SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple charges after a disturbance at a home involving a gun. Just before 8:30p.m. Wednesday, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a domestic disturbance with a possible shooting in the 600 block of SW 57th Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Upon arrival, deputies learned that a 31-year-old man was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and got into a physical altercation with his girlfriend. During the altercation, he brandished a firearm and shot into the ground. The 31-year-old female victim and a 13-year-old child were located safe. Deputies took Lance E. Fitzmaurice-Bridegroom, 31, of Topeka into custody and him booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threat, domestic battery, criminal threat against a law enforcement officer, criminal damage to property and possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. Deputies and detectives executed a search warrant on the residence and a firearm was seized.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664501388845.png" alt="Fitzmaurice-Bridegroom" />
 <figcaption>Fitzmaurice-Bridegroom</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple charges after a disturbance at a home involving a gun. Just before 8:30p.m. Wednesday, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a domestic disturbance with a possible shooting in the 600 block of SW 57th Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. Upon arrival, deputies learned that a 31-year-old man was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and got into a physical altercation with his girlfriend. During the altercation, he brandished a firearm and shot into the ground. The 31-year-old female victim and a 13-year-old child were located safe. Deputies took Lance E. Fitzmaurice-Bridegroom, 31, of Topeka into custody and him booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threat, domestic battery, criminal threat against a law enforcement officer, criminal damage to property and possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. Deputies and detectives executed a search warrant on the residence and a firearm was seized.

Deputies seize firearm Kan. man used to threaten girlfriend, teen

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a short-term spending bill on Thursday that would avert a partial government shutdown when the current fiscal year ends at midnight Friday and provide another infusion of military and economic aid to Ukraine as it seeks to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">repel Russia's brutal invasion.</a>

The bill finances the federal government through Dec. 16 and buys lawmakers more time to agree on legislation setting spending levels for the 2023 fiscal year. It passed by a vote of 72-25. Kansas Senator Jerry Moran voted with the majority. Senator Roger Marshall voted no.&nbsp;All of the no votes came from Republicans.

The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

As has become routine, lawmakers waited until the final hours before the shutdown deadline to act. But passage of a bill to fund the government was hardly in doubt, particularly after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-manchin">Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin</a>&nbsp;agreed to drop provisions designed to streamline the permitting process for energy projects and greenlight the approval of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mountains-virginia-roanoke-climate-and-environment-d7620fb1133254f39bc2162790177957">pipeline in his home state of West Virginia.</a>&nbsp;Those provisions had drawn opposition from both sides of the political aisle.

Still, the bill merely puts off for a few months the maneuvering that will be required after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections">midterm election</a>&nbsp;to pass a massive government funding package, as negotiators will have to bridge their differences over spending on hot-button issues such as abortion, border security and climate change.

The bill approved Thursday, with some exceptions, keeps spending at federal agencies at current levels through mid-December. The most notable of those exceptions is the more than $12 billion that will be provided to aid Ukraine, on top of more than $50 billion provided in two previous bills. The money will go to provide training, equipment and logistics support for the Ukraine military, help Ukraine's government provide basic services to its citizens and replenish U.S. weapons systems and munitions.

“Seven months since the conflict began, it's crystal clear that American assistance has gone a long way to helping the Ukrainian people resist (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's evil, vicious aggression," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “But the fight is far from over."

Republican leader Mitch McConnell also voiced support for the Ukraine aid, while admonishing the Biden administration to get it out the door more quickly.

“Assisting Ukraine is not some feel-good, symbolic gesture," McConnell said. “It's literally an investment in our own national security and that of our allies."

Disaster assistance was attached to the stopgap bill, including $2.5 billion to help New Mexico communities recover from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-fires-new-mexico-climate-and-environment-e7df5c861f5ce7d0ab308d4f31c3452c">Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire,</a>&nbsp;the largest wildfire in the state’s history; $2 billion for a block grant program that aids the economic recovery of communities impacted by recent disasters and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-united-states-mississippi-jackson-climate-and-environment-8ece9ffd09635dfcec1a429bc354cc73">$20 million for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements previously authorized for Jackson, Mississippi.</a>

An additional $18.8 billion was included for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to respond to current and future disasters, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-ian-impact-path-d4db93bcac5af1134e31a3b7f2f694f0">Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida on Wednesday.</a>

The bill would provide an additional $1 billion for a program that helps low-income households heat their homes. And it would transfer $3 billion from a Pentagon aid program to the State Department for continued Afghan resettlement operations.

Lawmakers also included a reauthorization of the Food and Drug Administration's user fee agreements for five years, which ensures the agency can continue critical product safety reviews and won't need to issue pink slips for thousands of employees working on drug and medical device applications.

One thing missing from the bill is the billions of dollars in additional funding that President Joe Biden sought to aid the response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/monkeypox">monkeypox.</a>&nbsp;Republicans criticized the health spending as unnecessary. The White House said the money would have been used to accelerate the research and development of vaccines and therapeutics, prepare for future COVID variants and support the global response.

The bill's passage is the last must-do item on lawmakers' list before returning to their home states and districts to campaign before the mid-term elections that will determine which party controls the House and Senate over the next two years. Lawmakers were anxious to get out of Washington and focus on campaigning without the specter of a shutdown.

“The last thing the American people need right now is a pointless government shutdown," Schumer said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664502348903.png" alt="Counting votes Thursday in the U.S. Senate-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Counting votes Thursday in the U.S. Senate-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a short-term spending bill on Thursday that would avert a partial government shutdown when the current fiscal year ends at midnight Friday and provide another infusion of military and economic aid to Ukraine as it seeks to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">repel Russia's brutal invasion.</a>The bill finances the federal government through Dec. 16 and buys lawmakers more time to agree on legislation setting spending levels for the 2023 fiscal year. It passed by a vote of 72-25. Kansas Senator Jerry Moran voted with the majority. Senator Roger Marshall voted no.&nbsp;All of the no votes came from Republicans.The bill now goes to the House for consideration.As has become routine, lawmakers waited until the final hours before the shutdown deadline to act. But passage of a bill to fund the government was hardly in doubt, particularly after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-manchin">Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin</a>&nbsp;agreed to drop provisions designed to streamline the permitting process for energy projects and greenlight the approval of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mountains-virginia-roanoke-climate-and-environment-d7620fb1133254f39bc2162790177957">pipeline in his home state of West Virginia.</a>&nbsp;Those provisions had drawn opposition from both sides of the political aisle.Still, the bill merely puts off for a few months the maneuvering that will be required after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections">midterm election</a>&nbsp;to pass a massive government funding package, as negotiators will have to bridge their differences over spending on hot-button issues such as abortion, border security and climate change.The bill approved Thursday, with some exceptions, keeps spending at federal agencies at current levels through mid-December. The most notable of those exceptions is the more than $12 billion that will be provided to aid Ukraine, on top of more than $50 billion provided in two previous bills. The money will go to provide training, equipment and logistics support for the Ukraine military, help Ukraine's government provide basic services to its citizens and replenish U.S. weapons systems and munitions.“Seven months since the conflict began, it's crystal clear that American assistance has gone a long way to helping the Ukrainian people resist (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's evil, vicious aggression," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “But the fight is far from over."Republican leader Mitch McConnell also voiced support for the Ukraine aid, while admonishing the Biden administration to get it out the door more quickly.“Assisting Ukraine is not some feel-good, symbolic gesture," McConnell said. “It's literally an investment in our own national security and that of our allies."Disaster assistance was attached to the stopgap bill, including $2.5 billion to help New Mexico communities recover from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-fires-new-mexico-climate-and-environment-e7df5c861f5ce7d0ab308d4f31c3452c">Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire,</a>&nbsp;the largest wildfire in the state’s history; $2 billion for a block grant program that aids the economic recovery of communities impacted by recent disasters and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-united-states-mississippi-jackson-climate-and-environment-8ece9ffd09635dfcec1a429bc354cc73">$20 million for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements previously authorized for Jackson, Mississippi.</a>An additional $18.8 billion was included for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to respond to current and future disasters, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-ian-impact-path-d4db93bcac5af1134e31a3b7f2f694f0">Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida on Wednesday.</a>The bill would provide an additional $1 billion for a program that helps low-income households heat their homes. And it would transfer $3 billion from a Pentagon aid program to the State Department for continued Afghan resettlement operations.Lawmakers also included a reauthorization of the Food and Drug Administration's user fee agreements for five years, which ensures the agency can continue critical product safety reviews and won't need to issue pink slips for thousands of employees working on drug and medical device applications.One thing missing from the bill is the billions of dollars in additional funding that President Joe Biden sought to aid the response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/monkeypox">monkeypox.</a>&nbsp;Republicans criticized the health spending as unnecessary. The White House said the money would have been used to accelerate the research and development of vaccines and therapeutics, prepare for future COVID variants and support the global response.The bill's passage is the last must-do item on lawmakers' list before returning to their home states and districts to campaign before the mid-term elections that will determine which party controls the House and Senate over the next two years. Lawmakers were anxious to get out of Washington and focus on campaigning without the specter of a shutdown.“The last thing the American people need right now is a pointless government shutdown," Schumer said.

Moran votes yes, Marshall no to avert shutdown, $12B more for Ukraine

SHAWNEE COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Wednesday as the Topeka Police Department and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office&nbsp; pursued a homicide suspect.

The TPD contacted the KBI at approximately 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29 to request KBI assistance investigating the shooting. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team (CSRT) responded to multiple shooting scenes.

At 10:45 a.m. Thursday, a police officer spotted Eric D. Perkins, 33, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, who was believed to be the suspect in a homicide that occurred Wednesday morning in the 3500 block of SW Kerry. 

Perkins was spotted near SE Irvingham Street and SE Girard Drive and was driving a 2004 Silver Toyota Corolla. When the officer attempted to stop Perkins, he refused to pull over, prompting a pursuit.

During the chase, Perkins began firing in the direction of pursuing officers. Gunfire was returned by officers on several occasions during the pursuit. Deputies from Shawnee County joined the chase. It is believed gunshots were fired in the areas of Interstate 70 and Adams Street., 10th&nbsp;Street and Adams Street., 10th&nbsp;Street and Madison Street 10th&nbsp;Street and Kansas Avenue and 10th&nbsp;Street and Quincy.

The pursuit ended when Perkins crashed his car in downtown Topeka, near 6th&nbsp;St. and Kansas Ave., and continued exchanging gunfire with responding officers. Perkins was struck and officers were able to take him into custody. A 38-year-old female passenger in the Corolla also sustained non-life threatening gunshot wounds during the incident. An officer from TPD was struck by one round, but fortunately his ballistic vest prevented him from being more seriously injured.&nbsp;

EMS responded to the scene. They transported Perkins, the female passenger, and the officer to a local hospital for treatment.

It is believed that nine TPD officers and one SNSO deputy fired during the incident.

Perkins is currently in serious, but stable condition. The officer was treated and has been released. The female passenger remains hospitalized in good condition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664474656753.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy WIBW-TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy WIBW-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Wednesday as the Topeka Police Department and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office&nbsp; pursued a homicide suspect.The TPD contacted the KBI at approximately 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29 to request KBI assistance investigating the shooting. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team (CSRT) responded to multiple shooting scenes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664533481207.png" alt="Perkins has previous convictions for second degree assault and drug possession, according to the Missouri Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Perkins has previous convictions for second degree assault and drug possession, according to the Missouri Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>At 10:45 a.m. Thursday, a police officer spotted Eric D. Perkins, 33, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, who was believed to be the suspect in a homicide that occurred Wednesday morning in the 3500 block of SW Kerry. Perkins was spotted near SE Irvingham Street and SE Girard Drive and was driving a 2004 Silver Toyota Corolla. When the officer attempted to stop Perkins, he refused to pull over, prompting a pursuit.During the chase, Perkins began firing in the direction of pursuing officers. Gunfire was returned by officers on several occasions during the pursuit. Deputies from Shawnee County joined the chase. It is believed gunshots were fired in the areas of Interstate 70 and Adams Street., 10th&nbsp;Street and Adams Street., 10th&nbsp;Street and Madison Street 10th&nbsp;Street and Kansas Avenue and 10th&nbsp;Street and Quincy.The pursuit ended when Perkins crashed his car in downtown Topeka, near 6th&nbsp;St. and Kansas Ave., and continued exchanging gunfire with responding officers. Perkins was struck and officers were able to take him into custody. A 38-year-old female passenger in the Corolla also sustained non-life threatening gunshot wounds during the incident. An officer from TPD was struck by one round, but fortunately his ballistic vest prevented him from being more seriously injured.&nbsp;EMS responded to the scene. They transported Perkins, the female passenger, and the officer to a local hospital for treatment.It is believed that nine TPD officers and one SNSO deputy fired during the incident.Perkins is currently in serious, but stable condition. The officer was treated and has been released. The female passenger remains hospitalized in good condition.

Murder suspect in Kansas officer shooting identified

Scammers have long used social media to impersonate people you know 
and trust, but recently they’ve been using a new tactic: text messages 
with a spoofed caller ID. This scam can be hard to spot at first glance,
 so watch out for the warning signs.

You get a text message that shows up in your phone as from “Mom” (or 
in other variations, “Dad.”) According to the message, “Mom” is at the 
store, but she left her credit card at home by accident. Could you send 
her $150 to finish her shopping? &nbsp;

The request seems harmless, but don’t do it! Scammers have spoofed 
caller ID to appear as “Mom” or “Dad.” They are relying on the fact that
 many people have "Dad" or "Mom" saved in their contacts list. Scammers 
hope you won’t think twice (or double-check the phone number) before 
sending help. If you do transfer money to a bank or <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/13038-how-to-avoid-digital-wallet-scams-on-paypal-venmo-and-other-services">digital wallet</a> account, your money will be gone for good.

How to spot fake emergency text messages

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBScammers have long used social media to impersonate people you know 
and trust, but recently they’ve been using a new tactic: text messages 
with a spoofed caller ID. This scam can be hard to spot at first glance,
 so watch out for the warning signs.<h2>How the scam works</h2>You get a text message that shows up in your phone as from “Mom” (or 
in other variations, “Dad.”) According to the message, “Mom” is at the 
store, but she left her credit card at home by accident. Could you send 
her $150 to finish her shopping? &nbsp;The request seems harmless, but don’t do it! Scammers have spoofed 
caller ID to appear as “Mom” or “Dad.” They are relying on the fact that
 many people have "Dad" or "Mom" saved in their contacts list. Scammers 
hope you won’t think twice (or double-check the phone number) before 
sending help. If you do transfer money to a bank or <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/13038-how-to-avoid-digital-wallet-scams-on-paypal-venmo-and-other-services">digital wallet</a> account, your money will be gone for good.<h2>How to spot fake emergency text messages </h2><ul>
 <li>If anything about a message is unusual, consider it a red flag.
 If your parents never send text messages, it’s probably not them 
texting now. On the other hand, if they text all the time but never ask 
for money, you’re probably dealing with an impersonator. </li><li>Look for a new message thread. If you text with 
your parents on a regular basis, you should be able to see previous 
messages from them. If you can’t see any of the earlier messages, it’s 
probably a scammer contacting you for the first time. </li><li>Double check the sender info. Click on the sender information to make sure the name matches your parent’s real phone number. </li><li>Call your parents to confirm the story. Look up their number in your contacts list and call them to confirm if the message really came from them. </li><li>Don’t be fooled if a scammer has personal information about you.
 Because of data breaches and social media posts, scammers may have 
their hands on some of your personal information, including your name 
and your parent’s name. </li><li>If you suspect a scam, don’t answer the message. 
Just block the number and delete the message. If you reply, scammers 
will know your number is active and could target you with scams in the 
future.</li>
 </ul>

Scam alert: How to spot an impersonator in your text messages

By DANIELLE J. BROWN <a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2022/09/30/one-confirmed-death-20-unconfirmed-from-hurricane-ian-1-9-million-still-without-power-in-fl/">Florida Phoenix</a>

State emergency officials have 
confirmed a death in central Polk County and 20 more deaths are being 
investigated following Ian’s devastation in Florida.

Meanwhile, 1.9 million homes and business are still without power, 
according to information from a news conference Friday morning.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak about the impacts of the storm at 11:30 a.m.

And FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell joined Gov. Ron DeSantis to update Floridians on the progress of recovery from the storm.

“What we have done prior to landfall is we did stage a lot of search 
and rescue resources to support the great efforts that have been 
happening here in the state of Florida. We have those resources 
available as the state needs it, and we’ve also begun to move in food 
and water into those points of distribution,” Criswell said at the news 
conference.

“The president did declare a major disaster declaration for 
individual assistance as well as public assistance. Public assistance is
 going to allow us to reimburse a lot of the costs for the first 
responders who have been doing an amazing job, allow us to reimburse 
some of our overtime costs for all of the work that they’ve been doing 
to stabilize this incident. And on the individual assistance side, right
 now, there are 13 counties that have been designated for individual 
assistance, but we will add more.”

The state and federal officials did not offer information on the fatalities until prompted by questions from the media.

As to the 20 “unconfirmed” fatalities, that means the deaths have not
 yet been confirmed as storm-related or not, said director of Florida 
Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie.

Guthrie reported that there have been 12 unconfirmed deaths in 
Charlotte County and eight in Lee County — areas where Hurricane Ian had
 been battering the southwest part of the peninsula. And those numbers 
could soon rise.

“We do have an identified situation…of some fatalities — we do not 
know exactly how many were in the house. Let me paint a picture for you:
 the water was up over the rooftop, Guthrie said. “We had a coast guard 
rescue swimmer swim down into it, and he could identify that it appeared
 to be human remains. We do not know exactly how many. We do not know 
what the situation is and before we comment on that — we want to be 
transparent, but we just do not know that number.”

“People die in disasters that have nothing to do with the disaster, 
right?” Guthrie explained. “So, the medical examiner is the one that 
makes that determination. They are the lead agency at the local level to
 determine, when they investigate, that this is either disaster-related 
or not disaster related.”

He said when a fatality is determined to be storm-related, there’s a 
determination of a direct or indirect death. Direct deaths include 
scenarios such as storm surges and rising water. Indirect would mean 
things such as operating a generator unsafely.

Guthrie and DeSantis say that there have been more than 700 rescues 
since Ian made landfall. And FEMA officials are working with the state 
to keep those efforts going.

According to a Friday press release, FEMA has delivered 1.1 million 
meals and 1.6 million liters of water to Florida, with additional meals 
and liters available for distribution when post-storm conditions are 
safer.

Helicopters and aircrafts, highwater vehicles and watercrafts from 
the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Defense are being used for 
search and rescue operations.

The U.S. Department of Health also is getting involved, deploying a 
“a 38-person disaster medical assistance team to Miami,” according to 
the press release.

The press release also notes that there are mental health support 
lines and resources for storm survivors. The Disaster Distress Help line
 provides free crisis counseling for people who are experiencing 
emotional distress from Hurricane Ian or other disasters and can be 
reached at 1-800-985-5990.

With Hurricane Ian now heading north, FEMA is also urging residents 
of Georgia and South Carolina to have hurricane plans in place.

By DANIELLE J. BROWN <a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2022/09/30/one-confirmed-death-20-unconfirmed-from-hurricane-ian-1-9-million-still-without-power-in-fl/">Florida Phoenix</a>State emergency officials have 
confirmed a death in central Polk County and 20 more deaths are being 
investigated following Ian’s devastation in Florida.Meanwhile, 1.9 million homes and business are still without power, 
according to information from a news conference Friday morning.President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak about the impacts of the storm at 11:30 a.m.And FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell joined Gov. Ron DeSantis to update Floridians on the progress of recovery from the storm.“What we have done prior to landfall is we did stage a lot of search 
and rescue resources to support the great efforts that have been 
happening here in the state of Florida. We have those resources 
available as the state needs it, and we’ve also begun to move in food 
and water into those points of distribution,” Criswell said at the news 
conference.She noted:“The president did declare a major disaster declaration for 
individual assistance as well as public assistance. Public assistance is
 going to allow us to reimburse a lot of the costs for the first 
responders who have been doing an amazing job, allow us to reimburse 
some of our overtime costs for all of the work that they’ve been doing 
to stabilize this incident. And on the individual assistance side, right
 now, there are 13 counties that have been designated for individual 
assistance, but we will add more.”The state and federal officials did not offer information on the fatalities until prompted by questions from the media.As to the 20 “unconfirmed” fatalities, that means the deaths have not
 yet been confirmed as storm-related or not, said director of Florida 
Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie.Guthrie reported that there have been 12 unconfirmed deaths in 
Charlotte County and eight in Lee County — areas where Hurricane Ian had
 been battering the southwest part of the peninsula. And those numbers 
could soon rise.“We do have an identified situation…of some fatalities — we do not 
know exactly how many were in the house. Let me paint a picture for you:
 the water was up over the rooftop, Guthrie said. “We had a coast guard 
rescue swimmer swim down into it, and he could identify that it appeared
 to be human remains. We do not know exactly how many. We do not know 
what the situation is and before we comment on that — we want to be 
transparent, but we just do not know that number.”“People die in disasters that have nothing to do with the disaster, 
right?” Guthrie explained. “So, the medical examiner is the one that 
makes that determination. They are the lead agency at the local level to
 determine, when they investigate, that this is either disaster-related 
or not disaster related.”He said when a fatality is determined to be storm-related, there’s a 
determination of a direct or indirect death. Direct deaths include 
scenarios such as storm surges and rising water. Indirect would mean 
things such as operating a generator unsafely.Guthrie and DeSantis say that there have been more than 700 rescues 
since Ian made landfall. And FEMA officials are working with the state 
to keep those efforts going.According to a Friday press release, FEMA has delivered 1.1 million 
meals and 1.6 million liters of water to Florida, with additional meals 
and liters available for distribution when post-storm conditions are 
safer.Helicopters and aircrafts, highwater vehicles and watercrafts from 
the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Defense are being used for 
search and rescue operations.The U.S. Department of Health also is getting involved, deploying a 
“a 38-person disaster medical assistance team to Miami,” according to 
the press release.The press release also notes that there are mental health support 
lines and resources for storm survivors. The Disaster Distress Help line
 provides free crisis counseling for people who are experiencing 
emotional distress from Hurricane Ian or other disasters and can be 
reached at 1-800-985-5990.With Hurricane Ian now heading north, FEMA is also urging residents 
of Georgia and South Carolina to have hurricane plans in place.

IAN: 1.9M without power in Florida; 20+ possible deaths

WASHINGTON D.C. (AP) — Former President Harry S. Truman was remembered by Democratic and Republican leaders as one of the most consequential presidents in history during a ceremony Thursday unveiling a statue of Truman in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

Speakers at the ceremony unveiling the 7.5-foot bronze statue of the nation's 33rd president remembered the numerous substantial decisions Truman made, despite being vice president for only 82 days before President Franklin Roosevelt died in April 1945.

Truman, who was born and reared in Missouri, helped end World War II, created the United Nations and NATO, desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces and federal workforce, recognized Israel and helped lead the world's response to the Soviet Union and Communism.

The statue, sculpted by Tom Corbin of Kansas City, looks like Truman, wearing a double-breasted jacket, is walking down steps. It includes a phrase Truman is famous for — “The buck stops here.”

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri, said "no president in such a short period of time made more consequential decisions then Harry Truman.

“If you've ever been in a job where you made decisions, just imagine the decisions he had to make and how quickly he had to make them and how well he made them,” Blunt said.

Truman's grandson, Clifton Truman Daniels, said of all of his grandfather's accomplishments, his most significant “was reminding us that a farmer, a citizen solider, a small businessman can rise to the highest office in this land and do a better job of it than almost anybody else.”

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri, said Truman rose from being a farmer, a soldier, small businessman, county judge, and U.S. senator before becoming president. Cleaver, who is Black, praised Truman's decision to integrate the armed forces and the government work force, saying it helped create a middle class for Black people.

“From this day forward may Harry Truman's statue serve as a reminder of his courage, and courage we need to have to take on projects that will help build this nation,” Cleaver said. “For my congressional colleagues and I, we too should accept the responsibility, as did Truman, and declare ‘The buck stops here.’”

Truman's statue will be the 10th presidential statue in the Capitol Rotunda, flanked by George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant.

The Truman Library Institute led a campaign to raise more than $400,000 to fund the statue. Each state has two statues in the Rotunda to honor people notable in the state's history.

In 2019, the Missouri Legislature voted to install Truman's statue to replace a 1899 statue of Thomas Hart Benton, a five-term U.S. senator from Missouri. Benton's statue will be moved to the State Historical Society Art Gallery in Columbia, Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664534471353.png" alt="U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri, said "no president in such a short period of time made more consequential decisions then Harry Truman-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri, said "no president in such a short period of time made more consequential decisions then Harry Truman-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON D.C. (AP) — Former President Harry S. Truman was remembered by Democratic and Republican leaders as one of the most consequential presidents in history during a ceremony Thursday unveiling a statue of Truman in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.Speakers at the ceremony unveiling the 7.5-foot bronze statue of the nation's 33rd president remembered the numerous substantial decisions Truman made, despite being vice president for only 82 days before President Franklin Roosevelt died in April 1945.Truman, who was born and reared in Missouri, helped end World War II, created the United Nations and NATO, desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces and federal workforce, recognized Israel and helped lead the world's response to the Soviet Union and Communism.The statue, sculpted by Tom Corbin of Kansas City, looks like Truman, wearing a double-breasted jacket, is walking down steps. It includes a phrase Truman is famous for — “The buck stops here.”U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri, said "no president in such a short period of time made more consequential decisions then Harry Truman.“If you've ever been in a job where you made decisions, just imagine the decisions he had to make and how quickly he had to make them and how well he made them,” Blunt said.Truman's grandson, Clifton Truman Daniels, said of all of his grandfather's accomplishments, his most significant “was reminding us that a farmer, a citizen solider, a small businessman can rise to the highest office in this land and do a better job of it than almost anybody else.”U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Missouri, said Truman rose from being a farmer, a soldier, small businessman, county judge, and U.S. senator before becoming president. Cleaver, who is Black, praised Truman's decision to integrate the armed forces and the government work force, saying it helped create a middle class for Black people.“From this day forward may Harry Truman's statue serve as a reminder of his courage, and courage we need to have to take on projects that will help build this nation,” Cleaver said. “For my congressional colleagues and I, we too should accept the responsibility, as did Truman, and declare ‘The buck stops here.’”Truman's statue will be the 10th presidential statue in the Capitol Rotunda, flanked by George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant.The Truman Library Institute led a campaign to raise more than $400,000 to fund the statue. Each state has two statues in the Rotunda to honor people notable in the state's history.In 2019, the Missouri Legislature voted to install Truman's statue to replace a 1899 statue of Thomas Hart Benton, a five-term U.S. senator from Missouri. Benton's statue will be moved to the State Historical Society Art Gallery in Columbia, Missouri.

Statue of Harry Truman unveiled in U.S. Capitol Rotunda

MONTGOMERY COUNTY— A Kansas man died from injuries in an accident just before 7a.m. Thursday in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County deputies along with Independence Fire and EMS responded to County Road 3706 and West Oak Street where they&nbsp; located a man later identified as 60-year-old Marty Raney of Independence, Kansas, who was not responsive in the ditch, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.

First responders attended to Raney's injuries and EMS transported him to Labette ER in Independence. Later deputies learned the Raney died from his injuries.&nbsp;

Witnesses told deputies, that Raney was struck by a pickup truck while he was collecting trash as part of his job responsibilities, according to Wade. The accident remains under investigation. The sheriff's office released no additional details.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY— A Kansas man died from injuries in an accident just before 7a.m. Thursday in Montgomery County.Montgomery County deputies along with Independence Fire and EMS responded to County Road 3706 and West Oak Street where they&nbsp; located a man later identified as 60-year-old Marty Raney of Independence, Kansas, who was not responsive in the ditch, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.First responders attended to Raney's injuries and EMS transported him to Labette ER in Independence. Later deputies learned the Raney died from his injuries.&nbsp;Witnesses told deputies, that Raney was struck by a pickup truck while he was collecting trash as part of his job responsibilities, according to Wade. The accident remains under investigation. The sheriff's office released no additional details.

Kansas man working roadside struck by truck has died

By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/biden-to-battered-florida-were-going-to-do-everything-we-can-for-you/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden 
addressed the nation Friday afternoon, focusing on uniting the country 
as Florida begins to survey the damage left by a Category 4 hurricane, 
while states further up the coast prepare for the impact from Hurricane 
Ian.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“As you all know, the situation in 
Florida is far more devastating,” Biden said. “We’re just beginning to 
see the scale of that destruction.”&nbsp;

He did not take questions from the 
press or say if he would visit Florida, but he stressed the importance 
of the country coming together to help those affected by the hurricane. 
He mentioned he was in continuous contact with Republican Florida Gov. 
Ron DeSantis, as well as other coastal governors.

“Our hearts go out to all those folks
 whose lives have been absolutely devastated by this storm, America’s 
heart is literally breaking,” Biden said. “I just want the people of 
Florida to know we see what you’re going through, and we’re with you. 
We’re going to do everything we can for you.”

Hurricane Ian demolished Southwest Florida, leaving millions without power and damaging homes, businesses and bridges. On Thursday, <a target="_blank" href="https://floridaphoenix.com/blog/president-biden-approves-florida-disaster-declaration/">Biden declared Florida a major disaster area</a>, approving federal aid to help with local recovery efforts in areas affected by the hurricane.&nbsp;

On Friday he also declared the Commonwealth of Virginia as a major disaster area.

Biden said that Ian is likely to rank
 as the worst hurricane ever to hit&nbsp;Florida. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 is
 considered one of “the strongest and most devastating hurricane on record to hit southern Florida,” according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.noaa.gov/stories/hurricane-andrew-at-30-where-science-has-taken-us">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>.&nbsp;

Hurricane Andrew was a Category 5 hurricane that hit Miami, <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/98bf59ecce8dd183a44bfac25ea35aaa">leaving 51 dead</a>. More than 50,000 homes were destroyed and the storm caused $27 billion in damage.

Biden said on Friday that it will take months and years for Florida to recover from Hurricane Ian.&nbsp;

After battering Florida for days, Hurricane Ian landed in South Carolina shortly after the president’s remarks. It’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov">currently</a> a Category 1 storm, a category that has maximum sustained winds of 95 miles per hour.&nbsp;

Biden said he also approved an emergency declaration for South Carolina, after Republican Gov. Henry Dargan McMaster requested the designation.

During his remarks, Biden urged the 
residents of South Carolina to listen to “all the warnings and 
directions from local officials and follow their instructions.”

In Florida, there is one confirmed 
death and 20 under investigation, and nearly 2 million homes and 
business are still without power, DeSantis and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said <a target="_blank" href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2022/09/30/one-confirmed-death-20-unconfirmed-from-hurricane-ian-1-9-million-still-without-power-in-fl/">during a news conference Friday</a>. Those deaths are unconfirmed, because it’s not known if they are storm-related or not.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said 
during a Friday press conference that “Congress pledges to be there for 
those who were affected now and in the future.”

By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/biden-to-battered-florida-were-going-to-do-everything-we-can-for-you/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden 
addressed the nation Friday afternoon, focusing on uniting the country 
as Florida begins to survey the damage left by a Category 4 hurricane, 
while states further up the coast prepare for the impact from Hurricane 
Ian.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As you all know, the situation in 
Florida is far more devastating,” Biden said. “We’re just beginning to 
see the scale of that destruction.”&nbsp;He did not take questions from the 
press or say if he would visit Florida, but he stressed the importance 
of the country coming together to help those affected by the hurricane. 
He mentioned he was in continuous contact with Republican Florida Gov. 
Ron DeSantis, as well as other coastal governors.“Our hearts go out to all those folks
 whose lives have been absolutely devastated by this storm, America’s 
heart is literally breaking,” Biden said. “I just want the people of 
Florida to know we see what you’re going through, and we’re with you. 
We’re going to do everything we can for you.”Hurricane Ian demolished Southwest Florida, leaving millions without power and damaging homes, businesses and bridges. On Thursday, <a target="_blank" href="https://floridaphoenix.com/blog/president-biden-approves-florida-disaster-declaration/">Biden declared Florida a major disaster area</a>, approving federal aid to help with local recovery efforts in areas affected by the hurricane.&nbsp;On Friday he also declared the Commonwealth of Virginia as a major disaster area.Biden said that Ian is likely to rank
 as the worst hurricane ever to hit&nbsp;Florida. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 is
 considered one of “the strongest and most devastating hurricane on record to hit southern Florida,” according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.noaa.gov/stories/hurricane-andrew-at-30-where-science-has-taken-us">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>.&nbsp;Hurricane Andrew was a Category 5 hurricane that hit Miami, <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/98bf59ecce8dd183a44bfac25ea35aaa">leaving 51 dead</a>. More than 50,000 homes were destroyed and the storm caused $27 billion in damage.Biden said on Friday that it will take months and years for Florida to recover from Hurricane Ian.&nbsp;After battering Florida for days, Hurricane Ian landed in South Carolina shortly after the president’s remarks. It’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov">currently</a> a Category 1 storm, a category that has maximum sustained winds of 95 miles per hour.&nbsp;Biden said he also approved an emergency declaration for South Carolina, after Republican Gov. Henry Dargan McMaster requested the designation.During his remarks, Biden urged the 
residents of South Carolina to listen to “all the warnings and 
directions from local officials and follow their instructions.”In Florida, there is one confirmed 
death and 20 under investigation, and nearly 2 million homes and 
business are still without power, DeSantis and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said <a target="_blank" href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2022/09/30/one-confirmed-death-20-unconfirmed-from-hurricane-ian-1-9-million-still-without-power-in-fl/">during a news conference Friday</a>. Those deaths are unconfirmed, because it’s not known if they are storm-related or not.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said 
during a Friday press conference that “Congress pledges to be there for 
those who were affected now and in the future.”

Biden to battered Florida: ‘We’re going to do everything we can for you’

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

On Wednesday, a police officer conducted a traffic stop on a Kia Soul for failure to signal intent of turn at a stop sign located at N 3rd St. and E. Hamline in Garden City, according to a statement from the Finney County Sheriff.

The officer identified the driver as 24-year-old Mariela Sanchez&nbsp; of Garden City. 

During the traffic stop, reasonable suspicion was obtained to detain the vehicle and driver for further investigation. A Finney County Sheriff’s Office K9 Deputy responded to assist and indicated the presence of narcotics.

A search resulted in the location and seizure of approximately just under a pound of Methamphetamine that tested positive for the presence of Fentanyl, a digital scale, and drug paraphernalia used to introduce drugs into the human body.

Officers arrested&nbsp;Sanchez on requested charges of distribute opiate opium narcotic certain stimulant; 100 grams -&lt; 1 kilogramDistribute or possess w/int to distribute drug paraphernalia for illegal usePossession of opiate opium narcotic or certain stimulantUse/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664466337579.png" alt="Photo Finney Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Finney Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations after a traffic stop.On Wednesday, a police officer conducted a traffic stop on a Kia Soul for failure to signal intent of turn at a stop sign located at N 3rd St. and E. Hamline in Garden City, according to a statement from the Finney County Sheriff.The officer identified the driver as 24-year-old Mariela Sanchez&nbsp; of Garden City. During the traffic stop, reasonable suspicion was obtained to detain the vehicle and driver for further investigation. A Finney County Sheriff’s Office K9 Deputy responded to assist and indicated the presence of narcotics.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664466107316.png" alt="Sanchez-photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Sanchez-photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A search resulted in the location and seizure of approximately just under a pound of Methamphetamine that tested positive for the presence of Fentanyl, a digital scale, and drug paraphernalia used to introduce drugs into the human body.Officers arrested&nbsp;Sanchez on requested charges of distribute opiate opium narcotic certain stimulant; 100 grams -&lt; 1 kilogramDistribute or possess w/int to distribute drug paraphernalia for illegal usePossession of opiate opium narcotic or certain stimulantUse/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body.

Sheriff: Kansas woman was transporting fentanyl laced meth

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 6 p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a vehicle accident with a disturbance at Murdock and West Street in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.&nbsp;

At the scene, officers locate several citizens providing first aid to the victim. Two citizens played a vital role by putting themselves in harm’s way to subdue the suspect which allowed other witnesses to render aid. 

One witness utilized her vehicle by driving it toward the suspect identified as 38-year-old Julian Gonzalez resulting in the suspect disengaging. Another witness who was carrying a concealed firearm held the Gonzalez at gunpoint until officers arrived on the scene.

Investigators learned Gonzalez intentionally used his white 2010 Hyundai Elantra to strike a gray 2018 Chevrolet Cruz, driven by the victim. The Chevy Cruz also had a 28-yearold woman, a 4-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy in the car. 

Gonzalez then exited his vehicle and began breaking the Chevy windows out with nun-chucks. The adult victims were getting the juvenile victims out of the vehicle when Gonzalez began stabbing the 30-year-old man in the lower body, according to Ditch.

A few citizens gave commands at gunpoint to Gonzalez to stop and other citizens provided first aid to the victim until officers arrived. The adult female victim received minor lacerations from exiting the vehicle. All victims and the suspect were transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Police arrested Gonzalez on requested charges of attempted murder, according to Ditch.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664468922095.png" alt="GONZALEZ-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>GONZALEZ-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have a suspect in custody.Just after 6 p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a vehicle accident with a disturbance at Murdock and West Street in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.&nbsp;At the scene, officers locate several citizens providing first aid to the victim. Two citizens played a vital role by putting themselves in harm’s way to subdue the suspect which allowed other witnesses to render aid. One witness utilized her vehicle by driving it toward the suspect identified as 38-year-old Julian Gonzalez resulting in the suspect disengaging. Another witness who was carrying a concealed firearm held the Gonzalez at gunpoint until officers arrived on the scene.Investigators learned Gonzalez intentionally used his white 2010 Hyundai Elantra to strike a gray 2018 Chevrolet Cruz, driven by the victim. The Chevy Cruz also had a 28-yearold woman, a 4-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy in the car. Gonzalez then exited his vehicle and began breaking the Chevy windows out with nun-chucks. The adult victims were getting the juvenile victims out of the vehicle when Gonzalez began stabbing the 30-year-old man in the lower body, according to Ditch.A few citizens gave commands at gunpoint to Gonzalez to stop and other citizens provided first aid to the victim until officers arrived. The adult female victim received minor lacerations from exiting the vehicle. All victims and the suspect were transported to an area hospital for treatment.Police arrested Gonzalez on requested charges of attempted murder, according to Ditch.&nbsp;

Man with concealed carry firearm held Kan. suspect for police

SUMNER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged animal cruelty and seized dozens of dogs.

On&nbsp;September 23, Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to check the welfare of several dogs located at 1076 West 120th Avenue in rural Conway Springs, according to the sheriff's office.

 The owner of the property, 46-year-old Samuel Roman, is a licensed breeder who recently had his license suspended by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. 

 Deputies observed multiple dogs in deplorable conditions, poor health, suffering from malnourishment and old injuries. 

 Deputies observed three dogs with fresh traumatic injuries that did not appear to be receiving medical attention.&nbsp; They were seized immediately and transported by Wellington Police Animal Control to Heersche’s Animal Clinic where they received care and treatment. 

 On September 28, Sumner County Deputies along with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Winfield Police Department, Cowley County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol served a search warrant on the property.

Officers seized 65 additional dogs ranging from puppies to adults. Animal Rescue operations, Beauties and Beasts, Golden Belt Humane Society, Caring Hands Humane Society were instrumental in transporting and finding foster homes for the animals.

Deputies arrested Roman on requested charges of Cruelty to animals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664482704393.png" alt="Roman-photo Sumner County" />
 <figcaption>Roman-photo Sumner County</figcaption>
 </figure>SUMNER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged animal cruelty and seized dozens of dogs.On&nbsp;September 23, Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to check the welfare of several dogs located at 1076 West 120th Avenue in rural Conway Springs, according to the sheriff's office. The owner of the property, 46-year-old Samuel Roman, is a licensed breeder who recently had his license suspended by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Deputies observed multiple dogs in deplorable conditions, poor health, suffering from malnourishment and old injuries. Deputies observed three dogs with fresh traumatic injuries that did not appear to be receiving medical attention.&nbsp; They were seized immediately and transported by Wellington Police Animal Control to Heersche’s Animal Clinic where they received care and treatment. On September 28, Sumner County Deputies along with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Winfield Police Department, Cowley County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol served a search warrant on the property.Officers seized 65 additional dogs ranging from puppies to adults. Animal Rescue operations, Beauties and Beasts, Golden Belt Humane Society, Caring Hands Humane Society were instrumental in transporting and finding foster homes for the animals.Deputies arrested Roman on requested charges of Cruelty to animals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sheriff: Man arrested after 68 dogs seized at Kansas home

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden sought out deceased Rep. Jackie Walorski on Wednesday during remarks at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-philanthropy-9dc884edcdbce63c6df5f2337ff81922">hunger conference</a>, saying “Where’s Jackie?" The White House press secretary later said the congresswoman had been “top of mind” for the president at the time.

(Click below to watch the White House press secretary)

Karine Jean-Pierre did not acknowledge that Biden had misspoken during his remarks at the White House conference on hunger, nutrition and health when he looked around the room for Walorski, the Indiana congresswoman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-legislature-south-bend-accidents-elkhart-31c849c90aff88a7cddc9e9a614a585f">died in an August car crash.</a>

Biden, in his remarks. praised bipartisan lawmakers who worked on addressing childhood hunger, including Rep. Jim McGovern, Sen. Mike Braun, Sen. Cory Booker and Walorski, who was seen as a leader on the issue before her death.

(Click below to watch the President's comments)

“Where’s Jackie?” Biden said, suggesting he expected her to be there.

Jean-Pierre faced repeated questioning during Wednesday's White House press briefing about Biden's flub, saying more than a dozen times that Walorski was "top of mind" for the president, who plans to meet with the congresswoman’s family at an event Friday when he signs a bill renaming a Veterans Affairs clinic in Indiana after her. She declined to say Biden had erred, nor did she issue an apology to the late lawmaker’s family.

“My answer is certainly not going to change," she told reporters. "All of you may have views on how I'm answering it, but I'm answering the question to the way that he saw it and to the way that we see it.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden sought out deceased Rep. Jackie Walorski on Wednesday during remarks at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-philanthropy-9dc884edcdbce63c6df5f2337ff81922">hunger conference</a>, saying “Where’s Jackie?" The White House press secretary later said the congresswoman had been “top of mind” for the president at the time.(Click below to watch the White House press secretary)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jcE9Hqc6l5c?start=680" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Karine Jean-Pierre did not acknowledge that Biden had misspoken during his remarks at the White House conference on hunger, nutrition and health when he looked around the room for Walorski, the Indiana congresswoman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-legislature-south-bend-accidents-elkhart-31c849c90aff88a7cddc9e9a614a585f">died in an August car crash.</a>Biden, in his remarks. praised bipartisan lawmakers who worked on addressing childhood hunger, including Rep. Jim McGovern, Sen. Mike Braun, Sen. Cory Booker and Walorski, who was seen as a leader on the issue before her death.(Click below to watch the President's comments)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xfp9Cn5A5Mc?start=1049" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“Where’s Jackie?” Biden said, suggesting he expected her to be there.Jean-Pierre faced repeated questioning during Wednesday's White House press briefing about Biden's flub, saying more than a dozen times that Walorski was "top of mind" for the president, who plans to meet with the congresswoman’s family at an event Friday when he signs a bill renaming a Veterans Affairs clinic in Indiana after her. She declined to say Biden had erred, nor did she issue an apology to the late lawmaker’s family.“My answer is certainly not going to change," she told reporters. "All of you may have views on how I'm answering it, but I'm answering the question to the way that he saw it and to the way that we see it.”

🎥White House explains Biden flub, search for late congresswoman 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man suspected of murder and a police officer were injured during a mid-morning shootout Thursday in downtown Topeka after the suspect led officers on a chase through Kansas' capital city, firing at them as he drove.

(Click below to listen to a joint press conference with Topeka Police and the Shawnee Co. Sheriff's office.)

Topeka police had sought the suspect over the Thursday morning shooting of two people at a south Topeka home, one of whom died, Chief Bryan Wheeles said. The suspect was hospitalized and in critical condition, under guard and in custody.

The other shooting victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, and a woman riding with the suspect also was hospitalized, but her injuries were not considered life-threatening. The officer was treated at a hospital and released. His injuries were not more serious because the shot hit his protective vest, Wheeles said.

The chase ended in a block of office buildings, about two blocks north and one block east of the Kansas Statehouse.

“This could have been a lot higher count as far as casualties and even fatalities,” Wheeles told reporters during a news conference near where the chase ended.

Police said the suspect's relationship with the person shot to death in south Topeka was “domestic in nature” but did not elaborate. The suspect fled after a police officer spotted his car, and the chase lasted about 4 miles.

Police didn't name the suspect, his passenger, the two shooting victims or the injured officer. Details about the double-shooting, the chase and the downtown shootout weren't immediately released as the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reviewed what happened at the request of local law enforcement agencies.

It also wasn't clear how many officers fired their weapons, though Wheeles said nine Topeka police officers and one local sheriff's officer were on paid leave.

“This was a large scale, chaotic incident,” Wheeles said.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting with a homicide suspect that involved both Topeka and the Shawnee County Sheriff's office.

Early Thursday morning, officers responded to the 3500 block of SW Kerry Avenue in Topeka on a report of a shooting, according to Lt.&nbsp; Manuel Munoz.

Upon arrival, officers located one individual deceased at the scene and one other individual injured.&nbsp;

Topeka Police investigators quickly identified and worked to locate the suspect. The relationship between the suspect and the homicide victim was domestic in nature, according to Munoz.

A Topeka officer observed the suspect vehicle near Topeka’s Hi-Crest Neighborhood. The suspect initiated the pursuit, which ended in downtown Topeka near SW 6 th Avenue and South Kansas Avenue. 

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including SSO. The suspect shot several times at law enforcement officers on scene. Multiple law enforcement officers returned fire. At least one officer was struck by the suspect’s gunfire during this incident. The officer is receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664474656753.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy WIBW-TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation -photo courtesy WIBW-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man suspected of murder and a police officer were injured during a mid-morning shootout Thursday in downtown Topeka after the suspect led officers on a chase through Kansas' capital city, firing at them as he drove.(Click below to listen to a joint press conference with Topeka Police and the Shawnee Co. Sheriff's office.)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftopekapolicedepartment%2Fvideos%2F659897795356839%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=10" 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>Topeka police had sought the suspect over the Thursday morning shooting of two people at a south Topeka home, one of whom died, Chief Bryan Wheeles said. The suspect was hospitalized and in critical condition, under guard and in custody.The other shooting victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, and a woman riding with the suspect also was hospitalized, but her injuries were not considered life-threatening. The officer was treated at a hospital and released. His injuries were not more serious because the shot hit his protective vest, Wheeles said.The chase ended in a block of office buildings, about two blocks north and one block east of the Kansas Statehouse.“This could have been a lot higher count as far as casualties and even fatalities,” Wheeles told reporters during a news conference near where the chase ended.Police said the suspect's relationship with the person shot to death in south Topeka was “domestic in nature” but did not elaborate. The suspect fled after a police officer spotted his car, and the chase lasted about 4 miles.Police didn't name the suspect, his passenger, the two shooting victims or the injured officer. Details about the double-shooting, the chase and the downtown shootout weren't immediately released as the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reviewed what happened at the request of local law enforcement agencies.It also wasn't clear how many officers fired their weapons, though Wheeles said nine Topeka police officers and one local sheriff's officer were on paid leave.“This was a large scale, chaotic incident,” Wheeles said.-------------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting with a homicide suspect that involved both Topeka and the Shawnee County Sheriff's office.Early Thursday morning, officers responded to the 3500 block of SW Kerry Avenue in Topeka on a report of a shooting, according to Lt.&nbsp; Manuel Munoz.Upon arrival, officers located one individual deceased at the scene and one other individual injured.&nbsp;Topeka Police investigators quickly identified and worked to locate the suspect. The relationship between the suspect and the homicide victim was domestic in nature, according to Munoz.A Topeka officer observed the suspect vehicle near Topeka’s Hi-Crest Neighborhood. The suspect initiated the pursuit, which ended in downtown Topeka near SW 6 th Avenue and South Kansas Avenue. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including SSO. The suspect shot several times at law enforcement officers on scene. Multiple law enforcement officers returned fire. At least one officer was struck by the suspect’s gunfire during this incident. The officer is receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

🎥Kansas officer shot in firefight with murder suspect

The Rolling Hills Zoo family is mourning the passing of Auli, a member of the zoo’s original chimpanzee troop, who passed away at the age of 41, according to a media release from the zoo.

RHZ animal care staff and veterinarian had been monitoring his health as he began developing age related issues, but he was not responding to treatment and his quality of life was rapidly declining. It was decided that humanely euthanizing him was the kindest option available. The average life expectancy for male chimpanzees in captivity is 30 years.

Born on Aug. 25, 1981, Auli was captive born at the Primate Foundation of Arizona. Along with Shudak, Tohlo and Cocoa, Auli arrive at Rolling Hills Zoo (RHZ) on Aug. 28, 1997.

When Auli was young, and prior to coming to RHZ, he suffered a bite wound by another chimpanzee. This injury caused Auli to have numerous issues as he matured and resulted in many extensive surgeries and procedures through the years. Thanks to Dr. Mauch and a local team of MD specialists, RHZ staff veterinarians, Kansas State University Veterinary College and the exemplary care he received from his keepers through the years, Auli was able to live a long life despite his early challenges.

“I had the pleasure of caring for Auli for 25 years,” said Brenda Gunder, RHZ curator. “I met ‘Auli-baba-doodle-boy’ when he arrived just after his sweet 16th birthday in 1997. He was the youngest of the four male chimpanzees. To say that he taught me a lot about caring for the individual is an understatement. I will forever remember his ability to make brush-like tools by chewing the end of a stick to extract the last drops from any enrichment tube. Auli was a great supporter of his male troop members, even after the arrival of the females, and all the girls preferred the company of his calm sensitive nature. The bond with his “brothers from other mothers” stayed forever strong. He would support them, whenever needed, backing off the females when tensions flared. While words cannot describe how this loss will affect those who knew him, it gives me great comfort to know that we were able to give him a long, caring, and dynamic home for more than half his life.”

“Auli was the best nest builder and I would always watch him for the last 15 minutes of the day while he collected his handfuls of hay, sometimes even legfuls, and then would climb up to his nest location for the night,” said Brenna Fuller, RHZ keeper. “He was the most gentle chimp, always being very slow and careful when taking something from his keepers.”

“My fondest memories of Auli were when Millie, a female chimpanzee, would wrap a scarf around his neck and pull him around the yard. He would just go along with it with no complaints,” said Kira Kaempfe. “Whenever Auli wouldn’t shift inside for the night I would tell Millie to get Auli and she would go outside and wrap her arm around his shoulders and bring him in. Auli’s favorite enrichment was tooling, he loved a challenge and he always worked harder than anyone else. He will forever have a special place in my heart, and I’ll never forget his heart shaped behind.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664469001220.jpeg" alt="Auli photo courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Auli photo courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>The Rolling Hills Zoo family is mourning the passing of Auli, a member of the zoo’s original chimpanzee troop, who passed away at the age of 41, according to a media release from the zoo.RHZ animal care staff and veterinarian had been monitoring his health as he began developing age related issues, but he was not responding to treatment and his quality of life was rapidly declining. It was decided that humanely euthanizing him was the kindest option available. The average life expectancy for male chimpanzees in captivity is 30 years.Born on Aug. 25, 1981, Auli was captive born at the Primate Foundation of Arizona. Along with Shudak, Tohlo and Cocoa, Auli arrive at Rolling Hills Zoo (RHZ) on Aug. 28, 1997.When Auli was young, and prior to coming to RHZ, he suffered a bite wound by another chimpanzee. This injury caused Auli to have numerous issues as he matured and resulted in many extensive surgeries and procedures through the years. Thanks to Dr. Mauch and a local team of MD specialists, RHZ staff veterinarians, Kansas State University Veterinary College and the exemplary care he received from his keepers through the years, Auli was able to live a long life despite his early challenges.“I had the pleasure of caring for Auli for 25 years,” said Brenda Gunder, RHZ curator. “I met ‘Auli-baba-doodle-boy’ when he arrived just after his sweet 16th birthday in 1997. He was the youngest of the four male chimpanzees. To say that he taught me a lot about caring for the individual is an understatement. I will forever remember his ability to make brush-like tools by chewing the end of a stick to extract the last drops from any enrichment tube. Auli was a great supporter of his male troop members, even after the arrival of the females, and all the girls preferred the company of his calm sensitive nature. The bond with his “brothers from other mothers” stayed forever strong. He would support them, whenever needed, backing off the females when tensions flared. While words cannot describe how this loss will affect those who knew him, it gives me great comfort to know that we were able to give him a long, caring, and dynamic home for more than half his life.”“Auli was the best nest builder and I would always watch him for the last 15 minutes of the day while he collected his handfuls of hay, sometimes even legfuls, and then would climb up to his nest location for the night,” said Brenna Fuller, RHZ keeper. “He was the most gentle chimp, always being very slow and careful when taking something from his keepers.”“My fondest memories of Auli were when Millie, a female chimpanzee, would wrap a scarf around his neck and pull him around the yard. He would just go along with it with no complaints,” said Kira Kaempfe. “Whenever Auli wouldn’t shift inside for the night I would tell Millie to get Auli and she would go outside and wrap her arm around his shoulders and bring him in. Auli’s favorite enrichment was tooling, he loved a challenge and he always worked harder than anyone else. He will forever have a special place in my heart, and I’ll never forget his heart shaped behind.”

Part of original chimpanzee troop at Kansas zoo had died

WASHINGTON (AP) — Six Republican-led states are suing the Biden administration in an effort to halt its plan to forgive student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans, accusing it of overstepping its executive powers.

It’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-lawsuits-executive-branch-88a53926a6583fdb7b8c311206f5357f">at least the second legal challenge this week</a>&nbsp;to the sweeping proposal laid out by President Joe Biden in late August, when he said his administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">would cancel up to $20,000 in education debt</a>&nbsp;for huge numbers of borrowers. The announcement, after months of internal deliberations and pressure from liberal activists, became immediate political fodder ahead of the November midterms while fueling arguments from conservatives about legality.

In the lawsuit, being filed Thursday in a federal court in Missouri, the Republican states argue that Biden's cancellation plan is “not remotely tailored to address the effects of the pandemic on federal student loan borrowers,” as required by the 2003 federal law that the administration is using as legal justification. They point out that Biden, in an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes” this month, declared the Covid-19 pandemic over, yet is still using the ongoing health emergency to justify&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-program-explained-d248f3b049c292856bb1c74be6aedef2">the wide-scale debt relief.</a>

“It’s patently unfair to saddle hard-working Americans with the loan debt of those who chose to go to college,” Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, who is leading the group, said in an interview.

She added: “The Department of Education is required, under the law, to collect the balance due on loans. And President Biden does not have the authority to override that.”

The states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina joined Arkansas in filing the lawsuit. Iowa has a Democratic attorney general, but the state's Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, signed on the state's behalf. The states argue that Missouri's loan servicer is facing a “number of ongoing financial harms” because of Biden's decision to cancel loans. Other states that joined the lawsuit argue that Biden's forgiveness plan will ultimately disrupt revenue to state coffers.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-to-get-student-loan-refund-if-you-paid-during-pandemic-ac42ffdca1d37d1fe8d1d63f6faeaa6f">Biden’s forgiveness program</a>&nbsp;will cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for those making less than $125,000 or households with less than $250,000 in income.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-higher-pell-grant-fce8a300f7d7400283891dc223cbc378">Pell Grant recipients</a>, who typically demonstrate more financial need, will get an additional $10,000 in debt forgiven.

The administration also said it would extend the current pause on federal student loan repayments — put on hold near the start of the pandemic more than two years ago — once more through the end of the year.

The administration faced threats of legal challenges to its plans almost immediately, with conservative attorneys, Republican lawmakers and business-oriented groups asserting that Biden was overstepping his authority in taking such sweeping action without the assent of Congress.

Democratic lawmakers battling in tough reelection contests also distanced themselves from the student loan plan, as Republican officials called it an unfair government giveaway for relatively affluent people at the expense of those who didn’t pursue higher education.

In their lawsuit, the Republican attorneys general also contend that the forgiveness program violates the Administrative Procedures Act, which lays out how federal agencies should make regulations in order to ensure executive branch policies are well-reasoned and explained.

“The president does not have the authority to put himself in the place of Congress,” Rutledge said in the interview. “These actions must be taken by Congress and he can’t override that.”

To justify the plan’s legality, the Biden administration is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-education-0fea030a0875c0e4e1a39b0c098bd48a">relying on a post-Sept. 11, 2001, law</a>&nbsp;meant to help members of the military that the Justice Department says allows Biden to reduce or erase student loan debt during a national emergency. But Republicans argue the administration is misinterpreting the law because, in part, the pandemic no longer qualifies as a national emergency.

Another lawsuit against Biden’s student loan program was filed this week in an Indiana federal court by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a libertarian legal advocacy group that employs a lawyer who says he would be harmed by the forgiveness plan. The lawyer, Frank Garrison, says erasing his current debt load will trigger a tax liability from the state of Indiana, which is among at least a half dozen states where the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-minnesota-mississippi-ffe9ed18bf0a434970ab09b1d89800e2">forgiven loan amounts will be subject to state taxes</a>.

The White House dismissed the lawsuit as baseless because any borrower who does not want the debt relief can opt out. The Education Department is still on track to unveil the application for the forgiveness plan in early October.

Republicans have also seized on the Biden plan’s price tag and its impact on the nation’s budget deficit. The Congressional Budget Office said this week that the program will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-congress-government-and-politics-359a28d9691745afd6154eac5f0550dc">cost about $400 billion over the next three decades</a>. The White House countered that the CBO’s estimate of how much the plan will cost just in its first year, $21 billion, is lower than what the administration initially believed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661367707782.png" alt="President Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona during an August 24, announcement on student loan forgiveness. -White House Photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona during an August 24, announcement on student loan forgiveness. -White House Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Six Republican-led states are suing the Biden administration in an effort to halt its plan to forgive student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans, accusing it of overstepping its executive powers.It’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-lawsuits-executive-branch-88a53926a6583fdb7b8c311206f5357f">at least the second legal challenge this week</a>&nbsp;to the sweeping proposal laid out by President Joe Biden in late August, when he said his administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">would cancel up to $20,000 in education debt</a>&nbsp;for huge numbers of borrowers. The announcement, after months of internal deliberations and pressure from liberal activists, became immediate political fodder ahead of the November midterms while fueling arguments from conservatives about legality.In the lawsuit, being filed Thursday in a federal court in Missouri, the Republican states argue that Biden's cancellation plan is “not remotely tailored to address the effects of the pandemic on federal student loan borrowers,” as required by the 2003 federal law that the administration is using as legal justification. They point out that Biden, in an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes” this month, declared the Covid-19 pandemic over, yet is still using the ongoing health emergency to justify&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-program-explained-d248f3b049c292856bb1c74be6aedef2">the wide-scale debt relief.</a>“It’s patently unfair to saddle hard-working Americans with the loan debt of those who chose to go to college,” Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, who is leading the group, said in an interview.She added: “The Department of Education is required, under the law, to collect the balance due on loans. And President Biden does not have the authority to override that.”The states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina joined Arkansas in filing the lawsuit. Iowa has a Democratic attorney general, but the state's Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, signed on the state's behalf. The states argue that Missouri's loan servicer is facing a “number of ongoing financial harms” because of Biden's decision to cancel loans. Other states that joined the lawsuit argue that Biden's forgiveness plan will ultimately disrupt revenue to state coffers.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-to-get-student-loan-refund-if-you-paid-during-pandemic-ac42ffdca1d37d1fe8d1d63f6faeaa6f">Biden’s forgiveness program</a>&nbsp;will cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for those making less than $125,000 or households with less than $250,000 in income.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-higher-pell-grant-fce8a300f7d7400283891dc223cbc378">Pell Grant recipients</a>, who typically demonstrate more financial need, will get an additional $10,000 in debt forgiven.The administration also said it would extend the current pause on federal student loan repayments — put on hold near the start of the pandemic more than two years ago — once more through the end of the year.The administration faced threats of legal challenges to its plans almost immediately, with conservative attorneys, Republican lawmakers and business-oriented groups asserting that Biden was overstepping his authority in taking such sweeping action without the assent of Congress.Democratic lawmakers battling in tough reelection contests also distanced themselves from the student loan plan, as Republican officials called it an unfair government giveaway for relatively affluent people at the expense of those who didn’t pursue higher education.In their lawsuit, the Republican attorneys general also contend that the forgiveness program violates the Administrative Procedures Act, which lays out how federal agencies should make regulations in order to ensure executive branch policies are well-reasoned and explained.“The president does not have the authority to put himself in the place of Congress,” Rutledge said in the interview. “These actions must be taken by Congress and he can’t override that.”To justify the plan’s legality, the Biden administration is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-education-0fea030a0875c0e4e1a39b0c098bd48a">relying on a post-Sept. 11, 2001, law</a>&nbsp;meant to help members of the military that the Justice Department says allows Biden to reduce or erase student loan debt during a national emergency. But Republicans argue the administration is misinterpreting the law because, in part, the pandemic no longer qualifies as a national emergency.Another lawsuit against Biden’s student loan program was filed this week in an Indiana federal court by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a libertarian legal advocacy group that employs a lawyer who says he would be harmed by the forgiveness plan. The lawyer, Frank Garrison, says erasing his current debt load will trigger a tax liability from the state of Indiana, which is among at least a half dozen states where the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-minnesota-mississippi-ffe9ed18bf0a434970ab09b1d89800e2">forgiven loan amounts will be subject to state taxes</a>.The White House dismissed the lawsuit as baseless because any borrower who does not want the debt relief can opt out. The Education Department is still on track to unveil the application for the forgiveness plan in early October.Republicans have also seized on the Biden plan’s price tag and its impact on the nation’s budget deficit. The Congressional Budget Office said this week that the program will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-congress-government-and-politics-359a28d9691745afd6154eac5f0550dc">cost about $400 billion over the next three decades</a>. The White House countered that the CBO’s estimate of how much the plan will cost just in its first year, $21 billion, is lower than what the administration initially believed.

GOP states sue Biden administration over student loan plan

By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2022-09-28/kansas-gets-ready-to-send-tax-dollars-to-small-businesses-hurt-by-pandemic-orders">Kansas News Service</a>

LAWRENCE —&nbsp;Tish Cobb figures she lost about $15,000 in
 the spring of 2020 when state and local health orders aimed at slowing 
the spread of the coronavirus shut down her hair salon.

“I lost business,” she said, “for eight weeks.”

Subsequent orders that limited the number of customers she could serve also cost her money.

Now, she and other small business owners can recoup some of their COVID-19 pandemic losses through a program established by the <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_hb_2136_2022" target="_blank">Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Act </a>passed in the final days of the Kansas Legislature’s 2022 session and signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly in June.

The
 law earmarks $50 million in federal COVID tax dollars for partial 
property tax refunds to retail businesses forced to close or cut 
occupancy during the pandemic. Businesses with pandemic-related losses 
in 2020 and 2021 are eligible for up to $10,000 – $5,000 for each year.

The <a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20Retail%20Storefront%20Property%20Tax%20Relief%20Act&amp;text=House%20Bill%202136%2C%20enacted%20during,tax%20years%202020%20and%202021." target="_blank">Kansas Department of Revenue</a> will start processing refund applications in October.

Revenue
 Secretary Mark Burghart said the agency is putting the finishing 
touches on a one-page application that business owners will complete 
online.

“We’re trying to keep this as simple as possible,” Burghart said.

A date hasn’t been set for the start of applications, he said, because the agency is still testing is website.

Only
 certain brick-and-mortar businesses are eligible for the refunds. 
Cobb’s salon, located in downtown Lawrence, qualifies. So do restaurants
 and other types of small retailers.

But the law excludes a long 
list of businesses, including grocery stores, pharmacies, liquor stores 
and service providers. Nonprofits, online businesses and companies that 
received more than $150,000 in Payroll Protection Loans or other types 
of federal and state COVID-19 assistance are also ineligible.

“That’s
 the way it should be,” Cobb said. “It was hard hearing about big 
companies getting bailouts when I don’t think they were impacted like we
 were.”

Refund amounts will be based on a businesses’ property taxes and the number of days it was affected by public health orders.

To
 assist businesses owners who may have incomplete records, the 
Department of Revenue has created a database of all the orders issued by
 the state and local governments during the pandemic. It will be linked 
to the online application form.

Business owners intending to apply for a refund from the state must first <a href="https://usfcr.com/" target="_blank">register online</a>
 for a federal ID number. Due to a backlog, Burghart said, that could 
take some time. So, he’s encouraging businesses to start the process 
before the state begins accepting refund applications.

“Because,” he said, “we will not be able to accept the application without that number.”

Kansas businesses have until April 15, 2023 to apply for assistance.

Jim McLean is the Statehouse Bureau Chief for Kansas Public Radio and
 the senior political reporter for the Kansas News Service. Follow him 
on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664401520936.png" alt="Tish Cobb hopes to recover some of the $15,000 she thinks she lost because of business restrictions during the pandemic. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Tish Cobb hopes to recover some of the $15,000 she thinks she lost because of business restrictions during the pandemic. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2022-09-28/kansas-gets-ready-to-send-tax-dollars-to-small-businesses-hurt-by-pandemic-orders">Kansas News Service</a>LAWRENCE —&nbsp;Tish Cobb figures she lost about $15,000 in
 the spring of 2020 when state and local health orders aimed at slowing 
the spread of the coronavirus shut down her hair salon.“I lost business,” she said, “for eight weeks.”Subsequent orders that limited the number of customers she could serve also cost her money.Now, she and other small business owners can recoup some of their COVID-19 pandemic losses through a program established by the <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_hb_2136_2022" target="_blank">Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Act </a>passed in the final days of the Kansas Legislature’s 2022 session and signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly in June.The
 law earmarks $50 million in federal COVID tax dollars for partial 
property tax refunds to retail businesses forced to close or cut 
occupancy during the pandemic. Businesses with pandemic-related losses 
in 2020 and 2021 are eligible for up to $10,000 – $5,000 for each year.The <a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20Retail%20Storefront%20Property%20Tax%20Relief%20Act&amp;text=House%20Bill%202136%2C%20enacted%20during,tax%20years%202020%20and%202021." target="_blank">Kansas Department of Revenue</a> will start processing refund applications in October.Revenue
 Secretary Mark Burghart said the agency is putting the finishing 
touches on a one-page application that business owners will complete 
online.“We’re trying to keep this as simple as possible,” Burghart said.A date hasn’t been set for the start of applications, he said, because the agency is still testing is website.Only
 certain brick-and-mortar businesses are eligible for the refunds. 
Cobb’s salon, located in downtown Lawrence, qualifies. So do restaurants
 and other types of small retailers.But the law excludes a long 
list of businesses, including grocery stores, pharmacies, liquor stores 
and service providers. Nonprofits, online businesses and companies that 
received more than $150,000 in Payroll Protection Loans or other types 
of federal and state COVID-19 assistance are also ineligible.“That’s
 the way it should be,” Cobb said. “It was hard hearing about big 
companies getting bailouts when I don’t think they were impacted like we
 were.”Refund amounts will be based on a businesses’ property taxes and the number of days it was affected by public health orders.To
 assist businesses owners who may have incomplete records, the 
Department of Revenue has created a database of all the orders issued by
 the state and local governments during the pandemic. It will be linked 
to the online application form.Business owners intending to apply for a refund from the state must first <a href="https://usfcr.com/" target="_blank">register online</a>
 for a federal ID number. Due to a backlog, Burghart said, that could 
take some time. So, he’s encouraging businesses to start the process 
before the state begins accepting refund applications.“Because,” he said, “we will not be able to accept the application without that number.”Kansas businesses have until April 15, 2023 to apply for assistance.Jim McLean is the Statehouse Bureau Chief for Kansas Public Radio and
 the senior political reporter for the Kansas News Service. Follow him 
on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a>.