KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City police are investigating a homicide reported near one of the department's stations.

Kansas City police spokeswoman Officer Donna Drake said the homicide was reported around 2 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of East 27th Street and Brooklyn Avenue. The Kansas City Star&nbsp;reports&nbsp;that is about one block away from the police department’s East Patrol Division Station.

When officers arrived, they found two people with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle. Both victims were taken to a hospital where one later died. The second victim was in stable condition Sunday.

This is the city's 28th homicide of the year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646651806748.png" alt="Sunday afternoon crime scene photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Sunday afternoon crime scene photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City police are investigating a homicide reported near one of the department's stations.Kansas City police spokeswoman Officer Donna Drake said the homicide was reported around 2 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of East 27th Street and Brooklyn Avenue. The Kansas City Star&nbsp;reports&nbsp;that is about one block away from the police department’s East Patrol Division Station.When officers arrived, they found two people with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle. Both victims were taken to a hospital where one later died. The second victim was in stable condition Sunday.This is the city's 28th homicide of the year.

Homicide investigation near Kansas City police station

BANGKOK (AP) — The official global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 6 million on Monday — underscoring that the pandemic, now entering its third year, is far from over.

The milestone, recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is the latest tragic reminder of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">unrelenting nature of the pandemic</a>&nbsp;even as people are shedding masks, travel is resuming and businesses are reopening around the globe.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-religion-new-zealand-fiji-27b40edd3d6e94c5b10185e49bbf182f">Remote Pacific islands,</a>&nbsp;whose isolation had protected them for more than two years, are just now grappling with their first outbreaks and deaths, fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.

Hong Kong, which is seeing deaths soar, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-china-hong-kong-400065ee2ffd08eee45411d6dc099cca">testing its entire population of 7.5 million&nbsp;</a>three times this month as it clings to mainland&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-china-hong-kong-2f6cf36849799aa67cd8ee8d4f5bfd64">China’s “zero-COVID” strategy</a>.

As death rates remain high in Poland, Hungary, Romania and other Eastern European countries, the region has seen more than 1.5 million refugees arrive from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war-torn Ukraine</a>, a country with poor vaccination coverage and high rates of cases and deaths.

And despite its wealth and vaccine availability, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-hits-covid-deaths-milestone-coronavirus-omicron-76dc452fb7263612529e09eb23bc0f24">United States is nearing 1 million</a>&nbsp;reported deaths on its own.

Death rates worldwide are still highest among people unvaccinated against the virus, said Tikki Pang, a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore’s medical school and co-chair of the Asia Pacific Immunization Coalition.

“This is a disease of the unvaccinated — look what is happening in Hong Kong right now, the health system is being overwhelmed,” said Pang, the former director of research policy and cooperation with the World Health Organization. “The large majority of the deaths and the severe cases are in the unvaccinated, vulnerable segment of the population.”

It took the world seven months to record its first million deaths from the virus after the pandemic began in early 2020. Four months later another million people had died, and 1 million have died every three months since, until the death toll hit 5 million at the end of October. Now it has reached 6 million — more than the populations of Berlin and Brussels combined, or the entire state of Maryland.

But despite the enormity of the figure, the world undoubtedly hit its 6 millionth death some time ago. Poor record-keeping and testing in many parts of the world has led to an undercount in coronavirus deaths, in addition to excess deaths related to the pandemic but not from actual COVID-19 infections, like people who died from preventable causes but could not receive treatment because hospitals were full.

Edouard Mathieu, head of data for the&nbsp;<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus" target="_blank">Our World in Data</a>&nbsp;portal, said that — when countries’ excess mortality figures are studied — as many as nearly four times the reported death toll have likely died because of the pandemic.

An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-deaths-estimates" target="_blank">analysis of excess deaths by a team at The Economist</a>&nbsp;estimates that the number of COVID-19 deaths is between 14.1 million and 23.8 million.

“Confirmed deaths represent a fraction of the true number of deaths due to COVID, mostly because of limited testing, and challenges in the attribution of the cause of death,” Mathieu told The Associated Press. “In some, mostly rich, countries that fraction is high and the official tally can be considered to be fairly accurate, but in others it is highly underestimated.”

The United States has the biggest official death toll in the world, but the numbers have been trending downward over the last month.

Lonnie Bailey lost his 17-year-old nephew, Carlos Nunez Jr., who contracted COVID-19 last April — the same month Kentucky opened his age group to vaccinations. The Louisville resident said the family is still suffering, including Carlos’ younger sibling, who had to be hospitalized himself and still has lingering symptoms. The aggressive reopening of the country has been jarring for them to witness.

“For us it is hard to let our guard down; it’s going to take a while for us to adjust,” Bailey said.

The world has seen more than 445 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, and new weekly cases have been declining recently in all regions except for the Western Pacific, which includes China, Japan and South Korea, among others, the World Health Organization reported this week.

Although the overall figures in the Pacific islands seeing their first outbreaks are small compared to larger countries, they are significant among their tiny populations and threaten to overwhelm fragile health care systems.

“Given what we know about COVID ... it’s likely to hit them for the next year or so at least,” said Katie Greenwood, head of the Red Cross Pacific delegation.

Tonga reported its first outbreak after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tonga-volcano-covid-outbreak-lockdown-73b2d73b2b41092898b3d92be3dabcc4">virus arrived with international aid vessels</a>&nbsp;following the Jan. 15 eruption of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tonga-volcano-eruption-impact-whats-next-01288e5ecc43aa9a9bf3bc2803efd7e2">massive volcano</a>, followed by a tsunami. It now has several hundred cases, but — with 66% of its population fully vaccinated — it has so far reported people suffering mostly mild symptoms and no deaths.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-solomon-islands-honiara-30d3df8cb0f809c9e3e5a0cc5c6f886f">Solomon Islands</a>&nbsp;saw the first outbreak in January and now has thousands of cases and more than 100 deaths. The actual death toll is likely much higher, with the capital’s hospital overwhelmed and many dying at home, Greenwood said.

Only 12% of Solomon Islanders are fully vaccinated, though the outbreak has provided new impetus to the country’s vaccination campaign and 29% now have at least one shot.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-inequality-dac9c07b324e29d3597037b8dc1d908a">Global vaccine disparity continues</a>, with only 6.95% of people in low-income countries fully vaccinated, compared to more than 73% in high-income nations, according to Our World in Data.

In a good sign, at the end of last month Africa surpassed Europe in the number of doses administered daily, but only about 12.5% of its population has received two shots.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still pressing for more vaccines, though it has been a challenge. Some shipments arrive with little warning for countries’ health systems and others near the expiration date — forcing doses to be destroyed.

Eastern Europe has been particularly hard hit by the omicron variant, and with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a new risk has emerged as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-refugees-diversity-230b0cc790820b9bf8883f918fc8e313">hundreds of thousands of people flee</a>&nbsp;to places like Poland on crowded trains. Health officials there have been offering free vaccinations to all refugees, but have not been making them test upon arrival or quarantine.

“This is really tragic because great stress has a very negative effect on natural immunity and increases the risk of infections,” said Anna Boron-Kaczmarska, a Polish infectious disease specialist. “They are in very high stress, being afraid for their lives, the lives of their children, they family members.”

Mexico has reported 300,000 deaths, but with little testing, a government analysis of death certificates puts the real number closer to 500,000. Still, four weeks of falling infection rates have left health officials optimistic.

In India, where the world was shocked by images of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-india-coronavirus-8788a4dadc2103ec30f40111dec92f15">open-air pyres of bodies</a>&nbsp;burned as crematoria were overwhelmed, the scars are fading as the number of new cases and deaths has slowed.

India has recorded more than 500,000 deaths, but experts believe its true toll is in the millions, primarily from the delta variant. Migrants from India’s vast hinterland are now returning to its megacities in search of jobs, and the streets are packed with traffic. Shopping malls have customers, albeit still masked, while schools and universities are welcoming students after a months-long gap.

In Britain, infections have fallen since an omicron-driven surge in December, but remain high. England has now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-london-6a4a2509fd5443d7b36f5331b01f7431">lifted all restrictions</a>, including mask mandates and the requirement that all who test positive isolate at home.

With about 250,000 reported deaths, the African continent’s smaller death toll is thought to stem from underreporting, as well as a generally younger and less mobile population.

“Africa is a big question mark for me, because it has been relatively spared from the worst so far, but it could just be a time bomb,” Pang said, noting its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-middle-east-africa-lifestyle-1f2c92d6a306819c363c87661dc7818d">low vaccination rates</a>.

In South Africa, Soweto resident Thoko Dube said she received news of the deaths of two family members on the same day in January 2021 — a month before the country received its first vaccines.

It has been difficult, but “the family is coping,” she said. “We have accepted it because it has been happening to other families.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593379644162.png" alt="And despite&nbsp; wealth and vaccine availability, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-hits-covid-deaths-milestone-coronavirus-omicron-76dc452fb7263612529e09eb23bc0f24">United States is nearing 1 million</a>&nbsp;reported deaths on its own.-map courtesy John Hopkins University" />
 <figcaption>And despite&nbsp; wealth and vaccine availability, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-hits-covid-deaths-milestone-coronavirus-omicron-76dc452fb7263612529e09eb23bc0f24">United States is nearing 1 million</a>&nbsp;reported deaths on its own.-map courtesy John Hopkins University</figcaption>
 </figure>BANGKOK (AP) — The official global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 6 million on Monday — underscoring that the pandemic, now entering its third year, is far from over.The milestone, recorded by Johns Hopkins University, is the latest tragic reminder of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">unrelenting nature of the pandemic</a>&nbsp;even as people are shedding masks, travel is resuming and businesses are reopening around the globe.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-religion-new-zealand-fiji-27b40edd3d6e94c5b10185e49bbf182f">Remote Pacific islands,</a>&nbsp;whose isolation had protected them for more than two years, are just now grappling with their first outbreaks and deaths, fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.Hong Kong, which is seeing deaths soar, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-china-hong-kong-400065ee2ffd08eee45411d6dc099cca">testing its entire population of 7.5 million&nbsp;</a>three times this month as it clings to mainland&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-china-hong-kong-2f6cf36849799aa67cd8ee8d4f5bfd64">China’s “zero-COVID” strategy</a>.As death rates remain high in Poland, Hungary, Romania and other Eastern European countries, the region has seen more than 1.5 million refugees arrive from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war-torn Ukraine</a>, a country with poor vaccination coverage and high rates of cases and deaths.And despite its wealth and vaccine availability, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-hits-covid-deaths-milestone-coronavirus-omicron-76dc452fb7263612529e09eb23bc0f24">United States is nearing 1 million</a>&nbsp;reported deaths on its own.Death rates worldwide are still highest among people unvaccinated against the virus, said Tikki Pang, a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore’s medical school and co-chair of the Asia Pacific Immunization Coalition.“This is a disease of the unvaccinated — look what is happening in Hong Kong right now, the health system is being overwhelmed,” said Pang, the former director of research policy and cooperation with the World Health Organization. “The large majority of the deaths and the severe cases are in the unvaccinated, vulnerable segment of the population.”It took the world seven months to record its first million deaths from the virus after the pandemic began in early 2020. Four months later another million people had died, and 1 million have died every three months since, until the death toll hit 5 million at the end of October. Now it has reached 6 million — more than the populations of Berlin and Brussels combined, or the entire state of Maryland.But despite the enormity of the figure, the world undoubtedly hit its 6 millionth death some time ago. Poor record-keeping and testing in many parts of the world has led to an undercount in coronavirus deaths, in addition to excess deaths related to the pandemic but not from actual COVID-19 infections, like people who died from preventable causes but could not receive treatment because hospitals were full.Edouard Mathieu, head of data for the&nbsp;<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus" target="_blank">Our World in Data</a>&nbsp;portal, said that — when countries’ excess mortality figures are studied — as many as nearly four times the reported death toll have likely died because of the pandemic.An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-deaths-estimates" target="_blank">analysis of excess deaths by a team at The Economist</a>&nbsp;estimates that the number of COVID-19 deaths is between 14.1 million and 23.8 million.“Confirmed deaths represent a fraction of the true number of deaths due to COVID, mostly because of limited testing, and challenges in the attribution of the cause of death,” Mathieu told The Associated Press. “In some, mostly rich, countries that fraction is high and the official tally can be considered to be fairly accurate, but in others it is highly underestimated.”The United States has the biggest official death toll in the world, but the numbers have been trending downward over the last month.Lonnie Bailey lost his 17-year-old nephew, Carlos Nunez Jr., who contracted COVID-19 last April — the same month Kentucky opened his age group to vaccinations. The Louisville resident said the family is still suffering, including Carlos’ younger sibling, who had to be hospitalized himself and still has lingering symptoms. The aggressive reopening of the country has been jarring for them to witness.“For us it is hard to let our guard down; it’s going to take a while for us to adjust,” Bailey said.The world has seen more than 445 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, and new weekly cases have been declining recently in all regions except for the Western Pacific, which includes China, Japan and South Korea, among others, the World Health Organization reported this week.Although the overall figures in the Pacific islands seeing their first outbreaks are small compared to larger countries, they are significant among their tiny populations and threaten to overwhelm fragile health care systems.“Given what we know about COVID ... it’s likely to hit them for the next year or so at least,” said Katie Greenwood, head of the Red Cross Pacific delegation.Tonga reported its first outbreak after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tonga-volcano-covid-outbreak-lockdown-73b2d73b2b41092898b3d92be3dabcc4">virus arrived with international aid vessels</a>&nbsp;following the Jan. 15 eruption of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tonga-volcano-eruption-impact-whats-next-01288e5ecc43aa9a9bf3bc2803efd7e2">massive volcano</a>, followed by a tsunami. It now has several hundred cases, but — with 66% of its population fully vaccinated — it has so far reported people suffering mostly mild symptoms and no deaths.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-solomon-islands-honiara-30d3df8cb0f809c9e3e5a0cc5c6f886f">Solomon Islands</a>&nbsp;saw the first outbreak in January and now has thousands of cases and more than 100 deaths. The actual death toll is likely much higher, with the capital’s hospital overwhelmed and many dying at home, Greenwood said.Only 12% of Solomon Islanders are fully vaccinated, though the outbreak has provided new impetus to the country’s vaccination campaign and 29% now have at least one shot.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-inequality-dac9c07b324e29d3597037b8dc1d908a">Global vaccine disparity continues</a>, with only 6.95% of people in low-income countries fully vaccinated, compared to more than 73% in high-income nations, according to Our World in Data.In a good sign, at the end of last month Africa surpassed Europe in the number of doses administered daily, but only about 12.5% of its population has received two shots.The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still pressing for more vaccines, though it has been a challenge. Some shipments arrive with little warning for countries’ health systems and others near the expiration date — forcing doses to be destroyed.Eastern Europe has been particularly hard hit by the omicron variant, and with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a new risk has emerged as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-refugees-diversity-230b0cc790820b9bf8883f918fc8e313">hundreds of thousands of people flee</a>&nbsp;to places like Poland on crowded trains. Health officials there have been offering free vaccinations to all refugees, but have not been making them test upon arrival or quarantine.“This is really tragic because great stress has a very negative effect on natural immunity and increases the risk of infections,” said Anna Boron-Kaczmarska, a Polish infectious disease specialist. “They are in very high stress, being afraid for their lives, the lives of their children, they family members.”Mexico has reported 300,000 deaths, but with little testing, a government analysis of death certificates puts the real number closer to 500,000. Still, four weeks of falling infection rates have left health officials optimistic.In India, where the world was shocked by images of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-india-coronavirus-8788a4dadc2103ec30f40111dec92f15">open-air pyres of bodies</a>&nbsp;burned as crematoria were overwhelmed, the scars are fading as the number of new cases and deaths has slowed.India has recorded more than 500,000 deaths, but experts believe its true toll is in the millions, primarily from the delta variant. Migrants from India’s vast hinterland are now returning to its megacities in search of jobs, and the streets are packed with traffic. Shopping malls have customers, albeit still masked, while schools and universities are welcoming students after a months-long gap.In Britain, infections have fallen since an omicron-driven surge in December, but remain high. England has now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-london-6a4a2509fd5443d7b36f5331b01f7431">lifted all restrictions</a>, including mask mandates and the requirement that all who test positive isolate at home.With about 250,000 reported deaths, the African continent’s smaller death toll is thought to stem from underreporting, as well as a generally younger and less mobile population.“Africa is a big question mark for me, because it has been relatively spared from the worst so far, but it could just be a time bomb,” Pang said, noting its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-middle-east-africa-lifestyle-1f2c92d6a306819c363c87661dc7818d">low vaccination rates</a>.In South Africa, Soweto resident Thoko Dube said she received news of the deaths of two family members on the same day in January 2021 — a month before the country received its first vaccines.It has been difficult, but “the family is coping,” she said. “We have accepted it because it has been happening to other families.”

Death toll surpasses 6 million for pandemic now in 3rd year

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting for his country’s survival, Ukraine’s leader made a “desperate” plea Saturday to American lawmakers for the United States to help get more warplanes to his military and cut off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-joe-biden-business-europe-d30c144383033e2fc9bce6f3d5cfeb0b">Russian oil imports</a>&nbsp;as Kyiv tries to stave off the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russian invasion</a>.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened the private video call with U.S. lawmakers by telling them this may be the last time they see him alive. He has remained in Kyiv, the capital, which has a vast Russian armored column threatening from the north.

Appearing in what is now his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy-kyiv-poland-europe-c270027c825e009ed66988bb98a3476e">trademark army-green shirt&nbsp;</a>in front of a white wall with the Ukrainian flag, he told them Ukraine needs to secure its skies, either through a no-fly zone enforced by NATO or through the provision of more warplanes so Ukraine could better defend itself. Zelenskyy has been pleading for a no-fly zone for days, but NATO has refused, saying it could provoke a widespread war with Russia.

The hourlong exchange with some 300 members of Congress and their staffs came as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-3d9e50b2fa8b08ce1f74c1b09403186e">Russian troops continued to shell encircled cities&nbsp;</a>and the number of Ukrainians who have fled the country grew to 1.4 million.

“President Zelenskyy made a desperate plea,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

He said Zelenskyy wants the U.S. to facilitate the transfer of planes from Eastern European allies. “I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer,” Schumer said.

The U.S. is considering sending American-made F-16s as backfill to former Soviet bloc countries in Eastern Europe that are now members of NATO. They, in turn, would send Ukraine their own Soviet-era MiGs, which Ukrainian pilots are trained to fly.

There appears to be a logistical problem, however, in sending the F-16s to Poland or other East European allies because of a production backlog. These countries would essentially have to give their MiGs to the Ukrainians and accept an IOU from the U.S. for the F-16s. The situation is further complicated because the next shipment of F-16s is set for Taiwan, and Congress would be reluctant to delay those deliveries as it eyes China.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated the fighter jets are under consideration after meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba at the Poland-Ukraine border outside the town of Korczowa.

“We are talking about and working on everything,” Blinken told reporters.

Blinken reiterated that the U.S. support for Ukraine “not only has been unprecedented, not only is it going to continue, it’s going to increase.”

The U.S. Congress is working on a $10 billion package of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Schumer told Zelenskyy lawmakers hope to send it quickly to Ukraine, according to a person on the call and granted anonymity to discuss it.

When Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell asked about the types of military support his country needs, Zelenskyy said drones as well as planes would be the most helpful.

During the call, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia asked Zelenskyy about the idea of banning the import of Russian oil to the U.S., according to two other people granted anonymity to discuss the private call. They said Zelenskyy indicated such a ban would be effective in putting pressure on Russia.

Republicans and a growing number of Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, back the idea of an Russian oil import ban. The Biden administration has so far resisted that step, worried about rising prices at the pump.

Zelenskyy urged U.S. lawmakers to sanction Russia’s oil and gas sector, which has so far escaped the mounting sanctions imposed by the Biden administration and other countries.

The Ukrainian leader also urged lawmakers to suspend Visa and Mastercard credit card access in Russia — and the two announced later Saturday that they were doing just that. Mastercard said cards issued by Russian banks will no longer be supported by its network and any card issued outside the country will not work at Russian stores or ATMs. Visa said it’s working with clients and partners in Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days.

In a video posted to Twitter after the call, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said: “Anything that could hurt the Russian economy will help the Ukrainian people and may make this war more difficult for Putin.”

Zelenskyy’s office said he also suggested the U.S. consider imposing an embargo on all Russian goods and stripping Russia of its most-favored-nation trade status.

Lawmakers are concerned that Zelenskyy will be killed in the Russian invasion. They are also worried that a Ukrainian government under assault will be unable to function and to receive aid.

When one lawmaker asked diplomatically what would happen if he was killed, Zelenskyy acknowledged the concerns but implored Congress to do whatever it can to help Ukraine fight off Russia’s assault on his country.

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said in a statement that Zelenskyy’s “message is simple: ‘close the skies or give us planes.’”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646538712168.png" alt="A view of the Zoom call with members of Congress -photo courtesy President Volodymyr Zelenskyy " />
 <figcaption>A view of the Zoom call with members of Congress -photo courtesy President Volodymyr Zelenskyy </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting for his country’s survival, Ukraine’s leader made a “desperate” plea Saturday to American lawmakers for the United States to help get more warplanes to his military and cut off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-joe-biden-business-europe-d30c144383033e2fc9bce6f3d5cfeb0b">Russian oil imports</a>&nbsp;as Kyiv tries to stave off the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russian invasion</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Just got off a call with President Zelenskyy and my Senate colleagues. President Zelenskyy&#39;s bravery and leadership has been an inspiration to the world in uniting against Vladimir Putin.&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1500174099213127683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened the private video call with U.S. lawmakers by telling them this may be the last time they see him alive. He has remained in Kyiv, the capital, which has a vast Russian armored column threatening from the north.Appearing in what is now his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy-kyiv-poland-europe-c270027c825e009ed66988bb98a3476e">trademark army-green shirt&nbsp;</a>in front of a white wall with the Ukrainian flag, he told them Ukraine needs to secure its skies, either through a no-fly zone enforced by NATO or through the provision of more warplanes so Ukraine could better defend itself. Zelenskyy has been pleading for a no-fly zone for days, but NATO has refused, saying it could provoke a widespread war with Russia.The hourlong exchange with some 300 members of Congress and their staffs came as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-3d9e50b2fa8b08ce1f74c1b09403186e">Russian troops continued to shell encircled cities&nbsp;</a>and the number of Ukrainians who have fled the country grew to 1.4 million.“President Zelenskyy made a desperate plea,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.He said Zelenskyy wants the U.S. to facilitate the transfer of planes from Eastern European allies. “I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer,” Schumer said.The U.S. is considering sending American-made F-16s as backfill to former Soviet bloc countries in Eastern Europe that are now members of NATO. They, in turn, would send Ukraine their own Soviet-era MiGs, which Ukrainian pilots are trained to fly.There appears to be a logistical problem, however, in sending the F-16s to Poland or other East European allies because of a production backlog. These countries would essentially have to give their MiGs to the Ukrainians and accept an IOU from the U.S. for the F-16s. The situation is further complicated because the next shipment of F-16s is set for Taiwan, and Congress would be reluctant to delay those deliveries as it eyes China.Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated the fighter jets are under consideration after meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba at the Poland-Ukraine border outside the town of Korczowa.“We are talking about and working on everything,” Blinken told reporters.Blinken reiterated that the U.S. support for Ukraine “not only has been unprecedented, not only is it going to continue, it’s going to increase.”The U.S. Congress is working on a $10 billion package of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Schumer told Zelenskyy lawmakers hope to send it quickly to Ukraine, according to a person on the call and granted anonymity to discuss it.When Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell asked about the types of military support his country needs, Zelenskyy said drones as well as planes would be the most helpful.During the call, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia asked Zelenskyy about the idea of banning the import of Russian oil to the U.S., according to two other people granted anonymity to discuss the private call. They said Zelenskyy indicated such a ban would be effective in putting pressure on Russia.Republicans and a growing number of Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, back the idea of an Russian oil import ban. The Biden administration has so far resisted that step, worried about rising prices at the pump.Zelenskyy urged U.S. lawmakers to sanction Russia’s oil and gas sector, which has so far escaped the mounting sanctions imposed by the Biden administration and other countries.The Ukrainian leader also urged lawmakers to suspend Visa and Mastercard credit card access in Russia — and the two announced later Saturday that they were doing just that. Mastercard said cards issued by Russian banks will no longer be supported by its network and any card issued outside the country will not work at Russian stores or ATMs. Visa said it’s working with clients and partners in Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days.In a video posted to Twitter after the call, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said: “Anything that could hurt the Russian economy will help the Ukrainian people and may make this war more difficult for Putin.”Zelenskyy’s office said he also suggested the U.S. consider imposing an embargo on all Russian goods and stripping Russia of its most-favored-nation trade status.Lawmakers are concerned that Zelenskyy will be killed in the Russian invasion. They are also worried that a Ukrainian government under assault will be unable to function and to receive aid.When one lawmaker asked diplomatically what would happen if he was killed, Zelenskyy acknowledged the concerns but implored Congress to do whatever it can to help Ukraine fight off Russia’s assault on his country.Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said in a statement that Zelenskyy’s “message is simple: ‘close the skies or give us planes.’”___

Moran, other U.S. lawmakers hold video call with Ukraine's leader

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-17.pdf">FS-2022-17</a>&nbsp;PDF)
 on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments. 
These updates are to help eligible families properly claim the credit 
when they prepare and file their 2021 tax return.

These changes reflect that Publication 972, Child Tax Credit, has become obsolete. Taxpayers should refer to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-8812-form-1040">Schedule 8812 (Form 1040)</a>.
 Schedule 8812 (Form 1040) is now used to calculate child tax credits 
and to report advance child tax credit payments received in 2021, and to
 figure any additional tax owed if excess advance child tax credit 
payments were received during 2021.

These FAQs revisions and additions are as follows:

These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possible.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-17.pdf">FS-2022-17</a>&nbsp;PDF)
 on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments. 
These updates are to help eligible families properly claim the credit 
when they prepare and file their 2021 tax return.These changes reflect that Publication 972, Child Tax Credit, has become obsolete. Taxpayers should refer to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-8812-form-1040">Schedule 8812 (Form 1040)</a>.
 Schedule 8812 (Form 1040) is now used to calculate child tax credits 
and to report advance child tax credit payments received in 2021, and to
 figure any additional tax owed if excess advance child tax credit 
payments were received during 2021.These FAQs revisions and additions are as follows:<ul>
 <li>2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments — 
Topic B: Eligibility for Advance Child Tax Credit Payments and the 2021 
Child Tax Credit: Q3</li><li>2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments — Topic C: Calculation of the 2021 Child Tax Credit: Q1</li><li>2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments — Topic D: Calculation of Advance Child Tax Credit Payments: Q1</li>
 </ul>These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possible.

IRS: New details on 2021 Child Tax Credit, Advance Child Tax Credit payments

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Chanute, Kansas, man serving with the Army National Guard pleaded guilty in federal court this week to sexually exploiting an 11-year-old southwest Missouri victim to produce child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

Christian Sinclair, 21, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of the sexual exploitation of a child.

By pleading guilty, Sinclair admitted that he used a minor to produce child pornography from Aug. 1, 2020, through June 15, 2021.

According to the plea agreement, a captain in the Kansas National Guard contacted the Sierra Vista, Arizona, police department on June 15, 2021, while his unit was deployed to Arizona. The captain reported that Sinclair, one of the soldiers in his command, was sexting an 11-year-old child in Missouri. Sinclair’s fiancée had reported to the captain earlier the same day that she had screenshots between herself and Sinclair in which Sinclair admitted to “cheating” on her with an 11-year-old child.

The child victim told investigators that she had sent Sinclair multiple pornographic videos and images of herself via Snapchat at Sinclair’s request. Sinclair admitted that he also sent pornographic images of himself to the child victim via Snapchat.

Under federal statutes, Sinclair is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Lamar, Mo., Police Department, the Sierra Vista, Arizona, Police Department, and the Chanute, Kan., Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646494837245.png" alt="Sinclair-photo Greene Co." />
 <figcaption>Sinclair-photo Greene Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Chanute, Kansas, man serving with the Army National Guard pleaded guilty in federal court this week to sexually exploiting an 11-year-old southwest Missouri victim to produce child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.Christian Sinclair, 21, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of the sexual exploitation of a child.By pleading guilty, Sinclair admitted that he used a minor to produce child pornography from Aug. 1, 2020, through June 15, 2021.According to the plea agreement, a captain in the Kansas National Guard contacted the Sierra Vista, Arizona, police department on June 15, 2021, while his unit was deployed to Arizona. The captain reported that Sinclair, one of the soldiers in his command, was sexting an 11-year-old child in Missouri. Sinclair’s fiancée had reported to the captain earlier the same day that she had screenshots between herself and Sinclair in which Sinclair admitted to “cheating” on her with an 11-year-old child.The child victim told investigators that she had sent Sinclair multiple pornographic videos and images of herself via Snapchat at Sinclair’s request. Sinclair admitted that he also sent pornographic images of himself to the child victim via Snapchat.Under federal statutes, Sinclair is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Lamar, Mo., Police Department, the Sierra Vista, Arizona, Police Department, and the Chanute, Kan., Police Department.

Kan. National Guard soldier admits sexting with 11-year-old girl

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on whether the man who killed a former NFL player in a road rage incident in 2016 can be tried again for murder after his conviction on a lesser charge was overturned.

Authorities in the New Orleans suburb of Jefferson Parish originally charged Ronald Gasser with second-degree murder in the shooting of Joe McKnight. A high school football hero at Louisiana’s John Curtis Christian School, McKnight went on to play three seasons for the New York Jets and one with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Instead of murder, the jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-football-ronald-gasser-football-sports-joe-mcknight-a292a23d5dc641b2a112cbc442a40719">convicted Gasser of manslaughter.</a>&nbsp;But that verdict was later overturned because it came from a non-unanimous jury.

The Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office said the non-unanimous decision for manslaughter should not be treated as an acquittal on the murder charge. Prosecutors wanted another chance to try Gasser for murder.

A state district judge in Gretna ruled, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-entertainment-louisiana-new-orleans-fc99b53937d93ea1957f3aa3399e4267">a state appellate panel agreed&nbsp;</a>in a 2-1 ruling, that trying Gasser again on the murder charge would violate his constitutional protection against double jeopardy.

The state's highest court did not set a date for arguments on the issue.

Witnesses at the 2018 trial said McKnight had been weaving in and out of traffic at high speed before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fba7658e2fde4ad9a26cf2eeb11da9ff">the shooting</a>. But prosecutors argued that Gasser escalated the conflict, following McKnight down an exit that he would not ordinarily have taken.

Gasser’s defense team insisted he fired at McKnight in self-defense.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594910560020.png" alt="Gasser photo Jefferson Parish Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Gasser photo Jefferson Parish Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on whether the man who killed a former NFL player in a road rage incident in 2016 can be tried again for murder after his conviction on a lesser charge was overturned.Authorities in the New Orleans suburb of Jefferson Parish originally charged Ronald Gasser with second-degree murder in the shooting of Joe McKnight. A high school football hero at Louisiana’s John Curtis Christian School, McKnight went on to play three seasons for the New York Jets and one with the Kansas City Chiefs.Instead of murder, the jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-football-ronald-gasser-football-sports-joe-mcknight-a292a23d5dc641b2a112cbc442a40719">convicted Gasser of manslaughter.</a>&nbsp;But that verdict was later overturned because it came from a non-unanimous jury.The Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office said the non-unanimous decision for manslaughter should not be treated as an acquittal on the murder charge. Prosecutors wanted another chance to try Gasser for murder.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594918451537.png" alt="Deputies at the scene of Gasser's 2016 arrest photo courtesy WWL-TV" />
 <figcaption>Deputies at the scene of Gasser's 2016 arrest photo courtesy WWL-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>A state district judge in Gretna ruled, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-entertainment-louisiana-new-orleans-fc99b53937d93ea1957f3aa3399e4267">a state appellate panel agreed&nbsp;</a>in a 2-1 ruling, that trying Gasser again on the murder charge would violate his constitutional protection against double jeopardy.The state's highest court did not set a date for arguments on the issue.Witnesses at the 2018 trial said McKnight had been weaving in and out of traffic at high speed before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fba7658e2fde4ad9a26cf2eeb11da9ff">the shooting</a>. But prosecutors argued that Gasser escalated the conflict, following McKnight down an exit that he would not ordinarily have taken.Gasser’s defense team insisted he fired at McKnight in self-defense.

Killer of former KC Chief hopes to avoid 2nd murder charge

RENO COUNTY—&nbsp;Authorities found the body of one person who died in&nbsp;the Cottonwood Complex fire in Reno County.

 A second person who was missing has been found and is safe, according to Fire Chief Steve Beer.

Five task force units remained on the scene Sunday. Crews are also making detailed damage assessments.

Both shelters at Burrton High School and the Hutchinson Salvation Army are closed and all of those needing assistance are being handled by the Red Cross on a case-by-case basis. The cause of the fire has not been determined at this time and it will be several days before the fire is brought under control.

&nbsp;RENO COUNTY —The Cottonwood Complex fire began just after 12:3op.m. Saturday south of 4th Avenue near Willison. The fire quickly jumped Buhler Road and went east. The fire has burned about 12 square miles. There have been civilian injuries and one person is still reported as missing. If you have loved ones missing, you're asked to call 911. A 211 number has been set up to help with donations for those displaced by the fire.

A large number of structures were damaged or destroyed but the extent of the damage won't be known until Sunday. Crews continue to put out areas of fire within the area burned. Evergy is working to restore power to the area.

The following roads were still closed last Saturday. 4th Avenue and Avenue G from Buhler Road to the county line and Victory, Rayl and Worthington roads in those areas.

All other roads are open as of 11 p.m. but people are asked to stay out of the area due to the large number of trucks and other equipment in the area.

A temporary flight restriction is in place in the burned-out area due to aerial fire fighting efforts that will continue into tomorrow. Black Hawk helicopters are expected to assist starting tomorrow.&nbsp; That includes drones. Residents are being allowed back to their homes but any other traffic is not allowed. Cattle pens have been set up at the Gray residence at 8115 E. 4th Ave. for those who need to use them for livestock.

Officials do not know how serious the civilian injuries were and did say one fire truck was involved in an accident today. Crews will be working for several days to finish up the fire and a favorable forecast is calling for lighter winds and a chance of rain on Sunday. The fire department says it will hold another press conference Sunday morning.

HUTCHINSON— Hutchinson fire crews along with crews from Rice, McPherson, Harvey and Sedgwick counties are fighting a grass fire east of Hutchinson.&nbsp;

Evacuations are being recommended for residents along 30th Avenue between Buhler and Rayle Roads. Evacuations are also being ordered for residents along Avenue G between Buhler and Rayle.

Evacuations have been ordered for areas around the Palomino Development, residents around the old Cottonwood Hills golf course and all residents from Buhler Road to Rayle Road along 30th Avenue.

A shelter was established at the Salvation Army in Hutchinson for those being evacuated, according to&nbsp;Adam Weishaar of Reno County Emergency Management.&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Emergency management dispatched two Black Hawk helicopters to help with the aerial efforts  to fight the fire. 

The blaze started around 12:37 at 800 Willison which is about a mile west of Buhler Road. The fire quickly jumped into the old Cottonwood Hills golf course and raced east into Harvey County.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646524453263.png" alt="Tanker 95 coming in to refill to fight the fire in Reno County -photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service" />
 <figcaption>Tanker 95 coming in to refill to fight the fire in Reno County -photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROD ZOOK Hutch PostRENO COUNTY—&nbsp;Authorities found the body of one person who died in&nbsp;the Cottonwood Complex fire in Reno County. A second person who was missing has been found and is safe, according to Fire Chief Steve Beer.Five task force units remained on the scene Sunday. Crews are also making detailed damage assessments.Both shelters at Burrton High School and the Hutchinson Salvation Army are closed and all of those needing assistance are being handled by the Red Cross on a case-by-case basis. The cause of the fire has not been determined at this time and it will be several days before the fire is brought under control.--------&nbsp;RENO COUNTY —The Cottonwood Complex fire began just after 12:3op.m. Saturday south of 4th Avenue near Willison. The fire quickly jumped Buhler Road and went east. The fire has burned about 12 square miles. There have been civilian injuries and one person is still reported as missing. If you have loved ones missing, you're asked to call 911. A 211 number has been set up to help with donations for those displaced by the fire.A large number of structures were damaged or destroyed but the extent of the damage won't be known until Sunday. Crews continue to put out areas of fire within the area burned. Evergy is working to restore power to the area.The following roads were still closed last Saturday. 4th Avenue and Avenue G from Buhler Road to the county line and Victory, Rayl and Worthington roads in those areas.All other roads are open as of 11 p.m. but people are asked to stay out of the area due to the large number of trucks and other equipment in the area.A temporary flight restriction is in place in the burned-out area due to aerial fire fighting efforts that will continue into tomorrow. Black Hawk helicopters are expected to assist starting tomorrow.&nbsp; That includes drones. Residents are being allowed back to their homes but any other traffic is not allowed. Cattle pens have been set up at the Gray residence at 8115 E. 4th Ave. for those who need to use them for livestock.Officials do not know how serious the civilian injuries were and did say one fire truck was involved in an accident today. Crews will be working for several days to finish up the fire and a favorable forecast is calling for lighter winds and a chance of rain on Sunday. The fire department says it will hold another press conference Sunday morning.---------HUTCHINSON— Hutchinson fire crews along with crews from Rice, McPherson, Harvey and Sedgwick counties are fighting a grass fire east of Hutchinson.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">KTA Alert I35 in the El Dorado area there is smoke blowing over the road from a fire use caution in the area&mdash; Kansas Turnpike (@KansasTurnpike) <a href="https://twitter.com/KansasTurnpike/status/1500234814150135819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Evacuations are being recommended for residents along 30th Avenue between Buhler and Rayle Roads. Evacuations are also being ordered for residents along Avenue G between Buhler and Rayle.Evacuations have been ordered for areas around the Palomino Development, residents around the old Cottonwood Hills golf course and all residents from Buhler Road to Rayle Road along 30th Avenue.A shelter was established at the Salvation Army in Hutchinson for those being evacuated, according to&nbsp;Adam Weishaar of Reno County Emergency Management.&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Emergency management dispatched two Black Hawk helicopters to help with the aerial efforts to fight the fire. The blaze started around 12:37 at 800 Willison which is about a mile west of Buhler Road. The fire quickly jumped into the old Cottonwood Hills golf course and raced east into Harvey County.&nbsp;

One person dead after wildfire near Hutchinson

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-03-01/opioids-are-killing-more-people-than-ever-and-kansas-lags-other-states-on-these-steps-to-help">Kansas News Service</a>

In September 2020, Seth Dewey got a phone call at home from someone using drugs.

“They said, ‘Seth, we need Narcan over here right now,’” Dewey said.

The call for <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions/naloxone" target="_blank">Narcan</a> suggested a life-and-death emergency requiring medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose.

Dewey,
 whose work for the Reno County Health Department in Hutchinson focuses 
on combating drug addiction and overdoses, promised to rush over with 
doses of what’s also known as naloxone to the site where two people 
panicked as they watched life slipping away from a third.

He urged them to call 911, too, but they feared getting arrested.

“So
 I said, ‘Well, listen, then I’m going to call 911,’” he said. “When I 
got there, I ended up having to use three doses of naloxone on this 
individual. … It brought back very slow, labored breathing.”

By 
the time law enforcement officers reached the scene — without any 
naloxone on hand — Dewey had stabilized the man. Medical responders 
arrived later.

For Dewey, that day illustrates the need for policy changes to help more people survive a national surge in opioid overdoses.

Kansas is one of just a few states without <a href="https://www.pdaps.org/datasets/good-samaritan-overdose-laws-1501695153" target="_blank">a good Samaritan law</a> that encourages people to call 911 when witnessing an overdose, by shielding them from prosecution.

Additionally,
 Kansans can’t count on law enforcement officers — who may beat 
ambulances to the scene of an ongoing overdose when every minute counts —
 to carry naloxone.

Across the country, fatal overdoses <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-01-10/dealers-are-spiking-drugs-with-fentanyl-and-killing-even-more-kansans-during-the-pandemic" target="_blank">rocketed in 2020</a>
 to more than 90,000. That record number was driven largely by dealers 
selling drugs laced with potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

Tallies
 aren’t complete yet for 2021, but provisional counts for the first half
 of the year suggest people died at even greater rates. And <a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2022/overdose-deaths-surged-first-half-2021-underscoring-urgent-need-action?utm_source=alert&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Improving+Health+Care+Quality" target="_blank">Kansas is among a handful of states showing the steepest increases</a>.

Studies show <a href="https://health.wusf.usf.edu/npr-health/2022-01-15/there-is-life-after-addiction-most-people-recover" target="_blank">most people recover</a>
 from drug use disorders, but the process often takes years and involves
 multiple relapses. The widespread practice of mixing fentanyl and <a href="https://news.wosu.org/wksu-stories/2017-05-26/as-fentanyl-spreads-dealers-now-targeting-african-americans" target="_blank">carfentanil</a> into so many drugs today means many people never get that far.

“We’re
 losing too many people due to this old idea that people have to hit 
rock bottom” before becoming sober, Dewey said. “People aren’t getting a
 chance to hit rock bottom, because they’re dying.”

Someone dies of overdose almost every month in <a href="https://reno.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/6e5f01c85f524c08b9aea458926f8fdb" target="_blank">Reno County</a> — often more than one person.

Yet
 Dewey sees signs of change. The Reno County Sheriff’s Office and 
Hutchinson Police Department now train their officers on administering 
naloxone, and make sure they have it available.

A state good Samaritan law could also help, research suggests. The U.S. Government Accountability Office <a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-248" target="_blank">published a report</a> last year documenting evidence that the rate of fatal opioid overdoses improves when states pass such laws.

The
 vast bulk of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil are 
smuggled from abroad, and increasingly blended with other substances.

That
 means people sometimes don’t know that the methamphetamine, oxycodone, 
cocaine or other substances they buy illegally contain synthetic opioids
 to make them more potent.

Overdosing is easy. Even minuscule amounts of these substances can kill. Fentanyl is up to <a href="https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/external_publications/EP60000/EP68838/RAND_EP68838.pdf" target="_blank">50 times</a> more potent than heroin.

This month, <a href="https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/external_publications/EP60000/EP68838/RAND_EP68838.pdf" target="_blank">a federal commission</a>
 released its report on synthetic opioids, calling the epidemic of 
addiction “one of our most-pressing national security, law enforcement, 
and public health challenges.”

Though most people addicted to the 
substances get them illegally, the report traces the rise in demand for 
and trafficking of synthetic opioids directly to <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/richard-sackler-oxycontin-oxycodone-strength-conceal-from-doctors-sealed-testimony" target="_blank">wide-scale addiction to OxyContin</a> prescription opiate painkillers starting in the 1990s.

“The
 overdose crisis in the United States claims more lives each year than 
firearms, suicide, homicide, or motor vehicle crashes,” the report said.
 “We must do more as a nation and a government.”

Better access to 
medical care for opioid addiction won’t stop the drug trafficking, it 
said, but offers one route to saving lives, as the “gold standard” for 
treating opioid use disorders.

Buprenorphine and other treatments

Yet
 experts at the health care research group Commonwealth Fund say only a 
small sliver of people with opioid addiction receive such medical care.

The
 treatment usually involves prescribing one of three medications — 
buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone — to ease cravings and even block
 the brain’s ability to experience euphoria from drugs like heroin and 
oxycodone.

Sometimes people who want this help struggle to find a 
health care provider and treatment program that they can afford. 
Sometimes they face insurance hurdles.

Meanwhile, access to drug 
treatment behind bars remains spotty at best, even though most 
incarcerated people have substance use disorders.

Despite some 
successful lawsuits, as well as federal legislation, pushing for 
widespread access to this treatment in correctional facilities, most 
people with addiction in prison or jail still don’t receive it.

In Kansas, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-16/a-few-kansas-jails-are-finally-allowing-medical-care-for-opioid-addiction" target="_blank">a few jails</a>
 have begun allowing medical care with buprenorphine, methadone or 
naltrexone. Since Crawford County Jail rolled out its program in August 
2020, more than 200 people have signed up for care, and most continued 
their treatment after leaving jail.

A spokeswoman for the state prison system says it allows such treatment, too, though <a href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/08/10/these-meds-prevent-overdoses-few-federal-prisoners-are-getting-them" target="_blank">the Marshall Project</a>
 — an investigative journalism newsroom focused on criminal justice — 
considers the access to care in Kansas prisons to be limited.

Fentanyl test strips and naloxone supplies

The
 federal commission urges Congress to help local governments across the 
country afford naloxone so that they can equip all first responders with
 it.

And it calls for fentanyl test strip distribution programs and the development of best practices to help guide that work.

The
 strips let people test drugs they buy on the street to see if they’re 
laced with fentanyl, so they can protect themselves against unknowingly 
consuming it.

Kansas overdose prevention programs can’t distribute the test strips because they’re illegal under state law.

Last
 year, the Kansas House passed a bill to change that. The bill is now 
stalled in a Senate committee, which began to hold a hearing on the 
topic and then postponed the matter.

If the test strips become 
legal in Kansas, community groups that help people struggling with 
addiction will be able to use federal grants to buy and distribute 
supplies.

Ngoc Vuong sees the potential to save lives. He coordinates anti-addiction efforts for the <a href="https://www.partnersforwichita.org/safe-streets" target="_blank">Safe Streets program</a> in Wichita. He says part of helping people seek recovery is keeping them safe in the meantime.

That
 could mean distributing or explaining fentanyl test strips at outreach 
events geared toward people living on the street or who use illegal 
drugs or who are trying to stop using them.

“Letting them know 
about fentanyl test strips, how to use them,” Vuong said. “Then also add
 the caveat here that, ‘Whenever you’re ready to seek treatment, we’re 
here to help.’”

Dewey, at the Reno County Health Department, has a
 similar perspective. Building relationships is key, he said. And that 
includes talking to people in crisis about how to use naloxone and 
fentanyl test strips, and making sure they have access.

“Then they’re at least honest with us,” he said. “We want people to be honest with us. ‘Hey, man, I’m struggling with this.’”

Dewey
 speaks from experience. He used illegal drugs in the past, and ended up
 in the county jail. Ultimately he achieved long-term recovery.

“When
 we open up that relationship of trust” with people who use drugs, he 
said, “that’s when we start seeing a full cycle of (approaches) that 
could be used to help people when they’re ready.”

Celia 
Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health for the Kansas News Service. 
You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at celia@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646148908877.png" alt="Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption>Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-03-01/opioids-are-killing-more-people-than-ever-and-kansas-lags-other-states-on-these-steps-to-help">Kansas News Service</a>In September 2020, Seth Dewey got a phone call at home from someone using drugs.“They said, ‘Seth, we need Narcan over here right now,’” Dewey said.The call for <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions/naloxone" target="_blank">Narcan</a> suggested a life-and-death emergency requiring medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose.Dewey,
 whose work for the Reno County Health Department in Hutchinson focuses 
on combating drug addiction and overdoses, promised to rush over with 
doses of what’s also known as naloxone to the site where two people 
panicked as they watched life slipping away from a third.He urged them to call 911, too, but they feared getting arrested.“So
 I said, ‘Well, listen, then I’m going to call 911,’” he said. “When I 
got there, I ended up having to use three doses of naloxone on this 
individual. … It brought back very slow, labored breathing.”By 
the time law enforcement officers reached the scene — without any 
naloxone on hand — Dewey had stabilized the man. Medical responders 
arrived later.For Dewey, that day illustrates the need for policy changes to help more people survive a national surge in opioid overdoses.Kansas is one of just a few states without <a href="https://www.pdaps.org/datasets/good-samaritan-overdose-laws-1501695153" target="_blank">a good Samaritan law</a> that encourages people to call 911 when witnessing an overdose, by shielding them from prosecution.Additionally,
 Kansans can’t count on law enforcement officers — who may beat 
ambulances to the scene of an ongoing overdose when every minute counts —
 to carry naloxone.Across the country, fatal overdoses <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-01-10/dealers-are-spiking-drugs-with-fentanyl-and-killing-even-more-kansans-during-the-pandemic" target="_blank">rocketed in 2020</a>
 to more than 90,000. That record number was driven largely by dealers 
selling drugs laced with potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.Tallies
 aren’t complete yet for 2021, but provisional counts for the first half
 of the year suggest people died at even greater rates. And <a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2022/overdose-deaths-surged-first-half-2021-underscoring-urgent-need-action?utm_source=alert&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Improving+Health+Care+Quality" target="_blank">Kansas is among a handful of states showing the steepest increases</a>.Studies show <a href="https://health.wusf.usf.edu/npr-health/2022-01-15/there-is-life-after-addiction-most-people-recover" target="_blank">most people recover</a>
 from drug use disorders, but the process often takes years and involves
 multiple relapses. The widespread practice of mixing fentanyl and <a href="https://news.wosu.org/wksu-stories/2017-05-26/as-fentanyl-spreads-dealers-now-targeting-african-americans" target="_blank">carfentanil</a> into so many drugs today means many people never get that far.“We’re
 losing too many people due to this old idea that people have to hit 
rock bottom” before becoming sober, Dewey said. “People aren’t getting a
 chance to hit rock bottom, because they’re dying.”Someone dies of overdose almost every month in <a href="https://reno.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/6e5f01c85f524c08b9aea458926f8fdb" target="_blank">Reno County</a> — often more than one person.Yet
 Dewey sees signs of change. The Reno County Sheriff’s Office and 
Hutchinson Police Department now train their officers on administering 
naloxone, and make sure they have it available.A state good Samaritan law could also help, research suggests. The U.S. Government Accountability Office <a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-248" target="_blank">published a report</a> last year documenting evidence that the rate of fatal opioid overdoses improves when states pass such laws.Deadly synthetic opioidsThe
 vast bulk of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil are 
smuggled from abroad, and increasingly blended with other substances.That
 means people sometimes don’t know that the methamphetamine, oxycodone, 
cocaine or other substances they buy illegally contain synthetic opioids
 to make them more potent.Overdosing is easy. Even minuscule amounts of these substances can kill. Fentanyl is up to <a href="https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/external_publications/EP60000/EP68838/RAND_EP68838.pdf" target="_blank">50 times</a> more potent than heroin.This month, <a href="https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/external_publications/EP60000/EP68838/RAND_EP68838.pdf" target="_blank">a federal commission</a>
 released its report on synthetic opioids, calling the epidemic of 
addiction “one of our most-pressing national security, law enforcement, 
and public health challenges.”Though most people addicted to the 
substances get them illegally, the report traces the rise in demand for 
and trafficking of synthetic opioids directly to <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/richard-sackler-oxycontin-oxycodone-strength-conceal-from-doctors-sealed-testimony" target="_blank">wide-scale addiction to OxyContin</a> prescription opiate painkillers starting in the 1990s.“The
 overdose crisis in the United States claims more lives each year than 
firearms, suicide, homicide, or motor vehicle crashes,” the report said.
 “We must do more as a nation and a government.”Better access to 
medical care for opioid addiction won’t stop the drug trafficking, it 
said, but offers one route to saving lives, as the “gold standard” for 
treating opioid use disorders.Buprenorphine and other treatmentsYet
 experts at the health care research group Commonwealth Fund say only a 
small sliver of people with opioid addiction receive such medical care.The
 treatment usually involves prescribing one of three medications — 
buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone — to ease cravings and even block
 the brain’s ability to experience euphoria from drugs like heroin and 
oxycodone.Sometimes people who want this help struggle to find a 
health care provider and treatment program that they can afford. 
Sometimes they face insurance hurdles.Meanwhile, access to drug 
treatment behind bars remains spotty at best, even though most 
incarcerated people have substance use disorders.Despite some 
successful lawsuits, as well as federal legislation, pushing for 
widespread access to this treatment in correctional facilities, most 
people with addiction in prison or jail still don’t receive it.In Kansas, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-16/a-few-kansas-jails-are-finally-allowing-medical-care-for-opioid-addiction" target="_blank">a few jails</a>
 have begun allowing medical care with buprenorphine, methadone or 
naltrexone. Since Crawford County Jail rolled out its program in August 
2020, more than 200 people have signed up for care, and most continued 
their treatment after leaving jail.A spokeswoman for the state prison system says it allows such treatment, too, though <a href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/08/10/these-meds-prevent-overdoses-few-federal-prisoners-are-getting-them" target="_blank">the Marshall Project</a>
 — an investigative journalism newsroom focused on criminal justice — 
considers the access to care in Kansas prisons to be limited.Fentanyl test strips and naloxone suppliesThe
 federal commission urges Congress to help local governments across the 
country afford naloxone so that they can equip all first responders with
 it.And it calls for fentanyl test strip distribution programs and the development of best practices to help guide that work.The
 strips let people test drugs they buy on the street to see if they’re 
laced with fentanyl, so they can protect themselves against unknowingly 
consuming it.Kansas overdose prevention programs can’t distribute the test strips because they’re illegal under state law.Last
 year, the Kansas House passed a bill to change that. The bill is now 
stalled in a Senate committee, which began to hold a hearing on the 
topic and then postponed the matter.If the test strips become 
legal in Kansas, community groups that help people struggling with 
addiction will be able to use federal grants to buy and distribute 
supplies.Ngoc Vuong sees the potential to save lives. He coordinates anti-addiction efforts for the <a href="https://www.partnersforwichita.org/safe-streets" target="_blank">Safe Streets program</a> in Wichita. He says part of helping people seek recovery is keeping them safe in the meantime.That
 could mean distributing or explaining fentanyl test strips at outreach 
events geared toward people living on the street or who use illegal 
drugs or who are trying to stop using them.“Letting them know 
about fentanyl test strips, how to use them,” Vuong said. “Then also add
 the caveat here that, ‘Whenever you’re ready to seek treatment, we’re 
here to help.’”Dewey, at the Reno County Health Department, has a
 similar perspective. Building relationships is key, he said. And that 
includes talking to people in crisis about how to use naloxone and 
fentanyl test strips, and making sure they have access.“Then they’re at least honest with us,” he said. “We want people to be honest with us. ‘Hey, man, I’m struggling with this.’”Dewey
 speaks from experience. He used illegal drugs in the past, and ended up
 in the county jail. Ultimately he achieved long-term recovery.“When
 we open up that relationship of trust” with people who use drugs, he 
said, “that’s when we start seeing a full cycle of (approaches) that 
could be used to help people when they’re ready.”Celia 
Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health for the Kansas News Service. 
You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at celia@kcur.org.

Kansas lags other states on steps to help fight opioid deaths

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 75-year-old Kansas City-area man faces charges for allegedly pretending to be a police officer and pulling over a driver.

<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/2022/03/04/man-charged-with-false-impersonation-law-enforcement-officer-accused-pulling-driver-over/">KCTV-TV</a>&nbsp;reports that the Missouri State Highway Patrol launched an investigation in January after a driver became suspicious after being pulled over. The driver told the patrol that after he passed another vehicle, that driver began following him closely, flashed his headlights and activated emergency lights.

The alleged victim said the man took his driver's license and pretended to run a computer check. The alleged victim noted the license plate identifiers of the vehicle that pulled him over, which led to the arrest.

Investigators say the suspect vehicle had what appeared to be emergency lights mounted in the front grill and a siren speaker. The suspect is not a police officer but worked decades ago for Kansas City police and the highway patrol.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 75-year-old Kansas City-area man faces charges for allegedly pretending to be a police officer and pulling over a driver.<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/2022/03/04/man-charged-with-false-impersonation-law-enforcement-officer-accused-pulling-driver-over/">KCTV-TV</a>&nbsp;reports that the Missouri State Highway Patrol launched an investigation in January after a driver became suspicious after being pulled over. The driver told the patrol that after he passed another vehicle, that driver began following him closely, flashed his headlights and activated emergency lights.The alleged victim said the man took his driver's license and pretended to run a computer check. The alleged victim noted the license plate identifiers of the vehicle that pulled him over, which led to the arrest.Investigators say the suspect vehicle had what appeared to be emergency lights mounted in the front grill and a siren speaker. The suspect is not a police officer but worked decades ago for Kansas City police and the highway patrol.

75-year-old KC-area man accused of being fake police officer

A group of theologically conservative United Methodists plans to launch a new worldwide denomination on May 1, impatient to get started after yet another pandemic-related delay to a formalized divorce agreement with their denomination.

The creation of the Global Methodist Church, announced Thursday, was long in the making, organized by conservatives who were fed up with liberal churches’ continued defiance of the United Methodist Church’s bans on same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly gay clergy.

Global Methodist Church organizers had originally expected to launch the denomination only after the next General Conference of the UMC. That legislative body is the only one that could approve a tentative agreement — unveiled in 2020 after negotiations between conservatives, liberals and centrists — to allow churches and regional groups to leave the denomination and keep their property.

But the General Conference, originally scheduled for 2020, was already delayed for two straight years by the pandemic. On Thursday, the United Methodist Church announced it was pushing off the next gathering yet again — to 2024 — due to long delays in the U.S. processing of visa applications. A little more than half of the denomination’s members are overseas, notably in Africa and the Philippines.

UMC officials said the visa process has been delayed as long as 800 days in some cases.

“The visa issue is a reality that is simply outside our control as we seek to achieve a reasonable threshold of delegate presence and participation,” said a statement by Kim Simpson, who chairs the denomination’s Commission on the General Conference.

But the delay is hastening the breakup of one of the largest religious bodies in the United States.

Already some conservative churches have left the denomination, and more are eager to do so, said a statement from the Global Methodist Church organizers.

“Many United Methodists have grown impatient with a denomination clearly struggling to function effectively at the general church level,” said the Rev. Keith Boyette, chairman of the Transitional Leadership Council, which is organizing the Global Methodist Church.

“Theologically conservative local churches and annual conferences want to be free of divisive and destructive debates, and to have the freedom to move forward together,” he said. “We are confident many existing congregations will join the new Global Methodist Church in waves over the next few years, and new church plants will sprout up.”

Boyette, a Virginia-based Methodist elder, said he didn’t know how many churches would initially join the new denomination and “does not want to make any speculations.”

Under United Methodist law, church properties are held in trust for the larger denomination. “However there have always been avenues for churches to separate from the denomination,” said a statement from Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey of Louisiana, president of the UMC’s Council of Bishops. Churches can negotiate separation agreements with their bishops.

The organizers of the Global Methodist Church predicted some of its prospective members will reach amicable agreements to separate from their local conferences and that others would face more opposition.

The United Methodist Church claims 6.3 million members in the U.S. and 6.5 million overseas.

Differences over same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy have simmered for years in the UMC, and came to a head in 2019 at a conference in St. Louis where delegates voted 438-384 to strengthen bans on LGBTQ-inclusive practices. Most U.S.-based delegates opposed that plan and favored LGBTQ-friendly options; they were outvoted by U.S. conservatives teamed with most of the delegates from Methodist strongholds in Africa and the Philippines.

In the aftermath of that meeting, many moderate and liberal clergy made clear they would not abide by the bans, and various groups worked on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-methodist-church-breakaway-lgbt-f599979835addfd354856ff5b2024989">proposals to let the UMC split</a>&nbsp;along theological lines.

The most prominent plan, the Protocol of Reconciliation &amp; Grace Through Separation, was endorsed by a wide spectrum of bishops and activists after it was reached through famed mediation lawyer Kenneth Feinberg, whose law firm has overseen the distribution of other massive legal settlements such as the 9/11 victims fund.

Under the protocol, conservative congregations and regional bodies would be allowed to separate from the UMC and form a new denomination. They would receive $25 million in UMC funds and be able to keep their properties.

Assuming a large exodus of conservatives, the remaining United Methodist Church would be poised to reverse its longstanding bans on gay ordination and marriage.

Reconciling Ministries — a pro-LGBTQ advocacy caucus within the United Methodist Church — said that while the pandemic-related delay was necessary, “we also lament this lengthening test of our patience.”

But it pledged to “continue to work for the fullness of life for God’s LGBTQ+ children no matter when the next General Conference is held.”

By PETER SMITH, Associated PressA group of theologically conservative United Methodists plans to launch a new worldwide denomination on May 1, impatient to get started after yet another pandemic-related delay to a formalized divorce agreement with their denomination.The creation of the Global Methodist Church, announced Thursday, was long in the making, organized by conservatives who were fed up with liberal churches’ continued defiance of the United Methodist Church’s bans on same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly gay clergy.Global Methodist Church organizers had originally expected to launch the denomination only after the next General Conference of the UMC. That legislative body is the only one that could approve a tentative agreement — unveiled in 2020 after negotiations between conservatives, liberals and centrists — to allow churches and regional groups to leave the denomination and keep their property.But the General Conference, originally scheduled for 2020, was already delayed for two straight years by the pandemic. On Thursday, the United Methodist Church announced it was pushing off the next gathering yet again — to 2024 — due to long delays in the U.S. processing of visa applications. A little more than half of the denomination’s members are overseas, notably in Africa and the Philippines.UMC officials said the visa process has been delayed as long as 800 days in some cases.“The visa issue is a reality that is simply outside our control as we seek to achieve a reasonable threshold of delegate presence and participation,” said a statement by Kim Simpson, who chairs the denomination’s Commission on the General Conference.But the delay is hastening the breakup of one of the largest religious bodies in the United States.Already some conservative churches have left the denomination, and more are eager to do so, said a statement from the Global Methodist Church organizers.“Many United Methodists have grown impatient with a denomination clearly struggling to function effectively at the general church level,” said the Rev. Keith Boyette, chairman of the Transitional Leadership Council, which is organizing the Global Methodist Church.“Theologically conservative local churches and annual conferences want to be free of divisive and destructive debates, and to have the freedom to move forward together,” he said. “We are confident many existing congregations will join the new Global Methodist Church in waves over the next few years, and new church plants will sprout up.”Boyette, a Virginia-based Methodist elder, said he didn’t know how many churches would initially join the new denomination and “does not want to make any speculations.”Under United Methodist law, church properties are held in trust for the larger denomination. “However there have always been avenues for churches to separate from the denomination,” said a statement from Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey of Louisiana, president of the UMC’s Council of Bishops. Churches can negotiate separation agreements with their bishops.The organizers of the Global Methodist Church predicted some of its prospective members will reach amicable agreements to separate from their local conferences and that others would face more opposition.The United Methodist Church claims 6.3 million members in the U.S. and 6.5 million overseas.Differences over same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy have simmered for years in the UMC, and came to a head in 2019 at a conference in St. Louis where delegates voted 438-384 to strengthen bans on LGBTQ-inclusive practices. Most U.S.-based delegates opposed that plan and favored LGBTQ-friendly options; they were outvoted by U.S. conservatives teamed with most of the delegates from Methodist strongholds in Africa and the Philippines.In the aftermath of that meeting, many moderate and liberal clergy made clear they would not abide by the bans, and various groups worked on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-methodist-church-breakaway-lgbt-f599979835addfd354856ff5b2024989">proposals to let the UMC split</a>&nbsp;along theological lines.The most prominent plan, the Protocol of Reconciliation &amp; Grace Through Separation, was endorsed by a wide spectrum of bishops and activists after it was reached through famed mediation lawyer Kenneth Feinberg, whose law firm has overseen the distribution of other massive legal settlements such as the 9/11 victims fund.Under the protocol, conservative congregations and regional bodies would be allowed to separate from the UMC and form a new denomination. They would receive $25 million in UMC funds and be able to keep their properties.Assuming a large exodus of conservatives, the remaining United Methodist Church would be poised to reverse its longstanding bans on gay ordination and marriage.Reconciling Ministries — a pro-LGBTQ advocacy caucus within the United Methodist Church — said that while the pandemic-related delay was necessary, “we also lament this lengthening test of our patience.”But it pledged to “continue to work for the fullness of life for God’s LGBTQ+ children no matter when the next General Conference is held.”___

Methodist conservatives set to launch breakaway group 

Moran: Russia’s attack on nuclear facility in Ukraine sends disturbing message

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/05/u-s-senators-from-kansas-seek-ban-on-russian-oil-imports-expansion-of-domestic-production/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The U.S. senators from 
Kansas endorsed an embargo on importation of Russian oil and the 
adoption of federal policy expanding domestic production of oil and 
natural gas to moderate the rising cost of energy for American 
consumers.

Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, both Republicans, said the 
action was warranted amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Moran voiced 
concern Russia’s brazen assault on a nuclear power facility in Ukraine 
suggested international sanctions might be insufficient to deter 
President Vladimir Putin from widening the conflict.

Moran said it made no sense to continue purchasing oil or oil 
products from Russia — 700,000 barrels a day, or less than 10% of U.S. 
petroleum imports — when additional U.S. troops were being assigned to 
Europe in defense of NATO countries.

“It doesn’t come free. Increasing costs associated with the price of a
 gallon of gasoline, those things are going to occur,” Moran said Friday
 of an oil embargo. “It’s a reasonable request to ask the American 
consumer when we’re already asking American military men and women to 
potentially sacrifice their lives in support of democracy and freedom.”

President Joe Biden has to set aside his policy objective of reducing
 or eliminating use of fossil fuels by allowing greater production of 
natural gas and oil, Moran said.

Marshall said it was wrong Biden hadn’t escalated sanctioning of Russia by cutting off oil imports to the United States.

“Instead, he continues to use Russia as 
America’s gas station,” Marshall said. “President Biden can turn things 
around by immediately showing strength on the world stage, putting a 
stop to reckless spending, unleashing America’s energy independence and 
immediately banning the U.S. purchase of Russian oil.”

Marshall said it was an opportune moment for the U.S. Department of 
Interior to issue new oil and gas leases on public land, restart the 
Keystone XL Pipeline and expand natural gas exports to Europe.

In terms of Russia’s bombing of a nuclear facility in Ukraine, Moran 
said Putin’s previous decision to place his nuclear forces on alert 
should be viewed as more than an idle threat. The senator said Russia’s 
reckless assault of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility, which has six 
reactors, raised fear of a nuclear catastrophe.

“Initially, we could have thought that the suggestion that nuclear 
forces were going to be utilized maybe was saber-rattling,” Moran said. 
“I don’t think you can say that at all with any certainty.”

He said the conduct of Putin, despite international sanctions, added 
to vigor of questions about whether Russian military forces would 
eventually move beyond Ukraine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646512033393.png" alt="U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, left, speaking Friday about Russia invasion of Ukraine during a news conference with KBI Director Kirk Thompson and Attorney General Derek Schmidt. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, left, speaking Friday about Russia invasion of Ukraine during a news conference with KBI Director Kirk Thompson and Attorney General Derek Schmidt. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Moran: Russia’s attack on nuclear facility in Ukraine sends disturbing message</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/05/u-s-senators-from-kansas-seek-ban-on-russian-oil-imports-expansion-of-domestic-production/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The U.S. senators from 
Kansas endorsed an embargo on importation of Russian oil and the 
adoption of federal policy expanding domestic production of oil and 
natural gas to moderate the rising cost of energy for American 
consumers.Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, both Republicans, said the 
action was warranted amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Moran voiced 
concern Russia’s brazen assault on a nuclear power facility in Ukraine 
suggested international sanctions might be insufficient to deter 
President Vladimir Putin from widening the conflict.Moran said it made no sense to continue purchasing oil or oil 
products from Russia — 700,000 barrels a day, or less than 10% of U.S. 
petroleum imports — when additional U.S. troops were being assigned to 
Europe in defense of NATO countries.“It doesn’t come free. Increasing costs associated with the price of a
 gallon of gasoline, those things are going to occur,” Moran said Friday
 of an oil embargo. “It’s a reasonable request to ask the American 
consumer when we’re already asking American military men and women to 
potentially sacrifice their lives in support of democracy and freedom.”President Joe Biden has to set aside his policy objective of reducing
 or eliminating use of fossil fuels by allowing greater production of 
natural gas and oil, Moran said.Marshall said it was wrong Biden hadn’t escalated sanctioning of Russia by cutting off oil imports to the United States.“Instead, he continues to use Russia as 
America’s gas station,” Marshall said. “President Biden can turn things 
around by immediately showing strength on the world stage, putting a 
stop to reckless spending, unleashing America’s energy independence and 
immediately banning the U.S. purchase of Russian oil.”Marshall said it was an opportune moment for the U.S. Department of 
Interior to issue new oil and gas leases on public land, restart the 
Keystone XL Pipeline and expand natural gas exports to Europe.In terms of Russia’s bombing of a nuclear facility in Ukraine, Moran 
said Putin’s previous decision to place his nuclear forces on alert 
should be viewed as more than an idle threat. The senator said Russia’s 
reckless assault of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility, which has six 
reactors, raised fear of a nuclear catastrophe.“Initially, we could have thought that the suggestion that nuclear 
forces were going to be utilized maybe was saber-rattling,” Moran said. 
“I don’t think you can say that at all with any certainty.”He said the conduct of Putin, despite international sanctions, added 
to vigor of questions about whether Russian military forces would 
eventually move beyond Ukraine.“There is growing suggestion that Putin is not only evil, which we 
know, but is also irrational. My concern for this expanding beyond 
Ukraine has grown,” Moran said.