KANSAS CITY—Police are asking for assistance to identify the a suspect in connection with Tuesday’s kidnapping of 2-year-old&nbsp; Khalecia K. Richards.&nbsp; She was in the back of the car when it was stolen around 5:40 p.m. from a gas station across from Central Park. The girl was found nearly two hours later in Kansas City, Kansas, after a woman called police to say a young child was in her backyard.

One photo is of a shoe the suspect took off at one point inside the gas station. Anyone with information is asked to call Missing Persons Unit at 234-5136 TIPS Hotline at 474-TIPS.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 2-year-old girl who was in a car stolen from a Kansas City, Missouri, gas station has been found safe, police said.

Police said the girl was in the back of the car when it was stolen around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday from a gas station across from Central Park. The girl was found nearly two hours later in Kansas City, Kansas, after a woman called police to say a young child was in her backyard, police said.

Police said the girl was unharmed, and officers in Kansas City, Missouri, drove the mother to her child. The stolen car was found abandoned several blocks away.

Police said they were in the midst of issuing an Amber alert for the child when she was found.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629407568395.png" alt="Security camera image KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Police are asking for assistance to identify the a suspect in connection with Tuesday’s kidnapping of 2-year-old&nbsp; Khalecia K. Richards.&nbsp; She was in the back of the car when it was stolen around 5:40 p.m. from a gas station across from Central Park. The girl was found nearly two hours later in Kansas City, Kansas, after a woman called police to say a young child was in her backyard.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629407612913.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>One photo is of a shoe the suspect took off at one point inside the gas station. Anyone with information is asked to call Missing Persons Unit at 234-5136 TIPS Hotline at 474-TIPS.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629317280213.png" alt="The subject of the&nbsp; anticipated Amber Alert Khalecia K. Richards- photo courtesy KCPD" />
 <figcaption>The subject of the&nbsp; anticipated Amber Alert Khalecia K. Richards- photo courtesy KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 2-year-old girl who was in a car stolen from a Kansas City, Missouri, gas station has been found safe, police said.Police said the girl was in the back of the car when it was stolen around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday from a gas station across from Central Park. The girl was found nearly two hours later in Kansas City, Kansas, after a woman called police to say a young child was in her backyard, police said.Police said the girl was unharmed, and officers in Kansas City, Missouri, drove the mother to her child. The stolen car was found abandoned several blocks away.Police said they were in the midst of issuing an Amber alert for the child when she was found.

KC Police ask for help to ID child kidnapping suspect

Lack of child care options in rural Kan. threatens the future of small towns

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-08-19/one-familys-stressful-search-for-child-care-exposes-a-reason-rural-kansas-is-losing-people">Kansas News Service</a>

HAYS&nbsp;— It started with a phone call late last month.

The
 child care that Zach and Aubrey Woolf had lined up for their 
10-month-old daughter was closing, just a couple of weeks before Aubrey 
started back at her job with the local school district.

They called over a dozen other child care providers in town and sent messages to 20 more. The Woolfs scoured a <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/child-care-search/" target="_blank">statewide database</a> for options in their county. But there were exactly zero openings.

“There
 just seems to be a swarm of people all trying to find open spots for 
infants, and they’re few and far between,” Zach Woolf said. “There's no 
hope.”

How dire is the situation in Hays? The Woolfs also posted their pleas to an active <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/320802471341317/" target="_blank">Facebook group</a>
 dedicated to local parents searching for child care options. In this 
northwest Kansas town of about 21,000 people, that Facebook group has 
1,400 members.

After several frantic days, the Woolfs found an 
opening for their daughter in a neighboring town 20 minutes away. It 
wasn’t ideal, but at least it was something.

Then, they got another phone call. That provider was injured in an accident and could no longer care for their daughter.

So, they crunched the numbers to see how it would affect their finances for Aubrey to quit her job.

“We
 were probably a week away from her talking to her advisor at the school
 and being like, ‘I can’t come because I have nowhere to send my 
child.’” Woolf said. “What are you supposed to do in that situation?”

It’s
 a dilemma families face across rural Kansas, where child care options 
are scarce and solutions to the chronic problem seem ever more elusive. 
For small towns desperate to attract new families and stop an exodus of 
young residents, solving the child care conundrum poses a matter of 
civic survival.

Child care scarcity squeezes communities statewide. In four-fifths of Kansas counties, <a href="https://online.flippingbook.com/view/292534183/10/" target="_blank">more than 10 children</a> compete for each open spot that can take a kid younger than three years old.

If
 finding child care is a stressful, competitive prospect in Kansas City 
and Wichita, that pales in comparison to family life in a county where 
you can count the number of day care options on one hand.

The Child Care Aware organization’s data shows 18 rural counties in Kansas have <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CCC-FCC-By-County-January-2021-1.pdf" target="_blank">five or fewer</a> child care providers. Wichita County in western Kansas has only one.

And that’s before any of those precious few providers close down.

More than <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/point-in-time-data/" target="_blank">half</a> of Kansas counties have fewer child care options today than they had in <a href="https://online.flippingbook.com/view/876128309/" target="_blank">2019</a>. Hays, for example, lost <a href="https://stage.worklifesystems.com/Kansas?county=ellis" target="_blank">16 providers</a> over the past two years.

Bradford
 Wiles, associate professor and extension specialist in early childhood 
development at Kansas State University, said that small towns need to 
completely rethink the way they view child care.

“One of the 
things that rural areas really struggle the most with is recognizing 
child care as a utility,” he said, “as important to a rural community as
 electricity, as internet, as water.”

Wiles sees child care as an economic development issue.

If
 a town lacks options, families won’t move there or stay there. That 
means critical jobs go unfilled and the town’s tax base dwindles. And 
when families get distracted and stressed about their child’s care, that
 leads to less productivity on the job and taking more days off work to 
fill in the gaps.

It’s also an investment in the town’s next generation. When children get quality care, they’re more likely to have <a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/releases/031115-podcast-reynolds" target="_blank">higher incomes</a> and be <a href="https://heckmanequation.org/resource/research-summary-lifecycle-benefits-influential-early-childhood-program/" target="_blank">healthy, productive members</a>
 of the community as adults. Wiles said that for every dollar a town 
puts into early childhood development, it gets a return of $7 in the 
long run.

“It’s a no-brainer,” he said. “We have to see it as an investment in our population, in our families.”

But towns have to want to take action.

Wiles
 said effective solutions for this problem aren’t likely to come from 
the state level, but from communities coalescing around the issue — 
taking stock of their town’s specific needs, building a plan that fits 
those needs and dedicating public and private resources to implement the
 plan.

And for that to happen, he said community members need to 
realize that failing to invest in child care hurts them — even if they 
don’t have young kids.

“Everybody does have skin in the game,” Wiles said. “It’s just a question of how much you recognize it.”

When the Woolfs saw their second 
child care option fall through a couple of weeks ago, they briefly 
considered taking on a one-hour commute to secure a spot for their 
daughter in the next county over.

But then they got a tip about a 
new child care provider moving to Hays this fall and are now scheduled 
to send her there, pending the licensing approval process.

Until 
then, they’re relying on a patchwork of support from friends and family.
 Some days, an aunt will care for their daughter. The rest of the time, 
she’ll be watched by a former coworker who had to quit her job this year
 after being unable to find day care for her son.

But Zach Woolf 
said that compared to many others in northwest Kansas, his family is 
fortunate because it already had a network of community connections.

Any new families looking to move to towns like Hays might not be so lucky.

“If you were just dropped into Hays today to try to find a day care,” he said, “it would be incredibly stressful.”

He
 said it’s common for families in Hays to sit on child care waiting 
lists for one to two years or more, especially for an infant.

A 
number of his friends and coworkers have rushed to put their children’s 
names on waiting lists as soon as they find out they’re expecting. Woolf
 said that’s becoming the norm.

“If someone’s … just found out they're pregnant,” he said, “they should really be talking about day care now.”

David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">@davidcondos</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629399424373.png" alt="Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Lack of child care options in rural Kan. threatens the future of small towns</h2>By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-08-19/one-familys-stressful-search-for-child-care-exposes-a-reason-rural-kansas-is-losing-people">Kansas News Service</a>HAYS&nbsp;— It started with a phone call late last month.The
 child care that Zach and Aubrey Woolf had lined up for their 
10-month-old daughter was closing, just a couple of weeks before Aubrey 
started back at her job with the local school district.The news sent them scrambling.They called over a dozen other child care providers in town and sent messages to 20 more. The Woolfs scoured a <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/child-care-search/" target="_blank">statewide database</a> for options in their county. But there were exactly zero openings.“There
 just seems to be a swarm of people all trying to find open spots for 
infants, and they’re few and far between,” Zach Woolf said. “There's no 
hope.”How dire is the situation in Hays? The Woolfs also posted their pleas to an active <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/320802471341317/" target="_blank">Facebook group</a>
 dedicated to local parents searching for child care options. In this 
northwest Kansas town of about 21,000 people, that Facebook group has 
1,400 members.After several frantic days, the Woolfs found an 
opening for their daughter in a neighboring town 20 minutes away. It 
wasn’t ideal, but at least it was something.Then, they got another phone call. That provider was injured in an accident and could no longer care for their daughter.So, they crunched the numbers to see how it would affect their finances for Aubrey to quit her job.“We
 were probably a week away from her talking to her advisor at the school
 and being like, ‘I can’t come because I have nowhere to send my 
child.’” Woolf said. “What are you supposed to do in that situation?”It’s
 a dilemma families face across rural Kansas, where child care options 
are scarce and solutions to the chronic problem seem ever more elusive. 
For small towns desperate to attract new families and stop an exodus of 
young residents, solving the child care conundrum poses a matter of 
civic survival.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629399592429.png" alt="This map of Kansas counties shows how many children are vying for each open child care spot that serves infants and toddlers. Courtesy of Child Care Aware Kansas" />
 <figcaption>This map of Kansas counties shows how many children are vying for each open child care spot that serves infants and toddlers. Courtesy of Child Care Aware Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Wise investments</h2>Child care scarcity squeezes communities statewide. In four-fifths of Kansas counties, <a href="https://online.flippingbook.com/view/292534183/10/" target="_blank">more than 10 children</a> compete for each open spot that can take a kid younger than three years old.If
 finding child care is a stressful, competitive prospect in Kansas City 
and Wichita, that pales in comparison to family life in a county where 
you can count the number of day care options on one hand.The Child Care Aware organization’s data shows 18 rural counties in Kansas have <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CCC-FCC-By-County-January-2021-1.pdf" target="_blank">five or fewer</a> child care providers. Wichita County in western Kansas has only one.And that’s before any of those precious few providers close down.More than <a href="https://ks.childcareaware.org/point-in-time-data/" target="_blank">half</a> of Kansas counties have fewer child care options today than they had in <a href="https://online.flippingbook.com/view/876128309/" target="_blank">2019</a>. Hays, for example, lost <a href="https://stage.worklifesystems.com/Kansas?county=ellis" target="_blank">16 providers</a> over the past two years.Bradford
 Wiles, associate professor and extension specialist in early childhood 
development at Kansas State University, said that small towns need to 
completely rethink the way they view child care.“One of the 
things that rural areas really struggle the most with is recognizing 
child care as a utility,” he said, “as important to a rural community as
 electricity, as internet, as water.”Wiles sees child care as an economic development issue.If
 a town lacks options, families won’t move there or stay there. That 
means critical jobs go unfilled and the town’s tax base dwindles. And 
when families get distracted and stressed about their child’s care, that
 leads to less productivity on the job and taking more days off work to 
fill in the gaps.It’s also an investment in the town’s next generation. When children get quality care, they’re more likely to have <a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/releases/031115-podcast-reynolds" target="_blank">higher incomes</a> and be <a href="https://heckmanequation.org/resource/research-summary-lifecycle-benefits-influential-early-childhood-program/" target="_blank">healthy, productive members</a>
 of the community as adults. Wiles said that for every dollar a town 
puts into early childhood development, it gets a return of $7 in the 
long run.“It’s a no-brainer,” he said. “We have to see it as an investment in our population, in our families.”But towns have to want to take action.Wiles
 said effective solutions for this problem aren’t likely to come from 
the state level, but from communities coalescing around the issue — 
taking stock of their town’s specific needs, building a plan that fits 
those needs and dedicating public and private resources to implement the
 plan.And for that to happen, he said community members need to 
realize that failing to invest in child care hurts them — even if they 
don’t have young kids.“Everybody does have skin in the game,” Wiles said. “It’s just a question of how much you recognize it.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629399638702.png" alt="This map shows a snapshot of the child care options available in Kansas counties as of January 2021. The red dots represent center-based care and the blue squares represent home-based care. Courtesy of Child Care Aware Kansas" />
 <figcaption>This map shows a snapshot of the child care options available in Kansas counties as of January 2021. The red dots represent center-based care and the blue squares represent home-based care. Courtesy of Child Care Aware Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Search and searching</h2>When the Woolfs saw their second 
child care option fall through a couple of weeks ago, they briefly 
considered taking on a one-hour commute to secure a spot for their 
daughter in the next county over.But then they got a tip about a 
new child care provider moving to Hays this fall and are now scheduled 
to send her there, pending the licensing approval process.Until 
then, they’re relying on a patchwork of support from friends and family.
 Some days, an aunt will care for their daughter. The rest of the time, 
she’ll be watched by a former coworker who had to quit her job this year
 after being unable to find day care for her son.But Zach Woolf 
said that compared to many others in northwest Kansas, his family is 
fortunate because it already had a network of community connections.Any new families looking to move to towns like Hays might not be so lucky.“If you were just dropped into Hays today to try to find a day care,” he said, “it would be incredibly stressful.”He
 said it’s common for families in Hays to sit on child care waiting 
lists for one to two years or more, especially for an infant.A 
number of his friends and coworkers have rushed to put their children’s 
names on waiting lists as soon as they find out they’re expecting. Woolf
 said that’s becoming the norm.“If someone’s … just found out they're pregnant,” he said, “they should really be talking about day care now.”David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">@davidcondos</a>.

Family's search for child care exposes a reason rural Kan. is losing people

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A Salina man was arrested in Concordia after an alleged incident with a family member west of Salina.

At noon Wednesday, A 51-year-old woman&nbsp; was driving a 2012 Ford Focus in the 4400 block of State Street when a passenger in the car, Joseph Tholstrup, 31, of Salina, began to argue with her, according to Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander.&nbsp;

During the argument, Tholstrup began asking for family members addresses. He allegedly held a knife to the woman's throat and then kicked her out of the car, Melander said. A witness saw the incident and called 911.

By the time deputies got to the scene, Tholstrup and the car were gone. Deputies were told that Tholstrup had said he was going to kill family members, Melander said. He was believed to be on his way to Concordia.

The Concordia Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted in the search for Tholstrup and located him in Concordia, Melander said. The car also was located there.

Tholstrup was brought back to Salina and booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated robbery, Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Aggravated battery, Criminal threat, Theft

The woman was not injured, according to Melander.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629382853033.jpeg" alt="Tholstrup- photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Tholstrup- photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA Salina man was arrested in Concordia after an alleged incident with a family member west of Salina.At noon Wednesday, A 51-year-old woman&nbsp; was driving a 2012 Ford Focus in the 4400 block of State Street when a passenger in the car, Joseph Tholstrup, 31, of Salina, began to argue with her, according to Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander.&nbsp;During the argument, Tholstrup began asking for family members addresses. He allegedly held a knife to the woman's throat and then kicked her out of the car, Melander said. A witness saw the incident and called 911.By the time deputies got to the scene, Tholstrup and the car were gone. Deputies were told that Tholstrup had said he was going to kill family members, Melander said. He was believed to be on his way to Concordia.The Concordia Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted in the search for Tholstrup and located him in Concordia, Melander said. The car also was located there.Tholstrup was brought back to Salina and booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated robbery, Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Aggravated battery, Criminal threat, TheftThe woman was not injured, according to Melander.

Kan. man allegedly threatened woman, stole car

WASHINGTON —U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined his colleagues in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/9939850a-4ef6-44f3-9895-9ff63ea466e8/1BD4E3A619D314417E454545C95B5C4B.08.18.21---rubio-et-al-letter-to-austin-re-afghanistan.pdf" target="_blank">sending a letter</a>&nbsp;to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding a full account of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan, which has already or risks falling into the hands of the Taliban and their terrorist allies. The letter says in part,

“It is unconscionable that high-tech military equipment paid for by U.S. taxpayers has fallen into the hands of the Taliban and their terrorist allies. Securing U.S. assets should have been among the top priorities for the U.S. Department of Defense prior to announcing the withdrawal from Afghanistan.”

We write with grave concern regarding the status of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan as a result of our poorly executed withdrawal from the country. As we watched the images coming out of Afghanistan as the Taliban retook the country, we were horrified to see U.S. equipment – including UH-60 Black Hawks – in the hands of the Taliban.

It is unconscionable that high-tech military equipment paid for by U.S. taxpayers has fallen into the hands of the Taliban and their terrorist allies. Securing U.S. assets should have been among the top priorities for the U.S. Department of Defense prior to announcing the withdrawal from Afghanistan. We therefore request detailed information on the following:

1. A full account of military equipment provided to the Afghan Armed Forces in the last year;

2. All military equipment, owned by either the U.S. or Afghan Armed Forces, that was removed or destroyed prior to the U.S. withdrawal, or is rendered inoperable without U.S. logistics personnel;

3. All U.S. military equipment that remains operational in Afghanistan;

4. A list of what military equipment has been seized by the Taliban;

5. An assessment of how long it will take the Taliban to use each of the captured equipment;

6. An assessment of the likelihood that the Taliban will seek to work with Russia, Pakistan, Iran, or the People’s Republic of China for training, fuel, or infrastructure necessary to utilize the equipment they do not have the capabilities to use on their own; and

7. Any efforts by the administration, planned or underway, to recapture or destroy equipment that remains in Afghanistan and is at risk of being used by terrorist entities.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629403212055.png" alt="Afghan civilians prepare to board a plane during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan -photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Afghan civilians prepare to board a plane during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan -photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined his colleagues in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/9939850a-4ef6-44f3-9895-9ff63ea466e8/1BD4E3A619D314417E454545C95B5C4B.08.18.21---rubio-et-al-letter-to-austin-re-afghanistan.pdf" target="_blank">sending a letter</a>&nbsp;to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding a full account of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan, which has already or risks falling into the hands of the Taliban and their terrorist allies. The letter says in part,“It is unconscionable that high-tech military equipment paid for by U.S. taxpayers has fallen into the hands of the Taliban and their terrorist allies. Securing U.S. assets should have been among the top priorities for the U.S. Department of Defense prior to announcing the withdrawal from Afghanistan.”The letter is printed belowDear Secretary Austin:We write with grave concern regarding the status of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan as a result of our poorly executed withdrawal from the country. As we watched the images coming out of Afghanistan as the Taliban retook the country, we were horrified to see U.S. equipment – including UH-60 Black Hawks – in the hands of the Taliban.It is unconscionable that high-tech military equipment paid for by U.S. taxpayers has fallen into the hands of the Taliban and their terrorist allies. Securing U.S. assets should have been among the top priorities for the U.S. Department of Defense prior to announcing the withdrawal from Afghanistan. We therefore request detailed information on the following:1. A full account of military equipment provided to the Afghan Armed Forces in the last year;2. All military equipment, owned by either the U.S. or Afghan Armed Forces, that was removed or destroyed prior to the U.S. withdrawal, or is rendered inoperable without U.S. logistics personnel;3. All U.S. military equipment that remains operational in Afghanistan;4. A list of what military equipment has been seized by the Taliban;5. An assessment of how long it will take the Taliban to use each of the captured equipment;6. An assessment of the likelihood that the Taliban will seek to work with Russia, Pakistan, Iran, or the People’s Republic of China for training, fuel, or infrastructure necessary to utilize the equipment they do not have the capabilities to use on their own; and7. Any efforts by the administration, planned or underway, to recapture or destroy equipment that remains in Afghanistan and is at risk of being used by terrorist entities.Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.

U.S. Senators want accountability of equipment left for Taliban

By LAURA OLSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/08/18/covid-19-booster-shots-to-roll-out-starting-next-month/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — Top U.S. health officials <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0818-covid-19-booster-shots.html">announced a plan </a>Wednesday
 to begin offering COVID-19 booster shots to Americans starting Sept. 
20, with the scheduling of the additional shot to be based on when a 
person was fully vaccinated.&nbsp;

The new round of jabs will be extended to those who received the two-dose vaccine from either <a target="_blank" href="https://coloradonewsline.com/2020/12/11/fda-approves-first-covid-19-vaccine-clearing-the-way-for-states-rollout/">Pfizer</a> or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Moderna.html">Moderna,</a> and can be taken eight months after an individual’s second dose.&nbsp;

Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon 
general, told reporters Wednesday that recent data makes clear that 
while the current COVID-19 vaccines have been highly effective against 
severe disease, hospitalization and death, the protection against mild 
and moderate disease has appeared to decrease over time.&nbsp;

“This is likely due to both waning 
immunity and the strength of the widespread delta variant,” Murthy said,
 adding that health officials are concerned that the decline in immunity
 could reduce protection against severe disease and death in the months 
ahead.&nbsp;

The more than 13 million Americans who received the one-dose shot from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2021/02/26/one-dose-jj-covid-vaccine-poised-for-fda-green-light-after-advisory-panel-ok/">Johnson &amp; Johnson </a>may also need boosters, but will not yet be eligible.&nbsp;

Federal health officials said they 
are awaiting data from J&amp;J in the next few weeks before urging 
additional doses. The J&amp;J shot wasn’t approved until March, so those
 who received it will not hit eight months past inoculation until 
November.

The new booster rollout plan is 
subject to formal authorization from the Food and Drug Administration 
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine panel.&nbsp;

Those agencies will hold public 
meetings before the booster rollout can begin. But officials said they 
were detailing the booster plan ahead of those meetings in part to give 
state and local health officials time to prepare for another wave of 
vaccination logistics.&nbsp;

State and local health officials again under pressure

The plan for offering a third shot 
puts yet another layer of pressure on state and local health departments
 that have carried out the massive vaccination campaign.&nbsp;

Those officials are still seeking to 
boost vaccination rates that have lagged in certain regions amid 
skepticism and misinformation. Meanwhile, vaccine manufacturers are 
expected this fall to seek approval for administering shots to children 
under 12, who so far have not been eligible.&nbsp;

During Wednesday’s news briefing, 
Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, cited several new studies that 
tracked vaccine effectiveness, including among New Yorkers across age 
groups and another following case counts from nursing homes.&nbsp;

Those studies have shown that 
protection against severe infection has held up but not against milder 
infections, she said, adding that other countries, such as Israel, also 
are starting to see “worsening outcomes.”

“In the context of all of these 
studies, different cohorts, different settings across the country, and 
our international colleagues, we’ve made the decision to plan for these 
booster doses,” Walensky said.

The booster shots will be available 
at roughly 80,000 sites nationally, including 40,000 local pharmacies. 
As with the other COVID-19 shots, the boosters will be free of charge.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0813-additional-mRNA-mrna-dose.html">The CDC had already approved</a>
 a third COVID-19 shot for some immunocompromised individuals, who may 
not have received strong protection from the initial doses of the 
vaccine.

While the booster plan does not 
specifically mention other categories of individuals to receive a 
priority for boosters, the initial vaccine rollout did put certain 
groups first in line. So the first individuals to hit eight months after
 their second shot should be those in the earliest priority categories, 
such as health care workers and nursing home residents.

Laura covers the nation's capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom, a network of nonprofit outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629391803022.png" alt="Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, told reporters Wednesday that recent data makes clear that while the current COVID-19 vaccines have been highly effective against severe disease, hospitalization and death, the protection against mild and moderate disease has appeared to decrease over time-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, told reporters Wednesday that recent data makes clear that while the current COVID-19 vaccines have been highly effective against severe disease, hospitalization and death, the protection against mild and moderate disease has appeared to decrease over time-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By LAURA OLSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/08/18/covid-19-booster-shots-to-roll-out-starting-next-month/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — Top U.S. health officials <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0818-covid-19-booster-shots.html">announced a plan </a>Wednesday
 to begin offering COVID-19 booster shots to Americans starting Sept. 
20, with the scheduling of the additional shot to be based on when a 
person was fully vaccinated.&nbsp;The new round of jabs will be extended to those who received the two-dose vaccine from either <a target="_blank" href="https://coloradonewsline.com/2020/12/11/fda-approves-first-covid-19-vaccine-clearing-the-way-for-states-rollout/">Pfizer</a> or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Moderna.html">Moderna,</a> and can be taken eight months after an individual’s second dose.&nbsp;Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon 
general, told reporters Wednesday that recent data makes clear that 
while the current COVID-19 vaccines have been highly effective against 
severe disease, hospitalization and death, the protection against mild 
and moderate disease has appeared to decrease over time.&nbsp;“This is likely due to both waning 
immunity and the strength of the widespread delta variant,” Murthy said,
 adding that health officials are concerned that the decline in immunity
 could reduce protection against severe disease and death in the months 
ahead.&nbsp;The more than 13 million Americans who received the one-dose shot from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2021/02/26/one-dose-jj-covid-vaccine-poised-for-fda-green-light-after-advisory-panel-ok/">Johnson &amp; Johnson </a>may also need boosters, but will not yet be eligible.&nbsp;Federal health officials said they 
are awaiting data from J&amp;J in the next few weeks before urging 
additional doses. The J&amp;J shot wasn’t approved until March, so those
 who received it will not hit eight months past inoculation until 
November.The new booster rollout plan is 
subject to formal authorization from the Food and Drug Administration 
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine panel.&nbsp;Those agencies will hold public 
meetings before the booster rollout can begin. But officials said they 
were detailing the booster plan ahead of those meetings in part to give 
state and local health officials time to prepare for another wave of 
vaccination logistics.&nbsp;<h2>State and local health officials again under pressure</h2>The plan for offering a third shot 
puts yet another layer of pressure on state and local health departments
 that have carried out the massive vaccination campaign.&nbsp;Those officials are still seeking to 
boost vaccination rates that have lagged in certain regions amid 
skepticism and misinformation. Meanwhile, vaccine manufacturers are 
expected this fall to seek approval for administering shots to children 
under 12, who so far have not been eligible.&nbsp;During Wednesday’s news briefing, 
Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, cited several new studies that 
tracked vaccine effectiveness, including among New Yorkers across age 
groups and another following case counts from nursing homes.&nbsp;Those studies have shown that 
protection against severe infection has held up but not against milder 
infections, she said, adding that other countries, such as Israel, also 
are starting to see “worsening outcomes.”“In the context of all of these 
studies, different cohorts, different settings across the country, and 
our international colleagues, we’ve made the decision to plan for these 
booster doses,” Walensky said.The booster shots will be available 
at roughly 80,000 sites nationally, including 40,000 local pharmacies. 
As with the other COVID-19 shots, the boosters will be free of charge.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0813-additional-mRNA-mrna-dose.html">The CDC had already approved</a>
 a third COVID-19 shot for some immunocompromised individuals, who may 
not have received strong protection from the initial doses of the 
vaccine.While the booster plan does not 
specifically mention other categories of individuals to receive a 
priority for boosters, the initial vaccine rollout did put certain 
groups first in line. So the first individuals to hit eight months after
 their second shot should be those in the earliest priority categories, 
such as health care workers and nursing home residents.Laura covers the nation's capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom, a network of nonprofit outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.&nbsp;

Surgeon General: Get a COVID-19 booster shot starting in Sept.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who claimed to have bomb in a pickup truck near the U.S. Capitol has surrendered to law enforcement, ending an hourslong standoff.

The man, identified by law enforcement officials as 49-year-old Floyd Ray Roseberry of North Carolina, crawled out of the vehicle and was being taken into custody shortly before 2:30 p.m. He had pulled up outside the library earlier in the day and told police he had a bomb in his truck. 

An officer saw what appeared to be a detonator in the man’s hand. The man had been negotiating with police during a standoff that lasted around five hours.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man sitting in a black pickup truck parked on the sidewalk outside the Library of Congress told police he had a bomb Thursday, triggering a standoff in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Officials evacuated a number of buildings around the Capitol and sent snipers to the area after officers saw the man holding what looked like a detonator inside the pickup, which had no license plates. Congress is in recess this week, but staffers were seen calmly walking out of the area at the direction of authorities.

Police negotiators were communicating with him as he wrote notes and showed them to authorities from inside the truck, according to three people who were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. They were trying to determine whether it was an operable bomb, the officials said.

“My negotiators are hard at work trying to have a peaceful resolution to this incident,” U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said. “We’re trying to get as much information as we can to find a way to peacefully resolve this.”

The episode began about 9:15 a.m. when the truck drove up the sidewalk outside the library, Manger said. The driver told the responding officer that he had a bomb, and was holding what the officer believed to be a detonator, The truck had no license plates.

The nation’s capital has been tense since the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

Fencing that had been installed around the Capitol grounds had been up for months but was taken down this summer. A day before thousands of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol</a>, pipe bombs were left at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee in Washington.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-inaugurations-capitol-siege-8828a6a920198d0ea1ee0c73a49d8847">No one has been arrested yet for placing the bombs.</a>

The RNC, not far away from where the truck was parked Thursday, was also evacuated over the threat.

The area was blocked off by police cars and barricades, and multiple fire trucks and ambulances were staged nearby. Also responding were the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police, FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The White House said it was monitoring the situation and was being briefed by law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629395763681.png" alt="Officials evacuated a number of buildings around the Capitol and sent snipers to the area -photo courtesy WUSA TV" />
 <figcaption>Officials evacuated a number of buildings around the Capitol and sent snipers to the area -photo courtesy WUSA TV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who claimed to have bomb in a pickup truck near the U.S. Capitol has surrendered to law enforcement, ending an hourslong standoff.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The suspect, 49-year-old Floyd Ray Roseberry, has been to safely taken into custody. <a href="https://t.co/06RcwTcasQ">pic.twitter.com/06RcwTcasQ</a>&mdash; U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/CapitolPolice/status/1428426595010846721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The man, identified by law enforcement officials as 49-year-old Floyd Ray Roseberry of North Carolina, crawled out of the vehicle and was being taken into custody shortly before 2:30 p.m. He had pulled up outside the library earlier in the day and told police he had a bomb in his truck. An officer saw what appeared to be a detonator in the man’s hand. The man had been negotiating with police during a standoff that lasted around five hours.-------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629396620231.png" alt="Capitol Police blocking traffic near the library of Congress -photo courtesy WUSA TV" />
 <figcaption>Capitol Police blocking traffic near the library of Congress -photo courtesy WUSA TV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A man sitting in a black pickup truck parked on the sidewalk outside the Library of Congress told police he had a bomb Thursday, triggering a standoff in the heart of the nation’s capital.Officials evacuated a number of buildings around the Capitol and sent snipers to the area after officers saw the man holding what looked like a detonator inside the pickup, which had no license plates. Congress is in recess this week, but staffers were seen calmly walking out of the area at the direction of authorities.Police negotiators were communicating with him as he wrote notes and showed them to authorities from inside the truck, according to three people who were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. They were trying to determine whether it was an operable bomb, the officials said.“My negotiators are hard at work trying to have a peaceful resolution to this incident,” U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said. “We’re trying to get as much information as we can to find a way to peacefully resolve this.”The episode began about 9:15 a.m. when the truck drove up the sidewalk outside the library, Manger said. The driver told the responding officer that he had a bomb, and was holding what the officer believed to be a detonator, The truck had no license plates.The nation’s capital has been tense since the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.Fencing that had been installed around the Capitol grounds had been up for months but was taken down this summer. A day before thousands of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol</a>, pipe bombs were left at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee in Washington.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-inaugurations-capitol-siege-8828a6a920198d0ea1ee0c73a49d8847">No one has been arrested yet for placing the bombs.</a>The RNC, not far away from where the truck was parked Thursday, was also evacuated over the threat.The area was blocked off by police cars and barricades, and multiple fire trucks and ambulances were staged nearby. Also responding were the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police, FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.The White House said it was monitoring the situation and was being briefed by law enforcement.___

Man surrenders after claiming to have bomb near Capitol

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The sheriff and a local school board in Kansas’ most populous county have set COVID-19 policies conflicting with county rules on testing and masks.

Johnson County in the Kansas City area is requiring unvaccinated employees to undergo weekly testing starting next week, but the sheriff’s department is exempt. Sheriff Calvin Hayden is not requiring his nearly 600 employees to abide by the requirement.

“The sheriff felt our employees know the best for themselves and the best for their families and felt that employees can make that decision,” spokesperson and detective Sgt. Jesse Valdez said.

The Johnson County Commission earlier this month also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-kansas-5e1cd720ea4bd1ea24809fc158d15cac">required masks indoors</a>&nbsp;for students and staff in schools from kindergarten through the sixth grade.

But during a special meeting this week, the school board in the Spring Hill district in southern Johnson County voted 5-1 to allow parents to sign a form certifying that children have medical or mental health issues qualifying them for an exemption. Previously, a health care provider’s signature was required.

Board member Ali Seeling said the board is giving parents “the freedom to make health decisions for their own children.”

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The sheriff and a local school board in Kansas’ most populous county have set COVID-19 policies conflicting with county rules on testing and masks.Johnson County in the Kansas City area is requiring unvaccinated employees to undergo weekly testing starting next week, but the sheriff’s department is exempt. Sheriff Calvin Hayden is not requiring his nearly 600 employees to abide by the requirement.“The sheriff felt our employees know the best for themselves and the best for their families and felt that employees can make that decision,” spokesperson and detective Sgt. Jesse Valdez said.The Johnson County Commission earlier this month also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-kansas-5e1cd720ea4bd1ea24809fc158d15cac">required masks indoors</a>&nbsp;for students and staff in schools from kindergarten through the sixth grade.But during a special meeting this week, the school board in the Spring Hill district in southern Johnson County voted 5-1 to allow parents to sign a form certifying that children have medical or mental health issues qualifying them for an exemption. Previously, a health care provider’s signature was required.Board member Ali Seeling said the board is giving parents “the freedom to make health decisions for their own children.”

Sheriff, school board undercut Kan. county’s COVID rules

DOUGLAS COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a man in the parking lot of the Dillons grocery store in Lawrence.

Just before 8:30a.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a stabbing in the parking lot at&nbsp; 1015 West 23rd Street in Lawrence, according to police spokesman Patrick Compton.

When officers arrived they encountered a suspect still holding a knife. Officers spoke to the suspect and convinced him to drop the weapon.

First responders also located a male victim. He was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to Compton.

Authorities arrested 54-year-old Robert Earl Davis of Lawrence and booked him on requested charges of second-degree murder and cruelty to animals after victim’s dog was also injured during the incident. Animal Control officers transported the dog to the Lawrence Humane Society. The dog was stabilized and subsequently transported to a local animal hospital.

The Humane Society said in a social media post Thursday&nbsp; that the dog, named Bear, sustained a stab wound to his side. The dog initially was in shock, but his wound had been repaired and his prognosis is good.&nbsp;

Police have not released the&nbsp; victim's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629325964673.png" alt="Davis photo Douglas Co." />
 <figcaption>Davis photo Douglas Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a man in the parking lot of the Dillons grocery store in Lawrence.Just before 8:30a.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a stabbing in the parking lot at&nbsp; 1015 West 23rd Street in Lawrence, according to police spokesman Patrick Compton.When officers arrived they encountered a suspect still holding a knife. Officers spoke to the suspect and convinced him to drop the weapon.First responders also located a male victim. He was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to Compton.Authorities arrested 54-year-old Robert Earl Davis of Lawrence and booked him on requested charges of second-degree murder and cruelty to animals after victim’s dog was also injured during the incident. Animal Control officers transported the dog to the Lawrence Humane Society. The dog was stabilized and subsequently transported to a local animal hospital.The Humane Society said in a social media post Thursday&nbsp; that the dog, named Bear, sustained a stab wound to his side. The dog initially was in shock, but his wound had been repaired and his prognosis is good.&nbsp;Police have not released the&nbsp; victim's name.

Suspect killed Kan. man, stabbed dog  in store parking lot

EMPORIA —Law enforcement authorities made 5 arrests Wednesday in connection with the September 2017 murder of 19-year-old Jesus Avila-Galvin of Emporia.

On Sept. 6, 2017, Lyon County deputies responded to investigate a suspicious vehicle on a road about five miles east of Emporia. The deputies found the car on fire, with the body of Avila-Galvin Jr. inside, according to a media release from the Lyon County Sheriff.

The Kansas and Oklahoma Highway Patrol assisted with Wednesday's arrests that were made in Tulsa, Oklahoma and various locations in Emporia, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Andrew John “AJ” Granado, 21, of Tulsa, Oklahoma was booked into the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center in Tulsa County, Oklahoma and is being held without bond.

Four other suspects including Jordy Cornejo-Campoverde, 21; Armando Nunez, 20; Alan Alanis, 19, and Jovan Pecina, 22, all of Emporia were arrested throughout Wednesday morning, according to the KBI.

&nbsp;Cornejo-Campoverde, Nunez, Alanis, and Pecina were booked into the Lyon County Jail.

All five suspects are being held on requested charges of murder in the first-degree, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated robbery, arson, and interference with a law enforcement officer.

LYON COUNTY—The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Lyon County Sheriff's department are asking the public for help with information in the death of 19-year-old Jesus Avila-Galvin, Jr. of Emporia.

On Sept. 6, 2017, Lyon County deputies responded to investigate a suspicious vehicle on a road about five miles east of Emporia. The deputies found the car on fire, with the body of Avila-Galvin Jr. inside.

Anyone with information is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME or Lyon County Crime Stoppers at 620-342-227

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629374232778.png" alt="Granado photo Tulsa County" />
 <figcaption>Granado photo Tulsa County</figcaption>
 </figure>EMPORIA —Law enforcement authorities made 5 arrests Wednesday in connection with the September 2017 murder of 19-year-old Jesus Avila-Galvin of Emporia.On Sept. 6, 2017, Lyon County deputies responded to investigate a suspicious vehicle on a road about five miles east of Emporia. The deputies found the car on fire, with the body of Avila-Galvin Jr. inside, according to a media release from the Lyon County Sheriff.The Kansas and Oklahoma Highway Patrol assisted with Wednesday's arrests that were made in Tulsa, Oklahoma and various locations in Emporia, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.Andrew John “AJ” Granado, 21, of Tulsa, Oklahoma was booked into the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center in Tulsa County, Oklahoma and is being held without bond.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629309560372.png" alt="Jordy Cornejo-Campoverde" />
 <figcaption>Jordy Cornejo-Campoverde</figcaption>
 </figure>Four other suspects including Jordy Cornejo-Campoverde, 21; Armando Nunez, 20; Alan Alanis, 19, and Jovan Pecina, 22, all of Emporia were arrested throughout Wednesday morning, according to the KBI.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629309477682.png" alt="Armando Nunez-photo Lyon Co." />
 <figcaption>Armando Nunez-photo Lyon Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629309635113.png" alt="Alanis photo Lyon Co." />
 <figcaption>Alanis photo Lyon Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Cornejo-Campoverde, Nunez, Alanis, and Pecina were booked into the Lyon County Jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629309700175.png" alt="Jovan Pecina photo Lyon Co." />
 <figcaption>Jovan Pecina photo Lyon Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>All five suspects are being held on requested charges of murder in the first-degree, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated robbery, arson, and interference with a law enforcement officer.---------LYON COUNTY—The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Lyon County Sheriff's department are asking the public for help with information in the death of 19-year-old Jesus Avila-Galvin, Jr. of Emporia.On Sept. 6, 2017, Lyon County deputies responded to investigate a suspicious vehicle on a road about five miles east of Emporia. The deputies found the car on fire, with the body of Avila-Galvin Jr. inside.Anyone with information is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME or Lyon County Crime Stoppers at 620-342-227

Arrests made: Kan. teen was left to die in burning car

CROW WING COUNTY, MN —Law enforcement authorities have identified a man who drowned while swimming in a Minnesota lake as 66-year-old Edward Rando of Towanda, Kansas.

Just before 3p.m. Tuesday, emergency crews&nbsp;responded to a report of an unconscious man who had been pulled from the water near the Ruth Lake Access, in Emily, Minnesota, <a href="https://www.crowwing.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2389">according to a media release.</a>

The man later identified as Rando had been swimming from a nearby pontoon when he became distressed. Attempts were made to get flotation devices to him. The victim became unresponsive.

Boaters at the nearby access responded to calls for help and aided in recovering Rando from the water.

He was taken to the lake access where life-saving measures were attempted. Rando was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the Crow Wing Sheriff's Department and was transported to Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office. The apparent cause of death is listed as drowning.

CROW WING COUNTY, MN —Law enforcement authorities have identified a man who drowned while swimming in a Minnesota lake as 66-year-old Edward Rando of Towanda, Kansas.Just before 3p.m. Tuesday, emergency crews&nbsp;responded to a report of an unconscious man who had been pulled from the water near the Ruth Lake Access, in Emily, Minnesota, <a href="https://www.crowwing.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2389">according to a media release.</a>The man later identified as Rando had been swimming from a nearby pontoon when he became distressed. Attempts were made to get flotation devices to him. The victim became unresponsive.Boaters at the nearby access responded to calls for help and aided in recovering Rando from the water.He was taken to the lake access where life-saving measures were attempted. Rando was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the Crow Wing Sheriff's Department and was transported to Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office. The apparent cause of death is listed as drowning.

Sheriff IDs Kan. man who drowned at Minnesota lake

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he is committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means maintaining a military presence there beyond his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal.

He also pushed back against criticism that the U.S. should have done more to plan for the evacuation and withdrawal, which has been marked by scenes of violence and chaos as thousands attempted to flee while the Taliban advanced.

In an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, Biden said the U.S. will do “everything in our power” to evacuate Americans and U.S. allies from Afghanistan before the deadline.

Pressed repeatedly on how the administration would help Americans left in the nation after Aug. 31, Biden said, “If there’s American citizens left, we’re gonna stay till we get them all out.”

Up to 15,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan after the Taliban took full control of the nation last weekend.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said earlier Wednesday that the U.S. military does not have the forces and firepower in Afghanistan to expand its current mission from securing the Kabul airport to collecting Americans and at-risk Afghans elsewhere in the capital and escorting them for evacuation.

The question of whether those seeking to leave the country before Biden’s deadline should be rescued and brought to the airport has arisen amid reports that Taliban checkpoints have stopped some designated evacuees.

“I don’t have the capability to go out and extend operations currently into Kabul,” Austin said. “And where do you take that? How far do you extend into Kabul, and how long does it take to flow those forces in to be able to do that?”

Austin, a retired four-star Army general who commanded forces in Afghanistan, spoke at his first Pentagon news conference since the Taliban swept to power in Kabul on Sunday.

He said the State Department was sending more consular affairs officers to speed up the processing of evacuees.

“We’re not close to where we want to be” in terms of the pace of the airlift, Austin said.

He said he was mainly focused on the airport, which faced “a number of threats” that must be monitored.

“We cannot afford to either not defend that airfield or not have an airfield that’s secure, where we have hundreds or thousands of civilians that can access the airfield,” he said, adding that talks with the Taliban were continuing to ensure safe passage for those evacuating.

Austin said there were about 4,500 U.S. troops at the airport, maintaining security to enable the State Department-run evacuation operation that has been marked by degrees of chaos and confusion.

Biden, however, told ABC that there wasn’t anything his administration could have done to avoid such chaos.

“The idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens,” he said.

Senior U.S. military officers were talking to Taliban commanders in Kabul about checkpoints and curfews that have limited the number of Americans and Afghans able to enter the airport.

John Kirby, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said that over 24 hours about 2,000 people, including 325 American citizens, had left aboard 18 flights by U.S. Air Force C-17 transport planes. The number of departing Air Force flights was likely to be similar in the coming 24 hours, Kirby said, although he said he could not estimate how many people they would carry.

He said the administration was considering its options for dealing with a separate but related problem — the abandonment by Afghan security forces of an array of military equipment, weapons and aircraft that have fallen into the hands of the Taliban or other militant groups.

“We don’t, obviously, want to see our equipment in the hands of those who would act against our interests or the interests of the Afghan people and increase violence and insecurity inside Afghanistan,” Kirby said. “There are numerous policy choices that can be made, up to and including destruction.” He said those decisions had not yet been made.

Kirby said several hundred more U.S. troops were expected to arrive at the airport by Thursday.

An Air Force unit arrived overnight that specializes in rapidly setting up and maintaining airfield operations, Kirby said. And he said Marines trained in evacuation support have continued to arrive and will assist in getting civilians onto flights.

The top congressional Republicans, Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Sen. Mitch McConnell, asked Biden on Wednesday for a classified briefing with the “gang of eight” — the top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate intelligence committees as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, McCarthy and McConnell.

McCarthy and McConnell said they want a briefing on the number of Americans still in Afghanistan and the plans to evacuate those outside of Kabul. Their letter prompted Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill to tweet that she had already requested such a meeting. He also said House members will receive an unclassified telephone briefing Friday and an in-person briefing Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629040310655.png" alt="“The idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens,” President Biden said Wednesday- photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>“The idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens,” President Biden said Wednesday- photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he is committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means maintaining a military presence there beyond his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal.He also pushed back against criticism that the U.S. should have done more to plan for the evacuation and withdrawal, which has been marked by scenes of violence and chaos as thousands attempted to flee while the Taliban advanced.In an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, Biden said the U.S. will do “everything in our power” to evacuate Americans and U.S. allies from Afghanistan before the deadline.Pressed repeatedly on how the administration would help Americans left in the nation after Aug. 31, Biden said, “If there’s American citizens left, we’re gonna stay till we get them all out.”Up to 15,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan after the Taliban took full control of the nation last weekend.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said earlier Wednesday that the U.S. military does not have the forces and firepower in Afghanistan to expand its current mission from securing the Kabul airport to collecting Americans and at-risk Afghans elsewhere in the capital and escorting them for evacuation.The question of whether those seeking to leave the country before Biden’s deadline should be rescued and brought to the airport has arisen amid reports that Taliban checkpoints have stopped some designated evacuees.“I don’t have the capability to go out and extend operations currently into Kabul,” Austin said. “And where do you take that? How far do you extend into Kabul, and how long does it take to flow those forces in to be able to do that?”Austin, a retired four-star Army general who commanded forces in Afghanistan, spoke at his first Pentagon news conference since the Taliban swept to power in Kabul on Sunday.He said the State Department was sending more consular affairs officers to speed up the processing of evacuees.“We’re not close to where we want to be” in terms of the pace of the airlift, Austin said.He said he was mainly focused on the airport, which faced “a number of threats” that must be monitored.“We cannot afford to either not defend that airfield or not have an airfield that’s secure, where we have hundreds or thousands of civilians that can access the airfield,” he said, adding that talks with the Taliban were continuing to ensure safe passage for those evacuating.Austin said there were about 4,500 U.S. troops at the airport, maintaining security to enable the State Department-run evacuation operation that has been marked by degrees of chaos and confusion.Biden, however, told ABC that there wasn’t anything his administration could have done to avoid such chaos.“The idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens,” he said.Senior U.S. military officers were talking to Taliban commanders in Kabul about checkpoints and curfews that have limited the number of Americans and Afghans able to enter the airport.John Kirby, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said that over 24 hours about 2,000 people, including 325 American citizens, had left aboard 18 flights by U.S. Air Force C-17 transport planes. The number of departing Air Force flights was likely to be similar in the coming 24 hours, Kirby said, although he said he could not estimate how many people they would carry.He said the administration was considering its options for dealing with a separate but related problem — the abandonment by Afghan security forces of an array of military equipment, weapons and aircraft that have fallen into the hands of the Taliban or other militant groups.“We don’t, obviously, want to see our equipment in the hands of those who would act against our interests or the interests of the Afghan people and increase violence and insecurity inside Afghanistan,” Kirby said. “There are numerous policy choices that can be made, up to and including destruction.” He said those decisions had not yet been made.Kirby said several hundred more U.S. troops were expected to arrive at the airport by Thursday.An Air Force unit arrived overnight that specializes in rapidly setting up and maintaining airfield operations, Kirby said. And he said Marines trained in evacuation support have continued to arrive and will assist in getting civilians onto flights.The top congressional Republicans, Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Sen. Mitch McConnell, asked Biden on Wednesday for a classified briefing with the “gang of eight” — the top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate intelligence committees as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, McCarthy and McConnell.McCarthy and McConnell said they want a briefing on the number of Americans still in Afghanistan and the plans to evacuate those outside of Kabul. Their letter prompted Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill to tweet that she had already requested such a meeting. He also said House members will receive an unclassified telephone briefing Friday and an in-person briefing Tuesday.___

Biden: Troops will stay in Afghanistan to evacuate Americans

Today, the Federal Trade Commission filed an&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcs9-2BYv-2FBvF5AG8cihP-2F7iTMkEDIG3xYV2QmxalVq9v0EJpjcyrNtVg-2F-2F5Q525WONG-2BuzWCDLFk3F-2BXv-2BvUVTdzSG7I0YNPY6u5bcZu48wU-2BhioOw2eZ7YMW3-2F46KhX79g-3D-3Dm7gn_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD4EBUDXLopiVzG-2Fvw8A4mp2eEkOsXshnuXLlKUWkYlFxaPTdp9dQyNcYgk2Im7HQ9wgRri93VdsapV8DDCoJZhkKeBkJWVELCuLZhY7bRsTTBWVVel3Sp-2FALZ8UK2B6MkLb-2FG4J-2F-2By8lZ4aP6MvbzVg-3D">amended complaint</a>&nbsp;against Facebook in the agency’s ongoing federal antitrust case. The complaint alleges that after repeated failed attempts to develop innovative mobile features for its network, Facebook instead resorted to an illegal buy-or-bury scheme to maintain its dominance. It unlawfully acquired innovative competitors with popular mobile features that succeeded where Facebook’s own offerings fell flat or fell apart. And to further moat its monopoly, Facebook lured app developers to the platform, surveilled them for signs of success, and then buried them when they became competitive threats. Lacking serious competition, Facebook has been able to hone a surveillance-based advertising model and impose ever-increasing burdens on its users. &nbsp;

“Facebook lacked the business acumen and technical talent to survive the transition to mobile. After failing to compete with new innovators, Facebook illegally bought or buried them when their popularity became an existential threat,” said Holly Vedova, FTC Bureau of Competition Acting Director. “This conduct is no less anticompetitive than if Facebook had bribed emerging app competitors not to compete. The antitrust laws were enacted to prevent precisely this type of illegal activity by monopolists. Facebook’s actions have suppressed innovation and product quality improvements. And they have degraded the social network experience, subjecting users to lower levels of privacy and data protections and more intrusive ads. The FTC’s action today seeks to put an end to this illegal activity and restore competition for the benefit of Americans and honest businesses alike.”

The FTC filed the amended complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, following the court’s June 28 ruling on the FTC’s initial complaint. The amended complaint includes additional data and evidence to support the FTC’s contention that Facebook is a monopolist that abused its excessive market power to eliminate threats to its dominance.

According to the amended complaint, a critical transition period in the history of the internet, and in Facebook’s history, was the emergence of smartphones and the mobile Internet in the 2010s. Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, recognized at the time that “we’re vulnerable in mobile” and a major shareholder worried that Facebook’s mobile weakness “ran the risk of the unthinkable happening - being eclipsed by another network[.]”&nbsp;

After suffering significant failures during this critical transition period, Facebook found that it lacked the business talent and engineering acumen to quickly and successfully integrate its outdated desktop-based technology to the new era of mobile-first communication. Unable to maintain its monopoly or its advertising profits by fairly competing, Facebook’s executives addressed this existential threat by buying up the new mobile innovators, including its rival Instagram in 2012 and mobile messaging app WhatsApp in 2014, who had succeeded where Facebook had failed. The company supplemented its anticompetitive shopping spree with an open-first-close-later scheme that helped cement its monopoly by severely hampering the ability of rivals and would-be rivals to compete on the merits. By anticompetitively cementing its personal social networking monopoly, Facebook has harmed the competitive process and limited consumer choice.

As described in the amended complaint, after starting Facebook Platform as an open space for third party software developers, Facebook abruptly reversed course and required developers to agree to conditions that prevented successful apps from emerging as competitive threats to Facebook. By pulling this bait and switch on developers, Facebook insulated itself from competition during a critical period of technological change. Developers that had relied on Facebook’s open-access policies were crushed by new limits on their ability to interoperate. Facebook’s conduct not only harmed developers such as Circle and Path, but also deprived consumers of promising and disruptive mavericks that could have forced Facebook to improve its own products and services.&nbsp;

The amended complaint bolsters the FTC’s monopoly power allegations by providing detailed statistics showing that Facebook had dominant market shares in the U.S. personal social networking market. The suit also provides new direct evidence that Facebook has the power to control prices or exclude competition; significantly reduce the quality of its offering to users without losing a significant number of users or a meaningful amount of user engagement; and exclude competition by driving actual or potential competitors out of business.

Facebook’s dominant position is also protected by significant barriers to entry,&nbsp;including high switching costs. &nbsp;Over time, users of a personal social network build more connections and develop a history of posts and shared experiences, which they cannot easily transfer to another personal social networking provider.

Other significant barriers to entry include user-to-user effects, known as network effects, which make a personal social network more valuable as more users join the service. As the amended complaint notes, it is very difficult for a new entrant to displace an established personal social network in which users’ friends and family already participate.

According to the amended complaint, Facebook continues to monitor the industry for competitive threats to its personal social networking monopoly. Facebook is likely to impose anticompetitive conditions on access to its platform and seek to acquire companies it perceives as potential threats, especially when it next faces “acute competitive pressures from a period of technological transition,” the amended complaint alleges.

The FTC’s Office of General Counsel carefully reviewed Facebook’s petition to recuse Chair Lina M. Khan. As the case will be prosecuted before a federal judge, the appropriate constitutional due process protections will be provided to the company. The Office of the Secretary has dismissed the petition.

The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the amended complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was 3-2. Commissioner Christine Wilson also issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcs9-2BYv-2FBvF5AG8cihP-2F7iTMkEDIG3xYV2QmxalVq9v0iOYbRkeIt283kp-2Bg6Aj2z1rC8Sq7d547un0HMenS-2FgMzG5W-2BHGNKpSHPZn6pRv4w1AL6n-2Bs5214VQTPNKSMN8nxyulVK0LCEu8AFQ84nc8ewfZdLa9q5yT-2BRbTEIrcdGFnT4IBOIGlSWz4C9XZMLdQ-3D-3DsTdn_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD-2B-2F7s-2FPUl7d-2F8Ve-2FQD4Z0Zz2A-2FSH-2F7B4bnuCz2c-2FgLg8zQWo0C8n4aOcPlxKH-2F1Q-2F6s1MZcGqD5-2B33tAMFAquhRDfwvQjJeaa5nfmwoBZqniESGMFXqjVCKO7KEedpd86X7uNFlLaB4KSUjW1XCrNrE-3D">dissenting statement</a>.

The Federal Trade Commission works to&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUfYotPP72MaC0HTuHPy7LHmaFRvq-2FV0-2Fyav7uDNsu0VJXQ7Li4uUuFG-2FgW-2FufqqAzxkkaDXnO8tQt-2BGmBeoqjTE-3DBTxk_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD9DGmvSdCWIIzKaT-2BNMH2dgUOoOOE3Yd1sYnmFy-2FldypH6PzmkqjPxDqWwd2FLMJE6KGxzGLj97TvVnIx9jrLDs5PdXtjjLQym3eBn1TLUzDcWJOm-2BUU3XEO57p0ykN4iNlxgS-2BW3eBa0DK7A0cq21w-3D">promote competition</a>, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcs9-2BYv-2FBvF5AG8cihP-2F7iQWnd8XJYDJsRlzUaZkZLpoP53MwAdwBu90JZ8-2BZ21Pwy8g3dYplgkjvWWGMKaQCK-2B2oivpxvXX5SP0DfHFvrM8xSwG3WO3ZUzLmdEjAAxlMg-3D-3D8z56_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgDwghf5Ew9rzcUdw3y44NbOHmeRGoqUn67JxubF5ukpPNK5p1kYjP-2FJQRGWgIdMy2NTcgxGWKcymtsUYNMS4QIlEogcE-2FbQn3ZK3yTlQR3V8tYl08f9mEl9FdHLqKZ3q3cNj2v2CHwZfhqi-2BaYG9453w-3D">how competition benefits consumers</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUft4-2FLsPOgSlMfKsp5nBmH-2BnAx5eOkas5VzFNC-2BpA3KvN-2BegOZmmTNGow5qLlk1P5opKT43leGYdzcGH6uD7tqE-3DfEcI_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgDzGeTOBLve0jPQy-2B-2FzQ5wnadbMQlcakN-2F-2FoJ-2FyBtV6EcPn2rDlv34lJbTnKX34PIeIMS-2FYAnV-2FDfuqxhrscUslUjKqBNYAydE3L5o4E6-2FhM4nmGmZ8b0-2FztDsJUahACF9ZZ1EAB6mOQQVlboLZSSIyE-3D">file an antitrust complaint</a>. Like the FTC on&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUb8Hzhz9hTfMErRs-2Fni8h9hiOJrviSzKQNqI9GVS7mOnKw8dvzyuiJDiF0DAyVqVrw-3D-3DseDz_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD-2FRmmNgtPBsFAoTDQ288Mb4ivi-2FEcdzte9d-2Ft4wBCc0OLWyRi6wsKGaFVh75tTHcS-2FMV4na4YrZLGTn2TSFJvoxCwNCLCG7pvR5nV5quPpKzrYJy5OEHXru4miO0k44ZjTqpG6QB6-2BwARY7-2BJ5c-2FtaY-3D">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUYAQIXOK1tXZ-2BYsSRwaswHA-3Dyqxj_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD5llmwZ8gbcBG-2BPZUXey5HwuxMYEK5-2FUhu1u2B-2BAez52HRu-2FOjK9zpjYKZb1S5FnMbHYgc2bE0fFe-2FonIGdSjXfaTa-2FltL8wSznMyew2bUaaKVjkJr9Frfn4b02SmPCOfw2rbv97i-2FluTbrzYcXO5LI-3D">Twitter(link is external)</a>, read our&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTQdWwEeOZo7HSwxeTqeUuWkoiaNF3MwEVvWYIIucwfZflzBLWCinuMz8tqzNbKvKYI-3DBh8R_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD9Fxrsv5eAZEe3rWzTe0vbU5KT-2B6JupE8qpoqqSU4z2ph1JbtKn9mHxkiK-2BzVXuA47oLuc5utVIVttgeSmyJXsCEaShEsvX0P-2FG0OB2k4GT7cBCBqmqKYhuPbeYzFxgw0XGKw04BAgx5i3ZMLXlTXBc-3D">blogs</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUSV6prqcooIaql9rBEYv0EwFugi7vo4ZpjKyiy5rMQ-2FGHkru_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgDzeWKfo-2BBzc6guwTHhf-2FKjdsJy9Xt4sg0U7f5eb9NLflhuwYD-2FGPxA3L233FjaYm6rOL8Va0EMW7fok48oclfEZroRhkdhRWPTQzcGfrZc3AwT4-2BcWQB77PCnPjfdBZDLlxAQz56DblE7F1-2FXz47pXE-3D">subscribe to press releases</a>&nbsp;for the latest FTC news and resources.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCToday, the Federal Trade Commission filed an&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcs9-2BYv-2FBvF5AG8cihP-2F7iTMkEDIG3xYV2QmxalVq9v0EJpjcyrNtVg-2F-2F5Q525WONG-2BuzWCDLFk3F-2BXv-2BvUVTdzSG7I0YNPY6u5bcZu48wU-2BhioOw2eZ7YMW3-2F46KhX79g-3D-3Dm7gn_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD4EBUDXLopiVzG-2Fvw8A4mp2eEkOsXshnuXLlKUWkYlFxaPTdp9dQyNcYgk2Im7HQ9wgRri93VdsapV8DDCoJZhkKeBkJWVELCuLZhY7bRsTTBWVVel3Sp-2FALZ8UK2B6MkLb-2FG4J-2F-2By8lZ4aP6MvbzVg-3D">amended complaint</a>&nbsp;against Facebook in the agency’s ongoing federal antitrust case. The complaint alleges that after repeated failed attempts to develop innovative mobile features for its network, Facebook instead resorted to an illegal buy-or-bury scheme to maintain its dominance. It unlawfully acquired innovative competitors with popular mobile features that succeeded where Facebook’s own offerings fell flat or fell apart. And to further moat its monopoly, Facebook lured app developers to the platform, surveilled them for signs of success, and then buried them when they became competitive threats. Lacking serious competition, Facebook has been able to hone a surveillance-based advertising model and impose ever-increasing burdens on its users. &nbsp;“Facebook lacked the business acumen and technical talent to survive the transition to mobile. After failing to compete with new innovators, Facebook illegally bought or buried them when their popularity became an existential threat,” said Holly Vedova, FTC Bureau of Competition Acting Director. “This conduct is no less anticompetitive than if Facebook had bribed emerging app competitors not to compete. The antitrust laws were enacted to prevent precisely this type of illegal activity by monopolists. Facebook’s actions have suppressed innovation and product quality improvements. And they have degraded the social network experience, subjecting users to lower levels of privacy and data protections and more intrusive ads. The FTC’s action today seeks to put an end to this illegal activity and restore competition for the benefit of Americans and honest businesses alike.”The FTC filed the amended complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, following the court’s June 28 ruling on the FTC’s initial complaint. The amended complaint includes additional data and evidence to support the FTC’s contention that Facebook is a monopolist that abused its excessive market power to eliminate threats to its dominance.According to the amended complaint, a critical transition period in the history of the internet, and in Facebook’s history, was the emergence of smartphones and the mobile Internet in the 2010s. Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, recognized at the time that “we’re vulnerable in mobile” and a major shareholder worried that Facebook’s mobile weakness “ran the risk of the unthinkable happening - being eclipsed by another network[.]”&nbsp;After suffering significant failures during this critical transition period, Facebook found that it lacked the business talent and engineering acumen to quickly and successfully integrate its outdated desktop-based technology to the new era of mobile-first communication. Unable to maintain its monopoly or its advertising profits by fairly competing, Facebook’s executives addressed this existential threat by buying up the new mobile innovators, including its rival Instagram in 2012 and mobile messaging app WhatsApp in 2014, who had succeeded where Facebook had failed. The company supplemented its anticompetitive shopping spree with an open-first-close-later scheme that helped cement its monopoly by severely hampering the ability of rivals and would-be rivals to compete on the merits. By anticompetitively cementing its personal social networking monopoly, Facebook has harmed the competitive process and limited consumer choice.As described in the amended complaint, after starting Facebook Platform as an open space for third party software developers, Facebook abruptly reversed course and required developers to agree to conditions that prevented successful apps from emerging as competitive threats to Facebook. By pulling this bait and switch on developers, Facebook insulated itself from competition during a critical period of technological change. Developers that had relied on Facebook’s open-access policies were crushed by new limits on their ability to interoperate. Facebook’s conduct not only harmed developers such as Circle and Path, but also deprived consumers of promising and disruptive mavericks that could have forced Facebook to improve its own products and services.&nbsp;The amended complaint bolsters the FTC’s monopoly power allegations by providing detailed statistics showing that Facebook had dominant market shares in the U.S. personal social networking market. The suit also provides new direct evidence that Facebook has the power to control prices or exclude competition; significantly reduce the quality of its offering to users without losing a significant number of users or a meaningful amount of user engagement; and exclude competition by driving actual or potential competitors out of business.Facebook’s dominant position is also protected by significant barriers to entry,&nbsp;including high switching costs. &nbsp;Over time, users of a personal social network build more connections and develop a history of posts and shared experiences, which they cannot easily transfer to another personal social networking provider.Other significant barriers to entry include user-to-user effects, known as network effects, which make a personal social network more valuable as more users join the service. As the amended complaint notes, it is very difficult for a new entrant to displace an established personal social network in which users’ friends and family already participate.According to the amended complaint, Facebook continues to monitor the industry for competitive threats to its personal social networking monopoly. Facebook is likely to impose anticompetitive conditions on access to its platform and seek to acquire companies it perceives as potential threats, especially when it next faces “acute competitive pressures from a period of technological transition,” the amended complaint alleges.The FTC’s Office of General Counsel carefully reviewed Facebook’s petition to recuse Chair Lina M. Khan. As the case will be prosecuted before a federal judge, the appropriate constitutional due process protections will be provided to the company. The Office of the Secretary has dismissed the petition.The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the amended complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was 3-2. Commissioner Christine Wilson also issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcs9-2BYv-2FBvF5AG8cihP-2F7iTMkEDIG3xYV2QmxalVq9v0iOYbRkeIt283kp-2Bg6Aj2z1rC8Sq7d547un0HMenS-2FgMzG5W-2BHGNKpSHPZn6pRv4w1AL6n-2Bs5214VQTPNKSMN8nxyulVK0LCEu8AFQ84nc8ewfZdLa9q5yT-2BRbTEIrcdGFnT4IBOIGlSWz4C9XZMLdQ-3D-3DsTdn_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD-2B-2F7s-2FPUl7d-2F8Ve-2FQD4Z0Zz2A-2FSH-2F7B4bnuCz2c-2FgLg8zQWo0C8n4aOcPlxKH-2F1Q-2F6s1MZcGqD5-2B33tAMFAquhRDfwvQjJeaa5nfmwoBZqniESGMFXqjVCKO7KEedpd86X7uNFlLaB4KSUjW1XCrNrE-3D">dissenting statement</a>.The Federal Trade Commission works to&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUfYotPP72MaC0HTuHPy7LHmaFRvq-2FV0-2Fyav7uDNsu0VJXQ7Li4uUuFG-2FgW-2FufqqAzxkkaDXnO8tQt-2BGmBeoqjTE-3DBTxk_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD9DGmvSdCWIIzKaT-2BNMH2dgUOoOOE3Yd1sYnmFy-2FldypH6PzmkqjPxDqWwd2FLMJE6KGxzGLj97TvVnIx9jrLDs5PdXtjjLQym3eBn1TLUzDcWJOm-2BUU3XEO57p0ykN4iNlxgS-2BW3eBa0DK7A0cq21w-3D">promote competition</a>, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcs9-2BYv-2FBvF5AG8cihP-2F7iQWnd8XJYDJsRlzUaZkZLpoP53MwAdwBu90JZ8-2BZ21Pwy8g3dYplgkjvWWGMKaQCK-2B2oivpxvXX5SP0DfHFvrM8xSwG3WO3ZUzLmdEjAAxlMg-3D-3D8z56_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgDwghf5Ew9rzcUdw3y44NbOHmeRGoqUn67JxubF5ukpPNK5p1kYjP-2FJQRGWgIdMy2NTcgxGWKcymtsUYNMS4QIlEogcE-2FbQn3ZK3yTlQR3V8tYl08f9mEl9FdHLqKZ3q3cNj2v2CHwZfhqi-2BaYG9453w-3D">how competition benefits consumers</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUft4-2FLsPOgSlMfKsp5nBmH-2BnAx5eOkas5VzFNC-2BpA3KvN-2BegOZmmTNGow5qLlk1P5opKT43leGYdzcGH6uD7tqE-3DfEcI_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgDzGeTOBLve0jPQy-2B-2FzQ5wnadbMQlcakN-2F-2FoJ-2FyBtV6EcPn2rDlv34lJbTnKX34PIeIMS-2FYAnV-2FDfuqxhrscUslUjKqBNYAydE3L5o4E6-2FhM4nmGmZ8b0-2FztDsJUahACF9ZZ1EAB6mOQQVlboLZSSIyE-3D">file an antitrust complaint</a>. Like the FTC on&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUb8Hzhz9hTfMErRs-2Fni8h9hiOJrviSzKQNqI9GVS7mOnKw8dvzyuiJDiF0DAyVqVrw-3D-3DseDz_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD-2FRmmNgtPBsFAoTDQ288Mb4ivi-2FEcdzte9d-2Ft4wBCc0OLWyRi6wsKGaFVh75tTHcS-2FMV4na4YrZLGTn2TSFJvoxCwNCLCG7pvR5nV5quPpKzrYJy5OEHXru4miO0k44ZjTqpG6QB6-2BwARY7-2BJ5c-2FtaY-3D">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUYAQIXOK1tXZ-2BYsSRwaswHA-3Dyqxj_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD5llmwZ8gbcBG-2BPZUXey5HwuxMYEK5-2FUhu1u2B-2BAez52HRu-2FOjK9zpjYKZb1S5FnMbHYgc2bE0fFe-2FonIGdSjXfaTa-2FltL8wSznMyew2bUaaKVjkJr9Frfn4b02SmPCOfw2rbv97i-2FluTbrzYcXO5LI-3D">Twitter(link is external)</a>, read our&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUdbOg1oyC3s1BFESJfv1yTQdWwEeOZo7HSwxeTqeUuWkoiaNF3MwEVvWYIIucwfZflzBLWCinuMz8tqzNbKvKYI-3DBh8R_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgD9Fxrsv5eAZEe3rWzTe0vbU5KT-2B6JupE8qpoqqSU4z2ph1JbtKn9mHxkiK-2BzVXuA47oLuc5utVIVttgeSmyJXsCEaShEsvX0P-2FG0OB2k4GT7cBCBqmqKYhuPbeYzFxgw0XGKw04BAgx5i3ZMLXlTXBc-3D">blogs</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUSV6prqcooIaql9rBEYv0EwFugi7vo4ZpjKyiy5rMQ-2FGHkru_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lFVK-2Fv-2BVYIe7tqlqeMNp9piIGbHTL-2FW9eReqsOPCJMQqFVqN0-2FZcAx-2BzgHBMq5O0HOMSBDi3sl5eIvRQX-2Fu2QV4EjfP-2BuX3VZW2Q3NmY51W7dFxf7K5ea5etKqGiNvo2cyCqlebs-2BJfGKoIAgDooKZA8AaSdm5K5c9NNv-2Bbv5SgDzeWKfo-2BBzc6guwTHhf-2FKjdsJy9Xt4sg0U7f5eb9NLflhuwYD-2FGPxA3L233FjaYm6rOL8Va0EMW7fok48oclfEZroRhkdhRWPTQzcGfrZc3AwT4-2BcWQB77PCnPjfdBZDLlxAQz56DblE7F1-2FXz47pXE-3D">subscribe to press releases</a>&nbsp;for the latest FTC news and resources.

FTC: Facebook's 'buy or bury' scheme maintained monopoly

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man who suffered a compound fracture to his leg when he was hit by a tear gas canister during racial injustice protests last summer has received a $200,000 settlement from the Kansas City police department.

The man did not sue the department and did not want his name publicized.

He said he was about 10 feet from police during demonstrations on the Country Club Plaza on May 30, 2020, when a tear gas canister hit his leg. He said he was hospitalized for several days.

Police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said the department would not comment on the settlement because there is ongoing litigation in the case.

More than 150 people were arrested during the 2020 protests that were sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The police response sparked more protests and calls for the resignation of Police Chief Rick Smith. Civil rights groups in July&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-michael-brown-police-reform-kansas-city-kansas-cbde7742a8a40470fa3a66bcc64e2c85">asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the police department.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590925459037.png" alt="Protests on the Plaza in May of 2020 photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Protests on the Plaza in May of 2020 photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man who suffered a compound fracture to his leg when he was hit by a tear gas canister during racial injustice protests last summer has received a $200,000 settlement from the Kansas City police department.The man did not sue the department and did not want his name publicized.He said he was about 10 feet from police during demonstrations on the Country Club Plaza on May 30, 2020, when a tear gas canister hit his leg. He said he was hospitalized for several days.Police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said the department would not comment on the settlement because there is ongoing litigation in the case.More than 150 people were arrested during the 2020 protests that were sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.The police response sparked more protests and calls for the resignation of Police Chief Rick Smith. Civil rights groups in July&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-michael-brown-police-reform-kansas-city-kansas-cbde7742a8a40470fa3a66bcc64e2c85">asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the police department.</a>

Kansas City Police pay $200K settlement to demonstrator

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Authorities are investigating a fire at a restaurant in Topeka.

Just after 2a.m., firefighters responded to the report of a&nbsp; fire at Topeka Pizza, 1630 SW Arvonia Place in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.

As they arrived, they saw smoke showing from a roof vent. Fire crews made access and found heavy smoke throughout the building but no active fire, according to Harrison.

&nbsp;After further investigation it was revealed that a water line had burst, extinguishing the fire that had started in a utility room.&nbsp;

Preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire as accidental, more likely than not associated with an electrical issue. The estimated dollar loss – $50,000; $40,000 associated with building loss, and $10,000 associated with contents loss.

There were no occupants were in the restaurant at the time of the fire. Fire investigators also found no working smoke detectors in the restaurant.&nbsp; There were no injuries reported.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Authorities are investigating a fire at a restaurant in Topeka.Just after 2a.m., firefighters responded to the report of a&nbsp; fire at Topeka Pizza, 1630 SW Arvonia Place in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.As they arrived, they saw smoke showing from a roof vent. Fire crews made access and found heavy smoke throughout the building but no active fire, according to Harrison.&nbsp;After further investigation it was revealed that a water line had burst, extinguishing the fire that had started in a utility room.&nbsp;Preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire as accidental, more likely than not associated with an electrical issue. The estimated dollar loss – $50,000; $40,000 associated with building loss, and $10,000 associated with contents loss.There were no occupants were in the restaurant at the time of the fire. Fire investigators also found no working smoke detectors in the restaurant.&nbsp; There were no injuries reported.

Fire Marshal: $50K damage after Kan. restaurant fire

PHILLIPS COUNTY —The Phillips County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday afternoon via social media, the investigation of a February shooting death in Phillipsburg had been reopened.

PHILLIPS COUNTY —The Phillips County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday afternoon via social media, the investigation of a February shooting death in Phillipsburg had been reopened."On February 14, deputies were dispatched to a residence in Phillipsburg to investigate a shooting which occurred," the announcement said."Tragically, Janna Constable, 43, succumbed to her injuries at the scene. The case was initially ruled a suicide."After new information was gathered, the Sheriff’s Office reopened the investigation. On May 19, the sheriff's office forwarded the completed investigation to the County Attorneys Office for criminal prosecution."The case is currently under review by the Kansas Attorney Generals' office after being forward on by the County Attorney, the announcement said.