BBB is receiving several reports from seniors reporting that they are receiving <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21903-scam-alert-mandatory-covid-19-test-texts-are-a-scam" target="_blank">text messages from scammers</a>
 posing as the U.S. Department of Health, about taking a mandatory 
online COVID-19 test in order to receive the recently approved stimulus 
payment. Others are receiving emails stating they qualify for a payment 
and to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21774-scam-alert-government-relief-checks-trigger-latest-coronavirus-scam" target="_blank">click on a link to claim a check</a>.
 During this time of uncertainty, it is the ideal time for a scammer to 
prey on fear. The bottom-line is don’t respond to a text, email or phone
 call from a sender that is unfamiliar, even if it looks official or 
from a respected agency.

These schemes often manifest as someone impersonating a respected 
agency or government entity, like the Social Security Administration or 
police, insisting a potential victim act immediately or face 
consequences. In fact, a <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21781-coronavirus-creates-perfect-storm-for-scammers" target="_blank">research report</a>
 released by the Better Business Bureau, FINRA Investor Education 
Foundation, and the Stanford Center on Longevity found that the top 
reason people said they lose money was because the scammer “seemed 
official.”

Seniors aged 65 and over reported losing a median of $350 last year 
when falling victim to a scam – which is more than double the loss 
across all age groups ($160). However, seniors 65 and older are more 
likely to walk away from a scam and avoid financial loss, with one in 
four seniors reporting a loss this past year (versus one in three across
 all ages).

With the current coronavirus pandemic, scammers will constantly 
change their tactics to catch people off guard. Here are some tips for 
seniors to protect against scams:

Learn more about COVID-19 scams at <a href="https://www.BBB.org/coronavirus" target="_blank">BBB.org/coronavirus</a>, and review reports from other consumers at <a href="https://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker.</a> You can help protect your friends and family by passing on what you’ve learned!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Better Business BureauBBB is receiving several reports from seniors reporting that they are receiving <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21903-scam-alert-mandatory-covid-19-test-texts-are-a-scam" target="_blank">text messages from scammers</a>
 posing as the U.S. Department of Health, about taking a mandatory 
online COVID-19 test in order to receive the recently approved stimulus 
payment. Others are receiving emails stating they qualify for a payment 
and to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21774-scam-alert-government-relief-checks-trigger-latest-coronavirus-scam" target="_blank">click on a link to claim a check</a>.
 During this time of uncertainty, it is the ideal time for a scammer to 
prey on fear. The bottom-line is don’t respond to a text, email or phone
 call from a sender that is unfamiliar, even if it looks official or 
from a respected agency.These schemes often manifest as someone impersonating a respected 
agency or government entity, like the Social Security Administration or 
police, insisting a potential victim act immediately or face 
consequences. In fact, a <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21781-coronavirus-creates-perfect-storm-for-scammers" target="_blank">research report</a>
 released by the Better Business Bureau, FINRA Investor Education 
Foundation, and the Stanford Center on Longevity found that the top 
reason people said they lose money was because the scammer “seemed 
official.”Seniors aged 65 and over reported losing a median of $350 last year 
when falling victim to a scam – which is more than double the loss 
across all age groups ($160). However, seniors 65 and older are more 
likely to walk away from a scam and avoid financial loss, with one in 
four seniors reporting a loss this past year (versus one in three across
 all ages).With the current coronavirus pandemic, scammers will constantly 
change their tactics to catch people off guard. Here are some tips for 
seniors to protect against scams:<ul>
 <li>Don’t be afraid to contact someone. Reach out to a 
family member, neighbor, or a company or organization you trust for 
advice. Research shows that individuals that are living alone, widowed, 
or those feeling isolated from others are more likely to engage with and
 lose money to scammers. If a scammer tries to keep you on the phone or 
rush you to a decision, hang up and ask someone for advice. </li><li>Avoid “miracle” product claims that can protect you
 or your home from disease. Companies targeting older consumers with 
products and services claiming to protect from diseases like COVID-19 
are shams without a proven cure. Don’t just believe testimonials on a 
company’s website; instead, research the company and product through 
trusted organizations like the <a href="https://www.bbb.org">Better Business Bureau</a>. </li><li>Be wary of offers sounding too good to be true. 
They won’t help you get ahead. Scammers look for individuals looking to 
“catch up” or “get ahead” financially, and if your retirement was 
affected by the market's ups and downs – don’t panic. Periods of high 
emotion are rarely the right time to re-evaluate your financial future. 
Instead, take a deep breath and contact a trustworthy broker or <a href="http://www.bbb.org/near-me/financial-planning-consultants" target="_blank">financial advisor</a>. </li><li>Be smart and aware. Knowing about the scams out 
there significantly reduces the likelihood of financial loss. When 
someone contacts you about an “amazing opportunity,” it’s easier to 
separate fact from fiction.</li>
 </ul>Learn more about COVID-19 scams at <a href="https://www.BBB.org/coronavirus" target="_blank">BBB.org/coronavirus</a>, and review reports from other consumers at <a href="https://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker.</a> You can help protect your friends and family by passing on what you’ve learned!Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Pandemic scams increasingly targeting US seniors

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Wichita say one woman has died and another has been wounded in a shooting outside a home. 

Police say the shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Sunday just west of Highland Cemetery following a disturbance. Arriving officers found two women who had been shot in front of a home. 

Both were rushed to a hospital, where one of the women died from her injuries. Police have not released the women's names. Wichita Police Lt. Roderick Miller told television station KAKE that investigators were interviewing neighbors and the surviving woman to learn more details of the shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636386789329.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police in Wichita say one woman has died and another has been wounded in a shooting outside a home. Police say the shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Sunday just west of Highland Cemetery following a disturbance. Arriving officers found two women who had been shot in front of a home. Both were rushed to a hospital, where one of the women died from her injuries. Police have not released the women's names. Wichita Police Lt. Roderick Miller told television station KAKE that investigators were interviewing neighbors and the surviving woman to learn more details of the shooting.

Police: 2 women found shot outside Kansas home

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka man convicted of fleeing from police that led to another driver's death has been sentenced to life in prison. Brandon Jordan was sentenced Friday in the death of 69-year-old Dennis Affolter of Topeka. 

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said the chase in November 2019 began after officers received a report of a man trying to pass forged checks at a Topeka bank. 

The suspect's car eventually ran a red light and hit a vehicle driven by Affolter, who later died of his injuries. Jordan was convicted in August of first-degree murder and several other charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573558827876.png" alt="Brandon Jordan-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Brandon Jordan-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka man convicted of fleeing from police that led to another driver's death has been sentenced to life in prison. Brandon Jordan was sentenced Friday in the death of 69-year-old Dennis Affolter of Topeka. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said the chase in November 2019 began after officers received a report of a man trying to pass forged checks at a Topeka bank. The suspect's car eventually ran a red light and hit a vehicle driven by Affolter, who later died of his injuries. Jordan was convicted in August of first-degree murder and several other charges.

Life in prison for man's death during Kan. police chase

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a violent attack on a woman.

At 2:30p.m. September 17, officers responded to a disturbance at a residence in the 1000 block North 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

EMS transported a 36-year-old woman from the scene to the hospital for injuries incurred during the disturbance. 

A 34-year-old suspect had left the area and not located. It was determined that the suspect had struck the victim with his hands and feet and struck the victim in the head with a baseball bat.

On Friday, police arrested Anthony M. Barnhart, 34, Atchison, on a District Court warrant and requested charges of aggravated battery, domestic battery and criminal threat, according to Wilson.

Authorities have arrested Barnhart six times over the past two years, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636138280692.png" alt="Barnhart-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Barnhart-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a violent attack on a woman.At 2:30p.m. September 17, officers responded to a disturbance at a residence in the 1000 block North 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.EMS transported a 36-year-old woman from the scene to the hospital for injuries incurred during the disturbance. A 34-year-old suspect had left the area and not located. It was determined that the suspect had struck the victim with his hands and feet and struck the victim in the head with a baseball bat.On Friday, police arrested Anthony M. Barnhart, 34, Atchison, on a District Court warrant and requested charges of aggravated battery, domestic battery and criminal threat, according to Wilson.Authorities have arrested Barnhart six times over the past two years, according to online jail records.

Police: Kan. man used baseball bat in violent attack on woman

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

&nbsp;Just after 7:30p.m. on September 1, police were dispatched to the 1300 Block of SW Huntoon Street in Topeka in reference to a shooting that had just occurred, according to Lt. Edward Stanley.

 Officers arrived and found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.&nbsp;

Thanks to citizen tips on Crime Stoppers, the photos of the suspect were identified as Adofo-Julius Smith, 19, of Topeka.&nbsp; On Friday, police located Smith, also due to a Crime Stopper tip, and arrested him, according to Lt. Stanley. 

Smith is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Criminal Possession of a firearm, Unlawful Discharge of a weapon and interference with a Law Enforcement Officer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636230099834.png" alt="Smith-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have a suspect in custody.&nbsp;Just after 7:30p.m. on September 1, police were dispatched to the 1300 Block of SW Huntoon Street in Topeka in reference to a shooting that had just occurred, according to Lt. Edward Stanley. Officers arrived and found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.&nbsp;Thanks to citizen tips on Crime Stoppers, the photos of the suspect were identified as Adofo-Julius Smith, 19, of Topeka.&nbsp; On Friday, police located Smith, also due to a Crime Stopper tip, and arrested him, according to Lt. Stanley. Smith is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Criminal Possession of a firearm, Unlawful Discharge of a weapon and interference with a Law Enforcement Officer.

Tip leads police to ID and arrest of Kan. shooting suspect 

PHILLIPS COUNTY — A Nebraska man drowned Saturday in Phillips County.

Just after 5 p.m. Saturday, the Phillips County Sheriff's Department received a 911 call of a possible drowning at Kirwin National Refuge, according to a statement made on Facebook Sunday afternoon.

"Phillips County Sheriff's Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kirwin Fire Department and Phillips County EMS responded and began recovery operations. The search was discontinued at approximately 11:00 p.m," the announcement said.

"The search resumed this morning with the assistance of the Mitchell County Dive Team which resulted in the recovery of the victim in approximately 20 feet of water at approximately 12:40 p.m."

According to the statement, David J. Bruce, 61, Beatrice, Neb., had been fishing and went ashore.

"While on shore, the boat drifted out into the water and Bruce attempted to swim to it," the announcement said. "Bruce was unable to reach the boat, went under the water and didn't resurface. A companion alerted other boaters in the area who called 911."

PHILLIPS COUNTY — A Nebraska man drowned Saturday in Phillips County.Just after 5 p.m. Saturday, the Phillips County Sheriff's Department received a 911 call of a possible drowning at Kirwin National Refuge, according to a statement made on Facebook Sunday afternoon."Phillips County Sheriff's Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kirwin Fire Department and Phillips County EMS responded and began recovery operations. The search was discontinued at approximately 11:00 p.m," the announcement said."The search resumed this morning with the assistance of the Mitchell County Dive Team which resulted in the recovery of the victim in approximately 20 feet of water at approximately 12:40 p.m."According to the statement, David J. Bruce, 61, Beatrice, Neb., had been fishing and went ashore."While on shore, the boat drifted out into the water and Bruce attempted to swim to it," the announcement said. "Bruce was unable to reach the boat, went under the water and didn't resurface. A companion alerted other boaters in the area who called 911."

Sheriff IDs man who drowned at Kansas reservoir

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — As COVID-19 ravaged Hungary in April, Budapest resident Akos Sipos received his second vaccine dose, believing he was doing the right thing for his own health and to help end the pandemic.

But Sipos, 46, soon discovered that the vaccine he received, Russia’s Sputnik V, disqualified him from traveling to a number of other countries where it hadn’t been approved. The nations include the United States, which is pushing forward with a new air travel policy that will make Sipos and many like him ineligible to enter.

“I thought it’s better to get Sputnik today than a Western vaccine at some uncertain future time,” Sipos, who works as a search engine optimization specialist, said of his initial decision to receive the jab. “But I couldn’t have known at that time that I wouldn’t be able to travel with Sputnik.”

Starting Monday, the United States plans to reopen to foreign travelers who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. But there’s a catch: non-immigrant adults need to have received vaccines authorized by the Food and Drug Administration or which received an emergency use listing from the World Health Organization.

That leaves many hopeful travelers across the globe who have taken full courses of vaccines widely used in other parts of the world — Sputnik V and the China-produced CanSino jab, in particular — scrambling to get reinoculated with shots approved by U.S. authorities.

Two other Chinese vaccines, Sinopharm and Sinovac, have been approved by the WHO and will thus be accepted for travel into the U.S.

Mexico received nearly 12 million doses of CanSino and almost 20 million of Sputnik V after shipments began earlier this year. Residents who got the required two shots of those vaccines now are looking to top up with shots of the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccines, hoping that will make them eligible to cross the border.

“They screwed those of us who got this vaccine,” said Rosenda Ruiz, 52, a public relations manager in Mexico City who received Sputnik V. “There are lots of Mexicans who want to travel, but we can’t. I am thinking of getting whatever other vaccine I can get.”

While Sputnik V is used in around 70 countries worldwide, it has still not been approved by either the FDA or the U.N. health agency. Nearly 1 million people have received the vaccine in Hungary, a Central European country of around 10 million.

Hungary was one of only two countries in the 27-member European Union to roll out the Russian vaccine. Fewer than 20,000 people received it in Slovakia.

Judit Molnar, president of the Association of Hungarian Travel Agencies, says so many Hungarians being unable to travel to the United States — or even to some countries in the EU which don’t accept the jab — has had an effect on her industry.

“We see that in the last few months, travelers are increasingly asking us when they can travel to America,” said Molnar, who is also president of the OTP Travel agency.

“These travelers are saying they really hope the situation will change and that the United States will accept the Sputnik vaccine. There are many people who would like to travel and in Hungary, many people were vaccinated with Sputnik,” she said.

Citizens of Russia, where use of Sputnik V is most widespread, also are seeking Western-approved shots so they can travel abroad. Faced with the prospect of being turned away from flights, Russians have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-russia-travel-serbia-sputnik-v-02aa2bc49d00299493aa46c1af5e15a2">booked tours to Serbia</a>, which has authorized use of the Pfizer-BioNTech, China’s Sinopharm and the AstraZeneca vaccines in addition to Sputnik V.

Russia, which unveiled Sputnik V with much fanfare as the world’s first registered vaccine in August 2020, criticized U.S. plans to leave the vaccine off its list of approved shots.

“There are exactly zero reasons for such decisions,” Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the foreign relations committee in the Russian Duma, or lower house of parliament. “The effectiveness and safety of the Sputnik V vaccine has been proven not only by specialists, but also by its practical application.”

But the World Health Organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-world-health-organization-europe-russia-3e8159d00b525c187864f8b68252691e">still is reviewing the vaccine</a>, and months of holdups make it unclear when Sputnik V might receive an emergency use listing.

Hungary’s government has made bilateral agreements with 24 countries — including Russia, Serbia, Mongolia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan — on mutually recognizing proof of vaccination, regardless of vaccine type.

Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Associated Press that it is open to a similar agreement with the United States, but “currently there is no ongoing negotiation.”

Sipos, the search engine specialist, said that while he was confident in Sputnik V’s efficacy, he recently sought a Western-approved booster shot, Moderna, so he could travel where he wants.

“I felt deceived because they accept Sputnik in more than 60 countries in the world, but in tons of other countries they don’t,” he said.

Silvia Morales, 38, a public high school teacher in Monterrey, Mexico, said she recently received a Moderna shot after hearing that the U.S. government wouldn’t recognize her CanSino vaccine.

She said she “needed to have peace of mind” about her level of protection against the virus.

“But I also love traveling to the United States,” she said.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — As COVID-19 ravaged Hungary in April, Budapest resident Akos Sipos received his second vaccine dose, believing he was doing the right thing for his own health and to help end the pandemic.But Sipos, 46, soon discovered that the vaccine he received, Russia’s Sputnik V, disqualified him from traveling to a number of other countries where it hadn’t been approved. The nations include the United States, which is pushing forward with a new air travel policy that will make Sipos and many like him ineligible to enter.“I thought it’s better to get Sputnik today than a Western vaccine at some uncertain future time,” Sipos, who works as a search engine optimization specialist, said of his initial decision to receive the jab. “But I couldn’t have known at that time that I wouldn’t be able to travel with Sputnik.”Starting Monday, the United States plans to reopen to foreign travelers who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. But there’s a catch: non-immigrant adults need to have received vaccines authorized by the Food and Drug Administration or which received an emergency use listing from the World Health Organization.That leaves many hopeful travelers across the globe who have taken full courses of vaccines widely used in other parts of the world — Sputnik V and the China-produced CanSino jab, in particular — scrambling to get reinoculated with shots approved by U.S. authorities.Two other Chinese vaccines, Sinopharm and Sinovac, have been approved by the WHO and will thus be accepted for travel into the U.S.Mexico received nearly 12 million doses of CanSino and almost 20 million of Sputnik V after shipments began earlier this year. Residents who got the required two shots of those vaccines now are looking to top up with shots of the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccines, hoping that will make them eligible to cross the border.“They screwed those of us who got this vaccine,” said Rosenda Ruiz, 52, a public relations manager in Mexico City who received Sputnik V. “There are lots of Mexicans who want to travel, but we can’t. I am thinking of getting whatever other vaccine I can get.”While Sputnik V is used in around 70 countries worldwide, it has still not been approved by either the FDA or the U.N. health agency. Nearly 1 million people have received the vaccine in Hungary, a Central European country of around 10 million.Hungary was one of only two countries in the 27-member European Union to roll out the Russian vaccine. Fewer than 20,000 people received it in Slovakia.Judit Molnar, president of the Association of Hungarian Travel Agencies, says so many Hungarians being unable to travel to the United States — or even to some countries in the EU which don’t accept the jab — has had an effect on her industry.“We see that in the last few months, travelers are increasingly asking us when they can travel to America,” said Molnar, who is also president of the OTP Travel agency.“These travelers are saying they really hope the situation will change and that the United States will accept the Sputnik vaccine. There are many people who would like to travel and in Hungary, many people were vaccinated with Sputnik,” she said.Citizens of Russia, where use of Sputnik V is most widespread, also are seeking Western-approved shots so they can travel abroad. Faced with the prospect of being turned away from flights, Russians have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-russia-travel-serbia-sputnik-v-02aa2bc49d00299493aa46c1af5e15a2">booked tours to Serbia</a>, which has authorized use of the Pfizer-BioNTech, China’s Sinopharm and the AstraZeneca vaccines in addition to Sputnik V.Russia, which unveiled Sputnik V with much fanfare as the world’s first registered vaccine in August 2020, criticized U.S. plans to leave the vaccine off its list of approved shots.“There are exactly zero reasons for such decisions,” Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the foreign relations committee in the Russian Duma, or lower house of parliament. “The effectiveness and safety of the Sputnik V vaccine has been proven not only by specialists, but also by its practical application.”But the World Health Organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-world-health-organization-europe-russia-3e8159d00b525c187864f8b68252691e">still is reviewing the vaccine</a>, and months of holdups make it unclear when Sputnik V might receive an emergency use listing.Hungary’s government has made bilateral agreements with 24 countries — including Russia, Serbia, Mongolia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan — on mutually recognizing proof of vaccination, regardless of vaccine type.Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Associated Press that it is open to a similar agreement with the United States, but “currently there is no ongoing negotiation.”Sipos, the search engine specialist, said that while he was confident in Sputnik V’s efficacy, he recently sought a Western-approved booster shot, Moderna, so he could travel where he wants.“I felt deceived because they accept Sputnik in more than 60 countries in the world, but in tons of other countries they don’t,” he said.Silvia Morales, 38, a public high school teacher in Monterrey, Mexico, said she recently received a Moderna shot after hearing that the U.S. government wouldn’t recognize her CanSino vaccine.She said she “needed to have peace of mind” about her level of protection against the virus.“But I also love traveling to the United States,” she said.___

Foreign citizens seek US-approved shots as travel resumes

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/03/kansas-foster-care-system-isnt-following-family-first-imperative-advocates-parents-argue/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — In 21 years working with 
incarcerated mothers and grandmothers, Dani Hulings has seen how the 
Kansas foster care system can often shut out parents and their families 
from the placement process.

Hulings, a coordinator for the 
Offender Family Reintegration Services at the Topeka Correctional 
Facility, meets with approximately 67 of these mothers as part of the 
Women’s Activity Learning Center program. Those 67 mothers have 122 
children currently in the foster care system.

Many of the women, who often lack 
external support, are not being given a fair shot to keep a familial 
connection with their child, Hulings said. She said people have a 
misconception that these mothers are only sober because they are in 
jail.

“I see the women through their sober 
eyes and see that they are truly giving it their all to maintain their 
parental rights,” Hulings said. Those who are sober here are that way 
because they make the conscious decision to be.”

Hulings provided her perspective on 
the failings of the beleaguered Kansas foster care system on Wednesday 
to the Joint Committee on the Child Welfare System. While governmental 
agencies and foster care providers say the goal is to keep families 
together, Hulings, parents and other stakeholders say this is often not 
how things play out.

In Hulings’ experience, for example, 
once a woman becomes incarcerated, reintegration usually gets sidelined 
and parental rights are almost assuredly terminated. She said this goes 
against the principle of supporting a family-first approach with 
children before placing them in foster care.

In many cases, children in the foster
 care system will go through three to five caseworkers in a year and 
several placements, Hulings said. Rather than focus on placing a child 
into foster care, the state ought to focus on truly keeping children in 
the family and addressing the root cause of the incarcerated women’s 
difficulties, like a growing drug epidemic.

“The majority of the women I assist 
here have an underlying drug problem and, in some cases, prison saved 
their lives,” Hulings said. “Once they are incarcerated and able to 
focus on drug rehabilitation and trauma issues, a new door opens for 
them to see life differently. They just needed someone to give them a 
chance to work on themselves.”

Legislators on the panel noted this view of incarcerated mothers is not often highlighted during their committee hearings.

Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, 
said incarceration often cuts the moms off from outside resources, 
leaving them unable to fight for their parental rights and show their 
efforts to adequately parent their child.

“We have a very lackluster skills 
program for the women in the adult custody to develop skills for 
meaningful job opportunities,” Baumgardner said. “How might we make 
things more consistent for women that are incarcerated and afford them 
the same leeway that seems to be occurring outside of the incarcerated 
foster system?”

Three parents — Tobin Hoffman, Randy 
Pruett and Raymond Sipult — whose children entered the foster care 
system at one point, testified about what needed to be changed to 
prevent families from being left out of the process. Hoffman said he and
 30 members of his family showed up to the custody hearing, but even 
then, the state chose to place his son into foster care.

“You have agencies that are not 
following the laws and policies that were set forth by the Kansas 
lawmakers,” Hoffman said. “I want an independent entity to be able to 
have the community review their practices to make sure they are 
following the appropriate guidelines for families.”

Mary Dean, president of Kansas 
Justice Advocate, also noted that Black children are reintegrated at a 
disproportionately lower rate than other demographics. She said Black 
children are also over-represented in foster care nationally at a rate 
more than twice their proportion in the U.S. child population.

Black children are four times more likely to be placed in the state’s care, she said.

“I get phone calls regularly from 
parents and grandparents about issues, especially when it comes to 
having their children taken away from them because of their situations,”
 Dean said. “Black cultures are different from a lot of cultures and 
that’s something that it would appear that some social workers are not 
willing to understand. They don’t care.”

Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora, said 
there is a larger issue with people conflating having limited space in 
their living arrangements with a parental inability to care for their 
children. Gossage pointed to her own upbringing as one of 15 children 
growing up on a farm with tight living quarters.

She also said cultural differences might be at play, especially if the people making custody decisions were raised in homes where there were three bathrooms and everybody had their own bedroom.

“They don’t understand that these are
 people that maybe can benefit from some free clothing or some help with
 food, but can still take care of their families,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636051463799.png" alt="Dani Hulings said work with incarcerated mothers revealed a foster care system struggling to keep children with their families. Focus should be on rehabilitating the parents and reuniting them with their children, she said. (Screenshot of Kansas Legislature Youtube)" />
 <figcaption>Dani Hulings said work with incarcerated mothers revealed a foster care system struggling to keep children with their families. Focus should be on rehabilitating the parents and reuniting them with their children, she said. (Screenshot of Kansas Legislature Youtube)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/03/kansas-foster-care-system-isnt-following-family-first-imperative-advocates-parents-argue/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — In 21 years working with 
incarcerated mothers and grandmothers, Dani Hulings has seen how the 
Kansas foster care system can often shut out parents and their families 
from the placement process.Hulings, a coordinator for the 
Offender Family Reintegration Services at the Topeka Correctional 
Facility, meets with approximately 67 of these mothers as part of the 
Women’s Activity Learning Center program. Those 67 mothers have 122 
children currently in the foster care system.Many of the women, who often lack 
external support, are not being given a fair shot to keep a familial 
connection with their child, Hulings said. She said people have a 
misconception that these mothers are only sober because they are in 
jail.“I see the women through their sober 
eyes and see that they are truly giving it their all to maintain their 
parental rights,” Hulings said. Those who are sober here are that way 
because they make the conscious decision to be.”Hulings provided her perspective on 
the failings of the beleaguered Kansas foster care system on Wednesday 
to the Joint Committee on the Child Welfare System. While governmental 
agencies and foster care providers say the goal is to keep families 
together, Hulings, parents and other stakeholders say this is often not 
how things play out.In Hulings’ experience, for example, 
once a woman becomes incarcerated, reintegration usually gets sidelined 
and parental rights are almost assuredly terminated. She said this goes 
against the principle of supporting a family-first approach with 
children before placing them in foster care.In many cases, children in the foster
 care system will go through three to five caseworkers in a year and 
several placements, Hulings said. Rather than focus on placing a child 
into foster care, the state ought to focus on truly keeping children in 
the family and addressing the root cause of the incarcerated women’s 
difficulties, like a growing drug epidemic.“The majority of the women I assist 
here have an underlying drug problem and, in some cases, prison saved 
their lives,” Hulings said. “Once they are incarcerated and able to 
focus on drug rehabilitation and trauma issues, a new door opens for 
them to see life differently. They just needed someone to give them a 
chance to work on themselves.”Legislators on the panel noted this view of incarcerated mothers is not often highlighted during their committee hearings.Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, 
said incarceration often cuts the moms off from outside resources, 
leaving them unable to fight for their parental rights and show their 
efforts to adequately parent their child.“We have a very lackluster skills 
program for the women in the adult custody to develop skills for 
meaningful job opportunities,” Baumgardner said. “How might we make 
things more consistent for women that are incarcerated and afford them 
the same leeway that seems to be occurring outside of the incarcerated 
foster system?”Three parents — Tobin Hoffman, Randy 
Pruett and Raymond Sipult — whose children entered the foster care 
system at one point, testified about what needed to be changed to 
prevent families from being left out of the process. Hoffman said he and
 30 members of his family showed up to the custody hearing, but even 
then, the state chose to place his son into foster care.“You have agencies that are not 
following the laws and policies that were set forth by the Kansas 
lawmakers,” Hoffman said. “I want an independent entity to be able to 
have the community review their practices to make sure they are 
following the appropriate guidelines for families.”Mary Dean, president of Kansas 
Justice Advocate, also noted that Black children are reintegrated at a 
disproportionately lower rate than other demographics. She said Black 
children are also over-represented in foster care nationally at a rate 
more than twice their proportion in the U.S. child population.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636051536689.jpeg" alt="Sen. Beverly Gossage said many who grow up with ample living space misunderstand that less space doesn’t equal an inability to care for children. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Beverly Gossage said many who grow up with ample living space misunderstand that less space doesn’t equal an inability to care for children. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Black children are four times more likely to be placed in the state’s care, she said.“I get phone calls regularly from 
parents and grandparents about issues, especially when it comes to 
having their children taken away from them because of their situations,”
 Dean said. “Black cultures are different from a lot of cultures and 
that’s something that it would appear that some social workers are not 
willing to understand. They don’t care.”Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora, said 
there is a larger issue with people conflating having limited space in 
their living arrangements with a parental inability to care for their 
children. Gossage pointed to her own upbringing as one of 15 children 
growing up on a farm with tight living quarters.She also said cultural differences might be at play, especially if the people making custody decisions were raised in homes where there were three bathrooms and everybody had their own bedroom.“They don’t understand that these are
 people that maybe can benefit from some free clothing or some help with
 food, but can still take care of their families,” she said.

Advocates: Kan. foster care system isn’t following family-first imperative

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Roman Catholic priest facing child pornography charges in&nbsp;Rhode Island&nbsp;was released on unsecured bond and will be allowed to travel to&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;to stay with a family member while he awaits trial.

The Rev. James W. Jackson, 66, made an initial appearance in federal court in Providence on Wednesday.

Prosecutors sought to have Jackson detained, saying he was a flight risk and a danger to the community. But Jackson will be allowed to travel to Kansas with home detention and GPS monitoring. Authorities did not specify exactly where in Kansas he would stay.

Jackson was arrested on Saturday by state police after a court-authorized search warrant was executed at St. Mary's church and rectory in Providence.

According to an affidavit, the investigation began on Sept. 4 after police identified an IP address sharing files of “child sexual abuse materials” through a peer-to-peer network.

The IP address was linked to St. Mary’s, according to authorities.

Investigators found hundreds of images and videos of child pornography on an external hard drive owned by Jackson, according to court documents. An email seeking comment was left with Jackson's attorney.

Diocese of Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin in an earlier statement said Jackson has been prohibited from performing the duties of a priest.

Jackson came to the diocese in August from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, which has cared for St. Mary's since June 2018. He had previously passed a background check, the organization said.

Jackson also faces arraignment on related state charges on Nov. 15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636050976552.png" alt="Jackson photo&nbsp;Rhode Island State Police" />
 <figcaption>Jackson photo&nbsp;Rhode Island State Police</figcaption>
 </figure>PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Roman Catholic priest facing child pornography charges in&nbsp;Rhode Island&nbsp;was released on unsecured bond and will be allowed to travel to&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;to stay with a family member while he awaits trial.The Rev. James W. Jackson, 66, made an initial appearance in federal court in Providence on Wednesday.Prosecutors sought to have Jackson detained, saying he was a flight risk and a danger to the community. But Jackson will be allowed to travel to Kansas with home detention and GPS monitoring. Authorities did not specify exactly where in Kansas he would stay.Jackson was arrested on Saturday by state police after a court-authorized search warrant was executed at St. Mary's church and rectory in Providence.According to an affidavit, the investigation began on Sept. 4 after police identified an IP address sharing files of “child sexual abuse materials” through a peer-to-peer network.The IP address was linked to St. Mary’s, according to authorities.Investigators found hundreds of images and videos of child pornography on an external hard drive owned by Jackson, according to court documents. An email seeking comment was left with Jackson's attorney.Diocese of Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin in an earlier statement said Jackson has been prohibited from performing the duties of a priest.Jackson came to the diocese in August from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, which has cared for St. Mary's since June 2018. He had previously passed a background check, the organization said.Jackson also faces arraignment on related state charges on Nov. 15.

Priest had 'hundreds' of child porn images, will await trial in Kan.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 1a.m. Sunday in Shawnee County.

&nbsp;A 2011 GMC Sierra pickup driven by Chase A. Barfoot, 28, Topeka, was westbound in the 2700 Block of SE 61st Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The pickup left the road to the north, struck multiple objects including trees, culverts and a telephone pole.

Barfoot was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff's department released no additional details. The incident is still under investigation.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 1a.m. Sunday in Shawnee County.&nbsp;A 2011 GMC Sierra pickup driven by Chase A. Barfoot, 28, Topeka, was westbound in the 2700 Block of SE 61st Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The pickup left the road to the north, struck multiple objects including trees, culverts and a telephone pole.Barfoot was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff's department released no additional details. The incident is still under investigation.

Kansas man dies after violent pickup crash

KANSAS CITY (AP) — More than two dozen Republican-led states filed lawsuits Friday challenging President Joe Biden’s vaccine requirement for private companies, setting up a high-stakes legal showdown pitting federal authority against states’ rights.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Saturday granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4, or face mask requirements and weekly tests.&nbsp;&nbsp; The government must provide an expedited reply to the motion for a permanent injunction Monday.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-employer-mandates-us-29c2262c336bcfc38da2d14b251daf51">requirement issued Thursday by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration</a>&nbsp;applies to businesses with more than 100 employees. The lawsuits ask courts to decide whether the administration’s effort to curtail the pandemic represents a federal power grab and usurps the authority of states to set health policy.

At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule.

“This mandate is unconstitutional, unlawful, and unwise,” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said in a court filing in the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of 11 states.

The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-6e758dc5e24320677e48f58cbfca37bf">has been encouraging widespread vaccinations</a>&nbsp;as the quickest way out of the pandemic. A White House spokeswoman said Thursday that the mandate was intended to halt the spread of a disease that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the U.S.

The administration says it is confident that its requirement, which includes penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation, will withstand legal challenges in part because its safety rules pre-empt state laws.

Seema Nanda, solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor, said in a statement Friday that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act gives OSHA the authority to act quickly during an emergency if it finds workers are subject to a grave danger. The agency contends its temporary rule also preempts any state or local bans on employers’ ability to require vaccines.

“We are fully prepared to defend this standard in court,” Nanda said.

Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center and director of the World Health Organization’s center on health law, said the half-century-old law that created OSHA gives it the power to set minimum workplace safety measures.

“I think that Biden is on rock-solid legal ground,” he said.

Critics have taken aim at some aspects of the requirement, including that it was adopted as an emergency measure rather than after the agency’s regular rule-making process.

“This is a real emergency,” said Gostin, who has spoken with the Biden administration about the requirement. “In fact, it’s a national crisis. Any delay would cause thousands of deaths.”

Missouri’s lawsuit was joined by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-states-suing-employer-vaccine-mandates-f4300ed015ed716a1054949cf199a25a">Republican attorneys general</a>&nbsp;of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Also joining the lawsuit was the office of Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, the only Democratic attorney general to take part in the legal challenges to the mandate.

In a statement, Miller said he was filing at the behest of Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican: “It is my duty, under the law, to prosecute or defend any actions in court when requested by the governor.”

Other coalitions of states also filed lawsuits Friday: Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Utah in the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; Kansas, Kentucky, Idaho, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia in the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit; and Alabama, Florida and Georgia in the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit. Later Friday, Indiana filed in the Chicago-based 7th Circuit.

The states filed the lawsuits in the most conservative appeals courts in the country, courts where appointees of former President Donald Trump bolstered Republican-appointed majorities. It’s unclear whether different judges will rule on the challenges separately at first, or whether the cases will be consolidated in one court early in the process.

Several businesses, associations and religious groups also joined with the states’ petitions, and some filed lawsuits on their own.

Among them are a conservative media company,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-wisconsin-lawsuits-ee8ea9d8aa856d6d5d3722818b921d65">two Wisconsin manufacturers,&nbsp;</a>companies in Michigan and Ohio, the owner of 15 grocery stores in Louisiana and Mississippi, and a group of remote workers in Texas. All are represented by conservative law firms.

“Over the past 20 months, my employees have showed up to work and served their communities in the face of COVID and hurricanes. Now I’m being told by the government to insert myself into their private health decisions?” Brandon Trosclair, owner of grocery stores that employ about 500 workers, said in a statement. “That’s wrong and I won’t stand for it.”

The Daily Wire media company objected on several fronts, including the idea that employers will have to track which workers have been vaccinated and treat those who have received shots differently from those who have not.

“What the government is asking us to do is discriminate against our own employee over their own personal health care decisions,” said Jeremy Boreing, co-CEO of the company.

Shannon Royce, president of the Christian Employers Alliance, said the group wasn’t challenging the rule out of opposition to vaccines, noting that some group members have provided incentives for employees to get the shot. Instead, they “oppose being used as a tool” of the federal government.

Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said the workplace rule also changes religious organizations’ relationship with their employees.

“That, I believe, is a form of government coercion — turning a religious institution into a form of government coercion that we must resist,” Mohler said.

So far, courts have allowed businesses on their own to require employees to be vaccinated. But Michael Elkins, a Florida-based employment lawyer, said those decisions do not necessarily mean judges will rule the same way when it comes to the federal government’s requirement.

“You may see a federal judge, or a bunch of them, say, ‘This is just overreach,’” Elkins said.

Benjamin Noren, a New York-based labor lawyer, said he thought the rule is likely to be struck down because OSHA was intended to deal with workplace hazards such as chemicals, not a virus. He said OSHA has made 10 emergency rules in the last five decades. Of the six that were challenged, only one survived intact.

“It’s an innovative use by the Biden administration to figure out some way to mandate vaccination in the private sector,” Noren said. “I hope it works. I have doubts.”

Ahead of the OSHA rule, several states have passed laws or issued executive orders blocking or limiting employer mandates related to the virus.

In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson allowed such a bill to become law without his signature. It takes effect early next year and allows employees to opt out of vaccine requirements if they are tested weekly for the virus or can prove they have COVID-19 antibodies from a previous infection. Health officials say antibody testing should not be used to assess immunity against the virus and that people who have had it should still be vaccinated.

Hutchinson, however, noted that his state’s opt-out law creates a difficult scenario for businesses if both it and the federal requirement — which does not allow for antibody tests in place of vaccinations — are in effect.

“We’ve put our businesses in a catch-22,” he said. “You’re going to be violating somebody’s law here.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — More than two dozen Republican-led states filed lawsuits Friday challenging President Joe Biden’s vaccine requirement for private companies, setting up a high-stakes legal showdown pitting federal authority against states’ rights.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Saturday granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4, or face mask requirements and weekly tests.&nbsp;&nbsp; The government must provide an expedited reply to the motion for a permanent injunction Monday.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-employer-mandates-us-29c2262c336bcfc38da2d14b251daf51">requirement issued Thursday by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration</a>&nbsp;applies to businesses with more than 100 employees. The lawsuits ask courts to decide whether the administration’s effort to curtail the pandemic represents a federal power grab and usurps the authority of states to set health policy.At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule.“This mandate is unconstitutional, unlawful, and unwise,” Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said in a court filing in the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of 11 states.The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-6e758dc5e24320677e48f58cbfca37bf">has been encouraging widespread vaccinations</a>&nbsp;as the quickest way out of the pandemic. A White House spokeswoman said Thursday that the mandate was intended to halt the spread of a disease that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the U.S.The administration says it is confident that its requirement, which includes penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation, will withstand legal challenges in part because its safety rules pre-empt state laws.Seema Nanda, solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor, said in a statement Friday that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act gives OSHA the authority to act quickly during an emergency if it finds workers are subject to a grave danger. The agency contends its temporary rule also preempts any state or local bans on employers’ ability to require vaccines.“We are fully prepared to defend this standard in court,” Nanda said.Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center and director of the World Health Organization’s center on health law, said the half-century-old law that created OSHA gives it the power to set minimum workplace safety measures.“I think that Biden is on rock-solid legal ground,” he said.Critics have taken aim at some aspects of the requirement, including that it was adopted as an emergency measure rather than after the agency’s regular rule-making process.“This is a real emergency,” said Gostin, who has spoken with the Biden administration about the requirement. “In fact, it’s a national crisis. Any delay would cause thousands of deaths.”Missouri’s lawsuit was joined by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-states-suing-employer-vaccine-mandates-f4300ed015ed716a1054949cf199a25a">Republican attorneys general</a>&nbsp;of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Also joining the lawsuit was the office of Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, the only Democratic attorney general to take part in the legal challenges to the mandate.In a statement, Miller said he was filing at the behest of Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican: “It is my duty, under the law, to prosecute or defend any actions in court when requested by the governor.”Other coalitions of states also filed lawsuits Friday: Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Utah in the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; Kansas, Kentucky, Idaho, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia in the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit; and Alabama, Florida and Georgia in the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit. Later Friday, Indiana filed in the Chicago-based 7th Circuit.The states filed the lawsuits in the most conservative appeals courts in the country, courts where appointees of former President Donald Trump bolstered Republican-appointed majorities. It’s unclear whether different judges will rule on the challenges separately at first, or whether the cases will be consolidated in one court early in the process.Several businesses, associations and religious groups also joined with the states’ petitions, and some filed lawsuits on their own.Among them are a conservative media company,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-wisconsin-lawsuits-ee8ea9d8aa856d6d5d3722818b921d65">two Wisconsin manufacturers,&nbsp;</a>companies in Michigan and Ohio, the owner of 15 grocery stores in Louisiana and Mississippi, and a group of remote workers in Texas. All are represented by conservative law firms.“Over the past 20 months, my employees have showed up to work and served their communities in the face of COVID and hurricanes. Now I’m being told by the government to insert myself into their private health decisions?” Brandon Trosclair, owner of grocery stores that employ about 500 workers, said in a statement. “That’s wrong and I won’t stand for it.”The Daily Wire media company objected on several fronts, including the idea that employers will have to track which workers have been vaccinated and treat those who have received shots differently from those who have not.“What the government is asking us to do is discriminate against our own employee over their own personal health care decisions,” said Jeremy Boreing, co-CEO of the company.Shannon Royce, president of the Christian Employers Alliance, said the group wasn’t challenging the rule out of opposition to vaccines, noting that some group members have provided incentives for employees to get the shot. Instead, they “oppose being used as a tool” of the federal government.Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said the workplace rule also changes religious organizations’ relationship with their employees.“That, I believe, is a form of government coercion — turning a religious institution into a form of government coercion that we must resist,” Mohler said.So far, courts have allowed businesses on their own to require employees to be vaccinated. But Michael Elkins, a Florida-based employment lawyer, said those decisions do not necessarily mean judges will rule the same way when it comes to the federal government’s requirement.“You may see a federal judge, or a bunch of them, say, ‘This is just overreach,’” Elkins said.Benjamin Noren, a New York-based labor lawyer, said he thought the rule is likely to be struck down because OSHA was intended to deal with workplace hazards such as chemicals, not a virus. He said OSHA has made 10 emergency rules in the last five decades. Of the six that were challenged, only one survived intact.“It’s an innovative use by the Biden administration to figure out some way to mandate vaccination in the private sector,” Noren said. “I hope it works. I have doubts.”Ahead of the OSHA rule, several states have passed laws or issued executive orders blocking or limiting employer mandates related to the virus.In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson allowed such a bill to become law without his signature. It takes effect early next year and allows employees to opt out of vaccine requirements if they are tested weekly for the virus or can prove they have COVID-19 antibodies from a previous infection. Health officials say antibody testing should not be used to assess immunity against the virus and that people who have had it should still be vaccinated.Hutchinson, however, noted that his state’s opt-out law creates a difficult scenario for businesses if both it and the federal requirement — which does not allow for antibody tests in place of vaccinations — are in effect.“We’ve put our businesses in a catch-22,” he said. “You’re going to be violating somebody’s law here.”___

Lawsuits over workplace vaccine rule focus on states' rights

WENTZVILLE, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri girl is hospitalized and three households have been evacuated after a rare mercury spill.

Jen Niswonger of Wentzville first took her four children to the doctor this summer when they all broke out in rashes. Her 11-year-old daughter didn't get better.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/terrifying-and-frustrating-rare-mercury-spill-puts-wentzville-11-year-old-in-the-hospital/article_62e1e41e-46e4-5d8f-9c82-3586830c3218.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1">The St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;</a>reports that it wasn't until Oct. 29 that medical tests determined the child suffered from mercury poisoning.

Niswonger's household and two others in Wentzville were evacuated after the Environmental Protection Agency found high levels of mercury on surfaces and in the air.

Officials say the initial poisoning happened when children were playing with a vial of liquid elemental mercury and it spilled.

EPA spokesman David Bryan said such incidents are rare, in part because technological advancements in thermometers and lightbulbs have largely kept mercury out of people's homes.

Elemental mercury seeps through the fatty cells around the brain and nerves. It can lead to tremors, tingling of the hands or mouth, vision changes and trouble sleeping.

The remedy is usually to allow it to slowly leave the body through feces or urine, but Niswonger's daughter faces weeks in the hospital.

“Somebody just had this poison lying around,” Niswonger said, “and a child got a hold of it.”

WENTZVILLE, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri girl is hospitalized and three households have been evacuated after a rare mercury spill.Jen Niswonger of Wentzville first took her four children to the doctor this summer when they all broke out in rashes. Her 11-year-old daughter didn't get better.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/terrifying-and-frustrating-rare-mercury-spill-puts-wentzville-11-year-old-in-the-hospital/article_62e1e41e-46e4-5d8f-9c82-3586830c3218.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1">The St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;</a>reports that it wasn't until Oct. 29 that medical tests determined the child suffered from mercury poisoning.Niswonger's household and two others in Wentzville were evacuated after the Environmental Protection Agency found high levels of mercury on surfaces and in the air.Officials say the initial poisoning happened when children were playing with a vial of liquid elemental mercury and it spilled.EPA spokesman David Bryan said such incidents are rare, in part because technological advancements in thermometers and lightbulbs have largely kept mercury out of people's homes.Elemental mercury seeps through the fatty cells around the brain and nerves. It can lead to tremors, tingling of the hands or mouth, vision changes and trouble sleeping.The remedy is usually to allow it to slowly leave the body through feces or urine, but Niswonger's daughter faces weeks in the hospital.“Somebody just had this poison lying around,” Niswonger said, “and a child got a hold of it.”

Girl  faces weeks in the hospital after rare mercury spill

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Saturday that the families of children separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border during the Trump administration should be compensated, as his Department of Justice is in settlement talks with affected families.

Raising his voice, Biden said that regardless of the circumstances, people who had their children taken from them under the Trump administration’s family separation policy, meant to deter families from crossing into the U.S. illegally, should be remunerated.

“If, in fact, because of the outrageous behavior of the last administration, you coming across the border, whether it was legally or illegally, and you lost your child — You lost your child. It’s gone — you deserve some kind of compensation, no matter what the circumstance,” Biden said. “What that will be I have no idea. I have no idea.”

Shortly after taking office Biden created a task force to attempt to reunify hundreds of children and parents affected by the policy, which was in place for several months during 2018 and sparked a domestic and international outcry.

The government was considering payments of around $450,000 to each person affected but has since changed the figure, though not dramatically, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.

The discussions continue, and there is no guarantee the two sides will strike agreement.

About 5,500 children were split from their parents under President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy, under which parents were separated from their children to face criminal prosecution for crossing the border illegally, according to court filings in a federal case in San Diego. Inadequate tracking systems caused many to be apart for an extended time. The payments are intended to compensate for the psychological trauma.

Attorneys for the families are also seeking permanent legal status in the United States for those separated under the practice, which a judge halted in June 2018, six days after Trump stopped it under international pressure.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department is in talks to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to each child and parent who was separated under a Trump-era practice of splitting families at the border, a person familiar with discussions to settle lawsuits said Thursday.

The Wall Street Journal first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-in-talks-to-pay-hundreds-of-millions-to-immigrant-families-separated-at-border-11635447591?mod=hp_lead_pos7" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that the government was considering payments around $450,000 to each person affected. A person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press that figure was under consideration but changed, though not dramatically. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.

Attorneys for the families are also seeking permanent legal status in the United States for those separated under the practice, which a judge halted in June 2018, six days after Trump stopped it amid an international backlash.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night.

The settlement talks involve several law firms. The American Civil Liberties Union is representing parents in the San Diego case.

The National Immigration Litigation Alliance represents five mothers and their children who were separated for more than two months, including four children who were sent to holding facilities in New York. A federal judge in Arizona&nbsp;<a href="https://immigrationlitigation.org/impact-litigation/" target="_blank">denied</a>&nbsp;the government’s bid to dismiss the case last year.

“No amount of money can compensate for the amount of pain and suffering these parents and children endured under this unconscionable and unprecedented policy,” said Trina Realmuto, executive director of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance.

A Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://oig.justice.gov/reports/review-department-justices-planning-and-implementation-its-zero-tolerance-policy-and-its" target="_blank">inspector general’s report</a>&nbsp;in January said a “single-minded focus on increasing immigration prosecutions came at the expense of careful and appropriate consideration of the impact of family unit prosecutions and child separations.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636250055614.png" alt="Raising his voice during a Saturday news conference with the Vice President, President Biden said that regardless of the circumstances, people who had their children taken from them under the Trump administration’s family separation policy, meant to deter families from crossing into the U.S. illegally, should be remunerated.-White House Photo" />
 <figcaption>Raising his voice during a Saturday news conference with the Vice President, President Biden said that regardless of the circumstances, people who had their children taken from them under the Trump administration’s family separation policy, meant to deter families from crossing into the U.S. illegally, should be remunerated.-White House Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Saturday that the families of children separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border during the Trump administration should be compensated, as his Department of Justice is in settlement talks with affected families.Raising his voice, Biden said that regardless of the circumstances, people who had their children taken from them under the Trump administration’s family separation policy, meant to deter families from crossing into the U.S. illegally, should be remunerated.“If, in fact, because of the outrageous behavior of the last administration, you coming across the border, whether it was legally or illegally, and you lost your child — You lost your child. It’s gone — you deserve some kind of compensation, no matter what the circumstance,” Biden said. “What that will be I have no idea. I have no idea.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618396445966.png" alt="Children in a holding facility at the border-photo courtesy Rep. Tracey Mann" />
 <figcaption>Children in a holding facility at the border-photo courtesy Rep. Tracey Mann</figcaption>
 </figure>Shortly after taking office Biden created a task force to attempt to reunify hundreds of children and parents affected by the policy, which was in place for several months during 2018 and sparked a domestic and international outcry.The government was considering payments of around $450,000 to each person affected but has since changed the figure, though not dramatically, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.The discussions continue, and there is no guarantee the two sides will strike agreement.About 5,500 children were split from their parents under President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy, under which parents were separated from their children to face criminal prosecution for crossing the border illegally, according to court filings in a federal case in San Diego. Inadequate tracking systems caused many to be apart for an extended time. The payments are intended to compensate for the psychological trauma.Attorneys for the families are also seeking permanent legal status in the United States for those separated under the practice, which a judge halted in June 2018, six days after Trump stopped it under international pressure.—-SAN DIEGO (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department is in talks to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to each child and parent who was separated under a Trump-era practice of splitting families at the border, a person familiar with discussions to settle lawsuits said Thursday.The Wall Street Journal first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-in-talks-to-pay-hundreds-of-millions-to-immigrant-families-separated-at-border-11635447591?mod=hp_lead_pos7" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that the government was considering payments around $450,000 to each person affected. A person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press that figure was under consideration but changed, though not dramatically. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.The discussions continue, and there is no guarantee the two sides will strike agreement.About 5,500 children were split from their parents under President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy, under which parents were separated from their children to face criminal prosecution for crossing the border illegally, according to court filings in a federal case in San Diego. Inadequate tracking systems caused many to be apart for an extended time. The payments are intended to compensate for the psychological trauma.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618396418186.png" alt="Children in a holding facility at the border -photo courtesy Rep. Tracey Mann" />
 <figcaption>Children in a holding facility at the border -photo courtesy Rep. Tracey Mann</figcaption>
 </figure>Attorneys for the families are also seeking permanent legal status in the United States for those separated under the practice, which a judge halted in June 2018, six days after Trump stopped it amid an international backlash.The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night.The settlement talks involve several law firms. The American Civil Liberties Union is representing parents in the San Diego case.The National Immigration Litigation Alliance represents five mothers and their children who were separated for more than two months, including four children who were sent to holding facilities in New York. A federal judge in Arizona&nbsp;<a href="https://immigrationlitigation.org/impact-litigation/" target="_blank">denied</a>&nbsp;the government’s bid to dismiss the case last year.“No amount of money can compensate for the amount of pain and suffering these parents and children endured under this unconscionable and unprecedented policy,” said Trina Realmuto, executive director of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance.A Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://oig.justice.gov/reports/review-department-justices-planning-and-implementation-its-zero-tolerance-policy-and-its" target="_blank">inspector general’s report</a>&nbsp;in January said a “single-minded focus on increasing immigration prosecutions came at the expense of careful and appropriate consideration of the impact of family unit prosecutions and child separations.”

Biden: U.S. should pay families separated from children at border

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission today announced that it will commit over $421 million in the latest round of Emergency Connectivity Fund announcements, bringing total program commitments to over $3.05 billion.  The funding is supporting schools and libraries in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.  The funding can be used to support off-campus learning, such as nightly homework and virtual learning, as schools and libraries continue to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Far too many students lack the connections they need to get online and stay connected to their teachers. Thankfully, Congress gave us the tools through this program to make a real difference in our communities as we work to close the Homework Gap and help schools and libraries engage in online learning,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.  

The program to date has committed to supporting 6,954 schools, 613 libraries, and 80 consortia, which are approved to receive over 6.8 million connected devices and over 3.5 million broadband connections.  With these additional commitments, the Commission has met its goal of responding to 70 percent of all applications within 100 days of the closing of the first filing window.

More details about which schools and libraries will receive funding can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/ecf-current-funding-commitments. A state-by-state breakdown of total committed funding is below:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584977952684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FCCWASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission today announced that it will commit over $421 million in the latest round of Emergency Connectivity Fund announcements, bringing total program commitments to over $3.05 billion. The funding is supporting schools and libraries in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. The funding can be used to support off-campus learning, such as nightly homework and virtual learning, as schools and libraries continue to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.“Far too many students lack the connections they need to get online and stay connected to their teachers. Thankfully, Congress gave us the tools through this program to make a real difference in our communities as we work to close the Homework Gap and help schools and libraries engage in online learning,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The program to date has committed to supporting 6,954 schools, 613 libraries, and 80 consortia, which are approved to receive over 6.8 million connected devices and over 3.5 million broadband connections. With these additional commitments, the Commission has met its goal of responding to 70 percent of all applications within 100 days of the closing of the first filing window.More details about which schools and libraries will receive funding can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/ecf-current-funding-commitments. A state-by-state breakdown of total committed funding is below:State Alaska $4,776,115.02 Montana $2,919,882.69 Alabama $30,597,816.78 North Carolina $109,104,016.35 Arkansas $19,696,695.91 North Dakota $2,390,824.72 Arizona $96,865,872.56 Nebraska $15,137,014.75 California $287,673,682.49 New Hampshire $4,688,954.79 Colorado $18,195,143.65 New Jersey $72,180,022.63 Connecticut $32,076,204.57 New Mexico $36,971,837.76 District of Columbia $14,205,773.61 Nevada $5,769,283.81 Delaware $6,868,891.88 New York $409,639,028.89 Florida $131,664,626.15 Ohio $73,788,054.40 Georgia $124,958,200.85 Oklahoma $51,120,601.90 Guam $6,327,126.00 Oregon $59,552,653.14 Hawaii $34,726,326.30 Pennsylvania $53,864,448.40 Iowa $19,366,867.85 Puerto Rico $82,111,472.30 Idaho $14,860,066.52 Rhode Island $10,884,395.21 Illinois $173,142,773.23 South Carolina $10,351,797.88 Indiana $41,833,150.05 South Dakota $5,408,817.54 Kansas $15,828,963.79 Tennessee $34,285,156.04 Kentucky $50,488,625.85 Texas $296,698,698.02 Louisiana $49,953,129.83 Utah $30,995,790.62 Massachusetts $46,783,823.89 Virginia $54,163,200.22 Maryland $45,191,681.36 Virgin Islands $33,077.60 Maine $3,793,653.44 Vermont $3,185,401.23 Michigan $96,947,276.49 Washington $64,280,149.13 Minnesota $40,634,119.55 Wisconsin $53,986,165.51 Missouri $57,792,272.73 West Virginia $33,021,210.53 Mississippi $9,849,814.14 Wyoming $2,022,969.16 TOTAL$3,053,653,619.71Detailed information on the status of Emergency Connectivity Fund applications is available in the Open Data Portal, including applicant details, requested funds, individual product or service details, and funding commitment information. Additional information on the Emergency Connectivity Fund program is available at: www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org. The program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company, with oversight from and under rules unanimously adopted by the Federal Communications Commission.

FCC: Emergency broadband fund gets additional $421M

KANSAS CITY(AP) — A Kansas City woman who told police she shot and killed three people because she was "a bad person” has been convicted in their deaths.

Lynnsey D. Jones, 37, was convicted Thursday of three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action, the Jackson County Prosecutor's office said in a news release.

Court documents said Jones went to a home in Kansas City to buy narcotics on Oct. 17, 2019.

Officers who were responding to reports of gunshots saw her walking near the home with a weapon in her hands. She was arrested and a man who was with her, Victor Sykes, 45, was arrested after a short foot chase.

Officers found the bodies of Larona T. Jones, Brady Jones and Larry T. Barnes Jr. inside and outside of the home.

When police asked Jones why she shot the three victims, she replied “because I'm a bad person," according to a police affidavit.

Sykes is scheduled for trial on Nov. 29 on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636135682333.png" alt="Jones photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Jones photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — A Kansas City woman who told police she shot and killed three people because she was "a bad person” has been convicted in their deaths.Lynnsey D. Jones, 37, was convicted Thursday of three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action, the Jackson County Prosecutor's office said in a news release.Court documents said Jones went to a home in Kansas City to buy narcotics on Oct. 17, 2019.Officers who were responding to reports of gunshots saw her walking near the home with a weapon in her hands. She was arrested and a man who was with her, Victor Sykes, 45, was arrested after a short foot chase.Officers found the bodies of Larona T. Jones, Brady Jones and Larry T. Barnes Jr. inside and outside of the home.When police asked Jones why she shot the three victims, she replied “because I'm a bad person," according to a police affidavit.Sykes is scheduled for trial on Nov. 29 on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action.

KC woman to police: I killed 3 people because I'm a bad  person

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) — A series of killings that happened nearly three decades ago throughout the Midwest and largely along Interstate 70 is getting a new look.

<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/detectives-from-throughout-midwest-meet-in-st-charles-in-renewed-push-to-find-i-70/article_a9487669-9ce0-5af2-b3cf-547977b2b858.html" target="_blank">The St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>&nbsp;reports that detectives and federal agents from Raytown, Missouri, Wichita, Kansas, and the Indiana cities of Indianapolis and Terre Haute met this week with detectives in St. Charles, Missouri, to see if forensic technology and a fresh review could help solve all six crimes.

Authorities believe one man, dubbed the “I-70 killer,” was responsible. Most of the victims were women working in shops within views of Interstate 70 and I-35. Among the victims was 24-year-old Nancy Kitzmiller, who was shot in the head at a western footwear store in St. Charles in May 1992.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636127653560.png" alt="The I-70/35 killer got his name because several of his victims worked in stores just off of Interstate 70.-Images courtesy St. Charles Police" />
 <figcaption>The I-70/35 killer got his name because several of his victims worked in stores just off of Interstate 70.-Images courtesy St. Charles Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) — A series of killings that happened nearly three decades ago throughout the Midwest and largely along Interstate 70 is getting a new look.<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/detectives-from-throughout-midwest-meet-in-st-charles-in-renewed-push-to-find-i-70/article_a9487669-9ce0-5af2-b3cf-547977b2b858.html" target="_blank">The St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>&nbsp;reports that detectives and federal agents from Raytown, Missouri, Wichita, Kansas, and the Indiana cities of Indianapolis and Terre Haute met this week with detectives in St. Charles, Missouri, to see if forensic technology and a fresh review could help solve all six crimes.Authorities believe one man, dubbed the “I-70 killer,” was responsible. Most of the victims were women working in shops within views of Interstate 70 and I-35. Among the victims was 24-year-old Nancy Kitzmiller, who was shot in the head at a western footwear store in St. Charles in May 1992.

30 years later, detectives take new look at I-70 killings

RENO COUNTY — The Reno County Drug Enforcement Unit made a pair of significant arrests this week.

Just after 9p.m. Nov. 3, the drug enforcement unit stopped a car for a traffic violation in the 11000 block of east Arlington Road, just east of Haven, according to the Reno Co. Sheriff's Department.

Deputies found methamphetamine that was stored in a quart-sized plastic baggie, which later weighed in at 1 lb. Underneath one of the seats, there was a loaded M-11 9mm firearm. There were several other items of drug paraphernalia found throughout the vehicle. Both occupants were arrested on suspicion of numerous drug charges.

Bradley Kuker, 47, Dodge City, is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while suspended.

Anthony Thomas, 39, also of Dodge City, is being held on requested charges&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (100g-&lt;1kg), possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and illegal transportation of alcohol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636196066934.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — The Reno County Drug Enforcement Unit made a pair of significant arrests this week.Just after 9p.m. Nov. 3, the drug enforcement unit stopped a car for a traffic violation in the 11000 block of east Arlington Road, just east of Haven, according to the Reno Co. Sheriff's Department.Deputies found methamphetamine that was stored in a quart-sized plastic baggie, which later weighed in at 1 lb. Underneath one of the seats, there was a loaded M-11 9mm firearm. There were several other items of drug paraphernalia found throughout the vehicle. Both occupants were arrested on suspicion of numerous drug charges.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636205299221.png" alt="Kuker has previous convictions for burglary, theft, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Kuker has previous convictions for burglary, theft, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>Bradley Kuker, 47, Dodge City, is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while suspended.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636205454803.png" alt="Thomas has previous convictions for identity theft, criminal threat, aggravated battery, theft, forgery and aggravated endangering a child, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Thomas has previous convictions for identity theft, criminal threat, aggravated battery, theft, forgery and aggravated endangering a child, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Anthony Thomas, 39, also of Dodge City, is being held on requested charges&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (100g-&lt;1kg), possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and illegal transportation of alcohol.

Deputies find pound of meth, firearm, arrest 2 Kan. felons

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily halted the Biden administration's vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly tests.

Louisiana Attorney General Landry said the action stops President Joe Biden "from moving forward with his unlawful overreach.”

"The president will not impose medical procedures on the American people without the checks and balances afforded by the constitution,” Landry said in a statement.

At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule in several circuits, some of which were made more conservative by the judicial appointments of former Republican President Donald Trump.

he Biden administration has been encouraging widespread vaccinations as the quickest way to end the pandemic that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the United States.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily halted the Biden administration's vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly tests.Louisiana Attorney General Landry said the action stops President Joe Biden "from moving forward with his unlawful overreach.”"The president will not impose medical procedures on the American people without the checks and balances afforded by the constitution,” Landry said in a statement.At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule in several circuits, some of which were made more conservative by the judicial appointments of former Republican President Donald Trump.he Biden administration has been encouraging widespread vaccinations as the quickest way to end the pandemic that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the United States.The administration says it is confident that the requirement, which includes penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation, will withstand legal challenges in part because its safety rules pre-empt state laws.The 5th Circuit, based in New Orleans, said it was delaying the federal vaccine requirement because of potential “grave statutory and constitutional issues” raised by the plaintiffs. The government must provide an expedited reply to the motion for a permanent injunction Monday, followed by petitioners' reply on Tuesday.