DOVER, Del. (AP) — Congregations affiliated with the United Methodist Church have agreed to contribute $30 million to a fund for victims who say they were molested as youngsters in the Boy Scouts of America, an attorney said Tuesday.

A committee representing United Methodist churches that sponsored Scouting activities also agreed to help raise an additional $100 million for the fund.

Jessica Lauria, an attorney for the BSA, told Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein about the planned agreement during an online hearing Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court in Delaware. Lauria said the United Methodist-affiliated churches would receive protected party status, which means they would be released from further liability for abuse claims.

The proposed trust is expected to grow to more than $2.6 billion and would be the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.

More than 82,000 sexual abuse claims have been filed in the bankruptcy case. Victims who say they were abused must vote by Dec. 28 on a Boy Scouts reorganization plan.

Judge Silverstein had originally scheduled a hearing starting Jan. 24 to consider the voting results and to decide whether the plan meets the requirements of the bankruptcy code and should be approved. But on Tuesday, the judge pushed the hearing start date to Feb. 22 to give attorneys more time to prepare.

Tuesday’s announcement involving United Methodist churches comes a week after attorneys said a tentative settlement was reached with one of BSA’s largest insurers, Century Indemnity Co. and affiliated companies had agreed to contribute $800 million into the fund in return for being released from further liability for abuse claims.

Other agreements involve another major Boy Scouts insurer, The Hartford, and the BSA’s former largest troop sponsor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon church. The Hartford has agreed to pay $787 million into the victims’ fund, and the Mormons have agreed to contribute $250 million. In exchange, both entities would be released from any further liability involving child sex abuse claims.

The BSA is continuing to negotiate with Roman Catholic-affiliated churches that sponsored Scouting units.

The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020, seeking to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a fund for victims who say they were sexually abused as children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582026338805.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DOVER, Del. (AP) — Congregations affiliated with the United Methodist Church have agreed to contribute $30 million to a fund for victims who say they were molested as youngsters in the Boy Scouts of America, an attorney said Tuesday.A committee representing United Methodist churches that sponsored Scouting activities also agreed to help raise an additional $100 million for the fund.Jessica Lauria, an attorney for the BSA, told Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein about the planned agreement during an online hearing Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court in Delaware. Lauria said the United Methodist-affiliated churches would receive protected party status, which means they would be released from further liability for abuse claims.The proposed trust is expected to grow to more than $2.6 billion and would be the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.More than 82,000 sexual abuse claims have been filed in the bankruptcy case. Victims who say they were abused must vote by Dec. 28 on a Boy Scouts reorganization plan.Judge Silverstein had originally scheduled a hearing starting Jan. 24 to consider the voting results and to decide whether the plan meets the requirements of the bankruptcy code and should be approved. But on Tuesday, the judge pushed the hearing start date to Feb. 22 to give attorneys more time to prepare.Tuesday’s announcement involving United Methodist churches comes a week after attorneys said a tentative settlement was reached with one of BSA’s largest insurers, Century Indemnity Co. and affiliated companies had agreed to contribute $800 million into the fund in return for being released from further liability for abuse claims.Other agreements involve another major Boy Scouts insurer, The Hartford, and the BSA’s former largest troop sponsor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon church. The Hartford has agreed to pay $787 million into the victims’ fund, and the Mormons have agreed to contribute $250 million. In exchange, both entities would be released from any further liability involving child sex abuse claims.The BSA is continuing to negotiate with Roman Catholic-affiliated churches that sponsored Scouting units.The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020, seeking to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a fund for victims who say they were sexually abused as children.

Sex abuse settlement: United Methodists join in plan for Boy Scouts bankruptcy 

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Wednesday authorized the first pill against COVID-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus.

The long-awaited milestone comes as U.S. cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all rising and health officials warn of a tsunami of new infections from the omicron variant that could overwhelm hospitals.

The drug, Paxlovid, is a faster, cheaper way to treat early COVID-19 infections, though initial supplies will be extremely limited. All of the previously authorized drugs against the disease require an IV or an injection.

An antiviral pill from Merck also is expected to soon win authorization. But Pfizer's drug is all but certain to be the preferred option because of its mild side effects and superior effectiveness, including a nearly 90% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease.

“The efficacy is high, the side effects are low and it’s oral. It checks all the boxes,” said Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic. “You’re looking at a 90% decreased risk of hospitalization and death in a high-risk group — that’s stunning.”

The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer's drug for adults and children ages 12 and older with a positive COVID-19 test and early symptoms who face the highest risks of hospitalization. That includes older people and those with conditions like obesity and heart disease. Children eligible for the drug must weigh at least 88 pounds&nbsp;

The pills from both Pfizer and Merck are expected to be effective against omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside.

Pfizer currently has 180,000 treatment courses available worldwide, with roughly 60,000 to 70,000 allocated to the U.S. Federal health officials are expected to ration early shipments to the hardest hit parts of the country. Pfizer said the small supply is due to the manufacturing time — currently about nine months. The company says it can halve production time next year.

The U.S. government has agreed to purchase enough Paxlovid to treat 10 million people. Pfizer says it's on track to produce 80 million courses globally next year, under contracts with the U.K., Australia and other nations.

Health experts agree that vaccination remains the best way to protect against COVID-19. But with roughly 40 million American adults still unvaccinated, effective drugs will be critical to blunting the current and future waves of infection.

The U.S. is now reporting more than 140,000 new infections daily and federal officials warn that the omicron variant could send case counts soaring. Omicron has already whipped across the country to become the dominant strain, federal officials confirmed earlier this week.

Against that backdrop, experts warn that Paxlovid's initial impact could be limited.

For more than a year, biotech-engineered antibody drugs have been the go-to treatments for COVID-19. But they are expensive, hard to produce and require an injection or infusion, typically given at a hospital or clinic. Also, laboratory testing suggests the two leading antibody drugs used in the U.S. aren't effective against omicron.

Pfizer’s pill comes with its own challenges.

Patients will need a positive COVID-19 test to get a prescription. And Paxlovid has only proven effective if given within five days of symptoms appearing. With testing supplies stretched, experts worry it may be unrealistic for patients to self-diagnose, get tested, see a physician and pick up a prescription within that narrow window.

“If you go outside that window of time I fully expect the effectiveness of this drug is going to fall,” said Andrew Pekosz, a Johns Hopkins University virologist.

The FDA based its decision on company results from a 2,250-patient trial that showed the pill cut hospitalizations and deaths by 89% when given to people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 within three days of symptoms. Less than 1% of patients taking the drug were hospitalized and none died at the end of the 30-day study period, compared with 6.5% of patients hospitalized in the group getting a dummy pill, which included nine deaths.

Pfizer’s drug is part of a decades-old family of antiviral drugs known as protease inhibitors, which revolutionized the treatment of HIV and hepatitis C. The drugs block a key enzyme which viruses need to multiply in the human body.

The U.S. will pay about $500 for each course of Pfizer's treatment, which consists of three pills taken twice a day for five days. Two of the pills are Paxlovid and the third is a different antiviral that helps boost levels of the main drug in the body.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Wednesday authorized the first pill against COVID-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus.The long-awaited milestone comes as U.S. cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all rising and health officials warn of a tsunami of new infections from the omicron variant that could overwhelm hospitals.The drug, Paxlovid, is a faster, cheaper way to treat early COVID-19 infections, though initial supplies will be extremely limited. All of the previously authorized drugs against the disease require an IV or an injection.An antiviral pill from Merck also is expected to soon win authorization. But Pfizer's drug is all but certain to be the preferred option because of its mild side effects and superior effectiveness, including a nearly 90% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease.“The efficacy is high, the side effects are low and it’s oral. It checks all the boxes,” said Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic. “You’re looking at a 90% decreased risk of hospitalization and death in a high-risk group — that’s stunning.”The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer's drug for adults and children ages 12 and older with a positive COVID-19 test and early symptoms who face the highest risks of hospitalization. That includes older people and those with conditions like obesity and heart disease. Children eligible for the drug must weigh at least 88 pounds&nbsp;The pills from both Pfizer and Merck are expected to be effective against omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside.Pfizer currently has 180,000 treatment courses available worldwide, with roughly 60,000 to 70,000 allocated to the U.S. Federal health officials are expected to ration early shipments to the hardest hit parts of the country. Pfizer said the small supply is due to the manufacturing time — currently about nine months. The company says it can halve production time next year.The U.S. government has agreed to purchase enough Paxlovid to treat 10 million people. Pfizer says it's on track to produce 80 million courses globally next year, under contracts with the U.K., Australia and other nations.Health experts agree that vaccination remains the best way to protect against COVID-19. But with roughly 40 million American adults still unvaccinated, effective drugs will be critical to blunting the current and future waves of infection.The U.S. is now reporting more than 140,000 new infections daily and federal officials warn that the omicron variant could send case counts soaring. Omicron has already whipped across the country to become the dominant strain, federal officials confirmed earlier this week.Against that backdrop, experts warn that Paxlovid's initial impact could be limited.For more than a year, biotech-engineered antibody drugs have been the go-to treatments for COVID-19. But they are expensive, hard to produce and require an injection or infusion, typically given at a hospital or clinic. Also, laboratory testing suggests the two leading antibody drugs used in the U.S. aren't effective against omicron.Pfizer’s pill comes with its own challenges.Patients will need a positive COVID-19 test to get a prescription. And Paxlovid has only proven effective if given within five days of symptoms appearing. With testing supplies stretched, experts worry it may be unrealistic for patients to self-diagnose, get tested, see a physician and pick up a prescription within that narrow window.“If you go outside that window of time I fully expect the effectiveness of this drug is going to fall,” said Andrew Pekosz, a Johns Hopkins University virologist.The FDA based its decision on company results from a 2,250-patient trial that showed the pill cut hospitalizations and deaths by 89% when given to people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 within three days of symptoms. Less than 1% of patients taking the drug were hospitalized and none died at the end of the 30-day study period, compared with 6.5% of patients hospitalized in the group getting a dummy pill, which included nine deaths.Pfizer’s drug is part of a decades-old family of antiviral drugs known as protease inhibitors, which revolutionized the treatment of HIV and hepatitis C. The drugs block a key enzyme which viruses need to multiply in the human body.The U.S. will pay about $500 for each course of Pfizer's treatment, which consists of three pills taken twice a day for five days. Two of the pills are Paxlovid and the third is a different antiviral that helps boost levels of the main drug in the body.___

Pfizer pill becomes 1st US-authorized home COVID treatment

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 5,074 to a total of 505,522, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 34 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6950&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 5,074 to a total of 505,522, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 34 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6950&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640196021664.png" alt="Wednesday Dec. 23, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Dec. 23, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: 5000 new cases, 34 more COVID deaths

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is extending a student loan moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to put off debt payments during the pandemic. Under the action Wednesday, payments on federal student loans will remain paused through May 1. 

Interest rates will remain at 0% during that period, and debt collection efforts will be suspended. Those measures have been in place since early in the pandemic but were set to expire Jan. 31. This is the second extension from the administration. 

In a statement from the White House, President Biden said: 

"When I came into office, we were facing a number of unprecedented crises. Our economy was creating only 50,000 new jobs per month, less than 1 percent of Americans were fully vaccinated, many schools were closed, and Americans across the country were struggling to pay their bills and stay afloat.

"That is why, on my very first day as President, I directed the Department of Education to pause federal student loan repayments through September. In August, my Administration once again extended the pause, through January 31, 2022. That pause has given 41 million Americans badly-needed breathing room during the economic upheaval caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic." Now, while our jobs recovery is one of the strongest ever — with nearly 6 million jobs added this year, the fewest Americans filing for unemployment in more than 50 years, and overall unemployment at 4.2 percent — we know that millions of student loan borrowers are still coping with the impacts of the pandemic and need some more time before resuming payments. This is an issue Vice President Harris has been closely focused on, and one we both care deeply about. Given these considerations, today my Administration is extending the pause on federal student loan repayments for an additional 90 days — through May 1, 2022 — as we manage the ongoing pandemic and further strengthen our economic recovery. Meanwhile, the Department of Education will continue working with borrowers to ensure they have the support they need to transition smoothly back into repayment and advance economic stability for their own households and for our nation. As we are taking this action, I’m asking all student loan borrowers to do their part as well: take full advantage of the Department of Education’s resources to help you prepare for payments to resume; look at options to lower your payments through income-based repayment plans; explore public service loan forgiveness; and make sure you are vaccinated and boosted when eligible."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633363477999.png" alt="President Joe Biden says the administration understands that borrowers are still coping with the impact of the pandemic." />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden says the administration understands that borrowers are still coping with the impact of the pandemic.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is extending a student loan moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to put off debt payments during the pandemic. Under the action Wednesday, payments on federal student loans will remain paused through May 1. Interest rates will remain at 0% during that period, and debt collection efforts will be suspended. Those measures have been in place since early in the pandemic but were set to expire Jan. 31. This is the second extension from the administration. In a statement from the White House, President Biden said: "When I came into office, we were facing a number of unprecedented crises. Our economy was creating only 50,000 new jobs per month, less than 1 percent of Americans were fully vaccinated, many schools were closed, and Americans across the country were struggling to pay their bills and stay afloat."That is why, on my very first day as President, I directed the Department of Education to pause federal student loan repayments through September. In August, my Administration once again extended the pause, through January 31, 2022. That pause has given 41 million Americans badly-needed breathing room during the economic upheaval caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic." Now, while our jobs recovery is one of the strongest ever — with nearly 6 million jobs added this year, the fewest Americans filing for unemployment in more than 50 years, and overall unemployment at 4.2 percent — we know that millions of student loan borrowers are still coping with the impacts of the pandemic and need some more time before resuming payments. This is an issue Vice President Harris has been closely focused on, and one we both care deeply about. Given these considerations, today my Administration is extending the pause on federal student loan repayments for an additional 90 days — through May 1, 2022 — as we manage the ongoing pandemic and further strengthen our economic recovery. Meanwhile, the Department of Education will continue working with borrowers to ensure they have the support they need to transition smoothly back into repayment and advance economic stability for their own households and for our nation. As we are taking this action, I’m asking all student loan borrowers to do their part as well: take full advantage of the Department of Education’s resources to help you prepare for payments to resume; look at options to lower your payments through income-based repayment plans; explore public service loan forgiveness; and make sure you are vaccinated and boosted when eligible."

Pause on student loan payments is extended again

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced a new proposal for a one-time $250 tax rebate to all Kansas residents who filed a tax return in the 2021 calendar year, according to a media release from her office.

“Since 2019, my administration has carefully worked to get Kansas’ budget back on track after years of mismanagement,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Thanks to our fiscal responsibility and record economic development success, we can return money to taxpayers and give every Kansas resident who filed taxes in 2021 a $250 rebate. These are significant savings for every family to be delivered by summer of 2022."

Governor Kelly is calling for a one-time rebate in the form of a non-taxable direct payment of $250 for every Kansas resident tax filer. 

Resident tax filers who filed as married and filing jointly will be eligible for a $500 direct payment. All other filing types will be eligible for a $250 direct payment.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Under the Governor’s plan, Kansas will return approximately $445 million to over 1.2 million Kansas resident taxpayers. Additionally, as a one-time payment, this will have no impact on the state’s ongoing ability to collect revenues that fund critical services. The proposal will be paid for with Kansas’ current budget surplus and is intended to provide relief to tax filers who are Kansas residents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640188110223.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly with Santa during the delivery of this year’s Christmas Tree to Cedar Crest.&nbsp;Under her plan, Kansas will return approximately $445 million to over 1.2 million Kansas resident taxpayers-photo from the governor's social media page." />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly with Santa during the delivery of this year’s Christmas Tree to Cedar Crest.&nbsp;Under her plan, Kansas will return approximately $445 million to over 1.2 million Kansas resident taxpayers-photo from the governor's social media page.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced a new proposal for a one-time $250 tax rebate to all Kansas residents who filed a tax return in the 2021 calendar year, according to a media release from her office.“Since 2019, my administration has carefully worked to get Kansas’ budget back on track after years of mismanagement,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Thanks to our fiscal responsibility and record economic development success, we can return money to taxpayers and give every Kansas resident who filed taxes in 2021 a $250 rebate. These are significant savings for every family to be delivered by summer of 2022."Governor Kelly is calling for a one-time rebate in the form of a non-taxable direct payment of $250 for every Kansas resident tax filer. Resident tax filers who filed as married and filing jointly will be eligible for a $500 direct payment. All other filing types will be eligible for a $250 direct payment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Under the Governor’s plan, Kansas will return approximately $445 million to over 1.2 million Kansas resident taxpayers. Additionally, as a one-time payment, this will have no impact on the state’s ongoing ability to collect revenues that fund critical services. The proposal will be paid for with Kansas’ current budget surplus and is intended to provide relief to tax filers who are Kansas residents.

Merry Christmas: Gov. proposes a $250 rebate for Kan. taxpayers

KANSAS CITy (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned a man's murder conviction in a deadly 2018 shooting outside of a suburban Kansas City shopping mall because during his trial, he wasn't allowed to argue that he had acted in self-defense.

The high court ruled that the trial judge hamstrung Tyler Gates' attorneys by not allowing them to argue it was self-defense and violated Gates' constitutional rights.

Jurors convicted Gates in June 2019 of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the killing of 17-year-old Matthew Haylock at the Independence Center. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Gates’ co-defendant, Luis Ramirez, was sentenced to concurrent terms of eight years in prison for attempted robbery and three years for armed criminal action in the same case.

Prosecutors said the shooting occurred after Gates, who was 18 at the time, and Ramirez, who was also a teen, decided to rob Haylock of a gun. Gates, however, claims he did not rob Haylock. He said he fired in self-defense after Haylock tried to rob him. But he was barred from presenting the self-defense argument at his trial.

The state Supreme Court's ruling sends the case back to a lower court.

Gates’ attorney, Jeannie Willibey, said in a statement that she is “pleased that the Court upheld the fundamental right of a criminal defendant to tell the jury in his own words his version of what happened” and added that “fairness requires a new trial.”

A spokesman for the Jackson County prosecutor’s office didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640128466324.png" alt="Gates-photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Gates-photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITy (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned a man's murder conviction in a deadly 2018 shooting outside of a suburban Kansas City shopping mall because during his trial, he wasn't allowed to argue that he had acted in self-defense.The high court ruled that the trial judge hamstrung Tyler Gates' attorneys by not allowing them to argue it was self-defense and violated Gates' constitutional rights.Jurors convicted Gates in June 2019 of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the killing of 17-year-old Matthew Haylock at the Independence Center. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.Gates’ co-defendant, Luis Ramirez, was sentenced to concurrent terms of eight years in prison for attempted robbery and three years for armed criminal action in the same case.Prosecutors said the shooting occurred after Gates, who was 18 at the time, and Ramirez, who was also a teen, decided to rob Haylock of a gun. Gates, however, claims he did not rob Haylock. He said he fired in self-defense after Haylock tried to rob him. But he was barred from presenting the self-defense argument at his trial.The state Supreme Court's ruling sends the case back to a lower court.Gates’ attorney, Jeannie Willibey, said in a statement that she is “pleased that the Court upheld the fundamental right of a criminal defendant to tell the jury in his own words his version of what happened” and added that “fairness requires a new trial.”A spokesman for the Jackson County prosecutor’s office didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

High court tosses KC-area mall shooting murder conviction

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle wreck Tuesday afternoon northwest of Salina.

Chad Markby, 38, of Culver, was northbound on N. Hedville Road in a 2011 Ford F250 pickup when he crossed the center line and side-swiped a southbound 2020 General Motors FedEx van driven by April Padget, 38, of Salina, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning. The collision occurred at approximately 2:23 p.m. Tuesday just north of the intersection with Watkins Road.

Markby told deputies that he was attempting to take his jacket off at the time of the collision, Soldan said.

Padget complained of left shoulder pain and knee pain and was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center. A passenger in the FedEx van, Nikki Snell, 55, of Salina, received minor injuries, but was not transported to Salina Regional. Additionally, Markby had minor injuries, but was not transported to Salina Regional, Soldan said.

Both vehicles sustained driver-side damage, Soldan said.

Markby was cited for improper driving on a laned roadway, Soldan said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640193723963.jpeg" alt="The pickup involved in the crash&nbsp;Photos Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>The pickup involved in the crash&nbsp;Photos Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostThree people were injured in a two-vehicle wreck Tuesday afternoon northwest of Salina.Chad Markby, 38, of Culver, was northbound on N. Hedville Road in a 2011 Ford F250 pickup when he crossed the center line and side-swiped a southbound 2020 General Motors FedEx van driven by April Padget, 38, of Salina, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning. The collision occurred at approximately 2:23 p.m. Tuesday just north of the intersection with Watkins Road.Markby told deputies that he was attempting to take his jacket off at the time of the collision, Soldan said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640193834651.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The FedEx vanPadget complained of left shoulder pain and knee pain and was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center. A passenger in the FedEx van, Nikki Snell, 55, of Salina, received minor injuries, but was not transported to Salina Regional. Additionally, Markby had minor injuries, but was not transported to Salina Regional, Soldan said.Both vehicles sustained driver-side damage, Soldan said.Markby was cited for improper driving on a laned roadway, Soldan said.

3 injured after pickup side-swipes FedEx van on Kansas highway

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/omicron-majority-us-cases-833001ef99862bd6ac17935f65c896cf">the omicron variant</a>&nbsp;surging through the country, President Joe Biden announced the government will provide 500 million free rapid home-testing kits, increase support for hospitals under strain and redouble vaccination and boosting efforts.

Click below to listen to the President's statement on vaccine misinformation.

At the White House on Tuesday, Biden detailed major changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-0b3c9530137646c0b261750472007d27">his COVID-19 winter plan</a>, his hand forced by the fast-spreading variant, whose properties are not yet fully understood by scientists. Yet his message was clear that the winter holidays could be close to normal for the vaccinated while potentially dangerous for the unvaccinated.

His pleas are not political, he emphasized. He noted that former President Donald Trump has gotten his booster shot, and he said it’s Americans’ “patriotic duty” to get vaccinated.

“It’s the only responsible thing to do,” the president said. “Omicron is serious and potentially deadly business for unvaccinated people.”

Biden chastised social media and people on cable TV who have made misleading statements to discourage people from getting vaccinated.

The outbreak from this latest strain of the coronavirus has required the federal government to get more aggressive in addressing the wave of infections, but Biden promised a weary nation that there would not be a mass lockdown of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-nhl-technology-entertainment-sports-4e3dde5757172cc9124774e13ea7c47a">schools or businesses.</a>

“I know you’re tired, and I know you’re frustrated. We all want this to be over. But we’re still in it,” Biden said. “We also have more tools than we had before. We’re ready, we’ll get through this.”

Scientists don’t know everything about omicron yet, but they do know that vaccination should offer strong protection against severe illness and death. The variant has spread at such an alarming rate since it was identified in South Africa about a month ago that the Biden administration snapped into action to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/21/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-protect-americans-and-help-communities-and-hospitals-battle-omicron/" target="_blank">offer new tests and additional aid</a>. Still more is needed, some medical experts said.

A cornerstone of the plan is for the government to purchase 500 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-home-testing-kits-supply-demand-57f8ec4b7bc78d0e70216b91717287ee">coronavirus rapid tests</a>&nbsp;for free shipment to Americans starting in January. People will use a new website to order their tests, which will then be sent by U.S. mail at no charge. The 500 million could be increased, depending on developments.

It marks a major shift for Biden, who earlier had called for many Americans to purchase the hard-to-find tests on their own and then seek reimbursement from health insurance. For the first time, the U.S. government will send free COVID-19 tests directly to Americans, after more than a year of urging by public health experts.

Experts had criticized Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-9939eee264b651fbc88f66c957a5e6e4">initial buy-first, get-paid-later approach</a>&nbsp;as unwieldy and warned that the U.S. would face another round of testing problems at a critical time. Testing advocates point to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-lifestyle-holidays-europe-f225f13329feb22eb525bb8931ac7e4c">nations including the U.K. and Germany,</a>&nbsp;which have distributed billions of tests to the public and recommend people test themselves twice a week.

The federal government will also establish new testing sites and use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-2019-2020-coronavirus-pandemic-bbb0f14dd5032760657c563565ecfe06">the Defense Production Act</a>&nbsp;to help manufacture more tests. The first new federally supported testing site&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-new-york-new-york-city-nyc-state-wire-bc53a7d561a965a660f24db7e657b3fb">will open in New York</a>&nbsp;this week. The new sites will add to 20,000 already available. White House officials said they’re working with Google so that people will be able to find them by searching “free COVID test near me.”

Still, Biden’s testing surge would need to be supported by a further jump in production for all Americans to test at the recommended rate of twice weekly. The U.S. would need 2.3 billion tests per month for everyone 12 and older to do that, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. That’s nearly five times the half-billion tests Biden will deploy.

Currently, the U.S. can conduct about 600 million tests per month, with home tests accounting for about half, according to researchers from Arizona State University.

In another prong to Biden’s amped-up plan, he is prepared to deploy an additional 1,000 troops with medical skills to assist hospitals buckling under the virus surge. Also, he is immediately sending federal medical personnel to Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Hampshire and Vermont. And there are plans to ready additional ventilators and protective equipment from the national stockpile, expanding hospital resources.

As a backstop, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will deploy hundreds of ambulances and paramedic teams so that if one hospital fills up, it can transport patients to open beds in another. Ambulances are already headed to New York and Maine, and paramedic teams are going to New Hampshire, Vermont and Arizona.

But vaccination remains the main defense, since it can head off disease in the first place. The government will support multiple vaccination sites and provide hundreds of personnel to administer shots. New rules will make it easier for pharmacists to work across state lines to administer a broader range of shots.

Biden said in response to a question that he may lift the Southern Africa travel ban that was imposed to delay omicron from reaching the U.S.

Some prominent experts said that Biden’s new actions are a step in the right direction but he hasn’t gone far enough, given the risks of infections and hospitals being overwhelmed.

“I don’t know that the measures being proposed are going to be adequate,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Hotez said the government may need to authorize a second booster shot for health care workers to prevent infections that would sideline clinicians when all hands are needed.

Dr. Eric Topol, professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, said the administration “finally sees the light” with Biden’s plan to ship 500 million tests, but “we need to pull out all the stops, and we’re not doing that still.”

“We don’t have control of this pandemic here,” said Topol.

He said the government could redefine “fully vaccinated” as three shots instead of two of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, Biden could order a ban on air travel by people who are not fully vaccinated, and the government could use its authority to ramp up production of high quality masks for free distribution.

“There’s a lack of boldness,” Topol said. “I am disappointed.”

Scientists say omicron spreads even more easily than other coronavirus strains, including delta. It accounted for nearly three-quarters of new U.S. infections last week.

Underscoring the reach of the virus, the White House said late Monday that Biden had been in close contact with a staff member who later tested positive for COVID-19. The staffer spent about 30 minutes around the president on Air Force One on Friday. The staffer, who was fully vaccinated and boosted, tested positive Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

Psaki said Biden has tested negative twice since Sunday and will test again on Wednesday. He cleared his throat several times at Tuesday’s event but spoke firmly and appeared fine.

In New York City,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-omicron-coronavirus-holidays-179cd759ed851789db86fa206986a736">nearly 42,600 people citywide tested positive</a>&nbsp;from Wednesday through Saturday — compared with fewer than 35,800 in the entire month of November. The city has never had so many people test positive in such a short period of time since testing became widely available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640115794186.png" alt="At the White House on Tuesday, President Biden asked those on social media and cable TV who he believes are spreading COVID vaccine misinformation to "stop it, stop it now!"" />
 <figcaption>At the White House on Tuesday, President Biden asked those on social media and cable TV who he believes are spreading COVID vaccine misinformation to "stop it, stop it now!"</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/omicron-majority-us-cases-833001ef99862bd6ac17935f65c896cf">the omicron variant</a>&nbsp;surging through the country, President Joe Biden announced the government will provide 500 million free rapid home-testing kits, increase support for hospitals under strain and redouble vaccination and boosting efforts.Click below to listen to the President's statement on vaccine misinformation.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/95NfeWiJfRs?start=699" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>At the White House on Tuesday, Biden detailed major changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-0b3c9530137646c0b261750472007d27">his COVID-19 winter plan</a>, his hand forced by the fast-spreading variant, whose properties are not yet fully understood by scientists. Yet his message was clear that the winter holidays could be close to normal for the vaccinated while potentially dangerous for the unvaccinated.His pleas are not political, he emphasized. He noted that former President Donald Trump has gotten his booster shot, and he said it’s Americans’ “patriotic duty” to get vaccinated.“It’s the only responsible thing to do,” the president said. “Omicron is serious and potentially deadly business for unvaccinated people.”Biden chastised social media and people on cable TV who have made misleading statements to discourage people from getting vaccinated.The outbreak from this latest strain of the coronavirus has required the federal government to get more aggressive in addressing the wave of infections, but Biden promised a weary nation that there would not be a mass lockdown of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-nhl-technology-entertainment-sports-4e3dde5757172cc9124774e13ea7c47a">schools or businesses.</a>“I know you’re tired, and I know you’re frustrated. We all want this to be over. But we’re still in it,” Biden said. “We also have more tools than we had before. We’re ready, we’ll get through this.”Scientists don’t know everything about omicron yet, but they do know that vaccination should offer strong protection against severe illness and death. The variant has spread at such an alarming rate since it was identified in South Africa about a month ago that the Biden administration snapped into action to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/21/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-protect-americans-and-help-communities-and-hospitals-battle-omicron/" target="_blank">offer new tests and additional aid</a>. Still more is needed, some medical experts said.A cornerstone of the plan is for the government to purchase 500 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-home-testing-kits-supply-demand-57f8ec4b7bc78d0e70216b91717287ee">coronavirus rapid tests</a>&nbsp;for free shipment to Americans starting in January. People will use a new website to order their tests, which will then be sent by U.S. mail at no charge. The 500 million could be increased, depending on developments.It marks a major shift for Biden, who earlier had called for many Americans to purchase the hard-to-find tests on their own and then seek reimbursement from health insurance. For the first time, the U.S. government will send free COVID-19 tests directly to Americans, after more than a year of urging by public health experts.Experts had criticized Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-9939eee264b651fbc88f66c957a5e6e4">initial buy-first, get-paid-later approach</a>&nbsp;as unwieldy and warned that the U.S. would face another round of testing problems at a critical time. Testing advocates point to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-lifestyle-holidays-europe-f225f13329feb22eb525bb8931ac7e4c">nations including the U.K. and Germany,</a>&nbsp;which have distributed billions of tests to the public and recommend people test themselves twice a week.The federal government will also establish new testing sites and use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-2019-2020-coronavirus-pandemic-bbb0f14dd5032760657c563565ecfe06">the Defense Production Act</a>&nbsp;to help manufacture more tests. The first new federally supported testing site&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-new-york-new-york-city-nyc-state-wire-bc53a7d561a965a660f24db7e657b3fb">will open in New York</a>&nbsp;this week. The new sites will add to 20,000 already available. White House officials said they’re working with Google so that people will be able to find them by searching “free COVID test near me.”Still, Biden’s testing surge would need to be supported by a further jump in production for all Americans to test at the recommended rate of twice weekly. The U.S. would need 2.3 billion tests per month for everyone 12 and older to do that, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. That’s nearly five times the half-billion tests Biden will deploy.Currently, the U.S. can conduct about 600 million tests per month, with home tests accounting for about half, according to researchers from Arizona State University.In another prong to Biden’s amped-up plan, he is prepared to deploy an additional 1,000 troops with medical skills to assist hospitals buckling under the virus surge. Also, he is immediately sending federal medical personnel to Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Hampshire and Vermont. And there are plans to ready additional ventilators and protective equipment from the national stockpile, expanding hospital resources.As a backstop, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will deploy hundreds of ambulances and paramedic teams so that if one hospital fills up, it can transport patients to open beds in another. Ambulances are already headed to New York and Maine, and paramedic teams are going to New Hampshire, Vermont and Arizona.But vaccination remains the main defense, since it can head off disease in the first place. The government will support multiple vaccination sites and provide hundreds of personnel to administer shots. New rules will make it easier for pharmacists to work across state lines to administer a broader range of shots.Biden said in response to a question that he may lift the Southern Africa travel ban that was imposed to delay omicron from reaching the U.S.Some prominent experts said that Biden’s new actions are a step in the right direction but he hasn’t gone far enough, given the risks of infections and hospitals being overwhelmed.“I don’t know that the measures being proposed are going to be adequate,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.Hotez said the government may need to authorize a second booster shot for health care workers to prevent infections that would sideline clinicians when all hands are needed.Dr. Eric Topol, professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, said the administration “finally sees the light” with Biden’s plan to ship 500 million tests, but “we need to pull out all the stops, and we’re not doing that still.”“We don’t have control of this pandemic here,” said Topol.He said the government could redefine “fully vaccinated” as three shots instead of two of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, Biden could order a ban on air travel by people who are not fully vaccinated, and the government could use its authority to ramp up production of high quality masks for free distribution.“There’s a lack of boldness,” Topol said. “I am disappointed.”Scientists say omicron spreads even more easily than other coronavirus strains, including delta. It accounted for nearly three-quarters of new U.S. infections last week.Underscoring the reach of the virus, the White House said late Monday that Biden had been in close contact with a staff member who later tested positive for COVID-19. The staffer spent about 30 minutes around the president on Air Force One on Friday. The staffer, who was fully vaccinated and boosted, tested positive Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.Psaki said Biden has tested negative twice since Sunday and will test again on Wednesday. He cleared his throat several times at Tuesday’s event but spoke firmly and appeared fine.In New York City,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-omicron-coronavirus-holidays-179cd759ed851789db86fa206986a736">nearly 42,600 people citywide tested positive</a>&nbsp;from Wednesday through Saturday — compared with fewer than 35,800 in the entire month of November. The city has never had so many people test positive in such a short period of time since testing became widely available.___

🎥 Biden on vaccine misinformation: Stop it, stop it now!

SHAWNEE COUNTY–&nbsp; Sheriff Brian C. Hill announced&nbsp; the final results of the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office’s recent Operation Grinch that occurred Sunday, December 12 through Saturday, December 18, 2021.

During Operation Grinch, law enforcement officers with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and the Topeka Police Department joined together to target individuals with burglary and theft warrants for their arrest.

A total of 271 warrants were attempted to be served. Of those, 53 warrants were successfully served including 20 felony warrants, 24 misdemeanor warrants and 9 City of Topeka warrants.

There were 38 individuals arrested during Operation Grinch.

Over the last several years, the number of burglary and theft calls have been impressively decreasing.

“Operation Grinch is a continued proactive approach aimed at keeping our community safe for our citizens during the holidays,” stated Sheriff Brian Hill. “The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office will continue these enforcement efforts in order to ensure that our community remains safe.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640173424400.png" alt="Authorities arrested 44-year-old Frank Zbierski on requested aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and aggravated battery on Dec. 15, according to online jail records." />
 <figcaption>Authorities arrested 44-year-old Frank Zbierski on requested aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and aggravated battery on Dec. 15, according to online jail records.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY–&nbsp; Sheriff Brian C. Hill announced&nbsp; the final results of the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office’s recent Operation Grinch that occurred Sunday, December 12 through Saturday, December 18, 2021.During Operation Grinch, law enforcement officers with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and the Topeka Police Department joined together to target individuals with burglary and theft warrants for their arrest.A total of 271 warrants were attempted to be served. Of those, 53 warrants were successfully served including 20 felony warrants, 24 misdemeanor warrants and 9 City of Topeka warrants.There were 38 individuals arrested during Operation Grinch.Over the last several years, the number of burglary and theft calls have been impressively decreasing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640173044539.png" alt="The graphs show that decrease from the same time frame, November 15 to December 15, over the last three years." />
 <figcaption>The graphs show that decrease from the same time frame, November 15 to December 15, over the last three years.</figcaption>
 </figure>“Operation Grinch is a continued proactive approach aimed at keeping our community safe for our citizens during the holidays,” stated Sheriff Brian Hill. “The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office will continue these enforcement efforts in order to ensure that our community remains safe.”

Sheriff: 38 in Kansas jail during 2021 Operation Grinch 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California health care workers will be required to have coronavirus booster shots to ensure that hospitals are ready to deal with a surge in cases as the more-transmissible omicron variant spreads throughout the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the order Tuesday on his personal Twitter account and planned to provide more details at a Wednesday news conference.

California already requires health care workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, a directive that took effect in September and has since led to the firing or suspension of thousands of people. Now it will join New Mexico as at least the second state to require booster shots for health care workers.

Last week, Newsom, who imposed the first statewide shutdown order in March 2020, warned that cases would likely rise and re-imposed a rule requiring everyone to wear masks at public indoor gatherings.

Concerns stem from the rise of omicron, which as of Monday was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-london-england-eddf1657a9462547826881562b71f3b7">dominant variant</a>&nbsp;of the coronavirus in the United States. Areas in the Midwest and Northeast are seeing the biggest jump in cases and hospitalizations amid frigid temperatures that have kept people indoors.

Much about the variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. Scientists say omicron spreads more easily than other coronavirus strains, including delta. Early studies suggest the vaccinated will need a third shot for the best chance at preventing infection but even without the extra dose, vaccination still should offer strong protection against severe illness and death.

California has so far fared far better than many other states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists California as a place with “high” transmission of the virus, along with nearly everywhere else in the country. But in the last week California averaged 114 new cases per 100,000 people, less than half the national rate.

While 70% of Californians have been fully vaccinated, that still leaves 30% — or roughly 12 million people — who haven’t been. The California Department of Public Health says people who are not vaccinated are seven times more likely to get infected, nearly 13 times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly 16 times more likely to die from the coronavirus.

Coronavirus related hospitalizations have been rising slowly in California, up 15% in the last 11 days to 3,852. That’s less than half as many as during the late summer peak and one-fifth of a year ago, before vaccines were widely available.

But while hospitals overall have fewer patients than last winter, many have fewer workers to treat the patients they do have. The staffing shortage comes as businesses are having trouble finding workers, including hospitals. A recent study by the University of California-San Francisco estimated the state’s nursing shortage could persist until 2026.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California health care workers will be required to have coronavirus booster shots to ensure that hospitals are ready to deal with a surge in cases as the more-transmissible omicron variant spreads throughout the state.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CA will require healthcare workers to get their booster. As the Omicron variant continues to spread -- we’re stepping up efforts to get more people boosted and keep Californians safe. Tune in tomorrow for more info.<a href="https://t.co/6TcqHw4xhI">pic.twitter.com/6TcqHw4xhI</a>&mdash; Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1473471786423504898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the order Tuesday on his personal Twitter account and planned to provide more details at a Wednesday news conference.California already requires health care workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, a directive that took effect in September and has since led to the firing or suspension of thousands of people. Now it will join New Mexico as at least the second state to require booster shots for health care workers.Last week, Newsom, who imposed the first statewide shutdown order in March 2020, warned that cases would likely rise and re-imposed a rule requiring everyone to wear masks at public indoor gatherings.Concerns stem from the rise of omicron, which as of Monday was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-london-england-eddf1657a9462547826881562b71f3b7">dominant variant</a>&nbsp;of the coronavirus in the United States. Areas in the Midwest and Northeast are seeing the biggest jump in cases and hospitalizations amid frigid temperatures that have kept people indoors.Much about the variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. Scientists say omicron spreads more easily than other coronavirus strains, including delta. Early studies suggest the vaccinated will need a third shot for the best chance at preventing infection but even without the extra dose, vaccination still should offer strong protection against severe illness and death.California has so far fared far better than many other states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists California as a place with “high” transmission of the virus, along with nearly everywhere else in the country. But in the last week California averaged 114 new cases per 100,000 people, less than half the national rate.While 70% of Californians have been fully vaccinated, that still leaves 30% — or roughly 12 million people — who haven’t been. The California Department of Public Health says people who are not vaccinated are seven times more likely to get infected, nearly 13 times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly 16 times more likely to die from the coronavirus.Coronavirus related hospitalizations have been rising slowly in California, up 15% in the last 11 days to 3,852. That’s less than half as many as during the late summer peak and one-fifth of a year ago, before vaccines were widely available.But while hospitals overall have fewer patients than last winter, many have fewer workers to treat the patients they do have. The staffing shortage comes as businesses are having trouble finding workers, including hospitals. A recent study by the University of California-San Francisco estimated the state’s nursing shortage could persist until 2026.___

Two states mandate COVID boosters for healthcare workers

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;woman has been sentenced to more than 31 years in prison for killing a 3-year-old girl in a case that drew attention to the agency responsible for overseeing young children in the state.

Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick was sentenced Monday, a little more than a month after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and interfering with a law enforcement investigation.

Olivia Ann Jansen of Kansas City, Kansas, died in July 2020. Her body was found in a shallow grave, hours after her father reported her missing. A medical examiner's report later showed that she had signs of physical abuse and died of a brain bleed. Kirkpatrick and the child's father, Howard Jansen III, were arrested.

Jansen is scheduled to go to trial May 2 on a charge of first-degree murder.

Olivia’s death led to calls for changes at the Kansas Department of Children and Families. Information previously released by the agency shows it received two reports of alleged physical abuse involving Olivia in February 2020. One report alleged Olivia’s father hit her on the leg, leaving a bruise and possibly breaking the limb. The other report alleged Kilpatrick hit the girl. Both were ruled unsubstantiated after a person who alleged the abuse recanted.

The girl also was visited by a caseworker over a video call 11 days before she was found dead. That investigation stemmed from a hotline report from someone worried that her caregiver was unavailable or unable to care for her and may have been using drugs.

Child welfare officials also have acknowledged that they received repeated reports about a 2-year-old Wichita boy before he was found dead in a motel of a methadone overdose in May 2019. A 3-year-old Wichita boy’s body was found encased in concrete in 2017 after relatives repeatedly reported abuse. In the Kansas City area, a 7-year-old boy was tortured, starved, killed and fed to pigs in 2015 despite extensive involvement with welfare officials.

The state has taken several steps to address the issues, including creating an independent office to review complaints against the Kansas’ foster care system and recommend changes in child welfare policies, a longtime goal of advocates for abused and neglected children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594490776368.png" alt="Kirkpatrick-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Kirkpatrick-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;woman has been sentenced to more than 31 years in prison for killing a 3-year-old girl in a case that drew attention to the agency responsible for overseeing young children in the state.Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick was sentenced Monday, a little more than a month after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and interfering with a law enforcement investigation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594403105823.png" alt="Olivia Jansen-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Olivia Jansen-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>Olivia Ann Jansen of Kansas City, Kansas, died in July 2020. Her body was found in a shallow grave, hours after her father reported her missing. A medical examiner's report later showed that she had signs of physical abuse and died of a brain bleed. Kirkpatrick and the child's father, Howard Jansen III, were arrested.Jansen is scheduled to go to trial May 2 on a charge of first-degree murder.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594468009097.png" alt="Jansen-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Jansen-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Olivia’s death led to calls for changes at the Kansas Department of Children and Families. Information previously released by the agency shows it received two reports of alleged physical abuse involving Olivia in February 2020. One report alleged Olivia’s father hit her on the leg, leaving a bruise and possibly breaking the limb. The other report alleged Kilpatrick hit the girl. Both were ruled unsubstantiated after a person who alleged the abuse recanted.The girl also was visited by a caseworker over a video call 11 days before she was found dead. That investigation stemmed from a hotline report from someone worried that her caregiver was unavailable or unable to care for her and may have been using drugs.Child welfare officials also have acknowledged that they received repeated reports about a 2-year-old Wichita boy before he was found dead in a motel of a methadone overdose in May 2019. A 3-year-old Wichita boy’s body was found encased in concrete in 2017 after relatives repeatedly reported abuse. In the Kansas City area, a 7-year-old boy was tortured, starved, killed and fed to pigs in 2015 despite extensive involvement with welfare officials.The state has taken several steps to address the issues, including creating an independent office to review complaints against the Kansas’ foster care system and recommend changes in child welfare policies, a longtime goal of advocates for abused and neglected children.

Kansas woman sentence in death of 3-year-old

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal wrong-way crash have identified 37-year-old Brandon White and 60-year-old Rayburn Langston, both of Wichita as the victims of the fatal accident that occurred Tuesday morning on Westbound Kellogg between Edwards and West Street, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Just after 9:00 a.m., 911 received multiple calls concerning a wrong-way driver. An initial caller advised seeing a brown pickup truck traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Kellogg from Interstate 235. 

A second 911 call was made concerning the same brown truck striking another vehicle. Wichita Police responded to the accident location in the Westbound lanes of Kellogg just west of the Edwards on-ramp. 

They located five vehicles involved and two injured drivers – identified as White and Rayburn. White was pronounced deceased on scene. Rayburn was transported to an area hospital, where he died.

Investigators learned that White was eastbound in the Westbound lanes of Kellogg in the brown pickup, driving in the centermost lane, when he sideswiped a westbound taxi cab. This caused the cab to strike a utility vehicle – neither the cab driver nor the utility vehicle driver were injured.

The brown pickup then went into the center lane and struck the white pickup truck driven by Rayburn head-on, causing the white pickup truck to spin and hit a delivery truck. The delivery driver was uninjured.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two people are dead following a wrong-way accident involving two pickup trucks in Wichita. KSNW-TV reports that the accident happened shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday. 

Police say a pickup traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Kellogg Street struck several vehicles before colliding head-on with another pickup. 

The drivers of both pickups died — one at the scene and the other at a hospital. Two other vehicles were damaged but no additional injuries were reported. Police have not released the names of those killed in the accident.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640101853197.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the fatal crash Tuesday-photo KanDrive" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the fatal crash Tuesday-photo KanDrive</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal wrong-way crash have identified 37-year-old Brandon White and 60-year-old Rayburn Langston, both of Wichita as the victims of the fatal accident that occurred Tuesday morning on Westbound Kellogg between Edwards and West Street, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Just after 9:00 a.m., 911 received multiple calls concerning a wrong-way driver. An initial caller advised seeing a brown pickup truck traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Kellogg from Interstate 235. A second 911 call was made concerning the same brown truck striking another vehicle. Wichita Police responded to the accident location in the Westbound lanes of Kellogg just west of the Edwards on-ramp. They located five vehicles involved and two injured drivers – identified as White and Rayburn. White was pronounced deceased on scene. Rayburn was transported to an area hospital, where he died.Investigators learned that White was eastbound in the Westbound lanes of Kellogg in the brown pickup, driving in the centermost lane, when he sideswiped a westbound taxi cab. This caused the cab to strike a utility vehicle – neither the cab driver nor the utility vehicle driver were injured.The brown pickup then went into the center lane and struck the white pickup truck driven by Rayburn head-on, causing the white pickup truck to spin and hit a delivery truck. The delivery driver was uninjured.----------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two people are dead following a wrong-way accident involving two pickup trucks in Wichita. KSNW-TV reports that the accident happened shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday. Police say a pickup traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Kellogg Street struck several vehicles before colliding head-on with another pickup. The drivers of both pickups died — one at the scene and the other at a hospital. Two other vehicles were damaged but no additional injuries were reported. Police have not released the names of those killed in the accident.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Police ID 2 Kan. men who died in wrong-way, head-on crash 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An arrest warrant has been issued for a former nursing home owner on eight Medicaid fraud charges involving his facilities in Arkansas, the state’s <a href="https://arkansasag.gov/news_releases/rutledge-announces-arrest-warrant-issued-for-skyline-nursing-home-owner-joseph-schwartz/">attorney general said Monday.</a>

Joseph Schwartz also faces two counts of state tax violations for failing to pay taxes that were withheld from employees’ paychecks, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said.

Schwartz operated Skyline Health Care, which at one point held licenses for one out of every 10 nursing homes in the state. Schwartz has relinquished most of his nursing homes, including those in Arkansas, because of financial insolvency.

Schwartz’ attorney, Bill James, told the newspaper that his client is expected to surrender in January and that he will plead not guilty to the charges.

Schwartz was also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tn-state-wire-sd-state-wire-ne-state-wire-us-news-ar-state-wire-acf33f73bd4412f55a74510c2b2119e8">sued in federal court</a>&nbsp;in 2020 by former employees in multiple states who claimed that they were left without health insurance even though money had been deducted from their paychecks. Five plaintiffs who worked at Skyline-operated facilities in South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska and Arkansas filed the suit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640106081276.png" alt="Attorney General Leslie Rutledge- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Attorney General Leslie Rutledge- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An arrest warrant has been issued for a former nursing home owner on eight Medicaid fraud charges involving his facilities in Arkansas, the state’s <a href="https://arkansasag.gov/news_releases/rutledge-announces-arrest-warrant-issued-for-skyline-nursing-home-owner-joseph-schwartz/">attorney general said Monday.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640105791161.png" alt="Arkansas Attorney General's office" />
 <figcaption>Arkansas Attorney General's office</figcaption>
 </figure>Joseph Schwartz also faces two counts of state tax violations for failing to pay taxes that were withheld from employees’ paychecks, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said.Schwartz operated Skyline Health Care, which at one point held licenses for one out of every 10 nursing homes in the state. Schwartz has relinquished most of his nursing homes, including those in Arkansas, because of financial insolvency.Schwartz’ attorney, Bill James, told the newspaper that his client is expected to surrender in January and that he will plead not guilty to the charges.Schwartz was also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tn-state-wire-sd-state-wire-ne-state-wire-us-news-ar-state-wire-acf33f73bd4412f55a74510c2b2119e8">sued in federal court</a>&nbsp;in 2020 by former employees in multiple states who claimed that they were left without health insurance even though money had been deducted from their paychecks. Five plaintiffs who worked at Skyline-operated facilities in South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska and Arkansas filed the suit.

Arrest warrant issued for ex-nursing home owner with employees from Kansas

HOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) — A bus carrying a Kansas college basketball team caught fire, leaving players and staff briefly stranded in a central Nebraska town. 

The Holdrege Daily Citizen says the Newman University men’s basketball team from Wichita was heading from Kearney, Nebraska, to Hays, Kansas on Saturday when the fire occurred. 

The bus was carrying 15 basketball players, three coaches and an athletic trainer. No one was injured. Holdrege volunteer firefighters received the call at around 1:40 p.m. Saturday. 

Head Coach R.J. Allen says the only personal items lost in the fire were phone chargers, pillows and blankets. Allen says the team was headed to a practice before a game against Fort Hays State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640128076441.png" alt="Newman Coach R.J. Allen" />
 <figcaption>Newman Coach R.J. Allen</figcaption>
 </figure>HOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) — A bus carrying a Kansas college basketball team caught fire, leaving players and staff briefly stranded in a central Nebraska town. The Holdrege Daily Citizen says the Newman University men’s basketball team from Wichita was heading from Kearney, Nebraska, to Hays, Kansas on Saturday when the fire occurred. The bus was carrying 15 basketball players, three coaches and an athletic trainer. No one was injured. Holdrege volunteer firefighters received the call at around 1:40 p.m. Saturday. Head Coach R.J. Allen says the only personal items lost in the fire were phone chargers, pillows and blankets. Allen says the team was headed to a practice before a game against Fort Hays State University.

Bus fire briefly strands Kansas basketball team in Nebraska

RUSSELL COUNTY—The Kansas Forrest Service has revised the total wildfire acres burned across western Kansas during last week's storms, according to a social media report from the agency.

Kansas Forest Service together with the National Interagency Fire Coordination Center used a new satellite data system to map ongoing wildfire to determine approximately 163,000 acres burned.&nbsp;

The agency originally reported 400,000 acres had been impacted by wildfire due to the historic high winds combined with the drought or near drought conditions across Kansas.

Further analysis of satellite mapping data resulted in revised acreage for the fires that occurred December 15, and detection of fires not previously reported.

As the air cleared of heat, dust and smoke, the satellite was able to get a clearer picture of the landscape. Authorities also learned in using this new satellite technology some of the fires’ perimeters were calculated twice. The newly released map has the updated acres from the recent satellite imagery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640120183716.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service</figcaption>
 </figure>RUSSELL COUNTY—The Kansas Forrest Service has revised the total wildfire acres burned across western Kansas during last week's storms, according to a social media report from the agency.Kansas Forest Service together with the National Interagency Fire Coordination Center used a new satellite data system to map ongoing wildfire to determine approximately 163,000 acres burned.&nbsp;The agency originally reported 400,000 acres had been impacted by wildfire due to the historic high winds combined with the drought or near drought conditions across Kansas.Further analysis of satellite mapping data resulted in revised acreage for the fires that occurred December 15, and detection of fires not previously reported.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640119992895.png" alt="Kansas Forest Service map" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Forest Service map</figcaption>
 </figure>As the air cleared of heat, dust and smoke, the satellite was able to get a clearer picture of the landscape. Authorities also learned in using this new satellite technology some of the fires’ perimeters were calculated twice. The newly released map has the updated acres from the recent satellite imagery.

Kan. Forest Service revises estimates on acres burned in last week's fire 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/omicron-majority-us-cases-833001ef99862bd6ac17935f65c896cf">the omicron variant</a>&nbsp;surging through the country, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the government would provide 500 million free rapid tests, increase support for hospitals under strain and redouble vaccination and boosting efforts.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516869-1/president-biden-announces-steps-tackle-omicron-surge">Click here&nbsp;</a>to watch the President's comments

In remarks Tuesday at the White House, Biden detailed major changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-0b3c9530137646c0b261750472007d27">his COVID-19 winter plan</a>, his hand forced by the arrival of the fast-spreading variant, whose properties are yet not fully understood by scientists. Yet his message was clear that the winter holidays could be close to normal for the vaccinated while potentially dangerous for the unvaccinated.

The outbreak from this latest strain of the coronavirus has required the federal government to get more aggressive in addressing the likely wave of infections, but Biden promised a weary nation that there would not be a mass lockdown of schools or businesses.

Scientists don’t yet know everything about omicron yet, but they do know that vaccination should offer strong protections against severe illness and death. The variant has spread at such an alarming rate that the Biden administration snapped quickly into action to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/21/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-protect-americans-and-help-communities-and-hospitals-battle-omicron/" target="_blank">offer new tests and additional aid</a>.

A cornerstone of the plan is Biden’s decision for the government to purchase 500 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-home-testing-kits-supply-demand-57f8ec4b7bc78d0e70216b91717287ee">coronavirus rapid tests</a>&nbsp;for free shipment to Americans starting in January. People will use a new website to order their tests, which will then be sent by U.S. mail at no charge, the White House said.

It marks a major shift for Biden, who earlier had called for many Americans to purchase the hard-to-find tests on their own and then seek reimbursement from their health insurance. For the first time, the U.S. government will send free COVID-19 tests directly to Americans, after more than a year of urging by public health experts.

Experts had criticized Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-9939eee264b651fbc88f66c957a5e6e4">initial buy-first, get-paid-later approach</a>&nbsp;as unwieldy and warned that the U.S. would face another round of problems with testing at a critical time. Testing advocates point to places like the U.K. and Germany, which have distributed billions of tests to the public and recommend people test themselves twice a week.

The federal government will also establish new testing sites and use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-2019-2020-coronavirus-pandemic-bbb0f14dd5032760657c563565ecfe06">the Defense Production Act</a>&nbsp;to help manufacture more tests. The first new federally supported testing site will open in New York this week. The new testing sites will add to 20,000 already available. White House officials said they’re working with Google so that people will be able to find them by searching “free COVID test near me.”

In another prong to Biden’s amped-up plan, he is prepared to deploy an additional 1,000 troops with medical skills to assist hospitals buckling under the virus surge. Additionally, he is immediately sending federal medical personnel to Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Hampshire and Vermont. There are also plans to ready additional ventilators and protective equipment from the national stockpile, expanding hospital resources.

As a backstop, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will deploy hundreds of ambulances and paramedic teams so that if one hospital fills up, they can transport patients to open beds in other facilities. Ambulances are already headed to New York and Maine, and paramedic teams are going to New Hampshire, Vermont and Arizona.

Some prominent experts said that Biden’s plan is a step in the right direction but the president hasn’t gone far enough to try to get ahead of the virus, given the risks of infections and hospitals being overwhelmed.

Hotez said the government may need go a step further by authorizing a second booster shot for health care workers to prevent infections that would sideline clinicians when all hands are needed.

Dr. Eric Topol, professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, said the administration “finally sees the light” on testing with Biden’s plan to ship 500 million tests, but the type of test being provided is important at a time when the disease can spread quickly.

“We don’t have control of this pandemic here,” said Topol. “We need to pull out all the stops, and we’re not doing that still.”

Topol said the government could redefine “fully vaccinated” as three shots instead of two of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, Biden could order the Federal Aviation Administration to bar air travel by people who are not fully vaccinated, and the government could use its authority to ramp up production of high quality masks for free distribution.

Psaki said Biden has tested negative twice since Sunday and will test again on Wednesday. Citing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Psaki said Biden didn’t need to quarantine and would continue with his regular schedule.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640117297620.png" alt="President Biden chastised social media and people on cable TV who have made misleading statements to discourage people from getting vaccinated." />
 <figcaption>President Biden chastised social media and people on cable TV who have made misleading statements to discourage people from getting vaccinated.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/omicron-majority-us-cases-833001ef99862bd6ac17935f65c896cf">the omicron variant</a>&nbsp;surging through the country, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the government would provide 500 million free rapid tests, increase support for hospitals under strain and redouble vaccination and boosting efforts.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516869-1/president-biden-announces-steps-tackle-omicron-surge">Click here&nbsp;</a>to watch the President's commentsIn remarks Tuesday at the White House, Biden detailed major changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-0b3c9530137646c0b261750472007d27">his COVID-19 winter plan</a>, his hand forced by the arrival of the fast-spreading variant, whose properties are yet not fully understood by scientists. Yet his message was clear that the winter holidays could be close to normal for the vaccinated while potentially dangerous for the unvaccinated.His pleas are not political, he emphasized. He noted that former President Donald Trump has gotten his booster shot, and he said it’s Americans’ “patriotic duty” to get vaccinated.“It’s the only responsible thing to do,” the president said. “Omicron is serious and potentially deadly business for unvaccinated people.”Biden chastised social media and people on cable TV who have made misleading statements to discourage people from getting vaccinated.The outbreak from this latest strain of the coronavirus has required the federal government to get more aggressive in addressing the likely wave of infections, but Biden promised a weary nation that there would not be a mass lockdown of schools or businesses.“I know you’re tired, and I know you’re frustrated. We all want this to be over. But we’re still in it,” Biden said. “We also have more tools than we had before. We’re ready, we’ll get through this.”Scientists don’t yet know everything about omicron yet, but they do know that vaccination should offer strong protections against severe illness and death. The variant has spread at such an alarming rate that the Biden administration snapped quickly into action to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/21/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-protect-americans-and-help-communities-and-hospitals-battle-omicron/" target="_blank">offer new tests and additional aid</a>.A cornerstone of the plan is Biden’s decision for the government to purchase 500 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-home-testing-kits-supply-demand-57f8ec4b7bc78d0e70216b91717287ee">coronavirus rapid tests</a>&nbsp;for free shipment to Americans starting in January. People will use a new website to order their tests, which will then be sent by U.S. mail at no charge, the White House said.It marks a major shift for Biden, who earlier had called for many Americans to purchase the hard-to-find tests on their own and then seek reimbursement from their health insurance. For the first time, the U.S. government will send free COVID-19 tests directly to Americans, after more than a year of urging by public health experts.Experts had criticized Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-9939eee264b651fbc88f66c957a5e6e4">initial buy-first, get-paid-later approach</a>&nbsp;as unwieldy and warned that the U.S. would face another round of problems with testing at a critical time. Testing advocates point to places like the U.K. and Germany, which have distributed billions of tests to the public and recommend people test themselves twice a week.The federal government will also establish new testing sites and use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-2019-2020-coronavirus-pandemic-bbb0f14dd5032760657c563565ecfe06">the Defense Production Act</a>&nbsp;to help manufacture more tests. The first new federally supported testing site will open in New York this week. The new testing sites will add to 20,000 already available. White House officials said they’re working with Google so that people will be able to find them by searching “free COVID test near me.”Still, Biden’s testing surge would need to be supported by a further jump in production for all Americans to test at the recommended rate of twice weekly. The U.S. would need 2.3 billion tests per month for everyone 12 and older to do that, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. That’s nearly five times the half-billion tests Biden will deploy.Currently, the U.S. can conduct about 600 million tests per month, with home tests accounting for about half, according to researchers from Arizona State University.In another prong to Biden’s amped-up plan, he is prepared to deploy an additional 1,000 troops with medical skills to assist hospitals buckling under the virus surge. Additionally, he is immediately sending federal medical personnel to Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Hampshire and Vermont. There are also plans to ready additional ventilators and protective equipment from the national stockpile, expanding hospital resources.As a backstop, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will deploy hundreds of ambulances and paramedic teams so that if one hospital fills up, they can transport patients to open beds in other facilities. Ambulances are already headed to New York and Maine, and paramedic teams are going to New Hampshire, Vermont and Arizona.But vaccination remains the main defense, since it can head off disease in the first place. The government will support multiple vaccination sites and provide hundreds of personnel to administer shots. New rules will make it easier for pharmacists to work across state lines to administer a broader range of shots.Some prominent experts said that Biden’s plan is a step in the right direction but the president hasn’t gone far enough to try to get ahead of the virus, given the risks of infections and hospitals being overwhelmed.“I don’t know that the measures being proposed are going to be adequate,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.Hotez said the government may need go a step further by authorizing a second booster shot for health care workers to prevent infections that would sideline clinicians when all hands are needed.Dr. Eric Topol, professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, said the administration “finally sees the light” on testing with Biden’s plan to ship 500 million tests, but the type of test being provided is important at a time when the disease can spread quickly.“We don’t have control of this pandemic here,” said Topol. “We need to pull out all the stops, and we’re not doing that still.”Topol said the government could redefine “fully vaccinated” as three shots instead of two of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, Biden could order the Federal Aviation Administration to bar air travel by people who are not fully vaccinated, and the government could use its authority to ramp up production of high quality masks for free distribution.“There’s a lack of boldness,” Topol said. “I am disappointed.”Scientists say omicron spreads even more easily than other coronavirus strains, including delta. It accounted for nearly three-quarters of new U.S. infections last week.Underscoring the reach of the virus, the White House said late Monday that Biden had been in close contact with a staff member who later tested positive for COVID-19. The staffer spent about 30 minutes around the president on Air Force One on Friday. The staffer, who was fully vaccinated and boosted, tested positive Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.Psaki said Biden has tested negative twice since Sunday and will test again on Wednesday. Citing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Psaki said Biden didn’t need to quarantine and would continue with his regular schedule.In New York City,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-omicron-coronavirus-holidays-179cd759ed851789db86fa206986a736">nearly 42,600 people citywide tested positive</a>&nbsp;from Wednesday through Saturday — compared with fewer than 35,800 in the entire month of November. The city has never had so many people test positive in such a short period of time since testing became widely available.___

 🎥 Biden details major changes to his COVID-19 winter plan

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials continue working to speed up the distribution of aid money to help people avoid eviction.

More than 40% of the $169 million allocated to the state program has been given out so far, according to Ryan Vincent, executive director of the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation that is overseeing the aid program.

Kansas, like most states, fell short of the federal goal of distributing at least 65% of the aid money by Nov. 15,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/state/2021/12/19/kansas-tries-boost-eviction-aid-renters-amid-uptick-fraudulent-applications-kera-arpa/8893425002/" target="_blank">according&nbsp;</a>to the Topeka Capital-Journal. Federal reporting shows only 10 states and the District of Columbia met that target.

But Vincent said Kansas has been making steady progress and roughly 32,000 Kansans have received help so far. The amount of aid money the state handed out has more than doubled since late August when it had given out just $31.9 million or about 17% of the total.

And Kansas isn’t in danger of having the federal government reclaim some of the money because the state had distributed at least 30% of the aid by the November deadline.

Initially the program had extensive requirements to help prevent fraud but those rules slowed the distribution of aid. Since then, the federal government has loosened some of its restrictions.

Vincent said officials are trying to balance getting the aid out quickly against making sure that applications are vetted properly.

“How do we make sure that we’re getting the dollars out the door to as many people for an emergency program as quickly as possible but also make sure that we’re doing it in a way that is a responsible stewardship of federal taxpayer funds,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594662436270.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials continue working to speed up the distribution of aid money to help people avoid eviction.More than 40% of the $169 million allocated to the state program has been given out so far, according to Ryan Vincent, executive director of the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation that is overseeing the aid program.Kansas, like most states, fell short of the federal goal of distributing at least 65% of the aid money by Nov. 15,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/state/2021/12/19/kansas-tries-boost-eviction-aid-renters-amid-uptick-fraudulent-applications-kera-arpa/8893425002/" target="_blank">according&nbsp;</a>to the Topeka Capital-Journal. Federal reporting shows only 10 states and the District of Columbia met that target.But Vincent said Kansas has been making steady progress and roughly 32,000 Kansans have received help so far. The amount of aid money the state handed out has more than doubled since late August when it had given out just $31.9 million or about 17% of the total.And Kansas isn’t in danger of having the federal government reclaim some of the money because the state had distributed at least 30% of the aid by the November deadline.Initially the program had extensive requirements to help prevent fraud but those rules slowed the distribution of aid. Since then, the federal government has loosened some of its restrictions.Vincent said officials are trying to balance getting the aid out quickly against making sure that applications are vetted properly.“How do we make sure that we’re getting the dollars out the door to as many people for an emergency program as quickly as possible but also make sure that we’re doing it in a way that is a responsible stewardship of federal taxpayer funds,” he said.

Kansas officials work to speed distribution of eviction aid

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.

<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 PostTwo 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.