SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp;investigating a fatal accident involving a 71-year-old man in a wheel chair released new details Tuesday morning.

Just before 8p.m. on Monday, police responded to an injury accident call in the 1900 block of North Hillside involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers located the victim who was in critical condition. Life-saving measures were attempted by fire and EMS personnel, however, he succumbed to his injures on the scene.

The investigation revealed a 27-year-old man was driving north on Hillside and the victim was crossing Hillside in a wheelchair from the west to the east in a non-activated crosswalk at Stadium and Hillside,&nbsp;northwest of the Wichita State University campus.

The 27-year-old driver not see the victim and struck him. The driver stayed at the scene and contacted 911 for emergency assistance.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. Police have not released the victim's name.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man in a wheelchair has died after being hit by a car as he crossed a street in Wichita. Police say the crash happened around 8 p.m. Monday in a business district just northwest of the Wichita State University campus. 

Police say the man was crossing Hillside Street when a northbound car hit him. The man was declared dead at the scene. Police have not released the man's name, but say he was in his 60s. 

The driver of the car remained at the scene of the crash and is cooperating with police. Investigators are trying to determine whether the man killed was crossing the street outside of the designated crosswalk.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637068129713.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp;investigating a fatal accident involving a 71-year-old man in a wheel chair released new details Tuesday morning.Just before 8p.m. on Monday, police responded to an injury accident call in the 1900 block of North Hillside involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers located the victim who was in critical condition. Life-saving measures were attempted by fire and EMS personnel, however, he succumbed to his injures on the scene.The investigation revealed a 27-year-old man was driving north on Hillside and the victim was crossing Hillside in a wheelchair from the west to the east in a non-activated crosswalk at Stadium and Hillside,&nbsp;northwest of the Wichita State University campus.The 27-year-old driver not see the victim and struck him. The driver stayed at the scene and contacted 911 for emergency assistance.The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. Police have not released the victim's name.--------------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man in a wheelchair has died after being hit by a car as he crossed a street in Wichita. Police say the crash happened around 8 p.m. Monday in a business district just northwest of the Wichita State University campus. Police say the man was crossing Hillside Street when a northbound car hit him. The man was declared dead at the scene. Police have not released the man's name, but say he was in his 60s. The driver of the car remained at the scene of the crash and is cooperating with police. Investigators are trying to determine whether the man killed was crossing the street outside of the designated crosswalk.

Update: 71-year-old in wheelchair fatally hit by car near WSU campus

SEWARD COUNTY – The Liberal Police Department reported that 66-year-old Ida Knight, the subject of the statewide Silver Alert, was located safe, according to a statement from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

SEWARD COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Liberal Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Liberal woman, according to a media release from the KBI.

The whereabouts of Ida Knight, 66, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.

Ida Knight, 66, Liberal, was last seen between 1 and 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at the Cottonwood Apartments on Millwood Circle, in Liberal. 

She was last seen wearing a white night gown and a dark-colored jacket. Knight may have had assistance leaving the area.

Knight is a 66-year-old white female, around 6 ft. tall, and weighing approximately 155 pounds. She has gray hair and hazel eyes. Knight typically uses a wheelchair, but is capable of walking short distances. She has been diagnosed with dementia.

If you see Ida Knight, or have information about her whereabouts, please immediately contact 911, or the Liberal Police Department at&nbsp;(620) 626-0150.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637080321872.png" alt="Knight-photo Liberal Police" />
 <figcaption>Knight-photo Liberal Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY – The Liberal Police Department reported that 66-year-old Ida Knight, the subject of the statewide Silver Alert, was located safe, according to a statement from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.--------SEWARD COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Liberal Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Liberal woman, according to a media release from the KBI.The whereabouts of Ida Knight, 66, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.Ida Knight, 66, Liberal, was last seen between 1 and 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at the Cottonwood Apartments on Millwood Circle, in Liberal. She was last seen wearing a white night gown and a dark-colored jacket. Knight may have had assistance leaving the area.Knight is a 66-year-old white female, around 6 ft. tall, and weighing approximately 155 pounds. She has gray hair and hazel eyes. Knight typically uses a wheelchair, but is capable of walking short distances. She has been diagnosed with dementia.If you see Ida Knight, or have information about her whereabouts, please immediately contact 911, or the Liberal Police Department at&nbsp;(620) 626-0150.

Silver Alert canceled, missing SW Kansas woman found safe

WASHINGTON
 — Over 2,500 criminal investigations, the identification of more than 
$10 billion from tax fraud and financial crimes, and a nearly 90% 
conviction rate are just a few highlights from the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3583.pdf">IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report</a>&nbsp;PDF.
 The report, released Thursday, details statistics, important 
partnerships and significant criminal enforcement actions from IRS-CI, 
the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, for the past fiscal year, 
which began October 1, 2020 and ended September 30, 2021.

"IRS-CI agents are the only federal law enforcement officers with the
 authority to investigate criminal violations of the U.S. tax code. 
Their work reinforces the backbone of our voluntary compliance tax 
system – a system that funds services and benefits for our nation, 
including defense, infrastructure and education," said IRS Commissioner 
Chuck Rettig.

In fiscal year 2021, IRS-CI built upon its existing network of U.S. 
field offices and international attachés to combat financial crimes 
across the globe. The agency's alliance with the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/joint-chiefs-of-global-tax-enforcement">Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5)</a>
 helped strengthen public-private partnerships with financial 
institutions and the Fin-Tech industry to deter and identify criminal 
activity. Additionally, IRS-CI established its first cyber attaché in 
The Hague, Netherlands, to proactively support cyber investigative needs
 in coordination with Europol.

"IRS-CI continues to lead tax and financial investigations here in 
the U.S. and across the globe," said IRS-CI Chief Jim Lee. "In fiscal 
year 2021, as we faced the second year of a global pandemic, our team of
 agents continued to overcome personal and professional challenges to 
target criminals who exploited the U.S. tax and financial systems for 
personal gain."

While IRS-CI agents spent most of their investigative man-hours, 
about 72%, investigating tax-related crimes like tax evasion and tax 
fraud during fiscal year 2021, they also made significant contributions 
to money laundering, narcotics trafficking, public corruption, terrorism
 and COVID-19 fraud investigations.

In April 2021, a dual Russian-Swedish national was arrested in Los 
Angeles on criminal charges related to his alleged operation of the 
longest-running bitcoin money laundering service on the darknet dubbed 
Bitcoin Fog. The bulk of cryptocurrency laundered through Bitcoin Fog 
came from darknet marketplaces and was tied to illegal narcotics, 
computer fraud and identity theft. This case marked the second U.S. 
prosecution of a cryptocurrency mixing service; both were investigated 
by IRS-CI.

The ringleader of a transnational criminal organization, with ties to
 the Sinaloa Cartel, operating in California and along the East Coast 
was sentenced to 33 years in prison in July 2021 for narcotics 
trafficking-related charges. The sentencing followed a multiagency 
operation dubbed Operation Cookout that netted 65 kilograms of illegal 
drugs, 24 firearms, more than $700,000 in cash and guilty pleas from 45 
defendants.

Numerous IRS-CI investigations resulted in individuals being 
sentenced for fraudulently obtaining small business relief loans under 
the CARES Act. One of those cases involved a Texas businessman who was 
sentenced in September 2021 to 31 months confinement and 36 months of 
supervised release after he created a scheme to fraudulently obtain more
 than $3.3 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans for personal 
use.

The report includes additional case examples for each U.S. field 
office, an overview of IRS-CI's international footprint, details about 
the specialized services provided by IRS-CI and investigative 
statistics, broken down by discipline, for fiscal year 2021.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — Over 2,500 criminal investigations, the identification of more than 
$10 billion from tax fraud and financial crimes, and a nearly 90% 
conviction rate are just a few highlights from the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3583.pdf">IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report</a>&nbsp;PDF.
 The report, released Thursday, details statistics, important 
partnerships and significant criminal enforcement actions from IRS-CI, 
the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, for the past fiscal year, 
which began October 1, 2020 and ended September 30, 2021."IRS-CI agents are the only federal law enforcement officers with the
 authority to investigate criminal violations of the U.S. tax code. 
Their work reinforces the backbone of our voluntary compliance tax 
system – a system that funds services and benefits for our nation, 
including defense, infrastructure and education," said IRS Commissioner 
Chuck Rettig.In fiscal year 2021, IRS-CI built upon its existing network of U.S. 
field offices and international attachés to combat financial crimes 
across the globe. The agency's alliance with the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/compliance/joint-chiefs-of-global-tax-enforcement">Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5)</a>
 helped strengthen public-private partnerships with financial 
institutions and the Fin-Tech industry to deter and identify criminal 
activity. Additionally, IRS-CI established its first cyber attaché in 
The Hague, Netherlands, to proactively support cyber investigative needs
 in coordination with Europol."IRS-CI continues to lead tax and financial investigations here in 
the U.S. and across the globe," said IRS-CI Chief Jim Lee. "In fiscal 
year 2021, as we faced the second year of a global pandemic, our team of
 agents continued to overcome personal and professional challenges to 
target criminals who exploited the U.S. tax and financial systems for 
personal gain."While IRS-CI agents spent most of their investigative man-hours, 
about 72%, investigating tax-related crimes like tax evasion and tax 
fraud during fiscal year 2021, they also made significant contributions 
to money laundering, narcotics trafficking, public corruption, terrorism
 and COVID-19 fraud investigations.<h2>Case examples include:</h2>In April 2021, a dual Russian-Swedish national was arrested in Los 
Angeles on criminal charges related to his alleged operation of the 
longest-running bitcoin money laundering service on the darknet dubbed 
Bitcoin Fog. The bulk of cryptocurrency laundered through Bitcoin Fog 
came from darknet marketplaces and was tied to illegal narcotics, 
computer fraud and identity theft. This case marked the second U.S. 
prosecution of a cryptocurrency mixing service; both were investigated 
by IRS-CI.The ringleader of a transnational criminal organization, with ties to
 the Sinaloa Cartel, operating in California and along the East Coast 
was sentenced to 33 years in prison in July 2021 for narcotics 
trafficking-related charges. The sentencing followed a multiagency 
operation dubbed Operation Cookout that netted 65 kilograms of illegal 
drugs, 24 firearms, more than $700,000 in cash and guilty pleas from 45 
defendants.Numerous IRS-CI investigations resulted in individuals being 
sentenced for fraudulently obtaining small business relief loans under 
the CARES Act. One of those cases involved a Texas businessman who was 
sentenced in September 2021 to 31 months confinement and 36 months of 
supervised release after he created a scheme to fraudulently obtain more
 than $3.3 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans for personal 
use.The report includes additional case examples for each U.S. field 
office, an overview of IRS-CI's international footprint, details about 
the specialized services provided by IRS-CI and investigative 
statistics, broken down by discipline, for fiscal year 2021.

IRS: 90% conviction rate on $10B in tax and COVID frauds, cybercrime

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman shot by police after she pointed a gun at officers was scheduled for sentencing Tuesday, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The hearing was continued and and authorities have not scheduled a new sentencing date, according to the DA's office.

Jennifer Miller, 34 of Wichita, was found guilty of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and criminal possession of a firearm.

On March 31, two police officers were proactively checking the Red Roof Inn, 7335 East Kellogg and Sky Palace, 7321 East Kellogg in Wichita after numerous calls and complaints over several months involving assaults, burglaries, drugs, stolen cars, underage parties and other things that would constitute a nuisance to the neighborhood and the businesses.

While checking the businesses, the officers saw a stolen Subaru Legacy behind the Red Roof Inn. The car had been reported stolen on March 30. As officers approached the car, they saw Miller enter the car's trunk, grab items and walk toward her room at the Sky Palace.

One officer approached Miller. A second officer arrived to assist and asked Miller for identification. Miller reached into her purse, pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at both officers, according to Wichita Police Captain Jason Stephens.

One officer pulled his handgun and fired one shot striking Miller in the neck. The officers began life saving measures and called EMS.&nbsp; She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

She was released from the hospital April 9 and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618056359501.png" alt="Miller photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Miller photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman shot by police after she pointed a gun at officers was scheduled for sentencing Tuesday, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The hearing was continued and and authorities have not scheduled a new sentencing date, according to the DA's office.Jennifer Miller, 34 of Wichita, was found guilty of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and criminal possession of a firearm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617291763952.png" alt="Photo from the officers body camera released by Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo from the officers body camera released by Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>On March 31, two police officers were proactively checking the Red Roof Inn, 7335 East Kellogg and Sky Palace, 7321 East Kellogg in Wichita after numerous calls and complaints over several months involving assaults, burglaries, drugs, stolen cars, underage parties and other things that would constitute a nuisance to the neighborhood and the businesses.While checking the businesses, the officers saw a stolen Subaru Legacy behind the Red Roof Inn. The car had been reported stolen on March 30. As officers approached the car, they saw Miller enter the car's trunk, grab items and walk toward her room at the Sky Palace.One officer approached Miller. A second officer arrived to assist and asked Miller for identification. Miller reached into her purse, pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at both officers, according to Wichita Police Captain Jason Stephens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617293757915.png" alt="Miller has previous convictions that include ID theft, forgery, theft and flee and elude, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Sedgwick County&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Miller has previous convictions that include ID theft, forgery, theft and flee and elude, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Sedgwick County&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>One officer pulled his handgun and fired one shot striking Miller in the neck. The officers began life saving measures and called EMS.&nbsp; She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;She was released from the hospital April 9 and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.-----------

Sentencing delayed for Kan. woman shot by police after she pointed gun 

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-63.pdf">Notice 2021-63</a>&nbsp;PDF
 to make clear how the temporary 100% business deduction for food or 
beverages from restaurants applies to taxpayers properly applying the 
rules of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-19-48.pdf">Revenue Procedure 2019-48</a>&nbsp;PDF for using per diem rates.

Previously, the IRS issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-25.pdf">Notice 2021-25</a>&nbsp;PDF
 providing guidance under the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act
 of 2020, which added a temporary exception to the 50% limit on the 
amount that businesses may deduct for food or beverages. The temporary 
exception allows a 100% deduction for food or beverages from 
restaurants, as long as the expense is paid or incurred in 2021 or 2022.

For a taxpayer properly applying the rules of Revenue Procedure 
2019-48,&nbsp;Notice 2021-63 provides a special rule that allows the taxpayer
 to treat the full meal portion of a per diem rate or allowance as being
 attributable to food or beverages from a restaurant beginning January 
1, 2021, through December 31, 2022.

Taxpayers should refer to section 6.05 of Revenue Procedure 2019-48 
to determine the meal portion of a per diem rate or allowance paid or 
incurred.

More information for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-tax-relief-for-businesses-and-tax-exempt-entities">businesses seeking coronavirus-related tax relief</a> can be found at IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-63.pdf">Notice 2021-63</a>&nbsp;PDF
 to make clear how the temporary 100% business deduction for food or 
beverages from restaurants applies to taxpayers properly applying the 
rules of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-19-48.pdf">Revenue Procedure 2019-48</a>&nbsp;PDF for using per diem rates.Previously, the IRS issued <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-25.pdf">Notice 2021-25</a>&nbsp;PDF
 providing guidance under the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act
 of 2020, which added a temporary exception to the 50% limit on the 
amount that businesses may deduct for food or beverages. The temporary 
exception allows a 100% deduction for food or beverages from 
restaurants, as long as the expense is paid or incurred in 2021 or 2022.For a taxpayer properly applying the rules of Revenue Procedure 
2019-48,&nbsp;Notice 2021-63 provides a special rule that allows the taxpayer
 to treat the full meal portion of a per diem rate or allowance as being
 attributable to food or beverages from a restaurant beginning January 
1, 2021, through December 31, 2022.Taxpayers should refer to section 6.05 of Revenue Procedure 2019-48 
to determine the meal portion of a per diem rate or allowance paid or 
incurred.More information for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-tax-relief-for-businesses-and-tax-exempt-entities">businesses seeking coronavirus-related tax relief</a> can be found at IRS.gov.

IRS clarifies rules for deducting business meals from taxes

BEIJING (AP) — China on Tuesday hailed a virtual meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, saying they had a candid and constructive exchange that sent a strong signal to the world.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516101-1/president-biden-holds-virtual-meeting-president-china">Click here to watch</a> a portion of the virtual meeting

The positive description of the meeting came in sharp contrast to heated exchanges between the two nations earlier this year. The talks appeared to mark what both sides hoped would be a turnaround in relations, though major differences remain.

“If China-U.S. relations cannot return to the past, they should face the future,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.

The video conference between the two leaders and their senior aides lasted more than three hours and was their first formal meeting since Biden took office in January.

Facing domestic pressures at home, both Biden and Xi seemed determined to lower the temperature in what for both sides is their most significant — and frequently turbulent — relationship on the global stage.

“As I’ve said before, it seems to me our responsibility as leaders of China and the United States is to ensure that the competition between our countries does not veer into conflict, whether intended or unintended,” Biden told Xi at the start of their virtual meeting Monday. “Just simple, straightforward competition.”

The White House set low expectations for the meeting, and no major announcements or even a joint statement were delivered. Still, White House officials said the two leaders had a substantive exchange.

Xi greeted the U.S. president as his “old friend” and echoed Biden’s cordial tone in his own opening remarks, saying, “China and the United States need to increase communication and cooperation.”

However, Xi held a tough line on Taiwan, which Chinese officials had signaled would be a top issue for them at the talks. Tensions have heightened as the Chinese military has dispatched an increasing number of fighter jets near the self-ruled island, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

Xi blamed the tensions on Taiwan seeking to attain independence through reliance on the U.S. and some on the American side using Taiwan as a way to interefere in China, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

“This is extremely dangerous, it’s playing with fire, and they that play with fire will burn themselves,” Xi was quoted as saying by the agency.

Chinese military forces held exercises last week near Taiwan in response to a visit by a U.S. congressional delegation to the island.

The White House said Biden reiterated the U.S. will abide by the longstanding U.S. “One China” policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. But Biden also made clear the U.S. “strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the White House said.

The relationship has had no shortage of tension since Biden strode into the White House in January and quickly criticized Beijing for human rights abuses against Uyghurs in northwest China, suppression of democratic protests in Hong Kong, military aggression against the self-ruled island of Taiwan and more. Xi’s deputies, meanwhile, have lashed out against the Biden White House for interfering in what they see as internal Chinese matters.

The White House in a statement said that Biden again raised concerns about China’s human rights practices, and made clear that he sought to “protect American workers and industries from the PRC’s unfair trade and economic practices.” The two also spoke about key regional challenges, including North Korea, Afghanistan and Iran.

As U.S.-China tensions have mounted, both leaders also have found themselves under the weight of increased challenges in their own backyards.

Biden, who has watched his poll numbers diminish amid concerns about the lingering coronavirus pandemic, inflation and supply chain problems, was looking to find a measure of equilibrium on the most consequential foreign policy matter he faces.

Xi, meanwhile, is facing a COVID-19 resurgence, rampant energy shortages, and a looming housing crisis that Biden officials worry could cause tremors in the global market.

“Right now, both China and the United States are at critical stages of development, and humanity lives in a global village, and we face multiple challenges together,” Xi said.

The U.S. president was joined in the Roosevelt Room for the video call by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and a handful of aides. Xi, for his part, was accompanied in the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People by communist party director Ding Xuexiang and a number of advisers.

The high-level diplomacy had a touch of pandemic Zoom meeting informality as the two leaders waved to each other once they saw one another on the screen, with Xi telling Biden, “It’s the first time for us to meet virtually, although it’s not as good as a face-to-face meeting.”

Biden would have preferred to meet Xi in person, but the Chinese leader has not left his country since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The White House floated the idea of a virtual meeting as the next best thing to allow for the two leaders to have a candid conversation about a wide range of strains in the relationship.

With Beijing set to host the Winter Olympics in February and Xi expected to be approved by Communist Party leaders to serve as party leader next year and then a third term as president in 2023 — unprecedented in recent Chinese history — the Chinese leader may be looking to stabilize the relationship in the near term.

Both leaders gave nods to their history with the other. Biden noted that the two have spent an “awful ... lot of time” speaking to each other over the years, and have never walked away “wondering what the other man is thinking.”

But the public warmth — Xi referred to Biden as his “old friend” when the then-vice president visited China in 2013, while Biden spoke of their “friendship” — has cooled now that both men are heads of state. Biden bristled in June when asked by a reporter if he would press his old friend to cooperate with a World Health Organization investigation into the coronavirus origins.

Xi, however, seemed interested in publicly reviving the warmth of the earlier days of their relationship, saying, “I am very happy to see my old friend.”

Despite the tensions, there have been moments of progress in the U.S.-China relationship over the past months.

Last week, the two countries pledged at U.N. climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, to increase their cooperation and speed up action to rein in climate-damaging emissions.

The White House has said it views cooperation on climate change as something in China’s interest, something the two nations should cooperate on despite differences on other aspects of the relationship.

“None of this is a favor to either of our countries — what we do for one another — but it’s just responsible world leadership,” Biden told Xi. “You’re a major world leader, and so is the United States.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637027480993.png" alt="The White House set low expectations for the meeting, and no major announcements or even a joint statement were delivered-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The White House set low expectations for the meeting, and no major announcements or even a joint statement were delivered-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BEIJING (AP) — China on Tuesday hailed a virtual meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, saying they had a candid and constructive exchange that sent a strong signal to the world.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516101-1/president-biden-holds-virtual-meeting-president-china">Click here to watch</a> a portion of the virtual meetingThe positive description of the meeting came in sharp contrast to heated exchanges between the two nations earlier this year. The talks appeared to mark what both sides hoped would be a turnaround in relations, though major differences remain.“If China-U.S. relations cannot return to the past, they should face the future,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.The video conference between the two leaders and their senior aides lasted more than three hours and was their first formal meeting since Biden took office in January.Facing domestic pressures at home, both Biden and Xi seemed determined to lower the temperature in what for both sides is their most significant — and frequently turbulent — relationship on the global stage.“As I’ve said before, it seems to me our responsibility as leaders of China and the United States is to ensure that the competition between our countries does not veer into conflict, whether intended or unintended,” Biden told Xi at the start of their virtual meeting Monday. “Just simple, straightforward competition.”The White House set low expectations for the meeting, and no major announcements or even a joint statement were delivered. Still, White House officials said the two leaders had a substantive exchange.Xi greeted the U.S. president as his “old friend” and echoed Biden’s cordial tone in his own opening remarks, saying, “China and the United States need to increase communication and cooperation.”However, Xi held a tough line on Taiwan, which Chinese officials had signaled would be a top issue for them at the talks. Tensions have heightened as the Chinese military has dispatched an increasing number of fighter jets near the self-ruled island, which Beijing considers part of its territory.Xi blamed the tensions on Taiwan seeking to attain independence through reliance on the U.S. and some on the American side using Taiwan as a way to interefere in China, the official Xinhua News Agency said.“This is extremely dangerous, it’s playing with fire, and they that play with fire will burn themselves,” Xi was quoted as saying by the agency.Chinese military forces held exercises last week near Taiwan in response to a visit by a U.S. congressional delegation to the island.The White House said Biden reiterated the U.S. will abide by the longstanding U.S. “One China” policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. But Biden also made clear the U.S. “strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the White House said.The relationship has had no shortage of tension since Biden strode into the White House in January and quickly criticized Beijing for human rights abuses against Uyghurs in northwest China, suppression of democratic protests in Hong Kong, military aggression against the self-ruled island of Taiwan and more. Xi’s deputies, meanwhile, have lashed out against the Biden White House for interfering in what they see as internal Chinese matters.The White House in a statement said that Biden again raised concerns about China’s human rights practices, and made clear that he sought to “protect American workers and industries from the PRC’s unfair trade and economic practices.” The two also spoke about key regional challenges, including North Korea, Afghanistan and Iran.As U.S.-China tensions have mounted, both leaders also have found themselves under the weight of increased challenges in their own backyards.Biden, who has watched his poll numbers diminish amid concerns about the lingering coronavirus pandemic, inflation and supply chain problems, was looking to find a measure of equilibrium on the most consequential foreign policy matter he faces.Xi, meanwhile, is facing a COVID-19 resurgence, rampant energy shortages, and a looming housing crisis that Biden officials worry could cause tremors in the global market.“Right now, both China and the United States are at critical stages of development, and humanity lives in a global village, and we face multiple challenges together,” Xi said.The U.S. president was joined in the Roosevelt Room for the video call by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and a handful of aides. Xi, for his part, was accompanied in the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People by communist party director Ding Xuexiang and a number of advisers.The high-level diplomacy had a touch of pandemic Zoom meeting informality as the two leaders waved to each other once they saw one another on the screen, with Xi telling Biden, “It’s the first time for us to meet virtually, although it’s not as good as a face-to-face meeting.”Biden would have preferred to meet Xi in person, but the Chinese leader has not left his country since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The White House floated the idea of a virtual meeting as the next best thing to allow for the two leaders to have a candid conversation about a wide range of strains in the relationship.With Beijing set to host the Winter Olympics in February and Xi expected to be approved by Communist Party leaders to serve as party leader next year and then a third term as president in 2023 — unprecedented in recent Chinese history — the Chinese leader may be looking to stabilize the relationship in the near term.Both leaders gave nods to their history with the other. Biden noted that the two have spent an “awful ... lot of time” speaking to each other over the years, and have never walked away “wondering what the other man is thinking.”But the public warmth — Xi referred to Biden as his “old friend” when the then-vice president visited China in 2013, while Biden spoke of their “friendship” — has cooled now that both men are heads of state. Biden bristled in June when asked by a reporter if he would press his old friend to cooperate with a World Health Organization investigation into the coronavirus origins.Xi, however, seemed interested in publicly reviving the warmth of the earlier days of their relationship, saying, “I am very happy to see my old friend.”Despite the tensions, there have been moments of progress in the U.S.-China relationship over the past months.Last week, the two countries pledged at U.N. climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, to increase their cooperation and speed up action to rein in climate-damaging emissions.The White House has said it views cooperation on climate change as something in China’s interest, something the two nations should cooperate on despite differences on other aspects of the relationship.“None of this is a favor to either of our countries — what we do for one another — but it’s just responsible world leadership,” Biden told Xi. “You’re a major world leader, and so is the United States.”___

🎥 Biden and Xi meet virtually as US-China tensions grow

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.

Just before 4a.m. Sunday, a sheriff’s deputy stopped a Dodge SUV for a traffic infraction near 150th and Q. Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 Further investigation led to the arrest of Jesse Leroy Davis, 32, of Topeka.  Davis was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, no ignition interlock device and transporting an open container, according to Morse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637008278948.png" alt="Davis-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Davis-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.Just before 4a.m. Sunday, a sheriff’s deputy stopped a Dodge SUV for a traffic infraction near 150th and Q. Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. Further investigation led to the arrest of Jesse Leroy Davis, 32, of Topeka. Davis was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, no ignition interlock device and transporting an open container, according to Morse.

Sheriff: Kan. man drove with open container, not required interlock device

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a second school threat in less than a week&nbsp; at USD 457.

Just before 10a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to 1901 Wilcox Street Edith Scheuerman Elementary School, 1901 Wilcox Street in Garden City for a possible criminal threat, according to a media release.

Officers were told that a social media account, created by an unknown user, contained suspected threats against students from the school. Through the course of the investigation, it was learned that there was no threat to the students or the school, and the incident occurred off school property.

On Thursday, police were informed of a suspected threat at Horace Good Middle School, 1412 north Main in Garden City, according to a media release.

Officers learned that a 13-year-old student made threats against the school, which were reported to Horace Good personnel by several students. 

Through the course of the investigation, it was learned there was no threat to the school or students. Disciplinary action has been taken by the school for the 13-year-old student.

The Garden City Police Department and USD 457 encouraged parents to monitor children's social media account(s). They encourage paraents to remind your child to immediately report any information about any school safety-related incidents to administrators/staff and/or police.

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a second school threat in less than a week&nbsp; at USD 457.Just before 10a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to 1901 Wilcox Street Edith Scheuerman Elementary School, 1901 Wilcox Street in Garden City for a possible criminal threat, according to a media release.Officers were told that a social media account, created by an unknown user, contained suspected threats against students from the school. Through the course of the investigation, it was learned that there was no threat to the students or the school, and the incident occurred off school property.On Thursday, police were informed of a suspected threat at Horace Good Middle School, 1412 north Main in Garden City, according to a media release.Officers learned that a 13-year-old student made threats against the school, which were reported to Horace Good personnel by several students. Through the course of the investigation, it was learned there was no threat to the school or students. Disciplinary action has been taken by the school for the 13-year-old student.The Garden City Police Department and USD 457 encouraged parents to monitor children's social media account(s). They encourage paraents to remind your child to immediately report any information about any school safety-related incidents to administrators/staff and/or police.

Police: 2nd reported threat in a week at Kansas school district 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some retailers started <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/business/23228-bbb-business-tip-get-your-business-ready-for-the-holidays" target="_blank">turning to outdoor pop-up shops</a>
 and, while in-store shopping is back, the pop-ups are not likely to go 
away yet. These temporary storefronts allow shoppers to avoid enclosed 
spaces while still getting to browse in-person. Indoor pop-up shops 
allow landlords look to fill vacant retail space in downtown areas and suburban malls.

The Better Business Bureau receives hundreds of complaints a year about temporary retail locations, reporting everything from poor quality merchandise to difficulty obtaining refunds after temporary stores have closed their doors. Pop-up shops can be fun, but keep the following BBB tips in mind if you choose to buy from one of them:&nbsp; Research store headquarters.&nbsp;If
 you are interested in trying a new or unfamiliar online merchant, ask 
the company for its physical location (address and phone number) so you 
can check its BBB Business Profile at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>. Ask how long a store will operate.&nbsp;If
 you are buying from a seasonal store, ask whether it will be open after
 the holiday and whether it will accept returns when the season is over.
 If not, consider buying elsewhere or taking more time to be sure the 
item is exactly what you want before making the purchase.&nbsp; Review purchase policies.&nbsp;Determine
 the company's refund and return policies before you buy. If pop-up 
shops cannot offer concrete commitments on how they will handle any 
potential problems you may have with their products or services, 
reconsider doing business with them.&nbsp; Shop around.
 Pop-ups often focus on unique or high-quality gifts that you may not 
find elsewhere, but some are simply mini versions of discount retailers,
 offering holiday-themed goods that may be available for less at a 
traditional retailer.&nbsp; Pay attention to quality.
 Occasionally, pop-ups sell counterfeit products, so be cautious when 
purchasing designer goods or that latest “must have” gifts. Prices that 
are dramatically lower than regular retail stores may be a red flag that
 the items are either stolen or counterfeit.&nbsp; Know the terms of any product or service guarantees.&nbsp;If
 you are purchasing anything that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, 
ask how you will be able to get the product serviced if needed.&nbsp; Guard your personal information.
 For small items, you might be better off paying in cash so you don’t 
have to share any personal information. Just be sure you understand that
 you probably won’t have any recourse if something is not right. For 
larger items, paying with a credit card can provide additional 
protections if there are problems and the retailer disappears. Make sure
 you hang on to the receipt to match it against your credit card 
statement. Consider whether the gift is for a hard-to-please recipient.
 If you are planning a gift for someone who might need or want to return
 it, consider buying from a retailer with a long-standing business, 
strong reputation, and well-established return policies, instead of a 
pop-up shop.&nbsp; Whenever possible, ask for a gift receipt that would make a
 return or exchange easier, if necessary.

Thanks to BBB of Eastern North Carolina and BBB Metro New York for their contribution to this tip.

For more holiday tips, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/holiday-tips/" target="_blank">BBB Holiday Tips page</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, some retailers started <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/business/23228-bbb-business-tip-get-your-business-ready-for-the-holidays" target="_blank">turning to outdoor pop-up shops</a>
 and, while in-store shopping is back, the pop-ups are not likely to go 
away yet. These temporary storefronts allow shoppers to avoid enclosed 
spaces while still getting to browse in-person. Indoor pop-up shops 
allow landlords look to fill vacant retail space in downtown areas and suburban malls. The Better Business Bureau receives hundreds of complaints a year about temporary retail locations, reporting everything from poor quality merchandise to difficulty obtaining refunds after temporary stores have closed their doors. Pop-up shops can be fun, but keep the following BBB tips in mind if you choose to buy from one of them:&nbsp; Research store headquarters.&nbsp;If
 you are interested in trying a new or unfamiliar online merchant, ask 
the company for its physical location (address and phone number) so you 
can check its BBB Business Profile at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>. Ask how long a store will operate.&nbsp;If
 you are buying from a seasonal store, ask whether it will be open after
 the holiday and whether it will accept returns when the season is over.
 If not, consider buying elsewhere or taking more time to be sure the 
item is exactly what you want before making the purchase.&nbsp; Review purchase policies.&nbsp;Determine
 the company's refund and return policies before you buy. If pop-up 
shops cannot offer concrete commitments on how they will handle any 
potential problems you may have with their products or services, 
reconsider doing business with them.&nbsp; Shop around.
 Pop-ups often focus on unique or high-quality gifts that you may not 
find elsewhere, but some are simply mini versions of discount retailers,
 offering holiday-themed goods that may be available for less at a 
traditional retailer.&nbsp; Pay attention to quality.
 Occasionally, pop-ups sell counterfeit products, so be cautious when 
purchasing designer goods or that latest “must have” gifts. Prices that 
are dramatically lower than regular retail stores may be a red flag that
 the items are either stolen or counterfeit.&nbsp; Know the terms of any product or service guarantees.&nbsp;If
 you are purchasing anything that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, 
ask how you will be able to get the product serviced if needed.&nbsp; Guard your personal information.
 For small items, you might be better off paying in cash so you don’t 
have to share any personal information. Just be sure you understand that
 you probably won’t have any recourse if something is not right. For 
larger items, paying with a credit card can provide additional 
protections if there are problems and the retailer disappears. Make sure
 you hang on to the receipt to match it against your credit card 
statement. Consider whether the gift is for a hard-to-please recipient.
 If you are planning a gift for someone who might need or want to return
 it, consider buying from a retailer with a long-standing business, 
strong reputation, and well-established return policies, instead of a 
pop-up shop.&nbsp; Whenever possible, ask for a gift receipt that would make a
 return or exchange easier, if necessary.Thanks to BBB of Eastern North Carolina and BBB Metro New York for their contribution to this tip.For more holiday tips, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/holiday-tips/" target="_blank">BBB Holiday Tips page</a>.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Tips for dealing with, shopping at holiday pop-up shops

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas, woman was charged Monday with first-degree murder in the death of a woman who died after she was caught in a crossfire as she drove home from her church.

Melanie Perry, 29, was charged in the death of Lillian Jackson, 62, on Sept. 18. She has been held in the Wyandotte County Jail on other charges since Oct. 20.

Authorities said Jackson, of Kansas City, Kansas, was driving home from Mount Zion Baptist Church when she was caught in the crossfire of a rolling gun battle. Her car was hit several times and she died instantly, police said.

Police Chief Karl Oakman said a tip from a member of the public led to Perry’s arrest. No other suspects in Jackson’s death have been named.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637014128359.png" alt="Perry-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Perry-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas, woman was charged Monday with first-degree murder in the death of a woman who died after she was caught in a crossfire as she drove home from her church.Melanie Perry, 29, was charged in the death of Lillian Jackson, 62, on Sept. 18. She has been held in the Wyandotte County Jail on other charges since Oct. 20.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633207338009.png" alt="The victim Lillian Jackson-photo KCK PD" />
 <figcaption>The victim Lillian Jackson-photo KCK PD</figcaption>
 </figure>Authorities said Jackson, of Kansas City, Kansas, was driving home from Mount Zion Baptist Church when she was caught in the crossfire of a rolling gun battle. Her car was hit several times and she died instantly, police said.Police Chief Karl Oakman said a tip from a member of the public led to Perry’s arrest. No other suspects in Jackson’s death have been named.

Woman charged in death of Kan. woman driving home from church

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects&nbsp;following a weekend pursuit

Just before 2a.m. Nov. 13, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was notified that the PBPN Police were in pursuit with a vehicle near 174th and L. Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The black Saturn approached K-16 Highway, headed east into Holton and east on K-116 Highway. A Jackson County Deputy deployed a tire deflation device which eventually disabled the Saturn in the 14000 block of K-116 Highway.

Deputies placed two of the four occupants under arrest. The driver, Dustin Dean Benton, 45, of Meriden was arrested on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony flee and eluding and traffic charges.

 A passenger, Kristina Marie Arb, 56, Olathe is jailed on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  The Holton Police Department assisted with the capture of these suspects.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636907829369.png" alt="Benton photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Benton photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects&nbsp;following a weekend pursuitJust before 2a.m. Nov. 13, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was notified that the PBPN Police were in pursuit with a vehicle near 174th and L. Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The black Saturn approached K-16 Highway, headed east into Holton and east on K-116 Highway. A Jackson County Deputy deployed a tire deflation device which eventually disabled the Saturn in the 14000 block of K-116 Highway.Deputies placed two of the four occupants under arrest. The driver, Dustin Dean Benton, 45, of Meriden was arrested on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony flee and eluding and traffic charges.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636907804055.png" alt="Arb-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Arb-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> A passenger, Kristina Marie Arb, 56, Olathe is jailed on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The Holton Police Department assisted with the capture of these suspects.

Kan. deputies capture drug suspects after high-speed chase

RIVERSIDE, Mo. (AP) — Four students at a Kansas City school district who were disciplined after a petition to “Start Slavery Again" are suing the district. The students allege in a lawsuit filed Friday that the posting started as private bantering between a biracial student and a Black student. 

They say school district officials over-reacted after the posting went viral and drew national attention. An attorney for the four male students are seeking to be reinstated and to have the incident removed from their school records. A spokeswoman for the district says acted appropriately when it expelled one student and suspended three others for 180 days.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The superintendent of a suburban Kansas City school district where a small group of students posted a petition online&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-missouri-slavery-suburbs-4b17e517b411b8ddc4a417aecc769473">calling for the return of slavery&nbsp;</a>has announced that she will step down next summer.

The Park Hill, Missouri, school district announced Tuesday in a news release that Jeanette Cowherd asked the school board not to extend her contract. It expires on June 30, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/education/article255130502.html#storylink=mainstage_lead">reports</a>.

Cowherd, who was selected to lead the district in 2015, said in a statement that she wants “nothing but the best for Park Hill, now and in the future."

District officials said she “does not know what her next steps will be, but she is looking forward to new opportunities with the flexibility to spend more time with her family and friends.”

The Park Hill district had a student population of 11,767 this school year, of which about 12.7% were Black. And the slavery petition put mounting pressure on district officials to improve diversity and inclusion in schools.

Cowherd and other officials have met with students, families, the NAACP and other groups to hear community concerns. And they say work is ongoing, and will result in a plan to “address access and inclusion with measurable outcomes.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Officials in a suburban Kansas City school district are investigating after a small group of students posted a petition online calling for the return of slavery.

The petition came to light last week after the students at Park Hill South High School posted it during a school-related activity, officials said.

Further details about the number of students involved, the specific language of the petition or what might have prompted it were not being released because it is a discipline issue, district spokeswoman Nicole Kirby said Wednesday.

Jeanette Cowherd, superintendent of the Park Hill School District, said in a letter to the community Wednesday that the district does not tolerate discrimination or harassment and has specific policies addressing any violations, which could result in a suspension or expulsion.

The district also has a policy on civility that prohibits attacks against people based on factors such as race, gender, religion, disability or other personal characteristics.

“I cannot share the specifics of any particular student's discipline but I can tell you that we follow our Board policy when disciplining students,” she wrote.

Kerrie Herren, principal of Park Hill South, said a student notified him of the petition last Thursday and school officials have been working since then to help students and staff who are upset by the incident.

“I think that a large portion of our population is hurt, mad, outraged and confused and want to use it as way to make Park Hill South better," Herren said.

The Park Hill district had a student population of 11,767 this school year, of which about 12.7% were Black. The district instituted an inclusion and equity council with teachers in 2015, which led to student focus groups and eventually a family advisory council on the issue.

Terri Deayon, the district's director of access, inclusion and family engagement, said district and school officials have met with student groups and staff at Park Hill South and at LEAD Innovation Studio, a separate school on the Park Hill South campus that offers a different educational approach to students.

"I wholeheartedly believe we are in a situation that we are going to confront, restore and heal," Deayon said. “We will be better and we will take this and use it as an opportunity to improve.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632359737253.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>RIVERSIDE, Mo. (AP) — Four students at a Kansas City school district who were disciplined after a petition to “Start Slavery Again" are suing the district. The students allege in a lawsuit filed Friday that the posting started as private bantering between a biracial student and a Black student. They say school district officials over-reacted after the posting went viral and drew national attention. An attorney for the four male students are seeking to be reinstated and to have the incident removed from their school records. A spokeswoman for the district says acted appropriately when it expelled one student and suspended three others for 180 days.----------KANSAS CITY (AP) — The superintendent of a suburban Kansas City school district where a small group of students posted a petition online&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-missouri-slavery-suburbs-4b17e517b411b8ddc4a417aecc769473">calling for the return of slavery&nbsp;</a>has announced that she will step down next summer.The Park Hill, Missouri, school district announced Tuesday in a news release that Jeanette Cowherd asked the school board not to extend her contract. It expires on June 30, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/education/article255130502.html#storylink=mainstage_lead">reports</a>.Cowherd, who was selected to lead the district in 2015, said in a statement that she wants “nothing but the best for Park Hill, now and in the future."District officials said she “does not know what her next steps will be, but she is looking forward to new opportunities with the flexibility to spend more time with her family and friends.”The Park Hill district had a student population of 11,767 this school year, of which about 12.7% were Black. And the slavery petition put mounting pressure on district officials to improve diversity and inclusion in schools.Cowherd and other officials have met with students, families, the NAACP and other groups to hear community concerns. And they say work is ongoing, and will result in a plan to “address access and inclusion with measurable outcomes.”KANSAS CITY (AP) — Officials in a suburban Kansas City school district are investigating after a small group of students posted a petition online calling for the return of slavery.The petition came to light last week after the students at Park Hill South High School posted it during a school-related activity, officials said.Further details about the number of students involved, the specific language of the petition or what might have prompted it were not being released because it is a discipline issue, district spokeswoman Nicole Kirby said Wednesday.Jeanette Cowherd, superintendent of the Park Hill School District, said in a letter to the community Wednesday that the district does not tolerate discrimination or harassment and has specific policies addressing any violations, which could result in a suspension or expulsion.The district also has a policy on civility that prohibits attacks against people based on factors such as race, gender, religion, disability or other personal characteristics.“I cannot share the specifics of any particular student's discipline but I can tell you that we follow our Board policy when disciplining students,” she wrote.Kerrie Herren, principal of Park Hill South, said a student notified him of the petition last Thursday and school officials have been working since then to help students and staff who are upset by the incident.“I think that a large portion of our population is hurt, mad, outraged and confused and want to use it as way to make Park Hill South better," Herren said.The Park Hill district had a student population of 11,767 this school year, of which about 12.7% were Black. The district instituted an inclusion and equity council with teachers in 2015, which led to student focus groups and eventually a family advisory council on the issue.Terri Deayon, the district's director of access, inclusion and family engagement, said district and school officials have met with student groups and staff at Park Hill South and at LEAD Innovation Studio, a separate school on the Park Hill South campus that offers a different educational approach to students."I wholeheartedly believe we are in a situation that we are going to confront, restore and heal," Deayon said. “We will be better and we will take this and use it as an opportunity to improve.”

KC students disciplined after 'slavery' petition sue district

FRANKLIN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 2p.m. Monday in Franklin County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Honda Odyssey driven by William R. Cox, 68, Clinton, MO., was southbound on Interstate 35 one mile south of Kentucky Road.

The van drifted off the right side of the road, struck a tree and came to rest about 100 feet off the roadway in the ditch.

Cox was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to First Call. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

FRANKLIN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 2p.m. Monday in Franklin County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Honda Odyssey driven by William R. Cox, 68, Clinton, MO., was southbound on Interstate 35 one mile south of Kentucky Road.The van drifted off the right side of the road, struck a tree and came to rest about 100 feet off the roadway in the ditch.Cox was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to First Call. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Driver dies after minivan drifts off Kan. highway, strikes tree

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansa felon on new charges after a Sunday incident in Salina.

 man was arrested on requested charges of arson and obstruction in connection to an incident late Sunday night involving a police patrol vehicle and ornamental grass.

Just after 11:30p.m. Sunday, a police officer was sitting in the parking lot of the Saline County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol and Rescue Squad facility, 1020 W. North Street, near the 400 block of N. Broadway Boulevard in Salina, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester .

The officer heard several loud explosions and something hit the patrol vehicle. The officer determined that the explosions were from mortar-type fireworks. After the third explosion, ornamental grass on the property caught on fire, Forrester said.

The officer pulled out of the parking lot and saw a person, identified as Christopher Mostue, 40, of Salina, walking away from the location. A witness also reported seeing Mostue walking away from the location.

When the officer made contact with the suspect,&nbsp; Mostue allegedly attempted to walk away, but was taken into custody and later arrested him on requested charges of arson and obstruction, according to Forrester. The ornamental grass was valued at $50.&nbsp;

Mosture was on community corrections and has previous convictions for criminal trespass, aggravated battery, giving a worthless check, no proof of vehicle insurance, and three for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636987127933.jpeg" alt="Christopher Mostue has previous convictions for criminal trespass, aggravated battery, giving a worthless check, no proof of vehicle insurance, and three for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-Photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Christopher Mostue has previous convictions for criminal trespass, aggravated battery, giving a worthless check, no proof of vehicle insurance, and three for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-Photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansa felon on new charges after a Sunday incident in Salina. man was arrested on requested charges of arson and obstruction in connection to an incident late Sunday night involving a police patrol vehicle and ornamental grass.Just after 11:30p.m. Sunday, a police officer was sitting in the parking lot of the Saline County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol and Rescue Squad facility, 1020 W. North Street, near the 400 block of N. Broadway Boulevard in Salina, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester .The officer heard several loud explosions and something hit the patrol vehicle. The officer determined that the explosions were from mortar-type fireworks. After the third explosion, ornamental grass on the property caught on fire, Forrester said.The officer pulled out of the parking lot and saw a person, identified as Christopher Mostue, 40, of Salina, walking away from the location. A witness also reported seeing Mostue walking away from the location.When the officer made contact with the suspect,&nbsp; Mostue allegedly attempted to walk away, but was taken into custody and later arrested him on requested charges of arson and obstruction, according to Forrester. The ornamental grass was valued at $50.&nbsp;Mosture was on community corrections and has previous convictions for criminal trespass, aggravated battery, giving a worthless check, no proof of vehicle insurance, and three for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Fireworks hitting police vehicle put Kan. felon back in jail

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed his $1 trillion infrastructure deal into law Monday on the White House lawn, hailing it as an example of what bipartisanship can achieve.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516100-1/president-biden-signs-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill&amp;live">Click here </a>to watch the President's comments

The president hopes to use the law to build back his popularity and says it will deliver jobs, clean water, high-speed internet and a clean energy future. Support for Biden has taken a hit amid rising inflation and the inability to fully shake the public health and economic risks from COVID-19.

A smattering of Republican lawmakers were on hand for what might be one the last celebratory displays of bipartisanship ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

“My message to the American people is this: America is moving again and your life is going to change for the better,” Biden said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637009964663.png" alt="President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris embrace ahead of Monday's bill signing-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris embrace ahead of Monday's bill signing-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed his $1 trillion infrastructure deal into law Monday on the White House lawn, hailing it as an example of what bipartisanship can achieve.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516100-1/president-biden-signs-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill&amp;live">Click here </a>to watch the President's commentsThe president hopes to use the law to build back his popularity and says it will deliver jobs, clean water, high-speed internet and a clean energy future. Support for Biden has taken a hit amid rising inflation and the inability to fully shake the public health and economic risks from COVID-19.A smattering of Republican lawmakers were on hand for what might be one the last celebratory displays of bipartisanship ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637013446903.png" alt="Photo courtesy White. House" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy White. House</figcaption>
 </figure>“My message to the American people is this: America is moving again and your life is going to change for the better,” Biden said.

🎥 Pres. Biden signs $1T infrastructure plan into law

Latest data compares 2021 to 2019, after no testing in 2020

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/15/math-reading-student-test-scores-tumble-in-kansas-amid-covid-19-pandemic/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Unprecedented disruption
 of classroom instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a drop 
in math and reading standardized test scores among 476,000 public school
 students in Kansas with the steepest assessment damage among children 
struggling with math.

Information released by the Kansas State Department of Education 
offered the first statewide evaluation of student performance in these 
key subject areas since the 2019 report. No testing was conducted in 
2020 as the pandemic derailed normal school activities for students and 
educators in Kansas by pushing instruction online from March until the 
end of the school year.

“Every data point we have is down,” said Randy Watson, commissioner 
of the Kansas State Department of Education. “So is everyone else’s 
across the country.”

The 2021 Kansas report on math for all students indicated 7.8% tested
 at the highest proficiency level, a decline of 1.5 percentage points 
since 2019, and 20% scored at the next-highest level, a reduction of 3.2
 percentage points since 2019. The portion of students at the lowest 
level of achievement in math surged to 34.3%, a disturbing escalation of
 6.1 percentage points.

In reading, the damage to Kansas students was less severe when 
comparing 2021 and 2019 results. In 2021, 8% of students tested in 
English and language arts reached the highest proficiency level, a 
setback of 0.7 percentage points compared to 2019. In 2021, 30.3% of 
students were at the lowest level of achievement on math exams, a 
wrong-way change of 0.9 percentage points from 2019.

Mark Tallman, who works on K-12 education issues for the Kansas 
Association of School Boards, said slippage in student achievement was 
widely anticipated. The 2021 report was unusual because 12,000 fewer 
students participated in testing as public school enrollment suffered 
and some remote-learner students didn’t have access to supervised 
settings to take exams, he said.

Kansas public school districts in Kansas were beneficiaries of $1 
billion in federal aid designed to address student pandemic needs. 
School districts also have been receiving millions of dollars in 
additional annual state appropriations as a result of the Gannon school 
funding lawsuit.

The influx of cash and decline in math and reading test scores is 
likely to drive debate in the 2022 legislative session on expanding a 
statewide program offering tax credits for support low-income students 
who enroll in private schools, Tallman said.

“Many education leaders have said it will take time for additional 
funding to have an impact,” Tallman said. “However, many legislators are
 impatient to see results from higher funding and some say what they see
 as the slow pace means the state should consider expanding aid to 
students attending alternatives to public schools.”

More than twice the percentage of low-income students scored in the 
lowest level on both reading and math than wealthier students in 2021.

David Dorsey, senior education policy fellow with the Kansas Policy 
Institute, said the “unacceptably low test scores” in 2021 ought to 
prompt the state Department of Education to recommit to upgrading 
student achievement in fundamental academic skills.

Watson, commissioner of education in Kansas, said consequences of the
 pandemic continued to unfold for students, parents, teachers and 
administrators engaged in the public school system. The coronavirus 
variant known as Delta is sickening, hospitalizing and killing people 
more than 18 months after COVID-19 shook the foundation of education in 
early 2020, he said.

“People are still, unfortunately, passing away,” Watson said. “What you see is a weariness.”

He said as of October more than 30 school district superintendents 
had filed a notice of retirement, an unusually high number for that 
point in the academic year. He said there had been a lack of continuity 
among classroom teachers as they grappled with online instruction, 
quarantines and illnesses. Parents have made their displeasure known at 
school board meetings across Kansas, he said.

Kansas assessment results for the state, districts and schools are available at the state Department of Education’s <a target="_blank" href="https://datacentral.ksde.org/">Data Central</a> website portal.

The Kansas Board of Education set goals for moving more students into
 the two highest of four levels of achievement on standardized 
tests.&nbsp;The state board also adopted broader educational outcomes, 
including graduation rates, postsecondary participation, kindergarten 
readiness, implementation of individual student plans of study and 
promotion of social and emotional growth.

Watson said 88.3% of Kansas high school seniors graduated in 2020, an
 improvement of 2.6 percentage points. The nearly 12,000 students who 
didn’t earn a diploma represented 4,000 to 5,000 students, he said. It 
won’t be a surprise if the 2021 graduation rate dips below the previous 
year’s mark, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637005442776.png" alt="Randy Watson, commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education, said the unprecedented influence of COVID-19 pushed down public school district assessment scores in math and reading when comparing 2021 to 2019. No testing was conducted in 2020. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Randy Watson, commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education, said the unprecedented influence of COVID-19 pushed down public school district assessment scores in math and reading when comparing 2021 to 2019. No testing was conducted in 2020. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Latest data compares 2021 to 2019, after no testing in 2020</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/15/math-reading-student-test-scores-tumble-in-kansas-amid-covid-19-pandemic/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Unprecedented disruption
 of classroom instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a drop 
in math and reading standardized test scores among 476,000 public school
 students in Kansas with the steepest assessment damage among children 
struggling with math.Information released by the Kansas State Department of Education 
offered the first statewide evaluation of student performance in these 
key subject areas since the 2019 report. No testing was conducted in 
2020 as the pandemic derailed normal school activities for students and 
educators in Kansas by pushing instruction online from March until the 
end of the school year.“Every data point we have is down,” said Randy Watson, commissioner 
of the Kansas State Department of Education. “So is everyone else’s 
across the country.”The 2021 Kansas report on math for all students indicated 7.8% tested
 at the highest proficiency level, a decline of 1.5 percentage points 
since 2019, and 20% scored at the next-highest level, a reduction of 3.2
 percentage points since 2019. The portion of students at the lowest 
level of achievement in math surged to 34.3%, a disturbing escalation of
 6.1 percentage points.In reading, the damage to Kansas students was less severe when 
comparing 2021 and 2019 results. In 2021, 8% of students tested in 
English and language arts reached the highest proficiency level, a 
setback of 0.7 percentage points compared to 2019. In 2021, 30.3% of 
students were at the lowest level of achievement on math exams, a 
wrong-way change of 0.9 percentage points from 2019.Mark Tallman, who works on K-12 education issues for the Kansas 
Association of School Boards, said slippage in student achievement was 
widely anticipated. The 2021 report was unusual because 12,000 fewer 
students participated in testing as public school enrollment suffered 
and some remote-learner students didn’t have access to supervised 
settings to take exams, he said.Kansas public school districts in Kansas were beneficiaries of $1 
billion in federal aid designed to address student pandemic needs. 
School districts also have been receiving millions of dollars in 
additional annual state appropriations as a result of the Gannon school 
funding lawsuit.The influx of cash and decline in math and reading test scores is 
likely to drive debate in the 2022 legislative session on expanding a 
statewide program offering tax credits for support low-income students 
who enroll in private schools, Tallman said.“Many education leaders have said it will take time for additional 
funding to have an impact,” Tallman said. “However, many legislators are
 impatient to see results from higher funding and some say what they see
 as the slow pace means the state should consider expanding aid to 
students attending alternatives to public schools.”More than twice the percentage of low-income students scored in the 
lowest level on both reading and math than wealthier students in 2021.David Dorsey, senior education policy fellow with the Kansas Policy 
Institute, said the “unacceptably low test scores” in 2021 ought to 
prompt the state Department of Education to recommit to upgrading 
student achievement in fundamental academic skills.Watson, commissioner of education in Kansas, said consequences of the
 pandemic continued to unfold for students, parents, teachers and 
administrators engaged in the public school system. The coronavirus 
variant known as Delta is sickening, hospitalizing and killing people 
more than 18 months after COVID-19 shook the foundation of education in 
early 2020, he said.“People are still, unfortunately, passing away,” Watson said. “What you see is a weariness.”He said as of October more than 30 school district superintendents 
had filed a notice of retirement, an unusually high number for that 
point in the academic year. He said there had been a lack of continuity 
among classroom teachers as they grappled with online instruction, 
quarantines and illnesses. Parents have made their displeasure known at 
school board meetings across Kansas, he said.Kansas assessment results for the state, districts and schools are available at the state Department of Education’s <a target="_blank" href="https://datacentral.ksde.org/">Data Central</a> website portal.The Kansas Board of Education set goals for moving more students into
 the two highest of four levels of achievement on standardized 
tests.&nbsp;The state board also adopted broader educational outcomes, 
including graduation rates, postsecondary participation, kindergarten 
readiness, implementation of individual student plans of study and 
promotion of social and emotional growth.Watson said 88.3% of Kansas high school seniors graduated in 2020, an
 improvement of 2.6 percentage points. The nearly 12,000 students who 
didn’t earn a diploma represented 4,000 to 5,000 students, he said. It 
won’t be a surprise if the 2021 graduation rate dips below the previous 
year’s mark, he said.

Kan. math, reading test scores tumble amid COVID pandemic

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Cosmosphere had a great summer, according to Mimi Meredith, Senior Vice President &amp; Chief Development Officer.

"We had the highest attendance we've seen in nearly a decade," Meredith said. "That's pretty exciting. I think that was due to a lot of things, including the opening of our CosmoKids area."

There is a lot of construction going on, but the end product should make enjoying the Cosmosphere easier.

"We're remodeling the next three galleries," Meredith said. "You used to come down the stairs and see walls. Now you see the X-plane on your left, CosmoKids on your right. When construction is complete, which we hope will be by Christmas, you'll be able to look through and see the V-2 rocket and then have a very open and engaging experience through the Redstone, Sputnik and Kennedy theaters. The kind of strange, confining walls have all been taken away and, as a result, artifacts are just going to come to life in a whole new way."

It should make things easier for families with kids to get the most out of the museum.

"Enjoy everything at your own pace," Meredith said. "You don't feel as if you're being pushed along, and you also didn't get lost quite as easily, which people did, frequently, in the Cosmosphere. That's part of our ongoing revitalization plan and we're really excited to showcase those three new galleries."

The Hall of Space Museum is available at no charge to Reno County residents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583784441832.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Cosmosphere had a great summer, according to Mimi Meredith, Senior Vice President &amp; Chief Development Officer."We had the highest attendance we've seen in nearly a decade," Meredith said. "That's pretty exciting. I think that was due to a lot of things, including the opening of our CosmoKids area."There is a lot of construction going on, but the end product should make enjoying the Cosmosphere easier."We're remodeling the next three galleries," Meredith said. "You used to come down the stairs and see walls. Now you see the X-plane on your left, CosmoKids on your right. When construction is complete, which we hope will be by Christmas, you'll be able to look through and see the V-2 rocket and then have a very open and engaging experience through the Redstone, Sputnik and Kennedy theaters. The kind of strange, confining walls have all been taken away and, as a result, artifacts are just going to come to life in a whole new way."It should make things easier for families with kids to get the most out of the museum."Enjoy everything at your own pace," Meredith said. "You don't feel as if you're being pushed along, and you also didn't get lost quite as easily, which people did, frequently, in the Cosmosphere. That's part of our ongoing revitalization plan and we're really excited to showcase those three new galleries."The Hall of Space Museum is available at no charge to Reno County residents.

Construction at Kan. Cosmosphere to be finished next month

KANSAS CITY (AP) — In Kansas City, Kansas, educators are opening an after-school mental health clinic staffed with school counselors and social workers. Schools in Paterson, New Jersey, have set up social emotional learning teams to identify students dealing with crises. Chicago is staffing up “care teams” with the mission of helping struggling students on its 500-plus campuses.

With a windfall of federal coronavirus relief money at hand, schools across the U.S. are using portions to quickly expand their capacity to address students’ struggles with mental health.

While school districts have broad latitude on how to spend the aid money, the urgency of the problem has been driven home by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/27/22691601/student-behavior-stress-trauma-return" target="_blank">absenteeism, behavioral issues, and quieter signs of distress&nbsp;</a>as many students have returned to school buildings this fall for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit.

For some school systems, the money has boosted long-standing work to help students cope with trauma. Others have launched new efforts to screen, counsel and treat students. All told, the investments put public schools more than ever at the center of efforts to attend to students’ overall well-being.

“In the last recession, with the last big chunk of recovery money, this conversation wasn’t happening,” said Amanda Fitzgerald, the assistant director of the American School Counselor Association. “Now, the tone across the country is very focused on the well-being of students.”

Last month, three major pediatric groups said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-cf6997107e7991393c70dd62ddbd196e">the state of children’s mental health&nbsp;</a>should be considered a national emergency. The U.S. Education Department has pointed to the distribution of the relief money as an opportunity to rethink how schools provide mental health support. Mental well-being, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has said, needs to be the foundation for the recovery from the pandemic.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemic-aid-public-school-funding-346d3d4b86f904184e357c34c9754800">pandemic relief to schools totals $190 billion</a>, more than four times the amount the Education Department typically spends on K-12 schools annually. Mental health investments have gone into staff training, wellness screenings and curriculum dedicated to social-emotional learning.

Still, questions remain over how schools will find ways to make the benefits last beyond the one-time infusion of money, handle privacy concerns, and track the effectiveness of their efforts. The implementation worries Katie Dockweiler, a school psychologist in Nevada who sits on the state board of education.

“Not all programs are created equal,” she said. “It really comes down to how it’s implemented, school by school. And there’s great variability there.”

She said districts should develop ways of tracking the impact on students: “Otherwise, we’re just throwing our money away.”

At the top of the list for many districts has been hiring new mental health specialists. When the National Association of School Psychologists surveyed members this fall, more than half of respondents said their districts intended to add social workers, psychologists, or counselors, according to policy director Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach.

With $9.5 million from federal relief funding and outside grant money, Paterson schools added five behavioral analysts, two substance abuse coordinators, and the teams to spot students going through crises.

In Paterson, one of the lowest-income parts of New Jersey, many of the 25,000 students faced food insecurity before the pandemic and struggled after family members lost jobs, Superintendent Eileen Shafer said.

“We wanted to make sure before we try to teach anything new, that we’re able to deal with where our children are right now based on what they’ve been through,” she said.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — In Kansas City, Kansas, educators are opening an after-school mental health clinic staffed with school counselors and social workers. Schools in Paterson, New Jersey, have set up social emotional learning teams to identify students dealing with crises. Chicago is staffing up “care teams” with the mission of helping struggling students on its 500-plus campuses.With a windfall of federal coronavirus relief money at hand, schools across the U.S. are using portions to quickly expand their capacity to address students’ struggles with mental health.While school districts have broad latitude on how to spend the aid money, the urgency of the problem has been driven home by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/27/22691601/student-behavior-stress-trauma-return" target="_blank">absenteeism, behavioral issues, and quieter signs of distress&nbsp;</a>as many students have returned to school buildings this fall for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit.For some school systems, the money has boosted long-standing work to help students cope with trauma. Others have launched new efforts to screen, counsel and treat students. All told, the investments put public schools more than ever at the center of efforts to attend to students’ overall well-being.“In the last recession, with the last big chunk of recovery money, this conversation wasn’t happening,” said Amanda Fitzgerald, the assistant director of the American School Counselor Association. “Now, the tone across the country is very focused on the well-being of students.”Last month, three major pediatric groups said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-cf6997107e7991393c70dd62ddbd196e">the state of children’s mental health&nbsp;</a>should be considered a national emergency. The U.S. Education Department has pointed to the distribution of the relief money as an opportunity to rethink how schools provide mental health support. Mental well-being, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has said, needs to be the foundation for the recovery from the pandemic.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemic-aid-public-school-funding-346d3d4b86f904184e357c34c9754800">pandemic relief to schools totals $190 billion</a>, more than four times the amount the Education Department typically spends on K-12 schools annually. Mental health investments have gone into staff training, wellness screenings and curriculum dedicated to social-emotional learning.Still, questions remain over how schools will find ways to make the benefits last beyond the one-time infusion of money, handle privacy concerns, and track the effectiveness of their efforts. The implementation worries Katie Dockweiler, a school psychologist in Nevada who sits on the state board of education.“Not all programs are created equal,” she said. “It really comes down to how it’s implemented, school by school. And there’s great variability there.”She said districts should develop ways of tracking the impact on students: “Otherwise, we’re just throwing our money away.”At the top of the list for many districts has been hiring new mental health specialists. When the National Association of School Psychologists surveyed members this fall, more than half of respondents said their districts intended to add social workers, psychologists, or counselors, according to policy director Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach.With $9.5 million from federal relief funding and outside grant money, Paterson schools added five behavioral analysts, two substance abuse coordinators, and the teams to spot students going through crises.In Paterson, one of the lowest-income parts of New Jersey, many of the 25,000 students faced food insecurity before the pandemic and struggled after family members lost jobs, Superintendent Eileen Shafer said.“We wanted to make sure before we try to teach anything new, that we’re able to deal with where our children are right now based on what they’ve been through,” she said.In rural Ellicottville, New York, where school psychologist Joe Prior is seeing more anxiety and a “significant increase” in panic attacks, the district wants to use rescue funds to hire a counselor to connect students with psychological help. But the position remains unfilled, as few expressed interest.“I have more students just looking me in the eye and saying ‘I’m completely overwhelmed and I’m not sure how to handle it,’” Ellicottville high school principal Erich Ploetz said.It’s not the only district where ambitions for hiring have outstripped the number of available professionals. Some districts have turned to outside vendors to help fill mental health positions, while others are training existing staff.The Kansas City, Kansas, school system is using some of the $918,000 in relief money dedicated to mental health to pay social workers and counselors already on staff to work at the new after-school clinic. The district also has added staff and mental health screenings.Angela Dunn, who leads the 22,000-student district’s mental health and suicide prevention initiatives, said the mental health team has responded to 27 student deaths and 16 staff deaths since the pandemic started, double what is typical during that period. She said a handful of staff members died of COVID-19, but many of the others were homicides, suicides and overdoses.The investments by schools in student mental health services have raised some privacy concerns, especially where schools are now monitoring student computers for distress signals or administering mental health screenings to all students. But the idea that it’s not the place of schools to involve themselves at all has receded.“We just recognized that students are comfortable seeking help in a school setting,” Dunn said.Chicago, the nation’s third-largest school district, unveiled a “healing plan” for students, using $24 million of its $2.6 billion in stimulus funds.Over three years, the district will expand “care teams” — building staff who serve as the frontline response for struggling students — to each campus. The goal is to reach 200 schools by spring.High school principal Angélica Altamirano used some of that funding to open a space outfitted with cozy furniture and a hand-me-down air hockey table. Already, the campus center has offered grief groups for students whose family members or friends have died and helped teachers dealing with burnout.In Topeka, Kansas, $100,000 was budgeted for calming items and staff for sensory rooms, including one at Quincy Elementary. When students get so frustrated that they put their heads down on their desk, or wander into the hallway or cry, teachers can send them to the Roadrunner Room. There, they can climb into a tent and snuggle under a weighted blanket, put a puzzle together, play with sand or build with Legos.Dean of students Andrea Keck has watched the room become a go-to place for one student to work out frustrations.“She can journal it, get her hair put up, whatever she needs, and then she is successful the rest of the day,” said Keck, who oversees the room.In Detroit, the district is spending $34 million on mental health initiatives, including screening students, expanding help from outside mental health providers, and offering extra support to parents.On a recent Wednesday, that meant an hourlong meditation session for parents at a local coffee shop. One attendee worried her own stress was affecting her son’s ability to learn.“As a community we have all been through something,” said Sharlonda Buckman, an assistant superintendent who participated in the session. “Part of recovery has to be some intentional work in spaces like this, so we can be there for our kids.”