DETROIT (AP) — Volkswagen is recalling nearly 225,000 vehicles in the U.S. because the tire pressure monitoring systems may not detect air losses in all four tires at the same time.

The recall covers certain 2019 Tiguan, Golf Sportswagen, Golf Alltrack, Golf R, and Audi Q3 and A3 vehicles. Also covered are some 2019 and 2020 Jetta, Golf, Atlas and Audi A3 models and some 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles.

Documents posted Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say a sudden pressure loss in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.

Dealers will update the tire pressure monitoring software at no charge to owners. Notification letters will be sent Dec. 30.

Volkswagen petitioned to avoid a recall, saying the problem was inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. But the request was denied by the agency.

The automaker says it's not aware of any “incidents or injuries,” warranty claims or field reports about the problem.

DETROIT (AP) — Volkswagen is recalling nearly 225,000 vehicles in the U.S. because the tire pressure monitoring systems may not detect air losses in all four tires at the same time.The recall covers certain 2019 Tiguan, Golf Sportswagen, Golf Alltrack, Golf R, and Audi Q3 and A3 vehicles. Also covered are some 2019 and 2020 Jetta, Golf, Atlas and Audi A3 models and some 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles.Documents posted Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say a sudden pressure loss in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.Dealers will update the tire pressure monitoring software at no charge to owners. Notification letters will be sent Dec. 30.Volkswagen petitioned to avoid a recall, saying the problem was inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. But the request was denied by the agency.The automaker says it's not aware of any “incidents or injuries,” warranty claims or field reports about the problem.

VW recall for vehicle tire pressure monitoring malfunction

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A former elder in a Kansas City church was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for killing his wife, who was an associate pastor.

Robert Lee Harris' sentencing comes after he was found guilty in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-kansas-city-missouri-1fab02a282a1bdc1f04031158c98a28c">August</a>&nbsp;of first-degree murder in the death of 38-year-old Tanisha Harris.

Police went to the couple’s apartment in the suburb of Overland Park, Kansas, on Jan. 8, 2018, to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance.

Officers found Robert Harris alone in the apartment and left. They returned when he reported his wife missing. Her body was found later near Raymore, Missouri.

The couple, married just 18 months at the time of the killing, were active in Repairers Kansas City, a nondenominational church.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660992815841.png" alt="Harris-photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Harris-photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A former elder in a Kansas City church was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for killing his wife, who was an associate pastor.Robert Lee Harris' sentencing comes after he was found guilty in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-kansas-city-missouri-1fab02a282a1bdc1f04031158c98a28c">August</a>&nbsp;of first-degree murder in the death of 38-year-old Tanisha Harris.Police went to the couple’s apartment in the suburb of Overland Park, Kansas, on Jan. 8, 2018, to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance.Officers found Robert Harris alone in the apartment and left. They returned when he reported his wife missing. Her body was found later near Raymore, Missouri.The couple, married just 18 months at the time of the killing, were active in Repairers Kansas City, a nondenominational church.

Kansas City church elder sentenced for killing his wife

Conspiracy theories about mail ballots. Anonymous text messages warning voters to stay home. Fringe social media platforms where election misinformation spreads with impunity.

Misinformation about the upcoming midterm elections has been building for months, challenging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-presidential-utah-conspiracy-theories-1cf8065da4c7c664da273bf0b360bfe6">election officials</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-technology-voting-8db19582a2a2c1b0dfc2b762b0a10904">tech companies</a>&nbsp;while offering another reminder of how conspiracy theories and distrust are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-crime-social-media-race-and-ethnicity-05889f1f4076709c47fc9a18dbee818a">shaping America's politics</a>.

The claims are fueling the candidacies of election deniers and threatening to further corrode faith in voting and democracy. Many of them can be traced back to 2020, when then-President Donald&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-donald-trump-campaigns-presidential-070ced9a013c58cf001d6d4137e4abc0">Trump refused to accept</a>&nbsp;the outcome of the election he lost to Joe Biden and began lying about its results.

“Misinformation is going to be central to this midterm election and central to the 2024 election,” said Bhaskar Chakravorti, who studies technological change and society and is the dean of global business at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. “The single galvanizing narrative is that the 2020 election was stolen.”

A look at key misinformation challenges heading into the 2022 election:

Political misinformation often focuses on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-social-security-number-border-552180846074">immigration</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-police-reform-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-4a65c2bc8386c06ed5bae5b7597c8f2e">crime</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-covid-19-conspiracy-theories-persist-2586c1bc28259f7e224885b609c8f131">public health</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-technology-misinformation-0da59f7a72705c5f3fcdb59af1fc7af0">geopolitics</a>, disasters,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-333765746793">education</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-government-and-politics-shootings-texas-conspiracy-theories-8d9ac3b61420c6542b11d0da3f0b3a16">mass shootings</a>. This year, it's mostly about voting.

Claims about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-government-and-politics-8eaf001732ac25976f0560a3e49ed500">security of mail ballots</a>&nbsp;have grown in recent weeks, as have baseless rumors about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-science-nancy-pelosi-climate-and-environment-donald-trump-2a20444535cfc33dc605be44fcef9e1b">noncitizens voting</a>. That's in addition to claims about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-government-and-politics-presidential-299b03156144b12c0298184498f07958">dead people</a>&nbsp;casting ballots, ballot drop boxes being moved or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-9809670730">wild stories about voting machines</a>.

Trump, a Republican, attacked the legitimacy of the election even before he lost. He then refused to concede,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-fact-check-donald-trump-georgia-elections-atlanta-c23d10e5299e14daee6109885f7dafa9">spreading lies about the election</a>&nbsp;that inspired&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack</a>&nbsp;on the U.S. Capitol. His contention was rejected in more than 60 court cases and by his own attorney general, William Barr.

Together, these misleading claims about the nation’s electoral system have led some Republicans to say they're going to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-government-and-politics-election-2020-55f4744b484919cd20d4d5e8d72e444e">hold onto their mail ballots until Election Day</a>&nbsp;— a move that could slow down the count.

Others vow to monitor the polls to prevent cheating, leading to concerns about intimidation and even the possibility of violence at election sites.

Tech companies say they've implemented new policies and programs designed to ferret out misinformation.

“We’ve seen hundreds of elections play out on our platforms in recent years and we’ve been applying lessons from each one to strengthen our preparations,” Facebook and Instagram owner Meta said in a statement.

Yet critics say the volume of false claims spreading now shows there's more to be done, such as better enforcement of existing rules or government regulations requiring more aggressive policies.

“This is no longer a new problem," said Jon Lloyd, senior adviser at the nonprofit Global Witness, which last week released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-government-and-politics-misinformation-a18a35a2a2542eadfc3893983a818511">a report</a>&nbsp;showing that TikTok failed to remove many advertisements that contain election misinformation. Big social media platforms, he said, "are still simply not doing enough to stop threats to democracy.”

MISTAKES WILL HAPPEN — WHILE CLOCK IS TICKING

Elections involve the combined efforts of tens of thousands of people working under pressure. Mistakes are expected, which is why there's a robust system of checks and balances to ensure errors are found and corrected.

Taken out of context, stories about glitchy voting machines,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-pennsylvania-race-and-ethnicity-hispanics-election-2020-b873061d2149100f9a7621cea6d1f442">mixed-up ballots</a>&nbsp;or even “suspicious” vehicles arriving at election centers can become fodder for the next election fraud myth.

And with so much work to do at such a fast pace, election workers, local officials and even the media can have little time to push back on such claims before they go viral.

In Georgia in 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-primary-elections-georgia-elections-ce8204935e991f740c94d6bc464481cf">a water leak</a>&nbsp;at a site where ballots were being counted was used to spin a far-fetched tale of ballot rigging. In Arizona,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-social-media-misinformation-7a17f398bbff08ef09b427cbe1ef125b">the choice of pens</a>&nbsp;given to voters filling out ballots led to similarly preposterous claims.

To avoid falling for a misleading claim, consult multiple sources including local election offices. Any significant voting irregularity will be covered by multiple news outlets and addressed by election officials. Be skeptical of claims from second-hand sources, said Shaye-Ann McDonald, a behavioral researcher at Duke University who studies ways to improve resistance to misinformation.

The most viral misinformation often elicits anger or fear that motivates readers to repost it before they've had time to coolly consider the underlying claim.

“When you read about something that provokes a strong emotion, that should be a warning sign,” McDonald said.

Just before the 2020 election, Spanish-language Facebook ads falsely claimed Biden, a Democrat, was a communist. On other platforms, posts warned Latinos in the U.S. not to vote at all.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-media-misinformation-9696392bf389ba8ca3441d2314abcefa">Misinformation in non-English languages</a>&nbsp;is a particular concern cited by researchers who say the major platforms — most of them U.S.-based — are focused on content moderation in English. Automated systems written to detect misinformation in English don't work as well when applied to other languages.

“As bad as they (tech companies) are moderating content in English, they’re even worse when it comes non-English languages,” said Jessica Gonzalez, co-CEO of Free Press, a nonprofit that works on issues of racial justice and technology.

While misinformation about elections spreads easily on big social media platforms like Facebook, it also has taken root on a long list of less familiar platforms: Gab, Gettr, Parler and Truth Social, Trump’s platform.

Meanwhile, TikTok has emerged as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-china-elections-data-privacy-misinformation-79d5400062cf107771148911ee62f5fb">a key network for younger voters</a>&nbsp;— and the politicians who want to reach them. The platform, owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance, has created an election center to connect users with trustworthy information about elections and voting. But nonetheless&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-technology-politics-covid-health-5cdbe1ec32312699acbe8ba9b6a00eb5">misinformation persists</a>.

The problem isn’t limited to social media. The number of false claims transmitted by text and email has steadily increased in recent years. Last summer, Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-technology-health-voting-87dc504b3048e6034896733fc1aa49c6">voters in Kansas received misleading texts</a>&nbsp;telling them a yes vote on an upcoming referendum would protect abortion rights; the opposite was true.

Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter just weeks before the 2022 election upended that platform's plans for combating misinformation ahead of the midterms.

Musk quickly fired the executive who had overseen content moderation. Over the weekend he posted a tweet advancing a baseless conspiracy theory about the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, before deleting it.

Musk has called himself a free speech absolutist and had said he disagreed with the decision to boot Trump from the platform for incitement of violence on Jan. 6, 2021.

He has said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-social-media-e149b458b153f53268c00ad2a757cf14">a content moderation committee</a>&nbsp;will examine possible revisions to Twitter's rules but that no changes would be made until after the election.

“We’re staying vigilant against attempts to manipulate conversations about the 2022 US midterms.” Yoel Roth, Twitter's head of safety and integrity, tweeted Tuesday.

Russian efforts to interfere in U.S. elections go back years, and there are indications that China and Iran are stepping up their game.

Tech companies, government officials and misinformation researchers say they're&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-russia-ukraine-campaigns-presidential-ea913f2b3b818651a9db1327adaa330a">monitoring for such activity</a>&nbsp;ahead of the midterms. But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-loudest-attack-us-vote-bc653f799233e76dd60c27c37859d67b">misinformation threat posed by domestic groups</a>&nbsp;may be far greater.

Conspiracy theories about mail ballots. Anonymous text messages warning voters to stay home. Fringe social media platforms where election misinformation spreads with impunity.Misinformation about the upcoming midterm elections has been building for months, challenging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-presidential-utah-conspiracy-theories-1cf8065da4c7c664da273bf0b360bfe6">election officials</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-technology-voting-8db19582a2a2c1b0dfc2b762b0a10904">tech companies</a>&nbsp;while offering another reminder of how conspiracy theories and distrust are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-crime-social-media-race-and-ethnicity-05889f1f4076709c47fc9a18dbee818a">shaping America's politics</a>.The claims are fueling the candidacies of election deniers and threatening to further corrode faith in voting and democracy. Many of them can be traced back to 2020, when then-President Donald&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-donald-trump-campaigns-presidential-070ced9a013c58cf001d6d4137e4abc0">Trump refused to accept</a>&nbsp;the outcome of the election he lost to Joe Biden and began lying about its results.“Misinformation is going to be central to this midterm election and central to the 2024 election,” said Bhaskar Chakravorti, who studies technological change and society and is the dean of global business at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. “The single galvanizing narrative is that the 2020 election was stolen.”A look at key misinformation challenges heading into the 2022 election:MISLEADING CLAIMS ABOUT VOTINGPolitical misinformation often focuses on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-social-security-number-border-552180846074">immigration</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-police-reform-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-4a65c2bc8386c06ed5bae5b7597c8f2e">crime</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-covid-19-conspiracy-theories-persist-2586c1bc28259f7e224885b609c8f131">public health</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-technology-misinformation-0da59f7a72705c5f3fcdb59af1fc7af0">geopolitics</a>, disasters,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-333765746793">education</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-government-and-politics-shootings-texas-conspiracy-theories-8d9ac3b61420c6542b11d0da3f0b3a16">mass shootings</a>. This year, it's mostly about voting.Claims about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-government-and-politics-8eaf001732ac25976f0560a3e49ed500">security of mail ballots</a>&nbsp;have grown in recent weeks, as have baseless rumors about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-science-nancy-pelosi-climate-and-environment-donald-trump-2a20444535cfc33dc605be44fcef9e1b">noncitizens voting</a>. That's in addition to claims about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-government-and-politics-presidential-299b03156144b12c0298184498f07958">dead people</a>&nbsp;casting ballots, ballot drop boxes being moved or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-9809670730">wild stories about voting machines</a>.Trump, a Republican, attacked the legitimacy of the election even before he lost. He then refused to concede,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-fact-check-donald-trump-georgia-elections-atlanta-c23d10e5299e14daee6109885f7dafa9">spreading lies about the election</a>&nbsp;that inspired&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack</a>&nbsp;on the U.S. Capitol. His contention was rejected in more than 60 court cases and by his own attorney general, William Barr.Together, these misleading claims about the nation’s electoral system have led some Republicans to say they're going to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-government-and-politics-election-2020-55f4744b484919cd20d4d5e8d72e444e">hold onto their mail ballots until Election Day</a>&nbsp;— a move that could slow down the count.Others vow to monitor the polls to prevent cheating, leading to concerns about intimidation and even the possibility of violence at election sites.Tech companies say they've implemented new policies and programs designed to ferret out misinformation.“We’ve seen hundreds of elections play out on our platforms in recent years and we’ve been applying lessons from each one to strengthen our preparations,” Facebook and Instagram owner Meta said in a statement.Yet critics say the volume of false claims spreading now shows there's more to be done, such as better enforcement of existing rules or government regulations requiring more aggressive policies.“This is no longer a new problem," said Jon Lloyd, senior adviser at the nonprofit Global Witness, which last week released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-government-and-politics-misinformation-a18a35a2a2542eadfc3893983a818511">a report</a>&nbsp;showing that TikTok failed to remove many advertisements that contain election misinformation. Big social media platforms, he said, "are still simply not doing enough to stop threats to democracy.”MISTAKES WILL HAPPEN — WHILE CLOCK IS TICKINGElections involve the combined efforts of tens of thousands of people working under pressure. Mistakes are expected, which is why there's a robust system of checks and balances to ensure errors are found and corrected.Taken out of context, stories about glitchy voting machines,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-pennsylvania-race-and-ethnicity-hispanics-election-2020-b873061d2149100f9a7621cea6d1f442">mixed-up ballots</a>&nbsp;or even “suspicious” vehicles arriving at election centers can become fodder for the next election fraud myth.And with so much work to do at such a fast pace, election workers, local officials and even the media can have little time to push back on such claims before they go viral.In Georgia in 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-primary-elections-georgia-elections-ce8204935e991f740c94d6bc464481cf">a water leak</a>&nbsp;at a site where ballots were being counted was used to spin a far-fetched tale of ballot rigging. In Arizona,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-social-media-misinformation-7a17f398bbff08ef09b427cbe1ef125b">the choice of pens</a>&nbsp;given to voters filling out ballots led to similarly preposterous claims.To avoid falling for a misleading claim, consult multiple sources including local election offices. Any significant voting irregularity will be covered by multiple news outlets and addressed by election officials. Be skeptical of claims from second-hand sources, said Shaye-Ann McDonald, a behavioral researcher at Duke University who studies ways to improve resistance to misinformation.The most viral misinformation often elicits anger or fear that motivates readers to repost it before they've had time to coolly consider the underlying claim.“When you read about something that provokes a strong emotion, that should be a warning sign,” McDonald said.A MULTILINGUAL CHALLENGEJust before the 2020 election, Spanish-language Facebook ads falsely claimed Biden, a Democrat, was a communist. On other platforms, posts warned Latinos in the U.S. not to vote at all.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-media-misinformation-9696392bf389ba8ca3441d2314abcefa">Misinformation in non-English languages</a>&nbsp;is a particular concern cited by researchers who say the major platforms — most of them U.S.-based — are focused on content moderation in English. Automated systems written to detect misinformation in English don't work as well when applied to other languages.“As bad as they (tech companies) are moderating content in English, they’re even worse when it comes non-English languages,” said Jessica Gonzalez, co-CEO of Free Press, a nonprofit that works on issues of racial justice and technology.MISINFORMATION BY TEXT?While misinformation about elections spreads easily on big social media platforms like Facebook, it also has taken root on a long list of less familiar platforms: Gab, Gettr, Parler and Truth Social, Trump’s platform.Meanwhile, TikTok has emerged as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-china-elections-data-privacy-misinformation-79d5400062cf107771148911ee62f5fb">a key network for younger voters</a>&nbsp;— and the politicians who want to reach them. The platform, owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance, has created an election center to connect users with trustworthy information about elections and voting. But nonetheless&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-technology-politics-covid-health-5cdbe1ec32312699acbe8ba9b6a00eb5">misinformation persists</a>.The problem isn’t limited to social media. The number of false claims transmitted by text and email has steadily increased in recent years. Last summer, Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-technology-health-voting-87dc504b3048e6034896733fc1aa49c6">voters in Kansas received misleading texts</a>&nbsp;telling them a yes vote on an upcoming referendum would protect abortion rights; the opposite was true.MUSK AND TWITTERElon Musk's purchase of Twitter just weeks before the 2022 election upended that platform's plans for combating misinformation ahead of the midterms.Musk quickly fired the executive who had overseen content moderation. Over the weekend he posted a tweet advancing a baseless conspiracy theory about the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, before deleting it.Musk has called himself a free speech absolutist and had said he disagreed with the decision to boot Trump from the platform for incitement of violence on Jan. 6, 2021.He has said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-social-media-e149b458b153f53268c00ad2a757cf14">a content moderation committee</a>&nbsp;will examine possible revisions to Twitter's rules but that no changes would be made until after the election.“We’re staying vigilant against attempts to manipulate conversations about the 2022 US midterms.” Yoel Roth, Twitter's head of safety and integrity, tweeted Tuesday.THREATS FOREIGN AND DOMESTICRussian efforts to interfere in U.S. elections go back years, and there are indications that China and Iran are stepping up their game.Tech companies, government officials and misinformation researchers say they're&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-russia-ukraine-campaigns-presidential-ea913f2b3b818651a9db1327adaa330a">monitoring for such activity</a>&nbsp;ahead of the midterms. But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-loudest-attack-us-vote-bc653f799233e76dd60c27c37859d67b">misinformation threat posed by domestic groups</a>&nbsp;may be far greater.____

Misinformation and the midterm elections: What to expect

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Halloween Party Shooting have identified the suspect as 22-year-old Daijon Estell.

Estell is being held in Wyandotte County on requested charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated endangering a child, according to online jail records.

On Wednesday detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department identified the victim in the Halloween night shooting in the 1600 block of S. 50th Street as 17-year-old Katron Harris a resident of Kansas City, Kansas. He was pronounced deceased on scene. The KCKPD Major Case Unit continues to investigate and search for other potential suspects. Harris was killed and six others were wounded after gunfire erupted at a crowded Halloween party.

The shooting happened Monday night at a large party at a Kansas City, Kansas home. Police said between 70 and 100 people were at the party.

Police were called around 9 p.m. and found a 17-year-old dead and six others injured. One person was treated and released and the other five were listed in stable condition Tuesday afternoon, police said.

The victims ranged in age from 15 to 18, with most being 15 and 16 years old.

Police took Estell into custody on Tuesday. Investigators were looking for four to six suspects. No other information on the suspects was released.

The party was intended for younger teens and was supposed to be invitation only but it was promoted on social media, police said.

The suspects, who were wearing costumes and masks, were asked to leave because they were older. They left but then returned and opened fire on the house, injuring people inside and outside, police said.

The parent/homeowner was home at the time. Similar parties had been held at the house previously without any issues, according to the statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667517702262.png" alt="Estell-photo Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Estell-photo Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Halloween Party Shooting have identified the suspect as 22-year-old Daijon Estell.Estell is being held in Wyandotte County on requested charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated endangering a child, according to online jail records.On Wednesday detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department identified the victim in the Halloween night shooting in the 1600 block of S. 50th Street as 17-year-old Katron Harris a resident of Kansas City, Kansas. He was pronounced deceased on scene. The KCKPD Major Case Unit continues to investigate and search for other potential suspects. Harris was killed and six others were wounded after gunfire erupted at a crowded Halloween party.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667299121422.png" alt="The shooting happened Monday night at a large party at a Kansas City, Kansas home.-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The shooting happened Monday night at a large party at a Kansas City, Kansas home.-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>The shooting happened Monday night at a large party at a Kansas City, Kansas home. Police said between 70 and 100 people were at the party.Police were called around 9 p.m. and found a 17-year-old dead and six others injured. One person was treated and released and the other five were listed in stable condition Tuesday afternoon, police said.The victims ranged in age from 15 to 18, with most being 15 and 16 years old.Police took Estell into custody on Tuesday. Investigators were looking for four to six suspects. No other information on the suspects was released.The party was intended for younger teens and was supposed to be invitation only but it was promoted on social media, police said.The suspects, who were wearing costumes and masks, were asked to leave because they were older. They left but then returned and opened fire on the house, injuring people inside and outside, police said.The parent/homeowner was home at the time. Similar parties had been held at the house previously without any issues, according to the statement.

Kan. man accused of Halloween party shooting that killed 1 teen, injured 6

JOHNSON COUNTY— A Kansas woman died in a pedestrian accident just before 2a.m. Thursday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Camaro driven by Troy Moore, 54, Olathe, was southbound in lane #5 of Interstate 35 just south of College Boulevard in Lenexa. The driver intended to exit at 119th Street.

The car struck a pedestrian identified as Maria Catherine Fulz, 23, Olathe, who crossed in front of vehicle 1 from an unknown direction.&nbsp;

Fultz was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Johnson County Coronor's office.&nbsp; Moore and a passenger in the Camaro were not injured. The accident remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667518160598.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the accident -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the accident -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY— A Kansas woman died in a pedestrian accident just before 2a.m. Thursday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Camaro driven by Troy Moore, 54, Olathe, was southbound in lane #5 of Interstate 35 just south of College Boulevard in Lenexa. The driver intended to exit at 119th Street.The car struck a pedestrian identified as Maria Catherine Fulz, 23, Olathe, who crossed in front of vehicle 1 from an unknown direction.&nbsp;Fultz was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Johnson County Coronor's office.&nbsp; Moore and a passenger in the Camaro were not injured. The accident remains under investigation.

KHP IDs Kansas woman who died in pedestrian accident

By NATHAN KING Salina Post

Pizza was for breakfast this morning as Schwan's in partnership with its parent company, CJ Foods, announced plans for a new distribution center located at the Schwan's Pizza campus.   

The state-of-the-art 140,000-square-foot refrigerated distribution center will be built at its pizza-manufacturing facility in the Salina Airport Industrial Center. The news comes two years after Schwan's announced plans to expand its pizza plant with 400,000 square feet of new manufacturing space along with the creation of 225 new jobs. 

The new distribution center space will be used to store food produced by employees at the company’s pizza plant. The facility will include a 38,000-pallet-position racking system with three automated pallet cranes.  

“In 2020, we had the honor of announcing to the Salina community a major investment that would enable us to continue to provide delicious pizzas to millions of families for decades to come. I feel a lot of pride and I am also very much humbled by everyone’s execution on this project. We are set to begin making pizzas at our new facility in December, and this new distribution center will support our expanded production capabilities over the long term,” said Schwan’s Company CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios.

"We are going to have a distribution center that joins this building and our current distribution center. Because the Salina campus is going to be the hub of not just pizza brands, but we will bring bibigo Asian food, deserts, mix them and then distribute them out to our customers that are throughout the United States."  

According to Schwan's, the additional distribution center project announced today will begin in 2023 and is expected to be completed in early 2025. Upon completion of the new distribution center, the company will have additional space of 245,000 square feet at its Salina plant, bringing its total manufacturing facility and distribution center space to more than 1 million square feet.  

Governor Laura Kelly, Lieutenant Governor David Toland and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran attended the announcement and extended their congratulatory remarks and sense of optimism regarding the company's announcement.  

"I commend the city of Salina, the Salina Airport Authority, Saline County, and all the folks with economic development and the Chamber of Commerce officials who made the effort to demonstrate to Schwan's that this was the place for the expansion," said Moran. "This was a national and international competition, and doesn't it make us feel good that Salina, Kansas, wins that competition." 

Toland, who also serves as commerce secretary, spoke on the importance of involving international brands when it comes to economic development in Kansas.

"We know that none of this happened by accident. It happened through planning and vision and execution and Schwan's bringing together the best people," Toland said.

"I'd be remised if I didn't note that, on Day One of the Kelly administration, Governor Kelly directed that we rebuild our international team. And with CJ being the parent company of Schwan's, it has been so important for us to have the international team in Topeka work to build and foster relationships like this with Schwan's, as well as with so many other companies around the world." 

Kelly congratulated and thanked Schwan's for their investment in the central Kansas economy and reflected on the economic success the state has experienced over the past years. 

"It is clear that Schwan's will continue its massive impact on the central Kansas economy, its investment of $600 million dollars will fuel 225 jobs," Kelly said. "It is a great day for Salina and a great day for the entire state. I'm grateful to everyone who made this moment possible." 

Kelly continued, "For back-to-back years, Kansas has attracted the most new capital investments in our state's history. Since the start of my administration, economic development projects have created and retained over 53,000 jobs, and have attracted over $14.7 billion of investment into the Kansas economy. As a result, we've won the coveted Gold Shovel Award for the last two years. And in 2021, the Governor's Cup for the most business investment per capita in the country - we are number one."

“On behalf of everyone at Schwan’s and our parent company, CJ, I once again want to thank the Salina community and federal, state and local officials in Kansas for helping us make this expansion a success. We especially want to thank our employees at the facility for continuing to make the highest-quality foods," said Smyrnios.

The event concluded with Schwan's employees and local, state, and federal government officials, trying various Tony's and Red Barron pizza products.  

By NATHAN KING Salina PostPizza was for breakfast this morning as Schwan's in partnership with its parent company, CJ Foods, announced plans for a new distribution center located at the Schwan's Pizza campus. The state-of-the-art 140,000-square-foot refrigerated distribution center will be built at its pizza-manufacturing facility in the Salina Airport Industrial Center. The news comes two years after Schwan's announced plans to expand its pizza plant with 400,000 square feet of new manufacturing space along with the creation of 225 new jobs. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667500547504.jpeg" alt="A concept drawing of the new distribution center, which will provide Schwan's with 140,000 additional square feet of refrigerated space. Concept drawings courtesy Schwan's" />
 <figcaption>A concept drawing of the new distribution center, which will provide Schwan's with 140,000 additional square feet of refrigerated space. Concept drawings courtesy Schwan's</figcaption>
 </figure>The new distribution center space will be used to store food produced by employees at the company’s pizza plant. The facility will include a 38,000-pallet-position racking system with three automated pallet cranes. “In 2020, we had the honor of announcing to the Salina community a major investment that would enable us to continue to provide delicious pizzas to millions of families for decades to come. I feel a lot of pride and I am also very much humbled by everyone’s execution on this project. We are set to begin making pizzas at our new facility in December, and this new distribution center will support our expanded production capabilities over the long term,” said Schwan’s Company CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667501721920.jpeg" alt="Schwan's Company CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios delivers remarks at the company's announcement earlier this morning. Photos by Salina Post " />
 <figcaption>Schwan's Company CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios delivers remarks at the company's announcement earlier this morning. Photos by Salina Post </figcaption>
 </figure>"We are going to have a distribution center that joins this building and our current distribution center. Because the Salina campus is going to be the hub of not just pizza brands, but we will bring bibigo Asian food, deserts, mix them and then distribute them out to our customers that are throughout the United States." According to Schwan's, the additional distribution center project announced today will begin in 2023 and is expected to be completed in early 2025. Upon completion of the new distribution center, the company will have additional space of 245,000 square feet at its Salina plant, bringing its total manufacturing facility and distribution center space to more than 1 million square feet. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667500709651.jpeg" alt="On the left of the concept drawing is the 400,000 square foot manufacturing space, expected to be completed in early 2025." />
 <figcaption>On the left of the concept drawing is the 400,000 square foot manufacturing space, expected to be completed in early 2025.</figcaption>
 </figure>Governor Laura Kelly, Lieutenant Governor David Toland and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran attended the announcement and extended their congratulatory remarks and sense of optimism regarding the company's announcement. "I commend the city of Salina, the Salina Airport Authority, Saline County, and all the folks with economic development and the Chamber of Commerce officials who made the effort to demonstrate to Schwan's that this was the place for the expansion," said Moran. "This was a national and international competition, and doesn't it make us feel good that Salina, Kansas, wins that competition." <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667502278429.jpeg" alt="Moran delivers remarks after Schwan's announced it will build a new distribution center in Salina." />
 <figcaption>Moran delivers remarks after Schwan's announced it will build a new distribution center in Salina.</figcaption>
 </figure>Toland, who also serves as commerce secretary, spoke on the importance of involving international brands when it comes to economic development in Kansas."We know that none of this happened by accident. It happened through planning and vision and execution and Schwan's bringing together the best people," Toland said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667502571352.jpeg" alt="Toland emphasized the importance of international investment in Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Toland emphasized the importance of international investment in Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>"I'd be remised if I didn't note that, on Day One of the Kelly administration, Governor Kelly directed that we rebuild our international team. And with CJ being the parent company of Schwan's, it has been so important for us to have the international team in Topeka work to build and foster relationships like this with Schwan's, as well as with so many other companies around the world." Kelly congratulated and thanked Schwan's for their investment in the central Kansas economy and reflected on the economic success the state has experienced over the past years. "It is clear that Schwan's will continue its massive impact on the central Kansas economy, its investment of $600 million dollars will fuel 225 jobs," Kelly said. "It is a great day for Salina and a great day for the entire state. I'm grateful to everyone who made this moment possible." <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667502851740.jpeg" alt="Kelly delivers remarks following the announcement from Schwan's.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kelly delivers remarks following the announcement from Schwan's.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Kelly continued, "For back-to-back years, Kansas has attracted the most new capital investments in our state's history. Since the start of my administration, economic development projects have created and retained over 53,000 jobs, and have attracted over $14.7 billion of investment into the Kansas economy. As a result, we've won the coveted Gold Shovel Award for the last two years. And in 2021, the Governor's Cup for the most business investment per capita in the country - we are number one."“On behalf of everyone at Schwan’s and our parent company, CJ, I once again want to thank the Salina community and federal, state and local officials in Kansas for helping us make this expansion a success. We especially want to thank our employees at the facility for continuing to make the highest-quality foods," said Smyrnios.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667502656932.jpeg" alt="Pizza was served." />
 <figcaption>Pizza was served.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667502919710.jpeg" alt="The governor was first in line to get a slice of Red Baron pizza, followed by CJ Foods COO Julie Francis, and Toland." />
 <figcaption>The governor was first in line to get a slice of Red Baron pizza, followed by CJ Foods COO Julie Francis, and Toland.</figcaption>
 </figure>The event concluded with Schwan's employees and local, state, and federal government officials, trying various Tony's and Red Barron pizza products.

Schwan's to build new distribution center in Salina

If you are adding or changing your <a href="https://www.medicare.gov/" target="_blank">Medicare</a> or <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">Healthcare.gov</a>
 coverage during open enrollment, watch out for unsolicited calls 
claiming to "help" you find the best deal. Unfortunately, scammers see 
this open enrollment period as a chance to trick people out of money and
 personal information. Open enrollment runs through December 7 
(Medicare) or December 15 (Healthcare.gov).

Open enrollment has just begun, but <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>
 has already gotten numerous reports of scam calls pretending to be from
 Medicare. In one report, the target received "an automated message from
 Medicare and how they could help me. When I followed the prompts, it 
led me to a nice-sounding male who claimed they were working for 
Medicare." In another report, the person received calls claiming, "I 
requested information from them about Medicare on the Medicare website, 
which I NEVER did."

If you stay on the line, these callers allege they can enroll you in a better plan than what you currently have, according to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us" target="_blank">Scam Tracker reports.</a>
 This new plan is cheaper, and you can keep all the same services. To 
get started, all you need to do is provide some personal information, 
such as your Medicare ID number.

No matter how good the deal sounds and how convincing the caller 
seems, don't do it! The call is a scam, and sharing personal information
 will open you up to identity theft.

Selecting a health insurance plan can be challenging and complex. Be on the lookout for common red flags.

If you are unsure whether a call or offer is from Medicare or you 
gave your personal information to someone claiming to be with Medicare, 
call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it. If you suspect fraud when signing up 
for ACA coverage, go to <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/how-can-i-protect-myself-from-fraud-in-the-health-insurance-marketplace/" target="_blank">HealthCare.gov</a>&nbsp;or call the Health Insurance Marketplace call center at <a href="tel:8003182596" target="_blank">800-318-2596</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBIf you are adding or changing your <a href="https://www.medicare.gov/" target="_blank">Medicare</a> or <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">Healthcare.gov</a>
 coverage during open enrollment, watch out for unsolicited calls 
claiming to "help" you find the best deal. Unfortunately, scammers see 
this open enrollment period as a chance to trick people out of money and
 personal information. Open enrollment runs through December 7 
(Medicare) or December 15 (Healthcare.gov).<h2>How the scam works&nbsp;</h2>Open enrollment has just begun, but <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>
 has already gotten numerous reports of scam calls pretending to be from
 Medicare. In one report, the target received "an automated message from
 Medicare and how they could help me. When I followed the prompts, it 
led me to a nice-sounding male who claimed they were working for 
Medicare." In another report, the person received calls claiming, "I 
requested information from them about Medicare on the Medicare website, 
which I NEVER did."If you stay on the line, these callers allege they can enroll you in a better plan than what you currently have, according to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us" target="_blank">Scam Tracker reports.</a>
 This new plan is cheaper, and you can keep all the same services. To 
get started, all you need to do is provide some personal information, 
such as your Medicare ID number.No matter how good the deal sounds and how convincing the caller 
seems, don't do it! The call is a scam, and sharing personal information
 will open you up to identity theft.Tips to avoid open enrollment scamsSelecting a health insurance plan can be challenging and complex. Be on the lookout for common red flags.<ul>
 <li>Be wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue. <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov" target="_blank">Healthcare.gov</a> and Medicare provide <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/get-help-applying/" target="_blank">legitimate help with figuring out which plan</a>
 is right for you. These people — sometimes called Navigators or 
Assisters — are not allowed to charge for their support. If someone asks
 you for payment, it's a scam. You will also need to contact them. They 
will not call you first.&nbsp;&nbsp; </li><li>Be wary of free gifts and "health screenings." Keep a healthy level of skepticism any time a broker offers you <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/13033-scam-alert-beware-of-the-medicare-back-brace-scam" target="_blank">free gifts</a>
 or other special deals. Never sign up with a broker who offers you an 
expensive sign-up gift in exchange for providing your Medicare ID number
 or additional personally identifiable information. Other times, <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/17378-scam-alert-when-a-free-health-screening-is-really-a-health-insurance-scam" target="_blank">brokers offer free "health screenings" to weed out people who are less healthy</a>. This technique is called "cherry picking" and is against Medicare rules. </li><li>Guard your government-issued numbers. Never offer 
your Medicare ID number, Social Security number, health plan info, or 
banking information to anyone you don't know. </li><li>Go directly to official websites.&nbsp;If you want to make changes to your health care plan, go directly to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicare.gov/">Medicare.gov</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/">Healthcare.gov</a>, or your employer's health insurance provider. Don't click on links in suspicious messages.&nbsp; </li><li>Contact your employer directly. If you receive an 
unexpected email about benefits policies, ask your employer about it 
before you click on anything to make sure it's legitimate.&nbsp; </li>
 </ul><h2>For more information: &nbsp;</h2>If you are unsure whether a call or offer is from Medicare or you 
gave your personal information to someone claiming to be with Medicare, 
call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it. If you suspect fraud when signing up 
for ACA coverage, go to <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/how-can-i-protect-myself-from-fraud-in-the-health-insurance-marketplace/" target="_blank">HealthCare.gov</a>&nbsp;or call the Health Insurance Marketplace call center at <a href="tel:8003182596" target="_blank">800-318-2596</a>.&nbsp;

Beware of health care cons during open enrollment

The FCC’s Robocall Response Team is warning consumers about a potential uptick in student loan debt robocalls in the wake of the recent announcement of nationwide federal student loan debt relief.  Scammers often use broadly publicized news to add an air of legitimacy and familiarity to their spoofed robocalls.  Scammers might use the calls to pressure consumers to make a payment or provide private information.  But consumers should be aware that there is no fee to apply for student loan debt relief and that applications are accepted only at StudentAid.gov/DebtRelief.  

The FCC also issued an Enforcement Advisory today to remind voice service providers of their role in protecting consumers by combatting the scourge of illegal robocalls aggressively, especially student loan robocalls, following recent announcements regarding student loan forgiveness and deferment.  

These calls typically state that the caller is informing the recipient that the payment suspension will end or that a petition can be filed on their behalf to get a certain amount of their loan “dismissed.”  Some common campaigns purport to be from the “student loan forgiveness center” or from a state forgiveness center.  Spoofing may be use to further confuse consumers by using seemingly legitimate caller ID information.

“We are calling on the phone companies to heighten their vigilance and take decisive measures to block student loan debt scam robocalls.  We are ready to take action in every way we can and throw the book at robocallers who illegally target consumers.”

The Chairwoman recently attended a meeting hosted by the National Economic Council to discuss this topic and prepare to combat scammers.  The FCC is working with its federal partners to combat such calls.

On August 24, 2022, President Biden announced student loan forgiveness for millions of Americans and an extension of the loan forbearance period through December 31, 2022.   The Department of Education has extended forbearance seven times since March 20, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.   Each time the Department of Education has extended the forbearance, fraudsters and unscrupulous marketers have taken advantage of these changes to flood American consumers with robocalls about student loans.  While the FCC has not seen any increase in consumer complaints about these calls to date, other evidence, including a recent warning from the FTC, suggests that callers are starting to flood phones in the United States with student loan-related robocalls in the months preceding the end of loan forbearance or changes to student loan programs.  

Consumers should be aware that they are likely talking to a scammer if the robocaller:

· Pressures you to provide money or information.

· Says you need to pay any sort of fee to apply or appeal your application.

· Directs you to any website outside of StudentAid.gov

· Purports to be calling from somewhere like the “student loan forgiveness center” or from a state forgiveness center.

· Uses suspicious caller ID, such as a name that is inconsistent with the substance of the message, or the same area code and first three digits of your phone number.

· Asks for your FSA ID, bank account, or credit card information.  (The real application requires your name, birth date, Social Security number, phone number, and email address.)

If you have received a possible scam robocall:

· Do not share any personal or financial information.

· If you’re not sure, hang up and call the institution using their publicly available, legitimate phone number.

· File a complaint with the FCC: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov

FCCThe FCC’s Robocall Response Team is warning consumers about a potential uptick in student loan debt robocalls in the wake of the recent announcement of nationwide federal student loan debt relief. Scammers often use broadly publicized news to add an air of legitimacy and familiarity to their spoofed robocalls. Scammers might use the calls to pressure consumers to make a payment or provide private information. But consumers should be aware that there is no fee to apply for student loan debt relief and that applications are accepted only at StudentAid.gov/DebtRelief. The FCC also issued an Enforcement Advisory today to remind voice service providers of their role in protecting consumers by combatting the scourge of illegal robocalls aggressively, especially student loan robocalls, following recent announcements regarding student loan forgiveness and deferment. <h2>Student Debt Scam Robocalls</h2>These calls typically state that the caller is informing the recipient that the payment suspension will end or that a petition can be filed on their behalf to get a certain amount of their loan “dismissed.” Some common campaigns purport to be from the “student loan forgiveness center” or from a state forgiveness center. Spoofing may be use to further confuse consumers by using seemingly legitimate caller ID information.Chairwoman Rosenworcel:“We are calling on the phone companies to heighten their vigilance and take decisive measures to block student loan debt scam robocalls. We are ready to take action in every way we can and throw the book at robocallers who illegally target consumers.”The Chairwoman recently attended a meeting hosted by the National Economic Council to discuss this topic and prepare to combat scammers. The FCC is working with its federal partners to combat such calls.<h2>What’s New?</h2>On August 24, 2022, President Biden announced student loan forgiveness for millions of Americans and an extension of the loan forbearance period through December 31, 2022. The Department of Education has extended forbearance seven times since March 20, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each time the Department of Education has extended the forbearance, fraudsters and unscrupulous marketers have taken advantage of these changes to flood American consumers with robocalls about student loans. While the FCC has not seen any increase in consumer complaints about these calls to date, other evidence, including a recent warning from the FTC, suggests that callers are starting to flood phones in the United States with student loan-related robocalls in the months preceding the end of loan forbearance or changes to student loan programs. <h2>Scam Clues for Consumers</h2>Consumers should be aware that they are likely talking to a scammer if the robocaller:· Pressures you to provide money or information.· Says you need to pay any sort of fee to apply or appeal your application.· Directs you to any website outside of StudentAid.gov· Purports to be calling from somewhere like the “student loan forgiveness center” or from a state forgiveness center.· Uses suspicious caller ID, such as a name that is inconsistent with the substance of the message, or the same area code and first three digits of your phone number.· Asks for your FSA ID, bank account, or credit card information. (The real application requires your name, birth date, Social Security number, phone number, and email address.)<h2>What to Do</h2>If you have received a possible scam robocall:· Do not share any personal or financial information.· If you’re not sure, hang up and call the institution using their publicly available, legitimate phone number.· File a complaint with the FCC: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov

Feds warn of scam student loan debt robocalls

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug distribution allegations.

On Wednesday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 600 BLK SW Roosevelt Street related to an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.

 While conducting the search warrant, officers located methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and firearms.

As a result, Spencer Allen, 44, and Joshua Reynolds, 38, were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.&nbsp; Allen is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000’ of a school, Possession of drug paraphernalia and&nbsp;Possession of stolen property.

Reynolds is being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667506016205.png" alt="Allen-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Allen-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug distribution allegations.On Wednesday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 600 BLK SW Roosevelt Street related to an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell. While conducting the search warrant, officers located methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and firearms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667506092388.png" alt="Allen-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Allen-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>As a result, Spencer Allen, 44, and Joshua Reynolds, 38, were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.&nbsp; Allen is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000’ of a school, Possession of drug paraphernalia and&nbsp;Possession of stolen property.Reynolds is being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kansas drug task force finds meth, firearms and stolen property

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man and his girlfriend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-murder-suspect-400e3453a8c2ae58ca0ef3276c8d9b40">suspected of killing</a>&nbsp;five people in three states last year have pleaded guilty to two of the killings in South Carolina and been sentenced to life in prison without parole, authorities said.

Tyler Terry and Adrienne Simpson each pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and numerous other charges Wednesday in Chester County, according to media reports.

Prosecutors agreed to not seek the death penalty in any of the five killings as long as the couple also pleaded guilty to two shootings near St. Louis, Missouri, and another in Memphis, Tennessee. All five deaths happened in May 2021, investigators said.

Terry, 27, said nothing in court other than to answer questions about his guilty plea, while Simpson apologized to the families of the victims, which included her estranged husband.

Simpson, 34, said she was heartbroken over what happened and wished she could turn back time. Her lawyer said Simpson has struggled with abusive relationships.

Police began looking for Terry last year after he fired at an officer who tried to talk to him when he was parked at a closed restaurant. The officer kept chasing him with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sc-state-wire-south-carolina-0c2bf19007e1b67a475e152979105451">a bullet hole</a>&nbsp;in her SUV's windshield, authorities said.

Simpson was arrested at the end of the chase, but Terry managed to avoid more than 300 officers looking for him over seven days in one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-29239f3c23a8298e31f40acfc4284f2f">largest manhunts</a>&nbsp;law enforcement could recall in South Carolina.

The couple pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing Simpson's estranged husband Eugene in Chester County and Thomas Hardin in York County on the same day in May 2021.

Terry and Simpson then ended up in Missouri 13 days later where prosecutors said they shot and killed Sergei Zacharev during a robbery in a restaurant parking lot in the St. Louis suburb of Brentwood. They then killed Barbara Goodkin as she sat in her car with her husband in University City, authorities said.

Goodkin's husband was also shot, but investigators said the bullet hit his cellphone, which may have saved his life.

Two days later, Danterrio Coats was found shot to death near a car with its emergency flashers on in Memphis, said investigators, who think he was also robbed.

Prosecutors in South Carolina said their counterparts in Tennessee and Missouri also agreed not to seek the death penalty against either Terry or Simpson as long as they plead guilty in those states, too.

The couple will serve their life sentences in South Carolina prisons after they are sent to the other states to admit to the crimes, authorities said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667509540729.png" alt="Terry-photo&nbsp; Chester County South Carolina Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Terry-photo&nbsp; Chester County South Carolina Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man and his girlfriend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-murder-suspect-400e3453a8c2ae58ca0ef3276c8d9b40">suspected of killing</a>&nbsp;five people in three states last year have pleaded guilty to two of the killings in South Carolina and been sentenced to life in prison without parole, authorities said.Tyler Terry and Adrienne Simpson each pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and numerous other charges Wednesday in Chester County, according to media reports.Prosecutors agreed to not seek the death penalty in any of the five killings as long as the couple also pleaded guilty to two shootings near St. Louis, Missouri, and another in Memphis, Tennessee. All five deaths happened in May 2021, investigators said.Terry, 27, said nothing in court other than to answer questions about his guilty plea, while Simpson apologized to the families of the victims, which included her estranged husband.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667509514716.png" alt="Simpson-photo Chester County South Carolina Sheriff'" />
 <figcaption>Simpson-photo Chester County South Carolina Sheriff'</figcaption>
 </figure>Simpson, 34, said she was heartbroken over what happened and wished she could turn back time. Her lawyer said Simpson has struggled with abusive relationships.Police began looking for Terry last year after he fired at an officer who tried to talk to him when he was parked at a closed restaurant. The officer kept chasing him with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sc-state-wire-south-carolina-0c2bf19007e1b67a475e152979105451">a bullet hole</a>&nbsp;in her SUV's windshield, authorities said.Simpson was arrested at the end of the chase, but Terry managed to avoid more than 300 officers looking for him over seven days in one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-29239f3c23a8298e31f40acfc4284f2f">largest manhunts</a>&nbsp;law enforcement could recall in South Carolina.The couple pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing Simpson's estranged husband Eugene in Chester County and Thomas Hardin in York County on the same day in May 2021.Terry and Simpson then ended up in Missouri 13 days later where prosecutors said they shot and killed Sergei Zacharev during a robbery in a restaurant parking lot in the St. Louis suburb of Brentwood. They then killed Barbara Goodkin as she sat in her car with her husband in University City, authorities said.Goodkin's husband was also shot, but investigators said the bullet hit his cellphone, which may have saved his life.Two days later, Danterrio Coats was found shot to death near a car with its emergency flashers on in Memphis, said investigators, who think he was also robbed.Prosecutors in South Carolina said their counterparts in Tennessee and Missouri also agreed not to seek the death penalty against either Terry or Simpson as long as they plead guilty in those states, too.The couple will serve their life sentences in South Carolina prisons after they are sent to the other states to admit to the crimes, authorities said.

Life in prison: Couple wanted for 5 killings in 3 states

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said her husband, Paul Pelosi, was released from the hospital Thursday after his treatment for injuries from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-assaulted-156ece77186eb11b97260af3c5122f67">violent assault last week</a>&nbsp;in which he was attacked with a hammer.

Pelosi said, “Paul remains under doctors’ care as he continues to progress on a long recovery process and convalescence. He is now home."

Law enforcement officers who responded to the break-in early last Friday witnessed Paul Pelosi being struck in the head with the hammer at least once, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twitter-inc-san-francisco-conspiracy-theories-nancy-pelosi-congress-e2d8fc90553c24b5e5162e02e6378321">court documents.</a>&nbsp;Officials said the assault was captured on the officers’ body cameras.

Pelosi was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Speaker Pelosi said her husband was grateful to the 911 operator who directed police to the family residence, emergency responders and the entire hospital staff for “their excellent and compassionate life-saving treatment."

“The Pelosi family is thankful for the beautiful outpouring of love, support and prayers from around the world," she said.

Paul Pelosi's release from the hospital comes as a federal official says the Canadian man accused of breaking into their home and attacking him should have been flagged by immigration officials and blocked from getting back into the U.S. after overstaying his authorized entry more than two decades ago.

David DePape, 42, legally entered the United States in 2000 and later left the country and returned a few times, including entering in March 2008 at San Diego’s San Ysidro border crossing, said a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

Most Canadians are not required to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. as tourists and can stay for up to six months. The official said it was unclear why U.S. authorities admitted DePape after he overstayed his entry in 2000.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to questions about DePape’s entry to the United States after he violated immigration law. It acknowledged in a statement that DePape was allowed into San Diego from Tijuana on March 8, 2008, but didn’t address any other entries.

San Francisco police said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-san-francisco-nancy-pelosi-government-and-politics-paul-985a574966438975ec9ccdc39061d83c">DePape confronted Paul Pelosi</a>&nbsp;in the family’s Pacific Heights home Oct. 28 and demanded to know where the House Speaker was. DePape pleaded not guilty to state charges on Tuesday and was ordered held without bail. His public defender, Adam Lipson, said he looks forward to providing him with a “vigorous legal defense.”

DePape faces state charges of attempted murder, burglary and elder abuse. He also faces federal charges including attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official. His state case will continue Friday, though the defendant will not appear in the courtroom. An arraignment on federal charges has not been scheduled.

In the state court filing, prosecutors detailed the attack in stark terms, saying Paul Pelosi, 82, was knocked unconscious by the hammer attack and woke up in a pool of his own blood.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-donald-trump-san-francisco-47c103cfe696df9faf0e57e1c7dd4f10">DePape grew up in Powell River,</a>&nbsp;British Columbia, but relocated to California to be with a girlfriend, stepfather Gene DePape told The Associated Press last week. He has three children with two women, he said. Gene DePape said the suspect had lived with him in Canada until he was 14 and had been a quiet boy.

DePape’s ex-girlfriend, Bay Area nudist activist Oxane “Gypsy” Taub, told the San Francisco Chronicle she met DePape in Hawaii in 2000. The pair lived in Berkeley and had two children during their 15-year relationship.

U.S. officials have long struggled to quantify — let alone track down — people who enter the country legally and overstay visas, believed to be about 40% of the population who are in the country illegally.

There were 684,499 visa overstays from October 2019 through September 2020 among visitors who arrived by plane or ship — more than the population of Vermont or Wyoming – according to the Department of Homeland Security’s latest annual report. The total number of overstays is much larger but has not been quantified because it doesn’t include how many people arrive by land, the primary way for Canadians and Mexicans to enter the United States.

The cost and technological hurdles to develop a checkout system at congested land crossings with Canada and Mexico are enormous. In the 12-month period through September 2020, more than 52,000 Canadians who came to the U.S. by air or sea had overstayed their legally authorized entry.

Despite the challenges, the U.S. official said DePape’s overstay should have been noted in immigration records, which, in theory, should have prevented authorities from admitting him.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666975658521.jpeg" alt="FILE -Police investigators work outside the home of Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. Paul Pelosi, was attacked and severely beaten by an assailant with a hammer who broke into their San Francisco home early Friday, according to people familiar with the investigation. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)" />
 <figcaption>FILE -Police investigators work outside the home of Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. Paul Pelosi, was attacked and severely beaten by an assailant with a hammer who broke into their San Francisco home early Friday, according to people familiar with the investigation. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said her husband, Paul Pelosi, was released from the hospital Thursday after his treatment for injuries from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-assaulted-156ece77186eb11b97260af3c5122f67">violent assault last week</a>&nbsp;in which he was attacked with a hammer.Pelosi said, “Paul remains under doctors’ care as he continues to progress on a long recovery process and convalescence. He is now home."Law enforcement officers who responded to the break-in early last Friday witnessed Paul Pelosi being struck in the head with the hammer at least once, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twitter-inc-san-francisco-conspiracy-theories-nancy-pelosi-congress-e2d8fc90553c24b5e5162e02e6378321">court documents.</a>&nbsp;Officials said the assault was captured on the officers’ body cameras.Pelosi was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Speaker Pelosi said her husband was grateful to the 911 operator who directed police to the family residence, emergency responders and the entire hospital staff for “their excellent and compassionate life-saving treatment."“The Pelosi family is thankful for the beautiful outpouring of love, support and prayers from around the world," she said.Paul Pelosi's release from the hospital comes as a federal official says the Canadian man accused of breaking into their home and attacking him should have been flagged by immigration officials and blocked from getting back into the U.S. after overstaying his authorized entry more than two decades ago.David DePape, 42, legally entered the United States in 2000 and later left the country and returned a few times, including entering in March 2008 at San Diego’s San Ysidro border crossing, said a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.Most Canadians are not required to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. as tourists and can stay for up to six months. The official said it was unclear why U.S. authorities admitted DePape after he overstayed his entry in 2000.The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to questions about DePape’s entry to the United States after he violated immigration law. It acknowledged in a statement that DePape was allowed into San Diego from Tijuana on March 8, 2008, but didn’t address any other entries.San Francisco police said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-san-francisco-nancy-pelosi-government-and-politics-paul-985a574966438975ec9ccdc39061d83c">DePape confronted Paul Pelosi</a>&nbsp;in the family’s Pacific Heights home Oct. 28 and demanded to know where the House Speaker was. DePape pleaded not guilty to state charges on Tuesday and was ordered held without bail. His public defender, Adam Lipson, said he looks forward to providing him with a “vigorous legal defense.”DePape faces state charges of attempted murder, burglary and elder abuse. He also faces federal charges including attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official. His state case will continue Friday, though the defendant will not appear in the courtroom. An arraignment on federal charges has not been scheduled.In the state court filing, prosecutors detailed the attack in stark terms, saying Paul Pelosi, 82, was knocked unconscious by the hammer attack and woke up in a pool of his own blood.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-donald-trump-san-francisco-47c103cfe696df9faf0e57e1c7dd4f10">DePape grew up in Powell River,</a>&nbsp;British Columbia, but relocated to California to be with a girlfriend, stepfather Gene DePape told The Associated Press last week. He has three children with two women, he said. Gene DePape said the suspect had lived with him in Canada until he was 14 and had been a quiet boy.DePape’s ex-girlfriend, Bay Area nudist activist Oxane “Gypsy” Taub, told the San Francisco Chronicle she met DePape in Hawaii in 2000. The pair lived in Berkeley and had two children during their 15-year relationship.U.S. officials have long struggled to quantify — let alone track down — people who enter the country legally and overstay visas, believed to be about 40% of the population who are in the country illegally.There were 684,499 visa overstays from October 2019 through September 2020 among visitors who arrived by plane or ship — more than the population of Vermont or Wyoming – according to the Department of Homeland Security’s latest annual report. The total number of overstays is much larger but has not been quantified because it doesn’t include how many people arrive by land, the primary way for Canadians and Mexicans to enter the United States.The cost and technological hurdles to develop a checkout system at congested land crossings with Canada and Mexico are enormous. In the 12-month period through September 2020, more than 52,000 Canadians who came to the U.S. by air or sea had overstayed their legally authorized entry.Despite the challenges, the U.S. official said DePape’s overstay should have been noted in immigration records, which, in theory, should have prevented authorities from admitting him.

Speaker Pelosi issues statement as husband  released from hospital 

ELK COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10a.m. Thursday in Elk County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Hummer H3 driven by Randy J. Julian, 69, Howard, was southbound on Kansas 99 eleven miles north of U.S. 160.

The SUV crossed the center line and struck impacted the drivers side of a northbound 2019 Ford F350 driven by Todd M. Winscher, 49, Howard.&nbsp;

Julian was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Winscher was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

ELK COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10a.m. Thursday in Elk County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Hummer H3 driven by Randy J. Julian, 69, Howard, was southbound on Kansas 99 eleven miles north of U.S. 160.The SUV crossed the center line and struck impacted the drivers side of a northbound 2019 Ford F350 driven by Todd M. Winscher, 49, Howard.&nbsp;Julian was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Winscher was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after SUV, pickup crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City will pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of an unarmed Black man who was fatally shot by a police officer in 2019.

The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners approved the settlement with the family of Terrence Bridges Jr. in a closed meeting earlier this week, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article268226847.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>.

Bridges, 30, was shot and killed after officers responded to a reported carjacking.

Police had contended he was resisting arrest and was shot during a struggle with the officer, identified in police records as Dylan Pifer. The officer told investigators he feared for his life because he thought Bridges was pulling a gun from a sweatshirt.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-michael-brown-kansas-police-reform-8f71cb718759cb138c033a68bbf0e195">Bridges' family and civil rights activists</a>&nbsp;said he was not armed, not resisting, did not pose a threat to the officer and was not involved in the carjacking.

Tom Porto, an attorney representing the family, said in a statement the settlement represents the police department's acknowledgement of the tragic and significant loss to Bridges' family.

“Despite this tragedy, we recognize that police officers have difficult jobs and are frequently faced with making split-second life or death decisions," Porto said. “The family is grateful that they are now able to put this matter behind them.”

The police department said in a statement that it routinely trains officers to handle tense and rapidly evolving situations.

“The KCPD is sorry for the pain felt by Terrence Bridges’ family," police spokesperson Sgt. Jacob Becchina said in the statement. "We are pleased everyone was able to come to a mutually agreeable resolution.”

Pifer, who is still on the police force,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c1657ae59b384d3cbb178acd30da4867">was not charged</a>&nbsp;in the killing.

A year after Bridges’ death, Pifer was with Sgt. Matthew T. Neal as Neal injured a 15-year-old boy by slamming his face into the pavement after stopping a car the teenager was in.

Neal left the department after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-kansas-city-missouri-89fa894212475929a37d9da31a8cd00f">pleading guilty last week</a>&nbsp;to third-degree assault. He was placed on four years' probation. Pifer was not charged.

The Kansas City police commissioners agreed in January 2021 to pay $725,000 to settle an excessive use of force lawsuit in that case.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M_1mV_a8IqY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City will pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of an unarmed Black man who was fatally shot by a police officer in 2019.The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners approved the settlement with the family of Terrence Bridges Jr. in a closed meeting earlier this week, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article268226847.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>.Bridges, 30, was shot and killed after officers responded to a reported carjacking.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595861626648.png" alt="In July of 2020, protesters gathered in the Kansas City neighborhood of Westport to call for police accountability-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>In July of 2020, protesters gathered in the Kansas City neighborhood of Westport to call for police accountability-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Police had contended he was resisting arrest and was shot during a struggle with the officer, identified in police records as Dylan Pifer. The officer told investigators he feared for his life because he thought Bridges was pulling a gun from a sweatshirt.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-michael-brown-kansas-police-reform-8f71cb718759cb138c033a68bbf0e195">Bridges' family and civil rights activists</a>&nbsp;said he was not armed, not resisting, did not pose a threat to the officer and was not involved in the carjacking.Tom Porto, an attorney representing the family, said in a statement the settlement represents the police department's acknowledgement of the tragic and significant loss to Bridges' family.“Despite this tragedy, we recognize that police officers have difficult jobs and are frequently faced with making split-second life or death decisions," Porto said. “The family is grateful that they are now able to put this matter behind them.”The police department said in a statement that it routinely trains officers to handle tense and rapidly evolving situations.“The KCPD is sorry for the pain felt by Terrence Bridges’ family," police spokesperson Sgt. Jacob Becchina said in the statement. "We are pleased everyone was able to come to a mutually agreeable resolution.”Pifer, who is still on the police force,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c1657ae59b384d3cbb178acd30da4867">was not charged</a>&nbsp;in the killing.A year after Bridges’ death, Pifer was with Sgt. Matthew T. Neal as Neal injured a 15-year-old boy by slamming his face into the pavement after stopping a car the teenager was in.Neal left the department after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-kansas-city-missouri-89fa894212475929a37d9da31a8cd00f">pleading guilty last week</a>&nbsp;to third-degree assault. He was placed on four years' probation. Pifer was not charged.The Kansas City police commissioners agreed in January 2021 to pay $725,000 to settle an excessive use of force lawsuit in that case.

Kansas City to pay $5M after police killing of Black man

By SAMANTHA HORTON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-03/the-disappearance-of-the-family-glitch-could-help-40-000-more-kansans-afford-health-insurance">Kansas News Service</a>

Taxpayer subsidies for health insurance have been available to 
millions of Americans since the Affordable Care Act took effect during 
the Obama administration.

Some people 
who earned too much money to qualify for Medicaid —and too little to 
afford policies from their employers that covered the rest of their 
families — found themselves caught in what became known as the “family 
glitch.” The government saw those workers' individual employer policies 
as affordable, even if the cost of covering a spouse and children proved
 wildly expensive.

Now those workers can 
enroll for health insurance in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace and 
qualify for government subsidies so they can buy coverage for the rest 
of their family members.

“(The ‘family glitch’) made a lot of 
people really disappointed,” said Kathy Hempstead, a senior policy 
advisor at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “They (would) go to the 
marketplace and see, ‘Wow, it's like $1,300 a month to cover my family. 
You know I’m so disappointed.’

“So now,” she said, “a lot of people are gonna find that they’re eligible for subsidies and the cost is more reasonable.”

The
 ACA Marketplace enrollment period started Tuesday. It runs through Jan.
 15. People who want their coverage to start at the beginning of 2023 
need to enroll by Dec. 15.

Experts say the changes that expand who qualifies for subsidies likely will mean more people can buy health coverage.

“A
 huge number of people just were not able to afford the premiums,” in 
previous years, said Kate Gramlich, a project specialist with Cover 
Kansas. The organization helps people navigate the ACA Marketplace. “So 
they just went uninsured. And so we’re hoping that there is a huge bump 
in enrollments and in coverage for Kansans with this being fixed.”

The update changing the “family glitch” could make coverage more affordable for about 40,000 more Kansans.

She said most of the people shut out by the old rules were women and children.

Subsidies
 and tax credits from the federal pandemic economic stimulus plan and 
the Inflation Reduction Act enacted earlier this year have largely 
offset increases in premiums by health insurance companies.

The 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid service estimates four out of five 
people on the marketplace will qualify for plans that cost them $10 or 
less per month — after calculating in tax credits.

In Kansas, 
UnitedHealthcare entered several counties it didn’t sell coverage in 
last year. That’s giving people in some parts of the state new options.

All
 plans offered in Kansas are Exclusive Provider Organizations, meaning 
closed networks. So Hempstead recommends making sure a preferred doctor 
or hospital takes insurance from a particular plan before buying a plan.

And
 she said the process can be confusing. So ask for help. Navigators 
trained to help people find the best plans work out of 18 locations in 
the state. You can find them at <a href="https://getcoveredkansas.org/find-navigator" target="_blank">getcoveredkansas.org</a>
 or get online help through that website. Those navigators are paid for 
by taxpayers, so there’s no cost and no sales incentives for them.

“It can be super overwhelming,” she said. “This is a really huge decision.”

Hempstead said people who already enrolled through the marketplace shouldn’t automatically re-enroll in their existing plan.

“You still might see one plan is a better value than another,” she said, “ in a new year.”

Last year saw a record number of enrollees and experts expect to see demand for the marketplace to continue to rise.

University of Kansas economics professor David Slusky said the changes in the ACA policy will continue to drive more enrollment.

“The
 whole point of the ACA is to get the millions of Americans who are not 
getting health insurance through the previous existing systems, a way to
 get health insurance in affordable fashion,” said Slutsky. “That’s the 
goal. And we’re chipping away at it slowly.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667497255071.png" alt="Chris Neal / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Chris Neal / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By SAMANTHA HORTON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-11-03/the-disappearance-of-the-family-glitch-could-help-40-000-more-kansans-afford-health-insurance">Kansas News Service</a>Taxpayer subsidies for health insurance have been available to 
millions of Americans since the Affordable Care Act took effect during 
the Obama administration.But not for everyone.Some people 
who earned too much money to qualify for Medicaid —and too little to 
afford policies from their employers that covered the rest of their 
families — found themselves caught in what became known as the “family 
glitch.” The government saw those workers' individual employer policies 
as affordable, even if the cost of covering a spouse and children proved
 wildly expensive.That’s changed.Now those workers can 
enroll for health insurance in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace and 
qualify for government subsidies so they can buy coverage for the rest 
of their family members.“(The ‘family glitch’) made a lot of 
people really disappointed,” said Kathy Hempstead, a senior policy 
advisor at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “They (would) go to the 
marketplace and see, ‘Wow, it's like $1,300 a month to cover my family. 
You know I’m so disappointed.’“So now,” she said, “a lot of people are gonna find that they’re eligible for subsidies and the cost is more reasonable.”The
 ACA Marketplace enrollment period started Tuesday. It runs through Jan.
 15. People who want their coverage to start at the beginning of 2023 
need to enroll by Dec. 15.Experts say the changes that expand who qualifies for subsidies likely will mean more people can buy health coverage.“A
 huge number of people just were not able to afford the premiums,” in 
previous years, said Kate Gramlich, a project specialist with Cover 
Kansas. The organization helps people navigate the ACA Marketplace. “So 
they just went uninsured. And so we’re hoping that there is a huge bump 
in enrollments and in coverage for Kansans with this being fixed.”The update changing the “family glitch” could make coverage more affordable for about 40,000 more Kansans.“It's a huge deal,” Gramlich said.She said most of the people shut out by the old rules were women and children.Subsidies
 and tax credits from the federal pandemic economic stimulus plan and 
the Inflation Reduction Act enacted earlier this year have largely 
offset increases in premiums by health insurance companies.The 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid service estimates four out of five 
people on the marketplace will qualify for plans that cost them $10 or 
less per month — after calculating in tax credits.In Kansas, 
UnitedHealthcare entered several counties it didn’t sell coverage in 
last year. That’s giving people in some parts of the state new options.All
 plans offered in Kansas are Exclusive Provider Organizations, meaning 
closed networks. So Hempstead recommends making sure a preferred doctor 
or hospital takes insurance from a particular plan before buying a plan.And
 she said the process can be confusing. So ask for help. Navigators 
trained to help people find the best plans work out of 18 locations in 
the state. You can find them at <a href="https://getcoveredkansas.org/find-navigator" target="_blank">getcoveredkansas.org</a>
 or get online help through that website. Those navigators are paid for 
by taxpayers, so there’s no cost and no sales incentives for them.“It can be super overwhelming,” she said. “This is a really huge decision.”Hempstead said people who already enrolled through the marketplace shouldn’t automatically re-enroll in their existing plan.“You still might see one plan is a better value than another,” she said, “ in a new year.”Last year saw a record number of enrollees and experts expect to see demand for the marketplace to continue to rise.University of Kansas economics professor David Slusky said the changes in the ACA policy will continue to drive more enrollment.“The
 whole point of the ACA is to get the millions of Americans who are not 
getting health insurance through the previous existing systems, a way to
 get health insurance in affordable fashion,” said Slutsky. “That’s the 
goal. And we’re chipping away at it slowly.”Samantha Horton reports on health&nbsp; for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SamHorton5.