AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The National Rifle Association announced Friday it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will seek to incorporate the nation’s most politically influential gun-rights group in Texas instead of New York.

The announcement made on the NRA’s website comes months after New York’s attorney general&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-new-york-lawsuits-election-2020-u-s-news-056b7845ad1a35a68a4bf837329d9f6f">sued the organization</a>&nbsp;over claims that top executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts for associates and other questionable expenditures.

The coronavirus pandemic has also upended the NRA,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aac4b1a0fbe31665721393176b484d15">which last year laid off dozens of employees</a>, canceled its national convention and scuttled fundraising. The NRA’s bankruptcy filing listed between $100 million and $500 million in assets and between $100 million and $500 million in liabilities. Still, the NRA claimed in announcing the move that the organization was “in its strongest financial condition in years.”

The NRA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in federal court in Dallas and said it planned to incorporate in Texas, where records show it formed a limited liability corporation, Sea Girt LLC, in November 2020. Sea Girt LLC made a separate bankruptcy filing Friday, listing fewer than $100,000 in liabilities.

“The move will enable long-term, sustainable growth and ensure the NRA’s continued success as the nation’s leading advocate for constitutional freedom – free from the toxic political environment of New York,” the NRA said in a statement.

A message seeking comment was left with a Dallas lawyer who made the bankruptcy filings on behalf of the NRA and Sea Girt LLC.

Shortly after the announcement, New York Attorney General Letitia James said she would not allow the NRA to “evade accountability” or oversight. Her office’s lawsuit last year highlighted misspending and self-dealing claims that have roiled the NRA and its longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre, in recent years — from hair and makeup for his wife to a $17 million post-employment contract for himself.

“The NRA’s claimed financial status has finally met its moral status: bankrupt,” James said.

The gun-rights group boasts about 5 million members. Though headquartered in Virginia, the NRA was chartered as a nonprofit in New York in 1871 and is incorporated in the state. Going forward, the NRA said a committee will study opportunities to relocate segments of its operations to Texas and elsewhere.

The NRA’s largest creditor, owed $1.2 million, is Ackerman McQueen, which is the group’s former advertising agency that was behind the now-shuttered NRA TV service. The NRA sued the Oklahoma-based company in 2019, alleging it was being overbilled and said in Friday’s bankruptcy filing that the debt it is owed is disputed. The lawsuit is pending. A message seeking comment was left with Ackerman McQueen.

In the New York lawsuit, Ackerman McQueen was accused of aiding lavish spending by LaPierre and other NRA executives by picking up the tab and then sending a lump sum bill to the organization for “out-of-pocket expenses.”

Court records also show more than $960,000 owed to Membership Marketing Partners LLC, a firm that lists its headquarters at the same address as the NRA. Another $200,000 is owed to Speedway Motorsports, the North Carolina-based company that owns and operates NASCAR tracks, according to the records.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott quickly welcomed the news, tweeting: “Welcome to Texas — a state that safeguards the 2nd Amendment.” The NRA said it has more than 400,000 members in Texas and plans to hold its annual convention in Houston later this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610753925909.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The National Rifle Association announced Friday it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will seek to incorporate the nation’s most politically influential gun-rights group in Texas instead of New York.The announcement made on the NRA’s website comes months after New York’s attorney general&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-new-york-lawsuits-election-2020-u-s-news-056b7845ad1a35a68a4bf837329d9f6f">sued the organization</a>&nbsp;over claims that top executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts for associates and other questionable expenditures.The coronavirus pandemic has also upended the NRA,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aac4b1a0fbe31665721393176b484d15">which last year laid off dozens of employees</a>, canceled its national convention and scuttled fundraising. The NRA’s bankruptcy filing listed between $100 million and $500 million in assets and between $100 million and $500 million in liabilities. Still, the NRA claimed in announcing the move that the organization was “in its strongest financial condition in years.”The NRA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in federal court in Dallas and said it planned to incorporate in Texas, where records show it formed a limited liability corporation, Sea Girt LLC, in November 2020. Sea Girt LLC made a separate bankruptcy filing Friday, listing fewer than $100,000 in liabilities.“The move will enable long-term, sustainable growth and ensure the NRA’s continued success as the nation’s leading advocate for constitutional freedom – free from the toxic political environment of New York,” the NRA said in a statement.A message seeking comment was left with a Dallas lawyer who made the bankruptcy filings on behalf of the NRA and Sea Girt LLC.Shortly after the announcement, New York Attorney General Letitia James said she would not allow the NRA to “evade accountability” or oversight. Her office’s lawsuit last year highlighted misspending and self-dealing claims that have roiled the NRA and its longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre, in recent years — from hair and makeup for his wife to a $17 million post-employment contract for himself.“The NRA’s claimed financial status has finally met its moral status: bankrupt,” James said.The gun-rights group boasts about 5 million members. Though headquartered in Virginia, the NRA was chartered as a nonprofit in New York in 1871 and is incorporated in the state. Going forward, the NRA said a committee will study opportunities to relocate segments of its operations to Texas and elsewhere.The NRA’s largest creditor, owed $1.2 million, is Ackerman McQueen, which is the group’s former advertising agency that was behind the now-shuttered NRA TV service. The NRA sued the Oklahoma-based company in 2019, alleging it was being overbilled and said in Friday’s bankruptcy filing that the debt it is owed is disputed. The lawsuit is pending. A message seeking comment was left with Ackerman McQueen.In the New York lawsuit, Ackerman McQueen was accused of aiding lavish spending by LaPierre and other NRA executives by picking up the tab and then sending a lump sum bill to the organization for “out-of-pocket expenses.”Court records also show more than $960,000 owed to Membership Marketing Partners LLC, a firm that lists its headquarters at the same address as the NRA. Another $200,000 is owed to Speedway Motorsports, the North Carolina-based company that owns and operates NASCAR tracks, according to the records.Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott quickly welcomed the news, tweeting: “Welcome to Texas — a state that safeguards the 2nd Amendment.” The NRA said it has more than 400,000 members in Texas and plans to hold its annual convention in Houston later this year.___

NRA bankrupt, plans to incorporate in Texas

Junction City hosts Washburn Rural in Centennial League play.

Varsity Girls tip-off at 6 p.m., Varsity Boys will tip around 7:45 p.m..&nbsp;

Radio broadcast also available on 107.9 FM and 1420 AM KJCK or at <a href="http://www.kjck.com">KJCK.com</a>

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cZ379fhtxZI"></iframe>
 <figcaption>JCHS BLUE JAY BASKETBALL</figcaption>
 </figure>Junction City hosts Washburn Rural in Centennial League play.Varsity Girls tip-off at 6 p.m., Varsity Boys will tip around 7:45 p.m..&nbsp;Radio broadcast also available on 107.9 FM and 1420 AM KJCK or at <a href="http://www.kjck.com">KJCK.com</a>

WATCH: Junction City vs. Washburn Rural Basketball

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators moved quickly Thursday to try a different approach in seeking to limit city and county taxes after Gov. Laura Kelly and a key group signaled that they’re not as opposed to the concept as they once were.

The Senate voted&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20210114175913_194395/" target="_blank">34-1</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb13_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a proposed transparency law</a>&nbsp;that would require local officials to notify their constituents and hold a public hearing if they intend to spend extra dollars raised with property taxes. The bill would repeal what many lawmakers see as an ineffective lid on city and county property taxes that took effect in 2017.

The existing lid requires local voters’ approval when city and county commissions want to spend an increase in property tax revenues greater than the rate of inflation. But legislators said the law still allows increases in spending — and exempts some kinds of spending from the lid.

The Republican-controlled Legislature approved a similar transparency bill last year, but Kelly, a Democrat, vetoed it, and the League of Kansas Municipalities opposed it. The league this year was neutral, and Kelly appeared to soften her position during a Wednesday news conference.

That cleared the way for Thursday’s bipartisan vote for the bill, which sent the measure to the House. Republican leaders in both chambers see the measure as a top priority and believe that if it becomes law, pressure from constituents will keep local officials from raising taxes.

“This is just a way to give our constituents the transparency they need to weigh in,” said Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican.

In vetoing last year’s bill, Kelly said in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020/b2019_20/measures/documents/hb2702_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank">a message to lawmakers</a>&nbsp;that it could have deprived local governments of “essential funding” during the COVID-19 pandemic “when it is needed the most.” She also said it would have created “significant administrative burdens” for local officials when they should have been focused on the pandemic.”

But she said Wednesday that she favors transparency and that her issue with last year’s bill was “the amount of administrative hoops or work” for local officials.

“There was a lot in there that I really liked,” Kelly said. “I hope when it comes back this year that those issues have been taken into consideration.”

Sen. Tom Holland of Baldwin City, the ranking Democrat on the Senate tax committee, said the bill is less onerous in its requirements for sending notices to taxpayers about local governments’ activities.

Erik Sartorious, the League of Kansas Municipalities’ executive director, said local officials still are concerned that annual deadlines in the bill for counties to determine how much revenue can be spent without triggering the requirement are too early in the year. But he said that issue can be worked out.

The only vote Thursday against the bill came from Republican Sen. John Doll of Garden City, who predicted the proposed law “will not age well,” like other past attempts to control local taxes.

“Maybe it’s because county and local governments know what they’re doing,” Doll said.

Legislators have struggled for decades to limit local property taxes. They argue that property taxes are the least popular way for raising government revenue because the amount a business or home owner pays can rise based on a change in property values, even if tax rates don’t go up. They say people are often mystified as to why local appraisers increased their homes’ values.

“And you say, ‘I can’t even sell my house for that,’” said House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators moved quickly Thursday to try a different approach in seeking to limit city and county taxes after Gov. Laura Kelly and a key group signaled that they’re not as opposed to the concept as they once were.The Senate voted&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20210114175913_194395/" target="_blank">34-1</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb13_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a proposed transparency law</a>&nbsp;that would require local officials to notify their constituents and hold a public hearing if they intend to spend extra dollars raised with property taxes. The bill would repeal what many lawmakers see as an ineffective lid on city and county property taxes that took effect in 2017.The existing lid requires local voters’ approval when city and county commissions want to spend an increase in property tax revenues greater than the rate of inflation. But legislators said the law still allows increases in spending — and exempts some kinds of spending from the lid.The Republican-controlled Legislature approved a similar transparency bill last year, but Kelly, a Democrat, vetoed it, and the League of Kansas Municipalities opposed it. The league this year was neutral, and Kelly appeared to soften her position during a Wednesday news conference.That cleared the way for Thursday’s bipartisan vote for the bill, which sent the measure to the House. Republican leaders in both chambers see the measure as a top priority and believe that if it becomes law, pressure from constituents will keep local officials from raising taxes.“This is just a way to give our constituents the transparency they need to weigh in,” said Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican.In vetoing last year’s bill, Kelly said in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020/b2019_20/measures/documents/hb2702_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank">a message to lawmakers</a>&nbsp;that it could have deprived local governments of “essential funding” during the COVID-19 pandemic “when it is needed the most.” She also said it would have created “significant administrative burdens” for local officials when they should have been focused on the pandemic.”But she said Wednesday that she favors transparency and that her issue with last year’s bill was “the amount of administrative hoops or work” for local officials.“There was a lot in there that I really liked,” Kelly said. “I hope when it comes back this year that those issues have been taken into consideration.”Sen. Tom Holland of Baldwin City, the ranking Democrat on the Senate tax committee, said the bill is less onerous in its requirements for sending notices to taxpayers about local governments’ activities.Erik Sartorious, the League of Kansas Municipalities’ executive director, said local officials still are concerned that annual deadlines in the bill for counties to determine how much revenue can be spent without triggering the requirement are too early in the year. But he said that issue can be worked out.The only vote Thursday against the bill came from Republican Sen. John Doll of Garden City, who predicted the proposed law “will not age well,” like other past attempts to control local taxes.“Maybe it’s because county and local governments know what they’re doing,” Doll said.Legislators have struggled for decades to limit local property taxes. They argue that property taxes are the least popular way for raising government revenue because the amount a business or home owner pays can rise based on a change in property values, even if tax rates don’t go up. They say people are often mystified as to why local appraisers increased their homes’ values.“And you say, ‘I can’t even sell my house for that,’” said House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican.

Kansas lawmakers move quickly on local tax 'transparency'

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The global death toll from COVID-19 topped 2 million Friday, crossing the threshold amid a vaccine rollout so immense but so uneven that in some countries there is real hope of vanquishing the outbreak, while in other, less-developed parts of the world, it seems a far-off dream.

The numbing figure was reached just over a year after the coronavirus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The number of dead, compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the population of Brussels, Mecca, Minsk or Vienna. It is roughly equivalent to the Cleveland metropolitan area or the entire state of Nebraska.

“There’s been a terrible amount of death,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, a pandemic expert and dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. At the same time, he said, “our scientific community has also done extraordinary work.”

In wealthy countries including the United States, Britain, Israel, Canada and Germany, millions of citizens have already been given some measure of protection with at least one dose of vaccine developed with revolutionary speed and quickly authorized for use.

But elsewhere, immunization drives have barely gotten off the ground. Many experts are predicting another year of loss and hardship in places like Iran, India, Mexico and Brazil, which together account for about a quarter of the world’s deaths.

“As a country, as a society, as citizens we haven’t understood,” lamented Israel Gomez, a Mexico City paramedic who spent months shuttling COVID-19 patients around by ambulance, desperately looking for vacant hospital beds. “We have not understood that this is not a game, that this really exists.”

Mexico, a country of 130 million people, has received just 500,000 doses of vaccine and has put barely half of those into the arms of health care workers.

That’s in sharp contrast to the situation for its wealthier northern neighbor. Despite early delays, hundreds of thousands of people are rolling up their sleeves every day in the United States, where the virus has killed about 390,000, by far the highest toll of any country.

All told, over 35 million doses of various COVID-19 vaccines have been administered around the world, according to the University of Oxford.

While vaccination drives in rich countries have been hamstrung by long lines, inadequate budgets and a patchwork of state and local approaches, the obstacles are far greater in poorer nations, which can have weak health systems, crumbling transportation networks, entrenched corruption and a lack of reliable electricity to keep vaccines cold enough.

Also, the majority of the world’s COVID-19 vaccine doses have already been snapped up by wealthy countries. COVAX, a U.N.-backed project to supply shots to developing parts of the world, has found itself short of vaccine, money and logistical help.

As a result, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist warned it is highly unlikely that herd immunity — which would require at least 70% of the globe to be vaccinated — will be achieved this year. As the disaster has demonstrated, it is not enough to snuff out the virus in a few places.

“Even if it happens in a couple of pockets, in a few countries, it’s not going to protect people across the world,” Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said this week.

Health experts fear, too, that if shots are not distributed widely and fast enough, it could give the virus time to mutate and defeat the vaccine — “my nightmare scenario,” as Jha put it.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the 2 million milestone “has been made worse by the absence of a global coordinated effort.” He added: “Science has succeeded, but solidarity has failed.”

Meanwhile, in Wuhan, where the scourge was discovered in late 2019, a global team of researchers led by WHO arrived Thursday on a politically sensitive mission to investigate the origins of the virus, which is believed to have spread to humans from wild animals.

The Chinese city of 11 million people is bustling again, with few signs it was once the epicenter of the catastrophe, locked down for 76 days, with over 3,800 dead.

“We are not fearful or worried as we were in the past,” said Qin Qiong, a noodle shop owner. “We now live a normal life. I take the subway every day to come to work in the shop. ... Except for our customers, who have to wear masks, everything else is the same.”

It took eight months to hit 1 million dead but less than four months after that to reach the next million.

While the death toll is based on figures supplied by government agencies around the world, the real number of lives lost to is believed to be significantly higher, in part because of inadequate testing and the many fatalities inaccurately attributed to other causes, especially early in the outbreak.

“What was never on the horizon is that so many of the deaths would be in the richest countries in the world,” said Dr. Bharat Pankhania, an infectious diseases expert at Britain’s University of Exeter. “That the world’s richest countries would mismanage so badly is just shocking.”

In rich and poor countries alike, the crisis has devastated economies, thrown multitudes out of work and plunged many into poverty.

In Europe, where more than a quarter of the world’s deaths have taken place, strict lockdowns and curfews have been reimposed to beat back a resurgence of the virus, and a new variant that is believed to be more contagious is circulating in Britain and other countries, as well as the U.S.

Even in some of the wealthiest countries, the vaccination drives have been slower than expected. France, with the second-largest economy in Europe and more than 69,000 known virus deaths, will need years, not months, to vaccinate its 53 million adults unless it sharply speeds up its rollout, hampered by shortages, red tape and considerable suspicion of the vaccines.

Still, in places like Poissy, a blue-collar town west of Paris, the first shots of the Pfizer formula were met with relief and a sense that there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.

Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/tag/Coronaviruspandemic">Coronavirus pandemic</a>

“We have been living inside for nearly a year. It’s not a life,” said Maurice Lachkar, a retired 78-year-old acupuncturist who was put on the priority list for vaccination because of his diabetes and his age. “If I catch the virus I am done.”

Maurice and his wife, Nicole, who also got vaccinated, said they might even allow themselves hugs with their two children and four grandchildren, whom they have seen from a socially safe distance only once or twice since the pandemic hit.

“It is going to be liberating,” he said.

Throughout the developing world, the images are strikingly similar: rows and rows of graves being dug, hospitals pushed to the limit and medical workers dying for lack of protective gear.

In Peru, which has the highest COVID-19 fatality rate in Latin America, hundreds of health care workers went on strike this week to demand better pay and working conditions in a country where 230 doctors have died of the disease. In Brazil, authorities in the Amazon rainforest’s biggest city planned to transfer hundreds of patients out because of a dwindling supply of oxygen tanks that has resulted in some people dying at home.

In Honduras, anesthesiologist Dr. Cesar Umaña is treating 25 patients in their homes by phone because hospitals lack the capacity and equipment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610740926666.png" alt="John Hopkins University map Friday January 15, 2021" />
 <figcaption>John Hopkins University map Friday January 15, 2021</figcaption>
 </figure>MEXICO CITY (AP) — The global death toll from COVID-19 topped 2 million Friday, crossing the threshold amid a vaccine rollout so immense but so uneven that in some countries there is real hope of vanquishing the outbreak, while in other, less-developed parts of the world, it seems a far-off dream.The numbing figure was reached just over a year after the coronavirus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The number of dead, compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the population of Brussels, Mecca, Minsk or Vienna. It is roughly equivalent to the Cleveland metropolitan area or the entire state of Nebraska.“There’s been a terrible amount of death,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, a pandemic expert and dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. At the same time, he said, “our scientific community has also done extraordinary work.”In wealthy countries including the United States, Britain, Israel, Canada and Germany, millions of citizens have already been given some measure of protection with at least one dose of vaccine developed with revolutionary speed and quickly authorized for use.But elsewhere, immunization drives have barely gotten off the ground. Many experts are predicting another year of loss and hardship in places like Iran, India, Mexico and Brazil, which together account for about a quarter of the world’s deaths.“As a country, as a society, as citizens we haven’t understood,” lamented Israel Gomez, a Mexico City paramedic who spent months shuttling COVID-19 patients around by ambulance, desperately looking for vacant hospital beds. “We have not understood that this is not a game, that this really exists.”Mexico, a country of 130 million people, has received just 500,000 doses of vaccine and has put barely half of those into the arms of health care workers.MORE COVID-19 NEWS:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-asia-pacific-germany-coronavirus-pandemic-99dfe5596d90f59a6a50d7b8c126c98c">–&nbsp;The Latest: CDC concerned virus variant may dominate in US</a></li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-mississippi-georgia-coronavirus-pandemic-south-carolina-9edff9cdee1c9adc3a5152bc5a5db83f">–&nbsp;Deep South falls behind in coronavirus vaccine drive</a></li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-coronavirus-pandemic-colorado-dc75b5356a80dd9fe122ab18a9323374">–&nbsp;Online sign-ups complicate vaccine rollout for older people</a></li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-coronavirus-vaccine-problems-24cc4724457f3f682b7c3e8414deb565">–&nbsp;Expanded vaccine rollout in US spawns a new set of problems</a></li>
 </ul>That’s in sharp contrast to the situation for its wealthier northern neighbor. Despite early delays, hundreds of thousands of people are rolling up their sleeves every day in the United States, where the virus has killed about 390,000, by far the highest toll of any country.All told, over 35 million doses of various COVID-19 vaccines have been administered around the world, according to the University of Oxford.While vaccination drives in rich countries have been hamstrung by long lines, inadequate budgets and a patchwork of state and local approaches, the obstacles are far greater in poorer nations, which can have weak health systems, crumbling transportation networks, entrenched corruption and a lack of reliable electricity to keep vaccines cold enough.Also, the majority of the world’s COVID-19 vaccine doses have already been snapped up by wealthy countries. COVAX, a U.N.-backed project to supply shots to developing parts of the world, has found itself short of vaccine, money and logistical help.As a result, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist warned it is highly unlikely that herd immunity — which would require at least 70% of the globe to be vaccinated — will be achieved this year. As the disaster has demonstrated, it is not enough to snuff out the virus in a few places.“Even if it happens in a couple of pockets, in a few countries, it’s not going to protect people across the world,” Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said this week.Health experts fear, too, that if shots are not distributed widely and fast enough, it could give the virus time to mutate and defeat the vaccine — “my nightmare scenario,” as Jha put it.U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the 2 million milestone “has been made worse by the absence of a global coordinated effort.” He added: “Science has succeeded, but solidarity has failed.”Meanwhile, in Wuhan, where the scourge was discovered in late 2019, a global team of researchers led by WHO arrived Thursday on a politically sensitive mission to investigate the origins of the virus, which is believed to have spread to humans from wild animals.The Chinese city of 11 million people is bustling again, with few signs it was once the epicenter of the catastrophe, locked down for 76 days, with over 3,800 dead.“We are not fearful or worried as we were in the past,” said Qin Qiong, a noodle shop owner. “We now live a normal life. I take the subway every day to come to work in the shop. ... Except for our customers, who have to wear masks, everything else is the same.”It took eight months to hit 1 million dead but less than four months after that to reach the next million.While the death toll is based on figures supplied by government agencies around the world, the real number of lives lost to is believed to be significantly higher, in part because of inadequate testing and the many fatalities inaccurately attributed to other causes, especially early in the outbreak.“What was never on the horizon is that so many of the deaths would be in the richest countries in the world,” said Dr. Bharat Pankhania, an infectious diseases expert at Britain’s University of Exeter. “That the world’s richest countries would mismanage so badly is just shocking.”In rich and poor countries alike, the crisis has devastated economies, thrown multitudes out of work and plunged many into poverty.In Europe, where more than a quarter of the world’s deaths have taken place, strict lockdowns and curfews have been reimposed to beat back a resurgence of the virus, and a new variant that is believed to be more contagious is circulating in Britain and other countries, as well as the U.S.Even in some of the wealthiest countries, the vaccination drives have been slower than expected. France, with the second-largest economy in Europe and more than 69,000 known virus deaths, will need years, not months, to vaccinate its 53 million adults unless it sharply speeds up its rollout, hampered by shortages, red tape and considerable suspicion of the vaccines.Still, in places like Poissy, a blue-collar town west of Paris, the first shots of the Pfizer formula were met with relief and a sense that there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/tag/Coronaviruspandemic">Coronavirus pandemic</a>“We have been living inside for nearly a year. It’s not a life,” said Maurice Lachkar, a retired 78-year-old acupuncturist who was put on the priority list for vaccination because of his diabetes and his age. “If I catch the virus I am done.”Maurice and his wife, Nicole, who also got vaccinated, said they might even allow themselves hugs with their two children and four grandchildren, whom they have seen from a socially safe distance only once or twice since the pandemic hit.“It is going to be liberating,” he said.Throughout the developing world, the images are strikingly similar: rows and rows of graves being dug, hospitals pushed to the limit and medical workers dying for lack of protective gear.In Peru, which has the highest COVID-19 fatality rate in Latin America, hundreds of health care workers went on strike this week to demand better pay and working conditions in a country where 230 doctors have died of the disease. In Brazil, authorities in the Amazon rainforest’s biggest city planned to transfer hundreds of patients out because of a dwindling supply of oxygen tanks that has resulted in some people dying at home.In Honduras, anesthesiologist Dr. Cesar Umaña is treating 25 patients in their homes by phone because hospitals lack the capacity and equipment.“This is complete chaos,” he said.

 Global death toll for COVID-19 surpasses 2 million

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ordered this week that women must visit a doctor’s office, hospital or clinic in person to obtain an abortion pill during the COVID-19 pandemic, though similar rules for other drugs have been suspended during the public health emergency.

Days before President Donald Trump leaves office, the justices granted a Trump administration appeal to be able to enforce a longstanding rule on getting the abortion pill, mifepristone. The pill need not be taken in the presence of medical professionals.

The court split 6-3, with the liberal justices in dissent. The new administration could put the in-person requirement on hold after Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20.

A federal judge had suspended the rule since July because of the coronavirus, in response to a lawsuit from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other groups.

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang affirmed the suspension of the rule in December, saying public health risks for patients had increased as COVID-19 cases soared.

The Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone to be used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, to end an early pregnancy or manage a miscarriage.

The administration has suspended similar in-person visits for other drugs, including opioids in some cases, but refused to relax the rules for getting the abortion pill.

In October, the Supreme Court allowed women to continue getting the abortion pill by mail but deferred any substantive ruling. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas said they would have granted the administration’s request then.

At the time, there were only eight justices on the court, as Justice Amy Coney Barrett had been nominated, but not yet confirmed. Barrett took the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in September.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ordered this week that women must visit a doctor’s office, hospital or clinic in person to obtain an abortion pill during the COVID-19 pandemic, though similar rules for other drugs have been suspended during the public health emergency.Days before President Donald Trump leaves office, the justices granted a Trump administration appeal to be able to enforce a longstanding rule on getting the abortion pill, mifepristone. The pill need not be taken in the presence of medical professionals.The court split 6-3, with the liberal justices in dissent. The new administration could put the in-person requirement on hold after Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20.A federal judge had suspended the rule since July because of the coronavirus, in response to a lawsuit from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other groups.U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang affirmed the suspension of the rule in December, saying public health risks for patients had increased as COVID-19 cases soared.The Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone to be used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, to end an early pregnancy or manage a miscarriage.The administration has suspended similar in-person visits for other drugs, including opioids in some cases, but refused to relax the rules for getting the abortion pill.In October, the Supreme Court allowed women to continue getting the abortion pill by mail but deferred any substantive ruling. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas said they would have granted the administration’s request then.At the time, there were only eight justices on the court, as Justice Amy Coney Barrett had been nominated, but not yet confirmed. Barrett took the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in September.

Justices: Women must obtain abortion pill in person

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 4093 to a total of 256, 134, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 3502 an increase of 147

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 4093 to a total of 256, 134, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 3502 an increase of 147<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610734196374.png" alt="Friday Jan. 15, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday Jan. 15, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

&nbsp;HUTCHINSON— A Kansas man was bound over for trial&nbsp; Thursday on charges of drug smuggling while an employee at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility.

Zachary Wood, 22, Newton, also saw two additional charges filed against him in an amended complaint. Wood faces single counts of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of codeine with intent to sell along with the original charges of conspiracy, using a communication device to distribute drugs, drug distribution and trafficking contraband into a correctional facility.

Wood is accused of using three women to help smuggle K2 into the prison over a period of two months.

The three women arrested in the case, Ester Davis, Denisha Starns and Stephanie Thindiu all waived their right to a preliminary hearing and were bound over for trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600357864536.jpeg" alt="Wood photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Wood photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;HUTCHINSON— A Kansas man was bound over for trial&nbsp; Thursday on charges of drug smuggling while an employee at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility.Zachary Wood, 22, Newton, also saw two additional charges filed against him in an amended complaint. Wood faces single counts of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of codeine with intent to sell along with the original charges of conspiracy, using a communication device to distribute drugs, drug distribution and trafficking contraband into a correctional facility.Wood is accused of using three women to help smuggle K2 into the prison over a period of two months.The three women arrested in the case, Ester Davis, Denisha Starns and Stephanie Thindiu all waived their right to a preliminary hearing and were bound over for trial.

Man will stand trial for smuggling K2 into Kan. prison

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is on track to pay out an extra $300-a-week federal unemployment benefit as part of a coronavirus rescue aid package enacted late last month, a top Department of Labor official said.

Ryan Wright, who stepped down as acting secretary of the agency in December but remains a top staffer, said the department was in the process of testing the requisite system. Roughly two dozen states have begun paying out the extra benefit, but Wright noted that neighboring states also weren’t up and running yet, The Topeka Capital-Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/state/2021/01/14/kansas-on-target-resume-expanded-unemployment-payments/4161319001/" target="_blank">reports</a>.

He didn’t commit to a firm time frame but said “we are talking days and weeks, not months” and insisted that the state is “not behind.”

Originally authorized under the CARES Act, the program was continued under the recently approved federal stimulus package, with claimants able to receive the expanded benefits for an additional 11 weeks.

KDOL has come under fire from lawmakers and frustrated Kansans alike after a historic surge in unemployment amid the COVID-19 pandemic taxed the state’s aging system, leading to widespread crashes and outages.

When Wright took over as acting secretary in July, there was a backlog of over 25,000 claimants awaiting benefits. Residents complained of an inability to get through to talk to a call center employee about their situation and some still say they haven’t been able to access their benefits.

But Wright claimed victory in tackling the backlog of regular unemployment claims, which was down to a mere 188 applicants who would be taken care of soon.

“We are approaching the point where if you have a valid claim, you will be paid,” he said.

A separate backlog of claimants in a different program targeted at those who are self-employed or freelancers had been halved in the last six months, Wright said.

The issue was that large parts of the system haven’t been upgraded since the 1970s and a refresh in the 2000s is now out of date.

Kelly included $37.5 million in her budget proposal, announced Wednesday, for some IT upgrades, although a more comprehensive effort would cost far more. The hope was to break the effort into phases, but significant work was needed, Wright said.

“It will be a complete overhaul of the system at this point,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shawnee County commissioners voted Thursday to extend a health order that limited gatherings to 10 people or fewer after the county saw surging COVID-19 numbers. Interim health officer Dennis Cooley recommended the health order be extended for a few weeks to allow the health department to review COVID-19 numbers. He said the county is in the midst of a post-holiday spike.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610733397386.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is on track to pay out an extra $300-a-week federal unemployment benefit as part of a coronavirus rescue aid package enacted late last month, a top Department of Labor official said.Ryan Wright, who stepped down as acting secretary of the agency in December but remains a top staffer, said the department was in the process of testing the requisite system. Roughly two dozen states have begun paying out the extra benefit, but Wright noted that neighboring states also weren’t up and running yet, The Topeka Capital-Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/state/2021/01/14/kansas-on-target-resume-expanded-unemployment-payments/4161319001/" target="_blank">reports</a>.He didn’t commit to a firm time frame but said “we are talking days and weeks, not months” and insisted that the state is “not behind.”Originally authorized under the CARES Act, the program was continued under the recently approved federal stimulus package, with claimants able to receive the expanded benefits for an additional 11 weeks.KDOL has come under fire from lawmakers and frustrated Kansans alike after a historic surge in unemployment amid the COVID-19 pandemic taxed the state’s aging system, leading to widespread crashes and outages.When Wright took over as acting secretary in July, there was a backlog of over 25,000 claimants awaiting benefits. Residents complained of an inability to get through to talk to a call center employee about their situation and some still say they haven’t been able to access their benefits.But Wright claimed victory in tackling the backlog of regular unemployment claims, which was down to a mere 188 applicants who would be taken care of soon.“We are approaching the point where if you have a valid claim, you will be paid,” he said.A separate backlog of claimants in a different program targeted at those who are self-employed or freelancers had been halved in the last six months, Wright said.The issue was that large parts of the system haven’t been upgraded since the 1970s and a refresh in the 2000s is now out of date.Kelly included $37.5 million in her budget proposal, announced Wednesday, for some IT upgrades, although a more comprehensive effort would cost far more. The hope was to break the effort into phases, but significant work was needed, Wright said.“It will be a complete overhaul of the system at this point,” he said.Meanwhile, Shawnee County commissioners voted Thursday to extend a health order that limited gatherings to 10 people or fewer after the county saw surging COVID-19 numbers. Interim health officer Dennis Cooley recommended the health order be extended for a few weeks to allow the health department to review COVID-19 numbers. He said the county is in the midst of a post-holiday spike.

Kansas on track to pay out extra unemployment benefit

KANSAS CITY (AP) —As vaccinations continue across the U.S., some companies are offering financial incentives to encourage their workers to get the shots.

Instacart Inc., the grocery delivery service, announced Thursday that it would provide a $25 stipend for workers who get the COVID-19 vaccine. It joins others, including Trader Joe’s and Dollar General, which plan to pay workers extra if they get vaccinated.

“Our goal with the introduction of our new vaccine support stipend is to ensure that, when the time comes, Instacart shoppers don’t have to choose between earning income as an essential service provider or getting vaccinated,” Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta said in a statement.

San Francisco-based Instacart has nearly doubled its mostly gig workforce to about 500,000 to meet a surge in demand for online grocery shopping since the pandemic erupted in the U.S. last spring.

Grocery chain Trader Joe’s, which has more than 50,000 employees, said Thursday it will give employees two hours of pay per dose for getting the vaccine. The Monrovia, California-based company said it will also shift around schedules to make sure employees have time to get vaccinated.

Dollar General said Wednesday it will give employees the equivalent of four hours of pay if they get the vaccine. The Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based retailer said it employs 157,000 people.

A vaccine advisory panel at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control voted late last month on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-over75-essential-145d1bae81aaa05df26cfed0d24f0e10">recommendations for vaccine distribution</a>. The panel said grocery workers — which would include Instacart and Dollar General’s employees — should be in the second group to receive shots after health care workers and nursing home residents.

It is up to each state to decide how and when to adopt the CDC’s recommendations. Some states have already opened eligibility to the second group, which also includes firefighters, police, teachers, corrections workers, postal employees and people 75 and older. There are around 50 million people in that group.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/can-employers-covid-19-vaccine-mandatory-ba22c99f01f24ea3be7631ff751f0d82">Companies can mandate</a>&nbsp;that workers get COVID-19 vaccines as a requirement for employment, although they must make accommodations for medical or religious reasons, according to guidance from the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

However, most companies are reluctant to impose such mandates, said Sharon Perley Masling, a partner at the law firm Morgan Lewis who has been advising clients on workplace issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency nature of the vaccine’s FDA approval makes it impractical for many companies to require it, given that the shots are not available to most of the population, she said.

Still, Masling said the companies she works with are taking various steps to strongly encourage their workers to get vaccinated, including internal public relations campaigns showing top executives who are eligible getting the shots. Other incentives include free child care, paid time off and freebies like pizza delivery and other gifts, she said.

“It’s good for employees, it’s good for their communities and its good for ensuring the continuation of business operations,” Masling said.

The push to vaccinate comes amid signs that some people —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-health-workers-676e03a99badfd5ce3a6cfafe383f6af">even health care workers</a>&nbsp;— are reluctant to get the shots, contributing to a slower than hoped-for rollout of the mass vacation effort in the U.S. Masling said many of companies are still trying to figure out how their employees feel about the taking the shots, with some sending out internal surveys.

In a survey last month by the Society for Human Resource Management, nearly two-thirds of U.S. workers said they were likely to get the vaccine when it becomes available. Still, 36% said they were not likely to get vaccinated, citing as their main reason concern about side effects. SHRM surveyed workers from 529 U.S. households using the AmeriSpeak Omnibus survey, a probability-based panel developed by NORC at the University of Chicago.

Scientists say the vaccines have been rigorously tested on tens of thousands and vetted by independent experts, and there have been no signs of widespread severe side effects from the shots.

Not every company is offering incentives. Delivery app DoorDash, another big platform for gig workers, said it has asked the CDC and governors to prioritize delivery workers in vaccine distribution. But it doesn’t plan perks for workers who get vaccinated.

Target Corp. also plans no incentives, but said it will make the vaccine free and accessible to its 350,000 employees. Target said 1,700 of its stores have a CVS pharmacy on site that will offer the vaccine to staff when it’s available.

Albertsons, a grocery chain with 2,250 U.S. stores and 300,000 employees, also isn’t doling out financial incentives. Like DoorDash, it’s asking state and local authorities to make sure its workers get priority for the vaccine.

A separate SHRM survey last month found that while about two-thirds of U.S. employers planned to encourage employees to get vaccinated, only 3% have decided to require it for at least some workers. That could change, since 55% of employers said they were unsure if they would eventually require it, according to survey of 955 members of SHRM, an organization of about 300,000 human resource professionals.

Many large companies have faced criticism over how they have treated their employees throughout the pandemic, from shoddy sick leave policies to poor working conditions. Companies from meatpacking plants to Amazon have grappled with worker absences and outbreaks that have forced temporary shutdowns of their factories and warehouses. There is also a looming debate in Congress over whether employers should be exempt from legal liabilities related to coronavirus exposure as more recall their employees to offices and other work sites.

Those challenges provide a strong incentive for companies to get their workers vaccinated, said Laura Boudreau, an economics professor at Columbia Business School who specializes in labor rights.

“A lot of them have had to defend their reputations in terms of how they are treating their employees throughout the pandemic,” Boudreau said.

Instacart is among several companies that have lobbied for their workers to be prioritized for vaccines. The company has faced criticism and some worker unrest over allegations that it not done enough to protect its gig workers, who don’t get health insurance through the company or guaranteed paid sick leave.

The company says it has distributed 620,000 free safety kits to its workers, including face masks and hand sanitizers. It introduced a new policy in March to provide 14 days of paid leave for gig workers who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or have been ordered to quarantine because of potential exposure.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602590971875.png" alt="Photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Johnson &amp; Johnson</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —As vaccinations continue across the U.S., some companies are offering financial incentives to encourage their workers to get the shots.Instacart Inc., the grocery delivery service, announced Thursday that it would provide a $25 stipend for workers who get the COVID-19 vaccine. It joins others, including Trader Joe’s and Dollar General, which plan to pay workers extra if they get vaccinated.“Our goal with the introduction of our new vaccine support stipend is to ensure that, when the time comes, Instacart shoppers don’t have to choose between earning income as an essential service provider or getting vaccinated,” Instacart CEO Apoorva Mehta said in a statement.San Francisco-based Instacart has nearly doubled its mostly gig workforce to about 500,000 to meet a surge in demand for online grocery shopping since the pandemic erupted in the U.S. last spring.Grocery chain Trader Joe’s, which has more than 50,000 employees, said Thursday it will give employees two hours of pay per dose for getting the vaccine. The Monrovia, California-based company said it will also shift around schedules to make sure employees have time to get vaccinated.Dollar General said Wednesday it will give employees the equivalent of four hours of pay if they get the vaccine. The Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based retailer said it employs 157,000 people.A vaccine advisory panel at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control voted late last month on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-over75-essential-145d1bae81aaa05df26cfed0d24f0e10">recommendations for vaccine distribution</a>. The panel said grocery workers — which would include Instacart and Dollar General’s employees — should be in the second group to receive shots after health care workers and nursing home residents.It is up to each state to decide how and when to adopt the CDC’s recommendations. Some states have already opened eligibility to the second group, which also includes firefighters, police, teachers, corrections workers, postal employees and people 75 and older. There are around 50 million people in that group.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/can-employers-covid-19-vaccine-mandatory-ba22c99f01f24ea3be7631ff751f0d82">Companies can mandate</a>&nbsp;that workers get COVID-19 vaccines as a requirement for employment, although they must make accommodations for medical or religious reasons, according to guidance from the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.However, most companies are reluctant to impose such mandates, said Sharon Perley Masling, a partner at the law firm Morgan Lewis who has been advising clients on workplace issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency nature of the vaccine’s FDA approval makes it impractical for many companies to require it, given that the shots are not available to most of the population, she said.Still, Masling said the companies she works with are taking various steps to strongly encourage their workers to get vaccinated, including internal public relations campaigns showing top executives who are eligible getting the shots. Other incentives include free child care, paid time off and freebies like pizza delivery and other gifts, she said.“It’s good for employees, it’s good for their communities and its good for ensuring the continuation of business operations,” Masling said.The push to vaccinate comes amid signs that some people —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-health-workers-676e03a99badfd5ce3a6cfafe383f6af">even health care workers</a>&nbsp;— are reluctant to get the shots, contributing to a slower than hoped-for rollout of the mass vacation effort in the U.S. Masling said many of companies are still trying to figure out how their employees feel about the taking the shots, with some sending out internal surveys.In a survey last month by the Society for Human Resource Management, nearly two-thirds of U.S. workers said they were likely to get the vaccine when it becomes available. Still, 36% said they were not likely to get vaccinated, citing as their main reason concern about side effects. SHRM surveyed workers from 529 U.S. households using the AmeriSpeak Omnibus survey, a probability-based panel developed by NORC at the University of Chicago.Scientists say the vaccines have been rigorously tested on tens of thousands and vetted by independent experts, and there have been no signs of widespread severe side effects from the shots.Not every company is offering incentives. Delivery app DoorDash, another big platform for gig workers, said it has asked the CDC and governors to prioritize delivery workers in vaccine distribution. But it doesn’t plan perks for workers who get vaccinated.Target Corp. also plans no incentives, but said it will make the vaccine free and accessible to its 350,000 employees. Target said 1,700 of its stores have a CVS pharmacy on site that will offer the vaccine to staff when it’s available.Albertsons, a grocery chain with 2,250 U.S. stores and 300,000 employees, also isn’t doling out financial incentives. Like DoorDash, it’s asking state and local authorities to make sure its workers get priority for the vaccine.A separate SHRM survey last month found that while about two-thirds of U.S. employers planned to encourage employees to get vaccinated, only 3% have decided to require it for at least some workers. That could change, since 55% of employers said they were unsure if they would eventually require it, according to survey of 955 members of SHRM, an organization of about 300,000 human resource professionals.Many large companies have faced criticism over how they have treated their employees throughout the pandemic, from shoddy sick leave policies to poor working conditions. Companies from meatpacking plants to Amazon have grappled with worker absences and outbreaks that have forced temporary shutdowns of their factories and warehouses. There is also a looming debate in Congress over whether employers should be exempt from legal liabilities related to coronavirus exposure as more recall their employees to offices and other work sites.Those challenges provide a strong incentive for companies to get their workers vaccinated, said Laura Boudreau, an economics professor at Columbia Business School who specializes in labor rights.“A lot of them have had to defend their reputations in terms of how they are treating their employees throughout the pandemic,” Boudreau said.Instacart is among several companies that have lobbied for their workers to be prioritized for vaccines. The company has faced criticism and some worker unrest over allegations that it not done enough to protect its gig workers, who don’t get health insurance through the company or guaranteed paid sick leave.The company says it has distributed 620,000 free safety kits to its workers, including face masks and hand sanitizers. It introduced a new policy in March to provide 14 days of paid leave for gig workers who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or have been ordered to quarantine because of potential exposure.

Retailers push incentives to get workers vaccinated

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and are asking the public for help to locate 40-year-old Moses Joel Guerrero.

Just after 3:00 a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the area of 200 N. 9th Street in Garden City to assist Finney County EMS with an unresponsive man suffering from a head injury, according to Sgt. Lana Urteaga.

Upon arrival, officers found the man identified as Jose Adelaydo Gonzalez, 39, was not breathing and in addition to the head injury had been shot.&nbsp;

EMS transported Gonzalez to St. Catherine Hospital where he died, according to Urteaga.

The preliminary investigation determined Gonzalez had a small gathering at his residence. During the gathering, he was involved in a physical altercation and was shot. The alleged assailant later identified as Guerrero fled before officers arrived.&nbsp;

Guerrero is described as white, 5-foot-9 inches tall, weights 220 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. He has a scars on the back of his head, on his chest, both arms and his forehead.

His last known address was in the 1800 Block of West Mary in Garden City. Police have a warrant for his arrest for first-degree murder.&nbsp; He is considered armed and dangerous.&nbsp;

Guerrero has previous convictions for aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man's death in southwest Kansas.

EMS transported Gonzalez&nbsp; to St. Catherine Hospital where he died, according to Urteaga.

The preliminary investigation determined Gonzalez had a small gathering at his residence. During the gathering, he was involved in a physical altercation and was shot. The unknown assailant fled before officers arrived.&nbsp;

Police are requesting assistance from the community to locate a suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610661801557.png" alt="Guerrero-photo Garden City Police" />
 <figcaption>Guerrero-photo Garden City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and are asking the public for help to locate 40-year-old Moses Joel Guerrero.Just after 3:00 a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the area of 200 N. 9th Street in Garden City to assist Finney County EMS with an unresponsive man suffering from a head injury, according to Sgt. Lana Urteaga.Upon arrival, officers found the man identified as Jose Adelaydo Gonzalez, 39, was not breathing and in addition to the head injury had been shot.&nbsp;EMS transported Gonzalez to St. Catherine Hospital where he died, according to Urteaga.The preliminary investigation determined Gonzalez had a small gathering at his residence. During the gathering, he was involved in a physical altercation and was shot. The alleged assailant later identified as Guerrero fled before officers arrived.&nbsp;Guerrero is described as white, 5-foot-9 inches tall, weights 220 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. He has a scars on the back of his head, on his chest, both arms and his forehead.His last known address was in the 1800 Block of West Mary in Garden City. Police have a warrant for his arrest for first-degree murder.&nbsp; He is considered armed and dangerous.&nbsp;Guerrero has previous convictions for aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.---------FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man's death in southwest Kansas.Just after 3:00 a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the area of 200 N. 9th Street in Garden City to assist Finney County EMS with an unresponsive man suffering from a head injury, according to Sgt. Lana Urteaga.Upon arrival, officers found the man identified as Jose Adelaydo Gonzalez, 39, was not breathing and in addition to the head injury had been shot.&nbsp;EMS transported Gonzalez&nbsp; to St. Catherine Hospital where he died, according to Urteaga.The preliminary investigation determined Gonzalez had a small gathering at his residence. During the gathering, he was involved in a physical altercation and was shot. The unknown assailant fled before officers arrived.&nbsp;Police are requesting assistance from the community to locate a suspect.

Police search for suspect in fatal SW Kan. party shooting

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly is restricting access to the Kansas Statehouse due to the possibility of an armed protest, telling state lawmakers Thursday that an event is planned for Sunday with “other potential gatherings” next week.

The Democratic governor’s chief of staff, Will Lawrence, sent a memo Thursday to the Republican-controlled Legislature’s top Republican and Democratic leaders announcing that access to the building will be restricted from Friday through Jan. 22. The memo said there will be an increased law enforcement presence at the Statehouse.

The memo did not say what groups were planning protests or other events.

The security preparations came in response to last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/14c73ee280c256ab4ec193ac0f49ad54">insurrection in Washington, D.C.,&nbsp;</a>in which a violent mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and interrupted Congress’ certification of his election loss. The FBI has since warned about the potential for armed protests by Trump loyalists in Washington and at state capitols ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration Wednesday.

“In Kansas, we have information that there is an event planned for 12:00 noon on January 17, 2021,” Lawrence’s memo said. “There are also other potential gatherings scheduled for next week including Wednesday, January 20, 2021.”

Kelly and the legislative leaders held a private, half-hour virtual security briefing Thursday morning with the Kansas Highway Patrol and the state Adjutant General’s Department. Legislators who participated have revealed little about what they heard because it involved security matters.

Lawrence’s memo said access to the Statehouse would be limited to “only those having business before the Legislature and the governor’s office.” People entering the building will be vetted and will need to provide an email indicating they have a meeting or are providing testimony before a legislative committee.

The memo said virtual meetings are “strongly encouraged.” The Legislature spent $3 million on technology upgrades in recent weeks to allow live audio and video streaming of meetings and remote participation, though lawmakers have complained that the technology has proven balky at times.

The memo said the Statehouse garage will be closed, allowing access only with a special security pass. People with a pass will be allowed to come into the building through one entrance.

“Law enforcement presence has been and will continue to be increased throughout this time,” the memo said.

House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said in an email to colleagues that officers will be stationed at each door on the first and second floors of the Statehouse.

Some lawmakers have questioned whether problems are likely. Trump carried the state by a wide margin in last year’s election and a peaceful protest of about 200 people took place at the Statehouse last week on the same day Washington saw mob violence.

Kelly told reporters Wednesday that the state would “keep a close eye on” any potential armed protest and would step up security “as necessary.” But she declined to discuss details.

State Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat, said she will probably work remotely next week. Before the memo was issued, she had expressed frustration with the lack of information about security plans, saying she hadn’t noticed any security enhancements.

After reading the memo, she said: “I feel better. Still concerned though, because I know there are threats out there that are unspecified.”

Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said before the memo became public that he was comfortable if officials wanted an increased security presence at the Statehouse.

“The nut jobs, if you will, are generally deterred by just the presence,” Masterson said.

<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>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly is restricting access to the Kansas Statehouse due to the possibility of an armed protest, telling state lawmakers Thursday that an event is planned for Sunday with “other potential gatherings” next week.The Democratic governor’s chief of staff, Will Lawrence, sent a memo Thursday to the Republican-controlled Legislature’s top Republican and Democratic leaders announcing that access to the building will be restricted from Friday through Jan. 22. The memo said there will be an increased law enforcement presence at the Statehouse.The memo did not say what groups were planning protests or other events.The security preparations came in response to last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/14c73ee280c256ab4ec193ac0f49ad54">insurrection in Washington, D.C.,&nbsp;</a>in which a violent mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and interrupted Congress’ certification of his election loss. The FBI has since warned about the potential for armed protests by Trump loyalists in Washington and at state capitols ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration Wednesday.“In Kansas, we have information that there is an event planned for 12:00 noon on January 17, 2021,” Lawrence’s memo said. “There are also other potential gatherings scheduled for next week including Wednesday, January 20, 2021.”Kelly and the legislative leaders held a private, half-hour virtual security briefing Thursday morning with the Kansas Highway Patrol and the state Adjutant General’s Department. Legislators who participated have revealed little about what they heard because it involved security matters.Lawrence’s memo said access to the Statehouse would be limited to “only those having business before the Legislature and the governor’s office.” People entering the building will be vetted and will need to provide an email indicating they have a meeting or are providing testimony before a legislative committee.The memo said virtual meetings are “strongly encouraged.” The Legislature spent $3 million on technology upgrades in recent weeks to allow live audio and video streaming of meetings and remote participation, though lawmakers have complained that the technology has proven balky at times.The memo said the Statehouse garage will be closed, allowing access only with a special security pass. People with a pass will be allowed to come into the building through one entrance.“Law enforcement presence has been and will continue to be increased throughout this time,” the memo said.House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said in an email to colleagues that officers will be stationed at each door on the first and second floors of the Statehouse.Some lawmakers have questioned whether problems are likely. Trump carried the state by a wide margin in last year’s election and a peaceful protest of about 200 people took place at the Statehouse last week on the same day Washington saw mob violence.Kelly told reporters Wednesday that the state would “keep a close eye on” any potential armed protest and would step up security “as necessary.” But she declined to discuss details.State Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat, said she will probably work remotely next week. Before the memo was issued, she had expressed frustration with the lack of information about security plans, saying she hadn’t noticed any security enhancements.After reading the memo, she said: “I feel better. Still concerned though, because I know there are threats out there that are unspecified.”Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said before the memo became public that he was comfortable if officials wanted an increased security presence at the Statehouse.“The nut jobs, if you will, are generally deterred by just the presence,” Masterson said.___

Governor limits Kan. Statehouse access, expects protests

DUNDY COUNTY, NE —Emergency management officials gave&nbsp; the all clear for residents to return home just after 7:15 a.m. Thursday and lifted the evacuation recommendations for Benkelman, according to the Dundy County Sheriff's Department.

A large fire on the northwestern side of Benkelman prompted an evacuation order early Thursday morning. The community of one thousand is located 50 miles north of Goodland.

DUNDY COUNTY, NE—Authorities are fighting a large fire on the northwestern side of Benkelman, Nebraska. The community of one thousand is located 50 miles north of Goodland.

 Mutual aid has been put into effect and several agencies have responded to control the fire, according to the Dundy County Sheriff's Department early Friday.

 Residences near the western side of Benkelman are being asked to safely gather important belongings and evacuate to a safe location west of Benkelman.

The sheriff's department asked drivers to stay off the highway at the northern intersection of Highway 34/61.&nbsp; Emergency vehicles are heavily using these roadways, and portions of the fire have centered around that area.

The Legion hall in Haigler is opening as a safe location for evacuees, according to the sheriff's department.

DUNDY COUNTY, NE —Emergency management officials gave&nbsp; the all clear for residents to return home just after 7:15 a.m. Thursday and lifted the evacuation recommendations for Benkelman, according to the Dundy County Sheriff's Department.A large fire on the northwestern side of Benkelman prompted an evacuation order early Thursday morning. The community of one thousand is located 50 miles north of Goodland.---------DUNDY COUNTY, NE—Authorities are fighting a large fire on the northwestern side of Benkelman, Nebraska. The community of one thousand is located 50 miles north of Goodland. Mutual aid has been put into effect and several agencies have responded to control the fire, according to the Dundy County Sheriff's Department early Friday. Residences near the western side of Benkelman are being asked to safely gather important belongings and evacuate to a safe location west of Benkelman.The sheriff's department asked drivers to stay off the highway at the northern intersection of Highway 34/61.&nbsp; Emergency vehicles are heavily using these roadways, and portions of the fire have centered around that area.The Legion hall in Haigler is opening as a safe location for evacuees, according to the sheriff's department.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNWSGoodland%2Fposts%2F3674822105935548&width=500&show_text=true&height=485&appId" width="500" height="485" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Update: Nebraska town evacuated due to large wildfire

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden has unveiled a $1.9 trillion coronavirus plan to end “a crisis of deep human suffering” by speeding up vaccines and pumping out financial help to those struggling with the pandemic’s prolonged economic fallout.

Called the “American Rescue Plan,” the legislative proposal would meet Biden’s goal of administering 100 million vaccines by the 100th day of his administration, and advance his objective of reopening most schools by the spring. On a parallel track, it delivers another round of aid to stabilize the economy while the public health effort seeks the upper hand on the pandemic.

“We not only have an economic imperative to act now — I believe we have a moral obligation,” Biden said in a nationwide address Thursday. At the same time, he acknowledged that his plan “does not come cheaply.”

Biden proposed $1,400 checks for most Americans, which on top of $600 provided in the most recent COVID-19 bill would bring the total to the $2,000 that Biden has called for. It would also extend a temporary boost in unemployment benefits and a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures through September.

And it shoehorns in long-term Democratic policy aims such as increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, expanding paid leave for workers, and increasing tax credits for families with children. The last item would make it easier for women to go back to work, which in turn would help the economy recover.

The political outlook for the legislation remained unclear. In a joint statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer praised Biden for including liberal priorities, saying they would move quickly to pass it after Biden takes office next Wednesday. But Democrats have narrow margins in both chambers of Congress, and Republicans will push back on issues that range from increasing the minimum wage to providing more money for states, while demanding inclusion of their priorities, such as liability protection for businesses.

“Remember that a bipartisan $900 billion #COVID19 relief bill became law just 18 days ago,” tweeted Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. But Biden says that was only a down payment, and he promised more major legislation next month, focused on rebuilding the economy.

“The crisis of deep human suffering is in plain sight, and there’s not time to waste,” Biden said. “We have to act and we have to act now.”

Still, he sought to manage expectations. “We’re better equipped to do this than any nation in the world,” he said. “But even with all these small steps, it’s going to take time.”

His relief bill would be paid for with borrowed money, adding to trillions in debt the government has already incurred to confront the pandemic. Aides said Biden will make the case that the additional spending and borrowing is necessary to prevent the economy from sliding into an even deeper hole. Interest rates are low, making debt more manageable.

Biden has long held that economic recovery is inextricably linked with controlling the coronavirus.

That squares with the judgment of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the most powerful business lobbying group and traditionally an adversary of Democrats. “We must defeat COVID before we can restore our economy and that requires turbocharging our vaccination efforts,” the Chamber said in a statement Thursday night that welcomed Biden’s plan but stopped short of endorsing it.

The plan comes as a divided nation is in the grip of the pandemic’s most dangerous wave yet. So far, more than 385,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. And government numbers out Thursday reported a jump in weekly unemployment claims, to 965,000, a sign that rising infections are forcing businesses to cut back and lay off workers.

Under Biden’s multipronged strategy, about $400 billion would go directly to combating the pandemic, while the rest is focused on economic relief and aid to states and localities.

About $20 billion would be allocated for a more disciplined focus on vaccination, on top of some $8 billion already approved by Congress. Biden has called for setting up mass vaccination centers and sending mobile units to hard-to-reach areas.

With the backing of Congress and the expertise of private and government scientists, the Trump administration delivered two highly effective vaccines and more are on the way. Yet a month after the first shots were given, the nation’s vaccination campaign is off to a slow start with about 11 million people getting the first of two shots, although more than 30 million doses have been delivered.

Biden called the vaccine rollout “a dismal failure so far” and said he would provide more details about his vaccination campaign on Friday.

The plan also provides $50 billion to expand testing, which is seen as key to reopening most schools by the end of the new administration’s first 100 days. About $130 billion would be allocated to help schools reopen without risking further contagion.

The plan would fund the hiring of 100,000 public health workers, to focus on encouraging people to get vaccinated and on tracing the contacts of those infected with the coronavirus.

There’s also a proposal to boost investment in genetic sequencing, to help track new virus strains including the more contagious variants identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Throughout the plan, there’s a focus on ensuring that minority communities that have borne the brunt of the pandemic are not shortchanged on vaccines and treatments, aides said.

With the new proposals comes a call to redouble efforts on the basics.

Biden is asking Americans to override their sense of pandemic fatigue and recommit to wearing masks, practicing social distancing and avoiding indoor gatherings, particularly larger ones. It’s still the surest way to slow the COVID-19 wave, with more than 4,400 deaths reported just on Tuesday.

Biden’s biggest challenge will be to “win the hearts and minds of the American people to follow his lead,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a public health expert and emergency physician.

The pace of vaccination in the U.S. is approaching 1 million shots a day, but 1.8 million a day would be needed to reach widespread or “herd” immunity by the summer, according to a recent estimate by the American Hospital Association. Wen says the pace should be even higher — closer to 3 million a day.

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden has unveiled a $1.9 trillion coronavirus plan to end “a crisis of deep human suffering” by speeding up vaccines and pumping out financial help to those struggling with the pandemic’s prolonged economic fallout.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjoebiden%2Fvideos%2F1685564078285976%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>Called the “American Rescue Plan,” the legislative proposal would meet Biden’s goal of administering 100 million vaccines by the 100th day of his administration, and advance his objective of reopening most schools by the spring. On a parallel track, it delivers another round of aid to stabilize the economy while the public health effort seeks the upper hand on the pandemic.“We not only have an economic imperative to act now — I believe we have a moral obligation,” Biden said in a nationwide address Thursday. At the same time, he acknowledged that his plan “does not come cheaply.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610708703627.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Biden proposed $1,400 checks for most Americans, which on top of $600 provided in the most recent COVID-19 bill would bring the total to the $2,000 that Biden has called for. It would also extend a temporary boost in unemployment benefits and a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures through September.And it shoehorns in long-term Democratic policy aims such as increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, expanding paid leave for workers, and increasing tax credits for families with children. The last item would make it easier for women to go back to work, which in turn would help the economy recover.The political outlook for the legislation remained unclear. In a joint statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer praised Biden for including liberal priorities, saying they would move quickly to pass it after Biden takes office next Wednesday. But Democrats have narrow margins in both chambers of Congress, and Republicans will push back on issues that range from increasing the minimum wage to providing more money for states, while demanding inclusion of their priorities, such as liability protection for businesses.“Remember that a bipartisan $900 billion #COVID19 relief bill became law just 18 days ago,” tweeted Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. But Biden says that was only a down payment, and he promised more major legislation next month, focused on rebuilding the economy.“The crisis of deep human suffering is in plain sight, and there’s not time to waste,” Biden said. “We have to act and we have to act now.”Still, he sought to manage expectations. “We’re better equipped to do this than any nation in the world,” he said. “But even with all these small steps, it’s going to take time.”His relief bill would be paid for with borrowed money, adding to trillions in debt the government has already incurred to confront the pandemic. Aides said Biden will make the case that the additional spending and borrowing is necessary to prevent the economy from sliding into an even deeper hole. Interest rates are low, making debt more manageable.Biden has long held that economic recovery is inextricably linked with controlling the coronavirus.That squares with the judgment of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the most powerful business lobbying group and traditionally an adversary of Democrats. “We must defeat COVID before we can restore our economy and that requires turbocharging our vaccination efforts,” the Chamber said in a statement Thursday night that welcomed Biden’s plan but stopped short of endorsing it.The plan comes as a divided nation is in the grip of the pandemic’s most dangerous wave yet. So far, more than 385,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. And government numbers out Thursday reported a jump in weekly unemployment claims, to 965,000, a sign that rising infections are forcing businesses to cut back and lay off workers.Under Biden’s multipronged strategy, about $400 billion would go directly to combating the pandemic, while the rest is focused on economic relief and aid to states and localities.About $20 billion would be allocated for a more disciplined focus on vaccination, on top of some $8 billion already approved by Congress. Biden has called for setting up mass vaccination centers and sending mobile units to hard-to-reach areas.With the backing of Congress and the expertise of private and government scientists, the Trump administration delivered two highly effective vaccines and more are on the way. Yet a month after the first shots were given, the nation’s vaccination campaign is off to a slow start with about 11 million people getting the first of two shots, although more than 30 million doses have been delivered.Biden called the vaccine rollout “a dismal failure so far” and said he would provide more details about his vaccination campaign on Friday.The plan also provides $50 billion to expand testing, which is seen as key to reopening most schools by the end of the new administration’s first 100 days. About $130 billion would be allocated to help schools reopen without risking further contagion.The plan would fund the hiring of 100,000 public health workers, to focus on encouraging people to get vaccinated and on tracing the contacts of those infected with the coronavirus.There’s also a proposal to boost investment in genetic sequencing, to help track new virus strains including the more contagious variants identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa.Throughout the plan, there’s a focus on ensuring that minority communities that have borne the brunt of the pandemic are not shortchanged on vaccines and treatments, aides said.With the new proposals comes a call to redouble efforts on the basics.Biden is asking Americans to override their sense of pandemic fatigue and recommit to wearing masks, practicing social distancing and avoiding indoor gatherings, particularly larger ones. It’s still the surest way to slow the COVID-19 wave, with more than 4,400 deaths reported just on Tuesday.Biden’s biggest challenge will be to “win the hearts and minds of the American people to follow his lead,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a public health expert and emergency physician.The pace of vaccination in the U.S. is approaching 1 million shots a day, but 1.8 million a day would be needed to reach widespread or “herd” immunity by the summer, according to a recent estimate by the American Hospital Association. Wen says the pace should be even higher — closer to 3 million a day.Biden believes the key to speeding that up lies not only in delivering more vaccine but also in working closely with states and local communities to get shots into the arms of more people. The Trump administration provided the vaccine to states and set guidelines for who should get priority for shots, but largely left it up to state and local officials to organize their vaccination campaigns.It’s still unclear how the new administration will address the issue of vaccine hesitancy, the doubts and suspicions that keep many people from getting a shot. Polls show it’s particularly a problem among Black Americans.“We will have to move heaven and earth to get more people vaccinated,” Biden said.Next Wednesday, when Biden is sworn in as president, marks the anniversary of the&nbsp;<a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/6/20-0516_article" target="_blank">first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States</a>.___