UPDATE 4:25 p.m. Friday: The Salina Police this afternoon released new information in the landscaper BB shooting case.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A social media challenge apparently is connected to the shooting of a landscaper in downtown Salina late Tuesday morning.

The Salina Police Department this afternoon announced that two people had been apprehended in connection to the case.

Earlier today, by using a partial license plate number, detectives were able to locate in the 700 block of S. Ninth Street the white Dodge Ram connected to the shooting, according to a news release from the department. Two teen males believed to be associated with the shooting were located in the pickup. The two were identified as a 17-year-old Salina boy and Lucas E. Burleson, 18, of Salina. Both were taken to the Salina Police Department for questioning.

"Detectives learned the suspect’s actions might be associated with a Tick Tock 'Orbeez Challenge' on social media involving gel or water beads fired from airsoft-type guns. This challenge encourages participants to use airsoft-type guns which shoot gel or water beads at pedestrians. This Tick Tock social media challenge is apparently a nation-wide phenomenon and has resulted in injuries," the Salina Police Department noted in the news release.

Following are the requested charges for the two, according to information from the police.

The 17-year-old boy: Aggravated assault and battery. Both are Saline County District Court juvenile charges.

Burleson: Unlawful discharge of an air gun within the city limits. This is a Salina Municipal Court charge.

Additionally, there is a third person believed to be involved in the incident.

"Once they are identified, that person will beinterviewed and may be subject to charges," the department noted in the news release.

If you have any information concerning this event or identification of the individual(s) involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950</a> to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward and you are not required to give your name. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210. Case 2022-3667.

On Tuesday, officers with the Salina Police Department received a report from a citizen who had been shot by a BB gun. 

The woman reported that she was working along the side of the road in the 200 block of S. Santa Fe Avenue when a newer white four-door Dodge Ram pickup drove by slowly. The woman observed the rear driver’s side passenger holding a black BB gun. The passenger then fired the BB gun, striking the victim in the chest with a BB.

Video surveillance from the downtown area shows the suspect vehicle leaving the scene.

If you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an online tip at: <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, or Officer Cranmer, case 2022-7160.

UPDATE 4:25 p.m. Friday: The Salina Police this afternoon released new information in the landscaper BB shooting case.By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA social media challenge apparently is connected to the shooting of a landscaper in downtown Salina late Tuesday morning.The Salina Police Department this afternoon announced that two people had been apprehended in connection to the case.Earlier today, by using a partial license plate number, detectives were able to locate in the 700 block of S. Ninth Street the white Dodge Ram connected to the shooting, according to a news release from the department. Two teen males believed to be associated with the shooting were located in the pickup. The two were identified as a 17-year-old Salina boy and Lucas E. Burleson, 18, of Salina. Both were taken to the Salina Police Department for questioning."Detectives learned the suspect’s actions might be associated with a Tick Tock 'Orbeez Challenge' on social media involving gel or water beads fired from airsoft-type guns. This challenge encourages participants to use airsoft-type guns which shoot gel or water beads at pedestrians. This Tick Tock social media challenge is apparently a nation-wide phenomenon and has resulted in injuries," the Salina Police Department noted in the news release.Following are the requested charges for the two, according to information from the police.The 17-year-old boy: Aggravated assault and battery. Both are Saline County District Court juvenile charges.Burleson: Unlawful discharge of an air gun within the city limits. This is a Salina Municipal Court charge.Additionally, there is a third person believed to be involved in the incident."Once they are identified, that person will beinterviewed and may be subject to charges," the department noted in the news release.If you have any information concerning this event or identification of the individual(s) involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950</a> to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward and you are not required to give your name. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210. Case 2022-3667.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647624264575.jpeg" alt="Crimestoppers is seeking tips about this white Dodge Ram in connection with an incident in which a worker&nbsp; was shot with a BB gun in the 200 block of S. Santa Fe Avenue.&nbsp;Photos courtesy Crimestoppers&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Crimestoppers is seeking tips about this white Dodge Ram in connection with an incident in which a worker&nbsp; was shot with a BB gun in the 200 block of S. Santa Fe Avenue.&nbsp;Photos courtesy Crimestoppers&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>CrimestoppersOn Tuesday, officers with the Salina Police Department received a report from a citizen who had been shot by a BB gun. The woman reported that she was working along the side of the road in the 200 block of S. Santa Fe Avenue when a newer white four-door Dodge Ram pickup drove by slowly. The woman observed the rear driver’s side passenger holding a black BB gun. The passenger then fired the BB gun, striking the victim in the chest with a BB.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647624406768.jpeg" alt="Another view of the Dodge Ram taken from surveillance video." />
 <figcaption>Another view of the Dodge Ram taken from surveillance video.</figcaption>
 </figure>Video surveillance from the downtown area shows the suspect vehicle leaving the scene.If you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an online tip at: <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, or Officer Cranmer, case 2022-7160. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647624476894.jpeg" alt="Another image from surveillance video." />
 <figcaption>Another image from surveillance video.</figcaption>
 </figure>

BB shooting case in Salina may be part of nationwide trend

LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp; — The Nebraska 
State Patrol is renewing its request for information regarding the 
disappearance of Linda Dillard, who went missing last June in southeast 
Nebraska, according to a media release.

Dillard was last seen on June 16, 2021, in the rural Table Rock, Neb., area.
 As part of the investigation, NSP and assisting agencies have conducted
 multiple searches in the area where Dillard was last seen. 
Investigators believe Dillard may have been the victim of a crime, which
 led to her disappearance.

Dillard was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black DKNY boxer brief shorts, and brown Birkenstock-type 
sandals. Dillard is described as a white female, 5’0”, 130 pounds, with 
blue eyes and brown hair (possibly dyed or wearing a wig).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647635073487.jpeg" alt="Dillard photo Nebraska State Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Dillard photo Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp; — The Nebraska 
State Patrol is renewing its request for information regarding the 
disappearance of Linda Dillard, who went missing last June in southeast 
Nebraska, according to a media release.Dillard was last seen on June 16, 2021, in the rural Table Rock, Neb., area.
 As part of the investigation, NSP and assisting agencies have conducted
 multiple searches in the area where Dillard was last seen. 
Investigators believe Dillard may have been the victim of a crime, which
 led to her disappearance.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647635024140.png" alt="Table Rock is in the southeast portion of Nebraska near the Kansas border. Google Maps." />
 <figcaption>Table Rock is in the southeast portion of Nebraska near the Kansas border. Google Maps.</figcaption>
 </figure>Dillard was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black DKNY boxer brief shorts, and brown Birkenstock-type 
sandals. Dillard is described as a white female, 5’0”, 130 pounds, with 
blue eyes and brown hair (possibly dyed or wearing a wig).

Nebraska Patrol: Search continues for woman missing since June

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) was recently appointed by the Senate to join the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group, which serves as a bridge between the U.S. Senate and NATO allies, according to a media release his office.

“As Russia’s unprovoked war with Ukraine threatens European stability, a unified NATO is essential to deterring further threats and preserving American peace and prosperity,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“Through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have regularly met with NATO military leaders stationed throughout Europe, and I am pleased to now join the Senate NATO Observer Group to continue strengthening this transatlantic alliance. Through this bipartisan group my colleagues and I will track the implementation of NATO initiatives, assess its military capabilities and review NATO defense spending to protect democracy and safeguard freedom for the U.S. and our NATO allies.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647627371678.png" alt="In October, and before Senator Moran's addition, the Senate NATO Observer Group met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington.&nbsp;U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),&nbsp;a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, and U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) co-chair the group " />
 <figcaption>In October, and before Senator Moran's addition, the Senate NATO Observer Group met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington.&nbsp;U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),&nbsp;a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, and U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) co-chair the group </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) was recently appointed by the Senate to join the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group, which serves as a bridge between the U.S. Senate and NATO allies, according to a media release his office.“As Russia’s unprovoked war with Ukraine threatens European stability, a unified NATO is essential to deterring further threats and preserving American peace and prosperity,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“Through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have regularly met with NATO military leaders stationed throughout Europe, and I am pleased to now join the Senate NATO Observer Group to continue strengthening this transatlantic alliance. Through this bipartisan group my colleagues and I will track the implementation of NATO initiatives, assess its military capabilities and review NATO defense spending to protect democracy and safeguard freedom for the U.S. and our NATO allies.”<ul>
 <li>The Senate NATO Observer group was first established in 1997 and helped guide the Senate approval process for aspiring NATO allies from former Soviet satellite countries in Eastern and Southern Europe.</li><li>The Senate NATO Observer Group meets regularly with leaders from the Departments of State and Defense and with key NATO leaders, including the Secretary General.</li><li>Current members of the Senate NATO Observer Group include U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) as co-chairs, along with John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Cory Booker (R-N.J.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).</li>
 </ul>

Senator Moran appointed to Senate NATO Observer Group

By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/03/17/most-hbcu-bomb-threats-may-be-coming-from-one-juvenile-fbi-official-tells-congress/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — A top FBI official 
told members of a U.S. House panel on Thursday that the agency believes a
 single juvenile is behind most of the bomb threats made to more than 30
 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Ryan Young, executive assistant director of the Intelligence Branch 
at the FBI, said that the bomb threats made to HBCUs and historically 
Black churches are the agency’s top priority.

“We’ve treated this as domestic terrorism,” he said. “It’s meant to inflict harm within the African American population.”

Under questioning from Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, 
Young said that the FBI believes that a majority of the bomb threats are
 from one juvenile, but declined to give any more information.

Higgins asked if it is correct that the FBI has identified one 
juvenile behind the threats. Young said “that is consistent with the 
message we’ve shared with both law enforcement and the Historically 
Black Colleges.”

The exchange came during a hearing of the House Oversight Committee, 
as lawmakers grilled officials from law enforcement agencies about why 
those making bomb threats made against Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities have not been caught.

“As the investigation is ongoing, I know that the FBI cannot answer 
any questions about the status of these specific cases,” said Rep. Jamie
 Raskin, a Maryland Democrat and chair of the&nbsp;Subcommittee on Civil 
Rights and Civil Liberties.

“But I would like to know how the FBI is coordinating with HBCUs and 
communities of color to address the terrifying rise in hate crimes and 
white supremacy in the U.S.”

This year alone, 36 HBCUs have been targeted with bomb threats. The House and Senate on a bipartisan vote&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/03/08/u-s-house-condemns-bomb-threats-made-against-hbcus/">passed</a>&nbsp;
 a resolution condemning the bomb threats made to HBCUs and several 
congressional hearings on the threats to minority institutions have been
 held.

Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis temporarily closed its campus on Feb. 1 <a target="_blank" href="https://news.stlpublicradio.org/education/2022-02-01/harris-stowe-state-university-shuts-down-campus-following-bomb-threats-to-it-and-other-hbcus">after receiving a bomb threat</a>.

Leaders of faith organizations and HBCUs&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/02/17/u-s-house-hearing-on-extremism-toward-minorities-turns-into-defund-the-police-debate/">detailed</a>&nbsp;to
 the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland 
Security how their institutions and places of worship have been roiled 
by bomb threats and extremism.

Higgins said it was unacceptable that the FBI and Department of Justice have not made an arrest.

“The impact of the bomb threats, when you look at (the) historical 
aspect, that’s a level of fear that we should absolutely investigate in 
the most aggressive way possible,” he said.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/six-juveniles-identified-fbi-persons-interests-bomb-threats-historical-rcna14591">A February report from NBC&nbsp;</a>said
 the FBI was looking at a group of six juveniles as “persons of 
interest” in the threats. That report said the juveniles were “tech 
savvy” and able to disguise the source of the threats.

Students from HBCUs also testified before lawmakers on the impact of dealing with bomb threats.

Emmanuel Ukot, the president of the Student Government Association at
 Xavier University of Louisiana, said many classmates were anxious 
following the bomb threats in February.

“Our HBCUs are spaces where we are the majority, where we are valued,
 and where we are expected to excel,” Ukot said. “These attacks robbed 
us of that freedom and ease that HBCUs have historically provided to 
Black students.”

Another student,&nbsp;Devan Vilfrard, from&nbsp;Florida A&amp;M University in 
Tallahassee, said in his opening statement to lawmakers that “racial 
violence towards HBCUs is a multi-generational occurrence that 
profoundly impacts the Black community.”

“HBCUs should continue to be federally supported and protected as we 
endeavor to remove this ongoing tradition of bombing and bomb threats 
for HBCU students of the future,” he said.

Rep. Shontel Brown, an Ohio Democrat, said that the threats were also
 an attack on the mental health of faculty, students and staff, as a 
majority of the threats were made in February during Black History 
Month.

“HBCUs are building the next generation of Black leaders and Congress
 must continue to recognize their contributions in the most important 
way possible by affording the support, the infrastructure and the 
investment to keep them and our future leaders safe and secure,” Brown 
said.

She asked Michelle Asha Cooper, the acting assistant secretary for 
postsecondary education at the U.S. Department of Education, what the 
agency is doing to help HBCUs address the mental health impact of the 
bomb threats.

Cooper said that HBCUs who have received bomb threats get immediately
 contacted by the Department of Education so the agency can understand 
how to best serve those institutions. Cooper added that the agency is 
working on guidance on how HBCUs can tap into pandemic relief funds to 
address mental health needs.

The chair of the House Oversight Committee, Rep.&nbsp;Carolyn B. Maloney, a
 New York Democrat, asked Young if he believed these threats were being 
made by foreign actors.

Young said that the FBI had found no evidence of foreign influence in
 the bomb threats, but added that “there is an understanding that people
 online are radicalizing a lot more.”

He added that the agency has seen a rise in hate crimes not only 
toward the African American community, but other minority communities 
and places of worship.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647552407908.png" alt="Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis temporarily closed its campus on Feb. 1 after receiving a bomb threat (photo courtesy of Harris-Stowe State)." />
 <figcaption>Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis temporarily closed its campus on Feb. 1 after receiving a bomb threat (photo courtesy of Harris-Stowe State).</figcaption>
 </figure>By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/03/17/most-hbcu-bomb-threats-may-be-coming-from-one-juvenile-fbi-official-tells-congress/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — A top FBI official 
told members of a U.S. House panel on Thursday that the agency believes a
 single juvenile is behind most of the bomb threats made to more than 30
 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.Ryan Young, executive assistant director of the Intelligence Branch 
at the FBI, said that the bomb threats made to HBCUs and historically 
Black churches are the agency’s top priority.“We’ve treated this as domestic terrorism,” he said. “It’s meant to inflict harm within the African American population.”Under questioning from Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, 
Young said that the FBI believes that a majority of the bomb threats are
 from one juvenile, but declined to give any more information.Higgins asked if it is correct that the FBI has identified one 
juvenile behind the threats. Young said “that is consistent with the 
message we’ve shared with both law enforcement and the Historically 
Black Colleges.”The exchange came during a hearing of the House Oversight Committee, 
as lawmakers grilled officials from law enforcement agencies about why 
those making bomb threats made against Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities have not been caught.“As the investigation is ongoing, I know that the FBI cannot answer 
any questions about the status of these specific cases,” said Rep. Jamie
 Raskin, a Maryland Democrat and chair of the&nbsp;Subcommittee on Civil 
Rights and Civil Liberties.“But I would like to know how the FBI is coordinating with HBCUs and 
communities of color to address the terrifying rise in hate crimes and 
white supremacy in the U.S.”This year alone, 36 HBCUs have been targeted with bomb threats. The House and Senate on a bipartisan vote&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/03/08/u-s-house-condemns-bomb-threats-made-against-hbcus/">passed</a>&nbsp;
 a resolution condemning the bomb threats made to HBCUs and several 
congressional hearings on the threats to minority institutions have been
 held.Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis temporarily closed its campus on Feb. 1 <a target="_blank" href="https://news.stlpublicradio.org/education/2022-02-01/harris-stowe-state-university-shuts-down-campus-following-bomb-threats-to-it-and-other-hbcus">after receiving a bomb threat</a>.Leaders of faith organizations and HBCUs&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/02/17/u-s-house-hearing-on-extremism-toward-minorities-turns-into-defund-the-police-debate/">detailed</a>&nbsp;to
 the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland 
Security how their institutions and places of worship have been roiled 
by bomb threats and extremism.Higgins said it was unacceptable that the FBI and Department of Justice have not made an arrest.“The impact of the bomb threats, when you look at (the) historical 
aspect, that’s a level of fear that we should absolutely investigate in 
the most aggressive way possible,” he said.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/six-juveniles-identified-fbi-persons-interests-bomb-threats-historical-rcna14591">A February report from NBC&nbsp;</a>said
 the FBI was looking at a group of six juveniles as “persons of 
interest” in the threats. That report said the juveniles were “tech 
savvy” and able to disguise the source of the threats.<h2>Student anxiety</h2>Students from HBCUs also testified before lawmakers on the impact of dealing with bomb threats.Emmanuel Ukot, the president of the Student Government Association at
 Xavier University of Louisiana, said many classmates were anxious 
following the bomb threats in February.“Our HBCUs are spaces where we are the majority, where we are valued,
 and where we are expected to excel,” Ukot said. “These attacks robbed 
us of that freedom and ease that HBCUs have historically provided to 
Black students.”Another student,&nbsp;Devan Vilfrard, from&nbsp;Florida A&amp;M University in 
Tallahassee, said in his opening statement to lawmakers that “racial 
violence towards HBCUs is a multi-generational occurrence that 
profoundly impacts the Black community.”“HBCUs should continue to be federally supported and protected as we 
endeavor to remove this ongoing tradition of bombing and bomb threats 
for HBCU students of the future,” he said.Rep. Shontel Brown, an Ohio Democrat, said that the threats were also
 an attack on the mental health of faculty, students and staff, as a 
majority of the threats were made in February during Black History 
Month.“HBCUs are building the next generation of Black leaders and Congress
 must continue to recognize their contributions in the most important 
way possible by affording the support, the infrastructure and the 
investment to keep them and our future leaders safe and secure,” Brown 
said.She asked Michelle Asha Cooper, the acting assistant secretary for 
postsecondary education at the U.S. Department of Education, what the 
agency is doing to help HBCUs address the mental health impact of the 
bomb threats.Cooper said that HBCUs who have received bomb threats get immediately
 contacted by the Department of Education so the agency can understand 
how to best serve those institutions. Cooper added that the agency is 
working on guidance on how HBCUs can tap into pandemic relief funds to 
address mental health needs.The chair of the House Oversight Committee, Rep.&nbsp;Carolyn B. Maloney, a
 New York Democrat, asked Young if he believed these threats were being 
made by foreign actors.Young said that the FBI had found no evidence of foreign influence in
 the bomb threats, but added that “there is an understanding that people
 online are radicalizing a lot more.”He added that the agency has seen a rise in hate crimes not only 
toward the African American community, but other minority communities 
and places of worship.

FBI: Most HBCU bomb threats may be coming from one juvenile

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 172 to a total of 769,218 the state health department reported Friday afternoon.

The state reported 58 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 8,146 and 74 new hospitalizations since Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 172 to a total of 769,218 the state health department reported Friday afternoon.The state reported 58 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 8,146 and 74 new hospitalizations since Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647623606827.png" alt="Friday March 18, 2022 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday March 18, 2022 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE reports 58 additional COVID-19 deaths

WASHINGTON (AP) — Key figures for a war half a world away, President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours on Friday as the White House looked to deter Beijing from providing military or economic assistance for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-united-nations-europe-antony-blinken-c3310a12490a0cf2e06f5f389e22e3a6">Russia’s invasion of Ukraine</a>.

China’s Foreign Ministry was the first to issue a readout of the video conversation, deploring “conflict and confrontation” as “not in anyone’s interest,” without assigning any blame to Russia.

Ahead of the call, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would question Xi about Beijing’s “rhetorical support” of Putin and an “absence of denunciation” of Russia’s invasion.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Chunying Hua pushed back, calling Biden’s administration’s suggestions that China risks falling on the wrong side of history in the conflict “overbearing.”\

Planning for the call had been in the works since Biden and Xi&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-xi-meeting-e6013378e03727b85a8f59f71fe61f4a">held a virtual summit in November,</a>&nbsp;but differences between Washington and Beijing over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s prosecution of his three-week-old war against Ukraine were expected to be at the center of the call.

China on Friday also sought to highlight its calls for negotiations and donations of humanitarian aid, while accusing the U.S. of provoking Russia and fueling the conflict by shipping arms to Ukraine.

In an attempt to show international support for China’s position, state broadcaster CCTV said Xi discussed Ukraine in phone calls with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, adding that the leaders’ views were “extremely close.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-china-d47d4b2215de708b55a12bc4b648818d">The U.S.-China relationship</a>, long fraught, has only become more strained since the start of Biden’s presidency. Biden has repeatedly criticized China for military provocations against Taiwan, human rights abuses against ethnic minorities and efforts to squelch pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.

But the relationship may have reached a new low with the Russian invasion.

In the days after Putin deployed Russian forces in Ukraine, Xi’s government tried to distance itself from Russia’s offensive but avoided criticizing Moscow. At other moments, Beijing’s actions have been provocative and have included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-health-biological-weapons-china-39eeee023efdf7ea59c4a20b7e018169">amplifying unverified Russian claims</a>&nbsp;that Ukraine ran chemical and biological weapons labs with U.S. support.

Earlier this week, the U.S. informed Asian and European allies that American intelligence had determined that China had signaled to Russia that it would be willing to provide both military support for the campaign in Ukraine and financial backing to help stave off the impact of severe sanctions imposed by the West.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday reiterated that the Biden administration remains concerned that China is considering providing military equipment to Russia. He said Biden would make clear to Xi “that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia’s aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs.”

The White House says China has been sending mixed messages about its support for Russia. There were initial signs that Chinese state owned banks were pulling back from financing Russian activities, according to a senior Biden administration official who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal analyses. But there have also been public comments by Chinese officials who expressed support for Russia being a strategic partner.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi met in Rome earlier this week for an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-europe-china-d7cfda44db57c0ff19109d66ed876c6a">intense, seven-hour talk&nbsp;</a>about the Russian invasion and other issues.

Ahead of the Rome talks, Sullivan said the U.S. wouldn’t abide China or any other country helping Russia work around economy-jarring sanctions inflicted by the U.S. and other allies since the Feb. 24 invasion.

Sullivan also said the administration determined China knew that Putin “was planning something” before the invasion of Ukraine, but the Chinese government “may not have understood the full extent” of what Putin had in mind.

Xi and Putin met in early February, weeks before the invasion, with the Russian leader traveling to Beijing for the start of the Winter Olympics. During Putin’s visit, the two leaders issued a 5,000-word statement declaring limitless “friendship.”

Beijing’s leadership would like to be supportive of Russia but also recognizes how badly the Russian military action is going as an overmatched Ukrainian military has put up stiff resistance, according to a Western official familiar with current intelligence assessments.

The official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Beijing is weighing the potential “reputational blowback” of being associated with the Russian camp. The Chinese response to Russia’s request for help “is in the process of being formulated,” the official added.

Though seen as siding with Russia, China has also reached out to Ukraine, with its ambassador to the country on Monday quoted as saying: “China is a friendly country for the Ukrainian people. As an ambassador, I can responsibly say that China will forever be a good force for Ukraine, both economically and politically.”

“We have seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is, and that means its strength,” Fan Xianrong was quoted by Ukraine’s state news service Ukrinform as telling regional authorities in the western city of Lviv, where the Chinese Embassy has relocated to.

In a reminder of China’s threat to assert its claim to Taiwan by force, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday, just hours before the Biden-Xi call, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.

Any conflict over the self-governing island democracy stands to involve the U.S., which is legally obligated to ensure Taiwan can defend itself and treats threats to the island as matters of “grave concern.”

“The national army’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems are in complete possession of the movements of Chinese ships in the sea and planes in the airspace around the Taiwan Strait to safeguard national security,” the ministry said in a statement.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said he had no details about the ship’s passage through the strait, but added that “I believe the carrier has its routine training schedule, and it should not be linked with the communication between Chinese and American leaders.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping spoke Friday via a video call as the White House looks to deter Beijing from providing military or economic assistance for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Planning for the call has been in the works since Biden and Xi held a virtual summit in November. 

But differences between Washington and Beijing over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s prosecution of his three-week-old war against Ukraine were expected to be at the center of the call. White House press secretary Jen Psaki says Biden will question Xi about Beijing’s “rhetorical support” of Putin and its failure to denounce Russia’s brutal invasion.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-china-united-states-435b16e7ad35199462e2b6e4927846f9">set to speak on Friday</a>&nbsp;as the White House warns Beijing that providing military or economic assistance for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will trigger severe consequences from Washington and beyond.

Planning for the call has been in the works since Biden and Xi&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-xi-meeting-e6013378e03727b85a8f59f71fe61f4a">held a virtual summit in November,</a>&nbsp;but differences between Washington and Beijing over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s prosecution of his three-week-old war against Ukraine are expected to be at the center of the call.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would question Xi about Beijing’s “rhetorical support” of Putin and an “absence of denunciation” of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.

“This is an opportunity to assess where President Xi stands,” Psaki said.

China on Friday again sought to highlight its calls for negotiations and donations of humanitarian aid, while accusing the U.S. of provoking Russia and fueling the conflict by shipping arms to Ukraine.

“China has called for every effort to avoid civilian casualties all the time,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters at a daily briefing. “Which do the civilians in Ukraine need more: food and sleeping bags or machine guns and artillery? It’s easy to answer.”

Despite tensions in U.S.-China relations, Biden and Xi have sought to keep the leader-to-leader dialogue open and have become familiar with each other through their political rise.

Biden and Xi first got to know each other on travels across the U.S. and China when both were vice presidents, interactions that both leaders say left a lasting impression. Friday’s phone call will be the fourth exchange between the two leaders since Biden became president.

Zhao said he had no details about the ship’s passage through the strait, but added that “I believe the carrier has its routine training schedule, and it should not be linked with the communication between Chinese and American leaders.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will speak Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss ongoing economic competition between the two countries and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-kyiv-europe-world-news-303fbd14ea7d3f131abc9b3d5739123f">Russia’s war against Ukraine</a>.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced the upcoming phone call in a Thursday statement that said it’s “part of our ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication” between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-china-d47d4b2215de708b55a12bc4b648818d">the United States and China</a>.

The call follows an intense seven-hour meeting in Rome on Monday between White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-europe-china-d7cfda44db57c0ff19109d66ed876c6a">national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Chinese foreign policy advise</a>&nbsp;r Yang Jiechi.

U.S. officials have warned that China has amplified Russian disinformation that could be a pretext for Putin’s forces to attack Ukraine with chemical or biological weapons. There are also reports —denied by the Kremlin — that Russia has reached out to China for aid as it faces sanctions and an invasion that faces stiff resistance by Ukrainians.

At the meeting, Sullivan wanted more transparency on Beijing’s posture regarding Russia and repeated that any attempts by China to help Russia avoid sanctions would be costly for Xi’s government.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647635567547.png" alt="President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours on Friday-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours on Friday-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Key figures for a war half a world away, President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours on Friday as the White House looked to deter Beijing from providing military or economic assistance for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-united-nations-europe-antony-blinken-c3310a12490a0cf2e06f5f389e22e3a6">Russia’s invasion of Ukraine</a>.China’s Foreign Ministry was the first to issue a readout of the video conversation, deploring “conflict and confrontation” as “not in anyone’s interest,” without assigning any blame to Russia.Ahead of the call, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would question Xi about Beijing’s “rhetorical support” of Putin and an “absence of denunciation” of Russia’s invasion.Foreign Ministry spokesman Chunying Hua pushed back, calling Biden’s administration’s suggestions that China risks falling on the wrong side of history in the conflict “overbearing.”\Planning for the call had been in the works since Biden and Xi&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-xi-meeting-e6013378e03727b85a8f59f71fe61f4a">held a virtual summit in November,</a>&nbsp;but differences between Washington and Beijing over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s prosecution of his three-week-old war against Ukraine were expected to be at the center of the call.China on Friday also sought to highlight its calls for negotiations and donations of humanitarian aid, while accusing the U.S. of provoking Russia and fueling the conflict by shipping arms to Ukraine.In an attempt to show international support for China’s position, state broadcaster CCTV said Xi discussed Ukraine in phone calls with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, adding that the leaders’ views were “extremely close.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-china-d47d4b2215de708b55a12bc4b648818d">The U.S.-China relationship</a>, long fraught, has only become more strained since the start of Biden’s presidency. Biden has repeatedly criticized China for military provocations against Taiwan, human rights abuses against ethnic minorities and efforts to squelch pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.But the relationship may have reached a new low with the Russian invasion.In the days after Putin deployed Russian forces in Ukraine, Xi’s government tried to distance itself from Russia’s offensive but avoided criticizing Moscow. At other moments, Beijing’s actions have been provocative and have included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-health-biological-weapons-china-39eeee023efdf7ea59c4a20b7e018169">amplifying unverified Russian claims</a>&nbsp;that Ukraine ran chemical and biological weapons labs with U.S. support.Earlier this week, the U.S. informed Asian and European allies that American intelligence had determined that China had signaled to Russia that it would be willing to provide both military support for the campaign in Ukraine and financial backing to help stave off the impact of severe sanctions imposed by the West.Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday reiterated that the Biden administration remains concerned that China is considering providing military equipment to Russia. He said Biden would make clear to Xi “that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia’s aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs.”The White House says China has been sending mixed messages about its support for Russia. There were initial signs that Chinese state owned banks were pulling back from financing Russian activities, according to a senior Biden administration official who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal analyses. But there have also been public comments by Chinese officials who expressed support for Russia being a strategic partner.White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi met in Rome earlier this week for an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-europe-china-d7cfda44db57c0ff19109d66ed876c6a">intense, seven-hour talk&nbsp;</a>about the Russian invasion and other issues.Ahead of the Rome talks, Sullivan said the U.S. wouldn’t abide China or any other country helping Russia work around economy-jarring sanctions inflicted by the U.S. and other allies since the Feb. 24 invasion.Sullivan also said the administration determined China knew that Putin “was planning something” before the invasion of Ukraine, but the Chinese government “may not have understood the full extent” of what Putin had in mind.Xi and Putin met in early February, weeks before the invasion, with the Russian leader traveling to Beijing for the start of the Winter Olympics. During Putin’s visit, the two leaders issued a 5,000-word statement declaring limitless “friendship.”Beijing’s leadership would like to be supportive of Russia but also recognizes how badly the Russian military action is going as an overmatched Ukrainian military has put up stiff resistance, according to a Western official familiar with current intelligence assessments.The official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Beijing is weighing the potential “reputational blowback” of being associated with the Russian camp. The Chinese response to Russia’s request for help “is in the process of being formulated,” the official added.Though seen as siding with Russia, China has also reached out to Ukraine, with its ambassador to the country on Monday quoted as saying: “China is a friendly country for the Ukrainian people. As an ambassador, I can responsibly say that China will forever be a good force for Ukraine, both economically and politically.”“We have seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is, and that means its strength,” Fan Xianrong was quoted by Ukraine’s state news service Ukrinform as telling regional authorities in the western city of Lviv, where the Chinese Embassy has relocated to.In a reminder of China’s threat to assert its claim to Taiwan by force, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday, just hours before the Biden-Xi call, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.Any conflict over the self-governing island democracy stands to involve the U.S., which is legally obligated to ensure Taiwan can defend itself and treats threats to the island as matters of “grave concern.”“The national army’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems are in complete possession of the movements of Chinese ships in the sea and planes in the airspace around the Taiwan Strait to safeguard national security,” the ministry said in a statement.Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said he had no details about the ship’s passage through the strait, but added that “I believe the carrier has its routine training schedule, and it should not be linked with the communication between Chinese and American leaders.”___WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping spoke Friday via a video call as the White House looks to deter Beijing from providing military or economic assistance for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Planning for the call has been in the works since Biden and Xi held a virtual summit in November. But differences between Washington and Beijing over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s prosecution of his three-week-old war against Ukraine were expected to be at the center of the call. White House press secretary Jen Psaki says Biden will question Xi about Beijing’s “rhetorical support” of Putin and its failure to denounce Russia’s brutal invasion.---------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-china-united-states-435b16e7ad35199462e2b6e4927846f9">set to speak on Friday</a>&nbsp;as the White House warns Beijing that providing military or economic assistance for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will trigger severe consequences from Washington and beyond.Planning for the call has been in the works since Biden and Xi&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-xi-meeting-e6013378e03727b85a8f59f71fe61f4a">held a virtual summit in November,</a>&nbsp;but differences between Washington and Beijing over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s prosecution of his three-week-old war against Ukraine are expected to be at the center of the call.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would question Xi about Beijing’s “rhetorical support” of Putin and an “absence of denunciation” of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.“This is an opportunity to assess where President Xi stands,” Psaki said.China on Friday again sought to highlight its calls for negotiations and donations of humanitarian aid, while accusing the U.S. of provoking Russia and fueling the conflict by shipping arms to Ukraine.“China has called for every effort to avoid civilian casualties all the time,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters at a daily briefing. “Which do the civilians in Ukraine need more: food and sleeping bags or machine guns and artillery? It’s easy to answer.”In an attempt to show international support for China’s position, state broadcaster CCTV said Xi discussed Ukraine in phone calls with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, adding that the leaders’ views were “extremely close.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-china-d47d4b2215de708b55a12bc4b648818d">The U.S.-China relationship</a>, long fraught, has only become more strained since the start of Biden’s presidency. Biden has repeatedly criticized China for military provocations against Taiwan, human rights abuses against ethnic minorities and efforts to squelch pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.But the relationship may have reached a new low with the Russian invasion.In the days after Putin deployed Russian forces in Ukraine, Xi’s government tried to distance itself from Russia’s offensive but avoided criticizing Moscow. At other moments, Beijing’s actions have been provocative and have included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-health-biological-weapons-china-39eeee023efdf7ea59c4a20b7e018169">amplifying unverified Russian claims</a>&nbsp;that Ukraine ran chemical and biological weapons labs with U.S. support.Earlier this week, the U.S. informed Asian and European allies that American intelligence had determined that China had signaled to Russia that it would be willing to provide both military support for the campaign in Ukraine and financial backing to help stave off the impact of severe sanctions imposed by the West.Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday reiterated that the Biden administration remains concerned that China is considering providing military equipment to Russia. He said Biden would make clear to Xi “that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia’s aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs.”White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi met in Rome earlier this week for an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-europe-china-d7cfda44db57c0ff19109d66ed876c6a">intense, seven-hour talk&nbsp;</a>about the Russian invasion and other issues.Ahead of the Rome talks, Sullivan said the U.S. wouldn’t abide China or any other country helping Russia work around economy-jarring sanctions inflicted by the U.S. and other allies since the Feb. 24 invasion.Sullivan also said the administration determined China knew that Putin “was planning something” before the invasion of Ukraine, but the Chinese government “may not have understood the full extent” of what Putin had in mind.Xi and Putin met in early February, weeks before the invasion, with the Russian leader traveling to Beijing for the start of the Winter Olympics. During Putin’s visit, the two leaders issued a 5,000-word statement declaring limitless “friendship.”Beijing’s leadership would like to be supportive of Russia but also recognizes how badly the Russian military action is going as an overmatched Ukrainian military has put up stiff resistance, according to a Western official familiar with current intelligence assessments.The official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Beijing is weighing the potential “reputational blowback” of being associated with the Russian camp. The Chinese response to Russia’s request for help “is in the process of being formulated,” the official added.Though seen as siding with Russia, China has also reached out to Ukraine, with its ambassador to the country on Monday quoted as saying: “China is a friendly country for the Ukrainian people. As an ambassador, I can responsibly say that China will forever be a good force for Ukraine, both economically and politically.”“We have seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is, and that means its strength,” Fan Xianrong was quoted by Ukraine’s state news service Ukrinform as telling regional authorities in the western city of Lviv, where the Chinese Embassy has relocated to.Despite tensions in U.S.-China relations, Biden and Xi have sought to keep the leader-to-leader dialogue open and have become familiar with each other through their political rise.Biden and Xi first got to know each other on travels across the U.S. and China when both were vice presidents, interactions that both leaders say left a lasting impression. Friday’s phone call will be the fourth exchange between the two leaders since Biden became president.In a reminder of China’s threat to assert its claim to Taiwan by force, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday, just hours before the Biden-Xi call, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.Any conflict over the self-governing island democracy stands to involve the U.S., which is legally obligated to ensure Taiwan can defend itself and treats threats to the island as matters of “grave concern.”“The national army’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems are in complete possession of the movements of Chinese ships in the sea and planes in the airspace around the Taiwan Strait to safeguard national security,” the ministry said in a statement.Zhao said he had no details about the ship’s passage through the strait, but added that “I believe the carrier has its routine training schedule, and it should not be linked with the communication between Chinese and American leaders.”___WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will speak Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss ongoing economic competition between the two countries and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-kyiv-europe-world-news-303fbd14ea7d3f131abc9b3d5739123f">Russia’s war against Ukraine</a>.White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced the upcoming phone call in a Thursday statement that said it’s “part of our ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication” between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-china-d47d4b2215de708b55a12bc4b648818d">the United States and China</a>.The call follows an intense seven-hour meeting in Rome on Monday between White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-europe-china-d7cfda44db57c0ff19109d66ed876c6a">national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Chinese foreign policy advise</a>&nbsp;r Yang Jiechi.U.S. officials have warned that China has amplified Russian disinformation that could be a pretext for Putin’s forces to attack Ukraine with chemical or biological weapons. There are also reports —denied by the Kremlin — that Russia has reached out to China for aid as it faces sanctions and an invasion that faces stiff resistance by Ukrainians.At the meeting, Sullivan wanted more transparency on Beijing’s posture regarding Russia and repeated that any attempts by China to help Russia avoid sanctions would be costly for Xi’s government.

Critical call: Biden warns China on support for Russia in Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drugmaker Moderna asked the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday to authorize a fourth shot of its COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for all adults.

The request is broader than rival pharmaceutical company Pfizer's request earlier this week for the regulator to approve a booster shot for all seniors.

In a press release, the company said its request for approval for all adults was made “to provide flexibility” to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and medical providers to determine the “appropriate use” of a second booster dose of the mRNA vaccine, “including for those at higher risk of COVID-19 due to age or comorbidities."

U.S. officials have been laying the groundwork to deliver additional booster doses to shore up the vaccines' protection against serious disease and death from COVID-19. The White House has been sounding the alarm that it needs Congress to “urgently” approve more funding for the federal government to secure more doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, either for additional booster shots or variant-specific immunizations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drugmaker Moderna asked the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday to authorize a fourth shot of its COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for all adults.The request is broader than rival pharmaceutical company Pfizer's request earlier this week for the regulator to approve a booster shot for all seniors.In a press release, the company said its request for approval for all adults was made “to provide flexibility” to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and medical providers to determine the “appropriate use” of a second booster dose of the mRNA vaccine, “including for those at higher risk of COVID-19 due to age or comorbidities."U.S. officials have been laying the groundwork to deliver additional booster doses to shore up the vaccines' protection against serious disease and death from COVID-19. The White House has been sounding the alarm that it needs Congress to “urgently” approve more funding for the federal government to secure more doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, either for additional booster shots or variant-specific immunizations.

Moderna wants 4th dose of COVID vaccine approved for adults

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A redistricting plan aimed at preserving the Republican supermajority in the Kansas Senate cleared the chamber Thursday on a bipartisan vote.

<a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/Redistricting/2022-Plans/Senate/Liberty_3.pdf" target="_blank">The bill,</a>&nbsp;approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220317150102_689823/" target="_blank">28-8,</a>&nbsp;would create two districts with a pair of incumbents each. It could force Republican Sens. Michael Fagg, of El Dorado, and Rick Wilborn, of McPherson, to face off in 2024, while Republican Sen. Beverly Gossage, of Eudora, has a potential race that year against Democratic Sen. Tom Holland, of Baldwin City.

Two new Senate districts would have no incumbent, one in Johnson County and another linking eastern Topeka and northwestern Lawrence. The Kansas Constitution requires lawmakers to redraw political boundaries this year to make districts as equal in population as possible after 10 years of population shifts.

Twenty-three of the Senate’s 29 Republicans voted yes, as did five of the 11 Democrats.

“I don’t think you would see that result with a map that was considered unfair,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican.

But Republican Sen. Dennis Pyle, of Hiawatha, called the measure “disgusting” because it extensively alters his district.

GOP Sen. Molly Baumgardner, of Louisburg, had the most overpopulated district. She argued that it should shrink in size; it would gain territory under the bill.

“They gerrymandered like crazy,” Baumgardner said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647114807014.png" alt="Kansas Senate Districts-image courtesy Kansas Association of Counties" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Senate Districts-image courtesy Kansas Association of Counties</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A redistricting plan aimed at preserving the Republican supermajority in the Kansas Senate cleared the chamber Thursday on a bipartisan vote.<a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/Redistricting/2022-Plans/Senate/Liberty_3.pdf" target="_blank">The bill,</a>&nbsp;approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220317150102_689823/" target="_blank">28-8,</a>&nbsp;would create two districts with a pair of incumbents each. It could force Republican Sens. Michael Fagg, of El Dorado, and Rick Wilborn, of McPherson, to face off in 2024, while Republican Sen. Beverly Gossage, of Eudora, has a potential race that year against Democratic Sen. Tom Holland, of Baldwin City.The measure goes next to the House.Two new Senate districts would have no incumbent, one in Johnson County and another linking eastern Topeka and northwestern Lawrence. The Kansas Constitution requires lawmakers to redraw political boundaries this year to make districts as equal in population as possible after 10 years of population shifts.Twenty-three of the Senate’s 29 Republicans voted yes, as did five of the 11 Democrats.“I don’t think you would see that result with a map that was considered unfair,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican.But Republican Sen. Dennis Pyle, of Hiawatha, called the measure “disgusting” because it extensively alters his district.GOP Sen. Molly Baumgardner, of Louisburg, had the most overpopulated district. She argued that it should shrink in size; it would gain territory under the bill.“They gerrymandered like crazy,” Baumgardner said.

Plan aimed at keeping GOP supermajority clears Kansas Senate

WASHINGTON — The IRS reminds taxpayers that there is a virtual 
currency question at the top of Form 1040, Form 1040-SR and Form 
1040-NR. It asks: "At any time during 2021, did you receive, sell, 
exchange, or otherwise dispose of any financial interest in any virtual 
currency?"

All taxpayers filing Form 1040, Form 1040-SR or Form 1040-NR must 
check one box answering either "Yes" or "No" to the virtual currency 
question. The question must be answered by all taxpayers, not just 
taxpayers who engaged in a transaction involving virtual currency in 
2021.

Taxpayers who merely owned virtual currency at any time in 2021 can 
check the "No" box when they have not engaged in any transactions 
involving virtual currency during the year, or their activities were 
limited to:

The list below covers the most common transactions in virtual currency that require checking the "Yes" box:

If a taxpayer disposed of any virtual currency that was held as a
 capital asset through a sale, exchange or transfer, they must check 
"Yes" and use Form 8949 to figure their capital gain or loss and report 
it on Schedule D (Form 1040).

If a taxpayer received any virtual currency as compensation for 
services or disposed of any virtual currency that they held for sale to 
customers in a trade or business, they must report the income as they 
would report other income of the same type (for example, W-2 wages on 
Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR, line 1, or inventory or services from 
Schedule C on Schedule 1).

For more information, see page 17 of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">2021 Form 1040 Instructions</a>&nbsp;PDF and visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/virtual-currencies">Virtual Currencies</a> for general information on virtual currency and other related resources.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The IRS reminds taxpayers that there is a virtual 
currency question at the top of Form 1040, Form 1040-SR and Form 
1040-NR. It asks: "At any time during 2021, did you receive, sell, 
exchange, or otherwise dispose of any financial interest in any virtual 
currency?"All taxpayers filing Form 1040, Form 1040-SR or Form 1040-NR must 
check one box answering either "Yes" or "No" to the virtual currency 
question. The question must be answered by all taxpayers, not just 
taxpayers who engaged in a transaction involving virtual currency in 
2021.<h2>When taxpayers can check 'No'</h2>Taxpayers who merely owned virtual currency at any time in 2021 can 
check the "No" box when they have not engaged in any transactions 
involving virtual currency during the year, or their activities were 
limited to:<ul>
 <li>Holding virtual currency in their own wallet or account.</li><li>Transferring virtual currency between their own wallets or accounts.</li><li>Purchasing virtual currency using real currency, including 
purchases using real currency electronic platforms such as PayPal and 
Venmo.</li><li>Engaging in a combination of holding, transferring, or purchasing virtual currency as described above.</li>
 </ul><h2>When taxpayers must check 'Yes'</h2>The list below covers the most common transactions in virtual currency that require checking the "Yes" box:<ul>
 <li>The receipt of virtual currency as payment for goods or services provided;</li><li>The receipt or transfer of virtual currency for free (without 
providing any consideration) that does not qualify as a bona fide gift;</li><li>The receipt of new virtual currency as a result of mining and staking activities;</li><li>The receipt of virtual currency as a result of a hard fork;</li><li>An exchange of virtual currency for property, goods, or services;</li><li>An exchange/trade of virtual currency for another virtual currency;</li><li>A sale of virtual currency; and</li><li>Any other disposition of a financial interest in virtual currency.</li>
 </ul>If a taxpayer disposed of any virtual currency that was held as a
 capital asset through a sale, exchange or transfer, they must check 
"Yes" and use Form 8949 to figure their capital gain or loss and report 
it on Schedule D (Form 1040).If a taxpayer received any virtual currency as compensation for 
services or disposed of any virtual currency that they held for sale to 
customers in a trade or business, they must report the income as they 
would report other income of the same type (for example, W-2 wages on 
Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR, line 1, or inventory or services from 
Schedule C on Schedule 1).For more information, see page 17 of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf">2021 Form 1040 Instructions</a>&nbsp;PDF and visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/virtual-currencies">Virtual Currencies</a> for general information on virtual currency and other related resources.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Dealing in crypto? Make sure you check this box, IRS warns

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — An 18-year-old Olathe East High School student remains hospitalized in critical condition from injuries he suffered when he was shot during a confrontation at the school, attorneys said Thursday.

Jaylon Elmore&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-education-school-shootings-robbery-kansas-city-33b40af0c849eb7db2accd234dbbb2b7">was charged&nbsp;</a>with attempted capital murder after the March 4 shooting. School resource officer Erik Clark and assistant principal Kaleb Stoppel were shot after they told Elmore they wanted to check his backpack because of a rumor that Elmore had a gun, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-shootings-kansas-af49bdbb75fa7df79770b541bfd02b9b">an affidavit&nbsp;</a>released Wednesday.

Clark shot Elmore after Elmore shot at him with a “ghost gun”, according to the affidavit.

Elmore underwent surgery this week and will remain in the hospital for at least a few more days, his attorney, Paul Morrison, said during a brief virtual hearing Thursday, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article259491929.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">reported</a>.

The case was continued until March 31. He will remain under guard at the hospital until he is well enough to be taken into custody by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.

When he is released, Elmore will be jailed on $1 million bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646417385414.png" alt="Scene outside Olathe East High following the shooting photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>Scene outside Olathe East High following the shooting photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — An 18-year-old Olathe East High School student remains hospitalized in critical condition from injuries he suffered when he was shot during a confrontation at the school, attorneys said Thursday.Jaylon Elmore&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-education-school-shootings-robbery-kansas-city-33b40af0c849eb7db2accd234dbbb2b7">was charged&nbsp;</a>with attempted capital murder after the March 4 shooting. School resource officer Erik Clark and assistant principal Kaleb Stoppel were shot after they told Elmore they wanted to check his backpack because of a rumor that Elmore had a gun, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-shootings-kansas-af49bdbb75fa7df79770b541bfd02b9b">an affidavit&nbsp;</a>released Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646450835191.png" alt="Officer Erik Clark&nbsp; photo courtesy Olathe Police" />
 <figcaption>Officer Erik Clark&nbsp; photo courtesy Olathe Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Clark shot Elmore after Elmore shot at him with a “ghost gun”, according to the affidavit.Elmore underwent surgery this week and will remain in the hospital for at least a few more days, his attorney, Paul Morrison, said during a brief virtual hearing Thursday, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article259491929.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">reported</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646530374745.png" alt="Elmore-photo courtesy&nbsp; Olathe East football" />
 <figcaption>Elmore-photo courtesy&nbsp; Olathe East football</figcaption>
 </figure>The case was continued until March 31. He will remain under guard at the hospital until he is well enough to be taken into custody by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.When he is released, Elmore will be jailed on $1 million bond.

Kan. high school shooting suspect still hospitalized in critical condition

BUTLER COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) responded to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred Thursday afternoon, critically injuring a Leon, Kansas man, according to a media release from the KBI.

Preliminary information indicates that deputies from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on James B. Watts, 53, of Leon. 

Deputies were following Watts’ vehicle when he parked at Vintage Bank at 101 S. Main St., in Leon. They attempted to call Watts out of the vehicle in a controlled manner, but he ignored commands. Watts exited the vehicle armed with a pistol. Deputies continued to give commands for him to drop the gun, but Watts reached the entrance of the bank. When Watts attempted to enter the bank, three deputies fired multiple times toward Watts, striking him several times.

Deputies and EMS rendered first-aid and Watts was transported to a Wichita hospital. After surgery he is in critical, but stable condition.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into this shooting. Once completed the findings will be turned over to the Butler County Attorney for review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647553641541.png" alt="The Butler County Sheriff’s Office contacted the KBI at approximately 2:20 p.m. requesting assistance investigating the shooting. -photo by Shawn Loging courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>The Butler County Sheriff’s Office contacted the KBI at approximately 2:20 p.m. requesting assistance investigating the shooting. -photo by Shawn Loging courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) responded to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred Thursday afternoon, critically injuring a Leon, Kansas man, according to a media release from the KBI.Preliminary information indicates that deputies from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on James B. Watts, 53, of Leon. Deputies were following Watts’ vehicle when he parked at Vintage Bank at 101 S. Main St., in Leon. They attempted to call Watts out of the vehicle in a controlled manner, but he ignored commands. Watts exited the vehicle armed with a pistol. Deputies continued to give commands for him to drop the gun, but Watts reached the entrance of the bank. When Watts attempted to enter the bank, three deputies fired multiple times toward Watts, striking him several times.Deputies and EMS rendered first-aid and Watts was transported to a Wichita hospital. After surgery he is in critical, but stable condition.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into this shooting. Once completed the findings will be turned over to the Butler County Attorney for review.

KBI: Suspect hospitalized after Kansas officer shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — An American man was killed in a Russian attack on the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, where he was seeking medical treatment for his partner. The death of Jim Hill was reported Thursday by his sister.

“My brother Jimmy Hill was killed yesterday in Chernihiv, Ukraine. He was waiting in a bread line with several other people when they were gunned down” by Russian military forces, his sister, Cheryl Hill Gordon, wrote on Facebook. “His body was found in the street by the local police.”

Ukrainian officials reported that 10 people were killed Wednesday in Chernihiv while standing in the bread line.

Chernihiv police and the U.S. State Department confirmed the death of an American but did not identify him. Hill was at least the second U.S. citizen to be killed in the conflict, after the killing of journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud last week.

In poignant posts on Facebook in the weeks before his death, Hill described “indiscriminate bombing” in a city under siege and joked about wanting to appear “feeble-minded” if captured by the Russians.

Under a photo of himself he wrote on March 8: “me unshaven for 10 days. I am actually trying to look as old and feeble-minded (not hard) as possible in case they catch me. I am working on my Rainman accent ‘Oh Boy’...”

Hill, a native of Eveleth, Minnesota, who was living in Driggs, Idaho, identified himself as a lecturer at universities in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, and Warsaw, Poland. He said he was in Chernihiv with his partner for her to receive medical treatment.

“We are staying on 3rd floor in Hospital. Most patients in basement bomb shelter. But cold down there and no internet,” he wrote on Feb. 26, two days after the invasion began.

Four days later, he said: “Nobody in Chernihiv is safe. Indiscriminate bombing. ... Ukrainian forces hold city but are surrounded. It’s a siege here. Nobody in. Nobody out.”

At least 53 people had been brought to morgues over the past 24 hours, killed during heavy Russian air attacks and ground fire in Chernihiv, the local governor, Viacheslav Chaus, told Ukrainian TV on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647556930489.png" alt="Jimmy Hill- photo courtesy Cheryl Hill Gordon" />
 <figcaption>Jimmy Hill- photo courtesy Cheryl Hill Gordon</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — An American man was killed in a Russian attack on the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, where he was seeking medical treatment for his partner. The death of Jim Hill was reported Thursday by his sister.“My brother Jimmy Hill was killed yesterday in Chernihiv, Ukraine. He was waiting in a bread line with several other people when they were gunned down” by Russian military forces, his sister, Cheryl Hill Gordon, wrote on Facebook. “His body was found in the street by the local police.”Ukrainian officials reported that 10 people were killed Wednesday in Chernihiv while standing in the bread line.Chernihiv police and the U.S. State Department confirmed the death of an American but did not identify him. Hill was at least the second U.S. citizen to be killed in the conflict, after the killing of journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud last week.In poignant posts on Facebook in the weeks before his death, Hill described “indiscriminate bombing” in a city under siege and joked about wanting to appear “feeble-minded” if captured by the Russians.Under a photo of himself he wrote on March 8: “me unshaven for 10 days. I am actually trying to look as old and feeble-minded (not hard) as possible in case they catch me. I am working on my Rainman accent ‘Oh Boy’...”Hill, a native of Eveleth, Minnesota, who was living in Driggs, Idaho, identified himself as a lecturer at universities in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, and Warsaw, Poland. He said he was in Chernihiv with his partner for her to receive medical treatment.“We are staying on 3rd floor in Hospital. Most patients in basement bomb shelter. But cold down there and no internet,” he wrote on Feb. 26, two days after the invasion began.Four days later, he said: “Nobody in Chernihiv is safe. Indiscriminate bombing. ... Ukrainian forces hold city but are surrounded. It’s a siege here. Nobody in. Nobody out.”At least 53 people had been brought to morgues over the past 24 hours, killed during heavy Russian air attacks and ground fire in Chernihiv, the local governor, Viacheslav Chaus, told Ukrainian TV on Thursday.

Family: American civilian killed in Ukraine died waiting in bread line

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A woman has pleaded guilty to two felony counts for a 2020 fatal hit-and-run during a drag race on a Kansas City street.

Shabazz Frencher, 24, of Kansas City, recently pleaded guilty to drunken driving while intoxicated resulting in death and leaving the scene of a fatal crash. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors dropped charges of driving with a suspended license and involuntary manslaughter.

Prosecutors have said Frencher was drunk and behind the wheel of a friend’s car early the morning of June 19, 2020, when she raced another driver at speeds reaching nearly 100 mph. Frencher fatally hit 23-year-old Zahara Kathawalla as Kathawalla crossed the street, and did not stop or turn around to check on Kathawalla, police said.&nbsp;

Investigators said a friend of Frencher’s who was in the car when Kathawalla was hit yelled at Frencher to stop and repeatedly told Frencher to turn around so they could check on the person hit.

Instead, authorities said, Frencher, eventually parked the car in a neighborhood, ripped off its temporary tag and had her cousin and a friend pick her up at a gas station.

Frencher is set to be sentenced on June 10.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605132066254.png" alt="Frencher-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Frencher-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A woman has pleaded guilty to two felony counts for a 2020 fatal hit-and-run during a drag race on a Kansas City street.Shabazz Frencher, 24, of Kansas City, recently pleaded guilty to drunken driving while intoxicated resulting in death and leaving the scene of a fatal crash. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors dropped charges of driving with a suspended license and involuntary manslaughter.Prosecutors have said Frencher was drunk and behind the wheel of a friend’s car early the morning of June 19, 2020, when she raced another driver at speeds reaching nearly 100 mph. Frencher fatally hit 23-year-old Zahara Kathawalla as Kathawalla crossed the street, and did not stop or turn around to check on Kathawalla, police said.&nbsp;Investigators said a friend of Frencher’s who was in the car when Kathawalla was hit yelled at Frencher to stop and repeatedly told Frencher to turn around so they could check on the person hit.Instead, authorities said, Frencher, eventually parked the car in a neighborhood, ripped off its temporary tag and had her cousin and a friend pick her up at a gas station.Frencher is set to be sentenced on June 10.

KC woman pleads guilty in fatal hit-and-run while street racing

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that injured a man at a Kansas home and searching for a suspect.

Just after 9 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting call at a home in the 1700 block of N. Spruce in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

 Upon arrival, officers located a 65-year-old victim. EMS transported him to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed, a disturbance occurred between the victim and a known suspect when the suspect fired a shot at the victim and struck him.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647540799981.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that injured a man at a Kansas home and searching for a suspect.Just after 9 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting call at a home in the 1700 block of N. Spruce in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. Upon arrival, officers located a 65-year-old victim. EMS transported him to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.The investigation revealed, a disturbance occurred between the victim and a known suspect when the suspect fired a shot at the victim and struck him.&nbsp;

Police search for suspect who shot 65-year-old Kan. man

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the Cottonwood fire nearly two weeks in the past, the gears are shifting in the recovery from immediate needs to long-term solutions. The VOAD and United Way continue to work to assist families where needed.

“We’re starting to get into the long-term recovery portion of this disaster,” United Way Director Lisa Gleason said. “It’s going to start with cleaning off properties for those families to determine whether they’re going to rebuild or whether they’re going to relocate.”

Gleason says the goal of the VOAD and United Way is to simply be alongside in the recovery where needed.

“Our goal is to walk alongside them and fill in the gaps,” Gleason said. “So if they’re insured, what is their insurance not covering? If they are under-insured or not insured, how can we help support them?”

Gleason says VOAD and the United Way will be on-site Saturday to help victims with the start of the recovery process.

“We are starting to do some work now on the sites where the properties have been lost,” Gleason said. “Reno County VOAD will be out there on Saturday with a canteen for food for those who are out working, trying to get their properties recovered.”

Gleason says they are working with each victim of the fire on a case-by-case basis, knowing that each need is different.

“Some of it is just making sure they’re connected to the resources they need,” Gleason said. “We do case management with every single family who wants our assistance."

The Volunteer Center of Reno County is putting together a list of groups, organizations or individuals who would like to help with the cleanup of the area. Three dates during the month of April will be announced for those cleanup events soon. Until then, the United Way is still taking monetary donations for the relief fund. You can go to <a href="https://www.unitedwayofrenocounty.org/">unitedwayofrenocounty.org</a> or stop by 924 N. Main in Hutchinson, or mail it to that address.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647551021140.jpeg" alt="Damage from the Cottonwood Fire in Reno County" />
 <figcaption>Damage from the Cottonwood Fire in Reno County</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROD ZOOK Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the Cottonwood fire nearly two weeks in the past, the gears are shifting in the recovery from immediate needs to long-term solutions. The VOAD and United Way continue to work to assist families where needed.“We’re starting to get into the long-term recovery portion of this disaster,” United Way Director Lisa Gleason said. “It’s going to start with cleaning off properties for those families to determine whether they’re going to rebuild or whether they’re going to relocate.”Gleason says the goal of the VOAD and United Way is to simply be alongside in the recovery where needed.“Our goal is to walk alongside them and fill in the gaps,” Gleason said. “So if they’re insured, what is their insurance not covering? If they are under-insured or not insured, how can we help support them?”Gleason says VOAD and the United Way will be on-site Saturday to help victims with the start of the recovery process.“We are starting to do some work now on the sites where the properties have been lost,” Gleason said. “Reno County VOAD will be out there on Saturday with a canteen for food for those who are out working, trying to get their properties recovered.”Gleason says they are working with each victim of the fire on a case-by-case basis, knowing that each need is different.“Some of it is just making sure they’re connected to the resources they need,” Gleason said. “We do case management with every single family who wants our assistance."The Volunteer Center of Reno County is putting together a list of groups, organizations or individuals who would like to help with the cleanup of the area. Three dates during the month of April will be announced for those cleanup events soon. Until then, the United Way is still taking monetary donations for the relief fund. You can go to <a href="https://www.unitedwayofrenocounty.org/">unitedwayofrenocounty.org</a> or stop by 924 N. Main in Hutchinson, or mail it to that address.

Reno Co. fire recovery attention turns to the long-term needs

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Conservative Republican lawmakers on Thursday revived a proposal to weaken Kansas’ vaccination requirements for children enrolling in school and day care and to make it easier for people to get potentially dangerous treatments for COVID-19.

The Senate health committee approved a bill that would allow parents to get a no-questions-asked religious exemption from requirements to vaccinate their children against more than a dozen diseases, including measles, whopping cough, polio and chickenpox.

The measure also would limit pharmacists’ ability to refuse to fill prescriptions for the anti-worm treatment ivermectin and other drugs for off-label uses as COVID-19 treatments.

The bill goes next to the full Senate for debate. The Republican majority there also is considering&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb489_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a proposal to greatly limit&nbsp;</a>the power of the state’s public health administrator to deal with infectious diseases and another to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-business-judiciary-property-taxes-5c98e22e3ae6760e29a569261da1f560">ban all mask mandates</a>&nbsp;during future pandemics.

“When you put them all together, it’s a lot of negative bills,” said Democratic Sen. Cindy Holscher, of Overland Park.

The measure approved Thursday would require schools to grant an exemption to parents who say vaccinations violate their religious or strongly held moral or ethical beliefs without investigating those beliefs.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-religion-822d31ed5cd6cdca053f21f4a9a965d9">A law enacted in November</a>&nbsp;granted a similar, broad exemption to workers seeking to avoid COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

“It allows the day care-aged kids’ parents and school-aged kids’ parents to enjoy the same freedom of religion that everyone else would,” said Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican.

But Sen. Kristen O’Shea, of Topeka, broke with fellow Republicans in opposing the measure and noted Thursday that the committee didn’t have a hearing on weakening childhood vaccination requirements.

She said during a meeting earlier this month: “It’s really scary to think that we’re in a society that’s going to bring back measles and polio and whooping cough, et cetera.”

The committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-kansas-topeka-dd075d06726b819037e64103ca82f288">approved a version</a>&nbsp;of the bill early last month, but it became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-congress-kansas-topeka-eaaad4bdc84fa35fe39749aa3f5b9017">tangled in a dispute over congressional redistricting</a>&nbsp;that involved Steffen. Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, sent it back to the committee for what a spokesperson called “some tweaks.”

The measure also is shadowed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-worms-legislature-054e83c1a4d69704b4ed6508c301dd18">a state medical board investigation</a>&nbsp;of Steffen, an anesthesiologist and pain-management specialist from Hutchinson. While Steffen disclosed the investigation and acknowledged trying to prescribe ivermectin, he has said the probe deals with his public statements about COVID-19 and not patient care.

Steffen pushed the previous version of the bill, which would have required pharmacists to fill all prescriptions of drugs for off-label uses in treating COVID-19. Kansas law allows pharmacists not to fill prescriptions they deem inappropriate or potentially harmful.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved ivermectin to treat infections of lice, roundworms and other tiny parasites in humans. The FDA has tried to debunk claims that animal-strength versions of the drug can help fight COVID-19,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-science-health-coronavirus-pandemic-c2b50063ac65943686a4995a6cf230c3">warning that large doses</a>&nbsp;can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, delirium and even death.

The new version of the bill says pharmacists still can refuse to fill drugs for off-label COVID-19 treatments, unless they object only because it’s for treating the novel coronavirus.

The measure prohibits the state medical board from disciplining doctors over such prescriptions, but the committee dropped a provision that would have made that ban apply at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.

Steffen said Thursday that he believes doctors who prescribe ivermectin and other drugs to treat COVID-19 can show that they’re doing what other reasonable physicians would do in similar circumstances. That’s the standard the state medical board uses to determine whether a doctor is providing adequate care.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647550246991.png" alt="The Senate health committee meeting on Thursday -photo Kan. legislature YouTube" />
 <figcaption>The Senate health committee meeting on Thursday -photo Kan. legislature YouTube</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Conservative Republican lawmakers on Thursday revived a proposal to weaken Kansas’ vaccination requirements for children enrolling in school and day care and to make it easier for people to get potentially dangerous treatments for COVID-19.The Senate health committee approved a bill that would allow parents to get a no-questions-asked religious exemption from requirements to vaccinate their children against more than a dozen diseases, including measles, whopping cough, polio and chickenpox.The measure also would limit pharmacists’ ability to refuse to fill prescriptions for the anti-worm treatment ivermectin and other drugs for off-label uses as COVID-19 treatments.The bill goes next to the full Senate for debate. The Republican majority there also is considering&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb489_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a proposal to greatly limit&nbsp;</a>the power of the state’s public health administrator to deal with infectious diseases and another to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-business-judiciary-property-taxes-5c98e22e3ae6760e29a569261da1f560">ban all mask mandates</a>&nbsp;during future pandemics.“When you put them all together, it’s a lot of negative bills,” said Democratic Sen. Cindy Holscher, of Overland Park.The measure approved Thursday would require schools to grant an exemption to parents who say vaccinations violate their religious or strongly held moral or ethical beliefs without investigating those beliefs.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-religion-822d31ed5cd6cdca053f21f4a9a965d9">A law enacted in November</a>&nbsp;granted a similar, broad exemption to workers seeking to avoid COVID-19 vaccine mandates.“It allows the day care-aged kids’ parents and school-aged kids’ parents to enjoy the same freedom of religion that everyone else would,” said Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican.But Sen. Kristen O’Shea, of Topeka, broke with fellow Republicans in opposing the measure and noted Thursday that the committee didn’t have a hearing on weakening childhood vaccination requirements.She said during a meeting earlier this month: “It’s really scary to think that we’re in a society that’s going to bring back measles and polio and whooping cough, et cetera.”The committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-kansas-topeka-dd075d06726b819037e64103ca82f288">approved a version</a>&nbsp;of the bill early last month, but it became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-congress-kansas-topeka-eaaad4bdc84fa35fe39749aa3f5b9017">tangled in a dispute over congressional redistricting</a>&nbsp;that involved Steffen. Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, sent it back to the committee for what a spokesperson called “some tweaks.”The measure also is shadowed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-worms-legislature-054e83c1a4d69704b4ed6508c301dd18">a state medical board investigation</a>&nbsp;of Steffen, an anesthesiologist and pain-management specialist from Hutchinson. While Steffen disclosed the investigation and acknowledged trying to prescribe ivermectin, he has said the probe deals with his public statements about COVID-19 and not patient care.Steffen pushed the previous version of the bill, which would have required pharmacists to fill all prescriptions of drugs for off-label uses in treating COVID-19. Kansas law allows pharmacists not to fill prescriptions they deem inappropriate or potentially harmful.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved ivermectin to treat infections of lice, roundworms and other tiny parasites in humans. The FDA has tried to debunk claims that animal-strength versions of the drug can help fight COVID-19,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-science-health-coronavirus-pandemic-c2b50063ac65943686a4995a6cf230c3">warning that large doses</a>&nbsp;can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, delirium and even death.The new version of the bill says pharmacists still can refuse to fill drugs for off-label COVID-19 treatments, unless they object only because it’s for treating the novel coronavirus.The measure prohibits the state medical board from disciplining doctors over such prescriptions, but the committee dropped a provision that would have made that ban apply at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.Steffen said Thursday that he believes doctors who prescribe ivermectin and other drugs to treat COVID-19 can show that they’re doing what other reasonable physicians would do in similar circumstances. That’s the standard the state medical board uses to determine whether a doctor is providing adequate care.