ROME (AP) — The Vatican decreed Monday that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions since God “cannot bless sin.”

The Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a formal response Monday to a question about whether Catholic clergy can bless gay unions.

The answer, contained in a two-page explanation published in seven languages and approved by Pope Francis, was “negative.”

The decree distinguished between the church’s welcoming and blessing of gay people, which it upheld, but not their unions.

The Vatican holds that gays much be treated with dignity and respect, but that gay sex is “intrinsically disordered.” Catholic teaching holds that marriage between a man and woman is part of God’s plan and is intended for the sake of creating new life.

Since gay unions are not intended to be part of that plan, they cannot be blessed by the church, the document said.

“The presence in such relationships of positive elements, which are in themselves to be valued and appreciated, cannot justify these relationships and render them legitimate objects of an ecclesial blessing, since the positive elements exist within the context of a union not ordered to the Creator’s plan,” the response said.

God “does not and cannot bless sin: He blesses sinful man, so that he may recognize that he is part of his plan of love and allow himself to be changed by him,” it said.

Francis has endorsed providing gay couples with legal protections in same-sex unions, but that is in reference to the civil sphere, not within the church. His comments were made during an interview with a Mexican television station, Televisa, in 2019, but were cut by the Vatican until they appeared in a documentary last year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603292366279.png" alt="Pope Francis enters the House chamber ahead of an address to a joint session of Congress in 2015- image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pope Francis enters the House chamber ahead of an address to a joint session of Congress in 2015- image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) — The Vatican decreed Monday that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions since God “cannot bless sin.”The Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a formal response Monday to a question about whether Catholic clergy can bless gay unions.The answer, contained in a two-page explanation published in seven languages and approved by Pope Francis, was “negative.”The decree distinguished between the church’s welcoming and blessing of gay people, which it upheld, but not their unions.The Vatican holds that gays much be treated with dignity and respect, but that gay sex is “intrinsically disordered.” Catholic teaching holds that marriage between a man and woman is part of God’s plan and is intended for the sake of creating new life.Since gay unions are not intended to be part of that plan, they cannot be blessed by the church, the document said.“The presence in such relationships of positive elements, which are in themselves to be valued and appreciated, cannot justify these relationships and render them legitimate objects of an ecclesial blessing, since the positive elements exist within the context of a union not ordered to the Creator’s plan,” the response said.God “does not and cannot bless sin: He blesses sinful man, so that he may recognize that he is part of his plan of love and allow himself to be changed by him,” it said.Francis has endorsed providing gay couples with legal protections in same-sex unions, but that is in reference to the civil sphere, not within the church. His comments were made during an interview with a Mexican television station, Televisa, in 2019, but were cut by the Vatican until they appeared in a documentary last year.

Vatican issues new statement on Catholic church, same-sex unions

TIFF CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Highway Patrol and local emergency responders on Saturday rescued two people stranded after their vehicles were swept away in high waters in southwest Missouri.

The two vehicles were driving on State Highway 43 near Oklahoma’s border when they hit the high waters of Buffalo Creek. The creek’s waters were about 15 feet high over the highway. Both vehicles were swept downstream.

One driver escaped to the top of his truck, and the other grabbed a tree as his vehicle sank below him.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Tiff City Fire Department and McDonald County’s emergency management team rescued one via boat. Crew members tied to a tree downstream saved the other man. Neither suffered significant injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615802729403.png" alt="Both victims were checked out by EMS and released shortly after.-photo courtesy McDonald County Emergency Manaagement.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Both victims were checked out by EMS and released shortly after.-photo courtesy McDonald County Emergency Manaagement.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TIFF CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Highway Patrol and local emergency responders on Saturday rescued two people stranded after their vehicles were swept away in high waters in southwest Missouri.The two vehicles were driving on State Highway 43 near Oklahoma’s border when they hit the high waters of Buffalo Creek. The creek’s waters were about 15 feet high over the highway. Both vehicles were swept downstream.One driver escaped to the top of his truck, and the other grabbed a tree as his vehicle sank below him.The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Tiff City Fire Department and McDonald County’s emergency management team rescued one via boat. Crew members tied to a tree downstream saved the other man. Neither suffered significant injuries.

Drivers caught on flooded highway saved

WASHINGTON (AP) — Let the sales push begin.

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses are opening an ambitious, cross-country tour this week to highlight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-first-prime-time-speech-next-phase-pandemic-85d1ae52bc61abffd3ae91c324e58308">the benefits of his $1.9 trillion plan</a>&nbsp;to defeat the coronavirus and boost the economy.

The road show — dubbed the “Help is Here” tour by the White House — begins Monday with Harris heading to a COVID-19 vaccination site and a culinary academy in Las Vegas and first lady Jill Biden touring a New Jersey elementary school.

The president will have more to say about the plan Monday at the White House, and he plans to visit a small business in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday. He and Harris are slated to appear together in Atlanta on Friday.

Harris will meet with small-business owners in Denver on Tuesday. Wednesday sees Jill Biden in Concord, New Hampshire, and Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The stops at vaccination sites, businesses, schools and more are meant to educate the public about different aspects of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-personal-taxes-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-local-governments-e828c92fbdd7f4fa1e35d9ab95fe705e">the giant American Rescue Plan</a>&nbsp;and how it will help people get to the other side of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.

Biden has said President Barack Obama’s administration, in which Biden was vice president, failed to adequately educate the public about the benefits of its economic recovery plan. He said he wants to do a better sales job this time around on the details of his first big legislative victory.

One of the plan’s key features is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-virus-relief-checks-3eed6a4659f1fb7d36b4ced0eba58f86">direct payments of $1,400 for a single taxpayer</a>, or $2,800 for a married couple filing their taxes jointly, plus $1,400 per dependent — for a total of $5,600 for a married couple with two children. The payments phase out for those with higher incomes.

An extension of federal unemployment benefits will continue through Sept. 6 at $300 a week. There’s $350 billion for state, local and tribal governments, $130 billion for K-12 schools and about $50 billion to expand COVID-19 testing, among other measures.

Restaurants and bars that were forced to close or limit service will take advantage of a new multibillion-dollar grant program, and the plan also has tens of billions of dollars to help people who have fallen behind on their rent and mortgage payments.

The bill cleared Congress without any backing from Republicans, despite polling that found broad public support for the plan. Republicans argued the bill was too expensive. Democrats provided the votes and Biden signed it into law last week.

The “Help is Here” tour is taking Harris on her first domestic trip as vice president. She’ll be accompanied by her husband, the nation’s first “second gentleman,” who plans to break off for separate events in Las Vegas on Monday and New Mexico on Wednesday.

Since taking office, Harris has presided over swearing-in ceremonies for members of Biden’s Cabinet. She has stood with the president at his speeches, delivered remarks of her own, spoken by telephone with assorted world leaders and made appearances in the Washington area, including at funeral services for Washington power broker Vernon Jordan.

Harris also cast three tie-breaking votes in the 50-50 Senate in her role as president of the Senate.

Jill Biden will be joined by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on a tour Monday of Samuel Smith Elementary School in Burlington, where she is expected to talk about how the plan will help families and communities, and highlight steps the school took to reopen.

The first lady has kept a robust schedule focused on education, military families and cancer research since stepping into her new role. Earlier this month, she and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona visited Connecticut and Pennsylvania public schools that reopened during the pandemic.

Emhoff, an entertainment lawyer, also has made a few appearances in the Washington area in between his stint teaching at Georgetown Law. He plans to visit a food relief organization Monday in Las Vegas and participate in a listening session with the organization’s partners.

In addition to the president, vice president and their spouses, Cabinet secretaries will also be out on the tour. Hundreds of mayors and governors, including Republicans, are being lined up to give interviews to discuss what the plan means for their communities.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was set Monday to tour a UPS distribution center in Landover, Maryland, that also delivers vaccines in the Washington area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615804276114.png" alt="Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden during a Rose Garden event to discuss the $1.9T America Rescue Plan Act.-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden during a Rose Garden event to discuss the $1.9T America Rescue Plan Act.-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Let the sales push begin.President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses are opening an ambitious, cross-country tour this week to highlight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-first-prime-time-speech-next-phase-pandemic-85d1ae52bc61abffd3ae91c324e58308">the benefits of his $1.9 trillion plan</a>&nbsp;to defeat the coronavirus and boost the economy.The road show — dubbed the “Help is Here” tour by the White House — begins Monday with Harris heading to a COVID-19 vaccination site and a culinary academy in Las Vegas and first lady Jill Biden touring a New Jersey elementary school.The president will have more to say about the plan Monday at the White House, and he plans to visit a small business in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday. He and Harris are slated to appear together in Atlanta on Friday.Harris will meet with small-business owners in Denver on Tuesday. Wednesday sees Jill Biden in Concord, New Hampshire, and Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.The stops at vaccination sites, businesses, schools and more are meant to educate the public about different aspects of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-personal-taxes-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-local-governments-e828c92fbdd7f4fa1e35d9ab95fe705e">the giant American Rescue Plan</a>&nbsp;and how it will help people get to the other side of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.Biden has said President Barack Obama’s administration, in which Biden was vice president, failed to adequately educate the public about the benefits of its economic recovery plan. He said he wants to do a better sales job this time around on the details of his first big legislative victory.One of the plan’s key features is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-virus-relief-checks-3eed6a4659f1fb7d36b4ced0eba58f86">direct payments of $1,400 for a single taxpayer</a>, or $2,800 for a married couple filing their taxes jointly, plus $1,400 per dependent — for a total of $5,600 for a married couple with two children. The payments phase out for those with higher incomes.An extension of federal unemployment benefits will continue through Sept. 6 at $300 a week. There’s $350 billion for state, local and tribal governments, $130 billion for K-12 schools and about $50 billion to expand COVID-19 testing, among other measures.Restaurants and bars that were forced to close or limit service will take advantage of a new multibillion-dollar grant program, and the plan also has tens of billions of dollars to help people who have fallen behind on their rent and mortgage payments.The bill cleared Congress without any backing from Republicans, despite polling that found broad public support for the plan. Republicans argued the bill was too expensive. Democrats provided the votes and Biden signed it into law last week.The “Help is Here” tour is taking Harris on her first domestic trip as vice president. She’ll be accompanied by her husband, the nation’s first “second gentleman,” who plans to break off for separate events in Las Vegas on Monday and New Mexico on Wednesday.Since taking office, Harris has presided over swearing-in ceremonies for members of Biden’s Cabinet. She has stood with the president at his speeches, delivered remarks of her own, spoken by telephone with assorted world leaders and made appearances in the Washington area, including at funeral services for Washington power broker Vernon Jordan.Harris also cast three tie-breaking votes in the 50-50 Senate in her role as president of the Senate.Jill Biden will be joined by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on a tour Monday of Samuel Smith Elementary School in Burlington, where she is expected to talk about how the plan will help families and communities, and highlight steps the school took to reopen.The first lady has kept a robust schedule focused on education, military families and cancer research since stepping into her new role. Earlier this month, she and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona visited Connecticut and Pennsylvania public schools that reopened during the pandemic.Emhoff, an entertainment lawyer, also has made a few appearances in the Washington area in between his stint teaching at Georgetown Law. He plans to visit a food relief organization Monday in Las Vegas and participate in a listening session with the organization’s partners.In addition to the president, vice president and their spouses, Cabinet secretaries will also be out on the tour. Hundreds of mayors and governors, including Republicans, are being lined up to give interviews to discuss what the plan means for their communities.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was set Monday to tour a UPS distribution center in Landover, Maryland, that also delivers vaccines in the Washington area.

Road show: Biden, Harris to promote relief plan's benefits

Corrected 11:50 a.m. Tuesday to correct name of the organization.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services plans to restore 500 jobs that were cut last year in the Kansas City region.

The agency, which processes immigration-related paperwork, including international adoptions, laid off 800 workers last year because of a sharp drop in immigration activity caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

USCIS has a National Benefits Center in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Overland Park, Kansas. It is funded by fees on immigration applications and does not receive direct funding from Congress.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri, and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Republican from Kansas, both applauded the agency’s decision to restore the jobs.

“This will not only be a boon to workers in Kansas City, but will also help to address the agency’s backlog in immigration applications,” Cleaver said in a statement.

“Restoring these critical jobs at the National Benefits Center in the Kansas City region will help support the local economy and the nation, as these employees work to process immigration applications,” Moran said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615803311665.png" alt="USCIS Field Office in Overland Park, Kansas -google image" />
 <figcaption>USCIS Field Office in Overland Park, Kansas -google image</figcaption>
 </figure>Corrected 11:50 a.m. Tuesday to correct name of the organization.KANSAS CITY (AP) — The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services plans to restore 500 jobs that were cut last year in the Kansas City region.The agency, which processes immigration-related paperwork, including international adoptions, laid off 800 workers last year because of a sharp drop in immigration activity caused by the coronavirus pandemic.USCIS has a National Benefits Center in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Overland Park, Kansas. It is funded by fees on immigration applications and does not receive direct funding from Congress.U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri, and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Republican from Kansas, both applauded the agency’s decision to restore the jobs.“This will not only be a boon to workers in Kansas City, but will also help to address the agency’s backlog in immigration applications,” Cleaver said in a statement.“Restoring these critical jobs at the National Benefits Center in the Kansas City region will help support the local economy and the nation, as these employees work to process immigration applications,” Moran said.

500 U.S. immigration agency jobs to return to Kansas City

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court for engaging in a $6 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded dozens of victim investors.

Matthew R. Peterson, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to eight years and one month in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Peterson to pay $2,516,010 in restitution to his victims.

On Sept. 10, 2020, Peterson pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering.

Peterson admitted that he operated an investment fraud scheme from 2012 to November 2016. During this scheme, Peterson persuaded at least 37 victims to invest approximately $6 million into sporting wagers.

Peterson lied to prospective investors about being an expert in sports betting in order to carry out his investment fraud scheme. Peterson created fictitious spreadsheets, financial statements and betting reports that indicated the investments were yielding large returns. Peterson, for the most part, did not invest funds on behalf of the investors. Instead, Peterson perpetrated a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme through which he fraudulently transferred new investor money to earlier investors, falsely representing these payments as profits earned on their funds invested with him. Peterson used about $3.3 million of the approximately $6 million obtained from investors to make Ponzi-type payments to existing investors.&nbsp;

Peterson spent approximately $565,000 of investor funds on luxury vacations for himself and his family, personal gambling, retail, automobiles, credit card payments, a house, and made cash withdrawals of more than $90,000 of investor money.

Peterson’s widespread criminal activity caused significant financial harm to numerous victims, who invested amounts ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. One of the investors, identified in court documents as T.C., went into business with Peterson. T.C. liquated his 401(k) retirement account and gave the net proceeds to Peterson. Peterson used T.C.’s personal identifiable information without T.C.’s knowledge or consent to obtain an American Express card. Peterson also made additional charges to the card, charging over $248,862 on this card without T.C.’s knowledge. Due to his scheme, financial institutions and credit card companies also incurred a loss of approximately $461,000.

According to court documents, Peterson also used his business to establish credibility within his church community as someone with great connections.

Peterson owned and operated AIS Travel, which attempted to find discounted deals for people who wanted to travel. Peterson approached his pastors about helping the church save money with his travel business. Peterson requested the church staff promote his business to church members and, in return, he would donate a portion of the profits to the church.&nbsp;

The pastors declined Peterson’s proposal, but told him they would consider using his business for church staff travel. In November 2016, Peterson approached church staff with a proposal that they should hold their staff retreat in Cancun, Mexico. The cost for approximately 20 people would be $18,000. The church paid Peterson over $16,000 for the airline tickets and room reservations before the date of travel. However, upon arrival at the airport, the church group learned that the tickets had never been purchased, and no reservations were made.

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court for engaging in a $6 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded dozens of victim investors.Matthew R. Peterson, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to eight years and one month in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Peterson to pay $2,516,010 in restitution to his victims.On Sept. 10, 2020, Peterson pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering.Sports Wagering Investment FraudPeterson admitted that he operated an investment fraud scheme from 2012 to November 2016. During this scheme, Peterson persuaded at least 37 victims to invest approximately $6 million into sporting wagers.Peterson lied to prospective investors about being an expert in sports betting in order to carry out his investment fraud scheme. Peterson created fictitious spreadsheets, financial statements and betting reports that indicated the investments were yielding large returns. Peterson, for the most part, did not invest funds on behalf of the investors. Instead, Peterson perpetrated a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme through which he fraudulently transferred new investor money to earlier investors, falsely representing these payments as profits earned on their funds invested with him. Peterson used about $3.3 million of the approximately $6 million obtained from investors to make Ponzi-type payments to existing investors.&nbsp;Peterson spent approximately $565,000 of investor funds on luxury vacations for himself and his family, personal gambling, retail, automobiles, credit card payments, a house, and made cash withdrawals of more than $90,000 of investor money.Peterson’s widespread criminal activity caused significant financial harm to numerous victims, who invested amounts ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. One of the investors, identified in court documents as T.C., went into business with Peterson. T.C. liquated his 401(k) retirement account and gave the net proceeds to Peterson. Peterson used T.C.’s personal identifiable information without T.C.’s knowledge or consent to obtain an American Express card. Peterson also made additional charges to the card, charging over $248,862 on this card without T.C.’s knowledge. Due to his scheme, financial institutions and credit card companies also incurred a loss of approximately $461,000.Church Travel Fraud SchemeAccording to court documents, Peterson also used his business to establish credibility within his church community as someone with great connections.Peterson owned and operated AIS Travel, which attempted to find discounted deals for people who wanted to travel. Peterson approached his pastors about helping the church save money with his travel business. Peterson requested the church staff promote his business to church members and, in return, he would donate a portion of the profits to the church.&nbsp;The pastors declined Peterson’s proposal, but told him they would consider using his business for church staff travel. In November 2016, Peterson approached church staff with a proposal that they should hold their staff retreat in Cancun, Mexico. The cost for approximately 20 people would be $18,000. The church paid Peterson over $16,000 for the airline tickets and room reservations before the date of travel. However, upon arrival at the airport, the church group learned that the tickets had never been purchased, and no reservations were made.

KC man sentenced for $6 million Ponzi scheme

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas sex offender accused in a downtown Wichita rape made his first court appearance Wednesday.

Anthony Douglas, 47 of Wichita, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, rape, and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just before 8:30a.m. March 7, police responded to a disturbance at the Royal Lodge motel, 320 East Kellogg Street in Wichita, according to police Lt. Christian Cory.

A 23-year-old woman at the scene told police she left a business downtown when a suspect approached and walked her to the motel where she was sexually assaulted.

Investigators later learned of the involvement of Douglas who is a registered sex offender.

On Sunday afternoon, police located Douglas at the business in the 100 Block of North Mosley. He remains <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20065193">jailed on a bond of</a> $150,000, according to the district attorney. His next court appearance is March 25.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615568352286.png" alt="Douglas is listed as a sexual predator, according the offender registry. His victim was 12 and he was 31 at the time of the original crime in Dupage County, Illinois" />
 <figcaption>Douglas is listed as a sexual predator, according the offender registry. His victim was 12 and he was 31 at the time of the original crime in Dupage County, Illinois</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas sex offender accused in a downtown Wichita rape made his first court appearance Wednesday.Anthony Douglas, 47 of Wichita, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, rape, and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just before 8:30a.m. March 7, police responded to a disturbance at the Royal Lodge motel, 320 East Kellogg Street in Wichita, according to police Lt. Christian Cory.A 23-year-old woman at the scene told police she left a business downtown when a suspect approached and walked her to the motel where she was sexually assaulted.Investigators later learned of the involvement of Douglas who is a registered sex offender.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615236375927.png" alt="Douglas photo Sedgwick County jail." />
 <figcaption>Douglas photo Sedgwick County jail.</figcaption>
 </figure>On Sunday afternoon, police located Douglas at the business in the 100 Block of North Mosley. He remains <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20065193">jailed on a bond of</a> $150,000, according to the district attorney. His next court appearance is March 25.

Illinois sex offender charged with rape at Kan. motel

By ANNE M. PETERSON, Associated Press

More than 500 college athletes have signed a letter to the NCAA Board of Governors asking the organization to refuse to schedule championships in states that have banned transgender participation in sports.

The move follows a wave of legislative efforts across the country aimed at transgender athletes. Idaho banned transgender women from taking part in women’s and girls’ sports last year, although that law has been challenged in court. State legislatures in North Dakota and Mississippi have recently passed similar measures.

The letter to the NCAA asks the board to uphold the organization’s nondiscrimination policy, citing the decision to move championships out of North Carolina in 2016 in response to House Bill 2, which legislated transgender use of public restrooms.

“We call upon you to ensure that the NCAA lives up to the guidelines and standards that they claim to uphold by making a firm statement that you will uphold the NCAA Anti-Discrimination Policy and only operate championships and events in states that promote an inclusive atmosphere,” the letter says.

The NCAA has had policies in place since 2011 that allow for transgender participation in sports.

The letter was the idea of track and field athletes Aliya Schenck and Alana Bojar of Washington University in St. Louis, who work with Athlete Ally. Athletes from across the different college sports signed on to the effort.

“All student-athletes should be safe and protected when competing in NCAA championships,” the two said in a statement. “Your silence on this issue is only allowing more states to pass these bills. We urge you to act now and make a strong statement against these bills, saying that the NCAA will not host championships in states that openly discriminate against LGBTQI+ athletes.”

Athlete Ally is a nonprofit group that advocates for LGBTQI+ athletes. Last year it was part of an effort on behalf of 200 current and former athletes —— including Megan Rapinoe, Billie Jean King and Candace Parker — who filed an amicus brief with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in opposition to the Idaho law.

“Though the NCAA has continued to monitor the bills and has spoken out in support of trans athletes, the time is now for the NCAA to listen to hundreds of student athletes calling on them to clearly and unequivocally put the health and safety of all student-athletes first and condemn these horrific bills,” said Anne Lieberman, Athlete Ally’s director of policy and programs.

The NCAA issued a statement to The Associated Press saying it continues to monitor legislation that affects transgender athletes.

“The NCAA believes in fair and respectful student-athlete participation at all levels of sport. The Association’s transgender student-athlete participation policy and other diversity policies are designed to facilitate and support inclusion,” the statement said. “The NCAA believes diversity and inclusion improve the learning environment and it encourages its member colleges and universities to support the well-being of all student-athletes.”

By ANNE M. PETERSON, Associated PressMore than 500 college athletes have signed a letter to the NCAA Board of Governors asking the organization to refuse to schedule championships in states that have banned transgender participation in sports.The move follows a wave of legislative efforts across the country aimed at transgender athletes. Idaho banned transgender women from taking part in women’s and girls’ sports last year, although that law has been challenged in court. State legislatures in North Dakota and Mississippi have recently passed similar measures.The letter to the NCAA asks the board to uphold the organization’s nondiscrimination policy, citing the decision to move championships out of North Carolina in 2016 in response to House Bill 2, which legislated transgender use of public restrooms.“We call upon you to ensure that the NCAA lives up to the guidelines and standards that they claim to uphold by making a firm statement that you will uphold the NCAA Anti-Discrimination Policy and only operate championships and events in states that promote an inclusive atmosphere,” the letter says.The NCAA has had policies in place since 2011 that allow for transgender participation in sports.The letter was the idea of track and field athletes Aliya Schenck and Alana Bojar of Washington University in St. Louis, who work with Athlete Ally. Athletes from across the different college sports signed on to the effort.“All student-athletes should be safe and protected when competing in NCAA championships,” the two said in a statement. “Your silence on this issue is only allowing more states to pass these bills. We urge you to act now and make a strong statement against these bills, saying that the NCAA will not host championships in states that openly discriminate against LGBTQI+ athletes.”Athlete Ally is a nonprofit group that advocates for LGBTQI+ athletes. Last year it was part of an effort on behalf of 200 current and former athletes —— including Megan Rapinoe, Billie Jean King and Candace Parker — who filed an amicus brief with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in opposition to the Idaho law.“Though the NCAA has continued to monitor the bills and has spoken out in support of trans athletes, the time is now for the NCAA to listen to hundreds of student athletes calling on them to clearly and unequivocally put the health and safety of all student-athletes first and condemn these horrific bills,” said Anne Lieberman, Athlete Ally’s director of policy and programs.The NCAA issued a statement to The Associated Press saying it continues to monitor legislation that affects transgender athletes.“The NCAA believes in fair and respectful student-athlete participation at all levels of sport. The Association’s transgender student-athlete participation policy and other diversity policies are designed to facilitate and support inclusion,” the statement said. “The NCAA believes diversity and inclusion improve the learning environment and it encourages its member colleges and universities to support the well-being of all student-athletes.”

Athletes appeal to NCAA in protest of anti-transgender laws

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — One year after the COVID-19 pandemic upended plans for travelers in Kansas and throughout the world, there are new signs that travel dreams won’t be deferred.

"In a recent survey by Destination Analysts, well over half of Americans, 60% surveyed said that they are going to be traveling for leisure in the next three months," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas.

Even though they are planning later trips, spring break still feels like too soon to most Americans, based on the March 8 survey.

"Only 14% of Americans said that they plan to travel for Spring Break," Steward said. "It's looking more like late spring, early summer is going to be that peak time where people's comfort level seems to be for getting back out on the road."

A total of 36% in a late February survey believe travel activities will return to normal in the June-August time frame, while an even greater percentage, 42%, see fall as the travel sweet spot.

By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — One year after the COVID-19 pandemic upended plans for travelers in Kansas and throughout the world, there are new signs that travel dreams won’t be deferred."In a recent survey by Destination Analysts, well over half of Americans, 60% surveyed said that they are going to be traveling for leisure in the next three months," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas.Even though they are planning later trips, spring break still feels like too soon to most Americans, based on the March 8 survey."Only 14% of Americans said that they plan to travel for Spring Break," Steward said. "It's looking more like late spring, early summer is going to be that peak time where people's comfort level seems to be for getting back out on the road."A total of 36% in a late February survey believe travel activities will return to normal in the June-August time frame, while an even greater percentage, 42%, see fall as the travel sweet spot.

Survey: Travelers will get moving later in the year

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration is stockpiling tens of millions of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine whose authorization in the U.S. remains uncertain, frustrating U.S. allies who say those doses should be used now to save lives overseas.

The standoff is part of a growing global debate over who should have access to hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine that pharmaceutical companies are churning out in the U.S. Besides generating ill will, Biden’s insistence on an excess supply for America is potentially creating new openings for geopolitical rivals Russia and China.

A two-dose vaccine from AstraZeneca has received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eu-authorizes-astrazeneca-vaccine-adults-18b545dd51ea56f422ff28cdeb2dd08b">emergency clearance&nbsp;</a>from the European Union and World Health Organization but not from the U.S. Now America’s partners are prodding Biden to release his supply, noting that the administration has lined up enough doses of three already-authorized vaccines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ap-top-news-coronavirus-pandemic-4de42d355f18b8a1352f1206b5253814">to cover every American adult by the end of May&nbsp;</a>and the entire U.S. population by the end of July.

AstraZeneca says that the U.S.-produced vaccines are “owned” by the U.S. government and that sending them overseas would require White House approval.

“We understand other governments may have reached out to the U.S. government about donation of AstraZeneca doses, and we’ve asked the U.S. government to give thoughtful consideration to these requests,” Gonzalo Viña, a spokesman for AstraZeneca, said in a statement.

Even though the 27-nation European Union is eager to relaunch a more fruitful trans-Atlantic relationship after the bruising Trump presidency, the vaccine issue is proving to be a thorny topic, with some in Europe seeing it as a continuation of former President Donald Trump’s “America First” focus.

EU member states’ ambassadors discussed the challenge this week. The German government said on Friday it was in contact with U.S. officials about vaccine supplies but stressed that the European Commission has the lead when it comes to procuring shots for member states.

Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have directed representatives to discuss supply chains in the vaccine production.

“Hopefully, we will be in a position on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure that sufficient quantities of vaccine doses are distributed out in line with the schedule so as to complete the vaccination campaigns,” EU commission chief spokesman Eric Mamer said.

Well over 10 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine are stockpiled in the U.S. for use here.

“We want to be oversupplied and overprepared,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday, so Americans can still be swiftly vaccinated in the event of unforeseen issues with the existing production timeline.

“We have not provided doses from the U.S. government to anyone,” she said.

Asked about the stockpiled vaccine, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said, “We have a small inventory of AstraZeneca so, if approved, we can g&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-new-york-rochelle-walensky-coronavirus-pandemic-fcec736ac8474e121bfc3b2fd41718b2">et that inventory out to the American people&nbsp;</a>as quickly as possible.” He said the U.S. was following the same procedure it used for the already-authorized vaccines.

Drug manufacturers that received federal assistance in developing or expanding vaccine manufacturing were required to sell their first doses to the U.S. In the case of AstraZeneca, whose vaccine was initially expected to be the first to receive federal emergency authorization, the government ordered 300 million doses — enough for 150 million Americans — before issues with the vaccine’s clinical trial held up clearance..

The company said this month it believes it will have roughly 30 million doses available to the U.S. government by the end of March, and an additional 20 million by the end of April.

As foreign regulators have moved ahead with the shot, the U.S. has not dropped its contractual claim on the initial doses produced in America.

That policy has also come under criticism from U.S. neighbors Canada and Mexico, which have been forced to seek vaccine manufactured on a different continent, rather than across the border. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has purchased enough doses of Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson &amp; Johnson to inoculate 150 million more people than the U.S. population by the end of the year.

The U.S. has also ordered 110 million doses of vaccine from Novavax, which is expected to file for emergency authorization as soon as next month.

AstraZeneca’s 30,000-person U.S. trial didn’t complete enrollment until January. The company hasn’t given any hints of when initial results might be ready beyond an executive telling Congress last month he expected it would be “soon.”

The European Union, amid its own stumbling vaccine rollout, appears increasingly resigned to the Biden administration retaining control of the U.S. doses.

The EU is at odds with AstraZeneca, too, because the company is delivering far fewer doses to the bloc than it had promised. Of the initial order for 80 million in the first quarter this year, the company will be struggling to deliver half.

Despite shortages at home and often being accused of vaccine protectionism itself, the 27-nation bloc has allowed the export of well over 34 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in past weeks, including 953,723 to the United States.

Meanwhile, Russia and China have used their domestically produced vaccines for strategic leverage.

China has pledged roughly half a billion doses to more than 45 countries, according to a country-by-country tally by The Associated Press. Four of China’s many vaccine makers are claiming they will be able to produce at least 2.6 billion doses this year.

Russia has sent millions of doses of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-italy-coronavirus-pandemic-russia-1c9bac0105f04e297e51f04859f304a9">Sputnik V vaccine</a>&nbsp;to countries around the world, even as it vaccinates its own population. Analysts say a goal of this vaccine diplomacy is to bolster Russia’s image as a scientific, technological and benevolent power, especially as other countries encounter shortages of COVID-19 vaccines because richer nations are scooping up the Western-made versions.

Israel, which has vaccinated more than half of its population with Pfizer vaccines produced in Europe, has also attempted to use vaccine diplomacy to reward allies.

Biden did move to have the U.S. contribute financially to the United Nations- and World Health Organization-backed COVAX alliance, which will help share vaccine with more than 90 lower and middle-income nations, but the U.S. has yet to commit to sharing any doses.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration is stockpiling tens of millions of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine whose authorization in the U.S. remains uncertain, frustrating U.S. allies who say those doses should be used now to save lives overseas.The standoff is part of a growing global debate over who should have access to hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine that pharmaceutical companies are churning out in the U.S. Besides generating ill will, Biden’s insistence on an excess supply for America is potentially creating new openings for geopolitical rivals Russia and China.A two-dose vaccine from AstraZeneca has received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eu-authorizes-astrazeneca-vaccine-adults-18b545dd51ea56f422ff28cdeb2dd08b">emergency clearance&nbsp;</a>from the European Union and World Health Organization but not from the U.S. Now America’s partners are prodding Biden to release his supply, noting that the administration has lined up enough doses of three already-authorized vaccines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ap-top-news-coronavirus-pandemic-4de42d355f18b8a1352f1206b5253814">to cover every American adult by the end of May&nbsp;</a>and the entire U.S. population by the end of July.AstraZeneca says that the U.S.-produced vaccines are “owned” by the U.S. government and that sending them overseas would require White House approval.“We understand other governments may have reached out to the U.S. government about donation of AstraZeneca doses, and we’ve asked the U.S. government to give thoughtful consideration to these requests,” Gonzalo Viña, a spokesman for AstraZeneca, said in a statement.Even though the 27-nation European Union is eager to relaunch a more fruitful trans-Atlantic relationship after the bruising Trump presidency, the vaccine issue is proving to be a thorny topic, with some in Europe seeing it as a continuation of former President Donald Trump’s “America First” focus.EU member states’ ambassadors discussed the challenge this week. The German government said on Friday it was in contact with U.S. officials about vaccine supplies but stressed that the European Commission has the lead when it comes to procuring shots for member states.Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have directed representatives to discuss supply chains in the vaccine production.“Hopefully, we will be in a position on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure that sufficient quantities of vaccine doses are distributed out in line with the schedule so as to complete the vaccination campaigns,” EU commission chief spokesman Eric Mamer said.Well over 10 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine are stockpiled in the U.S. for use here.“We want to be oversupplied and overprepared,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday, so Americans can still be swiftly vaccinated in the event of unforeseen issues with the existing production timeline.“We have not provided doses from the U.S. government to anyone,” she said.Asked about the stockpiled vaccine, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said, “We have a small inventory of AstraZeneca so, if approved, we can g&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-new-york-rochelle-walensky-coronavirus-pandemic-fcec736ac8474e121bfc3b2fd41718b2">et that inventory out to the American people&nbsp;</a>as quickly as possible.” He said the U.S. was following the same procedure it used for the already-authorized vaccines.Drug manufacturers that received federal assistance in developing or expanding vaccine manufacturing were required to sell their first doses to the U.S. In the case of AstraZeneca, whose vaccine was initially expected to be the first to receive federal emergency authorization, the government ordered 300 million doses — enough for 150 million Americans — before issues with the vaccine’s clinical trial held up clearance..The company said this month it believes it will have roughly 30 million doses available to the U.S. government by the end of March, and an additional 20 million by the end of April.As foreign regulators have moved ahead with the shot, the U.S. has not dropped its contractual claim on the initial doses produced in America.That policy has also come under criticism from U.S. neighbors Canada and Mexico, which have been forced to seek vaccine manufactured on a different continent, rather than across the border. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has purchased enough doses of Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson &amp; Johnson to inoculate 150 million more people than the U.S. population by the end of the year.The U.S. has also ordered 110 million doses of vaccine from Novavax, which is expected to file for emergency authorization as soon as next month.AstraZeneca’s 30,000-person U.S. trial didn’t complete enrollment until January. The company hasn’t given any hints of when initial results might be ready beyond an executive telling Congress last month he expected it would be “soon.”The European Union, amid its own stumbling vaccine rollout, appears increasingly resigned to the Biden administration retaining control of the U.S. doses.The EU is at odds with AstraZeneca, too, because the company is delivering far fewer doses to the bloc than it had promised. Of the initial order for 80 million in the first quarter this year, the company will be struggling to deliver half.Despite shortages at home and often being accused of vaccine protectionism itself, the 27-nation bloc has allowed the export of well over 34 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in past weeks, including 953,723 to the United States.Meanwhile, Russia and China have used their domestically produced vaccines for strategic leverage.China has pledged roughly half a billion doses to more than 45 countries, according to a country-by-country tally by The Associated Press. Four of China’s many vaccine makers are claiming they will be able to produce at least 2.6 billion doses this year.Russia has sent millions of doses of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-italy-coronavirus-pandemic-russia-1c9bac0105f04e297e51f04859f304a9">Sputnik V vaccine</a>&nbsp;to countries around the world, even as it vaccinates its own population. Analysts say a goal of this vaccine diplomacy is to bolster Russia’s image as a scientific, technological and benevolent power, especially as other countries encounter shortages of COVID-19 vaccines because richer nations are scooping up the Western-made versions.Israel, which has vaccinated more than half of its population with Pfizer vaccines produced in Europe, has also attempted to use vaccine diplomacy to reward allies.Biden did move to have the U.S. contribute financially to the United Nations- and World Health Organization-backed COVAX alliance, which will help share vaccine with more than 90 lower and middle-income nations, but the U.S. has yet to commit to sharing any doses.

Tussle between US, allies over vaccine supply escalates

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.

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.

Good Samaritan killed after 3-vehicle Kan. crash

By MARKIAN HAWRYLUK <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-03-12/rural-americans-in-pharmacy-deserts-hurting-for-covid-19-vaccines">Kaiser Health News</a>

As the Biden administration accelerates a plan to use pharmacies to 
distribute COVID-19 vaccines, significant areas of the country lack 
brick-and-mortar pharmacies capable of administering the protective 
shots.

A <a href="https://rupri.public-health.uiowa.edu/publications/policybriefs/2020/COVID%20Pharmacy%20Brief.pdf" target="_blank">recent analysis</a>
 by the Rural Policy Research Institute found that 111 rural counties, 
mostly between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, have no 
pharmacy that can give the vaccines. That could leave thousands of 
vulnerable Americans struggling to find vaccines, which in turn 
threatens to prolong the pandemic in many hard-hit rural regions.

And
 in those areas without pharmacies, rural residents may have to drive 
long distances to get shots, and do so twice for two-dose vaccines. <a href="https://s8637.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Access-to-Potential-COVID-19-Vaccine-Administration-Facilities-2-2-2021.pdf" target="_blank">An analysis</a>
 by the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and the West Health 
Policy Center found that 89% of Americans live within five miles of a 
pharmacy. But more than 1.6 million people must travel more than 20 
miles to the nearest pharmacy, which can mean facing difficult weather 
and road conditions in remote areas.

“If pharmacies are closed, 
especially in places where there’s no other health care provider, then 
you’ve got essentially a health care desert,” said Michael Hogue, 
president of the <a href="https://www.pharmacist.com/" target="_blank">American Pharmacists Association</a>.
 “You have to be dependent on either a mobile clinic coming in from 
another area to provide vaccines, or the citizens are going to have to 
drive farther to get a vaccine.”

So far, with a limited quantity of doses and strict limitations on 
who is eligible, that hasn’t been a problem. But as vaccination opens up
 to the general public and supplies of the vaccines increase, local 
health departments may be overwhelmed with demand and may need to 
offload the task of vaccinating local residents to other health care 
providers.

“It’s probably not playing out yet because we’re not 
getting enough supply,” said Keith Mueller, director of the Rural Policy
 Research Institute’s Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis. “That 
means we have some time for those local health departments to figure 
this out: Who in my radius, if you will, has the capacity to administer 
vaccines?”

From 2003 to 2018, 1,231 independent rural pharmacies 
closed, Mueller’s team found, leaving some 630 rural communities with no
 retail drugstore. The changing economics in the pharmacy industry did 
them in, a combination of national pharmacy chains expanding and 
consolidating, big-box stores and supermarkets opening their own 
competing pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers eating into 
small-pharmacy profits. Mail-order options siphoned off business.

And you can’t get vaccines in the mail.

In
 many towns, those pharmacies represented the last bastion of health 
care in their communities. Now more than ever, residents are feeling the
 void.

“We have no medical infrastructure,” said DeAnne Gallegos, a
 spokesperson for the San Juan County health department in southwestern 
Colorado. “We don’t even have a doctor.”

With the closest pharmacy
 located in a neighboring county an hour away in Durango, vaccinations 
in San Juan County have been handled by the public health director and 
two nurses. They hold weekly vaccination clinics if they get any doses. 
As of Feb. 18, the health department had fully vaccinated 298 of its 700
 residents.

Counties are allocated doses based on their year-round
 populations, but the health department hopes to vaccinate 
out-of-staters who visit as well. San Juan County deals with an influx 
of tourists and second-home owners coming from states such as Texas, 
Arizona and Florida, where the pandemic has hit harder and vaccination 
rates are lagging. So the health department could end up vaccinating 
more than 200% of San Juan County’s official population to keep covid 
out.

“Our attitude is, no matter what your driver’s license or 
your ZIP code says, if you are living within our tight-knit community, 
that is someone we hope the state would allow us to bring into the 
fold,” Gallegos said.

But that stresses what she called the <a href="https://khn.org/news/us-public-health-system-underfunded-under-threat-faces-more-cuts-amid-covid-pandemic/" target="_blank">frail structure</a> the department had in the first place.

“It’s
 our responsibility to make appointments, manage the data, make contact,
 receive phone calls,” Gallegos said. “When you don’t have the staff or 
the budget to hire additional staff, that also makes it very difficult.”

Farther
 east, Custer County hasn’t had a pharmacy for years. Only recently, a 
pharmacist who lives in the county but works in an adjacent county an 
hour away has started delivering prescriptions to Custer residents when 
she returns home after each shift.

But she can’t bring vaccines home from work.

Instead,
 a public health nurse who was due to retire at the end of 2020 decided 
to stay on to vaccinate residents with the help of another nurse and 
retired health care workers who maintained their licenses. According to 
Custer County Public Health Agency Director Dr. Clifford Brown, they 
have vaccinated more than 630 of the county’s 5,200 residents.

In an ideal world, they could have handed off the task to a pharmacy.

“We
 do feel the pinch,” Brown said. “I wake up about 3 o’clock in the 
morning thinking about, how in the world are we going to stretch things 
to cover for this day?”

Pharmacies offer distinct advantages as 
vaccine providers. Hospitals, which didn’t traditionally vaccinate the 
general public, have had to create programs to distribute their 
allocated doses.

In Colorado, pharmacies give over a million flu shots a year, said Emily Zadvorny, executive director of the <a href="https://www.copharm.org/" target="_blank">Colorado Pharmacists Society</a>,
 and, particularly in smaller towns, have a much closer relationship 
with their customers than larger health care providers do. She pointed 
to a pharmacist in Kiowa County, Colorado, who pulled a list of all his 
customers age 70 and up and called each of them to schedule their covid 
vaccinations.

“They have so much more capacity than they have supplies,” Zadvorny said. “It’s just a slow process of ramping up.”

Even
 where pharmacies exist, it’s been a challenge for independent 
drugstores to participate in the covid vaccine rollout. For influenza, 
pneumonia or shingles vaccines, stores typically order as many doses as 
they think they can sell, which get delivered alongside the pills they 
distribute.

The covid vaccines, on the other hand, are being 
distributed through a national program that comes with a significant 
learning curve for pharmacies. The federal Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention partnered with 21 pharmacy chains, including four 
networks of independent community pharmacies that give smaller 
drugstores more purchasing power. According to the National Community 
Pharmacists Association, those four networks include about 8,000 of the 
21,000 community pharmacies nationwide. Pharmacies that are not part of 
those networks can apply to be vaccine providers in their states.

“The
 biggest hurdle for most pharmacies is just getting approved,” said Kyle
 Lancaster, pharmacy director for Our Valley Pharmacy, a three-pharmacy 
chain in rural Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Our Valley applied to 
federal and state health agencies and had to upgrade its freezers with 
digital data loggers, which upload the pharmacies’ refrigerator and 
freezer temperatures and report them directly to the CDC.

Most 
small pharmacies like his, he said, had been limited to the Moderna 
vaccine, which has less stringent temperature requirements than Pfizer’s
 version. The Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/28/health/johnson-and-johnson-acip-meeting/index.html" target="_blank">which was recently approved</a>, would be even easier for rural pharmacies to handle.

Lancaster said he’s unsure how many doses of the vaccine his chain will get or when.

Those
 uncertainties leave residents such as Nan Burton, 63, worried about how
 to get vaccinated. Last year, she and her husband decided to ride out 
the pandemic in their vacation home in Lincoln County, trading apartment
 living in Seattle for the wide-open, physically distanced spaces of 
Star Valley Ranch, about 8 miles from the nearest Our Valley branch. 
With plans to retire fully next year, now they’re staying for good.

So
 far, Lincoln County — more than three times the size of Rhode Island — 
has vaccinated about 2,500 of its nearly 20,000 residents, mainly 
through the local hospital. But with no major chain pharmacies in the 
region, the county must wait for independent community pharmacies, such 
as Our Valley, to get up to speed.

Burton said she and her husband
 have little choice but to wait and hope that the vaccine distribution 
logistics are sorted out. They’d be willing to drive hours to get a 
vaccine if they knew they weren’t taking it away from someone else in 
need.

“Until there’s some kind of a national push to do outreach 
to rural communities, I think we’re going to be in trouble,” Burton 
said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615579215378.png" alt="David Condos / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>David Condos / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARKIAN HAWRYLUK <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-03-12/rural-americans-in-pharmacy-deserts-hurting-for-covid-19-vaccines">Kaiser Health News</a>As the Biden administration accelerates a plan to use pharmacies to 
distribute COVID-19 vaccines, significant areas of the country lack 
brick-and-mortar pharmacies capable of administering the protective 
shots.A <a href="https://rupri.public-health.uiowa.edu/publications/policybriefs/2020/COVID%20Pharmacy%20Brief.pdf" target="_blank">recent analysis</a>
 by the Rural Policy Research Institute found that 111 rural counties, 
mostly between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, have no 
pharmacy that can give the vaccines. That could leave thousands of 
vulnerable Americans struggling to find vaccines, which in turn 
threatens to prolong the pandemic in many hard-hit rural regions.And
 in those areas without pharmacies, rural residents may have to drive 
long distances to get shots, and do so twice for two-dose vaccines. <a href="https://s8637.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Access-to-Potential-COVID-19-Vaccine-Administration-Facilities-2-2-2021.pdf" target="_blank">An analysis</a>
 by the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and the West Health 
Policy Center found that 89% of Americans live within five miles of a 
pharmacy. But more than 1.6 million people must travel more than 20 
miles to the nearest pharmacy, which can mean facing difficult weather 
and road conditions in remote areas.“If pharmacies are closed, 
especially in places where there’s no other health care provider, then 
you’ve got essentially a health care desert,” said Michael Hogue, 
president of the <a href="https://www.pharmacist.com/" target="_blank">American Pharmacists Association</a>.
 “You have to be dependent on either a mobile clinic coming in from 
another area to provide vaccines, or the citizens are going to have to 
drive farther to get a vaccine.”<div><iframe title="Where Pharmacies — And Options for Vaccines — Are in Short Supply" aria-label="Map" id="datawrapper-chart-pprZa" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/pprZa/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border: none;" width="800" height="687"></iframe></div>So far, with a limited quantity of doses and strict limitations on 
who is eligible, that hasn’t been a problem. But as vaccination opens up
 to the general public and supplies of the vaccines increase, local 
health departments may be overwhelmed with demand and may need to 
offload the task of vaccinating local residents to other health care 
providers.“It’s probably not playing out yet because we’re not 
getting enough supply,” said Keith Mueller, director of the Rural Policy
 Research Institute’s Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis. “That 
means we have some time for those local health departments to figure 
this out: Who in my radius, if you will, has the capacity to administer 
vaccines?”From 2003 to 2018, 1,231 independent rural pharmacies 
closed, Mueller’s team found, leaving some 630 rural communities with no
 retail drugstore. The changing economics in the pharmacy industry did 
them in, a combination of national pharmacy chains expanding and 
consolidating, big-box stores and supermarkets opening their own 
competing pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers eating into 
small-pharmacy profits. Mail-order options siphoned off business.And you can’t get vaccines in the mail.In
 many towns, those pharmacies represented the last bastion of health 
care in their communities. Now more than ever, residents are feeling the
 void.“We have no medical infrastructure,” said DeAnne Gallegos, a
 spokesperson for the San Juan County health department in southwestern 
Colorado. “We don’t even have a doctor.”With the closest pharmacy
 located in a neighboring county an hour away in Durango, vaccinations 
in San Juan County have been handled by the public health director and 
two nurses. They hold weekly vaccination clinics if they get any doses. 
As of Feb. 18, the health department had fully vaccinated 298 of its 700
 residents.Counties are allocated doses based on their year-round
 populations, but the health department hopes to vaccinate 
out-of-staters who visit as well. San Juan County deals with an influx 
of tourists and second-home owners coming from states such as Texas, 
Arizona and Florida, where the pandemic has hit harder and vaccination 
rates are lagging. So the health department could end up vaccinating 
more than 200% of San Juan County’s official population to keep covid 
out.“Our attitude is, no matter what your driver’s license or 
your ZIP code says, if you are living within our tight-knit community, 
that is someone we hope the state would allow us to bring into the 
fold,” Gallegos said.But that stresses what she called the <a href="https://khn.org/news/us-public-health-system-underfunded-under-threat-faces-more-cuts-amid-covid-pandemic/" target="_blank">frail structure</a> the department had in the first place.“It’s
 our responsibility to make appointments, manage the data, make contact,
 receive phone calls,” Gallegos said. “When you don’t have the staff or 
the budget to hire additional staff, that also makes it very difficult.”Farther
 east, Custer County hasn’t had a pharmacy for years. Only recently, a 
pharmacist who lives in the county but works in an adjacent county an 
hour away has started delivering prescriptions to Custer residents when 
she returns home after each shift.But she can’t bring vaccines home from work.Instead,
 a public health nurse who was due to retire at the end of 2020 decided 
to stay on to vaccinate residents with the help of another nurse and 
retired health care workers who maintained their licenses. According to 
Custer County Public Health Agency Director Dr. Clifford Brown, they 
have vaccinated more than 630 of the county’s 5,200 residents.In an ideal world, they could have handed off the task to a pharmacy.“We
 do feel the pinch,” Brown said. “I wake up about 3 o’clock in the 
morning thinking about, how in the world are we going to stretch things 
to cover for this day?”Pharmacies offer distinct advantages as 
vaccine providers. Hospitals, which didn’t traditionally vaccinate the 
general public, have had to create programs to distribute their 
allocated doses.In Colorado, pharmacies give over a million flu shots a year, said Emily Zadvorny, executive director of the <a href="https://www.copharm.org/" target="_blank">Colorado Pharmacists Society</a>,
 and, particularly in smaller towns, have a much closer relationship 
with their customers than larger health care providers do. She pointed 
to a pharmacist in Kiowa County, Colorado, who pulled a list of all his 
customers age 70 and up and called each of them to schedule their covid 
vaccinations.“They have so much more capacity than they have supplies,” Zadvorny said. “It’s just a slow process of ramping up.”Even
 where pharmacies exist, it’s been a challenge for independent 
drugstores to participate in the covid vaccine rollout. For influenza, 
pneumonia or shingles vaccines, stores typically order as many doses as 
they think they can sell, which get delivered alongside the pills they 
distribute.The covid vaccines, on the other hand, are being 
distributed through a national program that comes with a significant 
learning curve for pharmacies. The federal Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention partnered with 21 pharmacy chains, including four 
networks of independent community pharmacies that give smaller 
drugstores more purchasing power. According to the National Community 
Pharmacists Association, those four networks include about 8,000 of the 
21,000 community pharmacies nationwide. Pharmacies that are not part of 
those networks can apply to be vaccine providers in their states.“The
 biggest hurdle for most pharmacies is just getting approved,” said Kyle
 Lancaster, pharmacy director for Our Valley Pharmacy, a three-pharmacy 
chain in rural Lincoln County, Wyoming.Our Valley applied to 
federal and state health agencies and had to upgrade its freezers with 
digital data loggers, which upload the pharmacies’ refrigerator and 
freezer temperatures and report them directly to the CDC.Most 
small pharmacies like his, he said, had been limited to the Moderna 
vaccine, which has less stringent temperature requirements than Pfizer’s
 version. The Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/28/health/johnson-and-johnson-acip-meeting/index.html" target="_blank">which was recently approved</a>, would be even easier for rural pharmacies to handle.Lancaster said he’s unsure how many doses of the vaccine his chain will get or when.Those
 uncertainties leave residents such as Nan Burton, 63, worried about how
 to get vaccinated. Last year, she and her husband decided to ride out 
the pandemic in their vacation home in Lincoln County, trading apartment
 living in Seattle for the wide-open, physically distanced spaces of 
Star Valley Ranch, about 8 miles from the nearest Our Valley branch. 
With plans to retire fully next year, now they’re staying for good.So
 far, Lincoln County — more than three times the size of Rhode Island — 
has vaccinated about 2,500 of its nearly 20,000 residents, mainly 
through the local hospital. But with no major chain pharmacies in the 
region, the county must wait for independent community pharmacies, such 
as Our Valley, to get up to speed.Burton said she and her husband
 have little choice but to wait and hope that the vaccine distribution 
logistics are sorted out. They’d be willing to drive hours to get a 
vaccine if they knew they weren’t taking it away from someone else in 
need.“Until there’s some kind of a national push to do outreach 
to rural communities, I think we’re going to be in trouble,” Burton 
said.

Rural Americans in pharmacy deserts hurting for COVID vaccine

FRANKLIN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Saturday in Franklin County.

Johnson and Franklin County authorities reported a 2002 Cadillac with an erratic driver was southbound on Interstate Interstate 35 just north of the K131 Waverly exit, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

 Franklin County deputies observed the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop. 

The driver later identified as Joshua Philbrook, 31, Turner, Maine, lead deputies on a pursuit. The vehicle crossed the median and struck a concrete bridge barrier head-on.

EMS transported&nbsp;Philbrook Overland Park Regional Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

FRANKLIN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Saturday in Franklin County.Johnson and Franklin County authorities reported a 2002 Cadillac with an erratic driver was southbound on Interstate Interstate 35 just north of the K131 Waverly exit, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Franklin County deputies observed the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop. The driver later identified as Joshua Philbrook, 31, Turner, Maine, lead deputies on a pursuit. The vehicle crossed the median and struck a concrete bridge barrier head-on.EMS transported&nbsp;Philbrook Overland Park Regional Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Driver hospitalized after Kan. police chase, head-on crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a series of crimes and two high speed police chases including one that injured another motorist.&nbsp;

Sean McKenzie, 42 of Wichita, was convicted of nine felony crimes, including gun and drug charges, aggravated battery, and two counts of fleeing police, according to the Sedgwick District Attorney. All of the crimes occurred in August of 2020.

McKenzie’s attorney argued that her client deserved a lesser sentence because he had a leg amputated after crashing his car while fleeing from police. McKenzie’s attorney also asked for drug treatment for her client.&nbsp; The judge&nbsp;denied the request for the lesser sentence.

McKenzie’s cases began on August 11, when Wichita Police found a gun and methamphetamine in his car. He was arrested at the time and later released from custody while the investigation continued.

On August 14th, McKenzie fled Wichita Police at a high rate of speed after they attempted to stop his car. McKenzie crashed into another vehicle, causing facial and leg injuries to the other motorist. McKenzie ran from the crash scene and was not apprehended.

On August, 17, police were looking for McKenzie when they spotted his car. He again tried to drive away from officers, but crashed into a telephone pole and a tree. He suffered critical leg injuries in the crash. Officers applied a tourniquet to his leg, but doctors could not save it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615329175504.png" alt="Mckenzie photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Mckenzie photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a series of crimes and two high speed police chases including one that injured another motorist.&nbsp;Sean McKenzie, 42 of Wichita, was convicted of nine felony crimes, including gun and drug charges, aggravated battery, and two counts of fleeing police, according to the Sedgwick District Attorney. All of the crimes occurred in August of 2020.McKenzie’s attorney argued that her client deserved a lesser sentence because he had a leg amputated after crashing his car while fleeing from police. McKenzie’s attorney also asked for drug treatment for her client.&nbsp; The judge&nbsp;denied the request for the lesser sentence.McKenzie’s cases began on August 11, when Wichita Police found a gun and methamphetamine in his car. He was arrested at the time and later released from custody while the investigation continued.On August 14th, McKenzie fled Wichita Police at a high rate of speed after they attempted to stop his car. McKenzie crashed into another vehicle, causing facial and leg injuries to the other motorist. McKenzie ran from the crash scene and was not apprehended.On August, 17, police were looking for McKenzie when they spotted his car. He again tried to drive away from officers, but crashed into a telephone pole and a tree. He suffered critical leg injuries in the crash. Officers applied a tourniquet to his leg, but doctors could not save it.

Kan. man who lost leg after police chase sentenced 

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A woman who police said was speeding and talking on FaceTime when she hit two pedestrians in Columbia has pleaded guilty to first-degree involuntary manslaughter after one of the victims died.

Regine McCracken faces a sentence of three to 10 years in the 2019 death of Randall Siddens, 34, who was struck by her car as he picked up traffic cones after a triathlon.

McCracken will be sentenced May 5, exactly two years after the crash. Siddens was thrown 127 feet and died in November 2019.

McCracken was on FaceTime and driving 18 mph over the speed limit when she hit Siddens and another pedestrian, police said.

A probable cause statement said McCracken failed to stop for a red light, swerved to avoid a crash , hit the victims and then struck a parked vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615571038841.png" alt="Regine McCracken photo Boone Co." />
 <figcaption>Regine McCracken photo Boone Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A woman who police said was speeding and talking on FaceTime when she hit two pedestrians in Columbia has pleaded guilty to first-degree involuntary manslaughter after one of the victims died.Regine McCracken faces a sentence of three to 10 years in the 2019 death of Randall Siddens, 34, who was struck by her car as he picked up traffic cones after a triathlon.McCracken will be sentenced May 5, exactly two years after the crash. Siddens was thrown 127 feet and died in November 2019.McCracken was on FaceTime and driving 18 mph over the speed limit when she hit Siddens and another pedestrian, police said.A probable cause statement said McCracken failed to stop for a red light, swerved to avoid a crash , hit the victims and then struck a parked vehicle.

Woman was on FaceTime at time of fatal pedestrian crash

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A white Kansas City police officer who sprayed a 15-year-old Black girl with chemicals during racial injustice protests last summer was indicted Friday on misdemeanor assault, prosecutors said.

Officer Nicholas McQuillen, 38, will be issued a summons to appear later in court, Jackson County prosecutors said after the county’s grand jury delivered the indictment.

According to charging documents, the girl was with her father, siblings and friends on May 30 at protests along the Country Club Plaza that were sparked by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-pay-27-million-settle-floyd-family-lawsuit-52a395f7716f52cf8d1fbeb411c831c7">the killing of George Floyd</a>, a Black man, at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer. Protesters were on sidewalks while police lined the streets.

Police said the girl’s father, who’s Black, was repeatedly told to stay on the sidewalk or he would be arrested, but the man later said he did not hear those commands.

Videos show the father standing on the street, within 1 or 2 feet of the sidewalk, shouting at officers. The girl was next to him, according to court documents.

Video shows McQuillen and another officer moving toward the man and girl, but they do not make any statement to them or tell them they are under arrest, according to court documents. At this point, the man is back on the sidewalk, and there is “no evidence of information about the need to immediately arrest (the man),” the documents said, and no evidence that McQuillen contacted a supervisor or officers other than the one who was with him.

The videos also show McQuillen and the other officer trying to pull the man into the street while his family and friends try to keep him on the sidewalk. The movement caused the girl to be between McQuillen and the man, which led to her hands touching McQuillen’s vest.

At that point, McQuillen raised the MK-90 fogger, a chemical spray used to control crowds, and sprayed the girl in the face, according to the court documents. She told investigators she suffered pain in her eyes and a burning sensation on her arms but did not seek medical attention.

It was not immediately clear if McQuillen has an attorney.

The Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement that it was disappointed the prosecuting attorney would charge McQuillen when he “employed the lowest level of force available to him,” The Kansas City Star reported.

“We believe this charge has no merit and the FOP will fully support Officer McQuillen as he challenges it in Court,” the statement said.

Attorney Tom Porto, who is representing the victim, said in a statement called the officer’s conduct “absolutely indefensible.”

“A 15-year-old girl had the equivalent of bear spray sprayed in her face from centimeters away,” Porto said. “The grand jury got it right.”

Kansas City police spokeswoman Officer Donna Drake said McQuillen has been with the department since 2014 and is assigned to the Patrol Bureau.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590925487256.png" alt="Police in Kansas City at the scene of May 2020 protests photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police in Kansas City at the scene of May 2020 protests photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A white Kansas City police officer who sprayed a 15-year-old Black girl with chemicals during racial injustice protests last summer was indicted Friday on misdemeanor assault, prosecutors said.Officer Nicholas McQuillen, 38, will be issued a summons to appear later in court, Jackson County prosecutors said after the county’s grand jury delivered the indictment.According to charging documents, the girl was with her father, siblings and friends on May 30 at protests along the Country Club Plaza that were sparked by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-pay-27-million-settle-floyd-family-lawsuit-52a395f7716f52cf8d1fbeb411c831c7">the killing of George Floyd</a>, a Black man, at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer. Protesters were on sidewalks while police lined the streets.Police said the girl’s father, who’s Black, was repeatedly told to stay on the sidewalk or he would be arrested, but the man later said he did not hear those commands.Videos show the father standing on the street, within 1 or 2 feet of the sidewalk, shouting at officers. The girl was next to him, according to court documents.Video shows McQuillen and another officer moving toward the man and girl, but they do not make any statement to them or tell them they are under arrest, according to court documents. At this point, the man is back on the sidewalk, and there is “no evidence of information about the need to immediately arrest (the man),” the documents said, and no evidence that McQuillen contacted a supervisor or officers other than the one who was with him.The videos also show McQuillen and the other officer trying to pull the man into the street while his family and friends try to keep him on the sidewalk. The movement caused the girl to be between McQuillen and the man, which led to her hands touching McQuillen’s vest.At that point, McQuillen raised the MK-90 fogger, a chemical spray used to control crowds, and sprayed the girl in the face, according to the court documents. She told investigators she suffered pain in her eyes and a burning sensation on her arms but did not seek medical attention.It was not immediately clear if McQuillen has an attorney.The Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement that it was disappointed the prosecuting attorney would charge McQuillen when he “employed the lowest level of force available to him,” The Kansas City Star reported.“We believe this charge has no merit and the FOP will fully support Officer McQuillen as he challenges it in Court,” the statement said.Attorney Tom Porto, who is representing the victim, said in a statement called the officer’s conduct “absolutely indefensible.”“A 15-year-old girl had the equivalent of bear spray sprayed in her face from centimeters away,” Porto said. “The grand jury got it right.”Kansas City police spokeswoman Officer Donna Drake said McQuillen has been with the department since 2014 and is assigned to the Patrol Bureau.

Kansas City officer who sprayed teenage protester indicted

CLEVELAND (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lacked the authority to issue a nationwide moratorium on rental evictions, the second such ruling issued by a federal judge in two weeks.

U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese, sitting in Cleveland, ruled this week that the CDC went beyond what the federal Public Health Service Act allows it to do in ordering a halt to evictions. However, he did not grant an injunction that would have stopped the agency from enforcing the moratorium.

The ruling comes two weeks after U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker in the Eastern District of Texas determined that the moratorium was unconstitutional. The Justice Department is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-19-pandemic-5c1dec620b158295dca66f51a73b4d04">appealing</a>&nbsp;that order.

The National Association of Homebuilders and a group of property owners from across northern Ohio had filed a federal lawsuit last October, claiming the CDC’s order was overreaching and arbitrary.

CLEVELAND (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lacked the authority to issue a nationwide moratorium on rental evictions, the second such ruling issued by a federal judge in two weeks.U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese, sitting in Cleveland, ruled this week that the CDC went beyond what the federal Public Health Service Act allows it to do in ordering a halt to evictions. However, he did not grant an injunction that would have stopped the agency from enforcing the moratorium.The ruling comes two weeks after U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker in the Eastern District of Texas determined that the moratorium was unconstitutional. The Justice Department is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-19-pandemic-5c1dec620b158295dca66f51a73b4d04">appealing</a>&nbsp;that order.The National Association of Homebuilders and a group of property owners from across northern Ohio had filed a federal lawsuit last October, claiming the CDC’s order was overreaching and arbitrary.The chair of the NAHB said the group was pleased with the judge’s ruling.“Saddling landlords with the responsibility to provide free rent during this pandemic ignores their financial obligations and ability to provide safe, decent and affordable housing,” Chuck Fowke said in a statement. “Even during emergencies, federal agencies must abide by the law.”The suit was one of several filed in federal courts across the country by property owners who have struggled financially because of the coronavirus. Other courts around the country have upheld the eviction ban, said Diane Yentel, president of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition. She added that challenges to the moratorium made little sense when tens of billions of dollars in federal rental assistance are coming in the recently passed coronavirus relief bill.“These attempts to overturn the moratorium are frivolous,” Yentel said. “These landlords that are bringing these suits and working so hard to overturn the eviction moratorium will be made whole by the unprecedented amount of resources that Congress has made available. But it is going to take time to get the money into their hands.”The CDC eviction moratorium was signed in September by President Donald Trump and extended by President Joe Biden through March 31.