PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) —Rush Limbaugh, the talk radio host who ripped into liberals and laid waste to political correctness with a merry brand of malice that made him one of the most powerful voices on the American right and foretold the rise of Donald Trump, died Wednesday. He was 70.

Limbaugh, an outspoken lover of cigars, had been diagnosed with lung cancer. His death was announced by his wife Kathryn to open her husband's radio show Wednesday and on his website.

President Trump, during a State of the Union speech, awarded Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Unflinchingly conservative, wildly partisan, bombastically self-promoting and larger than life, Limbaugh galvanized listeners for more than 30 years with his talent for vituperation and sarcasm.

He called himself an entertainer, but his rants during his three-hour weekday radio show broadcast on nearly 600 U.S. stations shaped the national political conversation, swaying ordinary Republicans and the direction of their party.

Blessed with a made-for-broadcasting voice, he delivered his opinions with such certainty that his followers, or “Ditto-heads,” as he dubbed them, took his words as sacred truth.

“In my heart and soul, I know I have become the intellectual engine of the conservative movement,” Limbaugh, with typical immodesty, told author Zev Chafets in the 2010 book “Rush Limbaugh: An Army of One.”

Forbes magazine estimated his 2018 income at $84 million, ranking him behind only Howard Stern among radio personalities.

Limbaugh took as a badge of honor the title “most dangerous man in America.” He said he was the “truth detector,” the “doctor of democracy,” a “lover of mankind,” a “harmless, lovable little fuzz ball” and an “all-around good guy.” He claimed he had “talent on loan from God.”

Long before Trump’s rise in politics, Limbaugh was pinning insulting names on his enemies and raging against the mainstream media, accusing it of feeding the public lies. He called Democrats and others on the left communists, wackos, feminazis, liberal extremists, faggots and radicals.

When actor Michael J. Fox, suffering from Parkinson’s disease, appeared in a Democratic campaign commercial, Limbaugh mocked his tremors. When a Washington advocate for the homeless killed himself, he cracked jokes. As the AIDS epidemic raged in the 1980s, he made the dying a punchline. He called 12-year-old Chelsea Clinton a dog.

He suggested that the Democrats’ stand on reproductive rights would have led to the abortion of Jesus Christ. When a woman accused Duke University lacrosse players of rape, he derided her as a “ho,” and when a Georgetown University law student supported expanded contraceptive coverage, he dismissed her as a “slut.” When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, Limbaugh said: “I hope he fails.”

He was frequently accused of bigotry and blatant racism for such antics as playing the song “Barack the Magic Negro” on his show. The lyrics, set to the tune of “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” describe Obama as someone who “makes guilty whites feel good” and is “black, but not authentically.”

Limbaugh often enunciated the Republican platform better and more entertainingly than any party leader, becoming a GOP kingmaker whose endorsement and friendship were sought. Polls consistently found he was regarded as the voice of the party.

His idol, Ronald Reagan, wrote a letter of praise that Limbaugh proudly read on the air in 1992: “You’ve become the number one voice for conservatism.” In 1994, Limbaugh was so widely credited with the first Republican takeover of Congress in 40 years that the GOP made him an honorary member of the new class.

During the 2016 presidential primaries, Limbaugh said he realized early on that Trump would be the nominee, and he likened the candidate’s deep connection with his supporters to his own. In a 2018 interview, he conceded Trump is rude but said that is because he is “fearless and willing to fight against the things that no Republican has been willing to fight against.”

Trump, for his part, heaped praise on Limbaugh, and they golfed together. (The president’s Mar-a-Lago estate is eight miles down the same Palm Beach boulevard as Limbaugh’s $40 million beachfront expanse.) In honoring Limbaugh at the State of the Union, Trump called his friend “a special man beloved by millions.”

Limbaugh influenced the likes of Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly and countless other conservative commentators who pushed the boundaries of what passes as acceptable public discourse.

His brand of blunt, no-gray-area debate spread to cable TV, town hall meetings, political rallies and Congress itself, emerging during the battles over health care and the ascent of the tea party movement.

“What he did was to bring a paranoia and really mean, nasty rhetoric and hyperpartisanship into the mainstream,” said Martin Kaplan, a University of Southern California professor who is an expert on the intersection of politics and entertainment and a frequent critic of Limbaugh. “The kind of antagonism and vituperativeness that characterized him instantly became acceptable everywhere.”

In one breathless segment in 1991, he railed against the homeless, AIDS patients, criticism of Christopher Columbus, aid to the Soviet Union, condoms in schools, animal rights advocates, multiculturalism and the social safety net.

His foes accused him of trafficking in half-truths, bias and outright lies — the very tactics he decried in others. Al Franken, the comedian and one-time senator, came out with a book in 1996 called “Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations.”

In 2003, Limbaugh admitted an addiction to painkillers and went into rehab. Authorities opened an investigation into alleged “doctor shopping,” saying he received up to 2,000 pills from four doctors over six months.

He ultimately reached a deal with prosecutors in which they agreed to drop the charge if he continued with drug treatment and paid $30,000 toward the cost of the investigation.

He lost his hearing around that time. He said it was from an autoimmune disorder, while his critics said hearing loss is a known side effect of painkiller abuse. He received cochlear implants, which restored his hearing and saved his career.

A portly, round-faced figure, Limbaugh was divorced three times, after marrying Roxy Maxine McNeely in 1977, Michelle Sixta in 1983 and Marta Fitzgerald in 1994. He married his fourth wife, Kathryn Rogers, in a lavish 2010 ceremony featuring Elton John. He had no children.

Rush Hudson Limbaugh III was born Jan. 12, 1951, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His mother was the former Mildred Armstrong, and his father, Rush Limbaugh Jr., was a lawyer.

Rusty, as the younger Limbaugh was known, was chubby and shy, with little interest in school but a passion for broadcasting. He would turn down the radio during St. Louis Cardinals baseball games, offering play-by-play, and gave running commentary during the evening news. By high school, he had snagged a radio job.

Limbaugh dropped out of Southeast Missouri State University for a string of DJ gigs, from his hometown, to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, to Pittsburgh and then Kansas City. Known as Rusty Sharpe and then Jeff Christie on the air, he mostly spun Top 40 hits and sprinkled in glimpses of his wit and conservatism.

“One of the early reasons radio interested me was that I thought it would make me popular,” he once wrote.

But he didn’t gain the following he craved and gave up on radio for several years, beginning in 1979, becoming promotions director for baseball’s Kansas City Royals. He ultimately returned to broadcasting, again in Kansas City and then Sacramento, California.

It was there in the early 1980s that Limbaugh really garnered an audience, broadcasting shows dripping with sarcasm and bravado. The stage name was gone.

Limbaugh began broadcasting nationally in 1988 from WABC in New York. While his know-it-all commentary quickly gained traction, he was dismayed by his reception in the big city. He thought he would be welcomed by Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather.

“I came to New York,” he wrote, “and I immediately became a nothing, a zero.”

Ultimately, Limbaugh moved his radio show to Palm Beach and bought his massive estate. Talkers Magazine, which covers the industry, said Limbaugh had the nation’s largest audience in 2019, with 15 million unique listeners each week.

“When Rush wants to talk to America, all he has to do is grab his microphone. He attracts more listeners with just his voice than the rest of us could ever imagine,” Beck wrote in Time magazine in 2009. “He is simply on another level.”

Limbaugh expounded on his world view in the best-selling books “The Way Things Ought to Be” and “See, I Told You So.”

He had a late-night TV show in the 1990s that got decent ratings but lackluster advertising because of his divisive message. When he guest-hosted “The Pat Sajak Show” in 1990, audience members called him a Nazi and repeatedly shouted at him.

He was fired from a short-lived job as an NFL commentator on ESPN in 2003 after he said the media had made a star out of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb because it was “very desirous that a black quarterback do well.” His racial remarks also derailed a 2009 bid to become one of the owners of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams.

“Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and just think to yourself, `I am just full of hot gas?’” David Letterman asked him in 1993 on “The Late Show.”

“I am a servant of humanity,” Limbaugh replied. “I am in the relentless pursuit of the truth. I actually sit back and think that I’m just so fortunate to have this opportunity to tell people what’s really going on.”

Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has died at the age of 70, according his wife Kathryn, who announced the news to open her husband's radio show Wednesday.

In February of 2020, Limbaugh revealed that he had advanced lung cancer. A few days later, President Trump invited Limbaugh to attend the State of the Union Address.&nbsp;

During the address, Limbaugh appeared stunned, when the President announced he was awarding the talk show legend with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.&nbsp; Others sat in silence as first lady Melania Trump draped the medal around his neck on the spot.

“Thank you for your decades of tireless devotion to our country,” Trump told Limbaugh, commending “all that you have done for our Nation, the millions of people a day that you speak to and that you inspire.”

-The Associated Press contributed to this report

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580901433879.png" alt="Limbaugh was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the State of the Union address in 2020 -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Limbaugh was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the State of the Union address in 2020 -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) —Rush Limbaugh, the talk radio host who ripped into liberals and laid waste to political correctness with a merry brand of malice that made him one of the most powerful voices on the American right and foretold the rise of Donald Trump, died Wednesday. He was 70.Limbaugh, an outspoken lover of cigars, had been diagnosed with lung cancer. His death was announced by his wife Kathryn to open her husband's radio show Wednesday and on his website.President Trump, during a State of the Union speech, awarded Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.Unflinchingly conservative, wildly partisan, bombastically self-promoting and larger than life, Limbaugh galvanized listeners for more than 30 years with his talent for vituperation and sarcasm.He called himself an entertainer, but his rants during his three-hour weekday radio show broadcast on nearly 600 U.S. stations shaped the national political conversation, swaying ordinary Republicans and the direction of their party.Blessed with a made-for-broadcasting voice, he delivered his opinions with such certainty that his followers, or “Ditto-heads,” as he dubbed them, took his words as sacred truth.“In my heart and soul, I know I have become the intellectual engine of the conservative movement,” Limbaugh, with typical immodesty, told author Zev Chafets in the 2010 book “Rush Limbaugh: An Army of One.”Forbes magazine estimated his 2018 income at $84 million, ranking him behind only Howard Stern among radio personalities.Limbaugh took as a badge of honor the title “most dangerous man in America.” He said he was the “truth detector,” the “doctor of democracy,” a “lover of mankind,” a “harmless, lovable little fuzz ball” and an “all-around good guy.” He claimed he had “talent on loan from God.”Long before Trump’s rise in politics, Limbaugh was pinning insulting names on his enemies and raging against the mainstream media, accusing it of feeding the public lies. He called Democrats and others on the left communists, wackos, feminazis, liberal extremists, faggots and radicals.When actor Michael J. Fox, suffering from Parkinson’s disease, appeared in a Democratic campaign commercial, Limbaugh mocked his tremors. When a Washington advocate for the homeless killed himself, he cracked jokes. As the AIDS epidemic raged in the 1980s, he made the dying a punchline. He called 12-year-old Chelsea Clinton a dog.He suggested that the Democrats’ stand on reproductive rights would have led to the abortion of Jesus Christ. When a woman accused Duke University lacrosse players of rape, he derided her as a “ho,” and when a Georgetown University law student supported expanded contraceptive coverage, he dismissed her as a “slut.” When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, Limbaugh said: “I hope he fails.”He was frequently accused of bigotry and blatant racism for such antics as playing the song “Barack the Magic Negro” on his show. The lyrics, set to the tune of “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” describe Obama as someone who “makes guilty whites feel good” and is “black, but not authentically.”Limbaugh often enunciated the Republican platform better and more entertainingly than any party leader, becoming a GOP kingmaker whose endorsement and friendship were sought. Polls consistently found he was regarded as the voice of the party.His idol, Ronald Reagan, wrote a letter of praise that Limbaugh proudly read on the air in 1992: “You’ve become the number one voice for conservatism.” In 1994, Limbaugh was so widely credited with the first Republican takeover of Congress in 40 years that the GOP made him an honorary member of the new class.During the 2016 presidential primaries, Limbaugh said he realized early on that Trump would be the nominee, and he likened the candidate’s deep connection with his supporters to his own. In a 2018 interview, he conceded Trump is rude but said that is because he is “fearless and willing to fight against the things that no Republican has been willing to fight against.”Trump, for his part, heaped praise on Limbaugh, and they golfed together. (The president’s Mar-a-Lago estate is eight miles down the same Palm Beach boulevard as Limbaugh’s $40 million beachfront expanse.) In honoring Limbaugh at the State of the Union, Trump called his friend “a special man beloved by millions.”Limbaugh influenced the likes of Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly and countless other conservative commentators who pushed the boundaries of what passes as acceptable public discourse.His brand of blunt, no-gray-area debate spread to cable TV, town hall meetings, political rallies and Congress itself, emerging during the battles over health care and the ascent of the tea party movement.“What he did was to bring a paranoia and really mean, nasty rhetoric and hyperpartisanship into the mainstream,” said Martin Kaplan, a University of Southern California professor who is an expert on the intersection of politics and entertainment and a frequent critic of Limbaugh. “The kind of antagonism and vituperativeness that characterized him instantly became acceptable everywhere.”In one breathless segment in 1991, he railed against the homeless, AIDS patients, criticism of Christopher Columbus, aid to the Soviet Union, condoms in schools, animal rights advocates, multiculturalism and the social safety net.His foes accused him of trafficking in half-truths, bias and outright lies — the very tactics he decried in others. Al Franken, the comedian and one-time senator, came out with a book in 1996 called “Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations.”In 2003, Limbaugh admitted an addiction to painkillers and went into rehab. Authorities opened an investigation into alleged “doctor shopping,” saying he received up to 2,000 pills from four doctors over six months.He ultimately reached a deal with prosecutors in which they agreed to drop the charge if he continued with drug treatment and paid $30,000 toward the cost of the investigation.He lost his hearing around that time. He said it was from an autoimmune disorder, while his critics said hearing loss is a known side effect of painkiller abuse. He received cochlear implants, which restored his hearing and saved his career.A portly, round-faced figure, Limbaugh was divorced three times, after marrying Roxy Maxine McNeely in 1977, Michelle Sixta in 1983 and Marta Fitzgerald in 1994. He married his fourth wife, Kathryn Rogers, in a lavish 2010 ceremony featuring Elton John. He had no children.Rush Hudson Limbaugh III was born Jan. 12, 1951, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His mother was the former Mildred Armstrong, and his father, Rush Limbaugh Jr., was a lawyer.Rusty, as the younger Limbaugh was known, was chubby and shy, with little interest in school but a passion for broadcasting. He would turn down the radio during St. Louis Cardinals baseball games, offering play-by-play, and gave running commentary during the evening news. By high school, he had snagged a radio job.Limbaugh dropped out of Southeast Missouri State University for a string of DJ gigs, from his hometown, to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, to Pittsburgh and then Kansas City. Known as Rusty Sharpe and then Jeff Christie on the air, he mostly spun Top 40 hits and sprinkled in glimpses of his wit and conservatism.“One of the early reasons radio interested me was that I thought it would make me popular,” he once wrote.But he didn’t gain the following he craved and gave up on radio for several years, beginning in 1979, becoming promotions director for baseball’s Kansas City Royals. He ultimately returned to broadcasting, again in Kansas City and then Sacramento, California.It was there in the early 1980s that Limbaugh really garnered an audience, broadcasting shows dripping with sarcasm and bravado. The stage name was gone.Limbaugh began broadcasting nationally in 1988 from WABC in New York. While his know-it-all commentary quickly gained traction, he was dismayed by his reception in the big city. He thought he would be welcomed by Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather.“I came to New York,” he wrote, “and I immediately became a nothing, a zero.”Ultimately, Limbaugh moved his radio show to Palm Beach and bought his massive estate. Talkers Magazine, which covers the industry, said Limbaugh had the nation’s largest audience in 2019, with 15 million unique listeners each week.“When Rush wants to talk to America, all he has to do is grab his microphone. He attracts more listeners with just his voice than the rest of us could ever imagine,” Beck wrote in Time magazine in 2009. “He is simply on another level.”Limbaugh expounded on his world view in the best-selling books “The Way Things Ought to Be” and “See, I Told You So.”He had a late-night TV show in the 1990s that got decent ratings but lackluster advertising because of his divisive message. When he guest-hosted “The Pat Sajak Show” in 1990, audience members called him a Nazi and repeatedly shouted at him.He was fired from a short-lived job as an NFL commentator on ESPN in 2003 after he said the media had made a star out of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb because it was “very desirous that a black quarterback do well.” His racial remarks also derailed a 2009 bid to become one of the owners of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams.“Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and just think to yourself, `I am just full of hot gas?’” David Letterman asked him in 1993 on “The Late Show.”“I am a servant of humanity,” Limbaugh replied. “I am in the relentless pursuit of the truth. I actually sit back and think that I’m just so fortunate to have this opportunity to tell people what’s really going on.”--------Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has died at the age of 70, according his wife Kathryn, who announced the news to open her husband's radio show Wednesday.In February of 2020, Limbaugh revealed that he had advanced lung cancer. A few days later, President Trump invited Limbaugh to attend the State of the Union Address.&nbsp;During the address, Limbaugh appeared stunned, when the President announced he was awarding the talk show legend with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.&nbsp; Others sat in silence as first lady Melania Trump draped the medal around his neck on the spot.“Thank you for your decades of tireless devotion to our country,” Trump told Limbaugh, commending “all that you have done for our Nation, the millions of people a day that you speak to and that you inspire.”-The Associated Press contributed to this report

Conservative talk radio legend Rush Limbaugh dead at 70

KANSAS CITY (AP) — As more coronavirus vaccine doses become available in the weeks and months ahead, many business owners face a difficult decision: whether to require employees to be inoculated.

And if they decide “yes,” they have to be ready for the possibility that some staffers will refuse.

Dentist Andrew Geller initially didn’t feel comfortable with requiring his staff to get the shots because of the many unknowns about the vaccine. But he did extensive research and concluded that the 23 employees at Geller Family Dental should be vaccinated. Turns out most were grateful that as health workers they could receive the vaccine when it first arrived.

However, Geller did have more difficult conversations with a handful of employees who were uneasy about getting the shots.

“I did my best to ensure them that this was going to maintain the health and safety of their families. It took a little bit longer for some to make an appointment, but they did, thankfully,” says Geller, whose practice is located in Bronxville, New York.

State governments determine who can be vaccinated and when; in most states, priority has been given to health workers, first responders and older people, but employees of some businesses — for example, restaurant workers in New York — are eligible. The general population isn’t expected to be vaccinated until the spring at the earliest, so most business owners still must decide what their policy on vaccinations will be.

It’s not known how many employers will require staffers to get the vaccine — and many companies likely haven’t made a decision. About two-thirds of Americans say they plan to get vaccinated or have already done so, according to a poll released Wednesday by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey also found that 15% of Americans say they will definitely not get the vaccine and another 17% say they probably will not.

Employers can require many staffers to be vaccinated under guidelines from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They can’t require inoculations for employees with medical conditions protected by the Americans with Disability Act or those who object to vaccinations for religious reasons. The ADA covers employers with 15 or more workers, and some state and municipal laws cover smaller businesses. Owners must find what the law calls a reasonable accommodation to allow these staffers to keep working. One example during the pandemic would be an assignment that could be done in a space a safe distance from co-workers or customers.

Employers have been contacting attorneys and human resources consultants and asking, what should we do?

“We are having some very honest and real conversations with clients to make sure it’s the right decision for them,” says Fernanda Anzek, a consultant with the human resources provider Insperity.

A frequently asked question is whether an employer can dismiss a staffer who refuses to be vaccinated and who isn’t protected by law. The short answer is yes.

“The employer has the latitude under the EEOC to keep the workplace safe,” says Jerry Maatman, an employment law attorney with Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago. But Maatman cautions that while the EEOC has released guidelines about the vaccine, issues over employers’ rights to dismiss staffers who don’t comply are likely to end up in court.

“These rulings are going to take place in the second and third quarters,” he says.

Maatman and Anzek advise businesses to seek legal or human resources advice before disciplining or dismissing employees over vaccinations, whether or not the staffers are in what’s called a protected class.

Legal and HR experts also recommend employers create companywide policies on vaccinations, provide each staffer with a copy and explain to everyone why the shots are necessary. And owners should keep in mind that this is a subject that requires sensitivity and understanding — an overbearing approach can be a morale buster.

“The best plan is education and policies and letting employees know that everything is uniform and you’re not singling anyone out,” says Andrew Zelmanowitz, an employment attorney with Berger Singerman in Fort Launderdale, Florida.

Owners may feel some trepidation before broaching the topic. Joann Butler decided to ask her 10 staffers how they felt about getting vaccinated, and “fortunately, everyone agreed it was something we need to do.”

“It’s always a slippery slope when you mandate something like this — with religious and health issues, not everyone is gung-ho,” says Butler, owner of Consultancy Media, a broadcast and production studio in New York.

The circumstances of a particular workplace can make the conversations easier. When Denise Buzy-Pucheu talked to the three staffers at her Newtown, Connecticut, bridal shop, “they were very on board — they want to keep safe,” she said. While in many stores the sales associates can keep a safe distance from shoppers, or have plastic barriers at checkout counters, employees of The Persnickety Bride have to help customers get in and out of gowns. There’s no way to do that without being right next to a bride.

“They understand the severity of this,” Buzy-Pucheu says of her staffers. “We are physically in touch with people.”

Some employers have opted to let staffers make their own decisions. Finally Restaurant Group, which operates 15 restaurants in four western states and Louisiana, is offering information about the vaccines and time off for employees to get them, but isn’t requiring shots.

“We’re letting them know what their options are, and they can make choices themselves,” says Ashley O’Bryan, director of human resources for the Bozeman, Montana-based company.

At Knead Hospitality &amp; Design, a restaurant group in Washington, D.C., hourly employees are being offered four hours pay and those on salary will get a day of paid time off if they are inoculated.

While co-founders Jason Berry and Michael Reginbogin want their employees to be vaccinated and are offering them incentives to get the shots, they’re stopping short of requiring inoculations.

“There are a lot of people out there who are vaccine hesitant for religious and ethical reasons. I don‘t think it‘s our job to tell people how to live their life,” Berry says.

Restaurant workers come in close contact with diners, but “we hope there’ll be enough peer pressure or excitement to get people on board on their own volition,” Berry says.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — As more coronavirus vaccine doses become available in the weeks and months ahead, many business owners face a difficult decision: whether to require employees to be inoculated.And if they decide “yes,” they have to be ready for the possibility that some staffers will refuse.Dentist Andrew Geller initially didn’t feel comfortable with requiring his staff to get the shots because of the many unknowns about the vaccine. But he did extensive research and concluded that the 23 employees at Geller Family Dental should be vaccinated. Turns out most were grateful that as health workers they could receive the vaccine when it first arrived.However, Geller did have more difficult conversations with a handful of employees who were uneasy about getting the shots.“I did my best to ensure them that this was going to maintain the health and safety of their families. It took a little bit longer for some to make an appointment, but they did, thankfully,” says Geller, whose practice is located in Bronxville, New York.State governments determine who can be vaccinated and when; in most states, priority has been given to health workers, first responders and older people, but employees of some businesses — for example, restaurant workers in New York — are eligible. The general population isn’t expected to be vaccinated until the spring at the earliest, so most business owners still must decide what their policy on vaccinations will be.It’s not known how many employers will require staffers to get the vaccine — and many companies likely haven’t made a decision. About two-thirds of Americans say they plan to get vaccinated or have already done so, according to a poll released Wednesday by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey also found that 15% of Americans say they will definitely not get the vaccine and another 17% say they probably will not.Employers can require many staffers to be vaccinated under guidelines from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They can’t require inoculations for employees with medical conditions protected by the Americans with Disability Act or those who object to vaccinations for religious reasons. The ADA covers employers with 15 or more workers, and some state and municipal laws cover smaller businesses. Owners must find what the law calls a reasonable accommodation to allow these staffers to keep working. One example during the pandemic would be an assignment that could be done in a space a safe distance from co-workers or customers.Employers have been contacting attorneys and human resources consultants and asking, what should we do?“We are having some very honest and real conversations with clients to make sure it’s the right decision for them,” says Fernanda Anzek, a consultant with the human resources provider Insperity.A frequently asked question is whether an employer can dismiss a staffer who refuses to be vaccinated and who isn’t protected by law. The short answer is yes.“The employer has the latitude under the EEOC to keep the workplace safe,” says Jerry Maatman, an employment law attorney with Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago. But Maatman cautions that while the EEOC has released guidelines about the vaccine, issues over employers’ rights to dismiss staffers who don’t comply are likely to end up in court.“These rulings are going to take place in the second and third quarters,” he says.Maatman and Anzek advise businesses to seek legal or human resources advice before disciplining or dismissing employees over vaccinations, whether or not the staffers are in what’s called a protected class.Legal and HR experts also recommend employers create companywide policies on vaccinations, provide each staffer with a copy and explain to everyone why the shots are necessary. And owners should keep in mind that this is a subject that requires sensitivity and understanding — an overbearing approach can be a morale buster.“The best plan is education and policies and letting employees know that everything is uniform and you’re not singling anyone out,” says Andrew Zelmanowitz, an employment attorney with Berger Singerman in Fort Launderdale, Florida.Owners may feel some trepidation before broaching the topic. Joann Butler decided to ask her 10 staffers how they felt about getting vaccinated, and “fortunately, everyone agreed it was something we need to do.”“It’s always a slippery slope when you mandate something like this — with religious and health issues, not everyone is gung-ho,” says Butler, owner of Consultancy Media, a broadcast and production studio in New York.The circumstances of a particular workplace can make the conversations easier. When Denise Buzy-Pucheu talked to the three staffers at her Newtown, Connecticut, bridal shop, “they were very on board — they want to keep safe,” she said. While in many stores the sales associates can keep a safe distance from shoppers, or have plastic barriers at checkout counters, employees of The Persnickety Bride have to help customers get in and out of gowns. There’s no way to do that without being right next to a bride.“They understand the severity of this,” Buzy-Pucheu says of her staffers. “We are physically in touch with people.”Some employers have opted to let staffers make their own decisions. Finally Restaurant Group, which operates 15 restaurants in four western states and Louisiana, is offering information about the vaccines and time off for employees to get them, but isn’t requiring shots.“We’re letting them know what their options are, and they can make choices themselves,” says Ashley O’Bryan, director of human resources for the Bozeman, Montana-based company.At Knead Hospitality &amp; Design, a restaurant group in Washington, D.C., hourly employees are being offered four hours pay and those on salary will get a day of paid time off if they are inoculated.While co-founders Jason Berry and Michael Reginbogin want their employees to be vaccinated and are offering them incentives to get the shots, they’re stopping short of requiring inoculations.“There are a lot of people out there who are vaccine hesitant for religious and ethical reasons. I don‘t think it‘s our job to tell people how to live their life,” Berry says.Restaurant workers come in close contact with diners, but “we hope there’ll be enough peer pressure or excitement to get people on board on their own volition,” Berry says.

Business owners ponder whether to require COVID-19 shots

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a man who is still on the lam with murder in the shooting death last week of another man in the Kansas City suburb of Belton.

Cass County prosecutors have charged Charles Baldwin Jr., 38, with murder, armed criminal action and weapons counts in the shooting death of 39-year-old Christopher Bell.

Belton officers were called around 12:30 a.m. Friday to an apartment complex and found Bell in the parking lot with gunshot wounds, police said. Bell later died.

Police are actively looking for Baldwin, and anyone with information on his whereabouts should call police, authorities said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613572851819.png" alt="Baldwin photo Belton Police" />
 <figcaption>Baldwin photo Belton Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a man who is still on the lam with murder in the shooting death last week of another man in the Kansas City suburb of Belton.Cass County prosecutors have charged Charles Baldwin Jr., 38, with murder, armed criminal action and weapons counts in the shooting death of 39-year-old Christopher Bell.Belton officers were called around 12:30 a.m. Friday to an apartment complex and found Bell in the parking lot with gunshot wounds, police said. Bell later died.Police are actively looking for Baldwin, and anyone with information on his whereabouts should call police, authorities said.

Prosecutors charge, police seek suspect in KC-area killing

WASHINGTON —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly joined the governors of&nbsp; other states in a phone call with President Joe Biden on Tuesday night.

The governors and the President discussed the extreme winter weather across the central and southern United States that is impacting tens of millions of Americans and leaving many homes without power, according to a release from the White House.

President Biden relayed to the governors that he and the First Lady were praying for a swift recovery from the effects from the storm.

Biden told the governors his administration is prepared to assist and stand ready to respond to requests for Federal assistance from the governors and will deploy any additional Federal resources available to assist the residents of their states in getting through this historic storm.

The President also expressed gratitude for all the workers on the front lines responding to the storm, especially road workers, highway patrol officers and first responders who are taking swift action in horrific conditions to save lives.

In addition to Kelly, the governors from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi were on the call, according to the White House.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613512667361.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly during her Monday press conference to answer questions about the severe winter weather." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly during her Monday press conference to answer questions about the severe winter weather.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly joined the governors of&nbsp; other states in a phone call with President Joe Biden on Tuesday night.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I just got off the phone with <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> &amp; 7 other Governors to provide an update on the challenges Kansas is facing due to extreme weather. President Biden assured us his administration will do everything possible to support our state until we are through this emergency.&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1361800896053706754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The governors and the President discussed the extreme winter weather across the central and southern United States that is impacting tens of millions of Americans and leaving many homes without power, according to a release from the White House.President Biden relayed to the governors that he and the First Lady were praying for a swift recovery from the effects from the storm.Biden told the governors his administration is prepared to assist and stand ready to respond to requests for Federal assistance from the governors and will deploy any additional Federal resources available to assist the residents of their states in getting through this historic storm.The President also expressed gratitude for all the workers on the front lines responding to the storm, especially road workers, highway patrol officers and first responders who are taking swift action in horrific conditions to save lives.In addition to Kelly, the governors from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi were on the call, according to the White House.

Biden, Gov. Kelly discuss response to historic winter weather

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 42-year-old Michael Stringfield of Topeka, according to police department spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.

Just before 11:30 p.m. Monday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center started receiving calls about gunshots in the area of the 3700 block of SW Plaza Drive in Topeka, according to Police LT. Matt Danielson.

Officers arrived and located Stringfield in a parking lot suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police used a K9 to track suspects from that location and found three individuals. They were apprehended and transported to the Law Enforcement Center for interviews. Those&nbsp;three individuals have since been released, according Spiker.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613483141832.png" alt="Police at the scene of the Tuesday morning shooting investigation photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the Tuesday morning shooting investigation photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 42-year-old Michael Stringfield of Topeka, according to police department spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.Just before 11:30 p.m. Monday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center started receiving calls about gunshots in the area of the 3700 block of SW Plaza Drive in Topeka, according to Police LT. Matt Danielson.Officers arrived and located Stringfield in a parking lot suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.Police used a K9 to track suspects from that location and found three individuals. They were apprehended and transported to the Law Enforcement Center for interviews. Those&nbsp;three individuals have since been released, according Spiker.

Police ID Kan. man who died in shooting; 3 suspects questioned, released

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is likely to have pockets of a new, more contagious coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom, and public health officials believe it could become the state’s dominant strain, the head of the state health department said Tuesday.

Dr. Lee Norman also said that winter weather across the central and eastern U.S. has created a “brief speed bump” in the second phase of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Norman said the shipment of some vaccine doses from the federal government have been delayed a few days, and below-zero temperatures prompted the Shawnee County health department in northeast Kansas to cancel a vaccination clinic.

The first recorded Kansas case of the United Kingdom coronavirus variant was&nbsp;<a href="https://khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us/NewsRelease/PDFs/2-3-21%20variant%20final.pdf" target="_blank">in Ellis County</a>&nbsp;earlier this month, infecting a student-athlete at Fort Hays State University “who never was particularly very ill,” Norman said. The state health department said Monday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-hays-health-kansas-wichita-8d11eb934446eb05bb79fca33b4a4e2f">a second case&nbsp;</a>had been identified in Sedgwick County, home to Wichita, and Norman said the person infected was a “young man” who had traveled out of state.

Public health officials said the emergence of the coronavirus variant in a majority of states means that people can’t let their guard down about wearing masks, social distancing and taking other precautions. Norman said the case in Ellis County in northwest Kansas and in Sedgwick County in south-central Kansas are not connected.

“We are getting the feeling that it will become a dominant strain because it is more infectious,” Norman said during an online briefing with University of Kansas Health System officials. “I’m sure there’s going to be pockets of spread in local regions.”

The state identifies coronavirus variants through genetic testing, and Norman said the state health department is now doing it for medical providers “whenever we’re asked.”

Meanwhile, Kansas is still dealing with the economic effects of the pandemic, and Gov. Laura Kelly said Tuesday that the state will receive $200 million under the last federal coronavirus relief legislation approved in December to help people struggling to pay their rent and utility bills. The city of Wichita plans to take applications for its residents starting Feb. 22, and the state’s Housing Resources Corporation will be begin taking them from people outside Wichita on March 15.

Kansas has seen the number of new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases drop in recent weeks. The state averaged 641 new cases a day for the seven days ending Monday, according to state Department of Health and Environment data, the lowest figure since early October. The state averaged 30 additional COVID-19 deaths a day during the same period.

The state health department has reported more than 287,000 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases since the pandemic reached Kansas in early March 2020, or nearly one for every 10 of the state’s 2.9 million residents. The state has reported more than 4,400 deaths, or one for every 661 residents.

The state health department is reporting that as of Monday, nearly 292,000 Kansas residents, or 10% of the population, have received at least the first of two required vaccine doses. Norman has said repeatedly that the number of shots given is actually higher than reported because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-1627f9bd4761376d9f0e117b9499e98c">a lag in reporting&nbsp;</a>that the state is working to end.

The state launched its second phase of vaccinations last month, and it covers people over 65, as well as teachers, workers critical to the economy and people in group living situations, including prison inmates. That’s as many as 1 million people, and Gov. Laura Kelly and the health department have repeatedly faced criticism that it’s moving too slowly.

The Shawnee County Health Department in Topeka also cited the possibility of rolling electricity blackouts in canceling its clinic in an older exhibition building near the city’s largest arena and convention center, though Evergy, the electric provider for Topeka, later announced that blackouts used to limit the demand on its system had been suspended Tuesday morning.

Spokesman Craig Barnes said the county health department will open its planned vaccination clinic Thursday three hours early to allow people who’d planned to get shots Tuesday to still get them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611785447420.png" alt="The state identifies coronavirus variants through genetic testing, and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman said the state health department is now doing this for medical providers “whenever we’re asked.”" />
 <figcaption>The state identifies coronavirus variants through genetic testing, and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman said the state health department is now doing this for medical providers “whenever we’re asked.”</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is likely to have pockets of a new, more contagious coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom, and public health officials believe it could become the state’s dominant strain, the head of the state health department said Tuesday.Dr. Lee Norman also said that winter weather across the central and eastern U.S. has created a “brief speed bump” in the second phase of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Norman said the shipment of some vaccine doses from the federal government have been delayed a few days, and below-zero temperatures prompted the Shawnee County health department in northeast Kansas to cancel a vaccination clinic.The first recorded Kansas case of the United Kingdom coronavirus variant was&nbsp;<a href="https://khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us/NewsRelease/PDFs/2-3-21%20variant%20final.pdf" target="_blank">in Ellis County</a>&nbsp;earlier this month, infecting a student-athlete at Fort Hays State University “who never was particularly very ill,” Norman said. The state health department said Monday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-hays-health-kansas-wichita-8d11eb934446eb05bb79fca33b4a4e2f">a second case&nbsp;</a>had been identified in Sedgwick County, home to Wichita, and Norman said the person infected was a “young man” who had traveled out of state.Public health officials said the emergence of the coronavirus variant in a majority of states means that people can’t let their guard down about wearing masks, social distancing and taking other precautions. Norman said the case in Ellis County in northwest Kansas and in Sedgwick County in south-central Kansas are not connected.“We are getting the feeling that it will become a dominant strain because it is more infectious,” Norman said during an online briefing with University of Kansas Health System officials. “I’m sure there’s going to be pockets of spread in local regions.”The state identifies coronavirus variants through genetic testing, and Norman said the state health department is now doing it for medical providers “whenever we’re asked.”Meanwhile, Kansas is still dealing with the economic effects of the pandemic, and Gov. Laura Kelly said Tuesday that the state will receive $200 million under the last federal coronavirus relief legislation approved in December to help people struggling to pay their rent and utility bills. The city of Wichita plans to take applications for its residents starting Feb. 22, and the state’s Housing Resources Corporation will be begin taking them from people outside Wichita on March 15.Kansas has seen the number of new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases drop in recent weeks. The state averaged 641 new cases a day for the seven days ending Monday, according to state Department of Health and Environment data, the lowest figure since early October. The state averaged 30 additional COVID-19 deaths a day during the same period.The state health department has reported more than 287,000 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases since the pandemic reached Kansas in early March 2020, or nearly one for every 10 of the state’s 2.9 million residents. The state has reported more than 4,400 deaths, or one for every 661 residents.The state health department is reporting that as of Monday, nearly 292,000 Kansas residents, or 10% of the population, have received at least the first of two required vaccine doses. Norman has said repeatedly that the number of shots given is actually higher than reported because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-kansas-coronavirus-pandemic-1627f9bd4761376d9f0e117b9499e98c">a lag in reporting&nbsp;</a>that the state is working to end.The state launched its second phase of vaccinations last month, and it covers people over 65, as well as teachers, workers critical to the economy and people in group living situations, including prison inmates. That’s as many as 1 million people, and Gov. Laura Kelly and the health department have repeatedly faced criticism that it’s moving too slowly.The Shawnee County Health Department in Topeka also cited the possibility of rolling electricity blackouts in canceling its clinic in an older exhibition building near the city’s largest arena and convention center, though Evergy, the electric provider for Topeka, later announced that blackouts used to limit the demand on its system had been suspended Tuesday morning.Spokesman Craig Barnes said the county health department will open its planned vaccination clinic Thursday three hours early to allow people who’d planned to get shots Tuesday to still get them.

Top Kansas health official expects 'pockets' of coronavirus variant

MILWAUKEE (AP) — President Joe Biden is promising a majority of elementary schools will be open five days a week by the end of his first 100 days in office, restating his goal after his administration came under fire when aides said schools would be considered open if they held in-person learning just one day a week.

Biden’s comments, during a CNN town hall in Milwaukee, marked his clearest statement yet on school reopenings. Biden had pledged in December to reopen “the majority of our schools” in his first 100 days but has since faced increasing questions about how he would define and achieve that goal, with school districts operating under a patchwork of different virtual and in-person learning arrangements nationwide.

“I said open a majority of schools in K through eighth grade, because they’re the easiest to open, the most needed to be open in terms of the impact on children and families having to stay home,” Biden said.

He said comments by White House press secretary Jen Psaki earlier this month that one day a week of in-person learning would meet his goal were “a mistake in the communication.”

Asked when the nation would see kindergarten through eighth grades back to in-person learning five days a week, Biden said, “We’ll be close to that at the end of the first 100 days.” He said he expected many schools would push to stay open through the summer, but suggested reopening would take longer for high schools due to a higher risk of contagion among older students.

The town hall touched on a range of issues related to the coronavirus, from protections for small businesses to the administration’s vaccination plans. Biden said that by the end of July there would be 600 million doses of the vaccine available, enough to vaccinate every American.

But with many of his answers, he sought to emphasize the need for funding to achieve his goals. The town hall was aimed at selling his $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package directly to the American people, part of an effort designed in part to put pressure on Republican lawmakers and refocus Congress on speedy passage of the bill now that his predecessor’s impeachment trial is behind him.

Biden underscored how much he wants to move beyond Donald Trump on Tuesday night, repeatedly refusing to talk about the former president and saying at one point, “I’m tired of talking about Donald Trump.”

“For four years, all that’s been in the news is Trump. For the next four years, I want to make sure all the news is the American people,” he said, to applause from the audience.

During the town hall, Biden also offered a flavor of the moderate stance that helped win him purple states like Wisconsin in 2020. He resisted a questioner’s request for his administration to embrace the progressive goal of forgiving $50,000 in student loan debt, reiterating his commitment to forgiving just $10,000. He suggested one of the ways to improve policing was to provide more funding to police departments, running counter to calls from some progressives to defund the police. He also said he was optimistic about passing legislation to study police reforms.

He also weighed in on the immigration bill his administration is expected to unveil this week. Biden affirmed that a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants is essential for any bill he’ll support, but also suggested he’d be open to a piecemeal approach to immigration reform rather than a comprehensive bill, if necessary.

“There’s things I would do by itself, but not at the expense of saying I’m never going to do the other,” he said.

Biden seemed to revel in his first opportunity for extended interaction with ordinary Americans since the inauguration. Comforting a second-grader who hasn’t been able to go school and was worried about getting the virus, Biden told the girl that children are less likely to get infected, adding, “I wouldn’t worry about it, baby, I promise you.”

He also offered an intimate description of living in the White House, expressing his discomfort with being tended to by staff. With about a month of White House living under his belt, Biden joked that he wakes up in the morning, looks at his wife, Jill, and asks, “Where the hell are we?”

Biden stressed that his massive virus aid bill already has broad public support, and noted some analysts have argued in favor of significant government spending to help boost the economy.

“Now is the time we should be spending,” Biden said.

The House is expected to vote on the measure next week.

Biden landed on a slick, snow-covered tarmac to below-freezing weather about 90 minutes before the evening program. He took questions from a small audience of Democrats, Republicans and independents invited for a small, socially distant gathering at the historic Pabst Theater.

Biden’s trip to Wisconsin, a political battleground state he narrowly won last November, comes as coronavirus infection rates and deaths are falling after the nation endured the two deadliest months so far of the pandemic. The White House is also reporting an increase in the administration of vaccines throughout the country after a slow start.

But Biden has stressed that the nation still has a long road ahead as thousands of Americans die each day in the worst U.S. public health crisis in a century. The virus has killed more than 485,000, and newly emerging variants are complicating the response effort.

The Biden administration is trying to get enough Americans vaccinated to achieve “herd immunity” and allow life to return to a semblance of normalcy. But it’s unclear when the vaccination will be widely accessible to Americans.

Biden’s team hopes funding provided in the coronavirus aid bill will help accelerate vaccination production and distribution. His team also argues that the federal government must keep open the spigot of government relief to help people who are suffering economically and to get the country back to pre-pandemic employment levels.

But many GOP lawmakers continue to bristle at the price tag of a package that calls for sending $1,400 checks to most Americans as well as assistance for businesses, schools and homeowners and renters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613525874871.png" alt="President Biden boarding Air Force One on the way to Milwaukee on Tuesday-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden boarding Air Force One on the way to Milwaukee on Tuesday-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>MILWAUKEE (AP) — President Joe Biden is promising a majority of elementary schools will be open five days a week by the end of his first 100 days in office, restating his goal after his administration came under fire when aides said schools would be considered open if they held in-person learning just one day a week.Biden’s comments, during a CNN town hall in Milwaukee, marked his clearest statement yet on school reopenings. Biden had pledged in December to reopen “the majority of our schools” in his first 100 days but has since faced increasing questions about how he would define and achieve that goal, with school districts operating under a patchwork of different virtual and in-person learning arrangements nationwide.“I said open a majority of schools in K through eighth grade, because they’re the easiest to open, the most needed to be open in terms of the impact on children and families having to stay home,” Biden said.He said comments by White House press secretary Jen Psaki earlier this month that one day a week of in-person learning would meet his goal were “a mistake in the communication.”Asked when the nation would see kindergarten through eighth grades back to in-person learning five days a week, Biden said, “We’ll be close to that at the end of the first 100 days.” He said he expected many schools would push to stay open through the summer, but suggested reopening would take longer for high schools due to a higher risk of contagion among older students.The town hall touched on a range of issues related to the coronavirus, from protections for small businesses to the administration’s vaccination plans. Biden said that by the end of July there would be 600 million doses of the vaccine available, enough to vaccinate every American.But with many of his answers, he sought to emphasize the need for funding to achieve his goals. The town hall was aimed at selling his $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package directly to the American people, part of an effort designed in part to put pressure on Republican lawmakers and refocus Congress on speedy passage of the bill now that his predecessor’s impeachment trial is behind him.Biden underscored how much he wants to move beyond Donald Trump on Tuesday night, repeatedly refusing to talk about the former president and saying at one point, “I’m tired of talking about Donald Trump.”“For four years, all that’s been in the news is Trump. For the next four years, I want to make sure all the news is the American people,” he said, to applause from the audience.During the town hall, Biden also offered a flavor of the moderate stance that helped win him purple states like Wisconsin in 2020. He resisted a questioner’s request for his administration to embrace the progressive goal of forgiving $50,000 in student loan debt, reiterating his commitment to forgiving just $10,000. He suggested one of the ways to improve policing was to provide more funding to police departments, running counter to calls from some progressives to defund the police. He also said he was optimistic about passing legislation to study police reforms.He also weighed in on the immigration bill his administration is expected to unveil this week. Biden affirmed that a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants is essential for any bill he’ll support, but also suggested he’d be open to a piecemeal approach to immigration reform rather than a comprehensive bill, if necessary.“There’s things I would do by itself, but not at the expense of saying I’m never going to do the other,” he said.Biden seemed to revel in his first opportunity for extended interaction with ordinary Americans since the inauguration. Comforting a second-grader who hasn’t been able to go school and was worried about getting the virus, Biden told the girl that children are less likely to get infected, adding, “I wouldn’t worry about it, baby, I promise you.”He also offered an intimate description of living in the White House, expressing his discomfort with being tended to by staff. With about a month of White House living under his belt, Biden joked that he wakes up in the morning, looks at his wife, Jill, and asks, “Where the hell are we?”Biden stressed that his massive virus aid bill already has broad public support, and noted some analysts have argued in favor of significant government spending to help boost the economy.“Now is the time we should be spending,” Biden said.The House is expected to vote on the measure next week.Biden landed on a slick, snow-covered tarmac to below-freezing weather about 90 minutes before the evening program. He took questions from a small audience of Democrats, Republicans and independents invited for a small, socially distant gathering at the historic Pabst Theater.Biden’s trip to Wisconsin, a political battleground state he narrowly won last November, comes as coronavirus infection rates and deaths are falling after the nation endured the two deadliest months so far of the pandemic. The White House is also reporting an increase in the administration of vaccines throughout the country after a slow start.But Biden has stressed that the nation still has a long road ahead as thousands of Americans die each day in the worst U.S. public health crisis in a century. The virus has killed more than 485,000, and newly emerging variants are complicating the response effort.The Biden administration is trying to get enough Americans vaccinated to achieve “herd immunity” and allow life to return to a semblance of normalcy. But it’s unclear when the vaccination will be widely accessible to Americans.Biden’s team hopes funding provided in the coronavirus aid bill will help accelerate vaccination production and distribution. His team also argues that the federal government must keep open the spigot of government relief to help people who are suffering economically and to get the country back to pre-pandemic employment levels.But many GOP lawmakers continue to bristle at the price tag of a package that calls for sending $1,400 checks to most Americans as well as assistance for businesses, schools and homeowners and renters.

President Biden talks schools, virus relief during town hall 

COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 8 p.m. February 11, police received a report of three suspicious individuals who were allegedly attempting to enter parked vehicles in the 1400 block of South A Street in Arkansas City, according to a media release.

Officers began searching the area located the three suspect in the 1200 block of South Third Street. Two of the suspects fled the area and were not immediately apprehended. 

Police interviewed one of the suspects and learned he was a juvenile, found in possession of items they suspected to be stolen.

Through the course of the investigation, officers learned the three suspects allegedly stole items from multiple vehicles in Arkansas City. The two suspects who fled later were located and apprehended.

One of the suspects also was a juvenile male and the third suspect later was identified as 21-year-old Aaron Christian Griffith.

Police determined the three suspects allegedly stole two handguns from different vehicles in Ark City, one in the 700 block of North Second Street and the other in the 400 block of West Walnut Avenue.

Police have recovered the handguns. Officers suspect the three were checking for unlocked vehicles throughout the city, ranging from Cowley College to the 700 block of North Second Street. The suspects allegedly attempted to enter several vehicles in the 1300 blocks of South A, B and C streets.

Griffith remains in custody on requested felony charges of burglary of a motor vehicle, two felony counts each of contributing to a child’s misconduct and theft of a firearm, one felony count of criminal possession of a firearm by felon, and one misdemeanor count of theft of property.

The juvenile were arrested suspicion of three felony counts of burglary of a motor vehicle, two felony counts of theft of a firearm, and one misdemeanor count of theft of property. They later were released to the custody of a guardian.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613503278984.png" alt="Griffith photo Cowley County&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Griffith photo Cowley County&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just after 8 p.m. February 11, police received a report of three suspicious individuals who were allegedly attempting to enter parked vehicles in the 1400 block of South A Street in Arkansas City, according to a media release.Officers began searching the area located the three suspect in the 1200 block of South Third Street. Two of the suspects fled the area and were not immediately apprehended. Police interviewed one of the suspects and learned he was a juvenile, found in possession of items they suspected to be stolen.Through the course of the investigation, officers learned the three suspects allegedly stole items from multiple vehicles in Arkansas City. The two suspects who fled later were located and apprehended.One of the suspects also was a juvenile male and the third suspect later was identified as 21-year-old Aaron Christian Griffith.Police determined the three suspects allegedly stole two handguns from different vehicles in Ark City, one in the 700 block of North Second Street and the other in the 400 block of West Walnut Avenue.Police have recovered the handguns. Officers suspect the three were checking for unlocked vehicles throughout the city, ranging from Cowley College to the 700 block of North Second Street. The suspects allegedly attempted to enter several vehicles in the 1300 blocks of South A, B and C streets.Griffith remains in custody on requested felony charges of burglary of a motor vehicle, two felony counts each of contributing to a child’s misconduct and theft of a firearm, one felony count of criminal possession of a firearm by felon, and one misdemeanor count of theft of property.The juvenile were arrested suspicion of three felony counts of burglary of a motor vehicle, two felony counts of theft of a firearm, and one misdemeanor count of theft of property. They later were released to the custody of a guardian.

Police catch Kan. man who took handguns from vehicles

LINCOLN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Monday in Lincoln County.

Just after 5:30p.m. the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department responded to a 911 call at a home in Beverly where a teen had been shot, according to Melissa Underwood, spokesperson for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

First responders found a 15-year-old girl with a gunshot wound.&nbsp; EMS transported her to the hospital in Salina where she was pronounced dead, according to the KBI.&nbsp; &nbsp;Authorities released no additional details on Tuesday.&nbsp; Beverly is located approximately 30 miles northwest of Salina.

LINCOLN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Monday in Lincoln County.Just after 5:30p.m. the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department responded to a 911 call at a home in Beverly where a teen had been shot, according to Melissa Underwood, spokesperson for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.First responders found a 15-year-old girl with a gunshot wound.&nbsp; EMS transported her to the hospital in Salina where she was pronounced dead, according to the KBI.&nbsp; &nbsp;Authorities released no additional details on Tuesday.&nbsp; Beverly is located approximately 30 miles northwest of Salina.

KBI: 15-year-old dead after north-central Kan. shooting

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer will not face charges for shooting at a suspect in December, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said Tuesday.

Officer Daniel Vance, who was shot in the confrontation on Dec. 15, was justified in shooting at Jesse James Flaugher, Howe said.

The encounter began while Vance was watching a car that was believed to be involved in an earlier hit-and-run in Overland Park. Flaugher noticed Vance watching him and started shooting before the officer could draw his gun, Howe said.

One bullet struck Vaughn’s Taser gear and ballistic vest and another hit him in the arm. Howe said his investigation found that Vance fired once before his gun malfunctioned. He was treated and released from a hospital the same day.T

Flaugher drove away but was captured three days later in Edgerton. He is charged with attempted capital murder and possession of a firearm by a felon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608730975884.png" alt="Jesse James Flaugher " />
 <figcaption>Jesse James Flaugher </figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer will not face charges for shooting at a suspect in December, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said Tuesday.Officer Daniel Vance, who was shot in the confrontation on Dec. 15, was justified in shooting at Jesse James Flaugher, Howe said.The encounter began while Vance was watching a car that was believed to be involved in an earlier hit-and-run in Overland Park. Flaugher noticed Vance watching him and started shooting before the officer could draw his gun, Howe said.One bullet struck Vaughn’s Taser gear and ballistic vest and another hit him in the arm. Howe said his investigation found that Vance fired once before his gun malfunctioned. He was treated and released from a hospital the same day.TFlaugher drove away but was captured three days later in Edgerton. He is charged with attempted capital murder and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Kan. officer who was shot won't face charges for shooting at suspect

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation announced $200 million in statewide rental assistance on Tuesday.

 The initiative, funded&nbsp;through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, provides the state of Kansas with $200 million to support housing stability and prevent evictions and homelessness, according to a media release from Kelly's office.

“COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for Kansans, and it is more important than ever to keep our families safe in their homes,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.&nbsp;“The $200 million funding for rental assistance will go a long way to prevent evictions and homelessness, and ensure Kansans can stay sheltered and secure while we continue to fight this virus.”

Kansans&nbsp;struggling to cover&nbsp;rent and utility payments due to COVID may qualify for up to&nbsp;12 months&nbsp;of&nbsp;emergency&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;thanks to new&nbsp;federal&nbsp;relief.&nbsp;Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC)&nbsp;and the&nbsp;City of Wichita&nbsp;will administer the funds.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Home has never been more important,”&nbsp;said Ryan Vincent, KHRC Executive Director. “Home has always been a place of shelter, but&nbsp;in the midst of&nbsp;the&nbsp;pandemic it’s also become our virtual workplace, classroom, and gathering space.&nbsp;Rental assistance protects&nbsp;Kansans’ access to home when they need it most.”&nbsp;

Tenants may qualify for assistance if they earn no more than 80&nbsp;percent of their area’s median income,&nbsp;are experiencing documented financial hardship as a result of the COVID&nbsp;pandemic and&nbsp;may be at risk of housing instability or homelessness without assistance.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“In&nbsp;unprecedented times of hardship, it’s imperative that we step up to provide security to those in need,”&nbsp;said Sally Stang, Director of Housing and Community Services for the City of Wichita.&nbsp;“Everyone needs a little help now and then, and we want to ensure that families and individuals who need help to stay in their homes receive it.”&nbsp;

Wichita residents may apply through the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.tAtFH55-od1oLyAI9GHcUlNaZ3PiU1NIKEpuD33Jn-M/s/1303160919/br/97675582574-l" target="_blank">Wichita Emergency Rental Assistance Program (WERAP)</a>&nbsp;administered by the&nbsp;city’s Housing and Community Services division. The&nbsp;city’s&nbsp;online application will open on Monday, February 22, 2021.

Kansans living outside the Wichita city limits may apply through the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.jQvumyYIG5otgdQtPx59nJXH2BHkndA64CLUvf1XVxc/s/1303160919/br/97675582574-l" target="_blank">Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA)</a>&nbsp;program administered by KHRC. The&nbsp;online&nbsp;KERA application will open on Monday, March 15, 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The KERA and WERAP programs follow the 2020&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.DmEDZDraeczogZEnT6DY5s0sBll4UzvI7Bi7mgH45Bk/s/1303160919/br/97675582574-l" target="_blank">Kansas Eviction Prevention Program (KEPP)</a>, a $20 million assistance initiative administered by KHRC with federal CARES Act funding. In the roughly 60 days that the program was in statewide operation, KHRC received 10,138 applications for more than $25 million requested in assistance, representing 27,200 Kansans financially impacted by COVID.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608310013858.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly " />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly </figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation announced $200 million in statewide rental assistance on Tuesday. The initiative, funded&nbsp;through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, provides the state of Kansas with $200 million to support housing stability and prevent evictions and homelessness, according to a media release from Kelly's office.“COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for Kansans, and it is more important than ever to keep our families safe in their homes,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.&nbsp;“The $200 million funding for rental assistance will go a long way to prevent evictions and homelessness, and ensure Kansans can stay sheltered and secure while we continue to fight this virus.”Kansans&nbsp;struggling to cover&nbsp;rent and utility payments due to COVID may qualify for up to&nbsp;12 months&nbsp;of&nbsp;emergency&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;thanks to new&nbsp;federal&nbsp;relief.&nbsp;Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC)&nbsp;and the&nbsp;City of Wichita&nbsp;will administer the funds.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Home has never been more important,”&nbsp;said Ryan Vincent, KHRC Executive Director. “Home has always been a place of shelter, but&nbsp;in the midst of&nbsp;the&nbsp;pandemic it’s also become our virtual workplace, classroom, and gathering space.&nbsp;Rental assistance protects&nbsp;Kansans’ access to home when they need it most.”&nbsp;Tenants may qualify for assistance if they earn no more than 80&nbsp;percent of their area’s median income,&nbsp;are experiencing documented financial hardship as a result of the COVID&nbsp;pandemic and&nbsp;may be at risk of housing instability or homelessness without assistance.&nbsp;&nbsp;“In&nbsp;unprecedented times of hardship, it’s imperative that we step up to provide security to those in need,”&nbsp;said Sally Stang, Director of Housing and Community Services for the City of Wichita.&nbsp;“Everyone needs a little help now and then, and we want to ensure that families and individuals who need help to stay in their homes receive it.”&nbsp;Wichita residents may apply through the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.tAtFH55-od1oLyAI9GHcUlNaZ3PiU1NIKEpuD33Jn-M/s/1303160919/br/97675582574-l" target="_blank">Wichita Emergency Rental Assistance Program (WERAP)</a>&nbsp;administered by the&nbsp;city’s Housing and Community Services division. The&nbsp;city’s&nbsp;online application will open on Monday, February 22, 2021.Kansans living outside the Wichita city limits may apply through the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.jQvumyYIG5otgdQtPx59nJXH2BHkndA64CLUvf1XVxc/s/1303160919/br/97675582574-l" target="_blank">Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA)</a>&nbsp;program administered by KHRC. The&nbsp;online&nbsp;KERA application will open on Monday, March 15, 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;The KERA and WERAP programs follow the 2020&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.DmEDZDraeczogZEnT6DY5s0sBll4UzvI7Bi7mgH45Bk/s/1303160919/br/97675582574-l" target="_blank">Kansas Eviction Prevention Program (KEPP)</a>, a $20 million assistance initiative administered by KHRC with federal CARES Act funding. In the roughly 60 days that the program was in statewide operation, KHRC received 10,138 applications for more than $25 million requested in assistance, representing 27,200 Kansans financially impacted by COVID.&nbsp;

Pandemic assistance: Governor announces $200M for renters 

KANSAS CITY — The family of a 5-year-old girl left in a coma following a crash involving Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid says the girl is now awake, according to a statement on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/5-year-old-ariel-medical-expenses">GoFundMe</a>&nbsp;page for Ariel Young. On Tuesday afternoon Kansas City Police reported she is now breathing on her own but remains unresponsive, according to a statement on the agency's web site.

The girl has been hospitalized since the Feb. 4 crash. Reid is head coach Andy Reid’s son. Britt Reid was initially placed on administrative leave following the multi-vehicle crash. He's no longer employed by the team. Police said the crash happened near the team’s training complex next to Arrowhead Stadium when Reid's truck slammed into two cars on the side of the road. 

Police say Reid admitted to having “two or three drinks” before the crash.

Last week, a police spokeswoman said an investigation into whether Reid was impaired before the accident could take several days to complete. Tuesday afternoon, Kansas City Police said their investigation of the accident continues.

Britt Reid has been in legal trouble several times.

He was arrested in January 2007 in Pennsylvania a road-rage incident in which he pointed a gun at another driver, and he was sentenced to up to 23 months in jail and five years of probation after pleading guilty to charges of carrying an unlicensed firearm, simple assault, possession of a controlled substance and possession of an instrument of crime.

Seven months later, Reid was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to up to six months in jail.

Reid appeared to get his life on track, beginning his coaching career as an intern for his father with the Eagles in 2009. He spent the next two years as a graduate assistant at Temple, his alma mater, before joining the staff in Kansas City.

After two seasons as a defensive quality control coach, Reid was promoted to assistant defensive line coach. He then spent three seasons as the defensive line coach before shifting to outside linebackers for the past two seasons.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612784011749.png" alt="Ariel Young photo courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/5-year-old-ariel-medical-expenses">GoFundMe</a>" />
 <figcaption>Ariel Young photo courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/5-year-old-ariel-medical-expenses">GoFundMe</a></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — The family of a 5-year-old girl left in a coma following a crash involving Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid says the girl is now awake, according to a statement on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/5-year-old-ariel-medical-expenses">GoFundMe</a>&nbsp;page for Ariel Young. On Tuesday afternoon Kansas City Police reported she is now breathing on her own but remains unresponsive, according to a statement on the agency's web site.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612570726901.png" alt="Britt Reid photo courtesy KC Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Britt Reid photo courtesy KC Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>The girl has been hospitalized since the Feb. 4 crash. Reid is head coach Andy Reid’s son. Britt Reid was initially placed on administrative leave following the multi-vehicle crash. He's no longer employed by the team. Police said the crash happened near the team’s training complex next to Arrowhead Stadium when Reid's truck slammed into two cars on the side of the road. Police say Reid admitted to having “two or three drinks” before the crash.Last week, a police spokeswoman said an investigation into whether Reid was impaired before the accident could take several days to complete. Tuesday afternoon, Kansas City Police said their investigation of the accident continues.Britt Reid has been in legal trouble several times.He was arrested in January 2007 in Pennsylvania a road-rage incident in which he pointed a gun at another driver, and he was sentenced to up to 23 months in jail and five years of probation after pleading guilty to charges of carrying an unlicensed firearm, simple assault, possession of a controlled substance and possession of an instrument of crime.Seven months later, Reid was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to up to six months in jail.Reid appeared to get his life on track, beginning his coaching career as an intern for his father with the Eagles in 2009. He spent the next two years as a graduate assistant at Temple, his alma mater, before joining the staff in Kansas City.After two seasons as a defensive quality control coach, Reid was promoted to assistant defensive line coach. He then spent three seasons as the defensive line coach before shifting to outside linebackers for the past two seasons.

Update: Girl hurt in crash involving Chiefs coach Britt Reid is unresponsive

WASHINGTON (AP) — Union activist Terrence Wise recalls being laughed at when he began pushing for a national $15 per hour minimum wage almost a decade ago. Nearly a year into the pandemic, the idea isn’t so funny.

The coronavirus has renewed focus on challenges facing hourly employees who have continued working in grocery stores, gas stations and other in-person locations even as much of the workforce has shifted to virtual environments. President Joe Biden has responded by including a provision in the massive pandemic relief bill that would more than double the minimum wage from the current $7.25 to $15 per hour.

But the effort is facing an unexpected roadblock: Biden himself. The president has seemingly undermined the push to raise the minimum wage by acknowledging its dim prospects in Congress, where it faces political opposition and procedural hurdles.

That’s frustrating to activists like Wise, who worry their victory is being snatched away at the last minute despite an administration that’s otherwise an outspoken ally.

“To have it this close on the doorstep, they need to get it done,” said Wise, a 41-year-old department manager at a McDonald’s in Kansas City and a national leader of Fight for 15, an organized labor movement. “They need to feel the pressure.”

The minimum wage debate highlights one of the central tensions emerging in the early days of Biden’s presidency. He won the White House with pledges to respond to the pandemic with a barrage of liberal policy proposals. But as a 36-year veteran of the Senate, Biden is particularly attuned to the political dynamics on Capitol Hill and can be blunt in his assessments.

“I don’t think it’s going to survive,” Biden recently told CBS News, referring to the minimum wage hike.

There’s a certain political realism in Biden’s remark.

With the Senate evenly divided, the proposal doesn’t have the 60 votes needed to make it to the floor on its own. Democrats could use an arcane budgetary procedure that would attach the minimum wage to the pandemic response bill and allow it to pass with a simple majority vote.

But even that’s not easy. Some moderate Democratic senators, including Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, have expressed either outright opposition to the hike or said it shouldn’t be included in the pandemic legislation.

The Senate’s parliamentarian may further complicate things with a ruling that the minimum wage measure can’t be included in the pandemic bill.

For now, the measure’s most progressive Senate backers aren’t openly pressuring Biden to step up his campaign for a higher minimum wage.

Bernie Sanders, the chair of the Senate Budget Committee, has said he’s largely focused on winning approval from the parliamentarian to tack the provision onto the pandemic bill. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who like Sanders challenged Biden from the left for the Democratic nomination, has only tweeted that Democrats should “right this wrong.”

Some activists, however, are encouraging Biden to be more aggressive.

The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, the co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, said Biden has a “mandate” to ensure the minimum wage increases, noting that minority Americans were “the first to go back to jobs, first to get infected, first to get sick, first to die” during the pandemic.

“We cannot be the last to get relief and the last to get treated and paid properly,” Barber said.

The federal minimum wage hasn’t been raised since 2009, the longest stretch without an increase since its creation in 1938. When adjusted for inflation, the purchasing power of the current $7.25 wage has declined more than a dollar in the last 11-plus years.

Democrats have long promised an increase — support for a $15 minimum wage was including in the party’s 2016 political platform — but haven’t delivered.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613424670052.png" alt="President Biden during a call to business owners Monday to discuss how his American Rescue Plan will help them-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden during a call to business owners Monday to discuss how his American Rescue Plan will help them-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Union activist Terrence Wise recalls being laughed at when he began pushing for a national $15 per hour minimum wage almost a decade ago. Nearly a year into the pandemic, the idea isn’t so funny.The coronavirus has renewed focus on challenges facing hourly employees who have continued working in grocery stores, gas stations and other in-person locations even as much of the workforce has shifted to virtual environments. President Joe Biden has responded by including a provision in the massive pandemic relief bill that would more than double the minimum wage from the current $7.25 to $15 per hour.But the effort is facing an unexpected roadblock: Biden himself. The president has seemingly undermined the push to raise the minimum wage by acknowledging its dim prospects in Congress, where it faces political opposition and procedural hurdles.That’s frustrating to activists like Wise, who worry their victory is being snatched away at the last minute despite an administration that’s otherwise an outspoken ally.“To have it this close on the doorstep, they need to get it done,” said Wise, a 41-year-old department manager at a McDonald’s in Kansas City and a national leader of Fight for 15, an organized labor movement. “They need to feel the pressure.”The minimum wage debate highlights one of the central tensions emerging in the early days of Biden’s presidency. He won the White House with pledges to respond to the pandemic with a barrage of liberal policy proposals. But as a 36-year veteran of the Senate, Biden is particularly attuned to the political dynamics on Capitol Hill and can be blunt in his assessments.“I don’t think it’s going to survive,” Biden recently told CBS News, referring to the minimum wage hike.There’s a certain political realism in Biden’s remark.With the Senate evenly divided, the proposal doesn’t have the 60 votes needed to make it to the floor on its own. Democrats could use an arcane budgetary procedure that would attach the minimum wage to the pandemic response bill and allow it to pass with a simple majority vote.But even that’s not easy. Some moderate Democratic senators, including Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, have expressed either outright opposition to the hike or said it shouldn’t be included in the pandemic legislation.The Senate’s parliamentarian may further complicate things with a ruling that the minimum wage measure can’t be included in the pandemic bill.For now, the measure’s most progressive Senate backers aren’t openly pressuring Biden to step up his campaign for a higher minimum wage.Bernie Sanders, the chair of the Senate Budget Committee, has said he’s largely focused on winning approval from the parliamentarian to tack the provision onto the pandemic bill. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who like Sanders challenged Biden from the left for the Democratic nomination, has only tweeted that Democrats should “right this wrong.”Some activists, however, are encouraging Biden to be more aggressive.The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, the co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, said Biden has a “mandate” to ensure the minimum wage increases, noting that minority Americans were “the first to go back to jobs, first to get infected, first to get sick, first to die” during the pandemic.“We cannot be the last to get relief and the last to get treated and paid properly,” Barber said.The federal minimum wage hasn’t been raised since 2009, the longest stretch without an increase since its creation in 1938. When adjusted for inflation, the purchasing power of the current $7.25 wage has declined more than a dollar in the last 11-plus years.Democrats have long promised an increase — support for a $15 minimum wage was including in the party’s 2016 political platform — but haven’t delivered.Supporters say the coronavirus has made a higher minimum wage all the more urgent since workers earning it are disproportionately people of color. The liberal Economic Policy Institute found that more than 19% of Hispanic workers and more than 14% of Black workers earned hourly wages that kept them below federal poverty guidelines in 2017.Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans in the U.S. also have rates of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 that are two to four times higher than for whites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People of color are a vital part Biden’s constituency, constituting 38% of his support in November’s election, according to AP VoteCast, a nationwide survey of the electorate.Adrianne Shropshire. executive director of BlackPAC, noted that Biden has promised to address racial inequalities and create a more fair economy. That means he now has a chance to ensure that hourly wage earners “come out of this pandemic in better shape than they went into it.”“The recovery around COVID shouldn’t just be about how to stabilize and get people back to zero,” Shropshire said. “It should be about how do we create opportunities to move people beyond where they were.”The White House says Biden isn’t giving up on the issue. His comments to CBS, according to an aide, reflected his own evaluation of where the parliamentarian would rule based on his decades of experience in the Senate dealing with similar negotiations.Biden suggested in the same interview that he’s prepared to engage in a “separate negotiation” on raising the minimum wage, but White House press secretary Jen Psaki offered no further details on the future of the proposal if it is in fact cut from the final coronavirus aid bill.One option could be forcing passage by having Vice President Kamala Harris, as the Senate’s presiding officer, overrule the parliamentarian. But Psaki was clear in opposing that: “Our view is that the parliamentarian is who is chosen, typically, to make a decision in a nonpartisan manner.”Navin Nayak, executive director of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the political arm of the progressive think tank, said he wasn’t surprised at Biden’s assessment, but still feels the White House is making good faith efforts.“They’re not putting this in there to lose it — they put it in there to win it,” Nayak said.Nayak also noted Biden’s comments came before a Congressional Budget Office projection that found the proposal would help lift millions of Americans out of poverty but increase the federal deficit and cost 1.4 million jobs as employers scale back costlier workforces.Sanders and other supporters argue that the CBO’s finding that raising the minimum wage will increase the deficit means it impacts the budget — and should therefore be allowed as part of the COVID-19 relief bill. But that will ultimately be up to the Senate parliamentarian.For Wise, potential congressional hurdles pale in comparison to real world realities.He makes $14 an hour and his fiancé works as a home health care professional. But when she went into quarantine because of possible exposure to the coronavirus and he missed work to care for their three daughters, it wasn’t long before the family was served with an eviction notice.People “figure it’s something we’re doing wrong. We’re going to work. We’re productive. We’re law-abiding citizens,” Wise said. “It shouldn’t have to be that way.”