WASHINGTON (AP)— President Joe Biden on Thursday spoke out against misinformation surrounding COVID-19 vaccination mandates, encouraging the approximately 66 million unvaccinated Americans to get a shot.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?515337-1/president-biden-update-covid-19-response-vaccinations">Click here to watch </a>the President's statement

“School board members, religious leaders and doctors across the country are fighting misinformation and educating people about the importance of vaccines,” Biden said.

Speaking at the White House, Biden says employer requirements that their workers be vaccinated are effective. He added: “Vaccination requirements should not be another issue that divides us.”

Biden has issued a federal vaccine mandate on businesses with 100 or more employees that will be implemented in the coming weeks. He says the federal government, as well as businesses and community groups, must “continue to battle the misinformation that’s out there.”

He noted both Southwest Airlines and its pilots’ union dismissed claims that worker action over a pending vaccine mandate at the company was responsible for days of disruption at the airline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634230982483.png" alt="Speaking at the White House, Biden says employer requirements that their workers be vaccinated are effective. He added: “Vaccination requirements should not be another issue that divides us.”" />
 <figcaption>Speaking at the White House, Biden says employer requirements that their workers be vaccinated are effective. He added: “Vaccination requirements should not be another issue that divides us.”</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)— President Joe Biden on Thursday spoke out against misinformation surrounding COVID-19 vaccination mandates, encouraging the approximately 66 million unvaccinated Americans to get a shot.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?515337-1/president-biden-update-covid-19-response-vaccinations">Click here to watch </a>the President's statement“School board members, religious leaders and doctors across the country are fighting misinformation and educating people about the importance of vaccines,” Biden said.Speaking at the White House, Biden says employer requirements that their workers be vaccinated are effective. He added: “Vaccination requirements should not be another issue that divides us.”Biden has issued a federal vaccine mandate on businesses with 100 or more employees that will be implemented in the coming weeks. He says the federal government, as well as businesses and community groups, must “continue to battle the misinformation that’s out there.”He noted both Southwest Airlines and its pilots’ union dismissed claims that worker action over a pending vaccine mandate at the company was responsible for days of disruption at the airline.

🎥Biden: Vaccination mandates should not be an issue that divides us

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in the violent killing of his mother made his first court appearance in the case Tuesday.

Kyle Romey, 42 of Goddard, is charged with 1st degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

Just after 11a.m. Oct. 6, deputies responded to the check the welfare of a person at a trailer home in the 15300 Block of U.S. 54, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.

At the scene, deputies saw a victim on the floor and forced entry into the residence. They found the body of 67-year-old Denyce Briet. It was very obvious to the deputies that there was blunt force trauma to the victim and that this was a homicide, according to Easter.

During the investigation, deputies responded to a related call at a home the 1000 Block of West Dayton. The same caller told deputies they believed the victim, Denyce Breit, had been injured by her son.

Investigators developed a suspect identified as 42-year-old Kyle L. Romey. He is Breit's son. Deputies located him near the area of Taft and McClain and took him into custody.

According to Easter, Romey and his family had a history of violence but investigators don't know what led to Breit's death.&nbsp; Romey had been living at the trailer home since he was paroled in April.&nbsp;Romey has had several previous convictions for criminal threat, aggravated battery; great bodily harm and felon in possession of a weapon, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Romey is being held on a $500,000 bond.&nbsp; His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 28, according to the district attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633632874021.png" alt="Romey was on parole and had several previous convictions for criminal threat, aggravated battery; great bodily harm and felon in possession of a weapon, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Romey was on parole and had several previous convictions for criminal threat, aggravated battery; great bodily harm and felon in possession of a weapon, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in the violent killing of his mother made his first court appearance in the case Tuesday.Kyle Romey, 42 of Goddard, is charged with 1st degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.Just after 11a.m. Oct. 6, deputies responded to the check the welfare of a person at a trailer home in the 15300 Block of U.S. 54, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.At the scene, deputies saw a victim on the floor and forced entry into the residence. They found the body of 67-year-old Denyce Briet. It was very obvious to the deputies that there was blunt force trauma to the victim and that this was a homicide, according to Easter.During the investigation, deputies responded to a related call at a home the 1000 Block of West Dayton. The same caller told deputies they believed the victim, Denyce Breit, had been injured by her son.Investigators developed a suspect identified as 42-year-old Kyle L. Romey. He is Breit's son. Deputies located him near the area of Taft and McClain and took him into custody.According to Easter, Romey and his family had a history of violence but investigators don't know what led to Breit's death.&nbsp; Romey had been living at the trailer home since he was paroled in April.&nbsp;Romey has had several previous convictions for criminal threat, aggravated battery; great bodily harm and felon in possession of a weapon, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.Romey is being held on a $500,000 bond.&nbsp; His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 28, according to the district attorney.

Kansas man charged in the violent murder of his mother

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The accidental shooting death of an 8-year-old boy in suburban Kansas City happened when his younger sibling found a gun in their home, police said.

The shooting happened early Saturday morning in Independence. Officers called to the home found the boy with a gunshot wound; he later died.

Investigators believe the boy's younger sibling found a gun that had been left unsecured in the home and was handling it when it fired and hit his older brother,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/independence-pd-says-sibling-shot-killed-older-brother-in-saturday-accidental-shooting">television station KSHB reported</a>. Police have not released the victim’s or his family members' names.

The case will be sent to to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, which will determine whether any charges will be filed in the case, police said

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The accidental shooting death of an 8-year-old boy in suburban Kansas City happened when his younger sibling found a gun in their home, police said.The shooting happened early Saturday morning in Independence. Officers called to the home found the boy with a gunshot wound; he later died.Investigators believe the boy's younger sibling found a gun that had been left unsecured in the home and was handling it when it fired and hit his older brother,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/independence-pd-says-sibling-shot-killed-older-brother-in-saturday-accidental-shooting">television station KSHB reported</a>. Police have not released the victim’s or his family members' names.The case will be sent to to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, which will determine whether any charges will be filed in the case, police said

8-year-old KC-area boy fatally shot by younger sibling

WASHINGTON (AP) –Thousands of public servants who were rejected from a student loan forgiveness program will get their cases reviewed by the Education Department as part of a settlement in a lawsuit brought by one of the nation’s largest teachers unions.

The settlement announced Wednesday aims to resolve a 2019 suit accusing the department of mismanaging its Public Service Loan Forgiveness program — a troubled initiative that the agency is separately working to fix through an overhaul&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-student-loans-education-cecef88ebeebe2f524022f603f22a83b">announced last week</a>.

The suit was brought by the American Federation of Teachers on behalf of eight members who said they were wrongly denied debt cancellation through the program.

Created in 2007, the program promises that college graduates who take jobs in public service can have their federal student debt forgiven after making 10 years of monthly payments. But the vast majority of applicants have been rejected, often for failing to meet complicated eligibility rules.

According to the lawsuit, the Education Department routinely made errors while processing applications yet offered no appeals process. It argued that borrowers were illegally being denied their right to due process. The suit targeted the department and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

As part of the settlement, the department said it will automatically review applications for all borrowers who were rejected prior to Nov. 1, 2020, as long as they had made 10 years of payments. If the department finds that a rejection was justified, it will email borrowers to explain the decision and how they can become eligible.

It goes a step further than a temporary expansion announced last week, which allows some previously ineligible borrowers to get loan forgiveness if they submit an application by the end of October 2022.

A new appeals process also will be created by April 30, 2022, for anyone whose application is denied. All eight plaintiffs in the suit will also get their loan balances erased, estimated at nearly $400,000.

Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT, called it a “game-changing victory” for educators, nurses and other public workers who were wrongly rejected.

“We just ensured that a promise made is a promise kept,” Weingarten said in a call with reporters. “The settlement unravels the Gordian knot of PSLF’s botched implementation.”

Kelly Leon, a department spokesperson, said the Biden administration is committed to improving the program, which she said has failed to live up to its promise.

“We are pleased to settle this litigation and look forward to working with organizations including AFT to further improve the PSLF Program,” she said in a statement.

Among the plaintiffs is Debbie Baker, an Oklahoma teacher who made 10 years of payments before learning she had a type of loan that isn’t eligible under the program’s rules. She will now get more than $80,000 in student debt erased.

“This is just lifechanging — to be able to go to school and teach every day, and not have to deal with the anxiety and the anguish and the guilt and the feeling of just being trapped by debt,” she told reporters. “This is truly, truly lifechanging.”

Some other plaintiffs said their student loan servicers incorrectly told them they were eligible for the program, only to find out later that they had an ineligible loan or repayment plan. They also will see their loans cleared.

The department also agreed to email borrowers who may be eligible for loan forgiveness and explain how to submit the right paperwork.

The program has been a subject of debate for years amid criticism that it failed to deliver its promise to public servants. It was created to steer more college graduates into jobs that serve the public good but often have modest pay. It’s open to government workers at all levels and employees of nonprofit groups.

After finding that most applications were being rejected, Congress added $700 million to the program and temporarily expanded its rules in 2018. But even after that change, just 1% of applications were approved, according to a federal report a year later.

Thousands of applicants have been denied because they had loans through a now-defunct program that gave federally backed student loans through banks. Those loans are ineligible under the program’s original rules, as are some repayment plans.

Last week, the Education Department announced it will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-student-loans-education-e7ddbd51e67e7e0ffb0f833f3ef02c42">temporarily lift some rules</a>&nbsp;to expand eligibility while it works on permanent improvements.

Under the change, past payments can be counted toward the required 10 years of payments even if they were made on loans or through payment plans that were previously ineligible. Borrowers have until Oct. 30, 2022, to get those payments counted.

The department is lifting the rules by invoking the HEROES Act of 2003, a federal law that allows the agency to waive certain rules during a national emergency. The move was applauded by Democrats and student advocates but blasted by Republicans, who say any changes should be made by Congress.

The Biden administration vowed to make permanent improvements through a federal rulemaking process. Hearings for that process started last week.

WASHINGTON (AP) –Thousands of public servants who were rejected from a student loan forgiveness program will get their cases reviewed by the Education Department as part of a settlement in a lawsuit brought by one of the nation’s largest teachers unions.The settlement announced Wednesday aims to resolve a 2019 suit accusing the department of mismanaging its Public Service Loan Forgiveness program — a troubled initiative that the agency is separately working to fix through an overhaul&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-student-loans-education-cecef88ebeebe2f524022f603f22a83b">announced last week</a>.The suit was brought by the American Federation of Teachers on behalf of eight members who said they were wrongly denied debt cancellation through the program.Created in 2007, the program promises that college graduates who take jobs in public service can have their federal student debt forgiven after making 10 years of monthly payments. But the vast majority of applicants have been rejected, often for failing to meet complicated eligibility rules.According to the lawsuit, the Education Department routinely made errors while processing applications yet offered no appeals process. It argued that borrowers were illegally being denied their right to due process. The suit targeted the department and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.As part of the settlement, the department said it will automatically review applications for all borrowers who were rejected prior to Nov. 1, 2020, as long as they had made 10 years of payments. If the department finds that a rejection was justified, it will email borrowers to explain the decision and how they can become eligible.It goes a step further than a temporary expansion announced last week, which allows some previously ineligible borrowers to get loan forgiveness if they submit an application by the end of October 2022.A new appeals process also will be created by April 30, 2022, for anyone whose application is denied. All eight plaintiffs in the suit will also get their loan balances erased, estimated at nearly $400,000.Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT, called it a “game-changing victory” for educators, nurses and other public workers who were wrongly rejected.“We just ensured that a promise made is a promise kept,” Weingarten said in a call with reporters. “The settlement unravels the Gordian knot of PSLF’s botched implementation.”Kelly Leon, a department spokesperson, said the Biden administration is committed to improving the program, which she said has failed to live up to its promise.“We are pleased to settle this litigation and look forward to working with organizations including AFT to further improve the PSLF Program,” she said in a statement.Among the plaintiffs is Debbie Baker, an Oklahoma teacher who made 10 years of payments before learning she had a type of loan that isn’t eligible under the program’s rules. She will now get more than $80,000 in student debt erased.“This is just lifechanging — to be able to go to school and teach every day, and not have to deal with the anxiety and the anguish and the guilt and the feeling of just being trapped by debt,” she told reporters. “This is truly, truly lifechanging.”Some other plaintiffs said their student loan servicers incorrectly told them they were eligible for the program, only to find out later that they had an ineligible loan or repayment plan. They also will see their loans cleared.The department also agreed to email borrowers who may be eligible for loan forgiveness and explain how to submit the right paperwork.The program has been a subject of debate for years amid criticism that it failed to deliver its promise to public servants. It was created to steer more college graduates into jobs that serve the public good but often have modest pay. It’s open to government workers at all levels and employees of nonprofit groups.After finding that most applications were being rejected, Congress added $700 million to the program and temporarily expanded its rules in 2018. But even after that change, just 1% of applications were approved, according to a federal report a year later.Thousands of applicants have been denied because they had loans through a now-defunct program that gave federally backed student loans through banks. Those loans are ineligible under the program’s original rules, as are some repayment plans.Last week, the Education Department announced it will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-student-loans-education-e7ddbd51e67e7e0ffb0f833f3ef02c42">temporarily lift some rules</a>&nbsp;to expand eligibility while it works on permanent improvements.Under the change, past payments can be counted toward the required 10 years of payments even if they were made on loans or through payment plans that were previously ineligible. Borrowers have until Oct. 30, 2022, to get those payments counted.The department is lifting the rules by invoking the HEROES Act of 2003, a federal law that allows the agency to waive certain rules during a national emergency. The move was applauded by Democrats and student advocates but blasted by Republicans, who say any changes should be made by Congress.The Biden administration vowed to make permanent improvements through a federal rulemaking process. Hearings for that process started last week.

Borrowers denied student loan relief will get a 2nd look

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drive-by shooting and asking the public for information regarding an incident Tuesday that injured an 11-year-old girl at a home in Wichita.

&nbsp;Police are offering a $1000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest in this case.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to a drive-by call at a home in the 1400 block of North Harding, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

 Upon arrival, officers located a home that had been damaged by a gunshot.  Inside the home, officers located an 11-year-old girl who was laying in bed and had been shot.  She was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.  Four other individuals were inside the home at the time and were not injured.

Calling parties reported hearing multiple gunshots and seeing an unknown type of vehicle leaving north on Harding and then traveling west towards Oliver.

“This is not believed to be a random incident, and someone knows information on who is involved,” WPD Captain Jason Stephens said.  “We have one goal, and that is to hold the offender accountable, especially when it involves an innocent child victim, but we need the community’s help.”

Anyone with information can call police detectives at 316-268-4407, the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282, or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634162750977.png" alt="Image of the suspect vehicle driving by early Tuesday-Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Image of the suspect vehicle driving by early Tuesday-Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drive-by shooting and asking the public for information regarding an incident Tuesday that injured an 11-year-old girl at a home in Wichita.&nbsp;Police are offering a $1000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest in this case.At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to a drive-by call at a home in the 1400 block of North Harding, according to Officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers located a home that had been damaged by a gunshot. Inside the home, officers located an 11-year-old girl who was laying in bed and had been shot. She was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Four other individuals were inside the home at the time and were not injured.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634171148198.png" alt="A cousin established a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/victim-of-shooting-family-needs-help?member=14541373&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=more&amp;utm_source=customer">GoFundMe page </a>to help the girl's family with medical expenses. She was in the ICU at a Wichita hospital late Wednesday, according to the fundraiser account." />
 <figcaption>A cousin established a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/victim-of-shooting-family-needs-help?member=14541373&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=more&amp;utm_source=customer">GoFundMe page </a>to help the girl's family with medical expenses. She was in the ICU at a Wichita hospital late Wednesday, according to the fundraiser account.</figcaption>
 </figure>Calling parties reported hearing multiple gunshots and seeing an unknown type of vehicle leaving north on Harding and then traveling west towards Oliver.“This is not believed to be a random incident, and someone knows information on who is involved,” WPD Captain Jason Stephens said. “We have one goal, and that is to hold the offender accountable, especially when it involves an innocent child victim, but we need the community’s help.”Anyone with information can call police detectives at 316-268-4407, the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282, or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.&nbsp;

Reward offered in shooting that injured 11-year-old Kan. girl

WASHINGTON (AP) — With many Americans who got Pfizer vaccinations already rolling up their sleeves for a booster shot, millions of others who received the Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine wait anxiously to learn when it’s their turn.

Federal regulators begin tackling that question this week.

On Thursday and Friday, the Food and Drug Administration convenes its independent advisers for the first stage in the process of deciding whether extra doses of the two vaccines should be dispensed and, if so, who should get them and when. The final go-ahead is not expected for at least another week.

After the FDA advisers give their recommendation, the agency itself will make a decision on whether to authorize boosters. Then next week, a panel convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will offer more specifics on who should get them. Its decision is subject to approval by the CDC director.

The process is meant to bolster public confidence in the vaccines. But it has already led to conflicts among experts and agencies — and documents the FDA released Tuesday suggest this week’s decisions will be equally difficult.

In one earlier vaccine dispute, the CDC’s advisory panel last month backed Pfizer boosters at the six-month point for older Americans, nursing home residents and people with underlying health problems. But CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-science-health-coronavirus-vaccine-95b8d9a432b60fe0e9713adf75dde0ee">overruled her advisers</a>&nbsp;and decided boosters should also be offered to those with high-risk jobs such as teachers and health care workers, adding tens of millions more Americans to the list.

Some health experts fear the back-and-forth deliberations are muddling the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-science-health-coronavirus-vaccine-bd0d386c8a800e4d2c08fa7e3eef6f6e">public effort&nbsp;</a>to persuade the unvaccinated to get their first shots. They worry that the talk of boosters will lead people to wrongly doubt the effectiveness of the vaccines in the first place.

When the FDA’s panel meets to review the Moderna and J&amp;J vaccines, experts will discuss whether a third Moderna shot should contain just half the original dose and what’s the best timing for a second shot of the single-dose J&amp;J vaccine.

The panel will also look into the safety and effectiveness of mixing-and-matching different brands of vaccine, something regulators have not endorsed so far.

An estimated 103 million Americans are fully vaccinated with Pfizer’s formula, 69 million with Moderna’s and 15 million with J&amp;J’s, according to the CDC. Regulators took up the question of Pfizer boosters first because the company submitted its data ahead of the other vaccine makers.

Tim Anderson, a U.S. history teacher at a high school outside Louisville, Kentucky, already had his two Moderna shots months before he came down with COVID-19 in August. While his symptoms hit him “like a sledgehammer,” he is convinced that the inoculation saved him and his girlfriend from the more severe effects of the disease.

The two are now awaiting clearance of a Moderna booster shot.

“Until we can build up enough immunity within our own self and, you know, as a group of humans, I’m willing to do what I need to do,” Anderson, 58, said.

The FDA meetings come as U.S. vaccinations have climbed back above 1 million per day on average, an increase of more than 50% over the past two weeks. The rise has been driven mainly by Pfizer boosters and employer vaccine mandates.

While the FDA and CDC so far have endorsed Pfizer boosters for specific groups only, Biden administration officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, have suggested that extra shots will eventually be recommended for most Americans.

In a new review of Moderna’s data, the FDA did not indicate Tuesday if it was leaning toward clearing the company’s booster. It said vaccines used in the U.S. still provide protection, and it raised questions about some of Moderna’s data.

The two initial Moderna shots contain 100 micrograms of vaccine each. But the drugmaker says 50 micrograms ought to be enough for a booster for healthy people.

A company study of 344 people gave them a 50-microgram shot six months after their second dose, and levels of virus-fighting antibodies jumped. Moderna said the booster even triggered a 42-fold rise in antibodies able to target the extra-contagious delta variant.

Side effects were similar to the fevers and aches that Moderna recipients commonly experience after their second regular shot, the company said.

As for people who got the J&amp;J vaccine, the company submitted data to the FDA for different options: a booster shot at two months or at six months. The company said in its FDA submission that a six-month booster is recommended but that a second dose could be given at two months in some situations.

J&amp;J released data in September showing that a booster given at two months provided 94% protection against moderate-to-severe COVID-19 infection. The company has not disclosed patient data on a six-month booster, but early measures of virus-fighting antibodies suggest it provides even higher protection.

Even without a booster, J&amp;J says, its vaccine remains about 80% effective at preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S.

Scientists emphasize that all three vaccines used in the U.S. still offer strong protection against severe disease and death from COVID-19. The issue is how quickly, and how much, protection against milder infection may wane.

In one recent study, researchers compared about 14,000 people who had gotten their first Moderna dose a year ago with 11,000 vaccinated eight months ago. As the delta variant surged in July and August, the more recently vaccinated group had a 36% lower rate of “breakthrough” infections compared with those vaccinated longer ago.

WASHINGTON (AP) — With many Americans who got Pfizer vaccinations already rolling up their sleeves for a booster shot, millions of others who received the Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine wait anxiously to learn when it’s their turn.Federal regulators begin tackling that question this week.On Thursday and Friday, the Food and Drug Administration convenes its independent advisers for the first stage in the process of deciding whether extra doses of the two vaccines should be dispensed and, if so, who should get them and when. The final go-ahead is not expected for at least another week.After the FDA advisers give their recommendation, the agency itself will make a decision on whether to authorize boosters. Then next week, a panel convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will offer more specifics on who should get them. Its decision is subject to approval by the CDC director.The process is meant to bolster public confidence in the vaccines. But it has already led to conflicts among experts and agencies — and documents the FDA released Tuesday suggest this week’s decisions will be equally difficult.In one earlier vaccine dispute, the CDC’s advisory panel last month backed Pfizer boosters at the six-month point for older Americans, nursing home residents and people with underlying health problems. But CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-science-health-coronavirus-vaccine-95b8d9a432b60fe0e9713adf75dde0ee">overruled her advisers</a>&nbsp;and decided boosters should also be offered to those with high-risk jobs such as teachers and health care workers, adding tens of millions more Americans to the list.Some health experts fear the back-and-forth deliberations are muddling the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-science-health-coronavirus-vaccine-bd0d386c8a800e4d2c08fa7e3eef6f6e">public effort&nbsp;</a>to persuade the unvaccinated to get their first shots. They worry that the talk of boosters will lead people to wrongly doubt the effectiveness of the vaccines in the first place.When the FDA’s panel meets to review the Moderna and J&amp;J vaccines, experts will discuss whether a third Moderna shot should contain just half the original dose and what’s the best timing for a second shot of the single-dose J&amp;J vaccine.The panel will also look into the safety and effectiveness of mixing-and-matching different brands of vaccine, something regulators have not endorsed so far.An estimated 103 million Americans are fully vaccinated with Pfizer’s formula, 69 million with Moderna’s and 15 million with J&amp;J’s, according to the CDC. Regulators took up the question of Pfizer boosters first because the company submitted its data ahead of the other vaccine makers.Tim Anderson, a U.S. history teacher at a high school outside Louisville, Kentucky, already had his two Moderna shots months before he came down with COVID-19 in August. While his symptoms hit him “like a sledgehammer,” he is convinced that the inoculation saved him and his girlfriend from the more severe effects of the disease.The two are now awaiting clearance of a Moderna booster shot.“Until we can build up enough immunity within our own self and, you know, as a group of humans, I’m willing to do what I need to do,” Anderson, 58, said.The FDA meetings come as U.S. vaccinations have climbed back above 1 million per day on average, an increase of more than 50% over the past two weeks. The rise has been driven mainly by Pfizer boosters and employer vaccine mandates.While the FDA and CDC so far have endorsed Pfizer boosters for specific groups only, Biden administration officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, have suggested that extra shots will eventually be recommended for most Americans.In a new review of Moderna’s data, the FDA did not indicate Tuesday if it was leaning toward clearing the company’s booster. It said vaccines used in the U.S. still provide protection, and it raised questions about some of Moderna’s data.The two initial Moderna shots contain 100 micrograms of vaccine each. But the drugmaker says 50 micrograms ought to be enough for a booster for healthy people.A company study of 344 people gave them a 50-microgram shot six months after their second dose, and levels of virus-fighting antibodies jumped. Moderna said the booster even triggered a 42-fold rise in antibodies able to target the extra-contagious delta variant.Side effects were similar to the fevers and aches that Moderna recipients commonly experience after their second regular shot, the company said.As for people who got the J&amp;J vaccine, the company submitted data to the FDA for different options: a booster shot at two months or at six months. The company said in its FDA submission that a six-month booster is recommended but that a second dose could be given at two months in some situations.J&amp;J released data in September showing that a booster given at two months provided 94% protection against moderate-to-severe COVID-19 infection. The company has not disclosed patient data on a six-month booster, but early measures of virus-fighting antibodies suggest it provides even higher protection.Even without a booster, J&amp;J says, its vaccine remains about 80% effective at preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S.Scientists emphasize that all three vaccines used in the U.S. still offer strong protection against severe disease and death from COVID-19. The issue is how quickly, and how much, protection against milder infection may wane.In one recent study, researchers compared about 14,000 people who had gotten their first Moderna dose a year ago with 11,000 vaccinated eight months ago. As the delta variant surged in July and August, the more recently vaccinated group had a 36% lower rate of “breakthrough” infections compared with those vaccinated longer ago.___

FDA begins work to approve booster shots of Moderna, J&J vaccines

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — More than 10,000 Deere &amp; Co. workers went on strike Thursday at midnight after “the company failed to present an agreement that met our members’ demands and needs,” The United Auto Workers union said in statement.

The union had said its members would walk off the job if no deal has been reached by 11:59 p.m. The vast majority of the union rejected a contract offer earlier this week that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others.

UAW President Ray Curry, said “The almost one million UAW retirees and active members who stand in solidarity with the striking UAW members at John Deere.”

Thirty-five years have passed since the last major Deere strike, but workers were emboldened to demand more this year after working long hours throughout the pandemic and because companies are facing worker shortages.

“Our members at John Deere strike for the ability to earn a decent living, retire with dignity and establish fair work rules,” said Chuck Browning, vice president and director of the UAW’s Agricultural Implement Department. “We stay committed to bargaining until our members’ goals are achieved.”

Chris Laursen, who works as a painter at Deere, told the Des Moines Register that he thought a strike was imminent and could make a significant difference.

“The whole nation’s going to be watching us,” Laursen said to the newspaper. “If we take a stand here for ourselves, our families, for basic human prosperity, it’s going to make a difference for the whole manufacturing industry. Let’s do it. Let’s not be intimidated.”

Earlier this year, another group of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-strikes-17c318d1250ebfca9f597c5601af820b">UAW-represented workers went on strike at a Volvo Trucks plant in Virginia</a>&nbsp;and wound up with better pay and lower-cost health benefits after rejecting three tentative contract offers.

The contracts under negotiation covered 14 Deere plants across the United States, including seven in Iowa, four in Illinois and one each in Kansas, Colorado and Georgia.

The contract talks at the Moline, Illinois-based company were unfolding as Deere is expecting to report record profits between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion this year. The company has been reporting strong sales of its agricultural and construction equipment this year.

The Deere production plants are an important contributors to the economy, so local officials hope any strike will be short-lived.

“We definitely want to see our economy stabilize and grow after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said to the Quad-Cities Times. “Hopefully, these parties can come to a resolution soon.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634208352309.png" alt="John Deere offices in Coffeyville, Kansas-Google image" />
 <figcaption>John Deere offices in Coffeyville, Kansas-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — More than 10,000 Deere &amp; Co. workers went on strike Thursday at midnight after “the company failed to present an agreement that met our members’ demands and needs,” The United Auto Workers union said in statement.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUAW450Members%2Fposts%2F10158858932068040&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="498" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The union had said its members would walk off the job if no deal has been reached by 11:59 p.m. The vast majority of the union rejected a contract offer earlier this week that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others.UAW President Ray Curry, said “The almost one million UAW retirees and active members who stand in solidarity with the striking UAW members at John Deere.”Thirty-five years have passed since the last major Deere strike, but workers were emboldened to demand more this year after working long hours throughout the pandemic and because companies are facing worker shortages.“Our members at John Deere strike for the ability to earn a decent living, retire with dignity and establish fair work rules,” said Chuck Browning, vice president and director of the UAW’s Agricultural Implement Department. “We stay committed to bargaining until our members’ goals are achieved.”Chris Laursen, who works as a painter at Deere, told the Des Moines Register that he thought a strike was imminent and could make a significant difference.“The whole nation’s going to be watching us,” Laursen said to the newspaper. “If we take a stand here for ourselves, our families, for basic human prosperity, it’s going to make a difference for the whole manufacturing industry. Let’s do it. Let’s not be intimidated.”Earlier this year, another group of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-strikes-17c318d1250ebfca9f597c5601af820b">UAW-represented workers went on strike at a Volvo Trucks plant in Virginia</a>&nbsp;and wound up with better pay and lower-cost health benefits after rejecting three tentative contract offers.The contracts under negotiation covered 14 Deere plants across the United States, including seven in Iowa, four in Illinois and one each in Kansas, Colorado and Georgia.The contract talks at the Moline, Illinois-based company were unfolding as Deere is expecting to report record profits between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion this year. The company has been reporting strong sales of its agricultural and construction equipment this year.The Deere production plants are an important contributors to the economy, so local officials hope any strike will be short-lived.“We definitely want to see our economy stabilize and grow after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said to the Quad-Cities Times. “Hopefully, these parties can come to a resolution soon.”

John Deere: Workers in Kansas, 4 other states walk off the job

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden tried to reassure Americans on Wednesday that he can tame&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-consumer-prices-inflation-prices-e80c0c24a6ec5ca1c977eccd6294d01b">high inflation</a>, announcing a deal to expand operations at the Port of Los Angeles as prices keep climbing and container ships wait to dock in a traffic jam threatening the U.S. economy and holiday shopping.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?515317-1/president-biden-announces-steps-ease-global-supply-chain-bottlenecks-nations-ports">Click here to watch </a>the President's statement

Prices are jumping in large part because container ships are stranded at ports and because unloaded goods are waiting for trucks, leading to mass shortages and delays that have caused a longer than expected bout of inflation. The rising costs are eating into worker pay, creating a drag on growth and driving Republican criticism of Biden just as his multitrillion-dollar tax, economic, climate and infrastructure agenda is going through the crucible of congressional negotiations.

The White House responded to the backlog by finalizing an agreement for the Port of Los Angeles to become a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week operation. The hope is that nighttime operations will help to break the logjam and reduce shipping delays for toasters, sneakers, bicycles, cars and more.

“With holidays coming up, you might be wondering if the gifts you plan to buy will arrive on time,” Biden said at the White House. “Today we have some good news: We’re going to help speed up the delivery of goods all across America.”

But the expansion of port operations was also an unspoken recognition that inflation is lingering at higher levels long after the economy began to reopen from the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses were worrying about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-government-and-politics-2c2d811df7e2b07dd927778fb7944c3a">monthslong delays for shipping containers</a>&nbsp;in June, yet the administration only formed its supply chain task force that month and named a port envoy on Aug. 27 to address the challenge.

Ports are also just one piece of the puzzle, Biden said. The country needs more truck drivers, private retailers to step up and better infrastructure, as well as a supply chain that can less easily be disrupted by pandemics and extreme weather. The president is trying to use the predicament as a selling point for his policy plans that undergoing congressional scrutiny.

“We need to take a longer view and invest in building greater resiliency to withstand the kinds of shocks we’ve seen over and over, year in and year out, the risk of pandemic, extreme weather, climate change, cyberattacks, weather disruptions,” he said.

The sense of uncertainty is beginning to consume the attention of many Americans.

University of Michigan economist Betsey Stevenson noted on Twitter the “economy is in a very fragile and unprecedented place.” Prices are rising at more than 5%, trade in goods and services have slowed and more Americans are quitting their jobs while the delta variant has made the coronavirus pandemic a risk.

“No one really knows what’s going to happen,” wrote Stevenson, a former member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama.

Ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, account for 40% of all shipping containers entering the United States. As of Tuesday, there were 64 ships berthed at the two ports and 80 waiting to dock and unload, according to the Marine Exchange of Southern California.

Commitments by the Los Angeles port’s operator, longshoremen and several of the country’s largest retail and shipping companies are expected to help relieve the backlog.

Walmart, FedEx, UPS, Target, Samsung and The Home Depot committed to unloading during off-peak hours, making it easier for the Los Angeles port to operate nonstop. The Long Beach port has been operating 24 hours daily for seven days for roughly the past three weeks.

Biden also held a virtual roundtable with the heads of Walmart, FedEx Logistics, UPS, Target, Samsung Electronics North America, the Teamsters Union and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, among other groups, before his speech.

Republican lawmakers say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package</a>&nbsp;has fueled higher prices. A recent analysis issued by the investment bank Goldman Sachs estimates that “supply-constrained goods” account for 80% of this year’s inflation overshoot, yet the political criticism continues to sting as housing and oil prices add to inflationary pressures.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has made inflation one of his central charges against Biden, a sign that getting prices under control could be essential for Democrats trying to hold onto congressional seats in next year’s elections.

“The Democrats’ inflation is so bad that even though the average American worker has gotten a multiple-percentage-point pay raise over the last year, their actual purchasing power has been cut,” McConnell said in a Senate speech last week. “Even dollar stores are having to raise their prices. Just ask any American family about their last few trips to the supermarket, the gas station or the toy store. Heaven forbid if they’ve had to participate in the housing market or the auto market anytime lately.”

The Biden administration has argued that higher inflation is temporary. Yet the supply chain issues have persisted months after the economy began to reopen and recover as vaccines lessened many of the risks from the pandemic.

Consumer prices climbed 5.4% from a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. That is significantly above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Higher energy, food and shelter costs were prime drivers of price increases in September.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634172701291.png" alt="“With holidays coming up, you might be wondering if the gifts you plan to buy will arrive on time,” Biden said at the White House. “Today we have some good news: We’re going to help speed up the delivery of goods all across America.”" />
 <figcaption>“With holidays coming up, you might be wondering if the gifts you plan to buy will arrive on time,” Biden said at the White House. “Today we have some good news: We’re going to help speed up the delivery of goods all across America.”</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden tried to reassure Americans on Wednesday that he can tame&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-consumer-prices-inflation-prices-e80c0c24a6ec5ca1c977eccd6294d01b">high inflation</a>, announcing a deal to expand operations at the Port of Los Angeles as prices keep climbing and container ships wait to dock in a traffic jam threatening the U.S. economy and holiday shopping.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?515317-1/president-biden-announces-steps-ease-global-supply-chain-bottlenecks-nations-ports">Click here to watch </a>the President's statementPrices are jumping in large part because container ships are stranded at ports and because unloaded goods are waiting for trucks, leading to mass shortages and delays that have caused a longer than expected bout of inflation. The rising costs are eating into worker pay, creating a drag on growth and driving Republican criticism of Biden just as his multitrillion-dollar tax, economic, climate and infrastructure agenda is going through the crucible of congressional negotiations.The White House responded to the backlog by finalizing an agreement for the Port of Los Angeles to become a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week operation. The hope is that nighttime operations will help to break the logjam and reduce shipping delays for toasters, sneakers, bicycles, cars and more.“With holidays coming up, you might be wondering if the gifts you plan to buy will arrive on time,” Biden said at the White House. “Today we have some good news: We’re going to help speed up the delivery of goods all across America.”But the expansion of port operations was also an unspoken recognition that inflation is lingering at higher levels long after the economy began to reopen from the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses were worrying about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-government-and-politics-2c2d811df7e2b07dd927778fb7944c3a">monthslong delays for shipping containers</a>&nbsp;in June, yet the administration only formed its supply chain task force that month and named a port envoy on Aug. 27 to address the challenge.Ports are also just one piece of the puzzle, Biden said. The country needs more truck drivers, private retailers to step up and better infrastructure, as well as a supply chain that can less easily be disrupted by pandemics and extreme weather. The president is trying to use the predicament as a selling point for his policy plans that undergoing congressional scrutiny.“We need to take a longer view and invest in building greater resiliency to withstand the kinds of shocks we’ve seen over and over, year in and year out, the risk of pandemic, extreme weather, climate change, cyberattacks, weather disruptions,” he said.The sense of uncertainty is beginning to consume the attention of many Americans.University of Michigan economist Betsey Stevenson noted on Twitter the “economy is in a very fragile and unprecedented place.” Prices are rising at more than 5%, trade in goods and services have slowed and more Americans are quitting their jobs while the delta variant has made the coronavirus pandemic a risk.“No one really knows what’s going to happen,” wrote Stevenson, a former member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama.Ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, account for 40% of all shipping containers entering the United States. As of Tuesday, there were 64 ships berthed at the two ports and 80 waiting to dock and unload, according to the Marine Exchange of Southern California.Commitments by the Los Angeles port’s operator, longshoremen and several of the country’s largest retail and shipping companies are expected to help relieve the backlog.Walmart, FedEx, UPS, Target, Samsung and The Home Depot committed to unloading during off-peak hours, making it easier for the Los Angeles port to operate nonstop. The Long Beach port has been operating 24 hours daily for seven days for roughly the past three weeks.Biden also held a virtual roundtable with the heads of Walmart, FedEx Logistics, UPS, Target, Samsung Electronics North America, the Teamsters Union and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, among other groups, before his speech.Republican lawmakers say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package</a>&nbsp;has fueled higher prices. A recent analysis issued by the investment bank Goldman Sachs estimates that “supply-constrained goods” account for 80% of this year’s inflation overshoot, yet the political criticism continues to sting as housing and oil prices add to inflationary pressures.Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has made inflation one of his central charges against Biden, a sign that getting prices under control could be essential for Democrats trying to hold onto congressional seats in next year’s elections.“The Democrats’ inflation is so bad that even though the average American worker has gotten a multiple-percentage-point pay raise over the last year, their actual purchasing power has been cut,” McConnell said in a Senate speech last week. “Even dollar stores are having to raise their prices. Just ask any American family about their last few trips to the supermarket, the gas station or the toy store. Heaven forbid if they’ve had to participate in the housing market or the auto market anytime lately.”The Biden administration has argued that higher inflation is temporary. Yet the supply chain issues have persisted months after the economy began to reopen and recover as vaccines lessened many of the risks from the pandemic.Consumer prices climbed 5.4% from a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. That is significantly above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Higher energy, food and shelter costs were prime drivers of price increases in September.

🎥President Biden takes action to resolve global supply chain issues

ANDERSON COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday in Anderson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Chevy Cruz driven by&nbsp; Odyessie K. Allen, 31, Westphalia, Kan. was northbound on Colorado Road three miles southeast of Westphalia.

The vehicle traveled left of center and struck a southbound 2018 Chrysler 300 driven by Valorie L. Stewart, 49, Kincaid, head-on. 

Allen was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Feuerborn Family Funeral Home.&nbsp; EMS transported Stewart to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

ANDERSON COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday in Anderson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Chevy Cruz driven by&nbsp; Odyessie K. Allen, 31, Westphalia, Kan. was northbound on Colorado Road three miles southeast of Westphalia.The vehicle traveled left of center and struck a southbound 2018 Chrysler 300 driven by Valorie L. Stewart, 49, Kincaid, head-on. Allen was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Feuerborn Family Funeral Home.&nbsp; EMS transported Stewart to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman killed, another injured after head-on crash

RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man charged with murder in the shooting of two men in April&nbsp; was bound over for trial following a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Reno County District Court.

Sixty-four-year-old Sandral Wade is charged with one count of first- degree murder in the shooting death of Orlando Gipson and one count of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of Landre Bowie. He's also charged with two alternating counts of aggravated robbery and criminal possession of a firearm. A count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder was dismissed.

Wade was arrested in connection with the early morning shooting in the 1500 block of West 12th Avenue in Hutchinson. Officers arrived at the scene and found Bowie laying in the street with gunshot wounds to his abdomen. He was transferred to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment and survived. Officers then located Gipson in the front yard of a nearby residence with a single gunshot wound to his chest. He was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Bowie testified during the hearing Wednesday saying that Wade was the person who shot him before he crawled out into the street where police who were in the area assisted him. He also told detectives that he could hear Gibson shouting “don’t shoot me.”

Also on the stand was the co-defendant in the case, Robert Legrange who in exchange for his testimony pleaded guilty to obstruction in the apprehension of a felon, interference with law enforcement and several counts of endangerment of law enforcement last Friday.

Lagrange testified that he saw Wade shoot the two men. He also said that Wade tried to give him a cell phone which he threw in the trash. The phone belonged to Bowie. Lagrange also said that he helped hide Wade at his house for two days before police found him hiding in a closet. There was also testimony from numerous Hutchinson Police officers and detectives about evidence and interviews they conducted.

Arraignment for Wade is set for Tuesday Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. before Judge Keith Schroeder.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618162821449.jpeg" alt="Wade has previous convictions for indecent liberties with a child, criminal threat, aggravated assault, four times for DUI, failure to report an injury accident and for drugs, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections. -photo Hutchinson Police" />
 <figcaption>Wade has previous convictions for indecent liberties with a child, criminal threat, aggravated assault, four times for DUI, failure to report an injury accident and for drugs, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections. -photo Hutchinson Police</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man charged with murder in the shooting of two men in April&nbsp; was bound over for trial following a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Reno County District Court.Sixty-four-year-old Sandral Wade is charged with one count of first- degree murder in the shooting death of Orlando Gipson and one count of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of Landre Bowie. He's also charged with two alternating counts of aggravated robbery and criminal possession of a firearm. A count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder was dismissed.Wade was arrested in connection with the early morning shooting in the 1500 block of West 12th Avenue in Hutchinson. Officers arrived at the scene and found Bowie laying in the street with gunshot wounds to his abdomen. He was transferred to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment and survived. Officers then located Gipson in the front yard of a nearby residence with a single gunshot wound to his chest. He was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.Bowie testified during the hearing Wednesday saying that Wade was the person who shot him before he crawled out into the street where police who were in the area assisted him. He also told detectives that he could hear Gibson shouting “don’t shoot me.”Also on the stand was the co-defendant in the case, Robert Legrange who in exchange for his testimony pleaded guilty to obstruction in the apprehension of a felon, interference with law enforcement and several counts of endangerment of law enforcement last Friday.Lagrange testified that he saw Wade shoot the two men. He also said that Wade tried to give him a cell phone which he threw in the trash. The phone belonged to Bowie. Lagrange also said that he helped hide Wade at his house for two days before police found him hiding in a closet. There was also testimony from numerous Hutchinson Police officers and detectives about evidence and interviews they conducted.Arraignment for Wade is set for Tuesday Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. before Judge Keith Schroeder.&nbsp;

Kan. felon found hiding in closet will stand trial for man's murder

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple charges after a traffic stop.

Just before 10 p.m. Monday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Honda Odyssey minivan at SW 10th Street and SW Wanamaker Road, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 The minivan was reported stolen through the Topeka Police Department. There were two adult woman, an 8-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl inside the vehicle during this incident. 

Throughout the investigation, deputies found illegal narcotics, according to Christian. They arrested the driver, Shalena N. Broadway, 29, of Topeka, on a warrant out of Jackson County and requested charged with possession of methamphetamine, aggravated endangering a child, felony theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, driving while license suspended, identity theft, forgery and burglary to vehicle.

The passenger, Jessica D. Riley-Perkins, 27, of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, identity theft, forgery and burglary to vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634132472471.png" alt="Broadway-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Broadway-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple charges after a traffic stop.Just before 10 p.m. Monday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Honda Odyssey minivan at SW 10th Street and SW Wanamaker Road, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The minivan was reported stolen through the Topeka Police Department. There were two adult woman, an 8-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl inside the vehicle during this incident. Throughout the investigation, deputies found illegal narcotics, according to Christian. They arrested the driver, Shalena N. Broadway, 29, of Topeka, on a warrant out of Jackson County and requested charged with possession of methamphetamine, aggravated endangering a child, felony theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, driving while license suspended, identity theft, forgery and burglary to vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634132536436.png" alt="Riley-Perkins" />
 <figcaption>Riley-Perkins</figcaption>
 </figure>The passenger, Jessica D. Riley-Perkins, 27, of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, identity theft, forgery and burglary to vehicle.

Sheriff: Kansas mother jailed after driving with kids in stolen van

SALINE COUNTY —Anyone who attended Monday's Salina City Commission meeting will need to monitor their health.

The Saline County Health Department reported Wednesday that it was notified that someone who attended Monday Salina City Commission meeting had tested positive for COVID-19. The unvaccinated attendee was symptomatic and unmasked during the meeting, and reported that he/she did not socially distance from other attendees.

The health department urges those in attendance to monitor for symptoms. Those who develop symptoms should do the following.

●Let the test location know you attended the Salina City Commission meeting on Monday

<a href="https://www.vaccinatesalinecountyks.com/testing">Click here for local COVID-19 testing options</a>

<a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/">Click here for vaccination locations</a>

<a href="https://files.ctctusercontent.com/55d47694801/bfe84275-dbe4-410c-a406-c02213be3f31.pdf?rdr=true">Click here for COVID-19 funeral cost assistance information</a>

SALINE COUNTY —Anyone who attended Monday's Salina City Commission meeting will need to monitor their health.The Saline County Health Department reported Wednesday that it was notified that someone who attended Monday Salina City Commission meeting had tested positive for COVID-19. The unvaccinated attendee was symptomatic and unmasked during the meeting, and reported that he/she did not socially distance from other attendees.The health department urges those in attendance to monitor for symptoms. Those who develop symptoms should do the following.●Isolate at home●Get tested●Let the test location know you attended the Salina City Commission meeting on Monday<a href="https://www.vaccinatesalinecountyks.com/testing">Click here for local COVID-19 testing options</a><a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/">Click here for vaccination locations</a><a href="https://files.ctctusercontent.com/55d47694801/bfe84275-dbe4-410c-a406-c02213be3f31.pdf?rdr=true">Click here for COVID-19 funeral cost assistance information</a>

Unvaccinated, symptomatic person attends Salina commission meeting

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A grand jury has declined to indict a man who shot and killed two other men after a dispute involving about $200 in firewood, Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said Wednesday.

Kalob Lawson, 34, of Kimberling City, and Jonathan Lutz, 44, of Kansas City, were shot on Feb. 10 in Parkville.

Lawson and Lutz were paid $200 to deliver a cord of firewood to a Platte County home. As they and another man were unloading the wood, the homeowner left. The men then left without delivering the full cord of wood, Zahnd said.

The homeowner’s 22-year-old son called his father and then chased Lawson and Lutz in his vehicle. Witnesses said Lawson and Lutz eventually stopped and got out of the vehicle, and Lawson was armed with a 9mm handgun, Zahnd said.

After Lawson threatened the son with the gun, the son retrieved a gun from his car and fired several times, Zahnd said. Lawson died at the scene and Lutz died later at a hospital.

The son returned home, called 911 and voluntarily surrendered.

Zahnd said Missouri's “stand your ground" law allows people to use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to protect themselves against death or serious physical injury.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634155676946.png" alt="Kalob Lawson photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Kalob Lawson photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A grand jury has declined to indict a man who shot and killed two other men after a dispute involving about $200 in firewood, Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said Wednesday.Kalob Lawson, 34, of Kimberling City, and Jonathan Lutz, 44, of Kansas City, were shot on Feb. 10 in Parkville.Lawson and Lutz were paid $200 to deliver a cord of firewood to a Platte County home. As they and another man were unloading the wood, the homeowner left. The men then left without delivering the full cord of wood, Zahnd said.The homeowner’s 22-year-old son called his father and then chased Lawson and Lutz in his vehicle. Witnesses said Lawson and Lutz eventually stopped and got out of the vehicle, and Lawson was armed with a 9mm handgun, Zahnd said.After Lawson threatened the son with the gun, the son retrieved a gun from his car and fired several times, Zahnd said. Lawson died at the scene and Lutz died later at a hospital.The son returned home, called 911 and voluntarily surrendered.Zahnd said Missouri's “stand your ground" law allows people to use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to protect themselves against death or serious physical injury.

Stand your ground: No indictments in 2 deaths after dispute over firewood

SHARON SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — The National Weather Service says an EF-0 tornado touched down in northwest Kansas as severe storms swept through the state Tuesday evening and early Wednesday. 

The weather service in Goodland said a twister near Sharon Springs traveled about 3.3 miles, with a peak gust of 85 mph. 

No injuries were reported. A cart and maintenance shed at the Sharon Springs Golf Course was destroyed.

Meteorologists with the weather service in Dodge City were surveying damage from at least four tornadoes in lightly-populated areas near Dodge City. Those twisters were reported near Howell, Spearville, Trousdale and between Sublette and Copeland.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634149009998.png" alt="Damage at the Sharon Springs golf course&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Damage at the Sharon Springs golf course&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SHARON SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — The National Weather Service says an EF-0 tornado touched down in northwest Kansas as severe storms swept through the state Tuesday evening and early Wednesday. The weather service in Goodland said a twister near Sharon Springs traveled about 3.3 miles, with a peak gust of 85 mph. No injuries were reported. A cart and maintenance shed at the Sharon Springs Golf Course was destroyed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634166341781.png" alt="Damage photo courtesy Ford County Emergency manaagement" />
 <figcaption>Damage photo courtesy Ford County Emergency manaagement</figcaption>
 </figure>Meteorologists with the weather service in Dodge City were surveying damage from at least four tornadoes in lightly-populated areas near Dodge City. Those twisters were reported near Howell, Spearville, Trousdale and between Sublette and Copeland.

Weather service confirms tornadoes in western Kansas

LINCOLN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported shooting on Interstate 70 in Lincoln County.

Just after 9:3p.m. Tuesday, authorities were advised of a possible shooting near the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly,_Kansas">Beverly</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carneiro,_Kansas">Carneiro</a>&nbsp;exit on Interstate 70, according to a media release.

Officers from the Kansas Highway Patrol and Saline County Sheriff’s Office responded and Deputies from Lincoln County located a man in his 50s with a gunshot wound to his stomach, according to the release.

EMS transported the victim to Salina Regional Health Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Authorities released no additional details Wednesday afternoon.

LINCOLN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported shooting on Interstate 70 in Lincoln County.Just after 9:3p.m. Tuesday, authorities were advised of a possible shooting near the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly,_Kansas">Beverly</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carneiro,_Kansas">Carneiro</a>&nbsp;exit on Interstate 70, according to a media release.Officers from the Kansas Highway Patrol and Saline County Sheriff’s Office responded and Deputies from Lincoln County located a man in his 50s with a gunshot wound to his stomach, according to the release.EMS transported the victim to Salina Regional Health Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Authorities released no additional details Wednesday afternoon.

Sheriff: Man hospitalized after shooting on Interstate 70

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a gun fight that sent two men to the hospital in critical condition.

Just after 7p.m.Tuesday, police responded to a shooting call at a home in the 2800 block of West Maple in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers located a 36-year-old man inside the home who had been shot. He was taken to an area hospital in critical condition and remains hospitalized. 

Officers also located a 32-year-old man in an alley north of the home hiding underneath a vehicle who also had been shot.&nbsp; EMS transported him to an area hospital in critical condition and he remains hospitalized, according to Davidson.

The investigation revealed the 32-year-old forced himself into the home of a 36-year-old male acquaintance earlier in the day, who was not at home.

The 32-year-old vandalized a vehicle in the driveway before leaving. At approximately 7 p.m. man came back to the home and forced his way inside again while armed with a handgun. The 36-year-old observed the suspect with the gun and retreated to a room inside where he also obtained a handgun. The two exchanged gun fire.

Multiple other individuals were inside the home at the time of the incident, according to Davidson. Only the two men were injured.

The incident stemmed from an ongoing property dispute, and detectives recovered two handguns during the investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;After the 32-year-old is released from the hospital, he will be booked into jail on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property, and felon in possession of a firearm, according to Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634156482784.png" alt="Police at the scene of the gunfight investigation-photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the gunfight investigation-photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a gun fight that sent two men to the hospital in critical condition.Just after 7p.m.Tuesday, police responded to a shooting call at a home in the 2800 block of West Maple in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers located a 36-year-old man inside the home who had been shot. He was taken to an area hospital in critical condition and remains hospitalized. Officers also located a 32-year-old man in an alley north of the home hiding underneath a vehicle who also had been shot.&nbsp; EMS transported him to an area hospital in critical condition and he remains hospitalized, according to Davidson.The investigation revealed the 32-year-old forced himself into the home of a 36-year-old male acquaintance earlier in the day, who was not at home.The 32-year-old vandalized a vehicle in the driveway before leaving. At approximately 7 p.m. man came back to the home and forced his way inside again while armed with a handgun. The 36-year-old observed the suspect with the gun and retreated to a room inside where he also obtained a handgun. The two exchanged gun fire.Multiple other individuals were inside the home at the time of the incident, according to Davidson. Only the two men were injured.The incident stemmed from an ongoing property dispute, and detectives recovered two handguns during the investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;After the 32-year-old is released from the hospital, he will be booked into jail on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property, and felon in possession of a firearm, according to Davidson.

Police: 2 in critical condition after gunfight at Kan. home

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — More than 10,000 Deere &amp; Co. workers appear ready to go on strike if negotiators can't deliver a new agreement by the end of Wednesday.

The United Auto Workers union has said its members would walk off the job if no deal has been reached by 11:59 p.m. The vast majority of the union rejected a contract offer earlier this week that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others.

Thirty-five years have passed since the last major Deere strike, but workers are emboldened to demand more this year after working long hours throughout the pandemic and because companies are facing worker shortages.

Chris Laursen, who works as a painter at Deere, told the Des Moines Register that he thinks a strike is imminent and could make a significant difference.

Earlier this year, another group of UAW-represented workers went on strike at a Volvo Trucks plant in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/virginia">Virginia</a>&nbsp;and wound up with better pay and lower-cost health benefits after rejecting three tentative contract offers.

The contracts being under negotiation cover 14 Deere plants across the United States, including seven in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/iowa">Iowa</a>, four in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois">Illinois</a>&nbsp;and one each in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/colorado">Colorado</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/georgia">Georgia</a>.

The contract talks at the Moline, Illinois-based company are unfolding as Deere is expecting to report record profits between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion this year. The company has been reporting strong sales of its agricultural and construction equipment this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634151279010.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — More than 10,000 Deere &amp; Co. workers appear ready to go on strike if negotiators can't deliver a new agreement by the end of Wednesday.The United Auto Workers union has said its members would walk off the job if no deal has been reached by 11:59 p.m. The vast majority of the union rejected a contract offer earlier this week that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others.Thirty-five years have passed since the last major Deere strike, but workers are emboldened to demand more this year after working long hours throughout the pandemic and because companies are facing worker shortages.Chris Laursen, who works as a painter at Deere, told the Des Moines Register that he thinks a strike is imminent and could make a significant difference.“The whole nation’s going to be watching us,” Laursen said to the newspaper. “If we take a stand here for ourselves, our families, for basic human prosperity, it’s going to make a difference for the whole manufacturing industry. Let’s do it. Let’s not be intimidated.”Earlier this year, another group of UAW-represented workers went on strike at a Volvo Trucks plant in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/virginia">Virginia</a>&nbsp;and wound up with better pay and lower-cost health benefits after rejecting three tentative contract offers.The contracts being under negotiation cover 14 Deere plants across the United States, including seven in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/iowa">Iowa</a>, four in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois">Illinois</a>&nbsp;and one each in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/colorado">Colorado</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/georgia">Georgia</a>.The contract talks at the Moline, Illinois-based company are unfolding as Deere is expecting to report record profits between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion this year. The company has been reporting strong sales of its agricultural and construction equipment this year.The Deere production plants are an important contributors to the economy, so local officials hope any strike will be short-lived.“We definitely want to see our economy stabilize and grow after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said to the Quad-Cities Times. “Hopefully, these parties can come to a resolution soon.”

Deere workers in Kan., 4 other states prepare for strike after rejecting contract

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of retirees on Social Security will get&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-social-security-cost-of-living-adjustments-will-jump-8d4ad9b73a7e1b3091ba9c9a5a7ae955">a 5.9% boost in benefits for 2022</a>. The biggest cost-of-living adjustment in 39 years follows&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-consumer-prices-inflation-prices-e80c0c24a6ec5ca1c977eccd6294d01b">a burst in inflation</a>&nbsp;as the economy struggles to shake off the drag of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.

The COLA, as it’s commonly called, amounts to $92 a month for the average retired worker, according to estimates released Wednesday by the Social Security Administration. That marks an abrupt break from a long lull in inflation that saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-lifestyle-business-politics-b71b35f7cf238811342caeda8fd541ca">cost-of-living adjustments averaging just 1.65% a year</a>&nbsp;over the past 10 years.

With the increase, the estimated average Social Security payment for a retired worker will be $1,657 a month next year. A typical couple’s benefits would rise by $154 to $2,753 per month.

But that’s just to help make up for rising costs that recipients are already paying for food, gasoline and other goods and services.

“It goes pretty quickly,” retiree Cliff Rumsey said of the cost-of-living increases he’s seen. After a career in sales for a leading steel manufacturer, Rumsey lives near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He cares at home for his wife of nearly 60 years, Judy, who has advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Since the coronavirus pandemic, Rumsey said he has also noted price increases for wages paid to caregivers who occasionally spell him and for personal care products for Judy.

The COLA affects household budgets for about 1 in 5 Americans. That includes Social Security recipients, disabled veterans and federal retirees, nearly 70 million people in all. For baby boomers who embarked on retirement within the past 15 years, it will be the biggest increase they’ve seen.

Among them is Kitty Ruderman of Queens in New York City, who retired from a career as an executive assistant and has been collecting Social Security for about 10 years. “We wait to hear every year what the increase is going to be, and every year it’s been so insignificant,” she said. “This year, thank goodness, it will make a difference.”

Ruderman says she times her grocery shopping to take advantage of midweek senior citizen discounts, but even so price hikes have been “extreme.” She says she doesn’t think she can afford a medication that her doctor has recommended.

AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins called the government payout increase “crucial for Social Security beneficiaries and their families as they try to keep up with rising costs.”

Policymakers say the COLA was designed as a safeguard to protect Social Security benefits against the loss of purchasing power, and not a pay bump for retirees. About half of seniors live in households where Social Security benefits provide at least 50% of their income, and one-quarter rely on their monthly payment for all or nearly all their income.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634133091707.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of retirees on Social Security will get&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-social-security-cost-of-living-adjustments-will-jump-8d4ad9b73a7e1b3091ba9c9a5a7ae955">a 5.9% boost in benefits for 2022</a>. The biggest cost-of-living adjustment in 39 years follows&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-consumer-prices-inflation-prices-e80c0c24a6ec5ca1c977eccd6294d01b">a burst in inflation</a>&nbsp;as the economy struggles to shake off the drag of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.The COLA, as it’s commonly called, amounts to $92 a month for the average retired worker, according to estimates released Wednesday by the Social Security Administration. That marks an abrupt break from a long lull in inflation that saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-lifestyle-business-politics-b71b35f7cf238811342caeda8fd541ca">cost-of-living adjustments averaging just 1.65% a year</a>&nbsp;over the past 10 years.With the increase, the estimated average Social Security payment for a retired worker will be $1,657 a month next year. A typical couple’s benefits would rise by $154 to $2,753 per month.But that’s just to help make up for rising costs that recipients are already paying for food, gasoline and other goods and services.—“It goes pretty quickly,” retiree Cliff Rumsey said of the cost-of-living increases he’s seen. After a career in sales for a leading steel manufacturer, Rumsey lives near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He cares at home for his wife of nearly 60 years, Judy, who has advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Since the coronavirus pandemic, Rumsey said he has also noted price increases for wages paid to caregivers who occasionally spell him and for personal care products for Judy.The COLA affects household budgets for about 1 in 5 Americans. That includes Social Security recipients, disabled veterans and federal retirees, nearly 70 million people in all. For baby boomers who embarked on retirement within the past 15 years, it will be the biggest increase they’ve seen.Among them is Kitty Ruderman of Queens in New York City, who retired from a career as an executive assistant and has been collecting Social Security for about 10 years. “We wait to hear every year what the increase is going to be, and every year it’s been so insignificant,” she said. “This year, thank goodness, it will make a difference.”Ruderman says she times her grocery shopping to take advantage of midweek senior citizen discounts, but even so price hikes have been “extreme.” She says she doesn’t think she can afford a medication that her doctor has recommended.AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins called the government payout increase “crucial for Social Security beneficiaries and their families as they try to keep up with rising costs.”Policymakers say the COLA was designed as a safeguard to protect Social Security benefits against the loss of purchasing power, and not a pay bump for retirees. About half of seniors live in households where Social Security benefits provide at least 50% of their income, and one-quarter rely on their monthly payment for all or nearly all their income.“Regardless of the size of the COLA, you never want to minimize the importance of the COLA,” said retirement policy expert Charles Blahous, a former public trustee helping to oversee Social Security and Medicare finances. “What people are able to purchase is very profoundly affected by the number that comes out. We are talking the necessities of living in many cases.”This year’s Social Security trustees report amplified warnings about the long-range financial stability of the program, but there’s little talk about fixes in Congress with lawmakers’ attention consumed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-congress-government-overhaul-public-works-9438a78ba7c7865d75428e746d1de04d">President Joe Biden’s massive domestic&nbsp;</a>legislation and partisan machinations over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-bills-financial-markets-9abe4ef546f62521bcfe7dc3c9517eaf">the national debt</a>. Social Security cannot be addressed through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-financial-markets-nancy-pelosi-3b591443b048d2fbfb7a9f9b6f646f7a">the budget reconciliation process</a>&nbsp;Democrats are attempting to use to deliver Biden’s promises.Social Security’s turn will come, said Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., chairman of the House Social Security subcommittee and author of legislation to tackle shortfalls that would leave the program unable to pay full benefits in less than 15 years. His bill would raise payroll taxes while also changing the COLA formula to give more weight to health care expenses and other costs that weigh more heavily on the elderly. Larson said he intends to press ahead next year.“This one-time shot of COLA is not the antidote,” he said.Although Biden’s domestic package includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-medicaid-medicare-1dda9033a7c4475ae82f679b7d964d72">a major expansion of Medicare</a>&nbsp;to cover dental, hearing and vision care, Larson said he hears from constituents that seniors are feeling neglected by the Democrats.“In town halls and tele-town halls they’re saying, ‘We are really happy with what you did on the child tax credit, but what about us?’” Larson added. “In a midterm election, this is a very important constituency.”The COLA is only one part of the annual financial equation for seniors. An announcement about Medicare’s Part B premium for outpatient care is expected soon. It’s usually an increase, so at least some of any Social Security raise goes for health care. The Part B premium is now $148.50 a month, and the Medicare trustees report estimated a $10 increase for 2022.Economist Marilyn Moon, who also served as public trustee for Social Security and Medicare, said she believes the current spurt of inflation is an adjustment to highly unusual economic circumstances and the pattern of restraint on prices will reassert itself with time.“I would think there is going to be an increase this year that you won’t see reproduced in the future,” Moon said.Policymakers should not delay getting to work on retirement programs, she said.“We’re at a point in time where people don’t react to policy needs until there is a sense of desperation, and both Social Security and Medicare are programs that benefit from long-range planning rather short-range machinations,” she said.Social Security is financed by payroll taxes collected from workers and their employers. Each pays 6.2% on wages up to a cap, which is adjusted each year for inflation. Next year the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes will increase to $147,000.The financing scheme dates to the 1930s,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-medicare-business-elizabeth-warren-politics-e75a52c8a98846f3ab2fddd335915dd2">the brainchild of President Franklin D. Roosevelt,</a>&nbsp;who believed a payroll tax would foster among average Americans a sense of ownership that would protect the program from political interference.That argument still resonates. “Social Security is my lifeline,” said Ruderman, the New York retiree. “It’s what we’ve worked for.”