KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area man has been charged in the fatal shooting of a woman who was found by passers-by along a Raytown roadway Monday evening, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Aaron C. Alexander, 35, Independence, faces charges of Murder 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records, Raytown Police responded Monday evening after two persons driving along Raytown Road at East 87th Street reported a woman was on the ground along the roadside and she had blood coming from her head. 

She was transported to Research Hospital and was pronounced deceased. A witness, shortly afterward, arrived at Raytown Police Department and said he had information regarding a homicide. 

The witness stated that the defendant had called about 8:30 - 9 pm Monday evening and stated he had an altercation with a woman and shot her in the head. Soon after, the defendant surrendered himself to Independence police officers. Alexander is being held on a&nbsp;$300,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667391886796.png" alt="Alexander-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Alexander-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area man has been charged in the fatal shooting of a woman who was found by passers-by along a Raytown roadway Monday evening, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Aaron C. Alexander, 35, Independence, faces charges of Murder 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action.According to court records, Raytown Police responded Monday evening after two persons driving along Raytown Road at East 87th Street reported a woman was on the ground along the roadside and she had blood coming from her head. She was transported to Research Hospital and was pronounced deceased. A witness, shortly afterward, arrived at Raytown Police Department and said he had information regarding a homicide. The witness stated that the defendant had called about 8:30 - 9 pm Monday evening and stated he had an altercation with a woman and shot her in the head. Soon after, the defendant surrendered himself to Independence police officers. Alexander is being held on a&nbsp;$300,000 bond.

Man surrendered to police after woman found dead on KC-area road

WASHINGTON (AP) — Warning that democracy itself is in peril, President Joe Biden called on Americans Wednesday night to use their ballots in next week’s midterm elections to stand up against lies, violence and dangerous “ultra MAGA Republicans” who are trying to “succeed where they failed” in subverting the 2020 elections.

This is no time to stand aside, he declared. “The silence is complicity.”

(click below to watch the President's statement)

After weeks of reassuring talk about America’s economy and inflation, Biden turned to a darker, more urgent message, declaring in the final days of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections">midterm election voting</a>&nbsp;that the nation’s system of governance is under threat from former President Donald Trump’s election-denying lies and the violence Biden said they inspire.

The president, who has been focused on drawing an economic contrast between Democrats and the GOP, shined a spotlight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-michigan-local-misinformation-829943ed5dd5fe2e470fd754edf6902c">on “ultra MAGA” Republicans</a>&nbsp;— a reference to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-41b12f18f536017920d2f74803980899">Trump’s</a>&nbsp;“Make America Great Again” slogan — calling them a minority but “driving force” of the Republican Party.

Pointing in particular to the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, he said that Trump’s false claims about a stolen election have “fueled the dangerous rise of political violence and voter intimidation over the past two years.”

“There’s an alarming rise in the number of people in this country condoning political violence or simply remaining silent,” Biden added. “In our bones we know Democracy is at risk, but we also know this: It’s in our power to preserve our democracy.”

The president’s speech — focused squarely on the rite of voting and the counting of that vote — amounted to a plea for Americans to step back from the inflamed rhetoric that has heightened fears of political violence and challenges to the integrity of the elections. Biden was straddling two roles in the moment, speaking as both a president defending the pillars of democracy and a Democrat trying to boost his own party’s prospects against Republicans.

He called out the hundreds of candidates who have denied the 2020 election result and refused to commit to accepting the results of the upcoming midterms.“This driving force is trying to succeed where they failed in 2020 to suppress the rights of voters and subvert the electoral system itself,′ Biden said.

“That is the path to chaos in America. It’s unprecedented. It’s unlawful. And it is un-American.”

Pointing to mounting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-madison-86a4ad0ef6f4d0f74f43d7d825ed501e">concerns over political violence</a>&nbsp;as well as threats of America’s long tradition of hard-fought but peaceful and accurate elections, he said these Republicans are “trying to succeed where they failed in 2020 to suppress the rights of voters and subvert the electoral system itself,.”

The speech came days after a man seeking to kidnap House Speaker Pelosi severely injured her husband, Paul Pelosi, in their San Francisco home in the worst recent example of political violence that burst forth with the Jan. 6 insurrection and has continued with alarming, though less-spectacular incidents.

Election workers nationwide have questioned whether to go back to work following increased intimidation and harassment ahead of the Election Day. At least five people have been charged with federal crimes for harassing workers as early voting has gotten underway.

Reports of people watching ballot boxes in Arizona, sometimes armed or wearing ballistic vests, have raised serious concerns about voter intimidation. Election officials nationwide are bracing for confrontations at polling sites led by a flood of conspiracy theorists who have signed up to work as partisan poll watchers.

Emphasizing that it is the first federal election since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and Trump’s attempts to overturn the will of voters in the 2020 presidential election, Biden called on voters to reject candidates who have denied the results of the vote — which even Trump’s administration declared to be free of any widespread fraud or interference.

Biden asked voters to “think long and hard about the moment we are in.”

“In a typical year, we are not often faced with the question of whether the vote we cast will preserve democracy or put it at risk,” he said. “But we are this year.”

Biden also aimed to get ahead of conspiracy theories about the ongoing vote, saying Americans were voting early, by mail and by absentee ballot and it would take time to tally them “in a legal and orderly manner.” Major changes in voting in 2020 because of the pandemic prompted more early voting and mail-in voting and saw record turnout. It took five days before the results of the 2020 presidential election were final.

“It is important for citizens to be patient,” Biden said.

Biden delivered his remarks from Washington’s Union Station, blocks from the U.S. Capitol, the White House said, just six days before polls close on Nov. 8 and as more than 27 million Americans have already cast their ballots.

“It’s from Capitol Hill, because that is where there was an attempt to subvert our democracy,” said White House senior adviser Anita Dunn told Axios, referencing to the Jan. 6 attack.

Before Biden’s speech U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said he’s reviewed the attack on Pelosi’s husband and believes today’s political climate calls for more resources and better security for members of Congress after a massive increase in threats to lawmakers following Jan. 6. He also made a rare call to stop the rancorous conspiracy talk that has swirled around the attack.

“Our brave men and women are working around the clock to meet this urgent mission during this divisive time,” he said in a statement. “In the meantime, a significant change that will have an immediate impact will be for people across our country to lower the temperature on political rhetoric before it’s too late.”

Biden last delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-donald-trump-presidential-philadelphia-5d0f7c02df093f0d3a3340474a53be4b">a prime-time speech</a>&nbsp;on what he called the “continued battle for the soul of the nation” on Sept. 1 outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia, in which he condemned the “MAGA forces” of Donald Trump and his adherents as a threat to America’s system of government.

The new remarks come as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-politics-donald-trump-arizona-9b675ed2223da37a90e5b53cfb6cf9b8">hundreds of candidates</a>&nbsp;who have falsely denied the legitimacy of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">the 2020 presidential election</a>&nbsp;are on ballots across the country, with many poised to be elected to critical roles overseeing elections.

In contrast to the September remarks, which drew criticism from some corners for being paid for by taxpayers, Biden’s Wednesday night speech was hosted by the Democratic National Committee.

Many Americans remain pessimistic about the state of U.S. democracy.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-presidential-election-2020-democracy-33823de7f22a601a192fc82eeb88e630">An October poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>&nbsp;found that just 9% of adults think democracy is working “extremely” or “very well,” while 52% say it’s not working well.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Warning that democracy itself is in peril, President Joe Biden called on Americans Wednesday night to use their ballots in next week’s midterm elections to stand up against lies, violence and dangerous “ultra MAGA Republicans” who are trying to “succeed where they failed” in subverting the 2020 elections.This is no time to stand aside, he declared. “The silence is complicity.”(click below to watch the President's statement)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdemocrats%2Fvideos%2F957212271902451%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=397" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>After weeks of reassuring talk about America’s economy and inflation, Biden turned to a darker, more urgent message, declaring in the final days of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections">midterm election voting</a>&nbsp;that the nation’s system of governance is under threat from former President Donald Trump’s election-denying lies and the violence Biden said they inspire.The president, who has been focused on drawing an economic contrast between Democrats and the GOP, shined a spotlight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-michigan-local-misinformation-829943ed5dd5fe2e470fd754edf6902c">on “ultra MAGA” Republicans</a>&nbsp;— a reference to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-41b12f18f536017920d2f74803980899">Trump’s</a>&nbsp;“Make America Great Again” slogan — calling them a minority but “driving force” of the Republican Party.Pointing in particular to the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, he said that Trump’s false claims about a stolen election have “fueled the dangerous rise of political violence and voter intimidation over the past two years.”“There’s an alarming rise in the number of people in this country condoning political violence or simply remaining silent,” Biden added. “In our bones we know Democracy is at risk, but we also know this: It’s in our power to preserve our democracy.”The president’s speech — focused squarely on the rite of voting and the counting of that vote — amounted to a plea for Americans to step back from the inflamed rhetoric that has heightened fears of political violence and challenges to the integrity of the elections. Biden was straddling two roles in the moment, speaking as both a president defending the pillars of democracy and a Democrat trying to boost his own party’s prospects against Republicans.He called out the hundreds of candidates who have denied the 2020 election result and refused to commit to accepting the results of the upcoming midterms.“This driving force is trying to succeed where they failed in 2020 to suppress the rights of voters and subvert the electoral system itself,′ Biden said.“That is the path to chaos in America. It’s unprecedented. It’s unlawful. And it is un-American.”Pointing to mounting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-madison-86a4ad0ef6f4d0f74f43d7d825ed501e">concerns over political violence</a>&nbsp;as well as threats of America’s long tradition of hard-fought but peaceful and accurate elections, he said these Republicans are “trying to succeed where they failed in 2020 to suppress the rights of voters and subvert the electoral system itself,.”The speech came days after a man seeking to kidnap House Speaker Pelosi severely injured her husband, Paul Pelosi, in their San Francisco home in the worst recent example of political violence that burst forth with the Jan. 6 insurrection and has continued with alarming, though less-spectacular incidents.Election workers nationwide have questioned whether to go back to work following increased intimidation and harassment ahead of the Election Day. At least five people have been charged with federal crimes for harassing workers as early voting has gotten underway.Reports of people watching ballot boxes in Arizona, sometimes armed or wearing ballistic vests, have raised serious concerns about voter intimidation. Election officials nationwide are bracing for confrontations at polling sites led by a flood of conspiracy theorists who have signed up to work as partisan poll watchers.Emphasizing that it is the first federal election since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and Trump’s attempts to overturn the will of voters in the 2020 presidential election, Biden called on voters to reject candidates who have denied the results of the vote — which even Trump’s administration declared to be free of any widespread fraud or interference.Biden asked voters to “think long and hard about the moment we are in.”“In a typical year, we are not often faced with the question of whether the vote we cast will preserve democracy or put it at risk,” he said. “But we are this year.”Biden also aimed to get ahead of conspiracy theories about the ongoing vote, saying Americans were voting early, by mail and by absentee ballot and it would take time to tally them “in a legal and orderly manner.” Major changes in voting in 2020 because of the pandemic prompted more early voting and mail-in voting and saw record turnout. It took five days before the results of the 2020 presidential election were final.“It is important for citizens to be patient,” Biden said.Biden delivered his remarks from Washington’s Union Station, blocks from the U.S. Capitol, the White House said, just six days before polls close on Nov. 8 and as more than 27 million Americans have already cast their ballots.“It’s from Capitol Hill, because that is where there was an attempt to subvert our democracy,” said White House senior adviser Anita Dunn told Axios, referencing to the Jan. 6 attack.Before Biden’s speech U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said he’s reviewed the attack on Pelosi’s husband and believes today’s political climate calls for more resources and better security for members of Congress after a massive increase in threats to lawmakers following Jan. 6. He also made a rare call to stop the rancorous conspiracy talk that has swirled around the attack.“Our brave men and women are working around the clock to meet this urgent mission during this divisive time,” he said in a statement. “In the meantime, a significant change that will have an immediate impact will be for people across our country to lower the temperature on political rhetoric before it’s too late.”Biden last delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-donald-trump-presidential-philadelphia-5d0f7c02df093f0d3a3340474a53be4b">a prime-time speech</a>&nbsp;on what he called the “continued battle for the soul of the nation” on Sept. 1 outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia, in which he condemned the “MAGA forces” of Donald Trump and his adherents as a threat to America’s system of government.The new remarks come as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-politics-donald-trump-arizona-9b675ed2223da37a90e5b53cfb6cf9b8">hundreds of candidates</a>&nbsp;who have falsely denied the legitimacy of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">the 2020 presidential election</a>&nbsp;are on ballots across the country, with many poised to be elected to critical roles overseeing elections.In contrast to the September remarks, which drew criticism from some corners for being paid for by taxpayers, Biden’s Wednesday night speech was hosted by the Democratic National Committee.Many Americans remain pessimistic about the state of U.S. democracy.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-presidential-election-2020-democracy-33823de7f22a601a192fc82eeb88e630">An October poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>&nbsp;found that just 9% of adults think democracy is working “extremely” or “very well,” while 52% say it’s not working well.___

🎥Biden implores voters to save democracy from lies, violence

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The bad news is that no one won Wednesday night’s huge $1.2 billion Powerball jackpot.

The good news is that means&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-aa10b4a420901f35ee98adb41c76c67d">the prize has grown even larger</a>&nbsp;to $1.5 billion ahead of the next drawing Saturday night. That is the third-largest lottery prize in U.S. history.

The numbers drawn Wednesday night were: 2, 11, 22, 35, 60 and the red powerball 23.

No one has won the top Powerball prize since Aug. 3, making for 39 consecutive drawings without anyone matching all six numbers.

What’s behind three months of lottery futility? It’s simple math. The odds of winning the jackpot are an abysmal 1 in 292.2 million.

It is because of those long odds that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b16dd3f2b3bf46ab8113db81e7cfeee8">grand prize has grown</a>&nbsp;so large.

The new $1.5 billion prize is actually for winners who opt for an annuity, paid out annually over 29 years. Nearly all&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-iowa-e9446d1c0cded3f86348db3df374e7f6?utm_source=Connatix&amp;utm_medium=HomePage">winners choose cash</a>, which for Saturday’s drawing would be $745.9 million.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The bad news is that no one won Wednesday night’s huge $1.2 billion Powerball jackpot.The good news is that means&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-aa10b4a420901f35ee98adb41c76c67d">the prize has grown even larger</a>&nbsp;to $1.5 billion ahead of the next drawing Saturday night. That is the third-largest lottery prize in U.S. history.The numbers drawn Wednesday night were: 2, 11, 22, 35, 60 and the red powerball 23.No one has won the top Powerball prize since Aug. 3, making for 39 consecutive drawings without anyone matching all six numbers.What’s behind three months of lottery futility? It’s simple math. The odds of winning the jackpot are an abysmal 1 in 292.2 million.It is because of those long odds that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b16dd3f2b3bf46ab8113db81e7cfeee8">grand prize has grown</a>&nbsp;so large.The new $1.5 billion prize is actually for winners who opt for an annuity, paid out annually over 29 years. Nearly all&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-iowa-e9446d1c0cded3f86348db3df374e7f6?utm_source=Connatix&amp;utm_medium=HomePage">winners choose cash</a>, which for Saturday’s drawing would be $745.9 million.Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball prize up to $1.5 billion, 3rd-largest ever in US

The Federal Trade Commission has stopped 
internet phone service provider Vonage from imposing junk fees and 
creating obstacles to those who try to cancel their service. The FTC 
alleges that the company used dark patterns to make it difficult for 
consumers to cancel and often continued to illegally charge them even 
after they spoke to an agent directly and requested cancellation. Under 
the proposed court order, Vonage will be required to pay $100 million in
 refunds to consumers harmed by the company’s actions, make its 
cancellation process simple and transparent, and stop charging consumers
 without their consent. 

“Today the FTC delivers on our commitment to 
protect consumers from illegal dark pattern tactics by companies that 
prevent consumers from cancelling their services,” said Samuel Levine, 
Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. “This 
record-breaking settlement should remind companies that they must make 
cancellation easy or face serious legal consequences.” 

New Jersey-based Vonage, a subsidiary of 
Ericsson, provides internet-based telephone services (commonly known as 
Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP) to consumers and small business. 
According to the FTC’s complaint, the company bills their customers for 
these services on an automatic basis every month, either by charging a 
credit or debit card or withdrawing money from a customer’s bank account
 directly. Consumer accounts ranged from $5 to around $50 each month, 
while business accounts could cost up to thousands of dollars each 
month. In many cases, the company signs customers up using “negative 
option” plans that begin with a free trial, but require the customer to 
take action to avoid being charged. 

<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Vonage-Complaint.pdf">The FTC’s complaint</a>
 alleges that while Vonage has provided numerous ways to easily sign up 
for their plans, it has made the cancellation process markedly more 
difficult, leaving consumers and businesses on the hook for services 
they no longer want. Vonage’s practices, the complaint alleges, harmed 
consumers in numerous ways, specifically by:

As a result of the FTC’s action, Vonage has agreed to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Vonage-Stipulated-Final-Order.pdf">a proposed court order</a> that would require it to:

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to 
file the complaint and proposed stipulated final order was 4-0. The FTC 
filed the complaint and proposed order in the U.S. District Court for 
the District of New Jersey.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe Federal Trade Commission has stopped 
internet phone service provider Vonage from imposing junk fees and 
creating obstacles to those who try to cancel their service. The FTC 
alleges that the company used dark patterns to make it difficult for 
consumers to cancel and often continued to illegally charge them even 
after they spoke to an agent directly and requested cancellation. Under 
the proposed court order, Vonage will be required to pay $100 million in
 refunds to consumers harmed by the company’s actions, make its 
cancellation process simple and transparent, and stop charging consumers
 without their consent. “Today the FTC delivers on our commitment to 
protect consumers from illegal dark pattern tactics by companies that 
prevent consumers from cancelling their services,” said Samuel Levine, 
Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. “This 
record-breaking settlement should remind companies that they must make 
cancellation easy or face serious legal consequences.” New Jersey-based Vonage, a subsidiary of 
Ericsson, provides internet-based telephone services (commonly known as 
Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP) to consumers and small business. 
According to the FTC’s complaint, the company bills their customers for 
these services on an automatic basis every month, either by charging a 
credit or debit card or withdrawing money from a customer’s bank account
 directly. Consumer accounts ranged from $5 to around $50 each month, 
while business accounts could cost up to thousands of dollars each 
month. In many cases, the company signs customers up using “negative 
option” plans that begin with a free trial, but require the customer to 
take action to avoid being charged. <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Vonage-Complaint.pdf">The FTC’s complaint</a>
 alleges that while Vonage has provided numerous ways to easily sign up 
for their plans, it has made the cancellation process markedly more 
difficult, leaving consumers and businesses on the hook for services 
they no longer want. Vonage’s practices, the complaint alleges, harmed 
consumers in numerous ways, specifically by:<ul>
 <li>Eliminating cancellation options:
 Despite allowing its customers to sign up for services online, over the
 phone, and through other venues, the complaint alleges that starting in
 2017, Vonage made the decision to force customers to cancel only by 
speaking to a live “retention agent” on the phone. The complaint notes 
that this practice runs counter to Vonage’s own advice to its clients 
not to “frustrate customers by requiring them 
to contact you for support that should be available on a self-service 
basis” and that “[i]t should be just as easy to return your product as 
it is to buy it.” </li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Making cancellation process difficult:
 In addition to forcing customers into one cancellation method, it made 
that method difficult. The company created significant cancellation 
hurdles, including by making it difficult to find the phone number on 
the company website, not consistently transferring customers to that 
number from the normal customer service number, offering reduced hours 
the line was available and failing to provide promised callbacks. The 
complaint cites one internal Vonage email saying customers were “sent in a circle when they want to downgrade or remove the service.”</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Surprising customers with expensive junk fees when they tried to cancel: In
 many cases, customers who are able to access the cancellation line are 
told they will have to pay an unexpected early termination fee that was 
not clearly disclosed when they signed up for Vonage service. In some 
cases, these fees were in the hundreds of dollars.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Continuing to charge customers even after they canceled: Customers
 who managed to speak to an agent and request cancellation often found 
that their accounts continued to be charged. Even when they contacted 
Vonage to complain, they received only partial refunds of the money they
 were charged without authorization.</li>
 </ul><h2>Enforcement Action</h2>As a result of the FTC’s action, Vonage has agreed to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Vonage-Stipulated-Final-Order.pdf">a proposed court order</a> that would require it to: <ul>
 <li>Stop unauthorized charges:&nbsp;Vonage will be required to have consumers’ express, informed consent to charge them.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Simplify cancellation:&nbsp;Vonage
 will be required to put in place a simple cancellation process that is 
easy to find, easy to use, and will be available through the same method
 the consumer used to enroll (e.g., website, email address, or other 
application).</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Stop using dark patterns: The order prohibits Vonage from using dark patterns to frustrate consumers’ cancellation efforts.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Be upfront with consumers about subscription plans: The
 order requires Vonage to be upfront with customers about the terms of 
any negative option subscription plans, including any action that must 
be taken to avoid being charged and timeline in which that action is 
required.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Pay $100 million to be used for refunds: Vonage would be required to turn over $100 million to the FTC to be used to provide refunds to consumers.</li>
 </ul>The Commission vote authorizing the staff to 
file the complaint and proposed stipulated final order was 4-0. The FTC 
filed the complaint and proposed order in the U.S. District Court for 
the District of New Jersey.

Vonage customers could be entitled to share of $100M in refunds

WABAUNSEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged sex crimes.

On Monday, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's office was alerted to possible exploitation of a child, according to a media release.

Deputies responded to investigate at a residence in the 400 Block of East Flint Hills Drive, Lake Wabaunsee.&nbsp; Investigators made contact with 20-year-old Derrick Yarnell Mayfield of Henderson North Carolina.

Mayfield is alleged to have flown from North Carolina to meet a young Wabaunsee County girl. Mayfield allegedly made contact with her online. Evidence discovered at the home led to Mayfield's arrest.

Mayfield is being held on requested charges of aggravated indecent liberties w/ child, intercourse with child, Unlawful possession of visual depiction of child and Contribute to a child's misconduct, according to online jail records.

Deputies took the child into protective custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667424426291.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Mayfield photo-Wabaunsee County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Mayfield photo-Wabaunsee County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>WABAUNSEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged sex crimes.On Monday, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's office was alerted to possible exploitation of a child, according to a media release.Deputies responded to investigate at a residence in the 400 Block of East Flint Hills Drive, Lake Wabaunsee.&nbsp; Investigators made contact with 20-year-old Derrick Yarnell Mayfield of Henderson North Carolina.Mayfield is alleged to have flown from North Carolina to meet a young Wabaunsee County girl. Mayfield allegedly made contact with her online. Evidence discovered at the home led to Mayfield's arrest.Mayfield is being held on requested charges of aggravated indecent liberties w/ child, intercourse with child, Unlawful possession of visual depiction of child and Contribute to a child's misconduct, according to online jail records.Deputies took the child into protective custody.

Sheriff: Man flew from North Carolina to meet underage Kan. girl

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas undersheriff was acquitted Wednesday in the death of an unarmed man he shot with a defective beanbag round five years ago.

Virgil Brewer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/48f367e57fc14cb39febf89f3d501feb">was charged with involuntary manslaughter</a>&nbsp;after he shot Steven Myers using his personal shotgun on the evening of Oct. 6, 2017, in Sun City, a rural area about 300 miles (555 kilometers) from Kansas City, Kansas.

A Wyandotte County jury deliberated for four hours after a weeklong trial before returning the not-guilty verdict.

It was unclear if Brewer, who has been on unpaid leave from the Barber County Sheriff’s department since his 2018 arrest, would return to his former role.

Brewer and two other officers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-shootings-78351ed89adbf87f7b51d99e2568cd2e">responded to a call</a>&nbsp;about an armed man on a street after an altercation at a Sun City bar. Myers, who was drunk and had been told to leave the bar, was gone by the time officers arrived. They found him in a shed at a Sun City home. He came out of the shed and Brewer shot him at close range with a beanbag, which split open and emptied pellets into his chest, causing fatal injuries.

Medical Examiner Timothy Gorrill ruled Myers’ death a homicide.

During closing arguments Wednesday, assistant attorney general Melissa Johnson said the trial came down to whether Brewer acted recklessly when he shot Myers even though he had no training with beanbag ammunition and had been warned to test it before using it.

She said Brewer showed “willful ignorance” by not undergoing training, leading him to shoot a round too close toward the wrong part of the body and with no idea of the damage it would cause.

“(Brewer) argues that he was not trained so he’s not responsible for what happened,” Johnson said. “That’s not a reasonable argument for anyone to make.”

Defense attorney David Harger countered that prosecutors didn't meet their burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Brewer's actions were reckless when he made a split-second decision in a tense and evolving confrontation.

An expert testified at trial that the beanbag round was defective and should never have been sold or distributed, Harger said.

“(Myers’ death) was not from a defective decision,” Harger said. “It resulted from a defective round of ammunition.”

Harger said Brewer was carrying his own weapon because the department couldn't afford to fully arm all its officers.

Harger said Myers left the shed and walked toward the officers, angrily swearing at them, and made a threatening gesture. Johnson said video from another deputy's body camera showed Myers was not moving toward the officers and that he complied with their demands before the fatal shot.

Brewer told the Kansas Bureau of Investigation in an interview that Myers was not armed when they confronted him and other officers testified they did not see a weapon. Brewer did not testify at trial.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Brewer told the KBI that he feared for his life and those of his fellow officers when Myers approached them. He also said he did not expect the beanbag round to penetrate Myers’ chest.

Brewer had previously worked as a deputy in Texas. Travis Martin, the deputy at the Freestone County Sheriff’s Office in Texas who gave Brewer the ammunition, testified that he told Brewer to test the ammunition before using it. But the first time Brewer tried it was when he shot Myers, Johnson said.

Proper training would have taught Brewer that rectangular-shaped beanbags can penetrate their targets and that their use has been discontinued for years, according to Bureau Agent Brian Carroll in an affidavit in support of the criminal charge against Brewer. The rounds used today are rounded, balloon-shaped bean bags.

Harger noted that Kansas does not require law enforcement to train to use beanbag ammunition and that training was not economically feasible at the small sheriff's department.

A civil lawsuit brought by Myers’ family against Brewer and then-Barber County Sheriff Lonnie Small&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8480d5726b3275a28130abeeea1faae0">was settled</a>&nbsp;in 2020 after county officials agreed to pay $3.5 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591026923971.png" alt="Brewer's original Barber Co. booking photo" />
 <figcaption>Brewer's original Barber Co. booking photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas undersheriff was acquitted Wednesday in the death of an unarmed man he shot with a defective beanbag round five years ago.Virgil Brewer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/48f367e57fc14cb39febf89f3d501feb">was charged with involuntary manslaughter</a>&nbsp;after he shot Steven Myers using his personal shotgun on the evening of Oct. 6, 2017, in Sun City, a rural area about 300 miles (555 kilometers) from Kansas City, Kansas.A Wyandotte County jury deliberated for four hours after a weeklong trial before returning the not-guilty verdict.It was unclear if Brewer, who has been on unpaid leave from the Barber County Sheriff’s department since his 2018 arrest, would return to his former role.Brewer and two other officers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-shootings-78351ed89adbf87f7b51d99e2568cd2e">responded to a call</a>&nbsp;about an armed man on a street after an altercation at a Sun City bar. Myers, who was drunk and had been told to leave the bar, was gone by the time officers arrived. They found him in a shed at a Sun City home. He came out of the shed and Brewer shot him at close range with a beanbag, which split open and emptied pellets into his chest, causing fatal injuries.Medical Examiner Timothy Gorrill ruled Myers’ death a homicide.During closing arguments Wednesday, assistant attorney general Melissa Johnson said the trial came down to whether Brewer acted recklessly when he shot Myers even though he had no training with beanbag ammunition and had been warned to test it before using it.She said Brewer showed “willful ignorance” by not undergoing training, leading him to shoot a round too close toward the wrong part of the body and with no idea of the damage it would cause.“(Brewer) argues that he was not trained so he’s not responsible for what happened,” Johnson said. “That’s not a reasonable argument for anyone to make.”Defense attorney David Harger countered that prosecutors didn't meet their burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Brewer's actions were reckless when he made a split-second decision in a tense and evolving confrontation.An expert testified at trial that the beanbag round was defective and should never have been sold or distributed, Harger said.“(Myers’ death) was not from a defective decision,” Harger said. “It resulted from a defective round of ammunition.”Harger said Brewer was carrying his own weapon because the department couldn't afford to fully arm all its officers.Harger said Myers left the shed and walked toward the officers, angrily swearing at them, and made a threatening gesture. Johnson said video from another deputy's body camera showed Myers was not moving toward the officers and that he complied with their demands before the fatal shot.Brewer told the Kansas Bureau of Investigation in an interview that Myers was not armed when they confronted him and other officers testified they did not see a weapon. Brewer did not testify at trial.According to the probable cause affidavit, Brewer told the KBI that he feared for his life and those of his fellow officers when Myers approached them. He also said he did not expect the beanbag round to penetrate Myers’ chest.Brewer had previously worked as a deputy in Texas. Travis Martin, the deputy at the Freestone County Sheriff’s Office in Texas who gave Brewer the ammunition, testified that he told Brewer to test the ammunition before using it. But the first time Brewer tried it was when he shot Myers, Johnson said.Proper training would have taught Brewer that rectangular-shaped beanbags can penetrate their targets and that their use has been discontinued for years, according to Bureau Agent Brian Carroll in an affidavit in support of the criminal charge against Brewer. The rounds used today are rounded, balloon-shaped bean bags.Harger noted that Kansas does not require law enforcement to train to use beanbag ammunition and that training was not economically feasible at the small sheriff's department.A civil lawsuit brought by Myers’ family against Brewer and then-Barber County Sheriff Lonnie Small&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8480d5726b3275a28130abeeea1faae0">was settled</a>&nbsp;in 2020 after county officials agreed to pay $3.5 million.

Kansas ex-undersheriff not guilty in fatal beanbag shooting

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident have identified the victim as 47-year-old Chad States of Topeka, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.

Just before 12:30a.m. Tuesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a call that a train had struck a pedestrian near NW 13th Street and NW Valencia Road. The Dover Township Fire Department and American Medical Response responded to the call and the States was pronounced deceased at the scene

The accident remains under investigation, according to Christian.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident have identified the victim as 47-year-old Chad States of Topeka, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.Just before 12:30a.m. Tuesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a call that a train had struck a pedestrian near NW 13th Street and NW Valencia Road. The Dover Township Fire Department and American Medical Response responded to the call and the States was pronounced deceased at the sceneThe accident remains under investigation, according to Christian.

Sheriff IDs Kansas man who died after struck by a train

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Parkland school shooter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikolas-cruz">Nikolas Cruz</a>&nbsp;formally received a sentence of life without parole Wednesday after families of his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-florida-gun-politics-school-boards-nikolas-cruz-44a0da3e406f0c487e5c0a6b0855ee2e">17 slain victims</a>&nbsp;spent two days berating him as evil, a coward, a monster and a subhuman.

Cruz, shackled and in a red jail jumpsuit, watched Judge Elizabeth Scherer but showed no emotion as she sentenced him to 17 consecutive life terms for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-education-florida-fort-lauderdale-parkland-school-shooting-045455fc875b7a91800468995c18dcf5">Feb. 14, 2018, massacre</a>&nbsp;at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in suburban Fort Lauderdale, and an additional 17 terms for the attempted murders of those he wounded.

Scherer had no other choice; the jury in Cruz’s three-month penalty trial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/parkland-shooter-jury-recommendation-live-updates-15c5121be1b8b7a73b85607d602e6ba2">voted 9-3 on Oct. 13</a>&nbsp;to sentence him to death, but Florida law requires unanimity for that sentence to be imposed.

Cruz acknowledged under questioning by the judge before sentencing that he is on medication but could understand what was occurring.

The sentencing came after two days' worth of parents, wives, siblings and others of slain victims and some of the surviving wounded walking to a lectern 20 feet to address him face to face.

The judge commended the families and wounded who testified, calling them strong, graceful and patient.

“I know you are going to be OK, because you have each other,” Scherer said.

The judge’s voice broke as she read the first of the 34 life sentences, but she her voice gained strength and volume she moved down the list. Some parents and other family members wept as she read.

Families and the wounded spent two days verbally thrashing Cruz, wishing him a painful demise in prison and lamenting that he could not be sentenced to death.

“Real justice would be done if every family here were given a bullet and your AR-15 and we got to pick straws, and each one of us got to shoot one at a time at you, making sure that you felt every bit of it, and your fear continued to mount until the last family member who pulled that last straw had the privilege of making sure that they killed you," said Linda Beigel Schulman, mother of teacher Scott Beigel. “That’s real justice for you.”

Beigel Schulman said she takes some comfort in knowing that Cruz is headed to a maximum-security prison where he will have to worry constantly about his safety for the rest of his life.

“From what I hear, child killers are highly frowned upon and hated in prison,” Beigel Schulman said to Cruz. “I welcome the day that I’m told that you’ve been tortured and taken out for your cold-blooded, premediated, calculated, heinous murders, because you deserve no less.”

David Alhadeff, the uncle of Alyssa Alhadeff, told Cruz via Zoom from his classroom in Maryland that he deserves “the opportunity to rot away.”

“You deserve the opportunity to absorb the look of terror on your face once you leave this courtroom," Alhadeff said. "You deserve the opportunity of knowing that justice will prevail at some point, causing you great anguish, minute by minute, day by day.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667314676291.jpeg" alt="Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz is escorted into the courtroom for a hearing in the penalty phase of his trial on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Before sentencing, the families of the 17 people he murdered were allowed to tell him what they think. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool, File)" />
 <figcaption>Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz is escorted into the courtroom for a hearing in the penalty phase of his trial on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Before sentencing, the families of the 17 people he murdered were allowed to tell him what they think. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Parkland school shooter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikolas-cruz">Nikolas Cruz</a>&nbsp;formally received a sentence of life without parole Wednesday after families of his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-florida-gun-politics-school-boards-nikolas-cruz-44a0da3e406f0c487e5c0a6b0855ee2e">17 slain victims</a>&nbsp;spent two days berating him as evil, a coward, a monster and a subhuman.Cruz, shackled and in a red jail jumpsuit, watched Judge Elizabeth Scherer but showed no emotion as she sentenced him to 17 consecutive life terms for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-education-florida-fort-lauderdale-parkland-school-shooting-045455fc875b7a91800468995c18dcf5">Feb. 14, 2018, massacre</a>&nbsp;at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in suburban Fort Lauderdale, and an additional 17 terms for the attempted murders of those he wounded.Scherer had no other choice; the jury in Cruz’s three-month penalty trial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/parkland-shooter-jury-recommendation-live-updates-15c5121be1b8b7a73b85607d602e6ba2">voted 9-3 on Oct. 13</a>&nbsp;to sentence him to death, but Florida law requires unanimity for that sentence to be imposed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665673933980.png" alt="-Cruz original booking photo Broward County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>-Cruz original booking photo Broward County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Cruz acknowledged under questioning by the judge before sentencing that he is on medication but could understand what was occurring.The sentencing came after two days' worth of parents, wives, siblings and others of slain victims and some of the surviving wounded walking to a lectern 20 feet to address him face to face.The judge commended the families and wounded who testified, calling them strong, graceful and patient.“I know you are going to be OK, because you have each other,” Scherer said.The judge’s voice broke as she read the first of the 34 life sentences, but she her voice gained strength and volume she moved down the list. Some parents and other family members wept as she read.Families and the wounded spent two days verbally thrashing Cruz, wishing him a painful demise in prison and lamenting that he could not be sentenced to death.“Real justice would be done if every family here were given a bullet and your AR-15 and we got to pick straws, and each one of us got to shoot one at a time at you, making sure that you felt every bit of it, and your fear continued to mount until the last family member who pulled that last straw had the privilege of making sure that they killed you," said Linda Beigel Schulman, mother of teacher Scott Beigel. “That’s real justice for you.”Beigel Schulman said she takes some comfort in knowing that Cruz is headed to a maximum-security prison where he will have to worry constantly about his safety for the rest of his life.“From what I hear, child killers are highly frowned upon and hated in prison,” Beigel Schulman said to Cruz. “I welcome the day that I’m told that you’ve been tortured and taken out for your cold-blooded, premediated, calculated, heinous murders, because you deserve no less.”David Alhadeff, the uncle of Alyssa Alhadeff, told Cruz via Zoom from his classroom in Maryland that he deserves “the opportunity to rot away.”“You deserve the opportunity to absorb the look of terror on your face once you leave this courtroom," Alhadeff said. "You deserve the opportunity of knowing that justice will prevail at some point, causing you great anguish, minute by minute, day by day.”___

 Parkland school shooter formally sentenced for killing 17

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The two largest U.S. pharmacy chains, CVS Health and Walgreen Co., announced agreements in principle Wednesday to pay about $5 billion each to settle lawsuits nationwide over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/opioids">toll of opioids</a>, and a lawyer said Walmart, a third pharmacy behemoth, is in discussions for a deal.

The prospective settlements are part of a shift in the legal landscape surrounding the opioid epidemic. Instead of suspense over whether companies in the drug industry would be held to account through trials or settlements, the big question is now how their money will be used and whether it will make a difference in fighting a crisis that has only intensified.

The deals, if completed, would end thousands of lawsuits in which governments claimed pharmacies filled prescriptions they should have flagged as inappropriate. With settlements already proposed or finalized between some of the biggest drugmakers and distribution companies, the recent developments could be the among the last multibillion-dollar settlements to be announced.

They also would bring the total value of all settlements to more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-ohio-lawsuits-covid-philanthropy-5e7a9cb18bd5a37061a6802059f9b15f">$50 billion</a>, with most of it required to be used by state and local governments to combat opioids, which have been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. over the last two decades.

“It's one more culprit of the overdose crisis that is having to pay their dues," said Courtney Gary-Allen, organizing director of the Maine Recovery Advocacy Project. "Average Americans have been paying it for a long time."

Gary-Allen, who is a member of a council that will help determine how Maine uses its opioid settlement funds, said more money to address the problem will help. In her state, she said, the needs include more beds for medical detox and for treatment.

Neither Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS nor Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens is admitting wrongdoing.

Under the tentative plans, CVS would pay $4.9 billion to local governments and about $130 million to Native American tribes over a decade. Walgreens would pay $4.8 billion to governments and $155 million to tribes over 15 years. The exact amount depends on how many governments join the deals.

Both noted they have been addressing the crisis through such measures as starting educational programs and installing safe disposal units for drugs in stores and police departments. And both said the settlements would allow them to help while staying focused on their business.

“We are pleased to resolve these longstanding claims and putting them behind us is in the best interest of all parties, as well as our customers, colleagues and shareholders,” Thomas Moriarty, CVS chief policy officer and general counsel, said in a statement.

Walgreens said in a statement: “As one of the largest pharmacy chains in the nation, we remain committed to being a part of the solution, and this settlement framework will allow us to keep our focus on the health and wellbeing of our customers and patients, while making positive contributions to address the opioid crisis,” Walgreens said in a statement.

Paul Geller, a lawyer for governments in the lawsuits, said talks with Walmart continue. Walmart representatives would not comment Wednesday.

“These agreements will be the first resolutions reached with pharmacy chains and will equip communities across the country with the much-needed tools to fight back against this epidemic and bring about tangible, positive change,” lawyers for local governments said in a statement. “In addition to payments totaling billions of dollars, these companies have committed to making significant improvements to their dispensing practices to help reduce addiction moving forward.”

If these settlements are completed, they would leave mostly smaller drug industry players as defendants in lawsuits. Just this week, a group of mostly regional pharmacy chains sent to a judge, who is overseeing federal litigation, information about claims they face, a possible precursor to scheduling trials or mediating settlements involving some of those firms.

“One by one, we are holding every player in the addiction industry accountable for the millions of lives lost or devastated by the opioid epidemic,” Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a statement. “The companies that helped to create and fuel this crisis must commit to changing their businesses practices, and to providing the resources needed for treatment, prevention and recovery.”

Most of the nation's opioid overdose deaths initially involved prescription drugs. As governments, doctors and companies took steps to make them harder to abuse and obtain, people addicted to them increasingly switched to heroin, which proved more deadly.

In recent years, opioid deaths have soared to record levels around 80,000 a year. Most of those deaths involve illicitly produced version of the powerful lab-made drug&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-opioids-synthetic-government-and-politics-8f64b776b82d6e8bc2e324b732e4b6e2">fentanyl</a>, which is appearing throughout the U.S. supply of illegal drugs.

Only a handful of opioid settlements have had bigger dollar figures than the CVS plan. Distributors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-opioids-camden-dec0982c4c40ad08b2b30b725471e000">AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson</a>&nbsp;this year finalized a combined settlement worth $21 billion, and drugmaker Johnson &amp; Johnson finalized a $5 billion deal.

Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, and members of the Sackler family who own the company have a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/purdue-pharma-opioid-settlement-9482fa0389f68de6844d13ea2ebefe5a">proposed settlement</a>&nbsp;that would involve up to $6 billion in cash, plus the value of the company, which would be turned into a new entity with its profits used to combat the epidemic. That plan has been put on hold by a court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667397060843.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The two largest U.S. pharmacy chains, CVS Health and Walgreen Co., announced agreements in principle Wednesday to pay about $5 billion each to settle lawsuits nationwide over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/opioids">toll of opioids</a>, and a lawyer said Walmart, a third pharmacy behemoth, is in discussions for a deal.The prospective settlements are part of a shift in the legal landscape surrounding the opioid epidemic. Instead of suspense over whether companies in the drug industry would be held to account through trials or settlements, the big question is now how their money will be used and whether it will make a difference in fighting a crisis that has only intensified.The deals, if completed, would end thousands of lawsuits in which governments claimed pharmacies filled prescriptions they should have flagged as inappropriate. With settlements already proposed or finalized between some of the biggest drugmakers and distribution companies, the recent developments could be the among the last multibillion-dollar settlements to be announced.They also would bring the total value of all settlements to more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-ohio-lawsuits-covid-philanthropy-5e7a9cb18bd5a37061a6802059f9b15f">$50 billion</a>, with most of it required to be used by state and local governments to combat opioids, which have been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. over the last two decades.“It's one more culprit of the overdose crisis that is having to pay their dues," said Courtney Gary-Allen, organizing director of the Maine Recovery Advocacy Project. "Average Americans have been paying it for a long time."Gary-Allen, who is a member of a council that will help determine how Maine uses its opioid settlement funds, said more money to address the problem will help. In her state, she said, the needs include more beds for medical detox and for treatment.Neither Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS nor Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens is admitting wrongdoing.Under the tentative plans, CVS would pay $4.9 billion to local governments and about $130 million to Native American tribes over a decade. Walgreens would pay $4.8 billion to governments and $155 million to tribes over 15 years. The exact amount depends on how many governments join the deals.Both noted they have been addressing the crisis through such measures as starting educational programs and installing safe disposal units for drugs in stores and police departments. And both said the settlements would allow them to help while staying focused on their business.“We are pleased to resolve these longstanding claims and putting them behind us is in the best interest of all parties, as well as our customers, colleagues and shareholders,” Thomas Moriarty, CVS chief policy officer and general counsel, said in a statement.Walgreens said in a statement: “As one of the largest pharmacy chains in the nation, we remain committed to being a part of the solution, and this settlement framework will allow us to keep our focus on the health and wellbeing of our customers and patients, while making positive contributions to address the opioid crisis,” Walgreens said in a statement.Paul Geller, a lawyer for governments in the lawsuits, said talks with Walmart continue. Walmart representatives would not comment Wednesday.“These agreements will be the first resolutions reached with pharmacy chains and will equip communities across the country with the much-needed tools to fight back against this epidemic and bring about tangible, positive change,” lawyers for local governments said in a statement. “In addition to payments totaling billions of dollars, these companies have committed to making significant improvements to their dispensing practices to help reduce addiction moving forward.”If these settlements are completed, they would leave mostly smaller drug industry players as defendants in lawsuits. Just this week, a group of mostly regional pharmacy chains sent to a judge, who is overseeing federal litigation, information about claims they face, a possible precursor to scheduling trials or mediating settlements involving some of those firms.“One by one, we are holding every player in the addiction industry accountable for the millions of lives lost or devastated by the opioid epidemic,” Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a statement. “The companies that helped to create and fuel this crisis must commit to changing their businesses practices, and to providing the resources needed for treatment, prevention and recovery.”Most of the nation's opioid overdose deaths initially involved prescription drugs. As governments, doctors and companies took steps to make them harder to abuse and obtain, people addicted to them increasingly switched to heroin, which proved more deadly.In recent years, opioid deaths have soared to record levels around 80,000 a year. Most of those deaths involve illicitly produced version of the powerful lab-made drug&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-opioids-synthetic-government-and-politics-8f64b776b82d6e8bc2e324b732e4b6e2">fentanyl</a>, which is appearing throughout the U.S. supply of illegal drugs.Only a handful of opioid settlements have had bigger dollar figures than the CVS plan. Distributors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-opioids-camden-dec0982c4c40ad08b2b30b725471e000">AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson</a>&nbsp;this year finalized a combined settlement worth $21 billion, and drugmaker Johnson &amp; Johnson finalized a $5 billion deal.Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, and members of the Sackler family who own the company have a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/purdue-pharma-opioid-settlement-9482fa0389f68de6844d13ea2ebefe5a">proposed settlement</a>&nbsp;that would involve up to $6 billion in cash, plus the value of the company, which would be turned into a new entity with its profits used to combat the epidemic. That plan has been put on hold by a court.-----

Walgreens, CVS announce opioid settlements totaling $10B

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve pumped up its benchmark interest rate Wednesday by three-quarters of a point for a fourth straight time to fight high inflation but hinted that it could soon reduce the size of its rate hikes.

The Fed’s move raised its key short-term rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%, its highest level in 15 years. It was the central bank’s sixth rate hike this year — a streak that has made mortgages and other consumer and business loans increasingly expensive and heightened the risk of a recession.

But in a statement after its latest policy meeting, the Fed suggested that it might soon shift to a more deliberate pace of rate increases. It said that in coming months it would consider the cumulative impact of its large rate hikes on the economy. It noted that its rate hikes take time to fully affect growth and inflation.

Those words indicated that the Fed's policymakers may think borrowing costs are getting high enough to possibly slow the economy and reduce inflation. If so, that would suggest that they may not need to raise rates as quickly as they have been doing.

For now, though, the persistence of inflated prices and higher borrowing costs is pressuring American households and has undercut the ability of Democrats to campaign on the health of the job market as they try to keep control of Congress. Republican candidates have hammered Democrats on the punishing impact of inflation in the run-up to the midterm elections that will end Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell avoided sending any clear signal of whether the Fed’s next expected rate hike in December might be only a half-point rather than three-quarters. He sought to emphasize that the central bank would keep raising rates in the coming months, possibly to a higher level than it had forecast in September.

“We still have some ways to go,” Powell said. “And incoming data since our last meeting suggests” that the policymakers might have to raise rates higher than they previously thought.

Typically, the Fed raises rates in quarter-point increments. But after having miscalculated in downplaying inflation last year as likely transitory, Powell has led the Fed to raise rates aggressively to try to slow borrowing and spending and ease price pressures.

Wednesday’s rate increase coincided with growing concerns that the Fed may tighten credit so much as to derail the economy. The government has reported that the economy grew last quarter, and employers are still hiring at a solid pace. But the housing market has cratered, and consumers are barely increasing their spending.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage, just 3.14% a year ago,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-prices-mortgages-b3d20020ecddf7a13bd62fb7b5ed7c0c">surpassed 7% last week</a>, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-association-of-realtors-business-home-sales-a0a45edabb18e5cfd5374255ff54ab6a">Sales of existing homes have dropped for eight straight months</a>.

Blerina Uruci, an economist at T. Rowe Price, suggested that falling home sales are “the canary in the coal mine” that demonstrate that the Fed’s rate hikes are weakening a highly interest-rate sensitive sector like housing. Uruci noted, though, that the Fed’s hikes haven’t yet meaningfully slowed much of the rest of the economy, particularly the job market or consumer demand.

“So long as those two components remain strong,” she said, the Fed’s policymakers “cannot count on inflation coming down” close to their 2% target within the next two years.

Several Fed officials have said recently that they have yet to see meaningful progress in their fight against rising costs. Inflation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rate-hike-live-updates-6dab38b8235bc62bdf69b4710c6b84f5">rose 8.2% in September from 12 months earlier</a>, just below the highest rate in 40 years.

Still, the policymakers may feel they can soon slow the pace of their rate hikes because some early signs suggest that inflation could start declining in 2023. Consumer spending,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-consumer-spending-prices-87798a21acc765400c98ff8b07fae96a">squeezed by high prices</a>&nbsp;and costlier loans, is barely growing. Supply chain snarls are easing, which means fewer shortages of goods and parts. Wage growth is plateauing, which, if followed by declines, would reduce inflationary pressures.

Yet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-prices-4e7af395d1b8b65479cc53111b13c245">the job market remains consistently strong</a>, which could make it harder for the Fed to cool the economy and curb inflation. This week, the government reported that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-prices-4e7af395d1b8b65479cc53111b13c245">companies posted more job openings in September than in August</a>. There are now 1.9 available jobs for each unemployed worker, an unusually large supply.

A ratio that high means that employers will likely continue to raise pay to attract and keep workers. Those higher labor costs are often passed on to customers in the form of higher prices, thereby fueling more inflation.

Ultimately, economists at Goldman Sachs expect the Fed’s policymakers to raise their key rate to nearly 5% by March. That is above what the Fed itself had projected in its previous set of forecasts in September.

Outside the United States, many other major central banks are also rapidly raising rates to try to cool inflation levels that are even higher than in the U.S.

Last week, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/british-politics-inflation-germany-economy-prices-8b7274fd39c584c7675dc5b2de9a76bf">European Central Bank announced its second consecutive jumbo rate hike</a>, increasing rates at the fastest pace in the euro currency’s history to try to curb&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-europe-economic-growth-fd0a6f60d7bd2bb378d5b92077005174">inflation that soared to a record 10.7%</a>&nbsp;last month.

Likewise, the Bank of England is expected to raise rates Thursday to try to ease&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-europe-business-prices-consumer-d91578f93c289e6760bece762c3c1b6a">consumer prices, which have risen at their fastest pace in 40 years</a>, to 10.1% in September. Even as they raise rates to combat inflation, both Europe and the U.K. appear to be sliding toward recession.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve pumped up its benchmark interest rate Wednesday by three-quarters of a point for a fourth straight time to fight high inflation but hinted that it could soon reduce the size of its rate hikes.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell: &quot;At some point...it will become appropriate to slow the pace of increases...We still have some ways to go and incoming data since our last meeting suggests that the ultimate level of interest rates will be higher than previously expected.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/rQk3wYhtW3">pic.twitter.com/rQk3wYhtW3</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1587880499673866240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Fed’s move raised its key short-term rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%, its highest level in 15 years. It was the central bank’s sixth rate hike this year — a streak that has made mortgages and other consumer and business loans increasingly expensive and heightened the risk of a recession.But in a statement after its latest policy meeting, the Fed suggested that it might soon shift to a more deliberate pace of rate increases. It said that in coming months it would consider the cumulative impact of its large rate hikes on the economy. It noted that its rate hikes take time to fully affect growth and inflation.Those words indicated that the Fed's policymakers may think borrowing costs are getting high enough to possibly slow the economy and reduce inflation. If so, that would suggest that they may not need to raise rates as quickly as they have been doing.For now, though, the persistence of inflated prices and higher borrowing costs is pressuring American households and has undercut the ability of Democrats to campaign on the health of the job market as they try to keep control of Congress. Republican candidates have hammered Democrats on the punishing impact of inflation in the run-up to the midterm elections that will end Tuesday.Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell avoided sending any clear signal of whether the Fed’s next expected rate hike in December might be only a half-point rather than three-quarters. He sought to emphasize that the central bank would keep raising rates in the coming months, possibly to a higher level than it had forecast in September.“We still have some ways to go,” Powell said. “And incoming data since our last meeting suggests” that the policymakers might have to raise rates higher than they previously thought.Typically, the Fed raises rates in quarter-point increments. But after having miscalculated in downplaying inflation last year as likely transitory, Powell has led the Fed to raise rates aggressively to try to slow borrowing and spending and ease price pressures.Wednesday’s rate increase coincided with growing concerns that the Fed may tighten credit so much as to derail the economy. The government has reported that the economy grew last quarter, and employers are still hiring at a solid pace. But the housing market has cratered, and consumers are barely increasing their spending.The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage, just 3.14% a year ago,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-prices-mortgages-b3d20020ecddf7a13bd62fb7b5ed7c0c">surpassed 7% last week</a>, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-association-of-realtors-business-home-sales-a0a45edabb18e5cfd5374255ff54ab6a">Sales of existing homes have dropped for eight straight months</a>.Blerina Uruci, an economist at T. Rowe Price, suggested that falling home sales are “the canary in the coal mine” that demonstrate that the Fed’s rate hikes are weakening a highly interest-rate sensitive sector like housing. Uruci noted, though, that the Fed’s hikes haven’t yet meaningfully slowed much of the rest of the economy, particularly the job market or consumer demand.“So long as those two components remain strong,” she said, the Fed’s policymakers “cannot count on inflation coming down” close to their 2% target within the next two years.Several Fed officials have said recently that they have yet to see meaningful progress in their fight against rising costs. Inflation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rate-hike-live-updates-6dab38b8235bc62bdf69b4710c6b84f5">rose 8.2% in September from 12 months earlier</a>, just below the highest rate in 40 years.Still, the policymakers may feel they can soon slow the pace of their rate hikes because some early signs suggest that inflation could start declining in 2023. Consumer spending,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-consumer-spending-prices-87798a21acc765400c98ff8b07fae96a">squeezed by high prices</a>&nbsp;and costlier loans, is barely growing. Supply chain snarls are easing, which means fewer shortages of goods and parts. Wage growth is plateauing, which, if followed by declines, would reduce inflationary pressures.Yet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-prices-4e7af395d1b8b65479cc53111b13c245">the job market remains consistently strong</a>, which could make it harder for the Fed to cool the economy and curb inflation. This week, the government reported that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-prices-4e7af395d1b8b65479cc53111b13c245">companies posted more job openings in September than in August</a>. There are now 1.9 available jobs for each unemployed worker, an unusually large supply.A ratio that high means that employers will likely continue to raise pay to attract and keep workers. Those higher labor costs are often passed on to customers in the form of higher prices, thereby fueling more inflation.Ultimately, economists at Goldman Sachs expect the Fed’s policymakers to raise their key rate to nearly 5% by March. That is above what the Fed itself had projected in its previous set of forecasts in September.Outside the United States, many other major central banks are also rapidly raising rates to try to cool inflation levels that are even higher than in the U.S.Last week, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/british-politics-inflation-germany-economy-prices-8b7274fd39c584c7675dc5b2de9a76bf">European Central Bank announced its second consecutive jumbo rate hike</a>, increasing rates at the fastest pace in the euro currency’s history to try to curb&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-business-economy-europe-economic-growth-fd0a6f60d7bd2bb378d5b92077005174">inflation that soared to a record 10.7%</a>&nbsp;last month.Likewise, the Bank of England is expected to raise rates Thursday to try to ease&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-europe-business-prices-consumer-d91578f93c289e6760bece762c3c1b6a">consumer prices, which have risen at their fastest pace in 40 years</a>, to 10.1% in September. Even as they raise rates to combat inflation, both Europe and the U.K. appear to be sliding toward recession.

🎥Fed orders another big interest rate hike ahead of election

De Soto&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly Wednesday joined&nbsp;Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd.&nbsp;and&nbsp;De Soto&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;to break ground on&nbsp;one of the largest electric&nbsp;vehicle&nbsp;(EV) battery manufacturing facilities of its kind in the United States, according to a statement from her office.

The&nbsp;Panasonic Holdings Corporation Board of Directors&nbsp;approved the&nbsp;De Soto&nbsp;site&nbsp;during&nbsp;its October 31&nbsp;board meeting.&nbsp;

The project is expected to create up to 4,000 new jobs and result in an investment of up to $4 billion, which represents the largest economic development project in Kansas history. The development will&nbsp;significantly&nbsp;boost&nbsp;the regional and state economy, supporting an estimated 4,000 additional jobs created by suppliers and community businesses and 16,500 construction jobs,&nbsp;as cited in an independent Wichita State University economic impact study.&nbsp;

“I am thrilled to be with Panasonic today to break ground on a project that will transform our state’s economy,”&nbsp;Governor&nbsp;Laura&nbsp;Kelly&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“This facility doesn’t just represent 8,000 high-paying jobs for Kansans – it also represents&nbsp;my administration’s&nbsp;success in&nbsp;creating&nbsp;a pro-business climate that attracts young talent, supports innovation,&nbsp;and drives&nbsp;a&nbsp;more prosperous future.&nbsp;I’m glad we were able to successfully work with leaders of both parties to&nbsp;bring Panasonic home to Kansas.”&nbsp;

The&nbsp;state-of-the-art facility will create and supply lithium-ion batteries&nbsp;and&nbsp;accelerate the future of electric vehicle innovation on a global scale.&nbsp;

“At Panasonic, we are driving forward EV battery manufacturing capacity and innovation in America,”&nbsp;said Allan Swan, President of Panasonic Energy of North America.&nbsp;“Kansas, with its inviting community, exceptional talent and vision for the future, is the perfect home for our next chapter and we’re glad to be here.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;Panasonic Energy selected Kansas&nbsp;because of&nbsp;its business-friendly climate, robust talent pool and workforce skillset, support of technology innovation, strong transportation infrastructure, and central location. This builds on Kansas City’s legacy manufacturing and automotive industry strengths.&nbsp;A key component of&nbsp;Kansas’ recruitment efforts&nbsp;was the enactment of the bipartisan Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) Act earlier this year.&nbsp;

“The passing of&nbsp;APEX into law&nbsp;was a game-changer for our state that resulted in the largest economic development project in Kansas history,”&nbsp;Lieutenant&nbsp;Governor&nbsp;and Secretary of Commerce&nbsp;David&nbsp;Toland&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“We look forward to sharing our talented workforce,&nbsp;innovative&nbsp;spirit&nbsp;and excellent quality-of-life&nbsp;benefits with the Panasonic teams.&nbsp;The&nbsp;ecosystem&nbsp;that will be&nbsp;built&nbsp;around this&nbsp;plant&nbsp;promises&nbsp;a variety of&nbsp;opportunities&nbsp;and prosperity&nbsp;for&nbsp;local businesses&nbsp;and&nbsp;communities&nbsp;throughout the region.”&nbsp;

The Panasonic project is&nbsp;one of&nbsp;numerous&nbsp;economic development wins&nbsp;recently announced by the state.&nbsp;Earlier this month,&nbsp;Governor Kelly&nbsp;reported&nbsp;the state surpassed $14&nbsp;billion new, private-sector investments since January 2019&nbsp;–&nbsp;resulting in more than&nbsp;53,000&nbsp;jobs being created or retained.&nbsp;

The Kansas City region is the third fastest-growing tech market in the United States&nbsp;and is a nucleus of engineering,&nbsp;technology&nbsp;and automotive manufacturing expertise. With a strong talent pipeline and cutting-edge training programs, the Kansas City market employs nearly 21,000 workers who contribute to the&nbsp;area’s&nbsp;$19 billion transportation&nbsp;and&nbsp;manufacturing industry.&nbsp;

“Today’s groundbreaking of Panasonic Energy’s new manufacturing facility in De Soto is a major step forward in creating new opportunity for Kansans,”&nbsp;said Representative Sharice&nbsp;Davids&nbsp;(KS-03).&nbsp;“I was happy to work closely with Governor Kelly, Senator Jerry Moran, and other leaders in both parties to help attract this new $4 billion investment to Kansas’ Third District. Creating domestic manufacturing jobs and lowering costs for Kansas business and families continues to be a main priority of mine, and I’m excited to see the future economic development that will follow today’s ceremony.”&nbsp;

Detailed information on the Panasonic project can be found on&nbsp;the&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Commerce website (<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjExMDIuNjYwNjU1MjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rYW5zYXNjb21tZXJjZS5nb3YvcGFuYXNvbmljLyJ9.dliOA1vPfVNQNmMj6Pnz2-vjjMHbciihkriUMHvuClU/s/1303160919/br/147257704227-l" target="_blank">kansascommerce.gov/Panasonic</a>),&nbsp;including&nbsp;the “Supplier Interest Form” for businesses and “Employment Interest Form” for individuals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667413001389.png" alt="Governor Kelly and&nbsp;Representative Sharice Davids during the ground breaking-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Governor Kelly and&nbsp;Representative Sharice Davids during the ground breaking-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>De Soto&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly Wednesday joined&nbsp;Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd.&nbsp;and&nbsp;De Soto&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;to break ground on&nbsp;one of the largest electric&nbsp;vehicle&nbsp;(EV) battery manufacturing facilities of its kind in the United States, according to a statement from her office.The&nbsp;Panasonic Holdings Corporation Board of Directors&nbsp;approved the&nbsp;De Soto&nbsp;site&nbsp;during&nbsp;its October 31&nbsp;board meeting.&nbsp;The project is expected to create up to 4,000 new jobs and result in an investment of up to $4 billion, which represents the largest economic development project in Kansas history. The development will&nbsp;significantly&nbsp;boost&nbsp;the regional and state economy, supporting an estimated 4,000 additional jobs created by suppliers and community businesses and 16,500 construction jobs,&nbsp;as cited in an independent Wichita State University economic impact study.&nbsp;“I am thrilled to be with Panasonic today to break ground on a project that will transform our state’s economy,”&nbsp;Governor&nbsp;Laura&nbsp;Kelly&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“This facility doesn’t just represent 8,000 high-paying jobs for Kansans – it also represents&nbsp;my administration’s&nbsp;success in&nbsp;creating&nbsp;a pro-business climate that attracts young talent, supports innovation,&nbsp;and drives&nbsp;a&nbsp;more prosperous future.&nbsp;I’m glad we were able to successfully work with leaders of both parties to&nbsp;bring Panasonic home to Kansas.”&nbsp;The&nbsp;state-of-the-art facility will create and supply lithium-ion batteries&nbsp;and&nbsp;accelerate the future of electric vehicle innovation on a global scale.&nbsp;“At Panasonic, we are driving forward EV battery manufacturing capacity and innovation in America,”&nbsp;said Allan Swan, President of Panasonic Energy of North America.&nbsp;“Kansas, with its inviting community, exceptional talent and vision for the future, is the perfect home for our next chapter and we’re glad to be here.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Panasonic Energy selected Kansas&nbsp;because of&nbsp;its business-friendly climate, robust talent pool and workforce skillset, support of technology innovation, strong transportation infrastructure, and central location. This builds on Kansas City’s legacy manufacturing and automotive industry strengths.&nbsp;A key component of&nbsp;Kansas’ recruitment efforts&nbsp;was the enactment of the bipartisan Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) Act earlier this year.&nbsp;“The passing of&nbsp;APEX into law&nbsp;was a game-changer for our state that resulted in the largest economic development project in Kansas history,”&nbsp;Lieutenant&nbsp;Governor&nbsp;and Secretary of Commerce&nbsp;David&nbsp;Toland&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“We look forward to sharing our talented workforce,&nbsp;innovative&nbsp;spirit&nbsp;and excellent quality-of-life&nbsp;benefits with the Panasonic teams.&nbsp;The&nbsp;ecosystem&nbsp;that will be&nbsp;built&nbsp;around this&nbsp;plant&nbsp;promises&nbsp;a variety of&nbsp;opportunities&nbsp;and prosperity&nbsp;for&nbsp;local businesses&nbsp;and&nbsp;communities&nbsp;throughout the region.”&nbsp;The Panasonic project is&nbsp;one of&nbsp;numerous&nbsp;economic development wins&nbsp;recently announced by the state.&nbsp;Earlier this month,&nbsp;Governor Kelly&nbsp;reported&nbsp;the state surpassed $14&nbsp;billion new, private-sector investments since January 2019&nbsp;–&nbsp;resulting in more than&nbsp;53,000&nbsp;jobs being created or retained.&nbsp;The Kansas City region is the third fastest-growing tech market in the United States&nbsp;and is a nucleus of engineering,&nbsp;technology&nbsp;and automotive manufacturing expertise. With a strong talent pipeline and cutting-edge training programs, the Kansas City market employs nearly 21,000 workers who contribute to the&nbsp;area’s&nbsp;$19 billion transportation&nbsp;and&nbsp;manufacturing industry.&nbsp;“Today’s groundbreaking of Panasonic Energy’s new manufacturing facility in De Soto is a major step forward in creating new opportunity for Kansans,”&nbsp;said Representative Sharice&nbsp;Davids&nbsp;(KS-03).&nbsp;“I was happy to work closely with Governor Kelly, Senator Jerry Moran, and other leaders in both parties to help attract this new $4 billion investment to Kansas’ Third District. Creating domestic manufacturing jobs and lowering costs for Kansas business and families continues to be a main priority of mine, and I’m excited to see the future economic development that will follow today’s ceremony.”&nbsp;Detailed information on the Panasonic project can be found on&nbsp;the&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Commerce website (<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjExMDIuNjYwNjU1MjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rYW5zYXNjb21tZXJjZS5nb3YvcGFuYXNvbmljLyJ9.dliOA1vPfVNQNmMj6Pnz2-vjjMHbciihkriUMHvuClU/s/1303160919/br/147257704227-l" target="_blank">kansascommerce.gov/Panasonic</a>),&nbsp;including&nbsp;the “Supplier Interest Form” for businesses and “Employment Interest Form” for individuals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Panasonic breaks ground on $4B EV battery plant in Kansas

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;2,382&nbsp; new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday October 26, to Wednesday November 1, for a total of 889,485 cases.&nbsp; The state reported less than 2,107 new cases last week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Wednesday, th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported</a>&nbsp;14 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on October 19 for a total of 9,620.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.

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

Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”

The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;2,382&nbsp; new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday October 26, to Wednesday November 1, for a total of 889,485 cases.&nbsp; The state reported less than 2,107 new cases last week.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Wednesday, th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported</a>&nbsp;14 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on October 19 for a total of 9,620.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667411002101.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

KDHE reports increase in COVID cases; 14 more deaths

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged theft and asking the public for help to identify a possible suspect.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office is working to identify a subject and truck, according to a social media report.

Investigators would like to speak with this individual regarding a theft case.

 If you know the identity of this subject, please call us at 785-828-3121 or Crimestoppers at 877-OS-CRIME.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667409163896.png" alt="Photos Osage Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Osage Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged theft and asking the public for help to identify a possible suspect.The Osage County Sheriff’s Office is working to identify a subject and truck, according to a social media report.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667409135951.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators would like to speak with this individual regarding a theft case. If you know the identity of this subject, please call us at 785-828-3121 or Crimestoppers at 877-OS-CRIME.

Sheriff working to ID suspect in alleged Kansas theft case

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities and USD 383 officials are investigating an alleged criminal threat and have made an arrest.

Just after 10a.m. Tuesday, officers filed a report for criminal threat at Eisenhower Middle School, 800 Walters Drive in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. 

Officials reported a 14-year-old identified as Litzy Rivera of Manhattan had made violent threats against others at the school. Investigation showed the suspect was not in possession of a weapon at the school and didn't have access to weapons. 

Police arrested Rivera on requested charges of&nbsp; criminal threat. She was processed through juvenile intake and released to a guardian.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities and USD 383 officials are investigating an alleged criminal threat and have made an arrest.Just after 10a.m. Tuesday, officers filed a report for criminal threat at Eisenhower Middle School, 800 Walters Drive in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. Officials reported a 14-year-old identified as Litzy Rivera of Manhattan had made violent threats against others at the school. Investigation showed the suspect was not in possession of a weapon at the school and didn't have access to weapons. Police arrested Rivera on requested charges of&nbsp; criminal threat. She was processed through juvenile intake and released to a guardian.

Police arrest 14-year-old after alleged threat at Kan. middle school

Mann doubles Kobach in contributions for AG race

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/01/kansas-gov-laura-kelly-doubles-fundraising-by-derek-schmidt-in-latest-finance-reports/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Gov. Laura Kelly’s campaign touted more than $3.1 million in 
fundraising in the final months before the November election, saying 
most of these contributions came from individuals.

The Democratic incumbent nearly 
doubled the money raised by her Republican rival, Derek Schmidt, who 
reported $1.7 million in contributions. Independent candidate Dennis 
Pyle, a state senator from Hiawatha, had $54,605 in contributions.

Monday was the deadline for 
candidates for public office in Kansas to file campaign finance reports 
for a period covering July 22 to Oct. 27.

Kelly’s campaign said the total 
amount of money it raised for this election cycle exceeds $7.7 million, 
calling it a new record for gubernatorial candidates in Kansas.

“Governor Kelly’s message is 
resonating with Kansans across the state who know that she is the 
proven, steady leader who is getting things done for Kansans,” campaign 
manager Shelbi Dantic said in a news release.

Kelly’s campaign spent $3,775,027.26 in the most recent reporting period. Schmidt’s campaign spent $2,549,218.07.

The Kansas Democratic Party said the governor’s fundraising success was a result of widespread support for Kelly.&nbsp;

“It turns out that bringing a bunch 
of national politicians to campaign did nothing to help Derek Schmidt’s 
weak fundraising and failing campaign for governor,” said Emma O’Brien, 
KDP spokeswoman. “Meanwhile, Governor Kelly has built a coalition of 
Democrats, Republicans and Independents supporting her for reelection, 
and it shows in the latest report.”

Schmidt’s campaign manager, C.J. 
Grover, said Democrats’ fundraising was a product of out-of-state 
influences that didn’t reflect Kansas’ political landscape. Celebrity Barbra Streisand contributed $1,000 to Kelly’s campaign, and Melinda Gates donated $4,000.&nbsp;

Grover said Schmidt was focused on 
in-state issues, unlike Kelly, though Schmidt has campaigned with 
politicians from other states, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris 
Christie and current Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“In every election in Kansas, liberal
 coastal elites pour money into Democrat campaigns, but no amount of 
money can overcome the fact that the Kelly-Biden agenda has made daily 
life in Kansas less affordable, hurt so many of our kids, and made our 
communities less safe,” Grover said in a statement. “We are feeling very
 strong going into Election Day, and Derek Schmidt will win because he 
has focused on what Kansans care about, not on the priorities of coastal
 liberal donors.”

The final round of campaign finance 
reports were released a week before Election Day, with advanced voting 
already underway. The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office said Tuesday 
that 151,111 advanced ballots had been mailed and 104,960 people had 
voted in person.

In the attorney general race, 
Democratic candidate Chris Mann outstripped GOP opponent Kris Kobach in 
funding. Kobach raised $465,000 in contributions and receipts, and Mann 
raised nearly twice that amount, listing $952,000 in contributions and 
receipts.

“This massive fundraising gap 
demonstrates just how eager Kansans are to elect public servant Chris 
Mann, and how tired they are of extremist politicians like Kris Kobach,”
 said KDP chairwoman Vicki Hiatt.&nbsp;

Despite this discrepancy in funding, the race is considered a tossup.

The state treasurer race was closer 
in terms of fundraising. Republican state Rep. Steven Johnson raised 
$250,352.95 and Democratic incumbent Lynn Rogers raised $227,809.67.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667396556650.png" alt="Kansas campaign finance reports showing campaign contributions between July to October depict funding differences between Republican and Democratic candidates across the state. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas campaign finance reports showing campaign contributions between July to October depict funding differences between Republican and Democratic candidates across the state. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Mann doubles Kobach in contributions for AG race</h2>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/01/kansas-gov-laura-kelly-doubles-fundraising-by-derek-schmidt-in-latest-finance-reports/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Gov. Laura Kelly’s campaign touted more than $3.1 million in 
fundraising in the final months before the November election, saying 
most of these contributions came from individuals.The Democratic incumbent nearly 
doubled the money raised by her Republican rival, Derek Schmidt, who 
reported $1.7 million in contributions. Independent candidate Dennis 
Pyle, a state senator from Hiawatha, had $54,605 in contributions.Monday was the deadline for 
candidates for public office in Kansas to file campaign finance reports 
for a period covering July 22 to Oct. 27.Kelly’s campaign said the total 
amount of money it raised for this election cycle exceeds $7.7 million, 
calling it a new record for gubernatorial candidates in Kansas.“Governor Kelly’s message is 
resonating with Kansans across the state who know that she is the 
proven, steady leader who is getting things done for Kansans,” campaign 
manager Shelbi Dantic said in a news release.Kelly’s campaign spent $3,775,027.26 in the most recent reporting period. Schmidt’s campaign spent $2,549,218.07.The Kansas Democratic Party said the governor’s fundraising success was a result of widespread support for Kelly.&nbsp;“It turns out that bringing a bunch 
of national politicians to campaign did nothing to help Derek Schmidt’s 
weak fundraising and failing campaign for governor,” said Emma O’Brien, 
KDP spokeswoman. “Meanwhile, Governor Kelly has built a coalition of 
Democrats, Republicans and Independents supporting her for reelection, 
and it shows in the latest report.”Schmidt’s campaign manager, C.J. 
Grover, said Democrats’ fundraising was a product of out-of-state 
influences that didn’t reflect Kansas’ political landscape. Celebrity Barbra Streisand contributed $1,000 to Kelly’s campaign, and Melinda Gates donated $4,000.&nbsp;Grover said Schmidt was focused on 
in-state issues, unlike Kelly, though Schmidt has campaigned with 
politicians from other states, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris 
Christie and current Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.“In every election in Kansas, liberal
 coastal elites pour money into Democrat campaigns, but no amount of 
money can overcome the fact that the Kelly-Biden agenda has made daily 
life in Kansas less affordable, hurt so many of our kids, and made our 
communities less safe,” Grover said in a statement. “We are feeling very
 strong going into Election Day, and Derek Schmidt will win because he 
has focused on what Kansans care about, not on the priorities of coastal
 liberal donors.”The final round of campaign finance 
reports were released a week before Election Day, with advanced voting 
already underway. The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office said Tuesday 
that 151,111 advanced ballots had been mailed and 104,960 people had 
voted in person.In the attorney general race, 
Democratic candidate Chris Mann outstripped GOP opponent Kris Kobach in 
funding. Kobach raised $465,000 in contributions and receipts, and Mann 
raised nearly twice that amount, listing $952,000 in contributions and 
receipts.“This massive fundraising gap 
demonstrates just how eager Kansans are to elect public servant Chris 
Mann, and how tired they are of extremist politicians like Kris Kobach,”
 said KDP chairwoman Vicki Hiatt.&nbsp;Despite this discrepancy in funding, the race is considered a tossup.The state treasurer race was closer 
in terms of fundraising. Republican state Rep. Steven Johnson raised 
$250,352.95 and Democratic incumbent Lynn Rogers raised $227,809.67.In the insurance commissioner race, 
Democrat Kiel Corkran didn’t submit a finance report. Republican Vicki 
Schmidt raised around $104,260.In the secretary of state race, 
Republican Scott Schwab raised $105,330 for his campaign. Democrat 
Jeanna Repass didn’t file her report.Funding for state House races 
included pushes by the Kansas Republican House Campaign Committee. The 
committee reported that it raised $435,160 between July 22 to Oct. 27.The committee’s efforts to raise 
money included classifying current House Republicans in a tiered system,
 with top donors achieving “Leadership Circle” status by donating 
$5,000.A campaign email sent by House 
Majority Leader Dan Hawkins identified “Leadership Circle” donors as 
Hawkins, Rep. Brenda Landwehr and Rep. Susan Humphries, all of Wichita; 
Rep. Les Mason, of McPherson; and Rep. Barb Wasinger, of Hays.