The search ended Thursday for a Kansas woman reported missing on Sunday. Patricia Knafla has been found and is safe, according to Wichita Police Spokesperson Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details.

SEDGWICK COUNTY –&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Wichita woman who was last believed to be near Kinkaid, Kansas.

The whereabouts of Patricia Knafla, 70, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.

Last contact with Patricia occurred at approximately 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31. She is described as 5-foot-6, 150 pounds., with gray hair, and green eyes. She wears glasses. Additionally, Patricia was scheduled to work on Monday but never arrived, and may be having a mental health crisis and in the need of assistance.

She is traveling in a gold 2000 Ford Taurus with Kansas tag 418 CDM. Investigators learned she was in the area of Kinkaid, Kansas at approximately 10:50 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1.

If you know the whereabouts of Patricia Knafla, or if you see her, please call 911 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635846636565.png" alt="Patricia Knafla photo Wichita PD" />
 <figcaption>Patricia Knafla photo Wichita PD</figcaption>
 </figure>The search ended Thursday for a Kansas woman reported missing on Sunday. Patricia Knafla has been found and is safe, according to Wichita Police Spokesperson Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details.--------SEDGWICK COUNTY –&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Wichita woman who was last believed to be near Kinkaid, Kansas.The whereabouts of Patricia Knafla, 70, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.Last contact with Patricia occurred at approximately 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31. She is described as 5-foot-6, 150 pounds., with gray hair, and green eyes. She wears glasses. Additionally, Patricia was scheduled to work on Monday but never arrived, and may be having a mental health crisis and in the need of assistance.She is traveling in a gold 2000 Ford Taurus with Kansas tag 418 CDM. Investigators learned she was in the area of Kinkaid, Kansas at approximately 10:50 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1.If you know the whereabouts of Patricia Knafla, or if you see her, please call 911 immediately.

Silver Alert canceled, missing Kan. woman found safe

Washington—During a Thursday press conference, Senator Roger Marshall was asked about Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) vaccine mandate for employers with more than 100 employees.

“This federal vaccine mandate is unconstitutional and I can’t think of a worse decision for Joe Biden to make right now.

 Inflation, the labor shortage, and the vaccine mandate are the number one issues I hear about back home, and this rule is going to exasperate an already horrible situation,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall. “Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate is going to create more supply chain blocks and that’s going to lead to more inflation – of course Joe Biden knows this so he’s decided to hold off on enforcement until after the holidays. I will continue to do everything in my power to put a stop to this unconstitutional mandate.”

Washington—During a Thursday press conference, Senator Roger Marshall was asked about Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) vaccine mandate for employers with more than 100 employees.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iHv-vB3DilE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“This federal vaccine mandate is unconstitutional and I can’t think of a worse decision for Joe Biden to make right now. Inflation, the labor shortage, and the vaccine mandate are the number one issues I hear about back home, and this rule is going to exasperate an already horrible situation,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall. “Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate is going to create more supply chain blocks and that’s going to lead to more inflation – of course Joe Biden knows this so he’s decided to hold off on enforcement until after the holidays. I will continue to do everything in my power to put a stop to this unconstitutional mandate.”

🎥 Senator Marshall: Vaccine mandate a bad decision for Biden

A Kansas woman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-f5452aa069fdeb578443f5947418d794">who used a 134-year-old state law to convene a citizen grand jury</a>&nbsp;after a prosecutor declined to file rape charges against a man she accused of attacking her said Wednesday she was angry but not surprised that jurors didn’t bring charges in the case.

Madison Smith, 23, of McPherson, gathered hundreds of signatures to empanel the grand jury after she said a fellow student at Bethany College slapped and strangled her during a sexual encounter in his dorm room in February 2018. The student, Jared Stolzenburg, was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to aggravated battery.

The grand jury convened on Oct. 18 and Smith was told of its decision Tuesday.

Smith said the grand jury’s refusal to bring rape charges reinforces society’s reluctance to deal honestly and fairly with sexual assault victims.

“I was very angry that people just don’t see rape for what it is and refuse to be educated about it,” Smith said. “I was also angry that I had to take so many steps that victims should not have to take and it still didn’t work out as we wanted it to.”

Defense attorney Brent Boyer said Wednesday he had not represented Stolzenburg for some time and declined to comment on the grand jury’s decision.

Kansas is one of six states that allow citizens to petition for grand juries, using a law that was passed in 1887. Smith’s case is believed to be the first time the law was used by someone claiming sexual assault.

Smith said her encounter with Stolzenburg was consensual until he started slapping and strangling her to the point where she began to lose consciousness and she feared he was going to kill her. She said she couldn’t verbally withdraw consent because she was being choked.

When McPherson County Attorney Gregory Benefiel declined to file rape charges, Smith used the Kansas law to call her own grand jury. She stood on street corners and told her story to strangers in order to gather hundreds of signatures on petitions. And she did it twice after the first petition was declined because of technicality.

Despite the grand jury’s decision, Smith said she does not regret publicizing her case and hopes it will bring changes to how sexual assault victims are treated by law enforcement officials and society in general.

“I’m just sick and tired of people being all hush-hush about rape,” she said. “I wanted to bring awareness not only to my case but to the fact that victims of rape and sexual assault do not get justice or the treatment they should.”

Benefiel did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the grand jury’s decision. In an interview in May, he said sex crimes are “extremely challenging to prosecute” because jurors are looking “for that CSI type of evidence.”

He said he believed he and Smith were both seeking “truth and justice” but had different ideas on what that would be in this case.

Smith’s mother, Mandy, who works at Bethany College in Lindsborg, about 70 miles&nbsp; north of Wichita, said she was proud of her daughter’s determination to stand up for herself and shine a light on how poorly sexual assault victims are treated by the legal system.

“She was not treated with any empathy or dignity,” Mandy Smith said. “Prosecutors do not understand how to do their jobs in a trauma-informed way and that is a huge part of the problem in these cases … This case should help get consent education out there. It should be everywhere and it’s not.”

Justin Boardman, a retired detective who trains police and prosecutors on investigating sexual crimes, said law enforcement officers and prosecutors often are “speaking a different language” than sexual assault victims, largely because of cultural biases about such crimes.

He said law enforcement officers and the public often question why a victim didn’t scream, or fight back, or why victims sometimes struggle to tell their stories or don’t cry. All those responses are related to how the brain reacts to trauma, he said, and there is “a huge gap in miscommunication” between victims and law enforcement.

Madison Smith, who graduated in May and is working as a medical assistant while applying to nursing schools, said she was encouraged by the support she received from family, friends and strangers during the process.

“We swung the bat as hard as we could and unfortunately we missed,” she said. “I just had to know that I tried everything I could.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1559731985807.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MARGARET STAFFORD, Associated PressA Kansas woman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-f5452aa069fdeb578443f5947418d794">who used a 134-year-old state law to convene a citizen grand jury</a>&nbsp;after a prosecutor declined to file rape charges against a man she accused of attacking her said Wednesday she was angry but not surprised that jurors didn’t bring charges in the case.Madison Smith, 23, of McPherson, gathered hundreds of signatures to empanel the grand jury after she said a fellow student at Bethany College slapped and strangled her during a sexual encounter in his dorm room in February 2018. The student, Jared Stolzenburg, was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to aggravated battery.The grand jury convened on Oct. 18 and Smith was told of its decision Tuesday.Smith said the grand jury’s refusal to bring rape charges reinforces society’s reluctance to deal honestly and fairly with sexual assault victims.“I was very angry that people just don’t see rape for what it is and refuse to be educated about it,” Smith said. “I was also angry that I had to take so many steps that victims should not have to take and it still didn’t work out as we wanted it to.”Defense attorney Brent Boyer said Wednesday he had not represented Stolzenburg for some time and declined to comment on the grand jury’s decision.Kansas is one of six states that allow citizens to petition for grand juries, using a law that was passed in 1887. Smith’s case is believed to be the first time the law was used by someone claiming sexual assault.Smith said her encounter with Stolzenburg was consensual until he started slapping and strangling her to the point where she began to lose consciousness and she feared he was going to kill her. She said she couldn’t verbally withdraw consent because she was being choked.When McPherson County Attorney Gregory Benefiel declined to file rape charges, Smith used the Kansas law to call her own grand jury. She stood on street corners and told her story to strangers in order to gather hundreds of signatures on petitions. And she did it twice after the first petition was declined because of technicality.Despite the grand jury’s decision, Smith said she does not regret publicizing her case and hopes it will bring changes to how sexual assault victims are treated by law enforcement officials and society in general.“I’m just sick and tired of people being all hush-hush about rape,” she said. “I wanted to bring awareness not only to my case but to the fact that victims of rape and sexual assault do not get justice or the treatment they should.”Benefiel did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the grand jury’s decision. In an interview in May, he said sex crimes are “extremely challenging to prosecute” because jurors are looking “for that CSI type of evidence.”He said he believed he and Smith were both seeking “truth and justice” but had different ideas on what that would be in this case.Smith’s mother, Mandy, who works at Bethany College in Lindsborg, about 70 miles&nbsp; north of Wichita, said she was proud of her daughter’s determination to stand up for herself and shine a light on how poorly sexual assault victims are treated by the legal system.“She was not treated with any empathy or dignity,” Mandy Smith said. “Prosecutors do not understand how to do their jobs in a trauma-informed way and that is a huge part of the problem in these cases … This case should help get consent education out there. It should be everywhere and it’s not.”Justin Boardman, a retired detective who trains police and prosecutors on investigating sexual crimes, said law enforcement officers and prosecutors often are “speaking a different language” than sexual assault victims, largely because of cultural biases about such crimes.He said law enforcement officers and the public often question why a victim didn’t scream, or fight back, or why victims sometimes struggle to tell their stories or don’t cry. All those responses are related to how the brain reacts to trauma, he said, and there is “a huge gap in miscommunication” between victims and law enforcement.Madison Smith, who graduated in May and is working as a medical assistant while applying to nursing schools, said she was encouraged by the support she received from family, friends and strangers during the process.“We swung the bat as hard as we could and unfortunately we missed,” she said. “I just had to know that I tried everything I could.”

Kansas case tried to change how rape is charged

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats added a new paid family leave program, immigrant work permits and a state-and-local tax break to President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion social services and environmental bill Wednesday, reviving key priorities in the rush to finish up and start voting after dismal overnight election results.

The House Rules Committee convened late Wednesday afternoon to consider the updated text of the now-sprawling 2,135-page package — a crucial step ahead of initial House votes that are possible as soon as Thursday.

The flurry of last-minute additions — on top of a plan to include lower Medicare prescription drug prices — comes as Democrats are desperate to deliver on Biden’s signature domestic proposals after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2021-virginia-governor-glenn-youngkin-mcaulife-6cdbf77acf9a966e216ab2a297601baa">grim election results for the party in Virginia</a>, a warning that their grip on power could be in peril in next year’s midterms.

Most&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-election-ap-votecast-survey-75520c5c9a245bee384526abc138a61a">voters in Virginia said drawn-out negotiations</a>&nbsp;in Washington over Biden’s governing agenda were an important factor in their vote, so blame was flowing to Capitol Hill as Democrats have spent months arguing over details of the package.

“We’ve got to produce,” Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia told reporters at the Capitol. “We’ve got to get results for people.”

From the White House, Biden agreed: “What I do know is I do know that people want us to get things done.”

Biden said, “I’m continuing to push very hard for the Democratic Party to move along and pass my infrastructure bill and my ‘Build Back Better’ bill.”

Democrats have been working fervently to shelve their differences, particularly with holdout Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and launch votes on Biden’s big bill and a related $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package that has stalled.

The family leave provision Manchin had resisted earlier is expected to include four weeks of paid time off for childbirth, recovery from major illness or caring for family members, less than the 12-week program once envisioned, but all fully paid for with revenue elsewhere.

Biden had reluctantly dropped a scaled-back paid leave proposal from last week’s White House framework after Manchin balked at the cost. But Democrats who lobbied that paid leave has been a party priority for decades continued to push it.

Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said the paid leave program came together after talks early Wednesday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It’s “a policy that will finally give workers and their families the peace of mind of knowing that when disaster strikes, they can rely on paid leave to avoid total crisis,” he said in a statement.

On another remaining issue, the Democrats compromised on a plan partly to do away with the $10,000 limit on state and local tax deductions that particularly hits New York, California and other high-tax states and was enacted as part of the Trump-era 2017 tax plan.

While repeal of the so-called SALT deduction cap is a priority for several northeastern state lawmakers, progressives wanted to prevent the super-wealthy from benefiting. Under the plan, the $10,000 deduction cap would be lifted to $72,500 for 10 years, starting with the 2021 tax year.

And the just-added immigration provision would create a new program for some 7 million immigrants who are in the country without legal standing, allowing them to apply for permits to work and travel in the U.S. for five years. It would also allow the government to tap unused visas to admit people into the U.S.

Resolving the immigration issue was among the last daunting challenges to finishing up the draft of Biden’s package. Biden had set aside $100 billion to fund the immigration changes, which could bolster the overall package from $1.75 trillion to $1.85 trillion if the provision is accepted by the Senate. Lawmakers plan to make their case to Senate parliamentarian in coming days, hopeful the changes will pass muster under Senate rules because they build on existing programs, those involved said.

“We have to have something for our immigrants,” said Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif.

Both the paid family leave and the immigration law changes have drawn resistance from Manchin, whose support remains crucial in the 50-50 Senate, where Biden has no votes to spare. The overall bill faces united opposition from Republicans.

Manchin wants Democrats to take more time in negotiations, and panned the paid-leave announcement, suggesting it could be done separate from Biden’s package or “in a bipartisan way.”

Pelosi in a letter to colleagues Wednesday acknowledged opposition to the House’s approach from a single senator, a reference to Manchin. But Pelosi’s strategy now seems intent on passing the most robust bill possible in her chamber and then leaving the Senate to adjust or strip out the portions they won’t agree to.

“We must strive to find common ground in the legislation,” Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues.

Biden’s $1.75 trillion package would provide large numbers of Americans with assistance to pay for health care, education, raising children and caring for elderly people in their homes. It also would provide some $555 billion in tax breaks encouraging cleaner energy and electrified vehicles, the nation’s largest commitment to tackling climate change.

Much of its costs would be covered with higher taxes on people earning over $10 million annually and large corporations, which would now face a 15% minimum tax in efforts to stop big business from claiming so many deductions they end up paying zero in taxes.

Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas., said the party’s internal debates have been harmful not only for public opinion, but “also harmful in terms of showing that our democracy is working.” He said Wednesday, “We have to show that we can govern.”

Still, the final details of Biden’s big proposal are coming into shape.

Along with Wednesday’s additions of the paid family leave, immigration and local tax deduction programs, Democrats on Tuesday reached a deal to lower prescription drug costs for most older people, capping out-of-pocket Medicare Part D costs at $2,000 and reducing the price of insulin.

For the first time, Medicare will be able to negotiate prescription drug prices in its Part B and Part D programs. The new monthly cap on the price of insulin would lower the price to no more than $35 a dose and there would be a so-called inflation rebate if annual prices rise too high, Democrats said.

Some moderate Democrats in the House said they want to see a fiscal assessment of Biden’s overall package from the Congressional Budget Office before taking the vote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635971215142.png" alt="“We must strive to find common ground in the legislation,” Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues on Wednesday-photo courtesy office of House Speaker" />
 <figcaption>“We must strive to find common ground in the legislation,” Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues on Wednesday-photo courtesy office of House Speaker</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats added a new paid family leave program, immigrant work permits and a state-and-local tax break to President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion social services and environmental bill Wednesday, reviving key priorities in the rush to finish up and start voting after dismal overnight election results.The House Rules Committee convened late Wednesday afternoon to consider the updated text of the now-sprawling 2,135-page package — a crucial step ahead of initial House votes that are possible as soon as Thursday.The flurry of last-minute additions — on top of a plan to include lower Medicare prescription drug prices — comes as Democrats are desperate to deliver on Biden’s signature domestic proposals after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2021-virginia-governor-glenn-youngkin-mcaulife-6cdbf77acf9a966e216ab2a297601baa">grim election results for the party in Virginia</a>, a warning that their grip on power could be in peril in next year’s midterms.Most&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-election-ap-votecast-survey-75520c5c9a245bee384526abc138a61a">voters in Virginia said drawn-out negotiations</a>&nbsp;in Washington over Biden’s governing agenda were an important factor in their vote, so blame was flowing to Capitol Hill as Democrats have spent months arguing over details of the package.“We’ve got to produce,” Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia told reporters at the Capitol. “We’ve got to get results for people.”From the White House, Biden agreed: “What I do know is I do know that people want us to get things done.”Biden said, “I’m continuing to push very hard for the Democratic Party to move along and pass my infrastructure bill and my ‘Build Back Better’ bill.”Democrats have been working fervently to shelve their differences, particularly with holdout Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and launch votes on Biden’s big bill and a related $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package that has stalled.The family leave provision Manchin had resisted earlier is expected to include four weeks of paid time off for childbirth, recovery from major illness or caring for family members, less than the 12-week program once envisioned, but all fully paid for with revenue elsewhere.Biden had reluctantly dropped a scaled-back paid leave proposal from last week’s White House framework after Manchin balked at the cost. But Democrats who lobbied that paid leave has been a party priority for decades continued to push it.Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said the paid leave program came together after talks early Wednesday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It’s “a policy that will finally give workers and their families the peace of mind of knowing that when disaster strikes, they can rely on paid leave to avoid total crisis,” he said in a statement.On another remaining issue, the Democrats compromised on a plan partly to do away with the $10,000 limit on state and local tax deductions that particularly hits New York, California and other high-tax states and was enacted as part of the Trump-era 2017 tax plan.While repeal of the so-called SALT deduction cap is a priority for several northeastern state lawmakers, progressives wanted to prevent the super-wealthy from benefiting. Under the plan, the $10,000 deduction cap would be lifted to $72,500 for 10 years, starting with the 2021 tax year.And the just-added immigration provision would create a new program for some 7 million immigrants who are in the country without legal standing, allowing them to apply for permits to work and travel in the U.S. for five years. It would also allow the government to tap unused visas to admit people into the U.S.Resolving the immigration issue was among the last daunting challenges to finishing up the draft of Biden’s package. Biden had set aside $100 billion to fund the immigration changes, which could bolster the overall package from $1.75 trillion to $1.85 trillion if the provision is accepted by the Senate. Lawmakers plan to make their case to Senate parliamentarian in coming days, hopeful the changes will pass muster under Senate rules because they build on existing programs, those involved said.“We have to have something for our immigrants,” said Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif.Both the paid family leave and the immigration law changes have drawn resistance from Manchin, whose support remains crucial in the 50-50 Senate, where Biden has no votes to spare. The overall bill faces united opposition from Republicans.Manchin wants Democrats to take more time in negotiations, and panned the paid-leave announcement, suggesting it could be done separate from Biden’s package or “in a bipartisan way.”Pelosi in a letter to colleagues Wednesday acknowledged opposition to the House’s approach from a single senator, a reference to Manchin. But Pelosi’s strategy now seems intent on passing the most robust bill possible in her chamber and then leaving the Senate to adjust or strip out the portions they won’t agree to.“We must strive to find common ground in the legislation,” Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues.Biden’s $1.75 trillion package would provide large numbers of Americans with assistance to pay for health care, education, raising children and caring for elderly people in their homes. It also would provide some $555 billion in tax breaks encouraging cleaner energy and electrified vehicles, the nation’s largest commitment to tackling climate change.Much of its costs would be covered with higher taxes on people earning over $10 million annually and large corporations, which would now face a 15% minimum tax in efforts to stop big business from claiming so many deductions they end up paying zero in taxes.Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas., said the party’s internal debates have been harmful not only for public opinion, but “also harmful in terms of showing that our democracy is working.” He said Wednesday, “We have to show that we can govern.”Still, the final details of Biden’s big proposal are coming into shape.Along with Wednesday’s additions of the paid family leave, immigration and local tax deduction programs, Democrats on Tuesday reached a deal to lower prescription drug costs for most older people, capping out-of-pocket Medicare Part D costs at $2,000 and reducing the price of insulin.For the first time, Medicare will be able to negotiate prescription drug prices in its Part B and Part D programs. The new monthly cap on the price of insulin would lower the price to no more than $35 a dose and there would be a so-called inflation rebate if annual prices rise too high, Democrats said.Some moderate Democrats in the House said they want to see a fiscal assessment of Biden’s overall package from the Congressional Budget Office before taking the vote.

Paid leave, immigration, tax changes added to Biden's $1.7T bill

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the October 27, shooting death of 22-year-old Chase Anderson in Hoisington.

Just after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Hoisington Police arrested&nbsp; 32-year-old Adam M. Sullivan of Hoisington, on requested charges of involuntary manslaughter connected to the shooting, according to a media release from the KBI.

Sullivan was already in custody at the Barton County Jail when he was arrested for the new charge.

Just after 3a.m. Oct. 27, the Hoisington Police Department received a 911 call reporting a shooting at 405 E. 2nd&nbsp;St. in Hoisington.

When officers arrived they located Anderson suffering from a gunshot wound.&nbsp; EMS arrived and attempted life-saving measures. A short time later Anderson was pronounced dead.

Preliminary information revealed that Anderson was shot in the chest with a handgun. His acquaintance, 32-year-old Adam Sullivan, of Hoisington, was also in the residence at the time of the shooting. Officers arrested him for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Barton County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636039970228.png" alt="Sullivan-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Sullivan-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the October 27, shooting death of 22-year-old Chase Anderson in Hoisington.Just after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Hoisington Police arrested&nbsp; 32-year-old Adam M. Sullivan of Hoisington, on requested charges of involuntary manslaughter connected to the shooting, according to a media release from the KBI.Sullivan was already in custody at the Barton County Jail when he was arrested for the new charge.Just after 3a.m. Oct. 27, the Hoisington Police Department received a 911 call reporting a shooting at 405 E. 2nd&nbsp;St. in Hoisington.When officers arrived they located Anderson suffering from a gunshot wound.&nbsp; EMS arrived and attempted life-saving measures. A short time later Anderson was pronounced dead.Preliminary information revealed that Anderson was shot in the chest with a handgun. His acquaintance, 32-year-old Adam Sullivan, of Hoisington, was also in the residence at the time of the shooting. Officers arrested him for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Barton County Jail.

Kan. man accused of involuntary manslaughter in fatal shooting

Annual window has opened to enroll through Healthcare.gov

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-11-03/thousands-of-uninsured-kansans-qualify-for-free-health-insurance-with-federal-subsidies">Kansas News Service</a>

In 2014, a man in his fifties showed up at GraceMed Health Clinic in 
Wichita, asking about his options for buying health insurance.

He hadn’t bothered with coverage before. The expense proved daunting for someone running his own business.

GraceMed employee Juven Nava recalls helping the man find coverage for a monthly premium of about $20 through <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">Healthcare.gov</a>.

“For such a long time, the one thing that he felt he could sacrifice was health insurance,” Nava said.

“I told him … ‘Use it. Get everything checked out. You haven’t been to a doctor in forever.’ "

So the self-employed man did just that. The checkups uncovered cancer, and he began treatment.

The experience stuck with Nava, who has helped people sign up for subsidized health insurance every year since.

This year, more uninsured Kansans qualify for financial aid than before the pandemic. It’s part of <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/how-the-american-rescue-plan-will-improve-affordability-of-private-health-coverage/" target="_blank">a coronavirus relief law</a> that Congress passed in March.

About <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-reform/state-indicator/distribution-of-eligibility-for-aca-coverage-among-the-remaining-uninsured/?dataView=1&amp;currentTimeframe=0&amp;selectedRows=%7B%22states%22:%7B%22kansas%22:%7B%7D%7D%7D&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D" target="_blank">260,000 Kansans</a> don’t have health insurance. The <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/a-closer-look-at-the-uninsured-marketplace-eligible-population-following-the-american-rescue-plan-act/" target="_blank">Kaiser Family Foundation</a>
 estimated in May that about 70,000 uninsured Kansans are eligible for 
free health plans through Healthcare.gov for 2022. Tens of thousands 
more can get discounted premiums, sometimes as low as $10 a month.

Because
 of the temporary pandemic-related changes, some people who earn more 
than four times the poverty level will find they qualify for subsidies.

On Monday, the annual enrollment period kicked off for people who want to buy health insurance through Healthcare.gov for 2022.

Enrollment continues until Jan. 15, but if you want your coverage to start on Jan. 1, you need to sign up no later than Dec. 15.

How can you get help exploring your options?

Nava
 leads a team of bilingual experts at GraceMed — about half a dozen 
navigators who’ll sit with you for free in Wichita or Topeka, talk about
 your options and answer every question you’ve wondered about insurance 
jargon.

Out-of-pocket maximums? Coinsurance? Bronze, silver and gold plans? It’s their job to make sense of it for you.

The next few months promise to be busy for the GraceMed team. Their work is in demand.

“We
 were already receiving calls a month ago ... trying to get on our 
navigator schedules,” Nava said. “So this week, it’s pretty packed.”

They meet with people one-on-one, in English or Spanish, and try to 
get to everyone. Sometimes they call on colleagues at other clinics to 
help. They can also point people to assistance in other languages.

If you want to talk to a navigator, Nava recommends checking for an expert near you, because meeting in person is valuable.

You can do that on the <a href="https://getcoveredkansas.org/find-navigator" target="_blank">GetCoveredKansas</a> website, run by a <a href="https://www.communitycareks.org/" target="_blank">coalition of community clinics</a> across Kansas that help people sign up for insurance.

Or
 you can call the coalition at (866) 826-8375 to ask questions or 
schedule an appointment that could take place in person, over the phone 
or by video conference.

Some Kansans have more insurance plans to pick from this year.

<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">Healthcare.gov</a>
 isn’t the only place you can buy insurance, but if you qualify for 
subsidies, you can only get that financial help by going through the 
official marketplace.

This year, seven companies are selling 
insurance to Kansans on Healthcare.gov, including local options like 
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and national insurers like Cigna.

That’s more options than ever. It continues a dramatic trend over the past several years of increasing options:

Still,
 choices vary by county. Most rural counties only have three insurance 
companies to choose from. More urban areas have more options. Celia
 Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health for the Kansas News Service. 
You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at celia@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636035201207.png" alt="Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption>Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Annual window has opened to enroll through Healthcare.gov</h2>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-11-03/thousands-of-uninsured-kansans-qualify-for-free-health-insurance-with-federal-subsidies">Kansas News Service</a>In 2014, a man in his fifties showed up at GraceMed Health Clinic in 
Wichita, asking about his options for buying health insurance.He hadn’t bothered with coverage before. The expense proved daunting for someone running his own business.GraceMed employee Juven Nava recalls helping the man find coverage for a monthly premium of about $20 through <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">Healthcare.gov</a>.“For such a long time, the one thing that he felt he could sacrifice was health insurance,” Nava said.And now he finally had it.“I told him … ‘Use it. Get everything checked out. You haven’t been to a doctor in forever.’ " <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601308401778.png" alt="This story is part of the series, Bills of Health. Do you have a medical bill from Kansas that you want to share with a reporter? Email celia@kcur.org." />
 <figcaption>This story is part of the series, Bills of Health. Do you have a medical bill from Kansas that you want to share with a reporter? Email celia@kcur.org.</figcaption>
 </figure>So the self-employed man did just that. The checkups uncovered cancer, and he began treatment.The experience stuck with Nava, who has helped people sign up for subsidized health insurance every year since.This year, more uninsured Kansans qualify for financial aid than before the pandemic. It’s part of <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/how-the-american-rescue-plan-will-improve-affordability-of-private-health-coverage/" target="_blank">a coronavirus relief law</a> that Congress passed in March.About <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-reform/state-indicator/distribution-of-eligibility-for-aca-coverage-among-the-remaining-uninsured/?dataView=1&amp;currentTimeframe=0&amp;selectedRows=%7B%22states%22:%7B%22kansas%22:%7B%7D%7D%7D&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D" target="_blank">260,000 Kansans</a> don’t have health insurance. The <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/a-closer-look-at-the-uninsured-marketplace-eligible-population-following-the-american-rescue-plan-act/" target="_blank">Kaiser Family Foundation</a>
 estimated in May that about 70,000 uninsured Kansans are eligible for 
free health plans through Healthcare.gov for 2022. Tens of thousands 
more can get discounted premiums, sometimes as low as $10 a month.Because
 of the temporary pandemic-related changes, some people who earn more 
than four times the poverty level will find they qualify for subsidies.On Monday, the annual enrollment period kicked off for people who want to buy health insurance through Healthcare.gov for 2022.Enrollment continues until Jan. 15, but if you want your coverage to start on Jan. 1, you need to sign up no later than Dec. 15.How can you get help exploring your options?Nava
 leads a team of bilingual experts at GraceMed — about half a dozen 
navigators who’ll sit with you for free in Wichita or Topeka, talk about
 your options and answer every question you’ve wondered about insurance 
jargon.Out-of-pocket maximums? Coinsurance? Bronze, silver and gold plans? It’s their job to make sense of it for you.The next few months promise to be busy for the GraceMed team. Their work is in demand.“We
 were already receiving calls a month ago ... trying to get on our 
navigator schedules,” Nava said. “So this week, it’s pretty packed.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636035316979.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>They meet with people one-on-one, in English or Spanish, and try to 
get to everyone. Sometimes they call on colleagues at other clinics to 
help. They can also point people to assistance in other languages.If you want to talk to a navigator, Nava recommends checking for an expert near you, because meeting in person is valuable.You can do that on the <a href="https://getcoveredkansas.org/find-navigator" target="_blank">GetCoveredKansas</a> website, run by a <a href="https://www.communitycareks.org/" target="_blank">coalition of community clinics</a> across Kansas that help people sign up for insurance.Or
 you can call the coalition at (866) 826-8375 to ask questions or 
schedule an appointment that could take place in person, over the phone 
or by video conference.Some Kansans have more insurance plans to pick from this year.<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">Healthcare.gov</a>
 isn’t the only place you can buy insurance, but if you qualify for 
subsidies, you can only get that financial help by going through the 
official marketplace.This year, seven companies are selling 
insurance to Kansans on Healthcare.gov, including local options like 
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and national insurers like Cigna.That’s more options than ever. It continues a dramatic trend over the past several years of increasing options: <ul>
 <li>2019: Three insurers offered 23 plans across Kansas.</li><li>2020: Five insurers offered 82 plans.</li><li>2021: Six insurers offered 100 plans.</li><li>2022: Seven insurers are offering 123 plans.</li>
 </ul>Still,
 choices vary by county. Most rural counties only have three insurance 
companies to choose from. More urban areas have more options. Celia
 Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health for the Kansas News Service. 
You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at celia@kcur.org.

Thousands of uninsured Kansans qualify for free health insurance

WASHINGTON (AP) —Tens of millions of Americans who work at companies with 100 or more employees will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or get tested for the virus weekly under government rules issued Thursday.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said companies that fail to comply could face penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation.

The new requirements, which were first previewed by President Joe Biden in September, will apply to about 84 million workers at medium and large businesses, although it is not clear how many of those employees are unvaccinated.

Tougher rules will apply to another 17 million people who work in nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities that receive money from Medicare and Medicaid. Those workers will not have an option for testing and will need to be vaccinated.

It was unclear how OSHA planned to enforce the rules. A senior administration official said the agency would target companies if it gets complaints.

Workers will be able to ask for exemptions on medical or religious grounds.

The release of the rules followed weeks of regulatory review and meetings with business groups, labor unions and others. The regulations form the cornerstone of Biden’s most aggressive effort yet to combat the spread of COVID-19, which has killed more than 740,000 people in the U.S.

OSHA drafted the rules under emergency authority meant to protect workers from an imminent health hazard. Senior administration officials said the rules preempt conflicting state laws or orders, including those that ban employers from requiring vaccinations, testing or the wearing of face masks.

The administration will face an immediate challenge from Republican state officials who are eager to fight Biden in court. More than two dozen Republicans serving as state attorneys general have indicated they plan to sue, arguing that only Congress can enact such sweeping requirements under emergency authority.

Last week, 19 states sued to stop Biden’s narrower mandate that employees of federal contractors be vaccinated. That requirement was scheduled to take effect Dec. 8, but the administration said Thursday it will be delayed until Jan. 4 to match the requirements on other large employers and health care providers.

Workers will need to receive either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine by Jan. 4. Unvaccinated employees must submit a verified negative test to the company at least once a week and wear face masks on the job.

Employees who test positive must be removed from the workplace.

OSHA will require businesses to provide paid time off for employees to get vaccines and sick leave to recover from side effects that prevent them from working. The requirements for masks and paid time off for shots will take effect Dec. 5.

Because vaccines are free, OSHA said, companies do not have to provide or pay for tests.

The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services issued a rule requiring vaccination for workers in 76,000 health facilities and home health care providers that get funding from the government health programs. A senior administration official said that several large private health care organizations imposed their own mandates and achieved high vaccination rates — 96% or higher — without widespread resignations.

The White House sees the new requirements as a potent tool to winnow down the ranks of the tens of millions of Americans who have thus far refused to get a shot.

For weeks, Biden has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-6e758dc5e24320677e48f58cbfca37bf">encouraged businesses not to wait&nbsp;</a>for the OSHA rule to take effect. He has touted businesses that have already announced their own vaccine mandates and urged other companies to follow their lead.

Administration officials say those efforts are paying off, with about 70% of the nation’s adults now fully vaccinated.

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, said in late July it was requiring all workers at its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, as well as its managers who travel within the U.S., to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4. But the company had stopped short of requiring shots for its frontline workers.

United Airlines required U.S. employees to get vaccinated or face termination. Only a very small number of its 67,000 workers refused to do so.

In August, Tyson Foods told its 120,000 U.S. workers that they must be vaccinated by Nov. 1. A week before that deadline, the company said 96% of its workforce was fully vaccinated.

However, some companies have expressed fear that some vaccine-hesitant workers might quit, leaving their workforces even thinner in what is already a tight labor market.

Several large business groups complained about the timing of the mandate. Retail groups worried that the requirement could disrupt their operations during the critical Christmas shopping period. Retailers and others also said it could worsen supply chain disruptions.

The mandate on federal contractors led to demonstrations by opponents, including workers at a NASA rocket engine test site in Mississippi. Some said they are immune because they contracted COVID-19. Others said vaccines violated their religious beliefs and constitutional rights.

“No one should be forced to take a medical treatment just to keep their job,” said Nyla Trumbach, an engineer at the site. “There’s years and years of experience and skill out here, and I just want anyone who’s watching to see what we stand to lose here if these people don’t keep their jobs.”

Dozens of groups sought meetings with administration officials to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-college-football-sports-business-29461bc697d9e7e4b9f5227d50693038">air their concerns</a>&nbsp;and objections to likely provisions of the OSHA rule, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the AFL-CIO and anti-vaccine organizations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631817363595.png" alt="President Biden says,"just get the shot."&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>President Biden says,"just get the shot."&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Tens of millions of Americans who work at companies with 100 or more employees will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or get tested for the virus weekly under government rules issued Thursday.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said companies that fail to comply could face penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation.The new requirements, which were first previewed by President Joe Biden in September, will apply to about 84 million workers at medium and large businesses, although it is not clear how many of those employees are unvaccinated.Tougher rules will apply to another 17 million people who work in nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities that receive money from Medicare and Medicaid. Those workers will not have an option for testing and will need to be vaccinated.It was unclear how OSHA planned to enforce the rules. A senior administration official said the agency would target companies if it gets complaints.Workers will be able to ask for exemptions on medical or religious grounds.The release of the rules followed weeks of regulatory review and meetings with business groups, labor unions and others. The regulations form the cornerstone of Biden’s most aggressive effort yet to combat the spread of COVID-19, which has killed more than 740,000 people in the U.S.OSHA drafted the rules under emergency authority meant to protect workers from an imminent health hazard. Senior administration officials said the rules preempt conflicting state laws or orders, including those that ban employers from requiring vaccinations, testing or the wearing of face masks.The administration will face an immediate challenge from Republican state officials who are eager to fight Biden in court. More than two dozen Republicans serving as state attorneys general have indicated they plan to sue, arguing that only Congress can enact such sweeping requirements under emergency authority.Last week, 19 states sued to stop Biden’s narrower mandate that employees of federal contractors be vaccinated. That requirement was scheduled to take effect Dec. 8, but the administration said Thursday it will be delayed until Jan. 4 to match the requirements on other large employers and health care providers.Workers will need to receive either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine by Jan. 4. Unvaccinated employees must submit a verified negative test to the company at least once a week and wear face masks on the job.Employees who test positive must be removed from the workplace.OSHA will require businesses to provide paid time off for employees to get vaccines and sick leave to recover from side effects that prevent them from working. The requirements for masks and paid time off for shots will take effect Dec. 5.Because vaccines are free, OSHA said, companies do not have to provide or pay for tests.The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services issued a rule requiring vaccination for workers in 76,000 health facilities and home health care providers that get funding from the government health programs. A senior administration official said that several large private health care organizations imposed their own mandates and achieved high vaccination rates — 96% or higher — without widespread resignations.The White House sees the new requirements as a potent tool to winnow down the ranks of the tens of millions of Americans who have thus far refused to get a shot.For weeks, Biden has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-6e758dc5e24320677e48f58cbfca37bf">encouraged businesses not to wait&nbsp;</a>for the OSHA rule to take effect. He has touted businesses that have already announced their own vaccine mandates and urged other companies to follow their lead.Administration officials say those efforts are paying off, with about 70% of the nation’s adults now fully vaccinated.Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, said in late July it was requiring all workers at its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, as well as its managers who travel within the U.S., to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4. But the company had stopped short of requiring shots for its frontline workers.United Airlines required U.S. employees to get vaccinated or face termination. Only a very small number of its 67,000 workers refused to do so.In August, Tyson Foods told its 120,000 U.S. workers that they must be vaccinated by Nov. 1. A week before that deadline, the company said 96% of its workforce was fully vaccinated.However, some companies have expressed fear that some vaccine-hesitant workers might quit, leaving their workforces even thinner in what is already a tight labor market.Several large business groups complained about the timing of the mandate. Retail groups worried that the requirement could disrupt their operations during the critical Christmas shopping period. Retailers and others also said it could worsen supply chain disruptions.The mandate on federal contractors led to demonstrations by opponents, including workers at a NASA rocket engine test site in Mississippi. Some said they are immune because they contracted COVID-19. Others said vaccines violated their religious beliefs and constitutional rights.“No one should be forced to take a medical treatment just to keep their job,” said Nyla Trumbach, an engineer at the site. “There’s years and years of experience and skill out here, and I just want anyone who’s watching to see what we stand to lose here if these people don’t keep their jobs.”Dozens of groups sought meetings with administration officials to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-college-football-sports-business-29461bc697d9e7e4b9f5227d50693038">air their concerns</a>&nbsp;and objections to likely provisions of the OSHA rule, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the AFL-CIO and anti-vaccine organizations.___

Biden vaccine mandate rules: Shots or weekly tests by Jan. 4

PAWNEE COUNTY—Sheriffs from across Kansas sent a letter to Governor Laura Kelly this week saying "the operations and management at Larned State Hospital have reached a crisis level," after sexual predator John Colt escaped in June. 

Colt was being held in the sexual predator program when he escaped by posing as a doctor and walking out of the hospital. He was arrested in Utah in September. Three hospital employees have been charged in connection to Colt's escape.

Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir provided the letter sent to the governor:

I am writing on behalf of myself and several other duly elected and sworn Sheriffs who have signed this letter. It is our experience that the operations and management at Larned State Hospital have reached a crisis level.    Over the last several years, the leadership has created a culture that has become a quagmire of red tape and bureaucracy.  This places the public at risk and obstructs law enforcement.  We have three main areas of concern.

We wish to call to your attention the escape of John Colt and at least two other individuals. Mr. Colt was considered a violent and dangerous sexual predator. He escaped from the “Sexual Predator Treatment Program” located on the Larned campus.  The administrators of this program failed to contact law enforcement for more than five hours after it was evident there was a problem.  Colt was later arrested in Utah in September. 

Furthermore, when Sheriff King of Pawnee County attempted to investigate the escape, the administrative staff refused to assist, compelling Sheriff King to obtain and execute several search warrants simply to obtain video and documents relating to the escape. At one point, KDADS's legal department suggested getting a protective order against the Sheriff! During Sheriff King’s investigation, three employees were arrested for aiding John Colt in his escape.  It is now clear why the administration did not want Sheriff King investigating the incident. 

After Mr. Colt’s escape, there were two subsequent escapes, one occurring in Hutchinson the other occurring in the City of Larned. Both individuals were captured by local law enforcement in a very short period of time. Three escapes in a matter of months are unacceptable.

Recently, an individual was taken into protective custody in Barton County. The person was obviously in a mental crisis. He was hallucinating, standing in the middle of a rural highway yelling at nonexistent people. The subject was taken into protective custody and evaluated as well as medically screened. It was unclear if the individual was living in his car. 

However, his driver’s license showed an address in a city in northeastern Kansas. Because he was outside of the Larned “catchment area,” my office was advised we must transport him to the Osawatomie facility because Larned was “almost full”. Osawatomie is more than 200 miles from Barton County, Larned State Hospital is 30 miles. This is absurd. Only after repeated calls to the superintendent at Larned did they accepted the patient.  I was advised by the superintendent the patient would most likely be transported Osawatomie by LSH staff. It was pointed out if this person was in my custody because of criminal charges Larned would have accepted them.  This is just one more example of red tape and bureaucracy.

There are a couple of other incidents you should be aware of. Recently, I had an inmate charged with a very serious crime who became extremely violent and self-abusive to the point of smashing their face into cement walls in a holding cell. The inmate was removed, restrained, and evaluated. Mental health professionals completed the proper paperwork to admit the individual to the state hospital at Larned. This was on a Friday afternoon. Due to “no available beds” the inmate was not transported to Larned State Hospital until late Sunday morning. During the waiting period before admission, the inmate had to be restrained. Any time this individual was released from the restraints (restroom, eating, etc.) she became violent, and several officers were required to once again prevent harm to the inmate.

Sheriff Bill Carr from Ford County experienced a situation in which a patient was medically cleared for admission to the state hospital at Larned three times.  He still met resistance from the staff at the state hospital at Larned. An inmate had become very violent and was in a mental crisis. He had also claimed to have eaten some foreign objects. The inmate was medically screened before leaving Dodge City. The inmate then stated he had eaten more foreign objects while in the transport van. The inmate was again examined at the hospital in Larned and sent on the Great Bend to be scoped. No foreign objects were found at any of the medical care facilities. During transportation, the inmate managed to kick out a rear window in one patrol car and damage the headliner, radar, and emergency lighting in another. Upon arrival at the state hospital, the inmate told a security guard he had eaten glass. The security officer opted to refuse the inmate even though Sheriff King and Sheriff Carr were both present explaining that this had not happened. After a prolonged conversation, Sheriff King contemplated arresting the security guards for obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Once again, the superintendent was called, and the patient was accepted by Larned.  At a later date, the patient was transported to the hospital in Larned by one LSH staff member.  The patient was one of the above-mentioned escapees.

There are numerous incidents in which law enforcement agencies have had to sit with citizens who are in a mental health crisis in lobbies or briefing rooms at sheriff’s offices and police departments for hours or days.  This is a dis-service to Kansans in need of help.

The anecdotal evidence could fill volumes. Almost every law enforcement agency in Western Kansas continues to have problems with services at the state hospital. As Sheriffs, we understand issues concerning staffing and Covid 19 related problems. We are faced with the same issues every day in our county jails. That said, we will continue to do our job. Larned State Hospital must also.

Interpretation of policies and procedure begins at the top. There appears to be a culture at the state hospital that resists the admission of patients. Further, we have found these issues are exasperated on weekends. Leadership and accountability are key to the culture of any organization. Under the current regime at the Larned State Hospital, it is our opinion that the public is in danger and there is a continued disservice to those who are mentally ill. Therefore, we must firmly insist on a change of leadership at the administrative level at Larned State Hospital.  Your prompt attention in this matter would be greatly appreciated. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1625086515798.png" alt="John Colt as seen in security camera images during his escape in June." />
 <figcaption>John Colt as seen in security camera images during his escape in June.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY—Sheriffs from across Kansas sent a letter to Governor Laura Kelly this week saying "the operations and management at Larned State Hospital have reached a crisis level," after sexual predator John Colt escaped in June. Colt was being held in the sexual predator program when he escaped by posing as a doctor and walking out of the hospital. He was arrested in Utah in September. Three hospital employees have been charged in connection to Colt's escape.Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir provided the letter sent to the governor:I am writing on behalf of myself and several other duly elected and sworn Sheriffs who have signed this letter. It is our experience that the operations and management at Larned State Hospital have reached a crisis level. Over the last several years, the leadership has created a culture that has become a quagmire of red tape and bureaucracy. This places the public at risk and obstructs law enforcement. We have three main areas of concern.EscapesWe wish to call to your attention the escape of John Colt and at least two other individuals. Mr. Colt was considered a violent and dangerous sexual predator. He escaped from the “Sexual Predator Treatment Program” located on the Larned campus. The administrators of this program failed to contact law enforcement for more than five hours after it was evident there was a problem. Colt was later arrested in Utah in September. Furthermore, when Sheriff King of Pawnee County attempted to investigate the escape, the administrative staff refused to assist, compelling Sheriff King to obtain and execute several search warrants simply to obtain video and documents relating to the escape. At one point, KDADS's legal department suggested getting a protective order against the Sheriff! During Sheriff King’s investigation, three employees were arrested for aiding John Colt in his escape. It is now clear why the administration did not want Sheriff King investigating the incident. After Mr. Colt’s escape, there were two subsequent escapes, one occurring in Hutchinson the other occurring in the City of Larned. Both individuals were captured by local law enforcement in a very short period of time. Three escapes in a matter of months are unacceptable.KDADS “Catchment Area”Recently, an individual was taken into protective custody in Barton County. The person was obviously in a mental crisis. He was hallucinating, standing in the middle of a rural highway yelling at nonexistent people. The subject was taken into protective custody and evaluated as well as medically screened. It was unclear if the individual was living in his car. However, his driver’s license showed an address in a city in northeastern Kansas. Because he was outside of the Larned “catchment area,” my office was advised we must transport him to the Osawatomie facility because Larned was “almost full”. Osawatomie is more than 200 miles from Barton County, Larned State Hospital is 30 miles. This is absurd. Only after repeated calls to the superintendent at Larned did they accepted the patient. I was advised by the superintendent the patient would most likely be transported Osawatomie by LSH staff. It was pointed out if this person was in my custody because of criminal charges Larned would have accepted them. This is just one more example of red tape and bureaucracy.Refusal of patientsThere are a couple of other incidents you should be aware of. Recently, I had an inmate charged with a very serious crime who became extremely violent and self-abusive to the point of smashing their face into cement walls in a holding cell. The inmate was removed, restrained, and evaluated. Mental health professionals completed the proper paperwork to admit the individual to the state hospital at Larned. This was on a Friday afternoon. Due to “no available beds” the inmate was not transported to Larned State Hospital until late Sunday morning. During the waiting period before admission, the inmate had to be restrained. Any time this individual was released from the restraints (restroom, eating, etc.) she became violent, and several officers were required to once again prevent harm to the inmate.Sheriff Bill Carr from Ford County experienced a situation in which a patient was medically cleared for admission to the state hospital at Larned three times. He still met resistance from the staff at the state hospital at Larned. An inmate had become very violent and was in a mental crisis. He had also claimed to have eaten some foreign objects. The inmate was medically screened before leaving Dodge City. The inmate then stated he had eaten more foreign objects while in the transport van. The inmate was again examined at the hospital in Larned and sent on the Great Bend to be scoped. No foreign objects were found at any of the medical care facilities. During transportation, the inmate managed to kick out a rear window in one patrol car and damage the headliner, radar, and emergency lighting in another. Upon arrival at the state hospital, the inmate told a security guard he had eaten glass. The security officer opted to refuse the inmate even though Sheriff King and Sheriff Carr were both present explaining that this had not happened. After a prolonged conversation, Sheriff King contemplated arresting the security guards for obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Once again, the superintendent was called, and the patient was accepted by Larned. At a later date, the patient was transported to the hospital in Larned by one LSH staff member. The patient was one of the above-mentioned escapees.There are numerous incidents in which law enforcement agencies have had to sit with citizens who are in a mental health crisis in lobbies or briefing rooms at sheriff’s offices and police departments for hours or days. This is a dis-service to Kansans in need of help.The anecdotal evidence could fill volumes. Almost every law enforcement agency in Western Kansas continues to have problems with services at the state hospital. As Sheriffs, we understand issues concerning staffing and Covid 19 related problems. We are faced with the same issues every day in our county jails. That said, we will continue to do our job. Larned State Hospital must also.Interpretation of policies and procedure begins at the top. There appears to be a culture at the state hospital that resists the admission of patients. Further, we have found these issues are exasperated on weekends. Leadership and accountability are key to the culture of any organization. Under the current regime at the Larned State Hospital, it is our opinion that the public is in danger and there is a continued disservice to those who are mentally ill. Therefore, we must firmly insist on a change of leadership at the administrative level at Larned State Hospital. Your prompt attention in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Sheriffs ask Gov. for changes at Kan. state hospital following escape

TOPEKA— Governor Laura Kelly says Kansas will encourage its public schools to hold clinics for vaccinating children ages 5 through 11 against COVID-19. 

She said Wednesday during the Safer Classrooms Workgroup virtual meeting that some doses already have arrived in the state. Kansas expects to receive nearly 128,000 doses of a vaccine for younger children manufactured by Pfizer by next week.

The governor announced that all children in the 5-11 age group immediately will be eligible for shots and that most of the doses should be in the state by Friday. The doses would be enough for 46% of the state's children ages 5 through 11 to get the first of two shots.

The state is following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccinating children.

Federal health authorities gave the final go-ahead Tuesday for a vaccine made by Pfizer for younger children.

TOPEKA— Governor Laura Kelly says Kansas will encourage its public schools to hold clinics for vaccinating children ages 5 through 11 against COVID-19. <div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cdn1YlkaONE?start=144" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>She said Wednesday during the Safer Classrooms Workgroup virtual meeting that some doses already have arrived in the state. Kansas expects to receive nearly 128,000 doses of a vaccine for younger children manufactured by Pfizer by next week.The governor announced that all children in the 5-11 age group immediately will be eligible for shots and that most of the doses should be in the state by Friday. The doses would be enough for 46% of the state's children ages 5 through 11 to get the first of two shots.The state is following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccinating children.Federal health authorities gave the final go-ahead Tuesday for a vaccine made by Pfizer for younger children.

🎥 Gov. Kelly encourages schools to hold COVID vaccine clinics 

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —Authorities investigating the death of three people who lived in separate apartments at the same building in 900 Block of Washington Blvd. in Kansas City, Kansas, reported preliminary autopsy results Wednesday.

On Monday building staff found the body of 35-year-old Damon Irvin. The following day staff found the body of 25-year-old Dau'Daja Fairrow. Both of their deaths have been ruled as homicides, according to a release from KCPD. Officials also found the body of 66-year-old Roy Wright Tuesday. His death has been ruled as a natural death.

The two homicides remain under investigation.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City, Kansas, police say they are investigating the deaths of three people who lived in separate apartments at the same building. 

The two men and a woman were found dead at the Wyandotte Towers during the last two days. 

Police say the deaths are being investigated as homicides but they did not say how the residents died. Police spokeswoman Nancy Chartrand said officers found the first man dead on Monday. 

Building management notified police on Tuesday of the other two deaths. The Wyandotte Towers is a 15-story building with 302 units near downtown Kansas City, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635889753469.png" alt="The Wyandotte Towers is a 15-story building with 302 units near downtown Kansas City, Kansas. photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The Wyandotte Towers is a 15-story building with 302 units near downtown Kansas City, Kansas. photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. —Authorities investigating the death of three people who lived in separate apartments at the same building in 900 Block of Washington Blvd. in Kansas City, Kansas, reported preliminary autopsy results Wednesday.On Monday building staff found the body of 35-year-old Damon Irvin. The following day staff found the body of 25-year-old Dau'Daja Fairrow. Both of their deaths have been ruled as homicides, according to a release from KCPD. Officials also found the body of 66-year-old Roy Wright Tuesday. His death has been ruled as a natural death.The two homicides remain under investigation.-----KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City, Kansas, police say they are investigating the deaths of three people who lived in separate apartments at the same building. The two men and a woman were found dead at the Wyandotte Towers during the last two days. Police say the deaths are being investigated as homicides but they did not say how the residents died. Police spokeswoman Nancy Chartrand said officers found the first man dead on Monday. Building management notified police on Tuesday of the other two deaths. The Wyandotte Towers is a 15-story building with 302 units near downtown Kansas City, Kansas.

Homicide: Police ID 3 who died in separate apartments at Kan. complex

HARVEY COUNTY —The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued an Emergency Order of Suspension to&nbsp;Bright Beginnings, a daycare at 305 S. Main Street in Newton, according to a media release from the agency.

The KDHE reported they receive information related to injuries a child sustained while in care on or about October 29 and reported that the information indicates the injuries were likely the result of abuse, <a href="https://khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us/NewsRelease/PDFs/11.3.21%20-%20State%20issues%20emergency%20suspension%20of%20child%20care%20center%20in%20Newton.pdf">according to the emergency order.</a>

The order is subject to appeal. Compliance history on this facility can be found by searching the Child Care and Early Education Portal for license No. 0079315 <a href="https://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/capp.htm">here.</a>

HARVEY COUNTY —The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued an Emergency Order of Suspension to&nbsp;Bright Beginnings, a daycare at 305 S. Main Street in Newton, according to a media release from the agency.The KDHE reported they receive information related to injuries a child sustained while in care on or about October 29 and reported that the information indicates the injuries were likely the result of abuse, <a href="https://khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us/NewsRelease/PDFs/11.3.21%20-%20State%20issues%20emergency%20suspension%20of%20child%20care%20center%20in%20Newton.pdf">according to the emergency order.</a>The order is subject to appeal. Compliance history on this facility can be found by searching the Child Care and Early Education Portal for license No. 0079315 <a href="https://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/capp.htm">here.</a>

KDHE: Emergency order shuts down home daycare in Newton

MOLINE, IL.&nbsp; (AP) —Deere executives said Wednesday that the company wouldn’t return to the bargaining table with striking workers because it wouldn’t offer a better contract than one they rejected that included immediate 10% raises.

Marc Howze, the chief administrative officer of Deere &amp; Co., said the deal the United Auto Workers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-strikes-united-auto-workers-7124f0d5f729c0a722e62c87c94fc14a">union rejected</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday represented the most it could offer and still keep its costs competitive.

Howze declined to discuss how much the ongoing strike is costing Deere, which will release its next earnings report later this month. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-illinois-moline-united-auto-workers-7e85b3d6aa34955f7c0be633e201c87f">disputed contract</a>&nbsp;would cover more than 10,000 Deere workers at 12 facilities in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas, who make the company’s iconic John Deere green tractors and other equipment.

The company plans to reach out to employees directly now to stress the virtues of its offer while it tries to keep its plants running with salaried employees and other workers to meet customer commitments. Other Deere plants globally are also working to pick up the slack.

“We want to make sure they understand the value of the agreement, to make sure they understand that there is nothing to be gained by continuing to hold out,” Howze said. “To some degree, because we were able to come to a resolution as quickly as we were, I think there’s some folks who believe there must be some more available.”

In addition to the initial raises, this week’s offer included 5% raises in the third and fifth years of the six-year deal, and it would have provided an $8,500 ratification bonus, preserved a pension option for new employees, made workers eligible for health insurance sooner and maintained their no-premium health insurance coverage.

UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg said union leaders were meeting to discuss their next moves. With a majority of workers voting against the latest offer, union officials face demands to deliver more but that might be difficult given the Moline, Illinois-based company’s stance. And pressure to reach a settlement will mount the longer workers go without pay.

The vote Tuesday was much closer than when 90% of the workers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-united-auto-workers-moline-strikes-447c2d911c1314c247011522e30f9bd2">rejected the company’s first offer</a>&nbsp;last month, but 55% of the workers still rejected the latest offer. Workers have been encouraged to seek more now because of the current worker shortages and Deere’s strong profits.

“It seems general membership feels emboldened by this current political moment of labor power. They’re pushing things further than the union leadership apparently wants to go,” said Victor Chen, a sociologist at Virginia Commonwealth University who studies labor. “It’s a gamble, but the economic wind is against their backs, given widespread supply chain problems and the current worker shortage.”

Deere officials, who have predicted that the company will report record profits of between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion this fiscal year, don’t want to miss out on sales to farmers who are ready to buy thanks to strong crop prices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts that farmers’ net income will increase by nearly 20% this year, to $113 billion.

Observers say the rejection of the deal shows pent-up anger among Deere workers over how much of its profits the company has been willing to share with workers.

“Although the proposed contract was a significant improvement over the previous offer, the Deere workers evidently felt that the company could afford more,” Fordham University sociologist Chris Rhomberg said. “For decades, wages across the economy have lagged behind productivity growth, and workers may be tired of seeing the gains from their efforts go predominantly to corporations making record-breaking earnings.”

Now the challenge for the UAW and Deere will be finding a way to resolve their differences in a way that workers will accept, said Todd Vachon, a former member of a carpenter’s union who now teaches about labor relations at Rutgers University.

“There is always the risk of overplaying one’s hand — on both sides, really,” Vachon said. “It appears the final mile will likely involve some changes to work rules and working conditions in addition to just wage increases.”

The longer the strike continues, the more painful it will become for everyone, Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said.

“During the dragging on, both sides lose,” Goss said. “Workers are looking at lost income. John Deere is looking at lost sales. So they both have sort of guns pointing at each other’s heads, economically speaking.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634596496067.png" alt="The strike began Oct. 14 after union members overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract that would have delivered only 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others depending on their positions in the factory.-Photo courtesy WQAD TV" />
 <figcaption>The strike began Oct. 14 after union members overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract that would have delivered only 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others depending on their positions in the factory.-Photo courtesy WQAD TV</figcaption>
 </figure>MOLINE, IL.&nbsp; (AP) —Deere executives said Wednesday that the company wouldn’t return to the bargaining table with striking workers because it wouldn’t offer a better contract than one they rejected that included immediate 10% raises.Marc Howze, the chief administrative officer of Deere &amp; Co., said the deal the United Auto Workers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-strikes-united-auto-workers-7124f0d5f729c0a722e62c87c94fc14a">union rejected</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday represented the most it could offer and still keep its costs competitive.Howze declined to discuss how much the ongoing strike is costing Deere, which will release its next earnings report later this month. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-illinois-moline-united-auto-workers-7e85b3d6aa34955f7c0be633e201c87f">disputed contract</a>&nbsp;would cover more than 10,000 Deere workers at 12 facilities in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas, who make the company’s iconic John Deere green tractors and other equipment.The company plans to reach out to employees directly now to stress the virtues of its offer while it tries to keep its plants running with salaried employees and other workers to meet customer commitments. Other Deere plants globally are also working to pick up the slack.“We want to make sure they understand the value of the agreement, to make sure they understand that there is nothing to be gained by continuing to hold out,” Howze said. “To some degree, because we were able to come to a resolution as quickly as we were, I think there’s some folks who believe there must be some more available.”In addition to the initial raises, this week’s offer included 5% raises in the third and fifth years of the six-year deal, and it would have provided an $8,500 ratification bonus, preserved a pension option for new employees, made workers eligible for health insurance sooner and maintained their no-premium health insurance coverage.UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg said union leaders were meeting to discuss their next moves. With a majority of workers voting against the latest offer, union officials face demands to deliver more but that might be difficult given the Moline, Illinois-based company’s stance. And pressure to reach a settlement will mount the longer workers go without pay.The vote Tuesday was much closer than when 90% of the workers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-united-auto-workers-moline-strikes-447c2d911c1314c247011522e30f9bd2">rejected the company’s first offer</a>&nbsp;last month, but 55% of the workers still rejected the latest offer. Workers have been encouraged to seek more now because of the current worker shortages and Deere’s strong profits.“It seems general membership feels emboldened by this current political moment of labor power. They’re pushing things further than the union leadership apparently wants to go,” said Victor Chen, a sociologist at Virginia Commonwealth University who studies labor. “It’s a gamble, but the economic wind is against their backs, given widespread supply chain problems and the current worker shortage.”ADVERTISEMENTDeere officials, who have predicted that the company will report record profits of between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion this fiscal year, don’t want to miss out on sales to farmers who are ready to buy thanks to strong crop prices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts that farmers’ net income will increase by nearly 20% this year, to $113 billion.Observers say the rejection of the deal shows pent-up anger among Deere workers over how much of its profits the company has been willing to share with workers.“Although the proposed contract was a significant improvement over the previous offer, the Deere workers evidently felt that the company could afford more,” Fordham University sociologist Chris Rhomberg said. “For decades, wages across the economy have lagged behind productivity growth, and workers may be tired of seeing the gains from their efforts go predominantly to corporations making record-breaking earnings.”Now the challenge for the UAW and Deere will be finding a way to resolve their differences in a way that workers will accept, said Todd Vachon, a former member of a carpenter’s union who now teaches about labor relations at Rutgers University.“There is always the risk of overplaying one’s hand — on both sides, really,” Vachon said. “It appears the final mile will likely involve some changes to work rules and working conditions in addition to just wage increases.”The longer the strike continues, the more painful it will become for everyone, Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said.“During the dragging on, both sides lose,” Goss said. “Workers are looking at lost income. John Deere is looking at lost sales. So they both have sort of guns pointing at each other’s heads, economically speaking.”

Deere warns striking workers as walkout moves into 4th week

Reports to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>&nbsp;indicate
 scammers are still using Powerball Winner Manuel Franco’s name to send 
out text messages, social media messages, phone calls or emails 
informing people they’ve “been chosen” to receive free money from 
Franco.

Lottery scams like this make it seem as if you are about to receive a
 sudden financial windfall. But, instead, the people sending the 
messages are just phishing for your personal information or may even be 
after&nbsp;your&nbsp;money.

You may recall, Wisconsin resident Manuel Franco came forward in 
April 2019 to claim a $768 million lottery jackpot. Prior to winning the
 lottery, he was working at a Target store. After winning, he was known 
to personally hand out some gift cards to random shoppers.

“This scam involves impersonators attempting to lure in victims to 
steal their personal information”, said Jim Temmer, BBB Serving 
Wisconsin CEO/president. “This is dangerous. We’ve seen this before, and
 it will likely continue because con artists do what works for them.”

There has been an uptick in this scam being reported;&nbsp;188 reports 
have been submitted to BBB Scam Tracker from consumers across the United
 States since 2019. In 2021 alone, there have been 175 submissions to 
date, an increase from the previous year (2020) of 733%. Total losses 
reported in this scam are more than $13,000.

L.M. of New Berlin reported to BBB Scam Tracker, “I was sent a 
message saying I was to receive $50,000 from Manuel Franco. I was 
tricked into giving my driver’s license number and SSN. I fell for this 
and I am really worried about what they might do.”

P.S. of Alabama reported, “I received a text saying ‘I’m Mr. Manuel 
Franco, the Powerball winner in the Powerball Millions Jackpot. Click 
here to see my winning interview. I’m donating to 1000 random 
individuals. If you get this message then your number was selected’…To 
verify your winners send a text to this number…and fill out some 
information so we can proceed immediately.”

A consumer from Colorado informed BBB that he lost $3,200 when he 
sent $200 to “activate his winnings”, and $3000 for the I.R.S” as 
instructed in order to collect his winnings. He said he believed it, 
“Because of COVID I was desperate for money.”

BBB reminds people to protect themselves from impostor scams:

For more information or further inquiries, contact <a href="https://www.bbb.org/wisconsin" target="_blank">BBB Serving Wisconsin</a>, 414-847-6000&nbsp;or 1-800-273-1002.&nbsp;Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following BBB Serving Wisconsin on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WisconsinBBB" target="_blank">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.twitter.com/WisconsinBBB" target="_blank">Twitter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bbbwisconsin" target="_blank">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCABiH4MFtftfPtYiN8X1sUg" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Better Business BureauReports to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>&nbsp;indicate
 scammers are still using Powerball Winner Manuel Franco’s name to send 
out text messages, social media messages, phone calls or emails 
informing people they’ve “been chosen” to receive free money from 
Franco.Lottery scams like this make it seem as if you are about to receive a
 sudden financial windfall. But, instead, the people sending the 
messages are just phishing for your personal information or may even be 
after&nbsp;your&nbsp;money.You may recall, Wisconsin resident Manuel Franco came forward in 
April 2019 to claim a $768 million lottery jackpot. Prior to winning the
 lottery, he was working at a Target store. After winning, he was known 
to personally hand out some gift cards to random shoppers.“This scam involves impersonators attempting to lure in victims to 
steal their personal information”, said Jim Temmer, BBB Serving 
Wisconsin CEO/president. “This is dangerous. We’ve seen this before, and
 it will likely continue because con artists do what works for them.”There has been an uptick in this scam being reported;&nbsp;188 reports 
have been submitted to BBB Scam Tracker from consumers across the United
 States since 2019. In 2021 alone, there have been 175 submissions to 
date, an increase from the previous year (2020) of 733%. Total losses 
reported in this scam are more than $13,000.L.M. of New Berlin reported to BBB Scam Tracker, “I was sent a 
message saying I was to receive $50,000 from Manuel Franco. I was 
tricked into giving my driver’s license number and SSN. I fell for this 
and I am really worried about what they might do.”P.S. of Alabama reported, “I received a text saying ‘I’m Mr. Manuel 
Franco, the Powerball winner in the Powerball Millions Jackpot. Click 
here to see my winning interview. I’m donating to 1000 random 
individuals. If you get this message then your number was selected’…To 
verify your winners send a text to this number…and fill out some 
information so we can proceed immediately.”A consumer from Colorado informed BBB that he lost $3,200 when he 
sent $200 to “activate his winnings”, and $3000 for the I.R.S” as 
instructed in order to collect his winnings. He said he believed it, 
“Because of COVID I was desperate for money.”BBB reminds people to protect themselves from impostor scams:<ul>
 <li>Be suspicious of irregular communications, especially via text, email or phone.</li><li>Don’t provide money or information to people that you don’t know or 
that promise you money in exchange. You will never have to pay upfront 
fees to claim a prize.</li><li>If you are asked to prove your identity, it’s a scam.</li><li>Always report scams to law enforcement or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>.</li>
 </ul>For more information or further inquiries, contact <a href="https://www.bbb.org/wisconsin" target="_blank">BBB Serving Wisconsin</a>, 414-847-6000&nbsp;or 1-800-273-1002.&nbsp;Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following BBB Serving Wisconsin on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WisconsinBBB" target="_blank">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.twitter.com/WisconsinBBB" target="_blank">Twitter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bbbwisconsin" target="_blank">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCABiH4MFtftfPtYiN8X1sUg" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

It's not free money: Powerball scam continues to dupe victims

SALINE COUNTY —Another earthquake shook Saline County Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

Just after 4p.m., a quake that measured a magnitude 2.9, struck southeast of Salina, near Gypsum, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The agency reported a 2.2 magnitude quake in Saline County on Monday.

There are no reports of damage or injury. The Kansas Geological Survey initially reported Wednesdays quake measured a magnitude 3.3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636021331344.png" alt="Location of Wednesday's quake -U.S.G.S. Image" />
 <figcaption>Location of Wednesday's quake -U.S.G.S. Image</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Another earthquake shook Saline County Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Just after 4p.m., a quake that measured a magnitude 2.9, struck southeast of Salina, near Gypsum, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The agency reported a 2.2 magnitude quake in Saline County on Monday.There are no reports of damage or injury. The Kansas Geological Survey initially reported Wednesdays quake measured a magnitude 3.3.