OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City school district is investigating after a student asked a girl to homecoming using an offensive sign referencing Black people.

A picture of two white students holding the sign and smiling that was posted online drew sharp criticism on social media.

School officials in Olathe, Kansas, said they are working to contact everyone involved, including the parents of the students.

“The type of behavior displayed in the social media post does not meet the expectations of our core values,” Olathe South High School Principal Dale Longenecker said in a letter sent to parents. “Any behavior like this will be immediately addressed in accordance with our Student Code of Conduct.”

A copy of the photo posted on Twitter was criticized by Arizona Cardinals Isaiah Simmons, who grew up in Olathe.

“This is disgusting. Sad that people think this is funny or acceptable,” he wrote. “Very disappointing and honestly just sad to see this kind of stuff happening in my hometown. I hope this is handled in the correct manner.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632704959920.png" alt="Photo courtesy <a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/olathe-school-district-investigating-after-photo-surfaces-of-racist-homecoming-proposal/">Fox4Kansas City</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy <a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/olathe-school-district-investigating-after-photo-surfaces-of-racist-homecoming-proposal/">Fox4Kansas City</a></figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City school district is investigating after a student asked a girl to homecoming using an offensive sign referencing Black people.A picture of two white students holding the sign and smiling that was posted online drew sharp criticism on social media.School officials in Olathe, Kansas, said they are working to contact everyone involved, including the parents of the students.“The type of behavior displayed in the social media post does not meet the expectations of our core values,” Olathe South High School Principal Dale Longenecker said in a letter sent to parents. “Any behavior like this will be immediately addressed in accordance with our Student Code of Conduct.”A copy of the photo posted on Twitter was criticized by Arizona Cardinals Isaiah Simmons, who grew up in Olathe.“This is disgusting. Sad that people think this is funny or acceptable,” he wrote. “Very disappointing and honestly just sad to see this kind of stuff happening in my hometown. I hope this is handled in the correct manner.”

Was Kansas high school student's homecoming invite racist? 

By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-09-27/elected-officials-and-former-students-mourn-death-of-longtime-ku-political-scientist-burdett-loomis">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA&nbsp;— Burdett Loomis, a longtime University of 
Kansas political scientist known affectionately as “Bird,” died Saturday
 at his home in Lawrence just months after being diagnosed with an 
aggressive form of thyroid cancer. He was 76.

Elected officials 
and political figures mourned his death and recalled how he inspired 
them as students during his 40-year KU teaching career.

“I’m one 
of thousands of former students working in government and politics 
because they took a class with him at KU,” Christie Appelhanz said in a 
Facebook post on Sunday.

Appelhanz is a former reporter, lobbyist 
and congressional staffer who now heads the federal Administration for 
Children and Families office in the region that includes Kansas and 
Missouri.

The head of KU said the flood of comments showed the influence Loomis had.

"Bird
 embodied KU's mission of education, service and research,” KU 
Chancellor Doug Girod said. “The outpouring of love and respect for Bird
 during the past day has been remarkable, and it confirms the impact he 
had on students, colleagues, elected officials and journalists who had 
the pleasure of engaging with him."

Eric Pahls, a Republican 
consultant who managed U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall’s 2020 campaign, said on
 Twitter that while he and Loomis agreed on little, “we greatly enjoyed 
talking about the horse race.”

Another former student, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, called Loomis “a respected commentator on Kansas politics.”

“He will be missed,” said Schmidt, a Republican gearing up to challenge Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

Before
 arriving at KU in 1979, Loomis was an assistant professor at Knox 
College, a small liberal arts school in Galesburg, Illinois. He earned 
his bachelor’s degree from Carleton College in Minnesota and his 
master’s and doctorate’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin.

While
 at KU, Loomis chaired the political science department twice and served
 as interim director of the Robert J. Dole Institute for Public Service 
and Public Policy. He also managed internship programs that placed 
students with elected officials in Washington, D.C. and the Statehouse 
in Topeka.

In 2005, he took a brief break from teaching to work as a communications advisor to Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Former
 Topeka Mayor Larry Wolgast, a longtime friend who with Loomis belonged 
to a breakfast group that met regularly to talk politics, described him 
as “warm, genuine and self-effacing.”

“He had so much yet to give and will be sorely missed,” Wolgast said.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly joined others in saying Loomis’ voice would be missed.

“Burdett
 was a fixture and a voice of reason in Kansas politics for decades, and
 a mentor to countless political science students at Kansas University,”
 Kelly said Sunday on Twitter.

For reporters, whether writing for 
the Washington Post or the Iola Register, Loomis was the go-to person 
for a comment on Kansas politics, said Steve Kraske, host of KCUR’s “Up 
to Date” talk show and a former reporter for the Kansas City Star.

“He
 helped me understand the nuances of Kansas politics for 30 years and he
 was always insightful — I mean always,” Kraske said, during a segment 
devoted to Loomis on Monday’s “Up to Date.”

After learning of 
Loomis’ illness last week, Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids took to 
the floor of the U.S. House to praise him as “an irreplaceable member of
 our community.”

“He’s been a trusted friend and advisor to many 
Kansas officials over the years and I’m personally grateful for his 
guidance throughout my time in Kansas,” Davids said.

Loomis and 
Michel, his wife of 53 years, lived in a stately house near downtown 
Lawrence that friends likened to an art gallery. They frequently opened 
it to groups for receptions, book signings and musical performances.

After
 retiring, Loomis busied himself editing books, writing columns with 
other political scientists for Kansas newspapers and playing tennis.

In his last <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/a5f87452-c2cb-47de-b714-68d3a6ecb8a6" target="_blank">Insight Kansas column</a>, published Aug. 9, Loomis called for a statewide vaccine mandate.

“As
 the delta variant wreaks havoc, unnecessarily, with our lives,” he 
wrote, “it’s past time for Kansas institutions to require vaccinations.”

“We
 have tried pleas to reason, we have used incentives, we have appealed 
to a sense of community,” he wrote. “Now we must push the unvaccinated 
hard to do the right thing.”

Jim McLean is a political 
correspondent for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration based at KCUR
 with other public media stations across Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632695608718.png" alt="Burdett Loomis-photo courtesy University of Kansas" />
 <figcaption>Burdett Loomis-photo courtesy University of Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-09-27/elected-officials-and-former-students-mourn-death-of-longtime-ku-political-scientist-burdett-loomis">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA&nbsp;— Burdett Loomis, a longtime University of 
Kansas political scientist known affectionately as “Bird,” died Saturday
 at his home in Lawrence just months after being diagnosed with an 
aggressive form of thyroid cancer. He was 76.Elected officials 
and political figures mourned his death and recalled how he inspired 
them as students during his 40-year KU teaching career.“I’m one 
of thousands of former students working in government and politics 
because they took a class with him at KU,” Christie Appelhanz said in a 
Facebook post on Sunday.Appelhanz is a former reporter, lobbyist 
and congressional staffer who now heads the federal Administration for 
Children and Families office in the region that includes Kansas and 
Missouri.The head of KU said the flood of comments showed the influence Loomis had."Bird
 embodied KU's mission of education, service and research,” KU 
Chancellor Doug Girod said. “The outpouring of love and respect for Bird
 during the past day has been remarkable, and it confirms the impact he 
had on students, colleagues, elected officials and journalists who had 
the pleasure of engaging with him."Eric Pahls, a Republican 
consultant who managed U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall’s 2020 campaign, said on
 Twitter that while he and Loomis agreed on little, “we greatly enjoyed 
talking about the horse race.”Another former student, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, called Loomis “a respected commentator on Kansas politics.”“He will be missed,” said Schmidt, a Republican gearing up to challenge Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.Before
 arriving at KU in 1979, Loomis was an assistant professor at Knox 
College, a small liberal arts school in Galesburg, Illinois. He earned 
his bachelor’s degree from Carleton College in Minnesota and his 
master’s and doctorate’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin.While
 at KU, Loomis chaired the political science department twice and served
 as interim director of the Robert J. Dole Institute for Public Service 
and Public Policy. He also managed internship programs that placed 
students with elected officials in Washington, D.C. and the Statehouse 
in Topeka.In 2005, he took a brief break from teaching to work as a communications advisor to Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.Former
 Topeka Mayor Larry Wolgast, a longtime friend who with Loomis belonged 
to a breakfast group that met regularly to talk politics, described him 
as “warm, genuine and self-effacing.”“He had so much yet to give and will be sorely missed,” Wolgast said.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly joined others in saying Loomis’ voice would be missed.“Burdett
 was a fixture and a voice of reason in Kansas politics for decades, and
 a mentor to countless political science students at Kansas University,”
 Kelly said Sunday on Twitter.For reporters, whether writing for 
the Washington Post or the Iola Register, Loomis was the go-to person 
for a comment on Kansas politics, said Steve Kraske, host of KCUR’s “Up 
to Date” talk show and a former reporter for the Kansas City Star.“He
 helped me understand the nuances of Kansas politics for 30 years and he
 was always insightful — I mean always,” Kraske said, during a segment 
devoted to Loomis on Monday’s “Up to Date.”After learning of 
Loomis’ illness last week, Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids took to 
the floor of the U.S. House to praise him as “an irreplaceable member of
 our community.”“He’s been a trusted friend and advisor to many 
Kansas officials over the years and I’m personally grateful for his 
guidance throughout my time in Kansas,” Davids said.Loomis and 
Michel, his wife of 53 years, lived in a stately house near downtown 
Lawrence that friends likened to an art gallery. They frequently opened 
it to groups for receptions, book signings and musical performances.After
 retiring, Loomis busied himself editing books, writing columns with 
other political scientists for Kansas newspapers and playing tennis.In his last <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/a5f87452-c2cb-47de-b714-68d3a6ecb8a6" target="_blank">Insight Kansas column</a>, published Aug. 9, Loomis called for a statewide vaccine mandate.“As
 the delta variant wreaks havoc, unnecessarily, with our lives,” he 
wrote, “it’s past time for Kansas institutions to require vaccinations.”“We
 have tried pleas to reason, we have used incentives, we have appealed 
to a sense of community,” he wrote. “Now we must push the unvaccinated 
hard to do the right thing.”Jim McLean is a political 
correspondent for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration based at KCUR
 with other public media stations across Kansas.

Officials, former students mourn longtime KU political scientist

Billions more in profits are at stake for some vaccine makers as the U.S. moves toward dispensing COVID-19 booster shots to shore up Americans’ protection against the virus.

How much the manufacturers stand to gain depends on how big the rollout proves to be.

U.S. health officials have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-coronavirus-vaccine-9da6d4dab4f3dc0542db951557042ac9">endorsed booster shots</a>&nbsp;of the Pfizer vaccine for all Americans 65 and older — along with tens of millions of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-9d5b5e9774f7dc6016e84696cf13cf34">younger people who are at higher risk</a>&nbsp;from the coronavirus because of health conditions or their jobs.

Officials described the move as a first step. Boosters will likely be offered even more broadly in the coming weeks or months, including boosters of vaccines made by Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson. That, plus continued growth in initial vaccinations, could mean a huge gain in sales and profits for Pfizer and Moderna in particular.

“The opportunity quite frankly is reflective of the billions of people around the world who would need a vaccination and a boost,” Jefferies analyst Michael Yee said.

Wall Street is taking notice. The average forecast among analysts for Moderna’s 2022 revenue has jumped 35% since President Joe Biden laid out his booster plan in mid-August.

Most of the vaccinations so far in the U.S. have come from Pfizer, which developed its shot with Germany’s BioNTech, and Moderna. They have inoculated about 99 million and 68 million people, respectively. Johnson &amp; Johnson is third with about 14 million people.

No one knows yet how many people will get the extra shots. But Morningstar analyst Karen Andersen expects boosters alone to bring in about $26 billion in global sales next year for Pfizer and BioNTech and around $14 billion for Moderna if they are endorsed for nearly all Americans.

Those companies also may gain business from people who got other vaccines initially. In Britain, which plans to offer boosters to everyone over 50 and other vulnerable people, an expert panel has recommended that Pfizer’s shot be the primary choice, with Moderna as the alternative.

Andersen expects Moderna, which has no other products on the market, to generate a roughly $13 billion profit next year from all COVID-19 vaccine sales if boosters are broadly authorized.

Potential vaccine profits are harder to estimate for Pfizer, but company executives have said they expect their pre-tax adjusted profit margin from the vaccine to be in the “high 20s” as a percentage of revenue. That would translate to a profit of around $7 billion next year just from boosters, based on Andersen’s sales prediction.

J&amp;J and Europe’s AstraZeneca have said they don’t intend to profit from their COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic.

For Pfizer and Moderna, the boosters could be more profitable than the original doses because they won’t come with the research and development costs the companies incurred to get the vaccines on the market in the first place.

WBB Securities CEO Steve Brozak said the booster shots will represent “almost pure profit” compared with the initial doses.

Drugmakers aren’t the only businesses that could see a windfall from delivering boosters. Drugstore chains CVS Health and Walgreens could bring in more than $800 million each in revenue, according to Jeff Jonas, a portfolio manager with Gabelli Funds.

Jonas noted that the drugstores may not face competition from mass vaccination clinics this time around, and the chains are diligent about collecting customer contact information. That makes it easy to invite people back for boosters.

Drugmakers are also developing COVID-19 shots that target certain variants of the virus, and say people might need annual shots like the ones they receive for the flu. All of that could make the vaccines a major recurring source of revenue.

The COVID-19 vaccines have already done much better than their predecessors.

Pfizer said in July it expects revenue from its COVID-19 vaccine to reach $33.5 billion this year, an estimate that could change depending on the impact of boosters or the possible expansion of shots to elementary school children.

That would be more than five times the $5.8 billion racked up last year by the world’s most lucrative vaccine — Pfizer’s Prevnar13, which protects against pneumococcal disease.

It also would dwarf the $19.8 billion brought in last year by AbbVie’s rheumatoid arthritis treatment Humira, widely regarded as the world’s top-selling drug.

This bodes well for future vaccine development, noted Erik Gordon, a business professor at the University of Michigan.

Vaccines normally are nowhere near as profitable as treatments, Gordon said. But the success of the COVID-19 shots could draw more drugmakers and venture capitalists into the field.

“The vaccine business is more attractive, which, for those of us who are going to need vaccines, is good,” Gordon said.

By TOM MURPHY, Associated PressBillions more in profits are at stake for some vaccine makers as the U.S. moves toward dispensing COVID-19 booster shots to shore up Americans’ protection against the virus.How much the manufacturers stand to gain depends on how big the rollout proves to be.U.S. health officials have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-coronavirus-vaccine-9da6d4dab4f3dc0542db951557042ac9">endorsed booster shots</a>&nbsp;of the Pfizer vaccine for all Americans 65 and older — along with tens of millions of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-9d5b5e9774f7dc6016e84696cf13cf34">younger people who are at higher risk</a>&nbsp;from the coronavirus because of health conditions or their jobs.Officials described the move as a first step. Boosters will likely be offered even more broadly in the coming weeks or months, including boosters of vaccines made by Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson. That, plus continued growth in initial vaccinations, could mean a huge gain in sales and profits for Pfizer and Moderna in particular.“The opportunity quite frankly is reflective of the billions of people around the world who would need a vaccination and a boost,” Jefferies analyst Michael Yee said.Wall Street is taking notice. The average forecast among analysts for Moderna’s 2022 revenue has jumped 35% since President Joe Biden laid out his booster plan in mid-August.Most of the vaccinations so far in the U.S. have come from Pfizer, which developed its shot with Germany’s BioNTech, and Moderna. They have inoculated about 99 million and 68 million people, respectively. Johnson &amp; Johnson is third with about 14 million people.No one knows yet how many people will get the extra shots. But Morningstar analyst Karen Andersen expects boosters alone to bring in about $26 billion in global sales next year for Pfizer and BioNTech and around $14 billion for Moderna if they are endorsed for nearly all Americans.Those companies also may gain business from people who got other vaccines initially. In Britain, which plans to offer boosters to everyone over 50 and other vulnerable people, an expert panel has recommended that Pfizer’s shot be the primary choice, with Moderna as the alternative.Andersen expects Moderna, which has no other products on the market, to generate a roughly $13 billion profit next year from all COVID-19 vaccine sales if boosters are broadly authorized.Potential vaccine profits are harder to estimate for Pfizer, but company executives have said they expect their pre-tax adjusted profit margin from the vaccine to be in the “high 20s” as a percentage of revenue. That would translate to a profit of around $7 billion next year just from boosters, based on Andersen’s sales prediction.J&amp;J and Europe’s AstraZeneca have said they don’t intend to profit from their COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic.For Pfizer and Moderna, the boosters could be more profitable than the original doses because they won’t come with the research and development costs the companies incurred to get the vaccines on the market in the first place.WBB Securities CEO Steve Brozak said the booster shots will represent “almost pure profit” compared with the initial doses.Drugmakers aren’t the only businesses that could see a windfall from delivering boosters. Drugstore chains CVS Health and Walgreens could bring in more than $800 million each in revenue, according to Jeff Jonas, a portfolio manager with Gabelli Funds.Jonas noted that the drugstores may not face competition from mass vaccination clinics this time around, and the chains are diligent about collecting customer contact information. That makes it easy to invite people back for boosters.Drugmakers are also developing COVID-19 shots that target certain variants of the virus, and say people might need annual shots like the ones they receive for the flu. All of that could make the vaccines a major recurring source of revenue.The COVID-19 vaccines have already done much better than their predecessors.Pfizer said in July it expects revenue from its COVID-19 vaccine to reach $33.5 billion this year, an estimate that could change depending on the impact of boosters or the possible expansion of shots to elementary school children.That would be more than five times the $5.8 billion racked up last year by the world’s most lucrative vaccine — Pfizer’s Prevnar13, which protects against pneumococcal disease.It also would dwarf the $19.8 billion brought in last year by AbbVie’s rheumatoid arthritis treatment Humira, widely regarded as the world’s top-selling drug.This bodes well for future vaccine development, noted Erik Gordon, a business professor at the University of Michigan.Vaccines normally are nowhere near as profitable as treatments, Gordon said. But the success of the COVID-19 shots could draw more drugmakers and venture capitalists into the field.“The vaccine business is more attractive, which, for those of us who are going to need vaccines, is good,” Gordon said.

COVID-19 vaccine boosters: Big profits for drugmakers

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and manslaughter after a head-on collision that killed a 19-year-old from Caldwell. 

Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Lt. Benjamin Blick said the crash happened early Saturday around 2:45 a.m. on Kansas Highway 254 in northeastern Sedgwick County. 

Blick said the man who was arrested was driving a GMC Sierra pickup truck the wrong direction in the eastbound lanes of the highway when he collided with a Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Clayton Patterson who died after the collision. Jose Rios-Cruz, 39, is being held in lieu of $500,000 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632692731413.png" alt="Rios-Cruz-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Rios-Cruz-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and manslaughter after a head-on collision that killed a 19-year-old from Caldwell. Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Lt. Benjamin Blick said the crash happened early Saturday around 2:45 a.m. on Kansas Highway 254 in northeastern Sedgwick County. Blick said the man who was arrested was driving a GMC Sierra pickup truck the wrong direction in the eastbound lanes of the highway when he collided with a Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Clayton Patterson who died after the collision. Jose Rios-Cruz, 39, is being held in lieu of $500,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Kansas man accused of DUI after wrong-way crash kills teen

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Kansas house fire have identified the victim as 29-year-old Palmer S. Thompson., according to Police Lt. Shane Hilton.

Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, Fire crews and American Medical Response were sent to report of a house fire in the 300 block of NE Spruce Lane in Topeka, according to Police&nbsp; Lt. Aaron Jones.

As fire crews were making the initial fire attack, a fire fighter fell through the floor, landing in the basement. A May-day (emergency on the fire ground) was called and the firefighter was subsequently rescued by other firefighters on scene. The firefighter who fell through the floor was not

injured and continued fighting the fire.&nbsp;

During a search of the residence, fire crews found Thompson and removed him from the residence as others continued to battle the fire. First responders determined the man was deceased under suspicious circumstances, according to Jones.

American Medical Response requested Topeka Police respond to the scene. Topeka Police Detectives and Fire Investigators from the City and State worked together to investigate the incident now considered a homicide investigation.&nbsp;

Preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire as intentionally set. The estimated dollar loss&nbsp; is $121,540 total loss with $106,540 in damage to the structure and $15,000 in contents. The home also had no working smoke detectors.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Kansas house fire.

Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, Fire crews and American Medical Response were sent to report of a house fire in the 300 block of NE Spruce Lane in Topeka, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.

Fire crews found a man and removed him from the residence as others continued to battle the fire. First responders determined the man was deceased under suspicious circumstances, according to Jones.

American Medical Response requested Topeka Police respond to the scene. Topeka Police Detectives and Fire Investigators from the City and State are currently working together to investigate the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632669511894.png" alt="Sunday morning fatal house fire in Topeka- photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Sunday morning fatal house fire in Topeka- photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Kansas house fire have identified the victim as 29-year-old Palmer S. Thompson., according to Police Lt. Shane Hilton.Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, Fire crews and American Medical Response were sent to report of a house fire in the 300 block of NE Spruce Lane in Topeka, according to Police&nbsp; Lt. Aaron Jones.As fire crews were making the initial fire attack, a fire fighter fell through the floor, landing in the basement. A May-day (emergency on the fire ground) was called and the firefighter was subsequently rescued by other firefighters on scene. The firefighter who fell through the floor was notinjured and continued fighting the fire.&nbsp;During a search of the residence, fire crews found Thompson and removed him from the residence as others continued to battle the fire. First responders determined the man was deceased under suspicious circumstances, according to Jones.American Medical Response requested Topeka Police respond to the scene. Topeka Police Detectives and Fire Investigators from the City and State worked together to investigate the incident now considered a homicide investigation.&nbsp;Preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire as intentionally set. The estimated dollar loss&nbsp; is $121,540 total loss with $106,540 in damage to the structure and $15,000 in contents. The home also had no working smoke detectors.SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Kansas house fire.Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, Fire crews and American Medical Response were sent to report of a house fire in the 300 block of NE Spruce Lane in Topeka, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.Fire crews found a man and removed him from the residence as others continued to battle the fire. First responders determined the man was deceased under suspicious circumstances, according to Jones.American Medical Response requested Topeka Police respond to the scene. Topeka Police Detectives and Fire Investigators from the City and State are currently working together to investigate the incident.

Homicide: Police ID victim found in Kansas house fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a consequential week for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-9dfc2b9e8b72ca51d5b818708442d955">President Joe Biden’s agenda</a>, as Democratic leaders delicately trim back his $3.5 trillion “Build Back Better” package to win over remaining lawmakers and work to quickly pass legislation to avoid a federal shutdown.

An expected Monday vote on a related $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package is now postponed until Thursday, amid ongoing negotiations. More immediately, the Senate has a test vote set Monday to keep the government funded and avert a federal debt default before Thursday’s fiscal year-end deadline. That package stands to run into a blockade by Republican senators — all but ensuring lawmakers will have to try again later in the week.

All this while Biden’s domestic agenda hangs in the balance, at risk of collapse and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-elections-campaigns-race-and-ethnicity-5a5a71aab543b990464207e1062c32aa">political fallout&nbsp;</a>if he and Democratic leaders cannot pull their party together to deliver what could be a signature piece of legislation and the biggest overhaul of the nation’s tax and spending priorities in decades. Over the weekend, Biden personally spoke with lawmakers on the path forward, according to a White House official who requested anonymity to discuss the private conversations.

“Let me just say, it’s an eventful week,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

Biden, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are deep into negotiations over the president’s broader proposal, which is being chiseled back to win over key senators and a few House lawmakers who have so far refused the $3.5 trillion price tag and the tax increases on corporations and the wealthy to pay for it.

Behind-the-scenes talks churned, allowing for needed breathing room after Monday’s anticipated vote on the companion $1 trillion public works measure was postponed. The two bills are related, and centrists and progressive factions are at odds at prioritizing one ahead of the other. Pelosi announced the Thursday vote in a letter late Sunday evening to colleagues, noting it’s also a deadline for related transportation programs in the infrastructure bill.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., who led a group of House moderates in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-passes-budget-blueprint-0a1258e07b1a8b9aeddb69980093c838">a securing a vote on the slimmer infrastructure bill</a>, said earlier Sunday he wouldn’t be bothered by a slight delay. He was optimistic both pieces of legislation could be resolved this week.

The more difficult action now lies in the Senate, as Democrats are under pressure to amass the votes for Biden’s big package. It would provide an expansion of existing health, education and child care programs for Americans young and old, alongside new federal efforts to curb climate change.

Republicans are lockstep opposed to Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-personal-taxes-137e00b41f113f85cc241438c780785b">proposal, which would be paid&nbsp;</a>for by increasing the corporate tax rate, from 21% to 26.5% on businesses earning more than $5 million a year, and raising the top rate on individuals from 37% to 39.6% for those earning more than $400,000 a year, or $450,000 for couples.

Two Democratic holdouts, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, also have said they won’t support a bill of that size. Manchin has previously proposed spending of $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion.

Asked Sunday on ABC if she agrees the final number on the so-called reconciliation bill will be “somewhat smaller” than $3.5 trillion, Pelosi responded: “That seems self-evident.”

“We’ll see how the number comes down and what we need,” she added. “I think even those who want a smaller number, support the vision of the president, and this is really transformative.”

Her comments reflected the enormous stakes for the coming week, one that could define the Biden presidency and shape the political contours of next year’s midterm elections.

For Pelosi and Schumer, two veteran political leaders, it is the job of their careers.

Democrats have only a few votes to spare in the House and no votes to spare in the 50-50 Senate, since there is no Republican support expected for Biden’s massive agenda. Some Republican senators did back the $1 trillion public works bill, but now House Republicans are objecting, saying it is too much.

While progressives say they have already compromised enough on Biden’s big bill, having come down from a bill they originally envisioned at $6 trillion, some are also acknowledging the more potential changes.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who heads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, didn’t rule out additional cuts to the $3.5 trillion proposal to reach agreement.

“If somebody wants to take something out, we need to hear what that is,” she said.

The House Budget Committee on Saturday advanced a first version of the $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill, though one Democrat voted “no,” illustrating the challenges party leaders face.

Pelosi suggested that House-Senate agreement could be reached this week, depending on rulings from the Senate parliamentarian on what provisions could be included.

The overall bill embodies the crux of Biden’s top domestic goals, with billions for rebuilding infrastructure, tackling climate change and expanding or introducing a range of services, from free prekindergarten and to child tax breaks to dental, vision and hearing aid care for older Americans.

While Democrats are largely in agreement on Biden’s vision — many ran their campaigns on the longstanding party priorities — stubborn disputes remain. Among them are splits over which initiatives should be reshaped, including how to push toward cleaner energy or to lower prescription drug costs.

Republicans say the proposal isn’t needed and can’t be afforded given accumulated federal debt exceeding $28 trillion. They also argue that it reflects Democrats’ drive to insert government into people’s lives.

Gottheimer spoke to CNN’s “State of the Union” and Jayapal appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632493649692.png" alt="&nbsp;President Biden personally spoke with lawmakers on the path forward, according to a White House official who requested anonymity to discuss the private conversations-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;President Biden personally spoke with lawmakers on the path forward, according to a White House official who requested anonymity to discuss the private conversations-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a consequential week for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-9dfc2b9e8b72ca51d5b818708442d955">President Joe Biden’s agenda</a>, as Democratic leaders delicately trim back his $3.5 trillion “Build Back Better” package to win over remaining lawmakers and work to quickly pass legislation to avoid a federal shutdown.An expected Monday vote on a related $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package is now postponed until Thursday, amid ongoing negotiations. More immediately, the Senate has a test vote set Monday to keep the government funded and avert a federal debt default before Thursday’s fiscal year-end deadline. That package stands to run into a blockade by Republican senators — all but ensuring lawmakers will have to try again later in the week.All this while Biden’s domestic agenda hangs in the balance, at risk of collapse and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-elections-campaigns-race-and-ethnicity-5a5a71aab543b990464207e1062c32aa">political fallout&nbsp;</a>if he and Democratic leaders cannot pull their party together to deliver what could be a signature piece of legislation and the biggest overhaul of the nation’s tax and spending priorities in decades. Over the weekend, Biden personally spoke with lawmakers on the path forward, according to a White House official who requested anonymity to discuss the private conversations.“Let me just say, it’s an eventful week,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”Biden, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are deep into negotiations over the president’s broader proposal, which is being chiseled back to win over key senators and a few House lawmakers who have so far refused the $3.5 trillion price tag and the tax increases on corporations and the wealthy to pay for it.Behind-the-scenes talks churned, allowing for needed breathing room after Monday’s anticipated vote on the companion $1 trillion public works measure was postponed. The two bills are related, and centrists and progressive factions are at odds at prioritizing one ahead of the other. Pelosi announced the Thursday vote in a letter late Sunday evening to colleagues, noting it’s also a deadline for related transportation programs in the infrastructure bill.Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., who led a group of House moderates in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-passes-budget-blueprint-0a1258e07b1a8b9aeddb69980093c838">a securing a vote on the slimmer infrastructure bill</a>, said earlier Sunday he wouldn’t be bothered by a slight delay. He was optimistic both pieces of legislation could be resolved this week.The more difficult action now lies in the Senate, as Democrats are under pressure to amass the votes for Biden’s big package. It would provide an expansion of existing health, education and child care programs for Americans young and old, alongside new federal efforts to curb climate change.Republicans are lockstep opposed to Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-personal-taxes-137e00b41f113f85cc241438c780785b">proposal, which would be paid&nbsp;</a>for by increasing the corporate tax rate, from 21% to 26.5% on businesses earning more than $5 million a year, and raising the top rate on individuals from 37% to 39.6% for those earning more than $400,000 a year, or $450,000 for couples.Two Democratic holdouts, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, also have said they won’t support a bill of that size. Manchin has previously proposed spending of $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion.Asked Sunday on ABC if she agrees the final number on the so-called reconciliation bill will be “somewhat smaller” than $3.5 trillion, Pelosi responded: “That seems self-evident.”“We’ll see how the number comes down and what we need,” she added. “I think even those who want a smaller number, support the vision of the president, and this is really transformative.”Her comments reflected the enormous stakes for the coming week, one that could define the Biden presidency and shape the political contours of next year’s midterm elections.For Pelosi and Schumer, two veteran political leaders, it is the job of their careers.Democrats have only a few votes to spare in the House and no votes to spare in the 50-50 Senate, since there is no Republican support expected for Biden’s massive agenda. Some Republican senators did back the $1 trillion public works bill, but now House Republicans are objecting, saying it is too much.While progressives say they have already compromised enough on Biden’s big bill, having come down from a bill they originally envisioned at $6 trillion, some are also acknowledging the more potential changes.Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who heads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, didn’t rule out additional cuts to the $3.5 trillion proposal to reach agreement.“If somebody wants to take something out, we need to hear what that is,” she said.The House Budget Committee on Saturday advanced a first version of the $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill, though one Democrat voted “no,” illustrating the challenges party leaders face.Pelosi suggested that House-Senate agreement could be reached this week, depending on rulings from the Senate parliamentarian on what provisions could be included.The overall bill embodies the crux of Biden’s top domestic goals, with billions for rebuilding infrastructure, tackling climate change and expanding or introducing a range of services, from free prekindergarten and to child tax breaks to dental, vision and hearing aid care for older Americans.While Democrats are largely in agreement on Biden’s vision — many ran their campaigns on the longstanding party priorities — stubborn disputes remain. Among them are splits over which initiatives should be reshaped, including how to push toward cleaner energy or to lower prescription drug costs.Republicans say the proposal isn’t needed and can’t be afforded given accumulated federal debt exceeding $28 trillion. They also argue that it reflects Democrats’ drive to insert government into people’s lives.Gottheimer spoke to CNN’s “State of the Union” and Jayapal appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Biden, Congress face big week for agenda, government funding

WASHINGTON
 — Farmers and ranchers who were forced to sell livestock due to drought
 may have an additional year to replace the livestock and defer tax on 
any gains from the forced sales, according to the Internal Revenue 
Service.

To qualify for relief, farmers or ranchers must have sold livestock 
on account of drought conditions in an applicable region. This is a 
county or other jurisdiction designated as eligible for federal 
assistance plus counties contiguous to it. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-55.pdf">Notice 2021-55</a>, posted today on IRS.gov, lists applicable regions in 36 states and one U.S. territory.

The relief generally applies to capital gains realized by eligible 
farmers and ranchers on sales of livestock held for draft, dairy or 
breeding purposes. Sales of other livestock, such as those raised for 
slaughter or held for sporting purposes, or poultry, are not eligible.

The sales must be solely due to drought, causing an area to be 
designated as eligible for federal assistance. Livestock generally must 
be replaced within a four-year period, instead of the usual two-year 
period. The IRS is authorized to further extend this replacement period 
if the drought continues.

The one-year extension, announced in the notice, gives eligible 
farmers and ranchers until the end of their first tax year after the 
first drought-free year to replace the sold livestock. Details, 
including an example of how this provision works, can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-06-82.pdf">Notice 2006-82</a>, available on IRS.gov.

The IRS provides this extension to eligible farmers and ranchers who 
sold livestock on account of drought conditions in an applicable region 
that qualified for the four-year replacement period, if the applicable 
region is listed as suffering exceptional, extreme or severe drought 
conditions during any week between September&nbsp;1, 2020, and August&nbsp;31, 
2021. This determination is made by the <a href="https://drought.unl.edu/">National Drought Mitigation Center</a>.

As a result, eligible farmers and ranchers whose drought-sale 
replacement period was scheduled to expire on December&nbsp;31, 2021, in most
 cases now have until the end of their next tax year to replace the sold
 livestock. Because the normal drought-sale replacement period is four 
years, this extension impacts drought sales that occurred during 2017. 
The replacement periods for some drought sales before 2017 are also 
affected due to previous drought-related extensions affecting some of 
these localities.

More information on reporting drought sales and other farm-related tax issues can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-225">Publication 225, Farmer's Tax Guide</a>, available on IRS.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — Farmers and ranchers who were forced to sell livestock due to drought
 may have an additional year to replace the livestock and defer tax on 
any gains from the forced sales, according to the Internal Revenue 
Service.To qualify for relief, farmers or ranchers must have sold livestock 
on account of drought conditions in an applicable region. This is a 
county or other jurisdiction designated as eligible for federal 
assistance plus counties contiguous to it. <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-55.pdf">Notice 2021-55</a>, posted today on IRS.gov, lists applicable regions in 36 states and one U.S. territory.The relief generally applies to capital gains realized by eligible 
farmers and ranchers on sales of livestock held for draft, dairy or 
breeding purposes. Sales of other livestock, such as those raised for 
slaughter or held for sporting purposes, or poultry, are not eligible.The sales must be solely due to drought, causing an area to be 
designated as eligible for federal assistance. Livestock generally must 
be replaced within a four-year period, instead of the usual two-year 
period. The IRS is authorized to further extend this replacement period 
if the drought continues.The one-year extension, announced in the notice, gives eligible 
farmers and ranchers until the end of their first tax year after the 
first drought-free year to replace the sold livestock. Details, 
including an example of how this provision works, can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-06-82.pdf">Notice 2006-82</a>, available on IRS.gov.The IRS provides this extension to eligible farmers and ranchers who 
sold livestock on account of drought conditions in an applicable region 
that qualified for the four-year replacement period, if the applicable 
region is listed as suffering exceptional, extreme or severe drought 
conditions during any week between September&nbsp;1, 2020, and August&nbsp;31, 
2021. This determination is made by the <a href="https://drought.unl.edu/">National Drought Mitigation Center</a>.As a result, eligible farmers and ranchers whose drought-sale 
replacement period was scheduled to expire on December&nbsp;31, 2021, in most
 cases now have until the end of their next tax year to replace the sold
 livestock. Because the normal drought-sale replacement period is four 
years, this extension impacts drought sales that occurred during 2017. 
The replacement periods for some drought sales before 2017 are also 
affected due to previous drought-related extensions affecting some of 
these localities.More information on reporting drought sales and other farm-related tax issues can be found in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-225">Publication 225, Farmer's Tax Guide</a>, available on IRS.gov.

Drought-stricken farmers, ranchers have more time to replace livestock

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service announced today that 
starting Oct. 28, a new $67 user fee will apply to any estate that 
requests a closing letter for its federal estate tax return.

The new user fee was authorized under final regulations, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/td-9957.pdf">TD 9957</a>, available today in the Federal Register. Closing letter requests must be made using <a href="https://www.pay.gov/public/home">Pay.gov</a>. The IRS will provide further procedural details before the user fee goes into effect.

By law, federal agencies are required to charge a user fee to cover 
the cost of providing certain services to the public that confer a 
special benefit to the recipient. Moreover, agencies must review these 
fees every two years to determine whether they are recovering the cost 
of these services.

Under the final regulations, the IRS has determined that issuing 
closing letters is a service that confers a special benefit warranting a
 user fee. That's because, though obtaining a closing letter from the 
IRS can be helpful to an executor of an estate, it is not required by 
law. Moreover, the estate has the option of obtaining from the IRS, free
 of charge, an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/transcripts-in-lieu-of-estate-tax-closing-letters">account transcript</a>,
 showing certain information from the estate tax return, comparable to 
that found in a closing letter. As noted in the final regulations, 
account transcripts can be used to confirm that an estate tax return 
examination has been completed and the IRS file has been closed, which 
is the reason most often cited for requesting a closing letter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service announced today that 
starting Oct. 28, a new $67 user fee will apply to any estate that 
requests a closing letter for its federal estate tax return.The new user fee was authorized under final regulations, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/td-9957.pdf">TD 9957</a>, available today in the Federal Register. Closing letter requests must be made using <a href="https://www.pay.gov/public/home">Pay.gov</a>. The IRS will provide further procedural details before the user fee goes into effect.By law, federal agencies are required to charge a user fee to cover 
the cost of providing certain services to the public that confer a 
special benefit to the recipient. Moreover, agencies must review these 
fees every two years to determine whether they are recovering the cost 
of these services.Under the final regulations, the IRS has determined that issuing 
closing letters is a service that confers a special benefit warranting a
 user fee. That's because, though obtaining a closing letter from the 
IRS can be helpful to an executor of an estate, it is not required by 
law. Moreover, the estate has the option of obtaining from the IRS, free
 of charge, an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/transcripts-in-lieu-of-estate-tax-closing-letters">account transcript</a>,
 showing certain information from the estate tax return, comparable to 
that found in a closing letter. As noted in the final regulations, 
account transcripts can be used to confirm that an estate tax return 
examination has been completed and the IRS file has been closed, which 
is the reason most often cited for requesting a closing letter.

Federal estate tax fee goes into effect next month

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging 15 people with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, according to the United State's Attorney.

The defendants allegedly intentionally conspired to distribute cocaine in the state of Kansas and elsewhere between January 2019 and September 2021, according to court documents.

The defendants include Santiago Gamboa-Saenz, 34, Maria Cota, 32, Efrain Garcia-Perez, 37, Dimas Calixto-Filho, 41, Juan Avarez-Perez, 35, Bryan Dominguez-Green, 20, Irlanda Grajeda, 31,

Vladimir Blanco-Garciga, 49, Miguel Vazquez-Rodriguez, 35, Eduardo Ramirez-Ochoa, 32, Jesus Gonzalez-Rodriguez, 30, Homero Baca-Marquez, 23, Jaime Ocampo, 57, Jose Cera-Acosta, 35, and Frank De La Cruz, 36.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Kansas City and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Northeast Kansas Drug Task Force are investigating the case.

“Drug trafficking organizations are all about making money,” said Assistant Agent in Charge Rogeana Patterson-King, DEA lead for the state of Kansas. “This joint federal and state investigation stopped more than a million dollars’ worth of cocaine from reaching our communities, and more than $730,000 of proceeds from returning to the organization. This is particularly satisfying because this illegal industry jeopardizes public safety with these dangerous drugs.”

“HSI special agents, working with their state and federal law enforcement partners, were able to prevent a substantial amount of dangerous narcotics from reaching the streets and jeopardizing the safety of people who live there,” said HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Katherine Greer.

“Our communities are safer when we, law enforcement officers and individuals in the communities we serve, work together collectively to end drug trafficking in our neighborhoods.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632516631969.png" alt="Baca-Marquez from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Baca-Marquez from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging 15 people with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, according to the United State's Attorney.The defendants allegedly intentionally conspired to distribute cocaine in the state of Kansas and elsewhere between January 2019 and September 2021, according to court documents.The defendants include Santiago Gamboa-Saenz, 34, Maria Cota, 32, Efrain Garcia-Perez, 37, Dimas Calixto-Filho, 41, Juan Avarez-Perez, 35, Bryan Dominguez-Green, 20, Irlanda Grajeda, 31,Vladimir Blanco-Garciga, 49, Miguel Vazquez-Rodriguez, 35, Eduardo Ramirez-Ochoa, 32, Jesus Gonzalez-Rodriguez, 30, Homero Baca-Marquez, 23, Jaime Ocampo, 57, Jose Cera-Acosta, 35, and Frank De La Cruz, 36.Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Kansas City and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Northeast Kansas Drug Task Force are investigating the case.“Drug trafficking organizations are all about making money,” said Assistant Agent in Charge Rogeana Patterson-King, DEA lead for the state of Kansas. “This joint federal and state investigation stopped more than a million dollars’ worth of cocaine from reaching our communities, and more than $730,000 of proceeds from returning to the organization. This is particularly satisfying because this illegal industry jeopardizes public safety with these dangerous drugs.”“HSI special agents, working with their state and federal law enforcement partners, were able to prevent a substantial amount of dangerous narcotics from reaching the streets and jeopardizing the safety of people who live there,” said HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Katherine Greer.“Our communities are safer when we, law enforcement officers and individuals in the communities we serve, work together collectively to end drug trafficking in our neighborhoods.”

Feds uncover Kansas cocaine distribution conspiracy

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect in a fatal stabbing at a Kansas home has been moved from a hospital to jail.

Just after 10 p.m. Sept. 21, police responded to a call at a home in the 100 block of North Glenn in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.  Upon arrival, officers located 67-year-old Kurt Petersen and determined he had been stabbed multiple times.  Petersen was pronounced deceased on the scene.

The investigation revealed, Petersen’s caretaker came to the home to check on him and found him lying on the kitchen floor with injuries and called 911.&nbsp; James Shaw, 60, was also inside of the residence when the caretaker arrived.&nbsp; Examination of evidence and interviews led to Shaw’s arrest, according to Davidson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Thursday, Shaw was released from a Wichita hospital and moved to the Sedgwick County Jail. He <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20048179">is jailed on requested</a> charges of first degree murder and a warrant from the Kansas Department of Corrections. The Sedgwick County District Attorney did not release details on when Shaw would make a first court appearance.

This was not a random incident as Shaw and Petersen were known to each other.&nbsp; Additionally, Shaw has had previous felony arrests and convictions and is currently on parole through the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC).&nbsp; He was paroled to Wichita from Wyandotte County.&nbsp;

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing and have made an arrest.

Just after 10 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting call at a home in the 100 block of North Glenn in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 67-year-old Kurt Petersen and determined he had been stabbed multiple times.&nbsp; Petersen was pronounced deceased on the scene.

The investigation revealed, Petersen’s caretaker came to the home to check on him and found him lying on the kitchen floor with injuries and called 911.&nbsp; James Shaw was also inside of the residence when the caretaker arrived.&nbsp; Examination of evidence and interviews led to Shaw’s arrest, according to Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632486359786.png" alt="Shaw-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Shaw-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect in a fatal stabbing at a Kansas home has been moved from a hospital to jail.Just after 10 p.m. Sept. 21, police responded to a call at a home in the 100 block of North Glenn in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers located 67-year-old Kurt Petersen and determined he had been stabbed multiple times. Petersen was pronounced deceased on the scene.The investigation revealed, Petersen’s caretaker came to the home to check on him and found him lying on the kitchen floor with injuries and called 911.&nbsp; James Shaw, 60, was also inside of the residence when the caretaker arrived.&nbsp; Examination of evidence and interviews led to Shaw’s arrest, according to Davidson.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Thursday, Shaw was released from a Wichita hospital and moved to the Sedgwick County Jail. He <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20048179">is jailed on requested</a> charges of first degree murder and a warrant from the Kansas Department of Corrections. The Sedgwick County District Attorney did not release details on when Shaw would make a first court appearance.This was not a random incident as Shaw and Petersen were known to each other.&nbsp; Additionally, Shaw has had previous felony arrests and convictions and is currently on parole through the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC).&nbsp; He was paroled to Wichita from Wyandotte County.&nbsp;-----------SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing and have made an arrest.Just after 10 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting call at a home in the 100 block of North Glenn in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 67-year-old Kurt Petersen and determined he had been stabbed multiple times.&nbsp; Petersen was pronounced deceased on the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632327740967.png" alt="Shaw photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Shaw photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The investigation revealed, Petersen’s caretaker came to the home to check on him and found him lying on the kitchen floor with injuries and called 911.&nbsp; James Shaw was also inside of the residence when the caretaker arrived.&nbsp; Examination of evidence and interviews led to Shaw’s arrest, according to Davidson.This was not a random incident as Shaw and Petersen were known to each other.&nbsp; Additionally, Shaw has had previous felony arrests and convictions and is currently on parole through the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC).&nbsp; He was paroled to Wichita from Wyandotte County.&nbsp;

Suspect in fatal Kansas stabbing moved from hospital to jail

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a massage therapist to three prison terms of 25 years to life for several sex crimes against five people. 

They include a child and three female soccer players at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Douglas County Judge Sally Pokorny sentenced 50-year-old Shawn P. O’Brien on Friday after jurors in August found him guilty on eight counts. 

Three of the charges accused O’Brien of indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14 for fondling a girl who was either 9 or 10 on three occasions between 2013 and 2015. The sentences will be served concurrently. O'Brien will have to serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583523947471.png" alt="Shawn O'Brien-KBI Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Shawn O'Brien-KBI Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a massage therapist to three prison terms of 25 years to life for several sex crimes against five people. They include a child and three female soccer players at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Douglas County Judge Sally Pokorny sentenced 50-year-old Shawn P. O’Brien on Friday after jurors in August found him guilty on eight counts. Three of the charges accused O’Brien of indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14 for fondling a girl who was either 9 or 10 on three occasions between 2013 and 2015. The sentences will be served concurrently. O'Brien will have to serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole.

Massage therapist sentenced for sex crimes in Kansas

NEW YORK (AP) — Amid the Boy Scouts of America’s complex bankruptcy case, there is worsening friction between the BSA and the major religious groups that help it run thousands of scout units. At issue: the churches’ fears that an eventual settlement — while protecting the BSA from future sex-abuse lawsuits — could leave many churches unprotected.

The Boy Scouts sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 in an effort to halt individual lawsuits and create a huge compensation fund for thousands of men who say they were molested as youngsters by scoutmasters or other leaders. At the time, the national organization estimated it might face 5,000 cases; it now faces 82,500.

In July, the BSA proposed an $850 million deal that would bar further lawsuits against it and its local councils. The deal did not cover the more than 40,000 organizations that have charters with the BSA to sponsor scout units, including many churches from major religious denominations that are now questioning their future involvement in scouting.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/bsa-bankruptcy-affects-united-methodist-congregations" target="_blank">United Methodist Church</a>&nbsp;— which says up to 5,000 of its U.S. congregations could be affected by future lawsuits — recently advised those churches not to extend their charters with the BSA beyond the end of this year. The UMC said these congregations were “disappointed and very concerned” that they weren’t included in the July deal.

Everett Cygal, a lawyer for Catholic churches monitoring the case, said it is unfair that parishes now face liability “solely as a result of misconduct by Boy Scout troop leaders who frequently had no connection to the parish.”

“Scouting can only be delivered with help of their chartered organizations,” Cygal told The Associated Press. “It’s shortsighted not to be protecting the people they absolutely need to ensure that scouting is viable in the future.”

Officials of several other denominations — including the Southern Baptist Convention, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — have advised their churches to hire their own legal counsel if they fear possible sex-abuse litigation.

The Presbyterian Church said its national leadership can’t act on behalf of member churches because they are separate corporations. The leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran church also said its congregations were on their own, legally speaking, and must decide for themselves whether to continue any relationship with the BSA.

“As a result of the bankruptcy, the congregation cannot confidently rely on the BSA, the local council, or their insurers to defend it,” the Lutheran church warned. “The congregation needs to make sure that it has sufficient insurance and that its own insurance will cover them.”

The Boy Scouts, in a statement provided to the AP, said its partnership with chartered organizations, including churches, “has been critical to delivering the Scouting program to millions of youth in our country for generations.” It said negotiations with those organizations are continuing, and it hopes to conclude the bankruptcy proceedings around the end of this year.

Negotiators face a challenging situation.

According to lawyers representing different parties in the bankruptcy case, the Boy Scouts have suggested chartered organizations have some protection from liability for abuse cases that occurred after 1975, due to an insurance arrangement that took effect in 1976. The BSA has said there’s little or no protection, however, for the many pre-1976 cases, and the best way for organizations to gain protection for that era would be to make a substantial financial contribution to a settlement fund.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took such a step last week, agreeing to contribute $250 million to a compensation fund in exchange for a release from further liability. The denomination, widely known as the Mormon church, pulled its units out of the BSA on Jan. 1, 2020, after decades as the biggest sponsor.

One key distinction: The Latter-day Saints have a centralized governing structure, making possible a contribution covering its vast former network of scout units. The remaining faith-based charter organizations are more decentralized, complicating the question of how contributions to the compensation fund would be mandated and organized.

Jeremy Ryan, a lawyer representing United Methodist churches, said his clients believe there is some pre-1976 insurance available to them under policies the BSA and its local councils held at the time.

Cygal, the lawyer representing Catholic churches, made a similar argument but said some chartered organizations eventually may have to make an appropriate financial contribution “to put an end to this dispute once and for all.”

Another complication in the negotiations: differing views on how much blame lies with the churches.

Some of the churches argue that they merely provided a venue for a local scout unit to meet, while scout leaders were responsible for hiring decisions that might have led to sexual abuse. Some lawyers for the plaintiffs disagree, saying church leaders were often actively involved in those decisions.

“The Scouts had plenty of fault due to their negligence, but the local institutions had plenty of fault also,” said Christopher Hurley, whose Chicago law firm says it represents about 4,000 men who filed claims in the bankruptcy.

“It’s just not OK to pass the buck on this,” Hurley added. “Everybody’s got to suck it up and make a fair contribution to get justice for these guys.”

Stephen Crew, whose Oregon-based law firm represents about 400 plaintiffs, said he sympathizes with faith-based chartered organizations who “worry about being hung out to dry.”

“But survivors also have a lot of anxiety,” said Crew. “And the problem now is that the insurance companies are balking at everybody.”

A third lawyer for plaintiffs, California-based Paul Mones, blamed the churches’ predicament on the BSA, saying its initial bankruptcy strategy failed to properly anticipate the impact on chartered organizations.

“For decades, the religious organizations have been the backbone of the BSA,” Mones said. “They did not sign up thinking they’d have any kind of liability ... and all of a sudden they’re being told, ‘You’re going to get sued.’ It’s a hot mess.”

Some church leaders, such as United Methodist Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., have been blunt in their dismay over the bankruptcy fallout.

“This is a very sad and tragic matter that has occurred within our nation and the Church,” Saenz said in a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greatplainsumc.org/newsdetail/churches-receive-instructions-on-boy-scouts-bankruptcy-15408400" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;to the clergy he oversees in Kansas and Nebraska. He said there might be 110 abuse claims in the bankruptcy case potentially connected to UMC churches in his region.

Saenz said the BSA might struggle to move forward post-bankruptcy without participation of the UMC, the biggest active sponsor of Scout units.

But due to BSA positions in the case that are detrimental to the UMC, Saenz wrote, “We simply cannot currently commit to the relationship with the BSA as we have in the past.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Amid the Boy Scouts of America’s complex bankruptcy case, there is worsening friction between the BSA and the major religious groups that help it run thousands of scout units. At issue: the churches’ fears that an eventual settlement — while protecting the BSA from future sex-abuse lawsuits — could leave many churches unprotected.The Boy Scouts sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 in an effort to halt individual lawsuits and create a huge compensation fund for thousands of men who say they were molested as youngsters by scoutmasters or other leaders. At the time, the national organization estimated it might face 5,000 cases; it now faces 82,500.In July, the BSA proposed an $850 million deal that would bar further lawsuits against it and its local councils. The deal did not cover the more than 40,000 organizations that have charters with the BSA to sponsor scout units, including many churches from major religious denominations that are now questioning their future involvement in scouting.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/bsa-bankruptcy-affects-united-methodist-congregations" target="_blank">United Methodist Church</a>&nbsp;— which says up to 5,000 of its U.S. congregations could be affected by future lawsuits — recently advised those churches not to extend their charters with the BSA beyond the end of this year. The UMC said these congregations were “disappointed and very concerned” that they weren’t included in the July deal.Everett Cygal, a lawyer for Catholic churches monitoring the case, said it is unfair that parishes now face liability “solely as a result of misconduct by Boy Scout troop leaders who frequently had no connection to the parish.”“Scouting can only be delivered with help of their chartered organizations,” Cygal told The Associated Press. “It’s shortsighted not to be protecting the people they absolutely need to ensure that scouting is viable in the future.”Officials of several other denominations — including the Southern Baptist Convention, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — have advised their churches to hire their own legal counsel if they fear possible sex-abuse litigation.The Presbyterian Church said its national leadership can’t act on behalf of member churches because they are separate corporations. The leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran church also said its congregations were on their own, legally speaking, and must decide for themselves whether to continue any relationship with the BSA.“As a result of the bankruptcy, the congregation cannot confidently rely on the BSA, the local council, or their insurers to defend it,” the Lutheran church warned. “The congregation needs to make sure that it has sufficient insurance and that its own insurance will cover them.”The Boy Scouts, in a statement provided to the AP, said its partnership with chartered organizations, including churches, “has been critical to delivering the Scouting program to millions of youth in our country for generations.” It said negotiations with those organizations are continuing, and it hopes to conclude the bankruptcy proceedings around the end of this year.Negotiators face a challenging situation.According to lawyers representing different parties in the bankruptcy case, the Boy Scouts have suggested chartered organizations have some protection from liability for abuse cases that occurred after 1975, due to an insurance arrangement that took effect in 1976. The BSA has said there’s little or no protection, however, for the many pre-1976 cases, and the best way for organizations to gain protection for that era would be to make a substantial financial contribution to a settlement fund.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took such a step last week, agreeing to contribute $250 million to a compensation fund in exchange for a release from further liability. The denomination, widely known as the Mormon church, pulled its units out of the BSA on Jan. 1, 2020, after decades as the biggest sponsor.One key distinction: The Latter-day Saints have a centralized governing structure, making possible a contribution covering its vast former network of scout units. The remaining faith-based charter organizations are more decentralized, complicating the question of how contributions to the compensation fund would be mandated and organized.Jeremy Ryan, a lawyer representing United Methodist churches, said his clients believe there is some pre-1976 insurance available to them under policies the BSA and its local councils held at the time.Cygal, the lawyer representing Catholic churches, made a similar argument but said some chartered organizations eventually may have to make an appropriate financial contribution “to put an end to this dispute once and for all.”Another complication in the negotiations: differing views on how much blame lies with the churches.Some of the churches argue that they merely provided a venue for a local scout unit to meet, while scout leaders were responsible for hiring decisions that might have led to sexual abuse. Some lawyers for the plaintiffs disagree, saying church leaders were often actively involved in those decisions.“The Scouts had plenty of fault due to their negligence, but the local institutions had plenty of fault also,” said Christopher Hurley, whose Chicago law firm says it represents about 4,000 men who filed claims in the bankruptcy.“It’s just not OK to pass the buck on this,” Hurley added. “Everybody’s got to suck it up and make a fair contribution to get justice for these guys.”Stephen Crew, whose Oregon-based law firm represents about 400 plaintiffs, said he sympathizes with faith-based chartered organizations who “worry about being hung out to dry.”“But survivors also have a lot of anxiety,” said Crew. “And the problem now is that the insurance companies are balking at everybody.”A third lawyer for plaintiffs, California-based Paul Mones, blamed the churches’ predicament on the BSA, saying its initial bankruptcy strategy failed to properly anticipate the impact on chartered organizations.“For decades, the religious organizations have been the backbone of the BSA,” Mones said. “They did not sign up thinking they’d have any kind of liability ... and all of a sudden they’re being told, ‘You’re going to get sued.’ It’s a hot mess.”Some church leaders, such as United Methodist Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., have been blunt in their dismay over the bankruptcy fallout.“This is a very sad and tragic matter that has occurred within our nation and the Church,” Saenz said in a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greatplainsumc.org/newsdetail/churches-receive-instructions-on-boy-scouts-bankruptcy-15408400" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;to the clergy he oversees in Kansas and Nebraska. He said there might be 110 abuse claims in the bankruptcy case potentially connected to UMC churches in his region.Saenz said the BSA might struggle to move forward post-bankruptcy without participation of the UMC, the biggest active sponsor of Scout units.But due to BSA positions in the case that are detrimental to the UMC, Saenz wrote, “We simply cannot currently commit to the relationship with the BSA as we have in the past.”

Boy Scouts' bankruptcy creates rift with religious partners

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the theft of a decorative bench from Christ the King Church on Sept. 19 have made an arrest.

On Thursday, police arrested 27-year-old Austin Greenhoff on charges related to two theft incidents in Wichita, including the theft of the bench from the church.

The arrest was made after extensive follow-up work by the Wichita Police Auto Crimes Enforcement Unit. With the help of citizens, they were able to locate Greenhoff, his truck, and evidence of the crimes committed. 

He was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges that include the two theft cases and he is also a suspect in four additional cases that occurred in Sedgwick County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632573658988.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the theft of a decorative bench from Christ the King Church on Sept. 19 have made an arrest.On Thursday, police arrested 27-year-old Austin Greenhoff on charges related to two theft incidents in Wichita, including the theft of the bench from the church.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632573642375.png" alt="Greenhoff has posted bond and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records." />
 <figcaption>Greenhoff has posted bond and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.</figcaption>
 </figure>The arrest was made after extensive follow-up work by the Wichita Police Auto Crimes Enforcement Unit. With the help of citizens, they were able to locate Greenhoff, his truck, and evidence of the crimes committed. He was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges that include the two theft cases and he is also a suspect in four additional cases that occurred in Sedgwick County.

Police capture suspect in theft from Kansas church

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats pushed a $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill strengthening social safety net and climate programs through the House Budget Committee, but one Democrat voted “no,” illustrating the challenges party leaders face in winning the near unanimity they’ll need to push the sprawling package through Congress.

The Democratic-dominated panel, meeting virtually Saturday, approved the measure on a near party-line vote, 20-17. Passage marked a necessary but minor checking of a procedural box for Democrats by edging it a step closer to debate by the full House. Under budget rules, the committee wasn’t allowed to significantly amend the 2,465-page measure, the product of 13 other House committees.

More important work has been happening in an opaque procession of mostly unannounced phone calls, meetings and other bargaining sessions among party leaders and rank-and-file lawmakers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-jon-tester-50483a8c3be3d60d3d4e171db68dd5c1">President Joe Biden</a>, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have led a behind-the-scenes hunt for compromises to resolve internal divisions and, they hope, allow approval of the mammoth bill soon.

Pelosi told fellow Democrats Saturday that they “must” pass the social and environment package this week, along with a separate infrastructure bill and a third measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-bills-bcc426ff4b7225132bcbf870ecaaf9d8">preventing a government shutdown on Friday</a>. Her letter to colleagues underscored the pile of crucial work Congress’ Democratic majority faces in coming days and seemed an effort to build urgency to resolve long-standing disputes quickly.

“The next few days will be a time of intensity,” she wrote.

Moderate Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., joined all 16 Republicans on the Budget committee in opposing the legislation. His objections included one that troubles many Democrats: a reluctance to back a bill with provisions that would later be dropped by the Senate.

Many Democrats don’t want to become politically vulnerable by backing language that might be controversial back home, only to see it not become law. That preference for voting only on a social and environment bill that’s already a House-Senate compromise could complicate Pelosi’s effort for a House vote this week.

Peters was among three Democrats who earlier this month voted against a plan favored by most in his party to lower pharmaceutical costs by letting Medicare negotiate for the prescription drugs it buys.

Party leaders have tried for weeks to resolve differences among Democrats over the package’s final price tag, which seems sure to shrink. There are also disputes over which initiatives should be reshaped, among them expanded Medicare, tax breaks for children and health care, a push toward cleaner energy and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-nancy-pelosi-10f0a84bc96fdaf86a92fa4d3ab69a5c">higher levies on the rich and corporations</a>.

Democrats’ wafer-thin majorities in the House and Senate mean compromise is mandatory. Before the measure the Budget panel approved Saturday even reaches the House floor, it is expected to be changed to reflect whatever House-Senate accords have been reached, and additional revisions are likely.

The overall bill embodies the crux of Biden’s top domestic goals. Budget panel chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky., cited “decades of disinvestment” on needs like health care, education, child care and the environment as the rationale for the legislation.

“The futures of millions of Americans and their families are at stake. We can no longer afford the costs of neglect and inaction. The time to act is now,” Yarmuth said.

Republicans say the proposal is unneeded, unaffordable amid accumulated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-explained-8c9cbcd3d0c4a8fe989a0110f5159f7c">federal debt exceeding $28 trillion&nbsp;</a>and reflects Democrats’ drive to insert government into people’s lives. Its tax boosts will cost jobs and include credits for buying electric vehicles, purchases often made by people with comfortable incomes, they said.

“This bill is a disaster for working-class families,” said Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the committee’s top Republican. “It’s a big giveaway to the wealthy, it’s a laundry list of agenda items pulled right out of the Bernie Sanders socialist playbook.”

The unusual weekend session occurred as top Democrats amp up efforts to end increasingly bitter disputes between the party’s centrist and progressive wings that threaten to undermine Biden’s agenda.

Biden conceded Friday that talks among Democrats were at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-bills-b9fb060c728da28709fc9effaecb0b9a">“stalemate,”</a>&nbsp;though Pelosi and Schumer have been more positive in an apparent effort to build momentum and soothe differences. A collapse of the measure at his own party’s hands would be a wounding preview to the coming election year, in which House and Senate control are at stake.

To nail down moderates’ support for an earlier budget blueprint, Pelosi promised to begin House consideration by Monday of another pillar of Biden’s domestic plans: a $1 trillion collection of roadway and other infrastructure projects. Pelosi reaffirmed this week that the infrastructure debate would begin Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632661305209.png" alt="Many Democrats don’t want to become politically vulnerable by backing language that might be controversial back home, only to see it not become law.&nbsp; Photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Many Democrats don’t want to become politically vulnerable by backing language that might be controversial back home, only to see it not become law.&nbsp; Photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats pushed a $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill strengthening social safety net and climate programs through the House Budget Committee, but one Democrat voted “no,” illustrating the challenges party leaders face in winning the near unanimity they’ll need to push the sprawling package through Congress.The Democratic-dominated panel, meeting virtually Saturday, approved the measure on a near party-line vote, 20-17. Passage marked a necessary but minor checking of a procedural box for Democrats by edging it a step closer to debate by the full House. Under budget rules, the committee wasn’t allowed to significantly amend the 2,465-page measure, the product of 13 other House committees.More important work has been happening in an opaque procession of mostly unannounced phone calls, meetings and other bargaining sessions among party leaders and rank-and-file lawmakers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-jon-tester-50483a8c3be3d60d3d4e171db68dd5c1">President Joe Biden</a>, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have led a behind-the-scenes hunt for compromises to resolve internal divisions and, they hope, allow approval of the mammoth bill soon.Pelosi told fellow Democrats Saturday that they “must” pass the social and environment package this week, along with a separate infrastructure bill and a third measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-bills-bcc426ff4b7225132bcbf870ecaaf9d8">preventing a government shutdown on Friday</a>. Her letter to colleagues underscored the pile of crucial work Congress’ Democratic majority faces in coming days and seemed an effort to build urgency to resolve long-standing disputes quickly.“The next few days will be a time of intensity,” she wrote.Moderate Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., joined all 16 Republicans on the Budget committee in opposing the legislation. His objections included one that troubles many Democrats: a reluctance to back a bill with provisions that would later be dropped by the Senate.Many Democrats don’t want to become politically vulnerable by backing language that might be controversial back home, only to see it not become law. That preference for voting only on a social and environment bill that’s already a House-Senate compromise could complicate Pelosi’s effort for a House vote this week.Peters was among three Democrats who earlier this month voted against a plan favored by most in his party to lower pharmaceutical costs by letting Medicare negotiate for the prescription drugs it buys.Party leaders have tried for weeks to resolve differences among Democrats over the package’s final price tag, which seems sure to shrink. There are also disputes over which initiatives should be reshaped, among them expanded Medicare, tax breaks for children and health care, a push toward cleaner energy and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-nancy-pelosi-10f0a84bc96fdaf86a92fa4d3ab69a5c">higher levies on the rich and corporations</a>.Democrats’ wafer-thin majorities in the House and Senate mean compromise is mandatory. Before the measure the Budget panel approved Saturday even reaches the House floor, it is expected to be changed to reflect whatever House-Senate accords have been reached, and additional revisions are likely.The overall bill embodies the crux of Biden’s top domestic goals. Budget panel chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky., cited “decades of disinvestment” on needs like health care, education, child care and the environment as the rationale for the legislation.“The futures of millions of Americans and their families are at stake. We can no longer afford the costs of neglect and inaction. The time to act is now,” Yarmuth said.Republicans say the proposal is unneeded, unaffordable amid accumulated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-explained-8c9cbcd3d0c4a8fe989a0110f5159f7c">federal debt exceeding $28 trillion&nbsp;</a>and reflects Democrats’ drive to insert government into people’s lives. Its tax boosts will cost jobs and include credits for buying electric vehicles, purchases often made by people with comfortable incomes, they said.“This bill is a disaster for working-class families,” said Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the committee’s top Republican. “It’s a big giveaway to the wealthy, it’s a laundry list of agenda items pulled right out of the Bernie Sanders socialist playbook.”The unusual weekend session occurred as top Democrats amp up efforts to end increasingly bitter disputes between the party’s centrist and progressive wings that threaten to undermine Biden’s agenda.Biden conceded Friday that talks among Democrats were at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-bills-b9fb060c728da28709fc9effaecb0b9a">“stalemate,”</a>&nbsp;though Pelosi and Schumer have been more positive in an apparent effort to build momentum and soothe differences. A collapse of the measure at his own party’s hands would be a wounding preview to the coming election year, in which House and Senate control are at stake.To nail down moderates’ support for an earlier budget blueprint, Pelosi promised to begin House consideration by Monday of another pillar of Biden’s domestic plans: a $1 trillion collection of roadway and other infrastructure projects. Pelosi reaffirmed this week that the infrastructure debate would begin Monday.But many moderates who consider the infrastructure bill their top goal also want to cut the $3.5 trillion social and environment package and trim or reshape some programs. They include Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.In response, progressives — their top priority is the $3.5 trillion measure — are threatening to vote against the infrastructure bill if it comes up for a vote first. Their opposition seems likely to be enough to scuttle it, and Pelosi hasn’t definitively said when a vote on final passage of the infrastructure measure will occur.With each portion of the party threatening to upend the other’s most cherished goal —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-elections-campaigns-race-and-ethnicity-5a5a71aab543b990464207e1062c32aa">a political disaster in the making for Democrats</a>&nbsp;— top Democrats are using the moment to accelerate talks on the massive social and climate legislation. The party can lose no votes in the Senate and a maximum of three in the House to succeed in the narrowly split Congress.