LABETTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of violent dog killings.&nbsp;

On December 29, police were notified by a juvenile about a dead animal that had been found and was wrapped up in a blanket. The animal was found thrown next to a small bridge near Felix and 17th Street in Parsons, according to a media release from police.

Officers went to the area and located a dog that was wrapped up in a blanket that was tied around the body. Officers took the deceased animal to the Parson Pet Hospital to have a trained professional examine the dog in an autopsy to determine the method of death. 

Under normal circumstance there would not be an autopsy done on a dog that was found deceased but due to the nature of the disposal and the area of town in which it went missing it was important to find out if the dog was murdered before being disposed of. The animal was found to have gone missing from the 1300 block of S 13th Street.

The report from the autopsy stated that there was severe trauma to the underside of the dog's abdomen and trauma around the neck from the choke chain that was still on the animal. The vet completing the report stated that it would have been consistent with the dog being strangled and beaten, causing the death. All trauma was consistent with a human killing the animal and was not consistent with and animal attack nor vehicle strike.

A&nbsp; dog, identified as "Drako" was identified as the 3rd reported dog killed in less than a year in the same area of the city that dogs identified as "Bleu" had been shot and killed, "Zeus" had been shot, and "Ranger" had been brutally killed. The reward for the "Ranger's" killer has been updated to $34,000.00.

"This is very frustrating for everyone involved. Officers want closure to these cases as bad as the general public. We have been and will continue to ask the public for support and information leading to the arrest of person or persons who are committing these crimes. It is really a shocking development that the $30,000.00 offered has not loosened any tongues. That is what leads us to believe that it is one person acting alone," according to Police Chief Robert Spinks.

The investigation continues to develop persons of interest who are being contacted and interviewed. These individuals are also being offered polygraph test to help eliminate them as potential suspects along with alibi confirmation.

Not all individuals are voluntarily cooperating.

Based on multiple factors, it is possible that one individual who harbors an abnormal psychopathy that can use animal cruelty as a gateway to more violent behavior, according to 'Animal Cruelty as a Gateway Crime' published by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Police encouraged residents in the southeast area of Parsons&nbsp; not to let their dogs roam at large. When animals are left even in a fenced yard they should be watched. Installing Ring, Blink or other home CCTV devices are encouraged as a general crime prevention measure.

"Any suspicious individuals lurking in vehicles or on foot should be reported to the police department," says Acting Commander Kyle Wiford.

LABETTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a case of alleged felony animal cruelty are offering a reward for information in the case.

On Dec. 3, an off duty police officer in the city of Parsons reported their dog 'Ranger' had been killed at a home in the 1400 Block of South 14th Street, according to a media release.

Ranger was a 3-month-old, black, pure bred German Shepherd. The owners let the dog out into a fenced back yard at approximately 7a.m. Just after 2p.m. the owners found the puppy with its head severed, according to the release.

Investigators believe the puppy was removed from the yard by a suspect, taken to another location and killed. Then in a brazen act, the suspect returned the decapitated body and muzzle of Ranger to the police officer's back yard, according to the release.

The crime of cruelty to an animal is a felony for knowingly and maliciously killing an animal. Additionally police would consider requesting a charge of criminal trespass in the case.

Because this was a targeted attack on a Parsons police officer, the Police Department is now offering a $4000.00 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Anyone with information should contact Parsons Police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639092204370.png" alt="Ranger-photo Parsons Police Department" />
 <figcaption>Ranger-photo Parsons Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>LABETTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of violent dog killings.&nbsp;On December 29, police were notified by a juvenile about a dead animal that had been found and was wrapped up in a blanket. The animal was found thrown next to a small bridge near Felix and 17th Street in Parsons, according to a media release from police.Officers went to the area and located a dog that was wrapped up in a blanket that was tied around the body. Officers took the deceased animal to the Parson Pet Hospital to have a trained professional examine the dog in an autopsy to determine the method of death. Under normal circumstance there would not be an autopsy done on a dog that was found deceased but due to the nature of the disposal and the area of town in which it went missing it was important to find out if the dog was murdered before being disposed of. The animal was found to have gone missing from the 1300 block of S 13th Street.The report from the autopsy stated that there was severe trauma to the underside of the dog's abdomen and trauma around the neck from the choke chain that was still on the animal. The vet completing the report stated that it would have been consistent with the dog being strangled and beaten, causing the death. All trauma was consistent with a human killing the animal and was not consistent with and animal attack nor vehicle strike.A&nbsp; dog, identified as "Drako" was identified as the 3rd reported dog killed in less than a year in the same area of the city that dogs identified as "Bleu" had been shot and killed, "Zeus" had been shot, and "Ranger" had been brutally killed. The reward for the "Ranger's" killer has been updated to $34,000.00."This is very frustrating for everyone involved. Officers want closure to these cases as bad as the general public. We have been and will continue to ask the public for support and information leading to the arrest of person or persons who are committing these crimes. It is really a shocking development that the $30,000.00 offered has not loosened any tongues. That is what leads us to believe that it is one person acting alone," according to Police Chief Robert Spinks.The investigation continues to develop persons of interest who are being contacted and interviewed. These individuals are also being offered polygraph test to help eliminate them as potential suspects along with alibi confirmation.Not all individuals are voluntarily cooperating.Based on multiple factors, it is possible that one individual who harbors an abnormal psychopathy that can use animal cruelty as a gateway to more violent behavior, according to 'Animal Cruelty as a Gateway Crime' published by the U.S. Department of Justice.Police encouraged residents in the southeast area of Parsons&nbsp; not to let their dogs roam at large. When animals are left even in a fenced yard they should be watched. Installing Ring, Blink or other home CCTV devices are encouraged as a general crime prevention measure."Any suspicious individuals lurking in vehicles or on foot should be reported to the police department," says Acting Commander Kyle Wiford.---------------LABETTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a case of alleged felony animal cruelty are offering a reward for information in the case.On Dec. 3, an off duty police officer in the city of Parsons reported their dog 'Ranger' had been killed at a home in the 1400 Block of South 14th Street, according to a media release.Ranger was a 3-month-old, black, pure bred German Shepherd. The owners let the dog out into a fenced back yard at approximately 7a.m. Just after 2p.m. the owners found the puppy with its head severed, according to the release.Investigators believe the puppy was removed from the yard by a suspect, taken to another location and killed. Then in a brazen act, the suspect returned the decapitated body and muzzle of Ranger to the police officer's back yard, according to the release.The crime of cruelty to an animal is a felony for knowingly and maliciously killing an animal. Additionally police would consider requesting a charge of criminal trespass in the case.Because this was a targeted attack on a Parsons police officer, the Police Department is now offering a $4000.00 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.Anyone with information should contact Parsons Police.

Police: Lack of cooperation in Kan. dog killing investigation

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting.

The incident occurred just before 8 a.m. Sunday, as deputies were in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka attempting to make a felony arrest of a suspect involved in a vehicle pursuit that occurred in Shawnee County on Friday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp; 

One male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Northeast Kansas Sheriffs’ Officer-Involved Critical Incident Response Team is in charge of the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644160820448.png" alt="Law enforcement on the scene of Sunday's fatal officer-involved shooting-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement on the scene of Sunday's fatal officer-involved shooting-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting.The incident occurred just before 8 a.m. Sunday, as deputies were in the 1200 block of SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka attempting to make a felony arrest of a suspect involved in a vehicle pursuit that occurred in Shawnee County on Friday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp; One male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.The Northeast Kansas Sheriffs’ Officer-Involved Critical Incident Response Team is in charge of the investigation.

Man dead after Kansas officer-involved shooting

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug charges after a search of four locations in Shawnee County.

On Feb. 1, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit, Shawnee County Drug Task Force, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation served search warrants in the 2700 Block SW Stutley Road, 1700 Block SW Belle Avenue, 5500 SW 17th Terrace and 5300 Block SW 17th Street, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

While conducting the search warrants, officers located marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms.

As a result officers arrested Xin Zhu, 29, Ru Zhu, 50 and Sun Teng, 33, all living in Topeka. 

Offices transported then to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

Xin Zhu is being held on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution, Use of a communication facility in commission of a felony drug violation, and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.

Ru Zhu is jailed on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.

Sun Teng is being held on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643822296459.png" alt="Teng-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Teng-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug charges after a search of four locations in Shawnee County.On Feb. 1, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit, Shawnee County Drug Task Force, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation served search warrants in the 2700 Block SW Stutley Road, 1700 Block SW Belle Avenue, 5500 SW 17th Terrace and 5300 Block SW 17th Street, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.While conducting the search warrants, officers located marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643822510059.png" alt="Ru Zhu-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ru Zhu-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>As a result officers arrested Xin Zhu, 29, Ru Zhu, 50 and Sun Teng, 33, all living in Topeka. Offices transported then to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.Xin Zhu is being held on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution, Use of a communication facility in commission of a felony drug violation, and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643822136695.png" alt="Xin Zhu-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Xin Zhu-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Ru Zhu is jailed on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.Sun Teng is being held on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with the intent of distribution and Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent of distribution.

KBI assists with breakup of marijuana distribution ring

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Kansas City police detective is asking to remain free on bond while his conviction in the shooting death of a Black man is appealed.

Eric DeValkenaere, 43, is scheduled to be sentenced March 4 for second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the December 2019 death of Cameron Lamb.

His attorneys filed a motion Monday arguing that DeValkenaere should be allowed to remain free because he is not a flight risk and the judge who convicted him found “no evidence of malice” in DeValkenaere’s conduct, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/convicted-former-kcpd-detective-formally-petitions-for-post-sentencing-appeal-bond">reported</a>.

DeValkenaere’s conviction carries a mandatory prison term.

DeValkenaere's attorneys had asked Jackson County Circuit Court Presiding Judge J. Dale Youngs during a court hearing last month if he would consider allowing DeValkenaere to remain free during appeal.

Youngs, who presided over DeValkenaere’s bench trial, said at the time that granting the request would be unprecedented in his 13 years on the bench.

DeValkenaere, a white man, testified during his trial that he fired after Lamb pointed a gun at another detective, which other evidence disputed.

Youngs found the officers had no probable cause to believe that Lamb had committed a crime before the shooting, had no arrest warrant and had no search warrant or consent to be on Lamb's property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592994941014.png" alt="Eric DeValkenaere photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Eric DeValkenaere photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Kansas City police detective is asking to remain free on bond while his conviction in the shooting death of a Black man is appealed.Eric DeValkenaere, 43, is scheduled to be sentenced March 4 for second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the December 2019 death of Cameron Lamb.His attorneys filed a motion Monday arguing that DeValkenaere should be allowed to remain free because he is not a flight risk and the judge who convicted him found “no evidence of malice” in DeValkenaere’s conduct, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/convicted-former-kcpd-detective-formally-petitions-for-post-sentencing-appeal-bond">reported</a>.DeValkenaere’s conviction carries a mandatory prison term.DeValkenaere's attorneys had asked Jackson County Circuit Court Presiding Judge J. Dale Youngs during a court hearing last month if he would consider allowing DeValkenaere to remain free during appeal.Youngs, who presided over DeValkenaere’s bench trial, said at the time that granting the request would be unprecedented in his 13 years on the bench.DeValkenaere, a white man, testified during his trial that he fired after Lamb pointed a gun at another detective, which other evidence disputed.Youngs found the officers had no probable cause to believe that Lamb had committed a crime before the shooting, had no arrest warrant and had no search warrant or consent to be on Lamb's property.

Ex-KC officer asks to remain free during appeal in shooting death

By MARK KENNEDY and KEN SWEET, Associated Press

Propelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the U.S. <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html]">death toll from COVID-19 hit </a>900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000.

The two-year total, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Indianapolis, San Francisco, or Charlotte, North Carolina.

The milestone comes more than 13 months into a vaccination drive that has been beset by misinformation and political and legal strife, though the shots have proved safe and highly effective at preventing serious illness and death.

“It is an astronomically high number. If you had told most Americans two years ago as this pandemic was getting going that 900,000 Americans would die over the next few years, I think most people would not have believed it,” said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

He lamented that most of the deaths happened after the vaccine gained authorization.

“We got the medical science right. We failed on the social science. We failed on how to help people get vaccinated, to combat disinformation, to not politicize this,” Jha said. “Those are the places where we have failed as America.”

Just 64% of the population is fully vaccinated, or about 212 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We have underestimated our enemy here, and we have under-prepared to protect ourselves,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We’ve learned a tremendous amount of humility in the face of a lethal and contagious respiratory virus.”

Nor is COVID-19 finished with the United States. Dr. Andrew Noymer, a professor of public health at the University of California at Irvine, predicted the U.S. will hit 1 million deaths by March 1.

“I think it’s important for us not to be numbed. Each one of those numbers is someone,” said the Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud, senior pastor of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church in Virginia. “Those are mothers, fathers, children, our elders.”

The milestone came as omicron is loosening its grip on the country.

New cases per day day have plunged by almost half since mid-January, when they hit a record-shattering peak of more than 800,000.

Cases have been declining in 49 out of 50 states over the past two weeks, by Johns Hopkins’ count, and the 50th state, Maine, reported that confirmed infections are falling there, too, dropping sharply over the past week.

Also, the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has declined 15% since mid-January to about 124,000.

But deaths are still running high at more than 2,400 per day on average, the most since last winter. And deaths per day are on the rise in at least 35 states, reflecting the lag time between when victims become infected and when they succumb.

Still, public health officials have expressed hope that the worst of omicron is coming to an end. While they caution that things could still go bad again and dangerous new variants could emerge, some places are already talking about easing precautions.

Los Angeles County may end outdoor mask requirements in a few weeks, Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday.

“Post-surge does not imply that the pandemic is over or that transmission is low, or that there will not be unpredictable waves of surges in the future,” she warned.

Despite its wealth and its world-class medical institutions, the U.S. has the highest reported toll of any country, and even then, the real number of lives lost directly or indirectly to the coronavirus is thought to be significantly higher.

Experts believe some COVID-19 deaths have been misattributed to other conditions. And some Americans are thought to have died of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes because they were unable or unwilling to obtain treatment during the crisis.

Anderson-Cloud lost her dementia-stricken father after he was hospitalized for cancer surgery and then isolated in a COVID-19 ward. He went into cardiac arrest, was revived, but died about a week later.

She had planned to be by his bedside, but the rules barred her from going to the hospital. She wonders if his condition was made worse by his isolation. She wonders if he was scared. She wonders how many other cases like his there are.

“There are all these stories and all that pain,” she said.

When the vaccine was rolled out in mid-December 2020, the death toll stood at about 300,000. It hit 600,000 in mid-June 2021 and 700,000 on Oct. 1. On Dec. 14, it reached 800,000.

It took just 51 more days to get to 900,000, the fastest 100,000-death jump since last winter.

The latest 100,000 deaths encompass those caused by both the delta variant and omicron, which began spreading rapidly in December and became the predominant version in the U.S. before the month was out.

While omicron has proved less likely to cause severe illness than delta, the sheer number of people who became infected with omicron contributed to the high number of deaths.

Ja said he and other medical professionals are frustrated that policymakers are seemingly running out of ideas for getting people to roll up their sleeves.

“There aren’t a whole lot of tools left. We need to double down and come up with new ones,” he said.

COVID-19 has become one of the top three causes of death in America, behind the big two — heart disease and cancer. Noymer, at the University of California, said if the mortality rate from COVID-19 continues, it will shave up to two years off U.S. life expectancy.

“We have been fighting among ourselves about tools that actually do save lives. Just the sheer amount of politics and misinformation around vaccines, which are remarkably effective and safe, is staggering,” Sharfstein said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586622276831.png" alt="John Hopkins death toll map" />
 <figcaption>John Hopkins death toll map</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK KENNEDY and KEN SWEET, Associated PressPropelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the U.S. <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html]">death toll from COVID-19 hit </a>900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000.The two-year total, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Indianapolis, San Francisco, or Charlotte, North Carolina.The milestone comes more than 13 months into a vaccination drive that has been beset by misinformation and political and legal strife, though the shots have proved safe and highly effective at preventing serious illness and death.“It is an astronomically high number. If you had told most Americans two years ago as this pandemic was getting going that 900,000 Americans would die over the next few years, I think most people would not have believed it,” said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.He lamented that most of the deaths happened after the vaccine gained authorization.“We got the medical science right. We failed on the social science. We failed on how to help people get vaccinated, to combat disinformation, to not politicize this,” Jha said. “Those are the places where we have failed as America.”Just 64% of the population is fully vaccinated, or about 212 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“We have underestimated our enemy here, and we have under-prepared to protect ourselves,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We’ve learned a tremendous amount of humility in the face of a lethal and contagious respiratory virus.”Nor is COVID-19 finished with the United States. Dr. Andrew Noymer, a professor of public health at the University of California at Irvine, predicted the U.S. will hit 1 million deaths by March 1.“I think it’s important for us not to be numbed. Each one of those numbers is someone,” said the Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud, senior pastor of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church in Virginia. “Those are mothers, fathers, children, our elders.”The milestone came as omicron is loosening its grip on the country.New cases per day day have plunged by almost half since mid-January, when they hit a record-shattering peak of more than 800,000.Cases have been declining in 49 out of 50 states over the past two weeks, by Johns Hopkins’ count, and the 50th state, Maine, reported that confirmed infections are falling there, too, dropping sharply over the past week.Also, the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has declined 15% since mid-January to about 124,000.But deaths are still running high at more than 2,400 per day on average, the most since last winter. And deaths per day are on the rise in at least 35 states, reflecting the lag time between when victims become infected and when they succumb.Still, public health officials have expressed hope that the worst of omicron is coming to an end. While they caution that things could still go bad again and dangerous new variants could emerge, some places are already talking about easing precautions.Los Angeles County may end outdoor mask requirements in a few weeks, Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday.“Post-surge does not imply that the pandemic is over or that transmission is low, or that there will not be unpredictable waves of surges in the future,” she warned.Despite its wealth and its world-class medical institutions, the U.S. has the highest reported toll of any country, and even then, the real number of lives lost directly or indirectly to the coronavirus is thought to be significantly higher.Experts believe some COVID-19 deaths have been misattributed to other conditions. And some Americans are thought to have died of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes because they were unable or unwilling to obtain treatment during the crisis.Anderson-Cloud lost her dementia-stricken father after he was hospitalized for cancer surgery and then isolated in a COVID-19 ward. He went into cardiac arrest, was revived, but died about a week later.She had planned to be by his bedside, but the rules barred her from going to the hospital. She wonders if his condition was made worse by his isolation. She wonders if he was scared. She wonders how many other cases like his there are.“There are all these stories and all that pain,” she said.When the vaccine was rolled out in mid-December 2020, the death toll stood at about 300,000. It hit 600,000 in mid-June 2021 and 700,000 on Oct. 1. On Dec. 14, it reached 800,000.It took just 51 more days to get to 900,000, the fastest 100,000-death jump since last winter.The latest 100,000 deaths encompass those caused by both the delta variant and omicron, which began spreading rapidly in December and became the predominant version in the U.S. before the month was out.While omicron has proved less likely to cause severe illness than delta, the sheer number of people who became infected with omicron contributed to the high number of deaths.Ja said he and other medical professionals are frustrated that policymakers are seemingly running out of ideas for getting people to roll up their sleeves.“There aren’t a whole lot of tools left. We need to double down and come up with new ones,” he said.COVID-19 has become one of the top three causes of death in America, behind the big two — heart disease and cancer. Noymer, at the University of California, said if the mortality rate from COVID-19 continues, it will shave up to two years off U.S. life expectancy.“We have been fighting among ourselves about tools that actually do save lives. Just the sheer amount of politics and misinformation around vaccines, which are remarkably effective and safe, is staggering,” Sharfstein said.He added: “This is the consequence.”

US death toll from COVID-19 hits 900,000, sped by omicron

NEW YORK (AP) — Running through a grim tally of recent gun deaths, President Joe Biden pledged to New Yorkers and the nation on Thursday that the federal government would step up its fight against gun violence by working more closely with police and communities to stop the surging bloodshed.

“It’s enough. Enough is enough,” Biden told police, law enforcement officials and lawmakers gathered at the city’s police headquarters. “We can do something about this.”

But Biden’s crimefighting strategy relies heavily on buy-in from state and local officials as he suggests ways to spend federal dollars and expands on initiatives already under way. The modest initiatives demonstrate the limits to what he can do when there is no appetite in Congress to pass gun legislation.

Biden came to New York a day after the funeral for the second of two New York City cops shot and killed during a domestic violence call on Jan. 21. Officials wrapped up the event to get to the hospital, where another officer was being released after an injury in yet another shooting.

The visit gave the president a chance to push back against Republicans who claim he’s soft on crime, and to distance himself from those in the left flank of his Democratic Party who want to shift funding away from police departments to social spending programs.

“The answer is not to defund the police,” Biden said. “It is to give you the tools, the training, the funding to be partners, to be protectors and know the community.”

Biden ticked through how 316 people are shot every day and 106 killed, including 26 children who died in gun violence so far this year.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kathy-hochul-new-york-violence-police-new-york-city-a15d5986b309ef0721deed74fabd08eb">In New York last month</a>, an 11-month-old girl was wounded by a stray bullet and a teenage fast-food cashier was shot to death. Thirty-two officers have been shot in the line of duty so far this year nationwide, seven of them killed.

Biden is navigating complex politics: He’s working to find ways to combat crime while also pushing for greater accountability after high-profile killings of Black people by police.

“The answer is not to abandon our streets,” Biden said. “The answer is to come together, policing communities, building trust and making us all safer.”

Most of the talk Thursday was centered on better policing. Efforts to take stronger legislative action in recent years have failed, even after 20 children and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sandy-hook-elementary-school-shooting">six adults were killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.</a>

Like Democratic presidents before him, Biden called on Congress to pass a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. But he also spoke of the powerful gun lobby that has been effective at curbing any effort to rein in guns and that points to the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

“There’s no amendment that’s absolute,” Biden insisted. “When the amendment was passed, it didn’t say anybody can own a gun — any kind of gun — and any kind of weapon.”

The president was joined by New York lawmakers, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain. Once an outspoken critic of his own department and someone who was beaten by police as a teenager, Adams portrayed himself during his campaign as someone who could bridge the divide between the New York Police Department and activists pushing for major change.

“We understand how serious this moment is,” Adams said, telling Biden, “Mayor Adams, reporting for duty, ready to serve.”

Biden listened in on a gun violence strategic partnership meeting, a daily get-together for local, state and federal leaders who share intelligence and information on specific cases. He then headed to a school in Queens to hear firsthand from a frontline violence intervention community group about efforts to prevent violence.

Guns are at the center of the debate as the nation grapples with homicides that spiked nationally in 2020, the final year of the Trump administration. Even before the spike, 75% of all homicides in the U.S. were due to firearm injuries and guns were responsible for 91% of youth homicides, according to a January report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on gun violence and suicides over 2018-19.

This comes as Americans purchased a record number of firearms in 2020. Law enforcement officers recovered historically high numbers of firearms last year and are coming across more firearms stripped of serial numbers, making them impossible to trace. And early data suggests that the period between when a gun was purchased and used in a crime and recovered by police has shortened, compared with earlier years.

To combat this, the Biden administration is clamping down more on traders of “ghost guns,” homemade firearms that lack serial numbers used to trace them and that are often purchased without a background check.

The Justice Department is working to stop the movement of guns north along the “iron pipeline” on the Interstate 95 corridor from Southern states with lax gun laws. Federal prosecutors will prioritize cases of those who sell or transfer guns used in violent crime and, if Biden’s budget is enacted, get specific agents dedicated to the effort.

Federal strike forces are deployed to New York and other cities, aimed at cracking down on gun trafficking. Federal agents are embedded in homicide units in police departments around the country, and the U.S. Marshals Service regularly conducts fugitive sweeps to arrest people with outstanding state or federal warrants.

In May, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will host police executives from across the country to collaborate on solutions to gun violence. But the agency has been without a permanent leader since 2013. Biden’s first nominee, a former ATF agent who had advocated for stricter gun control, was withdrawn in September amid opposition from Republicans and some moderate Democrats. There’s no sign of a new nominee.

Biden has also proposed a large increase in dollars for local community policing programs, and if his social spending agenda were to pass, even more funds would be made available — but that effort is stalled in Congress, too.

And he encouraged cities to invest some of their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">COVID-19 relief money</a>&nbsp;into policing and pushed alternative crime reduction steps such as increased community support and summer jobs for teenagers, and better resources for those coming out of prison.

“When someone finishes their time in prison ... you can’t give them $25 bucks and a bus ticket,” he said. “They need to be able to train for and get a job, find stable housing, reenter society and have a second chance at life.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Running through a grim tally of recent gun deaths, President Joe Biden pledged to New Yorkers and the nation on Thursday that the federal government would step up its fight against gun violence by working more closely with police and communities to stop the surging bloodshed.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F310719364350322%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=37" 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>“It’s enough. Enough is enough,” Biden told police, law enforcement officials and lawmakers gathered at the city’s police headquarters. “We can do something about this.”But Biden’s crimefighting strategy relies heavily on buy-in from state and local officials as he suggests ways to spend federal dollars and expands on initiatives already under way. The modest initiatives demonstrate the limits to what he can do when there is no appetite in Congress to pass gun legislation.Biden came to New York a day after the funeral for the second of two New York City cops shot and killed during a domestic violence call on Jan. 21. Officials wrapped up the event to get to the hospital, where another officer was being released after an injury in yet another shooting.The visit gave the president a chance to push back against Republicans who claim he’s soft on crime, and to distance himself from those in the left flank of his Democratic Party who want to shift funding away from police departments to social spending programs.“The answer is not to defund the police,” Biden said. “It is to give you the tools, the training, the funding to be partners, to be protectors and know the community.”Biden ticked through how 316 people are shot every day and 106 killed, including 26 children who died in gun violence so far this year.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kathy-hochul-new-york-violence-police-new-york-city-a15d5986b309ef0721deed74fabd08eb">In New York last month</a>, an 11-month-old girl was wounded by a stray bullet and a teenage fast-food cashier was shot to death. Thirty-two officers have been shot in the line of duty so far this year nationwide, seven of them killed.Biden is navigating complex politics: He’s working to find ways to combat crime while also pushing for greater accountability after high-profile killings of Black people by police.“The answer is not to abandon our streets,” Biden said. “The answer is to come together, policing communities, building trust and making us all safer.”Most of the talk Thursday was centered on better policing. Efforts to take stronger legislative action in recent years have failed, even after 20 children and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sandy-hook-elementary-school-shooting">six adults were killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.</a>Like Democratic presidents before him, Biden called on Congress to pass a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. But he also spoke of the powerful gun lobby that has been effective at curbing any effort to rein in guns and that points to the Second Amendment right to bear arms.“There’s no amendment that’s absolute,” Biden insisted. “When the amendment was passed, it didn’t say anybody can own a gun — any kind of gun — and any kind of weapon.”The president was joined by New York lawmakers, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain. Once an outspoken critic of his own department and someone who was beaten by police as a teenager, Adams portrayed himself during his campaign as someone who could bridge the divide between the New York Police Department and activists pushing for major change.“We understand how serious this moment is,” Adams said, telling Biden, “Mayor Adams, reporting for duty, ready to serve.”Biden listened in on a gun violence strategic partnership meeting, a daily get-together for local, state and federal leaders who share intelligence and information on specific cases. He then headed to a school in Queens to hear firsthand from a frontline violence intervention community group about efforts to prevent violence.Guns are at the center of the debate as the nation grapples with homicides that spiked nationally in 2020, the final year of the Trump administration. Even before the spike, 75% of all homicides in the U.S. were due to firearm injuries and guns were responsible for 91% of youth homicides, according to a January report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on gun violence and suicides over 2018-19.This comes as Americans purchased a record number of firearms in 2020. Law enforcement officers recovered historically high numbers of firearms last year and are coming across more firearms stripped of serial numbers, making them impossible to trace. And early data suggests that the period between when a gun was purchased and used in a crime and recovered by police has shortened, compared with earlier years.To combat this, the Biden administration is clamping down more on traders of “ghost guns,” homemade firearms that lack serial numbers used to trace them and that are often purchased without a background check.The Justice Department is working to stop the movement of guns north along the “iron pipeline” on the Interstate 95 corridor from Southern states with lax gun laws. Federal prosecutors will prioritize cases of those who sell or transfer guns used in violent crime and, if Biden’s budget is enacted, get specific agents dedicated to the effort.Federal strike forces are deployed to New York and other cities, aimed at cracking down on gun trafficking. Federal agents are embedded in homicide units in police departments around the country, and the U.S. Marshals Service regularly conducts fugitive sweeps to arrest people with outstanding state or federal warrants.In May, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will host police executives from across the country to collaborate on solutions to gun violence. But the agency has been without a permanent leader since 2013. Biden’s first nominee, a former ATF agent who had advocated for stricter gun control, was withdrawn in September amid opposition from Republicans and some moderate Democrats. There’s no sign of a new nominee.Biden has also proposed a large increase in dollars for local community policing programs, and if his social spending agenda were to pass, even more funds would be made available — but that effort is stalled in Congress, too.And he encouraged cities to invest some of their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">COVID-19 relief money</a>&nbsp;into policing and pushed alternative crime reduction steps such as increased community support and summer jobs for teenagers, and better resources for those coming out of prison.“When someone finishes their time in prison ... you can’t give them $25 bucks and a bus ticket,” he said. “They need to be able to train for and get a job, find stable housing, reenter society and have a second chance at life.”__

🎥 Biden: Nation must come together to end gun violence

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

Just after 2a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; a sheriff’s deputy stopped a Toyota Camry&nbsp; near U.S. Highway 75 and 112th Access in Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Following an investigation, the deputy arrested the driver, Chase Andrew Thompson, 28, of Lawrence on requested charges that include&nbsp;unlawfully obtaining a prescription drug,  possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643814926204.png" alt="Thompson photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Thompson photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.Just after 2a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; a sheriff’s deputy stopped a Toyota Camry&nbsp; near U.S. Highway 75 and 112th Access in Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Following an investigation, the deputy arrested the driver, Chase Andrew Thompson, 28, of Lawrence on requested charges that include&nbsp;unlawfully obtaining a prescription drug, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container.

Kan. man accused of unlawfully obtaining a prescription drug

KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-topeka-legislature-gun-politics-6f61a926a56353a4b22ffecf90c46be3">Kansas’ “stand your ground law” has come under criticism in recent weeks</a>&nbsp; in connection with the custody death of teenager Cedric Lofton in Wichita.

On Tuesday, Missouri senators&nbsp; debated a “stand your ground” bill that backers say will strengthen the state's self-defense laws but that a prosecutor has dubbed the “Make Murder Legal Act.”

Republican Sen. Eric Burlison's bill seeks to give shooters and other assailants the benefit of the doubt that they were acting in self-defense.

If passed, it would mean that prosecutors could not bring charges against people who reasonably believed they were acting in self-defense. Police would need to find probable cause that shooters or other assailants acted unlawfully before arresting them.

Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver, who spoke on behalf of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, called the measure the “Make Murder Legal Act.” He said the changes would “make it impossible to convict a great number of people of assault.”

“An exponential number of violent criminals who should be in prison, they’re going to walk free because of the procedural postures that this bill would put cases in,” Oliver told a Missouri Senate committee Tuesday.

A number of other Missouri law enforcement groups also spoke against the bill.

Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee have laws similar to the Missouri proposal that limit police from making arrests if defendants claim self-defense, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-topeka-legislature-gun-politics-6f61a926a56353a4b22ffecf90c46be3">Kansas’ “stand your ground law” has come under criticism in recent weeks</a>&nbsp;after a prosecutor said it prevented him from criminally charging employees of a juvenile juvenile intake center in Wichita in the death of a Black teenager who had been restrained on the ground on his stomach, shackled and handcuffed for more than 30 minutes.

St. Louis-area Democratic Sen. Brian Williams, the only Black member of the Senate public safety committee, called the Missouri proposal racist, offensive and “a personal attack on people who look like me.” He said it would have legally sanctioned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0d1a8ed25f1a075844160f253a9d0535">the 2020 fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.</a>

A jury in November convicted three white men — father and son Greg and Travis McMichael and neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan — of murder in the 25-year-old Black man's death.

“They murdered him,” Williams said. “This bill, if this had been in law in the state of Georgia, they would have walked.”

The McMichaels armed themselves and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood outside the Georgia port city of Brunswick. Bryan joined the chase in his own truck and recorded cellphone video of Travis McMichael shooting Arbery.

Among those who support the measure is Mark McCloskey — a Republican U.S. Senate candidate who, along with his wife, made headlines in 2020 by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-george-floyd-gun-politics-st-louis-missouri-abdbb0285f3a940ef7dd5038b3474fe9">waving guns at racial injustice protesters</a>.

The McCloskeys, both lawyers in their 60s, eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, and Republican Gov. Mike Parson pardoned them weeks later. The McCloskeys said they felt threatened by the protesters who walked onto their private street during protests that followed the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

McCloskey told Williams: “If this bill is a threat to you, it can only be because you’re intending to pose a threat to our citizens.”

The Rev. Darryl Gray, a St. Louis activist who led the protest that went by the McCloskeys' house, said demonstrators could have been shot.

“If I had been killed that day, you're telling me that there shouldn't exist a process with a person that committed the murder, who took a sacred life, should not be questioned?” he asked the Senate committee.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642880340757.png" alt="Cedric Lofton at the Juvenile Intake Assessment Center before his death as seen in the video released by Sedgwick County last month" />
 <figcaption>Cedric Lofton at the Juvenile Intake Assessment Center before his death as seen in the video released by Sedgwick County last month</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-topeka-legislature-gun-politics-6f61a926a56353a4b22ffecf90c46be3">Kansas’ “stand your ground law” has come under criticism in recent weeks</a>&nbsp; in connection with the custody death of teenager Cedric Lofton in Wichita. On Tuesday, Missouri senators&nbsp; debated a “stand your ground” bill that backers say will strengthen the state's self-defense laws but that a prosecutor has dubbed the “Make Murder Legal Act.”Republican Sen. Eric Burlison's bill seeks to give shooters and other assailants the benefit of the doubt that they were acting in self-defense.If passed, it would mean that prosecutors could not bring charges against people who reasonably believed they were acting in self-defense. Police would need to find probable cause that shooters or other assailants acted unlawfully before arresting them.Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver, who spoke on behalf of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, called the measure the “Make Murder Legal Act.” He said the changes would “make it impossible to convict a great number of people of assault.”“An exponential number of violent criminals who should be in prison, they’re going to walk free because of the procedural postures that this bill would put cases in,” Oliver told a Missouri Senate committee Tuesday.A number of other Missouri law enforcement groups also spoke against the bill.Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee have laws similar to the Missouri proposal that limit police from making arrests if defendants claim self-defense, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-topeka-legislature-gun-politics-6f61a926a56353a4b22ffecf90c46be3">Kansas’ “stand your ground law” has come under criticism in recent weeks</a>&nbsp;after a prosecutor said it prevented him from criminally charging employees of a juvenile juvenile intake center in Wichita in the death of a Black teenager who had been restrained on the ground on his stomach, shackled and handcuffed for more than 30 minutes.St. Louis-area Democratic Sen. Brian Williams, the only Black member of the Senate public safety committee, called the Missouri proposal racist, offensive and “a personal attack on people who look like me.” He said it would have legally sanctioned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0d1a8ed25f1a075844160f253a9d0535">the 2020 fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.</a>A jury in November convicted three white men — father and son Greg and Travis McMichael and neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan — of murder in the 25-year-old Black man's death.“They murdered him,” Williams said. “This bill, if this had been in law in the state of Georgia, they would have walked.”The McMichaels armed themselves and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood outside the Georgia port city of Brunswick. Bryan joined the chase in his own truck and recorded cellphone video of Travis McMichael shooting Arbery.Among those who support the measure is Mark McCloskey — a Republican U.S. Senate candidate who, along with his wife, made headlines in 2020 by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-george-floyd-gun-politics-st-louis-missouri-abdbb0285f3a940ef7dd5038b3474fe9">waving guns at racial injustice protesters</a>.The McCloskeys, both lawyers in their 60s, eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, and Republican Gov. Mike Parson pardoned them weeks later. The McCloskeys said they felt threatened by the protesters who walked onto their private street during protests that followed the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.McCloskey told Williams: “If this bill is a threat to you, it can only be because you’re intending to pose a threat to our citizens.”The Rev. Darryl Gray, a St. Louis activist who led the protest that went by the McCloskeys' house, said demonstrators could have been shot.“If I had been killed that day, you're telling me that there shouldn't exist a process with a person that committed the murder, who took a sacred life, should not be questioned?” he asked the Senate committee.

Prosecutor slams self defense bill as 'Make Murder Legal Act'

WASHINGTON — As the new year begins, the Internal Revenue Service 
reminds taxpayers to protect their personal and financial information 
throughout the year and watch out for IRS impersonation scams, along 
with other schemes, that try to trick people out of their hard-earned 
money.

These schemes can involve text message scams, e-mail schemes and 
phone scams. This tax season, the IRS also warns people to watch out for
 signs of potential unemployment fraud.

"With filing season underway, this is a prime period for identity 
thieves to hit people with realistic-looking emails and texts about 
their tax returns and refunds," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. 
"Watching out for these common scams can keep people from becoming 
victims of identity theft and protect their sensitive personal 
information that can be used to file tax returns and steal refunds."

The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation's tax industry – working together in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit initiative</a>
 – have taken numerous steps since 2015 to protect taxpayers, businesses
 and the tax system from identity thieves. Summit partners continue to 
warn people to watch out for common scams and schemes this tax season.

Last year, there was an uptick in text messages that impersonated the
 IRS. These scams are sent to taxpayers' smartphones and have referenced
 COVID-19 and/or "stimulus payments." These messages often contain bogus
 links claiming to be IRS websites or other online tools. Other than IRS
 Secure Access, the IRS does not use text messages to discuss personal 
tax issues, such as those involving bills or refunds. The IRS also will 
not send taxpayers messages via social media platforms.

If a taxpayer receives an unsolicited SMS/text that appears to be 
from either the IRS or a program closely linked to the IRS, the taxpayer
 should take a screenshot of the text message and include the screenshot
 in an email to <a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a> with the following information:

The IRS reminds everyone NOT to click links or open attachments 
in unsolicited, suspicious or unexpected text messages – whether from 
the IRS, state tax agencies or others in the tax community.

As a new tax season begins, the IRS reminds workers to watch out for 
claims of unemployment or other benefit payments for which they never 
applied. States have experienced a surge in fraudulent unemployment 
claims filed by organized crime rings using stolen identities. Criminals
 are using these stolen identities to fraudulently collect benefits.

Because unemployment benefits are taxable income, states issue Form 
1099-G, Certain Government Payments, to recipients and to the IRS to 
report the amount of taxable compensation received and any withholding. 
Any worker receiving a fraudulent or inaccurate 1099-G should report it 
to the issuing state agency and request a corrected Form 1099-G.

For details on how to report fraud to state workforce agencies, how 
to obtain a corrected Form 1099-G, how to find a list of state contacts 
and other steps to take related to unemployment fraud, taxpayers can 
visit the U.S. Department of Labor's <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft">DOL.gov/fraud</a> page.

Individuals may be victims of unemployment identity theft if they received:

A notice from their employer indicating the employer received a request for information about an unemployment claim.

The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request 
personal or financial information. The IRS initiates most contacts 
through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.

If a taxpayer receives an unsolicited email that appears to be from 
either the IRS or a program closely linked to the IRS that is 
fraudulent, report it by sending it as an attachment to <a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a>. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing">Report Phishing and Online Scams</a> page at IRS.gov provides complete details.

There are special circumstances when the IRS will call or come to a 
home or business. These visits include times when a taxpayer has an 
overdue tax bill, a delinquent tax return or a delinquent employment tax
 payment. The IRS may also visit if it needs to tour a business as part 
of a civil investigation (such as an audit or collection case) or during
 a criminal investigation. The IRS provides specific guidance on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-know-its-really-the-irs-calling-or-knocking-on-your-door">how to know it's really the IRS knocking on your door</a>.

The IRS does not leave pre-recorded, urgent or threatening messages. 
In many variations of the phone scam, victims are told if they do not 
call back, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Other verbal 
threats include law-enforcement agency intervention, deportation or 
revocation of licenses.

Criminals can fake or "spoof" caller ID numbers to appear to be 
anywhere in the country, including from an IRS office. This prevents 
taxpayers from being able to verify the true call number. Fraudsters 
also have spoofed local sheriff's offices, state departments of motor 
vehicles, federal agencies and others to convince taxpayers the call is 
legitimate.

The IRS (and its authorized private collection agencies) will never:

Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who 
owes taxes. All tax payments should only be made payable to the U.S. 
Treasury and checks should never be made payable to third parties.

For anyone who doesn't owe taxes and has no reason to think they do:

For anyone who owes tax or thinks they do:

Unfortunately, scams and schemes can often lead to identity theft. 
While identity theft can have many consequences, the IRS focuses on 
tax-related identity theft.

Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses an individual's 
stolen Social Security number (SSN) to file a tax return claiming a 
fraudulent refund. Taxpayers may be unaware of this activity until they 
e-file a tax return and discover that a return has already been filed 
using their SSN. Or, the IRS may send them a letter saying it has 
identified a suspicious return using their SSN.

If a taxpayer learns their SSN has been compromised, or they know or 
suspect they are a victim of tax-related identity theft, the IRS 
recommends these additional steps:

More information is available at: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">IRS.gov/identitytheft</a> or the Federal Trade Commission's <a href="https://www.identitytheft.gov/">IdentityTheft.gov</a>.

The official IRS website is IRS.gov. People should be aware of 
imitation websites ending in .com. This applies to other IRS tools, too,
 like <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;they all end in .gov.

For more information, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts">Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts</a> on IRS.gov. Additional information about tax scams is available on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-social-media">IRS social media sites</a>, including YouTube videos.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — As the new year begins, the Internal Revenue Service 
reminds taxpayers to protect their personal and financial information 
throughout the year and watch out for IRS impersonation scams, along 
with other schemes, that try to trick people out of their hard-earned 
money.These schemes can involve text message scams, e-mail schemes and 
phone scams. This tax season, the IRS also warns people to watch out for
 signs of potential unemployment fraud."With filing season underway, this is a prime period for identity 
thieves to hit people with realistic-looking emails and texts about 
their tax returns and refunds," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. 
"Watching out for these common scams can keep people from becoming 
victims of identity theft and protect their sensitive personal 
information that can be used to file tax returns and steal refunds."The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation's tax industry – working together in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit initiative</a>
 – have taken numerous steps since 2015 to protect taxpayers, businesses
 and the tax system from identity thieves. Summit partners continue to 
warn people to watch out for common scams and schemes this tax season.<h2>Text message scams</h2>Last year, there was an uptick in text messages that impersonated the
 IRS. These scams are sent to taxpayers' smartphones and have referenced
 COVID-19 and/or "stimulus payments." These messages often contain bogus
 links claiming to be IRS websites or other online tools. Other than IRS
 Secure Access, the IRS does not use text messages to discuss personal 
tax issues, such as those involving bills or refunds. The IRS also will 
not send taxpayers messages via social media platforms.If a taxpayer receives an unsolicited SMS/text that appears to be 
from either the IRS or a program closely linked to the IRS, the taxpayer
 should take a screenshot of the text message and include the screenshot
 in an email to <a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a> with the following information:<ul>
 <li>Date/time/time zone they received the text message</li><li>Phone number that received the text message</li>
 </ul>The IRS reminds everyone NOT to click links or open attachments 
in unsolicited, suspicious or unexpected text messages – whether from 
the IRS, state tax agencies or others in the tax community.<h2>Unemployment fraud</h2>As a new tax season begins, the IRS reminds workers to watch out for 
claims of unemployment or other benefit payments for which they never 
applied. States have experienced a surge in fraudulent unemployment 
claims filed by organized crime rings using stolen identities. Criminals
 are using these stolen identities to fraudulently collect benefits.Because unemployment benefits are taxable income, states issue Form 
1099-G, Certain Government Payments, to recipients and to the IRS to 
report the amount of taxable compensation received and any withholding. 
Any worker receiving a fraudulent or inaccurate 1099-G should report it 
to the issuing state agency and request a corrected Form 1099-G.For details on how to report fraud to state workforce agencies, how 
to obtain a corrected Form 1099-G, how to find a list of state contacts 
and other steps to take related to unemployment fraud, taxpayers can 
visit the U.S. Department of Labor's <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft">DOL.gov/fraud</a> page.<h2>Individuals may be victims of unemployment identity theft if they received:</h2><ul>
 <li>Mail from a government agency about an unemployment claim or 
payment for which they did not file. This includes unexpected payments 
or debit cards and could be from any state.</li><li>An IRS Form 1099-G reflecting unemployment benefits they weren't 
expecting or didn't receive. Box 1 on this form may show unemployment 
benefits they did not receive or an amount that exceeds their records 
for benefits they did receive. The form itself may be from a state in 
which they did not file for benefits.</li>
 </ul>A notice from their employer indicating the employer received a request for information about an unemployment claim.<h2>Email phishing scams</h2>The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request 
personal or financial information. The IRS initiates most contacts 
through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.If a taxpayer receives an unsolicited email that appears to be from 
either the IRS or a program closely linked to the IRS that is 
fraudulent, report it by sending it as an attachment to <a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a>. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing">Report Phishing and Online Scams</a> page at IRS.gov provides complete details.There are special circumstances when the IRS will call or come to a 
home or business. These visits include times when a taxpayer has an 
overdue tax bill, a delinquent tax return or a delinquent employment tax
 payment. The IRS may also visit if it needs to tour a business as part 
of a civil investigation (such as an audit or collection case) or during
 a criminal investigation. The IRS provides specific guidance on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-know-its-really-the-irs-calling-or-knocking-on-your-door">how to know it's really the IRS knocking on your door</a>.<h2>Phone scams</h2>The IRS does not leave pre-recorded, urgent or threatening messages. 
In many variations of the phone scam, victims are told if they do not 
call back, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Other verbal 
threats include law-enforcement agency intervention, deportation or 
revocation of licenses.Criminals can fake or "spoof" caller ID numbers to appear to be 
anywhere in the country, including from an IRS office. This prevents 
taxpayers from being able to verify the true call number. Fraudsters 
also have spoofed local sheriff's offices, state departments of motor 
vehicles, federal agencies and others to convince taxpayers the call is 
legitimate.<h2>The IRS (and its authorized private collection agencies) will never:</h2><ul>
 <li>Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method
 such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. The IRS does 
not use these methods for tax payments.</li><li>Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.</li><li>Demand that taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.</li><li>Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.</li>
 </ul>Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who 
owes taxes. All tax payments should only be made payable to the U.S. 
Treasury and checks should never be made payable to third parties.<h2>For anyone who doesn't owe taxes and has no reason to think they do:</h2><ul>
 <li>Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.</li><li>Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to report the call at <a href="https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/reportcrime_misconduct.shtml">IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting</a>.</li><li>Report the caller ID and/or callback number to the IRS by sending it to <a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a> (Subject: IRS Phone Scam).</li><li><a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/">Report it to the Federal Trade Commission</a> on FTC.gov. Add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.</li>
 </ul><h2>For anyone who owes tax or thinks they do:</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">View tax account information</a> online at IRS.gov to see the actual amount owed. Taxpayers can also review their payment options.</li><li>Call the number on the billing notice or</li><li>Call the IRS at <a href="tel:800-829-1040">800-829-1040</a>. IRS employees can help.</li>
 </ul><h2>Help for victims of ID theft</h2>Unfortunately, scams and schemes can often lead to identity theft. 
While identity theft can have many consequences, the IRS focuses on 
tax-related identity theft.Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses an individual's 
stolen Social Security number (SSN) to file a tax return claiming a 
fraudulent refund. Taxpayers may be unaware of this activity until they 
e-file a tax return and discover that a return has already been filed 
using their SSN. Or, the IRS may send them a letter saying it has 
identified a suspicious return using their SSN.If a taxpayer learns their SSN has been compromised, or they know or 
suspect they are a victim of tax-related identity theft, the IRS 
recommends these additional steps:<ul>
 <li>Individuals should respond immediately to any IRS notice; call the number provided.</li><li>Taxpayers should complete IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14039.pdf">Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit</a>&nbsp;PDF,
 if an e-file tax return rejects because of a duplicate filing under 
their SSN or they are instructed to do so by the IRS. Individuals can 
use a fillable form at IRS.gov, then print and attach the form to their 
paper return and mail according to instructions.</li><li>Victims of tax-related identity theft should continue to pay their 
taxes and file their tax return, even if they must do so by paper.</li><li>Taxpayers who previously contacted the IRS about tax-related 
identity theft and did not have a resolution should call for specialized
 assistance at <a href="tel:800-908-4490">800-908-4490</a>.</li>
 </ul>More information is available at: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">IRS.gov/identitytheft</a> or the Federal Trade Commission's <a href="https://www.identitytheft.gov/">IdentityTheft.gov</a>.The official IRS website is IRS.gov. People should be aware of 
imitation websites ending in .com. This applies to other IRS tools, too,
 like <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;they all end in .gov.For more information, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts">Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts</a> on IRS.gov. Additional information about tax scams is available on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-social-media">IRS social media sites</a>, including YouTube videos.

IRS: Impersonators increasingly using tax scams to steal your info

DONIPHAN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged child sex crimes have arrested a suspect.

On January 12, the U.S. Marshals Service in Omaha arrested 37-year-old Christopher Jimeson on a Doniphan County warrant, according to a media release from Highland Police.

This week, Jimeson of Nemaha County Nebraska was extradited to Doniphan County Kansas to face requested charges including aggravated criminal sodomy of a child; aggravated indecent liberties of a child; criminal threat; and aggravated endangerment of a child.

He has a previous drug conviction in Nebraska, according to online jail records. He is being held on a $500,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643734138066.png" alt="Jimeson-photo Doniphan County" />
 <figcaption>Jimeson-photo Doniphan County</figcaption>
 </figure>DONIPHAN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged child sex crimes have arrested a suspect.On January 12, the U.S. Marshals Service in Omaha arrested 37-year-old Christopher Jimeson on a Doniphan County warrant, according to a media release from Highland Police.This week, Jimeson of Nemaha County Nebraska was extradited to Doniphan County Kansas to face requested charges including aggravated criminal sodomy of a child; aggravated indecent liberties of a child; criminal threat; and aggravated endangerment of a child.He has a previous drug conviction in Nebraska, according to online jail records. He is being held on a $500,000 bond.

Kansas child sex crime suspect arrested in Nebraska

MCPHERSON — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged threat to commit violence at the McPherson High School and arrested the suspect.

On Monday evening, the McPherson Police Department received a report concerning a threat communicated on Snapchat to commit violence at the McPherson High School using knives. 

On Tuesday, the McPherson Police Department posted additional officers in the high school and middle school.

With the assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the McPherson Police Department identified the suspect who communicated the threat of violence via Snapchat as a 15-year-old McPherson High School student. Officers arrested the suspect on a requested charge of Criminal Threat. The suspect was processed through Juvenile Intake and Assessment; and then transported to a detention center.

Chief Mikel T. Golden thanked students and parents, who saw the Snapchat and made the “right” decision to notify Law Enforcement right away. Additionally, to address rumors of a threat of violence involving “guns,” no threats involving guns or firearms were communicated.

MCPHERSON — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged threat to commit violence at the McPherson High School and arrested the suspect.On Monday evening, the McPherson Police Department received a report concerning a threat communicated on Snapchat to commit violence at the McPherson High School using knives. On Tuesday, the McPherson Police Department posted additional officers in the high school and middle school.With the assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the McPherson Police Department identified the suspect who communicated the threat of violence via Snapchat as a 15-year-old McPherson High School student. Officers arrested the suspect on a requested charge of Criminal Threat. The suspect was processed through Juvenile Intake and Assessment; and then transported to a detention center.Chief Mikel T. Golden thanked students and parents, who saw the Snapchat and made the “right” decision to notify Law Enforcement right away. Additionally, to address rumors of a threat of violence involving “guns,” no threats involving guns or firearms were communicated.

15-year-old arrested for alleged school threat in McPherson

By SHERMAN SMITH Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Rep.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/members/rep_carlson_suzi_1/">Suzi Carlson</a>&nbsp;was arrested late Monday and booked into Shawnee County Jail with citations for drunk driving and failing to maintain a single lane.

Tim Phelps, deputy director of the jail, said Topeka police stopped Carlson at 10:08 p.m. Monday at S.W. 14th and Topeka Blvd., about four blocks south of the Statehouse.

Online jail records indicate Carlson, a Republican from Clay Center, was booked into jail at 11 p.m. and released at 2:15 a.m. after posting $1,000 cash bond. The citations indicate she had greater than .08 blood alcohol level and that she made an unsafe lane change. A court date was set for March 1.

Carlson has served in the House since 2019. Before that, she served as a municipal judge in Clay Center for 22 years.

“We do not have any additional information right now, but we expect local law enforcement to provide more details once they’ve completed their review,” said House Speaker Ron Ryckman, R-Olathe.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643745700788.png" alt="Carlson-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Carlson-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH Kansas ReflectorTOPEKA — Rep.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/members/rep_carlson_suzi_1/">Suzi Carlson</a>&nbsp;was arrested late Monday and booked into Shawnee County Jail with citations for drunk driving and failing to maintain a single lane.Tim Phelps, deputy director of the jail, said Topeka police stopped Carlson at 10:08 p.m. Monday at S.W. 14th and Topeka Blvd., about four blocks south of the Statehouse.Online jail records indicate Carlson, a Republican from Clay Center, was booked into jail at 11 p.m. and released at 2:15 a.m. after posting $1,000 cash bond. The citations indicate she had greater than .08 blood alcohol level and that she made an unsafe lane change. A court date was set for March 1.Carlson has served in the House since 2019. Before that, she served as a municipal judge in Clay Center for 22 years.“We do not have any additional information right now, but we expect local law enforcement to provide more details once they’ve completed their review,” said House Speaker Ron Ryckman, R-Olathe.

Kansas Rep. Suzi Carlson jailed after drunk driving citation in Topeka

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the fatal Jan. 14, shooting that killed 30-year-old Richie T. Aaron Jr. of Independence, Missouri on board an Amtrak train near Kansas City have a suspect in custody following a&nbsp; standoff.

&nbsp;Just after 2:30 p.m. Monday Detectives from the Lee’s Summit Police Department were following a lead on a person of interest in connection with the homicide aboard the train, according to Lee's Summit Police Sgt. Chris Depue.

Detectives contacted officers with the Kansas City Police Department for assistance in checking an apartment in the 1600 block of Bushman Drive. 

As Detectives knocked on the door, a woman answered the door and police saw the suspect was seen inside the apartment.&nbsp; The door to the apartment closed and when it opened again the suspect displayed a handgun and pointed it at several officers.

 Detectives withdrew to a safe area and contained the scene. Tactical units with the KCPD deployed to the scene and established an operation; negotiators spoke with the man for several hours by phone and at approximately 8:00 p.m. the man exited the apartment and was taken into custody without incident. 

Police transported the suspect, his name has not been released, to Lee’s Summit Police Department and detectives will submit charges to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office Tuesday, according to Depue.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642418758538.png" alt="First responders on the train&nbsp; Jan. 15-photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the train&nbsp; Jan. 15-photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the fatal Jan. 14, shooting that killed 30-year-old Richie T. Aaron Jr. of Independence, Missouri on board an Amtrak train near Kansas City have a suspect in custody following a&nbsp; standoff.&nbsp;Just after 2:30 p.m. Monday Detectives from the Lee’s Summit Police Department were following a lead on a person of interest in connection with the homicide aboard the train, according to Lee's Summit Police Sgt. Chris Depue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643727081313.png" alt="Police on the scene of the standoff Monday night -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the standoff Monday night -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Detectives contacted officers with the Kansas City Police Department for assistance in checking an apartment in the 1600 block of Bushman Drive. As Detectives knocked on the door, a woman answered the door and police saw the suspect was seen inside the apartment.&nbsp; The door to the apartment closed and when it opened again the suspect displayed a handgun and pointed it at several officers. Detectives withdrew to a safe area and contained the scene. Tactical units with the KCPD deployed to the scene and established an operation; negotiators spoke with the man for several hours by phone and at approximately 8:00 p.m. the man exited the apartment and was taken into custody without incident. Police transported the suspect, his name has not been released, to Lee’s Summit Police Department and detectives will submit charges to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office Tuesday, according to Depue.

Suspect in KC-area Amtrak killing arrested after standoff

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide in Oklahoma have a suspect in custody in Kansas, according to The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

On Satuday, the Kay County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance processing a crime scene on Tosque Drive in Tonkawa. Charles Star Warrior, 40, was missing from the residence and based on the scene it appeared a homicide had occurred. &nbsp; On Sunday, authorities found a body in the Chikaskia River east of Tonkawa. The victim was identified as Warrior. Based on the investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for 42-year-old Dustin Lee Begshisown. Just before 5a.m. Monday, police in Wichita<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20074279"> arrested Begshisown </a>on requested charges of Murder in the Second Degree. He was in custody in Wichita awaiting extradition to Oklahoma.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643667495574.png" alt="Begshisown-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Begshisown-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide in Oklahoma have a suspect in custody in Kansas, according to The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.On Satuday, the Kay County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance processing a crime scene on Tosque Drive in Tonkawa. Charles Star Warrior, 40, was missing from the residence and based on the scene it appeared a homicide had occurred. &nbsp; On Sunday, authorities found a body in the Chikaskia River east of Tonkawa. The victim was identified as Warrior. Based on the investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for 42-year-old Dustin Lee Begshisown. Just before 5a.m. Monday, police in Wichita<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20074279"> arrested Begshisown </a>on requested charges of Murder in the Second Degree. He was in custody in Wichita awaiting extradition to Oklahoma.

Wanted murder suspect captured in Kansas

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend shooting have identified the victim as 16-year-old&nbsp;José Garcia Muñoz of Kansas City, Kansas.

Just after 10:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 200 Block of South 14th Street in Kansas City, according to a media release.&nbsp;

Officers found Muñoz&nbsp; with a gunshot wound inside a home.&nbsp; Paramedics said the boy died at the scene. Police have not reported an arrest.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal weekend shooting.

Officers found a boy who was in his early teens with a gunshot wound inside a home.&nbsp; Paramedics said the boy died at the scene. His name has not been released. Police have not reported additional details.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend shooting have identified the victim as 16-year-old&nbsp;José Garcia Muñoz of Kansas City, Kansas.Just after 10:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 200 Block of South 14th Street in Kansas City, according to a media release.&nbsp;Officers found Muñoz&nbsp; with a gunshot wound inside a home.&nbsp; Paramedics said the boy died at the scene. Police have not reported an arrest.--------------WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal weekend shooting.Just after 10:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 200 Block of South 14th Street in Kansas City, according to a media release.&nbsp;Officers found a boy who was in his early teens with a gunshot wound inside a home.&nbsp; Paramedics said the boy died at the scene. His name has not been released. Police have not reported additional details.