AUBURN, Kan. (AP) — Auburn fire officials say a 90-year-old man died after a brush fire he started got out of control. Auburn Assistant Fire Chief Erik Wood said crews responded to the fire Tuesday in southwest Shawnee County, where a woman said she couldn't find her husband. 

Wood said firefighters found the man dead after extinguishing the blaze. It wasn't clear if the man died from the fire or a medical problem. Fire officials are warning Kansans to reconsider burning in the current warm and extremely dry conditions. 

The National Weather Service had issued an advisory for a very high fire danger on Tuesday because of the conditions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646255699186.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the fatal fire Tuesday -photo courtesy WIBW-TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the fatal fire Tuesday -photo courtesy WIBW-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>AUBURN, Kan. (AP) — Auburn fire officials say a 90-year-old man died after a brush fire he started got out of control. Auburn Assistant Fire Chief Erik Wood said crews responded to the fire Tuesday in southwest Shawnee County, where a woman said she couldn't find her husband. Wood said firefighters found the man dead after extinguishing the blaze. It wasn't clear if the man died from the fire or a medical problem. Fire officials are warning Kansans to reconsider burning in the current warm and extremely dry conditions. The National Weather Service had issued an advisory for a very high fire danger on Tuesday because of the conditions.

90-year-old Kansas man dies after brush fire gets out of control

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating an auto theft with a baby in the vehicle are asking for help to locate&nbsp;51-year-old Kevin Robertson of Wichita.

Just after 3p.m. on Tuesday, two off-duty Wichita Police officers were working at a business in the 500 block of East Pawnee, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; They were contacted by a woman who reported her grey Pontiac Grand Prix being stolen from the parking lot and her 11-month-old child being in the vehicle.

Officers quickly responded and began circulating.&nbsp; Officers located the vehicle abandoned in a parking lot in the 1400 block of South Emporia.&nbsp; The child was also inside, unharmed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Through the investigation, police learned of Robertson’s involvement in the theft.&nbsp; Robertson is currently on parole through the Kansas Department of Corrections. He has over twenty previous convictions that include theft,  aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, DUI, criminal threat, obstruction aggravated failure to appear and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two off-duty police officers in Wichita found a baby unharmed in the back seat of a car that had been stolen from a Walmart parking lot. Television station KAKE reports the theft happened Tuesday afternoon. 

The officers were off-duty and working at a business on Pawnee Street when they learned of the car theft with the 11-month-old baby still in the car's back seat. 

The pair began patrolling the area looking for the car and found it abandoned a short distance away with the baby still in the back seat. 

The suspect who stole the car is described as a white male in his 50s with brownish, blonde hair, some facial hair and he was wearing blue jeans and a checkered, flannel shirt, according to OffiCer Charley Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646258255237.png" alt="Robertson has over twenty previous convictions that include theft,&nbsp; aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, DUI, criminal threat, obstruction, aggravated failure to appear and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Robertson has over twenty previous convictions that include theft,&nbsp; aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, DUI, criminal threat, obstruction, aggravated failure to appear and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating an auto theft with a baby in the vehicle are asking for help to locate&nbsp;51-year-old Kevin Robertson of Wichita.Just after 3p.m. on Tuesday, two off-duty Wichita Police officers were working at a business in the 500 block of East Pawnee, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; They were contacted by a woman who reported her grey Pontiac Grand Prix being stolen from the parking lot and her 11-month-old child being in the vehicle.Officers quickly responded and began circulating.&nbsp; Officers located the vehicle abandoned in a parking lot in the 1400 block of South Emporia.&nbsp; The child was also inside, unharmed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Through the investigation, police learned of Robertson’s involvement in the theft.&nbsp; Robertson is currently on parole through the Kansas Department of Corrections. He has over twenty previous convictions that include theft, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, DUI, criminal threat, obstruction aggravated failure to appear and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.------------------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two off-duty police officers in Wichita found a baby unharmed in the back seat of a car that had been stolen from a Walmart parking lot. Television station KAKE reports the theft happened Tuesday afternoon. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646235649403.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday afternoon-photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday afternoon-photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>The officers were off-duty and working at a business on Pawnee Street when they learned of the car theft with the 11-month-old baby still in the car's back seat. The pair began patrolling the area looking for the car and found it abandoned a short distance away with the baby still in the back seat. The suspect who stole the car is described as a white male in his 50s with brownish, blonde hair, some facial hair and he was wearing blue jeans and a checkered, flannel shirt, according to OffiCer Charley Davidson.

Search continues  for Kan. felon who stole car with baby inside

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that many Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) will offer <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help">face-to-face Saturday help</a> without an appointment from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 12. Normally TACs are only open weekdays.

"Being open on select Saturdays is offered for people to get the help
 they need when they need it," said IRS Wage and Investment Division 
Commissioner and Taxpayer Experience Officer Ken Corbin. "We know that 
many taxpayers work during the week or have other obligations that make 
it difficult to get away to take care of their taxes during our routine 
business hours. We're here to help, and people don't need an appointment
 during these special Saturday hours."

People can also ask about reconciling <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">advance Child Tax Credit</a>
 payments, receive help resolving a tax problem, a tax bill or an IRS 
audit. If assistance from IRS employees specializing in these services 
is not available, the individual will receive a referral for these 
services. IRS staff will schedule appointments for a later date for Deaf
 or Hard of Hearing individuals who need sign language interpreter 
services. Foreign language interpreters will be available.

The IRS follows <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html">Centers for Disease Control social distancing guidelines</a>
 for COVID-19, and availability may change without notice. People are 
required to wear face masks and social distance at these events.

The IRS urges individuals to bring the following information:

During the visit, IRS staff may also request the following information:

No tax return preparation will be available at any IRS TAC. The IRS.gov webpage, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">Contact Your Local IRS Office</a>, lists all services provided at specific TACs.

While tax return preparation is not a service offered at IRS TACs 
during regular hours or during these Saturday hours, the following free 
resources are available to help most taxpayers prepare and file their 
2021 federal tax returns anytime:

Any individual or family earning $73,000 or less in 2021 can use tax 
software from providers who make their online products available through
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a> at no cost. There are products in English and Spanish.

Free help preparing tax returns is available at a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly location (TCE)</a> sites. The income limit for VITA assistance is $58,000. To find the closest free tax return preparation help, use the <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/">VITA Locator Tool</a> or call <a href="tel:800-906-9887">800-906-9887</a>. To find a TCE AARP Tax-Aide site, use the <a href="https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/locations.html">AARP Site Locator Tool</a> or call <a href="tel:888-227-7669">888-227-7669</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that many Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) will offer <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help">face-to-face Saturday help</a> without an appointment from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 12. Normally TACs are only open weekdays."Being open on select Saturdays is offered for people to get the help
 they need when they need it," said IRS Wage and Investment Division 
Commissioner and Taxpayer Experience Officer Ken Corbin. "We know that 
many taxpayers work during the week or have other obligations that make 
it difficult to get away to take care of their taxes during our routine 
business hours. We're here to help, and people don't need an appointment
 during these special Saturday hours."People can also ask about reconciling <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">advance Child Tax Credit</a>
 payments, receive help resolving a tax problem, a tax bill or an IRS 
audit. If assistance from IRS employees specializing in these services 
is not available, the individual will receive a referral for these 
services. IRS staff will schedule appointments for a later date for Deaf
 or Hard of Hearing individuals who need sign language interpreter 
services. Foreign language interpreters will be available.The IRS follows <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html">Centers for Disease Control social distancing guidelines</a>
 for COVID-19, and availability may change without notice. People are 
required to wear face masks and social distance at these events.<h2>Please come prepared</h2>The IRS urges individuals to bring the following information:<ul>
 <li>Current government-issued photo identification</li><li>Social Security cards and/or ITINs for members of their household, including spouse and dependents (if applicable)</li><li>Any IRS letters or notices received and related documents</li>
 </ul>During the visit, IRS staff may also request the following information:<ul>
 <li>A current mailing address, and</li><li>Bank account information, to receive payments or refunds by <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">Direct Deposit</a>.</li>
 </ul>No tax return preparation will be available at any IRS TAC. The IRS.gov webpage, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">Contact Your Local IRS Office</a>, lists all services provided at specific TACs.<h2>Free tax preparation help</h2>While tax return preparation is not a service offered at IRS TACs 
during regular hours or during these Saturday hours, the following free 
resources are available to help most taxpayers prepare and file their 
2021 federal tax returns anytime:Any individual or family earning $73,000 or less in 2021 can use tax 
software from providers who make their online products available through
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a> at no cost. There are products in English and Spanish.Free help preparing tax returns is available at a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly location (TCE)</a> sites. The income limit for VITA assistance is $58,000. To find the closest free tax return preparation help, use the <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/">VITA Locator Tool</a> or call <a href="tel:800-906-9887">800-906-9887</a>. To find a TCE AARP Tax-Aide site, use the <a href="https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/locations.html">AARP Site Locator Tool</a> or call <a href="tel:888-227-7669">888-227-7669</a>.

Face-to-face IRS help available in more than 30 cities this month

Washington— The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed Senator Roger Marshall's legislation to halt President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. Senator Marshall delivered remarks on the Senate floor prior to the vote.&nbsp;

“Make no mistake, this federal vaccine mandate is not about public health or science – it’s about Joe Biden fulfilling his desire to control every aspect of our lives, and it’s a slap in the face to the hard-working men and women who never took a day off on the frontline fight against COVID-19,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall. “Today is a huge victory for all the healthcare workers who ran to the sound of the COVID battle as Senate Republicans joined forces taking us one step closer to invalidating President Biden’s overreaching and harmful CMS vaccine mandate. These workers are the true heroes of the pandemic and deserve our best fight and utmost respect.”

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/CMS-Vaccine-Mandate-CRA-Floor-Speech.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view Senator Marshall’s remarks as prepared.

Washington— The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed Senator Roger Marshall's legislation to halt President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. Senator Marshall delivered remarks on the Senate floor prior to the vote.&nbsp;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fb_osjCmbx0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“Make no mistake, this federal vaccine mandate is not about public health or science – it’s about Joe Biden fulfilling his desire to control every aspect of our lives, and it’s a slap in the face to the hard-working men and women who never took a day off on the frontline fight against COVID-19,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall. “Today is a huge victory for all the healthcare workers who ran to the sound of the COVID battle as Senate Republicans joined forces taking us one step closer to invalidating President Biden’s overreaching and harmful CMS vaccine mandate. These workers are the true heroes of the pandemic and deserve our best fight and utmost respect.”Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/CMS-Vaccine-Mandate-CRA-Floor-Speech.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view Senator Marshall’s remarks as prepared.

Senate passes Marshall's bill to stop vaxx mandate for healthcare workers

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2022-03-01/derby-residents-pack-school-board-meeting-to-support-principals-lesson-on-white-privilege">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — Debate over a video about white privilege 
dominated the Derby school board meeting this week, with one board 
member linking the video to critical race theory and others saying they 
support its message and the principal who shared it.

More than 100
 people packed into the board chambers and an overflow room for Monday’s
 meeting. Many wore green “Team Hamblin” T-shirts in support of Derby 
High Principal Tim Hamblin.

Hamblin spoke publicly for the first time since the controversy began, saying he <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2022-02-20/fallout-from-video-about-white-privilege-roils-derby-school-district" target="_blank">shared the video with teachers</a> in January after learning about race-based attacks on social media against two Black students.

“‘See
 something, say something.’ It’s on the Derby homepage. It’s in every 
building in this district,” Hamblin said. “I was trying to teach kids 
how they can help others.”

Hamblin <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2022-02-09/a-kansas-principal-shared-a-video-about-speaking-up-against-racism-he-was-ordered-to-apologize" target="_blank">emailed his staff last month</a>
 to apologize for showing the video. He said an anonymous employee had 
complained to a school board member that the video was offensive and 
created a hostile work environment.

The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf9QBnPK6Yg" target="_blank">video features Black author Joy DeGruy</a>
 relating a story about being treated differently at a store because of 
her race. A lighter-skinned family member “used her white privilege and …
 pointed out the injustice,” DeGruy says in the video.

School board member Andy Watkins emailed Superintendent Heather Bohaty about the video on Feb. 6.

“I really believe the community/patrons of our district would not be 
OK with this video,” Watkins said in the email. He said students and 
teachers who watched it should get an apology or explanation.

“Do 
we need some kind of policy which talks more about disparaging one race 
over another (which seems like common sense but may be needed to prevent
 a video like this in the future)?” Watkins wrote in the email.

“I
 really need to understand your position on this video, as I think it 
dictates what possible next steps look like and further questions.”

Board members were <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12LquYeN0_WcUae9m7_kI0dCRB0ZhEcsX/view" target="_blank">scheduled to review Bohaty’s contract</a> the following day.

On
 Monday, Watkins said he raised concerns about the video because he 
thinks terminology used in it “has a direct tie to critical race 
theory,” and he was concerned about “making this terminology … the 
norm.”

Critical race theory is not taught in Kansas K-12 schools, 
but its core idea holds that racism is embedded in American culture and 
policies. Some critics say conversations about white privilege can make 
people feel uncomfortable and accelerate racial conflict.

Watkins 
said he did not order Hamblin to apologize. But Hamblin said he viewed 
board members as “the ultimate formal authority” in the district.

“This
 is a dumb analogy, but if my father asked me to mow the lawn, I never 
really thought I had a choice,” Hamblin said. “I respected his formal 
authority, and it was an expectation that I would do so.”

Bohaty, 
the superintendent, drew loud applause from the audience Monday when she
 said she supported Hamblin’s decision to show the video.

“I do 
not believe there was a communication breakdown. I have clearly stated …
 that an apology should not be requested from DHS administration,” 
Bohaty said.

“We have to do better. We must have an environment where conversations can occur, and every student feels safe in our school.”

Board
 president Michael Blankenship thanked Bohaty “for finally taking a 
stance on the video.” Then added, “Unfortunately, it’s about a month 
late.”

Several Derby residents addressed the school board in support of Hamblin.

“We
 live in a dangerous time when the sensibilities of the oppressors and 
their apologists are given more consideration than the experiences of 
true victims,” said Karen Runyon, a parent and school district employee.

“Kudos
 to Mr. Hamblin for attempting to deal with a complex and difficult 
issue in a productive way, and shame on those who requested an apology 
for his efforts.”

Cheryl Bannon, a former Derby City Council 
member, motioned to the crowd in attendance. “I represented this 
community for 17 years, and I can guarantee you, as shown by this sea of
 green, most of the community would not have a problem with that video.”

Sherilyn Ray, a Derby High graduate who is Black, said racism is a problem in the district and needs to be addressed.

“If
 every single person that was voted into a position … within this school
 district doesn't stand up and do something different, you're all 
accountable for that,” she said. “If you stand up and take a position … 
be on the right side, and that's on the side of the kids that are 
suffering.”

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646248303390.png" alt="More than 100 people attended Monday's Derby school board meeting in support of Derby High Principal Tim Hamblin. Derby High School Panther's Tale, courtesy Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>More than 100 people attended Monday's Derby school board meeting in support of Derby High Principal Tim Hamblin. Derby High School Panther's Tale, courtesy Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2022-03-01/derby-residents-pack-school-board-meeting-to-support-principals-lesson-on-white-privilege">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — Debate over a video about white privilege 
dominated the Derby school board meeting this week, with one board 
member linking the video to critical race theory and others saying they 
support its message and the principal who shared it.More than 100
 people packed into the board chambers and an overflow room for Monday’s
 meeting. Many wore green “Team Hamblin” T-shirts in support of Derby 
High Principal Tim Hamblin.Hamblin spoke publicly for the first time since the controversy began, saying he <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2022-02-20/fallout-from-video-about-white-privilege-roils-derby-school-district" target="_blank">shared the video with teachers</a> in January after learning about race-based attacks on social media against two Black students.“‘See
 something, say something.’ It’s on the Derby homepage. It’s in every 
building in this district,” Hamblin said. “I was trying to teach kids 
how they can help others.”Hamblin <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2022-02-09/a-kansas-principal-shared-a-video-about-speaking-up-against-racism-he-was-ordered-to-apologize" target="_blank">emailed his staff last month</a>
 to apologize for showing the video. He said an anonymous employee had 
complained to a school board member that the video was offensive and 
created a hostile work environment.The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf9QBnPK6Yg" target="_blank">video features Black author Joy DeGruy</a>
 relating a story about being treated differently at a store because of 
her race. A lighter-skinned family member “used her white privilege and …
 pointed out the injustice,” DeGruy says in the video.School board member Andy Watkins emailed Superintendent Heather Bohaty about the video on Feb. 6.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646248392918.png" alt="Derby school board member Andy Watkins / USD 260" />
 <figcaption>Derby school board member Andy Watkins / USD 260</figcaption>
 </figure>“I really believe the community/patrons of our district would not be 
OK with this video,” Watkins said in the email. He said students and 
teachers who watched it should get an apology or explanation.“Do 
we need some kind of policy which talks more about disparaging one race 
over another (which seems like common sense but may be needed to prevent
 a video like this in the future)?” Watkins wrote in the email.“I
 really need to understand your position on this video, as I think it 
dictates what possible next steps look like and further questions.”Board members were <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12LquYeN0_WcUae9m7_kI0dCRB0ZhEcsX/view" target="_blank">scheduled to review Bohaty’s contract</a> the following day.On
 Monday, Watkins said he raised concerns about the video because he 
thinks terminology used in it “has a direct tie to critical race 
theory,” and he was concerned about “making this terminology … the 
norm.”Critical race theory is not taught in Kansas K-12 schools, 
but its core idea holds that racism is embedded in American culture and 
policies. Some critics say conversations about white privilege can make 
people feel uncomfortable and accelerate racial conflict.Watkins 
said he did not order Hamblin to apologize. But Hamblin said he viewed 
board members as “the ultimate formal authority” in the district.“This
 is a dumb analogy, but if my father asked me to mow the lawn, I never 
really thought I had a choice,” Hamblin said. “I respected his formal 
authority, and it was an expectation that I would do so.”Bohaty, 
the superintendent, drew loud applause from the audience Monday when she
 said she supported Hamblin’s decision to show the video.“I do 
not believe there was a communication breakdown. I have clearly stated …
 that an apology should not be requested from DHS administration,” 
Bohaty said.“We have to do better. We must have an environment where conversations can occur, and every student feels safe in our school.”Board
 president Michael Blankenship thanked Bohaty “for finally taking a 
stance on the video.” Then added, “Unfortunately, it’s about a month 
late.”Several Derby residents addressed the school board in support of Hamblin.“We
 live in a dangerous time when the sensibilities of the oppressors and 
their apologists are given more consideration than the experiences of 
true victims,” said Karen Runyon, a parent and school district employee.“Kudos
 to Mr. Hamblin for attempting to deal with a complex and difficult 
issue in a productive way, and shame on those who requested an apology 
for his efforts.”Cheryl Bannon, a former Derby City Council 
member, motioned to the crowd in attendance. “I represented this 
community for 17 years, and I can guarantee you, as shown by this sea of
 green, most of the community would not have a problem with that video.”Sherilyn Ray, a Derby High graduate who is Black, said racism is a problem in the district and needs to be addressed.“If
 every single person that was voted into a position … within this school
 district doesn't stand up and do something different, you're all 
accountable for that,” she said. “If you stand up and take a position … 
be on the right side, and that's on the side of the kids that are 
suffering.”Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

Residents pack board meeting to support Kan. principal's lesson on 'white privilege'

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-03-02/former-kansas-attorney-general-phill-kline-subpoenaed-by-jan-6-committee">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA — A U.S. House select committee investigating the Jan.
 6 attack on the Capitol has subpoenaed Phill Kline, a former Kansas 
attorney general.

According to the subpoena, Kline convened a 
meeting between then-President Donald Trump and 300 state lawmakers in 
an attempt to “disseminate purported evidence of election fraud” and 
ultimately overturn the 2020 election.

The subpoena says Kline 
encouraged the legislators to sign a letter urging former Vice President
 Mike Pence to delay the electoral certification on Jan. 6, 2021.

Kline, a Republican who served as Kansas attorney general from 2003 to 2007, was one of <a href="https://january6th.house.gov/news/press-releases/select-committee-demands-information-witnesses-who-promoted-unsupported-claims" target="_blank">six people subpoenaed by the committee</a> on Tuesday. The subpoenas seek documents and testimony from attorneys who worked on behalf of Trump.

Kline has until March 15 to produce documents and was ordered to appear for a deposition on March 25.

Kline founded a group called <a href="https://www.theamistadproject.org/" target="_blank">The Amistad Project</a>, which bills itself as “the nation’s leading election integrity watchdog.” Recent news reports reveal that the group was <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-01-24/former-kansas-attorney-general-phill-kline-led-effort-to-promote-fake-trump-electors-in-2020" target="_blank">active in promoting fake slates of pro-Trump electors</a> in 2020.

The
 new subpoenas reflect the Jan. 6 committee’s focus on Trump’s efforts 
to stop President Joe Biden’s certification, including plans to send 
slates of electors to return Trump to office.

“The select 
committee is seeking information about attempts to disrupt or delay the 
certification of electoral votes and any efforts to corruptly change the
 outcome of the 2020 election,” Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi 
Democrat and chairman of the panel, said in a statement.

“The six 
individuals we’ve subpoenaed today all have knowledge related to those 
matters and will help the select committee better understand all the 
various strategies employed to potentially affect the outcome of the 
election,” Thompson said.

Suzanne Perez reports for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646248163529.png" alt="Former Kansas attorney general Phill Kline / Kansas News Service photo" />
 <figcaption>Former Kansas attorney general Phill Kline / Kansas News Service photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-03-02/former-kansas-attorney-general-phill-kline-subpoenaed-by-jan-6-committee">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA — A U.S. House select committee investigating the Jan.
 6 attack on the Capitol has subpoenaed Phill Kline, a former Kansas 
attorney general.According to the subpoena, Kline convened a 
meeting between then-President Donald Trump and 300 state lawmakers in 
an attempt to “disseminate purported evidence of election fraud” and 
ultimately overturn the 2020 election.The subpoena says Kline 
encouraged the legislators to sign a letter urging former Vice President
 Mike Pence to delay the electoral certification on Jan. 6, 2021.Kline, a Republican who served as Kansas attorney general from 2003 to 2007, was one of <a href="https://january6th.house.gov/news/press-releases/select-committee-demands-information-witnesses-who-promoted-unsupported-claims" target="_blank">six people subpoenaed by the committee</a> on Tuesday. The subpoenas seek documents and testimony from attorneys who worked on behalf of Trump.Kline has until March 15 to produce documents and was ordered to appear for a deposition on March 25.Kline founded a group called <a href="https://www.theamistadproject.org/" target="_blank">The Amistad Project</a>, which bills itself as “the nation’s leading election integrity watchdog.” Recent news reports reveal that the group was <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-01-24/former-kansas-attorney-general-phill-kline-led-effort-to-promote-fake-trump-electors-in-2020" target="_blank">active in promoting fake slates of pro-Trump electors</a> in 2020.The
 new subpoenas reflect the Jan. 6 committee’s focus on Trump’s efforts 
to stop President Joe Biden’s certification, including plans to send 
slates of electors to return Trump to office.“The select 
committee is seeking information about attempts to disrupt or delay the 
certification of electoral votes and any efforts to corruptly change the
 outcome of the 2020 election,” Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi 
Democrat and chairman of the panel, said in a statement.“The six 
individuals we’ve subpoenaed today all have knowledge related to those 
matters and will help the select committee better understand all the 
various strategies employed to potentially affect the outcome of the 
election,” Thompson said.Suzanne Perez reports for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

Former Kansas AG Phill Kline subpoenaed by Jan. 6 committee

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A community task force is calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the death of a Black teenager who was restrained facedown for more than 30 minutes at a Kansas juvenile detention center.

Sedgwick County Commission Chairman David Dennis said last month that he was told by county Sheriff Jeff Easter that the&nbsp;FBI&nbsp;requested all information regarding the death of 17-year-old Cedric Lofton. The FBI is part of the Justice Department.

But the task force wasn’t certain about the status of the investigation because its members only knew about it secondhand and they wanted to add their voices to those asking, said member Jazmine Rogers, an organizer with the Wichita-based youth civil rights group Progeny.

Lofton’s foster father called authorities in September seeking help because the teenager was hallucinating. Police initially tried to convince him to go to a mental health facility, but body camera video shows him refusing to go and then resisting when officers tried to force him.

Lofton then was taken to the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center, where he had to be resuscitated after he was held facedown. He died two days later.

The county prosecutor declined to file charges in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-kansas-a51f619b8b196987e74b046ac399680c">January</a>, citing the state’s stand-your-ground law self defense law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642880340757.png" alt="Lofton as seen at the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center . Image from the video of the encounter released by Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Lofton as seen at the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center . Image from the video of the encounter released by Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A community task force is calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the death of a Black teenager who was restrained facedown for more than 30 minutes at a Kansas juvenile detention center.Sedgwick County Commission Chairman David Dennis said last month that he was told by county Sheriff Jeff Easter that the&nbsp;FBI&nbsp;requested all information regarding the death of 17-year-old Cedric Lofton. The FBI is part of the Justice Department.But the task force wasn’t certain about the status of the investigation because its members only knew about it secondhand and they wanted to add their voices to those asking, said member Jazmine Rogers, an organizer with the Wichita-based youth civil rights group Progeny.Lofton’s foster father called authorities in September seeking help because the teenager was hallucinating. Police initially tried to convince him to go to a mental health facility, but body camera video shows him refusing to go and then resisting when officers tried to force him.Lofton then was taken to the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center, where he had to be resuscitated after he was held facedown. He died two days later.The county prosecutor declined to file charges in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-kansas-a51f619b8b196987e74b046ac399680c">January</a>, citing the state’s stand-your-ground law self defense law.

Task force: DOJ should investigate Kan. teen's in custody death

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 924 to a total of 766,969, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The state reported 29 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,975.

<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 924 to a total of 766,969, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp; &nbsp;The state reported 29 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,975.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646244099939.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><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 reports 29 additional COVID-19 deaths

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A suspect in the fatal shooting of a North Carolina bus driver has been arrested in Kansas, police announced Tuesday.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said in a news release that detectives found Darian Dru Thavychith, 21, through a collaboration with state police, the FBI and the Shawnee, Kansas, Police Department. Thavychith was arrested without incident at a gas station in Shawnee, according to police there.

Thavychith is charged with murder and shooting into occupied property in the death of Charlotte Area Transit System bus driver Ethan Rivera last month, police said. He is in the Johnson County, Kansas, jail, Shawnee police records show. At a court hearing Tuesday, Thavychith agreed to be extradited to Charlotte.

Officers responding to a call about a shooting on Feb. 11 found a bus off the road and the bus driver shot, police said. Rivera was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and police said he died the next day. The four passengers on the bus at the time were not hurt, police said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646237757506.png" alt="Thavychit-is being held in Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Thavychit-is being held in Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A suspect in the fatal shooting of a North Carolina bus driver has been arrested in Kansas, police announced Tuesday.Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said in a news release that detectives found Darian Dru Thavychith, 21, through a collaboration with state police, the FBI and the Shawnee, Kansas, Police Department. Thavychith was arrested without incident at a gas station in Shawnee, according to police there.Thavychith is charged with murder and shooting into occupied property in the death of Charlotte Area Transit System bus driver Ethan Rivera last month, police said. He is in the Johnson County, Kansas, jail, Shawnee police records show. At a court hearing Tuesday, Thavychith agreed to be extradited to Charlotte.Officers responding to a call about a shooting on Feb. 11 found a bus off the road and the bus driver shot, police said. Rivera was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and police said he died the next day. The four passengers on the bus at the time were not hurt, police said.

Suspect in February killing of bus driver captured in Kansas

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646235649403.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday afternoon-photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday afternoon-photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two off-duty police officers in Wichita found a baby unharmed in the back seat of a car that had been stolen from a Walmart parking lot. Television station KAKE reports the theft happened Tuesday afternoon. The officers were off-duty and working at a business on Pawnee Street when they learned of the car theft with the 11-month-old baby still in the car's back seat. The pair began patrolling the area looking for the car and found it abandoned a short distance away with the baby still in the back seat. The suspect who stole the car is described as a white male in his 50s with brownish, blonde hair, some facial hair and he was wearing blue jeans and a checkered, flannel shirt, according to OffiCer Charley Davidson.

Kan. officers found baby in car stolen from Walmart parking lot

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today updated its 
frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Tax Credits for Paid Leave Under 
the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for Leave After March 31, 2021.

These FAQs (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-15.pdf">FS-2022-15</a>&nbsp;PDF) revisions add Questions 98a and 116a.

These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possible.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today updated its 
frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Tax Credits for Paid Leave Under 
the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for Leave After March 31, 2021.These FAQs (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-15.pdf">FS-2022-15</a>&nbsp;PDF) revisions add Questions 98a and 116a.These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possible.---------------------WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today updated its 
frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Tax Credits for Paid Leave Under 
the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for Leave After March 31, 2021.These FAQs (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-15.pdf">FS-2022-15</a>&nbsp;PDF) revisions add Questions 98a and 116a.These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possible.

IRS: Updates to rules on COVID relief payments, paid leave

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;filed a third lawsuit Tuesday against a congressional redistricting law enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature, arguing that GOP gerrymandering aimed to “practically void” Democratic votes in the liberal enclave of Lawrence.

Four Democrats from the northeast Kansas city filed the lawsuit in Douglas County District Court, claiming that the new law violates the Kansas Constitution. It moved Lawrence from the 2nd District of northeast Kansas into the sprawling 1st District of central and western Kansas with conservative Republican communities hours away by car.

The U.S. Supreme Court declared in 2019 that partisan gerrymandering is a political issue and not for the federal courts to resolve. That still leaves the question of whether state courts might declare that the Kansas Constitution separately bars gerrymandering.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday and two others filed last month in Wyandotte County District Court ask for just such a ruling.

Republican lawmakers dismissed allegations of gerrymandering.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican running for governor, already has filed a petition with the Kansas Supreme Court, asking it to intervene and declare that partisan gerrymandering isn't an issue for the state courts, either. Schmidt spokesperson John Milburn said the Democrats who filed the lawsuit Tuesday “appear to be raising the same legal questions.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643147273216.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;filed a third lawsuit Tuesday against a congressional redistricting law enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature, arguing that GOP gerrymandering aimed to “practically void” Democratic votes in the liberal enclave of Lawrence.Four Democrats from the northeast Kansas city filed the lawsuit in Douglas County District Court, claiming that the new law violates the Kansas Constitution. It moved Lawrence from the 2nd District of northeast Kansas into the sprawling 1st District of central and western Kansas with conservative Republican communities hours away by car.The U.S. Supreme Court declared in 2019 that partisan gerrymandering is a political issue and not for the federal courts to resolve. That still leaves the question of whether state courts might declare that the Kansas Constitution separately bars gerrymandering.The lawsuit filed Tuesday and two others filed last month in Wyandotte County District Court ask for just such a ruling.Republican lawmakers dismissed allegations of gerrymandering.Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican running for governor, already has filed a petition with the Kansas Supreme Court, asking it to intervene and declare that partisan gerrymandering isn't an issue for the state courts, either. Schmidt spokesperson John Milburn said the Democrats who filed the lawsuit Tuesday “appear to be raising the same legal questions.”

Democrats file 3rd lawsuit over new Kansas congressional map

&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities have located a 1-year-old Kansas girl reported missing early Wednesday.

Kamryn is safe and police arrested her father identified as 41-year-old James Nordman on requested charges that include a violation of a domestic violence protection order, according to Officer Charley Davidson. Police released no additional details about how or where they found the child.

Just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a domestic violence report call at a home in the 1000 block of South Christine in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers contacted a 25-year-old female of the residence.  

She reported that her boyfriend, James, was at the home with their child, Kamryn, while she was away.  When she arrived home James and Kamryn were gone, and they did not return for several hours.  Investigators are concerned for the welfare of Kamryn and need assistance locating her.  Additionally, James is wanted for a violation of a domestic violence protection order.

Nordman has previous convictions for theft, burglary and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are asking for assistance in locating 1-year-old Kamryn Nordman and 41-year-old James Nordman.

  They are traveling in a white 1999 Chevy Trailblazer with Kansas tag 388 MGG.  If you see Kamryn, James, or the Chevy Trailblazer, or know their whereabouts, please call 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646231301148.png" alt="Nordman has previous convictions for theft, burglary and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Nordman has previous convictions for theft, burglary and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities have located a 1-year-old Kansas girl reported missing early Wednesday.Kamryn is safe and police arrested her father identified as 41-year-old James Nordman on requested charges that include a violation of a domestic violence protection order, according to Officer Charley Davidson. Police released no additional details about how or where they found the child.Just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a domestic violence report call at a home in the 1000 block of South Christine in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers contacted a 25-year-old female of the residence. She reported that her boyfriend, James, was at the home with their child, Kamryn, while she was away. When she arrived home James and Kamryn were gone, and they did not return for several hours. Investigators are concerned for the welfare of Kamryn and need assistance locating her. Additionally, James is wanted for a violation of a domestic violence protection order.Nordman has previous convictions for theft, burglary and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.-------SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are asking for assistance in locating 1-year-old Kamryn Nordman and 41-year-old James Nordman.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646220988772.png" alt="photo courtesy Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure> They are traveling in a white 1999 Chevy Trailblazer with Kansas tag 388 MGG. If you see Kamryn, James, or the Chevy Trailblazer, or know their whereabouts, please call 911.Just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a domestic violence report call at a home in the 1000 block of South Christine in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers contacted a 25-year-old female of the residence. She reported that her boyfriend, James, was at the home with their child, Kamryn, while she was away. When she arrived home James and Kamryn were gone, and they did not return for several hours. Investigators are concerned for the welfare of Kamryn and need assistance locating her. Additionally, James is wanted for a violation of a domestic violence protection order.

Police find missing 1-year-old Kan. girl, arrest her father

By JAMES BELL <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>

HAYS, Kan. — While the current situation in Ukraine has dominated domestic and international headlines in recent weeks, one Fort Hays State University expert said the conflict is less a standalone event and more of an escalation of hostilities.

Along with her academic expertise as a historian of central and eastern Europe, Amber Nickell, associate professor of history, also spent time living in Ukraine as a Fulbright Scholar and has traveled to and from the country for research since 2018.

While half a world away, she said there are parallels to the people of Ukraine and those living in the area.

“Ukrainians are extremely resilient, very hard-working,” Nickell said. “And it definitely reminds me of some of the hard-working folks here in Kansas, that you know, are pulling themselves up and doing what it takes to get things done. And we're definitely seeing that in Ukraine right now, as Ukrainians are fighting against Russian aggression.”

And much like the Kansas farmers who help drive local economies, Ukrainians also rely on agriculture, with corn, wheat and seed oils among their top five exports.

“Ukraine has a large swath is what of what is known black earth territory,” Nickell said. “And this is soil that is so nutrient rich, that it can give two crops per season as opposed to one. And so, for those folks out there that are working in agriculture, know that there are many Ukrainians out there just like you spending their days in the fields. This is this is part of who they are.”

Now with the recent conflict escalation, those people are fighting for their county, but she said current hostilities are only the most recent in a long history of Russian interference in the county.

“For some time, Ukrainians have been trying to fight Russian aggression,” Nickell said. “And we can really reach back pretty far in the historical narrative, all the way back to the violent escalation inside of independent Ukraine in the interwar and Bolsheviks, kind of forcibly placing power over the Ukrainian population.

“But in the more recent memory, Ukraine has been illegally occupied since 2014, in both Crimea and the Donbass region which is Luhansk, and Donetsk. Here, Russians have backed so-called separatists and well over 4,000 Ukrainian citizens and soldiers have died in this conflict since 2014.”

While the conflict might be an old one, in the last week the conflict has become decidedly more pronounced.

“Things have definitely escalated exponentially in the past five days,” Nickell said. “The emails and messages and Facebook messages that I'm getting from my friends and colleagues in Ukraine are heartbreaking. Bombs dropping on their neighborhoods in their communities, children doing kindergarten underground and bunkers, folks fleeing to the borders looking for any chance to help their families survive. ... It's heartbreaking to see the escalation these past few days.”

Along with the similarities of the people of Ukraine, she said the country is like the U.S. — multiracial, with populations living in the country from around the globe.

"It is, in very many ways, a civic nation, much like us here, where you can be a citizen of the United States, regardless of where you come from,” Nickell said. “And you can have that patriotism and sense of belonging really, regardless of what languages you speak.”

And so, while Russian language and culture might remain prevalent in Ukraine, the sense of self-determination is also a large part of the society.

“Much like me sitting here, I have family from Poland, but I am an American citizen,” Nickell said. “And so that is something that I think we need to think about a little closely when we're listening to some of the media that is coming out of these places.”

The trend toward simplicity in reporting from the region, she added, can create an understanding that does not fully reflect national complexities.

“I think often folks think that Ukraine is just this small country out in the middle of nowhere,” Nickell said. “And I've definitely heard those things said. But it isn't a small country. It isn't in the middle of nowhere.”

The size of the nation itself is important for a good understanding of the situation and relevant to the desire of Russia to increase their sphere of influence in Ukraine.

“It is the largest country entirely in Europe. It's bigger than Germany. It's bigger than France. It's bigger than Spain. It's bigger than the UK. And so, we're talking about a very, very large swath of territory, we're talking a couple Kansases, for those that are thinking about size relative to where they are,” Nickell said. “It is geopolitically important for both the Kremlin and for the European Union because of this relative size.”

The country is also a regional economic power, that despite ongoing conflicts, has seen growth in recent years.

“(It’s a) massive economy,” Nickell said. “A very vibrant tech sector is emerging from Ukraine, especially in the past six or so years. ... They also have a very large education sector that they are building. They are exporters of various raw materials, perhaps the most beautiful, and maybe I'm biased, is amber. But this is something that they are building and they're working very hard to build this economy, despite the fact that it was decimated in 2014, in the wake of&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euromaidan">Euromaidan</a>, and despite the fact that their former president absconded with almost the entirety of the National Treasury when he left in 2014.”

The size, location and economic value of Ukraine is a primary driver of the desire of Russian to control the country, in part or in whole, and she said is an important buffer between NATO-allied countries and Russia.

“One of my scholarly colleagues by the name of Serhii&nbsp;Plokhy, he has called Ukraine the gates of Europe,” Nickell said. “And I think this is a really apt description, because it is the gates of Europe and Mr. Putin is afraid that those gates will come flooding open and European ideas, and what are perceived as Western ideas, like democracy will flood into Russian territory.

“And so I think he sees this as strategically a place to try to cut those ideas from flooding over,” she said. “So that location is very, very important. And, of course, it is bordering several NATO countries.”

Putin’s invoking of NATO creeping into the area is also a misrepresentation of the situation, Nickell said.

“I think it's important when we're listening to the news and thinking about these things, you're going to hear several people say that Mr. Putin is worried about NATO coming to his doorstep. I encourage you to open a map of NATO. You will see that NATO is already on his doorstep in the Baltics and Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, so he does have NATO countries already bordering Russia. So much of this is just rhetoric.”

But while the rhetoric coming out of the Russian government has been presented around the globe, Nickell said the situation has shown even within the country Putin’s messaging has been increasing scrutinized.

“I think we're seeing definitely over the past five days that some of our assumptions about some of these things are breaking down,” she said. “If you would have asked me five days ago about the extent of Putin's propaganda machine and its success, I might have thought it to be a little bit more successful than we're finding out it actually is. The propaganda is breaking down on the ground. Russians are coming out into the streets in the thousands, despite the very literal threat to their personal livelihoods to protest this. They're getting arrested. They're getting disappeared.”

Further, as those protests are occurring in the light of a “very sophisticated propaganda machine” and the heavy clampdown on the public sphere, showing complexity and divergence of thought within the region that highlights potential threats to Putin.

“Much of this is also just kind of in rooted in an autocrats' attempt to maintain power,” Nickell said. “And, really, I think he's afraid right now.”

Specifically, she said he seems to fear a growing trend toward democracy on Russia’s doorstep.

While Ukraine continues the fight to fend off Russian forces, Nickell said the Ukrainian response has come as surprising to Putin and his allies.

“We have evidence, empirical evidence at this point, he thought that this was going to go very differently,” she said. “He was under the impression that Russia would arrive and then Ukraine would capitulate within three days. We know these to be facts, because the Wayback Machine, which Putin tried to prevent from having access to Russian media outlets, caught something that was supposed to go out 48 hours ago, with pictures and everything, announcing that Ukraine had capitulated. And that is not what happened.

“So here we are. We're two days after that (and) Ukraine is fighting hard. And the world is seeing the propaganda machine for what it is.”

A large part of that propaganda perpetuated by Putin, is based on “entangled history,” Nickell said. But is not actually rooted in historical fact.

He often tries to use the shared history “as a way to depict both entities as the same thing, when in fact, they are different, but related things and the true heirs to Kievan Rus’ are not only Russians, but also Bella Russians and Ukrainians, all distinct separate national identities and now distinct sovereign nation states,” Nickell said.

While, historically, borders have shifted as the result of conflicts and wars in Europe, Ukrainian borders as they are now formed after World War Two.

“It's important that we understand that all of this rhetoric coming from the Kremlin, that Ukraine was always part of Russia is just that Ukraine is composed of parts of several different empires, be it Polish, be it Ottoman, be it Russian, be it Austrian,” Nickell said. “And so, it really is this place for many places, and not necessarily something that was Russian, and then became something else after.

While the lines were formalized in more recent history, they stem from movements in the 17th to 20th centuries.

“There's an independent Ukraine that emerges in 1917-1918,” Nickell said. “There's a brief moment in which they are kind of put down or pacified. And then they emerge as an independent Ukraine again shortly after that. This is short-lived, because unlike our war for independence, where we succeeded in gaining our independence from an imperial power, they did not succeed in gaining their independence from an imperial power. The Bolsheviks violently pacified Ukraine, they murdered millions in the process of doing this and incorporated Ukraine into the Soviet Union. And so that's how Ukraine gets into the Soviet Union.”

Ukraine would function as a part of the Soviet Union until 1991.

“But there was always kind of an undercurrent or demand for Ukrainian independence,” Nickell said. “This is hard to do in a totalitarian state, to come out and be like 'I want to independent state,' but there were always those ideas and cultures of Ukrainian independence. And as they steadily marched closer and closer to the collapse of communism, you saw them become more overt in these calls.”

After the collapse of the USSR, Ukrainians voted for their independence.

But in doing so, they found themselves in a precarious situation that was the impetus behind a meeting in Budapest in 1994.

“It's here that Yeltsin, that leaders of the United States, leaders of the U.K., and leaders of Ukraine all came together to discuss one of the biggest issues facing independent Ukraine,” Nickell said. “And that was the fact that they were sitting on top of the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. And we wanted to denuclearize. We were moving away from the Cold War world, and that we put full faith in Russia and full faith in ourselves that we would begin this process of disarming our nukes.

“As a Colorado girl,” she continued, “I watched that process unfold at home. ... Ukraine agreed to this, that they would give up their nuclear weapons in exchange for one thing — that Russia and the United States acknowledged their territorial sovereignty and promise to protect it. So, we are right now contractually obligated to protect Ukrainian sovereignty, though much of our conversation has been about NATO. And Russia is also contractually obligated to do so. And this is kind of a little bit of a lesson and Putin's promises.”

As elections in Ukraine yielded pro-Russian and more pro-democratic leaders, tensions with Russia would come to a head in 2014 with the Euromaidan.

“Maidan is just the word for Square in Ukrainian, which is why Ukrainians call this the Revolution of Dignity, because this was the moment that they claimed back their dignity from the state,” Nickell said. “And they demanded democratic policies.”

Despite the desire of the people to live in a democratic system, the president at the time desired to bring Ukraine closer to Russia.

“And so, he essentially sicced the secret police on the population that was protesting,” Nickell said. "(A) little over 100 individuals were murdered ruthlessly in the streets of Kiev protesting. And today Ukrainians call them the Heavenly 100.”

The timing of those deaths corresponds with the Russian annexation of Crimea, something she attributes to Putin, or at least on his behalf. Soon after as a democratic election was underway, he took advantage of the situation to invade Crimea.

It was at this time he “also began the process of backing so-called separatists in eastern Ukraine in two regions called Donetsk and Luhansk,” Nickell said. “And they're kind of the equivalent to states here in the United States. And this has been ongoing since 2014. Well, over 4,000 Ukrainians have died in this war and war has been part of their everyday lives since."

Until recently, military action has been confined to those two regions.

“And Mr. Putin has at least maintained the facade of nonintervention in the eastern kind of crisis in Luhansk and Donetsk, the war of aggression there,” Nickell said. “However, over the past five days, we've seen this rapid escalation there. ... There is no more facade. Mr. Putin is sending in troops, he is sending in tanks, he is sending in planes, he is using weapons that even here we consider violations of human rights. And so, this is a violent, violent escalation that most of us hoped that we would not be coming to.”

And while allegiances in those regions created complex international relations, Ukrainian borders had been clearly set, she said.

As a historian, Nickell said she has no ability to predict what the outcome of the conflict might be, but fears the situation will not be quickly resolved.

“What I can say is based off of what has been occurring so far and the ratcheting up of violence, I do think this will be a very long and protracted — like very long — conflict,” Nickell said. “And given Putin's general approach to Ukraine over the past 15 years or so, I do think that he will continue to fight&nbsp; (and) Ukrainians will continue to resist. This is something I can say, I think, with some level of certainty.”

But she is encouraged by internal action to stop Russian aggression.

“Some of the rhetoric inside of us inside of the Russian Federation is really starting to break down his grip on power, I think protests out of Belarus in 2020 and again, this week, protests in Kazakhstan, all of these areas surrounding the Russian Federation, as well as inside where there are calls for democracy calls for an open public sphere calls for transparency,” Nickell said. “I think this is where our best hope lies, this would be the most ideal outcome, that democratic ideas overturn autocratic ideas.”

“But other than that,” she continued “I don't I don't know what comes next. I do know that the people of Ukraine need our support, they need our voices, they need anything that we can send their way. Call your congresspeople, do what you can do your bit. And this is a place that does their bit. So do your bit and make change.”

Nickell is scheduled to speak on this topic during an event at Hays
Public Library at 10 a.m. that can be viewed online by visiting their facebook page, f<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hayspubliclibrary">facebook.com/hayspubliclibrary</a>.

<div><iframe title="Area Ukraine expert shares insights into situation; history" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=d3fid-11bd71a-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>HAYS, Kan. — While the current situation in Ukraine has dominated domestic and international headlines in recent weeks, one Fort Hays State University expert said the conflict is less a standalone event and more of an escalation of hostilities.Along with her academic expertise as a historian of central and eastern Europe, Amber Nickell, associate professor of history, also spent time living in Ukraine as a Fulbright Scholar and has traveled to and from the country for research since 2018.While half a world away, she said there are parallels to the people of Ukraine and those living in the area.“Ukrainians are extremely resilient, very hard-working,” Nickell said. “And it definitely reminds me of some of the hard-working folks here in Kansas, that you know, are pulling themselves up and doing what it takes to get things done. And we're definitely seeing that in Ukraine right now, as Ukrainians are fighting against Russian aggression.”And much like the Kansas farmers who help drive local economies, Ukrainians also rely on agriculture, with corn, wheat and seed oils among their top five exports.“Ukraine has a large swath is what of what is known black earth territory,” Nickell said. “And this is soil that is so nutrient rich, that it can give two crops per season as opposed to one. And so, for those folks out there that are working in agriculture, know that there are many Ukrainians out there just like you spending their days in the fields. This is this is part of who they are.”Now with the recent conflict escalation, those people are fighting for their county, but she said current hostilities are only the most recent in a long history of Russian interference in the county.“For some time, Ukrainians have been trying to fight Russian aggression,” Nickell said. “And we can really reach back pretty far in the historical narrative, all the way back to the violent escalation inside of independent Ukraine in the interwar and Bolsheviks, kind of forcibly placing power over the Ukrainian population.“But in the more recent memory, Ukraine has been illegally occupied since 2014, in both Crimea and the Donbass region which is Luhansk, and Donetsk. Here, Russians have backed so-called separatists and well over 4,000 Ukrainian citizens and soldiers have died in this conflict since 2014.”While the conflict might be an old one, in the last week the conflict has become decidedly more pronounced.“Things have definitely escalated exponentially in the past five days,” Nickell said. “The emails and messages and Facebook messages that I'm getting from my friends and colleagues in Ukraine are heartbreaking. Bombs dropping on their neighborhoods in their communities, children doing kindergarten underground and bunkers, folks fleeing to the borders looking for any chance to help their families survive. ... It's heartbreaking to see the escalation these past few days.”<h2>A civic nation</h2>Along with the similarities of the people of Ukraine, she said the country is like the U.S. — multiracial, with populations living in the country from around the globe."It is, in very many ways, a civic nation, much like us here, where you can be a citizen of the United States, regardless of where you come from,” Nickell said. “And you can have that patriotism and sense of belonging really, regardless of what languages you speak.”And so, while Russian language and culture might remain prevalent in Ukraine, the sense of self-determination is also a large part of the society.“Much like me sitting here, I have family from Poland, but I am an American citizen,” Nickell said. “And so that is something that I think we need to think about a little closely when we're listening to some of the media that is coming out of these places.”The trend toward simplicity in reporting from the region, she added, can create an understanding that does not fully reflect national complexities.“I think often folks think that Ukraine is just this small country out in the middle of nowhere,” Nickell said. “And I've definitely heard those things said. But it isn't a small country. It isn't in the middle of nowhere.”The size of the nation itself is important for a good understanding of the situation and relevant to the desire of Russia to increase their sphere of influence in Ukraine.“It is the largest country entirely in Europe. It's bigger than Germany. It's bigger than France. It's bigger than Spain. It's bigger than the UK. And so, we're talking about a very, very large swath of territory, we're talking a couple Kansases, for those that are thinking about size relative to where they are,” Nickell said. “It is geopolitically important for both the Kremlin and for the European Union because of this relative size.”The country is also a regional economic power, that despite ongoing conflicts, has seen growth in recent years.“(It’s a) massive economy,” Nickell said. “A very vibrant tech sector is emerging from Ukraine, especially in the past six or so years. ... They also have a very large education sector that they are building. They are exporters of various raw materials, perhaps the most beautiful, and maybe I'm biased, is amber. But this is something that they are building and they're working very hard to build this economy, despite the fact that it was decimated in 2014, in the wake of&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euromaidan">Euromaidan</a>, and despite the fact that their former president absconded with almost the entirety of the National Treasury when he left in 2014.”<h2>Why it matters</h2>The size, location and economic value of Ukraine is a primary driver of the desire of Russian to control the country, in part or in whole, and she said is an important buffer between NATO-allied countries and Russia.“One of my scholarly colleagues by the name of Serhii&nbsp;Plokhy, he has called Ukraine the gates of Europe,” Nickell said. “And I think this is a really apt description, because it is the gates of Europe and Mr. Putin is afraid that those gates will come flooding open and European ideas, and what are perceived as Western ideas, like democracy will flood into Russian territory.“And so I think he sees this as strategically a place to try to cut those ideas from flooding over,” she said. “So that location is very, very important. And, of course, it is bordering several NATO countries.”Putin’s invoking of NATO creeping into the area is also a misrepresentation of the situation, Nickell said.“I think it's important when we're listening to the news and thinking about these things, you're going to hear several people say that Mr. Putin is worried about NATO coming to his doorstep. I encourage you to open a map of NATO. You will see that NATO is already on his doorstep in the Baltics and Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, so he does have NATO countries already bordering Russia. So much of this is just rhetoric.”But while the rhetoric coming out of the Russian government has been presented around the globe, Nickell said the situation has shown even within the country Putin’s messaging has been increasing scrutinized.“I think we're seeing definitely over the past five days that some of our assumptions about some of these things are breaking down,” she said. “If you would have asked me five days ago about the extent of Putin's propaganda machine and its success, I might have thought it to be a little bit more successful than we're finding out it actually is. The propaganda is breaking down on the ground. Russians are coming out into the streets in the thousands, despite the very literal threat to their personal livelihoods to protest this. They're getting arrested. They're getting disappeared.”Further, as those protests are occurring in the light of a “very sophisticated propaganda machine” and the heavy clampdown on the public sphere, showing complexity and divergence of thought within the region that highlights potential threats to Putin.“Much of this is also just kind of in rooted in an autocrats' attempt to maintain power,” Nickell said. “And, really, I think he's afraid right now.”Specifically, she said he seems to fear a growing trend toward democracy on Russia’s doorstep.<h2>The conflict</h2>While Ukraine continues the fight to fend off Russian forces, Nickell said the Ukrainian response has come as surprising to Putin and his allies.“We have evidence, empirical evidence at this point, he thought that this was going to go very differently,” she said. “He was under the impression that Russia would arrive and then Ukraine would capitulate within three days. We know these to be facts, because the Wayback Machine, which Putin tried to prevent from having access to Russian media outlets, caught something that was supposed to go out 48 hours ago, with pictures and everything, announcing that Ukraine had capitulated. And that is not what happened.“So here we are. We're two days after that (and) Ukraine is fighting hard. And the world is seeing the propaganda machine for what it is.”A large part of that propaganda perpetuated by Putin, is based on “entangled history,” Nickell said. But is not actually rooted in historical fact.He often tries to use the shared history “as a way to depict both entities as the same thing, when in fact, they are different, but related things and the true heirs to Kievan Rus’ are not only Russians, but also Bella Russians and Ukrainians, all distinct separate national identities and now distinct sovereign nation states,” Nickell said.While, historically, borders have shifted as the result of conflicts and wars in Europe, Ukrainian borders as they are now formed after World War Two.“It's important that we understand that all of this rhetoric coming from the Kremlin, that Ukraine was always part of Russia is just that Ukraine is composed of parts of several different empires, be it Polish, be it Ottoman, be it Russian, be it Austrian,” Nickell said. “And so, it really is this place for many places, and not necessarily something that was Russian, and then became something else after.While the lines were formalized in more recent history, they stem from movements in the 17th to 20th centuries.“There's an independent Ukraine that emerges in 1917-1918,” Nickell said. “There's a brief moment in which they are kind of put down or pacified. And then they emerge as an independent Ukraine again shortly after that. This is short-lived, because unlike our war for independence, where we succeeded in gaining our independence from an imperial power, they did not succeed in gaining their independence from an imperial power. The Bolsheviks violently pacified Ukraine, they murdered millions in the process of doing this and incorporated Ukraine into the Soviet Union. And so that's how Ukraine gets into the Soviet Union.”Ukraine would function as a part of the Soviet Union until 1991.“But there was always kind of an undercurrent or demand for Ukrainian independence,” Nickell said. “This is hard to do in a totalitarian state, to come out and be like 'I want to independent state,' but there were always those ideas and cultures of Ukrainian independence. And as they steadily marched closer and closer to the collapse of communism, you saw them become more overt in these calls.”After the collapse of the USSR, Ukrainians voted for their independence.But in doing so, they found themselves in a precarious situation that was the impetus behind a meeting in Budapest in 1994.“It's here that Yeltsin, that leaders of the United States, leaders of the U.K., and leaders of Ukraine all came together to discuss one of the biggest issues facing independent Ukraine,” Nickell said. “And that was the fact that they were sitting on top of the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. And we wanted to denuclearize. We were moving away from the Cold War world, and that we put full faith in Russia and full faith in ourselves that we would begin this process of disarming our nukes.“As a Colorado girl,” she continued, “I watched that process unfold at home. ... Ukraine agreed to this, that they would give up their nuclear weapons in exchange for one thing — that Russia and the United States acknowledged their territorial sovereignty and promise to protect it. So, we are right now contractually obligated to protect Ukrainian sovereignty, though much of our conversation has been about NATO. And Russia is also contractually obligated to do so. And this is kind of a little bit of a lesson and Putin's promises.”<h2>The conflict heats up</h2>As elections in Ukraine yielded pro-Russian and more pro-democratic leaders, tensions with Russia would come to a head in 2014 with the Euromaidan.“Maidan is just the word for Square in Ukrainian, which is why Ukrainians call this the Revolution of Dignity, because this was the moment that they claimed back their dignity from the state,” Nickell said. “And they demanded democratic policies.”Despite the desire of the people to live in a democratic system, the president at the time desired to bring Ukraine closer to Russia.“And so, he essentially sicced the secret police on the population that was protesting,” Nickell said. "(A) little over 100 individuals were murdered ruthlessly in the streets of Kiev protesting. And today Ukrainians call them the Heavenly 100.”The timing of those deaths corresponds with the Russian annexation of Crimea, something she attributes to Putin, or at least on his behalf. Soon after as a democratic election was underway, he took advantage of the situation to invade Crimea.It was at this time he “also began the process of backing so-called separatists in eastern Ukraine in two regions called Donetsk and Luhansk,” Nickell said. “And they're kind of the equivalent to states here in the United States. And this has been ongoing since 2014. Well, over 4,000 Ukrainians have died in this war and war has been part of their everyday lives since."Until recently, military action has been confined to those two regions.“And Mr. Putin has at least maintained the facade of nonintervention in the eastern kind of crisis in Luhansk and Donetsk, the war of aggression there,” Nickell said. “However, over the past five days, we've seen this rapid escalation there. ... There is no more facade. Mr. Putin is sending in troops, he is sending in tanks, he is sending in planes, he is using weapons that even here we consider violations of human rights. And so, this is a violent, violent escalation that most of us hoped that we would not be coming to.”And while allegiances in those regions created complex international relations, Ukrainian borders had been clearly set, she said.As a historian, Nickell said she has no ability to predict what the outcome of the conflict might be, but fears the situation will not be quickly resolved.“What I can say is based off of what has been occurring so far and the ratcheting up of violence, I do think this will be a very long and protracted — like very long — conflict,” Nickell said. “And given Putin's general approach to Ukraine over the past 15 years or so, I do think that he will continue to fight&nbsp; (and) Ukrainians will continue to resist. This is something I can say, I think, with some level of certainty.”But she is encouraged by internal action to stop Russian aggression.“Some of the rhetoric inside of us inside of the Russian Federation is really starting to break down his grip on power, I think protests out of Belarus in 2020 and again, this week, protests in Kazakhstan, all of these areas surrounding the Russian Federation, as well as inside where there are calls for democracy calls for an open public sphere calls for transparency,” Nickell said. “I think this is where our best hope lies, this would be the most ideal outcome, that democratic ideas overturn autocratic ideas.”“But other than that,” she continued “I don't I don't know what comes next. I do know that the people of Ukraine need our support, they need our voices, they need anything that we can send their way. Call your congresspeople, do what you can do your bit. And this is a place that does their bit. So do your bit and make change.”Nickell is scheduled to speak on this topic during an event at Hays
Public Library at 10 a.m. that can be viewed online by visiting their facebook page, f<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hayspubliclibrary">facebook.com/hayspubliclibrary</a>.

🎙 Kan. Ukraine expert shares insights into situation, history

WASHINGTON (AP) — Addressing a concerned nation and anxious world, President Joe Biden vowed in his first State of the Union address Tuesday night to check&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-abc3e297725e57e6052529d844b5ee2f">Russian aggression in Ukraine,&nbsp;</a>tame soaring U.S. inflation and deal with the fading but still dangerous coronavirus.

Biden declared that he and all members of Congress, whatever their political differences, are joined “with an unwavering resolve that freedom will always triumph over tyranny.” He asked lawmakers crowding the House chamber to stand and salute the Ukrainians as he began his speech. They stood and cheered.

It was a notable show of unity after a long year of bitter acrimony between Biden’s Democratic coalition and the Republican opposition.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-voting-rights-immigration-state-of-the-union-address-5894f85ff2872a4c28b4f2bbde2741c7">Biden’s 62-minute speech,&nbsp;</a>which was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-state-of-the-union-address-joe-biden-coronavirus-pandemic-feaf4678d114e37ce708aa41fae8be82">split between attention to war abroad and worries at home</a>&nbsp;— reflected the same balancing act he now faces in his presidency. He must marshal allied resolve against Russia’s aggression while tending to inflation, COVID-19 fatigue and sagging approval ratings heading into the midterm elections.

Aiming to build on momentum from the speech, Biden will head to Wisconsin on Wednesday in an effort to show Americans that his domestic agenda is working. His vice president and Cabinet members will fan out around the country to amplify the message.

Biden heads again to an old bridge set to be repaired — increasingly a symbol for his administration, tangible evidence of the nation that he’s working to update. This time, it’s a wrought-iron bridge that connects Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, across the St. Louis Bay.

The bridge will be replaced using funds from the massive infrastructure plan signed into law last year, a signature piece of bipartisan legislation and proof — Biden says — that the GOP and Democrats can still work together.

In Tuesday’s speech, Biden highlighted the bravery of Ukrainian defenders and a newly reinvigorated Western alliance that has worked to rearm the Ukrainian military and cripple Russia’s economy through sanctions. He acknowledged costs to the American economy, as well, but warned ominously that without consequences, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression wouldn’t be contained to Ukraine.

“Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos,” Biden said. “They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising.”

As Biden spoke, Russian forces were escalating their attacks in Ukraine, having bombarded the central square of country’s second-biggest city and Kyiv’s main TV tower, killing at least five people. The Babi Yar Holocaust memorial was also damaged.

Biden announced that the U.S. is following Canada and the European Union in banning Russian planes from its airspace in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. He also said the Justice Department was launching a task force to go after Russian oligarchs, whom he called “corrupt leaders who have bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime.”

“We are coming for your ill-begotten gains,” he said, pledging that the U.S. and European allies were after their yachts, luxury apartments and private jets.

Biden pivoted in his speech from the troubles abroad to those at home. Even before the Russian invasion sent energy costs skyrocketing, prices for American families had been rising, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hurt families and the country’s economy.

Biden outlined plans to address inflation by reinvesting in American manufacturing capacity, speeding supply chains and reducing the burden of childcare and eldercare on workers.

“Too many families are struggling to keep up with the bills,” Biden said. “Inflation is robbing them of the gains they might otherwise feel. I get it. That’s why my top priority is getting prices under control.”

In one sign of national progress on the pandemic, Biden entered the House chamber without a mask, as coronavirus cases decline and new federal guidance tries to nudge the public back to pre-pandemic activities. But there was evidence of ongoing tension as well: The Capitol was newly fenced due to security concerns after last year’s insurrection.

Set against disquiet at home and danger abroad, the White House had conceived Tuesday night’s speech as an opportunity to highlight the improving coronavirus outlook, rebrand Biden’s domestic policy priorities and show a path to lower costs for families grappling with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-c1bfd93ed1719cf0135420f4fd0270f9">soaring inflation</a>. But events took a turn toward world affairs with last week’s Russian invasion of Ukraine and nuclear saber-rattling by Putin.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646187951280.png" alt="President&nbsp;Biden outlined plans to address inflation by reinvesting in American manufacturing capacity, speeding supply chains and reducing the burden of childcare and eldercare on workers.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President&nbsp;Biden outlined plans to address inflation by reinvesting in American manufacturing capacity, speeding supply chains and reducing the burden of childcare and eldercare on workers.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Addressing a concerned nation and anxious world, President Joe Biden vowed in his first State of the Union address Tuesday night to check&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-abc3e297725e57e6052529d844b5ee2f">Russian aggression in Ukraine,&nbsp;</a>tame soaring U.S. inflation and deal with the fading but still dangerous coronavirus.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mVIXLQrC9rE?start=1384" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Biden declared that he and all members of Congress, whatever their political differences, are joined “with an unwavering resolve that freedom will always triumph over tyranny.” He asked lawmakers crowding the House chamber to stand and salute the Ukrainians as he began his speech. They stood and cheered.It was a notable show of unity after a long year of bitter acrimony between Biden’s Democratic coalition and the Republican opposition.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-voting-rights-immigration-state-of-the-union-address-5894f85ff2872a4c28b4f2bbde2741c7">Biden’s 62-minute speech,&nbsp;</a>which was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-state-of-the-union-address-joe-biden-coronavirus-pandemic-feaf4678d114e37ce708aa41fae8be82">split between attention to war abroad and worries at home</a>&nbsp;— reflected the same balancing act he now faces in his presidency. He must marshal allied resolve against Russia’s aggression while tending to inflation, COVID-19 fatigue and sagging approval ratings heading into the midterm elections.Aiming to build on momentum from the speech, Biden will head to Wisconsin on Wednesday in an effort to show Americans that his domestic agenda is working. His vice president and Cabinet members will fan out around the country to amplify the message.Biden heads again to an old bridge set to be repaired — increasingly a symbol for his administration, tangible evidence of the nation that he’s working to update. This time, it’s a wrought-iron bridge that connects Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, across the St. Louis Bay.The bridge will be replaced using funds from the massive infrastructure plan signed into law last year, a signature piece of bipartisan legislation and proof — Biden says — that the GOP and Democrats can still work together.In Tuesday’s speech, Biden highlighted the bravery of Ukrainian defenders and a newly reinvigorated Western alliance that has worked to rearm the Ukrainian military and cripple Russia’s economy through sanctions. He acknowledged costs to the American economy, as well, but warned ominously that without consequences, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression wouldn’t be contained to Ukraine.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646219843722.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos,” Biden said. “They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising.”As Biden spoke, Russian forces were escalating their attacks in Ukraine, having bombarded the central square of country’s second-biggest city and Kyiv’s main TV tower, killing at least five people. The Babi Yar Holocaust memorial was also damaged.Biden announced that the U.S. is following Canada and the European Union in banning Russian planes from its airspace in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. He also said the Justice Department was launching a task force to go after Russian oligarchs, whom he called “corrupt leaders who have bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime.”“We are coming for your ill-begotten gains,” he said, pledging that the U.S. and European allies were after their yachts, luxury apartments and private jets.Biden pivoted in his speech from the troubles abroad to those at home. Even before the Russian invasion sent energy costs skyrocketing, prices for American families had been rising, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hurt families and the country’s economy.Biden outlined plans to address inflation by reinvesting in American manufacturing capacity, speeding supply chains and reducing the burden of childcare and eldercare on workers.“Too many families are struggling to keep up with the bills,” Biden said. “Inflation is robbing them of the gains they might otherwise feel. I get it. That’s why my top priority is getting prices under control.”In one sign of national progress on the pandemic, Biden entered the House chamber without a mask, as coronavirus cases decline and new federal guidance tries to nudge the public back to pre-pandemic activities. But there was evidence of ongoing tension as well: The Capitol was newly fenced due to security concerns after last year’s insurrection.Set against disquiet at home and danger abroad, the White House had conceived Tuesday night’s speech as an opportunity to highlight the improving coronavirus outlook, rebrand Biden’s domestic policy priorities and show a path to lower costs for families grappling with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-c1bfd93ed1719cf0135420f4fd0270f9">soaring inflation</a>. But events took a turn toward world affairs with last week’s Russian invasion of Ukraine and nuclear saber-rattling by Putin.As is customary, one Cabinet secretary, in this case Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, was kept in a secure location during the address, ready to take over the government in the event of a catastrophe.The State of the Union is typically an address targeted to a national audience, but this year’s had the world watching. In an interview with CNN and Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Biden to deliver a strong and “useful” message about Russia’s invasion. In a show of unity, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova joined first lady Jill Biden in the House gallery for the speech.In a rare discordant moment, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado yelled out that Biden was to blame for the 13 service members who were killed during last August’s chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.“You put them in. Thirteen of them,” Boebert yelled as Biden mentioned his late son Beau, a veteran who died from brain cancer and served near toxic military burn pits, used extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan. Biden is pursuing legislation to help veterans suffering exposure and other injuries.While the crisis in Eastern Europe may have helped to cool partisan tensions in Washington, it didn’t erase the political and cultural discord that is casting doubt on Biden’s ability to deliver.A February AP-NORC poll found that more people disapproved than approved of how Biden is handling his job, 55% to 44%. That’s down from a 60% favorable rating last July.Biden, used his remarks to highlight the progress from a year ago — with the majority of the U.S. population now vaccinated and millions more people at work — but also acknowledged that the job is not yet done, a recognition of American discontent.“I have come to report on the state of the union,” Biden said. “And my report is this: The state of the union is strong — because you, the American people, are strong. We are stronger today than we were a year ago. And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today.”Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, selected to give the Republican response, said Biden’s address came as a blast from the past with rising inflation, rising crime and a resurgent Russia making it feel more like the 1980s than today.“Even before taking the oath of office, the president said that he wanted to — quote — make America respected around the world again, and to unite us here. He’s failed on both fronts,” she said.Biden used his speech to nudge the country back “to more normal routines” after the coronavirus reshaped American life.“It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again,” he declared. He said people will be able to order another round of free tests from the government and that his administration was launching a “test to treat” initiative to provide free antiviral pills at pharmacies to those who test positive for the virus.Where his speech to Congress last year saw the rollout of a massive social spending package, Biden this year largely repackaged past proposals in search of achievable measures he hopes can win bipartisan support in a bitterly divided Congress before the elections.The president also highlighted investments in everything from internet broadband access to bridge construction from November’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144">$1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law</a>&nbsp;as an example of government reaching consensus and delivering change for the nation.As part of his pitch to voters, he also put a new emphasis on how proposals like extending the child tax credit and bringing down child care costs could bring relief to families as prices rise. He was said his climate change proposals would cut costs for lower- and middle-income families and create new jobs.Biden called for lowering health care costs, pitching his plan to authorize Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, as well as an extension of more generous health insurance subsidies now temporarily available through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces where 14.5 million people get coverage.Biden also appealed for action on voting rights, which has failed to win GOP support. And as gun violence rises, he returned to calls to ban assault weapons, a blunt request he hadn’t made in months. He called to “fund the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities.”He led Congress in a bipartisan tribute to retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and highlighted the biography of federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/Ketanji-Brown-Jackson-biden-supreme-court-nominee-32f77fe08d7cf64af95591668a0aaa41">Ketanji Brown Jackson,</a>&nbsp;his nominee be the first Black woman on the high court.___