WICHITA —Wichita State University parted ways with Athletic Director Darron Boatright Wednesday.&nbsp;

University President Richard Muma issued a statement "I write to let you know of a transition in our Department of Athletics."

"Earlier today, I informed Director of Athletics Darron Boatright, who has served the Shockers for 12 years, six as the full-time director, that we are making a change in the leadership of the department."&nbsp;

"While there were certainly achievements and successes during Darron’s tenure, there were significant, ongoing concerns that became acute in recent weeks, ones that I did not believe could be addressed. This decision is in the best interests of Wichita State, our coaches and staff, and our student-athletes."

"I have asked <a href="https://goshockers.com/staff-directory/sarah-adams/1425">Senior Associate Athletic Director </a>/ SWA Sarah Adams to serve as our Interim Director of Athletics and I am confident that she will provide us with the leadership, stability and compassion needed during the transition. "

"As all of you know, Wichita State University is on the rise, and our athletics program plays an important role in our institutional momentum. With incredible fans and supporters, talented coaches and support staff, a campus committed to excellence and, most importantly, hard-working student-athletes, we are poised for great success. With the assistance of an experienced search firm, we will immediately launch a national search for a new Director of Athletics who shares our values, our vision and our passion for Shocker sports and will work expediently but diligently to identify a new leader of our athletics program. I look forward to introducing our new leader of our Department of Athletics, who will elevate us to unprecedented heights." &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651690010771.jpeg" alt="Darron Boatright -photo courtesy WSU" />
 <figcaption>Darron Boatright -photo courtesy WSU</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —Wichita State University parted ways with Athletic Director Darron Boatright Wednesday.&nbsp;University President Richard Muma issued a statement "I write to let you know of a transition in our Department of Athletics.""Earlier today, I informed Director of Athletics Darron Boatright, who has served the Shockers for 12 years, six as the full-time director, that we are making a change in the leadership of the department."&nbsp;"While there were certainly achievements and successes during Darron’s tenure, there were significant, ongoing concerns that became acute in recent weeks, ones that I did not believe could be addressed. This decision is in the best interests of Wichita State, our coaches and staff, and our student-athletes."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651694508428.png" alt="Sarah Adams came to WSU from Eastern Washington University where she served as Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator from October 2018 until November of 2019. She was promoted to Deputy Athletic Director in December of 2019 and served in that role until June of 2021.-photo courtesy WSIU" />
 <figcaption>Sarah Adams came to WSU from Eastern Washington University where she served as Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator from October 2018 until November of 2019. She was promoted to Deputy Athletic Director in December of 2019 and served in that role until June of 2021.-photo courtesy WSIU</figcaption>
 </figure>"I have asked <a href="https://goshockers.com/staff-directory/sarah-adams/1425">Senior Associate Athletic Director </a>/ SWA Sarah Adams to serve as our Interim Director of Athletics and I am confident that she will provide us with the leadership, stability and compassion needed during the transition. ""As all of you know, Wichita State University is on the rise, and our athletics program plays an important role in our institutional momentum. With incredible fans and supporters, talented coaches and support staff, a campus committed to excellence and, most importantly, hard-working student-athletes, we are poised for great success. With the assistance of an experienced search firm, we will immediately launch a national search for a new Director of Athletics who shares our values, our vision and our passion for Shocker sports and will work expediently but diligently to identify a new leader of our athletics program. I look forward to introducing our new leader of our Department of Athletics, who will elevate us to unprecedented heights." &nbsp;

Wichita State fires AD, names Sarah Adams interim director

TOPEKA –Governor Laura Kelly on Wednesday ceremonially signed legislation at&nbsp;a Topeka&nbsp;home&nbsp;to celebrate the&nbsp;bipartisan&nbsp;passage of House Bill 2239, which cuts property taxes.

 It&nbsp;provides additional tax relief for&nbsp;Kansas veterans&nbsp;and the&nbsp;elderly through property tax&nbsp;refunds&nbsp;and&nbsp;gives&nbsp;tax credits to teachers who&nbsp;purchase school supplies&nbsp;out of their own pockets, according to a media release from Kelly's office.&nbsp;

“I know&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;is hurting&nbsp;everyone’s wallet, and costs are going up,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “So today,&nbsp;we’re&nbsp;celebrating&nbsp;a bipartisan tax cut for&nbsp;families to put money&nbsp;back&nbsp;into&nbsp;Kansans’&nbsp;pockets.&nbsp;Families&nbsp;will now have more money to buy food, school supplies, or pay the bills&nbsp;– every bit helps. We’ll continue to&nbsp;make fiscally responsible decisions&nbsp;to&nbsp;provide relief to Kansans across the state.”&nbsp;

“It has always been a dream of mine to make it easier for fixed income seniors and disabled veterans to stay in their homes.”&nbsp;Senator Tom Holland, the Ranking Minority Member on the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee, said.&nbsp;“Seniors and veterans have contributed so much to our communities, our state, and our country, and this bill gives everyone another reason to live out their golden years in their home right here in Kansas.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I was proud to work with legislators from both parties on legislation that provides needed tax relief for homeowners and encourages growth and re-investment in two of our largest industries—agriculture and aviation,”&nbsp;Representative Adam Smith, Chair of the House Taxation Committee, said.&nbsp;“The investments and tax credits that we are making this year are designed to promote economic growth throughout the state for many years to come while keeping taxes property taxes low for homeowners.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651682875212.png" alt="I know inflation is hurting everyone’s wallet, and costs are going up,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “So today, we’re celebrating a bipartisan tax cut for families-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>I know inflation is hurting everyone’s wallet, and costs are going up,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “So today, we’re celebrating a bipartisan tax cut for families-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –Governor Laura Kelly on Wednesday ceremonially signed legislation at&nbsp;a Topeka&nbsp;home&nbsp;to celebrate the&nbsp;bipartisan&nbsp;passage of House Bill 2239, which cuts property taxes. It&nbsp;provides additional tax relief for&nbsp;Kansas veterans&nbsp;and the&nbsp;elderly through property tax&nbsp;refunds&nbsp;and&nbsp;gives&nbsp;tax credits to teachers who&nbsp;purchase school supplies&nbsp;out of their own pockets, according to a media release from Kelly's office.&nbsp;“I know&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;is hurting&nbsp;everyone’s wallet, and costs are going up,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “So today,&nbsp;we’re&nbsp;celebrating&nbsp;a bipartisan tax cut for&nbsp;families to put money&nbsp;back&nbsp;into&nbsp;Kansans’&nbsp;pockets.&nbsp;Families&nbsp;will now have more money to buy food, school supplies, or pay the bills&nbsp;– every bit helps. We’ll continue to&nbsp;make fiscally responsible decisions&nbsp;to&nbsp;provide relief to Kansans across the state.”&nbsp;“It has always been a dream of mine to make it easier for fixed income seniors and disabled veterans to stay in their homes.”&nbsp;Senator Tom Holland, the Ranking Minority Member on the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee, said.&nbsp;“Seniors and veterans have contributed so much to our communities, our state, and our country, and this bill gives everyone another reason to live out their golden years in their home right here in Kansas.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“I was proud to work with legislators from both parties on legislation that provides needed tax relief for homeowners and encourages growth and re-investment in two of our largest industries—agriculture and aviation,”&nbsp;Representative Adam Smith, Chair of the House Taxation Committee, said.&nbsp;“The investments and tax credits that we are making this year are designed to promote economic growth throughout the state for many years to come while keeping taxes property taxes low for homeowners.”&nbsp;

Gov. ceremonially signs bill cutting property taxes in Kansas

Grammy Award winner Dwight Yoakam is coming to Salina.

His performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in the historic Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.

Tickets start at $88 and go on sale at noon Friday. You can purchase tickets in person at the Stiefel Theatre box office or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://stiefeltheatre.org/">stiefeltheatre.org</a>.

About the artist from the Stiefel Theatre

Dwight Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and he is a 21-time nominated, multiple Grammy Award winner. He has 12 gold albums and nine platinum or multi-platinum albums, with five of those albums topping Billboard’s Country Albums chart and another 14 landing in the Top 10. Nearly 40 of Yoakam’s singles have charted on Billboard, with 14 peaking in the Top 10. Yoakam is a recipient of the Artist of the Year award from the Americana Music Association, the most prestigious award offered by the organization, he will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the Songwriter/Artist category at the 49th anniversary Gala on Oct. 14, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn.

Yoakam’s self-curated SiriusXM channel, titled Dwight Yoakam and The Bakersfield Beat Where Country Went Mod launched in April of 2018. The channel celebrates the Bakersfield sound and those whom it has inspired. Guests have boasted the likes of Post Malone, Lukas Nelson, Beck, Chris Hillman, Jakob Dylan, Mike Nesmith and Mickey Dolans, Dave Alvin, and Jackie DeShannon, among others.

In 2016, Yoakam released his bluegrass album&nbsp;Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars… on Sugar Hill Records. Featuring a band of bluegrass luminaries, this album boasts a collection of reinterpreted favorites from his catalogue, as well as a cover of Prince’s&nbsp;Purple Rain. Produced by nine-time Grammy winner Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton), Jon Randall (songwriter of&nbsp;Whiskey Lullaby), and Yoakam himself, and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, this album reflects the love for bluegrass music that Yoakam developed at an early age in Kentucky and that has inspired him for many years thereafter. In 2018, Yoakam released two songs,&nbsp;Pretty Horses&nbsp;and&nbsp;Then Came Monday&nbsp;(the latter written with Chris Stapleton).

In addition to his musical career, Yoakam is a formidable film and television actor who has appeared in over 40 feature films, including&nbsp;Sling Blade&nbsp;and&nbsp;Panic Room. Most recently he was on the big screen in Clint Eastwood's latest film,&nbsp;Cry Macho. He recurred in David E. Kelley’s Amazon series&nbsp;Goliath&nbsp;and appeared in director Steven Soderbergh’s film&nbsp;Logan Lucky&nbsp;with Channing Tatum and Daniel Craig

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651687350790.png" alt="Dwight Yoakam is scheduled to perform in the Stiefel Theatre on Sept. 15.&nbsp;Photo courtesy Stiefel Theatre" />
 <figcaption>Dwight Yoakam is scheduled to perform in the Stiefel Theatre on Sept. 15.&nbsp;Photo courtesy Stiefel Theatre</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTGrammy Award winner Dwight Yoakam is coming to Salina.His performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in the historic Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.Tickets start at $88 and go on sale at noon Friday. You can purchase tickets in person at the Stiefel Theatre box office or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://stiefeltheatre.org/">stiefeltheatre.org</a>.About the artist from the Stiefel TheatreDwight Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and he is a 21-time nominated, multiple Grammy Award winner. He has 12 gold albums and nine platinum or multi-platinum albums, with five of those albums topping Billboard’s Country Albums chart and another 14 landing in the Top 10. Nearly 40 of Yoakam’s singles have charted on Billboard, with 14 peaking in the Top 10. Yoakam is a recipient of the Artist of the Year award from the Americana Music Association, the most prestigious award offered by the organization, he will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the Songwriter/Artist category at the 49th anniversary Gala on Oct. 14, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn.Yoakam’s self-curated SiriusXM channel, titled Dwight Yoakam and The Bakersfield Beat Where Country Went Mod launched in April of 2018. The channel celebrates the Bakersfield sound and those whom it has inspired. Guests have boasted the likes of Post Malone, Lukas Nelson, Beck, Chris Hillman, Jakob Dylan, Mike Nesmith and Mickey Dolans, Dave Alvin, and Jackie DeShannon, among others.In 2016, Yoakam released his bluegrass album&nbsp;Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars… on Sugar Hill Records. Featuring a band of bluegrass luminaries, this album boasts a collection of reinterpreted favorites from his catalogue, as well as a cover of Prince’s&nbsp;Purple Rain. Produced by nine-time Grammy winner Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton), Jon Randall (songwriter of&nbsp;Whiskey Lullaby), and Yoakam himself, and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, this album reflects the love for bluegrass music that Yoakam developed at an early age in Kentucky and that has inspired him for many years thereafter. In 2018, Yoakam released two songs,&nbsp;Pretty Horses&nbsp;and&nbsp;Then Came Monday&nbsp;(the latter written with Chris Stapleton).In addition to his musical career, Yoakam is a formidable film and television actor who has appeared in over 40 feature films, including&nbsp;Sling Blade&nbsp;and&nbsp;Panic Room. Most recently he was on the big screen in Clint Eastwood's latest film,&nbsp;Cry Macho. He recurred in David E. Kelley’s Amazon series&nbsp;Goliath&nbsp;and appeared in director Steven Soderbergh’s film&nbsp;Logan Lucky&nbsp;with Channing Tatum and Daniel Craig

Dwight Yoakam to perform in Stiefel Theatre in September

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-05-02/how-small-kansas-companies-bring-fast-internet-to-rural-places-that-telecom-giants-ignore">Kansas News Service</a>

With a family of five and a farming operation to run, Clay Scott’s home internet didn’t come close to cutting it.

Pulling
 up a weather page in a browser could take so long it produced an error 
message rather than a forecast. He tried installing a wireless security 
system, but it sucked up so much bandwidth that nothing else in the 
house would work. Once when his son needed to email a school project, 
the rest of the family had to log off just to give their connection 
enough capacity to send it.

“Today, we really expect it to be: Snap your fingers, here you go,” Scott said. “So it was definitely a challenge.”

Like
 many rural Americans, Scott’s home in southwest Kansas connected to the
 internet over an old copper wire. A better-than-nothing update on 
century-old telephone technology that struggles to handle Zoom calling, 
video streaming or a myriad of other internet uses that people in big 
cities largely take for granted.

Federal and state governments have <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/news/2021/07/14/weve-spent-billions-provide-broadband-rural-areas-what-failed-wisconsin/7145014002/" target="_blank">poured billions</a>
 into trying to bring more bandwidth to the remote corners of the 
country. But for many people in rural places, it hasn’t made any 
difference. An estimated <a href="https://broadbandnow.com/research/fcc-broadband-overreporting-by-state" target="_blank">42 million</a> Americans still don’t have high-speed internet, or what most people today simply think of as internet.

With
 fiber-optic cable installation costing tens of thousands of dollars per
 mile, it’s unlikely that big national providers will ever find a way to
 make money — or even avoid losses — by hooking up people like Scott in 
rural Kansas.

But a growing number of small towns, farms and ranches are finally 
joining the Digital Age with help from small, local companies that have 
more of a stake in the rural areas they call home. They’ve found ways to
 stretch state and federal subsidies to strategically install 
high-capacity wires to homes, or construct over-the-air relays, to bring
 more robust speeds to remote outposts, town-by-town, 
farmstead-by-farmstead.

Now, with <a href="https://www.protocol.com/bulletins/davidson-starting-gun-maps" target="_blank">$42 billion</a>
 in new federal broadband funding about to go to state governments, 
those local companies say how much money they get could decide how many 
more rural Americans get connected.

A recent <a href="https://news.ku.edu/2022/03/23/speed-test-surveys-show-1-million-kansans-may-have-inadequate-internet" target="_blank">survey study</a>
 from the University of Kansas found that 95 Kansas ZIP codes — 
representing nearly 90,000 people — don’t have internet speeds that meet
 the federal definition of broadband.

And it’s not only a 
challenge in remote western Kansas communities. Rural parts of the 
state’s most populated counties — Johnson, Sedgwick and Shawnee — also 
fell below the broadband line.

KU economics professor Donna 
Ginther, who was the study’s principal investigator, said the reason is 
obvious: The economics of connecting such remote areas just don’t work 
out on paper.

“It’s really expensive to provide high-speed 
internet to a few people,” Ginther said. “That’s why you don't have that
 infrastructure out there.”

But local providers like Ulysses-based telecom cooperative <a href="https://www.pioncomm.net/" target="_blank">Pioneer</a> are finding ways to make the numbers work one mile at a time.

Pioneer
 CEO Catherine Moyer said the co-op’s goal is to connect everyone within
 its roughly 5,000-square-mile footprint in southwest Kansas. To do 
that, the co-op needs to get creative, stretching the financial 
feasibility limits with business plans that the AT&amp;Ts of the world 
might scoff at.

But, she said, the fact that Pioneer isn’t AT&amp;T is exactly what allows the co-op that flexibility.

“While
 we need to make money to continue to exist, we don’t answer to Wall 
Street,” Moyer said. “We don’t answer to shareholders. … We have 
member-owners.”

Christopher Ali, a University of Virginia professor and author of the book “<a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/farm-fresh-broadband" target="_blank">Farm Fresh Broadband</a>,” said this dynamic explains why local providers like Pioneer offer the strongest option for <a href="https://muninetworks.org/reports/cooperatives-fiberize-rural-america-trusted-model-internet-era-updated-may-2020" target="_blank">wiring rural America</a>
 — as opposed to national companies like AT&amp;T or Comcast. Their 
long-term business goals hinge on how to turn, say, $20,000 into a mile 
of fiber-optic cable in the countryside rather than a return to 
stockholders.

“If you think about it as an investment in the 
community, versus how much time you’re gonna need to recoup your return 
on investment,” Ali said, “that’s two very different ways of looking at 
that $20,000.”

Even though a local company like Pioneer and 
AT&amp;T might both be telecom providers, Ali said, they actually have 
entirely different business models.

For rural companies, seeing their region survive and thrive is the 
return on investment — and their best hope for staying in business.

“We
 interact with our customers on a daily basis. At church. At the grocery
 store. At the high school football game,” Moyer said. “So there's an 
interest in seeing communities succeed.”

Pioneer started in 1950 when local farmers <a href="https://www.pioncomm.net/about/history" target="_blank">banded together</a>
 to bring telephone service to the sparsely populated corner of Kansas. 
It now has around 100 employees and 10,000 broadband customers.

And roughly three out of every four customers are connected to fiber internet.

For
 those who aren’t, Moyer said, Pioneer plans to build fiber lines to 
reach them over the next several years. For example, the co-op is about 
to finish upgrading the town of Satanta from coaxial cable to fiber. 
That will give the community of around 1,000 people internet speeds up 
to <a href="https://www.pioncomm.net/fiber" target="_blank">250 megabits per second</a>.

Just over an hour’s drive from Satanta, another small southwest Kansas town — Bucklin, population 727 — got its own <a href="https://twitter.com/IdeaTek2/status/1509975688358633476" target="_blank">gigabit-speed broadband</a> installed a few weeks ago by another local provider, <a href="https://ideatek.com/" target="_blank">Ideatek</a>.

Bucklin
 is the latest in a line of several small towns along U.S. 54 in 
southwest Kansas that Ideatek has linked to fiber recently. Ideatek 
co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer Daniel Friesen said that at the 
start of the pandemic, the company took Meade County from 0% broadband 
connectivity to 95% broadband connectivity in the course of a few 
months.

Like Pioneer, Ideatek focuses on installing fiber to these
 rural places because it’s future-proof, with the speed and bandwidth to
 stay relevant for decades.

“While it may cost more,” Friesen said, “our position is that you need to do it right to really bridge the digital divide.”

But installing that fiber in a far-flung place like western Kansas is hard.

Even
 if a rural company can get funding for a project, finding the team of 
30 or 40 workers it takes to make it happen can be a challenge. 

Moyer
 said Pioneer had to pull in a team from the Upper Midwest to handle its
 fiber installation in Satanta. For another fiber project in Garden 
City, it got a team from Oklahoma. And small providers like Pioneer have
 to compete with bigger projects from out of state just to land those 
teams.

It’s only going to get more competitive as a new wave of federal broadband money goes out.

“Everybody’s building right now,” Moyer said. “So it’s a good problem, but it’s also tough to find the people to do it.”

Recent
 supply chain problems have made equipment, like the fiber itself, 
difficult to get. Moyer said supplies that used to take 30 days to get 
might now take 250 days.

Then there’s the sheer geographic distance to cross with those fiber wires.

Moyer said that out of Pioneer’s 5,000-square-mile footprint, only 
about 15 square miles are considered towns. And wiring the remaining 
4,985 square miles, where customers are spread far and wide, becomes way
 more expensive per capita.

Imagine a graph that shows how 
broadband installation costs increase as the connection points grow 
farther apart. When it comes to connecting the last 10% of Kansans in 
the most remote areas — where a single home or farm might be several 
miles from any other connection point — that graph line accelerates 
upward exponentially.

“Those expenses are just astronomical,” Friesen said. “There's just simply no way to do it without some level of subsidy.”

That’s where state or federal funding steps in to make construction possible.

But many rural areas don’t have enough <a href="https://www.hcn.org/articles/economy-why-rural-communities-struggle-to-bring-in-much-needed-federal-grants" target="_blank">workers and expertise</a> to adequately compete for their share of government infrastructure grants.

A <a href="https://headwaterseconomics.org/equity/rural-capacity-map/" target="_blank">new map</a>
 from Headwaters Economics that measures “rural capacity” — an area’s 
ability to handle everything it takes to apply for and implement state 
or federal money — shows that several western Kansas counties, including
 Morton, Gove and Cheyenne, rank among the most limited in the nation.

Headwaters’
 research concluded that Kansas ranks as the seventh-worst state in the 
country for this measure of rural capacity. And the Midwest ranks as 
America’s most limited region — with three out of four Midwestern 
communities struggling.

The way the government has distributed broadband funds in recent years hasn’t done rural areas any favors either.

Ali,
 the University of Virginia professor, said the rural-urban digital 
divide persists partly because American broadband policy over the past 
decade has specifically favored big national companies like Verizon and 
CenturyLink over local providers — to the detriment of both those 
smaller companies and the communities they serve.

“We basically gave a ton of money to national incumbent providers,” Ali said, “and they largely failed.”

He
 said a clear example of this was in 2015 when the Federal 
Communications Commission’s Connect America Fund gave a group of 10 big 
telecommunications companies <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/blog/2015/08/28/milestone-expanding-broadband-rural-america" target="_blank">$1.5 billion</a> a year for five years to deploy more rural broadband. By contrast, that same fund gave smaller local providers just <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/auction/903" target="_blank">$1.5 million</a> a year for ten years — and that relatively meager amount had to be split up among 103 companies.

To
 make matters worse, Ali said the billions that the federal government 
handed to those large companies didn’t come with enough rules to make 
sure it accomplished its goals.

For one, the fund didn’t require 
providers to build fiber connections with FCC minimum broadband speeds —
 25 megabits per second download. That meant companies could spend the 
money on outdated technology to give customers speeds that are already 
obsolete — <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/03/att-lobbies-against-nationwide-fiber-says-10mbps-uploads-are-good-enough/" target="_blank">10 megabits</a> per second. Some of the companies <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/01/centurylink-frontier-took-fcc-cash-failed-to-deploy-all-required-broadband/" target="_blank">didn’t even install</a> all the broadband they had been given money to do by the FCC deadline.

And the FCC maps that determine where the forthcoming federal broadband funds are sent could end up funneling money to the <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/29/fcc-broadband-maps-biden-523425" target="_blank">wrong places</a>
 because they don’t paint an accurate picture of which areas have the 
most need. Research from BroadbandNow shows that FCC numbers have likely
 undercounted the number of Americans without broadband by nearly <a href="https://broadbandnow.com/research/fcc-broadband-overreporting-by-state" target="_blank">30 million people</a>.

Ali
 said that combination of outdated technology, inaccurate information 
and poor accountability has put the country in a situation today where 
last year’s federal infrastructure bill included <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/internet/infrastructure-bill-includes-65-billion-for-internet-access-a6861027212/" target="_blank">$65 billion</a> to improve Americans’ internet access — but that still might not be enough to connect everyone.

“We’ve
 got pockets of complete unconnectedness and then other pockets of total
 under connectivity,” Ali said, “because we’ve been funding bad 
technologies for almost a decade.”

And broadband access isn’t the 
only issue keeping rural Americans offline — there’s also affordability.
 Rural customers within reach of broadband pay an average of <a href="https://broadbandnow.com/research/digital-divide-broadband-pricing-state-zip-income-2019" target="_blank">37% more</a> than urban customers.

To
 truly bridge these access and affordability gaps, Ali said, the country
 needs to approach broadband’s expansion into rural areas much like it 
did with the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/home/learn/historyculture/ruralelect.htm" target="_blank">Rural Electrification Act</a> nearly a century ago.

“We
 didn't say, ‘Well, you get enough electricity for one light bulb, and 
that's enough,” Ali said. “That's the same mindset we need for 
broadband.”

Renewed interest in funding rural broadband projects at both the state and federal level could start to change that.

Ideatek and Pioneer applied for part of this year’s $5 million round of <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/08/kansas-broadband-efforts-receive-85-million-boost-to-bridge-digital-divide/" target="_blank">Broadband Acceleration Grant</a> funding from the state, which will be <a href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs/broadband-acceleration-grant/" target="_blank">awarded May 18</a>. Starting May 16, Kansas will have the <a href="https://www.meritalk.com/articles/ntia-says-state-broadband-funding-window-opens-may-16/" target="_blank">chance to apply</a> for part of the $42 billion from federal infrastructure funding, which it could then dole out to local companies.

Meanwhile, many rural customers are stuck waiting.

“They’re
 going, ‘I needed that yesterday, and you’re telling me that … it could 
be a year or two years down the road,’” Moyer said. “That’s where I 
think the frustration lies.”

Even with great need and demonstrated
 success, Friesen said getting money from the state for broadband 
projects has been slow going. 

Kansas got <a href="https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Fact-Sheet.pdf" target="_blank">more than $1 billion</a>
 in federal pandemic relief money last year that could go toward 
broadband projects in the state. But providers like Ideatek are still 
waiting for the state to distribute it, which Friesen said leaves Kansas
 lagging behind other states.

“If we as a state, or we as 
Americans, want to ensure that every person in Kansas or America has 
broadband service, there’s just simply no way to do it without some 
level of subsidy,” Friesen said. “Without it, there’s definitely a 
number of communities that would still likely be in the dark ages from a
 broadband perspective.”

Back at Clay Scott’s farm in Grant County, those dark ages are now over.

He’s
 planting corn this week with the help of four computer screens that 
access the internet for everything from GPS coordination to soil 
moisture monitoring to precise seed application. They all connect 
through a nearby Pioneer wireless tower.

“Once upon a time, we 
just hooked up the planter and filled it up with seed and went,” Scott 
said. “Today, it’s pretty technical.”

He said the amount of data 
he uses to manage his farm today is about triple what it was a decade 
ago. And having all that data at his fingertips has become critical to 
his operation’s efficiency, lowering his business costs and keeping seed
 and water from going to waste.

Pioneer recently installed fiber to Scott’s doorstep, too, more than doubling his internet speeds.

Even
 though his home is several miles outside of town in a remote part of 
Grant County — and likely cost a bundle to reach — his family now enjoys
 broadband that can rival just about any city in Kansas.

“They do 
it because it serves the community,” Scott said. “Sometimes it's not 
financially the best decision, but it darn sure is in terms of meeting 
their goal of community service.”

David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank"> @davidcondos</a>.

Small Kan. companies bring fast internet to rural places telecom giants ignore

COWLEY COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent four people to the hospital.

On Tuesday, deputies in&nbsp; Cowley County, responded to report of four individuals who were discovered with gunshot wounds at the 7 Clans Casino North of Newkirk, Oklahoma, according to Cowley County Lt. Christina McDonald.

EMS transported two individuals to the Alliance Hospital in Ponca City, Oklahoma and the other two were transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita for treatment.&nbsp;One victim has been released from Wesley Medical Center and the other three are still receiving treatment.

Investigators learned the shooting occurred in rural Cowley County.

The Arkansas City Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kay County Sheriff’s Office, Otoe Missouri Tribal Police and the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation assisted with the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651675471002.png" alt="The casino is located just south of the Kansas-Oklahoma state line in Newkirk-Google image" />
 <figcaption>The casino is located just south of the Kansas-Oklahoma state line in Newkirk-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent four people to the hospital.On Tuesday, deputies in&nbsp; Cowley County, responded to report of four individuals who were discovered with gunshot wounds at the 7 Clans Casino North of Newkirk, Oklahoma, according to Cowley County Lt. Christina McDonald.EMS transported two individuals to the Alliance Hospital in Ponca City, Oklahoma and the other two were transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita for treatment.&nbsp;One victim has been released from Wesley Medical Center and the other three are still receiving treatment.Investigators learned the shooting occurred in rural Cowley County.The Arkansas City Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kay County Sheriff’s Office, Otoe Missouri Tribal Police and the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation assisted with the investigation.

Sheriff: 4 victims found near casino after shooting in rural Kan.

NEW YORK (AP) — The company behind the TurboTax tax-filing program will pay $141 million to customers across the United States who were deceived by misleading promises of free tax-filing services,&nbsp;New York's attorney general announced Wednesday.

Under the terms of a settlement signed by the attorneys general of all 50 states, Mountain View,&nbsp;California-based Intuit Inc. will suspend TurboTax’s “free, free, free” ad campaign and pay restitution to nearly 4.4 million taxpayers, New York Attorney General Letitia James said.

James said her investigation into Intuit was sparked by a 2019 ProPublica report that found the company was using deceptive tactics to steer low-income tax filers away from the federally supported free services for which they qualified — and toward its own commercial products, instead.

"For years, Intuit misled the most vulnerable among us to make a profit. Today, every state in the nation is holding Intuit accountable for scamming millions of taxpayers, and we’re putting millions of dollars back into the pockets of impacted Americans," James said in a statement. "This agreement should serve as a reminder to companies large and small that engaging in these deceptive marketing ploys is illegal."

“As part of the agreement, Intuit admitted no wrongdoing, agreed to pay $141 million to put this matter behind it, and made certain commitments regarding its advertising practices," representatives for Intuit said in a blog post Wednesday. “Intuit already adheres to most of these advertising practices and expects minimal impact to its business from implementing the remaining changes going forward."

Until last year, Intuit offered two free versions of TurboTax. One was through its participation in the Internal Revenue Service's Free File Program, geared toward taxpayers earning roughly $34,000 and members of the military. Intuit withdrew from the program in July 2021, saying in a blog post that the company could provide more benefits without the program's limitations.

The company also offers a commercial product called “TurboTax Free Edition” that is only for taxpayers with “simple returns,” as defined by Intuit.

According to documents obtained by ProPublica, Intuit executives knew they were deceiving customers by advertising free services that were not in fact free to everyone.

“The website lists Free, Free, Free and the customers are assuming their return will be free,” an internal company PowerPoint presentation said. “Customers are getting upset.”

Under the agreement, Intuit will provide restitution to consumers who started using the commercial TurboTax Free Edition for tax years 2016 through 2018 and were told that they had to pay to file even though they were eligible for the version of TurboTax offered as part of the IRS Free File program.

Consumers are expected to receive a direct payment of approximately $30 for each year that they were deceived into paying for filing services, James said. They will automatically receive notices and checks by mail.

“We empower our customers to take control of their financial lives, which includes being in charge of their own tax preparation,” an Intuit spokesperson told ProPublica in a statement in 2019.

The spokesperson added that a “government-run pre-filled tax preparation system that makes the tax collector (who is also the investigator, auditor and enforcer) the tax preparer is fraught with conflicts of interest.”

NEW YORK (AP) — The company behind the TurboTax tax-filing program will pay $141 million to customers across the United States who were deceived by misleading promises of free tax-filing services,&nbsp;New York's attorney general announced Wednesday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnewyorkstateag%2Fposts%2F553779282780859&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="228" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Under the terms of a settlement signed by the attorneys general of all 50 states, Mountain View,&nbsp;California-based Intuit Inc. will suspend TurboTax’s “free, free, free” ad campaign and pay restitution to nearly 4.4 million taxpayers, New York Attorney General Letitia James said.James said her investigation into Intuit was sparked by a 2019 ProPublica report that found the company was using deceptive tactics to steer low-income tax filers away from the federally supported free services for which they qualified — and toward its own commercial products, instead."For years, Intuit misled the most vulnerable among us to make a profit. Today, every state in the nation is holding Intuit accountable for scamming millions of taxpayers, and we’re putting millions of dollars back into the pockets of impacted Americans," James said in a statement. "This agreement should serve as a reminder to companies large and small that engaging in these deceptive marketing ploys is illegal."“As part of the agreement, Intuit admitted no wrongdoing, agreed to pay $141 million to put this matter behind it, and made certain commitments regarding its advertising practices," representatives for Intuit said in a blog post Wednesday. “Intuit already adheres to most of these advertising practices and expects minimal impact to its business from implementing the remaining changes going forward."Until last year, Intuit offered two free versions of TurboTax. One was through its participation in the Internal Revenue Service's Free File Program, geared toward taxpayers earning roughly $34,000 and members of the military. Intuit withdrew from the program in July 2021, saying in a blog post that the company could provide more benefits without the program's limitations.The company also offers a commercial product called “TurboTax Free Edition” that is only for taxpayers with “simple returns,” as defined by Intuit.According to documents obtained by ProPublica, Intuit executives knew they were deceiving customers by advertising free services that were not in fact free to everyone.“The website lists Free, Free, Free and the customers are assuming their return will be free,” an internal company PowerPoint presentation said. “Customers are getting upset.”Under the agreement, Intuit will provide restitution to consumers who started using the commercial TurboTax Free Edition for tax years 2016 through 2018 and were told that they had to pay to file even though they were eligible for the version of TurboTax offered as part of the IRS Free File program.Consumers are expected to receive a direct payment of approximately $30 for each year that they were deceived into paying for filing services, James said. They will automatically receive notices and checks by mail.“We empower our customers to take control of their financial lives, which includes being in charge of their own tax preparation,” an Intuit spokesperson told ProPublica in a statement in 2019.The spokesperson added that a “government-run pre-filled tax preparation system that makes the tax collector (who is also the investigator, auditor and enforcer) the tax preparer is fraught with conflicts of interest.”

Intuit to pay $141M settlement over 'free' TurboTax ads

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Nebraska man pleaded guilty to one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, in February 2021, Cody Deichen, 26, of Hastings, Nebraska, admitted to aiding and abetting in the brandishing and use of a home built .223 caliber AR-15 style rifle during a bank robbery at Guaranty State Bank on South Main Street in Burr Oak, Kansas.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 27.

The FBI and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651663866778.png" alt="Deichen-photo Hall Co." />
 <figcaption>Deichen-photo Hall Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, KAN. – A Nebraska man pleaded guilty to one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, in February 2021, Cody Deichen, 26, of Hastings, Nebraska, admitted to aiding and abetting in the brandishing and use of a home built .223 caliber AR-15 style rifle during a bank robbery at Guaranty State Bank on South Main Street in Burr Oak, Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612977424382.png" alt="Guaranty State Bank in Burr Oak -google image" />
 <figcaption>Guaranty State Bank in Burr Oak -google image</figcaption>
 </figure>A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 27.The FBI and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case

Man used home built AR-15 style rifle in Kan. bank robbery

WASHINGTON (AP) —The bombshell leak of a draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court is poised to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade case legalizing abortion nationwide has set the country on course for an even more polarized and fluctuating landscape of abortion rights.

Almost immediately, Republicans who had fostered a decades-long push to end abortion rights cheered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-roe-v-wade-33c08858dc8b0aa5f0450858b51a648a">Roe’s potential fall.&nbsp;</a>Democrats vowed to fight the possible loss of a constitutional right that has been in place for nearly a half-century.

The Supreme Court confirmed the leaked draft, first published by Politico, was an authentic document but said Tuesday “it does not represent a decision by the court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case.”

Though the draft opinion could change, Democrats and Republicans across the states pledged action&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-wade-supreme-court-f6b899076faba20517b9ac1e82438c16">amid warnings such a ruling could also put other rights at risk</a>&nbsp;—battles that could likewise play out in the states.

In California, Democrats who wield control of the state Legislature and the governor’s office issued a joint statement late Monday announcing they would seek to amend the state’s constitution to enshrine abortion rights.

“California will not stand idly by as women across America are stripped of their rights and the progress so many have fought for gets erased,” California Democrats said. “We know we can’t trust the Supreme Court to protect reproductive rights, so California will build a firewall around this right in our state constitution. Women will remain protected here.”

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, said on Twitter she plans to immediately call a special legislative session “to save lives” if Roe is overturned. The state already has a so-called trigger law that would make abortion illegal if that happens and Noem’s office declined to say why a special session would be necessary. Her spokesman, Ian Fury, said the tweet, “speaks for itself.”

In Georgia, which is among several dozen states electing governors this year, candidates on both sides of the aisle proclaimed they would prioritize the issue if elected to the state’s top office.

Republican gubernatorial candidate David Perdue said he’d call state lawmakers into a special session to outlaw all abortions, while Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams said she would defend the right to abortion if she wins.

About half of U.S. states are expected to ban abortion if Roe falls, according to the abortion-rights think tank Guttmacher Institute. Twenty-two states, largely in the South and Midwest, already have total or near-total bans on the books. Aside from Texas, all are now blocked because of Roe.

States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-donald-trump-us-supreme-court-health-religion-a9baf97e858cf27f2d143c4fd3ea1d86">have already been preparing for the protentional of the ruling being weakened or overturned</a>, and Republican-led states&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-covid-19-pandemic-medication-31791ed14247c4c8ad35ef078982078e">have also been working to restrict access to medication abortion</a>, which would allow women to get abortions without the burden of traveling to clinics that may be few and far between.

In addition to South Dakota, 12 other states have trigger laws that would immediately ban abortion if Roe is overturned.

One is Oklahoma, where Republican House Speaker Charles McCall declared Tuesday that “decades of steadfast prayer and unwavering legislative efforts to protect the lives of the unborn are finally on the doorsteps of success.”

“For close to 50 years, the silent cries of the millions who lost their lives before even having a chance to live have been heard through the voices of those of us fighting for their rights,” McCall said. “The pro-life movement won, securing those yet unborn the future and promise that comes with being born in the United States of America.”

A few states still have pre-Roe bans on the books, including Michigan, where Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has sued to remove it and pledged on Twitter Monday to “fight like hell to make sure abortion remains safe, legal, and accessible.”

The Kansas Supreme Court in 2019 declared that the state constitution protects abortion rights, but Republican lawmakers placed on the August primary ballot an initiative to overturn it.

In New Hampshire, Gov. Chris Sununu was a rare Republican governor who said he supports abortion rights and was committed to upholding Roe v. Wade. “So long as I am governor, these health care services for women will remain safe and legal,” Sununu said.

However, last year Sununu signed into law restrictions on abortion when he approved a measure banning abortion after 24 weeks of gestation, with exceptions only for pregnancies that threaten the mother’s life or health.

Polling shows relatively few Americans want to see Roe overturned. In 2020, AP VoteCast found that 69% of voters in the presidential election said the Supreme Court should leave the Roe v. Wade decision as is; just 29% said the court should overturn the decision. In general, AP-NORC polling finds a majority of the public favors abortion being legal in most or all cases.

At least eight GOP-led states have already passed new restrictions this year, expecting change from the conservative majority on the high court. Arizona and Florida banned the procedure after 15 weeks, without exceptions for rape or incest. Others,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-reproductive-rights-oklahoma-2810e6accef0fa3c6fdb0e53fed90664">like Oklahoma, went further</a>&nbsp;and made it a felony as of this summer to perform an abortion, with an exception only for the life of the mother.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-idaho-87992ce80b3c9e55100444e34bdcb173">Idaho&nbsp;</a>followed Texas and allowed people to sue over abortions — including potential family members of the embryo.

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia, meanwhile, have protected access to abortion in state law, and several states moved to expand or strengthen those protections this year.

States like Washington and Connecticut, for example, have protected abortion providers in their states from lawsuits.

The Democratic leaders in Connecticut’s statehouse,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-lifestyle-religion-connecticut-268fa7ed40d190a0709e3d2be8e960f5">which over the weekend sent legislation&nbsp;</a>to that state’s governor that would protect abortion providers, said in a joint statement Monday night they had feared a proposed decision like the one in the draft opinion and “now this nightmare appears to be all too real.”

“America is likely headed down a dark path where individual states will adopt conflicting statutes leading to additional divisions in an already divided nation,” Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said.

Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said her state would “welcome with open arms” those who need access to abortion.

In Hawaii, state Sen. Roz Baker, a Democrat, questioned what more the ruling, if issued by the court, could bring.

“Are they going to go back and go after the LGBTQ community next?” she said. “Are they going to go after immigrants? Are they going to go after any of the vulnerable populations?”

In some cases, abortion laws may divide states as well.

GOP-led Tennessee also has a trigger law banning abortion if Roe is overturned, but Nashville’s district attorney on Monday tweeted that he would not prosecute any doctor who performed an abortion.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The bombshell leak of a draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court is poised to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade case legalizing abortion nationwide has set the country on course for an even more polarized and fluctuating landscape of abortion rights.Almost immediately, Republicans who had fostered a decades-long push to end abortion rights cheered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-roe-v-wade-33c08858dc8b0aa5f0450858b51a648a">Roe’s potential fall.&nbsp;</a>Democrats vowed to fight the possible loss of a constitutional right that has been in place for nearly a half-century.The Supreme Court confirmed the leaked draft, first published by Politico, was an authentic document but said Tuesday “it does not represent a decision by the court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case.”Though the draft opinion could change, Democrats and Republicans across the states pledged action&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-wade-supreme-court-f6b899076faba20517b9ac1e82438c16">amid warnings such a ruling could also put other rights at risk</a>&nbsp;—battles that could likewise play out in the states.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651593865137.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In California, Democrats who wield control of the state Legislature and the governor’s office issued a joint statement late Monday announcing they would seek to amend the state’s constitution to enshrine abortion rights.“California will not stand idly by as women across America are stripped of their rights and the progress so many have fought for gets erased,” California Democrats said. “We know we can’t trust the Supreme Court to protect reproductive rights, so California will build a firewall around this right in our state constitution. Women will remain protected here.”South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, said on Twitter she plans to immediately call a special legislative session “to save lives” if Roe is overturned. The state already has a so-called trigger law that would make abortion illegal if that happens and Noem’s office declined to say why a special session would be necessary. Her spokesman, Ian Fury, said the tweet, “speaks for itself.”In Georgia, which is among several dozen states electing governors this year, candidates on both sides of the aisle proclaimed they would prioritize the issue if elected to the state’s top office.Republican gubernatorial candidate David Perdue said he’d call state lawmakers into a special session to outlaw all abortions, while Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams said she would defend the right to abortion if she wins.About half of U.S. states are expected to ban abortion if Roe falls, according to the abortion-rights think tank Guttmacher Institute. Twenty-two states, largely in the South and Midwest, already have total or near-total bans on the books. Aside from Texas, all are now blocked because of Roe.States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-donald-trump-us-supreme-court-health-religion-a9baf97e858cf27f2d143c4fd3ea1d86">have already been preparing for the protentional of the ruling being weakened or overturned</a>, and Republican-led states&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-covid-19-pandemic-medication-31791ed14247c4c8ad35ef078982078e">have also been working to restrict access to medication abortion</a>, which would allow women to get abortions without the burden of traveling to clinics that may be few and far between.In addition to South Dakota, 12 other states have trigger laws that would immediately ban abortion if Roe is overturned.One is Oklahoma, where Republican House Speaker Charles McCall declared Tuesday that “decades of steadfast prayer and unwavering legislative efforts to protect the lives of the unborn are finally on the doorsteps of success.”“For close to 50 years, the silent cries of the millions who lost their lives before even having a chance to live have been heard through the voices of those of us fighting for their rights,” McCall said. “The pro-life movement won, securing those yet unborn the future and promise that comes with being born in the United States of America.”A few states still have pre-Roe bans on the books, including Michigan, where Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has sued to remove it and pledged on Twitter Monday to “fight like hell to make sure abortion remains safe, legal, and accessible.”The Kansas Supreme Court in 2019 declared that the state constitution protects abortion rights, but Republican lawmakers placed on the August primary ballot an initiative to overturn it.In New Hampshire, Gov. Chris Sununu was a rare Republican governor who said he supports abortion rights and was committed to upholding Roe v. Wade. “So long as I am governor, these health care services for women will remain safe and legal,” Sununu said.However, last year Sununu signed into law restrictions on abortion when he approved a measure banning abortion after 24 weeks of gestation, with exceptions only for pregnancies that threaten the mother’s life or health.Polling shows relatively few Americans want to see Roe overturned. In 2020, AP VoteCast found that 69% of voters in the presidential election said the Supreme Court should leave the Roe v. Wade decision as is; just 29% said the court should overturn the decision. In general, AP-NORC polling finds a majority of the public favors abortion being legal in most or all cases.At least eight GOP-led states have already passed new restrictions this year, expecting change from the conservative majority on the high court. Arizona and Florida banned the procedure after 15 weeks, without exceptions for rape or incest. Others,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-reproductive-rights-oklahoma-2810e6accef0fa3c6fdb0e53fed90664">like Oklahoma, went further</a>&nbsp;and made it a felony as of this summer to perform an abortion, with an exception only for the life of the mother.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-idaho-87992ce80b3c9e55100444e34bdcb173">Idaho&nbsp;</a>followed Texas and allowed people to sue over abortions — including potential family members of the embryo.Sixteen states and the District of Columbia, meanwhile, have protected access to abortion in state law, and several states moved to expand or strengthen those protections this year.States like Washington and Connecticut, for example, have protected abortion providers in their states from lawsuits.The Democratic leaders in Connecticut’s statehouse,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-lifestyle-religion-connecticut-268fa7ed40d190a0709e3d2be8e960f5">which over the weekend sent legislation&nbsp;</a>to that state’s governor that would protect abortion providers, said in a joint statement Monday night they had feared a proposed decision like the one in the draft opinion and “now this nightmare appears to be all too real.”“America is likely headed down a dark path where individual states will adopt conflicting statutes leading to additional divisions in an already divided nation,” Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said.Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said her state would “welcome with open arms” those who need access to abortion.In Hawaii, state Sen. Roz Baker, a Democrat, questioned what more the ruling, if issued by the court, could bring.“Are they going to go back and go after the LGBTQ community next?” she said. “Are they going to go after immigrants? Are they going to go after any of the vulnerable populations?”In some cases, abortion laws may divide states as well.GOP-led Tennessee also has a trigger law banning abortion if Roe is overturned, but Nashville’s district attorney on Monday tweeted that he would not prosecute any doctor who performed an abortion.

Possible overturning of Roe sends abortion fight to states

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been found guilty of capital murder in the 2018 killing of his pregnant girlfriend. 

Johnson County prosecutors say a jury convicted 31-year-old Devonte Dominique Wash on Monday for the death of 23-year-old Ashley Harlan, of Olathe, and her unborn child. 

Wash faces life in prison without parole when he's sentenced on June 24. Police said Harlan was found shot to death at her grandfather's home. She was about 20 weeks pregnant with Wash's child when she died. 

Wash called 911 to report that he had found Harlan shot inside the home, but investigators determined through surveillance video near the home and ballistics evidence that Wash was the shooter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651601883537.png" alt="Wash-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Wash-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been found guilty of capital murder in the 2018 killing of his pregnant girlfriend. Johnson County prosecutors say a jury convicted 31-year-old Devonte Dominique Wash on Monday for the death of 23-year-old Ashley Harlan, of Olathe, and her unborn child. Wash faces life in prison without parole when he's sentenced on June 24. Police said Harlan was found shot to death at her grandfather's home. She was about 20 weeks pregnant with Wash's child when she died. Wash called 911 to report that he had found Harlan shot inside the home, but investigators determined through surveillance video near the home and ballistics evidence that Wash was the shooter.

Kan. man guilty in murder of girlfriend, her unborn child

WASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service today urged business taxpayers to begin 
planning now to take advantage of the enhanced 100% deduction for 
business meals and other tax benefits available to them when they file 
their 2022 federal income tax return.

During <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/small-business-week">National Small Business Week</a>,
 May 1 to 7, the IRS is highlighting tax benefits and resources tied to 
the theme for this year's celebration: "Building a Better America 
through Entrepreneurship." With next year's filing deadline nearly a 
year away, any entrepreneur still has time to identify possible tax 
benefits, take action to qualify for them and then claim them when they 
file in 2023.

For 2021 and 2022 only, businesses can generally deduct the full cost
 of business-related food and beverages purchased from a restaurant. 
Otherwise, the limit is usually 50% of the cost of the meal.

To qualify for the higher limit, the business owner or an employee of
 the business must be present when food or beverages are provided. 
Moreover, the expense cannot be lavish or extravagant. Restaurants 
include businesses that prepare and sell food or beverages to retail 
customers for immediate on-premises or off-premises consumption.

For this purpose, grocery stores, convenience stores and other 
businesses that primarily sell pre-packaged goods not for immediate 
consumption, do not qualify as restaurants. Additionally, an employer 
may not treat certain employer-operated eating facilities as 
restaurants, even if they are operated under contract by a third party.

For more information about this provision, as well as details on the 
special recordkeeping rules that apply to business meals, see IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-463">Publication 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses</a>.

With a growing number of business owners now working from home, many 
may qualify for the home office deduction, also known as the deduction 
for business use of a home.

Usually, a business owner must use a room or other identifiable 
portion of the home exclusively for business on a regular basis. 
Exceptions to the exclusive-use standard apply to home-based daycare 
facilities and to portions of the home used for business storage, where 
the home is the only fixed location for that business.

Those eligible can figure the deduction using either the regular method or the simplified method.

To choose the regular method, fill out and attach <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8829">Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home</a>.
 In general, this form divides the expenses of operating the home 
between personal and business use. Direct business expenses are fully 
deductible. On the other hand, the business portion of indirect 
expenses, such as real estate taxes, mortgage interest, rent, casualty 
losses, utilities, insurance, depreciation, maintenance and repairs, is 
figured on this form, based on the percentage of the home used for 
business.

Alternatively, instead of filling out the 44-line Form 8829, business
 owners can choose the simplified method, based on a 6-line worksheet 
found in the instructions to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-c-form-1040">Schedule C</a>,
 the tax form for sole proprietors. This method has a prescribed rate of
 $5 a square foot for business use of the home. The maximum deduction is
 $1,500, based on business use of at least 300 square feet.

Though homeowners choosing the simplified option cannot depreciate 
the portion of their home used for business, they can still claim 
allowable home mortgage interest, real estate taxes and casualty losses 
as itemized deductions on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-a-form-1040">Schedule A</a>.
 These deductions need not be allocated between personal and business 
use, as is required under the regular method. Business expenses 
unrelated to the home, such as advertising, supplies and wages paid to 
employees, are still fully deductible.

Under both the regular and simplified methods, business expenses in 
excess of the gross income limitation are not deductible. For more 
information about this limit along with other details on the home office
 deduction and both methods for figuring it, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-587">Publication 587, Business Use of Your Home</a>.

From business start-up expenses to the qualified business income 
deduction to the health-insurance deduction for self-employed 
individuals, there are a variety of other tax benefits that are often 
available to entrepreneurs and other business owners.

For details on these and other tax benefits, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-535">Publication 535, Business Expenses</a>. Details on another major expense for most businesses, depreciation of buildings, equipment and other assets, can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-946">Publication 946, How to Depreciate Property</a>. Yet another worthwhile resource for any small business is the agency's Tax Guide for Small Business, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-334">Publication 334</a>. All these publications are available on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service today urged business taxpayers to begin 
planning now to take advantage of the enhanced 100% deduction for 
business meals and other tax benefits available to them when they file 
their 2022 federal income tax return.During <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/small-business-week">National Small Business Week</a>,
 May 1 to 7, the IRS is highlighting tax benefits and resources tied to 
the theme for this year's celebration: "Building a Better America 
through Entrepreneurship." With next year's filing deadline nearly a 
year away, any entrepreneur still has time to identify possible tax 
benefits, take action to qualify for them and then claim them when they 
file in 2023.<h2>Enhanced business meal deduction</h2>For 2021 and 2022 only, businesses can generally deduct the full cost
 of business-related food and beverages purchased from a restaurant. 
Otherwise, the limit is usually 50% of the cost of the meal.To qualify for the higher limit, the business owner or an employee of
 the business must be present when food or beverages are provided. 
Moreover, the expense cannot be lavish or extravagant. Restaurants 
include businesses that prepare and sell food or beverages to retail 
customers for immediate on-premises or off-premises consumption.For this purpose, grocery stores, convenience stores and other 
businesses that primarily sell pre-packaged goods not for immediate 
consumption, do not qualify as restaurants. Additionally, an employer 
may not treat certain employer-operated eating facilities as 
restaurants, even if they are operated under contract by a third party.For more information about this provision, as well as details on the 
special recordkeeping rules that apply to business meals, see IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-463">Publication 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses</a>.<h2>Home office deduction</h2>With a growing number of business owners now working from home, many 
may qualify for the home office deduction, also known as the deduction 
for business use of a home.Usually, a business owner must use a room or other identifiable 
portion of the home exclusively for business on a regular basis. 
Exceptions to the exclusive-use standard apply to home-based daycare 
facilities and to portions of the home used for business storage, where 
the home is the only fixed location for that business.Those eligible can figure the deduction using either the regular method or the simplified method.To choose the regular method, fill out and attach <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8829">Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home</a>.
 In general, this form divides the expenses of operating the home 
between personal and business use. Direct business expenses are fully 
deductible. On the other hand, the business portion of indirect 
expenses, such as real estate taxes, mortgage interest, rent, casualty 
losses, utilities, insurance, depreciation, maintenance and repairs, is 
figured on this form, based on the percentage of the home used for 
business.Alternatively, instead of filling out the 44-line Form 8829, business
 owners can choose the simplified method, based on a 6-line worksheet 
found in the instructions to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-c-form-1040">Schedule C</a>,
 the tax form for sole proprietors. This method has a prescribed rate of
 $5 a square foot for business use of the home. The maximum deduction is
 $1,500, based on business use of at least 300 square feet.Though homeowners choosing the simplified option cannot depreciate 
the portion of their home used for business, they can still claim 
allowable home mortgage interest, real estate taxes and casualty losses 
as itemized deductions on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-a-form-1040">Schedule A</a>.
 These deductions need not be allocated between personal and business 
use, as is required under the regular method. Business expenses 
unrelated to the home, such as advertising, supplies and wages paid to 
employees, are still fully deductible.Under both the regular and simplified methods, business expenses in 
excess of the gross income limitation are not deductible. For more 
information about this limit along with other details on the home office
 deduction and both methods for figuring it, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-587">Publication 587, Business Use of Your Home</a>.<h2>Other tax benefits</h2>From business start-up expenses to the qualified business income 
deduction to the health-insurance deduction for self-employed 
individuals, there are a variety of other tax benefits that are often 
available to entrepreneurs and other business owners.For details on these and other tax benefits, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-535">Publication 535, Business Expenses</a>. Details on another major expense for most businesses, depreciation of buildings, equipment and other assets, can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-946">Publication 946, How to Depreciate Property</a>. Yet another worthwhile resource for any small business is the agency's Tax Guide for Small Business, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-334">Publication 334</a>. All these publications are available on IRS.gov.

Business meal, home office tax deductions changing for 2022

MCPHERSON COUNTY—The athletic bond election in Inman, USD 488, is too close to call following the unofficial count Tuesday night.

According to unofficial numbers, the question is currently within two votes 377 yes to 379 no, but the eligibility of provisional ballots must still be determined.&nbsp;

The proposed $5 million bond would pay for improvements to&nbsp;facilities for football/track and field, baseball and softball and improve site drainage along with improvements to address handicap access (Americans with Disabilities Act) and other code compliance challenges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583521325143.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON COUNTY—The athletic bond election in Inman, USD 488, is too close to call following the unofficial count Tuesday night.According to unofficial numbers, the question is currently within two votes 377 yes to 379 no, but the eligibility of provisional ballots must still be determined.&nbsp;The canvass will happen May 9.&nbsp;The proposed $5 million bond would pay for improvements to&nbsp;facilities for football/track and field, baseball and softball and improve site drainage along with improvements to address handicap access (Americans with Disabilities Act) and other code compliance challenges.

Results of Inman, USD 488 bond election too close to call 

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend shooting have identified one victim as 34-year-old&nbsp;Michael A. Rehard, according to a media release from KCPD.

&nbsp;Rehard is one of three who died in separated incidents. One shooting happened late Saturday while the second one was reported shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday. In the first shooting, officers found two people who had been fatally wounded in the 1800 block of North 26th Street, according to the release.

A third person who had also been shot was taken to the hospital. On Sunday morning, police found Rehard dead and two wounded individuals in the 200 block of North 6th Street. Police have not reported any arrests.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend shooting have identified one victim as 34-year-old&nbsp;Michael A. Rehard, according to a media release from KCPD.&nbsp;Rehard is one of three who died in separated incidents. One shooting happened late Saturday while the second one was reported shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday. In the first shooting, officers found two people who had been fatally wounded in the 1800 block of North 26th Street, according to the release.A third person who had also been shot was taken to the hospital. On Sunday morning, police found Rehard dead and two wounded individuals in the 200 block of North 6th Street. Police have not reported any arrests.

Police ID one of three victims in weekend Kansas City killings

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A 14-year-old Missouri boy who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-d03a753b6ac928a86222c0f3b1134619">fell to his death from a 430-foot drop-tower ride</a>&nbsp;in central Florida's tourist district appeared to slip out of his seat at the halfway mark of its plunge to the ground, according to a law enforcement report released Tuesday.

The father of a friend of Tyre Sampson who witnessed the March 24 accident told deputies that the teen appeared to fall out of his seat when plunging passengers on the Free Fall ride passed a yellow reflective tape halfway down the tower. The ride reaches speeds of 75 mph according to an Orange County Sheriff's Office incident report released through a public records request.

When the teen hit the ground, he appeared to be breathing but was unresponsive, Leon Howard told deputies.

Howard's son, also named Leon Howard, was friends with Sampson from a travel football team and was also on the ride at the time of the accident. Sampson, who was 6 feet, 2 inches tall (1.9 meters) and weighed more than 300 pounds (136 kilograms), had traveled to Orlando with his friend's family for vacation.

The younger Leon Howard told deputies that at the top of the ride, which is taller than the Statue of Liberty, he became nervous and closed his eyes until the ride stopped.

The incident report said nobody touched Sampson on the ground until deputies arrived. According to 911 calls released Tuesday, dispatchers asked witnesses who had called in the accident if they could perform CPR on Sampson.

One man told the dispatcher that Sampson was face down, “and he's about 300 pounds." The dispatcher started asking him to have someone help him move Sampson onto his back, but then deputies arrived at the scene.

A section of the incident report was redacted. The Orange County Sheriff's Office didn't immediately return an emailed inquiry about where their investigation stood. Homicide investigators participated in the probe, according to the report.

An initial report by outside engineers hired by the Florida Department of Agriculture said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-e9470b0e84a8c59e1bdb1fb06314f170">sensors on the ride had been adjusted manually</a>&nbsp;to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in Sampson not being properly secured before he slipped out and fell to his death.

The Department of Agriculture report said there were many other “potential contributions” to the accident and that a full review of the ride’s design and operations was needed.

Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-florida-orlando-9b95f3f27e54da9b7e527304816562ae">Sampson's parents sued the ride’s owner, manufacturer and landlord</a>, saying they were negligent and failed to provide a safe amusement ride. The lawsuit said the defendants failed to warn Sampson about the risks of someone of his size going on the ride and that they did not provide an appropriate restraint system.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648251123999.png" alt="An initial report by outside engineers hired by the Florida Department of Agriculture said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-e9470b0e84a8c59e1bdb1fb06314f170">sensors on the ride had been adjusted manually</a>&nbsp;to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in Sampson not being properly secured before he slipped out and fell to his death- photo courtesy WFTV" />
 <figcaption>An initial report by outside engineers hired by the Florida Department of Agriculture said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-e9470b0e84a8c59e1bdb1fb06314f170">sensors on the ride had been adjusted manually</a>&nbsp;to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in Sampson not being properly secured before he slipped out and fell to his death- photo courtesy WFTV</figcaption>
 </figure>ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A 14-year-old Missouri boy who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-d03a753b6ac928a86222c0f3b1134619">fell to his death from a 430-foot drop-tower ride</a>&nbsp;in central Florida's tourist district appeared to slip out of his seat at the halfway mark of its plunge to the ground, according to a law enforcement report released Tuesday.The father of a friend of Tyre Sampson who witnessed the March 24 accident told deputies that the teen appeared to fall out of his seat when plunging passengers on the Free Fall ride passed a yellow reflective tape halfway down the tower. The ride reaches speeds of 75 mph according to an Orange County Sheriff's Office incident report released through a public records request.When the teen hit the ground, he appeared to be breathing but was unresponsive, Leon Howard told deputies.Howard's son, also named Leon Howard, was friends with Sampson from a travel football team and was also on the ride at the time of the accident. Sampson, who was 6 feet, 2 inches tall (1.9 meters) and weighed more than 300 pounds (136 kilograms), had traveled to Orlando with his friend's family for vacation.The younger Leon Howard told deputies that at the top of the ride, which is taller than the Statue of Liberty, he became nervous and closed his eyes until the ride stopped.The incident report said nobody touched Sampson on the ground until deputies arrived. According to 911 calls released Tuesday, dispatchers asked witnesses who had called in the accident if they could perform CPR on Sampson.One man told the dispatcher that Sampson was face down, “and he's about 300 pounds." The dispatcher started asking him to have someone help him move Sampson onto his back, but then deputies arrived at the scene.A section of the incident report was redacted. The Orange County Sheriff's Office didn't immediately return an emailed inquiry about where their investigation stood. Homicide investigators participated in the probe, according to the report.An initial report by outside engineers hired by the Florida Department of Agriculture said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-e9470b0e84a8c59e1bdb1fb06314f170">sensors on the ride had been adjusted manually</a>&nbsp;to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in Sampson not being properly secured before he slipped out and fell to his death.The Department of Agriculture report said there were many other “potential contributions” to the accident and that a full review of the ride’s design and operations was needed.Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-florida-orlando-9b95f3f27e54da9b7e527304816562ae">Sampson's parents sued the ride’s owner, manufacturer and landlord</a>, saying they were negligent and failed to provide a safe amusement ride. The lawsuit said the defendants failed to warn Sampson about the risks of someone of his size going on the ride and that they did not provide an appropriate restraint system.