WASHINGTON (AP) — The military investigation into the deadly attack during the Afghanistan evacuation has concluded that a suicide bomber, carrying 20 pounds of explosives packed with ball bearings, acted alone, and that the deaths of more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were not preventable.

The blast at Abbey Gate outside the Kabul airport on Aug. 26 killed 11 U.S. Marines, a sailor and a soldier, who were screening the thousands of Afghans frantically trying to get onto one of the crowded flights leaving the country after the Taliban takeover. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

At the Pentagon on Friday, military officials laid out a detailed and graphic minute-by-minute account of the bombing. The bottom line, they said, was that those who died had wounds that were “so catastrophic” that they couldn’t be overcome. And they said that earlier thoughts that it was a complex attack involving gunfire turned out to be unfounded.

“A single, explosive device killed at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. servicemembers by explosively directing ball bearings through a packed crowd and into our men and women at Abbey gate,” said Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command. “The disturbing lethality of this device was confirmed by the 58 U.S. servicemembers who were killed and wounded despite the universal wear of body armor and helmets that did stop ball bearings that impacted them, but could not prevent catastrophic injuries to areas not covered.”

Investigators said the bomber likely got near the gate by bypassing Taliban and other security checkpoints. They said it appears the Taliban didn’t know of the attack, that security precautions were being taken and that intelligence about potential threats that was circulating that day was not specific.

“Based upon our investigation, at the tactical level this was not preventable,” said Brig. Gen. Lance Curtis, who led the investigation. He added that military leaders on the ground in Kabul followed proper security measures, at times closing the gate or pausing the processing of evacuees.

Military officials said that gunfire after the blast was found to be warning shots fired by U.S. and British troops, and that no one was killed or wounded by gunshots.

McKenzie said the investigation revealed that the ball bearings caused wounds that looked like gunshots. He said some troops in the area fired a number of warning shots, and that led others to believe that the attack also included gunmen.

U.S. military officials have said all along that the U.S. forces at the gates were doing a dangerous job. Overall the U.S.-led coalition evacuated about 126,000 people in about three weeks, and the U.S. left Afghanistan for the last time at about midnight on Aug. 30.

Early on, McKenzie said troops at the gates had to get close to the people they were screening.

“This is close up work. The breath of the person you are searching is upon you,” McKenzie said in August soon after the attack.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630087261414.png" alt="Soldiers with the 82nd Airborn Division escort evacuees at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.-photo Courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Soldiers with the 82nd Airborn Division escort evacuees at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.-photo Courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The military investigation into the deadly attack during the Afghanistan evacuation has concluded that a suicide bomber, carrying 20 pounds of explosives packed with ball bearings, acted alone, and that the deaths of more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were not preventable.The blast at Abbey Gate outside the Kabul airport on Aug. 26 killed 11 U.S. Marines, a sailor and a soldier, who were screening the thousands of Afghans frantically trying to get onto one of the crowded flights leaving the country after the Taliban takeover. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.At the Pentagon on Friday, military officials laid out a detailed and graphic minute-by-minute account of the bombing. The bottom line, they said, was that those who died had wounds that were “so catastrophic” that they couldn’t be overcome. And they said that earlier thoughts that it was a complex attack involving gunfire turned out to be unfounded.“A single, explosive device killed at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. servicemembers by explosively directing ball bearings through a packed crowd and into our men and women at Abbey gate,” said Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command. “The disturbing lethality of this device was confirmed by the 58 U.S. servicemembers who were killed and wounded despite the universal wear of body armor and helmets that did stop ball bearings that impacted them, but could not prevent catastrophic injuries to areas not covered.”Investigators said the bomber likely got near the gate by bypassing Taliban and other security checkpoints. They said it appears the Taliban didn’t know of the attack, that security precautions were being taken and that intelligence about potential threats that was circulating that day was not specific.“Based upon our investigation, at the tactical level this was not preventable,” said Brig. Gen. Lance Curtis, who led the investigation. He added that military leaders on the ground in Kabul followed proper security measures, at times closing the gate or pausing the processing of evacuees.Military officials said that gunfire after the blast was found to be warning shots fired by U.S. and British troops, and that no one was killed or wounded by gunshots.McKenzie said the investigation revealed that the ball bearings caused wounds that looked like gunshots. He said some troops in the area fired a number of warning shots, and that led others to believe that the attack also included gunmen.U.S. military officials have said all along that the U.S. forces at the gates were doing a dangerous job. Overall the U.S.-led coalition evacuated about 126,000 people in about three weeks, and the U.S. left Afghanistan for the last time at about midnight on Aug. 30.Early on, McKenzie said troops at the gates had to get close to the people they were screening.“This is close up work. The breath of the person you are searching is upon you,” McKenzie said in August soon after the attack.

Pentagon: Deadly Afghan airport attack was not preventable

By MARK KENNEDY and KEN SWEET, Associated Press

Propelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the U.S. <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html]">death toll from COVID-19 hit </a>900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000.

The two-year total, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Indianapolis, San Francisco, or Charlotte, North Carolina.

The milestone comes more than 13 months into a vaccination drive that has been beset by misinformation and political and legal strife, though the shots have proved safe and highly effective at preventing serious illness and death.

“It is an astronomically high number. If you had told most Americans two years ago as this pandemic was getting going that 900,000 Americans would die over the next few years, I think most people would not have believed it,” said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

He lamented that most of the deaths happened after the vaccine gained authorization.

“We got the medical science right. We failed on the social science. We failed on how to help people get vaccinated, to combat disinformation, to not politicize this,” Jha said. “Those are the places where we have failed as America.”

Just 64% of the population is fully vaccinated, or about 212 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We have underestimated our enemy here, and we have under-prepared to protect ourselves,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We’ve learned a tremendous amount of humility in the face of a lethal and contagious respiratory virus.”

Nor is COVID-19 finished with the United States. Dr. Andrew Noymer, a professor of public health at the University of California at Irvine, predicted the U.S. will hit 1 million deaths by March 1.

“I think it’s important for us not to be numbed. Each one of those numbers is someone,” said the Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud, senior pastor of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church in Virginia. “Those are mothers, fathers, children, our elders.”

The milestone came as omicron is loosening its grip on the country.

New cases per day day have plunged by almost half since mid-January, when they hit a record-shattering peak of more than 800,000.

Cases have been declining in 49 out of 50 states over the past two weeks, by Johns Hopkins’ count, and the 50th state, Maine, reported that confirmed infections are falling there, too, dropping sharply over the past week.

Also, the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has declined 15% since mid-January to about 124,000.

But deaths are still running high at more than 2,400 per day on average, the most since last winter. And deaths per day are on the rise in at least 35 states, reflecting the lag time between when victims become infected and when they succumb.

Still, public health officials have expressed hope that the worst of omicron is coming to an end. While they caution that things could still go bad again and dangerous new variants could emerge, some places are already talking about easing precautions.

Los Angeles County may end outdoor mask requirements in a few weeks, Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday.

“Post-surge does not imply that the pandemic is over or that transmission is low, or that there will not be unpredictable waves of surges in the future,” she warned.

Despite its wealth and its world-class medical institutions, the U.S. has the highest reported toll of any country, and even then, the real number of lives lost directly or indirectly to the coronavirus is thought to be significantly higher.

Experts believe some COVID-19 deaths have been misattributed to other conditions. And some Americans are thought to have died of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes because they were unable or unwilling to obtain treatment during the crisis.

Anderson-Cloud lost her dementia-stricken father after he was hospitalized for cancer surgery and then isolated in a COVID-19 ward. He went into cardiac arrest, was revived, but died about a week later.

She had planned to be by his bedside, but the rules barred her from going to the hospital. She wonders if his condition was made worse by his isolation. She wonders if he was scared. She wonders how many other cases like his there are.

“There are all these stories and all that pain,” she said.

When the vaccine was rolled out in mid-December 2020, the death toll stood at about 300,000. It hit 600,000 in mid-June 2021 and 700,000 on Oct. 1. On Dec. 14, it reached 800,000.

It took just 51 more days to get to 900,000, the fastest 100,000-death jump since last winter.

The latest 100,000 deaths encompass those caused by both the delta variant and omicron, which began spreading rapidly in December and became the predominant version in the U.S. before the month was out.

While omicron has proved less likely to cause severe illness than delta, the sheer number of people who became infected with omicron contributed to the high number of deaths.

Ja said he and other medical professionals are frustrated that policymakers are seemingly running out of ideas for getting people to roll up their sleeves.

“There aren’t a whole lot of tools left. We need to double down and come up with new ones,” he said.

COVID-19 has become one of the top three causes of death in America, behind the big two — heart disease and cancer. Noymer, at the University of California, said if the mortality rate from COVID-19 continues, it will shave up to two years off U.S. life expectancy.

“We have been fighting among ourselves about tools that actually do save lives. Just the sheer amount of politics and misinformation around vaccines, which are remarkably effective and safe, is staggering,” Sharfstein said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586622276831.png" alt="John Hopkins death toll map" />
 <figcaption>John Hopkins death toll map</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK KENNEDY and KEN SWEET, Associated PressPropelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the U.S. <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html]">death toll from COVID-19 hit </a>900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000.The two-year total, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Indianapolis, San Francisco, or Charlotte, North Carolina.The milestone comes more than 13 months into a vaccination drive that has been beset by misinformation and political and legal strife, though the shots have proved safe and highly effective at preventing serious illness and death.“It is an astronomically high number. If you had told most Americans two years ago as this pandemic was getting going that 900,000 Americans would die over the next few years, I think most people would not have believed it,” said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.He lamented that most of the deaths happened after the vaccine gained authorization.“We got the medical science right. We failed on the social science. We failed on how to help people get vaccinated, to combat disinformation, to not politicize this,” Jha said. “Those are the places where we have failed as America.”Just 64% of the population is fully vaccinated, or about 212 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“We have underestimated our enemy here, and we have under-prepared to protect ourselves,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We’ve learned a tremendous amount of humility in the face of a lethal and contagious respiratory virus.”Nor is COVID-19 finished with the United States. Dr. Andrew Noymer, a professor of public health at the University of California at Irvine, predicted the U.S. will hit 1 million deaths by March 1.“I think it’s important for us not to be numbed. Each one of those numbers is someone,” said the Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud, senior pastor of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church in Virginia. “Those are mothers, fathers, children, our elders.”The milestone came as omicron is loosening its grip on the country.New cases per day day have plunged by almost half since mid-January, when they hit a record-shattering peak of more than 800,000.Cases have been declining in 49 out of 50 states over the past two weeks, by Johns Hopkins’ count, and the 50th state, Maine, reported that confirmed infections are falling there, too, dropping sharply over the past week.Also, the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has declined 15% since mid-January to about 124,000.But deaths are still running high at more than 2,400 per day on average, the most since last winter. And deaths per day are on the rise in at least 35 states, reflecting the lag time between when victims become infected and when they succumb.Still, public health officials have expressed hope that the worst of omicron is coming to an end. While they caution that things could still go bad again and dangerous new variants could emerge, some places are already talking about easing precautions.Los Angeles County may end outdoor mask requirements in a few weeks, Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday.“Post-surge does not imply that the pandemic is over or that transmission is low, or that there will not be unpredictable waves of surges in the future,” she warned.Despite its wealth and its world-class medical institutions, the U.S. has the highest reported toll of any country, and even then, the real number of lives lost directly or indirectly to the coronavirus is thought to be significantly higher.Experts believe some COVID-19 deaths have been misattributed to other conditions. And some Americans are thought to have died of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes because they were unable or unwilling to obtain treatment during the crisis.Anderson-Cloud lost her dementia-stricken father after he was hospitalized for cancer surgery and then isolated in a COVID-19 ward. He went into cardiac arrest, was revived, but died about a week later.She had planned to be by his bedside, but the rules barred her from going to the hospital. She wonders if his condition was made worse by his isolation. She wonders if he was scared. She wonders how many other cases like his there are.“There are all these stories and all that pain,” she said.When the vaccine was rolled out in mid-December 2020, the death toll stood at about 300,000. It hit 600,000 in mid-June 2021 and 700,000 on Oct. 1. On Dec. 14, it reached 800,000.It took just 51 more days to get to 900,000, the fastest 100,000-death jump since last winter.The latest 100,000 deaths encompass those caused by both the delta variant and omicron, which began spreading rapidly in December and became the predominant version in the U.S. before the month was out.While omicron has proved less likely to cause severe illness than delta, the sheer number of people who became infected with omicron contributed to the high number of deaths.Ja said he and other medical professionals are frustrated that policymakers are seemingly running out of ideas for getting people to roll up their sleeves.“There aren’t a whole lot of tools left. We need to double down and come up with new ones,” he said.COVID-19 has become one of the top three causes of death in America, behind the big two — heart disease and cancer. Noymer, at the University of California, said if the mortality rate from COVID-19 continues, it will shave up to two years off U.S. life expectancy.“We have been fighting among ourselves about tools that actually do save lives. Just the sheer amount of politics and misinformation around vaccines, which are remarkably effective and safe, is staggering,” Sharfstein said.He added: “This is the consequence.”

US death toll from COVID-19 hits 900,000, sped by omicron

By KYLIE CAMERON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-02-04/fbi-reviewing-case-of-wichita-teen-who-died-at-a-sedgwick-county-juvenile-facility">Kansas News Service</a>

The FBI is reviewing the case of a 17-year-old who died last year in a Sedgwick County juvenile facility.

County Commissioner David Dennis announced the FBI’s review of Cedric Lofton’s death during a special commission meeting Friday.

The FBI is part of the Department of Justice, which declined to comment on the matter.

Dennis
 said the week of the teen’s death last September, the FBI requested 
information from the county sheriff’s office about the case. The 
information was turned over.

Lofton died while being restrained at
 the facility. His family and authorities have said he was suffering a 
mental health crisis.

Friday’s announcement comes as advocates 
call for a Department of Justice investigation into possible civil 
rights violations in Lofton’s death.

“It can all be done. All of 
it,” Commissioner Lacey Cruse said. “This investigation, the policy 
change, a look at systematic change.”

A joint task force that is reviewing Lofton’s death <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-02-03/joint-task-force-reviewing-teens-death-to-send-letter-to-doj-requesting-investigation" target="_blank">will send a letter to the DOJ </a>asking for an investigation. The county commission voted Friday to support the task force’s decision to send the letter.

Commissioner
 Jim Howell was the only vote against the motion, saying the DOJ isn’t 
going to listen to the commission or the task force. He supports a 
citizen grand jury instead.

“I just think this is the wrong 
process,” Howell said. “I support the task force, especially in the 
mission they were called together to perform. I know that the DOJ is 
doing whatever they want to do.”

Kansas is one of five states that allows for citizens to petition for their own grand jury.

A
 successful petition would need 2 percent of the turnout in the last 
gubernatorial election, plus 100 – or more than 3,000 signatures.

Maurice
 Evans, also known as Pastor Moe, is a spokesperson for Lofton’s family.
 He said that the family and their attorneys are currently reviewing the
 law.

“The end-results in the past haven't been promising, there 
is secrecy in the process and we are still a little unclear on the jury 
selection process,” he said in an email.

The law was used to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-f5452aa069fdeb578443f5947418d794" target="_blank">convene a grand jury in McPherson County</a> last year in a college student’s rape case. The grand jury decided not to recommend charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642880340757.png" alt="Cedric Lofton as seen in a video of the encounter before his death" />
 <figcaption>Cedric Lofton as seen in a video of the encounter before his death</figcaption>
 </figure>By KYLIE CAMERON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-02-04/fbi-reviewing-case-of-wichita-teen-who-died-at-a-sedgwick-county-juvenile-facility">Kansas News Service</a>The FBI is reviewing the case of a 17-year-old who died last year in a Sedgwick County juvenile facility.County Commissioner David Dennis announced the FBI’s review of Cedric Lofton’s death during a special commission meeting Friday.The FBI is part of the Department of Justice, which declined to comment on the matter.Dennis
 said the week of the teen’s death last September, the FBI requested 
information from the county sheriff’s office about the case. The 
information was turned over.Lofton died while being restrained at
 the facility. His family and authorities have said he was suffering a 
mental health crisis.Friday’s announcement comes as advocates 
call for a Department of Justice investigation into possible civil 
rights violations in Lofton’s death.“It can all be done. All of 
it,” Commissioner Lacey Cruse said. “This investigation, the policy 
change, a look at systematic change.”A joint task force that is reviewing Lofton’s death <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-02-03/joint-task-force-reviewing-teens-death-to-send-letter-to-doj-requesting-investigation" target="_blank">will send a letter to the DOJ </a>asking for an investigation. The county commission voted Friday to support the task force’s decision to send the letter.Commissioner
 Jim Howell was the only vote against the motion, saying the DOJ isn’t 
going to listen to the commission or the task force. He supports a 
citizen grand jury instead.“I just think this is the wrong 
process,” Howell said. “I support the task force, especially in the 
mission they were called together to perform. I know that the DOJ is 
doing whatever they want to do.”Kansas is one of five states that allows for citizens to petition for their own grand jury.A
 successful petition would need 2 percent of the turnout in the last 
gubernatorial election, plus 100 – or more than 3,000 signatures.Maurice
 Evans, also known as Pastor Moe, is a spokesperson for Lofton’s family.
 He said that the family and their attorneys are currently reviewing the
 law.“The end-results in the past haven't been promising, there 
is secrecy in the process and we are still a little unclear on the jury 
selection process,” he said in an email.The law was used to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-f5452aa069fdeb578443f5947418d794" target="_blank">convene a grand jury in McPherson County</a> last year in a college student’s rape case. The grand jury decided not to recommend charges.

FBI reviewing case of Kan. teen who died at juvenile facility 

Céline Cousteau is an environmental advocate and filmmaker

<a href="https://hutchpost.com">Via Hutch Post</a>

HUTCHINSON — The Ray and Stella Dillon Lecture Series at Hutchinson Community
 College will open its 2022 series with environmentalist and filmmaker 
Céline Cousteau on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Hutchinson 
Sports Arena.

Through the power of storytelling Cousteau uses her 
amazing voyages around the world to offer a thoughtful perspective on 
the connection of the environment, indigenous peoples, &amp; populations
 around the world and how this knowledge is vital to the future of each 
of us on the planet.

As founder of CauseCentric Productions, 
Céline Cousteau is a documentary film director, producer, and presenter,
 creating cause-focused multimedia content. Extending her family legacy 
and her expertise, Céline co-founded The Céline Cousteau Film 
Fellowship, a nonprofit program whose mission is to empower young 
aspiring filmmakers, creatives, and activists to inspire change through 
filmmaking. Having worked on more than 20 documentaries worldwide, 
Céline offers a global perspective through an insider's intimate point 
of view.

Because of her versatility and background in art, she has
 collaborated with companies like Swarovski, London based fashion 
designer Deborah Milner, and New York jewelry designer Susan Foster to 
design jewelry based on the same messages of her environmental and 
humanitarian work. This was another opportunity to extend storytelling 
into another form in order to share the message of interconnectivity 
between humans and the natural world. Thanks to her position in the 
world of ocean conservation, Céline joined the World Economic Forum 
Council on Oceans for two terms. Currently, Céline is ambassador for the
 TreadRight Foundation, sits on the board of directors of the National 
Aquarium in Baltimore, and the advisory boards of The Himalayan 
Consensus and Marine Construction Technologies. With a degree in 
psychology and a masters in Intercultural Relations, she is fluent in 
three languages.

Cousteau is the first second-generation lecturer 
in the Series history; her father, Jean-Michael Cousteau, spoke on 
November 6, 1984.

Tickets to the lecture will be available beginning at 9:45 am the day of the lecture at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

Cousteau
 will appear at a press conference for members of the media prior to the
 lecture. The press conference is scheduled at 9:45 a.m. in the Media 
Interview Room of the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

2022 is the 41st 
season for the Dillon Lecture Series on the HutchCC Campus. For more 
information on the Dillon Lecture Series, or to become a patron, call 
Robin Woodworth at 620-665-3505 or visit the college website at <a href="http://www.hutchcc.edu/dls">www.hutchcc.edu/dls</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644003391324.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Céline Cousteau is an environmental advocate and filmmaker</h2><a href="https://hutchpost.com">Via Hutch Post</a>HUTCHINSON — The Ray and Stella Dillon Lecture Series at Hutchinson Community
 College will open its 2022 series with environmentalist and filmmaker 
Céline Cousteau on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Hutchinson 
Sports Arena.Through the power of storytelling Cousteau uses her 
amazing voyages around the world to offer a thoughtful perspective on 
the connection of the environment, indigenous peoples, &amp; populations
 around the world and how this knowledge is vital to the future of each 
of us on the planet.As founder of CauseCentric Productions, 
Céline Cousteau is a documentary film director, producer, and presenter,
 creating cause-focused multimedia content. Extending her family legacy 
and her expertise, Céline co-founded The Céline Cousteau Film 
Fellowship, a nonprofit program whose mission is to empower young 
aspiring filmmakers, creatives, and activists to inspire change through 
filmmaking. Having worked on more than 20 documentaries worldwide, 
Céline offers a global perspective through an insider's intimate point 
of view.Because of her versatility and background in art, she has
 collaborated with companies like Swarovski, London based fashion 
designer Deborah Milner, and New York jewelry designer Susan Foster to 
design jewelry based on the same messages of her environmental and 
humanitarian work. This was another opportunity to extend storytelling 
into another form in order to share the message of interconnectivity 
between humans and the natural world. Thanks to her position in the 
world of ocean conservation, Céline joined the World Economic Forum 
Council on Oceans for two terms. Currently, Céline is ambassador for the
 TreadRight Foundation, sits on the board of directors of the National 
Aquarium in Baltimore, and the advisory boards of The Himalayan 
Consensus and Marine Construction Technologies. With a degree in 
psychology and a masters in Intercultural Relations, she is fluent in 
three languages.Cousteau is the first second-generation lecturer 
in the Series history; her father, Jean-Michael Cousteau, spoke on 
November 6, 1984.Tickets to the lecture will be available beginning at 9:45 am the day of the lecture at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.Cousteau
 will appear at a press conference for members of the media prior to the
 lecture. The press conference is scheduled at 9:45 a.m. in the Media 
Interview Room of the Hutchinson Sports Arena.2022 is the 41st 
season for the Dillon Lecture Series on the HutchCC Campus. For more 
information on the Dillon Lecture Series, or to become a patron, call 
Robin Woodworth at 620-665-3505 or visit the college website at <a href="http://www.hutchcc.edu/dls">www.hutchcc.edu/dls</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;MID=181918;type=eligibleimpression;placementID=1658630;setID=524197;channelID=0;CID=0;BID=520548048;TAID=0;place=0;mt=1644007573005726;hc=f80b88b64881274e36e1ad89e73cac813a21ec2f" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=1x1;type=pixel;setID=524197;plid=1658630;BID=520548048;place=0;wt=1644011173;rnd=43286;v=0;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fhutchpost.com%2Fposts%2F9c613be6-6cc5-4cbd-864c-13899a07a382" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;MID=181918;type=viewableimpression;placementID=1658630;setID=524197;channelID=0;CID=0;BID=520548048;TAID=0;place=0;mt=1644007573005720;hc=bb56a5c778ed74e120de16c2c7793c22d4eb1476" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau will speak in Hutch

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal advisory panel voted unanimously Friday to continue to endorse Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for adults, now that U.S. regulators have given the shots their full approval.

The decision has little practical effect. Tens of millions of Americans have already gotten Moderna shots, following its emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration more than a year ago.

Earlier this week, the FDA gave the product full licensure, following the kind of rigorous, time-consuming review given to other vaccines.

While the FDA licenses vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes recommendations to doctors and patients about how they should be used. So the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices took up the matter on Friday.

The panel heard summaries of medical studies that showed the vaccine is working against the coronavirus and there is no evidence of new safety concerns.

The Moderna vaccine, now being marketed under the name Spikevax, is licensed as a two-dose series for people 18 and older. Under earlier emergency use authorizations, additional doses can be given as additional doses for people with weakened immune systems or as half-dose boosters.

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal advisory panel voted unanimously Friday to continue to endorse Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for adults, now that U.S. regulators have given the shots their full approval.The decision has little practical effect. Tens of millions of Americans have already gotten Moderna shots, following its emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration more than a year ago.Earlier this week, the FDA gave the product full licensure, following the kind of rigorous, time-consuming review given to other vaccines.While the FDA licenses vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes recommendations to doctors and patients about how they should be used. So the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices took up the matter on Friday.The panel heard summaries of medical studies that showed the vaccine is working against the coronavirus and there is no evidence of new safety concerns.The Moderna vaccine, now being marketed under the name Spikevax, is licensed as a two-dose series for people 18 and older. Under earlier emergency use authorizations, additional doses can be given as additional doses for people with weakened immune systems or as half-dose boosters.___

Expert panel backs Moderna COVID shots after full US approval

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas could phase out its corporate income tax under a measure that also would expand its incentives for attracting new businesses, and the provision is a problem as lawmakers rush to help the state attract an undisclosed multibillion-dollar project.

The state House Commerce Committee’s leader on Thursday derided the measure as “messed up” and delayed a vote until Monday on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;authorizing hundreds of millions of dollars in incentives for billion-dollar business projects.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-kansas-topeka-933bcd1586567b445f643e57de554cea">The Senate approved</a>&nbsp;the measure with bipartisan support last week, and the GOP-controlled Legislature still hopes to wrap up work on the bill next week.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the state Department of Commerce are pushing for quick passage so that the agency can offer an unnamed company $1 billion or more in incentives to make Kansas home to what department officials say would be a $4 billion facility. Kelly’s office and the department were negotiating with lawmakers.

“It came over here a train wreck,” said House Commerce Committee Chair Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican.

Republican senators added a cut in corporate income taxes, arguing that other businesses, particularly small ones, should also get a break if the state is going to offer huge incentives to single companies. But the provision is written so that the state would keep reducing the tax in future years, possibly until it was eliminated.

Kelly, other Democrats and the Department of Commerce favor one modest cut in the corporate income tax rate. Even some Republicans who favor a series of cuts acknowledge that the disputed provision’s language is unclear enough that the reductions could be more aggressive than intended.

“Whatever we do, we want to be sure it’s sustainable,” said state Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican.

The measure would give the Department of Commerce the authority to cut a company’s state income tax burden, cover part of its payroll, reimburse some employee training costs and reduce its local property taxes. It also could offer some breaks to up to five major suppliers named by that firm.

Some GOP conservatives have criticized the measure as crony capitalism that has the state improperly picking economic winners and losers.

Deputy Commerce Secretary Paul Hughes told the House committee this week that Kansas is pursuing “a massive advanced manufacturing facility” that will employ 4,000 people earning an average of $50,000 a year. Officials and lawmakers who know more details say they’ve been required to sign an agreement not to disclose the information publicly.

The bill also would cut the state’s corporate income tax by a half-percentage point once that company begins receiving the incentives, dropping the top rate to 6.5% from 7%. The bill says that the tax will continue to drop by a half-percentage point for each year “that a qualified firm or qualified supplier receives benefits.”

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, said the goal was to have multiple reductions in the corporate income tax so that Kansas is more competitive with other states. Texas has no corporate income tax; Oklahoma’s top tax rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ok-state-wire-oklahoma-business-education-health-f4e89a3434ad560d545e408394ccfb39">dropped to 4%</a>&nbsp;this year, and&nbsp;<a href="https://taxfoundation.org/state-corporate-income-tax-rates-brackets-2022/" target="_blank">the top rates</a>&nbsp;in Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri and New Mexico are lower than 6%, according to the nonprofit Tax Foundation.

“Taking it down a half-percent one time is not going to get a competitive level,” Erickson said.

The first corporate tax cut is expected to cost the state about $48 million a year in revenue. The state is on track to collect more than $660 million in corporate income taxes during the current budget year.

The big-incentives program has had bipartisan support, but Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, said if GOP lawmakers stick to ongoing corporate tax cuts, “I can see a lot of senators running like scalded cats away from that deal.”

Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said the intent was to cut the rate every time the state closed a “mega-deal” with a company, so it would take 14 such deals to phase out the corporate income tax. In both chambers, GOP lawmakers also want to require legislators to review the big-incentives program after a year or two.

In the House, Republicans were leaning toward Masterson’s position that the corporate tax rate would drop only when the Commerce Department lands such a deal.

“Now I’ve got to get conservative Republicans to fix a bill,” Tarwater said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643984923007.png" alt="Members of the House Commerce Committee during a discussion Thursday on the measure-image State Legislative YouTube&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Members of the House Commerce Committee during a discussion Thursday on the measure-image State Legislative YouTube&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas could phase out its corporate income tax under a measure that also would expand its incentives for attracting new businesses, and the provision is a problem as lawmakers rush to help the state attract an undisclosed multibillion-dollar project.The state House Commerce Committee’s leader on Thursday derided the measure as “messed up” and delayed a vote until Monday on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;authorizing hundreds of millions of dollars in incentives for billion-dollar business projects.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-kansas-topeka-933bcd1586567b445f643e57de554cea">The Senate approved</a>&nbsp;the measure with bipartisan support last week, and the GOP-controlled Legislature still hopes to wrap up work on the bill next week.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the state Department of Commerce are pushing for quick passage so that the agency can offer an unnamed company $1 billion or more in incentives to make Kansas home to what department officials say would be a $4 billion facility. Kelly’s office and the department were negotiating with lawmakers.“It came over here a train wreck,” said House Commerce Committee Chair Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican.Republican senators added a cut in corporate income taxes, arguing that other businesses, particularly small ones, should also get a break if the state is going to offer huge incentives to single companies. But the provision is written so that the state would keep reducing the tax in future years, possibly until it was eliminated.Kelly, other Democrats and the Department of Commerce favor one modest cut in the corporate income tax rate. Even some Republicans who favor a series of cuts acknowledge that the disputed provision’s language is unclear enough that the reductions could be more aggressive than intended.“Whatever we do, we want to be sure it’s sustainable,” said state Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican.The measure would give the Department of Commerce the authority to cut a company’s state income tax burden, cover part of its payroll, reimburse some employee training costs and reduce its local property taxes. It also could offer some breaks to up to five major suppliers named by that firm.Some GOP conservatives have criticized the measure as crony capitalism that has the state improperly picking economic winners and losers.Deputy Commerce Secretary Paul Hughes told the House committee this week that Kansas is pursuing “a massive advanced manufacturing facility” that will employ 4,000 people earning an average of $50,000 a year. Officials and lawmakers who know more details say they’ve been required to sign an agreement not to disclose the information publicly.The bill also would cut the state’s corporate income tax by a half-percentage point once that company begins receiving the incentives, dropping the top rate to 6.5% from 7%. The bill says that the tax will continue to drop by a half-percentage point for each year “that a qualified firm or qualified supplier receives benefits.”Senate Commerce Committee Chair Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, said the goal was to have multiple reductions in the corporate income tax so that Kansas is more competitive with other states. Texas has no corporate income tax; Oklahoma’s top tax rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ok-state-wire-oklahoma-business-education-health-f4e89a3434ad560d545e408394ccfb39">dropped to 4%</a>&nbsp;this year, and&nbsp;<a href="https://taxfoundation.org/state-corporate-income-tax-rates-brackets-2022/" target="_blank">the top rates</a>&nbsp;in Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri and New Mexico are lower than 6%, according to the nonprofit Tax Foundation.“Taking it down a half-percent one time is not going to get a competitive level,” Erickson said.The first corporate tax cut is expected to cost the state about $48 million a year in revenue. The state is on track to collect more than $660 million in corporate income taxes during the current budget year.The big-incentives program has had bipartisan support, but Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, said if GOP lawmakers stick to ongoing corporate tax cuts, “I can see a lot of senators running like scalded cats away from that deal.”Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said the intent was to cut the rate every time the state closed a “mega-deal” with a company, so it would take 14 such deals to phase out the corporate income tax. In both chambers, GOP lawmakers also want to require legislators to review the big-incentives program after a year or two.In the House, Republicans were leaning toward Masterson’s position that the corporate tax rate would drop only when the Commerce Department lands such a deal.“Now I’ve got to get conservative Republicans to fix a bill,” Tarwater said.

Kan. considers ending corporate income tax to lure big project

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 4,871 to a total of 744,493, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The state reported 139 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,716.

<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 4,871 to a total of 744,493, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 139 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,716.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643997947569.png" alt="Friday February 4, 2022 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday February 4, 2022 KDHE image</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 139 additional COVID-19 deaths

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Salina police have asked the Saline County Attorney's Office to file a charge of felony cruelty to animals: malicious torture against a 55-year-old Salina resident.

On Jan. 19, officers responded to the 900 block of Choctaw Avenue to assist the Salina Animal Services.

"On contact with the shelter employees, there was a report that the shelter was taking into custody a four-year-old black and white lab/retriever mix named Molly. There was an allegation that the dog had been abused," according to a media release from the Salina Police Department.

Through a joint investigation between Salina Animal Services and the police, Salina Police detectives were able to establish a probable cause to request a felony cruelty to animals: malicious torture charge. The investigation included interviewing several witnesses, collecting evidentiary items, and reviewing veterinarian records.

According to information from the Salina Police Department, an affidavit was delivered to the Saline County Attorney's Office on Wednesday "for a 55-year-old Salina resident who is the owner of Molly."

&nbsp;Molly is currently being cared for in a safe and protected location," the department noted.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSalina police have asked the Saline County Attorney's Office to file a charge of felony cruelty to animals: malicious torture against a 55-year-old Salina resident.On Jan. 19, officers responded to the 900 block of Choctaw Avenue to assist the Salina Animal Services."On contact with the shelter employees, there was a report that the shelter was taking into custody a four-year-old black and white lab/retriever mix named Molly. There was an allegation that the dog had been abused," according to a media release from the Salina Police Department.Through a joint investigation between Salina Animal Services and the police, Salina Police detectives were able to establish a probable cause to request a felony cruelty to animals: malicious torture charge. The investigation included interviewing several witnesses, collecting evidentiary items, and reviewing veterinarian records.According to information from the Salina Police Department, an affidavit was delivered to the Saline County Attorney's Office on Wednesday "for a 55-year-old Salina resident who is the owner of Molly."&nbsp;Molly is currently being cared for in a safe and protected location," the department noted.

Police investigate alleged animal cruelty in Salina

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery.

Just after 2a.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the 500 block of Conkling Avenue in Garden City for an Aggravated Robbery involving a taxi driver who had been robbed at knifepoint, according to a media release.

The investigation revealed that the taxi driver picked up a customer in the 1800 block of Comanche Drive and provided a ride for him to the 500 block of Conkling Avenue. 

Upon arrival, the suspect pulled out a knife and demanded the driver to give him all the money he had. The victim gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of money, and the suspect ran southbound from the vehicle.  Officers searched the area and were unable to locate the suspect.

At the time of the incident, the suspect was described as a Hispanic male in his early 20s, heavy set, wearing a black coat and circular prescription-style glasses.&nbsp;

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery.Just after 2a.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the 500 block of Conkling Avenue in Garden City for an Aggravated Robbery involving a taxi driver who had been robbed at knifepoint, according to a media release.The investigation revealed that the taxi driver picked up a customer in the 1800 block of Comanche Drive and provided a ride for him to the 500 block of Conkling Avenue. Upon arrival, the suspect pulled out a knife and demanded the driver to give him all the money he had. The victim gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of money, and the suspect ran southbound from the vehicle. Officers searched the area and were unable to locate the suspect.At the time of the incident, the suspect was described as a Hispanic male in his early 20s, heavy set, wearing a black coat and circular prescription-style glasses.&nbsp;

Police: Taxi driver robbed at knifepoint in SW Kansas

Washington–&nbsp;U.S. Senators Roger Marshall and Rick Scott of Florida offered their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/services/files/99776085-C772-4114-A3A1-35582528B379" target="_blank">No Taxpayer Dollars for Communist Chinese COVID Tests Act</a>, a bill to prohibit the use of federal funds to purchase at-home tests for COVID-19 that are imported from, or manufactured in, Communist China, according to a statement from Marshall's office.

The legislation was blocked by Senate Democrats. Senators Marshall and Scott introduced this bill following the Biden administration’s purchase of $1.28 billion worth of COVID-19 at-home tests from iHealth Labs Inc., a unit of Andon Health Co., a medical device manufacturer headquartered in Communist China.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed just how reliant our country is on medical supplies from China. Under President Biden, minimal actions have been taken to bring this manufacturing back to the United States and instead this administration is now sending taxpayer money to China for millions of COVID tests. We should be investing in American manufacturing and creating jobs at home instead of continuing to fund the CCP, particularly when their obstruction to uncover the origins of this virus’ outbreak is ongoing,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.

“It is imperative that the federal government do everything in its power to complete our public health mission in a cost-effective manner that prioritizes support for domestic manufacturing. Unfortunately, instead of supporting American manufacturing, the Biden administration is handing nearly $1.3 billion of taxpayer funds to a company in Communist China. The Biden administration’s willingness to fund the Communist Chinese economy, instead of the American economy, is a disgrace. And Senate Democrats’ decision to block my bill to support American jobs so that they can cover for the president’s failure is a dereliction of duty and&nbsp;a shameful&nbsp;choice to&nbsp;again&nbsp;appease Communist China,”&nbsp;said Senator Scott.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643990633068.png" alt="Senator Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Senator Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington–&nbsp;U.S. Senators Roger Marshall and Rick Scott of Florida offered their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/services/files/99776085-C772-4114-A3A1-35582528B379" target="_blank">No Taxpayer Dollars for Communist Chinese COVID Tests Act</a>, a bill to prohibit the use of federal funds to purchase at-home tests for COVID-19 that are imported from, or manufactured in, Communist China, according to a statement from Marshall's office.The legislation was blocked by Senate Democrats. Senators Marshall and Scott introduced this bill following the Biden administration’s purchase of $1.28 billion worth of COVID-19 at-home tests from iHealth Labs Inc., a unit of Andon Health Co., a medical device manufacturer headquartered in Communist China.“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed just how reliant our country is on medical supplies from China. Under President Biden, minimal actions have been taken to bring this manufacturing back to the United States and instead this administration is now sending taxpayer money to China for millions of COVID tests. We should be investing in American manufacturing and creating jobs at home instead of continuing to fund the CCP, particularly when their obstruction to uncover the origins of this virus’ outbreak is ongoing,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.“It is imperative that the federal government do everything in its power to complete our public health mission in a cost-effective manner that prioritizes support for domestic manufacturing. Unfortunately, instead of supporting American manufacturing, the Biden administration is handing nearly $1.3 billion of taxpayer funds to a company in Communist China. The Biden administration’s willingness to fund the Communist Chinese economy, instead of the American economy, is a disgrace. And Senate Democrats’ decision to block my bill to support American jobs so that they can cover for the president’s failure is a dereliction of duty and&nbsp;a shameful&nbsp;choice to&nbsp;again&nbsp;appease Communist China,”&nbsp;said Senator Scott.

Marshall's bill would stop U.S. purchase of Chinese-made COVID tests

KANSAS CITY —A 24-year-old Kansas City man has been charged in the fatal shooting on Sept. 28, 2021 of Wyshaud Smith, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

Corey Marrett faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.

According to court records, &nbsp;the defendant drove down to a tow lot where a family member and Smith had been in a dispute. The defendant's vehicle is captured on LPR and surveillance footage pulling up next to victim’s vehicle before the victim’s car pulls forward and crashes into a pole. Victim was shot behind his left ear. Defendant’s phone also shows him to be in the area at the time of the shooting.

Prosecutors is being held on a $250,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643927241933.png" alt="Marrett-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Marrett-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A 24-year-old Kansas City man has been charged in the fatal shooting on Sept. 28, 2021 of Wyshaud Smith, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.Corey Marrett faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.According to court records, &nbsp;the defendant drove down to a tow lot where a family member and Smith had been in a dispute. The defendant's vehicle is captured on LPR and surveillance footage pulling up next to victim’s vehicle before the victim’s car pulls forward and crashes into a pole. Victim was shot behind his left ear. Defendant’s phone also shows him to be in the area at the time of the shooting.Prosecutors is being held on a $250,000 bond.

Suspect's phone shows him at scene of fatal KC shooting

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/federal-law-allocates-58-6-million-to-plug-thousands-of-orphan-oil-gas-wells-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The bipartisan federal 
infrastructure law appropriated $58.6 million to cap more than 5,400 oil
 and gas wells in Kansas that have been abandoned by owners and threaten
 water supplies or pose other environmental hazards.

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat serving the Third District in 
eastern Kansas, said the state had thousands of wells polluting public 
spaces, recreational areas or private property.

The federal law included aid to deal with an estimated 5,400 orphan 
wells in Kansas, Davids said. She said the list of defunct wells 
included 34 in Johnson County and at least 375 in Miami County. In 
Kansas, 14 well sites are listed as high-priority projects due to&nbsp; 
urgent threats to public water supplies.

“Abandoned oil and gas wells pose a serious
 threat to the health and well-being of communities across Kansas, with 
the vast majority of these sites in the eastern part of our state,” said
 Davids, who serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee.

Dwight Keen, chairman of the Kansas Corporation Commission, said 
infusion of federal investment in abandon well remediation would 
accelerate well-plugging efforts in Kansas and help protect freshwater 
resources in the state. The KCC has regulatory responsibilities for oil 
and gas wells.

“Addressing the abandoned-well issue in Kansas is critical to our 
environmental protection mission,” Keen said. “Given the potential costs
 associated with plugging abandoned oil and gas wells, we appreciate the
 availability of federal funds to compliment the state’s well-plugging 
fund.”

Overall, the legislation adopted by Congress and signed by President 
Joe Biden earmarked $4.7 billion for dealing with orphan oil and gas 
wells.

The initial phase of the program allocated $1.15 billion for 
abandoned wells in Kansas and 25 other states. Each state was eligible 
for $25 million in federal grants, with opportunity to apply for 
additional aid.

An estimated 81,000 abandoned drilling sites in the United States 
leak pollution and emit methane gas into the environment. About 9 
million Americans live within one mile of these sites.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643927264973.png" alt="U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat, said the federal infrastructure law earmarked $58.6 million to plug more than 5,400 abandoned oil and gas wells in Kansas. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat, said the federal infrastructure law earmarked $58.6 million to plug more than 5,400 abandoned oil and gas wells in Kansas. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/federal-law-allocates-58-6-million-to-plug-thousands-of-orphan-oil-gas-wells-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The bipartisan federal 
infrastructure law appropriated $58.6 million to cap more than 5,400 oil
 and gas wells in Kansas that have been abandoned by owners and threaten
 water supplies or pose other environmental hazards.U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat serving the Third District in 
eastern Kansas, said the state had thousands of wells polluting public 
spaces, recreational areas or private property.The federal law included aid to deal with an estimated 5,400 orphan 
wells in Kansas, Davids said. She said the list of defunct wells 
included 34 in Johnson County and at least 375 in Miami County. In 
Kansas, 14 well sites are listed as high-priority projects due to&nbsp; 
urgent threats to public water supplies.“Abandoned oil and gas wells pose a serious
 threat to the health and well-being of communities across Kansas, with 
the vast majority of these sites in the eastern part of our state,” said
 Davids, who serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee.Dwight Keen, chairman of the Kansas Corporation Commission, said 
infusion of federal investment in abandon well remediation would 
accelerate well-plugging efforts in Kansas and help protect freshwater 
resources in the state. The KCC has regulatory responsibilities for oil 
and gas wells.“Addressing the abandoned-well issue in Kansas is critical to our 
environmental protection mission,” Keen said. “Given the potential costs
 associated with plugging abandoned oil and gas wells, we appreciate the
 availability of federal funds to compliment the state’s well-plugging 
fund.”Overall, the legislation adopted by Congress and signed by President 
Joe Biden earmarked $4.7 billion for dealing with orphan oil and gas 
wells.The initial phase of the program allocated $1.15 billion for 
abandoned wells in Kansas and 25 other states. Each state was eligible 
for $25 million in federal grants, with opportunity to apply for 
additional aid.An estimated 81,000 abandoned drilling sites in the United States 
leak pollution and emit methane gas into the environment. About 9 
million Americans live within one mile of these sites.

Feds allocate $58.6M to plug thousands of orphan oil, gas wells in Kan.

NEW YORK (AP) — Running through a grim tally of recent gun deaths, President Joe Biden pledged to New Yorkers and the nation on Thursday that the federal government would step up its fight against gun violence by working more closely with police and communities to stop the surging bloodshed.

“It’s enough. Enough is enough,” Biden told police, law enforcement officials and lawmakers gathered at the city’s police headquarters. “We can do something about this.”

But Biden’s crimefighting strategy relies heavily on buy-in from state and local officials as he suggests ways to spend federal dollars and expands on initiatives already under way. The modest initiatives demonstrate the limits to what he can do when there is no appetite in Congress to pass gun legislation.

Biden came to New York a day after the funeral for the second of two New York City cops shot and killed during a domestic violence call on Jan. 21. Officials wrapped up the event to get to the hospital, where another officer was being released after an injury in yet another shooting.

The visit gave the president a chance to push back against Republicans who claim he’s soft on crime, and to distance himself from those in the left flank of his Democratic Party who want to shift funding away from police departments to social spending programs.

“The answer is not to defund the police,” Biden said. “It is to give you the tools, the training, the funding to be partners, to be protectors and know the community.”

Biden ticked through how 316 people are shot every day and 106 killed, including 26 children who died in gun violence so far this year.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kathy-hochul-new-york-violence-police-new-york-city-a15d5986b309ef0721deed74fabd08eb">In New York last month</a>, an 11-month-old girl was wounded by a stray bullet and a teenage fast-food cashier was shot to death. Thirty-two officers have been shot in the line of duty so far this year nationwide, seven of them killed.

Biden is navigating complex politics: He’s working to find ways to combat crime while also pushing for greater accountability after high-profile killings of Black people by police.

“The answer is not to abandon our streets,” Biden said. “The answer is to come together, policing communities, building trust and making us all safer.”

Most of the talk Thursday was centered on better policing. Efforts to take stronger legislative action in recent years have failed, even after 20 children and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sandy-hook-elementary-school-shooting">six adults were killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.</a>

Like Democratic presidents before him, Biden called on Congress to pass a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. But he also spoke of the powerful gun lobby that has been effective at curbing any effort to rein in guns and that points to the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

“There’s no amendment that’s absolute,” Biden insisted. “When the amendment was passed, it didn’t say anybody can own a gun — any kind of gun — and any kind of weapon.”

The president was joined by New York lawmakers, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain. Once an outspoken critic of his own department and someone who was beaten by police as a teenager, Adams portrayed himself during his campaign as someone who could bridge the divide between the New York Police Department and activists pushing for major change.

“We understand how serious this moment is,” Adams said, telling Biden, “Mayor Adams, reporting for duty, ready to serve.”

Biden listened in on a gun violence strategic partnership meeting, a daily get-together for local, state and federal leaders who share intelligence and information on specific cases. He then headed to a school in Queens to hear firsthand from a frontline violence intervention community group about efforts to prevent violence.

Guns are at the center of the debate as the nation grapples with homicides that spiked nationally in 2020, the final year of the Trump administration. Even before the spike, 75% of all homicides in the U.S. were due to firearm injuries and guns were responsible for 91% of youth homicides, according to a January report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on gun violence and suicides over 2018-19.

This comes as Americans purchased a record number of firearms in 2020. Law enforcement officers recovered historically high numbers of firearms last year and are coming across more firearms stripped of serial numbers, making them impossible to trace. And early data suggests that the period between when a gun was purchased and used in a crime and recovered by police has shortened, compared with earlier years.

To combat this, the Biden administration is clamping down more on traders of “ghost guns,” homemade firearms that lack serial numbers used to trace them and that are often purchased without a background check.

The Justice Department is working to stop the movement of guns north along the “iron pipeline” on the Interstate 95 corridor from Southern states with lax gun laws. Federal prosecutors will prioritize cases of those who sell or transfer guns used in violent crime and, if Biden’s budget is enacted, get specific agents dedicated to the effort.

Federal strike forces are deployed to New York and other cities, aimed at cracking down on gun trafficking. Federal agents are embedded in homicide units in police departments around the country, and the U.S. Marshals Service regularly conducts fugitive sweeps to arrest people with outstanding state or federal warrants.

In May, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will host police executives from across the country to collaborate on solutions to gun violence. But the agency has been without a permanent leader since 2013. Biden’s first nominee, a former ATF agent who had advocated for stricter gun control, was withdrawn in September amid opposition from Republicans and some moderate Democrats. There’s no sign of a new nominee.

Biden has also proposed a large increase in dollars for local community policing programs, and if his social spending agenda were to pass, even more funds would be made available — but that effort is stalled in Congress, too.

And he encouraged cities to invest some of their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">COVID-19 relief money</a>&nbsp;into policing and pushed alternative crime reduction steps such as increased community support and summer jobs for teenagers, and better resources for those coming out of prison.

“When someone finishes their time in prison ... you can’t give them $25 bucks and a bus ticket,” he said. “They need to be able to train for and get a job, find stable housing, reenter society and have a second chance at life.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Running through a grim tally of recent gun deaths, President Joe Biden pledged to New Yorkers and the nation on Thursday that the federal government would step up its fight against gun violence by working more closely with police and communities to stop the surging bloodshed.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F310719364350322%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=37" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“It’s enough. Enough is enough,” Biden told police, law enforcement officials and lawmakers gathered at the city’s police headquarters. “We can do something about this.”But Biden’s crimefighting strategy relies heavily on buy-in from state and local officials as he suggests ways to spend federal dollars and expands on initiatives already under way. The modest initiatives demonstrate the limits to what he can do when there is no appetite in Congress to pass gun legislation.Biden came to New York a day after the funeral for the second of two New York City cops shot and killed during a domestic violence call on Jan. 21. Officials wrapped up the event to get to the hospital, where another officer was being released after an injury in yet another shooting.The visit gave the president a chance to push back against Republicans who claim he’s soft on crime, and to distance himself from those in the left flank of his Democratic Party who want to shift funding away from police departments to social spending programs.“The answer is not to defund the police,” Biden said. “It is to give you the tools, the training, the funding to be partners, to be protectors and know the community.”Biden ticked through how 316 people are shot every day and 106 killed, including 26 children who died in gun violence so far this year.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kathy-hochul-new-york-violence-police-new-york-city-a15d5986b309ef0721deed74fabd08eb">In New York last month</a>, an 11-month-old girl was wounded by a stray bullet and a teenage fast-food cashier was shot to death. Thirty-two officers have been shot in the line of duty so far this year nationwide, seven of them killed.Biden is navigating complex politics: He’s working to find ways to combat crime while also pushing for greater accountability after high-profile killings of Black people by police.“The answer is not to abandon our streets,” Biden said. “The answer is to come together, policing communities, building trust and making us all safer.”Most of the talk Thursday was centered on better policing. Efforts to take stronger legislative action in recent years have failed, even after 20 children and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sandy-hook-elementary-school-shooting">six adults were killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.</a>Like Democratic presidents before him, Biden called on Congress to pass a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. But he also spoke of the powerful gun lobby that has been effective at curbing any effort to rein in guns and that points to the Second Amendment right to bear arms.“There’s no amendment that’s absolute,” Biden insisted. “When the amendment was passed, it didn’t say anybody can own a gun — any kind of gun — and any kind of weapon.”The president was joined by New York lawmakers, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain. Once an outspoken critic of his own department and someone who was beaten by police as a teenager, Adams portrayed himself during his campaign as someone who could bridge the divide between the New York Police Department and activists pushing for major change.“We understand how serious this moment is,” Adams said, telling Biden, “Mayor Adams, reporting for duty, ready to serve.”Biden listened in on a gun violence strategic partnership meeting, a daily get-together for local, state and federal leaders who share intelligence and information on specific cases. He then headed to a school in Queens to hear firsthand from a frontline violence intervention community group about efforts to prevent violence.Guns are at the center of the debate as the nation grapples with homicides that spiked nationally in 2020, the final year of the Trump administration. Even before the spike, 75% of all homicides in the U.S. were due to firearm injuries and guns were responsible for 91% of youth homicides, according to a January report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on gun violence and suicides over 2018-19.This comes as Americans purchased a record number of firearms in 2020. Law enforcement officers recovered historically high numbers of firearms last year and are coming across more firearms stripped of serial numbers, making them impossible to trace. And early data suggests that the period between when a gun was purchased and used in a crime and recovered by police has shortened, compared with earlier years.To combat this, the Biden administration is clamping down more on traders of “ghost guns,” homemade firearms that lack serial numbers used to trace them and that are often purchased without a background check.The Justice Department is working to stop the movement of guns north along the “iron pipeline” on the Interstate 95 corridor from Southern states with lax gun laws. Federal prosecutors will prioritize cases of those who sell or transfer guns used in violent crime and, if Biden’s budget is enacted, get specific agents dedicated to the effort.Federal strike forces are deployed to New York and other cities, aimed at cracking down on gun trafficking. Federal agents are embedded in homicide units in police departments around the country, and the U.S. Marshals Service regularly conducts fugitive sweeps to arrest people with outstanding state or federal warrants.In May, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will host police executives from across the country to collaborate on solutions to gun violence. But the agency has been without a permanent leader since 2013. Biden’s first nominee, a former ATF agent who had advocated for stricter gun control, was withdrawn in September amid opposition from Republicans and some moderate Democrats. There’s no sign of a new nominee.Biden has also proposed a large increase in dollars for local community policing programs, and if his social spending agenda were to pass, even more funds would be made available — but that effort is stalled in Congress, too.And he encouraged cities to invest some of their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">COVID-19 relief money</a>&nbsp;into policing and pushed alternative crime reduction steps such as increased community support and summer jobs for teenagers, and better resources for those coming out of prison.“When someone finishes their time in prison ... you can’t give them $25 bucks and a bus ticket,” he said. “They need to be able to train for and get a job, find stable housing, reenter society and have a second chance at life.”__

🎥 Biden: Nation must come together to end gun violence

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County District Attorney's office on Thursday charged Wichita Police Department officer Andrew Barnett with one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of disorderly conduct, according to police department spokesman Officer Trevor Macy.

The charges involved two separate incidents that occurred in 2021. The first incident occurred on May 14, when Barnett was accused of battery against a prisoner. 

At that time, he was moved to an administrative assignment within the department pending the outcome of the investigation, which was conducted by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office to avoid conflicts of interest.

On December 2, Wichita police officials learned of another incident involving Barnett while off-duty at the Eisenhower National Airport. The Airport Police Department investigated that incident.

Barnett has been with the Wichita Police Department for five years and has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the criminal and internal investigation.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County District Attorney's office on Thursday charged Wichita Police Department officer Andrew Barnett with one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of disorderly conduct, according to police department spokesman Officer Trevor Macy.The charges involved two separate incidents that occurred in 2021. The first incident occurred on May 14, when Barnett was accused of battery against a prisoner. At that time, he was moved to an administrative assignment within the department pending the outcome of the investigation, which was conducted by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office to avoid conflicts of interest.On December 2, Wichita police officials learned of another incident involving Barnett while off-duty at the Eisenhower National Airport. The Airport Police Department investigated that incident.Barnett has been with the Wichita Police Department for five years and has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the criminal and internal investigation.

Wichita police officer charged with battery, disorderly conduct

HASKELL COUNTY—Two Kansas men were injured in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Thursday in Haskell County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Polaris ATV driven by&nbsp; Claudy R.&nbsp;Reynolds, 88, Sublette, was eastbound in the 900 Block Edelle Avenue in Sublette.

 The ATV became unstable, crossed the center line, entered the north ditch and overturned.

EMS transported&nbsp;Reynolds and a passenger James H Barton, 69, Sublette, to Satanta District Hospital. Reynolds was later flown to a hospital in Wichita.

HASKELL COUNTY—Two Kansas men were injured in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Thursday in Haskell County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Polaris ATV driven by&nbsp; Claudy R.&nbsp;Reynolds, 88, Sublette, was eastbound in the 900 Block Edelle Avenue in Sublette. The ATV became unstable, crossed the center line, entered the north ditch and overturned.EMS transported&nbsp;Reynolds and a passenger James H Barton, 69, Sublette, to Satanta District Hospital. Reynolds was later flown to a hospital in Wichita.

88-year-old Kan. man airlifted to hospital after ATV accident

WASHINGTON – As part of a larger effort to help people during this 
year's filing season, the Internal Revenue Service today announced 
special Saturday hours at many Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) across
 the country.

TACs provide taxpayers with in-person help. Select TACs are open from
 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., February 12, March 12, April 9 and May 14. Normally, 
these centers are not open on Saturdays. No appointments are required.

"The IRS continues to do everything we can to help people during this
 unprecedented period," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Opening 
these assistance centers for special Saturday hours is designed to 
provide yet another way for people to get the help they need. We 
encourage people to review the details on these special Saturday hours 
so we can help serve them. I'm also extremely grateful to our employees 
who have stepped up to provide this special assistance."

People can receive walk-in help on all services, however, the TACs 
will not accept cash payments on these Saturdays. During the extra 
operating 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 and receive other help.

To see which TACs will be open, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help">IRS.gov/saturdayhours</a>.

To arrive prepared, individuals should bring the following information:

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

"We encourage people to receive payments and their tax refunds 
via direct deposit, which is faster and more secure than other payment 
methods," said IRS Wage &amp; Investment Commissioner and Taxpayer 
Experience Officer Ken Corbin. "People who don't have a bank account 
should visit the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation</a> website for details on opening an account online. They can also use the FDIC's <a href="https://banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind">BankFind</a> tool to find an FDIC-insured bank."

<a href="https://covidbanking.joinbankon.org/">BankOn</a>, <a href="https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/manage-your-money/choosing-safe-affordable-account">American Bankers Association</a>, <a href="https://www.icba.org/about/find-a-community-bank/open-a-bank-account-remotely">Independent Community Bankers of America</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">National Credit Union Administration</a> have lists of banks and credit unions that allow opening an account online. Veterans can use the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program</a> to learn about financial services at participating banks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON – As part of a larger effort to help people during this 
year's filing season, the Internal Revenue Service today announced 
special Saturday hours at many Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) across
 the country.TACs provide taxpayers with in-person help. Select TACs are open from
 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., February 12, March 12, April 9 and May 14. Normally, 
these centers are not open on Saturdays. No appointments are required."The IRS continues to do everything we can to help people during this
 unprecedented period," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Opening 
these assistance centers for special Saturday hours is designed to 
provide yet another way for people to get the help they need. We 
encourage people to review the details on these special Saturday hours 
so we can help serve them. I'm also extremely grateful to our employees 
who have stepped up to provide this special assistance."People can receive walk-in help on all services, however, the TACs 
will not accept cash payments on these Saturdays. During the extra 
operating 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 and receive other help.To see which TACs will be open, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help">IRS.gov/saturdayhours</a>.<h2>Come prepared</h2>To arrive prepared, individuals should bring the following information:<ul>
 <li>Current government-issued photo identification,</li><li>Social Security cards for members of their household, including spouse and dependents (if applicable) and</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,</li><li>An email address and</li><li>Bank account information, to receive payments or refunds by direct deposit.</li>
 </ul>"We encourage people to receive payments and their tax refunds 
via direct deposit, which is faster and more secure than other payment 
methods," said IRS Wage &amp; Investment Commissioner and Taxpayer 
Experience Officer Ken Corbin. "People who don't have a bank account 
should visit the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation</a> website for details on opening an account online. They can also use the FDIC's <a href="https://banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind">BankFind</a> tool to find an FDIC-insured bank."<a href="https://covidbanking.joinbankon.org/">BankOn</a>, <a href="https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/manage-your-money/choosing-safe-affordable-account">American Bankers Association</a>, <a href="https://www.icba.org/about/find-a-community-bank/open-a-bank-account-remotely">Independent Community Bankers of America</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">National Credit Union Administration</a> have lists of banks and credit unions that allow opening an account online. Veterans can use the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program</a> to learn about financial services at participating banks.<h2>Services provided</h2>The IRS's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">Contact Your Local Office</a> site lists all services provided at specific TACs.If someone has a question(s) about a tax bill or an IRS audit, or 
needs help resolving a tax problem, they will receive assistance from 
IRS employees specializing in these services. If these employees are not
 available, the individual will receive a referral for these services. 
Taxpayer Advocate Service employees may also be available to assist with
 issues that meet certain criteria.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 also 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.People who need assistance preparing tax returns can visit 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</a>. VITA sites offer free tax help to qualified individuals who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including:<ul>
 <li>People who earn $58,000 or less,</li><li>Persons with disabilities and</li><li>Limited English-speaking taxpayers.</li>
 </ul>People who need to pay their federal taxes with cash can visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a> to get information on several payment options.<h2>More information:</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/secure-access-how-to-register-for-certain-online-self-help-tools">How to Register for Certain Online Self-Help Tools</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-h-reconciling-your-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-on-your-2021-tax-return">Reconciling Your Advance Child Tax Credit Payments on Your 2021 Tax Return</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">IRS.gov/rrc</a> to learn about filing requirements for the Recovery Rebate Credit</li>
 </ul>