SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and asking for help to identify suspects.

Just after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, police responded to an armed robbery at the Kwik Shop in the 2700 block of South Oliver in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers contacted an employee who reported two armed suspects, and two unarmed suspects entered the business.&nbsp; The employee was held at gunpoint as the suspects took cash and property from the business.&nbsp; The suspects then fled in a silver sedan.&nbsp; No one was injured.

The suspects are described as a&nbsp;white male, 6-foot-4, 140 pounds, dark hair, slender build, armed with a silver handgun, wearing a blue hoodie with white strings, distressed blue jeans, black tennis shoes, black mask, and a white hat with an under armor logo.

The second suspect was a black male, 5-foot-6, 170 pounds, medium build, armed with a rifle, wearing white tennis shoes, light-colored pants, black hoodie, and a white facemask.

The third suspect was Hispanic male, 5-foo-6, 170 pounds, medium build, wearing a black hoodie with white square logo, grey sweats with white strings, white shoes, and a facemask.

The fourth suspect was Hispanic female, 5-foot-4, 200 pounds, heavy build, wearing a black hoodie, black pants, black shoes, and bright red hair.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and asking for help to identify suspects.Just after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, police responded to an armed robbery at the Kwik Shop in the 2700 block of South Oliver in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.Upon arrival, officers contacted an employee who reported two armed suspects, and two unarmed suspects entered the business.&nbsp; The employee was held at gunpoint as the suspects took cash and property from the business.&nbsp; The suspects then fled in a silver sedan.&nbsp; No one was injured.The suspects are described as a&nbsp;white male, 6-foot-4, 140 pounds, dark hair, slender build, armed with a silver handgun, wearing a blue hoodie with white strings, distressed blue jeans, black tennis shoes, black mask, and a white hat with an under armor logo.The second suspect was a black male, 5-foot-6, 170 pounds, medium build, armed with a rifle, wearing white tennis shoes, light-colored pants, black hoodie, and a white facemask.The third suspect was Hispanic male, 5-foo-6, 170 pounds, medium build, wearing a black hoodie with white square logo, grey sweats with white strings, white shoes, and a facemask.The fourth suspect was Hispanic female, 5-foot-4, 200 pounds, heavy build, wearing a black hoodie, black pants, black shoes, and bright red hair.

Police: Suspects used rifle, handgun during Kansas robbery

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/post/resistance-among-kansans-covid-19-vaccines-fading-except-where-it-isnt">Kansas News Service</a>

New survey results show that reluctance to get COVID-19 vaccinations has dropped in Kansas.

At the same time, worries about vaccine side effects seem to be increasing.

Federal
 statistics analyzed by the Kansas Health Institute, or KHI, show that 
roughly 22% of Kansan adults reported feeling uncertain about getting 
the vaccine in April. That’s down from 30% in March and 47% in January. 
(KHI, like the Kansas News Service, gets significant support from the 
Kansas Health Foundation.)

It’s the first analysis of data from the US Census Bureau’s <a href="https://www.census.gov/data/experimental-data-products/household-pulse-survey.html">Household Pulse Survey</a>
 since Kansas opened up vaccine access to all adults at the end of 
March. And it shows that more than three quarters of Kansas respondents 
had either gotten their shot or planned to do so.

“We already see
 that people who are excited about the (vaccine efficacy) data are 
getting the vaccine,” said KHI analyst Emily Burgen. “We’re mostly 
concerned about those who are uncertain.”

Burgen said that the 
next phase of vaccination efforts should give people space to ask 
detailed questions and take the time to address their specific concerns 
in a nonjudgmental way. And as more of the vaccine rollout shifts into 
the <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/cdc-urges-states-get-more-covid-19-vaccine-doctors-offices">doctor’s office</a>, that could offer people more opportunities to have one-on-one conversations with a trusted health care professional.

“To me,” Burgen said, “it comes back to sharing factual information and having those conversations.”

Gretchen
 Homan, a professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 
Wichita, said that the best route to addressing a patients’ worries 
about the vaccine is often the most simple and direct one.

“Listen
 to what they’re concerned about, talk about what you've learned and … 
explain why it’s so important,” Homan said. “They just want to hear 
confidence from you.”

But as the pool of people still hesitant 
about the vaccine shrinks, the barriers to reaching those who remain 
unconvinced get bigger. The number of survey respondents who said they 
were concerned about possible vaccine side effects increased by 15 
percentage points compared to the previous month, from 49% to 64%.

The
 survey also reported increases in the number of people who listed a 
lack of trust in the government and a belief that COVID-19 is not a 
serious illness among their reasons for vaccine reluctance. Roughly half
 of respondents said concerns about vaccine safety were keeping them 
from getting the shot.

And the number of people who may be open 
to learning more about the vaccine also appears to be dwindling. Of the 
22% of people who remain uncertain, roughly 8% said they would 
definitely not get a vaccine — a figure that has remained steady since 
January.

Some of the concerns highlighted in the survey, however,
 could be more easily addressed. Roughly 7% of people said they hadn’t 
gotten the vaccine because their doctor had not recommended it, which is
 something Emily Burgen of KHI said many doctors might not have thought 
of. And nearly 10% listed the cost of the vaccine as a barrier.

“That’s just a public health messaging (issue),” Bergen said. “The cost to (get) the vaccine is free.”

The
 survey also shows the impact that the Johnson and Johnson pause had on 
the public’s view of vaccine side effects. The Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/joint-cdc-and-fda-statement-johnson-johnson-covid-19-vaccine">recommended</a>
 that health agencies temporarily stop giving out that shot in mid-April
 to study a rare blood clot condition that showed up in six out of 6.8 
million people who had received that version of the vaccine.

Federal agencies <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-and-cdc-lift-recommended-pause-johnson-johnson-janssen-covid-19-vaccine-use-following-thorough">lifted</a>
 the pause 10 days later after determining the vaccine was safe to use. 
But Bergan said the survey, which was conducted both during and after 
the pause, shows that it had a lasting effect on people’s ideas about 
the vaccine’s effects.

“That Johnson and Johnson pause,” Burgen 
said, “even though it is a normal part of clinical trials, really 
affected how people are viewing all three vaccines … not just the 
Johnson and Johnson vaccine.”

That’s further complicated by common misunderstandings about the difference between side effects and adverse effects.

Adverse effects, like the blood clots that paused the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, have been <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/05/antivaccine-activists-use-government-database-side-effects-scare-public">very rare</a>.
 And Burgen said that most side effects are natural signs of the body’s 
immune system reacting to the vaccine in the way it’s supposed to, just 
like when someone’s arm hurts after a flu shot.

But stories about people feeling sick after their shots have gotten an <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/except-for-sore-arm-3-out-of-4-people-didnt-report-covid-19-vaccine-side-effects">outsized amount</a>
 of social media attention compared to the number of people who actually
 experience them. That could lead other people to be afraid of getting 
their own shots.

“Are we elevating those side effects,” Burgen said, “and creating rhetoric around the vaccine that maybe shouldn’t be there?

Gretchen
 Homan, who joined Burgen for a presentation to medical professionals 
from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri, agrees that messages about the
 vaccine’s safety and side effects need to be more straightforward. She 
said that the risk of experiencing fatigue, fever and chills after the 
shot is small compared to protection from a potentially fatal virus.

“The
 COVID-19 vaccines have been developed under the most intensive safety 
monitoring in U.S. history,” Homan said. “We know it's safe, and we know
 it works.”

Burgen, the KHI analyst, said that doesn’t mean 
concerns about vaccine side effects aren’t valid. For example, some 
people may not want to risk feeling ill after their shot if they can’t 
take a day off from work or if they need to care for a loved one.

“It's
 a really tough decision for some people to make to get the vaccine,” 
Burgen said. “And the goal is not necessarily … for someone to be 
excited about getting the vaccine by the end of the conversation, but 
kind of starting to move the needle closer.”

But if sizable pockets of people remain unvaccinated, it could lead to <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-next-phase-of-the-us-pandemic-pockets-of-localized-outbreaks">future outbreaks</a> in Kansas — particularly in the state’s rural areas, where vaccination rates <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2021-05-21/vaccination-rates-in-rural-parts-of-kansas-and-missouri-are-lagging">continue to trail</a> urban centers.

Burgen
 said she hopes that, as more Kansans safely receive the vaccine and 
more doctors are able to administer it, word-of-mouth promotion will 
slowly help more people feel comfortable getting their shot.

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">@davidcondos</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622574616057.png" alt="A sign advertises vaccine availability outside a grocery store in Hays.&nbsp;David Condos / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>A sign advertises vaccine availability outside a grocery store in Hays.&nbsp;David Condos / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/post/resistance-among-kansans-covid-19-vaccines-fading-except-where-it-isnt">Kansas News Service</a>New survey results show that reluctance to get COVID-19 vaccinations has dropped in Kansas.At the same time, worries about vaccine side effects seem to be increasing.Federal
 statistics analyzed by the Kansas Health Institute, or KHI, show that 
roughly 22% of Kansan adults reported feeling uncertain about getting 
the vaccine in April. That’s down from 30% in March and 47% in January. 
(KHI, like the Kansas News Service, gets significant support from the 
Kansas Health Foundation.)It’s the first analysis of data from the US Census Bureau’s <a href="https://www.census.gov/data/experimental-data-products/household-pulse-survey.html">Household Pulse Survey</a>
 since Kansas opened up vaccine access to all adults at the end of 
March. And it shows that more than three quarters of Kansas respondents 
had either gotten their shot or planned to do so.“We already see
 that people who are excited about the (vaccine efficacy) data are 
getting the vaccine,” said KHI analyst Emily Burgen. “We’re mostly 
concerned about those who are uncertain.”Burgen said that the 
next phase of vaccination efforts should give people space to ask 
detailed questions and take the time to address their specific concerns 
in a nonjudgmental way. And as more of the vaccine rollout shifts into 
the <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/cdc-urges-states-get-more-covid-19-vaccine-doctors-offices">doctor’s office</a>, that could offer people more opportunities to have one-on-one conversations with a trusted health care professional.“To me,” Burgen said, “it comes back to sharing factual information and having those conversations.”<h2>Reasons for concern</h2>Gretchen
 Homan, a professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 
Wichita, said that the best route to addressing a patients’ worries 
about the vaccine is often the most simple and direct one.“Listen
 to what they’re concerned about, talk about what you've learned and … 
explain why it’s so important,” Homan said. “They just want to hear 
confidence from you.”But as the pool of people still hesitant 
about the vaccine shrinks, the barriers to reaching those who remain 
unconvinced get bigger. The number of survey respondents who said they 
were concerned about possible vaccine side effects increased by 15 
percentage points compared to the previous month, from 49% to 64%.The
 survey also reported increases in the number of people who listed a 
lack of trust in the government and a belief that COVID-19 is not a 
serious illness among their reasons for vaccine reluctance. Roughly half
 of respondents said concerns about vaccine safety were keeping them 
from getting the shot.And the number of people who may be open 
to learning more about the vaccine also appears to be dwindling. Of the 
22% of people who remain uncertain, roughly 8% said they would 
definitely not get a vaccine — a figure that has remained steady since 
January.Some of the concerns highlighted in the survey, however,
 could be more easily addressed. Roughly 7% of people said they hadn’t 
gotten the vaccine because their doctor had not recommended it, which is
 something Emily Burgen of KHI said many doctors might not have thought 
of. And nearly 10% listed the cost of the vaccine as a barrier.“That’s just a public health messaging (issue),” Bergen said. “The cost to (get) the vaccine is free.”<h2>Pause and effect</h2>The
 survey also shows the impact that the Johnson and Johnson pause had on 
the public’s view of vaccine side effects. The Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/joint-cdc-and-fda-statement-johnson-johnson-covid-19-vaccine">recommended</a>
 that health agencies temporarily stop giving out that shot in mid-April
 to study a rare blood clot condition that showed up in six out of 6.8 
million people who had received that version of the vaccine.Federal agencies <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-and-cdc-lift-recommended-pause-johnson-johnson-janssen-covid-19-vaccine-use-following-thorough">lifted</a>
 the pause 10 days later after determining the vaccine was safe to use. 
But Bergan said the survey, which was conducted both during and after 
the pause, shows that it had a lasting effect on people’s ideas about 
the vaccine’s effects.“That Johnson and Johnson pause,” Burgen 
said, “even though it is a normal part of clinical trials, really 
affected how people are viewing all three vaccines … not just the 
Johnson and Johnson vaccine.”That’s further complicated by common misunderstandings about the difference between side effects and adverse effects.Adverse effects, like the blood clots that paused the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, have been <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/05/antivaccine-activists-use-government-database-side-effects-scare-public">very rare</a>.
 And Burgen said that most side effects are natural signs of the body’s 
immune system reacting to the vaccine in the way it’s supposed to, just 
like when someone’s arm hurts after a flu shot.But stories about people feeling sick after their shots have gotten an <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/except-for-sore-arm-3-out-of-4-people-didnt-report-covid-19-vaccine-side-effects">outsized amount</a>
 of social media attention compared to the number of people who actually
 experience them. That could lead other people to be afraid of getting 
their own shots.“Are we elevating those side effects,” Burgen said, “and creating rhetoric around the vaccine that maybe shouldn’t be there?<h2>‘Baby Steps’</h2>Gretchen
 Homan, who joined Burgen for a presentation to medical professionals 
from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri, agrees that messages about the
 vaccine’s safety and side effects need to be more straightforward. She 
said that the risk of experiencing fatigue, fever and chills after the 
shot is small compared to protection from a potentially fatal virus.“The
 COVID-19 vaccines have been developed under the most intensive safety 
monitoring in U.S. history,” Homan said. “We know it's safe, and we know
 it works.”Burgen, the KHI analyst, said that doesn’t mean 
concerns about vaccine side effects aren’t valid. For example, some 
people may not want to risk feeling ill after their shot if they can’t 
take a day off from work or if they need to care for a loved one.“It's
 a really tough decision for some people to make to get the vaccine,” 
Burgen said. “And the goal is not necessarily … for someone to be 
excited about getting the vaccine by the end of the conversation, but 
kind of starting to move the needle closer.”But if sizable pockets of people remain unvaccinated, it could lead to <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-next-phase-of-the-us-pandemic-pockets-of-localized-outbreaks">future outbreaks</a> in Kansas — particularly in the state’s rural areas, where vaccination rates <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2021-05-21/vaccination-rates-in-rural-parts-of-kansas-and-missouri-are-lagging">continue to trail</a> urban centers.Burgen
 said she hopes that, as more Kansans safely receive the vaccine and 
more doctors are able to administer it, word-of-mouth promotion will 
slowly help more people feel comfortable getting their shot.“It’s baby steps.”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">@davidcondos</a>.

Kansans' resistance to COVID vaccines fading, except where it isn't

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who stabbed a woman in a random attack has been sentenced to about 24 years in prison. 

Wade Dunn, 32, Wichita, was sentenced Wednesday for attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery. 

Police say Dunn stabbed a 28-year-old woman about 30 times as she was loading laundry into her car with her baby alone inside her house. He did not know the woman. She survived and the child was not injured. 

Authorities say Dunn escaped from the Mirror Residential Reentry Center hours before the attack. Dunn testified at his trial that he was high on drugs at the time of the attack.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp;&nbsp;A Kansas man convicted in April of second-degree murder for the random stabbing of a woman who he didn't know is scheduled for sentencing Wednesday, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In September 2019, Wade Dunn, 32, stabbed the 28-year-old woman 30 times as she unloaded items from her car. Dunn said he was high on K2 and methamphetamine when he saw the woman as he walked in her neighborhood. The victim survived her injuries.

The jury initially convicted Dunn of first-degree attempted murder but told the judge not everyone agreed. After being sent back to deliberate again, the jury returned with the second-degree attempted murder conviction.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617915130539.png" alt="Dunn photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Dunn photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who stabbed a woman in a random attack has been sentenced to about 24 years in prison. Wade Dunn, 32, Wichita, was sentenced Wednesday for attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery. Police say Dunn stabbed a 28-year-old woman about 30 times as she was loading laundry into her car with her baby alone inside her house. He did not know the woman. She survived and the child was not injured. Authorities say Dunn escaped from the Mirror Residential Reentry Center hours before the attack. Dunn testified at his trial that he was high on drugs at the time of the attack.------SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp;&nbsp;A Kansas man convicted in April of second-degree murder for the random stabbing of a woman who he didn't know is scheduled for sentencing Wednesday, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In September 2019, Wade Dunn, 32, stabbed the 28-year-old woman 30 times as she unloaded items from her car. Dunn said he was high on K2 and methamphetamine when he saw the woman as he walked in her neighborhood. The victim survived her injuries.The jury initially convicted Dunn of first-degree attempted murder but told the judge not everyone agreed. After being sent back to deliberate again, the jury returned with the second-degree attempted murder conviction.

Kan. man sentenced for violent knife attack on woman

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 526 to a total of 314,523, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 4 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5080.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 526 to a total of 314,523, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 4 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5080.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622653359093.png" alt="Wednesday June 2, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday June 2, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on various charges following a weekend car crash

Just before 4p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to an injury accident at SE 45th Street and SE Adams, according Deputy Abigail Christian.

A southbound Honda Accord driven by 22-year-oldIsaac Storm Skelton King of Topeka ran a red light and struck another vehicle.

EMS transported King to a local hospital for treatment. The other driver was not injured.

After treatment at the hospital, deputies arrested King on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with an expired license, criminal threat, and reckless driving.&nbsp; He remains in custody on a $25,000 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622641703090.png" alt="King photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>King photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on various charges following a weekend car crashJust before 4p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to an injury accident at SE 45th Street and SE Adams, according Deputy Abigail Christian.A southbound Honda Accord driven by 22-year-oldIsaac Storm Skelton King of Topeka ran a red light and struck another vehicle.EMS transported King to a local hospital for treatment. The other driver was not injured.After treatment at the hospital, deputies arrested King on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with an expired license, criminal threat, and reckless driving.&nbsp; He remains in custody on a $25,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Kan. man moved from hospital to jail after 2-vehicle crash

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities have identified the body of a woman found near the southern entrance to Lakewood Park in Salina as Kristie Fisher, 43, of Salina, according to a statement Wednesday morning from police.&nbsp;

At 6:10 a.m. Tuesday, officers were sent to Lakewood Park, 250 N. Lakewood Park Drive, for the report of body of a woman who was face down near the south entrance, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

Officers found the deceased woman who appeared to be approximately 25-35 years of age, 5-foot-1 to 5-foot-6 inches tall, and 200-250 pounds. Her hair appeared to be dyed a reddish color.

The body was clothed in a pink colored top, blue jean capris, and black tennis shoes, he added.

The police department continues to gather information in regards to the circumstances leading to Fisher’s death. The police department wants to encourage anyone that has any information regarding this investigation to please call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS(8477) or the Salina Police Department Detective Division at 826-7210.

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities have identified the body of a woman found near the southern entrance to Lakewood Park in Salina as Kristie Fisher, 43, of Salina, according to a statement Wednesday morning from police.&nbsp;At 6:10 a.m. Tuesday, officers were sent to Lakewood Park, 250 N. Lakewood Park Drive, for the report of body of a woman who was face down near the south entrance, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.Officers found the deceased woman who appeared to be approximately 25-35 years of age, 5-foot-1 to 5-foot-6 inches tall, and 200-250 pounds. Her hair appeared to be dyed a reddish color.The body was clothed in a pink colored top, blue jean capris, and black tennis shoes, he added.The police department continues to gather information in regards to the circumstances leading to Fisher’s death. The police department wants to encourage anyone that has any information regarding this investigation to please call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS(8477) or the Salina Police Department Detective Division at 826-7210.

Police ID body found in park as 43-year-old Kan. woman

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Two of four suspects arrested in connection with a fatal shooting May 24 in&nbsp; Wichita made their first appearances in court Thursday.

Orlando Howard, 17 of Wichita, is charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder, aggravated robbery, and criminal use of weapons and He has been charged as an adult, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Luis Martinez, 22 of Wichita, &nbsp;is charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder and attempted robbery.&nbsp;

Just after 11:30p.m. May 24, a police officer in the area of 21st and Hood in Wichita and heard gunshots nearby, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens

The officer drove toward the sound of the gunshots and saw a white Ford Edge SUV traveling at a high rate of speed from the area of West 1600 West 21st North.

Police stopped the vehicle and arrested&nbsp; 22-year-old Luis Martinez, 18-year-old Nicholas Olmos, 20-year-old Jaylon Pete and a 17-year-old boy.

Witnesses in the area told police they saw the SUV in the vicinity near the time of the shooting. Police also recovered a handgun from inside the vehicle.

Investigators learned that the four suspects were at the apartment complex for the purpose of conducting an illegal drug transaction, according to Stephens. During the transaction, there was a physical altercation and one of the suspects fired a gun at the victim identified as Jose Covarrubias, 22, of Wichita.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Martinez next court appearance is scheduled for June 3. Howard's next court appearance is scheduled for June 10.&nbsp; Both are being held on bonds of $250,000.&nbsp; The two other suspects Jaylon Pete and Nicholas Olmos are no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622208321450.png" alt="Howard photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Howard photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Two of four suspects arrested in connection with a fatal shooting May 24 in&nbsp; Wichita made their first appearances in court Thursday.Orlando Howard, 17 of Wichita, is charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder, aggravated robbery, and criminal use of weapons and He has been charged as an adult, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Luis Martinez, 22 of Wichita, &nbsp;is charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder and attempted robbery.&nbsp;Just after 11:30p.m. May 24, a police officer in the area of 21st and Hood in Wichita and heard gunshots nearby, according to Police Captain Jason StephensThe officer drove toward the sound of the gunshots and saw a white Ford Edge SUV traveling at a high rate of speed from the area of West 1600 West 21st North.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621964500907.png" alt="Martinez photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Martinez photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Police stopped the vehicle and arrested&nbsp; 22-year-old Luis Martinez, 18-year-old Nicholas Olmos, 20-year-old Jaylon Pete and a 17-year-old boy.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621964558526.png" alt="Pete photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Pete photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Witnesses in the area told police they saw the SUV in the vicinity near the time of the shooting. Police also recovered a handgun from inside the vehicle.Investigators learned that the four suspects were at the apartment complex for the purpose of conducting an illegal drug transaction, according to Stephens. During the transaction, there was a physical altercation and one of the suspects fired a gun at the victim identified as Jose Covarrubias, 22, of Wichita.&nbsp;&nbsp;Martinez next court appearance is scheduled for June 3. Howard's next court appearance is scheduled for June 10.&nbsp; Both are being held on bonds of $250,000.&nbsp; The two other suspects Jaylon Pete and Nicholas Olmos are no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Kan. teen charged as an adult in drug deal killing

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of 
Labor announced today the award of more than $52 million in grants to 
help homeless veterans return to meaningful employment and address the 
complex problems facing homeless veterans.

Administered by the department’s <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets">Veterans’ Employment and Training Service</a>,
 Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program funding also supports Homeless 
Female Veterans’ and Veterans with Families program and the Incarcerated
 Veterans’ Transition Program grants. Ending homelessness among veterans
 has long been a priority for the department. VETS designs these 
programs to provide training, skills development and career support.

“As the nation continues its recovery from the pandemic, 
initiatives like these are more important than ever,” said Secretary 
Marty Walsh. “Our veterans deserve our best efforts to ensure they have a
 safe place to live, means to support themselves and their families and 
opportunities to pursue a fulfilling career.”

The department will award 119 continuation grants 
totaling more than $40 million and 36 new three-year grant awards 
totaling more than $12 million to provide a wide range of services to 
veterans currently homeless or at risk of homelessness. In addition to 
working with VETS, grant recipients partner with the U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Service for Veteran Families&nbsp;program and 
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care
 program. 

<a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/hvrp">Learn more about VETS’ Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Programs</a>.

“Those now or formerly in military service share the value that no one should be left behind,” said Veterans’ Employment and Training Services’ Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary James Rodriguez.
 “The Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program reflects our commitment 
to ensuring that our veterans have and are prepared for the 
opportunities they deserve.” &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets">Learn more about the department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615920467817.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. Department of LaborWASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of 
Labor announced today the award of more than $52 million in grants to 
help homeless veterans return to meaningful employment and address the 
complex problems facing homeless veterans.Administered by the department’s <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets">Veterans’ Employment and Training Service</a>,
 Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program funding also supports Homeless 
Female Veterans’ and Veterans with Families program and the Incarcerated
 Veterans’ Transition Program grants. Ending homelessness among veterans
 has long been a priority for the department. VETS designs these 
programs to provide training, skills development and career support.“As the nation continues its recovery from the pandemic, 
initiatives like these are more important than ever,” said Secretary 
Marty Walsh. “Our veterans deserve our best efforts to ensure they have a
 safe place to live, means to support themselves and their families and 
opportunities to pursue a fulfilling career.”The department will award 119 continuation grants 
totaling more than $40 million and 36 new three-year grant awards 
totaling more than $12 million to provide a wide range of services to 
veterans currently homeless or at risk of homelessness. In addition to 
working with VETS, grant recipients partner with the U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Service for Veteran Families&nbsp;program and 
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care
 program. <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/hvrp">Learn more about VETS’ Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Programs</a>.“Those now or formerly in military service share the value that no one should be left behind,” said Veterans’ Employment and Training Services’ Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary James Rodriguez.
 “The Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program reflects our commitment 
to ensuring that our veterans have and are prepared for the 
opportunities they deserve.” &nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets">Learn more about the department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service</a>.

U.S. awards $52M in grants to help homeless veterans re-enter workforce

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The number of abortions performed in Kansas increased by 9.1% last year, largely because more women traveled from other states to terminate pregnancies than in 2019.

The state Department of Health and Environment reports that 7,542 abortions were performed in 2020, an increase of 626 from 6,916 in 2019.

Advocates on both side of the issue said Tuesday that much of that increase likely occurred because Republican governors in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-ok-state-wire-abortion-virus-outbreak-oklahoma-c139d11a76e40d94da2ba4d92845b7de">Oklahoma</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-virus-outbreak-us-news-ap-top-news-greg-abbott-7a7d2702038a08eb57aba1bae88cd48d">Texas</a>&nbsp;sought to ban most abortions last spring, prompting women from those states to travel to Kansas for the procedure. In Kansas,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/04f200dd64a3fba9e56ccb461012f21c">Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly refused</a>&nbsp;to take a similar step, calling “reproductive health” an “essential need.”

“People were really fanning out to states that still provided abortion care as an essential part of health care,” said Julie Burkhart, founder and CEO of the abortion rights group Trust Women, which operates clinics in Wichita and Oklahoma City. “People were quite scared. They were desperate.”

Women and girls from Oklahoma and Texas had 566 abortions in Kansas in 2020, up from 110 in 2019. The additional 456 abortions were the bulk of the total increase in abortions in Kansas.

The Kansas health department said 3,901 abortions, or nearly 52%, were for patients from outside the state. It was the first time the department reported that more abortions were performed on patients from outside Kansas than on patients from Kansas since 1973, when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide.

“Gov. Kelly owns this increase,” said Jeanne Gawdun, senior lobbyist for Kansans for Life, the state’s most politically influential anti-abortion group. “We can now consider her the abortion-industry governor.”

The report on abortions, release late last week, came as both sides prepared for an August 2022 statewide vote on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-constitutions-kansas-topeka-2b65563a5637dda6d6707822154dece5">a proposed anti-abortion amendment</a>. The measure would overturn a 2019&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">decision by the Kansas Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;declaring access to abortion a “fundamental right” under the Kansas Constitution.

The 9.1% jump in abortions was the largest annual increase since at least 1995, when the state began requiring all health care providers to report any abortions they performed. Since then, abortions in Kansas peaked at 12,445 in 1999, then declined in 16 of the following 20 years.

A significant percentage of Kansas abortions historically have been performed for Missouri patients, particularly in the Kansas City area. In 2020, the number was 3,201 or 42% of the total.

By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The number of abortions performed in Kansas increased by 9.1% last year, largely because more women traveled from other states to terminate pregnancies than in 2019.The state Department of Health and Environment reports that 7,542 abortions were performed in 2020, an increase of 626 from 6,916 in 2019.Advocates on both side of the issue said Tuesday that much of that increase likely occurred because Republican governors in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-ok-state-wire-abortion-virus-outbreak-oklahoma-c139d11a76e40d94da2ba4d92845b7de">Oklahoma</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-virus-outbreak-us-news-ap-top-news-greg-abbott-7a7d2702038a08eb57aba1bae88cd48d">Texas</a>&nbsp;sought to ban most abortions last spring, prompting women from those states to travel to Kansas for the procedure. In Kansas,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/04f200dd64a3fba9e56ccb461012f21c">Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly refused</a>&nbsp;to take a similar step, calling “reproductive health” an “essential need.”“People were really fanning out to states that still provided abortion care as an essential part of health care,” said Julie Burkhart, founder and CEO of the abortion rights group Trust Women, which operates clinics in Wichita and Oklahoma City. “People were quite scared. They were desperate.”Women and girls from Oklahoma and Texas had 566 abortions in Kansas in 2020, up from 110 in 2019. The additional 456 abortions were the bulk of the total increase in abortions in Kansas.The Kansas health department said 3,901 abortions, or nearly 52%, were for patients from outside the state. It was the first time the department reported that more abortions were performed on patients from outside Kansas than on patients from Kansas since 1973, when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide.“Gov. Kelly owns this increase,” said Jeanne Gawdun, senior lobbyist for Kansans for Life, the state’s most politically influential anti-abortion group. “We can now consider her the abortion-industry governor.”The report on abortions, release late last week, came as both sides prepared for an August 2022 statewide vote on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-constitutions-kansas-topeka-2b65563a5637dda6d6707822154dece5">a proposed anti-abortion amendment</a>. The measure would overturn a 2019&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">decision by the Kansas Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;declaring access to abortion a “fundamental right” under the Kansas Constitution.The 9.1% jump in abortions was the largest annual increase since at least 1995, when the state began requiring all health care providers to report any abortions they performed. Since then, abortions in Kansas peaked at 12,445 in 1999, then declined in 16 of the following 20 years.A significant percentage of Kansas abortions historically have been performed for Missouri patients, particularly in the Kansas City area. In 2020, the number was 3,201 or 42% of the total.

Patient influx from other states increases Kansas abortions

WASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers living and 
working outside of the United States that they must file their 2020 
federal income tax return by Tuesday, June 15. This deadline applies to 
both <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad">U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad</a>, including those with dual citizenship.

Just as most taxpayers in the United States are required to timely 
file their tax returns with the IRS, those living and working in another
 country are also required to file. An automatic two-month deadline 
extension is normally granted for those overseas and in 2021 that date 
is still June 15 even though the normal income tax filing deadline was 
extended a month from April 15 to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-day-for-individuals-extended-to-may-17-treasury-irs-extend-filing-and-payment-deadline">May 17</a>.

An income tax filing requirement generally applies even if a taxpayer qualifies for tax benefits, such as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-earned-income-exclusion">Foreign Earned Income Exclusion</a> or the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-tax-credit">Foreign Tax Credit</a>,
 which substantially reduce or eliminate U.S. tax liability. These tax 
benefits are only available if an eligible taxpayer files a U.S. income 
tax return.

A taxpayer qualifies for the special June 15 filing deadline if both 
their tax home and abode are outside the United States and Puerto Rico. 
Those serving in the military outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico on the 
regular due date of their tax return also qualify for the extension to 
June 15. IRS recommends attaching a statement if one of these two 
situations apply.

Reporting required for foreign accounts and assets

Federal law requires U.S. citizens and resident aliens to report any 
worldwide income, including income from foreign trusts and foreign bank 
and securities accounts. In most cases, affected taxpayers need to 
complete and attach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-b-form-1040">Schedule B</a>&nbsp;to
 their tax return. Part III of Schedule B asks about the existence of 
foreign accounts, such as bank and securities accounts, and usually 
requires U.S. citizens to report the country in which each account is 
located.

In addition, certain taxpayers may also have to complete and attach to their return&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8938">Form 8938, Statement of Foreign Financial Assets</a>.
 Generally, U.S. citizens, resident aliens and certain nonresident 
aliens must report specified foreign financial assets on this form if 
the aggregate value of those assets exceeds certain thresholds. See the 
instructions for this form for details.

Foreign accounts reporting deadline&nbsp;

Separate from reporting specified foreign financial assets on their 
tax return, taxpayers with an interest in, or signature or other 
authority over foreign financial accounts whose aggregate value exceeded
 $10,000 at any time during 2020, must file electronically with the 
Treasury Department a Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)&nbsp;<a href="https://bsaefiling.fincen.treas.gov/NoRegFBARFiler.html">Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)</a>.
 Because of this threshold, the IRS encourages taxpayers with foreign 
assets, even relatively small ones, to check if this filing requirement 
applies to them. The form is only available through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fincen.gov/bsa-e-filing-system">BSA E-filing System website</a>.

The deadline for filing the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/report-of-foreign-bank-and-financial-accounts-fbar">Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)</a>&nbsp;was
 April 15, 2021, but FinCEN is granting filers who missed the original 
deadline an automatic extension until October 15, 2021, to file the 
FBAR. There is no need to request this extension.

Any income received or deductible expenses paid in foreign currency 
must be reported on a U.S. tax return in U.S. dollars. Likewise, any tax
 payments must be made in U.S. dollars.

Both FINCEN Form 114 and IRS Form 8938 require the use of a December 
31 exchange rate for all transactions, regardless of the actual exchange
 rate on the date of the transaction. Generally, the IRS accepts any 
posted exchange rate that is used consistently. For more information on 
exchange rates, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-currency-and-currency-exchange-rates">Foreign Currency and Currency Exchange Rates</a>.

Taxpayers who relinquished their U.S. citizenship or ceased to be 
lawful permanent residents of the United States during 2020 must file a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/dual-status-aliens">dual-status alien</a>&nbsp;tax return, and attach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8854">Form 8854, Initial and Annual Expatriation Statement</a>.
 A copy of Form 8854 must also be filed with Internal Revenue Service, 
3651 S IH35 MS 4301AUSC, Austin, TX 78741, by the due date of the tax 
return (including extensions). See the instructions for this form and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-09-85.pdf">Notice 2009-85&nbsp;PDF</a>, Guidance for Expatriates Under Section 877A, for further details.

Extra time is available for those who cannot meet the June 15 date. 
Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file can request a 
filing extension to Oct. 15 by printing and mailing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868">Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return</a>. The IRS can't process extension requests filed electronically after May 17, 2021. Find out <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/where-to-file-paper-tax-returns-with-or-without-a-payment">where to mail the form.</a>

Businesses that need additional time to file income tax returns must file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-7004">Form 7004, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns</a>.

Members of the military qualify for an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/filing-extensions-and-tax-return-preparation-assistance-for-military-personnel-stationed-abroad-or-in-a-combat-zone">additional extension of at least 180 days</a> to file and pay taxes if either of the following situations apply:

Deadlines are also extended for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/extension-of-deadlines-combat-zone-service">individuals serving in a combat zone or a contingency operation in support of the Armed Forces</a>.
 This applies to Red Cross personnel, accredited correspondents and 
civilian personnel acting under the direction of the Armed Forces in 
support of those forces.

Spouses of individuals who served in a combat zone or contingency 
operation are generally entitled to the same deadline extensions with 
some exceptions. Extension details and more <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/military">military tax information</a> is available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-3">IRS Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide</a>.

Tax help and filing information is available anytime on IRS.gov. The 
IRS website offers a variety of online tools to help taxpayers answer 
common tax questions. For example, taxpayers can search the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics">Tax Topics</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</a> to get answers to common questions. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a> provides information on electronic payment options.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers living and 
working outside of the United States that they must file their 2020 
federal income tax return by Tuesday, June 15. This deadline applies to 
both <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad">U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad</a>, including those with dual citizenship.Just as most taxpayers in the United States are required to timely 
file their tax returns with the IRS, those living and working in another
 country are also required to file. An automatic two-month deadline 
extension is normally granted for those overseas and in 2021 that date 
is still June 15 even though the normal income tax filing deadline was 
extended a month from April 15 to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-day-for-individuals-extended-to-may-17-treasury-irs-extend-filing-and-payment-deadline">May 17</a>.<h2>Benefits and qualifications</h2>An income tax filing requirement generally applies even if a taxpayer qualifies for tax benefits, such as the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-earned-income-exclusion">Foreign Earned Income Exclusion</a> or the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-tax-credit">Foreign Tax Credit</a>,
 which substantially reduce or eliminate U.S. tax liability. These tax 
benefits are only available if an eligible taxpayer files a U.S. income 
tax return.A taxpayer qualifies for the special June 15 filing deadline if both 
their tax home and abode are outside the United States and Puerto Rico. 
Those serving in the military outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico on the 
regular due date of their tax return also qualify for the extension to 
June 15. IRS recommends attaching a statement if one of these two 
situations apply.<h2>Reporting required for foreign accounts and assets</h2>Federal law requires U.S. citizens and resident aliens to report any 
worldwide income, including income from foreign trusts and foreign bank 
and securities accounts. In most cases, affected taxpayers need to 
complete and attach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-b-form-1040">Schedule B</a>&nbsp;to
 their tax return. Part III of Schedule B asks about the existence of 
foreign accounts, such as bank and securities accounts, and usually 
requires U.S. citizens to report the country in which each account is 
located.In addition, certain taxpayers may also have to complete and attach to their return&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8938">Form 8938, Statement of Foreign Financial Assets</a>.
 Generally, U.S. citizens, resident aliens and certain nonresident 
aliens must report specified foreign financial assets on this form if 
the aggregate value of those assets exceeds certain thresholds. See the 
instructions for this form for details.<h2>Foreign accounts reporting deadline&nbsp;</h2>Separate from reporting specified foreign financial assets on their 
tax return, taxpayers with an interest in, or signature or other 
authority over foreign financial accounts whose aggregate value exceeded
 $10,000 at any time during 2020, must file electronically with the 
Treasury Department a Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)&nbsp;<a href="https://bsaefiling.fincen.treas.gov/NoRegFBARFiler.html">Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)</a>.
 Because of this threshold, the IRS encourages taxpayers with foreign 
assets, even relatively small ones, to check if this filing requirement 
applies to them. The form is only available through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fincen.gov/bsa-e-filing-system">BSA E-filing System website</a>.The deadline for filing the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/report-of-foreign-bank-and-financial-accounts-fbar">Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)</a>&nbsp;was
 April 15, 2021, but FinCEN is granting filers who missed the original 
deadline an automatic extension until October 15, 2021, to file the 
FBAR. There is no need to request this extension.<h2>Report in U.S. dollars</h2>Any income received or deductible expenses paid in foreign currency 
must be reported on a U.S. tax return in U.S. dollars. Likewise, any tax
 payments must be made in U.S. dollars.Both FINCEN Form 114 and IRS Form 8938 require the use of a December 
31 exchange rate for all transactions, regardless of the actual exchange
 rate on the date of the transaction. Generally, the IRS accepts any 
posted exchange rate that is used consistently. For more information on 
exchange rates, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-currency-and-currency-exchange-rates">Foreign Currency and Currency Exchange Rates</a>.<h2>Expatriate reporting</h2>Taxpayers who relinquished their U.S. citizenship or ceased to be 
lawful permanent residents of the United States during 2020 must file a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/dual-status-aliens">dual-status alien</a>&nbsp;tax return, and attach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8854">Form 8854, Initial and Annual Expatriation Statement</a>.
 A copy of Form 8854 must also be filed with Internal Revenue Service, 
3651 S IH35 MS 4301AUSC, Austin, TX 78741, by the due date of the tax 
return (including extensions). See the instructions for this form and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-09-85.pdf">Notice 2009-85&nbsp;PDF</a>, Guidance for Expatriates Under Section 877A, for further details.<h2>More time is available</h2>Extra time is available for those who cannot meet the June 15 date. 
Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file can request a 
filing extension to Oct. 15 by printing and mailing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868">Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return</a>. The IRS can't process extension requests filed electronically after May 17, 2021. Find out <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/where-to-file-paper-tax-returns-with-or-without-a-payment">where to mail the form.</a>Businesses that need additional time to file income tax returns must file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-7004">Form 7004, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns</a>.<h2>Combat zone extension</h2>Members of the military qualify for an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/filing-extensions-and-tax-return-preparation-assistance-for-military-personnel-stationed-abroad-or-in-a-combat-zone">additional extension of at least 180 days</a> to file and pay taxes if either of the following situations apply:<ul>
 <li>They serve in a combat zone or they have qualifying service outside of a combat zone or</li><li>They serve on deployment outside the United States away from their 
permanent duty station while participating in a contingency operation. 
This is a military operation that is designated by the Secretary of 
Defense or results in calling members of the uniformed services to 
active duty (or retains them on active duty) during a war or a national 
emergency declared by the President or Congress.</li>
 </ul>Deadlines are also extended for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/extension-of-deadlines-combat-zone-service">individuals serving in a combat zone or a contingency operation in support of the Armed Forces</a>.
 This applies to Red Cross personnel, accredited correspondents and 
civilian personnel acting under the direction of the Armed Forces in 
support of those forces.Spouses of individuals who served in a combat zone or contingency 
operation are generally entitled to the same deadline extensions with 
some exceptions. Extension details and more <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/military">military tax information</a> is available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-3">IRS Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide</a>.<h2>Visit IRS.gov for tax information</h2>Tax help and filing information is available anytime on IRS.gov. The 
IRS website offers a variety of online tools to help taxpayers answer 
common tax questions. For example, taxpayers can search the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics">Tax Topics</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</a> to get answers to common questions. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a> provides information on electronic payment options.<h2>Other resources:</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-54">About Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-519">About Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens</a></li>
 </ul>

Tax return deadline looming for U.S. taxpayers living abroad

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A ransomware attack on the world’s largest meat company is disrupting production around the world just weeks after a similar incident shut down a U.S. oil pipeline.

The Brazilian meat processor JBS SA notified the U.S. of a ransom demand from a criminal organization likely based in Russia, White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Tuesday. She said the White House and the Department of Agriculture have been in touch with the company several times this week.

JBS has extensive facilities in the U.S., including processing plants in Texas and Colorado. Two shifts were canceled Tuesday at JBS’ meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colorado, according to UFCW Local 7, which represents 3,000 workers at the plant.

The local union also has reports from workers that production was down on Monday but that is unconfirmed, according to spokesman Dakar Lanzino. Union representatives were meeting Monday to try to get more information from the company, Lanzino said.

JBS has not stated publicly that the attack was ransomware.

Jean-Pierre said the White House “is engaging directly with the Russian government on this matter and delivering the message that responsible states do not harbor ransomware criminals.” The FBI is investigating the incident, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is offering technical support to JBS.

In addition, USDA has spoken to several major meat processors in the U.S. to alert them to the situation, and the White House is assessing any potential impact on the nation’s meat supply.

The company said late Tuesday that it had made “significant progress” in dealing with the cyberattack and expected the “vast majority” of its plants to be operating on Wednesday

In a statement Sunday, JBS said the cyberattack affected servers supporting its operations in North America and Australia. The company said it notified authorities and engaged third-party experts to resolve the problem as soon as possible. Backup servers weren’t affected.

Thousands of Australian meat plant workers had no work for a second day Tuesday, and a government minister said it might be days before production resumes. JBS is Australia’s largest meat and food processing company, with 47 facilities across the country including abattoirs, feedlots and meat processing sites. JBS employs around 11,000 people in Australia.

It’s not the first time a ransomware attack has targeted a food company. Last November, Milan-based Campari Group said it was the victim of a ransomware attack that caused a temporary technology outage and compromised some business and personal data.

In March, Molson Coors announced a cyber attack that affected its production and shipping.

Last month, a gang of hackers shut down operation of the Colonial Pipeline, the largest U.S. fuel pipeline. Colonial Pipeline confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the hackers

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622549286839.png" alt="&nbsp;JBS is the second-largest producer of beef, pork and chicken in the U.S." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;JBS is the second-largest producer of beef, pork and chicken in the U.S.</figcaption>
 </figure>CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A ransomware attack on the world’s largest meat company is disrupting production around the world just weeks after a similar incident shut down a U.S. oil pipeline.The Brazilian meat processor JBS SA notified the U.S. of a ransom demand from a criminal organization likely based in Russia, White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Tuesday. She said the White House and the Department of Agriculture have been in touch with the company several times this week.JBS has extensive facilities in the U.S., including processing plants in Texas and Colorado. Two shifts were canceled Tuesday at JBS’ meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colorado, according to UFCW Local 7, which represents 3,000 workers at the plant.The local union also has reports from workers that production was down on Monday but that is unconfirmed, according to spokesman Dakar Lanzino. Union representatives were meeting Monday to try to get more information from the company, Lanzino said.JBS has not stated publicly that the attack was ransomware.Jean-Pierre said the White House “is engaging directly with the Russian government on this matter and delivering the message that responsible states do not harbor ransomware criminals.” The FBI is investigating the incident, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is offering technical support to JBS.In addition, USDA has spoken to several major meat processors in the U.S. to alert them to the situation, and the White House is assessing any potential impact on the nation’s meat supply.The company said late Tuesday that it had made “significant progress” in dealing with the cyberattack and expected the “vast majority” of its plants to be operating on WednesdayIn a statement Sunday, JBS said the cyberattack affected servers supporting its operations in North America and Australia. The company said it notified authorities and engaged third-party experts to resolve the problem as soon as possible. Backup servers weren’t affected.Thousands of Australian meat plant workers had no work for a second day Tuesday, and a government minister said it might be days before production resumes. JBS is Australia’s largest meat and food processing company, with 47 facilities across the country including abattoirs, feedlots and meat processing sites. JBS employs around 11,000 people in Australia.It’s not the first time a ransomware attack has targeted a food company. Last November, Milan-based Campari Group said it was the victim of a ransomware attack that caused a temporary technology outage and compromised some business and personal data.In March, Molson Coors announced a cyber attack that affected its production and shipping.Last month, a gang of hackers shut down operation of the Colonial Pipeline, the largest U.S. fuel pipeline. Colonial Pipeline confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the hackers

Meat producer ransomware attack disrupts global production

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The month of May marked one year since Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 20-31 to safely reopen businesses across the state. Since that time, the Kansas economy has rebounding significantly – with May 2021 tax collections totaling $604.6 million, or 134.7% more than May 2020, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Revenue.

 For the month of May, the state collected $1.1 billion in total taxes; an increase of $509.4 million, or 93.7%, more than the estimate.

“Our May tax receipt numbers are good news and show that our efforts to strengthen Kansas’ economy are paying off,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly. “We will continue moving forward by prioritizing pro-growth policies that will support Kansas businesses and Kansas families.”

Individual income tax collections were $708.7 million. That is 154.9%, or $430.7 million, above the estimate and $492.8 million, or 228.2%, more than last May. Corporate income tax collections were $29.8 million. That is $33.2 million, or 976.8%, more than last May. Those collections are $24.8 million, or 495.6%, more than the estimate.

“Overall, the economy performed much better during the pandemic than any state had forecasted and the tax receipt trend in Kansas is comparable to that experienced in other states,”&nbsp;Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart&nbsp;said. “Taxpayers who had meaningful positions in the stock market did extremely well during the pandemic. A significant portion of the individual income tax receipts are due to capital gains transactions.”

Retail sales tax collections were up $53.9 million, or 31.0%, over last May with $227.8 million collected. Collections were $32.8 million, or 16.8%, more than the estimate. Compensating use tax collections were $54.4 million which was $14.4 million, or 36.0%, more than estimated. That is a $16.7 million, or 44.5%, gain compared to the same month of the previous fiscal year.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The month of May marked one year since Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 20-31 to safely reopen businesses across the state. Since that time, the Kansas economy has rebounding significantly – with May 2021 tax collections totaling $604.6 million, or 134.7% more than May 2020, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Revenue. For the month of May, the state collected $1.1 billion in total taxes; an increase of $509.4 million, or 93.7%, more than the estimate.“Our May tax receipt numbers are good news and show that our efforts to strengthen Kansas’ economy are paying off,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly. “We will continue moving forward by prioritizing pro-growth policies that will support Kansas businesses and Kansas families.”Individual income tax collections were $708.7 million. That is 154.9%, or $430.7 million, above the estimate and $492.8 million, or 228.2%, more than last May. Corporate income tax collections were $29.8 million. That is $33.2 million, or 976.8%, more than last May. Those collections are $24.8 million, or 495.6%, more than the estimate.“Overall, the economy performed much better during the pandemic than any state had forecasted and the tax receipt trend in Kansas is comparable to that experienced in other states,”&nbsp;Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart&nbsp;said. “Taxpayers who had meaningful positions in the stock market did extremely well during the pandemic. A significant portion of the individual income tax receipts are due to capital gains transactions.”Retail sales tax collections were up $53.9 million, or 31.0%, over last May with $227.8 million collected. Collections were $32.8 million, or 16.8%, more than the estimate. Compensating use tax collections were $54.4 million which was $14.4 million, or 36.0%, more than estimated. That is a $16.7 million, or 44.5%, gain compared to the same month of the previous fiscal year.

Kansas total tax receipts up $604.6M over last May

By JASON BERRYMAN Topeka West High School

To say the least, this school year in the teaching profession has been challenging.
 I believe many teachers would agree with that assessment, especially 
when working with remote students. From a perspective of teaching the 
arts, how to get supplies to students? How do students submit a jewelry 
assignment via Google Classroom? How to teach a lesson on Illustrator 
when students are working on Chromebooks?

Luckily, digital 
photography worked out easier for my students because most have access 
to a digital camera on their cell phones. But teaching remotely, and 
then in person (with only half a class in the morning and the other half
 in the afternoon), then remotely again, then completing the school year
 with most of the student body in person and a smaller number remotely —
 much of the details about photography have either been gleaned over or 
not covered.

Though the overall quality
 of student photography dipped a little, what drastically increased was 
students’ understanding of what they can (or cannot) accomplish with the
 camera on their cell phones and a few free photo-editing applications.

American photographer Chase Jarvis stated it best: “The best camera is the one that you have with you!”

Two portraits by Topeka 
West juniors Austin Schimmel and Lily Salazar precisely capture the 
daily life that we all have been living for over a year: masks! I can 
honestly say that in all my years of teaching I’ve never had students 
submit photos where half of the model’s face is covered by a cloth mask.

Still life images of clothes hanging in a closet and a softly lit potted plant were both created at home by senior Ella Teter and junior Nolan Noonan. These images are notable for their skill, composition, and the fact that both were captured with cell phone cameras while students were working remotely away from the high school.

Lastly, I absolutely had to show off senior Taylor Reinert’s “Tiny Planet” image just for the fact that it is so cool. Taylor created the photograph by flying his unmanned aerial vehicle over the west edge of the Topeka West campus. He then captured a 360˚ panorama of the landscape using his cell phone (that he uses to also to control the UAV) camera. Lastly, using Adobe Photoshop, Tayler bent the panorama into a circle creating the tiny planet.

Every year, pandemic or not, I am always amazed by our students’ talent and creativity.

Jason Berryman teaches digital photography and chairs the art 
department at Topeka West High School. He shares student work on the <a href="https://twestphotosynthesis.blogspot.com/">Photosynthesis blog</a>. Republished courtesy the <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/01/what-this-year-looked-like-through-the-lens-of-kansas-high-school-photography-students/">Kansas Reflector</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575701590.png" alt="Though this image was created for a specific project in Digital Photography 1, sophomore Jessica Fitzgerald's reflection in the broken mirror emanates a feeling of frustration even when photographing a self-portrait, says Topeka West High School digital photography teacher Jason Berryman. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Though this image was created for a specific project in Digital Photography 1, sophomore Jessica Fitzgerald's reflection in the broken mirror emanates a feeling of frustration even when photographing a self-portrait, says Topeka West High School digital photography teacher Jason Berryman. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JASON BERRYMAN Topeka West High SchoolTo say the least, this school year in the teaching profession has been challenging.
 I believe many teachers would agree with that assessment, especially 
when working with remote students. From a perspective of teaching the 
arts, how to get supplies to students? How do students submit a jewelry 
assignment via Google Classroom? How to teach a lesson on Illustrator 
when students are working on Chromebooks?Luckily, digital 
photography worked out easier for my students because most have access 
to a digital camera on their cell phones. But teaching remotely, and 
then in person (with only half a class in the morning and the other half
 in the afternoon), then remotely again, then completing the school year
 with most of the student body in person and a smaller number remotely —
 much of the details about photography have either been gleaned over or 
not covered.Though the overall quality
 of student photography dipped a little, what drastically increased was 
students’ understanding of what they can (or cannot) accomplish with the
 camera on their cell phones and a few free photo-editing applications.American photographer Chase Jarvis stated it best: “The best camera is the one that you have with you!”Two portraits by Topeka 
West juniors Austin Schimmel and Lily Salazar precisely capture the 
daily life that we all have been living for over a year: masks! I can 
honestly say that in all my years of teaching I’ve never had students 
submit photos where half of the model’s face is covered by a cloth mask.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575772141.png" alt="“Kick,” a photograph by Topeka West High School junior Austin Schimmel. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>“Kick,” a photograph by Topeka West High School junior Austin Schimmel. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575805666.png" alt="“Tallulah,” a photograph by Topeka West High School junior Lily Salazar. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>“Tallulah,” a photograph by Topeka West High School junior Lily Salazar. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Still life images of clothes hanging in a closet and a softly lit potted plant were both created at home by senior Ella Teter and junior Nolan Noonan. These images are notable for their skill, composition, and the fact that both were captured with cell phone cameras while students were working remotely away from the high school.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575848665.png" alt="“Repetition,” by Topeka West High School senior Ella Teter. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>“Repetition,” by Topeka West High School senior Ella Teter. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575872246.png" alt="“Desklamp,” by Topeka West High School senior Nolan Noonan. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>“Desklamp,” by Topeka West High School senior Nolan Noonan. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Lastly, I absolutely had to show off senior Taylor Reinert’s “Tiny Planet” image just for the fact that it is so cool. Taylor created the photograph by flying his unmanned aerial vehicle over the west edge of the Topeka West campus. He then captured a 360˚ panorama of the landscape using his cell phone (that he uses to also to control the UAV) camera. Lastly, using Adobe Photoshop, Tayler bent the panorama into a circle creating the tiny planet.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575913826.png" alt="“Tiny Planet,” by Topeka West High School senior Taylor Reinert. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>“Tiny Planet,” by Topeka West High School senior Taylor Reinert. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Every year, pandemic or not, I am always amazed by our students’ talent and creativity.Jason Berryman teaches digital photography and chairs the art 
department at Topeka West High School. He shares student work on the <a href="https://twestphotosynthesis.blogspot.com/">Photosynthesis blog</a>. Republished courtesy the <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/01/what-this-year-looked-like-through-the-lens-of-kansas-high-school-photography-students/">Kansas Reflector</a>.

What 2020 looked like through the lens of Kan. photography students

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 43-year-old man who was shot by Olathe police has been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. 

Johnson County prosecutors also charged Jesus Salazar III with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon after the shooting May 26 outside a fast food restaurant. 

Officers went to Strip's Chicken after a witness reported a man in a car who seem disoriented. Police said when officers approached the car they saw Salazar had a weapon and he refused orders to drop it. At least one officer shot Salazar. No officers were injured.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622115790951.png" alt="Police on the scene of Wednesday's officer-involved shooting photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of Wednesday's officer-involved shooting photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 43-year-old man who was shot by Olathe police has been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Johnson County prosecutors also charged Jesus Salazar III with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon after the shooting May 26 outside a fast food restaurant. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622563039895.png" alt="Salazar photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Salazar photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers went to Strip's Chicken after a witness reported a man in a car who seem disoriented. Police said when officers approached the car they saw Salazar had a weapon and he refused orders to drop it. At least one officer shot Salazar. No officers were injured.

Kan. felon shot by police charged with aggravated assault

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Jackson County officials are seeking to recoup about $80,000 is public money paid to a special prosecutor accused of mishandling a controversial a case where a man's rape convictions were overturned on appeal. 

The county hired Jacqie Spradling in 2017 to serve as special prosecutor in the criminal case against  Jacob Ewing. Later that year, Ewing was convicted of two counts of rape and four counts of criminal sodomy, among other counts. But the Kansas Court of Appeals threw out those convictions in 2019 and ordered a new trial, finding that Spradling made a half-dozen errors and misled the jury by making assertions during her closing argument that were not supported by the evidence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1580156378749.png" alt="Jacob Ewing photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Jacob Ewing photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Jackson County officials are seeking to recoup about $80,000 is public money paid to a special prosecutor accused of mishandling a controversial a case where a man's rape convictions were overturned on appeal. The county hired Jacqie Spradling in 2017 to serve as special prosecutor in the criminal case against Jacob Ewing. Later that year, Ewing was convicted of two counts of rape and four counts of criminal sodomy, among other counts. But the Kansas Court of Appeals threw out those convictions in 2019 and ordered a new trial, finding that Spradling made a half-dozen errors and misled the jury by making assertions during her closing argument that were not supported by the evidence.

County seeks repayment from special prosecutor in rape case

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-05-28/your-local-kansas-swimming-pool-could-cut-its-hours-because-kids-arent-taking-lifeguard-jobs">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — During a normal year, Brian Hill doesn’t 
have much trouble hiring enough lifeguards to staff Wichita’s six public
 swimming pools.

“Usually I’m about 80% staffed by February,” said Hill, Wichita’s aquatics director. “This year, I was about 10% staffed.”

Lifeguarding
 took a hit last summer, when the COVID-19 pandemic closed most gyms, 
water parks and community pools. High school and college students who 
would normally work as guards took the summer off or found other jobs. 
Training classes were cancelled. So were junior lifeguard programs for 
11- to 14-year-olds.

“That’s our pipeline,” Hill said. “In a lot of ways, we were kind of starting this summer from scratch.”

Roeland
 Park in Johnson County recently spent $1.6 million to renovate its 
community aquatic center, adding new slides, a climbing wall, shade 
structures and splash pads. The grand opening was Memorial Day weekend.

But
 the pool will open for limited hours — only Tuesdays, Thursdays and 
weekends — because there aren’t enough guards to staff it.

Roeland
 Park boosted lifeguard pay to $12 an hour, up from $10 an hour. Other 
cities offer signing bonuses and other perks or recruit younger teens.

Prairie Village cut back its pool hours this summer because of the shortage. So will the city of Shawnee in Johnson County.

The <a href="https://americanlifeguard.com/" target="_blank">American Lifeguard Association</a>
 says lifeguard shortages are common across the country. The traditional
 summer job is more nostalgia than reality because teens and young 
adults increasingly look for year-round work.

COVID-related travel
 restrictions have limited the number of seasonal college and foreign 
exchange students. And overall interest in lifeguarding is declining.

Pools depend on guards returning year after year, and on younger swimmers envisioning themselves on the lifeguard stand.

“So
 much of it is kids growing up going to the pool every day,” said Joe 
Hutchinson, a high school swim coach who manages a private pool in east 
Wichita. “They see their older friends who are lifeguards, and they say,
 ‘I want to do that next summer,’ and then they start getting ready for 
that job and getting certified.

“Since there wasn’t the 
opportunity to see your friends be lifeguards last summer,” he said, 
“that new wave of lifeguards that normally fills in those empty spots 
just isn’t there.”

It’s also hot-weather work that toggles between
 boredom and stress — part babysitting, part lifesaving. And it’s not 
for everybody.

“It can be very difficult to deal with people. 
That’s the hardest part,” said 18-year-old Jacob Steffen, who has worked
 at Wichita-area pools for two years.

“Last summer we had a very 
weird schedule due to the coronavirus, so we were open for two hours at a
 time and then closed for an hour,” he said. “So I had to deal with a 
lot of very angry people, because you have to kick them out of the 
pool.”

Jared Rutti, recreation supervisor of <a href="https://www.garden-city.org/government/departments/garden-rapids-at-the-big-pool#ad-image-0" target="_blank">Garden Rapids at the Big Pool</a> water park in Garden City, said he has 44 lifeguards hired so far. He could use up to 60.

Garden City’s century-old community pool was demolished last year and a $14 million aquatics park built in its place.

Aaron
 Stewart, Garden City’s parks and recreation director, said the novelty 
of the new park has helped with recruiting lifeguards and other 
employees.

“We have a brand new water park for people to work at,” Stewart said. “So that’s attractive and exciting.”

As
 vaccinations increase and COVID restrictions ease, swimming pools, 
beaches and water parks are reopening across the state. And they require
 teams of lifeguards to keep them running safely.

Alanis Balza Medina, a 20-year-old who started lifeguarding when she was 16, is glad to be back.

“It’s my go-to summer job,” said Balza Medina, who is pursuing a 
degree in elementary education at Emporia State University. “This is the
 job that I enjoy and (that) gives me a lot of training for my future. 
... And it’s a great work environment to be in as well.”

She swam 
at Wichita’s Harvest Pool as a young child and remembers admiring the 
lifeguards and appreciating how friendly they were. She started 
lifeguarding at Wichita’s Evergreen Pool and worked her way up to the 
head guard position. Now she manages Orchard Pool and trains guards 
throughout the summer.

“It’s a tough job sometimes. However, when 
it’s just the guards, it’s a community — basically a family — that you 
become, because you’re always with these people,” she said.

“You 
have to learn to work as a team and make sure you can function together 
as a whole. Because if you don’t, there’s someone’s life in danger.”

Lifeguards need to be at least 15, complete a three-day training session and pass a certification test.

Talk
 to any longtime lifeguard, and you’ll hear stories about life-saving 
rescues. Balza Medina recalls an incident in 2018, when a young girl 
fell off the side of an elevated diving board and had to be treated on 
site and taken to the hospital.

“That was probably the scariest situation that I’ve had,” she said. 
“It’s not something that people necessarily think about, but we go 
through very extensive training to be prepared to protect our patrons.”

Sam
 Cortes was only 15 and a first-year guard at Minisa Pool in Wichita 
when he performed his first save. During a pool party, a young child 
fell into the deep end. His father panicked and jumped in after him. 
Neither one could swim.

“So my very first save was a double 
rescue,” said Cortes, who trains guards and manages the aquatics program
 at McConnell Air Force Base.

“It was all adrenaline, because like
 I tell people: It goes back to our training,” he said. “You’re only as 
good as your training, so in any emergency you go back to what you’ve 
trained for.”

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in 
Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter 
@SuzPerezICT or email her at perez@kmuw.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622574829993.png" alt="Prospective lifeguards practice deep-water saves during a certification class at Wichita Northwest High School. Photos by Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Prospective lifeguards practice deep-water saves during a certification class at Wichita Northwest High School. Photos by Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-05-28/your-local-kansas-swimming-pool-could-cut-its-hours-because-kids-arent-taking-lifeguard-jobs">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — During a normal year, Brian Hill doesn’t 
have much trouble hiring enough lifeguards to staff Wichita’s six public
 swimming pools.Not in this pandemic year.“Usually I’m about 80% staffed by February,” said Hill, Wichita’s aquatics director. “This year, I was about 10% staffed.”Lifeguarding
 took a hit last summer, when the COVID-19 pandemic closed most gyms, 
water parks and community pools. High school and college students who 
would normally work as guards took the summer off or found other jobs. 
Training classes were cancelled. So were junior lifeguard programs for 
11- to 14-year-olds.“That’s our pipeline,” Hill said. “In a lot of ways, we were kind of starting this summer from scratch.”Wichita is not alone.Roeland
 Park in Johnson County recently spent $1.6 million to renovate its 
community aquatic center, adding new slides, a climbing wall, shade 
structures and splash pads. The grand opening was Memorial Day weekend.But
 the pool will open for limited hours — only Tuesdays, Thursdays and 
weekends — because there aren’t enough guards to staff it.Roeland
 Park boosted lifeguard pay to $12 an hour, up from $10 an hour. Other 
cities offer signing bonuses and other perks or recruit younger teens.Prairie Village cut back its pool hours this summer because of the shortage. So will the city of Shawnee in Johnson County.The <a href="https://americanlifeguard.com/" target="_blank">American Lifeguard Association</a>
 says lifeguard shortages are common across the country. The traditional
 summer job is more nostalgia than reality because teens and young 
adults increasingly look for year-round work.COVID-related travel
 restrictions have limited the number of seasonal college and foreign 
exchange students. And overall interest in lifeguarding is declining.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622574906516.png" alt="Brian Hill, left, shows lifeguard trainees how to place a victim onto a backboard. Hill manages the aquatics program for the city of Wichita." />
 <figcaption>Brian Hill, left, shows lifeguard trainees how to place a victim onto a backboard. Hill manages the aquatics program for the city of Wichita.</figcaption>
 </figure>Pools depend on guards returning year after year, and on younger swimmers envisioning themselves on the lifeguard stand.“So
 much of it is kids growing up going to the pool every day,” said Joe 
Hutchinson, a high school swim coach who manages a private pool in east 
Wichita. “They see their older friends who are lifeguards, and they say,
 ‘I want to do that next summer,’ and then they start getting ready for 
that job and getting certified.“Since there wasn’t the 
opportunity to see your friends be lifeguards last summer,” he said, 
“that new wave of lifeguards that normally fills in those empty spots 
just isn’t there.”It’s also hot-weather work that toggles between
 boredom and stress — part babysitting, part lifesaving. And it’s not 
for everybody.“It can be very difficult to deal with people. 
That’s the hardest part,” said 18-year-old Jacob Steffen, who has worked
 at Wichita-area pools for two years.“Last summer we had a very 
weird schedule due to the coronavirus, so we were open for two hours at a
 time and then closed for an hour,” he said. “So I had to deal with a 
lot of very angry people, because you have to kick them out of the 
pool.”Jared Rutti, recreation supervisor of <a href="https://www.garden-city.org/government/departments/garden-rapids-at-the-big-pool#ad-image-0" target="_blank">Garden Rapids at the Big Pool</a> water park in Garden City, said he has 44 lifeguards hired so far. He could use up to 60.Garden City’s century-old community pool was demolished last year and a $14 million aquatics park built in its place.Aaron
 Stewart, Garden City’s parks and recreation director, said the novelty 
of the new park has helped with recruiting lifeguards and other 
employees.“We have a brand new water park for people to work at,” Stewart said. “So that’s attractive and exciting.”<h2>Saving lives</h2>As
 vaccinations increase and COVID restrictions ease, swimming pools, 
beaches and water parks are reopening across the state. And they require
 teams of lifeguards to keep them running safely.Alanis Balza Medina, a 20-year-old who started lifeguarding when she was 16, is glad to be back.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622574936744.png" alt="About a dozen teenagers and young adults attended a recent lifeguard certification class at Northwest High School. Because of COVID-related closures last year, some pools are having a hard time finding enough lifeguards." />
 <figcaption>About a dozen teenagers and young adults attended a recent lifeguard certification class at Northwest High School. Because of COVID-related closures last year, some pools are having a hard time finding enough lifeguards.</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s my go-to summer job,” said Balza Medina, who is pursuing a 
degree in elementary education at Emporia State University. “This is the
 job that I enjoy and (that) gives me a lot of training for my future. 
... And it’s a great work environment to be in as well.”She swam 
at Wichita’s Harvest Pool as a young child and remembers admiring the 
lifeguards and appreciating how friendly they were. She started 
lifeguarding at Wichita’s Evergreen Pool and worked her way up to the 
head guard position. Now she manages Orchard Pool and trains guards 
throughout the summer.“It’s a tough job sometimes. However, when 
it’s just the guards, it’s a community — basically a family — that you 
become, because you’re always with these people,” she said.“You 
have to learn to work as a team and make sure you can function together 
as a whole. Because if you don’t, there’s someone’s life in danger.”Lifeguards need to be at least 15, complete a three-day training session and pass a certification test.Talk
 to any longtime lifeguard, and you’ll hear stories about life-saving 
rescues. Balza Medina recalls an incident in 2018, when a young girl 
fell off the side of an elevated diving board and had to be treated on 
site and taken to the hospital.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622574964837.png" alt="Sam Cortes helps lifeguard trainees practice shallow-water rescues. Cortes, who started lifeguarding at 15, runs the aquatics program at McConnell Air Force Base." />
 <figcaption>Sam Cortes helps lifeguard trainees practice shallow-water rescues. Cortes, who started lifeguarding at 15, runs the aquatics program at McConnell Air Force Base.</figcaption>
 </figure>“That was probably the scariest situation that I’ve had,” she said. 
“It’s not something that people necessarily think about, but we go 
through very extensive training to be prepared to protect our patrons.”Sam
 Cortes was only 15 and a first-year guard at Minisa Pool in Wichita 
when he performed his first save. During a pool party, a young child 
fell into the deep end. His father panicked and jumped in after him. 
Neither one could swim.“So my very first save was a double 
rescue,” said Cortes, who trains guards and manages the aquatics program
 at McConnell Air Force Base.“It was all adrenaline, because like
 I tell people: It goes back to our training,” he said. “You’re only as 
good as your training, so in any emergency you go back to what you’ve 
trained for.”Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in 
Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter 
@SuzPerezICT or email her at perez@kmuw.org.