were in the suspected tornado’s path.He said some neighborhoods were “damaged enough that houses were completely blown down” and cited areas that suffered “very bad damage.”City Hall also sustained damage, which hampered “some of our efforts,” Russell said. Other buildings reportedly damaged included the Dr. Jim Farha Andover YMCA and Prairie Creek Elementary School.Because of tornado damage in the Andover area, U.S. 54/400 is closed from 159th on the west to Santa Fe Lake Road on the east. Traffic is being diverted, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651320128967.png" alt="photo Wabaunsee County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>photo Wabaunsee County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Several tornadoes were reported in Wabaunsee County on Friday evening. One home was was destroyed, according to the sheriff's office. There were no injuries.--------BUTLER COUNTY —The National Weather Service reported strong winds, four inch diameter hail and several tornadoes in Kansas on Friday evening.From the hail in Phillips, Rooks and Smith counties to tornadoes in Dickinson, Butler Wabaunsee and Atchinson County, it was a busy weather night.There were some reports of power outages and damage. There are no early reports of injuries. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

National Weather Service: Andover tornado rated EF3

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) —Three University of Oklahoma meteorology students traveling back from storm chasing in Kansas were also killed in a crash Friday evening. 

Nicholas Nair, 20, of Denton, Texas; Gavin Short, 19, of Grayslake, Illinois; and Drake Brooks, 22, of Evansville, Indiana, died in the crash shortly before 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report.

The three were in a vehicle being driven by Nair southbound on Interstate 35 when the vehicle hydroplaned and was struck by a tractor-trailer rig in Tonkawa, about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City, the report said.

A statement released by OU said: “The university is devastated to learn of the tragic passing of three students. Each were valued and loved members of our community.”

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) —Three University of Oklahoma meteorology students traveling back from storm chasing in Kansas were also killed in a crash Friday evening. Nicholas Nair, 20, of Denton, Texas; Gavin Short, 19, of Grayslake, Illinois; and Drake Brooks, 22, of Evansville, Indiana, died in the crash shortly before 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report.The three were in a vehicle being driven by Nair southbound on Interstate 35 when the vehicle hydroplaned and was struck by a tractor-trailer rig in Tonkawa, about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City, the report said.A statement released by OU said: “The university is devastated to learn of the tragic passing of three students. Each were valued and loved members of our community.”

3 students killed returning from storm chasing in Kansas

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.

Just after 8p.m. Thursday, police conducted a traffic stop on a Cadillac Deville in the 1400 block of N. Main Street in Garden City, according to a media release.

After further investigation, a search of the vehicle was conducted. Officers located suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia along with a firearm and ammunition. 

The driver 35-year-old Albert Burdett of Garden City, KS, was taken into custody on requested charges of Distribution of a Stimulant &lt; 3.5 Grams, Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He has previous convictions for battery, criminal possession of a firearm and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651160218492.png" alt="Burdett-photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Burdett-photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.Just after 8p.m. Thursday, police conducted a traffic stop on a Cadillac Deville in the 1400 block of N. Main Street in Garden City, according to a media release.After further investigation, a search of the vehicle was conducted. Officers located suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia along with a firearm and ammunition. The driver 35-year-old Albert Burdett of Garden City, KS, was taken into custody on requested charges of Distribution of a Stimulant &lt; 3.5 Grams, Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He has previous convictions for battery, criminal possession of a firearm and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Police: Kansas felon found with fentanyl in SW Kansas 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died. She was 76.

The daughters announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

“Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness,” the statement said. “We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.” The statement did not elaborate further.

The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.

The mother-daughter performers scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. After rising to the top of country music, they called it quits in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis.

The Judds’ hits included “Love Can Build a Bridge” in 1990,“Mama He’s Crazy” in 1984, “Why Not Me” in 1984,“Turn It Loose” in 1988, “Girls Night Out” in 1985, “Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain” in 1986 and “Grandpa” in 1986.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651348297370.png" alt="The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday." />
 <figcaption>The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died. She was 76.The daughters announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press.“Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness,” the statement said. “We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.” The statement did not elaborate further.The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.The mother-daughter performers scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. After rising to the top of country music, they called it quits in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651348227459.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Judds’ hits included “Love Can Build a Bridge” in 1990,“Mama He’s Crazy” in 1984, “Why Not Me” in 1984,“Turn It Loose” in 1988, “Girls Night Out” in 1985, “Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain” in 1986 and “Grandpa” in 1986.

Naomi Judd, of Grammy-winning duo The Judds, has died

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-04-26/addiction-derailed-their-lives-these-kansans-say-the-criminal-justice-system-made-it-worse">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — Samantha Bishop used drugs to feel better 
about herself. That, coupled with social pressures, drove her ever 
deeper into addiction.

“It just kind of snowballed and became more of an everyday thing,” she said. “I had to have it to be able to function.”

One
 day when Bishop was dealing drugs so she could buy more for herself, 
she sold to an undercover officer. That landed her in prison for more 
than two years.

Four years later, she’s sober. In some respects, 
her story represents success because she recovered. But Bishop and 
others who went through the Kansas criminal justice system contend the 
state is not doing enough to support people with addiction.

“There’s
 a lack of compassion on the criminal justice system side. They look at 
it like, ‘Oh, you're bad. You broke the law,’” she said.

Kansas 
offers programs to help people recover and avoid jail or prison, but 
many people who need them don’t have access. Many Kansans sent to jail 
or prison on drug charges had to drop out of school, became homeless and
 lost meaningful connections with their children.

Bishop’s 
daughter has separation anxiety from when her mother went to prison. 
Bishop admits she made a mistake — like dealing drugs — but she said 
there would be less trauma if she had been given drug treatment instead 
of a prison sentence.

Randy Henderson 
started in law enforcement in 1976 and worked in the trenches of the war
 on drugs in the narcotics division at the Hutchinson Police Department 
from 1988 through 1997.

“My job was to arrest drug offenders, put 
them in jail and I forgot about them, basically,” said Henderson, a 
retired Reno County Sheriff. “When I came out of there in 1998, I had 
kind of a rude awakening.”

Henderson realized he needed to change 
his approach. Despite all the arrests, he didn’t see much progress. As 
sheriff, he helped create drug treatment and mental health programs in 
the Reno County jail. The success of that program convinced local 
elected officials, businesses and donors to establish a drug detox 
program.

But those changes can be slow-moving considering some community advocates were trying for decades to build the rehab facility.

“We’ve all got to open up our eyes and not just look at being the enforcers of the law,” Henderson said.

The
 hundreds of law enforcement agencies in Kansas each respond to 
addiction differently. Police have historically responded the same way 
Henderson did. Some are starting to change their thinking but there “are
 far more (of) the old mindset,” said Hutchinson Police Chief Jeffrey 
Hooper.

Hooper said police often see people in crisis. And don’t 
see those same people again until another crisis strikes. So he’s formed
 a crisis response team of police, mental health and substance use 
experts. This team checks in more often to connect people with the 
resources they need to divert them away from jail or prison.

“We 
had to do better,” Hooper said. “We had to fund something up front to 
keep them out of the criminal justice system because that just compounds
 their problem. Not only do they have a substance misuse disorder, but 
now they have a criminal record.”

He hopes more will follow in his
 footsteps and hopes that more police can take a more sympathetic 
approach to people who get in trouble because they’re battling drug 
problems.

Bishop said the stigma of drug addiction is real. She 
recalled times she didn’t call the police during domestic abuse 
situations because she worried how police might respond. Meanwhile, the 
relationship made Bishop feel worse and compounded the problem.

“Drugs
 (were) present and (I) didn't really want to create more chaos,” she 
said. “It’s an unspoken rule. You just don't talk to the cops or call 
the cops because there is a chance that you will go to jail for whatever
 it is that you're doing.”

Kansas had 2,392 drug 
probation sentences in 2013. That number increased every year between 
2013 and 2019 and peaked at 3,939 drug probation sentences, according to
 data from the Kansas sentencing commission. A majority of those 
sentences, above 70%, were for possession.

The number suddenly 
dropped in 2020, though addiction counselors, judges and attorneys say 
the situation has not improved. One addiction specialist said, “these 
last two years have been the worst I’ve ever seen.”

More probation
 sentences mean more Kansans with addiction are going through the court 
system. A person could take multiple paths when they are first arrested 
on a drug charge, but what happens next depends on the person and the 
circumstances of their case — and which county they happen to get 
arrested in or the particular judge they face.

Shawnee County 
District Attorney Mike Kagay said a handful of judges hear cases like 
that in his county and each one may take a different approach. That 
response can vary county by county and no one clear outcome exists for 
people caught with drugs. But Kagay said he doesn’t want to send people 
to prison.

He said things like a lack of regional drug treatment facilities can make diverting people to treatment harder.

“There
 (are) not enough resources that have been allocated to addressing the 
issues of both drug addiction and mental illness in the state of 
Kansas,” he said. “We’re better off than where we were five years ago. 
But we're not where we need to be, not even close.”

Specialty drug
 courts provide wrap-around services to people on certain charges. Those
 charges do not need to be drug charges, but they have to be related to 
addiction, like writing bad checks to purchase drugs. Chief District 
Judge Nicholas St. Peter’s program serves Cowley County and is one of 
the oldest drug courts in Kansas. It has law enforcement, treatment 
providers, county prosecutors, defense attorneys and others who all work
 to help people recover.

“Drug court is an extremely intense 
program,” St. Peter said. “It’s not designed for your first-time 
substance abuse conviction of somebody who's a recreational, occasional 
drug user.”

Judges who spoke with the Kansas News Service said 
building a stronger support network around someone is a more productive 
way to handle addiction. Lower level offenses won’t result in prison 
time for someone, but giving them probation and sending them back out to
 the same situation they came from may not yield better results.

These
 specialty courts are becoming more popular, but they can be difficult 
to start. There are 13 drug courts programs statewide and less than half
 of the judicial districts in the state have one.

Chief District 
Judge Lori Bolton Fleming doesn’t have a drug court in the 11th district
 — which is Cherokee, Crawford and Labette County — but she is 
interested in starting one. Shortages of defense attorneys, funding or 
transportation issues can all hamper the court’s creation.

One 
judge said drug courts, while beneficial, only add to the overall 
workload of the people involved and it doesn’t bring a pay increase.

“Drug court or any specialty court catches people who wouldn’t otherwise fall through the cracks,” Bolton Fleming said.

Aside
 from drug courts, people on probation can be eligible for 18 months of 
drug treatment as part of a special state program. Kira Johnson, who 
runs the program for the Kansas Sentencing Commission, said it’s 
designed to divert people away from prison.

But that intervention 
program is beyond the reach of many of the people who need it most. Only
 38.2% of people on all drug probation sentences got the services in 
fiscal year 2020. The Kansas Legislature recently approved changes that 
could allow more people to access the program, but some barriers still 
remain.

To be eligible, someone must be high needs according to 
certain treatment screenings and can't have three past convictions for 
possession. That’s prompted criticisms that the program penalizes 
failure.

“Whether they get it this time or next time, it’s not our
 place to try to judge and figure out when that will be, it's just to 
provide them services and try to help them to get them where they are 
functioning healthy members of our society,” said Crystal Norman, 
executive director of addiction recovery provider Valley Hope.

Johnson
 said she would love to treat everyone until they recover, but there has
 to be a cutoff to ensure tax dollars are spent responsibly.

Advocates
 argue spending upfront will save money in the long run because the 
annual cost of housing inmates in state prison is $30,100. Norman said 
if she had the same amount of money the state used to put people in 
prison or jail, she could provide therapy, case management and all other
 kinds of treatment.

“It’s a waste of money, putting them in jail 
and prison to expect them to come out somehow cured when we never 
provided treatment,” she said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”

Martony
 Cowan knows how to beat addiction. As a juvenile, he struggled. But he 
improved. He got a job and he graduated. Then, his mother died.

“I
 don’t want to say it’s an excuse, but I lost my mom,” said Cowan, who 
is held at the Winfield Correctional Facility. “I was going through a 
dark point in my life and I just relapsed. One time turned into two 
times and two times turned into plenty … until I got arrested.”

Cowan
 bought larger quantities of drugs and when he was caught he was 
considered a drug dealer. Because of his charges, Cowan was not offered 
drug treatment programs and said he was sentenced to just over five 
years in prison.

Jails and prisons have a large population of 
people struggling with addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse 
estimates that 65% of inmates in state prison have active substance 
misuse issues. The Kansas Department of Corrections’ drug treatment 
program had around 750 people, or about 8% of the inmate population, in 
fiscal year 2021.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-16/a-few-kansas-jails-are-finally-allowing-medical-care-for-opioid-addiction" target="_blank">The Kansas News Service reported in February</a>
 that nobody tracks how many Kansas jails offer a combination of 
medication and counseling to inmates, but few do so nationwide. Going to
 jail or prison can abruptly stop drug treatment if nothing is offered 
while inside, and talking to doctors to start treatment can be 
difficult. Kansas prisons offer medication, like Vivitrol, though it 
isn’t uncommon for people to go cold turkey in prison, multiple inmates 
told the Kansas News Service.

The Department of Corrections 
deferred any comments to emailed statements. Carol Pitts, spokesperson 
for the department, said recently approved<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb267/" target="_blank"> legislation</a>
 currently in the Statehouse expands drug treatment programs at the 
Lansing and Winfield prisons. Prisons also offer Alcoholics Anonymous 
programs. All told, Pitts said, “current resources allow the department 
to reach almost half of the residents” with substance use issues.

The state prison’s treatment programs have been called life-changing by some inmates, but it is inaccessible to others.

Cowan
 is working a private industry job. He works when the treatment is 
offered and the staff who run the programs have gone home by the time he
 is off. Some people are also sent back to prison for only a few months 
if they violate parole. Shorter sentences and sanctions may not offer 
enough time for someone to take the four-to-six-month long treatment 
program.

Sherry White, founder and executive director of High 
Point Advocacy and Resource Center, said arresting people instead of 
helping them can lead to future legal troubles. Around 80% of the people
 High Point serves are on probation or parole and almost all of those 
sentences are drug-related.

To help people recover, addiction 
recovery specialists recommend keeping people in their community with 
friends and family, having stable work and housing. Jails and prisons 
can do the exact opposite.

Going to prison can make it harder for 
inmates to save up for a security deposit on an apartment or a down 
payment on a house. From July 2016 through July 2021, KDOC released 
5,238 inmates on indigent status, which means having less than $12 in a 
cumulative spendable amount in the past month.

The left-leaning 
Prison Policy Initiative found that formerly incarcerated people are 
almost 10 times more likely to be homeless and 27% of people with 
records are unemployed.

Even those with money now face the 
challenges of being a former inmate. White’s son was arrested for drug 
charges and struggled to find housing despite having money for rent, so 
he lived in her basement.

“Once you're in the system, it's hard to break out,” White said. “You can not incarcerate a disease out of somebody.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650985519722.png" alt="Carlos Moreno / KCUR" />
 <figcaption>Carlos Moreno / KCUR</figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-04-26/addiction-derailed-their-lives-these-kansans-say-the-criminal-justice-system-made-it-worse">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — Samantha Bishop used drugs to feel better 
about herself. That, coupled with social pressures, drove her ever 
deeper into addiction.“It just kind of snowballed and became more of an everyday thing,” she said. “I had to have it to be able to function.”One
 day when Bishop was dealing drugs so she could buy more for herself, 
she sold to an undercover officer. That landed her in prison for more 
than two years.Four years later, she’s sober. In some respects, 
her story represents success because she recovered. But Bishop and 
others who went through the Kansas criminal justice system contend the 
state is not doing enough to support people with addiction.“There’s
 a lack of compassion on the criminal justice system side. They look at 
it like, ‘Oh, you're bad. You broke the law,’” she said.Kansas 
offers programs to help people recover and avoid jail or prison, but 
many people who need them don’t have access. Many Kansans sent to jail 
or prison on drug charges had to drop out of school, became homeless and
 lost meaningful connections with their children.Bishop’s 
daughter has separation anxiety from when her mother went to prison. 
Bishop admits she made a mistake — like dealing drugs — but she said 
there would be less trauma if she had been given drug treatment instead 
of a prison sentence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650985590005.png" alt="Kansans in recovery say the criminal justice system makes it harder to get off drugs. Chris Neal / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Kansans in recovery say the criminal justice system makes it harder to get off drugs. Chris Neal / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘We've all got to open up our eyes’</h2>Randy Henderson 
started in law enforcement in 1976 and worked in the trenches of the war
 on drugs in the narcotics division at the Hutchinson Police Department 
from 1988 through 1997.“My job was to arrest drug offenders, put 
them in jail and I forgot about them, basically,” said Henderson, a 
retired Reno County Sheriff. “When I came out of there in 1998, I had 
kind of a rude awakening.”Henderson realized he needed to change 
his approach. Despite all the arrests, he didn’t see much progress. As 
sheriff, he helped create drug treatment and mental health programs in 
the Reno County jail. The success of that program convinced local 
elected officials, businesses and donors to establish a drug detox 
program.But those changes can be slow-moving considering some community advocates were trying for decades to build the rehab facility.“We’ve all got to open up our eyes and not just look at being the enforcers of the law,” Henderson said.The
 hundreds of law enforcement agencies in Kansas each respond to 
addiction differently. Police have historically responded the same way 
Henderson did. Some are starting to change their thinking but there “are
 far more (of) the old mindset,” said Hutchinson Police Chief Jeffrey 
Hooper.Hooper said police often see people in crisis. And don’t 
see those same people again until another crisis strikes. So he’s formed
 a crisis response team of police, mental health and substance use 
experts. This team checks in more often to connect people with the 
resources they need to divert them away from jail or prison.“We 
had to do better,” Hooper said. “We had to fund something up front to 
keep them out of the criminal justice system because that just compounds
 their problem. Not only do they have a substance misuse disorder, but 
now they have a criminal record.”He hopes more will follow in his
 footsteps and hopes that more police can take a more sympathetic 
approach to people who get in trouble because they’re battling drug 
problems.Bishop said the stigma of drug addiction is real. She 
recalled times she didn’t call the police during domestic abuse 
situations because she worried how police might respond. Meanwhile, the 
relationship made Bishop feel worse and compounded the problem.“Drugs
 (were) present and (I) didn't really want to create more chaos,” she 
said. “It’s an unspoken rule. You just don't talk to the cops or call 
the cops because there is a chance that you will go to jail for whatever
 it is that you're doing.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650985620477.png" alt="Specialty courts could expand in Kansas after the state Legislature created a fund that'll support its expansion. KNS" />
 <figcaption>Specialty courts could expand in Kansas after the state Legislature created a fund that'll support its expansion. KNS</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Not enough resources’</h2>Kansas had 2,392 drug 
probation sentences in 2013. That number increased every year between 
2013 and 2019 and peaked at 3,939 drug probation sentences, according to
 data from the Kansas sentencing commission. A majority of those 
sentences, above 70%, were for possession.The number suddenly 
dropped in 2020, though addiction counselors, judges and attorneys say 
the situation has not improved. One addiction specialist said, “these 
last two years have been the worst I’ve ever seen.”More probation
 sentences mean more Kansans with addiction are going through the court 
system. A person could take multiple paths when they are first arrested 
on a drug charge, but what happens next depends on the person and the 
circumstances of their case — and which county they happen to get 
arrested in or the particular judge they face.Shawnee County 
District Attorney Mike Kagay said a handful of judges hear cases like 
that in his county and each one may take a different approach. That 
response can vary county by county and no one clear outcome exists for 
people caught with drugs. But Kagay said he doesn’t want to send people 
to prison.He said things like a lack of regional drug treatment facilities can make diverting people to treatment harder.“There
 (are) not enough resources that have been allocated to addressing the 
issues of both drug addiction and mental illness in the state of 
Kansas,” he said. “We’re better off than where we were five years ago. 
But we're not where we need to be, not even close.”Specialty drug
 courts provide wrap-around services to people on certain charges. Those
 charges do not need to be drug charges, but they have to be related to 
addiction, like writing bad checks to purchase drugs. Chief District 
Judge Nicholas St. Peter’s program serves Cowley County and is one of 
the oldest drug courts in Kansas. It has law enforcement, treatment 
providers, county prosecutors, defense attorneys and others who all work
 to help people recover.“Drug court is an extremely intense 
program,” St. Peter said. “It’s not designed for your first-time 
substance abuse conviction of somebody who's a recreational, occasional 
drug user.”Judges who spoke with the Kansas News Service said 
building a stronger support network around someone is a more productive 
way to handle addiction. Lower level offenses won’t result in prison 
time for someone, but giving them probation and sending them back out to
 the same situation they came from may not yield better results.These
 specialty courts are becoming more popular, but they can be difficult 
to start. There are 13 drug courts programs statewide and less than half
 of the judicial districts in the state have one.Chief District 
Judge Lori Bolton Fleming doesn’t have a drug court in the 11th district
 — which is Cherokee, Crawford and Labette County — but she is 
interested in starting one. Shortages of defense attorneys, funding or 
transportation issues can all hamper the court’s creation.One 
judge said drug courts, while beneficial, only add to the overall 
workload of the people involved and it doesn’t bring a pay increase.“Drug court or any specialty court catches people who wouldn’t otherwise fall through the cracks,” Bolton Fleming said.Aside
 from drug courts, people on probation can be eligible for 18 months of 
drug treatment as part of a special state program. Kira Johnson, who 
runs the program for the Kansas Sentencing Commission, said it’s 
designed to divert people away from prison.But that intervention 
program is beyond the reach of many of the people who need it most. Only
 38.2% of people on all drug probation sentences got the services in 
fiscal year 2020. The Kansas Legislature recently approved changes that 
could allow more people to access the program, but some barriers still 
remain.To be eligible, someone must be high needs according to 
certain treatment screenings and can't have three past convictions for 
possession. That’s prompted criticisms that the program penalizes 
failure.“Whether they get it this time or next time, it’s not our
 place to try to judge and figure out when that will be, it's just to 
provide them services and try to help them to get them where they are 
functioning healthy members of our society,” said Crystal Norman, 
executive director of addiction recovery provider Valley Hope.Johnson
 said she would love to treat everyone until they recover, but there has
 to be a cutoff to ensure tax dollars are spent responsibly.Advocates
 argue spending upfront will save money in the long run because the 
annual cost of housing inmates in state prison is $30,100. Norman said 
if she had the same amount of money the state used to put people in 
prison or jail, she could provide therapy, case management and all other
 kinds of treatment.“It’s a waste of money, putting them in jail 
and prison to expect them to come out somehow cured when we never 
provided treatment,” she said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”<h2>‘It's hard to break out’</h2>Martony
 Cowan knows how to beat addiction. As a juvenile, he struggled. But he 
improved. He got a job and he graduated. Then, his mother died.“I
 don’t want to say it’s an excuse, but I lost my mom,” said Cowan, who 
is held at the Winfield Correctional Facility. “I was going through a 
dark point in my life and I just relapsed. One time turned into two 
times and two times turned into plenty … until I got arrested.”Cowan
 bought larger quantities of drugs and when he was caught he was 
considered a drug dealer. Because of his charges, Cowan was not offered 
drug treatment programs and said he was sentenced to just over five 
years in prison.Jails and prisons have a large population of 
people struggling with addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse 
estimates that 65% of inmates in state prison have active substance 
misuse issues. The Kansas Department of Corrections’ drug treatment 
program had around 750 people, or about 8% of the inmate population, in 
fiscal year 2021.<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-16/a-few-kansas-jails-are-finally-allowing-medical-care-for-opioid-addiction" target="_blank">The Kansas News Service reported in February</a>
 that nobody tracks how many Kansas jails offer a combination of 
medication and counseling to inmates, but few do so nationwide. Going to
 jail or prison can abruptly stop drug treatment if nothing is offered 
while inside, and talking to doctors to start treatment can be 
difficult. Kansas prisons offer medication, like Vivitrol, though it 
isn’t uncommon for people to go cold turkey in prison, multiple inmates 
told the Kansas News Service.The Department of Corrections 
deferred any comments to emailed statements. Carol Pitts, spokesperson 
for the department, said recently approved<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb267/" target="_blank"> legislation</a>
 currently in the Statehouse expands drug treatment programs at the 
Lansing and Winfield prisons. Prisons also offer Alcoholics Anonymous 
programs. All told, Pitts said, “current resources allow the department 
to reach almost half of the residents” with substance use issues.The state prison’s treatment programs have been called life-changing by some inmates, but it is inaccessible to others.Cowan
 is working a private industry job. He works when the treatment is 
offered and the staff who run the programs have gone home by the time he
 is off. Some people are also sent back to prison for only a few months 
if they violate parole. Shorter sentences and sanctions may not offer 
enough time for someone to take the four-to-six-month long treatment 
program.Sherry White, founder and executive director of High 
Point Advocacy and Resource Center, said arresting people instead of 
helping them can lead to future legal troubles. Around 80% of the people
 High Point serves are on probation or parole and almost all of those 
sentences are drug-related.To help people recover, addiction 
recovery specialists recommend keeping people in their community with 
friends and family, having stable work and housing. Jails and prisons 
can do the exact opposite.Going to prison can make it harder for 
inmates to save up for a security deposit on an apartment or a down 
payment on a house. From July 2016 through July 2021, KDOC released 
5,238 inmates on indigent status, which means having less than $12 in a 
cumulative spendable amount in the past month.The left-leaning 
Prison Policy Initiative found that formerly incarcerated people are 
almost 10 times more likely to be homeless and 27% of people with 
records are unemployed.Even those with money now face the 
challenges of being a former inmate. White’s son was arrested for drug 
charges and struggled to find housing despite having money for rent, so 
he lived in her basement.“Once you're in the system, it's hard to break out,” White said. “You can not incarcerate a disease out of somebody.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650985660701.png" alt="State prisons offer treatment options, but they can be dificult to get inmates say. KNS" />
 <figcaption>State prisons offer treatment options, but they can be dificult to get inmates say. KNS</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘More harm than good'</h2>People with felony drug 
charges are not eligible for food assistance and Kansas has one of the 
most burdensome drug offender registries in the country. People on the 
registry must check in with law enforcement every few months, share all 
social media handles and renew their driver's license yearly. Not doing 
so could put them back in prison.<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-23/critics-say-the-kansas-criminal-justice-systems-fees-and-fines-trap-people-in-a-cycle-of-poverty" target="_blank">Fines and fees</a>
 associated with the court system can also stack up, which can lead to 
future legal consequences. A survey by the Alabama Appleseed Center for 
Law and Justice found that 38% of people committed other crimes, like 
selling drugs, to pay off that debt.The state Legislature has 
discussed changing some of these laws, but no bills have passed. 
Allowing food assistance for people with drug felonies passed out of 
committee but didn’t advance, and legislation that creates exit 
mechanisms for people to get off the drug registry is still waiting for 
action in the full Senate.More comprehensive changes were also 
passed over. A bill exempting drug offenders from ever going on the 
registry hasn’t had a hearing. Another proposal to expand the drug 
sentencing grid and reduce possible penalties for drug charges also 
stalled.Rep. Stephen Owens, a Heston Republican, chairs the 
corrections and juvenile justice committee. His committee worked on a 
handful of key legislation advocates and others were pushing for.Owens
 was frustrated to see some of the changes fail, but he said the state 
is working to make life easier for people in recovery.“I see how 
these things will make a significant difference in people’s lives. I 
understand it very well,” he said. “The broader (Legislature) has got to
 understand its benefits as well. And that’s challenging.”In this
 session, the Legislature created a specialty court resources fund and a
 group to oversee that money in hopes of expanding these courts, which 
could expand drug and mental health courts.Cowan said when he 
gets out of prison, he is going to move out of state to avoid 
post-prison restrictions. He wants to become a lineman and did take a 
class in prison that will help him, though he would be further along 
with his career goals if he didn’t spend all this time in prison.“I'm
 now sober and plan on staying sober … so I guess (the system) works. 
But it was definitely overkill,” he said. “It wasn't necessary to this 
extent … It has done me more harm than good.”Blaise Mesa 
reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas News 
Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or email 
him at blaise@kcur.org.