KANSAS CITY (AP) — A year-long investigation resulted in the arrests of 26 people in an alleged conspiracy to distribute drugs in Jackson County, federal prosecutors said.

Federal prosecutors said more than 200 federal and Kansas City-area police officers worked together to arrested the defendants on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Officers seized 27 firearms, more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition, 11.1 kilograms of marijuana, 300 grams of cocaine, other illegal drugs, and $35,000 in cash, according to a news release.

The federal indictment alleges the defendants conspired since Jan. 28, 2019, to distribute drugs in Jackson County. They operated mostly in east Kansas City.

In addition to the conspiracy charge, some defendants are charged in 16 drug-trafficking counts and 57 counts of illegally using a telephone to facilitate the conspiracy.

Court documents also allege some of the suspects were armed and were violent, including that some were involved in a shooting that injured three people on April 17, 2021, in Kansas City's Westport entertainment area.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A year-long investigation resulted in the arrests of 26 people in an alleged conspiracy to distribute drugs in Jackson County, federal prosecutors said.Federal prosecutors said more than 200 federal and Kansas City-area police officers worked together to arrested the defendants on Tuesday and Wednesday.Officers seized 27 firearms, more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition, 11.1 kilograms of marijuana, 300 grams of cocaine, other illegal drugs, and $35,000 in cash, according to a news release.The federal indictment alleges the defendants conspired since Jan. 28, 2019, to distribute drugs in Jackson County. They operated mostly in east Kansas City.In addition to the conspiracy charge, some defendants are charged in 16 drug-trafficking counts and 57 counts of illegally using a telephone to facilitate the conspiracy.Court documents also allege some of the suspects were armed and were violent, including that some were involved in a shooting that injured three people on April 17, 2021, in Kansas City's Westport entertainment area.

Police arrest 26 in Kansas City-area drug bust

MEADE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 8a.m. Thursday in Meade County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 BMW 530 Series driven by&nbsp; Joshua K. Barnes, 21, Cincinnati, OH.,&nbsp;was westbound on U.S. 54 one half mile east of Meade.

The BMW was passing a 2023 Mack Truck driven by Christopher T. Bables, 43, Kansas City, Mo., who was towing three other trucks.

The BMW struck an eastbound 2003 Peterbilt semi driven by Mark B. West, 46, Liberal, head-on.&nbsp; The BMW then rotated counterclockwise and struck the Mack truck on the driver's side saddle tank. 

Barnes was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary. EMS transported a passenger in the BMW Hudhaifa I.&nbsp;Groomes, 23, Dayton, OH, to the hospital in Meade. Bables and West were not injured. Barnes was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1563104261595.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MEADE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 8a.m. Thursday in Meade County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 BMW 530 Series driven by&nbsp; Joshua K. Barnes, 21, Cincinnati, OH.,&nbsp;was westbound on U.S. 54 one half mile east of Meade.The BMW was passing a 2023 Mack Truck driven by Christopher T. Bables, 43, Kansas City, Mo., who was towing three other trucks.The BMW struck an eastbound 2003 Peterbilt semi driven by Mark B. West, 46, Liberal, head-on.&nbsp; The BMW then rotated counterclockwise and struck the Mack truck on the driver's side saddle tank. Barnes was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary. EMS transported a passenger in the BMW Hudhaifa I.&nbsp;Groomes, 23, Dayton, OH, to the hospital in Meade. Bables and West were not injured. Barnes was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

1 dead, 1 hospitalized after 3-vehicle crash on Kansas highway

In this clever new scam, con artists are getting greedy. Not only are
 they trying to steal your Instagram password, they also are phishing 
for your email log-in. Follow these tips for spotting this tricky scam and protecting your passwords. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

You receive an official-seeming email from Instagram. &nbsp;According to the message, you have violated copyright laws, and your account will be deleted within 24 hours.
 But don’t worry! If you think that Instagram has made a mistake, all 
you need to do is click the button and “verify” your account. Then, you 
are taken to a website that prompts you to input your Instagram 
credentials. Most scams would end there, but not this one!

Immediately, another message appears. This pop-up claims that you must also verify your email address. You’ll
 see a list of e-mail providers. Choose yours, and you’ll be urged to 
enter your email address and password. As a final touch, the scam site 
redirects to the real Instagram website, a trick that “lends additional 
credibility to the scam,” <a href="https://usa.kaspersky.com/blog/instagram-hijack-new-wave/17354/" target="_blank">explains Kaspersky</a>.

On BBB.org, read our tips for spotting scams on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/how-to-spot-a-scam-email" target="_blank">email</a> and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23460-bbb-tip-how-to-spot-a-fake-social-media-account" target="_blank">social media</a>. &nbsp;Read more about how to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16758-bbb-tip-phishing-scams" target="_blank">protect yourself from phishing cons</a>. If you’ve been the victim of this or a similar scam, report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>. Your report can help educate other consumers by raising awareness of scammers’ tactics.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBIn this clever new scam, con artists are getting greedy. Not only are
 they trying to steal your Instagram password, they also are phishing 
for your email log-in. Follow these tips for spotting this tricky scam and protecting your passwords. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>How the scam works</h2>You receive an official-seeming email from Instagram. &nbsp;According to the message, you have violated copyright laws, and your account will be deleted within 24 hours.
 But don’t worry! If you think that Instagram has made a mistake, all 
you need to do is click the button and “verify” your account. Then, you 
are taken to a website that prompts you to input your Instagram 
credentials. Most scams would end there, but not this one!Immediately, another message appears. This pop-up claims that you must also verify your email address. You’ll
 see a list of e-mail providers. Choose yours, and you’ll be urged to 
enter your email address and password. As a final touch, the scam site 
redirects to the real Instagram website, a trick that “lends additional 
credibility to the scam,” <a href="https://usa.kaspersky.com/blog/instagram-hijack-new-wave/17354/" target="_blank">explains Kaspersky</a>.<h2>How to spot these scams:&nbsp;</h2><ul>
 <li>Double check the “from” email address and link destinations. Hover over any links in an email you receive to see where the link really leads.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.varonis.com/blog/spot-phishing-scam/" target="_blank">Suspicious links</a>
 are one of the main giveaways of email scams.&nbsp;Also, make sure the 
“from” address is actually from the business it claims to be. &nbsp; </li><li>Understand how businesses handle communications. If
 you know how a company handles disputes and suspicious activity with 
your account, it will be easier to spot a scam. Will they email you? 
Call? Send a text message? </li><li>Look into the claims. Don’t act without first 
verifying the claims. Log into your account or look up the company’s 
official phone number (check your bill or welcome email) and call them 
to confirm that there really is a case of suspicious activity associated
 with your account before you decide what to do. </li><li>Don’t panic and don’t feel intimidated. Scammers 
want you to panic. They may use intimidation tactics, such as claiming 
your account will be shut down in 24 hours, to pressure you into giving 
up your personal information or making payments. Legitimate businesses 
will not intimidate you in this way. Stay calm and think things through 
before you act. </li>
 </ul><h2>For more information</h2>On BBB.org, read our tips for spotting scams on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/how-to-spot-a-scam-email" target="_blank">email</a> and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23460-bbb-tip-how-to-spot-a-fake-social-media-account" target="_blank">social media</a>. &nbsp;Read more about how to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16758-bbb-tip-phishing-scams" target="_blank">protect yourself from phishing cons</a>. If you’ve been the victim of this or a similar scam, report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>. Your report can help educate other consumers by raising awareness of scammers’ tactics.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Fake copyright email scares Instagram users into sharing passwords

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man has been sentenced in federal court for the armed robbery of a female Z-Trip driver whom he shot approximately 26 times with a rifle from the back seat, according to the United State's Attorney.

Derron D. Nevels, 21, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs on Wednesday, March 9, to 13 years in federal prison without parole.

On Aug. 27, 2021, Nevels pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during a violent crime.

Nevels was picked up by a Z-Trip driver on Wabash Avenue in Kansas City, Mo., on the evening of Dec. 4, 2018. The Z-Trip taxi in which the crime was committed is equipped with interior and exterior cameras. The cameras show Nevels getting into the rear passenger seat at approximately 8 p.m. The Z-Trip driver took him to Benton Avenue in Kansas City, Mo.

When they arrived at the destination, they waited in the vehicle for somebody to bring out the fare. When a second suspect approached the vehicle, Nevels held a Smith and Wesson Military &amp; Police .22-caliber rifle up to the victim’s head and demanded she give him everything. The victim attempted to explain that Nevels was being recorded, to which Nevels responded, “I don’t care; give me everything.” Nevels also appeared to be taking a photo or video with his cell phone.

The victim turned toward the back seat and grabbed onto the rifle, and a struggle ensued. The second suspect hit the victim in the face, then reached around the driver’s seat and began striking the victim in the back and the back of the victim’s head. The victim released Nevels’ rifle and then Nevels leaned back in his seat, chambered a live round, and opened fire on the victim from close range.&nbsp; Nevels fired approximately 26 times into the victim.&nbsp; Nevels and his accomplice then ran from the scene.

About 10 minutes later, Nevels and another suspect returned to the victim’s vehicle to retrieve a cell phone Nevels had left behind when he fled from the scene of the earlier robbery and assault. Nevels can be heard on the Z-Trip vehicle’s video asking the victim if she is okay.&nbsp; The victim indicates she has been shot. Nevels asked the victim if she had called the police. He got into the rear driver’s side of the taxi and picked up the cell phone, then left the scene.

When police officers arrived, the victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. According to court documents, she continues to suffer from her serious and debilitating injuries inflicted by Nevels.

Investigators used cell phone and Facebook data to identify Nevels and the distinctive rifle he used in the robbery. On Dec. 10, 2018, Nevels was seen getting onto a bus near Prospect Avenue and Swope Parkway. Nevels was arrested when he got off the bus at 11th Street and Grand Avenue. Nevels was carrying the loaded rifle hidden in his waistband with the barrel going down his right pant leg. The rifle was later positively identified as the weapon used to shoot the Z-Trip driver during the robbery.

Co-defendants Bailee Anna Maria Prieto, 21, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Melani Yitzel Collazo Jimenez, also known as “Mel,” 24, of Kansas City, Mo., have each pleaded guilty to being accessories after the fact to the robbery. Prieto was sentenced on Nov. 23, 2021, to three years in federal prison without parole. Jimenez was sentenced on Nov. 18, 2021, to two years and six months in federal prison without parole.

Prieto used or allowed her phone to be used to order the Z-Trip that was robbed. Prieto disposed of her phone after the robbery to avoid the police searching it.

Jimenez went to the scene to help Nevels retrieve his telephone from the Z-Trip where he left it after the robbery and shooting. Jimenez provided her apartment for Nevels, Prieto, and others to stay the night after the robbery.

Neither Prieto nor Jimenez reported anything to law enforcement. The two of them communicated with and were associated with Nevels and others, before, during, and after the robbery and shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630102827276.png" alt="Nevels-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Nevels-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man has been sentenced in federal court for the armed robbery of a female Z-Trip driver whom he shot approximately 26 times with a rifle from the back seat, according to the United State's Attorney.Derron D. Nevels, 21, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs on Wednesday, March 9, to 13 years in federal prison without parole.On Aug. 27, 2021, Nevels pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during a violent crime.Nevels was picked up by a Z-Trip driver on Wabash Avenue in Kansas City, Mo., on the evening of Dec. 4, 2018. The Z-Trip taxi in which the crime was committed is equipped with interior and exterior cameras. The cameras show Nevels getting into the rear passenger seat at approximately 8 p.m. The Z-Trip driver took him to Benton Avenue in Kansas City, Mo.When they arrived at the destination, they waited in the vehicle for somebody to bring out the fare. When a second suspect approached the vehicle, Nevels held a Smith and Wesson Military &amp; Police .22-caliber rifle up to the victim’s head and demanded she give him everything. The victim attempted to explain that Nevels was being recorded, to which Nevels responded, “I don’t care; give me everything.” Nevels also appeared to be taking a photo or video with his cell phone.The victim turned toward the back seat and grabbed onto the rifle, and a struggle ensued. The second suspect hit the victim in the face, then reached around the driver’s seat and began striking the victim in the back and the back of the victim’s head. The victim released Nevels’ rifle and then Nevels leaned back in his seat, chambered a live round, and opened fire on the victim from close range.&nbsp; Nevels fired approximately 26 times into the victim.&nbsp; Nevels and his accomplice then ran from the scene.About 10 minutes later, Nevels and another suspect returned to the victim’s vehicle to retrieve a cell phone Nevels had left behind when he fled from the scene of the earlier robbery and assault. Nevels can be heard on the Z-Trip vehicle’s video asking the victim if she is okay.&nbsp; The victim indicates she has been shot. Nevels asked the victim if she had called the police. He got into the rear driver’s side of the taxi and picked up the cell phone, then left the scene.When police officers arrived, the victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. According to court documents, she continues to suffer from her serious and debilitating injuries inflicted by Nevels.Investigators used cell phone and Facebook data to identify Nevels and the distinctive rifle he used in the robbery. On Dec. 10, 2018, Nevels was seen getting onto a bus near Prospect Avenue and Swope Parkway. Nevels was arrested when he got off the bus at 11th Street and Grand Avenue. Nevels was carrying the loaded rifle hidden in his waistband with the barrel going down his right pant leg. The rifle was later positively identified as the weapon used to shoot the Z-Trip driver during the robbery.Co-defendants Bailee Anna Maria Prieto, 21, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Melani Yitzel Collazo Jimenez, also known as “Mel,” 24, of Kansas City, Mo., have each pleaded guilty to being accessories after the fact to the robbery. Prieto was sentenced on Nov. 23, 2021, to three years in federal prison without parole. Jimenez was sentenced on Nov. 18, 2021, to two years and six months in federal prison without parole.Prieto used or allowed her phone to be used to order the Z-Trip that was robbed. Prieto disposed of her phone after the robbery to avoid the police searching it.Jimenez went to the scene to help Nevels retrieve his telephone from the Z-Trip where he left it after the robbery and shooting. Jimenez provided her apartment for Nevels, Prieto, and others to stay the night after the robbery.Neither Prieto nor Jimenez reported anything to law enforcement. The two of them communicated with and were associated with Nevels and others, before, during, and after the robbery and shooting.

Kansas City man sentenced for shooting Z-trip driver 26 times

JOPLIN (AP) — A Joplin, Missouri, police officer who was shot along with two other officers this week “will not recover” from his injuries, Police Chief Sloan Rowland said Thursday.

Rowland announced that patrol officer Jake Reed’s family said he was being prepared to donate organs.

“We’re so proud, so thankful and forever in debt for his service to this community. ... Jake is an outstanding young man,” Rowland said.

Cpl. Benjamin Cooper&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-missouri-joplin-brian-lewis-6151d6a29d0a0b0ecd2be9cea5029c4b">died after being shot in the initial confrontation on Tuesday.&nbsp;</a>A third officer, Rick Hirshey, was also shot and was in serious but stable condition Thursday, Rowland said.

Reed joined the police force in 2017. He and Cooper were among the first officers to confront 40-year-old Anthony Felix at a shopping mall in Joplin Tuesday afternoon.

Felix shot the two officers, stole a patrol car and fled. He crashed the car and was on foot when Hirshey saw him trying to steal another vehicle and positioned his patrol vehicle to stop the theft. Felix shot Hirshey through the windshield and hit him in the face, Rowland said.

Hirshey retired from the police force three months ago after more than 20 years of service but then returned to the department. He will face serious health problems and several surgeries in the days to come, the chief said.

Felix was then shot and killed by police Capt. William Davis, Rowland said. Davis, a veteran of more than 15 years, left cover and exposed himself to stop the suspect.

“If not for Capt. Davis’ actions, additional officers and citizens could have been killed,” Rowland said.

Rowland asked everyone to pray for all the officers involved. He also thanked the community for its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-missouri-joplin-35144519fddb57ae737b018b846b0836">outpouring of support</a>&nbsp;since the shooting.

Police have not released any information about Felix.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646954331789.png" alt="Memorial in front of the Joplin Police station-photo courtesy Joplin Police&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Memorial in front of the Joplin Police station-photo courtesy Joplin Police&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>JOPLIN (AP) — A Joplin, Missouri, police officer who was shot along with two other officers this week “will not recover” from his injuries, Police Chief Sloan Rowland said Thursday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646959627467.png" alt="Officer Jake Reed-photo Joplin Police" />
 <figcaption>Officer Jake Reed-photo Joplin Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Rowland announced that patrol officer Jake Reed’s family said he was being prepared to donate organs.“We’re so proud, so thankful and forever in debt for his service to this community. ... Jake is an outstanding young man,” Rowland said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646959719466.png" alt="Cpl. Benjamin Cooper-photo Joplin Police" />
 <figcaption>Cpl. Benjamin Cooper-photo Joplin Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Cpl. Benjamin Cooper&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-missouri-joplin-brian-lewis-6151d6a29d0a0b0ecd2be9cea5029c4b">died after being shot in the initial confrontation on Tuesday.&nbsp;</a>A third officer, Rick Hirshey, was also shot and was in serious but stable condition Thursday, Rowland said.Reed joined the police force in 2017. He and Cooper were among the first officers to confront 40-year-old Anthony Felix at a shopping mall in Joplin Tuesday afternoon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646825983603.png" alt="Photo courtesy KOAM TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KOAM TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Felix shot the two officers, stole a patrol car and fled. He crashed the car and was on foot when Hirshey saw him trying to steal another vehicle and positioned his patrol vehicle to stop the theft. Felix shot Hirshey through the windshield and hit him in the face, Rowland said.Hirshey retired from the police force three months ago after more than 20 years of service but then returned to the department. He will face serious health problems and several surgeries in the days to come, the chief said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646959490285.png" alt="Felix-photo Joplin Police" />
 <figcaption>Felix-photo Joplin Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Felix was then shot and killed by police Capt. William Davis, Rowland said. Davis, a veteran of more than 15 years, left cover and exposed himself to stop the suspect.“If not for Capt. Davis’ actions, additional officers and citizens could have been killed,” Rowland said.Rowland asked everyone to pray for all the officers involved. He also thanked the community for its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-missouri-joplin-35144519fddb57ae737b018b846b0836">outpouring of support</a>&nbsp;since the shooting.Police have not released any information about Felix.

Chief: Second Missouri officer won't recover from shooting

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A proposal backed by conservatives to amend the Kansas Constitution to make it harder for lawmakers to increase taxes has received a state Senate committee’s approval. The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee’s voice vote Thursday on the measure sends it to the full Senate for debate. 

The measure would require two-thirds majorities in both chambers starting in July 2023 to pass any bill that would either increase a state tax or impose a new tax. Currently, only simple majorities are required. Conservative lawmakers see the proposal as a way to limit the growth of state government. But Democratic state Sen. Tom Holland, of Baldwin City, called it “anti-democratic” and “dangerous.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646949229586.png" alt="The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee’s voice vote Thursday on the measure sends it to the full Senate for debate-image Senate YouTube page" />
 <figcaption>The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee’s voice vote Thursday on the measure sends it to the full Senate for debate-image Senate YouTube page</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A proposal backed by conservatives to amend the Kansas Constitution to make it harder for lawmakers to increase taxes has received a state Senate committee’s approval. The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee’s voice vote Thursday on the measure sends it to the full Senate for debate. The measure would require two-thirds majorities in both chambers starting in July 2023 to pass any bill that would either increase a state tax or impose a new tax. Currently, only simple majorities are required. Conservative lawmakers see the proposal as a way to limit the growth of state government. But Democratic state Sen. Tom Holland, of Baldwin City, called it “anti-democratic” and “dangerous.”

Plan to make raising taxes harder in Kansas clears committee

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent one man to the hospital.

Just before 3:30 a.m. Thursday, police&nbsp; responded to a shooting call in the 400 block of S. Walnut in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy. 

Multiple 911 callers reported hearing gunshots in the area. Another 911 caller reported a suspect was breaking into their car armed with a knife and was shot by the caller’s husband.

Officers arrived in the area and contacted a 41-year-old man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. EMS transported the man to an area hospital for treatment.

Officers contacted the 29-year-old male resident who reported hearing noises outside his house and seeing the 41-year-old underneath his pickup truck. He retrieved a handgun and went outside to talk to the suspect when the 41-year-old got up from under the truck with a cordless saw operating in his hand and moved toward the 29-year-old, who then fired his handgun, striking the suspect.

The suspect remains hospitalized, according to Macy.&nbsp;

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent one man to the hospital.Just before 3:30 a.m. Thursday, police&nbsp; responded to a shooting call in the 400 block of S. Walnut in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy. Multiple 911 callers reported hearing gunshots in the area. Another 911 caller reported a suspect was breaking into their car armed with a knife and was shot by the caller’s husband.Officers arrived in the area and contacted a 41-year-old man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. EMS transported the man to an area hospital for treatment.Officers contacted the 29-year-old male resident who reported hearing noises outside his house and seeing the 41-year-old underneath his pickup truck. He retrieved a handgun and went outside to talk to the suspect when the 41-year-old got up from under the truck with a cordless saw operating in his hand and moved toward the 29-year-old, who then fired his handgun, striking the suspect.The suspect remains hospitalized, according to Macy.&nbsp;

Police: Kan. man shot suspect who was armed with cordless saw

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball’s acrimonious players and owners ended their most bitter money fight in a quarter-century when a divided players’ association accepted management’s offer to salvage a 162-game season that will start April 7. On the 99th day of a lockout that delayed spring training and threatened to cancel regular-season games for the first time since 1995, the players’ executive board approved a five-year contract at about 3 p.m. in a 28-12 vote. Owners ratified the deal 30-0 just three hours later, and the lockout was lifted at 7 p.m., ending baseball’s ninth work stoppage.

NEW YORK (AP)— Players have voted to accept Major League Baseball's latest offer for a new labor deal, paving the way to end a 99-day lockout and salvage a 162-game regular season that will begin April 7.

The union’s executive board approved the agreement in a 26-12 vote Thursday, pending ratification by all players, a person familiar with the balloting said, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no announcement was authorized.

MLB sent the players an offer Thursday and gave them until 3 p.m. to accept in order to play a full season. The union announced the player vote around 3:25 p.m. Owners planned to hold a ratification vote later in the day.

The agreement will allow training camps to open this week in Florida and Arizona, more than three weeks after they were scheduled to on Feb. 16. Fans can start making plans to be at Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium and Camden Yards next month. Opening day is being planned a little more than a week behind the original date on March 31.

The deal will also set off a rapid-fire round of free agency. Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman and Kris Bryant are among 138 big leaguers still without a team, including some who might benefit from the adoption of a universal designated hitter.

The sport's new collective bargaining agreement will also expand the playoffs to 12 teams and introduce incentives to limit so-called “tanking.” The minimum salary will rise from $570,500 to about $700,000 and the luxury tax threshold will increase from $210 million to around $230 million this year, a slight loosening for the biggest spenders such as the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers and Red Sox. A new bonus pool was established for players not yet eligible for arbitration, a way to boost salaries for young stars.

Commissioner Rob Manfred had set a Tuesday deadline for a deal that would preserve a 162-game schedule along with full pay and service time required for players to reach free agency. Talks spilled past the deadline and Manfred announced more cancellations Wednesday, increasing the total to 184 of the 2,230 games.

After yet another snag, this time over management’s desire for an international amateur draft, the deal came together Thursday afternoon and capped nearly a year of talks that saw pitchers Max Scherzer and Andrew Miller take prominent roles as union spokesmen.

Players had fumed for years about the deal that expired Dec. 1, which saw payrolls decline for 4% in 2021 compared to the last full season, back to their 2015 level. The union had an ambitious negotiating stance in talks that began last spring, asking for free-agency rights to increase with an age-based backstop and for an expansion of salary arbitration to its level from 1974-86.

In the late stages, the level and rates of the luxury tax, designed as a break on spending, became the key to a deal. Players think that too low a threshold and too high a rate acts tantamount to a salary cap, which the union fought off with a 7 1/2-month strike in 1994-95.

The agreement came after three days of shuttle negotiations between the MLB offices in midtown Manhattan and the players’ association headquarters, three blocks away.

Despite hundreds of hours of threats and counter-threats, the sides are set to avoid regular-season games being canceled by labor conflict for the first time since the 1994-95 strike. Games originally announced as canceled by Manfred were changed to postponed, and MLB will modify the original schedule.

The deal came at a cost, though, with years of public rancor again casting both owners and players as money obsessed. Spring training in Arizona and Florida was disrupted for the third straight year following two exhibition seasons altered by the coronavirus pandemic. Exhibition games had been scheduled to start Feb. 26.

Players will have about 28 days of training rather than the usual 42 for pitchers and catchers.

In some ways, the negotiations were similar to those in 1990, when a lockout started Feb. 15 and ended with a four-year deal announced 1:18 a.m. on March 19.

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball’s acrimonious players and owners ended their most bitter money fight in a quarter-century when a divided players’ association accepted management’s offer to salvage a 162-game season that will start April 7. On the 99th day of a lockout that delayed spring training and threatened to cancel regular-season games for the first time since 1995, the players’ executive board approved a five-year contract at about 3 p.m. in a 28-12 vote. Owners ratified the deal 30-0 just three hours later, and the lockout was lifted at 7 p.m., ending baseball’s ninth work stoppage.------NEW YORK (AP)— Players have voted to accept Major League Baseball's latest offer for a new labor deal, paving the way to end a 99-day lockout and salvage a 162-game regular season that will begin April 7.The union’s executive board approved the agreement in a 26-12 vote Thursday, pending ratification by all players, a person familiar with the balloting said, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no announcement was authorized.MLB sent the players an offer Thursday and gave them until 3 p.m. to accept in order to play a full season. The union announced the player vote around 3:25 p.m. Owners planned to hold a ratification vote later in the day.The agreement will allow training camps to open this week in Florida and Arizona, more than three weeks after they were scheduled to on Feb. 16. Fans can start making plans to be at Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium and Camden Yards next month. Opening day is being planned a little more than a week behind the original date on March 31.The deal will also set off a rapid-fire round of free agency. Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman and Kris Bryant are among 138 big leaguers still without a team, including some who might benefit from the adoption of a universal designated hitter.The sport's new collective bargaining agreement will also expand the playoffs to 12 teams and introduce incentives to limit so-called “tanking.” The minimum salary will rise from $570,500 to about $700,000 and the luxury tax threshold will increase from $210 million to around $230 million this year, a slight loosening for the biggest spenders such as the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers and Red Sox. A new bonus pool was established for players not yet eligible for arbitration, a way to boost salaries for young stars.Commissioner Rob Manfred had set a Tuesday deadline for a deal that would preserve a 162-game schedule along with full pay and service time required for players to reach free agency. Talks spilled past the deadline and Manfred announced more cancellations Wednesday, increasing the total to 184 of the 2,230 games.After yet another snag, this time over management’s desire for an international amateur draft, the deal came together Thursday afternoon and capped nearly a year of talks that saw pitchers Max Scherzer and Andrew Miller take prominent roles as union spokesmen.Players had fumed for years about the deal that expired Dec. 1, which saw payrolls decline for 4% in 2021 compared to the last full season, back to their 2015 level. The union had an ambitious negotiating stance in talks that began last spring, asking for free-agency rights to increase with an age-based backstop and for an expansion of salary arbitration to its level from 1974-86.In the late stages, the level and rates of the luxury tax, designed as a break on spending, became the key to a deal. Players think that too low a threshold and too high a rate acts tantamount to a salary cap, which the union fought off with a 7 1/2-month strike in 1994-95.The agreement came after three days of shuttle negotiations between the MLB offices in midtown Manhattan and the players’ association headquarters, three blocks away.Despite hundreds of hours of threats and counter-threats, the sides are set to avoid regular-season games being canceled by labor conflict for the first time since the 1994-95 strike. Games originally announced as canceled by Manfred were changed to postponed, and MLB will modify the original schedule.The deal came at a cost, though, with years of public rancor again casting both owners and players as money obsessed. Spring training in Arizona and Florida was disrupted for the third straight year following two exhibition seasons altered by the coronavirus pandemic. Exhibition games had been scheduled to start Feb. 26.Players will have about 28 days of training rather than the usual 42 for pitchers and catchers.In some ways, the negotiations were similar to those in 1990, when a lockout started Feb. 15 and ended with a four-year deal announced 1:18 a.m. on March 19.———

MLB players vote to end lockout, salvaging 162-game season

WASHINGTON (AP) — Propelled by surging costs for gas, food and housing, consumer inflation jumped 7.9% over the past year, the sharpest spike since 1982 and likely only a harbinger of even higher prices to come.

The increase reported Thursday by the Labor Department reflected the 12 months ending in February and didn’t include most of the oil and gas price increases that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Since then, average gas prices nationally have jumped about 62 cents a gallon to $4.32, according to AAA.

Even before the war further accelerated price increases, robust consumer spending, solid pay raises and persistent supply shortages had sent U.S. consumer inflation to its highest level in four decades. What’s more, housing costs, which make up about a third of the government’s consumer price index, have risen sharply, a trend that’s unlikely to reverse anytime soon.

The government’s report Thursday also showed that inflation rose 0.8% from January to February, up from the 0.6% increase from December to January.

For most Americans, inflation is running far ahead of the pay raises that many have received in the past year, making it harder for them to afford necessities like food, gas and rent. As a consequence, inflation has become the top political threat to President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats as the midterm elections draw closer. Small business people say in surveys that it’s their primary economic concern, too.

Seeking to stem the inflation surge, the Federal Reserve is set to raise interest rates several times this year beginning with a modest hike next week. The Fed faces a delicate challenge, though: If it tightens credit too aggressively this year, it risks undercutting the economy and possibly triggering a recession.

Energy prices, which soared after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, jumped again this week after Biden said the United States would bar oil imports from Russia. Oil prices did retreat Wednesday on reports that the United Arab Emirates will urge fellow OPEC members to boost production. U.S. oil was down 12% to $108.70 a barrel, though still up sharply from about $90 before Russia’s invasion.

Yet energy markets have been so volatile that it’s impossible to know if the decline will stick. If Europe were to join the U.S. and the United Kingdom and bar Russian oil imports, analysts estimate that prices could soar as high as $160 a barrel.

The economic consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine have upended a broad assumption among many economists and at the Fed: That inflation would begin to ease this spring because prices rose so much in March and April of 2021 that comparisons to a year ago would show declines.

Should gas prices remain near their current levels, Eric Winograd, senior economist at asset manager AllianceBernstein, estimates that inflation could reach as high as 9% in March or April.

The cost of wheat, corn, cooking oils and such metals as aluminum and nickel have also soared since the invasion. Ukraine and Russia are leading exporters of those commodities.

Even before Russia’s invasion, inflation was not only rising sharply but also broadening into additional sectors of the economy. Many prices have jumped over the past year because heavy demand has run into short supplies of items like autos, building materials and household goods.

But even for some services unaffected by the pandemic, like rents, costs are also surging at their fastest pace in decades. Steady job growth and high home prices are encouraging more people to move into apartments, elevating rental costs by the most in two decades. Apartment vacancy rates have reached their lowest level since 1984.

In the final three months of last year, wages and salaries jumped 4.5%, the sharpest such increase in at least 20 years. Those pay raises have, in turn, led many companies to raise prices to offset their higher labor costs.

Soaring energy costs pose a particularly difficult challenge for the Fed. Higher gas prices tend to both accelerate inflation and weaken economic growth. That’s because as their paychecks are eroded at the gas pump, consumers typically spend less in other ways.

That pattern is akin to the “stagflation” dynamic that made the economy of the 1970s miserable for many Americans. Most economists, though, say they think the U.S. economy is growing strongly enough that another recession is unlikely, even with higher inflation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646939706756.png" alt="President Biden during a stop for ice cream in January-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden during a stop for ice cream in January-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Propelled by surging costs for gas, food and housing, consumer inflation jumped 7.9% over the past year, the sharpest spike since 1982 and likely only a harbinger of even higher prices to come.The increase reported Thursday by the Labor Department reflected the 12 months ending in February and didn’t include most of the oil and gas price increases that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Since then, average gas prices nationally have jumped about 62 cents a gallon to $4.32, according to AAA.Even before the war further accelerated price increases, robust consumer spending, solid pay raises and persistent supply shortages had sent U.S. consumer inflation to its highest level in four decades. What’s more, housing costs, which make up about a third of the government’s consumer price index, have risen sharply, a trend that’s unlikely to reverse anytime soon.The government’s report Thursday also showed that inflation rose 0.8% from January to February, up from the 0.6% increase from December to January.For most Americans, inflation is running far ahead of the pay raises that many have received in the past year, making it harder for them to afford necessities like food, gas and rent. As a consequence, inflation has become the top political threat to President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats as the midterm elections draw closer. Small business people say in surveys that it’s their primary economic concern, too.Seeking to stem the inflation surge, the Federal Reserve is set to raise interest rates several times this year beginning with a modest hike next week. The Fed faces a delicate challenge, though: If it tightens credit too aggressively this year, it risks undercutting the economy and possibly triggering a recession.Energy prices, which soared after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, jumped again this week after Biden said the United States would bar oil imports from Russia. Oil prices did retreat Wednesday on reports that the United Arab Emirates will urge fellow OPEC members to boost production. U.S. oil was down 12% to $108.70 a barrel, though still up sharply from about $90 before Russia’s invasion.Yet energy markets have been so volatile that it’s impossible to know if the decline will stick. If Europe were to join the U.S. and the United Kingdom and bar Russian oil imports, analysts estimate that prices could soar as high as $160 a barrel.The economic consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine have upended a broad assumption among many economists and at the Fed: That inflation would begin to ease this spring because prices rose so much in March and April of 2021 that comparisons to a year ago would show declines.Should gas prices remain near their current levels, Eric Winograd, senior economist at asset manager AllianceBernstein, estimates that inflation could reach as high as 9% in March or April.The cost of wheat, corn, cooking oils and such metals as aluminum and nickel have also soared since the invasion. Ukraine and Russia are leading exporters of those commodities.Even before Russia’s invasion, inflation was not only rising sharply but also broadening into additional sectors of the economy. Many prices have jumped over the past year because heavy demand has run into short supplies of items like autos, building materials and household goods.But even for some services unaffected by the pandemic, like rents, costs are also surging at their fastest pace in decades. Steady job growth and high home prices are encouraging more people to move into apartments, elevating rental costs by the most in two decades. Apartment vacancy rates have reached their lowest level since 1984.In the final three months of last year, wages and salaries jumped 4.5%, the sharpest such increase in at least 20 years. Those pay raises have, in turn, led many companies to raise prices to offset their higher labor costs.Soaring energy costs pose a particularly difficult challenge for the Fed. Higher gas prices tend to both accelerate inflation and weaken economic growth. That’s because as their paychecks are eroded at the gas pump, consumers typically spend less in other ways.That pattern is akin to the “stagflation” dynamic that made the economy of the 1970s miserable for many Americans. Most economists, though, say they think the U.S. economy is growing strongly enough that another recession is unlikely, even with higher inflation.

US inflation soared to a 40-year high

SALINE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Thursday in Saline County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Honda passenger vehicle driven by&nbsp; Jonathan&nbsp;Ho Siuhang, 40, Arcadia, California, was westbound on Interstate 70 six miles east of the Ohio Street exit

The Honda rear-ended a 2007 International KDOT truck driven by&nbsp;Buss, Derek Jon Buss, 41, Abilene.

EMS transported&nbsp;Ho Siuhang to the hospital in Salina.&nbsp; Buss was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646940806012.png" alt="Photo courtesy KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Thursday in Saline County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Honda passenger vehicle driven by&nbsp; Jonathan&nbsp;Ho Siuhang, 40, Arcadia, California, was westbound on Interstate 70 six miles east of the Ohio Street exitThe Honda rear-ended a 2007 International KDOT truck driven by&nbsp;Buss, Derek Jon Buss, 41, Abilene.EMS transported&nbsp;Ho Siuhang to the hospital in Salina.&nbsp; Buss was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Driver hospitalized after I-70 crash with KDOT plow truck

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/09/kansas-bill-would-require-wind-farms-to-minimize-blinking-lights/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Residents
 of the Kansas prairie asked legislators Wednesday to restore the night 
sky they say is dominated by red blinking lights from industrial wind 
turbines.&nbsp;

“One of the greatest things about 
living in rural Kansas is being able to enjoy the night sky, the moon 
and the stars … the red blinking lights have taken that away from us,” 
said Shenan Cline, a Marshall County resident.

In recent decades, windswept Kansas 
has become a hotspot for wind energy development. The state has the 
fourth-largest generating capacity in the nation behind Texas, Iowa and 
Oklahoma. And it’s expected to keep growing.&nbsp;

But that <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/13/this-is-punitive-kansas-senate-committee-considers-poison-pill-wind-energy-bills/">wind development, critics say, has come at a price</a>.
 Some residents feel the looming towers disrupt the peace of rural 
Kansas, especially the red blinking lights at the top meant to keep 
planes from crashing into turbines.&nbsp;

They want Kansas to pass<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb478/"> legislation mandating lighting systems that detect nearby aircraft</a>
 and only blink when necessary, or dimming technology. And they want to 
leave it up to county commissions to evaluate lighting systems and 
approve them for projects. Proponents say it’s a cost effective way to 
minimize the annoyance to rural neighbors.&nbsp;

David Fisher, a Centerville resident, said wind developers were “pinching pennies” by not installing light-mitigating systems.&nbsp;

“They are simply not being good neighbors,” he said.&nbsp;

Industry representatives say they’re 
sympathetic to the concern,&nbsp;but that the bill introduced by Sen. Mike 
Thompson, a Johnson County Republican and chair of the Senate Utilities 
Committee is unworkable.&nbsp;

Josh Svaty, a lobbyist representing 
the Kansas Power Alliance and former gubernatorial candidate, said, 
first and foremost, the Federal Aviation Administration selects the 
lighting systems — not only on a project of dozens or 100 turbines, but 
on each turbine.&nbsp;

“We do not choose the lighting 
systems that go on the towers,” Svaty said. “I’m going to pause for 
dramatic effect here, and then I’m going to say it again. We do not 
choose the lighting systems that go on the tops of the towers.”&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/13/this-is-punitive-kansas-senate-committee-considers-poison-pill-wind-energy-bills/">Thompson’s committee has seen a litany of bills</a> this legislative session <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/28/wind-energy-proponent-says-senate-bills-would-kill-development-in-kansas/">meant to make developing wind — and sometimes solar —&nbsp;farms more difficult</a>,
 including provisions allowing non-participating neighbors to contest 
wind farms, barring turbines from being built within a mile of an 
adjacent property line and outlawing noise and shadow flicker from the 
turbines.

Last month, the committee heard two 
days of informational testimony from critics of wind energy, a third day
 from critics speaking on one of Thompson’s bills and only one day from 
the industry and proponents of renewable development.&nbsp;

Taken together, one renewable energy attorney said, Thompson’s bills would end wind energy in Kansas.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article258397523.html">Thompson sought to ban testimony by an environmental health specialist </a>who contradicted his claims about the so-called health effects of industrial wind farms.&nbsp;

Representatives of the wind energy 
industry asked that the committee consider a longer discussion about how
 to mitigate blinking lights on wind turbines rather than move forward 
with what they saw as a flawed bill.&nbsp;

Thompson asked them to sit down with proponents of the legislation to work on improvements. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646924351746.png" alt="A Kansas Senate bill would require that wind farm developers do more to mitigate the blinking lights at the tops of turbines. (Jill Hummels for the Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>A Kansas Senate bill would require that wind farm developers do more to mitigate the blinking lights at the tops of turbines. (Jill Hummels for the Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/09/kansas-bill-would-require-wind-farms-to-minimize-blinking-lights/">Kansas Reflector</a>Residents
 of the Kansas prairie asked legislators Wednesday to restore the night 
sky they say is dominated by red blinking lights from industrial wind 
turbines.&nbsp;“One of the greatest things about 
living in rural Kansas is being able to enjoy the night sky, the moon 
and the stars … the red blinking lights have taken that away from us,” 
said Shenan Cline, a Marshall County resident.In recent decades, windswept Kansas 
has become a hotspot for wind energy development. The state has the 
fourth-largest generating capacity in the nation behind Texas, Iowa and 
Oklahoma. And it’s expected to keep growing.&nbsp;But that <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/13/this-is-punitive-kansas-senate-committee-considers-poison-pill-wind-energy-bills/">wind development, critics say, has come at a price</a>.
 Some residents feel the looming towers disrupt the peace of rural 
Kansas, especially the red blinking lights at the top meant to keep 
planes from crashing into turbines.&nbsp;They want Kansas to pass<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb478/"> legislation mandating lighting systems that detect nearby aircraft</a>
 and only blink when necessary, or dimming technology. And they want to 
leave it up to county commissions to evaluate lighting systems and 
approve them for projects. Proponents say it’s a cost effective way to 
minimize the annoyance to rural neighbors.&nbsp;David Fisher, a Centerville resident, said wind developers were “pinching pennies” by not installing light-mitigating systems.&nbsp;“They are simply not being good neighbors,” he said.&nbsp;Industry representatives say they’re 
sympathetic to the concern,&nbsp;but that the bill introduced by Sen. Mike 
Thompson, a Johnson County Republican and chair of the Senate Utilities 
Committee is unworkable.&nbsp;Josh Svaty, a lobbyist representing 
the Kansas Power Alliance and former gubernatorial candidate, said, 
first and foremost, the Federal Aviation Administration selects the 
lighting systems — not only on a project of dozens or 100 turbines, but 
on each turbine.&nbsp;“We do not choose the lighting 
systems that go on the towers,” Svaty said. “I’m going to pause for 
dramatic effect here, and then I’m going to say it again. We do not 
choose the lighting systems that go on the tops of the towers.”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/13/this-is-punitive-kansas-senate-committee-considers-poison-pill-wind-energy-bills/">Thompson’s committee has seen a litany of bills</a> this legislative session <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/28/wind-energy-proponent-says-senate-bills-would-kill-development-in-kansas/">meant to make developing wind — and sometimes solar —&nbsp;farms more difficult</a>,
 including provisions allowing non-participating neighbors to contest 
wind farms, barring turbines from being built within a mile of an 
adjacent property line and outlawing noise and shadow flicker from the 
turbines.Last month, the committee heard two 
days of informational testimony from critics of wind energy, a third day
 from critics speaking on one of Thompson’s bills and only one day from 
the industry and proponents of renewable development.&nbsp;Taken together, one renewable energy attorney said, Thompson’s bills would end wind energy in Kansas.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article258397523.html">Thompson sought to ban testimony by an environmental health specialist </a>who contradicted his claims about the so-called health effects of industrial wind farms.&nbsp;Representatives of the wind energy 
industry asked that the committee consider a longer discussion about how
 to mitigate blinking lights on wind turbines rather than move forward 
with what they saw as a flawed bill.&nbsp;Thompson asked them to sit down with proponents of the legislation to work on improvements.

Kan. bill would require wind farms to minimize blinking lights

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINA —A German man who was determined to get the woman he wanted was arrested in Salina Wednesday night on multiple charges including criminal threat and stalking.

An 18-year-old Saline County woman met Falk Meier Berndt, 22, of Hanover, Germany, online, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.

From her perspective, there was no relationship and she expressed that, but according to Soldan, Meier Berndt had other plans.

Meier Berndt flew to the United States and during the past week had been in Saline County trying to find the local woman. 

Meier Berndt had a list of things to do while he was in Saline County, Soldan said. He went to the woman's church. He also went to her work place at a time she happened to be there. Meier Berndt allegedly told the woman that he was going to kill her 22-year-old boyfriend, marry her, and have children with her, Soldan said.

The woman's father reported the work place incident to the Saline County Sheriff's Office. Deputies also received additional information from the woman. 

Deputies located Meier Berndt at a local motel and arrested him on&nbsp; requested charges of.Criminal threat, Stalking and Harassment by telecommunication device, according to Soldan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646932758221.png" alt="Meier Berndt photo Saline County&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Meier Berndt photo Saline County&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINA —A German man who was determined to get the woman he wanted was arrested in Salina Wednesday night on multiple charges including criminal threat and stalking.An 18-year-old Saline County woman met Falk Meier Berndt, 22, of Hanover, Germany, online, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.From her perspective, there was no relationship and she expressed that, but according to Soldan, Meier Berndt had other plans.Meier Berndt flew to the United States and during the past week had been in Saline County trying to find the local woman. Meier Berndt had a list of things to do while he was in Saline County, Soldan said. He went to the woman's church. He also went to her work place at a time she happened to be there. Meier Berndt allegedly told the woman that he was going to kill her 22-year-old boyfriend, marry her, and have children with her, Soldan said.The woman's father reported the work place incident to the Saline County Sheriff's Office. Deputies also received additional information from the woman. Deputies located Meier Berndt at a local motel and arrested him on&nbsp; requested charges of.Criminal threat, Stalking and Harassment by telecommunication device, according to Soldan.

Online love interest ends with German man in Kansas jail

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is developing guidance that will ease the nationwide mask mandate on airplanes, buses and other mass transit next month, according to a U.S. official, but the existing face covering requirement will be extended through April 18.

The requirement, which is enforced by the Transportation Security Administration, had been set to expire on March 18, but was extended by a month to allow the public health agency time to develop new, more targeted policies. The requirement extends to planes, buses, trains and transit hubs.

According to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the announcement head of time, the CDC is developing a “revised policy framework” for when masks should be required on transit systems based off its newly released “COVID-19 community levels” metric.

As of March 3 more than 90% of the U.S. population is in a location with low or medium COVID-19 Community Levels, where public face-masking is no longer recommended in indoor settings.

“We have to look not only at the science with regard to transmission in masks but also the epidemiology and the frequency that we may encounter a variant of concern or a variant of interest in our travel corridors,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on March 2, explaining why the agency was delaying removing the requirement for transit but allowed people to gather maskless in movie theaters and sports arenas.

News of the extension and policy review was first reported by Reuters.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is developing guidance that will ease the nationwide mask mandate on airplanes, buses and other mass transit next month, according to a U.S. official, but the existing face covering requirement will be extended through April 18.The requirement, which is enforced by the Transportation Security Administration, had been set to expire on March 18, but was extended by a month to allow the public health agency time to develop new, more targeted policies. The requirement extends to planes, buses, trains and transit hubs.According to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the announcement head of time, the CDC is developing a “revised policy framework” for when masks should be required on transit systems based off its newly released “COVID-19 community levels” metric.As of March 3 more than 90% of the U.S. population is in a location with low or medium COVID-19 Community Levels, where public face-masking is no longer recommended in indoor settings.“We have to look not only at the science with regard to transmission in masks but also the epidemiology and the frequency that we may encounter a variant of concern or a variant of interest in our travel corridors,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on March 2, explaining why the agency was delaying removing the requirement for transit but allowed people to gather maskless in movie theaters and sports arenas.News of the extension and policy review was first reported by Reuters.

CDC extends mask mandate on public transportation

WASHINGTON —Kansas 4th District Representative Ron Estes blamed President Joe Biden's policy for the the dramatic increase in gas prices 

During a speech in the House chamber, Estes called&nbsp;Biden’s energy agenda anti-American.

WASHINGTON —Kansas 4th District Representative Ron Estes blamed President Joe Biden's policy for the the dramatic increase in gas prices <div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8AYT_NJzeLA?start=3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>During a speech in the House chamber, Estes called&nbsp;Biden’s energy agenda anti-American.

🎥Kan. congressman: Biden not Putin to blame for high gas prices

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A 26-year-old Leavenworth man has been sentenced to nearly 17 years in prison for the shooting death of a 12-year-old boy. 

Darvon Thomas was sentenced Wednesday for second-degree murder in the April 2021 death of Brian Henderson Jr., of Kansas City, Missouri. Police say the shooting happened in the parking lot of a Leavenworth pharmacy during a gun purchase. 

Evidence showed the firing occurred when the buyers determined the gun was a BB gun. Henderson was sitting in a car that was shot during the argument. Another man, Jaylen L. Johnson, is scheduled to go to trial May 9 on a first-degree murder charge in Henderson's death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618591549655.png" alt="Thomas-photo Leavenworth Co." />
 <figcaption>Thomas-photo Leavenworth Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A 26-year-old Leavenworth man has been sentenced to nearly 17 years in prison for the shooting death of a 12-year-old boy. Darvon Thomas was sentenced Wednesday for second-degree murder in the April 2021 death of Brian Henderson Jr., of Kansas City, Missouri. Police say the shooting happened in the parking lot of a Leavenworth pharmacy during a gun purchase. Evidence showed the firing occurred when the buyers determined the gun was a BB gun. Henderson was sitting in a car that was shot during the argument. Another man, Jaylen L. Johnson, is scheduled to go to trial May 9 on a first-degree murder charge in Henderson's death.

Kan. man sentenced for death of boy in parking lot gun purchase

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas are trying to prohibit state and local mask mandates during disease outbreaks, advancing such a ban Wednesday along with proposals aimed at discouraging local restrictions on businesses and public gatherings.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a measure that would limit the power of state and local health officials during pandemics and strip them of their power to mandate wearing masks. It approved a separate measure to require cities and counties to cut businesses’ property taxes for each day they are forced to close or limit their operations. Both measures go next to the full Senate for debate.

GOP lawmakers criticized Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly persistently over steps she took to contain the spread of COVID-19, especially early in the pandemic when she ordered school buildings and businesses closed. The Republican-controlled Legislature forced her to accept a lessening of the governor’s power over time but later focused on limiting the power of cities, counties and local school boards to impose restrictions.

Many Republicans championed allowing local officials to impose mask mandates or limit businesses and public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic’s first year. But Republicans who’ve always opposed such rules have grown in influence as conservative operatives have increasingly seen restrictions as an issue to turn against Democrats in this year’s mid-term elections.

“I think that we tend to agree that we can see in hindsight now things — decisions were made that either we hung on too long or they were definitely an overreach,” said state Sen. Mike Thompson, a conservative Shawnee Republican and a vocal critic of restrictions.

Thompson argued that Kansas officials did not give enough thought early in the coronavirus pandemic to how restrictions would damage the economy. In pressing to outlaw future mask mandates, he also suggested that forcing children to wear masks in schools hindered their development and, “Masks really didn’t work.”

In fact, recent studies by&nbsp;<a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2022-056687/185379/School-Masking-Policies-and-Secondary-SARS-CoV-2" target="_blank">the American Academy of Pediatrics</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html" target="_blank">the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;show such assertions aren’t borne out by evidence.

“We have committee members who are making decisions based off complete misinformation,” said Democratic state Sen. Ethan Corson, of Fairway.

The Legislature’s debate on public health policy also has shadowed Kelly’s attempt to keep her administration’s top public health official in place.

Some conservatives&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-public-health-kansas-topeka-1b83d9967f7395858161980f5c248f8b">were opposing Janet Stanek’s appointment&nbsp;</a>as head of the state Department of Health and Environment to show their displeasure with how the agency has handled COVID-19 in the past. Kelly appointed Stanek to the job in November, and if the Senate voted against confirming her, she’d have to step down.

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s bill banning mask mandates also would allow parents to claim a religious exemption from longstanding requirements to vaccinate children against diseases such as measles and whooping cough to enroll them in school or day care without being questioned. Schools also would be barred from separating vaccinated and non-vaccinated children.

The measure would permit only local boards of education to close schools when faced with an infectious disease outbreak, and only for 30 days at a time. State and local officials would not be allowed to place any limits on houses of worship.

Individuals filing a lawsuit over restrictions would have to have hearing within three days and a ruling “without reasonable delay” and would have their legal fees covered if they won.

“I think it’s a really dangerous bill,” Corson said. ”We are so focused on Monday morning quarterbacking what happened with COVID that we are really tying our hands in being able to respond to future health events.”

By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas are trying to prohibit state and local mask mandates during disease outbreaks, advancing such a ban Wednesday along with proposals aimed at discouraging local restrictions on businesses and public gatherings.The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a measure that would limit the power of state and local health officials during pandemics and strip them of their power to mandate wearing masks. It approved a separate measure to require cities and counties to cut businesses’ property taxes for each day they are forced to close or limit their operations. Both measures go next to the full Senate for debate.GOP lawmakers criticized Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly persistently over steps she took to contain the spread of COVID-19, especially early in the pandemic when she ordered school buildings and businesses closed. The Republican-controlled Legislature forced her to accept a lessening of the governor’s power over time but later focused on limiting the power of cities, counties and local school boards to impose restrictions.Many Republicans championed allowing local officials to impose mask mandates or limit businesses and public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic’s first year. But Republicans who’ve always opposed such rules have grown in influence as conservative operatives have increasingly seen restrictions as an issue to turn against Democrats in this year’s mid-term elections.“I think that we tend to agree that we can see in hindsight now things — decisions were made that either we hung on too long or they were definitely an overreach,” said state Sen. Mike Thompson, a conservative Shawnee Republican and a vocal critic of restrictions.Thompson argued that Kansas officials did not give enough thought early in the coronavirus pandemic to how restrictions would damage the economy. In pressing to outlaw future mask mandates, he also suggested that forcing children to wear masks in schools hindered their development and, “Masks really didn’t work.”In fact, recent studies by&nbsp;<a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2022-056687/185379/School-Masking-Policies-and-Secondary-SARS-CoV-2" target="_blank">the American Academy of Pediatrics</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html" target="_blank">the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;show such assertions aren’t borne out by evidence.“We have committee members who are making decisions based off complete misinformation,” said Democratic state Sen. Ethan Corson, of Fairway.The Legislature’s debate on public health policy also has shadowed Kelly’s attempt to keep her administration’s top public health official in place.Some conservatives&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-public-health-kansas-topeka-1b83d9967f7395858161980f5c248f8b">were opposing Janet Stanek’s appointment&nbsp;</a>as head of the state Department of Health and Environment to show their displeasure with how the agency has handled COVID-19 in the past. Kelly appointed Stanek to the job in November, and if the Senate voted against confirming her, she’d have to step down.The Senate Judiciary Committee’s bill banning mask mandates also would allow parents to claim a religious exemption from longstanding requirements to vaccinate children against diseases such as measles and whooping cough to enroll them in school or day care without being questioned. Schools also would be barred from separating vaccinated and non-vaccinated children.The measure would permit only local boards of education to close schools when faced with an infectious disease outbreak, and only for 30 days at a time. State and local officials would not be allowed to place any limits on houses of worship.Individuals filing a lawsuit over restrictions would have to have hearing within three days and a ruling “without reasonable delay” and would have their legal fees covered if they won.“I think it’s a really dangerous bill,” Corson said. ”We are so focused on Monday morning quarterbacking what happened with COVID that we are really tying our hands in being able to respond to future health events.”

GOP lawmakers in Kansas pushing for ban on all mask mandates

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House approved a massive spending bill Wednesday night that would rush $13.6 billion in U.S. aid to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-business-europe-evacuations-2f94db1fa8cb96c47d7885efafbf4e79">battered Ukraine and its European allies,&nbsp;</a>after top Democrats were forced to abruptly drop their plan to include fresh funds to battle COVID-19.

Passage of the Ukraine aid and the $1.5 trillion government-wide legislation carrying it let both parties lay claim to election-year victories for their priorities. Democrats won treasured domestic initiatives, Republicans achieved defense boosts, and both got their imprint on funds to counter Russia’s brutal invasion of its western neighbor. Senate approval was assured by week’s end or perhaps slightly longer.

Hours earlier, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to abandon the bill’s $15.6 billion for combating the pandemic, a decision she called “heartbreaking” and that spelled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-congress-e7e8b60780867d86ae5005b74edc864f">defeat for a top priority of President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and party leaders. The money was mostly to bolster U.S. supplies of vaccines, treatments and tests and battle the disease around the world, but a Democratic revolt over Republican-demanded state aid cuts to cover the new initiatives’ costs forced her to scrap that spending.

“We’ve got a war going on in Ukraine,” Pelosi told reporters, explaining the urgency Democrats felt in making concessions in bargaining with Republicans. “We have important work that we’re doing here.” She said with her party in the 50-50 Senate needing at least 10 GOP votes to pass legislation, Democrats “are going to have to know there has to be compromise.”

The House approved the overall bill in two separate votes. The measure’s security programs were overwhelmingly approved by 361-69, the rest by 260-171, with most Republicans opposed.

The Ukraine aid included $6.5 billion for the U.S. costs of sending troops and weapons to Eastern Europe and equipping allied forces there in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion and bellicose threats. There was another $6.8 billion to care for refugees and provide economic aid to allies, and more to help federal agencies enforce economic sanctions against Russia and protect against cyber threats at home.

Biden had requested $10 billion for Ukraine.

Pelosi said she talked to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for 45 minutes Wednesday. She said they discussed the weapons and other assistance his country needs and “the crimes against humanity that Putin is committing,” including a Russian airstrike that destroyed a maternity hospital. “This is the beast that Putin is,” Pelosi said.

While enmity toward Putin and a desire to send assistance to the region is virtually universal in Congress, lawmakers have had a harder time finding unity on other steps. In one area where both parties were eager to demonstrate action, the House voted 414-17 to banning Russian oil imports, a prohibition that Biden imposed this week.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., called the $1.5 trillion measure a “reasonable compromise” and said its extra defense spending was “clearly necessary in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.”

In a remarkable and widespread rank-and-file rebellion, Democratic lawmakers froze the House into inactivity for most of Wednesday. Their demand: a refusal to accept Republicans’ insistence that the new COVID-19 spending be paid for with cuts in previously enacted pandemic aid to 30 states.

Pelosi eventually relented and decided to remove all pandemic spending from the government-wide, $1.5 trillion package. That underscored the pressure Congress feels to help Ukraine resist Russia before it’s too late and to help nearby nations bolster their militaries and absorb over 2 million refugees fleeing the fighting.

The House planned to vote next week on a separate measure providing the full $15.6 billion for pandemic programs, without cutting state aid. It was expected to pass but to likely face fatal GOP opposition in the Senate.

The $1.5 trillion measure and its 2,741 pages would keep agencies functioning through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. Since it began Oct. 1, the government has functioned on short-term measures that prevented federal shutdowns but held programs to levels agreed to under President Donald Trump.

Democrats won a 6.7% increase over last year in domestic programs, to a total of $730 billion. Republicans were able to boost defense programs to $782 billion, a 5.6% increase.

Last spring, Biden proposed increases of 16% for domestic and just 2% for defense programs for this year. Neither was realistic because of Democrats’ tiny congressional majorities.

Since then, Russia’s pummeling of Ukraine made it impossible for Democrats to resist defense increases. And the relentless pandemic, families’ growing costs from inflation and collapse of Biden’s huge social and environment bill made it harder to stop Democrats’ domestic boosts.

The bill would increase spending for child nutrition and child care, local law enforcement, improving broadband in rural areas, and education aid for disabled students and historically black colleges and universities.

The IRS would get an infusion to whittle down a backlog of tax returns. There would be boosts for veterans’ medical care, biomedical research and processing migrants entering the U.S. at the southwestern border.

“For the first time in a long time, I believe we’ve shown just how government can work for working people,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., chair of the House Appropriations Committee.

The measure retains strict decades-old curbs against using federal money for nearly all abortions. It has $300 million in military assistance for Ukraine and $300 million to help nearby countries like the Baltic nations and Poland. Service members would get 2.7% pay raises, and Navy shipbuilding would get a boost in a counter to China.

More money would be spent to prevent and respond to sexual assaults in the military. There was also language saying a plaque should be installed outside the Capitol listing all police officers who battled Trump supporters who attacked the building on Jan. 6, 2021.

Helping propel the bill to approval were thousands of hometown projects for both parties’ lawmakers. In the House alone, there were 2,021 such projects for Democrats worth $2.5 billion, and 706 worth $1.7 billion for Republicans, according to figures from that chamber. Totals for Senate projects were not immediately available.

These expenditures, once called earmarks but now dubbed community projects, were ubiquitous until Congress banned them in 2011, but revived in more limited form this year. This legislation includes money for an agricultural education program in Vermont, a water project in central California and money for the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library in Starkville, Mississippi.

As a backstop against delays, the House by voice vote passed a bill keeping government agencies afloat through Tuesday. Agencies would have to start shutting down Saturday if the Senate doesn’t complete the $1.5 trillion package.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646882942433.png" alt="Hours earlier, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to abandon the bill’s $15.6 billion for combating the pandemic, a decision she called “heartbreaking”-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Hours earlier, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to abandon the bill’s $15.6 billion for combating the pandemic, a decision she called “heartbreaking”-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House approved a massive spending bill Wednesday night that would rush $13.6 billion in U.S. aid to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-business-europe-evacuations-2f94db1fa8cb96c47d7885efafbf4e79">battered Ukraine and its European allies,&nbsp;</a>after top Democrats were forced to abruptly drop their plan to include fresh funds to battle COVID-19.Passage of the Ukraine aid and the $1.5 trillion government-wide legislation carrying it let both parties lay claim to election-year victories for their priorities. Democrats won treasured domestic initiatives, Republicans achieved defense boosts, and both got their imprint on funds to counter Russia’s brutal invasion of its western neighbor. Senate approval was assured by week’s end or perhaps slightly longer.Hours earlier, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to abandon the bill’s $15.6 billion for combating the pandemic, a decision she called “heartbreaking” and that spelled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-congress-e7e8b60780867d86ae5005b74edc864f">defeat for a top priority of President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and party leaders. The money was mostly to bolster U.S. supplies of vaccines, treatments and tests and battle the disease around the world, but a Democratic revolt over Republican-demanded state aid cuts to cover the new initiatives’ costs forced her to scrap that spending.“We’ve got a war going on in Ukraine,” Pelosi told reporters, explaining the urgency Democrats felt in making concessions in bargaining with Republicans. “We have important work that we’re doing here.” She said with her party in the 50-50 Senate needing at least 10 GOP votes to pass legislation, Democrats “are going to have to know there has to be compromise.”The House approved the overall bill in two separate votes. The measure’s security programs were overwhelmingly approved by 361-69, the rest by 260-171, with most Republicans opposed.The Ukraine aid included $6.5 billion for the U.S. costs of sending troops and weapons to Eastern Europe and equipping allied forces there in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion and bellicose threats. There was another $6.8 billion to care for refugees and provide economic aid to allies, and more to help federal agencies enforce economic sanctions against Russia and protect against cyber threats at home.Biden had requested $10 billion for Ukraine.Pelosi said she talked to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for 45 minutes Wednesday. She said they discussed the weapons and other assistance his country needs and “the crimes against humanity that Putin is committing,” including a Russian airstrike that destroyed a maternity hospital. “This is the beast that Putin is,” Pelosi said.While enmity toward Putin and a desire to send assistance to the region is virtually universal in Congress, lawmakers have had a harder time finding unity on other steps. In one area where both parties were eager to demonstrate action, the House voted 414-17 to banning Russian oil imports, a prohibition that Biden imposed this week.Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., called the $1.5 trillion measure a “reasonable compromise” and said its extra defense spending was “clearly necessary in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.”In a remarkable and widespread rank-and-file rebellion, Democratic lawmakers froze the House into inactivity for most of Wednesday. Their demand: a refusal to accept Republicans’ insistence that the new COVID-19 spending be paid for with cuts in previously enacted pandemic aid to 30 states.Pelosi eventually relented and decided to remove all pandemic spending from the government-wide, $1.5 trillion package. That underscored the pressure Congress feels to help Ukraine resist Russia before it’s too late and to help nearby nations bolster their militaries and absorb over 2 million refugees fleeing the fighting.The House planned to vote next week on a separate measure providing the full $15.6 billion for pandemic programs, without cutting state aid. It was expected to pass but to likely face fatal GOP opposition in the Senate.The $1.5 trillion measure and its 2,741 pages would keep agencies functioning through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. Since it began Oct. 1, the government has functioned on short-term measures that prevented federal shutdowns but held programs to levels agreed to under President Donald Trump.Democrats won a 6.7% increase over last year in domestic programs, to a total of $730 billion. Republicans were able to boost defense programs to $782 billion, a 5.6% increase.Last spring, Biden proposed increases of 16% for domestic and just 2% for defense programs for this year. Neither was realistic because of Democrats’ tiny congressional majorities.Since then, Russia’s pummeling of Ukraine made it impossible for Democrats to resist defense increases. And the relentless pandemic, families’ growing costs from inflation and collapse of Biden’s huge social and environment bill made it harder to stop Democrats’ domestic boosts.The bill would increase spending for child nutrition and child care, local law enforcement, improving broadband in rural areas, and education aid for disabled students and historically black colleges and universities.The IRS would get an infusion to whittle down a backlog of tax returns. There would be boosts for veterans’ medical care, biomedical research and processing migrants entering the U.S. at the southwestern border.“For the first time in a long time, I believe we’ve shown just how government can work for working people,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., chair of the House Appropriations Committee.The measure retains strict decades-old curbs against using federal money for nearly all abortions. It has $300 million in military assistance for Ukraine and $300 million to help nearby countries like the Baltic nations and Poland. Service members would get 2.7% pay raises, and Navy shipbuilding would get a boost in a counter to China.More money would be spent to prevent and respond to sexual assaults in the military. There was also language saying a plaque should be installed outside the Capitol listing all police officers who battled Trump supporters who attacked the building on Jan. 6, 2021.Helping propel the bill to approval were thousands of hometown projects for both parties’ lawmakers. In the House alone, there were 2,021 such projects for Democrats worth $2.5 billion, and 706 worth $1.7 billion for Republicans, according to figures from that chamber. Totals for Senate projects were not immediately available.These expenditures, once called earmarks but now dubbed community projects, were ubiquitous until Congress banned them in 2011, but revived in more limited form this year. This legislation includes money for an agricultural education program in Vermont, a water project in central California and money for the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library in Starkville, Mississippi.As a backstop against delays, the House by voice vote passed a bill keeping government agencies afloat through Tuesday. Agencies would have to start shutting down Saturday if the Senate doesn’t complete the $1.5 trillion package.___

After pandemic funding fight House OKs $13.6B for Ukraine, $1.5T spending bill

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge in Las Vegas postponed until next month a hearing in an assault case involving two NFL players and two other men accused of severely beating a man at a Las Vegas Strip nightclub the weekend of the Pro Bowl.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Chris Lammons and two other defendants — Darrin Young and Percy Harris — did not have to appear in court in person Tuesday while a prosecutor acknowledged that video evidence and witness statements are still being provided to their attorneys.

Justice of the Peace Harmony Letizia reset the hearing for April 25.

Kamara played in the Feb. 6 Pro Bowl game before he was arrested. Lammons turned himself in several days later. Young and Harris were arrested Feb. 14. Each faces felony charges of battery causing substantial bodily harm and conspiracy to commit battery.

Young’s attorney, John Spilotro, said defense lawyers also were awaiting evidence relating to statements the men allegedly made in a limousine while returning to their hotels following the 6:30 a.m. Feb. 5 attack at an elevator of the rooftop Drai’s nightclub.

Police have said surveillance video shows the alleged victim stepped toward the elevator with the four men and several other people, Kamara put his hand on the man’s chest to stop him, the man pushed Kamara’s hand away and Lammons punched the man.

More punches followed, the man fell unconscious on the floor and the defendants allegedly stomped on his face, chest and legs, police said, leaving him with facial fractures and injuries to his head, knees and arms.

Lammons’ attorney, Ross Goodman, has acknowledged that police allege his client threw the first punch.

Attorneys for all four men say they intend to plead not guilty.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645182338453.png" alt="Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Chris Lammons-photo Las Vegas Police" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Chris Lammons-photo Las Vegas Police</figcaption>
 </figure>LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge in Las Vegas postponed until next month a hearing in an assault case involving two NFL players and two other men accused of severely beating a man at a Las Vegas Strip nightclub the weekend of the Pro Bowl.New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Chris Lammons and two other defendants — Darrin Young and Percy Harris — did not have to appear in court in person Tuesday while a prosecutor acknowledged that video evidence and witness statements are still being provided to their attorneys.Justice of the Peace Harmony Letizia reset the hearing for April 25.Kamara played in the Feb. 6 Pro Bowl game before he was arrested. Lammons turned himself in several days later. Young and Harris were arrested Feb. 14. Each faces felony charges of battery causing substantial bodily harm and conspiracy to commit battery.Young’s attorney, John Spilotro, said defense lawyers also were awaiting evidence relating to statements the men allegedly made in a limousine while returning to their hotels following the 6:30 a.m. Feb. 5 attack at an elevator of the rooftop Drai’s nightclub.Police have said surveillance video shows the alleged victim stepped toward the elevator with the four men and several other people, Kamara put his hand on the man’s chest to stop him, the man pushed Kamara’s hand away and Lammons punched the man.More punches followed, the man fell unconscious on the floor and the defendants allegedly stomped on his face, chest and legs, police said, leaving him with facial fractures and injuries to his head, knees and arms.Lammons’ attorney, Ross Goodman, has acknowledged that police allege his client threw the first punch.Attorneys for all four men say they intend to plead not guilty.Kamara, 26, is one of the top running backs in the NFL. He rushed for more than 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He was picked for his fifth Pro Bowl in five seasons.Lammons, 26, signed with three NFL teams in 2018 — the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins — before signing with the Chiefs in 2019. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs in 2020.