TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State office buildings near the Statehouse have been closed to the public and the Legislature has curtailed its meetings due to security concerns ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.

The closures came in response to an FBI warning about the potential for armed protests nationwide following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/14c73ee280c256ab4ec193ac0f49ad54">mob violence&nbsp;</a>Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. Supporters of President Donald Trump, encouraged by unfounded allegations of election fraud, stormed the building, interrupting Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory over Trump.

“We encourage everyone to work remotely as much as possible Tuesday and Wednesday to limit traffic in the statehouse,” House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said in an email to colleagues Monday evening. “We encourage you to have your staff work remotely on Tuesday and Wednesday as well.”

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s office&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-0764f55150f44c985034289ff8b0ded9">told lawmakers last week&nbsp;</a>that it had information about potential events at the Kansas Statehouse on Sunday and later in the week, including Wednesday, the day of Biden’s inauguration. The Sunday event did not materialize.

Kelly restricted access to the Statehouse and increased security in the area, then decided to close the offices near the Statehouse on Tuesday and Wednesday. Leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature said their chambers would conduct no major business on those days, and most committees postponed meetings.

The office of Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, also emailed senators Monday evening, urging them not to come to the chamber Tuesday and saying they would be marked present for the daily roll call. Both chambers scheduled only housekeeping sessions for Wednesday so most members would not have to be present.

About 200 Trump supporters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-kansas-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-1d62ac6c2ee8ea226b8fbbc1cdd20939">rallied at the Kansas Statehouse</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 6, but their event was peaceful, and they entered the building through its main security checkpoint. There were no arrests or problems reported.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, was working from home.

“If there is an issue, I would rather be overly cautious than to have something happen where people are injured or severely hurt,” she said.

Kelly said the buildings closed include the three largest ones housing state agencies near the Statehouse. The state Department for Children and Families announced that it was closing its service centers in Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas, both days as well.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert announced that the Kansas Judicial Center also would be closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to security concerns.

TOPEKA&nbsp;- Governor Laura Kelly announced the State Office Buildings in the Capitol Complex, which includes Curtis, Landon, and Eisenhower, will be closed starting Tuesday, January 19, and Wednesday, January 20. Additional administration buildings will also be closed including the Kansas Department for Children and Families service centers in Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas. “The safety and wellbeing of our employees is my top priority,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“These steps are taken out of an abundance of caution – and I thank all employees for their patience and understanding during this time.” Employees are instructed to work remotely. If an employee’s regular duties require them to be in the office – and they cannot work from home – they are instructed not to report to work Tuesday, January 19 or Wednesday, January 20. Governor Kelly encourages agency heads with offices in the immediate surrounding area beyond the State Office Buildings to follow similar procedure. The Statehouse will be open for individuals having business with the Legislature, Governor’s or Lt. Governor’s Offices. All Statehouse access will be through the Visitor Center entrance only.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610659131053.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas Capitol Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas Capitol Police</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State office buildings near the Statehouse have been closed to the public and the Legislature has curtailed its meetings due to security concerns ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.The closures came in response to an FBI warning about the potential for armed protests nationwide following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/14c73ee280c256ab4ec193ac0f49ad54">mob violence&nbsp;</a>Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. Supporters of President Donald Trump, encouraged by unfounded allegations of election fraud, stormed the building, interrupting Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory over Trump.“We encourage everyone to work remotely as much as possible Tuesday and Wednesday to limit traffic in the statehouse,” House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said in an email to colleagues Monday evening. “We encourage you to have your staff work remotely on Tuesday and Wednesday as well.”Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s office&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-legislature-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-0764f55150f44c985034289ff8b0ded9">told lawmakers last week&nbsp;</a>that it had information about potential events at the Kansas Statehouse on Sunday and later in the week, including Wednesday, the day of Biden’s inauguration. The Sunday event did not materialize.Kelly restricted access to the Statehouse and increased security in the area, then decided to close the offices near the Statehouse on Tuesday and Wednesday. Leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature said their chambers would conduct no major business on those days, and most committees postponed meetings.The office of Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, also emailed senators Monday evening, urging them not to come to the chamber Tuesday and saying they would be marked present for the daily roll call. Both chambers scheduled only housekeeping sessions for Wednesday so most members would not have to be present.About 200 Trump supporters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-kansas-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-1d62ac6c2ee8ea226b8fbbc1cdd20939">rallied at the Kansas Statehouse</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 6, but their event was peaceful, and they entered the building through its main security checkpoint. There were no arrests or problems reported.Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, was working from home.“If there is an issue, I would rather be overly cautious than to have something happen where people are injured or severely hurt,” she said.Kelly said the buildings closed include the three largest ones housing state agencies near the Statehouse. The state Department for Children and Families announced that it was closing its service centers in Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas, both days as well.State Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert announced that the Kansas Judicial Center also would be closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to security concerns.-------TOPEKA&nbsp;- Governor Laura Kelly announced the State Office Buildings in the Capitol Complex, which includes Curtis, Landon, and Eisenhower, will be closed starting Tuesday, January 19, and Wednesday, January 20. Additional administration buildings will also be closed including the Kansas Department for Children and Families service centers in Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas. “The safety and wellbeing of our employees is my top priority,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“These steps are taken out of an abundance of caution – and I thank all employees for their patience and understanding during this time.” Employees are instructed to work remotely. If an employee’s regular duties require them to be in the office – and they cannot work from home – they are instructed not to report to work Tuesday, January 19 or Wednesday, January 20. Governor Kelly encourages agency heads with offices in the immediate surrounding area beyond the State Office Buildings to follow similar procedure. The Statehouse will be open for individuals having business with the Legislature, Governor’s or Lt. Governor’s Offices. All Statehouse access will be through the Visitor Center entrance only.

Update on security concerns that curtail Kan. Legislature

In a college application season like no other, students who have seen every aspect of their lives disrupted by the coronavirus are grappling with how to show their potential.

High school seniors around the U.S. are facing January and February college application deadlines without SAT and ACT entrance exam scores, community service records and resumes flush with extracurricular activities — all casualties of an era of social distancing and remote learning that has carried over from their junior year.

The pandemic has prompted colleges to make tests optional and find new ways to evaluate students, including student-athletes, like southern California high school senior Anthony Correra. The pandemic canceled his last football season, shortening the highlight tapes that he’d hoped to share with college recruiters.

“Colleges and universities don’t have the same tools that they did to evaluate students before,” said Angel Perez, chief executive of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, or NACAC. “The experience that students are going through right now is drastically different from many others.”

For the first time, the Common Application that allows students to apply to multiple institutions at the same time added an optional space so students can explain in 250 words or less the pandemic’s impacts.

A sampling of responses provided to The Associated Press illustrate the pandemic’s academic, emotional and financial toll.

“My parents losing their jobs made it very hard financially and we struggled to get by,” a student wrote. “It was already hard before the pandemic but with the low amount of money flowing in as a result of Covid-19’s safe to say our situations got even worse.”

Others wrote of struggling to focus alongside siblings and parents in noisy households disrupted by work and school Zoom calls, or of money and technology challenges.

“We want to provide colleges with the information they need, with the goal of having students answer COVID-19 questions only once while using the rest of the application as they would have before to share their interests and perspectives beyond COVID-19,” the nonprofit Common Application said.

Correra, an all-season athlete at Grand Terrace High School in California, said he hadn’t thought much about college until recently, describing a side effect of life on what he called “quarantine time” where months and milestones pass unremarkably. He has applied to schools in the University of California and California State University systems, as well as some private colleges.

The colleges that have shown interest have been understanding because so many students are in the same situation, said his father, Mike Correra.

“It’s been kind of refreshing a little bit because I’m not as stressed as I was,” said Mike Correra, who said one coach even viewed his cellphone video from his son’s games.

Colleges have been eager to work with applicants amid concerns about enrollment declines and an alarming drop in the number of potential students,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4e0667bb51f18bf54656ce5c504d5859">particularly low-income students</a>, filling out financial aid documents — an indicator they may not pursue college.

Very competitive colleges, though, have had the opposite problem of trying to juggle large numbers of students who deferred acceptance last year on top of increasing applications for the coming year. Harvard College, for one, marked its most competitive early admissions cycle ever, the Harvard Crimson reported. The college invited 747 of 10,086 early applicants to join its Class of 2025, down from 895 of 6,424 applicants last year.

More than 1,600 institutions have made it optional for students to submit admissions test scores in an acknowledgement of cancelled testing sessions, Perez said. Instead, admissions officers will lean more heavily on essays, grades and the rigor of coursework, pre-pandemic extracurriculars and more than ever, the interest students show in attending.

“Usually this time of year, schools would be all over the country and the world, recruiting. ... But now they’ve moved into this online space where they are seeking individual conversations, interviews, engagement with students and families,” Perez said. “So I would also say to students, raise your hand and reach out individually to an admissions counselor if you’re interested in those institutions.”

With in-person interviews difficult, institutions including Washington University in St. Louis and Bowdoin in Maine are inviting students to send videos introducing themselves, a practice that was catching on before the pandemic. Bowdoin this year also said applicants could swap out a usual teacher evaluation with an “other” recommendation from a friend, employer or someone else with insight about their character.

But rounding up any kind of letters remotely can be challenging.

“It’s definitely preferable to be able to discuss those in person instead of emailing back and forth,” said Claire Gelillo, a high school senior in Rockville, Maryland. “One of the big things is not having the support of peers and teachers as readily available.”

Lexington, Kentucky, high school senior Gabriella Staykova had planned to visit several colleges during spring break in her junior year, but with her school shut down since March 13 she is applying for many colleges sight unseen. She crossed Barnard College in New York City off the list and has reservations about others in unfamiliar cities.

“I’m just hoping that things will clear up enough before Decision Day that I’ll be able to either tour the schools in person or that the schools will offer some sort of online alternative that’s a lot more personal than what they usually would do,” she said. “That way maybe I can make more educated guesses.”

By CAROLYN THOMPSON, Associated PressIn a college application season like no other, students who have seen every aspect of their lives disrupted by the coronavirus are grappling with how to show their potential.High school seniors around the U.S. are facing January and February college application deadlines without SAT and ACT entrance exam scores, community service records and resumes flush with extracurricular activities — all casualties of an era of social distancing and remote learning that has carried over from their junior year.The pandemic has prompted colleges to make tests optional and find new ways to evaluate students, including student-athletes, like southern California high school senior Anthony Correra. The pandemic canceled his last football season, shortening the highlight tapes that he’d hoped to share with college recruiters.“Colleges and universities don’t have the same tools that they did to evaluate students before,” said Angel Perez, chief executive of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, or NACAC. “The experience that students are going through right now is drastically different from many others.”For the first time, the Common Application that allows students to apply to multiple institutions at the same time added an optional space so students can explain in 250 words or less the pandemic’s impacts.A sampling of responses provided to The Associated Press illustrate the pandemic’s academic, emotional and financial toll.“My parents losing their jobs made it very hard financially and we struggled to get by,” a student wrote. “It was already hard before the pandemic but with the low amount of money flowing in as a result of Covid-19’s safe to say our situations got even worse.”Others wrote of struggling to focus alongside siblings and parents in noisy households disrupted by work and school Zoom calls, or of money and technology challenges.“We want to provide colleges with the information they need, with the goal of having students answer COVID-19 questions only once while using the rest of the application as they would have before to share their interests and perspectives beyond COVID-19,” the nonprofit Common Application said.Correra, an all-season athlete at Grand Terrace High School in California, said he hadn’t thought much about college until recently, describing a side effect of life on what he called “quarantine time” where months and milestones pass unremarkably. He has applied to schools in the University of California and California State University systems, as well as some private colleges.The colleges that have shown interest have been understanding because so many students are in the same situation, said his father, Mike Correra.“It’s been kind of refreshing a little bit because I’m not as stressed as I was,” said Mike Correra, who said one coach even viewed his cellphone video from his son’s games.Colleges have been eager to work with applicants amid concerns about enrollment declines and an alarming drop in the number of potential students,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4e0667bb51f18bf54656ce5c504d5859">particularly low-income students</a>, filling out financial aid documents — an indicator they may not pursue college.Very competitive colleges, though, have had the opposite problem of trying to juggle large numbers of students who deferred acceptance last year on top of increasing applications for the coming year. Harvard College, for one, marked its most competitive early admissions cycle ever, the Harvard Crimson reported. The college invited 747 of 10,086 early applicants to join its Class of 2025, down from 895 of 6,424 applicants last year.More than 1,600 institutions have made it optional for students to submit admissions test scores in an acknowledgement of cancelled testing sessions, Perez said. Instead, admissions officers will lean more heavily on essays, grades and the rigor of coursework, pre-pandemic extracurriculars and more than ever, the interest students show in attending.“Usually this time of year, schools would be all over the country and the world, recruiting. ... But now they’ve moved into this online space where they are seeking individual conversations, interviews, engagement with students and families,” Perez said. “So I would also say to students, raise your hand and reach out individually to an admissions counselor if you’re interested in those institutions.”With in-person interviews difficult, institutions including Washington University in St. Louis and Bowdoin in Maine are inviting students to send videos introducing themselves, a practice that was catching on before the pandemic. Bowdoin this year also said applicants could swap out a usual teacher evaluation with an “other” recommendation from a friend, employer or someone else with insight about their character.But rounding up any kind of letters remotely can be challenging.“It’s definitely preferable to be able to discuss those in person instead of emailing back and forth,” said Claire Gelillo, a high school senior in Rockville, Maryland. “One of the big things is not having the support of peers and teachers as readily available.”Lexington, Kentucky, high school senior Gabriella Staykova had planned to visit several colleges during spring break in her junior year, but with her school shut down since March 13 she is applying for many colleges sight unseen. She crossed Barnard College in New York City off the list and has reservations about others in unfamiliar cities.“I’m just hoping that things will clear up enough before Decision Day that I’ll be able to either tour the schools in person or that the schools will offer some sort of online alternative that’s a lot more personal than what they usually would do,” she said. “That way maybe I can make more educated guesses.”

Pandemic's toll shows up on students' college applications

TOPEKA —Kansas Department of Health Secretary Dr. Lee Norman and&nbsp;Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas joined physicians at the University of Kansas Health System Tuesday morning to discuss the progress of vaccinations in Kansas and Missouri.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 3688 to a total of 259,822, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp; Coronavirus deaths were reported at 3525 an increase of 23.

A new phase of vaccinations began Monday in Missouri that allows older people and those with certain pre-existing conditions to be vaccinated.

Missouri health officials on Monday reported at least 11,983 COVID-19 cases in the past week. That's about 1,712 newly reported cases per day.

At least 6,256 deaths in Missouri have been attributed to the virus.

TOPEKA —Kansas Department of Health Secretary Dr. Lee Norman and&nbsp;Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas joined physicians at the University of Kansas Health System Tuesday morning to discuss the progress of vaccinations in Kansas and Missouri.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkuhospital%2Fvideos%2F287525866112036%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 3688 to a total of 259,822, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp; Coronavirus deaths were reported at 3525 an increase of 23.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610558093974.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A new phase of vaccinations began Monday in Missouri that allows older people and those with certain pre-existing conditions to be vaccinated.Missouri health officials on Monday reported at least 11,983 COVID-19 cases in the past week. That's about 1,712 newly reported cases per day.At least 6,256 deaths in Missouri have been attributed to the virus.

🎥 Dr. Lee Norman gives update on COVID vaccination

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on weapons and other charges after a shooting at a Salina nursing home.

Just after 6:3 p.m. Monday, police were sent to Pinnacle Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 2936 Georgia Avenue in Salina, for the report of a disturbance, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

Officers made contact with Danielle Robinson, 31, of Salina, who reported she was with a subject in Solomon and the subject pushed her out of a moving vehicle.

&nbsp;The woman told police that she got back into the vehicle and the subject drove her to Salina. She then got out of the vehicle and was chased to Pinnacle Park Nursing home.

According to Forrester, Robinson requested paramedics but then refused to go with them, and left the area running westbound. 

At 8:02 p.m., officers were sent back to the nursing home for the report of gunfire.&nbsp; Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise, then Robinson made entry into the property holding a firearm and said she had been shot. Police could find no evidence that she had been shot, according to Forrester.&nbsp;

Robinson then began waving the gun around and pointed it at several individuals. Robinson then put the gun down and one of the other people there kicked it away from her.

Officers collected a Ruger LCP and found the west entry glass door to the home had been shot. Officers also collected a shell casing in the foyer, according to Forrester. 

Police arrested Robinson on requested charges that include Aggravated assault, Aggravated burglary, Criminal use of a weapon and Interference with a law enforcement officer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611066657536.jpeg" alt="Robinson-Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Robinson-Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on weapons and other charges after a shooting at a Salina nursing home.Just after 6:3 p.m. Monday, police were sent to Pinnacle Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 2936 Georgia Avenue in Salina, for the report of a disturbance, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.Officers made contact with Danielle Robinson, 31, of Salina, who reported she was with a subject in Solomon and the subject pushed her out of a moving vehicle.&nbsp;The woman told police that she got back into the vehicle and the subject drove her to Salina. She then got out of the vehicle and was chased to Pinnacle Park Nursing home.According to Forrester, Robinson requested paramedics but then refused to go with them, and left the area running westbound. At 8:02 p.m., officers were sent back to the nursing home for the report of gunfire.&nbsp; Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise, then Robinson made entry into the property holding a firearm and said she had been shot. Police could find no evidence that she had been shot, according to Forrester.&nbsp;Robinson then began waving the gun around and pointed it at several individuals. Robinson then put the gun down and one of the other people there kicked it away from her.Officers collected a Ruger LCP and found the west entry glass door to the home had been shot. Officers also collected a shell casing in the foyer, according to Forrester. Police arrested Robinson on requested charges that include Aggravated assault, Aggravated burglary, Criminal use of a weapon and Interference with a law enforcement officer.

Police: Kansas woman jailed after gunfire at nursing home

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden has tapped Pennsylvania Health Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-discrimination-pennsylvania-virus-outbreak-2702d3f6961f2c355c0c0f73018a1f5f">Rachel Levine</a>&nbsp;to be his assistant secretary of health, leaving her poised to become the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

A pediatrician and former Pennsylvania physician general, Levine was appointed to her current post by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017, making her one of the few transgender people serving in elected or appointed positions nationwide. She won past confirmation by the Republican-majority Pennsylvania Senate and has emerged as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-health-pennsylvania-archive-0ea47128a21526aa9a1bbab69e9e6266">the public face of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic</a>.

“Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability — and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond,” Biden said in a statement. “She is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our administration’s health efforts.”

A graduate of Harvard and of Tulane Medical School, Levine is president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. She’s written in the past on the opioid crisis, medical marijuana, adolescent medicine, eating disorders and LGBTQ medicine.

Biden and his transition team have already begun negotiating with members of Congress, promoting speedy passage of the president-elect’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-unveil-plan-coronavirus-economy-a512629b3af12e89ab42097a81668960">$1.9 trillion plan</a>&nbsp;to bring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">the coronavirus</a>, which&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">has killed nearly 400,000 people in the United States</a>, under control. It seeks to enlist federal emergency personnel to run mass vaccination centers and provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a512629b3af12e89ab42097a81668960">100 immunization shots</a>&nbsp;in his administration’s first 100 days while using government spending to stimulate the pandemic-hammered economy,

Biden also says that, in one of his first acts as president, he’ll ask Americans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-jake-tapper-coronavirus-pandemic-fa365aa74f80e768bce3edc1649e4e8a">wear masks for 100 days</a>&nbsp;to slow the virus’ spread.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris called Levine “a remarkable public servant with the knowledge and experience to help us contain this pandemic, and protect and improve the health and well-being of the American people.”

Levine joins Biden’s Health and Human Services secretary nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-xavier-becerra-harvard-bc89947ff5ad8d21bc272743607d01fa">Xavier Becerra</a>, a Latino politician who rose from humble beginnings to serve in Congress and as California’s attorney general.

Businessman Jeff Zients is Biden’s coronavirus response coordinator, while Biden picked infectious-disease specialist Rochelle Walensky to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vivek Murthy as surgeon general and Yale epidemiologist Marcella Nunez-Smith to head a working group to ensure fair and equitable distribution of vaccines and treatments.

The government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, will also work closely with the Biden administration.

A transition spokesperson also said Tuesday that Dawn O’Connell will serve as senior counselor for coronavirus response to the health and human services secretary. O’Connell most recently served as director of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and was the senior counselor and deputy chief of staff to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell during the Obama administration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611066522458.png" alt="Rachel Levine-photo courtesy office of Gov. Tom Wolf" />
 <figcaption>Rachel Levine-photo courtesy office of Gov. Tom Wolf</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden has tapped Pennsylvania Health Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-discrimination-pennsylvania-virus-outbreak-2702d3f6961f2c355c0c0f73018a1f5f">Rachel Levine</a>&nbsp;to be his assistant secretary of health, leaving her poised to become the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.A pediatrician and former Pennsylvania physician general, Levine was appointed to her current post by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017, making her one of the few transgender people serving in elected or appointed positions nationwide. She won past confirmation by the Republican-majority Pennsylvania Senate and has emerged as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-health-pennsylvania-archive-0ea47128a21526aa9a1bbab69e9e6266">the public face of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic</a>.“Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability — and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond,” Biden said in a statement. “She is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our administration’s health efforts.”A graduate of Harvard and of Tulane Medical School, Levine is president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. She’s written in the past on the opioid crisis, medical marijuana, adolescent medicine, eating disorders and LGBTQ medicine.Biden and his transition team have already begun negotiating with members of Congress, promoting speedy passage of the president-elect’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-unveil-plan-coronavirus-economy-a512629b3af12e89ab42097a81668960">$1.9 trillion plan</a>&nbsp;to bring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">the coronavirus</a>, which&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">has killed nearly 400,000 people in the United States</a>, under control. It seeks to enlist federal emergency personnel to run mass vaccination centers and provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a512629b3af12e89ab42097a81668960">100 immunization shots</a>&nbsp;in his administration’s first 100 days while using government spending to stimulate the pandemic-hammered economy,Biden also says that, in one of his first acts as president, he’ll ask Americans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-jake-tapper-coronavirus-pandemic-fa365aa74f80e768bce3edc1649e4e8a">wear masks for 100 days</a>&nbsp;to slow the virus’ spread.Vice President-elect Kamala Harris called Levine “a remarkable public servant with the knowledge and experience to help us contain this pandemic, and protect and improve the health and well-being of the American people.”Levine joins Biden’s Health and Human Services secretary nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-xavier-becerra-harvard-bc89947ff5ad8d21bc272743607d01fa">Xavier Becerra</a>, a Latino politician who rose from humble beginnings to serve in Congress and as California’s attorney general.Businessman Jeff Zients is Biden’s coronavirus response coordinator, while Biden picked infectious-disease specialist Rochelle Walensky to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vivek Murthy as surgeon general and Yale epidemiologist Marcella Nunez-Smith to head a working group to ensure fair and equitable distribution of vaccines and treatments.The government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, will also work closely with the Biden administration.A transition spokesperson also said Tuesday that Dawn O’Connell will serve as senior counselor for coronavirus response to the health and human services secretary. O’Connell most recently served as director of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and was the senior counselor and deputy chief of staff to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell during the Obama administration.

Biden nominee would be 1st transgender woman confirmed by Senate

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly will join in a nationwide event to honor those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 by turning on all of the Kansas Statehouse interior lights on Tuesday evening, according to a media release from her office.

“The past 10 months have been filled with tragedy and loss for so many Kansans – and I offer my deepest sympathies to those who have lost friends, family members, or loved ones to the COVID-19 pandemic,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Next week, as we light the Kansas Statehouse, we will honor their memories and recommit ourselves to preventing further deaths by doing our part to slow the spread of the virus and ensure every Kansan is vaccinated.”

The widespread lighting event was initially planned by the Presidential Inaugural Committee for President-elect Joe Biden. Tuesday evening, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will be lit to memorialize American lives lost to COVID-19.

The Inaugural Committee invites states and communities across the nation to participate by lighting up buildings and ringing church bells at 5:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. CT, Tuesday to participate in this national moment of unity and remembrance.

“I encourage all cities and counties in Kansas to join in and light up Courthouses, City Halls, or other buildings Tuesday evening,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Let us all use this opportunity to unite as Kansans and as Americans and remember those we have lost.

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly will join in a nationwide event to honor those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 by turning on all of the Kansas Statehouse interior lights on Tuesday evening, according to a media release from her office.“The past 10 months have been filled with tragedy and loss for so many Kansans – and I offer my deepest sympathies to those who have lost friends, family members, or loved ones to the COVID-19 pandemic,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Next week, as we light the Kansas Statehouse, we will honor their memories and recommit ourselves to preventing further deaths by doing our part to slow the spread of the virus and ensure every Kansan is vaccinated.”The widespread lighting event was initially planned by the Presidential Inaugural Committee for President-elect Joe Biden. Tuesday evening, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will be lit to memorialize American lives lost to COVID-19.The Inaugural Committee invites states and communities across the nation to participate by lighting up buildings and ringing church bells at 5:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. CT, Tuesday to participate in this national moment of unity and remembrance.“I encourage all cities and counties in Kansas to join in and light up Courthouses, City Halls, or other buildings Tuesday evening,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Let us all use this opportunity to unite as Kansans and as Americans and remember those we have lost.

Gov. to participate in ceremony to honor COVID-19 victims

LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation into the report of a missing child and now, Aggravated Interference with Parental Custody, according to&nbsp;Sgt. Lisa Hayes with Emporia police.

 In response to the police request for public information Monday, authorities received numerous tips that 4-year-old Kyrese Cabrera-Downs may have been delivered to his father, Devin Downs, in Augusta, Kansas by his grandmother Jessica Downs. 

 The Augusta Police Department located and interviewed the father and the father allowed officers a search of his home.  The child was not located and is believed to still be with Jessica Downs.

Just after 10:30p.m. Monday, Emporia police received a credible tip that Jessica Downs was in Topeka. She was spotted near the Kicks 66 gas station on SW Gage Blvd south of Highway 470, according to Sgt. Hays.

Topeka Police Department responded to this information as soon as it was made available to the Emporia Police Department.&nbsp; They did not locate Jessica Downs or Kyrese.

This investigation is now being treated as a felony level Aggravated Interference with Parental Custody.&nbsp;

Police have had many inquiries about issuing an Amber Alert in this case. Amber Alert has strict criteria and at this time, this case does not meet the criteria. More information about Amber Alerts can be <a href="https://kbi.kansas.gov/ksamber/">found here.</a>

Jessica Downs is a 41-year-old white female. She is 5-foot-8 165 pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair.  She may be driving a black or dark colored 4 door passenger car with a rounded body. Nathan Shown is a white male, 39 years of age, 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, with green eyes and brown hair.&nbsp;

 The child, Kyrese Cabrera-Downs, 2-years-old, a mixed race black and white male, approximately 25 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair was last seen wearing a red “Thomas the Tank Engine” pajama shirt and blue pajama pants.

If you have any information, please contact the Emporia Police Department at 620 343-4225 or Lyon County Crime Stoppers at 620 342-2273. You can also submit tips to Lyon County Crime Stoppers via Smartphone or online application by visiting P3&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftips.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3Q_z1M-mCHOmjWeGlafXzskZi8nMH3PNuGco8kvbQ163kbx-FU9O6jm3E&amp;h=AT1togncYbKoQ9Q3tBJOF5w0pBXF9xml7vdCJWlogzYrj3mNC0jaNCW-9DORh-0GVRkph82E-oNvFw0njpVzs5MNzmw1I_uG1P-lk9MQeqGg6jL-eiOqRsO3pv2en2BngUiAKR8&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT0WKR9WRkRc_UX_GKlgmy0_zcsgD2PMCyZuMIVFqmINtOoJDBDB1KnwlX7eoW1ZiVWvRXfMK2CrEHHaKSK9PbJ0JhXiqnIfya4epIxKjHdAJEfNu83pXXlX6on8GI3Thu5f7nMnCL4h_nO1VUwjU_Tr1ApwvQXYvSbzKFI0HOVR7qA" target="_blank">tips.com</a>

LYON COUNTY —The Emporia Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating 2-year-old Kyrese Cabrera-Downs, a mixed race black and white boy last seen with his grandmother, Jessica S. Downs&nbsp; and possibly Nathan Shown, according to a media release from police.

 The child, Kyrese Cabrera-Downs, 2-years-old, a mixed race black and white male, approximately 25 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair was last seen wearing a red “Thomas the Tank Engine” pajama shirt and blue pajama pants. 

 Police believe Downs could be traveling to Augusta, KS with the child.  EPD is currently investigating this case as a missing child and Interference with Parental Custody. 

If you have any information, please contact the Emporia Police Department at 620 343-4225 or Lyon County Crime Stoppers at 620 342-2273. You can also submit tips to Lyon County Crime Stoppers via Smartphone or online application by visiting P3 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftips.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3Q_z1M-mCHOmjWeGlafXzskZi8nMH3PNuGco8kvbQ163kbx-FU9O6jm3E&amp;h=AT1togncYbKoQ9Q3tBJOF5w0pBXF9xml7vdCJWlogzYrj3mNC0jaNCW-9DORh-0GVRkph82E-oNvFw0njpVzs5MNzmw1I_uG1P-lk9MQeqGg6jL-eiOqRsO3pv2en2BngUiAKR8&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT0WKR9WRkRc_UX_GKlgmy0_zcsgD2PMCyZuMIVFqmINtOoJDBDB1KnwlX7eoW1ZiVWvRXfMK2CrEHHaKSK9PbJ0JhXiqnIfya4epIxKjHdAJEfNu83pXXlX6on8GI3Thu5f7nMnCL4h_nO1VUwjU_Tr1ApwvQXYvSbzKFI0HOVR7qA" target="_blank">tips.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611018035850.png" alt="Kyrese, Jessica Downs and Nathan Shown-photo Emporia police. Shown has various convictions that include for robbery, driving while suspended, giving worthless checks and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Kyrese, Jessica Downs and Nathan Shown-photo Emporia police. Shown has various convictions that include for robbery, driving while suspended, giving worthless checks and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation into the report of a missing child and now, Aggravated Interference with Parental Custody, according to&nbsp;Sgt. Lisa Hayes with Emporia police. In response to the police request for public information Monday, authorities received numerous tips that 4-year-old Kyrese Cabrera-Downs may have been delivered to his father, Devin Downs, in Augusta, Kansas by his grandmother Jessica Downs. The Augusta Police Department located and interviewed the father and the father allowed officers a search of his home. The child was not located and is believed to still be with Jessica Downs.Just after 10:30p.m. Monday, Emporia police received a credible tip that Jessica Downs was in Topeka. She was spotted near the Kicks 66 gas station on SW Gage Blvd south of Highway 470, according to Sgt. Hays.Topeka Police Department responded to this information as soon as it was made available to the Emporia Police Department.&nbsp; They did not locate Jessica Downs or Kyrese.This investigation is now being treated as a felony level Aggravated Interference with Parental Custody.&nbsp;Police have had many inquiries about issuing an Amber Alert in this case. Amber Alert has strict criteria and at this time, this case does not meet the criteria. More information about Amber Alerts can be <a href="https://kbi.kansas.gov/ksamber/">found here.</a>Jessica Downs is a 41-year-old white female. She is 5-foot-8 165 pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair. She may be driving a black or dark colored 4 door passenger car with a rounded body. Nathan Shown is a white male, 39 years of age, 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, with green eyes and brown hair.&nbsp; The child, Kyrese Cabrera-Downs, 2-years-old, a mixed race black and white male, approximately 25 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair was last seen wearing a red “Thomas the Tank Engine” pajama shirt and blue pajama pants.If you have any information, please contact the Emporia Police Department at 620 343-4225 or Lyon County Crime Stoppers at 620 342-2273. You can also submit tips to Lyon County Crime Stoppers via Smartphone or online application by visiting P3&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftips.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3Q_z1M-mCHOmjWeGlafXzskZi8nMH3PNuGco8kvbQ163kbx-FU9O6jm3E&amp;h=AT1togncYbKoQ9Q3tBJOF5w0pBXF9xml7vdCJWlogzYrj3mNC0jaNCW-9DORh-0GVRkph82E-oNvFw0njpVzs5MNzmw1I_uG1P-lk9MQeqGg6jL-eiOqRsO3pv2en2BngUiAKR8&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT0WKR9WRkRc_UX_GKlgmy0_zcsgD2PMCyZuMIVFqmINtOoJDBDB1KnwlX7eoW1ZiVWvRXfMK2CrEHHaKSK9PbJ0JhXiqnIfya4epIxKjHdAJEfNu83pXXlX6on8GI3Thu5f7nMnCL4h_nO1VUwjU_Tr1ApwvQXYvSbzKFI0HOVR7qA" target="_blank">tips.com</a>----------LYON COUNTY —The Emporia Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating 2-year-old Kyrese Cabrera-Downs, a mixed race black and white boy last seen with his grandmother, Jessica S. Downs&nbsp; and possibly Nathan Shown, according to a media release from police.Jessica Downs is a 41-year-old white female. She is 5-foot-8 165 pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair. She may be driving a black or dark colored 4 door passenger car with a rounded body. Nathan Shown is a white male, 39 years of age, 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, with green eyes and brown hair.&nbsp; The child, Kyrese Cabrera-Downs, 2-years-old, a mixed race black and white male, approximately 25 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair was last seen wearing a red “Thomas the Tank Engine” pajama shirt and blue pajama pants. Police believe Downs could be traveling to Augusta, KS with the child. EPD is currently investigating this case as a missing child and Interference with Parental Custody. If you have any information, please contact the Emporia Police Department at 620 343-4225 or Lyon County Crime Stoppers at 620 342-2273. You can also submit tips to Lyon County Crime Stoppers via Smartphone or online application by visiting P3 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftips.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3Q_z1M-mCHOmjWeGlafXzskZi8nMH3PNuGco8kvbQ163kbx-FU9O6jm3E&amp;h=AT1togncYbKoQ9Q3tBJOF5w0pBXF9xml7vdCJWlogzYrj3mNC0jaNCW-9DORh-0GVRkph82E-oNvFw0njpVzs5MNzmw1I_uG1P-lk9MQeqGg6jL-eiOqRsO3pv2en2BngUiAKR8&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT0WKR9WRkRc_UX_GKlgmy0_zcsgD2PMCyZuMIVFqmINtOoJDBDB1KnwlX7eoW1ZiVWvRXfMK2CrEHHaKSK9PbJ0JhXiqnIfya4epIxKjHdAJEfNu83pXXlX6on8GI3Thu5f7nMnCL4h_nO1VUwjU_Tr1ApwvQXYvSbzKFI0HOVR7qA" target="_blank">tips.com</a>

No Amber Alert: Search continues for 2-year-old Kan. boy

WILSON COUNTY— Three people died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Monday in Wilson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Curtis D.&nbsp;Wilkins, 40, Cambridge, Kan., was westbound on U.S Highway 400 in the left lane. 

The pickup crossed the center line and struck a 2011 Ford F150 driven by Tiffany Lynn&nbsp;Bekemeier, 39, Aurora, Missouri, head-on. Both vehicles caught fire and came to rest in the eastbound lane of the highway.

Wilkins,&nbsp;Bekemeier and a passenger in the Ford Randy Lynn&nbsp;Carlisle, 16, Aurora, Missouri, died in the crash. The KHP did not report seat belt information.

WILSON COUNTY— Three people died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Monday in Wilson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Curtis D.&nbsp;Wilkins, 40, Cambridge, Kan., was westbound on U.S Highway 400 in the left lane. The pickup crossed the center line and struck a 2011 Ford F150 driven by Tiffany Lynn&nbsp;Bekemeier, 39, Aurora, Missouri, head-on. Both vehicles caught fire and came to rest in the eastbound lane of the highway.Wilkins,&nbsp;Bekemeier and a passenger in the Ford Randy Lynn&nbsp;Carlisle, 16, Aurora, Missouri, died in the crash. The KHP did not report seat belt information.

3 dead after head-on Kansas crash, fire

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects following a weekend arrest.

Just after 8p.m. January 16, sheriff's deputies developed information that a suspect identified as Steven M. Rule, 35, of Topeka, may be in possession of a stolen Ford F250 pickup truck, according to Shawnee County Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

Deputies located a vehicle matching the description at a business in the 6400 block of SW 17th Street and confirmed the truck was reported stolen out of Doniphan County. 

Deputies attempted to detain Rule as he exited the business but he fled the scene on foot. After a brief foot chase a deputy deployed a Taser which safely ended the pursuit and Rule was taken into custody.

Through the investigation at the scene, information was developed that Rule used a stolen check to purchase approximately $1400 worth of merchandise from the business prior running from deputies.

Deputies found a handgun&nbsp; and additional stolen check in the stolen truck. 

Deputies transported Rule to a local hospital for a medical screen and then transported him to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

Hannah B. Holloway, 41, of Topeka, was with Rule in the business. Deputies took her into custody without incident.

Rule is being held on requested charges that includ Felon in possession of a firearm, Possession of stolen property, Identity Fraud, Forgery,&nbsp;Interference w/ LEO, Possession of paraphernalia, Warrants through the City of Topeka and for Transporting an open container of liquor.

Hannah B. Holloway was booked on requested charges that include Possession of drug paraphernalia, Identity Theft and Warrants through the City of Topeka

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610927420238.png" alt="Rule-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Rule-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects following a weekend arrest.Just after 8p.m. January 16, sheriff's deputies developed information that a suspect identified as Steven M. Rule, 35, of Topeka, may be in possession of a stolen Ford F250 pickup truck, according to Shawnee County Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.Deputies located a vehicle matching the description at a business in the 6400 block of SW 17th Street and confirmed the truck was reported stolen out of Doniphan County. Deputies attempted to detain Rule as he exited the business but he fled the scene on foot. After a brief foot chase a deputy deployed a Taser which safely ended the pursuit and Rule was taken into custody.Through the investigation at the scene, information was developed that Rule used a stolen check to purchase approximately $1400 worth of merchandise from the business prior running from deputies.Deputies found a handgun&nbsp; and additional stolen check in the stolen truck. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610927396618.png" alt="Holloway-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Holloway-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies transported Rule to a local hospital for a medical screen and then transported him to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.Hannah B. Holloway, 41, of Topeka, was with Rule in the business. Deputies took her into custody without incident.Rule is being held on requested charges that includ Felon in possession of a firearm, Possession of stolen property, Identity Fraud, Forgery,&nbsp;Interference w/ LEO, Possession of paraphernalia, Warrants through the City of Topeka and for Transporting an open container of liquor.Hannah B. Holloway was booked on requested charges that include Possession of drug paraphernalia, Identity Theft and Warrants through the City of Topeka

Sheriff: Kan. suspects used stolen checks, drove stolen truck

KANSAS CITY—Christopher and Banks, a specialty women’s apparel retailer is closing all of its stores including 15 locations in Kansas.

The Minneapolis-based company announced last week it filed for Chapter 11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.&nbsp;

The Company has launched a store closing and liquidation process. The Company, however, will continue to operate its business in the ordinary course in the near term; and the Company is in active discussion with potential buyers for the sale of its eCommerce platform and related assets.

The company currently operates 449 stores in 44 states consisting of 315 MPW stores, 76 Outlet stores, 31 Christopher &amp; Banks stores, and 28 stores in its women’s plus size clothing division CJ Banks. The Company also operates the www.ChristopherandBanks.com eCommerce website.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611003664699.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Christopher and Banks, a specialty women’s apparel retailer is closing all of its stores including 15 locations in Kansas.The Minneapolis-based company announced last week it filed for Chapter 11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.&nbsp;The Company has launched a store closing and liquidation process. The Company, however, will continue to operate its business in the ordinary course in the near term; and the Company is in active discussion with potential buyers for the sale of its eCommerce platform and related assets.The company currently operates 449 stores in 44 states consisting of 315 MPW stores, 76 Outlet stores, 31 Christopher &amp; Banks stores, and 28 stores in its women’s plus size clothing division CJ Banks. The Company also operates the www.ChristopherandBanks.com eCommerce website.

Christopher & Banks closing stores, files for bankruptcy

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman at gunpoint after meeting her online.

The Jackson County prosecutor's office said Sunday that Jamen Jackson, 23, has been charged with sexual assault and possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, the victim told police she met Jackson on the Internet and had invited him to her apartment on January 9.&nbsp;

Soon after he arrived she told police that he pulled out a handgun, pointed it at her head and ordered her to perform oral sex on him.while he recorded the assault on his phone. Authorities say he then forced the woman to have sex with him.

When police interviewed Jackson, he told them the encounter was consensual but investigators said the video on his phone showed the woman crying and looking scared. Similar videos of other women were also found on the phone.

Investigators said they also found several pornographic images of young girls and boys on Jackson's phone.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610970248848.png" alt="Jackson Jackson is no longer in custody, according to online jail records in Jackson County." />
 <figcaption>Jackson Jackson is no longer in custody, according to online jail records in Jackson County.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman at gunpoint after meeting her online.The Jackson County prosecutor's office said Sunday that Jamen Jackson, 23, has been charged with sexual assault and possession of child pornography.According to court documents, the victim told police she met Jackson on the Internet and had invited him to her apartment on January 9.&nbsp;Soon after he arrived she told police that he pulled out a handgun, pointed it at her head and ordered her to perform oral sex on him.while he recorded the assault on his phone. Authorities say he then forced the woman to have sex with him.When police interviewed Jackson, he told them the encounter was consensual but investigators said the video on his phone showed the woman crying and looking scared. Similar videos of other women were also found on the phone.Investigators said they also found several pornographic images of young girls and boys on Jackson's phone.

Prosecutor: KC man raped woman at gunpoint, filmed encounter

CLOUD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an incident that prompted the evacuation of a business in Cloud County.

Just after noon Monday, officers from the Concordia Police Department along with Deputies from the Cloud County Sheriff’s Department and Troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol responded to a Criminal Threat from a subject stating that they were going to bring a firearm to Walmart, according to Police Chief&nbsp;Ric Fredrickson.

Officers were able to quickly and safely evacuate the building while the threat was investigated. After securing the area and a thorough search of the building by Officers, Walmart was allowed to reopen without incident.

Authorities released no additional details.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Concordia Police Department (785) 243-3131.

CLOUD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an incident that prompted the evacuation of a business in Cloud County.Just after noon Monday, officers from the Concordia Police Department along with Deputies from the Cloud County Sheriff’s Department and Troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol responded to a Criminal Threat from a subject stating that they were going to bring a firearm to Walmart, according to Police Chief&nbsp;Ric Fredrickson.Officers were able to quickly and safely evacuate the building while the threat was investigated. After securing the area and a thorough search of the building by Officers, Walmart was allowed to reopen without incident.Authorities released no additional details.Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Concordia Police Department (785) 243-3131.

Police: Firearm threat prompts evacuation of Kan. Walmart 

PLATTE COUNTY —Authorities have charged a man with arson and murder following a deadly Sunday fire.

 Anthony Fleming, 24, allegedly set the fire at a home on Prospect Street in Weston, 30 miles north of Kansas City, that resulted in the death of Timothy Darby, 60, of Weston, according to Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd.

The charges were filed early January 18, following an investigation led by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office.

According to court documents, Fleming allegedly intentionally set a fire in the residence sometime between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. on Sunday. He then allegedly fled from the residence on foot before authorities arrived. He was found about one mile from the home in a wooded area, wearing only socks.

Firefighters found Darby dead in the kitchen of the house. Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen said, “Our detectives, deputies, the Weston Police Department, and prosecutors did an outstanding job working together, which resulted in the quick apprehension of this defendant. Their tireless work is the reason prosecutors will be able to seek justice for the victim and his family."

Fleming faces up to life in prison on each charge. He is currently being held without bond in the Platte County Detention Facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610999688941.png" alt="Fleming-photo Platte Co." />
 <figcaption>Fleming-photo Platte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PLATTE COUNTY —Authorities have charged a man with arson and murder following a deadly Sunday fire. Anthony Fleming, 24, allegedly set the fire at a home on Prospect Street in Weston, 30 miles north of Kansas City, that resulted in the death of Timothy Darby, 60, of Weston, according to Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd.The charges were filed early January 18, following an investigation led by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office.According to court documents, Fleming allegedly intentionally set a fire in the residence sometime between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. on Sunday. He then allegedly fled from the residence on foot before authorities arrived. He was found about one mile from the home in a wooded area, wearing only socks.Firefighters found Darby dead in the kitchen of the house. Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen said, “Our detectives, deputies, the Weston Police Department, and prosecutors did an outstanding job working together, which resulted in the quick apprehension of this defendant. Their tireless work is the reason prosecutors will be able to seek justice for the victim and his family."Fleming faces up to life in prison on each charge. He is currently being held without bond in the Platte County Detention Facility.

Man charged in deadly house fire near Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) —Organizers of the March for Life, the anti-abortion movement’s preeminent annual event, are asking their supporters nationwide not to gather in Washington this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and political unrest.

Instead, a small group of invited pro-life leaders will march Jan. 29, and the event will be livestreamed, March for Life’s president, Jeanne Mancini, announced.

“Since we are in the midst of a pandemic which may be peaking, and in view of the heightened pressures that law enforcement officers and others are currently facing in and around the Capitol, this year’s March for Life will look different,” she said. “The annual rally will take place virtually and we are asking all participants to stay home and to join the March virtually.”

Tim Tebow, the football star, is still scheduled to make a keynote speech at a virtual gala taking place after the downsized march, Mancini said.

Mancini said she looks forward to holding the event in person next year.

The march has been held annually since 1974, one year after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion across in the United States. Even blizzards in 1987 and 2016 did not force cancellation, although turnouts were smaller than usual.

Local March for Life events also have been affected this year. State marches in Arkansas and Oregon have been indefinitely postponed, while a march planned in Tucson, Arizona, was converted into a car caravan dubbed the Road Rally for Life.

The annual National Prayer Vigil for Life, usually held the night before the national march at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, will instead be a livestreamed event, with bishops participating virtually from across the U.S.

A year ago, President Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to address the March for Life. Trump became a hero to many anti-abortion activists for appointing Supreme Court justices and other federal judges viewed as open to the possibility of repealing or weakening the Roe v. Wade ruling.

This year’s event will take place nine days after the presidential inauguration of Democrat Joe Biden, who is a staunch supporter of abortion rights.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611004361565.png" alt="Photo courtesy March for Life" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy March for Life</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Organizers of the March for Life, the anti-abortion movement’s preeminent annual event, are asking their supporters nationwide not to gather in Washington this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and political unrest.Instead, a small group of invited pro-life leaders will march Jan. 29, and the event will be livestreamed, March for Life’s president, Jeanne Mancini, announced.“Since we are in the midst of a pandemic which may be peaking, and in view of the heightened pressures that law enforcement officers and others are currently facing in and around the Capitol, this year’s March for Life will look different,” she said. “The annual rally will take place virtually and we are asking all participants to stay home and to join the March virtually.”Tim Tebow, the football star, is still scheduled to make a keynote speech at a virtual gala taking place after the downsized march, Mancini said.Mancini said she looks forward to holding the event in person next year.The march has been held annually since 1974, one year after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion across in the United States. Even blizzards in 1987 and 2016 did not force cancellation, although turnouts were smaller than usual.Local March for Life events also have been affected this year. State marches in Arkansas and Oregon have been indefinitely postponed, while a march planned in Tucson, Arizona, was converted into a car caravan dubbed the Road Rally for Life.The annual National Prayer Vigil for Life, usually held the night before the national march at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, will instead be a livestreamed event, with bishops participating virtually from across the U.S.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579888682982.png" alt="President Trump at the 2020 March for Life Rally photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump at the 2020 March for Life Rally photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>A year ago, President Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to address the March for Life. Trump became a hero to many anti-abortion activists for appointing Supreme Court justices and other federal judges viewed as open to the possibility of repealing or weakening the Roe v. Wade ruling.This year’s event will take place nine days after the presidential inauguration of Democrat Joe Biden, who is a staunch supporter of abortion rights.___

March for Life supporters to stay home this year

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers have been moving quickly on legislation that would extend the state’s COVID-19 emergency declaration before it expires on Jan. 26.

“I’ve not seen, and I don’t think we’ve seen before, a bill that moved with such expediency,” said Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City. “I daresay it is abnormal and it lends a certain question as to how fairly it can be deliberated and considered. This is a very crucial issue in terms of the public health.”

The temporary bills moving in the state Senate and House deal with COVID-19-related provisions that impact the coronavirus response. Both have had public hearings and passed out of committee in the first week of the session.

The bills extend legislation passed last year outlining temporary changes in law in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Those include allowing establishments to offer to-go alcohol, expanding the use of telemedicine and adding flexibility in health care licensing.

They aim to ensure continuity until lawmakers decide later in the session what exactly should be implemented in response to COVID-19 and how to oversee the governor during a long-term emergency like the pandemic.

“My understanding is that this is just to buy us time ... to give us more time to have a deep dive into each detail,” said Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora. “But right now, we have this looming deadline we have to address.”

The state added 3,688 cases from Friday to Monday, making its tally 259,822 since the start of the pandemic. It reported 23 more deaths since Friday, bringing the state’s total death toll to 3,525.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers have been moving quickly on legislation that would extend the state’s COVID-19 emergency declaration before it expires on Jan. 26.“I’ve not seen, and I don’t think we’ve seen before, a bill that moved with such expediency,” said Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City. “I daresay it is abnormal and it lends a certain question as to how fairly it can be deliberated and considered. This is a very crucial issue in terms of the public health.”The temporary bills moving in the state Senate and House deal with COVID-19-related provisions that impact the coronavirus response. Both have had public hearings and passed out of committee in the first week of the session.The bills extend legislation passed last year outlining temporary changes in law in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Those include allowing establishments to offer to-go alcohol, expanding the use of telemedicine and adding flexibility in health care licensing.They aim to ensure continuity until lawmakers decide later in the session what exactly should be implemented in response to COVID-19 and how to oversee the governor during a long-term emergency like the pandemic.“My understanding is that this is just to buy us time ... to give us more time to have a deep dive into each detail,” said Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora. “But right now, we have this looming deadline we have to address.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610993132098.png" alt="Monday January 18, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday January 18, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The state added 3,688 cases from Friday to Monday, making its tally 259,822 since the start of the pandemic. It reported 23 more deaths since Friday, bringing the state’s total death toll to 3,525.

Kan. lawmakers move quickly on COVID-19 legislation

WASHINGTON (AP) —President-elect Joe Biden will take the stage for his inaugural address at perhaps the most difficult starting point for a president since Franklin Roosevelt began his first term by assuring a nation scarred by the Great Depression that “we have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

But memorable turns of phrase like Roosevelt’s are more the exception than the rule when it comes to inaugural addresses.

Former President Barack Obama in his memoir noted that singer Aretha Franklin’s showy hat and a glitch in Chief Justice John Roberts’ administration of the oath of office got more attention than his speech in the days following the first Black president’s address, delivered as the nation was mired in recession and a growing malaise over two intractable wars.

Now, with the coronavirus raging, unemployment claims soaring and partisan divisions sharpening, Biden faces a fraught moment as he prepares to deliver a speech that aides say he wants to use to “call Americans to unity.”

“The situation he faces is absolutely brutal,” said Cody Keenan, who served as a chief speechwriter for Obama and assisted with his two inaugural addresses. He added that Biden in many ways is ”the perfect president for the moment, because he is not hyperbolic, he’s not a bomb thrower, he’s surrounded himself with policy wonks who already have all these plans. I think what we are going to hear him talk about is ‘Here’s where we are, here’s what we have to get done.’ I think that’s going to go a long way just to making people feel better.”

With the current mood of the country, Biden’s consistent focus on restoring “the soul of America” may be of greater value to the nation than any soaring oratory, in the view of some Democratic allies of the incoming president.

“It is entirely possible that this inaugural is one we remember for generations to come, because of the gravity of this moment” said David Litt, who served as an Obama speechwriter and wrote the comedic memoir, “Thanks, Obama: My Hopey Changey White House Years.” “But I also think it’s possible that the signature speeches of the Biden administration come at less expected moments and that would be par for the course.”

The inaugural address is as much a celebration of the peaceful handover of power as it is a set piece for a new or reelected president to lay out a vision for the nation. In recent memory, inaugural addresses have followed a predictable structure: The nation has challenges but there is hope to solve the problems if the president’s agenda is embraced.

One tradition dating back at least to Jimmy Carter’s 1977 inaugural is for the incoming president to offer the nation’s gratitude to the outgoing president — a moment of graciousness intended to put aside the strife of the political campaign and signal to Americans that it’s time to come together as a nation.

President Donald Trump won’t be there to hear it. He’s already said he won’t attend the inauguration — the first outgoing president to skip his successor’s swearing-in since Andrew Johnson did not attend Ulysses S. Grant’s inauguration in 1869.

Ari Fleischer, who served as press secretary for President George W. Bush, said there are still ways that Biden’s speechwriting team can continue the tradition of honoring the peaceful transition of power by simply giving a nod to the past presidents and Vice President Mike Pence, who are expected to be at the Capitol for the address.

Biden chief of staff Ron Klain said during a recent event hosted by The Washington Post that the president-elect has been chipping away on the address through the entire transition — taking time every few days to write and rewrite his thoughts. His speechwriting team is led by longtime Biden collaborator Vinay Reddy.

More important than flowery oratory is substantively demonstrating how Biden will take steps to begin unifying a country that remains emotionally raw because of the pandemic and a divisive election cycle that culminated with the violent insurrection at the Capitol, Fleischer said.

“Don’t dwell on today’s difficulties. Focus on tomorrow’s answers,” Fleischer advised. “Soaring oratory is just not Joe Biden. The effectiveness of his speech is going to be much more about what he says than how he says it.”

Edward Frantz, a presidential historian at the University of Indianapolis, said Biden’s daunting moment has parallels to what Roosevelt faced in 1933 as he sought to rally support for his agenda, as well as to Rutherford B. Hayes, who delivered his inaugural address in 1877 after winning by a single Electoral College vote in an election in which he and his allies alleged fraud in several states.

In addition to pushing a message of unity for Americans, Biden should signal to the world that the United States will recalibrate after four years of Trump, Frantz said. That may be easier said than done, though.

“How do you talk about returning to new normal while also not seeming arrogant about the United States’ position in the world — especially after what’s transpired over the last four years of the Trump administration and also with what foreign observers watched in horror as the riots transpired,” Frantz said. “There really is no parallel to what Biden faces.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610986740193.png" alt="President-elect Biden volunteered at a hunger relief charity based in Philadelphia, as part of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service.-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President-elect Biden volunteered at a hunger relief charity based in Philadelphia, as part of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service.-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —President-elect Joe Biden will take the stage for his inaugural address at perhaps the most difficult starting point for a president since Franklin Roosevelt began his first term by assuring a nation scarred by the Great Depression that “we have nothing to fear but fear itself.”But memorable turns of phrase like Roosevelt’s are more the exception than the rule when it comes to inaugural addresses.Former President Barack Obama in his memoir noted that singer Aretha Franklin’s showy hat and a glitch in Chief Justice John Roberts’ administration of the oath of office got more attention than his speech in the days following the first Black president’s address, delivered as the nation was mired in recession and a growing malaise over two intractable wars.Now, with the coronavirus raging, unemployment claims soaring and partisan divisions sharpening, Biden faces a fraught moment as he prepares to deliver a speech that aides say he wants to use to “call Americans to unity.”“The situation he faces is absolutely brutal,” said Cody Keenan, who served as a chief speechwriter for Obama and assisted with his two inaugural addresses. He added that Biden in many ways is ”the perfect president for the moment, because he is not hyperbolic, he’s not a bomb thrower, he’s surrounded himself with policy wonks who already have all these plans. I think what we are going to hear him talk about is ‘Here’s where we are, here’s what we have to get done.’ I think that’s going to go a long way just to making people feel better.”With the current mood of the country, Biden’s consistent focus on restoring “the soul of America” may be of greater value to the nation than any soaring oratory, in the view of some Democratic allies of the incoming president.“It is entirely possible that this inaugural is one we remember for generations to come, because of the gravity of this moment” said David Litt, who served as an Obama speechwriter and wrote the comedic memoir, “Thanks, Obama: My Hopey Changey White House Years.” “But I also think it’s possible that the signature speeches of the Biden administration come at less expected moments and that would be par for the course.”The inaugural address is as much a celebration of the peaceful handover of power as it is a set piece for a new or reelected president to lay out a vision for the nation. In recent memory, inaugural addresses have followed a predictable structure: The nation has challenges but there is hope to solve the problems if the president’s agenda is embraced.One tradition dating back at least to Jimmy Carter’s 1977 inaugural is for the incoming president to offer the nation’s gratitude to the outgoing president — a moment of graciousness intended to put aside the strife of the political campaign and signal to Americans that it’s time to come together as a nation.President Donald Trump won’t be there to hear it. He’s already said he won’t attend the inauguration — the first outgoing president to skip his successor’s swearing-in since Andrew Johnson did not attend Ulysses S. Grant’s inauguration in 1869.Ari Fleischer, who served as press secretary for President George W. Bush, said there are still ways that Biden’s speechwriting team can continue the tradition of honoring the peaceful transition of power by simply giving a nod to the past presidents and Vice President Mike Pence, who are expected to be at the Capitol for the address.Biden chief of staff Ron Klain said during a recent event hosted by The Washington Post that the president-elect has been chipping away on the address through the entire transition — taking time every few days to write and rewrite his thoughts. His speechwriting team is led by longtime Biden collaborator Vinay Reddy.More important than flowery oratory is substantively demonstrating how Biden will take steps to begin unifying a country that remains emotionally raw because of the pandemic and a divisive election cycle that culminated with the violent insurrection at the Capitol, Fleischer said.“Don’t dwell on today’s difficulties. Focus on tomorrow’s answers,” Fleischer advised. “Soaring oratory is just not Joe Biden. The effectiveness of his speech is going to be much more about what he says than how he says it.”Edward Frantz, a presidential historian at the University of Indianapolis, said Biden’s daunting moment has parallels to what Roosevelt faced in 1933 as he sought to rally support for his agenda, as well as to Rutherford B. Hayes, who delivered his inaugural address in 1877 after winning by a single Electoral College vote in an election in which he and his allies alleged fraud in several states.In addition to pushing a message of unity for Americans, Biden should signal to the world that the United States will recalibrate after four years of Trump, Frantz said. That may be easier said than done, though.“How do you talk about returning to new normal while also not seeming arrogant about the United States’ position in the world — especially after what’s transpired over the last four years of the Trump administration and also with what foreign observers watched in horror as the riots transpired,” Frantz said. “There really is no parallel to what Biden faces.”___

Biden aims for unifying speech at daunting moment for US

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 3688 to a total of 259,822, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 3525 an increase of 23

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 3688 to a total of 259,822, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 3525 an increase of 23<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.M<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610993132098.png" alt="Monday January 18, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday January 18, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 21-year-old Kansas City woman has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting that took place last week.

The Jackson County prosecutor's office said Sunday that Tityana Coppage has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in Wednesday's shooting death of 36-year-old Keith Lars.

The shooting happened shortly after noon Wednesday. Officers who arrived at the scene found evidence of a shooting but no victims.

A short time later, a woman flagged down firefighters to report that Lars was in her car with a gunshot wound. Firefighters tried to save Lars but he died at the scene.

According to court documents, Coppage told detectives that her family believes Lars may have been involved in the fatal shooting of her 16-year-old brother three days before Lars died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610974115170.png" alt="Coppage-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Coppage-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 21-year-old Kansas City woman has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting that took place last week.The Jackson County prosecutor's office said Sunday that Tityana Coppage has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in Wednesday's shooting death of 36-year-old Keith Lars.The shooting happened shortly after noon Wednesday. Officers who arrived at the scene found evidence of a shooting but no victims.A short time later, a woman flagged down firefighters to report that Lars was in her car with a gunshot wound. Firefighters tried to save Lars but he died at the scene.According to court documents, Coppage told detectives that her family believes Lars may have been involved in the fatal shooting of her 16-year-old brother three days before Lars died.

KC woman charged for alleged revenge killing 

DENVER (AP) — Howard Jones, who’s 83, was on the phone for three to four hours every day trying to sign up for a coronavirus vaccine.

Jones, who lives alone in Colorado Springs, doesn’t have the internet, and that’s made it much more difficult for him to make an appointment. It took him about a week. He said the confusion has added to his anxiety about catching what could be a life-threatening disease at his age.

“It has been hell,” Jones said. “I’m 83 and to not have the use of a computer is just terrible.”

As states across the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-when-can-i-get-it-20de995ab6d01dd286ad3bbea46f69ce">roll out the COVID-19 vaccine</a>&nbsp;to people 65 and older, senior citizens are scrambling to figure out how to sign up to get their shots. Many states and counties ask people to make appointments online, but glitchy websites, overwhelmed phone lines and a patchwork of fast-changing rules are bedeviling older people who are often less tech-savvy, may live far from vaccination sites and are more likely to not have internet access at all, especially people of color and those who are poor.

Nearly 9.5 million seniors, or 16.5% of U.S. adults 65 and older, lack internet access, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Access is worse for seniors of color: more than 25% of Black people, about 21% of Hispanic people and over 28% of Native Americans 65 and older have no way to get online. That’s compared with 15.5% of white seniors.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Dr. Rebecca Parish has been dismayed by the bureaucratic process and continued calls for help from seniors. One of her patients, who’s 83, called her in tears, unable to navigate the online appointment system at Rite Aid. A 92-year-old woman called her before dawn this week after reading about her in a newspaper, telling her, “I’ll do anything to get this vaccine.”

So Parish took things into her own hands. She reached out to Contra Costa County and acquired 500 doses to vaccinate people this weekend at a middle school in Lafayette, California. She’s working with nonprofits to identify seniors who don’t live in nursing homes and risk falling through the cracks. All her appointments have been claimed, but she’ll start taking them again once more doses are available.

Some health officials have been trying to find other solutions to ease the confusion and help senior citizens sign up, just as the Trump administration urged states this week to make the nation’s 54 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-coronavirus-vaccine-8e846e47cd71f39fed71dcd6700d729b">seniors eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine</a>.

Some places have found simple ideas work. In Morgantown, West Virginia, county health officials used a large road construction sign to list the phone number for seniors to call for an appointment. Others are considering partnering with community groups or setting up mobile clinics for harder-to-reach populations.

Some seniors may be waiting to hear from their doctor. But there are limits to using health care systems, pharmacies or primary care providers to reach underserved people who don’t have the internet, said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers.

She said the two coronavirus vaccines available in the U.S. and their cold temperature requirements “don’t lend themselves to being sent out to rural areas.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610104544544.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — Howard Jones, who’s 83, was on the phone for three to four hours every day trying to sign up for a coronavirus vaccine.Jones, who lives alone in Colorado Springs, doesn’t have the internet, and that’s made it much more difficult for him to make an appointment. It took him about a week. He said the confusion has added to his anxiety about catching what could be a life-threatening disease at his age.“It has been hell,” Jones said. “I’m 83 and to not have the use of a computer is just terrible.”As states across the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-when-can-i-get-it-20de995ab6d01dd286ad3bbea46f69ce">roll out the COVID-19 vaccine</a>&nbsp;to people 65 and older, senior citizens are scrambling to figure out how to sign up to get their shots. Many states and counties ask people to make appointments online, but glitchy websites, overwhelmed phone lines and a patchwork of fast-changing rules are bedeviling older people who are often less tech-savvy, may live far from vaccination sites and are more likely to not have internet access at all, especially people of color and those who are poor.Nearly 9.5 million seniors, or 16.5% of U.S. adults 65 and older, lack internet access, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Access is worse for seniors of color: more than 25% of Black people, about 21% of Hispanic people and over 28% of Native Americans 65 and older have no way to get online. That’s compared with 15.5% of white seniors.In the San Francisco Bay Area, Dr. Rebecca Parish has been dismayed by the bureaucratic process and continued calls for help from seniors. One of her patients, who’s 83, called her in tears, unable to navigate the online appointment system at Rite Aid. A 92-year-old woman called her before dawn this week after reading about her in a newspaper, telling her, “I’ll do anything to get this vaccine.”So Parish took things into her own hands. She reached out to Contra Costa County and acquired 500 doses to vaccinate people this weekend at a middle school in Lafayette, California. She’s working with nonprofits to identify seniors who don’t live in nursing homes and risk falling through the cracks. All her appointments have been claimed, but she’ll start taking them again once more doses are available.Some health officials have been trying to find other solutions to ease the confusion and help senior citizens sign up, just as the Trump administration urged states this week to make the nation’s 54 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-coronavirus-vaccine-8e846e47cd71f39fed71dcd6700d729b">seniors eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine</a>.Some places have found simple ideas work. In Morgantown, West Virginia, county health officials used a large road construction sign to list the phone number for seniors to call for an appointment. Others are considering partnering with community groups or setting up mobile clinics for harder-to-reach populations.Some seniors may be waiting to hear from their doctor. But there are limits to using health care systems, pharmacies or primary care providers to reach underserved people who don’t have the internet, said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers.She said the two coronavirus vaccines available in the U.S. and their cold temperature requirements “don’t lend themselves to being sent out to rural areas.”In McComb, Mississippi, where 77.5% of residents are Black and almost half the population lives below the poverty line, 71-year-old Mary Christian made an appointment online with her son’s help. But the only available sites are at least an hour away from she lives.“I’m 71 years old, and my kids are not going to be happy for me driving 1 to 200 miles away to get a vaccine,” said Christian, who has diabetes.Some medical systems, like UCHealth in Colorado, are trying to partner with community groups to get vaccines to underserved populations, like seniors.Dr. Jean Kutner, chief medical officer of UCHealth University at Colorado Hospital, said she’s volunteering at a clinic hosted by a church that brings in the vaccine and helps build trust between health care workers and residents.For now, UCHealth schedules appointments online, but Kutner said a COVID-19 hotline is in the works because of the volume of calls from seniors.“Seniors are comfortable with the phone side of things, so that that’s not really a technological barrier for them,” said Gretchen Garofoli, an associate professor at West Virginia University’s School of Pharmacy.But even a Colorado health provider setting up vaccine clinics for underserved communities, Salud Family Health Centers, said their phone lines can’t handle the volume of calls they’re receiving and encouraged people to go online.When calling for an appointment is an option, finding a number is often only possible online.That was the problem for Jones, the 83-year-old in Colorado. A retired service member, he considered reaching out to Veterans Affairs but couldn’t find a phone number.He asked for help from a friend, who gave him several numbers. One led to Angela Cortez, head of communications for AARP in Colorado.AARP has been flooded with calls from seniors like Jones who don’t have the internet and need help navigating the websites of health departments, care providers and vaccine sign-up forms, Cortez said.“It’s not like you can show up somewhere and get vaccinated,” Cortez said. “And if you don’t have access to a computer, you’re at a disadvantage.”Even Cortez had trouble as she tried to help Jones. She called numbers listed on the Colorado health department website and several Safeway stores after Jones heard friends were vaccinated there.Eventually, Cortez was told to sign up online.“I’m an employee of AARP, one; and two, I’m the communications director — I’m a trained journalist — and I have a computer, three, and I can’t even get through to anybody,” she said.A friend was finally able to get Jones an appointment for Saturday. But he’s frustrated that he had “to go through side channels” instead of doing it himself.___