WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Sedgwick County Sheriff's sergeant has been sentenced to a year of probation after pleading no contest to stalking an ex-girlfriend. Justin Maxfield was sentenced Wednesday for the misdemeanor charge. 

An affidavit says Maxfield was charged after his ex-girlfriend told police in April that he sent unwanted text messages to her and had visited her home and workplace after being asked to stay away. 

Maxfield, a 12-year veteran of the sheriff's department, was suspended when he was arrested in April. He resigned in May.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617981475188.png" alt="Maxfield photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Maxfield photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former Sedgwick County Sheriff's sergeant has been sentenced to a year of probation after pleading no contest to stalking an ex-girlfriend. Justin Maxfield was sentenced Wednesday for the misdemeanor charge. An affidavit says Maxfield was charged after his ex-girlfriend told police in April that he sent unwanted text messages to her and had visited her home and workplace after being asked to stay away. Maxfield, a 12-year veteran of the sheriff's department, was suspended when he was arrested in April. He resigned in May.

Former Kan. sheriff's sergeant sentenced for stalking

Washington, D.C.&nbsp;&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. issued the following statement after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-afghanistan-evacuees-262203820a617808f4a40a130e2d179a" target="_blank">reports</a>&nbsp;of the Biden Administration announcing 490 Afghan refugees are slated to be resettled in Kansas.

“While we try to show compassion, this Administration must not waiver in its efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Kansans and all Americans. Period. Having already seen&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/sep/16/second-major-felon-found-on-afghan-evacuation-flig/" target="_blank">felons</a>, as well as a number of individuals with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/13/afghan-evacuee-flights-will-be-halted-for-a-week-after-measles-cases.html" target="_blank">measles</a>&nbsp;make it through the vetting process, Governor Kelly must ensure ALL refugees stepping foot in Kansas have been vetted to the highest degree in a third country to safeguard our national and state’s security,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.

 “We must protect against those who may wish to do Americans harm and the potential public health threat that accompanies individuals relocating from a nation that has minimal numbers of COVID vaccinations administered and concerning numbers of other infectious diseases such as polio, mumps, rubella, and tuberculosis.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629986318422.png" alt="Afghan evacuees boarding&nbsp; a transport plane last month in Kabul-photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Afghan evacuees boarding&nbsp; a transport plane last month in Kabul-photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington, D.C.&nbsp;&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. issued the following statement after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-afghanistan-evacuees-262203820a617808f4a40a130e2d179a" target="_blank">reports</a>&nbsp;of the Biden Administration announcing 490 Afghan refugees are slated to be resettled in Kansas.“While we try to show compassion, this Administration must not waiver in its efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Kansans and all Americans. Period. Having already seen&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/sep/16/second-major-felon-found-on-afghan-evacuation-flig/" target="_blank">felons</a>, as well as a number of individuals with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/13/afghan-evacuee-flights-will-be-halted-for-a-week-after-measles-cases.html" target="_blank">measles</a>&nbsp;make it through the vetting process, Governor Kelly must ensure ALL refugees stepping foot in Kansas have been vetted to the highest degree in a third country to safeguard our national and state’s security,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall. “We must protect against those who may wish to do Americans harm and the potential public health threat that accompanies individuals relocating from a nation that has minimal numbers of COVID vaccinations administered and concerning numbers of other infectious diseases such as polio, mumps, rubella, and tuberculosis.”

Sen. Marshall has concerns about Afghan refugees coming to Kansas

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a suspect for alleged criminal threat have filed charges of attempted aggravated arson against&nbsp;34-year old Delvin Debnam, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday police responded to a residence in the 1500 block Commercial Street in Atchison to investigate a report of a man trying to set the house on fire, according to Wilson.

Officers located 34-year old Delvin Debnam at the residence. A 38-year old woman had left the residence. Officers found her several blocks away.

It was determined that a disturbance had occurred at the residence between Debnam and the woman who both reside at the home. During the disturbance Debnam threatened to burn the house down. There was no fire found at the house. However, the investigation determined that Debnam had attempted several times to start a fire in the house, according to Wilson.

Police took Debnam into custody. He remains in the Atchison County Jail, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631541206480.png" alt="Debnam photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Debnam photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a suspect for alleged criminal threat have filed charges of attempted aggravated arson against&nbsp;34-year old Delvin Debnam, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Just before 7p.m. Saturday police responded to a residence in the 1500 block Commercial Street in Atchison to investigate a report of a man trying to set the house on fire, according to Wilson.Officers located 34-year old Delvin Debnam at the residence. A 38-year old woman had left the residence. Officers found her several blocks away.It was determined that a disturbance had occurred at the residence between Debnam and the woman who both reside at the home. During the disturbance Debnam threatened to burn the house down. There was no fire found at the house. However, the investigation determined that Debnam had attempted several times to start a fire in the house, according to Wilson.Police took Debnam into custody. He remains in the Atchison County Jail, according to online jail records.

Arson: Kansas man charged with trying to burn house down

NEOSHO COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Thursday in Neosho County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Hyundai Accent driven by Hazel Evelene Burgess, 78, Imboden, Arkansas, was northbound on U.S. 59 at Kansas 39 Highway.&nbsp;

The driver failed to yield to an eastbound 2006 Nissan Altima driven by&nbsp; Diego Perez, 35, Crete, Nebraska.

Burgess was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;

EMS transported Perez, a passenger in the Hyundai Glenn E. Burgess, 39, Imboden, Arkansas, and a passenger in the Nissan Raymundo&nbsp;Perez Mendez, 26, Crete, Nebraska, to the Neosho County Hospital. The KHP did not have complete seat belt usage information.

NEOSHO COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Thursday in Neosho County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Hyundai Accent driven by Hazel Evelene Burgess, 78, Imboden, Arkansas, was northbound on U.S. 59 at Kansas 39 Highway.&nbsp; The driver failed to yield to an eastbound 2006 Nissan Altima driven by&nbsp; Diego Perez, 35, Crete, Nebraska.Burgess was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;EMS transported Perez, a passenger in the Hyundai Glenn E. Burgess, 39, Imboden, Arkansas, and a passenger in the Nissan Raymundo&nbsp;Perez Mendez, 26, Crete, Nebraska, to the Neosho County Hospital. The KHP did not have complete seat belt usage information.

1 dead, 3 hospitalized after crash on Kansas highway

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Cities and urban counties across the U.S. are raising concerns that a recent rule from President Joe Biden’s administration could preclude them from tapping into $350 billion of coronavirus relief aid to expand high-speed internet connections.

Biden has set a goal of delivering fast, affordable internet to every American household. The massive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-government-and-politics-92f86843f2197f52838164cd9fbe6bfb">American Rescue Plan took a step toward that</a>&nbsp;by including broadband infrastructure among the primary uses for pandemic aid flowing to each city, county and state.

But an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-05-17/pdf/2021-10283.pdf" target="_blank">interim rule published by the U.S. Treasury Department</a>&nbsp;has narrowed the broadband eligibility. It focuses on areas that lack reliable broadband, which connects devices to the internet through a cable or data line, at download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps.

That threshold ensures funding for remote, rural areas that have slow or no internet service, and it matches the definition of broadband set by the Federal Communications Commission in 2015. But cities contend the eligibility mark overlooks the realities of today’s internet needs.

Though most cities already have broadband available, the speed still might not be fast enough to handle multiple people in a home trying to work, study and stream entertainment simultaneously — a common scenario during the coronavirus pandemic. The price also can be more than lower-income residents can afford.

“They’re basically prioritizing those rural areas over the underserved urban areas where there is more population,” said Detta Kissel, a retired Treasury Department attorney who helped write agency rules and now advocates for better internet service in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Arlington, Virginia.

Several cities, including Washington, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and San Antonio, have submitted public comments to the Treasury Department urging it to loosen the eligibility standard for spending pandemic relief money on broadband. Some want the Treasury to define underserved areas as anything less than download and upload speeds of 100 Mbps.

That would increase the number of locations eligible for funding from about 11 million to 82 million households and businesses nationwide, according to a study conducted for America’s Communications Association, which represents small and medium-sized internet providers.

Cities argue that the Treasury should use a 100/100 Mbps eligibility threshold because that’s the same speed projects are supposed to achieve if they receive funding. A separate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-54bd38c58aaa30114eee72f352998fa4">infrastructure bill working its way through Congress</a>&nbsp;is more flexible, allowing some of its $65 billion in broadband funding to go to “underserved” areas lacking download speeds of 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 20 Mbps.

If the Treasury goes forward with its rule as originally written, sparsely populated areas currently lacking broadband could leapfrog certain urban areas in their internet speeds. That doesn’t sit well with some mayors.

“The inner city of Memphis is as in a dire need of broadband connection as rural Tennessee,” said Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, who wants Treasury Department assurance before spending $20 million from the American Rescue Plan on a broadband project.

Residents almost anywhere in Milwaukee already have access to at least one internet provider offering download speeds of 25 Mbps and upload speeds of 3 Mbps. But in parts of the city, fewer than half the households subscribe to internet service because of its cost, said David Henke, the city’s chief information officer.

“If you don’t have a job and you can’t afford broadband, that’s kind of a cycle,” Henke said. “You’re locked out of remote learning, remote work, telemedicine and participating basically in a modern society.”

Milwaukee has applied for a $12.5 million grant from Wisconsin’s share of the American Rescue Plan and would chip in $2.5 million of its own pandemic relief money to expand affordable broadband into more parts of the city, Henke said. But the city wants the Treasury Department to broaden “the narrow wording” of its rule.

Although the public comment period ended in July, the Treasury has set no date for when it will publish the rule’s final version. A Treasury official said the department is undertaking a thorough review of the comments that is likely “to continue into the fall.”

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, is among those urging the Treasury Department to adopt a broader eligibility threshold. He wrote that it would be “severely misguided” to assume that communities are adequately served by the “woefully outdated” broadband benchmark the department has set.

Broadband industry groups generally have urged the Treasury to stick with its original plan of targeting money at areas with the slowest internet speeds.

“Rather than reinvesting in locations that already have broadband to make it better,” the pandemic relief money should go to “places that don’t have any broadband at all,” said Patrick Halley, general counsel at USTelecom, whose membership includes AT&amp;T, Verizon and others.

The cable industry group NCTA urged treasury officials to tighten eligibility even further. It wants to limit the number of households that already have faster service that can be included in areas targeted for improvements. It also wants to remove the potential for locally subjective decisions about areas that lack reliable service.

Allowing improvements in areas that already meet minimum speed thresholds could siphon money away from the neediest, hard-to-reach areas — potentially leaving them without service once the federal money is spent, industry groups said.

To bring super-fast internet service to every place currently lacking 25/3 Mbps speeds could cost between $20 billion and $37 billion, according to the study for America’s Communications Association. That cost jumps to between $106 billion to $179 billion when covering all areas currently lacking speeds of 100/100 Mbps.

“As a matter of prioritization, we think it’s best to start with the areas that have the least,” said Ross Lieberman, the association’s senior vice president of government affairs.

Though most of the complaints about the Treasury Department rule have come from larger cities, some residents in rural areas also have raised concerns.

Charlie Hopkins, a retired computer hardware and software designer, owns a home on a Maine island that is accessible only by boat. The internet speeds at his house registered barely 5 Mbps for downloading and just 0.4 Mbps for uploading when tested recently for The Associated Press.

Because some homes have faster speeds, Hopkins is concerned the Treasury Department rule could make it difficult for the island to get funding to improve its internet. He said broadband is essential to attract and retain residents.

“Other cities and towns in Maine, especially the cities, are getting higher-speed fiberoptic-based internet,” Hopkins said. “I don’t like being in a position where we’re essentially being told, `Well, you’re at the end of the Earth, so you don’t qualify.’”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627553548845.png" alt="President Biden has set a goal of delivering fast, affordable internet to every American household-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden has set a goal of delivering fast, affordable internet to every American household-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —Cities and urban counties across the U.S. are raising concerns that a recent rule from President Joe Biden’s administration could preclude them from tapping into $350 billion of coronavirus relief aid to expand high-speed internet connections.Biden has set a goal of delivering fast, affordable internet to every American household. The massive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-government-and-politics-92f86843f2197f52838164cd9fbe6bfb">American Rescue Plan took a step toward that</a>&nbsp;by including broadband infrastructure among the primary uses for pandemic aid flowing to each city, county and state.But an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-05-17/pdf/2021-10283.pdf" target="_blank">interim rule published by the U.S. Treasury Department</a>&nbsp;has narrowed the broadband eligibility. It focuses on areas that lack reliable broadband, which connects devices to the internet through a cable or data line, at download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps.That threshold ensures funding for remote, rural areas that have slow or no internet service, and it matches the definition of broadband set by the Federal Communications Commission in 2015. But cities contend the eligibility mark overlooks the realities of today’s internet needs.Though most cities already have broadband available, the speed still might not be fast enough to handle multiple people in a home trying to work, study and stream entertainment simultaneously — a common scenario during the coronavirus pandemic. The price also can be more than lower-income residents can afford.“They’re basically prioritizing those rural areas over the underserved urban areas where there is more population,” said Detta Kissel, a retired Treasury Department attorney who helped write agency rules and now advocates for better internet service in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Arlington, Virginia.Several cities, including Washington, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and San Antonio, have submitted public comments to the Treasury Department urging it to loosen the eligibility standard for spending pandemic relief money on broadband. Some want the Treasury to define underserved areas as anything less than download and upload speeds of 100 Mbps.That would increase the number of locations eligible for funding from about 11 million to 82 million households and businesses nationwide, according to a study conducted for America’s Communications Association, which represents small and medium-sized internet providers.Cities argue that the Treasury should use a 100/100 Mbps eligibility threshold because that’s the same speed projects are supposed to achieve if they receive funding. A separate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-54bd38c58aaa30114eee72f352998fa4">infrastructure bill working its way through Congress</a>&nbsp;is more flexible, allowing some of its $65 billion in broadband funding to go to “underserved” areas lacking download speeds of 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 20 Mbps.If the Treasury goes forward with its rule as originally written, sparsely populated areas currently lacking broadband could leapfrog certain urban areas in their internet speeds. That doesn’t sit well with some mayors.“The inner city of Memphis is as in a dire need of broadband connection as rural Tennessee,” said Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, who wants Treasury Department assurance before spending $20 million from the American Rescue Plan on a broadband project.Residents almost anywhere in Milwaukee already have access to at least one internet provider offering download speeds of 25 Mbps and upload speeds of 3 Mbps. But in parts of the city, fewer than half the households subscribe to internet service because of its cost, said David Henke, the city’s chief information officer.“If you don’t have a job and you can’t afford broadband, that’s kind of a cycle,” Henke said. “You’re locked out of remote learning, remote work, telemedicine and participating basically in a modern society.”Milwaukee has applied for a $12.5 million grant from Wisconsin’s share of the American Rescue Plan and would chip in $2.5 million of its own pandemic relief money to expand affordable broadband into more parts of the city, Henke said. But the city wants the Treasury Department to broaden “the narrow wording” of its rule.Although the public comment period ended in July, the Treasury has set no date for when it will publish the rule’s final version. A Treasury official said the department is undertaking a thorough review of the comments that is likely “to continue into the fall.”U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, is among those urging the Treasury Department to adopt a broader eligibility threshold. He wrote that it would be “severely misguided” to assume that communities are adequately served by the “woefully outdated” broadband benchmark the department has set.Broadband industry groups generally have urged the Treasury to stick with its original plan of targeting money at areas with the slowest internet speeds.“Rather than reinvesting in locations that already have broadband to make it better,” the pandemic relief money should go to “places that don’t have any broadband at all,” said Patrick Halley, general counsel at USTelecom, whose membership includes AT&amp;T, Verizon and others.The cable industry group NCTA urged treasury officials to tighten eligibility even further. It wants to limit the number of households that already have faster service that can be included in areas targeted for improvements. It also wants to remove the potential for locally subjective decisions about areas that lack reliable service.Allowing improvements in areas that already meet minimum speed thresholds could siphon money away from the neediest, hard-to-reach areas — potentially leaving them without service once the federal money is spent, industry groups said.To bring super-fast internet service to every place currently lacking 25/3 Mbps speeds could cost between $20 billion and $37 billion, according to the study for America’s Communications Association. That cost jumps to between $106 billion to $179 billion when covering all areas currently lacking speeds of 100/100 Mbps.“As a matter of prioritization, we think it’s best to start with the areas that have the least,” said Ross Lieberman, the association’s senior vice president of government affairs.Though most of the complaints about the Treasury Department rule have come from larger cities, some residents in rural areas also have raised concerns.Charlie Hopkins, a retired computer hardware and software designer, owns a home on a Maine island that is accessible only by boat. The internet speeds at his house registered barely 5 Mbps for downloading and just 0.4 Mbps for uploading when tested recently for The Associated Press.Because some homes have faster speeds, Hopkins is concerned the Treasury Department rule could make it difficult for the island to get funding to improve its internet. He said broadband is essential to attract and retain residents.“Other cities and towns in Maine, especially the cities, are getting higher-speed fiberoptic-based internet,” Hopkins said. “I don’t like being in a position where we’re essentially being told, `Well, you’re at the end of the Earth, so you don’t qualify.’”

Biden's internet funding rule could favor rural areas over cities

SALINA —When Salina Tech graduates a nurse, welder or machinist, that typically means one person is on the path to a better career.

But with the college’s newest program, each new graduate may mean new careers for several people, with the impact still being felt decades from now. Working in cooperation with local employers, school districts and child-care advocates, Salina Tech is launching an Early Childhood Education program, with a “soft launch” planned for January, according to a media release from the school.

The program was approved Thursday by the Kansas Board of Regents. It has already been approved by the Kansas Technical Education Authority, and by the Chicago-based Higher Learning Commission.

This program will be important to the community in a number of ways, said Eric Brown, President and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Lack of child care has become one of the top five obstacles to growing the workforce,” Brown said, explaining that without adequate and affordable child care, many parents who could be working opt to stay home with their children.

Brown was part of the college’s Early Childhood Education Advisory Committee, and said that while the immediate effects of a community having high-quality child care are obvious, other benefits take years to be seen.

“There are 50 years of studies about the importance of early childhood education,” Brown said. “It’s important for kids under the age of five to have access — the zero to five time frame is very important.”

“If you don’t have a quality start, it affects their education throughout their life,” Brown added.

“Research shows an ROI of every dollar spent on early childhood education brings $11 back into a community,” said Lori Blake, Executive Director of Child Advocacy and Parenting Services of Salina.

Blake also served on the college’s committee that helped get the program started, and is a member of the Southeast of Saline School Board.

“We have had a long-standing initiative in Saline County since 2000, working on increasing the quality of child care, called Partners In Early Childhood Education — PIECE, and we’ve been trying to address the issue of access to child care.”

“With the new jobs coming at Kubota and Tony’s we already don’t have enough people in the workforce,” Blake added. “By getting Salina Tech involved, we’re training skilled people for our early childhood centers.”

The Early Childhood Education program will allow students to earn a variety of certifications in specialized areas, and an Associate of Applied Science degree.

Certifications include one in Infant and Toddler Education, for 17 credit-hours, a certification in Pre-School Education, for 19 credit-hours, a 33 credit-hour certification in Early Childhood Education, and a 62 credit-hour Associate of Applied Science degree, which includes several general education classes.

Many of the credits earned in the program will transfer to other colleges, should a student decide later to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in education.

To learn more about the program, contact the college’s admissions office at 785-309-3100 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admissions@salinatech.edu">admissions@salinatech.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602978799004.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SALINA —When Salina Tech graduates a nurse, welder or machinist, that typically means one person is on the path to a better career.But with the college’s newest program, each new graduate may mean new careers for several people, with the impact still being felt decades from now. Working in cooperation with local employers, school districts and child-care advocates, Salina Tech is launching an Early Childhood Education program, with a “soft launch” planned for January, according to a media release from the school.The program was approved Thursday by the Kansas Board of Regents. It has already been approved by the Kansas Technical Education Authority, and by the Chicago-based Higher Learning Commission.This program will be important to the community in a number of ways, said Eric Brown, President and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.“Lack of child care has become one of the top five obstacles to growing the workforce,” Brown said, explaining that without adequate and affordable child care, many parents who could be working opt to stay home with their children.Brown was part of the college’s Early Childhood Education Advisory Committee, and said that while the immediate effects of a community having high-quality child care are obvious, other benefits take years to be seen.“There are 50 years of studies about the importance of early childhood education,” Brown said. “It’s important for kids under the age of five to have access — the zero to five time frame is very important.”“If you don’t have a quality start, it affects their education throughout their life,” Brown added.“Research shows an ROI of every dollar spent on early childhood education brings $11 back into a community,” said Lori Blake, Executive Director of Child Advocacy and Parenting Services of Salina.Blake also served on the college’s committee that helped get the program started, and is a member of the Southeast of Saline School Board.“We have had a long-standing initiative in Saline County since 2000, working on increasing the quality of child care, called Partners In Early Childhood Education — PIECE, and we’ve been trying to address the issue of access to child care.”“With the new jobs coming at Kubota and Tony’s we already don’t have enough people in the workforce,” Blake added. “By getting Salina Tech involved, we’re training skilled people for our early childhood centers.”The Early Childhood Education program will allow students to earn a variety of certifications in specialized areas, and an Associate of Applied Science degree.Certifications include one in Infant and Toddler Education, for 17 credit-hours, a certification in Pre-School Education, for 19 credit-hours, a 33 credit-hour certification in Early Childhood Education, and a 62 credit-hour Associate of Applied Science degree, which includes several general education classes.Many of the credits earned in the program will transfer to other colleges, should a student decide later to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in education.To learn more about the program, contact the college’s admissions office at 785-309-3100 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admissions@salinatech.edu">admissions@salinatech.edu</a>.

Regents approve early childhood program for Salina Tech

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The search continues for the suspect accused in the nightclub shooting in Wichita that killed one man and injured five women.

During a Wednesday afternoon news conference, members of the community including Wichita Vice Mayor Brandon Johnson asked the suspect 22-year-old Keshawn Dawson to turn himself in. Wichita Police Captain Jason Stephens said authorities do not know where Dawson is in hiding. Police have received information that suggests he may be in south Wichita, according to Stephens.&nbsp; 

There is a reward of up to $2500 through Crime Stoppers for information in the case that leads to an arrest.&nbsp;

Police say Dawson is armed and dangerous. He was released from prison in December of 2020 after serving time for weapons violations.

Just after 12:30 a.m. Sept. 7, police responded to a shooting call at the Enigma Club, 351 N. Mosley in Wichita.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located multiple victims.&nbsp; They were all transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.&nbsp; One victim identified as 34-year-old Preston Spencer of Wichita died from his injuries. Friends and family held his <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-kendra-and-the-spencer-family?fbclid=IwAR1CeDwwCQIfSCoQNv5hK0sgu10mWuhu3Tv8iapl8Qnv-1Q6hJWoNgFeDag">memorial service</a>&nbsp;on Monday.

The other victims, all women ages, 22, Two age 24, 28 and 40, received non life-threatening injuries, according to Stephens. Most of the injuries were to the legs. One had an injury to an arm and her lower back.&nbsp; All of the women are expected to survive.

The investigation revealed a male suspect identified as Dawson got into a disturbance earlier inside the club and was made to leave.&nbsp; Dawson returned a short time later and fired multiple rounds with a handgun through windows into the club from the outside, striking the victims.

Anyone with information on Dawson is asked to call 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631032156553.png" alt="Dawson photo from an earlier arrest in Sedgwick County.&nbsp; He is described as 5-foot-11, and 160 pounds with black hair and brown eyes." />
 <figcaption>Dawson photo from an earlier arrest in Sedgwick County.&nbsp; He is described as 5-foot-11, and 160 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The search continues for the suspect accused in the nightclub shooting in Wichita that killed one man and injured five women.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWichitaPolice%2Fvideos%2F415078036812791%2F&show_text=true&width=560&t=51" width="560" height="429" 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>During a Wednesday afternoon news conference, members of the community including Wichita Vice Mayor Brandon Johnson asked the suspect 22-year-old Keshawn Dawson to turn himself in. Wichita Police Captain Jason Stephens said authorities do not know where Dawson is in hiding. Police have received information that suggests he may be in south Wichita, according to Stephens.&nbsp; There is a reward of up to $2500 through Crime Stoppers for information in the case that leads to an arrest.&nbsp;Police say Dawson is armed and dangerous. He was released from prison in December of 2020 after serving time for weapons violations.Just after 12:30 a.m. Sept. 7, police responded to a shooting call at the Enigma Club, 351 N. Mosley in Wichita.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located multiple victims.&nbsp; They were all transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.&nbsp; One victim identified as 34-year-old Preston Spencer of Wichita died from his injuries. Friends and family held his <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-kendra-and-the-spencer-family?fbclid=IwAR1CeDwwCQIfSCoQNv5hK0sgu10mWuhu3Tv8iapl8Qnv-1Q6hJWoNgFeDag">memorial service</a>&nbsp;on Monday.The other victims, all women ages, 22, Two age 24, 28 and 40, received non life-threatening injuries, according to Stephens. Most of the injuries were to the legs. One had an injury to an arm and her lower back.&nbsp; All of the women are expected to survive.The investigation revealed a male suspect identified as Dawson got into a disturbance earlier inside the club and was made to leave.&nbsp; Dawson returned a short time later and fired multiple rounds with a handgun through windows into the club from the outside, striking the victims.Anyone with information on Dawson is asked to call 911.---------------

🎥  Reward offered: Search continues for Kan. club shooting suspect

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>

GREAT BEND —&nbsp;Great Bend Airfest is Sept. 17-19 at the Great Bend Municipal 
Airport. Listen below to the interview with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster 
and one of the performers coming to Great Bend, U.S. Army Sgt. Slyer 
Romberg who is part of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team..

The interview aired Sept. 14, 2021 on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631812305959.png" alt="The U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute team will be coming to Great Bend Airfest this weekend." />
 <figcaption>The U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute team will be coming to Great Bend Airfest this weekend.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND —&nbsp;Great Bend Airfest is Sept. 17-19 at the Great Bend Municipal 
Airport. Listen below to the interview with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster 
and one of the performers coming to Great Bend, U.S. Army Sgt. Slyer 
Romberg who is part of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team..The interview aired Sept. 14, 2021 on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/pxhuavds/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

🎤Great Bend Airfest performer: Sgt. Skyler Romberg

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid is scheduled to face trial in April on a charge of driving while intoxicated after a crash last year that seriously injured a 5-year-old girl.

Reid's trial on the felony charge was scheduled for April 18 during a virtual hearing on Thursday. The trial is expected to last a week.

Reid, the son of Chiefs Coach Andy Reid,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-football-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-d43b085c56ac1d0ec8445f30faa6a4d0">was charged after he hit two stopped cars</a>&nbsp;on an entrance ramp near Arrowhead stadium in February, prosecutors said. A girl in one of the cars, Ariel Young, suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Prosecutors allege Reid was speeding and intoxicated when he hit the cars. He had a blood alcohol reading of 0.113 about two hours after the crash, according to court records.

Reid underwent emergency surgery for a groin injury after the crash. He&nbsp;was placed on administrative leave and the Chiefs allowed his contract to expire, ending his employment with the team.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618277826304.png" alt="Britt Reid-photo Kansas City Police" />
 <figcaption>Britt Reid-photo Kansas City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid is scheduled to face trial in April on a charge of driving while intoxicated after a crash last year that seriously injured a 5-year-old girl.Reid's trial on the felony charge was scheduled for April 18 during a virtual hearing on Thursday. The trial is expected to last a week.Reid, the son of Chiefs Coach Andy Reid,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-kansas-football-kansas-city-kansas-city-chiefs-d43b085c56ac1d0ec8445f30faa6a4d0">was charged after he hit two stopped cars</a>&nbsp;on an entrance ramp near Arrowhead stadium in February, prosecutors said. A girl in one of the cars, Ariel Young, suffered a traumatic brain injury.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612784011749.png" alt="Ariel Young photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Ariel Young photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>Prosecutors allege Reid was speeding and intoxicated when he hit the cars. He had a blood alcohol reading of 0.113 about two hours after the crash, according to court records.Reid underwent emergency surgery for a groin injury after the crash. He&nbsp;was placed on administrative leave and the Chiefs allowed his contract to expire, ending his employment with the team.

Trial date set: Former Chiefs coach charged in crash that injured girl

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


HUTCHINSON — 
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said Thursday that vaccine mandates are not a direction she plans to go right now.

"I don't have any intention of going down that road right now," Kelly said. "I think what we are doing with vaccines and taking them out to the community, taking them out to places where people feel comfortable and trust those around them is the road that we're going to continue on down now."

Kelly acknowledged that different jurisdictions and different businesses will make their own policy in that regard.

"I was just in New York on a trade mission," Kelly said. "In order to get into a restaurant in New York, I had to show my vaccine card. There's a lot of that going on, just sort of organically. I'm fully aware that the President has announced the mandate for businesses with over 100 employees. We don't really know what that means. We haven't seen the guidelines. The mandate is also softened though, by, if you don't want to get vaccinated, at least get tested."

Pfizer has said it will seek emergency use authorization for children. Kelly plans to make sure the rollout happens if approved.

"When the vaccines are available for our 5- to 12-year-olds, then you can trust that we will make sure that we get those vaccines into our schools and hopefully into the arms of all of our schoolchildren," Kelly said. 

Kelly was in Hutchinson for the Governor's Day at the Kansas State Fair and to speak to students at Hutchinson Community College.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631819791493.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly on a tour of Centennial Hall Thursday at the Kansas State Fair" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly on a tour of Centennial Hall Thursday at the Kansas State Fair</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com/">Hutch Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — 
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said Thursday that vaccine mandates are not a direction she plans to go right now."I don't have any intention of going down that road right now," Kelly said. "I think what we are doing with vaccines and taking them out to the community, taking them out to places where people feel comfortable and trust those around them is the road that we're going to continue on down now."Kelly acknowledged that different jurisdictions and different businesses will make their own policy in that regard."I was just in New York on a trade mission," Kelly said. "In order to get into a restaurant in New York, I had to show my vaccine card. There's a lot of that going on, just sort of organically. I'm fully aware that the President has announced the mandate for businesses with over 100 employees. We don't really know what that means. We haven't seen the guidelines. The mandate is also softened though, by, if you don't want to get vaccinated, at least get tested."Pfizer has said it will seek emergency use authorization for children. Kelly plans to make sure the rollout happens if approved."When the vaccines are available for our 5- to 12-year-olds, then you can trust that we will make sure that we get those vaccines into our schools and hopefully into the arms of all of our schoolchildren," Kelly said. Kelly was in Hutchinson for the Governor's Day at the Kansas State Fair and to speak to students at Hutchinson Community College.&nbsp;

Gov. Kelly: 'Don't have any intention' of mandating vaccines

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two people have now died from West Nile virus in eastern Nebraska this year. The state Department of Health and Human Services said both deaths were confirmed this week within the territory served by the Three Rivers District Health Department, which includes Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties in eastern Nebraska. 

Officials said both people who died with the mosquito-borne virus were older adults with underlying health conditions,. So far this year, West Nile virus has been found in 12 Nebraska counties, and 27 human cases have been confirmed. Last year, the state reported 15 human cases of the virus and one death.

In August the CDC reported the state's first confirmed human case of West Nile virus in Kansas this year was in Saline County, <a href="https://wwwn.cdc.gov/arbonet/Maps/ADB_Diseases_Map/index.html">according to the</a> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency has not reported additional cases in the state.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment's<a href="https://www.kdheks.gov/epi/arboviral_disease.htm"> weekly report</a> indicates most counties in the state are at high risk&nbsp;for West Nile infections.

<a href="https://www.kdheks.gov/epi/download/west_nile_archive/2021/WNV_Risk_Level_Week_2021_32.pdf">Click here t</a>o view the Kansas West Nile Virus Weekly Surveillance and Transmission Risk Report

West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in Kansas and the United States.

The risk of acquiring a West Nile infection depends on various factors including time of year, number and location of infected&nbsp; species of mosquitoes, and the number of days with sufficient heat, according to the KDHE web site.

Warm temperatures increase the rate of mosquito larvae development which increases the mosquito population size. The risk of WNV transmission usually reaches peak transmission during July, August, and September.

The KDHE says to avoid mosquito bites, follow the three Ds:

DRAIN ●Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes live and breed.

●Empty standing water from tarps, old tires, buckets, and other places where rainwater collects. Use larvicide in low-lying areas where water cannot be removed.

●Refresh water for bird baths, pet bowls, and wading pools at least every three days

DRESS ●Cover your skin with clothing when outdoors. Wear protective clothing when practical (long sleeves and pants).

●Limit outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active.

DEET ●Use insect repellents that contact DEET or other EPA-approved repellents. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631801953092.png" alt="West Nile virus risk level map for the week of Sept. 11, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>West Nile virus risk level map for the week of Sept. 11, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two people have now died from West Nile virus in eastern Nebraska this year. The state Department of Health and Human Services said both deaths were confirmed this week within the territory served by the Three Rivers District Health Department, which includes Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties in eastern Nebraska. Officials said both people who died with the mosquito-borne virus were older adults with underlying health conditions,. So far this year, West Nile virus has been found in 12 Nebraska counties, and 27 human cases have been confirmed. Last year, the state reported 15 human cases of the virus and one death.In August the CDC reported the state's first confirmed human case of West Nile virus in Kansas this year was in Saline County, <a href="https://wwwn.cdc.gov/arbonet/Maps/ADB_Diseases_Map/index.html">according to the</a> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency has not reported additional cases in the state.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment's<a href="https://www.kdheks.gov/epi/arboviral_disease.htm"> weekly report</a> indicates most counties in the state are at high risk&nbsp;for West Nile infections.<a href="https://www.kdheks.gov/epi/download/west_nile_archive/2021/WNV_Risk_Level_Week_2021_32.pdf">Click here t</a>o view the Kansas West Nile Virus Weekly Surveillance and Transmission Risk ReportWest Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in Kansas and the United States.The risk of acquiring a West Nile infection depends on various factors including time of year, number and location of infected&nbsp; species of mosquitoes, and the number of days with sufficient heat, according to the KDHE web site.Warm temperatures increase the rate of mosquito larvae development which increases the mosquito population size. The risk of WNV transmission usually reaches peak transmission during July, August, and September.The KDHE says to avoid mosquito bites, follow the three Ds:DRAIN ●Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes live and breed. ●Empty standing water from tarps, old tires, buckets, and other places where rainwater collects. Use larvicide in low-lying areas where water cannot be removed.●Refresh water for bird baths, pet bowls, and wading pools at least every three daysDRESS ●Cover your skin with clothing when outdoors. Wear protective clothing when practical (long sleeves and pants).●Limit outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active.DEET ●Use insect repellents that contact DEET or other EPA-approved repellents. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Two Nebraskans die from West Nile virus this week

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused of child sex crimes is due back in court Thursday afternoon.

Jamie Torres-Cordero, 39 of Wichita, is charged with rape, 5 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and 2 counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.

On Sept. 7, law enforcement authorities booked Torres-Cordero into the Sedgwick County Jail after&nbsp;detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children's Unit investigated possible sexual abuse occurring at a home in the 600 block of North Battin in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Police believe Torres-Cordero had engaged in unlawful sexual activity with a minor in the home multiple times over the past six years, according to Macy&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;He remains jailed on a bond of $250,000, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631312554368.png" alt="Torres-Cordero-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Torres-Cordero-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused of child sex crimes is due back in court Thursday afternoon.Jamie Torres-Cordero, 39 of Wichita, is charged with rape, 5 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and 2 counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.On Sept. 7, law enforcement authorities booked Torres-Cordero into the Sedgwick County Jail after&nbsp;detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children's Unit investigated possible sexual abuse occurring at a home in the 600 block of North Battin in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Police believe Torres-Cordero had engaged in unlawful sexual activity with a minor in the home multiple times over the past six years, according to Macy&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He remains jailed on a bond of $250,000, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man charged in child sex abuse that lasted 6 years

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Republican lawmaker in Kansas said Wednesday that he’s concerned about President Joe Biden’s plan to resettle almost 500 Afghan evacuees in the state because he doesn’t know how well they’re being vetted.

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson said he’s worried both that the evacuees could come to Kansas with COVID-19 infections and that vetting by Biden’s administration won’t keep terrorists or terrorist sympathizers out.

Masterson’s remarks could signal wariness within the GOP-controlled Legislature about Kansas taking evacuees. The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-alabama-united-states-district-of-columbia-262203820a617808f4a40a130e2d179a">began notifying governors</a>&nbsp;Wednesday of&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/embeds/5nF9C/1/" target="_blank">where it plans to resettle</a>&nbsp;nearly 37,000 Afghan evacuees, and 490 are set to come to Kansas.

Masterson said he’s “all for taking care of those in trouble.”

But the Andover Republican also told The Associated Press: “If there was no real vetting, it could be dangerous to have them in our state.”

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s office declined comment. However, she pledged last month that Kansas “would welcome refugees and families who supported American troops, our operations, and our cause” during the 20-year war in Afghanistan.

In 2016, then-Republican Gov. Sam Brownback&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-migration-barack-obama-kansas-topeka-f84adb519f1442e693df3d4fbd89063f">withdrew Kansas</a>&nbsp;from the federal government’s refugee resettlement program when then-President Barack Obama pledged to take 10,000 people fleeing Syria’s civil war.

&nbsp;About 1,200 evacuees from Afghanistan are expected to settle in Missouri as part of the first group arriving in the U.S., according to U.S. State Department data.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-religion-kansas-city-kansas-193dc411408a5e14356f452678fd1110">Three resettlement agencies in the Kansas City area</a>&nbsp;have said they have the capacity to welcome 625 people from Afghanistan but those numbers could change.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629403212055.png" alt="Afghan evacuees boarding a military transport plane in Kabul last month-photo U.S. Dept. of Defense." />
 <figcaption>Afghan evacuees boarding a military transport plane in Kabul last month-photo U.S. Dept. of Defense.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Republican lawmaker in Kansas said Wednesday that he’s concerned about President Joe Biden’s plan to resettle almost 500 Afghan evacuees in the state because he doesn’t know how well they’re being vetted.Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson said he’s worried both that the evacuees could come to Kansas with COVID-19 infections and that vetting by Biden’s administration won’t keep terrorists or terrorist sympathizers out.Masterson’s remarks could signal wariness within the GOP-controlled Legislature about Kansas taking evacuees. The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-alabama-united-states-district-of-columbia-262203820a617808f4a40a130e2d179a">began notifying governors</a>&nbsp;Wednesday of&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/embeds/5nF9C/1/" target="_blank">where it plans to resettle</a>&nbsp;nearly 37,000 Afghan evacuees, and 490 are set to come to Kansas.Masterson said he’s “all for taking care of those in trouble.”But the Andover Republican also told The Associated Press: “If there was no real vetting, it could be dangerous to have them in our state.”Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s office declined comment. However, she pledged last month that Kansas “would welcome refugees and families who supported American troops, our operations, and our cause” during the 20-year war in Afghanistan.In 2016, then-Republican Gov. Sam Brownback&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-migration-barack-obama-kansas-topeka-f84adb519f1442e693df3d4fbd89063f">withdrew Kansas</a>&nbsp;from the federal government’s refugee resettlement program when then-President Barack Obama pledged to take 10,000 people fleeing Syria’s civil war.&nbsp;About 1,200 evacuees from Afghanistan are expected to settle in Missouri as part of the first group arriving in the U.S., according to U.S. State Department data.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-religion-kansas-city-kansas-193dc411408a5e14356f452678fd1110">Three resettlement agencies in the Kansas City area</a>&nbsp;have said they have the capacity to welcome 625 people from Afghanistan but those numbers could change.

Lawmaker questions plans to put Afghan evacuees in Kansas

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. —Authorities reported early Thursday that Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans succumbed to his injuries and died.

On Wednesday Officer Madrid-Evans, a 22-year-old officer with the Independence Police Department, was shot by a suspect and critically injured during a call for service.

Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Andy Bell said Madrid-Evans and another officer went to a residence in Independence about 11:30 a.m. in response to a call to dispatch and were met by a man who fired a handgun at the officers. Madrid-Evans was injured and taken to a hospital with a serious injury. The other officer returned fire and the suspect identified as 33-year-old Cody L. Harrison of Gladstone, MO. was pronounced dead at the scene. The highway patrol's division of drug and crime control is investigating.

Officer Madrid-Evans recently began his career with the Independence Police Department at the Kansas City Regional Police Academy on January 4, 2021, and graduated July 8, 2021.

After receiving his police commission, Officer Madrid-Evans entered IPD’s Field Training Officer (FTO) program and was still in training.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — An Independence, Missouri, police officer is hospitalized with critical injuries and another man is dead after a shooting Wednesday morning.

Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Andy Bell said two officers went to a residence in Independence about 11:30 a.m. in response to a call to dispatch and were met by a man who fired a handgun at the officers.

One of the officers was injured and taken to a hospital with a serious injury. The other officer returned fire and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. The highway patrol's division of drug and crime control is investigating.

No other details about the officer's injuries or the suspect were released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631741409098.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>INDEPENDENCE, Mo. —Authorities reported early Thursday that Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans succumbed to his injuries and died.On Wednesday Officer Madrid-Evans, a 22-year-old officer with the Independence Police Department, was shot by a suspect and critically injured during a call for service.Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Andy Bell said Madrid-Evans and another officer went to a residence in Independence about 11:30 a.m. in response to a call to dispatch and were met by a man who fired a handgun at the officers. Madrid-Evans was injured and taken to a hospital with a serious injury. The other officer returned fire and the suspect identified as 33-year-old Cody L. Harrison of Gladstone, MO. was pronounced dead at the scene. The highway patrol's division of drug and crime control is investigating.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631787288577.png" alt="Blaize Madrid-Evans-photo courtesy Independence Police Dept." />
 <figcaption>Blaize Madrid-Evans-photo courtesy Independence Police Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>Officer Madrid-Evans recently began his career with the Independence Police Department at the Kansas City Regional Police Academy on January 4, 2021, and graduated July 8, 2021.After receiving his police commission, Officer Madrid-Evans entered IPD’s Field Training Officer (FTO) program and was still in training.--------INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — An Independence, Missouri, police officer is hospitalized with critical injuries and another man is dead after a shooting Wednesday morning.Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Andy Bell said two officers went to a residence in Independence about 11:30 a.m. in response to a call to dispatch and were met by a man who fired a handgun at the officers.One of the officers was injured and taken to a hospital with a serious injury. The other officer returned fire and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. The highway patrol's division of drug and crime control is investigating.No other details about the officer's injuries or the suspect were released.

Officer injured after shooting near Kansas City has died

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department
 announced today that millions of American families are now receiving 
their advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payment for the month of September.

This third batch of advance monthly payments, totaling about $15 
billion, is reaching about 35 million families today across the 
country.&nbsp;The majority of payments will be issued by direct deposit. 
Under the American Rescue Plan, most eligible families received payments
 dated July 15 and Aug. 13, along with today's September 15 payment. 
Future payments are scheduled for October 15, November 15 and December 
15. For these families, each&nbsp;payment is up to $300 per month for each 
child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6 through
 17.

Here are further details on these payments:

Still time to sign up; additional details

It's not too late for families who haven't filed a 2020 income tax 
return—including those who are not normally required to file because 
their incomes are too low—to sign up for advance CTC payments. Most 
low-income families can get these monthly payments.

The IRS urges families who normally aren't required to file a tax 
return to explore the tools available on IRS.gov. These tools can help 
determine their eligibility or help them file a simplified tax return to
 sign up for these payments, as well as to be considered automatically 
for the third round of Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 per 
person and to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit covering any of the first
 two rounds of Economic Impact Payments they may have missed.

The IRS encourages partners and community groups to share information and use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">online tools and toolkits</a> to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups sign up to receive these benefits.

Families can stop payments anytime, even after payments begin. They 
can do that by using the unenroll feature in the Child Tax Credit Update
 Portal. Eligible families who make this choice will still receive the 
rest of their Child Tax Credit as a lump sum when they file their 2021 
federal income tax return next year. To stop all payments starting in 
October and for the rest of 2021, they must unenroll by 11:59 p.m. ET on
 October 4, 2021.

For married couples, each spouse must unenroll separately. If they 
each choose to unenroll, they will receive no monthly payments. If only 
one spouse unenrolls, they will still receive monthly payments, but they
 will be half the normal amount.

The unenroll feature can also be helpful to any family that no longer
 qualifies for the CTC or believes they will not qualify when they file 
their 2021 return in 2022. This could happen if, for example, someone 
else, such as an ex-spouse or another family member, qualifies to claim 
their child or children as dependents in 2021.

At the same time, IRS also reminded eligible families who are not 
getting these payments, especially those who receive little or no 
income, that the IRS Non-filer Sign-up Tool remains available to use 
until October 15.

Links to these tools, a step-by-step guide to using the Non-filer 
Sign-up Tool, answers to frequently asked questions and other helpful 
resources are available on the IRS's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">special advance CTC 2021 page</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department
 announced today that millions of American families are now receiving 
their advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payment for the month of September.This third batch of advance monthly payments, totaling about $15 
billion, is reaching about 35 million families today across the 
country.&nbsp;The majority of payments will be issued by direct deposit. 
Under the American Rescue Plan, most eligible families received payments
 dated July 15 and Aug. 13, along with today's September 15 payment. 
Future payments are scheduled for October 15, November 15 and December 
15. For these families, each&nbsp;payment is up to $300 per month for each 
child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6 through
 17.Here are further details on these payments:<ul>
 <li>Families will see the direct deposit payments in their accounts 
starting today, September 15. Like the prior payments, the vast majority
 of families will receive them by direct deposit.</li><li>For those receiving payments by paper check, be sure to allow extra
 time, through the end of September, for delivery by mail. Those wishing
 to receive future payments by direct deposit can make this change using
 the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal">Child Tax Credit Update Portal</a> available only on IRS.gov. To access the portal or to get a new step-by-step guide for using it, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021</a>. A change made by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 4 will apply starting with the October payment.</li><li>Payments went to eligible families who filed a 2019 or 2020 income 
tax return. Returns processed by Aug. 30 are reflected in these 
payments. This includes people who don't typically file a return but 
during 2020 successfully registered for Economic Impact Payments using 
the IRS Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov or in 2021 successfully used the 
Non-filer Sign-up Tool for advance CTC, also available only on IRS.gov.</li><li>Payments are automatic. Aside from filing a tax return, which could
 include filing a simplified return from the Non-filer Sign-up Tool, 
families don't have to do anything if they are eligible to receive 
monthly payments.</li><li>Families who did not get a July or August payment and are getting 
their first monthly payment in September will still receive their total 
advance payment for the year of up to $1,800 for each child under age 6 
and up to $1,500 for each child ages 6 through 17. This means that the 
total payment will be spread over four months, rather than six, making 
each monthly payment larger. For these families, each&nbsp;payment is up to 
$450 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $375 per month for 
each child ages 6 through 17.</li>
 </ul><h2>Still time to sign up; additional details</h2>It's not too late for families who haven't filed a 2020 income tax 
return—including those who are not normally required to file because 
their incomes are too low—to sign up for advance CTC payments. Most 
low-income families can get these monthly payments.The IRS urges families who normally aren't required to file a tax 
return to explore the tools available on IRS.gov. These tools can help 
determine their eligibility or help them file a simplified tax return to
 sign up for these payments, as well as to be considered automatically 
for the third round of Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 per 
person and to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit covering any of the first
 two rounds of Economic Impact Payments they may have missed.The IRS encourages partners and community groups to share information and use available <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">online tools and toolkits</a> to help non-filers, low-income families and other underserved groups sign up to receive these benefits.Families can stop payments anytime, even after payments begin. They 
can do that by using the unenroll feature in the Child Tax Credit Update
 Portal. Eligible families who make this choice will still receive the 
rest of their Child Tax Credit as a lump sum when they file their 2021 
federal income tax return next year. To stop all payments starting in 
October and for the rest of 2021, they must unenroll by 11:59 p.m. ET on
 October 4, 2021.For married couples, each spouse must unenroll separately. If they 
each choose to unenroll, they will receive no monthly payments. If only 
one spouse unenrolls, they will still receive monthly payments, but they
 will be half the normal amount.The unenroll feature can also be helpful to any family that no longer
 qualifies for the CTC or believes they will not qualify when they file 
their 2021 return in 2022. This could happen if, for example, someone 
else, such as an ex-spouse or another family member, qualifies to claim 
their child or children as dependents in 2021.At the same time, IRS also reminded eligible families who are not 
getting these payments, especially those who receive little or no 
income, that the IRS Non-filer Sign-up Tool remains available to use 
until October 15.Links to these tools, a step-by-step guide to using the Non-filer 
Sign-up Tool, answers to frequently asked questions and other helpful 
resources are available on the IRS's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">special advance CTC 2021 page</a>.

IRS: Families now receiving September Child Tax Credit payments

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


HUTCHINSON — The Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a solar farm in the far northeast corner of Reno County.

"It's
 averaging about a dollar a kilowatt," said Commissioner Daniel Friesen.
 "This is an expected $1.4 million investment in the county in an area 
that probably would never see that kind of investment if we hadn't 
fostered this."

The property is located on the south side of E. 
108th Avenue, approximately 825 feet east of the intersection of N. 
Sunrise Road and E. 108th Avenue. 

"Unlike some solar farms, this 
power generator will stay with Ark Valley customers only," said County 
Planner Mark Vonachen. "It will not be sold or distributed elsewhere. 
It's strictly for the benefit of customers from Ark Valley. The area 
around the solar farm is going to be secured by a six-foot fence with 
barbed wire. The project will also comply with the national electric 
code standards. The project is designed to last at least 25 years."

The Planning Commission recommended approval of the request by a 5-0 vote and the County Commission also passed it unanimously.

By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — The Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a solar farm in the far northeast corner of Reno County."It's
 averaging about a dollar a kilowatt," said Commissioner Daniel Friesen.
 "This is an expected $1.4 million investment in the county in an area 
that probably would never see that kind of investment if we hadn't 
fostered this."The property is located on the south side of E. 
108th Avenue, approximately 825 feet east of the intersection of N. 
Sunrise Road and E. 108th Avenue. "Unlike some solar farms, this 
power generator will stay with Ark Valley customers only," said County 
Planner Mark Vonachen. "It will not be sold or distributed elsewhere. 
It's strictly for the benefit of customers from Ark Valley. The area 
around the solar farm is going to be secured by a six-foot fence with 
barbed wire. The project will also comply with the national electric 
code standards. The project is designed to last at least 25 years."The Planning Commission recommended approval of the request by a 5-0 vote and the County Commission also passed it unanimously.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Solar farm approved by Reno County commissioners

WASHINGTON (AP) — Influential government advisers will debate Friday if there's enough proof that a booster dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective — the first step toward deciding which Americans need one and when.

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday posted much of the evidence its advisory panel will consider. The agency struck a decidedly neutral tone on the rationale for boosters — an unusual and careful approach that's all the more striking after President Joe Biden and his top health advisers trumpeted a booster campaign they hoped to begin next week.

Pfizer’s argument: While protection against severe disease is holding strong in the U.S., immunity against milder infection wanes somewhere around six to eight months after the second dose. The company gave an extra dose to 306 people at that point and recorded levels of virus-fighting antibodies threefold higher than after the earlier shots.

More important, Pfizer said, those antibodies appear strong enough to handle the extra-contagious delta variant that is surging around the country.

New public artwork above an alley in Philadelphia attracts attention

To bolster its case, Pfizer pointed the FDA to data from Israel, which began offering boosters over the summer.

That study tracked about 1 million people 60 and older and found those who got the extra shot were far less likely to become infected soon afterward. Pfizer said that translates to “roughly 95% effectiveness” when delta was spreading, comparable to the protection seen shortly after the vaccine’s rollout earlier in the year.

The Israeli data, also published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, cannot say how long the boosted protection lasts.

The FDA's reviewers, however, suggested they would mainly look to research on how the vaccines are working among Americans, saying that “may most accurately represent vaccine effectiveness in the U.S. population.”

Overall, the data show that the Pfizer and other U.S.-authorized COVID-19 vaccines “still afford protection against severe COVID-19 disease and death in the United States,” the agency said, summarizing the evidence.

The FDA is not bound to follow the advice of its independent advisory panel. But if the agency overrules its own experts, that could stoke public confusion. Earlier this week, two top FDA vaccine regulators joined a group of international scientists in rejecting boosters now for otherwise healthy individuals, citing the strong continuing protection against severe disease.

Dr. Anna Durbin of Johns Hopkins School of Public Health said it’s important to understand the FDA’s decision simply is whether an extra dose is safe and does what it promises — to raise immunity levels.

If the FDA decides the extra shot does those two things, then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have to decide who should get another dose. The CDC has scheduled a meeting of its own advisers for next week and has signaled it is considering a booster for certain people — such as older adults, nursing home residents and front-line health workers — rather than the general population.

The broader issue: "What really is going to control the delta variant is vaccinating the unvaccinated, not boosters,” Durbin said. More than one-third of Americans who are eligible for the shots aren't yet fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.

The U.S. already offers an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to people with severely weakened immune systems.

For the average person, what’s the evidence that immunity is waning? The CDC says real-world data show protection against severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths is holding strong. But in one recent study, protection against infection slipped as the delta variant hit: It was 91% in the spring but 78% in June and July. The CDC also has seen a hint that for people 75 and older, protection against hospitalizations slightly declined in the summer.

Moderna also has asked FDA to allow a booster dose of its vaccine, and on Wednesday posted its own study of waning immunity.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Influential government advisers will debate Friday if there's enough proof that a booster dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective — the first step toward deciding which Americans need one and when.The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday posted much of the evidence its advisory panel will consider. The agency struck a decidedly neutral tone on the rationale for boosters — an unusual and careful approach that's all the more striking after President Joe Biden and his top health advisers trumpeted a booster campaign they hoped to begin next week.Pfizer’s argument: While protection against severe disease is holding strong in the U.S., immunity against milder infection wanes somewhere around six to eight months after the second dose. The company gave an extra dose to 306 people at that point and recorded levels of virus-fighting antibodies threefold higher than after the earlier shots.More important, Pfizer said, those antibodies appear strong enough to handle the extra-contagious delta variant that is surging around the country.New public artwork above an alley in Philadelphia attracts attentionTo bolster its case, Pfizer pointed the FDA to data from Israel, which began offering boosters over the summer.That study tracked about 1 million people 60 and older and found those who got the extra shot were far less likely to become infected soon afterward. Pfizer said that translates to “roughly 95% effectiveness” when delta was spreading, comparable to the protection seen shortly after the vaccine’s rollout earlier in the year.The Israeli data, also published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, cannot say how long the boosted protection lasts.The FDA's reviewers, however, suggested they would mainly look to research on how the vaccines are working among Americans, saying that “may most accurately represent vaccine effectiveness in the U.S. population.”Overall, the data show that the Pfizer and other U.S.-authorized COVID-19 vaccines “still afford protection against severe COVID-19 disease and death in the United States,” the agency said, summarizing the evidence.The FDA is not bound to follow the advice of its independent advisory panel. But if the agency overrules its own experts, that could stoke public confusion. Earlier this week, two top FDA vaccine regulators joined a group of international scientists in rejecting boosters now for otherwise healthy individuals, citing the strong continuing protection against severe disease.Dr. Anna Durbin of Johns Hopkins School of Public Health said it’s important to understand the FDA’s decision simply is whether an extra dose is safe and does what it promises — to raise immunity levels.If the FDA decides the extra shot does those two things, then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have to decide who should get another dose. The CDC has scheduled a meeting of its own advisers for next week and has signaled it is considering a booster for certain people — such as older adults, nursing home residents and front-line health workers — rather than the general population.The broader issue: "What really is going to control the delta variant is vaccinating the unvaccinated, not boosters,” Durbin said. More than one-third of Americans who are eligible for the shots aren't yet fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.The U.S. already offers an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to people with severely weakened immune systems.For the average person, what’s the evidence that immunity is waning? The CDC says real-world data show protection against severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths is holding strong. But in one recent study, protection against infection slipped as the delta variant hit: It was 91% in the spring but 78% in June and July. The CDC also has seen a hint that for people 75 and older, protection against hospitalizations slightly declined in the summer.Moderna also has asked FDA to allow a booster dose of its vaccine, and on Wednesday posted its own study of waning immunity.

Experts at FDA still disagree over need for COVID vaccine booster 

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminds taxpayers 
about the upcoming October 15 due date to file 2020 tax returns. People 
who asked for an extension should file on or before the extension 
deadline to avoid the penalty for filing late. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">Electronic filing options</a>, such as IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a>, are still available.

Although October 15 is the last day for most people to file, some taxpayers may have more time. They include:

There is usually no penalty for failure to file if the taxpayer 
is due a refund. However, people who wait too long to file and claim a 
refund, risk losing it altogether. Those who have yet to file a 2020 tax
 return, owe tax, and did not request an extension can generally avoid 
additional penalties and interest by filing the return as soon as 
possible and paying any taxes owed.

Schedule federal tax payments electronically

Taxpayers can file now and schedule their federal tax payments up to 
the October 15 due date. They can pay online, by phone or with their 
mobile device and the IRS2Go app. When paying federal taxes 
electronically taxpayers should remember:

Taxpayers can use their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account">online account</a>&nbsp;to
 securely see important information when preparing to file their tax 
return or following up on balances or notices. This includes:

The safest and fastest way for people to get a refund is to file 
electronically and have their refund electronically deposited into their
 bank or other financial account. Taxpayers can use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>&nbsp;to deposit their refund into one, two or even three accounts. They can also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/now-you-can-buy-us-series-i-savings-bonds-for-anyone-with-your-tax-refund">purchase U.S. Savings Bonds</a>.

People who don't have a bank account can go to the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">FDIC website</a>&nbsp;or the National Credit Union Association to use their <a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">Credit Union Locator Tool</a> for information on where to open an online bank or credit union account. Veterans can use the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP)</a>&nbsp;for access to financial services at participating banks.

Monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments

Millions of American families currently receive <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments</a>
 either through direct deposit or paper check. These payments represent 
half of the increased Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan and
 will continue through the end of the year.

For those <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">eligible</a>
 and on extension for their 2020 tax returns, the IRS is using previous 
year tax information, 2019 for most, to determine the credit amount. The
 IRS urges people who requested an extension to file as soon as possible
 if they experienced a major change such as the birth of a child in 
2020. Once that return is processed, the IRS can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-c-calculation-of-the-2021-child-tax-credit">calculate the credit</a> based on the 2020 return and pay it out in full over the remaining months in 2021.

Those who file and have their 2020 return processed on or before 
November&nbsp;1, may be eligible for two payments of half the credit in 2021.
 Similarly, people who file and have their return processed on or before
 November&nbsp;29, may be eligible for one payment.

To speed the processing of returns and to avoid delays, the IRS urges everyone to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file electronically</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminds taxpayers 
about the upcoming October 15 due date to file 2020 tax returns. People 
who asked for an extension should file on or before the extension 
deadline to avoid the penalty for filing late. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">Electronic filing options</a>, such as IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a>, are still available.Although October 15 is the last day for most people to file, some taxpayers may have more time. They include:<ul>
 <li>Members of the military and others serving in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/combat-zones">combat zone</a>. They typically have 180 days after they leave the combat zone to file returns and pay any taxes due.</li><li>Taxpayers in federally declared disaster areas who already had valid extensions. For details, see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">disaster relief</a>&nbsp;page on IRS.gov.</li>
 </ul>There is usually no penalty for failure to file if the taxpayer 
is due a refund. However, people who wait too long to file and claim a 
refund, risk losing it altogether. Those who have yet to file a 2020 tax
 return, owe tax, and did not request an extension can generally avoid 
additional penalties and interest by filing the return as soon as 
possible and paying any taxes owed.<h2>Schedule federal tax payments electronically</h2>Taxpayers can file now and schedule their federal tax payments up to 
the October 15 due date. They can pay online, by phone or with their 
mobile device and the IRS2Go app. When paying federal taxes 
electronically taxpayers should remember:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">Electronic payment options</a>&nbsp;are the optimal way to make a tax payment.</li><li>They can pay when they file electronically using tax software 
online. If using a tax preparer, taxpayers should ask the preparer to 
make the tax payment through an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-taxes-by-electronic-funds-withdrawal">electronic funds withdrawal</a>&nbsp;from a bank account.</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">IRS Direct Pay</a>&nbsp;allows
 taxpayers to pay online directly from a checking or savings account for
 free, and to schedule payments up to 365 days in advance.</li><li>Choices to pay with a credit card, debit card or digital wallet option are available through a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">payment processor</a>. The payment processor, not the IRS, charges a fee for this service.</li><li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a>&nbsp;app provides the mobile-friendly payment options, including Direct Pay and debit or credit card payments on mobile devices.</li><li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>&nbsp;is convenient, safe and easy. Choose to pay online or by phone by using the EFTPS Voice Response System.</li>
 </ul><h2>View tax account online</h2>Taxpayers can use their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account">online account</a>&nbsp;to
 securely see important information when preparing to file their tax 
return or following up on balances or notices. This includes:<ul>
 <li>Adjusted Gross Income: This can be useful if using a different tax software or tax preparer this year.</li><li>Economic Impact Payment amounts: Eligible 
individuals who did not receive the full amounts of both Economic Impact
 Payments may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 federal tax
 return. To claim the full amount, taxpayers will need to know the 
amounts of the Economic Impact Payments received. These amounts can be 
found on the Tax Records tab in online account.</li><li>Estimated tax payment amounts:&nbsp;The total of any 
estimated tax payments made during the year or refunds applied as a 
credit can be found on the Account Balance tab in online account, and a 
record of each payment appears under Payment Activity.</li>
 </ul>Additionally, taxpayers can view the:<ul>
 <li>Amount owed for any past years, updated for the current calendar day,</li><li>Payment history and any scheduled or pending payments,</li><li>Payment plan details,</li><li>Digital copies of select notices from the IRS, and</li><li>Approve or reject authorization requests from tax professionals.</li>
 </ul><h2>Choose direct deposit for refunds</h2>The safest and fastest way for people to get a refund is to file 
electronically and have their refund electronically deposited into their
 bank or other financial account. Taxpayers can use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>&nbsp;to deposit their refund into one, two or even three accounts. They can also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/now-you-can-buy-us-series-i-savings-bonds-for-anyone-with-your-tax-refund">purchase U.S. Savings Bonds</a>.People who don't have a bank account can go to the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">FDIC website</a>&nbsp;or the National Credit Union Association to use their <a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">Credit Union Locator Tool</a> for information on where to open an online bank or credit union account. Veterans can use the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP)</a>&nbsp;for access to financial services at participating banks.<h2>Monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments</h2>Millions of American families currently receive <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments</a>
 either through direct deposit or paper check. These payments represent 
half of the increased Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan and
 will continue through the end of the year.For those <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant">eligible</a>
 and on extension for their 2020 tax returns, the IRS is using previous 
year tax information, 2019 for most, to determine the credit amount. The
 IRS urges people who requested an extension to file as soon as possible
 if they experienced a major change such as the birth of a child in 
2020. Once that return is processed, the IRS can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-c-calculation-of-the-2021-child-tax-credit">calculate the credit</a> based on the 2020 return and pay it out in full over the remaining months in 2021.Those who file and have their 2020 return processed on or before 
November&nbsp;1, may be eligible for two payments of half the credit in 2021.
 Similarly, people who file and have their return processed on or before
 November&nbsp;29, may be eligible for one payment.To speed the processing of returns and to avoid delays, the IRS urges everyone to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">file electronically</a>.Complete information on the advance Child Tax Credit is available on IRS.gov.<h2>Act soon to claim missing stimulus payments</h2>For anyone who missed out on the first two rounds of stimulus 
payments, it's not too late. People who didn't get a first and second 
Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts can get that 
missing money if they're eligible for it, but they need to act soon.When it comes to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">missing stimulus payments,</a> it's critical that eligible people file a 2020 tax return or use the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool</a>
 soon even if they don't usually file to provide information the IRS 
needs to send the payments. The IRS will also automatically evaluate the
 taxpayer's eligibility for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/third-economic-impact-payment">the third economic impact payment</a> when the 2020 return is processed.The IRS will continue to issue eligible taxpayers their third 
economic impact payment and plus-up payments through the end of 2021. 
File a 2020 tax return electronically as soon as possible to give the IRS time to process and issue the payments before the end of 2021.<h2>IRS.gov assistance</h2>Taxpayers will find answers to many questions using the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA)</a>, a tax law resource that works using a series of questions and responses. Additionally, the IRS provides payment options at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a> and tax information is available in several languages by clicking on the "English" tab on the front page of IRS.gov.