SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man died just after 4p.m. Tuesday in Sedgwick County.

According to Wichita Police Officer&nbsp;Juan Rebolledo, a moped driven by 33-year-old&nbsp; Kiefer Goseland of Wichita was northbound in the 3800 Block of South Hoover Road. He lost control of the vehicle. 

The moped struck a utility pole and Goseland was ejected.&nbsp; Sedgwick County EMS pronounced him deceased on the scene.

Speed, drugs, or alcohol are not believed to be a factor in the accident, according to Rebolledo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656528862216.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the fatal crash-photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the fatal crash-photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man died just after 4p.m. Tuesday in Sedgwick County.According to Wichita Police Officer&nbsp;Juan Rebolledo, a moped driven by 33-year-old&nbsp; Kiefer Goseland of Wichita was northbound in the 3800 Block of South Hoover Road. He lost control of the vehicle. The moped struck a utility pole and Goseland was ejected.&nbsp; Sedgwick County EMS pronounced him deceased on the scene.Speed, drugs, or alcohol are not believed to be a factor in the accident, according to Rebolledo.

Police: Kansas man dies after moped strikes a utility pole

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/29/kansas-veterans-and-legislators-wary-of-proposal-to-close-va-clinics-and-cut-emergency-services/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — When retired U.S. Army 
Col. Lynn Rolf enlisted and went to war, the federal government made a 
promise it would take care of his medical needs.

Rolf, who began his 31 years of military service in 1970 in Vietnam, 
says he is still fighting the battle to ensure that commitment is 
fulfilled and veterans’ medical services remain in place. Recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.va.gov/AIRCOMMISSIONREPORT/docs/VISN15-Market-Recommendation.pdf">recommendations from the Department of Veteran Affairs</a>
 to the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission suggesting an 
overhaul of its health network are the equivalent of reneging on that 
promise, Rolf said.

“In my personal experience, VA care is pretty darn good,” Rolf said. 
“But I’m used to fighting bureaucracies and and it’s easy for me to when
 someone tells me ‘No, you can’t do this can’t do that’ I don’t take 
that as an answer.”

On Monday, Rolf and fellow veterans opposing these changes gained a 
key victory after a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including the 
chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.legion.org/veteranshealthcare/256113/senators-announce-they-will-block-air-commission">announced plans to block the AIR Commission</a>,
 citing a flawed process. A 2018 law&nbsp; signed by President Donald Trump 
requires the VA to submit plans to the commission, after which AIR would
 forward recommendations to Congress for consideration.

A dozen senators said they will not approve the commission’s creation
 by refusing to approve President Joe Biden’s nominations to the panel, 
in part because of “unworkable” and controversial recommendations. The 
VA proposal sought to close 172 of more than 800 clinics nationwide and,
 among changes in Kansas, reduce capacity or stop certain emergency 
services in several locations.

In the northeast part of the state, where most of the approximately 
221,000 veterans living in the state reside, the plan would discontinue 
emergency inpatient medical and outpatient surgical services at the 
Topeka medical center. In Leavenworth, a 23-bed inpatient center would 
become a 12-bed observational hospital, while a new outpatient facility 
would be built on campus.

This is not the first time someone has proposed ceasing inpatient 
emergency services at these facilities, but Rolf said it presented 
another serious challenge. Just recently, he needed a boil removed, but 
his primary care physician was not licensed for the same services as his
 local VA facility.

Without veteran-oriented emergency services, many would need to find 
treatment at conventional medical centers and hospitals, often racking 
up expenses.

“Most of our veterans that don’t have the financial capabilities just
 go without treatment, and that just makes it worse,” Rolf said. “All of
 a sudden, now they got to go to a lifesaving procedure, or they don’t 
receive any treatment at all and end up dying, which is even worse.”

The U.S. Senators’ move all but ends five years of efforts to cut back the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2022/05/26/sweeping-changes-to-vas-medical-facilities-across-america-on-hold-due-to-missing-nominee/">VA footprint across the country.</a>
 Those in on the deal to block the commission could still change their 
mind but for now, the recommendations will not move forward in the 
process.

In the report, the VA said the overhaul would help address recruitment challenges and lower demand for services in some areas.

“Currently, most ED visits occur on weekdays during the hours of 8:00
 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and most are low to moderate complexity with only 
7,638 visits in FY 2019,” the VA recommendations said of the Leavenworth
 facility.

“Maintaining ED services at the Topeka VAMC is no longer sustainable 
due to small and decreasing demand and provider recruitment challenges,”
 the report continued. “Replacing the ED with an urgent care center will
 provide the appropriate level of care for the Veteran population.”

According to the VA recommendations, neither the Leavenworth nor the 
Topeka medical centers meet current design standards, and facility 
condition assessment deficiencies are about $199 million and $141 
million, respectively.

But&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/manchin-rounds-heinrich-capito-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-eliminate-the-va-air-commission">national</a>
 and state legislators said these suggested changes were skewed against 
rural states. Rep. Pat Proctor, a Fort Leavenworth Republican and Army 
veteran who led teams in Iraq and Afghanistan, said recommendations 
based on data leave out real-life effects on those who need those 
services.

“I feel like the rug was pulled out from under us,” Proctor said 
earlier this month. “Weigh the recommendations against the violence it 
will do to people’s lives. I hope that they will come back and talk to 
us before they rip vital health care services out of our community.”

Proctor noted the recommendations could also harm a planned veterans’
 home in northeast Kansas. A bill providing further funding for the 
facility passed the Legislature and received the governor’s approval 
earlier this year, but he said the decision was predicated on the 
current level of VA services being available in the region.

“The Veterans’ Home for Northeast Kansas — funding for which I was 
able to finally get passed last session after years of empty promises — 
will be a long-term care facility for our most medically vulnerable 
veterans,” Proctor said. “It will be dependent on regional VA health 
care facilities to deal with emergent medical needs. Removing these 
hospital beds from our community puts those veterans at risk.”

The overhaul prompted protests in New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, 
Pennsylvania, South Dakota and West Virginia. Earlier this month, 
veterans and members of the American Federation of Government Employees 
District 9 union <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-06-07/closure-of-va-centers-in-the-region-could-mean-longer-waits-at-the-kansas-city-va">gathered at the Heartland VA Network in Kansas City, Missouri</a>, to protest changes in the region.

Sen. Brenda Dietrich, a Topeka Republican, echoed the same concerns 
Proctor had for her veteran constituents. Dietrich, who served on the 
Veterans and Military Committee while in the Statehouse, said she 
frequently heard from veterans that they needed care in an environment 
where they were the top priority.

“I think all of our veterans want to be valued,” Dietrich said. “From
 an efficiency standpoint, it probably makes sense if you are looking at
 the data. But from a care standpoint, I think it’s going to be very 
controversial and not well received by our community.”

However, additional recommendations may have provided increased 
services in other areas of the state, such as Wichita, where the VA 
suggested a strategic collaboration with the University of Kansas and 
affiliated community hospitals to add inpatient mental health services. 
Currently, the nearest facility offering these services is in Topeka, 
two hours away.

“The Wichita VAMC has reported holding four to six mental health 
patients in the inpatient medical and surgical unit at any given time, 
while waiting for community inpatient mental health beds to become 
available,” the VA report reads.

In addition, the VA recommended opening community-based outpatient 
clinics in Derby, Iola and West Wichita. But with those new clinics, the
 VA suggested closing CBOCs in Fort Scott, Chanute and Garnett because 
of proximity to new or existing facilities.

If the recommendations should resurface&nbsp; the capacity available would
 be able to support 100% of projected enrollee demand, per the VA. About
 173,500 veterans would be within 30 minutes of primary care via the VA 
or a community provider, and an additional 600 would be within an hour’s
 drive.

Sen. Tom Hawk, a Manhattan Democrat, said some give and take is 
always likely when trying to meet the needs of all patients. Some 
veterans he has spoken with in his community have expressed concerns 
about traveling long distances for services, which the new clinics could
 help mitigate.

“There is always a recognition that most people don’t like change, 
but it’s inevitable. I don’t think we should be afraid of change,” Hawk 
said. “But I do think part of our democratic process should be listening
 to all the people who are impacted by change.”

“So, how do you find that balance between offering the kind of service that’s efficient, affordable and effective?” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656521964680.png" alt="Under the recommendations made by the VA, the Topeka VA medical center would cease emergency, inpatient medical and outpatient surgical services. The facility in Leavenworth would also see a reduction from a 23-bed inpatients facility to a 12-bed observational hospital. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Under the recommendations made by the VA, the Topeka VA medical center would cease emergency, inpatient medical and outpatient surgical services. The facility in Leavenworth would also see a reduction from a 23-bed inpatients facility to a 12-bed observational hospital. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/29/kansas-veterans-and-legislators-wary-of-proposal-to-close-va-clinics-and-cut-emergency-services/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — When retired U.S. Army 
Col. Lynn Rolf enlisted and went to war, the federal government made a 
promise it would take care of his medical needs.Rolf, who began his 31 years of military service in 1970 in Vietnam, 
says he is still fighting the battle to ensure that commitment is 
fulfilled and veterans’ medical services remain in place. Recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.va.gov/AIRCOMMISSIONREPORT/docs/VISN15-Market-Recommendation.pdf">recommendations from the Department of Veteran Affairs</a>
 to the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission suggesting an 
overhaul of its health network are the equivalent of reneging on that 
promise, Rolf said.“In my personal experience, VA care is pretty darn good,” Rolf said. 
“But I’m used to fighting bureaucracies and and it’s easy for me to when
 someone tells me ‘No, you can’t do this can’t do that’ I don’t take 
that as an answer.”On Monday, Rolf and fellow veterans opposing these changes gained a 
key victory after a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including the 
chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.legion.org/veteranshealthcare/256113/senators-announce-they-will-block-air-commission">announced plans to block the AIR Commission</a>,
 citing a flawed process. A 2018 law&nbsp; signed by President Donald Trump 
requires the VA to submit plans to the commission, after which AIR would
 forward recommendations to Congress for consideration.A dozen senators said they will not approve the commission’s creation
 by refusing to approve President Joe Biden’s nominations to the panel, 
in part because of “unworkable” and controversial recommendations. The 
VA proposal sought to close 172 of more than 800 clinics nationwide and,
 among changes in Kansas, reduce capacity or stop certain emergency 
services in several locations.In the northeast part of the state, where most of the approximately 
221,000 veterans living in the state reside, the plan would discontinue 
emergency inpatient medical and outpatient surgical services at the 
Topeka medical center. In Leavenworth, a 23-bed inpatient center would 
become a 12-bed observational hospital, while a new outpatient facility 
would be built on campus.This is not the first time someone has proposed ceasing inpatient 
emergency services at these facilities, but Rolf said it presented 
another serious challenge. Just recently, he needed a boil removed, but 
his primary care physician was not licensed for the same services as his
 local VA facility.Without veteran-oriented emergency services, many would need to find 
treatment at conventional medical centers and hospitals, often racking 
up expenses.“Most of our veterans that don’t have the financial capabilities just
 go without treatment, and that just makes it worse,” Rolf said. “All of
 a sudden, now they got to go to a lifesaving procedure, or they don’t 
receive any treatment at all and end up dying, which is even worse.”The U.S. Senators’ move all but ends five years of efforts to cut back the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2022/05/26/sweeping-changes-to-vas-medical-facilities-across-america-on-hold-due-to-missing-nominee/">VA footprint across the country.</a>
 Those in on the deal to block the commission could still change their 
mind but for now, the recommendations will not move forward in the 
process.In the report, the VA said the overhaul would help address recruitment challenges and lower demand for services in some areas.“Currently, most ED visits occur on weekdays during the hours of 8:00
 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and most are low to moderate complexity with only 
7,638 visits in FY 2019,” the VA recommendations said of the Leavenworth
 facility.“Maintaining ED services at the Topeka VAMC is no longer sustainable 
due to small and decreasing demand and provider recruitment challenges,”
 the report continued. “Replacing the ED with an urgent care center will
 provide the appropriate level of care for the Veteran population.”According to the VA recommendations, neither the Leavenworth nor the 
Topeka medical centers meet current design standards, and facility 
condition assessment deficiencies are about $199 million and $141 
million, respectively.But&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/manchin-rounds-heinrich-capito-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-eliminate-the-va-air-commission">national</a>
 and state legislators said these suggested changes were skewed against 
rural states. Rep. Pat Proctor, a Fort Leavenworth Republican and Army 
veteran who led teams in Iraq and Afghanistan, said recommendations 
based on data leave out real-life effects on those who need those 
services.“I feel like the rug was pulled out from under us,” Proctor said 
earlier this month. “Weigh the recommendations against the violence it 
will do to people’s lives. I hope that they will come back and talk to 
us before they rip vital health care services out of our community.”Proctor noted the recommendations could also harm a planned veterans’
 home in northeast Kansas. A bill providing further funding for the 
facility passed the Legislature and received the governor’s approval 
earlier this year, but he said the decision was predicated on the 
current level of VA services being available in the region.“The Veterans’ Home for Northeast Kansas — funding for which I was 
able to finally get passed last session after years of empty promises — 
will be a long-term care facility for our most medically vulnerable 
veterans,” Proctor said. “It will be dependent on regional VA health 
care facilities to deal with emergent medical needs. Removing these 
hospital beds from our community puts those veterans at risk.”The overhaul prompted protests in New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, 
Pennsylvania, South Dakota and West Virginia. Earlier this month, 
veterans and members of the American Federation of Government Employees 
District 9 union <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-06-07/closure-of-va-centers-in-the-region-could-mean-longer-waits-at-the-kansas-city-va">gathered at the Heartland VA Network in Kansas City, Missouri</a>, to protest changes in the region.Sen. Brenda Dietrich, a Topeka Republican, echoed the same concerns 
Proctor had for her veteran constituents. Dietrich, who served on the 
Veterans and Military Committee while in the Statehouse, said she 
frequently heard from veterans that they needed care in an environment 
where they were the top priority.“I think all of our veterans want to be valued,” Dietrich said. “From
 an efficiency standpoint, it probably makes sense if you are looking at
 the data. But from a care standpoint, I think it’s going to be very 
controversial and not well received by our community.”However, additional recommendations may have provided increased 
services in other areas of the state, such as Wichita, where the VA 
suggested a strategic collaboration with the University of Kansas and 
affiliated community hospitals to add inpatient mental health services. 
Currently, the nearest facility offering these services is in Topeka, 
two hours away.“The Wichita VAMC has reported holding four to six mental health 
patients in the inpatient medical and surgical unit at any given time, 
while waiting for community inpatient mental health beds to become 
available,” the VA report reads.In addition, the VA recommended opening community-based outpatient 
clinics in Derby, Iola and West Wichita. But with those new clinics, the
 VA suggested closing CBOCs in Fort Scott, Chanute and Garnett because 
of proximity to new or existing facilities.If the recommendations should resurface&nbsp; the capacity available would
 be able to support 100% of projected enrollee demand, per the VA. About
 173,500 veterans would be within 30 minutes of primary care via the VA 
or a community provider, and an additional 600 would be within an hour’s
 drive.Sen. Tom Hawk, a Manhattan Democrat, said some give and take is 
always likely when trying to meet the needs of all patients. Some 
veterans he has spoken with in his community have expressed concerns 
about traveling long distances for services, which the new clinics could
 help mitigate.“There is always a recognition that most people don’t like change, 
but it’s inevitable. I don’t think we should be afraid of change,” Hawk 
said. “But I do think part of our democratic process should be listening
 to all the people who are impacted by change.”“So, how do you find that balance between offering the kind of service that’s efficient, affordable and effective?” he said.

Kan. veterans, legislators wary of proposal to close VA clinics

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;4,988 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday June 22, to Wednesday June 29, for a total of 806,934 cases.

Th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;7 additional COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,952.

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

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

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

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

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

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;4,988 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday June 22, to Wednesday June 29, for a total of 806,934 cases.Th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;7 additional COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,952.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656521571291.png" alt="Wednesday July 29, 2022 -KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday July 29, 2022 -KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

KDHE: 7 additional COVID deaths and 4,988 new cases

SHAWNEE COUNTY –&nbsp;Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal&nbsp; officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday in Topeka have identified the man who died as&nbsp; Christopher D. Kelley, 38, of Topeka, according to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp;On Monday, an autopsy was performed on Kelley, according to the KBI.

At approximately 9 a.m. on Friday, officers from the Topeka Police Department (TPD) responded to the area of 4th&nbsp;St. and SE Holliday, near the railroad, after 911 callers reported that a male subject armed with a knife had threatened them. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and BNSF Police Department also responded to the incident.

Preliminary information indicates that when officers arrived, they located Kelly and attempted to convince him to put down the knife. As they negotiated with him, he cut himself several times with his knife. 

Law enforcement officers deployed bean bag rounds and used other less than lethal methods to try to subdue the man. These efforts were unsuccessful and at around 10 a.m., Kelly charged toward a group of officers with the knife. Three officers from TPD fired toward him striking him multiple times.

Officers secured the knife and rendered aid to the Kelly. EMS transported him to Stormont Vail Hospital where he died from his injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656093522642.png" alt="The officers involved were not injured -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The officers involved were not injured -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY –&nbsp;Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal&nbsp; officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday in Topeka have identified the man who died as&nbsp; Christopher D. Kelley, 38, of Topeka, according to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp;On Monday, an autopsy was performed on Kelley, according to the KBI.At approximately 9 a.m. on Friday, officers from the Topeka Police Department (TPD) responded to the area of 4th&nbsp;St. and SE Holliday, near the railroad, after 911 callers reported that a male subject armed with a knife had threatened them. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and BNSF Police Department also responded to the incident.Preliminary information indicates that when officers arrived, they located Kelly and attempted to convince him to put down the knife. As they negotiated with him, he cut himself several times with his knife. Law enforcement officers deployed bean bag rounds and used other less than lethal methods to try to subdue the man. These efforts were unsuccessful and at around 10 a.m., Kelly charged toward a group of officers with the knife. Three officers from TPD fired toward him striking him multiple times.Officers secured the knife and rendered aid to the Kelly. EMS transported him to Stormont Vail Hospital where he died from his injuries.-----------

KBI learns identity of knife-wielding man killed by police 

IRVING, Texas – Brett Yormark has been named the Big 12 Conference’s fifth Commissioner, as announced Wednesday by the league’s Board of Directors, according to a statement from the conference.

Yormark succeeds Bob Bowlsby, who announced in April he was stepping away from the Commissioner’s chair after a decade with the Big 12. KEY COMMENTS

NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver: “Brett is one of the most skilled and knowledgeable executives in sports and entertainment,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.&nbsp; “His decades of operational experience, relentless work ethic and strong industry relationships will be of enormous value to the Big 12, its schools and fans.” Fox Sports CEO and Executive Producer, Eric Shanks: “On behalf of FOX Sports, we’d like to officially congratulate Brett Yormark on being named the new Commissioner of the Big 12,” said Eric Shanks, CEO and Executive Producer of FOX Sports. “Brett is a talented and innovative executive who brings a remarkably unique perspective to the position. Under his leadership and vision, the conference is set up for success, and we look forward to continuing to build on our relationship as a premier partner of the Big 12.” Texas Tech University President and Big 12 Conference Board Chair, Lawrence Schovanec: “In Brett Yormark, we have chosen a highly adaptable leader who thrives in dynamic times. The landscape of college athletics is evolving to look more like the world Brett has been leading,” said Lawrence Schovanec, President of Texas Tech University and Chair of the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors. “He’s authentic and genuine in the way he builds relationships and partnerships, and he works relentlessly to deliver impact. As Brett immerses himself in college sports and connects with all our stakeholders, he will bring a fresh approach and dynamic energy to the Big 12 as we engage a new generation of student-athletes and fans.” “I want to thank my fellow board members and our partners at TurnkeyZRG. Turnkey is more than just a search firm; they orchestrated a flawless strategy and process, delivering strong interest and strong candidates from college and professional sports, as well as the media and entertainment industries,” added Schovanec. New Big 12 Conference Commissioner, Brett Yormark: “Thank you to the Big 12 Board, the ADs, the student-athletes, the whole Conference for giving me a chance to support what they all do,” said new Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “I’m here to listen, learn, find ways to add value, add resources and try to help shine a light on the importance of college athletics. I look forward to leveraging my experience and network alongside our presidents, chancellors and athletic directors to shape the future of the Big 12 brand and emphasize our collective strengths.”&nbsp; Yormark joins the Big 12 from Roc Nation, where he served as chief operating officer and co-CEO of Roc Nation Unified, the commercial side of the business. Yormark, a graduate of Indiana University, began his sports career in 1988, working in the ticket office for the New Jersey Nets and ultimately reaching the pinnacle of the industry when he was named CEO. From 2005-19, as CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, he oversaw their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn, building the first new arena in New York City in 60 years and re-launching the Nets organization and brand in Brooklyn. Barclays Center soon became a college basketball destination, attracting the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, and the Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. Prior to joining the Nets, Yormark served as vice president of corporate sponsorships for NASCAR, where he oversaw a $750 million partnership agreement, the largest in history at that time, that gave Nextel Communications the naming rights to its premier racing series. Yormark is recognized for his creative business approaches and has been named to&nbsp;Crain’s “40 Under 40” list twice and the “Forty Under 40” three times by the&nbsp;Sports Business Journal. Under Yormark’s leadership, the Barclays Center became one of the top 10 entertainment venues worldwide for ticket sales. Yormark has two children and is married to Elaina Scotto. The Big 12 Commissioner search was led by the conference’s Executive Committee, which includes Schovanec, Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone and Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod, with the assistance of national search firm TurnkeyZRG. The Big 12’s Board of Directors, comprised of the presidents and chancellors of the ten current Big 12 members, participated in the Commissioner interview process, along with the four new members of the conference who will enter the Big 12 in 2023. The Big 12’s current membership made the final selection of the Commissioner. Yormark’s official start date with the Big 12 is anticipated to be August 1. His initial contract term is five years. As announced in April, Bowlsby will transition to a new interim role with the Conference, subject to the mutual agreement of the new Commissioner and Bowlsby. The current Big 12 membership includes Baylor University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, University of Kansas, University of Oklahoma, University of Texas and West Virginia University. Entering Big 12 membership in the Summer of 2023 will be Brigham Young University, University of Central Florida, University of Cincinnati and University of Houston.&nbsp; Over the past decade, the Big 12 has won 32 team national championships. In 2021-22, the Big 12 captured 8 team national titles, including NCAA men’s basketball for the second consecutive season (Baylor and Kansas). Big 12 teams have played in the last four men’s Final Fours. In football, the Big 12 has placed teams in the College Football Playoff New Year’s Bowls throughout its eight-year history. The Big 12 is the home of two of the last five Heisman Trophy winners and was the only Conference to place a team in the Final Four and CFP semi-finals in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656517373265.png" alt="Brett Yormark -image courtesy Big 12 Conference" />
 <figcaption>Brett Yormark -image courtesy Big 12 Conference</figcaption>
 </figure>IRVING, Texas – Brett Yormark has been named the Big 12 Conference’s fifth Commissioner, as announced Wednesday by the league’s Board of Directors, according to a statement from the conference.Yormark succeeds Bob Bowlsby, who announced in April he was stepping away from the Commissioner’s chair after a decade with the Big 12. KEY COMMENTS<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Welcome to the Big 12 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KState?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KState</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/KSTATEADGT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KSTATEADGT</a> <a href="https://t.co/P9rSqXEeyY">pic.twitter.com/P9rSqXEeyY</a>&mdash; K-State Athletics (@kstatesports) <a href="https://twitter.com/kstatesports/status/1542171076842717187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver: “Brett is one of the most skilled and knowledgeable executives in sports and entertainment,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.&nbsp; “His decades of operational experience, relentless work ethic and strong industry relationships will be of enormous value to the Big 12, its schools and fans.” Fox Sports CEO and Executive Producer, Eric Shanks: “On behalf of FOX Sports, we’d like to officially congratulate Brett Yormark on being named the new Commissioner of the Big 12,” said Eric Shanks, CEO and Executive Producer of FOX Sports. “Brett is a talented and innovative executive who brings a remarkably unique perspective to the position. Under his leadership and vision, the conference is set up for success, and we look forward to continuing to build on our relationship as a premier partner of the Big 12.” Texas Tech University President and Big 12 Conference Board Chair, Lawrence Schovanec: “In Brett Yormark, we have chosen a highly adaptable leader who thrives in dynamic times. The landscape of college athletics is evolving to look more like the world Brett has been leading,” said Lawrence Schovanec, President of Texas Tech University and Chair of the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors. “He’s authentic and genuine in the way he builds relationships and partnerships, and he works relentlessly to deliver impact. As Brett immerses himself in college sports and connects with all our stakeholders, he will bring a fresh approach and dynamic energy to the Big 12 as we engage a new generation of student-athletes and fans.” “I want to thank my fellow board members and our partners at TurnkeyZRG. Turnkey is more than just a search firm; they orchestrated a flawless strategy and process, delivering strong interest and strong candidates from college and professional sports, as well as the media and entertainment industries,” added Schovanec. New Big 12 Conference Commissioner, Brett Yormark: “Thank you to the Big 12 Board, the ADs, the student-athletes, the whole Conference for giving me a chance to support what they all do,” said new Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “I’m here to listen, learn, find ways to add value, add resources and try to help shine a light on the importance of college athletics. I look forward to leveraging my experience and network alongside our presidents, chancellors and athletic directors to shape the future of the Big 12 brand and emphasize our collective strengths.”&nbsp; Yormark joins the Big 12 from Roc Nation, where he served as chief operating officer and co-CEO of Roc Nation Unified, the commercial side of the business. Yormark, a graduate of Indiana University, began his sports career in 1988, working in the ticket office for the New Jersey Nets and ultimately reaching the pinnacle of the industry when he was named CEO. From 2005-19, as CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, he oversaw their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn, building the first new arena in New York City in 60 years and re-launching the Nets organization and brand in Brooklyn. Barclays Center soon became a college basketball destination, attracting the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, and the Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. Prior to joining the Nets, Yormark served as vice president of corporate sponsorships for NASCAR, where he oversaw a $750 million partnership agreement, the largest in history at that time, that gave Nextel Communications the naming rights to its premier racing series. Yormark is recognized for his creative business approaches and has been named to&nbsp;Crain’s “40 Under 40” list twice and the “Forty Under 40” three times by the&nbsp;Sports Business Journal. Under Yormark’s leadership, the Barclays Center became one of the top 10 entertainment venues worldwide for ticket sales. Yormark has two children and is married to Elaina Scotto. The Big 12 Commissioner search was led by the conference’s Executive Committee, which includes Schovanec, Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone and Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod, with the assistance of national search firm TurnkeyZRG. The Big 12’s Board of Directors, comprised of the presidents and chancellors of the ten current Big 12 members, participated in the Commissioner interview process, along with the four new members of the conference who will enter the Big 12 in 2023. The Big 12’s current membership made the final selection of the Commissioner. Yormark’s official start date with the Big 12 is anticipated to be August 1. His initial contract term is five years. As announced in April, Bowlsby will transition to a new interim role with the Conference, subject to the mutual agreement of the new Commissioner and Bowlsby. The current Big 12 membership includes Baylor University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, University of Kansas, University of Oklahoma, University of Texas and West Virginia University. Entering Big 12 membership in the Summer of 2023 will be Brigham Young University, University of Central Florida, University of Cincinnati and University of Houston.&nbsp; Over the past decade, the Big 12 has won 32 team national championships. In 2021-22, the Big 12 captured 8 team national titles, including NCAA men’s basketball for the second consecutive season (Baylor and Kansas). Big 12 teams have played in the last four men’s Final Fours. In football, the Big 12 has placed teams in the College Football Playoff New Year’s Bowls throughout its eight-year history. The Big 12 is the home of two of the last five Heisman Trophy winners and was the only Conference to place a team in the Final Four and CFP semi-finals in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Big 12 Conference names new commissioner

By TESSA WEINBERG <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/29/missouri-charter-schools-will-receive-millions-in-state-funds-with-governors-signature/">Missouri Independent</a>

Gov. Mike Parson is set to sign into law a bill to infuse over $60 million in state funding into charter schools.

<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1552&amp;year=2022&amp;code=R">The bill</a>,
 sponsored by Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, aims to close a 
discrepancy in funding allocated to charter schools versus traditional 
public schools that was the result of outdated property values. The law 
will go into effect Aug. 28.

The three-year effort <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/12/missouri-lawmakers-send-bill-to-increase-funding-for-charter-schools-to-governor/">reached the finish line this past legislative session</a> after <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/11/funding-increase-for-charter-schools-poised-to-clear-missouri-senate-after-compromise/">lawmakers struck a compromise</a> to increase funding to charter schools by pulling from state funds, instead of school districts’ budgets.

“It’s an exciting day when we’re now 
at a place where no matter where a child is being educated within the 
public education context, whether it’s charter or traditional, local 
school, they will now be able to receive the same funding,” Richey said.
 “And that is a good thing.”

Through a change in the foundation 
formula, the method by which Missouri calculates aid for schools, an 
estimated $62 to nearly $75 million in state funds is anticipated to be 
sent to charter schools in fiscal year 2023, <a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/fiscal/fispdf/3565S.11T.ORG.pdf">according to a fiscal analysis of the bill</a>.

The bill only applies to areas where 
charter schools are currently permitted under state law — which 
encompasses Kansas City and St. Louis. Under certain circumstances, 
charters are also permitted to expand into areas where districts are not
 fully accredited.

The new funding method relies on 
updated property values, which had not been revised for charter schools 
since 2005. As a result, charter schools in Kansas City received about 
$1,700 less per student on average, while in St. Louis the amount was 
$2,500.

Public school advocates had fiercely 
opposed any attempts to pull funds from the budgets of traditional 
public schools to boost charter school budgets. They argued traditional 
public schools are already underfunded and subject to more requirements 
than charter schools.

Under the original proposal, St. 
Louis Public Schools and Kansas City Public Schools were expected to 
lose an estimated $18 million and $8.2 million in funding respectively.

Ben Conover, an organizer with 
Solidarity with SLPS, a volunteer-run advocacy group of parents, 
teachers and allies, said it was a win for advocates, who have also 
worked to achieve <a target="_blank" href="https://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/no-new-schools-st-louis-legislators-pass-moratorium/article_6438d2c6-3821-11ec-9fbd-036de598fca1.html">a moratorium on new charter schools in St. Louis</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://news.stlpublicradio.org/education/2021-02-09/st-louis-school-board-calls-for-halting-of-new-charter-schools">as the board of education leads a citywide plan to address the issue</a>.

The compromise, “protects public 
school funding, and will hopefully in the long term bring more scrutiny 
and transparency to the financial dealings of charter schools,” Conover 
said.

New rules for charter schools 
included in the bill also require that charter school management 
companies be nonprofits, that board members be Missouri residents and 
that test scores be posted on the school’s website.

The bill <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/03/09/missouri-house-narrowly-sends-open-enrollment-charter-funding-bills-to-the-senate/">eked out of the House in March</a> with just three more votes than the minimum needed. After the Senate <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/11/funding-increase-for-charter-schools-poised-to-clear-missouri-senate-after-compromise/">unveiled a reworked bill pulling from state funds</a>, it <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/12/missouri-lawmakers-send-bill-to-increase-funding-for-charter-schools-to-governor/">sailed out of the House a vote of 116 to 29</a> in the session’s final days <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/15/despite-concerns-over-cost-missouri-charter-school-funding-boost-still-expected-to-move/">despite concerns over the bill’s costs</a>.

With <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2021-11-29/for-the-first-time-more-k-12-students-are-attending-charters-than-kansas-city-public-schools">charter schools now enrolling slightly more K-12 students</a> than traditional public schools in Kansas City, Richey said “that adjusts the discussion significantly.”

“That’s a significant portion of the 
population that have chosen to go a different route,” Richey said. “And 
it’s important for the state to be able to show that we’re going to fund
 that.”

Expanding charter schools beyond the 
state’s largest metros has long been a controversial push in the 
legislature that has failed to pass.

“If Missouri reaches a day where 
charter schools are allowed to establish in other parts of the state, it
 will be important at that point to take a look at the funding 
mechanism,” said Doug Thaman, the Missouri Charter Public School 
Association’s executive director.

For now, Thaman said he was pleased 
to see more financial resources to achieve equity in funding for 
students and said a broader discussion on how to revamp the state’s 
foundation formula is needed.

“It’s an antiquated formula,” Thaman said. “And there’s going to be a time where that needs to be adjusted or revised.”

Conover noted Missouri <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2021-05-28/missouri-ranks-next-to-last-nationally-in-funding-k-12-schools-state-auditor-finds">ranked 49th in the nation for the amount of state aid going to schools</a>,
 and said next legislative session he hopes to see legislation that will
 lead to viability studies for new and expanding charters.

“Our parents and advocates will 
continue to stand up and remind folks that public schools are a public 
good,” Conover said, “and we don’t want public money going to privately 
run organizations that don’t have any transparency and accountability.”

The bill also includes provisions 
overhauling Missouri’s virtual education program, known as the Missouri 
Course Access and Virtual School Program, or MOCAP.

A provision in the bill stipulates 
that for students seeking to enroll in a full-time virtual program, the 
state education department will develop a policy that ensures school 
districts “require the good faith collaboration” of the student, their 
parents, the virtual program and host district and resident district. 
The virtual program would make the final determination over a student’s 
enrollment, and a means to review appeals of any decisions must also be 
established.

The bill aims to ensure parents have 
more say over whether to enroll their students in virtual classes. It’s a
 change lawmakers have sought since MOCAP was expanded in 2018 and after
 some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fultonsun.com/news/2019/aug/08/fulton-mother-hails-school-choice-victory/">families encountered school districts that were denying access</a>.

“We heard from a lot of parents 
around the state who had made decisions and they were running into 
hurdles by local administrators that violated the spirit, if not the 
actual letter of the law, on not supporting the direction the parents 
wanted to go for their child,” said Richey, who also chairs the Joint 
Committee on Education.

The bill will also create an 
attendance center where virtual students’ accountability metrics would 
be reported and allows for school districts to be reimbursed for 
allowing virtual students to use the school’s physical location to 
complete classes.

According to <a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/fiscal/fispdf/3565S.11T.ORG.pdf">a fiscal analysis of the bill</a>,
 private or homeschool students could potentially participate in the 
MOCAP program without ever having to attend a public school. Costs to 
the state will depend on student participation, with an estimate of $6.4
 million if 1,000 students participate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656516562332.png" alt="Through a change in the foundation formula, the method by which Missouri calculates aid for schools, an estimated $62 to nearly $75 million in state funds is anticipated to be sent to charter schools in fiscal year 2023 (Photo courtesy of CDC/ Amanda Mills)." />
 <figcaption>Through a change in the foundation formula, the method by which Missouri calculates aid for schools, an estimated $62 to nearly $75 million in state funds is anticipated to be sent to charter schools in fiscal year 2023 (Photo courtesy of CDC/ Amanda Mills).</figcaption>
 </figure>By TESSA WEINBERG <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/29/missouri-charter-schools-will-receive-millions-in-state-funds-with-governors-signature/">Missouri Independent</a>Gov. Mike Parson is set to sign into law a bill to infuse over $60 million in state funding into charter schools.<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1552&amp;year=2022&amp;code=R">The bill</a>,
 sponsored by Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, aims to close a 
discrepancy in funding allocated to charter schools versus traditional 
public schools that was the result of outdated property values. The law 
will go into effect Aug. 28.The three-year effort <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/12/missouri-lawmakers-send-bill-to-increase-funding-for-charter-schools-to-governor/">reached the finish line this past legislative session</a> after <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/11/funding-increase-for-charter-schools-poised-to-clear-missouri-senate-after-compromise/">lawmakers struck a compromise</a> to increase funding to charter schools by pulling from state funds, instead of school districts’ budgets.“It’s an exciting day when we’re now 
at a place where no matter where a child is being educated within the 
public education context, whether it’s charter or traditional, local 
school, they will now be able to receive the same funding,” Richey said.
 “And that is a good thing.”Through a change in the foundation 
formula, the method by which Missouri calculates aid for schools, an 
estimated $62 to nearly $75 million in state funds is anticipated to be 
sent to charter schools in fiscal year 2023, <a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/fiscal/fispdf/3565S.11T.ORG.pdf">according to a fiscal analysis of the bill</a>.The bill only applies to areas where 
charter schools are currently permitted under state law — which 
encompasses Kansas City and St. Louis. Under certain circumstances, 
charters are also permitted to expand into areas where districts are not
 fully accredited.The new funding method relies on 
updated property values, which had not been revised for charter schools 
since 2005. As a result, charter schools in Kansas City received about 
$1,700 less per student on average, while in St. Louis the amount was 
$2,500.Public school advocates had fiercely 
opposed any attempts to pull funds from the budgets of traditional 
public schools to boost charter school budgets. They argued traditional 
public schools are already underfunded and subject to more requirements 
than charter schools.Under the original proposal, St. 
Louis Public Schools and Kansas City Public Schools were expected to 
lose an estimated $18 million and $8.2 million in funding respectively.Ben Conover, an organizer with 
Solidarity with SLPS, a volunteer-run advocacy group of parents, 
teachers and allies, said it was a win for advocates, who have also 
worked to achieve <a target="_blank" href="https://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/no-new-schools-st-louis-legislators-pass-moratorium/article_6438d2c6-3821-11ec-9fbd-036de598fca1.html">a moratorium on new charter schools in St. Louis</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://news.stlpublicradio.org/education/2021-02-09/st-louis-school-board-calls-for-halting-of-new-charter-schools">as the board of education leads a citywide plan to address the issue</a>.The compromise, “protects public 
school funding, and will hopefully in the long term bring more scrutiny 
and transparency to the financial dealings of charter schools,” Conover 
said.New rules for charter schools 
included in the bill also require that charter school management 
companies be nonprofits, that board members be Missouri residents and 
that test scores be posted on the school’s website.The bill <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/03/09/missouri-house-narrowly-sends-open-enrollment-charter-funding-bills-to-the-senate/">eked out of the House in March</a> with just three more votes than the minimum needed. After the Senate <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/11/funding-increase-for-charter-schools-poised-to-clear-missouri-senate-after-compromise/">unveiled a reworked bill pulling from state funds</a>, it <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/12/missouri-lawmakers-send-bill-to-increase-funding-for-charter-schools-to-governor/">sailed out of the House a vote of 116 to 29</a> in the session’s final days <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/15/despite-concerns-over-cost-missouri-charter-school-funding-boost-still-expected-to-move/">despite concerns over the bill’s costs</a>.With <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2021-11-29/for-the-first-time-more-k-12-students-are-attending-charters-than-kansas-city-public-schools">charter schools now enrolling slightly more K-12 students</a> than traditional public schools in Kansas City, Richey said “that adjusts the discussion significantly.”“That’s a significant portion of the 
population that have chosen to go a different route,” Richey said. “And 
it’s important for the state to be able to show that we’re going to fund
 that.”Expanding charter schools beyond the 
state’s largest metros has long been a controversial push in the 
legislature that has failed to pass.“If Missouri reaches a day where 
charter schools are allowed to establish in other parts of the state, it
 will be important at that point to take a look at the funding 
mechanism,” said Doug Thaman, the Missouri Charter Public School 
Association’s executive director.For now, Thaman said he was pleased 
to see more financial resources to achieve equity in funding for 
students and said a broader discussion on how to revamp the state’s 
foundation formula is needed.“It’s an antiquated formula,” Thaman said. “And there’s going to be a time where that needs to be adjusted or revised.”Conover noted Missouri <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2021-05-28/missouri-ranks-next-to-last-nationally-in-funding-k-12-schools-state-auditor-finds">ranked 49th in the nation for the amount of state aid going to schools</a>,
 and said next legislative session he hopes to see legislation that will
 lead to viability studies for new and expanding charters.“Our parents and advocates will 
continue to stand up and remind folks that public schools are a public 
good,” Conover said, “and we don’t want public money going to privately 
run organizations that don’t have any transparency and accountability.”The bill also includes provisions 
overhauling Missouri’s virtual education program, known as the Missouri 
Course Access and Virtual School Program, or MOCAP.A provision in the bill stipulates 
that for students seeking to enroll in a full-time virtual program, the 
state education department will develop a policy that ensures school 
districts “require the good faith collaboration” of the student, their 
parents, the virtual program and host district and resident district. 
The virtual program would make the final determination over a student’s 
enrollment, and a means to review appeals of any decisions must also be 
established.The bill aims to ensure parents have 
more say over whether to enroll their students in virtual classes. It’s a
 change lawmakers have sought since MOCAP was expanded in 2018 and after
 some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fultonsun.com/news/2019/aug/08/fulton-mother-hails-school-choice-victory/">families encountered school districts that were denying access</a>.“We heard from a lot of parents 
around the state who had made decisions and they were running into 
hurdles by local administrators that violated the spirit, if not the 
actual letter of the law, on not supporting the direction the parents 
wanted to go for their child,” said Richey, who also chairs the Joint 
Committee on Education.The bill will also create an 
attendance center where virtual students’ accountability metrics would 
be reported and allows for school districts to be reimbursed for 
allowing virtual students to use the school’s physical location to 
complete classes.According to <a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/fiscal/fispdf/3565S.11T.ORG.pdf">a fiscal analysis of the bill</a>,
 private or homeschool students could potentially participate in the 
MOCAP program without ever having to attend a public school. Costs to 
the state will depend on student participation, with an estimate of $6.4
 million if 1,000 students participate.

Missouri charter schools set to receive millions in state funds

KANSAS CITY —A judge has sentenced a Kansas City man to 28 years in&nbsp; &nbsp;prison for the deaths of two men in August 2019 in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Mario J. Markworth, 25, pleaded guilty to Murder 2nd Degree for the death of Kevin Waters and he pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter for the death of Michael McLin. The defendant was sentenced to 28 years for the Murder 2nd Degree conviction and 15 years for the Manslaughter conviction. The judge set those sentences to run concurrently.

According to court records filed Monday, Kansas City Police responded on an emergency medical call to a parking lot behind a church in the 5700 block of Winner Road in Kansas City. Officers found a deceased man and several yards away, a second deceased man. The victims had several wounds from head trauma and sharp force. The Jackson County Medical Examiner determined they were the victims of homicide. 

One victim was 30-year-old Michael McLin while the other was 55-year-old Kevin Waters.

Both were determined by police to be transients known to associate with others in the northeast area of Kansas City. Information from witnesses led police to the defendant. who was taken into custody on Aug. 7, 2019. He told police detectives he and McLin had been in an altercation. When McLin started to walk away, the defendant picked him up and dropped him on the pavement. 

He said McLin hit his head on his axe. Then, the defendant said, he struck the victim more times in the head with the axe so he wouldn't tell anyone. As he was trying to hide McLin's shoes he saw another man hidden along the fence nearby, he told detectives, so he asked him if he had seen him and McLin. Then he struck him with an axe. The defendant told detectives he had been raised in a Christian home and knew right from wrong. He also knew his actions were not right.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656365210883.png" alt="Markworth-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Markworth-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A judge has sentenced a Kansas City man to 28 years in&nbsp; &nbsp;prison for the deaths of two men in August 2019 in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Mario J. Markworth, 25, pleaded guilty to Murder 2nd Degree for the death of Kevin Waters and he pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter for the death of Michael McLin. The defendant was sentenced to 28 years for the Murder 2nd Degree conviction and 15 years for the Manslaughter conviction. The judge set those sentences to run concurrently.According to court records filed Monday, Kansas City Police responded on an emergency medical call to a parking lot behind a church in the 5700 block of Winner Road in Kansas City. Officers found a deceased man and several yards away, a second deceased man. The victims had several wounds from head trauma and sharp force. The Jackson County Medical Examiner determined they were the victims of homicide. One victim was 30-year-old Michael McLin while the other was 55-year-old Kevin Waters.Both were determined by police to be transients known to associate with others in the northeast area of Kansas City. Information from witnesses led police to the defendant. who was taken into custody on Aug. 7, 2019. He told police detectives he and McLin had been in an altercation. When McLin started to walk away, the defendant picked him up and dropped him on the pavement. He said McLin hit his head on his axe. Then, the defendant said, he struck the victim more times in the head with the axe so he wouldn't tell anyone. As he was trying to hide McLin's shoes he saw another man hidden along the fence nearby, he told detectives, so he asked him if he had seen him and McLin. Then he struck him with an axe. The defendant told detectives he had been raised in a Christian home and knew right from wrong. He also knew his actions were not right.

Man sentenced for axe murder of two men behind KC church

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating damage to the exterior of a home in the 1200 block of Mound Street in Atchison as arson. 

&nbsp;The damage was caused by fireworks being projected at a porch area of the house around midnight on Tuesday night, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Residents extinguished the fire caused by the fireworks before police and fire arrived on the scene. Police are following leads, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624748030198.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating damage to the exterior of a home in the 1200 block of Mound Street in Atchison as arson. &nbsp;The damage was caused by fireworks being projected at a porch area of the house around midnight on Tuesday night, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.Residents extinguished the fire caused by the fireworks before police and fire arrived on the scene. Police are following leads, according to Wilson.

Arson: Police investigate Kan. house fire caused by fireworks

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s top health official said Tuesday that “every option is on the table” when it comes to helping women access abortion in the wake of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade</a>.

Click below to watch Secretary Becerra's comments

But the gap between outrage over the ruling and the administration’s response appeared as wide as ever. Despite Democrats and activists pushing for swift and sweeping policies, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra conceded that there’s “no magic bullet” to ensure abortion access.

For now, he’s pledging that “if there is something we can do, we will find it and we will do it at HHS.”

He said the administration would work to ensure that medication abortions remain available, that patient privacy is preserved and family planning care like emergency contraceptives is protected.

Biden has not elaborated on his plans for abortion since the ruling, which he called “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-ruling-reaction-699a24d04b6085bcfa80824f530782b0">a sad day for the court and the country</a>.” On the next day, he left for a previously scheduled trip to international summits in Europe, and he’s not back until Thursday.

A White House official, who declined to be identified publicly speaking about strategy, said the administration was going to make fighting for abortion a priority.

“Throughout the week we’re going to be making a strong case demonstrating the contrast between the president — who believes we should defend the right of all Americans to make their own decisions — and the radical policies proposed by Republican officials, which include Congress instituting a nationwide abortion ban, statewide abortion bans with no exceptions for rape or incest, and criminalizing women who have an abortion and the physicians who perform them,” the official said.

Biden has tried to limit expectations for what he can accomplish on his own.

“The only way we can secure a woman’s right to choose and the balance that existed is for Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade as federal law,” he said after the court ruling. “No executive action from the president can do that.”

However, there’s little chance that a sharply divided Senate would take such a step, meaning abortion legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-texas-united-states-migration-government-and-politics-94a51740b9af58d26f526799a77fdf50">would encounter the same roadblock</a>&nbsp;that has stopped so many of Biden’s proposals.

Despite the challenges, the administration’s response has still proved disappointing to some.

“The White House should have been better prepared,” said Lawrence Gostin, who runs the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health at Georgetown Law. “And that just didn’t happen.”

Becerra indicated that abortion pills would be a key avenue for the administration’s efforts.

“Medication abortion has been approved by the FDA for years and is safe for patients,” he said.

More than half of U.S. abortions are now done with pills, rather than surgery, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a">The FDA last year</a>&nbsp;lifted a long-standing requirement that women pick up abortion pills in person. Federal regulations now also allow mail delivery nationwide. Even so, 19 states have passed laws requiring a medical clinician to be physically present when abortion pills are administered to a patient. And more restrictions are expected in Republican-controlled states.

Becerra said federal law requires the providing of medication abortion in cases involving rape or incest or to protect the life of the mother. “Now more than ever, it is imperative that all federally supported programs and services are complying with the law,” he said.

Becerra said he also wants his department to examine its authority to ensure that the judgment of doctors and hospitals is supported in treating pregnant patients, “including those experiencing pregnancy loss or complications and reaffirming that abortion care can be appropriate to stabilize patients.”

Despite the ruling, he said, “the rights continue forward, whether it’s family planning, whether it is in birth control services, and we want to make sure that there’s no misunderstanding and that we will enforce any violations of those rights.”

Asked if the administration was considering setting up abortion clinics on federal land, as some Democrats have suggested, Becerra didn’t rule it out, saying no decision had been made yet.

“Every option is on the table,” he said. “We will take a look at everything we can, and everything we do will be in compliance with the law.”

But White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that such an option could put women and care providers who are not federal employees at risk for prosecution in states where abortion is now illegal.

Jean-Pierre, speaking aboard Air Force One — where Biden was flying between summits in Germany and Spain — called that proposal “well intentioned” but also noted that “there’s actually dangerous ramifications to doing this.”

Becerra on Tuesday also was asked about the prospect of providing transportation to women who travel to another state to get an abortion and how the government would ensure that doesn’t conflict with the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother.

“Once we tell you exactly what we believe we are able to do, have the money to do, we will let you know,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656451712383.png" alt="Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra conceded that there’s “no magic bullet” to ensure abortion access.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra conceded that there’s “no magic bullet” to ensure abortion access.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s top health official said Tuesday that “every option is on the table” when it comes to helping women access abortion in the wake of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade</a>.Click below to watch Secretary Becerra's comments<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHHS%2Fvideos%2F1608645752862504%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=645" 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>But the gap between outrage over the ruling and the administration’s response appeared as wide as ever. Despite Democrats and activists pushing for swift and sweeping policies, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra conceded that there’s “no magic bullet” to ensure abortion access.For now, he’s pledging that “if there is something we can do, we will find it and we will do it at HHS.”He said the administration would work to ensure that medication abortions remain available, that patient privacy is preserved and family planning care like emergency contraceptives is protected.Biden has not elaborated on his plans for abortion since the ruling, which he called “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-ruling-reaction-699a24d04b6085bcfa80824f530782b0">a sad day for the court and the country</a>.” On the next day, he left for a previously scheduled trip to international summits in Europe, and he’s not back until Thursday.A White House official, who declined to be identified publicly speaking about strategy, said the administration was going to make fighting for abortion a priority.“Throughout the week we’re going to be making a strong case demonstrating the contrast between the president — who believes we should defend the right of all Americans to make their own decisions — and the radical policies proposed by Republican officials, which include Congress instituting a nationwide abortion ban, statewide abortion bans with no exceptions for rape or incest, and criminalizing women who have an abortion and the physicians who perform them,” the official said.Biden has tried to limit expectations for what he can accomplish on his own.“The only way we can secure a woman’s right to choose and the balance that existed is for Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade as federal law,” he said after the court ruling. “No executive action from the president can do that.”However, there’s little chance that a sharply divided Senate would take such a step, meaning abortion legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-texas-united-states-migration-government-and-politics-94a51740b9af58d26f526799a77fdf50">would encounter the same roadblock</a>&nbsp;that has stopped so many of Biden’s proposals.Despite the challenges, the administration’s response has still proved disappointing to some.“The White House should have been better prepared,” said Lawrence Gostin, who runs the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health at Georgetown Law. “And that just didn’t happen.”Becerra indicated that abortion pills would be a key avenue for the administration’s efforts.“Medication abortion has been approved by the FDA for years and is safe for patients,” he said.More than half of U.S. abortions are now done with pills, rather than surgery, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a">The FDA last year</a>&nbsp;lifted a long-standing requirement that women pick up abortion pills in person. Federal regulations now also allow mail delivery nationwide. Even so, 19 states have passed laws requiring a medical clinician to be physically present when abortion pills are administered to a patient. And more restrictions are expected in Republican-controlled states.Becerra said federal law requires the providing of medication abortion in cases involving rape or incest or to protect the life of the mother. “Now more than ever, it is imperative that all federally supported programs and services are complying with the law,” he said.Becerra said he also wants his department to examine its authority to ensure that the judgment of doctors and hospitals is supported in treating pregnant patients, “including those experiencing pregnancy loss or complications and reaffirming that abortion care can be appropriate to stabilize patients.”Despite the ruling, he said, “the rights continue forward, whether it’s family planning, whether it is in birth control services, and we want to make sure that there’s no misunderstanding and that we will enforce any violations of those rights.”Asked if the administration was considering setting up abortion clinics on federal land, as some Democrats have suggested, Becerra didn’t rule it out, saying no decision had been made yet.“Every option is on the table,” he said. “We will take a look at everything we can, and everything we do will be in compliance with the law.”But White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that such an option could put women and care providers who are not federal employees at risk for prosecution in states where abortion is now illegal.Jean-Pierre, speaking aboard Air Force One — where Biden was flying between summits in Germany and Spain — called that proposal “well intentioned” but also noted that “there’s actually dangerous ramifications to doing this.”Becerra on Tuesday also was asked about the prospect of providing transportation to women who travel to another state to get an abortion and how the government would ensure that doesn’t conflict with the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother.“Once we tell you exactly what we believe we are able to do, have the money to do, we will let you know,” he said.

🎥 Biden health secretary: No magic bullet to ensure abortion access

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident have identified the victim as&nbsp;54-year-old Crystal Cross of Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Just after 10p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 1200 block of North Broadway regarding a motor vehicle accident, according to Rebolledo.

Officers located&nbsp; Cross who was pronounced deceased, at the scene.

The investigation revealed she was crossing from the west side of North Broadway to the east side of Broadway when she was struck by a maroon, 1984 Pontiac driven by a 30-year-old  woman and run over by a white 2010 Nissan Altima driven by a 49-year-old man.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656347814024.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the incident -photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the incident -photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident have identified the victim as&nbsp;54-year-old Crystal Cross of Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Just after 10p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 1200 block of North Broadway regarding a motor vehicle accident, according to Rebolledo.Officers located&nbsp; Cross who was pronounced deceased, at the scene.The investigation revealed she was crossing from the west side of North Broadway to the east side of Broadway when she was struck by a maroon, 1984 Pontiac driven by a 30-year-old woman and run over by a white 2010 Nissan Altima driven by a 49-year-old man.&nbsp;----------

Police ID Kansas woman who died after struck by two vehicles

MENDON, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri Department of Transportation plan released this year cited a need to improve safety at the rail crossing where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amtrak-derailment-missouri-a5ca59f5243b1a1008f4cf9b11c2fb31">an Amtrak train and a dump truck collided</a>, resulting in the deaths of three passengers and the truck driver.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced the fourth death Tuesday afternoon and provided its first estimate of the injured — about 150 people taken to 10 area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious. The dead have not been identified.

The crossing in a rural area near Mendon in western Missouri, about 84 miles northeast of Kansas City, has no lights or other signals to warn of an approaching train.

Amtrak’s Southwest Chief was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago Monday afternoon when it struck the truck and derailed at the crossing. Amtrak officials have said about 275 passengers and 12 crew members were aboard the train.

The collision derailed seven cars, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The truck was broken into pieces. National Transportation Safety Board investigators were at the scene Tuesday, trying to determine how the accident happened and why the truck was on the tracks. The damaged tracks had been repaired and freight trains were operating.

In January, the Missouri Department of Transportation submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration its “State Freight &amp; Rail Plan” plan. It included a list of proposed improvements, including the installation of lights and gates, along with roadway improvements.

The project was estimated at $400,000. Typically, the federal government would pay 80% and the county 20%. MoDOT spokeswoman Linda Horn said in an email that any project must be worked out in coordination with the track owner, BNSF Railway, and the county “based on very limited funding.”

BNSF spokeswoman Lena Kent said that if the state wants an upgrade, the next step is a site review.

“We would work with all of the parties involved to determine if additional warning devices are needed and then work to get those designed, built and installed,” Kent said.

Local residents have complained that the overgrowth of brush and the steep incline from the road to the tracks makes it hard to see oncoming trains from either direction. Mike Spencer, who grows corn and soybeans on land surrounding the intersection, said the crossing is especially dangerous for those driving heavy, slow farm equipment.

Spencer said he had contacted state transportation officials, Chariton County commissioners and BNSF about the potential danger. Spencer, who is on the board of a local levy district, said the dump truck driver was hauling rock for a levy on a local creek, a project that had been ongoing for a couple of days.

Earlier this month, Spencer posted a video on Facebook of the crossing that shows the steep gravel incline leading up to it.

“We have to cross this with farm equipment to get to several of our fields,” Spencer wrote with the posting. “We have been on the RR for several years about fixing the approach by building the road up, putting in signals, signal lights or just cutting the brush back.”

The posting noted that some trains pass by at up to 90 mph (145 kph). “If you cross here with a vehicle stop, approach very slowly, then look both ways there are 2 tracks and around 85 trains go through there everyday,” Spencer wrote.

Passengers recounted the frightening aftermath of the accident.

Rob Nightingale of Taos, New Mexico, said he was dozing off in his sleeper compartment when the lights flickered and the train rocked back and forth and he felt it tip.

"I saw the ground coming toward my window, and all the debris and dust,” Nightingale told The Associated Press. “Then it sat on its side and it was complete silence. I sat there and didn’t hear anything. Then I heard a little girl next door crying.”

Nightingale was unhurt and he and other passengers were able to climb out of the overturned train car through a window.

Passengers included 16 youths and eight adults from two Boy Scout troops who were traveling home to Appleton, Wisconsin, as well as high school students from Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kansas, who were headed to a Future Business Leaders of America conference in Chicago.

It was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-san-francisco-amtrak-32db00f7c1f650c41eb11747049731b5">the second Amtrak collision in as many days</a>. Three people in a car were killed Sunday afternoon when an Amtrak commuter train smashed into it in Northern California, authorities said.

People have been injured or killed in at least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-accidents-missouri-266ca22652b69992fca399d32ea55aae">six other accidents</a>&nbsp;involving Amtrak trains since 2015. Last year, three people died and others were injured when an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amtrak-crash-montana-c8c3730849f568ca68b455eb23b49cef">Amtrak derailed in north-central Montana</a>&nbsp;as it traveled from Chicago to Seattle.

Amtrak is a federally supported company that operates more than 300 passenger trains daily in nearly every contiguous U.S. state and parts of Canada. The Southwest Chief takes about two days to travel from Los Angeles to Chicago, picking up passengers at stops in between.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656444383036.png" alt="Rural Menden, Missouri farmer Mike Spencer believed a tragedy at the rail crossing was inevitable." />
 <figcaption>Rural Menden, Missouri farmer Mike Spencer believed a tragedy at the rail crossing was inevitable.</figcaption>
 </figure>MENDON, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri Department of Transportation plan released this year cited a need to improve safety at the rail crossing where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amtrak-derailment-missouri-a5ca59f5243b1a1008f4cf9b11c2fb31">an Amtrak train and a dump truck collided</a>, resulting in the deaths of three passengers and the truck driver.The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced the fourth death Tuesday afternoon and provided its first estimate of the injured — about 150 people taken to 10 area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious. The dead have not been identified.The crossing in a rural area near Mendon in western Missouri, about 84 miles northeast of Kansas City, has no lights or other signals to warn of an approaching train.Amtrak’s Southwest Chief was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago Monday afternoon when it struck the truck and derailed at the crossing. Amtrak officials have said about 275 passengers and 12 crew members were aboard the train.The collision derailed seven cars, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The truck was broken into pieces. National Transportation Safety Board investigators were at the scene Tuesday, trying to determine how the accident happened and why the truck was on the tracks. The damaged tracks had been repaired and freight trains were operating.In January, the Missouri Department of Transportation submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration its “State Freight &amp; Rail Plan” plan. It included a list of proposed improvements, including the installation of lights and gates, along with roadway improvements.The project was estimated at $400,000. Typically, the federal government would pay 80% and the county 20%. MoDOT spokeswoman Linda Horn said in an email that any project must be worked out in coordination with the track owner, BNSF Railway, and the county “based on very limited funding.”BNSF spokeswoman Lena Kent said that if the state wants an upgrade, the next step is a site review.“We would work with all of the parties involved to determine if additional warning devices are needed and then work to get those designed, built and installed,” Kent said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656444443517.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Local residents have complained that the overgrowth of brush and the steep incline from the road to the tracks makes it hard to see oncoming trains from either direction. Mike Spencer, who grows corn and soybeans on land surrounding the intersection, said the crossing is especially dangerous for those driving heavy, slow farm equipment.Spencer said he had contacted state transportation officials, Chariton County commissioners and BNSF about the potential danger. Spencer, who is on the board of a local levy district, said the dump truck driver was hauling rock for a levy on a local creek, a project that had been ongoing for a couple of days.Earlier this month, Spencer posted a video on Facebook of the crossing that shows the steep gravel incline leading up to it.“We have to cross this with farm equipment to get to several of our fields,” Spencer wrote with the posting. “We have been on the RR for several years about fixing the approach by building the road up, putting in signals, signal lights or just cutting the brush back.”The posting noted that some trains pass by at up to 90 mph (145 kph). “If you cross here with a vehicle stop, approach very slowly, then look both ways there are 2 tracks and around 85 trains go through there everyday,” Spencer wrote.Passengers recounted the frightening aftermath of the accident.Rob Nightingale of Taos, New Mexico, said he was dozing off in his sleeper compartment when the lights flickered and the train rocked back and forth and he felt it tip."I saw the ground coming toward my window, and all the debris and dust,” Nightingale told The Associated Press. “Then it sat on its side and it was complete silence. I sat there and didn’t hear anything. Then I heard a little girl next door crying.”Nightingale was unhurt and he and other passengers were able to climb out of the overturned train car through a window.Passengers included 16 youths and eight adults from two Boy Scout troops who were traveling home to Appleton, Wisconsin, as well as high school students from Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kansas, who were headed to a Future Business Leaders of America conference in Chicago.It was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-san-francisco-amtrak-32db00f7c1f650c41eb11747049731b5">the second Amtrak collision in as many days</a>. Three people in a car were killed Sunday afternoon when an Amtrak commuter train smashed into it in Northern California, authorities said.People have been injured or killed in at least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-accidents-missouri-266ca22652b69992fca399d32ea55aae">six other accidents</a>&nbsp;involving Amtrak trains since 2015. Last year, three people died and others were injured when an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amtrak-crash-montana-c8c3730849f568ca68b455eb23b49cef">Amtrak derailed in north-central Montana</a>&nbsp;as it traveled from Chicago to Seattle.Amtrak is a federally supported company that operates more than 300 passenger trains daily in nearly every contiguous U.S. state and parts of Canada. The Southwest Chief takes about two days to travel from Los Angeles to Chicago, picking up passengers at stops in between.

Official: Upgrades urged at Amtrak crash site, but no action

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and MATTHEW PERRONE, Associated Press

At least some U.S. adults may get updated COVID-19 shots this fall, as government advisers voted Tuesday that it’s time to tweak booster doses to better match the most recent virus variants.

Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration wrestled with how to modify doses now when there’s no way to know how the rapidly mutating virus will evolve by fall — especially since people who get today’s recommended boosters remain strongly protected against COVID-19′s worst outcomes.

Ultimately the FDA panel voted 19-2 that COVID-19 boosters should contain some version of the super-contagious omicron variant, to be ready for an anticipated fall booster campaign.

“We are going to be behind the eight-ball if we wait longer,” said one adviser, Dr. Mark Sawyer of the University of California, San Diego.

The FDA will have to decide the exact recipe, but expect a combination shot that adds protection against either omicron or some of its newer relatives to the original vaccine.

“None of us has a crystal ball” to know the next threatening variant, said FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks. But “we may at least bring the immune system closer to being able to respond to what’s circulating” now rather than far older virus strains.

It’s not clear who would be offered a tweaked booster — they might be urged only for older adults or those at high risk from the virus. But the FDA is expected to decide on the recipe change within days and then Pfizer and Moderna will have to seek authorization for the appropriately updated doses, time for health authorities to settle on a fall strategy.

Current COVID-19 vaccines have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-england-54d29ae3af5c700f15d704c14ee224b5">saved millions of lives</a>&nbsp;globally. With a booster dose, those used in the U.S. retain strong protection against hospitalization and death but their ability to block infection dropped markedly when omicron appeared. And the omicron mutant that caused the winter surge has been replaced by its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-united-states-pandemics-72462053f8d60fd548cf34377864100b">genetically distinct relatives</a>. The two newest omicron cousins, called BA.4 and BA.5, together now make up half of U.S. cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pfizer and Moderna already were brewing boosters that add protection to the first omicron mutant. Their combination shots, what scientists call “bivalent” vaccines, substantially boosted levels of antibodies capable of fighting that variant, more than simply giving another dose of today’s vaccine.

Both companies found the tweaked shots also offered some cross-protection against those worrisome BA.4 and BA.5 mutants, too, but not nearly as much.

Many scientists favor the combination approach because it preserves the original vaccines’ proven benefits, which include some cross-protection against other mutants that have cropped up during the pandemic.

The question facing FDA is the correct recipe change. Both companies said they’d have plenty of omicron-targeted combo shots by October but Moderna said switching to target omicron’s newest relatives might delay its version another month.

Further complicating the decision is that only half of vaccinated Americans have received that all-important first booster. And while the CDC says protection against hospitalization has slipped some for older adults, a second booster that’s recommended for people 50 and older seems to restore it. But only a quarter of those eligible for the additional booster have gotten one.

Marks said that by tweaking the shots, “we’re hoping we can convince people to go get that booster to strengthen their immune response and help prevent another wave.”

The logistics will be challenging. Many Americans haven’t had their first vaccinations yet, including young children who just became eligible — and it’s not clear whether tweaked boosters eventually might lead to a change in the primary vaccine. But the FDA’s advisers said it’s important to go ahead and study updated vaccine recipes in children, too.

And one more complexity: A third company, Novavax, is awaiting FDA authorization of a more traditional kind of COVID-19 vaccine, protein-based shots. Novavax argued Tuesday that a booster of its regular vaccine promises a good immune response against the new omicron mutants without a recipe change.

Advisers to the World Health Organization recently said omicron-tweaked shots would be most beneficial as a booster only, because they should increase the breadth of people’s cross-protection against multiple variants.

“We don’t want the world to lose confidence in vaccines that are currently available,” said Dr. Kanta Subbarao, a virologist who chairs that WHO committee.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and MATTHEW PERRONE, Associated PressAt least some U.S. adults may get updated COVID-19 shots this fall, as government advisers voted Tuesday that it’s time to tweak booster doses to better match the most recent virus variants.Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration wrestled with how to modify doses now when there’s no way to know how the rapidly mutating virus will evolve by fall — especially since people who get today’s recommended boosters remain strongly protected against COVID-19′s worst outcomes.Ultimately the FDA panel voted 19-2 that COVID-19 boosters should contain some version of the super-contagious omicron variant, to be ready for an anticipated fall booster campaign.“We are going to be behind the eight-ball if we wait longer,” said one adviser, Dr. Mark Sawyer of the University of California, San Diego.The FDA will have to decide the exact recipe, but expect a combination shot that adds protection against either omicron or some of its newer relatives to the original vaccine.“None of us has a crystal ball” to know the next threatening variant, said FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks. But “we may at least bring the immune system closer to being able to respond to what’s circulating” now rather than far older virus strains.It’s not clear who would be offered a tweaked booster — they might be urged only for older adults or those at high risk from the virus. But the FDA is expected to decide on the recipe change within days and then Pfizer and Moderna will have to seek authorization for the appropriately updated doses, time for health authorities to settle on a fall strategy.Current COVID-19 vaccines have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-england-54d29ae3af5c700f15d704c14ee224b5">saved millions of lives</a>&nbsp;globally. With a booster dose, those used in the U.S. retain strong protection against hospitalization and death but their ability to block infection dropped markedly when omicron appeared. And the omicron mutant that caused the winter surge has been replaced by its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-united-states-pandemics-72462053f8d60fd548cf34377864100b">genetically distinct relatives</a>. The two newest omicron cousins, called BA.4 and BA.5, together now make up half of U.S. cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pfizer and Moderna already were brewing boosters that add protection to the first omicron mutant. Their combination shots, what scientists call “bivalent” vaccines, substantially boosted levels of antibodies capable of fighting that variant, more than simply giving another dose of today’s vaccine.Both companies found the tweaked shots also offered some cross-protection against those worrisome BA.4 and BA.5 mutants, too, but not nearly as much.Many scientists favor the combination approach because it preserves the original vaccines’ proven benefits, which include some cross-protection against other mutants that have cropped up during the pandemic.The question facing FDA is the correct recipe change. Both companies said they’d have plenty of omicron-targeted combo shots by October but Moderna said switching to target omicron’s newest relatives might delay its version another month.Further complicating the decision is that only half of vaccinated Americans have received that all-important first booster. And while the CDC says protection against hospitalization has slipped some for older adults, a second booster that’s recommended for people 50 and older seems to restore it. But only a quarter of those eligible for the additional booster have gotten one.Marks said that by tweaking the shots, “we’re hoping we can convince people to go get that booster to strengthen their immune response and help prevent another wave.”The logistics will be challenging. Many Americans haven’t had their first vaccinations yet, including young children who just became eligible — and it’s not clear whether tweaked boosters eventually might lead to a change in the primary vaccine. But the FDA’s advisers said it’s important to go ahead and study updated vaccine recipes in children, too.And one more complexity: A third company, Novavax, is awaiting FDA authorization of a more traditional kind of COVID-19 vaccine, protein-based shots. Novavax argued Tuesday that a booster of its regular vaccine promises a good immune response against the new omicron mutants without a recipe change.Advisers to the World Health Organization recently said omicron-tweaked shots would be most beneficial as a booster only, because they should increase the breadth of people’s cross-protection against multiple variants.“We don’t want the world to lose confidence in vaccines that are currently available,” said Dr. Kanta Subbarao, a virologist who chairs that WHO committee.___

FDA advisers recommend updating COVID booster shots for fall

MCPHERSON COUNTY —A former Kansas woman is going to prison for her role in a fatal DUI crash that killed a Kansas couple.

A McPherson County judge sentenced 44-year-old Julie Ann Hunter formerly of Lehigh now Aoka, Minnesota, to to just less than 12-years in prison for two counts of involuntary manslaughter-DUI, according to the McPherson County Attorney's office.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the crash in November of 2019 on Highway 56 involved a 1999 Ford Taurus driven by Hunter and a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica driven by&nbsp;Robert E. Unruh, 88, of Canton.

Unruh and a passenger Mary Lee Unruh, 83, Canton, were pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;EMS transported&nbsp;Hunter to the hospital in McPherson and she was later arrested.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Hunter will be required to serve at least 80 months before becoming eligible for parole, according to the county attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656160789680.png" alt="Hunter-photo McPherson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hunter-photo McPherson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON COUNTY —A former Kansas woman is going to prison for her role in a fatal DUI crash that killed a Kansas couple.A McPherson County judge sentenced 44-year-old Julie Ann Hunter formerly of Lehigh now Aoka, Minnesota, to to just less than 12-years in prison for two counts of involuntary manslaughter-DUI, according to the McPherson County Attorney's office.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the crash in November of 2019 on Highway 56 involved a 1999 Ford Taurus driven by Hunter and a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica driven by&nbsp;Robert E. Unruh, 88, of Canton.Unruh and a passenger Mary Lee Unruh, 83, Canton, were pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;EMS transported&nbsp;Hunter to the hospital in McPherson and she was later arrested.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hunter will be required to serve at least 80 months before becoming eligible for parole, according to the county attorney's office.

Woman sentenced for DUI crash that killed Kansas couple

The 
Federal Trade Commission today sued Walmart for allowing its money 
transfer services to be used by fraudsters, who fleeced consumers out of
 hundreds of millions of dollars. In its lawsuit, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/1823012WalmartComplaint.pdf">the FTC alleges</a>&nbsp;that
 for years, the company turned a blind eye while scammers took advantage
 of its failure to properly secure the money transfer services offered 
at Walmart stores. The company did not properly train its employees, 
failed to warn customers, and used procedures that allowed fraudsters to
 cash out at its stores, according to the FTC’s complaint. The FTC is 
asking the court to order Walmart to return money to consumers and to 
impose civil penalties for Walmart’s violations.

“While scammers used its money transfer 
services to make off with cash, Walmart looked the other way and 
pocketed millions in fees,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s 
Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Consumers have lost hundreds of 
millions, and the Commission is holding Walmart accountable for letting 
fraudsters fleece its customers.” &nbsp;

In addition to its retail business, Walmart 
offers financial services to consumers in its stores, including money 
transfers, credit cards, reloadable debit cards, check cashing, bill 
payments and more. Walmart acts as an agent for multiple money transfer 
services, including MoneyGram, Ria and Western Union, offering some 
services under its own brand, like “Walmart2Walmart” and 
“Walmart2World.” According to the complaint, tens of millions of money 
transfers are sent or received at Walmart stores each year, where they 
are processed by Walmart employees.

Money transfers are services that people use 
to send money to a recipient in another location. They are frequently 
used by fraudsters across a wide variety of scams because they are 
nearly impossible to retrieve after the money has been picked up. The 
FTC has brought multiple cases against money transfer services in recent
 years, including against MoneyGram and Western Union, alleging they 
failed to protect consumers who used their services.

Walmart’s practice of turning a blind eye to 
fraud had grave consequences for consumers, according to the complaint. 
The complaint cites numerous instances in which law enforcement 
investigations found that scammers relied on Walmart money transfers as a
 primary way to receive payments, including in telemarketing schemes 
like IRS impersonation schemes, relative-in-need “grandparent” scams, 
sweepstakes scams, and others. Based on information from fraud databases
 maintained by MoneyGram, Western Union, and Ria, from 2013 to 2018 more
 than $197 million in payments that were the subject of fraud complaints
 were sent or received at Walmart, with more than $1.3 billion in 
related payments also possibly connected to the fraud.

The FTC’s investigation of Walmart’s money 
transfer practices showed, according to the complaint, that Walmart knew
 about the role money transfer services play in scams and frauds. 
Despite that, the company’s money transfer services harmed consumers in 
numerous ways, including:

The Commission vote to file the civil penalty
 complaint was 3-2, with Commissioners Noah Joshua Phillips and 
Christine S. Wilson dissenting. The FTC filed the complaint in the U.S. 
District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe 
Federal Trade Commission today sued Walmart for allowing its money 
transfer services to be used by fraudsters, who fleeced consumers out of
 hundreds of millions of dollars. In its lawsuit, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/1823012WalmartComplaint.pdf">the FTC alleges</a>&nbsp;that
 for years, the company turned a blind eye while scammers took advantage
 of its failure to properly secure the money transfer services offered 
at Walmart stores. The company did not properly train its employees, 
failed to warn customers, and used procedures that allowed fraudsters to
 cash out at its stores, according to the FTC’s complaint. The FTC is 
asking the court to order Walmart to return money to consumers and to 
impose civil penalties for Walmart’s violations.“While scammers used its money transfer 
services to make off with cash, Walmart looked the other way and 
pocketed millions in fees,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s 
Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Consumers have lost hundreds of 
millions, and the Commission is holding Walmart accountable for letting 
fraudsters fleece its customers.” &nbsp;In addition to its retail business, Walmart 
offers financial services to consumers in its stores, including money 
transfers, credit cards, reloadable debit cards, check cashing, bill 
payments and more. Walmart acts as an agent for multiple money transfer 
services, including MoneyGram, Ria and Western Union, offering some 
services under its own brand, like “Walmart2Walmart” and 
“Walmart2World.” According to the complaint, tens of millions of money 
transfers are sent or received at Walmart stores each year, where they 
are processed by Walmart employees.Money transfers are services that people use 
to send money to a recipient in another location. They are frequently 
used by fraudsters across a wide variety of scams because they are 
nearly impossible to retrieve after the money has been picked up. The 
FTC has brought multiple cases against money transfer services in recent
 years, including against MoneyGram and Western Union, alleging they 
failed to protect consumers who used their services.Walmart’s practice of turning a blind eye to 
fraud had grave consequences for consumers, according to the complaint. 
The complaint cites numerous instances in which law enforcement 
investigations found that scammers relied on Walmart money transfers as a
 primary way to receive payments, including in telemarketing schemes 
like IRS impersonation schemes, relative-in-need “grandparent” scams, 
sweepstakes scams, and others. Based on information from fraud databases
 maintained by MoneyGram, Western Union, and Ria, from 2013 to 2018 more
 than $197 million in payments that were the subject of fraud complaints
 were sent or received at Walmart, with more than $1.3 billion in 
related payments also possibly connected to the fraud.The FTC’s investigation of Walmart’s money 
transfer practices showed, according to the complaint, that Walmart knew
 about the role money transfer services play in scams and frauds. 
Despite that, the company’s money transfer services harmed consumers in 
numerous ways, including:<ul>
 <li>Allowing the payout of suspicious transfers: For
 years, according to the complaint, it was Walmart’s stated policy for 
its employees to issue payouts even in the case of a suspicious money 
transfer, making it easy for scammers to retrieve fraud proceeds at a 
Walmart location. The complaint cites a Walmart reference guide for 
employees that stated: “If you suspect fraud, complete the transaction.” &nbsp;Walmart
 did not begin training employees to deny fraudulent payouts until at 
least May 2017, but even then it provided this training only to 
employees at a limited number of locations.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Having no anti-fraud policy or an ineffective, poorly enforced policy: According
 to the complaint, despite offering money transfer services for many 
years, Walmart did not have a written anti-fraud or consumer protection 
program until November 2014. After that time, the complaint cites 
numerous instances in which Walmart failed to have an effective program 
or violated its own policies, as well as the policies of its partners, 
like MoneyGram, that were ostensibly in place to protect consumers from 
fraud. </li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Allowing cash pickups for large payments: The
 complaint notes that Walmart, unlike most other outlets where money 
transfers can be received, pays even large payments in cash. In 
addition, the complaint notes that scammers were often able to retrieve 
their payments from Walmart by using fake IDs. This made it an 
attractive option for fraudsters looking to conceal their identities. </li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Not providing materials to prevent consumers from sending fraudulent payments:
 According to the complaint, Walmart failed to display or provide 
required materials to consumers at many of its locations that could have
 warned them about potential frauds and stopped them from sending money 
to scammers. More recently, the company stopped using a paper “send 
form” that included important information for consumers to help them 
realize they may be making a bogus payment, replacing it with a printout
 that contains only small print warnings.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Failing to effectively train or retrain staff: The
 complaint alleges that Walmart’s training materials for the tens of 
thousands of employees who worked with money transfers was often 
contradictory or unclear. In many cases, employees who were authorized 
to handle money transfers as “backups” received no anti-fraud training 
at all or only limited training related to transfers. The complaint 
notes that in some instances Walmart staff were complacent or complicit 
in scams, accepting cash tips from scammers in exchange for processing 
fraudulent payments or being directly involved in the scams themselves.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Allowing money transfers to be used for telemarketing purchases:
 The FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule has since 2016 prohibited money 
transfers from being used to pay for telemarketing purchases because of 
the high risk of fraud. But the complaint alleges that, for years, 
Walmart failed to take steps to comply with that provision.</li>
 </ul>The Commission vote to file the civil penalty
 complaint was 3-2, with Commissioners Noah Joshua Phillips and 
Christine S. Wilson dissenting. The FTC filed the complaint in the U.S. 
District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

FTC sues Walmart over alleged money transfer fraud

FRANKLIN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing and have made an arrest.

Just after 3p.m. June 25, police responded to report of a stabbing in the 700 Block of West 11th Street in Ottawa, according to a media release.

Officers found 29-year-old Dalton Presley of Ottawa deceased inside the home. He had been stabbed.

Police detained another resident of the home identified as 29-year-old Anthony Alvarado and transported him to the Ottawa Police Department for questioning.

Police later arrested Alvarado on requested charges of 2nd degree murder. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the case, according to the release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656421632965.png" alt="Alvarado-photo Franklin Co." />
 <figcaption>Alvarado-photo Franklin Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FRANKLIN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal stabbing and have made an arrest.Just after 3p.m. June 25, police responded to report of a stabbing in the 700 Block of West 11th Street in Ottawa, according to a media release.Officers found 29-year-old Dalton Presley of Ottawa deceased inside the home. He had been stabbed.Police detained another resident of the home identified as 29-year-old Anthony Alvarado and transported him to the Ottawa Police Department for questioning.Police later arrested Alvarado on requested charges of 2nd degree murder. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the case, according to the release.