DETROIT (AP) — Nissan is recalling more than 854,000 cars in the U.S. and Canada because the brake lights might not come on when the driver presses on the pedal. 

The recall covers certain Sentra compacts from the 2016 through 2019 model years, including more than 807,000 in the U.S. Nissan says silicon contamination can cause the stop lamp switch near the brake pedal to malfunction. 

If that happens, the stop lamps may not light up and the engine may not start. Owners will be notified in April. Dealers will replace the switch.

In addition, Kia is telling owners of nearly 380,000 vehicles in the U.S. to park them outdoors due to the risk of an engine compartment fire. The Korean automaker is recalling certain 2017 through 2021 Sportage SUVs and 2017 through 2019 Cadenza sedans to fix the problem. The company says a short circuit in the electronic brake control unit can cause excessive current, increasing the risk of a fire. 

Owners should also park them away from structures until repairs are done. The company says the recalled vehicles are not equipped with Kia’s Smart Cruise Control system. Owners could see dashboard warning lights or smell a burning odor before the problem happens. Owners will be notified starting April 30. Dealers will replace fuses in the electrical junction box.

DETROIT (AP) — Nissan is recalling more than 854,000 cars in the U.S. and Canada because the brake lights might not come on when the driver presses on the pedal. The recall covers certain Sentra compacts from the 2016 through 2019 model years, including more than 807,000 in the U.S. Nissan says silicon contamination can cause the stop lamp switch near the brake pedal to malfunction. If that happens, the stop lamps may not light up and the engine may not start. Owners will be notified in April. Dealers will replace the switch.In addition, Kia is telling owners of nearly 380,000 vehicles in the U.S. to park them outdoors due to the risk of an engine compartment fire. The Korean automaker is recalling certain 2017 through 2021 Sportage SUVs and 2017 through 2019 Cadenza sedans to fix the problem. The company says a short circuit in the electronic brake control unit can cause excessive current, increasing the risk of a fire. Owners should also park them away from structures until repairs are done. The company says the recalled vehicles are not equipped with Kia’s Smart Cruise Control system. Owners could see dashboard warning lights or smell a burning odor before the problem happens. Owners will be notified starting April 30. Dealers will replace fuses in the electrical junction box.

Nissan recalls Sentra to fix brake lights; Kia recalls vehicles due to fire risk

LAWRENCE (AP) —Les Miles is out as Kansas’ head coach just days after he was placed on administrative leave amid sexual misconduct allegations from his tenure at LSU.

Kansas announced Miles’ departure Monday night, describing it as a mutual agreement to part ways. Miles has three years left on his original five-year contract with the school that pays him $2.775 million annually through December 2023 and includes several bonuses, among them a $675,000 retention bonus paid last November.

“I am extremely disappointed for our university, fans and everyone involved with our football program,” Kansas athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement. “We will begin the search for a new head coach immediately with an outside firm to assist in this process. We need to win football games, and that is exactly what we’re going to do.”

The 67-year-old Miles was 3-18 in two seasons with the Jayhawks. Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord was named acting head coach.

“This is certainly a difficult day for me and for my family,” Miles said in a statement. “I love this university and the young men in our football program. I have truly enjoyed being the head coach at KU and know that it is in a better place now than when I arrived.”

Last week, LSU released a 148-page review by a law firm about the university’s handling of sexual misconduct complaints campus-wide. One part described how Miles “tried to sexualize the staff of student workers in the football program by, for instance, allegedly demanding that he wanted blondes with big breasts, and ‘pretty girls.’”

The report also revealed then-LSU athletic director Joe Alleva recommended firing Miles in 2013 to university officials.

Kansas placed Miles on leave later that day and said it would conduct a review of allegations against the coach that it had previously been unaware of.

Kansas said terms of the agreement with Miles on his departure will be released in the coming days.

Miles spent 11-plus seasons with LSU, leading the school to a national title in 2007. He was fired four games into the 2016 season.

Miles was investigated at LSU after two female student workers in the football program accused the coach of inappropriate behavior in 2012.

While that 2013 investigation by the Taylor Porter law firm found Miles showed poor judgment, it did not find violations of law or that he had a sexual relationship with any students. Taylor Porter also concluded it could not confirm one student’s allegation that Miles kissed her while they were in the coach’s car with no one else present.

In an email dated June 2013 and sent to the president of LSU, Alleva wrote Miles was guilty of “insubordination, inappropriate behavior, putting the university, athletic (department) and football program at great risk.”

The Taylor Porter review had been kept confidential for about eight years until a redacted version of it was released this week after a lawsuit filed by USA Today.

For Kansas, Miles’ departure is just the latest setback for what has been college football’s worst Power Five program for a decade. The Jayhawks have not won more than three games in a single season since 2009.

Miles had been out of coaching for two years when Long hired him after the 2018 season, hoping a notable name and experienced coach could help break the apathy that has enveloped the Kansas program for a decade.

Long and Miles were friends dating to their time at Michigan in the late 1980s.

While recruiting has improved under Miles, little else has changed. The Jayhawks were winless last season for the third time in program history, losing by an average of more than 30 points per game.

Kansas has not had a winning season since 2008, the year before Mark Mangino was fired amid allegations of verbal and physical abuse. He was followed by Turner Gill, who won five games over two seasons, and Charlie Weis, who was 6-22 before getting fired four games into the 2014 season.

David Beaty was 6-42 in four seasons in charge of the Jayhawks and sued Kansas for withholding his buyout because of NCAA infractions. Beaty reached a $2.55 million settlement with the school last summer.

Now, with spring football practice around the corner, Kansas is starting over again, still stuck in a deep hole.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612401500255.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE (AP) —Les Miles is out as Kansas’ head coach just days after he was placed on administrative leave amid sexual misconduct allegations from his tenure at LSU.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The University of Kansas and Les Miles have mutually agreed to part ways effective immediately. More ➝ <a href="https://t.co/hPHNhZuRQs">https://t.co/hPHNhZuRQs</a> <a href="https://t.co/tIcUMPdGCU">pic.twitter.com/tIcUMPdGCU</a>&mdash; Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUAthletics/status/1369134303133786112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas announced Miles’ departure Monday night, describing it as a mutual agreement to part ways. Miles has three years left on his original five-year contract with the school that pays him $2.775 million annually through December 2023 and includes several bonuses, among them a $675,000 retention bonus paid last November.“I am extremely disappointed for our university, fans and everyone involved with our football program,” Kansas athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement. “We will begin the search for a new head coach immediately with an outside firm to assist in this process. We need to win football games, and that is exactly what we’re going to do.”The 67-year-old Miles was 3-18 in two seasons with the Jayhawks. Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord was named acting head coach.“This is certainly a difficult day for me and for my family,” Miles said in a statement. “I love this university and the young men in our football program. I have truly enjoyed being the head coach at KU and know that it is in a better place now than when I arrived.”Last week, LSU released a 148-page review by a law firm about the university’s handling of sexual misconduct complaints campus-wide. One part described how Miles “tried to sexualize the staff of student workers in the football program by, for instance, allegedly demanding that he wanted blondes with big breasts, and ‘pretty girls.’”The report also revealed then-LSU athletic director Joe Alleva recommended firing Miles in 2013 to university officials.Kansas placed Miles on leave later that day and said it would conduct a review of allegations against the coach that it had previously been unaware of.Kansas said terms of the agreement with Miles on his departure will be released in the coming days.Miles spent 11-plus seasons with LSU, leading the school to a national title in 2007. He was fired four games into the 2016 season.Miles was investigated at LSU after two female student workers in the football program accused the coach of inappropriate behavior in 2012.While that 2013 investigation by the Taylor Porter law firm found Miles showed poor judgment, it did not find violations of law or that he had a sexual relationship with any students. Taylor Porter also concluded it could not confirm one student’s allegation that Miles kissed her while they were in the coach’s car with no one else present.In an email dated June 2013 and sent to the president of LSU, Alleva wrote Miles was guilty of “insubordination, inappropriate behavior, putting the university, athletic (department) and football program at great risk.”The Taylor Porter review had been kept confidential for about eight years until a redacted version of it was released this week after a lawsuit filed by USA Today.For Kansas, Miles’ departure is just the latest setback for what has been college football’s worst Power Five program for a decade. The Jayhawks have not won more than three games in a single season since 2009.Miles had been out of coaching for two years when Long hired him after the 2018 season, hoping a notable name and experienced coach could help break the apathy that has enveloped the Kansas program for a decade.Long and Miles were friends dating to their time at Michigan in the late 1980s.While recruiting has improved under Miles, little else has changed. The Jayhawks were winless last season for the third time in program history, losing by an average of more than 30 points per game.Kansas has not had a winning season since 2008, the year before Mark Mangino was fired amid allegations of verbal and physical abuse. He was followed by Turner Gill, who won five games over two seasons, and Charlie Weis, who was 6-22 before getting fired four games into the 2014 season.David Beaty was 6-42 in four seasons in charge of the Jayhawks and sued Kansas for withholding his buyout because of NCAA infractions. Beaty reached a $2.55 million settlement with the school last summer.Now, with spring football practice around the corner, Kansas is starting over again, still stuck in a deep hole.___

Miles out at KU over behavior with women while at LSU

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A southwest Missouri man who is charged with threatening to kill U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver will remain in jail, a federal judge ruled Monday.

Kenneth R. Hubert, 63, of Marionville, was charged last week with threatening Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat who represents a district that includes part of the Kansas City area. He pleaded not guilty on Monday.

Prosecutors said Hubert left a voicemail Jan. 7 at Cleaver's office in Independence in which he used a racial slur and said, “How about a noose ... around his neck?” Cleaver is Black.

“Mr. Hubert, words have meaning,” Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush told Hubert. “And your words rise to the level of posing a danger.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark said Hubert has made similar threats to other politicians, a federal judge and political organizations dating back to 2014.

In a motion filed before the hearing, prosecutors contended Hubert had a history of “complete disregard” for law enforcement, which had tried to stop him from making harassing calls. They contended he was a flight risk who could intimidate witnesses.

David Mercer, Hubert’s public defender, argued Hubert has no criminal record, was not a flight risk and had medical conditions that would put him at high risk of contracting COVID-19 if he was jailed. Mercer said Hubert was willing to serve house arrest.

“It has definitely gotten his attention,” Mercer said of Hubert’s arrest.

Among other incidents, prosecutors said Hubert was investigated for making threatening calls to the Council on American-Islamic Relations in St. Louis; U.S. Rep. Steven Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee; and the Missouri Democratic Party.

Hubert told FBI agents investigating his call to Cleaver that he was also previously investigated by the U.S. Secret Service for saying President Barack Obama “needed to be hanged from a light post,” according to prosecutors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614858198513.png" alt="Hubert photo Greene Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Hubert photo Greene Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A southwest Missouri man who is charged with threatening to kill U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver will remain in jail, a federal judge ruled Monday.Kenneth R. Hubert, 63, of Marionville, was charged last week with threatening Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat who represents a district that includes part of the Kansas City area. He pleaded not guilty on Monday.Prosecutors said Hubert left a voicemail Jan. 7 at Cleaver's office in Independence in which he used a racial slur and said, “How about a noose ... around his neck?” Cleaver is Black.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1564430219299.png" alt="Rep. Emanuel Cleaver " />
 <figcaption>Rep. Emanuel Cleaver </figcaption>
 </figure>“Mr. Hubert, words have meaning,” Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush told Hubert. “And your words rise to the level of posing a danger.”Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark said Hubert has made similar threats to other politicians, a federal judge and political organizations dating back to 2014.In a motion filed before the hearing, prosecutors contended Hubert had a history of “complete disregard” for law enforcement, which had tried to stop him from making harassing calls. They contended he was a flight risk who could intimidate witnesses.David Mercer, Hubert’s public defender, argued Hubert has no criminal record, was not a flight risk and had medical conditions that would put him at high risk of contracting COVID-19 if he was jailed. Mercer said Hubert was willing to serve house arrest.“It has definitely gotten his attention,” Mercer said of Hubert’s arrest.Among other incidents, prosecutors said Hubert was investigated for making threatening calls to the Council on American-Islamic Relations in St. Louis; U.S. Rep. Steven Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee; and the Missouri Democratic Party.Hubert told FBI agents investigating his call to Cleaver that he was also previously investigated by the U.S. Secret Service for saying President Barack Obama “needed to be hanged from a light post,” according to prosecutors.

Man accused of threatening KC-area Congressman will remain in jail

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Staff with a well-known botanical gardens venue in Wichita say last month's Arctic cold snap proved costly for the gardens. 

Television station KAKE reports that the failure of a heater in Botanica's largest greenhouse during the coldest day of the season killed a slew of plants, some of which had been with the garden for 20 to nearly 30 years. 

Kathy Spillman is director of special events for Botanica. She says most of the plants lost were warm-weather succulents and palms, and the estimated value of the plants lost is between $30,000 and $40,000. Botanica staff have started a<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/Botanica-Greenhouse-Fund?sharetype=teams&amp;member=9080274&amp;pc=fb_co_campmgmt_w&amp;rcid=r01-161478403431-f9889e1ed72a4201&amp;utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=p_lico%2Bshare-sheet&amp;fbclid=IwAR0bazo5kPyPCL9uwyz83nMPIibn3GN3jhXRgr_p1_V9rtAA6J3288YXhvw"> crowd-funding </a>effort to replace the plants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615243569675.png" alt="Nearly 200 plants died in the historically low temperatures-photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Nearly 200 plants died in the historically low temperatures-photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Staff with a well-known botanical gardens venue in Wichita say last month's Arctic cold snap proved costly for the gardens. Television station KAKE reports that the failure of a heater in Botanica's largest greenhouse during the coldest day of the season killed a slew of plants, some of which had been with the garden for 20 to nearly 30 years. Kathy Spillman is director of special events for Botanica. She says most of the plants lost were warm-weather succulents and palms, and the estimated value of the plants lost is between $30,000 and $40,000. Botanica staff have started a<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/Botanica-Greenhouse-Fund?sharetype=teams&amp;member=9080274&amp;pc=fb_co_campmgmt_w&amp;rcid=r01-161478403431-f9889e1ed72a4201&amp;utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=p_lico%2Bshare-sheet&amp;fbclid=IwAR0bazo5kPyPCL9uwyz83nMPIibn3GN3jhXRgr_p1_V9rtAA6J3288YXhvw"> crowd-funding </a>effort to replace the plants.

Failed Kan. greenhouse heater leads loss of up to $40K of plants

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 32-year-old man is in custody after a child died in a hit-and-run in Wichita. Police arrested Marcus Downey Monday on potential charges of felony hit-and-run and driving with a suspended license. 

The 4-year-old boy was struck by a pickup truck when he and his mother were crossing a street in downtown Wichita Monday morning. He died at a Wichita hospital. Capt. Wendell Nicholson said the truck fled the scene but was found about 100 yards away. The boy's mother was not injured

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615254271840.png" alt="Downey photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Downey photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 32-year-old man is in custody after a child died in a hit-and-run in Wichita. Police arrested Marcus Downey Monday on potential charges of felony hit-and-run and driving with a suspended license. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615252494342.png" alt="Police near the accident scene Monday photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police near the accident scene Monday photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>The 4-year-old boy was struck by a pickup truck when he and his mother were crossing a street in downtown Wichita Monday morning. He died at a Wichita hospital. Capt. Wendell Nicholson said the truck fled the scene but was found about 100 yards away. The boy's mother was not injured

Kan. man arrested after 4-year-old killed in hit-and-run

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a sexual assault and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 8:30a.m. Sunday, 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 47-year-old Anthony Douglas of Wichita who is a registered sex offender.

On Sunday afternoon, police located Douglas at the business in the 100 Block of North Mosley and arrested him on requested charges of rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual battery and possession of marijuana, according to Cory.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615236375927.png" alt="Douglas photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Douglas photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a sexual assault and have a suspect in custody.Just before 8:30a.m. Sunday, 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 47-year-old Anthony Douglas of Wichita who is a registered sex offender.On Sunday afternoon, police located Douglas at the business in the 100 Block of North Mosley and arrested him on requested charges of rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual battery and possession of marijuana, according to Cory.

Registed Kansas sex offender arrested for alleged rape

By LAURA OLSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/08/cdc-its-ok-for-vaccinated-grandparents-to-visit-family-if-no-risk-for-severe-disease/">Kansas Reflector</a>

WASHINGTON
 — People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely socialize
 inside with other vaccinated individuals without wearing masks or 
maintaining distance, federal health officials advised Monday in their 
first formal guidance for vaccinated Americans.

Perhaps more critically at a time when more than 90% of Americans are still waiting to be fully vaccinated, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines</a>
 also detail one scenario in which public health officials suggest it’s 
safe for those who are fully vaccinated to gather with those who are 
not.

Vaccinated
 individuals can gather with one other household that includes people 
who have not been vaccinated, as long as none of those lacking vaccines 
are at high risk for complications from COVID-19, officials said.

“If
 grandparents have been vaccinated, they can visit their daughter and 
her family, even if they have not been vaccinated, so long as the 
daughter and her family are not at risk for severe disease,” CDC 
director Rochelle Walensky said during a news conference.

Walensky
 added that if any of those unvaccinated are at high risk, everyone — 
including those with vaccines — should still wear a mask, physically 
distance and gather outside or in a well-ventilated space.

The
 new recommendations offer a glimmer of hope just days before March 11, 
which will mark one year since the World Health Organization declared a 
pandemic and the country began to lock down in response to the COVID-19 
outbreak. President Joe Biden is set to give his first primetime address
 Thursday evening to commemorate that anniversary.&nbsp;

Biden
 also will meet with officials from two vaccine manufacturers, Johnson 
&amp; Johnson and Merck, at the White House on Wednesday, according to 
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. He had been scheduled to travel 
to Baltimore to meet with them at Emergent BioSolutions, which produces 
the drug substance for the J&amp;J vaccine.

But
 as health officials detailed scenarios in which vaccinated individuals 
can begin to return to a semblance of normal life, they still urged 
caution, citing insufficient data about whether vaccinated individuals 
can transmit the virus.&nbsp;

Those
 who are vaccinated are urged to continue taking safety precautions — 
including wearing masks, socially distancing, and gathering outside — if
 gathering with people from multiple households.&nbsp;

And
 everyone, regardless of vaccination status, is still urged to refrain 
from large gatherings or non-essential travel. The guidance against 
travel is likely to come into conflict with the new recommendations on 
socializing after receiving a vaccine, with many agitating to travel to 
see family members in other states after a year of separation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“As
 more people get vaccinated, levels of COVID-19 infection decline in 
communities, and as our understanding of COVID immunity improves, we 
look forward to updating these recommendations,” Walensky said.

The
 guidelines come against a backdrop in which U.S. infections and 
hospitalizations are dropping, but not yet far enough to diminish the 
high rates of transmission in most communities. New variants of the 
virus also continue to circulate, yet some states have begun to lift 
restrictions on mask-wearing and business capacity.

The
 pace of COVID-19 vaccinations through the three federally authorized 
shots has picked up to more than 2 million doses per day, with 59 
million individuals having received at least one dose and 31 million now
 fully vaccinated.

Being
 “fully vaccinated” under the CDC’s definition means those who are at 
least two weeks past receiving the one-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson 
vaccine or the second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna shots.

People
 who are fully vaccinated are now advised that they do not need to 
quarantine or seek a COVID-19 test if they are exposed to the virus, as 
long as they do not have symptoms of infection.

Laura Olson covers the nation's capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom, a network of nonprofit outlets that includes Kansas Reflector. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections, and campaign finance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615235292299.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By LAURA OLSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/08/cdc-its-ok-for-vaccinated-grandparents-to-visit-family-if-no-risk-for-severe-disease/">Kansas Reflector</a>WASHINGTON
 — People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely socialize
 inside with other vaccinated individuals without wearing masks or 
maintaining distance, federal health officials advised Monday in their 
first formal guidance for vaccinated Americans.Perhaps more critically at a time when more than 90% of Americans are still waiting to be fully vaccinated, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines</a>
 also detail one scenario in which public health officials suggest it’s 
safe for those who are fully vaccinated to gather with those who are 
not.Vaccinated
 individuals can gather with one other household that includes people 
who have not been vaccinated, as long as none of those lacking vaccines 
are at high risk for complications from COVID-19, officials said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615235345027.jpeg" alt="Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provided guidance Monday for interactions with family who have been vaccinated. (Lauren Bishop/CDC)" />
 <figcaption>Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provided guidance Monday for interactions with family who have been vaccinated. (Lauren Bishop/CDC)</figcaption>
 </figure>“If
 grandparents have been vaccinated, they can visit their daughter and 
her family, even if they have not been vaccinated, so long as the 
daughter and her family are not at risk for severe disease,” CDC 
director Rochelle Walensky said during a news conference.Walensky
 added that if any of those unvaccinated are at high risk, everyone — 
including those with vaccines — should still wear a mask, physically 
distance and gather outside or in a well-ventilated space.The
 new recommendations offer a glimmer of hope just days before March 11, 
which will mark one year since the World Health Organization declared a 
pandemic and the country began to lock down in response to the COVID-19 
outbreak. President Joe Biden is set to give his first primetime address
 Thursday evening to commemorate that anniversary.&nbsp;Biden
 also will meet with officials from two vaccine manufacturers, Johnson 
&amp; Johnson and Merck, at the White House on Wednesday, according to 
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. He had been scheduled to travel 
to Baltimore to meet with them at Emergent BioSolutions, which produces 
the drug substance for the J&amp;J vaccine.But
 as health officials detailed scenarios in which vaccinated individuals 
can begin to return to a semblance of normal life, they still urged 
caution, citing insufficient data about whether vaccinated individuals 
can transmit the virus.&nbsp;Those
 who are vaccinated are urged to continue taking safety precautions — 
including wearing masks, socially distancing, and gathering outside — if
 gathering with people from multiple households.&nbsp;And
 everyone, regardless of vaccination status, is still urged to refrain 
from large gatherings or non-essential travel. The guidance against 
travel is likely to come into conflict with the new recommendations on 
socializing after receiving a vaccine, with many agitating to travel to 
see family members in other states after a year of separation.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As
 more people get vaccinated, levels of COVID-19 infection decline in 
communities, and as our understanding of COVID immunity improves, we 
look forward to updating these recommendations,” Walensky said.The
 guidelines come against a backdrop in which U.S. infections and 
hospitalizations are dropping, but not yet far enough to diminish the 
high rates of transmission in most communities. New variants of the 
virus also continue to circulate, yet some states have begun to lift 
restrictions on mask-wearing and business capacity.The
 pace of COVID-19 vaccinations through the three federally authorized 
shots has picked up to more than 2 million doses per day, with 59 
million individuals having received at least one dose and 31 million now
 fully vaccinated.Being
 “fully vaccinated” under the CDC’s definition means those who are at 
least two weeks past receiving the one-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson 
vaccine or the second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna shots.People
 who are fully vaccinated are now advised that they do not need to 
quarantine or seek a COVID-19 test if they are exposed to the virus, as 
long as they do not have symptoms of infection.Laura Olson covers the nation's capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom, a network of nonprofit outlets that includes Kansas Reflector. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections, and campaign finance.

CDC OKs vaccinated grandparents to visit family if no risk for severe disease

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


HUTCHINSON — 
Once the Kansas House returns from the turnaround break this week, 
discussions will begin on an education bill that has rolled together 
most of the major issues for K-12 into one piece of business.

"The
 bill now includes the budget or the funding for the Department of 
Education, which is all the aid to local school districts, so it's the 
funding," said Mark Tallman with the Kansas Association of School 
Boards. "It also extends the state mill levy, which is part of the way 
schools are funded. That has to be done every two years. Then, it 
contains two new provisions dealing with private school aid, which has 
been a big topic this session. Finally, there's provisions dealing with 
remote learning. Of course, the whole issue of how schools have dealt 
with the pandemic has been a big topic."

The question that still needs to be resolved is whether putting so much legislation together gains overall votes or loses them.

"It's
 always an issue in legislative strategy, do you put a lot of things 
together in hope that parts of it are popular enough to get enough votes
 to maybe get some things not as popular, or, if you put too much in 
one, does it just sink the whole thing?," asked Tallman.

There is 
still the floor amendment process to go through in the House, plus any 
adjustments the Kansas Senate might choose to make.

"When you 
throw in the hurdle of getting what the Governor would agree to, what 
she would sign and the fact that there could be a majority of 
legislators that say, we've got to pass a budget," Tallman said. "The 
deadline may be, will a majority of legislators kind of want these other
 pieces to pass a budget, even though there might not be two-thirds 
support to do that. We could be a long way from resolving this."

The specifics on when the education budget bill might be on the floor have not been released as of Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582221969260.jpeg" alt="Mark Tallman, Kansas Association of School Boards" />
 <figcaption>Mark Tallman, Kansas Association of School Boards</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com/">Hutch Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — 
Once the Kansas House returns from the turnaround break this week, 
discussions will begin on an education bill that has rolled together 
most of the major issues for K-12 into one piece of business."The
 bill now includes the budget or the funding for the Department of 
Education, which is all the aid to local school districts, so it's the 
funding," said Mark Tallman with the Kansas Association of School 
Boards. "It also extends the state mill levy, which is part of the way 
schools are funded. That has to be done every two years. Then, it 
contains two new provisions dealing with private school aid, which has 
been a big topic this session. Finally, there's provisions dealing with 
remote learning. Of course, the whole issue of how schools have dealt 
with the pandemic has been a big topic."The question that still needs to be resolved is whether putting so much legislation together gains overall votes or loses them."It's
 always an issue in legislative strategy, do you put a lot of things 
together in hope that parts of it are popular enough to get enough votes
 to maybe get some things not as popular, or, if you put too much in 
one, does it just sink the whole thing?," asked Tallman.There is 
still the floor amendment process to go through in the House, plus any 
adjustments the Kansas Senate might choose to make."When you 
throw in the hurdle of getting what the Governor would agree to, what 
she would sign and the fact that there could be a majority of 
legislators that say, we've got to pass a budget," Tallman said. "The 
deadline may be, will a majority of legislators kind of want these other
 pieces to pass a budget, even though there might not be two-thirds 
support to do that. We could be a long way from resolving this."The specifics on when the education budget bill might be on the floor have not been released as of Monday.

Tallman: Many education issues rolled into one Kan. House bill

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a sexual assault have made an arrest.

Just after 10:00 a.m. March 4, police were dispatched to report of a sexual assault&nbsp; that occurred at 1500 block of West Pawnee in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 21-year-old female victim who reported an unknown suspect knocking on her front door. When the victim opened the door, the suspect produced a knife and forced his way into the residence, and sexually assaulted her. The victims left the residence and called 911 for help. The suspect was described as a black, male, 5-foot-10 inches tall, approximately 200 pounds and bald.

On Sunday police located and arrested 38-year-old Antonio Riley from Oklahoma, according to police Lt. Christian Cory. He is being held on requested charges of rape, aggravated burglary, criminal sodomy, kidnapping, drug charges and an active warrant.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a sexual assault case and asking the public for help to find a suspect.

Just after 10:00 a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to report of a sexual assault&nbsp; that occurred at 1500 block of West Pawnee in Wichita, according to officer&nbsp; Paul Cruz.

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 21-year-old female victim who reported an unknown suspect knocking on her front door. When the victim opened the door, the suspect produced a knife and forced his way into the residence, and sexually assaulted her. The victims left the residence and called 911 for help.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614980294892.png" alt="Home video surveillance of the suspect&nbsp; -Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Home video surveillance of the suspect&nbsp; -Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a sexual assault have made an arrest.Just after 10:00 a.m. March 4, police were dispatched to report of a sexual assault&nbsp; that occurred at 1500 block of West Pawnee in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615214618758.png" alt="Riley photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Riley photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon arrival, officers contacted a 21-year-old female victim who reported an unknown suspect knocking on her front door. When the victim opened the door, the suspect produced a knife and forced his way into the residence, and sexually assaulted her. The victims left the residence and called 911 for help. The suspect was described as a black, male, 5-foot-10 inches tall, approximately 200 pounds and bald.On Sunday police located and arrested 38-year-old Antonio Riley from Oklahoma, according to police Lt. Christian Cory. He is being held on requested charges of rape, aggravated burglary, criminal sodomy, kidnapping, drug charges and an active warrant.--------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a sexual assault case and asking the public for help to find a suspect.Just after 10:00 a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to report of a sexual assault&nbsp; that occurred at 1500 block of West Pawnee in Wichita, according to officer&nbsp; Paul Cruz.Upon arrival, officers contacted a 21-year-old female victim who reported an unknown suspect knocking on her front door. When the victim opened the door, the suspect produced a knife and forced his way into the residence, and sexually assaulted her. The victims left the residence and called 911 for help.

Police arrest Kansas rape suspect seen on doorbell camera

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting have identified the victim as&nbsp; Victor Cabrera, 32, of Garden City. 

Just before 7:00 p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to 1404 W. Fulton Street Apt. 4, in Garden City after report of a man shot in the head, according to Sgt. Lana Urteaga.

At the scene, police located the Cabrera and Finney County EMS transported him&nbsp; St. Catherine Hospital. He was later flown to Via Christi Hospital in Wichita where he died.

The Garden City Police Department is requesting assistance from the community. If you witnessed this incident, or have information related to this incident, you should call the Garden City Police Department.

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting have identified the victim as&nbsp; Victor Cabrera, 32, of Garden City. Just before 7:00 p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to 1404 W. Fulton Street Apt. 4, in Garden City after report of a man shot in the head, according to Sgt. Lana Urteaga.At the scene, police located the Cabrera and Finney County EMS transported him&nbsp; St. Catherine Hospital. He was later flown to Via Christi Hospital in Wichita where he died.The Garden City Police Department is requesting assistance from the community. If you witnessed this incident, or have information related to this incident, you should call the Garden City Police Department.

SW Kan. shooting victim air-lifted to hospital has died

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend crash have identified the victim as Michael Brown, 65, of Wichita.

Just before 8p.m. Sunday a&nbsp;2010 Ford Focus driven by Brown was southbound in the 4100 Block of South Hydraulic in Wichita. The car crossed the center line and struck a&nbsp; 2018 Kia Soul driven by a 28-year-old woman head-on, according to officer Paul Cruz.

EMS transported Brown to a local hospital where he died. The 28-year-old woman was not transported for treatment. Police are still investigating the cause of the accident. This is the ninth fatal accident in Wichita in 2021, according to Cruz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615233677422.png" alt="Police on the scene of the fatal head-on crash /photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the fatal head-on crash /photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend crash have identified the victim as Michael Brown, 65, of Wichita.Just before 8p.m. Sunday a&nbsp;2010 Ford Focus driven by Brown was southbound in the 4100 Block of South Hydraulic in Wichita. The car crossed the center line and struck a&nbsp; 2018 Kia Soul driven by a 28-year-old woman head-on, according to officer Paul Cruz.EMS transported Brown to a local hospital where he died. The 28-year-old woman was not transported for treatment. Police are still investigating the cause of the accident. This is the ninth fatal accident in Wichita in 2021, according to Cruz.

Police ID Kansas man who died in head-on crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is rethinking Trump administration policies that weakened how colleges and universities that get federal dollars handle sexual assault accusations on campus, according to administration officials.

Biden is set to sign an executive order on Monday directing the Department of Education to review policies implemented by Donald Trump’s administration, including changes to Title IX regulations that prohibit sex discrimination in federally funded institutions.

The new president focused on gender equity during his campaign and promised to strengthen Title IX if he won the White House. He also will sign a second executive order formally establishing the White House Gender Policy Council, according to two administration officials who briefed reporters on the plan. Biden’s transition team announced his plans to create the council before he took office.

The order directing the review of Title IX could pave the way to a major shift in how colleges handle allegations of sexual misconduct moving forward.

Trump’s education secretary,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-betsy-devos-coronavirus-pandemic-education-9bac8880e7c7164473674c0bc02365d5">Betsy DeVos</a>, in 2018 rescinded an Obama-era administration standard in cases of reported sexual assault from requiring a “preponderance of evidence” — meaning it is more likely than not that sexual harassment or violence occurred — to “clear and convincing evidence.”

The DeVos changes reduced the liability of colleges and universities for investigating sexual misconduct claims and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f489490cb06c0ac02e6c586be9abc5f1">bolstered the due process rights of the accused</a>, including the right to cross-examine their accusers through a third-party advocate at campus hearings.

Biden, as vice president, along with then-Education Secretary Arne Duncan in 2011&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/vice-president-biden-announces-new-administration-effort-help-nations-schools-ad" target="_blank">laid out the legal guidance</a>&nbsp;of what was expected of college campuses in response to allegations of sexual violence on behalf of President Barack Obama’s administration.

With the Education Department review, Biden’s intent is to set policies that help ensure students have an environment that’s free from sexual harassment and without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, according to one White House official who briefed reporters on the orders.

The order establishing the Gender Policy Council comes after Trump disbanded an office specifically focused on women’s issues created during the Obama administration that was called the White House Council on Women and Girls.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615204180481.png" alt="President Biden during comments on Sunday-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden during comments on Sunday-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is rethinking Trump administration policies that weakened how colleges and universities that get federal dollars handle sexual assault accusations on campus, according to administration officials.Biden is set to sign an executive order on Monday directing the Department of Education to review policies implemented by Donald Trump’s administration, including changes to Title IX regulations that prohibit sex discrimination in federally funded institutions.The new president focused on gender equity during his campaign and promised to strengthen Title IX if he won the White House. He also will sign a second executive order formally establishing the White House Gender Policy Council, according to two administration officials who briefed reporters on the plan. Biden’s transition team announced his plans to create the council before he took office.The order directing the review of Title IX could pave the way to a major shift in how colleges handle allegations of sexual misconduct moving forward.Trump’s education secretary,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-betsy-devos-coronavirus-pandemic-education-9bac8880e7c7164473674c0bc02365d5">Betsy DeVos</a>, in 2018 rescinded an Obama-era administration standard in cases of reported sexual assault from requiring a “preponderance of evidence” — meaning it is more likely than not that sexual harassment or violence occurred — to “clear and convincing evidence.”The DeVos changes reduced the liability of colleges and universities for investigating sexual misconduct claims and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f489490cb06c0ac02e6c586be9abc5f1">bolstered the due process rights of the accused</a>, including the right to cross-examine their accusers through a third-party advocate at campus hearings.Biden, as vice president, along with then-Education Secretary Arne Duncan in 2011&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/vice-president-biden-announces-new-administration-effort-help-nations-schools-ad" target="_blank">laid out the legal guidance</a>&nbsp;of what was expected of college campuses in response to allegations of sexual violence on behalf of President Barack Obama’s administration.With the Education Department review, Biden’s intent is to set policies that help ensure students have an environment that’s free from sexual harassment and without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, according to one White House official who briefed reporters on the orders.The order establishing the Gender Policy Council comes after Trump disbanded an office specifically focused on women’s issues created during the Obama administration that was called the White House Council on Women and Girls.

Biden order could change how colleges handle sex misconduct

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 590 to a total of 296,451, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4,816, an increase of 4.

<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 590 to a total of 296,451, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 4,816, an increase of 4.<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/2021/3/1615226577323.png" alt="Monday March 8, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday March 8, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

HARVEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged aggravated kidnapping and other possible charges after a traffic stop in Harvey County.

Just before 7:30a.m Monday, dispatchers advised that a female caller reported&nbsp; she had been beaten and was being kidnapped by a man in a stolen vehicle, according to a media release.

Officers from the Harvey County Sheriff's Office, Newton police and Hesston police stopped the vehicle at Casey's on Lincoln Blvd in Hesston. Officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop, which involves officers displaying their weapons to maintain safety for all parties involved.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The occupants of the vehicle complied and officers arrested the male driver and booked him into the Harvey County Detention Center on requested charges including Aggravated Kidnapping and Domestic Battery. The suspect and victim were acquaintances. Authorities have not released the name of the suspect.&nbsp; Deputies also discovered the vehicle&nbsp; had an altered VIN and was previously reported as stolen.&nbsp;&nbsp;

HARVEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged aggravated kidnapping and other possible charges after a traffic stop in Harvey County.Just before 7:30a.m Monday, dispatchers advised that a female caller reported&nbsp; she had been beaten and was being kidnapped by a man in a stolen vehicle, according to a media release.Officers from the Harvey County Sheriff's Office, Newton police and Hesston police stopped the vehicle at Casey's on Lincoln Blvd in Hesston. Officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop, which involves officers displaying their weapons to maintain safety for all parties involved.&nbsp;&nbsp;The occupants of the vehicle complied and officers arrested the male driver and booked him into the Harvey County Detention Center on requested charges including Aggravated Kidnapping and Domestic Battery. The suspect and victim were acquaintances. Authorities have not released the name of the suspect.&nbsp; Deputies also discovered the vehicle&nbsp; had an altered VIN and was previously reported as stolen.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police make high risk traffic stop to catch Kan. kidnapping suspect

SALINE COUNTY —A controlled burn got away from a Saline County landowner early Saturday afternoon and spread to adjacent property, forcing four rural fire districts to respond, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

Just after noon Saturday, 52-year-old Jeffrey Benson was burning grass around his pond in the 3600 block of South Crest Lane when the fire got away from him.

The fire quickly spread north onto a neighbor's the property where it&nbsp; melted part of a fence. The estimated damage to the fence is $2,600, according to Soldan.

The fire continued north and past the 2700 block of South Burma Road before it was extinguished. Saline County Rural Fire Districts 2, 3, 6 and 7 responded to the blaze. There were no injuries reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615220577969.jpeg" alt="Four rural fire districts responded to a Saturday grass fire in Saline County-photo Saline Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Four rural fire districts responded to a Saturday grass fire in Saline County-photo Saline Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —A controlled burn got away from a Saline County landowner early Saturday afternoon and spread to adjacent property, forcing four rural fire districts to respond, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.Just after noon Saturday, 52-year-old Jeffrey Benson was burning grass around his pond in the 3600 block of South Crest Lane when the fire got away from him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615220723875.jpeg" alt="Fire damaged fence -photo Saline County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Fire damaged fence -photo Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>The fire quickly spread north onto a neighbor's the property where it&nbsp; melted part of a fence. The estimated damage to the fence is $2,600, according to Soldan.The fire continued north and past the 2700 block of South Burma Road before it was extinguished. Saline County Rural Fire Districts 2, 3, 6 and 7 responded to the blaze. There were no injuries reported.

Kan. man's out-of-control fire burns neighbor's fence 

TOPEKA —A Kansas teen has been indicted and arrested on federal charges of&nbsp; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, according to the United State's Attorney.

Jeremiah M. Guesby, 18, of Topeka, is scheduled for his first court appearance on the charges Monday.

The crimes on both are punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine not to exceed $250,000.00 or both and a term of supervised release of at least two years, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615124162801.png" alt="Guesby-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Guesby-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —A Kansas teen has been indicted and arrested on federal charges of&nbsp; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, according to the United State's Attorney.Jeremiah M. Guesby, 18, of Topeka, is scheduled for his first court appearance on the charges Monday.The crimes on both are punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine not to exceed $250,000.00 or both and a term of supervised release of at least two years, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Kansas teen faces federal drug trafficking charges

By SCOTT CARLSON <a href="https://northplattepost.com">North Platte Post</a>

CUSTER COUNTY, Neb. — Authorities in Custer County say one man is dead following a plane crash Saturday.

According
 to a news release from the Custer County Sheriff's Office, on March 6, 
at around 1:09 p.m, the Sheriff's office received a report that a plane 
had left the Mason City, Neb., area at around 6:30 a.m. Saturday en 
route for Holyoke, Colo., but was overdue.

At around 4:37 p.m.,
 authorities received a report from the Civil Air Patrol that a small 
single-engine plane had crashed in a pasture approximately 7 miles 
southwest of Ansley, Neb.

Deputies along with the Nebraska 
State Patrol, Ansley Fire and Rescue, Mason City Fire and Rescue, and 
Broken Bow Fire and Rescue all responded to the scene.

Upon 
arrival, deputies reported finding the plane completely destroyed, and 
the pilot, identified as Keith A. Walker, 74, of Mason City, was 
deceased. Walker was the lone occupant of the aircraft.

The investigation into the crash has been turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board and is ongoing at this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615208126508.png" alt="Google maps" />
 <figcaption>Google maps</figcaption>
 </figure>By SCOTT CARLSON <a href="https://northplattepost.com">North Platte Post</a>CUSTER COUNTY, Neb. — Authorities in Custer County say one man is dead following a plane crash Saturday.According
 to a news release from the Custer County Sheriff's Office, on March 6, 
at around 1:09 p.m, the Sheriff's office received a report that a plane 
had left the Mason City, Neb., area at around 6:30 a.m. Saturday en 
route for Holyoke, Colo., but was overdue.At around 4:37 p.m.,
 authorities received a report from the Civil Air Patrol that a small 
single-engine plane had crashed in a pasture approximately 7 miles 
southwest of Ansley, Neb.Deputies along with the Nebraska 
State Patrol, Ansley Fire and Rescue, Mason City Fire and Rescue, and 
Broken Bow Fire and Rescue all responded to the scene.Upon 
arrival, deputies reported finding the plane completely destroyed, and 
the pilot, identified as Keith A. Walker, 74, of Mason City, was 
deceased. Walker was the lone occupant of the aircraft.The investigation into the crash has been turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board and is ongoing at this time.

One dead after plane crash in central Nebraska

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Much of Kansas will likely see higher electric bills as a result of February’s deep freeze, but utility customers in the Kansas City area could get refunds.

The difference has to do with how two different divisions of utility giant Evergy fared during the brutal cold.

The company’s Kansas Central division had to spend an additional $100 million to buy power. Meanwhile, Evergy’s Metro Division that serves the Kansas City area was able to generate $60 million in extra revenue because it was able to generate surplus power and sell it to other utilities.

State regulations say both the extra costs Evergy’s Kansas unit incurred and the extra revenue the Metro unit generated must eventually be passed on to customers.

Company spokeswoman Gina Penzig said the differences have to do with the type of power plants in each division.

“The costs and credits related to the extreme cold event are a result of the differences in each area’s available mix of power plants and fuel requirements alongside having enough power to meet customers’ needs,” Penzig said in an e mail.

Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said he was surprised the freeze would wind up costing one set of Evergy customers and benefiting another. He suggested the Legislature should consider requiring Evergy’s two divisions to merge. The Kansas Corporation Commission plans to investigate the situation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613601077409.png" alt="During a news conference February 17, Andrew French, Chairman of the Kansas Corporation Commission said energy usage in the region was lower than forecast. "That tells me our conservation measures by businesses and residents in Kansas are making a difference."" />
 <figcaption>During a news conference February 17, Andrew French, Chairman of the Kansas Corporation Commission said energy usage in the region was lower than forecast. "That tells me our conservation measures by businesses and residents in Kansas are making a difference."</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Much of Kansas will likely see higher electric bills as a result of February’s deep freeze, but utility customers in the Kansas City area could get refunds.The difference has to do with how two different divisions of utility giant Evergy fared during the brutal cold.The company’s Kansas Central division had to spend an additional $100 million to buy power. Meanwhile, Evergy’s Metro Division that serves the Kansas City area was able to generate $60 million in extra revenue because it was able to generate surplus power and sell it to other utilities.State regulations say both the extra costs Evergy’s Kansas unit incurred and the extra revenue the Metro unit generated must eventually be passed on to customers.Company spokeswoman Gina Penzig said the differences have to do with the type of power plants in each division.“The costs and credits related to the extreme cold event are a result of the differences in each area’s available mix of power plants and fuel requirements alongside having enough power to meet customers’ needs,” Penzig said in an e mail.Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said he was surprised the freeze would wind up costing one set of Evergy customers and benefiting another. He suggested the Legislature should consider requiring Evergy’s two divisions to merge. The Kansas Corporation Commission plans to investigate the situation.

Deep freeze to affect Kansas utility customers differently

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two men died and a third man was critically wounded after a shooting in Kansas City.

Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the shooting was reported around 8:45 p.m. Saturday after a fender bender crash. Becchina said a large disturbance after the crash led to the gunfire.

Officers from the Kansas City Police Department found two men who had been shot unresponsive in front of a home near East 51st Street and Agnes Avenue. A third man was found with gunshot wounds just north of the two men who died. The third man was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Becchina said investigators are working to determine what led to the shooting and to identify the victims.

The two deaths were the 27th and 28th homicides of the year in Kansas City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615202460088.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two men died and a third man was critically wounded after a shooting in Kansas City.Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said the shooting was reported around 8:45 p.m. Saturday after a fender bender crash. Becchina said a large disturbance after the crash led to the gunfire.Officers from the Kansas City Police Department found two men who had been shot unresponsive in front of a home near East 51st Street and Agnes Avenue. A third man was found with gunshot wounds just north of the two men who died. The third man was taken to a hospital in critical condition.Becchina said investigators are working to determine what led to the shooting and to identify the victims.The two deaths were the 27th and 28th homicides of the year in Kansas City.

3 shot, 2 die after dispute over fender bender in Kansas City

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the theft of a vehicle from a local car dealer and have made an arrest.

On March 1, a car dealer in Hiawatha reported that a 2020 Ford Escape was taken from their lot, according to, Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Just after 10:30p.m. March 5, an officer spotted a 2020 blue Ford Escape traveling on North 4th Street in Atchison.

&nbsp;Officers stopped the vehicle and took 42-year-old Nicholas Norton into custody. Police took Norton to the county jail on requested charges of possession of stolen property. He has previous convictions for theft and burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614957945319.png" alt="Norton has previous 3 convictions for theft, for burglary and criminal possession of a firearm, according to the Kansas Dept. of Correctons." />
 <figcaption>Norton has previous 3 convictions for theft, for burglary and criminal possession of a firearm, according to the Kansas Dept. of Correctons.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the theft of a vehicle from a local car dealer and have made an arrest.On March 1, a car dealer in Hiawatha reported that a 2020 Ford Escape was taken from their lot, according to, Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.Just after 10:30p.m. March 5, an officer spotted a 2020 blue Ford Escape traveling on North 4th Street in Atchison.&nbsp;Officers stopped the vehicle and took 42-year-old Nicholas Norton into custody. Police took Norton to the county jail on requested charges of possession of stolen property. He has previous convictions for theft and burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Police arrest suspect driving new car stolen from Kan. dealership

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — More than a year after two U.S. Department of Agriculture research agencies were moved from the nation’s capital to Kansas City forcing a mass exodus of employees who couldn’t or didn’t want to move halfway across the country, they remain critically understaffed and some farmers are less confident in the work they produce.

The decision to move the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in September 2019 was pitched as putting them closer to farmers in the nation’s breadbasket, though much of their work involves advising members of Congress back in Washington. After the relocation was announced, President Donald Trump’s chief of staff at the time, Mick Mulvaney, joked that moving the jobs to Kansas City was also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9f3b4c70d47e4bdf92816c5f170b29f6">“a wonderful way to streamline government.”</a>

Tom Vilsack inherited a demoralized workforce at the two agencies when he took over as secretary of agriculture under President Joe Biden. With 235 vacancies between them, the agencies continued to hire during the pandemic and administration change, but they are putting out work that is smaller in scope and less frequent, causing some farmers to look elsewhere for data they rely on to run their operations.

Among them is Vance Ehmke, who said that since the USDA relocations occurred, he has been paying a lot more attention to private market analysis and what private grain companies are doing. The information feeds his decisions on everything from whether to buy more land or a new tractor to whether to build more grain bins.

“Here, when we need really good, hard information, you are really starting to question groups like USDA, which before that had a sterling reputation,” Ehmke said recently. “But out in the country, people are worried about how good the information is now because those groups are operating at half capacity.”

The relocation hollowed out years of specialized experience and delayed or scuttled some of the agencies’ research and other work. Hiring at the Kansas City site remains well below the roughly 550&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4f29da28ecd746169ded179859c02eca">high-paying jobs</a>&nbsp;local leaders had anticipated.

Farmers rely on the research to make decisions on a wide range of topics, from rural community planning to farming with climate change and volatile weather conditions, said Aaron Lehman, a farmer who is president of the Iowa Farmers Union.

The ERS examines issues including the rural economy, international trade, food safety and programs that provide food assistance to poor Americans. NIFA, meanwhile, provides grants for agricultural research and other farm services.

“It has gone in the wrong direction in general in terms of accuracy now,” said Adrian Polansky, a farmer and former executive director of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency office in Kansas during the Obama administration. “Whether that was for sure based on that transition or whether it was the leadership in the department in terms of what the political goals may have been, I am not exactly sure. But it seems like there was less reliability.”

Polansky said he looks to commercial sources of agricultural information to corroborate USDA data more often now than he did in the past. He said that even after the agencies fill their openings, it will take time to “become fully impactful” because research is a long-term endeavor.

“When you lose significant staff and significant institutional knowledge, there is just not a way that can’t impact the product and information from USDA,” he said.

Dan O’Brien, a grain market specialist at Kansas State University Research and Extension, acknowledged that farmers have increasingly been questioning the reliability of the government’s agricultural data over the past few years. However, he said those frustrations have dealt more with reports published by other USDA agencies, and that some farmers may be confusing them.

Laura Dodson, the union representative for ERS employees, said the relocation will affect the agency for another five years. It hasn’t affected the accuracy of its reports, but it has reduced their scope and frequency.

Dozens of ERS reports have either come out late or not at all, including reports on the organic food sector, antibiotic use in animal production, and hired farm workers and labor markets, among others, Dodson said. For example, a two-year research project on pollinators such as honeybees was shelved because the entire team working on it left the agency rather than move to Kansas City.

ERS published 37 reports in 2018, compared to 11 last year, Dodson said. Those figures don’t include its monthly crop price and analysis reports, which have remained fairly steady despite the relocation and the pandemic. Agency employees also published 100 articles in academic journals related to their fields of study in 2018, but just 64 in 2020.

“We help make sure that food is produced safely, timely and responds to changes in the marketplace and changes to environmental sector,” she said. “And so if those become less effective because they are not being informed by good data and research, that will translate directly to how Americans receive their food.”

Matt Herrick, a USDA spokesman, said in an email that he couldn’t speak to the volume and variety of ERS reports and research under the Trump administration. “However, when you lose more than half of your expert workforce, there is bound to be a noticeable effect,” he added, noting that the USDA is focused on restoring employee confidence and morale.

When former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5d5c86204a4d4d6c84431488b19c5fea">Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue</a>&nbsp;toured the new Kansas City headquarters in November 2019, he predicted the agencies would be fully staffed by the first quarter of 2020. That didn’t happen.

In October 2016 — before Trump’s first year in office — ERS had 318 permanent employees, according to USDA data. By October 2019 — just a month after the move — its workforce had shrunk to 164. As of late January 2021, it had 219 employees, including 67 still based in Washington.

The same trend played out at NIFA, which had 320 employees in October 2016. In October 2019, it was down to 112 workers, though it rebounded somewhat to 218 by late January, including 16 based in Washington.

“Best I can tell, they were putting out information that Trump really did not like hearing, like global climate change and things like that,” Ehmke said. “And here in the United States, what we do with groups like that — we can’t send them to Siberia, so we send them to Kansas City.”

By ROXANA HEGEMANBELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — More than a year after two U.S. Department of Agriculture research agencies were moved from the nation’s capital to Kansas City forcing a mass exodus of employees who couldn’t or didn’t want to move halfway across the country, they remain critically understaffed and some farmers are less confident in the work they produce.The decision to move the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in September 2019 was pitched as putting them closer to farmers in the nation’s breadbasket, though much of their work involves advising members of Congress back in Washington. After the relocation was announced, President Donald Trump’s chief of staff at the time, Mick Mulvaney, joked that moving the jobs to Kansas City was also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9f3b4c70d47e4bdf92816c5f170b29f6">“a wonderful way to streamline government.”</a>Tom Vilsack inherited a demoralized workforce at the two agencies when he took over as secretary of agriculture under President Joe Biden. With 235 vacancies between them, the agencies continued to hire during the pandemic and administration change, but they are putting out work that is smaller in scope and less frequent, causing some farmers to look elsewhere for data they rely on to run their operations.Among them is Vance Ehmke, who said that since the USDA relocations occurred, he has been paying a lot more attention to private market analysis and what private grain companies are doing. The information feeds his decisions on everything from whether to buy more land or a new tractor to whether to build more grain bins.“Here, when we need really good, hard information, you are really starting to question groups like USDA, which before that had a sterling reputation,” Ehmke said recently. “But out in the country, people are worried about how good the information is now because those groups are operating at half capacity.”The relocation hollowed out years of specialized experience and delayed or scuttled some of the agencies’ research and other work. Hiring at the Kansas City site remains well below the roughly 550&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4f29da28ecd746169ded179859c02eca">high-paying jobs</a>&nbsp;local leaders had anticipated.Farmers rely on the research to make decisions on a wide range of topics, from rural community planning to farming with climate change and volatile weather conditions, said Aaron Lehman, a farmer who is president of the Iowa Farmers Union.ADVERTISEMENTThe ERS examines issues including the rural economy, international trade, food safety and programs that provide food assistance to poor Americans. NIFA, meanwhile, provides grants for agricultural research and other farm services.“It has gone in the wrong direction in general in terms of accuracy now,” said Adrian Polansky, a farmer and former executive director of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency office in Kansas during the Obama administration. “Whether that was for sure based on that transition or whether it was the leadership in the department in terms of what the political goals may have been, I am not exactly sure. But it seems like there was less reliability.”Polansky said he looks to commercial sources of agricultural information to corroborate USDA data more often now than he did in the past. He said that even after the agencies fill their openings, it will take time to “become fully impactful” because research is a long-term endeavor.“When you lose significant staff and significant institutional knowledge, there is just not a way that can’t impact the product and information from USDA,” he said.Dan O’Brien, a grain market specialist at Kansas State University Research and Extension, acknowledged that farmers have increasingly been questioning the reliability of the government’s agricultural data over the past few years. However, he said those frustrations have dealt more with reports published by other USDA agencies, and that some farmers may be confusing them.Laura Dodson, the union representative for ERS employees, said the relocation will affect the agency for another five years. It hasn’t affected the accuracy of its reports, but it has reduced their scope and frequency.Dozens of ERS reports have either come out late or not at all, including reports on the organic food sector, antibiotic use in animal production, and hired farm workers and labor markets, among others, Dodson said. For example, a two-year research project on pollinators such as honeybees was shelved because the entire team working on it left the agency rather than move to Kansas City.ERS published 37 reports in 2018, compared to 11 last year, Dodson said. Those figures don’t include its monthly crop price and analysis reports, which have remained fairly steady despite the relocation and the pandemic. Agency employees also published 100 articles in academic journals related to their fields of study in 2018, but just 64 in 2020.“We help make sure that food is produced safely, timely and responds to changes in the marketplace and changes to environmental sector,” she said. “And so if those become less effective because they are not being informed by good data and research, that will translate directly to how Americans receive their food.”Matt Herrick, a USDA spokesman, said in an email that he couldn’t speak to the volume and variety of ERS reports and research under the Trump administration. “However, when you lose more than half of your expert workforce, there is bound to be a noticeable effect,” he added, noting that the USDA is focused on restoring employee confidence and morale.When former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5d5c86204a4d4d6c84431488b19c5fea">Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue</a>&nbsp;toured the new Kansas City headquarters in November 2019, he predicted the agencies would be fully staffed by the first quarter of 2020. That didn’t happen.In October 2016 — before Trump’s first year in office — ERS had 318 permanent employees, according to USDA data. By October 2019 — just a month after the move — its workforce had shrunk to 164. As of late January 2021, it had 219 employees, including 67 still based in Washington.The same trend played out at NIFA, which had 320 employees in October 2016. In October 2019, it was down to 112 workers, though it rebounded somewhat to 218 by late January, including 16 based in Washington.“Best I can tell, they were putting out information that Trump really did not like hearing, like global climate change and things like that,” Ehmke said. “And here in the United States, what we do with groups like that — we can’t send them to Siberia, so we send them to Kansas City.”

USDA relocations to Kansas City curtail research, farmer confidence

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges following an arrest.&nbsp;

Just after 3:30 p.m. Friday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Ford Ranger pickup truck in the 100 block of NW Lyman Road, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer. 

During the investigation, deputies located a firearm, illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia. They also arrested the driver&nbsp;Sarah R. Chaplin, 38, of Topeka, and transported her to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that included possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, felon in possession of a firearmk criminal use of a weapon, illegal use of a telecommunication device and&nbsp;&nbsp;other drug violations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615124018889.png" alt="Chaplin photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Chaplin photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges following an arrest.&nbsp;Just after 3:30 p.m. Friday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Ford Ranger pickup truck in the 100 block of NW Lyman Road, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer. During the investigation, deputies located a firearm, illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia. They also arrested the driver&nbsp;Sarah R. Chaplin, 38, of Topeka, and transported her to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that included possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, felon in possession of a firearmk criminal use of a weapon, illegal use of a telecommunication device and&nbsp;&nbsp;other drug violations.

Kansas woman accused of distributing meth

RENO COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are looking for a parole absconder with a long history of crime.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615172430318.jpeg" alt="Walker has previous convictions for aggravated assault, theft, criminal damage to properly, criminal possession of a firearm, driving while suspended, obstruction, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, sale of drugs and other drug convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. -photo Reno Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Walker has previous convictions for aggravated assault, theft, criminal damage to properly, criminal possession of a firearm, driving while suspended, obstruction, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, sale of drugs and other drug convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. -photo Reno Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are looking for a parole absconder with a long history of crime.Reno County sheriff's deputies attempted tried to contact 32-year-old Justin Quaid Walker to serve an arrest warrant Saturday, according to a social media report.&nbsp; Walker made it to a vehicle and fled from the area, leading officers on a chase throughout the city. A woman was let out of the vehicle in the area of 10th and Severance and the pursuit was called off a short time later due to the amount of traffic in the city at the time. Walker wrecked the vehicle near 21st and Main and fled on foot.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Sheriff's Office also wants to identify the woman who was in the vehicle so they can talk to her.&nbsp;