Pfizer said Thursday it wants to expand its COVID-19 booster shots to healthy elementary-age kids.

U.S.
 health authorities already urge everyone 12 and older to get one 
booster dose for the best protection against the newest variants -- and 
recently gave the option of a second booster to those 50 and older.

Now Pfizer says new data shows healthy 5- to 11-year-olds could benefit from another kid-sized shot.

In
 a small study, 140 youngsters who’d already gotten two shots were given
 a booster six months later, and researchers found the extra shot 
generally revved up their immune response. But a closer look at 30 of 
the children found a 36-fold increase in virus-fighting antibodies, 
levels high enough to fight the super-contagious omicron variant, Pfizer
 and its partner BioNTech said in a press release.

The data has not been published or vetted by independent experts.

Pfizer
 tested the kid booster while omicron was surging this winter. While 
COVID-19 cases now are at much lower levels in the U.S., in recent weeks
 an even more contagious version of omicron, called BA.2, has become the
 dominant type locally and around the world.

In the coming days, 
the companies plan to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to 
authorize a booster for healthy 5- to 11-year-olds. They also plan to 
share the data with European and other regulators.

Vaccinations 
are generally less effective against the omicron variant than earlier 
versions of the coronavirus -- but they do still offer strong protection
 against severe disease. While COVID-19 is a bigger threat to adults, 
youngsters can get seriously ill. But regulators will have to decide if 
healthy elementary-age kids really need a booster, and if so, when.

The
 Pfizer shots are the only vaccine available to U.S. children. Those 
ages 5 to 11 receive one-third of the dose given to everyone 12 and 
older. Just over a quarter in the younger age group have gotten two 
doses since vaccination opened to them in November, shortly before 
omicron struck.

The U.S. hasn’t yet allowed vaccinations for 
children under 5. But certain 5- to 11-year-olds -- those with severely 
weakened immune systems -- already are supposed to get three doses, to 
give that high-risk group a better chance of responding.

Associated PressPfizer said Thursday it wants to expand its COVID-19 booster shots to healthy elementary-age kids.U.S.
 health authorities already urge everyone 12 and older to get one 
booster dose for the best protection against the newest variants -- and 
recently gave the option of a second booster to those 50 and older.Now Pfizer says new data shows healthy 5- to 11-year-olds could benefit from another kid-sized shot.In
 a small study, 140 youngsters who’d already gotten two shots were given
 a booster six months later, and researchers found the extra shot 
generally revved up their immune response. But a closer look at 30 of 
the children found a 36-fold increase in virus-fighting antibodies, 
levels high enough to fight the super-contagious omicron variant, Pfizer
 and its partner BioNTech said in a press release.The data has not been published or vetted by independent experts.Pfizer
 tested the kid booster while omicron was surging this winter. While 
COVID-19 cases now are at much lower levels in the U.S., in recent weeks
 an even more contagious version of omicron, called BA.2, has become the
 dominant type locally and around the world.In the coming days, 
the companies plan to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to 
authorize a booster for healthy 5- to 11-year-olds. They also plan to 
share the data with European and other regulators.Vaccinations 
are generally less effective against the omicron variant than earlier 
versions of the coronavirus -- but they do still offer strong protection
 against severe disease. While COVID-19 is a bigger threat to adults, 
youngsters can get seriously ill. But regulators will have to decide if 
healthy elementary-age kids really need a booster, and if so, when.The
 Pfizer shots are the only vaccine available to U.S. children. Those 
ages 5 to 11 receive one-third of the dose given to everyone 12 and 
older. Just over a quarter in the younger age group have gotten two 
doses since vaccination opened to them in November, shortly before 
omicron struck.The U.S. hasn’t yet allowed vaccinations for 
children under 5. But certain 5- to 11-year-olds -- those with severely 
weakened immune systems -- already are supposed to get three doses, to 
give that high-risk group a better chance of responding.

Pfizer to seek COVID booster for healthy 5- to 11-year-olds

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINA — A qualifying 
race for the Boston Marathon is coming to Salina this fall, and with it 
other options for runners and walkers as well.

Registration is now
 open for the Salina Crossroads Marathon, half marathon, marathon relay,
 half marathon relay, and 4.01 K races scheduled for Nov. 5. <a href="https://register.chronotrack.com/r/65309">Click here to register</a> or use the QR code.

"The Boston Marathon is one of the oldest and most prestigious races 
in the world. When almost all races, including races in large cities, 
list that they are a Boston Marathon qualifier on their website you know
 it is a special race. There is so much history with the Boston Marathon
 and as someone who has ran the Boston Marathon, I can say that there is
 no other race I have ever ran that had the excitement and energy that 
the Boston Marathon has. They estimate that over 500,000 spectators 
watch the Boston Marathon each year so having that many people cheering 
you on along the course is an experience you never forget," Daniel Craig
 told Salina Post.

Craig, who serves as Salina Crossroads Marathon
 co-director with Chris Lehecka, said the Salina event also will have 
spectator options.

"When we developed the course we worked hard to
 incorporate activation areas where we will have aid stations (water, 
Gatorade, snacks), music, and places for people to cheer on the runners.
 We will have maps of the course showing the places along the course 
where it will be easiest for people to be at to cheer on the runners," 
he said. "One advantage of having a two-loop marathon course is that it 
gives everyone the opportunity to cheer on the runners even more."

Additionally, downtown merchants will be hosting their annual Holiday Open Houses during the marathon weekend.

"Runners
 and families are encouraged to come early and stay late," Craig said. 
"There is so much to see and do in Salina Downtown. Food, Shopping, 
Entertainment, Art and so much more!"

The following five events are scheduled for the day of the marathon.

The full marathon, a 26.2-mile race, is the Boston Marathon qualifier. The athletes in this race will run two loops of the 13.1-mile course.

The full marathon relay, during which teams of six will run the full marathon route.

The half marathon, during which participants will run one loop of the route.

The half marathon relay, during which teams of three will run the half marathon route.

The 4.01K race,
 a fun run sponsored by BeWealth that provides a fun twist from 
traditional 5K and 2.5-mile races. The 4.01K race will loop back early 
and finish back south on Santa Fe, according to information provided by 
Craig.

The race will start downtown near First Bank Kansas, 235 S.
 Santa Fe Avenue, and head north through the heart of downtown just past
 the new mural on the former H.D. Lee Mill elevator on north Santa Fe 
Avenue. The course will head east and navigate through Salina parks, 
over the Smoky Hill River, under the E. Crawford Street bridge, on the 
levee, in and around Indian Rock, and have an inspiring finish from E. 
Prescott Avenue on S. Santa Fe Avenue all the way back to the finish 
line, Craig noted. 

A map of the route is available on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1469896640070189">Salina Crossroads Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 4.01K Group Facebook page</a>.

Registration and a runners reception will be hosted at the Homewood Suites by Hilton, 115 E. Mulberry Street.

Craig
 said the idea for the local marathon began when he and Lehecka started 
talking about what it would be like for Salina to have a high-quality 
marathon and half marathon races.

"We reached out to the City of 
Salina to approach them with the idea and they were very supportive. 
Sgt. Chad McCary and Brent Buchwald helped us develop a fun and scenic 
course that also minimizes disruptions to traffic and parking in 
Downtown Salina and JoVonna Rutherford helped us work through the 
process of getting approval on the Special Event Permit," Craig said.

Once
 that was accomplished, a race committee that includes individuals from 
both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, as well as local runners, 
was created.

"Our goals were to develop a high quality race that 
could bring in runners from across the United States and we wanted to 
get enough sponsorships to cover the cost of putting on the race so that
 100 percent of the race entry fees could go towards meeting a need in 
the community, which for this first year has been identified as youth 
sports," he said.

Becoming a Boston Marathon qualifier

Creating
 a race that is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon is no easy task. 
Once the course was approved by the city, it had to go through a 
certification process.

"Certification is a procedure that 
guarantees that the marathon course has been properly measured by an 
experienced measurer. The surveyor uses a bicycle equipped with a 
revolution counter and does two measurements of the course to ensure 
that the marathon is at least the full marathon distance (26 miles 385 
yards) commonly listed as 26.2 miles," Craig explained. "Once the 
surveyor creates the course map it gets sent to the Regional Certifier 
who issues the official certificate. The course is valid for 10 years, 
as long as nothing changes on the course that would affect the 
distance."

Craig said the course also is certified by USA Track &amp; Field. 

"USA
 Track &amp; Field offers a searchable link online which lists all 
marathons in the United States that are USATF certified," Craig said. 
"The course must be run exactly as is depicted on the map that the 
surveyor creates, which includes things such as the exact location for 
cones on the course. If the organizers of the race make any changes, no 
matter how minor, the course is not certified. So it is a very detailed 
process that lets runners know that the race is the correct distance."

Craig said the committee's goal for the first year is 1,000 total participants.

"We
 are committed to putting on a great first-year event with a goal of 
making the Salina Crossroads Marathon the premier marathon in Kansas," 
he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649946967580.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy Salina Crossroads Marathon" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Salina Crossroads Marathon</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINA — A qualifying 
race for the Boston Marathon is coming to Salina this fall, and with it 
other options for runners and walkers as well.Registration is now
 open for the Salina Crossroads Marathon, half marathon, marathon relay,
 half marathon relay, and 4.01 K races scheduled for Nov. 5. <a href="https://register.chronotrack.com/r/65309">Click here to register</a> or use the QR code.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649947018285.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"The Boston Marathon is one of the oldest and most prestigious races 
in the world. When almost all races, including races in large cities, 
list that they are a Boston Marathon qualifier on their website you know
 it is a special race. There is so much history with the Boston Marathon
 and as someone who has ran the Boston Marathon, I can say that there is
 no other race I have ever ran that had the excitement and energy that 
the Boston Marathon has. They estimate that over 500,000 spectators 
watch the Boston Marathon each year so having that many people cheering 
you on along the course is an experience you never forget," Daniel Craig
 told Salina Post.Craig, who serves as Salina Crossroads Marathon
 co-director with Chris Lehecka, said the Salina event also will have 
spectator options."When we developed the course we worked hard to
 incorporate activation areas where we will have aid stations (water, 
Gatorade, snacks), music, and places for people to cheer on the runners.
 We will have maps of the course showing the places along the course 
where it will be easiest for people to be at to cheer on the runners," 
he said. "One advantage of having a two-loop marathon course is that it 
gives everyone the opportunity to cheer on the runners even more."Additionally, downtown merchants will be hosting their annual Holiday Open Houses during the marathon weekend."Runners
 and families are encouraged to come early and stay late," Craig said. 
"There is so much to see and do in Salina Downtown. Food, Shopping, 
Entertainment, Art and so much more!"The following five events are scheduled for the day of the marathon.The full marathon, a 26.2-mile race, is the Boston Marathon qualifier. The athletes in this race will run two loops of the 13.1-mile course.The full marathon relay, during which teams of six will run the full marathon route.The half marathon, during which participants will run one loop of the route.The half marathon relay, during which teams of three will run the half marathon route.The 4.01K race,
 a fun run sponsored by BeWealth that provides a fun twist from 
traditional 5K and 2.5-mile races. The 4.01K race will loop back early 
and finish back south on Santa Fe, according to information provided by 
Craig.The race will start downtown near First Bank Kansas, 235 S.
 Santa Fe Avenue, and head north through the heart of downtown just past
 the new mural on the former H.D. Lee Mill elevator on north Santa Fe 
Avenue. The course will head east and navigate through Salina parks, 
over the Smoky Hill River, under the E. Crawford Street bridge, on the 
levee, in and around Indian Rock, and have an inspiring finish from E. 
Prescott Avenue on S. Santa Fe Avenue all the way back to the finish 
line, Craig noted. A map of the route is available on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1469896640070189">Salina Crossroads Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 4.01K Group Facebook page</a>.Registration and a runners reception will be hosted at the Homewood Suites by Hilton, 115 E. Mulberry Street.The origins of the local marathonCraig
 said the idea for the local marathon began when he and Lehecka started 
talking about what it would be like for Salina to have a high-quality 
marathon and half marathon races."We reached out to the City of 
Salina to approach them with the idea and they were very supportive. 
Sgt. Chad McCary and Brent Buchwald helped us develop a fun and scenic 
course that also minimizes disruptions to traffic and parking in 
Downtown Salina and JoVonna Rutherford helped us work through the 
process of getting approval on the Special Event Permit," Craig said.Once
 that was accomplished, a race committee that includes individuals from 
both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, as well as local runners, 
was created."Our goals were to develop a high quality race that 
could bring in runners from across the United States and we wanted to 
get enough sponsorships to cover the cost of putting on the race so that
 100 percent of the race entry fees could go towards meeting a need in 
the community, which for this first year has been identified as youth 
sports," he said.Becoming a Boston Marathon qualifierCreating
 a race that is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon is no easy task. 
Once the course was approved by the city, it had to go through a 
certification process."Certification is a procedure that 
guarantees that the marathon course has been properly measured by an 
experienced measurer. The surveyor uses a bicycle equipped with a 
revolution counter and does two measurements of the course to ensure 
that the marathon is at least the full marathon distance (26 miles 385 
yards) commonly listed as 26.2 miles," Craig explained. "Once the 
surveyor creates the course map it gets sent to the Regional Certifier 
who issues the official certificate. The course is valid for 10 years, 
as long as nothing changes on the course that would affect the 
distance."Local course also USATF certifiedCraig said the course also is certified by USA Track &amp; Field. "USA
 Track &amp; Field offers a searchable link online which lists all 
marathons in the United States that are USATF certified," Craig said. 
"The course must be run exactly as is depicted on the map that the 
surveyor creates, which includes things such as the exact location for 
cones on the course. If the organizers of the race make any changes, no 
matter how minor, the course is not certified. So it is a very detailed 
process that lets runners know that the race is the correct distance."A lofty first-year goalCraig said the committee's goal for the first year is 1,000 total participants."We
 are committed to putting on a great first-year event with a goal of 
making the Salina Crossroads Marathon the premier marathon in Kansas," 
he said.

New Kansas event to serve as qualifier for Boston Marathon

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND — In 1995, Barton Community College sponsored 13 sports teams with just
under 230 athletes. The college, just outside of Great Bend, has 22
programs with over 370 student athletes in 2022. Despite that growth, there has not
been any structural additions to the main gym since 1995, when the Kirkman
Student Activity Center was established. 

With a need to expand, Barton Athletic
Director Trevor Rolfs said he is ready to move forward with a fundraising
campaign, collecting private funding, to raise $16,885,000. 
"With any athletic program, there are always needs," said Rolfs. "We've 
seen those needs grow over the years. There has been a lot of homework 
put into this to research those needs. Certainly, we've seen what others
 across our conference have done with enhancements to their facilities. 
We're all fighting for the same recruits." 
The plan calls for a major addition to the south of the main gym facility that would
include a new training and fitness facility, wrestling room, cheer and dance space,
eSports facility, Hall of Fame room, trophy cases, locker rooms, offices and
storage space. The proposal also calls for the addition of three tennis courts,
press box and restrooms at the track and soccer complex and a press box for the
softball field.

Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said all the shortfalls and needs were
assessed in a two-year study. 
"Cost estimates are very general at this time, but we recognize that 
costs continue to climb with no sign of letting up," said Heilman. "As 
far as financial resources, this is to be a funding drive concept from 
private individuals." 
Along with new construction, the plan calls for several transformations and remodels of
current facilities. 
The goal is to have Rolfs collect enough private donations for the project but
Heilman noted financing through Certificates of Participation (COP) is a
possibility. A COP is where an investor purchases a share of the lease revenues
of a program rather than the bond being secured by those revenues. As a last resort,
the college could access their reserves. 
At Tuesday’s study session, the Barton Board of Trustees were in favor of
giving Rolfs approval to proceed with the private-donation fundraising.&nbsp;

New Construction: 1.
 Major addition to the south of main gym facility that would include a 
new strength training facility, cardio fitness facility, wrestling room,
 cheer and dance practice space, eSports facility, Hall of Fame room, 
trophy cases, classrooms, locker rooms, offices and storage space 2. Addition of three tennis courts (to make six total) and awning area 3. Locker rooms, press box and restrooms at track/soccer complex 4. Press box facility at softball complex 5. Storage shed/lookout building at golf driving range

Transformation of Current Facilities: 1. Current Cougar Den becomes swim coach offices 2. Current volleyball locker room becomes men's basketball office/storage 3. Current training room becomes women's basketball locker room/restroom facility 4. Current women's locker room becomes volleyball locker room 5. Current P-4A classroom becomes women's basketball offices/storage 6. Current weight room becomes athletic training room 7. Current assistant athletic director/sports information director offices becomes officials locker room 8. Current P-5A classroom becomes storage and tennis locker room

Remodel of Current Facilities: 1. Men's basketball locker room 2. Women's basketball locker room 3. Concessions area and west main hallway

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649946848910.png" alt="Barton Community College is seeking private donations for a $16.8 million project to improve athletic facilities. " />
 <figcaption>Barton Community College is seeking private donations for a $16.8 million project to improve athletic facilities. </figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostGREAT BEND — In 1995, Barton Community College sponsored 13 sports teams with just
under 230 athletes. The college, just outside of Great Bend, has 22
programs with over 370 student athletes in 2022. Despite that growth, there has not
been any structural additions to the main gym since 1995, when the Kirkman
Student Activity Center was established. With a need to expand, Barton Athletic
Director Trevor Rolfs said he is ready to move forward with a fundraising
campaign, collecting private funding, to raise $16,885,000. 
"With any athletic program, there are always needs," said Rolfs. "We've 
seen those needs grow over the years. There has been a lot of homework 
put into this to research those needs. Certainly, we've seen what others
 across our conference have done with enhancements to their facilities. 
We're all fighting for the same recruits." 
The plan calls for a major addition to the south of the main gym facility that would
include a new training and fitness facility, wrestling room, cheer and dance space,
eSports facility, Hall of Fame room, trophy cases, locker rooms, offices and
storage space. The proposal also calls for the addition of three tennis courts,
press box and restrooms at the track and soccer complex and a press box for the
softball field. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said all the shortfalls and needs were
assessed in a two-year study. 
"Cost estimates are very general at this time, but we recognize that 
costs continue to climb with no sign of letting up," said Heilman. "As 
far as financial resources, this is to be a funding drive concept from 
private individuals." 
Along with new construction, the plan calls for several transformations and remodels of
current facilities. 
The goal is to have Rolfs collect enough private donations for the project but
Heilman noted financing through Certificates of Participation (COP) is a
possibility. A COP is where an investor purchases a share of the lease revenues
of a program rather than the bond being secured by those revenues. As a last resort,
the college could access their reserves. 
At Tuesday’s study session, the Barton Board of Trustees were in favor of
giving Rolfs approval to proceed with the private-donation fundraising.&nbsp;New Construction: 1.
 Major addition to the south of main gym facility that would include a 
new strength training facility, cardio fitness facility, wrestling room,
 cheer and dance practice space, eSports facility, Hall of Fame room, 
trophy cases, classrooms, locker rooms, offices and storage space 2. Addition of three tennis courts (to make six total) and awning area 3. Locker rooms, press box and restrooms at track/soccer complex 4. Press box facility at softball complex 5. Storage shed/lookout building at golf driving rangeTransformation of Current Facilities: 1. Current Cougar Den becomes swim coach offices 2. Current volleyball locker room becomes men's basketball office/storage 3. Current training room becomes women's basketball locker room/restroom facility 4. Current women's locker room becomes volleyball locker room 5. Current P-4A classroom becomes women's basketball offices/storage 6. Current weight room becomes athletic training room 7. Current assistant athletic director/sports information director offices becomes officials locker room 8. Current P-5A classroom becomes storage and tennis locker roomRemodel of Current Facilities: 1. Men's basketball locker room 2. Women's basketball locker room 3. Concessions area and west main hallway

Barton CC seeks $16.8M in private funds for athletic improvements

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/14/health-care-advocacy-group-spending-5-million-to-aid-davids-seven-other-swing-district-democrats/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — An advocacy group 
supportive of the Affordable Care Act and opposed to escalation of 
medicine prices launched a $5 million campaign lauding the work of U.S. 
Rep. Sharice Davids and seven other House Democrats.

Protect Our Care, a Democratic leaning organization with 
former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as an advisory board member, made the 
investment in House swing districts in recognition of the bipartisan 
appeal of reform designed to control the cost of medical services.

The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5GwFB-j4yw&amp;list=PLsAiIoYTVLdI-oZEZl5qgqCjz4FqrAj_j&amp;index=4">commercial for Davids highlights her support</a>
 for a law that went into effect this year banning surprise medical 
bills, her advocacy for a $35 per month cap on the cost of insulin that 
passed the U.S. House in March and her backing of legislation granting 
Medicare officials authority to negotiate lower medication prices.

“Americans want Congress to get things done and lawmakers like Rep. Davids
 are working to lower premium costs, reduce drug prices, expand coverage
 and improve health care for families across the nation,” said Leslie 
Dach, chair of Protect Our Care.

Sebelius was secretary of the U.S. Health and Human 
Services Department from 2009 through 2014, a period featuring 
introduction of the ACA by President Barack Obama. She said Davids stood
 up in Congress for working people by championing the lowering of health
 care expenditures.

“Lawmakers like Rep. Davids are delivering real results, 
working across the aisle when they can,” Sebelius said. “They will not 
stop until every American can afford quality health care.”

Ads in the Protect Our Care series were created for broadcast and cable television, streaming services and digital platforms.

Davids, who serves the 3rd District of Johnson and 
Wyandotte counties, is seeking re-election in November. The new 
congressional district map, which is under legal challenge, would remove
 the northern half of Wyandotte County from the district for benefit of 
likely Republican nominee Amanda Adkins.

Adkins, who worked in the administration of Gov. Sam 
Brownback, recently received an endorsement of former United Nations 
Ambassador Nikki Haley, who served in the administration of President 
Donald Trump. Haley’s endorsement was packaged with criticism of 
President Joe Biden.

“As a businesswoman, Amanda Adkins 
knows how to make tough decisions and as a mom she knows D.C. needs a 
dose of Kansas commonsense,” Haley said. “She’s never shied away from 
standing up for freedom and truth. She’s exactly the type of leader we 
need to reverse Biden’s failed policies. I can’t wait to see her shake 
up Washington.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649946513488.png" alt="U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat seeking re-election in November, is benefactor of health advocacy organization’s $5 million advertising push in support of her and seven other swing-state Democrats in the U.S. House. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat seeking re-election in November, is benefactor of health advocacy organization’s $5 million advertising push in support of her and seven other swing-state Democrats in the U.S. House. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/14/health-care-advocacy-group-spending-5-million-to-aid-davids-seven-other-swing-district-democrats/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — An advocacy group 
supportive of the Affordable Care Act and opposed to escalation of 
medicine prices launched a $5 million campaign lauding the work of U.S. 
Rep. Sharice Davids and seven other House Democrats.Protect Our Care, a Democratic leaning organization with 
former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as an advisory board member, made the 
investment in House swing districts in recognition of the bipartisan 
appeal of reform designed to control the cost of medical services.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5GwFB-j4yw&amp;list=PLsAiIoYTVLdI-oZEZl5qgqCjz4FqrAj_j&amp;index=4">commercial for Davids highlights her support</a>
 for a law that went into effect this year banning surprise medical 
bills, her advocacy for a $35 per month cap on the cost of insulin that 
passed the U.S. House in March and her backing of legislation granting 
Medicare officials authority to negotiate lower medication prices.“Americans want Congress to get things done and lawmakers like Rep. Davids
 are working to lower premium costs, reduce drug prices, expand coverage
 and improve health care for families across the nation,” said Leslie 
Dach, chair of Protect Our Care.Sebelius was secretary of the U.S. Health and Human 
Services Department from 2009 through 2014, a period featuring 
introduction of the ACA by President Barack Obama. She said Davids stood
 up in Congress for working people by championing the lowering of health
 care expenditures.“Lawmakers like Rep. Davids are delivering real results, 
working across the aisle when they can,” Sebelius said. “They will not 
stop until every American can afford quality health care.”Ads in the Protect Our Care series were created for broadcast and cable television, streaming services and digital platforms.Davids, who serves the 3rd District of Johnson and 
Wyandotte counties, is seeking re-election in November. The new 
congressional district map, which is under legal challenge, would remove
 the northern half of Wyandotte County from the district for benefit of 
likely Republican nominee Amanda Adkins.Adkins, who worked in the administration of Gov. Sam 
Brownback, recently received an endorsement of former United Nations 
Ambassador Nikki Haley, who served in the administration of President 
Donald Trump. Haley’s endorsement was packaged with criticism of 
President Joe Biden.“As a businesswoman, Amanda Adkins 
knows how to make tough decisions and as a mom she knows D.C. needs a 
dose of Kansas commonsense,” Haley said. “She’s never shied away from 
standing up for freedom and truth. She’s exactly the type of leader we 
need to reverse Biden’s failed policies. I can’t wait to see her shake 
up Washington.”

Group spending $5M to aid Davids, other swing-district Democrats

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors in Johnson County have dropped a felony child abuse charge brought against a Shawnee day care operator, citing new evidence that showed the child was unharmed when he left her care.

<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article260405887.html" target="_blank">The Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;reported Thursday that the decision came last month in the case of 55-year-old Katherine Konon.

The charge filed in 2019 accused Konon of striking a 6-month-old boy, causing a brain bleed. Tom Bath, Konon’s defense attorney, said Konon has always maintained her innocence and is evaluating her options after losing a business she ran for more than a decade and incurring court-related costs.

The baby’s parents claimed he was covered in vomit and had red marks on his face when he was picked up from day care. But a court motion filed in March said an assistant prosecutor became aware of a photograph taken by a relative of the child shortly after leaving the day care.

In the photo, the baby did not appear to have markings on his face and was not covered in vomit as his parents suggested, Bath said in a court motion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1570049855404.png" alt="Konon-phot0 Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Konon-phot0 Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors in Johnson County have dropped a felony child abuse charge brought against a Shawnee day care operator, citing new evidence that showed the child was unharmed when he left her care.<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article260405887.html" target="_blank">The Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;reported Thursday that the decision came last month in the case of 55-year-old Katherine Konon.The charge filed in 2019 accused Konon of striking a 6-month-old boy, causing a brain bleed. Tom Bath, Konon’s defense attorney, said Konon has always maintained her innocence and is evaluating her options after losing a business she ran for more than a decade and incurring court-related costs.The baby’s parents claimed he was covered in vomit and had red marks on his face when he was picked up from day care. But a court motion filed in March said an assistant prosecutor became aware of a photograph taken by a relative of the child shortly after leaving the day care.In the photo, the baby did not appear to have markings on his face and was not covered in vomit as his parents suggested, Bath said in a court motion.

Prosecutors drop child abuse charge against Kan. day care owner

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/deadly-bird-flu-hits-nebraska-commercial-farm-of-1-7-million-egg-laying-hens/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Nebraska
 is reporting another confirmed case of a highly contagious and deadly 
bird flu in a commercial flock — this time in a Dixon County farm 
operation of some 1.75 million egg-laying hens.

According to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/ai">U.S. Department</a>
 of Agriculture, the latest case brings Nebraska to six affected 
domestic flocks, three of them commercial operations. A total of about 
2.7 million birds are involved.

In Iowa, this year’s outbreak has affected 16 flocks involving about 13.3 million birds.

It all has contributed to rising prices of egg and poultry as the egg-centric Easter weekend draws near.

Roger
 Dudley, veterinarian for Nebraska’s Department of Agriculture, said in a
 media release that the Dixon County farm has been quarantined since the
 confirmation Tuesday.

“The
 birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved 
manner,” he said in a statement released in partnership with the USDA’s 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Additionally,
 Nebraska officials will establish a 6.2-mile control zone around the 
affected Dixon County area, as is national policy. Those in the area are
 advised of the signs and symptoms of HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian 
influenza, and the need to notify the state of sick or dying poultry.

The
 HPAI is a virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye 
secretions, as well as manure. It can spread in different ways from 
flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected 
poultry, equipment or clothing and shoes of caretakers.

Wild birds can carry the virus without getting sick, while domesticated birds can become very sickly, said state experts.

The
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the risk of the flu 
transmitting from birds to people is low and that no U.S. human cases of
 avian flu have been detected.

For more information and <a target="_blank" href="https://nda.nebraska.gov/animal/avian/index.html">to report</a> sick birds call (402) 471-2351. Early detection is vital in preventing the spread of the disease.

On
 Wednesday, Dudley also announced the end of surveillance and 
incineration processes of the bird flocks that had been reported in 
Merrick and Holt Counties.

Before this year, Nebraska hadn’t seen a confirmed HPAI case since 2015.&nbsp;

National
 news organizations have reported that some 23 million birds have been 
killed across the country to limit the spread of what has become the 
deadliest U.S. outbreak of this bird flu strain since 2015.&nbsp;

Nebraska’s first case was reported March 7 in a wild goose at Holmes Lake, near Lincoln.

In addition to the Dixon County farm, other Nebraska domestic flock cases, according to the USDA:

March 15: A mixed backyard flock of fewer than 100 chickens and waterfowl in Merrick County.

March 22: A commercial flock of 570,000 broiler chickens in Butler County. (Broilers are raised for meat production.)

March 24: A commercial flock of about 417,000 broilers in Butler County.

March 26: A backyard flock of 50 or fewer chickens and waterfowl in Holt County.

April 5: About 30 birds, a mix of chickens and waterfowl, in a backyard flock in Scotts Bluff County.

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/deadly-bird-flu-hits-nebraska-commercial-farm-of-1-7-million-egg-laying-hens/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Nebraska
 is reporting another confirmed case of a highly contagious and deadly 
bird flu in a commercial flock — this time in a Dixon County farm 
operation of some 1.75 million egg-laying hens.According to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/ai">U.S. Department</a>
 of Agriculture, the latest case brings Nebraska to six affected 
domestic flocks, three of them commercial operations. A total of about 
2.7 million birds are involved.In Iowa, this year’s outbreak has affected 16 flocks involving about 13.3 million birds.It all has contributed to rising prices of egg and poultry as the egg-centric Easter weekend draws near.Roger
 Dudley, veterinarian for Nebraska’s Department of Agriculture, said in a
 media release that the Dixon County farm has been quarantined since the
 confirmation Tuesday.<h2>To be disposed of humanely</h2>“The
 birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved 
manner,” he said in a statement released in partnership with the USDA’s 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.Additionally,
 Nebraska officials will establish a 6.2-mile control zone around the 
affected Dixon County area, as is national policy. Those in the area are
 advised of the signs and symptoms of HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian 
influenza, and the need to notify the state of sick or dying poultry.The
 HPAI is a virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye 
secretions, as well as manure. It can spread in different ways from 
flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected 
poultry, equipment or clothing and shoes of caretakers.Wild birds can carry the virus without getting sick, while domesticated birds can become very sickly, said state experts.The
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the risk of the flu 
transmitting from birds to people is low and that no U.S. human cases of
 avian flu have been detected.For more information and <a target="_blank" href="https://nda.nebraska.gov/animal/avian/index.html">to report</a> sick birds call (402) 471-2351. Early detection is vital in preventing the spread of the disease.<h2>Broilers, egg layers, waterfowl</h2>On
 Wednesday, Dudley also announced the end of surveillance and 
incineration processes of the bird flocks that had been reported in 
Merrick and Holt Counties.Before this year, Nebraska hadn’t seen a confirmed HPAI case since 2015.&nbsp;National
 news organizations have reported that some 23 million birds have been 
killed across the country to limit the spread of what has become the 
deadliest U.S. outbreak of this bird flu strain since 2015.&nbsp;Nebraska’s first case was reported March 7 in a wild goose at Holmes Lake, near Lincoln.In addition to the Dixon County farm, other Nebraska domestic flock cases, according to the USDA:March 15: A mixed backyard flock of fewer than 100 chickens and waterfowl in Merrick County.March 22: A commercial flock of 570,000 broiler chickens in Butler County. (Broilers are raised for meat production.)March 24: A commercial flock of about 417,000 broilers in Butler County.March 26: A backyard flock of 50 or fewer chickens and waterfowl in Holt County.April 5: About 30 birds, a mix of chickens and waterfowl, in a backyard flock in Scotts Bluff County.

Deadly bird flu hits Neb. commercial farm of 1.7M egg-laying hens

Two-day summit designed as catalyst for meaningful change

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/13/leaders-of-kansas-three-government-branches-coalesce-behind-quest-to-fix-mental-health-crisis/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Supreme Court 
Chief Justice Marla Luckert looked back Wednesday on her first week as a
 district court judge 30 years ago and her interaction with a man 
already well known to courthouse colleagues.

The man, who she referred to as E.T., wasn’t violent at that time but
 routinely would stop taking medication, became unstable, encounter law 
enforcement officers and return to court. E.T. would be held at the 
jail, placed on drug therapy, regain stability and be released into the 
community. In a few weeks or months, Luckert said, E.T. would start the 
cycle all over again. This treadmill of life didn’t serve his interests 
or those of Topekans.

Luckert told hundreds gathering for a two-day conference on mental 
illness that she recently came upon a handwritten motion filed with the 
Supreme Court. She recognized the unique penmanship. It was in E.T.’s 
hand. Decades after her initial encounter, E.T. had yet to break free 
from the yoke.

“I look back at that and think, we could have done better,” the chief
 justice said. “We needed to do better. Not only for E.T., but for 
thousands of Kansans like him. Our jails and detention centers across 
the country are the largest providers of mental health services. How do 
we break that cycle?”

The 2022 Kansas Mental Health Summit, the first of its kind in 
Kansas, brought together more than&nbsp;600 in-person and online registrants.
 The roster included judges, legislators, attorneys, court services 
officers, community corrections officers and representatives from the 
executive branch, mental&nbsp;and medical&nbsp;health disciplines, law enforcement and first responders.

The gathering also featured brief remarks by Gov. Laura Kelly, Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Ron Ryckman.

Ryckman, an Olathe Republican, said the summit could be a catalyst 
for change. He said the collaboration and consideration of alternatives 
should push boundaries. He offered an example of out-of-the-box thinking
 that, at first, sounded silly. In the Pacific northwest, he said, the 
problem of ice on electric lines plagued consumers for years. Individual
 solutions fell short, Ryckman said, so a meeting was called. No idea 
would be dismissed.

Someone suggested bears be trained to climb poles, perhaps 
incentivized by a pot of honey at the top, so movement of the hefty 
animals would shatter ice dangling from power lines. Another person 
recommended helicopters be used to deposit honey atop the poles. He said
 that eventually led to a plausible solution that involved flying 
helicopters close to the lines so bursts of wind from rotor blades would
 dislodge the ice.

“I don’t think our answers are as easy as ice on powerlines and 
helicopters,” Ryckman said. “I know the answers are in this room and 
online.”

He urged participants to make certain the right hand and left hand of
 the mental health reform movement remained connected as strategies for 
keeping mentally ill people out of jails were considered, developed and 
implemented.

Kelly, a state senator before elected governor in 2018, worked after 
high school at a New York camp for troubled adolescents and after 
college at an Illinois minimum security facility for boys. Following 
graduate school, she accepted a job caring for severely mentally ill 
youth at Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center in New York.

“Those experiences really did open my eyes,” Kelly said. “They taught
 me that successfully addressing the mental health crisis required a 
collective approach over a long period of time.”

She said Kansas had made progress in recent years, but had much left 
to do in terms of expanding mental health services to Kansans from 
childhood to adulthood and in urban and rural areas of the state. The 
criminal justice system isn’t equipped to provide services that ought to
 come from a comprehensive system designed for people suffering mental 
illness, she said.

“For too long,” the governor said, “those with mental illness were 
stigmatized and considered untreatable. The reality is the opposite. The
 vast majority of those with mental illness are highly treatable. It is 
the compassionate and humane thing to do to provide them with the help 
they need.”

Masterson, the GOP president of the Senate from Andover, said he 
couldn’t recall another time in which the three branches of state 
government worked jointly on a vexing societal challenge.

“That shows you the significance. Kind of that all hands on deck,” he
 told conference attendees. “You see this issue, many of you, live and 
in-person. In living color. Firsthand. First responders. Health care 
workers. The judicial system sees it in the courts.”

Masterson asked those committed to working toward improvements in 
mental health of Kansans not to be limited by provincial ideas or to 
focus only on suggestions tied to spending more tax dollars. He said 
financial investments were part of the answer, he said, but not the end 
all.

“It feels to me like we are making the problem worse on many fronts 
in our society — in this post-modern society where we reject faith a lot
 of times, reject the healthiest versions of family. We have scores of 
fatherless children. We go to social media and … push people towards 
self-satisfaction versus societal interests,” Masterson said.

The idea of a statewide summit emerged when District Court Judge 
Robert Wonnell attended a similar regional meeting three years ago in 
Deadwood, South Dakota. That summit was the work of a national task 
force involving the National Center for State Courts, the Conference of 
Chief Justices, the Conference of State Court Administrators, and the 
State Justice Institute.

“I have to ask myself, what am I doing as a judge, in my court and in
 partnership with other professionals in my community, to make sure that
 our justice system addresses issues as early as possible in the process
 and ultimately reduces recidivism? Enhancing that system not only 
benefits the individual with a mental illness, but ultimately every Kansan,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649874931274.png" alt="The 2022 Mental Health Summit brought unity of purpose to Gov. Laura Kelly, Senate President Ty Masterson, House Speaker Ron Ryckman and Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert, who pressed for change in the judicial and community response to mental illness. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The 2022 Mental Health Summit brought unity of purpose to Gov. Laura Kelly, Senate President Ty Masterson, House Speaker Ron Ryckman and Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert, who pressed for change in the judicial and community response to mental illness. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Two-day summit designed as catalyst for meaningful change</h2> By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/13/leaders-of-kansas-three-government-branches-coalesce-behind-quest-to-fix-mental-health-crisis/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Supreme Court 
Chief Justice Marla Luckert looked back Wednesday on her first week as a
 district court judge 30 years ago and her interaction with a man 
already well known to courthouse colleagues.The man, who she referred to as E.T., wasn’t violent at that time but
 routinely would stop taking medication, became unstable, encounter law 
enforcement officers and return to court. E.T. would be held at the 
jail, placed on drug therapy, regain stability and be released into the 
community. In a few weeks or months, Luckert said, E.T. would start the 
cycle all over again. This treadmill of life didn’t serve his interests 
or those of Topekans.Luckert told hundreds gathering for a two-day conference on mental 
illness that she recently came upon a handwritten motion filed with the 
Supreme Court. She recognized the unique penmanship. It was in E.T.’s 
hand. Decades after her initial encounter, E.T. had yet to break free 
from the yoke.“I look back at that and think, we could have done better,” the chief
 justice said. “We needed to do better. Not only for E.T., but for 
thousands of Kansans like him. Our jails and detention centers across 
the country are the largest providers of mental health services. How do 
we break that cycle?”The 2022 Kansas Mental Health Summit, the first of its kind in 
Kansas, brought together more than&nbsp;600 in-person and online registrants.
 The roster included judges, legislators, attorneys, court services 
officers, community corrections officers and representatives from the 
executive branch, mental&nbsp;and medical&nbsp;health disciplines, law enforcement and first responders.The gathering also featured brief remarks by Gov. Laura Kelly, Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Ron Ryckman.<h2>Ice on power lines</h2>Ryckman, an Olathe Republican, said the summit could be a catalyst 
for change. He said the collaboration and consideration of alternatives 
should push boundaries. He offered an example of out-of-the-box thinking
 that, at first, sounded silly. In the Pacific northwest, he said, the 
problem of ice on electric lines plagued consumers for years. Individual
 solutions fell short, Ryckman said, so a meeting was called. No idea 
would be dismissed.Someone suggested bears be trained to climb poles, perhaps 
incentivized by a pot of honey at the top, so movement of the hefty 
animals would shatter ice dangling from power lines. Another person 
recommended helicopters be used to deposit honey atop the poles. He said
 that eventually led to a plausible solution that involved flying 
helicopters close to the lines so bursts of wind from rotor blades would
 dislodge the ice.“I don’t think our answers are as easy as ice on powerlines and 
helicopters,” Ryckman said. “I know the answers are in this room and 
online.”He urged participants to make certain the right hand and left hand of
 the mental health reform movement remained connected as strategies for 
keeping mentally ill people out of jails were considered, developed and 
implemented.Kelly, a state senator before elected governor in 2018, worked after 
high school at a New York camp for troubled adolescents and after 
college at an Illinois minimum security facility for boys. Following 
graduate school, she accepted a job caring for severely mentally ill 
youth at Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center in New York.“Those experiences really did open my eyes,” Kelly said. “They taught
 me that successfully addressing the mental health crisis required a 
collective approach over a long period of time.”She said Kansas had made progress in recent years, but had much left 
to do in terms of expanding mental health services to Kansans from 
childhood to adulthood and in urban and rural areas of the state. The 
criminal justice system isn’t equipped to provide services that ought to
 come from a comprehensive system designed for people suffering mental 
illness, she said.“For too long,” the governor said, “those with mental illness were 
stigmatized and considered untreatable. The reality is the opposite. The
 vast majority of those with mental illness are highly treatable. It is 
the compassionate and humane thing to do to provide them with the help 
they need.”<h2>All-hands-on-deck moment</h2>Masterson, the GOP president of the Senate from Andover, said he 
couldn’t recall another time in which the three branches of state 
government worked jointly on a vexing societal challenge.“That shows you the significance. Kind of that all hands on deck,” he
 told conference attendees. “You see this issue, many of you, live and 
in-person. In living color. Firsthand. First responders. Health care 
workers. The judicial system sees it in the courts.”Masterson asked those committed to working toward improvements in 
mental health of Kansans not to be limited by provincial ideas or to 
focus only on suggestions tied to spending more tax dollars. He said 
financial investments were part of the answer, he said, but not the end 
all.“It feels to me like we are making the problem worse on many fronts 
in our society — in this post-modern society where we reject faith a lot
 of times, reject the healthiest versions of family. We have scores of 
fatherless children. We go to social media and … push people towards 
self-satisfaction versus societal interests,” Masterson said.The idea of a statewide summit emerged when District Court Judge 
Robert Wonnell attended a similar regional meeting three years ago in 
Deadwood, South Dakota. That summit was the work of a national task 
force involving the National Center for State Courts, the Conference of 
Chief Justices, the Conference of State Court Administrators, and the 
State Justice Institute.“I have to ask myself, what am I doing as a judge, in my court and in
 partnership with other professionals in my community, to make sure that
 our justice system addresses issues as early as possible in the process
 and ultimately reduces recidivism? Enhancing that system not only 
benefits the individual with a mental illness, but ultimately every Kansan,” he said.

Kansas leaders coalesce behind quest to fix mental health crisis

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man was sentenced for repeated, violent attacks on a woman.

District Judge Bruce Brown sentenced Will Johnson, 35 of Wichita, to just over 19-years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Judge Brown sentenced Johnson on four consolidated cases involving the same victim.

The most serious attack occurred on August 29, 2019. Police were called to Wesley Medical Center and found a 29-year-old woman who had been beaten, strangled and stabbed. Doctors told police she also had a broken jaw and multiple cuts to her body.

Johnson told police the woman was attacked by someone along railroad tracks when she walked to his house. But police found blood throughout his house and two surveillance cameras. The video showed Johnson’s attack of the victim.

In March, Johnson pled guilty to attempted first degree murder, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, eight counts of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, robbery, two counts of aggravated domestic battery, four violations of a protective order and three counts of domestic battery. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649871879211.png" alt="Johnson-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Johnson-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man was sentenced for repeated, violent attacks on a woman.District Judge Bruce Brown sentenced Will Johnson, 35 of Wichita, to just over 19-years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Judge Brown sentenced Johnson on four consolidated cases involving the same victim.The most serious attack occurred on August 29, 2019. Police were called to Wesley Medical Center and found a 29-year-old woman who had been beaten, strangled and stabbed. Doctors told police she also had a broken jaw and multiple cuts to her body.Johnson told police the woman was attacked by someone along railroad tracks when she walked to his house. But police found blood throughout his house and two surveillance cameras. The video showed Johnson’s attack of the victim.In March, Johnson pled guilty to attempted first degree murder, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, eight counts of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, robbery, two counts of aggravated domestic battery, four violations of a protective order and three counts of domestic battery.

Kansas man sentenced for repeat, violent attacks on a woman

<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/36b396b945bfcdbee23e51502a470f7d/charges-refiled-missouri-boat-sinking-killed-17#">By MARGARET STAFFORD</a>, Associated Press

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office has refiled involuntary manslaughter charges against three men in connection with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-accidents-us-news-ap-top-news-storms-north-america-60b99441d63a48428b5dd79bbc37c75a">sinking of a tourist boat&nbsp;</a>that killed 17 people in 2018.

The vehicle, known as a duck boat, sank during a storm shortly after it entered Table Rock Lake near Branson on July 19, 2018. Riders from Missouri, Indiana, Illinois and Arkansas were killed. Fourteen people survived.

On April 5, Stone County Judge Alan Blankenship&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/storms-missouri-kansas-arkansas-branson-bc04f7acce185ba2ad9e57aeee4caffd">dismissed first-degree involuntary manslaughter charges</a>&nbsp;against Kenneth Scott McKee, 54, the captain of the boat; Curtis P. Lanham, 39, the general manager at Ride the Ducks in Branson; and Charles V. Baltzell, 79, the operations supervisor who was a manager on duty when the boat sank.

Two days later, Schmitt refiled 17 involuntary manslaughter charges against each of the men. McKee also faces 12 counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

“As I’ve said previously, my Office is committed to fighting for justice on behalf of the 17 people that were tragically killed in 2018 — that’s why we re-filed the charges in this case," Schmitt said in a statement Wednesday.

Prosecutors said the tourist boat went into the lake despite warnings of storms in the area. The boat sank after it was swamped by waves caused by the winds.

Attorneys for the three defendants have argued that the men were not aware of the severity of the storm and did not intentionally put their passengers in danger. When he dismissed the charges, Blankenship said there was no evidence the men knew about the strong winds associated with the storm.

When the criminal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-duck-boat-accident-charges-9be4b42462ab8c878cd35cc7f3bbf809">charges were filed last year</a>, an affidavit from an investigator said McKee ignored concerns about an approaching storm when he took the boat onto the lake. Lanham and Baltzell were accused of failing to communicate weather conditions and to stop operations after a severe thunderstorm warning was issued.

The duck boats, which operate on land and water, were a longtime popular attraction in the tourist town of Branson. The ride closed down after the tragedy and the boats have not returned to the lake.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1563393605763.png" alt="The night of the fatal Duck Boat tragedy photo courtesy KYTV" />
 <figcaption>The night of the fatal Duck Boat tragedy photo courtesy KYTV</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/36b396b945bfcdbee23e51502a470f7d/charges-refiled-missouri-boat-sinking-killed-17#">By MARGARET STAFFORD</a>, Associated PressMissouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office has refiled involuntary manslaughter charges against three men in connection with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-accidents-us-news-ap-top-news-storms-north-america-60b99441d63a48428b5dd79bbc37c75a">sinking of a tourist boat&nbsp;</a>that killed 17 people in 2018.The vehicle, known as a duck boat, sank during a storm shortly after it entered Table Rock Lake near Branson on July 19, 2018. Riders from Missouri, Indiana, Illinois and Arkansas were killed. Fourteen people survived.On April 5, Stone County Judge Alan Blankenship&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/storms-missouri-kansas-arkansas-branson-bc04f7acce185ba2ad9e57aeee4caffd">dismissed first-degree involuntary manslaughter charges</a>&nbsp;against Kenneth Scott McKee, 54, the captain of the boat; Curtis P. Lanham, 39, the general manager at Ride the Ducks in Branson; and Charles V. Baltzell, 79, the operations supervisor who was a manager on duty when the boat sank.Two days later, Schmitt refiled 17 involuntary manslaughter charges against each of the men. McKee also faces 12 counts of endangering the welfare of a child.“As I’ve said previously, my Office is committed to fighting for justice on behalf of the 17 people that were tragically killed in 2018 — that’s why we re-filed the charges in this case," Schmitt said in a statement Wednesday.Prosecutors said the tourist boat went into the lake despite warnings of storms in the area. The boat sank after it was swamped by waves caused by the winds.Attorneys for the three defendants have argued that the men were not aware of the severity of the storm and did not intentionally put their passengers in danger. When he dismissed the charges, Blankenship said there was no evidence the men knew about the strong winds associated with the storm.When the criminal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-duck-boat-accident-charges-9be4b42462ab8c878cd35cc7f3bbf809">charges were filed last year</a>, an affidavit from an investigator said McKee ignored concerns about an approaching storm when he took the boat onto the lake. Lanham and Baltzell were accused of failing to communicate weather conditions and to stop operations after a severe thunderstorm warning was issued.The duck boats, which operate on land and water, were a longtime popular attraction in the tourist town of Branson. The ride closed down after the tragedy and the boats have not returned to the lake.

Charges refiled in Branson Duck Boat tragedy that killed 17

WASHINGTON (AP) — In anticipation of a new Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine, President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved an $800 million package of military assistance, including additional helicopters and the first provision of American artillery.

The Ukrainians also will receive armored personnel carriers, armored Humvees, naval drone vessels used in coastal defense, and gear and equipment used to protect soldiers in chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological attacks.

“This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine,” Biden said in a statement.

“The steady supply of weapons the United States and its allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion,” Biden added. “It has helped ensure that (Russia President Vladimir) Putin failed in his initial war aims to conquer and control Ukraine. We cannot rest now.”

Biden announced the aid after a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It is the latest in a series of U.S. security assistance packages valued at a combined $2.6 billion that has been committed to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24. The weaponry and support material has played an important role in Ukraine’s successful defense thus far.

Biden is under pressure from members of both parties in Congress to expand and accelerate U.S. aid.

Robert Gates, a former CIA director and defense secretary, said Wednesday he believes the administration needs to push hard for weapon donations by NATO members in Eastern Europe, whose arsenals include Soviet-era tanks and other weaponry and equipment that could help Ukraine immediately.

“The United States ought to be acting, 24/7 — how do we mobilize the equipment and how do we get it into Ukraine and into the hands of the Ukrainians,” Gates said in an online forum sponsored by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“It’s critically important and critically urgent, and we ought to be sort of ransacking the arsenals of those states, and I think they would be cooperative, particularly” if they are given assurances that the Pentagon will provide American replacements for the donated weapons.

The Pentagon said the $800 million package announced by Biden includes weapons and equipment that will require some training for a Ukrainian military not fully accustomed to American military technology. U.S. and allied forces had been present inside Ukraine to provide training for eight years before pulling out in advance of the Russia’s latest invasion.

The new arms package includes 18 of the U.S. Army’s 155mm howitzers and 40,000 artillery rounds, two air surveillance radars, 300 Switchblade “kamikaze” armed drones, and 500 Javelin missiles designed to knock out tanks and other armor. Also included are 10 counter-artillery radars used to track incoming artillery and other projectiles to determine their point of origin for counter attacks.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said delivery of the material will be expedited, but he offered no specific timetable.

“This list came directly out of multiple conversations with Ukrainians in the last few days as we began to see the Russians now start to reprioritize the Donbas fight,” he said, referring to Russia’s shift from a failed offensive in Ukraine’s north aimed at Kyiv, the capital, to a force buildup in the country’s eastern Donbas region, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting since 2014.

Ukrainian military personnel will need training on the radars as well as the howitzers and the Switchblade drones, Kirby said. He said the training may be done by U.S. soldiers in Europe and the arrangements are being worked out.

“These are not highly complex systems,” Kirby said, and so extensive training will not likely be required.

Among the other items in the package are 11 Soviet-era Mi-17 helicopters that the United States had planned to provide to Afghanistan before Biden last year decided to fully withdraw from the country. They are transport helicopters that also can function in an attack role. The Pentagon previously had sent five Mi-17s to Ukraine, Kirby said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649887033507.png" alt="On Wednesday, President Biden&nbsp; poke with President Zelenskyy and shared with him that the Administration is authorizing an additional $800 million in weapons, ammunition, and other security assistance to Ukraine-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>On Wednesday, President Biden&nbsp; poke with President Zelenskyy and shared with him that the Administration is authorizing an additional $800 million in weapons, ammunition, and other security assistance to Ukraine-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In anticipation of a new Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine, President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved an $800 million package of military assistance, including additional helicopters and the first provision of American artillery.The Ukrainians also will receive armored personnel carriers, armored Humvees, naval drone vessels used in coastal defense, and gear and equipment used to protect soldiers in chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological attacks.“This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine,” Biden said in a statement.“The steady supply of weapons the United States and its allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion,” Biden added. “It has helped ensure that (Russia President Vladimir) Putin failed in his initial war aims to conquer and control Ukraine. We cannot rest now.”Biden announced the aid after a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It is the latest in a series of U.S. security assistance packages valued at a combined $2.6 billion that has been committed to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24. The weaponry and support material has played an important role in Ukraine’s successful defense thus far.Biden is under pressure from members of both parties in Congress to expand and accelerate U.S. aid.Robert Gates, a former CIA director and defense secretary, said Wednesday he believes the administration needs to push hard for weapon donations by NATO members in Eastern Europe, whose arsenals include Soviet-era tanks and other weaponry and equipment that could help Ukraine immediately.“The United States ought to be acting, 24/7 — how do we mobilize the equipment and how do we get it into Ukraine and into the hands of the Ukrainians,” Gates said in an online forum sponsored by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.“It’s critically important and critically urgent, and we ought to be sort of ransacking the arsenals of those states, and I think they would be cooperative, particularly” if they are given assurances that the Pentagon will provide American replacements for the donated weapons.The Pentagon said the $800 million package announced by Biden includes weapons and equipment that will require some training for a Ukrainian military not fully accustomed to American military technology. U.S. and allied forces had been present inside Ukraine to provide training for eight years before pulling out in advance of the Russia’s latest invasion.The new arms package includes 18 of the U.S. Army’s 155mm howitzers and 40,000 artillery rounds, two air surveillance radars, 300 Switchblade “kamikaze” armed drones, and 500 Javelin missiles designed to knock out tanks and other armor. Also included are 10 counter-artillery radars used to track incoming artillery and other projectiles to determine their point of origin for counter attacks.Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said delivery of the material will be expedited, but he offered no specific timetable.“This list came directly out of multiple conversations with Ukrainians in the last few days as we began to see the Russians now start to reprioritize the Donbas fight,” he said, referring to Russia’s shift from a failed offensive in Ukraine’s north aimed at Kyiv, the capital, to a force buildup in the country’s eastern Donbas region, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting since 2014.Ukrainian military personnel will need training on the radars as well as the howitzers and the Switchblade drones, Kirby said. He said the training may be done by U.S. soldiers in Europe and the arrangements are being worked out.“These are not highly complex systems,” Kirby said, and so extensive training will not likely be required.Among the other items in the package are 11 Soviet-era Mi-17 helicopters that the United States had planned to provide to Afghanistan before Biden last year decided to fully withdraw from the country. They are transport helicopters that also can function in an attack role. The Pentagon previously had sent five Mi-17s to Ukraine, Kirby said.

Biden approves $800M in new military assistance for Ukraine

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today urged any taxpayer, now finishing up their 2021 tax return, to use the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a> to make sure they're having the right amount of tax taken out of their pay during 2022.

This <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">online tool</a>
 offers workers, self-employed individuals and retirees who have wage 
income a user-friendly resource for effectively tailoring the amount of 
income tax withheld from wages.

2021 refund too big? Too small? Surprise tax bill? If any of these 
apply, the Tax Withholding Estimator can help anyone make sure it 
doesn't happen again by having the right amount of taxes taken out for 
2022.

For employees, withholding is the amount of federal income tax taken 
out of their paycheck. Taxpayers can use the results from the Tax 
Withholding Estimator to determine if they should complete a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4">Form W-4</a> and submit it to their employer. For example, checking withholding can:

The IRS recommends checking withholding at least once a year. For 
anyone who has just finished filling out their 2021 return, now is a 
particularly good time to do it. It's also a good idea to use this tool 
right after a major life change, such as marriage, divorce, home 
purchase or the birth or adoption of a child.

The Tax Withholding Estimator's results are only as accurate as the 
information entered. To help prepare, the IRS recommends that taxpayers 
gather:

While the Tax Withholding Estimator works for most taxpayers, 
people with more complex tax situations should instead use the 
instructions in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-505">Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax</a>.
 This includes taxpayers who owe alternative minimum tax or certain 
other taxes, and people with long-term capital gains or qualified 
dividends.

The IRS urges anyone still working on their 2021 return to make sure 
they have all their year-end statements in hand before filing. Besides 
all W-2s and 1099s, this includes two new letters issued by the IRS.

People who received advance payments of the Child Tax Credit will 
need to reconcile, or compare, the total received in advance with the 
amount they're eligible to claim. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a> shows their total advance Child Tax Credit payments to help taxpayers reconcile and receive the full amount of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-h-reconciling-your-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-on-your-2021-tax-return">2021 Child Tax Credit</a>.

While most eligible people already received their stimulus payments, 
people who are missing a third stimulus payment or got less than the 
full amount may be eligible to claim a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> on their 2021 federal tax return. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a> shows their total third round of Economic Impact Payments.

Alternatively, anyone can securely sign in to their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a> to access information on their advance Child Tax Credit payments and Economic Impact Payments.

Taxpayers should also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">e-file</a> and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a> to avoid processing delays and help with faster delivery of their refund.

For most Americans, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/what-is-the-due-date-of-my-federal-tax-return-or-am-i-eligible-to-request-an-extension">tax-filing deadline</a>
 is April 18, 2022. For residents of Maine and Massachusetts, the 
deadline is April 19, 2022. Americans who live and work abroad have 
until June 15, 2022. Those who need more time to file can get an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">automatic extension</a> to file until Oct. 17, 2022. These extensions don't change the April 18 payment deadline. It is not an extension to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">pay</a>. More information is available at IRS.gov.

Then, after they file, taxpayers can use the Tax Withholding Estimator to help them update their withholding for 2022.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service today urged any taxpayer, now finishing up their 2021 tax return, to use the IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a> to make sure they're having the right amount of tax taken out of their pay during 2022.This <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">online tool</a>
 offers workers, self-employed individuals and retirees who have wage 
income a user-friendly resource for effectively tailoring the amount of 
income tax withheld from wages.2021 refund too big? Too small? Surprise tax bill? If any of these 
apply, the Tax Withholding Estimator can help anyone make sure it 
doesn't happen again by having the right amount of taxes taken out for 
2022.<h2>Benefits of using the Estimator</h2>For employees, withholding is the amount of federal income tax taken 
out of their paycheck. Taxpayers can use the results from the Tax 
Withholding Estimator to determine if they should complete a new <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-4">Form W-4</a> and submit it to their employer. For example, checking withholding can:<ul>
 <li>Ensure the right amount of tax is withheld and prevent an unexpected tax bill or penalty at tax time and</li><li>Determine whether to have less tax withheld up front, thereby boosting take-home pay and reducing any refund at tax time.</li>
 </ul><h2>When should taxpayers use this tool?</h2>The IRS recommends checking withholding at least once a year. For 
anyone who has just finished filling out their 2021 return, now is a 
particularly good time to do it. It's also a good idea to use this tool 
right after a major life change, such as marriage, divorce, home 
purchase or the birth or adoption of a child.<h2>What records are needed?</h2>The Tax Withholding Estimator's results are only as accurate as the 
information entered. To help prepare, the IRS recommends that taxpayers 
gather:<ul>
 <li>Their most recent pay statements and if married, for their spouse,</li><li>Information for other sources of income and</li><li>Their most recent income tax return, 2021, if possible.</li>
 </ul>While the Tax Withholding Estimator works for most taxpayers, 
people with more complex tax situations should instead use the 
instructions in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-505">Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax</a>.
 This includes taxpayers who owe alternative minimum tax or certain 
other taxes, and people with long-term capital gains or qualified 
dividends.<h2>Still working on a 2021 return?</h2>The IRS urges anyone still working on their 2021 return to make sure 
they have all their year-end statements in hand before filing. Besides 
all W-2s and 1099s, this includes two new letters issued by the IRS.People who received advance payments of the Child Tax Credit will 
need to reconcile, or compare, the total received in advance with the 
amount they're eligible to claim. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6419">Letter 6419</a> shows their total advance Child Tax Credit payments to help taxpayers reconcile and receive the full amount of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-h-reconciling-your-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-on-your-2021-tax-return">2021 Child Tax Credit</a>.While most eligible people already received their stimulus payments, 
people who are missing a third stimulus payment or got less than the 
full amount may be eligible to claim a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit</a> on their 2021 federal tax return. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-6475">Letter 6475</a> shows their total third round of Economic Impact Payments.Alternatively, anyone can securely sign in to their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a> to access information on their advance Child Tax Credit payments and Economic Impact Payments.Taxpayers should also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">e-file</a> and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a> to avoid processing delays and help with faster delivery of their refund.For most Americans, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/what-is-the-due-date-of-my-federal-tax-return-or-am-i-eligible-to-request-an-extension">tax-filing deadline</a>
 is April 18, 2022. For residents of Maine and Massachusetts, the 
deadline is April 19, 2022. Americans who live and work abroad have 
until June 15, 2022. Those who need more time to file can get an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">automatic extension</a> to file until Oct. 17, 2022. These extensions don't change the April 18 payment deadline. It is not an extension to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">pay</a>. More information is available at IRS.gov.Then, after they file, taxpayers can use the Tax Withholding Estimator to help them update their withholding for 2022.<h2>Additional information</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator-faqs">Tax Withholding Estimator FAQs</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/paycheck-checkup">Paycheck Checkup</a></li>
 </ul>

IRS calculator helps ensure 2022 tax withholding correct

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A shooting at a house party early Wednesday in Kansas City left one person dead and two others injured, police said, capping a violent 24 hours in the city that saw four people killed in separate incidents.

Officers who were in the Ivanhoe Northeast neighborhood around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday to investigate a car crash heard several gunshots coming from a home nearby, police said in a news release.

The officers found three victims at the home. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and another person was taken to a hospital in critical condition. A third person suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment. Police did not release the names of those killed and hurt and were seeking suspects, as well as potential witnesses who fled the scene to protect their own safety.

The death marked the fourth homicide in Kansas City in a 24-hour period, including the stabbing death Tuesday of a middle school student at his school. Police were also investigating the separate shooting deaths of a woman outside an apartment complex and a man inside a vehicle in a store parking lot.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649868769831.png" alt="Officers who were in the Ivanhoe Northeast neighborhood around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday to investigate a car crash heard several gunshots coming from a home nearby-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Officers who were in the Ivanhoe Northeast neighborhood around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday to investigate a car crash heard several gunshots coming from a home nearby-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A shooting at a house party early Wednesday in Kansas City left one person dead and two others injured, police said, capping a violent 24 hours in the city that saw four people killed in separate incidents.Officers who were in the Ivanhoe Northeast neighborhood around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday to investigate a car crash heard several gunshots coming from a home nearby, police said in a news release.The officers found three victims at the home. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and another person was taken to a hospital in critical condition. A third person suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment. Police did not release the names of those killed and hurt and were seeking suspects, as well as potential witnesses who fled the scene to protect their own safety.The death marked the fourth homicide in Kansas City in a 24-hour period, including the stabbing death Tuesday of a middle school student at his school. Police were also investigating the separate shooting deaths of a woman outside an apartment complex and a man inside a vehicle in a store parking lot.

Police: 4 killed in Kansas City in violent 24-hours

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/sandhill-plum-officially-named-kansas-state-fruit/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Sandhill plum is the official state fruit of Kansas after Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill Tuesday.

The effort was the product of a multi-school effort to learn about 
the political process and pick a state fruit. More than 400 fourth- and 
fifth-grade students from 24 different schools participated by writing 
essays and sending letters to state representatives and voting on which 
fruit to designate.

The Sandhill plum is native to Kansas, and students described it as versatile and resilient.

“I am proud of the efforts put forth by the students from Sabetha 
Elementary School and beyond,” Kelly said. “Hundreds of bills are 
introduced each legislative session, but not all of them make it to this
 point. It’s a shining example of what hard work and determination can 
truly accomplish at any age.”

<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2644/">The measure</a>
 passed the Senate without opposition and passed the House 108 to 5, 
with some representatives lightheartedly opposing the measure in favor 
of proposals by schools in their districts. Other fruits in contention 
were the red mulberry, the gooseberry and the American Persimmon.

Ten students testified virtually in March on behalf of the Sandhill 
plum in front of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. The 
students from Sabetha Elementary School who started the process were in 
attendance to witness the bill become law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649864062606.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly signed Tuesday a bill designating the native Sandhill plum is the official state fruit of Kansas. (Submitted/ courtesy Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly signed Tuesday a bill designating the native Sandhill plum is the official state fruit of Kansas. (Submitted/ courtesy Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/sandhill-plum-officially-named-kansas-state-fruit/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Sandhill plum is the official state fruit of Kansas after Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill Tuesday.The effort was the product of a multi-school effort to learn about 
the political process and pick a state fruit. More than 400 fourth- and 
fifth-grade students from 24 different schools participated by writing 
essays and sending letters to state representatives and voting on which 
fruit to designate.The Sandhill plum is native to Kansas, and students described it as versatile and resilient.“I am proud of the efforts put forth by the students from Sabetha 
Elementary School and beyond,” Kelly said. “Hundreds of bills are 
introduced each legislative session, but not all of them make it to this
 point. It’s a shining example of what hard work and determination can 
truly accomplish at any age.”<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2644/">The measure</a>
 passed the Senate without opposition and passed the House 108 to 5, 
with some representatives lightheartedly opposing the measure in favor 
of proposals by schools in their districts. Other fruits in contention 
were the red mulberry, the gooseberry and the American Persimmon.Ten students testified virtually in March on behalf of the Sandhill 
plum in front of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. The 
students from Sabetha Elementary School who started the process were in 
attendance to witness the bill become law.

Sandhill plum officially named Kansas state fruit

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-04-12/finding-child-care-in-kansas-was-a-challenge-before-the-pandemic-now-its-even-harder">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — Finding child care in Kansas has become so hard that some Kansas parents now plan pregnancies around open child care slots.

“They
 are actually trying to time their pregnancies,” said Reva Wywadis, 
executive director of Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas. “We used to 
talk about a child care shortage, and now we're talking about a child 
care crisis.”

Her organization estimates that roughly 153,000 
children in Kansas need child care. Yet only 74,000 spots are available 
statewide. Kansas lost about 800 family care homes between 2018 and 
2022. The number of child care centers, which often have the largest 
capacity, and group child care homes remains steady. But staffing 
shortages limit their overall effectiveness.

“They were all impacted significantly,” Wywadis said.

She
 said the last few years pushed child care professionals toward 
retirement or to different jobs. The availability of better paying jobs 
and the stress of the work could have led to more people quitting, 
Wywadis said. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2021 estimated 
the average pay of child care workers in Kansas was $23,440 — one of the
 lowest in the country.

As child care options shrink, parents are 
considering quitting their jobs to care for children or using their paid
 time off to pick them up after school. Others drive miles out of their 
way to find an available spot. Rural areas with fewer facilities, 
parents with non-traditional work hours and foster parents all have 
unique needs that are not being met by the shortage.

Joni Hiatt, 
Kansas director of family programs for Foster Adopt Connect, said foster
 families take children at a moment's notice and struggle to find 
available child care. She said some families are opting not to take in 
foster children because they lack adequate child care.

A survey of
 90 parents by the Kansas Caregivers Support Network found that only 30%
 of foster parents found child care facilities that accept the Kansas 
Department for Children and Families rate for assistance, meaning they 
will pay out of pocket for the costs. Another 34% of parents only 
sometimes found facilities accepting that payment.

Hiatt said some parents are calling 10 facilities before finding a spot while others are told to wait a year for infant care.

Children
 under the age of 6 might need child care, unless they start preschool. 
Hiatt said that is an important time for children to socialize and spend
 time with peers.

Wywadis said if parents lack child care, they 
can’t reenter the workforce. And if they can’t work, local businesses 
struggle to fill jobs.

Wywadis and Child Care Aware are working 
with communities to get business to pool their resources and pursue 
child care grants. But, she said, there isn’t one simple fix.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649862366836.png" alt="Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas estimates there are 74,000 childcare slots in Kansas to care for the 153,000 children who might need care. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas estimates there are 74,000 childcare slots in Kansas to care for the 153,000 children who might need care. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-04-12/finding-child-care-in-kansas-was-a-challenge-before-the-pandemic-now-its-even-harder">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — Finding child care in Kansas has become so hard that some Kansas parents now plan pregnancies around open child care slots.“They
 are actually trying to time their pregnancies,” said Reva Wywadis, 
executive director of Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas. “We used to 
talk about a child care shortage, and now we're talking about a child 
care crisis.”Her organization estimates that roughly 153,000 
children in Kansas need child care. Yet only 74,000 spots are available 
statewide. Kansas lost about 800 family care homes between 2018 and 
2022. The number of child care centers, which often have the largest 
capacity, and group child care homes remains steady. But staffing 
shortages limit their overall effectiveness.“They were all impacted significantly,” Wywadis said.She
 said the last few years pushed child care professionals toward 
retirement or to different jobs. The availability of better paying jobs 
and the stress of the work could have led to more people quitting, 
Wywadis said. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2021 estimated 
the average pay of child care workers in Kansas was $23,440 — one of the
 lowest in the country.As child care options shrink, parents are 
considering quitting their jobs to care for children or using their paid
 time off to pick them up after school. Others drive miles out of their 
way to find an available spot. Rural areas with fewer facilities, 
parents with non-traditional work hours and foster parents all have 
unique needs that are not being met by the shortage.Joni Hiatt, 
Kansas director of family programs for Foster Adopt Connect, said foster
 families take children at a moment's notice and struggle to find 
available child care. She said some families are opting not to take in 
foster children because they lack adequate child care.A survey of
 90 parents by the Kansas Caregivers Support Network found that only 30%
 of foster parents found child care facilities that accept the Kansas 
Department for Children and Families rate for assistance, meaning they 
will pay out of pocket for the costs. Another 34% of parents only 
sometimes found facilities accepting that payment.Hiatt said some parents are calling 10 facilities before finding a spot while others are told to wait a year for infant care.Children
 under the age of 6 might need child care, unless they start preschool. 
Hiatt said that is an important time for children to socialize and spend
 time with peers.Wywadis said if parents lack child care, they 
can’t reenter the workforce. And if they can’t work, local businesses 
struggle to fill jobs.Wywadis and Child Care Aware are working 
with communities to get business to pool their resources and pursue 
child care grants. But, she said, there isn’t one simple fix.“The solution is going to look very different in different communities,” she said.“The
 more we can come together and work collaboratively and collectively to 
try to address the need, the better off we will all be as a society.”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.