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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

People with felony drug 
charges are not eligible for food assistance and Kansas has one of the 
most burdensome drug offender registries in the country. People on the 
registry must check in with law enforcement every few months, share all 
social media handles and renew their driver's license yearly. Not doing 
so could put them back in prison.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-23/critics-say-the-kansas-criminal-justice-systems-fees-and-fines-trap-people-in-a-cycle-of-poverty" target="_blank">Fines and fees</a>
 associated with the court system can also stack up, which can lead to 
future legal consequences. A survey by the Alabama Appleseed Center for 
Law and Justice found that 38% of people committed other crimes, like 
selling drugs, to pay off that debt.

The state Legislature has 
discussed changing some of these laws, but no bills have passed. 
Allowing food assistance for people with drug felonies passed out of 
committee but didn’t advance, and legislation that creates exit 
mechanisms for people to get off the drug registry is still waiting for 
action in the full Senate.

More comprehensive changes were also 
passed over. A bill exempting drug offenders from ever going on the 
registry hasn’t had a hearing. Another proposal to expand the drug 
sentencing grid and reduce possible penalties for drug charges also 
stalled.

Rep. Stephen Owens, a Heston Republican, chairs the 
corrections and juvenile justice committee. His committee worked on a 
handful of key legislation advocates and others were pushing for.

Owens
 was frustrated to see some of the changes fail, but he said the state 
is working to make life easier for people in recovery.

“I see how 
these things will make a significant difference in people’s lives. I 
understand it very well,” he said. “The broader (Legislature) has got to
 understand its benefits as well. And that’s challenging.”

In this
 session, the Legislature created a specialty court resources fund and a
 group to oversee that money in hopes of expanding these courts, which 
could expand drug and mental health courts.

Cowan said when he 
gets out of prison, he is going to move out of state to avoid 
post-prison restrictions. He wants to become a lineman and did take a 
class in prison that will help him, though he would be further along 
with his career goals if he didn’t spend all this time in prison.

“I'm
 now sober and plan on staying sober … so I guess (the system) works. 
But it was definitely overkill,” he said. “It wasn't necessary to this 
extent … It has done me more harm than good.”

Blaise Mesa 
reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas News 
Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or email 
him at blaise@kcur.org.

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

Derailed by addiction, Kansans say criminal justice system made it worse

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is scrapping old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, speeding an ongoing trend toward more efficient lighting that officials say will save households, schools and businesses billions of dollars a year.

Rules finalized by the Energy Department will require manufacturers to sell energy-efficient light bulbs, accelerating a longtime industry practice to use compact fluorescent and LED bulbs that last 25 to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs. The Trump administration had slowed an earlier phaseout of incandescents, saying it was targeting rules that burden businesses.

Once the new rules are fully in place next year, consumers should save nearly $3 billion per year on their utility bills, the Energy Department said. The rules are projected to cut planet-warming carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons over the next 30 years, an amount equivalent to emissions generated by 28 million homes in one year, officials said.

“By raising energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs, we’re putting $3 billion back in the pockets of American consumers every year and substantially reducing domestic carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement Tuesday. “The lighting industry is already embracing more energy efficient products, and this measure will accelerate progress to deliver the best products to American consumers and build a better and brighter future.”

The new rules expand energy-efficiency requirements to more types of light bulbs and ban sale of bulbs that produce less than 45 lumens per watt — a measure of how much light is emitted for each unit of electricity.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-business-politics-30f1a41f331c43509e02f3fea4d20e95">Trump administration in 2019 had slowed a years-long push</a>&nbsp;by Congress and past administrations to switch Americans to LED bulbs and other lighting that uses less electricity. Former President Donald Trump said in September 2019 that the Energy Department canceled a pending phaseout of incandescent bulbs because “what’s saved is not worth it.”

Advocates hailed the latest rule change, saying it would ensure that commonly used light bulbs meet an easily achieved efficiency standard.

“This is a victory for consumers and for the climate — one that’s been a long time coming,” said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce energy waste and combat climate change.

LED bulbs “have become so inexpensive that there’s no good reason for manufacturers to keep selling 19th-century technology that just isn’t very good at turning electrical energy into light,″ Nadel said. The new standards “will finally phase out energy-wasting bulbs across the country.”

Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, said that while retailers will be able to sell inefficient bulbs until July 2023, “responsible chains ought to get them off their shelves as soon as possible and certainly by the end of this year.″

In 2020, about 30% of light bulbs sold in the United States were incandescent or halogen incandescent bulbs, according to industry groups. The new rule bars manufacture or importation of incandescent bulbs as of Jan. 1.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association said in statement that LED lighting, “spurred by research scientists and lighting manufacturers,” has been fully embraced by consumers and is “an unqualified success.″

The manufacturers group “appreciates the administration’s recognition of the challenges industry faces in complying” with the new rule and its “adoption of a more manageable compliance timeframe” than earlier proposals, said spokesman Spencer Pederson.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is scrapping old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, speeding an ongoing trend toward more efficient lighting that officials say will save households, schools and businesses billions of dollars a year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Here&#39;s some news to light up your day.💡 Our new energy-efficiency standards for light bulbs will: 💵 Save consumers $3B a year on utility bills 📉 Cut 222M metric tons of carbon emissions over three decades 📚 <a href="https://t.co/GNjtzvh3DF">https://t.co/GNjtzvh3DF</a> <a href="https://t.co/Phl6qHquK6">pic.twitter.com/Phl6qHquK6</a>&mdash; U.S. Department of Energy (@ENERGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/ENERGY/status/1518986019630206976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Rules finalized by the Energy Department will require manufacturers to sell energy-efficient light bulbs, accelerating a longtime industry practice to use compact fluorescent and LED bulbs that last 25 to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs. The Trump administration had slowed an earlier phaseout of incandescents, saying it was targeting rules that burden businesses.Once the new rules are fully in place next year, consumers should save nearly $3 billion per year on their utility bills, the Energy Department said. The rules are projected to cut planet-warming carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons over the next 30 years, an amount equivalent to emissions generated by 28 million homes in one year, officials said.“By raising energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs, we’re putting $3 billion back in the pockets of American consumers every year and substantially reducing domestic carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement Tuesday. “The lighting industry is already embracing more energy efficient products, and this measure will accelerate progress to deliver the best products to American consumers and build a better and brighter future.”The new rules expand energy-efficiency requirements to more types of light bulbs and ban sale of bulbs that produce less than 45 lumens per watt — a measure of how much light is emitted for each unit of electricity.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-business-politics-30f1a41f331c43509e02f3fea4d20e95">Trump administration in 2019 had slowed a years-long push</a>&nbsp;by Congress and past administrations to switch Americans to LED bulbs and other lighting that uses less electricity. Former President Donald Trump said in September 2019 that the Energy Department canceled a pending phaseout of incandescent bulbs because “what’s saved is not worth it.”Advocates hailed the latest rule change, saying it would ensure that commonly used light bulbs meet an easily achieved efficiency standard.“This is a victory for consumers and for the climate — one that’s been a long time coming,” said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce energy waste and combat climate change.LED bulbs “have become so inexpensive that there’s no good reason for manufacturers to keep selling 19th-century technology that just isn’t very good at turning electrical energy into light,″ Nadel said. The new standards “will finally phase out energy-wasting bulbs across the country.”Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, said that while retailers will be able to sell inefficient bulbs until July 2023, “responsible chains ought to get them off their shelves as soon as possible and certainly by the end of this year.″In 2020, about 30% of light bulbs sold in the United States were incandescent or halogen incandescent bulbs, according to industry groups. The new rule bars manufacture or importation of incandescent bulbs as of Jan. 1.The National Electrical Manufacturers Association said in statement that LED lighting, “spurred by research scientists and lighting manufacturers,” has been fully embraced by consumers and is “an unqualified success.″The manufacturers group “appreciates the administration’s recognition of the challenges industry faces in complying” with the new rule and its “adoption of a more manageable compliance timeframe” than earlier proposals, said spokesman Spencer Pederson.

Biden admin. scrapping old-fashioned light bulbs

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and searching for a suspect.

On Friday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 900 Block of Everett Avenue, according to a media release.

Police found an adult man at the scene who was pronounced dead.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and searching for a suspect.On Friday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 900 Block of Everett Avenue, according to a media release.Police found an adult man at the scene who was pronounced dead.Police have not reported an arrest.

Police search for suspect after Kan. man found dead 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas saw a 4.1% increase in the number of abortions performed in the state in 2021 compared with 2020, with more Missouri residents but fewer Oklahoma and Texas residents coming into the state to terminate their pregnancies.

A preliminary report Tuesday from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment showed that 7,849 abortions were performed in the state last year. That's 303 more than the 7,546 performed in Kansas in 2020.

The state saw an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ok-state-wire-kansas-lifestyle-travel-health-046fe86893322c77fef7c6f0e9a1210f">increase of more than 9%&nbsp;</a>in the number of abortions performed in 2020 over 2019, due to an influx of patients from Oklahoma and Texas, where Republican governors shut down providers early in the coronavirus pandemic, while Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, kept them, open in her state.

But the number of abortions performed in Kansas for women from Oklahoma and Texas dropped to a total of 370 in 2021 from 566 in 2020, a drop of nearly 35%.

Meanwhile, the number of abortions for women from Missouri was 3,458 last year, up 8% or 257 from 2020.

And 8% more Kansas residents had abortions in the state in 2021 than in 2020. The increase was 292, making the total 3,937.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas saw a 4.1% increase in the number of abortions performed in the state in 2021 compared with 2020, with more Missouri residents but fewer Oklahoma and Texas residents coming into the state to terminate their pregnancies.A preliminary report Tuesday from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment showed that 7,849 abortions were performed in the state last year. That's 303 more than the 7,546 performed in Kansas in 2020.The state saw an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ok-state-wire-kansas-lifestyle-travel-health-046fe86893322c77fef7c6f0e9a1210f">increase of more than 9%&nbsp;</a>in the number of abortions performed in 2020 over 2019, due to an influx of patients from Oklahoma and Texas, where Republican governors shut down providers early in the coronavirus pandemic, while Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, kept them, open in her state.But the number of abortions performed in Kansas for women from Oklahoma and Texas dropped to a total of 370 in 2021 from 566 in 2020, a drop of nearly 35%.Meanwhile, the number of abortions for women from Missouri was 3,458 last year, up 8% or 257 from 2020.And 8% more Kansas residents had abortions in the state in 2021 than in 2020. The increase was 292, making the total 3,937.

KDHE: 7,849 abortions performed in Kansas in 2021

BARBER COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), along with the Barber County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Medicine Lodge Police Department, the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harper County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men Friday for methamphetamine-related charges, according to a media release from the KBI.

Just before 9a.m. Friday, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at three locations in Barber County. Operations were conducted at 111 N. 1st&nbsp;St. in Sharon, Kansas, 502 W. Jefferson in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, and at 2368 SE Highway 160 Stump Rd. in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Methamphetamine and firearms were found at the searched locations.

Following the searches, Matthew D. Schmidt, 37, of Sharon, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, unlawful distribution of methamphetamine using a communication facility, and three counts of felony in possession of stolen property. He was booked into the Kiowa County Jail.

Also arrested during the operation was Caden I. Snyder, 19, of Medicine Lodge. Snyder was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Harper County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional arrests are likely, according to the KBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651279692187.png" alt="Schmidt-photo Kiowa Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Schmidt-photo Kiowa Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BARBER COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), along with the Barber County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Medicine Lodge Police Department, the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harper County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men Friday for methamphetamine-related charges, according to a media release from the KBI.Just before 9a.m. Friday, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at three locations in Barber County. Operations were conducted at 111 N. 1st&nbsp;St. in Sharon, Kansas, 502 W. Jefferson in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, and at 2368 SE Highway 160 Stump Rd. in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Methamphetamine and firearms were found at the searched locations.Following the searches, Matthew D. Schmidt, 37, of Sharon, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, unlawful distribution of methamphetamine using a communication facility, and three counts of felony in possession of stolen property. He was booked into the Kiowa County Jail.Also arrested during the operation was Caden I. Snyder, 19, of Medicine Lodge. Snyder was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Harper County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional arrests are likely, according to the KBI.

KBI helps make large meth distribution bust

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the reported overdose of a 1-year-old boy at a Kansas home.

Just after&nbsp; 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, police responded to an assist EMS call in the 2000 block of N. Market, in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

 A 911 caller reported an unresponsive infant at a residence at that location. EMS arrived and transported the child to an area hospital in critical condition.

Investigators learned that the infant had ingested a pill that had fallen on the floor of the home. Tests are ongoing to determine the contents of the pill. The child was admitted to a hospital and placed in Police Protective Custody. The child is expected to survive.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the reported overdose of a 1-year-old boy at a Kansas home.Just after&nbsp; 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, police responded to an assist EMS call in the 2000 block of N. Market, in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy. A 911 caller reported an unresponsive infant at a residence at that location. EMS arrived and transported the child to an area hospital in critical condition.Investigators learned that the infant had ingested a pill that had fallen on the floor of the home. Tests are ongoing to determine the contents of the pill. The child was admitted to a hospital and placed in Police Protective Custody. The child is expected to survive.

Police: Kan. infant hospitalized after eating pill found on floor

RENO COUNTy— A Kansas man with a history of crime is accused of rape and kidnapping.

Tyrone Eugene Carter, 51, Hutchinson, had his initial appearance before judge Daniel Gilligan Friday.

He is accused of holding a 15-year-old runaway from Wichita against her will, drugging her and having sex with her. He was booked into jail just after 2 p.m. Thursday and is being held on $175,000 bond.

Carter has over twenty convictions that include theft, forgery, aggravated battery, robbery, aggravated failure to appear and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Carter will have another court appearance next week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651258961364.png" alt="Carter-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Carter-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTy— A Kansas man with a history of crime is accused of rape and kidnapping.Tyrone Eugene Carter, 51, Hutchinson, had his initial appearance before judge Daniel Gilligan Friday.He is accused of holding a 15-year-old runaway from Wichita against her will, drugging her and having sex with her. He was booked into jail just after 2 p.m. Thursday and is being held on $175,000 bond.Carter has over twenty convictions that include theft, forgery, aggravated battery, robbery, aggravated failure to appear and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.Carter will have another court appearance next week.

Career criminal accused of holding Kan. teen runaway against her will

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Conservative Republican lawmakers have approved a measure that would prohibit&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;or its cities, counties or school districts from imposing mask mandates to control the spread of any infectious disease.

But the measure's supporters fell far short early Friday of the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override a veto from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. She has not said what she will do.

The vote in the Senate was 23-17, leaving supporters four short of a two-thirds majority. The tally in the House was 64-53, leaving the bill's backers 20 votes shy of a two-thirds majority.

The bill represents a response from conservative Republicans to mask mandates imposed by Kelly and cities, counties and school districts throughout the coronavirus pandemic. GOP lawmakers have over time whittled away the power of the governor and state officials to impose such mandates or restrict businesses or public gatherings during disease outbreaks.

Lawmakers supporting the measure argued that the coronavirus pandemic showed the need to protect people's personal liberties. Critics said the restrictions would make it harder to check the spread of dangerous new diseases or even familiar ones like measles.

No Democrats voted for the measure, and Republicans split over it enough to make a veto override unlikely.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639428032483.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Conservative Republican lawmakers have approved a measure that would prohibit&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;or its cities, counties or school districts from imposing mask mandates to control the spread of any infectious disease.But the measure's supporters fell far short early Friday of the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override a veto from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. She has not said what she will do.The vote in the Senate was 23-17, leaving supporters four short of a two-thirds majority. The tally in the House was 64-53, leaving the bill's backers 20 votes shy of a two-thirds majority.The bill represents a response from conservative Republicans to mask mandates imposed by Kelly and cities, counties and school districts throughout the coronavirus pandemic. GOP lawmakers have over time whittled away the power of the governor and state officials to impose such mandates or restrict businesses or public gatherings during disease outbreaks.Lawmakers supporting the measure argued that the coronavirus pandemic showed the need to protect people's personal liberties. Critics said the restrictions would make it harder to check the spread of dangerous new diseases or even familiar ones like measles.No Democrats voted for the measure, and Republicans split over it enough to make a veto override unlikely.

GOP lawmakers in Kansas OK ban on state, local mask mandates

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansa man for alleged drug distribution.

Just after 11:30 p.m. Thursday, police conducted a traffic stop at 18th and Jackson in Great Bend on a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup for a traffic violation.

During the stop, the officer could smell an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and over 100 grams of Marijuana were located, along with drug paraphernalia.

The driver of the vehicle, Brodie Bretz, age 29, was arrested and transported to the Barton County Jail where he was booked in lieu of a $50,000 bond on requested charges of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. Police impounded the vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651251435667.jpeg" alt="Bretz-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Bretz-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansa man for alleged drug distribution.Just after 11:30 p.m. Thursday, police conducted a traffic stop at 18th and Jackson in Great Bend on a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup for a traffic violation.During the stop, the officer could smell an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and over 100 grams of Marijuana were located, along with drug paraphernalia.The driver of the vehicle, Brodie Bretz, age 29, was arrested and transported to the Barton County Jail where he was booked in lieu of a $50,000 bond on requested charges of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. Police impounded the vehicle.

Police: Kansas man accused of selling marijuana 

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than a quarter-million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. because they can roll away unexpectedly while shifted into park.

The recall covers certain 2020 through 2022 Explorers with 2.3-liter engines, as well as 3-liter and 3.3-liter hybrids and the 3-liter ST. Also included are 2020 and 2021 Explorer Police hybrids and those with 3.3-liter gas engines.

Documents posted Friday by U.S. safety regulators say that a rear axle mounting bolt can fracture and cause the drive shaft to disconnect. If that happens, the SUVs can roll away even if they are placed in park gear, without the parking brake on.

The documents say Ford has 235 warranty claims due to the problem. The company says it knows of no crashes or injuries.

Depending on the model, dealers will replace a bushing and the axle cover, or they will update electronic parking brake software. Owners will be notified by mail starting June 6.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651238741541.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than a quarter-million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. because they can roll away unexpectedly while shifted into park.The recall covers certain 2020 through 2022 Explorers with 2.3-liter engines, as well as 3-liter and 3.3-liter hybrids and the 3-liter ST. Also included are 2020 and 2021 Explorer Police hybrids and those with 3.3-liter gas engines.Documents posted Friday by U.S. safety regulators say that a rear axle mounting bolt can fracture and cause the drive shaft to disconnect. If that happens, the SUVs can roll away even if they are placed in park gear, without the parking brake on.The documents say Ford has 235 warranty claims due to the problem. The company says it knows of no crashes or injuries.Depending on the model, dealers will replace a bushing and the axle cover, or they will update electronic parking brake software. Owners will be notified by mail starting June 6.

Ford recalls Explorer SUVs that can roll away while in park

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that he’s “taking a hard look” at canceling additional federal student loan debt and will reach a decision within a month.

“I am considering dealing with some debt reduction,” Biden told reporters in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.

The comments came days after Biden had a private meeting with Democratic lawmakers who pressed him on the issue. One of the lawmakers, Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., said afterwards that Biden disclosed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-race-and-ethnicity-hispanics-b27b4325aba74e63cc7d3cfcb962daa5">he was exploring the possibility.</a>

However, Biden signaled in his Thursday remarks that he wouldn’t go as far as some activists want, saying $50,000 in debt forgiveness was not under consideration. He did not give a number for what he was considering.

“I’m in the process of taking a hard look at whether or not there will be additional debt forgiveness,” he said. “And I’ll have an answer on that in the next couple of weeks.”

During his campaign, Biden said he wanted to “immediately cancel” at least $10,000 in student debt per person. So far he’s repeatedly extended a pause on requiring borrowers to repay their loans, a moratorium that was put in place under then-President Donald Trump near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although activists have been encouraged by their increasing traction on this issue, some said they were concerned that Biden wouldn’t go far enough.

“President Biden, we agree that we shouldn’t cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. We should cancel all of it,” said Wisdom Cole, national director of the NAACP Youth &amp; College Division. “$50,000 was just the bottom line.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signaled he might forgive some student loan debt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-miguel-cardona-lifestyle-education-2fad4da6c3fee980b5dacc65561ffa81">further extend the federal moratorium on repayments</a>, a lawmaker who discussed the issue with him said Wednesday.

The White House was notably more measured about Biden’s stance, but such moves would be a boon to many of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-education-6ce97ddc9db7f777e8e6fb2d7a8fb2cd">43 million Americans carrying student loans&nbsp;</a>worth $1.6 trillion, according to federal figures. It would also be a win for Democratic and progressive leaders who have long pressed Biden to carry through on a 2020 campaign promise that as president he would “immediately” cancel up to $10,000 in debt per student.

Biden’s remarks came during a wide-ranging Monday meeting at the White House with seven members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, according to Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., who was among them. He said in an interview Wednesday that he asked Biden to extend the moratorium on debt payments through this year, instead of letting it expire Aug. 31.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that he’s “taking a hard look” at canceling additional federal student loan debt and will reach a decision within a month.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F298694382441190%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1140" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“I am considering dealing with some debt reduction,” Biden told reporters in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.The comments came days after Biden had a private meeting with Democratic lawmakers who pressed him on the issue. One of the lawmakers, Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., said afterwards that Biden disclosed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-race-and-ethnicity-hispanics-b27b4325aba74e63cc7d3cfcb962daa5">he was exploring the possibility.</a>However, Biden signaled in his Thursday remarks that he wouldn’t go as far as some activists want, saying $50,000 in debt forgiveness was not under consideration. He did not give a number for what he was considering.“I’m in the process of taking a hard look at whether or not there will be additional debt forgiveness,” he said. “And I’ll have an answer on that in the next couple of weeks.”During his campaign, Biden said he wanted to “immediately cancel” at least $10,000 in student debt per person. So far he’s repeatedly extended a pause on requiring borrowers to repay their loans, a moratorium that was put in place under then-President Donald Trump near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.Although activists have been encouraged by their increasing traction on this issue, some said they were concerned that Biden wouldn’t go far enough.“President Biden, we agree that we shouldn’t cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. We should cancel all of it,” said Wisdom Cole, national director of the NAACP Youth &amp; College Division. “$50,000 was just the bottom line.”---------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signaled he might forgive some student loan debt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-miguel-cardona-lifestyle-education-2fad4da6c3fee980b5dacc65561ffa81">further extend the federal moratorium on repayments</a>, a lawmaker who discussed the issue with him said Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651153391885.png" alt="Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., accompanied by Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., speaks to members of the media following a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday-photo courtesy Congressional Hispanic Caucus" />
 <figcaption>Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., accompanied by Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., speaks to members of the media following a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday-photo courtesy Congressional Hispanic Caucus</figcaption>
 </figure>The White House was notably more measured about Biden’s stance, but such moves would be a boon to many of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-education-6ce97ddc9db7f777e8e6fb2d7a8fb2cd">43 million Americans carrying student loans&nbsp;</a>worth $1.6 trillion, according to federal figures. It would also be a win for Democratic and progressive leaders who have long pressed Biden to carry through on a 2020 campaign promise that as president he would “immediately” cancel up to $10,000 in debt per student.Biden’s remarks came during a wide-ranging Monday meeting at the White House with seven members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, according to Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., who was among them. He said in an interview Wednesday that he asked Biden to extend the moratorium on debt payments through this year, instead of letting it expire Aug. 31.

🎥Biden talks about canceling federal student loan debts

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;2,017 new coronavirus cases in Kansas since Friday, April 22, for a total of 775,813 cases.

The state reported 38 additional COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,635.

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

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

Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.

The state will continue to support access to free COVID-19 testing, work to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”

The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Friday.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;2,017 new coronavirus cases in Kansas since Friday, April 22, for a total of 775,813 cases.The state reported 38 additional COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,635.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651250117927.png" alt="Friday April 29, 2022 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday April 29, 2022 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.The state will continue to support access to free COVID-19 testing, work to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Friday.

KDHE: 38 additional COVID deaths, 2,017 new cases

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement officers with the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants on multiple retail businesses throughout Topeka and Shawnee County on Thursday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 Task Force officers seized illegal products that were being offered for sale and distributed to the general public.

These unlawful products, in various forms and packaging, were identified as Delta-8 THC, Delta9 THC and Delta-10 THC products that have been determined to be unlawful schedule I drugs under Kansas law. 

Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force reports that no retail businesses were shut down during the operation and no arrests have been made at this time.

Each retail business was served with a cease and desist notice calling for an immediate stop to the sale of all Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC products. 

Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force will continue to address this issue with other retail businesses that may be engaged in the unlawful sale of these products.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement officers with the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants on multiple retail businesses throughout Topeka and Shawnee County on Thursday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. Task Force officers seized illegal products that were being offered for sale and distributed to the general public.These unlawful products, in various forms and packaging, were identified as Delta-8 THC, Delta9 THC and Delta-10 THC products that have been determined to be unlawful schedule I drugs under Kansas law. Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force reports that no retail businesses were shut down during the operation and no arrests have been made at this time.Each retail business was served with a cease and desist notice calling for an immediate stop to the sale of all Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC products. Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force will continue to address this issue with other retail businesses that may be engaged in the unlawful sale of these products.

Kan. deputies seize Delta-8 THC products at multiple businesses 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas is suing Family Dollar over the discovery of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-arkansas-us-food-and-drug-administration-524bdfcd18a5126febc2772f16a4e73f">more than 1,000 rodents</a>&nbsp;in a distribution facility in the state that prompted the discount retail chain to recall items purchased from hundreds of stores in the South.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge in state court, accuses the chain and parent company Dollar Tree of deceiving consumers, negligence and engaging in a conspiracy that allowed the infestation at the West Memphis facility to occur.

“This misconduct by Family Dollar Stores and Dollar Tree allowed them to maximize profits, while causing Arkansas citizens to purchase hazardous, adulterated and contaminated products," the lawsuit said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-arkansas-us-food-and-drug-administration-524bdfcd18a5126febc2772f16a4e73f">The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in February&nbsp;</a>that it had inspected the distribution facility following a consumer complaint. Inside the building, inspectors said they found live rodents, dead rodents in “various states of decay,” rodent feces, dead birds and bird droppings.

A Dollar Tree spokesman did not immediately return messages seeking comment Thursday.

After fumigating the facility, more than 1,100 dead rodents were recovered, officials said. Family Dollar issued a temporary recall and closed 404 stores in six states — Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee — so numerous products that had been at the facility could be removed from shelves. Family Dollar in February said it was not aware of any illnesses related to the recall.

The products included human foods, animal foods, cosmetics, medical devices and over-the-counter medications.

The infestation has also prompted private lawsuits in several other states that have been filed on behalf of customers.

During the news conference, Rutledge showed reporters video that a former employee had posted on social media of rats inside the facility. In one video, the former worker is trying to feed a potato chip to a large rat sitting on a stack of boxes.

According to the lawsuit, state and federal inspections show Family Dollar had known of the rodent infestation at its facility since at least January 2020.

Arkansas' lawsuit seeks up to $10,000 for each product that was distributed over the past two years by the facility to Arkansas consumers that was affected by the infestation, under the state's deceptive trade practices act. Rutledge is also seeking punitive damages and restitution for Arkansas consumers affected by the contamination. In her lawsuit, Rutledge also asks a state judge to suspend or revoke Family Dollar's authorization to do business in the state.

“We don't want to wipe out a source of groceries and medicines, but if those groceries and medicines are not safe then we need someone else providing that service," Rutledge said.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas is suing Family Dollar over the discovery of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-arkansas-us-food-and-drug-administration-524bdfcd18a5126febc2772f16a4e73f">more than 1,000 rodents</a>&nbsp;in a distribution facility in the state that prompted the discount retail chain to recall items purchased from hundreds of stores in the South.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAGLeslieRutledge%2Fvideos%2F671759331209284%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=62" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The lawsuit, filed Thursday by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge in state court, accuses the chain and parent company Dollar Tree of deceiving consumers, negligence and engaging in a conspiracy that allowed the infestation at the West Memphis facility to occur.“This misconduct by Family Dollar Stores and Dollar Tree allowed them to maximize profits, while causing Arkansas citizens to purchase hazardous, adulterated and contaminated products," the lawsuit said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-arkansas-us-food-and-drug-administration-524bdfcd18a5126febc2772f16a4e73f">The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in February&nbsp;</a>that it had inspected the distribution facility following a consumer complaint. Inside the building, inspectors said they found live rodents, dead rodents in “various states of decay,” rodent feces, dead birds and bird droppings.A Dollar Tree spokesman did not immediately return messages seeking comment Thursday.After fumigating the facility, more than 1,100 dead rodents were recovered, officials said. Family Dollar issued a temporary recall and closed 404 stores in six states — Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee — so numerous products that had been at the facility could be removed from shelves. Family Dollar in February said it was not aware of any illnesses related to the recall.The products included human foods, animal foods, cosmetics, medical devices and over-the-counter medications.The infestation has also prompted private lawsuits in several other states that have been filed on behalf of customers.During the news conference, Rutledge showed reporters video that a former employee had posted on social media of rats inside the facility. In one video, the former worker is trying to feed a potato chip to a large rat sitting on a stack of boxes.According to the lawsuit, state and federal inspections show Family Dollar had known of the rodent infestation at its facility since at least January 2020.Arkansas' lawsuit seeks up to $10,000 for each product that was distributed over the past two years by the facility to Arkansas consumers that was affected by the infestation, under the state's deceptive trade practices act. Rutledge is also seeking punitive damages and restitution for Arkansas consumers affected by the contamination. In her lawsuit, Rutledge also asks a state judge to suspend or revoke Family Dollar's authorization to do business in the state.“We don't want to wipe out a source of groceries and medicines, but if those groceries and medicines are not safe then we need someone else providing that service," Rutledge said.

🎥Lawsuit over rodents found at Family Dollar distribution facility

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Kansas on Thursday approved an increase in funding for public schools but tied the extra money to allowing parents to send their children to any school with room for them.

The measure passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature and sent to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly would boost direct state funding to local school districts by about 6%. The $6.4 billion in funding for 2022-23 complies with past&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/16d63062f0a645f6a9231e22b623e9fb">Kansas Supreme Court rulings</a>&nbsp;in a lawsuit filed against the state in 2010 by school districts.

The votes were&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220428162214_877589/" target="_blank">24-14</a>&nbsp;in the Senate and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220428175308_547261/" target="_blank">75-45</a>&nbsp;in the House. No Democrats voted yes.

Conservative Republicans argued that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-kansas-topeka-76b286c41671f186d37e3ed4b3f41d5c">“open enrollment”</a>&nbsp;provisions in the bill would give parents more options while using competition to push schools to improve.

“Should we just pass on funding without having expectation?” said Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican and the chair of a House committee on education funding.

Educators and Democratic lawmakers argued that local school districts should set their own enrollment policies and the bill would hurt some districts as funding followed students. They also said open enrollment benefits only students whose parents can afford to drive them to school.

The bill increases special education funding 1.5%, but educators and Democrats said schools needed more.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618011715999.png" alt="“Should we just pass on funding without having expectation?” said Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican and the chair of a House committee on education funding." />
 <figcaption>“Should we just pass on funding without having expectation?” said Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican and the chair of a House committee on education funding.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Kansas on Thursday approved an increase in funding for public schools but tied the extra money to allowing parents to send their children to any school with room for them.The measure passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature and sent to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly would boost direct state funding to local school districts by about 6%. The $6.4 billion in funding for 2022-23 complies with past&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/16d63062f0a645f6a9231e22b623e9fb">Kansas Supreme Court rulings</a>&nbsp;in a lawsuit filed against the state in 2010 by school districts.The votes were&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220428162214_877589/" target="_blank">24-14</a>&nbsp;in the Senate and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220428175308_547261/" target="_blank">75-45</a>&nbsp;in the House. No Democrats voted yes.Conservative Republicans argued that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-kansas-topeka-76b286c41671f186d37e3ed4b3f41d5c">“open enrollment”</a>&nbsp;provisions in the bill would give parents more options while using competition to push schools to improve.“Should we just pass on funding without having expectation?” said Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican and the chair of a House committee on education funding.Educators and Democratic lawmakers argued that local school districts should set their own enrollment policies and the bill would hurt some districts as funding followed students. They also said open enrollment benefits only students whose parents can afford to drive them to school.The bill increases special education funding 1.5%, but educators and Democrats said schools needed more.

GOP ties boost in Kansas school funding to 'open enrollment'

ULYSSES – A southwest Kansas man has been convicted of murder in connection with the 2019 death of a child, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Uraquio Agustin Arredondo, 31, of Ulysses, was convicted in Grant County District Court following a bench trial before Judge Clinton Peterson. Arredondo was found guilty of one count of first degree felony murder and one count of child abuse. Sentencing was set for June 13.

The case involved the death of a 3-year-old child that occurred while the child was being physically abused.

On Feb. 24, 2019 authorities arrested Uraquio “Rocky” A. Arredondo, at his home in the 900 Block of S. Cheyenne in Ulysses, Kan, according to a media release from the KBI.

Arredondo was arrested for first degree murder and abuse of a child. He was booked into the Grant County Jail on $500,000 bond.

The arrest followed a yearlong investigation by the KBI and the Ulysses Police Department into the death of 3-year-old Carlos Valenzuela III. On Feb. 26, 2019, police and EMS were dispatched to the child’s home after they received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child.

Valenzuela was first transported to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital and was then transferred to a Denver, Colo. hospital for treatment. He died Feb. 27, 2019 in Denver. Arredondo was in a relationship with child’s mother, according to the KBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582652296671.png" alt=" Arredondo photo Grant Co." />
 <figcaption> Arredondo photo Grant Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ULYSSES – A southwest Kansas man has been convicted of murder in connection with the 2019 death of a child, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.Uraquio Agustin Arredondo, 31, of Ulysses, was convicted in Grant County District Court following a bench trial before Judge Clinton Peterson. Arredondo was found guilty of one count of first degree felony murder and one count of child abuse. Sentencing was set for June 13.The case involved the death of a 3-year-old child that occurred while the child was being physically abused.On Feb. 24, 2019 authorities arrested Uraquio “Rocky” A. Arredondo, at his home in the 900 Block of S. Cheyenne in Ulysses, Kan, according to a media release from the KBI.Arredondo was arrested for first degree murder and abuse of a child. He was booked into the Grant County Jail on $500,000 bond.The arrest followed a yearlong investigation by the KBI and the Ulysses Police Department into the death of 3-year-old Carlos Valenzuela III. On Feb. 26, 2019, police and EMS were dispatched to the child’s home after they received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child.Valenzuela was first transported to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital and was then transferred to a Denver, Colo. hospital for treatment. He died Feb. 27, 2019 in Denver. Arredondo was in a relationship with child’s mother, according to the KBI.&nbsp;Sentencing is set for June 13.--------

Kan. man guilty in death of girlfriend's 3-year-old son

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas moved Thursday to phase out the nation’s second-highest state sales tax on groceries, but Republican lawmakers wouldn’t have the state decrease consumers’ bills until after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly faces reelection in November.

Governor Kelly said she would sign the bipartisan bill. "Make no mistake -- today’s action is a win for every single Kansan,” Governor Laura Kelly said in a statement from her office. “Eliminating the state tax on food will provide financial relief to everyone, and this bill is a good first step. However, prices continue to rise for essential necessities like groceries. We must provide financial relief swiftly – and I call on the Legislature to move the implementation date up to July 1, 2022. We owe it to Kansans to get this done and get it done immediately.”

Eliminating the 6.5% tax is Kelly’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-kansas-topeka-derek-schmidt-fe33c829200bb2c9345ee37534cf2b07">most visible legislative initiative</a>&nbsp;this year, and she and fellow Democrats have been waging a public campaign for weeks to get the GOP-controlled Legislature to eliminate the whole tax on July 1. The Republican plan would phase out the tax over three years, dropping it to 4% in January, to 2% in 2024 and zero in 2025.

The House voted 114-3 Thursday to approve&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2106_01_033122pm.pdf" target="_blank">the Republican plan</a>&nbsp;after the Senate&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220427165913_738444/" target="_blank">voted 39-0</a>&nbsp;Wednesday to pass it, with Democrats in both chambers reluctant to oppose any version of the cut. The bill goes next to Kelly, who immediately promised to sign it, though she urged lawmakers to approve another measure to start the relief July 1.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-topeka-kansas-personal-taxes-legislature-090092b19f2e7de084f5b48cdcb7acaf">The debate</a>&nbsp;was dominated by election-year politics. Kelly portrays herself as a bipartisan problem-solver, and her proposed tax cut would start reducing people’s groceries bills ahead of the November election. GOP lawmakers are countering her proposal by throwing rhetoric she used in her 2018 campaign against her.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1648810426776.png" alt="Governor Kelly says that she’s trying to help families struggling with the highest inflation in the U.S. since the 1980s" />
 <figcaption>Governor Kelly says that she’s trying to help families struggling with the highest inflation in the U.S. since the 1980s</figcaption>
 </figure>By John Hanna and Andy Tsubasa FieldTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas moved Thursday to phase out the nation’s second-highest state sales tax on groceries, but Republican lawmakers wouldn’t have the state decrease consumers’ bills until after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly faces reelection in November.Governor Kelly said she would sign the bipartisan bill. "Make no mistake -- today’s action is a win for every single Kansan,” Governor Laura Kelly said in a statement from her office. “Eliminating the state tax on food will provide financial relief to everyone, and this bill is a good first step. However, prices continue to rise for essential necessities like groceries. We must provide financial relief swiftly – and I call on the Legislature to move the implementation date up to July 1, 2022. We owe it to Kansans to get this done and get it done immediately.”Eliminating the 6.5% tax is Kelly’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-kansas-topeka-derek-schmidt-fe33c829200bb2c9345ee37534cf2b07">most visible legislative initiative</a>&nbsp;this year, and she and fellow Democrats have been waging a public campaign for weeks to get the GOP-controlled Legislature to eliminate the whole tax on July 1. The Republican plan would phase out the tax over three years, dropping it to 4% in January, to 2% in 2024 and zero in 2025.The House voted 114-3 Thursday to approve&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2106_01_033122pm.pdf" target="_blank">the Republican plan</a>&nbsp;after the Senate&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220427165913_738444/" target="_blank">voted 39-0</a>&nbsp;Wednesday to pass it, with Democrats in both chambers reluctant to oppose any version of the cut. The bill goes next to Kelly, who immediately promised to sign it, though she urged lawmakers to approve another measure to start the relief July 1.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-topeka-kansas-personal-taxes-legislature-090092b19f2e7de084f5b48cdcb7acaf">The debate</a>&nbsp;was dominated by election-year politics. Kelly portrays herself as a bipartisan problem-solver, and her proposed tax cut would start reducing people’s groceries bills ahead of the November election. GOP lawmakers are countering her proposal by throwing rhetoric she used in her 2018 campaign against her.Kelly and her fellow Democrats argue that consumers want to see as much relief as possible as quickly as possible. That was true Thursday at a Topeka grocery for Ryan Gay, a 51-year-old firefighter who’s skeptical that the state will do something other than what “looks good on paper.”“It’s always about the now, right?” he said. “Just get rid of it now, and I save money in the long run.”Kelly argued that she was trying to help families struggling with the highest inflation in the U.S. since the 1980s. She promised in her first race for governor in 2018 to eliminate the tax but then put the idea on the back burner in favor of shoring up the state’s finances.Republicans contended that they want a smooth rollout of a potentially complicated tax cut and to make sure that eliminating the tax doesn’t tank the budget.Only 13 states charge any sales tax on groceries. Kansas’ rate is second only to Mississippi’s 7%.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2106/" target="_blank">The GOP plan</a>&nbsp;would save taxpayers about $740 million over three years, and a family spending $200 a week on groceries would save $208 in 2023. The same family would save $676 in 2023 under&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb342_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Kelly’s plan,&nbsp;</a>and taxpayers would save as much as $1.4 billion over three years.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-state-governments-kansas-topeka-984739bdcf3aa7a4a0ff819fb9cfdce4">Kansas is flush with cash.</a>&nbsp;It has had surpluses in its tax collections for all but three months in the nearly five years since lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e4f794cd96cb488cb04ab1cd48b1458d">repealed most</a>&nbsp;of an income tax-cutting experiment&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-topeka-kansas-economy-state-governments-0fc7c5cc0bf149dcabe4bd2ac0c236be">under GOP Gov. Sam Brownback.</a>&nbsp;That experiment was followed by persistent budget shortfalls and became nationally notorious, even for Republicans.Republicans argue that the state needs to delay starting the tax relief because the change will be complicated for grocers. The tax cut would apply to unprepared food, not most prepared foods. Adam Smith, House tax committee chair, said enacting the change July 1 is “not attainable.”Caryn Tyson, the chair of the Senate tax committee, said during her chamber’s debate: “Vendors would not have the ability to implement it in the actual time frame.”The state Department of Revenue and some vendors and vendor groups disputed the idea that the change would require months of work. Some consumers also are skeptical.“They could pull the plug on it overnight,” said Steve Yager, a 75-year-old retiree who acknowledges that he doesn’t support Kelly generally and, “I’m not a fan of any Democrat.”Some Republicans are irritated with Kelly demanding an immediate end to the sales tax on groceries because they included a plan phasing it out in a 2019 tax bill that she vetoed. That bill included income tax cuts that she and other Democrats strongly opposed.“So, don’t tell me about this being some political delay,” Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, said of the GOP plan on the grocery sales tax.Republicans also argue that lawmakers should be more cautious than Kelly wants because they don’t know what the future holds, worrying that inflation will soon smother economic growth.And they are now pointing to the budget woes following the tax experiment under Brownback as a warning. Kelly’s criticism of Brownback’s fiscal legacy was a key part her 2018 campaign.“One of the things she says: It went too far, too fast,” said House Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch, a northeastern Kansas Republican.---------------TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is moving to phase out the nation’s second-highest state sales tax on groceries, but Republican lawmakers aren’t planning to lower consumers’ bills until after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly faces reelection in November.Eliminating the 6.5% tax is Kelly’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-kansas-topeka-derek-schmidt-fe33c829200bb2c9345ee37534cf2b07">most visible legislative initiative</a>&nbsp;this year, and she and fellow Democrats have been waging a public campaign for weeks to get the GOP-controlled Legislature to eliminate the whole tax on July 1. The Republican plan would phase out the tax over three years, dropping it to 4% in January, to 2% in 2024 and zero in 2025.The Senate&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220427165913_738444/">voted 39-0&nbsp;</a>Wednesday to approve&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2106_01_033122pm.pdf">the Republican plan,</a>&nbsp;and the House planned to vote on it Thursday. With lawmakers reluctant to vote against any version of a tax cut on final action, the measure was likely to go to Kelly, who has made a point of not saying what she would do.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-topeka-kansas-personal-taxes-legislature-090092b19f2e7de084f5b48cdcb7acaf">The debate&nbsp;</a>is dominated by election-year politics. Kelly portrays herself as a bipartisan problem-solver, and her proposed tax cut would start reducing people’s groceries bills ahead of the November election. GOP lawmakers are countering her proposal by throwing rhetoric she used in her 2018 campaign against her.Kelly and her fellow Democrats argue that consumers want to see as much relief as possible as quickly as possible. That was true Thursday at a Topeka grocery for Ryan Gay, a 51-year-old firefighter who’s skeptical that the state will do something other than what “looks good on paper.”“It’s always about the now, right?” he said. “Just get rid of it now, and I save money in the long run.”Kelly argues that she’s trying to help families struggling with the highest inflation in the U.S. since the 1980s. She promised in her first race for governor in 2018 to eliminate the tax but then put the idea on the back burner in favor of shoring up the state’s finances.Republicans contend that they want a smooth rollout of a potentially complicated tax cut and to make sure that eliminating the tax doesn’t tank the budget.Only 13 states charge any sales tax on groceries. Kansas’ rate is second only to Mississippi’s 7%.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2106/">The GOP plan</a>&nbsp;would save taxpayers about $740 million over three years, and a family spending $200 a week on groceries would save $208 in 2023. The same family would save $676 in 2023 under&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb342_00_0000.pdf">Kelly's plan,&nbsp;</a>and taxpayers would save as much as $1.4 billion over three years.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-state-governments-kansas-topeka-984739bdcf3aa7a4a0ff819fb9cfdce4">Kansas is flush with cash.</a>&nbsp;It has had surpluses in its tax collections for all but three months in the nearly five years since lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e4f794cd96cb488cb04ab1cd48b1458d">repealed most</a>&nbsp;of an income tax-cutting experiment&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-topeka-kansas-economy-state-governments-0fc7c5cc0bf149dcabe4bd2ac0c236be">under GOP Gov. Sam Brownback.</a>&nbsp;That experiment was followed by persistent budget shortfalls and became nationally notorious, even for Republicans.Republicans argue that the state needs to delay starting the tax relief because the change will be complicated for grocers. The tax cut would apply to unprepared food, not most prepared foods. Senate tax committee Chair Caryn Tyson, an eastern Kansas Republican, said enacting the change July 1 is unrealistic.“Vendors would not have the ability to implement it in the actual timeframe,” Tyson said during her chamber’s debate.The state Department of Revenue and some vendors and vendor groups dispute the idea that the change would require months of work. Some consumers also are skeptical that Kansas needs months of lead time.“They could pull the plug on it overnight,” said Steve Yaeger, a 75-year-old retiree who acknowledges that he doesn’t support Kelly generally and, “I’m not a fan of any Democrat.”Some Republicans are irritated with Kelly demanding an immediate end to the sales tax on groceries because they included a plan phasing it out in a tax bill in 2019 that she vetoed. That bill included income tax cuts that she and other Democrats strongly opposed.“So, don’t tell me about this being some political delay,” Masterson said of the GOP plan on the grocery sales tax.Republicans also argue that lawmakers should be more cautious than Kelly wants because they don’t know what the future holds, worrying that inflation will soon smother economic growth.And they are now pointing to the budget woes following the tax experiment under Brownback as a warning. Kelly’s criticism of Brownback’s fiscal legacy was a key part her 2018 campaign.“One of the things she says: It went too far, too fast,” said House Speaker Pro-Tem Blaine Finch, a northeastern Kansas Republican.