TOPEKA – A federal court Tuesday blocked a third vaccination mandate imposed by the Biden administration, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia granted a motion by Kansas and other plaintiffs to place a temporary injunction on the administration’s policy that required employers to impose COVID-19 vaccine mandates on their employees as a condition for receiving federal contracts. Schmidt and six other state attorneys general filed the lawsuit October 29, arguing that the mandate exceeded federal authority. The preliminary injunction is in effect nationwide.

The University of Kansas, Wichita State and Kansas State University all&nbsp; halted their implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal government contractors and subcontractors following the injunction.

“Federal courts continue to recognize that these overreaching, one-size-fits all mandates from the Biden administration are unlawful,” Schmidt said. “I continue to encourage Kansans to be vaccinated, but that personal health care decision should be made by each individual and not mandated by the federal government.”

In Tuesday's ruling, the court found that the executive order “goes far beyond addressing administrative and management issues in order to promote efficiency and economy in procurement and contracting, and instead, in application, works as a regulation of public health, which is not clearly authorized under the Procurement Act.”

In other lawsuits Schmidt filed, courts have previously blocked the mandate from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that applied to private employers with more than 100 employees and the mandate from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that applied to employees, contractors and volunteers in health care facilities.

In addition, a new state law enacted last month requires all employers, both public and private sector, to accommodate employee requests for relief from COVID-19 vaccine requirements on medical grounds or the ground that the requirement would violate a sincerely held religious belief of the employee and for religious requests forbids employers from “inquiring into the sincerity of the request” by the employee.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632773094040.png" alt="President Biden received his COVID vaccine booster last month-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden received his COVID vaccine booster last month-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – A federal court Tuesday blocked a third vaccination mandate imposed by the Biden administration, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia granted a motion by Kansas and other plaintiffs to place a temporary injunction on the administration’s policy that required employers to impose COVID-19 vaccine mandates on their employees as a condition for receiving federal contracts. Schmidt and six other state attorneys general filed the lawsuit October 29, arguing that the mandate exceeded federal authority. The preliminary injunction is in effect nationwide.The University of Kansas, Wichita State and Kansas State University all&nbsp; halted their implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal government contractors and subcontractors following the injunction.“Federal courts continue to recognize that these overreaching, one-size-fits all mandates from the Biden administration are unlawful,” Schmidt said. “I continue to encourage Kansans to be vaccinated, but that personal health care decision should be made by each individual and not mandated by the federal government.”In Tuesday's ruling, the court found that the executive order “goes far beyond addressing administrative and management issues in order to promote efficiency and economy in procurement and contracting, and instead, in application, works as a regulation of public health, which is not clearly authorized under the Procurement Act.”In other lawsuits Schmidt filed, courts have previously blocked the mandate from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that applied to private employers with more than 100 employees and the mandate from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that applied to employees, contractors and volunteers in health care facilities.In addition, a new state law enacted last month requires all employers, both public and private sector, to accommodate employee requests for relief from COVID-19 vaccine requirements on medical grounds or the ground that the requirement would violate a sincerely held religious belief of the employee and for religious requests forbids employers from “inquiring into the sincerity of the request” by the employee.

Kan. AG on federal court blocking 3rd Biden vaccine mandate

LAWRENCE —On Tuesday, a federal judge in Georgia issued an injunction halting implementation of the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal government contractors and subcontractors.

As a result, the University of Kansas will pause its employee vaccine mandate process, effective immediately, <a href="https://chancellor.ku.edu/news/2021/dec7">according to a statement</a> from&nbsp;Chancellor Doug Girod. "The Employees do not need to take any further action related to this mandate at this time."

The Chancellor note said, "We want to thank all of you who helped KU work toward fulfilling the mandate up to this point. As of today, approximately 83 percent of Lawrence and Edwards campus employees have uploaded documentation confirming they are fully vaccinated. We believe the actual vaccination rate among our employees to be even higher than that."

"In the meantime, please continue to take steps to protect your health and the health of those around you. If you have not yet been fully vaccinated, we encourage you to do so. If you are eligible for a booster, we encourage you to seek out that opportunity. Vaccines are available at no charge at pharmacies and health clinics across the region. Employees may also explore options near them at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>.

Thank you for everything you are doing to help KU fulfill its mission while prioritizing health and safety."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583199779683.png" alt="Chancellor Doug Girod-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Chancellor Doug Girod-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE —On Tuesday, a federal judge in Georgia issued an injunction halting implementation of the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal government contractors and subcontractors.As a result, the University of Kansas will pause its employee vaccine mandate process, effective immediately, <a href="https://chancellor.ku.edu/news/2021/dec7">according to a statement</a> from&nbsp;Chancellor Doug Girod. "The Employees do not need to take any further action related to this mandate at this time."The Chancellor note said, "We want to thank all of you who helped KU work toward fulfilling the mandate up to this point. As of today, approximately 83 percent of Lawrence and Edwards campus employees have uploaded documentation confirming they are fully vaccinated. We believe the actual vaccination rate among our employees to be even higher than that.""In the meantime, please continue to take steps to protect your health and the health of those around you. If you have not yet been fully vaccinated, we encourage you to do so. If you are eligible for a booster, we encourage you to seek out that opportunity. Vaccines are available at no charge at pharmacies and health clinics across the region. Employees may also explore options near them at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>.Thank you for everything you are doing to help KU fulfill its mission while prioritizing health and safety."

KU will pause vaccine mandate following federal injunction 

WASHINGTON (AP) – Face to face for two hours, President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin squared off in a secure video call Tuesday as the U.S. president tried to put Moscow on notice that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring enormous harm to the Russian economy.

The highly anticipated call between the two leaders came amid growing worries by the U.S. and western allies of a Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Putin came into the meeting seeking guarantees from Biden that the NATO military alliance will never expand to include Ukraine, which has long sought membership. The Americans and their NATO allies said in advance that Putin’s request was a non-starter.

As the U.S. and Russian presidents conferred, Ukrainian officials grew only more anxious about the tens of thousands of Russia troops that have been deployed near their border.

Just hours before the start of the Biden-Putin video call, Ukrainian officials charged Russia had further escalated the smoldering crisis by sending tanks and snipers to war-torn eastern Ukraine to “provoke return fire” and lay a pretext for the potential invasion.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on the allegations, redirecting questions to Russia’s Defense Ministry, which hasn’t made any immediate comment.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is ready to warn Vladimir Putin during a video call Tuesday that Russia will face economy-jarring sanctions if it invades neighboring Ukraine as the U.S. president seeks a diplomatic solution to deal with the tens of thousands of Russian troops massed near the Ukraine border.

Biden aims to make clear that his administration stands ready to take actions against the Kremlin that would exact “a very real cost” on the Russian economy, according to White House officials. Putin, for his part, is expected to demand guarantees from Biden that the NATO military alliance will never expand to include Ukraine, which has long sought membership. That’s a non-starter for the Americans and their NATO allies.

“We’ve consulted significantly with our allies and believe we have a path forward that would impose significant and severe harm on the Russian economy,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday in previewing the meeting. “You can call that a threat. You can call that a fact. You can call that preparation. You can call it whatever you want to call it.”

The leader-to-leader conversation — Biden speaking from the Situation Room, Putin from Moscow — is expected to be one of the toughest of Biden’s presidency and comes at a perilous time. U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russia has massed 70,000 troops near the Ukraine border and has made preparations for a possible invasion early next year.

The U.S. has not determined whether Putin has made a final decision to invade. Still, Biden intends to make clear to the Russian leader that there will be a “very real cost” should Russia proceed with military action, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.

Biden was vice president in 2014 when Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and annexed the territory from Ukraine. Aides say the Crimea episode — one of the darker moments for former President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks at the current smoldering crisis.

The eastward expansion of NATO has from the start been a bone of contention not just with Moscow but also in Washington. In 1996, when President Bill Clinton’s national security team debated the timing of membership invitations to former Soviet allies Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, Defense Secretary William Perry urged delay in order to keep Russian relations on track. Perry wrote in his memoir that when he lost the internal debate he considered resigning.

Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic were formally invited in 1997 and joined in 1999. They were followed in 2004 by Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the former Soviet states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Since then, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia have joined, bringing NATO’s total to 30 nations.

A key principle of the NATO alliance is that membership is open to any qualifying country. And no outsider has membership veto power. While there’s little prospect that Ukraine would be invited into the alliance anytime soon, the U.S. and its allies won’t rule it out.

In Washington, Republicans are framing this moment as a key test of Biden’s leadership on the global stage.

Biden vowed as a candidate to reassert American leadership after President Donald Trump’s emphasis on an “America first” foreign policy. But Biden has faced fierce criticism from Republicans who say he’s been ineffective in slowing Iran’s march toward becoming a nuclear power and that the Biden administration has done too little to counter autocratic leaders like China’s Xi Jinping, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Putin.

“Fellow authoritarians in Beijing and Tehran will be watching how the free world responds,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. “And President Biden has an opportunity to set the tone when he speaks with Putin.”

Trump, who showed unusual deference to Putin during his presidency, said in a Newsmax interview on Monday that the Biden-Putin conversation would not be a “fair match,” describing it as tantamount to the six-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots facing a high school football team.

Ahead of the Putin call, Biden on Monday spoke with leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy to coordinate messaging and potential sanctions.

The White House said in a statement that the leaders called on Russia to “de-escalate tensions” and agreed that diplomacy “is the only way forward to resolve the conflict.”

Ahead of the Biden-Putin faceoff, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter that he and Blinken “agreed to continue joint &amp; concerted action” and expressed his gratitude for the U.S. and allies providing “continued support of our sovereignty &amp; territorial integrity.” Biden himself is expected to speak with Zelenskyy later this week.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Blinken “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression.”

The Kremlin has made clear that Putin planned to seek binding guarantees from Biden precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine. Biden and aides have indicated no such guarantee is likely, with the president himself saying he “won’t accept anyone’s red line.”

Psaki stressed “NATO member countries decide who is a member of NATO, not Russia. And that is how the process has always been and how it will proceed.”

Still, Putin sees this as a moment to readjust the power dynamic of the U.S.-Russia relationship.

“It is about fundamental principles established 30 years ago for the relations between Russia and the West,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, a leading Moscow-based foreign policy expert. “Russia demands to revise these principles, the West says there’s no grounds for that. So, it’s impossible to come to an agreement just like that.”

Beyond Ukraine, there are plenty of other thorny issues on the table as well, including cyberattacks and human rights. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said U.S.-Russian relations are overall in “a rather dire state.”

Both the White House and the Kremlin sought in advance to lower expectations for the call. Both sides said they didn’t expect any breakthroughs on Ukraine or the other issues up for discussion, but that just the conversation itself will be progress.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638896999497.png" alt="The highly anticipated call between the two leaders came amid growing worries by the U.S. and western allies of a Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.-photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The highly anticipated call between the two leaders came amid growing worries by the U.S. and western allies of a Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.-photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) – Face to face for two hours, President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin squared off in a secure video call Tuesday as the U.S. president tried to put Moscow on notice that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring enormous harm to the Russian economy.The highly anticipated call between the two leaders came amid growing worries by the U.S. and western allies of a Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Putin came into the meeting seeking guarantees from Biden that the NATO military alliance will never expand to include Ukraine, which has long sought membership. The Americans and their NATO allies said in advance that Putin’s request was a non-starter.As the U.S. and Russian presidents conferred, Ukrainian officials grew only more anxious about the tens of thousands of Russia troops that have been deployed near their border.Just hours before the start of the Biden-Putin video call, Ukrainian officials charged Russia had further escalated the smoldering crisis by sending tanks and snipers to war-torn eastern Ukraine to “provoke return fire” and lay a pretext for the potential invasion. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on the allegations, redirecting questions to Russia’s Defense Ministry, which hasn’t made any immediate comment.----------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623857775069.png" alt="President Biden and Putin met face-to-face in June-photo White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden and Putin met face-to-face in June-photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is ready to warn Vladimir Putin during a video call Tuesday that Russia will face economy-jarring sanctions if it invades neighboring Ukraine as the U.S. president seeks a diplomatic solution to deal with the tens of thousands of Russian troops massed near the Ukraine border.Biden aims to make clear that his administration stands ready to take actions against the Kremlin that would exact “a very real cost” on the Russian economy, according to White House officials. Putin, for his part, is expected to demand guarantees from Biden that the NATO military alliance will never expand to include Ukraine, which has long sought membership. That’s a non-starter for the Americans and their NATO allies.“We’ve consulted significantly with our allies and believe we have a path forward that would impose significant and severe harm on the Russian economy,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday in previewing the meeting. “You can call that a threat. You can call that a fact. You can call that preparation. You can call it whatever you want to call it.”The leader-to-leader conversation — Biden speaking from the Situation Room, Putin from Moscow — is expected to be one of the toughest of Biden’s presidency and comes at a perilous time. U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russia has massed 70,000 troops near the Ukraine border and has made preparations for a possible invasion early next year.The U.S. has not determined whether Putin has made a final decision to invade. Still, Biden intends to make clear to the Russian leader that there will be a “very real cost” should Russia proceed with military action, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.Biden was vice president in 2014 when Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and annexed the territory from Ukraine. Aides say the Crimea episode — one of the darker moments for former President Barack Obama on the international stage — looms large as Biden looks at the current smoldering crisis.The eastward expansion of NATO has from the start been a bone of contention not just with Moscow but also in Washington. In 1996, when President Bill Clinton’s national security team debated the timing of membership invitations to former Soviet allies Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, Defense Secretary William Perry urged delay in order to keep Russian relations on track. Perry wrote in his memoir that when he lost the internal debate he considered resigning.Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic were formally invited in 1997 and joined in 1999. They were followed in 2004 by Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the former Soviet states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Since then, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia have joined, bringing NATO’s total to 30 nations.A key principle of the NATO alliance is that membership is open to any qualifying country. And no outsider has membership veto power. While there’s little prospect that Ukraine would be invited into the alliance anytime soon, the U.S. and its allies won’t rule it out.In Washington, Republicans are framing this moment as a key test of Biden’s leadership on the global stage.Biden vowed as a candidate to reassert American leadership after President Donald Trump’s emphasis on an “America first” foreign policy. But Biden has faced fierce criticism from Republicans who say he’s been ineffective in slowing Iran’s march toward becoming a nuclear power and that the Biden administration has done too little to counter autocratic leaders like China’s Xi Jinping, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Putin.“Fellow authoritarians in Beijing and Tehran will be watching how the free world responds,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. “And President Biden has an opportunity to set the tone when he speaks with Putin.”Trump, who showed unusual deference to Putin during his presidency, said in a Newsmax interview on Monday that the Biden-Putin conversation would not be a “fair match,” describing it as tantamount to the six-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots facing a high school football team.Ahead of the Putin call, Biden on Monday spoke with leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy to coordinate messaging and potential sanctions.The White House said in a statement that the leaders called on Russia to “de-escalate tensions” and agreed that diplomacy “is the only way forward to resolve the conflict.”Ahead of the Biden-Putin faceoff, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter that he and Blinken “agreed to continue joint &amp; concerted action” and expressed his gratitude for the U.S. and allies providing “continued support of our sovereignty &amp; territorial integrity.” Biden himself is expected to speak with Zelenskyy later this week.State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Blinken “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression.”The Kremlin has made clear that Putin planned to seek binding guarantees from Biden precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine. Biden and aides have indicated no such guarantee is likely, with the president himself saying he “won’t accept anyone’s red line.”Psaki stressed “NATO member countries decide who is a member of NATO, not Russia. And that is how the process has always been and how it will proceed.”Still, Putin sees this as a moment to readjust the power dynamic of the U.S.-Russia relationship.“It is about fundamental principles established 30 years ago for the relations between Russia and the West,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, a leading Moscow-based foreign policy expert. “Russia demands to revise these principles, the West says there’s no grounds for that. So, it’s impossible to come to an agreement just like that.”Beyond Ukraine, there are plenty of other thorny issues on the table as well, including cyberattacks and human rights. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said U.S.-Russian relations are overall in “a rather dire state.”Both the White House and the Kremlin sought in advance to lower expectations for the call. Both sides said they didn’t expect any breakthroughs on Ukraine or the other issues up for discussion, but that just the conversation itself will be progress.

President Biden-Putin square off in high stakes video call

GREAT BEND — With the owners deciding to relocate their home south of Great Bend, a whole team of workers collaborated Tuesday morning to move the 2526 Broadway house.

Read more about the house moving in the previous article link below.

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/781e8f0d-b902-4a16-9432-cbcbd97e67f9">Great Bend warns citizens of house relocation Tuesday morning</a>

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Courtesy Great Bend Post</a>

<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGreatBendPost%2Fvideos%2F628217271712254%2F&show_text=true&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="591" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>GREAT BEND — With the owners deciding to relocate their home south of Great Bend, a whole team of workers collaborated Tuesday morning to move the 2526 Broadway house.Read more about the house moving in the previous article link below.<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/781e8f0d-b902-4a16-9432-cbcbd97e67f9">Great Bend warns citizens of house relocation Tuesday morning</a><a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Courtesy Great Bend Post</a>

🎥 Watch moving day for Great Bend house

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police have identified a person killed in a shooting at a party in Kansas City, Kansas, last week as a 16-year-old high school student. 

Police say Hugo Hernandez-Vasquez died at a hospital following the Friday night shooting in the city's Shawnee Heights neighborhood that also injured several others. 

Police say an 18-year-old woman at the party, Ximena Acevas-Vargas, later died of traumatic injuries that were not associated with the shooting, but did not give more details about how she died. Police continue to investigate both deaths, and no arrests have been reported.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police have identified a person killed in a shooting at a party in Kansas City, Kansas, last week as a 16-year-old high school student. Police say Hugo Hernandez-Vasquez died at a hospital following the Friday night shooting in the city's Shawnee Heights neighborhood that also injured several others. Police say an 18-year-old woman at the party, Ximena Acevas-Vargas, later died of traumatic injuries that were not associated with the shooting, but did not give more details about how she died. Police continue to investigate both deaths, and no arrests have been reported.

Police ID 16-year-old who died in Kansas shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Tuesday marked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-bombings-world-war-ii-cdb9ed8ee50b4de739f6d10b35234c3d">the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor</a>&nbsp;with a somber visit to the World War II Memorial in the nation’s capital.

The Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor and other locations in Hawaii killed 2,403 service members and civilians and was a defining moment that led to U.S. entry into World War II.

Joe Biden touched a wreath and saluted. The wreath contained a wild sunflower, the state flower of Kansas, in honor of former Sen. Bob Dole, a war veteran who was a driving force in getting the memorial built on the National Mall and who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bob-dole-sports-mens-college-basketball-college-basketball-kansas-9b5a99a4d2689bf51a534b581f897d21">died Sunday at age 98</a>.

The first lady laid a bouquet of flowers at the base of the memorial below the New Jersey pillar and softly touched a wall, where she and the president spent a moment. The bouquet was in honor of her father, Donald Jacobs, who served as a U.S. Navy signalman in the war, the White House said.

The Bidens then paused at the Pacific arch on the southern side of the memorial plaza for one last moment of reflection before departing.

Joe Biden, in a White House proclamation issued last week to recognize National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, gave “thanks to the Greatest Generation, who guided our Nation through some of our darkest moments and laid the foundations of an international system that has transformed former adversaries into allies.”

Biden made the Tuesday morning visit just hours before he was to hold a highly anticipated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-sports-business-jen-psaki-vladimir-putin-3c17d207917eb90adeac03d5ccb31268">video conference call with Russian President Vladimir Putin</a>. Biden is expected to use the call to express concern about Russia’s troop buildup near its borders with neighboring Ukraine and to make clear to Putin that an invasion would lead to economy-jarring sanctions against Russia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638886019318.png" alt="According to the White House, the wreath included a sunflower, the state flower of Kansas, in honor of Senator Bob Dole-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>According to the White House, the wreath included a sunflower, the state flower of Kansas, in honor of Senator Bob Dole-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Tuesday marked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-bombings-world-war-ii-cdb9ed8ee50b4de739f6d10b35234c3d">the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor</a>&nbsp;with a somber visit to the World War II Memorial in the nation’s capital.The Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor and other locations in Hawaii killed 2,403 service members and civilians and was a defining moment that led to U.S. entry into World War II.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638892102158.png" alt="Photo courtesy Elizabeth Dole Foundation" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Elizabeth Dole Foundation</figcaption>
 </figure>Joe Biden touched a wreath and saluted. The wreath contained a wild sunflower, the state flower of Kansas, in honor of former Sen. Bob Dole, a war veteran who was a driving force in getting the memorial built on the National Mall and who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bob-dole-sports-mens-college-basketball-college-basketball-kansas-9b5a99a4d2689bf51a534b581f897d21">died Sunday at age 98</a>.The first lady laid a bouquet of flowers at the base of the memorial below the New Jersey pillar and softly touched a wall, where she and the president spent a moment. The bouquet was in honor of her father, Donald Jacobs, who served as a U.S. Navy signalman in the war, the White House said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638885934257.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Bidens then paused at the Pacific arch on the southern side of the memorial plaza for one last moment of reflection before departing.Joe Biden, in a White House proclamation issued last week to recognize National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, gave “thanks to the Greatest Generation, who guided our Nation through some of our darkest moments and laid the foundations of an international system that has transformed former adversaries into allies.”Biden made the Tuesday morning visit just hours before he was to hold a highly anticipated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-sports-business-jen-psaki-vladimir-putin-3c17d207917eb90adeac03d5ccb31268">video conference call with Russian President Vladimir Putin</a>. Biden is expected to use the call to express concern about Russia’s troop buildup near its borders with neighboring Ukraine and to make clear to Putin that an invasion would lead to economy-jarring sanctions against Russia.

Sunflower in wreath honors Dole as Biden visits WWII Memorial

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers 
to take important actions this month to help them file their federal tax
 returns in 2022, including special steps related to Economic Impact 
Payments and advance Child Tax Credit payments.

This is the second in a series of reminders to help taxpayers get ready for the upcoming tax filing season. A <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">special page</a>, updated and available on IRS.gov, outlines steps taxpayers can take now to make tax filing easier in 2022.

Here are some key items for taxpayers to consider before they file next year.

Check on advance Child Tax Credit payments

Families who received advance payments will need to compare the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">advance Child Tax Credit payments</a> that they received in 2021 with the amount of the Child Tax Credit that they can properly claim on their 2021 tax return.

Taxpayers who received less than the amount for which they're 
eligible will claim a credit for the remaining amount of Child Tax 
Credit on their 2021 tax return. Taxpayers who received more than the 
amount for which they're eligible may need to repay some or all of the 
excess payment when they file.

In January 2022, the IRS will send Letter 6419 with the total amount 
of advance Child Tax Credit payments taxpayers received in 2021. People 
should keep this and any other IRS letters about advance Child Tax 
Credit payments with their tax records.

See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-h-reconciling-your-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-on-your-2021-tax-return">Reconciling Your Advance Child Tax Credit Payments on Your 2021 Tax Return</a> for more information.

Eligible families who did not get monthly advance payments in 2021 
can still get a lump-sum payment by claiming the Child Tax Credit when 
they file a 2021 federal income tax return next year. This includes 
families who don't normally need to file a return.

Economic Impact Payments and claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit

Individuals who didn't qualify for the third <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center">Economic Impact Payment</a> or did not receive the full amount may be eligible for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit&nbsp;</a>based
 on their 2021 tax information. They'll need to file a 2021 tax return, 
even if they don't usually file, to claim the credit.

Individuals will also need the amount of their third Economic Impact 
Payment and any Plus-Up Payments received to calculate their correct 
2021 Recovery Rebate Credit amount when they file their tax return. 
Ensuring they use the correct payment amounts will help them avoid a 
processing delay that may slow their refund.

In early 2022, the IRS will send Letter 6475 that contains the total amount of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/third-economic-impact-payment">third Economic Impact Payment and any Plus-Up Payments</a>
 received. People should keep this and any other IRS letters about their
 stimulus payments with other tax records. Individuals can also log in 
to their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS.gov Online Account</a> to securely access their Economic Impact Payment amounts.

See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">IRS.gov/rrc</a>&nbsp;for more information.

Taxpayers who don't itemize deductions may qualify to take a 
charitable deduction of up to $600 for married taxpayers filing joint 
returns and up to $300 for all other filers for cash contributions made 
in 2021 to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search">qualifying organizations</a>. For more information, read <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-526">Publication 526, Charitable Contributions</a>.

Get banked to get ready to direct deposit

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">Direct deposit</a>&nbsp;gives taxpayers access to their refund faster than a paper check.&nbsp;Those without a bank account can learn how to open an account at an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fdic.gov/getbanked/">FDIC-insured bank</a>&nbsp;or through the National&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">Credit Union Locator Tool</a>. Veterans should see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program</a>&nbsp;for access to financial services at participating banks.

Links to online tools, publications and other helpful resources are available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">IRS.gov/getready</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers 
to take important actions this month to help them file their federal tax
 returns in 2022, including special steps related to Economic Impact 
Payments and advance Child Tax Credit payments.This is the second in a series of reminders to help taxpayers get ready for the upcoming tax filing season. A <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">special page</a>, updated and available on IRS.gov, outlines steps taxpayers can take now to make tax filing easier in 2022.Here are some key items for taxpayers to consider before they file next year.<h2>Check on advance Child Tax Credit payments</h2>Families who received advance payments will need to compare the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">advance Child Tax Credit payments</a> that they received in 2021 with the amount of the Child Tax Credit that they can properly claim on their 2021 tax return.Taxpayers who received less than the amount for which they're 
eligible will claim a credit for the remaining amount of Child Tax 
Credit on their 2021 tax return. Taxpayers who received more than the 
amount for which they're eligible may need to repay some or all of the 
excess payment when they file.In January 2022, the IRS will send Letter 6419 with the total amount 
of advance Child Tax Credit payments taxpayers received in 2021. People 
should keep this and any other IRS letters about advance Child Tax 
Credit payments with their tax records.See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-h-reconciling-your-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-on-your-2021-tax-return">Reconciling Your Advance Child Tax Credit Payments on Your 2021 Tax Return</a> for more information.Eligible families who did not get monthly advance payments in 2021 
can still get a lump-sum payment by claiming the Child Tax Credit when 
they file a 2021 federal income tax return next year. This includes 
families who don't normally need to file a return.<h2>Economic Impact Payments and claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit</h2>Individuals who didn't qualify for the third <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center">Economic Impact Payment</a> or did not receive the full amount may be eligible for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">Recovery Rebate Credit&nbsp;</a>based
 on their 2021 tax information. They'll need to file a 2021 tax return, 
even if they don't usually file, to claim the credit.Individuals will also need the amount of their third Economic Impact 
Payment and any Plus-Up Payments received to calculate their correct 
2021 Recovery Rebate Credit amount when they file their tax return. 
Ensuring they use the correct payment amounts will help them avoid a 
processing delay that may slow their refund.In early 2022, the IRS will send Letter 6475 that contains the total amount of the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/third-economic-impact-payment">third Economic Impact Payment and any Plus-Up Payments</a>
 received. People should keep this and any other IRS letters about their
 stimulus payments with other tax records. Individuals can also log in 
to their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS.gov Online Account</a> to securely access their Economic Impact Payment amounts.See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">IRS.gov/rrc</a>&nbsp;for more information.<h2>Charitable deduction changes</h2>Taxpayers who don't itemize deductions may qualify to take a 
charitable deduction of up to $600 for married taxpayers filing joint 
returns and up to $300 for all other filers for cash contributions made 
in 2021 to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search">qualifying organizations</a>. For more information, read <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-526">Publication 526, Charitable Contributions</a>.<h2>Get banked to get ready to direct deposit</h2><a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">Direct deposit</a>&nbsp;gives taxpayers access to their refund faster than a paper check.&nbsp;Those without a bank account can learn how to open an account at an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fdic.gov/getbanked/">FDIC-insured bank</a>&nbsp;or through the National&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">Credit Union Locator Tool</a>. Veterans should see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program</a>&nbsp;for access to financial services at participating banks.Links to online tools, publications and other helpful resources are available at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">IRS.gov/getready</a>.

Get ready for taxes: What's new, what to consider when filing in 2022

NEMAHA COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on child sex allegations.

On Dec. 3, police in Sabetha arrested 37-year-old&nbsp;Eric Puckett of Sabetha on requested charges of Aggravated Indecent Liberties With A Child, according to Nemaha County sheriff's booking report.

 Puckett remains in custody on a $100,000 bond, according to the county attorney's office. The crimes involving a child under the age of 14 allegedly occurred last month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638827571192.png" alt="Puckett-photo Nemaha Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Puckett-photo Nemaha Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>NEMAHA COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on child sex allegations.On Dec. 3, police in Sabetha arrested 37-year-old&nbsp;Eric Puckett of Sabetha on requested charges of Aggravated Indecent Liberties With A Child, according to Nemaha County sheriff's booking report. Puckett remains in custody on a $100,000 bond, according to the county attorney's office. The crimes involving a child under the age of 14 allegedly occurred last month.

Kansas man jailed for alleged child sex crimes

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — South African scientists are warning that reinfections among people who’ve already battled COVID-19 appear to be more likely with the new omicron variant than with earlier coronavirus mutants.

A research group has been tracking reinfections in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-travel-lifestyle-africa-effeeeab68b3cfe2b232f81d128bf9d4">South Africa</a>&nbsp;and reported a jump with the arrival of omicron that they hadn’t seen when two previous variants, including the extra-contagious delta variant, moved through the country.

The findings are preliminary and haven’t yet undergone scientific review. Nor did the researchers say what portion of the reinfections were confirmed as omicron cases — or whether they caused serious illness.

But the timing of the reinfection spike suggests that omicron “demonstrates substantial population-level evidence for evasion of immunity from prior infection,” they wrote.

“Previous infection used to protect against delta, and now with omicro,n it doesn’t seem to be the case,” one of the researchers, Anne von Gottberg of the University of Witwatersrand, said at a World Health Organization briefing on Thursday.

The study also did not examine the protection offered by vaccination. Coronavirus vaccines trigger different layers of immune response, some to fend off infection and others to prevent severe disease if someone does become infected.

“We believe that vaccines will still, however, protect against severe disease,” von Gottberg said.

Dr. Michael Ryan, the head of emergencies at WHO, said reinfection turns up in the nose but it doesn’t necessarily translate into severe disease, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-philippines-manila-world-health-organization-77142314f66839f0aa15d47c8d0850a8">vaccines have generally</a>&nbsp;shown to help protect the rest of the body.

“The data we’re really looking to see is going to be around severity of infection and whether or not the vaccines continue to protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death,” Ryan said. “And right now, there’s no reason to suppose that they won’t. We just haven’t got the details yet.”

The newest variant was discovered just over a week ago by scientists in South Africa and Botswana, and it’s now been found in multiple countries. Much remains&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-pandemics-ec296f982f7342c29fa89f96e09db93a">unknown about the new variant</a>, including whether it is more contagious, as some health authorities suspect, whether it makes people more seriously ill, and whether it can thwart the vaccine.

But learning how much protection is provided by prior infection is important, especially in parts of the world where much of the population remains to be vaccinated.

The study suggests “omicron will be able to overcome natural and probably vaccine-induced immunity to a significant degree,” Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said in a written response to the findings. Just how much “is still unclear though it is doubtful that this will represent complete escape.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638148803210.png" alt="3D structure of spike with amino acid changes in Omicron -photo courtesy GISAID" />
 <figcaption>3D structure of spike with amino acid changes in Omicron -photo courtesy GISAID</figcaption>
 </figure>THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — South African scientists are warning that reinfections among people who’ve already battled COVID-19 appear to be more likely with the new omicron variant than with earlier coronavirus mutants.A research group has been tracking reinfections in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-travel-lifestyle-africa-effeeeab68b3cfe2b232f81d128bf9d4">South Africa</a>&nbsp;and reported a jump with the arrival of omicron that they hadn’t seen when two previous variants, including the extra-contagious delta variant, moved through the country.The findings are preliminary and haven’t yet undergone scientific review. Nor did the researchers say what portion of the reinfections were confirmed as omicron cases — or whether they caused serious illness.But the timing of the reinfection spike suggests that omicron “demonstrates substantial population-level evidence for evasion of immunity from prior infection,” they wrote.“Previous infection used to protect against delta, and now with omicro,n it doesn’t seem to be the case,” one of the researchers, Anne von Gottberg of the University of Witwatersrand, said at a World Health Organization briefing on Thursday.The study also did not examine the protection offered by vaccination. Coronavirus vaccines trigger different layers of immune response, some to fend off infection and others to prevent severe disease if someone does become infected.“We believe that vaccines will still, however, protect against severe disease,” von Gottberg said.Dr. Michael Ryan, the head of emergencies at WHO, said reinfection turns up in the nose but it doesn’t necessarily translate into severe disease, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-philippines-manila-world-health-organization-77142314f66839f0aa15d47c8d0850a8">vaccines have generally</a>&nbsp;shown to help protect the rest of the body.“The data we’re really looking to see is going to be around severity of infection and whether or not the vaccines continue to protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death,” Ryan said. “And right now, there’s no reason to suppose that they won’t. We just haven’t got the details yet.”The newest variant was discovered just over a week ago by scientists in South Africa and Botswana, and it’s now been found in multiple countries. Much remains&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-pandemics-ec296f982f7342c29fa89f96e09db93a">unknown about the new variant</a>, including whether it is more contagious, as some health authorities suspect, whether it makes people more seriously ill, and whether it can thwart the vaccine.But learning how much protection is provided by prior infection is important, especially in parts of the world where much of the population remains to be vaccinated.The study suggests “omicron will be able to overcome natural and probably vaccine-induced immunity to a significant degree,” Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said in a written response to the findings. Just how much “is still unclear though it is doubtful that this will represent complete escape.”

Study: Past COVID infection may not fend off omicron

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran on Monday spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Senator Bob Dole.

“I am honored to hold Sen. Dole’s seat representing Kansas in the U.S. Senate, and every time I open my desk and see his name carved into this drawer, I am reminded of the boy from Russell, Kansas, who dedicated his life to our country,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“Sen. Dole was the embodiment of the American spirit and the greatest of our Greatest Generation. To the people of Russell and to the people across Kansas, thank you for the manner in which you have treated and respected a man worthy of our respect.”

The body of the late Senator will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday as congressional leaders honor the former Republican presidential candidate and World War II veteran. He served in Congress for 36 years. Dole died Sunday at the age of 98.&nbsp;

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran on Monday spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Senator Bob Dole.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D5I2Hzo4Wno?start=2" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“I am honored to hold Sen. Dole’s seat representing Kansas in the U.S. Senate, and every time I open my desk and see his name carved into this drawer, I am reminded of the boy from Russell, Kansas, who dedicated his life to our country,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“Sen. Dole was the embodiment of the American spirit and the greatest of our Greatest Generation. To the people of Russell and to the people across Kansas, thank you for the manner in which you have treated and respected a man worthy of our respect.”The body of the late Senator will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday as congressional leaders honor the former Republican presidential candidate and World War II veteran. He served in Congress for 36 years. Dole died Sunday at the age of 98.&nbsp;

🎥 Moran pays tribute to Bob Dole on the U.S. Senate floor

MCPHERSON —Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp; investigating an alleged threat of violence towards the McPherson Middle School.

On Monday, the police received a report from USD 418- McPherson Middle School Administration concerning a 13-year-old student threatening to commit violence at the school, according to a media release.

McPherson police took the student into custody. There is no danger to students or the school, according to the release. A report on the incident will be forwarded to the McPherson County Attorney’s Office for review.   

Anyone with information regarding these incidents or any other criminal activity is asked the contact the McPherson Police Department.

MCPHERSON —Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp; investigating an alleged threat of violence towards the McPherson Middle School.On Monday, the police received a report from USD 418- McPherson Middle School Administration concerning a 13-year-old student threatening to commit violence at the school, according to a media release.McPherson police took the student into custody. There is no danger to students or the school, according to the release. A report on the incident will be forwarded to the McPherson County Attorney’s Office for review. Anyone with information regarding these incidents or any other criminal activity is asked the contact the McPherson Police Department.

13-year-old arrested after alleged threat at Kan. middle school

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will receive nearly $27.6 million from a legal settlement with the company that manages prescription costs for its Medicaid program, after an investigation into whether the company had overcharged the state, Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Monday.

The settlement with St. Louis-based Centene Corp. comes after a nearly two-year investigation by Schmidt’s office and a Jackson, Mississippi-area law firm it hired to review Centene’s practices. States throughout the country have been investigating companies known as pharmacy benefit managers, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-business-lawsuits-health-15a5443892c062eee9296a60d3f94732">Mississippi</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-medicaid-business-health-04a9860c1c931892d8be27bfb0d9e45c">Ohio</a>&nbsp;in June settled lawsuits against Centene for a total of nearly $144 million.

Kansas settled with Centene before filing its lawsuit. Schmidt said a key concern was whether Centene negotiated discounts with drug companies and failed to notify Kansas or pass along the savings.

“Kansas was not in a position to detect that through ordinary financial reviews because the company wasn’t providing sufficiently detailed data,” Schmidt told The Associated Press.

The state’s $4 billion a year Medicaid program provides health coverage to 419,000 low-income, disabled or elderly residents. Schmidt said the settlement also will require Centene to provide more detailed data to the program going forward.

The company denied any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, and a spokesperson described it as a “no-fault agreement” that “reflects the significance we place on addressing their concerns.”

Prescriptions cost the Kansas Medicaid program more than $100 million per year after rebates from drug companies, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://files.kff.org/attachment/Fact-Sheet-Medicaid-Pharmacy-Benefits-KS.pdf" target="_blank">the Kaiser Family Foundation.</a>&nbsp;Schmidt’s investigation covered Centene’s actions since the start of 2016.

Schmidt said the review began in 2019 after Ohio’s attorney general identified potential issues in that state. The law firm Schmidt’s office hired,&nbsp;<a href="http://listondeas.com/" target="_blank">Liston &amp; Deas,</a>&nbsp;also worked for Ohio and Mississippi.

“We’re taking a hard look at whether there is similar behavior by other companies in other parts of state government,” Schmidt said, declining to provide details about other investigations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623421939632.png" alt=" Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt -photo Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt -photo Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will receive nearly $27.6 million from a legal settlement with the company that manages prescription costs for its Medicaid program, after an investigation into whether the company had overcharged the state, Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Monday.The settlement with St. Louis-based Centene Corp. comes after a nearly two-year investigation by Schmidt’s office and a Jackson, Mississippi-area law firm it hired to review Centene’s practices. States throughout the country have been investigating companies known as pharmacy benefit managers, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-business-lawsuits-health-15a5443892c062eee9296a60d3f94732">Mississippi</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-medicaid-business-health-04a9860c1c931892d8be27bfb0d9e45c">Ohio</a>&nbsp;in June settled lawsuits against Centene for a total of nearly $144 million.Kansas settled with Centene before filing its lawsuit. Schmidt said a key concern was whether Centene negotiated discounts with drug companies and failed to notify Kansas or pass along the savings.“Kansas was not in a position to detect that through ordinary financial reviews because the company wasn’t providing sufficiently detailed data,” Schmidt told The Associated Press.The state’s $4 billion a year Medicaid program provides health coverage to 419,000 low-income, disabled or elderly residents. Schmidt said the settlement also will require Centene to provide more detailed data to the program going forward.The company denied any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, and a spokesperson described it as a “no-fault agreement” that “reflects the significance we place on addressing their concerns.”Prescriptions cost the Kansas Medicaid program more than $100 million per year after rebates from drug companies, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://files.kff.org/attachment/Fact-Sheet-Medicaid-Pharmacy-Benefits-KS.pdf" target="_blank">the Kaiser Family Foundation.</a>&nbsp;Schmidt’s investigation covered Centene’s actions since the start of 2016.Schmidt said the review began in 2019 after Ohio’s attorney general identified potential issues in that state. The law firm Schmidt’s office hired,&nbsp;<a href="http://listondeas.com/" target="_blank">Liston &amp; Deas,</a>&nbsp;also worked for Ohio and Mississippi.“We’re taking a hard look at whether there is similar behavior by other companies in other parts of state government,” Schmidt said, declining to provide details about other investigations.___

Kansas to get $27.6M from firm investigated over drug costs

The rise of online marketplaces and expedited delivery services is a 
convenient service for many consumers across the nation, allowing 
holiday purchasers to search out the perfect gift for friends and 
family. Unfortunately, purchasing and having the item delivered to the 
proper address does not guarantee you will receive it. According to 
market research firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crresearch.com/blog/2021-package-theft-statistics-report" target="_blank">C+R Research</a>,
 package theft continues to be an issue for many Americans, with 
approximately one-quarter (23%) of consumers experiencing package theft 
in 2021.

Package thieves, also known as “porch pirates,” often take advantage 
of an opportunity and may frequent a neighborhood or community multiple 
times before moving on to another. They will often target houses that 
provide a quick in-and-out route, especially if the porch or area where 
packages are delivered is within 25 feet of the street and are easily 
visible. Over the past five years, internet searches using the keywords 
“package stolen” nearly doubled <a href="https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&amp;geo=US&amp;q=package%20stolen" target="_blank">during December</a>, demonstrating the impact of this crime on households across the nation.

&nbsp;As a crime of opportunity, preventing or discouraging package theft 
can be accomplished in several ways, depending on the location of your 
residence, type and community. For instance, preventing package theft at
 an apartment complex in the middle of the city differs from a suburban 
residential community. However, consumers can use specific strategies to
 discourage the act no matter where they live.

BBB provides the following tips to prevent package thieves from affecting your holiday plans (and the rest of the year):

If you fear that your package has been stolen, file a report with 
your local police department and the delivery company. Depending on 
which delivery service you use, they may offer insurance or other 
policies to reimburse you for your losses.

For more resources and tips on how to avoid scams this holiday season, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/holiday">BBB.org/Holiday</a>.

Report scams to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBThe rise of online marketplaces and expedited delivery services is a 
convenient service for many consumers across the nation, allowing 
holiday purchasers to search out the perfect gift for friends and 
family. Unfortunately, purchasing and having the item delivered to the 
proper address does not guarantee you will receive it. According to 
market research firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crresearch.com/blog/2021-package-theft-statistics-report" target="_blank">C+R Research</a>,
 package theft continues to be an issue for many Americans, with 
approximately one-quarter (23%) of consumers experiencing package theft 
in 2021.Package thieves, also known as “porch pirates,” often take advantage 
of an opportunity and may frequent a neighborhood or community multiple 
times before moving on to another. They will often target houses that 
provide a quick in-and-out route, especially if the porch or area where 
packages are delivered is within 25 feet of the street and are easily 
visible. Over the past five years, internet searches using the keywords 
“package stolen” nearly doubled <a href="https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&amp;geo=US&amp;q=package%20stolen" target="_blank">during December</a>, demonstrating the impact of this crime on households across the nation.&nbsp;As a crime of opportunity, preventing or discouraging package theft 
can be accomplished in several ways, depending on the location of your 
residence, type and community. For instance, preventing package theft at
 an apartment complex in the middle of the city differs from a suburban 
residential community. However, consumers can use specific strategies to
 discourage the act no matter where they live.BBB provides the following tips to prevent package thieves from affecting your holiday plans (and the rest of the year):<ul>
 <li>Check with neighbors.&nbsp;Sometimes, your package may 
not be stolen at all, just simply at the wrong address. Before filing a 
report or contacting the sender, check with your neighbors and see if 
the delivery service may have dropped off your package at the wrong 
address. Many delivery companies will take pictures of your package in 
the designated location – be sure to check for the photo and verify it 
is at the right spot.</li><li>Don’t leave unattended packages.&nbsp;When possible, do 
not leave delivered packages unattended for long periods. If you are 
expecting a package, attempt to schedule its delivery when you know you 
will be home. Ask your neighbors if they would mind holding on to 
packages delivered if you plan to be gone for an extended time during 
the holidays.</li><li>Ship to store.&nbsp;If purchasing an item from a 
retailer that has a physical location near your home, consider shipping 
it there instead. Retailers will require proof of purchase or 
identification before releasing packages they have received, and this is
 a sure way to avoid porch pirates.</li><li>Use a security camera.&nbsp;Installing a home security 
system with cameras or simply a camera-enabled doorbell is a great way 
to deter package theft, especially when highly visible. Consider 
including a sign that specifically states that the residence is under 
surveillance. Even if a package is stolen from your porch, the video 
evidence will help law enforcement track down the thieves.</li><li>Require a signature.&nbsp;Many delivery companies 
include the option to require a signature before leaving a package, 
letting you take physical possession of the item as soon as it is 
delivered. While this option works well for those who are often at home,
 especially for expensive items, it may create difficulties in receiving
 packages if your schedule and the delivery service are different. Be 
sure to check with the delivery company on their policy for packages 
that are not signed for; they may return it to the sender after a 
certain number of attempts.</li><li>Consider a package receiving service.&nbsp;Some major 
retailers, such as Amazon, offer secure package receiving locations away
 from your home that you can access with a key or code. Some independent
 businesses also specialize in this service, allowing you to designate a
 different delivery location for your packages and the ability to pick 
them up on your way home.</li>
 </ul>If you fear that your package has been stolen, file a report with 
your local police department and the delivery company. Depending on 
which delivery service you use, they may offer insurance or other 
policies to reimburse you for your losses.For more resources and tips on how to avoid scams this holiday season, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/holiday">BBB.org/Holiday</a>.Report scams to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>.&nbsp;

Six steps to stop porch pirates this holiday season

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges in connection with two recent investigation.

Just after 10a.m. Saturday, police arrested Allison R. Blakley, 25, Atchison, in the 700 block Kansas Avenue. She is being held due to a District Court warrant for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, interference with law enforcement, and criminal damage to property, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

This warrant was associated with a case officers investigated&nbsp; on November 15 when a police officer on patrol observed Blakley, known to have active warrants for her arrest, as a passenger in a vehicle near 10th and U.S. 59 in Atchison.

The officer stopped the vehicle in the 1000 block U.S.59. Blakley got out of the vehicle and ran to a wooded area north of U.S. 59. She was apprehended and the subsequent investigation that followed led to the recovery of methamphetamine. During the warrant arrest on Saturday officers found Blakley to be in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia resulting in additional charges.

Since February 0f 2019, police have arrested her four time for failure to appear, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637166225207.png" alt="Blakley from her November arrest" />
 <figcaption>Blakley from her November arrest</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges in connection with two recent investigation.Just after 10a.m. Saturday, police arrested Allison R. Blakley, 25, Atchison, in the 700 block Kansas Avenue. She is being held due to a District Court warrant for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, interference with law enforcement, and criminal damage to property, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.This warrant was associated with a case officers investigated&nbsp; on November 15 when a police officer on patrol observed Blakley, known to have active warrants for her arrest, as a passenger in a vehicle near 10th and U.S. 59 in Atchison.The officer stopped the vehicle in the 1000 block U.S.59. Blakley got out of the vehicle and ran to a wooded area north of U.S. 59. She was apprehended and the subsequent investigation that followed led to the recovery of methamphetamine. During the warrant arrest on Saturday officers found Blakley to be in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia resulting in additional charges.Since February 0f 2019, police have arrested her four time for failure to appear, according to online jail records.

Kansas woman hid in wooded area before arrest on drug warrant

WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita, Kansas, returned an indictment against a Kansas man on charges related to drug trafficking and firearms, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Joshua Heartfield, 32, of Wichita is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

The Wichita Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638565164782.png" alt="Heartfield photo Sedgwick Countuy" />
 <figcaption>Heartfield photo Sedgwick Countuy</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita, Kansas, returned an indictment against a Kansas man on charges related to drug trafficking and firearms, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Joshua Heartfield, 32, of Wichita is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.The Wichita Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the case.

Kansas man indicted for fentanyl, heroin distribution

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a car theft and have made an arrest.

Just before 3:30p.m. December 2, deputies located a 2013 white Ford Explorer near 262nd Road on U.S. Highway 75 that had been reported stolen out of Park City, Kansas., according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Deputies conducted a traffic stop took two women into custody. The driver, Traci Elaine Reynolds, 37, of Wichita, is being held on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The passenger, Jennifer Lynn Dewitt, 41, of Emporia, is being held on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container, according to Morse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638670744768.png" alt="Reynolds-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Reynolds-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a car theft and have made an arrest.Just before 3:30p.m. December 2, deputies located a 2013 white Ford Explorer near 262nd Road on U.S. Highway 75 that had been reported stolen out of Park City, Kansas., according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Deputies conducted a traffic stop took two women into custody. The driver, Traci Elaine Reynolds, 37, of Wichita, is being held on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638670716304.png" alt="Dewitt photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Dewitt photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The passenger, Jennifer Lynn Dewitt, 41, of Emporia, is being held on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container, according to Morse.

Deputies catch two Kansas women in stolen SUV

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will stage a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-china-olympic-team-thomas-bach-tokyo-international-olympic-committee-7e9e5a2c49cd8c962f28f7aafe31654a">Winter Olympics in Beijing </a>&nbsp;to protest Chinese human rights abuses, the White House confirmed Monday, a move that China has vowed to greet with “firm countermeasures.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said U.S. athletes will continue to compete and will “have our full support,” but added “we will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games.”

“U.S. diplomatic or official representation would treat these games as business as usual in the face of the PRC’s egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang, and we simply can’t do that,” Psaki told reporters during Monday’s briefing.

“We have a fundamental commitment to promoting human rights. And we feel strongly in our position and we will continue to take actions to advance human rights in China and beyond,” Psaki added.

The announcement came as Biden prepares to host a White House Summit for Democracy, a virtual gathering of leaders and civil society experts from more than 100 countries that is set to take place Thursday and Friday. The administration has said Biden intends to use the meeting “to announce both individual and collective commitments, reforms, and initiatives to defend democracy and human rights at home and abroad.”

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J., called such a diplomatic boycott “a necessary step to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to human rights in the face of the Chinese government’s unconscionable abuses.”

He called on “other allies and partners that share our values to join with the United States in this diplomatic boycott.”

Sen. Tom Cotton, an Alabama Republican, however, said the diplomatic boycott amounted to a “half measure.” American officials, including Biden, have criticized Beijing for human rights abuses against Uyghurs in northwest Xinjiang province, suppression of democratic protests in Hong Kong, military aggression against the self-ruled island of Taiwan and more. President Donald Trump’s administration in its final days declared the abuses in northwest China “genocide.”

“The United States should fully boycott the Genocide Games in Beijing,” Cotton said. “American businesses should not financially support the Chinese Communist Party and we must not expose Team USA to the dangers of a repugnant authoritarian regime that disappears its own athletes.”

Psaki would not comment whether Biden weighed pulling athletes from the games — many of whom have been training for years for the moment to compete on the global stage. In 1980, in the midst of the Cold War, Jimmy Carter kept U.S. athletes home from the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

“I don’t think that we felt it was the right step to penalize athletes who have been training and preparing for this moment, and we felt that we could send a clear message by not sending an official U.S. delegation,” Psaki said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian accused U.S. politicians of grandstanding over the issue of not sending dignitaries to attend events that China hopes will showcase its economic development and technological prowess.

Speaking to reporters at a daily briefing, Zhao said such a move would be an “outright political provocation,” but gave no details on how China might retaliate.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-beijing-business-winter-olympics-boycotts-76d2964dfae4b34a8958318df082cfb4">Human rights advocates</a>&nbsp;and lawmakers in the U.S. who support a boycott say it is a necessary step. They cite China’s poor record on human rights as justification, saying China is using the games to whitewash its ill treatment of civil rights activists, political dissidents and ethnic minorities.

“Without being invited, American politicians keep hyping the so-called diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which is purely wishful thinking and grandstanding,” Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing. “If the U.S. side is bent on going its own way, China will take firm countermeasures.”

The International Olympic Committee in a statement called the decision to keep dignitaries away from the game a “political decision for each government” that it “fully respects.”

“At the same time, this announcement also makes it clear that the Olympic Games and the participation of the athletes are beyond politics and we welcome this,” the IOC statement said.

The dispatching of high-level delegations to each Olympics has long been a tradition among the U.S. and other leading nations. Then-President George W. Bush attended the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Summer Games. First lady Jill Biden led the American contingent to the Summer Olympics in Tokyo this year and second gentleman Doug Emhoff led a delegation to the Paralympic Games.

The diplomatic boycott comes as the U.S. attempts to stabilize turbulent relations with Beijing, even as it maintains a tough approach toward trade and conflicts over China’s actions on Taiwan, human rights, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. CNN was first to report that an announcement was expected this week.

Beijing has mounted a stiff response to all U.S. criticisms, denouncing them as interference in its internal affairs and slapping visa bans on American politicians it regards as anti-China.

It wasn’t clear whom the U.S. might have sent to Beijing for the games and Zhao’s comments appeared to indicate that China has not extended any invitations.

Australia, whose ties with China have nosedived over a range of disputes, has also raised the possibility of a diplomatic boycott.

Psaki said Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping did not discuss a potential diplomatic boycott of the games when they spoke last month. She said Biden’s decision to keep U.S. dignitaries home was conveyed to Beijing by aides before it was formally announced by the White House.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that the United States was weighing a diplomatic boycott of next year's Winter Olympics in Beijing over China's human rights abuses, a move that would keep American dignitaries, but not athletes, from the games.

Speaking to reporters as he hosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Oval Office, Biden said backing a boycott of the Olympics in February is “something we’re considering.”

The U.S. and other nations traditionally send high-level delegations to each Olympics. First lady Jill Biden led the American contingent to the Summer Olympics in Tokyo this year and second gentleman Doug Emhoff led a delegation to the Paralympic Games.

International advocacy groups and some members of Congress have called for a symbolic U.S. boycott of the games in Beijing over China's treatment of Uyghurs and its crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong. The participation of American athletes would be unaffected by the boycott.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said there was no timeline for a decision by the president on whether to go through with a possible boycott.

The White House has said the Olympics did not come up on Monday when Biden met virtually with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637061329696.png" alt="&nbsp;Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden held a virtual summit Nov. 18-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden held a virtual summit Nov. 18-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will stage a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-china-olympic-team-thomas-bach-tokyo-international-olympic-committee-7e9e5a2c49cd8c962f28f7aafe31654a">Winter Olympics in Beijing </a>&nbsp;to protest Chinese human rights abuses, the White House confirmed Monday, a move that China has vowed to greet with “firm countermeasures.”White House press secretary Jen Psaki said U.S. athletes will continue to compete and will “have our full support,” but added “we will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games.”“U.S. diplomatic or official representation would treat these games as business as usual in the face of the PRC’s egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang, and we simply can’t do that,” Psaki told reporters during Monday’s briefing.“We have a fundamental commitment to promoting human rights. And we feel strongly in our position and we will continue to take actions to advance human rights in China and beyond,” Psaki added.The announcement came as Biden prepares to host a White House Summit for Democracy, a virtual gathering of leaders and civil society experts from more than 100 countries that is set to take place Thursday and Friday. The administration has said Biden intends to use the meeting “to announce both individual and collective commitments, reforms, and initiatives to defend democracy and human rights at home and abroad.”Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J., called such a diplomatic boycott “a necessary step to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to human rights in the face of the Chinese government’s unconscionable abuses.”He called on “other allies and partners that share our values to join with the United States in this diplomatic boycott.”Sen. Tom Cotton, an Alabama Republican, however, said the diplomatic boycott amounted to a “half measure.” American officials, including Biden, have criticized Beijing for human rights abuses against Uyghurs in northwest Xinjiang province, suppression of democratic protests in Hong Kong, military aggression against the self-ruled island of Taiwan and more. President Donald Trump’s administration in its final days declared the abuses in northwest China “genocide.”“The United States should fully boycott the Genocide Games in Beijing,” Cotton said. “American businesses should not financially support the Chinese Communist Party and we must not expose Team USA to the dangers of a repugnant authoritarian regime that disappears its own athletes.”Psaki would not comment whether Biden weighed pulling athletes from the games — many of whom have been training for years for the moment to compete on the global stage. In 1980, in the midst of the Cold War, Jimmy Carter kept U.S. athletes home from the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.“I don’t think that we felt it was the right step to penalize athletes who have been training and preparing for this moment, and we felt that we could send a clear message by not sending an official U.S. delegation,” Psaki said.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian accused U.S. politicians of grandstanding over the issue of not sending dignitaries to attend events that China hopes will showcase its economic development and technological prowess.Speaking to reporters at a daily briefing, Zhao said such a move would be an “outright political provocation,” but gave no details on how China might retaliate.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-beijing-business-winter-olympics-boycotts-76d2964dfae4b34a8958318df082cfb4">Human rights advocates</a>&nbsp;and lawmakers in the U.S. who support a boycott say it is a necessary step. They cite China’s poor record on human rights as justification, saying China is using the games to whitewash its ill treatment of civil rights activists, political dissidents and ethnic minorities.“Without being invited, American politicians keep hyping the so-called diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which is purely wishful thinking and grandstanding,” Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing. “If the U.S. side is bent on going its own way, China will take firm countermeasures.”The International Olympic Committee in a statement called the decision to keep dignitaries away from the game a “political decision for each government” that it “fully respects.”“At the same time, this announcement also makes it clear that the Olympic Games and the participation of the athletes are beyond politics and we welcome this,” the IOC statement said.The dispatching of high-level delegations to each Olympics has long been a tradition among the U.S. and other leading nations. Then-President George W. Bush attended the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Summer Games. First lady Jill Biden led the American contingent to the Summer Olympics in Tokyo this year and second gentleman Doug Emhoff led a delegation to the Paralympic Games.The diplomatic boycott comes as the U.S. attempts to stabilize turbulent relations with Beijing, even as it maintains a tough approach toward trade and conflicts over China’s actions on Taiwan, human rights, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. CNN was first to report that an announcement was expected this week.Beijing has mounted a stiff response to all U.S. criticisms, denouncing them as interference in its internal affairs and slapping visa bans on American politicians it regards as anti-China.It wasn’t clear whom the U.S. might have sent to Beijing for the games and Zhao’s comments appeared to indicate that China has not extended any invitations.Australia, whose ties with China have nosedived over a range of disputes, has also raised the possibility of a diplomatic boycott.Psaki said Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping did not discuss a potential diplomatic boycott of the games when they spoke last month. She said Biden’s decision to keep U.S. dignitaries home was conveyed to Beijing by aides before it was formally announced by the White House.----------------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that the United States was weighing a diplomatic boycott of next year's Winter Olympics in Beijing over China's human rights abuses, a move that would keep American dignitaries, but not athletes, from the games.Speaking to reporters as he hosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Oval Office, Biden said backing a boycott of the Olympics in February is “something we’re considering.”The U.S. and other nations traditionally send high-level delegations to each Olympics. First lady Jill Biden led the American contingent to the Summer Olympics in Tokyo this year and second gentleman Doug Emhoff led a delegation to the Paralympic Games.International advocacy groups and some members of Congress have called for a symbolic U.S. boycott of the games in Beijing over China's treatment of Uyghurs and its crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong. The participation of American athletes would be unaffected by the boycott.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said there was no timeline for a decision by the president on whether to go through with a possible boycott.The White House has said the Olympics did not come up on Monday when Biden met virtually with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

China threatens retaliation; U.S. diplomats will boycott Olympics

WASHINGTON (AP) — The body of the late Sen. Bob Dole of&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday as congressional leaders honor the former Republican presidential candidate and World War II veteran who served in Congress for 36 years.

Dole died Sunday at the age of 98. He was a leader known for his caustic wit, which he often turned on himself but didn’t hesitate to turn on others, too. He shaped tax and foreign policy and worked vigorously to help the disabled, enshrining protections against discrimination in employment, education and public services in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The U.S. Capitol has been considered the most suitable place for the nation to pay final tribute to its most eminent citizens by having their remains lie in state.

Dole won the Republican nomination in 1996, but was defeated when President Bill Clinton won a second term. He was also 1976 GOP vice presidential candidate on the losing ticket with President Gerald Ford.

Throughout his political career, he carried the mark of war. Charging a German position in northern Italy in 1945, Dole was hit by a shell fragment that crushed two vertebrae and paralyzed his arms and legs. The young Army platoon leader spent three years recovering in a hospital and never regained use of his right hand.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638808405865.png" alt="The flag at the U.S. Capitol flown at half-staff Monday afternoon-image from the Senate Security cameras" />
 <figcaption>The flag at the U.S. Capitol flown at half-staff Monday afternoon-image from the Senate Security cameras</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The body of the late Sen. Bob Dole of&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday as congressional leaders honor the former Republican presidential candidate and World War II veteran who served in Congress for 36 years.Dole died Sunday at the age of 98. He was a leader known for his caustic wit, which he often turned on himself but didn’t hesitate to turn on others, too. He shaped tax and foreign policy and worked vigorously to help the disabled, enshrining protections against discrimination in employment, education and public services in the Americans with Disabilities Act.The U.S. Capitol has been considered the most suitable place for the nation to pay final tribute to its most eminent citizens by having their remains lie in state.Dole won the Republican nomination in 1996, but was defeated when President Bill Clinton won a second term. He was also 1976 GOP vice presidential candidate on the losing ticket with President Gerald Ford.Throughout his political career, he carried the mark of war. Charging a German position in northern Italy in 1945, Dole was hit by a shell fragment that crushed two vertebrae and paralyzed his arms and legs. The young Army platoon leader spent three years recovering in a hospital and never regained use of his right hand.

Bob Dole to lie in state at Capitol as nation honors senator

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) —A rush of vaccine-seeking customers and staff shortages are squeezing drugstores around the U.S., leading to frazzled workers and temporary pharmacy closures.

Drugstores are normally busy this time of year with flu shots and other vaccines, but now pharmacists are doling out a growing number of COVID-19 shots and giving coronavirus tests.

The push for shots is expected to grow more intense as President Joe Biden urges vaccinated Americans to get booster shots to combat the emerging omicron variant. The White House said Thursday that more than two in three COVID-19 vaccinations are happening at local pharmacies.

And pharmacists worry another job might soon be added to their to-do list: If regulators approve antiviral pills from drugmakers Merck and Pfizer to treat COVID-19, pharmacists may be able to diagnose infections and then prescribe pills to customers.

“There’s crazy increased demand on pharmacies right now,” said Theresa Tolle, an independent pharmacist who has seen COVID-19 vaccine demand quadruple since the summer at her Sebastian, Florida, store.

Pharmacists say demand for COVID-19 vaccines started picking up over the summer as the delta variant spread rapidly. Booster shots and the expansion of vaccine eligibility to include children have since stoked it.

On top of that workload and routine prescriptions, many drugstores also have been asking pharmacists to counsel patients more generally on their health or about chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Pharmacies also have been handling more phone calls from customers with questions about vaccines or COVID-19 tests, noted Justin Wilson, who owns three independent pharmacies in Oklahoma.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638757185671.png" alt="Pharmacies all need minimum staffing to operate safely, and they sometimes have to close temporarily if they fall below those levels.-Google image" />
 <figcaption>Pharmacies all need minimum staffing to operate safely, and they sometimes have to close temporarily if they fall below those levels.-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) —A rush of vaccine-seeking customers and staff shortages are squeezing drugstores around the U.S., leading to frazzled workers and temporary pharmacy closures.Drugstores are normally busy this time of year with flu shots and other vaccines, but now pharmacists are doling out a growing number of COVID-19 shots and giving coronavirus tests.The push for shots is expected to grow more intense as President Joe Biden urges vaccinated Americans to get booster shots to combat the emerging omicron variant. The White House said Thursday that more than two in three COVID-19 vaccinations are happening at local pharmacies.And pharmacists worry another job might soon be added to their to-do list: If regulators approve antiviral pills from drugmakers Merck and Pfizer to treat COVID-19, pharmacists may be able to diagnose infections and then prescribe pills to customers.“There’s crazy increased demand on pharmacies right now,” said Theresa Tolle, an independent pharmacist who has seen COVID-19 vaccine demand quadruple since the summer at her Sebastian, Florida, store.Pharmacists say demand for COVID-19 vaccines started picking up over the summer as the delta variant spread rapidly. Booster shots and the expansion of vaccine eligibility to include children have since stoked it.On top of that workload and routine prescriptions, many drugstores also have been asking pharmacists to counsel patients more generally on their health or about chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.Pharmacies also have been handling more phone calls from customers with questions about vaccines or COVID-19 tests, noted Justin Wilson, who owns three independent pharmacies in Oklahoma.“We’re all working a lot harder than we did before, but we’re doing everything we can to take care of people,” Wilson said, adding that he has not had to temporarily close any of his pharmacies or limit hours so far.Tolle said she was lucky to hire a pharmacy resident just before the delta surge arrived. The new employee was supposed to focus mostly on diabetes programs but has largely been relegated to vaccine duty.Tolle said her Bay Street Pharmacy is now giving about 80 COVID-19 vaccines a day, up from 20 before the delta wave.“God’s timing worked out well for me,” she said. “We would not have gotten through without having that additional person here.”Others haven’t been as fortunate. A CVS Health store on the northeast side of Indianapolis shuttered its pharmacy in the middle of the afternoon Thursday due to staffing issues. A sign taped to the metal gate over the closed pharmacy counter also told customers that the pharmacy will soon start closing for a half hour each afternoon so the pharmacist can have a lunch break.Such temporary closures have ebbed and flowed in pockets around the country throughout the pandemic, but they have grown more acute in recent months, said Anne Burns, a vice president with the American Pharmacists Association.Pharmacies all need minimum staffing to operate safely, and they sometimes have to close temporarily if they fall below those levels.Burns said many pharmacies already had relatively thin staffing levels heading into the pandemic, and a wave of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians left after the virus hit.“There is a lot of stress and burnout for individuals who have been going at this since March of 2020,” she said.CVS Health spokesman T.J. Crawford said he couldn’t comment on the circumstances for one store. But he said his company continues “to manage through a workforce shortage that isn’t unique to CVS Health.”Rival drugstore chain Walgreens also has adjusted pharmacy hours “in a limited number of stores,” spokesman Fraser Engerman said.Both companies are hiring. CVS Health says it has hired 23,000 employees from a push it started in September. About half of that total was pharmacy technicians, who can deliver vaccines.As companies scramble to hire or keep staff, Burns and Tolle worry about adding even more responsibilities like diagnosing and treating COVID-19.Tolle noted that it is not clear yet how pharmacists will be reimbursed for the time they take to diagnose and prescribe. That will have to be clarified, especially if cases surge again and drugstores need to add even more workers to help.“We want to be able to help our communities,” she said. “I don’t know how pharmacies are going to manage it.”Sherri Brown, a city employee in Omaha, Nebraska, was searching for a vaccine booster dose, but two nearby pharmacies didn’t have appointments available and a third didn’t have the brand she wanted. She wound up getting a shot at a county-run clinic on Friday.“I just wanted to protect myself,” said Brown, who suffered through two weeks of coughing, headaches and fatigue when she caught the virus in January, before she was vaccinated. “I guess I’m encouraged to see that people are taking this more seriously.”___