WASHINGTON&nbsp;&nbsp;–&nbsp;&nbsp; The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that Navy Fireman 1st Class Walter S. Belt, Jr., 25, of Cleveland, Kansas, killed during World War II, was accounted for on March 3, 2021. On Dec. 7, 1941, Belt was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Belt. From December 1941 to June 1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the deceased crew, which were subsequently interred in the Halawa and Nu’uanu Cemeteries. In September 1947, tasked with recovering and identifying fallen U.S. personnel in the Pacific Theater, members of the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) disinterred the remains of U.S. casualties from the two cemeteries and transferred them to the Central Identification Laboratory at Schofield Barracks. The laboratory staff was only able to confirm the identifications of 35 men from the USS Oklahoma at that time. The AGRS subsequently buried the unidentified remains in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP), known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu. In October 1949, a military board classified those who could not be identified as non-recoverable, including Belt. Between June and November 2015, DPAA personnel exhumed the USS Oklahoma Unknowns from the Punchbowl for analysis. To identify Belt’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis. Belt’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others who are missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. Belt will be buried on Oct. 9, 2021, in Ellsworth, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630061210705.png" alt="Walter S. Belt, Jr.-&nbsp; photo courtesy Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency" />
 <figcaption>Walter S. Belt, Jr.-&nbsp; photo courtesy Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;&nbsp;–&nbsp;&nbsp; The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that Navy Fireman 1st Class Walter S. Belt, Jr., 25, of Cleveland, Kansas, killed during World War II, was accounted for on March 3, 2021. On Dec. 7, 1941, Belt was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Belt. From December 1941 to June 1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the deceased crew, which were subsequently interred in the Halawa and Nu’uanu Cemeteries. In September 1947, tasked with recovering and identifying fallen U.S. personnel in the Pacific Theater, members of the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) disinterred the remains of U.S. casualties from the two cemeteries and transferred them to the Central Identification Laboratory at Schofield Barracks. The laboratory staff was only able to confirm the identifications of 35 men from the USS Oklahoma at that time. The AGRS subsequently buried the unidentified remains in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP), known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu. In October 1949, a military board classified those who could not be identified as non-recoverable, including Belt. Between June and November 2015, DPAA personnel exhumed the USS Oklahoma Unknowns from the Punchbowl for analysis. To identify Belt’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis. Belt’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others who are missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. Belt will be buried on Oct. 9, 2021, in Ellsworth, Kansas.

Remains of sailor killed at Pearl Harbor coming home to Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Population shifts left Kansas legislators in four urban areas with too many people in their districts and lawmakers from most rural areas with too few, according to new figures from the Legislature’s research staff.

<a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Redistricting.html" target="_blank">The numbers</a>&nbsp;showed that 22 of 40 Senate districts and 78 of 125 House districts have too little population after the past 10 years. Current boundaries were drawn in 2012, and the Republican-controlled Legislature must redraw them next year to make sure that districts are as equal in population as possible. New lines will be based on the 2020 federal census.

Legislative researchers’ figures show that four Senate districts exceed the ideal population of 73,447 residents by more than 10%. Two are in Johnson County in the Kansas City area, one is in Lawrence, and the other is in Manhattan.

Senate President Ty Masterson’s district in east Wichita and Butler County has 9.5% too many residents.

Sixteen House districts had at least 10% more residents than the ideal population of 23,503.

Seven districts are in Johnson County, two are in Kansas City Kansas, and one is split between Johnson and Leavenworth counties. Two more of the districts each are in Lawrence, Manhattan, and the Wichita area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590523973873.png" alt="Kansas legislative districts" />
 <figcaption>Kansas legislative districts</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Population shifts left Kansas legislators in four urban areas with too many people in their districts and lawmakers from most rural areas with too few, according to new figures from the Legislature’s research staff.<a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Redistricting.html" target="_blank">The numbers</a>&nbsp;showed that 22 of 40 Senate districts and 78 of 125 House districts have too little population after the past 10 years. Current boundaries were drawn in 2012, and the Republican-controlled Legislature must redraw them next year to make sure that districts are as equal in population as possible. New lines will be based on the 2020 federal census.Legislative researchers’ figures show that four Senate districts exceed the ideal population of 73,447 residents by more than 10%. Two are in Johnson County in the Kansas City area, one is in Lawrence, and the other is in Manhattan.Senate President Ty Masterson’s district in east Wichita and Butler County has 9.5% too many residents.Sixteen House districts had at least 10% more residents than the ideal population of 23,503.Seven districts are in Johnson County, two are in Kansas City Kansas, and one is split between Johnson and Leavenworth counties. Two more of the districts each are in Lawrence, Manhattan, and the Wichita area.

Legislative districts overpopulated in 4 Kansas urban area

BOSTON (AP) — Former congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, the oldest son of Robert F. Kennedy, denounced the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-d5e12df9cc3c0241ab108bfc124dda1b">possible parole of the man convicted of killing his father</a>&nbsp;in California in 1968.

“Two commissioners of the 18-member California Parole Board made a grievous error last Friday in recommending the release of the man who murdered my father,” Kennedy wrote in the emailed statement released Sunday. “I understand that there are differing views about ending the sentence of this killer, including within my own family. But emotions and opinions do not change facts or history.”

The board on Friday found that Sirhan Sirhan, 77, no longer poses a threat to society, noting that he had enrolled in more than 20 programs including anger management classes, Tai Chi and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

The ruling will be reviewed over the next four months by the board’s staff. Then it will be sent to the governor, who will have 30 days to decide whether to grant it, reverse it or modify it.

“I hope the full parole board will reverse the decision over the ongoing review period and that the California governor, if faced with the choice to release him, will keep him in prison to serve out his full life sentence,” Kennedy wrote.

Robert F. Kennedy was a U.S. senator from New York and the brother of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. RFK was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was gunned down at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after delivering a victory speech in the pivotal California primary. Five others were wounded.

Joe Kennedy II is one of RFK and Ethel Kennedy’s 11 children, nine of whom are still alive. Two of them, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Douglas Kennedy, said they supported the release of Sirhan.

Joe Kennedy and five of his siblings said Friday they oppose parole and pledged to fight the process every step of the way. He was joined by Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Christopher G. Kennedy, Maxwell T. Kennedy and Rory Kennedy.

Joe Kennedy said Sunday that anyone who kills for political reasons should “know that he will at a minimum spend life in prison without parole. ”

“The prisoner killed my father because of his support of Israel,” Kennedy wrote in a separate statement. “The man was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. Yet he now may walk free, no doubt to the cheers of those who share his views. Let there be no mistake, the prisoner’s release will be celebrated by those who believe that political disagreements can be solved by a gun.”

Kennedy, on a more personal note, spoke of growing up without a father.

“The prisoner left a pregnant mother of ten without a husband and soon-to-be 11 children without a father.”

He added: “We miss him every moment of every day, and struggle to understand why the prisoner should be able to enjoy the golden years of his life when he so viciously stole them from our father.”

Sirhan was originally sentenced to death but that has already been reduced to life in prison, Kennedy noted.

“My mother, Ethel Kennedy, and my uncle, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, asked that his death sentence be reduced to life imprisonment as a demonstration of mercy. He received that mercy,” Kennedy wrote. “No one should have the right to alter the lesser sentence requested by the person most affected by my father’s death — his wife, whose last child would never know a father’s touch. Nothing written, said or done will ever change that reality.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630107734279.png" alt="Sirhan photo Califoria Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Sirhan photo Califoria Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) — Former congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, the oldest son of Robert F. Kennedy, denounced the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-d5e12df9cc3c0241ab108bfc124dda1b">possible parole of the man convicted of killing his father</a>&nbsp;in California in 1968.“Two commissioners of the 18-member California Parole Board made a grievous error last Friday in recommending the release of the man who murdered my father,” Kennedy wrote in the emailed statement released Sunday. “I understand that there are differing views about ending the sentence of this killer, including within my own family. But emotions and opinions do not change facts or history.”The board on Friday found that Sirhan Sirhan, 77, no longer poses a threat to society, noting that he had enrolled in more than 20 programs including anger management classes, Tai Chi and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.The ruling will be reviewed over the next four months by the board’s staff. Then it will be sent to the governor, who will have 30 days to decide whether to grant it, reverse it or modify it.“I hope the full parole board will reverse the decision over the ongoing review period and that the California governor, if faced with the choice to release him, will keep him in prison to serve out his full life sentence,” Kennedy wrote.Robert F. Kennedy was a U.S. senator from New York and the brother of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. RFK was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was gunned down at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after delivering a victory speech in the pivotal California primary. Five others were wounded.Joe Kennedy II is one of RFK and Ethel Kennedy’s 11 children, nine of whom are still alive. Two of them, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Douglas Kennedy, said they supported the release of Sirhan.Joe Kennedy and five of his siblings said Friday they oppose parole and pledged to fight the process every step of the way. He was joined by Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Christopher G. Kennedy, Maxwell T. Kennedy and Rory Kennedy.Joe Kennedy said Sunday that anyone who kills for political reasons should “know that he will at a minimum spend life in prison without parole. ”“The prisoner killed my father because of his support of Israel,” Kennedy wrote in a separate statement. “The man was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. Yet he now may walk free, no doubt to the cheers of those who share his views. Let there be no mistake, the prisoner’s release will be celebrated by those who believe that political disagreements can be solved by a gun.”Kennedy, on a more personal note, spoke of growing up without a father.“The prisoner left a pregnant mother of ten without a husband and soon-to-be 11 children without a father.”He added: “We miss him every moment of every day, and struggle to understand why the prisoner should be able to enjoy the golden years of his life when he so viciously stole them from our father.”Sirhan was originally sentenced to death but that has already been reduced to life in prison, Kennedy noted.“My mother, Ethel Kennedy, and my uncle, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, asked that his death sentence be reduced to life imprisonment as a demonstration of mercy. He received that mercy,” Kennedy wrote. “No one should have the right to alter the lesser sentence requested by the person most affected by my father’s death — his wife, whose last child would never know a father’s touch. Nothing written, said or done will ever change that reality.”

RFK's oldest son condemns possible parole of Sirhan Sirhan

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — One of he biggest gun dealers in south-central Kansas is the city of Wichita, but it actually received less than half the proceeds from the sales because it works with several online companies to auction off the firearms. 

Since a new state law allowing the gun sales was passes in 2015, Wichita has sold 2,082 guns. that were seized during a variety of crimes but were no longer needed. 

The city generated $196,000 on the gun sales. But a local newspaper learned that the city received less than half of the $425,000 in total sales the guns generated because the companies than handle the sales take a significant chunk of the proceeds.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — One of he biggest gun dealers in south-central Kansas is the city of Wichita, but it actually received less than half the proceeds from the sales because it works with several online companies to auction off the firearms. Since a new state law allowing the gun sales was passes in 2015, Wichita has sold 2,082 guns. that were seized during a variety of crimes but were no longer needed. The city generated $196,000 on the gun sales. But a local newspaper learned that the city received less than half of the $425,000 in total sales the guns generated because the companies than handle the sales take a significant chunk of the proceeds.

City of Wichita made $196,000 selling guns since 2015 law

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state agency is pushing to process hundreds of applications for coronavirus relief funds from Kansas renters facing eviction and their landlords after spending weeks this spring hiring and training more than 100 new employees to do the work.

<a href="https://kshousingcorp.org/">The state’s Housing Resources Corporation</a> is handling the bulk of the emergency rental assistance in Kansas, and most of its money hasn’t yet been distributed. Questions about how quickly tenants’ overdue rent and utility bills are being paid off became even more compelling late Thursday when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-courts-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-dcd2da5f88b0396c05d85c00591755f9">the U.S. Supreme Court blocked</a>&nbsp;a federal moratorum on evictions.

States, cities and counties have until 2025 to spend some of the dollars, but the federal government hoped for 65% of the first tranche of aid — $15.7 billion total — to go out before Oct. 1. Although the state’s largest city, Wichita, has hit that target with its own program, the Kansas housing agency, like such agencies in most states and most cities and counties with their own programs, was far short at the end of July,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-68d5f61397c203fb9bd023f10671ee18">the U.S. Treasury Department reported</a>&nbsp;this week.

“It’s just not getting the money to people fast enough,” said Dustin Hare, an organizer for the tenant advocacy group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rentzerokansas.org/" target="_blank">Rent Zero Kansas.</a>

The Kansas agency is now finishing about 500 applications per week, Executive Director Ryan Vincent said. The Treasury Department said the agency had distributed $21.9 million, or 11.7%, of its $188 million first tranche of aid by the end of July. By Friday morning, that figure stood at $31.9 million, or 17%.

“Everything we can do to get those dollars out the door is what we’re really focused on,” Vincent said.

Federal law directs the Treasury secretary to recapture “excess” funds and redirect them to states, cities and counties that hit the 65% goal.

“I am very concerned for the state that they’re going to have a whole lot of money clawed back,” said Sally Stang, director of Wichita’s housing department.

Vincent and Stockton Williams, the executive director of the National Council of State Housing Agencies, said such a redistribution is unlikely. They said the law simply allows the federal government to adjust when it has overestimated an area’s demand for aid.

Vincent also said the federal government created an “administrative heavy” program requiring his agency to get new computer software and more than triple its normal staff of 40 to 50 people. Applications often involve multiple contacts with landlords and tenants, he said.

Vincent said the housing corporation anticipates the extra staff remaining into 2025, when the last of the relief funds must be spent. Agencies can use up to 10% of their funds to cover administrative costs.

The housing corporation had approved only one application by the end of April but has now provided aid to about 6,200 households. Another 3,900 applications are moving toward approval.

Williams said it’s not uncommon for state agencies to have ramped up staffing. Louisiana hired a contractor to help process applications and now has upwards of 120 people doing the work.

“This was an unprecedented pandemic,” Williams said. “Congress really had to create a new program and all the city and county and state agencies have had to figure out how to implement it on the fly.”

Vincent said he believes his agency’s processing speed now compares favorably to the pace in other states. According to the Treasury Department’s data, Kansas was 13th among states for the percentage of funds spent in July.

Yet the agency faces pressure to move faster.

“It’s been a nightmare for everybody I’ve talked to,” said Ed Jaskinia, a lobbyist for an association representing what he calls “mom and pop” Kansas landlords.

Stang isn’t critical of the state program, but she thinks more funds should have flowed through local housing agencies like hers rather than limiting direct funding to several hundred of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.

Wichita’s housing department as of Thursday had distributed nearly $8.7 million, or 72%, of its $12 million in first-round funding, and Stang said it should spend the rest by year’s end. Some 1,450 households have received aid.

Stang said 70% of the landlords she’s dealing with on emergency aid already were dealing with the city through housing vouchers commonly known as Section 8. She hired nine new temporary full-time workers, but she’s also having 16 existing employees pitch in on applications part-time.

Stockton questioned whether small, local housing authorities could handle the demand for emergency aid. And Vincent said his agency is supplementing Wichita’s program because the funds sent directly to the city aren’t “its fair share.”

Meanwhile, Vincent and the Kansas housing corporation are encouraging tenants and their landlords to keep applying for aid.

“We’ve got the money,” he said. “It’s not going to run out.”

By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state agency is pushing to process hundreds of applications for coronavirus relief funds from Kansas renters facing eviction and their landlords after spending weeks this spring hiring and training more than 100 new employees to do the work.<a href="https://kshousingcorp.org/">The state’s Housing Resources Corporation</a> is handling the bulk of the emergency rental assistance in Kansas, and most of its money hasn’t yet been distributed. Questions about how quickly tenants’ overdue rent and utility bills are being paid off became even more compelling late Thursday when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-courts-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-dcd2da5f88b0396c05d85c00591755f9">the U.S. Supreme Court blocked</a>&nbsp;a federal moratorum on evictions.States, cities and counties have until 2025 to spend some of the dollars, but the federal government hoped for 65% of the first tranche of aid — $15.7 billion total — to go out before Oct. 1. Although the state’s largest city, Wichita, has hit that target with its own program, the Kansas housing agency, like such agencies in most states and most cities and counties with their own programs, was far short at the end of July,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-68d5f61397c203fb9bd023f10671ee18">the U.S. Treasury Department reported</a>&nbsp;this week.“It’s just not getting the money to people fast enough,” said Dustin Hare, an organizer for the tenant advocacy group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rentzerokansas.org/" target="_blank">Rent Zero Kansas.</a>The Kansas agency is now finishing about 500 applications per week, Executive Director Ryan Vincent said. The Treasury Department said the agency had distributed $21.9 million, or 11.7%, of its $188 million first tranche of aid by the end of July. By Friday morning, that figure stood at $31.9 million, or 17%.“Everything we can do to get those dollars out the door is what we’re really focused on,” Vincent said.Federal law directs the Treasury secretary to recapture “excess” funds and redirect them to states, cities and counties that hit the 65% goal.“I am very concerned for the state that they’re going to have a whole lot of money clawed back,” said Sally Stang, director of Wichita’s housing department.Vincent and Stockton Williams, the executive director of the National Council of State Housing Agencies, said such a redistribution is unlikely. They said the law simply allows the federal government to adjust when it has overestimated an area’s demand for aid.Vincent also said the federal government created an “administrative heavy” program requiring his agency to get new computer software and more than triple its normal staff of 40 to 50 people. Applications often involve multiple contacts with landlords and tenants, he said.Vincent said the housing corporation anticipates the extra staff remaining into 2025, when the last of the relief funds must be spent. Agencies can use up to 10% of their funds to cover administrative costs.The housing corporation had approved only one application by the end of April but has now provided aid to about 6,200 households. Another 3,900 applications are moving toward approval.Williams said it’s not uncommon for state agencies to have ramped up staffing. Louisiana hired a contractor to help process applications and now has upwards of 120 people doing the work.“This was an unprecedented pandemic,” Williams said. “Congress really had to create a new program and all the city and county and state agencies have had to figure out how to implement it on the fly.”Vincent said he believes his agency’s processing speed now compares favorably to the pace in other states. According to the Treasury Department’s data, Kansas was 13th among states for the percentage of funds spent in July.Yet the agency faces pressure to move faster.“It’s been a nightmare for everybody I’ve talked to,” said Ed Jaskinia, a lobbyist for an association representing what he calls “mom and pop” Kansas landlords.Stang isn’t critical of the state program, but she thinks more funds should have flowed through local housing agencies like hers rather than limiting direct funding to several hundred of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.Wichita’s housing department as of Thursday had distributed nearly $8.7 million, or 72%, of its $12 million in first-round funding, and Stang said it should spend the rest by year’s end. Some 1,450 households have received aid.Stang said 70% of the landlords she’s dealing with on emergency aid already were dealing with the city through housing vouchers commonly known as Section 8. She hired nine new temporary full-time workers, but she’s also having 16 existing employees pitch in on applications part-time.Stockton questioned whether small, local housing authorities could handle the demand for emergency aid. And Vincent said his agency is supplementing Wichita’s program because the funds sent directly to the city aren’t “its fair share.”Meanwhile, Vincent and the Kansas housing corporation are encouraging tenants and their landlords to keep applying for aid.“We’ve got the money,” he said. “It’s not going to run out.”___

Kansas agency faces pressure to speed aid, prevent evictions

WASHINGTON
 — September is National Preparedness Month. With the height of 
hurricane season fast approaching and the ongoing threat of wildfires in
 some parts of the country, the Internal Revenue Service reminds 
everyone to develop an emergency preparedness plan.

All taxpayers, from individuals to organizations and businesses, should take time now to create or update their emergency plans.

Taxpayers can begin getting ready for a disaster with a preparedness 
plan that includes securing and duplicating essential tax and financial 
documents, creating lists of property and knowing where to find 
information once a disaster has occurred. Securing this information can 
help in the aftermath of a disaster, and it can help people more quickly
 take advantage of disaster relief available from the IRS.

Taxpayers should keep critical original documents inside waterproof 
containers in a secure space. Documents such as tax returns, birth 
certificates, deeds, titles and insurance policies should also be 
duplicated and kept with a trusted person outside the area a natural 
disaster may affect.

If original documents are available only on paper, taxpayers can use a
 scanner and save them on a USB flash drive, CD or in the cloud, which 
provide security and easy portability.

After a disaster hits, photographs and videos of a home or business's
 contents can help support claims for insurance or tax benefits. All 
property, especially expensive and high- value items, should be 
recorded. The IRS disaster-loss workbooks can help&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p584.pdf">individuals</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p584b.pdf">businesses</a>&nbsp;compile lists of belongings or business equipment.

Employers using payroll service providers should check if their 
provider has a fiduciary bond in place to protect the employer in the 
event of a default by provider. Employers are encouraged to create an 
Electronic Federal Tax Payment System account at <a href="https://www.eftps.gov/eftps/">EFTPS.gov</a> to monitor their payroll tax deposits and receive email alerts.

Reconstructing records after a disaster may be required for tax 
purposes, getting federal assistance or insurance reimbursement. Find 
out if financial institutions provide statements and documents 
electronically. Taxpayers who have lost some or all of their records 
during a disaster should visit IRS'&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/reconstructing-records-after-a-natural-disaster-or-casualty-loss-irs-provides-tips-to-help-taxpayers">Reconstructing Records</a>&nbsp;webpage.

Taxpayers living in a federally declared disaster can visit the IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">Tax Relief in Disaster Situations</a>&nbsp;webpage or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation">Around the Nation</a>
 on IRS.gov and check for the available disaster tax relief. The IRS 
automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area 
and applies filing and payment relief. Affected taxpayers can call&nbsp;<a href="tel:866-562-5227">866-562-5227</a>&nbsp;to speak with an IRS specialist trained to handle disaster-related issues.

A taxpayer impacted by a disaster outside of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">federally-declared disaster area</a>&nbsp;may
 qualify for disaster relief. This includes taxpayers who are not 
physically located in a disaster area, but whose records necessary to 
meet a filing or payment deadline postponed during the relief period are
 located in a covered disaster area.

For more information about National Preparedness Month, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ready.gov/september">Ready.gov/september</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — September is National Preparedness Month. With the height of 
hurricane season fast approaching and the ongoing threat of wildfires in
 some parts of the country, the Internal Revenue Service reminds 
everyone to develop an emergency preparedness plan.All taxpayers, from individuals to organizations and businesses, should take time now to create or update their emergency plans.Taxpayers can begin getting ready for a disaster with a preparedness 
plan that includes securing and duplicating essential tax and financial 
documents, creating lists of property and knowing where to find 
information once a disaster has occurred. Securing this information can 
help in the aftermath of a disaster, and it can help people more quickly
 take advantage of disaster relief available from the IRS.<h2>Start secure</h2>Taxpayers should keep critical original documents inside waterproof 
containers in a secure space. Documents such as tax returns, birth 
certificates, deeds, titles and insurance policies should also be 
duplicated and kept with a trusted person outside the area a natural 
disaster may affect.<h2>Make copies</h2>If original documents are available only on paper, taxpayers can use a
 scanner and save them on a USB flash drive, CD or in the cloud, which 
provide security and easy portability.<h2>Document valuables</h2>After a disaster hits, photographs and videos of a home or business's
 contents can help support claims for insurance or tax benefits. All 
property, especially expensive and high- value items, should be 
recorded. The IRS disaster-loss workbooks can help&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p584.pdf">individuals</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p584b.pdf">businesses</a>&nbsp;compile lists of belongings or business equipment.<h2>Employer fiduciary bonds</h2>Employers using payroll service providers should check if their 
provider has a fiduciary bond in place to protect the employer in the 
event of a default by provider. Employers are encouraged to create an 
Electronic Federal Tax Payment System account at <a href="https://www.eftps.gov/eftps/">EFTPS.gov</a> to monitor their payroll tax deposits and receive email alerts.<h2>Know where to go</h2>Reconstructing records after a disaster may be required for tax 
purposes, getting federal assistance or insurance reimbursement. Find 
out if financial institutions provide statements and documents 
electronically. Taxpayers who have lost some or all of their records 
during a disaster should visit IRS'&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/reconstructing-records-after-a-natural-disaster-or-casualty-loss-irs-provides-tips-to-help-taxpayers">Reconstructing Records</a>&nbsp;webpage.<h2>IRS is ready to help</h2>Taxpayers living in a federally declared disaster can visit the IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">Tax Relief in Disaster Situations</a>&nbsp;webpage or <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation">Around the Nation</a>
 on IRS.gov and check for the available disaster tax relief. The IRS 
automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area 
and applies filing and payment relief. Affected taxpayers can call&nbsp;<a href="tel:866-562-5227">866-562-5227</a>&nbsp;to speak with an IRS specialist trained to handle disaster-related issues.A taxpayer impacted by a disaster outside of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">federally-declared disaster area</a>&nbsp;may
 qualify for disaster relief. This includes taxpayers who are not 
physically located in a disaster area, but whose records necessary to 
meet a filing or payment deadline postponed during the relief period are
 located in a covered disaster area.For more information about National Preparedness Month, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ready.gov/september">Ready.gov/september</a>.<h2>Related items:</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p2194.pdf">Publication 2194, Disaster Resource Guide for Individuals and Businesses</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5307.pdf">Publication 5307, Tax Reform: Basics for Individuals and Families </a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p583.pdf">Publication 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p547.pdf">Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/reconstructing-records-after-a-natural-disaster-or-casualty-loss">Reconstructing Records After a Natural Disaster or Casualty Loss</a></li><li><a href="https://www.fema.gov/">Federal Emergency Management Agency</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/oda#">Small Business Administration</a></li><li><a href="http://www.disasterassistance.gov/daip_en.portal">DisasterAssistance.gov</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ready.gov/">Ready.gov</a></li>
 </ul>

IRS urges taxpayers to prepare for natural disasters

BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the abduction of a 3-year-old child and early Monday asked the public for information on her non-custodial mother.

&nbsp;Brittany Nicole White is a suspect in the abduction of her 3-year-old daughter Rayelle Ohanna Ray (Ray Ray), according to Andover Police.

Both are thought to be in the Wichita area and with Indiana Williams who is thought to have aided in the abduction. 

They were last seen driving a 2008 Grey Ford Edge but could be in a Red Dodge Journey.&nbsp; Brittany is not believed to be a danger to the child. 

Please contact The Andover Police Department at 316-733-5177 or 911 if you have any information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630324282746.png" alt="Photo Andover Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Andover Police</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the abduction of a 3-year-old child and early Monday asked the public for information on her non-custodial mother.&nbsp;Brittany Nicole White is a suspect in the abduction of her 3-year-old daughter Rayelle Ohanna Ray (Ray Ray), according to Andover Police.Both are thought to be in the Wichita area and with Indiana Williams who is thought to have aided in the abduction. They were last seen driving a 2008 Grey Ford Edge but could be in a Red Dodge Journey.&nbsp; Brittany is not believed to be a danger to the child. Please contact The Andover Police Department at 316-733-5177 or 911 if you have any information.

Police investigate abduction of 3-year-old Kan. girl

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) —Rocket fire apparently targeting Kabul's international airport struck a nearby neighborhood on Monday, the eve of the deadline for American troops to withdraw from the country’s longest war after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. It wasn’t immediately clear if anyone was hurt.

The rockets did not halt the steady stream of U.S. military C-17 cargo jets taking off and landing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in the Afghan capital. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Last week, the Islamic State group launched a devastating suicide bombing at one of the airport gates that killed at least 169 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members.

The airport repeatedly has been a scene of chaos in the two weeks since the Taliban blitz across Afghanistan that took control of the country, nearly 20 years after the initial U.S. invasion that followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But since the suicide bombing, the Taliban have tightened their security cordon around the airfield, with their fighters seen just up to the last fencing separating them from the runway.

In the capital's Chahr-e-Shaheed neighborhood, a crowd quickly gathered around the remains of a four-door sedan used by the attackers, which had what appeared to be six homemade rocket tubes mounted where the backseat should be. The Islamic State group and other militants routinely mount such tubes into vehicles and quietly transport them undetected close to a target.

“I was inside the house with my children and other family members, suddenly there were some blasts," said Jaiuddin Khan, who lives nearby. "We jumped into the house compound and lay on the ground.”

The rockets landed across town in Kabul's Salim Karwan neighborhood, striking residential apartment blocks, witnesses said. That neighborhood is some 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) from the airport. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

In Washington, the White House issued a statement saying officials briefed President Joe Biden on “the rocket attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport” in Kabul, apparently referring to the vehicle-based rocket launch that morning.

“The president was informed that operations continue uninterrupted at HKIA, and has reconfirmed his order that commanders redouble their efforts to prioritize doing whatever is necessary to protect our forces on the ground,” the statement said, using an acronym for Kabul’s airport.

The U.S. military did not respond to requests for comment. After the rocket fire, planes continued to land and taxi across to the northern military side of the airport. Planes took off roughly every 20 minutes at one point Monday morning.

Smoke from several fires along the airport's perimeter could be seen throughout Monday. It wasn't clear what was ablaze, though U.S. forces typically destroy material and equipment they won't take with them during the evacuation.

The airport had been one of the few ways out for foreigners and Afghans fleeing the Taliban takeover. However, coalition nations have halted their evacuations in recent days, leaving the U.S. military largely alone at the base with some remaining allied Afghan forces providing security.

The U.S. State Department released a statement Sunday signed by around 100 countries, as well as NATO and the European Union, saying they had received “assurances” from the Taliban that people with travel documents would still be able to leave the country.

The Taliban have said they will allow normal travel after the U.S. withdrawal is completed on Tuesday and they assume control of the airport. However, it remains unclear how the militants will run the airport and which commercial carriers will begin flying into the field given the ongoing security concerns there.

While the Taliban has honored a pledge not to attack Western forces so long as they evacuate by Tuesday, the threat from the Islamic State's local affiliate remains a danger. The group, known as the Khorasan Province after a historic name for the region, saw some of its members freed as the Taliban released prisoners across the country during their takeover.

On Sunday, a U.S. drone strike blew up a vehicle carrying Islamic State suicide bombers before they could attack the ongoing military evacuation at Kabul’s airport, American officials said. However, the Taliban said the strike killed at least 10 people — including civilians and three children, sparking anger over the civilian casualties.

U.S. Navy Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesman for the American military's Central Command, acknowledged the reports of civilian casualties.

“We would be deeply saddened by any potential loss of innocent life,” he said in a statement.

The U.S. carried out another drone strike elsewhere in the country on Saturday that it said killed two Islamic State members.

By Tuesday, the U.S. is set to conclude a massive two-week-long airlift of more than 114,000 Afghans and foreigners and withdraw the last of its troops, ending America’s longest war with the Taliban back in power.

However, Afghans remain fearful of the Taliban returning to the oppressive rule for which it was once known. There have been sporadic reports of killings and other abuses in the sweep across the country.

Meanwhile, a cross-border shooting across the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan killed two Pakistani soldiers, the military said. Pakistani troops “responded in a befitting manner” after the attack in the district of Bajur of the country's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630087261414.png" alt="U.S. Army Soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division escort evacuees to buses at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. photo Department of Defense" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Army Soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division escort evacuees to buses at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. photo Department of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AP) —Rocket fire apparently targeting Kabul's international airport struck a nearby neighborhood on Monday, the eve of the deadline for American troops to withdraw from the country’s longest war after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. It wasn’t immediately clear if anyone was hurt.The rockets did not halt the steady stream of U.S. military C-17 cargo jets taking off and landing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in the Afghan capital. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Last week, the Islamic State group launched a devastating suicide bombing at one of the airport gates that killed at least 169 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members.The airport repeatedly has been a scene of chaos in the two weeks since the Taliban blitz across Afghanistan that took control of the country, nearly 20 years after the initial U.S. invasion that followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But since the suicide bombing, the Taliban have tightened their security cordon around the airfield, with their fighters seen just up to the last fencing separating them from the runway.In the capital's Chahr-e-Shaheed neighborhood, a crowd quickly gathered around the remains of a four-door sedan used by the attackers, which had what appeared to be six homemade rocket tubes mounted where the backseat should be. The Islamic State group and other militants routinely mount such tubes into vehicles and quietly transport them undetected close to a target.“I was inside the house with my children and other family members, suddenly there were some blasts," said Jaiuddin Khan, who lives nearby. "We jumped into the house compound and lay on the ground.”The rockets landed across town in Kabul's Salim Karwan neighborhood, striking residential apartment blocks, witnesses said. That neighborhood is some 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) from the airport. There were no immediate reports of injuries.In Washington, the White House issued a statement saying officials briefed President Joe Biden on “the rocket attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport” in Kabul, apparently referring to the vehicle-based rocket launch that morning.“The president was informed that operations continue uninterrupted at HKIA, and has reconfirmed his order that commanders redouble their efforts to prioritize doing whatever is necessary to protect our forces on the ground,” the statement said, using an acronym for Kabul’s airport.The U.S. military did not respond to requests for comment. After the rocket fire, planes continued to land and taxi across to the northern military side of the airport. Planes took off roughly every 20 minutes at one point Monday morning.Smoke from several fires along the airport's perimeter could be seen throughout Monday. It wasn't clear what was ablaze, though U.S. forces typically destroy material and equipment they won't take with them during the evacuation.The airport had been one of the few ways out for foreigners and Afghans fleeing the Taliban takeover. However, coalition nations have halted their evacuations in recent days, leaving the U.S. military largely alone at the base with some remaining allied Afghan forces providing security.The U.S. State Department released a statement Sunday signed by around 100 countries, as well as NATO and the European Union, saying they had received “assurances” from the Taliban that people with travel documents would still be able to leave the country.The Taliban have said they will allow normal travel after the U.S. withdrawal is completed on Tuesday and they assume control of the airport. However, it remains unclear how the militants will run the airport and which commercial carriers will begin flying into the field given the ongoing security concerns there.While the Taliban has honored a pledge not to attack Western forces so long as they evacuate by Tuesday, the threat from the Islamic State's local affiliate remains a danger. The group, known as the Khorasan Province after a historic name for the region, saw some of its members freed as the Taliban released prisoners across the country during their takeover.On Sunday, a U.S. drone strike blew up a vehicle carrying Islamic State suicide bombers before they could attack the ongoing military evacuation at Kabul’s airport, American officials said. However, the Taliban said the strike killed at least 10 people — including civilians and three children, sparking anger over the civilian casualties.U.S. Navy Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesman for the American military's Central Command, acknowledged the reports of civilian casualties.“We would be deeply saddened by any potential loss of innocent life,” he said in a statement.The U.S. carried out another drone strike elsewhere in the country on Saturday that it said killed two Islamic State members.By Tuesday, the U.S. is set to conclude a massive two-week-long airlift of more than 114,000 Afghans and foreigners and withdraw the last of its troops, ending America’s longest war with the Taliban back in power.However, Afghans remain fearful of the Taliban returning to the oppressive rule for which it was once known. There have been sporadic reports of killings and other abuses in the sweep across the country.Meanwhile, a cross-border shooting across the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan killed two Pakistani soldiers, the military said. Pakistani troops “responded in a befitting manner” after the attack in the district of Bajur of the country's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said.

Rockets fired at Kabul airport amid US withdrawal 

&nbsp;GRANT COUNTY —A felon who escaped from the jail in Ulysses Sunday is in custody. According to the Grant County Sheriff's Department, 29-year-old Francisco Beltran has was captured late Sunday. The sheriff's office thanked the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Ulysses Police Department, Grant County Fire and EMS, Kansas Wildlife and Parks, Stanton County Sheriff's Office, Steven's County Sheriff's Office&nbsp; and the Haskell County Sheriff's Office. They released no additional details.

GRANT COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an escape from a jail in southwest Kansas and asking the public for help to locate aggravated burglary suspect 29-year-old Fransisco Beltran.

He is described as 5-foot 4, 135 pounds, with a slim build, brown hair and eyes.&nbsp; He escaped from the Grant County Jail in Ulysses, according to a media release from the sheriff's department. Ulysses is approximately an hour southwest of Garden City.

Beltran has three previous convictions for burglary, for theft and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. If you see him or know where he is, call 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630284425150.png" alt="Beltran-photo Grant Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Beltran-photo Grant Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;GRANT COUNTY —A felon who escaped from the jail in Ulysses Sunday is in custody. According to the Grant County Sheriff's Department, 29-year-old Francisco Beltran has was captured late Sunday. The sheriff's office thanked the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Ulysses Police Department, Grant County Fire and EMS, Kansas Wildlife and Parks, Stanton County Sheriff's Office, Steven's County Sheriff's Office&nbsp; and the Haskell County Sheriff's Office. They released no additional details.-------GRANT COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an escape from a jail in southwest Kansas and asking the public for help to locate aggravated burglary suspect 29-year-old Fransisco Beltran.He is described as 5-foot 4, 135 pounds, with a slim build, brown hair and eyes.&nbsp; He escaped from the Grant County Jail in Ulysses, according to a media release from the sheriff's department. Ulysses is approximately an hour southwest of Garden City.Beltran has three previous convictions for burglary, for theft and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. If you see him or know where he is, call 911.

Burglary suspect who escaped SW Kan. jail captured

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal road-rage shooting in Sedgwick County.

Just after 6:30p.m. Sunday, deputies were requested to assist the Kansas Highway Patrol with a road rage incident resulting in a shooting in the southbound lanes of the Interstate 35, the Kansas Turnpike three miles south of Haysville exit, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

When deputies arrived they found 34-year-old Jerry J. Gehlen suffering from a gunshot wound. Gehlen was transported by EMS to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Involved parties and witnesses were transported to Sheriff Investigations, interviewed, and released. At this time, the shooting appears to have been in self-defense.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630263585468.png" alt="Traffic backed up due to the investigation Saturday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Traffic backed up due to the investigation Saturday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal road-rage shooting in Sedgwick County.Just after 6:30p.m. Sunday, deputies were requested to assist the Kansas Highway Patrol with a road rage incident resulting in a shooting in the southbound lanes of the Interstate 35, the Kansas Turnpike three miles south of Haysville exit, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.When deputies arrived they found 34-year-old Jerry J. Gehlen suffering from a gunshot wound. Gehlen was transported by EMS to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Involved parties and witnesses were transported to Sheriff Investigations, interviewed, and released. At this time, the shooting appears to have been in self-defense.

Sheriff IDs victim in fatal Kan. road rage shooting 

When a friend or family member is stuck in a bad situation and 
urgently needs money, you should help them out, right? Not if they are a
 scammer pulling this new con. Always double-check before sending money 
to a friend in need.

You get an out-of-the-blue Venmo request from a friend who needs 
money. Perhaps your friend has lost their wallet and needs to buy 
groceries. Could you send a couple hundred dollars to tide them over? &nbsp;

It sounds like a reasonable request. And it looks legitimate too. The
 message comes from an account using – what seems to be – your friend’s 
username and profile photo. But if you look closer, you notice that the 
name is a character or two off from their real Venmo account.

Scammers are taking advantage of generous friends by changing their 
username and profile pictures to impersonate real app users.&nbsp;Using the 
information visible in <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/venmo-public-feed" target="_blank">Venmo’s public feed</a>,
 they figure out from whom this person had previously sent or received 
money. Then, scammers contact these users with requests for money. &nbsp;

This scam is just one of many cons using digital wallets apps, such 
as PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, and Apple Pay. Be aware that unlike credit 
cards, many digital wallet vendors will not shoulder the cost of fraud. 
If you pay scammers using a digital wallet, you may not be successful in
 getting the company to reimburse you.

Protect Yourself from a Venmo impersonation con

<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/13038-how-to-avoid-digital-wallet-scams-on-paypal-venmo-and-other-services" target="_blank">Learn more about staying safe when using a peer-to-peer payment system</a> like Zelle, Venmo or Apple Pay. Read about another Venmo scam that seems to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/22128-scam-alert-this-venmo-scam-sends-you-money-by-accident" target="_blank">send you money by accident</a>.

If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB ScamTracker</a>. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams.

Stay up on the latest scams by&nbsp;<a href="https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1900156/1902645/" target="_blank">subscribing to BBB Scam Alerts emails</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Better Business BureauWhen a friend or family member is stuck in a bad situation and 
urgently needs money, you should help them out, right? Not if they are a
 scammer pulling this new con. Always double-check before sending money 
to a friend in need.<h2>How the Scam Works</h2>You get an out-of-the-blue Venmo request from a friend who needs 
money. Perhaps your friend has lost their wallet and needs to buy 
groceries. Could you send a couple hundred dollars to tide them over? &nbsp;It sounds like a reasonable request. And it looks legitimate too. The
 message comes from an account using – what seems to be – your friend’s 
username and profile photo. But if you look closer, you notice that the 
name is a character or two off from their real Venmo account.Scammers are taking advantage of generous friends by changing their 
username and profile pictures to impersonate real app users.&nbsp;Using the 
information visible in <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/venmo-public-feed" target="_blank">Venmo’s public feed</a>,
 they figure out from whom this person had previously sent or received 
money. Then, scammers contact these users with requests for money. &nbsp;This scam is just one of many cons using digital wallets apps, such 
as PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, and Apple Pay. Be aware that unlike credit 
cards, many digital wallet vendors will not shoulder the cost of fraud. 
If you pay scammers using a digital wallet, you may not be successful in
 getting the company to reimburse you.<h2>Protect Yourself from a Venmo impersonation con</h2><ul>
 <li>Double check with your friend before sending cash. If you get an unusual request, call or text your friend to confirm their story. If you can’t reach them, you can also tap on their Venmo profile to view their public transaction history and information.&nbsp; </li><li>Keep your transactions private. Scammers use the 
information visible in Venmo’s public feed to find targets. By keeping 
your transactions private, you reduce your risk of being targeted by 
scammers. Here’s <a href="https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/210413717-Payment-Activity-Privacy">privacy setting information from Venmo</a>. </li><li>Use money transfer with friends:Protect yourself 
from scams by only using money transfer apps for their intended purpose 
-- sending money to people you personally know.&nbsp; </li><li>Enable additional security settings: Check your 
account settings to see if you can&nbsp;turn on additional security measures,
 such as multi-factor authentication, requiring a PIN, or using 
fingerprint recognition like Touch ID. </li><li>Link your money transfer app to a credit card.As 
with many other purchases, using a credit card will help protect you if 
you don't get the goods or services you paid for.&nbsp;Linking to a debit 
card or directly to your bank account does not give you that added 
protection. </li>
 </ul><h2>For more information</h2><a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/13038-how-to-avoid-digital-wallet-scams-on-paypal-venmo-and-other-services" target="_blank">Learn more about staying safe when using a peer-to-peer payment system</a> like Zelle, Venmo or Apple Pay. Read about another Venmo scam that seems to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/22128-scam-alert-this-venmo-scam-sends-you-money-by-accident" target="_blank">send you money by accident</a>.If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB ScamTracker</a>. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams.Stay up on the latest scams by&nbsp;<a href="https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1900156/1902645/" target="_blank">subscribing to BBB Scam Alerts emails</a>.&nbsp;

BBB Scam Alert: Don’t send money to fake friends on Venmo

RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are looking for a person of interest after finding two men dead Friday evening.

Deputies were sent to a property in eastern Reno County for a check welfare call, according to a social media report from the Reno County Sheriff.&nbsp; They spoke to several friends of a man who hadn't been heard from since Wednesday.

While searching the property, deputies believe they found the missing person, so they then got a warrant to search the entire property and found a second man dead.

They believe both are Hutchinson residents. Police want to speak with Kyle V. Hardwick. He is&nbsp;possibly traveling in a 2000 Red Ford F-150 ex-cab pickup with veteran plates. Hardwick is also known to travel by bus. If you have information on the case, please call Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 620-694-2666 or 800-222-TIPS.

Hardwick is considered armed and dangerous. Names are not being released as not all family has been notified.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630194607870.jpeg" alt="Hardwick is considered armed an dangeous" />
 <figcaption>Hardwick is considered armed an dangeous</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are looking for a person of interest after finding two men dead Friday evening.Deputies were sent to a property in eastern Reno County for a check welfare call, according to a social media report from the Reno County Sheriff.&nbsp; They spoke to several friends of a man who hadn't been heard from since Wednesday.While searching the property, deputies believe they found the missing person, so they then got a warrant to search the entire property and found a second man dead.They believe both are Hutchinson residents. Police want to speak with Kyle V. Hardwick. He is&nbsp;possibly traveling in a 2000 Red Ford F-150 ex-cab pickup with veteran plates. Hardwick is also known to travel by bus. If you have information on the case, please call Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 620-694-2666 or 800-222-TIPS.Hardwick is considered armed and dangerous. Names are not being released as not all family has been notified.&nbsp;

Search continues for  suspect in Kan. double homicide

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man is going to prison in connection with child sex offenses and child pornography.

 On Thursday, District Judge Kevin O’Connor sentenced Tyler Dudley, 24 of Wichita, to a life term with parole eligibility after 25 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In June Dudley pled guilty to aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

An officer from the Exploited and Missing Child Unit was notified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of child pornography being uploaded to other computers. 

During questioning, Dudley admitted he produced the videos using a girl who was underage while staying with a friend in southeast Wichita. Dudley also admitted downloading child pornography on his phone. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630090738978.png" alt="Dudley photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Dudley photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man is going to prison in connection with child sex offenses and child pornography. On Thursday, District Judge Kevin O’Connor sentenced Tyler Dudley, 24 of Wichita, to a life term with parole eligibility after 25 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In June Dudley pled guilty to aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.An officer from the Exploited and Missing Child Unit was notified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of child pornography being uploaded to other computers. During questioning, Dudley admitted he produced the videos using a girl who was underage while staying with a friend in southeast Wichita. Dudley also admitted downloading child pornography on his phone.

Kan. man admits using friend's child to make porn

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man suspected of stealing a car is charged with felony kidnapping because a 2-year-old girl was inside the vehicle. 

Police arrested 38-year-old Truman Brown Friday. He also is charged with tampering with a motor vehicle. Police say 2-year-old Khalecia Richards was inside a Ford Mustang stolen from a gas station around 5:40 p.m. on Aug. 17. 

The child was found safe in Kansas City, Kansas, within a couple of hours. The car was discovered nearby. Brown is jailed on $50,000 cash-only bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630164437933.png" alt="Brown photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Brown photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man suspected of stealing a car is charged with felony kidnapping because a 2-year-old girl was inside the vehicle. Police arrested 38-year-old Truman Brown Friday. He also is charged with tampering with a motor vehicle. Police say 2-year-old Khalecia Richards was inside a Ford Mustang stolen from a gas station around 5:40 p.m. on Aug. 17. The child was found safe in Kansas City, Kansas, within a couple of hours. The car was discovered nearby. Brown is jailed on $50,000 cash-only bond.

Man accused of kidnapping for taking car with toddler inside

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two children under the age of three died after they were found unresponsive in a residential pool.

Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte said police were called to the home near Smart Road and Bob White Lane southeast of Kansas City shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday.

&nbsp;A 1-year-old and 2-year-old had been found unresponsive in the pool. Both children were taken to a local hospital where they died.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two children under the age of three died after they were found unresponsive in a residential pool.Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte said police were called to the home near Smart Road and Bob White Lane southeast of Kansas City shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday.&nbsp;A 1-year-old and 2-year-old had been found unresponsive in the pool. Both children were taken to a local hospital where they died.

2 KC-area children found unresponsive in pool

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ed Asner, the burly and prolific character actor who became a star in middle age as the gruff but lovable newsman Lou Grant, first in the hit comedy “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and later in the drama “Lou Grant,” died Sunday. He was 91.

Asner’s representative confirmed the actor’s death in an email to The Associated Press. Asner’s official&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/theonlyedasner/status/1432034864384000007?s=21" target="_blank">Twitter account included a note</a>&nbsp;from his children: “We are sorry to say that our beloved patriarch passed away this morning peacefully. Words cannot express the sadness we feel. With a kiss on your head- Goodnight dad. We love you.”

Built like the football lineman he once was, the balding Asner, a native of Kansas City, was a journeyman actor in films and TV when he was hired in 1970 to play Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” For seven seasons he was the rumpled boss to Moore’s ebullient Mary Richards (He called her “Mary,” she called him “Mr. Grant”) at the fictional Minneapolis TV newsroom where both worked. Later, he would play the role for five years on “Lou Grant.”

Asner’s character had caught on from the first episode of “Mary Tyler Moore,” when he told Mary in their initial meeting, “You’ve got spunk. ... I hate spunk!” The inspired cast included Ted Knight as Ted Baxter, the dimwitted news anchor; Gavin MacLeod as Murray Slaughter, the sarcastic news writer; and Betty White as the manipulative, sex-obsessed home show hostess Sue Ann Nivens. Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman, playing Mary’s neighbors, both saw their characters spun off into their own shows.

Asner is the third “Mary Tyler Moore” alum to die in recent months.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cloris-leachman-dead-7b9eb2aa8de5a62e8502ca94cff89e83">Leachman died in January</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gavin-macleod-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-6313dfd801244eeeea2be2ddeac1cdbb">MacLeod died in May.</a>

The 99-year-old White is the lone surviving main cast member from “Mary Tyler Moore.”

“Mary Tyler Moore” was still a hit when the star decided to pursue other interests, and so it was brought to an end in the seventh season with a hilarious finale in which all of the principals were fired except for the bumbling Baxter.

Asner went immediately into “Lou Grant,” his character moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to become city editor of the Tribune, a crusading newspaper under the firm hand of Publisher Margaret Pynchon, memorably played by Nancy Marchand.

Asner won three best supporting actor Emmys on “Mary Tyler Moore” and two best actor awards on “Lou Grant.” He also won Emmys for his roles in the miniseries “Rich Man, Poor Man” (1975-1976) and “Roots” (1976-1977).

He had more than 300 acting credits and remained active throughout his 70s and 80s in a variety of film and TV roles. In 2003, he played Santa Claus in Will Ferrell’s hit film “Elf.” He was John Goodman’s father in the short-lived 2004 CBS comedy “Center of the Universe” and the voice of the elderly hero in the hit 2009 Pixar release, “Up.” More recently, he was in such TV series as “Forgive Me” and “Dead to Me.”

Nonetheless, Asner told The Associated Press in 2009 that interesting roles were hard to come by.

“I never get enough work,” he said. “It’s the history of my career. There just isn’t anything to turn down, let me put it that way.”

“I’d say most people are probably in that same boat, old people, and it’s a shame,” he said.

As Screen Actors Guild president, the liberal Asner was caught up in a political controversy in 1982 when he spoke out against U.S. involvement with repressive governments in Latin America. “Lou Grant” was canceled during the furor that followed and he did not run for a third SAG term in 1985.

Asner discussed his politicization in a 2002 interview, noting he had begun his career during the McCarthy era and for years had been afraid to speak out for fear of being blacklisted.

Then he saw a nun’s film depicting the cruelties inflicted by El Salvador’s government on that country’s citizens.

“I stepped out to complain about our country’s constant arming and fortifying of the military in El Salvador, who were oppressing their people,” he said.

Former SAG President Charlton Heston and others accused him of making un-American statements and of misusing his position as head of their actors union.

“We even had bomb threats at the time. I had armed guards,” Asner recalled.

The actor blamed the controversy for ending the five-year run of “Lou Grant,” although CBS insisted declining ratings were the reason the show was canceled.

Although the show had its light moments, its scripts touched on a variety of darker social issues that most series wouldn’t touch at the time, including alcoholism and homelessness. Asner remained politically active for the rest of his life and in 2017 published the book “The Grouchy Historian: An Old-Time Lefty Defends Our Constitution Against Right-Wing Hypocrites and Nutjobs.”

Asner, born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1929, almost became a newsman in real life. He studied journalism at the University of Chicago until a professor told him there was little money to be made in the profession.

He quickly switched to drama, debuting as the martyred Thomas Becket in a campus production of T.S. Eliot’s “Murder in the Cathedral.”

He eventually dropped out of school, going to work as a taxi driver and other jobs before being drafted in 1951. He served with the Army Signal Corps in France.

Returning to Chicago after military service, he appeared at the Playwrights Theatre Club and Second City, the famed satire troupe that launched the careers of dozens of top comedians.

Later, in New York, he joined the long-running “The Threepenny Opera” and appeared opposite Jack Lemmon in “Face of a Hero.”

Arriving in Hollywood in 1961 for an episode of television’s “Naked City,” Asner decided to stay and appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including the film “El Dorado,” opposite John Wayne; and the Elvis Presley vehicles “Kid Galahad” and “Change of Habit.” He was a regular in the 1960s political drama series “Slattery’s People.”

He was married twice, to Nancy Lou Sykes and Cindy Gilmore, and had four children, Matthew, Liza, Kate and Charles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630268956633.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ed Asner, the burly and prolific character actor who became a star in middle age as the gruff but lovable newsman Lou Grant, first in the hit comedy “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and later in the drama “Lou Grant,” died Sunday. He was 91.Asner’s representative confirmed the actor’s death in an email to The Associated Press. Asner’s official&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/theonlyedasner/status/1432034864384000007?s=21" target="_blank">Twitter account included a note</a>&nbsp;from his children: “We are sorry to say that our beloved patriarch passed away this morning peacefully. Words cannot express the sadness we feel. With a kiss on your head- Goodnight dad. We love you.”Built like the football lineman he once was, the balding Asner, a native of Kansas City, was a journeyman actor in films and TV when he was hired in 1970 to play Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” For seven seasons he was the rumpled boss to Moore’s ebullient Mary Richards (He called her “Mary,” she called him “Mr. Grant”) at the fictional Minneapolis TV newsroom where both worked. Later, he would play the role for five years on “Lou Grant.”Asner’s character had caught on from the first episode of “Mary Tyler Moore,” when he told Mary in their initial meeting, “You’ve got spunk. ... I hate spunk!” The inspired cast included Ted Knight as Ted Baxter, the dimwitted news anchor; Gavin MacLeod as Murray Slaughter, the sarcastic news writer; and Betty White as the manipulative, sex-obsessed home show hostess Sue Ann Nivens. Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman, playing Mary’s neighbors, both saw their characters spun off into their own shows.Asner is the third “Mary Tyler Moore” alum to die in recent months.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cloris-leachman-dead-7b9eb2aa8de5a62e8502ca94cff89e83">Leachman died in January</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gavin-macleod-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-6313dfd801244eeeea2be2ddeac1cdbb">MacLeod died in May.</a>The 99-year-old White is the lone surviving main cast member from “Mary Tyler Moore.”“Mary Tyler Moore” was still a hit when the star decided to pursue other interests, and so it was brought to an end in the seventh season with a hilarious finale in which all of the principals were fired except for the bumbling Baxter.Asner went immediately into “Lou Grant,” his character moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to become city editor of the Tribune, a crusading newspaper under the firm hand of Publisher Margaret Pynchon, memorably played by Nancy Marchand.Asner won three best supporting actor Emmys on “Mary Tyler Moore” and two best actor awards on “Lou Grant.” He also won Emmys for his roles in the miniseries “Rich Man, Poor Man” (1975-1976) and “Roots” (1976-1977).He had more than 300 acting credits and remained active throughout his 70s and 80s in a variety of film and TV roles. In 2003, he played Santa Claus in Will Ferrell’s hit film “Elf.” He was John Goodman’s father in the short-lived 2004 CBS comedy “Center of the Universe” and the voice of the elderly hero in the hit 2009 Pixar release, “Up.” More recently, he was in such TV series as “Forgive Me” and “Dead to Me.”Nonetheless, Asner told The Associated Press in 2009 that interesting roles were hard to come by.“I never get enough work,” he said. “It’s the history of my career. There just isn’t anything to turn down, let me put it that way.”“I’d say most people are probably in that same boat, old people, and it’s a shame,” he said.As Screen Actors Guild president, the liberal Asner was caught up in a political controversy in 1982 when he spoke out against U.S. involvement with repressive governments in Latin America. “Lou Grant” was canceled during the furor that followed and he did not run for a third SAG term in 1985.Asner discussed his politicization in a 2002 interview, noting he had begun his career during the McCarthy era and for years had been afraid to speak out for fear of being blacklisted.Then he saw a nun’s film depicting the cruelties inflicted by El Salvador’s government on that country’s citizens.“I stepped out to complain about our country’s constant arming and fortifying of the military in El Salvador, who were oppressing their people,” he said.Former SAG President Charlton Heston and others accused him of making un-American statements and of misusing his position as head of their actors union.“We even had bomb threats at the time. I had armed guards,” Asner recalled.The actor blamed the controversy for ending the five-year run of “Lou Grant,” although CBS insisted declining ratings were the reason the show was canceled.Although the show had its light moments, its scripts touched on a variety of darker social issues that most series wouldn’t touch at the time, including alcoholism and homelessness. Asner remained politically active for the rest of his life and in 2017 published the book “The Grouchy Historian: An Old-Time Lefty Defends Our Constitution Against Right-Wing Hypocrites and Nutjobs.”Asner, born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1929, almost became a newsman in real life. He studied journalism at the University of Chicago until a professor told him there was little money to be made in the profession.He quickly switched to drama, debuting as the martyred Thomas Becket in a campus production of T.S. Eliot’s “Murder in the Cathedral.”He eventually dropped out of school, going to work as a taxi driver and other jobs before being drafted in 1951. He served with the Army Signal Corps in France.Returning to Chicago after military service, he appeared at the Playwrights Theatre Club and Second City, the famed satire troupe that launched the careers of dozens of top comedians.Later, in New York, he joined the long-running “The Threepenny Opera” and appeared opposite Jack Lemmon in “Face of a Hero.”Arriving in Hollywood in 1961 for an episode of television’s “Naked City,” Asner decided to stay and appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including the film “El Dorado,” opposite John Wayne; and the Elvis Presley vehicles “Kid Galahad” and “Change of Habit.” He was a regular in the 1960s political drama series “Slattery’s People.”He was married twice, to Nancy Lou Sykes and Cindy Gilmore, and had four children, Matthew, Liza, Kate and Charles.___

Actor Ed Asner, TV's blustery Lou Grant, dies at 91

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a pair of shootings, a car crash and working to determine if the crimes are related.

Just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to the 2500 block of SE Maryland Avenue in Topeka reference a shooting that had just occurred, according to Police LT. Matt Danielson.

Officers arrived and found an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.

Moments after this shooting, officers responded to the intersection of SW 29th and SW Mulvane Avenue reference an injury accident involving a single vehicle. Officers arrived to find a vehicle that had driven into a concrete retaining wall on the south side of 29th Street. 

The adult male driver was suffering from a life threatening gunshot wound. That person was also transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Detectives are currently investigating both incidents to determine if they are related.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630241999389.png" alt="Police on the scene of the Saturday night investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the Saturday night investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a pair of shootings, a car crash and working to determine if the crimes are related.Just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to the 2500 block of SE Maryland Avenue in Topeka reference a shooting that had just occurred, according to Police LT. Matt Danielson.Officers arrived and found an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.Moments after this shooting, officers responded to the intersection of SW 29th and SW Mulvane Avenue reference an injury accident involving a single vehicle. Officers arrived to find a vehicle that had driven into a concrete retaining wall on the south side of 29th Street. The adult male driver was suffering from a life threatening gunshot wound. That person was also transported to a local hospital for treatment.Detectives are currently investigating both incidents to determine if they are related.&nbsp;

Police: 2 critically injured in Kan. shooting, vehicle crash 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that a man’s municipal conviction for sexual battery requires him to register as a sex offender. 

The 5-2 decision Friday comes in the case of Asnake H. Adem, who was convicted in 2018 of sexual battery in violation of the Shawnee municipal code.

 At issue was whether the Legislature intended the Kansas Offender Registration Act to apply to those prosecuted under city ordinances. The Supreme Court ruled that Adem did need to register,  finding that the Shawnee ordinance is identical to the state statute. According to the ruling the conviction stems from an incident that occurred when he was driving a taxi late at night with a female passenger and repeatedly tried to embrace her.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630165188903.png" alt="Adem's photo from August 26 on the state sex offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Adem's photo from August 26 on the state sex offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that a man’s municipal conviction for sexual battery requires him to register as a sex offender. The 5-2 decision Friday comes in the case of Asnake H. Adem, who was convicted in 2018 of sexual battery in violation of the Shawnee municipal code. At issue was whether the Legislature intended the Kansas Offender Registration Act to apply to those prosecuted under city ordinances. The Supreme Court ruled that Adem did need to register, finding that the Shawnee ordinance is identical to the state statute. According to the ruling the conviction stems from an incident that occurred when he was driving a taxi late at night with a female passenger and repeatedly tried to embrace her.

Ruling: City conviction requires Kan. sex offender registration

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban said that a U.S. airstrike targeted a suicide bomber in a vehicle Sunday who wanted to attack the Kabul international airport amid the American military’s evacuation there.

There were few initial details about the incident, as well as a rocket that struck a neighborhood just northwest of the airport, killing a child. The two strikes initially appeared to be separate incidents, though information on both remained scarce.

The attack comes as the United States winds down a historic airlift that saw tens of thousands evacuated from Kabul’s international airport, the scene of much of the chaos that engulfed the Afghan capital since the Taliban took over two weeks ago. After an Islamic State affiliate’s suicide attack that killed over 180 people, the Taliban increased its security around the airfield as Britain ended its evacuation flights Saturday.

U.S. military cargo planes continued their runs into the airport Sunday, ahead of a Tuesday deadline earlier set by President Joe Biden to withdraw all troops from America’s longest war. However, Afghans remaining behind in the country worry about the Taliban reverting to their earlier oppressive rule — something fueled by the recent shooting death of a folk singer in the country by the insurgents.

Zabihullah Mujahid said in a message to journalists that the strike targeted the bomber as he drove a vehicle loaded with explosives. Mujahid offered few other details.

U.S. military officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

The rocket attack meanwhile struck Kabul’s Khuwja Bughra neighborhood, said Rashid, the Kabul police chief who goes by one name. Video obtained by The Associated Press in the aftermath of the attack showed smoke rising from building at the site around a kilometer (half a mile) from the airport.

No group immediately claimed the attack, however militants have fired rockets in the past.

Meanwhile, the family of a folk singer north of Kabul say the Taliban killed him.

The shooting of Fawad Andarabi came in the Andarabi Valley for which he was named, an area of Baghlan province some 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Kabul. The valley had seen upheaval since the Taliban takeover, with some districts in the area coming under the control of militia fighters opposed to the Taliban rule. The Taliban say they have since retaken those areas, though neighboring Panjshir in the Hindu Kush mountains remains the only one of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces not under its control.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630246695083.png" alt="&nbsp;Marines assist with security at an evacuation control checkpoint on August 28, at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. -photo U.S. Dept. of Defense " />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Marines assist with security at an evacuation control checkpoint on August 28, at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. -photo U.S. Dept. of Defense </figcaption>
 </figure>KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban said that a U.S. airstrike targeted a suicide bomber in a vehicle Sunday who wanted to attack the Kabul international airport amid the American military’s evacuation there.There were few initial details about the incident, as well as a rocket that struck a neighborhood just northwest of the airport, killing a child. The two strikes initially appeared to be separate incidents, though information on both remained scarce.The attack comes as the United States winds down a historic airlift that saw tens of thousands evacuated from Kabul’s international airport, the scene of much of the chaos that engulfed the Afghan capital since the Taliban took over two weeks ago. After an Islamic State affiliate’s suicide attack that killed over 180 people, the Taliban increased its security around the airfield as Britain ended its evacuation flights Saturday.U.S. military cargo planes continued their runs into the airport Sunday, ahead of a Tuesday deadline earlier set by President Joe Biden to withdraw all troops from America’s longest war. However, Afghans remaining behind in the country worry about the Taliban reverting to their earlier oppressive rule — something fueled by the recent shooting death of a folk singer in the country by the insurgents.Zabihullah Mujahid said in a message to journalists that the strike targeted the bomber as he drove a vehicle loaded with explosives. Mujahid offered few other details.U.S. military officials could not be immediately reached for comment.The rocket attack meanwhile struck Kabul’s Khuwja Bughra neighborhood, said Rashid, the Kabul police chief who goes by one name. Video obtained by The Associated Press in the aftermath of the attack showed smoke rising from building at the site around a kilometer (half a mile) from the airport.No group immediately claimed the attack, however militants have fired rockets in the past.Meanwhile, the family of a folk singer north of Kabul say the Taliban killed him.The shooting of Fawad Andarabi came in the Andarabi Valley for which he was named, an area of Baghlan province some 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Kabul. The valley had seen upheaval since the Taliban takeover, with some districts in the area coming under the control of militia fighters opposed to the Taliban rule. The Taliban say they have since retaken those areas, though neighboring Panjshir in the Hindu Kush mountains remains the only one of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces not under its control.The Taliban previously came out to Andarabi’s home and searched it, even drinking tea with the musician, his son Jawad Andarabi told the AP. But something changed Friday.“He was innocent, a singer who only was entertaining people,” his son said. “They shot him in the head on the farm.”His son said he wanted justice and that a local Taliban council promised to punish his father’s killer.Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the AP that the insurgents would investigate the incident, but had no other details on the killing.Andarabi played the ghichak, a bowed lute, and sang traditional songs about his birthplace, his people and Afghanistan as a whole.&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Samiullah_mahdi/status/1431647857883459594?s=20" target="_blank">A video online&nbsp;</a>showed him at one performance, sitting on a rug with the mountains of home surrounding him as he sang.“There is no country in the world like my homeland, a proud nation,” he sang. “Our beautiful valley, our great-grandparents’ homeland.”Karima Bennoune, the United Nations special rapporteur on cultural rights, wrote on Twitter that she had “grave concern” over Andarabi’s killing.“We call on governments to demand the Taliban respect the #humanrights of #artists,” she wrote.Agnes Callamard, the secretary-general of Amnesty International, similarly decried the killing.“There is mounting evidence that the Taliban of 2021 is the same as the intolerant, violent, repressive Taliban of 2001,” she wrote on Twitter. “20 years later. Nothing has changed on that front.”Meanwhile on Sunday, private banks across Afghanistan resumed their operations. However, they limited withdrawals to no more than the equivalent of $200 a day.While some complained of still being unable to access their money, government employees say they haven’t been paid over the last four months. The Afghani traded around 90.5 to $1, continuing its depreciation as billions of dollars in the country’s reserves remain frozen overseas.___