JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on numerous charges after a Sunday traffic stop.

Shortly after midnight Sunday, a sheriff’s deputy stopped a 2007 Chrysler minivan for a traffic infraction near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Following an investigation, deputies arrested the driver, Danielle Lynn Haverkamp, 30 of Topeka for two outstanding Jackson County District Court no bond warrants and&nbsp;Alan Edward Panuco, 27, of Topeka, for an outstanding Jackson County District Court no bond warrant. 

Another passenger Raul Alejandro Jorge Munoz, 44, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to Morse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609761522521.png" alt="Panuco-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Panuco-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on numerous charges after a Sunday traffic stop.Shortly after midnight Sunday, a sheriff’s deputy stopped a 2007 Chrysler minivan for a traffic infraction near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609761472710.png" alt="Haverkamp photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Haverkamp photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Following an investigation, deputies arrested the driver, Danielle Lynn Haverkamp, 30 of Topeka for two outstanding Jackson County District Court no bond warrants and&nbsp;Alan Edward Panuco, 27, of Topeka, for an outstanding Jackson County District Court no bond warrant. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609765517748.png" alt="Munoz" />
 <figcaption>Munoz</figcaption>
 </figure>Another passenger Raul Alejandro Jorge Munoz, 44, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to Morse.

Sheriff: 2 jailed in Kansas for no bond warrants

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Kansas’ December total tax collections continues the state’s trend of outperforming the estimate. Total tax collections were up $64.5 million, or 9.1%, for the month with $770.2 million collected. That is a $13.6 million, or 1.8%, increase from December of Fiscal Year 2020, according to a media release from the governor's offie.

<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.4SL0uLs_dPqOPmmJxrmNf2qtuYvAuEiTaV4_my8OSBg/s/1303160919/br/92625873596-l" target="_blank">Click here to find the revenue numbers&nbsp;</a>

“While it appears that receipts are relatively stable, we must continue to be prudent and exercise caution as we move forward,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Additionally, we are still determining the full impact that the recent federal COVID-19 relief package will have on state receipts.”

For December, retail sales tax collections were $201.9 million; a $6.9 million, or 3.6%, increase from the estimate. That is 0.5%, or $995,601, more than the same month of last fiscal year. Compensating use tax collections grew 34.4%, or $13.4 million, over last December with the collection of $52.1 million. That’s $7.1 million, or 15.9%, more than estimated.

“With the 2020 tax filing season starting this month, we will get a clearer picture of the economic implications the COVID-19 pandemic has presented over the last ten months and how to address those issues,”&nbsp;Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart said.

Individual income tax collections were $306.7 million; an increase of 2.2%, or $6.7 million, above the estimate. These collections were $9.5 million, or 3.0%, less than the same month of last fiscal year. Corporate income tax collections were $99.2 million for the month; $39.2 million, or 65.4%, more than estimated. That is $8.5 million, or 9.4%, more than last December.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Kansas’ December total tax collections continues the state’s trend of outperforming the estimate. Total tax collections were up $64.5 million, or 9.1%, for the month with $770.2 million collected. That is a $13.6 million, or 1.8%, increase from December of Fiscal Year 2020, according to a media release from the governor's offie.<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.4SL0uLs_dPqOPmmJxrmNf2qtuYvAuEiTaV4_my8OSBg/s/1303160919/br/92625873596-l" target="_blank">Click here to find the revenue numbers&nbsp;</a>“While it appears that receipts are relatively stable, we must continue to be prudent and exercise caution as we move forward,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Additionally, we are still determining the full impact that the recent federal COVID-19 relief package will have on state receipts.”For December, retail sales tax collections were $201.9 million; a $6.9 million, or 3.6%, increase from the estimate. That is 0.5%, or $995,601, more than the same month of last fiscal year. Compensating use tax collections grew 34.4%, or $13.4 million, over last December with the collection of $52.1 million. That’s $7.1 million, or 15.9%, more than estimated.“With the 2020 tax filing season starting this month, we will get a clearer picture of the economic implications the COVID-19 pandemic has presented over the last ten months and how to address those issues,”&nbsp;Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart said.Individual income tax collections were $306.7 million; an increase of 2.2%, or $6.7 million, above the estimate. These collections were $9.5 million, or 3.0%, less than the same month of last fiscal year. Corporate income tax collections were $99.2 million for the month; $39.2 million, or 65.4%, more than estimated. That is $8.5 million, or 9.4%, more than last December.

December total tax collections in Kan. up $13.6M 

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic stretch into 2021, millions of U.S. renters are bracing for the possibility of having to show up in housing court to avoid getting evicted. But unlike their landlords, only a small fraction of them will do so flanked by an attorney.

Fewer than 10 cities and counties nationwide guarantee tenants the right to a lawyer in housing-related disputes, and for people struggling to make ends meet, an attorney is beyond their means, leaving many to skip their court hearings or walk in knowing they have little chance. Unlike criminal cases, an attorney won’t be assigned if someone can’t afford one. Legal aid organizations and pro bono lawyers represent many renters every year, but the need outpaces what they can handle.

While housing advocates have primarily pushed for rent relief from the government, experts also expect more cities to join the movement to give tenants the right to an attorney.

“The push for right to counsel preceded the pandemic, but it’s particularly acute and particularly urgent in light of the pandemic, given just the overall precarity that renters are facing,” said Gretchen Purser, an associate professor of sociology at Syracuse University who specializes in housing, homelessness and urban poverty.

She said legal representation “is going to be one of the most important things that groups around the country can be pushing for.”

Many people owe months of back rent, having lost their jobs or faced mounting medical bills during the health crisis. By January, renters will owe as much as $34 billion, according to estimates by the global investment bank and advisory firm Stout. An estimated 23 million people are at risk of getting evicted.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-health-care-reform-legislation-immigration-coronavirus-pandemic-3ba55f6ae819ad2be2319dfa218012b8">federal COVID-19 relief package</a>&nbsp;includes $25 billion for rental assistance and an extension of an eviction moratorium through January.

The moratorium is what Zachary Kettering thought would protect him when he lost two jobs during the pandemic, fell behind on rent and received a notice in October to vacate his one-bedroom apartment in the Dallas suburb of McKinney.

But he fell victim to a caveat that housing attorneys have warned about: The order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not a blanket moratorium; tenants must sign a declaration and give a copy to their landlord. By early December, Kettering, a disabled veteran, owed $6,900 in rent and a constable knocked on his door with an eviction notice.

A friend loaned him the money to cover his debt, and he agreed to sign a document from his landlord saying he won’t renew his lease in February in exchange for dropping the case.

“I just kind of acquiesce to whatever they wanted,” said Kettering, 33, who is now raising money online. “It’s like you’re playing a game, and one of the people involved doesn’t know the rules of the game. And that game is a very high stakes, to the point where, like, you will be homeless if you don’t play the game.”

The federal relief bill also includes $20 million for legal assistance for renters.

In Baltimore, only 1% of tenants have legal representation in eviction cases, compared with 96% of landlords. But this month, Maryland’s largest city became the latest U.S. jurisdiction to grant renters a right to counsel in those cases. A Stout report estimated that 92% of tenants represented by lawyers in Baltimore would avoid having to leave their homes.

The new ordinance requires the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development to hire nonprofit legal organizations and calls for funding to help spread the word and educate tenants. It gives the city four years to fully implement the requirements.

Attorney Matthew Hill with the Public Justice Center, which advocated for the new ordinance, said Baltimore could draw from general funds and federal money to cover the program’s costs. He said a measure proposing a right to counsel also will be introduced in the Maryland Legislature, potentially making state funds available for Baltimore’s effort.

“This is really supposed to level the playing field and really provide tenants access, because eviction court often is just about evictions, but tenants have a lot of defenses,” Hill said, including whether the place is livable and if landlords are licensed. “So, we want to try and change eviction court into housing court and make sure we enforce tenants’ rights to safe, stable, healthy housing.”

The Stout report estimated that an investment of $5.7 million a year to get legal representation for Baltimore renters would result in $35.6 million in savings to the city and state on homeless shelters, Medicaid spending, school funding and foster care costs.

In 2017, New York became the first U.S. city to guarantee the right to an attorney in housing court. Between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 86% of tenants represented by lawyers were able to stay in their homes, according to a city report released this fall.

Other cities with similar laws include San Francisco, Philadelphia and Newark, New Jersey.

Before the pandemic, about 300,000 evictions were filed in the U.S. in an average month, according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University. A patchwork of local and state guidelines combined with the federal moratorium have provided some protections for people unable to pay rent. But in some places, including cities in South Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Virginia, renters are losing their homes.

Pablo Estupiñan, interim co-coordinator of Right to Counsel NYC Coalition, said eviction filings dropped in New York since its right-to-counsel ordinance took effect three years ago. But he said landlords’ attorneys have increased pressure on tenants and sometimes people choose to leave because they may not know their rights.

“As a result of right to counsel, we saw landlords changing their tactics, and we definitely heard from community members that landlord attorneys were threatening them, saying, ‘If you get an attorney to represent you, then I will fight your case harder and not give you a fair settlement,’” Estupiñan said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic stretch into 2021, millions of U.S. renters are bracing for the possibility of having to show up in housing court to avoid getting evicted. But unlike their landlords, only a small fraction of them will do so flanked by an attorney.Fewer than 10 cities and counties nationwide guarantee tenants the right to a lawyer in housing-related disputes, and for people struggling to make ends meet, an attorney is beyond their means, leaving many to skip their court hearings or walk in knowing they have little chance. Unlike criminal cases, an attorney won’t be assigned if someone can’t afford one. Legal aid organizations and pro bono lawyers represent many renters every year, but the need outpaces what they can handle.While housing advocates have primarily pushed for rent relief from the government, experts also expect more cities to join the movement to give tenants the right to an attorney.“The push for right to counsel preceded the pandemic, but it’s particularly acute and particularly urgent in light of the pandemic, given just the overall precarity that renters are facing,” said Gretchen Purser, an associate professor of sociology at Syracuse University who specializes in housing, homelessness and urban poverty.She said legal representation “is going to be one of the most important things that groups around the country can be pushing for.”Many people owe months of back rent, having lost their jobs or faced mounting medical bills during the health crisis. By January, renters will owe as much as $34 billion, according to estimates by the global investment bank and advisory firm Stout. An estimated 23 million people are at risk of getting evicted.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-health-care-reform-legislation-immigration-coronavirus-pandemic-3ba55f6ae819ad2be2319dfa218012b8">federal COVID-19 relief package</a>&nbsp;includes $25 billion for rental assistance and an extension of an eviction moratorium through January.The moratorium is what Zachary Kettering thought would protect him when he lost two jobs during the pandemic, fell behind on rent and received a notice in October to vacate his one-bedroom apartment in the Dallas suburb of McKinney.But he fell victim to a caveat that housing attorneys have warned about: The order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not a blanket moratorium; tenants must sign a declaration and give a copy to their landlord. By early December, Kettering, a disabled veteran, owed $6,900 in rent and a constable knocked on his door with an eviction notice.A friend loaned him the money to cover his debt, and he agreed to sign a document from his landlord saying he won’t renew his lease in February in exchange for dropping the case.“I just kind of acquiesce to whatever they wanted,” said Kettering, 33, who is now raising money online. “It’s like you’re playing a game, and one of the people involved doesn’t know the rules of the game. And that game is a very high stakes, to the point where, like, you will be homeless if you don’t play the game.”The federal relief bill also includes $20 million for legal assistance for renters.In Baltimore, only 1% of tenants have legal representation in eviction cases, compared with 96% of landlords. But this month, Maryland’s largest city became the latest U.S. jurisdiction to grant renters a right to counsel in those cases. A Stout report estimated that 92% of tenants represented by lawyers in Baltimore would avoid having to leave their homes.The new ordinance requires the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development to hire nonprofit legal organizations and calls for funding to help spread the word and educate tenants. It gives the city four years to fully implement the requirements.Attorney Matthew Hill with the Public Justice Center, which advocated for the new ordinance, said Baltimore could draw from general funds and federal money to cover the program’s costs. He said a measure proposing a right to counsel also will be introduced in the Maryland Legislature, potentially making state funds available for Baltimore’s effort.“This is really supposed to level the playing field and really provide tenants access, because eviction court often is just about evictions, but tenants have a lot of defenses,” Hill said, including whether the place is livable and if landlords are licensed. “So, we want to try and change eviction court into housing court and make sure we enforce tenants’ rights to safe, stable, healthy housing.”The Stout report estimated that an investment of $5.7 million a year to get legal representation for Baltimore renters would result in $35.6 million in savings to the city and state on homeless shelters, Medicaid spending, school funding and foster care costs.In 2017, New York became the first U.S. city to guarantee the right to an attorney in housing court. Between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 86% of tenants represented by lawyers were able to stay in their homes, according to a city report released this fall.Other cities with similar laws include San Francisco, Philadelphia and Newark, New Jersey.Before the pandemic, about 300,000 evictions were filed in the U.S. in an average month, according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University. A patchwork of local and state guidelines combined with the federal moratorium have provided some protections for people unable to pay rent. But in some places, including cities in South Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Virginia, renters are losing their homes.Pablo Estupiñan, interim co-coordinator of Right to Counsel NYC Coalition, said eviction filings dropped in New York since its right-to-counsel ordinance took effect three years ago. But he said landlords’ attorneys have increased pressure on tenants and sometimes people choose to leave because they may not know their rights.“As a result of right to counsel, we saw landlords changing their tactics, and we definitely heard from community members that landlord attorneys were threatening them, saying, ‘If you get an attorney to represent you, then I will fight your case harder and not give you a fair settlement,’” Estupiñan said.

Virus relief: Renters get right to lawyers in housing court

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 3572 to a total of 231,317 the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 2,897 an increase of 18.

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 3572 to a total of 231,317 the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 2,897 an increase of 18.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609784137844.png" alt="Monday January 4 2021, KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday January 4 2021, KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — A pedestrian was hospitalized over the weekend after being hit by a Pittsburg police vehicle, the Kansas Highway Patrol said.

Marco Dias, 23, was struck by the vehicle Thursday night on a street in Pittsburg. He was taken to Ascension Via Christi Hospital.&nbsp; The hospital said he was not listed as a patient at the Pittsburg hospital on Monday.

The patrol car was southbound on Walnut Street, approaching an intersection, when Dias was hit, according to the Pittsburg police department. The car was driven by Nicholas Cook, 24, the patrol said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1569406984684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — A pedestrian was hospitalized over the weekend after being hit by a Pittsburg police vehicle, the Kansas Highway Patrol said.Marco Dias, 23, was struck by the vehicle Thursday night on a street in Pittsburg. He was taken to Ascension Via Christi Hospital.&nbsp; The hospital said he was not listed as a patient at the Pittsburg hospital on Monday.The patrol car was southbound on Walnut Street, approaching an intersection, when Dias was hit, according to the Pittsburg police department. The car was driven by Nicholas Cook, 24, the patrol said.Police released no further information.

Authorities: Car driven by Kan. officer hits 23-year-old man

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers was sworn in as State Treasurer will and Commerce Secretary David Toland as Lieutenant Governor of Kansas&nbsp; during separate ceremonies Monday morning starting at 11a.m. in the First Floor Rotunda of the Kansas Statehouse.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers stepped down Jan. 2 to fill the vacancy in the state treasurer’s office. Watch his swearing in below.

Toland has been commerce secretary since Kelly took office in January 2019. Before that, Toland ran a nonprofit economic development group in Allen County in southeast Kansas for 11 years. He also served as the treasurer for Kelly’s successful 2018 campaign for governor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609783707098.png" alt="A fist bump from new Kansas Lt. Gov. David Toland&nbsp; after taking the oath of office Monday morning." />
 <figcaption>A fist bump from new Kansas Lt. Gov. David Toland&nbsp; after taking the oath of office Monday morning.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers was sworn in as State Treasurer will and Commerce Secretary David Toland as Lieutenant Governor of Kansas&nbsp; during separate ceremonies Monday morning starting at 11a.m. in the First Floor Rotunda of the Kansas Statehouse.&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F1200969666971926%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>&nbsp;Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers stepped down Jan. 2 to fill the vacancy in the state treasurer’s office. Watch his swearing in below.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F220511426368252%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div> Toland has been commerce secretary since Kelly took office in January 2019. Before that, Toland ran a nonprofit economic development group in Allen County in southeast Kansas for 11 years. He also served as the treasurer for Kelly’s successful 2018 campaign for governor.

🎥  Swearing in for new Kan. Lt. Gov., State Treasurer 

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary in Manhattan.

Just after 3:30p.m. Sunday, officers&nbsp;filed a report for burglary in the 1300 block of N. Juliette Avenue in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department Activity Report.

A 27-year-old man and an and 89-year-old reported an unknown suspect entered an unlocked residence and stole a green Stackon gun safe, a Springfield M1 Garand rifle, an M1 Carbine rifle and a Palmetto State AR-15 rifle. 

The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $2,940.00.

 Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary in Manhattan.Just after 3:30p.m. Sunday, officers&nbsp;filed a report for burglary in the 1300 block of N. Juliette Avenue in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department Activity Report.A 27-year-old man and an and 89-year-old reported an unknown suspect entered an unlocked residence and stole a green Stackon gun safe, a Springfield M1 Garand rifle, an M1 Carbine rifle and a Palmetto State AR-15 rifle. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $2,940.00. Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

Police: Suspect took gun safe, rifles from Kan. home

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two men who were homeless were found dead in Kansas City on a weekend when temperatures fell below freezing.

A volunteer with Free Hot Soup Kansas City, which provides meals and supplies to the homeless, found a man dead inside a vacant building Sunday night.

Alina Heart, that volunteer with Free Hot Soup Kansas City, said she had been asked to check on the man because of the cold.

“It appeared that they were trying to stay warm without any shelter,” Heart said, “and it appeared -- I’m not sure, but it appeared like they suffered from the cold.”

On Friday, a 41-year-old homeless man was found dead in an area where homeless people stay.

The Kansas City area received several inches of snow on Friday and night time temperatures fell below freezing during the weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609772321759.png" alt="Cold, dark weekend&nbsp; with temperatures below freezing in Kansas City-image courtesy KC Scout and National Weather Service Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>Cold, dark weekend&nbsp; with temperatures below freezing in Kansas City-image courtesy KC Scout and National Weather Service Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two men who were homeless were found dead in Kansas City on a weekend when temperatures fell below freezing.A volunteer with Free Hot Soup Kansas City, which provides meals and supplies to the homeless, found a man dead inside a vacant building Sunday night.Alina Heart, that volunteer with Free Hot Soup Kansas City, said she had been asked to check on the man because of the cold.“It appeared that they were trying to stay warm without any shelter,” Heart said, “and it appeared -- I’m not sure, but it appeared like they suffered from the cold.”On Friday, a 41-year-old homeless man was found dead in an area where homeless people stay.The Kansas City area received several inches of snow on Friday and night time temperatures fell below freezing during the weekend.

2 homeless men found dead in Kansas City

WASHINGTON—Following the lead of new U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, three Kansas congressman said Sunday they plan to support&nbsp;President Donald Trump and&nbsp; reject the results when Congress meets Wednesday to count the Electoral College votes that favor Joe Biden.

First District Representative Tracey Mann, Representatives Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner stated in a media release "It is the duty of Congress to certify electors for the presidential election based on the laws passed by state legislators. With several states facing serious allegations of voter fraud and violations of their own state laws, the Kansas Republican delegation in the House will object to the certification of electors in multiple states on Jan. 6.

 This action is not taken lightly and comes after extensive study and research. Kansans deserve to know that all legal, and only legal, votes were counted. We hope our actions begin to restore the confidence of tens of millions of our fellow Americans that feel their sacred right to vote is under attack."&nbsp;

Mann and LaTurner were sworn in on Sunday afternoon to serve their first terms in the House.

 On Saturday, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas announced a coalition of 11 senators who will vote against certain state electors unless Congress appoints an electoral commission to immediately conduct an audit of the election results.&nbsp;

Also on Sunday, a bipartisan group of 10 senators&nbsp; issued a statement calling for Congress to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win.

The senators, including four Republicans, said in the statement on Sunday that efforts by some Republicans to overturn the results in favor of President Donald Trump “are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans’ confidence in the already determined election results.”

Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah signed on to the statement, which said “it is time to move forward.”

The objections will force votes in both the House and Senate, but none are expected to prevail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604460700131.png" alt="New First District Rep. Tracey Mann" />
 <figcaption>New First District Rep. Tracey Mann</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON—Following the lead of new U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, three Kansas congressman said Sunday they plan to support&nbsp;President Donald Trump and&nbsp; reject the results when Congress meets Wednesday to count the Electoral College votes that favor Joe Biden.First District Representative Tracey Mann, Representatives Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner stated in a media release "It is the duty of Congress to certify electors for the presidential election based on the laws passed by state legislators. With several states facing serious allegations of voter fraud and violations of their own state laws, the Kansas Republican delegation in the House will object to the certification of electors in multiple states on Jan. 6. This action is not taken lightly and comes after extensive study and research. Kansans deserve to know that all legal, and only legal, votes were counted. We hope our actions begin to restore the confidence of tens of millions of our fellow Americans that feel their sacred right to vote is under attack."&nbsp;Mann and LaTurner were sworn in on Sunday afternoon to serve their first terms in the House. On Saturday, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas announced a coalition of 11 senators who will vote against certain state electors unless Congress appoints an electoral commission to immediately conduct an audit of the election results.&nbsp;Also on Sunday, a bipartisan group of 10 senators&nbsp; issued a statement calling for Congress to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win.The senators, including four Republicans, said in the statement on Sunday that efforts by some Republicans to overturn the results in favor of President Donald Trump “are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans’ confidence in the already determined election results.”Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah signed on to the statement, which said “it is time to move forward.”The objections will force votes in both the House and Senate, but none are expected to prevail.

3 Kan. congressmen join effort to reject Electoral College vote

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that left one dead and one wounded in Wichita and asking the public for help to locate two suspects, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

Just after 8p.m. Dec. 29, officers responded to the 3900 Block of W. Fairhaven in Wichita. They found one man dead and another victim injured.

Deputies are looking for 34-year-old Joshua Dean Halstead and 28-year-old Jacquellyn Michelle Arthur in connection with the incident. If you&nbsp; know where they are or have any additional details on the suspects, call 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609375270250.png" alt="Halstead has a previous convictions for theft, burglary, aggravated weapons and for drug possession and distribution, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections He was reported as an absconder in August-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Halstead has a previous convictions for theft, burglary, aggravated weapons and for drug possession and distribution, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections He was reported as an absconder in August-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that left one dead and one wounded in Wichita and asking the public for help to locate two suspects, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609375240647.png" alt="Arthur-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Arthur-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 8p.m. Dec. 29, officers responded to the 3900 Block of W. Fairhaven in Wichita. They found one man dead and another victim injured.Deputies are looking for 34-year-old Joshua Dean Halstead and 28-year-old Jacquellyn Michelle Arthur in connection with the incident. If you&nbsp; know where they are or have any additional details on the suspects, call 911.

Police: Search continues for 2 Kan. murder suspects

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a series of stolen vehicles found five of them in rural south central Kansas.

On December 27, 2020 an individual contacted deputies to report they discovered their stolen vehicle in rural Cowley county, according to Sheriff Dave Faletti.

Deputies responded to the 20000 block of 151st Road and made contact with the reporting party who advised their vehicle had been stolen several months ago and they were told where to find it. 

After checking the VIN number, deputies confirmed the vehicle was stolen.

Deputies contacted the landowner who gave consent to law enforcement to check all other vehicles on the property.&nbsp; Deputies discovered four other vehicles stolen from Wichita, Winfield and Collinsville, Oklahoma. 

Deputies notified all the owners and the vehicles were removed from the property. 

Further investigation is being conducted but the sheriff has not reported an arrest.

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a series of stolen vehicles found five of them in rural south central Kansas.On December 27, 2020 an individual contacted deputies to report they discovered their stolen vehicle in rural Cowley county, according to Sheriff Dave Faletti.Deputies responded to the 20000 block of 151st Road and made contact with the reporting party who advised their vehicle had been stolen several months ago and they were told where to find it. After checking the VIN number, deputies confirmed the vehicle was stolen.Deputies contacted the landowner who gave consent to law enforcement to check all other vehicles on the property.&nbsp; Deputies discovered four other vehicles stolen from Wichita, Winfield and Collinsville, Oklahoma. Deputies notified all the owners and the vehicles were removed from the property. Further investigation is being conducted but the sheriff has not reported an arrest.

Sheriff: Five stolen vehicles discovered in rural Kansas

It was slightly delayed, but a Christmas present well worth the wait for a Great Bend native. Zane Evans found out last week that he won the car of his dreams through an online sweepstakes from Tuner Cult. Evans won an R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R, one of only 300 produced. Generally, never buying into contests because the chances of winning are next to slim, changed when Evans saw the R34 being given away. "The R34 is my dream car," said Evans. "I would rather have this car than 10 Lamborghinis." With every $1 spent on tunercult.com during the sweepstakes, you received 10 entries into the giveaway.

"Initially, I planned to buy some stuff real quick and not tell the wife," joked Evans. "I called the wife to tell her 'Sorry, I spent some money,' and she told me to make another order to get these chances going."

The contest ended Dec. 20 and the following week Evans was notified he was randomly chosen to win the car and $60,000 in cash to help pay for the taxes and extra expenses of the vehicle. "Tuner Cult sends all the entries to a sweepstakes company in Rochester, New York," said Evans. "I was at work Tuesday (Dec. 29) fixing my car and I got a call from Rochester. I told myself I would answer all unknown calls." Evans, now living in Manhattan with his wife and three children, is still deciding on when and how to make the trip to Irvine, California to pick up his dream car.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

"My heart instantly started racing," added Evans. "I couldn't wear my watch for like four hours because it thought I was constantly trying to work out. It was ridiculous."

Made in 1999, the R34 still falls under the 25-year rule which means the vehicle is not generally certified or legal for street use in America. The import is legal in the United States as an "antique" or car show vehicle as long as the car is driven no more than 2,500 miles per year. After the 25 years are up, the owner can drive the car as much as he or she likes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609448197159.jpeg" alt="Zane Evans won a 1999 R34 Nissan Skyline through a sweepstakes from Tuner Cult.&nbsp;Photo courtesy tunercult.com" />
 <figcaption>Zane Evans won a 1999 R34 Nissan Skyline through a sweepstakes from Tuner Cult.&nbsp;Photo courtesy tunercult.com</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostIt was slightly delayed, but a Christmas present well worth the wait for a Great Bend native. Zane Evans found out last week that he won the car of his dreams through an online sweepstakes from Tuner Cult. Evans won an R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R, one of only 300 produced. Generally, never buying into contests because the chances of winning are next to slim, changed when Evans saw the R34 being given away. "The R34 is my dream car," said Evans. "I would rather have this car than 10 Lamborghinis." With every $1 spent on tunercult.com during the sweepstakes, you received 10 entries into the giveaway."Initially, I planned to buy some stuff real quick and not tell the wife," joked Evans. "I called the wife to tell her 'Sorry, I spent some money,' and she told me to make another order to get these chances going."The contest ended Dec. 20 and the following week Evans was notified he was randomly chosen to win the car and $60,000 in cash to help pay for the taxes and extra expenses of the vehicle. "Tuner Cult sends all the entries to a sweepstakes company in Rochester, New York," said Evans. "I was at work Tuesday (Dec. 29) fixing my car and I got a call from Rochester. I told myself I would answer all unknown calls." Evans, now living in Manhattan with his wife and three children, is still deciding on when and how to make the trip to Irvine, California to pick up his dream car.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;"My heart instantly started racing," added Evans. "I couldn't wear my watch for like four hours because it thought I was constantly trying to work out. It was ridiculous."Made in 1999, the R34 still falls under the 25-year rule which means the vehicle is not generally certified or legal for street use in America. The import is legal in the United States as an "antique" or car show vehicle as long as the car is driven no more than 2,500 miles per year. After the 25 years are up, the owner can drive the car as much as he or she likes.

Kansas man wins his dream car

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has cleared the way for the only woman on federal death row to be executed before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

The ruling, handed down Friday by a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, concluded that a lower court judge erred when he vacated Lisa Montgomery’s execution date in an order last week.

U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss had ruled the Justice Department unlawfully rescheduled Montgomery’s execution and he vacated an order from the director of the Bureau of Prisons scheduling her death for Jan. 12.

Montgomery had been scheduled to be put to death at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, in December, but Moss delayed the execution after her attorneys contracted coronavirus visiting their client and asked him to extend the time to file a clemency petition.

Moss concluded that the under his order the Bureau of Prisons could not even reschedule Montgomery’s execution until at least Jan. 1. But the appeals panel disagreed.

Meaghan VerGow, an attorney for Montgomery, said her legal team would ask for the full appeals court to review the case and said Montgomery should not be executed on Jan. 12.

Montgomery was convicted of killing 23-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett in the northwest Missouri town of Skidmore in December 2004. She used a rope to strangle Stinnett, who was eight months pregnant, and then cut the baby girl from the womb with a kitchen knife, authorities said. Montgomery took the child with her and attempted to pass the girl off as her own, prosecutors said.

Montgomery’s lawyers have argued that their client suffers from serious mental illnesses. Biden opposes the death penalty and his spokesman, TJ Ducklo, has said he would work to end its use. But Biden has not said whether he will halt federal executions after he takes office Jan. 20.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602895377835.png" alt="Montgomery is being held at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, according to online jail records." />
 <figcaption>Montgomery is being held at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, according to online jail records.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has cleared the way for the only woman on federal death row to be executed before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.The ruling, handed down Friday by a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, concluded that a lower court judge erred when he vacated Lisa Montgomery’s execution date in an order last week.U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss had ruled the Justice Department unlawfully rescheduled Montgomery’s execution and he vacated an order from the director of the Bureau of Prisons scheduling her death for Jan. 12.Montgomery had been scheduled to be put to death at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, in December, but Moss delayed the execution after her attorneys contracted coronavirus visiting their client and asked him to extend the time to file a clemency petition.Moss concluded that the under his order the Bureau of Prisons could not even reschedule Montgomery’s execution until at least Jan. 1. But the appeals panel disagreed.Meaghan VerGow, an attorney for Montgomery, said her legal team would ask for the full appeals court to review the case and said Montgomery should not be executed on Jan. 12.Montgomery was convicted of killing 23-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett in the northwest Missouri town of Skidmore in December 2004. She used a rope to strangle Stinnett, who was eight months pregnant, and then cut the baby girl from the womb with a kitchen knife, authorities said. Montgomery took the child with her and attempted to pass the girl off as her own, prosecutors said.Montgomery’s lawyers have argued that their client suffers from serious mental illnesses. Biden opposes the death penalty and his spokesman, TJ Ducklo, has said he would work to end its use. But Biden has not said whether he will halt federal executions after he takes office Jan. 20.

Court: Kansas killer's execution set for Jan. 12

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

Just after noon on New Year's Day, a sheriff's&nbsp;deputy stopped a 2007 gold Cadillac on Arizona Avenue near Banner in Holton for an alleged traffic infraction., according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver, Charles Ernest Wilson, 38, of Hiawatha, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Wilson also had an outstanding Brown County warrant and an outstanding City of Topeka warrant. Wilson remains in the Jackson County Jail, according to Morse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609554415290.png" alt="Wilson photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Wilson photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on drug charges after a traffic stop.Just after noon on New Year's Day, a sheriff's&nbsp;deputy stopped a 2007 gold Cadillac on Arizona Avenue near Banner in Holton for an alleged traffic infraction., according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver, Charles Ernest Wilson, 38, of Hiawatha, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Wilson also had an outstanding Brown County warrant and an outstanding City of Topeka warrant. Wilson remains in the Jackson County Jail, according to Morse.

Kan. man jailed on drug charge after New Year's Day traffic stop

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Lily Guido was having trouble hearing and she felt warm while talking to her co-worker at a California nursing home. She knew something was wrong.

Fearing the coronavirus, Guido, 30, of Santa Rosa, California, didn’t go home to avoid possibly spreading it to her five children, isolating in a hotel room provided for health care workers like her.

“They confirmed that I had COVID, and my husband was like, ‘Oh God, what’s going to happen?’” she said last week. “I couldn’t take it. I was in tears. I was in denial.”

Out of work, her family’s bills began to pile up this summer. While Guido is a U.S. citizen, and so are her children, her family hadn’t gotten a relief check from the federal government in the spring because she files taxes jointly with her husband, Erik, who is an immigrant in the country illegally and not eligible for any federal payments.

An estimated 1.4 million spouses and 3.7 million children who are U.S. citizens or legal residents in mixed-status families like Guido’s were cut out of the payments that many needed as the pandemic tanked the economy, according to tax data analysis by the Migration Policy Institute.

That’s changed in the latest federal relief package. Guido celebrated that her family and others like them would get checks this time around, as well as a retroactive $1,200 tax credit.

“Mixed-status families with children count,” Guido said. “That makes such a big difference. And I jump for joy, you know, for those people that unfortunately aren’t able to work during this pandemic.”

But even in the latest bill, some 2.2 million children who are U.S. citizens or legal residents will be left out again because both their parents are in the country illegally, according to the Migration Policy Institute. That means no $600 check per child.

During the pandemic, officials in Democratic-controlled places have targeted rent relief and direct payments to all immigrant families who didn’t receive checks. States like California and Vermont have distributed federal relief money to community groups helping immigrants, saying they pay taxes and work essential jobs, while New Mexico lawmakers sent U.S. funds directly to those without legal status.

When Guido got sick, her husband, Erik, had already lost hours at his pest control job, so he stopped working for two and a half weeks to take care of their kids.

Alone in the hotel, the virus took her appetite, strained her breath and tanked her heart rate. She prayed and talked to her husband every day. Though she isolated away from home, he and the kids got the virus, too, but not as badly.

“I was stressing on top of it, not knowing how we were gonna make it, how we’re gonna pay my mortgage, how we’re gonna pay the rest of the bills,” Guido said.

They maxed out their credit cards to buy food and other necessities. Erik, who was 10 when he arrived from Mexico, doesn’t have a Social Security number and pays taxes using a special number for non-resident immigrants. Guido asked that his last name be withheld, fearing it could affect an immigration application.

Guido says she tried to apply by phone for financial help from California but never got through.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/679ae0f08b2f67df454e22e9e62e1bad">California’s governor distributed money</a>&nbsp;to a network of regional nonprofits to give to mixed-status families and adults in the country illegally early in the pandemic.

Recent aid packages passed by legislatures in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-michelle-lujan-grisham-coronavirus-pandemic-new-mexico-bills-6fe233171a8a58b569d8e05a172c885f">New Mexico</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2019-2020-coronavirus-pandemic-vermont-virus-outbreak-immigration-economic-stimulus-47db1fb4d4f6c84d812aa1b394ff5c7c">Vermont</a>&nbsp;directed federal relief funds to those who didn’t get checks in April, mostly through cash payments to mixed-status families and immigrants without legal status. In Phoenix, immigration advocates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-coronavirus-pandemic-phoenix-immigration-7116e261fa4207c60e2d52ae9493aba3">successfully sued</a>&nbsp;to ensure residents could access rent and bill relief regardless of legal status.

New Mexico’s effort is unique because it paid applicants through direct deposit, instead of relying on community groups to distribute the funds, like California and Vermont.

“These are families — many of them with young children — these are essential workers, these are folks whose livelihoods have been interrupted by this pandemic,” said state Rep. Javier Martínez, who’s credited with getting the measure into New Mexico’s larger emergency relief bill.

Some 15,000 New Mexico residents have received about $465 each from a $5 million fund created by the Legislature. It’s not just immigrants benefiting. The only requirements for the money are being a state resident and having not received a federal check in April, which includes homeless and elderly Americans who didn’t get a check because of IRS rules.

After getting about four times the number of applicants that the fund could support, state officials reduced the maximum amount and prioritized the lowest-income households.

The fund faced no resistance from minority Republicans in the New Mexico House, but some of them voted against the entire bill.

Cities also have used federal funds for direct payments to immigrants.

Angelica Rodriguez and her husband are restaurant cooks in Santa Fe and had their hours cut in half. But they have been able to catch up on rent thanks to the city’s pandemic relief: a $750 payment last month and $1,500 this month.

She’s a member of Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a Latino-focused group that advocated for the inclusion of immigrants in state relief efforts. It’s also educated immigrants about not worrying that pandemic assistance will count against them in immigration applications, which ask about public aid like food stamps.

Despite the city payments, Rodriguez’s family still can’t afford to fix a broken washing machine and couldn’t splurge on Christmas presents this year. She and her husband are in the country without permission while their three children are U.S. citizens.

“It’s really hard because the 15-year-old boy, the 13-year-old girl, they get it — we told them there won’t be Christmas presents this year because we’re working very little, and the money we are getting is to pay bills and rent,” said Rodriguez, 43.

“But the 6-year-old boy still doesn’t get it,” she said. When she told him Santa couldn’t come this year because the family had gotten COVID-19, he shot back: “He can leave my present outside the door and not come in.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609336667005.png" alt="A quiet U.S. Capitol the final week of December image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>A quiet U.S. Capitol the final week of December image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Lily Guido was having trouble hearing and she felt warm while talking to her co-worker at a California nursing home. She knew something was wrong.Fearing the coronavirus, Guido, 30, of Santa Rosa, California, didn’t go home to avoid possibly spreading it to her five children, isolating in a hotel room provided for health care workers like her.“They confirmed that I had COVID, and my husband was like, ‘Oh God, what’s going to happen?’” she said last week. “I couldn’t take it. I was in tears. I was in denial.”Out of work, her family’s bills began to pile up this summer. While Guido is a U.S. citizen, and so are her children, her family hadn’t gotten a relief check from the federal government in the spring because she files taxes jointly with her husband, Erik, who is an immigrant in the country illegally and not eligible for any federal payments.An estimated 1.4 million spouses and 3.7 million children who are U.S. citizens or legal residents in mixed-status families like Guido’s were cut out of the payments that many needed as the pandemic tanked the economy, according to tax data analysis by the Migration Policy Institute.That’s changed in the latest federal relief package. Guido celebrated that her family and others like them would get checks this time around, as well as a retroactive $1,200 tax credit.“Mixed-status families with children count,” Guido said. “That makes such a big difference. And I jump for joy, you know, for those people that unfortunately aren’t able to work during this pandemic.”But even in the latest bill, some 2.2 million children who are U.S. citizens or legal residents will be left out again because both their parents are in the country illegally, according to the Migration Policy Institute. That means no $600 check per child.During the pandemic, officials in Democratic-controlled places have targeted rent relief and direct payments to all immigrant families who didn’t receive checks. States like California and Vermont have distributed federal relief money to community groups helping immigrants, saying they pay taxes and work essential jobs, while New Mexico lawmakers sent U.S. funds directly to those without legal status.When Guido got sick, her husband, Erik, had already lost hours at his pest control job, so he stopped working for two and a half weeks to take care of their kids.Alone in the hotel, the virus took her appetite, strained her breath and tanked her heart rate. She prayed and talked to her husband every day. Though she isolated away from home, he and the kids got the virus, too, but not as badly.“I was stressing on top of it, not knowing how we were gonna make it, how we’re gonna pay my mortgage, how we’re gonna pay the rest of the bills,” Guido said.They maxed out their credit cards to buy food and other necessities. Erik, who was 10 when he arrived from Mexico, doesn’t have a Social Security number and pays taxes using a special number for non-resident immigrants. Guido asked that his last name be withheld, fearing it could affect an immigration application.Guido says she tried to apply by phone for financial help from California but never got through.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/679ae0f08b2f67df454e22e9e62e1bad">California’s governor distributed money</a>&nbsp;to a network of regional nonprofits to give to mixed-status families and adults in the country illegally early in the pandemic.Recent aid packages passed by legislatures in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-michelle-lujan-grisham-coronavirus-pandemic-new-mexico-bills-6fe233171a8a58b569d8e05a172c885f">New Mexico</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2019-2020-coronavirus-pandemic-vermont-virus-outbreak-immigration-economic-stimulus-47db1fb4d4f6c84d812aa1b394ff5c7c">Vermont</a>&nbsp;directed federal relief funds to those who didn’t get checks in April, mostly through cash payments to mixed-status families and immigrants without legal status. In Phoenix, immigration advocates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-coronavirus-pandemic-phoenix-immigration-7116e261fa4207c60e2d52ae9493aba3">successfully sued</a>&nbsp;to ensure residents could access rent and bill relief regardless of legal status.New Mexico’s effort is unique because it paid applicants through direct deposit, instead of relying on community groups to distribute the funds, like California and Vermont.“These are families — many of them with young children — these are essential workers, these are folks whose livelihoods have been interrupted by this pandemic,” said state Rep. Javier Martínez, who’s credited with getting the measure into New Mexico’s larger emergency relief bill.Some 15,000 New Mexico residents have received about $465 each from a $5 million fund created by the Legislature. It’s not just immigrants benefiting. The only requirements for the money are being a state resident and having not received a federal check in April, which includes homeless and elderly Americans who didn’t get a check because of IRS rules.After getting about four times the number of applicants that the fund could support, state officials reduced the maximum amount and prioritized the lowest-income households.The fund faced no resistance from minority Republicans in the New Mexico House, but some of them voted against the entire bill.Cities also have used federal funds for direct payments to immigrants.Angelica Rodriguez and her husband are restaurant cooks in Santa Fe and had their hours cut in half. But they have been able to catch up on rent thanks to the city’s pandemic relief: a $750 payment last month and $1,500 this month.She’s a member of Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a Latino-focused group that advocated for the inclusion of immigrants in state relief efforts. It’s also educated immigrants about not worrying that pandemic assistance will count against them in immigration applications, which ask about public aid like food stamps.Despite the city payments, Rodriguez’s family still can’t afford to fix a broken washing machine and couldn’t splurge on Christmas presents this year. She and her husband are in the country without permission while their three children are U.S. citizens.“It’s really hard because the 15-year-old boy, the 13-year-old girl, they get it — we told them there won’t be Christmas presents this year because we’re working very little, and the money we are getting is to pay bills and rent,” said Rodriguez, 43.“But the 6-year-old boy still doesn’t get it,” she said. When she told him Santa couldn’t come this year because the family had gotten COVID-19, he shot back: “He can leave my present outside the door and not come in.”

Immigrants get help, cheer inclusion in new virus relief bill 

WASHINGTON— Congress has convened for a new session with lawmakers sworn into office during a tumultuous period.&nbsp; The New United States Senator from Kansas Dr. Roger Marshall was sworn in to the 117th Congress by Vice President Mike Pence.

Marshall was accompanied by outgoing Senator Pat Roberts and Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell

Marshall wrote on social media, "Honor of a lifetime to serve Kansas." He follows in the footsteps of Bob Dole, Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran who served as congressman from the first district of Kansas before election to the Senate.

Opening the Senate could be among McConnell’s final acts as majority leader. Republican control depends on Tuesday’s runoff elections for two Senate seats in Georgia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609695001506.png" alt="Dr. Roger Marshall enters the Senate Chamber for the official swearing in ceremony Sunday -Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Roger Marshall enters the Senate Chamber for the official swearing in ceremony Sunday -Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON— Congress has convened for a new session with lawmakers sworn into office during a tumultuous period.&nbsp; The New United States Senator from Kansas Dr. Roger Marshall was sworn in to the 117th Congress by Vice President Mike Pence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609694624134.png" alt="Outgoing Senator Pat Roberts stands behind Marshall as the Vice President administers the oath." />
 <figcaption>Outgoing Senator Pat Roberts stands behind Marshall as the Vice President administers the oath.</figcaption>
 </figure>Marshall was accompanied by outgoing Senator Pat Roberts and Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609695515687.png" alt="Dr. Roger Marshall signs the oath during Sunday's swearing in ceremony image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Roger Marshall signs the oath during Sunday's swearing in ceremony image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Marshall wrote on social media, "Honor of a lifetime to serve Kansas." He follows in the footsteps of Bob Dole, Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran who served as congressman from the first district of Kansas before election to the Senate.Opening the Senate could be among McConnell’s final acts as majority leader. Republican control depends on Tuesday’s runoff elections for two Senate seats in Georgia.

Dr. Roger Marshall sworn in as new U.S. Senator

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities say a woman who was stabbed on New Year's Eve in Kansas City has died from her injuries.

Police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said that the woman was transported to a hospital in critical condition Thursday night and died Friday. Police are counting her killing as the first of 2021, even though the initial call was in 2020.

She was in in her 40s, but police didn't immediately release her name. No suspect information was immediately available.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities say a woman who was stabbed on New Year's Eve in Kansas City has died from her injuries.Police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said that the woman was transported to a hospital in critical condition Thursday night and died Friday. Police are counting her killing as the first of 2021, even though the initial call was in 2020.She was in in her 40s, but police didn't immediately release her name. No suspect information was immediately available.Police are urging anyone with information to come forward. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.

Woman stabbed on New Year's Eve in KC dies of her injuries

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — As 2021 begins, health officials and elected leaders in Kansas are reflecting on the lessons learned so far about the coronavirus pandemic.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the pandemic showed Kansas that a “patchwork” response does not work. She closed schools in mid-March and late that month issued a statewide stay-at-home order that remained in place for five weeks.

A law approved in June by the Republican-controlled Legislature gave the state’s 105 counties the authority to opt out of Kelly’s orders. She argued recently that she was forced to accept local control to keep a state of emergency for the pandemic in effect.

“I never thought it was a bright idea,” she said in an Associated Press interview.

She added, “It really puts pressure on the local elected officials that many of them would just as soon not have.”

Russ Johnson, the CEO of LMH Health, formerly Lawrence Memorial Hospital, said the lessons of the pandemic “cut across every jurisdiction” and include the importance of planning and community collaboration.

He said restrictions in early spring could be seen as an overreaction but “accelerated” his organization’s focus on COVID-19 “in a way that we might not have done otherwise.”

Dr. Sam Antonios, chief clinical officer for the Ascension Via Christi health system, said “if you read history,” the coronavirus pandemic raised issues “eerily similar” to those facing communities during the deadly 1918-19 influenza pandemic.

Antonios also said the coronavirus pandemic demonstrated the need for a community health system that includes a strong workforce and healthy hospitals, clinics, technology, nursing homes and home health services.

“It has highlighted how important it is for that to be healthy in order for the community to remain healthy,” he said.

State Rep. Fred Patton, a Topeka Republican who was chairman of a committee that reviewed emergency management laws, said they were designed for short-term disasters, such as fires, floods and tornadoes. The law enacted in June applies only to the current pandemic. Lawmakers expect to consider permanent changes.

“I think we all believe that at the local level, people are better set up to make decisions on what’s impacting them,” Patton said. “It’s situations like this that sometimes challenges that belief, though.”

Incoming Kansas Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop and House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, both conservative Wichita Republicans, criticize Kelly for closing schools and businesses early in the pandemic. Many Republicans argue that Kelly’s actions damaged the economy more than necessary.

“If we learned anything from this, we learned we need to take measured approaches, step by step, and understand what we’re dealing with more so than just flying off the handle,” Suellentrop said.

When Kelly announced her stay-at-home order in late March, Kansas had reported six coronavirus deaths and fewer than 300 cases.

Kelly has argued that the state needed more information about COVID-19.

As of Friday, the state had reported a total of 2,879 deaths and 227,745 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.

“What we’ve learned is that the governor made a bunch of bad mistakes early on,” Hawkins said.

House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat, argues that Republicans who criticize Kelly for being too aggressive early in the pandemic are “really overplaying” the issue of her closing businesses.

“You can talk about the closing period, but they have struggled since there have been no restrictions from the state,” Sawyer said. “Until we get COVID under control, you know, the economy is going to suffer, businesses are going to suffer, people are going to suffer.”

Rep. Jason Probst, a Hutchinson Democrat, added that Republican lawmakers “act like this was the only state that shut down business.”

Kelly on Wednesday received an early COVID-19 vaccine shot, while some top Republicans passed on the chance, saying they didn’t want to jump ahead of others needing vaccines more more. University of Kansas political scientist Patrick Miller described objections to Kelly’s early inoculation as arising from a political “theater industry.”

“It takes things, sometimes of little importance but sometimes of great importance, and then it repackages and it sells a movie script to you,” he said.

As for the pandemic, Miller said: “At this point, it’s just unavoidable that every single aspect of it is going to become political.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590011287498.png" alt="In May, Governor Laura Kelly and President Trump met in the White House Cabinet Room -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>In May, Governor Laura Kelly and President Trump met in the White House Cabinet Room -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — As 2021 begins, health officials and elected leaders in Kansas are reflecting on the lessons learned so far about the coronavirus pandemic.THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORDemocratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the pandemic showed Kansas that a “patchwork” response does not work. She closed schools in mid-March and late that month issued a statewide stay-at-home order that remained in place for five weeks.A law approved in June by the Republican-controlled Legislature gave the state’s 105 counties the authority to opt out of Kelly’s orders. She argued recently that she was forced to accept local control to keep a state of emergency for the pandemic in effect.“I never thought it was a bright idea,” she said in an Associated Press interview.She added, “It really puts pressure on the local elected officials that many of them would just as soon not have.”THE HEALTH SYSTEM CEORuss Johnson, the CEO of LMH Health, formerly Lawrence Memorial Hospital, said the lessons of the pandemic “cut across every jurisdiction” and include the importance of planning and community collaboration.He said restrictions in early spring could be seen as an overreaction but “accelerated” his organization’s focus on COVID-19 “in a way that we might not have done otherwise.”THE CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICERDr. Sam Antonios, chief clinical officer for the Ascension Via Christi health system, said “if you read history,” the coronavirus pandemic raised issues “eerily similar” to those facing communities during the deadly 1918-19 influenza pandemic.Antonios also said the coronavirus pandemic demonstrated the need for a community health system that includes a strong workforce and healthy hospitals, clinics, technology, nursing homes and home health services.“It has highlighted how important it is for that to be healthy in order for the community to remain healthy,” he said.THE STUDY COMMITTEE CHAIRMANState Rep. Fred Patton, a Topeka Republican who was chairman of a committee that reviewed emergency management laws, said they were designed for short-term disasters, such as fires, floods and tornadoes. The law enacted in June applies only to the current pandemic. Lawmakers expect to consider permanent changes.“I think we all believe that at the local level, people are better set up to make decisions on what’s impacting them,” Patton said. “It’s situations like this that sometimes challenges that belief, though.”THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEADERSIncoming Kansas Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop and House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, both conservative Wichita Republicans, criticize Kelly for closing schools and businesses early in the pandemic. Many Republicans argue that Kelly’s actions damaged the economy more than necessary.“If we learned anything from this, we learned we need to take measured approaches, step by step, and understand what we’re dealing with more so than just flying off the handle,” Suellentrop said.When Kelly announced her stay-at-home order in late March, Kansas had reported six coronavirus deaths and fewer than 300 cases.Kelly has argued that the state needed more information about COVID-19.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609526207240.png" alt="Friday Jan. 1, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday Jan. 1, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>As of Friday, the state had reported a total of 2,879 deaths and 227,745 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.“What we’ve learned is that the governor made a bunch of bad mistakes early on,” Hawkins said.THE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERSHouse Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat, argues that Republicans who criticize Kelly for being too aggressive early in the pandemic are “really overplaying” the issue of her closing businesses.“You can talk about the closing period, but they have struggled since there have been no restrictions from the state,” Sawyer said. “Until we get COVID under control, you know, the economy is going to suffer, businesses are going to suffer, people are going to suffer.”Rep. Jason Probst, a Hutchinson Democrat, added that Republican lawmakers “act like this was the only state that shut down business.”THE POLITICAL SCIENTISTKelly on Wednesday received an early COVID-19 vaccine shot, while some top Republicans passed on the chance, saying they didn’t want to jump ahead of others needing vaccines more more. University of Kansas political scientist Patrick Miller described objections to Kelly’s early inoculation as arising from a political “theater industry.”“It takes things, sometimes of little importance but sometimes of great importance, and then it repackages and it sells a movie script to you,” he said.As for the pandemic, Miller said: “At this point, it’s just unavoidable that every single aspect of it is going to become political.”

Kansas leaders reflect on pandemic lessons from 2020

A huge U.S. study of another COVID-19 vaccine candidate is underway as states continue to roll out scarce supplies of the first shots to a nation anxiously awaiting relief from the catastrophic outbreak.

Public health experts say more options in addition to the two vaccines now being dispensed — one made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, the other by Moderna — are critical to amassing enough shots for the country and the world.

The candidate made by Novavax Inc. is the fifth to reach final-stage testing in the United States. Some 30,000 volunteers are needed to prove if the shot — a different kind than its Pfizer and Moderna competitors — really works and is safe.

“If you want to have enough vaccine to vaccinate all the people in the U.S. who you’d like to vaccinate — up to 85% or more of the population — you’re going to need more than two companies,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, told The Associated Press.

The coronavirus is blamed for about 1.8 million deaths worldwide, including more than 330,000 in the U.S. This has been the deadliest month of the outbreak in the U.S. yet, with about 65,000 deaths in December so far, according to the COVID Tracking Project. The nation has repeatedly recorded more than 3,000 dead per day over the past few weeks.

And the U.S. could be facing a terrible winter: Despite warnings to stay home and avoid others over Christmastime, nearly 1.3 million people went through the nation’s airports, the highest one-day total since the crisis took hold in the U.S. nine months ago.

The Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed expects to have shipped 20 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to states by the beginning of January,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-gustave-perna-vaccine-shipments-6e61f8f1eb9bb0151669d1fe2d9b5646">fewer than originally estimated</a>&nbsp;to the frustration of states and health officials trying to schedule the shots.

There is no real-time tracking of how quickly people are getting the first of the two required doses. As of Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reports of more than 2.1 million vaccinations out of 11.4 million doses shipped — but the agency knows that count is outdated. It can take days for reports from vaccine providers to trickle in and get added to the site.

“Just because a vaccine arrives doesn’t mean we can put an on-the-spot clinic up and running,” said Jenny Barta, a public health official in Carlton County, Minnesota.

But Tuesday, her agency aims to vaccinate 100 people in a drive-thru clinic for emergency medical workers that Barta hopes could become a model for larger attempts at mass vaccination. Nurses will wheel vaccine to cars lined up in a county-owned snowplow garage. Once the drivers get their shots, they will wait in parking spaces to be sure they don’t have an allergic reaction before heading home.

“Vaccinating one individual at a time is how we’re going to work our way out of this pandemic,” she said.

Yet another worry hanging over the vaccine scramble: Will shots block a new variant of the coronavirus that emerged in Britain and might spread more easily? Fauci said that data from Britain indicates the vaccines still will protect against the virus but that National Institutes of Health researchers will be “looking at it very intensively” to be sure.

A look at the frontrunners in the global vaccine race:

The U.S. based its emergency rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and a similar one made by Moderna and the NIH on studies suggesting they are both roughly 95% effective. Europe over the weekend began its first vaccinations with the Pfizer shot, and on Jan. 6 will decide whether to add Moderna’s.

These shots are made with a brand-new technology that injects a piece of genetic code for the spike protein that coats the coronavirus. That messenger RNA, or mRNA, induces the body to produce some harmless spike protein, enough to prime the immune system to react if it later encounters the real virus.

Both vaccines must be kept frozen, the Pfizer shot at ultra-low temperatures that complicate its delivery to poor or rural areas.

Additional companies are working toward their own mRNA candidates, including Germany’s CureVac, which has begun a large study in Europe.

The Novavax candidate is made differently, using what Fauci called a “more tried and true” technology that needs only ordinary refrigeration. The Maryland company grows harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and mixes in an immune-boosting chemical.

Novavax already has enrolled 15,000 people in a late-stage study in Britain and 4,000 in South Africa. The newest and largest study, funded by the U.S. government, will recruit volunteers at more than 115 sites in the U.S. and Mexico and target high-risk older adults along with volunteers from Black and Hispanic communities, which have been hit hard by the virus.

“We’ve got to protect our community and our people,” said the Rev. Peter Johnson, 75, a prominent civil rights activist in Dallas who was among the first volunteers.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated PressA huge U.S. study of another COVID-19 vaccine candidate is underway as states continue to roll out scarce supplies of the first shots to a nation anxiously awaiting relief from the catastrophic outbreak.Public health experts say more options in addition to the two vaccines now being dispensed — one made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, the other by Moderna — are critical to amassing enough shots for the country and the world.The candidate made by Novavax Inc. is the fifth to reach final-stage testing in the United States. Some 30,000 volunteers are needed to prove if the shot — a different kind than its Pfizer and Moderna competitors — really works and is safe.“If you want to have enough vaccine to vaccinate all the people in the U.S. who you’d like to vaccinate — up to 85% or more of the population — you’re going to need more than two companies,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, told The Associated Press.The coronavirus is blamed for about 1.8 million deaths worldwide, including more than 330,000 in the U.S. This has been the deadliest month of the outbreak in the U.S. yet, with about 65,000 deaths in December so far, according to the COVID Tracking Project. The nation has repeatedly recorded more than 3,000 dead per day over the past few weeks.And the U.S. could be facing a terrible winter: Despite warnings to stay home and avoid others over Christmastime, nearly 1.3 million people went through the nation’s airports, the highest one-day total since the crisis took hold in the U.S. nine months ago.The Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed expects to have shipped 20 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to states by the beginning of January,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-gustave-perna-vaccine-shipments-6e61f8f1eb9bb0151669d1fe2d9b5646">fewer than originally estimated</a>&nbsp;to the frustration of states and health officials trying to schedule the shots.There is no real-time tracking of how quickly people are getting the first of the two required doses. As of Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reports of more than 2.1 million vaccinations out of 11.4 million doses shipped — but the agency knows that count is outdated. It can take days for reports from vaccine providers to trickle in and get added to the site.“Just because a vaccine arrives doesn’t mean we can put an on-the-spot clinic up and running,” said Jenny Barta, a public health official in Carlton County, Minnesota.But Tuesday, her agency aims to vaccinate 100 people in a drive-thru clinic for emergency medical workers that Barta hopes could become a model for larger attempts at mass vaccination. Nurses will wheel vaccine to cars lined up in a county-owned snowplow garage. Once the drivers get their shots, they will wait in parking spaces to be sure they don’t have an allergic reaction before heading home.“Vaccinating one individual at a time is how we’re going to work our way out of this pandemic,” she said.Yet another worry hanging over the vaccine scramble: Will shots block a new variant of the coronavirus that emerged in Britain and might spread more easily? Fauci said that data from Britain indicates the vaccines still will protect against the virus but that National Institutes of Health researchers will be “looking at it very intensively” to be sure.A look at the frontrunners in the global vaccine race:GENETIC CODE VACCINESThe U.S. based its emergency rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and a similar one made by Moderna and the NIH on studies suggesting they are both roughly 95% effective. Europe over the weekend began its first vaccinations with the Pfizer shot, and on Jan. 6 will decide whether to add Moderna’s.These shots are made with a brand-new technology that injects a piece of genetic code for the spike protein that coats the coronavirus. That messenger RNA, or mRNA, induces the body to produce some harmless spike protein, enough to prime the immune system to react if it later encounters the real virus.Both vaccines must be kept frozen, the Pfizer shot at ultra-low temperatures that complicate its delivery to poor or rural areas.Additional companies are working toward their own mRNA candidates, including Germany’s CureVac, which has begun a large study in Europe.PROTEIN VACCINESThe Novavax candidate is made differently, using what Fauci called a “more tried and true” technology that needs only ordinary refrigeration. The Maryland company grows harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and mixes in an immune-boosting chemical.Novavax already has enrolled 15,000 people in a late-stage study in Britain and 4,000 in South Africa. The newest and largest study, funded by the U.S. government, will recruit volunteers at more than 115 sites in the U.S. and Mexico and target high-risk older adults along with volunteers from Black and Hispanic communities, which have been hit hard by the virus.“We’ve got to protect our community and our people,” said the Rev. Peter Johnson, 75, a prominent civil rights activist in Dallas who was among the first volunteers.Two-thirds of participants will receive vaccine and the rest dummy shots, a twist from earlier vaccine studies that gave half their volunteers a placebo. That should help researchers recruit people who wonder whether it’s better to take part in a study or wait their turn for an existing shot, said Dr. Gregory Glenn, research chief at Novavax.For many people, that would be a long wait: The Pfizer and Moderna shots are slated first for health care workers and nursing home residents, followed by people 75 and older and essential workers.“If you wanted to hedge your bets, for most people who aren’t in those very high-risk groups, the shortest route to getting the vaccine would be to sign up for a trial,” said NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins.TROJAN HORSE VACCINESThe next big vaccine news may come from Johnson &amp; Johnson, which is aiming for a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine.Made in yet another way, it uses a harmless virus – a cold virus called an adenovirus -- to carry the spike gene into the body. In mid-December, J&amp;J finished enrolling about 45,000 volunteers in a final-stage study in the U.S. and a half-dozen other countries. Fauci expects early results sometime next month.In Britain, regulators also are considering clearing a similar vaccine made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.Tests of the shots in Britain, South Africa and Brazil suggested they are safe and partially protective — about 70%. But questions remain about how well the vaccine works in people over 55 and how to interpret results from a small number of people given a different set of doses.A U.S. study of the AstraZeneca shots is still recruiting volunteers; Fauci said researchers hope it will provide a more clear answer.Companies in China and Russia also are producing adenovirus-based vaccines and began administering them before the results of final testing came in. Argentina is expected to soon use the Russian vaccine.“KILLED” VACCINESSpike-focused vaccines aren’t the only option. Making vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a still older approach that gives the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.China has three such “inactivated” COVID-19 vaccines in final testing in several countries and has allowed emergency use in some people ahead of results. An Indian company is testing its own inactivated candidate.___