The
 Federal Trade Commission is returning more than $10 million to 
consumers who were charged undisclosed fees by online lender LendingClub
 Corporation. The FTC is distributing refunds directly to 
more than 15,000 LendingClub customers and encouraging additional 
LendingClub customers to apply for refunds.

The FTC <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/04/ftc-charges-lending-club-deceiving-consumers-0">sued LendingClub in April 2018</a>,
 charging that the company falsely promised loan applicants that they 
would receive a specific loan amount with “no hidden fees,” when in 
reality the company deducted hundreds or even thousands of dollars in 
hidden up-front fees from the loans. The FTC also alleged that 
LendingClub told consumers they were approved for loans when they were 
not and took money from consumers’ bank accounts without authorization.

The FTC is sending refunds via PayPal to 
15,748 LendingClub customers who complained to the company or the FTC 
about the hidden fees. Recipients have until February 16, 2022 to accept the payments.
 Recipients who have questions about their payments should call the 
refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 833-630-1417. The FTC never 
requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a 
refund.

In addition, between January 18 and 20, the FTC will 
email additional LendingClub customers who took out loans before January
 6, 2017 and repaid the loan. The email will provide instructions on how
 to request a refund. LendingClub customers who believe they may be 
eligible for a refund but do not receive an email by January 20 should 
contact the refund administrator at 833-630-1417. The deadline for 
additional consumers to file claims is February 16, 2022.

The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but the United States Supreme Court ruled earlier this year 
that the FTC lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief
 in federal court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe
 Federal Trade Commission is returning more than $10 million to 
consumers who were charged undisclosed fees by online lender LendingClub
 Corporation. The FTC is distributing refunds directly to 
more than 15,000 LendingClub customers and encouraging additional 
LendingClub customers to apply for refunds.The FTC <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/04/ftc-charges-lending-club-deceiving-consumers-0">sued LendingClub in April 2018</a>,
 charging that the company falsely promised loan applicants that they 
would receive a specific loan amount with “no hidden fees,” when in 
reality the company deducted hundreds or even thousands of dollars in 
hidden up-front fees from the loans. The FTC also alleged that 
LendingClub told consumers they were approved for loans when they were 
not and took money from consumers’ bank accounts without authorization.The FTC is sending refunds via PayPal to 
15,748 LendingClub customers who complained to the company or the FTC 
about the hidden fees. Recipients have until February 16, 2022 to accept the payments.
 Recipients who have questions about their payments should call the 
refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 833-630-1417. The FTC never 
requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a 
refund.In addition, between January 18 and 20, the FTC will 
email additional LendingClub customers who took out loans before January
 6, 2017 and repaid the loan. The email will provide instructions on how
 to request a refund. LendingClub customers who believe they may be 
eligible for a refund but do not receive an email by January 20 should 
contact the refund administrator at 833-630-1417. The deadline for 
additional consumers to file claims is February 16, 2022.The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but the United States Supreme Court ruled earlier this year 
that the FTC lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief
 in federal court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

FTC returns $10M+ to consumers who paid hidden fees to LendingClub

WASHINGTON —
 The Internal Revenue Service today urged employers to be aware of the 
January deadline to file Forms W-2 and other wage statements. Filing 
these documents timely helps employers avoid penalties and helps the IRS
 in fraud prevention.

A 2015 law made it a permanent requirement that employers file copies of their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-2">Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statements,</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-3">Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements</a>, with the Social Security Administration by January 31.

Forms W-2 are normally due to workers by January 31. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-misc">Forms 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Information</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-nec">Forms 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation</a>,
 are also due to taxpayers by January 31. Various other due dates 
related to Form 1099-MISC and Form 1099-NEC, including dates due to the 
IRS, can be found on the form's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1099mec.pdf">instructions</a>&nbsp;PDF at IRS.gov.

The normal January filing date for wage statements means that the IRS
 can more easily detect refund fraud by verifying income that 
individuals report on their tax returns. Employers can help support that
 process and avoid penalties by filing the forms on time and without 
errors.

The IRS and SSA encourage all employers to e-file. It is the 
quickest, most accurate and convenient way to file these forms. For more
 information about e-filing Forms W-2 and a link to the SSA's Business 
Services Online website, visit the SSA's Employer W-2 Filing 
Instructions &amp; Information website at <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/employer/">SSA.gov/employer</a>.

Use same employer identification number on all forms

Employers should ensure the employer identification number (EIN) on 
their wage and tax statements (Forms W-2, W-3, etc.) and their payroll 
tax returns (Forms 941, 943, 944, etc.) match the EIN the IRS assigned 
to their business. They should not use their social security number 
(SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification number (ITIN) on forms that 
ask for an EIN.

If an employer used an EIN (including a prior owner's EIN) on their 
payroll tax returns that's different from the EIN reported on their W-3,
 they should review <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw2w3.pdf">General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3</a>&nbsp;PDF, Box h—Other EIN used this year.

Filing these forms with inconsistent EINs or using another business's
 EIN may result in penalties and delays in processing an employer's 
returns. Even if an employer uses a third-party payer (such as a 
Certified Professional Employer Organization, Professional Employer 
Organization, or other third party) or a different entity within their 
business to file these documents, the name and EIN on all statements and
 forms filed must be consistent and exactly match the EIN the IRS 
assigned to their business.&nbsp;For more information on third-party 
arrangements, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-15">Publication 15, Employer's Tax Guide</a>.

Employers may request a 30-day extension to file Forms W-2 by submitting a complete application on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8809">Form 8809, Application for Extension of Time to File Information Returns</a> by January 31. However, one of the criteria in Section 7 of Form 8809 must be met for the extension to be granted.

Filing Form 8809 does not extend the due date for furnishing wage 
statements to employees. A separate extension of time to furnish Forms 
W-2 to employees must be filed by January 31. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw2w3">Extension of time to furnish Forms W-2 to employees</a> for more information.

Additional information can be found on the instructions for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-2">Forms W-2 &amp; W-3</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/information-return-penalties">Information Return Penalties</a> page at IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON —
 The Internal Revenue Service today urged employers to be aware of the 
January deadline to file Forms W-2 and other wage statements. Filing 
these documents timely helps employers avoid penalties and helps the IRS
 in fraud prevention.A 2015 law made it a permanent requirement that employers file copies of their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-2">Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statements,</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-3">Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements</a>, with the Social Security Administration by January 31.Forms W-2 are normally due to workers by January 31. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-misc">Forms 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Information</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-nec">Forms 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation</a>,
 are also due to taxpayers by January 31. Various other due dates 
related to Form 1099-MISC and Form 1099-NEC, including dates due to the 
IRS, can be found on the form's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1099mec.pdf">instructions</a>&nbsp;PDF at IRS.gov.<h2>Fraud detection</h2>The normal January filing date for wage statements means that the IRS
 can more easily detect refund fraud by verifying income that 
individuals report on their tax returns. Employers can help support that
 process and avoid penalties by filing the forms on time and without 
errors.The IRS and SSA encourage all employers to e-file. It is the 
quickest, most accurate and convenient way to file these forms. For more
 information about e-filing Forms W-2 and a link to the SSA's Business 
Services Online website, visit the SSA's Employer W-2 Filing 
Instructions &amp; Information website at <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/employer/">SSA.gov/employer</a>.<h2>Use same employer identification number on all forms</h2>Employers should ensure the employer identification number (EIN) on 
their wage and tax statements (Forms W-2, W-3, etc.) and their payroll 
tax returns (Forms 941, 943, 944, etc.) match the EIN the IRS assigned 
to their business. They should not use their social security number 
(SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification number (ITIN) on forms that 
ask for an EIN.If an employer used an EIN (including a prior owner's EIN) on their 
payroll tax returns that's different from the EIN reported on their W-3,
 they should review <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw2w3.pdf">General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3</a>&nbsp;PDF, Box h—Other EIN used this year.Filing these forms with inconsistent EINs or using another business's
 EIN may result in penalties and delays in processing an employer's 
returns. Even if an employer uses a third-party payer (such as a 
Certified Professional Employer Organization, Professional Employer 
Organization, or other third party) or a different entity within their 
business to file these documents, the name and EIN on all statements and
 forms filed must be consistent and exactly match the EIN the IRS 
assigned to their business.&nbsp;For more information on third-party 
arrangements, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-15">Publication 15, Employer's Tax Guide</a>.<h2>Extensions</h2>Employers may request a 30-day extension to file Forms W-2 by submitting a complete application on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8809">Form 8809, Application for Extension of Time to File Information Returns</a> by January 31. However, one of the criteria in Section 7 of Form 8809 must be met for the extension to be granted.Filing Form 8809 does not extend the due date for furnishing wage 
statements to employees. A separate extension of time to furnish Forms 
W-2 to employees must be filed by January 31. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw2w3">Extension of time to furnish Forms W-2 to employees</a> for more information.Additional information can be found on the instructions for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-2">Forms W-2 &amp; W-3</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/information-return-penalties">Information Return Penalties</a> page at IRS.gov.

IRS issues wage statement deadline reminder for employers

FRANKLIN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged assault and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 1:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to report of an armed disturbance in the 800 Block of South Olive Street in Ottawa, according to a media release from police.

A man reported a woman later identified as 35-year-old Karly Robinson threatened him with a machete. The man was able to escape the home and contact police who also learned the suspect had access to a handgun and&nbsp; shotgun in addition to the machete.

Officers were unable to contact Robinson and the Ottawa Police Star team responded to the residence. The Star team, that includes deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant at the home to find evidence of the alleged assault.&nbsp;

Just after 5p.m., officers made entry into the home and arrested Robinson.&nbsp; She has a 2017 drug conviction in Franklin County, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642542400226.png" alt="Robinson photo Franklin Co." />
 <figcaption>Robinson photo Franklin Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FRANKLIN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged assault and have a suspect in custody.Just after 1:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to report of an armed disturbance in the 800 Block of South Olive Street in Ottawa, according to a media release from police.A man reported a woman later identified as 35-year-old Karly Robinson threatened him with a machete. The man was able to escape the home and contact police who also learned the suspect had access to a handgun and&nbsp; shotgun in addition to the machete.Officers were unable to contact Robinson and the Ottawa Police Star team responded to the residence. The Star team, that includes deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant at the home to find evidence of the alleged assault.&nbsp;Just after 5p.m., officers made entry into the home and arrested Robinson.&nbsp; She has a 2017 drug conviction in Franklin County, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Kansas woman accused of threatening man with a machete 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the teens who died as 17-year-old Alexis Cervantes Martinez and 16-year-old Mariah Zamora both of Wichita.

Just before 9:30 p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at an apartment complex in the 2700 block of S. Emporia in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Callers to 911 reported hearing multiple gunshots and a loud crash. Officers arrived and located a vehicle that crashed into a storage unit.

A male driver later identified as Cervantes-Martinez, and a passenger identified as Zamora, were unresponsive in the vehicle. Officers removed them from the vehicle and saw that they both had suffered gunshot wounds. Cervantes-Martinez was pronounced deceased on scene.

EMS transported Zamora to an area hospital, where she later died.

Investigators learned that the two had come to the location to take part in a drug transaction that had been set up on social media, according to Macy. During the meeting, multiple shots were fired by a suspect, striking and fatally injuring both victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642506215169.png" alt="Police on the scene of the Monday night investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the Monday night investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the teens who died as 17-year-old Alexis Cervantes Martinez and 16-year-old Mariah Zamora both of Wichita.Just before 9:30 p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at an apartment complex in the 2700 block of S. Emporia in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Callers to 911 reported hearing multiple gunshots and a loud crash. Officers arrived and located a vehicle that crashed into a storage unit.A male driver later identified as Cervantes-Martinez, and a passenger identified as Zamora, were unresponsive in the vehicle. Officers removed them from the vehicle and saw that they both had suffered gunshot wounds. Cervantes-Martinez was pronounced deceased on scene.EMS transported Zamora to an area hospital, where she later died.Investigators learned that the two had come to the location to take part in a drug transaction that had been set up on social media, according to Macy. During the meeting, multiple shots were fired by a suspect, striking and fatally injuring both victims.

Police: Kan. teens died after drug deal set up on social media

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY- A registered Kansas sex offender is under investigation for alleged aggravated assault after an incident with his neighbors.

Just after 9:30 p.m. Jan. 14, deputies were sent to 8296 Shane Hunter Drive on the west side of Assaria, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

It was reported that 37-year-old Christopher Albertson of Assaria had stepped outside his trailer and was yelling at his neighbors. He allegedly was intoxicated and pointed a bow and arrow at the neighbors, according to Soldan.n No one was injured.&nbsp; Deputies arrested Albertson on a requested charge of aggravated assault. He has previous convictions for a criminal restraint and&nbsp;Aggravated Indecent Liberties GE 14less than 16; Fondling, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642255363443.png" alt="Christopher Albertson photo-Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Christopher Albertson photo-Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY- A registered Kansas sex offender is under investigation for alleged aggravated assault after an incident with his neighbors.Just after 9:30 p.m. Jan. 14, deputies were sent to 8296 Shane Hunter Drive on the west side of Assaria, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.It was reported that 37-year-old Christopher Albertson of Assaria had stepped outside his trailer and was yelling at his neighbors. He allegedly was intoxicated and pointed a bow and arrow at the neighbors, according to Soldan.n No one was injured.&nbsp; Deputies arrested Albertson on a requested charge of aggravated assault. He has previous convictions for a criminal restraint and&nbsp;Aggravated Indecent Liberties GE 14less than 16; Fondling, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Kan. sex offender threatened neighbors with bow and arrow

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday quietly launched its website for Americans to request free at-home COVID-19 tests, a day before the site was scheduled to officially go online.

The website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covidtests.gov/" target="_blank">COVIDTests.gov</a>, now includes a link for Americans to&nbsp;<a href="https://special.usps.com/testkits" target="_blank">access an order form run by the U.S. Postal Service</a>. People can order four at-home tests per residential address, to be delivered by the Postal Service. It marks the latest step by President Joe Biden to address criticism of low inventory and long lines for testing during a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the website was in “beta testing” and operating at a “limited capacity” ahead of its official launch. The website will officially launch midmorning Wednesday, Psaki said.

There were isolated reports Tuesday afternoon of issues relating to the website’s address verification tool erroneously enforcing the four-per-household cap on apartment buildings and other multi-unit dwellings. A spokesperson for the Postal Service said in a statement that the error was “occurring in a small percentage of orders.” He said any user needing assistance could file a service request at&nbsp;<a href="https://emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry" target="_blank">emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry</a>&nbsp;or contact a help desk at 1-800-ASK-USPS.

At points Tuesday more than 750,000 people were accessing the website at the same time, according to public government tracking data, but it was not immediately known how many orders were placed.

Psaki added that the administration was anticipating a “bug or two,” but had IT experts from across the government working to get the site ready.

Biden announced last month that the U.S. would purchase 500 million at-home tests to launch the program and on Thursday the president announced that he was doubling the order to 1 billion tests.

But Americans shouldn’t expect a rapid turnaround on the orders and they will have to plan ahead and request the tests well before they meet federal guidelines for when to use a test.

The White House said “tests will typically ship within 7- 12 days of ordering” through USPS, which reports shipping times of 1-3 days for its first-class package service in the continental United States.

Officials emphasized that the federal website is just one way for people to procure COVID-19 tests, and shortages of at-home test kits have shown signs of easing as more supply has hit the market.

Since Saturday, private insurance companies have been required to cover the cost of at-home rapid tests, allowing Americans to be reimbursed for tests they purchase at pharmacies and online retailers. That covers up to eight tests per month.

The technical bugs that embarrassed President Barack Obama’s administration with the 2013 rollout of the HealthCare.gov website should not be a problem for the COVID-19 test kit website in part because it is so much simpler, said Alex Howard, director of the Digital Democracy Project, an open government watchdog group. Howard said the new website is also simpler than the Vaccines.gov website – for finding nearby vaccine clinics and pharmacies – that was already successfully launched by the Biden administration last year.

Howard said the task of requesting someone’s address is a straightforward one, especially when compared with the Obama-era health insurance website that involved shopping for different health plans and authenticating a secure transaction. The challenge of hosting a website application under high demand is also a “solved problem” in the private sector, he said.

“My expectation is the U.S. Digital Service and any vendors they work with will be able to pull this off,” he said. “It’s the least hard part of this.”

Two tech companies that frequently work with the federal government – Microsoft and Accenture – on Tuesday referred questions about the website to the Postal Service. Amazon, a major cloud provider for U.S. agencies, didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Howard said the trickiest part of the project is not the website but the physical distribution of kits.

“I don’t recall the last time the federal government sent something like this to everyone that wasn’t a tax document,” he said.

Likely challenges include multiple people ordering from the same apartment building address, or how to handle people who try to game the system and order extra.

“I would like my fellow Americans to be a more trustworthy lot,” said Howard, but given other debates over COVID-19 protocols and response, “that’s not going to fly very well.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday quietly launched its website for Americans to request free at-home COVID-19 tests, a day before the site was scheduled to officially launch. 

The website, <a href="https://www.covidtests.gov/">COVIDTests.gov ,</a> now includes a link for Americans to order four tests per residential address, to be delivered by the Postal Service.

It marks the latest step by President Joe Biden to address criticism of low inventory and long lines for testing during a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron varian. A White House official website is “currently in its beta phase” and operating at a “limited capacity ahead of its official launch” on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal website where Americans can request free COVID-19 tests will begin accepting orders on Wednesday as the White House looks to address nationwide shortages, but supplies will be limited to just four free tests per home.

Starting on Jan. 19, the website COVIDTests.gov will provide tests at no cost, including no shipping fee, the White House announced Friday.

As he faced criticism for low inventory and long lines for testing, President Joe Biden announced last month that the U.S. would purchase 500 million at-home tests to launch the program and on Thursday the president announced that he was doubling the order to 1 billion tests.

But Americans shouldn't expect a rapid turn-around on the orders and they will have to plan ahead and request the tests well before they meet federal guidelines for when to use a test.

The White House said “tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering" through the U.S. Postal Service, which reports shipping times of 1-3 days for its first-class package service in the continental United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at-home testing when experiencing COVID-19 systems including fever, cough, sore throat, respiratory symptoms and muscle aches, five days after a potential COVID-19 exposure, or as part of test-to-stay protocols in schools and workplaces.

“Certainly if you’re going to gather with family, if you’re going to a gathering where people are immunocompromised or where they’re elderly or where you have people who might be unvaccinated or poorly protected from a vaccine that might be an opportunity you want to test,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director.

Officials emphasized that the federal website is just one way for people to procure COVID-19 tests. Starting on Saturday, private insurance companies will be required to cover the cost of at-home rapid tests, allowing Americans to be reimbursed for tests they purchase at pharmacies and online retailers. That covers up to eight tests per month.

The White House said the four-test limit on website orders will be applied to each residential address and will apply to the first tranche of 500 million tests. It estimates that the cost of purchasing and distributing the first block of tests at $4 billion.

Officials said they are cognizant that any launch of a website carries some risks — and memories of the disastrous roll-out during the Obama administration of Healthcare.gov are still fresh — but said they believe they are well-positioned to handle expected demand for tests.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642104330616.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday quietly launched its website for Americans to request free at-home COVID-19 tests, a day before the site was scheduled to officially go online.The website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covidtests.gov/" target="_blank">COVIDTests.gov</a>, now includes a link for Americans to&nbsp;<a href="https://special.usps.com/testkits" target="_blank">access an order form run by the U.S. Postal Service</a>. People can order four at-home tests per residential address, to be delivered by the Postal Service. It marks the latest step by President Joe Biden to address criticism of low inventory and long lines for testing during a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the website was in “beta testing” and operating at a “limited capacity” ahead of its official launch. The website will officially launch midmorning Wednesday, Psaki said.There were isolated reports Tuesday afternoon of issues relating to the website’s address verification tool erroneously enforcing the four-per-household cap on apartment buildings and other multi-unit dwellings. A spokesperson for the Postal Service said in a statement that the error was “occurring in a small percentage of orders.” He said any user needing assistance could file a service request at&nbsp;<a href="https://emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry" target="_blank">emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry</a>&nbsp;or contact a help desk at 1-800-ASK-USPS.At points Tuesday more than 750,000 people were accessing the website at the same time, according to public government tracking data, but it was not immediately known how many orders were placed.Psaki added that the administration was anticipating a “bug or two,” but had IT experts from across the government working to get the site ready.Biden announced last month that the U.S. would purchase 500 million at-home tests to launch the program and on Thursday the president announced that he was doubling the order to 1 billion tests.But Americans shouldn’t expect a rapid turnaround on the orders and they will have to plan ahead and request the tests well before they meet federal guidelines for when to use a test.The White House said “tests will typically ship within 7- 12 days of ordering” through USPS, which reports shipping times of 1-3 days for its first-class package service in the continental United States.Officials emphasized that the federal website is just one way for people to procure COVID-19 tests, and shortages of at-home test kits have shown signs of easing as more supply has hit the market.Since Saturday, private insurance companies have been required to cover the cost of at-home rapid tests, allowing Americans to be reimbursed for tests they purchase at pharmacies and online retailers. That covers up to eight tests per month.The technical bugs that embarrassed President Barack Obama’s administration with the 2013 rollout of the HealthCare.gov website should not be a problem for the COVID-19 test kit website in part because it is so much simpler, said Alex Howard, director of the Digital Democracy Project, an open government watchdog group. Howard said the new website is also simpler than the Vaccines.gov website – for finding nearby vaccine clinics and pharmacies – that was already successfully launched by the Biden administration last year.Howard said the task of requesting someone’s address is a straightforward one, especially when compared with the Obama-era health insurance website that involved shopping for different health plans and authenticating a secure transaction. The challenge of hosting a website application under high demand is also a “solved problem” in the private sector, he said.“My expectation is the U.S. Digital Service and any vendors they work with will be able to pull this off,” he said. “It’s the least hard part of this.”Two tech companies that frequently work with the federal government – Microsoft and Accenture – on Tuesday referred questions about the website to the Postal Service. Amazon, a major cloud provider for U.S. agencies, didn’t respond to requests for comment.Howard said the trickiest part of the project is not the website but the physical distribution of kits.“I don’t recall the last time the federal government sent something like this to everyone that wasn’t a tax document,” he said.Likely challenges include multiple people ordering from the same apartment building address, or how to handle people who try to game the system and order extra.“I would like my fellow Americans to be a more trustworthy lot,” said Howard, but given other debates over COVID-19 protocols and response, “that’s not going to fly very well.”--------------WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday quietly launched its website for Americans to request free at-home COVID-19 tests, a day before the site was scheduled to officially launch. The website, <a href="https://www.covidtests.gov/">COVIDTests.gov ,</a> now includes a link for Americans to order four tests per residential address, to be delivered by the Postal Service. It marks the latest step by President Joe Biden to address criticism of low inventory and long lines for testing during a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron varian. A White House official website is “currently in its beta phase” and operating at a “limited capacity ahead of its official launch” on Wednesday.----------WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal website where Americans can request free COVID-19 tests will begin accepting orders on Wednesday as the White House looks to address nationwide shortages, but supplies will be limited to just four free tests per home.Starting on Jan. 19, the website COVIDTests.gov will provide tests at no cost, including no shipping fee, the White House announced Friday.As he faced criticism for low inventory and long lines for testing, President Joe Biden announced last month that the U.S. would purchase 500 million at-home tests to launch the program and on Thursday the president announced that he was doubling the order to 1 billion tests.But Americans shouldn't expect a rapid turn-around on the orders and they will have to plan ahead and request the tests well before they meet federal guidelines for when to use a test.The White House said “tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering" through the U.S. Postal Service, which reports shipping times of 1-3 days for its first-class package service in the continental United States.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at-home testing when experiencing COVID-19 systems including fever, cough, sore throat, respiratory symptoms and muscle aches, five days after a potential COVID-19 exposure, or as part of test-to-stay protocols in schools and workplaces.“Certainly if you’re going to gather with family, if you’re going to a gathering where people are immunocompromised or where they’re elderly or where you have people who might be unvaccinated or poorly protected from a vaccine that might be an opportunity you want to test,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director.Officials emphasized that the federal website is just one way for people to procure COVID-19 tests. Starting on Saturday, private insurance companies will be required to cover the cost of at-home rapid tests, allowing Americans to be reimbursed for tests they purchase at pharmacies and online retailers. That covers up to eight tests per month.The White House said the four-test limit on website orders will be applied to each residential address and will apply to the first tranche of 500 million tests. It estimates that the cost of purchasing and distributing the first block of tests at $4 billion.Officials said they are cognizant that any launch of a website carries some risks — and memories of the disastrous roll-out during the Obama administration of Healthcare.gov are still fresh — but said they believe they are well-positioned to handle expected demand for tests.

Biden's free COVID-19 test request website now available 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former Roman Catholic priest who was named in dozens of child sexual abuse lawsuits was found dead in Kansas City on Sunday, police said.

Emergency responders found Thomas Reardon, 80, a former priest in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, dead Sunday at the Brookdale Wornall Place, a senior living facility where he lived.

Police said there was no evidence of suspicious circumstances or foul play in Reardon's death.

Reardon resigned as a priest in 1989 and was later removed by the diocese from the priesthood.

In 2019, he was among 24 priests whose names the diocese released as being credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.

Reardon was among 12 current and former priests named in a sexual abuse case involving 47 plaintiffs that the diocese settled for $10 million in 2008, the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article257431517.html">reported</a>.

He also was included in a $10 million settlement by the diocese in 2014 that covered 32 lawsuits involving 14 current and former priests facing allegations of sexual abuse over three decades.

Rebecca Randles, a Kansas City attorney who has filed about 30 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by Reardon, said that he “left behind a legacy of loss and shattered lives.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former Roman Catholic priest who was named in dozens of child sexual abuse lawsuits was found dead in Kansas City on Sunday, police said.Emergency responders found Thomas Reardon, 80, a former priest in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, dead Sunday at the Brookdale Wornall Place, a senior living facility where he lived.Police said there was no evidence of suspicious circumstances or foul play in Reardon's death.Reardon resigned as a priest in 1989 and was later removed by the diocese from the priesthood.In 2019, he was among 24 priests whose names the diocese released as being credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.Reardon was among 12 current and former priests named in a sexual abuse case involving 47 plaintiffs that the diocese settled for $10 million in 2008, the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article257431517.html">reported</a>.He also was included in a $10 million settlement by the diocese in 2014 that covered 32 lawsuits involving 14 current and former priests facing allegations of sexual abuse over three decades.Rebecca Randles, a Kansas City attorney who has filed about 30 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by Reardon, said that he “left behind a legacy of loss and shattered lives.”

Former priest named in dozens of child abuse lawsuits dies

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are asking the public for help in locating a stolen vehicle that investigators could be related to the homicide that occurred Friday evening aboard an Amtrak train near Kansas City, according to a media release from Lee's Summit Police.

 The vehicle is a gray, 2015 Dodge Charger, four door sedan, MO license ED6-M0U; last 4 of the VIN are 9360.

 The vehicle has very loud exhaust, tinted windows and no front license plate.The vehicle was taken Friday night around 9p.m. in an armed car jacking behind a business in downtown Lee's Summit. 

 The suspect in the case is a black male, late 20's - early 30's.  If you see the vehicle, do not approach and call 911 immediately.  If you have information that would be helpful, please call Det. Ide at 816-969-1668.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting on an Amtrak near Kansas City have identified the victim as&nbsp; 30 year old Richie T. Aaron Jr. of Independence, Missouri, according to Lee's Summit Police.

Investigators were working to establish the timeline and events that led up to the shooting aboard the train just after 9p.m. Friday as it was stopped at the Lee’s Summit station.  The initial investigation revealed that the train car where the shooting occurred did not have a large number of passengers and the passengers that heard the gunshots did not immediately recognize that a person had been shot. 

 The suspect in the case, also a passenger on the train fled from the train and the area. Aaron, Jr. was discovered after the train left the Lee’s Summit station and the next available location for the train to stop was the Independence station where emergency medical staff were immediately called to assist him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives have interviewed passengers on the train to develop a suspect in the case.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY (AP) — One person is dead following a shooting Friday night on an Amtrak train that was stopped at a Missouri station, police said.

Police in Independence, Missouri, were called around 9:15 p.m. to the Amtrak station where they found a person who had been shot while the train had been stopped earlier at the Lee's Summit station, said Sgt. Chris Depue, a spokesman for the Lee’s Summit Police Department. Police are looking for the suspected shooter who is believed to have fled in Lee's Summit, he said.

The train traveled north to Independence where life-saving efforts were attempted before the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim's name is being withheld until the family is notified.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642418758538.png" alt="police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are asking the public for help in locating a stolen vehicle that investigators could be related to the homicide that occurred Friday evening aboard an Amtrak train near Kansas City, according to a media release from Lee's Summit Police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642535853515.png" alt="Photo Lee's Summit Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Lee's Summit Police</figcaption>
 </figure> The vehicle is a gray, 2015 Dodge Charger, four door sedan, MO license ED6-M0U; last 4 of the VIN are 9360.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642543101551.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> The vehicle has very loud exhaust, tinted windows and no front license plate.The vehicle was taken Friday night around 9p.m. in an armed car jacking behind a business in downtown Lee's Summit. The suspect in the case is a black male, late 20's - early 30's. If you see the vehicle, do not approach and call 911 immediately. If you have information that would be helpful, please call Det. Ide at 816-969-1668.--------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642418758538.png" alt="Search for the suspect continues -photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>Search for the suspect continues -photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting on an Amtrak near Kansas City have identified the victim as&nbsp; 30 year old Richie T. Aaron Jr. of Independence, Missouri, according to Lee's Summit Police.Investigators were working to establish the timeline and events that led up to the shooting aboard the train just after 9p.m. Friday as it was stopped at the Lee’s Summit station. The initial investigation revealed that the train car where the shooting occurred did not have a large number of passengers and the passengers that heard the gunshots did not immediately recognize that a person had been shot. The suspect in the case, also a passenger on the train fled from the train and the area. Aaron, Jr. was discovered after the train left the Lee’s Summit station and the next available location for the train to stop was the Independence station where emergency medical staff were immediately called to assist him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.Detectives have interviewed passengers on the train to develop a suspect in the case.&nbsp;-----------------KANSAS CITY (AP) — One person is dead following a shooting Friday night on an Amtrak train that was stopped at a Missouri station, police said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642418691221.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Police in Independence, Missouri, were called around 9:15 p.m. to the Amtrak station where they found a person who had been shot while the train had been stopped earlier at the Lee's Summit station, said Sgt. Chris Depue, a spokesman for the Lee’s Summit Police Department. Police are looking for the suspected shooter who is believed to have fled in Lee's Summit, he said.The train traveled north to Independence where life-saving efforts were attempted before the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.The victim's name is being withheld until the family is notified.

Police search for suspect in carjacking after KC-area Amtrak killing

WASHINGTON (AP) —AT&amp;T and Verizon will delay launching new wireless service near key airports after the nation's largest airlines said the service would interfere with aircraft technology and cause massive flight disruptions.

The decision from the telecommunication companies arrived Tuesday as the Biden administration tried to broker a settlement between the telecom companies and the airlines over a rollout of new 5G service, scheduled for Wednesday.

Airlines want the new service to be banned within two miles of&nbsp;<a href="https://techxplore.com/tags/airport/">airport</a>&nbsp;runways.

AT&amp;T said it would delay turning on new cell towers around runways at some airports—it did not say how many or for how long—and work with&nbsp;<a href="https://techxplore.com/tags/federal+regulators/">federal regulators</a>&nbsp;to settle the dispute.

A short time later, Verizon said it will launch its 5G network but added, "we have voluntarily decided to limit our 5G network around airports." It blamed airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration, saying they "have not been able to fully resolve navigating 5G around airports" although it is working in more than 40 countries.

The announcements came after the&nbsp;<a href="https://techxplore.com/tags/airline+industry/">airline industry</a>&nbsp;issued a dire warning about the impact a new type of 5G service would have on flights. CEOs of the nation's largest airlines said interference with aircraft systems would be worse than they originally thought, making many flights impossible.

"To be blunt, the nation's commerce will grind to a halt" unless the service is blocked near major airports, the CEOs said in a letter Monday to federal officials including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has previously taken the airlines' side in the matter.

President Joe Biden said the agreements by AT&amp;T and Verizon "will avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery, while allowing more than 90% of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled." He said the administration will keep working with both sides to reach a permanent solution around key airports.

The new high-speed wireless service&nbsp;<a href="https://techxplore.com/news/2022-01-airlines-5g-upend-week.html">uses a segment of the radio spectrum</a>, C-Band, that is close to that used by altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground. Altimeters are used to help pilots land when visibility is poor, and they link to other systems on planes.

AT&amp;T and Verizon say their equipment will not interfere with aircraft electronics, and that the technology is being safely used in many other countries.

However, the CEOs of 10 passenger and cargo airlines including American, Delta, United and Southwest say that 5G will be more disruptive than earlier thought because dozens of large airports that were to have buffer zones to prevent 5G interference with aircraft will still be subject to of flight restrictions announced last week by the FAA. They add that those restrictions won't be limited to times when visibility is poor.

"Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded. This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays," the CEOs said.

The showdown between two industries and their rival regulators—the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission, which oversees radio spectrum—threatens to further disrupt the aviation industry, which has been hammered by the pandemic for nearly two years.

This was a crisis that was years in the making.

The airline industry and the FAA say that they have tried to raise alarms about potential interference from 5G C-Band but the FCC ignored them.

The telecoms, the FCC and their supporters argue that C-Band and aircraft altimeters operate far enough apart on the radio spectrum to avoid interference. They also say that the aviation industry has known about C-Band technology for several years but did nothing to prepare—airlines chose not to upgrade altimeters that might be subject to interference, and the FAA failed to begin surveying equipment on planes until the last few weeks.

After rival T-Mobile got what is called mid-band spectrum from its acquisition of Sprint, AT&amp;T and Verizon spent tens of billions of dollars for C-Band spectrum in a government auction run by the FCC to shore up their own mid-band needs, then spent billions more to build out new networks that they planned to launch in early December.

In response to concern by the airlines, however, they initially agreed to delay the service until early January.

Late on New Year's Eve, Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson asked the companies for another delay, warning of "unacceptable disruption" to air&nbsp;<a href="https://techxplore.com/tags/service/">service</a>.

AT&amp;T CEO John Stankey and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg rejected the request in a letter that had a scolding, even mocking tone. But they had second thoughts after intervention that reached the White House. The CEOs agreed to the second, shorter delay but implied that there would be no more compromises.

In that deal, the telecoms agreed to reduce the power of their networks near 50 airports for six months, similar to wireless restrictions in France. In exchange, the FAA and the Transportation Department promised not to further oppose the rollout of 5G C-Band.

Biden praised the deal, but the airlines weren't satisfied with the agreement, regarding it as a victory for the telecoms that didn't adequately address their concerns.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The airline industry is raising the stakes in a showdown with AT&amp;T and Verizon over plans to launch new 5G wireless service this week, warning that thousands of flights could be grounded or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports.

CEOs of the nation’s largest airlines say that interference from the wireless service on a key instrument on planes is worse than they originally thought.

“To be blunt, the nation’s commerce will grind to a halt” unless the service is blocked near major airports, the CEOs said in a letter Monday to federal officials including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has previously taken the airlines’ side in the matter.

AT&amp;T and Verizon plan to activate their new 5G wireless service Wednesday after two previous delays from the original plan for an early December rollout.

The new high-speed 5G service uses a segment of the radio spectrum that is close to that used by altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground.

Two weeks ago, the companies struck a deal with the Federal Aviation Administration to delay the service for two more weeks and reduce the power of 5G transmitters near airports. That delay ends Wednesday.

AT&amp;T and Verizon say their equipment will not interfere with aircraft electronics, and that the technology is being safely used in many other countries. Critics of the airline industry say the carriers had several years to upgrade altimeters that might be subject to interference from 5G.

The CEOs of 10 passenger and cargo airlines including American, Delta, United and Southwest said 5G will be more disruptive than they originally thought because dozens of large airports that were to have buffer zones to prevent 5G interference with aircraft will still be subject to flight restrictions announced last week by the FAA, and because those restrictions won’t be limited to times when visibility is poor.

“Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded. This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays,” the CEOs said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642515799637.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas City International Airport" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas City International Airport</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —AT&amp;T and Verizon will delay launching new wireless service near key airports after the nation's largest airlines said the service would interfere with aircraft technology and cause massive flight disruptions.The decision from the telecommunication companies arrived Tuesday as the Biden administration tried to broker a settlement between the telecom companies and the airlines over a rollout of new 5G service, scheduled for Wednesday.Airlines want the new service to be banned within two miles of&nbsp;<a href="https://techxplore.com/tags/airport/">airport</a>&nbsp;runways.AT&amp;T said it would delay turning on new cell towers around runways at some airports—it did not say how many or for how long—and work with&nbsp;<a href="https://techxplore.com/tags/federal+regulators/">federal regulators</a>&nbsp;to settle the dispute.A short time later, Verizon said it will launch its 5G network but added, "we have voluntarily decided to limit our 5G network around airports." It blamed airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration, saying they "have not been able to fully resolve navigating 5G around airports" although it is working in more than 40 countries.The announcements came after the&nbsp;<a href="https://techxplore.com/tags/airline+industry/">airline industry</a>&nbsp;issued a dire warning about the impact a new type of 5G service would have on flights. CEOs of the nation's largest airlines said interference with aircraft systems would be worse than they originally thought, making many flights impossible."To be blunt, the nation's commerce will grind to a halt" unless the service is blocked near major airports, the CEOs said in a letter Monday to federal officials including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has previously taken the airlines' side in the matter.President Joe Biden said the agreements by AT&amp;T and Verizon "will avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery, while allowing more than 90% of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled." He said the administration will keep working with both sides to reach a permanent solution around key airports.The new high-speed wireless service&nbsp;<a href="https://techxplore.com/news/2022-01-airlines-5g-upend-week.html">uses a segment of the radio spectrum</a>, C-Band, that is close to that used by altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground. Altimeters are used to help pilots land when visibility is poor, and they link to other systems on planes.AT&amp;T and Verizon say their equipment will not interfere with aircraft electronics, and that the technology is being safely used in many other countries.However, the CEOs of 10 passenger and cargo airlines including American, Delta, United and Southwest say that 5G will be more disruptive than earlier thought because dozens of large airports that were to have buffer zones to prevent 5G interference with aircraft will still be subject to of flight restrictions announced last week by the FAA. They add that those restrictions won't be limited to times when visibility is poor."Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded. This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays," the CEOs said.The showdown between two industries and their rival regulators—the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission, which oversees radio spectrum—threatens to further disrupt the aviation industry, which has been hammered by the pandemic for nearly two years.This was a crisis that was years in the making.The airline industry and the FAA say that they have tried to raise alarms about potential interference from 5G C-Band but the FCC ignored them.The telecoms, the FCC and their supporters argue that C-Band and aircraft altimeters operate far enough apart on the radio spectrum to avoid interference. They also say that the aviation industry has known about C-Band technology for several years but did nothing to prepare—airlines chose not to upgrade altimeters that might be subject to interference, and the FAA failed to begin surveying equipment on planes until the last few weeks.After rival T-Mobile got what is called mid-band spectrum from its acquisition of Sprint, AT&amp;T and Verizon spent tens of billions of dollars for C-Band spectrum in a government auction run by the FCC to shore up their own mid-band needs, then spent billions more to build out new networks that they planned to launch in early December.In response to concern by the airlines, however, they initially agreed to delay the service until early January.Late on New Year's Eve, Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson asked the companies for another delay, warning of "unacceptable disruption" to air&nbsp;<a href="https://techxplore.com/tags/service/">service</a>.AT&amp;T CEO John Stankey and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg rejected the request in a letter that had a scolding, even mocking tone. But they had second thoughts after intervention that reached the White House. The CEOs agreed to the second, shorter delay but implied that there would be no more compromises.In that deal, the telecoms agreed to reduce the power of their networks near 50 airports for six months, similar to wireless restrictions in France. In exchange, the FAA and the Transportation Department promised not to further oppose the rollout of 5G C-Band.Biden praised the deal, but the airlines weren't satisfied with the agreement, regarding it as a victory for the telecoms that didn't adequately address their concerns.------------KANSAS CITY (AP) —The airline industry is raising the stakes in a showdown with AT&amp;T and Verizon over plans to launch new 5G wireless service this week, warning that thousands of flights could be grounded or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports.CEOs of the nation’s largest airlines say that interference from the wireless service on a key instrument on planes is worse than they originally thought.“To be blunt, the nation’s commerce will grind to a halt” unless the service is blocked near major airports, the CEOs said in a letter Monday to federal officials including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has previously taken the airlines’ side in the matter.AT&amp;T and Verizon plan to activate their new 5G wireless service Wednesday after two previous delays from the original plan for an early December rollout.The new high-speed 5G service uses a segment of the radio spectrum that is close to that used by altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground.Two weeks ago, the companies struck a deal with the Federal Aviation Administration to delay the service for two more weeks and reduce the power of 5G transmitters near airports. That delay ends Wednesday.AT&amp;T and Verizon say their equipment will not interfere with aircraft electronics, and that the technology is being safely used in many other countries. Critics of the airline industry say the carriers had several years to upgrade altimeters that might be subject to interference from 5G.The CEOs of 10 passenger and cargo airlines including American, Delta, United and Southwest said 5G will be more disruptive than they originally thought because dozens of large airports that were to have buffer zones to prevent 5G interference with aircraft will still be subject to flight restrictions announced last week by the FAA, and because those restrictions won’t be limited to times when visibility is poor.“Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded. This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays,” the CEOs said.

AT&T, Verizon pause some new 5G after airlines raise alarm

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor says he can't file charges over the death of a 17-year-old who became unresponsive while being restrained after an altercation with staff at a Wichita juvenile center in September.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett made the announcement in a Tuesday news conference.

 Cedric Lofton died at a hospital two days after the altercation at the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center.

 A December autopsy report contradicted an earlier, preliminary finding that the teenager hadn’t suffered life-threatening injuries. The autopsy ruled the death a homicide. Bennett says he state’s “stand your ground” law prevents him from bringing any charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642528923591.png" alt="Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett during Tuesday's press conference" />
 <figcaption>Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett during Tuesday's press conference</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor says he can't file charges over the death of a 17-year-old who became unresponsive while being restrained after an altercation with staff at a Wichita juvenile center in September.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642531983328.png" alt="From the final report of the District Attorney" />
 <figcaption>From the final report of the District Attorney</figcaption>
 </figure>Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett made the announcement in a Tuesday news conference. Cedric Lofton died at a hospital two days after the altercation at the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642532241025.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> A December autopsy report contradicted an earlier, preliminary finding that the teenager hadn’t suffered life-threatening injuries. The autopsy ruled the death a homicide. Bennett says he state’s “stand your ground” law prevents him from bringing any charges.

Prosecutor: No charges in Kansas teen’s custody death

MIAMI COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10a.m. Tuesday in Miami County.

&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Edward J. Danford, 59, Iola, was southbound on U.S. 169 just south of Ten Mile Creek. The truck traveled off the left side of the road, across the median, across the northbound lanes into the ditch and came to rest against a tree.

Danford was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

MIAMI COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10a.m. Tuesday in Miami County.&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Edward J. Danford, 59, Iola, was southbound on U.S. 169 just south of Ten Mile Creek. The truck traveled off the left side of the road, across the median, across the northbound lanes into the ditch and came to rest against a tree.Danford was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after semi crash into tree

A Salina man who wanted police to remove his roommate ended up being arrested during an alleged incident over the weekend.

Just after 2p.m. Jan. 15, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Baker Street to remove a person from a residence, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

Upon arrival, they met with Andrew Marquez, 62, of Salina, who wanted his 47-year-old male roommate removed from the residence. According to Forrester, Marquez was highly intoxicated.

While an officer was speaking with the two men, Marquez went to the kitchen and returned holding a large kitchen knife and allegedly threatened both the officer and the roommate, Forrester reported.

The officer ordered Marquez to drop the knife at gunpoint, and he eventually complied and was taken into custody without incident.

Marquez was arrested on requested charges of Aggravated assault and Aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642524694421.png" alt="Andrew Marquez -Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Andrew Marquez -Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA Salina man who wanted police to remove his roommate ended up being arrested during an alleged incident over the weekend.Just after 2p.m. Jan. 15, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Baker Street to remove a person from a residence, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.Upon arrival, they met with Andrew Marquez, 62, of Salina, who wanted his 47-year-old male roommate removed from the residence. According to Forrester, Marquez was highly intoxicated.While an officer was speaking with the two men, Marquez went to the kitchen and returned holding a large kitchen knife and allegedly threatened both the officer and the roommate, Forrester reported.The officer ordered Marquez to drop the knife at gunpoint, and he eventually complied and was taken into custody without incident.Marquez was arrested on requested charges of Aggravated assault and Aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer.

Police: Kan. man allegedly threatened officer with a knife

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two brand-new COVID-19 pills that were supposed to be an important weapon against the pandemic in the U.S. are in short supply and have played little role in the fight against the omicron wave of infections.

The problem is that production is not yet at full strength and that the pill considered to be far superior, Pfizer’s, takes six to eight months to manufacture.

While the supply is expected to improve dramatically in the coming months, doctors are clamoring for the pills now, not just because omicron is causing an explosion of cases but because two antibody drugs that were once the go-to treatments don’t work as well against the variant.

“This should be a really joyous time because we now have highly effective antiviral pills,” said Erin McCreary, a pharmacist and administrator at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “Instead, this feels like the hardest and most chaotic stretch of the pandemic.”

The pills — and other COVID-19 drugs, for that matter — are being carefully rationed, reserved for the highest-risk patients.

“January is going to be a terrible month with a million cases a day,” said University of North Carolina virologist Dr. Myron Cohen. “Most people will do perfectly well, but we have to select out the people who won’t and give them the drugs we have available.”

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the two pills from Pfizer and Merck&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-pfizer-medication-f5f65e7e61d6aa9c7dfa193053e8878a">late last month</a>&nbsp;based on studies showing they cut the risk of severe disease and death when given shortly after symptoms appear. They are the first COVID-19 treatments patients can take at home, and thus could reduce the burden on hospitals.

The U.S. didn’t make the kind of mass purchases in advance that it did with vaccines.

Because of the time it takes to manufacture Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid, the company says it can supply only about 250,000 courses of the treatment by the end of this month.

The U.S. has ordered enough Paxlovid to treat 20 million people, but the first 10 million orders won’t be delivered until June.

White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said this week that the government collaborated with Pfizer to help speed up development of the pill by several months, and that officials continue to work with the company to look for ways to boost production.

Pfizer said it is adding capacity: “We expect to use our strong manufacturing capabilities and our extensive supplier network to continue to improve output rapidly.”

Merck’s pill, molnupiravir, is easier to manufacture and available in greater quantities.

But final testing showed it was far less effective than Pfizer’s pill and carried significant risks, including the potential for birth defects when taken by pregnant women. As a result, it is considered the last-choice option under federal guidelines.

Merck said it has delivered 900,000 courses of the drug and is on track to ship all 3 million ordered by the U.S. by the end of the month.

Since last month, the government has sent states enough Pfizer pills to treat 164,000 people, allocating them by population. That approach is coming under fire from some states with heavier caseloads.

The amount allocated to New York — enough to treat about 20,000 people — is just not enough, said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett.

“We need more of these drugs in order to make them alter the course of the pandemic and reduce hospitalization,” she said.

State guidelines generally recommend doctors give priority for the drugs to those at the highest risk, including cancer patients, transplant recipients and people who have lung disease or are pregnant. New York’s guidelines also recommend prioritizing certain racial and ethnic minorities, given their higher rates of severe illness and death.

States are distributing the pills differently.

In Michigan, all initial shipments went to 10 pharmacies in the hardest-hit areas. Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas and many other states have distributed the pills more widely, so that at least one pharmacy in each county carries the drug.

Despite the strict prescribing guidelines, some patients have been able to get the pills through luck and persistence.

Craige Campbell, a website manager from Desert Hot Springs, California, began leaving messages with his doctor immediately after testing positive for COVID-19 and developing a 101-degree fever. Despite having no underlying health conditions, he was soon able to get a prescription.

The only pharmacy dispensing the drug was more than an hour’s drive away, so Campbell had a friend pick it up for him.

“I felt a bit privileged in a way,” he said. “The odds that it would land in my plate in the right amount of time were pretty extraordinary.”

At the same time, there is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/omicron-may-sideline-two-covid-antibody-drugs-ffab32bd6e4e6b4822360b34da1785f0">shortage of antibody medications</a>, the infused or injected drugs that can head off death and hospitalization. Only one of them, from GlaxoSmithKline, appears effective against omicron, and it, too, is being rationed.

Federal officials are limiting shipments of it to about 50,000 doses per week. This week, the government announced it is buying 600,000 more doses, on top of 400,000 purchased in November.

At the UPMC hospital system in Pennsylvania, the staff can treat fewer than 1,000 patients per week with antibodies, down from as many as 4,000 earlier in the pandemic.

Doctors and nurses around the U.S. have developed complex means of deciding who should get the scarce medications, based on patients’ symptoms, their underlying medical risks, where they live and whether they are healthy enough to travel for an infusion.

“What do we have on hand?” is the first question, said University of Maryland Medical Center’s Dr. Greg Schrank. “Among those therapies, what’s the most effective and how can we direct it to the people that we know are of greatest risk?”

The increasingly complicated treatment picture comes as exhausted, frustrated hospital workers try to manage rising admissions.

As of Sunday, nearly 128,000 Americans were in the hospital with COVID-19, surpassing the all-time high of around 125,000 last January. While fewer COVID-19 patients now require intensive care, the surge is pushing hospitals to the breaking point.

Considering that threat, Pfizer’s pill arrived just in time, Schrank said.

“It’s not going to turn the tide on the total number of cases, but it could really help dampen the impact on hospitals,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633958564035.png" alt="The antiviral pills aren’t for everyone who gets a positive test.-photo courtesy Merck" />
 <figcaption>The antiviral pills aren’t for everyone who gets a positive test.-photo courtesy Merck</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Two brand-new COVID-19 pills that were supposed to be an important weapon against the pandemic in the U.S. are in short supply and have played little role in the fight against the omicron wave of infections.The problem is that production is not yet at full strength and that the pill considered to be far superior, Pfizer’s, takes six to eight months to manufacture.While the supply is expected to improve dramatically in the coming months, doctors are clamoring for the pills now, not just because omicron is causing an explosion of cases but because two antibody drugs that were once the go-to treatments don’t work as well against the variant.“This should be a really joyous time because we now have highly effective antiviral pills,” said Erin McCreary, a pharmacist and administrator at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “Instead, this feels like the hardest and most chaotic stretch of the pandemic.”The pills — and other COVID-19 drugs, for that matter — are being carefully rationed, reserved for the highest-risk patients.“January is going to be a terrible month with a million cases a day,” said University of North Carolina virologist Dr. Myron Cohen. “Most people will do perfectly well, but we have to select out the people who won’t and give them the drugs we have available.”The Food and Drug Administration authorized the two pills from Pfizer and Merck&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-pfizer-medication-f5f65e7e61d6aa9c7dfa193053e8878a">late last month</a>&nbsp;based on studies showing they cut the risk of severe disease and death when given shortly after symptoms appear. They are the first COVID-19 treatments patients can take at home, and thus could reduce the burden on hospitals.The U.S. didn’t make the kind of mass purchases in advance that it did with vaccines.Because of the time it takes to manufacture Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid, the company says it can supply only about 250,000 courses of the treatment by the end of this month.The U.S. has ordered enough Paxlovid to treat 20 million people, but the first 10 million orders won’t be delivered until June.White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said this week that the government collaborated with Pfizer to help speed up development of the pill by several months, and that officials continue to work with the company to look for ways to boost production.Pfizer said it is adding capacity: “We expect to use our strong manufacturing capabilities and our extensive supplier network to continue to improve output rapidly.”Merck’s pill, molnupiravir, is easier to manufacture and available in greater quantities.But final testing showed it was far less effective than Pfizer’s pill and carried significant risks, including the potential for birth defects when taken by pregnant women. As a result, it is considered the last-choice option under federal guidelines.Merck said it has delivered 900,000 courses of the drug and is on track to ship all 3 million ordered by the U.S. by the end of the month.Since last month, the government has sent states enough Pfizer pills to treat 164,000 people, allocating them by population. That approach is coming under fire from some states with heavier caseloads.The amount allocated to New York — enough to treat about 20,000 people — is just not enough, said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett.“We need more of these drugs in order to make them alter the course of the pandemic and reduce hospitalization,” she said.State guidelines generally recommend doctors give priority for the drugs to those at the highest risk, including cancer patients, transplant recipients and people who have lung disease or are pregnant. New York’s guidelines also recommend prioritizing certain racial and ethnic minorities, given their higher rates of severe illness and death.States are distributing the pills differently.In Michigan, all initial shipments went to 10 pharmacies in the hardest-hit areas. Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas and many other states have distributed the pills more widely, so that at least one pharmacy in each county carries the drug.Despite the strict prescribing guidelines, some patients have been able to get the pills through luck and persistence.Craige Campbell, a website manager from Desert Hot Springs, California, began leaving messages with his doctor immediately after testing positive for COVID-19 and developing a 101-degree fever. Despite having no underlying health conditions, he was soon able to get a prescription.The only pharmacy dispensing the drug was more than an hour’s drive away, so Campbell had a friend pick it up for him.“I felt a bit privileged in a way,” he said. “The odds that it would land in my plate in the right amount of time were pretty extraordinary.”At the same time, there is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/omicron-may-sideline-two-covid-antibody-drugs-ffab32bd6e4e6b4822360b34da1785f0">shortage of antibody medications</a>, the infused or injected drugs that can head off death and hospitalization. Only one of them, from GlaxoSmithKline, appears effective against omicron, and it, too, is being rationed.Federal officials are limiting shipments of it to about 50,000 doses per week. This week, the government announced it is buying 600,000 more doses, on top of 400,000 purchased in November.At the UPMC hospital system in Pennsylvania, the staff can treat fewer than 1,000 patients per week with antibodies, down from as many as 4,000 earlier in the pandemic.Doctors and nurses around the U.S. have developed complex means of deciding who should get the scarce medications, based on patients’ symptoms, their underlying medical risks, where they live and whether they are healthy enough to travel for an infusion.“What do we have on hand?” is the first question, said University of Maryland Medical Center’s Dr. Greg Schrank. “Among those therapies, what’s the most effective and how can we direct it to the people that we know are of greatest risk?”The increasingly complicated treatment picture comes as exhausted, frustrated hospital workers try to manage rising admissions.As of Sunday, nearly 128,000 Americans were in the hospital with COVID-19, surpassing the all-time high of around 125,000 last January. While fewer COVID-19 patients now require intensive care, the surge is pushing hospitals to the breaking point.Considering that threat, Pfizer’s pill arrived just in time, Schrank said.“It’s not going to turn the tide on the total number of cases, but it could really help dampen the impact on hospitals,” he said.___

COVID-19 pill rollout stymied by shortages as omicron rages

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Wichita say a shooting on the south side of the city has left two people dead, including a 17-year-old boy. Television station KAKE reports that the shooting happened just before 9:30 Monday night. 

Officers called to the scene found the teen and a female victim with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle that had crashed into a garage at an apartment complex. 

Police say the teen died at the scene, while the other victim was rushed to hospital where she later died. Officials have not released the victims' names, and police have not announced any suspects in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642506215169.png" alt="Police at the scene of the shooting investigation photo by Abbey Higginbotham courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the shooting investigation photo by Abbey Higginbotham courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Wichita say a shooting on the south side of the city has left two people dead, including a 17-year-old boy. Television station KAKE reports that the shooting happened just before 9:30 Monday night. Officers called to the scene found the teen and a female victim with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle that had crashed into a garage at an apartment complex. Police say the teen died at the scene, while the other victim was rushed to hospital where she later died. Officials have not released the victims' names, and police have not announced any suspects in the case.

Police: 2 dead including teen after Kansas shooting, crash 

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on Tuesday announced that as of Feb. 1, 2022, COVID-19 contact outreach and monitoring, otherwise known as contact tracing, operations will be discontinued at KDHE. KDHE contact tracing staff will be reassigned to contact investigations, according to a media release from the agency.

County Local Health Departments have already begun to wind down contact tracing and K-12 schools who were participating in contact tracing as part of the Test to Stay program may temporarily suspend contact tracing as well.

 Contact tracing is when Public Health notifies close contacts to let them know that they were exposed to an infectious disease and tells them about the signs and symptoms to watch out for. Participation with contact tracing has always been voluntary. The decision to end contact outreach and monitoring was made due to the surge in amount of positive COVID-19 cases and the public's willingness to participate has diminished since the beginning of the pandemic.

“As we enter the third year of this pandemic, public health has to begin to adjust the level of response to help alleviate the strain on the Public Health system,”&nbsp;Janet Stanek, Acting Secretary, said.&nbsp;“The pandemic is far from over, but this step is a move toward managing COVID-19 as an endemic disease. The responsibility of protecting yourself and others belongs to all of us.”

Individuals who are positive for COVID-19 will now be responsible for letting their close contacts know about their potential exposure. Additionally, if the individual with COVID-19 exposed others at high-risk settings such as schools, correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, daycares and churches, KDHE or the local health department will notify the setting. The setting will be responsible for identifying close contacts and notifying them about the potential exposure.

Individuals who are positive for COVID-19 or a close contact of someone with COVID-19 can find information on what to do&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAxMTguNTE5NDg1MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy5rZGhla3MuZ292LzI5OS9JZi1Zb3UtS25vdy1Zb3UtSGF2ZS1DT1ZJRC0xOT91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.8yhUHdKgxAGqwvjlFDnJbukRBCFaS1AQA6UbBqkeC-E/s/1305913448/br/125237299611-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

KDHE urges Kansans to use the following tools to protect against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on Tuesday announced that as of Feb. 1, 2022, COVID-19 contact outreach and monitoring, otherwise known as contact tracing, operations will be discontinued at KDHE. KDHE contact tracing staff will be reassigned to contact investigations, according to a media release from the agency.County Local Health Departments have already begun to wind down contact tracing and K-12 schools who were participating in contact tracing as part of the Test to Stay program may temporarily suspend contact tracing as well. Contact tracing is when Public Health notifies close contacts to let them know that they were exposed to an infectious disease and tells them about the signs and symptoms to watch out for. Participation with contact tracing has always been voluntary. The decision to end contact outreach and monitoring was made due to the surge in amount of positive COVID-19 cases and the public's willingness to participate has diminished since the beginning of the pandemic.“As we enter the third year of this pandemic, public health has to begin to adjust the level of response to help alleviate the strain on the Public Health system,”&nbsp;Janet Stanek, Acting Secretary, said.&nbsp;“The pandemic is far from over, but this step is a move toward managing COVID-19 as an endemic disease. The responsibility of protecting yourself and others belongs to all of us.”Individuals who are positive for COVID-19 will now be responsible for letting their close contacts know about their potential exposure. Additionally, if the individual with COVID-19 exposed others at high-risk settings such as schools, correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, daycares and churches, KDHE or the local health department will notify the setting. The setting will be responsible for identifying close contacts and notifying them about the potential exposure.Individuals who are positive for COVID-19 or a close contact of someone with COVID-19 can find information on what to do&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAxMTguNTE5NDg1MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy5rZGhla3MuZ292LzI5OS9JZi1Zb3UtS25vdy1Zb3UtSGF2ZS1DT1ZJRC0xOT91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.8yhUHdKgxAGqwvjlFDnJbukRBCFaS1AQA6UbBqkeC-E/s/1305913448/br/125237299611-l" target="_blank">here</a>.KDHE urges Kansans to use the following tools to protect against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.<ul>
 <li>Get vaccinated&nbsp;and boosted.&nbsp;Vaccines remain the best tool to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. The authorized COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalizations, and death. The&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAxMTguNTE5NDg1MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi92YWNjaW5lcy9lZmZlY3RpdmVuZXNzL3dvcmsuaHRtbD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.hIg8oYEA-qyhekFV0LxmSj6lvDSkd1k7t2JzVbKoC0c/s/1305913448/br/125237299611-l" target="_blank">COVID-19 vaccines</a>&nbsp;approved or authorized in the United States are&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAxMTguNTE5NDg1MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi92YXJpYW50cy9vbWljcm9uLXZhcmlhbnQuaHRtbD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.tgPIxHrQMdnaPL5p-m4-YjjunnXWyIQahRlKMbUfi_s/s/1305913448/br/125237299611-l" target="_blank">expected to protect</a>&nbsp;against serious illness, hospitalizations, and death in people infected with the Omicron variant, especially those who have received a booster. COVID-19 vaccines are now authorized for people ages 5 and over. Moderately or severely immunocompromised people ages 5 and over should receive an additional primary dose of vaccine 28 days after their second shot. The COVID-19 booster shots are authorized for all people ages 12 and over. To find a vaccine near you, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAxMTguNTE5NDg1MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnZhY2NpbmVzLmdvdi8_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.GufStYev4a-G_69cYf6vzED-xPzLKJhInyMtnTZHXJA/s/1305913448/br/125237299611-l" target="_blank">Vaccines.gov</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Wear a mask.&nbsp;Masks offer protection against all variants. It is recommended that people in Kansas wear the most protective mask that fits well and can be worn consistently &nbsp;in public indoor settings, where COVID-19 transmission remains high, regardless of vaccination status. For more information, visit the CDC website,&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAxMTguNTE5NDg1MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi9wcmV2ZW50LWdldHRpbmctc2ljay90eXBlcy1vZi1tYXNrcy5odG1sP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.CCxZPxLxM-IYwZZtmHtTHUqqtjq5I1FuGYGVFhDvInU/s/1305913448/br/125237299611-l" target="_blank">Types of Masks and Respirators</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;</li><li>Get tested.&nbsp;If you are sick or have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, it is recommended that you get tested for COVID-19. Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAxMTguNTE5NDg1MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8va25vd2JlZm9yZXlvdWdva3MuY29tLz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.UAk9p_-T-I8Qig1idgy6v070DZCy7zMKdHE8IvvqFXI/s/1305913448/br/125237299611-l" target="_blank">KnowBeforeYouGoKS.com</a>&nbsp;to find a free testing location near you.&nbsp;If a positive result is received through an at-home test, isolate at home for at least 5 full days. If you took an at-home test and need Public Health to issue a letter stating that you are positive, you will need to follow up with a health care provider for a confirmation test.</li><li>Stay home if exposed.&nbsp;If you are exposed to COVID-19 and you are not up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, you should stay home and away from other people for 5 full days after your last contact with the person who has COVID-19. Anyone who is exposed, including those who are up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters and those who had COVID-19 within the last 90 days, should wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public and watch for symptoms for 10 full days. Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask, avoid travel, and avoid people at high risk for developing severe disease. Get tested for COVID-19 at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19, or get tested immediately if you develop symptoms.</li><li>Stay home if sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive, you should stay home and isolate away from other people for at least 5 full days. You can end home isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your symptoms are improving. If you did not have symptoms, end home isolation 5 days after your positive test. Severely ill people should isolate for at least 10 days. Take precautions for 10 days including wearing a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others. Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask, avoid travel, and avoid people at high risk for developing severe disease.</li><li>Social distance and practice good hand hygiene.&nbsp;People should avoid large gatherings and stay at least 6 feet from others in public settings, especially if they are at higher risk of getting sick.&nbsp; Wash your hands often with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.</li>
 </ul>