HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Gas prices are still well above $3 a gallon, with no real relief in sight.

"Kansas average today is $3.21 a gallon," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "That's up four cents from a week ago and up 22 cents in the last month. Reno County is even higher than the state average."

The Reno County average is $3.28 a gallon, with gas ranging from 3.09 in Arlington to 3.29 in Hutch.

"Anything over $3 gets your attention," Steward said. "We've continued to see those prices rise over the last month or two. Crude oil prices are the big concern right now. They make up 50 to 60% of the price we see at the pump. The big concern in everyone's minds in the oil market right now are the tensions between Ukraine and Russia."

Russia is a large oil producer and any economic sanctions or other supply changes that might come from a potential conflict would likely put further upward pressure on crude oil prices.

"More oil could enter the global market if the United States and Iran are able to complete a new nuclear agreement and sanctions are lifted," Steward said. "That's another potentially positive area that we can look at on the global horizon."

The national gas price average as of Monday is $3.53 a gallon.

By NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Gas prices are still well above $3 a gallon, with no real relief in sight."Kansas average today is $3.21 a gallon," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "That's up four cents from a week ago and up 22 cents in the last month. Reno County is even higher than the state average."The Reno County average is $3.28 a gallon, with gas ranging from 3.09 in Arlington to 3.29 in Hutch."Anything over $3 gets your attention," Steward said. "We've continued to see those prices rise over the last month or two. Crude oil prices are the big concern right now. They make up 50 to 60% of the price we see at the pump. The big concern in everyone's minds in the oil market right now are the tensions between Ukraine and Russia."Russia is a large oil producer and any economic sanctions or other supply changes that might come from a potential conflict would likely put further upward pressure on crude oil prices."More oil could enter the global market if the United States and Iran are able to complete a new nuclear agreement and sanctions are lifted," Steward said. "That's another potentially positive area that we can look at on the global horizon."The national gas price average as of Monday is $3.53 a gallon.

AAA: Crude oil market still driving gas prices, mostly upward

KANSAS CITY(AP) — What appeared to be a deadly motorcycle crash turned into a homicide investigation after a medical examiner determined the driver had been shot before the crash.

The crash was reported shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday after the motorcycle driver went straight into a roundabout at the intersection of Benton Boulevard and St. John Avenue in Kansas City.

Police department spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the motorcycle driver was thrown off his burnt orange Harley Davidson in the crash. The driver, who was identified as 50-year-old Jeffrey Nemitz of Omaha, Nebraska, was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The Jackson County Medical Examiner determined later that Nemitz had been shot.

KANSAS CITY(AP) — What appeared to be a deadly motorcycle crash turned into a homicide investigation after a medical examiner determined the driver had been shot before the crash.The crash was reported shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday after the motorcycle driver went straight into a roundabout at the intersection of Benton Boulevard and St. John Avenue in Kansas City.Police department spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the motorcycle driver was thrown off his burnt orange Harley Davidson in the crash. The driver, who was identified as 50-year-old Jeffrey Nemitz of Omaha, Nebraska, was pronounced dead at a hospital.The Jackson County Medical Examiner determined later that Nemitz had been shot.

Medical Examiner: Motorcycle driver shot before Kansas City crash

KANSAS CITY(AP) — A Kansas City man has been charged with first-degree murder and 10 other counts after a shooting in the city's Westport entertainment district left one man dead and two other people injured.

The Jackson County Prosecutor's office announced Thursday that Kershmire Ralls, 21, was charged in the Dec. 6 death of Jabraughn James.

A probable cause affidavit says video shows Ralls following and chasing the three victims, who he saw earlier at a bar. He eventually used an alley, waited for the victims to walk toward him and opened fire, police said.

James fled in a vehicle driven by someone else and was not arrested until Feb. 3 in Raytown. One of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries and the third was shot in the leg.

The prosecutor's office said the victims did not appear to know they were in any danger. Ralls already has two felony convictions, including unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Prosecutors have requested that Ralls be held without bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645141035888.png" alt="Ralls-photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Ralls-photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — A Kansas City man has been charged with first-degree murder and 10 other counts after a shooting in the city's Westport entertainment district left one man dead and two other people injured.The Jackson County Prosecutor's office announced Thursday that Kershmire Ralls, 21, was charged in the Dec. 6 death of Jabraughn James.A probable cause affidavit says video shows Ralls following and chasing the three victims, who he saw earlier at a bar. He eventually used an alley, waited for the victims to walk toward him and opened fire, police said.James fled in a vehicle driven by someone else and was not arrested until Feb. 3 in Raytown. One of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries and the third was shot in the leg.The prosecutor's office said the victims did not appear to know they were in any danger. Ralls already has two felony convictions, including unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Prosecutors have requested that Ralls be held without bond.

Man charged in Kansas City Westport-area fatal shooting

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after an investigation.

 On Friday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 1300 Block of NE Jefferson in Topeka as part of an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.

&nbsp;Officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms.

They arrested Robert Adams, 57 and Tammy Wampler, 46, and transported them to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

&nbsp;Adams is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000’ of a school, Distribution of marijuana within 1000’ of a school, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent of distribution, Aggravated Endangering a Child, Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transaction and Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance using a communication facility

Wampler was booking on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Aggravated Endangering a Child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645286261984.png" alt="Adams-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Adams-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after an investigation. On Friday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 1300 Block of NE Jefferson in Topeka as part of an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.&nbsp;Officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645286183436.png" alt="Wampler-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Wampler-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>They arrested Robert Adams, 57 and Tammy Wampler, 46, and transported them to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.&nbsp;Adams is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000’ of a school, Distribution of marijuana within 1000’ of a school, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent of distribution, Aggravated Endangering a Child, Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transaction and Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance using a communication facilityWampler was booking on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Aggravated Endangering a Child.

Couple jailed after drug bust at Kansas home with children

&nbsp;MCPHERSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an overnight standoff in McPherson County.&nbsp;

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, sheriff's deputies responded on an ongoing domestic situation in the 1000 Block of 6th Avenue in rural McPherson County, according to Sheriff Jerry Montagne.

The suspect identified as 39-year-old Justin St John was armed with a rifle and had made threats of violence. Just after 2a.m. the McPherson County Special Response Team was asked to help resolve the situation. Negotiators reached St. John by phone and communicated with him for approximately 30 minutes.&nbsp;

At 4:30a.m., members of the Special Response team took St. John into custody and booked him on requested charges of aggravated assault and criminal threat, according to Montagne.&nbsp; Authorities will forward a report to the county attorney.&nbsp; St. John was no longer in custody Sunday afternoon, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645396530287.png" alt="St. John-photo McPherson Co." />
 <figcaption>St. John-photo McPherson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;MCPHERSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an overnight standoff in McPherson County.&nbsp;Just after 1a.m. Sunday, sheriff's deputies responded on an ongoing domestic situation in the 1000 Block of 6th Avenue in rural McPherson County, according to Sheriff Jerry Montagne.The suspect identified as 39-year-old Justin St John was armed with a rifle and had made threats of violence. Just after 2a.m. the McPherson County Special Response Team was asked to help resolve the situation. Negotiators reached St. John by phone and communicated with him for approximately 30 minutes.&nbsp;At 4:30a.m., members of the Special Response team took St. John into custody and booked him on requested charges of aggravated assault and criminal threat, according to Montagne.&nbsp; Authorities will forward a report to the county attorney.&nbsp; St. John was no longer in custody Sunday afternoon, according to online jail records.

Man arrested after long standoff at rural Kansas home

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-16/a-few-kansas-jails-are-finally-allowing-medical-care-for-opioid-addiction">Kansas News Service</a>

A recent decision to let people continue treatment for drug addiction
 while in the Sedgwick County Jail in Wichita reflects a significant 
shift in thinking at Kansas sheriffs’ offices that is gaining momentum.

Sedgwick officials no longer take people off of their prescriptions for <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment" target="_blank">medications such as buprenorphine</a> when booked into jail.

No
 one keeps a tally of how many Kansas jails allow incarcerated people 
with opioid or alcohol addictions to receive the combination of 
medication and counseling that can help them.

But nationally, <a href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/08/10/these-meds-prevent-overdoses-few-federal-prisoners-are-getting-them" target="_blank">only a fraction</a> of jails do so, researchers say.

Sedgwick’s joins at least a few other Kansas jails that do so, including Crawford County’s in southeast Kansas.

“I
 mean, something’s got to change,” Crawford County Sheriff Danny Smith 
said of the decision to allow addiction treatment. “Otherwise, it’s just
 a revolving door all the time.”

Studies suggest <a href="https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/criminal-justice" target="_blank">two-thirds of prison inmates</a>
 have substance use disorders. Allowing treatment for people in jails or
 prisons aims to break the cycle of incarceration — and to save lives.

Fatal overdoses have <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 during the pandemic</a>
 in Kansas and nationally, driven in large part by dealers selling drugs
 laced with fentanyl. Spiking methamphetamine, cocaine or oxycodone with
 this synthetic opioid makes those substances even more potent and 
addictive, but also easily lethal.

When someone who suffers drug addiction gets out of jail or prison, they face an <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28299971/" target="_blank">elevated risk</a> of overdosing soon after release.

A
 few years ago, Smith got a call from the Community Health Center of 
Southeast Kansas. The center had funding to launch a treatment program 
for the 108-bed jail, if Smith would allow it.

“Honestly,” Smith said, “our willingness to have our facility used for this is a no brainer.”

The
 program launched in August 2020. He hopes for “a ripple effect” that 
will help people heal, get jobs, repair family relationships and stay 
out of jail.

Since the program began in August 2020, 207 
incarcerated people have volunteered for it. The treatment isn’t 
court-ordered or part of probation deals. Most have continued their care
 after leaving jail.

Doctors <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions#opioid-dependency-medications" target="_blank">prescribe medications</a>
 to reduce cravings for opioids or alcohol, ease withdrawal symptoms and
 even block the brain from being able to get high off of drugs such as 
oxycodone and heroin.

Typically, treatment involves buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone.

Tanner,
 a Wichita resident in recovery, said this played a critical role for 
him. (The Kansas News Service is not using his last name to protect his 
privacy.)

He first encountered opioids more than a decade ago, shortly after finishing high school.

A doctor sent his friend home from surgery with painkillers — a prescription so ample that the friend shared them with others.

Once the pills ran out, Tanner and his friends began looking for opioids elsewhere.

His use spiraled out of control, particularly after one friend 
overdosed on heroin and died. That spurred Tanner to get high more and 
more often.

“Depression and all that started setting in pretty heavy,” he said. “Wanting to mask the feelings of hurt, pain, guilt.”

Tanner stole from relatives and his workplace to buy drugs, and ultimately landed in jail.

After several years, he entered treatment in 2012 with a combination of counseling and medication, and felt relief.

He tried once to get high while taking his new prescription, but felt nothing.

“Why
 waste my money (on opioids), when I’m not going to be able to feel 
anything from it?” he said. “There’s no euphoria. There’s nothing. I 
mean, that’s the huge thing — if you take the medication right.”

Traditionally,
 though, many jails and prisons across the country haven’t allowed 
medications that combat drug and alcohol addiction.

That means people can’t connect with a physician to start treatment while they’re incarcerated.

It also means people who were already in treatment programs before being booked lose access to care while locked up.

Medical
 professionals and counselors who work with addiction have pushed for 
quality care based on decades of research. And civil rights lawyers have
 filed lawsuits that led to settlements or court orders.

In 2019, <a href="https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-judge-rules-jail-must-allow-access-medication-assisted-treatment" target="_blank">a judge ordered</a> a Maine county jail to let a woman continue buprenorphine during her 40-day sentence.

The same year, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the ACLU of Missouri <a href="https://www.aclukansas.org/en/press-releases/kansas-and-missouri-aclu-affiliates-reach-settlement-bureau-prisons-leavenworth" target="_blank">sued the federal prison system</a>
 for denying medication to a man sentenced to serve time at Leavenworth 
penitentiary. Two days later, the Federal Bureau of Prisons agreed to 
let him continue buprenorphine.

County jails in Kansas that allow such medications say they get phone calls from other sheriffs interested in following suit.

Recently,
 the Sedgwick County Jail began letting people continue methadone and 
similar medications after being booked. Previously, only pregnant women 
were allowed to do so.

“Our jails are full of people who are our 
families, friends and neighbors,” said Col. Jared Schechter, the jail 
administrator. “If they make a mistake and break a law or have a 
probation violation and end up back in jail for a short period of time, 
should they be removed from this medication that’s helping them with 
their addiction?”

“That’s probably not the best way to help them reintegrate into the community,” he said.

For now, the change only applies to people who began treatment before entering jail. But the Sheriff’s Office hopes to extend the care to anyone who wants to start treatment after entering jail and is exploring the cost.

Groups
 who help people in recovery see that as a positive step, but want to 
see more effort to treat people outside of jails and prisons, and to 
prevent addiction entirely.

“From an economic standpoint, there 
certainly is a strong case to be made here for MAT (medication-assisted 
treatment) within the prison system,” said Ngoc Vuong, a community 
mobilizer for Partners for Wichita. “But also I'd say, MAT as an 
alternative to incarceration in the first place.”

Partners for Wichita operates a Safe Streets program to combat addiction and overdoses.

Additionally,
 criminal justice researchers say jails and prisons that offer 
medication-assisted treatment often limit access in practice. Or they 
restrict inmates to naltrexone, for example, even when a different 
prescription might work better.

As of last year, <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> found that very few federal inmates who could benefit from it actually receive medication for their substance use disorders.

The
 Marshall Project also concluded that many state prison systems, 
including that of Kansas, limit medication options or access in one way 
or another.

A spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Corrections
 said inmates can continue medications for drug addiction after entering
 prison. And others can undergo medical assessment to potentially start 
treatment.

Daniel Warren, a physician who treats addiction, welcomes the Sedgwick County jail’s new approach to addiction treatment.

“That
 is a big development,” said Warren, a professor at the University of 
Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. “Overdose after leaving incarceration
 is its own kind of public health epidemic … Maintaining people on 
buprenorphine during their incarceration period is something that is 
really important.”

And when people exit jail, they should leave with clear connections to long-term help.

“There are ways to link people to care afterwards that do not have to be phenomenally challenging,” Warren said.

Some
 treatment programs have grants to help people who can’t afford 
treatment, and staff who can meet with people before their release from 
jail to arrange access to care and medication.

That’s the case at 
Douglas County Jail, where people can start addiction treatment and work
 with a case manager who assists them for half a year or longer after 
leaving jail.

“Everybody 
enters recovery at different stages,” she said. “Sometimes it may take a
 person one time through inpatient treatment … Some people, it doesn’t 
happen like that.”

Most people do achieve long-term <a href="https://health.wusf.usf.edu/npr-health/2022-01-15/there-is-life-after-addiction-most-people-recover" target="_blank">recovery from addiction</a>, although the process often takes years and involves relapses.

“This
 is a huge need,” Neis said. “Folks coming in and out of our facility, 
if they’re ready and willing to work, then we’re here for them and can 
get them where they need to go.”

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/2022/2/1645113109595.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/2022-02-16/a-few-kansas-jails-are-finally-allowing-medical-care-for-opioid-addiction">Kansas News Service</a>A recent decision to let people continue treatment for drug addiction
 while in the Sedgwick County Jail in Wichita reflects a significant 
shift in thinking at Kansas sheriffs’ offices that is gaining momentum.Sedgwick officials no longer take people off of their prescriptions for <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment" target="_blank">medications such as buprenorphine</a> when booked into jail.No
 one keeps a tally of how many Kansas jails allow incarcerated people 
with opioid or alcohol addictions to receive the combination of 
medication and counseling that can help them.But nationally, <a href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/08/10/these-meds-prevent-overdoses-few-federal-prisoners-are-getting-them" target="_blank">only a fraction</a> of jails do so, researchers say.Sedgwick’s joins at least a few other Kansas jails that do so, including Crawford County’s in southeast Kansas.“I
 mean, something’s got to change,” Crawford County Sheriff Danny Smith 
said of the decision to allow addiction treatment. “Otherwise, it’s just
 a revolving door all the time.”Studies suggest <a href="https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/criminal-justice" target="_blank">two-thirds of prison inmates</a>
 have substance use disorders. Allowing treatment for people in jails or
 prisons aims to break the cycle of incarceration — and to save lives.Fatal overdoses have <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 during the pandemic</a>
 in Kansas and nationally, driven in large part by dealers selling drugs
 laced with fentanyl. Spiking methamphetamine, cocaine or oxycodone with
 this synthetic opioid makes those substances even more potent and 
addictive, but also easily lethal.When someone who suffers drug addiction gets out of jail or prison, they face an <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28299971/" target="_blank">elevated risk</a> of overdosing soon after release.A
 few years ago, Smith got a call from the Community Health Center of 
Southeast Kansas. The center had funding to launch a treatment program 
for the 108-bed jail, if Smith would allow it.“Honestly,” Smith said, “our willingness to have our facility used for this is a no brainer.”The
 program launched in August 2020. He hopes for “a ripple effect” that 
will help people heal, get jobs, repair family relationships and stay 
out of jail.Since the program began in August 2020, 207 
incarcerated people have volunteered for it. The treatment isn’t 
court-ordered or part of probation deals. Most have continued their care
 after leaving jail.<h2>Tanner's story</h2>Doctors <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions#opioid-dependency-medications" target="_blank">prescribe medications</a>
 to reduce cravings for opioids or alcohol, ease withdrawal symptoms and
 even block the brain from being able to get high off of drugs such as 
oxycodone and heroin.Typically, treatment involves buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone.Tanner,
 a Wichita resident in recovery, said this played a critical role for 
him. (The Kansas News Service is not using his last name to protect his 
privacy.)He first encountered opioids more than a decade ago, shortly after finishing high school.A doctor sent his friend home from surgery with painkillers — a prescription so ample that the friend shared them with others.Once the pills ran out, Tanner and his friends began looking for opioids elsewhere.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645113174698.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>His use spiraled out of control, particularly after one friend 
overdosed on heroin and died. That spurred Tanner to get high more and 
more often.“Depression and all that started setting in pretty heavy,” he said. “Wanting to mask the feelings of hurt, pain, guilt.”Tanner stole from relatives and his workplace to buy drugs, and ultimately landed in jail.After several years, he entered treatment in 2012 with a combination of counseling and medication, and felt relief.He tried once to get high while taking his new prescription, but felt nothing.“Why
 waste my money (on opioids), when I’m not going to be able to feel 
anything from it?” he said. “There’s no euphoria. There’s nothing. I 
mean, that’s the huge thing — if you take the medication right.”<h2>Treatment in jails and prisons</h2>Traditionally,
 though, many jails and prisons across the country haven’t allowed 
medications that combat drug and alcohol addiction.That means people can’t connect with a physician to start treatment while they’re incarcerated.It also means people who were already in treatment programs before being booked lose access to care while locked up.Things are slowly changing.Medical
 professionals and counselors who work with addiction have pushed for 
quality care based on decades of research. And civil rights lawyers have
 filed lawsuits that led to settlements or court orders.In 2019, <a href="https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-judge-rules-jail-must-allow-access-medication-assisted-treatment" target="_blank">a judge ordered</a> a Maine county jail to let a woman continue buprenorphine during her 40-day sentence.The same year, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the ACLU of Missouri <a href="https://www.aclukansas.org/en/press-releases/kansas-and-missouri-aclu-affiliates-reach-settlement-bureau-prisons-leavenworth" target="_blank">sued the federal prison system</a>
 for denying medication to a man sentenced to serve time at Leavenworth 
penitentiary. Two days later, the Federal Bureau of Prisons agreed to 
let him continue buprenorphine.County jails in Kansas that allow such medications say they get phone calls from other sheriffs interested in following suit.Recently,
 the Sedgwick County Jail began letting people continue methadone and 
similar medications after being booked. Previously, only pregnant women 
were allowed to do so.“Our jails are full of people who are our 
families, friends and neighbors,” said Col. Jared Schechter, the jail 
administrator. “If they make a mistake and break a law or have a 
probation violation and end up back in jail for a short period of time, 
should they be removed from this medication that’s helping them with 
their addiction?”“That’s probably not the best way to help them reintegrate into the community,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645113218229.png" alt="Fake oxycodone pills often contain fentanyl. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration" />
 <figcaption>Fake oxycodone pills often contain fentanyl. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration</figcaption>
 </figure>For now, the change only applies to people who began treatment before entering jail. But the Sheriff’s Office hopes to extend the care to anyone who wants to start treatment after entering jail and is exploring the cost.Groups
 who help people in recovery see that as a positive step, but want to 
see more effort to treat people outside of jails and prisons, and to 
prevent addiction entirely.“From an economic standpoint, there 
certainly is a strong case to be made here for MAT (medication-assisted 
treatment) within the prison system,” said Ngoc Vuong, a community 
mobilizer for Partners for Wichita. “But also I'd say, MAT as an 
alternative to incarceration in the first place.”Partners for Wichita operates a Safe Streets program to combat addiction and overdoses.Additionally,
 criminal justice researchers say jails and prisons that offer 
medication-assisted treatment often limit access in practice. Or they 
restrict inmates to naltrexone, for example, even when a different 
prescription might work better.As of last year, <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> found that very few federal inmates who could benefit from it actually receive medication for their substance use disorders.The
 Marshall Project also concluded that many state prison systems, 
including that of Kansas, limit medication options or access in one way 
or another.A spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Corrections
 said inmates can continue medications for drug addiction after entering
 prison. And others can undergo medical assessment to potentially start 
treatment.<h2>Linking people to medical providers</h2>Daniel Warren, a physician who treats addiction, welcomes the Sedgwick County jail’s new approach to addiction treatment.“That
 is a big development,” said Warren, a professor at the University of 
Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. “Overdose after leaving incarceration
 is its own kind of public health epidemic … Maintaining people on 
buprenorphine during their incarceration period is something that is 
really important.”And when people exit jail, they should leave with clear connections to long-term help.“There are ways to link people to care afterwards that do not have to be phenomenally challenging,” Warren said.Some
 treatment programs have grants to help people who can’t afford 
treatment, and staff who can meet with people before their release from 
jail to arrange access to care and medication.That’s the case at 
Douglas County Jail, where people can start addiction treatment and work
 with a case manager who assists them for half a year or longer after 
leaving jail.Carrie Neis directs those efforts.“Everybody 
enters recovery at different stages,” she said. “Sometimes it may take a
 person one time through inpatient treatment … Some people, it doesn’t 
happen like that.”Most people do achieve long-term <a href="https://health.wusf.usf.edu/npr-health/2022-01-15/there-is-life-after-addiction-most-people-recover" target="_blank">recovery from addiction</a>, although the process often takes years and involves relapses.“This
 is a huge need,” Neis said. “Folks coming in and out of our facility, 
if they’re ready and willing to work, then we’re here for them and can 
get them where they need to go.”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.

Some Kansas jails finally allowing medical care for opioid addiction

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/18/proposal-to-ban-cities-from-banning-plastic-bags-pits-sierra-club-against-kansas-chamber/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Sierra Club lobbyist Zach Pistora told lawmakers he could 
talk at length about the “big mess” plastic bags have created for 
aquatic ecosystems, landscape and infrastructure in Kansas.

But the real problem with <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb493/">Senate Bill 493</a>, he said, is an assault on democracy.

The Kansas Chamber, manufacturers of plastic bags, and service 
industry representatives asked the Senate Commerce Committee to adopt 
the legislation, which would ban cities and counties in Kansas from 
restricting the use of plastic bags and containers.

Pistora said the bill is “disingenuous” because it doesn’t provide a 
way for communities to reduce the accumulation of trash caused by these 
products. He asked lawmakers to embrace the popular saying: “Don’t tread
 on me.”

“It’s a very conservative ethic where we got to be responsible and 
respectful of one another and not interfere with our ability to enjoy 
the benefits of life and self governance,” Pistora said. “Well, the 
single-use plastic trash is treading on the people of Kansas. It’s 
treading on our properties. It’s trash in our communities, our natural 
ecosystems, and it adds up to a deterioration of our wonderful home we 
call Kansas, socialized to the taxpayer.”

Kent Eckles, who appeared at the Thursday hearing on behalf of the 
Kansas Chamber, said businesses hope to avoid navigating “a hodgepodge 
of conflicting regulations or bans from one city or county to the next.”
 He said 22 other states have passed legislation similar to SB493.

The legislation would prohibit prohibitions, restrictions and taxes 
on a bag, cup, package, container, bottle, device or other packaging 
made of cloth, paper, plastic, foamed plastic, expanded plastic, 
cardboard, corrugated material, aluminum, glass, postconsumer recycled 
material or similar coated or laminated material.

The impetus for the bill, Eckles said, is the discussion in Wichita 
and other communities about banning single-use plastic bags, like the 
ones frequently used for groceries.

Zachary Taylor, director of the American Recyclable Plastic Bag 
Alliance, said those policies “end up hurting businesses without doing a
 whole lot for the environment.”

Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said citizens who have concerns 
about trash building in their communities should be able to put together
 solutions “independent of what the polluters want.”

Holland told Eckles the Kansas Chamber also supported a deal in 2017 
to bring a Tyson Foods chicken processing plant to Tonganoxie. The deal 
fell apart over protest from local residents.

“That was an ecological disaster that you were going to unleash on 
northeast Kansas and the Kansas River,” Holland said. “I kind of find it
 a little bit rich that you’re here talking today, once again, about 
basically advocating for polluters. At the end of the day, this to me 
looks like it smacks of regulation. It smacks of anti-consumerism. It’s 
anti-environment, obviously.”

Holland asked Taylor who his alliance represents. Taylor said it consists of manufacturers of plastic bags.

“So more polluters. OK,” Holland said.

Lori Lawrence, of Bag Free Wichita, said it was important for cities 
to maintain local control of regulations. The speed limits in Wichita 
are different from Hays, for instance, she said.

In Wichita, Lawrence said, the landfill is full, and the city has to pay to ship trash out of the county.

“We are dealing with an incredible amount of trash being the largest 
city in Kansas, and we really need to be able to put some limits on 
that,” Lawrence said.

Pistora said a survey found Wichita residents were willing to pay a small price for the reduction of plastic bags.

Pistora also questioned a claim by Taylor that plastic bags account for just 0.3% of landfill trash.

“I always appreciate hearing from other Zachs, but I’d be curious to the sources of his studies on litter,” Pistora said.

In Kansas, Pistora said, half of the litter is from plastic.

“We got more plastic bags than tumbleweeds in the state of Kansas,” Pistora said.

The last time he counted, Pistora said, he saw 39 plastic bags along 
the road between his house in Linwood and the Statehouse in Topeka.

“I didn’t even get into the environmental consequences,” Pistora 
said. “I’d be happy to talk about how these bags get used in 12 seconds,
 but don’t break down for 1,000 years or more.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645221305901.png" alt="Zach Pistora, of the Sierra Club of Kansas, appears by video during a hearing on legislation to ban plastic bag bans. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Zach Pistora, of the Sierra Club of Kansas, appears by video during a hearing on legislation to ban plastic bag bans. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/18/proposal-to-ban-cities-from-banning-plastic-bags-pits-sierra-club-against-kansas-chamber/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Sierra Club lobbyist Zach Pistora told lawmakers he could 
talk at length about the “big mess” plastic bags have created for 
aquatic ecosystems, landscape and infrastructure in Kansas.But the real problem with <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb493/">Senate Bill 493</a>, he said, is an assault on democracy.The Kansas Chamber, manufacturers of plastic bags, and service 
industry representatives asked the Senate Commerce Committee to adopt 
the legislation, which would ban cities and counties in Kansas from 
restricting the use of plastic bags and containers.Pistora said the bill is “disingenuous” because it doesn’t provide a 
way for communities to reduce the accumulation of trash caused by these 
products. He asked lawmakers to embrace the popular saying: “Don’t tread
 on me.”“It’s a very conservative ethic where we got to be responsible and 
respectful of one another and not interfere with our ability to enjoy 
the benefits of life and self governance,” Pistora said. “Well, the 
single-use plastic trash is treading on the people of Kansas. It’s 
treading on our properties. It’s trash in our communities, our natural 
ecosystems, and it adds up to a deterioration of our wonderful home we 
call Kansas, socialized to the taxpayer.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645221357974.png" alt="Kent Eckles appears by video on behalf of the Kansas Chamber in support of legislation that would prohibit cities and counties from restricting single-use plastics. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Kent Eckles appears by video on behalf of the Kansas Chamber in support of legislation that would prohibit cities and counties from restricting single-use plastics. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kent Eckles, who appeared at the Thursday hearing on behalf of the 
Kansas Chamber, said businesses hope to avoid navigating “a hodgepodge 
of conflicting regulations or bans from one city or county to the next.”
 He said 22 other states have passed legislation similar to SB493.The legislation would prohibit prohibitions, restrictions and taxes 
on a bag, cup, package, container, bottle, device or other packaging 
made of cloth, paper, plastic, foamed plastic, expanded plastic, 
cardboard, corrugated material, aluminum, glass, postconsumer recycled 
material or similar coated or laminated material.The impetus for the bill, Eckles said, is the discussion in Wichita 
and other communities about banning single-use plastic bags, like the 
ones frequently used for groceries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645221400718.png" alt="Zachary Taylor appears by video on behalf of plastic bag manufacturers. He says local bans on plastic bags do little to help the environment. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Zachary Taylor appears by video on behalf of plastic bag manufacturers. He says local bans on plastic bags do little to help the environment. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zachary Taylor, director of the American Recyclable Plastic Bag 
Alliance, said those policies “end up hurting businesses without doing a
 whole lot for the environment.”Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said citizens who have concerns 
about trash building in their communities should be able to put together
 solutions “independent of what the polluters want.”Holland told Eckles the Kansas Chamber also supported a deal in 2017 
to bring a Tyson Foods chicken processing plant to Tonganoxie. The deal 
fell apart over protest from local residents.“That was an ecological disaster that you were going to unleash on 
northeast Kansas and the Kansas River,” Holland said. “I kind of find it
 a little bit rich that you’re here talking today, once again, about 
basically advocating for polluters. At the end of the day, this to me 
looks like it smacks of regulation. It smacks of anti-consumerism. It’s 
anti-environment, obviously.”Holland asked Taylor who his alliance represents. Taylor said it consists of manufacturers of plastic bags.“So more polluters. OK,” Holland said.Lori Lawrence, of Bag Free Wichita, said it was important for cities 
to maintain local control of regulations. The speed limits in Wichita 
are different from Hays, for instance, she said.In Wichita, Lawrence said, the landfill is full, and the city has to pay to ship trash out of the county.“We are dealing with an incredible amount of trash being the largest 
city in Kansas, and we really need to be able to put some limits on 
that,” Lawrence said.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1206957082&color=%232b7fb4&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/kansas-reflector-podcast" title="Reflector Podcast" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Reflector Podcast</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/kansas-reflector-podcast/single-use-plastic-bags" title="Single-use plastic bags" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Single-use plastic bags</a></div></div>Pistora said a survey found Wichita residents were willing to pay a small price for the reduction of plastic bags.Pistora also questioned a claim by Taylor that plastic bags account for just 0.3% of landfill trash.“I always appreciate hearing from other Zachs, but I’d be curious to the sources of his studies on litter,” Pistora said.In Kansas, Pistora said, half of the litter is from plastic.“We got more plastic bags than tumbleweeds in the state of Kansas,” Pistora said.The last time he counted, Pistora said, he saw 39 plastic bags along 
the road between his house in Linwood and the Statehouse in Topeka.“I didn’t even get into the environmental consequences,” Pistora 
said. “I’d be happy to talk about how these bags get used in 12 seconds,
 but don’t break down for 1,000 years or more.”

🎙 Plastic bag prohibition pits Sierra Club against Kansas Chamber

JACKSON COUNTY —A jury on February 16, convicted a 28-year-old Kansas City man in connection with the April 5, 2019, fatal shooting of Deontae Campbell, 17, near 63rd and Paseo in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

The jury convicted Tracy D. French, of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, an A Felony, Involuntary Manslaughter and two counts of Armed Criminal Action. French will be sentenced at a future hearing.

According to court records, police responded on April 5, 2019, to the area of 63rd and the Paseo regarding a shooting. They found a 17-year-old victim who was driving a vehicle and another 17-year-old victim in the passenger's seat of the vehicle. 

The passenger said they had just left the Landing Mall area when the defendant began shooting at their car. The driver was hit and lost control of the vehicle. The passenger attempted to control it but the vehicle struck a building. Surveillance video showed the defendant getting out of a vehicle, raising his hand as if he was pointing a gun. Then the victims' vehicle is shown crashing into the building. The defendant's DNA was found on a cellphone recovered at the crime scene. In May, when police went to arrest the defendant, he attempted to flee on foot.

Assistant Jackson County Prosecutors Ben Cox and Caitlin Brock prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645140946609.png" alt="French-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>French-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —A jury on February 16, convicted a 28-year-old Kansas City man in connection with the April 5, 2019, fatal shooting of Deontae Campbell, 17, near 63rd and Paseo in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.The jury convicted Tracy D. French, of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, an A Felony, Involuntary Manslaughter and two counts of Armed Criminal Action. French will be sentenced at a future hearing.According to court records, police responded on April 5, 2019, to the area of 63rd and the Paseo regarding a shooting. They found a 17-year-old victim who was driving a vehicle and another 17-year-old victim in the passenger's seat of the vehicle. The passenger said they had just left the Landing Mall area when the defendant began shooting at their car. The driver was hit and lost control of the vehicle. The passenger attempted to control it but the vehicle struck a building. Surveillance video showed the defendant getting out of a vehicle, raising his hand as if he was pointing a gun. Then the victims' vehicle is shown crashing into the building. The defendant's DNA was found on a cellphone recovered at the crime scene. In May, when police went to arrest the defendant, he attempted to flee on foot.Assistant Jackson County Prosecutors Ben Cox and Caitlin Brock prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.

KC murder suspect's DNA found on cell phone at crime scene

LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, Buckingham Palace said, adding that the famously stoic 95-year-old monarch still plans to carry on working. The diagnosis prompted concern and get-well wishes from across Britain’s political spectrum.

Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a fixture in the life of the nation, the queen reached the milestone of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-europe-arts-and-entertainment-prince-charles-85988dc8f2b109ded943169dfc18fa27">70 years on the throne on Feb. 6,</a>&nbsp;the anniversary of the 1952 death of her father, King George VI. She will turn 96 on April 21.

The palace said the queen, who has been fully vaccinated and had a booster shot, would continue with “light” duties at Windsor Castle over the coming week.

“She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines,” the palace said in a statement.

People in the U.K. who test positive for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;are required to self-isolate for at least five days, although the British government says it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-pandemics-2a717a276b483431f30622f7fa7602cb">plans to lift that requirement for England</a>&nbsp;this week.

Both the queen’s eldest son&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-queen-elizabeth-ii-health-king-felipe-vi-british-museum-9cf9c919c194398968bdbee381c07a28">Prince Charles</a>, 73, and her 74-year-old daughter-in-law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-coronavirus-pandemic-health-arts-and-entertainment-europe-e8ffffb2dd3a0b2ca4631938dc89325d">Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall</a>&nbsp;contracted COVID-19 earlier this month. Charles has since returned to work. There are also thought to be several recent virus cases among staff at Windsor Castle, where the queen is staying.

A host of senior British politicians sent get-well messages. Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from COVID and a rapid return to vibrant good health.”

Health Secretary Sajid Javid wrote that he was “Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a quick recovery,” while opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer wished the queen “good health and a speedy recovery. Get well soon, Ma’am.”

Elizabeth has been in robust health for most of her reign and has been photographed riding a horse as recently as 2020. In the past year she has been seen using a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-princess-anne-royalty-arts-and-entertainment-64794d87da24ab3f61675b523000ab97">walking stick</a>, and in October she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-europe-london-royalty-c9e4d83169f38fcff329adc02f969704">spent a night in a London hospital</a>&nbsp;for unspecified tests.

The queen’s doctors ordered her to rest after that and she was forced to cancel appearances at several key events, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-back-spring-remembrance-day-3b90d882719307bcb0c815091ceb53f8">Remembrance Sunday</a>&nbsp;services and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-europe-environment-and-nature-london-b00e0b26dd216974aa59fe957fc438c5">COP26 climate conference</a>&nbsp;in Glasgow, Scotland in November.

This month she returned to public duties and has held audiences both virtually and in person with diplomats, politicians and senior military officers. During one exchange caught on camera last week, she walked slowly with a stick and said “as you can see I can’t move” in apparent reference to her leg.

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said members of the royal family would be very concerned by the COVID-19 diagnosis.

“I would guess that she will be matter-of-fact about the diagnosis in a way perhaps that the people around her are less matter-of-fact,” he said.

The queen has a busy schedule over the next few months of her Platinum Jubilee year, and is scheduled to attend in-person public engagements in the coming weeks, including a diplomatic reception at Windsor on March 2 and the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14.

On March 29, she has a remembrance service at Westminster Abbey for her husband Prince Philip, who died in April 2021 at 99.

Public celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee are scheduled over a long weekend June 2-5, with festivities including a military parade, a day of horse racing and neighborhood parties.

The queen is the latest monarch from around the world to catch COVID-19. Queen Margrethe of Denmark, 82, and Spain’s King Felipe VI, 54,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-spain-europe-arts-and-entertainment-62f6dc8c38afc40b20d7059a910ddf0e">both tested positive</a>&nbsp;for the illness earlier in February and had mild symptoms.

Her diagnosis comes after a difficult week for Britain’s royal family.

On Tuesday the queen’s second son,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-virginia-giuffre-lawsuit-settlement-8b04c775aa46f761d81c05ef12e3a94f">Prince Andrew, settled a U.S. lawsuit</a>&nbsp;brought by a woman who claimed he had sexually abused with her when she was 17 and traveling with the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew strenuously denied the claim by Virginia Giuffre. He agreed in a settlement to make a substantial donation to his accuser’s charity.

On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-police-london-philanthropy-6573c05f26a12cebe15de1940536587c">London’s Metropolitan Police launched an investigation</a>&nbsp;into allegations that people associated with one of Prince Charles’ charities offered to help a Saudi billionaire secure honors and citizenship in return for donations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634738473421.png" alt="Queen Elizabeth at the G7 conference in June -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Queen Elizabeth at the G7 conference in June -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, Buckingham Palace said, adding that the famously stoic 95-year-old monarch still plans to carry on working. The diagnosis prompted concern and get-well wishes from across Britain’s political spectrum.Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a fixture in the life of the nation, the queen reached the milestone of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-europe-arts-and-entertainment-prince-charles-85988dc8f2b109ded943169dfc18fa27">70 years on the throne on Feb. 6,</a>&nbsp;the anniversary of the 1952 death of her father, King George VI. She will turn 96 on April 21.The palace said the queen, who has been fully vaccinated and had a booster shot, would continue with “light” duties at Windsor Castle over the coming week.“She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines,” the palace said in a statement.People in the U.K. who test positive for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;are required to self-isolate for at least five days, although the British government says it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boris-johnson-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-pandemics-2a717a276b483431f30622f7fa7602cb">plans to lift that requirement for England</a>&nbsp;this week.Both the queen’s eldest son&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-queen-elizabeth-ii-health-king-felipe-vi-british-museum-9cf9c919c194398968bdbee381c07a28">Prince Charles</a>, 73, and her 74-year-old daughter-in-law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-coronavirus-pandemic-health-arts-and-entertainment-europe-e8ffffb2dd3a0b2ca4631938dc89325d">Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall</a>&nbsp;contracted COVID-19 earlier this month. Charles has since returned to work. There are also thought to be several recent virus cases among staff at Windsor Castle, where the queen is staying.A host of senior British politicians sent get-well messages. Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from COVID and a rapid return to vibrant good health.”Health Secretary Sajid Javid wrote that he was “Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a quick recovery,” while opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer wished the queen “good health and a speedy recovery. Get well soon, Ma’am.”Elizabeth has been in robust health for most of her reign and has been photographed riding a horse as recently as 2020. In the past year she has been seen using a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-princess-anne-royalty-arts-and-entertainment-64794d87da24ab3f61675b523000ab97">walking stick</a>, and in October she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-europe-london-royalty-c9e4d83169f38fcff329adc02f969704">spent a night in a London hospital</a>&nbsp;for unspecified tests.The queen’s doctors ordered her to rest after that and she was forced to cancel appearances at several key events, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-back-spring-remembrance-day-3b90d882719307bcb0c815091ceb53f8">Remembrance Sunday</a>&nbsp;services and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-europe-environment-and-nature-london-b00e0b26dd216974aa59fe957fc438c5">COP26 climate conference</a>&nbsp;in Glasgow, Scotland in November.This month she returned to public duties and has held audiences both virtually and in person with diplomats, politicians and senior military officers. During one exchange caught on camera last week, she walked slowly with a stick and said “as you can see I can’t move” in apparent reference to her leg.Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said members of the royal family would be very concerned by the COVID-19 diagnosis.“I would guess that she will be matter-of-fact about the diagnosis in a way perhaps that the people around her are less matter-of-fact,” he said.The queen has a busy schedule over the next few months of her Platinum Jubilee year, and is scheduled to attend in-person public engagements in the coming weeks, including a diplomatic reception at Windsor on March 2 and the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14.On March 29, she has a remembrance service at Westminster Abbey for her husband Prince Philip, who died in April 2021 at 99.Public celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee are scheduled over a long weekend June 2-5, with festivities including a military parade, a day of horse racing and neighborhood parties.The queen is the latest monarch from around the world to catch COVID-19. Queen Margrethe of Denmark, 82, and Spain’s King Felipe VI, 54,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-spain-europe-arts-and-entertainment-62f6dc8c38afc40b20d7059a910ddf0e">both tested positive</a>&nbsp;for the illness earlier in February and had mild symptoms.Her diagnosis comes after a difficult week for Britain’s royal family.On Tuesday the queen’s second son,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-virginia-giuffre-lawsuit-settlement-8b04c775aa46f761d81c05ef12e3a94f">Prince Andrew, settled a U.S. lawsuit</a>&nbsp;brought by a woman who claimed he had sexually abused with her when she was 17 and traveling with the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew strenuously denied the claim by Virginia Giuffre. He agreed in a settlement to make a substantial donation to his accuser’s charity.On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-police-london-philanthropy-6573c05f26a12cebe15de1940536587c">London’s Metropolitan Police launched an investigation</a>&nbsp;into allegations that people associated with one of Prince Charles’ charities offered to help a Saudi billionaire secure honors and citizenship in return for donations.___

Fully vaccinated Queen Elizabeth II tests positive for COVID

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is hoping to use his upcoming State of the Union address to nudge the pandemic into the nation’s rear-view mirror. But it could turn into yet another disruptive display of national tensions and frustration over trying to move past COVID-19.

Biden’s March 1 address to Congress will play out against what Vice President Kamala Harris has called a “malaise” over the persistence of COVID and growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-pandemics-f78e81ca7e93e03141250e78a7d70ebb">public impatience to get back to normal</a>&nbsp;after two years of pandemic restrictions. Even Democratic-run state and local governments are lifting restrictions&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/stories/details/e847a2d6099fe8ebe82d9eb5bd7f5111.1.3.json?type=tab" target="_blank">as cases, hospitalizations and deaths decline</a>.

However, the State of the Union setting — Capitol Hill — remains one of the most significantly disrupted workplaces in the country, something of a ground zero for culture wars over the lingering restrictions and security concerns from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Proxy voting in the House allows lawmakers to work from home and skip going into the office, and has been extended through March. Tours and office visits are limited. GOP lawmakers have racked up thousands of dollars in fines for violating mask-wearing mandates on the House floor.

Seating for Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress last April was capped at about 200 — about 20% of usual capacity for a presidential presentation. White House officials say the protocols for Biden’s next one will be determined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi indicated last week that lawmakers are aiming for “fuller participation” than last year, including inviting every member of Congress. She said, “I think the people are ready to pivot in a way that shows to the American people we largely have been vaccinated here.”

But attendance, she added, will be “up to the Capitol physician.”

In an interview on the eve of the 1/6 anniversary last month, Pelosi said she hoped the Capitol, which remained closed in part for security concerns, would reopen soon.

Republicans, meanwhile, have grown increasingly vocal about rolling back restrictions at the Capitol. In the Senate, more than half of GOP lawmakers this week signed a resolution calling on Congress to lift all virus rules and reopen to visitors.

“From stores to venues and most workplaces and schools, the rest of the United States has reopened, and it’s time for the Senate to do the same,” said Sen. Bill Hagerty, author of the resolution.

Though the Capitol and other federal properties set their own rules, the District of Columbia’s indoor mask requirement for most indoor gatherings and businesses is to be lifted on the same day as Biden’s address, The White House, for its part, says it will set rules for the complex based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

There are no indications that Pelosi is prepared to lift the House chamber’s mask guidance, which she maintained last year even when the CDC eased indoor mask-wearing requirements for fully vaccinated individuals before the emergence of the delta variant.

The White House has taken extraordinary precautions to keep Biden from getting the virus, including requiring high-quality masks in his vicinity and limiting his travel and participation in large events.

In addition to members of Congress, the State of the Union audience traditionally includes Cabinet members, military leaders, Supreme Court justices, diplomats and other invited guests. It’s not yet clear if Pelosi has decided whether to send invitations to Washington’s diplomatic corps and other guests who normally fill the galleries for the address.

A speech to a full House chamber would be by far the densest audience of Biden’s presidency to date.

The debate over rules on wearing masks and getting vaccinated has become a major front in the nation’s culture wars, breaking down along regional and political lines. Scenes of mask-less celebrities enjoying the Super Bowl — when schoolchildren in some jurisdictions are required to wear masks even when outside at recess — have drawn criticism for unfairness.

Some Biden allies are fretting that the Capitol scene could add fuel to the fire, or that anti-mask conservative Republicans would use the speech for some stunt or protest.

More broadly, federal officials are racing to finalize new, more flexible national guidance on mask-wearing and other policies before Biden steps up to the rostrum in the House chamber at 9:01 p.m.

“We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing, when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again, should things worsen,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said Wednesday.

She indicated the revised guidelines, to be coordinated with a broad administration plan for the “next phase” of the virus response, should come around the end of February.

Administration officials expect that new strategy and message to figure prominently in Biden’s speech as pandemic fatigue becomes more pronounced.

The White House sees his speech — in concert with the expected loosening of virus limits — as an opportunity to help stem an erosion of public confidence in his leadership. According to an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll last month, just 45% of Americans said they approved of Biden’s handling of COVID-19, down from 57% in December and 66% in July.

“This is an opportunity for the president to acknowledge the challenge that we faced over the last few years, but also acknowledge that we’re gonna have to learn how to live with COVID, and we know how to do that,” said Democratic Rep. Ami Bera, a California physician.

In an interview, Bera said he hoped Congress would roll back some of its limits, including its mask mandate, and that Biden could speak to an audience that would symbolize the emergency phase of the pandemic was over.

“It is a real bully pulpit and the president could take this opportunity to move the country to a more normal space,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell this week criticized the Democrats’ approach, saying they only recently changed their tune because of shifting public opinion.

“The only science that’s changed in the last two weeks is the political science,” he said. “The only data that’s changed in the last two weeks is Democrats’ polling data.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645100329185.png" alt="The White House has taken extraordinary precautions to keep Biden from getting the virus, including requiring high-quality masks in his vicinity and limiting his travel and participation in large events-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The White House has taken extraordinary precautions to keep Biden from getting the virus, including requiring high-quality masks in his vicinity and limiting his travel and participation in large events-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is hoping to use his upcoming State of the Union address to nudge the pandemic into the nation’s rear-view mirror. But it could turn into yet another disruptive display of national tensions and frustration over trying to move past COVID-19.Biden’s March 1 address to Congress will play out against what Vice President Kamala Harris has called a “malaise” over the persistence of COVID and growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-pandemics-f78e81ca7e93e03141250e78a7d70ebb">public impatience to get back to normal</a>&nbsp;after two years of pandemic restrictions. Even Democratic-run state and local governments are lifting restrictions&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/stories/details/e847a2d6099fe8ebe82d9eb5bd7f5111.1.3.json?type=tab" target="_blank">as cases, hospitalizations and deaths decline</a>.However, the State of the Union setting — Capitol Hill — remains one of the most significantly disrupted workplaces in the country, something of a ground zero for culture wars over the lingering restrictions and security concerns from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.Proxy voting in the House allows lawmakers to work from home and skip going into the office, and has been extended through March. Tours and office visits are limited. GOP lawmakers have racked up thousands of dollars in fines for violating mask-wearing mandates on the House floor.Seating for Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress last April was capped at about 200 — about 20% of usual capacity for a presidential presentation. White House officials say the protocols for Biden’s next one will be determined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.Pelosi indicated last week that lawmakers are aiming for “fuller participation” than last year, including inviting every member of Congress. She said, “I think the people are ready to pivot in a way that shows to the American people we largely have been vaccinated here.”But attendance, she added, will be “up to the Capitol physician.”In an interview on the eve of the 1/6 anniversary last month, Pelosi said she hoped the Capitol, which remained closed in part for security concerns, would reopen soon.Republicans, meanwhile, have grown increasingly vocal about rolling back restrictions at the Capitol. In the Senate, more than half of GOP lawmakers this week signed a resolution calling on Congress to lift all virus rules and reopen to visitors.“From stores to venues and most workplaces and schools, the rest of the United States has reopened, and it’s time for the Senate to do the same,” said Sen. Bill Hagerty, author of the resolution.Though the Capitol and other federal properties set their own rules, the District of Columbia’s indoor mask requirement for most indoor gatherings and businesses is to be lifted on the same day as Biden’s address, The White House, for its part, says it will set rules for the complex based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.There are no indications that Pelosi is prepared to lift the House chamber’s mask guidance, which she maintained last year even when the CDC eased indoor mask-wearing requirements for fully vaccinated individuals before the emergence of the delta variant.The White House has taken extraordinary precautions to keep Biden from getting the virus, including requiring high-quality masks in his vicinity and limiting his travel and participation in large events.In addition to members of Congress, the State of the Union audience traditionally includes Cabinet members, military leaders, Supreme Court justices, diplomats and other invited guests. It’s not yet clear if Pelosi has decided whether to send invitations to Washington’s diplomatic corps and other guests who normally fill the galleries for the address.A speech to a full House chamber would be by far the densest audience of Biden’s presidency to date.The debate over rules on wearing masks and getting vaccinated has become a major front in the nation’s culture wars, breaking down along regional and political lines. Scenes of mask-less celebrities enjoying the Super Bowl — when schoolchildren in some jurisdictions are required to wear masks even when outside at recess — have drawn criticism for unfairness.Some Biden allies are fretting that the Capitol scene could add fuel to the fire, or that anti-mask conservative Republicans would use the speech for some stunt or protest.More broadly, federal officials are racing to finalize new, more flexible national guidance on mask-wearing and other policies before Biden steps up to the rostrum in the House chamber at 9:01 p.m.“We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing, when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again, should things worsen,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said Wednesday.She indicated the revised guidelines, to be coordinated with a broad administration plan for the “next phase” of the virus response, should come around the end of February.Administration officials expect that new strategy and message to figure prominently in Biden’s speech as pandemic fatigue becomes more pronounced.The White House sees his speech — in concert with the expected loosening of virus limits — as an opportunity to help stem an erosion of public confidence in his leadership. According to an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll last month, just 45% of Americans said they approved of Biden’s handling of COVID-19, down from 57% in December and 66% in July.There is growing clamor in both parties.“This is an opportunity for the president to acknowledge the challenge that we faced over the last few years, but also acknowledge that we’re gonna have to learn how to live with COVID, and we know how to do that,” said Democratic Rep. Ami Bera, a California physician.In an interview, Bera said he hoped Congress would roll back some of its limits, including its mask mandate, and that Biden could speak to an audience that would symbolize the emergency phase of the pandemic was over.“It is a real bully pulpit and the president could take this opportunity to move the country to a more normal space,” he said.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell this week criticized the Democrats’ approach, saying they only recently changed their tune because of shifting public opinion.“The only science that’s changed in the last two weeks is the political science,” he said. “The only data that’s changed in the last two weeks is Democrats’ polling data.”

COVID a wildcard as Biden prepares for State of the Union

KANSAS City —A Kansas City man faces felony charges in connection with the attempted rape of a woman patient who was in her hospital room when she was assaulted, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Elisha Beraiah, 31, is charged with Attempted Rape 1st Degree and Sodomy 1st Degree.

According to court records filed late Friday, Kansas City police responded Thursday to University Health Medical Center on Holmes Street in Kansas City and talked to the victim who said the defendant had sexually assaulted her while she was in her hospital room bed. A hospital staff member told police she had gone to the victim's room and observed the defendant in bed with the woman patient, who is visually impaired. The defendant had his pants down. Prosecutors requested the defendant be held on no bond. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645284030605.png" alt=" Beraiah-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption> Beraiah-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS City —A Kansas City man faces felony charges in connection with the attempted rape of a woman patient who was in her hospital room when she was assaulted, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Elisha Beraiah, 31, is charged with Attempted Rape 1st Degree and Sodomy 1st Degree.According to court records filed late Friday, Kansas City police responded Thursday to University Health Medical Center on Holmes Street in Kansas City and talked to the victim who said the defendant had sexually assaulted her while she was in her hospital room bed. A hospital staff member told police she had gone to the victim's room and observed the defendant in bed with the woman patient, who is visually impaired. The defendant had his pants down. Prosecutors requested the defendant be held on no bond. &nbsp;

Man charged for attempted rape of Kansas City hospital patient

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for theft at a car dealership.

Just after 11:45p.m. Feb. 16, police were dispatched to a car dealership in the 3000 block of South Kansas Avenue in Topeka on the report of a disturbance, according to Police Lt. Shane Hilton.

The security officer called in that a suspicious person struck his vehicle with an object as he patrolled.

Officers arrived and located the subject identified as 39-year-old Michael Mahoney of Topeka on the lot. There was evidence that he had broken into vehicles on the lot. 

Police took Mahoney into custody. Once in custody, Mahoney kicked a Topeka police officer, according to Hilton.

 Mahoney is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Battery to a Law Enforcement Officer, Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage, Possession of Meth and Criminal Trespass.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645116130647.png" alt="Mahoney-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Mahoney-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for theft at a car dealership.Just after 11:45p.m. Feb. 16, police were dispatched to a car dealership in the 3000 block of South Kansas Avenue in Topeka on the report of a disturbance, according to Police Lt. Shane Hilton.The security officer called in that a suspicious person struck his vehicle with an object as he patrolled.Officers arrived and located the subject identified as 39-year-old Michael Mahoney of Topeka on the lot. There was evidence that he had broken into vehicles on the lot. Police took Mahoney into custody. Once in custody, Mahoney kicked a Topeka police officer, according to Hilton. Mahoney is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Battery to a Law Enforcement Officer, Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage, Possession of Meth and Criminal Trespass.

Police: Kansas man broke into vehicles at car dealership

KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-homicide-kansas-city-81a62a9b8fee5b718e5085688a8f1dff">A Kansas City woman charged with decapitating her 6-year-old son&nbsp;</a>will undergo a mental health evaluation.

The prosecution of Tasha Haefs, 35, was suspended Thursday after a court ordered the mental health evaluation, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-homicide-kansas-city-81a62a9b8fee5b718e5085688a8f1dff">reported</a>.

Haefs was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action after officers found her son, Karvel Stevens, dead on Tuesday.

Police said officers went to the home after a woman called dispatchers and said the devil was trying to attack her.

Officers saw blood and other evidence of a crime but the woman would not open the door, according to a probable cause statement. When police entered the home, they found the boy dead, bloody knives and and saw Haefs with blood on her, the affidavit said.

A dog had also been killed. No other children were in the home.

Haefs is being held without bond. During her arraignment on Thursday, the mental health evaluation was ordered and a public defender was ordered to represent Haefs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645066201034.png" alt="Haefs-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Haefs-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-homicide-kansas-city-81a62a9b8fee5b718e5085688a8f1dff">A Kansas City woman charged with decapitating her 6-year-old son&nbsp;</a>will undergo a mental health evaluation.The prosecution of Tasha Haefs, 35, was suspended Thursday after a court ordered the mental health evaluation, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-homicide-kansas-city-81a62a9b8fee5b718e5085688a8f1dff">reported</a>.Haefs was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action after officers found her son, Karvel Stevens, dead on Tuesday.Police said officers went to the home after a woman called dispatchers and said the devil was trying to attack her.Officers saw blood and other evidence of a crime but the woman would not open the door, according to a probable cause statement. When police entered the home, they found the boy dead, bloody knives and and saw Haefs with blood on her, the affidavit said.A dog had also been killed. No other children were in the home.Haefs is being held without bond. During her arraignment on Thursday, the mental health evaluation was ordered and a public defender was ordered to represent Haefs.

KC woman charged with decapitating son to undergo mental tests

THOMAS COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Saturday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Buick LeSabre driven by Sem A.&nbsp;Flores-Lopez, 23, Rexford, was eastbound on county road Q five miles east of Colby.

THOMAS COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Saturday in Thomas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Buick LeSabre driven by Sem A.&nbsp;Flores-Lopez, 23, Rexford, was eastbound on county road Q five miles east of Colby.The driver lost control of the car. It entered the north ditch, rolled and the driver was ejected. The car came&nbsp;to rest on County Road 25.&nbsp;EMS transported Flores-Lopez to Citizens Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.&nbsp;