JEWELL COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a 6-month old scam and have prosecuted one suspect.

On May 15, 2020, the Jewell County Sheriff's Office learned of of alleged scam in which three Nebraska men went to an elderly man's home in Randall, Kansas and convinced him to pay more than $18,000 for lightning protection services, according to a social media report from Jewell County Sheriff.

&nbsp;Investigators determined that 57-year-old Arthur Snook of Grand Island, Neb., was one of the men involved in the incident and he was taken into custody without incident.

On February 5, Snook pleaded no contest to two counts of felony conspiracy to commit mistreatment of a dependent adult and two counts of felony conspiracy to commit theft by deception, according to the sheriff's department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612783527459.png" alt="Arthur Snook, 57, Grand Island, Nebraska, has been in custody and accused of crimes in several Kansas county jails.- photo&nbsp; Republic Co." />
 <figcaption>Arthur Snook, 57, Grand Island, Nebraska, has been in custody and accused of crimes in several Kansas county jails.- photo&nbsp; Republic Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JEWELL COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a 6-month old scam and have prosecuted one suspect.On May 15, 2020, the Jewell County Sheriff's Office learned of of alleged scam in which three Nebraska men went to an elderly man's home in Randall, Kansas and convinced him to pay more than $18,000 for lightning protection services, according to a social media report from Jewell County Sheriff.&nbsp;Investigators determined that 57-year-old Arthur Snook of Grand Island, Neb., was one of the men involved in the incident and he was taken into custody without incident.On February 5, Snook pleaded no contest to two counts of felony conspiracy to commit mistreatment of a dependent adult and two counts of felony conspiracy to commit theft by deception, according to the sheriff's department.

Suspect admits to scam involving elderly Kansas man

HOLTON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who fatally shot his father while he was in bed has been sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison. 

Fifty-year-old Derrick Bohnenkemper, of Holton, was sentenced Friday in the death of his 73-year-old father, Gaylen Bohnenkemper at the family's home in 2018. He was also sentenced to three years of post-relief supervision and must register as a violent offender. 

Authorities say Derrick Bohnenkemper's mother called 911 and was able to escape from the home. Bohnenkemper barricaded himself inside the house for about five hours, and fired at officers before he was arrested. He pleaded no contest in December to second-degree murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612625220741.png" alt="Derrick Bohnenkemper photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Derrick Bohnenkemper photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>HOLTON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who fatally shot his father while he was in bed has been sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison. Fifty-year-old Derrick Bohnenkemper, of Holton, was sentenced Friday in the death of his 73-year-old father, Gaylen Bohnenkemper at the family's home in 2018. He was also sentenced to three years of post-relief supervision and must register as a violent offender. Authorities say Derrick Bohnenkemper's mother called 911 and was able to escape from the home. Bohnenkemper barricaded himself inside the house for about five hours, and fired at officers before he was arrested. He pleaded no contest in December to second-degree murder.

Kan. man fatally shot his father while he was sleeping

CHEROKEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after noon Sunday in Cherokee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Dodge Nitro driven by Pamela L. White, 54, Columbus, was westbound on NW Bethlehem Road six miles west of Kansas 7.

The vehicle&nbsp; went airborne while crossing railroad tracks traveled off the road to the south and struck a tree.

White was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. She was not wearing a seat belt according to the KHP.

CHEROKEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after noon Sunday in Cherokee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Dodge Nitro driven by Pamela L. White, 54, Columbus, was westbound on NW Bethlehem Road six miles west of Kansas 7.The vehicle&nbsp; went airborne while crossing railroad tracks traveled off the road to the south and struck a tree.White was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. She was not wearing a seat belt according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies after violent SUV crash

KANSAS CITY—A business owner has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to commit arson against a rival business as well as a residence, and for illegally possessing a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney.

William “Bill” Joseph Reneau, 44, of Overland Park, Kansas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Tuesday, Feb. 2, to six years and six months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Reneau to pay $167,085 in restitution to his victims.

On Aug. 5, 2020, Reneau pleaded guilty to one count of arson and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Reneau was the owner of Gold Rush Exchange, with locations on 40 Highway and 24 Highway in Independence.

Reneau admitted that he hired others to destroy an Independence residence and a business, Bobby Jackson’s Trading, a gold-buying business operated by a former employee of Reneau’s at 302 E. 23rd Street in Independence. Reneau hired others to damage Bobby Jackson’s Trading in July and August of 2017, then to burn the business as well as a residence owned by his wife’s ex-husband in August 2018.

Reneau also admitted that he kept a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun underneath a computer at The Gold Rush Exchange. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Reneau has prior felony convictions for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana, and for aiding and abetting money laundering.

Reneau paid co-defendant Randell Eugene Yeager Jr., 47, of Independence, Missouri, $800 to damage the Bobby Jackson’s Trading building. On July 17, 2017, Yeager drove a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee into the front of the business, backing into the building and colliding with the front door and the front business windows. The stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee was located later by the Independence Police Department, unoccupied and still running with evidence from the damaged building still attached to the vehicle. The damage was approximately $10,000.

On Aug. 4, 2017, Yeager set fire to Bobby Jackson’s Trading. During the investigation, investigators located what appeared to be containers that were used to bring gasoline to the business and set the fire near the front doors and windows. The fire caused approximately $5,000 dollars in damage to the exterior and interior of the business. Reneau paid Yeager $800 for setting the fire.

Yeager was sentenced on June 1, 2020, to five years and three months in federal prison without parole.

Reneau also paid $500 to another co-defendant to have an Independence residence, which was unoccupied, burned down on Aug. 13, 2018.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612453184519.png" alt="Reneau-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Reneau-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A business owner has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to commit arson against a rival business as well as a residence, and for illegally possessing a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney.William “Bill” Joseph Reneau, 44, of Overland Park, Kansas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Tuesday, Feb. 2, to six years and six months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Reneau to pay $167,085 in restitution to his victims.On Aug. 5, 2020, Reneau pleaded guilty to one count of arson and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Reneau was the owner of Gold Rush Exchange, with locations on 40 Highway and 24 Highway in Independence.Reneau admitted that he hired others to destroy an Independence residence and a business, Bobby Jackson’s Trading, a gold-buying business operated by a former employee of Reneau’s at 302 E. 23rd Street in Independence. Reneau hired others to damage Bobby Jackson’s Trading in July and August of 2017, then to burn the business as well as a residence owned by his wife’s ex-husband in August 2018.Reneau also admitted that he kept a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun underneath a computer at The Gold Rush Exchange. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Reneau has prior felony convictions for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana, and for aiding and abetting money laundering.Reneau paid co-defendant Randell Eugene Yeager Jr., 47, of Independence, Missouri, $800 to damage the Bobby Jackson’s Trading building. On July 17, 2017, Yeager drove a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee into the front of the business, backing into the building and colliding with the front door and the front business windows. The stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee was located later by the Independence Police Department, unoccupied and still running with evidence from the damaged building still attached to the vehicle. The damage was approximately $10,000.On Aug. 4, 2017, Yeager set fire to Bobby Jackson’s Trading. During the investigation, investigators located what appeared to be containers that were used to bring gasoline to the business and set the fire near the front doors and windows. The fire caused approximately $5,000 dollars in damage to the exterior and interior of the business. Reneau paid Yeager $800 for setting the fire.Yeager was sentenced on June 1, 2020, to five years and three months in federal prison without parole.Reneau also paid $500 to another co-defendant to have an Independence residence, which was unoccupied, burned down on Aug. 13, 2018.

Kan. man admits hiring man to burn down rival's business

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Three men avoided prison for hunting deer in areas of Fort Riley where explosives are discharged during training exercises, but they will each pay several thousand dollars in penalties. 

The men will also be banned from hunting for three years while they are on probation. The federal case involving several illegal hunts in 2018 and 2019 ended last week after the third man pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal trespassing charges as part of a deal with prosecutors. 

As part of their guilty pleas, the men admitted crawling under a high-wire fence that was clearly marked “off-limits” to gain access to the an area of the military base used for live-fire training.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Three men avoided prison for hunting deer in areas of Fort Riley where explosives are discharged during training exercises, but they will each pay several thousand dollars in penalties. The men will also be banned from hunting for three years while they are on probation. The federal case involving several illegal hunts in 2018 and 2019 ended last week after the third man pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal trespassing charges as part of a deal with prosecutors. As part of their guilty pleas, the men admitted crawling under a high-wire fence that was clearly marked “off-limits” to gain access to the an area of the military base used for live-fire training.

3 men to pay fines for hunting violations at Fort Riley

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects in connection with a home burglary.

Just after 6a.m. Jan. 4, a sheriff's&nbsp; sergeant patrolling northwest Shawnee County observed a red 2018 Chevrolet Colorado parked behind an abandoned residence in the 1700 block of NW Countryside Road, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Multiple units, including a K9 unit, arrived on scene to assist. The residence was cleared and two individuals were located inside.

Deputies arrested Lindsey L. Wabaunsee ,34, and Zane R. McHenry, 34, both of Topeka and transported to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning. 

After questioning, Wabaunsee and McHenry were taken to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of criminal damage to property and criminal trespass.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612473457408.png" alt="McHenry photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>McHenry photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects in connection with a home burglary.Just after 6a.m. Jan. 4, a sheriff's&nbsp; sergeant patrolling northwest Shawnee County observed a red 2018 Chevrolet Colorado parked behind an abandoned residence in the 1700 block of NW Countryside Road, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.Multiple units, including a K9 unit, arrived on scene to assist. The residence was cleared and two individuals were located inside.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612473377346.png" alt="Wabaunsee-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Wabaunsee-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies arrested Lindsey L. Wabaunsee ,34, and Zane R. McHenry, 34, both of Topeka and transported to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning. After questioning, Wabaunsee and McHenry were taken to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of criminal damage to property and criminal trespass.

Deputies catch 2 suspects hiding in abandoned Kan. home

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — After only their first few weeks of work, tensions already are high among lawmakers meeting in-person at some state capitols — not because of testy debates over taxes, guns or abortion, but because of a disregard for coronavirus precautions.

In Georgia, a Republican lawmaker recently was booted from the House floor for refusing to get tested for the coronavirus. In Iowa, a Democratic House member boldly violated a no-jeans rule to protest the chamber’s lack of a mask rule.

And in Missouri, numerous lawmakers and staff — some fearing for their health after a COVID-19 outbreak in the Capitol — scrambled to get vaccinated at a clinic before legislative leaders warned that the shots weren’t actually meant for them. GOP Gov. Mike Parson denounced the lawmakers as line-jumpers.

House Democratic leader Crystal Quade, who got the shot, blamed the lax policies of the Republican-led Legislature for fostering angst.

Lawmakers are “coming every week to a building that doesn’t have precautions, where people aren’t wearing masks, where people are getting a positive test left and right,” Quade said.

“We are essentially a super-spreader just waiting to happen,” she said.

Since the start of this year, more than 50 state lawmakers in roughly one-third of the states already have fallen ill with the virus, according to an Associated Press tally. More than 350 state legislators have gotten COVID-19 since the pandemic began, including seven who died after contracting it. Republican lawmakers have had a disproportionate share of the cases, according to the AP’s data.

The U.S. Capitol also experienced a spike in COVID-19 cases — and tensions — after some Republican lawmakers refused to wear masks while sheltering with others during the Jan. 6 siege by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

The Missouri Capitol has had one of the largest outbreaks so far this year, with at least 10 cases among lawmakers. That number might be higher, but it’s hard to know because some lawmakers have refused to say whether they contracted the virus and aren’t required to tell legislative administrators.

Missouri’s legislature has no mask requirement, no formal contact tracing and no ability for lawmakers to vote remotely. Social distancing also is difficult, especially in the 163-member House chamber where desks are packed tightly together.

After being in session for barely a week, the Missouri House canceled all work for a full week “due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the building.” House Majority Leader Dean Plocher declined to estimate how many were sick, saying lawmakers had a right to privacy.

In Iowa, Democratic Rep. Amy Nielsen tested positive last weekend. She said she likely was infected at the Capitol, where Republican leaders have refused to require people to wear masks or disclose positive cases.

Iowa House rules require men to wear ties and jackets and prohibit jeans, but Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley said he cannot force members to wear masks and is unwilling to make them leave if they don’t. On Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell wore jeans on the House floor to make a point and refused a request to change clothes. Grassley then prevented her from speaking during debate.

“Jeans aren’t hurting anybody, but all the people wandering around without masks on, they are,” Wessel-Kroeschell said Wednesday.

Ohio Sen. Cecil Thomas, a Democrat, walked out of a committee hearing Wednesday because many members of the public weren’t wearing masks. In Ohio’s Republican-controlled House on Wednesday, GOP lawmakers — many without masks —rejected Democratic motions to require statehouse staff to wear masks and to allow virtual testimony on bills, including by lawmakers.

In other states, Republican leaders have run into resistance from their own members while trying to enforce coronavirus precautions.

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston had police escort fellow GOP Rep. David Clark from the chamber last week after Clark refused to comply with the chamber’s twice-weekly coronavirus testing. At least nine Georgia lawmakers already have tested positive this year.

“I don’t know about you all, but I’ve been to too many funerals,” Ralston told colleagues after having Clark removed.

Clark eventually got tested and returned to the House a couple days later.

In Mississippi, where nearly 50 lawmakers tested positive for COVID-19 last summer, at least five more have come down with the virus since the session began in early January.

At least five Pennsylvania lawmakers also have become ill with the coronavirus this year, in addition to a dozen who had it last year. Conflicts about mask-wearing have been common, with a few dozen Republican lawmakers regularly going maskless on the House floor and during committee hearings.

Last week, House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton rose to make a point: “Masks are supposed to be worn on the floor of the House, and I’ve counted over 30 members that currently are unmasked,” she told the Republican House speaker.

Speaker Bryan Cutler summoned McClinton to the front of the chamber for a private talk after she disputed his response that some lawmakers of both parties were maskless. Cutler eventually encouraged everyone to abide by the chamber’s mask rules.

In New Mexico’s Democratic-led Legislature, House Speaker Brian Egolf excluded nearly all lawmakers from floor sessions and closed conference rooms after a Republican lawmaker and several staff members tested positive for COVID-19. He cast partisan blame.

“What I have observed is that certain members of the Republican Party do not adhere to COVID practices in any meaningful way,” Egolf said.

House Republican leaders have asked the state Supreme Court to intervene, arguing the pandemic precautions go far beyond what’s necessary to protect public health.

“The new rules are unconstitutional in that they define ‘present’ as not present, the ‘seat of government’ as something other than where the legislature meets, and require members to participate via computers and headphones,” the Republican lawsuit states.

Coronavirus tensions were evident Monday during the opening of Oklahoma’s legislative session. About 20 lawmakers — mainly majority Republicans — didn’t wear masks as they gathered for the governor’s state of the state address. That frustrated House Democratic leader Emily Virgin, whose parents both were hospitalized last year after contracting COVID-19.

“It’s misguided. It’s dangerous. It sets a horrible example,” Virgin said during a news conference outside of an Oklahoma City hospital.

In the Wisconsin Assembly, majority Republicans aren’t allowing lawmakers to attend committee hearings or floor debate remotely. Democratic Rep. Lee Snodgrass tweeted that they were being forced to choose “between their health ... or being in person for floor session.”

New Hampshire Rep. Al Baldasaro, a Republican, drew criticism for leading a lengthy committee hearing — much of it without his face covered — after returning from a trip to Florida. The state’s travel rules require anyone leaving New England to quarantine for 10 days upon returning, and Statehouse rules forbid entry to those who recently made such trips.

The House speaker’s office said Baldasaro was allowed to attend the hearing because the state health department considers lawmakers “critical infrastructure staff.” Baldasaro said he eventually put on a face shield to satisfy anyone “whining and complaining.”

“The people elected me to do a job and I will not be showing a sign of weakness by hiding in a basement or my computer because of COVID,” Baldasaro said in an email to the AP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612617424453.png" alt="Missouri’s legislature has no mask requirement, no formal contact tracing and no ability for lawmakers to vote remotely- photo courtesy Missouri House Democratic Caucus" />
 <figcaption>Missouri’s legislature has no mask requirement, no formal contact tracing and no ability for lawmakers to vote remotely- photo courtesy Missouri House Democratic Caucus</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — After only their first few weeks of work, tensions already are high among lawmakers meeting in-person at some state capitols — not because of testy debates over taxes, guns or abortion, but because of a disregard for coronavirus precautions.In Georgia, a Republican lawmaker recently was booted from the House floor for refusing to get tested for the coronavirus. In Iowa, a Democratic House member boldly violated a no-jeans rule to protest the chamber’s lack of a mask rule.And in Missouri, numerous lawmakers and staff — some fearing for their health after a COVID-19 outbreak in the Capitol — scrambled to get vaccinated at a clinic before legislative leaders warned that the shots weren’t actually meant for them. GOP Gov. Mike Parson denounced the lawmakers as line-jumpers.House Democratic leader Crystal Quade, who got the shot, blamed the lax policies of the Republican-led Legislature for fostering angst.Lawmakers are “coming every week to a building that doesn’t have precautions, where people aren’t wearing masks, where people are getting a positive test left and right,” Quade said.“We are essentially a super-spreader just waiting to happen,” she said.Since the start of this year, more than 50 state lawmakers in roughly one-third of the states already have fallen ill with the virus, according to an Associated Press tally. More than 350 state legislators have gotten COVID-19 since the pandemic began, including seven who died after contracting it. Republican lawmakers have had a disproportionate share of the cases, according to the AP’s data.The U.S. Capitol also experienced a spike in COVID-19 cases — and tensions — after some Republican lawmakers refused to wear masks while sheltering with others during the Jan. 6 siege by supporters of former President Donald Trump.The Missouri Capitol has had one of the largest outbreaks so far this year, with at least 10 cases among lawmakers. That number might be higher, but it’s hard to know because some lawmakers have refused to say whether they contracted the virus and aren’t required to tell legislative administrators.Missouri’s legislature has no mask requirement, no formal contact tracing and no ability for lawmakers to vote remotely. Social distancing also is difficult, especially in the 163-member House chamber where desks are packed tightly together.After being in session for barely a week, the Missouri House canceled all work for a full week “due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the building.” House Majority Leader Dean Plocher declined to estimate how many were sick, saying lawmakers had a right to privacy.In Iowa, Democratic Rep. Amy Nielsen tested positive last weekend. She said she likely was infected at the Capitol, where Republican leaders have refused to require people to wear masks or disclose positive cases.Iowa House rules require men to wear ties and jackets and prohibit jeans, but Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley said he cannot force members to wear masks and is unwilling to make them leave if they don’t. On Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell wore jeans on the House floor to make a point and refused a request to change clothes. Grassley then prevented her from speaking during debate.“Jeans aren’t hurting anybody, but all the people wandering around without masks on, they are,” Wessel-Kroeschell said Wednesday.Ohio Sen. Cecil Thomas, a Democrat, walked out of a committee hearing Wednesday because many members of the public weren’t wearing masks. In Ohio’s Republican-controlled House on Wednesday, GOP lawmakers — many without masks —rejected Democratic motions to require statehouse staff to wear masks and to allow virtual testimony on bills, including by lawmakers.In other states, Republican leaders have run into resistance from their own members while trying to enforce coronavirus precautions.Georgia House Speaker David Ralston had police escort fellow GOP Rep. David Clark from the chamber last week after Clark refused to comply with the chamber’s twice-weekly coronavirus testing. At least nine Georgia lawmakers already have tested positive this year.“I don’t know about you all, but I’ve been to too many funerals,” Ralston told colleagues after having Clark removed.Clark eventually got tested and returned to the House a couple days later.In Mississippi, where nearly 50 lawmakers tested positive for COVID-19 last summer, at least five more have come down with the virus since the session began in early January.At least five Pennsylvania lawmakers also have become ill with the coronavirus this year, in addition to a dozen who had it last year. Conflicts about mask-wearing have been common, with a few dozen Republican lawmakers regularly going maskless on the House floor and during committee hearings.Last week, House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton rose to make a point: “Masks are supposed to be worn on the floor of the House, and I’ve counted over 30 members that currently are unmasked,” she told the Republican House speaker.Speaker Bryan Cutler summoned McClinton to the front of the chamber for a private talk after she disputed his response that some lawmakers of both parties were maskless. Cutler eventually encouraged everyone to abide by the chamber’s mask rules.In New Mexico’s Democratic-led Legislature, House Speaker Brian Egolf excluded nearly all lawmakers from floor sessions and closed conference rooms after a Republican lawmaker and several staff members tested positive for COVID-19. He cast partisan blame.“What I have observed is that certain members of the Republican Party do not adhere to COVID practices in any meaningful way,” Egolf said.House Republican leaders have asked the state Supreme Court to intervene, arguing the pandemic precautions go far beyond what’s necessary to protect public health.“The new rules are unconstitutional in that they define ‘present’ as not present, the ‘seat of government’ as something other than where the legislature meets, and require members to participate via computers and headphones,” the Republican lawsuit states.Coronavirus tensions were evident Monday during the opening of Oklahoma’s legislative session. About 20 lawmakers — mainly majority Republicans — didn’t wear masks as they gathered for the governor’s state of the state address. That frustrated House Democratic leader Emily Virgin, whose parents both were hospitalized last year after contracting COVID-19.“It’s misguided. It’s dangerous. It sets a horrible example,” Virgin said during a news conference outside of an Oklahoma City hospital.In the Wisconsin Assembly, majority Republicans aren’t allowing lawmakers to attend committee hearings or floor debate remotely. Democratic Rep. Lee Snodgrass tweeted that they were being forced to choose “between their health ... or being in person for floor session.”New Hampshire Rep. Al Baldasaro, a Republican, drew criticism for leading a lengthy committee hearing — much of it without his face covered — after returning from a trip to Florida. The state’s travel rules require anyone leaving New England to quarantine for 10 days upon returning, and Statehouse rules forbid entry to those who recently made such trips.The House speaker’s office said Baldasaro was allowed to attend the hearing because the state health department considers lawmakers “critical infrastructure staff.” Baldasaro said he eventually put on a face shield to satisfy anyone “whining and complaining.”“The people elected me to do a job and I will not be showing a sign of weakness by hiding in a basement or my computer because of COVID,” Baldasaro said in an email to the AP.

Virus outbreaks stoke tensions in some state capitols

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on numerous charges after an arrest at her home.

Just after 8p.m. February 4, sheriff's deputies responded to a home in the 300 Block of Topeka Street in Holton to check on the welfare of the children, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The deputy was following up on a report of alleged child neglect. 

As a result of the investigation the deputy placed the children's mother 32-year-old Kristina Elaine Hyatt under arrest on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of child endangerment, according to Morse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612622054460.png" alt="Hyatt-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hyatt-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on numerous charges after an arrest at her home.Just after 8p.m. February 4, sheriff's deputies responded to a home in the 300 Block of Topeka Street in Holton to check on the welfare of the children, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The deputy was following up on a report of alleged child neglect. As a result of the investigation the deputy placed the children's mother 32-year-old Kristina Elaine Hyatt under arrest on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of child endangerment, according to Morse.

Sheriff: Woman jailed after child welfare check at Kan. home

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas lawmaker and the state’s Republican attorney general are pushing a bill to require high school students to pass a civics test to graduate in an effort to increase civic engagement.

The proposal is facing pushback from members of the state’s largest teacher’s union, the second-largest school district and the Kansas Association of School Boards, which say that students are already getting an education in civics in government and history classes.

The House Education Committee heard testimony on the bill Wednesday but took no action.

“We wonder why we are singling out high school kids for this with a high stakes test on civics,” said Kansas National Education Association lobbyist Mark Desetti in the committee meeting.

“There is a great tendency, when you put in place a high stakes test, to teach to that test at the expense of other areas,” he said later in the meeting.

The Kansas State Board of Education, which rejected a similar proposal about six years ago, also opposes the bill. In a written testimony, the state school board’s legislative liaisons cautioned that a “high stakes” standardized test won’t promote civic duty and said the bill encroaches on the state board’s constitutional authority to set learning standards and determine the content of tests.

Rep. Steve Huebert, a Valley Center Republican and the bill’s chief proponent, told the Associated Press that the proposed exam would include the same 128 questions in the U.S. citizenship test — one of the final steps for immigrants to obtain U.S. citizenship. He said he also plans for the test to be multiple choice and to require high school students to score at least 60% to get a diploma.

The citizenship test includes questions that require test takers to name three branches of government and answer questions about what the U.S. Constitution does and how many U.S. senators there are. Other exam questions require test takers to identify the country’s economic system as capitalism, or a free market economy, and the “United States” or “the flag” as what Americans show loyalty to when they say the pledge of allegiance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612447541601.png" alt="Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt made a virtual visit before the House Education Committee Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt made a virtual visit before the House Education Committee Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas lawmaker and the state’s Republican attorney general are pushing a bill to require high school students to pass a civics test to graduate in an effort to increase civic engagement.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cinnJEvp-kI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The proposal is facing pushback from members of the state’s largest teacher’s union, the second-largest school district and the Kansas Association of School Boards, which say that students are already getting an education in civics in government and history classes.The House Education Committee heard testimony on the bill Wednesday but took no action.“We wonder why we are singling out high school kids for this with a high stakes test on civics,” said Kansas National Education Association lobbyist Mark Desetti in the committee meeting.“There is a great tendency, when you put in place a high stakes test, to teach to that test at the expense of other areas,” he said later in the meeting.The Kansas State Board of Education, which rejected a similar proposal about six years ago, also opposes the bill. In a written testimony, the state school board’s legislative liaisons cautioned that a “high stakes” standardized test won’t promote civic duty and said the bill encroaches on the state board’s constitutional authority to set learning standards and determine the content of tests.Rep. Steve Huebert, a Valley Center Republican and the bill’s chief proponent, told the Associated Press that the proposed exam would include the same 128 questions in the U.S. citizenship test — one of the final steps for immigrants to obtain U.S. citizenship. He said he also plans for the test to be multiple choice and to require high school students to score at least 60% to get a diploma.The citizenship test includes questions that require test takers to name three branches of government and answer questions about what the U.S. Constitution does and how many U.S. senators there are. Other exam questions require test takers to identify the country’s economic system as capitalism, or a free market economy, and the “United States” or “the flag” as what Americans show loyalty to when they say the pledge of allegiance.____

🎥  Should Kan. high school grads be required to pass a civics test?

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities have made an arrest after a 13-year-old girl in Kansas died while being dragged for miles by her family's SUV that had been stolen.

Police arrested <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=294355">34-year-old Kevin Palmer of Wichita</a> on a charge of felony murder, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Just after noon on Saturday, police responded to a call of a grey Ford Escape traveling westbound on Kellogg at Meridian dragging a girl. 

Officers located the Ford Escape at Kellogg and West Street with a 13-year-old female caught on the outside of the vehicle. She was pronounced dead.

Investigators learned the teen was sitting in the back seat of the SUV while it was parked outside of a nearby restaurant running. Her family went into the restaurant to get food as she remained in the vehicle.&nbsp;

The suspect later identified as Palmer got into the driver’s seat and fled in the vehicle. The girl attempted to exit the vehicle while it was moving and became caught in the seatbelt on the outside of the SUV. Palmer continued to flee for several miles.

A citizen saw the deadly situation, called 911, and followed the vehicle. At Kellogg and West Street, Palmer stopped the SUV and fled on foot.&nbsp; Arriving officers quickly arrested him, according to Davidson.

“This is one of the saddest cases I have been associated with in my over 28-years of law enforcement,” Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said. “Wichita Police sends its thoughts and prayers to family.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612702521079.png" alt="Palmer has nearly a dozen previous felony convictions that include theft, burglary, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, driving while suspended and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections- photo Sedgwick County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Palmer has nearly a dozen previous felony convictions that include theft, burglary, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, driving while suspended and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections- photo Sedgwick County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities have made an arrest after a 13-year-old girl in Kansas died while being dragged for miles by her family's SUV that had been stolen.Police arrested <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=294355">34-year-old Kevin Palmer of Wichita</a> on a charge of felony murder, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Just after noon on Saturday, police responded to a call of a grey Ford Escape traveling westbound on Kellogg at Meridian dragging a girl. Officers located the Ford Escape at Kellogg and West Street with a 13-year-old female caught on the outside of the vehicle. She was pronounced dead.Investigators learned the teen was sitting in the back seat of the SUV while it was parked outside of a nearby restaurant running. Her family went into the restaurant to get food as she remained in the vehicle.&nbsp;The suspect later identified as Palmer got into the driver’s seat and fled in the vehicle. The girl attempted to exit the vehicle while it was moving and became caught in the seatbelt on the outside of the SUV. Palmer continued to flee for several miles.A citizen saw the deadly situation, called 911, and followed the vehicle. At Kellogg and West Street, Palmer stopped the SUV and fled on foot.&nbsp; Arriving officers quickly arrested him, according to Davidson.“This is one of the saddest cases I have been associated with in my over 28-years of law enforcement,” Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said. “Wichita Police sends its thoughts and prayers to family.&nbsp;

Police: 13-year-old Kan. girl dragged by stolen SUV dies

WASHINGTON (AP)—The Supreme Court is telling California that it can’t bar indoor church services because of the coronavirus pandemic, but it can keep for now a ban on singing and chanting indoors.

The high court issued orders late Friday in two cases where churches had sued over coronavirus-related restrictions in the state. The high court said that for now, California can’t ban indoor worship as it had in almost all of the state because virus cases are high. The justices said the state can cap indoor services at 25% of a building’s capacity.

The justices also declined to stop California from enforcing a ban put in place last summer on indoor singing and chanting. California had put the restrictions in place because the virus is more easily transmitted indoors and singing releases tiny droplets that can carry the disease.

The justices were acting on emergency requests to halt the restrictions from South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista and Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry, which has more than 160 churches across the state.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that “federal courts owe significant deference to politically accountable officials” when it comes to public health restrictions, but he said deference “has its limits.”

Roberts wrote that California’s determination “that the maximum number of adherents who can safely worship in the most cavernous cathedral is zero—appears to reflect not expertise or discretion, but instead insufficient appreciation or consideration of the interests at stake.”

In addition to Roberts, Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Amy Coney Barrett also wrote to explain their views. Gorsuch and Justice Clarence Thomas would have kept California from enforcing its singing ban. Barrett, the court’s newest justice, disagreed. Writing for herself and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, she said it wasn’t clear at this point whether the singing ban was being applied “across the board.”

She wrote that “if a chorister can sing in a Hollywood studio but not in her church, California’s regulations cannot be viewed as neutral,” triggering a stricter review by courts. The justices said the churches who sued can submit new evidence to a lower court that the singing ban is not being applied generally.

The court’s three liberal justices dissented, saying they would have upheld California’s restrictions. Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent for herself, Justice Stephen Breyer and Justice Sonia Sotomayor that the court’s action “risks worsening the pandemic.”

She said that the court was “making a special exception for worship services” rather than treating them like other activities where large groups of people come together “in close proximity for extended periods of time.” In areas of California where COVID-19 is widespread, which includes most of the state, activities including indoor dining and going to the movies are banned.

“I fervently hope that the Court’s intervention will not worsen the Nation’s COVID crisis. But if this decision causes suffering, we will not pay. Our marble halls are now closed to the public, and our life tenure forever insulates us from responsibility for our errors. That would seem good reason to avoid disrupting a State’s pandemic response. But the Court forges ahead regardless, insisting that science-based policy yield to judicial edict,” she wrote.

Charles LiMandri, an attorney for South Bay United Pentecostal Church, said in a statement that he and his clients were “heartened by this order” and “thank the high court for upholding religious liberty.”

The court’s action follows a decision in a case from New York late last year in which the justices split 5-4 in barring the state from enforcing certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues. Shortly after, the justices told a federal court to reexamine California’s restrictions in light of the ruling.

WASHINGTON (AP)—The Supreme Court is telling California that it can’t bar indoor church services because of the coronavirus pandemic, but it can keep for now a ban on singing and chanting indoors.The high court issued orders late Friday in two cases where churches had sued over coronavirus-related restrictions in the state. The high court said that for now, California can’t ban indoor worship as it had in almost all of the state because virus cases are high. The justices said the state can cap indoor services at 25% of a building’s capacity.The justices also declined to stop California from enforcing a ban put in place last summer on indoor singing and chanting. California had put the restrictions in place because the virus is more easily transmitted indoors and singing releases tiny droplets that can carry the disease.The justices were acting on emergency requests to halt the restrictions from South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista and Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry, which has more than 160 churches across the state.Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that “federal courts owe significant deference to politically accountable officials” when it comes to public health restrictions, but he said deference “has its limits.”Roberts wrote that California’s determination “that the maximum number of adherents who can safely worship in the most cavernous cathedral is zero—appears to reflect not expertise or discretion, but instead insufficient appreciation or consideration of the interests at stake.”In addition to Roberts, Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Amy Coney Barrett also wrote to explain their views. Gorsuch and Justice Clarence Thomas would have kept California from enforcing its singing ban. Barrett, the court’s newest justice, disagreed. Writing for herself and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, she said it wasn’t clear at this point whether the singing ban was being applied “across the board.”She wrote that “if a chorister can sing in a Hollywood studio but not in her church, California’s regulations cannot be viewed as neutral,” triggering a stricter review by courts. The justices said the churches who sued can submit new evidence to a lower court that the singing ban is not being applied generally.The court’s three liberal justices dissented, saying they would have upheld California’s restrictions. Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent for herself, Justice Stephen Breyer and Justice Sonia Sotomayor that the court’s action “risks worsening the pandemic.”She said that the court was “making a special exception for worship services” rather than treating them like other activities where large groups of people come together “in close proximity for extended periods of time.” In areas of California where COVID-19 is widespread, which includes most of the state, activities including indoor dining and going to the movies are banned.“I fervently hope that the Court’s intervention will not worsen the Nation’s COVID crisis. But if this decision causes suffering, we will not pay. Our marble halls are now closed to the public, and our life tenure forever insulates us from responsibility for our errors. That would seem good reason to avoid disrupting a State’s pandemic response. But the Court forges ahead regardless, insisting that science-based policy yield to judicial edict,” she wrote.Charles LiMandri, an attorney for South Bay United Pentecostal Church, said in a statement that he and his clients were “heartened by this order” and “thank the high court for upholding religious liberty.”The court’s action follows a decision in a case from New York late last year in which the justices split 5-4 in barring the state from enforcing certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues. Shortly after, the justices told a federal court to reexamine California’s restrictions in light of the ruling.

Justices: State can't enforce virus-related restrictions on churches

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting have arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the death of 14-year-old Jesus Fernandez, according to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay.

Just after 1p.m. Friday police responded to a walk-in shooting call at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.&nbsp; The victim, Fernandez, was in critical condition and later died, according to Ramsay. A 15-year-old was also at the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. He was treated and released.

Investigators learned a 17-year-old had set up an illegal drug transaction at Schell Park in Wichita and asked the 15-year-old to drive him there. Fernandez was in the vehicle with the 15-year-old.&nbsp;

When the teens arrived at the park, two suspects approached the vehicle and began to discuss the transaction. At that time one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots at the boys and took the illegal drugs, according to Ramsay. Police have not released the suspect's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612642180279.png" alt="Police at the scene of the Friday afternoon fatal shooting -photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the Friday afternoon fatal shooting -photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting have arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the death of 14-year-old Jesus Fernandez, according to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay.Just after 1p.m. Friday police responded to a walk-in shooting call at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.&nbsp; The victim, Fernandez, was in critical condition and later died, according to Ramsay. A 15-year-old was also at the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. He was treated and released.Investigators learned a 17-year-old had set up an illegal drug transaction at Schell Park in Wichita and asked the 15-year-old to drive him there. Fernandez was in the vehicle with the 15-year-old.&nbsp;When the teens arrived at the park, two suspects approached the vehicle and began to discuss the transaction. At that time one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots at the boys and took the illegal drugs, according to Ramsay. Police have not released the suspect's name.

14-year-old Kan. boy killed in drug deal shooting

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect on multiple charges after a traffic stop. 

Just after 1:30 February 3, sheriff’s deputies stopped a southbound U-Haul truck near 134th and U.S. Highway 75 in southern Jackson County for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 was deployed and indicated the detection of the odor of illegal narcotics. The driver, Steven Patrick Hernandez, 41, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while revoked. The passenger, Mary Ann Hernandez, 46, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612472859136.png" alt="Hernandez-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Hernandez-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect on multiple charges after a traffic stop. Just after 1:30 February 3, sheriff’s deputies stopped a southbound U-Haul truck near 134th and U.S. Highway 75 in southern Jackson County for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612472833109.png" alt="Hernandez photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hernandez photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 was deployed and indicated the detection of the odor of illegal narcotics. The driver, Steven Patrick Hernandez, 41, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while revoked. The passenger, Mary Ann Hernandez, 46, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Couple transported meth in U-Haul in Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Authorities are investigating a report of alleged stalking and have arrested a police officer.&nbsp;

On Friday afternoon authorities booked Wichita Police Department Officer Thomas Wallace into the Sedgwick County Jail on two counts of misdemeanor stalking, according to police spokesman officer Charley Davidson.

Officials learned of Wallace possibly stalking a woman known to him, stemming from an investigation by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) that began late last year concerning another Wichita police department employee.&nbsp; 

The sheriff's office investigated in order to avoid conflicts of interest.&nbsp;

Wallace has been employed with WPD for five years and was placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the criminal and internal investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612615648257.png" alt="Wallace Sedgwick County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Wallace Sedgwick County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Authorities are investigating a report of alleged stalking and have arrested a police officer.&nbsp;On Friday afternoon authorities booked Wichita Police Department Officer Thomas Wallace into the Sedgwick County Jail on two counts of misdemeanor stalking, according to police spokesman officer Charley Davidson.Officials learned of Wallace possibly stalking a woman known to him, stemming from an investigation by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) that began late last year concerning another Wichita police department employee.&nbsp; The sheriff's office investigated in order to avoid conflicts of interest.&nbsp;Wallace has been employed with WPD for five years and was placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the criminal and internal investigation.

Kan. officer arrested for allegedly stalking woman

TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an incident that sent&nbsp; a woman to the hospital following domestic dispute.

Just after 7:00 a.m. Friday, officers were dispatched to the area of 21st and SE Iowa in Topeka reference what was believed to be a hit and run accident between a vehicle and pedestrian, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Officers located an individual who told police that the incident was not an accident, but a result of a domestic dispute she was having with a passenger in the vehicle. 

The victim had non-life-threatening injuries and police&nbsp; summoned American Medical Response to the scene. The victim was later transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Further investigation determined that the driver of the vehicle, in which the victim was riding in and had been forcefully pushed from might be in the 1500 block of SW Central Park Ave. 

Officers located and arrested the driver, Joshua Aaron Reed, 20 of Topeka and he was booked into Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge Aggravated Battery. 

Police continue to look for the suspect who was involved in the domestic dispute, according to Munoz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612622930765.png" alt="Reed-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Reed-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an incident that sent&nbsp; a woman to the hospital following domestic dispute.Just after 7:00 a.m. Friday, officers were dispatched to the area of 21st and SE Iowa in Topeka reference what was believed to be a hit and run accident between a vehicle and pedestrian, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.Officers located an individual who told police that the incident was not an accident, but a result of a domestic dispute she was having with a passenger in the vehicle. The victim had non-life-threatening injuries and police&nbsp; summoned American Medical Response to the scene. The victim was later transported to an area hospital for treatment.Further investigation determined that the driver of the vehicle, in which the victim was riding in and had been forcefully pushed from might be in the 1500 block of SW Central Park Ave. Officers located and arrested the driver, Joshua Aaron Reed, 20 of Topeka and he was booked into Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge Aggravated Battery. Police continue to look for the suspect who was involved in the domestic dispute, according to Munoz.

Kan. man arrested after woman pushed from vehicle

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration plans to begin giving COVID-19 vaccinations to Kansas prison inmates next week, ignoring a call from the Republican-controlled Legislature to postpone their inoculations so that others can get them first.

Spokesperson Carol Pitts said in an email that the Department of Corrections has not yet vaccinated any inmates but would start giving them throughout its nine facilities. Her email Thursday came as the Kansas Senate was debating&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/sr1707_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a resolution</a>&nbsp;condemning Kelly’s decision to make inmates eligible for shots during the second phase of the state’s vaccine rollout, which launched last month.

The Senate approved the nonbinding resolution on a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20210204180856_291682/" target="_blank">28-8</a>&nbsp;vote, with all but one vote for it coming from its Republican majority. The measure calls on Kelly to abandon the policy involving inmates “without delay,” but the governor already had signaled her intent to disregard it with her public comments.

“You also have staff in prisons and you have people going in and out of prisons, and so we need to control the spread in our prisons to control the community spread,” Kelly told reporters Friday at a vaccination clinic for Kansas National Guard personnel.

Republican lawmakers have been at odds with Kelly for months over the state’s pandemic response, and they are likely to make what they view as mistakes with distributing vaccines an issue as she seeks a second term in 2022.

As of Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">the state reported</a>&nbsp;that about 218,000, or 7.5% of its 2.9 million residents, had received at least the first of two required COIVD-19 shots. More than 278,000 vaccine doses have been administered to Kansas residents, about 67% of the roughly 413,000 doses sent to Kansas by the federal government.

Kansas averaged 982 new confirmed or probable cases a day for the seven days ending Friday. The state health department added 2,647 cases since Wednesday to its pandemic total, bringing it to 281,562.

The total for COVID-19 deaths in Kansas jumped by 206 since Wednesday to 4,101, but state Department of Health and Environment spokesperson Kristi Zears said part of the increase occurred as death certificates for older and previously unreported fatalities were filed with the agency. The deaths included an unnamed 6-year-old in November, the youngest person in Kansas to die from COVID-19 so far.

The state also reported for the first time Friday that all 105 Kansas counties had at least one reported COVID-19 death.

Public health officials worry that cases, hospitalizations and deaths could rise because of the arrival of a new, more contagious variant first identified in the United Kingdom. The state confirmed its first case this week in Ellis County in northwest Kansas.

Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state health department, said it is now doing genetic testing on the coronavirus in about 30 cases a day to see whether they are tied to variants. He said the department is talking to Kansas State University and a Kansas City-area lab for more genetic testing.

Kelly and the health department are following the advice of public health officials and experts in vaccinating inmates in the second phase, along with people 65 and older, workers critical to the economy and others in group living situations. The prison system had seen more than 1,100 COVID-19 cases among staff and 5,900 among inmates as of Thursday.

“We have from the very beginning responded to this pandemic using the guidelines that are issued by public health experts,” Kelly said.

During Thursday’s debate in the Senate, Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, also suggested that refusing to give inmates priority could lead to a lawsuit against the state for housing them in substandard conditions.

But Republicans argued that it’s wrong for convicted criminals, particularly violent ones and sex offenders, to be in line ahead of tens of thousands of Kansas residents with medical conditions putting them at risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Several GOP senators talked about family members who can’t yet get shots. Sen. Jeff Longbine, of Emporia, said his 21-year-old daughter, who has Type 1 diabetes, faces weeks more of being largely confined to her apartment.

“I am supposed to explain to my daughter that she can’t live a normal life, that she has to stay home and manage her blood sugar to the best of her ability, because we’re going to give vaccines to prisoners first?” Longbine said. “I’ve got a problem with that.”

The resolution was drafted by Senate health committee Chair Richard Hilderbrand, a Galena Republican, and he said he opted for a nonbinding “strong statement” from the Senate because a bill to overturn Kelly’s policy might not get through both chambers before all inmates got their shots — and the governor would likely veto it.

The resolution calls development of vaccines a “triumph of American ingenuity.” It also cited “the previous Presidential administration’s ability to accelerate and distribute a vaccine for COVID-19,” despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-seniors-florida-coronavirus-pandemic-e106ffb05881cd474be554dac055bff6">a rocky distribution rollout</a>&nbsp;during the final weeks of former President Donald Trump’s administration.

Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, derided the debate as “political theater” and the resolution as “a political stunt.”

“It is a hit job on the governor,” he said.

Meanwhile, some people eligible for vaccines continue to resist getting them.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/coronavirus/2021/02/05/covid-19-vaccine-county-corrections-employees-turn-down/4308879001/" target="_blank">The Topeka Capital-Journal reported</a>&nbsp;that about 70% of the 212 employees of the Corrections Department in Shawnee County declined COVID-19 shots or didn’t respond when offered them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584622502448.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration plans to begin giving COVID-19 vaccinations to Kansas prison inmates next week, ignoring a call from the Republican-controlled Legislature to postpone their inoculations so that others can get them first.Spokesperson Carol Pitts said in an email that the Department of Corrections has not yet vaccinated any inmates but would start giving them throughout its nine facilities. Her email Thursday came as the Kansas Senate was debating&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/sr1707_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a resolution</a>&nbsp;condemning Kelly’s decision to make inmates eligible for shots during the second phase of the state’s vaccine rollout, which launched last month.The Senate approved the nonbinding resolution on a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20210204180856_291682/" target="_blank">28-8</a>&nbsp;vote, with all but one vote for it coming from its Republican majority. The measure calls on Kelly to abandon the policy involving inmates “without delay,” but the governor already had signaled her intent to disregard it with her public comments.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610104544544.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“You also have staff in prisons and you have people going in and out of prisons, and so we need to control the spread in our prisons to control the community spread,” Kelly told reporters Friday at a vaccination clinic for Kansas National Guard personnel.Republican lawmakers have been at odds with Kelly for months over the state’s pandemic response, and they are likely to make what they view as mistakes with distributing vaccines an issue as she seeks a second term in 2022.As of Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">the state reported</a>&nbsp;that about 218,000, or 7.5% of its 2.9 million residents, had received at least the first of two required COIVD-19 shots. More than 278,000 vaccine doses have been administered to Kansas residents, about 67% of the roughly 413,000 doses sent to Kansas by the federal government.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612551327421.png" alt="Friday February 5, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday February 5, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas averaged 982 new confirmed or probable cases a day for the seven days ending Friday. The state health department added 2,647 cases since Wednesday to its pandemic total, bringing it to 281,562.The total for COVID-19 deaths in Kansas jumped by 206 since Wednesday to 4,101, but state Department of Health and Environment spokesperson Kristi Zears said part of the increase occurred as death certificates for older and previously unreported fatalities were filed with the agency. The deaths included an unnamed 6-year-old in November, the youngest person in Kansas to die from COVID-19 so far.The state also reported for the first time Friday that all 105 Kansas counties had at least one reported COVID-19 death.Public health officials worry that cases, hospitalizations and deaths could rise because of the arrival of a new, more contagious variant first identified in the United Kingdom. The state confirmed its first case this week in Ellis County in northwest Kansas.Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state health department, said it is now doing genetic testing on the coronavirus in about 30 cases a day to see whether they are tied to variants. He said the department is talking to Kansas State University and a Kansas City-area lab for more genetic testing.Kelly and the health department are following the advice of public health officials and experts in vaccinating inmates in the second phase, along with people 65 and older, workers critical to the economy and others in group living situations. The prison system had seen more than 1,100 COVID-19 cases among staff and 5,900 among inmates as of Thursday.“We have from the very beginning responded to this pandemic using the guidelines that are issued by public health experts,” Kelly said.During Thursday’s debate in the Senate, Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, also suggested that refusing to give inmates priority could lead to a lawsuit against the state for housing them in substandard conditions.But Republicans argued that it’s wrong for convicted criminals, particularly violent ones and sex offenders, to be in line ahead of tens of thousands of Kansas residents with medical conditions putting them at risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Several GOP senators talked about family members who can’t yet get shots. Sen. Jeff Longbine, of Emporia, said his 21-year-old daughter, who has Type 1 diabetes, faces weeks more of being largely confined to her apartment.“I am supposed to explain to my daughter that she can’t live a normal life, that she has to stay home and manage her blood sugar to the best of her ability, because we’re going to give vaccines to prisoners first?” Longbine said. “I’ve got a problem with that.”The resolution was drafted by Senate health committee Chair Richard Hilderbrand, a Galena Republican, and he said he opted for a nonbinding “strong statement” from the Senate because a bill to overturn Kelly’s policy might not get through both chambers before all inmates got their shots — and the governor would likely veto it.The resolution calls development of vaccines a “triumph of American ingenuity.” It also cited “the previous Presidential administration’s ability to accelerate and distribute a vaccine for COVID-19,” despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-seniors-florida-coronavirus-pandemic-e106ffb05881cd474be554dac055bff6">a rocky distribution rollout</a>&nbsp;during the final weeks of former President Donald Trump’s administration.Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, derided the debate as “political theater” and the resolution as “a political stunt.”“It is a hit job on the governor,” he said.Meanwhile, some people eligible for vaccines continue to resist getting them.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/coronavirus/2021/02/05/covid-19-vaccine-county-corrections-employees-turn-down/4308879001/" target="_blank">The Topeka Capital-Journal reported</a>&nbsp;that about 70% of the 212 employees of the Corrections Department in Shawnee County declined COVID-19 shots or didn’t respond when offered them.

Kan. prisons to begin giving COVID-19 shots to inmates 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement&nbsp;authorities investigating the murder of two Kansas teens have arrested of&nbsp;22-year-old Dontenize Kelly of Wichita, according to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsey.

On Tuesday, police alerted the public that 18-year-old Kayla Blackmon may be in danger and asked the public for help to find her SUV.&nbsp; Police found her 17-year-old boyfriend Michael Beasley deceased in the 1000 block of North Ash in Wichita on Monday.

As part of the the investigation police learned of Kelly's involvement and arrested him without incident Friday evening.

Both teens were victims of gunshot wounds and killed in Blackmon's Ford Escape, according to Wichita Police Sgt. Dan Hardy. Police have not recovered a weapon and have not determined a motive as they continue to investigate.&nbsp;

Kelly is being held <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20045382">on requested charges</a> of capital murder and a probation violation, according to Ramsey. He has previous convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal possession of a weapon and for attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the death of a 17-year-old boy from Wichita have located the body of his missing girlfriend.

Early Thursday, a police lieutenant was patrolling and located Kayla Blackmon’s 2005 Ford Escape in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 500 block of West 27th Street South in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Officers located Blackmon in the vehicle deceased.

On Tuesday, police alerted the public that Blackmon may be in danger and asked the public for help to find her SUV.&nbsp; Police found her 17-year-old boyfriend Michael Beasley deceased in the 1000 block of North Ash in Wichita on Monday.

Police are still working to determine the circumstances of what occurred in this case. Davidson released no additional details.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities continue to search for 18-year-old Kayla Blackmon of Wichita. On Tuesday, police investigating a reported shooting identified the victim as Blackmon's boyfriend Michael Beasley, 17, of Wichita.

As part of the investigation, police are asking  for assistance to locate Blackm0n and her grey, 2005 Ford Escape with Kansas license plate 566 NPK.

Police believe Blackmon may be in danger. Authorities ask that if you see the vehicle, please call 911.

Just after 9:30a.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting call in the 1000 Block of North Ash in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

A passerby saw a man lying in the grass on the north side of an abandoned church. When the passerby approached the man later identified as Beasley to see if he needed help, he discovered the man was unresponsive and called police. Sedgwick County EMS and additional first responders arrived and determined Beasley was dead.&nbsp; 

Police have released no new information in the case.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a reported shooting have identified a victim as 17-year-old Michael Beasley of Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

As part of the investigation, police are asking&nbsp; for assistance to locate Beasley's 18-year-old girlfriend Kayla Blackm0n of Wichita and her grey, 2005 Ford Escape with Kansas license plate 566 NPK.

Just after 9:30a.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting call in the 1000 Block of North Ash in Wichita, according to Davidson.

Davidson released no additional information including Beasley's cause of death on Tuesday morning.&nbsp; Police also have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612635307589.png" alt="Kelly-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Kelly-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement&nbsp;authorities investigating the murder of two Kansas teens have arrested of&nbsp;22-year-old Dontenize Kelly of Wichita, according to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsey.On Tuesday, police alerted the public that 18-year-old Kayla Blackmon may be in danger and asked the public for help to find her SUV.&nbsp; Police found her 17-year-old boyfriend Michael Beasley deceased in the 1000 block of North Ash in Wichita on Monday.As part of the the investigation police learned of Kelly's involvement and arrested him without incident Friday evening.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612284535821.png" alt="Officer Charley Davidson reported police found her SUV early Thursday." />
 <figcaption>Officer Charley Davidson reported police found her SUV early Thursday.</figcaption>
 </figure>Both teens were victims of gunshot wounds and killed in Blackmon's Ford Escape, according to Wichita Police Sgt. Dan Hardy. Police have not recovered a weapon and have not determined a motive as they continue to investigate.&nbsp;Kelly is being held <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20045382">on requested charges</a> of capital murder and a probation violation, according to Ramsey. He has previous convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal possession of a weapon and for attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.--------SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the death of a 17-year-old boy from Wichita have located the body of his missing girlfriend.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612284535821.png" alt="Officer Charley Davidson explained during a Tuesday press briefing that authorities needed help to locate Kayla Blackmon and her 2005 Ford&nbsp; Escape ." />
 <figcaption>Officer Charley Davidson explained during a Tuesday press briefing that authorities needed help to locate Kayla Blackmon and her 2005 Ford&nbsp; Escape .</figcaption>
 </figure>Early Thursday, a police lieutenant was patrolling and located Kayla Blackmon’s 2005 Ford Escape in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 500 block of West 27th Street South in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Officers located Blackmon in the vehicle deceased.On Tuesday, police alerted the public that Blackmon may be in danger and asked the public for help to find her SUV.&nbsp; Police found her 17-year-old boyfriend Michael Beasley deceased in the 1000 block of North Ash in Wichita on Monday.Police are still working to determine the circumstances of what occurred in this case. Davidson released no additional details.-------------SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities continue to search for 18-year-old Kayla Blackmon of Wichita. On Tuesday, police investigating a reported shooting identified the victim as Blackmon's boyfriend Michael Beasley, 17, of Wichita.As part of the investigation, police are asking for assistance to locate Blackm0n and her grey, 2005 Ford Escape with Kansas license plate 566 NPK.Police believe Blackmon may be in danger. Authorities ask that if you see the vehicle, please call 911.Just after 9:30a.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting call in the 1000 Block of North Ash in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.A passerby saw a man lying in the grass on the north side of an abandoned church. When the passerby approached the man later identified as Beasley to see if he needed help, he discovered the man was unresponsive and called police. Sedgwick County EMS and additional first responders arrived and determined Beasley was dead.&nbsp; Police have released no new information in the case.------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a reported shooting have identified a victim as 17-year-old Michael Beasley of Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.As part of the investigation, police are asking&nbsp; for assistance to locate Beasley's 18-year-old girlfriend Kayla Blackm0n of Wichita and her grey, 2005 Ford Escape with Kansas license plate 566 NPK.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612285744552.png" alt="Blackmon-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Blackmon-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Police believe Blackmon may be in danger. Authorities ask that if you see the vehicle, please call 911.Just after 9:30a.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting call in the 1000 Block of North Ash in Wichita, according to Davidson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612285804058.png" alt="2005 Ford Escape with Kansas license plate 566 NPK." />
 <figcaption>2005 Ford Escape with Kansas license plate 566 NPK.</figcaption>
 </figure>A passerby saw a man lying in the grass on the north side of an abandoned church. When the passerby approached the man later identified as Beasley to see if he needed help, he discovered the man was unresponsive and called police. Sedgwick County EMS and additional first responders arrived and determined Beasley was dead.&nbsp; Davidson released no additional information including Beasley's cause of death on Tuesday morning.&nbsp; Police also have not reported an arrest.

Suspect jailed for alleged murder of Kan. teen, her boyfriend 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden laid out his case Friday for moving fast to pass $1.9 trillion in coronavirus relief, but even as he opened the door to proceeding without Republicans, he conceded that a key element of his plan — hiking the minimum wage to $15 per hour — was unlikely to become law.

The stakes for the county and economy were amplified Friday morning by the release of the government’s jobs report for January, which showed that hiring had stalled to a pace that could hinder a return to full employment for several years. Some 406,000 people left the labor force last month as deaths from the pandemic have surged.

“A lot of folks are losing hope,” Biden said in a speech at the White House. “I believe the American people are looking right now to their government for help, to do our job, to not let them down. So I’m going to act. I’m going to act fast. I’d like to be doing it with the support of Republicans ... they’re just not willing to go as far as I think we have to go.”

The jobs report landed shortly after Senate Democrats cast a decisive vote to muscle the COVID relief plan through the chamber without Republican support, a step toward final approval next month. Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate, her first.

Biden’s speech solidified a marked shift in tone and strategy for a president who entered the White House pledging bipartisanship and met on Monday with 10 Republican senators pushing a slimmed-down $618 billion alternative. Biden concluded in his Friday speech that aid at that level would only prolong the economic pain.

Still, the president acknowledged Friday that one of his most ambitious proposals, raising the minimum wage, would likely be left out of the final bill.

“I put it in, but I don’t think it’s going to survive,” Biden said in an interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell, adding he would push to raise it in a standalone bill. “No one should work 40 hours a week and live below the poverty wage. And if you’re making less than $15 an hour, you’re living below the poverty wage.”

Senate Democrats applauded after Harris announced the chamber’s 51-50 vote on the budget measure at around 5:30 a.m. The action came after a grueling all-night session, where senators voted on amendments that could define the contours of the eventual COVID-19 aid bill.

Following Senate approval, the House passed the measure 219-209 on Friday afternoon, also without a Republican vote. The coronavirus aid package can now work its way through congressional committees with the goal of finalizing additional relief by mid-March, when extra unemployment assistance and other pandemic aid expires. It’s an aggressive timeline that will test the ability of the new administration and Congress to deliver.

“We have been focused like a laser on getting this done,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after leading Democrats in the House met with Biden on Friday. “We hope to be able to put vaccines in people’s arms, money in people’s pockets, children safely in schools and workers in their jobs. That’s what we are doing now.”

The push for stimulus comes amid new signs of a weakening U.S. economy. Employers added just 49,000 jobs in January, after cutting 227,000 jobs in December, the Labor Department said Friday. Restaurants, retailers, manufacturers and even the health care sector shed workers last month, meaning that private employers accounted for a meager gain of 6,000 jobs last month.

“At that rate, it’s going to take 10 years until we hit full employment,” Biden said during his Oval Office meeting with House Democrats. “That’s not hyperbole. That’s a fact.”

The unemployment rate fell to 6.3% from 6.7%, but there was a decline in the number of people who were either working or looking for a job in a sign that people are dropping out of the labor force. The U.S. economy is 9.9 million jobs shy of its pre-pandemic level.

Biden, who has been meeting with lawmakers in recent days to discuss the package, welcomed the leaders of House committees who will be assembling the bill under the budget process known as “reconciliation.” Money for vaccine distributions, direct payments to households, school reopenings and business aid are at stake.

The size of the package has been a concern for several Republican lawmakers and some economists. Larry Summers, a former treasury secretary during the Clinton administration, said in a column for The Washington Post that the $1.9 trillion package was three times larger than the projected economic shortfall. A separate analysis by the Penn Wharton Budget Model found the plan would do little to boost growth relative to its size.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612616353128.png" alt="After a busy week, President Biden departed Washington, D.C. on Air Force One for the first time as president-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>After a busy week, President Biden departed Washington, D.C. on Air Force One for the first time as president-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden laid out his case Friday for moving fast to pass $1.9 trillion in coronavirus relief, but even as he opened the door to proceeding without Republicans, he conceded that a key element of his plan — hiking the minimum wage to $15 per hour — was unlikely to become law.The stakes for the county and economy were amplified Friday morning by the release of the government’s jobs report for January, which showed that hiring had stalled to a pace that could hinder a return to full employment for several years. Some 406,000 people left the labor force last month as deaths from the pandemic have surged.“A lot of folks are losing hope,” Biden said in a speech at the White House. “I believe the American people are looking right now to their government for help, to do our job, to not let them down. So I’m going to act. I’m going to act fast. I’d like to be doing it with the support of Republicans ... they’re just not willing to go as far as I think we have to go.”The jobs report landed shortly after Senate Democrats cast a decisive vote to muscle the COVID relief plan through the chamber without Republican support, a step toward final approval next month. Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate, her first.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612529465267.png" alt="Harris announcing her tie-breaker vote early Friday in the U.S. Senate- photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Harris announcing her tie-breaker vote early Friday in the U.S. Senate- photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden’s speech solidified a marked shift in tone and strategy for a president who entered the White House pledging bipartisanship and met on Monday with 10 Republican senators pushing a slimmed-down $618 billion alternative. Biden concluded in his Friday speech that aid at that level would only prolong the economic pain.Still, the president acknowledged Friday that one of his most ambitious proposals, raising the minimum wage, would likely be left out of the final bill.“I put it in, but I don’t think it’s going to survive,” Biden said in an interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell, adding he would push to raise it in a standalone bill. “No one should work 40 hours a week and live below the poverty wage. And if you’re making less than $15 an hour, you’re living below the poverty wage.”Senate Democrats applauded after Harris announced the chamber’s 51-50 vote on the budget measure at around 5:30 a.m. The action came after a grueling all-night session, where senators voted on amendments that could define the contours of the eventual COVID-19 aid bill.Following Senate approval, the House passed the measure 219-209 on Friday afternoon, also without a Republican vote. The coronavirus aid package can now work its way through congressional committees with the goal of finalizing additional relief by mid-March, when extra unemployment assistance and other pandemic aid expires. It’s an aggressive timeline that will test the ability of the new administration and Congress to deliver.“We have been focused like a laser on getting this done,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after leading Democrats in the House met with Biden on Friday. “We hope to be able to put vaccines in people’s arms, money in people’s pockets, children safely in schools and workers in their jobs. That’s what we are doing now.”The push for stimulus comes amid new signs of a weakening U.S. economy. Employers added just 49,000 jobs in January, after cutting 227,000 jobs in December, the Labor Department said Friday. Restaurants, retailers, manufacturers and even the health care sector shed workers last month, meaning that private employers accounted for a meager gain of 6,000 jobs last month.“At that rate, it’s going to take 10 years until we hit full employment,” Biden said during his Oval Office meeting with House Democrats. “That’s not hyperbole. That’s a fact.”The unemployment rate fell to 6.3% from 6.7%, but there was a decline in the number of people who were either working or looking for a job in a sign that people are dropping out of the labor force. The U.S. economy is 9.9 million jobs shy of its pre-pandemic level.Biden, who has been meeting with lawmakers in recent days to discuss the package, welcomed the leaders of House committees who will be assembling the bill under the budget process known as “reconciliation.” Money for vaccine distributions, direct payments to households, school reopenings and business aid are at stake.The size of the package has been a concern for several Republican lawmakers and some economists. Larry Summers, a former treasury secretary during the Clinton administration, said in a column for The Washington Post that the $1.9 trillion package was three times larger than the projected economic shortfall. A separate analysis by the Penn Wharton Budget Model found the plan would do little to boost growth relative to its size.The Senate also passed an amendment 99-1 that would prevent the $1,400 in direct checks in Biden’s proposal from going to “upper-income taxpayers.” But the measure, led by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is ultimately symbolic and nonbinding and does not specify at what level a person qualifies as upper income.Biden told CBS he was “prepared to negotiate” on the upper boundary for where payments would phase out. “Middle-class folks need help,” he said. “But you don’t need to get any help to someone making 300,000 bucks or $250,000.”And while Biden seemed willing to break with Republicans in his speech, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters afterward that the budget process approved by the Senate still allows for bipartisanship.“The process enables for time for negotiations through committee work,” Psaki said. “We certainly are hopeful that there will be opportunities for amendments from Republicans, amendments from others across the board to be a part of this process moving forward.”