ROELAND PARK&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly on Monday released her three-part ‘Axing Your Taxes’ plan to save Kansans more than $500 million over the next three years, according to a statement from her office.

The comprehensive plan delivers on major campaign promises, including a push to immediately ‘axe the tax’ on groceries and eliminate the state sales tax on diapers and feminine hygiene products; create an annual state sales tax holiday for school supplies; and cut taxes on social security for retirees.

“I’m pleased to introduce a plan that axes taxes for Kansas families and retirees in a way that keeps our state’s economy and budget strong,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“By cutting taxes on groceries and diapers, school supplies, and social security, this plan will put money back in Kansans’ pockets and create real savings for those who need it most.”

Last spring, Governor Kelly signed the “Axe the Food Tax” bill to gradually eliminate the 6.5% state sales tax on groceries, which is one of the highest in the country, starting January 1, 2023. If passed, the first part of her ‘Axing Your Taxes’ plan would supersede the gradual reduction and immediately zero-out the tax – as well as the state sales tax on other essentials like diapers and feminine hygiene products, which were not included in the 2022 bill. <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTkuNjg0ODkwOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2NvbnRlbnQuZ292ZGVsaXZlcnkuY29tL2F0dGFjaG1lbnRzL0tTT0cvMjAyMi8xMi8xOS9maWxlX2F0dGFjaG1lbnRzLzIzNTkwNDQvRm9vZCwlMjBEaWFwZXJzJTIwU2FsZXMlMjBUYXglMjBHTy5wZGYifQ.z-nkXPKBg040y7qweU_Q6IYetlzLqOGaz6Nb1422II8/s/1303160919/br/150839455829-l" target="_blank">Click here</a>&nbsp;to view a draft of the bill.

The second part of the ‘Axing Your Taxes’ plan would create a three-day zero percent sales tax holiday on school supplies, personal computers, instructional materials, and art supplies, every August. The holiday would provide relief to families and teachers gearing up for back to school and keep Kansas retailers competitive to surrounding states.&nbsp; <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/KSOG/2022/12/19/file_attachments/2359061/School%20Sales%20Tax%20Holiday%20GO.pdf">Click&nbsp;here</a> to view a draft of the bill.

Right now, Kansans earning less than $75,000 annually do not pay state income tax on social security income. But once they earn a dollar more – including through investments and life insurance policies – the entirety of their social security income is subject to state income tax. The third part of Governor Kelly’s ‘Axing Your Taxes’ plan would smooth out that cliff so no Kansan making under $100,000 pays full taxes on social security. View the bill draft&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTkuNjg0ODkwOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2NvbnRlbnQuZ292ZGVsaXZlcnkuY29tL2F0dGFjaG1lbnRzL0tTT0cvMjAyMi8xMi8xOS9maWxlX2F0dGFjaG1lbnRzLzIzNTkwNjMvU29jaWFsJTIwU2VjdXJpdHklMjBDbGlmZiUyMEdPLnBkZiJ9.ZtBOfFmEiSob6YfBpZBi7j5fBBx1-KghwJXzajqn95Y/s/1303160919/br/150839455829-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

These tax cuts are possible through Governor Kelly’s fiscal responsibility and leadership during her first term as governor.

“I am calling on legislators of both parties to support these bills and provide practical financial relief to families and retirees across our great state,”&nbsp;she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671474703347.png" alt="Governor Kelly during her Axing Your Taxes’ announcement on Monday-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Governor Kelly during her Axing Your Taxes’ announcement on Monday-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>ROELAND PARK&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly on Monday released her three-part ‘Axing Your Taxes’ plan to save Kansans more than $500 million over the next three years, according to a statement from her office.The comprehensive plan delivers on major campaign promises, including a push to immediately ‘axe the tax’ on groceries and eliminate the state sales tax on diapers and feminine hygiene products; create an annual state sales tax holiday for school supplies; and cut taxes on social security for retirees.“I’m pleased to introduce a plan that axes taxes for Kansas families and retirees in a way that keeps our state’s economy and budget strong,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“By cutting taxes on groceries and diapers, school supplies, and social security, this plan will put money back in Kansans’ pockets and create real savings for those who need it most.”Last spring, Governor Kelly signed the “Axe the Food Tax” bill to gradually eliminate the 6.5% state sales tax on groceries, which is one of the highest in the country, starting January 1, 2023. If passed, the first part of her ‘Axing Your Taxes’ plan would supersede the gradual reduction and immediately zero-out the tax – as well as the state sales tax on other essentials like diapers and feminine hygiene products, which were not included in the 2022 bill. <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTkuNjg0ODkwOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2NvbnRlbnQuZ292ZGVsaXZlcnkuY29tL2F0dGFjaG1lbnRzL0tTT0cvMjAyMi8xMi8xOS9maWxlX2F0dGFjaG1lbnRzLzIzNTkwNDQvRm9vZCwlMjBEaWFwZXJzJTIwU2FsZXMlMjBUYXglMjBHTy5wZGYifQ.z-nkXPKBg040y7qweU_Q6IYetlzLqOGaz6Nb1422II8/s/1303160919/br/150839455829-l" target="_blank">Click here</a>&nbsp;to view a draft of the bill.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671475675863.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The second part of the ‘Axing Your Taxes’ plan would create a three-day zero percent sales tax holiday on school supplies, personal computers, instructional materials, and art supplies, every August. The holiday would provide relief to families and teachers gearing up for back to school and keep Kansas retailers competitive to surrounding states.&nbsp; <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/KSOG/2022/12/19/file_attachments/2359061/School%20Sales%20Tax%20Holiday%20GO.pdf">Click&nbsp;here</a> to view a draft of the bill.Right now, Kansans earning less than $75,000 annually do not pay state income tax on social security income. But once they earn a dollar more – including through investments and life insurance policies – the entirety of their social security income is subject to state income tax. The third part of Governor Kelly’s ‘Axing Your Taxes’ plan would smooth out that cliff so no Kansan making under $100,000 pays full taxes on social security. View the bill draft&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMTkuNjg0ODkwOTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2NvbnRlbnQuZ292ZGVsaXZlcnkuY29tL2F0dGFjaG1lbnRzL0tTT0cvMjAyMi8xMi8xOS9maWxlX2F0dGFjaG1lbnRzLzIzNTkwNjMvU29jaWFsJTIwU2VjdXJpdHklMjBDbGlmZiUyMEdPLnBkZiJ9.ZtBOfFmEiSob6YfBpZBi7j5fBBx1-KghwJXzajqn95Y/s/1303160919/br/150839455829-l" target="_blank">here</a>.These tax cuts are possible through Governor Kelly’s fiscal responsibility and leadership during her first term as governor.“I am calling on legislators of both parties to support these bills and provide practical financial relief to families and retirees across our great state,”&nbsp;she said.

Gov. unveils plan to immediately ‘axe tax’ on groceries, diapers

I’m 32 and a teacher. My house is my only debt, and there’s $55,000 left on my mortgage. My parents always taught my brother and I about saving and being smart with money. The other day, mom and dad offered to pay off the rest of my mortgage by loaning me the money with a very small interest rate. I know you don’t like the idea of mixing money and family, but considering I have a great relationship with my parents, what do you think about this offer?

I’m going to make a suggestion before saying don’t do this. See what I did there?

But seriously, I’d recommend they just make the money a gift and reduce your portion of any later inheritance by that amount. By doing this, you could help reduce the possibility of your brother feeling slighted in any way.&nbsp;

I would never&nbsp;loan&nbsp;my kids money. And here’s why: One hundred percent of the time, the Bible says the borrower is slave to the lender. That doesn’t exempt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/relationships/how-to-teach-kids-about-money">parents and their kids</a>. No matter how nice your masters are, you’re still a slave in this kind of situation—and you’ll feel it. Family dinners and get-togethers are different when you’re sitting down to eat with your masters—your creditors—instead of just good ol’ Mom and Dad.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting you should act ungrateful that they offered a loan instead of a gift. It’s a generous thing either way. But if they don’t want to go the gift route, that’s fine. You have a good job, a nice home, and you’ll be okay. The thing is, I just wouldn’t want to take a chance on straining a great relationship—or even ruining it—because of money.

Lacy, you’re 32, a teacher and a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/mortgage-payoff-calculator">homeowner</a>. In my mind that says a lot about you, your maturity and your work ethic. That being the case, I get how this could be a weird thing for you to do. So, I’m going to give you an out: Blame me. Just tell them you talked to me, and I said don’t do the loan idea. Tell them I gave you the make-it-a-gift-tied-to-the-inheritance idea.&nbsp;

If your mom or dad wants to talk to me about things, that’s fine. I’ll be kind to them. But I’ll tell the truth like I always do.

Dave Ramsey&nbsp;is an eight-time national bestselling author, personal finance expert and host of “<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/shows/the-ramsey-show?snid=shows.shows.the-ramsey-show">The Ramsey Show</a>,” heard by more than 18 million listeners. He&nbsp;has appeared on “Good Morning America,” “CBS This Morning,” “Today,” Fox News, CNN, Fox Business and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth, and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO of Ramsey Solutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648177011035.png" alt="Dave Ramsey&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,I’m 32 and a teacher. My house is my only debt, and there’s $55,000 left on my mortgage. My parents always taught my brother and I about saving and being smart with money. The other day, mom and dad offered to pay off the rest of my mortgage by loaning me the money with a very small interest rate. I know you don’t like the idea of mixing money and family, but considering I have a great relationship with my parents, what do you think about this offer?LacyDear Lacy,I’m going to make a suggestion before saying don’t do this. See what I did there?But seriously, I’d recommend they just make the money a gift and reduce your portion of any later inheritance by that amount. By doing this, you could help reduce the possibility of your brother feeling slighted in any way.&nbsp;I would never&nbsp;loan&nbsp;my kids money. And here’s why: One hundred percent of the time, the Bible says the borrower is slave to the lender. That doesn’t exempt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/relationships/how-to-teach-kids-about-money">parents and their kids</a>. No matter how nice your masters are, you’re still a slave in this kind of situation—and you’ll feel it. Family dinners and get-togethers are different when you’re sitting down to eat with your masters—your creditors—instead of just good ol’ Mom and Dad.Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting you should act ungrateful that they offered a loan instead of a gift. It’s a generous thing either way. But if they don’t want to go the gift route, that’s fine. You have a good job, a nice home, and you’ll be okay. The thing is, I just wouldn’t want to take a chance on straining a great relationship—or even ruining it—because of money.Lacy, you’re 32, a teacher and a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/mortgage-payoff-calculator">homeowner</a>. In my mind that says a lot about you, your maturity and your work ethic. That being the case, I get how this could be a weird thing for you to do. So, I’m going to give you an out: Blame me. Just tell them you talked to me, and I said don’t do the loan idea. Tell them I gave you the make-it-a-gift-tied-to-the-inheritance idea.&nbsp;If your mom or dad wants to talk to me about things, that’s fine. I’ll be kind to them. But I’ll tell the truth like I always do.— DaveDave Ramsey&nbsp;is an eight-time national bestselling author, personal finance expert and host of “<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/shows/the-ramsey-show?snid=shows.shows.the-ramsey-show">The Ramsey Show</a>,” heard by more than 18 million listeners. He&nbsp;has appeared on “Good Morning America,” “CBS This Morning,” “Today,” Fox News, CNN, Fox Business and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth, and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO of Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: I’ll be nice, but I’ll tell the truth

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-attorney-general-elect-selects-retired-appellate-judge-to-be-states-solicitor-general/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Attorney General-elect 
Kris Kobach on Monday said he would hire a retired judge from the Kansas
 Court of Appeals to serve as solicitor general responsible for 
representing the state in civil and criminal appellate cases.

Kobach appointed Anthony Powell, who retired from the Court of 
Appeals in June, to the position. In 2013, Powell was selected for the 
Court of Appeals by then-Gov. Sam Brownback. He sought a seat on the 
Kansas Supreme Court in 2014, but wasn’t chosen by Brownback.

Powell previously served for a decade as a Sedgwick County District 
Court judge and four terms as a Republican member of the Kansas House.

“Judge Powell has earned great respect in the Kansas legal 
community,” Kobach said. “As a former judge himself, he knows how to 
effectively defend the rights of Kansans in state and federal courts. He
 will be a formidable litigator for the state of Kansas.”

Upon Kobach’s swearing in as attorney general, Powell would replace 
Brant Laue, who has served as Kansas solicitor general under Attorney 
General Derek Schmidt since 2020. Laue succeeded Toby Crouse, who was 
appointed by President Donald Trump to the U.S. District Court.

Powell said said he would sustain the “skilled professionalism from 
the solicitor’s office that I witnessed firsthand as a judge on the 
Kansas Court of Appeals.”

“I intend to advance sound legal arguments to the court and 
aggressively advocate for the people of Kansas as solicitor general,” 
Powell said.

On the Court of Appeals, he authored nearly 700 opinions. He graduated from law school at Washburn University in Topeka.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671463145877.png" alt="Attorney General-elect Kris Kobach selected former Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Anthony Powell to serve as the state’s solicitor general. Powell was appointed to the Court of Appeals by then-Gov. Sam Brownback and served four terms as a Republican in the Kansas House. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Attorney General-elect Kris Kobach selected former Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Anthony Powell to serve as the state’s solicitor general. Powell was appointed to the Court of Appeals by then-Gov. Sam Brownback and served four terms as a Republican in the Kansas House. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-attorney-general-elect-selects-retired-appellate-judge-to-be-states-solicitor-general/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Attorney General-elect 
Kris Kobach on Monday said he would hire a retired judge from the Kansas
 Court of Appeals to serve as solicitor general responsible for 
representing the state in civil and criminal appellate cases.Kobach appointed Anthony Powell, who retired from the Court of 
Appeals in June, to the position. In 2013, Powell was selected for the 
Court of Appeals by then-Gov. Sam Brownback. He sought a seat on the 
Kansas Supreme Court in 2014, but wasn’t chosen by Brownback.Powell previously served for a decade as a Sedgwick County District 
Court judge and four terms as a Republican member of the Kansas House.“Judge Powell has earned great respect in the Kansas legal 
community,” Kobach said. “As a former judge himself, he knows how to 
effectively defend the rights of Kansans in state and federal courts. He
 will be a formidable litigator for the state of Kansas.”Upon Kobach’s swearing in as attorney general, Powell would replace 
Brant Laue, who has served as Kansas solicitor general under Attorney 
General Derek Schmidt since 2020. Laue succeeded Toby Crouse, who was 
appointed by President Donald Trump to the U.S. District Court.Powell said said he would sustain the “skilled professionalism from 
the solicitor’s office that I witnessed firsthand as a judge on the 
Kansas Court of Appeals.”“I intend to advance sound legal arguments to the court and 
aggressively advocate for the people of Kansas as solicitor general,” 
Powell said.On the Court of Appeals, he authored nearly 700 opinions. He graduated from law school at Washburn University in Topeka.

Kobach selects retired appellate judge to be Kan. solicitor general

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man jailed on a <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20080133">$1.5 million dollar bond</a> in connection with the abduction of a girl from Arkansas is expected in court in Wichita Monday afternoon, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

Just after midnight Dec. 14, a detective with the White County, Arkansas Sheriff’s Office contacted Wichita Police requesting assistance locating a missing child from their jurisdiction, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

&nbsp; A 14-year-old girl had left her home in Arkansas in early November and not returned.&nbsp; A follow-up investigation by White County detectives revealed she had been <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=466582265583859&amp;set=pcb.461551719420247">seen in a convenience store</a> with a man before leaving in a vehicle with the same man later identified as 35-year-old&nbsp;David E. Roark of Wichita. Police also learned Roark was wanted on two warrants from the state of Kentucky.

Additional information provided by White County suggested that Roark was possibly in the Wichita area. 

The Wichita Police Exploited and Missing Child Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit began investigating and located an address in the 1800 block of N. Litchfield in Wichita, where they believed Roark was staying. 

Police observed Roark leaving the home and took him into custody. Officers then found the missing girl in a closet inside the house. Police took both of them for additional interviews, where it was discovered further crimes had occurred in Wichita.

A search warrant for the residence was completed, and David Roark was <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20080133">booked into the Sedgwick County Jail </a>on local requested charges of criminal restraint, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, abuse of a child and the two Kentucky warrants. The girl has been reunited with her family, according to Ditch.&nbsp;

Police presented the case to the District Attorney’s Office Friday morning, ahead of his court appearance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671221717558.png" alt="Roark-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Roark-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man jailed on a <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20080133">$1.5 million dollar bond</a> in connection with the abduction of a girl from Arkansas is expected in court in Wichita Monday afternoon, according to Officer Chad Ditch.Just after midnight Dec. 14, a detective with the White County, Arkansas Sheriff’s Office contacted Wichita Police requesting assistance locating a missing child from their jurisdiction, according to Officer Chad Ditch.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671287383491.png" alt="Security camera image White County, Arkansas sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image White County, Arkansas sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp; A 14-year-old girl had left her home in Arkansas in early November and not returned.&nbsp; A follow-up investigation by White County detectives revealed she had been <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=466582265583859&amp;set=pcb.461551719420247">seen in a convenience store</a> with a man before leaving in a vehicle with the same man later identified as 35-year-old&nbsp;David E. Roark of Wichita. Police also learned Roark was wanted on two warrants from the state of Kentucky.Additional information provided by White County suggested that Roark was possibly in the Wichita area. The Wichita Police Exploited and Missing Child Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit began investigating and located an address in the 1800 block of N. Litchfield in Wichita, where they believed Roark was staying. Police observed Roark leaving the home and took him into custody. Officers then found the missing girl in a closet inside the house. Police took both of them for additional interviews, where it was discovered further crimes had occurred in Wichita.A search warrant for the residence was completed, and David Roark was <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20080133">booked into the Sedgwick County Jail </a>on local requested charges of criminal restraint, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, abuse of a child and the two Kentucky warrants. The girl has been reunited with her family, according to Ditch.&nbsp;Police presented the case to the District Attorney’s Office Friday morning, ahead of his court appearance.

Kan. man accused of kidnapping 14-year-old is due in court

WASHINGTON (AP) — Since the pandemic began, the United States has been using a public health rule designed to limit the spread of disease to expel asylum-seekers on the southern border.

Title 42, as it's called, has been used more than 2.5 million times to expel migrants since March 2020, although that number includes people who repeatedly attempted to cross the border.

But because of a judge's ruling, starting next Wednesday immigration authorities can no longer use Title 42 to quickly expel prospective asylum-seekers. The change comes as surging numbers of people are seeking to enter the country through the southern border, and with Republicans intent on making immigration a key issue when they take control of the House in January.

A look at Title 42 and the potential impact of the ruling:

In March 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/CDC-Order-Prohibiting-Introduction-of-Persons_Final_3-20-20_3-p.pdf">issued an order limiting migration</a>&nbsp;across the southern and northern borders, saying it was necessary to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The virus was ravaging the U.S., schools were shutting down and hospitals filling up, and President Donald Trump was trying numerous ways to limit migration, his signature political issue.

The order authorized Customs and Border Protection to immediately remove migrants, including people seeking asylum, to prevent the spread of the virus. The order said areas where migrants were held often weren't designed to quarantine people or allow for social distancing and could put border personnel and others at risk.

“The public health risks of inaction are stark," it said.

The Biden administration continued the policy. While many Democrats pushed President Joe Biden to overturn Trump's anti-immigration measures, some — especially in border states — have advocated to keep Title 42, saying the U.S. is unprepared for an increase in asylum-seekers. When the CDC moved to lift it earlier this year, moderate Democrats, including Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, wanted it to stay.

In 2021, a group representing immigrants who were denied the right to seek asylum sued to end the use of Title 42.

As that case made its way through the courts, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0401-title-42.html">CDC announced last April that</a>&nbsp;the rule was no longer needed because vaccines and treatments were becoming much more widespread.

That sparked Republican-leaning states to file their own lawsuit aimed at keeping Title 42 in place. The states argued that ending the rule would lead to a surge in migrants to their states that would in turn take a toll on their services. That argument found favor with a Trump-appointed judge in Louisiana who ordered keeping the restrictions in place. The judge found Biden’s administration failed to follow administrative procedures requiring public notice and time to gather public comment on the plan to end the restrictions.

But that ruling was effectively blocked by another federal judge in a separate lawsuit in Washington. That judge, appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, ruled on Nov. 15 that the Biden administration must lift the asylum restrictions by Dec. 21. That ruling, addressing broader questions about Title 42, took precedence over the Texas ruling, cheering immigration advocates. In a key development, the federal government did not appeal to keep the public health restrictions in place.

“The court was correct to find that banning migrants, while allowing the rest of the country to open up, is unlawfully arbitrary, causes grave harm to desperate asylum-seekers, and overrides the United States’ legal commitments to provide a safe haven for those fleeing persecution," said Lee Gelernt, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-united-states-public-immigration-covid-5d5f77e27cba4a8063d36d0f384aa893">a group of conservative states</a>&nbsp;is asking the courts to keep Title 42 in place. The appeal argues that the cancellation of Title 42 “will cause an enormous disaster at the border” and the additional migrants will increase the states' costs for law enforcement, education and health care. A decision could come as early as Friday.

Not really. The Biden administration has not used it with children traveling alone, only single adults or families. And the ban has been unevenly enforced by nationality, falling largely on migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — in addition to Mexicans — because Mexico allows them to be returned from the United States. Last month, Mexico began accepting Venezuelans who are expelled from the United States under Title 42, causing a sharp drop in Venezuelans seeking asylum at the U.S. border.

Some other nationalities are less likely to be subject to Title 42 because costs or frayed relations with their home countries, Cuba for example, make it difficult for the U.S. to send them back. People from these countries have become a growing presence at the border, confident they will be released in the United States to pursue their immigration cases. In October, Cubans were the second-largest nationality at the border after Mexicans, followed by Venezuelans and Nicaraguans.

If it goes away, asylum-seekers will be interviewed by asylum officers who will determine if they have a “credible fear” of being persecuted in their home countries. If they're found to face a credible threat, they can stay in the U.S. until a final determination is made.

That can take years. While some are detained while their asylum process plays out, the vast majority are freed into the United States with notices to appear in immigration court or report to immigration authorities.

The Department of Homeland Security said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/22_1213_plcy_update-sw-border-security-preparedness.pdf">a memo this week</a>&nbsp;that the current system is not designed "to handle the current volume of migration nor the increased volume we expect over the coming weeks and months.”

It said it is preparing for a possible surge by cracking down on smuggling networks, speeding removal of those found to have little basis to stay in the U.S., and working with international partners to stem migration. It said it's also seeking more money from Congress.

Republicans, who will control the House come January, are expected to make immigration a major issue. Already there have been calls to impeach the Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Some Democrats have also voiced concern about what happens when Title 42 goes away. In a letter to Biden this week, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas joined two Texas Republicans — Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Tony Gonzales — in asking Biden to keep Title 42 in place, saying there was a crisis at the southern border and that DHS hadn't presented a plan to maintain control there.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317716965.png" alt="But because of a judge's ruling, starting Wednesday immigration authorities can no longer use Title 42 to quickly expel prospective asylum-seekers.&nbsp;photo courtesy Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>But because of a judge's ruling, starting Wednesday immigration authorities can no longer use Title 42 to quickly expel prospective asylum-seekers.&nbsp;photo courtesy Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Since the pandemic began, the United States has been using a public health rule designed to limit the spread of disease to expel asylum-seekers on the southern border.Title 42, as it's called, has been used more than 2.5 million times to expel migrants since March 2020, although that number includes people who repeatedly attempted to cross the border.But because of a judge's ruling, starting next Wednesday immigration authorities can no longer use Title 42 to quickly expel prospective asylum-seekers. The change comes as surging numbers of people are seeking to enter the country through the southern border, and with Republicans intent on making immigration a key issue when they take control of the House in January.A look at Title 42 and the potential impact of the ruling:HOW IT STARTEDIn March 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/CDC-Order-Prohibiting-Introduction-of-Persons_Final_3-20-20_3-p.pdf">issued an order limiting migration</a>&nbsp;across the southern and northern borders, saying it was necessary to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The virus was ravaging the U.S., schools were shutting down and hospitals filling up, and President Donald Trump was trying numerous ways to limit migration, his signature political issue.The order authorized Customs and Border Protection to immediately remove migrants, including people seeking asylum, to prevent the spread of the virus. The order said areas where migrants were held often weren't designed to quarantine people or allow for social distancing and could put border personnel and others at risk.“The public health risks of inaction are stark," it said.The Biden administration continued the policy. While many Democrats pushed President Joe Biden to overturn Trump's anti-immigration measures, some — especially in border states — have advocated to keep Title 42, saying the U.S. is unprepared for an increase in asylum-seekers. When the CDC moved to lift it earlier this year, moderate Democrats, including Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, wanted it to stay.THE COURT FIGHTIn 2021, a group representing immigrants who were denied the right to seek asylum sued to end the use of Title 42.As that case made its way through the courts, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0401-title-42.html">CDC announced last April that</a>&nbsp;the rule was no longer needed because vaccines and treatments were becoming much more widespread.That sparked Republican-leaning states to file their own lawsuit aimed at keeping Title 42 in place. The states argued that ending the rule would lead to a surge in migrants to their states that would in turn take a toll on their services. That argument found favor with a Trump-appointed judge in Louisiana who ordered keeping the restrictions in place. The judge found Biden’s administration failed to follow administrative procedures requiring public notice and time to gather public comment on the plan to end the restrictions.But that ruling was effectively blocked by another federal judge in a separate lawsuit in Washington. That judge, appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, ruled on Nov. 15 that the Biden administration must lift the asylum restrictions by Dec. 21. That ruling, addressing broader questions about Title 42, took precedence over the Texas ruling, cheering immigration advocates. In a key development, the federal government did not appeal to keep the public health restrictions in place.“The court was correct to find that banning migrants, while allowing the rest of the country to open up, is unlawfully arbitrary, causes grave harm to desperate asylum-seekers, and overrides the United States’ legal commitments to provide a safe haven for those fleeing persecution," said Lee Gelernt, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union.But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-united-states-public-immigration-covid-5d5f77e27cba4a8063d36d0f384aa893">a group of conservative states</a>&nbsp;is asking the courts to keep Title 42 in place. The appeal argues that the cancellation of Title 42 “will cause an enormous disaster at the border” and the additional migrants will increase the states' costs for law enforcement, education and health care. A decision could come as early as Friday.DOES TITLE 42 AFFECT ALL ASYLUM-SEEKERS?Not really. The Biden administration has not used it with children traveling alone, only single adults or families. And the ban has been unevenly enforced by nationality, falling largely on migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — in addition to Mexicans — because Mexico allows them to be returned from the United States. Last month, Mexico began accepting Venezuelans who are expelled from the United States under Title 42, causing a sharp drop in Venezuelans seeking asylum at the U.S. border.Some other nationalities are less likely to be subject to Title 42 because costs or frayed relations with their home countries, Cuba for example, make it difficult for the U.S. to send them back. People from these countries have become a growing presence at the border, confident they will be released in the United States to pursue their immigration cases. In October, Cubans were the second-largest nationality at the border after Mexicans, followed by Venezuelans and Nicaraguans.WHAT HAPPENS IF TITLE 42 ENDS?If it goes away, asylum-seekers will be interviewed by asylum officers who will determine if they have a “credible fear” of being persecuted in their home countries. If they're found to face a credible threat, they can stay in the U.S. until a final determination is made.That can take years. While some are detained while their asylum process plays out, the vast majority are freed into the United States with notices to appear in immigration court or report to immigration authorities.The Department of Homeland Security said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/22_1213_plcy_update-sw-border-security-preparedness.pdf">a memo this week</a>&nbsp;that the current system is not designed "to handle the current volume of migration nor the increased volume we expect over the coming weeks and months.”It said it is preparing for a possible surge by cracking down on smuggling networks, speeding removal of those found to have little basis to stay in the U.S., and working with international partners to stem migration. It said it's also seeking more money from Congress.Republicans, who will control the House come January, are expected to make immigration a major issue. Already there have been calls to impeach the Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.Some Democrats have also voiced concern about what happens when Title 42 goes away. In a letter to Biden this week, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas joined two Texas Republicans — Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Tony Gonzales — in asking Biden to keep Title 42 in place, saying there was a crisis at the southern border and that DHS hadn't presented a plan to maintain control there.

Immigration expected to surge as asylum rule ends

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting that injured an officer at Kansas City International Airport Friday morning have two suspects in custody.

According to online jail records 34-year-old Lacy Perry remains in the Platte County jail on requested charges of&nbsp;disarming a peace officer or correctional officer while performing official duty, tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.

Kevin Bloom, 40, remains jailed on requested charges of third-degree assault, resisting arrest/detention/stop by fleeing - creating a substantial risk of serious injury/death to any person.

Just before 5a.m., Kansas City police responded to report of suspicious vehicle in the long-term parking area at the airport, according to Sgt. Jacob Becchinna.

The officer identified a vehicle that matched the vehicle's description and attempted to stop the vehicle for further investigation. The driver fled and the officer pursued the vehicle to North Bern Street and Northwest Cookingham near the airport entrance where both vehicles were involved in a crash. The officer suffered minor injuries, according to Becchinna.

Additional officers responded to assist with the man and woman inside the suspect vehicle. Officers took them into custody and they were placed into airport police vehicles.

During the course of placing the subjects inside the police cars a struggle ensued between one of the subjects and one of the backup officers. During the course of that struggle the officer was shot one time and received non-life threatening injuries. The officer was transported to the hospital for treatment of the injuries.

Names of the injured officers have not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671293481985.png" alt="Bloom-photo Platte Co." />
 <figcaption>Bloom-photo Platte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting that injured an officer at Kansas City International Airport Friday morning have two suspects in custody.According to online jail records 34-year-old Lacy Perry remains in the Platte County jail on requested charges of&nbsp;disarming a peace officer or correctional officer while performing official duty, tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671293454487.png" alt="Perry-photo Platte Co." />
 <figcaption>Perry-photo Platte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kevin Bloom, 40, remains jailed on requested charges of third-degree assault, resisting arrest/detention/stop by fleeing - creating a substantial risk of serious injury/death to any person.Just before 5a.m., Kansas City police responded to report of suspicious vehicle in the long-term parking area at the airport, according to Sgt. Jacob Becchinna.The officer identified a vehicle that matched the vehicle's description and attempted to stop the vehicle for further investigation. The driver fled and the officer pursued the vehicle to North Bern Street and Northwest Cookingham near the airport entrance where both vehicles were involved in a crash. The officer suffered minor injuries, according to Becchinna.Additional officers responded to assist with the man and woman inside the suspect vehicle. Officers took them into custody and they were placed into airport police vehicles.During the course of placing the subjects inside the police cars a struggle ensued between one of the subjects and one of the backup officers. During the course of that struggle the officer was shot one time and received non-life threatening injuries. The officer was transported to the hospital for treatment of the injuries.Names of the injured officers have not been released.

Police ID suspects in shooting that injured KC Airport police officer 

BARTON COUNTY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of an explosion and fire in Hoisington.

Just after 10:30a.m. Saturday, crews respond to a metal shop burning with a motor home inside burning also, according to a social media report from the Barton County Fire District #2

The motor home had exploded causing the fire. Heavy black smoke could be seen from first arriving trucks.

&nbsp;It was later discovered that the property owner was in the building at the time of the explosion. A private vehicle transported the owner to the hospital in Great Bend and the individual was later flown to a Wichita hospital for treatment of burns.

&nbsp;After the fire was knocked down Great Bend fire crews responded to provide mutual aide to give relief to other firefighters.&nbsp; The state fire marshal is investigating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671449542843.png" alt="Photos courtesy Barton County Fire District 2" />
 <figcaption>Photos courtesy Barton County Fire District 2</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of an explosion and fire in Hoisington.Just after 10:30a.m. Saturday, crews respond to a metal shop burning with a motor home inside burning also, according to a social media report from the Barton County Fire District #2The motor home had exploded causing the fire. Heavy black smoke could be seen from first arriving trucks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671450205112.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;It was later discovered that the property owner was in the building at the time of the explosion. A private vehicle transported the owner to the hospital in Great Bend and the individual was later flown to a Wichita hospital for treatment of burns.&nbsp;After the fire was knocked down Great Bend fire crews responded to provide mutual aide to give relief to other firefighters.&nbsp; The state fire marshal is investigating.

Kan. owner airlifted to hospital after motorhome explodes

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia's Foreign Ministry warned that if the U.S. delivers sophisticated air defense systems to Ukraine, those systems and any crews that accompany them would be a “legitimate target” for the Russian military, a blunt threat that was quickly rejected by Washington.

The exchange of statements reflected soaring Russia-U.S. tensions amid the fighting in Ukraine, which is now in its 10th month.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the U.S. had “effectively become a party” to the war by providing Ukraine with weapons and training its troops. She added that if reports about U.S. intentions to provide Kyiv with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-patriot-missile-system-explainer-b16125509161de8a7a3b4c38022534c7">Patriot surface-to-air missile system</a>&nbsp;prove true, it would become “another provocative move by the U.S.” and broaden its involvement in the hostilities, "entailing possible consequences.”

“Any weapons systems supplied to Ukraine, including the Patriot, along with the personnel servicing them, have been and will remain legitimate priority targets for the Russian armed forces,” Zakharova declared.

Asked about the Russian warning, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Gen. Pat Ryder responded that the U.S. was "not going to allow comments from Russia to dictate the security assistance that we provide to Ukraine.”

“I find it ironic and very telling that officials from a country that brutally attacked its neighbor — in an illegal and unprovoked invasion, through a campaign that is deliberately targeting and killing innocent civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure — that they would choose to use words like ‘provocative’ to describe defensive systems that are meant to save lives and protect civilians,” Ryder said.

U.S. officials said Tuesday that Washington was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-government-and-politics-ba8468e34e3c7eb78bdc47393c417ecb">poised to approve sending a Patriot missile battery</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine, finally agreeing to an urgent request from Ukrainian leaders desperate for more robust weapons to shoot down incoming Russian missiles that have crippled much of the country's vital infrastructure. An official announcement is expected soon.

Operating and maintaining a Patriot battery requires&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-politics-government-and-b16125509161de8a7a3b4c38022534c7">as many as 90 troops</a>, and for months the U.S. has been reluctant to provide the complex systems because sending American forces into Ukraine to run them is a nonstarter for President Joe Biden's administration.

Even without the presence of U.S. service members to train Ukrainians on use of the system, concerns remain that deployment of the missiles could provoke Russia or risk that a fired projectile could hit inside Russia and further escalate the conflict.

Russia has repeatedly claimed that its forces struck Western-supplied weapons in Ukraine, but those statements have been impossible to verify.

Ukraine has so far been cautious in reacting to the reports.

Hanna Maliar, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister, told reporters Thursday in Kyiv that the delivery of such weaponry remains “sensitive not only for Ukraine, but for our partners,” and that only President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov would make any official announcement on such an agreement.

White House and Pentagon leaders have said consistently that providing Ukraine with additional air defenses is a priority, and Patriot missiles have been under consideration for some time. As the winter closed in and the Russian bombardment of civilian infrastructure escalated, officials said, the idea became a higher priority.

Until now, the U.S. and other NATO allies have provided Ukraine with short- and medium-range air defense systems that can down Russian aircraft and drones but not ballistic and cruise missiles.

Ukraine's electricity provider said Thursday that the country’s energy system had a “significant deficit of electricity,” and that emergency shutdowns had been applied in some areas as temperatures hover around or below freezing.

The state-owned grid operator Ukrenergo warned in a statement on Facebook that damage caused to energy infrastructure by Russian attacks is being compounded by harsh weather, including snow, ice and strong winds.

The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson was left completely without power following Russian shelling, according to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian president’s office, who wrote on Telegram. He added that two people were killed in the attacks.

Heavy shelling of the city’s Korabelny district was still underway in the afternoon, and Russian shells hit 100 meters (yards) from the regional administration building, he said.

Amid the infrastructure attacks and power outages across the country, seven civilians were killed and 19 wounded on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a report issued by the Ukrainian president's office.

The head of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk province, Pavlo Kyrylenko, reported that Russian strikes the previous day had killed two civilians and wounded seven.

Kremlin-backed authorities in the region, which was illegally annexed by Moscow in September, announced that Russia had taken control of 80% of the city of Marinka, seen as critical to Ukrainian hopes of retaking the Russian-held regional capital, Donetsk.

The Moscow-installed mayor of Donetsk, Aleksei Kulemzin, said Thursday that the city center had been hit by “the most massive strike” since the area came under the control of Russian-backed separatists in 2014.

Writing on Telegram, Kulemzin said 40 Ukrainian rockets struck Donetsk on Thursday morning, noting that multistory residential buildings were hit and that fires broke out at a hospital and university campus.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces shelled Russia’s western Kursk province, according to regional Gov. Roman Starovoyt. Six shells reportedly struck a farm in the province’s Belovsky district, which borders Ukraine’s Sumy province. There were no casualties, Starovoyt wrote on Telegram.

— The European Union said it approved a new package of sanctions aimed at ramping up pressure on Russia for the war. The package was approved after days of deliberations during a meeting of the 27-nation bloc’s ambassadors.

— Russia continued to build up its military presence in Belarus, a senior Ukrainian military official said. According to Brig. Gen. Oleksiy Hromov, Russian units “are undergoing training and combat coordination” in Belarus, with the Kremlin using Belarusian officers and training grounds to improve the combat capability of existing units, as well as to train newly created units.

Speaking at a press briefing, Hromov said the probability of a Russian offensive from Belarus “remains low,” but he highlighted that the transfer of Russian weapons to Belarus is ongoing, including three hypersonic missile-carrying aircraft, a set of tanks and a long-range radar-detection aircraft.

— Russia's Foreign Ministry said the Vatican has apologized for a statement Pope Francis made in a recent interview in which he singled out two Russian ethnic minorities — the Chechens and the Buryats — as being “the most cruel” participants in the war in Ukraine.

At a briefing, Zakharova quoted from what she said was a message from the Vatican that “apologizes to the Russian side” for the pope's comments. Zakharova praised the message, saying that it showed the Vatican’s “ability to conduct dialogue and listen to interlocutors.” A Vatican spokesman would say only that there had been diplomatic contacts on the matter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="-Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin via AP" />
 <figcaption>-Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin via AP</figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia's Foreign Ministry warned that if the U.S. delivers sophisticated air defense systems to Ukraine, those systems and any crews that accompany them would be a “legitimate target” for the Russian military, a blunt threat that was quickly rejected by Washington.The exchange of statements reflected soaring Russia-U.S. tensions amid the fighting in Ukraine, which is now in its 10th month.Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the U.S. had “effectively become a party” to the war by providing Ukraine with weapons and training its troops. She added that if reports about U.S. intentions to provide Kyiv with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-patriot-missile-system-explainer-b16125509161de8a7a3b4c38022534c7">Patriot surface-to-air missile system</a>&nbsp;prove true, it would become “another provocative move by the U.S.” and broaden its involvement in the hostilities, "entailing possible consequences.”“Any weapons systems supplied to Ukraine, including the Patriot, along with the personnel servicing them, have been and will remain legitimate priority targets for the Russian armed forces,” Zakharova declared.Asked about the Russian warning, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Gen. Pat Ryder responded that the U.S. was "not going to allow comments from Russia to dictate the security assistance that we provide to Ukraine.”“I find it ironic and very telling that officials from a country that brutally attacked its neighbor — in an illegal and unprovoked invasion, through a campaign that is deliberately targeting and killing innocent civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure — that they would choose to use words like ‘provocative’ to describe defensive systems that are meant to save lives and protect civilians,” Ryder said.U.S. officials said Tuesday that Washington was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-government-and-politics-ba8468e34e3c7eb78bdc47393c417ecb">poised to approve sending a Patriot missile battery</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine, finally agreeing to an urgent request from Ukrainian leaders desperate for more robust weapons to shoot down incoming Russian missiles that have crippled much of the country's vital infrastructure. An official announcement is expected soon.Operating and maintaining a Patriot battery requires&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-politics-government-and-b16125509161de8a7a3b4c38022534c7">as many as 90 troops</a>, and for months the U.S. has been reluctant to provide the complex systems because sending American forces into Ukraine to run them is a nonstarter for President Joe Biden's administration.Even without the presence of U.S. service members to train Ukrainians on use of the system, concerns remain that deployment of the missiles could provoke Russia or risk that a fired projectile could hit inside Russia and further escalate the conflict.Russia has repeatedly claimed that its forces struck Western-supplied weapons in Ukraine, but those statements have been impossible to verify.Ukraine has so far been cautious in reacting to the reports.Hanna Maliar, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister, told reporters Thursday in Kyiv that the delivery of such weaponry remains “sensitive not only for Ukraine, but for our partners,” and that only President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov would make any official announcement on such an agreement.White House and Pentagon leaders have said consistently that providing Ukraine with additional air defenses is a priority, and Patriot missiles have been under consideration for some time. As the winter closed in and the Russian bombardment of civilian infrastructure escalated, officials said, the idea became a higher priority.Until now, the U.S. and other NATO allies have provided Ukraine with short- and medium-range air defense systems that can down Russian aircraft and drones but not ballistic and cruise missiles.Ukraine's electricity provider said Thursday that the country’s energy system had a “significant deficit of electricity,” and that emergency shutdowns had been applied in some areas as temperatures hover around or below freezing.The state-owned grid operator Ukrenergo warned in a statement on Facebook that damage caused to energy infrastructure by Russian attacks is being compounded by harsh weather, including snow, ice and strong winds.The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson was left completely without power following Russian shelling, according to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian president’s office, who wrote on Telegram. He added that two people were killed in the attacks.Heavy shelling of the city’s Korabelny district was still underway in the afternoon, and Russian shells hit 100 meters (yards) from the regional administration building, he said.Amid the infrastructure attacks and power outages across the country, seven civilians were killed and 19 wounded on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a report issued by the Ukrainian president's office.The head of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk province, Pavlo Kyrylenko, reported that Russian strikes the previous day had killed two civilians and wounded seven.Kremlin-backed authorities in the region, which was illegally annexed by Moscow in September, announced that Russia had taken control of 80% of the city of Marinka, seen as critical to Ukrainian hopes of retaking the Russian-held regional capital, Donetsk.The Moscow-installed mayor of Donetsk, Aleksei Kulemzin, said Thursday that the city center had been hit by “the most massive strike” since the area came under the control of Russian-backed separatists in 2014.Writing on Telegram, Kulemzin said 40 Ukrainian rockets struck Donetsk on Thursday morning, noting that multistory residential buildings were hit and that fires broke out at a hospital and university campus.Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces shelled Russia’s western Kursk province, according to regional Gov. Roman Starovoyt. Six shells reportedly struck a farm in the province’s Belovsky district, which borders Ukraine’s Sumy province. There were no casualties, Starovoyt wrote on Telegram.In other developments Thursday:— The European Union said it approved a new package of sanctions aimed at ramping up pressure on Russia for the war. The package was approved after days of deliberations during a meeting of the 27-nation bloc’s ambassadors.— Russia continued to build up its military presence in Belarus, a senior Ukrainian military official said. According to Brig. Gen. Oleksiy Hromov, Russian units “are undergoing training and combat coordination” in Belarus, with the Kremlin using Belarusian officers and training grounds to improve the combat capability of existing units, as well as to train newly created units.Speaking at a press briefing, Hromov said the probability of a Russian offensive from Belarus “remains low,” but he highlighted that the transfer of Russian weapons to Belarus is ongoing, including three hypersonic missile-carrying aircraft, a set of tanks and a long-range radar-detection aircraft.— Russia's Foreign Ministry said the Vatican has apologized for a statement Pope Francis made in a recent interview in which he singled out two Russian ethnic minorities — the Chechens and the Buryats — as being “the most cruel” participants in the war in Ukraine.At a briefing, Zakharova quoted from what she said was a message from the Vatican that “apologizes to the Russian side” for the pope's comments. Zakharova praised the message, saying that it showed the Vatican’s “ability to conduct dialogue and listen to interlocutors.” A Vatican spokesman would say only that there had been diplomatic contacts on the matter.

Russia: US crews, air defense systems could be targets in Ukraine

LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit and run crash and asking for help to locate a suspect identified as 29-year-old&nbsp;Angel Manuel Alvarado of Emporia.

Just before 7:30p.m. Thursday the Lyon County Emergency Communications Center received a report of a car striking a pedestrian at 6th Ave and Constitution Street, according to Captain Lisa Hayes. 

The driver put the pedestrian into the vehicle and then drove to 4th Ave. and Congress Street. The driver got out of the vehicle and fled on foot leaving the victim pedestrian in the vehicle.

Emporia Police and Fire responded to the scenes and the victim was transported to Newman Regional Health where he was pronounced dead.

The suspected driver and registered owner of the vehicle Alvarado is described as&nbsp; 4-foot-11 and weights approximately 145 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

After some investigation, police have determined there was a dark colored SUV, possibly a Chevy Suburban, in the immediate area at the time of the collision.

If you have any information about Alvarado’s location or this crash, please contact the Emporia Police Department at 620 343-4225.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671221075834.png" alt="Alvarado-photo Lyon Co.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Alvarado-photo Lyon Co.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit and run crash and asking for help to locate a suspect identified as 29-year-old&nbsp;Angel Manuel Alvarado of Emporia.Just before 7:30p.m. Thursday the Lyon County Emergency Communications Center received a report of a car striking a pedestrian at 6th Ave and Constitution Street, according to Captain Lisa Hayes. The driver put the pedestrian into the vehicle and then drove to 4th Ave. and Congress Street. The driver got out of the vehicle and fled on foot leaving the victim pedestrian in the vehicle.Emporia Police and Fire responded to the scenes and the victim was transported to Newman Regional Health where he was pronounced dead.The suspected driver and registered owner of the vehicle Alvarado is described as&nbsp; 4-foot-11 and weights approximately 145 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.After some investigation, police have determined there was a dark colored SUV, possibly a Chevy Suburban, in the immediate area at the time of the collision.If you have any information about Alvarado’s location or this crash, please contact the Emporia Police Department at 620 343-4225.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the victim.

Suspect in fatal Kansas hit-and-run still at large

KANSAS CITY – A former youth minister in Joplin, Mo., was sentenced in federal court Friday for exchanging pornographic images and videos with a child victim.

Nicholas Lane Stephens, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to six years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Stephens to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration.

On March 15, 2022, Stephens pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography. Stephens was formerly the youth minister at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Joplin.

The investigation began when a Children’s Division investigator received a hotline call reporting that Stephens, a volunteer at the church, was involved in inappropriate relationships with minor females at the church, including the 17-year-old victim identified in court documents as “Jane Doe.”

Jane Doe told investigators she sent nude images to Stephens via Snapchat in December 2019. Stephens sent Jane Doe several pornographic images of himself, as well as pornographic FaceTime videos. Examiners discovered a dozen images and one video of child pornography of Jane Doe on Stephens’s cell phone. There were also numerous messages between Jane Doe and Stephens.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671206989157.png" alt="Stephens-photo St. Clair Co." />
 <figcaption>Stephens-photo St. Clair Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY – A former youth minister in Joplin, Mo., was sentenced in federal court Friday for exchanging pornographic images and videos with a child victim.Nicholas Lane Stephens, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to six years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Stephens to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration.On March 15, 2022, Stephens pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography. Stephens was formerly the youth minister at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Joplin.The investigation began when a Children’s Division investigator received a hotline call reporting that Stephens, a volunteer at the church, was involved in inappropriate relationships with minor females at the church, including the 17-year-old victim identified in court documents as “Jane Doe.”Jane Doe told investigators she sent nude images to Stephens via Snapchat in December 2019. Stephens sent Jane Doe several pornographic images of himself, as well as pornographic FaceTime videos. Examiners discovered a dozen images and one video of child pornography of Jane Doe on Stephens’s cell phone. There were also numerous messages between Jane Doe and Stephens.

Youth minister sentenced for exchanging child porn pictures

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area man is going to prison for his role in a fatal DUI crash.&nbsp;

Colby Byrd, 27, Wellington, Mo., was sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to DWI -- death of two and 4 years for pleading guilty to DWI -- serious physical injury. The sentences were set to run consecutively for a total of 16 years in prison, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

According to court records, on Feb. 10, 2021, police were dispatched to Little Blue Parkway and Truman Road on a vehicular crash. Officers found a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe had crossed over and struck a Nissan Sentra head-on, killing the driver and a front seat passenger and injuring two backseat passengers. Tests of Byrd's blood showed high levels of alcohol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671383115604.png" alt="Byrd photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Byrd photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area man is going to prison for his role in a fatal DUI crash.&nbsp;Colby Byrd, 27, Wellington, Mo., was sentenced to 12 years after pleading guilty to DWI -- death of two and 4 years for pleading guilty to DWI -- serious physical injury. The sentences were set to run consecutively for a total of 16 years in prison, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.According to court records, on Feb. 10, 2021, police were dispatched to Little Blue Parkway and Truman Road on a vehicular crash. Officers found a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe had crossed over and struck a Nissan Sentra head-on, killing the driver and a front seat passenger and injuring two backseat passengers. Tests of Byrd's blood showed high levels of alcohol.

Man sentenced in double-fatal Kansas City-area DUI crash

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/15/federal-lawsuit-says-dodge-citys-election-system-keeps-latino-candidates-out-of-office/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A coalition of voting 
rights groups says Dodge City’s election system is designed to prevent 
the community’s Latino population from holding office on the city 
commission.

In a complaint filed late Thursday in federal court, the coalition 
argues the “at-large” election system is unconstitutional and a 
violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The lawsuit was filed by the UCLA Voting Rights Project, American 
Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, the national ACLU, and New York 
City-based law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton. The city uses an
 at-large election system, in which all city residents can vote for each
 of the five seats on the city commission.

About 65% of Dodge City’s residents are Latino. But the election 
system, plaintiffs argue, allows the city’s white voting bloc to prevent
 the Latino population from electing candidates. No Latino candidate has
 been elected to the commission this century.

The coalition says a map that divides the city into five voting 
districts would give the Latino population the opportunity to hold at 
least two seats on the commission.

Abena Mainoo, a partner at Cleary Gottlieb, said the firm “is proud 
to stand with our partners at UCLA and the ACLU in challenging the 
systematic exclusion of Latine voters from full participation in our 
democracy.”

“The law requires that Latine voters in Dodge City — and throughout 
this country — have an equal opportunity to participate in the political
 process,” Mainoo said.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Dodge City voters Miguel Coca and Alejandro Rangel-Lopez.

Rangel-Lopez is <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/12/no-longer-waiting-for-a-savior-we-are-saving-ourselves-in-southwest-kansas/">a civic engagement activist</a> who was a plaintiff in 2018 when the ACLU sued Ford County Clerk Debbie Cox for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/politics/state/2019/02/15/teen-speaks-to-u-s/5980393007/">moving Dodge City’s only polling site</a>
 to a location outside the city limits. The lawsuit was dismissed after 
Cox agreed to maintain multiple polling sites for future elections.

The latest lawsuit points to a dramatic rise in the Latino population
 in Dodge City over the past 20 years, influenced largely by the 
meatpacking industry. The lawsuit says the lack of success by 
“Latine-preferred” candidates in Dodge City reflects the larger trend in
 Ford County, where no Latino residents hold any elected office.

“Dodge City’s at-large scheme intentionally and effectively dilutes 
the political voices of Latine Kansans in Dodge City,” said Sharon 
Brett, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas. “This system is reflective
 of a broader problem in Kansas, where those in power systematically 
seek to diminish minority voters and exclude them from the governing 
process. The Latine population in Dodge City deserves equal voice in 
shaping their local government, and federal law demands it.”

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits attempts to dilute voting 
power based on race or color. The lawsuit also cites the Equal 
Protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as 
well as the 15th Amendment, which prohibits intentional racial 
discrimination.

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/15/federal-lawsuit-says-dodge-citys-election-system-keeps-latino-candidates-out-of-office/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A coalition of voting 
rights groups says Dodge City’s election system is designed to prevent 
the community’s Latino population from holding office on the city 
commission.In a complaint filed late Thursday in federal court, the coalition 
argues the “at-large” election system is unconstitutional and a 
violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.The lawsuit was filed by the UCLA Voting Rights Project, American 
Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, the national ACLU, and New York 
City-based law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton. The city uses an
 at-large election system, in which all city residents can vote for each
 of the five seats on the city commission.About 65% of Dodge City’s residents are Latino. But the election 
system, plaintiffs argue, allows the city’s white voting bloc to prevent
 the Latino population from electing candidates. No Latino candidate has
 been elected to the commission this century.The coalition says a map that divides the city into five voting 
districts would give the Latino population the opportunity to hold at 
least two seats on the commission.Abena Mainoo, a partner at Cleary Gottlieb, said the firm “is proud 
to stand with our partners at UCLA and the ACLU in challenging the 
systematic exclusion of Latine voters from full participation in our 
democracy.”“The law requires that Latine voters in Dodge City — and throughout 
this country — have an equal opportunity to participate in the political
 process,” Mainoo said.The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Dodge City voters Miguel Coca and Alejandro Rangel-Lopez.Rangel-Lopez is <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/12/no-longer-waiting-for-a-savior-we-are-saving-ourselves-in-southwest-kansas/">a civic engagement activist</a> who was a plaintiff in 2018 when the ACLU sued Ford County Clerk Debbie Cox for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/politics/state/2019/02/15/teen-speaks-to-u-s/5980393007/">moving Dodge City’s only polling site</a>
 to a location outside the city limits. The lawsuit was dismissed after 
Cox agreed to maintain multiple polling sites for future elections.The latest lawsuit points to a dramatic rise in the Latino population
 in Dodge City over the past 20 years, influenced largely by the 
meatpacking industry. The lawsuit says the lack of success by 
“Latine-preferred” candidates in Dodge City reflects the larger trend in
 Ford County, where no Latino residents hold any elected office.“Dodge City’s at-large scheme intentionally and effectively dilutes 
the political voices of Latine Kansans in Dodge City,” said Sharon 
Brett, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas. “This system is reflective
 of a broader problem in Kansas, where those in power systematically 
seek to diminish minority voters and exclude them from the governing 
process. The Latine population in Dodge City deserves equal voice in 
shaping their local government, and federal law demands it.”The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits attempts to dilute voting 
power based on race or color. The lawsuit also cites the Equal 
Protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as 
well as the 15th Amendment, which prohibits intentional racial 
discrimination.

Suit: Kan. county's election system keeps Latino candidates out of office 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Health Department Educator Seth Dewey wants the public to be aware that helping someone who is experiencing a fentanyl overdose is both needed and safe.

"The thing that we have to remember is that fentanyl is a powerful opioid," Dewey said. "It's just like morphine, just 100 times stronger. Signs of a fentanyl occurrence, they show slow or shallow breathing, pale skin, slow pulse and loss of consciousness."

<a href="https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/news/2022/8/24/state-departments-issue-guidance-around-fentanyl-exposure-.html"> The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services said back in August</a>, "When in powder form, fentanyl and its analogs (including carfentanil and fluorofentanyl) cannot be absorbed through the skin."

An article in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/prehospital-and-disaster-medicine">Prehospital and Disaster Medicine</a>&nbsp;in June notes the experience of someone who worked in a plant where fentanyl is made.

"This individual had a large volume of liquid fentanyl that actually spilled on him," Dewey quoted. "The individual went of course right into decontamination and everything like that, went through a medical and there were no clinical effects of opioid exposure observed."

If you believe you have been exposed to fentanyl,&nbsp;

According to the <a href="https://reno.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/6e5f01c85f524c08b9aea458926f8fdb">Reno County Overdose Dashboard</a>, there were 31 drug overdoses of all types in Reno County in November. Out of those 31 overdoses, in 12 of the cases, they know the type of overdose and it was reported to the dashboard. Five were from alcohol, three were from prescription drugs, two were from methamphetamine, one was cocaine and one was an over the counter medication.

There were two opioid overdose ER visits and one alcohol poisoning ER visit. Naloxone was used three times in the county and one person died.&nbsp;

Dewey really only sees three ways to reduce overdoses in the long run.

"There's supply reduction, which our law enforcement partners are working hard on every day," Dewey said. "There's harm reduction, which is what we're talking about, with overdose recognition and naloxone, but then there's demand reduction. That's where our treatment providers and other individuals have the tough task of looking at how do we stop the demand?"

A societal issue of self-medication for psychological trauma and the ability to get the money to afford those substances is why many use substances in a harmful way, and Dewey says until we solve that problem, we will have to have these other strategies available to help keep people alive.

NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Health Department Educator Seth Dewey wants the public to be aware that helping someone who is experiencing a fentanyl overdose is both needed and safe."The thing that we have to remember is that fentanyl is a powerful opioid," Dewey said. "It's just like morphine, just 100 times stronger. Signs of a fentanyl occurrence, they show slow or shallow breathing, pale skin, slow pulse and loss of consciousness."<a href="https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/news/2022/8/24/state-departments-issue-guidance-around-fentanyl-exposure-.html"> The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services said back in August</a>, "When in powder form, fentanyl and its analogs (including carfentanil and fluorofentanyl) cannot be absorbed through the skin."An article in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/prehospital-and-disaster-medicine">Prehospital and Disaster Medicine</a>&nbsp;in June notes the experience of someone who worked in a plant where fentanyl is made."This individual had a large volume of liquid fentanyl that actually spilled on him," Dewey quoted. "The individual went of course right into decontamination and everything like that, went through a medical and there were no clinical effects of opioid exposure observed."If you believe you have been exposed to fentanyl,&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.</li><li>Wash your hands with soap and water to remove any substance from your hands.</li><li>If you begin to experience any adverse medical symptoms, seek medical attention.</li>
 </ul>According to the <a href="https://reno.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/6e5f01c85f524c08b9aea458926f8fdb">Reno County Overdose Dashboard</a>, there were 31 drug overdoses of all types in Reno County in November. Out of those 31 overdoses, in 12 of the cases, they know the type of overdose and it was reported to the dashboard. Five were from alcohol, three were from prescription drugs, two were from methamphetamine, one was cocaine and one was an over the counter medication.There were two opioid overdose ER visits and one alcohol poisoning ER visit. Naloxone was used three times in the county and one person died.&nbsp;Dewey really only sees three ways to reduce overdoses in the long run."There's supply reduction, which our law enforcement partners are working hard on every day," Dewey said. "There's harm reduction, which is what we're talking about, with overdose recognition and naloxone, but then there's demand reduction. That's where our treatment providers and other individuals have the tough task of looking at how do we stop the demand?"A societal issue of self-medication for psychological trauma and the ability to get the money to afford those substances is why many use substances in a harmful way, and Dewey says until we solve that problem, we will have to have these other strategies available to help keep people alive.

Health educator dispelling myths about fentanyl contact dangers

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/16/kansas-public-universities-face-1-2-billion-in-deferred-maintenance-on-core-buildings/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Restoring life safety 
and functional integrity to nearly 500 academic or research buildings on
 state university campuses in the Kansas Board of Regents system would 
cost an estimated $1.2 billion, officials said Thursday.

The Board of Regents annually reviews deployment of approximately $40
 million earmarked for deferred maintenance at the public universities, 
but this new analysis incorporated an extra $45 million allocated by the
 Kansas Legislature to tackle the facilities backlog.

Lawmakers supplemented university building management budgets this 
year with grants of $35 million that must be matched with private money 
raised by the universities. In addition, the Legislature allocated $10 
million for demolition of structures that outlived their usefulness.

Chad Bristow, director of facilities for the Board of Regents, said 
the $10 million appropriation, which included $700,000 for Washburn 
University in Topeka, enabled universities to get rid of buildings 
containing 377,000 square feet of space that otherwise would have 
required $52 million in renovations.

“This is going to help us. It’s great to spend $1 today to save $10 
down the road,” said Jon Rolph, chairman of the Board of Regents.

Bristow said the goal of the Board of Regents was to improve 
condition of 498 “mission critical” academic and research buildings from
 the current grade of “C” to a “B+.” University buildings included on 
this report card averaged 50 years of age. Assessments of these 
structures took into account significance, accessibility, functionality,
 space utilization as well as a metric capturing overall condition.

“The magnitude of resources needed to overcome, let’s say, under 
investing in deferred maintenance over the decades is in the billions,” 
Bristow said.

Wint Winter, a member of the Board of Regents and a former state 
senator, said progress on campus building maintenance was tied to the 
Legislature’s ability to finance the work.

The 2023 Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly convene at the Capitol in 
January to begin debate on competing requests for a slice of the largest
 state budget surplus in Kansas history.

“I don’t want to predict a significant problem,” Winter said, “but I 
think we ought to be practical and realize that our ability to get more 
funding from the Legislature is really the key to being able to hit 
these needs.”

Doug Girod, chancellor at the University of Kansas, said focus of the
 Board of Regents’ conversation was on the subset of core academic and 
research buildings. The bigger picture would include entirety of 1,147 
buildings in use on state university campuses in Kansas, he said.

The replacement value of all buildings in the Board of Regents’ 
system was estimated to be greater than $7 billion, officials said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671208734937.png" alt="Kansas Board of Regents members Carl Ice and Jon Rolph listen during presentation of a report outlining the $1.2 billion cost of addressing maintenance shortcomings of 498 core academic and research buildings in the state university system. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Board of Regents members Carl Ice and Jon Rolph listen during presentation of a report outlining the $1.2 billion cost of addressing maintenance shortcomings of 498 core academic and research buildings in the state university system. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/16/kansas-public-universities-face-1-2-billion-in-deferred-maintenance-on-core-buildings/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Restoring life safety 
and functional integrity to nearly 500 academic or research buildings on
 state university campuses in the Kansas Board of Regents system would 
cost an estimated $1.2 billion, officials said Thursday.The Board of Regents annually reviews deployment of approximately $40
 million earmarked for deferred maintenance at the public universities, 
but this new analysis incorporated an extra $45 million allocated by the
 Kansas Legislature to tackle the facilities backlog.Lawmakers supplemented university building management budgets this 
year with grants of $35 million that must be matched with private money 
raised by the universities. In addition, the Legislature allocated $10 
million for demolition of structures that outlived their usefulness.Chad Bristow, director of facilities for the Board of Regents, said 
the $10 million appropriation, which included $700,000 for Washburn 
University in Topeka, enabled universities to get rid of buildings 
containing 377,000 square feet of space that otherwise would have 
required $52 million in renovations.“This is going to help us. It’s great to spend $1 today to save $10 
down the road,” said Jon Rolph, chairman of the Board of Regents.Bristow said the goal of the Board of Regents was to improve 
condition of 498 “mission critical” academic and research buildings from
 the current grade of “C” to a “B+.” University buildings included on 
this report card averaged 50 years of age. Assessments of these 
structures took into account significance, accessibility, functionality,
 space utilization as well as a metric capturing overall condition.“The magnitude of resources needed to overcome, let’s say, under 
investing in deferred maintenance over the decades is in the billions,” 
Bristow said.Wint Winter, a member of the Board of Regents and a former state 
senator, said progress on campus building maintenance was tied to the 
Legislature’s ability to finance the work.The 2023 Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly convene at the Capitol in 
January to begin debate on competing requests for a slice of the largest
 state budget surplus in Kansas history.“I don’t want to predict a significant problem,” Winter said, “but I 
think we ought to be practical and realize that our ability to get more 
funding from the Legislature is really the key to being able to hit 
these needs.”Doug Girod, chancellor at the University of Kansas, said focus of the
 Board of Regents’ conversation was on the subset of core academic and 
research buildings. The bigger picture would include entirety of 1,147 
buildings in use on state university campuses in Kansas, he said.The replacement value of all buildings in the Board of Regents’ 
system was estimated to be greater than $7 billion, officials said.

Kansas universities facing $1.2B in deferred maintenance

JACKSON COUNTY— A Kansas City man has been charged in the October double-murder of Chantell Gipson and Austin Scott, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Glenn A. Pulluaim II, 28, who is still at large, faces two Murder 1st Degree charges and two Armed Criminal Action charges.

According to court records, on Oct. 17, Kansas City police&nbsp; were dispatched to the 8700 block of Chestnut Circle to check on the welfare of an individual. 

Inside an apartment, police officers found the body of Chantell Gipson. She had been shot. In another bedroom they found the second victim, Austin Scott, Gipson's cousin. 

Witnesses helped identify Pulluaiam. His DNA profile was founnd&nbsp; on spent shells found at the crime scene.

Pulluaim fled the scene im the victim's vehicle. Police recovered the vehicle and have exhausted all leads in an attempted to find him.&nbsp;

Pulluaim is described as 6-foot,&nbsp;&nbsp;thin build with&nbsp; shoulder length dreadlocks. He should be considered armed and dangerous. The FBI is assisting with the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671103315937.png" alt="Pulluaim-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Pulluaim-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY— A Kansas City man has been charged in the October double-murder of Chantell Gipson and Austin Scott, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Glenn A. Pulluaim II, 28, who is still at large, faces two Murder 1st Degree charges and two Armed Criminal Action charges.According to court records, on Oct. 17, Kansas City police&nbsp; were dispatched to the 8700 block of Chestnut Circle to check on the welfare of an individual. Inside an apartment, police officers found the body of Chantell Gipson. She had been shot. In another bedroom they found the second victim, Austin Scott, Gipson's cousin. Witnesses helped identify Pulluaiam. His DNA profile was founnd&nbsp; on spent shells found at the crime scene.Pulluaim fled the scene im the victim's vehicle. Police recovered the vehicle and have exhausted all leads in an attempted to find him.&nbsp;Pulluaim is described as 6-foot,&nbsp;&nbsp;thin build with&nbsp; shoulder length dreadlocks. He should be considered armed and dangerous. The FBI is assisting with the investigation.

Suspect charged in Kansas City double murder still missing

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has revealed in an interview published Sunday that shortly after being elected pontiff in 2013 he wrote a resignation letter in case medical problems impede him from carrying out his duties.

Speaking to the Spanish newspaper ABC, Francis said he gave the note to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who then was the Vatican secretary of state. The pontiff added that he presumes that the prelate currently in that Vatican No. 2 role, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, now has the written instruction.

Francis, who turned 86 on Saturday, had surgery in 2021 to repair a bowel narrowing and has been hobbled by knee pain that for months saw him use a wheelchair. Lately, he has increasingly used a cane instead of the wheelchair to get around in public.

Asked what happens if health issues or an accident suddenly leaves a pope unable to do his job, and whether there should be a rule for such instances, Francis replied, “In practice there is already a rule.”

“I have already signed my renunciation," Francis revealed, noting that he did so early in the papacy.

“I signed it and said: ‘If I should become impaired for medical reasons or whatever, here is my resignation. Here you have it,'” he said, referring to Cardinal Bertone, who stepped down as secretary of state in October 2013, in the first months of Francis' papacy.

The pontiff quipped that now that he has revealed the existence of his resignation note, “someone will run up to Bertone (saying), ‘Give me that piece of paper.’”

Francis said he was sure Bertone would have passed on the letter to the current secretary of state, Parolin.

In past remarks, Francis has hailed the decision of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, to resign because he felt due to advancing age he wouldn't be best able to carry out his duties. Benedict, who is living in a monastery on the Vatican's grounds, was the first pontiff to resign in 600 years, and his stepping down paved the way for Francis' election as the first pope from South America.

Francis in the interview played down his mobility challenge, saying “One governs with the head, not the knee.”

Catholic church law requires a papal resignation be “freely and properly manifested” — as was the case when Benedict startled the world when he announced his resignation to a gathering of prelates at the Vatican in February 2013.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603292366279.png" alt="Pope Francis turned 86 on Saturday -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pope Francis turned 86 on Saturday -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has revealed in an interview published Sunday that shortly after being elected pontiff in 2013 he wrote a resignation letter in case medical problems impede him from carrying out his duties.Speaking to the Spanish newspaper ABC, Francis said he gave the note to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who then was the Vatican secretary of state. The pontiff added that he presumes that the prelate currently in that Vatican No. 2 role, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, now has the written instruction.Francis, who turned 86 on Saturday, had surgery in 2021 to repair a bowel narrowing and has been hobbled by knee pain that for months saw him use a wheelchair. Lately, he has increasingly used a cane instead of the wheelchair to get around in public.Asked what happens if health issues or an accident suddenly leaves a pope unable to do his job, and whether there should be a rule for such instances, Francis replied, “In practice there is already a rule.”“I have already signed my renunciation," Francis revealed, noting that he did so early in the papacy.“I signed it and said: ‘If I should become impaired for medical reasons or whatever, here is my resignation. Here you have it,'” he said, referring to Cardinal Bertone, who stepped down as secretary of state in October 2013, in the first months of Francis' papacy.The pontiff quipped that now that he has revealed the existence of his resignation note, “someone will run up to Bertone (saying), ‘Give me that piece of paper.’”Francis said he was sure Bertone would have passed on the letter to the current secretary of state, Parolin.In past remarks, Francis has hailed the decision of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, to resign because he felt due to advancing age he wouldn't be best able to carry out his duties. Benedict, who is living in a monastery on the Vatican's grounds, was the first pontiff to resign in 600 years, and his stepping down paved the way for Francis' election as the first pope from South America.Francis in the interview played down his mobility challenge, saying “One governs with the head, not the knee.”Catholic church law requires a papal resignation be “freely and properly manifested” — as was the case when Benedict startled the world when he announced his resignation to a gathering of prelates at the Vatican in February 2013.

Pope turns 86, wrote resignation note in case of health impediment

Health officials say RSV infection rates have slowed

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/14/number-of-kansas-flu-and-covid-19-cases-expected-to-rise-during-holiday-season/">Kansas Reflector</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671049425198.jpg" alt="With a "trifecta" of illnesses circulating in Kansas, health officials advise taking safety precautions and getting updated booster shots. Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>With a "trifecta" of illnesses circulating in Kansas, health officials advise taking safety precautions and getting updated booster shots. Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Health officials say RSV infection rates have slowed</h2>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/14/number-of-kansas-flu-and-covid-19-cases-expected-to-rise-during-holiday-season/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Health officials urge Kansans to get booster shots before the 
holidays, warning of a “trifecta” of illnesses spreading this year, 
including flu, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and COVID-19, and a limited number of hospital beds available to treat these illnesses.Only 10.2% of Kansans have received a
 bivalent booster shot, according to data provided by the Kansas 
Department of Health and Environment. The number of Kansans who 
completed a vaccination series is sitting at 57.2%.None of the counties in Kansas has a 
vaccination rate of more than 70%. Johnson County has the highest 
vaccination rate, at 68.6%, and the lowest is in Doniphan County, which 
is at 33.3% vaccination, according to KDHE data.Steven Stites, chief medical officer 
at the University of Kansas Health System, said the numbers weren’t good
 during a Wednesday morning update on viral illnesses. He said<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/24/kansas-health-experts-monitoring-covid-19-flu-and-rsv-trifecta-as-holiday-season-arrives/"> Kansans should begin taking precautions,</a> such as social distancing, masking and updating their booster shots.“Something wicked this way comes, it 
feels like, when we just keep thinking about these different viral 
processes — be it flu, RSV and COVID,” Stites said.The system treated 56 COVID-19 
patients Wednesday, with four COVID-19 patients in the ICU and one 
patient on a ventilator. Statewide, since Dec. 7, there have been 10 new
 COVID-related deaths and 4,153 new COVID-19 cases.&nbsp; From Nov. 30 to 
Dec. 7, there were 4,256 new COVID-19 cases reported, along with 13 new 
deaths.Kansas has recorded 9,702 COVID-19 
related deaths, with older demographics the most at risk. The median age
 for Kansans who died of COVID-19 is 77, according to the KDHE fatality 
summary.Health officials said they were 
concerned about the declining number of adults older than 65 who 
received the bivalent booster. In a Dec. 9 update on the Kansas COVID-19
 situation, Jessica Kalender-Rich, a generic medicine specialist within 
the University of Kansas System, said older people were at higher risk 
of serious illness.“We are definitely seeing more 
patients that are older get sicker,” Kalender-Rich said. “And whether 
that’s duration out from the vaccine or how their immune systems really 
respond as they change, as we age, either way, we’re seeing certainly a 
higher risk for those older adults.”While COVID-19 is more contagious than the flu, many people are predicted to be affected by the flu this season.Both COVID-19
 and the flu can cause fatigue, fevers, coughs and shortness of breath. 
People most vulnerable to flu complications are young children, people 
with pre-existing health conditions, pregnant people and those older 
than 65.“We are seeing a lot of sick kids 
each day — the respiratory illness season started earlier than usual and
 is hitting our region hard,” said Jennifer Watts, chief emergency 
management medical officer with Children’s Mercy Kansas City, in a Dec. 9
 news release. “Like many pediatric hospitals, Children’s Mercy has been
 at or near capacity and we have not yet reached the peak of flu cases 
this winter.”During Wednesday’s KU Health 
briefing, Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and 
control for the system, said there has been a recent decline in RSV 
cases and hospitalizations, but influenza cases are still high.“Overall, still a more significant 
number of hospitalizations for influenza itself than we have seen 
previously probably in most of our careers,” Hawkinson said.