WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man in connection with making and spending counterfeit cash, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Johnny Hockaday, 57, of Wichita, is accused of manufacturing and possessing counterfeit federal currency of various denominations in 2019. He is also accused of attempting to defraud a business using four counterfeit $100 bills in September 2021.

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641417506162.png" alt="Hockaday photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hockaday photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man in connection with making and spending counterfeit cash, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Johnny Hockaday, 57, of Wichita, is accused of manufacturing and possessing counterfeit federal currency of various denominations in 2019. He is also accused of attempting to defraud a business using four counterfeit $100 bills in September 2021.The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the case.

Kan. man indicted for making, spending counterfeit cash

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a traffic stop where a Kansas deputy was injured have the driver who fled the scene in custody.

&nbsp;Just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 5300 block of SW Topeka Boulevard on a blue Mercedes C300 passenger car, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 During the investigation, the driver and front passenger attempted to exit the vehicle multiple times. The front male passenger, later identified as Tony M. Gant Jr, 39, of Topeka, exited the vehicle, refused to follow any commands and initiated a physical altercation with the deputy. 

During the physical altercation that led to Gant being taken into custody, the driver identified as&nbsp;39-year-old Patrick C. Morere &nbsp;exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.

Gant was arrested, booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony battery against a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement.

The deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment and released following this incident.

Late Friday Morere turned himself in at the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, according to Christian. Morere was interviewed by the Criminal Investigations Division, arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of driving under the influence, interference with law enforcement, improper driving on laned roadway and failure to signal turn.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspects involved in a traffic stop that injured a sheriff's deputy and are looking for the driver of the vehicle who fled the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During the physical altercation that led to Gant being taken into custody, the male driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.

Authorities identified the driver as 39-year-old Patrick C. Morere of Topeka. Anyone with information on Morere’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office. A 32-year-old female passenger was interviewed and released from the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641660613847.png" alt="Morere photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Morere photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a traffic stop where a Kansas deputy was injured have the driver who fled the scene in custody.&nbsp;Just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 5300 block of SW Topeka Boulevard on a blue Mercedes C300 passenger car, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. During the investigation, the driver and front passenger attempted to exit the vehicle multiple times. The front male passenger, later identified as Tony M. Gant Jr, 39, of Topeka, exited the vehicle, refused to follow any commands and initiated a physical altercation with the deputy. During the physical altercation that led to Gant being taken into custody, the driver identified as&nbsp;39-year-old Patrick C. Morere &nbsp;exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.Gant was arrested, booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony battery against a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641505804589.png" alt="Gant-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Gant-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment and released following this incident.Late Friday Morere turned himself in at the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, according to Christian. Morere was interviewed by the Criminal Investigations Division, arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of driving under the influence, interference with law enforcement, improper driving on laned roadway and failure to signal turn.-----SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspects involved in a traffic stop that injured a sheriff's deputy and are looking for the driver of the vehicle who fled the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641505836289.png" alt="Law enforcement continues to search for Patrick Morere -photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff." />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement continues to search for Patrick Morere -photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 5300 block of SW Topeka Boulevard on a blue Mercedes C300 passenger car, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. During the investigation, the driver and front passenger attempted to exit the vehicle multiple times. The front male passenger, later identified as Tony M. Gant Jr, 39, of Topeka, exited the vehicle, refused to follow any commands and initiated a physical altercation with the deputy. During the physical altercation that led to Gant being taken into custody, the male driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.Gant was arrested, booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony battery against a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641505804589.png" alt="Gant-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Gant-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment and released following this incident.Authorities identified the driver as 39-year-old Patrick C. Morere of Topeka. Anyone with information on Morere’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office. A 32-year-old female passenger was interviewed and released from the scene.

Driver turns himself in after Kan. deputy injured in traffic stop

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a fatal weekend stabbing made his first court appearance Wednesday.&nbsp; Bryce Johnson, 27, Bel Aire, was charged in the first-degree murder of 44-year old Jayson Stalkup, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a stabbing in the 2700 block of N Amidon in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

 On arrival, officers located Stalkup in the parking lot with multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene.

At around the same time officers were dispatched to the stabbing, an injury accident was called in at 25th and Amidon. Officers arrived at that location and contacted 27-year-old Bryce Johnson of Bel Aire, Kansas, who they were able to identify as the suspect in the stabbing.

The investigation revealed that the two were involved in an altercation at an apartment complex when Johnston fatally stabbed Stalkup. It is believed the two men were known to each other.

Johnston was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries, then transported to the Sedgwick County Jail, according to Macy. He is being held on a $500,000 bond and is expected back in court on January 18, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641221110685.png" alt="Johnston-photo Sedgwick o." />
 <figcaption>Johnston-photo Sedgwick o.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a fatal weekend stabbing made his first court appearance Wednesday.&nbsp; Bryce Johnson, 27, Bel Aire, was charged in the first-degree murder of 44-year old Jayson Stalkup, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a stabbing in the 2700 block of N Amidon in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy. On arrival, officers located Stalkup in the parking lot with multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641220101073.png" alt="Police on the sene of the stabbing investigation photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the sene of the stabbing investigation photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>At around the same time officers were dispatched to the stabbing, an injury accident was called in at 25th and Amidon. Officers arrived at that location and contacted 27-year-old Bryce Johnson of Bel Aire, Kansas, who they were able to identify as the suspect in the stabbing.The investigation revealed that the two were involved in an altercation at an apartment complex when Johnston fatally stabbed Stalkup. It is believed the two men were known to each other.Johnston was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries, then transported to the Sedgwick County Jail, according to Macy. He is being held on a $500,000 bond and is expected back in court on January 18, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man charged in fatal apartment parking lot killing 

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 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>.

KCPD asks for help to locate suspect who killed mother of 2 in crash

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2022-01-03/transgender-inmates-say-the-way-theyre-treated-in-kansas-prisons-puts-them-in-danger">Kansas News Service</a>

Rayne Bennett hadn’t begun her gender transition the first time she 
was sent to a state prison. She was held in a men’s prison and that felt
 like the right choice.

Upon reflection and meditation, she decided while in that men’s facility to begin her transition to female.

“Obviously,” Bennett said, “this is who I am.”

After
 her release from prison, she began taking hormone therapy, got a gender
 doctor and a gender therapist. She began dressing as a woman. 
Eventually, she became more comfortable with herself.

“Not only 
are the looks different, the personality is dramatically different. Not 
just confidence, not just self-esteem, not just an actual smile. But, in
 reality, it’s that sense of peace,” Bennett said. “I feel better than I
 felt in my entire life.”

Prisons and jails can be difficult 
places for transgender people. Staff and other inmates treat them 
poorly, they struggle for basic necessities and even fear for their 
safety. Trans inmates say Kansas prisons fail to recognize their gender 
identity or protect them from violence and staff harassment.

Bennett
 would end up back in Kansas prisons. She said her first sentence in 
state prison “was a breeze.” In her second stint, that gender transition
 was well underway, she struggled immensely. The only difference was how
 she looked.

The second time Bennett was arrested, she was placed 
in a men's prison despite identifying as female. That’s common practice.
 Prison officials have the authority to decide where to place 
transgender inmates.

She met with a behavioral health professional
 at the prison expecting a diagnosis for gender dysphoria. Gender 
dysphoria isn’t the same as being transgender, but it is when someone is
 distressed because they don’t identify with the gender they were 
assigned at birth. The diagnosis also helps transgender inmates get the 
services they need to live in their gender identity while they’re in 
prison.

But prison medical staff rejected the idea that Bennett 
was transgender at all. She wanted to seek a second opinion but wasn’t 
able to get one.

Bennett struggled to get diagnosed because 
Corizon Health, which used to hold the state’s prison medical care 
contract, told its staff not to diagnose inmates with gender dysphoria, 
former staff members say. Those former Corizon workers told the Kansas 
News Service that another medical professional was called in to make the
 diagnosis even if the first specialist was qualified.

Corizon 
denied the allegations and said it knows of 145 inmates with gender 
dysphoria in Michigan. Charles Seigel, spokesperson for Corizon, said 
the company has a process for people to seek another opinion if they 
believe they were misdiagnosed.

“If we found out someone was doing
 the opposite of our policy,” he said, “we would certainly take some 
kinds of actions depending on what that was.”

Corizon is no longer the medical services contractor for Kansas 
prisons. Centurion of Kansas currently works with KDOC and it deferred 
any questions to the department. Bennett said both providers treated her
 poorly, but Centurion eventually recognized her transition. 

Multiple
 transgender inmates in state prisons also said they were told they 
weren’t transgender or had to prove they were trans by going through 
what they called a “disturbing” interview process.

Emily Feingold,
 who used to work as a behavioral health professional for Corizon, said 
there were at least five times she would have diagnosed someone with 
gender dysphoria but couldn't. 

“I'm literally not allowed to 
click on that diagnosis and have that appear in your chart,” she said. 
“I have the degree, I have the license. I have the power (to make that 
diagnosis). That power was taken away from me.”

Problems for 
transgender inmates didn’t stop there. Five current and former 
transgender inmates said Kansas prisons discriminated against them 
because they were trans. They said their hormone therapy was not at the 
proper dosage or difficult to get, they feared for their safety and were
 constantly misgendered or called the wrong name.

Transgender inmates said it it is harder to be transgender in a Kansas prison than on the outside.

“Every
 day is the day where I have to worry about: Is this person going to 
hurt me? Are they gonna kill me?” Bennett said. “(Prison) broke me. It 
destroyed a part of me. A good part of me.”

Multiple transgender 
inmates contacted by the Kansas News Service said the treatment inside 
Kansas prisons made them consider or attempt suicide.

“It’s not easy living in a body that doesn’t belong to you,” Bennett said.

The Kansas Department of Corrections said it has no documented complaints from Bennett and declined any interview requests.

Bennett
 provided the Kansas News Service with unofficial complaints she filed 
and said if the department was tracking and investigating the complaints
 as they happened, it would have enough information on the allegations.

'They punish us worse. They treat us worse'

KDOC
 spokesperson Carol Pitts said in an email the department will use the 
complaints to inform policy decisions and training in the future.

Transgender inmates’ complaints range from struggling to get underwear that fit their gender identity to harrassment by staff.

Tredessa
 Donnell, an inmate at Topeka’s Women's Facility, said staff will call 
him “ma’am” or “miss” because he is a women's facility, but those aren’t
 his pronouns.

“I can’t say nothing because I'm going to get 
(disciplined),” he said. “I’m going to get consequences if I say 
something or try to stand up for myself.”

Donnell, and multiple 
other current and former inmates, told the Kansas News Service they have
 filed complaints against staff for a variety of alleged transgender 
discrimination. But as they write more reports, the inmates said, they 
become more of a target.

“They punish us worse. They treat us 
worse,” he said. “They use terms to classify us as aggressive, 
victimizers, manipulators and that’s how they treat us. So you don’t 
even have a fair shake.”

Donnell, who is Black, said treatment can be worse for Black transgender people.

Rodrigo
 Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of the National Center for 
Transgender Equality/NCTE Action Fund, said transgender discrimination 
is common in correctional facilities. Transgender inmates in Georgia, 
New Jersey and Virgina sued correctional facilities for being denied 
access to gender-affirming surgery, alleged assualts or for alleged 
sexual assault.

“No one should be discriminated against just 
because of who they are,” Heng-Lehtinen said. “When someone is behind 
bars, they shouldn't be singled out for harassment, or denied their 
humanity just because they happen to be transgender.”

Heng-Lehitnen
 said creating an inclusive environment for all inmates shouldn’t be 
hard. He said allegations of mistreatment would be clearly seen as 
discriminatory if they weren’t about transgender people.

Simple policies, like using the right name or allowing people to get a wig, can make a difference, Heng-Lehtinen said.

“These
 things that might sound small … (but) are actually really about 
authenticity and being seen as who you are,” he said. “In the most 
extreme cases, they can make a difference on your safety.”

Bennett
 said she was raped multiple times in Kansas prisons due in part to what
 she said is KDOC’s lack of interest in keeping her safe. She said she 
was raped by other inmates because she was transgender, and she raised 
her safety concerns to KDOC but not enough was done.

“As a male, I
 would have been left alone because it’s well known that 
feminine-looking inmates are pretty prized,” Bennett said. “Why in the 
hell would you put a trans inmate that is identifying as female, dresses
 as female in the prison with a bunch of sex-starved males?”

Bennett
 said her rape claims also weren’t investigated properly. She said that 
in one instance, she had both DNA inside of her and on her clothing but 
no rape kit was done and KDOC didn’t ask for her clothes for a week.

Nathaniel
 Callaway spent decades in Kansas prisons and served time before Bennett
 or Donnell were incarcerated. He had similar issues to inmates today, 
like misgendering.

“For the first 12 or so years of my 
incarceration, I walked around, I say bare a** because I refuse to wear 
women's underwear,” Callaway said. “Everything was a fight for me when 
it wasn't a fight for everyone else. Anything that I got had to be a 
fight.”

He said one deputy warden admitted the department made mistakes and tried to make things better.

One
 inmate who spoke with the Kansas News Service said they didn’t mind 
their treatment at KDOC. They were allowed to shower at different times 
and given access to products that matched their gender. Staff who used 
to work at the department decades ago said they implemented some 
changes, like housing trans inmates in cells by themselves, and they 
made life easier for transgender people.

Callaway did get the 
Department of Corrections to pay for his top surgery, but he suspects 
that was to avoid repercussions from a complaint. He thought the 
department had made meaningful change since he was incarcerated, but he 
was disappointed to hear allegations of discrimination are still 
ongoing.

“They (implied) to me that it was gonna make it easier 
for the next people,” Callaway said. “It just lets me know that they 
didn't change their mindset, it didn't change anything.”

Blaise
 Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas 
News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or 
email him at blaise@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641306078578.png" alt="Bennett kept journal entries, complaint forms and medical services request during her time in state prisons. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Bennett kept journal entries, complaint forms and medical services request during her time in state prisons. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2022-01-03/transgender-inmates-say-the-way-theyre-treated-in-kansas-prisons-puts-them-in-danger">Kansas News Service</a>Rayne Bennett hadn’t begun her gender transition the first time she 
was sent to a state prison. She was held in a men’s prison and that felt
 like the right choice.Upon reflection and meditation, she decided while in that men’s facility to begin her transition to female.“Obviously,” Bennett said, “this is who I am.”After
 her release from prison, she began taking hormone therapy, got a gender
 doctor and a gender therapist. She began dressing as a woman. 
Eventually, she became more comfortable with herself.“Not only 
are the looks different, the personality is dramatically different. Not 
just confidence, not just self-esteem, not just an actual smile. But, in
 reality, it’s that sense of peace,” Bennett said. “I feel better than I
 felt in my entire life.”Prisons and jails can be difficult 
places for transgender people. Staff and other inmates treat them 
poorly, they struggle for basic necessities and even fear for their 
safety. Trans inmates say Kansas prisons fail to recognize their gender 
identity or protect them from violence and staff harassment.Bennett
 would end up back in Kansas prisons. She said her first sentence in 
state prison “was a breeze.” In her second stint, that gender transition
 was well underway, she struggled immensely. The only difference was how
 she looked.The second time Bennett was arrested, she was placed 
in a men's prison despite identifying as female. That’s common practice.
 Prison officials have the authority to decide where to place 
transgender inmates.She met with a behavioral health professional
 at the prison expecting a diagnosis for gender dysphoria. Gender 
dysphoria isn’t the same as being transgender, but it is when someone is
 distressed because they don’t identify with the gender they were 
assigned at birth. The diagnosis also helps transgender inmates get the 
services they need to live in their gender identity while they’re in 
prison.But prison medical staff rejected the idea that Bennett 
was transgender at all. She wanted to seek a second opinion but wasn’t 
able to get one.Bennett struggled to get diagnosed because 
Corizon Health, which used to hold the state’s prison medical care 
contract, told its staff not to diagnose inmates with gender dysphoria, 
former staff members say. Those former Corizon workers told the Kansas 
News Service that another medical professional was called in to make the
 diagnosis even if the first specialist was qualified.Corizon 
denied the allegations and said it knows of 145 inmates with gender 
dysphoria in Michigan. Charles Seigel, spokesperson for Corizon, said 
the company has a process for people to seek another opinion if they 
believe they were misdiagnosed.“If we found out someone was doing
 the opposite of our policy,” he said, “we would certainly take some 
kinds of actions depending on what that was.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641306156082.png" alt="Bennett filed an informal inmate complaint alleging her consitutional rights were violated, but she said her treatment in state prisons didn't improve. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Bennett filed an informal inmate complaint alleging her consitutional rights were violated, but she said her treatment in state prisons didn't improve. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>Corizon is no longer the medical services contractor for Kansas 
prisons. Centurion of Kansas currently works with KDOC and it deferred 
any questions to the department. Bennett said both providers treated her
 poorly, but Centurion eventually recognized her transition. Multiple
 transgender inmates in state prisons also said they were told they 
weren’t transgender or had to prove they were trans by going through 
what they called a “disturbing” interview process.Emily Feingold,
 who used to work as a behavioral health professional for Corizon, said 
there were at least five times she would have diagnosed someone with 
gender dysphoria but couldn't. “I'm literally not allowed to 
click on that diagnosis and have that appear in your chart,” she said. 
“I have the degree, I have the license. I have the power (to make that 
diagnosis). That power was taken away from me.”Problems for 
transgender inmates didn’t stop there. Five current and former 
transgender inmates said Kansas prisons discriminated against them 
because they were trans. They said their hormone therapy was not at the 
proper dosage or difficult to get, they feared for their safety and were
 constantly misgendered or called the wrong name.Transgender inmates said it it is harder to be transgender in a Kansas prison than on the outside.“Every
 day is the day where I have to worry about: Is this person going to 
hurt me? Are they gonna kill me?” Bennett said. “(Prison) broke me. It 
destroyed a part of me. A good part of me.”Multiple transgender 
inmates contacted by the Kansas News Service said the treatment inside 
Kansas prisons made them consider or attempt suicide.“It’s not easy living in a body that doesn’t belong to you,” Bennett said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641306195647.png" alt="Rayne Bennett corrected staff on her pronouns, but it didn't stop them from misgendering her. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Rayne Bennett corrected staff on her pronouns, but it didn't stop them from misgendering her. Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Corrections said it has no documented complaints from Bennett and declined any interview requests.Bennett
 provided the Kansas News Service with unofficial complaints she filed 
and said if the department was tracking and investigating the complaints
 as they happened, it would have enough information on the allegations.<h2>'They punish us worse. They treat us worse'</h2> KDOC
 spokesperson Carol Pitts said in an email the department will use the 
complaints to inform policy decisions and training in the future.Transgender inmates’ complaints range from struggling to get underwear that fit their gender identity to harrassment by staff.Tredessa
 Donnell, an inmate at Topeka’s Women's Facility, said staff will call 
him “ma’am” or “miss” because he is a women's facility, but those aren’t
 his pronouns.“I can’t say nothing because I'm going to get 
(disciplined),” he said. “I’m going to get consequences if I say 
something or try to stand up for myself.”Donnell, and multiple 
other current and former inmates, told the Kansas News Service they have
 filed complaints against staff for a variety of alleged transgender 
discrimination. But as they write more reports, the inmates said, they 
become more of a target.“They punish us worse. They treat us 
worse,” he said. “They use terms to classify us as aggressive, 
victimizers, manipulators and that’s how they treat us. So you don’t 
even have a fair shake.”Donnell, who is Black, said treatment can be worse for Black transgender people.Rodrigo
 Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of the National Center for 
Transgender Equality/NCTE Action Fund, said transgender discrimination 
is common in correctional facilities. Transgender inmates in Georgia, 
New Jersey and Virgina sued correctional facilities for being denied 
access to gender-affirming surgery, alleged assualts or for alleged 
sexual assault.“No one should be discriminated against just 
because of who they are,” Heng-Lehtinen said. “When someone is behind 
bars, they shouldn't be singled out for harassment, or denied their 
humanity just because they happen to be transgender.”Heng-Lehitnen
 said creating an inclusive environment for all inmates shouldn’t be 
hard. He said allegations of mistreatment would be clearly seen as 
discriminatory if they weren’t about transgender people.Simple policies, like using the right name or allowing people to get a wig, can make a difference, Heng-Lehtinen said.“These
 things that might sound small … (but) are actually really about 
authenticity and being seen as who you are,” he said. “In the most 
extreme cases, they can make a difference on your safety.”Bennett
 said she was raped multiple times in Kansas prisons due in part to what
 she said is KDOC’s lack of interest in keeping her safe. She said she 
was raped by other inmates because she was transgender, and she raised 
her safety concerns to KDOC but not enough was done.“As a male, I
 would have been left alone because it’s well known that 
feminine-looking inmates are pretty prized,” Bennett said. “Why in the 
hell would you put a trans inmate that is identifying as female, dresses
 as female in the prison with a bunch of sex-starved males?”Bennett
 said her rape claims also weren’t investigated properly. She said that 
in one instance, she had both DNA inside of her and on her clothing but 
no rape kit was done and KDOC didn’t ask for her clothes for a week.<h2>KDOC promised to be better</h2> Nathaniel
 Callaway spent decades in Kansas prisons and served time before Bennett
 or Donnell were incarcerated. He had similar issues to inmates today, 
like misgendering.“For the first 12 or so years of my 
incarceration, I walked around, I say bare a** because I refuse to wear 
women's underwear,” Callaway said. “Everything was a fight for me when 
it wasn't a fight for everyone else. Anything that I got had to be a 
fight.”He said one deputy warden admitted the department made mistakes and tried to make things better.One
 inmate who spoke with the Kansas News Service said they didn’t mind 
their treatment at KDOC. They were allowed to shower at different times 
and given access to products that matched their gender. Staff who used 
to work at the department decades ago said they implemented some 
changes, like housing trans inmates in cells by themselves, and they 
made life easier for transgender people.Callaway did get the 
Department of Corrections to pay for his top surgery, but he suspects 
that was to avoid repercussions from a complaint. He thought the 
department had made meaningful change since he was incarcerated, but he 
was disappointed to hear allegations of discrimination are still 
ongoing.“They (implied) to me that it was gonna make it easier 
for the next people,” Callaway said. “It just lets me know that they 
didn't change their mindset, it didn't change anything.”Blaise
 Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas 
News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or 
email him at blaise@kcur.org.

Transgender inmates treatment in Kansas prisons puts them in danger

LOUISVILLE, Colo. (AP) — Offering hugs and humor, President Joe Biden comforted Coloradans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-wildfires-business-lifestyle-health-87efd7127e7dfcc46e3226b1e947c3d7">grappling with rebuilding homes and businesses</a>&nbsp;destroyed last week by a rare wind-whipped, winter fire that burned through a pair of heavily populated suburbs between Denver and Boulder.

One victim was identified Friday and one person remained unaccounted for out of some 35,000 forced from their homes.

Biden, and his wife, Jill, arrived in the Harper Lake neighborhood of Louisville on Friday afternoon to survey the damage, passing the scorched remnants of homes next to damaged structures still standing. They walked along a street where homes burned to their concrete foundations, meeting residents and local officials who have been overseeing the response and recovery.

Speaking at a recreation center in Louisville, Biden praised the “incredible courage” of the people who lost their homes in the fire and pledged the full support of the federal government to help rebuild.

“Not only are you helping each other but we’re here with you, we’re not going to go away,” Biden said. “I intend to do what ever it takes as long as it takes to support you.”

The fire broke out unusually late in December following months of drought with a dry fall and a winter with hardly any snow. Nearly 1,100 buildings, most of them homes, were destroyed, causing an estimated $513 million in damages.

Biden encouraged residents to “hang on to one another,” adding, “You will get through this and you’ll be stronger for it.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Investigators have narrowed their search for the cause to an area near Boulder where a passer-by captured video of a burning shed on Dec. 30, when the fire began. But it could still take authorities weeks to figure out how it started.

“I can’t imagine what’s it’s like to be here in this neighborhood and see winds whipping up to 100 miles an hour and see flames approaching,” Biden said.

Most of the buildings destroyed were homes. But the blaze also burned through eight businesses in Louisville and neighboring Superior. Federal, state and local agencies and nonprofits have been offering housing assistance, counseling, food, stipends and other aid to residents.

Judy Delaware, who met Biden in front of what was once her home, said the president was kind and listened and “he really comes across very differently than he does when he’s doing his speeches.”

“He really spoke from his heart and he had some really great answers for us, of what we need to do as far as next steps,” she added. “He was very sincere and asked about our families.”

Delaware said she had one last photo of her home, taken the night before the fire at her daughter’s engagement party. “That was the last picture that was ever taken in the house.”

“We know how soon a new disaster can come along,” she added. “We just don’t want them to lose sight of what’s happened here,”

Traveling with the president on Air Force One to Colorado were the state’s two senators, two members of Congress from the affected area, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell, whose agency is providing federal assistance. In Colorado, he met Gov. Jared Polis, Louisville Mayor Ashley Stolzmann, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle and Louisville Fire Protection District Chief John Wilson, in addition to residents and first responders.

Speaking after her husband, Jill Biden said she could tell “what a warm, strong community you are” and offered condolences to families who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-lifestyle-colorado-cats-pets-c9058fc04a049ef81caf96700c7967ab">lost their pets in the fire.</a>

She said she and the president are “animal people,” too.

Greeting a line of firefighters and EMS personnel one by one, Biden passed out challenge coins bearing the presidential seal as he thanked them for their service with a handshake.

Toward the end of the tour, Jill Biden hugged a man who told her, “We lost everything.” The president, who was speaking with another family, then joined and offered a hug of his own.

“I’m not even properly dressed because this is all I have,” the man said to the president, gesturing to his shorts. “We definitely need help,” the man’s son told Biden.

Stacy Moore stood in her backyard Friday afternoon surveying the fire’s destruction of the home she’d lived in since the 1990s. She had been drawn to the area because it was supposed to be free of threats of wildfires, floods or tornadoes that other parts of the state typically see.

“I thought it was perfectly safe,” she said.

“I’d like to see the federal government and our city governments and our state governments help educate people on how we can use best building practices,” she said shortly before Biden arrived. She’s been told home insurance will “come nowhere close” to covering the cost of rebuilding.

On Friday, authorities identified a person whose remains were found near the origin of the fire earlier this week as Robert Sharpe, 69, of Boulder. In a statement, his family said Sharpe was a longtime resident who worked in the construction industry for many years.

“The total devastation of this event has shocked and impacted so many in the community,” the family said in a statement thanking authorities for the intensive search for Sharpe. “Our hearts go out to the many others who have suffered losses.”

Last year, Biden made several trips to survey the aftermath of weather events, including ice storms in Houston, wildfires in California and flooding in New York City and New Jersey.

In mid-December, he visited residents of Dawson Springs, Kentucky, after a series of tornadoes tore through that state and seven others, killing scores of people.

Biden said Friday that the extreme events highlight that America needs to “summon the courage” to address climate change.

“We can’t ignore the reality that these fires are being supercharged” by the changing climate, he said. “The situation is a blinking code red for our nation.”

Scores of people stood outside the recreation center as Biden spoke inside, and cheered as he left the area to return to the airport.

After surveying the scene in Colorado, Biden and the first lady traveled to Las Vegas to attend Saturday’s funeral for Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader who died last week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641658505034.png" alt="President&nbsp;Biden, and his wife, Jill, arrived in the Harper Lake neighborhood of Louisville on Friday afternoon-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President&nbsp;Biden, and his wife, Jill, arrived in the Harper Lake neighborhood of Louisville on Friday afternoon-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>LOUISVILLE, Colo. (AP) — Offering hugs and humor, President Joe Biden comforted Coloradans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-wildfires-business-lifestyle-health-87efd7127e7dfcc46e3226b1e947c3d7">grappling with rebuilding homes and businesses</a>&nbsp;destroyed last week by a rare wind-whipped, winter fire that burned through a pair of heavily populated suburbs between Denver and Boulder.One victim was identified Friday and one person remained unaccounted for out of some 35,000 forced from their homes.Biden, and his wife, Jill, arrived in the Harper Lake neighborhood of Louisville on Friday afternoon to survey the damage, passing the scorched remnants of homes next to damaged structures still standing. They walked along a street where homes burned to their concrete foundations, meeting residents and local officials who have been overseeing the response and recovery.Speaking at a recreation center in Louisville, Biden praised the “incredible courage” of the people who lost their homes in the fire and pledged the full support of the federal government to help rebuild.“Not only are you helping each other but we’re here with you, we’re not going to go away,” Biden said. “I intend to do what ever it takes as long as it takes to support you.”The fire broke out unusually late in December following months of drought with a dry fall and a winter with hardly any snow. Nearly 1,100 buildings, most of them homes, were destroyed, causing an estimated $513 million in damages.Biden encouraged residents to “hang on to one another,” adding, “You will get through this and you’ll be stronger for it.”The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Investigators have narrowed their search for the cause to an area near Boulder where a passer-by captured video of a burning shed on Dec. 30, when the fire began. But it could still take authorities weeks to figure out how it started.“I can’t imagine what’s it’s like to be here in this neighborhood and see winds whipping up to 100 miles an hour and see flames approaching,” Biden said.Most of the buildings destroyed were homes. But the blaze also burned through eight businesses in Louisville and neighboring Superior. Federal, state and local agencies and nonprofits have been offering housing assistance, counseling, food, stipends and other aid to residents.Judy Delaware, who met Biden in front of what was once her home, said the president was kind and listened and “he really comes across very differently than he does when he’s doing his speeches.”“He really spoke from his heart and he had some really great answers for us, of what we need to do as far as next steps,” she added. “He was very sincere and asked about our families.”Delaware said she had one last photo of her home, taken the night before the fire at her daughter’s engagement party. “That was the last picture that was ever taken in the house.”“We know how soon a new disaster can come along,” she added. “We just don’t want them to lose sight of what’s happened here,”Traveling with the president on Air Force One to Colorado were the state’s two senators, two members of Congress from the affected area, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell, whose agency is providing federal assistance. In Colorado, he met Gov. Jared Polis, Louisville Mayor Ashley Stolzmann, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle and Louisville Fire Protection District Chief John Wilson, in addition to residents and first responders.Speaking after her husband, Jill Biden said she could tell “what a warm, strong community you are” and offered condolences to families who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-lifestyle-colorado-cats-pets-c9058fc04a049ef81caf96700c7967ab">lost their pets in the fire.</a>She said she and the president are “animal people,” too.Greeting a line of firefighters and EMS personnel one by one, Biden passed out challenge coins bearing the presidential seal as he thanked them for their service with a handshake.Toward the end of the tour, Jill Biden hugged a man who told her, “We lost everything.” The president, who was speaking with another family, then joined and offered a hug of his own.“I’m not even properly dressed because this is all I have,” the man said to the president, gesturing to his shorts. “We definitely need help,” the man’s son told Biden.Stacy Moore stood in her backyard Friday afternoon surveying the fire’s destruction of the home she’d lived in since the 1990s. She had been drawn to the area because it was supposed to be free of threats of wildfires, floods or tornadoes that other parts of the state typically see.“I thought it was perfectly safe,” she said.“I’d like to see the federal government and our city governments and our state governments help educate people on how we can use best building practices,” she said shortly before Biden arrived. She’s been told home insurance will “come nowhere close” to covering the cost of rebuilding.On Friday, authorities identified a person whose remains were found near the origin of the fire earlier this week as Robert Sharpe, 69, of Boulder. In a statement, his family said Sharpe was a longtime resident who worked in the construction industry for many years.“The total devastation of this event has shocked and impacted so many in the community,” the family said in a statement thanking authorities for the intensive search for Sharpe. “Our hearts go out to the many others who have suffered losses.”Last year, Biden made several trips to survey the aftermath of weather events, including ice storms in Houston, wildfires in California and flooding in New York City and New Jersey.In mid-December, he visited residents of Dawson Springs, Kentucky, after a series of tornadoes tore through that state and seven others, killing scores of people.Biden said Friday that the extreme events highlight that America needs to “summon the courage” to address climate change.“We can’t ignore the reality that these fires are being supercharged” by the changing climate, he said. “The situation is a blinking code red for our nation.”Scores of people stood outside the recreation center as Biden spoke inside, and cheered as he left the area to return to the airport.After surveying the scene in Colorado, Biden and the first lady traveled to Las Vegas to attend Saturday’s funeral for Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader who died last week.

Biden surveys Denver-area wildfire damage, comforts victims

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Confusion is clouding the legality of vapes, gummies, teas and other products that include a chemical cousin of marijuana’s main intoxicating ingredient. 

A recent Kansas attorney general opinion, court decision and law change have raised questions for prosecutors and law enforcement as the products, which are frequently sold in smoke shops and even gas stations, proliferate. 

At issue is a chemical called delta-8 THC that is billed as producing a milder high than the better-known delta-9 THC. Delta-8 is often marketed as being legal even where marijuana is not. That argument stems from the fact that most delta-8 is synthesized from CBD, a popular non-intoxicating chemical that’s prevalent in hemp, a form of cannabis that Congress legalized in 2018.

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Confusion is clouding the legality of vapes, gummies, teas and other products that include a chemical cousin of marijuana’s main intoxicating ingredient. A recent Kansas attorney general opinion, court decision and law change have raised questions for prosecutors and law enforcement as the products, which are frequently sold in smoke shops and even gas stations, proliferate. At issue is a chemical called delta-8 THC that is billed as producing a milder high than the better-known delta-9 THC. Delta-8 is often marketed as being legal even where marijuana is not. That argument stems from the fact that most delta-8 is synthesized from CBD, a popular non-intoxicating chemical that’s prevalent in hemp, a form of cannabis that Congress legalized in 2018.

Authorities: Beware of vapes, gummies in some Kansas stores

KANSAS CITY —&nbsp; A judge on Thursday sentenced a Kansas City woman to six years in&nbsp; prison after she was convicted of DWI in a December 2019 vehicular crash in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Tonya Rolf, 54, entered the plea agreement in November.

According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the area of 18th and Indiana on Dec. 28, 2019 on a vehicular crash. A passenger in a Ford pickup, Rob Heslop, was later declared deceased from injuries sustained in the crash. 

A witness told police that a vehicle driven by Rolf crossed into the driving lane of the victim's vehicle and hit it head-on. Medical records of the defendant showed high levels of alcohol and Benzoylecgonine.

KANSAS CITY —&nbsp; A judge on Thursday sentenced a Kansas City woman to six years in&nbsp; prison after she was convicted of DWI in a December 2019 vehicular crash in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Tonya Rolf, 54, entered the plea agreement in November.According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the area of 18th and Indiana on Dec. 28, 2019 on a vehicular crash. A passenger in a Ford pickup, Rob Heslop, was later declared deceased from injuries sustained in the crash. A witness told police that a vehicle driven by Rolf crossed into the driving lane of the victim's vehicle and hit it head-on. Medical records of the defendant showed high levels of alcohol and Benzoylecgonine.

Woman sentenced for fatal DWI crash in Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials said this week they are not changing the qualifications for being “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19, but they are urging Americans to stay “up to date” on their protection against the virus by getting booster shots when eligible.

The move to keep the existing definition of fully vaccinated — either two doses of the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna or a single dose of the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine — comes as health officials warned of waning protections from the initial doses. They are encouraging Americans to get additional doses to stave off serious illness and death from the delta and omicron variants.

The decision to keep the initial definition, established more than a year ago when the vaccines first rolled out, means that federal vaccination mandates for travel or employment won't require a booster dose.

Maintaining the existing definition of “fully vaccinated” could make it more difficult to encourage some Americans who only begrudgingly got their primary doses of the vaccine to get boosted, since they would not face onerous restrictions often imposed on the unvaccinated — including testing requirements or, in some jurisdictions, being barred from indoor dining and other facilities.

“Individuals are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if they’ve received their primary series,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “That definition is not changing.”

The CDC instead posted information for Americans to more easily determine their eligibility for booster doses so as to remain up to date with their COVID-19 shots.

“We are now recommending that individuals stay up to date with additional doses that they are eligible for,” Walensky added.

Similarly, Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 coordinator, said the administration was not considering an adjustment to require booster shots for international travel or for workers covered by a slew of vaccination mandates instituted by President Joe Biden to press tens of millions of Americans to get the shots.

“That has not changed and we do not have any plans to change that," he told reporters during a White House briefing.

More than 71 million Americans have received a booster dose, according to CDC data.

“I do think it’s really important to recognize the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated Americans," Zients said. “Completing the primary vaccination series is clearly a critical step to prevent severe outcomes, with boosters as Dr. Walensky said, giving the highest level of protection.”

He added, "As to the definition, someone is considered fully vaccinated if they've received their primary series of vaccine."

On Wednesday, shortly before the White House briefing, the CDC revised an agency web site that had been entitled “When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated” that defined the term and talked about what people could do after they achieved that level of protection.

It was retitled “Stay Up to Date with Vaccines,” and used the term “fully vaccinated” sparingly, to describe the primary series. Much of the site discussed additional and booster doses.

Asked about the change, a CDC spokeswoman said the definition of “fully vaccinated” has not changed. But she also said: “CDC will now use the phrase ‘up to date’ when talking about COVID-19 vaccination. CDC recommends that individuals stay ‘up to date’ by receiving any additional doses they are eligible for, according to CDC’s recommendations, to ensure they have optimal protection against COVID-19.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden's top science adviser on the COVID-19 response, said Tuesday that the administration was shifting how it talked about vaccinations and getting booster doses.

“We’re using the terminology now ‘keeping your vaccinations up to date,’ rather than what ‘fully vaccinated’ means,” he said during a National Institutes of Health lecture.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621194714478.png" alt="“We are now recommending that individuals stay up to date with additional doses that they are eligible for,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>“We are now recommending that individuals stay up to date with additional doses that they are eligible for,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials said this week they are not changing the qualifications for being “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19, but they are urging Americans to stay “up to date” on their protection against the virus by getting booster shots when eligible.The move to keep the existing definition of fully vaccinated — either two doses of the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna or a single dose of the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine — comes as health officials warned of waning protections from the initial doses. They are encouraging Americans to get additional doses to stave off serious illness and death from the delta and omicron variants.The decision to keep the initial definition, established more than a year ago when the vaccines first rolled out, means that federal vaccination mandates for travel or employment won't require a booster dose.Maintaining the existing definition of “fully vaccinated” could make it more difficult to encourage some Americans who only begrudgingly got their primary doses of the vaccine to get boosted, since they would not face onerous restrictions often imposed on the unvaccinated — including testing requirements or, in some jurisdictions, being barred from indoor dining and other facilities.“Individuals are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if they’ve received their primary series,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “That definition is not changing.”The CDC instead posted information for Americans to more easily determine their eligibility for booster doses so as to remain up to date with their COVID-19 shots.“We are now recommending that individuals stay up to date with additional doses that they are eligible for,” Walensky added.Similarly, Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 coordinator, said the administration was not considering an adjustment to require booster shots for international travel or for workers covered by a slew of vaccination mandates instituted by President Joe Biden to press tens of millions of Americans to get the shots.“That has not changed and we do not have any plans to change that," he told reporters during a White House briefing.More than 71 million Americans have received a booster dose, according to CDC data.“I do think it’s really important to recognize the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated Americans," Zients said. “Completing the primary vaccination series is clearly a critical step to prevent severe outcomes, with boosters as Dr. Walensky said, giving the highest level of protection.”He added, "As to the definition, someone is considered fully vaccinated if they've received their primary series of vaccine."On Wednesday, shortly before the White House briefing, the CDC revised an agency web site that had been entitled “When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated” that defined the term and talked about what people could do after they achieved that level of protection.It was retitled “Stay Up to Date with Vaccines,” and used the term “fully vaccinated” sparingly, to describe the primary series. Much of the site discussed additional and booster doses.Asked about the change, a CDC spokeswoman said the definition of “fully vaccinated” has not changed. But she also said: “CDC will now use the phrase ‘up to date’ when talking about COVID-19 vaccination. CDC recommends that individuals stay ‘up to date’ by receiving any additional doses they are eligible for, according to CDC’s recommendations, to ensure they have optimal protection against COVID-19.”Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden's top science adviser on the COVID-19 response, said Tuesday that the administration was shifting how it talked about vaccinations and getting booster doses.“We’re using the terminology now ‘keeping your vaccinations up to date,’ rather than what ‘fully vaccinated’ means,” he said during a National Institutes of Health lecture.

For now CDC won't change definition of 'fully vaccinated' 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A judge has sentenced a Missouri man to 28 years in prison — the maximum he could impose — for the 2019 killing of his wife, whose body he buried in a state park and whose death he misled the authorities about for more than a year. 

The sentence Judge Brouck Jacobs gave to 26-year-old Joseph Elledge was the one jurors recommended in November when they convicted Elledge of second-degree murder in the killing of his wife, Mengqi Ji. 

She met Elledge after she moved to the U.S. from China to study engineering at the University of Missouri. Elledge will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he will be eligible for parole.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man who admitted to burying his wife’s body and misleading authorities for more than a year about her whereabouts will be sentenced Friday for killing her.

Jurors in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-missouri-22361d38ef3006058d45291d78120060">November</a>&nbsp;convicted 26-year-old Joseph Elledge of second-degree murder in the killing of 28-year-old Mengqi Ji, whom he met after she moved from China to study engineering at the University of Missouri.

The jury recommended that Elledge be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-columbia-missouri-china-2562d32d7c5b1ba0132c0682ef81dd15">sentenced to 28 years</a>&nbsp;in prison, and the judge’s sentence can’t exceed that recommendation. A second-degree murder conviction requires Elledge to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he would be eligible for parole.

Elledge reported Ji missing in October 2019, prompting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-michael-brown-missouri-river-boonville-bc6f1f2ad82ad48ebb6073cbbf257776">months of extensive searches.</a>&nbsp;Her remains&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-tigers-mens-basketball-columbia-0f341cef77aa806e3973186497383c9c">were found last March</a>&nbsp;in a park near Columbia, where the couple lived.

Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Knight described Elledge as a “stone cold killer” and argued that he was guilty of first-degree murder because he intentionally killed Ji. Prosecutors used social media posts, audio tapes and a journal Elledge kept to document the couple’s volatile relationship.

But Elledge said Ji’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-columbia-52ef87b9ad760f2385213c702a47fc67">death was accidental.</a>&nbsp;He said Ji fell and hit her head on Oct. 8, 2019, after he pushed her during an argument, and that he found her dead in bed the next morning. He said he panicked, put her body in the trunk of her car and didn't report what happened while he tried to decide what to do.

On Oct. 10, 2019, with the couple’s then-year-old daughter in the car, Elledge drove to Rock Bridge State Park, about 5 miles south of Columbia. There, he dug a grave and buried Ji at a site near the spot where he had proposed to her. He then returned home and reported her missing.

Elledge's attorney Scott Rosenblum argued that his client was awkward and made “unbelievably dumb” decisions after Ji died, but that he never intended to kill his wife and should not have been charged with murder.

Jurors opted for a second-degree murder conviction, which doesn’t carry a mandatory life sentence.

Elledge said he discovered in the days before Ji's death that she had been exchanging sexually suggestive messages with a man from China via social media. He also testified that the couple’s relationship suffered because of tension caused by her parents, who moved from China to live with them after their daughter was born in October 2018.

The couple met in 2015 at Nanova, a company that makes dental products, where Ji was Elledge’s supervisor. They began dating the following year and eventually traveled to China, where Elledge asked Ji’s parents for permission to marry her. The couple married in 2017.

Ji earned a master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Missouri in December 2014. Elledge was a student at the university when his wife died.

An attorney for Ji’s family told the Columbia Daily Tribune after the verdict that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-columbia-missouri-china-2562d32d7c5b1ba0132c0682ef81dd15">they were pleased</a>&nbsp;with Knight’s efforts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1572177968305.png" alt="Joseph Elledge-photo Boone Co." />
 <figcaption>Joseph Elledge-photo Boone Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A judge has sentenced a Missouri man to 28 years in prison — the maximum he could impose — for the 2019 killing of his wife, whose body he buried in a state park and whose death he misled the authorities about for more than a year. The sentence Judge Brouck Jacobs gave to 26-year-old Joseph Elledge was the one jurors recommended in November when they convicted Elledge of second-degree murder in the killing of his wife, Mengqi Ji. She met Elledge after she moved to the U.S. from China to study engineering at the University of Missouri. Elledge will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he will be eligible for parole.-------COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man who admitted to burying his wife’s body and misleading authorities for more than a year about her whereabouts will be sentenced Friday for killing her.Jurors in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-missouri-22361d38ef3006058d45291d78120060">November</a>&nbsp;convicted 26-year-old Joseph Elledge of second-degree murder in the killing of 28-year-old Mengqi Ji, whom he met after she moved from China to study engineering at the University of Missouri.The jury recommended that Elledge be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-columbia-missouri-china-2562d32d7c5b1ba0132c0682ef81dd15">sentenced to 28 years</a>&nbsp;in prison, and the judge’s sentence can’t exceed that recommendation. A second-degree murder conviction requires Elledge to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he would be eligible for parole.Elledge reported Ji missing in October 2019, prompting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-michael-brown-missouri-river-boonville-bc6f1f2ad82ad48ebb6073cbbf257776">months of extensive searches.</a>&nbsp;Her remains&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-tigers-mens-basketball-columbia-0f341cef77aa806e3973186497383c9c">were found last March</a>&nbsp;in a park near Columbia, where the couple lived.Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Knight described Elledge as a “stone cold killer” and argued that he was guilty of first-degree murder because he intentionally killed Ji. Prosecutors used social media posts, audio tapes and a journal Elledge kept to document the couple’s volatile relationship.But Elledge said Ji’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-columbia-52ef87b9ad760f2385213c702a47fc67">death was accidental.</a>&nbsp;He said Ji fell and hit her head on Oct. 8, 2019, after he pushed her during an argument, and that he found her dead in bed the next morning. He said he panicked, put her body in the trunk of her car and didn't report what happened while he tried to decide what to do.On Oct. 10, 2019, with the couple’s then-year-old daughter in the car, Elledge drove to Rock Bridge State Park, about 5 miles south of Columbia. There, he dug a grave and buried Ji at a site near the spot where he had proposed to her. He then returned home and reported her missing.Elledge's attorney Scott Rosenblum argued that his client was awkward and made “unbelievably dumb” decisions after Ji died, but that he never intended to kill his wife and should not have been charged with murder.Jurors opted for a second-degree murder conviction, which doesn’t carry a mandatory life sentence.Elledge said he discovered in the days before Ji's death that she had been exchanging sexually suggestive messages with a man from China via social media. He also testified that the couple’s relationship suffered because of tension caused by her parents, who moved from China to live with them after their daughter was born in October 2018.The couple met in 2015 at Nanova, a company that makes dental products, where Ji was Elledge’s supervisor. They began dating the following year and eventually traveled to China, where Elledge asked Ji’s parents for permission to marry her. The couple married in 2017.Ji earned a master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Missouri in December 2014. Elledge was a student at the university when his wife died.An attorney for Ji’s family told the Columbia Daily Tribune after the verdict that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-columbia-missouri-china-2562d32d7c5b1ba0132c0682ef81dd15">they were pleased</a>&nbsp;with Knight’s efforts.

Man who killed, buried his wife gets maximum sentence

McPHERSON –&nbsp; A Kentucky man was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution to a McPherson County victim for securities fraud, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Bryan Scott Hurt, 52, of Glasgow, Ky., was sentenced Thursday in McPherson County District Court for one count of securities fraud. In addition to the restitution, McPherson County District Judge John Klenda sentenced Hurt to three years of probation and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. Hurt pleaded guilty to the charge on July 9, 2021.

An investigation by the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner determined that Hurt’s company solicited a $25,000 investment in an oil and gas lease between December 2014 and January 2015 from a McPherson County resident. Investigators determined that Hurt diverted the investment for personal use and to pay other, unrelated investors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626203292725.png" alt="Hurt photo McPherson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hurt photo McPherson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>McPHERSON –&nbsp; A Kentucky man was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution to a McPherson County victim for securities fraud, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. Bryan Scott Hurt, 52, of Glasgow, Ky., was sentenced Thursday in McPherson County District Court for one count of securities fraud. In addition to the restitution, McPherson County District Judge John Klenda sentenced Hurt to three years of probation and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. Hurt pleaded guilty to the charge on July 9, 2021. An investigation by the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner determined that Hurt’s company solicited a $25,000 investment in an oil and gas lease between December 2014 and January 2015 from a McPherson County resident. Investigators determined that Hurt diverted the investment for personal use and to pay other, unrelated investors.

Man ordered to pay $25K for oil, gas lease fraud in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fully vaccinated and mostly masked, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared skeptical Friday of the Biden administration’s authority to impose a vaccine-or-testing requirement on the nation’s large employers. The court seemed more open to a separate vaccine mandate for most health care workers.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516920-1/justices-hear-case-vaccine-test-mandate">CLICK here to listen </a>to a replay of Friday's oral arguments

The arguments in the two cases come at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-detroit-cde614839b15d02a594dab1e690c7d46">a time of spiking coronavirus cases</a>&nbsp;because of the omicron variant, and the decision Friday by seven justices to wear masks for the first time while hearing arguments reflected the new phase of the pandemic.

An eighth justice, Sonia Sotomayor, a diabetic since childhood, didn’t even appear in the courtroom, choosing to remain in her office at the court and take part remotely. Two lawyers, representing Ohio and Louisiana, argued by telephone after recent positive COVID-19 tests, state officials said.

But the COVID circumstances did not appear to outweigh the views of the court’s six conservatives that the administration overstepped its authority in its vaccine-or-testing requirement for businesses with at least 100 employees.

“This is something the federal government has never done before,” Chief Justice John Roberts said, casting doubt on the administration’s argument that a half-century established law, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, confers such broad authority.

Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett probably hold the key to the outcome in both cases, as they have been more receptive to state-level vaccine requirements than the other three conservative justices. Barrett and Kavanaugh also had tough questions for Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer.

The court’s three liberal justices suggested support for the employer rule. Justice Elena Kagan said officials have shown “quite clearly that no other policy will prevent sickness and death to anywhere like the degree that this one will.” And Justice Stephen Breyer said he found it “unbelievable” that it could be in the “public interest” to put that rule on hold. He said that on Thursday there were some 750,000 new cases in the country and that hospitals are full.

Beginning Monday, unvaccinated employees in big companies are supposed to wear masks at work, unless the court blocks enforcement. But testing requirements and potential fines for employers don’t kick in until February.

Legal challenges to the policies from Republican-led states and business groups are in their early stages, but the outcome at the high court probably will determine the fate of vaccine requirements affecting more than 80 million people.

Roberts, Kavanaugh and Barrett seemed to have fewer doubts about the health care vaccine mandate. Kavanaugh said it was a “very unusual situation” that hospitals and health care organizations affected by the regulation were “not here complaining” about the rule but instead support it. “What are we to make of that?” he asked.

The second regulation is a mandate that would apply to virtually all health care staff in the country. It covers health care providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding, potentially affecting 76,000 health care facilities as well as home health care providers. The rule has medical and religious exemptions.

Decisions by federal appeals courts in New Orleans and St. Louis have blocked the mandate in about half the states. The administration has said it is taking steps to enforce it in the rest.

“I think effectively what is at stake is whether these mandates are going to go into effect at all,” said Sean Marotta, a Washington lawyer whose clients include the American Hospital Association. The trade group is not involved in the Supreme Court cases.

Both vaccine rules would exacerbate labor shortages and be costly to businesses, lawyer Scott Keller argued Friday on behalf of more than two dozen business groups. Without an immediate order from the court, “workers will quit right away,” Keller said.

Administration lawyer Prelogar told the justices that COVID-19 “is the deadliest pandemic in American history and it poses a unique workplace danger.” OSHA has estimated that its emergency regulation will save 6,500 lives and prevent 250,000 hospitalizations over six months.

Nearly 207 million Americans, 62.3% of the population, are fully vaccinated, and more than a third of those have received booster shots, including the nine justices.

Andy Slavitt, a former adviser to the Biden administration on COVID-19, said the vaccine requirements are extremely effective for 15% to 20% of Americans “who don’t like to get a shot but they will and don’t have any strenuous objection.”

The high court is weighing in on administration vaccine policies for the first time, although the justices have turned away pleas to block state-level mandates.

A conservative majority concerned about federal overreach did bring an end to a federal moratorium on evictions put in place because of the pandemic.

Both the vaccination case came to the court on an emergency basis, and the court took the unusual step of scheduling arguments rather than just ruling on briefs submitted by the parties. Unlike in other cases the court hears, a decision from the justices could come in weeks if not days.

Because of the pandemic the justices heard the cases in a courtroom closed to the public. Only the justices, lawyers involved in the cases, court staff and journalists were allowed inside. The public could listen live, however, a change made earlier in the pandemic when the justices for nearly 19 months heard cases via telephone.

The court has been asking arguing lawyers to have negative coronavirus tests and participate remotely if they have positive tests. Ohio Solicitor General Benjamin Flowers, who was arguing against the employer rule, had tested positive for COVID-19 after Christmas, had mild symptoms and fully recovered, but a test on Sunday required by the court detected the virus, a spokeswoman said. He had been vaccinated and had a booster shot.

Louisiana Solicitor General Elizabeth Murrill who was arguing against the health care workers rule, was also arguing remotely “based upon the court’s protocol,” state Attorney General Jeff Landry said. Landry was at the court for Friday’s arguments.

It was the first time since the court returned to in-person arguments in October that lawyers were arguing remotely.

Justice Neil Gorsuch was the only justice to remain unmasked throughout the arguments, which lasted more than 3 and 1/2 hours. He sits between Barrett and Sotomayor. The court did not explain why Sotomayor didn’t take the bench.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up two major Biden administration efforts to bump up the nation’s vaccination rate against COVID-19 at a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-pandemics-united-states-8d3195d162980fecb55e3d5da3794629">spiking coronavirus cases because of the omicron variant</a>.

The justices on the conservative-oriented court are hearing arguments Friday about whether to allow the administration to enforce a vaccine-or-testing requirement that applies to large employers and a separate vaccine mandate for most health care workers. The arguments were expected to last at least two hours.

The challengers argue that the vaccine rules exceed the administration’s authority, but Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer, wrote that both are needed to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and deaths.

Keeping the vaccine mandate for health care workers on hold “will likely result in hundreds or thousands of deaths and serious illnesses from COVID-19 that could otherwise be prevented,” Prelogar wrote.

Nearly 207 million Americans, 62.3% of the population, are fully vaccinated, and more than a third of the country has received a booster shot,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-us-supreme-court-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-85207706b48cc76147a17d7a476fd9c6">including the nine justices</a>.

The court said Friday that Justice Sonia Sotomayor would not be on the bench with her colleagues, opting instead to take part remotely from her office at the court. Sotomayor, who has had diabetes since childhood, has been the only justice who wore a mask to previous argument sessions in the courtroom.

Andy Slavitt, a former adviser to the Biden administration on COVID-19, said the vaccine requirements are extremely effective for 15% to 20% of Americans “who don’t like to get a shot, but they will and don’t have any strenuous objection.”

The high court will be weighing in on administration vaccine policies for the first time, although the justices have turned away pleas to block state-level mandates.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641555607497.png" alt="Snow on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court this week -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Snow on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court this week -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Fully vaccinated and mostly masked, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared skeptical Friday of the Biden administration’s authority to impose a vaccine-or-testing requirement on the nation’s large employers. The court seemed more open to a separate vaccine mandate for most health care workers.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516920-1/justices-hear-case-vaccine-test-mandate">CLICK here to listen </a>to a replay of Friday's oral argumentsThe arguments in the two cases come at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-detroit-cde614839b15d02a594dab1e690c7d46">a time of spiking coronavirus cases</a>&nbsp;because of the omicron variant, and the decision Friday by seven justices to wear masks for the first time while hearing arguments reflected the new phase of the pandemic.An eighth justice, Sonia Sotomayor, a diabetic since childhood, didn’t even appear in the courtroom, choosing to remain in her office at the court and take part remotely. Two lawyers, representing Ohio and Louisiana, argued by telephone after recent positive COVID-19 tests, state officials said.But the COVID circumstances did not appear to outweigh the views of the court’s six conservatives that the administration overstepped its authority in its vaccine-or-testing requirement for businesses with at least 100 employees.“This is something the federal government has never done before,” Chief Justice John Roberts said, casting doubt on the administration’s argument that a half-century established law, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, confers such broad authority.Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett probably hold the key to the outcome in both cases, as they have been more receptive to state-level vaccine requirements than the other three conservative justices. Barrett and Kavanaugh also had tough questions for Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer.The court’s three liberal justices suggested support for the employer rule. Justice Elena Kagan said officials have shown “quite clearly that no other policy will prevent sickness and death to anywhere like the degree that this one will.” And Justice Stephen Breyer said he found it “unbelievable” that it could be in the “public interest” to put that rule on hold. He said that on Thursday there were some 750,000 new cases in the country and that hospitals are full.Beginning Monday, unvaccinated employees in big companies are supposed to wear masks at work, unless the court blocks enforcement. But testing requirements and potential fines for employers don’t kick in until February.Legal challenges to the policies from Republican-led states and business groups are in their early stages, but the outcome at the high court probably will determine the fate of vaccine requirements affecting more than 80 million people.Roberts, Kavanaugh and Barrett seemed to have fewer doubts about the health care vaccine mandate. Kavanaugh said it was a “very unusual situation” that hospitals and health care organizations affected by the regulation were “not here complaining” about the rule but instead support it. “What are we to make of that?” he asked.The second regulation is a mandate that would apply to virtually all health care staff in the country. It covers health care providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding, potentially affecting 76,000 health care facilities as well as home health care providers. The rule has medical and religious exemptions.Decisions by federal appeals courts in New Orleans and St. Louis have blocked the mandate in about half the states. The administration has said it is taking steps to enforce it in the rest.“I think effectively what is at stake is whether these mandates are going to go into effect at all,” said Sean Marotta, a Washington lawyer whose clients include the American Hospital Association. The trade group is not involved in the Supreme Court cases.Both vaccine rules would exacerbate labor shortages and be costly to businesses, lawyer Scott Keller argued Friday on behalf of more than two dozen business groups. Without an immediate order from the court, “workers will quit right away,” Keller said.Administration lawyer Prelogar told the justices that COVID-19 “is the deadliest pandemic in American history and it poses a unique workplace danger.” OSHA has estimated that its emergency regulation will save 6,500 lives and prevent 250,000 hospitalizations over six months.Nearly 207 million Americans, 62.3% of the population, are fully vaccinated, and more than a third of those have received booster shots, including the nine justices.Andy Slavitt, a former adviser to the Biden administration on COVID-19, said the vaccine requirements are extremely effective for 15% to 20% of Americans “who don’t like to get a shot but they will and don’t have any strenuous objection.”The high court is weighing in on administration vaccine policies for the first time, although the justices have turned away pleas to block state-level mandates.A conservative majority concerned about federal overreach did bring an end to a federal moratorium on evictions put in place because of the pandemic.Both the vaccination case came to the court on an emergency basis, and the court took the unusual step of scheduling arguments rather than just ruling on briefs submitted by the parties. Unlike in other cases the court hears, a decision from the justices could come in weeks if not days.Because of the pandemic the justices heard the cases in a courtroom closed to the public. Only the justices, lawyers involved in the cases, court staff and journalists were allowed inside. The public could listen live, however, a change made earlier in the pandemic when the justices for nearly 19 months heard cases via telephone.The court has been asking arguing lawyers to have negative coronavirus tests and participate remotely if they have positive tests. Ohio Solicitor General Benjamin Flowers, who was arguing against the employer rule, had tested positive for COVID-19 after Christmas, had mild symptoms and fully recovered, but a test on Sunday required by the court detected the virus, a spokeswoman said. He had been vaccinated and had a booster shot.Louisiana Solicitor General Elizabeth Murrill who was arguing against the health care workers rule, was also arguing remotely “based upon the court’s protocol,” state Attorney General Jeff Landry said. Landry was at the court for Friday’s arguments.It was the first time since the court returned to in-person arguments in October that lawyers were arguing remotely.Justice Neil Gorsuch was the only justice to remain unmasked throughout the arguments, which lasted more than 3 and 1/2 hours. He sits between Barrett and Sotomayor. The court did not explain why Sotomayor didn’t take the bench.___WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up two major Biden administration efforts to bump up the nation’s vaccination rate against COVID-19 at a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-pandemics-united-states-8d3195d162980fecb55e3d5da3794629">spiking coronavirus cases because of the omicron variant</a>.The justices on the conservative-oriented court are hearing arguments Friday about whether to allow the administration to enforce a vaccine-or-testing requirement that applies to large employers and a separate vaccine mandate for most health care workers. The arguments were expected to last at least two hours.Legal challenges to the policies from Republican-led states and business groups are in their early stages, but the outcome at the high court probably will determine the fate of vaccine requirements affecting more than 80 million people.“I think effectively what is at stake is whether these mandates are going to go into effect at all,” said Sean Marotta, a Washington lawyer whose clients include the American Hospital Association. The trade group is not involved in the Supreme Court cases.The challengers argue that the vaccine rules exceed the administration’s authority, but Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer, wrote that both are needed to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and deaths.Keeping the vaccine mandate for health care workers on hold “will likely result in hundreds or thousands of deaths and serious illnesses from COVID-19 that could otherwise be prevented,” Prelogar wrote.Nearly 207 million Americans, 62.3% of the population, are fully vaccinated, and more than a third of the country has received a booster shot,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-us-supreme-court-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-85207706b48cc76147a17d7a476fd9c6">including the nine justices</a>.The court said Friday that Justice Sonia Sotomayor would not be on the bench with her colleagues, opting instead to take part remotely from her office at the court. Sotomayor, who has had diabetes since childhood, has been the only justice who wore a mask to previous argument sessions in the courtroom.Andy Slavitt, a former adviser to the Biden administration on COVID-19, said the vaccine requirements are extremely effective for 15% to 20% of Americans “who don’t like to get a shot, but they will and don’t have any strenuous objection.”The high court will be weighing in on administration vaccine policies for the first time, although the justices have turned away pleas to block state-level mandates.But a conservative majority concerned about federal overreach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-courts-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-daa34fb48a04dc9f3ddad94fb6b4cbb2">did bring an end to the federal moratorium on evictions</a>&nbsp;put in place because of the pandemic.Three conservatives, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, probably hold the key to the outcome, Marotta said.They broke with the other justices on the right over state mandates for health-care workers, but joined them to allow evictions to resume.Both vaccine rules will exacerbate labor shortages and be costly to businesses, opponents said. “People are going to quit. It will make a bad situation worse and they’re not going to come back,” said Karen Harned, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business’ Small Business Legal Center.Her group is among those challenging an emergency rule adopted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration under which workers at businesses with 100 or more employees must be vaccinated or get tested weekly and wear masks while working. The rule has exceptions for those who work alone or mostly outdoors.The OSHA rule is supposed to take effect Monday, although the agency has said it would not impose fines on businesses that don’t comply before late February.The vaccine mandate, for its part, applies to virtually all health care staff in the country. It covers health care providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding, potentially affecting 76,000 health care facilities as well as home health care providers. The rule has medical and religious exemptions.Decisions by federal appeals courts in New Orleans and St. Louis have blocked the mandate in about half the states. The administration has said it is taking steps to enforce it in the rest.Both cases are coming to the court on an emergency basis and the court took the unusual step of scheduling arguments rather than just ruling on briefs submitted by the parties. Unlike in other cases the court hears, a decision from the justices could come in weeks if not days.Because of the pandemic the justices will hear the cases in a courtroom closed to the public. Only the justices, lawyers involved in the cases, court staff and journalists will be present. The public <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx">can listen live,</a> however, a change made earlier in the pandemic when the justices for nearly 19 months heard cases via telephone.