TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas medical marijuana supporters have found support from some conservative Republican legislators, allowing a proposal to advance Monday after weeks of deliberations.

(Click below to listen to Monday's discussion on medical marijuana.)

Some Republicans say they have been motivated by conservative neighbors Missouri and Oklahoma legalizing medical marijuana in 2018 through ballot initiatives, while others say many of their constituents support it.

Legalization advocates are glad state lawmakers are seriously considering the matter. But the measure has received pushback, mainly from law enforcement groups that say that there’s not enough evidence that marijuana can treat medical conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and Parkinson’s disease.

The state House Federal and State Affairs Committee on Monday approved the bill 13-8, sending it to the full House for approval.

“I think the majority of Kansans want it and I think we need to listen to our voters,” said Rep. John Eplee, an Atchison Republican committee member and a physician, told The Associated Press.

The bill would authorize the state health department to issue medical marijuana identification cards to patients and caregivers for a list of conditions that include cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Medical marijuana could be sold as oils, tinctures, patches or potent edibles, but not in smoking or vaping products. The bill would also set up a licensing process for growers and dispensary owners.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_h_fed_st_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_fed_st_1_20210323_06_testimony.html" target="_blank">An amendment approved Monday&nbsp;</a>prohibits a cap on the number of licenses state agencies can issue to dispensaries, laboratories and cultivation facilities. It also lowered license fees about half.

“I certainly never want to see us at recreational marijuana,” Eplee said without elaborating. “I think we have the capacity and the ability as a state to make it medical marijuana and leave it at that.”

In testimony to lawmakers last month, Darrell G. Atteberry, legislative chair of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, noted that the federal Department of Veterans Affairs states on its website that there’s no evidence that marijuana is an effective treatment for PTSD and that it could be harmful for those with the condition.

But medical marijuana advocates note it’s been tough to get evidence due to pot’s legal status in the U.S. Parents of children with disabilities have testified to lawmakers that marijuana would help relieve symptoms such as seizures. Veterans pushing for the bill say marijuana has reduced trauma-induced dreams by helping them get a deep sleep.

Todd Scattini, a Platte City, Missouri, resident and Afghanistan veteran, testified to Kansas legislators in last month’s meeting. In an interview, Scattini said marijuana helped him treat chronic pain from military exercises and manage recurring nightmares.

“For a lot of veterans today, there’s a lot of survivor’s guilt and I suffer from that as well,” Scattini said. “A lot of people spend their time asking ‘Why did my buddy go who was a way better soldier and person than me and I’m still here?’ So there’s a lot of nightmares and anxiety and depression, bad dreams and negative thoughts that take place.”

Christine Gordon, former vice president of the advocacy group Bleeding Kansas, said she has worked for six years to legalize medical marijuana. In 2018, she moved from Lenexa to Littleton, Colorado, seeking cannabis treatment for her now 9-year-old daughter, who has Dravet syndrome and severe autism.

“The fact that they’re even looking at it seriously, not just trying to appease the community, but they’re actually working it is pretty exciting,” Gordon said.

Garber said hearing stories like Gordon’s has played a role in his support of medical marijuana legalization.

“I understand the law enforcement’s concerns, I really do. But what is our job? In my opinion, as a legislator, it is to help the people of Kansas,” Garber said. “And I believe this medical marijuana does help people in need.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas medical marijuana supporters have found support from some conservative Republican legislators, allowing a proposal to advance Monday after weeks of deliberations.(Click below to listen to Monday's discussion on medical marijuana.)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hTN8CJfRHaA?start=1496" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Some Republicans say they have been motivated by conservative neighbors Missouri and Oklahoma legalizing medical marijuana in 2018 through ballot initiatives, while others say many of their constituents support it.Legalization advocates are glad state lawmakers are seriously considering the matter. But the measure has received pushback, mainly from law enforcement groups that say that there’s not enough evidence that marijuana can treat medical conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and Parkinson’s disease.The state House Federal and State Affairs Committee on Monday approved the bill 13-8, sending it to the full House for approval.“I think the majority of Kansans want it and I think we need to listen to our voters,” said Rep. John Eplee, an Atchison Republican committee member and a physician, told The Associated Press.The bill would authorize the state health department to issue medical marijuana identification cards to patients and caregivers for a list of conditions that include cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Medical marijuana could be sold as oils, tinctures, patches or potent edibles, but not in smoking or vaping products. The bill would also set up a licensing process for growers and dispensary owners.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_h_fed_st_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_fed_st_1_20210323_06_testimony.html" target="_blank">An amendment approved Monday&nbsp;</a>prohibits a cap on the number of licenses state agencies can issue to dispensaries, laboratories and cultivation facilities. It also lowered license fees about half.“I certainly never want to see us at recreational marijuana,” Eplee said without elaborating. “I think we have the capacity and the ability as a state to make it medical marijuana and leave it at that.”In testimony to lawmakers last month, Darrell G. Atteberry, legislative chair of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, noted that the federal Department of Veterans Affairs states on its website that there’s no evidence that marijuana is an effective treatment for PTSD and that it could be harmful for those with the condition.But medical marijuana advocates note it’s been tough to get evidence due to pot’s legal status in the U.S. Parents of children with disabilities have testified to lawmakers that marijuana would help relieve symptoms such as seizures. Veterans pushing for the bill say marijuana has reduced trauma-induced dreams by helping them get a deep sleep.Todd Scattini, a Platte City, Missouri, resident and Afghanistan veteran, testified to Kansas legislators in last month’s meeting. In an interview, Scattini said marijuana helped him treat chronic pain from military exercises and manage recurring nightmares.“For a lot of veterans today, there’s a lot of survivor’s guilt and I suffer from that as well,” Scattini said. “A lot of people spend their time asking ‘Why did my buddy go who was a way better soldier and person than me and I’m still here?’ So there’s a lot of nightmares and anxiety and depression, bad dreams and negative thoughts that take place.”Christine Gordon, former vice president of the advocacy group Bleeding Kansas, said she has worked for six years to legalize medical marijuana. In 2018, she moved from Lenexa to Littleton, Colorado, seeking cannabis treatment for her now 9-year-old daughter, who has Dravet syndrome and severe autism.“The fact that they’re even looking at it seriously, not just trying to appease the community, but they’re actually working it is pretty exciting,” Gordon said.Garber said hearing stories like Gordon’s has played a role in his support of medical marijuana legalization.“I understand the law enforcement’s concerns, I really do. But what is our job? In my opinion, as a legislator, it is to help the people of Kansas,” Garber said. “And I believe this medical marijuana does help people in need.”

🎥GOP conservatives help medical marijuana advance in Kansas

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating seven suspects on numerous charges after a drug bust.

On March 25, members of the Cowley County Drug Task Force including Winfield Police and the Cowley County Sheriff's department executed a search warrant at a home in the 1100 block of East 6th Street in Winfield, according to police spokesperson Brandi Bonesteel.

Officers found meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. They arrested seven people from Winfield on a variety of charges.

&nbsp;Dakota Huff, 22 was booked on a requested charge of possession of drug paraphernalia; Julia Phillips, 27; Alyna Alvarado; Kelly Wedd, 46 and Jason Volk, 36 were&nbsp; booked on requested charges of drug and paraphernalia possession.

William Engleking III, 52, was booked on requested of possession of meth with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of drug sale paraphernalia and for marijuana possession.&nbsp; Dennis Smith, 71, was booked on a requested charge of marijuana possession.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616805509858.png" alt="Volk has previous convictions for theft and drug distribution, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Volk has previous convictions for theft and drug distribution, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating seven suspects on numerous charges after a drug bust.On March 25, members of the Cowley County Drug Task Force including Winfield Police and the Cowley County Sheriff's department executed a search warrant at a home in the 1100 block of East 6th Street in Winfield, according to police spokesperson Brandi Bonesteel.Officers found meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. They arrested seven people from Winfield on a variety of charges.&nbsp;Dakota Huff, 22 was booked on a requested charge of possession of drug paraphernalia; Julia Phillips, 27; Alyna Alvarado; Kelly Wedd, 46 and Jason Volk, 36 were&nbsp; booked on requested charges of drug and paraphernalia possession.William Engleking III, 52, was booked on requested of possession of meth with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of drug sale paraphernalia and for marijuana possession.&nbsp; Dennis Smith, 71, was booked on a requested charge of marijuana possession.

Drug Task Force arrests 7 after search of Kansas home

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/29/more-than-250-arrested-in-shawnee-county-as-joint-police-operation-targets-violent-crime/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — An operation by 
federal, state and local law enforcement to reduce drug-related crime in
 Topeka has led to more than 250 arrests and the seizure of 24 firearms,
 nearly 19 kilograms of illegal drugs and $25,000 in cash.

Dubbed Operation Frontier 
Justice, the 10-day joint effort carried out in mid-March targeted 
violent fugitives and gang members. Officials at a news conference 
Monday announcing the results of the operation said it was carried out 
in response to rising violent crime rates in the area between 2014 and 
2019.

Feuds between Topeka-area 
gangs have grown deadlier in recent years and these gangs have begun 
targeting area foster children, according to reporting by the Topeka 
Capital-Journal.

To curb the violence, a 
cohort of law enforcement agencies led by the U.S. Marshals Service 
carried out Operation Frontier Justice from March 5 to 14.

“These are not street 
sweeps or warrant roundups. These are targeted operations, targeting, 
organized crime and gangs,” said Ron Miller, U.S. Marshal for the 
District of Kansas “Without those three coequal branches of government 
funding, authorizing and carrying out the operation, it wouldn’t be 
nearly as successful as it might be if it was just a local police 
department or law enforcement agency that was executing arrests on 
warrants.”

Miller was joined by 
federal legislators, local law enforcement officials and Shawnee County 
legal authorities to share details of the operation. Of the 258 arrests 
made, 138 were felony arrests, officials said.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a 
Republican, doubled down in appreciation for entities involved including
 the Topeka Police Department, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas 
Highway Patrol, FBI and Drug Enforcement Agency.

“As a result, a 
significant number of guns, drugs, narcotics, and criminals removed from
 the streets of Shawnee County,” Moran said before looking to the 
future. “How can we help further to combat the increasing amount of 
crime that’s occurring in Kansas? … It’s true across our state. This is 
not just an urban issue.”

Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. 
Col. Jason De Vore said eight troopers and the KHP aircraft unit all 
participated in active patrols of established enforcement zones for the 
operation. Troopers conducted high volume traffic stops as well to 
disrupt and remove illegal contraband, weapons and other illicit items 
from the streets.

Shawnee County Sheriff 
Brian Hill said the operation was critical in stopping current crime and
 would spark future investigations.

“Consider this a 
successful operation, but more importantly, this operation didn’t end 
when the due date was over,” Hill said. “I expect the impact of this 
operation will be felt here in Shawnee County and help with actually 
fighting crime throughout our community.”

Topeka interim Police Chief Bryan Wheeles said the operation proved critical amid a time when resources are in short supply.

“When I took over, the 
first priority that I identified was to reduce crime in the capital city
 and this multi-agency collaboration dovetails into that premise,” 
Wheeles said. “I’m grateful to all the leaders of all the agencies 
because I know the challenges of resources right now and I’m very 
humbled and honored that they use those resources in this collaborative 
effort in my city.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617041969513.png" alt="Some of the items seized -photo U.S. Marshal's Service" />
 <figcaption>Some of the items seized -photo U.S. Marshal's Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/29/more-than-250-arrested-in-shawnee-county-as-joint-police-operation-targets-violent-crime/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — An operation by 
federal, state and local law enforcement to reduce drug-related crime in
 Topeka has led to more than 250 arrests and the seizure of 24 firearms,
 nearly 19 kilograms of illegal drugs and $25,000 in cash.Dubbed Operation Frontier 
Justice, the 10-day joint effort carried out in mid-March targeted 
violent fugitives and gang members. Officials at a news conference 
Monday announcing the results of the operation said it was carried out 
in response to rising violent crime rates in the area between 2014 and 
2019.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617040620287.png" alt="Ron Miller, U.S. Marshal for the District of Kansas, on Monday announced more than 250 arrests and the seizure of thousands of dollars in illegal drugs, weapons and contraband during Operation Frontier Justice in Shawnee County. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Ron Miller, U.S. Marshal for the District of Kansas, on Monday announced more than 250 arrests and the seizure of thousands of dollars in illegal drugs, weapons and contraband during Operation Frontier Justice in Shawnee County. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Feuds between Topeka-area 
gangs have grown deadlier in recent years and these gangs have begun 
targeting area foster children, according to reporting by the Topeka 
Capital-Journal.To curb the violence, a 
cohort of law enforcement agencies led by the U.S. Marshals Service 
carried out Operation Frontier Justice from March 5 to 14.“These are not street 
sweeps or warrant roundups. These are targeted operations, targeting, 
organized crime and gangs,” said Ron Miller, U.S. Marshal for the 
District of Kansas “Without those three coequal branches of government 
funding, authorizing and carrying out the operation, it wouldn’t be 
nearly as successful as it might be if it was just a local police 
department or law enforcement agency that was executing arrests on 
warrants.”Miller was joined by 
federal legislators, local law enforcement officials and Shawnee County 
legal authorities to share details of the operation. Of the 258 arrests 
made, 138 were felony arrests, officials said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617040669786.jpeg" alt="U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran praised the collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement to curtail gang and violent crime in Topeka. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran praised the collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement to curtail gang and violent crime in Topeka. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a 
Republican, doubled down in appreciation for entities involved including
 the Topeka Police Department, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas 
Highway Patrol, FBI and Drug Enforcement Agency.“As a result, a 
significant number of guns, drugs, narcotics, and criminals removed from
 the streets of Shawnee County,” Moran said before looking to the 
future. “How can we help further to combat the increasing amount of 
crime that’s occurring in Kansas? … It’s true across our state. This is 
not just an urban issue.”Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. 
Col. Jason De Vore said eight troopers and the KHP aircraft unit all 
participated in active patrols of established enforcement zones for the 
operation. Troopers conducted high volume traffic stops as well to 
disrupt and remove illegal contraband, weapons and other illicit items 
from the streets.Shawnee County Sheriff 
Brian Hill said the operation was critical in stopping current crime and
 would spark future investigations.“Consider this a 
successful operation, but more importantly, this operation didn’t end 
when the due date was over,” Hill said. “I expect the impact of this 
operation will be felt here in Shawnee County and help with actually 
fighting crime throughout our community.”Topeka interim Police Chief Bryan Wheeles said the operation proved critical amid a time when resources are in short supply.“When I took over, the 
first priority that I identified was to reduce crime in the capital city
 and this multi-agency collaboration dovetails into that premise,” 
Wheeles said. “I’m grateful to all the leaders of all the agencies 
because I know the challenges of resources right now and I’m very 
humbled and honored that they use those resources in this collaborative 
effort in my city.”

More than 250 arrested in Kan. sting targeting violent crime

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The body of what is believed to be a Kansas City-area driver who had been missing since an accident last week has been found in a wooded area near the crash site.

Relatives on Sunday found the body in Grandview. The victim’s name has not been released.

Police were called Wednesday night to a report of an accident. Officers searched but found nothing in the area that night.

Two days later, police learned the driver was missing and they re-searched the area but again found nothing.

Relatives of the victim formed their own search party and found a body Sunday afternoon. Police believe the body is that of the missing driver but are awaiting official confirmation from the medical examiner.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The body of what is believed to be a Kansas City-area driver who had been missing since an accident last week has been found in a wooded area near the crash site.Relatives on Sunday found the body in Grandview. The victim’s name has not been released.Police were called Wednesday night to a report of an accident. Officers searched but found nothing in the area that night.Two days later, police learned the driver was missing and they re-searched the area but again found nothing.Relatives of the victim formed their own search party and found a body Sunday afternoon. Police believe the body is that of the missing driver but are awaiting official confirmation from the medical examiner.

Body found in woods 4 days after KC-area car crash

TOPEKA —Gov. Laura Kelly has issued a State of Disaster Emergency declaration due to a high risk of wildland fires and red flag warnings in the majority of Kansas counties. Dry and windy weather is in the forecast for the rest of the week, resulting in anticipated critical fire weather conditions. The weather conditions quickly dry out dead grass and other fuels, making them receptive to new fire starts or rekindles from controlled burns. The combination of dry fuels and wind-driven fires are more challenging and difficult to control. The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria. "Fire season is in full-force and we must all do our part to protect our fellow Kansans," Kelly said. "Exercise caution and not do any burning at this time. Remember it only takes a spark to start a fire that can quickly get out of control with the high winds." The Kansas Division of Emergency Management State Emergency Operations Center is monitoring the situation and will assist counties with requests for state assistance.&nbsp; Kansas Forest Service personnel and contracted Air Tanker 95 are assisting with fires in Reno County. "Interagency coordination of resources at a state level increases firefighter and public safety when large wildfires occur - which is our top priority," said Mark Neely, State Fire Management Officer with KFS. With several days of fire weather concerns throughout Kansas, resources will be limited. "We ask all Kansans to do your part in preventing and immediately reporting wildfires. We are faced with back-to-back days of elevated fire weather this week and resources are likely to be stretched thin with multiple fires burning across the state today," said Neely. KFS staff is dispersed across the state to monitor fire conditions and behavior. They are available to provide assistance as requested.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616982127323.png" alt="Deputies block traffic due to a wild fire Sunday in Reno County" />
 <figcaption>Deputies block traffic due to a wild fire Sunday in Reno County</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Gov. Laura Kelly has issued a State of Disaster Emergency declaration due to a high risk of wildland fires and red flag warnings in the majority of Kansas counties. Dry and windy weather is in the forecast for the rest of the week, resulting in anticipated critical fire weather conditions. The weather conditions quickly dry out dead grass and other fuels, making them receptive to new fire starts or rekindles from controlled burns. The combination of dry fuels and wind-driven fires are more challenging and difficult to control. The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria. "Fire season is in full-force and we must all do our part to protect our fellow Kansans," Kelly said. "Exercise caution and not do any burning at this time. Remember it only takes a spark to start a fire that can quickly get out of control with the high winds." The Kansas Division of Emergency Management State Emergency Operations Center is monitoring the situation and will assist counties with requests for state assistance.&nbsp; Kansas Forest Service personnel and contracted Air Tanker 95 are assisting with fires in Reno County. "Interagency coordination of resources at a state level increases firefighter and public safety when large wildfires occur - which is our top priority," said Mark Neely, State Fire Management Officer with KFS. With several days of fire weather concerns throughout Kansas, resources will be limited. "We ask all Kansans to do your part in preventing and immediately reporting wildfires. We are faced with back-to-back days of elevated fire weather this week and resources are likely to be stretched thin with multiple fires burning across the state today," said Neely. KFS staff is dispersed across the state to monitor fire conditions and behavior. They are available to provide assistance as requested.

Gov. issues state of disaster emergency for Kan. wildfires

Topeka – The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) announced Monday&nbsp; that unemployment insurance claimants can once again apply for the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program online <a href="https://www.getkansasbenefits.gov/Home.aspx">CLICK HERE.</a>

Claimants who would like to file for PEUC should login to their account, select the “Apply for PEUC” option and follow the instructions.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides for a PEUC extension through the week ending Sept. 4, 2021, and will provide up to an additional 29 weeks of an individual’s calculated weekly benefit amount. The first week for which this extension may be paid is the week ending March 20, 2021. 

The last payable week of PEUC in Kansas is the week ending Sept. 4, 2021. Eligible claimants must continue to file their weekly claims in order to receive benefits.

Since March 15, 2020, KDOL has paid out over 4.2 million weekly claims totaling over $2.8 billion between regular unemployment and the federal pandemic programs. 

For more information, or to apply for unemployment benefits <a href="https://www.getkansasbenefits.gov/Home.aspx">Click here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610733397386.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Topeka – The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) announced Monday&nbsp; that unemployment insurance claimants can once again apply for the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program online <a href="https://www.getkansasbenefits.gov/Home.aspx">CLICK HERE.</a>Claimants who would like to file for PEUC should login to their account, select the “Apply for PEUC” option and follow the instructions.The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides for a PEUC extension through the week ending Sept. 4, 2021, and will provide up to an additional 29 weeks of an individual’s calculated weekly benefit amount. The first week for which this extension may be paid is the week ending March 20, 2021. The last payable week of PEUC in Kansas is the week ending Sept. 4, 2021. Eligible claimants must continue to file their weekly claims in order to receive benefits.Since March 15, 2020, KDOL has paid out over 4.2 million weekly claims totaling over $2.8 billion between regular unemployment and the federal pandemic programs. For more information, or to apply for unemployment benefits <a href="https://www.getkansasbenefits.gov/Home.aspx">Click here.</a>

KDOL: Unemployed in Kan. can apply for PEUC again

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former Jackson County sheriff’s deputy who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b16ac54e69df421d98544503fcaf726f">shot a woman</a>&nbsp;in the back, wounding her, has been sentenced to 180 days in jail and four years of probation.

Lauren N. Michael, 31, was sentenced Thursday for the Aug. 8, 2019, shooting of Brittany Simek in downtown Kansas City.

That shooting came two years after Michael shot and killed a suspected shoplifter at a Raytown Walmart while working as an off-duty security guard. No charges were filed in that shooting.

In the 2019 shooting, Michael said she confronted Simek after seeing her riding a Bird scooter in the wrong direction. She said Simek resisted arrest and was able to stun Michael with the deputy’s stun gun. Michael said she then shot Simek with her firearm because she feared Simek would take it from her, too.

Simek’s version of events differed greatly from Michael’s. Simek testified that her hands were in the air when Michael pulled her to the ground and used a stun gun on her. She said she reacted by pushing away from Michael and running, and was then shot in the back, prosecutors said.

Investigators said the evidence did not support Michael’s version of events. Cartridges from the stun gun had been deployed within 3 seconds, which was not enough time for the struggle Michael described, prosecutors said.

Michael&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/16d7e695fe5bf83925470571403565e8">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;in January to first-degree assault. She did not make a statement during the hearing.

Prosecutors had sought a six-year sentence for Michael, saying she was “absolutely unreasonable” when she shot Simek in the back.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1570669855180.png" alt="Lauren Michael-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Lauren Michael-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former Jackson County sheriff’s deputy who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b16ac54e69df421d98544503fcaf726f">shot a woman</a>&nbsp;in the back, wounding her, has been sentenced to 180 days in jail and four years of probation.Lauren N. Michael, 31, was sentenced Thursday for the Aug. 8, 2019, shooting of Brittany Simek in downtown Kansas City.That shooting came two years after Michael shot and killed a suspected shoplifter at a Raytown Walmart while working as an off-duty security guard. No charges were filed in that shooting.In the 2019 shooting, Michael said she confronted Simek after seeing her riding a Bird scooter in the wrong direction. She said Simek resisted arrest and was able to stun Michael with the deputy’s stun gun. Michael said she then shot Simek with her firearm because she feared Simek would take it from her, too.Simek’s version of events differed greatly from Michael’s. Simek testified that her hands were in the air when Michael pulled her to the ground and used a stun gun on her. She said she reacted by pushing away from Michael and running, and was then shot in the back, prosecutors said.Investigators said the evidence did not support Michael’s version of events. Cartridges from the stun gun had been deployed within 3 seconds, which was not enough time for the struggle Michael described, prosecutors said.Michael&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/16d7e695fe5bf83925470571403565e8">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;in January to first-degree assault. She did not make a statement during the hearing.Prosecutors had sought a six-year sentence for Michael, saying she was “absolutely unreasonable” when she shot Simek in the back.

Former deputy sentenced for shooting Kansas City woman

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 429 to a total of 301,862, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4902, an increase of 11.

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

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 429 to a total of 301,862, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4902, an increase of 11.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617037396845.png" alt="Monday March 29, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday March 29, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

What went from a 3-2 vote in favor of keeping the mask mandate in Barton County last week, went to a 3-2 vote to rescind the requirement Monday as the Barton County Commission met as the local Board of Health. Barton County is lifting the mask mandate effective at 12 p.m. Monday, March 29, and any future possible mandate from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly within the next week. While Commissioners Kirby Krier and Shawn Hutchinson supported rescinding the mandate at last week’s meeting, Barb Esfeld noted she wanted time to hear from her constituents on the matter. Esfeld said she received more than 50 emails and phone calls in that time and only three were in favor of keeping the mask requirement. Esfeld, Krier and Hutchinson all voted to eliminate the mandate. Hutchinson mentioned the mask mandate has been on his mind before he became a commissioner this past January. "I respected the decision even though I disagreed with it," Hutchinson said. "I know our citizens are capable of using common sense and common courtesies, making a mandate an overreach of our powers. I believe after a year of this, we all know the universal precautions and can follow them without any sort of government intervention."&nbsp; Barton County passed the county-wide mask mandate that went into effect Nov. 25. Around that time, there were over 300 active cases of COVID-19 within the county. According the latest report, there are currently eight active cases. Commissioners Jennifer Schartz and Jim Daily voted to keep the mandate in place. Schartz, the former Public Information Officer for USD 428 in Great Bend, talked with the district’s superintendent Khris Thexton. "He (Thexton) said at the very least, he would like to see the mask mandate run through the Easter holiday," Schartz said. "He would really prefer it remain through the end of school because his No. 1 concern is just finishing the school year. If the numbers get out of whack because of a decision we made, he is afraid they will have to stop the school year and go to remote learning." The commission made it clear in a second motion to opt out of any possible statewide mandate that might come from the governor by the end of the month. Businesses, organizations and cities can still require the use of masks within their building or jurisdiction if they choose.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617034362447.jpeg" alt="The Barton County Commission voted 3-2 to eliminate the mask mandate effective March 29, 2021 at noon." />
 <figcaption>The Barton County Commission voted 3-2 to eliminate the mask mandate effective March 29, 2021 at noon.</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostWhat went from a 3-2 vote in favor of keeping the mask mandate in Barton County last week, went to a 3-2 vote to rescind the requirement Monday as the Barton County Commission met as the local Board of Health. Barton County is lifting the mask mandate effective at 12 p.m. Monday, March 29, and any future possible mandate from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly within the next week. While Commissioners Kirby Krier and Shawn Hutchinson supported rescinding the mandate at last week’s meeting, Barb Esfeld noted she wanted time to hear from her constituents on the matter. Esfeld said she received more than 50 emails and phone calls in that time and only three were in favor of keeping the mask requirement. Esfeld, Krier and Hutchinson all voted to eliminate the mandate. Hutchinson mentioned the mask mandate has been on his mind before he became a commissioner this past January. "I respected the decision even though I disagreed with it," Hutchinson said. "I know our citizens are capable of using common sense and common courtesies, making a mandate an overreach of our powers. I believe after a year of this, we all know the universal precautions and can follow them without any sort of government intervention."&nbsp; Barton County passed the county-wide mask mandate that went into effect Nov. 25. Around that time, there were over 300 active cases of COVID-19 within the county. According the latest report, there are currently eight active cases. Commissioners Jennifer Schartz and Jim Daily voted to keep the mandate in place. Schartz, the former Public Information Officer for USD 428 in Great Bend, talked with the district’s superintendent Khris Thexton. "He (Thexton) said at the very least, he would like to see the mask mandate run through the Easter holiday," Schartz said. "He would really prefer it remain through the end of school because his No. 1 concern is just finishing the school year. If the numbers get out of whack because of a decision we made, he is afraid they will have to stop the school year and go to remote learning." The commission made it clear in a second motion to opt out of any possible statewide mandate that might come from the governor by the end of the month. Businesses, organizations and cities can still require the use of masks within their building or jurisdiction if they choose.

Barton County Commission votes to end mask mandate 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is extending a federal moratorium on evictions of tenants who have fallen behind on rent during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday moved to continue the pandemic-related protection, which had been scheduled to expire on Wednesday. The moratorium is now extended through the end of June.

The ban, initially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1eb82db82ec722d329e52eff638c797f">put in place last year</a>, provides protection for renters out of concern that having families lose their homes and move into shelters or share crowded conditions with relatives or friends during the pandemic would further spread the highly contagious virus, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">killed more than 545,000 people</a>&nbsp;in the United States.

To be eligible for the housing protection, renters must earn $198,000 annually or less for couples filing jointly, or $99,000 for single filers; demonstrate that they’ve sought government help to pay the rent; declare that they can’t pay because of COVID-19 hardships; and affirm they are likely to become homeless if evicted.

In February, President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-extends-ban-housing-foreclosure-6d16be8ce051c394ae1813c57da6727d">extended a ban on housing foreclosures</a>&nbsp;to June 30 to help homeowners struggling during the pandemic.

Housing advocates had generally expected the extension of the tenant eviction moratorium and had been lobbying the Biden administration, saying it was too early in the country’s economic recovery to let the ban lapse.

John Pollock, coordinator of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel, said last week that the moratorium was “the only thing holding back the flood” of evictions that would spiral through the still-shaky American economy.

Pollack said current surveys show that 18.4% of all tenants owe back rent. That number also revealed significant racial disparity: The percentage of Black tenants behind on their rent was 32.9%.

But some housing advocates were disappointed that Biden merely extended the ban without making any changes. Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said she and others had pushed to make the ban’s protections automatic and universal. Currently, tenants have to actively take steps to invoke the ban’s protections, which can lead to exploitation of those who don’t know their rights or don’t understand the process.

Also, some jurisdictions have allowed landlords to initiate the eviction process in court, a tactic that scared many families into leaving rather than having the eviction proceedings, even unfinished ones, on their records.

“While the Biden administration is well aware of the shortcomings in the moratorium order that allow some evictions to proceed during the pandemic, the CDC director did not correct them,” Yentel said.

Instead, the CDC “simply extended President Trump’s original order, leaving the loopholes and flaws in place, a disappointing decision that will result in more harmful evictions during the pandemic,” she said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is extending a federal moratorium on evictions of tenants who have fallen behind on rent during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday moved to continue the pandemic-related protection, which had been scheduled to expire on Wednesday. The moratorium is now extended through the end of June.The ban, initially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1eb82db82ec722d329e52eff638c797f">put in place last year</a>, provides protection for renters out of concern that having families lose their homes and move into shelters or share crowded conditions with relatives or friends during the pandemic would further spread the highly contagious virus, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">killed more than 545,000 people</a>&nbsp;in the United States.To be eligible for the housing protection, renters must earn $198,000 annually or less for couples filing jointly, or $99,000 for single filers; demonstrate that they’ve sought government help to pay the rent; declare that they can’t pay because of COVID-19 hardships; and affirm they are likely to become homeless if evicted.In February, President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-extends-ban-housing-foreclosure-6d16be8ce051c394ae1813c57da6727d">extended a ban on housing foreclosures</a>&nbsp;to June 30 to help homeowners struggling during the pandemic.Housing advocates had generally expected the extension of the tenant eviction moratorium and had been lobbying the Biden administration, saying it was too early in the country’s economic recovery to let the ban lapse.John Pollock, coordinator of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel, said last week that the moratorium was “the only thing holding back the flood” of evictions that would spiral through the still-shaky American economy.Pollack said current surveys show that 18.4% of all tenants owe back rent. That number also revealed significant racial disparity: The percentage of Black tenants behind on their rent was 32.9%.But some housing advocates were disappointed that Biden merely extended the ban without making any changes. Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said she and others had pushed to make the ban’s protections automatic and universal. Currently, tenants have to actively take steps to invoke the ban’s protections, which can lead to exploitation of those who don’t know their rights or don’t understand the process.Also, some jurisdictions have allowed landlords to initiate the eviction process in court, a tactic that scared many families into leaving rather than having the eviction proceedings, even unfinished ones, on their records.“While the Biden administration is well aware of the shortcomings in the moratorium order that allow some evictions to proceed during the pandemic, the CDC director did not correct them,” Yentel said.Instead, the CDC “simply extended President Trump’s original order, leaving the loopholes and flaws in place, a disappointing decision that will result in more harmful evictions during the pandemic,” she said.___

Ban on renter evictions during COVID pandemic extended

By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>


HUTCHINSON — Washburn University professor Bob Beatty believes there is room 
for at least one more candidate in the Republican primary for governor 
in 2022, even though former governor Dr. Jeff Colyer and Attorney 
General Derek Schmidt have both said they are running.

"There's 
certainly a possibility of a Trump Republican," Beatty said. "We know 
that from what's going on nationally, which would be a candidate who is 
vociferously and authentically and wildly pro-Trump in ways that Jeff 
Colyer and Derek Schmidt are just not going to be."

A name doesn't
 immediately come to Beatty's mind, though it's possible that Kris 
Kobach could take that lane, if his loss in 2018 hasn't caused too much 
damage with the party.

"There is a point in politics where, if you
 lose too many elections, you lose your credibility," Beatty said. 
"Taking a chance on one more lost election would be pretty tough for 
Kobach."

One name that won't be in the Kansas governor discussion 
is former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He's pursuing a higher office.

"Pompeo
 is effectively running for President," Beatty said. "Again, the specter
 of Donald Trump looms large in that, if Trump runs for President, then 
Pompeo is out on that front, but you certainly could see him effectively
 running for Vice President, as odd as that sounds."

The 
implication is that if Trump were to run again, he would likely not pick
 Mike Pence to run with him, and he's seemed to trust Pompeo in the 
past.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597324661682.jpeg" alt="Bob Beatty" />
 <figcaption>Bob Beatty</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — Washburn University professor Bob Beatty believes there is room 
for at least one more candidate in the Republican primary for governor 
in 2022, even though former governor Dr. Jeff Colyer and Attorney 
General Derek Schmidt have both said they are running."There's 
certainly a possibility of a Trump Republican," Beatty said. "We know 
that from what's going on nationally, which would be a candidate who is 
vociferously and authentically and wildly pro-Trump in ways that Jeff 
Colyer and Derek Schmidt are just not going to be."A name doesn't
 immediately come to Beatty's mind, though it's possible that Kris 
Kobach could take that lane, if his loss in 2018 hasn't caused too much 
damage with the party."There is a point in politics where, if you
 lose too many elections, you lose your credibility," Beatty said. 
"Taking a chance on one more lost election would be pretty tough for 
Kobach."One name that won't be in the Kansas governor discussion 
is former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He's pursuing a higher office."Pompeo
 is effectively running for President," Beatty said. "Again, the specter
 of Donald Trump looms large in that, if Trump runs for President, then 
Pompeo is out on that front, but you certainly could see him effectively
 running for Vice President, as odd as that sounds."The 
implication is that if Trump were to run again, he would likely not pick
 Mike Pence to run with him, and he's seemed to trust Pompeo in the 
past.

Professor sees room for more in Kan. GOP governor primary

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp; The State of Kansas will make the COVID-19 vaccine available to all Kansans (16+) beginning March 29.

The state is moving into Phase 5 of the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.ubDUIVThm5i2wwMrejtn9iLpuJil1tvbFfXjWRlw4_Q/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">Vaccine Prioritization</a>&nbsp;plan, according to a media release from Governor Laura Kelly's office.

“With the anticipated increase in supply from the federal government, we must get every dose of vaccine into arms quickly,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“I strongly encourage every Kansan to get the COVID-19 vaccine so we can get back to school, back to work, and back to normal.”

Kansas will become the 8th&nbsp;state to make the vaccine available to all adults, joining Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Utah, and West Virginia.

As of March 26,<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAzMjYuMzc3ODQ5MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2NvdmlkLmNkYy5nb3YvY292aWQtZGF0YS10cmFja2VyLyN2YWNjaW5hdGlvbnMifQ.sFC6hfLyb9saz9FMqRT-HD3k5y5Z0XZPHX487V3L_rA/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">&nbsp;35.1%</a>&nbsp;of the adult population in Kansas had received at least one dose of the vaccine.

In the early part of the vaccination program (December 2020 – February 2021), limited federal supply led to demand for vaccine consistently outstripping supply. However, the supply increases of recent weeks have reversed this situation. Local Health Departments (LHDs) and providers have started reporting a decline in demand despite the state opening to Phases 3 and 4 populations. To ensure no vaccine goes to waste, the Kelly administration decided to open eligibility to all Kansans.

Kansans are encouraged to use the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.aeqhimZY4uP5KjdOQ4BPwDU6G3ogyV88Q0Amwsf3xEU/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">Vaccine Finder</a>&nbsp;tool to find the nearest location with available vaccine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610104544544.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp; The State of Kansas will make the COVID-19 vaccine available to all Kansans (16+) beginning March 29.The state is moving into Phase 5 of the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.ubDUIVThm5i2wwMrejtn9iLpuJil1tvbFfXjWRlw4_Q/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">Vaccine Prioritization</a>&nbsp;plan, according to a media release from Governor Laura Kelly's office.“With the anticipated increase in supply from the federal government, we must get every dose of vaccine into arms quickly,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“I strongly encourage every Kansan to get the COVID-19 vaccine so we can get back to school, back to work, and back to normal.”Kansas will become the 8th&nbsp;state to make the vaccine available to all adults, joining Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Utah, and West Virginia.As of March 26,<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAzMjYuMzc3ODQ5MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2NvdmlkLmNkYy5nb3YvY292aWQtZGF0YS10cmFja2VyLyN2YWNjaW5hdGlvbnMifQ.sFC6hfLyb9saz9FMqRT-HD3k5y5Z0XZPHX487V3L_rA/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">&nbsp;35.1%</a>&nbsp;of the adult population in Kansas had received at least one dose of the vaccine.In the early part of the vaccination program (December 2020 – February 2021), limited federal supply led to demand for vaccine consistently outstripping supply. However, the supply increases of recent weeks have reversed this situation. Local Health Departments (LHDs) and providers have started reporting a decline in demand despite the state opening to Phases 3 and 4 populations. To ensure no vaccine goes to waste, the Kelly administration decided to open eligibility to all Kansans.Kansans are encouraged to use the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.aeqhimZY4uP5KjdOQ4BPwDU6G3ogyV88Q0Amwsf3xEU/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">Vaccine Finder</a>&nbsp;tool to find the nearest location with available vaccine.About the COVID-19 vaccines:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAzMjYuMzc3ODQ5MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3RpbWUuY29tLzU5NDIwNzYvcHJvb2YtY292aWQtMTktdmFjY2luZXMtd29yay8ifQ.4K2ibSgHqf_L3FHxbJLaaAjBad4X-loM4Yd3tTjswCQ/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">COVID-19 Vaccines work</a>:&nbsp;New England Journal of Medicine&nbsp;published a study on Feb. 24 that found researchers in Israel and the U.S. report that the vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech was highly effective in protecting against infection with the COVID-19 virus, lowering people’s chances of getting sick with the disease—especially severe disease—and dropping COVID-19 hospitalization rates.</li><li>Scientists have been researching&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.28L4URDjRLyYtmmVFwrZFVEIwLixtTKUQ8CB8vIxQuQ/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">mRNA</a>&nbsp;technology, which makes it possible to create a vaccine faster, for years to prepare for potential infectious viruses. This research and the high supply of volunteers for clinical trials led to the relatively&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.DO1KeJdPNKo7fYVCmfZPYk38nG3hLc13868zPgifkWk/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">quick</a>&nbsp;development of the COVID-19 vaccines.</li><li>COVID-19 vaccines must meet&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.WrLjrb9CNPgiehOWJoSp92P265nv0uSksmJw-AdXo20/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">rigorous</a>&nbsp;standards and have undergone the most&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.zK4AWTSgGHpTY36_AQHWCk1IVNfP5zNZvNjD-TpmksQ/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">intensive</a>&nbsp;safety monitoring in U.S. history. The three COVID-19 vaccines had to meet safety and effectiveness standards to be approved for Emergency Use Authorization and have been evaluated in&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.1fCwgNA_d2YWui9oFU8guVKsMFWjuyS9VnXGH3pfcI0/s/1303160919/br/100735784539-l" target="_blank">tens of thousands</a>&nbsp;of participants in clinical trials.</li>
 </ul>

Vaccine now available to everyone in Kan. 16 and older 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Kansas City police officer who was shot in the leg Thursday while trying to make an arrest has been released from the hospital.

The Missouri Highway Patrol says the officer was wounded while trying to arrest a suspect in an aggravated assault case. The suspect fired at the officer at a gas station in eastern Kansas City Thursday before the officer returned fire and killed the man. Officials have said 31-year-old Malcolm Johnson of Kansas City died in the shootout.

Kansas City Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the officer is doing well and recovering from his injuries. The officer has been with the police department for about eight and a half years.

The fatal confrontation occurred after two uniformed Kansas City police officers saw a man inside the gas station they believed was wanted in an aggravated assault case.

The highway patrol is investigating the shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616756345082.png" alt="The scene of the shooting investigation photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The scene of the shooting investigation photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Kansas City police officer who was shot in the leg Thursday while trying to make an arrest has been released from the hospital.The Missouri Highway Patrol says the officer was wounded while trying to arrest a suspect in an aggravated assault case. The suspect fired at the officer at a gas station in eastern Kansas City Thursday before the officer returned fire and killed the man. Officials have said 31-year-old Malcolm Johnson of Kansas City died in the shootout.Kansas City Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the officer is doing well and recovering from his injuries. The officer has been with the police department for about eight and a half years.The fatal confrontation occurred after two uniformed Kansas City police officers saw a man inside the gas station they believed was wanted in an aggravated assault case.The highway patrol is investigating the shooting.

Kansas City officer shot by suspect out of the hospital

FORD COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Sunday in Ford County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Harley Davidson&nbsp;FXDB Street Bob driven by Gilberto&nbsp;Gallegos, 33, Dodge City, was northbound on U.S. 283 seven miles north of U.S. 56.

The driver attempted to pass a northbound vehicle. The motorcycle crossed the center line. The driver lost control, laid the motorcycle over on its left side and was separated from the motorcycle.

Gallegos was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the morgue at Western Plains in Dodge City. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

FORD COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Sunday in Ford County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Harley Davidson&nbsp;FXDB Street Bob driven by Gilberto&nbsp;Gallegos, 33, Dodge City, was northbound on U.S. 283 seven miles north of U.S. 56.The driver attempted to pass a northbound vehicle. The motorcycle crossed the center line. The driver lost control, laid the motorcycle over on its left side and was separated from the motorcycle.Gallegos was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the morgue at Western Plains in Dodge City. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

SW Kansas man dies after motorcycle accident

HUTCHINSON— Fire crews&nbsp; battled a wildfire north of Hutchinson Sunday afternoon and evening. The fire started around 3:30 p.m. and burned about 85 acres of open land.

“Some people were burning a brush pile and the wind pushed some embers out into some tall grass and made a little run to the northeast,” According to Rural Fire District-2 Chief Bobby White. “District-2 territory is on the west side of Plum and Hutch Fire is on the east side so we did a joint so we did a joint operation.”

White says they had plenty of help from area departments.

“We ended up with multiple fire departments from mcPherson County, Reno County, Harvey County,” White said. “We had about 10 or 12 fire departments here.”

There were no injuries and no damage. White also said that there were no evacuations. Crews are staying on the scene to keep any hot spots under control. Red flag warnings are in effect for Monday with wind gusts expected to be above 50 MPH. Plum was closed throughout the afternoon and evening in the area of the fire.

RENO COUNTY —Crews were on the scene of a fire in rural Reno County Sunday afternoon, according to the Reno County Sheriff's Office.&nbsp; They asked area residents to&nbsp; avoid the area of North Plum between 82nd and 95th due to a large fire in the area. 

 Deputies blocked roads and fire units were working to get the fire under control.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616982127323.png" alt="Sunday afternoon fire in rural Reno County -photo Reno Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Sunday afternoon fire in rural Reno County -photo Reno Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON— Fire crews&nbsp; battled a wildfire north of Hutchinson Sunday afternoon and evening. The fire started around 3:30 p.m. and burned about 85 acres of open land.“Some people were burning a brush pile and the wind pushed some embers out into some tall grass and made a little run to the northeast,” According to Rural Fire District-2 Chief Bobby White. “District-2 territory is on the west side of Plum and Hutch Fire is on the east side so we did a joint so we did a joint operation.”White says they had plenty of help from area departments.“We ended up with multiple fire departments from mcPherson County, Reno County, Harvey County,” White said. “We had about 10 or 12 fire departments here.”There were no injuries and no damage. White also said that there were no evacuations. Crews are staying on the scene to keep any hot spots under control. Red flag warnings are in effect for Monday with wind gusts expected to be above 50 MPH. Plum was closed throughout the afternoon and evening in the area of the fire.------------------------RENO COUNTY —Crews were on the scene of a fire in rural Reno County Sunday afternoon, according to the Reno County Sheriff's Office.&nbsp; They asked area residents to&nbsp; avoid the area of North Plum between 82nd and 95th due to a large fire in the area. Deputies blocked roads and fire units were working to get the fire under control.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Burning brush pile started rural Kansas fire

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A driver has been charged with hitting and killing a Good Samaritan as she tried to help the victim of an earlier crash in Kansas City, Kansas. 

Prosecutors announced Friday that 42-year-old Ramon Vazquez-Carmona faces one count of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence in the March 14 crash that killed Cindy Goulding. Vazquez-Carmona also faces a lesser charge of driving without a valid license. 

Kansas City, Kansas, police said Goulding exited her car to help after a sedan struck a sport utility vehicle. She then was struck by a pickup truck and declared dead at the scene.

JOHNSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 3a.m. Sunday in Johnson County.

Kansas City police reported a northbound sedan struck a southbound SUV at&nbsp; 59th Street and Nogard.&nbsp; The sedan came to rest about a block from the crash. The driver and occupants fled the scene on foot.

A Good Samaritan, identified as a woman in her late 50s, stopped to check on the crash and was standing next to the SUV. A pickup struck the SUV. The impact killed the Good Samaritan, according to KCPD.

EMS transported the driver of the SUV to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police also arrested the pickup driver.&nbsp; Authorities have not reported an arrest of the sedan driver or released name of the woman who died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616857300340.png" alt="Vazquez-Carmona photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Vazquez-Carmona photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A driver has been charged with hitting and killing a Good Samaritan as she tried to help the victim of an earlier crash in Kansas City, Kansas. Prosecutors announced Friday that 42-year-old Ramon Vazquez-Carmona faces one count of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence in the March 14 crash that killed Cindy Goulding. Vazquez-Carmona also faces a lesser charge of driving without a valid license. Kansas City, Kansas, police said Goulding exited her car to help after a sedan struck a sport utility vehicle. She then was struck by a pickup truck and declared dead at the scene.-------JOHNSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 3a.m. Sunday in Johnson County.Kansas City police reported a northbound sedan struck a southbound SUV at&nbsp; 59th Street and Nogard.&nbsp; The sedan came to rest about a block from the crash. The driver and occupants fled the scene on foot.A Good Samaritan, identified as a woman in her late 50s, stopped to check on the crash and was standing next to the SUV. A pickup struck the SUV. The impact killed the Good Samaritan, according to KCPD.EMS transported the driver of the SUV to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police also arrested the pickup driver.&nbsp; Authorities have not reported an arrest of the sedan driver or released name of the woman who died.

Man charged in Kan. crash that killed Good Samaritan

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple charges following a traffic stop in Shawnee County..

Just after 2:30pm. Friday, a K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a 1999 Buick Park Avenue at North Kansas Avenue and NW Lyman Road, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, deputies located narcotics and arrested the passenger, Stacy N. Minton, 35, of Topeka for a misdemeanor warrant out of the City of Topeka.&nbsp; She was also booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Christian.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616942621741.png" alt="Minton photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Minton photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple charges following a traffic stop in Shawnee County..Just after 2:30pm. Friday, a K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a 1999 Buick Park Avenue at North Kansas Avenue and NW Lyman Road, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, deputies located narcotics and arrested the passenger, Stacy N. Minton, 35, of Topeka for a misdemeanor warrant out of the City of Topeka.&nbsp; She was also booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Christian.

Weekend in jail for Kan. woman after sheriff's K-9 finds drugs

BY SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/26/court-record-shows-kansas-senate-majority-leader-drove-90-mph-evaded-roadblock/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Senate Majority 
Leader Gene Suellentrop was charged Friday with drunk driving and felony
 fleeing from police while traveling 90 mph in the wrong direction on 
Interstate 70 in Topeka.

The complaint filed in 
district court by the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office 
indicates the early morning escapade on March 16 ended after Suellentrop
 “willfully failed or refused” to stop for police.

The Wichita Republican was
 stopped by Kansas Highway Patrol officers after several 911 callers 
reported he was driving on the wrong side of the interstate. He was 
released from jail after a judge determined there was a problem with the
 arrest report.

The next day, Suellentrop announced he was <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/17/kansas-senate-majority-leader-hands-off-duties-a-day-after-drunk-driving-arrest/">transferring leadership duties</a> to an assistant while resolving his legal matters.

He now faces a level nine 
felony for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, misdemeanor 
charges of driving under the influence and reckless driving, and traffic
 infractions for driving the wrong way on a divided highway and 
speeding.

The complaint says he was 
driving 90 mph in a 65 mph zone. His blood alcohol level was over the 
legal limit of .08, but the complaint doesn’t specify the exact reading.

The felony charge 
indicates he “failed to stop for a police roadblock, drove around a tire
 deflating device placed by a police officer, engaged in reckless 
driving, was involved in a motor vehicle accident, intentionally caused 
damage to property” and eluded capture. District Attorney Mike Kagay 
said Saturday the complaint uses standard language that reflects 
different ways the prosecutor can prove the charge and is not a comment 
on the evidence in the case.

Suellentrop was booked Friday into Shawnee County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.

Senate President Ty 
Masterson and Vice President Rick Wilborn issued a joint statement 
saying they have reached out to the GOP Senate caucus about “how to 
proceed most effectively” after learning of Suellentrop’s charges.

“The complaint’s 
allegations are very serious, and we trust the legal process will ensure
 due process and a just resolution,” Masterson and Wilborn said. “We are
 thankful that no one was injured, and we continue to pray for Gene and 
his family.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616963919848.png" alt="Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop, R-Wichita, transferred his leadership duties on March 17, a day after he was arrested and released. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop, R-Wichita, transferred his leadership duties on March 17, a day after he was arrested and released. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/26/court-record-shows-kansas-senate-majority-leader-drove-90-mph-evaded-roadblock/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Senate Majority 
Leader Gene Suellentrop was charged Friday with drunk driving and felony
 fleeing from police while traveling 90 mph in the wrong direction on 
Interstate 70 in Topeka.The complaint filed in 
district court by the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office 
indicates the early morning escapade on March 16 ended after Suellentrop
 “willfully failed or refused” to stop for police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616963978358.jpeg" alt="Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop was booked Friday into Shawnee County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond. (Shawnee County Jail)" />
 <figcaption>Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop was booked Friday into Shawnee County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond. (Shawnee County Jail)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Wichita Republican was
 stopped by Kansas Highway Patrol officers after several 911 callers 
reported he was driving on the wrong side of the interstate. He was 
released from jail after a judge determined there was a problem with the
 arrest report.The next day, Suellentrop announced he was <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/17/kansas-senate-majority-leader-hands-off-duties-a-day-after-drunk-driving-arrest/">transferring leadership duties</a> to an assistant while resolving his legal matters.He now faces a level nine 
felony for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, misdemeanor 
charges of driving under the influence and reckless driving, and traffic
 infractions for driving the wrong way on a divided highway and 
speeding.The complaint says he was 
driving 90 mph in a 65 mph zone. His blood alcohol level was over the 
legal limit of .08, but the complaint doesn’t specify the exact reading.The felony charge 
indicates he “failed to stop for a police roadblock, drove around a tire
 deflating device placed by a police officer, engaged in reckless 
driving, was involved in a motor vehicle accident, intentionally caused 
damage to property” and eluded capture. District Attorney Mike Kagay 
said Saturday the complaint uses standard language that reflects 
different ways the prosecutor can prove the charge and is not a comment 
on the evidence in the case.Suellentrop was booked Friday into Shawnee County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.Senate President Ty 
Masterson and Vice President Rick Wilborn issued a joint statement 
saying they have reached out to the GOP Senate caucus about “how to 
proceed most effectively” after learning of Suellentrop’s charges.“The complaint’s 
allegations are very serious, and we trust the legal process will ensure
 due process and a just resolution,” Masterson and Wilborn said. “We are
 thankful that no one was injured, and we continue to pray for Gene and 
his family.”

Record: Kan. Senate majority leader drove 90 mph in wrong direction

CHICAGO (AP) — On federal death row, prisoners fling notes on a string under each other’s cell doors and converse through interconnected air ducts. A top issue these days: whether President Joe Biden will halt executions, several told The Associated Press.

Biden hasn’t spoken publicly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-us-news-pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-ad6b1681aaf4128aa5e3ca0e94672e45">about capital punishment</a>&nbsp;since taking office four days after the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wildlife-coronavirus-pandemic-crime-terre-haute-28e44cc5c026dc16472751bbde0ead50">executed the last of 13 inmates</a>&nbsp;at the Terre Haute, Indiana, penitentiary where all federal death row inmates are held. The six-month run of executions cut their unit from around 63 to 50. Biden’s campaign website said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-prisons-inaugurations-coronavirus-pandemic-executions-365258989e6be8d7077b2f67d8c3e190">he’d work to end federal executions</a>, but he’s never specified how.

Four inmates exchanged emails with the AP through a prison-monitored system they access during the two hours a day they are let out of their 12-by-7-foot, single-inmate cells. Biden’s silence has them on edge, wondering whether political calculations will lead him to back off far-reaching action, like commuting their sentences to life in prison and endorsing legislation striking capital punishment from U.S. statutes.

“There’s not a day that goes by that we’re not scanning the news for hints of when or if the Biden administration will take meaningful action to implement his promises,” said 36-year-old Rejon Taylor, sentenced to death in 2008 for killing an Atlanta restaurant owner.

Everyone on federal death row was convicted of killing someone, their victims often suffering brutal, painful deaths. The dead included children, bank workers and prison guards. One inmate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ba912545b5dc40729c80328d598ac550">white supremacist Dylann Roof</a>, killed nine Black members of a South Carolina church during a Bible study in 2015. Many Americans believe death is the only salve for such crimes.

Views of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/06/11/us-support-for-death-penalty-ticks-up-2018/" target="_blank">capital punishment</a>, though, are shifting. One&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/discrimination-racial-injustice-united-states-archive-race-and-ethnicity-ded1f517a0fd64bf1d55c448a06acccc/gallery/acd0f206fc1e4058b6bceb96afced4c0">recent report</a>&nbsp;found people of color are overrepresented on death rows nationwide. Some 40% of federal death row inmates are Black, compared with about 13% of the U.S. population. With growing scrutiny of who gets sentenced to die and why, support for the death penalty has waned, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/68b0dd3c252940a69729cf9480610988">fewer executions are done overall</a>. Virginia lawmakers recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-death-penalty-repeal-governor-c98c16a996037a4d1e1d497787b7e6f1">voted to abolish it</a>.

The death row prisoners expressed relief at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-leaves-white-house-ad718c0048c341d0044c4709fb23c8dd">Donald Trump’s departure from the White House</a>&nbsp;after he presided over more federal executions than any other president in 130 years. Gone is the ever-present fear that guards would appear at their cell door to say the warden needed to speak to them — dreaded words that meant your execution had been scheduled.

They described death row as a close-knit community where bonds are forged. All said they were still reeling from seeing friends escorted away for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executioners-sanitized-accounts-of-death-25d133f59039150c2e308ba1a2a5caef">execution by lethal injection</a>&nbsp;at a garage-size building nearby.

“When it’s quiet here, which it often is, you’ll hear someone say, ‘Damn, I can’t believe they’re gone!’ We all know what they are referencing,” said Daniel Troya, sentenced in 2009 for participating in drug-related killings of a Florida man, his wife and their two children.

The federal executions during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;were likely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-prisons-health-coronavirus-pandemic-executions-9c355b58c78492613eedbf1c7c1fb42c">superspreader events</a>. In December, 70% of the death row inmates had COVID-19, some possibly infected via air ducts through which they communicate.

The AP attended all 13 federal executions.

Five of the first six inmates executed were white. Six of the last seven were Black, including Dustin Higgs, the final inmate put to death, on Jan. 16 for ordering the killing of three Maryland women.

Memories of speaking to Higgs just before his execution still pain Sherman Fields, who is on death row but has a resentencing for convictions in the killing of his girlfriend after escaping from a jail in Waco, Texas.

“He kept saying he’s innocent and he didn’t want to die,” Fields, 46, said. “He’s my friend. It was very hard.”

While there were rumors Biden would take action on the death penalty in his first days as president, there have been no announcements. As he grapples with issues like the coronavirus and the economy, capital punishment appears to be on a back burner.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdky/pr/death-penalty-sought-murder-fort-campbell-soldier" target="_blank">Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are still saying</a>&nbsp;they’ll pursue death sentences.

Even if he’d hoped to, Biden can’t set aside the death penalty issue entirely. It came up Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/court-could-reimpose-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-death-sentence-719087dcbe7145514094fe3c7da8d9bf">when the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;said it will consider a request — first made by the Trump administration — to reinstate the death sentence for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev that a lower court tossed in July. The Biden administration could chose to say the government no longer opposes the lower court decision, though that, like everything with the death penalty, would undoubtedly create controversy.

The easiest step politically for Biden would be to simply instruct his Justice Department not to carry out any executions during his presidency. That would spare inmates’ lives for at least four years but would leave the door open for a future president to resume them.

The inmates first learned federal executions would restart after 17 years in 2019 when the first inmates were put on execution lists. More were added throughout 2020.

Through last year, inmates would flinch whenever they heard the jangle of thick key rings as a larger-than-normal contingent of guards entered their floor. That sound meant guards would soon stop at an inmate’s door and that he’d soon be in the warden’s office to be handed his death warrant.

When a frantic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d758efe397b4443b22c79e2bfc65df84">Keith Nelson</a>, convicted of raping and killing a Kansas girl, kept saying a year ago he was sure he’d be selected next to die, one inmate yelled at him to “shut up,” that he was unnerving everyone else, Troya recalled. Nelson was executed on Aug. 28.

Emotions ran high as execution days approached. As guards led condemned men away, other inmates shouted, “Come on! Fight ’em!” Troya said. None appeared to resist.

Inmates can’t access the regular internet but could follow news of last-minute appeals on TVs in their cells. When broadcasts confirmed an execution had been carried out, Taylor said, a hush fell on death row, followed by a chorus of curses.

Inmates know that Biden, while a senator, played a key role in passing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ae20ddaea4b51e57b5d7eff0f0c9ffcb">a 1994 crime bill</a>&nbsp;that increased federal crimes for which someone could be put to death.

“I don’t trust Biden,” Troya said. “He set the rules to get us all here in the first place.”

Several inmates said Brandon Bernard’s death was especially hard to process. They described him as introspective and kind. Bernard, convicted of participating in the Texas carjacking, robbery and killing of an Iowa couple, also organized a death-row crocheting group that shared patterns and knitting tips.

“The gentlest guy on federal death row,” Fields said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-prisons-killeen-13044e3f1ab9e0e140c57d8012b67abb">Bernard’s case</a>&nbsp;drew the attention of reality TV star Kim Kardashian and other celebrities, who pleaded on Twitter for Trump to commute his sentence.

His lawyers said Bernard, 18 at the time and the lowest-ranking member of a street gang, was pressured to light a car on fire with Todd and Stacie Bagley’s bodies inside. They said he believed the Bagleys were already dead after a gang leader shot them in the head.

He and co-defendant Christopher Vialva, both of whom were Black, were convicted by a nearly all-white Texas jury in 2000.

Strapped to a cross-shaped gurney on Dec. 10, Bernard addressed the couple’s relatives in an adjoining death-chamber witness room, repeatedly apologizing and telling them he hoped his death would bring them closure.

After his execution, Todd Bagley’s mother called the killings an “act of unnecessary evil.” She said the executions of Bernard and of Vialva months earlier did bring closure. But she also expressed gratitude to both for apologizing. Beginning to cry, she told reporters: “I can very much say — I forgive them.”

Troya said he thinks often about Bernard, Vialva and Higgs, whom he considered close friends. All three, he said, had long since transformed themselves into better people and were mentoring other inmates.

“They killed future prison role models,” he said. “So much potential, lost for nothing.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598525494909.png" alt="Keith Dwayne Nelson convicted of killing a Kansas girl was the fifth federal inmate put to death in 2020 -photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Keith Dwayne Nelson convicted of killing a Kansas girl was the fifth federal inmate put to death in 2020 -photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — On federal death row, prisoners fling notes on a string under each other’s cell doors and converse through interconnected air ducts. A top issue these days: whether President Joe Biden will halt executions, several told The Associated Press.Biden hasn’t spoken publicly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-us-news-pandemics-health-coronavirus-pandemic-ad6b1681aaf4128aa5e3ca0e94672e45">about capital punishment</a>&nbsp;since taking office four days after the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wildlife-coronavirus-pandemic-crime-terre-haute-28e44cc5c026dc16472751bbde0ead50">executed the last of 13 inmates</a>&nbsp;at the Terre Haute, Indiana, penitentiary where all federal death row inmates are held. The six-month run of executions cut their unit from around 63 to 50. Biden’s campaign website said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-prisons-inaugurations-coronavirus-pandemic-executions-365258989e6be8d7077b2f67d8c3e190">he’d work to end federal executions</a>, but he’s never specified how.Four inmates exchanged emails with the AP through a prison-monitored system they access during the two hours a day they are let out of their 12-by-7-foot, single-inmate cells. Biden’s silence has them on edge, wondering whether political calculations will lead him to back off far-reaching action, like commuting their sentences to life in prison and endorsing legislation striking capital punishment from U.S. statutes.“There’s not a day that goes by that we’re not scanning the news for hints of when or if the Biden administration will take meaningful action to implement his promises,” said 36-year-old Rejon Taylor, sentenced to death in 2008 for killing an Atlanta restaurant owner.Everyone on federal death row was convicted of killing someone, their victims often suffering brutal, painful deaths. The dead included children, bank workers and prison guards. One inmate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ba912545b5dc40729c80328d598ac550">white supremacist Dylann Roof</a>, killed nine Black members of a South Carolina church during a Bible study in 2015. Many Americans believe death is the only salve for such crimes.Views of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/06/11/us-support-for-death-penalty-ticks-up-2018/" target="_blank">capital punishment</a>, though, are shifting. One&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/discrimination-racial-injustice-united-states-archive-race-and-ethnicity-ded1f517a0fd64bf1d55c448a06acccc/gallery/acd0f206fc1e4058b6bceb96afced4c0">recent report</a>&nbsp;found people of color are overrepresented on death rows nationwide. Some 40% of federal death row inmates are Black, compared with about 13% of the U.S. population. With growing scrutiny of who gets sentenced to die and why, support for the death penalty has waned, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/68b0dd3c252940a69729cf9480610988">fewer executions are done overall</a>. Virginia lawmakers recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-death-penalty-repeal-governor-c98c16a996037a4d1e1d497787b7e6f1">voted to abolish it</a>.The death row prisoners expressed relief at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-leaves-white-house-ad718c0048c341d0044c4709fb23c8dd">Donald Trump’s departure from the White House</a>&nbsp;after he presided over more federal executions than any other president in 130 years. Gone is the ever-present fear that guards would appear at their cell door to say the warden needed to speak to them — dreaded words that meant your execution had been scheduled.They described death row as a close-knit community where bonds are forged. All said they were still reeling from seeing friends escorted away for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executioners-sanitized-accounts-of-death-25d133f59039150c2e308ba1a2a5caef">execution by lethal injection</a>&nbsp;at a garage-size building nearby.“When it’s quiet here, which it often is, you’ll hear someone say, ‘Damn, I can’t believe they’re gone!’ We all know what they are referencing,” said Daniel Troya, sentenced in 2009 for participating in drug-related killings of a Florida man, his wife and their two children.The federal executions during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;were likely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-prisons-health-coronavirus-pandemic-executions-9c355b58c78492613eedbf1c7c1fb42c">superspreader events</a>. In December, 70% of the death row inmates had COVID-19, some possibly infected via air ducts through which they communicate.The AP attended all 13 federal executions.Five of the first six inmates executed were white. Six of the last seven were Black, including Dustin Higgs, the final inmate put to death, on Jan. 16 for ordering the killing of three Maryland women.Memories of speaking to Higgs just before his execution still pain Sherman Fields, who is on death row but has a resentencing for convictions in the killing of his girlfriend after escaping from a jail in Waco, Texas.“He kept saying he’s innocent and he didn’t want to die,” Fields, 46, said. “He’s my friend. It was very hard.”While there were rumors Biden would take action on the death penalty in his first days as president, there have been no announcements. As he grapples with issues like the coronavirus and the economy, capital punishment appears to be on a back burner.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdky/pr/death-penalty-sought-murder-fort-campbell-soldier" target="_blank">Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are still saying</a>&nbsp;they’ll pursue death sentences.Even if he’d hoped to, Biden can’t set aside the death penalty issue entirely. It came up Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/court-could-reimpose-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-death-sentence-719087dcbe7145514094fe3c7da8d9bf">when the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;said it will consider a request — first made by the Trump administration — to reinstate the death sentence for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev that a lower court tossed in July. The Biden administration could chose to say the government no longer opposes the lower court decision, though that, like everything with the death penalty, would undoubtedly create controversy.The easiest step politically for Biden would be to simply instruct his Justice Department not to carry out any executions during his presidency. That would spare inmates’ lives for at least four years but would leave the door open for a future president to resume them.The inmates first learned federal executions would restart after 17 years in 2019 when the first inmates were put on execution lists. More were added throughout 2020.Through last year, inmates would flinch whenever they heard the jangle of thick key rings as a larger-than-normal contingent of guards entered their floor. That sound meant guards would soon stop at an inmate’s door and that he’d soon be in the warden’s office to be handed his death warrant.When a frantic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d758efe397b4443b22c79e2bfc65df84">Keith Nelson</a>, convicted of raping and killing a Kansas girl, kept saying a year ago he was sure he’d be selected next to die, one inmate yelled at him to “shut up,” that he was unnerving everyone else, Troya recalled. Nelson was executed on Aug. 28.Emotions ran high as execution days approached. As guards led condemned men away, other inmates shouted, “Come on! Fight ’em!” Troya said. None appeared to resist.Inmates can’t access the regular internet but could follow news of last-minute appeals on TVs in their cells. When broadcasts confirmed an execution had been carried out, Taylor said, a hush fell on death row, followed by a chorus of curses.Inmates know that Biden, while a senator, played a key role in passing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ae20ddaea4b51e57b5d7eff0f0c9ffcb">a 1994 crime bill</a>&nbsp;that increased federal crimes for which someone could be put to death.“I don’t trust Biden,” Troya said. “He set the rules to get us all here in the first place.”Several inmates said Brandon Bernard’s death was especially hard to process. They described him as introspective and kind. Bernard, convicted of participating in the Texas carjacking, robbery and killing of an Iowa couple, also organized a death-row crocheting group that shared patterns and knitting tips.“The gentlest guy on federal death row,” Fields said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-prisons-killeen-13044e3f1ab9e0e140c57d8012b67abb">Bernard’s case</a>&nbsp;drew the attention of reality TV star Kim Kardashian and other celebrities, who pleaded on Twitter for Trump to commute his sentence.His lawyers said Bernard, 18 at the time and the lowest-ranking member of a street gang, was pressured to light a car on fire with Todd and Stacie Bagley’s bodies inside. They said he believed the Bagleys were already dead after a gang leader shot them in the head.He and co-defendant Christopher Vialva, both of whom were Black, were convicted by a nearly all-white Texas jury in 2000.Strapped to a cross-shaped gurney on Dec. 10, Bernard addressed the couple’s relatives in an adjoining death-chamber witness room, repeatedly apologizing and telling them he hoped his death would bring them closure.After his execution, Todd Bagley’s mother called the killings an “act of unnecessary evil.” She said the executions of Bernard and of Vialva months earlier did bring closure. But she also expressed gratitude to both for apologizing. Beginning to cry, she told reporters: “I can very much say — I forgive them.”Troya said he thinks often about Bernard, Vialva and Higgs, whom he considered close friends. All three, he said, had long since transformed themselves into better people and were mentoring other inmates.“They killed future prison role models,” he said. “So much potential, lost for nothing.”

On federal death row, inmates talk about Biden, executions

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Wary regulators have not approved a major railroad merger since the 1990s, but industry analysts say Canadian Pacific’s proposed $25 billion acquisition of Kansas City Southern has a good chance of getting the green light because there is little overlap between the two lines.

The deal is also set to capitalize on growing trade across North America by creating the first railroad that would link the United States, Mexico and Canada. Executives at the companies say those opportunities should help the combined railroad generate more revenue.

The Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern deal announced Sunday would combine the two smallest of the major railroads into one entity. Independent railroad analyst Tony Hatch said doing that should help stabilize the industry overall and should not lead to another round of railroad mergers.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Wary regulators have not approved a major railroad merger since the 1990s, but industry analysts say Canadian Pacific’s proposed $25 billion acquisition of Kansas City Southern has a good chance of getting the green light because there is little overlap between the two lines.The deal is also set to capitalize on growing trade across North America by creating the first railroad that would link the United States, Mexico and Canada. Executives at the companies say those opportunities should help the combined railroad generate more revenue.The Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern deal announced Sunday would combine the two smallest of the major railroads into one entity. Independent railroad analyst Tony Hatch said doing that should help stabilize the industry overall and should not lead to another round of railroad mergers.Some, however, are already expressing concern that the combination of the two railroads could hurt shippers if they are left with fewer options.“The freight rail industry is already highly consolidated with a small number of railroads controlling most of the rail traffic in the United States and we are concerned that this merger could potentially lead to a greater concentration of market power,” said Scott Jensen, a spokesman for the chemicals industry trade group American Chemistry Council.The service problems and economic damage that followed railroad mergers in the 1990s are part of why regulators adopted tough rules for major railroad mergers in 2001. Regulators have said that, generally, any merger involving a major railroad must enhance competition and serve the public interest. Similar deals are blocked in other industries only if there is a risk that competition will be reduced.Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern said they expect U.S. railroad regulators at the Surface Transportation Board to complete their review of the deal by around the middle of 2022. A spokesman for the board didn’t immediately respond Monday to questions about how the deal will be reviewed.Morningstar analyst Matthew Young said he doesn’t think the proposed deal will hurt competition overall because the railroads don’t compete directly now.“These rails generally don’t compete head to head in specific markets, thus a merger shouldn’t result in fewer rail-service options for shippers in most corridors,” Young said Monday in a research note.Edward Jones analyst Jeff Windau said he thinks there is a good chance the deal will be approved by regulators.“There’s really no overlap on their lines. So I think there is really minimal impact on customers,” Windau said.Executives at both the railroads argue that customers will be helped, not hurt, by the combination because they’ll be able to ship goods throughout North America without having to have shipments handed off between railroads.“There’s savings across the board and benefits across the board that are so compelling,” Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel said. As railroad customers learn about the deal, “I think they are going to be excited by this — not threatened by this.”Five years ago, Calgary, Alberta-based Canadian Pacific abandoned its roughly $30 billion attempt to takeover rival Norfolk Southern after it encountered strong opposition from Norfolk Southern, politicians, rail customers along the route and other railroads. So the new rules for railroad mergers still haven’t been tested.But unlike then, the boards of both Kansas City Southern and Canadian Pacific unanimously backed this deal. The combined company would operate about 20,000 miles of railway, employ 20,000 people and generate annual revenue of about $8.7 billion. Both railroads said they expect to add jobs overall across the combined network as volume grows.The deal values Kansas City Southern at $275 per share, which represents a significant premium to Friday’s closing price of $224. Kansas City Southern shareholders will receive 0.489 shares of Canadian Pacific stock and $90 cash as part of the deal, and they will control roughly 25% of the combined company.The railroads said this deal is timed well because Mexico, the United States and Canada agreed to a new regional trade pact last year that is expected to boost trade and investment across North America.Officials said Kansas City Southern’s base in Kansas City, Missouri, would become Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s new U.S. headquarters after the deal but Canadian Pacific’s current U.S. headquarters in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, will remain an important base of operations for the company.