SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a traffic stop.

Just after 1:30 a.m. Thursday, a law enforcement officer with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a white 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck near SW 29th Street and South Kansas Avenue, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, a K9 Unit located illegal narcotics and both occupants had warrants for their arrests.

The driver, Steven E. Gaddis, 40, of Topeka, had two outstanding warrants for his arrest and a revoked driver’s license. Gaddis was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for his two warrants and on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license.

The passenger was identified as Ashlee A. Tosh, 32,&nbsp; of Topeka after giving a false name and date of birth. Tosh was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for her Topeka bench warrants and booked on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, identity theft and interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644525727717.png" alt="Gaddis-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Gaddis-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a traffic stop.Just after 1:30 a.m. Thursday, a law enforcement officer with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a white 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck near SW 29th Street and South Kansas Avenue, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, a K9 Unit located illegal narcotics and both occupants had warrants for their arrests.The driver, Steven E. Gaddis, 40, of Topeka, had two outstanding warrants for his arrest and a revoked driver’s license. Gaddis was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for his two warrants and on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license.The passenger was identified as Ashlee A. Tosh, 32,&nbsp; of Topeka after giving a false name and date of birth. Tosh was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for her Topeka bench warrants and booked on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, identity theft and interference with law enforcement.

Kan. woman jailed after giving fake name during traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but “equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House said Saturday. It offered no suggestion that the hourlong call diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe.

Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.

The two presidents spoke a day after Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20.

Russia denies it intends to invade but has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, encircling Ukraine on three sides. U.S. officials say Russia’s buildup of firepower has reached the point where it could invade on short notice.

The conversation came at a critical moment for what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. U.S. officials believe they have mere days to prevent an invasion and enormous bloodshed in Ukraine. And while the U.S. and its NATO allies have no plans to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia, an invasion and resulting punishing sanctions could reverberate far beyond the former Soviet republic, affecting energy supplies, global markets and the power balance in Europe.

“President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House statement said.

The call was “professional and substantive” but produced “no fundamental change in the dynamic that has been unfolding now for several weeks,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters following the call on condition of anonymity.

The official added that it remains unclear whether Putin has made a final decision to move forward with military action.

Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, said that while tensions have been escalating for months, in recent days “the situation has simply been brought to the point of absurdity.”

He said Biden mentioned the possible sanctions that could be imposed on Russia, but “this issue was not the focus during a fairly long conversation with the Russian leader.”

Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the crisis. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down the tensions.

Putin complained in the call that the United States and NATO have not responded satisfactorily to Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pull back forces from Eastern Europe.

In a sign that American officials are getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the United States announced plans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-states-europe-russia-kyiv-ff41abf90650aa5f456cbb6aafa4c5b3">to evacuate most of its staff from the embassy</a>&nbsp;in the Ukrainian capital, and Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine.

The timing of any possible Russian military action remained a key question.

The U.S. picked up intelligence that Russia is looking at Wednesday as a target date, according to a U.S. official familiar with the findings. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and did so only on condition of anonymity, would not say how definitive the intelligence was.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he told his Russian counterpart Saturday that “further Russian aggression would be met with a resolute, massive and united trans-Atlantic response.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to project calm as he observed military exercises Saturday near Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.

“We are not afraid, we’re without panic, all is under control,” he said.

Ukrainian armed forces chief commander Lt. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov issued a more defiant joint statement.

“We are ready to meet the enemy, and not with flowers, but with Stingers, Javelins and NLAWs” — anti-tank and -aircraft weapons, they said. “Welcome to hell!”

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, also held telephone discussions on Saturday.

Further U.S.-Russia tensions arose on Saturday when the Defense Ministry summoned the U.S. embassy’s military attache after it said the navy detected an American submarine in Russian waters near the Kuril Islands in the Pacific. The submarine declined orders to leave, but departed after the navy used unspecified “appropriate means,” the ministry said.

Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies.

The U.S. has urged all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, and Sullivan said those who remain should not expect the U.S. military to rescue them in the event that air and rail transportation is severed after a Russian invasion.

The Biden administration has been warning for weeks that Russia could invade Ukraine soon, but U.S. officials had previously said the Kremlin would likely wait until after the Winter Games ended so as not to antagonize China.

Sullivan told reporters on Friday that U.S. intelligence shows that Russia could take invade during the Olympics. He said military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive.

“Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action,” Sullivan said, adding that “Russia could choose, in very short order, to commence a major military action against Ukraine.” He said the scale of such an invasion could range from a limited incursion to a strike on Kyiv, the capital.

Russia scoffed at the U.S. talk of urgency.

“The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever,” said Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. “The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems.”

Zakharova said her country had “optimized” staffing at its own embassy in Kyiv in response to concerns about possible military actions from the Ukrainian side.

In addition to the more than 100,000 ground troops that U.S. officials say Russia has assembled along Ukraine’s eastern and southern borders, the Russians have deployed missile, air, naval and special operations forces, as well as supplies to sustain a war. This week, Russia moved six amphibious assault ships into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on the coast.

Biden has bolstered the U.S. military presence in Europe as reassurance to allies on NATO’s eastern flank. The 3,000 additional soldiers ordered to Poland come on top of 1,700 who are on their way there. The U.S. Army also is shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania, which like Poland shares a border with Ukraine.

Russia is demanding that the West keep former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons near its border and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe — demands flatly rejected by the West.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly leader was driven from office by a popular uprising. Moscow responded by annexing the Crimean Peninsula and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.

A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped halt large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued, and efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644692713491.png" alt="Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but “equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House said Saturday. It offered no suggestion that the hourlong call diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe.Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.The two presidents spoke a day after Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20.Russia denies it intends to invade but has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, encircling Ukraine on three sides. U.S. officials say Russia’s buildup of firepower has reached the point where it could invade on short notice.The conversation came at a critical moment for what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. U.S. officials believe they have mere days to prevent an invasion and enormous bloodshed in Ukraine. And while the U.S. and its NATO allies have no plans to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia, an invasion and resulting punishing sanctions could reverberate far beyond the former Soviet republic, affecting energy supplies, global markets and the power balance in Europe.“President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House statement said.The call was “professional and substantive” but produced “no fundamental change in the dynamic that has been unfolding now for several weeks,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters following the call on condition of anonymity.The official added that it remains unclear whether Putin has made a final decision to move forward with military action.Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, said that while tensions have been escalating for months, in recent days “the situation has simply been brought to the point of absurdity.”He said Biden mentioned the possible sanctions that could be imposed on Russia, but “this issue was not the focus during a fairly long conversation with the Russian leader.”Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the crisis. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down the tensions.Putin complained in the call that the United States and NATO have not responded satisfactorily to Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pull back forces from Eastern Europe.In a sign that American officials are getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the United States announced plans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-states-europe-russia-kyiv-ff41abf90650aa5f456cbb6aafa4c5b3">to evacuate most of its staff from the embassy</a>&nbsp;in the Ukrainian capital, and Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine.The timing of any possible Russian military action remained a key question.The U.S. picked up intelligence that Russia is looking at Wednesday as a target date, according to a U.S. official familiar with the findings. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and did so only on condition of anonymity, would not say how definitive the intelligence was.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he told his Russian counterpart Saturday that “further Russian aggression would be met with a resolute, massive and united trans-Atlantic response.”Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to project calm as he observed military exercises Saturday near Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.“We are not afraid, we’re without panic, all is under control,” he said.Ukrainian armed forces chief commander Lt. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov issued a more defiant joint statement.“We are ready to meet the enemy, and not with flowers, but with Stingers, Javelins and NLAWs” — anti-tank and -aircraft weapons, they said. “Welcome to hell!”U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, also held telephone discussions on Saturday.Further U.S.-Russia tensions arose on Saturday when the Defense Ministry summoned the U.S. embassy’s military attache after it said the navy detected an American submarine in Russian waters near the Kuril Islands in the Pacific. The submarine declined orders to leave, but departed after the navy used unspecified “appropriate means,” the ministry said.Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies.The U.S. has urged all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, and Sullivan said those who remain should not expect the U.S. military to rescue them in the event that air and rail transportation is severed after a Russian invasion.The Biden administration has been warning for weeks that Russia could invade Ukraine soon, but U.S. officials had previously said the Kremlin would likely wait until after the Winter Games ended so as not to antagonize China.Sullivan told reporters on Friday that U.S. intelligence shows that Russia could take invade during the Olympics. He said military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive.“Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action,” Sullivan said, adding that “Russia could choose, in very short order, to commence a major military action against Ukraine.” He said the scale of such an invasion could range from a limited incursion to a strike on Kyiv, the capital.Russia scoffed at the U.S. talk of urgency.“The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever,” said Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. “The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems.”Zakharova said her country had “optimized” staffing at its own embassy in Kyiv in response to concerns about possible military actions from the Ukrainian side.In addition to the more than 100,000 ground troops that U.S. officials say Russia has assembled along Ukraine’s eastern and southern borders, the Russians have deployed missile, air, naval and special operations forces, as well as supplies to sustain a war. This week, Russia moved six amphibious assault ships into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on the coast.Biden has bolstered the U.S. military presence in Europe as reassurance to allies on NATO’s eastern flank. The 3,000 additional soldiers ordered to Poland come on top of 1,700 who are on their way there. The U.S. Army also is shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania, which like Poland shares a border with Ukraine.Russia is demanding that the West keep former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons near its border and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe — demands flatly rejected by the West.Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly leader was driven from office by a popular uprising. Moscow responded by annexing the Crimean Peninsula and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped halt large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued, and efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled.___

Phone call: Biden warns Putin again on Ukraine invasion

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Wyandotte County will begin offering municipal photo IDs to immigrants and other vulnerable residents after county commissioners approved the move in a split vote.

 KCUR reports that the Unified Government of Wyandotte County board voted 6-4 Thursday night to offer the IDs under what was dubbed the “Safe and Welcoming Wyandotte Act.”

The measure will allow immigrants, the homeless, the elderly and others without ready access to state-issued photo IDs to get a local photo ID. The move was backed by a coalition of advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the Immigrant Justice Advocacy Movement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644603024272.png" alt="A portion of a draft of the Safe &amp; Welcoming City Act-courtesy Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK" />
 <figcaption>A portion of a draft of the Safe &amp; Welcoming City Act-courtesy Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Wyandotte County will begin offering municipal photo IDs to immigrants and other vulnerable residents after county commissioners approved the move in a split vote. KCUR reports that the Unified Government of Wyandotte County board voted 6-4 Thursday night to offer the IDs under what was dubbed the “Safe and Welcoming Wyandotte Act.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640885581678.png" alt="KCK Mayor Tyrone Garner -courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>KCK Mayor Tyrone Garner -courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The measure will allow immigrants, the homeless, the elderly and others without ready access to state-issued photo IDs to get a local photo ID. The move was backed by a coalition of advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the Immigrant Justice Advocacy Movement.

Kan. county to offer local IDs to immigrants, others

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit and run accident released additional details Saturday.

Just after 6:30p.m. Friday, a truck hit a pedestrian who was crossing Troost Avenue just south of 89th Street in Kansas City.

The suspect vehicle is described as a white truck with cowl lights. May have moderate front end damage.  If you have any information, please call detectives or @KCCrimeStop where you can remain anonymous.

Police have not released the identity of the victim.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit and run accident and asking the public for help to locate a vehicle.

The suspect vehicle is described as a white truck with cowl lights. May have moderate front end damage. If you have any information, please call detectives or @KCCrimeStop where you can remain anonymous.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644692184907.png" alt="Another view of the suspect vehicle-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Another view of the suspect vehicle-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit and run accident released additional details Saturday.Just after 6:30p.m. Friday, a truck hit a pedestrian who was crossing Troost Avenue just south of 89th Street in Kansas City.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644633133487.png" alt="Suspect vehicle photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Suspect vehicle photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>The suspect vehicle is described as a white truck with cowl lights. May have moderate front end damage. If you have any information, please call detectives or @KCCrimeStop where you can remain anonymous.Police have not released the identity of the victim.-----------KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit and run accident and asking the public for help to locate a vehicle.Just after 6:30p.m. Friday, a truck hit a pedestrian who was crossing Troost Avenue just south of 89th Street in Kansas City.The suspect vehicle is described as a white truck with cowl lights. May have moderate front end damage. If you have any information, please call detectives or @KCCrimeStop where you can remain anonymous.Police have not released the identity of the victim.

Update: KCPD asks for help to locate truck in fatal hit-and-run crash

TOPEKA—On Thursday, Pawnee County Sheriff Scott King and Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir met with Gov. Laura Kelly in Topeka about recent security issues at Larned State Hospital, according to a media release from Sheriff Bellendir.

The hospital has been the topic of conversation in law enforcement circles due to these security issues.

In addition to Gov. Kelly,  Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard, Deputy Secretary Scott Bruner, Chief of Staff Will Lawrence and Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor, Ryan Wright attended discussion.

Sec. Howard had previously been made aware of the concerns of law enforcement and community members in Western Kansas about the situation. Sec. Howard had made note of these concerns and presented several potential solutions.

Some of the key points include opening one or more “crisis houses” in the western part of the state that would allow for trained staff to monitor a person who is in crisis until the state hospital could accept them. The secretary is looking into the possibility of acquiring unused buildings at Larned State Hospital for this purpose.

Another idea would be to create a “single point of contact” for law enforcement. This would alleviate confusion caused by talking to several different people at the facility. Sec. Howard went on to say requirements for the “catchment areas” enforced by the state may be waived in certain circumstances.

The governor’s office is also looking into expanding the “mobile competency” evaluations for some individuals. This would help alleviate the backlog at Larned.

A security audit is currently underway at Larned State Hospital and improvements in security are being scrutinized. Sec. Howard said the state hospital will be allowed to implement the necessary procedures once they are developed.

In all, Sec. Howard addressed 12 key issues of concern to the citizens of Western Kansas. Gov. Kelly was supportive of the concerns expressed. The sheriffs felt the meeting was a positive step in the right direction.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641565738678.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA—On Thursday, Pawnee County Sheriff Scott King and Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir met with Gov. Laura Kelly in Topeka about recent security issues at Larned State Hospital, according to a media release from Sheriff Bellendir.The hospital has been the topic of conversation in law enforcement circles due to these security issues.In addition to Gov. Kelly, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard, Deputy Secretary Scott Bruner, Chief of Staff Will Lawrence and Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor, Ryan Wright attended discussion.Sec. Howard had previously been made aware of the concerns of law enforcement and community members in Western Kansas about the situation. Sec. Howard had made note of these concerns and presented several potential solutions.Some of the key points include opening one or more “crisis houses” in the western part of the state that would allow for trained staff to monitor a person who is in crisis until the state hospital could accept them. The secretary is looking into the possibility of acquiring unused buildings at Larned State Hospital for this purpose.Another idea would be to create a “single point of contact” for law enforcement. This would alleviate confusion caused by talking to several different people at the facility. Sec. Howard went on to say requirements for the “catchment areas” enforced by the state may be waived in certain circumstances.The governor’s office is also looking into expanding the “mobile competency” evaluations for some individuals. This would help alleviate the backlog at Larned.A security audit is currently underway at Larned State Hospital and improvements in security are being scrutinized. Sec. Howard said the state hospital will be allowed to implement the necessary procedures once they are developed.In all, Sec. Howard addressed 12 key issues of concern to the citizens of Western Kansas. Gov. Kelly was supportive of the concerns expressed. The sheriffs felt the meeting was a positive step in the right direction.

Sheriffs meet with governor on security issues at Larned State Hospital

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is set to evacuate its embassy in Kyiv as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent.

U.S. officials said the State Department plans to announce early Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave ahead of a feared Russian invasion.

A small number of officials may remain in Kyiv but the vast majority of the almost 200 Americans at the embassy will be sent out or relocated to Ukraine’s far west, near the Polish border, so the U.S. can retain a diplomatic presence in the country.

The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave. But it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart. The new move comes as Washington has ratcheted up its warnings about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said a small number of U.S. diplomats may be relocated to Ukraine’s far west, near the border with Poland, a NATO ally, so the U.S. could retain a diplomatic presence in the country.

The Pentagon announced Friday it is sending another 3,000 combat troops to Poland to join 1,700 who already are assembling there in a demonstration of American commitment to NATO allies worried at the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine.

The additional soldiers will depart their post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the next couple days and should be in Poland by early next week, according to a defense official, who provided the information under ground rules set by the Pentagon. They are the remaining elements of an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.

Their mission will be to train and provide deterrence but not to engage in combat in Ukraine.

That announcement came shortly after Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, issued a public warning for all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible. Sullivan said Russian President Vladimir Putin could give the order to launch an invasion of Ukraine any day now.

In addition to the U.S. troops deploying to Poland, about 1,000 U.S. soldiers based in Germany are shifting to Romania in a similar mission of reassurance to a NATO ally. Also, 300 soldiers of an 18th Airborne Corps headquarters unit have arrived in Germany, commanded by Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla.

The American troops are to train with host-nation forces but not enter Ukraine for any purpose.

The U.S. already has about 80,000 troops throughout Europe at permanent stations and on rotational deployments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644673881346.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is set to evacuate its embassy in Kyiv as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent.U.S. officials said the State Department plans to announce early Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave ahead of a feared Russian invasion.A small number of officials may remain in Kyiv but the vast majority of the almost 200 Americans at the embassy will be sent out or relocated to Ukraine’s far west, near the Polish border, so the U.S. can retain a diplomatic presence in the country.The State Department would not comment.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, the <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StateDept</a> ordered non-emergency U.S. employees at the Embassy to depart due to continued reports of a Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine, indicating potential for significant military action. <a href="https://t.co/6IgLvE4PJS">https://t.co/6IgLvE4PJS</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyKyiv/status/1492442539072233481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave. But it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart. The new move comes as Washington has ratcheted up its warnings about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said a small number of U.S. diplomats may be relocated to Ukraine’s far west, near the border with Poland, a NATO ally, so the U.S. could retain a diplomatic presence in the country.The Pentagon announced Friday it is sending another 3,000 combat troops to Poland to join 1,700 who already are assembling there in a demonstration of American commitment to NATO allies worried at the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine.The additional soldiers will depart their post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the next couple days and should be in Poland by early next week, according to a defense official, who provided the information under ground rules set by the Pentagon. They are the remaining elements of an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.Their mission will be to train and provide deterrence but not to engage in combat in Ukraine.That announcement came shortly after Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, issued a public warning for all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible. Sullivan said Russian President Vladimir Putin could give the order to launch an invasion of Ukraine any day now.In addition to the U.S. troops deploying to Poland, about 1,000 U.S. soldiers based in Germany are shifting to Romania in a similar mission of reassurance to a NATO ally. Also, 300 soldiers of an 18th Airborne Corps headquarters unit have arrived in Germany, commanded by Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla.The American troops are to train with host-nation forces but not enter Ukraine for any purpose.The U.S. already has about 80,000 troops throughout Europe at permanent stations and on rotational deployments.___

US to evacuate Ukraine embassy amid Russian invasion fears

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/10/kansas-state-representatives-former-u-s-senator-debate-merits-of-convention-to-amend-constitution/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A renewed effort to call
 a constitutional convention drew a former U.S. senator, state 
legislators, and a handful of concerned citizens to a Kansas panel 
hearing Tuesday to debate the action.

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hcr5027/">HCR 5027</a>&nbsp;would,
 under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, add Kansas to a list of 
states attempting to call a convention to propose amendments imposing 
fiscal restraints on the federal government and limiting its 
jurisdiction. The resolution also calls for limited terms for members of
 Congress and other officials.

Each state could send up to 10 delegates, and each state would have one vote.&nbsp;

Proponents of the resolution argued there is a growing need for a 
rebalancing of power between the federal government and the states. 
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum said Article V was the best avenue to 
accomplish this goal.

“I don’t think our Founding 
Fathers would be surprised that the federal government has claimed more 
than its constitutional share of power,” Santorum said. “They would be 
surprised that we have not used the most effective tool they gave us for
 curbing it.”

According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://conventionofstates.com/">the Convention of States Action</a>,
 a group backing the idea, 17 states have applied for a convention, and 
eight more have passed a resolution in one chamber. An identical 
resolution&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/06/constitutional-convention-effort-falters-in-kansas-senate-after-lengthy-debate/">failed to clear the Kansas Senate</a> last year.

The U.S. Constitution requires that Congress call such a convention 
if two-thirds of all states, or 34 legislatures, apply. Previous efforts
 to pass similar resolutions have amassed simple majorities in the 
Legislature, but a 1974 amendment to the Kansas Constitution requires 
the approval of two-thirds of both chambers of the Legislature to apply.

However, Rep. Michael Houser, 
R-Columbus, warned in written testimony to the House Federal and State 
Affairs Committee that a convention of states could open the door to 
unforeseen consequences. He said the U.S. Constitution was already in 
good shape, and if people wanted to amend it, there are safer means.

“Having been in the Legislature 
for any length of time, one understands and knows that anything is 
possible in a meeting using a parliamentary format,” Houser said. “With 
enough votes, rules can be ignored, overruled, changed or new rules be 
adopted. If you have the votes when using parliamentary procedure, you 
can do anything you want.”

Opponents of the resolution worried the outcome of a constitutional convention would not reflect the will of Kansans.&nbsp;Blake
 Branson, the deputy state coordinator for Kansas Campaign for Liberty, 
echoed Houser, adding that most concerning was the wording of the 
resolution.&nbsp;

“So long as a ‘fiscal restraint’ 
or ‘limit’ of power is included in a proposed amendment, even if it is 
mere window dressing, every part of the Constitution and every issue is 
on the table,” Branson said. “At the very least, we should ensure that 
we are careful and exact with our words when altering our Constitution 
is the goal. This is a flaw too big and too significant to ignore.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644531677384.png" alt="Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum traveled to Topeka on Thursday to back a resolution calling on Kansas to join a 17 other states in applying for a convention of states to amend the federal Constitution. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature YouTube)" />
 <figcaption>Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum traveled to Topeka on Thursday to back a resolution calling on Kansas to join a 17 other states in applying for a convention of states to amend the federal Constitution. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature YouTube)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/10/kansas-state-representatives-former-u-s-senator-debate-merits-of-convention-to-amend-constitution/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A renewed effort to call
 a constitutional convention drew a former U.S. senator, state 
legislators, and a handful of concerned citizens to a Kansas panel 
hearing Tuesday to debate the action.<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hcr5027/">HCR 5027</a>&nbsp;would,
 under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, add Kansas to a list of 
states attempting to call a convention to propose amendments imposing 
fiscal restraints on the federal government and limiting its 
jurisdiction. The resolution also calls for limited terms for members of
 Congress and other officials.Each state could send up to 10 delegates, and each state would have one vote.&nbsp;Proponents of the resolution argued there is a growing need for a 
rebalancing of power between the federal government and the states. 
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum said Article V was the best avenue to 
accomplish this goal.“I don’t think our Founding 
Fathers would be surprised that the federal government has claimed more 
than its constitutional share of power,” Santorum said. “They would be 
surprised that we have not used the most effective tool they gave us for
 curbing it.”According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://conventionofstates.com/">the Convention of States Action</a>,
 a group backing the idea, 17 states have applied for a convention, and 
eight more have passed a resolution in one chamber. An identical 
resolution&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/06/constitutional-convention-effort-falters-in-kansas-senate-after-lengthy-debate/">failed to clear the Kansas Senate</a> last year.The U.S. Constitution requires that Congress call such a convention 
if two-thirds of all states, or 34 legislatures, apply. Previous efforts
 to pass similar resolutions have amassed simple majorities in the 
Legislature, but a 1974 amendment to the Kansas Constitution requires 
the approval of two-thirds of both chambers of the Legislature to apply.However, Rep. Michael Houser, 
R-Columbus, warned in written testimony to the House Federal and State 
Affairs Committee that a convention of states could open the door to 
unforeseen consequences. He said the U.S. Constitution was already in 
good shape, and if people wanted to amend it, there are safer means.“Having been in the Legislature 
for any length of time, one understands and knows that anything is 
possible in a meeting using a parliamentary format,” Houser said. “With 
enough votes, rules can be ignored, overruled, changed or new rules be 
adopted. If you have the votes when using parliamentary procedure, you 
can do anything you want.”Opponents of the resolution worried the outcome of a constitutional convention would not reflect the will of Kansans.&nbsp;Blake
 Branson, the deputy state coordinator for Kansas Campaign for Liberty, 
echoed Houser, adding that most concerning was the wording of the 
resolution.&nbsp;“So long as a ‘fiscal restraint’ 
or ‘limit’ of power is included in a proposed amendment, even if it is 
mere window dressing, every part of the Constitution and every issue is 
on the table,” Branson said. “At the very least, we should ensure that 
we are careful and exact with our words when altering our Constitution 
is the goal. This is a flaw too big and too significant to ignore.”

Kansas reps join Santorum in call for constitutional convention

Amazing delivery brings needed light to program critical to those in need

STOCKTON — The food ministry in Stockton received a shipment of a sweet treats last week — a large shipment of Zingers, the raspberry snack cake covered in coconut.

They received 56 pallets of this cousin to the Twinkie. That's 105 cases to a pallet, six boxes to case, 10 individually wrapped Zingers to a box.

Do the math: That's 352,800 cream-filled delights. If you stretched those end to end, that would cover about a mile and a half.

The Zingers are being stored in a shed with pallets stacked 10 feet tall. Thursday, during one of the pantry's giveaways, people were loading them onto trailers, stuffing them into trunks and wheeling them away on dollies — in Stockton, Kansas, a community of just 1,300 people.

The Zingers are past their best-by date, so the items could no longer be sold. However, the treats are perfectly good to eat.

Although the thought of that many filling-stuffed snack cakes might elicit a giggle, the delivery is part of a larger, very important, food program in rural Kansas called Convoy of Hope.

Stockton United Methodist Church Pastor Ted Stapleton coordinates the food drop at the Pantry of Blessings in Stockton, a program that has been in operation for about four years. 

The name for the program comes from a story in the Bible about a widow going to the pantry, who never ran out of flour.

"God is doing that with this," Stapleton said. "Everything we bring in is something people need or can use."

Convoy of Hope connects sites like the Pantry of Blessings with manufacturers or businesses that have overstock or, in the case of the Zingers, are reaching a best-by date.

Stapleton said an incredible amount of food in this country is thrown away — food that could be feeding people.

The Pantry of Blessings only pays for the shipping cost to get the products to Stockton. This typically ranges from $600 to $2,000, depending on how far the load has to travel. The program takes donations to pay for the trucking expenses. Stapleton said God always comes through with enough funds to get trucks to Stockton.

When Stapleton first started the program in northwest Kansas, he was taking whatever vehicle he could find to bring back food, including renting a U-Haul. Now, the program receives food by the semi load.

The pantry usually gets a shipment once every three months.

"Basically, we're bringing it out rural America instead of it all going to the cities," Stapleton said.

He said it is like Christmas when they open up the truck, because they never know what they're going to receive. The last shipment was protein bars. It's also been water, Gatorade, cereal, tortillas and rice, among other products.

The Zinger shipment was unusual in that the program received such a large quantity of all one item, Stapleton said.

During the pandemic, Pantry of Blessings received produce shipments from the federal government. The government was buying those commodities straight from farmers, and the government paid for the shipping on those trucks.

"Most people don't understand that poverty is reality," Stapleton said, "and when times get tough, we don't get enough food. We are not feeding our families well enough. If I can bring product in that will help people, then it's well worth it."

Pantry of Blessings is connected with food pantries and churches across the region. The food helps supplement what the pantries can offer to their clients.

Diana Koerner and a friend made the drive to Stockton this week and brought back a carload, about 54 cases, of the Zingers to Hays. They delivered to the Hays food banks, Hays High School, Thomas More Prep- Marian, the Fort Hays State University food pantry, Hays Senior Center and Homestead of Hays, among other organizations.

The Ellis Food Pantry also received a load of Zingers. Althea Cross, volunteer, said the food pantry doesn't usually receive sweet items. It prepares 6o to 74 food boxes each month for local families.

Loren Goodheart, Pantry of Blessings volunteer, said he has delivered Zingers to the Norton Correctional Facility, hospitals, senior care homes and day cares.

As of Thursday morning, the program had about 40 pallets of Zingers left.

Food from Stockton, has also gone to Bird City, Goodland, Colby, Nebraska, Smith Center, Beloit and other communities.

"In rural America, it's just about making sure we're taking care of each other," Stapleton said.

Once charitable organizations and pantries have been served, the pantry offers the remaining food to local individuals and families. There are no income restrictions — people are just handed the food.

"We wanted to make it so as many people could be served as possible," Stapleton said. "We are not making a judgment on who needs it and who doesn't because nobody knows the reality of anybody's life.

"We are humbled to continue to be able to get the product and share it like we do."

Stapleton said he rarely does interviews. The program is not about him, it's about the smiles on people's faces when they receive food. He said program is about offering glory to God.

"It's in God's hands," he said. "We'll do this as long as God wants us to, and when he decides that we're done and we've done all that we can, then it'll stop. But until that moment, we're going to keep doing what we do."

Anyone interested in donating funds to pay for the program's trucking costs can donate to Pantry of Blessings, in care of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/170885512930055">Long Island Methodist Church</a>, 524 W. Washington Ave., Long Island, KS 67647.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644614527478.jpeg" alt="The Pantry of Blessing in Stockton is giving away free Zingers. The food program received a shipment of 56 pallets of the snack cakes last week. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The Pantry of Blessing in Stockton is giving away free Zingers. The food program received a shipment of 56 pallets of the snack cakes last week. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Amazing delivery brings needed light to program critical to those in need</h2>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostSTOCKTON — The food ministry in Stockton received a shipment of a sweet treats last week — a large shipment of Zingers, the raspberry snack cake covered in coconut.They received 56 pallets of this cousin to the Twinkie. That's 105 cases to a pallet, six boxes to case, 10 individually wrapped Zingers to a box.Do the math: That's 352,800 cream-filled delights. If you stretched those end to end, that would cover about a mile and a half. The Zingers are being stored in a shed with pallets stacked 10 feet tall. Thursday, during one of the pantry's giveaways, people were loading them onto trailers, stuffing them into trunks and wheeling them away on dollies — in Stockton, Kansas, a community of just 1,300 people.The Zingers are past their best-by date, so the items could no longer be sold. However, the treats are perfectly good to eat.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644614995437.jpeg" alt="Far right, Loren Goodheart, Pantry of Blessing volunteer, and far left, Pastor Ted Stapleton, Pantry of Blessing coordinator, help load cases of Zingers out of the pantry's storage area. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Far right, Loren Goodheart, Pantry of Blessing volunteer, and far left, Pastor Ted Stapleton, Pantry of Blessing coordinator, help load cases of Zingers out of the pantry's storage area. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Although the thought of that many filling-stuffed snack cakes might elicit a giggle, the delivery is part of a larger, very important, food program in rural Kansas called Convoy of Hope.Stockton United Methodist Church Pastor Ted Stapleton coordinates the food drop at the Pantry of Blessings in Stockton, a program that has been in operation for about four years. The name for the program comes from a story in the Bible about a widow going to the pantry, who never ran out of flour."God is doing that with this," Stapleton said. "Everything we bring in is something people need or can use."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644615491953.jpeg" alt="Cases of Zingers being loaded into a vehicle. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Cases of Zingers being loaded into a vehicle. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Convoy of Hope connects sites like the Pantry of Blessings with manufacturers or businesses that have overstock or, in the case of the Zingers, are reaching a best-by date.Stapleton said an incredible amount of food in this country is thrown away — food that could be feeding people. The Pantry of Blessings only pays for the shipping cost to get the products to Stockton. This typically ranges from $600 to $2,000, depending on how far the load has to travel. The program takes donations to pay for the trucking expenses. Stapleton said God always comes through with enough funds to get trucks to Stockton. When Stapleton first started the program in northwest Kansas, he was taking whatever vehicle he could find to bring back food, including renting a U-Haul. Now, the program receives food by the semi load.The pantry usually gets a shipment once every three months.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644615535255.jpeg" alt="Cases of Zingers stacked up in a warehouse in Stockton. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Cases of Zingers stacked up in a warehouse in Stockton. Photo by Cristina Janney / Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>"Basically, we're bringing it out rural America instead of it all going to the cities," Stapleton said. He said it is like Christmas when they open up the truck, because they never know what they're going to receive. The last shipment was protein bars. It's also been water, Gatorade, cereal, tortillas and rice, among other products. The Zinger shipment was unusual in that the program received such a large quantity of all one item, Stapleton said. During the pandemic, Pantry of Blessings received produce shipments from the federal government. The government was buying those commodities straight from farmers, and the government paid for the shipping on those trucks."Most people don't understand that poverty is reality," Stapleton said, "and when times get tough, we don't get enough food. We are not feeding our families well enough. If I can bring product in that will help people, then it's well worth it."Pantry of Blessings is connected with food pantries and churches across the region. The food helps supplement what the pantries can offer to their clients.Diana Koerner and a friend made the drive to Stockton this week and brought back a carload, about 54 cases, of the Zingers to Hays. They delivered to the Hays food banks, Hays High School, Thomas More Prep- Marian, the Fort Hays State University food pantry, Hays Senior Center and Homestead of Hays, among other organizations.The Ellis Food Pantry also received a load of Zingers. Althea Cross, volunteer, said the food pantry doesn't usually receive sweet items. It prepares 6o to 74 food boxes each month for local families.Loren Goodheart, Pantry of Blessings volunteer, said he has delivered Zingers to the Norton Correctional Facility, hospitals, senior care homes and day cares.As of Thursday morning, the program had about 40 pallets of Zingers left. Food from Stockton, has also gone to Bird City, Goodland, Colby, Nebraska, Smith Center, Beloit and other communities."In rural America, it's just about making sure we're taking care of each other," Stapleton said.Once charitable organizations and pantries have been served, the pantry offers the remaining food to local individuals and families. There are no income restrictions — people are just handed the food."We wanted to make it so as many people could be served as possible," Stapleton said. "We are not making a judgment on who needs it and who doesn't because nobody knows the reality of anybody's life."We are humbled to continue to be able to get the product and share it like we do."Stapleton said he rarely does interviews. The program is not about him, it's about the smiles on people's faces when they receive food. He said program is about offering glory to God."It's in God's hands," he said. "We'll do this as long as God wants us to, and when he decides that we're done and we've done all that we can, then it'll stop. But until that moment, we're going to keep doing what we do." Anyone interested in donating funds to pay for the program's trucking costs can donate to Pantry of Blessings, in care of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/170885512930055">Long Island Methodist Church</a>, 524 W. Washington Ave., Long Island, KS 67647.

Zany Zinger surplus: NW Kansas pantry receives 352,800 snack cakes

WASHINGTON (AP) — COVID-19 vaccinations for children under 5 hit another monthslong delay Friday as U.S. regulators abruptly put the brakes on their efforts to speed review of the shots that Pfizer is testing for youngsters.

The Food and Drug Administration, worried about the omicron variant’s toll on kids, had taken the extraordinary step of urging Pfizer to apply for OK of the extra-low dose vaccine before it’s clear if tots will need two shots or three. The agency’s plan could have allowed vaccinations to begin within weeks.

But Friday, the FDA reversed course and said it had become clear the agency needed to wait for data on how well a third shot works for the youngest age group. Pfizer said in a statement that it expected the data by early April.

FDA’s vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said he hoped parents would understand that the agency’s decision was part of its careful scientific review of the evidence Pfizer has submitted so far.

That information “made us realize that we needed to see data from a third dose from the ongoing trial in order to make a determination,” Marks told reporters. “We take our responsibility for reviewing these vaccines very seriously because we’re parents as well.”

The nation’s 18 million children under 5 make up the only age group not yet eligible for vaccination.

Vaccine experts had been concerned with the sudden race to evaluate Pfizer’s vaccine -- and now wonder what parents will make of the back-and-forth.

“I think they made the right decision to be careful and wait for the third-dose data,” said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief.

“It was great to hear that there might be some promising data from two doses but it came out as ‘Hey everybody, you can expect a vaccine in a few weeks,’” he added. “I think this messaging gets very confusing for people.”

It’s not the first delay. Pfizer originally had expected to know by late December if the extra-low doses worked for kids under 5 — only to face a disappointing setback. Preliminary study results showed two shots were safe and strong enough to give good protection to babies as young as 6 months. But once tots reached the preschool age — the 2- to 4-year-olds — two doses weren’t protective enough, prompting the addition of a third to the study.

So it was a surprise when a few weeks ago, FDA urged Pfizer and its partner BioNTech to go ahead and apply. Next week, the agency’s independent scientific advisers were set to publicly debate if it was OK to start giving tots two shots before there was proof that a third would give them the extra needed protection — a highly unusual move.

Friday, the FDA abruptly canceled that meeting, promising to hold it once Pfizer submits the third-dose evidence. Even if Pfizer completes its submission by early April, it will take the FDA and other health authorities several weeks to review and publicly vet the data.

Earlier this week, FDA’s Marks had promised the agency wouldn’t cut corners but also noted how rapidly the pandemic was changing. Before Thanksgiving, no one had heard of omicron, by last month pediatric COVID-19 infections had hit an all-time high — and now cases are dropping fast as the latest mutant burns out.

How long to wait for new vaccine data -- and how much to require -- is a difficult balancing act for the FDA. It is caught between pressure to be more proactive against a rapidly changing virus and the risk that acting too quickly may deter families already on the fence about vaccinating their children.

Pfizer aims to give children as young as 6 months shots that contain one-tenth of the dose given to adults -- two shots three weeks apart followed by a third at least two months later.

That’s a smaller dose than youngsters ages 5 to 11 receive, a third of the adult dose.

Vaccination rates have been lower among children than in other age groups. As of last week, just 22% of kids ages 5 to 11 and just over half of 12- to 17-year-olds were fully vaccinated, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Nearly three-quarters of adults are fully vaccinated.

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll taken last month found just 3 in 10 parents of children under 5 would get their youngster vaccinated as soon as shots were authorized, while about a quarter said they definitely would not.

Dr. Moira Szilagyi, the pediatricians group’s president, recognized parental frustration but said in a statement that doctors were committed to “a careful, robust and transparent process to evaluate the evidence.”

Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician in Overland Park, Kansas, said, “We’re just gutted. We need this protection for our kids.”

She said some families likely feel relieved “because they didn’t want to make that decision without good efficacy data. Other groups of parents are just crying out, ‘Give us a choice. Show us what you’ve got and let us make a choice. Let us have access to it.”’

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635537216378.png" alt="Photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — COVID-19 vaccinations for children under 5 hit another monthslong delay Friday as U.S. regulators abruptly put the brakes on their efforts to speed review of the shots that Pfizer is testing for youngsters.The Food and Drug Administration, worried about the omicron variant’s toll on kids, had taken the extraordinary step of urging Pfizer to apply for OK of the extra-low dose vaccine before it’s clear if tots will need two shots or three. The agency’s plan could have allowed vaccinations to begin within weeks.But Friday, the FDA reversed course and said it had become clear the agency needed to wait for data on how well a third shot works for the youngest age group. Pfizer said in a statement that it expected the data by early April.FDA’s vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said he hoped parents would understand that the agency’s decision was part of its careful scientific review of the evidence Pfizer has submitted so far.That information “made us realize that we needed to see data from a third dose from the ongoing trial in order to make a determination,” Marks told reporters. “We take our responsibility for reviewing these vaccines very seriously because we’re parents as well.”The nation’s 18 million children under 5 make up the only age group not yet eligible for vaccination.Vaccine experts had been concerned with the sudden race to evaluate Pfizer’s vaccine -- and now wonder what parents will make of the back-and-forth.“I think they made the right decision to be careful and wait for the third-dose data,” said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief.“It was great to hear that there might be some promising data from two doses but it came out as ‘Hey everybody, you can expect a vaccine in a few weeks,’” he added. “I think this messaging gets very confusing for people.”It’s not the first delay. Pfizer originally had expected to know by late December if the extra-low doses worked for kids under 5 — only to face a disappointing setback. Preliminary study results showed two shots were safe and strong enough to give good protection to babies as young as 6 months. But once tots reached the preschool age — the 2- to 4-year-olds — two doses weren’t protective enough, prompting the addition of a third to the study.So it was a surprise when a few weeks ago, FDA urged Pfizer and its partner BioNTech to go ahead and apply. Next week, the agency’s independent scientific advisers were set to publicly debate if it was OK to start giving tots two shots before there was proof that a third would give them the extra needed protection — a highly unusual move.Friday, the FDA abruptly canceled that meeting, promising to hold it once Pfizer submits the third-dose evidence. Even if Pfizer completes its submission by early April, it will take the FDA and other health authorities several weeks to review and publicly vet the data.ADVERTISEMENTEarlier this week, FDA’s Marks had promised the agency wouldn’t cut corners but also noted how rapidly the pandemic was changing. Before Thanksgiving, no one had heard of omicron, by last month pediatric COVID-19 infections had hit an all-time high — and now cases are dropping fast as the latest mutant burns out.How long to wait for new vaccine data -- and how much to require -- is a difficult balancing act for the FDA. It is caught between pressure to be more proactive against a rapidly changing virus and the risk that acting too quickly may deter families already on the fence about vaccinating their children.Pfizer aims to give children as young as 6 months shots that contain one-tenth of the dose given to adults -- two shots three weeks apart followed by a third at least two months later.That’s a smaller dose than youngsters ages 5 to 11 receive, a third of the adult dose.Vaccination rates have been lower among children than in other age groups. As of last week, just 22% of kids ages 5 to 11 and just over half of 12- to 17-year-olds were fully vaccinated, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Nearly three-quarters of adults are fully vaccinated.A Kaiser Family Foundation poll taken last month found just 3 in 10 parents of children under 5 would get their youngster vaccinated as soon as shots were authorized, while about a quarter said they definitely would not.Dr. Moira Szilagyi, the pediatricians group’s president, recognized parental frustration but said in a statement that doctors were committed to “a careful, robust and transparent process to evaluate the evidence.”Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician in Overland Park, Kansas, said, “We’re just gutted. We need this protection for our kids.”She said some families likely feel relieved “because they didn’t want to make that decision without good efficacy data. Other groups of parents are just crying out, ‘Give us a choice. Show us what you’ve got and let us make a choice. Let us have access to it.”’

FDA delays approval of COVID shots for kids under 5

KANSAS CITY —A judge has sentenced a Kansas City man to Life in prison for the the Jan. 4, 2018, fatal shooting of Thomas J. Rice III, the first &nbsp;homicide victim of 2018 in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

In November, a Jackson County jury convicted 56-year-old Aasim I. Karim of Murder 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges. On Tuesday, a Jackson County judge set Karim's sentenced at Life Without Parole and 10 years for the Armed Criminal Action conviction. The sentences were set to run concurrently.

According to court records, the victim was found outside the driver's door of his vehicle on the roadway near U.S. 40 Highway and Manchester Avenue in Kansas City. 

He had been shot and a spent shell was found nearby. The defendant had recently threatened to shoot the victim, according to the witness. Video surveillance of the crime scene showed the victim's vehicle followed soon after by a vehicle that looked like the vehicle known to be driven by the Karim.

A search of the defendant's residence found shell casings at the residence that came from the same firearm used at the crime scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644524533828.png" alt="Karim-photo Jackson Count" />
 <figcaption>Karim-photo Jackson Count</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A judge has sentenced a Kansas City man to Life in prison for the the Jan. 4, 2018, fatal shooting of Thomas J. Rice III, the first &nbsp;homicide victim of 2018 in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.In November, a Jackson County jury convicted 56-year-old Aasim I. Karim of Murder 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges. On Tuesday, a Jackson County judge set Karim's sentenced at Life Without Parole and 10 years for the Armed Criminal Action conviction. The sentences were set to run concurrently.According to court records, the victim was found outside the driver's door of his vehicle on the roadway near U.S. 40 Highway and Manchester Avenue in Kansas City. He had been shot and a spent shell was found nearby. The defendant had recently threatened to shoot the victim, according to the witness. Video surveillance of the crime scene showed the victim's vehicle followed soon after by a vehicle that looked like the vehicle known to be driven by the Karim.A search of the defendant's residence found shell casings at the residence that came from the same firearm used at the crime scene.

Shell casings linked 56-year-old to 2018 Kansas City killing

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug distribution allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, sheriff's detectives were conducting surveillance in an attempt to locate a wanted individual in the City of Great Bend, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

Detectives were able to locate the suspect in a vehicle. A felony traffic stop was conducted in downtown Great Bend near Lakin at Main Street at which point the suspect identified as 33-year-old&nbsp; Aaron Taylor of Great Bend, was placed under arrest.

During the course of the incident, detectives located substantial amount of methamphetamine and evidence of drug distribution. Taylor was wanted on multiple warrants from Barton and Stafford counties as well as the new charges for the methamphetamine located in the vehicle.

He was booked on requested charges of parole violation, aid and abet in an aggravated battery, aggravated criminal sodomy, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and aggravated endangerment of a child. Taylor is being held without bond on the parole violation. The remaining charges have a bond set at $500,000.

The second individual in the vehicle identified as 27-year-old Calie Lundquist of Great Bend, was also arrested and booked on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and aggravated child endangerment. Lundquist is being held on a $50,000 bond. A&nbsp;small child that was also in the vehicle was taken into protective custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644597443771.jpeg" alt="Taylor photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Taylor photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug distribution allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, sheriff's detectives were conducting surveillance in an attempt to locate a wanted individual in the City of Great Bend, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.Detectives were able to locate the suspect in a vehicle. A felony traffic stop was conducted in downtown Great Bend near Lakin at Main Street at which point the suspect identified as 33-year-old&nbsp; Aaron Taylor of Great Bend, was placed under arrest.During the course of the incident, detectives located substantial amount of methamphetamine and evidence of drug distribution. Taylor was wanted on multiple warrants from Barton and Stafford counties as well as the new charges for the methamphetamine located in the vehicle.He was booked on requested charges of parole violation, aid and abet in an aggravated battery, aggravated criminal sodomy, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and aggravated endangerment of a child. Taylor is being held without bond on the parole violation. The remaining charges have a bond set at $500,000.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644597460475.jpeg" alt="Lundquist -photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Lundquist -photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The second individual in the vehicle identified as 27-year-old Calie Lundquist of Great Bend, was also arrested and booked on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and aggravated child endangerment. Lundquist is being held on a $50,000 bond. A&nbsp;small child that was also in the vehicle was taken into protective custody.

Kan. couple with child in car accused of meth distribution

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent two victims to a hospital in critical condition.

Just before 2:30 p.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting call at 21st and Maize Road in the parking lot of a Dillons Store, according to officer Trevor Macy.

Wichita Fire Department personnel were at the store when they located an 18-year-old man with a gunshot wound. The 18-year-old directed them to another victim, a 21-year-old man&nbsp; who was in the parking lot between two vehicles with multiple gunshot wounds.

EMS transported both victims to an area hospital with critical injuries.&nbsp; They are expected to survive, according to Macy.

 Investigators located two vehicles parked next to each other on the East side of the Dillon’s parking lot. Both cars appeared to have sustained damage from gunshots.

Investigators also learned that shortly after 2:00 p.m., one of the vehicles backed into a parking stall on the East side of the parking lot. A man exited the vehicle, removed something from the trunk, then re-entered the car. Later, the other vehicle backed into a stall next to the first one. Shortly after that, gunfire was exchanged between the two vehicles, and three men&nbsp; exited the vehicles and fled into the neighborhood to the east.

One of the three who fled – the 18-year-old – returned to the parking lot, where he contacted Fire Department personnel.

Numerous officers searched the surrounding area for the suspects. At this time, a person of interest has been identified. The two injured victims remain in the hospital in stable but critical condition. It is believed the individuals involved were meeting at the location for a drug transaction.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644611921207.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent two victims to a hospital in critical condition.Just before 2:30 p.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting call at 21st and Maize Road in the parking lot of a Dillons Store, according to officer Trevor Macy.Wichita Fire Department personnel were at the store when they located an 18-year-old man with a gunshot wound. The 18-year-old directed them to another victim, a 21-year-old man&nbsp; who was in the parking lot between two vehicles with multiple gunshot wounds.EMS transported both victims to an area hospital with critical injuries.&nbsp; They are expected to survive, according to Macy. Investigators located two vehicles parked next to each other on the East side of the Dillon’s parking lot. Both cars appeared to have sustained damage from gunshots.Investigators also learned that shortly after 2:00 p.m., one of the vehicles backed into a parking stall on the East side of the parking lot. A man exited the vehicle, removed something from the trunk, then re-entered the car. Later, the other vehicle backed into a stall next to the first one. Shortly after that, gunfire was exchanged between the two vehicles, and three men&nbsp; exited the vehicles and fled into the neighborhood to the east.One of the three who fled – the 18-year-old – returned to the parking lot, where he contacted Fire Department personnel.Numerous officers searched the surrounding area for the suspects. At this time, a person of interest has been identified. The two injured victims remain in the hospital in stable but critical condition. It is believed the individuals involved were meeting at the location for a drug transaction.

Search continues for suspects in Kan. store parking lot gun battle 

By ROBERT BURNS, AP National Security Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is sending another 3,000 combat troops to Poland to join 1,700 who already are assembling there in a demonstration of American commitment to NATO allies worried at the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine, a senior defense official said Friday.

The official, who provided the information on condition of anonymity before an official announcement, said the additional soldiers will depart their post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the next couple of days and should be in Poland by early next week. They are the remaining elements of an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.

The announcement came shortly after Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser, issued a public warning for all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible. Sullivan said Russian President Vladimir Putin could give the order to launch an invasion of Ukraine any day now.

In addition to the U.S. troops deploying to Poland, about 1,000 U.S. soldiers based in Germany are shifting to Romania in a similar mission of reassurance to a NATO ally.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644202040531.png" alt="A few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment were seen landing Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine-photo courtesy U.S. Department of Defense" />
 <figcaption>A few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment were seen landing Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine-photo courtesy U.S. Department of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROBERT BURNS, AP National Security WriterWASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is sending another 3,000 combat troops to Poland to join 1,700 who already are assembling there in a demonstration of American commitment to NATO allies worried at the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine, a senior defense official said Friday.The official, who provided the information on condition of anonymity before an official announcement, said the additional soldiers will depart their post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the next couple of days and should be in Poland by early next week. They are the remaining elements of an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.The announcement came shortly after Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser, issued a public warning for all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible. Sullivan said Russian President Vladimir Putin could give the order to launch an invasion of Ukraine any day now.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644151735079.png" alt="Photo US Dept. of Defense Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo US Dept. of Defense Department</figcaption>
 </figure>In addition to the U.S. troops deploying to Poland, about 1,000 U.S. soldiers based in Germany are shifting to Romania in a similar mission of reassurance to a NATO ally.

US sending more troops to Europe amid Russia standoff

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor regarding the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/red-cross-national-blood-shortage-crisis.html" target="_blank">national blood crisis</a>&nbsp;and how this severe blood shortage is affecting patient care in Kansas.

“There is no substitute – no alternative – our nation can turn to in the absence of blood donations,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“The only answer is each of us stepping up to donate, helping to end this crisis and contributing to saving the lives of those in our own communities.

This shortage is severe, and it is affecting Kansas health care providers and their ability to care for patients. Kansans pull together in times of need, and I encourage anyone who is able to donate.”

<a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery">Click here to find </a>a blood donation site near you through the American Red Cross&nbsp;

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor regarding the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/red-cross-national-blood-shortage-crisis.html" target="_blank">national blood crisis</a>&nbsp;and how this severe blood shortage is affecting patient care in Kansas.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8H7vFLlB9ho?start=5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“There is no substitute – no alternative – our nation can turn to in the absence of blood donations,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“The only answer is each of us stepping up to donate, helping to end this crisis and contributing to saving the lives of those in our own communities. This shortage is severe, and it is affecting Kansas health care providers and their ability to care for patients. Kansans pull together in times of need, and I encourage anyone who is able to donate.”<a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery">Click here to find </a>a blood donation site near you through the American Red Cross&nbsp;

🎥Senator Moran on the national blood shortage crisis

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court has declined, for now, to allow the Biden administration to require COVID-19 vaccinations for federal employees.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled 2-1 Wednesday to maintain a block on the mandate that a Texas-based federal judge had issued on Jan. 21. The administration had asked the New Orleans court for an injunction allowing the federal worker mandate to move forward pending appeal.

President Joe Biden announced in September that more than 3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead, unless they secured approved medical or religious exemptions. The requirement kicked in this past November. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last month that 98% of federal workers are vaccinated.

Judge Jeffrey Brown, who was appointed to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas by then-President Donald Trump, issued an injunction against the requirement last month, saying the Biden administration exceeded its authority.

The 5th Circuit panel’s order didn’t address the merits of the case. It was a brief order by judges Jerry Smith and Don Willett putting off a decision on whether to lift the injunction pending further proceedings, and ordering the expedited filing of briefs.

Judge Stephen Higginson issued a 10-page dissent noting that a dozen other district judges had declined to block the rule. Higginson said many private businesses had adopted vaccine mandates, adding “the public interest is not served by a single ... district judge, lacking public health expertise and made unaccountable through life tenure, telling the President of the United States, in his capacity as CEO of the federal workforce, that he cannot take the same lifesaving workplace safety measures as these private sector CEOs.”

Smith was nominated to the 5th Circuit by President Ronald Reagan; Willett, by Trump; and Higginson, by President Barack Obama.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641245951468.png" alt="President Joe Biden announced in September that more than 3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden announced in September that more than 3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court has declined, for now, to allow the Biden administration to require COVID-19 vaccinations for federal employees.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled 2-1 Wednesday to maintain a block on the mandate that a Texas-based federal judge had issued on Jan. 21. The administration had asked the New Orleans court for an injunction allowing the federal worker mandate to move forward pending appeal.President Joe Biden announced in September that more than 3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead, unless they secured approved medical or religious exemptions. The requirement kicked in this past November. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last month that 98% of federal workers are vaccinated.Judge Jeffrey Brown, who was appointed to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas by then-President Donald Trump, issued an injunction against the requirement last month, saying the Biden administration exceeded its authority.The 5th Circuit panel’s order didn’t address the merits of the case. It was a brief order by judges Jerry Smith and Don Willett putting off a decision on whether to lift the injunction pending further proceedings, and ordering the expedited filing of briefs.Judge Stephen Higginson issued a 10-page dissent noting that a dozen other district judges had declined to block the rule. Higginson said many private businesses had adopted vaccine mandates, adding “the public interest is not served by a single ... district judge, lacking public health expertise and made unaccountable through life tenure, telling the President of the United States, in his capacity as CEO of the federal workforce, that he cannot take the same lifesaving workplace safety measures as these private sector CEOs.”Smith was nominated to the 5th Circuit by President Ronald Reagan; Willett, by Trump; and Higginson, by President Barack Obama.