SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Saturday shooting identified the victim as 31-year-old Adrian Williams of Olathe and have a suspect in custody.

At 12:07 a.m., Saturday, police dispatch received multiple calls of gun shots with a subject down in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania in Topeka, Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located&nbsp; Williams with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but he did not survive his injuries.

On Saturday evening, police reported they&nbsp; took Christopher Mendez, 21 of Topeka into custody. He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of First Degree Murder, according to Johnson.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 31-year-old Adrian Williams of Olathe.

Police have not reported an arrest and released no additional details Saturday afternoon.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.

Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located a man with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but the victim did not survive his injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637449800387.png" alt="Mendez-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Mendez-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Saturday shooting identified the victim as 31-year-old Adrian Williams of Olathe and have a suspect in custody.At 12:07 a.m., Saturday, police dispatch received multiple calls of gun shots with a subject down in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania in Topeka, Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located&nbsp; Williams with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but he did not survive his injuries.On Saturday evening, police reported they&nbsp; took Christopher Mendez, 21 of Topeka into custody. He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of First Degree Murder, according to Johnson.----------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 31-year-old Adrian Williams of Olathe.At 12:07 a.m., Saturday, police dispatch received multiple calls of gun shots with a subject down in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania in Topeka, Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located&nbsp; Williams with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but he did not survive his injuries.Police have not reported an arrest and released no additional details Saturday afternoon.-----------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.At 12:07 a.m., Saturday, police dispatch received multiple calls of gun shots with a subject down in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania in Topeka, Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located a man with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but the victim did not survive his injuries.

Murder arrest: Kan. man in crowd died from gunshot wounds

Experts warn passing new laws to fight the vaccine mandates could sow 
chaos

By ABIGAIL CENSKY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-11-18/kansas-lawmakers-look-to-undercut-federal-vaccine-mandates-and-that-worries-public-health-officials">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA&nbsp;— Republican lawmakers look determined to take 
on the Biden administration’s insistence that employers pressure their 
workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Legislature meets 
in a special session this week to engage in battle with the federal 
government over the vaccine mandates. But courts will likely have the 
final say on if the mandate is legal, and some factions worry such bold 
action to fight mandates could further atrophy the state's ability to 
respond to public health crises.

Last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration <a href="https://www.natlawreview.com/article/osha-suspends-ets-enforcement-wake-fifth-circuit-s-latest-jab-vaccine-rule-future" target="_blank">paused enforcement </a>of its own temporary emergency standard <a href="https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/national/11042021" target="_blank">requiring</a> companies with 100 employees or more to mandate that workers either get vaccinated or submit to regular testing.

Legislative
 leaders waited until the emergency standard was in place to call a 
special session. But now that the rule is in legal limbo, it’s unlikely 
the Republicans who dominate the Legislature will abandon plans to give 
workers the freedom to dodge the mandates simply by invoking religious 
objections. Or drop other proposals offered in the spirit of civil 
liberties and aimed to undercut the federal mandates.

“We’re not 
going to let the Biden Administration force businesses to play God or 
doctor and determine whether a religious or medical exemption is valid 
or not,” Republican Senate President Ty Masterson said in a statement 
announcing the session. “We’re going to trust individual Kansans.”

Conservative legislators in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wyoming and <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/north-dakota/articles/2021-11-12/vaccines-race-theory-bills-pass-as-session-comes-to-closehttps://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/north-dakota/articles/2021-11-12/vaccines-race-theory-bills-pass-as-session-comes-to-close" target="_blank">North Dakota</a> have already completed special sessions and passed bills aimed at nullifying new federal mandates.

Lawmakers in <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/11/17/florida-legislature-sends-ron-desantis-the-covid-19-vaccine-bills-now-what/" target="_blank">Florida</a>
 passed a bill that would fine businesses $10,000 per violation if they 
didn’t offer a number of exemptions to their employees. The governor in <a href="https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/governor-signs-the-one-vaccine-mandate-bill-that-survived-wyoming-special-session/article_00096807-84cb-5b7a-98f8-0d2f2b87f2d3.html" target="_blank">Wyoming</a>
 signed only one of the 20 bills that were written during the special 
session — a law that gives his office $4 million dollars to challenge 
federal vaccine mandates. Four of the states, including Kansas, will 
elect governors next year.

The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/18/us/coronavirus-public-health.html" target="_blank">reports</a>
 Kansas lawmakers are among legislators across the country that passed 
more than 100 laws that limit state and local health powers. State 
lawmakers passed a bill earlier this year modifying the Kansas Emergency
 Management Act to <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/07/31/1022907425/as-covid-concern-grows-in-kansas-so-does-confusion-over-who-is-in-charge" target="_blank">shift power away</a> from local public health officials and the governor and toward elected county commissioners.

Yet
 even if the federal mandate is struck down, new state laws making 
changes to religious exemptions in Kansas could transform the legal and 
public health systems for years to come.

“It seems like the bills 
are drafted to let the exemptions swallow the rule,” said Sharon Brett, 
legal director of the Kansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties 
Union.

Brett said there’s no freedom of religion provision in the 
First Amendment that allows a person to put another person in danger by 
practicing their religion.

If employers have incentives to skimp 
on verifying the sincerity of an employee who invokes a religious 
exemption — the way such things are subject to challenge in avoiding 
military service, for instance — Brett said that would mark a 
fundamental change.

“It basically gives a two-tiered system of 
justice,” Brett said, “where the religious rights of people in free 
society are upheld over public safety.”

“That sends a really 
difficult and unfortunate signal about who we are, and how we uphold the
 First Amendment in this country,” she said.

New laws 
strengthening religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines could also wind
 up undercutting laws on the books requiring vaccinations for 
school-aged children.

“It sets a precedent,” said Dr. Marcus 
Plescia, the chief medical officer for the Association of State and 
Territorial Health Officials. “It's particularly concerning for 
childhood vaccinations.”

He cited previous national measles 
outbreaks where some people garnered religious exemptions and remained 
unvaccinated. In cases like that, Plescia said, public health officials 
have often been able to lobby religious leaders to convince them of the 
good vaccines would do in their communities.

But in this case, he 
said some of these religious exemptions “aren’t really something that 
religions themselves are even calling for.”

State and local health
 officials face this political and legal fight when they’re already 
besieged by the pandemic. That’s made it harder to campaign against new 
laws that could have far-reaching effects on a range of vaccinations.

“There’s not a clear sort of national advocate who can step in,” Plescia said.

Meanwhile,
 he said groups like the conservative American Legislative Exchange 
Council have drafted model legislation adopted by legislatures across 
the country.

Abigail Censky is the political reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @AbigailCensky or email her at abigailcensky@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637267848625.png" alt="Kansas lawmakers will return to Topeka next week to push back on the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Kansas lawmakers will return to Topeka next week to push back on the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Experts warn passing new laws to fight the vaccine mandates could sow 
chaos</h2>By ABIGAIL CENSKY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-11-18/kansas-lawmakers-look-to-undercut-federal-vaccine-mandates-and-that-worries-public-health-officials">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA&nbsp;— Republican lawmakers look determined to take 
on the Biden administration’s insistence that employers pressure their 
workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.The Legislature meets 
in a special session this week to engage in battle with the federal 
government over the vaccine mandates. But courts will likely have the 
final say on if the mandate is legal, and some factions worry such bold 
action to fight mandates could further atrophy the state's ability to 
respond to public health crises.Last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration <a href="https://www.natlawreview.com/article/osha-suspends-ets-enforcement-wake-fifth-circuit-s-latest-jab-vaccine-rule-future" target="_blank">paused enforcement </a>of its own temporary emergency standard <a href="https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/national/11042021" target="_blank">requiring</a> companies with 100 employees or more to mandate that workers either get vaccinated or submit to regular testing.Legislative
 leaders waited until the emergency standard was in place to call a 
special session. But now that the rule is in legal limbo, it’s unlikely 
the Republicans who dominate the Legislature will abandon plans to give 
workers the freedom to dodge the mandates simply by invoking religious 
objections. Or drop other proposals offered in the spirit of civil 
liberties and aimed to undercut the federal mandates.“We’re not 
going to let the Biden Administration force businesses to play God or 
doctor and determine whether a religious or medical exemption is valid 
or not,” Republican Senate President Ty Masterson said in a statement 
announcing the session. “We’re going to trust individual Kansans.”Conservative legislators in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wyoming and <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/north-dakota/articles/2021-11-12/vaccines-race-theory-bills-pass-as-session-comes-to-closehttps://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/north-dakota/articles/2021-11-12/vaccines-race-theory-bills-pass-as-session-comes-to-close" target="_blank">North Dakota</a> have already completed special sessions and passed bills aimed at nullifying new federal mandates.Lawmakers in <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/11/17/florida-legislature-sends-ron-desantis-the-covid-19-vaccine-bills-now-what/" target="_blank">Florida</a>
 passed a bill that would fine businesses $10,000 per violation if they 
didn’t offer a number of exemptions to their employees. The governor in <a href="https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/governor-signs-the-one-vaccine-mandate-bill-that-survived-wyoming-special-session/article_00096807-84cb-5b7a-98f8-0d2f2b87f2d3.html" target="_blank">Wyoming</a>
 signed only one of the 20 bills that were written during the special 
session — a law that gives his office $4 million dollars to challenge 
federal vaccine mandates. Four of the states, including Kansas, will 
elect governors next year.The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/18/us/coronavirus-public-health.html" target="_blank">reports</a>
 Kansas lawmakers are among legislators across the country that passed 
more than 100 laws that limit state and local health powers. State 
lawmakers passed a bill earlier this year modifying the Kansas Emergency
 Management Act to <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/07/31/1022907425/as-covid-concern-grows-in-kansas-so-does-confusion-over-who-is-in-charge" target="_blank">shift power away</a> from local public health officials and the governor and toward elected county commissioners.Yet
 even if the federal mandate is struck down, new state laws making 
changes to religious exemptions in Kansas could transform the legal and 
public health systems for years to come.“It seems like the bills 
are drafted to let the exemptions swallow the rule,” said Sharon Brett, 
legal director of the Kansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties 
Union.Brett said there’s no freedom of religion provision in the 
First Amendment that allows a person to put another person in danger by 
practicing their religion.If employers have incentives to skimp 
on verifying the sincerity of an employee who invokes a religious 
exemption — the way such things are subject to challenge in avoiding 
military service, for instance — Brett said that would mark a 
fundamental change.“It basically gives a two-tiered system of 
justice,” Brett said, “where the religious rights of people in free 
society are upheld over public safety.”“That sends a really 
difficult and unfortunate signal about who we are, and how we uphold the
 First Amendment in this country,” she said.New laws 
strengthening religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines could also wind
 up undercutting laws on the books requiring vaccinations for 
school-aged children.“It sets a precedent,” said Dr. Marcus 
Plescia, the chief medical officer for the Association of State and 
Territorial Health Officials. “It's particularly concerning for 
childhood vaccinations.”He cited previous national measles 
outbreaks where some people garnered religious exemptions and remained 
unvaccinated. In cases like that, Plescia said, public health officials 
have often been able to lobby religious leaders to convince them of the 
good vaccines would do in their communities.But in this case, he 
said some of these religious exemptions “aren’t really something that 
religions themselves are even calling for.”State and local health
 officials face this political and legal fight when they’re already 
besieged by the pandemic. That’s made it harder to campaign against new 
laws that could have far-reaching effects on a range of vaccinations.“There’s not a clear sort of national advocate who can step in,” Plescia said.Meanwhile,
 he said groups like the conservative American Legislative Exchange 
Council have drafted model legislation adopted by legislatures across 
the country.Abigail Censky is the political reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @AbigailCensky or email her at abigailcensky@kcur.org.

Kansas special session looks to undercut federal vaccine mandates

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will start next year to require employers, individuals and health insurance companies to pay some costs associated with COVID-19 testing.

The state Department of Health and Environment announced Friday that it will start phasing out free screening tests for people who aren’t showing COVID-19 symptoms or who haven’t potentially been exposed. The agency said it expects the policy to begin in March 2022.

The department said it can’t sustain having public health agencies cover the cost of all testing indefinitely. The agency said it initially allocated $141 million in federal funds to make COVID-19 tests available and support commercial and university labs to expand processing and sampling capacity. But, the department said, infections from the delta variant depleted the funds faster than expected.

“Testing has become an increasingly important way in which those who choose to be unvaccinated may still be able to work, attend events, and travel,” Ashley Goss, the department’s acting secretary, said in a statement.

The changes will mainly affect programs used by employers to test 10% of their workers on a regular basis and programs by community organizations to offer free rapid tests.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608644787522.png" alt="Free COVID-19 testing in downtown Lawrence. photo by Stephen Koranda&nbsp; Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Free COVID-19 testing in downtown Lawrence. photo by Stephen Koranda&nbsp; Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will start next year to require employers, individuals and health insurance companies to pay some costs associated with COVID-19 testing.The state Department of Health and Environment announced Friday that it will start phasing out free screening tests for people who aren’t showing COVID-19 symptoms or who haven’t potentially been exposed. The agency said it expects the policy to begin in March 2022.The department said it can’t sustain having public health agencies cover the cost of all testing indefinitely. The agency said it initially allocated $141 million in federal funds to make COVID-19 tests available and support commercial and university labs to expand processing and sampling capacity. But, the department said, infections from the delta variant depleted the funds faster than expected.“Testing has become an increasingly important way in which those who choose to be unvaccinated may still be able to work, attend events, and travel,” Ashley Goss, the department’s acting secretary, said in a statement.The changes will mainly affect programs used by employers to test 10% of their workers on a regular basis and programs by community organizations to offer free rapid tests.

Kansas to phase out some free testing for COVID-19 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Wichita high school teacher has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child. Forty-nine-year-old Shawn Wingfield entered his plea on Wednesday. 

Wingfield resigned in July from teaching gifted English and debate at Wichita Northwest High School. 

The investigation began after a woman Wingfield dated turned over what she considered worrisome text messages to police. A court affidavit said Winfield admitted to being sexually attracted to 11- to 14-year-old children. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 11.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man for alleged child sex crimes.

In June, police in Wichita were alerted to a concerning text messages sent by 48-year-old Shawn Wingfield, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;

USD 259 listed Wingfield as a gifted-6 teacher at Wichita Northwest High School. His linkdin profile said he also was involved with debate and forensics.

Further investigation into the text messages led police to arrest Wingfield on Saturday and he was booked&nbsp; into the Sedgwick County Jail <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=305200">on requested</a> charges of sexual exploitation of a child.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Wingfield wrote on social media," This morning, for reasons involving personal health and well being, I resigned from Wichita Public Schools. Without going into details, I have come to believe that this is not only the best decision for myself, but also for the district and my students. And while I do regret the timing of this decision so close to the start of the new school year, I believe that to stay any longer would prove to be a greater inconvenience to everyone in the end."

On Saturday Wingfield&nbsp; wrote on social media, "Time for me to check out for a while.  A little earlier than I had hoped.  See everyone, I hope, on the other side."

The case against Wingfield was presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. He remains jailed on a $50,000 bond, according to online court records and was expected in court on Monday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627295318183.png" alt="Wingfield-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Wingfield-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Wichita high school teacher has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child. Forty-nine-year-old Shawn Wingfield entered his plea on Wednesday. Wingfield resigned in July from teaching gifted English and debate at Wichita Northwest High School. The investigation began after a woman Wingfield dated turned over what she considered worrisome text messages to police. A court affidavit said Winfield admitted to being sexually attracted to 11- to 14-year-old children. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 11.---------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man for alleged child sex crimes.In June, police in Wichita were alerted to a concerning text messages sent by 48-year-old Shawn Wingfield, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;USD 259 listed Wingfield as a gifted-6 teacher at Wichita Northwest High School. His linkdin profile said he also was involved with debate and forensics.Further investigation into the text messages led police to arrest Wingfield on Saturday and he was booked&nbsp; into the Sedgwick County Jail <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=305200">on requested</a> charges of sexual exploitation of a child.&nbsp;Earlier this month, Wingfield wrote on social media," This morning, for reasons involving personal health and well being, I resigned from Wichita Public Schools. Without going into details, I have come to believe that this is not only the best decision for myself, but also for the district and my students. And while I do regret the timing of this decision so close to the start of the new school year, I believe that to stay any longer would prove to be a greater inconvenience to everyone in the end."On Saturday Wingfield&nbsp; wrote on social media, "Time for me to check out for a while. A little earlier than I had hoped. See everyone, I hope, on the other side."The case against Wingfield was presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. He remains jailed on a $50,000 bond, according to online court records and was expected in court on Monday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Former date turned Kan. teacher in for child porn charges

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a business burglary and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a report of a burglary at 123 SE 10th Avenue in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

The caller advised they saw a subject throw bricks through the front windows. Officers arrived to find the front window to Stephanie’s Salon broken and appeared the business had been burglarized. 

No one was located inside the business. It was determined that several items had been taken by a suspect.

Detectives later received information of potential subjects attempting to sell items taken from the business burglary. Detectives followed up on the information which led them to 1500 SW Van Buren, APT #3. Detectives took two individuals into custody and transported them to Law Enforcement Center.

Officers secured the apartment for the application of search warrant. At the conclusion of the investigation, police arrested James Timmerman, 35 of Topeka, and booked him on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage, and Possession of Marijuana. They booked Angela Bechstein, 40 of Topeka, on requested charges of Burglary, Theft and Criminal Damage to property. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637322478838.png" alt="immerman has previous convictions for aggravated assault and aggravated escape from custody, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>immerman has previous convictions for aggravated assault and aggravated escape from custody, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a business burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just after 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a report of a burglary at 123 SE 10th Avenue in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.The caller advised they saw a subject throw bricks through the front windows. Officers arrived to find the front window to Stephanie’s Salon broken and appeared the business had been burglarized. No one was located inside the business. It was determined that several items had been taken by a suspect.Detectives later received information of potential subjects attempting to sell items taken from the business burglary. Detectives followed up on the information which led them to 1500 SW Van Buren, APT #3. Detectives took two individuals into custody and transported them to Law Enforcement Center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637322572517.png" alt="Bechstein-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Bechstein-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers secured the apartment for the application of search warrant. At the conclusion of the investigation, police arrested James Timmerman, 35 of Topeka, and booked him on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage, and Possession of Marijuana. They booked Angela Bechstein, 40 of Topeka, on requested charges of Burglary, Theft and Criminal Damage to property.

Kan. felon jailed for burglary after police find stolen items for sale

LYONS — It took the better part of Saturday to fix a series of water leaks throughout the City of Lyons.

Eleven water leaks occurred between Wednesday and Friday and people from across central Kansas came to help. In a Saturday evening Facebook post, the City Administrator thanked all the city employees, Lyons Police Department, Lyons Fire Department, APAC, City of Ellsworth, KDOT, Rice County Sheriff, Kansas Highway Patrol, Rice County Emergency/EMS Management, City of Hutchinson, City of Pratt, all volunteers who helped by donations or helping to pass out and deliver water, those who donated food, who offered services and more.

The boil water advisory will remain in effect for the city until the system is fully pressurized and the water can be tested and the test can come back from KDHE.

LYONS — The city of Lyons is under a boil advisory following multiple water line breaks.

The advisory took effect on Thursday and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system.

Lyons water customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.

Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic ice maker.

Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system or KDHE at 785-296-5514.&nbsp;

LYONS — It took the better part of Saturday to fix a series of water leaks throughout the City of Lyons.Eleven water leaks occurred between Wednesday and Friday and people from across central Kansas came to help. In a Saturday evening Facebook post, the City Administrator thanked all the city employees, Lyons Police Department, Lyons Fire Department, APAC, City of Ellsworth, KDOT, Rice County Sheriff, Kansas Highway Patrol, Rice County Emergency/EMS Management, City of Hutchinson, City of Pratt, all volunteers who helped by donations or helping to pass out and deliver water, those who donated food, who offered services and more.The boil water advisory will remain in effect for the city until the system is fully pressurized and the water can be tested and the test can come back from KDHE.---------------LYONS — The city of Lyons is under a boil advisory following multiple water line breaks.The advisory took effect on Thursday and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure in the distribution system.Lyons water customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic ice maker.Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.For consumer questions, please contact the water system or KDHE at 785-296-5514.&nbsp;

Crews repair series of water leaks over 3 days in Lyons 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Friday formally declared “squaw” a derogatory term and said she is taking steps to remove it from federal government use and to replace other derogatory place names.

Haaland is ordering a federal panel tasked with naming geographic places to implement procedures to eliminate what she called racist terms from federal use. The decision provides momentum to a movement that has included the dismantling of other historical markers and monuments considered offensive across the country.

“Our nation’s lands and waters should be places to celebrate the outdoors and our shared cultural heritage — not to perpetuate the legacies of oppression,” Haaland said in a statement. “Today’s actions will accelerate an important process to reconcile derogatory place names and mark a significant step in honoring the ancestors who have stewarded our lands since time immemorial.”

The first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency, Haaland is from Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.

The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-travel-environment-and-nature-native-americans-parks-d438edd19ca0c7f5d980ad2b7f5aba28">as head of the National Park Service</a>, making him the first Native American to hold that position. Haaland previously said Sams, who is Cayuse and Walla Walla, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, would be an asset as the administration works to make national parks more accessible to everyone.

The Native American Rights Fund applauded Haaland’s move to address derogatory place names, saying action by the federal government is long overdue.

“Names that still use derogatory terms are an embarrassing legacy of this country’s colonialist and racist past,” said John Echohawk, the group’s executive director. “It is well past time for us, as a nation, to move forward, beyond these derogatory terms, and show Native people — and all people — equal respect.”

Environmentalists also praised the action, saying it marked a step toward reconciliation.

Under Haaland’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/so-3404-508.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>, a federal task force will find replacement names for geographic features on federal lands bearing the term “squaw,” which has been used as a slur, particularly for Indigenous women. A database maintained by the Board on Geographic Names shows there are more than 650 federal sites with names that contain the term.

The task force will be made up of representatives from federal land management agencies and experts with the Interior Department. Tribal consultation and public feedback will be part of the process.

The process for changing U.S. place names can take years, and federal officials said there are currently hundreds of proposed name changes pending before the board.

Haaland&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/so-3405-508.pdf" target="_blank">also called for the creation of an advisory committee</a>&nbsp;to solicit, review and recommend changes to other derogatory geographic and federal place names. That panel will be made up of tribal representatives and civil rights, anthropology and history experts.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Board on Geographic Names took action to eliminate the use of derogatory terms for Black and Japanese people.

The board also voted in 2008 to change the name of a prominent Phoenix mountain from Squaw Peak to Piestewa Peak to honor Army Spc. Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military.

In California, the Squaw Valley Ski Resort changed its name to Palisades Tahoe earlier this year. The resort is in Olympic Valley, which was known as Squaw Valley until it hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. Tribes in the region had been asking the resort for a name change for decades.

Colorado’s advisory naming panel also has recommended renaming Squaw Mountain near Denver in honor of a Native American woman who acted as a translator for tribes and white settlers in the 19th century. Northern Cheyenne tribal members also filed an application with the federal naming board in October to change the mountain’s name.

There is also legislation pending in Congress to address derogatory names on geographic features on public lands. States from Oregon to Maine have passed laws prohibiting the use of the word “squaw” in place names.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614103644196.png" alt="Secretary Deb Haaland (Left) and Kansas 3rd District congresswoman Sharice Davids(Right)-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Secretary Deb Haaland (Left) and Kansas 3rd District congresswoman Sharice Davids(Right)-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Friday formally declared “squaw” a derogatory term and said she is taking steps to remove it from federal government use and to replace other derogatory place names.Haaland is ordering a federal panel tasked with naming geographic places to implement procedures to eliminate what she called racist terms from federal use. The decision provides momentum to a movement that has included the dismantling of other historical markers and monuments considered offensive across the country.“Our nation’s lands and waters should be places to celebrate the outdoors and our shared cultural heritage — not to perpetuate the legacies of oppression,” Haaland said in a statement. “Today’s actions will accelerate an important process to reconcile derogatory place names and mark a significant step in honoring the ancestors who have stewarded our lands since time immemorial.”The first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency, Haaland is from Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-travel-environment-and-nature-native-americans-parks-d438edd19ca0c7f5d980ad2b7f5aba28">as head of the National Park Service</a>, making him the first Native American to hold that position. Haaland previously said Sams, who is Cayuse and Walla Walla, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, would be an asset as the administration works to make national parks more accessible to everyone.The Native American Rights Fund applauded Haaland’s move to address derogatory place names, saying action by the federal government is long overdue.“Names that still use derogatory terms are an embarrassing legacy of this country’s colonialist and racist past,” said John Echohawk, the group’s executive director. “It is well past time for us, as a nation, to move forward, beyond these derogatory terms, and show Native people — and all people — equal respect.”Environmentalists also praised the action, saying it marked a step toward reconciliation.Under Haaland’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/so-3404-508.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>, a federal task force will find replacement names for geographic features on federal lands bearing the term “squaw,” which has been used as a slur, particularly for Indigenous women. A database maintained by the Board on Geographic Names shows there are more than 650 federal sites with names that contain the term.The task force will be made up of representatives from federal land management agencies and experts with the Interior Department. Tribal consultation and public feedback will be part of the process.The process for changing U.S. place names can take years, and federal officials said there are currently hundreds of proposed name changes pending before the board.Haaland&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/so-3405-508.pdf" target="_blank">also called for the creation of an advisory committee</a>&nbsp;to solicit, review and recommend changes to other derogatory geographic and federal place names. That panel will be made up of tribal representatives and civil rights, anthropology and history experts.In the 1960s and 1970s, the Board on Geographic Names took action to eliminate the use of derogatory terms for Black and Japanese people.The board also voted in 2008 to change the name of a prominent Phoenix mountain from Squaw Peak to Piestewa Peak to honor Army Spc. Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military.In California, the Squaw Valley Ski Resort changed its name to Palisades Tahoe earlier this year. The resort is in Olympic Valley, which was known as Squaw Valley until it hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. Tribes in the region had been asking the resort for a name change for decades.Colorado’s advisory naming panel also has recommended renaming Squaw Mountain near Denver in honor of a Native American woman who acted as a translator for tribes and white settlers in the 19th century. Northern Cheyenne tribal members also filed an application with the federal naming board in October to change the mountain’s name.There is also legislation pending in Congress to address derogatory names on geographic features on public lands. States from Oregon to Maine have passed laws prohibiting the use of the word “squaw” in place names.

Interior secretary seeks to rid US of derogatory place names

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will increase housing payments for troops in key areas and look for ways to combat hunger across the force, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Wednesday, in the department’s latest effort to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunger-in-america-military-food-insecurity-142728bcb5479fd2de73750e11dbd458">food insecurity among service members.</a>

Austin told reporters that troops have enough to worry about and that “basic necessities like food and housing shouldn’t be among them.”

According to an estimate by Feeding America, as many as 160,000 active-duty military members are having trouble feeding their families. The group, which coordinates the work of more than 200 food banks around the country, estimates that 29% of troops in the most junior enlisted ranks faced food insecurity during the previous year.

He said the department will immediately provide a temporary increase in the housing allowance for troops who live in areas where rent costs have gone up by at least 10% this year. Temporary lodging reimbursement will be extended for those moving into communities with housing shortages.

Austin said he has given the undersecretary for personnel 90 days to develop a longer term strategy.

The exact scope of the problem is a topic of debate, due to a lack of formal study. But activists say it has existed for years and primarily affects junior-level enlisted service members — ranks E1 to E4 in military parlance — with children.

Lower-ranking enlisted troops receive modest pay, and their frequent moves make it difficult for spouses to find steady work. The problem is exacerbated by an Agriculture Department rule that prevents thousands of needy military families from accessing the SNAP government assistance program, commonly known as food stamps.

Service members who do not live on bases get a housing allowance, which is counted as income in calculating their eligibility for food stamps. That additional amount, which is not counted as income for other federal programs, often enough to disqualify families for the food assistance.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a former Blackhawk pilot who lost both legs in a helicopter crash in Iraq, has sponsored a bill that would establish a Basic Needs Allowance payment for military families in need.

Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., has sought a Pentagon study of the problem and a repeal of the USDA’s Basic Allowance for Housing regulation.

In addition to the immediate actions, Austin said in&nbsp;<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/17/2002894808/-1/-1/1/STRENGTHENING-ECONOMIC-SECURITY-IN-THE-FORCE.PDF?source=GovDelivery" target="_blank">a memo</a>&nbsp;that the department should look into a number of other steps to increase stability for service members. They would include extending the tour length for troops deploying to some locations overseas, when they are accompanied by their families.

Where possible, he said the department should consider extending the three-year time limit on assignments at bases within the United States.

Austin also said the Pentagon should take steps to improve financial education and counseling for troops.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630115953785.png" alt="In addition to the immediate actions, Defense Sec. Lloyd&nbsp; Austin said in&nbsp;<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/17/2002894808/-1/-1/1/STRENGTHENING-ECONOMIC-SECURITY-IN-THE-FORCE.PDF?source=GovDelivery" target="_blank">a memo</a>&nbsp;that the department should look into a number of other steps to increase stability for service members.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>In addition to the immediate actions, Defense Sec. Lloyd&nbsp; Austin said in&nbsp;<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/17/2002894808/-1/-1/1/STRENGTHENING-ECONOMIC-SECURITY-IN-THE-FORCE.PDF?source=GovDelivery" target="_blank">a memo</a>&nbsp;that the department should look into a number of other steps to increase stability for service members.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will increase housing payments for troops in key areas and look for ways to combat hunger across the force, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Wednesday, in the department’s latest effort to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunger-in-america-military-food-insecurity-142728bcb5479fd2de73750e11dbd458">food insecurity among service members.</a>Austin told reporters that troops have enough to worry about and that “basic necessities like food and housing shouldn’t be among them.”According to an estimate by Feeding America, as many as 160,000 active-duty military members are having trouble feeding their families. The group, which coordinates the work of more than 200 food banks around the country, estimates that 29% of troops in the most junior enlisted ranks faced food insecurity during the previous year.He said the department will immediately provide a temporary increase in the housing allowance for troops who live in areas where rent costs have gone up by at least 10% this year. Temporary lodging reimbursement will be extended for those moving into communities with housing shortages.Austin said he has given the undersecretary for personnel 90 days to develop a longer term strategy.The exact scope of the problem is a topic of debate, due to a lack of formal study. But activists say it has existed for years and primarily affects junior-level enlisted service members — ranks E1 to E4 in military parlance — with children.Lower-ranking enlisted troops receive modest pay, and their frequent moves make it difficult for spouses to find steady work. The problem is exacerbated by an Agriculture Department rule that prevents thousands of needy military families from accessing the SNAP government assistance program, commonly known as food stamps.Service members who do not live on bases get a housing allowance, which is counted as income in calculating their eligibility for food stamps. That additional amount, which is not counted as income for other federal programs, often enough to disqualify families for the food assistance.Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a former Blackhawk pilot who lost both legs in a helicopter crash in Iraq, has sponsored a bill that would establish a Basic Needs Allowance payment for military families in need.Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., has sought a Pentagon study of the problem and a repeal of the USDA’s Basic Allowance for Housing regulation.In addition to the immediate actions, Austin said in&nbsp;<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/17/2002894808/-1/-1/1/STRENGTHENING-ECONOMIC-SECURITY-IN-THE-FORCE.PDF?source=GovDelivery" target="_blank">a memo</a>&nbsp;that the department should look into a number of other steps to increase stability for service members. They would include extending the tour length for troops deploying to some locations overseas, when they are accompanied by their families.Where possible, he said the department should consider extending the three-year time limit on assignments at bases within the United States.Austin also said the Pentagon should take steps to improve financial education and counseling for troops.

Report: Thousands of active-duty military can't feed their families

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank tells a
St. Joseph audience she doesn’t believe inflation is here to stay.

But, Esther George says the Federal Reserve cannot become
complacent and must act to help right an economy still trying to emerge from
the coronavirus pandemic.

George was the keynote speaker at the St. Joseph Chamber of
Commerce Economic Summit held on the Missouri Western State University campus.
George says the pandemic and our reaction to the pandemic threw the economy out
of balance.

“We have an economy where demand is outstripping supply today
and you all know from your basic Econ 101 when that happens you get rising
prices,” George says.

George characterizes the current economy as “tight,” a vast
improvement over the freefall it went into at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
The federal government pumped trillions of dollars into the economy, fighting
COVID-19 as well as helping to shore up businesses rocked by the shutdowns of
March 2020 and individuals left without work.

George expects the economy to return to its pre-pandemic
level, eventually.

“The reason is those fiscal checks have gone out the door,”
George explains. “Last year, the PPP money has been dispersed and just the math
is that that money is gone. We will begin to see a step down in some of that
demand.”

The pandemic threw the economy out of balance as well,
shifting spending away from services and toward goods.

“People quit doing things like traveling. They quit going to
restaurants,” George says. &nbsp;“They quit
engaging in the kinds of services that were so prominent and they began to sit
behind their computers and starter buying stuff or going to Lowe’s or Home
Depot and buying things that would help remodel their homes.”

A big question looms over the recovering economy:&nbsp; is inflation a temporary or more permanent
concern?

George believes the 6% inflation rate which the country hasn’t
seen for years is a product of the ongoing effects of the pandemic and the slow
recovery from the deep recession it caused. The supply chain problems, the
tight labor market, the reluctance to return to leisure spending all
contribute.

George suggests the current spike in inflation will not last.
But, she does believe it could get out of hand if the Federal Reserve doesn’t
act promptly.

“Once the public begins to believe that inflation is there and
that prices tomorrow will be higher than they are today, it’s sets expectations
in motion for higher inflation,” according to George. “And, right now we see
that in many surveys that consumers are beginning to say I think inflation is
going to be here for three years.”

George says inflation pressures should ease once buying
patterns return to pre-pandemic levels. She says the tight labor market would
be helped by an increase in day care access which would allow women to return
to the workforce.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637424496276.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Federal Reserve President Esther George speaks at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Federal Reserve President Esther George speaks at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank tells a
St. Joseph audience she doesn’t believe inflation is here to stay.But, Esther George says the Federal Reserve cannot become
complacent and must act to help right an economy still trying to emerge from
the coronavirus pandemic.George was the keynote speaker at the St. Joseph Chamber of
Commerce Economic Summit held on the Missouri Western State University campus.
George says the pandemic and our reaction to the pandemic threw the economy out
of balance.“We have an economy where demand is outstripping supply today
and you all know from your basic Econ 101 when that happens you get rising
prices,” George says.George characterizes the current economy as “tight,” a vast
improvement over the freefall it went into at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
The federal government pumped trillions of dollars into the economy, fighting
COVID-19 as well as helping to shore up businesses rocked by the shutdowns of
March 2020 and individuals left without work.George expects the economy to return to its pre-pandemic
level, eventually.“The reason is those fiscal checks have gone out the door,”
George explains. “Last year, the PPP money has been dispersed and just the math
is that that money is gone. We will begin to see a step down in some of that
demand.”The pandemic threw the economy out of balance as well,
shifting spending away from services and toward goods.“People quit doing things like traveling. They quit going to
restaurants,” George says. &nbsp;“They quit
engaging in the kinds of services that were so prominent and they began to sit
behind their computers and starter buying stuff or going to Lowe’s or Home
Depot and buying things that would help remodel their homes.”A big question looms over the recovering economy:&nbsp; is inflation a temporary or more permanent
concern?George believes the 6% inflation rate which the country hasn’t
seen for years is a product of the ongoing effects of the pandemic and the slow
recovery from the deep recession it caused. The supply chain problems, the
tight labor market, the reluctance to return to leisure spending all
contribute.George suggests the current spike in inflation will not last.
But, she does believe it could get out of hand if the Federal Reserve doesn’t
act promptly.“Once the public begins to believe that inflation is there and
that prices tomorrow will be higher than they are today, it’s sets expectations
in motion for higher inflation,” according to George. “And, right now we see
that in many surveys that consumers are beginning to say I think inflation is
going to be here for three years.”George says inflation pressures should ease once buying
patterns return to pre-pandemic levels. She says the tight labor market would
be helped by an increase in day care access which would allow women to return
to the workforce.

KC Fed president doesn't believe inflation is here to stay

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge ordered Kansas on Friday to suspend a new law prohibiting out-of-state groups from mailing advance ballot applications, siding with two national nonprofit groups that contend it disenfranchises voters.

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil granted the preliminary injunction against the law sought by VoteAmerica and the Voter Participation Center. She also rejected the state’s efforts to dismiss the lawsuit.

Vratil noted in her ruling the critical constitutional issues that still need to be decided in the case, finding that the public interest “leans in favor” of preliminarily blocking the law. She also wrote that the voting rights groups are likely to succeed in the lawsuit on their claim that the state law restricts their ability to engage in protected First Amendment activity.

The law that is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-elections-courts-voting-presidential-elections-b27cf2467a3a93a5c30ead5bdcd2a9bb">focus of the litigation</a>&nbsp;was one of two voting laws that were passed this year over the veto of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. It also makes it a crime to include the voter’s name, address and other information on advance ballot applications, even if the voter provided the information and requested an advance mail ballot application.

Vratil found that the voting rights organizations produced evidence of significant burdens associated with the state law, while state officials provided “almost no factual basis” for disputing the groups’ claims that the new law will drastically limit the number of voices advocating for the “politically controversial topic of voting by mail.”

The judge said the law will have the inevitable effect of reducing “the total quantum of speech on an important public issue.”

Kansas argues the law prevents voter fraud because it limits the number of advance ballot applications that each Kansas voter may receive, contending that when a voter receives more than one ballot application it invites fraud. It argues fraud may affect the outcome of a close race and undermine confidence in the fairness and legitimacy of elections.

“Defendants’ argument has superficial appeal, but it actually boils down to an issue of administrative efficiency,” Vratil wrote. “The state employs a rigorous process to make sure that no voter can receive a duplicate mail ballot. Apparently, these procedures are highly effective.”

Nearly 70,000 Kansas voters submitted an advance mail voting application provided by the Voter Participation Center to their county election official in the 2020 general election, the lawsuit said. The nonprofit groups argued that sending out partially pre-filled applications helps to “reduce the burden” on would-be voters and reduces the chance for errors.

But election officials have testified that the flood of applications led to confusion, with many voters repeatedly requesting mail-in ballots.

For the 2022 election cycle, the Voter Participation Center plans to send registration mailings to roughly 70,000 Kansans, communicating with these voters every three to four months before the November election, according to the ruling.

In a separate state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-voting-voting-rights-kansas-topeka-c6f17262cb3e357175f92ce984665022">lawsuit challenging a different voting provision</a>, Shawnee County District Judge Teresa Watson in September allowed the state to keep enforcing a new election law.

Watson denied four groups’ request to temporarily block the law, expressing strong doubts about arguments that it hinders efforts to register and educate Kansas voters. The groups, including the League of Women Voters of Kansas and the voting-rights organization Loud Light, are challenging a provision making impersonating an election official a felony.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602937208880.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ROXANA HEGEMANBELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge ordered Kansas on Friday to suspend a new law prohibiting out-of-state groups from mailing advance ballot applications, siding with two national nonprofit groups that contend it disenfranchises voters.U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil granted the preliminary injunction against the law sought by VoteAmerica and the Voter Participation Center. She also rejected the state’s efforts to dismiss the lawsuit.Vratil noted in her ruling the critical constitutional issues that still need to be decided in the case, finding that the public interest “leans in favor” of preliminarily blocking the law. She also wrote that the voting rights groups are likely to succeed in the lawsuit on their claim that the state law restricts their ability to engage in protected First Amendment activity.The law that is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-elections-courts-voting-presidential-elections-b27cf2467a3a93a5c30ead5bdcd2a9bb">focus of the litigation</a>&nbsp;was one of two voting laws that were passed this year over the veto of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. It also makes it a crime to include the voter’s name, address and other information on advance ballot applications, even if the voter provided the information and requested an advance mail ballot application.Vratil found that the voting rights organizations produced evidence of significant burdens associated with the state law, while state officials provided “almost no factual basis” for disputing the groups’ claims that the new law will drastically limit the number of voices advocating for the “politically controversial topic of voting by mail.”The judge said the law will have the inevitable effect of reducing “the total quantum of speech on an important public issue.”Kansas argues the law prevents voter fraud because it limits the number of advance ballot applications that each Kansas voter may receive, contending that when a voter receives more than one ballot application it invites fraud. It argues fraud may affect the outcome of a close race and undermine confidence in the fairness and legitimacy of elections.“Defendants’ argument has superficial appeal, but it actually boils down to an issue of administrative efficiency,” Vratil wrote. “The state employs a rigorous process to make sure that no voter can receive a duplicate mail ballot. Apparently, these procedures are highly effective.”Nearly 70,000 Kansas voters submitted an advance mail voting application provided by the Voter Participation Center to their county election official in the 2020 general election, the lawsuit said. The nonprofit groups argued that sending out partially pre-filled applications helps to “reduce the burden” on would-be voters and reduces the chance for errors.But election officials have testified that the flood of applications led to confusion, with many voters repeatedly requesting mail-in ballots.For the 2022 election cycle, the Voter Participation Center plans to send registration mailings to roughly 70,000 Kansans, communicating with these voters every three to four months before the November election, according to the ruling.In a separate state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-voting-voting-rights-kansas-topeka-c6f17262cb3e357175f92ce984665022">lawsuit challenging a different voting provision</a>, Shawnee County District Judge Teresa Watson in September allowed the state to keep enforcing a new election law.Watson denied four groups’ request to temporarily block the law, expressing strong doubts about arguments that it hinders efforts to register and educate Kansas voters. The groups, including the League of Women Voters of Kansas and the voting-rights organization Loud Light, are challenging a provision making impersonating an election official a felony.

US judge blocks Kansas law on mailed ballot applications

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of airline passengers traveling for Thanksgiving this year is expected to rebound to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, but the Transportation Security Administration says it is ready to handle the surge.

Administrator David Pekoske said Wednesday he expects agency staffing to be sufficient for what’s traditionally TSA’s busiest travel period.

“We are prepared,” Pekoske told ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He said travelers should expect long lines at airports and plan to spend a little more time getting through security.

In 2019, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-travel-public-health-coronavirus-pandemic-thanksgiving-89bae1bb65636af83dc2229a2c11ae80">record 26 million passengers and crew passed through U.S. airport</a>&nbsp;screening in the 11-day period around Thanksgiving. But that plummeted in 2020 as the pandemic kept people at home.

Pekoske said he didn’t think a vaccine mandate going into effect for TSA agents Monday would have any effect on staffing for Thanksgiving next week.

“In fact, implementation of the mandate will make travel safer and healthier for everyone,” he said. “So, we see quite a significant increase in the number of our officers that are vaccinated, and I’m very confident that there will be no impact for Thanksgiving.”

Pekoske told NBC’s “Today” he remains “very concerned” about the issue of unruly passengers as incidents on airplanes have continued.

“The level of unruly behavior is much higher than I’ve ever seen it,” he said.

The Federal Aviation Administration says it has referred&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-airlines-federal-aviation-administration-32ef917a1a709f84ad90f7567cd14f09">37 cases involving unruly airline passengers to the FBI&nbsp;</a>for possible criminal prosecution since the number of disruptions on flights began to spike in January.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622894132711.png" alt="Photo Kansas City International Airport" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City International Airport</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of airline passengers traveling for Thanksgiving this year is expected to rebound to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, but the Transportation Security Administration says it is ready to handle the surge.Administrator David Pekoske said Wednesday he expects agency staffing to be sufficient for what’s traditionally TSA’s busiest travel period.“We are prepared,” Pekoske told ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He said travelers should expect long lines at airports and plan to spend a little more time getting through security.In 2019, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-travel-public-health-coronavirus-pandemic-thanksgiving-89bae1bb65636af83dc2229a2c11ae80">record 26 million passengers and crew passed through U.S. airport</a>&nbsp;screening in the 11-day period around Thanksgiving. But that plummeted in 2020 as the pandemic kept people at home.Pekoske said he didn’t think a vaccine mandate going into effect for TSA agents Monday would have any effect on staffing for Thanksgiving next week.“In fact, implementation of the mandate will make travel safer and healthier for everyone,” he said. “So, we see quite a significant increase in the number of our officers that are vaccinated, and I’m very confident that there will be no impact for Thanksgiving.”Pekoske told NBC’s “Today” he remains “very concerned” about the issue of unruly passengers as incidents on airplanes have continued.“The level of unruly behavior is much higher than I’ve ever seen it,” he said.The Federal Aviation Administration says it has referred&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-airlines-federal-aviation-administration-32ef917a1a709f84ad90f7567cd14f09">37 cases involving unruly airline passengers to the FBI&nbsp;</a>for possible criminal prosecution since the number of disruptions on flights began to spike in January.

TSA: Thanksgiving air travel to rebound to pre-covid levels

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 31-year-old Adrian Williams of Olathe.At 12:07 a.m., Saturday, police dispatch received multiple calls of gun shots with a subject down in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania in Topeka, Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located&nbsp; Williams with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but he did not survive his injuries.Police have not reported an arrest and released no additional details Saturday afternoon.-----------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.At 12:07 a.m., Saturday, police dispatch received multiple calls of gun shots with a subject down in the 2000 block of SE Pennsylvania in Topeka, Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers arrived on scene to a large crowd of people and located a man with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground. American Medical Response arrived to assist but the victim did not survive his injuries.

Police ID Kan. man found in crowd who died from gunshot wounds

WICHITA– A Kansas man has been sentenced to multiple life terms for sexually assaulting two underage girls in 2019, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On Friday, District Judge Jeffrey Syrios sentenced Clinton Decaire, 34 of Derby, to eight life sentences. 

Judge Syrios ordered five of the life sentences to run consecutive to each other for a total of 272 years in prison before he would be parole eligible.

The crimes began in 2019 in Derby. Decaire knew his two victims who were six and eight at the time. The youngest girl told her mother about the assaults, and she reported it to Derby Police.

In September, a jury found Decaire guilty of multiple counts of rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637354925011.png" alt="Decaire photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Decaire photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA– A Kansas man has been sentenced to multiple life terms for sexually assaulting two underage girls in 2019, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On Friday, District Judge Jeffrey Syrios sentenced Clinton Decaire, 34 of Derby, to eight life sentences. Judge Syrios ordered five of the life sentences to run consecutive to each other for a total of 272 years in prison before he would be parole eligible.The crimes began in 2019 in Derby. Decaire knew his two victims who were six and eight at the time. The youngest girl told her mother about the assaults, and she reported it to Derby Police.In September, a jury found Decaire guilty of multiple counts of rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Kan. man given 8 life sentences for sexual assault of 2 girls

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A suspected serial killer has been charged with killing two people in Kansas. Wyandotte County authorities announced Thursday that 26-year-old Perez Reed was charged with killing two people at an apartment complex in Kansas City, Kansas. 

He has already been charged with four killings in the St. Louis area and the FBI has labeled him a suspected serial killer. Reed was charged Thursday with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Damon Washington Irvin and Rau'daja De'Naya Farrow.

Their bodies were found during the same week in early November in separate apartments at the Wyandotte Towers Apartments in downtown Kansas City, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636462416961.png" alt="Reed-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Reed-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A suspected serial killer has been charged with killing two people in Kansas. Wyandotte County authorities announced Thursday that 26-year-old Perez Reed was charged with killing two people at an apartment complex in Kansas City, Kansas. He has already been charged with four killings in the St. Louis area and the FBI has labeled him a suspected serial killer. Reed was charged Thursday with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Damon Washington Irvin and Rau'daja De'Naya Farrow.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635889753469.png" alt="Investigators at the apartment building -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Investigators at the apartment building -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Their bodies were found during the same week in early November in separate apartments at the Wyandotte Towers Apartments in downtown Kansas City, Kansas.

Suspect charged in 2 deaths at Kansas apartment building

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. on Friday opened COVID-19 booster shots to all adults and took the extra step of urging people 50 and older to seek one, aiming to ward off a winter surge as coronavirus cases rise even before millions of Americans travel for the holidays.

Until now, Americans faced a confusing list of who was eligible for a booster that varied by age, their health and which kind of vaccine they got first. The Food and Drug Administration authorized changes to Pfizer and Moderna boosters that makes it easier.

Under the new rules, anyone 18 or older can choose either a Pfizer or Moderna booster six months after their last dose. For anyone who got the single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine, the wait already was just two months. And people can mix-and-match boosters from any company.

“We heard loud and clear that people needed something simpler — and this, I think, is simple,” FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks told The Associated Press.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had to agree before the new policy became official late Friday. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed a recommendation from her agency’s scientific advisers that — in addition to offering all adults a booster — had stressed that people 50 and older should be urged to get one.

“It’s a stronger recommendation,” said CDC adviser Dr. Matthew Daley of Kaiser Permanente Colorado. “I want to make sure we provide as much protection as we can.”

The CDC also put out a plea for those who had previously qualified but hadn’t yet signed up for a booster to quit putting it off — saying older Americans and people with risks such as obesity, diabetes or other health problems should try to get one before the holidays.

The expansion makes tens of millions more Americans eligible for an extra dose of protection.

The No. 1 priority for the U.S., and the world, still is to get more unvaccinated people their first doses. All three COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. continue to offer strong protection against severe illness, including hospitalization and death, without a booster.

But protection against infection can wane with time, and the U.S. and many countries in Europe also are grappling with how widely to recommend boosters as they fight a winter wave of new cases. In the U.S., COVID-19 diagnoses have climbed steadily over the last three weeks, especially in states where colder weather already has driven people indoors.

And about a dozen states didn’t wait for federal officials to act before opening boosters to all adults.

“The direction is not a good one. People are going inside more and, ‘oops,’ next week happens to be the largest travel week of the year, so it probably makes sense to do whatever we can here to try to turn the tide,” Marks told the AP.

Vaccinations began in the U.S. last December, about a year after the coronavirus first emerged. More than 195 million Americans are now fully vaccinated, defined as having received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single-dose J&amp;J. More than 32 million already have received a booster, a large proportion — 17 million — people 65 or older. Experts say that’s reassuring as seniors are at particularly high risk from COVID-19 and were among the first in line for initial vaccinations

Teen boosters aren’t yet under discussion, and kid-sized doses of Pfizer’s vaccine are just now rolling out to children ages 5 to 11.

The Biden administration had originally planned on boosters for all adults but until now, U.S. health authorities — backed by their scientific advisers — had questioned the need for such a widespread campaign. Instead, they first endorsed Pfizer or Moderna boosters only for vulnerable groups such as older Americans or those at high risk of COVID-19 because of health problems, their jobs or their living conditions.

This time around, the experts agreed the overall benefits of added protection from a third dose for any adult — six months after their last shot — outweighed risks of rare side effects from Moderna’s or Pfizer’s vaccine, such as a type of heart inflammation seen mostly in young men.

Several other countries have discouraged use of the Moderna vaccine in young people because of that concern, citing data suggesting the rare side effect may occur slightly more with that vaccine than its competitor.

Pfizer told CDC’s advisers that in a booster study of 10,000 people as young as 16, there were no more serious side effects from a third vaccine dose than earlier ones. That study found a booster restored protection against symptomatic infections to about 95% even while the extra-contagious delta variant was surging.

Britain recently released real-world data showing the same jump in protection once it began offering boosters to middle-aged and older adults, and Israel has credited widespread boosters for helping to beat back another wave of the virus.

While the vaccines spur immune memory that protects against severe disease, protection against infection depends on levels of virus-fighting antibodies that wane with time. No one yet knows how long antibody levels will stay high after a booster.

But even a temporary boost in protection against infection may help over the winter and holidays, said CDC’s Dr. Sara Oliver.

Some experts worry that all the attention to boosters may harm efforts to reach the 47 million U.S. adults who remain unvaccinated. There’s also growing concern that rich countries are offering widespread boosters when poor countries haven’t been able to vaccinate more than a small fraction of their populations.

“In terms of the No. 1 priority for reducing transmission in this country and throughout the world, this remains getting people their first vaccine series,” said Dr. David Dowdy of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637359841305.png" alt="CDC Director Rochelle Walensky - CDC also put out a plea for those who had previously qualified but hadn’t yet signed up for a booster to quit putting it off — saying older Americans and people with risks such as obesity, diabetes or other health problems should try to get one before the holidays." />
 <figcaption>CDC Director Rochelle Walensky - CDC also put out a plea for those who had previously qualified but hadn’t yet signed up for a booster to quit putting it off — saying older Americans and people with risks such as obesity, diabetes or other health problems should try to get one before the holidays.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. on Friday opened COVID-19 booster shots to all adults and took the extra step of urging people 50 and older to seek one, aiming to ward off a winter surge as coronavirus cases rise even before millions of Americans travel for the holidays.Until now, Americans faced a confusing list of who was eligible for a booster that varied by age, their health and which kind of vaccine they got first. The Food and Drug Administration authorized changes to Pfizer and Moderna boosters that makes it easier.Under the new rules, anyone 18 or older can choose either a Pfizer or Moderna booster six months after their last dose. For anyone who got the single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine, the wait already was just two months. And people can mix-and-match boosters from any company.“We heard loud and clear that people needed something simpler — and this, I think, is simple,” FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks told The Associated Press.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had to agree before the new policy became official late Friday. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed a recommendation from her agency’s scientific advisers that — in addition to offering all adults a booster — had stressed that people 50 and older should be urged to get one.“It’s a stronger recommendation,” said CDC adviser Dr. Matthew Daley of Kaiser Permanente Colorado. “I want to make sure we provide as much protection as we can.”The CDC also put out a plea for those who had previously qualified but hadn’t yet signed up for a booster to quit putting it off — saying older Americans and people with risks such as obesity, diabetes or other health problems should try to get one before the holidays.The expansion makes tens of millions more Americans eligible for an extra dose of protection.The No. 1 priority for the U.S., and the world, still is to get more unvaccinated people their first doses. All three COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. continue to offer strong protection against severe illness, including hospitalization and death, without a booster.But protection against infection can wane with time, and the U.S. and many countries in Europe also are grappling with how widely to recommend boosters as they fight a winter wave of new cases. In the U.S., COVID-19 diagnoses have climbed steadily over the last three weeks, especially in states where colder weather already has driven people indoors.And about a dozen states didn’t wait for federal officials to act before opening boosters to all adults.“The direction is not a good one. People are going inside more and, ‘oops,’ next week happens to be the largest travel week of the year, so it probably makes sense to do whatever we can here to try to turn the tide,” Marks told the AP.Vaccinations began in the U.S. last December, about a year after the coronavirus first emerged. More than 195 million Americans are now fully vaccinated, defined as having received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single-dose J&amp;J. More than 32 million already have received a booster, a large proportion — 17 million — people 65 or older. Experts say that’s reassuring as seniors are at particularly high risk from COVID-19 and were among the first in line for initial vaccinationsTeen boosters aren’t yet under discussion, and kid-sized doses of Pfizer’s vaccine are just now rolling out to children ages 5 to 11.The Biden administration had originally planned on boosters for all adults but until now, U.S. health authorities — backed by their scientific advisers — had questioned the need for such a widespread campaign. Instead, they first endorsed Pfizer or Moderna boosters only for vulnerable groups such as older Americans or those at high risk of COVID-19 because of health problems, their jobs or their living conditions.This time around, the experts agreed the overall benefits of added protection from a third dose for any adult — six months after their last shot — outweighed risks of rare side effects from Moderna’s or Pfizer’s vaccine, such as a type of heart inflammation seen mostly in young men.Several other countries have discouraged use of the Moderna vaccine in young people because of that concern, citing data suggesting the rare side effect may occur slightly more with that vaccine than its competitor.Pfizer told CDC’s advisers that in a booster study of 10,000 people as young as 16, there were no more serious side effects from a third vaccine dose than earlier ones. That study found a booster restored protection against symptomatic infections to about 95% even while the extra-contagious delta variant was surging.Britain recently released real-world data showing the same jump in protection once it began offering boosters to middle-aged and older adults, and Israel has credited widespread boosters for helping to beat back another wave of the virus.While the vaccines spur immune memory that protects against severe disease, protection against infection depends on levels of virus-fighting antibodies that wane with time. No one yet knows how long antibody levels will stay high after a booster.But even a temporary boost in protection against infection may help over the winter and holidays, said CDC’s Dr. Sara Oliver.Some experts worry that all the attention to boosters may harm efforts to reach the 47 million U.S. adults who remain unvaccinated. There’s also growing concern that rich countries are offering widespread boosters when poor countries haven’t been able to vaccinate more than a small fraction of their populations.“In terms of the No. 1 priority for reducing transmission in this country and throughout the world, this remains getting people their first vaccine series,” said Dr. David Dowdy of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

US opens COVID boosters to all adults, urges them for 50+

KANSAS CITY(AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs will pay for ongoing medical treatment and other expenses for a young girl who was seriously injured when a vehicle she was in was struck by a car driven by former assistant coach Britt Reid.

The agreement between the Chiefs and the family of Ariel Young will provide her with "world-class medical care and long-term financial stability,” according to a statement Friday from the team's legal representative and the family's attorney, Tom Porto.

The agreement was reached after several months of discussions between the Chiefs, Ariel Young's family and medical experts. Other details were not released.

Ariel, who was 5 at the time, suffered a traumatic brain injury on Feb. 4 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-city-super-bowl-michael-brown-football-048d9a7585d07dfcd4f218df9d50a074">Britt Reid's vehicle hit two stopped vehicles on an Interstate 435 entrance ramp</a>&nbsp;near Arrowhead Stadium.

Ariel was hospitalized in critical condition for weeks before being released from the hospital April 2.

“Ariel’s recovery is a long road, but she has made great strides and continues to improve every day,” the statement said. Earlier this fall, she was able to attend her first day of school.

Reid, who is the son of Chiefs coach Andy Reid, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-football-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-d43b085c56ac1d0ec8445f30faa6a4d0">charged with driving while intoxicated</a>&nbsp;and is scheduled to go to trial April 18. Prosecutors have said his blood alcohol level was 0.113 about two hours after the crash. The legal limit is 0.08.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618277826304.png" alt="Britt Reid who is the son of Chiefs coach Andy Reid, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-football-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-d43b085c56ac1d0ec8445f30faa6a4d0">charged with driving while intoxicated</a>&nbsp;and is scheduled to go to trial April 18.-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Britt Reid who is the son of Chiefs coach Andy Reid, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-football-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-d43b085c56ac1d0ec8445f30faa6a4d0">charged with driving while intoxicated</a>&nbsp;and is scheduled to go to trial April 18.-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs will pay for ongoing medical treatment and other expenses for a young girl who was seriously injured when a vehicle she was in was struck by a car driven by former assistant coach Britt Reid.The agreement between the Chiefs and the family of Ariel Young will provide her with "world-class medical care and long-term financial stability,” according to a statement Friday from the team's legal representative and the family's attorney, Tom Porto.The agreement was reached after several months of discussions between the Chiefs, Ariel Young's family and medical experts. Other details were not released.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612784011749.png" alt="Ariel Young photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Ariel Young photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>Ariel, who was 5 at the time, suffered a traumatic brain injury on Feb. 4 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-city-super-bowl-michael-brown-football-048d9a7585d07dfcd4f218df9d50a074">Britt Reid's vehicle hit two stopped vehicles on an Interstate 435 entrance ramp</a>&nbsp;near Arrowhead Stadium.Ariel was hospitalized in critical condition for weeks before being released from the hospital April 2.“Ariel’s recovery is a long road, but she has made great strides and continues to improve every day,” the statement said. Earlier this fall, she was able to attend her first day of school.Reid, who is the son of Chiefs coach Andy Reid, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-football-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-d43b085c56ac1d0ec8445f30faa6a4d0">charged with driving while intoxicated</a>&nbsp;and is scheduled to go to trial April 18. Prosecutors have said his blood alcohol level was 0.113 about two hours after the crash. The legal limit is 0.08.Reid has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-michael-brown-super-bowl-nfl-sports-55699bf058c8afe40be7697d8cf47c43">pleaded not guilty</a>. He is allowed to drive after a device that tests a driver's blood alcohol level was installed on his vehicle.The Chiefs placed him on administrative leave after the crash and allowed his contract to expire, ending his employment with the team.