WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is establishing a specialized unit focused on domestic terrorism, the department’s top national security official told lawmakers Tuesday as he described an “elevated” threat from violent extremists in the United States.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, testifying just days after the nation observed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">one-year anniversary of the insurrection</a>&nbsp;at the U.S. Capitol, said the number of FBI investigations into suspected domestic violent extremists has more than doubled since the spring of 2020.

“We have seen a growing threat from those who are motivated by racial animus, as well as those who ascribe to extremist anti-government and anti-authority ideologies,” Olsen said.

The formulation of a new unit underscores the extent to which domestic violent extremism, which for years after the Sept. 11 attacks was overshadowed by the threat of international terrorism, has attracted urgent attention inside the federal government and at the White House.

But the issue remains politically freighted and divisive, in part because the absence of a federal domestic terrorism statute has created ambiguities as to precisely what sort of violence meets that definition. The U.S. criminal code defines domestic terrorism as violence intended to coerce or intimidate a civilian population and to influence government policy, but there is no standalone domestic terrorism charge, meaning prosecutors have to rely on other statutes.

Olsen’s assessment about growing domestic threats tracked with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-chris-wray-testify-capitol-riot-9a5539af34b15338bb5c4923907eeb67">a warning last March from FBI Director Christopher Wray</a>, who testified that the threat was “metastasizing.” Jill Sanborn, the executive assistant director in charge of the FBI’s national security branch who testified alongside Olsen, said Tuesday the greatest threat comes from lone extremists or small cells who radicalize online and look to carry out violence at so-called “soft targets.”

“This includes both homegrown violent extremists inspired primarily by foreign terrorist organizations as well as domestic violent extremism,” Sanborn said.

The department’s National Security Division, which Olsen leads, has a counterterrorism section. But Olsen told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he has decided to create a specialized domestic terrorism unit “to augment our existing approach” and to “ensure that these cases are properly handled and effectively coordinated” across the country.

The partisan divisions around the domestic terrorism terminology were evident during Tuesday’s hearing.

Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the Democratic chairman of the committee, played video of the Jan. 6 riot at the outset of the hearing and urged everyone on the committee to “use this hearing to explicitly condemn the use or threat of violence to advance political goals.”

“It’s a simple request, but sadly a necessary one,” Durbin added. “This committee should speak with a unified voice in saying violence is unacceptable.”

Several Republican senators sought to shift focus away from Jan. 6 and asserted that the insurrection had taken away attention from the 2020 rioting that erupted in American cities and grew out of racial justice protests. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, castigated the law enforcement witnesses for what he said were “wildly disparate standards” in the department’s pursuit of suspects in the 2020 rioting and in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the panel’s top Republican, showed video of the 2020 violence as a counter to the Jan. 6 footage that Durbin showed.

“Those anti-police riots rocked our nation for seven full months,” Grassley said.

The FBI and Justice Department say they treat domestic extremist violence the same regardless of ideology. Sanborn said the FBI has opened more than 800 investigations tied to the 2020 rioting and arrested more than 250 people. Attorney General Merrick Garland&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/merrick-garland-7556f195cde8dbf04aee94c80a41ec35">said last week</a>&nbsp;that the Justice Department had arrested and charged more than 725 people for their alleged roles in the Jan. 6 attack.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641943438855.png" alt="Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen photo CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen photo CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is establishing a specialized unit focused on domestic terrorism, the department’s top national security official told lawmakers Tuesday as he described an “elevated” threat from violent extremists in the United States.Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, testifying just days after the nation observed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">one-year anniversary of the insurrection</a>&nbsp;at the U.S. Capitol, said the number of FBI investigations into suspected domestic violent extremists has more than doubled since the spring of 2020.“We have seen a growing threat from those who are motivated by racial animus, as well as those who ascribe to extremist anti-government and anti-authority ideologies,” Olsen said.The formulation of a new unit underscores the extent to which domestic violent extremism, which for years after the Sept. 11 attacks was overshadowed by the threat of international terrorism, has attracted urgent attention inside the federal government and at the White House.But the issue remains politically freighted and divisive, in part because the absence of a federal domestic terrorism statute has created ambiguities as to precisely what sort of violence meets that definition. The U.S. criminal code defines domestic terrorism as violence intended to coerce or intimidate a civilian population and to influence government policy, but there is no standalone domestic terrorism charge, meaning prosecutors have to rely on other statutes.Olsen’s assessment about growing domestic threats tracked with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-chris-wray-testify-capitol-riot-9a5539af34b15338bb5c4923907eeb67">a warning last March from FBI Director Christopher Wray</a>, who testified that the threat was “metastasizing.” Jill Sanborn, the executive assistant director in charge of the FBI’s national security branch who testified alongside Olsen, said Tuesday the greatest threat comes from lone extremists or small cells who radicalize online and look to carry out violence at so-called “soft targets.”“This includes both homegrown violent extremists inspired primarily by foreign terrorist organizations as well as domestic violent extremism,” Sanborn said.The department’s National Security Division, which Olsen leads, has a counterterrorism section. But Olsen told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he has decided to create a specialized domestic terrorism unit “to augment our existing approach” and to “ensure that these cases are properly handled and effectively coordinated” across the country.The partisan divisions around the domestic terrorism terminology were evident during Tuesday’s hearing.Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the Democratic chairman of the committee, played video of the Jan. 6 riot at the outset of the hearing and urged everyone on the committee to “use this hearing to explicitly condemn the use or threat of violence to advance political goals.”“It’s a simple request, but sadly a necessary one,” Durbin added. “This committee should speak with a unified voice in saying violence is unacceptable.”Several Republican senators sought to shift focus away from Jan. 6 and asserted that the insurrection had taken away attention from the 2020 rioting that erupted in American cities and grew out of racial justice protests. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, castigated the law enforcement witnesses for what he said were “wildly disparate standards” in the department’s pursuit of suspects in the 2020 rioting and in the Jan. 6 insurrection.Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the panel’s top Republican, showed video of the 2020 violence as a counter to the Jan. 6 footage that Durbin showed.“Those anti-police riots rocked our nation for seven full months,” Grassley said.The FBI and Justice Department say they treat domestic extremist violence the same regardless of ideology. Sanborn said the FBI has opened more than 800 investigations tied to the 2020 rioting and arrested more than 250 people. Attorney General Merrick Garland&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/merrick-garland-7556f195cde8dbf04aee94c80a41ec35">said last week</a>&nbsp;that the Justice Department had arrested and charged more than 725 people for their alleged roles in the Jan. 6 attack.____

Justice Department's new unit to focus on domestic terrorism

WASHINGTON — National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins today released her <a href="https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/AnnualReport2021">2021 Annual Report to Congress</a>,
 calling calendar year 2021 "the most challenging year taxpayers and tax
 professionals have ever experienced." The report says tens of millions 
of taxpayers experienced delays in the processing of their returns, and 
with 77 percent of individual taxpayers receiving refunds, "processing 
delays translated directly into refund delays."

The report credits the Internal Revenue Service for performing well 
under difficult circumstances. Since the start of the pandemic, the IRS,
 in addition to its traditional work, has implemented significant 
programs enacted by Congress. Among other things, it has issued 478 
million stimulus payments (referred to as Economic Impact Payments or 
"EIPs") totaling $812 billion and has sent Advance Child Tax Credit 
(AdvCTC) payments to over 36 million families totaling over $93 billion.

The report says "[t]he imbalance between the IRS's workload and its 
resources has never been greater." Since fiscal year (FY) 2010, the 
IRS's workforce has shrunk by 17 percent, while its workload – as 
measured by the number of individual return filings – has increased by 
19 percent. The report reiterates the National Taxpayer Advocate's 
longstanding recommendation that Congress provide the IRS with 
sufficient funding to serve taxpayers well.

"There is no way to sugarcoat the year 2021 in tax administration," 
Collins wrote. "The year 2021 provided no shortage of taxpayer 
problems."

"While my report focuses primarily on the problems of 2021, I am 
deeply concerned about the upcoming filing season," Collins added in 
releasing the report. "Paper is the IRS's Kryptonite, and the agency is 
still buried in it." As of late December, the IRS had backlogs of 6 
million unprocessed original individual returns (Forms 1040), 2.3 
million unprocessed amended individual returns (Forms 1040-X), more than
 2&nbsp;million unprocessed employer's quarterly tax returns (Forms 941 and 
941-X), and about 5 million pieces of taxpayer correspondence – with 
some of these submissions dating back at least to April and many 
taxpayers still waiting for their refunds nine months later.

Although e-filed returns fared better than paper returns, the report 
says millions of e-filed returns were suspended during processing due to
 discrepancies between amounts claimed on the returns and amounts 
reflected on IRS records. The most common discrepancy involved Recovery 
Rebate Credit (RRC) claims by taxpayers who did not receive some or all 
of their stimulus payments as EIPs the prior year. These returns had to 
be manually reviewed, and the IRS issued more than 11 million math error
 notices to taxpayers over RRC discrepancies with IRS records. When a 
taxpayer disagreed with a math error notice and submitted a response, 
the taxpayer's response went into the IRS's paper processing backlog, 
further delaying the refund.

Collins is concerned that the number of returns suspended and 
requiring manual processing is likely to be high again in 2022. In 
March, Congress authorized two advance tax credits that may result in 
additional discrepancies between amounts claimed on tax returns and in 
IRS records. It authorized a third round of EIPs that may be claimed as 
RRCs by taxpayers who did not receive them, and it authorized monthly 
payments of the Advance Child Tax Credit (AdvCTC) for the second half 
of&nbsp;2021, both of which will have to be claimed and/or reconciled on 2021
 individual tax returns. The IRS is attempting to minimize discrepancies
 by sending notices to taxpayers who received EIPs and AdvCTC showing 
how much they received, but millions of discrepancies – and math error 
notices – remain likely.

At the postponed filing deadline of May 17, 2021, the IRS was holding
 35.3 million tax returns for employee review that consisted of roughly 
half unprocessed paper returns and half tax returns suspended during 
processing, leading to refund delays for many of these taxpayers. 
"Refund delays have a disproportionate impact on low-income taxpayers," 
the report says. "Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefits are worth up 
to $6,660, Child Tax Credit benefits [were] worth up to $2,000 per 
qualifying child under tax year 2020 rules, and RRCs are potentially 
worth several thousand dollars for families who did not receive some or 
all of their EIPs. Millions of taxpayers rely on the benefits from these
 programs to pay their basic living expenses, and when refunds are 
substantially delayed, the financial impact can range from mild 
inconvenience to severe financial hardship."

The report says processing delays led to a cascade of customer service problems:

The IRS's "Where's My Refund?" tool often could not answer the question.
 Taxpayers attempted to check the status of their refunds on IRS.gov 
more than 632 million times last year, but "Where's My Refund?" does not
 provide information on unprocessed returns, and it does not explain any
 status delays, the reasons for delays, where returns stand in the 
processing pipeline, or what actions taxpayers need to take, if any. For
 taxpayers who experienced significant refund delays, the tool often did
 not do its job.

Telephone service was the worst it has ever been. 
The combination of processing delays and questions about new programs 
like the AdvCTC caused call volumes to almost triple from the prior year
 to a record 282 million telephone calls. Customer service 
representatives (CSRs) only answered about 32 million, or 11 percent, of
 those calls. As a result, most callers could not obtain answers to 
their tax law questions, get help with account problems, or speak with a
 CSR about a compliance notice. "Among the lucky one in nine callers who
 was able to reach a CSR, the IRS reported that hold times averaged 
23&nbsp;minutes," the report says. "Practitioners and taxpayers have reported
 that hold times were often much longer, and frustration and 
dissatisfaction was high throughout the year with the low level of phone
 service."

The IRS took months to process taxpayer responses to its notices, further delaying refunds.
 The IRS sent tens of millions of notices to taxpayers during 2021. 
These included nearly 14 million math error notices, Automated 
Underreporter notices (where an amount reported on a tax return did not 
match the corresponding amount reported to the IRS on a Form 1099 or 
other information reporting document), notices requesting a taxpayer 
authenticate his or her identity where IRS filters flagged a return as 
potentially fraudulent, correspondence examination notices and 
collection notices. In many cases, taxpayer responses were required, and
 if the IRS did not process a response, its automated processes could 
take adverse action or not release the refund claimed on the tax return.
 The IRS received 6.2&nbsp;million taxpayer responses to proposed adjustments
 and took an average of 199 days to process them – up from 74 days in FY
 2019, the most recent pre-pandemic year.

The ten most serious problems encountered by taxpayers.
 By statute, the National Taxpayer Advocate is required to identify the 
ten most serious problems encountered by taxpayers in their dealings 
with the IRS. This year's report details the following problems: 
processing and refund delays; challenges in employee recruitment, 
hiring, and training; telephone and in-person taxpayer service; 
transparency and clarity; filing season delays; limitations of online 
taxpayer accounts; limitations in digital taxpayer communications, 
including e-mail; e-filing barriers; correspondence audits; and the 
impact of collection policies on low-income taxpayers. For each problem,
 the report includes an IRS response.

Taxpayer Advocate Service administrative recommendations to the IRS

The report makes numerous recommendations to address taxpayer problems, including the following:

National Taxpayer Advocate "Purple Book" of legislative recommendations

The National Taxpayer Advocate's 2022 Purple Book proposes 68 
legislative recommendations for consideration by Congress. Among them 
are the following:

The report contains a taxpayer rights assessment that presents 
performance measures and other relevant data, a description of TAS's 
case advocacy operations during FY 2021, a summary of key TAS systemic 
advocacy accomplishments, and a discussion of the ten federal tax issues
 most frequently litigated during the preceding year. The section on 
most litigated tax issues for the first time contains an analysis of 
substantially all cases petitioned in the Tax Court rather than simply 
decided cases, providing a much broader view of issues taxpayers bring 
to court. Also for the first time, the report includes a section titled 
"At a Glance," which provides concise summaries of the ten "most serious
 problems." It is intended to give readers a quick overview of each 
issue so they can decide which ones they want to read about in depth.

Please visit <a href="https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/AnnualReport2021">2021 National Taxpayer Advocate Annual Report to Congress</a>&nbsp;for more information.

TAS is an independent organization within the IRS that helps
 taxpayers and protects taxpayer rights. Your local advocate's number is
 available in your local directory and at <a href="https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/contact-us">Contact Us</a>. You may also call TAS toll-free at <a href="tel:877-777-4778">877-777-4778</a>.
 TAS can help if you need assistance resolving an IRS problem, if your 
problem is causing financial difficulty, or if you believe an IRS system
 or procedure isn't working as it should. And our service is free. For 
more information about TAS and your rights under the Taxpayer Bill of 
Rights, go to the <a href="http://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/">Taxpayer Advocate Service website</a>.&nbsp;You can get updates on tax topics at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YourVoiceAtIRS">YourVoiceAtIRS</a>&nbsp;(Facebook),&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/YourVoiceatIRS">YourVoiceatIRS</a>&nbsp;(Twitter) and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TASNTA">TASNTA</a>&nbsp;(YouTube).

Congress receives report focusing on impact of tax refund delays

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly called Tuesday for another freeze in tuition at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;colleges in a State of the State address that portrayed the state as booming economically and previewed what are likely to be major themes in her reelection campaign.

<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMBARGOED-2022-SOTS-address.pdf">Click here to read </a>a transcript of the address

The Democratic governor didn’t provide details about her college tuition proposal in the annual address, saying only that it is part of the proposed state budget that her administration will outline Wednesday. Kelly already is pushing to eliminate the state's sales tax on groceries and give a $250 rebate to every Kansas resident who filed a state income tax return last year.

Her proposals on taxes and college tuition come ahead of a tough reelection race with three-term state Attorney General Derek Schmidt as the presumed Republican nominee. Kelly will need support from moderate GOP and independent voters to win another four-year term in her Republican-leaning state, and she's been making moves to appeal to them that include opposing federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates from Democratic President Joe Biden.

Kelly suggested that the state's improved finances and the coronavirus pandemic warranted a tuition freeze at state colleges.

“You heard that right: No tuition increases whatsoever,” she said in the version of her speech prepared for delivery. “The virus took something from our students. And, we are going to give them something back.”

The governor's tuition proposal follows years of concerns about rising college costs — and efforts by both legislators and the state Board of Regents to contain them. The board, which oversees the state's higher education system, last year froze fall tuition at the state's six universities, except for Kansas State University. At some universities, tuition has been frozen three years.

Yet costs for students and their families are much higher than they were 15 years ago and now approach $5,600 a semester in tuition and academic fees at the University of Kansas for a full-time Kansas undergraduate — almost 82% more. At Kansas State, the same costs for a similar student have grown 80% and now top $5,200 a semester.

In the GOP’s official response to Kelly’s address, recorded before she made her tuition proposal public, state House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said, “It’s not enough to talk about goals.”

“Many Kansans say they have grown tired of broken promises,” Ryckman added in remarks prepared for delivery.

Much of Kelly's address to a joint session of the GOP-controlled Legislature focused on the state's financial recovery despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic — and after persistent budget shortfalls that followed a nationally notorious GOP-led experiment in cutting income taxes starting in 2012.

Kansas has seen its monthly tax collections exceed expectations in all but three months in the 4 1/2 years since bipartisan legislative majorities repealed most of the previous tax-cutting experiment championed by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. With no tax cuts or huge surge in state spending, it's on pace to end June 2023 with roughly $3.9 billion in cash reserves.

“The people of Kansas are getting back on their feet,” Kelly declared. “The state of Kansas is getting back on track.”

Schmidt and other Republicans argue that the good times are being fueled mostly by the billions of dollars in pandemic relief funds sent to the states by the federal government. Schmidt on Sunday proposed dedicating $1 billion to shoring up the state pension system for teachers and government workers — echoing comments from top Republican lawmakers.

Republicans have suggested that Kelly's tributes to business growth ring hollow when she shut many businesses down for five weeks last year — an action she took to check the spread of COVID-19 early in the pandemic. Republicans also have questioned Kelly’s commitment to cutting taxes because she vetoed three GOP proposals in three years after suggesting the measures would tank the state’ finances.

Schmidt also has called for cutting or eliminating the state's 6.5% sales tax on groceries. With bipartisan support, Kelly said, the only obstacle to passing the proposal is “the same type of toxic political games that have poisoned Washington, D.C.”

“We are better than that in Kansas,” she said. “Let's not overcomplicate this.”

However, Ryckman said Republicans want to “ratchet down” the sales tax, not only on groceries but “on everything else our families need to buy.”

Kelly wants&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-kansas-topeka-derek-schmidt-fe33c829200bb2c9345ee37534cf2b07">to eliminate the state’s 6.5% sales tax on groceries</a>&nbsp;so that a family buying $200 worth of groceries a week would save $676 a year. Lowering or ending the tax has bipartisan support, and about 100 groups, food pantries, businesses and faith organizations, along with several hundred individuals, sent a letter Monday to lawmakers urging them to eliminate the tax. But lawmakers might consider alternatives, such as lowering the tax on all consumer goods.

&nbsp;In December, she proposed giving Kansas residents who filed state income tax returns last year a one-time rebate of $250, dropping the idea on a skeptical Republican-controlled Legislature as she faces a tough reelection race.

On Thursday, the governor eased or suspended Kansas licensing rules for medical personnel and nursing home workers in hopes of making it easier for them to attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-infectious-diseases-kansas-city-989fb124d926e2253ffca07ad499bd70">staffing shortages</a>&nbsp;during a surge of new COVID-19 cases.

Kelly issued two executive orders. One allows hospital staff to perform a broader range of duties. The other makes licensing of nursing home workers more flexible so homes can hire people whose licenses have lapsed and fill less-skilled jobs with workers who have relatively little or no previous training.&nbsp;Kansas previously was under a state of emergency from March 2020 until June 2021.

By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly called Tuesday for another freeze in tuition at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;colleges in a State of the State address that portrayed the state as booming economically and previewed what are likely to be major themes in her reelection campaign.<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EMBARGOED-2022-SOTS-address.pdf">Click here to read </a>a transcript of the addressClick below to watch the address.&nbsp;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PnwlhtiUBiY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The Democratic governor didn’t provide details about her college tuition proposal in the annual address, saying only that it is part of the proposed state budget that her administration will outline Wednesday. Kelly already is pushing to eliminate the state's sales tax on groceries and give a $250 rebate to every Kansas resident who filed a state income tax return last year.Her proposals on taxes and college tuition come ahead of a tough reelection race with three-term state Attorney General Derek Schmidt as the presumed Republican nominee. Kelly will need support from moderate GOP and independent voters to win another four-year term in her Republican-leaning state, and she's been making moves to appeal to them that include opposing federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates from Democratic President Joe Biden.Kelly suggested that the state's improved finances and the coronavirus pandemic warranted a tuition freeze at state colleges.“You heard that right: No tuition increases whatsoever,” she said in the version of her speech prepared for delivery. “The virus took something from our students. And, we are going to give them something back.”The governor's tuition proposal follows years of concerns about rising college costs — and efforts by both legislators and the state Board of Regents to contain them. The board, which oversees the state's higher education system, last year froze fall tuition at the state's six universities, except for Kansas State University. At some universities, tuition has been frozen three years.Yet costs for students and their families are much higher than they were 15 years ago and now approach $5,600 a semester in tuition and academic fees at the University of Kansas for a full-time Kansas undergraduate — almost 82% more. At Kansas State, the same costs for a similar student have grown 80% and now top $5,200 a semester.In the GOP’s official response to Kelly’s address, recorded before she made her tuition proposal public, state House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said, “It’s not enough to talk about goals.”“Many Kansans say they have grown tired of broken promises,” Ryckman added in remarks prepared for delivery.Much of Kelly's address to a joint session of the GOP-controlled Legislature focused on the state's financial recovery despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic — and after persistent budget shortfalls that followed a nationally notorious GOP-led experiment in cutting income taxes starting in 2012.Kansas has seen its monthly tax collections exceed expectations in all but three months in the 4 1/2 years since bipartisan legislative majorities repealed most of the previous tax-cutting experiment championed by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. With no tax cuts or huge surge in state spending, it's on pace to end June 2023 with roughly $3.9 billion in cash reserves.“The people of Kansas are getting back on their feet,” Kelly declared. “The state of Kansas is getting back on track.”Schmidt and other Republicans argue that the good times are being fueled mostly by the billions of dollars in pandemic relief funds sent to the states by the federal government. Schmidt on Sunday proposed dedicating $1 billion to shoring up the state pension system for teachers and government workers — echoing comments from top Republican lawmakers.Republicans have suggested that Kelly's tributes to business growth ring hollow when she shut many businesses down for five weeks last year — an action she took to check the spread of COVID-19 early in the pandemic. Republicans also have questioned Kelly’s commitment to cutting taxes because she vetoed three GOP proposals in three years after suggesting the measures would tank the state’ finances.Schmidt also has called for cutting or eliminating the state's 6.5% sales tax on groceries. With bipartisan support, Kelly said, the only obstacle to passing the proposal is “the same type of toxic political games that have poisoned Washington, D.C.”“We are better than that in Kansas,” she said. “Let's not overcomplicate this.”However, Ryckman said Republicans want to “ratchet down” the sales tax, not only on groceries but “on everything else our families need to buy.”___------------Kelly wants&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-kansas-topeka-derek-schmidt-fe33c829200bb2c9345ee37534cf2b07">to eliminate the state’s 6.5% sales tax on groceries</a>&nbsp;so that a family buying $200 worth of groceries a week would save $676 a year. Lowering or ending the tax has bipartisan support, and about 100 groups, food pantries, businesses and faith organizations, along with several hundred individuals, sent a letter Monday to lawmakers urging them to eliminate the tax. But lawmakers might consider alternatives, such as lowering the tax on all consumer goods.&nbsp;In December, she proposed giving Kansas residents who filed state income tax returns last year a one-time rebate of $250, dropping the idea on a skeptical Republican-controlled Legislature as she faces a tough reelection race.On Thursday, the governor eased or suspended Kansas licensing rules for medical personnel and nursing home workers in hopes of making it easier for them to attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-infectious-diseases-kansas-city-989fb124d926e2253ffca07ad499bd70">staffing shortages</a>&nbsp;during a surge of new COVID-19 cases.Kelly issued two executive orders. One allows hospital staff to perform a broader range of duties. The other makes licensing of nursing home workers more flexible so homes can hire people whose licenses have lapsed and fill less-skilled jobs with workers who have relatively little or no previous training.&nbsp;Kansas previously was under a state of emergency from March 2020 until June 2021.

🎥 State of the State: Kan. governor seeks tuition freeze, calls state healthier

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal September crash have taken a wanted suspect into custody.

On Friday, Kansas City Kansas Police asked for the public’s helps to locate 25-year-old Arnold L. King. He is wanted for killing a mother of two while they were in the car with her in a crash just before 6:30a.m. on Sept. 17, according to a media release.

On Tuesday, the KCPD reported they had King in custody.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement Investigators are asking for the public’s helps to locate 25-year-old Arnold L. King, who is wanted for killing a mother of two while they were in the car with her in a crash just before 6:30a.m. on Sept. 17, according to a media release.

The crash occurred&nbsp;East 12th Street and Bales Ave. on Sept. 17.

Detectives believe King may have cut his hair to alter his looks. He is wanted for vehicular manslaughter, tampering w/a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

If you have information that will help officers capture King and help a grieving family, contact our Tips Hotline at 816-474-8477 or fill out this form anonymously-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=452&amp;C=659cd5">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=452&amp;C=659cd5</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641679333998.png" alt="Photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal September crash have taken a wanted suspect into custody.On Friday, Kansas City Kansas Police asked for the public’s helps to locate 25-year-old Arnold L. King. He is wanted for killing a mother of two while they were in the car with her in a crash just before 6:30a.m. on Sept. 17, according to a media release.On Tuesday, the KCPD reported they had King in custody.----------KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement Investigators are asking for the public’s helps to locate 25-year-old Arnold L. King, who is wanted for killing a mother of two while they were in the car with her in a crash just before 6:30a.m. on Sept. 17, according to a media release.The crash occurred&nbsp;East 12th Street and Bales Ave. on Sept. 17.Detectives believe King may have cut his hair to alter his looks. He is wanted for vehicular manslaughter, tampering w/a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.If you have information that will help officers capture King and help a grieving family, contact our Tips Hotline at 816-474-8477 or fill out this form anonymously-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=452&amp;C=659cd5">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=452&amp;C=659cd5</a>.KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement Investigators are asking for the public’s helps to locate 25-year-old Arnold L. King, who is wanted for killing a mother of two while they were in the car with her in a crash just before 6:30a.m. on Sept. 17, according to a media release.The crash occurred&nbsp;East 12th Street and Bales Ave. on Sept. 17.Detectives believe King may have cut his hair to alter his looks. He is wanted for vehicular manslaughter, tampering w/a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.If you have information that will help officers capture King and help a grieving family, contact our Tips Hotline at 816-474-8477 or fill out this form anonymously-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=452&amp;C=659cd5">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=452&amp;C=659cd5</a>.

Police: Suspect in Kan. crash that killed mother of 2 is in custody

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, angrily accused a senator Tuesday of making false accusations that are leading to threats against him -- all to raise political cash.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has repeatedly said Fauci lies about the pandemic and in a hearing Tuesday also claimed that he tried to “take down” some scientists who disagreed with him.

Paul and other conservative critics have focused their ire at how the pandemic is being handled on Fauci, the National Institutes of Health infectious disease chief who also is President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser. Fauci has needed increased security since 2020 because of threats and harassment against him and his family.

Tuesday, Fauci expressed frustration that this far into the pandemic the senator still “accuses me of things that are completely untrue” and “kindles the crazies out there.”

He pointed to the arrest last month of a California man who was stopped for speeding in Iowa and told a sheriff’s deputy he was on the way to the nation’s capital to kill a list of people in power -- including Fauci. Court documents show the man, Kuachua Brillion Xiong of Sacramento, had an AR-15 style rifle, ammunition and body armor in the car.

Fauci said the Paul’s website has a “fire Dr. Fauci” page that includes a call for political contributions ranging from $5 to $100.

“You are making a catastrophic epidemic for your political gain,” he said.

The feud overshadowed a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee designed to examine if policy changes are needed while the U.S. is battling the hugely contagious omicron variant.

Among the chief complaints of Republicans and Democrats alike is a continuing lack of tests to make it easier for people to tell if they have COVID-19 so they can stay home and not spread it.

“I just say to all of you right now, testing’s broken,” said an exasperated Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, the committee’s ranking member.

Still, Burr and several other lawmakers on both sides of the aisle also thanked Fauci for his work to fight the pandemic.

But later in Tuesday’s hearing, Fauci lost his temper when Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, accused him of hiding financial disclosure forms required of public officials.

“You’re so misinformed that it’s extraordinary,” Fauci responded, saying those documents are publicly available upon request. As the exchange ended, Fauci could be heard muttering off-camera, “What a moron.”

Following the line of questioning, Dr. Fauci proceeded to call Senator Marshall a “moron” and said, “Jesus Christ.” Click&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1480977059874848769?s=20" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp; to hear Dr. Fauci on hot mic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, angrily accused a senator Tuesday of making false accusations that are leading to threats against him -- all to raise political cash.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gB4Q4tCBsh4?start=7" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has repeatedly said Fauci lies about the pandemic and in a hearing Tuesday also claimed that he tried to “take down” some scientists who disagreed with him.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Calling me a moron during a Senate hearing may have alleviated the stress of the least trusted bureaucrat in America, but it didn’t take away from the facts. We need the truth Dr. Fauci! <a href="https://t.co/GyfdppfNgn">pic.twitter.com/GyfdppfNgn</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1481029428754984968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Paul and other conservative critics have focused their ire at how the pandemic is being handled on Fauci, the National Institutes of Health infectious disease chief who also is President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser. Fauci has needed increased security since 2020 because of threats and harassment against him and his family.Tuesday, Fauci expressed frustration that this far into the pandemic the senator still “accuses me of things that are completely untrue” and “kindles the crazies out there.”He pointed to the arrest last month of a California man who was stopped for speeding in Iowa and told a sheriff’s deputy he was on the way to the nation’s capital to kill a list of people in power -- including Fauci. Court documents show the man, Kuachua Brillion Xiong of Sacramento, had an AR-15 style rifle, ammunition and body armor in the car.Fauci said the Paul’s website has a “fire Dr. Fauci” page that includes a call for political contributions ranging from $5 to $100.“You are making a catastrophic epidemic for your political gain,” he said.The feud overshadowed a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee designed to examine if policy changes are needed while the U.S. is battling the hugely contagious omicron variant.Among the chief complaints of Republicans and Democrats alike is a continuing lack of tests to make it easier for people to tell if they have COVID-19 so they can stay home and not spread it.“I just say to all of you right now, testing’s broken,” said an exasperated Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, the committee’s ranking member.Still, Burr and several other lawmakers on both sides of the aisle also thanked Fauci for his work to fight the pandemic.But later in Tuesday’s hearing, Fauci lost his temper when Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, accused him of hiding financial disclosure forms required of public officials.“You’re so misinformed that it’s extraordinary,” Fauci responded, saying those documents are publicly available upon request. As the exchange ended, Fauci could be heard muttering off-camera, “What a moron.”Following the line of questioning, Dr. Fauci proceeded to call Senator Marshall a “moron” and said, “Jesus Christ.” Click&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1480977059874848769?s=20" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp; to hear Dr. Fauci on hot mic.

🎥 'Dr. Fauci gets testy with Senator Marshall: 'What a moron'

SUMNER COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the August shooting death of a 12-year-old girl at a Kansas home have made an arrest.

On Thursday police arrested 42-year-old Jarod Bruey and 41- year-old&nbsp; Sarah Bruey on requested charges of aggravated endangerment of a child and first-degree murder in commission of a felony, according to online Sumner County jail records. They are scheduled to make a virtual first appearance on the charges January 27, according to the Sumner County&nbsp; District Court.

Just after 11a.m. August 6, Sumner County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to report a shooting the 1500 Block of South Blackstone Road in Caldwell, according to&nbsp;Undersheriff Mike Westmoreland.

Deputies were told a 12-year-old girl accidentally shot her 12-year-old sister in the face. 

After administering life saving measures for over forty minutes she was declared deceased, according to&nbsp;Westmoreland.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641905049958.png" alt="Bruey-photo Sumner County" />
 <figcaption>Bruey-photo Sumner County</figcaption>
 </figure>SUMNER COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the August shooting death of a 12-year-old girl at a Kansas home have made an arrest.On Thursday police arrested 42-year-old Jarod Bruey and 41- year-old&nbsp; Sarah Bruey on requested charges of aggravated endangerment of a child and first-degree murder in commission of a felony, according to online Sumner County jail records. They are scheduled to make a virtual first appearance on the charges January 27, according to the Sumner County&nbsp; District Court.Just after 11a.m. August 6, Sumner County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to report a shooting the 1500 Block of South Blackstone Road in Caldwell, according to&nbsp;Undersheriff Mike Westmoreland.Deputies were told a 12-year-old girl accidentally shot her 12-year-old sister in the face. After administering life saving measures for over forty minutes she was declared deceased, according to&nbsp;Westmoreland.&nbsp;&nbsp;---------

Kansas couple accused in fatal accidental shooting

DONIPHAN COUNTY—A&nbsp; man died in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Tuesday in Doniphan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Honda Accord driven by Raymond Sauter, 59, St. Joseph, was westbound on U.S. 36 one mile west of Kansas 238.

The Honda rear-ended a 2019 Freightliner semi driven by&nbsp; Robert&nbsp;Varnum, 57, Watertown Massachusetts, that had slowed due to another vehicle and report of a dog in the road, according to the&nbsp; KHP.

Sauter was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Rupp Funeral Home.&nbsp; Varnum and a passenger were not injured. Sauter was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

DONIPHAN COUNTY—A&nbsp; man died in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Tuesday in Doniphan County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Honda Accord driven by Raymond Sauter, 59, St. Joseph, was westbound on U.S. 36 one mile west of Kansas 238.The Honda rear-ended a 2019 Freightliner semi driven by&nbsp; Robert&nbsp;Varnum, 57, Watertown Massachusetts, that had slowed due to another vehicle and report of a dog in the road, according to the&nbsp; KHP.Sauter was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Rupp Funeral Home.&nbsp; Varnum and a passenger were not injured. Sauter was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Driver dies after car rear-ends a semi on Kan. highway

Candidates bolster bottom line with $200,000 personal loans

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/11/gubernatorial-candidates-kelly-schmidt-raise-combined-3-6-million-during-2021/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura 
Kelly outdueled rival Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt in 
political contributions during 2021, while two GOP candidates for 
statewide office in Kansas bolstered their fundraising totals with 
personal loans of $200,000.

Kelly’s report of campaign activity from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021, 
indicated she raised $2.04 million in that period and held $1.9 million 
in cash at close of the calendar year. Schmidt, who is seeking the 
Republican Party’s nomination for governor, took in $1.63 million during
 the year and was sitting on $1.3 million at year’s end.

Kelly reported 25,000 contributions during the year and an average donation of $26.

“The governor’s historic, grassroots fundraising
 record is more evidence that her steady leadership is what Kansans 
want,” said Shelbi Dantic, manager of Kelly’s campaign. “She’s delivered
 for Kansans by fully funding schools three years in a row, investing in
 our roads and bridges, creating and retaining more than 30,000 jobs and
 billions in new business dollars, and balancing the state’s pocketbook —
 all while battling a once-in-a-century pandemic.”

In terms of the year preceding an election, contributions to Schmidt 
set a high water mark among candidates challenging an incumbent Kansas 
governor. The previous record for a challenger was the $1 million raised
 by Democrat Paul Davis in 2013 in his race against incumbent GOP Gov. 
Sam Brownback.

Schmidt had 3,600 contributions during 2021, representing donors from
 all 105 counties. Of his total for the year, 95% of the money came from
 contributors from Kansas.

“This record-setting finance report reflects the unprecedented 
enthusiasm among Kansans for supporting Derek Schmidt’s candidacy for 
governor and his vision to get our state back on track,” said C.J. 
Grover, Schmidt’s campaign manager. “Kansans want positive change, and 
Derek Schmidt is poised to deliver it as governor.”

In the campaign for attorney general, Lecompton Republican Kris 
Kobach reported taking in $425,000, but that total included a $200,000 
loan from himself on Dec. 17. Kobach, the former secretary of state in 
Kansas, had $387,000 in cash at end of the year.

Republican Sen. Kellie Warren of Leawood generated $282,000 in 
contributions and had $231,000 on hand entering 2022. She made no 
personal loans to her campaign. Anthony Mattivi, a GOP candidate and a 
former federal prosecutor from Topeka, raised $135,000 and held $76,000 
when the reported period closed in December.

Warren’s total exceeded the off-year 
fundraising by the last four GOP nominees for attorney general, 
including Schmidt’s candidacies in 2009, 2003 and 2017.

“Our message of being the only Republican candidate who will fight 
back and win against the Biden administration and the radical left is 
clearly resonating across Kansas,” Warren said.

Lawrence attorney Chris Mann, who is the presumed Democratic nominee 
for attorney general, reported contributions of $192,000 and cash on 
hand of $160,000. He loaned himself nearly $8,000.

In the race for state treasurer, incumbent Democrat Lynn Rogers began
 2021 with $2,500 cash on hand and ended the year with $211,000 in his 
campaign account. During the year, he generated $237,000 in 
contributions from about 800 donors.

“We will continue to put in the grassroots effort that is 
needed to meet with voters across the state of Kansas as we connect with
 them about their concerns, raise awareness about the work of the state 
treasurer, and discuss what I hope to accomplish if I earn a second term
 from Kansans,” Rogers said.

In the four-person Republican field of candidates for 
treasurer, Rep. Steven Johnson of Assaria reported $403,000 in campaign 
contributions, including $200,000 in personal loans. He was sitting on 
$383,000 at close of the year.

Sen. Caryn Tyson, of Parker, took in $164,000 in the 
calendar year and was holding $155,000 in reserve. Former congressional 
candidate Sara Weir of Overland Park reported $85,000 in contributions 
and nearly that amount in available cash. Lawrence resident Michael 
Austin, who was a lobbyist with Kansas Policy Institute, reported 
$40,000 in contributions and $17,000 in cash.

Incumbent secretary of state Scott Schwab, an Overland Park 
Republican, took in $164,000 in donations for the year and had cash 
reserves of $174,000. His report included $26,000 personal loans from 
2018.

His primary opponent, Overland Park resident Mike Brown, raised 
$127,000 while making a personal loan of $100,000 to his campaign in 
December. Brown. who reported $127,000 cash on hand, is a Republican and
 former member of the Johnson County Commission.

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, a Topeka Republican, 
raised $153,000 during the year and build a campaign chest of $268,000. 
She loaned her campaign $5,200 in 2021 and was still carrying $68,000 in
 loans she made to herself four years ago.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641933594915.png" alt="Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a candidate for governor in 2022, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who is seeking re-election, raised substantial contributions to their campaigns. Kelly reported $2.04 million in donations in 2021, while Schmidt had $1.63 million for the year. (Photos by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a candidate for governor in 2022, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who is seeking re-election, raised substantial contributions to their campaigns. Kelly reported $2.04 million in donations in 2021, while Schmidt had $1.63 million for the year. (Photos by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Candidates bolster bottom line with $200,000 personal loans</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/11/gubernatorial-candidates-kelly-schmidt-raise-combined-3-6-million-during-2021/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura 
Kelly outdueled rival Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt in 
political contributions during 2021, while two GOP candidates for 
statewide office in Kansas bolstered their fundraising totals with 
personal loans of $200,000.Kelly’s report of campaign activity from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021, 
indicated she raised $2.04 million in that period and held $1.9 million 
in cash at close of the calendar year. Schmidt, who is seeking the 
Republican Party’s nomination for governor, took in $1.63 million during
 the year and was sitting on $1.3 million at year’s end.Kelly reported 25,000 contributions during the year and an average donation of $26.“The governor’s historic, grassroots fundraising
 record is more evidence that her steady leadership is what Kansans 
want,” said Shelbi Dantic, manager of Kelly’s campaign. “She’s delivered
 for Kansans by fully funding schools three years in a row, investing in
 our roads and bridges, creating and retaining more than 30,000 jobs and
 billions in new business dollars, and balancing the state’s pocketbook —
 all while battling a once-in-a-century pandemic.”In terms of the year preceding an election, contributions to Schmidt 
set a high water mark among candidates challenging an incumbent Kansas 
governor. The previous record for a challenger was the $1 million raised
 by Democrat Paul Davis in 2013 in his race against incumbent GOP Gov. 
Sam Brownback.Schmidt had 3,600 contributions during 2021, representing donors from
 all 105 counties. Of his total for the year, 95% of the money came from
 contributors from Kansas.“This record-setting finance report reflects the unprecedented 
enthusiasm among Kansans for supporting Derek Schmidt’s candidacy for 
governor and his vision to get our state back on track,” said C.J. 
Grover, Schmidt’s campaign manager. “Kansans want positive change, and 
Derek Schmidt is poised to deliver it as governor.”<h2>Hefty AG donations</h2>In the campaign for attorney general, Lecompton Republican Kris 
Kobach reported taking in $425,000, but that total included a $200,000 
loan from himself on Dec. 17. Kobach, the former secretary of state in 
Kansas, had $387,000 in cash at end of the year.Republican Sen. Kellie Warren of Leawood generated $282,000 in 
contributions and had $231,000 on hand entering 2022. She made no 
personal loans to her campaign. Anthony Mattivi, a GOP candidate and a 
former federal prosecutor from Topeka, raised $135,000 and held $76,000 
when the reported period closed in December.Warren’s total exceeded the off-year 
fundraising by the last four GOP nominees for attorney general, 
including Schmidt’s candidacies in 2009, 2003 and 2017.“Our message of being the only Republican candidate who will fight 
back and win against the Biden administration and the radical left is 
clearly resonating across Kansas,” Warren said.Lawrence attorney Chris Mann, who is the presumed Democratic nominee 
for attorney general, reported contributions of $192,000 and cash on 
hand of $160,000. He loaned himself nearly $8,000.<h2>More personal loans</h2>In the race for state treasurer, incumbent Democrat Lynn Rogers began
 2021 with $2,500 cash on hand and ended the year with $211,000 in his 
campaign account. During the year, he generated $237,000 in 
contributions from about 800 donors.“We will continue to put in the grassroots effort that is 
needed to meet with voters across the state of Kansas as we connect with
 them about their concerns, raise awareness about the work of the state 
treasurer, and discuss what I hope to accomplish if I earn a second term
 from Kansans,” Rogers said.In the four-person Republican field of candidates for 
treasurer, Rep. Steven Johnson of Assaria reported $403,000 in campaign 
contributions, including $200,000 in personal loans. He was sitting on 
$383,000 at close of the year.Sen. Caryn Tyson, of Parker, took in $164,000 in the 
calendar year and was holding $155,000 in reserve. Former congressional 
candidate Sara Weir of Overland Park reported $85,000 in contributions 
and nearly that amount in available cash. Lawrence resident Michael 
Austin, who was a lobbyist with Kansas Policy Institute, reported 
$40,000 in contributions and $17,000 in cash.Incumbent secretary of state Scott Schwab, an Overland Park 
Republican, took in $164,000 in donations for the year and had cash 
reserves of $174,000. His report included $26,000 personal loans from 
2018.His primary opponent, Overland Park resident Mike Brown, raised 
$127,000 while making a personal loan of $100,000 to his campaign in 
December. Brown. who reported $127,000 cash on hand, is a Republican and
 former member of the Johnson County Commission.Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, a Topeka Republican, 
raised $153,000 during the year and build a campaign chest of $268,000. 
She loaned her campaign $5,200 in 2021 and was still carrying $68,000 in
 loans she made to herself four years ago.

Gubernatorial candidates Kelly, Schmidt raise $3.6M in '21

BY ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/09/nonrenewable-resource-as-western-kansas-dries-up-legislature-revisits-water-policy/">Kansas Reflector</a>

KANSAS
 CITY, Mo. — For the better part of a decade, the drinking water supply 
for a small southwest Kansas town was almost constantly contaminated 
with unsafe levels of radium, a radioactive element that can cause 
cancer.

The city of Lakin found unsafe levels
 of uranium in its water in 2007, said Mike Heinitz, the city’s 
administrator. For years, it sent quarterly notices telling residents 
they could be consuming high levels of uranium before opening a 
multimillion dollar treatment facility in 2015.

Now, Lakin’s water meets federal standards. But neighboring Deerfield, downstream on the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/11/we-must-change-our-relationship-to-water-or-lose-it-forever/">Arkansas River</a>, might have to pipe in water from Lakin for the same reason.

Uranium and sulfate flow into Kansas 
from Colorado on the Arkansas River. Quality of the water in that part 
of the state is expected only to get worse as groundwater supplies are 
depleted, causing concentrations of the contaminates to rise.

It’s one of myriad water issues 
facing Kansas that members of the House Water Committee studied in 
informational meetings last year. This legislative session, committee 
members will look to reorganize the Kansas agencies that deal in water 
and identify long-needed funding for projects.

“We learned that it’s not critical, 
but it’s a situation we need to deal with and we need to have a plan put
 in place now,” said Rep. Ron Highland, a Wamego Republican who chairs 
the committee. “And we can’t wait, quite frankly.”

Lakin residents’ water bills doubled,
 Heinitz said, to pay for the uranium treatment. The High Plains 
aquifer, which supplies water to huge swaths of Kansas, is fast 
depleting, threatening farmers’ access to water and, by extension, the 
state’s largest industry. And in eastern Kansas, reservoirs that provide
 drinking water are filling with sediment, forcing Kansas to consider 
costly dredging or come up with another way to protect residents’ access
 to drinking water.

Highland said the state has, for 
years, vastly underfunded projects needed to ensure Kansans —&nbsp;and Kansas
 farmers —&nbsp;have the water they need to survive.

“The funding is a little trickier,” 
Highland said, “because we’re up against education and all the social 
programs in our state. And there’s just not enough money to go around.”

Highland didn’t say how the committee
 might restructure the 16 state agencies that play some role in 
regulating water quality and quantity. He has some ideas but wants to 
discuss them with colleagues.

But he said he has spoken with Lt. Gov. David Toland about identifying federal funds to help with some water projects.

Uranium and sulfate likely have been 
flowing from Colorado to Kansas for more than 100 years, according to 
the Kansas Geological Survey.

In 2009, the average uranium content 
in the Arkansas River at the Colorado-Kansas border was double the 
standard set for drinking water by the Environmental Protection Agency.

And because, for decades, the High 
Plains Aquifer in western Kansas has been depleting, the water entering 
the state on the Arkansas River doesn’t get far. <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/11/we-must-change-our-relationship-to-water-or-lose-it-forever/">The riverbed is nearly always dry</a>
 from just upstream of Garden City east to Larned or Great Bend, said 
Don Whittemore, a senior scientific fellow emeritus at the Kansas 
Geological Survey.

That means the contamination that 
comes over from Colorado stays in the groundwater of southwest Kansas, 
building the concentration over time.

“It’s kind of like a positive 
feedback loop where it keeps getting more and more concentrated,” said 
Erin Seybold, an assistant scientist for the survey. “As you continue to
 lose water, the salt product that is left behind becomes more and more 
concentrated.”

At this point, Whittemore said, the 
uranium isn’t found in high concentrations in the grains grown in the 
area, though it exists in higher concentrations in the roots of crops. 
As salt and uranium accumulate in the closed water basin, he said, there
 needs to be more study.

“Because if we’re going to accumulate
 this in a closed basin, well, does that mean in the future these crops 
start to get higher so that they become a concern?” Whittemore said.

For the last couple of years, the 
Kansas Geological Survey has been analyzing samples to update its 
understanding of where the uranium is concentrated in the area.

The High Plains Aquifer has lost more
 than 60% of its depth in some parts of far western Kansas, particularly
 the western third of the aquifer, known as the Ogallala Aquifer.

Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, of Overland 
Park, serves as the House Water Committee’s ranking Democrat. She called
 the Ogallala Aquifer “more or less a nonrenewable resource.”

“So the water that we have in the 
aquifer is all that we essentially get, and it is hugely influential for
 our agricultural industry,” Vaughn said.

In some places, only 20 years of supply remain.

“When you’re in Garden City and you 
take the bridge over the Ark River, it’s completely dried up,” Vaughn 
said. “… Just visually, it’s very apparent how the lack of water is 
present in the daily lives of that community and how it’s an increasing 
concern, especially for the western part of our state.”

Some farmers in western Kansas have 
begun using probes underground to assess the soil moisture and irrigate 
more strategically. Highland said they have managed to save water while 
still maintaining a good crop yield, meaning their profits have 
increased.

Highland said he would like to see a cost-sharing program to help more farmers install that technology.

Meanwhile, the wetter eastern part of the state has its own problems.

Reservoirs that supply drinking 
water, like Tuttle Creek Lake, are filling up with sediment carried from
 upstream and settling in the dammed reservoirs.

Tuttle Creek Lake has lost about half
 of its storage capacity since it opened 60 years ago. It’s too large 
for the state to dredge, Highland said. He hopes the state can fund a 
pilot program this year to stir up the silt in Tuttle Creek Lake and 
send it down river as it would flow if it weren’t for the dam that 
formed the reservoir.

In Kansas, 16 state agencies — from 
the Adjutant General’s Office to the Kansas Forest Service and the 
Kansas Department of Health and Environment — have overlapping authority
 over water quality, research, flood management and other issues.

On top of those, federal agencies 
including the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture and the Army Corps of Engineers have jurisdiction over 
water.

Highland said that creates the potential for substantial overlap and confusion for citizens.

One of his priorities for the Water Committee will be restructuring the state departments to streamline water policy.

Beyond that, Vaughn and Highland said
 water priorities in Kansas had been underfunded to the tune of more 
than $70 million in recent decades.

A <a target="_blank" href="https://kwo.ks.gov/docs/default-source/water-vision-water-plan/blue-ribbon-funding-task-force-documents/rpt_brftf_final_011217.pdf?sfvrsn=64c48614_0">task force in 2017</a> said it would take about $55 million per year to fund a <a target="_blank" href="https://kwo.ks.gov/docs/default-source/water-vision-water-plan/vision/rpt_water_vision_reformatted_kf1d56e11da40b6667970cff000032a16e.pdf?sfvrsn=0">long-term vision for Kansas water management</a> developed under former Gov. Sam Brownback.

“We are just barely scratching the surface of projects that need to be implemented,” Vaughn said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641830240793.png" alt="The dry bed of the Arkansas River near the Santa Fe Trail crossing at Cimarron. The Ogallala aquifer groundwater levels in much of western Kansas started dropping in the 1950s as pumping increased, according to the Kansas Geological Survey. (Max McCoy / Courtesy Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The dry bed of the Arkansas River near the Santa Fe Trail crossing at Cimarron. The Ogallala aquifer groundwater levels in much of western Kansas started dropping in the 1950s as pumping increased, according to the Kansas Geological Survey. (Max McCoy / Courtesy Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/09/nonrenewable-resource-as-western-kansas-dries-up-legislature-revisits-water-policy/">Kansas Reflector</a>KANSAS
 CITY, Mo. — For the better part of a decade, the drinking water supply 
for a small southwest Kansas town was almost constantly contaminated 
with unsafe levels of radium, a radioactive element that can cause 
cancer.The city of Lakin found unsafe levels
 of uranium in its water in 2007, said Mike Heinitz, the city’s 
administrator. For years, it sent quarterly notices telling residents 
they could be consuming high levels of uranium before opening a 
multimillion dollar treatment facility in 2015.Now, Lakin’s water meets federal standards. But neighboring Deerfield, downstream on the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/11/we-must-change-our-relationship-to-water-or-lose-it-forever/">Arkansas River</a>, might have to pipe in water from Lakin for the same reason.Uranium and sulfate flow into Kansas 
from Colorado on the Arkansas River. Quality of the water in that part 
of the state is expected only to get worse as groundwater supplies are 
depleted, causing concentrations of the contaminates to rise.It’s one of myriad water issues 
facing Kansas that members of the House Water Committee studied in 
informational meetings last year. This legislative session, committee 
members will look to reorganize the Kansas agencies that deal in water 
and identify long-needed funding for projects.“We learned that it’s not critical, 
but it’s a situation we need to deal with and we need to have a plan put
 in place now,” said Rep. Ron Highland, a Wamego Republican who chairs 
the committee. “And we can’t wait, quite frankly.”Lakin residents’ water bills doubled,
 Heinitz said, to pay for the uranium treatment. The High Plains 
aquifer, which supplies water to huge swaths of Kansas, is fast 
depleting, threatening farmers’ access to water and, by extension, the 
state’s largest industry. And in eastern Kansas, reservoirs that provide
 drinking water are filling with sediment, forcing Kansas to consider 
costly dredging or come up with another way to protect residents’ access
 to drinking water.Highland said the state has, for 
years, vastly underfunded projects needed to ensure Kansans —&nbsp;and Kansas
 farmers —&nbsp;have the water they need to survive.“The funding is a little trickier,” 
Highland said, “because we’re up against education and all the social 
programs in our state. And there’s just not enough money to go around.”Highland didn’t say how the committee
 might restructure the 16 state agencies that play some role in 
regulating water quality and quantity. He has some ideas but wants to 
discuss them with colleagues.But he said he has spoken with Lt. Gov. David Toland about identifying federal funds to help with some water projects.<h2>Uranium in southwest Kansas&nbsp;</h2>Uranium and sulfate likely have been 
flowing from Colorado to Kansas for more than 100 years, according to 
the Kansas Geological Survey.In 2009, the average uranium content 
in the Arkansas River at the Colorado-Kansas border was double the 
standard set for drinking water by the Environmental Protection Agency.And because, for decades, the High 
Plains Aquifer in western Kansas has been depleting, the water entering 
the state on the Arkansas River doesn’t get far. <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/11/we-must-change-our-relationship-to-water-or-lose-it-forever/">The riverbed is nearly always dry</a>
 from just upstream of Garden City east to Larned or Great Bend, said 
Don Whittemore, a senior scientific fellow emeritus at the Kansas 
Geological Survey.That means the contamination that 
comes over from Colorado stays in the groundwater of southwest Kansas, 
building the concentration over time.“It’s kind of like a positive 
feedback loop where it keeps getting more and more concentrated,” said 
Erin Seybold, an assistant scientist for the survey. “As you continue to
 lose water, the salt product that is left behind becomes more and more 
concentrated.”At this point, Whittemore said, the 
uranium isn’t found in high concentrations in the grains grown in the 
area, though it exists in higher concentrations in the roots of crops. 
As salt and uranium accumulate in the closed water basin, he said, there
 needs to be more study.“Because if we’re going to accumulate
 this in a closed basin, well, does that mean in the future these crops 
start to get higher so that they become a concern?” Whittemore said.For the last couple of years, the 
Kansas Geological Survey has been analyzing samples to update its 
understanding of where the uranium is concentrated in the area.<h2>Access to water</h2>The High Plains Aquifer has lost more
 than 60% of its depth in some parts of far western Kansas, particularly
 the western third of the aquifer, known as the Ogallala Aquifer.Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, of Overland 
Park, serves as the House Water Committee’s ranking Democrat. She called
 the Ogallala Aquifer “more or less a nonrenewable resource.”“So the water that we have in the 
aquifer is all that we essentially get, and it is hugely influential for
 our agricultural industry,” Vaughn said.In some places, only 20 years of supply remain.“When you’re in Garden City and you 
take the bridge over the Ark River, it’s completely dried up,” Vaughn 
said. “… Just visually, it’s very apparent how the lack of water is 
present in the daily lives of that community and how it’s an increasing 
concern, especially for the western part of our state.”Some farmers in western Kansas have 
begun using probes underground to assess the soil moisture and irrigate 
more strategically. Highland said they have managed to save water while 
still maintaining a good crop yield, meaning their profits have 
increased.Highland said he would like to see a cost-sharing program to help more farmers install that technology.Meanwhile, the wetter eastern part of the state has its own problems.Reservoirs that supply drinking 
water, like Tuttle Creek Lake, are filling up with sediment carried from
 upstream and settling in the dammed reservoirs.Tuttle Creek Lake has lost about half
 of its storage capacity since it opened 60 years ago. It’s too large 
for the state to dredge, Highland said. He hopes the state can fund a 
pilot program this year to stir up the silt in Tuttle Creek Lake and 
send it down river as it would flow if it weren’t for the dam that 
formed the reservoir.<h2>The year ahead</h2>In Kansas, 16 state agencies — from 
the Adjutant General’s Office to the Kansas Forest Service and the 
Kansas Department of Health and Environment — have overlapping authority
 over water quality, research, flood management and other issues.On top of those, federal agencies 
including the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture and the Army Corps of Engineers have jurisdiction over 
water.Highland said that creates the potential for substantial overlap and confusion for citizens.One of his priorities for the Water Committee will be restructuring the state departments to streamline water policy.Beyond that, Vaughn and Highland said
 water priorities in Kansas had been underfunded to the tune of more 
than $70 million in recent decades.A <a target="_blank" href="https://kwo.ks.gov/docs/default-source/water-vision-water-plan/blue-ribbon-funding-task-force-documents/rpt_brftf_final_011217.pdf?sfvrsn=64c48614_0">task force in 2017</a> said it would take about $55 million per year to fund a <a target="_blank" href="https://kwo.ks.gov/docs/default-source/water-vision-water-plan/vision/rpt_water_vision_reformatted_kf1d56e11da40b6667970cff000032a16e.pdf?sfvrsn=0">long-term vision for Kansas water management</a> developed under former Gov. Sam Brownback.“We are just barely scratching the surface of projects that need to be implemented,” Vaughn said.

As western Kansas dries up, Legislature revisits water policy

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Employee absences fueled by a surge in COVID-19 cases are straining Kansas hospitals, schools and emergency services and raising questions about whether some court trials might need to be delayed.

When students returned from break last week in the Wichita school district, 1,274 of the district’s 47,000 students and 399 of the district’s 7,600 employees weren’t in school because they had been exposed to the virus. That’s more than three times the amount of students and seven times as many staff members who were quarantining in late November.

There were also 172 positive cases among staff members, up from 13 in the week before the break. Some central office staff members with teaching degrees are helping out in schools, said Susan Arensman, a district spokesperson.

The situation has led the Kansas State Board of Education to announce that no in-person attendees will be allowed at its meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The number of patients continues to climb at the University of Kansas Hospital, hitting 162 on Monday. Among them, 119 are still in the infectious phase of the illness, a record amount for the hospital since the start of the pandemic. On top of that, 850 employees were out over the weekend, either isolating because they were positive or because they were waiting for test results.

“So it’s obviously a big number. We’ve got to supplant those individuals at the bedside in every way that we can,” said Chris Ruder, the hospital’s chief operating officer. That means surgeries and clinics have been canceled and staff is being shifted to bedside care.

Ruder attributed the strain to the highly contagious omicron variant.

“It is putting us in the situation we’re in currently today without the ability to provide care across our country and in areas that patients need,” he said.

In the Kansas City area, some paramedics are working 80 hours a week because so many employees are out sick, said Chris Winger, an EMS battalion chief who supervises paramedics in Johnson County, Kansas.

“I can’t emphasize this enough ... our crews are making huge personal sacrifices to make sure that when someone calls 911 that an ambulance is there,” said Winger, who worked 78 hours last week.

Winger said some ambulance patients are being taken straight to the hospital waiting room.

“Emergency services is just very saturated right now,” he said.

Since Dec. 1, Kansas has seen an average of 42 new hospitalizations a day, up from 27 in November, according to state health department data.

Last week, Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez expressed concern about continuing in-person court hearings as COVID-19 cases continue to rise

Valdez said in a news release that she was working to gather input from the public on whether they felt comfortable participating in in-person hearings amid the current surge of cases.

Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, said employers are having to make tough decisions and take precautions like requiring masks again.

“And the bottom line is if we don’t do this and we let the spread continue, you’re going to see the notes on the door that say, you know, we’ve had to close down because we don’t have the staff,” he said.

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTHMISSION, Kan. (AP) — Employee absences fueled by a surge in COVID-19 cases are straining Kansas hospitals, schools and emergency services and raising questions about whether some court trials might need to be delayed.When students returned from break last week in the Wichita school district, 1,274 of the district’s 47,000 students and 399 of the district’s 7,600 employees weren’t in school because they had been exposed to the virus. That’s more than three times the amount of students and seven times as many staff members who were quarantining in late November.There were also 172 positive cases among staff members, up from 13 in the week before the break. Some central office staff members with teaching degrees are helping out in schools, said Susan Arensman, a district spokesperson.“We have to be creative,” she said.The situation has led the Kansas State Board of Education to announce that no in-person attendees will be allowed at its meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday.The number of patients continues to climb at the University of Kansas Hospital, hitting 162 on Monday. Among them, 119 are still in the infectious phase of the illness, a record amount for the hospital since the start of the pandemic. On top of that, 850 employees were out over the weekend, either isolating because they were positive or because they were waiting for test results.“So it’s obviously a big number. We’ve got to supplant those individuals at the bedside in every way that we can,” said Chris Ruder, the hospital’s chief operating officer. That means surgeries and clinics have been canceled and staff is being shifted to bedside care.Ruder attributed the strain to the highly contagious omicron variant.“It is putting us in the situation we’re in currently today without the ability to provide care across our country and in areas that patients need,” he said.In the Kansas City area, some paramedics are working 80 hours a week because so many employees are out sick, said Chris Winger, an EMS battalion chief who supervises paramedics in Johnson County, Kansas.“I can’t emphasize this enough ... our crews are making huge personal sacrifices to make sure that when someone calls 911 that an ambulance is there,” said Winger, who worked 78 hours last week.Winger said some ambulance patients are being taken straight to the hospital waiting room.“Emergency services is just very saturated right now,” he said.Since Dec. 1, Kansas has seen an average of 42 new hospitalizations a day, up from 27 in November, according to state health department data.Last week, Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez expressed concern about continuing in-person court hearings as COVID-19 cases continue to riseValdez said in a news release that she was working to gather input from the public on whether they felt comfortable participating in in-person hearings amid the current surge of cases.Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, said employers are having to make tough decisions and take precautions like requiring masks again.“And the bottom line is if we don’t do this and we let the spread continue, you’re going to see the notes on the door that say, you know, we’ve had to close down because we don’t have the staff,” he said.___

Staff absences plague schools, health care amid COVID surge

SEWARD COUNTY– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Seward County Sheriff’s Office announced a Liberal man has been arrested connected to the April 2019 murders of 25-year-old Timothy J. Martin, and 31-year-old Erick G. Salas.

Just before 1:30p.m.&nbsp; Monday, 30-year-old Ralph Thomas Salas Jr. of Liberal, was arrested at 415 North Washington Street in Liberal on requested charges that include two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and other charges, according to a media release from the KBI.

Salas is alleged to have participated in the robbery, kidnapping and shooting deaths of Timothy Martin and Erick Salas. The victims’ bodies were found in separate locations on April 2, 2019. Martin was discovered by a farmer on his property near U.S. Highway 54 and the Kansas/Oklahoma state line in Texas County, Oklahoma. Salas was discovered deceased in a trailer at the Seven Winds RV Park in Liberal. Ralph Salas and Erick Salas were not related.

The Seward County Attorney is expected to prosecute the case

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), the Liberal Police Department, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Texas County Sheriff’s Office, and the District 1 District Attorney’s Task Force also assisted with the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641921437561.png" alt="Salas is being held in Seward County, according to the KBI" />
 <figcaption>Salas is being held in Seward County, according to the KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Seward County Sheriff’s Office announced a Liberal man has been arrested connected to the April 2019 murders of 25-year-old Timothy J. Martin, and 31-year-old Erick G. Salas.Just before 1:30p.m.&nbsp; Monday, 30-year-old Ralph Thomas Salas Jr. of Liberal, was arrested at 415 North Washington Street in Liberal on requested charges that include two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and other charges, according to a media release from the KBI.Salas is alleged to have participated in the robbery, kidnapping and shooting deaths of Timothy Martin and Erick Salas. The victims’ bodies were found in separate locations on April 2, 2019. Martin was discovered by a farmer on his property near U.S. Highway 54 and the Kansas/Oklahoma state line in Texas County, Oklahoma. Salas was discovered deceased in a trailer at the Seven Winds RV Park in Liberal. Ralph Salas and Erick Salas were not related.The Seward County Attorney is expected to prosecute the caseThe Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), the Liberal Police Department, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Texas County Sheriff’s Office, and the District 1 District Attorney’s Task Force also assisted with the investigation.

KBI: Southwest Kan. man accused in 2019 double-murder

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect from Nebraska on drug charges after a traffic stop in Kansas.

Just before 8:30p.m. January 7, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2015 Ford Explorer near SW 17th Street and SW Buchanan Street in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the stop, a deputy located evidence of financial crimes and  Illegal narcotics.&nbsp; The deputy placed the driver and sole occupant, Jordan M. Koda, 29, Omaha, Nebraska, into custody and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and driving with a suspended driver’s license. This incident and potential financial crimes are actively under investigation, according to Christian.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641853373576.png" alt="Koda-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Koda-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect from Nebraska on drug charges after a traffic stop in Kansas.Just before 8:30p.m. January 7, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2015 Ford Explorer near SW 17th Street and SW Buchanan Street in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the stop, a deputy located evidence of financial crimes and Illegal narcotics.&nbsp; The deputy placed the driver and sole occupant, Jordan M. Koda, 29, Omaha, Nebraska, into custody and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and driving with a suspended driver’s license. This incident and potential financial crimes are actively under investigation, according to Christian.

Man investigated for alleged financial crimes in Kansas

Fans of the beloved Betty White, seeking to honor her legacy, 
are encouraging people to contribute to animal rescue and other 
animal-related charities.

Some are calling this the “<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/betty-white-challenge-animal-shelter-donations-173246263.html" target="_blank">Betty White Challenge</a> (#bettywhitechallenge)” and intend to donate on Monday, January 17, which would have been her 100th birthday. BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB’s <a href="https://www.give.org" target="_blank">Give.org</a>) has compiled a list of animal charities that meet the 20&nbsp;<a href="https://www.give.org/donor-landing-page/bbb-standards-for-charity-accountability" target="_blank">BBB Standards for Charity Accountability</a> (i.e., BBB Accredited Charities).&nbsp;

Donors are encouraged when making a donation choice to watch out for animal charities that have similar sounding names. <a href="https://give.org/news/honor-betty-white-by-supporting-animal-charities" target="_blank">Access this list and information</a> or visit BBB’s <a href="https://www.give.org/" target="_blank">Give.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641934918670.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Fans of the beloved Betty White, seeking to honor her legacy, 
are encouraging people to contribute to animal rescue and other 
animal-related charities.Some are calling this the “<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/betty-white-challenge-animal-shelter-donations-173246263.html" target="_blank">Betty White Challenge</a> (#bettywhitechallenge)” and intend to donate on Monday, January 17, which would have been her 100th birthday. BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB’s <a href="https://www.give.org" target="_blank">Give.org</a>) has compiled a list of animal charities that meet the 20&nbsp;<a href="https://www.give.org/donor-landing-page/bbb-standards-for-charity-accountability" target="_blank">BBB Standards for Charity Accountability</a> (i.e., BBB Accredited Charities).&nbsp;Donors are encouraged when making a donation choice to watch out for animal charities that have similar sounding names. <a href="https://give.org/news/honor-betty-white-by-supporting-animal-charities" target="_blank">Access this list and information</a> or visit BBB’s <a href="https://www.give.org/" target="_blank">Give.org</a>.

BBB Tip: Donating to animal charities to honor Betty White

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Tuesday fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile into its eastern sea, its second launch in a week, following leader Kim Jong Un’s calls to expand its nuclear weapons program in defiance of international opposition.

The launches follow a series of weapons tests in 2021 that underscored how North Korea is continuing to expand its military capabilities during a self-imposed pandemic lockdown and deadlocked nuclear talks with the United States.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired what likely was a ballistic missile from the area of its northern Jagang province. It said the weapon flew 700 kilometers (434 miles) at a maximum speed of around Mach 10 before landing in waters off its eastern coast, demonstrating a more advanced capability than North Korea’s launch last week.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Tuesday fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile into its eastern sea, its second launch in a week, following leader Kim Jong Un’s calls to expand its nuclear weapons program in defiance of international opposition.The launches follow a series of weapons tests in 2021 that underscored how North Korea is continuing to expand its military capabilities during a self-imposed pandemic lockdown and deadlocked nuclear talks with the United States.South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired what likely was a ballistic missile from the area of its northern Jagang province. It said the weapon flew 700 kilometers (434 miles) at a maximum speed of around Mach 10 before landing in waters off its eastern coast, demonstrating a more advanced capability than North Korea’s launch last week.The North’s state media described the earlier launch as a successful test of a hypersonic missile, a type of weaponry it claimed to have first tested in September.South Korean officials didn’t provide a specific assessment of the missile type, but some experts said North Korea may have tested its purported hypersonic missile again in response to the South Korean military playing down its previous test.Japan’s Defense Ministry said the suspected ballistic missile landed outside the country’s exclusive economic zone.Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said officials were checking the safety of ships and aircraft around Japan, but there were no immediate reports of disruptions or damage.“It is extremely regrettable that North Korea has continued to fire” missiles so soon after the U.N. Security Council discussed its response to the North’s earlier launch, Kishida said.The Security Council held closed-door consultations on Monday on last week’s launch, but took no action. Ahead of the talks, the U.S. and five allies issued a statement urging North Korea to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.South Korea’s presidential office said Tuesday’s launch was discussed at an emergency National Security Council meeting, whose members have urged North Korea to return to talks. President Moon Jae-in expressed concern that Pyongyang was dialing up its testing activity ahead of the South’s presidential elections in March.The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the launch did not pose an “immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies.”Still, the launch corresponded with an order issued to ground some flights on the U.S. West Coast.KCRA, a television station in Sacramento, California, quoted officials at both its local airport and San Francisco International Airport as saying flights stopped for around five minutes at 2:30 p.m. local time, which was just minutes after the launch. They attributed the stop to an order by the Federal Aviation Administration.Air-traffic controllers in other West Coast areas similarly ordered aircraft down, according to recordings shared online. A San Francisco air traffic controller ordered flights to avoid its airspace and not take off or land around the time without explaining why, according to a recording by the website&nbsp;<a href="http://liveatc.net/" target="_blank">LiveATC.net.</a>“Things are changing really quick,” the air traffic controller said in the recording, adding later: “I just heard something about ground-stopping all aircraft, so I don’t know anything, just hold tight there.”An air-traffic controller at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport similarly told aircraft in the region they received an order for a “ground stop, all aircraft, all airports.” Air traffic controllers at Los Angeles International Airport also acknowledged receiving an order to stop departures at the same time, without explanation, according to another recording.The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the ground stop.The launch came six days after North Korea fired a missile into the sea in what it described as a successful test of a hypersonic missile.Seoul’s Defense Ministry said after that test that North Korea had exaggerated its capabilities and had tested a conventional ballistic missile the South was capable of intercepting. The ministry said it doubts that North Korea has acquired the technologies needed for a hypersonic weapon.Analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at South Korea’s Sejong Institute said the North’s leadership would have been “enraged” by South Korea’s assessment of last week’s launch and may have planned a series of tests in a push to make its threat credible.Hypersonic weapons, which fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, could pose a crucial challenge to missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability. Such weapons were on a wish-list of sophisticated military assets Kim unveiled last year along with multi-warhead missiles, spy satellites, solid-fueled long-range missiles and submarine-launched nuclear missiles.Experts say North Korea is likely years away from acquiring a credible hypersonic system.North Korea’s previous test on Jan. 5 came days after Kim vowed during a key political conference to bolster his military forces, even as the nation grapples with pandemic-related difficulties that have further strained its economy, crippled by U.S.-led sanctions over its nuclear program.The setbacks have left Kim with little to show for his diplomacy with former U.S. President Donald Trump, which derailed after their second meeting in 2019 when the Americans rejected North Korea’s demand for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.The Biden administration, whose policies have reflected a broader shift in U.S. focus from counterterrorism and so-called rogue states like North Korea and Iran to confronting a near-peer adversary in China, has said it’s willing to resume talks with North Korea “anywhere and at any time” without preconditions.But North Korea has so far rejected the idea of open-ended talks, saying the U.S. must first withdraw its “hostile policy,” a term the North mainly uses to describe the sanctions and joint U.S.-South Korea military drills.“Even with North Korea’s pandemic border lockdowns restricting trade and diplomacy, Pyongyang is determined to run an arms race against Seoul and deny Washington the luxury of focusing on Russia and China,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.___