SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Fire Department reported Firefighter Joshua Bruggeman died late Wednesday from COVID-19 complications.

He 17-year member of the fire department and was currently assigned to Station 8-A. Bruggeman is survived by his wife and their 4 children.

The Kansas Department of Health reported more than 7,000 deaths in the state from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640914946321.png" alt="Joshua Bruggeman-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Joshua Bruggeman-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Fire Department reported Firefighter Joshua Bruggeman died late Wednesday from COVID-19 complications.He 17-year member of the fire department and was currently assigned to Station 8-A. Bruggeman is survived by his wife and their 4 children.The Kansas Department of Health reported more than 7,000 deaths in the state from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

Veteran Kan. firefighter dies from COVID-19 complications

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the first-degree murder conviction of a Topeka man over a fatal road rage shooting more than five years ago. 

The court on Thursday rejected arguments from an attorney for Andre Clark Rhoiney Jr., that the prosecutor made improper statements during closing arguments. 

The shooting of 28-year-old Michael Stadler occurred in October 2016, when Rhoiney was 23. According to trial testimony, Rhoiney fired two shots at a van that Stadler was in after people in the two vehicles had exchanged words and rude gestures. 

A Shawnee County judge sentenced Rhoiney to life plus 13 months in prison, with no chance for parole for 25 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640890816132.png" alt="Rhoiney following his initial arrest in the case" />
 <figcaption>Rhoiney following his initial arrest in the case</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the first-degree murder conviction of a Topeka man over a fatal road rage shooting more than five years ago. The court on Thursday rejected arguments from an attorney for Andre Clark Rhoiney Jr., that the prosecutor made improper statements during closing arguments. The shooting of 28-year-old Michael Stadler occurred in October 2016, when Rhoiney was 23. According to trial testimony, Rhoiney fired two shots at a van that Stadler was in after people in the two vehicles had exchanged words and rude gestures. A Shawnee County judge sentenced Rhoiney to life plus 13 months in prison, with no chance for parole for 25 years.

Kansas court upholds murder conviction over road rage death

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin spoke frankly for nearly an hour late Thursday amid growing alarm over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-russia-ukraine-europe-vladimir-putin-1704b24c9140ecd2d8f77c74b0f38a6a">Russia's troop buildup</a>&nbsp;near Ukraine, a simmering crisis that's recently deepened as the Kremlin has stiffened its demands for increased security guarantees and test fired hypersonic missiles to underscore its demands.

Putin's foreign affairs adviser said Biden reaffirmed the U.S. threat of new sanctions against Russia in case of an escalation or invasion, to which Putin responded with a warning of his own that such a U.S. move could lead to a complete rupture of ties.

"It would be a colossal mistake that would entail grave consequences,” said Yuri Ushakov. He added that Putin told Biden that Russia would act as the U.S. would if offensive weapons were deployed near American borders.

Putin requested the call, the second between the leaders this month, ahead of scheduled talks between senior U.S. and Russian officials set for Jan. 10 in Geneva.

White House officials said that the call began at 3:35 p.m. EST and concluded 50 minutes later, after midnight in Moscow. There was no immediate readout from either side.

Russia has made clear it wants a written commitment that Ukraine will never be allowed to join NATO and that the alliance's military equipment will not be positioned in former Soviet states, demands that the Biden administration has made clear are non-starters.

The White House said ahead of the call that Biden would tell Putin that a diplomatic path remains open even as the Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine and Kremlin officials have turned up the volume on its demands for new guarantees from the U.S. and NATO.

Those demands are to be discussed during the talks in Geneva, but it remains unclear what, if anything, Biden would be willing to offer Putin in exchange for defusing the crisis.

Draft security documents Moscow submitted demand that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.

The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed, however, to hold talks with Russia to discuss its concerns.

The security proposal by Moscow has raised the question of whether Putin is making unrealistic demands in the expectation of a Western rejection that would give him a pretext to invade.

Steven Pifer, a career foreign service officer who served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine in the Clinton administration, said the Biden administration could engage on some elements of Russia's draft document if Moscow is serious about talks.

Key NATO members have made clear there is no appetite for expanding the alliance in the near future. The U.S. and allies could also be receptive to language in the Russians' draft document calling for establishing new consultative mechanisms, such as the NATO-Russia Council and a hotline between NATO and Russia.

“The draft treaty’s proposed bar on any NATO military activity in Ukraine, eastern Europe, the Caucasus, or Central Asia is an overreach, but some measures to limit military exercises and activities on a reciprocal basis might be possible,” Pifer, who is now a senior fellow at Brookings Institution,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/12/21/russias-draft-agreements-with-nato-and-the-united-states-intended-for-rejection/">wrote in an analysis</a>&nbsp;for the Washington think tank.

Biden planned to tell Putin that for there to be “real progress” in the talks they must be conducted in “a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters before the call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Biden and Putin, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-putin-summit-23e73d69f1a7ca338850736a9cf032f5">met in Geneva in June</a>&nbsp;to discuss an array of tensions in the U.S.-Russia relationship, are not expected to take part in the January talks.

In the Dec. 7 video call, the White House said, Biden put Moscow on notice that an invasion of Ukraine would bring sanctions and enormous harm to the Russian economy. Russian officials have dismissed the sanction threats.

Last week, Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-moscow-1f80249ac893d533fb6fcfdecb3d1ad3">test-fired Zircon hypersonic missiles</a>, a provocative move that Peskov said was meant to help make Russia’s push for security guarantees “more convincing." The test was the first time Zircon missiles were launched in a salvo, indicating the completion of tests before the new missile enters service with the Russian navy next year and arms its cruisers, frigates and submarines.

U.S. intelligence earlier this month determined that Russian planning was underway for a possible military offensive that could begin as soon as early 2022, but that Putin had yet to determine whether to move forward with it.

Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council, said Thursday his country believes there is no immediate threat of a major Russian invasion.

“Our experts say that the Russian Federation just physically can’t mount a big invasion of our territory,” Danilov said. “There is a time period needed for preparations.”

The U.S. military has flown surveillance flights in Ukrainian airspace this week, including a flight Thursday by an Air Force E-8C JSTARS aircraft, according to Chuck Pritchard, a spokesman for U.S. European Command. That plane is equipped to provide intelligence on ground forces.

Pritchard said such flights are conducted with European allies “routinely” and the missions this week were “not in response to any specific event.”

Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet in the days after the Geneva talks, as are Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.

Russia has denied an intention of launching an invasion and, in turn, accused Ukraine of hatching plans to try to reclaim control of the territories held by Moscow-backed rebels by force. Ukraine has rejected the claim.

At the same time, Putin has urged the West to move quickly to meet his demands, warning that Moscow will have to take “adequate military-technical measures” if the West continues its “aggressive” course “on the threshold of our home.”

As Biden prepared for the talks with Putin, the administration also sought to highlight the commitment to Ukraine and drive home that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Past military incursions by Putin loom large.

In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia's annexation of Crimea was one of the darker moments for President Barack Obama on the international stage.

The U.S.-Russia relationship was badly damaged near the end of President George W. Bush's administration after Russia’s 2008 invasion of its neighbor Georgia after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered his troops into the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Biden, who is spending the week in his home state of Delaware, spoke to Putin from his home near Wilmington. The White House distributed a photo of the president speaking to the Russian leader from a desk lined with family photos.

Ahead of the call, Putin sent a telegram to Biden with New Year’s and Christmas wishes, which was posted on the Kremlin site on Thursday, along with other holiday messages to world leaders.

“I am convinced that in the development of our agreements reached during the June summit in Geneva and subsequent contacts that we can move forward and establish an effective Russian-American dialogue based on mutual respect and in consideration of each other’s national interests," Putin wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640899677541.png" alt="Russian President Putin requested the call, the second between the leaders this month-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Russian President Putin requested the call, the second between the leaders this month-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin spoke frankly for nearly an hour late Thursday amid growing alarm over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-russia-ukraine-europe-vladimir-putin-1704b24c9140ecd2d8f77c74b0f38a6a">Russia's troop buildup</a>&nbsp;near Ukraine, a simmering crisis that's recently deepened as the Kremlin has stiffened its demands for increased security guarantees and test fired hypersonic missiles to underscore its demands.Putin's foreign affairs adviser said Biden reaffirmed the U.S. threat of new sanctions against Russia in case of an escalation or invasion, to which Putin responded with a warning of his own that such a U.S. move could lead to a complete rupture of ties."It would be a colossal mistake that would entail grave consequences,” said Yuri Ushakov. He added that Putin told Biden that Russia would act as the U.S. would if offensive weapons were deployed near American borders.Putin requested the call, the second between the leaders this month, ahead of scheduled talks between senior U.S. and Russian officials set for Jan. 10 in Geneva.White House officials said that the call began at 3:35 p.m. EST and concluded 50 minutes later, after midnight in Moscow. There was no immediate readout from either side.Russia has made clear it wants a written commitment that Ukraine will never be allowed to join NATO and that the alliance's military equipment will not be positioned in former Soviet states, demands that the Biden administration has made clear are non-starters.The White House said ahead of the call that Biden would tell Putin that a diplomatic path remains open even as the Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine and Kremlin officials have turned up the volume on its demands for new guarantees from the U.S. and NATO.Those demands are to be discussed during the talks in Geneva, but it remains unclear what, if anything, Biden would be willing to offer Putin in exchange for defusing the crisis.Draft security documents Moscow submitted demand that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed, however, to hold talks with Russia to discuss its concerns.The security proposal by Moscow has raised the question of whether Putin is making unrealistic demands in the expectation of a Western rejection that would give him a pretext to invade.Steven Pifer, a career foreign service officer who served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine in the Clinton administration, said the Biden administration could engage on some elements of Russia's draft document if Moscow is serious about talks.Key NATO members have made clear there is no appetite for expanding the alliance in the near future. The U.S. and allies could also be receptive to language in the Russians' draft document calling for establishing new consultative mechanisms, such as the NATO-Russia Council and a hotline between NATO and Russia.“The draft treaty’s proposed bar on any NATO military activity in Ukraine, eastern Europe, the Caucasus, or Central Asia is an overreach, but some measures to limit military exercises and activities on a reciprocal basis might be possible,” Pifer, who is now a senior fellow at Brookings Institution,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/12/21/russias-draft-agreements-with-nato-and-the-united-states-intended-for-rejection/">wrote in an analysis</a>&nbsp;for the Washington think tank.Biden planned to tell Putin that for there to be “real progress” in the talks they must be conducted in “a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters before the call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.Biden and Putin, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-putin-summit-23e73d69f1a7ca338850736a9cf032f5">met in Geneva in June</a>&nbsp;to discuss an array of tensions in the U.S.-Russia relationship, are not expected to take part in the January talks.In the Dec. 7 video call, the White House said, Biden put Moscow on notice that an invasion of Ukraine would bring sanctions and enormous harm to the Russian economy. Russian officials have dismissed the sanction threats.Last week, Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-moscow-1f80249ac893d533fb6fcfdecb3d1ad3">test-fired Zircon hypersonic missiles</a>, a provocative move that Peskov said was meant to help make Russia’s push for security guarantees “more convincing." The test was the first time Zircon missiles were launched in a salvo, indicating the completion of tests before the new missile enters service with the Russian navy next year and arms its cruisers, frigates and submarines.U.S. intelligence earlier this month determined that Russian planning was underway for a possible military offensive that could begin as soon as early 2022, but that Putin had yet to determine whether to move forward with it.Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council, said Thursday his country believes there is no immediate threat of a major Russian invasion.“Our experts say that the Russian Federation just physically can’t mount a big invasion of our territory,” Danilov said. “There is a time period needed for preparations.”The U.S. military has flown surveillance flights in Ukrainian airspace this week, including a flight Thursday by an Air Force E-8C JSTARS aircraft, according to Chuck Pritchard, a spokesman for U.S. European Command. That plane is equipped to provide intelligence on ground forces.Pritchard said such flights are conducted with European allies “routinely” and the missions this week were “not in response to any specific event.”Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet in the days after the Geneva talks, as are Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.Russia has denied an intention of launching an invasion and, in turn, accused Ukraine of hatching plans to try to reclaim control of the territories held by Moscow-backed rebels by force. Ukraine has rejected the claim.At the same time, Putin has urged the West to move quickly to meet his demands, warning that Moscow will have to take “adequate military-technical measures” if the West continues its “aggressive” course “on the threshold of our home.”As Biden prepared for the talks with Putin, the administration also sought to highlight the commitment to Ukraine and drive home that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Past military incursions by Putin loom large.In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia's annexation of Crimea was one of the darker moments for President Barack Obama on the international stage.The U.S.-Russia relationship was badly damaged near the end of President George W. Bush's administration after Russia’s 2008 invasion of its neighbor Georgia after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered his troops into the breakaway region of South Ossetia.Biden, who is spending the week in his home state of Delaware, spoke to Putin from his home near Wilmington. The White House distributed a photo of the president speaking to the Russian leader from a desk lined with family photos.Ahead of the call, Putin sent a telegram to Biden with New Year’s and Christmas wishes, which was posted on the Kremlin site on Thursday, along with other holiday messages to world leaders.“I am convinced that in the development of our agreements reached during the June summit in Geneva and subsequent contacts that we can move forward and establish an effective Russian-American dialogue based on mutual respect and in consideration of each other’s national interests," Putin wrote.

Biden, Putin talk nearly an hour as alarm rises over Ukraine

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on Thursday updated the isolation and quarantine guidance following the recent changes by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;(CDC) for health care workers in a hospital setting and the general population, according to a statement from the agency.

CDC is in the process of updating guidance for other settings such as correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, preschool, K-12 schools and institutions of higher education.&nbsp;

Health Care Workers in a Hospital Setting&nbsp;

The general population does not include people who work in a health care setting or other congregate setting. If individuals develop symptoms, they should get a test and stay home.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600281501155.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on Thursday updated the isolation and quarantine guidance following the recent changes by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;(CDC) for health care workers in a hospital setting and the general population, according to a statement from the agency.CDC is in the process of updating guidance for other settings such as correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, preschool, K-12 schools and institutions of higher education.&nbsp;Health Care Workers in a Hospital Setting&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Health care workers with lab confirmed COVID-19 infections should isolate for 10 days OR 7 days with negative test, if asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic (with improving symptoms).&nbsp;</li><li>Health care workers with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic&nbsp;or mildly symptomatic&nbsp;can return to work only with COVID-19 positive patients&nbsp;during the remainder of the 10-day infectious period.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Boosted and asymptomatic health care workers who are&nbsp;close&nbsp;contacts of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection have no work restrictions with negative test on days 2 and 5-7.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Not boosted and unvaccinated asymptomatic health care workers who are&nbsp;close&nbsp;contacts of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection must quarantine for 10 days OR 7 days with a negative test.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>General Population&nbsp;&nbsp;The general population does not include people who work in a health care setting or other congregate setting. If individuals develop symptoms, they should get a test and stay home.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>People with lab confirmed COVID-19 infections, regardless of vaccination status should stay home for 5 days. If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days&nbsp;and you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, you can leave your house. Individuals should continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.&nbsp;</li><li>Boosted or fully vaccinated&nbsp;individuals&nbsp;with Pfizer/Moderna within last 6 months or Johnson &amp; Johnson within last 2 months&nbsp;who are close contacts of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection&nbsp;do NOT have to stay home and should wear a mask around others for 10 days. If possible, individuals should get tested on day 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>People who are unvaccinated OR have completed the primary series of Pfizer/Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted OR completed the primary series of Johnson &amp; Johnson&nbsp;over 2 months ago and are not boosted who are close contacts of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection should stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days. If unable to quarantine, individuals must wear a mask for 10 days. If possible, individuals should get tested on day 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

KDHE updates isolation, quarantine guidance 

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Organizers say they plan to open an emergency overnight shelter in Wyandotte County despite being told this week that the mayor would not allow it. The Kansas City Star reports Cross-Lines Community Outreach officials say they have a contract with the county to open the shelter in Kansas City, Kansas. 

The announcement comes as snow and extremely cold temperatures are forecast for the region this weekend. Mayor Tyrone Garner said earlier this week he would not allow the shelter to open at the former Jack Reardon Center in Kansas City, Kansas. 

He said he was focused on long-term solutions for homelessness but did not say why he opposed the proposed shelter.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — With a severe cold snap approaching, Wyandotte County, Kansas, will not open an emergency overnight shelter, a decision that some service providers worry could have fatal consequences.

Service providers preparing to open the shelter at the former Jack Reardon Center in Kansas City, Kansas, instead learned that the Unified Government won't allow it. The decision leaves the county without any overnight cold weather shelters.

Forecasters say temperatures are expected to drop to around zero degrees this weekend.

Rachel Russell, director of community engagement for Cross-Lines Community Outreach, said the lack of shelter could cause homeless people to overwhelm hospitals.

Kansas City<a href="https://www.wycokck.org/Government/Elected-Officials/Mayor-Biography">, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner</a> wrote in a statement to a local paper that his goal is to address homelessness in the long term, but he didn't respond to specific questions about the decision to not move forward with the former Reardon Center site.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640885581678.png" alt="Mayor Tyrone Garner-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Mayor Tyrone Garner-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Organizers say they plan to open an emergency overnight shelter in Wyandotte County despite being told this week that the mayor would not allow it. The Kansas City Star reports Cross-Lines Community Outreach officials say they have a contract with the county to open the shelter in Kansas City, Kansas. The announcement comes as snow and extremely cold temperatures are forecast for the region this weekend. Mayor Tyrone Garner said earlier this week he would not allow the shelter to open at the former Jack Reardon Center in Kansas City, Kansas. He said he was focused on long-term solutions for homelessness but did not say why he opposed the proposed shelter.--------KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — With a severe cold snap approaching, Wyandotte County, Kansas, will not open an emergency overnight shelter, a decision that some service providers worry could have fatal consequences.Service providers preparing to open the shelter at the former Jack Reardon Center in Kansas City, Kansas, instead learned that the Unified Government won't allow it. The decision leaves the county without any overnight cold weather shelters.Forecasters say temperatures are expected to drop to around zero degrees this weekend.Rachel Russell, director of community engagement for Cross-Lines Community Outreach, said the lack of shelter could cause homeless people to overwhelm hospitals.Kansas City<a href="https://www.wycokck.org/Government/Elected-Officials/Mayor-Biography">, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner</a> wrote in a statement to a local paper that his goal is to address homelessness in the long term, but he didn't respond to specific questions about the decision to not move forward with the former Reardon Center site.

Emergency shelter will open despite KCK mayor

Great Bend High School's band director Grant Mathews will be marching in this year's Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. He will be joining 270 band directors from across the United States and Mexico.

Band members will range from recent music education graduates to retired veteran directors. They will be performing "76 Trombones" from the 1950's musical The Music Man.

Matthews will be playing tenor drums as the band marches through Pasadena on the five-and-a-half-mile parade route.

The Band Directors Marching Band is the first known Rose Parade band composed only of band directors. According to Matthews, they can be seen on television during the second hour of parade coverage on Saturday morning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640729001704.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend High School's band director Grant Mathews will be marching in this year's Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. He will be joining 270 band directors from across the United States and Mexico.Band members will range from recent music education graduates to retired veteran directors. They will be performing "76 Trombones" from the 1950's musical The Music Man.Matthews will be playing tenor drums as the band marches through Pasadena on the five-and-a-half-mile parade route.The Band Directors Marching Band is the first known Rose Parade band composed only of band directors. According to Matthews, they can be seen on television during the second hour of parade coverage on Saturday morning.

Great Bend High School band director to march in Rose Parade

Newly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home.

But that convenience comes with a catch: The pills have to be taken as soon as possible once symptoms appear.

The challenge is getting tested, getting a prescription and starting the pills in a short window.

U.S. regulators authorized Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid, and Merck’s molnupiravir last week. In high-risk patients, both were shown to reduce the chances of hospitalization or death from COVID-19, although Pfizer’s was much more effective. Retailers in Kansas are expected to offer the medication this week.

The antiviral pills aren’t for everyone who gets a positive test. The pills are intended for those with mild or moderate COVID-19 who are more likely to become seriously ill. That includes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html" target="_blank">older people and those with other health conditions</a>&nbsp;like heart disease, cancer or diabetes that make them more vulnerable. Both pills were OK’d for adults while Paxlovid is authorized for children ages 12 and older.

Merck’s molnupiravir is not authorized for children because it might interfere with bone growth. It also isn’t recommended for pregnant women because of the potential for birth defects. Pfizer’s pill isn’t recommended for patients with severe kidney or liver problems. It also may not be the best option for some because it may interact with other prescriptions a patient is taking. The antiviral pills aren’t authorized for people hospitalized with COVID-19.

The pills have to be started as soon as possible, within five days of the start of symptoms. Cough, headache, fever, the loss of taste or smell and muscle and body aches are among the more common signs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;to check your symptoms.

Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke University Hospital, advises getting a test as soon as you have symptoms of COVID-19.

“If you wait until you have started to get breathless, you have already to a large extent missed the window where these drugs will be helpful,” Wolfe said.

You’ll need a prescription first from a doctor or other authorized health worker. The U.S. government is buying the pills from Merck and Pfizer and providing them for free, but supplies will be limited initially. They’ll be shipped to states where they will be available at drugstores, community health centers and other places. Treatment lasts five days.

Customers and healthcare providers can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/2766660">click here</a>&nbsp;to use the store locator to find their nearest store or the club that is carrying the medication to send the electronic prescription.

Some pharmacists may be able to administer a quick COVID-19 test and prescribe the pills all in one visit. They already do this in many states for flu or strep throat.

WILL THE PILLS WORK FOR THE OMICRON VARIANT?

The pills are expected to be effective against omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside. The two pills work in different ways to prevent the virus from reproducing.

ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR NEW COVID-19 PATIENTS?

Yes, but they aren’t as easy to use as a pill: They are given by IV or injection, typically at a hospital or clinic. Three drugs provide virus-fighting antibodies, although laboratory testing suggests the two aren’t effective against omicron. British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline’s antibody drug appears to work, and officials say they are working to increase the U.S. supply. The only antiviral drug approved in the U.S., remdesivir, is for people hospitalized with COVID-19.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633958564035.png" alt="The antiviral pills aren’t for everyone who gets a positive test.-photo courtesy Merck" />
 <figcaption>The antiviral pills aren’t for everyone who gets a positive test.-photo courtesy Merck</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOM MURPHY, Associated PressNewly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home.But that convenience comes with a catch: The pills have to be taken as soon as possible once symptoms appear.The challenge is getting tested, getting a prescription and starting the pills in a short window.U.S. regulators authorized Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid, and Merck’s molnupiravir last week. In high-risk patients, both were shown to reduce the chances of hospitalization or death from COVID-19, although Pfizer’s was much more effective. Retailers in Kansas are expected to offer the medication this week.A closer look:WHO SHOULD TAKE THESE PILLS?The antiviral pills aren’t for everyone who gets a positive test. The pills are intended for those with mild or moderate COVID-19 who are more likely to become seriously ill. That includes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html" target="_blank">older people and those with other health conditions</a>&nbsp;like heart disease, cancer or diabetes that make them more vulnerable. Both pills were OK’d for adults while Paxlovid is authorized for children ages 12 and older.WHO SHOULDN’T TAKE THESE PILLS?Merck’s molnupiravir is not authorized for children because it might interfere with bone growth. It also isn’t recommended for pregnant women because of the potential for birth defects. Pfizer’s pill isn’t recommended for patients with severe kidney or liver problems. It also may not be the best option for some because it may interact with other prescriptions a patient is taking. The antiviral pills aren’t authorized for people hospitalized with COVID-19.WHAT’S THE TREATMENT WINDOW?The pills have to be started as soon as possible, within five days of the start of symptoms. Cough, headache, fever, the loss of taste or smell and muscle and body aches are among the more common signs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;to check your symptoms.Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke University Hospital, advises getting a test as soon as you have symptoms of COVID-19.“If you wait until you have started to get breathless, you have already to a large extent missed the window where these drugs will be helpful,” Wolfe said.WHERE CAN I GET THE PILLS?You’ll need a prescription first from a doctor or other authorized health worker. The U.S. government is buying the pills from Merck and Pfizer and providing them for free, but supplies will be limited initially. They’ll be shipped to states where they will be available at drugstores, community health centers and other places. Treatment lasts five days.Customers and healthcare providers can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/2766660">click here</a>&nbsp;to use the store locator to find their nearest store or the club that is carrying the medication to send the electronic prescription.Some pharmacists may be able to administer a quick COVID-19 test and prescribe the pills all in one visit. They already do this in many states for flu or strep throat.WILL THE PILLS WORK FOR THE OMICRON VARIANT?The pills are expected to be effective against omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside. The two pills work in different ways to prevent the virus from reproducing.ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR NEW COVID-19 PATIENTS?Yes, but they aren’t as easy to use as a pill: They are given by IV or injection, typically at a hospital or clinic. Three drugs provide virus-fighting antibodies, although laboratory testing suggests the two aren’t effective against omicron. British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline’s antibody drug appears to work, and officials say they are working to increase the U.S. supply. The only antiviral drug approved in the U.S., remdesivir, is for people hospitalized with COVID-19.___

New easy-to-use COVID-19 medication comes with a catch

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A Kansas man who was ejected and critically injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Dec. 20 has died.&nbsp;Richard Wilson, 46, of Salina, died of his injuries on Sunday, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.

Wilson was driving a 2010 Toyota RAV4 westbound on Granville Road just west of N. Ohio Street when the vehicle went off the south side of the road and rolled numerous times, Soldan said on Dec. 21. Wilson, who was not properly restrained, was ejected from the vehicle.

A passenger in the vehicle, Michelle Peterson, 44, of Salina, received lacerations, but refused medical treatment, Soldan said on Dec. 21. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, he noted.

Two people were injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash north of Salina late Monday afternoon.

A 2010 Toyota RAV4 was westbound on Granville Road just west of N. Ohio Street when it went off the south side of the road and rolled numerous times, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning.

The driver, Richard Wilson, 46, of Salina, was ejected from the vehicle. He suffered significant injuries and was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center. Wilson was not using a seatbelt, he added.

A passenger in the vehicle, Michelle Peterson, 44, of Salina, received lacerations, but refused medical treatment, Soldan said. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

Soldan said investigators are awaiting test results before determining the cause of the wreck.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640105329741.jpeg" alt="The RAV4 was destroyed after rolling multiple times. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>The RAV4 was destroyed after rolling multiple times. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA Kansas man who was ejected and critically injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Dec. 20 has died.&nbsp;Richard Wilson, 46, of Salina, died of his injuries on Sunday, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.Wilson was driving a 2010 Toyota RAV4 westbound on Granville Road just west of N. Ohio Street when the vehicle went off the south side of the road and rolled numerous times, Soldan said on Dec. 21. Wilson, who was not properly restrained, was ejected from the vehicle.A passenger in the vehicle, Michelle Peterson, 44, of Salina, received lacerations, but refused medical treatment, Soldan said on Dec. 21. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, he noted.--------Two people were injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash north of Salina late Monday afternoon.A 2010 Toyota RAV4 was westbound on Granville Road just west of N. Ohio Street when it went off the south side of the road and rolled numerous times, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640105480614.jpeg" alt="Both occupants were injured when the RAV4 rolled." />
 <figcaption>Both occupants were injured when the RAV4 rolled.</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, Richard Wilson, 46, of Salina, was ejected from the vehicle. He suffered significant injuries and was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center. Wilson was not using a seatbelt, he added.A passenger in the vehicle, Michelle Peterson, 44, of Salina, received lacerations, but refused medical treatment, Soldan said. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident.Soldan said investigators are awaiting test results before determining the cause of the wreck.

Sheriff: Kan. man critically injured in Dec. 20 crash has died

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (AP) — A plumbing worker has died after a trench collapsed in western Missouri.

<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/1-killed-when-trench-collapses-in-grain-valley-missouri/38636397">KMBC-TV&nbsp;</a>reports that the accident happened Wednesday in Grain Valley, just east of Kansas City. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said crews with Preferred Plumbing Inc. of Kingsville were installing plumbing lines for homes under construction when the 10-foot-deep trench gave way.

The victim's name wasn't immediately released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640879825214.png" alt="Crews at the scene of the trench collapse -photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>Crews at the scene of the trench collapse -photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (AP) — A plumbing worker has died after a trench collapsed in western Missouri.<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/1-killed-when-trench-collapses-in-grain-valley-missouri/38636397">KMBC-TV&nbsp;</a>reports that the accident happened Wednesday in Grain Valley, just east of Kansas City. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said crews with Preferred Plumbing Inc. of Kingsville were installing plumbing lines for homes under construction when the 10-foot-deep trench gave way.The victim's name wasn't immediately released.OSHA is investigating the accident.

Plumbing worker dies in Kansas City-area trench collapse

WASHINGTON — President Biden committed $137 million to expanding the production of COVID-19 at-home tests using his military authority in order to meet demand, according to a statement from the White House.

On Wednesday, the Department of Defense (DoD), on behalf of and in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded a $136.7 million contract to MilliporeSigma to establish nitrocellulose membrane production capacity in the United States.

Nitrocellulose membrane is a critical material used in manufacturing SARS-CoV-2 rapid point-of-care tests. This industrial base expansion effort will allow MilliporeSigma to establish a nitrocellulose manufacturing capability in its Sheboygan, Wisconsin facility to support more than 83.3 million tests per month for COVID-19 testing and future needs.

The DoD’s Defense Assisted Acquisition Cell (DA2) led this effort in coordination with the Department of the Air Force’s Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force (DAF ACT). This effort was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support domestic industrial base expansion for critical medical resources.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597520864986.png" alt="photo courtesy Yale School of Public Health" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Yale School of Public Health</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — President Biden committed $137 million to expanding the production of COVID-19 at-home tests using his military authority in order to meet demand, according to a statement from the White House.On Wednesday, the Department of Defense (DoD), on behalf of and in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded a $136.7 million contract to MilliporeSigma to establish nitrocellulose membrane production capacity in the United States.Nitrocellulose membrane is a critical material used in manufacturing SARS-CoV-2 rapid point-of-care tests. This industrial base expansion effort will allow MilliporeSigma to establish a nitrocellulose manufacturing capability in its Sheboygan, Wisconsin facility to support more than 83.3 million tests per month for COVID-19 testing and future needs.The DoD’s Defense Assisted Acquisition Cell (DA2) led this effort in coordination with the Department of the Air Force’s Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force (DAF ACT). This effort was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support domestic industrial base expansion for critical medical resources.

Biden commits $137M to expand production of COVID at-home tests 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A firearms store and gun range in suburban&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City refused to let a Muslim woman use the range unless she removed her hijab, a Muslim civil rights organization alleged in a federal lawsuit.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the law firm of Baldwin &amp; Vernon in Independence alleges that the gun range at Frontier Justice in Lee's Summit enforces its dress code in a discriminatory way that disproportionately affects Muslim women.

A message left with store officials Wednesday was not immediately returned.

Rania Barakat and her husband went to Frontier Justice on Jan. 1 to shoot at the gun range. According to the lawsuit, Barakat was told she would not be allowed to use the range unless she removed her hijab, a religious head covering typically worn by Muslim women.

The gun range requires shooters to remove all head coverings except baseball caps facing forward. A store manager explained that shrapnel could cause the hijab and skin to burn.

The couple told the manager they had used several other shooting ranges with no problems caused by the hijab, and that people wear long sleeves and shirts that cover their necks to protect them from shrapnel, according to the lawsuit.

The manager said the gun range had different rules, according to the lawsuit. The couple left the store after the manager became “aggressive and loud," the suit alleged.

The lawsuit contends that it is Frontier Justice's policy to turn away Muslims wearing hijabs, citing several social media posts from other Muslims about being refused use of the shooting range. It also claims that Instagram posts from Frontier Justice show customers wearing baseball caps turned backward, and hats and scarves.

“It is completely unacceptable for a business establishment to deny service to customers based on their religious beliefs — and that is exactly what Frontier Justice has done," Moussa Elbayoumy, chairman of the board of CAIR-Kansas, said in a statement. "The claim that a hijab somehow presents a safety issue is merely a bad excuse in an attempt to justify a pattern of discriminatory treatment of Muslim women.”

CAIR had asked the U.S. Department of Justice in July to investigate civil rights practices at Frontier Justice.

At the time, Bren Brown, Frontier Justice’s president, said Barakat was not discriminated against and was asked to follow a dress code that is applied to all patrons equally, The Kansas City Star reported.

The lawsuit asks the federal court to find that Frontier Justice's policies regarding the wearing of hijabs violates the 1964 Civil Rights Act and prohibit the gun range and its employees from acting in ways that discriminate against anyone based on their religion.

By MARGARET STAFFORD, Associated PressKANSAS CITY (AP) — A firearms store and gun range in suburban&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City refused to let a Muslim woman use the range unless she removed her hijab, a Muslim civil rights organization alleged in a federal lawsuit.In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the law firm of Baldwin &amp; Vernon in Independence alleges that the gun range at Frontier Justice in Lee's Summit enforces its dress code in a discriminatory way that disproportionately affects Muslim women.A message left with store officials Wednesday was not immediately returned.Rania Barakat and her husband went to Frontier Justice on Jan. 1 to shoot at the gun range. According to the lawsuit, Barakat was told she would not be allowed to use the range unless she removed her hijab, a religious head covering typically worn by Muslim women.The gun range requires shooters to remove all head coverings except baseball caps facing forward. A store manager explained that shrapnel could cause the hijab and skin to burn.The couple told the manager they had used several other shooting ranges with no problems caused by the hijab, and that people wear long sleeves and shirts that cover their necks to protect them from shrapnel, according to the lawsuit.The manager said the gun range had different rules, according to the lawsuit. The couple left the store after the manager became “aggressive and loud," the suit alleged.The lawsuit contends that it is Frontier Justice's policy to turn away Muslims wearing hijabs, citing several social media posts from other Muslims about being refused use of the shooting range. It also claims that Instagram posts from Frontier Justice show customers wearing baseball caps turned backward, and hats and scarves.“It is completely unacceptable for a business establishment to deny service to customers based on their religious beliefs — and that is exactly what Frontier Justice has done," Moussa Elbayoumy, chairman of the board of CAIR-Kansas, said in a statement. "The claim that a hijab somehow presents a safety issue is merely a bad excuse in an attempt to justify a pattern of discriminatory treatment of Muslim women.”CAIR had asked the U.S. Department of Justice in July to investigate civil rights practices at Frontier Justice.At the time, Bren Brown, Frontier Justice’s president, said Barakat was not discriminated against and was asked to follow a dress code that is applied to all patrons equally, The Kansas City Star reported.The lawsuit asks the federal court to find that Frontier Justice's policies regarding the wearing of hijabs violates the 1964 Civil Rights Act and prohibit the gun range and its employees from acting in ways that discriminate against anyone based on their religion.

Suit: KC-area shooting range made Muslim woman remove hijab

By Scott Edger&nbsp; Little Apple Post&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Hy-Vee&nbsp;supermarket chain announced&nbsp;its&nbsp;new&nbsp;retail&nbsp;security&nbsp;program&nbsp;Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Only a handful of&nbsp;Hy-Vee stores have the new officers, but the chain will slowly&nbsp;add them to other stores&nbsp;in its eight-state market.&nbsp;

Hy-Vee retail security leaders worked alongside law enforcement partners to develop corporate training for security personnel.&nbsp;

Hy-Vee&nbsp;officials say security personnel will be armed&nbsp;with a taser as well as a handgun&nbsp;and have extensive de-escalation training.&nbsp;They are intended as&nbsp;a visual deterrent to criminal activity and violence.&nbsp;

"Across the country, we’re seeing an increase in criminal activity in retail locations,” said Hy-Vee Vice President of Security Jamie Sipes.&nbsp;“Hy-Vee made the decision to have a forward-facing, uniformed security program that includes all the&nbsp;tools that an officer would need to keep employees and customers safe.”&nbsp;

The new Hy-Vee officers are&nbsp;not&nbsp;yet&nbsp;in Manhattan. Company officials say&nbsp;the chain does not necessarily intend to have a security officer in every store, and&nbsp;there are no concrete implementation dates for&nbsp;specific stores.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;company&nbsp;says adding security&nbsp;is intended to foster a safe, comfortable environment and increase security&nbsp;for&nbsp;customers and employees.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rather than posting at store entrances, security personnel will walk the aisles and interact with customers.&nbsp;

“These officers will help provide another layer of safety and security for our customers,”&nbsp;said Jeremy Gosch, Hy-Vee’s president and chief operating officer. “They will work alongside our store employees to deliver the same helpful smiles and outstanding service everyone expects at their local store.”&nbsp;

According to the company, the&nbsp;officers&nbsp;will also be a resource for customers, helping them locate items or services inside the store.&nbsp;

Two Manhattan Hy-Vee shoppers say they would welcome security in the stores.&nbsp;

“There’s so much craziness right out in public anymore,” said Manhattan resident Maggie&nbsp;Aistrum, “and you never know why or where.”&nbsp;

Fellow shopper Esperanza Holt said she moved here from the San Diego area two years ago, and had seen armed security in many retail stores there for years.&nbsp;

“They were the only stores I wanted to go to,” Holt said. “I felt better if there was someone&nbsp;other than myself&nbsp;and the clerk. I think shoplifting and&nbsp;people getting things stolen out of their cars is really getting bad, so anything to scare them off is a good idea.”&nbsp;

Aistrum&nbsp;and Holt both noted&nbsp;that they always felt safe and&nbsp;had never experienced anything dangerous in the Manhattan Hy-Vee store.&nbsp;

In stores with security&nbsp;staff&nbsp;already in place, the company has a mix of third-party and&nbsp;in-house&nbsp;officers.&nbsp;

The focus of health and security is not a wholly new step for the company. Tina Potthoff, senior vice president for communications, said Hy-Vee has “long worked with third-party security contractors or off-duty law enforcement that work in a security capacity throughout our eight-state region. Our goal with this team is to create a consistent&nbsp;look&nbsp; and&nbsp;approach to customer service and security across all of our stores.”&nbsp;

Sipes&nbsp;said that many&nbsp;of their new security personnel have prior law enforcement experience and come to the&nbsp;position with about&nbsp;1400 hours of crisis-intervention and&nbsp;de-escalation training.&nbsp;

"They are an extension of our legendary customer service within Hy-Vee and&nbsp;ensure the safety of our customers and our employees,” he said. “They&nbsp;are not there&nbsp;to interrupt anyone’s&nbsp;rights.”&nbsp;

News outlets in Minnesota report the grocery chain has recently added armed security to a relatively new store in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, as well as other locations in the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A&nbsp;Prairie&nbsp;Village Hy-Vee gas station was the victim of an armed robbery in July.&nbsp;

While there have been isolated incidents like any other business,&nbsp;Potthoff said the company has&nbsp;not seen an increase in&nbsp;dangerous&nbsp;incidents in&nbsp;its&nbsp;stores.&nbsp;

By Scott Edger&nbsp; Little Apple Post&nbsp;The&nbsp;Hy-Vee&nbsp;supermarket chain announced&nbsp;its&nbsp;new&nbsp;retail&nbsp;security&nbsp;program&nbsp;Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Only a handful of&nbsp;Hy-Vee stores have the new officers, but the chain will slowly&nbsp;add them to other stores&nbsp;in its eight-state market.&nbsp;Hy-Vee retail security leaders worked alongside law enforcement partners to develop corporate training for security personnel.&nbsp;Hy-Vee&nbsp;officials say security personnel will be armed&nbsp;with a taser as well as a handgun&nbsp;and have extensive de-escalation training.&nbsp;They are intended as&nbsp;a visual deterrent to criminal activity and violence.&nbsp;"Across the country, we’re seeing an increase in criminal activity in retail locations,” said Hy-Vee Vice President of Security Jamie Sipes.&nbsp;“Hy-Vee made the decision to have a forward-facing, uniformed security program that includes all the&nbsp;tools that an officer would need to keep employees and customers safe.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640870448375.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The new Hy-Vee officers are&nbsp;not&nbsp;yet&nbsp;in Manhattan. Company officials say&nbsp;the chain does not necessarily intend to have a security officer in every store, and&nbsp;there are no concrete implementation dates for&nbsp;specific stores.&nbsp;The&nbsp;company&nbsp;says adding security&nbsp;is intended to foster a safe, comfortable environment and increase security&nbsp;for&nbsp;customers and employees.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rather than posting at store entrances, security personnel will walk the aisles and interact with customers.&nbsp;“These officers will help provide another layer of safety and security for our customers,”&nbsp;said Jeremy Gosch, Hy-Vee’s president and chief operating officer. “They will work alongside our store employees to deliver the same helpful smiles and outstanding service everyone expects at their local store.”&nbsp;According to the company, the&nbsp;officers&nbsp;will also be a resource for customers, helping them locate items or services inside the store.&nbsp;Two Manhattan Hy-Vee shoppers say they would welcome security in the stores.&nbsp;“There’s so much craziness right out in public anymore,” said Manhattan resident Maggie&nbsp;Aistrum, “and you never know why or where.”&nbsp;Fellow shopper Esperanza Holt said she moved here from the San Diego area two years ago, and had seen armed security in many retail stores there for years.&nbsp;“They were the only stores I wanted to go to,” Holt said. “I felt better if there was someone&nbsp;other than myself&nbsp;and the clerk. I think shoplifting and&nbsp;people getting things stolen out of their cars is really getting bad, so anything to scare them off is a good idea.”&nbsp;Aistrum&nbsp;and Holt both noted&nbsp;that they always felt safe and&nbsp;had never experienced anything dangerous in the Manhattan Hy-Vee store.&nbsp;In stores with security&nbsp;staff&nbsp;already in place, the company has a mix of third-party and&nbsp;in-house&nbsp;officers.&nbsp;The focus of health and security is not a wholly new step for the company. Tina Potthoff, senior vice president for communications, said Hy-Vee has “long worked with third-party security contractors or off-duty law enforcement that work in a security capacity throughout our eight-state region. Our goal with this team is to create a consistent&nbsp;look&nbsp; and&nbsp;approach to customer service and security across all of our stores.”&nbsp;Sipes&nbsp;said that many&nbsp;of their new security personnel have prior law enforcement experience and come to the&nbsp;position with about&nbsp;1400 hours of crisis-intervention and&nbsp;de-escalation training.&nbsp;"They are an extension of our legendary customer service within Hy-Vee and&nbsp;ensure the safety of our customers and our employees,” he said. “They&nbsp;are not there&nbsp;to interrupt anyone’s&nbsp;rights.”&nbsp;News outlets in Minnesota report the grocery chain has recently added armed security to a relatively new store in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, as well as other locations in the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;A&nbsp;Prairie&nbsp;Village Hy-Vee gas station was the victim of an armed robbery in July.&nbsp;While there have been isolated incidents like any other business,&nbsp;Potthoff said the company has&nbsp;not seen an increase in&nbsp;dangerous&nbsp;incidents in&nbsp;its&nbsp;stores.&nbsp;

Hy-Vee stores adding armed security 

Everyone loves a good deal, and scammers know it. Counterfeit coupons
 are popular way for scammers to steal your identity and money. Motives 
and methods vary, but phony coupons often mean serious losses for 
retailers, consumers, or both.

You come across a website, either through a web search or an ad on 
social media, for coupons from major retailers. Usually, fake coupons 
are worth much more than real ones, offering steep discounts like 80% 
off. By using brands’ official logos, it's nearly impossible to tell if 
it’s fake or not.

In some cases, getting the “coupons” requires subscribing to a coupon
 service and paying a monthly membership fee. Once you sign up, the 
service promises to either send you digital coupons or paper coupons in 
the mail. You may never receive any coupons, or you might receive 
coupons that are fake. Plus, by signing up, you’ve handed over your 
personal details and possibly your credit card information to a 
dishonest stranger.

You may also come across coupons that offer deals in exchange for 
sharing a link on social media. Don’t do it! The link leads to a 
third-party website where visitors enter personal information in 
exchange for the coupon. In most cases, after signing up, you never 
receive any coupons. Instead, you’ve given your personal details to 
scammers.

Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16758-bbb-tip-phishing-scams">phishing scams</a> to protect your personal information. Find other general tips at <a href="http://www.BBB.org/AvoidScams">BBB.org/AvoidScams</a>.

If you’ve spotted a coupon scam, report it. Share your experience at <a href="http://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a> to help others recognize scams before it’s too late.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBEveryone loves a good deal, and scammers know it. Counterfeit coupons
 are popular way for scammers to steal your identity and money. Motives 
and methods vary, but phony coupons often mean serious losses for 
retailers, consumers, or both.<h2>How the scam works</h2>You come across a website, either through a web search or an ad on 
social media, for coupons from major retailers. Usually, fake coupons 
are worth much more than real ones, offering steep discounts like 80% 
off. By using brands’ official logos, it's nearly impossible to tell if 
it’s fake or not.In some cases, getting the “coupons” requires subscribing to a coupon
 service and paying a monthly membership fee. Once you sign up, the 
service promises to either send you digital coupons or paper coupons in 
the mail. You may never receive any coupons, or you might receive 
coupons that are fake. Plus, by signing up, you’ve handed over your 
personal details and possibly your credit card information to a 
dishonest stranger.You may also come across coupons that offer deals in exchange for 
sharing a link on social media. Don’t do it! The link leads to a 
third-party website where visitors enter personal information in 
exchange for the coupon. In most cases, after signing up, you never 
receive any coupons. Instead, you’ve given your personal details to 
scammers.<h2>How to avoid coupon scams </h2><ul>
 <li>Don’t fall for deals that are too good to be true. Be skeptical. If a coupon is valued near or above the retail price of an item, consider it a red flag. </li><li>Check the source of the coupon. If the coupon 
doesn’t come from a recognized coupon distributor, the manufacturer, or a
 specific store, be wary. If you aren’t sure about a coupon, visit the 
company’s website directly to look for the coupon on their official site
 or contact their customer service line to inquire. </li><li>Think before you click on links in emails. If you 
receive a coupon via email, hover your mouse over the link without 
clicking on it to see where it will take you. If the URL looks like a 
random assortment of letters and numbers, or if it is a shortened link 
that doesn’t reveal where it’s taking you, don’t click it. Only visit 
official websites to avoid downloading malware onto your computer. </li><li>Read coupons carefully. If a coupon doesn’t have an
 expiration date, if it looks photocopied, or if it contains spelling 
and grammar errors, you’re probably dealing with a fake. </li><li>Don’t trade personal information for perks. A real 
business will not ask for your personal information, such as your credit
 card number or bank account information, in exchange for a coupon or to
 enter a giveaway. Promotional offers that ask for personal information 
are usually scams. You shouldn’t have to pay to receive a coupon either. </li><li>Do a search for coupon scams. When in doubt, search
 the coupon offer along with the word “scam.” This will often bring up 
similar offers that are fake and can help you determine whether a coupon
 is real or not.</li>
 </ul><h2>For more information </h2>Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16758-bbb-tip-phishing-scams">phishing scams</a> to protect your personal information. Find other general tips at <a href="http://www.BBB.org/AvoidScams">BBB.org/AvoidScams</a>.If you’ve spotted a coupon scam, report it. Share your experience at <a href="http://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a> to help others recognize scams before it’s too late.

Scam alert: Watch out for fake coupons on social media

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin are set to discuss the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-russia-ukraine-europe-vladimir-putin-1704b24c9140ecd2d8f77c74b0f38a6a">Russian troop buildup near Ukraine</a>&nbsp;during their second call in recent weeks amid little progress toward ending the smoldering crisis.

Ahead of Thursday’s call, the White House indicated that Biden would make clear to Putin that a diplomatic path remains open even as the Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine and Putin has stepped up his demands for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-moscow-1f80249ac893d533fb6fcfdecb3d1ad3">security guarantees</a>&nbsp;in Eastern Europe.

But Biden will reiterate to Putin that for there to be “real progress” in talks they must be conducted in “a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters ahead of the call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The call, which was requested by Russian officials, comes as senior U.S. and Russian officials are to hold talks on Jan. 10 in Geneva. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin would speak with Biden on Thursday but provided no details.

The official said Biden and Putin, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-putin-summit-23e73d69f1a7ca338850736a9cf032f5">met in Geneva in June</a>&nbsp;to discuss an array of tensions in the U.S.-Russia relationship, were not expected to take part in the coming talks. The two leaders held a video call earlier this month in which their conversation focused heavily on Russia’s troop movements that have unsettled Ukraine and other European allies.

In that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-sports-business-ap-top-news-3c17d207917eb90adeac03d5ccb31268">Dec. 7 video call</a>, the White House said Biden put Moscow on notice that an invasion of Ukraine would bring sanctions and enormous harm to the Russian economy. Russian officials have dismissed the sanction threats.

Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet shortly after the upcoming Geneva talks as are Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.

Earlier this month, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.

The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed. however, to hold talks with Russia to discuss its concerns.

As Biden prepared for talks with Putin, the administration also sought to highlight the commitment to Ukraine and drive home that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders.”

Biden and administration officials also plan to consult with European allies after the president speaks with Putin to offer them a readout of the engagement.

Putin said earlier this week he would weigh a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine.

In Thursday’s call, Biden is expected to stress to Putin that the U.S. is united with its allies but will demonstrate a willingness to engage in “principled diplomacy” with Russia, the administration official said.

In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia’s annexation of Crimea — one of the darker moments for President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks to contain the current crisis.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has made clear in public comments that the administration is ready to discuss Moscow’s concerns about NATO in talks with Russian officials, but emphasized that Washington won’t go behind the backs of European allies in shaping policy that affects them.

The two leaders are also expected during Thursday’s call to discuss efforts to persuade Iran to return to the 2015 nuclear accord, which was effectively scrapped by the Trump administration.

Despite differences on Ukraine and other issues, White House officials have said the Iran nuclear issue is one where they believe the U.S. and Russia can work cooperatively.

Biden, who is spending the week in his home state of Delaware, is expected to participate in the call from his home near Wilmington.

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will speak Thursday as the Russian leader has stepped up his demands for security guarantees in Eastern Europe.

The two leaders will discuss “a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements,” National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement announcing the call.

The talks come as the U.S. and Western allies have watched the buildup of Russian troops near the border of Ukraine, growing to an estimated 100,000 and fueling fears that Moscow is preparing to invade Ukraine.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders.”

Price said the two discussed efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine and upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia.

Putin said earlier this week he would ponder a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine.

The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed. however, to hold talks with Russia next month to discuss its concerns.

The U.S. and Russia are to hold high-level talks on Jan. 10. Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet that same week as well as Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.

In Thursday’s call, which was requested by the Russians, Biden is expected to stress to Putin that the U.S. is united with its allies but will demonstrate a willingness to engage in “principled diplomacy” with Russia, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the upcoming call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity. The two leaders held a video call earlier this month.

The official added that the White House sees the leader- to-leader engagement as important as the administration looks to find a way beyond this “moment of crisis” over growing worries of a further Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia’s annexation of Crimea — one of the darker moments for former President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks to contain the current smoldering crisis.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has made clear in public comments that the administration is ready to discuss Moscow’s concerns about NATO in talks with Russian officials, but emphasized that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.

“We’re approaching the broader question of diplomacy with Russia from the point of view that ... meaningful progress at the negotiating table, of course, will have to take place in a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” Sullivan said at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations earlier this month. He added “that it’s very difficult to see agreements getting consummated if we’re continuing to see an escalatory cycle.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin would speak with Biden on Thursday but provided no details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638976547895.png" alt="Earlier this month, President Biden held a secure video call with Russian President Putin to discuss a range of topics in the U.S.-Russia relationship, including concerns about Russian military activities on the border with Ukraine, cyber security and other regional issues.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Earlier this month, President Biden held a secure video call with Russian President Putin to discuss a range of topics in the U.S.-Russia relationship, including concerns about Russian military activities on the border with Ukraine, cyber security and other regional issues.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin are set to discuss the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-russia-ukraine-europe-vladimir-putin-1704b24c9140ecd2d8f77c74b0f38a6a">Russian troop buildup near Ukraine</a>&nbsp;during their second call in recent weeks amid little progress toward ending the smoldering crisis.Ahead of Thursday’s call, the White House indicated that Biden would make clear to Putin that a diplomatic path remains open even as the Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine and Putin has stepped up his demands for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-moscow-1f80249ac893d533fb6fcfdecb3d1ad3">security guarantees</a>&nbsp;in Eastern Europe.But Biden will reiterate to Putin that for there to be “real progress” in talks they must be conducted in “a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters ahead of the call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.The call, which was requested by Russian officials, comes as senior U.S. and Russian officials are to hold talks on Jan. 10 in Geneva. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin would speak with Biden on Thursday but provided no details.The official said Biden and Putin, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-putin-summit-23e73d69f1a7ca338850736a9cf032f5">met in Geneva in June</a>&nbsp;to discuss an array of tensions in the U.S.-Russia relationship, were not expected to take part in the coming talks. The two leaders held a video call earlier this month in which their conversation focused heavily on Russia’s troop movements that have unsettled Ukraine and other European allies.In that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-sports-business-ap-top-news-3c17d207917eb90adeac03d5ccb31268">Dec. 7 video call</a>, the White House said Biden put Moscow on notice that an invasion of Ukraine would bring sanctions and enormous harm to the Russian economy. Russian officials have dismissed the sanction threats.Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet shortly after the upcoming Geneva talks as are Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.Earlier this month, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed. however, to hold talks with Russia to discuss its concerns.As Biden prepared for talks with Putin, the administration also sought to highlight the commitment to Ukraine and drive home that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders.”Biden and administration officials also plan to consult with European allies after the president speaks with Putin to offer them a readout of the engagement.Putin said earlier this week he would weigh a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine.In Thursday’s call, Biden is expected to stress to Putin that the U.S. is united with its allies but will demonstrate a willingness to engage in “principled diplomacy” with Russia, the administration official said.In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia’s annexation of Crimea — one of the darker moments for President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks to contain the current crisis.White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has made clear in public comments that the administration is ready to discuss Moscow’s concerns about NATO in talks with Russian officials, but emphasized that Washington won’t go behind the backs of European allies in shaping policy that affects them.The two leaders are also expected during Thursday’s call to discuss efforts to persuade Iran to return to the 2015 nuclear accord, which was effectively scrapped by the Trump administration.Despite differences on Ukraine and other issues, White House officials have said the Iran nuclear issue is one where they believe the U.S. and Russia can work cooperatively.Biden, who is spending the week in his home state of Delaware, is expected to participate in the call from his home near Wilmington.---------REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will speak Thursday as the Russian leader has stepped up his demands for security guarantees in Eastern Europe.The two leaders will discuss “a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements,” National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement announcing the call.The talks come as the U.S. and Western allies have watched the buildup of Russian troops near the border of Ukraine, growing to an estimated 100,000 and fueling fears that Moscow is preparing to invade Ukraine.Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders.”Price said the two discussed efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine and upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia.Putin said earlier this week he would ponder a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine.Earlier this month, Moscow submitted draft security documents demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed. however, to hold talks with Russia next month to discuss its concerns.The U.S. and Russia are to hold high-level talks on Jan. 10. Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet that same week as well as Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.In Thursday’s call, which was requested by the Russians, Biden is expected to stress to Putin that the U.S. is united with its allies but will demonstrate a willingness to engage in “principled diplomacy” with Russia, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the upcoming call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity. The two leaders held a video call earlier this month.The official added that the White House sees the leader- to-leader engagement as important as the administration looks to find a way beyond this “moment of crisis” over growing worries of a further Russian invasion of Ukraine.In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia’s annexation of Crimea — one of the darker moments for former President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks to contain the current smoldering crisis.White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has made clear in public comments that the administration is ready to discuss Moscow’s concerns about NATO in talks with Russian officials, but emphasized that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.“We’re approaching the broader question of diplomacy with Russia from the point of view that ... meaningful progress at the negotiating table, of course, will have to take place in a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” Sullivan said at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations earlier this month. He added “that it’s very difficult to see agreements getting consummated if we’re continuing to see an escalatory cycle.”The two leaders are also expected during Thursday’s call to discuss efforts to persuade Iran to return to the 2015 nuclear accord, which was effectively scrapped by the Trump administration.Despite differences on Ukraine and other issues, White House officials have said the Iran nuclear issue is one where they believe the U.S. and Russia can work cooperatively.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin would speak with Biden on Thursday but provided no details.

Biden, Putin to hold 2nd call this month as tension smolders

RENO COUNTY— Hutchinson fire crews were kept busy with two more fires Wednesday afternoon after a fire at a home they battled early Wednesday, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.

Just before&nbsp; 12:30 p.m. as crews responded to 315 William Street in Hutchinson and found a 20 x 25 detached garage, fully involved. The initial fire attack operations were hampered due to explosions from stored fireworks and structural instability of the building. The fire was brought under control just before 1p.m.. No occupant or firefighter injuries were reported.

While crews were clearing up that fire, another fire crew was dispatched to fire at a home at 322 E. Osborne Street in Hutchinson.

Search and Rescue efforts confirmed the structure was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The fire was brought under control in about 30-minutes.. The resident of the structure was displaced and is receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. Both fires are still under investigation.

This is the fifth fire in Hutchinson in the past three days

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640860823494.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY— Hutchinson fire crews were kept busy with two more fires Wednesday afternoon after a fire at a home they battled early Wednesday, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.Just before&nbsp; 12:30 p.m. as crews responded to 315 William Street in Hutchinson and found a 20 x 25 detached garage, fully involved. The initial fire attack operations were hampered due to explosions from stored fireworks and structural instability of the building. The fire was brought under control just before 1p.m.. No occupant or firefighter injuries were reported.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640860839350.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>While crews were clearing up that fire, another fire crew was dispatched to fire at a home at 322 E. Osborne Street in Hutchinson.Search and Rescue efforts confirmed the structure was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The fire was brought under control in about 30-minutes.. The resident of the structure was displaced and is receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. Both fires are still under investigation.This is the fifth fire in Hutchinson in the past three days

Explosions from stored fireworks challenge firefighters

NATOMA&nbsp;—On Wednesday, Governor Laura Kelly and Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam met with Kansas farmers and ranchers in Russell and Osborne counties who were impacted by the December 15 wildfires – including the Maupin family who lost cattle, fences, hay – and their home, in the fire, according to a statement from her office.

“Today, I had the opportunity to meet with Kansans impacted by the wildfires to discuss how best the State of Kansas can support their recovery,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“While our farmers and ranchers have always persevered through challenges, we know the storm and wildfires caused significant damage to homes, livestock, and crops – so it’s critical that we mobilize all of the available resources to aid their recovery.”

“It’s heartwarming to witness how neighbors have pulled together to help each other during these times of need,”&nbsp;Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam said.&nbsp;“We are also grateful to see the tremendous volume of hay and monetary donations that have come in from outside this region and from other states as well.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640825399567.png" alt="Photo office of Gov. Laura Kelly" />
 <figcaption>Photo office of Gov. Laura Kelly</figcaption>
 </figure>NATOMA&nbsp;—On Wednesday, Governor Laura Kelly and Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam met with Kansas farmers and ranchers in Russell and Osborne counties who were impacted by the December 15 wildfires – including the Maupin family who lost cattle, fences, hay – and their home, in the fire, according to a statement from her office.“Today, I had the opportunity to meet with Kansans impacted by the wildfires to discuss how best the State of Kansas can support their recovery,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“While our farmers and ranchers have always persevered through challenges, we know the storm and wildfires caused significant damage to homes, livestock, and crops – so it’s critical that we mobilize all of the available resources to aid their recovery.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640825489648.png" alt="Photo&nbsp; courtesy Gov. Laura Kelly" />
 <figcaption>Photo&nbsp; courtesy Gov. Laura Kelly</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s heartwarming to witness how neighbors have pulled together to help each other during these times of need,”&nbsp;Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam said.&nbsp;“We are also grateful to see the tremendous volume of hay and monetary donations that have come in from outside this region and from other states as well.”