SALINA–Police investigating a fatal shooting in Salina have identified a person-of interest as 28-year-old Dalton Levi Palmer, according to a media release from police. Palmer is described as being 5-foot-6 and weighs 140 pounds.

Palmer currently has an unrelated warrant from Saline County District Court.

&nbsp;Police identified the victim killed early Saturda as Dylan Eugene Garman, 25, of Salina.

Due to Palmer’s past criminal behavior, he should be considered armed and dangerous.

According to police, if you have any information about the location of Palmer or if you observe Palmer, do not approach and immediately call law enforcement.

SALINA—Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a violent night of crime in Salina.

Just before 3:30 a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 400 block of South College Avenue, in Salina, for a report of several gunshots in the are, according to a media release from police. Officers located multiple spent ammunition casings lying in the street. They did&nbsp;not find any victims or witnesses at the scene.

A short time later, officers were dispatched to the Salina Regional Health Center (SRHC) Emergency Room, 400 South Santa Fe Avenue, Salina, for a report of two gunshot victims, an 18-year-old girl and a 25-year-old man arriving at the Emergency Room

&nbsp;Medical staff pronounced the 25-year-old man deceased, according to police.&nbsp; Police did not released their names.

Just after 3:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 500 block of East Cloud Street, in Salina, for a report of a person, later identified as a 23-year-old man, lying in the front yard who had been shot multiple times.&nbsp;

EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds. This victim underwent emergency surgery and has been subsequently transferred to a hospital in Wichita, according to police.

&nbsp;It appears all shooting victims are related to the incident which occurred on South College Avenue, according to police. This investigation is a homicide case, and more information will be released when available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651958808690.jpeg" alt="Palmer-photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Palmer-photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINA–Police investigating a fatal shooting in Salina have identified a person-of interest as 28-year-old Dalton Levi Palmer, according to a media release from police. Palmer is described as being 5-foot-6 and weighs 140 pounds.Palmer currently has an unrelated warrant from Saline County District Court.&nbsp;Police identified the victim killed early Saturda as Dylan Eugene Garman, 25, of Salina.Due to Palmer’s past criminal behavior, he should be considered armed and dangerous.According to police, if you have any information about the location of Palmer or if you observe Palmer, do not approach and immediately call law enforcement.--------SALINA—Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a violent night of crime in Salina.Just before 3:30 a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 400 block of South College Avenue, in Salina, for a report of several gunshots in the are, according to a media release from police. Officers located multiple spent ammunition casings lying in the street. They did&nbsp;not find any victims or witnesses at the scene.A short time later, officers were dispatched to the Salina Regional Health Center (SRHC) Emergency Room, 400 South Santa Fe Avenue, Salina, for a report of two gunshot victims, an 18-year-old girl and a 25-year-old man arriving at the Emergency Room&nbsp;Medical staff pronounced the 25-year-old man deceased, according to police.&nbsp; Police did not released their names.Just after 3:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 500 block of East Cloud Street, in Salina, for a report of a person, later identified as a 23-year-old man, lying in the front yard who had been shot multiple times.&nbsp;EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds. This victim underwent emergency surgery and has been subsequently transferred to a hospital in Wichita, according to police.&nbsp;It appears all shooting victims are related to the incident which occurred on South College Avenue, according to police. This investigation is a homicide case, and more information will be released when available.

Search continues for suspect in fatal Salina shooting 

By BARRY BUTTERFIELD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/09/can-a-once-thriving-industry-all-but-given-up-for-dead-come-back-to-life-in-nebraska/">Courtesy Nebraska Examiner</a>

Reviving uranium mining has 
long been in the works, but production plans have been held up by 
funding hurdles and problems with federal regulations. Now, as a result 
of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, that may change.

Nearly 50% of the uranium used at U.S. 
nuclear power plants, in nuclear medicine and for distant space missions
 is imported from Russia and two of its closest allies, Kazakhstan and 
Uzbekistan, both former Soviet states. Yet despite Russia’s atrocities 
in Ukraine, the United States continues to pay Russia $100 million a 
month for uranium. This is absurd.

Congress is considering legislation to ban 
imports of Russian uranium, but the Biden administration — which has 
imposed sanctions against Russian sales of oil and natural gas — wants 
the uranium shipments to continue.

Let’s be clear: Sanctions have been only 
partly successful in putting pressure on Russia’s economy and slowing 
its war machine. But combined with arms shipments, sanctions have been 
critical in checking Vladimir Putin’s goals. We clearly need a vigorous 
commitment to both.

For nuclear power plants, nothing is as 
important as a reliable supply of uranium. Years ago, there were more 
than 300 uranium mines in the United States. Today, there is one 
operating mine, in Utah. Virtually all the uranium we need for our 
energy needs is imported from other countries. It is one example of the 
atrophy of minerals mining in the United States, something our enemies 
use to exploit our energy security.

This isn’t a time to pretend that Putin 
would not dare cut off uranium shipments to the United States. A Russian
 embargo would severely disrupt the production of electricity at nuclear
 plants that provide nearly 20% of U.S. power and 55% of the nation’s 
emission-free electricity.

Halting the use of uranium from Russia and 
its satellites would be a major step in the right direction. Given the 
risk of a uranium shortage, we must make a major push to create new 
uranium mines and reopen old mines that have been closed, such as Crow 
Butte.

Situated in northwest Nebraska near 
Crawford, Crow Butte was the first uranium mine developed in Nebraska. A
 roll-front uranium mine, it began production in 1991, using an in-situ 
method for recovery. However, the import of cheap uranium led to 
weakening of the uranium market, and production stopped in 2018. Cameco 
Resources, owner of the mine, says the mine is under care and 
maintenance pending an improvement in uranium prices.

Reopening Crow Butte and other mines would 
help deter Putin from engaging in uranium blackmail against the United 
States. Also, the federal government should consider establishing a 
uranium strategic reserve, similar to the petroleum strategic reserve, 
and switch to friendly countries such as Canada and Australia for 
uranium supplies.

Were Putin to cut off uranium shipments, we 
can’t say we weren’t warned. Putin is a brutal dictator whose military 
has crushed cities and murdered thousands of people. Not to think he 
might pull the plug on U.S. nuclear plants would be naive.

Barry Butterfield is a civil engineer who worked in the public and private sector for over 40 years. He has done energy-related projects in Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa and Connecticut. He also worked on two of Nebraska’s more controversial projects, including the Central Interstate Compact Low-Level Radioactive Waste facility near Butte, Nebraska, and the Keystone XL pipeline.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652110475031.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By BARRY BUTTERFIELD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/09/can-a-once-thriving-industry-all-but-given-up-for-dead-come-back-to-life-in-nebraska/">Courtesy Nebraska Examiner</a>Reviving uranium mining has 
long been in the works, but production plans have been held up by 
funding hurdles and problems with federal regulations. Now, as a result 
of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, that may change.Nearly 50% of the uranium used at U.S. 
nuclear power plants, in nuclear medicine and for distant space missions
 is imported from Russia and two of its closest allies, Kazakhstan and 
Uzbekistan, both former Soviet states. Yet despite Russia’s atrocities 
in Ukraine, the United States continues to pay Russia $100 million a 
month for uranium. This is absurd.Congress is considering legislation to ban 
imports of Russian uranium, but the Biden administration — which has 
imposed sanctions against Russian sales of oil and natural gas — wants 
the uranium shipments to continue.Let’s be clear: Sanctions have been only 
partly successful in putting pressure on Russia’s economy and slowing 
its war machine. But combined with arms shipments, sanctions have been 
critical in checking Vladimir Putin’s goals. We clearly need a vigorous 
commitment to both.For nuclear power plants, nothing is as 
important as a reliable supply of uranium. Years ago, there were more 
than 300 uranium mines in the United States. Today, there is one 
operating mine, in Utah. Virtually all the uranium we need for our 
energy needs is imported from other countries. It is one example of the 
atrophy of minerals mining in the United States, something our enemies 
use to exploit our energy security.This isn’t a time to pretend that Putin 
would not dare cut off uranium shipments to the United States. A Russian
 embargo would severely disrupt the production of electricity at nuclear
 plants that provide nearly 20% of U.S. power and 55% of the nation’s 
emission-free electricity.Halting the use of uranium from Russia and 
its satellites would be a major step in the right direction. Given the 
risk of a uranium shortage, we must make a major push to create new 
uranium mines and reopen old mines that have been closed, such as Crow 
Butte.Situated in northwest Nebraska near 
Crawford, Crow Butte was the first uranium mine developed in Nebraska. A
 roll-front uranium mine, it began production in 1991, using an in-situ 
method for recovery. However, the import of cheap uranium led to 
weakening of the uranium market, and production stopped in 2018. Cameco 
Resources, owner of the mine, says the mine is under care and 
maintenance pending an improvement in uranium prices.Reopening Crow Butte and other mines would 
help deter Putin from engaging in uranium blackmail against the United 
States. Also, the federal government should consider establishing a 
uranium strategic reserve, similar to the petroleum strategic reserve, 
and switch to friendly countries such as Canada and Australia for 
uranium supplies.Were Putin to cut off uranium shipments, we 
can’t say we weren’t warned. Putin is a brutal dictator whose military 
has crushed cities and murdered thousands of people. Not to think he 
might pull the plug on U.S. nuclear plants would be naive.Barry Butterfield is a civil engineer who worked in the public and private sector for over 40 years. He has done energy-related projects in Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa and Connecticut. He also worked on two of Nebraska’s more controversial projects, including the Central Interstate Compact Low-Level Radioactive Waste facility near Butte, Nebraska, and the Keystone XL pipeline.&nbsp;

ANALYSIS: Can once-thriving uranium industry come back to life in Nebraska?

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man following an incident near an elementary school.

Just after 10 a.m. Friday, police responded to the 3600 block of Cole Circle in Garden City for a report of a suspicious person, according to a media release. Officers were notified that a man had been walking through yards in the neighborhood.

Upon arrival, Officers located 43-year-old Louis William Gomez III&nbsp; who stated he was picking up trash in the neighborhood as a good deed. Officers warned Gomez to stay off other people’s property without permission and left.

At around 11:00 A.M., Officers were dispatched to Victor Ornelas Elementary School,&nbsp;3401 E. Spruce Street, for a disturbance. The reporting party notified Officers that a man matching Gomez’s description was hitting vehicles in the school parking lot with children outside. 

Officers located Gomez in the area and arrested him. Victor Ornelas Elementary School, as well as Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center, were placed on lockdown as a precaution until Gomez was located by law enforcement. The schools were in lockdown for approximately 30 minutes.

Through further investigation, it was revealed that Gomez had been looking through windows of residences in the 600 block of Warrior Street, prior to the incident at Victor Ornelas Elementary School. Witnesses told Officers that Gomez attempted to access one of the residences through the back door. 

Gomez was being held on requested charges of Disorderly Conduct and Window Peeping. He is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651926018319.png" alt="Gomez-photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Gomez-photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man following an incident near an elementary school.Just after 10 a.m. Friday, police responded to the 3600 block of Cole Circle in Garden City for a report of a suspicious person, according to a media release. Officers were notified that a man had been walking through yards in the neighborhood.Upon arrival, Officers located 43-year-old Louis William Gomez III&nbsp; who stated he was picking up trash in the neighborhood as a good deed. Officers warned Gomez to stay off other people’s property without permission and left.At around 11:00 A.M., Officers were dispatched to Victor Ornelas Elementary School,&nbsp;3401 E. Spruce Street, for a disturbance. The reporting party notified Officers that a man matching Gomez’s description was hitting vehicles in the school parking lot with children outside. Officers located Gomez in the area and arrested him. Victor Ornelas Elementary School, as well as Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center, were placed on lockdown as a precaution until Gomez was located by law enforcement. The schools were in lockdown for approximately 30 minutes.Through further investigation, it was revealed that Gomez had been looking through windows of residences in the 600 block of Warrior Street, prior to the incident at Victor Ornelas Elementary School. Witnesses told Officers that Gomez attempted to access one of the residences through the back door. Gomez was being held on requested charges of Disorderly Conduct and Window Peeping. He is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Man accused of window peeping near Kan. elementary school

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in connection with the April 12, fatal shooting of Alfred Brown in Kansas City outside a Family Dollar store, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Lionel L. Bolton, 23, faces charges of Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action

According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the area of 39th and Indiana on a shooting. Officers located a vehicle, with the victim inside, outside the Family Dollar store near 39th and Indiana. 

Witnesses told police that Bolton had gone into the store and withdrawn cash before he went to the victim's car. A witness said the sound of gunfire was heard, and the defendant left the vehicle. Detectives confirmed a card associated with the defendant was used at the ATM and phone records showed the defendant phone was at the homicide location. Prosecutors requested a bond of $250,000 cash only.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651878576613.png" alt="Bolton-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bolton-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in connection with the April 12, fatal shooting of Alfred Brown in Kansas City outside a Family Dollar store, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Lionel L. Bolton, 23, faces charges of Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal ActionAccording to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the area of 39th and Indiana on a shooting. Officers located a vehicle, with the victim inside, outside the Family Dollar store near 39th and Indiana. Witnesses told police that Bolton had gone into the store and withdrawn cash before he went to the victim's car. A witness said the sound of gunfire was heard, and the defendant left the vehicle. Detectives confirmed a card associated with the defendant was used at the ATM and phone records showed the defendant phone was at the homicide location. Prosecutors requested a bond of $250,000 cash only.

Kansas City man used ATM moments before fatal shooting

UZHHOROD, Ukraine (AP) — Jill Biden made an unannounced visit to western Ukraine on Sunday, holding a surprise Mother’s Day meeting with first lady Olena Zelenska to show U.S. support for the embattled nation as Russia presses its punishing war in the eastern regions.

She became the latest high-profile American to enter Ukraine during the war, while Zalenska’s public appearance was her first since since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24

“I wanted to come on Mother’s Day,” the U.S. first lady told Zelenska. “I thought it was important to show the Ukrainian people that this war has to stop and this war has been brutal and that the people of the United States stand with the people of Ukraine.”

Biden spent about two hours in Ukraine, traveling by vehicle to the town of Uzhhorod, about a 10-minute drive from a Slovakian border village where she had toured a border processing facility.

Zelenska thanked Biden for her “courageous act” and said, “We understand what it takes for the U.S. first lady to come here during a war when military actions are taking place every day, where the air sirens are happening every day -- even today.”

The first ladies met at a school being used to temporarily house Ukrainian migrants. Zalenska arrived first and waited in her black SUV until Biden arrived in similar fashion. The women stepped out of their vehicles and embraced, with Biden — who wore a wrist corsage for Mother’s Day — handing over a bouquet of flowers before they entered the school.

The women came together in a small classroom, sitting on either side of a wooden table and greeting each other in front of reporters before they met in private. Zelenska and her two children have been staying at an undisclosed location for their safety.

The visit allowed Biden to conduct the kind of personal diplomacy that her husband would like to do himself.

President Joe Biden said when he visited Poland in March that he was disappointed he could not cross the border and go into Ukraine to see conditions “firsthand” but that he was not allowed, likely due to security reasons. The White House said as recently as last week that the president “would love to visit” but there were no plans for him to do so at this time.

The meeting came about after Jill Biden expressed interest in visiting the region, including the school where she and Zalenska met, and settled on the idea of spending Mother’s Day with Ukrainian moms, said Michael LaRosa, the first lady’s spokesperson.

He said the Ukrainian government informed the United States that Zalenska would like to meet, if possible, and that a meeting was finalized in recent days. The first ladies also had recently exchanged correspondence, according to U.S. officials who declined to provide further details because they were not authorized to discuss those private communications.

After meeting privately for about a half hour, the first ladies joined a group of children who live at the school in making tissue-paper bears to give as Mother’s Day gifts.

LaRosa described their conversation as “more of a personal mother-to-mother exchange” and said Biden was interested in how Zalenska was coping “through that lens.”

He said Zalenska told Biden that she was able to hold her children’s hands every night even though she could not be with her husband.

The Bidens spoke by telephone afterward, he said.

Biden’s visit followed recent stops in the war-torn country by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress, and a joint trip by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

Her visit was to western Ukraine; Russia is concentrating its military power in eastern Ukraine, and she was not in harm’s way. On the same day as Biden’s visit, a Russian bomb flattened a school in eastern Ukraine that had been sheltering about 90 people in its basement, with dozens feared dead. Also Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Ukraine to meet with the president and “reaffirm Canada’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people,” according to his office.

Earlier, in the Slovakian border village of Vysne Nemecke, Biden toured its border processing facility, surveying operations set up by the United Nations and relief organizations to assist Ukrainians seeking refuge. Biden attended a religious service in a tent set up as a chapel, where a priest intoned, “We pray for the people of Ukraine.”

And before that, at a school in Kosice, Biden offered support to Ukrainian mothers in Slovakia. She assured them that the “hearts of the American people” are behind them.

At a bus station in the city that is now a 24-hour refugee processing center, Biden found herself in an extended conversation with a Ukrainian woman who said she struggles to explain the war to her three children because she cannot understand it herself.

“I cannot explain because I don’t know myself and I’m a teacher,” Victorie Kutocha, who had her arms around her 7-year-old daughter, Yulie, told Biden.

At one point, Kutocha asked, “Why?” seeming to seek an explanation for Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine on Feb. 24.

’It’s so hard to understand,” the first lady replied.

Biden also dropped in at a Slovakian public school that has taken in displaced students. Slovakian and Ukrainian moms were brought together at the school for a Mother’s Day event while their children made crafts to give them as gifts.

She went from table to table meeting the mothers and kids, telling some of the women that she wanted to come and ”say the hearts of the American people are with the mothers of Ukraine.”

“I just wanted to come and show you our support,” she said before departing for Vysne Nemecke.

Biden is on a four-day visit to Eastern Europe to highlight U.S. support for Ukrainian refugees and for allied countries such as Romania and Slovakia that are providing a safe haven for them.

She spent Friday and Saturday in Romania, visiting with U.S. troops and meeting with Ukrainian refugee mothers and children.

With her trip, the American first lady followed the path of prior sitting first ladies who also traveled to war or conflict zones.

Eleanor Roosevelt visited servicemen abroad during World War II to help boost troop morale. Pat Nixon joined President Richard Nixon on his 1969 trip to South Vietnam, becoming the first first lady to visit a combat zone, according to the National First Ladies’ Library. She flew 18 miles from Saigon in an open helicopter, accompanied by U.S. Secret Service agents.

Hillary Clinton visited a combat zone, stopping in Bosnia in 1996. Laura Bush visited Afghanistan twice, in 2005 and 2008, during the U.S.-led war there. Melania Trump accompanied President Donald Trump to Iraq in December 2018.

UZHHOROD, Ukraine (AP) — Jill Biden made an unannounced visit to western Ukraine on Sunday, holding a surprise Mother’s Day meeting with first lady Olena Zelenska to show U.S. support for the embattled nation as Russia presses its punishing war in the eastern regions.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On this Mother’s Day, my heart is with you, First Lady Olena Zelenska, and all of the brave and resilient mothers of Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/tCMXCXhgiY">pic.twitter.com/tCMXCXhgiY</a>&mdash; Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1523314688288694272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>She became the latest high-profile American to enter Ukraine during the war, while Zalenska’s public appearance was her first since since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24“I wanted to come on Mother’s Day,” the U.S. first lady told Zelenska. “I thought it was important to show the Ukrainian people that this war has to stop and this war has been brutal and that the people of the United States stand with the people of Ukraine.”Biden spent about two hours in Ukraine, traveling by vehicle to the town of Uzhhorod, about a 10-minute drive from a Slovakian border village where she had toured a border processing facility.Zelenska thanked Biden for her “courageous act” and said, “We understand what it takes for the U.S. first lady to come here during a war when military actions are taking place every day, where the air sirens are happening every day -- even today.”The first ladies met at a school being used to temporarily house Ukrainian migrants. Zalenska arrived first and waited in her black SUV until Biden arrived in similar fashion. The women stepped out of their vehicles and embraced, with Biden — who wore a wrist corsage for Mother’s Day — handing over a bouquet of flowers before they entered the school.The women came together in a small classroom, sitting on either side of a wooden table and greeting each other in front of reporters before they met in private. Zelenska and her two children have been staying at an undisclosed location for their safety.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This Mother’s Day, I wanted to be with Ukrainian mothers and their children. Over the last few months, far too many Ukrainians have had to flee their homes – forcing them to leave behind their loved ones. <a href="https://t.co/zjtMv5ey0B">pic.twitter.com/zjtMv5ey0B</a>&mdash; Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1523270562818060291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The visit allowed Biden to conduct the kind of personal diplomacy that her husband would like to do himself.President Joe Biden said when he visited Poland in March that he was disappointed he could not cross the border and go into Ukraine to see conditions “firsthand” but that he was not allowed, likely due to security reasons. The White House said as recently as last week that the president “would love to visit” but there were no plans for him to do so at this time.The meeting came about after Jill Biden expressed interest in visiting the region, including the school where she and Zalenska met, and settled on the idea of spending Mother’s Day with Ukrainian moms, said Michael LaRosa, the first lady’s spokesperson.He said the Ukrainian government informed the United States that Zalenska would like to meet, if possible, and that a meeting was finalized in recent days. The first ladies also had recently exchanged correspondence, according to U.S. officials who declined to provide further details because they were not authorized to discuss those private communications.After meeting privately for about a half hour, the first ladies joined a group of children who live at the school in making tissue-paper bears to give as Mother’s Day gifts.LaRosa described their conversation as “more of a personal mother-to-mother exchange” and said Biden was interested in how Zalenska was coping “through that lens.”He said Zalenska told Biden that she was able to hold her children’s hands every night even though she could not be with her husband.The Bidens spoke by telephone afterward, he said.Biden’s visit followed recent stops in the war-torn country by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress, and a joint trip by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.Her visit was to western Ukraine; Russia is concentrating its military power in eastern Ukraine, and she was not in harm’s way. On the same day as Biden’s visit, a Russian bomb flattened a school in eastern Ukraine that had been sheltering about 90 people in its basement, with dozens feared dead. Also Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Ukraine to meet with the president and “reaffirm Canada’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people,” according to his office.Earlier, in the Slovakian border village of Vysne Nemecke, Biden toured its border processing facility, surveying operations set up by the United Nations and relief organizations to assist Ukrainians seeking refuge. Biden attended a religious service in a tent set up as a chapel, where a priest intoned, “We pray for the people of Ukraine.”And before that, at a school in Kosice, Biden offered support to Ukrainian mothers in Slovakia. She assured them that the “hearts of the American people” are behind them.At a bus station in the city that is now a 24-hour refugee processing center, Biden found herself in an extended conversation with a Ukrainian woman who said she struggles to explain the war to her three children because she cannot understand it herself.“I cannot explain because I don’t know myself and I’m a teacher,” Victorie Kutocha, who had her arms around her 7-year-old daughter, Yulie, told Biden.At one point, Kutocha asked, “Why?” seeming to seek an explanation for Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine on Feb. 24.’It’s so hard to understand,” the first lady replied.Biden also dropped in at a Slovakian public school that has taken in displaced students. Slovakian and Ukrainian moms were brought together at the school for a Mother’s Day event while their children made crafts to give them as gifts.She went from table to table meeting the mothers and kids, telling some of the women that she wanted to come and ”say the hearts of the American people are with the mothers of Ukraine.”“I just wanted to come and show you our support,” she said before departing for Vysne Nemecke.Biden is on a four-day visit to Eastern Europe to highlight U.S. support for Ukrainian refugees and for allied countries such as Romania and Slovakia that are providing a safe haven for them.She spent Friday and Saturday in Romania, visiting with U.S. troops and meeting with Ukrainian refugee mothers and children.With her trip, the American first lady followed the path of prior sitting first ladies who also traveled to war or conflict zones.Eleanor Roosevelt visited servicemen abroad during World War II to help boost troop morale. Pat Nixon joined President Richard Nixon on his 1969 trip to South Vietnam, becoming the first first lady to visit a combat zone, according to the National First Ladies’ Library. She flew 18 miles from Saigon in an open helicopter, accompanied by U.S. Secret Service agents.Hillary Clinton visited a combat zone, stopping in Bosnia in 1996. Laura Bush visited Afghanistan twice, in 2005 and 2008, during the U.S.-led war there. Melania Trump accompanied President Donald Trump to Iraq in December 2018.

Surprise: Jill Biden spends Mother's Day in Ukraine 

Kan. senator demands warnings on shows exploring gender issues

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/07/marshall-demands-special-parental-warnings-on-television-shows-exploring-gender-issues/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall
 wants a television monitoring board to expand a ratings system to warn 
parents about content in youth programs relating to people with a desire
 to be another gender.

The Kansas Republican joined four U.S. Senate colleagues on a letter 
urging the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board to push back against 
“left-wing sexual politics” embodied in Walt Disney Co.’s opposition to 
the Florida “don’t say gay” law prohibiting educators from delving into 
gender issues with children in kindergarten through third grade.

Marshall and U.S. Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Mike Braun of Indiana, 
Steve Daines of Montana and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota recommended the
 board update guidelines to feature ratings on content tied to gender 
dysphoria so parents or guardians could more easily block kids from 
viewing LGBTQ content.

In the past, the television board has focused on rating programs in terms of obscene, violent or sexual material.

“To the detriment of children, gender dysphoria has become 
sensationalized in the popular media and television with radical 
activists and entertainment companies. This radical and sexual sensation
 not only harms children, but also destabilizes and damages parental 
rights,” the senators’ letter said.

The American Psychological Association reported some people who are 
transgender experience gender dysphoria, a form of psychological 
distress about the difference between an individual’s gender assignment 
at birth and an individual’s gender identity. The condition must be 
associated with clinically significant social, occupational or other 
impairment to meet criteria for the diagnosis.

Marshall’s letter continued: “The motivations of hyper-sexualized 
entertainment producers striving to push this content on young audiences
 are suspect at best and predatory at worst.”

The letter signed by Marshall also said parents across the United 
States should outraged that educators wade into sexual orientation and 
gender identity in classrooms.

In 1997, most broadcast and cable networks implemented the board’s 
television content rating system in response to public concern about 
explicit sexual content, graphic violence and profanity on screen.

The Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly tangled over a bill last 
month that would have banned transgender girls or women from 
participating in school or college sports programs in Kansas.

The Democratic governor vetoed the bill, but the House failed to gain
 the two-thirds majority necessary to override her decision. The Senate 
had the votes for an override.

GOP legislators in the House and Senate said
 transgender athletes would have an unfair advantage if involved in 
sports competitions for girls or women. Rep. Barbara Wasinger, a Hays 
Republican, said identifying as transgender was evidence of a mental 
health problem among “people that are confused.”

Opponents of the bill said the prohibition was part of a political campaign to shame people and undermine transgender Kansans’ identities.

“If you disapprove of who I am or who a young trans person is, take that up with our creator,” said Rep. Brandon Woodard, a Lenexa Democrat and one of four LGBTQ legislators in Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651942047141.png" alt="U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., joined four other GOP senators calling for new parental warnings on television shows to pinpoint content raising issues of gender dysphoria. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from U.S. Senate YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., joined four other GOP senators calling for new parental warnings on television shows to pinpoint content raising issues of gender dysphoria. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from U.S. Senate YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Kan. senator demands warnings on shows exploring gender issues</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/07/marshall-demands-special-parental-warnings-on-television-shows-exploring-gender-issues/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall
 wants a television monitoring board to expand a ratings system to warn 
parents about content in youth programs relating to people with a desire
 to be another gender.The Kansas Republican joined four U.S. Senate colleagues on a letter 
urging the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board to push back against 
“left-wing sexual politics” embodied in Walt Disney Co.’s opposition to 
the Florida “don’t say gay” law prohibiting educators from delving into 
gender issues with children in kindergarten through third grade.Marshall and U.S. Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Mike Braun of Indiana, 
Steve Daines of Montana and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota recommended the
 board update guidelines to feature ratings on content tied to gender 
dysphoria so parents or guardians could more easily block kids from 
viewing LGBTQ content.In the past, the television board has focused on rating programs in terms of obscene, violent or sexual material.“To the detriment of children, gender dysphoria has become 
sensationalized in the popular media and television with radical 
activists and entertainment companies. This radical and sexual sensation
 not only harms children, but also destabilizes and damages parental 
rights,” the senators’ letter said.The American Psychological Association reported some people who are 
transgender experience gender dysphoria, a form of psychological 
distress about the difference between an individual’s gender assignment 
at birth and an individual’s gender identity. The condition must be 
associated with clinically significant social, occupational or other 
impairment to meet criteria for the diagnosis.Marshall’s letter continued: “The motivations of hyper-sexualized 
entertainment producers striving to push this content on young audiences
 are suspect at best and predatory at worst.”The letter signed by Marshall also said parents across the United 
States should outraged that educators wade into sexual orientation and 
gender identity in classrooms.In 1997, most broadcast and cable networks implemented the board’s 
television content rating system in response to public concern about 
explicit sexual content, graphic violence and profanity on screen.The Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly tangled over a bill last 
month that would have banned transgender girls or women from 
participating in school or college sports programs in Kansas.The Democratic governor vetoed the bill, but the House failed to gain
 the two-thirds majority necessary to override her decision. The Senate 
had the votes for an override.GOP legislators in the House and Senate said
 transgender athletes would have an unfair advantage if involved in 
sports competitions for girls or women. Rep. Barbara Wasinger, a Hays 
Republican, said identifying as transgender was evidence of a mental 
health problem among “people that are confused.”Opponents of the bill said the prohibition was part of a political campaign to shame people and undermine transgender Kansans’ identities.“If you disapprove of who I am or who a young trans person is, take that up with our creator,” said Rep. Brandon Woodard, a Lenexa Democrat and one of four LGBTQ legislators in Kansas.

Marshall takes aim at Disney, calling for parental warnings

By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>

HOISINGTON — In Hoisington, there are five buildings in the northern part
of town on Vine Street that used to house 30 apartment units. The City of Hoisington acquired
the vacant buildings this past January for $200,000 and considered demolishing the
structures to create housing lots. The city then determined to leave one
building for a child daycare facility. 

A private funding partner convinced the
city to invest in renovating two of the buildings to become daycare units.


Hoisington City Manager Jonathan Mitchell said the city is looking for funding
partners to raise approximately $629,000 for renovations. 
 "The city has submitted numerous grant applications," said Mitchell.
 "Clara Barton Hospital has pledged $10,000 towards this project. We 
visited with Essex. Our largest partner will potentially by Barton 
County. The county feels very strongly that childcare is a key component
 to economic development."

Barton County provided $435,000 to the 
Great Bend Economic Development in March to assist with a $1.6 million 
childcare center in Great Bend to house 59 children.

Hoisington 
requested $10,000 from the Hoisington school district. The USD 431 Board
 of Education decided to wait until after examining their budget in June
 to determine on a donation.&nbsp; 
 
To avoid rigorous Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
regulations, Hoisington is avoiding a daycare center and instead providing
daycare homes.

The city is teaming up with GPS Kids Club, a 
nonprofit daycare
in Hoisington, to manage the new daycares. With seven separate units in 
the buildings, the new daycare could accommodate 70 to 84 children. 

While there
were concerns from other home daycare providers, Mitchell felt there was enough
demand for childcare to keep everyone in business. 
 "Some of the current providers felt this would threaten their 
livelihood," said Mitchell. "Talking to other experts, they really 
believe there is a need. KDHE feels if these providers have vacancies, 
they need to make changes to their practices. As long as you're 
providing quality care at an affordable price, people are not going to 
leave." 
 
GPS Kids Club has a staff of 17 and will provide care to roughly 60 school-aged
children this summer. GPS also manages two daycare homes where there are 10
infants to toddlers in each home. 
 
Mitchell said the city is looking to secure funding by July 1 to
begin ordering supplies and starting renovations. The hope is to have the
daycare homes operational by next spring or summer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652031471000.png" alt="Hoisington is seeking funding to renovate apartment buildings on Vine Street into daycare homes." />
 <figcaption>Hoisington is seeking funding to renovate apartment buildings on Vine Street into daycare homes.</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>HOISINGTON — In Hoisington, there are five buildings in the northern part
of town on Vine Street that used to house 30 apartment units. The City of Hoisington acquired
the vacant buildings this past January for $200,000 and considered demolishing the
structures to create housing lots. The city then determined to leave one
building for a child daycare facility. A private funding partner convinced the
city to invest in renovating two of the buildings to become daycare units.
Hoisington City Manager Jonathan Mitchell said the city is looking for funding
partners to raise approximately $629,000 for renovations. 
 "The city has submitted numerous grant applications," said Mitchell.
 "Clara Barton Hospital has pledged $10,000 towards this project. We 
visited with Essex. Our largest partner will potentially by Barton 
County. The county feels very strongly that childcare is a key component
 to economic development."Barton County provided $435,000 to the 
Great Bend Economic Development in March to assist with a $1.6 million 
childcare center in Great Bend to house 59 children.Hoisington 
requested $10,000 from the Hoisington school district. The USD 431 Board
 of Education decided to wait until after examining their budget in June
 to determine on a donation.&nbsp; 
 
To avoid rigorous Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
regulations, Hoisington is avoiding a daycare center and instead providing
daycare homes. The city is teaming up with GPS Kids Club, a 
nonprofit daycare
in Hoisington, to manage the new daycares. With seven separate units in 
the buildings, the new daycare could accommodate 70 to 84 children. While there
were concerns from other home daycare providers, Mitchell felt there was enough
demand for childcare to keep everyone in business. 
 "Some of the current providers felt this would threaten their 
livelihood," said Mitchell. "Talking to other experts, they really 
believe there is a need. KDHE feels if these providers have vacancies, 
they need to make changes to their practices. As long as you're 
providing quality care at an affordable price, people are not going to 
leave." 
 
GPS Kids Club has a staff of 17 and will provide care to roughly 60 school-aged
children this summer. GPS also manages two daycare homes where there are 10
infants to toddlers in each home. 
 
Mitchell said the city is looking to secure funding by July 1 to
begin ordering supplies and starting renovations. The hope is to have the
daycare homes operational by next spring or summer.

Hoisington proposing daycare homes for up to 84 children

WASHINGTON (AP) — Record-low mortgages below 3% are long gone. Credit card rates will likely rise. So will the cost of an auto loan. Savers may finally receive a yield high enough to top inflation.

The substantial half-point hike in its benchmark short-term rate that the Federal Reserve announced Wednesday won’t, by itself, have much immediate effect on most Americans’ finances. But additional large hikes are expected to be announced at the Fed’s next two meetings, in June and July, and economists and investors foresee the fastest pace of rate increases since 1989.

The result could be much higher borrowing costs for households well into the future as the Fed fights the most painfully high inflation in four decades and ends a decades-long era of historically low rates.

Chair Jerome Powell hopes that by making borrowing more expensive, the Fed will succeed in cooling demand for homes, cars and other goods and services and thereby slow inflation.

Yet the risks are high. With inflation likely to stay elevated, the Fed may have to drive borrowing costs even higher than it now expects. Doing so could tip the U.S. economy into recession.

Here are some questions and answers about what the rate hikes could mean for consumers and businesses:

I’M CONSIDERING BUYING A HOUSE. WILL MORTGAGE RATES KEEP GOING UP?

Rates on home loans have soared in the past few months, mostly in anticipation of the Fed’s moves, and will probably keep rising.

Mortgage rates don’t necessarily move up in tandem with the Fed’s rate increases. Sometimes, they even move in the opposite direction. Long-term mortgages tend to track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which, in turn, is influenced by a variety of factors. These include investors’ expectations for future inflation and global demand for U.S. Treasurys.

For now, though, faster inflation and strong U.S. economic growth are sending the 10-year Treasury rate up sharply. As a consequence, mortgage rates have jumped 2 full percentage points just since the year began, to 5.1% on average for a 30-year fixed mortgage, according to Freddie Mac.

In part, the jump in mortgage rates reflects expectations that the Fed will keep raising its key rate. But its forthcoming hikes aren’t likely fully priced in yet. If the Fed jacks up its key rate to as high as 3.5% by mid-2023, as many economists expect, the 10-year Treasury yield will go much higher, too, and mortgages will become more expensive.

If you’re looking to buy a home and are frustrated by the lack of available houses, which has triggered bidding wars and eye-watering prices, that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.

Economists say that higher mortgage rates will discourage some would-be purchasers. And average home prices, which have been soaring at about a 20% annual rate, could at least rise at a slower pace.

The surge in mortgage rates “will temper the pace of home price appreciation as more would-be homebuyers are priced out,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.

Still, the number of available homes remains historically low, a trend that will likely frustrate buyers and keep prices high.

Fed rate hikes can make auto loans more expensive. But other factors also affect these rates, including competition among car makers that can sometimes lower borrowing costs.

Rates for buyers with lower credit ratings are most likely to rise as a result of the Fed’s hikes, said Alex Yurchenko, chief data officer for Black Book, which monitors U.S. vehicle prices. Because used vehicle prices, on average, are rising, monthly payments will rise too.

For now, new-vehicle loans average about 4.5%. Used-vehicle rates are about 5%.

For users of credit cards, home equity lines of credit and other variable-interest debt, rates would rise by roughly the same amount as the Fed hike, usually within one or two billing cycles. That’s because those rates are based in part on banks’ prime rate, which moves in tandem with the Fed.

Those who don’t qualify for low-rate credit cards might be stuck paying higher interest on their balances. The rates on their cards would rise as the prime rate does.

Should the Fed decide to raise rates by 2 percentage points or more over the next two years — a distinct possibility — that would significantly enlarge interest payments.

WILL I BE ABLE TO EARN MORE ON MY SAVINGS?

Probably, though not likely by very much. And it depends on where your savings, if you have any, are parked.

Savings, certificates of deposit and money market accounts don’t typically track the Fed’s changes. Instead, banks tend to capitalize on a higher-rate environment to try to increase their profits. They do so by imposing higher rates on borrowers, without necessarily offering any juicer rates to savers.

This is particularly true for large banks now. They’ve been flooded with savings as a result of government financial aid and reduced spending by many wealthier Americans during the pandemic. They won’t need to raise savings rates to attract more deposits or CD buyers.

But online banks and others with high-yield savings accounts could be an exception. These accounts are known for aggressively competing for depositors. The only catch is that they typically require significant deposits.

Still, savers are starting to see some better potential returns from Treasurys. On Tuesday, the yield on the 10-year note was 2.96%, after having briefly topped 3% for the first time since 2018.

Financial markets expect inflation to average 2.83% over 10 years. That level would give investors a positive, if very small, return of about 0.13%.

“All of a sudden, we end up in this position where fixed income is way more competitive than it was before,” said Jason Pride, chief investment officer for Private Wealth at Glenmede.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Record-low mortgages below 3% are long gone. Credit card rates will likely rise. So will the cost of an auto loan. Savers may finally receive a yield high enough to top inflation.The substantial half-point hike in its benchmark short-term rate that the Federal Reserve announced Wednesday won’t, by itself, have much immediate effect on most Americans’ finances. But additional large hikes are expected to be announced at the Fed’s next two meetings, in June and July, and economists and investors foresee the fastest pace of rate increases since 1989.The result could be much higher borrowing costs for households well into the future as the Fed fights the most painfully high inflation in four decades and ends a decades-long era of historically low rates.Chair Jerome Powell hopes that by making borrowing more expensive, the Fed will succeed in cooling demand for homes, cars and other goods and services and thereby slow inflation.Yet the risks are high. With inflation likely to stay elevated, the Fed may have to drive borrowing costs even higher than it now expects. Doing so could tip the U.S. economy into recession.Here are some questions and answers about what the rate hikes could mean for consumers and businesses:___I’M CONSIDERING BUYING A HOUSE. WILL MORTGAGE RATES KEEP GOING UP?Rates on home loans have soared in the past few months, mostly in anticipation of the Fed’s moves, and will probably keep rising.Mortgage rates don’t necessarily move up in tandem with the Fed’s rate increases. Sometimes, they even move in the opposite direction. Long-term mortgages tend to track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which, in turn, is influenced by a variety of factors. These include investors’ expectations for future inflation and global demand for U.S. Treasurys.For now, though, faster inflation and strong U.S. economic growth are sending the 10-year Treasury rate up sharply. As a consequence, mortgage rates have jumped 2 full percentage points just since the year began, to 5.1% on average for a 30-year fixed mortgage, according to Freddie Mac.In part, the jump in mortgage rates reflects expectations that the Fed will keep raising its key rate. But its forthcoming hikes aren’t likely fully priced in yet. If the Fed jacks up its key rate to as high as 3.5% by mid-2023, as many economists expect, the 10-year Treasury yield will go much higher, too, and mortgages will become more expensive.HOW WILL THAT AFFECT THE HOUSING MARKET?If you’re looking to buy a home and are frustrated by the lack of available houses, which has triggered bidding wars and eye-watering prices, that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.Economists say that higher mortgage rates will discourage some would-be purchasers. And average home prices, which have been soaring at about a 20% annual rate, could at least rise at a slower pace.The surge in mortgage rates “will temper the pace of home price appreciation as more would-be homebuyers are priced out,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.Still, the number of available homes remains historically low, a trend that will likely frustrate buyers and keep prices high.WHAT ABOUT AUTO LOANS?Fed rate hikes can make auto loans more expensive. But other factors also affect these rates, including competition among car makers that can sometimes lower borrowing costs.Rates for buyers with lower credit ratings are most likely to rise as a result of the Fed’s hikes, said Alex Yurchenko, chief data officer for Black Book, which monitors U.S. vehicle prices. Because used vehicle prices, on average, are rising, monthly payments will rise too.For now, new-vehicle loans average about 4.5%. Used-vehicle rates are about 5%.WHAT ABOUT OTHER RATES?For users of credit cards, home equity lines of credit and other variable-interest debt, rates would rise by roughly the same amount as the Fed hike, usually within one or two billing cycles. That’s because those rates are based in part on banks’ prime rate, which moves in tandem with the Fed.Those who don’t qualify for low-rate credit cards might be stuck paying higher interest on their balances. The rates on their cards would rise as the prime rate does.Should the Fed decide to raise rates by 2 percentage points or more over the next two years — a distinct possibility — that would significantly enlarge interest payments.WILL I BE ABLE TO EARN MORE ON MY SAVINGS?Probably, though not likely by very much. And it depends on where your savings, if you have any, are parked.Savings, certificates of deposit and money market accounts don’t typically track the Fed’s changes. Instead, banks tend to capitalize on a higher-rate environment to try to increase their profits. They do so by imposing higher rates on borrowers, without necessarily offering any juicer rates to savers.This is particularly true for large banks now. They’ve been flooded with savings as a result of government financial aid and reduced spending by many wealthier Americans during the pandemic. They won’t need to raise savings rates to attract more deposits or CD buyers.But online banks and others with high-yield savings accounts could be an exception. These accounts are known for aggressively competing for depositors. The only catch is that they typically require significant deposits.Still, savers are starting to see some better potential returns from Treasurys. On Tuesday, the yield on the 10-year note was 2.96%, after having briefly topped 3% for the first time since 2018.Financial markets expect inflation to average 2.83% over 10 years. That level would give investors a positive, if very small, return of about 0.13%.“All of a sudden, we end up in this position where fixed income is way more competitive than it was before,” said Jason Pride, chief investment officer for Private Wealth at Glenmede.

How higher Fed rates stand to affect your finances

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — It took two trips over state lines, navigating icy roads and a patchwork of state laws, for a 32-year-old South Dakota woman to get abortion pills last year.

For abortion-seekers like her, such journeys, along with pills sent through the mail, will grow in importance if the Supreme Court follows through with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-07439f9fc4542f1500ab78dfd34036b1">its leaked draft opinion&nbsp;</a>that would overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision and allow individual states to ban the procedure. The woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was concerned for her family’s safety, said the abortion pills allowed her to end an unexpected and high-risk pregnancy and remain devoted to her two children.

But anti-abortion activists and politicians say those cross-border trips, remote doctors’ consultations and pill deliveries are what they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-texas-covid-19-pandemic-health-13c2fbe3f1de416d88a5ef6d1ca3406e">will try to stop next</a>.

“Medication abortion will be where access to abortion is decided,” said Mary Ziegler, a professor at Florida State University College of Law who specializes in reproductive rights. “That’s going to be the battleground that decides how enforceable abortion bans are.”

Use of abortion pills has been rising in the U.S. since 2000 when the Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone — the main drug used in medication abortions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-56972af9e9b0fc2fc97e06041f6e96ce">More than half of U.S. abortions&nbsp;</a>are now done with pills, rather than surgery, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.

Two drugs are required. The first, mifepristone, blocks a hormone needed to maintain a pregnancy. A second drug, misoprostol, taken one to two days later, empties the uterus. Both drugs are available as generics and are also used to treat other conditions.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a">FDA last year lifted&nbsp;</a>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.

South Dakota is among them, joining several states, including Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, Ohio, Tennessee and Oklahoma, where Republicans have moved to further restrict access to abortion pills in recent months.

Those moves have spurred online services that offer information on getting abortion pills and consultations to get a prescription. After the woman in South Dakota found that the state’s only abortion clinic could not schedule her in time for a medication abortion, she found an online service, called Just The Pill, that advised her to drive across to Minnesota for a phone consultation with a doctor. A week later, she came back to Minnesota for the pills.

She took the first one almost immediately in her car, then cried as she drove home.

“I felt like I lost a pregnancy,” she said. “I love my husband and I love my children and I knew exactly what I had to say goodbye to and that was a really horrible thing to have to do.”

Besides crossing state lines, women can also turn to international online pharmacies, said Greer Donley, a professor specializing in reproductive health care at the University of Pittsburgh Law School. Some women also are having prescribed pills forwarded through states without restrictions.

“It allows for someone to have an abortion without a direct role of a provider. It’s going to be much harder for states to control abortion access,” she said, adding, “The question is how is it going to be enforced?”

Abortion law experts say it’s an unsettled question whether states can restrict access to abortion pills in the wake of the FDA’s decision.

“The general rule is that federal law preempts conflicting state law,” said Laura Hermer, a professor at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. “There is no question that the FDA has proper authority to regulate the drugs used in medication abortions. The question is whether a state can make a viable, winning argument that, for public health purposes, it needs to further regulate access to the relevant medications.”

Hermer said she doesn’t think there is a valid public health reason because the published evidence is that the drugs are “exceptionally safe.” But if the Supreme Court overrules Roe v. Wade and a state gives embryos and fetuses full rights as people “then all bets would be off.”

The Planned Parenthood regional organization that includes South Dakota doesn’t believe it can legally mail abortion pills to patients there.

Telemedicine providers have to abide by the laws of the state where the patient is, said Dr. Sarah Traxler, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood North Central States in St. Paul. She acknowledged that some organizations disagree. “But,” she added, “we don’t feel like we have liberty to mail pills from Minnesota to other places in the country where it’s illegal to provide medication abortion.”

Sue Leibel, the state policy director for Susan B. Anthony List, a prominent organization opposed to abortion, acknowledged that medication abortions have “crept up” on Republican state lawmakers.

“This is a new frontier and states are grappling with enforcement mechanisms,” she said, adding, “The advice that I always give — if you shut the front door, the pills are going to come in the back door.”

Leibel maintained women should not be prosecuted for seeking abortions, keeping with a long-standing principle of many abortion opponents. She suggested the next target for state enforcement should be the pharmacies, organizations and clinics that provide the abortion pills. She also said abortion-rights opponents should focus on electing a presidential candidate who would work to reverse the FDA’s decision.

The FDA said a scientific review supported broadening access to the drugs and found complications were rare. The agency has reported 26 deaths associated with the drug since 2000, though not all of those can be directly attributed to the medication due to existing health conditions and other factors.

However, with new legal battles on the horizon and abortion seekers going to greater lengths to obtain the procedure, Donley, the law school professor, worried that state lawmakers will turn their attention toward the women who get the pills.

Indeed, a Louisiana House committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-crime-louisiana-1530c0893084e84fd83728329278d536">advanced a bill Wednesday</a>&nbsp;that would make abortion a crime of homicide for which a woman ending her pregnancy could be charged, along with anyone helping her.

“Many anti-abortion legislators might realize the only way to enforce these laws is to prosecute the pregnant person themselves,” Donley said.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — It took two trips over state lines, navigating icy roads and a patchwork of state laws, for a 32-year-old South Dakota woman to get abortion pills last year.For abortion-seekers like her, such journeys, along with pills sent through the mail, will grow in importance if the Supreme Court follows through with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-07439f9fc4542f1500ab78dfd34036b1">its leaked draft opinion&nbsp;</a>that would overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision and allow individual states to ban the procedure. The woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was concerned for her family’s safety, said the abortion pills allowed her to end an unexpected and high-risk pregnancy and remain devoted to her two children.But anti-abortion activists and politicians say those cross-border trips, remote doctors’ consultations and pill deliveries are what they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-texas-covid-19-pandemic-health-13c2fbe3f1de416d88a5ef6d1ca3406e">will try to stop next</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581004285984.jpeg" alt=" About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>“Medication abortion will be where access to abortion is decided,” said Mary Ziegler, a professor at Florida State University College of Law who specializes in reproductive rights. “That’s going to be the battleground that decides how enforceable abortion bans are.”Use of abortion pills has been rising in the U.S. since 2000 when the Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone — the main drug used in medication abortions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-56972af9e9b0fc2fc97e06041f6e96ce">More than half of U.S. abortions&nbsp;</a>are now done with pills, rather than surgery, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.Two drugs are required. The first, mifepristone, blocks a hormone needed to maintain a pregnancy. A second drug, misoprostol, taken one to two days later, empties the uterus. Both drugs are available as generics and are also used to treat other conditions.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a">FDA last year lifted&nbsp;</a>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.South Dakota is among them, joining several states, including Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, Ohio, Tennessee and Oklahoma, where Republicans have moved to further restrict access to abortion pills in recent months.Those moves have spurred online services that offer information on getting abortion pills and consultations to get a prescription. After the woman in South Dakota found that the state’s only abortion clinic could not schedule her in time for a medication abortion, she found an online service, called Just The Pill, that advised her to drive across to Minnesota for a phone consultation with a doctor. A week later, she came back to Minnesota for the pills.She took the first one almost immediately in her car, then cried as she drove home.“I felt like I lost a pregnancy,” she said. “I love my husband and I love my children and I knew exactly what I had to say goodbye to and that was a really horrible thing to have to do.”Besides crossing state lines, women can also turn to international online pharmacies, said Greer Donley, a professor specializing in reproductive health care at the University of Pittsburgh Law School. Some women also are having prescribed pills forwarded through states without restrictions.“It allows for someone to have an abortion without a direct role of a provider. It’s going to be much harder for states to control abortion access,” she said, adding, “The question is how is it going to be enforced?”Abortion law experts say it’s an unsettled question whether states can restrict access to abortion pills in the wake of the FDA’s decision.“The general rule is that federal law preempts conflicting state law,” said Laura Hermer, a professor at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. “There is no question that the FDA has proper authority to regulate the drugs used in medication abortions. The question is whether a state can make a viable, winning argument that, for public health purposes, it needs to further regulate access to the relevant medications.”Hermer said she doesn’t think there is a valid public health reason because the published evidence is that the drugs are “exceptionally safe.” But if the Supreme Court overrules Roe v. Wade and a state gives embryos and fetuses full rights as people “then all bets would be off.”The Planned Parenthood regional organization that includes South Dakota doesn’t believe it can legally mail abortion pills to patients there.Telemedicine providers have to abide by the laws of the state where the patient is, said Dr. Sarah Traxler, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood North Central States in St. Paul. She acknowledged that some organizations disagree. “But,” she added, “we don’t feel like we have liberty to mail pills from Minnesota to other places in the country where it’s illegal to provide medication abortion.”Sue Leibel, the state policy director for Susan B. Anthony List, a prominent organization opposed to abortion, acknowledged that medication abortions have “crept up” on Republican state lawmakers.“This is a new frontier and states are grappling with enforcement mechanisms,” she said, adding, “The advice that I always give — if you shut the front door, the pills are going to come in the back door.”Leibel maintained women should not be prosecuted for seeking abortions, keeping with a long-standing principle of many abortion opponents. She suggested the next target for state enforcement should be the pharmacies, organizations and clinics that provide the abortion pills. She also said abortion-rights opponents should focus on electing a presidential candidate who would work to reverse the FDA’s decision.The FDA said a scientific review supported broadening access to the drugs and found complications were rare. The agency has reported 26 deaths associated with the drug since 2000, though not all of those can be directly attributed to the medication due to existing health conditions and other factors.However, with new legal battles on the horizon and abortion seekers going to greater lengths to obtain the procedure, Donley, the law school professor, worried that state lawmakers will turn their attention toward the women who get the pills.Indeed, a Louisiana House committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-crime-louisiana-1530c0893084e84fd83728329278d536">advanced a bill Wednesday</a>&nbsp;that would make abortion a crime of homicide for which a woman ending her pregnancy could be charged, along with anyone helping her.“Many anti-abortion legislators might realize the only way to enforce these laws is to prosecute the pregnant person themselves,” Donley said.

Next battleground: Access to mail order abortion pills

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A San Francisco judge tossed out former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit challenging his permanent ban from Twitter.

U.S. District Judge James Donato said Friday that Trump failed to show Twitter violated his First Amendment right to free speech. Free speech rights don’t apply to private companies and Trump failed to show Twitter was working as a state actor on behalf of Democrats, the judge wrote.

“The amended complaint merely offers a grab-bag of allegations to the effect that some Democratic members of Congress wanted Mr. Trump, and ‘the views he espoused,’ to be banned from Twitter because such ‘content and views’ were ‘contrary to those legislators’ preferred points of view,’” Donato wrote. “But the comments of a handful of elected officials are a far cry from a ‘rule of decision for which the State is responsible.’ Legislators are perfectly free to express opinions without being deemed the official voice of ‘the State.’”

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-business-government-and-politics-c7e26858dcb553f92d98706d12ad510c">sued Twitter, Facebook and Google’s YouTube in July 2021</a>, claiming they illegally censored him.

The platforms suspended Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, in which his followers violently stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s presidential win. The companies cited concerns he would incite further violence.

The ruling comes as Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, is in the process of purchasing Twitter for $44 billion. The deal has raised questions about whether, Musk, a self-described free speech absolutist, would reinstate the former president.

Trump, who has continued to repeat lies about his 2020 election defeat in speeches,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-media-social-media-donald-trump-5eff637ad5e77fde3b7cddc8881f950d">has started his own social network</a>, Truth Social. He said last week that he wouldn’t rejoin Twitter if given the chance.

The suit had sought to reinstate Trump’s account, which had roughly 89 million followers, and those of five others who claimed they were also censored by Twitter. The group had sought unspecified damages and class action status on behalf of others removed from the platform.

Legal experts had predicted the lawsuit would fail but suggested Trump would milk it for political purposes. Trump’s political action committee immediately began raising money after the lawsuit was announced last year.

The lawsuit had also sought a declaration that Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act was unconstitutional.

The act says providers such as Twitter can moderate services by removing obscene posts that violate their standards and cannot be held responsible for content posted by others.

Trump had only shown a “vague and speculative allegation” that he believed he would not have been banned if Twitter wasn’t granted immunity by Section 230, Donato said.

Donato gave Trump another opportunity to amend his complaint. Trump’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610197339702.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — A San Francisco judge tossed out former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit challenging his permanent ban from Twitter.U.S. District Judge James Donato said Friday that Trump failed to show Twitter violated his First Amendment right to free speech. Free speech rights don’t apply to private companies and Trump failed to show Twitter was working as a state actor on behalf of Democrats, the judge wrote.“The amended complaint merely offers a grab-bag of allegations to the effect that some Democratic members of Congress wanted Mr. Trump, and ‘the views he espoused,’ to be banned from Twitter because such ‘content and views’ were ‘contrary to those legislators’ preferred points of view,’” Donato wrote. “But the comments of a handful of elected officials are a far cry from a ‘rule of decision for which the State is responsible.’ Legislators are perfectly free to express opinions without being deemed the official voice of ‘the State.’”Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-business-government-and-politics-c7e26858dcb553f92d98706d12ad510c">sued Twitter, Facebook and Google’s YouTube in July 2021</a>, claiming they illegally censored him.The platforms suspended Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, in which his followers violently stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s presidential win. The companies cited concerns he would incite further violence.The ruling comes as Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, is in the process of purchasing Twitter for $44 billion. The deal has raised questions about whether, Musk, a self-described free speech absolutist, would reinstate the former president.Trump, who has continued to repeat lies about his 2020 election defeat in speeches,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-media-social-media-donald-trump-5eff637ad5e77fde3b7cddc8881f950d">has started his own social network</a>, Truth Social. He said last week that he wouldn’t rejoin Twitter if given the chance.The suit had sought to reinstate Trump’s account, which had roughly 89 million followers, and those of five others who claimed they were also censored by Twitter. The group had sought unspecified damages and class action status on behalf of others removed from the platform.Legal experts had predicted the lawsuit would fail but suggested Trump would milk it for political purposes. Trump’s political action committee immediately began raising money after the lawsuit was announced last year.The lawsuit had also sought a declaration that Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act was unconstitutional.The act says providers such as Twitter can moderate services by removing obscene posts that violate their standards and cannot be held responsible for content posted by others.Trump had only shown a “vague and speculative allegation” that he believed he would not have been banned if Twitter wasn’t granted immunity by Section 230, Donato said.Donato gave Trump another opportunity to amend his complaint. Trump’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Judge rejects Trump lawsuit challenging ban from Twitter

By CARLA K. JOHNSON and NICKY FORSTER, Associated Press

Doug Lambrecht was among the first of the nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/one-million-dead-US-COVID-ea745d462d47a65029a8c507c94e679e">1 million Americans to die</a>&nbsp;from COVID-19. His demographic profile — an older white male with chronic health problems — mirrors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-567361400690">the faces</a>&nbsp;of many who would be lost over the next&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/photos-US-million-dead-COVID-f3e9afbf8a5f693ce01d46bbf0908cab">two years</a>.

The 71-year-old retired physician was recovering from a fall at a nursing home near Seattle when the new coronavirus swept through in early 2020. He died March 1, an early victim in a devastating outbreak that gave a first glimpse of the price older Americans would pay.

The pandemic has generated gigabytes of data that make clear which U.S. groups have been hit the hardest. More than 700,000 people 65 and older died. Men died at higher rates than women.

White people made up most of the deaths overall, yet an unequal burden fell on Black, Hispanic and Native American people considering the younger average age of minority communities. Racial gaps narrowed between surges then widened again with each new wave.

With 1 million deaths in sight, Doug’s son Nathan Lambrecht reflected on the toll.

“I’m afraid that as the numbers get bigger, people are going to care less and less,” he said. “I just hope people who didn’t know them and didn’t have the same sort of loss in their lives due to COVID, I just hope that they don’t forget and they remember to care.”

Three out of every four deaths were people 65 and older, according to U.S. data analyzed by The Associated Press.

About 255,000 people 85 and older died; 257,000 were 75 to 84 years old; and about 229,000 were 65 to 74.

“A million things went wrong and most of them were preventable,” said elder care expert Charlene Harrington of the University of California, San Francisco. Harrington, 80, hopes the lessons of the pandemic lead U.S. health officials to adopt minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes, “then maybe I can retire.”

In nearly every 10-year age group, more men have died from COVID-19 than women.

Men have shorter life expectancies than women, so it’s not surprising that the only age group where deaths in women outpaced those in men is the oldest: 85 and older.

For some families who lost breadwinners, economic hardships have added to their grief, said Rima Samman, who coordinates a COVID-19 memorial project that began as a tribute to her brother, Rami, who died in May 2020 at age 40.

“A widow is losing her home, or she’s losing the car she drove the kids to school with, because her husband died,” Samman said. “Little by little, you’re getting pulled down from middle class to lower class.”

White people made up 65% of the total deaths, the largest proportion of any race by far.

This isn’t that surprising because there are more white people in the U.S. than any other race. American Indians, Pacific Islanders and Black people had higher death rates when looking at COVID-19 deaths per capita.

Death rates per capita still leave out a characteristic that is crucial to understanding which groups were disproportionately affected — COVID-19 is more deadly for the elderly.

In the U.S. there are many more elderly white people than elderly people of other races. To evaluate which race has been disproportionately affected, it’s necessary to adjust the per-capita death rate, calculating the rates as if each race had the same age breakdown.

After the share of COVID-19 deaths are age-adjusted in this way, we can compare that with the race’s share of the total population. If the age-adjusted share of COVID-19 deaths is higher than the share of the U.S. population, that race has been disproportionately affected.

When considering age, it’s apparent that Black, Hispanic, Pacific Islander and Native American people suffered disproportionately more from COVID-19 deaths than other groups in the U.S.

Looking at deaths per capita, Mississippi had the highest rate of any state.

“We’ve lost so many people to COVID,” said Joyee Washington, a community health educator in Hattiesburg. “The hard thing in Mississippi was having to grieve with no time to heal. You’re facing trauma after trauma after trauma. ... Normal is gone as far as I’m concerned.”

Communities pulled together. Churches set up testing sites, school buses took meals to students when classrooms were closed, her city’s mayor used social media to provide reliable information. “Even in the midst of turmoil you can still find joy, you can still find light,” she said. “The possibilities are there if you look for them.”

Native Americans experienced higher death rates than all other groups during two waves of the pandemic. For Mary Francis, a 41-year-old Navajo woman from Page, Arizona, the deaths reinforce a long-held value of self-sufficiency.

By CARLA K. JOHNSON and NICKY FORSTER, Associated PressDoug Lambrecht was among the first of the nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/one-million-dead-US-COVID-ea745d462d47a65029a8c507c94e679e">1 million Americans to die</a>&nbsp;from COVID-19. His demographic profile — an older white male with chronic health problems — mirrors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-567361400690">the faces</a>&nbsp;of many who would be lost over the next&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/photos-US-million-dead-COVID-f3e9afbf8a5f693ce01d46bbf0908cab">two years</a>.The 71-year-old retired physician was recovering from a fall at a nursing home near Seattle when the new coronavirus swept through in early 2020. He died March 1, an early victim in a devastating outbreak that gave a first glimpse of the price older Americans would pay.The pandemic has generated gigabytes of data that make clear which U.S. groups have been hit the hardest. More than 700,000 people 65 and older died. Men died at higher rates than women.White people made up most of the deaths overall, yet an unequal burden fell on Black, Hispanic and Native American people considering the younger average age of minority communities. Racial gaps narrowed between surges then widened again with each new wave.With 1 million deaths in sight, Doug’s son Nathan Lambrecht reflected on the toll.“I’m afraid that as the numbers get bigger, people are going to care less and less,” he said. “I just hope people who didn’t know them and didn’t have the same sort of loss in their lives due to COVID, I just hope that they don’t forget and they remember to care.”ELDERS HIT HARDThree out of every four deaths were people 65 and older, according to U.S. data analyzed by The Associated Press.About 255,000 people 85 and older died; 257,000 were 75 to 84 years old; and about 229,000 were 65 to 74.“A million things went wrong and most of them were preventable,” said elder care expert Charlene Harrington of the University of California, San Francisco. Harrington, 80, hopes the lessons of the pandemic lead U.S. health officials to adopt minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes, “then maybe I can retire.”SPOUSES LEFT BEHINDIn nearly every 10-year age group, more men have died from COVID-19 than women.Men have shorter life expectancies than women, so it’s not surprising that the only age group where deaths in women outpaced those in men is the oldest: 85 and older.For some families who lost breadwinners, economic hardships have added to their grief, said Rima Samman, who coordinates a COVID-19 memorial project that began as a tribute to her brother, Rami, who died in May 2020 at age 40.“A widow is losing her home, or she’s losing the car she drove the kids to school with, because her husband died,” Samman said. “Little by little, you’re getting pulled down from middle class to lower class.”RACE, ETHNICITY AND AGEWhite people made up 65% of the total deaths, the largest proportion of any race by far.This isn’t that surprising because there are more white people in the U.S. than any other race. American Indians, Pacific Islanders and Black people had higher death rates when looking at COVID-19 deaths per capita.Death rates per capita still leave out a characteristic that is crucial to understanding which groups were disproportionately affected — COVID-19 is more deadly for the elderly.In the U.S. there are many more elderly white people than elderly people of other races. To evaluate which race has been disproportionately affected, it’s necessary to adjust the per-capita death rate, calculating the rates as if each race had the same age breakdown.After the share of COVID-19 deaths are age-adjusted in this way, we can compare that with the race’s share of the total population. If the age-adjusted share of COVID-19 deaths is higher than the share of the U.S. population, that race has been disproportionately affected.When considering age, it’s apparent that Black, Hispanic, Pacific Islander and Native American people suffered disproportionately more from COVID-19 deaths than other groups in the U.S.Looking at deaths per capita, Mississippi had the highest rate of any state.“We’ve lost so many people to COVID,” said Joyee Washington, a community health educator in Hattiesburg. “The hard thing in Mississippi was having to grieve with no time to heal. You’re facing trauma after trauma after trauma. ... Normal is gone as far as I’m concerned.”Communities pulled together. Churches set up testing sites, school buses took meals to students when classrooms were closed, her city’s mayor used social media to provide reliable information. “Even in the midst of turmoil you can still find joy, you can still find light,” she said. “The possibilities are there if you look for them.”Native Americans experienced higher death rates than all other groups during two waves of the pandemic. For Mary Francis, a 41-year-old Navajo woman from Page, Arizona, the deaths reinforce a long-held value of self-sufficiency.“It goes back to the teachings of our elders,” said Francis, who helps get vaccines and care packages to Navajo and Hopi families. “Try to be self-sufficient, how to take care of ourselves and how to not rely so much on the government (and) other sources that may or may not have our interests at heart.”RURAL VS URBANThe surge that began in late 2020 was particularly rough for rural America.Americans living in rural areas have been less likely to get vaccinated than city dwellers, more likely to be infected and more likely to die.“I’ve had multiple people in my ambulance, in their 80s and dying,” said paramedic Mark Kennedy in Nauvoo, Illinois. “Some did die, and when you ask if they’ve been vaccinated, they say, ‘I don’t trust it.’”Surges swamped the thin resources of rural hospitals. During the delta surge, Kennedy transferred patients to hospitals in Springfield, which is 130 miles away, and Chicago, 270 miles away.“Every day you had multiple transfers three and four hours away in full protective gear,” Kennedy said.The recent omicron wave felt even harder to David Schreiner, CEO of Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital in Dixon, Illinois.“In the first wave, there were signs throughout the community about our health care heroes. ... People loved us the first time around,” Schreiner said. But by this past winter, people had COVID-19 fatigue.“Our people have been through so much. And then we would get a patient or a family member who would come to the hospital and refuse to put a mask on,” Schreiner said. “It’s a little bit hard to take.”