By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-09-09/black-babies-infant-mortality-kansas-pandemic">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — For years, Black babies in Kansas faced an 
outsized chance of dying before their first birthday. Then the COVID-19 
pandemic hit, and things got even worse.

Now, a Black baby is 
nearly three and a half times as likely to die in the state as a white 
baby. While the nationwide rate of infant mortality <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db427.htm" target="_blank">dropped</a> between 2019 and 2020, the rate in Kansas swelled <a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15354/2020-Annual-Summary-Full-Report-PDF?bidId=" target="_blank">about 19%</a> — and for Black children, it surged nearly 58%.

That
 means that for every 1,000 Black children born, nearly 17 died within 
their first year of life. For white children, the rate is fewer than 
five out of every 1,000.

“We knew that (the pandemic) was going to
 impact Black infant mortality,” said Sapphire Garcia-Lies, a 
Wichita-based doula and the founder of Kansas Birth Justice Society, a 
nonprofit working to lower racial disparities around maternal and infant
 health. “But I don’t think any of us knew that it would be that bad.”

Black
 families run into more barriers in accessing health care before, during
 and after pregnancy, said Sharla Smith, a professor at the University 
of Kansas Medical Center who directs the Kansas Birth Equity Network. 
And the care those families get, she said, is often worse than what 
white families can expect.

“We see a lot of discrimination,” Smith said. “We’re also hearing from our parents that they’re not listened to.”

She said part of that stems from systemic racism in the health care system, including a dearth of Black and brown doctors.

Questions
 remain about what’s behind the increase in deaths in 2020. But Smith 
said that the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Black communities — 
including higher rates of infection and death from the virus and job and
 income loss — likely played a role.

Black people experienced higher rates of COVID-19 and <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2792031" target="_blank">initial</a> <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanam/article/PIIS2667-193X(21)00019-3/fulltext" target="_blank">studies</a>
 suggest that infection during pregnancy correlates with a higher risk 
of preterm birth. Premature birth is one of the leading causes of infant
 mortality.

In its report on the 2020 data, the Kansas Department 
of Health and Environment cautioned that a relatively small number of 
infant deaths, just 224 statewide, means the data can fluctuate year to 
year without necessarily reflecting a larger trend. Of the 2,369 births 
of Black babies, 40 died in their first year.

But researchers say such a dramatic jump in Black infant deaths is worrying.

“Yes,
 we should look at the numbers with some level of caution,” said Cari 
Schmidt, a professor at KU School of Medicine-Wichita and the director 
of the Center for Research for Infant Birth and Survival (CRIBS). “But I
 also think that we shouldn’t ignore the jump — because it could be an 
indication of the start of a trend.”

Or the continuation of a 
trend that Smith, the director of the Kansas Birth Equity Network, said 
has played out in the differences between the health of white and Black 
children for decades in the state.

“We need to pay attention,” 
said Smith. “Otherwise we’re never going to decrease these disparities, 
because we’re always going to say that it’s going to get better on its 
own — and it doesn’t get better on its own.”

<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10419/2019-Infant-Mortality-and-Stillbirth-Report-PDF" target="_blank">The leading cause</a>
 of white and Hispanic infant death in Kansas is birth defects. For 
Black babies, the leading cause is complications related to preterm 
birth and low birth weight — which experts say is often tied to social 
and environmental factors.

“Racism is a fundamental factor,” said 
Dawn Misra, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Michigan 
State University. “It affects things like segregation of housing, which 
affects neighborhood environments. It might affect the quality of health
 care you’re getting.”

She said racism also impacts maternal 
mental health and parental relationships that can make survival tougher 
for children. Racism, for instance, can play a role in depression. And 
depression can be related to premature births.

“Racism does relate
 to depressive symptoms,” Misra said. “Black men are experiencing a lot 
of strain in the U.S. as well … and then the (mother-father) 
relationship may have that stressor added onto it.”

Experts agree that focusing on mothers helps their children.

“You
 have to have a healthy woman to have a healthy baby,” said Christy 
Schunn, executive director of the Kansas Infant Death and SIDS Network. 
“There’s just no two ways around it.”

Kansas made a limited 
expansion of Medicaid for mothers for up to 12 months after giving 
birth. Previously, coverage ended after two months.

Meanwhile, 
grassroots initiatives like a free doula program offered by the Kansas 
Birth Justice Society hope to make a difference. Parenting classes 
offered in Black churches by CRIBS and the Wichita Black Nurses 
Association also aim to give infants a better start.

But CRIBS director Schmidt said there’s a long way to go.

“We
 need to have healthy families, healthy relationships, healthy persons 
prior to the pregnancy,” she said. “And we need to address those social 
determinants of health such as poverty.”

Rose Conlon reports on
 health for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on 
Twitter at @rosebconlon or email her at conlon@kmuw.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662999563645.png" alt="Black infant mortality in Kansas rose nearly 58% between 2019 and 2020. Chris Neal / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Black infant mortality in Kansas rose nearly 58% between 2019 and 2020. Chris Neal / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-09-09/black-babies-infant-mortality-kansas-pandemic">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — For years, Black babies in Kansas faced an 
outsized chance of dying before their first birthday. Then the COVID-19 
pandemic hit, and things got even worse.Now, a Black baby is 
nearly three and a half times as likely to die in the state as a white 
baby. While the nationwide rate of infant mortality <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db427.htm" target="_blank">dropped</a> between 2019 and 2020, the rate in Kansas swelled <a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15354/2020-Annual-Summary-Full-Report-PDF?bidId=" target="_blank">about 19%</a> — and for Black children, it surged nearly 58%.That
 means that for every 1,000 Black children born, nearly 17 died within 
their first year of life. For white children, the rate is fewer than 
five out of every 1,000.“We knew that (the pandemic) was going to
 impact Black infant mortality,” said Sapphire Garcia-Lies, a 
Wichita-based doula and the founder of Kansas Birth Justice Society, a 
nonprofit working to lower racial disparities around maternal and infant
 health. “But I don’t think any of us knew that it would be that bad.”Black
 families run into more barriers in accessing health care before, during
 and after pregnancy, said Sharla Smith, a professor at the University 
of Kansas Medical Center who directs the Kansas Birth Equity Network. 
And the care those families get, she said, is often worse than what 
white families can expect.“We see a lot of discrimination,” Smith said. “We’re also hearing from our parents that they’re not listened to.”She said part of that stems from systemic racism in the health care system, including a dearth of Black and brown doctors.Questions
 remain about what’s behind the increase in deaths in 2020. But Smith 
said that the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Black communities — 
including higher rates of infection and death from the virus and job and
 income loss — likely played a role.Black people experienced higher rates of COVID-19 and <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2792031" target="_blank">initial</a> <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanam/article/PIIS2667-193X(21)00019-3/fulltext" target="_blank">studies</a>
 suggest that infection during pregnancy correlates with a higher risk 
of preterm birth. Premature birth is one of the leading causes of infant
 mortality.In its report on the 2020 data, the Kansas Department 
of Health and Environment cautioned that a relatively small number of 
infant deaths, just 224 statewide, means the data can fluctuate year to 
year without necessarily reflecting a larger trend. Of the 2,369 births 
of Black babies, 40 died in their first year.But researchers say such a dramatic jump in Black infant deaths is worrying.“Yes,
 we should look at the numbers with some level of caution,” said Cari 
Schmidt, a professor at KU School of Medicine-Wichita and the director 
of the Center for Research for Infant Birth and Survival (CRIBS). “But I
 also think that we shouldn’t ignore the jump — because it could be an 
indication of the start of a trend.”Or the continuation of a 
trend that Smith, the director of the Kansas Birth Equity Network, said 
has played out in the differences between the health of white and Black 
children for decades in the state.“We need to pay attention,” 
said Smith. “Otherwise we’re never going to decrease these disparities, 
because we’re always going to say that it’s going to get better on its 
own — and it doesn’t get better on its own.”<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10419/2019-Infant-Mortality-and-Stillbirth-Report-PDF" target="_blank">The leading cause</a>
 of white and Hispanic infant death in Kansas is birth defects. For 
Black babies, the leading cause is complications related to preterm 
birth and low birth weight — which experts say is often tied to social 
and environmental factors.“Racism is a fundamental factor,” said 
Dawn Misra, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Michigan 
State University. “It affects things like segregation of housing, which 
affects neighborhood environments. It might affect the quality of health
 care you’re getting.”She said racism also impacts maternal 
mental health and parental relationships that can make survival tougher 
for children. Racism, for instance, can play a role in depression. And 
depression can be related to premature births.“Racism does relate
 to depressive symptoms,” Misra said. “Black men are experiencing a lot 
of strain in the U.S. as well … and then the (mother-father) 
relationship may have that stressor added onto it.”Experts agree that focusing on mothers helps their children.“You
 have to have a healthy woman to have a healthy baby,” said Christy 
Schunn, executive director of the Kansas Infant Death and SIDS Network. 
“There’s just no two ways around it.”Kansas made a limited 
expansion of Medicaid for mothers for up to 12 months after giving 
birth. Previously, coverage ended after two months.Meanwhile, 
grassroots initiatives like a free doula program offered by the Kansas 
Birth Justice Society hope to make a difference. Parenting classes 
offered in Black churches by CRIBS and the Wichita Black Nurses 
Association also aim to give infants a better start.But CRIBS director Schmidt said there’s a long way to go.“We
 need to have healthy families, healthy relationships, healthy persons 
prior to the pregnancy,” she said. “And we need to address those social 
determinants of health such as poverty.”Rose Conlon reports on
 health for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on 
Twitter at @rosebconlon or email her at conlon@kmuw.org.

Black infant mortality rate in Kan. worsened by pandemic

OSAGE COUNTY&nbsp; —A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Todd James Lewis, 54, of Carbondale, on seven counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of theft of government funds, according to the United State's Attorney.

The FBI and the U.S. Department of Labor are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663355390136.png" alt="Lewis-from a previous arrest in Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Lewis-from a previous arrest in Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY&nbsp; —A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Todd James Lewis, 54, of Carbondale, on seven counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of theft of government funds, according to the United State's Attorney.The FBI and the U.S. Department of Labor are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting the case.

Kansas man accused of aggravated identity theft

LONDON (AP) — Thousands of police, hundreds of troops and an army of officials made final preparations Sunday for the state funeral of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-princess-diana-king-charles-iii-covid-health-4e89772b7c7e860ce8cdb05d8cff6d75">Queen Elizabeth II</a>&nbsp;— a spectacular display of national mourning that will also be the biggest gathering of world leaders for years.

U.S. President Joe Biden and other dignitaries are arriving in London for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-funeral-details-8e4f6ada4cdb420b3acca9c3e0a275e4">the funeral</a>, to which around 500 royals, heads of state and heads of government from around the globe have been invited.

Thousands of people continued to line up around the clock to file past the queen’s coffin as it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-london-government-and-politics-f07d95ed1c9c0f745cfa148c4c7fae83">lies in state</a>&nbsp;at Parliament’s Westminster Hall, braving chilly overnight temperatures and waits of up to 17 hours. The queen’s eight grandchildren, led by heir to the throne&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-london-prince-william-louis-b5db3f7ecf7cbe4e6a1964c4c20453fa">Prince William</a>, circled the coffin and stood with heads bowed during a silent vigil on Saturday evening.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-boris-johnson-london-united-kingdom-898f092ee58f7a74cea64fa9d3e42cad">The miles-long queue</a>&nbsp;is expected to be closed to new arrivals later Sunday so that everyone in line can file past the coffin before Monday morning, when it will be borne on a gun carriage to Westminster Abbey for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-biden-king-charles-iii-health-covid-0229717aa9198a6120e66639cf5171bb">the queen’s funeral</a>.

Among the foreign leaders in London was New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who told the BBC she was humbled to represent her nation at the funeral and to witness the national outpouring of grief and respect for the late queen.

“The thing that I will take away from this period is just the beauty of the public’s response, the kindness that you see from members of the public, the patience, the camaraderie, that has been, for me, the most moving tribute of all, has been the public response of the British people,” she said.

People across the U.K. are due to pause Sunday evening for a nationwide minute of silence to remember the queen, who died Sept. 8 at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne. Monday has been declared a public holiday, and the funeral will be broadcast to a huge television audience and screened to crowds in parks and public spaces across the country.

Thousands of police officers from around the country will be on duty as part of the biggest one-day policing operation in London’s history.

Crowds also gathered Sunday near Windsor Castle, where the queen will be laid to rest at a private family ceremony on Monday evening.

“I think it’s been amazing," said Anna Pettigrew, a 55-year-old teacher. "It’s been very emotional, and I think it’s been a very fitting tribute to a wonderful queen.”

Camilla,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/camilla-queen-consort-98f15d3c5482be8374e4ea85bc1eeda0">the new queen consort</a>, paid tribute to the queen in a video message, saying the monarch “carved her own role” as a “solitary woman” on a world stage dominated by men.

“I will always remember her smile. That smile is unforgettable,” said Camilla, who is married to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-III-life-timeline-eda3cace025be48208f84064aec590db">King Charles III</a>.

A tide of people continued to stream into Parliament’s Westminster Hall, where the queen’s coffin is lying in state, draped in the Royal Standard and capped with a diamond-studded crown. The number of mourners has grown steadily since the public was first admitted on Wednesday, with a queue that stretches for at least five miles (eight kilometers) along the River Thames and into Southwark Park in the city’s southeast.

Honoring their patience, Charles and William made an unannounced visit Saturday to greet people in the line, shaking hands and thanking mourners in the queue near Lambeth Bridge.

Later, all the queen’s grandchildren stood by her coffin. William and Prince Harry, Charles’ sons, were joined by Princess Anne’s children, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips; Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; and the two children of Prince Edward — Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

William stood with his head bowed at the head of the coffin and Harry at the foot. Both princes, who are military veterans, were in uniform. Mourners continued to file past in silence.

“You could see that they were thinking hard about their grandmother, the queen,” said Ian Mockett, a civil engineer from Oxford in southern England. “It was good to see them all together as a set of grandchildren given the things that have happened over the last few years.”

Before the vigil, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie issued a statement praising their “beloved grannie.”

“We, like many, thought you’d be here forever. And we all miss you terribly. You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever,” the sisters wrote.

The queen’s four children — Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — held a similar vigil around the coffin on Friday.

The silence in the hall was briefly broken Friday when a man lunged at the coffin. London police said Sunday that a 28-year-old London man, Muhammad Khan, has been charged with behavior intended to “cause alarm, harassment or distress.” He will appear in court on Monday.

The lying-in-state continues until early Monday morning, when the queen’s coffin will be moved on a gun carriage pulled by 142 Royal Navy ratings to nearby Westminster Abbey for the funeral, the finale of 10 days of national mourning for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

After the service Monday at the abbey, the late queen’s coffin will be transported through the historic heart of London on the state gun carriage. It will then be taken in a hearse to Windsor, where the queen will be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663336736629.png" alt="U.S. President Joe Biden and other dignitaries are arriving in London for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-funeral-details-8e4f6ada4cdb420b3acca9c3e0a275e4">the funeral</a>, to which around 500 royals, heads of state and heads of government from around the globe have been invited.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>U.S. President Joe Biden and other dignitaries are arriving in London for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-funeral-details-8e4f6ada4cdb420b3acca9c3e0a275e4">the funeral</a>, to which around 500 royals, heads of state and heads of government from around the globe have been invited.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Thousands of police, hundreds of troops and an army of officials made final preparations Sunday for the state funeral of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-princess-diana-king-charles-iii-covid-health-4e89772b7c7e860ce8cdb05d8cff6d75">Queen Elizabeth II</a>&nbsp;— a spectacular display of national mourning that will also be the biggest gathering of world leaders for years.U.S. President Joe Biden and other dignitaries are arriving in London for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-funeral-details-8e4f6ada4cdb420b3acca9c3e0a275e4">the funeral</a>, to which around 500 royals, heads of state and heads of government from around the globe have been invited.Thousands of people continued to line up around the clock to file past the queen’s coffin as it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-london-government-and-politics-f07d95ed1c9c0f745cfa148c4c7fae83">lies in state</a>&nbsp;at Parliament’s Westminster Hall, braving chilly overnight temperatures and waits of up to 17 hours. The queen’s eight grandchildren, led by heir to the throne&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-entertainment-london-prince-william-louis-b5db3f7ecf7cbe4e6a1964c4c20453fa">Prince William</a>, circled the coffin and stood with heads bowed during a silent vigil on Saturday evening.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-boris-johnson-london-united-kingdom-898f092ee58f7a74cea64fa9d3e42cad">The miles-long queue</a>&nbsp;is expected to be closed to new arrivals later Sunday so that everyone in line can file past the coffin before Monday morning, when it will be borne on a gun carriage to Westminster Abbey for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-biden-king-charles-iii-health-covid-0229717aa9198a6120e66639cf5171bb">the queen’s funeral</a>.Among the foreign leaders in London was New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who told the BBC she was humbled to represent her nation at the funeral and to witness the national outpouring of grief and respect for the late queen.“The thing that I will take away from this period is just the beauty of the public’s response, the kindness that you see from members of the public, the patience, the camaraderie, that has been, for me, the most moving tribute of all, has been the public response of the British people,” she said.People across the U.K. are due to pause Sunday evening for a nationwide minute of silence to remember the queen, who died Sept. 8 at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne. Monday has been declared a public holiday, and the funeral will be broadcast to a huge television audience and screened to crowds in parks and public spaces across the country.Thousands of police officers from around the country will be on duty as part of the biggest one-day policing operation in London’s history.Crowds also gathered Sunday near Windsor Castle, where the queen will be laid to rest at a private family ceremony on Monday evening.“I think it’s been amazing," said Anna Pettigrew, a 55-year-old teacher. "It’s been very emotional, and I think it’s been a very fitting tribute to a wonderful queen.”Camilla,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/camilla-queen-consort-98f15d3c5482be8374e4ea85bc1eeda0">the new queen consort</a>, paid tribute to the queen in a video message, saying the monarch “carved her own role” as a “solitary woman” on a world stage dominated by men.“I will always remember her smile. That smile is unforgettable,” said Camilla, who is married to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-III-life-timeline-eda3cace025be48208f84064aec590db">King Charles III</a>.A tide of people continued to stream into Parliament’s Westminster Hall, where the queen’s coffin is lying in state, draped in the Royal Standard and capped with a diamond-studded crown. The number of mourners has grown steadily since the public was first admitted on Wednesday, with a queue that stretches for at least five miles (eight kilometers) along the River Thames and into Southwark Park in the city’s southeast.Honoring their patience, Charles and William made an unannounced visit Saturday to greet people in the line, shaking hands and thanking mourners in the queue near Lambeth Bridge.Later, all the queen’s grandchildren stood by her coffin. William and Prince Harry, Charles’ sons, were joined by Princess Anne’s children, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips; Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; and the two children of Prince Edward — Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.William stood with his head bowed at the head of the coffin and Harry at the foot. Both princes, who are military veterans, were in uniform. Mourners continued to file past in silence.“You could see that they were thinking hard about their grandmother, the queen,” said Ian Mockett, a civil engineer from Oxford in southern England. “It was good to see them all together as a set of grandchildren given the things that have happened over the last few years.”Before the vigil, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie issued a statement praising their “beloved grannie.”“We, like many, thought you’d be here forever. And we all miss you terribly. You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever,” the sisters wrote.The queen’s four children — Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — held a similar vigil around the coffin on Friday.The silence in the hall was briefly broken Friday when a man lunged at the coffin. London police said Sunday that a 28-year-old London man, Muhammad Khan, has been charged with behavior intended to “cause alarm, harassment or distress.” He will appear in court on Monday.The lying-in-state continues until early Monday morning, when the queen’s coffin will be moved on a gun carriage pulled by 142 Royal Navy ratings to nearby Westminster Abbey for the funeral, the finale of 10 days of national mourning for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.After the service Monday at the abbey, the late queen’s coffin will be transported through the historic heart of London on the state gun carriage. It will then be taken in a hearse to Windsor, where the queen will be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last year.

Biden, other world leaders arrive for Queen Elizabeth II funeral

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 8p.m. Saturday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Ford F150 driven by David E. Nottingham, 75, Olathe, was merging onto Interstate 435 from State Line Road.

The pickup was unable to stop and struck a pedestrian identified as 27-year-old Reginae N.&nbsp;Chatmon, 27, Kansas City, Kansas, who was walking in the number 4 lane.

Chatmon was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Johnson County Medical Examiner's office. Nottingham was not injured.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663502981773.png" alt="Traffic backed up after the fatal accident -image courtesy KC Scout" />
 <figcaption>Traffic backed up after the fatal accident -image courtesy KC Scout</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 8p.m. Saturday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Ford F150 driven by David E. Nottingham, 75, Olathe, was merging onto Interstate 435 from State Line Road.The pickup was unable to stop and struck a pedestrian identified as 27-year-old Reginae N.&nbsp;Chatmon, 27, Kansas City, Kansas, who was walking in the number 4 lane.Chatmon was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Johnson County Medical Examiner's office. Nottingham was not injured.

Kansas woman dies after struck by pickup on I-435   

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Trudy Le Beau has voted in every major election since she turned 18 — a half-century of civic participation that has gotten increasingly difficult as her multiple sclerosis progressed. Now, with no use of her arms or legs, the Wisconsin woman relies on her husband to help her fill out and return a ballot.

This year, it seemed for the first time that the 68-year-old would have to choose between her physical health and voting.

After the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-donald-trump-wisconsin-supreme-court-05166e3f3ef970b5cde8ac15cd30e18b">Wisconsin Supreme Court outlawed ballot drop boxes</a>&nbsp;in July, the state’s top election official cited a state law that said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-government-and-politics-6d1a8a842cd1ce0c3c8419c4de5b9bdc">voters had to place their own absentee ballots in the mail</a>&nbsp;or return them to clerks in person.

“I certainly don’t want to send my husband to jail because he put my ballot in the mailbox,” Le Beau said. “I would have to find some way of putting my ballot in my teeth and carrying it to the clerk’s office.”

Fortunately for Le Beau, she and other Wisconsin voters with disabilities can get the help they need to return their ballots this November after a federal judge last month ruled that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-f8ae59479e831526265409268acd870b">the Voting Rights Act, which allows for voter assistance, trumps state law.</a>

In other states, however, battles continue over ballot assistance and other voting laws that harm voters with disabilities. As voters push back, challenges have arisen in the past two years to laws and practices in at least eight states that make it difficult or impossible for people with certain disabilities to vote.

A federal judge in June struck down voter assistance restrictions in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-texas-voting-laws-voting-rights-2def6b2ee8d6c313f2cae300c280f5aa">sweeping changes to election laws passed by Texas Republicans</a>&nbsp;last year that in part limited the help that voters with disabilities or limited English proficiency could get. Under the law, a voter could only receive assistance reading or marking a ballot, not returning one.

In July in North Carolina,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-2022-midterm-elections-health-north-carolina-86736b3a9363e8b68db42b136123413f">a federal judge blocked state laws</a>&nbsp;that limited people with disabilities to receiving ballot assistance only from a close relative or legal guardian. Restrictions on ballot assistance still stand in several other states, including Kansas, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri. In Missouri, an ongoing lawsuit challenges a 1977 state law that says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-2022-midterm-elections-missouri-cc1d4cdae6cfed7c3ab04b37b87e4074">no one can assist more than one voter per election</a>.

A Kansas judge in April&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-lawsuits-kansas-aa6e7891d356fd633ac1e75545d73454">dismissed parts of a lawsuit challenging voter assistance restrictions</a>, saying the state’s interest in preventing voter fraud outweighed concerns about voters who may not get the assistance they need.

But such anti-fraud measures — a major push by Republicans since former President Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election in 2020 — don't affect everyone equally.

“Voting restrictions aimed at the general public can have a disparate impact on people with disabilities,” said Jess Davidson, communications director for the American Association of People with Disabilities.

Voters and state agencies in Alaska, New York and Alabama have also raised challenges to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-government-and-politics-congress-1878d5c19609c8474bdace46dafd50b9">absentee voting programs that don’t provide accessible ballots</a>&nbsp;for people with visual impairments or disabilities that make it difficult to fill out a print ballot privately. Advocacy groups in New York reached a settlement in April that requires the state elections board to create a program for disabled voters to fill out and print accessible online ballots.

Wisconsin voters with disabilities expressed frustration at having to fight for equal voting rights when federal law already lays out specific provisions for accessibility.

“This whole issue was absolutely ridiculous to start out with. It shouldn’t matter if you need assistance returning your ballot,” said Stacy Ellingen.

Ellingen, 37, has athetoid spastic cerebral palsy because of complications at birth. She lives in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and with no accessible transportation options, absentee voting is the only way she can cast a ballot. She said if it weren't for the ruling handed down two weeks ago, she wouldn’t have been able to vote this fall.

“I’m not going to risk having caregivers get in trouble for putting my ballot in the mailbox. Especially when we have such a caregiver shortage,” she said.

Republican lawmakers have yet to offer any resistance to the Wisconsin ruling. But Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a law firm that frequently litigates for conservative causes, raised concern that the ruling could perpetuate fraud. They&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-local-government-and-politics-1bd0daaa574ed675bbaea50e46465eb6">unsuccessfully pressed the Wisconsin Elections Commission to require anyone returning a ballot on someone else’s behalf to sign a statement</a>&nbsp;saying the voter has a disability and requires assistance.

Davidson, of the American Association of People with Disabilities, called the argument that voter assistance will lead to fraud “simply inaccurate, and motivated by anti-democratic interests.”

Martha Chambers was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident 27 years ago. She uses her mouth to hold pens, paintbrushes and mouth sticks, which allow her to use a computer. Chambers also relies on a power wheelchair to get around.

Because she can't use her arms, she's unable to return her own ballot to a mailbox or polling location. A caregiver returned her ballot in Wisconsin's August primary, and Chambers said she joined the lawsuit so it wouldn't be illegal in future elections for caregivers to give such help.

“Why did we even have to go through all of this to begin with? Our lives are difficult enough with the challenges that we have on a daily basis,” she said.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Trudy Le Beau has voted in every major election since she turned 18 — a half-century of civic participation that has gotten increasingly difficult as her multiple sclerosis progressed. Now, with no use of her arms or legs, the Wisconsin woman relies on her husband to help her fill out and return a ballot.This year, it seemed for the first time that the 68-year-old would have to choose between her physical health and voting.After the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-donald-trump-wisconsin-supreme-court-05166e3f3ef970b5cde8ac15cd30e18b">Wisconsin Supreme Court outlawed ballot drop boxes</a>&nbsp;in July, the state’s top election official cited a state law that said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-government-and-politics-6d1a8a842cd1ce0c3c8419c4de5b9bdc">voters had to place their own absentee ballots in the mail</a>&nbsp;or return them to clerks in person.“I certainly don’t want to send my husband to jail because he put my ballot in the mailbox,” Le Beau said. “I would have to find some way of putting my ballot in my teeth and carrying it to the clerk’s office.”Fortunately for Le Beau, she and other Wisconsin voters with disabilities can get the help they need to return their ballots this November after a federal judge last month ruled that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-f8ae59479e831526265409268acd870b">the Voting Rights Act, which allows for voter assistance, trumps state law.</a>In other states, however, battles continue over ballot assistance and other voting laws that harm voters with disabilities. As voters push back, challenges have arisen in the past two years to laws and practices in at least eight states that make it difficult or impossible for people with certain disabilities to vote.A federal judge in June struck down voter assistance restrictions in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-texas-voting-laws-voting-rights-2def6b2ee8d6c313f2cae300c280f5aa">sweeping changes to election laws passed by Texas Republicans</a>&nbsp;last year that in part limited the help that voters with disabilities or limited English proficiency could get. Under the law, a voter could only receive assistance reading or marking a ballot, not returning one.In July in North Carolina,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-2022-midterm-elections-health-north-carolina-86736b3a9363e8b68db42b136123413f">a federal judge blocked state laws</a>&nbsp;that limited people with disabilities to receiving ballot assistance only from a close relative or legal guardian. Restrictions on ballot assistance still stand in several other states, including Kansas, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri. In Missouri, an ongoing lawsuit challenges a 1977 state law that says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-2022-midterm-elections-missouri-cc1d4cdae6cfed7c3ab04b37b87e4074">no one can assist more than one voter per election</a>.A Kansas judge in April&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-lawsuits-kansas-aa6e7891d356fd633ac1e75545d73454">dismissed parts of a lawsuit challenging voter assistance restrictions</a>, saying the state’s interest in preventing voter fraud outweighed concerns about voters who may not get the assistance they need.But such anti-fraud measures — a major push by Republicans since former President Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election in 2020 — don't affect everyone equally.“Voting restrictions aimed at the general public can have a disparate impact on people with disabilities,” said Jess Davidson, communications director for the American Association of People with Disabilities.Voters and state agencies in Alaska, New York and Alabama have also raised challenges to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-government-and-politics-congress-1878d5c19609c8474bdace46dafd50b9">absentee voting programs that don’t provide accessible ballots</a>&nbsp;for people with visual impairments or disabilities that make it difficult to fill out a print ballot privately. Advocacy groups in New York reached a settlement in April that requires the state elections board to create a program for disabled voters to fill out and print accessible online ballots.Wisconsin voters with disabilities expressed frustration at having to fight for equal voting rights when federal law already lays out specific provisions for accessibility.“This whole issue was absolutely ridiculous to start out with. It shouldn’t matter if you need assistance returning your ballot,” said Stacy Ellingen.Ellingen, 37, has athetoid spastic cerebral palsy because of complications at birth. She lives in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and with no accessible transportation options, absentee voting is the only way she can cast a ballot. She said if it weren't for the ruling handed down two weeks ago, she wouldn’t have been able to vote this fall.“I’m not going to risk having caregivers get in trouble for putting my ballot in the mailbox. Especially when we have such a caregiver shortage,” she said.Republican lawmakers have yet to offer any resistance to the Wisconsin ruling. But Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a law firm that frequently litigates for conservative causes, raised concern that the ruling could perpetuate fraud. They&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-local-government-and-politics-1bd0daaa574ed675bbaea50e46465eb6">unsuccessfully pressed the Wisconsin Elections Commission to require anyone returning a ballot on someone else’s behalf to sign a statement</a>&nbsp;saying the voter has a disability and requires assistance.Davidson, of the American Association of People with Disabilities, called the argument that voter assistance will lead to fraud “simply inaccurate, and motivated by anti-democratic interests.”Martha Chambers was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident 27 years ago. She uses her mouth to hold pens, paintbrushes and mouth sticks, which allow her to use a computer. Chambers also relies on a power wheelchair to get around.Because she can't use her arms, she's unable to return her own ballot to a mailbox or polling location. A caregiver returned her ballot in Wisconsin's August primary, and Chambers said she joined the lawsuit so it wouldn't be illegal in future elections for caregivers to give such help.“Why did we even have to go through all of this to begin with? Our lives are difficult enough with the challenges that we have on a daily basis,” she said.____

Disabled voters win; legal fights in Kansas, elsewhere

GRANT COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday in Grant County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Kenworth semi driven by&nbsp; James Eugene Wilson, 74, Ulysses, was westbound on U.S. 160 fourteen miles west of Ulysses.&nbsp;

The semi rear-ended a 1982 Peterbilt semi driven by Vernal Keith&nbsp;Lattimore, 39, Ulysses, who was slowing to turn turn left onto Kansas 190.

EMS transported Wilson to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital. Lattimore was not injured. Both drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

GRANT COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday in Grant County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Kenworth semi driven by&nbsp; James Eugene Wilson, 74, Ulysses, was westbound on U.S. 160 fourteen miles west of Ulysses.&nbsp;The semi rear-ended a 1982 Peterbilt semi driven by Vernal Keith&nbsp;Lattimore, 39, Ulysses, who was slowing to turn turn left onto Kansas 190.EMS transported Wilson to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital. Lattimore was not injured. Both drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after semi rear-ends another semi

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A woman who was acquitted in July of killing her teenage daughter but convicted of abandoning the girl's corpse was sentenced Thursday but will be released from prison soon.

Rebecca Ruud was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-missouri-springfield-99ef9a559538610ac6a15215f28393b2">acquitted in the death of</a>&nbsp;16-year-old Savannah Leckie, who moved to Ruud's farm after leaving her adoptive home in Minnesota. Ruud gave the girl up for adoption as a baby.

But Ruud was convicted of abandoning the girl's corpse, which was found on a burn pile at Ruud's property on the Arkansas-Missouri border in July 2017.

She was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday and fined $5,000. But she will be given credit for the five years she has been in prison since her arrest, meaning she will be freed after prison officials process her release, the Springfield News-Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/2022/09/15/rebecca-ruud-sentenced-burning-her-daughters-remains-charges-dropped-husband/10378363002/">reported</a>.

During her trial, Ruud's attorneys argued that Leckie died by suicide and Ruud panicked and burned her body after finding her dead.

After the bench trial, Greene County Circuit Court Judge Calvin Holden ruled that the state did not present enough evidence to support a murder charge.

Murder charges against Ruud’s husband, Robert Peat Jr., were dismissed Thursday shortly before Ruud's sentencing.

Leckie's adoptive mother, Tamile Leckie-Montague, has said the girl&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/06c25302ea1f4efa92ac73c9cdb46a77">went to live with Ruud in 2016</a>&nbsp;because she was having behavioral problems.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659219812433.png" alt="Ruud-photo Greene Co." />
 <figcaption>Ruud-photo Greene Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A woman who was acquitted in July of killing her teenage daughter but convicted of abandoning the girl's corpse was sentenced Thursday but will be released from prison soon.Rebecca Ruud was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-missouri-springfield-99ef9a559538610ac6a15215f28393b2">acquitted in the death of</a>&nbsp;16-year-old Savannah Leckie, who moved to Ruud's farm after leaving her adoptive home in Minnesota. Ruud gave the girl up for adoption as a baby.But Ruud was convicted of abandoning the girl's corpse, which was found on a burn pile at Ruud's property on the Arkansas-Missouri border in July 2017.She was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday and fined $5,000. But she will be given credit for the five years she has been in prison since her arrest, meaning she will be freed after prison officials process her release, the Springfield News-Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/2022/09/15/rebecca-ruud-sentenced-burning-her-daughters-remains-charges-dropped-husband/10378363002/">reported</a>.During her trial, Ruud's attorneys argued that Leckie died by suicide and Ruud panicked and burned her body after finding her dead.After the bench trial, Greene County Circuit Court Judge Calvin Holden ruled that the state did not present enough evidence to support a murder charge.Murder charges against Ruud’s husband, Robert Peat Jr., were dismissed Thursday shortly before Ruud's sentencing.Leckie's adoptive mother, Tamile Leckie-Montague, has said the girl&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/06c25302ea1f4efa92ac73c9cdb46a77">went to live with Ruud in 2016</a>&nbsp;because she was having behavioral problems.

Woman acquitted of killing teen daughter to be free soon

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon after a violent altercation with a police officer.

Just after 2 p.m. Friday, an officer stopped a suspicious person walking along the road near SE 23rd and SE Minnesota for having an open container of beer, according to Police Sgt. Gene Dixon. During the stop, the man gave multiple fake names interfering with the officer’s investigation. 

Once the officer could identify the man’s true identity as 45-year-old Kevin N. Teeter Jr., the officer discovered that Teeter had multiple felony warrants for his arrest.

When the officer attempted to take Teeter into custody, Teeter drew a large “Samuraistyle knife,” causing an officer in danger call to be broadcast. The officer pulled out his weapon, and Teeter dropped the sword and ran into the backyard of a nearby house.

A struggle ensued between Teeter and the officer in the backyard. Teeter grabbed a brick and confronted the officer with it. Assisting officers arrived and used less-lethal beanbag rounds in an attempt to disarm Teeter. 

Police eventually took Teeter into custody. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to Dixon.

After he was medically cleared, detectives interviewed Teeter and then booked into the Shawnee County Department of requested charges of Two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Felony Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer, Fugitive from Justice, Outside Agency warrant, Violate offender registration act.

Teeter has previous convictions for rape, aggravated sexual battery and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663426613019.png" alt="Teeter has previous convictions for rape, aggravated sexual battery and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Teeter has previous convictions for rape, aggravated sexual battery and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon after a violent altercation with a police officer.Just after 2 p.m. Friday, an officer stopped a suspicious person walking along the road near SE 23rd and SE Minnesota for having an open container of beer, according to Police Sgt. Gene Dixon. During the stop, the man gave multiple fake names interfering with the officer’s investigation. Once the officer could identify the man’s true identity as 45-year-old Kevin N. Teeter Jr., the officer discovered that Teeter had multiple felony warrants for his arrest.When the officer attempted to take Teeter into custody, Teeter drew a large “Samuraistyle knife,” causing an officer in danger call to be broadcast. The officer pulled out his weapon, and Teeter dropped the sword and ran into the backyard of a nearby house.A struggle ensued between Teeter and the officer in the backyard. Teeter grabbed a brick and confronted the officer with it. Assisting officers arrived and used less-lethal beanbag rounds in an attempt to disarm Teeter. Police eventually took Teeter into custody. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to Dixon.After he was medically cleared, detectives interviewed Teeter and then booked into the Shawnee County Department of requested charges of Two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Felony Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer, Fugitive from Justice, Outside Agency warrant, Violate offender registration act.Teeter has previous convictions for rape, aggravated sexual battery and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Police: Kan. sex offender was armed with 'samurai-style' knife

KINGMAN COUNTY — Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment complex fire in Kingman.

Just before 8:30 a.m. Saturday, fire crews responded to the Eagle Acres apartment complex, 501 N. Thompson Street in Kingman, according to a media release.

EMS transported one person to a local hospital for treatment.

The American Red Cross and other local organizations are on hand to assist displaced residents.

The Kingman Fire Department, Kingman Police Department, Kingman County Sheriff’s Office, Kingman EMS, Norwich Fire Department, Cheney Fire Department, Cunningham Fire Department, Kingman Health Department, Kingman Emergency Management, Pratt Emergency Management, and Rice County Emergency Management all responded to the fire to assist.

KINGMAN COUNTY — Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment complex fire in Kingman.Just before 8:30 a.m. Saturday, fire crews responded to the Eagle Acres apartment complex, 501 N. Thompson Street in Kingman, according to a media release.EMS transported one person to a local hospital for treatment.The American Red Cross and other local organizations are on hand to assist displaced residents.The Kingman Fire Department, Kingman Police Department, Kingman County Sheriff’s Office, Kingman EMS, Norwich Fire Department, Cheney Fire Department, Cunningham Fire Department, Kingman Health Department, Kingman Emergency Management, Pratt Emergency Management, and Rice County Emergency Management all responded to the fire to assist.

Cause of Kansas apartment building fire under investigation 

What is the right age to begin giving children an allowance?

In my mind, there’s never a right time to give kids an allowance. Instead, work out a plan to pay them&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/relationships/why-kids-need-value-hard-work?int_cmpgn=no_campaign&amp;int_dept=dr_blog_bu&amp;int_lctn=Blog-Text_Link&amp;int_fmt=text&amp;int_dscpn=ways_to_teach_kids_about_money_blog-inline_link_why_kids_need_value_hard_work">commissions</a>, and assign them age-appropriate weekly chores.

This can be done with very simple tasks starting at an early age. When the work gets done, they get paid. If they don’t do the work, guess what? They don’t get paid. This helps teach them a healthy work ethic,&nbsp;and&nbsp;it introduces them to the idea that work creates money.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Simply&nbsp;giving&nbsp;kids money is a sure way to plant the seeds of entitlement in a young mind. You don’t want your kids growing up with the idea they deserve money simply because they’re alive. Of course, there are things kids should be expected to do without pay, too. When you’re part of a family, everyone needs to understand they have a responsibility to pitch in and help out sometimes!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648177011035.png" alt="Dave Ramsey&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,What is the right age to begin giving children an allowance?BenDear Ben,In my mind, there’s never a right time to give kids an allowance. Instead, work out a plan to pay them&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/relationships/why-kids-need-value-hard-work?int_cmpgn=no_campaign&amp;int_dept=dr_blog_bu&amp;int_lctn=Blog-Text_Link&amp;int_fmt=text&amp;int_dscpn=ways_to_teach_kids_about_money_blog-inline_link_why_kids_need_value_hard_work">commissions</a>, and assign them age-appropriate weekly chores.This can be done with very simple tasks starting at an early age. When the work gets done, they get paid. If they don’t do the work, guess what? They don’t get paid. This helps teach them a healthy work ethic,&nbsp;and&nbsp;it introduces them to the idea that work creates money.&nbsp;&nbsp;Simply&nbsp;giving&nbsp;kids money is a sure way to plant the seeds of entitlement in a young mind. You don’t want your kids growing up with the idea they deserve money simply because they’re alive. Of course, there are things kids should be expected to do without pay, too. When you’re part of a family, everyone needs to understand they have a responsibility to pitch in and help out sometimes!— Dave

DAVE SAYS: Commission, not allowance

HUTCHINSON — The Kansas State Fair Board heard a presentation from Tom Thebault with North American Midway Entertainment Saturday morning.&nbsp;

"We were like $9000 off from last year's Friday, but certainly up from 2019," Thebault said. "We hit the million dollar mark and we've got two days to go."

Thebault always supplements his traveling crew with local people, but said he probably didn't hire enough. He also said the traveling crew is really top notch this year.

"They do a great job representing us on the rides," Thebault said. "They also do a great job getting us moved. Some years, that doesn't happen so well."

There are two income thresholds where the company gives money back to the board for improvements in that area of the fairgrounds. They are at $1 million and $1.5 million in sales. The carnival set a record in 2021 at $1.7 million.&nbsp;

"I like what you are doing with the new blacktop surface," Thebault said. "It looks great, you know?"

He'd like to see work continue on that, if possible. The board also said earlier this week that they'd like to work on getting additional shade available on the midway in future years.

NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON — The Kansas State Fair Board heard a presentation from Tom Thebault with North American Midway Entertainment Saturday morning.&nbsp;"We were like $9000 off from last year's Friday, but certainly up from 2019," Thebault said. "We hit the million dollar mark and we've got two days to go."Thebault always supplements his traveling crew with local people, but said he probably didn't hire enough. He also said the traveling crew is really top notch this year."They do a great job representing us on the rides," Thebault said. "They also do a great job getting us moved. Some years, that doesn't happen so well."There are two income thresholds where the company gives money back to the board for improvements in that area of the fairgrounds. They are at $1 million and $1.5 million in sales. The carnival set a record in 2021 at $1.7 million.&nbsp;"I like what you are doing with the new blacktop surface," Thebault said. "It looks great, you know?"He'd like to see work continue on that, if possible. The board also said earlier this week that they'd like to work on getting additional shade available on the midway in future years.

Kansas State Fair carnival passes million dollar mark for 2022

SEDGWICK COUNY—One person died in an accident just after 3:30a.m. Friday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Malibu driven by&nbsp; Shanlie Tatyana&nbsp;Smiley, 28, Wichita, was northbound on Interstate 135 at 45th Street.

 The vehicle left the roadway on the right, bounced off the guardrail, traveled back across the interstate, left the roadway on the left and struck a cement bridge pillar in the center median. 

The vehicle came to rest in the center median. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt. Airbags deployed and the driver was trapped in the vehicle.&nbsp;

Smiley was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Sedgwick County Forensics Science Center.&nbsp;

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the vehicle was&nbsp;northbound on Interstate 135 at 45th Street.

The vehicle came to rest in the center median. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt. Airbags deployed and the driver was trapped in the vehicle. The accident remains under investigation. 

Early Saturday the KHP still had not released the name of the driver or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663347967263.png" alt="photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNY—One person died in an accident just after 3:30a.m. Friday in Sedgwick County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Malibu driven by&nbsp; Shanlie Tatyana&nbsp;Smiley, 28, Wichita, was northbound on Interstate 135 at 45th Street. The vehicle left the roadway on the right, bounced off the guardrail, traveled back across the interstate, left the roadway on the left and struck a cement bridge pillar in the center median. The vehicle came to rest in the center median. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt. Airbags deployed and the driver was trapped in the vehicle.&nbsp;Smiley was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Sedgwick County Forensics Science Center.&nbsp;----SEDGWICK COUNY—One person died in an accident just after 3:30a.m. Friday in Sedgwick County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the vehicle was&nbsp;northbound on Interstate 135 at 45th Street. The vehicle left the roadway on the right, bounced off the guardrail, traveled back across the interstate, left the roadway on the left and struck a cement bridge pillar in the center median. The vehicle came to rest in the center median. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt. Airbags deployed and the driver was trapped in the vehicle. The accident remains under investigation. Early Saturday the KHP still had not released the name of the driver or additional details.

KHP IDs Kan. woman who died after trapped in vehicle after crash

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The ride-hailing service Uber said Friday that all its services were operational following what security professionals are calling a major data breach, claiming there was no evidence the hacker got access to sensitive user data.

But the breach, apparently by a lone hacker, put the spotlight on an increasingly effective break-in routine involving social engineering: The hacker apparently gained access posing as a colleague, tricking an Uber employee into surrendering their credentials.

They were then able to locate passwords on the network that got them the level of privileged access reserved for system administrators.

The potential damage was serious: Screenshots the hacker shared with security researchers indicate they obtained full access to the cloud-based systems where Uber stores sensitive customer and financial data.

It is not known how much data the hacker stole or how long they were inside Uber's network. Two researchers who communicated directly with the person — who self-identified as an 18-year-old to one of them — said they appeared interested in publicity. There was no indication they destroyed data.

But files shared with the researchers and posted widely on Twitter and other social media indicated the hacker was able to access Uber's most crucial internal systems.

“It was really bad the access he had. It's awful,” said Corben Leo, one of the researchers who chatted with the hacker online.

The cybersecurity community's online reaction — Uber also suffered a serious 2016 breach — was harsh.

The hack “wasn’t sophisticated or complicated and clearly hinged on multiple big systemic security culture and engineering failures,”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/hacks4pancakes/status/1570811890305236992?s=21&amp;t=CJgVgBWK99Zry08kKvWKNg">tweeted Lesley Carhart,</a>&nbsp;incident response director of Dragos Inc., which specializes in an industrial-control systems.

Leo said screenshots the hacker shared showed the intruder got access to systems stored on Amazon and Google cloud-based servers where Uber keeps source code, financial data and customer data such as driver's licenses.

“If he had keys to the kingdom he could start stopping services. He could delete stuff. He could download customer data, change people’s passwords,” said Leo, a researcher and head of business development at the security company Zellic.

Screenshots the hacker shared — many of which found their way online — showed sensitive financial data and internal databases accessed. Also widely circulating online: The hacker announcing the breach Thursday on Uber's internal Slack collaboration system.

Leo, along with Sam Curry, an engineer with Yuga Labs who also communicated with the hacker, said there was no indication that the hacker had done any damage or was interested in anything more than publicity.

“It’s pretty clear he’s a young hacker because he wants what 99% of what young hackers want, which is fame,” Leo said.

Curry said he spoke to several Uber employees Thursday who said they were “working to lock down everything internally” to restrict the hacker’s access. That included the San Francisco company’s Slack network, he said.

<a href="https://www.uber.com/newsroom/security-update/">In a statement posted online Friday,</a>&nbsp;Uber said “internal software tools that we took down as a precaution yesterday are coming back online.”

It said all its services — including Uber Eats and Uber Freight — were operational and that it had notified law enforcement. The FBI said via email that it is "aware of the cyber incident involving Uber, and our assistance to the company is ongoing.”

Uber said there was no evidence that the intruder accessed “sensitive user data” such as trip history but did not respond to questions from The Associated Press including about whether data was stored encrypted.

Curry and Leo said the hacker did not indicate how much data was copied. Uber did not recommend any specific actions for its users, such as changing passwords.

The hacker alerted the researchers to the intrusion Thursday by using an internal Uber account on the company’s network&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/samwcyo/status/1570577801790783493?">used to post vulnerabilities identified through its bug-bounty program,</a>&nbsp;which pays ethical hackers to ferret out network weaknesses.

After commenting on those posts, the hacker provided a Telegram account address. Curry and other researchers then engaged them in a separate conversation, where the intruder provided the screenshots as proof.

The AP attempted to contact the hacker at the Telegram account, but received no response.

Screenshots posted online appeared to confirm what the researchers said the hacker claimed: That they obtained privileged access to Uber’s most critical systems through social engineering.

The hacker first obtained the password of an Uber employee, likely through phishing. The hacker then bombarded the employee with push notifications asking they confirm a remote log-in to their account. When the employee did not respond, the hacker reached out via WhatsApp, posing as a fellow worker from the IT department and expressing urgency. Ultimately, the employee caved and confirmed with a mouse click.

Social engineering is a popular hacking strategy, as humans tend to be the weakest link in any network. Teenagers used it in 2020 to hack Twitter and it has more recently been used in hacks of the tech companies Twilio and Cloudflare, said Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security, which specializes in training workers not to fall victim to social engineering.

“The hard truth is that most orgs in the world could be hacked in the exact way Uber was just hacked,” Tobac tweeted. In an interview, she said “even super tech savvy people fall for social engineering methods every day.”

“Attackers are getting better at by-passing or hi-jacking MFA (multi-factor authentication),” said Ryan Sherstobitoff, a senior threat analyst at SecurityScorecard.

That's why many security professionals advocate the use of so-called FIDO physical security keys for user authentication. Adoption of such hardware has been spotty among tech companies, however.

The hack also highlighted the need for real-time monitoring in cloud-based systems to better detect intruders, said Tom Kellermann of Contrast Security. “Much more attention must be paid to protecting clouds from within” because a single master key can typically unlock all their doors.

Some experts questioned how much cybersecurity has improved at Uber&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-hacking-ap-top-news-dara-khosrowshahi-ca-state-wire-7da55d8ee5b04db8835d9abd71976349">since it was hacked in 2016.</a>

Its former chief security officer, Joseph Sullivan, is currently on trial for allegedly arranging to pay hackers $100,000 to cover up that high-tech heist, when the personal information of about 57 million customers and drivers was stolen.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663430102762.png" alt="The potential damage was serious: Screenshots the hacker shared with security researchers indicate they obtained full access to the cloud-based systems where Uber stores sensitive customer and financial data-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The potential damage was serious: Screenshots the hacker shared with security researchers indicate they obtained full access to the cloud-based systems where Uber stores sensitive customer and financial data-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The ride-hailing service Uber said Friday that all its services were operational following what security professionals are calling a major data breach, claiming there was no evidence the hacker got access to sensitive user data.But the breach, apparently by a lone hacker, put the spotlight on an increasingly effective break-in routine involving social engineering: The hacker apparently gained access posing as a colleague, tricking an Uber employee into surrendering their credentials.They were then able to locate passwords on the network that got them the level of privileged access reserved for system administrators.The potential damage was serious: Screenshots the hacker shared with security researchers indicate they obtained full access to the cloud-based systems where Uber stores sensitive customer and financial data.It is not known how much data the hacker stole or how long they were inside Uber's network. Two researchers who communicated directly with the person — who self-identified as an 18-year-old to one of them — said they appeared interested in publicity. There was no indication they destroyed data.But files shared with the researchers and posted widely on Twitter and other social media indicated the hacker was able to access Uber's most crucial internal systems.“It was really bad the access he had. It's awful,” said Corben Leo, one of the researchers who chatted with the hacker online.The cybersecurity community's online reaction — Uber also suffered a serious 2016 breach — was harsh.The hack “wasn’t sophisticated or complicated and clearly hinged on multiple big systemic security culture and engineering failures,”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/hacks4pancakes/status/1570811890305236992?s=21&amp;t=CJgVgBWK99Zry08kKvWKNg">tweeted Lesley Carhart,</a>&nbsp;incident response director of Dragos Inc., which specializes in an industrial-control systems.Leo said screenshots the hacker shared showed the intruder got access to systems stored on Amazon and Google cloud-based servers where Uber keeps source code, financial data and customer data such as driver's licenses.“If he had keys to the kingdom he could start stopping services. He could delete stuff. He could download customer data, change people’s passwords,” said Leo, a researcher and head of business development at the security company Zellic.Screenshots the hacker shared — many of which found their way online — showed sensitive financial data and internal databases accessed. Also widely circulating online: The hacker announcing the breach Thursday on Uber's internal Slack collaboration system.Leo, along with Sam Curry, an engineer with Yuga Labs who also communicated with the hacker, said there was no indication that the hacker had done any damage or was interested in anything more than publicity.“It’s pretty clear he’s a young hacker because he wants what 99% of what young hackers want, which is fame,” Leo said.Curry said he spoke to several Uber employees Thursday who said they were “working to lock down everything internally” to restrict the hacker’s access. That included the San Francisco company’s Slack network, he said.<a href="https://www.uber.com/newsroom/security-update/">In a statement posted online Friday,</a>&nbsp;Uber said “internal software tools that we took down as a precaution yesterday are coming back online.”It said all its services — including Uber Eats and Uber Freight — were operational and that it had notified law enforcement. The FBI said via email that it is "aware of the cyber incident involving Uber, and our assistance to the company is ongoing.”Uber said there was no evidence that the intruder accessed “sensitive user data” such as trip history but did not respond to questions from The Associated Press including about whether data was stored encrypted.Curry and Leo said the hacker did not indicate how much data was copied. Uber did not recommend any specific actions for its users, such as changing passwords.The hacker alerted the researchers to the intrusion Thursday by using an internal Uber account on the company’s network&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/samwcyo/status/1570577801790783493?">used to post vulnerabilities identified through its bug-bounty program,</a>&nbsp;which pays ethical hackers to ferret out network weaknesses.After commenting on those posts, the hacker provided a Telegram account address. Curry and other researchers then engaged them in a separate conversation, where the intruder provided the screenshots as proof.The AP attempted to contact the hacker at the Telegram account, but received no response.Screenshots posted online appeared to confirm what the researchers said the hacker claimed: That they obtained privileged access to Uber’s most critical systems through social engineering.The apparent scenario:The hacker first obtained the password of an Uber employee, likely through phishing. The hacker then bombarded the employee with push notifications asking they confirm a remote log-in to their account. When the employee did not respond, the hacker reached out via WhatsApp, posing as a fellow worker from the IT department and expressing urgency. Ultimately, the employee caved and confirmed with a mouse click.Social engineering is a popular hacking strategy, as humans tend to be the weakest link in any network. Teenagers used it in 2020 to hack Twitter and it has more recently been used in hacks of the tech companies Twilio and Cloudflare, said Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security, which specializes in training workers not to fall victim to social engineering.“The hard truth is that most orgs in the world could be hacked in the exact way Uber was just hacked,” Tobac tweeted. In an interview, she said “even super tech savvy people fall for social engineering methods every day.”“Attackers are getting better at by-passing or hi-jacking MFA (multi-factor authentication),” said Ryan Sherstobitoff, a senior threat analyst at SecurityScorecard.That's why many security professionals advocate the use of so-called FIDO physical security keys for user authentication. Adoption of such hardware has been spotty among tech companies, however.The hack also highlighted the need for real-time monitoring in cloud-based systems to better detect intruders, said Tom Kellermann of Contrast Security. “Much more attention must be paid to protecting clouds from within” because a single master key can typically unlock all their doors.Some experts questioned how much cybersecurity has improved at Uber&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-hacking-ap-top-news-dara-khosrowshahi-ca-state-wire-7da55d8ee5b04db8835d9abd71976349">since it was hacked in 2016.</a>Its former chief security officer, Joseph Sullivan, is currently on trial for allegedly arranging to pay hackers $100,000 to cover up that high-tech heist, when the personal information of about 57 million customers and drivers was stolen.___

Serious breach at Uber spotlights hacker social deception

We are ready to start Baby Step 2, and we have about $35,000 in total debt. Our two smallest debts, a credit card and a truck we financed, are both $4,500 right now, and we have a combined income of about $95,000 a year. Since the credit card has a higher interest rate, my wife thinks we should pay it off first. To me, the truck is a necessity, and we should pay it off first for that reason. What do you say?

When the rule of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator">paying off debts</a>&nbsp;from smallest to largest doesn’t apply, I think you should attack the one with the larger interest rate first. In your case, that’d be the credit card debt.

I get what you’re saying about the truck. And I agree that transportation is a necessity. You guys might be in a bind if something happened and you lost a vehicle, but it’s also a situation you could probably work around for a little while if you had no choice. My guess is you have friends or relatives who could loan you a car in a pinch, and public transportation is an option for some folks. So yeah, knock out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/the-truth-about-credit-card-debt">credit card</a>&nbsp;first, then move on to the truck.&nbsp;

Do you understand my reasoning, Grant? Going this route serves two purposes: First, it will save you a little money. And second, I’ve got a feeling it will fire up your wife, and get her on board with the idea of you two getting your finances in order even more than she already is.

She’s taking this whole thing pretty seriously if she’s eyeballing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/rising-interest-rates">interest rates</a>, buddy. She loves the thought of you two having control of your money. Use this momentum to work together as a team, and knock out that debt!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648177011035.png" alt="Dave Ramsey&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,We are ready to start Baby Step 2, and we have about $35,000 in total debt. Our two smallest debts, a credit card and a truck we financed, are both $4,500 right now, and we have a combined income of about $95,000 a year. Since the credit card has a higher interest rate, my wife thinks we should pay it off first. To me, the truck is a necessity, and we should pay it off first for that reason. What do you say?GrantDear Grant,When the rule of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator">paying off debts</a>&nbsp;from smallest to largest doesn’t apply, I think you should attack the one with the larger interest rate first. In your case, that’d be the credit card debt.I get what you’re saying about the truck. And I agree that transportation is a necessity. You guys might be in a bind if something happened and you lost a vehicle, but it’s also a situation you could probably work around for a little while if you had no choice. My guess is you have friends or relatives who could loan you a car in a pinch, and public transportation is an option for some folks. So yeah, knock out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/the-truth-about-credit-card-debt">credit card</a>&nbsp;first, then move on to the truck.&nbsp;Do you understand my reasoning, Grant? Going this route serves two purposes: First, it will save you a little money. And second, I’ve got a feeling it will fire up your wife, and get her on board with the idea of you two getting your finances in order even more than she already is.She’s taking this whole thing pretty seriously if she’s eyeballing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/rising-interest-rates">interest rates</a>, buddy. She loves the thought of you two having control of your money. Use this momentum to work together as a team, and knock out that debt!— Dave<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is an eight-time national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of&nbsp;The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: Use that momentum to win!

GRANT COUNTY– A Kansas man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison on five charges for crimes committed in 2018 with a deadly weapon, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Francisco Beltran, 30, of Ulysses, was sentenced this week in Grant County District Court by Judge Clinton Peterson on one count each of robbery, aggravated assault, criminal possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and contributing to a child’s misconduct. 

Beltran was sentenced to 192 months in a Kansas Department of Corrections facility and will be required to register as a violent as a violent offender for 15 years upon his release.

The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Ulysses Police Department. The crimes occurred on or about August 18, 2018.

In August of 2021, Beltran escaped from the Grant County Jail. He was captured a few days later.

Beltran has three previous convictions for burglary, for theft and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630284674934.png" alt="Beltran-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Beltran-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>GRANT COUNTY– A Kansas man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison on five charges for crimes committed in 2018 with a deadly weapon, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.Francisco Beltran, 30, of Ulysses, was sentenced this week in Grant County District Court by Judge Clinton Peterson on one count each of robbery, aggravated assault, criminal possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and contributing to a child’s misconduct. Beltran was sentenced to 192 months in a Kansas Department of Corrections facility and will be required to register as a violent as a violent offender for 15 years upon his release.The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Ulysses Police Department. The crimes occurred on or about August 18, 2018.In August of 2021, Beltran escaped from the Grant County Jail. He was captured a few days later.Beltran has three previous convictions for burglary, for theft and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

Kan. man who escaped from jail, sentenced for multiple crimes

HASKELL COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are alerting residents in southwest Kansas of "not so counterfeit money" making its way around, according to a social media report from the Haskell County Sheriff's office.

These bills clearly state “For Motion Picture Purposes” or “Copy Money” but, are very realistic. 

"Persons and businesses please be vigilant when accepting cash," the sheriff's office reminded.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663241582353.png" alt="Photo Haskell County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Haskell County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>HASKELL COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are alerting residents in southwest Kansas of "not so counterfeit money" making its way around, according to a social media report from the Haskell County Sheriff's office.These bills clearly state “For Motion Picture Purposes” or “Copy Money” but, are very realistic. "Persons and businesses please be vigilant when accepting cash," the sheriff's office reminded.&nbsp;

Sheriff alerts citizens to more counterfeit cash in Kansas

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;During a state visit from a Taiwanese delegation, officials from the east Asian country agreed to purchase 66 million bushels of wheat from U.S. farmers over the next two years. The grain deal, which is worth approximately $576 million, will be fulfilled significantly by Kansas wheat farms.&nbsp;

The Kansas Departments of Agriculture and Commerce jointly hosted a Taiwanese Wheat Procurement Signing Ceremony at the Kansas Capitol today as part of the current Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission. Representatives from the&nbsp;Taiwan Flour Mills Association (TFMA) and Taipei Economic &amp; Cultural Office (TECO) were included in the event.&nbsp;

“Through strong partners like Taiwan, Kansas is indeed feeding the world,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Last year, Kansas’ agriculture exports surpassed $5 billion for the first time in history. Our farmers, ranchers and producers are contributing mightily to the state economy – and solidifying our status as a global powerhouse in agriculture.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663353713108.png" alt="“We are sincerely grateful for our continued partnership with the Taiwanese people and their commitment to purchase wheat from Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland" />
 <figcaption>“We are sincerely grateful for our continued partnership with the Taiwanese people and their commitment to purchase wheat from Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;During a state visit from a Taiwanese delegation, officials from the east Asian country agreed to purchase 66 million bushels of wheat from U.S. farmers over the next two years. The grain deal, which is worth approximately $576 million, will be fulfilled significantly by Kansas wheat farms.&nbsp;The Kansas Departments of Agriculture and Commerce jointly hosted a Taiwanese Wheat Procurement Signing Ceremony at the Kansas Capitol today as part of the current Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission. Representatives from the&nbsp;Taiwan Flour Mills Association (TFMA) and Taipei Economic &amp; Cultural Office (TECO) were included in the event.&nbsp;“Through strong partners like Taiwan, Kansas is indeed feeding the world,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Last year, Kansas’ agriculture exports surpassed $5 billion for the first time in history. Our farmers, ranchers and producers are contributing mightily to the state economy – and solidifying our status as a global powerhouse in agriculture.”&nbsp;Since 1998, Taiwan has dispatched a total of 13 agricultural trade missions to the U.S. in an effort to strengthen trade relations. This year’s mission included a to visit Washington, D.C. and select agricultural states, including Kansas, to demonstrate Taiwan’s intention to continue purchasing quality wheat from the United States.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We are sincerely grateful for our continued partnership with the Taiwanese people and their commitment to purchase wheat from Kansas,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Taiwan continues to be a significant partner in many of our export markets, including wheat, soybeans, aircraft and aerospace components, to name a few. We value our relationship and will continue to pursue even more mutually beneficial opportunities moving forward.”&nbsp;The TFMA and the Kansas Wheat Commission signed a joint letter of intent this morning related to Taiwan’s purchase of 66 million bushels of wheat in 2023 and 2024. While a significant portion of this commitment will be from Kansas farmers, the terms, quantities, prices and conditions for the purchase and sale of wheat will be negotiated privately between the individual importers and suppliers.&nbsp;In 2021, Taiwan was the fifth largest export market for Kansas agricultural commodities – with the procurement of more than $224 million of Kansas agricultural goods including beef, oilseeds, cereal grains and wheat flour.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Kansas values its economic and agricultural trade relations with Taiwan. This goodwill mission showcases the close relationship that has developed between Kansas and Taiwan over decades of agricultural trade,”&nbsp;Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam said. “We give heartfelt thanks to the representatives from TECO and the Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission for spending time in Kansas. These agricultural purchase commitments will directly benefit Kansas farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities across our state.”&nbsp;Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Missions take place every two years and demonstrate Taiwanese consumers’ preference for top-quality U.S. agricultural products.&nbsp;&nbsp;