KANSAS CITY (AP) — A plane flying from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., was diverted to Kansas City after an unruly passenger reportedly tried to open a door on the aircraft.

American Airlines says flight 1775 landed safely Sunday afternoon at Kansas City International Airport and law enforcement met the plane upon arrival. The FBI says in statement that the passenger was “interfering with the flight crew” and was taken into custody. Details about the person weren’t immediately released. 

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants said on Twitter that the passenger attempted to open a forward passenger door and passengers helped subdue the person. The flight, which had originated at Los Angeles International Airport, later continued on to Reagan National Airport.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A plane flying from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., was diverted to Kansas City after an unruly passenger reportedly tried to open a door on the aircraft.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement regarding a diverted flight to <a href="https://twitter.com/KCIAirport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KCIAirport</a> earlier today, from FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Charles Dayoub. <a href="https://t.co/ql5cQRpbZM">pic.twitter.com/ql5cQRpbZM</a>&mdash; FBI Kansas City (@FBIKansasCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIKansasCity/status/1493011499098517510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>American Airlines says flight 1775 landed safely Sunday afternoon at Kansas City International Airport and law enforcement met the plane upon arrival. The FBI says in statement that the passenger was “interfering with the flight crew” and was taken into custody. Details about the person weren’t immediately released. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants said on Twitter that the passenger attempted to open a forward passenger door and passengers helped subdue the person. The flight, which had originated at Los Angeles International Airport, later continued on to Reagan National Airport.

Flight diverted to Kansas City due to unruly passenger

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-russia-europe-moscow-dce9b30db290a6e82f5aaa0f35a3125a">Even if a Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>&nbsp;doesn’t happen in the next few days, the crisis is reaching a critical inflection point with European stability and the future of East-West relations hanging in the balance.

A convergence of events over the coming week could determine whether the stalemate is resolved peacefully or Europe is at war. At stake are Europe’s post-Cold War security architecture and long-agreed limits on the deployment of conventional military and nuclear forces there.

“This next 10 days or so will be critical,” said Ian Kelly, a retired career diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to Georgia who now teaches international relations at Northwestern University.

The Biden administration on Friday said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-boris-johnson-joe-biden-europe-moscow-4d1e75eb68e1396bef885425c65039fb">an invasion could happen at any moment</a>, with a possible target date of Wednesday, according to intelligence picked up by the United States, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-states-europe-russia-kyiv-ff41abf90650aa5f456cbb6aafa4c5b3">Washington was evacuating almost all of its embassy staff&nbsp;</a>in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-emmanuel-macron-europe-moscow-1f353699f0be1609da5435c98cfc8022">A phone call between President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;on Saturday did nothing to ease tensions. Biden and Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spoke on Sunday.

Even before the latest U.S. warnings and diplomatic moves, analysts saw this as a critical week for the future of Ukraine.

“Russia and the United States are approaching a peak of the conflict of their interests regarding a future shape of the European order,” Timofei Bordachev, said head of the Center for European Research at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics. “The parties may take action against each other that will go much farther than what was considered admissible quite recently,” he said in a recent analysis.

In the week ahead,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-united-states-moscow-72856781c3b92640d03c5e954488ba90">Washington and NATO</a>&nbsp;are expecting Moscow’s formal response after they rejected its main&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-nato-87d17dd0c1943ac40b3903b54f31939a">security demands</a>, and major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-russia-moscow-europe-belarus-614ecda6a45f8e60bb4322c3ac9c2877">Russian military drills in Belarus</a>, conducted as part of a deployment near Ukraine, are to end. The fate of the Russian troops now in Belarus will be key to judging the Kremlin’s intentions.

At the same time, the Winter Olympics in China,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-putin-xi-meet-0e9127176250c0cab19b36e75800052e">often cited as a potential deterrent to immediate Russian action</a>, will conclude Feb. 20. Although U.S. officials have said they believe an invasion could take place before then, the date is still considered important.

And an important international security conference is taking place in Munich next weekend, with Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and top European officials planning to attend.

Putin has warned the West that he will not back down on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-vladimir-putin-soviet-union-4619a72d1597673e4112b673a9f6fd9c">his demand to keep Ukraine out of NATO.&nbsp;</a>While Ukraine has long aspired to join, the alliance is not about to offer an invitation.

Still, he contends that if Ukraine becomes a member and tries to use force to reclaim the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, it would draw Russia and NATO into a conflict.

His foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, has asked Western nations to explain how they interpret the principle of the “indivisibility of security” enshrined in international agreements they signed. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it would not accept a collective response from the European Union and NATO, insisting on an individual response from each country.

Seeking to counter NATO’s argument that every nation is free to choose alliances, Moscow has charged that NATO violated the principle and jeopardized Russia’s security by expanding eastward.

“Russia’s bold demands and equally blunt U.S. rejection of them have pushed the international agenda toward the confrontation more than ever since the height of the Cold War,” Bordachev said.

He argued that closer relations with China have strengthened Moscow’s hand. “Whatever goals Russia could pursue now, it can plan its future in conditions of a full rupture of ties with the West,” Bordachev said.

Russian officials have emphasized that negotiating a settlement over Ukraine depends squarely on the United States and that Western allies just march to Washington’s orders.

In the past, Russia had sought to build close contacts with France and Germany in the hope that friendly ties with Europe’s biggest economies would help offset the U.S. pressure. But those ties were strained by the poisoning in 2020 of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who spent five months in Germany convalescing from what he described as a nerve agent attack he blamed on the Kremlin. Russia has denied its involvement.

More recently, Russian officials have criticized the position of France and Germany in the deadlocked peace talks on eastern Ukraine, holding them responsible for the failure to persuade Ukrainian authorities to grant broad self-rule to the Russia-backed separatist region, as required by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-berlin-france-germany-484403ab653ca00e926892f936ccb079">a 2015 agreement</a>.

In a break with diplomatic rules, the Russian Foreign Ministry last fall published confidential letters that Lavrov exchanged with his French and German counterparts in a bid to prove their failure to help make progress in talks.

Speaking after the latest fruitless round of those talks, Kremlin representative Dmitry Kozak bemoaned the failure by French and German envoys to persuade Ukraine to commit to a dialogue with the separatists, as the agreement stipulated.

Despite the tensions with both Paris and Berlin, Putin spent more than five hours talking to French President Emmanuel Macron last Monday and will host German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday. Putin said he was grateful to Macron for trying to help negotiate a way to ease the tensions and said they would talk again.

Moscow also just reopened a window for diplomatic contacts with Britain, hosting the foreign and defense secretaries for the first round of talks since ties were ruptured by the 2018 poisoning in Britain of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

Lavrov’s meeting with Liz Truss was frosty, but British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace’s talks with Russia’s defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, appeared more businesslike, with the parties emphasizing the need to maintain regular contact to reduce the threat of military incidents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644692713491.png" alt="A phone call between President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin&nbsp;on Saturday did nothing to ease tensions-White House Photo" />
 <figcaption>A phone call between President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin&nbsp;on Saturday did nothing to ease tensions-White House Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-russia-europe-moscow-dce9b30db290a6e82f5aaa0f35a3125a">Even if a Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>&nbsp;doesn’t happen in the next few days, the crisis is reaching a critical inflection point with European stability and the future of East-West relations hanging in the balance.A convergence of events over the coming week could determine whether the stalemate is resolved peacefully or Europe is at war. At stake are Europe’s post-Cold War security architecture and long-agreed limits on the deployment of conventional military and nuclear forces there.“This next 10 days or so will be critical,” said Ian Kelly, a retired career diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to Georgia who now teaches international relations at Northwestern University.The Biden administration on Friday said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-boris-johnson-joe-biden-europe-moscow-4d1e75eb68e1396bef885425c65039fb">an invasion could happen at any moment</a>, with a possible target date of Wednesday, according to intelligence picked up by the United States, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-states-europe-russia-kyiv-ff41abf90650aa5f456cbb6aafa4c5b3">Washington was evacuating almost all of its embassy staff&nbsp;</a>in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-emmanuel-macron-europe-moscow-1f353699f0be1609da5435c98cfc8022">A phone call between President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;on Saturday did nothing to ease tensions. Biden and Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spoke on Sunday.Even before the latest U.S. warnings and diplomatic moves, analysts saw this as a critical week for the future of Ukraine.“Russia and the United States are approaching a peak of the conflict of their interests regarding a future shape of the European order,” Timofei Bordachev, said head of the Center for European Research at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics. “The parties may take action against each other that will go much farther than what was considered admissible quite recently,” he said in a recent analysis.In the week ahead,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-united-states-moscow-72856781c3b92640d03c5e954488ba90">Washington and NATO</a>&nbsp;are expecting Moscow’s formal response after they rejected its main&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-nato-87d17dd0c1943ac40b3903b54f31939a">security demands</a>, and major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-russia-moscow-europe-belarus-614ecda6a45f8e60bb4322c3ac9c2877">Russian military drills in Belarus</a>, conducted as part of a deployment near Ukraine, are to end. The fate of the Russian troops now in Belarus will be key to judging the Kremlin’s intentions.At the same time, the Winter Olympics in China,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-putin-xi-meet-0e9127176250c0cab19b36e75800052e">often cited as a potential deterrent to immediate Russian action</a>, will conclude Feb. 20. Although U.S. officials have said they believe an invasion could take place before then, the date is still considered important.And an important international security conference is taking place in Munich next weekend, with Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and top European officials planning to attend.Putin has warned the West that he will not back down on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-vladimir-putin-soviet-union-4619a72d1597673e4112b673a9f6fd9c">his demand to keep Ukraine out of NATO.&nbsp;</a>While Ukraine has long aspired to join, the alliance is not about to offer an invitation.Still, he contends that if Ukraine becomes a member and tries to use force to reclaim the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, it would draw Russia and NATO into a conflict.His foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, has asked Western nations to explain how they interpret the principle of the “indivisibility of security” enshrined in international agreements they signed. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it would not accept a collective response from the European Union and NATO, insisting on an individual response from each country.Seeking to counter NATO’s argument that every nation is free to choose alliances, Moscow has charged that NATO violated the principle and jeopardized Russia’s security by expanding eastward.“Russia’s bold demands and equally blunt U.S. rejection of them have pushed the international agenda toward the confrontation more than ever since the height of the Cold War,” Bordachev said.He argued that closer relations with China have strengthened Moscow’s hand. “Whatever goals Russia could pursue now, it can plan its future in conditions of a full rupture of ties with the West,” Bordachev said.Russian officials have emphasized that negotiating a settlement over Ukraine depends squarely on the United States and that Western allies just march to Washington’s orders.In the past, Russia had sought to build close contacts with France and Germany in the hope that friendly ties with Europe’s biggest economies would help offset the U.S. pressure. But those ties were strained by the poisoning in 2020 of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who spent five months in Germany convalescing from what he described as a nerve agent attack he blamed on the Kremlin. Russia has denied its involvement.More recently, Russian officials have criticized the position of France and Germany in the deadlocked peace talks on eastern Ukraine, holding them responsible for the failure to persuade Ukrainian authorities to grant broad self-rule to the Russia-backed separatist region, as required by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-berlin-france-germany-484403ab653ca00e926892f936ccb079">a 2015 agreement</a>.In a break with diplomatic rules, the Russian Foreign Ministry last fall published confidential letters that Lavrov exchanged with his French and German counterparts in a bid to prove their failure to help make progress in talks.Speaking after the latest fruitless round of those talks, Kremlin representative Dmitry Kozak bemoaned the failure by French and German envoys to persuade Ukraine to commit to a dialogue with the separatists, as the agreement stipulated.Despite the tensions with both Paris and Berlin, Putin spent more than five hours talking to French President Emmanuel Macron last Monday and will host German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday. Putin said he was grateful to Macron for trying to help negotiate a way to ease the tensions and said they would talk again.Moscow also just reopened a window for diplomatic contacts with Britain, hosting the foreign and defense secretaries for the first round of talks since ties were ruptured by the 2018 poisoning in Britain of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter.Lavrov’s meeting with Liz Truss was frosty, but British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace’s talks with Russia’s defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, appeared more businesslike, with the parties emphasizing the need to maintain regular contact to reduce the threat of military incidents.___

Biden, Putin phone call did nothing to ease tense Russia standoff

KANSAS CITY —Jackson County Prosecutors filed charges late Friday in the fatal shooting of Riley Youngblood, 23, who was found wounded in his vehicle in Independence, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Joshua A. Mongold, is charged with Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

Youngblook was shot just after 8a.m. Jan. 20, at U.S. 40 Highway and Valley View road, according to Independence Police. Investigators asked the public for help to locate a dark grey Chevy pickup seen on security cameras near the victim's vehicle.

Friends have <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-riley-and-his-family-with-medical-expenses">established a GoFundMe </a>page to assist Youngblood's family.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644686453623.png" alt="Mongold-photo Independence Police" />
 <figcaption>Mongold-photo Independence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Jackson County Prosecutors filed charges late Friday in the fatal shooting of Riley Youngblood, 23, who was found wounded in his vehicle in Independence, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Joshua A. Mongold, is charged with Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.He remains jailed on $500,000 bond.Youngblook was shot just after 8a.m. Jan. 20, at U.S. 40 Highway and Valley View road, according to Independence Police. Investigators asked the public for help to locate a dark grey Chevy pickup seen on security cameras near the victim's vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644839434617.png" alt="Riley Youngblood photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Riley Youngblood photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>Friends have <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-riley-and-his-family-with-medical-expenses">established a GoFundMe </a>page to assist Youngblood's family.

Suspect charged in road-rage killing of 23-year-old Kan. man

OLATHE —Authorities investigating a fatal Sunday morning plane crash have identified the pilot who died as 51-year-old Robert Douglas Ming of Laguna Nigel, California.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that just after the 2012 Fixed Wing Single-Engine Piper aircraft took off from the Johnson County Executive airport, it crashed into a field at the end of the runway. The aircraft then became fully engulfed in flames.

Ming was pronounced dead at the scene. The NTSB is investigating.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — No survivors were found after a plane crashed and caught fire Sunday morning at the Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe. The plane crashed shortly before 10:30 a.m. Sunday shortly after taking off. 

The Olathe Fire Department responded and put out the flames and a small grass fire.  Kansas Highway Patrol spokeswoman Trooper Tiffany Bush said it wasn’t immediately clear how many people were aboard the plane when it crashed between the airport and 151st Street but no one survived. The single-engine plane involved was heading to Albuquerque, New Mexico. A large section of 151st Street between Pflumm and Quivira was closed Sunday after the crash, and the airport will be closed for at least 24 hours.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A plane crashed and caught fire Sunday morning at the Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe. The plane crashed shortly before 10:30 a.m. Sunday shortly after taking off from the airport. 

The Olathe Fire Department responded and put out the flames and a small grass fire near the wreckage. The plane involved was a Piper Meridian Turbo Prop heading to Albuquerque. 

It wasn’t immediately clear how many people were aboard the plane when it crashed between the airport and 151st Street. Olathe Fire Captain Mike Hall said a large section of 151st Street between Pflumm and Quivira was closed Sunday after the crash, and the airport was shut down.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644837174279.png" alt="The single-engine plane involved was heading to Albuquerque, New Mexico-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The single-engine plane involved was heading to Albuquerque, New Mexico-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE —Authorities investigating a fatal Sunday morning plane crash have identified the pilot who died as 51-year-old Robert Douglas Ming of Laguna Nigel, California.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that just after the 2012 Fixed Wing Single-Engine Piper aircraft took off from the Johnson County Executive airport, it crashed into a field at the end of the runway. The aircraft then became fully engulfed in flames.Ming was pronounced dead at the scene. The NTSB is investigating.-----------OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — No survivors were found after a plane crashed and caught fire Sunday morning at the Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe. The plane crashed shortly before 10:30 a.m. Sunday shortly after taking off. The Olathe Fire Department responded and put out the flames and a small grass fire. Kansas Highway Patrol spokeswoman Trooper Tiffany Bush said it wasn’t immediately clear how many people were aboard the plane when it crashed between the airport and 151st Street but no one survived. The single-engine plane involved was heading to Albuquerque, New Mexico. A large section of 151st Street between Pflumm and Quivira was closed Sunday after the crash, and the airport will be closed for at least 24 hours.------------OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A plane crashed and caught fire Sunday morning at the Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe. The plane crashed shortly before 10:30 a.m. Sunday shortly after taking off from the airport. The Olathe Fire Department responded and put out the flames and a small grass fire near the wreckage. The plane involved was a Piper Meridian Turbo Prop heading to Albuquerque. It wasn’t immediately clear how many people were aboard the plane when it crashed between the airport and 151st Street. Olathe Fire Captain Mike Hall said a large section of 151st Street between Pflumm and Quivira was closed Sunday after the crash, and the airport was shut down.

KHP IDs pilot who died after small plane crash near Kan. airport

MANHATTAN—Law&nbsp; enforcement authorities are investigating a gun fight in rural Riley County.

Just after 3:30p.m. Sunday, officers responded to the report of gunshots in the 3300 block of Valleydale Drive outside Manhattan, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.

When officers arrived on scene, they found indications of gunshots exchanged between 36- and 37-year-old males during an isolated incident. Neither party involved was present when officers arrived.

There is no perceived threat to the public regarding this incident.&nbsp; No arrests have been at this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642520239213.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN—Law&nbsp; enforcement authorities are investigating a gun fight in rural Riley County.Just after 3:30p.m. Sunday, officers responded to the report of gunshots in the 3300 block of Valleydale Drive outside Manhattan, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.When officers arrived on scene, they found indications of gunshots exchanged between 36- and 37-year-old males during an isolated incident. Neither party involved was present when officers arrived.There is no perceived threat to the public regarding this incident.&nbsp; No arrests have been at this time.

Police investigating gun fight near Manhattan

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Shawnee County jury has convicted 37-year-old Todge Anderson for the 2020 robbery and gunshot killing of a Topeka man.

Jurors returned guilty verdicts Friday against Anderson for first-degree murder committed during an inherently dangerous felony, intentional second-degree murder, aggravated robbery, marijuana distribution and the criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

The crimes stem from the robbery and killing of 38-year-old Christopher S. McMillon on Oct. 3, 2020.A family member found McMillon deceased  at his home after he failed to appear at a youth basketball game,

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644692527924.png" alt="Anderson-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Anderson-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Shawnee County jury has convicted 37-year-old Todge Anderson for the 2020 robbery and gunshot killing of a Topeka man.Jurors returned guilty verdicts Friday against Anderson for first-degree murder committed during an inherently dangerous felony, intentional second-degree murder, aggravated robbery, marijuana distribution and the criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The crimes stem from the robbery and killing of 38-year-old Christopher S. McMillon on Oct. 3, 2020.A family member found McMillon deceased at his home after he failed to appear at a youth basketball game,

Jury convicts suspect in 2020 robbery, killing at Kansas home

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Sunday morning in Leavenworth, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.

Just before 5 a.m. on Sunday, a woman called 911 to report that a male acquaintance was near 4th&nbsp;St. and Miami Street in Leavenworth, and was armed with a handgun.

Preliminary information indicates that officers from the Leavenworth Police Department, the Lansing Police Department, and the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area.

 Upon arriving they located an armed man standing in the middle of the street at the intersection of 5th&nbsp;Street and Seneca Street. They blocked traffic and began to negotiate with the man, who was later identified as Donald Barden Jr., 31, of Leavenworth. From a distance, they attempted to convince him to drop his gun. During the incident Barden ignored commands, waved his gun around, and made suicidal statements.

At approximately 6:20 a.m., Barden ran toward officers while pointing his gun in their direction. One officer from the Leavenworth Police Department and one officer from the Lansing Police Department fired rounds toward Barden, striking him. At the same time, another officer from the Leavenworth Police Department fired bean bag rounds at Barden.&nbsp;

Officers then rendered aid to Barden. EMS, who had been waiting nearby during the incident, responded and took over life-saving measures. EMS transported Barden to the KU Medical Center where he is currently in critical, but stable condition.

No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Sunday morning in Leavenworth, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.Just before 5 a.m. on Sunday, a woman called 911 to report that a male acquaintance was near 4th&nbsp;St. and Miami Street in Leavenworth, and was armed with a handgun.Preliminary information indicates that officers from the Leavenworth Police Department, the Lansing Police Department, and the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644786974874.png" alt="Barden, Jr. has previous convictions for robbery and burglary, according to the KDOC-photo KDOC&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Barden, Jr. has previous convictions for robbery and burglary, according to the KDOC-photo KDOC&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure> Upon arriving they located an armed man standing in the middle of the street at the intersection of 5th&nbsp;Street and Seneca Street. They blocked traffic and began to negotiate with the man, who was later identified as Donald Barden Jr., 31, of Leavenworth. From a distance, they attempted to convince him to drop his gun. During the incident Barden ignored commands, waved his gun around, and made suicidal statements.At approximately 6:20 a.m., Barden ran toward officers while pointing his gun in their direction. One officer from the Leavenworth Police Department and one officer from the Lansing Police Department fired rounds toward Barden, striking him. At the same time, another officer from the Leavenworth Police Department fired bean bag rounds at Barden.&nbsp;Officers then rendered aid to Barden. EMS, who had been waiting nearby during the incident, responded and took over life-saving measures. EMS transported Barden to the KU Medical Center where he is currently in critical, but stable condition.No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.

 KBI: Man in critical condition after Kan. officer-involved shooting 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City-area man made millions of dollars selling catalytic converters, many of which were stolen, federal prosecutors said.

James Spick, 56, who owns J&amp;J Recycling in Independence, was indicted this week on a 26-count indictment, the Department of Justice said Thursday.

He faces one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines and 25 counts of transporting stolen property across state lines.

Catalytic converter thefts are increasing across the country because they contain precious metals that can be extracted and sold.

Prosecutors said Spick sold the parts to companies in Missouri, Texas and Louisiana that would extract the metals.

Federal prosecutors said Spick made more than $11 million between Jan. 1, 2018 and Dec. 31, 2021.

The indictment alleges that Spick sold some items to a Kansas City, Missouri, scrap company for roughly $3.6 million and a Lee’s Summit scrap company for roughly $206,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644610805026.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City-area man made millions of dollars selling catalytic converters, many of which were stolen, federal prosecutors said.James Spick, 56, who owns J&amp;J Recycling in Independence, was indicted this week on a 26-count indictment, the Department of Justice said Thursday.He faces one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines and 25 counts of transporting stolen property across state lines.Catalytic converter thefts are increasing across the country because they contain precious metals that can be extracted and sold.Prosecutors said Spick sold the parts to companies in Missouri, Texas and Louisiana that would extract the metals.Federal prosecutors said Spick made more than $11 million between Jan. 1, 2018 and Dec. 31, 2021.The indictment alleges that Spick sold some items to a Kansas City, Missouri, scrap company for roughly $3.6 million and a Lee’s Summit scrap company for roughly $206,000.

Prosecutors: KC-area man made millions selling catalytic converters

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2022-02-08/family-and-friends-who-take-on-foster-kids-in-kansas-say-they-need-more-support-from-the-state">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — Twila Lasiter worked in a special needs 
foster home for more than two decades. That taught her how hard the 
foster care system can be on children.

When a family member’s child entered the system, she took on the job of being a kinship foster parent. 

Kinship
 placements put children with family members or close family friends, 
like coaches or teachers, instead of a foster home with strangers. It is
 seen as a better alternative to a regular placement because children 
are with people they are more familiar with, often in the communities 
that they know. 

But kinship parents in Kansas say they can feel 
exploited by the system, dumping monumental responsibilities on families
 without the backing they need to look after children in crisis. They 
say placements are rushed, they are offered little help once the child 
is in the home and that children often stay in their homes years longer 
than expected. 

Lasiter learned only after taking the children 
that they had multiple court appointments in the next few days. The 
courthouse was two hours away, yet the social worker never checked to 
see if Lasiter had a car or driver’s license and whether she had to 
work. 

“It was extremely rushed,” she said. “It's pretty much, ‘Here are these kids, you take care of them and forget that we exist.’”

Lasiter struggled to get a psychological evaluation even though the children’s needs were documented. 

Eventually,
 she wanted to become a licensed foster home so she would go through 
training and be better prepared to care for the children. Licensed 
foster parents also get paid more to cover their costs. Her social 
worker told her licensing wasn’t required and didn’t help her get 
licensed. Eventually, Lasiter got it on her own. 

Because kinship 
parents are paid less Lasiter thinks the state is rushing placements to 
kin to “save money in the long run.” The state denied any financial 
motivation. 

Some of the private contractors that handle kinship placements said they have heard similar complaints before. 

Programs
 available to parents do vary by agency, but support groups for parents,
 day care assistance and transportation help can be available. Some 
agencies are hiring more managerial and support staff to focus 
specifically on kinship placements. 

Evan Wood, director of 
kinship care with KVC Kansas, said his department had seven workers and 
now employs 39 people to work on kinship cases and is trying to hire 
five more. He said that’s allowed staff to check in with parents more 
frequently and advocate for their needs. 

“(KVC Kansas) has found 
that we need to invest more and more in supporting those families,” Wood
 said. “We don’t live in a perfect world where I think all those things 
could be completely addressed, but we want to do our best and we want to
 hear that feedback.” 

Statewide, the Department for Children and 
Families partnered with the Children's Alliance of Kansas to create an 
online training program called Kinship Origins.

Parents can spend 15 minutes or multiple hours taking the online 
training, said Cris Moody, the training program manager for Children’s 
Alliance. It has video interviews from other foster parents, slides that
 help parents through problems they may encounter and includes 
information on the basics of the child welfare system.

“Origins is
 the starting point,” he said. “It’s where parents can turn to first and
 hopefully start to answer some of those questions.”

The changes 
and upcoming developments do address some foster parent concerns, but 
Stephanie West-Potter remains skeptical. West-Potter is the chair of the
 Kansas Foster Accountability and Advisory Board. The group was created 
as part of a settlement of a lawsuit that accused DCF of neglecting 
foster children. 

She said the additional support is good, but she
 has not seen it working in practice. West-Potter still hears parent 
complaints even though some of the support programs are in place.

“We’re all just in a pretty bad place right now,” she said.

Kansas
 wants to increase the number of kinship placements in the coming years.
 Currently, about half of children were placed in family foster homes 
while 42% were placed with family or close friends —kinship placements. 
DCF wants to increase kinship until it accounts for 50% of placements.

Blaise
 Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas 
News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa. 
Foster parents hoping to talk about their experiences in Kansas can 
email him at <a href="mailto:blaise@kcur.org" target="_blank">blaise@kcur.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644334001582.png" alt="Carlos Moreno/KCUR 89.3 / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Carlos Moreno/KCUR 89.3 / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2022-02-08/family-and-friends-who-take-on-foster-kids-in-kansas-say-they-need-more-support-from-the-state">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — Twila Lasiter worked in a special needs 
foster home for more than two decades. That taught her how hard the 
foster care system can be on children.When a family member’s child entered the system, she took on the job of being a kinship foster parent. Kinship
 placements put children with family members or close family friends, 
like coaches or teachers, instead of a foster home with strangers. It is
 seen as a better alternative to a regular placement because children 
are with people they are more familiar with, often in the communities 
that they know. But kinship parents in Kansas say they can feel 
exploited by the system, dumping monumental responsibilities on families
 without the backing they need to look after children in crisis. They 
say placements are rushed, they are offered little help once the child 
is in the home and that children often stay in their homes years longer 
than expected. Lasiter learned only after taking the children 
that they had multiple court appointments in the next few days. The 
courthouse was two hours away, yet the social worker never checked to 
see if Lasiter had a car or driver’s license and whether she had to 
work. “It was extremely rushed,” she said. “It's pretty much, ‘Here are these kids, you take care of them and forget that we exist.’”Lasiter struggled to get a psychological evaluation even though the children’s needs were documented. Eventually,
 she wanted to become a licensed foster home so she would go through 
training and be better prepared to care for the children. Licensed 
foster parents also get paid more to cover their costs. Her social 
worker told her licensing wasn’t required and didn’t help her get 
licensed. Eventually, Lasiter got it on her own. Because kinship 
parents are paid less Lasiter thinks the state is rushing placements to 
kin to “save money in the long run.” The state denied any financial 
motivation. Some of the private contractors that handle kinship placements said they have heard similar complaints before. Programs
 available to parents do vary by agency, but support groups for parents,
 day care assistance and transportation help can be available. Some 
agencies are hiring more managerial and support staff to focus 
specifically on kinship placements. Evan Wood, director of 
kinship care with KVC Kansas, said his department had seven workers and 
now employs 39 people to work on kinship cases and is trying to hire 
five more. He said that’s allowed staff to check in with parents more 
frequently and advocate for their needs. “(KVC Kansas) has found 
that we need to invest more and more in supporting those families,” Wood
 said. “We don’t live in a perfect world where I think all those things 
could be completely addressed, but we want to do our best and we want to
 hear that feedback.” Statewide, the Department for Children and 
Families partnered with the Children's Alliance of Kansas to create an 
online training program called Kinship Origins.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644334077882.png" alt="The Origins training program is less than a year old, but the next iteration of it could be coming soon. " />
 <figcaption>The Origins training program is less than a year old, but the next iteration of it could be coming soon. </figcaption>
 </figure>Parents can spend 15 minutes or multiple hours taking the online 
training, said Cris Moody, the training program manager for Children’s 
Alliance. It has video interviews from other foster parents, slides that
 help parents through problems they may encounter and includes 
information on the basics of the child welfare system.“Origins is
 the starting point,” he said. “It’s where parents can turn to first and
 hopefully start to answer some of those questions.”The changes 
and upcoming developments do address some foster parent concerns, but 
Stephanie West-Potter remains skeptical. West-Potter is the chair of the
 Kansas Foster Accountability and Advisory Board. The group was created 
as part of a settlement of a lawsuit that accused DCF of neglecting 
foster children. She said the additional support is good, but she
 has not seen it working in practice. West-Potter still hears parent 
complaints even though some of the support programs are in place.“We’re all just in a pretty bad place right now,” she said.Kansas
 wants to increase the number of kinship placements in the coming years.
 Currently, about half of children were placed in family foster homes 
while 42% were placed with family or close friends —kinship placements. 
DCF wants to increase kinship until it accounts for 50% of placements.Blaise
 Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas 
News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa. 
Foster parents hoping to talk about their experiences in Kansas can 
email him at <a href="mailto:blaise@kcur.org" target="_blank">blaise@kcur.org</a>.

Family, friends taking in Kan. foster kids say they need more support

Stacker has compiled a list of the Top 10 NFL draft picks hailing from the state of Kansas.

Click <a href="https://stacker.com/kansas/highest-nfl-draft-picks-kansas">HERE</a> to see who made the list.

Stacker has compiled a list of the Top 10 NFL draft picks hailing from the state of Kansas.Click <a href="https://stacker.com/kansas/highest-nfl-draft-picks-kansas">HERE</a> to see who made the list.

Who are the highest NFL drafts picks from the state of Kansas?

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A police officer and suspect were taken to the hospital Friday with minor injuries after the driver of a fleeing vehicle intentional hit a police vehicle in Kansas City, authorities said.

The incident began when officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle at a La Quinta Inn, said Donna Drake, spokeswoman for the police department. The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article258332083.html">reported&nbsp;</a>that responding officers found a van that may have been involved in a shots fired call earlier that day.

Its driver fled with officers in pursuit. The suspect swerved across lanes on I-435, striking a police vehicle which was on the side of the highway and not actively involved in the pursuit, Drake said.

The chase continued until the vehicle became disabled on an exit ramp. Police captured the suspect after a brief foot chase.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A police officer and suspect were taken to the hospital Friday with minor injuries after the driver of a fleeing vehicle intentional hit a police vehicle in Kansas City, authorities said.The incident began when officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle at a La Quinta Inn, said Donna Drake, spokeswoman for the police department. The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article258332083.html">reported&nbsp;</a>that responding officers found a van that may have been involved in a shots fired call earlier that day.Its driver fled with officers in pursuit. The suspect swerved across lanes on I-435, striking a police vehicle which was on the side of the highway and not actively involved in the pursuit, Drake said.The chase continued until the vehicle became disabled on an exit ramp. Police captured the suspect after a brief foot chase.

Kansas City police officer, suspect injured during chase

By DAVID CRARY and PETER SMITH, Associated Press

By the thousands, Americans have been seeking religious exemptions in order to circumvent COVID-19 vaccine mandates, but generally they are doing so without the encouragement of major denominations and prominent religious leaders.

From the Vatican, Pope Francis has defended the vaccines as “the most reasonable solution to the pandemic.” The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America declared categorically that its followers would not be offered religious exemptions. Robert Jeffress, the conservative pastor of a Baptist megachurch in Dallas, voiced similar sentiments.

“Since there is no credible biblical argument against vaccines, we have refused to offer exemptions to the handful of people who have requested them,” Jeffress told The Associated Press via email. “People may have strong medical or political objections to government-mandated vaccines, but just because those objections are strongly felt does not elevate them to a religious belief that should be accommodated.”

Rabbi Sholom Lipskar of The Shul of Bal Harbour, an Orthodox synagogue in Surfside,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/florida">Florida</a>, says he tells congregation members that vaccination should be a matter of free choice.

“But I always recommend that they get a medical opinion from a competent professional,” he added. “In a serious matter, they should get two concurring medical opinions.”

Within the U.S. Catholic Church, there are divisions – even though Pope Francis has been clear in his support for vaccinations. While some bishops have forbidden their priests from assisting in seeking exemptions, other bishops and priests have provided template letters for people claiming conscientious objections from the vaccines on Catholic grounds.

“We have had many requests and have helped quite a number process their letter/request,” the Rev. Bob Stec of St. Ambrose Catholic Parish in Brunswick,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/ohio">Ohio</a>, said via email.

“Vaccination is not a universal obligation and a person must obey the judgment of his or her own informed and certain God-given conscience,” says one of the letters provided by Stec. “If a Catholic comes to an informed and sure judgment in conscience that he or she should not receive a vaccine, then the Catholic Church acknowledges that the person … has the right to refuse the vaccine.”

It’s different in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-jersey">New Jersey</a>’s Archdiocese of Newark, which has advised its priests not to support religious exemptions for their parishioners.

“I have been asked about six times and have declined,” said the Rev. Alexander Santora, pastor of Our Lady of Grace &amp; St. Joseph Parish in Hoboken.

Candice Buchbinder, a spokesperson for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said the denomination is currently studying the question of religious exemptions. She noted that previous ELCA documents opposed broad religious exemptions and viewed medicine as “a gift of God for the good of the community.”

Even before the pandemic, the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council made clear its stance – adopting a resolution in June 2019 calling for stronger government vaccination mandates.

“The Executive Council recognizes no claim of theological or religious exemption from vaccination for our members,” the resolution said.

However, someone from a denomination that encourages vaccines can still seek an exemption based on individual conscience, said Bruce Ledewitz, a law professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Ledewitz said he would advise a client wanting a religious exemption to say simply, “I have prayed about this, and I have come to the conclusion that God does not want me to take this vaccine.”

Employers have adopted widely varying approaches to such arguments – some granting many exemptions while others, including the U.S. military services, have granted very few.

While reasons for seeking religious exemptions vary, many Christians have cited the COVID-19 vaccines’ remote connection to past abortions. Laboratory-grown cell lines descended from fetuses that were aborted decades ago were used to test the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and to grow viruses used to manufacture the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine. None of those vaccines contain fetal cells.

The Vatican has stated that receiving these COVID-19 vaccines is morally acceptable. While it opposes abortion-related research, it said any vaccine recipient is not culpable for involvement in it, given how remote they are from the abortions involved.

While the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has echoed the Vatican teaching, several bishops have assisted people seeking religious exemptions. So has the National Catholic Bioethics Center, a think tank with prominent bishops on its board.

The center’s template letter says individual Catholics may interpret church teachings to conclude that it’s wrong for them to accept any medical product with a connection to abortion.

The Rev. Tad Pacholczyk, ethicist and director of education at the center, noted that the Vatican specifies that vaccines “must be voluntary.”

The church “strongly encourages the safeguarding of conscience rights” he said in a statement, criticizing a “one size fits all” approach to employer mandates.

“Such decisions properly belong in the hands of the individual patient, who can assess his or her on-the-ground situation more meaningfully than any federal agency, politician or employer,” he said. “Conscience exemptions to vaccine mandates need to be liberally available not only to Catholics but to all individuals.”

The claiming of religious exemptions frustrates some who suspect there are non-religious motivations.

“There is no distinctively Catholic objection to receiving any of the COVID-19 vaccines available,” said Michael Deem, assistant professor of bioethics and human genetics at the University of Pittsburgh.

He said the Vatican has provided detailed moral guidance on the vaccines’ acceptability — considering such things as the lack of alternative vaccines and the benefits of corralling a deadly pandemic.

The relatively low vaccination rate among white evangelicals frustrates Curtis Chang, a theologian whose Redeeming Babel organization launched a Christians and the Vaccine project with evangelical and health-care groups, promoting the COVID-19 vaccines on biblical principles.

Seeking religious exemptions for many “is a hijacking of religion to justify political or cultural stances, and that’s very dangerous,” Chang said. “There is no genuine religious reason for seeking an exemption, especially from employer mandates."

He knows of pastors who favor vaccines but are pressured by congregants to give them letters justifying their vaccine refusal on religious grounds. “I’m encouraging pastors not to give in to that.”

The move for such exemptions is “a danger ultimately to the long-term cause of religious liberty,” he said, because employers and courts may discount the sincerity of employees when they face genuine situations where their faith needs to be accommodated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614116068039.png" alt="COVID vaccination clinic photo courtesy MDHSS" />
 <figcaption>COVID vaccination clinic photo courtesy MDHSS</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID CRARY and PETER SMITH, Associated PressBy the thousands, Americans have been seeking religious exemptions in order to circumvent COVID-19 vaccine mandates, but generally they are doing so without the encouragement of major denominations and prominent religious leaders.From the Vatican, Pope Francis has defended the vaccines as “the most reasonable solution to the pandemic.” The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America declared categorically that its followers would not be offered religious exemptions. Robert Jeffress, the conservative pastor of a Baptist megachurch in Dallas, voiced similar sentiments.“Since there is no credible biblical argument against vaccines, we have refused to offer exemptions to the handful of people who have requested them,” Jeffress told The Associated Press via email. “People may have strong medical or political objections to government-mandated vaccines, but just because those objections are strongly felt does not elevate them to a religious belief that should be accommodated.”Rabbi Sholom Lipskar of The Shul of Bal Harbour, an Orthodox synagogue in Surfside,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/florida">Florida</a>, says he tells congregation members that vaccination should be a matter of free choice.“But I always recommend that they get a medical opinion from a competent professional,” he added. “In a serious matter, they should get two concurring medical opinions.”Within the U.S. Catholic Church, there are divisions – even though Pope Francis has been clear in his support for vaccinations. While some bishops have forbidden their priests from assisting in seeking exemptions, other bishops and priests have provided template letters for people claiming conscientious objections from the vaccines on Catholic grounds.“We have had many requests and have helped quite a number process their letter/request,” the Rev. Bob Stec of St. Ambrose Catholic Parish in Brunswick,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/ohio">Ohio</a>, said via email.“Vaccination is not a universal obligation and a person must obey the judgment of his or her own informed and certain God-given conscience,” says one of the letters provided by Stec. “If a Catholic comes to an informed and sure judgment in conscience that he or she should not receive a vaccine, then the Catholic Church acknowledges that the person … has the right to refuse the vaccine.”It’s different in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-jersey">New Jersey</a>’s Archdiocese of Newark, which has advised its priests not to support religious exemptions for their parishioners.“I have been asked about six times and have declined,” said the Rev. Alexander Santora, pastor of Our Lady of Grace &amp; St. Joseph Parish in Hoboken.Candice Buchbinder, a spokesperson for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said the denomination is currently studying the question of religious exemptions. She noted that previous ELCA documents opposed broad religious exemptions and viewed medicine as “a gift of God for the good of the community.”Even before the pandemic, the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council made clear its stance – adopting a resolution in June 2019 calling for stronger government vaccination mandates.“The Executive Council recognizes no claim of theological or religious exemption from vaccination for our members,” the resolution said.However, someone from a denomination that encourages vaccines can still seek an exemption based on individual conscience, said Bruce Ledewitz, a law professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.Ledewitz said he would advise a client wanting a religious exemption to say simply, “I have prayed about this, and I have come to the conclusion that God does not want me to take this vaccine.”Employers have adopted widely varying approaches to such arguments – some granting many exemptions while others, including the U.S. military services, have granted very few.While reasons for seeking religious exemptions vary, many Christians have cited the COVID-19 vaccines’ remote connection to past abortions. Laboratory-grown cell lines descended from fetuses that were aborted decades ago were used to test the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and to grow viruses used to manufacture the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine. None of those vaccines contain fetal cells.The Vatican has stated that receiving these COVID-19 vaccines is morally acceptable. While it opposes abortion-related research, it said any vaccine recipient is not culpable for involvement in it, given how remote they are from the abortions involved.While the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has echoed the Vatican teaching, several bishops have assisted people seeking religious exemptions. So has the National Catholic Bioethics Center, a think tank with prominent bishops on its board.The center’s template letter says individual Catholics may interpret church teachings to conclude that it’s wrong for them to accept any medical product with a connection to abortion.The Rev. Tad Pacholczyk, ethicist and director of education at the center, noted that the Vatican specifies that vaccines “must be voluntary.”The church “strongly encourages the safeguarding of conscience rights” he said in a statement, criticizing a “one size fits all” approach to employer mandates.“Such decisions properly belong in the hands of the individual patient, who can assess his or her on-the-ground situation more meaningfully than any federal agency, politician or employer,” he said. “Conscience exemptions to vaccine mandates need to be liberally available not only to Catholics but to all individuals.”The claiming of religious exemptions frustrates some who suspect there are non-religious motivations.“There is no distinctively Catholic objection to receiving any of the COVID-19 vaccines available,” said Michael Deem, assistant professor of bioethics and human genetics at the University of Pittsburgh.He said the Vatican has provided detailed moral guidance on the vaccines’ acceptability — considering such things as the lack of alternative vaccines and the benefits of corralling a deadly pandemic.The relatively low vaccination rate among white evangelicals frustrates Curtis Chang, a theologian whose Redeeming Babel organization launched a Christians and the Vaccine project with evangelical and health-care groups, promoting the COVID-19 vaccines on biblical principles.Seeking religious exemptions for many “is a hijacking of religion to justify political or cultural stances, and that’s very dangerous,” Chang said. “There is no genuine religious reason for seeking an exemption, especially from employer mandates."He knows of pastors who favor vaccines but are pressured by congregants to give them letters justifying their vaccine refusal on religious grounds. “I’m encouraging pastors not to give in to that.”The move for such exemptions is “a danger ultimately to the long-term cause of religious liberty,” he said, because employers and courts may discount the sincerity of employees when they face genuine situations where their faith needs to be accommodated.___

Many faith leaders wary of religious exemptions for vaccine

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's puppy Commander will make his TV debut on Super Bowl Sunday.

The German shepherd will appear with Biden's wife, Jill, in a video message about pet love during Sunday's broadcast of “Puppy Bowl XVIII” on Animal Planet. The first lady's office tweeted the video Thursday.

Both contests will be held on the day before Valentine's Day, which is Monday.

“Hi there. I'm Jill Biden, here at the White House with our new puppy Commander,” the first lady says. “You know, Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays because it's all about love.”

The first lady, wearing a gray turtleneck sweater with “AMOUR” in pink letters across the front, is seated in the White House movie theater with Commander by her side.

“What's so wonderful about having pets is they bring us unconditional love, joy and comfort every day,” she adds. “All of us are wishing you a very happy Valentine's Day.”

Other footage shows the two playing in a White House hallway.

Last year, Jill Biden filmed a public service announcement focused on mask-wearing in a pandemic to air during Puppy Bowl XVII. She was surrounded in that ad by the family's German shepherds, Champ and Major.

Champ died last year; Major now lives in Delaware after behaving aggressively at the White House.

The Bidens recently welcomed a cat named Willow to the White House.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644616712398.png" alt="Commander -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Commander -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's puppy Commander will make his TV debut on Super Bowl Sunday.The German shepherd will appear with Biden's wife, Jill, in a video message about pet love during Sunday's broadcast of “Puppy Bowl XVIII” on Animal Planet. The first lady's office tweeted the video Thursday.Both contests will be held on the day before Valentine's Day, which is Monday.“Hi there. I'm Jill Biden, here at the White House with our new puppy Commander,” the first lady says. “You know, Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays because it's all about love.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644616777097.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The first lady, wearing a gray turtleneck sweater with “AMOUR” in pink letters across the front, is seated in the White House movie theater with Commander by her side.“What's so wonderful about having pets is they bring us unconditional love, joy and comfort every day,” she adds. “All of us are wishing you a very happy Valentine's Day.”Other footage shows the two playing in a White House hallway.Last year, Jill Biden filmed a public service announcement focused on mask-wearing in a pandemic to air during Puppy Bowl XVII. She was surrounded in that ad by the family's German shepherds, Champ and Major.Champ died last year; Major now lives in Delaware after behaving aggressively at the White House.The Bidens recently welcomed a cat named Willow to the White House.

Biden's dog to make TV debut during 'Puppy Bowl'

By NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post HUTCHINSON — The supply chain issues that have rippled across the economy have hit some of Kansas smallest residents, as well, as certain types of baby formula have been hard to come by.

"We are hearing from several families that they are not able to find certain kinds of formula on the shelf," said Heather Peterson, Reno and McPherson County WIC Coordinator. "One of the things that WIC has the capability to do then, is just to change the baby's formula. A lot of times, we make changes in their formula when babies are first born and their tummies are just a little bit more tender. Then, as they get just a little bit older, we can try them back on another formula and they do just fine on it."

There are some babies that have digestive issues that require special formula. WIC does its best to help in those situations, too.

"Fortunately, WIC has the opportunity to tailor food packages with like a hundred different formulas," Peterson said. "While not every formula is appropriate for every single baby, we do have the opportunity to maybe switch to a different formula that would be really similar to the type that the baby is on right now. Another option that we've done, is we've got the capability to, if right now, they are buying it in the powder form, which is the least expensive way, but it is available in the liquid form, we would be able to make that substitution, for this short term. If the pharmacy is able to get that special formula in a different form, then we would be able to make that switch as well, right now."

Now that WIC is not doing physical checks, it makes those adjustments easier to make.

"We can actually do the vast majority of things over the phone," Peterson said. "If they've picked up all of their benefits for formula for this month, we could retailor future months of benefits. If they still have some cans of formula on their account that they haven't been able to use, then we can actually tailor that remotely and just change it on their account and they can go to the store and get a new type of formula."

The WIC has offices in most communities and office hours vary. Call them at (785) 826-6603 in Salina, (785) 776-4779 ext. 7661 in Manhattan, (785) 762-5682 in Junction City, (620) 793-1909 in Great Bend and&nbsp;(785) 628-9440 in Hays.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644670916778.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post HUTCHINSON — The supply chain issues that have rippled across the economy have hit some of Kansas smallest residents, as well, as certain types of baby formula have been hard to come by. "We are hearing from several families that they are not able to find certain kinds of formula on the shelf," said Heather Peterson, Reno and McPherson County WIC Coordinator. "One of the things that WIC has the capability to do then, is just to change the baby's formula. A lot of times, we make changes in their formula when babies are first born and their tummies are just a little bit more tender. Then, as they get just a little bit older, we can try them back on another formula and they do just fine on it."There are some babies that have digestive issues that require special formula. WIC does its best to help in those situations, too."Fortunately, WIC has the opportunity to tailor food packages with like a hundred different formulas," Peterson said. "While not every formula is appropriate for every single baby, we do have the opportunity to maybe switch to a different formula that would be really similar to the type that the baby is on right now. Another option that we've done, is we've got the capability to, if right now, they are buying it in the powder form, which is the least expensive way, but it is available in the liquid form, we would be able to make that substitution, for this short term. If the pharmacy is able to get that special formula in a different form, then we would be able to make that switch as well, right now."Now that WIC is not doing physical checks, it makes those adjustments easier to make."We can actually do the vast majority of things over the phone," Peterson said. "If they've picked up all of their benefits for formula for this month, we could retailor future months of benefits. If they still have some cans of formula on their account that they haven't been able to use, then we can actually tailor that remotely and just change it on their account and they can go to the store and get a new type of formula."The WIC has offices in most communities and office hours vary. Call them at (785) 826-6603 in Salina, (785) 776-4779 ext. 7661 in Manhattan, (785) 762-5682 in Junction City, (620) 793-1909 in Great Bend and&nbsp;(785) 628-9440 in Hays.

Formula shortages causing WIC to need flexibility

KANSAS CITY– A registered sex offender was identified in two separate investigations and pleaded guilty in federal court this week to sending obscene materials to minors, according to the United State's Attorney.

Brent Deadmon, 45, Raytown, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of transferring obscene material to a minor. Deadmon, a registered sex offender, has prior felony convictions for statutory sodomy and statutory rape, and prior misdemeanor convictions for sexual misconduct and furnishing child pornography to a minor.

By pleading guilty, Deadmon admitted that he sent obscene material – including pornographic images of himself – to two covert employees of the FBI, whom he believed were under the age of 16, who were involved in two separate and unrelated investigations.

Between March 8 and 29, Deadmon engaged in sexually explicit conversation on the FASTMEET application with a person he believed to be 14 years old, but who was actually an online covert employee in the FBI’s Chicago division. During those conversations, Deadmon expressed his desire in graphic terms to meet in person and have sexual contact. Deadmon provided his cell phone number and they communicated by texting from March 29 to May 1, 2021. Deadmon sent multiple pornographic images and videos of himself and others.

In a second, unrelated, investigation, Deadmon sent several pornographic images of himself and others and at least one video via the Meet24 application to a person he believed to be 15 years old, but who was actually an online covert employee in the FBI’s St. Louis division. In those conversations, from April 17 to June 7, 2021, Deadmon expressed an interest in meeting in person and offered to pay $500 to have sex with the purported 15-year-old and her 10-year-old sister.

On June 23, 2021, law enforcement officers located and arrested Deadmon. Officers found images of child sexual abuse on his cell phone.

Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the government and Deadmon mutually agree that the statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole is appropriate. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644412180402.png" alt="Deadmon photo Sex Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Deadmon photo Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A registered sex offender was identified in two separate investigations and pleaded guilty in federal court this week to sending obscene materials to minors, according to the United State's Attorney.Brent Deadmon, 45, Raytown, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of transferring obscene material to a minor. Deadmon, a registered sex offender, has prior felony convictions for statutory sodomy and statutory rape, and prior misdemeanor convictions for sexual misconduct and furnishing child pornography to a minor.By pleading guilty, Deadmon admitted that he sent obscene material – including pornographic images of himself – to two covert employees of the FBI, whom he believed were under the age of 16, who were involved in two separate and unrelated investigations.Between March 8 and 29, Deadmon engaged in sexually explicit conversation on the FASTMEET application with a person he believed to be 14 years old, but who was actually an online covert employee in the FBI’s Chicago division. During those conversations, Deadmon expressed his desire in graphic terms to meet in person and have sexual contact. Deadmon provided his cell phone number and they communicated by texting from March 29 to May 1, 2021. Deadmon sent multiple pornographic images and videos of himself and others.In a second, unrelated, investigation, Deadmon sent several pornographic images of himself and others and at least one video via the Meet24 application to a person he believed to be 15 years old, but who was actually an online covert employee in the FBI’s St. Louis division. In those conversations, from April 17 to June 7, 2021, Deadmon expressed an interest in meeting in person and offered to pay $500 to have sex with the purported 15-year-old and her 10-year-old sister.On June 23, 2021, law enforcement officers located and arrested Deadmon. Officers found images of child sexual abuse on his cell phone.Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the government and Deadmon mutually agree that the statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole is appropriate. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

KC-area sex offender admits sending obscene material to minors

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a traffic stop.

Just after 1:30 a.m. Thursday, a law enforcement officer with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a white 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck near SW 29th Street and South Kansas Avenue, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, a K9 Unit located illegal narcotics and both occupants had warrants for their arrests.

The driver, Steven E. Gaddis, 40, of Topeka, had two outstanding warrants for his arrest and a revoked driver’s license. Gaddis was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for his two warrants and on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license.

The passenger was identified as Ashlee A. Tosh, 32,&nbsp; of Topeka after giving a false name and date of birth. Tosh was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for her Topeka bench warrants and booked on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, identity theft and interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644525727717.png" alt="Gaddis-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Gaddis-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a traffic stop.Just after 1:30 a.m. Thursday, a law enforcement officer with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a white 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck near SW 29th Street and South Kansas Avenue, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, a K9 Unit located illegal narcotics and both occupants had warrants for their arrests.The driver, Steven E. Gaddis, 40, of Topeka, had two outstanding warrants for his arrest and a revoked driver’s license. Gaddis was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for his two warrants and on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license.The passenger was identified as Ashlee A. Tosh, 32,&nbsp; of Topeka after giving a false name and date of birth. Tosh was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for her Topeka bench warrants and booked on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, identity theft and interference with law enforcement.

Kan. woman jailed after giving fake name during traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but “equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House said Saturday. It offered no suggestion that the hourlong call diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe.

Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.

The two presidents spoke a day after Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20.

Russia denies it intends to invade but has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, encircling Ukraine on three sides. U.S. officials say Russia’s buildup of firepower has reached the point where it could invade on short notice.

The conversation came at a critical moment for what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. U.S. officials believe they have mere days to prevent an invasion and enormous bloodshed in Ukraine. And while the U.S. and its NATO allies have no plans to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia, an invasion and resulting punishing sanctions could reverberate far beyond the former Soviet republic, affecting energy supplies, global markets and the power balance in Europe.

“President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House statement said.

The call was “professional and substantive” but produced “no fundamental change in the dynamic that has been unfolding now for several weeks,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters following the call on condition of anonymity.

The official added that it remains unclear whether Putin has made a final decision to move forward with military action.

Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, said that while tensions have been escalating for months, in recent days “the situation has simply been brought to the point of absurdity.”

He said Biden mentioned the possible sanctions that could be imposed on Russia, but “this issue was not the focus during a fairly long conversation with the Russian leader.”

Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the crisis. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down the tensions.

Putin complained in the call that the United States and NATO have not responded satisfactorily to Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pull back forces from Eastern Europe.

In a sign that American officials are getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the United States announced plans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-states-europe-russia-kyiv-ff41abf90650aa5f456cbb6aafa4c5b3">to evacuate most of its staff from the embassy</a>&nbsp;in the Ukrainian capital, and Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine.

The timing of any possible Russian military action remained a key question.

The U.S. picked up intelligence that Russia is looking at Wednesday as a target date, according to a U.S. official familiar with the findings. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and did so only on condition of anonymity, would not say how definitive the intelligence was.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he told his Russian counterpart Saturday that “further Russian aggression would be met with a resolute, massive and united trans-Atlantic response.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to project calm as he observed military exercises Saturday near Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.

“We are not afraid, we’re without panic, all is under control,” he said.

Ukrainian armed forces chief commander Lt. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov issued a more defiant joint statement.

“We are ready to meet the enemy, and not with flowers, but with Stingers, Javelins and NLAWs” — anti-tank and -aircraft weapons, they said. “Welcome to hell!”

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, also held telephone discussions on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644692713491.png" alt="Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but “equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House said Saturday. It offered no suggestion that the hourlong call diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe.Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.The two presidents spoke a day after Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20.Russia denies it intends to invade but has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, encircling Ukraine on three sides. U.S. officials say Russia’s buildup of firepower has reached the point where it could invade on short notice.The conversation came at a critical moment for what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. U.S. officials believe they have mere days to prevent an invasion and enormous bloodshed in Ukraine. And while the U.S. and its NATO allies have no plans to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia, an invasion and resulting punishing sanctions could reverberate far beyond the former Soviet republic, affecting energy supplies, global markets and the power balance in Europe.“President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House statement said.The call was “professional and substantive” but produced “no fundamental change in the dynamic that has been unfolding now for several weeks,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters following the call on condition of anonymity.The official added that it remains unclear whether Putin has made a final decision to move forward with military action.Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, said that while tensions have been escalating for months, in recent days “the situation has simply been brought to the point of absurdity.”He said Biden mentioned the possible sanctions that could be imposed on Russia, but “this issue was not the focus during a fairly long conversation with the Russian leader.”Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the crisis. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down the tensions.Putin complained in the call that the United States and NATO have not responded satisfactorily to Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pull back forces from Eastern Europe.In a sign that American officials are getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the United States announced plans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-states-europe-russia-kyiv-ff41abf90650aa5f456cbb6aafa4c5b3">to evacuate most of its staff from the embassy</a>&nbsp;in the Ukrainian capital, and Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine.The timing of any possible Russian military action remained a key question.The U.S. picked up intelligence that Russia is looking at Wednesday as a target date, according to a U.S. official familiar with the findings. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and did so only on condition of anonymity, would not say how definitive the intelligence was.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he told his Russian counterpart Saturday that “further Russian aggression would be met with a resolute, massive and united trans-Atlantic response.”Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to project calm as he observed military exercises Saturday near Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.“We are not afraid, we’re without panic, all is under control,” he said.Ukrainian armed forces chief commander Lt. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov issued a more defiant joint statement.“We are ready to meet the enemy, and not with flowers, but with Stingers, Javelins and NLAWs” — anti-tank and -aircraft weapons, they said. “Welcome to hell!”U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, also held telephone discussions on Saturday.Further U.S.-Russia tensions arose on Saturday when the Defense Ministry summoned the U.S. embassy’s military attache after it said the navy detected an American submarine in Russian waters near the Kuril Islands in the Pacific. The submarine declined orders to leave, but departed after the navy used unspecified “appropriate means,” the ministry said.Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies.The U.S. has urged all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, and Sullivan said those who remain should not expect the U.S. military to rescue them in the event that air and rail transportation is severed after a Russian invasion.The Biden administration has been warning for weeks that Russia could invade Ukraine soon, but U.S. officials had previously said the Kremlin would likely wait until after the Winter Games ended so as not to antagonize China.Sullivan told reporters on Friday that U.S. intelligence shows that Russia could take invade during the Olympics. He said military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive.“Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action,” Sullivan said, adding that “Russia could choose, in very short order, to commence a major military action against Ukraine.” He said the scale of such an invasion could range from a limited incursion to a strike on Kyiv, the capital.Russia scoffed at the U.S. talk of urgency.“The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever,” said Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. “The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems.”Zakharova said her country had “optimized” staffing at its own embassy in Kyiv in response to concerns about possible military actions from the Ukrainian side.In addition to the more than 100,000 ground troops that U.S. officials say Russia has assembled along Ukraine’s eastern and southern borders, the Russians have deployed missile, air, naval and special operations forces, as well as supplies to sustain a war. This week, Russia moved six amphibious assault ships into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on the coast.Biden has bolstered the U.S. military presence in Europe as reassurance to allies on NATO’s eastern flank. The 3,000 additional soldiers ordered to Poland come on top of 1,700 who are on their way there. The U.S. Army also is shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania, which like Poland shares a border with Ukraine.Russia is demanding that the West keep former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons near its border and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe — demands flatly rejected by the West.Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly leader was driven from office by a popular uprising. Moscow responded by annexing the Crimean Peninsula and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped halt large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued, and efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled.___