NEW YORK (AP) — With an expanded definition to reflect the times, Merriam-Webster has declared an omnipresent truth as its 2021 word of the year: vaccine.

“This was a word that was extremely high in our data every single day in 2021,” Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's editor-at-large, told The Associated Press ahead of Monday's announcement.

“It really represents two different stories. One is the science story, which is this remarkable speed with which the vaccines were developed. But there's also the debates regarding policy, politics and political affiliation. It's one word that carries these two huge stories,” he said.

The selection follows “vax” as word of the year from the folks who publish the Oxford English Dictionary. And it comes after Merriam-Webster chose “pandemic” as tops in lookups last year on its online site.

“The pandemic was the gun going off and now we have the aftereffects,” Sokolowski said.

At Merriam-Webster, lookups for “vaccine” increased 601% over 2020, when the first U.S. shot was administered in New York in December after quick development, and months of speculation and discussion over efficacy. The world's first jab occurred earlier that month in the UK.

Compared to 2019, when there was little urgency or chatter about vaccines, Merriam-Webster logged an increase of 1,048% in lookups this year. Debates over inequitable distribution, vaccine mandates and boosters kept interest high, Sokolowski said. So did vaccine hesitancy and friction over vaccine passports.

The word “vaccine” wasn't birthed in a day, or due to a single pandemic. The first known use stretches back to 1882 but references pop up earlier related to fluid from cowpox pustules used in inoculations, Sokolowski said. It was borrowed from the New Latin “vaccina,” which goes back to Latin's feminine “vaccinus,” meaning “of or from a cow.” The Latin for cow is “vacca,” a word that might be akin to the Sanskrit “vasa," according to Merriam-Webster.

Inoculation, on the other hand, dates to 1714, in one sense referring to the act of injecting an “inoculum.”

Earlier this year, Merriam-Webster added to its online entry for “vaccine” to cover all the talk of mRNA vaccines, or messenger vaccines such as those for COVID-19 developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

While other dictionary companies choose words of the year by committee, Merriam-Webster bases its selection on lookup data, paying close attention to spikes and, more recently, year-over-year increases in searches after weeding out evergreens. The company has been declaring a word of the year since 2008. Among its runners-up in the word biography of 2021:

INSURRECTION: Interest was driven by the deadly Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol. Arrests continue, as do congressional hearings over the attack by supporters of President Donald Trump. Some of Trump’s allies have resisted subpoenas, including Steve Bannon.

Searches for the word increased by 61,000% over 2020, Sokolowksi said.

INFRASTRUCTURE: President Joe Biden was able to deliver what Trump often spoke of but never achieved: A bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law. When Biden proposed help with broadband access, eldercare and preschool, conversation changed from not only roads and bridges but “figurative infrastructure,” Sokolowski said.

“Many people asked, what is infrastructure if it’s not made out of steel or concrete? Infrastructure, in Latin, means underneath the structure,” he said.

PERSEVERANCE: It's the name of NASA's latest Mars rover. It landed Feb. 18, 2021. “Perseverance is the most sophisticated rover NASA has ever sent to the Red Planet, with a name that embodies NASA’s passion, and our nation’s capability, to take on and overcome challenges,” the space agency said.

The name was thought up by Alexander Mather, a 14-year-old seventh-grader at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia. He participated in an essay contest organized by NASA. He was one of 28,000 K-12 students to submit entries.

NOMAD: The word had its moment with the 2020 release of the film “Nomadland.” It went on to win three Oscars in April 2021, including best picture, director (Chloé Zhao) and actress (Frances McDormand). Zhao became the first woman of color to win best director.

The AP's film writer Jake Coyle called the indie success “a plain-spoken meditation on solitude, grief and grit. He wrote that it “struck a chord in a pandemic-ravaged year. It made for an unlikely Oscar champ: A film about people who gravitate to the margins took center stage."

Other words in Merriam-Webster's Top 10: Cicada (we had an invasion), guardian (the Cleveland Indians became the Cleveland Guardians), meta (the lofty new name of Facebook's parent company), cisgender (a gender identity that corresponds to one's sex assigned at birth), woke (charged with politics and political correctness) and murraya (a tropical tree and the word that won the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee for 14-year-old Zaila Avant-garde).

NEW YORK (AP) — With an expanded definition to reflect the times, Merriam-Webster has declared an omnipresent truth as its 2021 word of the year: vaccine.“This was a word that was extremely high in our data every single day in 2021,” Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's editor-at-large, told The Associated Press ahead of Monday's announcement.“It really represents two different stories. One is the science story, which is this remarkable speed with which the vaccines were developed. But there's also the debates regarding policy, politics and political affiliation. It's one word that carries these two huge stories,” he said.The selection follows “vax” as word of the year from the folks who publish the Oxford English Dictionary. And it comes after Merriam-Webster chose “pandemic” as tops in lookups last year on its online site.“The pandemic was the gun going off and now we have the aftereffects,” Sokolowski said.At Merriam-Webster, lookups for “vaccine” increased 601% over 2020, when the first U.S. shot was administered in New York in December after quick development, and months of speculation and discussion over efficacy. The world's first jab occurred earlier that month in the UK.Compared to 2019, when there was little urgency or chatter about vaccines, Merriam-Webster logged an increase of 1,048% in lookups this year. Debates over inequitable distribution, vaccine mandates and boosters kept interest high, Sokolowski said. So did vaccine hesitancy and friction over vaccine passports.The word “vaccine” wasn't birthed in a day, or due to a single pandemic. The first known use stretches back to 1882 but references pop up earlier related to fluid from cowpox pustules used in inoculations, Sokolowski said. It was borrowed from the New Latin “vaccina,” which goes back to Latin's feminine “vaccinus,” meaning “of or from a cow.” The Latin for cow is “vacca,” a word that might be akin to the Sanskrit “vasa," according to Merriam-Webster.Inoculation, on the other hand, dates to 1714, in one sense referring to the act of injecting an “inoculum.”Earlier this year, Merriam-Webster added to its online entry for “vaccine” to cover all the talk of mRNA vaccines, or messenger vaccines such as those for COVID-19 developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.While other dictionary companies choose words of the year by committee, Merriam-Webster bases its selection on lookup data, paying close attention to spikes and, more recently, year-over-year increases in searches after weeding out evergreens. The company has been declaring a word of the year since 2008. Among its runners-up in the word biography of 2021:INSURRECTION: Interest was driven by the deadly Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol. Arrests continue, as do congressional hearings over the attack by supporters of President Donald Trump. Some of Trump’s allies have resisted subpoenas, including Steve Bannon.Searches for the word increased by 61,000% over 2020, Sokolowksi said.INFRASTRUCTURE: President Joe Biden was able to deliver what Trump often spoke of but never achieved: A bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law. When Biden proposed help with broadband access, eldercare and preschool, conversation changed from not only roads and bridges but “figurative infrastructure,” Sokolowski said.“Many people asked, what is infrastructure if it’s not made out of steel or concrete? Infrastructure, in Latin, means underneath the structure,” he said.PERSEVERANCE: It's the name of NASA's latest Mars rover. It landed Feb. 18, 2021. “Perseverance is the most sophisticated rover NASA has ever sent to the Red Planet, with a name that embodies NASA’s passion, and our nation’s capability, to take on and overcome challenges,” the space agency said.The name was thought up by Alexander Mather, a 14-year-old seventh-grader at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia. He participated in an essay contest organized by NASA. He was one of 28,000 K-12 students to submit entries.NOMAD: The word had its moment with the 2020 release of the film “Nomadland.” It went on to win three Oscars in April 2021, including best picture, director (Chloé Zhao) and actress (Frances McDormand). Zhao became the first woman of color to win best director.The AP's film writer Jake Coyle called the indie success “a plain-spoken meditation on solitude, grief and grit. He wrote that it “struck a chord in a pandemic-ravaged year. It made for an unlikely Oscar champ: A film about people who gravitate to the margins took center stage."Other words in Merriam-Webster's Top 10: Cicada (we had an invasion), guardian (the Cleveland Indians became the Cleveland Guardians), meta (the lofty new name of Facebook's parent company), cisgender (a gender identity that corresponds to one's sex assigned at birth), woke (charged with politics and political correctness) and murraya (a tropical tree and the word that won the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee for 14-year-old Zaila Avant-garde).___

Merriam-Webster chooses 2021 word of the year

BOSTON (AP) — Phil Saviano, a clergy sex abuse survivor and whistleblower who played a pivotal role in exposing decades of predatory assaults by Roman Catholic priests in the United States, has died. He was 69.

Saviano’s story figured prominently in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bce4d6f901b2423ea23a713dc31c49da">the 2015 Oscar-winning film “Spotlight”</a>&nbsp;about The Boston Globe’s investigation that revealed how scores of priests molested children and got away with it because church leaders covered it up. He died on Sunday after a battle with gallbladder cancer, said his brother and caregiver, Jim Saviano.

In late October, Phil Saviano announced <a href="https://www.facebook.com/phil.saviano">on his Facebook page</a> that he was starting hospice care at his brother’s home in Douglas, Massachusetts, where he died.

“Things have been dicey the last few weeks,” he wrote, asking followers to “give a listen to Judy Collins singing ‘Bird On A Wire’ and think of me.”

Saviano played a central role in illuminating the scandal, which led to the resignation of Boston’s Cardinal Bernard Law and church settlements with hundreds of victims. The Globe’s 2002 series earned it the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2003, and “Spotlight” won Academy Awards for best picture and best original screenplay. Actor Neal Huff played Saviano in the film.

“My gift to the world was not being afraid to speak out,” Saviano said in mid-November in a brief telephone interview with The Associated Press.

Born June 23, 1952, Saviano recalled going to confession as a young boy at St. Denis Church in tiny East Douglas, Massachusetts, in the 1960s and whispering his transgressions through a screen to the Rev. David Holley. The priest, he said,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d62e914879e92c043a7ac3a595089add">violated that sacred trust</a>&nbsp;and forced the 11-year-old to perform sex acts. Holley died in a New Mexico prison in 2008 while serving a 275-year sentence for molesting eight boys.

“When we were kids, the priests never did anything wrong. You didn’t question them, same as the police,” brother Jim Saviano told the AP. “There were many barriers put in his way intentionally and otherwise by institutions and generational thinking. That didn’t stop him. That’s a certain kind of bravery that was unique.”

A self-described “recovering Catholic,” Saviano went on to establish the New England chapter of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, an organization working to bring specific allegations of clergy sexual abuse to light.

His faith in the church shattered, Saviano instead leaned on politicians and prosecutors to bring offenders to justice.

“We’re putting our faith in legislators and prosecutors to solve this problem,” he told reporters in 2002.

“Phil was an essential source during the Spotlight Team’s reporting on the cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, providing other critical sources, research materials and the names of several accused priests,” said Mike Rezendes, a member of the Globe team that brought the scandal to light and a current AP investigative reporter.

“He also shared his own heartbreaking story of abuse, imbuing us with the iron determination we needed to break this horrific story,” Rezendes said. “During our reporting, and over the last 20 years, I got to know Phil well and have never met anyone as brave, as compassionate or as savvy.”

Saviano earned degrees in zoology and communications from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Boston University and began working in hospital public relations. Later, he shifted to entertainment industry publicity and concert promotion, working closely with Collins, a lifelong friend and confidante, as well as Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme and other artists.

In 1991, he became seriously ill with AIDS and went public with his childhood abuse the following year, becoming one of the first survivors to come forward.

“Father Holley forced me and two of my friends to have repeated sexual contact with him,” Saviano said in an interview with the Globe — the first of many that would lead not only to criminal charges against the disgraced cleric but widespread prosecutions of others as the enormity of the scandal became evident.

By the early 2000s, Saviano was spending 10 hours a day on the phone with victims and journalists. He was an outspoken critic of the Vatican’s reluctance to deal decisively with the fallout from the scandal. In 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI hinted to U.S. bishops during a visit that they’d mishandled the church’s response, Saviano questioned the pontiff’s decision to follow his remarks with Masses in New York and Washington.

“If he was really serious about the issue, that Mass would not be held in New York. It would be held here in Boston,” he said.

In 2009, suffering kidney failure and unable to locate a match among family or friends, he found a donor after SNAP spread the word in a nationwide email to 8,000 clergy sex abuse survivors.

The abuse that came to light as a result of Saviano’s work prompted Cardinal Law, Boston’s highest-ranking churchman, to step down. The Globe’s reporting showed Law was aware of child molesters in the priesthood but covered up their crimes and failed to stop them, instead transferring them from parish to parish without alerting parents or police.

When the archbishop died in Rome in 2017, Saviano asked bluntly: “How is he going to explain this when he comes face to face with his maker?”

In 2019, at the Vatican for an abuse prevention summit called convened by Pope Francis,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-ap-top-news-international-news-united-states-latin-america-34df3ee878694c229c55bf1a5de533af">Saviano said he told summit organizers to release the names of abusive priests around the world along with their case files</a>.

“Do it to launch a new era of transparency. Do it to break the code of silence. Do it out of respect for the victims of these men, and do it to help prevent these creeps from abusing any more children,” he said.

Although there was a hard edge to much of his life, Saviano enjoyed traveling extensively and developed a soft spot for Indigenous art. In 1999, he launched an e-commerce website, Viva Oaxaca Folk Art, showcasing handmade decorative pieces he purchased on trips to southern Mexico and resold to collectors across the U.S.

He is survived by three brothers, Jim Saviano of Douglas; John Saviano of Douglas; and Victor Saviano of Boston; two nieces; and two nephews. A funeral Mass was scheduled for Friday at St. Denis Church in East Douglas.

BOSTON (AP) — Phil Saviano, a clergy sex abuse survivor and whistleblower who played a pivotal role in exposing decades of predatory assaults by Roman Catholic priests in the United States, has died. He was 69.Saviano’s story figured prominently in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bce4d6f901b2423ea23a713dc31c49da">the 2015 Oscar-winning film “Spotlight”</a>&nbsp;about The Boston Globe’s investigation that revealed how scores of priests molested children and got away with it because church leaders covered it up. He died on Sunday after a battle with gallbladder cancer, said his brother and caregiver, Jim Saviano.In late October, Phil Saviano announced <a href="https://www.facebook.com/phil.saviano">on his Facebook page</a> that he was starting hospice care at his brother’s home in Douglas, Massachusetts, where he died.“Things have been dicey the last few weeks,” he wrote, asking followers to “give a listen to Judy Collins singing ‘Bird On A Wire’ and think of me.”Saviano played a central role in illuminating the scandal, which led to the resignation of Boston’s Cardinal Bernard Law and church settlements with hundreds of victims. The Globe’s 2002 series earned it the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2003, and “Spotlight” won Academy Awards for best picture and best original screenplay. Actor Neal Huff played Saviano in the film.“My gift to the world was not being afraid to speak out,” Saviano said in mid-November in a brief telephone interview with The Associated Press.Born June 23, 1952, Saviano recalled going to confession as a young boy at St. Denis Church in tiny East Douglas, Massachusetts, in the 1960s and whispering his transgressions through a screen to the Rev. David Holley. The priest, he said,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d62e914879e92c043a7ac3a595089add">violated that sacred trust</a>&nbsp;and forced the 11-year-old to perform sex acts. Holley died in a New Mexico prison in 2008 while serving a 275-year sentence for molesting eight boys.“When we were kids, the priests never did anything wrong. You didn’t question them, same as the police,” brother Jim Saviano told the AP. “There were many barriers put in his way intentionally and otherwise by institutions and generational thinking. That didn’t stop him. That’s a certain kind of bravery that was unique.”A self-described “recovering Catholic,” Saviano went on to establish the New England chapter of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, an organization working to bring specific allegations of clergy sexual abuse to light.His faith in the church shattered, Saviano instead leaned on politicians and prosecutors to bring offenders to justice.“We’re putting our faith in legislators and prosecutors to solve this problem,” he told reporters in 2002.“Phil was an essential source during the Spotlight Team’s reporting on the cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, providing other critical sources, research materials and the names of several accused priests,” said Mike Rezendes, a member of the Globe team that brought the scandal to light and a current AP investigative reporter.“He also shared his own heartbreaking story of abuse, imbuing us with the iron determination we needed to break this horrific story,” Rezendes said. “During our reporting, and over the last 20 years, I got to know Phil well and have never met anyone as brave, as compassionate or as savvy.”Saviano earned degrees in zoology and communications from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Boston University and began working in hospital public relations. Later, he shifted to entertainment industry publicity and concert promotion, working closely with Collins, a lifelong friend and confidante, as well as Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme and other artists.In 1991, he became seriously ill with AIDS and went public with his childhood abuse the following year, becoming one of the first survivors to come forward.“Father Holley forced me and two of my friends to have repeated sexual contact with him,” Saviano said in an interview with the Globe — the first of many that would lead not only to criminal charges against the disgraced cleric but widespread prosecutions of others as the enormity of the scandal became evident.By the early 2000s, Saviano was spending 10 hours a day on the phone with victims and journalists. He was an outspoken critic of the Vatican’s reluctance to deal decisively with the fallout from the scandal. In 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI hinted to U.S. bishops during a visit that they’d mishandled the church’s response, Saviano questioned the pontiff’s decision to follow his remarks with Masses in New York and Washington.“If he was really serious about the issue, that Mass would not be held in New York. It would be held here in Boston,” he said.In 2009, suffering kidney failure and unable to locate a match among family or friends, he found a donor after SNAP spread the word in a nationwide email to 8,000 clergy sex abuse survivors.The abuse that came to light as a result of Saviano’s work prompted Cardinal Law, Boston’s highest-ranking churchman, to step down. The Globe’s reporting showed Law was aware of child molesters in the priesthood but covered up their crimes and failed to stop them, instead transferring them from parish to parish without alerting parents or police.When the archbishop died in Rome in 2017, Saviano asked bluntly: “How is he going to explain this when he comes face to face with his maker?”In 2019, at the Vatican for an abuse prevention summit called convened by Pope Francis,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-ap-top-news-international-news-united-states-latin-america-34df3ee878694c229c55bf1a5de533af">Saviano said he told summit organizers to release the names of abusive priests around the world along with their case files</a>.“Do it to launch a new era of transparency. Do it to break the code of silence. Do it out of respect for the victims of these men, and do it to help prevent these creeps from abusing any more children,” he said.Although there was a hard edge to much of his life, Saviano enjoyed traveling extensively and developed a soft spot for Indigenous art. In 1999, he launched an e-commerce website, Viva Oaxaca Folk Art, showcasing handmade decorative pieces he purchased on trips to southern Mexico and resold to collectors across the U.S.He is survived by three brothers, Jim Saviano of Douglas; John Saviano of Douglas; and Victor Saviano of Boston; two nieces; and two nephews. A funeral Mass was scheduled for Friday at St. Denis Church in East Douglas.

Key Catholic clergy sex abuse survivor and whistleblower has died

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Cases of the omicron variant of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;popped up in countries on opposite sides of the world Sunday and many governments rushed to close their borders even as scientists cautioned that it’s not clear if the new variant is more alarming than other versions of the virus.

The variant was identified days ago by researchers in South Africa, and much is still not known about it, including whether it is more contagious, more likely to cause serious illness or more able to evade the protection of vaccines. But many countries rushed to act, reflecting anxiety about anything that could prolong the pandemic that has killed more than 5 million people.

Israel decided to bar entry to foreigners, and Morocco said it would suspend all incoming flights for two weeks starting Monday — among the most drastic of a growing raft of travel curbs being imposed by nations around the world as they scrambled to slow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-new-variant-omicron-explainer-116ef818ac4a8e7bc23bb28d6511ecad">the variant’s spread.</a>&nbsp;Scientists in several places — from Hong Kong to Europe — have confirmed its presence. The Netherlands reported 13 omicron cases on Sunday, and both Canada and Australia each found two.

Noting that the variant has already been detected in many countries and that closing borders often has limited effect, the World Health Organization called for frontiers to remain open.

Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health in the United States, meanwhile, emphasized that there is no data yet that suggests the new variant causes more serious illness than previous COVID-19 variants.

“I do think it’s more contagious when you look at how rapidly it spread through multiple districts in South Africa. It has the earmarks therefore of being particularly likely to spread from one person to another. … What we don’t know is whether it can compete with delta,” Collins said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Collins echoed several experts in saying the news should make everyone redouble their efforts to use the tools the world already has, including vaccinations, booster shots and measures such as mask-wearing.

“I know, America, you’re really tired about hearing those things, but the virus is not tired of us,” Collins said.

The Dutch public health authority confirmed that 13 people who arrived from South Africa on Friday have so far tested positive for omicron. They were among 61 people who tested positive for the virus after arriving on the last two flights to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport before a flight ban was implemented. They were immediately put into isolation, most at a nearby hotel.

Canada’s health minister says the country’s first two cases of omicron were found in Ontario after two individuals who had recently traveled from Nigeria tested positive.

Authorities in Australia said two travelers who arrived in Sydney from Africa became the first in the country to test positive for the new variant. Arrivals from nine African countries are now required to quarantine in a hotel upon arrival. Two German states reported a total of three cases in returning travelers over the weekend.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-technology-travel-health-lifestyle-36287673df09cdc3630e5dd1e05cdc7c">Israel moved</a>&nbsp;to ban entry by foreigners and mandate quarantine for all Israelis arriving from abroad.

“Restrictions on the country’s borders is not an easy step, but it’s a temporary and necessary step,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting.

Morocco’s Foreign Ministry tweeted Sunday that all incoming air travel to the North African country would be suspended to “preserve the achievements realized by Morocco in the fight against the pandemic, and to protect the health of citizens.” Morocco has been at the forefront of vaccinations in Africa, and kept its borders closed for months in 2020 because of the pandemic.

The U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/i" target="_blank">plans to ban&nbsp;</a>travel from South Africa and seven other southern African countries starting Monday. “It’s going to give us a period of time to enhance our preparedness,” the United States’ top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said of the ban on ABC’s “This Week.”

Many countries are introducing such bans, though they go against the advice of the WHO, which has warned against any overreaction before the variant is thoroughly studied.

Fauci says it will take approximately two more weeks to have more definitive information on the transmissibility, severity and other characteristics of omicron, according to a statement from the White House Sunday evening.

South Africa’s government responded angrily to the travel bans, which it said are “akin to punishing South Africa for its advanced genomic sequencing and the ability to detect new variants quicker.” It said it will try to persuade countries that imposed them to reconsider.

The WHO sent out a statement saying it “stands with African nations” and noting that travel restrictions may play “a role in slightly reducing the spread of COVID-19 but place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.” It said if restrictions are put in place, they should be scientifically based and not intrusive.

In Europe, much of which already has been struggling with a sharp increase in cases over recent weeks, officials were on guard.

The U.K. on Saturday tightened rules on mask-wearing and on testing of international arrivals after finding two omicron cases, but British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the government was nowhere near reinstituting work from home or more severe social-distancing measures.

“We know now those types of measures do carry a very heavy price, both economically, socially, in terms of non-COVID health outcomes such as impact on mental health,” he told Sky News.

Spain announced it won’t admit unvaccinated British visitors starting Dec. 1. Italy was going through lists of airline passengers who arrived in the past two weeks. France is continuing to push vaccinations and booster shots.

David Hui, a respiratory medicine expert and government adviser on the pandemic in Hong Kong, agreed with that strategy.

He said the two people who tested positive for the omicron variant had received the Pfizer vaccine and exhibited very mild symptoms, such as a sore throat.

“Vaccines should work but there would be some reduction in effectiveness,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638148803210.png" alt="&nbsp;3D structure of spike with amino acid changes in Omicron -photo courtesy GISAID" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;3D structure of spike with amino acid changes in Omicron -photo courtesy GISAID</figcaption>
 </figure>THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Cases of the omicron variant of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus</a>&nbsp;popped up in countries on opposite sides of the world Sunday and many governments rushed to close their borders even as scientists cautioned that it’s not clear if the new variant is more alarming than other versions of the virus.The variant was identified days ago by researchers in South Africa, and much is still not known about it, including whether it is more contagious, more likely to cause serious illness or more able to evade the protection of vaccines. But many countries rushed to act, reflecting anxiety about anything that could prolong the pandemic that has killed more than 5 million people.Israel decided to bar entry to foreigners, and Morocco said it would suspend all incoming flights for two weeks starting Monday — among the most drastic of a growing raft of travel curbs being imposed by nations around the world as they scrambled to slow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-new-variant-omicron-explainer-116ef818ac4a8e7bc23bb28d6511ecad">the variant’s spread.</a>&nbsp;Scientists in several places — from Hong Kong to Europe — have confirmed its presence. The Netherlands reported 13 omicron cases on Sunday, and both Canada and Australia each found two.Noting that the variant has already been detected in many countries and that closing borders often has limited effect, the World Health Organization called for frontiers to remain open.Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health in the United States, meanwhile, emphasized that there is no data yet that suggests the new variant causes more serious illness than previous COVID-19 variants.“I do think it’s more contagious when you look at how rapidly it spread through multiple districts in South Africa. It has the earmarks therefore of being particularly likely to spread from one person to another. … What we don’t know is whether it can compete with delta,” Collins said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”Collins echoed several experts in saying the news should make everyone redouble their efforts to use the tools the world already has, including vaccinations, booster shots and measures such as mask-wearing.“I know, America, you’re really tired about hearing those things, but the virus is not tired of us,” Collins said.The Dutch public health authority confirmed that 13 people who arrived from South Africa on Friday have so far tested positive for omicron. They were among 61 people who tested positive for the virus after arriving on the last two flights to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport before a flight ban was implemented. They were immediately put into isolation, most at a nearby hotel.Canada’s health minister says the country’s first two cases of omicron were found in Ontario after two individuals who had recently traveled from Nigeria tested positive.Authorities in Australia said two travelers who arrived in Sydney from Africa became the first in the country to test positive for the new variant. Arrivals from nine African countries are now required to quarantine in a hotel upon arrival. Two German states reported a total of three cases in returning travelers over the weekend.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-technology-travel-health-lifestyle-36287673df09cdc3630e5dd1e05cdc7c">Israel moved</a>&nbsp;to ban entry by foreigners and mandate quarantine for all Israelis arriving from abroad.“Restrictions on the country’s borders is not an easy step, but it’s a temporary and necessary step,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting.Morocco’s Foreign Ministry tweeted Sunday that all incoming air travel to the North African country would be suspended to “preserve the achievements realized by Morocco in the fight against the pandemic, and to protect the health of citizens.” Morocco has been at the forefront of vaccinations in Africa, and kept its borders closed for months in 2020 because of the pandemic.The U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/i" target="_blank">plans to ban&nbsp;</a>travel from South Africa and seven other southern African countries starting Monday. “It’s going to give us a period of time to enhance our preparedness,” the United States’ top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said of the ban on ABC’s “This Week.”Many countries are introducing such bans, though they go against the advice of the WHO, which has warned against any overreaction before the variant is thoroughly studied.Fauci says it will take approximately two more weeks to have more definitive information on the transmissibility, severity and other characteristics of omicron, according to a statement from the White House Sunday evening.South Africa’s government responded angrily to the travel bans, which it said are “akin to punishing South Africa for its advanced genomic sequencing and the ability to detect new variants quicker.” It said it will try to persuade countries that imposed them to reconsider.The WHO sent out a statement saying it “stands with African nations” and noting that travel restrictions may play “a role in slightly reducing the spread of COVID-19 but place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.” It said if restrictions are put in place, they should be scientifically based and not intrusive.In Europe, much of which already has been struggling with a sharp increase in cases over recent weeks, officials were on guard.The U.K. on Saturday tightened rules on mask-wearing and on testing of international arrivals after finding two omicron cases, but British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the government was nowhere near reinstituting work from home or more severe social-distancing measures.“We know now those types of measures do carry a very heavy price, both economically, socially, in terms of non-COVID health outcomes such as impact on mental health,” he told Sky News.Spain announced it won’t admit unvaccinated British visitors starting Dec. 1. Italy was going through lists of airline passengers who arrived in the past two weeks. France is continuing to push vaccinations and booster shots.David Hui, a respiratory medicine expert and government adviser on the pandemic in Hong Kong, agreed with that strategy.He said the two people who tested positive for the omicron variant had received the Pfizer vaccine and exhibited very mild symptoms, such as a sore throat.“Vaccines should work but there would be some reduction in effectiveness,” he said.___

Omicron variant spreading as governments rush to close borders

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Governor Laura Kelly is asking a member of the Kansas House of Representatives to resign after his weekend arrest for alleged DUI. Online records indicate that&nbsp; 21-year-old Aaron Coleman, who represents the state's 37th District, was jailed briefly Saturday in Douglas County for DUI.&nbsp; This is his second arrest since late October. On Sunday night, Governor Kelly issued a statement on the arrest.

“Mr. Coleman’s most recent arrest is further evidence that he is not fit to serve in the Kansas House of Representatives and that his continued presence in the Legislature is a disservice to his constituents. He should resign immediately and seek the treatment that he needs.  If he does not resign, the Legislature should use its process to remove him from office.”&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Coleman was charged with domestic battery in Johnson County after pushed, hit and spit on his 18-year-old brother in a fight that erupted because the brother was going to get baptized. The probable cause affidavit said Coleman of Kansas City was “uncooperative” with police during the Oct. 30 fight. 

Coleman has acknowledged past abuses against girls and young women. And he took a temporary “leave of absence” earlier this month following a Johnson County district judge’s order that he undergo a mental health evaluation.

After the October arrest, House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer issued a statement urging Coleman to resign and calling his arrest “extremely disturbing.”

After he was elected last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-kansas-city-kansas-congress-d8716ccabd233448ea77860d6b97b419">Coleman received a written reprimand&nbsp;</a>from a legislative committee about his conduct before taking office. The House committee’s investigation of Coleman followed accusations of abusive behavior toward girls and young women. He acknowledged some of the behavior on social media and said he had been a troubled teenager.

Earlier this month, Coleman was also banned from the Kansas Department of Labor’s offices because the agency’s director said Coleman had tried to improperly gain entry to the department’s main office through a secured employee entry and berated a security officer.

At that time, Coleman said he was trying to help constituents deal with the state’s unemployment system.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635804497310.png" alt="Coleman from his Oct. 30 domestic battery arrest in Johnson County." />
 <figcaption>Coleman from his Oct. 30 domestic battery arrest in Johnson County.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Governor Laura Kelly is asking a member of the Kansas House of Representatives to resign after his weekend arrest for alleged DUI. Online records indicate that&nbsp; 21-year-old Aaron Coleman, who represents the state's 37th District, was jailed briefly Saturday in Douglas County for DUI.&nbsp; This is his second arrest since late October. On Sunday night, Governor Kelly issued a statement on the arrest.“Mr. Coleman’s most recent arrest is further evidence that he is not fit to serve in the Kansas House of Representatives and that his continued presence in the Legislature is a disservice to his constituents. He should resign immediately and seek the treatment that he needs. If he does not resign, the Legislature should use its process to remove him from office.”&nbsp;Earlier this month, Coleman was charged with domestic battery in Johnson County after pushed, hit and spit on his 18-year-old brother in a fight that erupted because the brother was going to get baptized. The probable cause affidavit said Coleman of Kansas City was “uncooperative” with police during the Oct. 30 fight. Coleman has acknowledged past abuses against girls and young women. And he took a temporary “leave of absence” earlier this month following a Johnson County district judge’s order that he undergo a mental health evaluation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Vic Miller. DUI while In office?... Very intrigued Does <a href="https://twitter.com/RepTomSawyer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepTomSawyer</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/KSHouseDems?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KSHouseDems</a> have any remarks on my motion to expel? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://t.co/2uEL6JGKPq">https://t.co/2uEL6JGKPq</a>&mdash; Rep. Aaron Coleman 🌹✡️ (@Aaron4KS37) <a href="https://twitter.com/Aaron4KS37/status/1464400540209664000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>After the October arrest, House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer issued a statement urging Coleman to resign and calling his arrest “extremely disturbing.”After he was elected last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-kansas-city-kansas-congress-d8716ccabd233448ea77860d6b97b419">Coleman received a written reprimand&nbsp;</a>from a legislative committee about his conduct before taking office. The House committee’s investigation of Coleman followed accusations of abusive behavior toward girls and young women. He acknowledged some of the behavior on social media and said he had been a troubled teenager.Earlier this month, Coleman was also banned from the Kansas Department of Labor’s offices because the agency’s director said Coleman had tried to improperly gain entry to the department’s main office through a secured employee entry and berated a security officer.At that time, Coleman said he was trying to help constituents deal with the state’s unemployment system.-The AP contributed to this report

Kan. Gov. calls for Rep. to resign after 2nd arrest in less than a month

Tax scams are among the most stubborn cons out there. They 
reappear often, each time with a slightly different spin. The main theme
 is scammers posing as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov" target="_blank">Internal Revenue Service</a> (IRS) in the U.S. or as the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html" target="_blank">Canada Revenue Agency</a> (CRA) in Canada, trying to trick people into either paying up or sharing personal information.

These scams most often start with a phone call and take two basic 
forms. In the first version, the IRS or CRA "agent" says you owe back 
taxes and pressures you into paying by prepaid debit card or wire 
transfer. If you don’t comply, the scammer threatens you with arrest and
 fines. In the other version, scammers claim they are issuing tax 
refunds and ask you for personal information so they can send your 
refund. This information can later be used for identity theft. Scammers 
also use this approach to target college students by claiming a "federal
 student tax" has not been paid.

These imposters often go to great lengths to appear real. The scammer
 may give a fake badge number and name. Your Caller ID may look like the
 call is coming from Washington, D.C. or Ottawa. Con artists sometimes 
follow up scam calls with an email, which uses the IRS logo, colors, and
 official-sounding language. In many instances, these scams start with a
 serious and official sounding “robocall” recording.

You are pressured to act quickly. Scammers typically try to push you 
into action before you have time to think. The IRS and CRA will give you
 the chance to ask questions or appeal what you owe. Also, their first 
contact with you will always be by mail, not phone or email.&nbsp; Payment 
must be made by wire transfer, prepaid debit card, or other 
non-traditional payment methods. These methods are largely untraceable 
and non-reversible. The IRS and CRA will never demand immediate payment,
 require a specific form of payment, or ask for credit card or debt card
 numbers over the phone.

In the U.S., the IRS may call you about outstanding debts after reaching out by mail. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/irscalls" target="_blank">See BBB's tips on IRS calls</a> to tell if the IRS is really calling or if you are talking to a scammer.

Another tax scam to look out for is tax identity theft. This occurs 
when a scammer uses your government-issued identity number (Social 
Security number in the U.S. or Social Insurance number in Canada) to 
file a tax return in your name and collect your refund. It can also be 
someone using your information to get a job. Consumers don’t usually 
realize they have been victims of tax identity theft until they get a 
written notice from the IRS or CRA saying that more than one tax return 
was filed, or they were paid by an employer they don't know. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16949-bbb-tip-tax-identity-theft" target="_blank">Learn more about tax ID theft scams</a>.

The emails appear to be from the IRS and include a link to a bogus 
web site intended to mirror the official IRS web site. These emails 
contain the direction “you are to update your IRS e-file immediately.” 
The emails sometimes mention USA.gov and IRSgov (without a dot between 
"IRS" and "gov") Don’t get scammed. These emails are not from the IRS.

Some tax preparers offer refund advances, which are essentially 
short-term loans in the amount of your expected tax return, less the tax
 preparation cost. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21614-bbb-tip-what-you-should-know-about-tax-refund-promotions" target="_blank">Learn more about these loans</a>.&nbsp;

To report a tax scam, go to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>. To learn how to protect yourself, go to “<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/8767-bbb-tips-10-steps-to-avoid-scams" target="_blank">10 Steps to Avoid Scams</a>.”

BBB Serving Metro Atlanta, Athens &amp; Northeast Georgia contributed to this tip.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBTax scams are among the most stubborn cons out there. They 
reappear often, each time with a slightly different spin. The main theme
 is scammers posing as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov" target="_blank">Internal Revenue Service</a> (IRS) in the U.S. or as the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html" target="_blank">Canada Revenue Agency</a> (CRA) in Canada, trying to trick people into either paying up or sharing personal information.<h2>IRS or CRA Impersonation Scams</h2>These scams most often start with a phone call and take two basic 
forms. In the first version, the IRS or CRA "agent" says you owe back 
taxes and pressures you into paying by prepaid debit card or wire 
transfer. If you don’t comply, the scammer threatens you with arrest and
 fines. In the other version, scammers claim they are issuing tax 
refunds and ask you for personal information so they can send your 
refund. This information can later be used for identity theft. Scammers 
also use this approach to target college students by claiming a "federal
 student tax" has not been paid.These imposters often go to great lengths to appear real. The scammer
 may give a fake badge number and name. Your Caller ID may look like the
 call is coming from Washington, D.C. or Ottawa. Con artists sometimes 
follow up scam calls with an email, which uses the IRS logo, colors, and
 official-sounding language. In many instances, these scams start with a
 serious and official sounding “robocall” recording.You are pressured to act quickly. Scammers typically try to push you 
into action before you have time to think. The IRS and CRA will give you
 the chance to ask questions or appeal what you owe. Also, their first 
contact with you will always be by mail, not phone or email.&nbsp; Payment 
must be made by wire transfer, prepaid debit card, or other 
non-traditional payment methods. These methods are largely untraceable 
and non-reversible. The IRS and CRA will never demand immediate payment,
 require a specific form of payment, or ask for credit card or debt card
 numbers over the phone.In the U.S., the IRS may call you about outstanding debts after reaching out by mail. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/irscalls" target="_blank">See BBB's tips on IRS calls</a> to tell if the IRS is really calling or if you are talking to a scammer.<h2>Tax Identity Theft Scams</h2>Another tax scam to look out for is tax identity theft. This occurs 
when a scammer uses your government-issued identity number (Social 
Security number in the U.S. or Social Insurance number in Canada) to 
file a tax return in your name and collect your refund. It can also be 
someone using your information to get a job. Consumers don’t usually 
realize they have been victims of tax identity theft until they get a 
written notice from the IRS or CRA saying that more than one tax return 
was filed, or they were paid by an employer they don't know. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16949-bbb-tip-tax-identity-theft" target="_blank">Learn more about tax ID theft scams</a>.<h2>Email Phishing Scams</h2>The emails appear to be from the IRS and include a link to a bogus 
web site intended to mirror the official IRS web site. These emails 
contain the direction “you are to update your IRS e-file immediately.” 
The emails sometimes mention USA.gov and IRSgov (without a dot between 
"IRS" and "gov") Don’t get scammed. These emails are not from the IRS.<h2>Tips to Avoid Tax Scams</h2><ul>
 <li>The best way to avoid tax identity theft is to file your taxes as early as possible. File before a scammer has the chance to use your information to file a fake return.</li><li>In the U.S., jot down your Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS before you file your return.
 This is a six-digit number, which, in addition to your Social Security 
number, confirms your identity. It is important to note that you cannot 
opt-out once you get an IP PIN. So once you apply, you must provide the 
IP Pin each year when you file your federal tax returns. The IRS will 
provide your IP PIN online and then send you a new IP PIN each December 
by postal mail. Visit <a href="https://irs.gov/individuals/get-an-identity-protection-pin" target="_blank">the IRS</a> for more information about the program. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/16949-bbb-tip-tax-identity-theft" target="_blank">Read BBB's tips about the IRS PIN</a>.&nbsp; </li><li>The
 IRS does not initiate contact with tax payers by email, text message or
 social media to request personal or financial information. 
This includes requests for PIN numbers, passwords or similar access 
information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts. </li><li>Only deal with trustworthy tax preparation services.
 For many people, major life changes, business ownership, or simply a 
lack of knowledge about the ever-changing tax laws make finding a 
trustworthy tax preparer a good idea. That said, not all tax preparers 
have the same level of experience and training. See <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21492-bbb-tip-how-to-choose-a-tax-preparer" target="_blank">our tips for finding the right tax preparer for you</a>.&nbsp; </li><li>Check out websites carefully and make sure you are accessing the real IRS or CRA website when filing your taxes electronically or inquiring for additional information. </li><li>If you are the victim of tax identity theft in the U.S., contact the IRS at 1-800-908-4490. You should also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/complaint" target="_blank">ftc.gov/complaint</a> or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. The FTC also offers a personalized identity theft recovery plan at <a href="https://www.identitytheft.gov" target="_blank">identitytheft.gov</a>.</li><li>If you get tax information delivered electronically from your employer or other entity, treat that information carefully. Download it onto a password-protected computer.</li><li>If you are a victim in Canada, contact your local police service.
 If you believe your Canadian Social Insurance Number has been stolen, 
contact Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218. For more information, see <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin.html?utm_campaign=not-applicable&amp;utm_medium=vanity-url&amp;utm_source=canada-ca_social-insurance-number" target="_blank">Social Insurance Number (Service Canada website)</a>. </li>
 </ul><h2>For More Information</h2>Some tax preparers offer refund advances, which are essentially 
short-term loans in the amount of your expected tax return, less the tax
 preparation cost. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21614-bbb-tip-what-you-should-know-about-tax-refund-promotions" target="_blank">Learn more about these loans</a>.&nbsp;To report a tax scam, go to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>. To learn how to protect yourself, go to “<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/8767-bbb-tips-10-steps-to-avoid-scams" target="_blank">10 Steps to Avoid Scams</a>.”BBB Serving Metro Atlanta, Athens &amp; Northeast Georgia contributed to this tip.

Watch out for these common tax-season scams

WASHINGTON (AP) — Both sides are telling the Supreme Court there’s no middle ground in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-courts-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-b2399021aa925d655be3942c8e2edd2b">Wednesday’s showdown over abortion.</a>&nbsp;The justices can either&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-donald-trump-abortion-courts-supreme-courts-3073d9b39ae4c33ffb68e7bd5af6f526">reaffirm the constitutional right to an abortion or wipe it away altogether.</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-religion-cdfb7122c609bd3563c2702af28d3254">Roe v. Wade,</a>&nbsp;the landmark 1973 ruling that declared a nationwide right to abortion, is facing its most serious challenge in 30 years in front of a court with a 6-3 conservative majority that has been remade by three appointees of President Donald Trump.

“There are no half measures here,” said Sherif Girgis, a Notre Dame law professor who once served as a law clerk for Justice Samuel Alito.

A ruling that overturned Roe and the 1992 case of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1991/91-744" target="_blank">Planned Parenthood v. Casey</a>&nbsp;would lead to outright bans or severe restrictions on abortion in 26 states,&nbsp;<a href="https://states.guttmacher.org/" target="_blank">according to the Guttmacher Institute</a>, a research organization that supports abortion rights.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-1392.html" target="_blank">The case being argued Wednesday comes from Mississippi</a>, where a 2018 law would ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, well before viability. The Supreme Court has never allowed states to ban abortion before the point at roughly 24 weeks when a fetus can survive outside the womb.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-texas-lawsuits-6a86d10e02536b524855baf97726a809">The justices are separately weighing disputes over Texas’ much earlier abortion ban</a>, at roughly six weeks, though those cases turn on the unique structure of the law and how it can be challenged in court, not the abortion right. Still,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-courts-us-supreme-court-32ee7ae7eeec9bdfd1471a848c163321">abortion rights advocates were troubled by the court’s 5-4 vote in September</a>&nbsp;to allow the Texas law, which relies on citizen lawsuits to enforce it, to take effect in the first place.

“This is the most worried I’ve ever been,” said Shannon Brewer, who runs the only abortion clinic in Mississippi, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

The clinic offers abortions up to 16 weeks of pregnancy and about 10% of abortions it performs take place after the 15th week, Brewer said.

She also noted that since the Texas law took effect, the clinic has seen a substantial increase in patients, operating five days or six days a week instead of two or three.

Lower courts blocked the Mississippi law, as they have other abortion bans that employ traditional enforcement methods by state and local officials.

The Supreme Court had never before even agreed to hear a case over a pre-viability abortion ban. But after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death last year and her replacement by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the third of Trump’s appointees, the court said it would take up the case.

Trump had pledged to appoint “pro-life justices” and predicted they would lead the way in overturning the abortion rulings. Only one justice, Clarence Thomas, has publicly called for Roe to be overruled.

The court could uphold the Mississippi law without explicitly overruling Roe and Casey, an outcome that would satisfy neither side.

Abortion-rights advocates say that result would amount to the same thing as an outright ruling overturning the earlier cases because it would erase the rationale undergirding nearly a half-century of Supreme Court law.

“A decision upholding this ban is tantamount to overruling Roe. The ban prohibits abortion around two months before viability,” said Julie Rikelman, who will argue the case for the clinic.

On the other side, abortion opponents argue that the court essentially invented abortion law in Roe and Casey, and shouldn’t repeat that mistake in this case.

If the justices uphold Mississippi’s law, they’ll have to explain why, said Thomas Jipping, a Heritage Foundation legal fellow. They can either overrule the two big cases, Jipping said, “or they’re going to have to come up with another made-up rule.”

Conservative commentator Ed Whelan said such an outcome would be a “massive defeat” on par with the Casey decision in 1992, in which a court with eight justices appointed by Republican presidents unexpectedly reaffirmed Roe.

This court appears far more conservative than the one that decided Casey, and legal historian Mary Ziegler at Florida State University’s law school, said the court probably would “overrule Roe or set us on a path to doing so.”

Chief Justice John Roberts might find the more incremental approach appealing if he can persuade a majority of the court to go along. Since Roberts became chief justice in 2005, the court has moved in smaller steps on some issues, even when it appeared there was only a binary choice.

It took two cases for the court to rip out the heart of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-voting-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-laws-871be7654df041549cf74eb1a1d377ca">federal Voting Rights Act</a>&nbsp;that curbed potentially discriminatory voting laws in states with a history of discrimination.

In the area of organized labor, the court moved through a series of cases that chipped away at public sector unions’ power.

The high court also heard two rounds of arguments over restrictions on independent spending in the political arena before removing limits on how much money corporations and unions can pour into election advocacy.

If the court looks to public sentiment, it would find poll after poll that shows support for preserving Roe, though some surveys also find backing for greater restrictions on abortion.

Mississippi is one of 12 states ready to act almost immediately if Roe is overturned. Those states have enacted so-called abortion trigger laws that would take effect and ban all or nearly all abortions.

Women in those states wanting abortions could face drives of hundreds of miles to reach the nearest clinic or they might obtain abortion pills by mail.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-texas-covid-19-pandemic-health-13c2fbe3f1de416d88a5ef6d1ca3406e">Medication abortions now account for 40% of abortions.</a>

Some legal briefs in the case make clear that the end of Roe is not the ultimate goal of abortion opponents.

The court should recognize that “unborn children are persons” under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, a conclusion that would compel an end to almost all legal abortions, Princeton professor Robert George and scholar John Finnis wrote. Finnis was Justice Neil Gorsuch’s adviser on his Oxford dissertation, an argument against assisted suicide.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Both sides are telling the Supreme Court there’s no middle ground in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-courts-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-b2399021aa925d655be3942c8e2edd2b">Wednesday’s showdown over abortion.</a>&nbsp;The justices can either&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-donald-trump-abortion-courts-supreme-courts-3073d9b39ae4c33ffb68e7bd5af6f526">reaffirm the constitutional right to an abortion or wipe it away altogether.</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-religion-cdfb7122c609bd3563c2702af28d3254">Roe v. Wade,</a>&nbsp;the landmark 1973 ruling that declared a nationwide right to abortion, is facing its most serious challenge in 30 years in front of a court with a 6-3 conservative majority that has been remade by three appointees of President Donald Trump.“There are no half measures here,” said Sherif Girgis, a Notre Dame law professor who once served as a law clerk for Justice Samuel Alito.A ruling that overturned Roe and the 1992 case of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1991/91-744" target="_blank">Planned Parenthood v. Casey</a>&nbsp;would lead to outright bans or severe restrictions on abortion in 26 states,&nbsp;<a href="https://states.guttmacher.org/" target="_blank">according to the Guttmacher Institute</a>, a research organization that supports abortion rights.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-1392.html" target="_blank">The case being argued Wednesday comes from Mississippi</a>, where a 2018 law would ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, well before viability. The Supreme Court has never allowed states to ban abortion before the point at roughly 24 weeks when a fetus can survive outside the womb.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-texas-lawsuits-6a86d10e02536b524855baf97726a809">The justices are separately weighing disputes over Texas’ much earlier abortion ban</a>, at roughly six weeks, though those cases turn on the unique structure of the law and how it can be challenged in court, not the abortion right. Still,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-courts-us-supreme-court-32ee7ae7eeec9bdfd1471a848c163321">abortion rights advocates were troubled by the court’s 5-4 vote in September</a>&nbsp;to allow the Texas law, which relies on citizen lawsuits to enforce it, to take effect in the first place.“This is the most worried I’ve ever been,” said Shannon Brewer, who runs the only abortion clinic in Mississippi, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization.The clinic offers abortions up to 16 weeks of pregnancy and about 10% of abortions it performs take place after the 15th week, Brewer said.She also noted that since the Texas law took effect, the clinic has seen a substantial increase in patients, operating five days or six days a week instead of two or three.Lower courts blocked the Mississippi law, as they have other abortion bans that employ traditional enforcement methods by state and local officials.The Supreme Court had never before even agreed to hear a case over a pre-viability abortion ban. But after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death last year and her replacement by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the third of Trump’s appointees, the court said it would take up the case.Trump had pledged to appoint “pro-life justices” and predicted they would lead the way in overturning the abortion rulings. Only one justice, Clarence Thomas, has publicly called for Roe to be overruled.The court could uphold the Mississippi law without explicitly overruling Roe and Casey, an outcome that would satisfy neither side.Abortion-rights advocates say that result would amount to the same thing as an outright ruling overturning the earlier cases because it would erase the rationale undergirding nearly a half-century of Supreme Court law.“A decision upholding this ban is tantamount to overruling Roe. The ban prohibits abortion around two months before viability,” said Julie Rikelman, who will argue the case for the clinic.On the other side, abortion opponents argue that the court essentially invented abortion law in Roe and Casey, and shouldn’t repeat that mistake in this case.If the justices uphold Mississippi’s law, they’ll have to explain why, said Thomas Jipping, a Heritage Foundation legal fellow. They can either overrule the two big cases, Jipping said, “or they’re going to have to come up with another made-up rule.”Conservative commentator Ed Whelan said such an outcome would be a “massive defeat” on par with the Casey decision in 1992, in which a court with eight justices appointed by Republican presidents unexpectedly reaffirmed Roe.This court appears far more conservative than the one that decided Casey, and legal historian Mary Ziegler at Florida State University’s law school, said the court probably would “overrule Roe or set us on a path to doing so.”Chief Justice John Roberts might find the more incremental approach appealing if he can persuade a majority of the court to go along. Since Roberts became chief justice in 2005, the court has moved in smaller steps on some issues, even when it appeared there was only a binary choice.It took two cases for the court to rip out the heart of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-voting-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-laws-871be7654df041549cf74eb1a1d377ca">federal Voting Rights Act</a>&nbsp;that curbed potentially discriminatory voting laws in states with a history of discrimination.In the area of organized labor, the court moved through a series of cases that chipped away at public sector unions’ power.The high court also heard two rounds of arguments over restrictions on independent spending in the political arena before removing limits on how much money corporations and unions can pour into election advocacy.If the court looks to public sentiment, it would find poll after poll that shows support for preserving Roe, though some surveys also find backing for greater restrictions on abortion.Mississippi is one of 12 states ready to act almost immediately if Roe is overturned. Those states have enacted so-called abortion trigger laws that would take effect and ban all or nearly all abortions.Women in those states wanting abortions could face drives of hundreds of miles to reach the nearest clinic or they might obtain abortion pills by mail.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-texas-covid-19-pandemic-health-13c2fbe3f1de416d88a5ef6d1ca3406e">Medication abortions now account for 40% of abortions.</a>Some legal briefs in the case make clear that the end of Roe is not the ultimate goal of abortion opponents.The court should recognize that “unborn children are persons” under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, a conclusion that would compel an end to almost all legal abortions, Princeton professor Robert George and scholar John Finnis wrote. Finnis was Justice Neil Gorsuch’s adviser on his Oxford dissertation, an argument against assisted suicide.

Abortion showdown this week in the Supreme Court 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a car jacking and have made an arrest

Just after 4:30p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a call for service in the 800 Block SE 33rd in Topeka after the caller reported a suspect had forced them from their vehicle and fled in it, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

Officers quickly developed information on the suspect's location and, took 47-year-old Don Jackson into custody. Police transported him to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections where he is being held on requested charges Aggravated Robbery, Felony Theft and Battery according to Monasmith.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638145691005.png" alt="Jackson&nbsp; has previous convictions for arson, burglary, obstruction, attempted criminal damage to property, aggravated criminal threat and drugs, photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Jackson&nbsp; has previous convictions for arson, burglary, obstruction, attempted criminal damage to property, aggravated criminal threat and drugs, photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a car jacking and have made an arrestJust after 4:30p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a call for service in the 800 Block SE 33rd in Topeka after the caller reported a suspect had forced them from their vehicle and fled in it, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith.Officers quickly developed information on the suspect's location and, took 47-year-old Don Jackson into custody. Police transported him to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections where he is being held on requested charges Aggravated Robbery, Felony Theft and Battery according to Monasmith.

Police arrest Kansas felon after reported carjacking 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A teenage girl was taken to a hospital in critical condition after a Sunday afternoon shooting in the Kansas City suburb of Independence.

Independence Police spokesman Jack Taylor said the shooting happened near the intersection of U.S. Highway 24 and Blue Ridge Boulevard around noon Sunday.

Few details about the shooting were immediately available Sunday afternoon.

The name and age of the victim wasn't released. No suspect information was available.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A teenage girl was taken to a hospital in critical condition after a Sunday afternoon shooting in the Kansas City suburb of Independence.Independence Police spokesman Jack Taylor said the shooting happened near the intersection of U.S. Highway 24 and Blue Ridge Boulevard around noon Sunday.Few details about the shooting were immediately available Sunday afternoon.The name and age of the victim wasn't released. No suspect information was available.

Police: Teen girl in critical condition after KC-area shooting

MANHATTAN – Is there room for cotton in Kansas…the Wheat State?&nbsp;

There certainly is, said Kansas State University water resources engineer Jonathan Aguilar, who is currently studying the best ways to grow a crop that is traditionally grown in warmer climates.&nbsp;

“One of the reasons we are looking at cotton is because it is drought resistant, or at least doesn't need a lot of water compared to other crops grown in (southwest Kansas),” said Aguilar, who is located in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.southwest.k-state.edu/index.html" target="_blank">K-State’s Southwest Research-Extension Center</a>&nbsp;in Garden City.&nbsp;

“The other reason we are doing research on growing cotton is because we are at the northern edge of cotton production in this region. We’ve been growing cotton for three years; our first question was whether it will grow here, and if it will, can it produce a decent yield?”&nbsp;

So far, he says, the answers are “yes” and “yes.”&nbsp;

“We are still getting samples for this year’s crop,” Aguilar said, “but it looks like we will have a nice yield.”&nbsp;

Much of K-State’s research is focused on irrigated cotton, as part of a rotation with other crops. Even though researchers are using available water, Aguilar said the crop requires less of it than other crops.&nbsp;

“Surprisingly in our region – and I think our colleagues in Oklahoma say the same thing – if we put more water on cotton, it actually diminishes the yield compared to when you are putting just the right amount, or even limiting the amount of water that the crop receives.”&nbsp;

In other words, growing cotton in Kansas may require applying water at the proper time, rather than the actual volume applied.&nbsp;

“We are finding that if we put water just at the critical stage of growth, it will out-perform fully irrigated cotton,” Aguilar said.&nbsp;

Aguilar noted that K-State’s research will continue for two more years to fully understand the proper management to grow profitable cotton in the state. Compared to such states as Texas and Oklahoma, Kansas has fewer warm days and the populations are not the same as are grown further south.&nbsp;

“There’s an art and a science to cotton,” he said. “We are learning more about that. There are instances when we can apply water at the right time when it will produce more compared to not applying water in a strategic way.”&nbsp;

More information on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.southwest.k-state.edu/program_areas/water_management/index.html" target="_blank">water management in southwest Kansas</a>&nbsp;is available online from K-State Southwest Research-Extension Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638072724443.jpeg" alt="K-State water resources engineer Jonathan Aguilar believes growing cotton may have a place in Kansas in areas where water is less available. Photo courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>K-State water resources engineer Jonathan Aguilar believes growing cotton may have a place in Kansas in areas where water is less available. Photo courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN – Is there room for cotton in Kansas…the Wheat State?&nbsp;There certainly is, said Kansas State University water resources engineer Jonathan Aguilar, who is currently studying the best ways to grow a crop that is traditionally grown in warmer climates.&nbsp;“One of the reasons we are looking at cotton is because it is drought resistant, or at least doesn't need a lot of water compared to other crops grown in (southwest Kansas),” said Aguilar, who is located in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.southwest.k-state.edu/index.html" target="_blank">K-State’s Southwest Research-Extension Center</a>&nbsp;in Garden City.&nbsp;“The other reason we are doing research on growing cotton is because we are at the northern edge of cotton production in this region. We’ve been growing cotton for three years; our first question was whether it will grow here, and if it will, can it produce a decent yield?”&nbsp;So far, he says, the answers are “yes” and “yes.”&nbsp;“We are still getting samples for this year’s crop,” Aguilar said, “but it looks like we will have a nice yield.”&nbsp;Much of K-State’s research is focused on irrigated cotton, as part of a rotation with other crops. Even though researchers are using available water, Aguilar said the crop requires less of it than other crops.&nbsp;“Surprisingly in our region – and I think our colleagues in Oklahoma say the same thing – if we put more water on cotton, it actually diminishes the yield compared to when you are putting just the right amount, or even limiting the amount of water that the crop receives.”&nbsp;In other words, growing cotton in Kansas may require applying water at the proper time, rather than the actual volume applied.&nbsp;“We are finding that if we put water just at the critical stage of growth, it will out-perform fully irrigated cotton,” Aguilar said.&nbsp;Aguilar noted that K-State’s research will continue for two more years to fully understand the proper management to grow profitable cotton in the state. Compared to such states as Texas and Oklahoma, Kansas has fewer warm days and the populations are not the same as are grown further south.&nbsp;“There’s an art and a science to cotton,” he said. “We are learning more about that. There are instances when we can apply water at the right time when it will produce more compared to not applying water in a strategic way.”&nbsp;More information on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.southwest.k-state.edu/program_areas/water_management/index.html" target="_blank">water management in southwest Kansas</a>&nbsp;is available online from K-State Southwest Research-Extension Center.

K-State researchers seeking best ways to grow cotton in Kansas

RILEY COUNTY — A Clay County woman was hospitalized after a wreck at an accident scene Saturday evening in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said a 2013 Jeep Wrangler was eastbound on U. S. 77 just west of Riley when it slowed for an accident scene. A 2014 Chevy Equinox driven by Elizabeth D. Elsasser, 26, Longford, rear-end the Jeep, the KHP reported.

Elsasser was transported to Clay County Medical Center for treatment of possible injuries. None of the four occupants of the Jeep were injured. All involved were properly restrained, the KHP said.&nbsp;

RILEY COUNTY — A Clay County woman was hospitalized after a wreck at an accident scene Saturday evening in Riley County.The Kansas Highway Patrol said a 2013 Jeep Wrangler was eastbound on U. S. 77 just west of Riley when it slowed for an accident scene. A 2014 Chevy Equinox driven by Elizabeth D. Elsasser, 26, Longford, rear-end the Jeep, the KHP reported.Elsasser was transported to Clay County Medical Center for treatment of possible injuries. None of the four occupants of the Jeep were injured. All involved were properly restrained, the KHP said.&nbsp;

Kan. woman hospitalized after wreck at accident scene

MANHATTAN — The&nbsp;newly renovated health center at Rock Springs Ranch recently received a $1 million boost, thanks to a gift from the Sunderland Foundation.

The foundation’s vision to provide support for the community through higher education and health facilities aligns with Kansas 4-H’s mission to meet the social, emotional, and physical needs of youth. 4-H also provides immersive experiences, fosters innovation, and enhances accessibility with a commitment to access, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“The Sunderland Foundation's long relationship with the Kansas 4-H Foundation and Rock Springs Ranch demonstrates its commitment to youth and the future of our communities. With this transformational gift, we couldn't be more grateful to the Sunderland Foundation for their belief in the power of youth development and setting a new bar for philanthropic investment in Kansas 4-H,” Jake Worcester, president/CEO the Kansas 4-H Foundation, said.

The Sunderland Foundation’s areas of interest include higher education, youth-serving agencies, health facilities, community buildings, museums, civic projects, and energy-efficient affordable housing projects.

“Camper care and safety is the top priority at Rock Springs Ranch, and the new health center was instrumental in welcoming youth back in the midst of a pandemic. This facility gives us the environment to not only care for our youth's physical needs, but also support their mental, emotional, and social health,” Worcester said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638071995872.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — The&nbsp;newly renovated health center at Rock Springs Ranch recently received a $1 million boost, thanks to a gift from the Sunderland Foundation.The foundation’s vision to provide support for the community through higher education and health facilities aligns with Kansas 4-H’s mission to meet the social, emotional, and physical needs of youth. 4-H also provides immersive experiences, fosters innovation, and enhances accessibility with a commitment to access, diversity, equity, and inclusion.“The Sunderland Foundation's long relationship with the Kansas 4-H Foundation and Rock Springs Ranch demonstrates its commitment to youth and the future of our communities. With this transformational gift, we couldn't be more grateful to the Sunderland Foundation for their belief in the power of youth development and setting a new bar for philanthropic investment in Kansas 4-H,” Jake Worcester, president/CEO the Kansas 4-H Foundation, said.The Sunderland Foundation’s areas of interest include higher education, youth-serving agencies, health facilities, community buildings, museums, civic projects, and energy-efficient affordable housing projects.“Camper care and safety is the top priority at Rock Springs Ranch, and the new health center was instrumental in welcoming youth back in the midst of a pandemic. This facility gives us the environment to not only care for our youth's physical needs, but also support their mental, emotional, and social health,” Worcester said.

$1M gift enhances Rock Springs Ranch health center

By KYLIE CAMERON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-24/kansas-universities-see-increase-in-voter-participation">Kansas News Service&nbsp;</a>

Kansas’ three largest universities saw an increase in student voting during the 2020 election, according to Tufts University.

The
 data comes from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement 
at Tufts. The study allows universities to see how their students 
participate in the voting process.

The <a href="https://news.ku.edu/2021/11/22/ku-shows-increase-student-voter-rates-according-national-report" target="_blank">University of Kansas</a> and <a href="https://www.wichita.edu/about/wsunews/news/2021/11-nov/vote_5.php" target="_blank">Wichita State</a> saw a nearly 20% increase in voter turnout compared to the 2016 election. <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/icdd/" target="_blank">Kansas State’s</a> voter turnout increased by 22%.

The
 national average for voter turnout across all institutions was 66%. All
 three of Kansas’ largest universities exceed that turnout: WSU, 68%; 
KU, 71% and K-State, 67%.

WSU Political Scientist Neal Allen said getting more people engaged in the democratic process is good news.

“One
 reason why it’s important to get younger people to vote is that voting 
is a habit,” Allen said. “People are more likely to vote in middle age 
if they’ve voted when they’re younger, they’re more likely to vote when 
they’re older if they voted in their middle age.

“So any effort to get people involved pays dividends over their lifetime.”

Historically,
 younger people don’t vote as often as older generations. But with 
increased voter outreach efforts and competitive elections, that’s begun
 to change.

During the 2020 election, WSU began to engage college students in the electoral process with their Shockers Vote! coalition.

“What
 we really tried to do was think about what were students going to 
respond to, how we were going to provide some of those experiences in a 
virtual world, and how are we going to try to make it convenient?” said 
Gabriel Fonseca, head of the coalition.

The coalition held voter 
registration drives, town halls with local candidates, and tested a 
polling location at Koch Arena during early voting.

It hopes to continue its work in future elections - including making the arena a permanent voting location.

“I
 think for me it’s important that universities do this because these 
four years are the times we get the ability to teach and educate and 
train students about what life is going to be like when college is 
over,” Fonseca said.

According to Allen, universities in south-central Kansas are a good location to find voters from both sides of the aisle.

“In
 the last decade or two, younger people have been moving more Democratic
 and less Republican in their voting behavior, and so the more young 
people are registered, on balance, probably the better liberals and 
Democrats do,” he said.

“Although, there are plenty of young 
Republicans and young conservatives, and actually if you want to find a 
large number of conservative votes in an election in south-central 
Kansas, students wouldn’t be a bad place to look.”

Kylie Cameron is a general assignment reporter for KMUW. You can follow her on Twitter @bykyliecameron.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637779447032.png" alt="Courtesy / Wichita State University" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy / Wichita State University</figcaption>
 </figure>By KYLIE CAMERON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-24/kansas-universities-see-increase-in-voter-participation">Kansas News Service&nbsp;</a>Kansas’ three largest universities saw an increase in student voting during the 2020 election, according to Tufts University.The
 data comes from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement 
at Tufts. The study allows universities to see how their students 
participate in the voting process.The <a href="https://news.ku.edu/2021/11/22/ku-shows-increase-student-voter-rates-according-national-report" target="_blank">University of Kansas</a> and <a href="https://www.wichita.edu/about/wsunews/news/2021/11-nov/vote_5.php" target="_blank">Wichita State</a> saw a nearly 20% increase in voter turnout compared to the 2016 election. <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/icdd/" target="_blank">Kansas State’s</a> voter turnout increased by 22%.The
 national average for voter turnout across all institutions was 66%. All
 three of Kansas’ largest universities exceed that turnout: WSU, 68%; 
KU, 71% and K-State, 67%.WSU Political Scientist Neal Allen said getting more people engaged in the democratic process is good news.“One
 reason why it’s important to get younger people to vote is that voting 
is a habit,” Allen said. “People are more likely to vote in middle age 
if they’ve voted when they’re younger, they’re more likely to vote when 
they’re older if they voted in their middle age.“So any effort to get people involved pays dividends over their lifetime.”Historically,
 younger people don’t vote as often as older generations. But with 
increased voter outreach efforts and competitive elections, that’s begun
 to change.During the 2020 election, WSU began to engage college students in the electoral process with their Shockers Vote! coalition.“What
 we really tried to do was think about what were students going to 
respond to, how we were going to provide some of those experiences in a 
virtual world, and how are we going to try to make it convenient?” said 
Gabriel Fonseca, head of the coalition.The coalition held voter 
registration drives, town halls with local candidates, and tested a 
polling location at Koch Arena during early voting.It hopes to continue its work in future elections - including making the arena a permanent voting location.“I
 think for me it’s important that universities do this because these 
four years are the times we get the ability to teach and educate and 
train students about what life is going to be like when college is 
over,” Fonseca said.According to Allen, universities in south-central Kansas are a good location to find voters from both sides of the aisle.“In
 the last decade or two, younger people have been moving more Democratic
 and less Republican in their voting behavior, and so the more young 
people are registered, on balance, probably the better liberals and 
Democrats do,” he said.“Although, there are plenty of young 
Republicans and young conservatives, and actually if you want to find a 
large number of conservative votes in an election in south-central 
Kansas, students wouldn’t be a bad place to look.”Kylie Cameron is a general assignment reporter for KMUW. You can follow her on Twitter @bykyliecameron.

Kansas universities see increase in voter participation 

We’re doing our best to stick to our cash Christmas budget this year. Are there any traps to avoid, and do you have other advice on ways we can cut costs during the holiday season?

If you’re getting out of debt, the phrase “extra money” probably isn’t even in your vocabulary. Regardless, stores will do everything they can to convince you to toss a couple of extra items into your cart when Christmas rolls around. Their festive marketing is&nbsp;everywhere, and most of it tries to get you to spend extra on things you don’t need or can’t afford.

It might be Christmas, but that doesn’t mean you need to buy a bunch of high-end electronic gadgets for everyone. Any way you slice it, electronics add up to be way more than most people want to spend. Try focusing on more personal—and less expensive—gifts that will be truly meaningful to the ones receiving them.

Set a reasonable&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/guide-to-budgeting">budget</a>, determine what’s fair for each person and stick to it.&nbsp;Be sure you’re following realistic gift guidelines&nbsp;before&nbsp;you go out shopping. If you have kids, don’t let their Christmas lists dictate how much you spend. Your budget should do that. Look out for sneaky buys that drain your wallet, too. Some people spend as much on stocking stuffers as they do regular gifts under the tree.

Whether you’re shopping online or out and about, remember that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/5-christmas-extras">extended warranties</a>&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;a good deal. Neither are store credit cards and the accompanying “discounts.” It seems everyone from big-box retail stores to mom and pop operations have their own store credit card these days. Sure, they’ll be happy to offer you 10 to 20 percent off a $7 purchase of socks if you’ll just open an account. But there’s a good chance you’ll still be paying off this year’s Christmas&nbsp;next&nbsp;December.

If gift wrapping at the store is complementary, go for it. If not, just do it yourself. Sure, it takes a little time and effort, but you’ll save a ton of money buying a few rolls of wrapping paper at the local dollar store. Don’t wait until December 20th&nbsp;to order your Christmas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/the-costly-christmas-mistake">presents</a>, either. Plan ahead — like&nbsp;right&nbsp;now&nbsp;— so you don’t have to worry&nbsp;about expensive overnight shipping rates.

Finally, I know many folks want to send Christmas cards to&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;they know&nbsp;every&nbsp;year. Some people go completely over-the-top, with their family (including the dog and cat) dressed to the nines and a photo taken by a professional photographer. Come on! You can cut costs by sending cards to just your closest friends and family. It’s okay to be a little selective here, and the cards don’t have to be expensive.

*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host ofThe Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635524005597.png" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,We’re doing our best to stick to our cash Christmas budget this year. Are there any traps to avoid, and do you have other advice on ways we can cut costs during the holiday season?RenéDear René,If you’re getting out of debt, the phrase “extra money” probably isn’t even in your vocabulary. Regardless, stores will do everything they can to convince you to toss a couple of extra items into your cart when Christmas rolls around. Their festive marketing is&nbsp;everywhere, and most of it tries to get you to spend extra on things you don’t need or can’t afford.It might be Christmas, but that doesn’t mean you need to buy a bunch of high-end electronic gadgets for everyone. Any way you slice it, electronics add up to be way more than most people want to spend. Try focusing on more personal—and less expensive—gifts that will be truly meaningful to the ones receiving them.Set a reasonable&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/guide-to-budgeting">budget</a>, determine what’s fair for each person and stick to it.&nbsp;Be sure you’re following realistic gift guidelines&nbsp;before&nbsp;you go out shopping. If you have kids, don’t let their Christmas lists dictate how much you spend. Your budget should do that. Look out for sneaky buys that drain your wallet, too. Some people spend as much on stocking stuffers as they do regular gifts under the tree.Whether you’re shopping online or out and about, remember that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/5-christmas-extras">extended warranties</a>&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;a good deal. Neither are store credit cards and the accompanying “discounts.” It seems everyone from big-box retail stores to mom and pop operations have their own store credit card these days. Sure, they’ll be happy to offer you 10 to 20 percent off a $7 purchase of socks if you’ll just open an account. But there’s a good chance you’ll still be paying off this year’s Christmas&nbsp;next&nbsp;December.If gift wrapping at the store is complementary, go for it. If not, just do it yourself. Sure, it takes a little time and effort, but you’ll save a ton of money buying a few rolls of wrapping paper at the local dollar store. Don’t wait until December 20th&nbsp;to order your Christmas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/the-costly-christmas-mistake">presents</a>, either. Plan ahead — like&nbsp;right&nbsp;now&nbsp;— so you don’t have to worry&nbsp;about expensive overnight shipping rates.Finally, I know many folks want to send Christmas cards to&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;they know&nbsp;every&nbsp;year. Some people go completely over-the-top, with their family (including the dog and cat) dressed to the nines and a photo taken by a professional photographer. Come on! You can cut costs by sending cards to just your closest friends and family. It’s okay to be a little selective here, and the cards don’t have to be expensive.I hope this helps, René!*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host ofThe Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: Cutting costs during the holiday season

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-11-23/test-scores-show-kansas-students-fell-further-behind-during-pandemic">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA — It turns out a year of shutdowns and quarantines generated <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=State&amp;rptType=3" target="_blank">lousy test scores</a> for schoolchildren across Kansas.

More than 30% of students fell behind their grade level in math and language arts in the 2020-21 school year.

That
 marked a sharp decline that lines up with the COVID-19 shutdown of 
in-person school in the spring of 2020 and launched the following school
 year into an ad hoc combination of online teaching and stop-and-start 
opening of school buildings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637698486996.png" alt="State assessment test scores offer one metric in understanding the potential learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>State assessment test scores offer one metric in understanding the potential learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-11-23/test-scores-show-kansas-students-fell-further-behind-during-pandemic">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA — It turns out a year of shutdowns and quarantines generated <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=State&amp;rptType=3" target="_blank">lousy test scores</a> for schoolchildren across Kansas.More than 30% of students fell behind their grade level in math and language arts in the 2020-21 school year.That
 marked a sharp decline that lines up with the COVID-19 shutdown of 
in-person school in the spring of 2020 and launched the following school
 year into an ad hoc combination of online teaching and stop-and-start 
opening of school buildings.Before the pandemic, 28% of students 
were below grade level in math. After the pandemic, that number shot to 
about 34%. In language arts, the falling-behind number went from 27% to 
just over 30%.The picture for high-schoolers is more grim: 
Forty-seven percent scored below grade level in math, up from 41% two 
years ago. About 35% scored below grade level in English language arts.The scores offer one metric in understanding the potential learning loss caused by the pandemic.<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2020-03-17/every-school-kid-in-kansas-was-just-told-to-stay-home-until-fall-because-of-coronavirus" target="_blank">Gov. Laura Kelly ordered schools closed</a> in March 2020, and schools have since been disrupted by switches to remote or hybrid learning plans, <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-08-27/wellington-school-district-cancels-all-classes-and-activities-due-to-covid-19-outbreaks" target="_blank">COVID outbreaks</a>, quarantines and <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-10-18/kansas-schools-were-already-struggling-to-find-substitute-teachers-then-covid-hit" target="_blank">staff shortages</a>.Kansas
 Education Commissioner Randy Watson said comparisons with previous 
years are complicated. Tests weren’t administered in 2020 because of 
school closures, and not all students took them this past spring.But he said Kansas isn’t alone.“Every data point we have is down,” Watson said, “and so is everyone else’s across the country.”Results
 from the state tests are searchable by district and individual schools 
on the Kansas Department of Education website, at <a href="http://ksreportcard.ksde.org/" target="_blank">http://ksreportcard.ksde.org/</a>.Statewide,
 results from the 2021 test scores showed declines in most areas. Only 
28% of Kansas students were considered on track for college or career in
 math, and about 35% in language arts — a drop of four percentage points
 in math and one point in English since 2019.Wichita, that state’s largest school district, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0259&amp;rptType=2" target="_blank">showed dramatic declines</a>,
 with 58% of students scoring at the lowest level in math — up from 46% 
in 2019. About 48% of Wichita students scored below grade level in 
English language arts — up from 44% in 2019.Among Wichita high school students, <a href="https://ksreportcard.ksde.org/assessment_results.aspx?org_no=D0259&amp;rptType=2" target="_blank">more than 68% scored below grade level</a> in math, up from about 60% in 2019.Other key findings from the 2021 state test results:<ul>
 <li>Students
 tend to fall further behind their respective grade levels the older 
they get. About 77% of third-graders met or exceeded grade-level 
expectations in math. By eighth grade, that number is only 65%. Among 
high-schoolers, only 53% met grade-level standards.</li><li>Across grade
 levels, there remains a significant achievement gap between white 
students and students of color. Nearly 61% of Black students and 50% of 
Hispanic students scored below grade level in math, compared with 27% of
 white students and 20% of Asian students.</li><li>Low-income students 
continue to score lower in all areas than their higher-income peers. 
Consequently, districts with high numbers of students living in poverty,
 such as Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas, did not perform as well on 
state tests as higher-income suburban districts.</li>
 </ul>Watson, the education commissioner, said test scores aren’t the only metric that got worse during the pandemic.The
 rate of chronic absenteeism — students who miss more than 15 days of 
school a year — rose from 14% to 17.5% statewide since 2019. Truancy 
cases climbed from 767 to more than 2,200 over the same period.“The
 last 18 months have been the hardest on our state — and schools are a 
microcosm of that — in the history of our public and private schools,” 
Watson said.Dave Trabert, chief executive officer of the Kansas 
Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, said declines raise 
questions about the value of a high school diploma.“We know that a
 lot of kids getting a diploma are below grade level in math and English
 language arts,” Trabert told members of the Kansas Board of Education 
at a meeting this month. “I’ve had that conversation in front of school 
superintendents, who have not denied it.”In coming years, Kansas districts will get about <a href="https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Special-Education-and-Title-Services/Federal-Disaster-and-Pandemic-Relief" target="_blank">$1.4 billion in federal aid</a> to address impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, including learning loss.Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.