SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal weekend shooting.

At approximately 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, police responded to a shooting call in the 1300 block of North Hydraulic in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

 Upon arrival, officers located&nbsp;d 31-yearold Nyron Bowen of Wichita. on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. Bowen would be transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. 

The investigation revealed Bowen was on foot leaving a nightclub. Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots and Bowen was located just south of the nightclub with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal weekend shooting.At approximately 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, police responded to a shooting call in the 1300 block of North Hydraulic in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. Upon arrival, officers located&nbsp;d 31-yearold Nyron Bowen of Wichita. on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. Bowen would be transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The investigation revealed Bowen was on foot leaving a nightclub. Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots and Bowen was located just south of the nightclub with multiple gunshot wounds to his body.

Kansas man shot to death walking from from nightclub

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. (AP) — Wind-driven wildfires sweeping through parts of Nebraska killed a retired fire chief and injured at least 11 firefighters, authorities said Sunday.

The man who died Friday night was a retired Cambridge fire chief who was working with firefighters as a spotter in Red Willow County in the southwestern corner of the state. Alyssa Sanders, of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, said 66-year-old John P. Trumble, of Arapahoe, was overcome by smoke and fire after his vehicle left the road because of poor visibility from smoke and dust. His body was found early Saturday.

Sanders said 11 firefighters have been injured battling the blazes, but she didn’t say where they were injured or how severe their injuries were.

Blazes have been reported in 12 counties in around the state since Friday. The state agency said they were still burning Saturday night in five counties in Nebraska’s southwest: Perkins, Hayes, Furnas, Red Willow and Frontier. The agency didn’t provide estimates of the total area that had been burned or the number of homes or other structures that had been destroyed.

Sanders said her agency didn’t have all of the details about the fires because local fire departments were managing the response to most of them.

Several small towns, including Cambridge, Bartley, Indianola and Wilsonville, in Nebraska’s southwest and Macy in its northeast, were forced to temporarily evacuate because of the fires. The evacuation orders were lifted Saturday.

The Nebraska National Guard deployed three helicopters and several support trucks to help battle the blazes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650733136045.png" alt="The Nebraska National Guard deployed three helicopters and several support trucks to help battle the blazes-photo Nebraska State Patrol" />
 <figcaption>The Nebraska National Guard deployed three helicopters and several support trucks to help battle the blazes-photo Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>CAMBRIDGE, Neb. (AP) — Wind-driven wildfires sweeping through parts of Nebraska killed a retired fire chief and injured at least 11 firefighters, authorities said Sunday.The man who died Friday night was a retired Cambridge fire chief who was working with firefighters as a spotter in Red Willow County in the southwestern corner of the state. Alyssa Sanders, of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, said 66-year-old John P. Trumble, of Arapahoe, was overcome by smoke and fire after his vehicle left the road because of poor visibility from smoke and dust. His body was found early Saturday.Sanders said 11 firefighters have been injured battling the blazes, but she didn’t say where they were injured or how severe their injuries were.Blazes have been reported in 12 counties in around the state since Friday. The state agency said they were still burning Saturday night in five counties in Nebraska’s southwest: Perkins, Hayes, Furnas, Red Willow and Frontier. The agency didn’t provide estimates of the total area that had been burned or the number of homes or other structures that had been destroyed.Sanders said her agency didn’t have all of the details about the fires because local fire departments were managing the response to most of them.Several small towns, including Cambridge, Bartley, Indianola and Wilsonville, in Nebraska’s southwest and Macy in its northeast, were forced to temporarily evacuate because of the fires. The evacuation orders were lifted Saturday.The Nebraska National Guard deployed three helicopters and several support trucks to help battle the blazes.

SW Nebraska wildfire kills ex-fire chief, injured 11 firefighters

OSAGE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities have been conducting an investigation regarding the online solicitation of a child by an adult.

On April 19, Osage County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) took into custody an adult male who had made plans to meet with someone he believed to be a minor, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

Joseph A. Vonsoosten, 39, of Topeka, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of electronic solicitation and attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650536117350.png" alt="Vonsoosten-photo Osage Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Vonsoosten-photo Osage Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities have been conducting an investigation regarding the online solicitation of a child by an adult.On April 19, Osage County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) took into custody an adult male who had made plans to meet with someone he believed to be a minor, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.Joseph A. Vonsoosten, 39, of Topeka, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of electronic solicitation and attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Sex crime: Kansas man thought he was meeting with juvenile

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City area man, convicted already of felonies, has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting on April 14, 2022, of George R. Dale in an Independence store parking lot, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Darrel M. Maggard, 35, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Armed Criminal Action and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm charges

According to court records, on April 14, police were dispatched to the parking lot of a Cargo Largo Store on E. 35th Street. They found the victim, George R. Dale, deceased inside his vehicle after he had been shot numerous times. 

A witness told police he had been with the victim when the defendant, who owed the victim money, arranged to meet the victim at the location where he was shot. An argument ensued between the victim and the defendant until Maggard pulled a handgun from his pants and fired multiple shots, striking the victim. 

Detectives recovered video showing the defendant drawing and firing his handgun and hitting the victim multiple times.

Prosecutors requested the defendant be held on no bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650572289102.png" alt="Maaggard-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Maaggard-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City area man, convicted already of felonies, has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting on April 14, 2022, of George R. Dale in an Independence store parking lot, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Darrel M. Maggard, 35, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Armed Criminal Action and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm chargesAccording to court records, on April 14, police were dispatched to the parking lot of a Cargo Largo Store on E. 35th Street. They found the victim, George R. Dale, deceased inside his vehicle after he had been shot numerous times. A witness told police he had been with the victim when the defendant, who owed the victim money, arranged to meet the victim at the location where he was shot. An argument ensued between the victim and the defendant until Maggard pulled a handgun from his pants and fired multiple shots, striking the victim. Detectives recovered video showing the defendant drawing and firing his handgun and hitting the victim multiple times.Prosecutors requested the defendant be held on no bond.&nbsp;

Police: Kansas City-area killing involved dispute over money

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Browse any medical dictionary, and before hitting appendectomy and anesthesia, you’ll find abortion.

The first two procedures are part of standard physician education. But for many U.S. medical school students and residents who want to learn about abortions, options are scarce.

And new restrictions are piling up: Within the past year, bills or laws seeking to limit abortion education have been proposed or enacted in at least eight states. The changes are coming from abortion opponents emboldened by new limits on the procedure itself, as well as a pending Supreme Court decision that could upend the landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

“It’s quite terrifying what’s going on,” said Ian Peake, a third-year medical student in Oklahoma, where the governor on April 12 signed a measure outlawing most abortions.

Abortion training is not offered at Oklahoma’s two medical schools and education on the topic is limited. Aspiring doctors who want to learn about it typically seek out doctors providing abortions outside the traditional medical education system.

Peake, 32, said if he wanted to learn to do colonoscopies, for example, he could work with school staff to shadow a doctor doing research or working in a clinic.

“That would be easy,” he said. “To do the same for abortion, that’s almost impossible.” He said it took him six months to find a provider willing to teach him.

Nevada medical student Natasha McGlaun got outside training and created a workshop on how to perform a standard medical procedure used in abortions. She offers it at night, in her own free time.

The 27-year-old is the daughter of “pro-feminist” parents and the mother of two young girls whose right to reproductive choice she wants to protect.

“It was kind of a joke in my family: If people tell me I can’t do something, I’m going to do it twice as hard,” she said. “I kind of feel this moral, righteous drive to go for it.”

U.S. physician education typically includes four years of medical school, where students learn the basics of general medicine and hands-on patient care. They graduate with a medical degree that officially makes them doctors. Most then spend at least three years in residency programs where they receive intense on-the-job training and specialty skills.

U.S. medical schools require students to complete a clerkship in obstetrics and gynecology, but there is no mandate that it include abortion education. At the post-graduate level, OB-GYN residency programs are required by an accrediting group to provide access to abortion training, though residents who object can opt out of performing abortions.

OB-GYNs perform most U.S. abortions, followed by family medicine specialists. But these aren’t always the first doctors that women encounter when they learn of an unintended pregnancy. Abortion rights supporters argue all physicians should know enough about the procedure to inform and counsel patients, and that such education should start in medical school.

In 2020, Stanford University researchers said they found that half of medical schools included no formal abortion training or only a single lecture.

“Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures,” they wrote. “Yet abortion-related topics are glaringly absent from medical school curricula.”

McGlaun helped sponsor a measure last year that asked the American Medical Association to support mandated abortion education in medical schools, with an opt-out provision. The influential group has long opposed curriculum mandates and turned down the proposal, but it said it supports giving medical students and residents the chance to learn about abortion and opposes efforts to interfere with such training.

Legislative efforts to curb abortion target all levels of medical education.

An Idaho law enacted last year exemplifies the trend. It bars using tuition and fees for abortion and related activities in school-based clinics at institutions that receive state funds.

Other efforts include a Wisconsin bill that would bar employees of the University of Wisconsin and its hospitals from participating in abortions, including training. It failed to advance in March but its sponsor plans to reintroduce the measure. Similar proposals target public universities in Missouri and Ohio.

Divya Jain’s introduction to abortion came not at her Missouri medical school — where she said the procedure is rarely discussed — but at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Kansas. She was a clinic volunteer and saw the hurdles out-of-state women faced in obtaining the procedure. Some mistakenly ended up at a crisis pregnancy center across the street that tried to change their minds, Jain said.

Jain, 23, said her first experience observing an abortion was “anti-climactic,” far from the scary image she’d heard opponents describe.

“It’s just a normal in-house procedure,” she said. “It’s just patients seeking medical treatment.”

At that moment, she knew she wanted to provide abortions. “It was like a snap of finger. That kind of changed it for me,” said Jain, who is studying public policy at Harvard while on leave from medical school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

The daughter of open-minded but traditional parents who immigrated to Kansas from India, Jain recalls growing up feeling trapped by her family’s traditional culture and a conservative white community where abortion was never discussed.

“I liked to stir the pot” and push boundaries, she said.

Jain knows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on whether to uphold Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy could drastically change the U.S. abortion landscape. Regardless of the decision — expected by summer — Jain said her goal is set: to perform abortions in “hostile” states where providers are scarce.

“It’s really hard for patients to get the care that patients deserve and need, and I just think it’s wrong,” Jain said.

Dr. Keith Reisinger-Kindle, 33, associate director of the OB-GYN residency program at Wright State University’s medical school in Dayton, Ohio, said his aim to boost abortion training “has been an uphill battle” because of legislative obstacles.

When he arrived at the school almost two years ago, he said, “there was zero formal abortion education available.” He created and implemented abortion coursework for medical students and residents, with support from his university, and offers training at a nearby clinic where he also performs abortions.

The physician said a state legislator has lobbied university administrators to fire him. And in December, Ohio’s governor signed into law a measure that limits doctors who work at state institutions from working as backup doctors at abortion clinics when rare complications occur. The clinic where Reisinger-Kindle works is suing to block the law.

“There are days that are certainly challenging,” Reisinger-Kindle said. Young doctors eager to learn help keep him going. The program currently has 24 residents. They can opt out of abortion training, but he said nearly all have chosen to participate “in at least some capacity.”

He fears more abortion restrictions are coming, but adds: “In the long-term, I believe we will get this right. I just hope that my students don’t have to suffer.”

By LINDSEY TANNERKANSAS CITY (AP) —Browse any medical dictionary, and before hitting appendectomy and anesthesia, you’ll find abortion.The first two procedures are part of standard physician education. But for many U.S. medical school students and residents who want to learn about abortions, options are scarce.And new restrictions are piling up: Within the past year, bills or laws seeking to limit abortion education have been proposed or enacted in at least eight states. The changes are coming from abortion opponents emboldened by new limits on the procedure itself, as well as a pending Supreme Court decision that could upend the landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.“It’s quite terrifying what’s going on,” said Ian Peake, a third-year medical student in Oklahoma, where the governor on April 12 signed a measure outlawing most abortions.Abortion training is not offered at Oklahoma’s two medical schools and education on the topic is limited. Aspiring doctors who want to learn about it typically seek out doctors providing abortions outside the traditional medical education system.Peake, 32, said if he wanted to learn to do colonoscopies, for example, he could work with school staff to shadow a doctor doing research or working in a clinic.“That would be easy,” he said. “To do the same for abortion, that’s almost impossible.” He said it took him six months to find a provider willing to teach him.Nevada medical student Natasha McGlaun got outside training and created a workshop on how to perform a standard medical procedure used in abortions. She offers it at night, in her own free time.The 27-year-old is the daughter of “pro-feminist” parents and the mother of two young girls whose right to reproductive choice she wants to protect.“It was kind of a joke in my family: If people tell me I can’t do something, I’m going to do it twice as hard,” she said. “I kind of feel this moral, righteous drive to go for it.”‘GLARINGLY ABSENT’ LESSONSU.S. physician education typically includes four years of medical school, where students learn the basics of general medicine and hands-on patient care. They graduate with a medical degree that officially makes them doctors. Most then spend at least three years in residency programs where they receive intense on-the-job training and specialty skills.U.S. medical schools require students to complete a clerkship in obstetrics and gynecology, but there is no mandate that it include abortion education. At the post-graduate level, OB-GYN residency programs are required by an accrediting group to provide access to abortion training, though residents who object can opt out of performing abortions.OB-GYNs perform most U.S. abortions, followed by family medicine specialists. But these aren’t always the first doctors that women encounter when they learn of an unintended pregnancy. Abortion rights supporters argue all physicians should know enough about the procedure to inform and counsel patients, and that such education should start in medical school.In 2020, Stanford University researchers said they found that half of medical schools included no formal abortion training or only a single lecture.“Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures,” they wrote. “Yet abortion-related topics are glaringly absent from medical school curricula.”McGlaun helped sponsor a measure last year that asked the American Medical Association to support mandated abortion education in medical schools, with an opt-out provision. The influential group has long opposed curriculum mandates and turned down the proposal, but it said it supports giving medical students and residents the chance to learn about abortion and opposes efforts to interfere with such training.FURTHER RESTRICTIONSLegislative efforts to curb abortion target all levels of medical education.An Idaho law enacted last year exemplifies the trend. It bars using tuition and fees for abortion and related activities in school-based clinics at institutions that receive state funds.Other efforts include a Wisconsin bill that would bar employees of the University of Wisconsin and its hospitals from participating in abortions, including training. It failed to advance in March but its sponsor plans to reintroduce the measure. Similar proposals target public universities in Missouri and Ohio.Divya Jain’s introduction to abortion came not at her Missouri medical school — where she said the procedure is rarely discussed — but at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Kansas. She was a clinic volunteer and saw the hurdles out-of-state women faced in obtaining the procedure. Some mistakenly ended up at a crisis pregnancy center across the street that tried to change their minds, Jain said.Jain, 23, said her first experience observing an abortion was “anti-climactic,” far from the scary image she’d heard opponents describe.“It’s just a normal in-house procedure,” she said. “It’s just patients seeking medical treatment.”At that moment, she knew she wanted to provide abortions. “It was like a snap of finger. That kind of changed it for me,” said Jain, who is studying public policy at Harvard while on leave from medical school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.The daughter of open-minded but traditional parents who immigrated to Kansas from India, Jain recalls growing up feeling trapped by her family’s traditional culture and a conservative white community where abortion was never discussed.“I liked to stir the pot” and push boundaries, she said.Jain knows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on whether to uphold Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy could drastically change the U.S. abortion landscape. Regardless of the decision — expected by summer — Jain said her goal is set: to perform abortions in “hostile” states where providers are scarce.“It’s really hard for patients to get the care that patients deserve and need, and I just think it’s wrong,” Jain said.EXPANDING TRAININGDr. Keith Reisinger-Kindle, 33, associate director of the OB-GYN residency program at Wright State University’s medical school in Dayton, Ohio, said his aim to boost abortion training “has been an uphill battle” because of legislative obstacles.When he arrived at the school almost two years ago, he said, “there was zero formal abortion education available.” He created and implemented abortion coursework for medical students and residents, with support from his university, and offers training at a nearby clinic where he also performs abortions.The physician said a state legislator has lobbied university administrators to fire him. And in December, Ohio’s governor signed into law a measure that limits doctors who work at state institutions from working as backup doctors at abortion clinics when rare complications occur. The clinic where Reisinger-Kindle works is suing to block the law.“There are days that are certainly challenging,” Reisinger-Kindle said. Young doctors eager to learn help keep him going. The program currently has 24 residents. They can opt out of abortion training, but he said nearly all have chosen to participate “in at least some capacity.”He fears more abortion restrictions are coming, but adds: “In the long-term, I believe we will get this right. I just hope that my students don’t have to suffer.”___

Abortion training under threat for med students, residents

TOPEKA — A federal jury convicted a Plainville man of 31 counts of bank fraud, one count of making a false statement in connection with a Small Business Administration guaranteed loan, and one count of making a false statement in a loan or credit card application.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial,&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8dfbfdc6-cb7b-4c6f-8eea-914363c7e7b0">Tyler Gillum, 51, of Plainville owned and operated Plainville Livestock Commission Inc.</a>&nbsp;from 2006 until 2019. Between January 2015 and August 2017, Gillum wrote checks and made wire transfers between various accounts under his control at various banks in a scheme commonly known as check kiting. This is when checks are continually written back and forth to fraudulently inflate account balances tricking banks into honoring checks written with insufficient funds. Gillum’s scheme resulted in losses of more than $10 million to the banking system.

Gillum also applied for and obtained a $1,500,000 loan, secured by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and a $500,000 line of credit from Almena State Bank, while concealing he’d previously signed an approximately $6.1 million promissory note to TBK Bank of Dallas, Texas.

“Because of the defendant’s crimes, banks suffered millions of dollars in losses. These fraudulent acts should be of concern to everyone, because the stability our nation’s banking system is vital to the financial health of this country,” said U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard, District of Kansas.

The FBI, USDA Office of Inspector-General, S.B.A. Office of Inspector-General, and FDIC Office of Inspector-General investigated the case.

U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard commends the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Walton and the late Richard Hathaway in preparing and prosecuting the case.

Check the Post for more details on the case and trial this week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575404210576.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. Attorney's OfficeTOPEKA — A federal jury convicted a Plainville man of 31 counts of bank fraud, one count of making a false statement in connection with a Small Business Administration guaranteed loan, and one count of making a false statement in a loan or credit card application.According to court documents and evidence presented at trial,&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8dfbfdc6-cb7b-4c6f-8eea-914363c7e7b0">Tyler Gillum, 51, of Plainville owned and operated Plainville Livestock Commission Inc.</a>&nbsp;from 2006 until 2019. Between January 2015 and August 2017, Gillum wrote checks and made wire transfers between various accounts under his control at various banks in a scheme commonly known as check kiting. This is when checks are continually written back and forth to fraudulently inflate account balances tricking banks into honoring checks written with insufficient funds. Gillum’s scheme resulted in losses of more than $10 million to the banking system.Gillum also applied for and obtained a $1,500,000 loan, secured by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and a $500,000 line of credit from Almena State Bank, while concealing he’d previously signed an approximately $6.1 million promissory note to TBK Bank of Dallas, Texas.“Because of the defendant’s crimes, banks suffered millions of dollars in losses. These fraudulent acts should be of concern to everyone, because the stability our nation’s banking system is vital to the financial health of this country,” said U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard, District of Kansas.The FBI, USDA Office of Inspector-General, S.B.A. Office of Inspector-General, and FDIC Office of Inspector-General investigated the case.U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard commends the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Walton and the late Richard Hathaway in preparing and prosecuting the case.Check the Post for more details on the case and trial this week.

Kan. man convicted in check-kiting scheme that cost banks millions

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who served time in prison before a rape charge against him was dismissed is suing the state of Kansas for wrongful conviction and imprisonment. 

Albert Wilson was convicted in 2019 of committing a rape in Lawrence. He was later granted a new trial because of ineffective counsel, but the case was dismissed in 2021. He spent two years in prison before the case was dismissed. 

Wilson, who always maintained his innocence, filed a lawsuit earlier this month in Douglas County District Court. He claims in the lawsuit the conviction and incarceration caused him both economic and non-economic damages

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615914127131.png" alt="Wilson photo Douglas Co." />
 <figcaption>Wilson photo Douglas Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who served time in prison before a rape charge against him was dismissed is suing the state of Kansas for wrongful conviction and imprisonment. Albert Wilson was convicted in 2019 of committing a rape in Lawrence. He was later granted a new trial because of ineffective counsel, but the case was dismissed in 2021. He spent two years in prison before the case was dismissed. Wilson, who always maintained his innocence, filed a lawsuit earlier this month in Douglas County District Court. He claims in the lawsuit the conviction and incarceration caused him both economic and non-economic damages

Man whose rape case was dismissed is suing Kansas

OSAGE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 4a.m. Sunday in Osage County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Kia Optima driven by by Sir Alvis Jai Oneal, 23, Topeka, was northbound in the&nbsp;11,810 Block of South Shawnee Heights Road.

The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The car left the road and came to rest in a field on the east side of highway.

Oneal was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger was not injured. Oneal was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

OSAGE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 4a.m. Sunday in Osage County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Kia Optima driven by by Sir Alvis Jai Oneal, 23, Topeka, was northbound in the&nbsp;11,810 Block of South Shawnee Heights Road.The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The car left the road and came to rest in a field on the east side of highway.Oneal was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger was not injured. Oneal was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after car left the road, lands in field

SEATTLE (AP) — The clock ran down at the end of the homecoming game and spectators stormed the football field, knocking over members of the high school band — all to gather around an assistant coach as he took a knee in prayer, surrounded by uniformed players.

Six years later, after losing his coaching job and repeatedly losing in court, that former Washington state coach, Joe Kennedy, will take his arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, saying the Bremerton School District violated his First Amendment rights by refusing to let him continue praying at midfield immediately after games. Four conservative justices have already expressed concerns with how his case has been handled.

Kennedy’s effort to get his job back helped earn him an appearance at a 2016 Donald Trump rally and quickly became a cultural touchstone, pitting public school employees’ religious liberties against what his critics describe as longstanding principles separating church and state and protecting students from religious coercion.

Lawyers for the school district say officials had no problem letting Kennedy pray separately from students or letting him return to the field to pray after the students left. But allowing him to pray at midfield immediately after games with students there risked being seen as government endorsement of religion.

While Kennedy insists he never cared whether students participated in the prayers and he never asked them to join him, at least one player — anonymously — later reported participating contrary to his own beliefs, for fear of losing playing time.

“This case is challenging well-established case law that has protected students’ religious freedom for decades, and that has been supported by conservative and liberal justices alike,” said Rachel Laser, chief executive of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which is representing the school district. “If the court rules the wrong way, teachers and coaches could pressure students to pray in every public school classroom across the country.”

For Kennedy’s supporters, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ holding in the case would force public school employees to drop their religious identities at the schoolhouse door — something they say the Constitution does not require.

“If a teacher prays over her lunch in the cafeteria and students can see her — just that little blessing over her salad — that’s enough to terminate that teacher, according to the school district,” said Jeremy Dys, an attorney with First Liberty Institute, which is representing Kennedy.

Kennedy, a former Marine whose day job was at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, began coaching football at Bremerton High in 2008. He was new to religion and coaching, and said he was inspired by the movie “Facing the Giants” — about a Christian high school football coach — to give thanks to God “on the battlefield” after each game.

What began as a solitary practice soon attracted students. He agreed, citing the district’s policy of neither encouraging nor discouraging student prayer. Over the years he began leading locker room prayers before games, as well as group prayers and religious motivational talks at midfield after them.

The school district said it did not learn Kennedy was leading players in prayer until it heard it from another team’s coach in September 2015. Administrators told him he was not to participate in religious activities with students, and any of his own religious observation must be either non-demonstrative or should occur without students.

For a month, Kennedy complied, the district notes in arguments to the court: He prayed on his own, such as while students were singing the fight song, and the district let him be.

But Kennedy’s lawyers then insisted he be allowed to resume his prior practice, describing it as a “personal” prayer protected by the Constitution whether or not students joined him. Kennedy announced he would resume praying at midfield after games, and when he did so at the Oct. 16, 2015, homecoming game, as Bremerton’s players were otherwise occupied, spectators rushed to field to join him — as did members of the opposing team.

The district still did not fire Kennedy, but wrote to caution him. Given his prior statements and actions, his praying at midfield — on government property he could access only by virtue of his job — could be perceived as school endorsement of religion, exposing the district to potential liability, Superintendent Aaron Leavell wrote.

“I wish to again emphasize that the district does not prohibit prayer or other religious exercise by its employees,” Leavell wrote. “However, it must prohibit any conduct by its employees that would serve as District endorsement of religion.”

Kennedy prayed again on the field after the next two games: first at a varsity game where no one joined him, and then at a junior varsity game where he was joined by a state lawmaker. The district then placed him on leave, and his contract was not renewed.

Kennedy’s lawyers point out that he stopped engaging in religious activity with Bremerton students when asked. What he was actually suspended for was not delivering prayers to students, but kneeling and praying quickly by himself, they argue.

The federal judge who ruled against Kennedy, District Judge Ronald Leighton, compared his postgame behavior to a director who comes to center stage and prays at the end of a school play: “A reasonable onlooker would interpret their speech from that location as an extension of the school-sanctioned speech just before it.”

As the case made its way through the courts, Kennedy lost at every turn. But when the Supreme Court declined to take the case at an earlier stage, Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh called the 9th Circuit’s reasoning “troubling” and said under it, “public school teachers and coaches may be fired if they engage in any expression that the school does not like while they are on duty.”

Ninth Circuit Judge Milan Smith suggested a teacher who prays over lunch in a cafeteria doesn’t send a public message the way Kennedy did. Smith called the narrative posed by Kennedy’s lawyers — that this was about a public employee’s private prayer — “deceitful.”

Kennedy said he just wants to get back to coaching.

“This thing has just been so blown out of proportion,” he said. “Imagine a guy going out there and tying his shoe — you would never know the difference.”

SEATTLE (AP) — The clock ran down at the end of the homecoming game and spectators stormed the football field, knocking over members of the high school band — all to gather around an assistant coach as he took a knee in prayer, surrounded by uniformed players.Six years later, after losing his coaching job and repeatedly losing in court, that former Washington state coach, Joe Kennedy, will take his arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, saying the Bremerton School District violated his First Amendment rights by refusing to let him continue praying at midfield immediately after games. Four conservative justices have already expressed concerns with how his case has been handled.Kennedy’s effort to get his job back helped earn him an appearance at a 2016 Donald Trump rally and quickly became a cultural touchstone, pitting public school employees’ religious liberties against what his critics describe as longstanding principles separating church and state and protecting students from religious coercion.Lawyers for the school district say officials had no problem letting Kennedy pray separately from students or letting him return to the field to pray after the students left. But allowing him to pray at midfield immediately after games with students there risked being seen as government endorsement of religion.While Kennedy insists he never cared whether students participated in the prayers and he never asked them to join him, at least one player — anonymously — later reported participating contrary to his own beliefs, for fear of losing playing time.“This case is challenging well-established case law that has protected students’ religious freedom for decades, and that has been supported by conservative and liberal justices alike,” said Rachel Laser, chief executive of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which is representing the school district. “If the court rules the wrong way, teachers and coaches could pressure students to pray in every public school classroom across the country.”For Kennedy’s supporters, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ holding in the case would force public school employees to drop their religious identities at the schoolhouse door — something they say the Constitution does not require.“If a teacher prays over her lunch in the cafeteria and students can see her — just that little blessing over her salad — that’s enough to terminate that teacher, according to the school district,” said Jeremy Dys, an attorney with First Liberty Institute, which is representing Kennedy.Kennedy, a former Marine whose day job was at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, began coaching football at Bremerton High in 2008. He was new to religion and coaching, and said he was inspired by the movie “Facing the Giants” — about a Christian high school football coach — to give thanks to God “on the battlefield” after each game.What began as a solitary practice soon attracted students. He agreed, citing the district’s policy of neither encouraging nor discouraging student prayer. Over the years he began leading locker room prayers before games, as well as group prayers and religious motivational talks at midfield after them.The school district said it did not learn Kennedy was leading players in prayer until it heard it from another team’s coach in September 2015. Administrators told him he was not to participate in religious activities with students, and any of his own religious observation must be either non-demonstrative or should occur without students.For a month, Kennedy complied, the district notes in arguments to the court: He prayed on his own, such as while students were singing the fight song, and the district let him be.But Kennedy’s lawyers then insisted he be allowed to resume his prior practice, describing it as a “personal” prayer protected by the Constitution whether or not students joined him. Kennedy announced he would resume praying at midfield after games, and when he did so at the Oct. 16, 2015, homecoming game, as Bremerton’s players were otherwise occupied, spectators rushed to field to join him — as did members of the opposing team.The district still did not fire Kennedy, but wrote to caution him. Given his prior statements and actions, his praying at midfield — on government property he could access only by virtue of his job — could be perceived as school endorsement of religion, exposing the district to potential liability, Superintendent Aaron Leavell wrote.“I wish to again emphasize that the district does not prohibit prayer or other religious exercise by its employees,” Leavell wrote. “However, it must prohibit any conduct by its employees that would serve as District endorsement of religion.”Kennedy prayed again on the field after the next two games: first at a varsity game where no one joined him, and then at a junior varsity game where he was joined by a state lawmaker. The district then placed him on leave, and his contract was not renewed.Kennedy’s lawyers point out that he stopped engaging in religious activity with Bremerton students when asked. What he was actually suspended for was not delivering prayers to students, but kneeling and praying quickly by himself, they argue.The federal judge who ruled against Kennedy, District Judge Ronald Leighton, compared his postgame behavior to a director who comes to center stage and prays at the end of a school play: “A reasonable onlooker would interpret their speech from that location as an extension of the school-sanctioned speech just before it.”As the case made its way through the courts, Kennedy lost at every turn. But when the Supreme Court declined to take the case at an earlier stage, Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh called the 9th Circuit’s reasoning “troubling” and said under it, “public school teachers and coaches may be fired if they engage in any expression that the school does not like while they are on duty.”Ninth Circuit Judge Milan Smith suggested a teacher who prays over lunch in a cafeteria doesn’t send a public message the way Kennedy did. Smith called the narrative posed by Kennedy’s lawyers — that this was about a public employee’s private prayer — “deceitful.”Kennedy said he just wants to get back to coaching.“This thing has just been so blown out of proportion,” he said. “Imagine a guy going out there and tying his shoe — you would never know the difference.”

Praying football coach asking Supreme Court for his job back

WALLACE COUNTY—Officials from the National Weather Service were in Sharon Springs Saturday to asses damage from two tornadoes.that rolled&nbsp;rolled through across several western Kansas counties.

On Friday evening, a F-1 tornado passed through the town of Sharon Springs with maximum winds estimated at 110 mph. Some of the damage included downed power poles, rolled trailers, broken windows, damaged fences and a toppled cinder block building.

Just after 1a.m. Saturday a F-1 tornado passed just east of the town of Selden with maximum winds estimated at 93 mph. Some of the damage included down or twisted highway signs, a few blown over irrigation pivots and a railroad crossing destroyed, according to the National weather service.

Power was still out in portions of Wallace County late Saturday night, according to the sheriff's department.

WALLACE COUNTY—Officials from the National Weather Service were in Sharon Springs Saturday to asses damage from a strong storm and possible tornado that damaged buildings across the county, according to the sheriff's department.

The National Weather Service issued severe thunder storm and tornado warnings for many areas of western Kansas late Friday.

There are no reports of injuries. Some residents still without power on Saturday afternoon, according to Sheriff Marshall Unruh. Officials hoped to have power restored by end of the day.

Check the post for additional details as they become available.

WALLACE COUNTY—Officials from the National Weather Service were in Sharon Springs Saturday to asses damage from two tornadoes.that rolled&nbsp;rolled through across several western Kansas counties.On Friday evening, a F-1 tornado passed through the town of Sharon Springs with maximum winds estimated at 110 mph. Some of the damage included downed power poles, rolled trailers, broken windows, damaged fences and a toppled cinder block building.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Rough night for our little town. Second year in a row that Sharon Springs has gotten hit by a tornado <a href="https://t.co/zI9vSr47Up">pic.twitter.com/zI9vSr47Up</a>&mdash; David Schemm (@dryknoll) <a href="https://twitter.com/dryknoll/status/1517859356318052355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Just after 1a.m. Saturday a F-1 tornado passed just east of the town of Selden with maximum winds estimated at 93 mph. Some of the damage included down or twisted highway signs, a few blown over irrigation pivots and a railroad crossing destroyed, according to the National weather service.Power was still out in portions of Wallace County late Saturday night, according to the sheriff's department.----------WALLACE COUNTY—Officials from the National Weather Service were in Sharon Springs Saturday to asses damage from a strong storm and possible tornado that damaged buildings across the county, according to the sheriff's department.The National Weather Service issued severe thunder storm and tornado warnings for many areas of western Kansas late Friday.There are no reports of injuries. Some residents still without power on Saturday afternoon, according to Sheriff Marshall Unruh. Officials hoped to have power restored by end of the day.Check the post for additional details as they become available.

Weather Service confirms F1 tornadoes in western Kansas

A smaller portion of U.S. children got routine vaccinations required for kindergarten during the pandemic, government researchers said Thursday, raising concerns that measles and other preventable diseases could increase.

Rates were close to 94% for measles, whooping cough and chickenpox vaccinations for the 2020-21 school year. That was down 1% from a year earlier and means 35,000 U.S. children entered kindergarten without evidence that they were vaccinated for extremely contagious diseases, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report.

In addition, almost 400,000 fewer children than expected entered kindergarten and their vaccination status is uncertain, the CDC said.

Pandemic-related disruptions likely contributed to the decline, the report said, as pediatricians canceled non-emergency appointments, parents skipped checkups for their children and vaccine requirements were eased for students doing remote learning.

“We haven’t seen outbreaks and that’s probably representative of the fact that families were staying home during the pandemic,” said Dr. Georgina Peacock, the CDC’s director of immunization services. But authorities worry that could change if kids remain behind on their shots as more people return to normal routines.

Data for the current school year, due in November, should indicate whether the lag persisted, said the CDC’s Shannon Stokley.

The data come from schools’ reports on vaccination rates in 47 states plus Washington, D.C. The CDC said staffing shortages and other pandemic disruptions could have led to incomplete or absent school reports, a limitation in assessing the true vaccination rates.

In 16 states, rates for kids entering kindergarten were at least 95% for measles shots and for the combination diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough shot. The rates were below 90% for the combined whooping cough shot in eight states plus Washington, D.C., and in seven states plus Washington, D.C., for measles shots.

For chickenpox vaccinations, 17 states had rates of at least 95% and nine plus Washington, D.C., had rates below 90%.

By LINDSEY TANNER, Associated. PressA smaller portion of U.S. children got routine vaccinations required for kindergarten during the pandemic, government researchers said Thursday, raising concerns that measles and other preventable diseases could increase.Rates were close to 94% for measles, whooping cough and chickenpox vaccinations for the 2020-21 school year. That was down 1% from a year earlier and means 35,000 U.S. children entered kindergarten without evidence that they were vaccinated for extremely contagious diseases, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report.In addition, almost 400,000 fewer children than expected entered kindergarten and their vaccination status is uncertain, the CDC said.Pandemic-related disruptions likely contributed to the decline, the report said, as pediatricians canceled non-emergency appointments, parents skipped checkups for their children and vaccine requirements were eased for students doing remote learning.“We haven’t seen outbreaks and that’s probably representative of the fact that families were staying home during the pandemic,” said Dr. Georgina Peacock, the CDC’s director of immunization services. But authorities worry that could change if kids remain behind on their shots as more people return to normal routines.Data for the current school year, due in November, should indicate whether the lag persisted, said the CDC’s Shannon Stokley.The data come from schools’ reports on vaccination rates in 47 states plus Washington, D.C. The CDC said staffing shortages and other pandemic disruptions could have led to incomplete or absent school reports, a limitation in assessing the true vaccination rates.In 16 states, rates for kids entering kindergarten were at least 95% for measles shots and for the combination diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough shot. The rates were below 90% for the combined whooping cough shot in eight states plus Washington, D.C., and in seven states plus Washington, D.C., for measles shots.For chickenpox vaccinations, 17 states had rates of at least 95% and nine plus Washington, D.C., had rates below 90%.___

Rates for measles, other vaccinations dip for kindergartners

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas gas has gone up about a dime per gallon in the last week and Reno County is still a couple of cents below the state average, but the key word for the oil and gas markets going forward is volatility.

"We really spiked in terms of gas prices and crude oil prices back in the middle of March," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "Then, we declined there for a few weeks, but then this week we saw another spike back upward. The situation still occurring in Russia and Ukraine leaves a lot of question marks, a lot of volatility. There have been some concerns with supply regarding Libya in the past week that have impacted crude oil prices."

Kansas is still less expensive than the nation as a whole, with a state average that runs roughly a quarter a gallon less than the national average, give or take a couple of cents depending on the day.

"There's certainly been adjustments, in terms of the U.S. government, in terms of our releasing strategic oil reserves and allowing E15 ethanol fuels to be used in the summer," Steward said. "That can definitely have a small impact in terms of what we may see, but the bigger issues are the global crude oil prices."

It doesn't look like summer travelers will stop or even slow as a result of prices at the pump.

"We hear from travelers that they may just adapt other plans," Steward said. "Maybe stay at less expensive hotels, or go to fewer attractions during their vacations."

Gas is just about a dollar a gallon higher than it was last year at this time.

NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas gas has gone up about a dime per gallon in the last week and Reno County is still a couple of cents below the state average, but the key word for the oil and gas markets going forward is volatility."We really spiked in terms of gas prices and crude oil prices back in the middle of March," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "Then, we declined there for a few weeks, but then this week we saw another spike back upward. The situation still occurring in Russia and Ukraine leaves a lot of question marks, a lot of volatility. There have been some concerns with supply regarding Libya in the past week that have impacted crude oil prices."Kansas is still less expensive than the nation as a whole, with a state average that runs roughly a quarter a gallon less than the national average, give or take a couple of cents depending on the day."There's certainly been adjustments, in terms of the U.S. government, in terms of our releasing strategic oil reserves and allowing E15 ethanol fuels to be used in the summer," Steward said. "That can definitely have a small impact in terms of what we may see, but the bigger issues are the global crude oil prices."It doesn't look like summer travelers will stop or even slow as a result of prices at the pump."We hear from travelers that they may just adapt other plans," Steward said. "Maybe stay at less expensive hotels, or go to fewer attractions during their vacations."Gas is just about a dollar a gallon higher than it was last year at this time.

AAA: Volatility the word in gas, oil markets heading into summer

Groups, state agencies with interest in trail projects to attend

TOPEKA, Kan. –&nbsp;All trails lead to Topeka and the Sunflower Foundation Nonprofit Center, which next week is set to host a one-day learning opportunity for trail builders and enthusiasts, as well as groups, agencies and other stakeholders from around Kansas with an interest in the development and use of public trails.

Powered by Trails: Day of Learning @ the Powerhouse, will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at the Powerhouse Education Center on the Sunflower campus, 5820 SW Sixth Ave., in Topeka. The Powerhouse, which specializes in holding events for nonprofit organizations, has been holding events since October 2021. This will be the first event hosted by Sunflower at the new center.

The event will include expert speakers, discussions, networking and the sharing of ideas related to trail projects and their benefits to the health, well-being and vitality of communities. It also serves as the culmination of a 14-week program in which trail-building groups from around the state learned advanced strategies for trail user assessment, economic impact analysis, and messaging and communications around the value of trails.

The Sunflower-led Trail Champion Cohort (TCC) program, which began in January and continued into the spring, provided participants with virtual and in-person learning opportunities, one-on-one coaching and networking with state agencies and nonprofit organizations. The TCC consisted of 16 groups from around the state representing such sectors as local government, business, health, community improvement, advocacy, and under-represented populations in their respective communities.

Since it began in 2005, the Sunflower Trails program has partnered with and invested in communities, nonprofits and schools to help build, expand, enhance or connect Kansas trails.

“Sunflower Trails has been a hallmark program for the past 17 years,” said Billie Hall, president and CEO of Sunflower Foundation. “Public trails can be a powerful strategy in providing safe, accessible venues for outdoor physical activity, as well as the ability to connect with nature and community – all elements that contribute to better health and well-being. It is very fitting that trail champions from across the state should join one of the first events at Powerhouse.”

The following groups participated in the TCC: Ad Astra Trail Collective, Independence; Columbus Trails Committee; Friends of Lawrence Area Trails; KCK Heritage Trail/Groundwork NRG, Kansas City, Kan.; Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams; Friends of the River/Friends of Land Institute, Salina; Liberal Area Coalition for Families; Lindsborg/Meadowlark Trail, McPherson County; Manhattan/Flint Hills Coalition; Osawatomie Trails Task Force; RISE Cowley County; Topeka/Shawnee Co/Kanza Trails; Special Olympics Kansas; Thrive Allen County; Topside Trails, Goodland; and Wichita/Prairie Travelers.

The TCC, designed to expand participants’ knowledge and connections so they can better champion trails in their communities, included opportunities for participants to engage with state agencies and nonprofits that have potential to partner with trail groups.

“The primary goal of the TCC is to provide high-level training and information to benefit and grow trail-oriented projects,” said Elizabeth Burger, Sunflower senior program officer. “While building the trail is clearly the first step, there are opportunities to advance this work through assessment, analysis and messaging. Trails can provide many economic and quality of life benefits, and we want to position communities to generate and provide that data in ways that are relevant to decision-makers and residents.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sunflower Foundation worked with Michele Archie and The Harbinger Consultancy, a group nationally known for its integrated approach to community and economic development, to develop the TCC curriculum. Topics included community benefits of trails and assessing their economic impact, how to survey trail users, telling your trail’s story through social media and other messaging, communicating the value of trails to external stakeholders, and how to effectively recruit volunteers.

Archie, co-chair of the National Geotourism Council, will be speaking virtually at the Powered by Trails event. Her presentation is titled&nbsp;“Using Trail Data to Change Bodies, Hearts and Minds.”&nbsp;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy Camp, founder of Cycle Forward, a consulting agency that supports trail communities across the United States and Canada, will virtually present “Cultivating a Trail Town State of Mind.”

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mike Goodwin, of the Kansas Trails Council and Get Outdoors Kansas, will speak about the “Trail in a Box,” a mobile toolbox with everything a group needs to create a nature trail.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dustin Gale and Kayla Savage, of the Kansas Department of Commerce, will provide an overview of funding available to trail groups.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A resource roundtable to connect participants with various state agencies and nonprofits.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A session on increasing accessibility to trails to underserved populations.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each TCC group will highlight ongoing trail work in their respective community.

The event is free and open to all TCC team members. Other participants and trail champions who were not part of the TCC have been invited to participate or speak at the event. Registration for the event is closed.

To date, the Sunflower Trails Program has partnered on more than 210 trail projects in almost 80 counties.

“During COVID, we have learned just how important access to the outdoors and trails could be for not only physical but mental health,” Burger said. “To this end, we strive to create a culture of trails that supports their use by everyone, regardless of age, ability, income or background.”&nbsp;

For more information on the Sunflower Trails program and the Powered by Trails event, contact Burger at<a href="mailto:eburger@sunflowerfoundation.org">eburger@sunflowerfoundation.org</a>&nbsp;or 785-232-3000, or visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sunflowerfoundation.org/">www.sunflowerfoundation.org</a>.

ABOUT SUNFLOWER FOUNDATION Sunflower Foundation was established in 2000 as a statewide health philanthropy with a mission to serve as a catalyst for improving the health of all Kansans. The foundation believes that a thriving, sustainable nonprofit sector contributes to healthy communities, and we are committed to investing in mission-aligned nonprofits through grants, education, advocacy, collaborative learning and capacity building. To learn more, visit the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sunflowerfoundation.org/">Sunflower Foundation website</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650660020137.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Sunflower Foundation" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Sunflower Foundation</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Groups, state agencies with interest in trail projects to attend</h2>Sunflower FoundationTOPEKA, Kan. –&nbsp;All trails lead to Topeka and the Sunflower Foundation Nonprofit Center, which next week is set to host a one-day learning opportunity for trail builders and enthusiasts, as well as groups, agencies and other stakeholders from around Kansas with an interest in the development and use of public trails.Powered by Trails: Day of Learning @ the Powerhouse, will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at the Powerhouse Education Center on the Sunflower campus, 5820 SW Sixth Ave., in Topeka. The Powerhouse, which specializes in holding events for nonprofit organizations, has been holding events since October 2021. This will be the first event hosted by Sunflower at the new center.The event will include expert speakers, discussions, networking and the sharing of ideas related to trail projects and their benefits to the health, well-being and vitality of communities. It also serves as the culmination of a 14-week program in which trail-building groups from around the state learned advanced strategies for trail user assessment, economic impact analysis, and messaging and communications around the value of trails.The Sunflower-led Trail Champion Cohort (TCC) program, which began in January and continued into the spring, provided participants with virtual and in-person learning opportunities, one-on-one coaching and networking with state agencies and nonprofit organizations. The TCC consisted of 16 groups from around the state representing such sectors as local government, business, health, community improvement, advocacy, and under-represented populations in their respective communities.Since it began in 2005, the Sunflower Trails program has partnered with and invested in communities, nonprofits and schools to help build, expand, enhance or connect Kansas trails.“Sunflower Trails has been a hallmark program for the past 17 years,” said Billie Hall, president and CEO of Sunflower Foundation. “Public trails can be a powerful strategy in providing safe, accessible venues for outdoor physical activity, as well as the ability to connect with nature and community – all elements that contribute to better health and well-being. It is very fitting that trail champions from across the state should join one of the first events at Powerhouse.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650660053788.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Sunflower Foundation" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Sunflower Foundation</figcaption>
 </figure>The following groups participated in the TCC: Ad Astra Trail Collective, Independence; Columbus Trails Committee; Friends of Lawrence Area Trails; KCK Heritage Trail/Groundwork NRG, Kansas City, Kan.; Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams; Friends of the River/Friends of Land Institute, Salina; Liberal Area Coalition for Families; Lindsborg/Meadowlark Trail, McPherson County; Manhattan/Flint Hills Coalition; Osawatomie Trails Task Force; RISE Cowley County; Topeka/Shawnee Co/Kanza Trails; Special Olympics Kansas; Thrive Allen County; Topside Trails, Goodland; and Wichita/Prairie Travelers.The TCC, designed to expand participants’ knowledge and connections so they can better champion trails in their communities, included opportunities for participants to engage with state agencies and nonprofits that have potential to partner with trail groups.“The primary goal of the TCC is to provide high-level training and information to benefit and grow trail-oriented projects,” said Elizabeth Burger, Sunflower senior program officer. “While building the trail is clearly the first step, there are opportunities to advance this work through assessment, analysis and messaging. Trails can provide many economic and quality of life benefits, and we want to position communities to generate and provide that data in ways that are relevant to decision-makers and residents.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Sunflower Foundation worked with Michele Archie and The Harbinger Consultancy, a group nationally known for its integrated approach to community and economic development, to develop the TCC curriculum. Topics included community benefits of trails and assessing their economic impact, how to survey trail users, telling your trail’s story through social media and other messaging, communicating the value of trails to external stakeholders, and how to effectively recruit volunteers.Archie, co-chair of the National Geotourism Council, will be speaking virtually at the Powered by Trails event. Her presentation is titled&nbsp;“Using Trail Data to Change Bodies, Hearts and Minds.”&nbsp;Other speakers and sessions include:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy Camp, founder of Cycle Forward, a consulting agency that supports trail communities across the United States and Canada, will virtually present “Cultivating a Trail Town State of Mind.”·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mike Goodwin, of the Kansas Trails Council and Get Outdoors Kansas, will speak about the “Trail in a Box,” a mobile toolbox with everything a group needs to create a nature trail.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dustin Gale and Kayla Savage, of the Kansas Department of Commerce, will provide an overview of funding available to trail groups.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A resource roundtable to connect participants with various state agencies and nonprofits.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A session on increasing accessibility to trails to underserved populations.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each TCC group will highlight ongoing trail work in their respective community.The event is free and open to all TCC team members. Other participants and trail champions who were not part of the TCC have been invited to participate or speak at the event. Registration for the event is closed.To date, the Sunflower Trails Program has partnered on more than 210 trail projects in almost 80 counties.“During COVID, we have learned just how important access to the outdoors and trails could be for not only physical but mental health,” Burger said. “To this end, we strive to create a culture of trails that supports their use by everyone, regardless of age, ability, income or background.”&nbsp;For more information on the Sunflower Trails program and the Powered by Trails event, contact Burger at<a href="mailto:eburger@sunflowerfoundation.org">eburger@sunflowerfoundation.org</a>&nbsp;or 785-232-3000, or visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sunflowerfoundation.org/">www.sunflowerfoundation.org</a>.ABOUT SUNFLOWER FOUNDATION Sunflower Foundation was established in 2000 as a statewide health philanthropy with a mission to serve as a catalyst for improving the health of all Kansans. The foundation believes that a thriving, sustainable nonprofit sector contributes to healthy communities, and we are committed to investing in mission-aligned nonprofits through grants, education, advocacy, collaborative learning and capacity building. To learn more, visit the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sunflowerfoundation.org/">Sunflower Foundation website</a>.

Sunflower Foundation hosting Powered by Trails event

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2019 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Deontae Campbell near the Landing in Kansas City, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced Friday.

Tracy French, 28, was convicted in February after a jury trial of Involuntary Manslaughter, Armed Criminal Action and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm charges. On Thursday, a Jackson County judge sentenced French to 10 years on the Involuntary Manslaughter, 20 years on the first Armed Criminal Action, 25 years on the Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and 20 years on the other Armed Criminal Action conviction. The sentences were set to run concurrently for a total of 25 years in prison.

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650662934761.png" alt="French photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>French photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2019 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Deontae Campbell near the Landing in Kansas City, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced Friday.Tracy French, 28, was convicted in February after a jury trial of Involuntary Manslaughter, Armed Criminal Action and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm charges. On Thursday, a Jackson County judge sentenced French to 10 years on the Involuntary Manslaughter, 20 years on the first Armed Criminal Action, 25 years on the Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and 20 years on the other Armed Criminal Action conviction. The sentences were set to run concurrently for a total of 25 years in prison.According to court records,&nbsp;police responded on April 5, 2019, to the area of 63rd and the Paseo regarding a shooting. They found a 17-year-old victim who was driving a vehicle and another 17-year-old victim in the passenger's seat of the vehicle. The passenger said they had just left the Landing Mall area when the defendant began shooting at their car. The driver was hit and lost control of the vehicle. The passenger attempted to control it but the vehicle struck a building. Surveillance video showed the defendant getting out of a vehicle, raising his hand as if he was pointing a gun. Then the victims' vehicle is shown crashing into the building. The defendant's DNA was found on a cellphone recovered at the crime scene. In May, when police went to arrest the defendant, he attempted to flee on foot&nbsp;

DNA on cellphone helped convict KC man in murder of teen

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting in Topeka have identified the victim as Dustin Michael Clayton, 35, of Topeka.

Just after 11 p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 500 Block of SW Lane in Topeka, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks

Police have not released additional details or reported an arrest.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting in Topeka have identified the victim as Dustin Michael Clayton, 35, of Topeka.Just after 11 p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 500 Block of SW Lane in Topeka, according to Lt. Donna EubanksPolice have not released additional details or reported an arrest.

Police ID Kansas man who died in shooting

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities said a fire at a home in the&nbsp;900 block of S Mills Street in Independence 11 people in the household left four people hurt, including two juveniles. 

The Independence Fire Department responded to a call just after 8:30 a.m. Saturday and discovered heavy smoke coming from the front door. 

The four injured were transported to a hospital, where two of them are listed in critical condition. The Kansas City Star reports that the fire was put out just before 9 a.m. City officials says investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities said a fire at a home in the&nbsp;900 block of S Mills Street in Independence 11 people in the household left four people hurt, including two juveniles. The Independence Fire Department responded to a call just after 8:30 a.m. Saturday and discovered heavy smoke coming from the front door. The four injured were transported to a hospital, where two of them are listed in critical condition. The Kansas City Star reports that the fire was put out just before 9 a.m. City officials says investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze.

Fire at KC-area home leaves 4 injured, 2 critically

KANSAS CITY (AP) — When the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S., sales of window coverings at Halcyon Shades quickly went dark. So the suburban St. Louis business did what hundreds of other small manufacturers did: It pivoted to make protective supplies, with help from an $870,000 government grant.

But things haven't worked out as planned. The company quit making face shields because it wasn't profitable. It still hasn't sold a single N95 mask because of struggles to get equipment, materials and regulatory approval.

“So far, it has been a net drain of funds and resources and energy," Halcyon Shades owner Jim Schmersahl said.

Many companies that began producing personal protective equipment with patriotic optimism have scaled back, shut down or given up, according to an Associated Press analysis based on numerous interviews with manufacturers. Some already have sold equipment they bought with state government grants.

As COVID-19 was stressing hospitals and shuttering businesses in 2020, elected officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-in-state-wire-az-state-wire-virus-outbreak-af1e380ee4445b32d13edef8035efb22">touted the need to boost U.S. production</a>&nbsp;of protective gear: “All this stuff should be made in the United States and not in China,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in remarks echoed by others.

Yet many manufacturers who answered the call have faced logistical hurdles, regulatory rejections, slumping demand and fierce competition from foreign suppliers. On April 1, Florida-based American Surgical Mask Co. became one of the latest to close.

“I’m just done with the fight,” CEO Matt Brandman told the AP.

After the initial scramble for PPE subsided, many industry newcomers faced difficulty selling products. Government agencies sometimes wanted huge quantities at tough-to-meet deadlines. Hospital systems tended to contract with established suppliers. Retail sales waned after every virus surge.

“At the end of the day, when everybody said they wanted American-made, nobody’s buying, not even the state,” said Tony Blogumas, vice president of Green Resources Consulting, a rural Missouri firm that received an $800,000 state grant but has sold only a few thousand masks. “We’re kind of upset about the whole situation.”

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson also is disappointed. His administration divided $20 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds among 48 businesses for the production of masks, gowns, sanitizer and other supplies. Parson hoped to seed a permanent field of manufacturers.

“I’m still a firm believer in that — that we need to be making PPE here in this state,” Parson said. “Unfortunately, a lot of entities went right back to where they were getting it before.”

The onset of the pandemic revealed that the U.S. was highly dependent on foreign countries for protective gear. When&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-wa-state-wire-sd-state-wire-virus-outbreak-6d9382c1e8ee36f9ed1a4dfe7815ceb1">China limited exports</a>&nbsp;because of its own battle against COVID-19,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-local-governments-ap-top-news-health-understanding-the-outbreak-a464316e25560d393bd07a021b7e81ba">U.S. stockpiles plummeted</a>. Prices skyrocketed as federal officials, governors and health care systems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medical-equipment-il-state-wire-ny-state-wire-va-state-wire-virus-outbreak-829280426e49dfdf7f2cb1be4b0cfe05">competed for supplies</a>.

Though federal stockpiles have been replenished, shriveling domestic production has raised concerns that state governments, medical facilities and others could again get stuck scrambling for gear during a future pandemic.

The AP identified more than $125 million in grants to spur production of pandemic supplies made to over 300 business in 10 states — Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Ohio. It’s possible that grants were awarded in additional states, but there is no central clearinghouse to track them.

In November 2020, Alabama awarded one of the single largest grants — nearly $10.6 million from federal pandemic relief funds — to HomTex Inc. The company was to equip a new Selma facility to make 250 million surgical masks and 45 million N95 masks annually. The plant returned $1.8 million of the state grant and has yet to make anything due to a lack of customers.

“I can’t produce product that I can’t sell,” HomTex President Jeremy Wootten said.

Other companies also had trouble living up to political hype.

In October 2020, New York announced eight grants that then-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, now the governor, said were "a model for how we build back better for the post-pandemic future.” Those included $800,000 for newly formed Altor Safety and $1 million for startup firm NYPPE.

But NYPPE's equipment wasn't ready until February 2021, by which time the market had changed, President Connor Knapp said.

So Knapp tapped the brakes on his plans. NYPPE still hasn't sold any N95 masks because it lacks regulatory approval. It just recently scaled up production of surgical masks, after obtaining a U.S. Food and Drug Administration certification that came with its purchase of Altor Safety.

Some PPE manufacturers point to federal regulations as part of the reason for their struggles. Three-ply masks need FDA approval to be marketed for medical use — an important designation for building a long-term customer base.

That process can be time-consuming. Facing delays, Angstrom Manufacturing in Missouri ended up buying another business that already had FDA approval, President Chris Carron said. By then, it was fall 2021 — a year after it received a state grant.

Companies need approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to market products as N95 respirators, which filter at least 95% of airborne particles.

During the first two years of the pandemic, NIOSH approved 30 new manufacturers — more than seven times the typical number during a similar pre-pandemic period, according to agency data. Some applications remain pending, while numerous others were denied.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593789172033.jpeg" alt="CDC image" />
 <figcaption>CDC image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — When the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S., sales of window coverings at Halcyon Shades quickly went dark. So the suburban St. Louis business did what hundreds of other small manufacturers did: It pivoted to make protective supplies, with help from an $870,000 government grant.But things haven't worked out as planned. The company quit making face shields because it wasn't profitable. It still hasn't sold a single N95 mask because of struggles to get equipment, materials and regulatory approval.“So far, it has been a net drain of funds and resources and energy," Halcyon Shades owner Jim Schmersahl said.Many companies that began producing personal protective equipment with patriotic optimism have scaled back, shut down or given up, according to an Associated Press analysis based on numerous interviews with manufacturers. Some already have sold equipment they bought with state government grants.As COVID-19 was stressing hospitals and shuttering businesses in 2020, elected officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-in-state-wire-az-state-wire-virus-outbreak-af1e380ee4445b32d13edef8035efb22">touted the need to boost U.S. production</a>&nbsp;of protective gear: “All this stuff should be made in the United States and not in China,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in remarks echoed by others.Yet many manufacturers who answered the call have faced logistical hurdles, regulatory rejections, slumping demand and fierce competition from foreign suppliers. On April 1, Florida-based American Surgical Mask Co. became one of the latest to close.“I’m just done with the fight,” CEO Matt Brandman told the AP.After the initial scramble for PPE subsided, many industry newcomers faced difficulty selling products. Government agencies sometimes wanted huge quantities at tough-to-meet deadlines. Hospital systems tended to contract with established suppliers. Retail sales waned after every virus surge.“At the end of the day, when everybody said they wanted American-made, nobody’s buying, not even the state,” said Tony Blogumas, vice president of Green Resources Consulting, a rural Missouri firm that received an $800,000 state grant but has sold only a few thousand masks. “We’re kind of upset about the whole situation.”Missouri Gov. Mike Parson also is disappointed. His administration divided $20 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds among 48 businesses for the production of masks, gowns, sanitizer and other supplies. Parson hoped to seed a permanent field of manufacturers.“I’m still a firm believer in that — that we need to be making PPE here in this state,” Parson said. “Unfortunately, a lot of entities went right back to where they were getting it before.”The onset of the pandemic revealed that the U.S. was highly dependent on foreign countries for protective gear. When&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-wa-state-wire-sd-state-wire-virus-outbreak-6d9382c1e8ee36f9ed1a4dfe7815ceb1">China limited exports</a>&nbsp;because of its own battle against COVID-19,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-local-governments-ap-top-news-health-understanding-the-outbreak-a464316e25560d393bd07a021b7e81ba">U.S. stockpiles plummeted</a>. Prices skyrocketed as federal officials, governors and health care systems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medical-equipment-il-state-wire-ny-state-wire-va-state-wire-virus-outbreak-829280426e49dfdf7f2cb1be4b0cfe05">competed for supplies</a>.Though federal stockpiles have been replenished, shriveling domestic production has raised concerns that state governments, medical facilities and others could again get stuck scrambling for gear during a future pandemic.The AP identified more than $125 million in grants to spur production of pandemic supplies made to over 300 business in 10 states — Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Ohio. It’s possible that grants were awarded in additional states, but there is no central clearinghouse to track them.In November 2020, Alabama awarded one of the single largest grants — nearly $10.6 million from federal pandemic relief funds — to HomTex Inc. The company was to equip a new Selma facility to make 250 million surgical masks and 45 million N95 masks annually. The plant returned $1.8 million of the state grant and has yet to make anything due to a lack of customers.“I can’t produce product that I can’t sell,” HomTex President Jeremy Wootten said.Other companies also had trouble living up to political hype.In October 2020, New York announced eight grants that then-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, now the governor, said were "a model for how we build back better for the post-pandemic future.” Those included $800,000 for newly formed Altor Safety and $1 million for startup firm NYPPE.But NYPPE's equipment wasn't ready until February 2021, by which time the market had changed, President Connor Knapp said.So Knapp tapped the brakes on his plans. NYPPE still hasn't sold any N95 masks because it lacks regulatory approval. It just recently scaled up production of surgical masks, after obtaining a U.S. Food and Drug Administration certification that came with its purchase of Altor Safety.Some PPE manufacturers point to federal regulations as part of the reason for their struggles. Three-ply masks need FDA approval to be marketed for medical use — an important designation for building a long-term customer base.That process can be time-consuming. Facing delays, Angstrom Manufacturing in Missouri ended up buying another business that already had FDA approval, President Chris Carron said. By then, it was fall 2021 — a year after it received a state grant.Companies need approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to market products as N95 respirators, which filter at least 95% of airborne particles.During the first two years of the pandemic, NIOSH approved 30 new manufacturers — more than seven times the typical number during a similar pre-pandemic period, according to agency data. Some applications remain pending, while numerous others were denied.Halcyon Shades' N95 certification was rejected in October because its samples didn't have head straps attached. While the company works on another application, its equipment sits idle inside the clear plastic-sheet walls of a “clean room” specially built to shield materials from airborne contaminants. Partially finished masks remain paused on a conveyor belt, waiting to be deposited into a cardboard box.Without federal approval, "we’re just dead in the water,” said Schmersahl, the company owner.Progress reports filed with the Missouri Department of Economic Development show that nearly all its PPE grant recipients faced challenges by July 2021, especially with sales.Patriot Medical Devices, which received $750,000 from Missouri, hired nearly 100 people as it cranked out millions of masks during a COVID-19 surge in late 2020 and early 2021, CEO Rick Needham said. Fewer than 10 employees remain.“We felt it was our patriotic duty to do something to help solve the problem,” Needham said. But, he added, “It’s frankly a little bit of a dysfunctional business model at this point.”Ohio awarded $20.8 million to 73 businesses to manufacture pandemic-related supplies, according to state data. Of 60 businesses that complied with a recent reporting deadline, more than one-third no longer produced PPE by the end of 2021.Cleveland Veteran Business Solutions, which received a $500,000 grant to get into the PPE business, made about 5 million surgical masks beginning in August 2020. It ultimately halted production in the face of cheaper imports and sold its machines this year, co-founder Taner Eren said.“It was surprising and disappointing strategically that there wasn’t support for a local PPE manufacturing industry," Eren said.The business was among several dozen that banded together to form the American Mask Manufacturer's Association with the goal of sustaining the industry. The group's membership has dwindled as more and more go out of business.Association organizers say the industry has reached a critical point. They want the federal government to treat PPE manufacturers like the nation's defense industry — entering into long-term contracts to perpetually replenish a stockpile for future pandemics or emergencies.“If the federal government doesn’t come in and help support the U.S. manufacturing base, it’s almost certainly going to go back to China, and we’ll be just as vulnerable as we were in early 2020 and 2019,” said Brent Dillie, the association chairman and co-founder of Premium-PPE, a Virginia manufacturer started during the pandemic that has shed about two-thirds of its roughly 300 employees.Infrastructure legislation signed by President Joe Biden took a step toward bolstering domestic suppliers. Effective in February, it required new contracts for PPE purchased by the departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to run for at least two years and be awarded to U.S. producers — unless there’s not sufficient quantity and quality at market prices.The health and veterans departments said they haven’t bought anything yet. Homeland Security hasn’t answered the AP’s questions. Documents show the government solicited bids due Dec. 6 for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21579308-federal-surgical-mask-solicitation">up to 381 million U.S.-made surgical masks</a>&nbsp;over three years for its stockpile. No deal has been announced.Other documents show the government is looking to contract with three major suppliers — 3M, Moldex, and Owens &amp; Minor — for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526226-federal-n95-contract-justification">total of $115 million in U.S-made N95 masks&nbsp;</a>over three years. A justification document says noncompetitive contracts are necessary to preserve capacity for future coronavirus surges or emergencies.The Biden administration also formed a task force of experts from federal agencies, health care providers, PPE manufacturers and distributors to develop a national strategy for ensuring a “resilient public health supply chain.” Its work is expected to extend for years.Some manufacturers said they can't wait long for a federal life preserver.Dentec Safety Specialists is wrapping up a contract to supply 125,000 rubber reusable respirators and 500,000 filtration cartridges from its Kansas facility for the national stockpile, said President Claudio Dente. It needs more orders soon to prevent layoffs, he said.“I thought that COVID would really change the mindset of the people, the governments and manufacturing," Dente said. But he added: “The general marketplace is reverting back to their old ways -- meaning looking to buy product from China."