SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Monday night shooting have identified the victim as 18-year-old Fernando Recio of Wichita.

Shortly before midnight on Monday, police were dispatched to the 2100 block of South Meridian in Wichita for a shooting that was reported at a car wash in that area, according to Officer Trevor Macey.

 Upon arrival, police located Recio with a single gunshot wound. They began emergency lifesaving measures and EMS tranported Recio to an area hospital in critical condition. He was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Investigators are working to determine the circumstances of the shooting and are asking the public for help with information in the case.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a teen has died after being shot at a south Wichita car wash. The shooting happened just before midnight Monday, when police were called to the area for a report of a shooting. Officers who arrived on the scene found the teen with a gunshot wound to his neck.

Police say the teen was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries. His name was not immediately released. Homicide detectives are investigating and say they don't believe the shooting was random. No arrests had been reported or suspects named by Tuesday morning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620125603847.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation early Tuesday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation early Tuesday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Monday night shooting have identified the victim as 18-year-old Fernando Recio of Wichita.Shortly before midnight on Monday, police were dispatched to the 2100 block of South Meridian in Wichita for a shooting that was reported at a car wash in that area, according to Officer Trevor Macey. Upon arrival, police located Recio with a single gunshot wound. They began emergency lifesaving measures and EMS tranported Recio to an area hospital in critical condition. He was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.Investigators are working to determine the circumstances of the shooting and are asking the public for help with information in the case.-----------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a teen has died after being shot at a south Wichita car wash. The shooting happened just before midnight Monday, when police were called to the area for a report of a shooting. Officers who arrived on the scene found the teen with a gunshot wound to his neck.Police say the teen was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries. His name was not immediately released. Homicide detectives are investigating and say they don't believe the shooting was random. No arrests had been reported or suspects named by Tuesday morning.

Homicide: Police ID Kansas teen killed near car wash

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday set a new vaccination goal to deliver at least one shot to 70% of adult Americans by July Fourth as he tackles the vexing problem of winning over the “doubters” and those unmotivated to get inoculated.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511468-1/president-biden-remarks-covid-19-response-vaccine-program">Click here to watch </a>the President's announcement

Demand for vaccines has dropped off markedly nationwide, with some states leaving more than half their available doses unordered. Aiming to make it easier to get shots, Biden called for states to make vaccines available on a walk-in basis and he will direct many pharmacies to do likewise.

His administration for the first time also is moving to shift doses from states with weaker demand to areas with stronger interest in the shots.

“You do need to get vaccinated,” Biden said from the White House. “Even if your chance of getting seriously ill is low, why take the risk? It could save your life or the lives of somebody you love.”

Biden’s goal equates to delivering at least the first shot to 181 million adults and fully vaccinating 160 million. It’s a tacit acknowledgment of the declining interest in shots.

Already more than 56% of American adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 105 million are fully vaccinated. The U.S. is currently administering first doses at a rate of about 965,000 per day — half the rate of three weeks ago, but almost twice as fast as needed to meet Biden’s target.

“I’d like to get it 100%, but I think realistically we can get to that place between now and July Fourth,” Biden said of his new goal.

He said the administration would focus on three areas as it tries to ramp up the pace of vaccinations:

—Adults who need more convincing to take the vaccine.

—Those who have struggled or are in no hurry to obtain a shot.

—Adolescents aged 12-15, once federal authorities approve vaccination for that age group.

Acknowledging that “the pace of vaccination is slowing,” Biden predicted the inoculation effort is “going to be harder” when it comes to convincing “doubters” of the need to get their shots.

He said the most effective argument to those people would be to protect those they love. “This is your choice: It’s life and death.”

Biden’s push comes as his administration has shifted away from setting a target for the U.S. to reach “herd immunity,” instead focusing on delivering as many shots into arms as possible. Officials said Biden’s vaccination target would result in a significant reduction in COVID-19 cases heading into the summer.

To that end, the Biden administration is shifting the government’s focus toward expanding smaller and mobile vaccination clinics to deliver doses to harder-to-reach communities. It is also spending hundreds of millions of dollars to try to boost interest in vaccines through education campaigns and greater access to shots through community organizations that can help bring people to clinics.

Biden touted creative efforts to make it “easier and more fun” to get vaccinated, such as grocery stores offering discounts to shoppers who come to get shots and sports leagues that hold promotions to gets shots for their fans.

Ahead of the Food and Drug Administration’s expected authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for kids aged 12-15, the White House is developing plans to speed vaccinations for that age group. Biden urged states to administer at least one dose to adolescents by July Fourth and work to deliver doses to pediatricians’ offices and other trusted locations, with the aim of getting many of them fully vaccinated by the start of the next school year.

While younger people are at dramatically lower risk of serious complications from COVID-19, they have made up a larger share of new virus cases as a majority of U.S. adults have been at least partially vaccinated and as higher-risk activities like indoor dining and contact sports have resumed in most of the country.

Officials hope that extending vaccinations to teens — who could get the first dose in one location and the second elsewhere, if necessary — will further accelerate the nation’s reduced virus caseload and allow schools to reopen with minimal disruptions this fall.

The urgency to expand the pool of those getting the shots is rooted in hopes of stamping out the development of new variants that could emerge from unchecked outbreaks and helping the country further reopen by the symbolic moment of Independence Day, exactly two months away. Though White House officials privately acknowledge the steep challenge, Biden sounded an optimistic note.

“The light at the end of the tunnel is actually growing brighter and brighter,” Biden said.

Biden’s speech comes as the White House announced a shift away from a strict allocation of vaccines by state population. The administration says that when states decline to take all the vaccine they have been allocated, that surplus will shift to states still awaiting doses to meet demand.

Governors were informed of the change by the White House on Tuesday morning.

This week, Iowa&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-health-coronavirus-bed1e61831c0485d967ca3687bc84377">turned down</a>&nbsp;nearly three quarters of the vaccine doses available to the state for next week from the federal government because demand for the shots remains weak. Louisiana, meanwhile, hasn’t drawn down its full vaccine allocation from the federal government for the last few weeks.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Louisiana’s coronavirus vaccination rate is well behind most states. About 27% of state residents are fully vaccinated while 32% have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the state health department.

The White House previously resisted efforts to distribute vaccine by metrics other than population. Biden rebuffed Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last month when she requested more doses as her state was experiencing a surge in virus cases. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at the time nearly all states were ordering at or near their population allocations, which is no longer the case.

Individual states have made similar shifts internally to account for changing demand. Last week, Washington state changed the way it allocates coronavirus vaccine to its counties. Previously the state doled out supplies to counties proportionate to their populations. But now amounts will be based on requests from health care providers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620167937175.png" alt="“You do need to get vaccinated,” Biden said from the White House. “Even if your chance of getting seriously ill is low, why take the risk? It could save your life or the lives of somebody you love.”-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>“You do need to get vaccinated,” Biden said from the White House. “Even if your chance of getting seriously ill is low, why take the risk? It could save your life or the lives of somebody you love.”-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday set a new vaccination goal to deliver at least one shot to 70% of adult Americans by July Fourth as he tackles the vexing problem of winning over the “doubters” and those unmotivated to get inoculated.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?511468-1/president-biden-remarks-covid-19-response-vaccine-program">Click here to watch </a>the President's announcementDemand for vaccines has dropped off markedly nationwide, with some states leaving more than half their available doses unordered. Aiming to make it easier to get shots, Biden called for states to make vaccines available on a walk-in basis and he will direct many pharmacies to do likewise.His administration for the first time also is moving to shift doses from states with weaker demand to areas with stronger interest in the shots.“You do need to get vaccinated,” Biden said from the White House. “Even if your chance of getting seriously ill is low, why take the risk? It could save your life or the lives of somebody you love.”Biden’s goal equates to delivering at least the first shot to 181 million adults and fully vaccinating 160 million. It’s a tacit acknowledgment of the declining interest in shots.Already more than 56% of American adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 105 million are fully vaccinated. The U.S. is currently administering first doses at a rate of about 965,000 per day — half the rate of three weeks ago, but almost twice as fast as needed to meet Biden’s target.“I’d like to get it 100%, but I think realistically we can get to that place between now and July Fourth,” Biden said of his new goal.He said the administration would focus on three areas as it tries to ramp up the pace of vaccinations:—Adults who need more convincing to take the vaccine.—Those who have struggled or are in no hurry to obtain a shot.—Adolescents aged 12-15, once federal authorities approve vaccination for that age group.Acknowledging that “the pace of vaccination is slowing,” Biden predicted the inoculation effort is “going to be harder” when it comes to convincing “doubters” of the need to get their shots.He said the most effective argument to those people would be to protect those they love. “This is your choice: It’s life and death.”Biden’s push comes as his administration has shifted away from setting a target for the U.S. to reach “herd immunity,” instead focusing on delivering as many shots into arms as possible. Officials said Biden’s vaccination target would result in a significant reduction in COVID-19 cases heading into the summer.To that end, the Biden administration is shifting the government’s focus toward expanding smaller and mobile vaccination clinics to deliver doses to harder-to-reach communities. It is also spending hundreds of millions of dollars to try to boost interest in vaccines through education campaigns and greater access to shots through community organizations that can help bring people to clinics.Biden touted creative efforts to make it “easier and more fun” to get vaccinated, such as grocery stores offering discounts to shoppers who come to get shots and sports leagues that hold promotions to gets shots for their fans.Ahead of the Food and Drug Administration’s expected authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for kids aged 12-15, the White House is developing plans to speed vaccinations for that age group. Biden urged states to administer at least one dose to adolescents by July Fourth and work to deliver doses to pediatricians’ offices and other trusted locations, with the aim of getting many of them fully vaccinated by the start of the next school year.While younger people are at dramatically lower risk of serious complications from COVID-19, they have made up a larger share of new virus cases as a majority of U.S. adults have been at least partially vaccinated and as higher-risk activities like indoor dining and contact sports have resumed in most of the country.Officials hope that extending vaccinations to teens — who could get the first dose in one location and the second elsewhere, if necessary — will further accelerate the nation’s reduced virus caseload and allow schools to reopen with minimal disruptions this fall.The urgency to expand the pool of those getting the shots is rooted in hopes of stamping out the development of new variants that could emerge from unchecked outbreaks and helping the country further reopen by the symbolic moment of Independence Day, exactly two months away. Though White House officials privately acknowledge the steep challenge, Biden sounded an optimistic note.“The light at the end of the tunnel is actually growing brighter and brighter,” Biden said.Biden’s speech comes as the White House announced a shift away from a strict allocation of vaccines by state population. The administration says that when states decline to take all the vaccine they have been allocated, that surplus will shift to states still awaiting doses to meet demand.Governors were informed of the change by the White House on Tuesday morning.This week, Iowa&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-health-coronavirus-bed1e61831c0485d967ca3687bc84377">turned down</a>&nbsp;nearly three quarters of the vaccine doses available to the state for next week from the federal government because demand for the shots remains weak. Louisiana, meanwhile, hasn’t drawn down its full vaccine allocation from the federal government for the last few weeks.Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Louisiana’s coronavirus vaccination rate is well behind most states. About 27% of state residents are fully vaccinated while 32% have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the state health department.The White House previously resisted efforts to distribute vaccine by metrics other than population. Biden rebuffed Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last month when she requested more doses as her state was experiencing a surge in virus cases. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at the time nearly all states were ordering at or near their population allocations, which is no longer the case.Individual states have made similar shifts internally to account for changing demand. Last week, Washington state changed the way it allocates coronavirus vaccine to its counties. Previously the state doled out supplies to counties proportionate to their populations. But now amounts will be based on requests from health care providers.___

🎥 President Biden sets new vaccination goal for America

By QUINCY SNOWDON <a href="https://sentinelcolorado.com/">Sentinel Colorado</a>

AURORA, Colo. — A 26-year-old sex offender&nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelcolorado.com/news/metro/aurora-sex-offender-pleads-not-guilty-to-assaulting-3-women-just-days-after-prison-release/?swcfpc=1">previously convicted of raping a woman in Kansas in 2011</a>&nbsp;is standing trial in Colorado this week on more than a dozen charges related to multiple violent crimes in Arapahoe County.

Prosecutors in the 18th Judicial District began trying Tre Carrasco on May 4 for a pair of cases filed out of Aurora and Cherry Hills Village in winter 2019. The trial is slated to run until May 13.

A native of Hays,&nbsp;Carrasco has been accused of assaulting three different women in three different cities days after he was released from a Kansas state prison Feb. 1, 2019, according to court documents.

Two days after he was released, Kansas police said Carrasco raped a woman at gunpoint in the front seat of her car in Hays.

Less than a week later, investigators accused Carrasco of attempting to kidnap a woman in Aurora while stealing her car outside of the 24-hour fitness on South Abilene Street. He’s facing felony kidnapping, robbery, aggravated car theft and other charges in connection with that incident.

The woman whose car was stolen later identified Carrasco in a police lineup by comparing him to the R&amp;B star The Weeknd. Police agreed that Carrasco “has a passing resemblance to the same singer,” according to court documents.

And on Feb. 12, authorities identified Carrasco as&nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelcolorado.com/news/metro/affidavit-sex-offender-raped-au-pair-at-knifepoint-days-after-being-released-from-kansas-prison-on-prior-sex-charges/">the man who raped a Mexican au pair at knifepoint</a>&nbsp;while the woman was working in a Cherry Hills Village home in the middle of the day. He’s been charged with felony sexual assault, robbery, burglary and other charges in that case.

Aurora police arrested Carrasco on Feb. 12 after pulling him over near the intersection of East Colfax Avenue and Galena Street. He was driving&nbsp;the same car that was reported stolen from the woman at the local&nbsp;24-Hour fitness the week before.

He was arrested on a warrant for “rape gun” filed against him in connection to the assault in Hays nine days earlier.

Local prosecutors will simultaneously try Carrasco for the crimes in Aurora and Cherry Hills Village, according to a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office. He pleaded guilty to all charges filed against him in August 2019.

Carrasco has a history of lascivious behavior dating back more than a decade, according to court documents. He was named as a suspect in at least six other crimes in Kansas that were sexual in nature between November 2008 and July 2011, records show.

In 2008 and 2009, Carrasco was suspected of peeping into windows and tickling women’s feet and legs as they slept.

In June 2010, he was suspected of raping a woman in Hays. A year later, Carrasco was arrested after police said he chased a Hays woman walking on a street, beat her and violently sexually assaulted her.

In April 2013, Carrasco was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hayspost.com/2013/04/08/hays-teen-will-be-sentenced-today/">sentenced to slightly more than eight years in prison</a>&nbsp;for the July 2011 assault. He was also required to register as a sex offender in Kansas.

Carrasco incurred a litany of disciplinary infractions while in Kansas prisons between 2014 and 2018, including using stimulants, disobeying orders and disrespecting corrections officers, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records.

Carrasco has been held on a $1.1 million bond since he was arrested in Aurora in February 2019, records show. In July 2020, he pleaded guilty to a felony contraband charge and was sentenced to two years in state prison. He’s been detained at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility in Buena Vista since then.

Carrasco has been transferred back to the Arapahoe County jail for his court proceedings in the coming days, according to county records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620146916536.png" alt="Tre Carrasco / Colorado Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Tre Carrasco / Colorado Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>By QUINCY SNOWDON <a href="https://sentinelcolorado.com/">Sentinel Colorado</a>AURORA, Colo. — A 26-year-old sex offender&nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelcolorado.com/news/metro/aurora-sex-offender-pleads-not-guilty-to-assaulting-3-women-just-days-after-prison-release/?swcfpc=1">previously convicted of raping a woman in Kansas in 2011</a>&nbsp;is standing trial in Colorado this week on more than a dozen charges related to multiple violent crimes in Arapahoe County.Prosecutors in the 18th Judicial District began trying Tre Carrasco on May 4 for a pair of cases filed out of Aurora and Cherry Hills Village in winter 2019. The trial is slated to run until May 13.A native of Hays,&nbsp;Carrasco has been accused of assaulting three different women in three different cities days after he was released from a Kansas state prison Feb. 1, 2019, according to court documents.Two days after he was released, Kansas police said Carrasco raped a woman at gunpoint in the front seat of her car in Hays.Less than a week later, investigators accused Carrasco of attempting to kidnap a woman in Aurora while stealing her car outside of the 24-hour fitness on South Abilene Street. He’s facing felony kidnapping, robbery, aggravated car theft and other charges in connection with that incident.The woman whose car was stolen later identified Carrasco in a police lineup by comparing him to the R&amp;B star The Weeknd. Police agreed that Carrasco “has a passing resemblance to the same singer,” according to court documents.And on Feb. 12, authorities identified Carrasco as&nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelcolorado.com/news/metro/affidavit-sex-offender-raped-au-pair-at-knifepoint-days-after-being-released-from-kansas-prison-on-prior-sex-charges/">the man who raped a Mexican au pair at knifepoint</a>&nbsp;while the woman was working in a Cherry Hills Village home in the middle of the day. He’s been charged with felony sexual assault, robbery, burglary and other charges in that case.Aurora police arrested Carrasco on Feb. 12 after pulling him over near the intersection of East Colfax Avenue and Galena Street. He was driving&nbsp;the same car that was reported stolen from the woman at the local&nbsp;24-Hour fitness the week before.He was arrested on a warrant for “rape gun” filed against him in connection to the assault in Hays nine days earlier.Local prosecutors will simultaneously try Carrasco for the crimes in Aurora and Cherry Hills Village, according to a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office. He pleaded guilty to all charges filed against him in August 2019.Carrasco has a history of lascivious behavior dating back more than a decade, according to court documents. He was named as a suspect in at least six other crimes in Kansas that were sexual in nature between November 2008 and July 2011, records show.In 2008 and 2009, Carrasco was suspected of peeping into windows and tickling women’s feet and legs as they slept.In June 2010, he was suspected of raping a woman in Hays. A year later, Carrasco was arrested after police said he chased a Hays woman walking on a street, beat her and violently sexually assaulted her.In April 2013, Carrasco was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hayspost.com/2013/04/08/hays-teen-will-be-sentenced-today/">sentenced to slightly more than eight years in prison</a>&nbsp;for the July 2011 assault. He was also required to register as a sex offender in Kansas.Carrasco incurred a litany of disciplinary infractions while in Kansas prisons between 2014 and 2018, including using stimulants, disobeying orders and disrespecting corrections officers, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records.Carrasco has been held on a $1.1 million bond since he was arrested in Aurora in February 2019, records show. In July 2020, he pleaded guilty to a felony contraband charge and was sentenced to two years in state prison. He’s been detained at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility in Buena Vista since then.Carrasco has been transferred back to the Arapahoe County jail for his court proceedings in the coming days, according to county records.

Hays man stands trial in Colorado for series of violent crimes

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged altercation that sent a teen to the hospital with serious injuries and have made an arrest.

On Monday, police were notified of an incident that had occurred on Sunday evening in the 1100 block North 7th Street in Atchison,according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 A group of young men were playing basketball when two of the men playing had an argument and one struck the other twice in the face with his fists causing injuries including a fractured bone and a broken tooth. 

The 18 year old victim was treated and released from a Kansas City hospital on Sunday night. 

Later Monday, police arrested 18-year-old Elijah Z. Haley of Atchison, on a requested charge of aggravated battery. He remains in the county jail, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620136769994.png" alt="Haley-photo Atchison County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Haley-photo Atchison County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged altercation that sent a teen to the hospital with serious injuries and have made an arrest.On Monday, police were notified of an incident that had occurred on Sunday evening in the 1100 block North 7th Street in Atchison,according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. A group of young men were playing basketball when two of the men playing had an argument and one struck the other twice in the face with his fists causing injuries including a fractured bone and a broken tooth. The 18 year old victim was treated and released from a Kansas City hospital on Sunday night. Later Monday, police arrested 18-year-old Elijah Z. Haley of Atchison, on a requested charge of aggravated battery. He remains in the county jail, according to online jail records.

Kan. teen arrested for alleged basketball court fight

There have been important changes to the Child Tax Credit that will 
help many families receive advance payments starting this summer. The 
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 expands the Child Tax Credit 
(CTC) for tax year 2021 only.

For tax year 2021, families claiming the CTC for tax year 2021 will 
receive up to $3,000 per qualifying child between the ages of 6 and 17 
at the end of 2021. They will receive $3,600 per qualifying child under 
age 6 at the end of 2021. Under the prior law, the amount of the CTC was
 up to $2,000 per qualifying child under the age of 17 at the end of the
 year.

The increased amounts are reduced (phased out), for incomes over 
$150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return and qualifying 
widows or widowers, $112,500 for heads of household, and $75,000 for all
 other taxpayers.

Advance payments of the 2021 Child Tax Credit will be made regularly 
from July through December to eligible taxpayers who have a main home in
 the United States for more than half the year. The total of the advance
 payments will be up to 50 percent of the Child Tax Credit. Advance 
payments will be estimated from information included in eligible 
taxpayers' 2020 tax returns (or their 2019 returns if the 2020 returns 
are not filed and processed yet).

The IRS urges people with children to file their 2020 tax returns as 
soon as possible to make sure they're eligible for the appropriate 
amount of the CTC as well as any other tax credits they're eligible for,
 including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Filing electronically 
with direct deposit also can speed refunds and future advance CTC 
payments.

Eligible taxpayers do not need to take any action now other than to file their 2020 tax return if they have not done so.

Eligible taxpayers who do not want to receive advance payment of the 
2021 Child Tax Credit will have the opportunity to decline receiving 
advance payments. Taxpayers will also have the opportunity to update 
information about changes in their income, filing status or the number 
of qualifying children. More details on how to take these steps will be 
announced soon.

The IRS also urges community groups, non-profits, associations, 
education groups and anyone else with connections to people with 
children to share this critical information about the CTC. The IRS will 
be providing additional materials and information that can be easily 
shared by social media, email and other methods.

The IRS will provide more information about advance payments soon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSThere have been important changes to the Child Tax Credit that will 
help many families receive advance payments starting this summer. The 
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 expands the Child Tax Credit 
(CTC) for tax year 2021 only.The expanded credit means:<ul>
 <li>The credit amounts will increase for many taxpayers.</li><li>The credit for qualifying children is fully refundable, which means
 that taxpayers can benefit from the credit even if they don't have 
earned income or don't owe any income taxes.</li><li>The credit will include children who turn age 17 in 2021.</li><li>Taxpayers may receive part of their credit in 2021 before filing their 2021 tax return.</li>
 </ul>For tax year 2021, families claiming the CTC for tax year 2021 will 
receive up to $3,000 per qualifying child between the ages of 6 and 17 
at the end of 2021. They will receive $3,600 per qualifying child under 
age 6 at the end of 2021. Under the prior law, the amount of the CTC was
 up to $2,000 per qualifying child under the age of 17 at the end of the
 year.The increased amounts are reduced (phased out), for incomes over 
$150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return and qualifying 
widows or widowers, $112,500 for heads of household, and $75,000 for all
 other taxpayers.Advance payments of the 2021 Child Tax Credit will be made regularly 
from July through December to eligible taxpayers who have a main home in
 the United States for more than half the year. The total of the advance
 payments will be up to 50 percent of the Child Tax Credit. Advance 
payments will be estimated from information included in eligible 
taxpayers' 2020 tax returns (or their 2019 returns if the 2020 returns 
are not filed and processed yet).The IRS urges people with children to file their 2020 tax returns as 
soon as possible to make sure they're eligible for the appropriate 
amount of the CTC as well as any other tax credits they're eligible for,
 including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Filing electronically 
with direct deposit also can speed refunds and future advance CTC 
payments.Eligible taxpayers do not need to take any action now other than to file their 2020 tax return if they have not done so.Eligible taxpayers who do not want to receive advance payment of the 
2021 Child Tax Credit will have the opportunity to decline receiving 
advance payments. Taxpayers will also have the opportunity to update 
information about changes in their income, filing status or the number 
of qualifying children. More details on how to take these steps will be 
announced soon.The IRS also urges community groups, non-profits, associations, 
education groups and anyone else with connections to people with 
children to share this critical information about the CTC. The IRS will 
be providing additional materials and information that can be easily 
shared by social media, email and other methods.The IRS will provide more information about advance payments soon.

IRS: Advance Child Tax Credit payments may be available this summer

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after police found them in the midst of a fight.

Just before 7:30 p.m. May 1, police responded to the intersection of Eighth Street and Forrest Glenn Drive in Arkansas City for a report of a possible motor vehicle accident, according to a media release from police.

At the scene, officers learned the incident was actually a verbal disturbance, not a traffic accident. Police made contact with the driver, later identified as 43-year-old Cassandra Dawn Shaw and her passenger 32-year-old Ansuan Shamarr Hollingsworth both of Arkansas City.

Neither individual was able to produce keys to the vehicle, which was creating a traffic hazard. During an inventory of the vehicle, police found numerous items of drugs and paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Officers arrested Shaw on requested charges of disorderly conduct-domestic violence and driving with a suspended driver’s license. Officers arrested Hollingsworth on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He also booked on one misdemeanor count each of criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct-domestic violence, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620136432430.png" alt="Hollingsworth -photo Cowley County" />
 <figcaption>Hollingsworth -photo Cowley County</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after police found them in the midst of a fight.Just before 7:30 p.m. May 1, police responded to the intersection of Eighth Street and Forrest Glenn Drive in Arkansas City for a report of a possible motor vehicle accident, according to a media release from police.At the scene, officers learned the incident was actually a verbal disturbance, not a traffic accident. Police made contact with the driver, later identified as 43-year-old Cassandra Dawn Shaw and her passenger 32-year-old Ansuan Shamarr Hollingsworth both of Arkansas City.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620136381984.png" alt="Shaw photo Cowley County" />
 <figcaption>Shaw photo Cowley County</figcaption>
 </figure>Neither individual was able to produce keys to the vehicle, which was creating a traffic hazard. During an inventory of the vehicle, police found numerous items of drugs and paraphernalia.&nbsp;Officers arrested Shaw on requested charges of disorderly conduct-domestic violence and driving with a suspended driver’s license. Officers arrested Hollingsworth on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He also booked on one misdemeanor count each of criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct-domestic violence, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

Police find cocaine, meth responding to Kan. street fight

TOPEKA – A former Shawnee County employee has pleaded guilty to theft of county funds and been ordered to repay $13,216 in restitution, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Jessica Jean Marie Schwerdt, 38, pleaded guilty April 30 to one count of misdemeanor theft in Shawnee County District Court. Judge Jason Geier accepted the plea and sentenced Schwerdt to 12 months of probation and restitution to the county, which was paid at the time the plea was entered.

The case was investigated by the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office. Schwerdt was formerly employed in the county’s human resources department and admitted to taking cash that was intended for retiree insurance payments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620071147900.png" alt="Schwerdt photo Shawnee Co. Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Schwerdt photo Shawnee Co. Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – A former Shawnee County employee has pleaded guilty to theft of county funds and been ordered to repay $13,216 in restitution, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.Jessica Jean Marie Schwerdt, 38, pleaded guilty April 30 to one count of misdemeanor theft in Shawnee County District Court. Judge Jason Geier accepted the plea and sentenced Schwerdt to 12 months of probation and restitution to the county, which was paid at the time the plea was entered.The case was investigated by the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office. Schwerdt was formerly employed in the county’s human resources department and admitted to taking cash that was intended for retiree insurance payments.

Former employee sentenced in Kan. for theft of county funds

BY NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/04/kansas-house-panel-passes-more-restrictive-medical-marijuana-plan/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A medical 
marijuana proposal is headed back to the House floor for debate after a 
panel of legislators on Tuesday kicked out an amended and slightly more 
restrictive version of the measure.

The legislation creates 
the framework for legalized cannabis for people with qualifying 
conditions, including chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. 
To make the bill more palatable to the full chamber, members of the 
House Federal and State Affairs Committee made multiple amendments.

The most significant and 
wide-ranging change came from Rep. Blake Carpenter, R-Derby, after 
discussion with Rep. Randy Garber, R-Sabetha, who previously championed 
an amendment loosening restrictions on the patient-physician 
relationship, qualifying conditions and THC limits.

The Carpenter amendment 
would protect the gun rights of those with a medical marijuana license, 
remove protections against housing and employment discrimination and 
require a six-month relationship between a patient and physician — with 
some exceptions.

“If you are a veteran and 
you get your care from the VA and you’ve never seen a physician 
regarding your condition, you can go to a physician, and your six-month 
wait is waived,” Carpenter said. “So if that individual has PTSD or what
 have you, they could get help immediately.”

The committee adopted Carpenter’s amendment in addition to a few other changes before advancing the bill by a 12 to 8 vote.

This is the second time in
 just over a month the panel has approved a plan to legalize marijuana 
for medicinal use. After the panel passed the act in late March, the 
measure was referred back to the committee for further consideration.

Kansas is one of three 
states yet to have legalized marijuana in some form, and three bordering
 states allow at least medical marijuana. Development of a medical 
marijuana program in Kansas has moved at a slow pace for years, but amid
 a growing black market, there appears to be bipartisan interest in the 
development of such a bill.

Other changes to the bill 
proposed by Carpenter include grandfathering in dispensaries established
 before a county opts out of allowing these businesses in the area, 
clarifications on advertising and adding back a previously removed 
provision regarding negligence when leaving cannabis products around 
minors.

It also considers the 
possibility that marijuana may be rescheduled at the federal level by 
enacting a provision that would change any references to 
“recommendation” to “prescription” should that occur.

An amendment proposed by 
the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Alcoholic Beverage Control office 
would add several definitions rather than have regulators determine them
 at a later date. It also moves the deadline to adopt regulations back 
by a year to July 1, 2023.

The committee chose to 
reject an amendment brought by Rep. Steven Howe, R-Salina, that would 
have required dispensaries to be operated by a licensed pharmacy and 
that the pharmacist be licensed through the board of pharmacy. He also 
proposed requiring the board to establish requirements for the pharmacy 
to register as a dispensary and report transactions to the prescription 
monitoring database.

“Given the fact we are 
legislating a medicine for medical purposes, I do think it would be wise
 to treat it as such,” Howe said. “It would be the easiest transition to
 approve medical marijuana … to ensure the safety and integrity of the 
medical field.”

In voting to reject the 
amendment, Rep. John Eplee, a Republican physician from Atchison, said 
this could open the door to litigation issues for pharmacies as it is 
still against federal policy. The board of pharmacy is monitored by the 
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

With a little under a week
 likely remaining in the legislative session, the fate of the bill 
remains uncertain. Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican and chairman 
of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, said if the plan 
passes the House and were to get consideration by the Senate, it likely 
would return in different form.

“If we should at some 
point in time run this on the floor, there will be a number of 
amendments. Some will get attached, some will not,” Barker said. “When 
it comes back from the Senate, many of us will not be able to even 
recognize the original bill.”

BY NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/04/kansas-house-panel-passes-more-restrictive-medical-marijuana-plan/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A medical 
marijuana proposal is headed back to the House floor for debate after a 
panel of legislators on Tuesday kicked out an amended and slightly more 
restrictive version of the measure.The legislation creates 
the framework for legalized cannabis for people with qualifying 
conditions, including chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. 
To make the bill more palatable to the full chamber, members of the 
House Federal and State Affairs Committee made multiple amendments.The most significant and 
wide-ranging change came from Rep. Blake Carpenter, R-Derby, after 
discussion with Rep. Randy Garber, R-Sabetha, who previously championed 
an amendment loosening restrictions on the patient-physician 
relationship, qualifying conditions and THC limits.The Carpenter amendment 
would protect the gun rights of those with a medical marijuana license, 
remove protections against housing and employment discrimination and 
require a six-month relationship between a patient and physician — with 
some exceptions.“If you are a veteran and 
you get your care from the VA and you’ve never seen a physician 
regarding your condition, you can go to a physician, and your six-month 
wait is waived,” Carpenter said. “So if that individual has PTSD or what
 have you, they could get help immediately.”The committee adopted Carpenter’s amendment in addition to a few other changes before advancing the bill by a 12 to 8 vote.This is the second time in
 just over a month the panel has approved a plan to legalize marijuana 
for medicinal use. After the panel passed the act in late March, the 
measure was referred back to the committee for further consideration.Kansas is one of three 
states yet to have legalized marijuana in some form, and three bordering
 states allow at least medical marijuana. Development of a medical 
marijuana program in Kansas has moved at a slow pace for years, but amid
 a growing black market, there appears to be bipartisan interest in the 
development of such a bill.Other changes to the bill 
proposed by Carpenter include grandfathering in dispensaries established
 before a county opts out of allowing these businesses in the area, 
clarifications on advertising and adding back a previously removed 
provision regarding negligence when leaving cannabis products around 
minors.It also considers the 
possibility that marijuana may be rescheduled at the federal level by 
enacting a provision that would change any references to 
“recommendation” to “prescription” should that occur.An amendment proposed by 
the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Alcoholic Beverage Control office 
would add several definitions rather than have regulators determine them
 at a later date. It also moves the deadline to adopt regulations back 
by a year to July 1, 2023.The committee chose to 
reject an amendment brought by Rep. Steven Howe, R-Salina, that would 
have required dispensaries to be operated by a licensed pharmacy and 
that the pharmacist be licensed through the board of pharmacy. He also 
proposed requiring the board to establish requirements for the pharmacy 
to register as a dispensary and report transactions to the prescription 
monitoring database.“Given the fact we are 
legislating a medicine for medical purposes, I do think it would be wise
 to treat it as such,” Howe said. “It would be the easiest transition to
 approve medical marijuana … to ensure the safety and integrity of the 
medical field.”In voting to reject the 
amendment, Rep. John Eplee, a Republican physician from Atchison, said 
this could open the door to litigation issues for pharmacies as it is 
still against federal policy. The board of pharmacy is monitored by the 
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.With a little under a week
 likely remaining in the legislative session, the fate of the bill 
remains uncertain. Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican and chairman 
of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, said if the plan 
passes the House and were to get consideration by the Senate, it likely 
would return in different form.“If we should at some 
point in time run this on the floor, there will be a number of 
amendments. Some will get attached, some will not,” Barker said. “When 
it comes back from the Senate, many of us will not be able to even 
recognize the original bill.”

Kan. House panel passes more restrictive medical marijuana plan

By NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas U.S. Senator Dr. Roger Marshall hears his constituents in their concern for the rural implications of President Biden's plan of protecting 30% of the U.S. by 2030.

"You talk about getting people fired up," Marshall said. "We've done about 23 town halls now, I think and this is the number one emotional issue out there, that President Biden is proposing that the federal government control 30% of our land by the year 2030. You talk about upsetting people, start messing with their property rights."

Marshall notes that it would take a lot to get that much land out of service in Kansas.

"Only three percent of the land in Kansas is owned by the government, by the state or the federal government," Marshall said. "Even if we would take that and we would put it into CRP, if we would take 30 percent of the farmland in Reno County out of production, think what it would do to downtown Hutchinson, Kansas."

There's no mistaking it, jobs would be lost.

"If we would take 30% of Kansas land out of production, it would be the end of so many hospitals in the state of Kansas," Marshall said. "We would have to consolidate more schools. It would probably mean losing 75,000 jobs in the state of Kansas."

<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/biden-commits-to-30-by-2030-conservation-executive-orders">National Geographic reported in January</a>&nbsp;that to reach the 30 by 30 target will require conserving an additional area twice the size of Texas, more than 440 million acres, within the next 10 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620156038846.png" alt="Senator Marshall during Saturday town hall meetings in northeast Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Senator Marshall during Saturday town hall meetings in northeast Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas U.S. Senator Dr. Roger Marshall hears his constituents in their concern for the rural implications of President Biden's plan of protecting 30% of the U.S. by 2030."You talk about getting people fired up," Marshall said. "We've done about 23 town halls now, I think and this is the number one emotional issue out there, that President Biden is proposing that the federal government control 30% of our land by the year 2030. You talk about upsetting people, start messing with their property rights."Marshall notes that it would take a lot to get that much land out of service in Kansas."Only three percent of the land in Kansas is owned by the government, by the state or the federal government," Marshall said. "Even if we would take that and we would put it into CRP, if we would take 30 percent of the farmland in Reno County out of production, think what it would do to downtown Hutchinson, Kansas."There's no mistaking it, jobs would be lost."If we would take 30% of Kansas land out of production, it would be the end of so many hospitals in the state of Kansas," Marshall said. "We would have to consolidate more schools. It would probably mean losing 75,000 jobs in the state of Kansas."<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/biden-commits-to-30-by-2030-conservation-executive-orders">National Geographic reported in January</a>&nbsp;that to reach the 30 by 30 target will require conserving an additional area twice the size of Texas, more than 440 million acres, within the next 10 years.

 Marshall: Constituents 'fired up' over 30 by 30 proposal

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A judge refused to reduce the $1 million bond for a man charged in the 2016 killings of a man, woman and an unborn child at a Topeka apartment complex. 

Shawnee County District Judge Bill Ossmann rejected Yanez Sanford’s request for his bond to be reduced to $500,000 on Friday. Ossmann said $1 million bonds are typical in murder cases. 

Ossmann also rejected a motion to have Sanford moved to a different jail for his safety because there was no evidence that he was in danger in the Shawnee County facility. 

The thirty-eight-year-old Sanford has been charged with the shooting deaths of 23-year-old Dominique Ray, 20-year-old Camrah Trotter and her unborn child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1619985436678.png" alt="Sanford photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Sanford photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A judge refused to reduce the $1 million bond for a man charged in the 2016 killings of a man, woman and an unborn child at a Topeka apartment complex. Shawnee County District Judge Bill Ossmann rejected Yanez Sanford’s request for his bond to be reduced to $500,000 on Friday. Ossmann said $1 million bonds are typical in murder cases. Ossmann also rejected a motion to have Sanford moved to a different jail for his safety because there was no evidence that he was in danger in the Shawnee County facility. The thirty-eight-year-old Sanford has been charged with the shooting deaths of 23-year-old Dominique Ray, 20-year-old Camrah Trotter and her unborn child.

Suspect remains jailed on $1M bond for Kan. triple-murder

Even if you already bought a health plan this year, you may qualify for a steeper discount

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-05-04/coronavirus-stimulus-plan-means-many-more-kansans-can-get-free-or-cheap-health-insurance">Kansas News Service</a>

Tens of thousands of uninsured Kansans qualify for enough government subsidies to get free health insurance.

That
 was the case even before the passage of Congress' latest stimulus 
package in March, but now those benefits are available to many more 
people.

For some, the potential savings for 2021 and 2022 health plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace are dramatic.

The Kaiser Family Foundation says a 60-year-old Kansan earning $55,000 a year can save <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/impact-of-key-provisions-of-the-american-rescue-plan-act-of-2021-covid-19-relief-on-marketplace-premiums/" target="_blank">more than $7,000</a> on this year’s premiums.

Most people who already bought plans this year on the ACA,
 or Obamacare, marketplace can lower their monthly premium or zero it 
out as part of a two-year expansion of subsidies included in the <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/how-the-american-rescue-plan-will-improve-affordability-of-private-health-coverage/" target="_blank">American Rescue Plan</a> stimulus package.

Even some people who earn more than four times the federal poverty rate will now get financial help.

Here are two quick and easy ways to check whether the stimulus deal affects premiums for you:

If
 you already bought your 2021 coverage but now qualify for steeper 
discounts, the change won’t kick in automatically mid-year. You have to 
reapply through healthcare.gov. The deadline to <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">apply</a> is mid-August.

Or you can get the savings <a href="https://www.healthinsurance.org/blog/how-the-american-rescue-plan-act-would-boost-marketplace-premium-subsidies/" target="_blank">retroactively</a> next spring when you file your taxes.

If
 you bought your health plan this year without going through the federal
 marketplace, you’ll have to go through the marketplace now to get the 
subsidies.

Normally, the annual window for buying or switching 
insurance plans on the federal exchange happens each fall. But people 
get a second chance this year because of the pandemic.

The new 
window for 2021 coverage closes Aug. 15. The window for buying 2022 
plans opens a few months later, and the expanded subsidies will count 
toward those, too.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer 
health for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter 
@celia_LJ or email her at celia@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620154881642.png" alt="David Condos / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>David Condos / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Even if you already bought a health plan this year, you may qualify for a steeper discount</h2>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-05-04/coronavirus-stimulus-plan-means-many-more-kansans-can-get-free-or-cheap-health-insurance">Kansas News Service</a>Tens of thousands of uninsured Kansans qualify for enough government subsidies to get free health insurance.That
 was the case even before the passage of Congress' latest stimulus 
package in March, but now those benefits are available to many more 
people.For some, the potential savings for 2021 and 2022 health plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace are dramatic.The Kaiser Family Foundation says a 60-year-old Kansan earning $55,000 a year can save <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/impact-of-key-provisions-of-the-american-rescue-plan-act-of-2021-covid-19-relief-on-marketplace-premiums/" target="_blank">more than $7,000</a> on this year’s premiums.Most people who already bought plans this year on the ACA,
 or Obamacare, marketplace can lower their monthly premium or zero it 
out as part of a two-year expansion of subsidies included in the <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/how-the-american-rescue-plan-will-improve-affordability-of-private-health-coverage/" target="_blank">American Rescue Plan</a> stimulus package.Even some people who earn more than four times the federal poverty rate will now get financial help.Here are two quick and easy ways to check whether the stimulus deal affects premiums for you:<ul>
 <li>Kaiser Family Foundation’s <a href="https://www.kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/" target="_blank">subsidy calculator</a></li><li>Healthcare.gov’s <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/#/" target="_blank">estimate tool</a></li>
 </ul>If
 you already bought your 2021 coverage but now qualify for steeper 
discounts, the change won’t kick in automatically mid-year. You have to 
reapply through healthcare.gov. The deadline to <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">apply</a> is mid-August.Or you can get the savings <a href="https://www.healthinsurance.org/blog/how-the-american-rescue-plan-act-would-boost-marketplace-premium-subsidies/" target="_blank">retroactively</a> next spring when you file your taxes.If
 you bought your health plan this year without going through the federal
 marketplace, you’ll have to go through the marketplace now to get the 
subsidies.Normally, the annual window for buying or switching 
insurance plans on the federal exchange happens each fall. But people 
get a second chance this year because of the pandemic.The new 
window for 2021 coverage closes Aug. 15. The window for buying 2022 
plans opens a few months later, and the expanded subsidies will count 
toward those, too.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer 
health for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter 
@celia_LJ or email her at celia@kcur.org.

COVID stimulus plan means free or cheap health insurance for many more

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a teen has died after being shot at a south Wichita car wash. The shooting happened just before midnight Monday, when police were called to the area for a report of a shooting. Officers who arrived on the scene found the teen with a gunshot wound to his neck. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620125603847.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation early Tuesday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation early Tuesday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a teen has died after being shot at a south Wichita car wash. The shooting happened just before midnight Monday, when police were called to the area for a report of a shooting. Officers who arrived on the scene found the teen with a gunshot wound to his neck. Police say the teen was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries. His name was not immediately released. Homicide detectives are investigating and say they don't believe the shooting was random. No arrests had been reported or suspects named by Tuesday morning.

Police: Officers found Kan. teen fatally shot at car wash

DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai is recalling more than 390,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada for two problems that can cause engine fires. In one recall, owners are being told to park their vehicles outdoors until repairs are made.

The largest recall covers more than 203,000 Santa Fe Sport SUVs from 2013 through 2015. Some are being recalled a second time. Brake fluid can leak into the anti-lock brake computer, causing an electrical short that can lead to fires. Owners should park outdoors and away from structures until the problem is fixed, according to documents posted Tuesday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Dealers will replace a fuse and replace the computer if necessary. Owners will be notified in June.

The brake computer problem has caused 18 fires in the U.S., but no injuries, according to documents.

Hyundai says the recall “enhances the remedy” from one issued in September of 2020. The company says it kept investigating after the September recall and found that replacing the fuse would reduce the safety risk. “Hyundai is conducting this new recall to ensure the safety of its customers,” the company said in a statement.

The other recall covers nearly 187,000 2019 and 2020 Elantras, and 2019 through 2021 Konas and Velosters. All have 2-liter engines.

The piston rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which can cause engine damage, oil leaks and possible fires. Hyundai says the rings can be too hard and can be chipped, scuffing the engine cylinder. The piston problem has caused five fires but no injuries, according to documents.

Dealers will inspect and replace the engine if necessary. They’ll also install piston noise sensing software. Owners will be notified in late June.

Engine failure and fire problems at Hyundai and affiliated Korean automaker Kia have plagued the companies for more than five years, affecting the owners of more than 8 million vehicles.

DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai is recalling more than 390,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada for two problems that can cause engine fires. In one recall, owners are being told to park their vehicles outdoors until repairs are made.The largest recall covers more than 203,000 Santa Fe Sport SUVs from 2013 through 2015. Some are being recalled a second time. Brake fluid can leak into the anti-lock brake computer, causing an electrical short that can lead to fires. Owners should park outdoors and away from structures until the problem is fixed, according to documents posted Tuesday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Dealers will replace a fuse and replace the computer if necessary. Owners will be notified in June.The brake computer problem has caused 18 fires in the U.S., but no injuries, according to documents.Hyundai says the recall “enhances the remedy” from one issued in September of 2020. The company says it kept investigating after the September recall and found that replacing the fuse would reduce the safety risk. “Hyundai is conducting this new recall to ensure the safety of its customers,” the company said in a statement.The other recall covers nearly 187,000 2019 and 2020 Elantras, and 2019 through 2021 Konas and Velosters. All have 2-liter engines.The piston rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which can cause engine damage, oil leaks and possible fires. Hyundai says the rings can be too hard and can be chipped, scuffing the engine cylinder. The piston problem has caused five fires but no injuries, according to documents.Dealers will inspect and replace the engine if necessary. They’ll also install piston noise sensing software. Owners will be notified in late June.Engine failure and fire problems at Hyundai and affiliated Korean automaker Kia have plagued the companies for more than five years, affecting the owners of more than 8 million vehicles.

Hyundai recalls over 390K vehicles for possible engine fires

TOPEKA, Kansas –&nbsp;El Dorado Correctional Facility (EDCF) resident Frazier Glenn Cross, Jr., 80,&nbsp; died Monday at the facility, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

In August of 2015, Cross admitted killing three people at two suburban Kansas City Jewish sites and gave jurors a Nazi salute after they convicted him of murder and other charges for the shootings, which he said would allow him to “die a martyr.”

He had been imprisoned with the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) since November of 2015.

The cause of death is pending an autopsy. Preliminary assessment indicates the death was due to natural causes. Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Miller, of Aurora, Missouri, was a Vietnam War veteran who founded the Carolina Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in his native North Carolina and later the White Patriot Party. He also ran for the U.S. House in 2006 and the U.S. Senate in 2010 in Missouri, each time espousing a white-power platform, according to the Associated Press.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620139823013.png" alt="Frazier Glenn Cross, Jr. photo Kansas Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Frazier Glenn Cross, Jr. photo Kansas Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kansas –&nbsp;El Dorado Correctional Facility (EDCF) resident Frazier Glenn Cross, Jr., 80,&nbsp; died Monday at the facility, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.In August of 2015, Cross admitted killing three people at two suburban Kansas City Jewish sites and gave jurors a Nazi salute after they convicted him of murder and other charges for the shootings, which he said would allow him to “die a martyr.”He had been imprisoned with the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) since November of 2015.The cause of death is pending an autopsy. Preliminary assessment indicates the death was due to natural causes. Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.Miller, of Aurora, Missouri, was a Vietnam War veteran who founded the Carolina Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in his native North Carolina and later the White Patriot Party. He also ran for the U.S. House in 2006 and the U.S. Senate in 2010 in Missouri, each time espousing a white-power platform, according to the Associated Press.

Man convicted of killing 3 at Kan. Jewish sites dies in prison

By ALLISON WINTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/02/new-funding-to-curb-wildfires-pushed-in-congress-as-another-fire-season-looms/">Kansas Reflector</a>

WASHINGTON — As wildfires 
across the United States grow in size, intensity and duration each 
summer, members of Congress from the West are pushing for massive new 
investments in ecosystem management and wildfire mitigation.

With dry conditions across
 the country, 2021 could see significant fires. Currently Florida and 
parts of Kansas, Arizona, Minnesota and Montana are at high risk for 
“significant wildland fire potential,” according to a <a href="https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/maps">forecast</a> from the National Interagency Fire Center.

Western states are in a period of moderate to “exceptional” drought, according to the <a href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/">U.S. Drought Monitor</a>. In Montana, over 60 percent of the state is facing drought conditions, according to a <a href="http://dnrc.mt.gov/divisions/water/management/docs/montana-water-supply-drought-outlook-report-spring-2021.pdf">report</a> Gov. Greg Gianforte released this week.

House lawmakers called for
 more attention to wildfire management and support for wildland 
firefighters at a hearing Thursday before a House Natural Resources 
Committee panel. It was just the second hearing this year for the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, and 
Subcommittee Chairman Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) said that early attention 
exemplifies the importance of the issue.

“For those of us that live
 in the West, wildfires are one of the most immediate and obvious 
impacts of climate change. Wildfires today are nearly a year-round risk,
 burning larger areas at a higher intensity. This is only projected to 
increase as the climate continues to warm,” Neguse said.

Neguse has an ambitious 
plan to create a Civilian Climate Corps, dedicated to bolstering 
wildfire prevention and managing forests. The Biden administration 
included $10 billion for the jobs plan in its massive infrastructure 
proposal, the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/31/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan/">American Jobs Plan</a>.

Natural Resources 
Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said climate change and the 
higher risk of wildfire from drought is changing the decades-old debate 
on whether to manage wildfire risk with forest thinning.

“One of the issues in this
 committee has been it was always an either-or proposition when it comes
 to dealing with fire: Either you cut your way out of the problem or the
 other issue is that it is a phenomenon that cannot be controlled,” 
Grijalva said. “Climate change has changed that whole debate entirely.”

Grijalva said the Biden 
administration’s goals to reduce carbon emissions and create jobs offer 
new opportunities to move on legislation to support forest management 
and firefighters.

“Having this hearing is 
important as we address the Biden administration’s American Jobs Plan 
and what resources we can use to match the need,” Grijalva told 
lawmakers at the virtual hearing.

The issue is close to home
 for Neguse and other Westerners. The two largest wildfires in Colorado 
history both blazed through Neguse’s district last summer.

Wildfires provoked a year 
of devastating losses in 2020. More acres burned in Arizona in 2020 than
 the previous two years combined. Montana lost more structures to fire 
last year than it had since 2012.

Nevada had fewer fires than in recent summers but still issued air quality advisories due to California fires.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In total, wildfires burned about 10.3 million acres in the United States last year, according to <a href="https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm">the National Interagency Fire Center</a>, a government group dedicated to fire management. That was just a few thousand acres short of the record set in 2015.

It added to the 
significant toll of wildfires over the past 15 years. Since NIFC started
 its modern record-keeping of wildfires in 1983, there have been 10 
years when 8 million acres or more burned. All of those records occurred
 since 2004.

Riva Duncan, a retired 
fire staff officer for the Forest Service who now advocates for 
firefighters, said the firefighting season changed drastically in her 
years in federal service

“Over 30 years ago, when I
 started, the fire season was July and August … and it was not every 
year. There were some years with no big fires,” Duncan said. “The 
wildfire season today is closer to what we are starting to call a ‘fire 
year.’”

Wildfires are now beginning as early as March and continue until November.

Scientists say climate 
change amplifies the risk from wildfire, with less snowpack, changing 
precipitation patterns and plants that dry up during record heat waves.

Democrats and Republicans 
in Congress are in general agreement on the threat of wildfires and the 
need for better forest management.

But while Grijalva and 
other Democrats see an opportunity to move more aggressively because of 
climate change, that approach doesn’t sit well with some Republicans.

“Too frequently many of my
 friends on the other side of the aisle have blamed climate change for 
an ever-growing multitude of sins, including wildfires, while ignoring 
the real culprit of our present disaster,”&nbsp; Idaho Republican Russ 
Fulcher said at the hearing. “Decades of insufficient forest management,
 not climate change, have led to overgrown, diseased and dying forests.”

Fulcher and other 
Republicans blame the National Forest Service for the 68 million acres 
of high-risk forest in its care. They think the federal government 
should more actively manage its land and allow more timber companies to 
selectively harvest trees before they catch on fire.

The conflict comes with 
how much logging or “fuel reduction” the federal government should allow
 and for what types of trees. Larger trees are more valuable for timber 
companies. But environmental scientists favor selective thinning of 
small trees, seedlings and underbrush to manage for fire — a slow and 
more expensive process.

“Broadscale thinning of 
forest to manage for fire conflicts with climate goals, because the 
amount of carbon removed by thinning is much larger than that saved,” 
said Beverly Law, a professor emeritus at Oregon State University who 
studies carbon and forests. She recommended targeted removal of 
seedlings and saplings on high-risk land.

Earlier this year, Neguse and Utah Republican Rep. John Curtis <a href="https://www.nevadacurrent.com/blog/bipartisan-members-of-congress-launch-wildfire-caucus/">formed a bipartisan wildfire caucus</a> to try to reach consensus on the issue. Their press release did not mention climate change.

“I do think there are 
bipartisan solutions that can address the wildfire problems that are 
becoming so pervasive across the United States,” Neguse told colleagues 
at the hearing, after some Republican pushback on climate change. “I 
pledge to approach these questions in good faith, and we ought not to 
focus simply on what we need to do from a suppression standpoint.”

“Climate change, drought, 
we have to consider these as part of the larger equation and the impetus
 for why this is happening with such intensity,” Neguse said.

Lawmakers have floated numerous other bills dealing with wildfires.

For instance, a targeted <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/938/text">proposal</a>
 from Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) would create an official job title of
 “wildland firefighter,” a distinction from the current practice of 
hiring people as “forest technicians” to fight fires for as little as 
$14 an hour.

LaMalfa said the bill, 
which he introduced in February with only three cosponsors, is a first 
step to getting more benefits for firefighters.

“Once we remedy that, we can get to the pay schedule. It’s one step at a time around here,” LaMalfa told the committee.

Allison Winter is a Washington, D.C., correspondent for States Newsroom, a network of state-based nonprofit news outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620062733694.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON WINTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/02/new-funding-to-curb-wildfires-pushed-in-congress-as-another-fire-season-looms/">Kansas Reflector</a>WASHINGTON — As wildfires 
across the United States grow in size, intensity and duration each 
summer, members of Congress from the West are pushing for massive new 
investments in ecosystem management and wildfire mitigation.With dry conditions across
 the country, 2021 could see significant fires. Currently Florida and 
parts of Kansas, Arizona, Minnesota and Montana are at high risk for 
“significant wildland fire potential,” according to a <a href="https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/maps">forecast</a> from the National Interagency Fire Center.Western states are in a period of moderate to “exceptional” drought, according to the <a href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/">U.S. Drought Monitor</a>. In Montana, over 60 percent of the state is facing drought conditions, according to a <a href="http://dnrc.mt.gov/divisions/water/management/docs/montana-water-supply-drought-outlook-report-spring-2021.pdf">report</a> Gov. Greg Gianforte released this week.House lawmakers called for
 more attention to wildfire management and support for wildland 
firefighters at a hearing Thursday before a House Natural Resources 
Committee panel. It was just the second hearing this year for the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, and 
Subcommittee Chairman Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) said that early attention 
exemplifies the importance of the issue.“For those of us that live
 in the West, wildfires are one of the most immediate and obvious 
impacts of climate change. Wildfires today are nearly a year-round risk,
 burning larger areas at a higher intensity. This is only projected to 
increase as the climate continues to warm,” Neguse said.Neguse has an ambitious 
plan to create a Civilian Climate Corps, dedicated to bolstering 
wildfire prevention and managing forests. The Biden administration 
included $10 billion for the jobs plan in its massive infrastructure 
proposal, the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/31/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan/">American Jobs Plan</a>.Natural Resources 
Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said climate change and the 
higher risk of wildfire from drought is changing the decades-old debate 
on whether to manage wildfire risk with forest thinning.“One of the issues in this
 committee has been it was always an either-or proposition when it comes
 to dealing with fire: Either you cut your way out of the problem or the
 other issue is that it is a phenomenon that cannot be controlled,” 
Grijalva said. “Climate change has changed that whole debate entirely.”Grijalva said the Biden 
administration’s goals to reduce carbon emissions and create jobs offer 
new opportunities to move on legislation to support forest management 
and firefighters.“Having this hearing is 
important as we address the Biden administration’s American Jobs Plan 
and what resources we can use to match the need,” Grijalva told 
lawmakers at the virtual hearing.<h2>Dry, flammable conditions</h2>The issue is close to home
 for Neguse and other Westerners. The two largest wildfires in Colorado 
history both blazed through Neguse’s district last summer.Wildfires provoked a year 
of devastating losses in 2020. More acres burned in Arizona in 2020 than
 the previous two years combined. Montana lost more structures to fire 
last year than it had since 2012.Nevada had fewer fires than in recent summers but still issued air quality advisories due to California fires.&nbsp;&nbsp;In total, wildfires burned about 10.3 million acres in the United States last year, according to <a href="https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm">the National Interagency Fire Center</a>, a government group dedicated to fire management. That was just a few thousand acres short of the record set in 2015.It added to the 
significant toll of wildfires over the past 15 years. Since NIFC started
 its modern record-keeping of wildfires in 1983, there have been 10 
years when 8 million acres or more burned. All of those records occurred
 since 2004.Riva Duncan, a retired 
fire staff officer for the Forest Service who now advocates for 
firefighters, said the firefighting season changed drastically in her 
years in federal service“Over 30 years ago, when I
 started, the fire season was July and August … and it was not every 
year. There were some years with no big fires,” Duncan said. “The 
wildfire season today is closer to what we are starting to call a ‘fire 
year.’”Wildfires are now beginning as early as March and continue until November.Scientists say climate 
change amplifies the risk from wildfire, with less snowpack, changing 
precipitation patterns and plants that dry up during record heat waves.<h2>A conflict over climate change</h2>Democrats and Republicans 
in Congress are in general agreement on the threat of wildfires and the 
need for better forest management.But while Grijalva and 
other Democrats see an opportunity to move more aggressively because of 
climate change, that approach doesn’t sit well with some Republicans.“Too frequently many of my
 friends on the other side of the aisle have blamed climate change for 
an ever-growing multitude of sins, including wildfires, while ignoring 
the real culprit of our present disaster,”&nbsp; Idaho Republican Russ 
Fulcher said at the hearing. “Decades of insufficient forest management,
 not climate change, have led to overgrown, diseased and dying forests.”Fulcher and other 
Republicans blame the National Forest Service for the 68 million acres 
of high-risk forest in its care. They think the federal government 
should more actively manage its land and allow more timber companies to 
selectively harvest trees before they catch on fire.The conflict comes with 
how much logging or “fuel reduction” the federal government should allow
 and for what types of trees. Larger trees are more valuable for timber 
companies. But environmental scientists favor selective thinning of 
small trees, seedlings and underbrush to manage for fire — a slow and 
more expensive process.“Broadscale thinning of 
forest to manage for fire conflicts with climate goals, because the 
amount of carbon removed by thinning is much larger than that saved,” 
said Beverly Law, a professor emeritus at Oregon State University who 
studies carbon and forests. She recommended targeted removal of 
seedlings and saplings on high-risk land.Earlier this year, Neguse and Utah Republican Rep. John Curtis <a href="https://www.nevadacurrent.com/blog/bipartisan-members-of-congress-launch-wildfire-caucus/">formed a bipartisan wildfire caucus</a> to try to reach consensus on the issue. Their press release did not mention climate change.“I do think there are 
bipartisan solutions that can address the wildfire problems that are 
becoming so pervasive across the United States,” Neguse told colleagues 
at the hearing, after some Republican pushback on climate change. “I 
pledge to approach these questions in good faith, and we ought not to 
focus simply on what we need to do from a suppression standpoint.”“Climate change, drought, 
we have to consider these as part of the larger equation and the impetus
 for why this is happening with such intensity,” Neguse said.Lawmakers have floated numerous other bills dealing with wildfires.For instance, a targeted <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/938/text">proposal</a>
 from Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) would create an official job title of
 “wildland firefighter,” a distinction from the current practice of 
hiring people as “forest technicians” to fight fires for as little as 
$14 an hour.LaMalfa said the bill, 
which he introduced in February with only three cosponsors, is a first 
step to getting more benefits for firefighters.“Once we remedy that, we can get to the pay schedule. It’s one step at a time around here,” LaMalfa told the committee.Allison Winter is a Washington, D.C., correspondent for States Newsroom, a network of state-based nonprofit news outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.

New funding to curb wildfires pushed in Congress, as fire season looms

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Vaccinations to protect the public from COVID-19 slowed last month in Kansas, even as more contagious variants of the coronavirus surged and hospitalizations from the disease rose in the state, according Kansas health officials.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment numbers show about 91,000 fewer people received first doses of the available vaccines in April than in March.

 There were 520 new hospitalizations and 157 new ICU admissions in April, compared with 438 new hospitalizations and 150 new ICU admissions in March, officials said.

“Almost exclusively, the answer is those needing hospitalized are un-vaccinated,” Dr. David Wild with the University of Kansas Health System said Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620073236885.png" alt="hCOV-19 tracking of variants. As of Monday Kansas reported 408 and there were 436 in Missouri -image courtesy GISAID" />
 <figcaption>hCOV-19 tracking of variants. As of Monday Kansas reported 408 and there were 436 in Missouri -image courtesy GISAID</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Vaccinations to protect the public from COVID-19 slowed last month in Kansas, even as more contagious variants of the coronavirus surged and hospitalizations from the disease rose in the state, according Kansas health officials.Kansas Department of Health and Environment numbers show about 91,000 fewer people received first doses of the available vaccines in April than in March. There were 520 new hospitalizations and 157 new ICU admissions in April, compared with 438 new hospitalizations and 150 new ICU admissions in March, officials said.“Almost exclusively, the answer is those needing hospitalized are un-vaccinated,” Dr. David Wild with the University of Kansas Health System said Friday.Statewide, children account for a growing share of the new cases. Of the more than 6,750 new cases in April, more than 1 in 5 were patients younger than 18, according to health department numbers. Children accounted for about 12% of all cases in March.Meanwhile, confirmed variant cases nearly tripled over the last three weeks of April, officials said.Officials did see a decrease in deaths from COVID-19 in April, at 69, compared with 170 deaths in March.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620061406952.png" alt="Monday May 3, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday May 3, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>Since the beginning of the pandemic last year, Kansas has seen more than 309,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 5,000 deaths. By April 30, there were more than 1.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered out of nearly 2.58 million doses distributed to the state, state figures showed.