WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) shared his thoughts after he and other members of a bipartisan delegation returned from Poland and Germany to gain more insight on needed security and humanitarian support for Ukraine.

“What I witnessed was an inspirational citizen of Ukraine, tremendous leadership from President Zelenksyy and a country willing to die and sacrifice for their freedom and liberty,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“It’s a reminder that the stakes here are massive, and that we must provide the Ukrainian people with the tools they need to succeed. We ought not just provide enough humanitarian and lethal aid for them to survive – we must provide the necessary tools for them to win. It is immoral for us to do less; for us to allow these battles to continue day after day with the death of Ukrainians.”

“The reality is there is not a moment to lose,”&nbsp;continued Sen. Moran. “Every day matters in this fight against Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked, unjustified and immoral war against Ukraine. We are late now. We were late yesterday, and a slow march of bureaucratic policies and efforts does not save lives; it costs lives. We need to ensure our colleagues in the Senate, our colleagues in Congress and the Biden administration understand when we lose a moment, we lose a life.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647945759878.png" alt="Senator Moran&nbsp;speaks with U.S. Consul General Patrick Slowinski and Polish military leaders" />
 <figcaption>Senator Moran&nbsp;speaks with U.S. Consul General Patrick Slowinski and Polish military leaders</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) shared his thoughts after he and other members of a bipartisan delegation returned from Poland and Germany to gain more insight on needed security and humanitarian support for Ukraine.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iVSNA6v8pmA?start=7" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“What I witnessed was an inspirational citizen of Ukraine, tremendous leadership from President Zelenksyy and a country willing to die and sacrifice for their freedom and liberty,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“It’s a reminder that the stakes here are massive, and that we must provide the Ukrainian people with the tools they need to succeed. We ought not just provide enough humanitarian and lethal aid for them to survive – we must provide the necessary tools for them to win. It is immoral for us to do less; for us to allow these battles to continue day after day with the death of Ukrainians.”“The reality is there is not a moment to lose,”&nbsp;continued Sen. Moran. “Every day matters in this fight against Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked, unjustified and immoral war against Ukraine. We are late now. We were late yesterday, and a slow march of bureaucratic policies and efforts does not save lives; it costs lives. We need to ensure our colleagues in the Senate, our colleagues in Congress and the Biden administration understand when we lose a moment, we lose a life.”

🎥 Moran: Every day matters in this fight against Vladimir Putin

PAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man arrested after deputies executed a search warrant at his home in Larned March 15, made his first court appearance in the case on Monday.

William Christopher Woods, 54 of Larned, is charged with Possession of 49.4 Grams of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute within 1000 Feet of a School; Criminal Use of an Explosive; Aggravated Endangering a Child; Possession of Fentanyl; Felony Drug Paraphernalia suitable to distribute a controlled substance;&nbsp; Felony Defacing Identification Marks of a Firearm; Possession of Marijuana; and&nbsp; Misdemeanor Drug Paraphernalia suitable to ingest a controlled substance, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. 

Two juveniles removed from the home during the execution of the search warrant also face pending charges, according to the McNett.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647891633991.png" alt="Woods-photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Woods-photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man arrested after deputies executed a search warrant at his home in Larned March 15, made his first court appearance in the case on Monday.William Christopher Woods, 54 of Larned, is charged with Possession of 49.4 Grams of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute within 1000 Feet of a School; Criminal Use of an Explosive; Aggravated Endangering a Child; Possession of Fentanyl; Felony Drug Paraphernalia suitable to distribute a controlled substance;&nbsp; Felony Defacing Identification Marks of a Firearm; Possession of Marijuana; and&nbsp; Misdemeanor Drug Paraphernalia suitable to ingest a controlled substance, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647449462804.jpeg" alt="Photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Woods is being held on a $100,000 bond.Two juveniles removed from the home during the execution of the search warrant also face pending charges, according to the McNett.

Kan. man charged after explosives, guns and drugs seized at home

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with gunfire at a home in Atchison.

Just after 3a.m. Saturday, police responded to a disturbance with shots fired in the 200 block Green Tree Road, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. When officers arrived they heard shots being fired behind the residence where the disturbance had occurred. 

Officers located several persons in front of the residence who had been inside the residence during the disturbance and learned shots had been fired inside the residence and the person firing the shots was then outside at the rear of the residence and firing shots, according to Wilson.

A short time later officers took 60-year-old Leodis Byers into custody. There were no injuries.

An investigation that followed determined that several people were together at the suspect’s residence when a disturbance occurred and the suspect fired multiple rounds from several firearms. No one was struck by the rounds. A 32-year-old reported being a victim of battery and aggravated assault during the disturbance but did not require medical care. Police recovered several firearms at the residence.

Byers is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault, battery, and unlawful discharge of a firearm, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647800847296.png" alt="Byers-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Byers-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with gunfire at a home in Atchison.Just after 3a.m. Saturday, police responded to a disturbance with shots fired in the 200 block Green Tree Road, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. When officers arrived they heard shots being fired behind the residence where the disturbance had occurred. Officers located several persons in front of the residence who had been inside the residence during the disturbance and learned shots had been fired inside the residence and the person firing the shots was then outside at the rear of the residence and firing shots, according to Wilson.A short time later officers took 60-year-old Leodis Byers into custody. There were no injuries.An investigation that followed determined that several people were together at the suspect’s residence when a disturbance occurred and the suspect fired multiple rounds from several firearms. No one was struck by the rounds. A 32-year-old reported being a victim of battery and aggravated assault during the disturbance but did not require medical care. Police recovered several firearms at the residence.Byers is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault, battery, and unlawful discharge of a firearm, according to Wilson.

Man jailed after firing shots with several firearms at Kan. home

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas woman charged with murder in a fatal hit-and-run in March of 2021 entered a plea in the case Friday.

Charity Blackmon, 32, Wichita, pled guilty to 2nd degree intentional murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. She was scheduled for a jury trial starting this week.

On March 26, 2021 police were dispatched to 13th&nbsp;Street North and Oliver Avenue in Wichita for a shooting call, according to officer Paul Cruz. Upon arriving, they located&nbsp;54-year-old <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/2blv6y22g0?qid=7f0e4807b16464f4303f8d95ed764ff1">Merrill Rabus of Wichita</a> unconscious and receiving life-saving measures.

Rabus had undetermined injuries, including what appeared to be a single gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

The investigation revealed Rabus was on his bicycle at the intersection of 13th&nbsp;Street North and Oliver Avenue when he was struck by a white Plymouth van driven by 31-year-old Charity Blackmon. 

Blackmon then got out of her vehicle and fired a shot from a handgun, striking Rabus. Blackmon fled the scene and was followed by witnesses who provided her location. She was located and arrested at 14th&nbsp;Street North and Green Street by a Wichita State University police officer, according to Cruz.

 Blackmon and Rabus were not known to each other. Officers also recovered a handgun through this investigation.&nbsp;

She is scheduled for sentencing on May 9.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616855135199.png" alt="Blackmon photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Blackmon photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas woman charged with murder in a fatal hit-and-run in March of 2021 entered a plea in the case Friday.Charity Blackmon, 32, Wichita, pled guilty to 2nd degree intentional murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. She was scheduled for a jury trial starting this week.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616871807743.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation on Friday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation on Friday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>On March 26, 2021 police were dispatched to 13th&nbsp;Street North and Oliver Avenue in Wichita for a shooting call, according to officer Paul Cruz. Upon arriving, they located&nbsp;54-year-old <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/2blv6y22g0?qid=7f0e4807b16464f4303f8d95ed764ff1">Merrill Rabus of Wichita</a> unconscious and receiving life-saving measures.Rabus had undetermined injuries, including what appeared to be a single gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries.The investigation revealed Rabus was on his bicycle at the intersection of 13th&nbsp;Street North and Oliver Avenue when he was struck by a white Plymouth van driven by 31-year-old Charity Blackmon. Blackmon then got out of her vehicle and fired a shot from a handgun, striking Rabus. Blackmon fled the scene and was followed by witnesses who provided her location. She was located and arrested at 14th&nbsp;Street North and Green Street by a Wichita State University police officer, according to Cruz. Blackmon and Rabus were not known to each other. Officers also recovered a handgun through this investigation.&nbsp;She is scheduled for sentencing on May 9.----------

Kan. woman enters plea to running over, fatally shooting bicyclist

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after an weekend altercation and shooting in Garden City.

Just after 3a.m. Saturday, police responded to report of a drive-by shooting in the area of 3rd Street and Labrador in Garden City, according to a media release.

Officers learned that 24-year-old Johnathan Reyes was southbound on 3rd Street when a vehicle in front of him was traveling slowly and refused to let Reyes pass.

While stopped at the intersection of North 3rd and Labrador, the occupants exited both vehicles and began a verbal altercation. During this argument, Reyes pulled a knife and allegedly stabbed 37-year-old Justin Cole.

As Reyes attempted to leave in his vehicle, Cole brandished a firearm, shot Reyes and drove from the scene, according to police.

Both vehicles later met on Labrador Boulevard and as the vehicle passed, Cole allegedly fired a second shot that hit Reyes' vehicle.

Police were unable to locate Cole after the incident. The Kansas Highway Patrol and Kearny County Sheriff's Deputies later located Cole and took him into custody.

He was booked into the Finney County jail on requested charges of attempted first-degree murder criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal damage.

Reyes was also later booked into the Finney County Jail on requested charges of aggravated battery and felony interference. Police are also looking for a third suspect believed involved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647873259552.png" alt="Cole photo Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Cole photo Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after an weekend altercation and shooting in Garden City.Just after 3a.m. Saturday, police responded to report of a drive-by shooting in the area of 3rd Street and Labrador in Garden City, according to a media release.Officers learned that 24-year-old Johnathan Reyes was southbound on 3rd Street when a vehicle in front of him was traveling slowly and refused to let Reyes pass.While stopped at the intersection of North 3rd and Labrador, the occupants exited both vehicles and began a verbal altercation. During this argument, Reyes pulled a knife and allegedly stabbed 37-year-old Justin Cole.As Reyes attempted to leave in his vehicle, Cole brandished a firearm, shot Reyes and drove from the scene, according to police.Both vehicles later met on Labrador Boulevard and as the vehicle passed, Cole allegedly fired a second shot that hit Reyes' vehicle.Police were unable to locate Cole after the incident. The Kansas Highway Patrol and Kearny County Sheriff's Deputies later located Cole and took him into custody.He was booked into the Finney County jail on requested charges of attempted first-degree murder criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal damage.Reyes was also later booked into the Finney County Jail on requested charges of aggravated battery and felony interference. Police are also looking for a third suspect believed involved.

Two jailed after SW Kansas road rage stabbing, shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson pledged on Monday to decide cases “without fear or favor” if the Senate confirms her historic nomination as the first Black woman on the high court.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?518341-101/confirmation-hearing-supreme-court-nominee-ketanji-brown-jackson-day-1-part-2">CLICK here to&nbsp;</a>listen to her opening statement

Jackson, 51, addressed the Senate Judiciary Committee at the end of her first day of confirmation hearings, nearly four hours almost entirely consumed by opening statements from the panel’s 22 members.

Republicans promised pointed questions over the coming two days, with a special focus on her record on criminal matters. Democrats were full of praise for President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee.

With her family sitting behind her, her husband in socks bearing George Washington’s likeness, Jackson stressed that she has been independent and transparent in her nine years as a judge, and that she is ever mindful of the importance of that role.

“I have dedicated my career to ensuring that the words engraved on the front of the Supreme Court building — equal justice under law — are a reality and not just an ideal,” she said.

Barring a significant misstep, Democrats who control the Senate by the slimmest of margins intend to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-j-michelle-childs-joe-biden-stephen-breyer-us-supreme-court-117415e3c48ee2c3c3d24157350f48bb">wrap up her confirmation before Easter.&nbsp;</a>She would be the third Black justice, after Thurgood Marshall and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-stephen-breyer-covid-us-supreme-court-health-21418c400b3535036029c251d6d7a17b">Clarence Thomas,</a>&nbsp;as well as the first Black woman on the high court.

“It’s not easy being the first. Often, you have to be the best, in some ways the bravest,” Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the committee chairman, said in support shortly after the proceedings began.

Democrats sought to preemptively rebut Republican criticism of her record on criminal matters as a judge and before that as a federal public defender and a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

Jackson “is not anti-law enforcement,” and is not “soft on crime,” Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., said, noting that members of Jackson’s family have worked in law enforcement and that she has support from some national law enforcement organizations. ”Judge Jackson is no judicial activist.”

The committee’s senior Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, promised Republicans would “ask tough questions about Jackson’s judicial philosophy,” without turning the hearings into a ”spectacle.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., noted that Democrats had opposed some past Republican judicial nominees who were Black or Hispanic, and he said that he and his GOP colleagues wouldn’t be deterred from asking probing questions by Jackson’s race.

He said of some criticism from the left: “Bottom line here is, It’s about ‘We’re all racist if we ask hard questions.’ That’s not going to fly with us.”

Graham was one of three Republicans to support Jackson’s confirmation as an appellate judge last year. But he has indicated over the past several weeks that he is unlikely to vote for her again.

Jackson’s testimony will give most Americans, as well as the Senate, their most extensive look yet at the Harvard-trained lawyer with a resume that includes two years as a federal public defender. That makes her the first nominee with significant criminal defense experience since Marshall.

Jackson appeared before the same committee last year, after Biden chose her to fill an opening&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-notable-opinions-a764d001648c5151eb48e7f5663c403e">on the federal appeals court in Washington</a>, just down the hill from the Supreme Court.

<a href="https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/government_affairs_office/aba-scfj-rating-letter-judge-ketanji-brown-jackson.pdf" target="_blank">The American Bar Association</a>, which evaluates judicial nominees, has given Jackson its highest rating, “well qualified.”

Janette McCarthy Wallace, general counsel of the NAACP, said she was excited to see a Black woman on the verge of a high court seat.

“Representation matters,” Wallace said. “It’s critical to have diverse experience on the bench. It should reflect the rich cultural diversity of this country.”

While few Republicans are likely to vote for Jackson, most GOP senators did not aggressively criticize her, given that her confirmation would not alter the court’s 6-3 conservative majority. Several GOP senators on the panel used their time to denounce Senate Democrats instead of Jackson’s record.

The Republicans are trying to use her nomination to brand Democrats as soft on crime, an emerging theme in GOP midterm election campaigns. Biden has chosen several former public defenders for life-tenured judicial posts. In addition, Jackson served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, an independent agency created by Congress to reduce disparity in federal prison sentences.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-us-supreme-court-ap-fact-check-child-pornography-josh-hawley-68d5a59edf46ea3f28e35cf32f84fe19">Sen. Josh Hawley</a>, R-Mo., said in his opening statement that his research showed that Jackson had a pattern of issuing lower sentences in child pornography cases, repeating comments he wrote in a Twitter thread last week. The Republican National Committee echoed his claims, which Hawley did not raise when he questioned Jackson last year before voting against her appeals court confirmation.

The White House, along with several Democrats at the hearing, pushed back forcefully against Hawley’s criticism as “toxic and weakly presented misinformation.”

Sentencing expert Douglas Berman, an Ohio State law professor, wrote on his blog that Jackson’s record shows she is skeptical of the range of prison terms recommended for child pornography cases, “but so too were prosecutors in the majority of her cases and so too are district judges nationwide.”

As Jackson silently took notes, Hawley said he would raise his concerns again in questioning over the next two days. He said he found her candid and “enormously thoughtful” in a meeting earlier this month.

Hawley is one of several committee Republicans, along with Ted Cruz of Texas and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who are potential 2024 presidential candidates, and their aspirations may collide with other Republicans who would prefer not to pursue a scorched-earth approach to Jackson’s nomination.

Biden chose Jackson in February, fulfilling a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-joe-biden-us-supreme-court-campaign-2016-south-carolina-3a36206929862d7c06293a5724eff2fd">campaign pledge</a>&nbsp;to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court for the first time in American history. She would take the seat of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retirement-2f9c1f5da824e3b1ef25964205131fff">Justice Stephen Breyer</a>, who announced in January that he would retire after 28 years on the court.

Jackson once worked as a law clerk to Breyer early in her legal career.

Democrats are moving quickly to confirm Jackson, even though Breyer’s seat will not officially open until the summer. They have no votes to spare in a 50-50 Senate that they run by virtue of the tiebreaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris.

But they are not moving as fast as Republicans did when they installed Amy Coney Barrett on the court little more than a month after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and days before the 2020 presidential election.

Barrett, the third of President Donald Trump’s high court picks, entrenched the court’s conservative majority when she took the place of the liberal Ginsburg.

The court revealed Monday that Justice Thomas, the oldest member of the court at 73, was in the hospital being treated for an infection but that he did not have COVID-19.

Last year, Jackson won Senate confirmation by a 53-44 vote, with three Republicans supporting her.

She is married to Patrick Jackson, a surgeon in Washington, who sat in the audience with their two daughters, one in college and the other in high school. Jackson wiped away tears as his wife expressed her love for him.

She is related by marriage to former House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who was the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2012. Ryan has voiced support for her nomination.

Jackson has said her children have kept her in touch with reality, even as she has held a judge’s gavel since 2013.

In the courtroom, she told an audience in Athens, Georgia, in 2017, “people listen and generally do what I tell them to do.” At home, though, her daughters “make it very clear I know nothing, I should not tell them anything, much less give them any orders, that is, if they talk to me at all.”

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<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647892942817.png" alt="&nbsp;Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as she was sworn in Monday afternoon before the Senate Judiciary Committee-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as she was sworn in Monday afternoon before the Senate Judiciary Committee-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson pledged on Monday to decide cases “without fear or favor” if the Senate confirms her historic nomination as the first Black woman on the high court.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?518341-101/confirmation-hearing-supreme-court-nominee-ketanji-brown-jackson-day-1-part-2">CLICK here to&nbsp;</a>listen to her opening statementJackson, 51, addressed the Senate Judiciary Committee at the end of her first day of confirmation hearings, nearly four hours almost entirely consumed by opening statements from the panel’s 22 members.Republicans promised pointed questions over the coming two days, with a special focus on her record on criminal matters. Democrats were full of praise for President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee.With her family sitting behind her, her husband in socks bearing George Washington’s likeness, Jackson stressed that she has been independent and transparent in her nine years as a judge, and that she is ever mindful of the importance of that role.“I have dedicated my career to ensuring that the words engraved on the front of the Supreme Court building — equal justice under law — are a reality and not just an ideal,” she said.Barring a significant misstep, Democrats who control the Senate by the slimmest of margins intend to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-j-michelle-childs-joe-biden-stephen-breyer-us-supreme-court-117415e3c48ee2c3c3d24157350f48bb">wrap up her confirmation before Easter.&nbsp;</a>She would be the third Black justice, after Thurgood Marshall and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-stephen-breyer-covid-us-supreme-court-health-21418c400b3535036029c251d6d7a17b">Clarence Thomas,</a>&nbsp;as well as the first Black woman on the high court.“It’s not easy being the first. Often, you have to be the best, in some ways the bravest,” Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the committee chairman, said in support shortly after the proceedings began.Democrats sought to preemptively rebut Republican criticism of her record on criminal matters as a judge and before that as a federal public defender and a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission.Jackson “is not anti-law enforcement,” and is not “soft on crime,” Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., said, noting that members of Jackson’s family have worked in law enforcement and that she has support from some national law enforcement organizations. ”Judge Jackson is no judicial activist.”The committee’s senior Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, promised Republicans would “ask tough questions about Jackson’s judicial philosophy,” without turning the hearings into a ”spectacle.”Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., noted that Democrats had opposed some past Republican judicial nominees who were Black or Hispanic, and he said that he and his GOP colleagues wouldn’t be deterred from asking probing questions by Jackson’s race.He said of some criticism from the left: “Bottom line here is, It’s about ‘We’re all racist if we ask hard questions.’ That’s not going to fly with us.”Graham was one of three Republicans to support Jackson’s confirmation as an appellate judge last year. But he has indicated over the past several weeks that he is unlikely to vote for her again.Jackson’s testimony will give most Americans, as well as the Senate, their most extensive look yet at the Harvard-trained lawyer with a resume that includes two years as a federal public defender. That makes her the first nominee with significant criminal defense experience since Marshall.Jackson appeared before the same committee last year, after Biden chose her to fill an opening&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-notable-opinions-a764d001648c5151eb48e7f5663c403e">on the federal appeals court in Washington</a>, just down the hill from the Supreme Court.<a href="https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/government_affairs_office/aba-scfj-rating-letter-judge-ketanji-brown-jackson.pdf" target="_blank">The American Bar Association</a>, which evaluates judicial nominees, has given Jackson its highest rating, “well qualified.”Janette McCarthy Wallace, general counsel of the NAACP, said she was excited to see a Black woman on the verge of a high court seat.“Representation matters,” Wallace said. “It’s critical to have diverse experience on the bench. It should reflect the rich cultural diversity of this country.”While few Republicans are likely to vote for Jackson, most GOP senators did not aggressively criticize her, given that her confirmation would not alter the court’s 6-3 conservative majority. Several GOP senators on the panel used their time to denounce Senate Democrats instead of Jackson’s record.The Republicans are trying to use her nomination to brand Democrats as soft on crime, an emerging theme in GOP midterm election campaigns. Biden has chosen several former public defenders for life-tenured judicial posts. In addition, Jackson served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, an independent agency created by Congress to reduce disparity in federal prison sentences.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-us-supreme-court-ap-fact-check-child-pornography-josh-hawley-68d5a59edf46ea3f28e35cf32f84fe19">Sen. Josh Hawley</a>, R-Mo., said in his opening statement that his research showed that Jackson had a pattern of issuing lower sentences in child pornography cases, repeating comments he wrote in a Twitter thread last week. The Republican National Committee echoed his claims, which Hawley did not raise when he questioned Jackson last year before voting against her appeals court confirmation.The White House, along with several Democrats at the hearing, pushed back forcefully against Hawley’s criticism as “toxic and weakly presented misinformation.”Sentencing expert Douglas Berman, an Ohio State law professor, wrote on his blog that Jackson’s record shows she is skeptical of the range of prison terms recommended for child pornography cases, “but so too were prosecutors in the majority of her cases and so too are district judges nationwide.”As Jackson silently took notes, Hawley said he would raise his concerns again in questioning over the next two days. He said he found her candid and “enormously thoughtful” in a meeting earlier this month.Hawley is one of several committee Republicans, along with Ted Cruz of Texas and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who are potential 2024 presidential candidates, and their aspirations may collide with other Republicans who would prefer not to pursue a scorched-earth approach to Jackson’s nomination.Biden chose Jackson in February, fulfilling a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-joe-biden-us-supreme-court-campaign-2016-south-carolina-3a36206929862d7c06293a5724eff2fd">campaign pledge</a>&nbsp;to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court for the first time in American history. She would take the seat of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retirement-2f9c1f5da824e3b1ef25964205131fff">Justice Stephen Breyer</a>, who announced in January that he would retire after 28 years on the court.Jackson once worked as a law clerk to Breyer early in her legal career.Democrats are moving quickly to confirm Jackson, even though Breyer’s seat will not officially open until the summer. They have no votes to spare in a 50-50 Senate that they run by virtue of the tiebreaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris.But they are not moving as fast as Republicans did when they installed Amy Coney Barrett on the court little more than a month after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and days before the 2020 presidential election.Barrett, the third of President Donald Trump’s high court picks, entrenched the court’s conservative majority when she took the place of the liberal Ginsburg.The court revealed Monday that Justice Thomas, the oldest member of the court at 73, was in the hospital being treated for an infection but that he did not have COVID-19.Last year, Jackson won Senate confirmation by a 53-44 vote, with three Republicans supporting her.She is married to Patrick Jackson, a surgeon in Washington, who sat in the audience with their two daughters, one in college and the other in high school. Jackson wiped away tears as his wife expressed her love for him.She is related by marriage to former House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who was the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2012. Ryan has voiced support for her nomination.Jackson has said her children have kept her in touch with reality, even as she has held a judge’s gavel since 2013.In the courtroom, she told an audience in Athens, Georgia, in 2017, “people listen and generally do what I tell them to do.” At home, though, her daughters “make it very clear I know nothing, I should not tell them anything, much less give them any orders, that is, if they talk to me at all.”ADVERTISEMENT<a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=associatedpress-apnews&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=organic-thumbnails-rr:Right%20Rail%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">Promoted Links</a>You May Like<a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/ur/?utm_content=85be4c&amp;nw_campaign_id=151362992240067400&amp;utm_medium=ntv&amp;utm_source=tb&amp;utm_campaign=cc_mktg_paid_110220_biz_int_tb&amp;utm_term=associatedpress-apnews&amp;mktg_link=2984842630#tblciGiD5J8ghldADtkbHFMTpsm9Vphw-e6gBbjX6K5EKTkCQMSCS81Mo84uJqOKk-snsAQ" target="_blank">2022's Standout Business Credit Cards - Deals That Outshine The RestNerdWallet</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-tennessee-memphis-67050210f2862d84af3ed87a62f1186c">Jury begins deliberating in trial over NBA player’s slaying</a><a href="https://www.perimeter81.com/whitepapers/dd/forrester-ztna-leader?utm_source=taboola&amp;utm_medium=discovery&amp;utm_campaign=17132234&amp;utm_content=Streamline+Security+Compliance+with+Zero+Trust+Access.&amp;utm_term=associatedpress-apnews_apnews.com&amp;funnel=2&amp;tblci=GiD5J8ghldADtkbHFMTpsm9Vphw-e6gBbjX6K5EKTkCQMSCKq04omY-Vm9vLqNt7#tblciGiD5J8ghldADtkbHFMTpsm9Vphw-e6gBbjX6K5EKTkCQMSCKq04omY-Vm9vLqNt7" target="_blank">Streamline Security Compliance with Zero Trust Access.Perimeter 81</a><a target="_blank" href="https://trc.taboola.com/associatedpress-apnews/log/3/click?pi=%2Farticle%2Fketanji-brown-jackson-confirmation-hearing-live-updates-54fe3957e4cca1a6d6dde5202631d0c2&amp;ri=6da13e86d70f37c2aed9aa6d074c352f&amp;sd=v2_644a0087f1926a927cb1aef8698d8bb3_4593774c-0d05-4789-9af6-526a699da34a-tuct85cd83f_1647894591_1647894591_CIi3jgYQieo_GPXtr_H6LyABKAMw4QE4kaQOQNfgDkijotsDUKYFWABg7A9ort7l6N2X-5enAXAB&amp;ui=4593774c-0d05-4789-9af6-526a699da34a-tuct85cd83f&amp;it=text&amp;ii=~~V1~~-999911405421603244~~S37p-hmzZ1_rx4ScbMRU9CsiRuPtEdQpn_p-9n8wOrDTxvAnL2wqac4MyzR7uD46gj3kUkbS3FhelBtnsiJV6MhkDZRZzzIqDobN6rWmCPA3hYz5D3PLat6nhIftiT1lwdxwdlxkeV_Mfb3eos_TQavImGhxk0e7psNAZxHJ9RJlYK8sfyhwdhBbegyBZAfnjzBZdnu0CQAVuImO0UCRPBU79FFzM_QDU1CROubIKRwzTqEHlRSKdUOXORMTW5zvRdbgwlJdnqyroTPEQNNEn1JRxBOSYSWt-Xm3vkPm-G4&amp;pt=text&amp;li=rbox-t2m&amp;sig=e6f15866eda8f1aeeca2111e0b08232addec0d77660f&amp;redir=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perimeter81.com%2Fwhitepapers%2Fdd%2Fforrester-ztna-leader%3Futm_source%3Dtaboola%26utm_medium%3Ddiscovery%26utm_campaign%3D17132234%26utm_content%3DStreamline%2BSecurity%2BCompliance%2Bwith%2BZero%2BTrust%2BAccess.%26utm_term%3Dassociatedpress-apnews_apnews.com%26funnel%3D2%0A%0A%26tblci%3DGiD5J8ghldADtkbHFMTpsm9Vphw-e6gBbjX6K5EKTkCQMSCKq04omY-Vm9vLqNt7%23tblciGiD5J8ghldADtkbHFMTpsm9Vphw-e6gBbjX6K5EKTkCQMSCKq04omY-Vm9vLqNt7&amp;vi=1647894591221&amp;p=taboolaaccount-marketingperimeter81com&amp;r=82&amp;tvi2=1571&amp;lti=explore-more-header-abcd-test_var&amp;ppb=CIYB&amp;cpb=ElIyMDIyMDMxNS0zMl9iMS1QUi00MjcwNS1ERVYtMTAwODI3LWZpeC1oZWFkZXItcmVuZGVyaW5nLW9uLWVtLTAwZGQ0N2E4NjY5LVNOQVBTSE9UGMglIJO1EioZY2gudGFib29sYXN5bmRpY2F0aW9uLmNvbTIIdHJjODAyNzM4gKrJtgxAkaQOSNfgDlCjotsDWKYFYwi2BxCjDBgCZGMI1xYQ1R8YI2RjCI8oEPw1GCRkYwjgKBDeNhgUZGMI-f__________ARD5__________8BGAdkYwjSAxDgBhgIZGMIlhQQnxwYGGRjCNwVEPslGAlkYwirKRCzNxgKZGMI9BQQnh0YH2RjCKQnEIM1GC9keAGAAaZviAHBmvLGAZABFw&amp;cta=true">Learn More</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-movies-reese-witherspoon-836cb543158cd4b460de31d5be94607b">Reese Witherspoon acquires film rights to Dolly Parton novel</a><a href="https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=associatedpress-apnews&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=organic-thumbnails-rr:Right%20Rail%20Thumbnails:" target="_blank">by Taboola</a>ADVERTISEMENT

🎥 Supreme Court nominee pledges to decide cases 'without fear or favor'

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann is hosting the Ranking Member from the House Agriculture Committee Glenn 'GT' Thompson this week in the Big First.

The visit is in preparation for the writing of the 2023 Farm Bill. It's also a concern to both members that Ukraine's production capability for agriculture will likely be hampered by the conflict going on there.

"Ukraine has around 40 million people, but they feed around 400 million people," Mann said. "When you've got almost a third of the wheat in the world between Ukraine and Russia, the big, big question becomes what does production look like for them? How does production level dip? The concern is that would destabilize a lot of countries that they feed, a lot of those countries in the Middle East, Egypt and north Africa. The ripple effect, we don't know yet."

Supporting Ukraine is key, because it's planting time over there.

"American agricultural producers are going to have to step up and produce more," Mann said. "It's something we've done for a long time, stepping up when need be and I'm excited to see it."

Congressman Thompson and Congressman Mann are both keenly aware of the need for food security, which is why they will be visiting the under construction National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan later this week.

"It's immense," Thompson said. "Without food security, you don't have national security, you certainly don't have economic security, as well."

Mann notes that it's still going to be awhile until the handoff happens to the Manhattan facility.

"It should start to be operational in the next year or so," Mann said. "Construction's got to be completed, then it has to be commissioned and then it has to be tested, then a move has to happen. For the final move to occur, we're still a ways away from that, but we're closing in on it and it's going to be very exciting for the state."

The United States currently does not have a laboratory facility with maximum biocontainment (BSL-4) space to study high-consequence zoonotic diseases affecting large livestock. The NBAF will be the first laboratory facility in the U.S. to provide BSL-4 laboratories capable of housing cattle and other large livestock. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 75 percent of new and emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic diseases which may be transmitted from animals to humans.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647893512817.png" alt="Rep. Glenn 'GT' Thompson-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Glenn 'GT' Thompson-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann is hosting the Ranking Member from the House Agriculture Committee Glenn 'GT' Thompson this week in the Big First.The visit is in preparation for the writing of the 2023 Farm Bill. It's also a concern to both members that Ukraine's production capability for agriculture will likely be hampered by the conflict going on there."Ukraine has around 40 million people, but they feed around 400 million people," Mann said. "When you've got almost a third of the wheat in the world between Ukraine and Russia, the big, big question becomes what does production look like for them? How does production level dip? The concern is that would destabilize a lot of countries that they feed, a lot of those countries in the Middle East, Egypt and north Africa. The ripple effect, we don't know yet."Supporting Ukraine is key, because it's planting time over there."American agricultural producers are going to have to step up and produce more," Mann said. "It's something we've done for a long time, stepping up when need be and I'm excited to see it."Congressman Thompson and Congressman Mann are both keenly aware of the need for food security, which is why they will be visiting the under construction National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan later this week."It's immense," Thompson said. "Without food security, you don't have national security, you certainly don't have economic security, as well."Mann notes that it's still going to be awhile until the handoff happens to the Manhattan facility."It should start to be operational in the next year or so," Mann said. "Construction's got to be completed, then it has to be commissioned and then it has to be tested, then a move has to happen. For the final move to occur, we're still a ways away from that, but we're closing in on it and it's going to be very exciting for the state."The United States currently does not have a laboratory facility with maximum biocontainment (BSL-4) space to study high-consequence zoonotic diseases affecting large livestock. The NBAF will be the first laboratory facility in the U.S. to provide BSL-4 laboratories capable of housing cattle and other large livestock. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 75 percent of new and emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic diseases which may be transmitted from animals to humans.

Mann hosting Ag committee ranking member in Big First District

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Pleasant Hill man who fell from a boat on a city lake over the weekend drowned, authorities said.

The incident happened around 11 a.m. Sunday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/pleasant-hill-man-falls-overboard-drowns-at-city-lake">television station KSHB reported</a>.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Michael Hamilton, 67, fell from a boat he was aboard into Pleasant Hill City Lake, which is located about 27 miles southeast of Kansas City.

Investigators said bystanders tried to rescue the man and eventually pulled him from the water, but too late to save him. Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said he was not wearing a life jacket.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Pleasant Hill man who fell from a boat on a city lake over the weekend drowned, authorities said.The incident happened around 11 a.m. Sunday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/pleasant-hill-man-falls-overboard-drowns-at-city-lake">television station KSHB reported</a>.The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Michael Hamilton, 67, fell from a boat he was aboard into Pleasant Hill City Lake, which is located about 27 miles southeast of Kansas City.Investigators said bystanders tried to rescue the man and eventually pulled him from the water, but too late to save him. Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene.Investigators said he was not wearing a life jacket.

Patrol: Man falls from boat, drowns at Kansas City-area lake

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans who have long enjoyed the benefits of historically low interest rates will have to adapt to a very different environment as the Federal Reserve embarks on what’s likely to be a prolonged period of rate hikes to fight inflation.

Record-low mortgage rates below 3%, reached last year, are already gone. Credit card interest rates and the costs of an auto loan will also likely move up. Savers may receive somewhat better returns, depending on their bank, while returns on long-term bond funds will likely suffer.

The Fed’s initial quarter-point rate hike Wednesday in its benchmark short-term rate won’t have much immediate impact on most Americans’ finances. But with inflation raging at four-decade highs, economists and investors expect the central bank to enact the fastest pace of rate hikes since 2005. That would mean higher borrowing rates well into the future.

On March 16, the Fed’s policymakers collectively signaled that they expect to boost their key rate up to seven times this year, raising its benchmark rate to between 1.75% and 2% by year’s end. The officials expect four additional hikes in 2023, which would leave their benchmark rate near 3%.

Chair Jerome Powell hopes that by making borrowing gradually more expensive, the Fed will succeed in cooling demand for homes, cars and other goods and services, thereby slowing inflation.

Yet the risks are high. With inflation likely to stay elevated, in part because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Fed may have to drive borrowing costs even higher than it now expects. Doing so potentially could tip the U.S. economy into recession.

“The impact of a single quarter-point interest rate hike is inconsequential on the household budget,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com. “But there is a cumulative effect that can be quite significant, both on the household budget as well as the broader economy.”

Here are some questions and answers about what the rate hikes could mean for consumers and businesses:

I’M CONSIDERING BUYING A HOUSE. WILL MORTGAGE RATES GO STEADILY HIGHER?

They already have in the past few months, partly in anticipation of the Fed’s moves, and will probably keep doing so.

Still, mortgage rates don’t necessarily rise in tandem with the Fed’s rate increases. Sometimes, they even move in the opposite direction. Long-term mortgages tend to track the rate on the 10-year Treasury note, which, in turn, is influenced by a variety of factors. These include investors’ expectations for future inflation and global demand for U.S. Treasurys.

Global turmoil, like Russia’s invasion, often spurs a “flight to safety” response among investors around the world: Many rush to buy Treasurys, which are regarded as the world’s safest asset. Higher demand for the 10-year Treasury would lower its yield, which would then reduce mortgage rates.

For now, though, faster inflation and strong U.S. economic growth are sending the 10-year Treasury rate up. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage, in turn, has jumped almost a full percentage point since late December to 3.85%,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms" target="_blank">according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.</a>

If you’re looking to buy a home and are frustrated by the lack of available houses, which has led to bidding wars and eye-watering prices, that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.

Economists say that higher mortgage rates will discourage some would-be purchasers. And average home prices, which have been soaring at about a 20% annual rate, could at least rise at a slower pace.

But Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American Financial Corporation, notes that there is such strong demand for homes, as the large millennial generation enters its prime home-buying years, that the housing market won’t cool by much. Supply hasn’t kept up. Many builders are struggling with shortages of parts and labor.

“We’ll still have a pretty robust housing market his year,” Kushi said.

For users of credit cards, home equity lines of credit and other variable-interest debt, rates would rise by roughly the same amount as the Fed hike, usually within one or two billing cycles. That’s because those rates are based in part on banks’ prime rate, which moves in tandem with the Fed.

Those who don’t qualify for low-rate credit cards might be stuck paying higher interest on their balances, and the rates on their cards would rise as the prime rate does.

Should the Fed decide to raise rates 10 times or more over the next two years — a realistic possibility — that would significantly boost interest payments.

The Fed’s rate hikes won’t necessarily raise auto loan rates as much. Car loans tend to be more sensitive to competition, which can slow the rate of increases.

WILL I BE ABLE TO EARN MORE ON MY SAVINGS?

Probably, though not likely by very much. And it depends on where your savings, if you have any, are parked.

Savings, certificates of deposit and money market accounts don’t typically track the Fed’s changes. Instead, banks tend to capitalize on a higher-rate environment to try to thicken their profits. They do so by imposing higher rates on borrowers, without necessarily offering any juicer rates to savers.

This is particularly true for large banks now. They’ve been flooded with savings as a result of government financial aid and reduced spending by many wealthier Americans during the pandemic. They won’t need to raise savings rates to attract more deposits or CD buyers.

But online banks and others with high-yield savings accounts will likely be an exception. These accounts are known for aggressively competing for depositors. The only catch is that they typically require significant deposits.

If you’re invested in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that hold long-term bonds, they will become a riskier investment. Typically, existing long-term bonds lose value as newer bonds are issued at higher yields.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587780450451.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans who have long enjoyed the benefits of historically low interest rates will have to adapt to a very different environment as the Federal Reserve embarks on what’s likely to be a prolonged period of rate hikes to fight inflation.Record-low mortgage rates below 3%, reached last year, are already gone. Credit card interest rates and the costs of an auto loan will also likely move up. Savers may receive somewhat better returns, depending on their bank, while returns on long-term bond funds will likely suffer.The Fed’s initial quarter-point rate hike Wednesday in its benchmark short-term rate won’t have much immediate impact on most Americans’ finances. But with inflation raging at four-decade highs, economists and investors expect the central bank to enact the fastest pace of rate hikes since 2005. That would mean higher borrowing rates well into the future.On March 16, the Fed’s policymakers collectively signaled that they expect to boost their key rate up to seven times this year, raising its benchmark rate to between 1.75% and 2% by year’s end. The officials expect four additional hikes in 2023, which would leave their benchmark rate near 3%.Chair Jerome Powell hopes that by making borrowing gradually more expensive, the Fed will succeed in cooling demand for homes, cars and other goods and services, thereby slowing inflation.Yet the risks are high. With inflation likely to stay elevated, in part because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Fed may have to drive borrowing costs even higher than it now expects. Doing so potentially could tip the U.S. economy into recession.“The impact of a single quarter-point interest rate hike is inconsequential on the household budget,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com. “But there is a cumulative effect that can be quite significant, both on the household budget as well as the broader economy.”Here are some questions and answers about what the rate hikes could mean for consumers and businesses:___I’M CONSIDERING BUYING A HOUSE. WILL MORTGAGE RATES GO STEADILY HIGHER?They already have in the past few months, partly in anticipation of the Fed’s moves, and will probably keep doing so.Still, mortgage rates don’t necessarily rise in tandem with the Fed’s rate increases. Sometimes, they even move in the opposite direction. Long-term mortgages tend to track the rate on the 10-year Treasury note, which, in turn, is influenced by a variety of factors. These include investors’ expectations for future inflation and global demand for U.S. Treasurys.Global turmoil, like Russia’s invasion, often spurs a “flight to safety” response among investors around the world: Many rush to buy Treasurys, which are regarded as the world’s safest asset. Higher demand for the 10-year Treasury would lower its yield, which would then reduce mortgage rates.For now, though, faster inflation and strong U.S. economic growth are sending the 10-year Treasury rate up. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage, in turn, has jumped almost a full percentage point since late December to 3.85%,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms" target="_blank">according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.</a>HOW WILL THAT AFFECT THE HOUSING MARKET?If you’re looking to buy a home and are frustrated by the lack of available houses, which has led to bidding wars and eye-watering prices, that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.Economists say that higher mortgage rates will discourage some would-be purchasers. And average home prices, which have been soaring at about a 20% annual rate, could at least rise at a slower pace.But Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American Financial Corporation, notes that there is such strong demand for homes, as the large millennial generation enters its prime home-buying years, that the housing market won’t cool by much. Supply hasn’t kept up. Many builders are struggling with shortages of parts and labor.“We’ll still have a pretty robust housing market his year,” Kushi said.WHAT ABOUT OTHER KINDS OF LOANS?For users of credit cards, home equity lines of credit and other variable-interest debt, rates would rise by roughly the same amount as the Fed hike, usually within one or two billing cycles. That’s because those rates are based in part on banks’ prime rate, which moves in tandem with the Fed.Those who don’t qualify for low-rate credit cards might be stuck paying higher interest on their balances, and the rates on their cards would rise as the prime rate does.Should the Fed decide to raise rates 10 times or more over the next two years — a realistic possibility — that would significantly boost interest payments.The Fed’s rate hikes won’t necessarily raise auto loan rates as much. Car loans tend to be more sensitive to competition, which can slow the rate of increases.WILL I BE ABLE TO EARN MORE ON MY SAVINGS?Probably, though not likely by very much. And it depends on where your savings, if you have any, are parked.Savings, certificates of deposit and money market accounts don’t typically track the Fed’s changes. Instead, banks tend to capitalize on a higher-rate environment to try to thicken their profits. They do so by imposing higher rates on borrowers, without necessarily offering any juicer rates to savers.This is particularly true for large banks now. They’ve been flooded with savings as a result of government financial aid and reduced spending by many wealthier Americans during the pandemic. They won’t need to raise savings rates to attract more deposits or CD buyers.But online banks and others with high-yield savings accounts will likely be an exception. These accounts are known for aggressively competing for depositors. The only catch is that they typically require significant deposits.If you’re invested in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that hold long-term bonds, they will become a riskier investment. Typically, existing long-term bonds lose value as newer bonds are issued at higher yields.

How interest rate increase will affect your finances

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 115 to a total of 769,333 the state health department reported Monday.

The state reported 4 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 8,150 and 45 new hospitalizations since Friday.

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

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

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 115 to a total of 769,333 the state health department reported Monday.The state reported 4 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 8,150 and 45 new hospitalizations since Friday.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: Latest COVID-19 numbers in Kansas

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A third teen has been arrested in connection to the case in which a landscaper was shot with a gel gun in downtown Salina on March 15 Three other cases of such shootings were reported on Saturday, March 19

On Friday, police arrested Kaleb A. Arthurs, 18, Salina, on requested charges of battery and aggravated assault, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus.

The arrest is in connection to a case in which a 26-year -old Salina woman was shot in the chest with a pellet from a gel gun while she was doing some landscaping work in the 200 block of S. Santa Fe Avenue.

On Friday, police announced that two teens, a 17-year-old Salina boy and Lucas E. Burleson, 18, of Salina, had been apprehended in the case.

Police believe the incident is part of a TikTok "Orbeez Challenge" that encourages participants to use airsoft-type guns that shoot gel or water beads at pedestrians. The nationwide phenomenon has resulted in multiple injuries, including in Salina.

Hanus said that between 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, three additional instances of people being shot with gel guns were reported. Two of the instances resulted in injury. Those instances include the following.

●A woman was struck in the face, resulting in a slight injury. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the YMCA, 570 YMCA Drive in Salina.

●A 22-year-old runner was shot near the intersection of S. Ohio Street and E. Crawford Street in Salina. She reported no injury.

●A 50-year-old veteran was struck in the face while sitting in a vehicle in the Sunset Plaza parking lot on W. Crawford Street in Salina. He was slightly injured.

Hanus said that people need to be aware that the TikTok challenge is dangerous and that there will be consequences for people who shoot others with gel guns. Parents particularly need to be aware of what their children are doing with gel guns, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647879082593.png" alt="Kaleb A. Arthurs -photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Kaleb A. Arthurs -photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA third teen has been arrested in connection to the case in which a landscaper was shot with a gel gun in downtown Salina on March 15 Three other cases of such shootings were reported on Saturday, March 19On Friday, police arrested Kaleb A. Arthurs, 18, Salina, on requested charges of battery and aggravated assault, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus.The arrest is in connection to a case in which a 26-year -old Salina woman was shot in the chest with a pellet from a gel gun while she was doing some landscaping work in the 200 block of S. Santa Fe Avenue.On Friday, police announced that two teens, a 17-year-old Salina boy and Lucas E. Burleson, 18, of Salina, had been apprehended in the case.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647624264575.jpeg" alt="Crimestoppers asked for tips about this white Dodge Ram in connection with the incident in which a worker&nbsp; was shot with a BB gun" />
 <figcaption>Crimestoppers asked for tips about this white Dodge Ram in connection with the incident in which a worker&nbsp; was shot with a BB gun</figcaption>
 </figure>Police believe the incident is part of a TikTok "Orbeez Challenge" that encourages participants to use airsoft-type guns that shoot gel or water beads at pedestrians. The nationwide phenomenon has resulted in multiple injuries, including in Salina.Hanus said that between 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, three additional instances of people being shot with gel guns were reported. Two of the instances resulted in injury. Those instances include the following.●A woman was struck in the face, resulting in a slight injury. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the YMCA, 570 YMCA Drive in Salina.●A 22-year-old runner was shot near the intersection of S. Ohio Street and E. Crawford Street in Salina. She reported no injury.●A 50-year-old veteran was struck in the face while sitting in a vehicle in the Sunset Plaza parking lot on W. Crawford Street in Salina. He was slightly injured.Hanus said that people need to be aware that the TikTok challenge is dangerous and that there will be consequences for people who shoot others with gel guns. Parents particularly need to be aware of what their children are doing with gel guns, he said.

Police arrest third Kan. teen in connection with TikTok challenge

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Police in Overland Park are investigating the shooting death of a woman over the weekend. 

Police say the shooting was reported around 6 a.m. Sunday at a house in Overland Park. Police say that officers arrived at the home to find that the woman had been taken by family members to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. 

Police later identified the woman killed as Cheryl Holloman, of Wichita. Television station WDAF reports that the shooting happened during a party at a house that neighbors say was often rented out to guests. Police say a person of interest in the shooting was taken into custody for questioning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647878750609.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy Fox4Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy Fox4Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Police in Overland Park are investigating the shooting death of a woman over the weekend. Police say the shooting was reported around 6 a.m. Sunday at a house in Overland Park. Police say that officers arrived at the home to find that the woman had been taken by family members to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police later identified the woman killed as Cheryl Holloman, of Wichita. Television station WDAF reports that the shooting happened during a party at a house that neighbors say was often rented out to guests. Police say a person of interest in the shooting was taken into custody for questioning.

Police ID Kansas woman who died during house party

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to begin its historic confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. The 51-year-old federal judge would be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.

<a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/the-nomination-of-ketanji-brown-jackson-to-be-an-associate-justice-of-the-supreme-court-of-the-united-states">CLICK here to watch&nbsp;</a>day one of the confirmation hearing 10 a.m. CDT

Barring a significant misstep by Jackson, Democrats who control the Senate by the slimmest of margins intend to wrap up her confirmation before Easter. 

Jackson is expected to present an opening statement Monday afternoon, then answer questions from the committee’s 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans over the next two days. It’s not yet clear how aggressively Republicans will go after Jackson, given that her confirmation would not alter the court’s 6-3 conservative majority

Several Republicans who met with Jackson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-stephen-breyer-us-supreme-court-congress-josh-hawley-3fe43e01c9d9664c3b5ee18a04f5feb9">praised her&nbsp;</a>legal acumen, broad experience and engaging, empathetic demeanor. But some Republicans on the committee, especially those who might run for president in 2024, are expected to aggressively criticize her record. Jackson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-stephen-breyer-joe-biden-us-supreme-court-thurgood-marshall-0b73ca8ac79cb133dd84570b389301d7">was a public defender</a>, a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission and a federal district court judge before she was confirmed as an appellate judge last year.

Jackson was nominated to replace Justice Stephen Breyer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retirement-2f9c1f5da824e3b1ef25964205131fff">who announced in January</a>&nbsp;that he will retire at the end of the high court’s session this summer.

What to watch as Jackson’s hearings start Monday:

Similar to past practice, the committee will examine Jackson’s record over four days. She will give an opening statement on Monday, and members of the committee will give their opening remarks. She won’t face questioning until Tuesday and Wednesday, when the 22 committee members will each have 30 minutes to question her. If there is a second round of questioning, they will have 20 minutes each.

Jackson won’t be in the hearing room on Thursday, when legal experts and representatives of the American Bar Association testify on her legal record.

After the hearings conclude, the committee will vote on sending her nomination to the full Senate. Democrats hope to confirm Jackson by April 8, when they leave Washington for a two-week spring recess.

The court was made up entirely of white men for almost two centuries. Justice Clarence Thomas and the late Thurgood Marshall are the only two Black men who have been justices — confirmed in 1991 and 1967, respectively. There has never been a Black woman on the court.

Biden pledged during his 2020 campaign that he would nominate a Black woman to the court if he had the chance. Some Republicans criticized that pledge, saying it was “offensive” or akin to affirmative action.

But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he doesn’t have a problem with Biden’s pledge. He has signaled to his conference to focus on topics other than Jackson’s race.

Democrats can confirm Jackson without any Republican support because Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tiebreaking vote in the 50-50 Senate. Democrats are still lobbying Republicans they think are open to voting for Jackson in hopes that she will be able to be seated on the court with some bipartisan backing.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins is the most likely Republican to support her, suggesting after a 90-minute meeting this month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-j-michelle-childs-stephen-breyer-us-supreme-court-susan-collins-09b8d396185a1c44bbfb068c59a574cd">she was inclined&nbsp;</a>to vote yes on confirmation. Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Collins in voting to confirm Jackson to the appeals court last year, but both have indicated that they may not vote for her this time.

It’s unlikely that any other Republicans will vote for Jackson, though most say they are waiting until after the hearings to decide.

Republicans who have met with Jackson have given varied reasons that they might not vote for her. They have cited her representation of Guantanamo Bay detainees as a public defender more than a decade ago, the liberal advocacy groups that support her and broad arguments that she may be “soft on crime” because of her record as a public defender.

The most pointed criticism so far has come from Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, who posted a lengthy Twitter thread Wednesday evening that charged her with being soft on pedophiles in her time at the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Democrats and the White House pushed back strongly on his arguments, claiming they were cherry-picked and void of context.

Many Republicans have been muted in their criticism of Jackson, preferring to focus on other election-year issues like inflation. But Hawley and GOP Sens, Ted Cruz of Texas and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, all committee members, are considering runs for the presidency in 2024 and may try and burnish their conservative credentials by attacking Jackson’s record.

Like Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s Senate hearings in October 2020, some health precautions will be taken in the committee room. Senators will be spaced out from each other and the general public will not be allowed in.

While the safety measures are to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amid a spate of recent cases in the Capitol, they will also serve the purpose of keeping protesters out. Angry protesters flooded the Senate hallways during the 2017 and 2018 confirmations of Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, but the public is just beginning to return to the Capitol for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic and the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647875179503.png" alt="Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson listens to opening statements from Senators on Monday-photo courtesy Senate Judiciary Committee" />
 <figcaption>Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson listens to opening statements from Senators on Monday-photo courtesy Senate Judiciary Committee</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to begin its historic confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. The 51-year-old federal judge would be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.<a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/the-nomination-of-ketanji-brown-jackson-to-be-an-associate-justice-of-the-supreme-court-of-the-united-states">CLICK here to watch&nbsp;</a>day one of the confirmation hearing 10 a.m. CDTBarring a significant misstep by Jackson, Democrats who control the Senate by the slimmest of margins intend to wrap up her confirmation before Easter. Jackson is expected to present an opening statement Monday afternoon, then answer questions from the committee’s 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans over the next two days. It’s not yet clear how aggressively Republicans will go after Jackson, given that her confirmation would not alter the court’s 6-3 conservative majoritySeveral Republicans who met with Jackson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-stephen-breyer-us-supreme-court-congress-josh-hawley-3fe43e01c9d9664c3b5ee18a04f5feb9">praised her&nbsp;</a>legal acumen, broad experience and engaging, empathetic demeanor. But some Republicans on the committee, especially those who might run for president in 2024, are expected to aggressively criticize her record. Jackson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-stephen-breyer-joe-biden-us-supreme-court-thurgood-marshall-0b73ca8ac79cb133dd84570b389301d7">was a public defender</a>, a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission and a federal district court judge before she was confirmed as an appellate judge last year.Jackson was nominated to replace Justice Stephen Breyer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retirement-2f9c1f5da824e3b1ef25964205131fff">who announced in January</a>&nbsp;that he will retire at the end of the high court’s session this summer.What to watch as Jackson’s hearings start Monday:FOUR DAYS OF HEARINGSSimilar to past practice, the committee will examine Jackson’s record over four days. She will give an opening statement on Monday, and members of the committee will give their opening remarks. She won’t face questioning until Tuesday and Wednesday, when the 22 committee members will each have 30 minutes to question her. If there is a second round of questioning, they will have 20 minutes each.Jackson won’t be in the hearing room on Thursday, when legal experts and representatives of the American Bar Association testify on her legal record.After the hearings conclude, the committee will vote on sending her nomination to the full Senate. Democrats hope to confirm Jackson by April 8, when they leave Washington for a two-week spring recess.___FIRST BLACK WOMANThe court was made up entirely of white men for almost two centuries. Justice Clarence Thomas and the late Thurgood Marshall are the only two Black men who have been justices — confirmed in 1991 and 1967, respectively. There has never been a Black woman on the court.Biden pledged during his 2020 campaign that he would nominate a Black woman to the court if he had the chance. Some Republicans criticized that pledge, saying it was “offensive” or akin to affirmative action.But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he doesn’t have a problem with Biden’s pledge. He has signaled to his conference to focus on topics other than Jackson’s race.___REPUBLICAN BREAKTHROUGH?Democrats can confirm Jackson without any Republican support because Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tiebreaking vote in the 50-50 Senate. Democrats are still lobbying Republicans they think are open to voting for Jackson in hopes that she will be able to be seated on the court with some bipartisan backing.Maine Sen. Susan Collins is the most likely Republican to support her, suggesting after a 90-minute meeting this month that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-j-michelle-childs-stephen-breyer-us-supreme-court-susan-collins-09b8d396185a1c44bbfb068c59a574cd">she was inclined&nbsp;</a>to vote yes on confirmation. Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Collins in voting to confirm Jackson to the appeals court last year, but both have indicated that they may not vote for her this time.It’s unlikely that any other Republicans will vote for Jackson, though most say they are waiting until after the hearings to decide.___GOP LINES OF ATTACKRepublicans who have met with Jackson have given varied reasons that they might not vote for her. They have cited her representation of Guantanamo Bay detainees as a public defender more than a decade ago, the liberal advocacy groups that support her and broad arguments that she may be “soft on crime” because of her record as a public defender.The most pointed criticism so far has come from Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, who posted a lengthy Twitter thread Wednesday evening that charged her with being soft on pedophiles in her time at the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Democrats and the White House pushed back strongly on his arguments, claiming they were cherry-picked and void of context.Many Republicans have been muted in their criticism of Jackson, preferring to focus on other election-year issues like inflation. But Hawley and GOP Sens, Ted Cruz of Texas and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, all committee members, are considering runs for the presidency in 2024 and may try and burnish their conservative credentials by attacking Jackson’s record.___PANDEMIC PRECAUTIONSLike Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s Senate hearings in October 2020, some health precautions will be taken in the committee room. Senators will be spaced out from each other and the general public will not be allowed in.While the safety measures are to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amid a spate of recent cases in the Capitol, they will also serve the purpose of keeping protesters out. Angry protesters flooded the Senate hallways during the 2017 and 2018 confirmations of Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, but the public is just beginning to return to the Capitol for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic and the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.___

🎥 Historic Supreme Court confirmation hearings begin

DETROIT (AP) — Canadian Teamsters and CP Rail blamed each other for a work stoppage Sunday that brought trains to a halt across Canada and interrupted fertilizer and other shipments to and from the U.S.

More than 3,000 Canadian Pacific Rail conductors, engineers, train and yard workers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference are off the job after both sides couldn't reach a deal by a midnight deadline.

Both sides say they are still talking with federal mediators.

Canadian Pacific covers much of the U.S. Midwest and is a large shipper of potash and fertilizer for agriculture. It also carries grain from the U.S. to its northern neighbor for domestic use and exports. The railroad serves the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and other states, according to a map on its investor website. CP also operates in New England and upstate New York, spokesman Patrick Waldron said.

CP says it's the leading carrier of potash, a plant nutrient used in the production of multiple crops. The company says in investor documents that it carries 70% of the potash produced in North America, all from mines in Saskatchewan.

The railroad says it also carries fertilizers, including phosphate, urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and anhydrous ammonia. About half its fertilizer shipments originate from processing plants in Alberta.

CP got 29% of its 2020 freight revenue from cross-border shipments between the U.S. and Canada, its investor website said.

A lengthy interruption of fertilizer shipments could hurt U.S. farmers, who are nearing the spring planting season. The work stoppage could also exacerbate existing supply chain bottlenecks in the U.S. and Canada that stem from the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. trains were not affected by the work stoppage, but the railroad cannot make shipments between the two nations, Waldron said.

On Saturday, the Teamsters said in a statement that the company had locked the workers out, but later issued another statement saying the workers were also on strike.

The original statement posted to the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference website late Saturday said the union wanted to continue bargaining but the company "chose to put the Canadian supply chain and tens of thousands of jobs at risk.″

"As Canadians grapple with a never-ending pandemic, exploding commodity prices and the war in Ukraine, the rail carrier is adding an unnecessary layer of insecurity, especially for those who depend on the rail network,″ the statement said.

CP Rail, Canada’s second-largest railroad operator, said it was the company that wanted to keep talking, and the union that pulled its employees off the job.

CP President Keith Creel said in a news release the union "failed to respond″ to a new offer presented by mediators before the midnight deadline.

“Instead, the TCRC opted to withdraw their services before the deadline for a strike or lockout could legally take place,″ he said. "The TCRC is well aware of the damage this reckless action will cause to the Canadian supply chain.″

Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan urged the two sides to keep bargaining.

The Canadian and U.S. supply chains also were hit by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-detroit-canada-20f273b32bfa8ef695fdabcc7e11321e">trucker convoy protests&nbsp;</a>blocking border crossings in February, and now are dealing with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-europe-b20d71c150712fe2e6dc3d44af8d1268">the effects, particularly on global fuel supplies, of the Russian invasion in Ukraine and sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its allies.</a>

All the disruptions pushed inflation to its highest level since the early 1980s, with essentials such as food and fuel facing some of the sharpest price hikes.

CP and the union have been negotiating since September, with wages and pensions a sticking point. A clause on where employees take their federally mandated break periods is also an issue.

CP Rail says this is the fifth work stoppage since 1993.

DETROIT (AP) — Canadian Teamsters and CP Rail blamed each other for a work stoppage Sunday that brought trains to a halt across Canada and interrupted fertilizer and other shipments to and from the U.S.More than 3,000 Canadian Pacific Rail conductors, engineers, train and yard workers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference are off the job after both sides couldn't reach a deal by a midnight deadline.Both sides say they are still talking with federal mediators.Canadian Pacific covers much of the U.S. Midwest and is a large shipper of potash and fertilizer for agriculture. It also carries grain from the U.S. to its northern neighbor for domestic use and exports. The railroad serves the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and other states, according to a map on its investor website. CP also operates in New England and upstate New York, spokesman Patrick Waldron said.CP says it's the leading carrier of potash, a plant nutrient used in the production of multiple crops. The company says in investor documents that it carries 70% of the potash produced in North America, all from mines in Saskatchewan.The railroad says it also carries fertilizers, including phosphate, urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and anhydrous ammonia. About half its fertilizer shipments originate from processing plants in Alberta.CP got 29% of its 2020 freight revenue from cross-border shipments between the U.S. and Canada, its investor website said.A lengthy interruption of fertilizer shipments could hurt U.S. farmers, who are nearing the spring planting season. The work stoppage could also exacerbate existing supply chain bottlenecks in the U.S. and Canada that stem from the COVID-19 pandemic.U.S. trains were not affected by the work stoppage, but the railroad cannot make shipments between the two nations, Waldron said.On Saturday, the Teamsters said in a statement that the company had locked the workers out, but later issued another statement saying the workers were also on strike.The original statement posted to the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference website late Saturday said the union wanted to continue bargaining but the company "chose to put the Canadian supply chain and tens of thousands of jobs at risk.″"As Canadians grapple with a never-ending pandemic, exploding commodity prices and the war in Ukraine, the rail carrier is adding an unnecessary layer of insecurity, especially for those who depend on the rail network,″ the statement said.CP Rail, Canada’s second-largest railroad operator, said it was the company that wanted to keep talking, and the union that pulled its employees off the job.CP President Keith Creel said in a news release the union "failed to respond″ to a new offer presented by mediators before the midnight deadline.“Instead, the TCRC opted to withdraw their services before the deadline for a strike or lockout could legally take place,″ he said. "The TCRC is well aware of the damage this reckless action will cause to the Canadian supply chain.″Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan urged the two sides to keep bargaining.The Canadian and U.S. supply chains also were hit by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-detroit-canada-20f273b32bfa8ef695fdabcc7e11321e">trucker convoy protests&nbsp;</a>blocking border crossings in February, and now are dealing with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-europe-b20d71c150712fe2e6dc3d44af8d1268">the effects, particularly on global fuel supplies, of the Russian invasion in Ukraine and sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its allies.</a>All the disruptions pushed inflation to its highest level since the early 1980s, with essentials such as food and fuel facing some of the sharpest price hikes.CP and the union have been negotiating since September, with wages and pensions a sticking point. A clause on where employees take their federally mandated break periods is also an issue.CP Rail says this is the fifth work stoppage since 1993.

Canadian Pacific rail work stoppage could hit U.S. agriculture

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrants in the 1300 Block NW Van Buren, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell

While conducting the search warrant, officers located methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

As a result, officers arrested 37-year-old Rolanda Shopteese and 42-year-old Crystal Wakolee both of Topeka.&nbsp; They were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647739661548.png" alt="Shopteese-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Shopteese-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrants in the 1300 Block NW Van Buren, according to Lt. Ronnie ConnellWhile conducting the search warrant, officers located methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.As a result, officers arrested 37-year-old Rolanda Shopteese and 42-year-old Crystal Wakolee both of Topeka.&nbsp; They were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647739712780.png" alt="Wakolee-photo Shawee Co." />
 <figcaption>Wakolee-photo Shawee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Crystal Wakolee is jailed on requested charges of Distribute controlled substance, Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernaliam Making False Information, Forgery, Theft by deception, Perjury and Identity theft.Rolanda Shopteese is being held on&nbsp;on requested charges of Distribution of opiate/opium/narc, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent of distribution and Possession of marijuana