WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — No criminal charges will be filed against a Kansas sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot an unarmed woman who refused to pull over during a high-speed police chase that began over a wrong license plate on a vehicle, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett released his final report concluding that the deputy is immune from prosecution in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3bad2e32dc7ec2b3a50140691a175275">the Dec. 30, 2019, death</a>&nbsp;of 51-year-old Debra Arbuckle.

Bennett cited the state’s “stand your ground law″ under which a person who acts in defense of himself or another is immune from prosecution. He determined the deputy fired his weapon to stop what he perceived to be a threat of bodily injury to himself and his fellow deputies.

Attorney Michael Kuckelman, who represents Arbuckle’s son in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-lawsuits-shootings-wichita-f671b358ef83ba56ac7d0b841196388b">a federal lawsuit&nbsp;</a>over her death, said Thursday that the family is disappointed that Sedgwick County Deputy Kaleb Dailey is not facing a homicide charge. He said eluding an officer doesn’t warrant deadly force.

“No other officer on the scene fired a single shot. That’s because Ms. Arbuckle wasn’t a threat to them,” Kuckelman said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.

The chase, which lasted 19 minutes, began after a Wichita police officer noticed a Volkswagen with a license plate tag registered to a Chevy pickup. The Volkswagen was stopped at an intersection, but when the officer activated his emergency lights, the driver ran a red light and sped away, according to authorities.

The chase was at one point called off due to the speeds that were reached, but a sheriff’s deputy who heard the chase on his law enforcement radio drove to the Volkswagen’s last known location. The chase resumed with four pursuing deputies, and the Volkswagen was ultimately forced off the road.

When the reverse lights of the Volkswagen activated, a deputy who was on the passenger side of the vehicle, believed the other deputies would be struck and fired his handgun six times, according to the district attorney’s report.

The lawsuit filed by Arbuckle’s son, Alek Hansen, identifies the deputy who shot her as Dailey and contends Arbuckle’s vehicle was surrounded by patrol cars. It says multiple law enforcement videos show that while Arbuckle did put her car in reverse, she never accelerated toward the deputies.

“Her front wheel didn’t even have a tire on it. They rammed her car, ran it off the road, and they surrounded it with their cars. The officers weren’t in danger,” Kuckelman, the son’s attorney, said in his statement Thursday.

Arbuckle was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined she died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. A toxicology report determined her blood was positive for cocaine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577828011429.png" alt="Arbuckle-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Arbuckle-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — No criminal charges will be filed against a Kansas sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot an unarmed woman who refused to pull over during a high-speed police chase that began over a wrong license plate on a vehicle, a prosecutor said Thursday.Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett released his final report concluding that the deputy is immune from prosecution in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3bad2e32dc7ec2b3a50140691a175275">the Dec. 30, 2019, death</a>&nbsp;of 51-year-old Debra Arbuckle.Bennett cited the state’s “stand your ground law″ under which a person who acts in defense of himself or another is immune from prosecution. He determined the deputy fired his weapon to stop what he perceived to be a threat of bodily injury to himself and his fellow deputies.Attorney Michael Kuckelman, who represents Arbuckle’s son in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-lawsuits-shootings-wichita-f671b358ef83ba56ac7d0b841196388b">a federal lawsuit&nbsp;</a>over her death, said Thursday that the family is disappointed that Sedgwick County Deputy Kaleb Dailey is not facing a homicide charge. He said eluding an officer doesn’t warrant deadly force.“No other officer on the scene fired a single shot. That’s because Ms. Arbuckle wasn’t a threat to them,” Kuckelman said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.The chase, which lasted 19 minutes, began after a Wichita police officer noticed a Volkswagen with a license plate tag registered to a Chevy pickup. The Volkswagen was stopped at an intersection, but when the officer activated his emergency lights, the driver ran a red light and sped away, according to authorities.The chase was at one point called off due to the speeds that were reached, but a sheriff’s deputy who heard the chase on his law enforcement radio drove to the Volkswagen’s last known location. The chase resumed with four pursuing deputies, and the Volkswagen was ultimately forced off the road.When the reverse lights of the Volkswagen activated, a deputy who was on the passenger side of the vehicle, believed the other deputies would be struck and fired his handgun six times, according to the district attorney’s report.The lawsuit filed by Arbuckle’s son, Alek Hansen, identifies the deputy who shot her as Dailey and contends Arbuckle’s vehicle was surrounded by patrol cars. It says multiple law enforcement videos show that while Arbuckle did put her car in reverse, she never accelerated toward the deputies.“Her front wheel didn’t even have a tire on it. They rammed her car, ran it off the road, and they surrounded it with their cars. The officers weren’t in danger,” Kuckelman, the son’s attorney, said in his statement Thursday.Arbuckle was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined she died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. A toxicology report determined her blood was positive for cocaine.

Prosecutor: No charges against Kan. deputy who shot woman

BOSTON (AP) —The nation’s largest fuel pipeline is flowing again after the company that runs it was hit by a gang of hackers. But long lines remain at gas stations throughout the Southeast. 

An outside audit three years ago of the major East Coast pipeline company hit by a cyberattack found “atrocious” information management practices and “a patchwork of poorly connected and secured systems,” its author told The Associated Press.

“We found glaring deficiencies and big problems,” said Robert F. Smallwood, whose consulting firm delivered an 89-page report in January 2018 after a six-month audit. “I mean an eighth-grader could have hacked into that system.”

How far the company, Colonial Pipeline, went to address the vulnerabilities isn’t clear. Colonial said Wednesday that since 2017, it has hired four independent firms for cybersecurity risk assessments and increased its overall IT spending by more than 50%. While it did not specify an amount, it said it has spent tens of millions of dollars.

“We are constantly assessing and improving our security practices — both physical and digital,” the privately held Georgia company said in response to questions from the AP about the audit’s findings. It did not name the firms who did cybersecurity work but one firm, Rausch Advisory Services, located in Atlanta near Colonial’s headquarters, acknowledged being among them. Colonial’s chief information officer sits on Rausch’s advisory board.

Colonial has not said how the hackers penetrated its network. How vulnerable it was to compromise is sure to be intensely scrutinized by federal authorities and cybersecurity experts as they consider how the most damaging cyberattack on U.S. critical infrastructure might have been prevented.

Friday’s pipeline shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-technology-business-938b33938fe3a750367fb1dc2f7ce6e0">has led to distribution problems and panic-buying</a>, draining supplies at thousands of gas stations in the Southeast. Colonial said it initiated the restart of pipeline operations on Wednesday afternoon and that it would take several days for supply delivery to return to normal.

Ransomware&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-canada-health-coronavirus-technology-288c8979c10b648ba72a4b0fc34b02ac">attacks have reached epidemic levels</a>&nbsp;as foreign criminal gangs paralyze computer networks at state and local governments, police departments, hospitals and universities — demanding large sums to decrypt the data. Many organizations have failed to invest in the safeguards needed to fend off such attacks, though U.S. officials worry even more about state-backed foreign hackers doing more serious damage.

Any shortcomings by Colonial would be especially egregious given its critical role in the U.S. energy system, providing the East Coast with 45% of its gasoline, jet fuel and other petroleum products.

Smallwood, a partner at iMERGE and managing director of the Institute for Information Governance, said he prepared a 24-month, $1.3 million plan for Colonial. While&nbsp;<a href="https://imergeconsulting.com/" target="_blank">iMERGE’s&nbsp;</a>audit was not directly focused on cybersecurity “we found many security issues, and that was put in the report.”

Colonial’s statements Wednesday suggest it may have heeded a number of Smallwood’s recommendations. In addition, it says it has active monitoring and overlapping threat-detection systems on its network and identified the ransomware attack “as soon as we learned of it.” Colonial said its IT network is strictly segregated from pipeline control systems, which were not affected by the ransomware.

Unlike electrical utilities, the pipeline industry is not subject to mandatory cybersecurity standards, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chair, Richard Glick, called for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/statement-ferc-chairman-richard-glick-chairman-glick-and-commissioner-clements" target="_blank">in a statement Tuesday.</a>

Smallwood’s study was not a cybersecurity audit. It focused on ensuring smooth operations and preventing data theft, which is exactly what Colonial suffered last week. Colonial is not saying what the cybercriminals took before activating the ransomware.

The hackers, from a Russian-speaking syndicate called DarkSide, steal data before locking up networks to doubly extort victims. If a victim refuses to pay, they not only refuse to unscramble the data, they threaten to release sensitive material online. Colonial has not said whether it paid DarkSide.

Smallwood read portions of his report to the AP but would not share it because he said some of the content is confidential. He said he was paid about $50,000 for it.

He cited, for example, Colonial’s inability to locate a particular maintenance document. “You’re supposed to be able to find it within 15 minutes. It took them three weeks.”

Locating such a document could be crucial in responding to an accident or keeping up-to-date pipeline inspection records to prevent leaks, Smallwood said.

Colonial experienced one of the worst&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-charlotte-north-carolina-277ce79717606631bc1aa608b33524f6">gasoline spills&nbsp;</a>in U.S. history last August, contaminating&nbsp;<a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/161498/huntersville-north-carolina-colonial-pipeline-spill" target="_blank">a nature preserve north of Charlotte</a>&nbsp;. After it was discovered by two teenagers, the spill’s severity was not immediately clear as Colonial’s initial reports indicated a far lower volume. North Carolina environmental regulators angrily called the company’s failure to promptly provide reliable data&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article250759789.html" target="_blank">unacceptable.&nbsp;</a>Colonial says it released the best available data on spill volume as the discovery progressed.

Separately, shippers have complained to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that Colonial inflated what it spends on pipeline integrity to deflect accusations it overcharges them. Colonial rejects this, citing the rising costs of safely maintaining its system.

Bill Caram, executive director of the nonprofit watchdog Pipeline Safety Trust, called worrisome the allegations of deficient IT management, piecemeal spill reporting and pipeline integrity issues.

“I think all these things just could paint a picture of the culture at Colonial maybe not taking risks seriously enough,” he said.

Smallwood said he was reluctant to go public about the Colonial audit for fear of alienating future clients “but the gravity of the situation demands that the public know just how fragile some of these systems within our infrastructure are.”

One of his main recommendations was that Colonial hire a chief information security officer, a position that cybersecurity experts consider essential in any company with infrastructure vital to national security. Colonial said it instead assigned those responsibilities to a subordinate of chief information officer Marie Mouchet.

Mouchet was on the advisory board of Rausch when it did a cybersecurity study for Colonial concurrent to Smallwood’s audit. Asked if that might present a conflict of interest, Rausch CEO Michael Lisenby said Mochet’s advisory board seat is an unpaid, voluntary position.

Smallwood’s recommendations included a data loss prevention program to ensure highly confidential, marketable data — such as details on how the pipeline is used — could not be easily removed.

Colonial says it has strengthened data-loss-prevention defenses with three different software tools that provide alerts when data leaves the network.

Smallwood said he found no security-awareness training, which mostly teaches employees not to fall victim to phishing, the cause of more than 90% of cyber-intrusions. But Colonial said its expanded cybersecurity regime includes regular simulated phishing campaigns for employees.

The audit “covered environmental procurement, legal risk, business development, asset integrity, accounting and tax safety operations, information technology, (Microsoft) SharePoint and human resources. And so it was a very comprehensive assessment,” said Smallwood.

Originally founded by nine oil companies in 1962, Colonial is privately held. It’s owners include a pair of private equity firms, a Canadian fund manager, a Koch Industries subsidiary and a subsidiary of Shell Midstream Partners. The company does not release earnings or revenue figures.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620643205978.png" alt="&nbsp;The pipeline system spans more than 5,500 miles between Houston, Texas and Linden, New Jersey-image courtesy Colonial Pipeline" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The pipeline system spans more than 5,500 miles between Houston, Texas and Linden, New Jersey-image courtesy Colonial Pipeline</figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) —The nation’s largest fuel pipeline is flowing again after the company that runs it was hit by a gang of hackers. But long lines remain at gas stations throughout the Southeast. An outside audit three years ago of the major East Coast pipeline company hit by a cyberattack found “atrocious” information management practices and “a patchwork of poorly connected and secured systems,” its author told The Associated Press.“We found glaring deficiencies and big problems,” said Robert F. Smallwood, whose consulting firm delivered an 89-page report in January 2018 after a six-month audit. “I mean an eighth-grader could have hacked into that system.”How far the company, Colonial Pipeline, went to address the vulnerabilities isn’t clear. Colonial said Wednesday that since 2017, it has hired four independent firms for cybersecurity risk assessments and increased its overall IT spending by more than 50%. While it did not specify an amount, it said it has spent tens of millions of dollars.“We are constantly assessing and improving our security practices — both physical and digital,” the privately held Georgia company said in response to questions from the AP about the audit’s findings. It did not name the firms who did cybersecurity work but one firm, Rausch Advisory Services, located in Atlanta near Colonial’s headquarters, acknowledged being among them. Colonial’s chief information officer sits on Rausch’s advisory board.Colonial has not said how the hackers penetrated its network. How vulnerable it was to compromise is sure to be intensely scrutinized by federal authorities and cybersecurity experts as they consider how the most damaging cyberattack on U.S. critical infrastructure might have been prevented.Friday’s pipeline shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-technology-business-938b33938fe3a750367fb1dc2f7ce6e0">has led to distribution problems and panic-buying</a>, draining supplies at thousands of gas stations in the Southeast. Colonial said it initiated the restart of pipeline operations on Wednesday afternoon and that it would take several days for supply delivery to return to normal.Ransomware&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-canada-health-coronavirus-technology-288c8979c10b648ba72a4b0fc34b02ac">attacks have reached epidemic levels</a>&nbsp;as foreign criminal gangs paralyze computer networks at state and local governments, police departments, hospitals and universities — demanding large sums to decrypt the data. Many organizations have failed to invest in the safeguards needed to fend off such attacks, though U.S. officials worry even more about state-backed foreign hackers doing more serious damage.Any shortcomings by Colonial would be especially egregious given its critical role in the U.S. energy system, providing the East Coast with 45% of its gasoline, jet fuel and other petroleum products.Smallwood, a partner at iMERGE and managing director of the Institute for Information Governance, said he prepared a 24-month, $1.3 million plan for Colonial. While&nbsp;<a href="https://imergeconsulting.com/" target="_blank">iMERGE’s&nbsp;</a>audit was not directly focused on cybersecurity “we found many security issues, and that was put in the report.”Colonial’s statements Wednesday suggest it may have heeded a number of Smallwood’s recommendations. In addition, it says it has active monitoring and overlapping threat-detection systems on its network and identified the ransomware attack “as soon as we learned of it.” Colonial said its IT network is strictly segregated from pipeline control systems, which were not affected by the ransomware.Unlike electrical utilities, the pipeline industry is not subject to mandatory cybersecurity standards, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chair, Richard Glick, called for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/statement-ferc-chairman-richard-glick-chairman-glick-and-commissioner-clements" target="_blank">in a statement Tuesday.</a>Smallwood’s study was not a cybersecurity audit. It focused on ensuring smooth operations and preventing data theft, which is exactly what Colonial suffered last week. Colonial is not saying what the cybercriminals took before activating the ransomware.The hackers, from a Russian-speaking syndicate called DarkSide, steal data before locking up networks to doubly extort victims. If a victim refuses to pay, they not only refuse to unscramble the data, they threaten to release sensitive material online. Colonial has not said whether it paid DarkSide.Smallwood read portions of his report to the AP but would not share it because he said some of the content is confidential. He said he was paid about $50,000 for it.He cited, for example, Colonial’s inability to locate a particular maintenance document. “You’re supposed to be able to find it within 15 minutes. It took them three weeks.”Locating such a document could be crucial in responding to an accident or keeping up-to-date pipeline inspection records to prevent leaks, Smallwood said.Colonial experienced one of the worst&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-charlotte-north-carolina-277ce79717606631bc1aa608b33524f6">gasoline spills&nbsp;</a>in U.S. history last August, contaminating&nbsp;<a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/161498/huntersville-north-carolina-colonial-pipeline-spill" target="_blank">a nature preserve north of Charlotte</a>&nbsp;. After it was discovered by two teenagers, the spill’s severity was not immediately clear as Colonial’s initial reports indicated a far lower volume. North Carolina environmental regulators angrily called the company’s failure to promptly provide reliable data&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article250759789.html" target="_blank">unacceptable.&nbsp;</a>Colonial says it released the best available data on spill volume as the discovery progressed.Separately, shippers have complained to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that Colonial inflated what it spends on pipeline integrity to deflect accusations it overcharges them. Colonial rejects this, citing the rising costs of safely maintaining its system.Bill Caram, executive director of the nonprofit watchdog Pipeline Safety Trust, called worrisome the allegations of deficient IT management, piecemeal spill reporting and pipeline integrity issues.“I think all these things just could paint a picture of the culture at Colonial maybe not taking risks seriously enough,” he said.Smallwood said he was reluctant to go public about the Colonial audit for fear of alienating future clients “but the gravity of the situation demands that the public know just how fragile some of these systems within our infrastructure are.”One of his main recommendations was that Colonial hire a chief information security officer, a position that cybersecurity experts consider essential in any company with infrastructure vital to national security. Colonial said it instead assigned those responsibilities to a subordinate of chief information officer Marie Mouchet.Mouchet was on the advisory board of Rausch when it did a cybersecurity study for Colonial concurrent to Smallwood’s audit. Asked if that might present a conflict of interest, Rausch CEO Michael Lisenby said Mochet’s advisory board seat is an unpaid, voluntary position.Smallwood’s recommendations included a data loss prevention program to ensure highly confidential, marketable data — such as details on how the pipeline is used — could not be easily removed.Colonial says it has strengthened data-loss-prevention defenses with three different software tools that provide alerts when data leaves the network.Smallwood said he found no security-awareness training, which mostly teaches employees not to fall victim to phishing, the cause of more than 90% of cyber-intrusions. But Colonial said its expanded cybersecurity regime includes regular simulated phishing campaigns for employees.The audit “covered environmental procurement, legal risk, business development, asset integrity, accounting and tax safety operations, information technology, (Microsoft) SharePoint and human resources. And so it was a very comprehensive assessment,” said Smallwood.Originally founded by nine oil companies in 1962, Colonial is privately held. It’s owners include a pair of private equity firms, a Canadian fund manager, a Koch Industries subsidiary and a subsidiary of Shell Midstream Partners. The company does not release earnings or revenue figures.___

Report: '8th-grader could have hacked' nation's largest fuel pipeline

GRANT COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Ulysses Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office shared new information related to the fatal shooting that occurred April 28, at&nbsp; Russ Binney Park in Ulysses, according to a media release from the KBI.

On May 2, 14-year-old<a href="https://obittree.com/funeral-home/united-states/kansas/ulysses/garnand-funeral-home---ulysses/245404/1084/"> Christopher Garcia,</a> who was injured in this incident, died at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita.

Just after 4 p.m. Thursday, deputies from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 13-year-old boy from Ulysses on requested charges of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property.

Following his arrest, the teen was transported to the Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Garden City.&nbsp;

GRANT COUNTY —A Southwest Kansas teen critically injured last week after he was shot in the neck and face has died, according to Melissa Underwood, spokesperson for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Relatives of 14-year-old Christopher Garcia's family <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/hb6cc-christophers-medical-expenses?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer">established a fundraiser</a> to help with medical expenses.

Just after 6:30 p.m., April 28, a resident who lived near the Russ Binney Park in Ulysses, Kansas called 911 after hearing gun shots fired in the park, according to a media release from the KBI.

Officers responded to the park at the northeast corner of the intersection of W. Santa Fe Ave. and S. College Street., where they found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound to his face.

Preliminary information indicates that six teenagers, four boys and two girls, were spending time in the park when Garcia was struck by a round from a handgun that one of the teens possessed.

EMS responded to the scene and transported Garcia to the Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital. He was later flown to Ascension Via Christi hospital in Wichita and died over the weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620988496643.png" alt="Christopher Garcia&nbsp;was a student at Kepley Middle School in Ulysses. He died May 2 at a Wichita hospital. Photo courtesy Garnand Funeral Home" />
 <figcaption>Christopher Garcia&nbsp;was a student at Kepley Middle School in Ulysses. He died May 2 at a Wichita hospital. Photo courtesy Garnand Funeral Home</figcaption>
 </figure>GRANT COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Ulysses Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office shared new information related to the fatal shooting that occurred April 28, at&nbsp; Russ Binney Park in Ulysses, according to a media release from the KBI.On May 2, 14-year-old<a href="https://obittree.com/funeral-home/united-states/kansas/ulysses/garnand-funeral-home---ulysses/245404/1084/"> Christopher Garcia,</a> who was injured in this incident, died at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita.Just after 4 p.m. Thursday, deputies from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 13-year-old boy from Ulysses on requested charges of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property.Following his arrest, the teen was transported to the Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Garden City.&nbsp;-------GRANT COUNTY —A Southwest Kansas teen critically injured last week after he was shot in the neck and face has died, according to Melissa Underwood, spokesperson for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620053851062.png" alt="The incident occurred at Russ Binney Park in Ulysses -Google image" />
 <figcaption>The incident occurred at Russ Binney Park in Ulysses -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>Relatives of 14-year-old Christopher Garcia's family <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/hb6cc-christophers-medical-expenses?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer">established a fundraiser</a> to help with medical expenses.Just after 6:30 p.m., April 28, a resident who lived near the Russ Binney Park in Ulysses, Kansas called 911 after hearing gun shots fired in the park, according to a media release from the KBI.Officers responded to the park at the northeast corner of the intersection of W. Santa Fe Ave. and S. College Street., where they found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound to his face.Preliminary information indicates that six teenagers, four boys and two girls, were spending time in the park when Garcia was struck by a round from a handgun that one of the teens possessed.EMS responded to the scene and transported Garcia to the Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital. He was later flown to Ascension Via Christi hospital in Wichita and died over the weekend.Authorities have not reported an arrest.

KBI: 13-year-old arrested for fatal shooting at SW Kan. park

JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug distribution and other charges after a Kansas traffic stop.

Deputies stopped a truck for a traffic violation on Interstate 35 near Sunflower Road, according to a social media report from the Johnson County Sheriff's Department.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Deputies picked up on the scent of marijuana coming from the back of vehicle and seized 150 pounds of marijuana.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The driver was transporting the drugs from California to Ohio, according to the sheriff's department.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620936435565.png" alt="The driver was transporting 150 pounds of marijuana from California to Ohio." />
 <figcaption>The driver was transporting 150 pounds of marijuana from California to Ohio.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug distribution and other charges after a Kansas traffic stop.Deputies stopped a truck for a traffic violation on Interstate 35 near Sunflower Road, according to a social media report from the Johnson County Sheriff's Department.&nbsp;&nbsp;Deputies picked up on the scent of marijuana coming from the back of vehicle and seized 150 pounds of marijuana.&nbsp;&nbsp;The driver was transporting the drugs from California to Ohio, according to the sheriff's department.&nbsp;

Kansas deputies seize 150 pounds of marijuana 

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A 20-year-old man has pleaded guilty in the death of a Kansas woman who was hit by a bullet during an arts event in Kansas City in 2019.

Deon’te Copkney, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Aug. 3, 2019, death of Erin Langhofer, 25, of Overland Park, Kansas.

Langhofer was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9e9b3e3e2b0b4523baffba1c33474920">shot in the head</a>&nbsp;while she stood near a food truck at a First Friday event in the city’s Crossroads Art District.

Copkney told detectives he emptied the clip of his gun as he ran from a group that he and his friends had fought with, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article251334313.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. He said he fired into the air and didn’t intend to hurt anyone.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1564943704643.png" alt="Deon'te Copkney photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Deon'te Copkney photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A 20-year-old man has pleaded guilty in the death of a Kansas woman who was hit by a bullet during an arts event in Kansas City in 2019.Deon’te Copkney, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Aug. 3, 2019, death of Erin Langhofer, 25, of Overland Park, Kansas.Langhofer was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9e9b3e3e2b0b4523baffba1c33474920">shot in the head</a>&nbsp;while she stood near a food truck at a First Friday event in the city’s Crossroads Art District.Copkney told detectives he emptied the clip of his gun as he ran from a group that he and his friends had fought with, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article251334313.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. He said he fired into the air and didn’t intend to hurt anyone.He will be sentenced July 23.

Man pleads guilty in Kan. woman's death at arts event

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people on Thursday, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.

Governor Laura Kelly said Kansas will adopt the CDC guidance. "Fully-vaccinated Kansans are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors or physically distance, except in circumstances such as those required by businesses, public transportation, or health care facilities. Should fully-vaccinated Kansans feel more comfortable wearing a mask, they are welcome to continue doing&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511762-1/president-biden-speaks-rose-garden-cdc-eases-mask-wearing-guidelines">Click here to watch</a> the President's comments

“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address heralding the new guidance.

The guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools, and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.

“We have all longed for this moment — when we can get back to some sense of normalcy,” said Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said at an earlier White House briefing.

The CDC and the Biden administration have faced pressure to ease restrictions on fully vaccinated people — those who are two weeks past their last required COVID-19 vaccine dose — in part to highlight the benefits of getting the shot.

The country’s aggressive vaccination campaign has paid off: U.S. virus cases are at their lowest rate since September, deaths are at their lowest point since last April and the test positivity rate is at the lowest point since the pandemic began.

Walensky said the long-awaited change is thanks to the millions of people who have gotten vaccinated and is based on the latest science about how well those shots are working.

“Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities -– large or small — without wearing a mask or physically distancing,” Walensky said. “If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.”

The new guidance is likely to open the door to confusion, since there is no surefire way for businesses or others to distinguish between those who are fully vaccinated and those who are not. Walensky said those who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks indoors.

To date about 154 million Americans, more than 46% of the population, have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and more than 117 million are fully vaccinated. The rate of new vaccinations has slowed in recent weeks, but with the authorization Wednesday of the Pfizer shot for children ages 12 to 15, a new burst of doses is expected in the coming days.

Just two weeks ago, the CDC recommended that fully vaccinated people continue to wear masks indoors in all settings and outdoors in large crowds.

Walensky said evidence from the U.S. and Israel shows the vaccines are as strongly protective in real world use as they were in earlier studies, and that so far they continue to work even though some worrying mutated versions of the virus are spreading.

The more people continue to get vaccinated, the faster infections will drop — and the harder it will be for the virus to mutate enough to escape vaccines, she stressed, urging everyone 12 and older who’s not yet vaccinated to sign up.

And while some people still get COVID-19 despite being vaccinated, Walensky said, that’s rare. She cited evidence that those infections tend to be milder, shorter and harder to spread to others. If people who are vaccinated do develop COVID-19 symptoms, they should immediately put their mask back on and get tested, she said.

There are some caveats. Walensky encouraged people who have weak immune systems, such as from organ transplants or cancer treatment, to talk with their doctors before shedding their masks. That’s because of continued uncertainty about whether the vaccines can rev up a weakened immune system as well as they do normal, healthy ones.

The new guidance had an immediate effect at the White House, which has taken a cautious approach to easing virus restrictions. Staffers were informed that masks are no longer required for people who are fully vaccinated. And Biden, who was meeting with vaccinated Republican lawmakers in the Oval Office when the guidance was announced, led the group in removing their masks Thursday afternoon.

First lady Jill Biden, who was traveling in West Virginia, told reporters that “we feel naked,” after the guidance, as she and her party removed their face coverings. Then she paused. “I didn’t mean it that way!”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620937926737.png" alt="“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address with Vice President Harris heralding the new guidance.-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address with Vice President Harris heralding the new guidance.-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people on Thursday, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.Governor Laura Kelly said Kansas will adopt the CDC guidance. "Fully-vaccinated Kansans are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors or physically distance, except in circumstances such as those required by businesses, public transportation, or health care facilities. Should fully-vaccinated Kansans feel more comfortable wearing a mask, they are welcome to continue doing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511762-1/president-biden-speaks-rose-garden-cdc-eases-mask-wearing-guidelines">Click here to watch</a> the President's comments“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address heralding the new guidance.The guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools, and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.“We have all longed for this moment — when we can get back to some sense of normalcy,” said Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said at an earlier White House briefing.The CDC and the Biden administration have faced pressure to ease restrictions on fully vaccinated people — those who are two weeks past their last required COVID-19 vaccine dose — in part to highlight the benefits of getting the shot.The country’s aggressive vaccination campaign has paid off: U.S. virus cases are at their lowest rate since September, deaths are at their lowest point since last April and the test positivity rate is at the lowest point since the pandemic began.Walensky said the long-awaited change is thanks to the millions of people who have gotten vaccinated and is based on the latest science about how well those shots are working.“Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities -– large or small — without wearing a mask or physically distancing,” Walensky said. “If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.”The new guidance is likely to open the door to confusion, since there is no surefire way for businesses or others to distinguish between those who are fully vaccinated and those who are not. Walensky said those who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks indoors.To date about 154 million Americans, more than 46% of the population, have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and more than 117 million are fully vaccinated. The rate of new vaccinations has slowed in recent weeks, but with the authorization Wednesday of the Pfizer shot for children ages 12 to 15, a new burst of doses is expected in the coming days.Just two weeks ago, the CDC recommended that fully vaccinated people continue to wear masks indoors in all settings and outdoors in large crowds.Walensky said evidence from the U.S. and Israel shows the vaccines are as strongly protective in real world use as they were in earlier studies, and that so far they continue to work even though some worrying mutated versions of the virus are spreading.The more people continue to get vaccinated, the faster infections will drop — and the harder it will be for the virus to mutate enough to escape vaccines, she stressed, urging everyone 12 and older who’s not yet vaccinated to sign up.And while some people still get COVID-19 despite being vaccinated, Walensky said, that’s rare. She cited evidence that those infections tend to be milder, shorter and harder to spread to others. If people who are vaccinated do develop COVID-19 symptoms, they should immediately put their mask back on and get tested, she said.There are some caveats. Walensky encouraged people who have weak immune systems, such as from organ transplants or cancer treatment, to talk with their doctors before shedding their masks. That’s because of continued uncertainty about whether the vaccines can rev up a weakened immune system as well as they do normal, healthy ones.The new guidance had an immediate effect at the White House, which has taken a cautious approach to easing virus restrictions. Staffers were informed that masks are no longer required for people who are fully vaccinated. And Biden, who was meeting with vaccinated Republican lawmakers in the Oval Office when the guidance was announced, led the group in removing their masks Thursday afternoon.First lady Jill Biden, who was traveling in West Virginia, told reporters that “we feel naked,” after the guidance, as she and her party removed their face coverings. Then she paused. “I didn’t mean it that way!”___

🎥 Biden: Great day for America; Kan. adopts updated mask guidance

GREENWOOD COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 6a.m. Thursday in Greenwood County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford F150 driven by Jennifer L.&nbsp;Hoffman, 38, Wichita,&nbsp;was eastbound&nbsp;U. S. 400 three miles east of Beaumont

The pickup crossed the center line and struck a 1998 Peterbilt semi driven by Travis E. Martin, 35, Aurora, Missouri, in the westbound lanes.

A passenger in the Ford identified as Rebecca A. Castillo, 41, Augusta, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Sedgwick County Forensics Science Center.

EMS transported Hoffman to the Greenwood County Hospital.&nbsp; Martin was not injured. Castillo was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

GREENWOOD COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 6a.m. Thursday in Greenwood County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford F150 driven by Jennifer L.&nbsp;Hoffman, 38, Wichita,&nbsp;was eastbound&nbsp;U. S. 400 three miles east of BeaumontThe pickup crossed the center line and struck a 1998 Peterbilt semi driven by Travis E. Martin, 35, Aurora, Missouri, in the westbound lanes.A passenger in the Ford identified as Rebecca A. Castillo, 41, Augusta, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Sedgwick County Forensics Science Center.EMS transported Hoffman to the Greenwood County Hospital.&nbsp; Martin was not injured. Castillo was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kan. woman dead, 1 injured after crash with semi

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson dropped plans Thursday to expand&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-government-and-politics-c5f58025b7744389905b1527cbab7d4a">the state's Medicaid health care program</a>&nbsp;to thousands of low-income adults after the Republican-led Legislature refused to provide funding for the voter-approved measure.

The Republican governor said his administration had withdrawn a request to expand coverage that had been submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in compliance with a constitutional amendment passed by voters last November.

He noted that the state's $35 billion budget&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-business-medicaid-health-government-and-politics-c32ab3d0d9e124d0517680d790ab8767">approved by lawmakers last week</a>&nbsp;didn't provide the funding he had requested for an expansion of Medicaid, which is known is Missouri as MO HealthNet.

"Without a revenue source or funding authority from the General Assembly, we are unable to proceed with the expansion at this time and must withdraw our State Plan Amendments to ensure Missouri’s existing MO HealthNet program remains solvent,” Parson said Thursday.

The decision is likely to trigger a lawsuit from supporters of Medicaid expansion.

The Missouri ballot measure said people ages 19-65 earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level — less than $17,774 annually for an individual or less than $37,570 for a family of four — “shall be eligible” and “shall receive coverage” for Medicaid benefits starting July 1. The amendment did not change existing eligibility standards for children and seniors, and it did not say how to pay for the expansion that is projected to cover a couple hundred thousand people.

Parson had opposed Medicaid expansion at the ballot box, but he said he would uphold the will of voters and so had included funding for it in the budget he proposed to lawmakers earlier this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590623054100.png" alt="Missouri’s Medicaid program currently does not cover most adults without children, and its income eligibility threshold for parents is one of the lowest in the nation at about one-fifth of the poverty level.&nbsp; In February, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced legislation to expand Medicaid (Kancare) and provide health insurance for 165,000 Kansans. The legislation also established a regulatory framework to make Kansas the 48th state to legalize medical marijuana.&nbsp; The bill went nowhere.&nbsp;Kansas is&nbsp;one of 12 states&nbsp;which has not expanded Medicaid since the Affordable Care Act went into effect in 2010." />
 <figcaption>Missouri’s Medicaid program currently does not cover most adults without children, and its income eligibility threshold for parents is one of the lowest in the nation at about one-fifth of the poverty level.&nbsp; In February, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced legislation to expand Medicaid (Kancare) and provide health insurance for 165,000 Kansans. The legislation also established a regulatory framework to make Kansas the 48th state to legalize medical marijuana.&nbsp; The bill went nowhere.&nbsp;Kansas is&nbsp;one of 12 states&nbsp;which has not expanded Medicaid since the Affordable Care Act went into effect in 2010.</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson dropped plans Thursday to expand&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-government-and-politics-c5f58025b7744389905b1527cbab7d4a">the state's Medicaid health care program</a>&nbsp;to thousands of low-income adults after the Republican-led Legislature refused to provide funding for the voter-approved measure.The Republican governor said his administration had withdrawn a request to expand coverage that had been submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in compliance with a constitutional amendment passed by voters last November.He noted that the state's $35 billion budget&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-business-medicaid-health-government-and-politics-c32ab3d0d9e124d0517680d790ab8767">approved by lawmakers last week</a>&nbsp;didn't provide the funding he had requested for an expansion of Medicaid, which is known is Missouri as MO HealthNet."Without a revenue source or funding authority from the General Assembly, we are unable to proceed with the expansion at this time and must withdraw our State Plan Amendments to ensure Missouri’s existing MO HealthNet program remains solvent,” Parson said Thursday.The decision is likely to trigger a lawsuit from supporters of Medicaid expansion.The Missouri ballot measure said people ages 19-65 earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level — less than $17,774 annually for an individual or less than $37,570 for a family of four — “shall be eligible” and “shall receive coverage” for Medicaid benefits starting July 1. The amendment did not change existing eligibility standards for children and seniors, and it did not say how to pay for the expansion that is projected to cover a couple hundred thousand people.Parson had opposed Medicaid expansion at the ballot box, but he said he would uphold the will of voters and so had included funding for it in the budget he proposed to lawmakers earlier this year.

Missouri Governor drops voter-approved Medicaid expansion

By TOM FOREMAN JR., JEFF MARTIN and BEN FINLEY, Associated Press

CLEMMONS, N.C. (AP) — Gas pumps remained shrouded by plastic bags Thursday at thousands of service stations across more than a dozen U.S. states, but the situation could improve as a pipeline company reported “substantial progress" in resuming operations after a computer hack led to its shutdown.

Despite signs of progress in restarting the pipeline, nearly 70% of&nbsp;North Carolina's gas stations on Thursday were still without fuel, as were about half the stations in&nbsp;South Carolina&nbsp;and&nbsp;Georgia, GasBuddy.com reported.

Drivers on the East Coast were also having trouble, with more than half the stations tapped out in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/virginia">Virginia</a>. Washington, D.C., was among the hardest-hit places Thursday, with 73% of stations out, the site's tracking service showed.

“I can’t get paid until my customers get their products,” said Mary Goldburg of Norfolk, Virginia, whose job includes delivering T-shirts for events and other promotional products.

In a Thursday update, the Georgia-based pipeline company said gasoline delivery is now underway in most of its markets.

The Colonial Pipeline stretches from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/texas">Texas</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-jersey">New Jersey</a>, but the northeastern U.S. has seen fewer disruptions since those states are supplied more by other sources such as ocean tankers.

Gas is flowing again across most of the Deep South, and other parts that were offline in the Mid-Atlantic region were expected to become operational later Thursday, the company said.

“We are not out of the woods yet, but the trees are thinning out,” Richard Joswick, global head of oil analytics at S&amp;P Global Platts said in an email. He estimates that full recovery for the East Coast and Gulf Coast will take a couple of weeks at least due to lags and limits for all shipping options.

The cybersecurity attack on the Colonial Pipeline forced a temporary shutdown of the nation's largest fuel pipeline, prompting panic-buying and long lines that quickly wiped out supplies around the southeastern U.S. The company resumed pipeline operations late Wednesday, but said it would take several days for deliveries to return to normal.

President Joe Biden said Thursday that U.S. officials do not believe the Russian government was involved in the Colonial Pipeline hack, but “we do have strong reason to believe that the criminals who did the attack are living in Russia. That’s where it came from.”

The U.S. had been in direct communication with Moscow about the need to take action against ransom networks, Biden said. The FBI has said the ransomware belonged to a criminal syndicate known as DarkSide.

In Virginia, the run on gas prompted an urgent warning Thursday that people should never siphon gasoline after calls in recent days about people being poisoned.

There have been a handful of cases in the region covered by the Blue Ridge Poison center at UVA Health, including a significant one Wednesday that prompted the warning, said Dr. Chris Holstege, the center’s medical director.

A man using an opaque hose to siphon gasoline from a vehicle sucked gasoline right into his lungs, causing significant distress, Holstege said. He is expected to recover and didn’t have to go to intensive care, he said.

The governors of both North Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency to help ensure access. Other governors urged people not to hoard supplies.

“Now that Colonial has restarted pipeline operations, we will see a gradually increasing return to normal conditions that will take several days,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement Thursday.

The Colonial Pipeline delivers about 45% of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. There is no gasoline shortage, according to government officials and energy analysts, just delays in delivering the fuel from Gulf Coast refineries.

The distribution problems have been fraying nerves.

Two people were charged with assault after spitting in each other's faces over spots in a line at a Marathon station in Knightdale, outside Raleigh, on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

In Walton County, Georgia, paramedic Jeff Lisle had just under a quarter-tank of gas in his Jeep and found a small amount in the cans he uses for his lawnmower in case he needed the extra boost to get to work.

The shutdown even affected hikers long the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine">Maine</a>. They depend on cars and vans to access the trail and get supplies.

“Everybody’s out here buying from the same gas pumps, so the lines are long, some are out — you’ve really got to look for it,” said Ron Brown, who operates Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttles.

In Georgia, racetracks and other entertainment venues rely on many fans who drive from surrounding states such as&nbsp;Alabama,&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tennessee, and the concern is that higher gas prices – or shortages – might keep fans at home.

“Fuel prices do affect the amount of people who come, especially long distances,” said Sydney Marshall, general manager of the South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Georgia, and the Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida. “It’s definitely a concern of mine because if there’s a gas shortage, people aren’t going to be able to get here.”

CLEMMONS, N.C. (AP) —The nation’s largest fuel pipeline restarted operations, days after it was forced to shut down by a gang of hackers. 

The disruption caused long lines at gas stations in the Southeast due to distribution problems and panic-buying, draining supplies at thousands of gas stations.

Colonial Pipeline said all lines, including those lateral lines that have been running manually, will return to normal operations. But it will take several days for deliveries to return to normal. In the meantime, drivers have been finding gas stations with little or no gas in some Southeast states. 

A run on gas following the computer hack of the fuel pipeline had North Carolina tow-truck driver Jonathan King worried about whether he could do his job.

“I drive all over the place,” King said at a packed gas station outside Winston-Salem on Wednesday. “It gets really busy. And yeah, with the fuel going the way it’s going, it’s going to be very hard for us. Hopefully we’ll be able to get through it.”

The cybersecurity attack on the Colonial Pipeline has prompted fuel-hoarding and panic-buying in parts of the Southeastern U.S., striking fear and stress among those who’ve waited in long lines for gas. And while Colonial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-technology-business-938b33938fe3a750367fb1dc2f7ce6e0">initiated the restart&nbsp;</a>of pipeline operations late Wednesday, the company said it will take several days for deliveries to return to normal.

The scene at gas stations was far from typical Wednesday after governors of both North Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency to help ensure supply and access to gas.

As people in the region emerge from the lockdowns and limitations of the coronavirus pandemic, some feared the prospect of lost wages and missed doctors appointments. They also worried about canceling plans with family members who they were only beginning to see again.

Mary Goldburg, 60, of Norfolk, Virginia, said she needs her car for work but also to see her grandchildren — whom she barely got to see last year. Her job includes delivering T-shirts for events and other promotional products.

“I can’t get paid until my customers get their products,” said Goldburg as a slow-operating pump filled her tank for more than 20 minutes at a 7-Eleven.

Construction worker Jamar Gatison, 36, was also filling up his tank there Wednesday before he had a doctor’s appointment.

“I’m about to run out of gas, so I have no choice,” Gatison said, adding that he is also is an Uber Eats driver but wasn’t planning on delivering food that night because he didn’t want to wait in line again.

Restaurants and bars, which are already struggling to fill job openings, will find themselves particularly squeezed, said Robert McNab, an economics professor at Virginia’s Old Dominion University. Some workers may not be able to come to work. And some customers may abandon plans to eat out.

“In all likelihood, these service workers will be impacted most significantly, with rising fuel and food prices eating a larger part of their household budgets and income being reduced this month by the fear-induced shortage of gasoline,” McNab said.

The Colonial Pipeline delivers about 45% of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. There is no gasoline shortage, according to government officials and energy analysts. But there has been a problem getting the fuel from refineries on the Gulf Coast to the states that need it, and officials have been scrambling to find alternate routes to deliver that fuel.

The distribution problems and panic-buying have been draining supplies at thousands of gas stations. On Wednesday, four to five cars were lined up at each pump at a Circle K in Clemmons, North Carolina, a community southwest of Winston-Salem along I-40.

Detlef Badorrek said he drove to four gas stations before he found one where he could fill up his car. He expressed concern that motorists may become a little more unnerved as the situation extends itself.

“I sense things could go a little bit more desperately as time goes by. So far, it’s reasonable,” he said.

But not for everyone, apparently. Two people were charged with assault after a fight over spots in a line at a Marathon gas station in Knightdale, outside Raleigh, on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The man and woman arguing over spots each spat in the other’s face before the fight turned physical and a cellphone was damaged, police said.

Video posted on Instagram shows two cars bumped up against each other at a gas station. The woman was charged with simple assault and the man was charged with assault on a female and damage to personal property, police said. Both were cited and released with a pending court date.

In Walton County, Georgia, paramedic Jeff Lisle had just under a quarter-tank of gas in his Jeep — but no one knew of any stations near his house that had gas. So, he went to his garage and found a small amount in the cans he uses for his lawnmower in case he needed the extra boost to make it to work.

As for the ambulances he works in, “we have to buy fuel at gas stations like everybody else does,” he said. That means that whenever possible, the ambulances have been stopping to refuel when they’re lucky enough to drive past a station with gas.

Along the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine, hikers depend on car and van shuttles to access the trail and get supplies.

“Everybody’s out here buying from the same gas pumps, so the lines are long, some are out -- you’ve really got to look for it,” said Ron Brown, who operates Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttles and often takes hikers from Atlanta’s airport into the north Georgia mountains..

But he said that hikers are resourceful enough to get where they need to go.

“It will get rectified because it’s a big deal, and everybody needs gas,” he said. “We’ll just make due until it does.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620643205978.png" alt="&nbsp;The pipeline system spans more than 5,500 miles between Houston, Texas and Linden, New Jersey-image courtesy Colonial Pipeline" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The pipeline system spans more than 5,500 miles between Houston, Texas and Linden, New Jersey-image courtesy Colonial Pipeline</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOM FOREMAN JR., JEFF MARTIN and BEN FINLEY, Associated PressCLEMMONS, N.C. (AP) — Gas pumps remained shrouded by plastic bags Thursday at thousands of service stations across more than a dozen U.S. states, but the situation could improve as a pipeline company reported “substantial progress" in resuming operations after a computer hack led to its shutdown.Despite signs of progress in restarting the pipeline, nearly 70% of&nbsp;North Carolina's gas stations on Thursday were still without fuel, as were about half the stations in&nbsp;South Carolina&nbsp;and&nbsp;Georgia, GasBuddy.com reported.Drivers on the East Coast were also having trouble, with more than half the stations tapped out in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/virginia">Virginia</a>. Washington, D.C., was among the hardest-hit places Thursday, with 73% of stations out, the site's tracking service showed.“I can’t get paid until my customers get their products,” said Mary Goldburg of Norfolk, Virginia, whose job includes delivering T-shirts for events and other promotional products.In a Thursday update, the Georgia-based pipeline company said gasoline delivery is now underway in most of its markets.The Colonial Pipeline stretches from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/texas">Texas</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-jersey">New Jersey</a>, but the northeastern U.S. has seen fewer disruptions since those states are supplied more by other sources such as ocean tankers.Gas is flowing again across most of the Deep South, and other parts that were offline in the Mid-Atlantic region were expected to become operational later Thursday, the company said.“We are not out of the woods yet, but the trees are thinning out,” Richard Joswick, global head of oil analytics at S&amp;P Global Platts said in an email. He estimates that full recovery for the East Coast and Gulf Coast will take a couple of weeks at least due to lags and limits for all shipping options.The cybersecurity attack on the Colonial Pipeline forced a temporary shutdown of the nation's largest fuel pipeline, prompting panic-buying and long lines that quickly wiped out supplies around the southeastern U.S. The company resumed pipeline operations late Wednesday, but said it would take several days for deliveries to return to normal.President Joe Biden said Thursday that U.S. officials do not believe the Russian government was involved in the Colonial Pipeline hack, but “we do have strong reason to believe that the criminals who did the attack are living in Russia. That’s where it came from.”The U.S. had been in direct communication with Moscow about the need to take action against ransom networks, Biden said. The FBI has said the ransomware belonged to a criminal syndicate known as DarkSide.In Virginia, the run on gas prompted an urgent warning Thursday that people should never siphon gasoline after calls in recent days about people being poisoned.There have been a handful of cases in the region covered by the Blue Ridge Poison center at UVA Health, including a significant one Wednesday that prompted the warning, said Dr. Chris Holstege, the center’s medical director.A man using an opaque hose to siphon gasoline from a vehicle sucked gasoline right into his lungs, causing significant distress, Holstege said. He is expected to recover and didn’t have to go to intensive care, he said.The governors of both North Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency to help ensure access. Other governors urged people not to hoard supplies.“Now that Colonial has restarted pipeline operations, we will see a gradually increasing return to normal conditions that will take several days,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement Thursday.The Colonial Pipeline delivers about 45% of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. There is no gasoline shortage, according to government officials and energy analysts, just delays in delivering the fuel from Gulf Coast refineries.The distribution problems have been fraying nerves.Two people were charged with assault after spitting in each other's faces over spots in a line at a Marathon station in Knightdale, outside Raleigh, on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.In Walton County, Georgia, paramedic Jeff Lisle had just under a quarter-tank of gas in his Jeep and found a small amount in the cans he uses for his lawnmower in case he needed the extra boost to get to work.The shutdown even affected hikers long the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine">Maine</a>. They depend on cars and vans to access the trail and get supplies.“Everybody’s out here buying from the same gas pumps, so the lines are long, some are out — you’ve really got to look for it,” said Ron Brown, who operates Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttles.In Georgia, racetracks and other entertainment venues rely on many fans who drive from surrounding states such as&nbsp;Alabama,&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tennessee, and the concern is that higher gas prices – or shortages – might keep fans at home.“Fuel prices do affect the amount of people who come, especially long distances,” said Sydney Marshall, general manager of the South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Georgia, and the Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida. “It’s definitely a concern of mine because if there’s a gas shortage, people aren’t going to be able to get here.”----------CLEMMONS, N.C. (AP) —The nation’s largest fuel pipeline restarted operations, days after it was forced to shut down by a gang of hackers. The disruption caused long lines at gas stations in the Southeast due to distribution problems and panic-buying, draining supplies at thousands of gas stations.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Do not fill plastic bags with gasoline.&mdash; US Consumer Product Safety Commission (@USCPSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/USCPSC/status/1392482092823502849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Colonial Pipeline said all lines, including those lateral lines that have been running manually, will return to normal operations. But it will take several days for deliveries to return to normal. In the meantime, drivers have been finding gas stations with little or no gas in some Southeast states. A run on gas following the computer hack of the fuel pipeline had North Carolina tow-truck driver Jonathan King worried about whether he could do his job.“I drive all over the place,” King said at a packed gas station outside Winston-Salem on Wednesday. “It gets really busy. And yeah, with the fuel going the way it’s going, it’s going to be very hard for us. Hopefully we’ll be able to get through it.”The cybersecurity attack on the Colonial Pipeline has prompted fuel-hoarding and panic-buying in parts of the Southeastern U.S., striking fear and stress among those who’ve waited in long lines for gas. And while Colonial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-technology-business-938b33938fe3a750367fb1dc2f7ce6e0">initiated the restart&nbsp;</a>of pipeline operations late Wednesday, the company said it will take several days for deliveries to return to normal.The scene at gas stations was far from typical Wednesday after governors of both North Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency to help ensure supply and access to gas.As people in the region emerge from the lockdowns and limitations of the coronavirus pandemic, some feared the prospect of lost wages and missed doctors appointments. They also worried about canceling plans with family members who they were only beginning to see again.Mary Goldburg, 60, of Norfolk, Virginia, said she needs her car for work but also to see her grandchildren — whom she barely got to see last year. Her job includes delivering T-shirts for events and other promotional products.“I can’t get paid until my customers get their products,” said Goldburg as a slow-operating pump filled her tank for more than 20 minutes at a 7-Eleven.Construction worker Jamar Gatison, 36, was also filling up his tank there Wednesday before he had a doctor’s appointment.“I’m about to run out of gas, so I have no choice,” Gatison said, adding that he is also is an Uber Eats driver but wasn’t planning on delivering food that night because he didn’t want to wait in line again.Restaurants and bars, which are already struggling to fill job openings, will find themselves particularly squeezed, said Robert McNab, an economics professor at Virginia’s Old Dominion University. Some workers may not be able to come to work. And some customers may abandon plans to eat out.“In all likelihood, these service workers will be impacted most significantly, with rising fuel and food prices eating a larger part of their household budgets and income being reduced this month by the fear-induced shortage of gasoline,” McNab said.The Colonial Pipeline delivers about 45% of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. There is no gasoline shortage, according to government officials and energy analysts. But there has been a problem getting the fuel from refineries on the Gulf Coast to the states that need it, and officials have been scrambling to find alternate routes to deliver that fuel.The distribution problems and panic-buying have been draining supplies at thousands of gas stations. On Wednesday, four to five cars were lined up at each pump at a Circle K in Clemmons, North Carolina, a community southwest of Winston-Salem along I-40.Detlef Badorrek said he drove to four gas stations before he found one where he could fill up his car. He expressed concern that motorists may become a little more unnerved as the situation extends itself.“I sense things could go a little bit more desperately as time goes by. So far, it’s reasonable,” he said.But not for everyone, apparently. Two people were charged with assault after a fight over spots in a line at a Marathon gas station in Knightdale, outside Raleigh, on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.The man and woman arguing over spots each spat in the other’s face before the fight turned physical and a cellphone was damaged, police said.Video posted on Instagram shows two cars bumped up against each other at a gas station. The woman was charged with simple assault and the man was charged with assault on a female and damage to personal property, police said. Both were cited and released with a pending court date.In Walton County, Georgia, paramedic Jeff Lisle had just under a quarter-tank of gas in his Jeep — but no one knew of any stations near his house that had gas. So, he went to his garage and found a small amount in the cans he uses for his lawnmower in case he needed the extra boost to make it to work.As for the ambulances he works in, “we have to buy fuel at gas stations like everybody else does,” he said. That means that whenever possible, the ambulances have been stopping to refuel when they’re lucky enough to drive past a station with gas.Along the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine, hikers depend on car and van shuttles to access the trail and get supplies.“Everybody’s out here buying from the same gas pumps, so the lines are long, some are out -- you’ve really got to look for it,” said Ron Brown, who operates Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttles and often takes hikers from Atlanta’s airport into the north Georgia mountains..But he said that hikers are resourceful enough to get where they need to go.“It will get rectified because it’s a big deal, and everybody needs gas,” he said. “We’ll just make due until it does.”___

Gas crunch continues across much of US after pipeline hack

MCPHERSON, Kan. (AP) — McPherson officials are investigating after seven headstones were damaged or moved at a cemetery. Cemetery officials say sometime last week vandals knocked over and broke the headstones, and one was moved to nearby train tracks. 

McPherson police patrol the cemetery every night but no one saw the vandals. Some of the vandalized monuments date back to the 1800s. The damages range from about $200 to $500. 

The McPherson Public Lands Department has replaced four of the stones but it could take weeks before the other three are repaired.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620919664951.png" alt="Cemetery vandalism in McPherson -photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Cemetery vandalism in McPherson -photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON, Kan. (AP) — McPherson officials are investigating after seven headstones were damaged or moved at a cemetery. Cemetery officials say sometime last week vandals knocked over and broke the headstones, and one was moved to nearby train tracks. McPherson police patrol the cemetery every night but no one saw the vandals. Some of the vandalized monuments date back to the 1800s. The damages range from about $200 to $500. The McPherson Public Lands Department has replaced four of the stones but it could take weeks before the other three are repaired.

Several headstones vandalized at McPherson Cemetery

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — A local coroner says three teenagers who died last weekend when their car crashed into the Cottonwood River south of Emporia drowned. 

Television station KSN says the Lyon County Sheriff’s office released the coroner's report on Wednesday. The wreck was discovered around 6:30 p.m. Saturday after injured 15-year-old Ashely Edwards was spotted walking down the road. The girl told deputies that she had been a passenger in a car that crashed. 

Authorities pulled a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix from the river with three people inside. The sheriff’s office said 17-year-old Chase Luby, 13-year-old Paxton Luby and 17-year-old Shelby Phoenix all died in the accident. The injured girl was taken to a hospital.

LYON COUNTY — Three Kansas teens died in an accident Saturday in Lyon County.

Just before 6:30p.m. Saturday, police and sheriff's deputies responded to reports of an injured woman walking in the 800 Block of Road 147&nbsp; five miles south of Emporia, according to the Lyon County Sheriff's Department.

When they arrived, they located&nbsp; 15-year-old Ashely Edwards who had been a passenger in a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix that traveled off the road and into the Cottonwood River.

First responders found three others&nbsp; dead inside the car which was submerged in the river. The sheriff's department identified them as 17-year-0ld Chase Luby, 13-year-old Paxton Luby and 17-year-old Shelby Phoenix.

EMS transported Edwards to the hospital in Emporia. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, according to the sheriff's department.

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — A local coroner says three teenagers who died last weekend when their car crashed into the Cottonwood River south of Emporia drowned. Television station KSN says the Lyon County Sheriff’s office released the coroner's report on Wednesday. The wreck was discovered around 6:30 p.m. Saturday after injured 15-year-old Ashely Edwards was spotted walking down the road. The girl told deputies that she had been a passenger in a car that crashed. Authorities pulled a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix from the river with three people inside. The sheriff’s office said 17-year-old Chase Luby, 13-year-old Paxton Luby and 17-year-old Shelby Phoenix all died in the accident. The injured girl was taken to a hospital.------------LYON COUNTY — Three Kansas teens died in an accident Saturday in Lyon County.Just before 6:30p.m. Saturday, police and sheriff's deputies responded to reports of an injured woman walking in the 800 Block of Road 147&nbsp; five miles south of Emporia, according to the Lyon County Sheriff's Department.When they arrived, they located&nbsp; 15-year-old Ashely Edwards who had been a passenger in a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix that traveled off the road and into the Cottonwood River.First responders found three others&nbsp; dead inside the car which was submerged in the river. The sheriff's department identified them as 17-year-0ld Chase Luby, 13-year-old Paxton Luby and 17-year-old Shelby Phoenix.EMS transported Edwards to the hospital in Emporia. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, according to the sheriff's department.

Coroner: 3 Kan. teens who died in river crash drowned

Kan. man escapes injury after truck hits overhead power line

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

A Kansas man was sentenced to more than seven and a half years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty earlier this year to a pair of child sex crimes.

Christopher Leroy Boese, 20, Hays was sentenced to 94 months or seven years and 10 months in prison for criminal sodomy and electronic solicitation of a minor in Ellis County District Court.

Boese was also originally charged with rape but that charge was dropped as a result of the&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/75fb48e5-e093-4014-812f-3efb4f3ec5b2">plea agreement</a>&nbsp;reached in March.

Boese, according to court documents, was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old on Dec. 29, 2019. He used Snapchat to message and set up the encounter with the girl he believed to be 15, documents said.

Once he is released from prison, Boese will be required to register as a sex offender for life and will be subject to post-release supervision, formerly parole, for life.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620913721955.png" alt="Boese photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Boese photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostA Kansas man was sentenced to more than seven and a half years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty earlier this year to a pair of child sex crimes.Christopher Leroy Boese, 20, Hays was sentenced to 94 months or seven years and 10 months in prison for criminal sodomy and electronic solicitation of a minor in Ellis County District Court.Boese was also originally charged with rape but that charge was dropped as a result of the&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/75fb48e5-e093-4014-812f-3efb4f3ec5b2">plea agreement</a>&nbsp;reached in March.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620861121456.png" alt="Boese in his original Ellis County booking photo" />
 <figcaption>Boese in his original Ellis County booking photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Boese, according to court documents, was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old on Dec. 29, 2019. He used Snapchat to message and set up the encounter with the girl he believed to be 15, documents said.Once he is released from prison, Boese will be required to register as a sex offender for life and will be subject to post-release supervision, formerly parole, for life.

Hays man must register as sex offender as part of plea deal

A plea deal was accepted and the person behind the wheel in
the drive-by shooting last August that took the life of a two-year-old St.
Joseph girl has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg accepted the plea bargain reached
between 21-year-old Te’Avion Hawkins of Platte City and the
Buchanan County Prosecutor’s office. Kellogg sentenced Hawkins to 10 years in
prison during his hearing in a Buchanan County courtroom this afternoon.

Hawkins was the driver of the vehicle last August that pulled
up along side the car in which Raelynn Craig was a passenger. Two passengers in
Hawkins’ car, 21-year-old Marcain Kimbrough-Ballard of St. Joseph and 21-year-old Caimon
Ramone Stillman of St. Joseph, opened fire.&nbsp; They fired
14 shots into the car, wounding two adults and killing Raelynn.

The prosecutor’s office says Hawkins provided the identities
of the two shooters after police tracked down his car and arrested him.

Kimbrough-Ballard was sentenced to 26 years in prison.
Stillman received a 24-year sentence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620850690884.jpeg" alt="Te'Avion Hawkins and his attorney listen as Buchanan County Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg pronounces sentence./Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Te'Avion Hawkins and his attorney listen as Buchanan County Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg pronounces sentence./Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA plea deal was accepted and the person behind the wheel in
the drive-by shooting last August that took the life of a two-year-old St.
Joseph girl has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg accepted the plea bargain reached
between 21-year-old Te’Avion Hawkins of Platte City and the
Buchanan County Prosecutor’s office. Kellogg sentenced Hawkins to 10 years in
prison during his hearing in a Buchanan County courtroom this afternoon.Hawkins was the driver of the vehicle last August that pulled
up along side the car in which Raelynn Craig was a passenger. Two passengers in
Hawkins’ car, 21-year-old Marcain Kimbrough-Ballard of St. Joseph and 21-year-old Caimon
Ramone Stillman of St. Joseph, opened fire.&nbsp; They fired
14 shots into the car, wounding two adults and killing Raelynn.The prosecutor’s office says Hawkins provided the identities
of the two shooters after police tracked down his car and arrested him.Kimbrough-Ballard was sentenced to 26 years in prison.
Stillman received a 24-year sentence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620850785947.jpeg" alt="Te'Avion Hawkins awaits his sentencing in a Buchanan County courtroom./Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Te'Avion Hawkins awaits his sentencing in a Buchanan County courtroom./Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>

Man sentenced in deadly drive-by shooting of 2-year-old 

HUTCHINSON — It has been a staple in Kansas now for 100 years. The anniversary is May 13. Dillons Food Stores will mark its centennial year with service to Kansas communities.&nbsp;

“The 100th anniversary of Dillons is a monumental milestone,” Steve Dreher, president of Dillon Food Stores, said. “In reflecting back, I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard our customers refer to one of our locations as ‘my Dillons’ and it always brings an overwhelming sense of pride. At Dillons, we’ve been a guest at our customers’ tables all these years and it has been a privilege to be a part of cherished celebrations, holiday gatherings, and everyday family meals with more time at home. We share our appreciation for our customers’ loyalty in allowing Dillons to be a part of our communities with a rich history in Kansas.”

After his initial venture in selling groceries at his general store in Sterling, Kansas, in the early 1900s, John S. Dillon was considered a visionary when he opened the area’s first Cash Food Market in Hutchinson in 1913. Although the store was slow to catch on, the savings offered for paying cash soon attracted enough customers to make it a viable business. By 1915, Dillon opened a second store, placing his son, Ray E. Dillon, in charge of the original store until joining the Army in 1918. J.S. Dillon &amp; Sons Store Co. was opened in 1919 and later incorporated on May 13 1921, a date now celebrated 100 years later. By the end of the 1920s, the company had grown to 15 stores in 10 Kansas communities.&nbsp;

The business steadily grew over several decades until 1957 when Ray Dillon expanded the company with additional stores in the Wichita market. By 1968, Dillon Companies, Inc., began acquiring regional banners across the western and central states, such as King Soopers, City Market, Fry's, and Gerbes, more than 300 convenience stores in five states, and Jackson's Ice Cream dairy. Dillon Companies, Inc., merged with The Kroger Co. in 1983.

Today, more than 12,000 associates are employed at 80 stores, two distribution centers, and one corporate office in the Dillon Stores Division spread across Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. Dillons offers a store format for nearly every kind of shopper with small hometown markets, supermarkets, Marketplace stores, price-impact stores, fuel centers and even online shopping with pickup, delivery, and ship-to-home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620849948868.jpeg" alt="Photos courtesy Dillons" />
 <figcaption>Photos courtesy Dillons</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Dillons Food StoresHUTCHINSON — It has been a staple in Kansas now for 100 years. The anniversary is May 13. Dillons Food Stores will mark its centennial year with service to Kansas communities.&nbsp;“The 100th anniversary of Dillons is a monumental milestone,” Steve Dreher, president of Dillon Food Stores, said. “In reflecting back, I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard our customers refer to one of our locations as ‘my Dillons’ and it always brings an overwhelming sense of pride. At Dillons, we’ve been a guest at our customers’ tables all these years and it has been a privilege to be a part of cherished celebrations, holiday gatherings, and everyday family meals with more time at home. We share our appreciation for our customers’ loyalty in allowing Dillons to be a part of our communities with a rich history in Kansas.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620849514869.jpeg" alt="Dillons in Newton (1921): J.S. Dillon expanded his business to Newton in May of 1921. Store #6 was located at 200 N. Main until it was relocated to 320 N. Main in 1953." />
 <figcaption>Dillons in Newton (1921): J.S. Dillon expanded his business to Newton in May of 1921. Store #6 was located at 200 N. Main until it was relocated to 320 N. Main in 1953.</figcaption>
 </figure>After his initial venture in selling groceries at his general store in Sterling, Kansas, in the early 1900s, John S. Dillon was considered a visionary when he opened the area’s first Cash Food Market in Hutchinson in 1913. Although the store was slow to catch on, the savings offered for paying cash soon attracted enough customers to make it a viable business. By 1915, Dillon opened a second store, placing his son, Ray E. Dillon, in charge of the original store until joining the Army in 1918. J.S. Dillon &amp; Sons Store Co. was opened in 1919 and later incorporated on May 13 1921, a date now celebrated 100 years later. By the end of the 1920s, the company had grown to 15 stores in 10 Kansas communities.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620849641973.jpeg" alt="1940's Trucks: J.S. Dillon &amp; Sons began using refrigerated trucks in the 1940s, some of the first in the country. The fleet of over 24 trucks, 11 semi-trailer units and 13 straight trucks serviced all the J.S. Dillon &amp; Sons stores." />
 <figcaption>1940's Trucks: J.S. Dillon &amp; Sons began using refrigerated trucks in the 1940s, some of the first in the country. The fleet of over 24 trucks, 11 semi-trailer units and 13 straight trucks serviced all the J.S. Dillon &amp; Sons stores.</figcaption>
 </figure>The business steadily grew over several decades until 1957 when Ray Dillon expanded the company with additional stores in the Wichita market. By 1968, Dillon Companies, Inc., began acquiring regional banners across the western and central states, such as King Soopers, City Market, Fry's, and Gerbes, more than 300 convenience stores in five states, and Jackson's Ice Cream dairy. Dillon Companies, Inc., merged with The Kroger Co. in 1983.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620849795964.jpeg" alt="Produce Flown In: J.S. Dillon &amp; Sons first air cargo of fresh fruits and berries landed at the Hutchinson, Kansas, airport on May 24, 1946. More than 225 planes lined the runways for the Kansas Flying Farmers Convention." />
 <figcaption>Produce Flown In: J.S. Dillon &amp; Sons first air cargo of fresh fruits and berries landed at the Hutchinson, Kansas, airport on May 24, 1946. More than 225 planes lined the runways for the Kansas Flying Farmers Convention.</figcaption>
 </figure>Today, more than 12,000 associates are employed at 80 stores, two distribution centers, and one corporate office in the Dillon Stores Division spread across Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. Dillons offers a store format for nearly every kind of shopper with small hometown markets, supermarkets, Marketplace stores, price-impact stores, fuel centers and even online shopping with pickup, delivery, and ship-to-home.

Dillons celebrates centennial year serving Kansas

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and STEPHEN GROVES

WASHINGTON (AP)—COVID-19 deaths in the United States have tumbled to an average of around 600 per day — the lowest level in 10 months — with the number of lives lost dropping to single digits in well over half the states and, on some days, hitting zero.

Confirmed infections have fallen to about 38,000 per day on average, their lowest mark since mid-September. While that is still cause for concern, reported cases have plummeted 85% from a daily peak of more than a quarter-million in early January.

The last time U.S. deaths from the pandemic were this low was in early July of last year. The number of people with COVID-19 who died topped out in mid-January at an average of more than 3,400 a day, just a month into the biggest vaccination drive in the nation’s history.

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and STEPHEN GROVESWASHINGTON (AP)—COVID-19 deaths in the United States have tumbled to an average of around 600 per day — the lowest level in 10 months — with the number of lives lost dropping to single digits in well over half the states and, on some days, hitting zero.Confirmed infections have fallen to about 38,000 per day on average, their lowest mark since mid-September. While that is still cause for concern, reported cases have plummeted 85% from a daily peak of more than a quarter-million in early January.The last time U.S. deaths from the pandemic were this low was in early July of last year. The number of people with COVID-19 who died topped out in mid-January at an average of more than 3,400 a day, just a month into the biggest vaccination drive in the nation’s history.The Boston Herald put a huge zero on its front page Wednesday under the headline “First time in nearly a year state has no new coronavirus deaths.” Indiana reported one COVID-19 fatality Tuesday. Kansas, which peaked at 63 reported deaths on Dec. 22, has been in the single digits since February and seen multiple days with just one virus-related death.Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University, said that vaccinations have played a crucial role even as the nation struggles to reach herd immunity.“The primary objective is to deny this virus the ability to kill at the rate that it could, and that has been achieved,” he said. “We have in effect tamed the virus.”About 45% of the nation’s adults are fully vaccinated, and nearly 59% have received at least one dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This week, Pfizer’s vaccine won authorization for use in 12- to 15-year-olds, a move that could make it easier to reopen the nation’s schools.Physicians like Dr. Tom Dean in South Dakota’s rural Jerauld County are cautiously optimistic, concerned about the many people who have decided against getting vaccinated or have grown lax in guarding against infections. The county has recorded just three confirmed cases in the last two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins data.“What I’m afraid of is people believing this whole thing is over and you don’t have to worry about it any more,” Dean said. “I think complacency is our biggest threat right now.”Several states, including Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska and Hawaii, were averaging fewer than one COVID-19 death per day over the past week, according to data through Tuesday from Johns Hopkins.And even among the five states with the highest daily deaths — Michigan with an average of 65.4, Florida with 61.7, California with 48, Texas with 44 and New York with 39.3 — all but Florida’s number were going down.California, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak over the winter, logged 1,231 new confirmed cases Wednesday, down from a peak of 40,000. Los Angeles County reported 18 deaths Tuesday, versus more than 200 a day in January.Vermont, which at nearly 63% leads the country in the share of its population that has received at least one vaccine dose, has gone nearly a week without reporting a COVID-19 death.The improvement hasn’t been as dramatic everywhere. Michigan, which for weeks has reported the nation’s worst infection rate, is only now starting to see a decline in mortality. But over the past two weeks, cases in the state plunged from a daily average of almost 4,860 to about 2,680 on Monday.“Every day we’re getting closer to putting this pandemic behind us,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.In Kansas, the Amos Family Funeral Home &amp; Crematory saw several COVID-19 victims at the height of the outbreak. But for weeks now it has handled one, said Parker Amos, president of the Kansas City-area business.“It is a huge relief,” he said. “Especially at the start of this, when we didn’t know exactly how bad this was or how bad this was going to get, it was scary being in this industry.”The funeral home is now working through a backlog of memorial services that families put off when cases were surging.“You want families to be able to have that closure,” Amos said, “and to hold on to that for a year is something that we feel for those families in a big way because that is something that is really hard.”Dr. Mark Rosenberg, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, was nearly placed on a ventilator when he contracted COVID-19 in December. Now he marvels at how things have changed, saying people are so joyful that it reminds him of the photos he has seen of soldiers returning from World War II.“That is how it is starting to feel, that we made it through,” said Rosenberg, who practices emergency medicine at St. Joseph’s Health in Paterson, New Jersey. “People are touching each other again. They are hugging.”The overall U.S. death toll in the pandemic stood at over 583,000 as of Wednesday. Teams of experts consulted by the CDC projected in a report last week that new deaths and cases will fall sharply by the end of July and continue dropping after that.The encouraging outlook stands in sharp contrast to the catastrophe unfolding in places like India and Brazil.“I think we are in a great place, but I think India is an important cautionary tale,” warned Justin Lessler, a professor of epidemiology at John Hopkins.“If there is a right combination of vaccine hesitancy, potentially new variants and quickly rolling back control measures that comes together, we could potentially screw this up and have yet another wave that is completely unnecessary at this point,” Lessler said.Ali Mokdad, a University of Washington professor of health metrics sciences, predicted that as vaccinations continued, both confirmed cases and deaths would decline into the summer, leading many to assume “COVID-19 is gone” even as outbreaks in places like India carry the potential to fuel new, more virulent variants.“The race is to vaccinate as much as we can before we go into the winter,” Mokdad said, adding that the current percentage of the population vaccinated is not high enough to stop another wave of coronavirus infections.___