Sometimes you need extra cash to tide you over to payday. 
Several apps are eager to provide that service, marketing themselves as 
an easy, no interest way to get a small loan.&nbsp; However, not all cash 
advance apps were created equal. Before signing up for one, research it 
first and watch out for hidden fees and other pitfalls.

What to know before using a cash advance app

Consider these tips before you use a cash advance or <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/18628-bbb-tip-payday-loans" target="_blank">payday loan</a> app:

Get further insight by reading <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14101-bbb-tip-loans" target="_blank">BBB’s tip on loans</a>. Read more tips on our <a href="https://www.bbb.org/news" target="_blank">BBB news feed</a>.

Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-accreditation-standards">BBB Accreditation Standards</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/standards-for-trust">BBB Standards for Trust</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBSometimes you need extra cash to tide you over to payday. 
Several apps are eager to provide that service, marketing themselves as 
an easy, no interest way to get a small loan.&nbsp; However, not all cash 
advance apps were created equal. Before signing up for one, research it 
first and watch out for hidden fees and other pitfalls.<h2>What to know before using a cash advance app</h2>Consider these tips before you use a cash advance or <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/18628-bbb-tip-payday-loans" target="_blank">payday loan</a> app:<ul>
 <li>Understand how cash advance loan apps work. <a href="https://thecollegeinvestor.com/32291/cash-advance-apps/" target="_blank">TheCollegeInvestor.com</a>
 defines cash advance loan apps as, “apps that allow you to deposit 
money that you’ve already earned into your checking account before 
payday.” Some cash advance apps work based on earned wages by partnering
 with employers, while others work directly with consumers. After 
calculating your current earnings, apps grant you a small loan. The 
amount of your loan is then deducted from your next paycheck. Some apps 
require monthly membership fees. Others charge fixed fees for loans or 
allow you to make voluntary “tips.” </li><li>Get to know the lender. If you decide to use an app to get a cash advance, look up the financing company on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> first. Make sure the company has a reputation for honest business practices. In addition, <a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-should-i-consider-if-im-thinking-about-getting-a-payday-loan-online-en-1617/" target="_blank">ConsumerFinance.gov</a> recommends finding out if the lender is licensed by your state, which means better protection for you as well. </li><li>Read the terms carefully. Take your time reading 
the terms of the loan carefully. Be sure to understand when the loan 
must be repaid and how much you will owe if you don’t pay on time. </li><li>Find out about fees. Be suspicious of cash advance apps that claim to be totally free. That means there are usually hidden fees and costs, warns <a href="https://time.com/nextadvisor/banking/cash-advance-apps/" target="_blank">NextAdvisor</a>.
 Fees may be disguised under other names – including “tips,” 
“donations,” “membership fees,” or “premium account access.” Find out 
what you’ll pay and be aware that fees that seem small can add up over 
time. For example, <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/loans/personal-loans/earnin-personal-loans" target="_blank">Nerd Wallet</a>
 points out that paying $2 to withdraw $20 for two weeks comes out to an
 annual percentage rate of 260%. That’s comparable to what traditional 
payday lenders charge. </li><li>Be careful with your personal information. Most 
cash advance loan apps need access to your banking information to work. 
Make sure the company’s website and connections are secure and read 
their data privacy policies before sharing your information. </li><li>Never pay upfront fees. If a lender asks you to pay
 fees before giving you any money, don’t agree. Charging consumers 
undisclosed upfront fees is illegal and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16919-bbb-tip-advance-fee-loan-scams" target="_blank">a sign of a scam</a>. </li><li>Budget accordingly. Always remember that getting 
early access to your money through a cash advance loan means your next 
paycheck will be smaller. While this kind of loan can be helpful if you 
find yourself in a small financial emergency before payday, you’ll need 
to plan ahead to make ends meet during your next pay period. </li><li>Keep your documentation. BBB has received reports of <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23300-bbb-tip-what-you-need-to-know-about-zombie-debt" target="_blank">consumers getting calls from collections agencies</a>
 years after they repaid a payday loan. Some calls were a result of 
human error, but others were attempts to scam consumers out of money. 
Stay safe by keeping documentation that states your loans were paid in 
full. </li><li>Consider alternatives to a loan. Cash advance loans can become very expensive, especially if you miss your repayment date. <a href="https://www.consumer.gov/articles/1011-payday-loans-and-cash-advances" target="_blank">Consumer.gov</a>
 recommends considering other ways to borrow money, including using your
 credit card, asking family or friends for a loan, or inquiring about a 
loan at your bank or credit union. If you need a loan because you are 
unable to pay one of your regular bills, try calling the company and 
asking for assistance. For example, many lenders and creditors are 
helping borrowers affected by COVID-19 by offering deferment on mortgage
 loans or credit card debt. </li>
 </ul><h2>For More Information</h2>Get further insight by reading <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14101-bbb-tip-loans" target="_blank">BBB’s tip on loans</a>. Read more tips on our <a href="https://www.bbb.org/news" target="_blank">BBB news feed</a>.Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-accreditation-standards">BBB Accreditation Standards</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/standards-for-trust">BBB Standards for Trust</a>.&nbsp;

BBB Tip: Using a cash advance loan app? Proceed with caution

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday set&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/02/fact-sheet-president-biden-reignites-cancer-moonshot-to-end-cancer-as-we-know-it/" target="_blank">a 25-year timeline to cut in half the cancer death rate</a>, a lofty but perhaps unrealistic goal that is meant to “supercharge” an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7de1dc1fab1b4d46a9a6e582f67576dd">initiative started when he was vice president to eradicate the disease</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d8f69eb645d74b7886387f713981b739">killed his older son, Beau.</a>

“This can really be an American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things,” Biden told a crowd of lawmakers, administration officials, researchers and others at the White House.

The new push, which comes without any new money, arrives more than 50 years after President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act and launched a war on the disease. The benefits of that act were also seen in areas outside of cancer, such as the vaccines developed to combat the coronavirus.

Personal connections to the fight against cancer were evident throughout the White House event. First lady Jill Biden spoke of how the death of Beau from brain cancer in 2015 had “stolen our joy” and “left us broken in our grief.” Vice President Kamala Harris spoke of how her mother’s work as a cancer researcher had helped “save women’s lives.”

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 1,918,030 new cancer cases and 609,360 cancer deaths this year. Biden is essentially aiming to to save more than 300,000 lives annually, which the administration believes is possible because the age-adjusted death rate has already fallen by roughly 25% over the past two decades. The cancer death rate is currently 146 per 100,000 people, compared with nearly 200 in 2000.

Dr. Otis Brawley, a professor of oncology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University and former chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society, said advances in medical research have led to a “better understanding of the biology of cancer and will do even more for us in the future.”

“The progress in cancer research is slow — some of the fruits of Nixon’s 1971 declaration were only harvested with the development of the COVID mRNA vaccine,” he said.

Looking forward, better public health practices, reducing cancer risks such as smoking and informing people about the best cancer research could mean fewer deaths. Brawley said one of his studies found that 130,000 people die annually from cancer because they do not benefit from known science.

Dr. Barron Lerner, a professor of medicine and population health at New York University Langone Health, said “hyperbolic goals” can help draw public attention to the problem but achieving the 50% reduction is “extremely unlikely.”

“Similar past efforts like the ‘War on Cancer’ have made gains, but they have been more modest,” said Lerner, author of “The Breast Cancer Wars.” “Cancer is many diseases and requires very complicated research. Translating these advances to the clinical setting is never easy either.”

There were no new funding commitments announced Wednesday. But the administration believes it can curb cancer through efforts such as increased screening and removing inequities in treatment.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">The coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;has consumed health care resources and caused people to miss more than 9.5 million cancer screenings.

President Barack Obama&nbsp;<a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/01/fact-sheet-investing-national-cancer-moonshot" target="_blank">announced the cancer “moonshot” program</a>&nbsp;during his final full year in office and secured $1.8 billion over seven years to fund research. Obama designated Biden, then his vice president, to run “mission control,” a recognition of Biden’s grief as a parent and desire to do something about it. Biden wrote in his memoir “Promise Me, Dad” that he chose not to run for president in 2016 primarily because of Beau’s death.

When Biden announced he was not seeking the Democratic nomination in 2016, he said his big regret was that “I would have wanted to have been the president who ended cancer, because it’s possible.”

The effort fell somewhat out of the public focus when Donald Trump became president, though Trump, a Republican, proposed $500 million over 10 years for pediatric cancer research in his 2019 State of the Union address.

Biden continued the work as a private citizen by establishing the Biden Cancer Initiative to help organize resources to improve cancer care. When Biden did&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-pa-state-wire-joe-biden-ap-top-news-donald-trump-d5c415b99a6945dbbecf60d57bcf68cb">seek the presidency</a>&nbsp;in 2020, he had tears in his eyes as he said in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that “Beau should be running for president, not me.”

Beau Biden’s doctor was in the audience Wednesday and was cited by the president.

“Doctor, I love you,” Biden said. “The whole family loves you.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643850145534.png" alt="First lady Jill Biden spoke of how the death of Beau from brain cancer in 2015 had “stolen our joy” and “left us broken in our grief.”-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>First lady Jill Biden spoke of how the death of Beau from brain cancer in 2015 had “stolen our joy” and “left us broken in our grief.”-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday set&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/02/fact-sheet-president-biden-reignites-cancer-moonshot-to-end-cancer-as-we-know-it/" target="_blank">a 25-year timeline to cut in half the cancer death rate</a>, a lofty but perhaps unrealistic goal that is meant to “supercharge” an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7de1dc1fab1b4d46a9a6e582f67576dd">initiative started when he was vice president to eradicate the disease</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d8f69eb645d74b7886387f713981b739">killed his older son, Beau.</a><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F543342663300718%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1068" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“This can really be an American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things,” Biden told a crowd of lawmakers, administration officials, researchers and others at the White House.The new push, which comes without any new money, arrives more than 50 years after President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act and launched a war on the disease. The benefits of that act were also seen in areas outside of cancer, such as the vaccines developed to combat the coronavirus.Personal connections to the fight against cancer were evident throughout the White House event. First lady Jill Biden spoke of how the death of Beau from brain cancer in 2015 had “stolen our joy” and “left us broken in our grief.” Vice President Kamala Harris spoke of how her mother’s work as a cancer researcher had helped “save women’s lives.”The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 1,918,030 new cancer cases and 609,360 cancer deaths this year. Biden is essentially aiming to to save more than 300,000 lives annually, which the administration believes is possible because the age-adjusted death rate has already fallen by roughly 25% over the past two decades. The cancer death rate is currently 146 per 100,000 people, compared with nearly 200 in 2000.Dr. Otis Brawley, a professor of oncology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University and former chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society, said advances in medical research have led to a “better understanding of the biology of cancer and will do even more for us in the future.”“The progress in cancer research is slow — some of the fruits of Nixon’s 1971 declaration were only harvested with the development of the COVID mRNA vaccine,” he said.Looking forward, better public health practices, reducing cancer risks such as smoking and informing people about the best cancer research could mean fewer deaths. Brawley said one of his studies found that 130,000 people die annually from cancer because they do not benefit from known science.Dr. Barron Lerner, a professor of medicine and population health at New York University Langone Health, said “hyperbolic goals” can help draw public attention to the problem but achieving the 50% reduction is “extremely unlikely.”“Similar past efforts like the ‘War on Cancer’ have made gains, but they have been more modest,” said Lerner, author of “The Breast Cancer Wars.” “Cancer is many diseases and requires very complicated research. Translating these advances to the clinical setting is never easy either.”There were no new funding commitments announced Wednesday. But the administration believes it can curb cancer through efforts such as increased screening and removing inequities in treatment.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">The coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;has consumed health care resources and caused people to miss more than 9.5 million cancer screenings.President Barack Obama&nbsp;<a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/01/fact-sheet-investing-national-cancer-moonshot" target="_blank">announced the cancer “moonshot” program</a>&nbsp;during his final full year in office and secured $1.8 billion over seven years to fund research. Obama designated Biden, then his vice president, to run “mission control,” a recognition of Biden’s grief as a parent and desire to do something about it. Biden wrote in his memoir “Promise Me, Dad” that he chose not to run for president in 2016 primarily because of Beau’s death.When Biden announced he was not seeking the Democratic nomination in 2016, he said his big regret was that “I would have wanted to have been the president who ended cancer, because it’s possible.”The effort fell somewhat out of the public focus when Donald Trump became president, though Trump, a Republican, proposed $500 million over 10 years for pediatric cancer research in his 2019 State of the Union address.Biden continued the work as a private citizen by establishing the Biden Cancer Initiative to help organize resources to improve cancer care. When Biden did&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-pa-state-wire-joe-biden-ap-top-news-donald-trump-d5c415b99a6945dbbecf60d57bcf68cb">seek the presidency</a>&nbsp;in 2020, he had tears in his eyes as he said in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that “Beau should be running for president, not me.”Beau Biden’s doctor was in the audience Wednesday and was cited by the president.“Doctor, I love you,” Biden said. “The whole family loves you.”

🎥 Bidens set goal to reduce cancer deaths over next 25 years

WASHINGTON — As the new year begins, the Internal Revenue Service 
reminds taxpayers to protect their personal and financial information 
throughout the year and watch out for IRS impersonation scams, along 
with other schemes, that try to trick people out of their hard-earned 
money.

These schemes can involve text message scams, e-mail schemes and 
phone scams. This tax season, the IRS also warns people to watch out for
 signs of potential unemployment fraud.

"With filing season underway, this is a prime period for identity 
thieves to hit people with realistic-looking emails and texts about 
their tax returns and refunds," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. 
"Watching out for these common scams can keep people from becoming 
victims of identity theft and protect their sensitive personal 
information that can be used to file tax returns and steal refunds."

The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation's tax industry – working together in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit initiative</a>
 – have taken numerous steps since 2015 to protect taxpayers, businesses
 and the tax system from identity thieves. Summit partners continue to 
warn people to watch out for common scams and schemes this tax season.

Last year, there was an uptick in text messages that impersonated the
 IRS. These scams are sent to taxpayers' smartphones and have referenced
 COVID-19 and/or "stimulus payments." These messages often contain bogus
 links claiming to be IRS websites or other online tools. Other than IRS
 Secure Access, the IRS does not use text messages to discuss personal 
tax issues, such as those involving bills or refunds. The IRS also will 
not send taxpayers messages via social media platforms.

If a taxpayer receives an unsolicited SMS/text that appears to be 
from either the IRS or a program closely linked to the IRS, the taxpayer
 should take a screenshot of the text message and include the screenshot
 in an email to <a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a> with the following information:

The IRS reminds everyone NOT to click links or open attachments 
in unsolicited, suspicious or unexpected text messages – whether from 
the IRS, state tax agencies or others in the tax community.

As a new tax season begins, the IRS reminds workers to watch out for 
claims of unemployment or other benefit payments for which they never 
applied. States have experienced a surge in fraudulent unemployment 
claims filed by organized crime rings using stolen identities. Criminals
 are using these stolen identities to fraudulently collect benefits.

Because unemployment benefits are taxable income, states issue Form 
1099-G, Certain Government Payments, to recipients and to the IRS to 
report the amount of taxable compensation received and any withholding. 
Any worker receiving a fraudulent or inaccurate 1099-G should report it 
to the issuing state agency and request a corrected Form 1099-G.

For details on how to report fraud to state workforce agencies, how 
to obtain a corrected Form 1099-G, how to find a list of state contacts 
and other steps to take related to unemployment fraud, taxpayers can 
visit the U.S. Department of Labor's <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft">DOL.gov/fraud</a> page.

Individuals may be victims of unemployment identity theft if they received:

A notice from their employer indicating the employer received a request for information about an unemployment claim.

The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request 
personal or financial information. The IRS initiates most contacts 
through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.

If a taxpayer receives an unsolicited email that appears to be from 
either the IRS or a program closely linked to the IRS that is 
fraudulent, report it by sending it as an attachment to <a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a>. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing">Report Phishing and Online Scams</a> page at IRS.gov provides complete details.

There are special circumstances when the IRS will call or come to a 
home or business. These visits include times when a taxpayer has an 
overdue tax bill, a delinquent tax return or a delinquent employment tax
 payment. The IRS may also visit if it needs to tour a business as part 
of a civil investigation (such as an audit or collection case) or during
 a criminal investigation. The IRS provides specific guidance on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-know-its-really-the-irs-calling-or-knocking-on-your-door">how to know it's really the IRS knocking on your door</a>.

The IRS does not leave pre-recorded, urgent or threatening messages. 
In many variations of the phone scam, victims are told if they do not 
call back, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Other verbal 
threats include law-enforcement agency intervention, deportation or 
revocation of licenses.

Criminals can fake or "spoof" caller ID numbers to appear to be 
anywhere in the country, including from an IRS office. This prevents 
taxpayers from being able to verify the true call number. Fraudsters 
also have spoofed local sheriff's offices, state departments of motor 
vehicles, federal agencies and others to convince taxpayers the call is 
legitimate.

The IRS (and its authorized private collection agencies) will never:

Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who 
owes taxes. All tax payments should only be made payable to the U.S. 
Treasury and checks should never be made payable to third parties.

For anyone who doesn't owe taxes and has no reason to think they do:

For anyone who owes tax or thinks they do:

Unfortunately, scams and schemes can often lead to identity theft. 
While identity theft can have many consequences, the IRS focuses on 
tax-related identity theft.

Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses an individual's 
stolen Social Security number (SSN) to file a tax return claiming a 
fraudulent refund. Taxpayers may be unaware of this activity until they 
e-file a tax return and discover that a return has already been filed 
using their SSN. Or, the IRS may send them a letter saying it has 
identified a suspicious return using their SSN.

If a taxpayer learns their SSN has been compromised, or they know or 
suspect they are a victim of tax-related identity theft, the IRS 
recommends these additional steps:

More information is available at: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">IRS.gov/identitytheft</a> or the Federal Trade Commission's <a href="https://www.identitytheft.gov/">IdentityTheft.gov</a>.

The official IRS website is IRS.gov. People should be aware of 
imitation websites ending in .com. This applies to other IRS tools, too,
 like <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;they all end in .gov.

For more information, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts">Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts</a> on IRS.gov. Additional information about tax scams is available on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-social-media">IRS social media sites</a>, including YouTube videos.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — As the new year begins, the Internal Revenue Service 
reminds taxpayers to protect their personal and financial information 
throughout the year and watch out for IRS impersonation scams, along 
with other schemes, that try to trick people out of their hard-earned 
money.These schemes can involve text message scams, e-mail schemes and 
phone scams. This tax season, the IRS also warns people to watch out for
 signs of potential unemployment fraud."With filing season underway, this is a prime period for identity 
thieves to hit people with realistic-looking emails and texts about 
their tax returns and refunds," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. 
"Watching out for these common scams can keep people from becoming 
victims of identity theft and protect their sensitive personal 
information that can be used to file tax returns and steal refunds."The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation's tax industry – working together in the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">Security Summit initiative</a>
 – have taken numerous steps since 2015 to protect taxpayers, businesses
 and the tax system from identity thieves. Summit partners continue to 
warn people to watch out for common scams and schemes this tax season.<h2>Text message scams</h2>Last year, there was an uptick in text messages that impersonated the
 IRS. These scams are sent to taxpayers' smartphones and have referenced
 COVID-19 and/or "stimulus payments." These messages often contain bogus
 links claiming to be IRS websites or other online tools. Other than IRS
 Secure Access, the IRS does not use text messages to discuss personal 
tax issues, such as those involving bills or refunds. The IRS also will 
not send taxpayers messages via social media platforms.If a taxpayer receives an unsolicited SMS/text that appears to be 
from either the IRS or a program closely linked to the IRS, the taxpayer
 should take a screenshot of the text message and include the screenshot
 in an email to <a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a> with the following information:<ul>
 <li>Date/time/time zone they received the text message</li><li>Phone number that received the text message</li>
 </ul>The IRS reminds everyone NOT to click links or open attachments 
in unsolicited, suspicious or unexpected text messages – whether from 
the IRS, state tax agencies or others in the tax community.<h2>Unemployment fraud</h2>As a new tax season begins, the IRS reminds workers to watch out for 
claims of unemployment or other benefit payments for which they never 
applied. States have experienced a surge in fraudulent unemployment 
claims filed by organized crime rings using stolen identities. Criminals
 are using these stolen identities to fraudulently collect benefits.Because unemployment benefits are taxable income, states issue Form 
1099-G, Certain Government Payments, to recipients and to the IRS to 
report the amount of taxable compensation received and any withholding. 
Any worker receiving a fraudulent or inaccurate 1099-G should report it 
to the issuing state agency and request a corrected Form 1099-G.For details on how to report fraud to state workforce agencies, how 
to obtain a corrected Form 1099-G, how to find a list of state contacts 
and other steps to take related to unemployment fraud, taxpayers can 
visit the U.S. Department of Labor's <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft">DOL.gov/fraud</a> page.<h2>Individuals may be victims of unemployment identity theft if they received:</h2><ul>
 <li>Mail from a government agency about an unemployment claim or 
payment for which they did not file. This includes unexpected payments 
or debit cards and could be from any state.</li><li>An IRS Form 1099-G reflecting unemployment benefits they weren't 
expecting or didn't receive. Box 1 on this form may show unemployment 
benefits they did not receive or an amount that exceeds their records 
for benefits they did receive. The form itself may be from a state in 
which they did not file for benefits.</li>
 </ul>A notice from their employer indicating the employer received a request for information about an unemployment claim.<h2>Email phishing scams</h2>The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request 
personal or financial information. The IRS initiates most contacts 
through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.If a taxpayer receives an unsolicited email that appears to be from 
either the IRS or a program closely linked to the IRS that is 
fraudulent, report it by sending it as an attachment to <a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a>. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing">Report Phishing and Online Scams</a> page at IRS.gov provides complete details.There are special circumstances when the IRS will call or come to a 
home or business. These visits include times when a taxpayer has an 
overdue tax bill, a delinquent tax return or a delinquent employment tax
 payment. The IRS may also visit if it needs to tour a business as part 
of a civil investigation (such as an audit or collection case) or during
 a criminal investigation. The IRS provides specific guidance on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-know-its-really-the-irs-calling-or-knocking-on-your-door">how to know it's really the IRS knocking on your door</a>.<h2>Phone scams</h2>The IRS does not leave pre-recorded, urgent or threatening messages. 
In many variations of the phone scam, victims are told if they do not 
call back, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Other verbal 
threats include law-enforcement agency intervention, deportation or 
revocation of licenses.Criminals can fake or "spoof" caller ID numbers to appear to be 
anywhere in the country, including from an IRS office. This prevents 
taxpayers from being able to verify the true call number. Fraudsters 
also have spoofed local sheriff's offices, state departments of motor 
vehicles, federal agencies and others to convince taxpayers the call is 
legitimate.<h2>The IRS (and its authorized private collection agencies) will never:</h2><ul>
 <li>Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method
 such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. The IRS does 
not use these methods for tax payments.</li><li>Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.</li><li>Demand that taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.</li><li>Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.</li>
 </ul>Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who 
owes taxes. All tax payments should only be made payable to the U.S. 
Treasury and checks should never be made payable to third parties.<h2>For anyone who doesn't owe taxes and has no reason to think they do:</h2><ul>
 <li>Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.</li><li>Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to report the call at <a href="https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/reportcrime_misconduct.shtml">IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting</a>.</li><li>Report the caller ID and/or callback number to the IRS by sending it to <a href="mailto:phishing@irs.gov">phishing@irs.gov</a> (Subject: IRS Phone Scam).</li><li><a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/">Report it to the Federal Trade Commission</a> on FTC.gov. Add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.</li>
 </ul><h2>For anyone who owes tax or thinks they do:</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">View tax account information</a> online at IRS.gov to see the actual amount owed. Taxpayers can also review their payment options.</li><li>Call the number on the billing notice or</li><li>Call the IRS at <a href="tel:800-829-1040">800-829-1040</a>. IRS employees can help.</li>
 </ul><h2>Help for victims of ID theft</h2>Unfortunately, scams and schemes can often lead to identity theft. 
While identity theft can have many consequences, the IRS focuses on 
tax-related identity theft.Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses an individual's 
stolen Social Security number (SSN) to file a tax return claiming a 
fraudulent refund. Taxpayers may be unaware of this activity until they 
e-file a tax return and discover that a return has already been filed 
using their SSN. Or, the IRS may send them a letter saying it has 
identified a suspicious return using their SSN.If a taxpayer learns their SSN has been compromised, or they know or 
suspect they are a victim of tax-related identity theft, the IRS 
recommends these additional steps:<ul>
 <li>Individuals should respond immediately to any IRS notice; call the number provided.</li><li>Taxpayers should complete IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14039.pdf">Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit</a>&nbsp;PDF,
 if an e-file tax return rejects because of a duplicate filing under 
their SSN or they are instructed to do so by the IRS. Individuals can 
use a fillable form at IRS.gov, then print and attach the form to their 
paper return and mail according to instructions.</li><li>Victims of tax-related identity theft should continue to pay their 
taxes and file their tax return, even if they must do so by paper.</li><li>Taxpayers who previously contacted the IRS about tax-related 
identity theft and did not have a resolution should call for specialized
 assistance at <a href="tel:800-908-4490">800-908-4490</a>.</li>
 </ul>More information is available at: <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central">IRS.gov/identitytheft</a> or the Federal Trade Commission's <a href="https://www.identitytheft.gov/">IdentityTheft.gov</a>.The official IRS website is IRS.gov. People should be aware of 
imitation websites ending in .com. This applies to other IRS tools, too,
 like <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;they all end in .gov.For more information, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts">Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts</a> on IRS.gov. Additional information about tax scams is available on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-social-media">IRS social media sites</a>, including YouTube videos.

IRS: Impersonators increasingly using tax scams to steal your info

Recently, BBB has received additional reports that 
scammers are impersonating the Better Business Bureau via phone calls 
and emails. If you are unsure of who is contacting you, reach out to 
your <a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-directory" target="_blank">local Better Business Bureau</a>. See more information below.

An impostor is a person who pretends to be someone else. They may 
pretend to be someone you know; like a family member, a friend, a person
 you feel like you know but have not met in person. They may pretend to 
be working for the government or from a company you trust, or a company 
with which you do business on a regular basis, such as a computer 
software company.

Impostors are dishonest people who want to steal your money or 
personal information and will try to do this through a phone call, text 
message, or email. The phone calls may appear to be a local number, text
 messages appear to be from real companies, or emails with entirely 
believable government logos or a familiar business on them.

Impersonation is a very common tactic used by scammers, according to the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbbscamtrackerriskreport/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report</a>. Impostor scams come in all shapes and sizes with the same intent - to trick you out of your money and/or personal information.

Learn more tips on how to avoid scams by going to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtips" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTips</a>. If you have been the victim of this or another scam, make others aware by filing a report on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us/" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>.

Visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, follow us on social media, and more.

<a href="https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-canton-region-and-greater-west-virginia" target="_blank">BBB Serving Canton Region &amp; Greater West Virginia</a> contributed to this article.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBRecently, BBB has received additional reports that 
scammers are impersonating the Better Business Bureau via phone calls 
and emails. If you are unsure of who is contacting you, reach out to 
your <a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-directory" target="_blank">local Better Business Bureau</a>. See more information below.An impostor is a person who pretends to be someone else. They may 
pretend to be someone you know; like a family member, a friend, a person
 you feel like you know but have not met in person. They may pretend to 
be working for the government or from a company you trust, or a company 
with which you do business on a regular basis, such as a computer 
software company.Impostors are dishonest people who want to steal your money or 
personal information and will try to do this through a phone call, text 
message, or email. The phone calls may appear to be a local number, text
 messages appear to be from real companies, or emails with entirely 
believable government logos or a familiar business on them.Impersonation is a very common tactic used by scammers, according to the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbbscamtrackerriskreport/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report</a>. Impostor scams come in all shapes and sizes with the same intent - to trick you out of your money and/or personal information.IMPOSTOR SCAMS &amp; HOW THEY WORK:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16907-bbb-tip-utility-imposter-scam" target="_blank">Power/utility scam</a>:
 Utility company impostors typically reach out via a telephone call or 
knock on your door claiming to be a representative from the local water,
 electric, or gas company. In the most common scenario, the fraudster 
will say a payment is overdue and the utility will be shut off if you 
don’t pay up immediately.</li><li><a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/18596-scam-alert-hit-delete-on-phony-banking-texts" target="_blank">Phony banking texts/Phishing schemes</a>:
 You receive a text message allegedly from a bank, alerting you of 
fraudulent activity on your account. You may or may not have an account 
at that bank. The con artists might even know your account number. They 
use a variety of messages and techniques, but the desired outcome is the
 same. They want you to give them information, the key to your money.</li><li><a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/13995-bbb-tip-tax-scams" target="_blank">IRS impostors</a>:
 There are many ways to tell if a call about tax debt is a fraudulent 
IRS call. According to the IRS, people with overdue taxes will always 
receive multiple contacts, including letters and phone calls, from the 
IRS first. The IRS will also notify taxpayers before sending their 
accounts to a private collection agency. If you get a call first and had
 no idea you owed taxes, be cautious and skeptical.</li><li><a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16918-bbb-tip-emergency-scams" target="_blank">Emergency scam</a> (also called grandparent scams or family/friend scams): This scheme involves the impersonation of a friend or family member in a fabricated urgent
 or dire situation.&nbsp;Emergency calls prey on a person’s kind nature and 
willingness to help friends and family in need. Con artists impersonate 
their targets’ loved ones, make up an urgent situation, and plead for 
help and money. Thanks to social media sites, these people can offer 
plausible stories and incorporate nicknames and real travel plans into 
the con to convince their targets.</li><li><a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/26316-bbb-scam-alert-dont-do-this-friend-a-favor-its-really-a-clever-scam" target="_blank">Favor for a friend scam</a>.
 This is a version of an emergency scam. However, instead of a major 
crisis, the scammers is asking for a small favor. It can be easy to fall
 for these cons because the stories are believable and the money amounts
 are much lower. For example, <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/24773-bbb-scam-alert-dont-send-money-to-fake-friends-on-venmo" target="_blank">in this scam</a>,
 a "friend" needs money for groceries after misplacing their wallet. 
Just like with an emergency scam, always check directly with your friend
 before sending any cash.</li><li><a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16553-bbb-tip-tech-support-scams" target="_blank">Tech Support scams</a>:
 A tech support rep calls you at home and offers to fix a computer bug 
that you haven’t even noticed, or a popup warning appears on your screen
 instructing you to dial a number for help. In this con, scammers pose 
as tech support employees of well-known computer companies and hassle 
victims into paying for their “support.”</li><li><a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16887-bbb-scam-alert-beware-of-bbb-imposter" target="_blank">Better Business Bureau</a>.
 That’s right, BBB is an often-impersonated company. Many of these scams
 target small businesses. Scammers call, text, or email to collect 
unpaid “dues” or email dangerous links or attachments that they claim 
are related to “complaints," or various other excuses. While a BBB 
office may indeed contact a business for a variety of reasons, you 
should never give personal or financial information over the phone 
during an unsolicited call from someone you do not know. End the call or
 close the email, and call back through the number listed in the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-directory" target="_blank">BBB.org Directory.</a></li>
 </ul>TIPS TO AVOID IMPOSTOR SCAMS:<ul>
 <li>Stay calm. If you receive any of these impostor 
calls, resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the 
story is or how threatening or intimidating the caller sounds.</li><li>Don't reply directly. Don’t respond to the call, text, or email. Instead, call the company or person directly to verify the message that was sent or the phone call received.</li><li>Go to the source or get help. When in doubt, call a friend, loved one or your <a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-directory" target="_blank">local BBB </a>to ask for a second opinion. Regardless of what is said in the phone conversation, tell someone.</li>
 </ul>FOR MORE INFORMATION: Learn more tips on how to avoid scams by going to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtips" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTips</a>. If you have been the victim of this or another scam, make others aware by filing a report on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us/" target="_blank">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>.FOR BBB INFORMATION: Visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, follow us on social media, and more.<a href="https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-canton-region-and-greater-west-virginia" target="_blank">BBB Serving Canton Region &amp; Greater West Virginia</a> contributed to this article.&nbsp;

BBB Tip: How to avoid impostor scams

By
NICK GOSNELL<a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>


HUTCHINSON —&nbsp;Jeremy Hill, the director of the Center for Economic Development 
and Business Research at Wichita State University, is positive about the
 state's economy going forward.

"It kind of came up to three 
categories, how are households doing and they're doing fantastic," Hill 
said. "Businesses, how are they doing? They're complaining, having a lot
 of issues because the market has changed, but the fundamentals are 
still good, they are seeing demand grow, just really not reaching where 
they want and then on the government side, this is a very different 
environment. Home prices are up, which is going to be good for them. 
Retail sales are up and overall population was fairly decent for the 
overall state and for the region. The region declined, but in recent 
years, it's been improving again."

Finding good people is the problem, especially locally.

"We
 are tighter than the U.S. on this labor market," Hill said. "Just in 
Reno County, it's at 3%, but up in McPherson County, it's at 1%. We're 
talking about really low. Everyone's engaged. If we want to grow, we 
need to start really being aggressive right now, before the U.S. gets 
back to their full employment, bringing people in."

"The
 biggest issue for the entire state and this is not just rural, this is 
rural, urban, across the state, is wages," Hill said. "Unlike the U.S., 
we are already back to full employment and even unlike our regional 
states right around us, we went back to full employment. If you want to 
get labor and labor is the biggest issue, increase wages. I tell the 
story all the time, we keep that gap between the U.S. and Kansas and all
 their markets continue to get broader and broader. That's why we had 
outmigration just a few years ago. The opportunities for households were
 better somewhere else, so they got up and left. It didn't mean we 
didn't have jobs. We just weren't competitive."

Hill noted that 
there are some areas where Kansas has a cost of living advantage, but 
that doesn't necessarily overcome lower aggregate wages, unless moving 
from a major metropolitan area. Eighty-seven percent of cities have 
below-average costs of living across the country. The richest 13 percent
 of cities drive up that average.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643910670993.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL<a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a> 
HUTCHINSON —&nbsp;Jeremy Hill, the director of the Center for Economic Development 
and Business Research at Wichita State University, is positive about the
 state's economy going forward."It kind of came up to three 
categories, how are households doing and they're doing fantastic," Hill 
said. "Businesses, how are they doing? They're complaining, having a lot
 of issues because the market has changed, but the fundamentals are 
still good, they are seeing demand grow, just really not reaching where 
they want and then on the government side, this is a very different 
environment. Home prices are up, which is going to be good for them. 
Retail sales are up and overall population was fairly decent for the 
overall state and for the region. The region declined, but in recent 
years, it's been improving again."Finding good people is the problem, especially locally."We
 are tighter than the U.S. on this labor market," Hill said. "Just in 
Reno County, it's at 3%, but up in McPherson County, it's at 1%. We're 
talking about really low. Everyone's engaged. If we want to grow, we 
need to start really being aggressive right now, before the U.S. gets 
back to their full employment, bringing people in."How do you do that, as a business owner?"The
 biggest issue for the entire state and this is not just rural, this is 
rural, urban, across the state, is wages," Hill said. "Unlike the U.S., 
we are already back to full employment and even unlike our regional 
states right around us, we went back to full employment. If you want to 
get labor and labor is the biggest issue, increase wages. I tell the 
story all the time, we keep that gap between the U.S. and Kansas and all
 their markets continue to get broader and broader. That's why we had 
outmigration just a few years ago. The opportunities for households were
 better somewhere else, so they got up and left. It didn't mean we 
didn't have jobs. We just weren't competitive."Hill noted that 
there are some areas where Kansas has a cost of living advantage, but 
that doesn't necessarily overcome lower aggregate wages, unless moving 
from a major metropolitan area. Eighty-seven percent of cities have 
below-average costs of living across the country. The richest 13 percent
 of cities drive up that average.

Kan. economist: Good news on economy, pay needs to increase

SARCOXIE, Mo. (AP) — A former southwest Missouri teacher who was charged with having sexual relations with a student is no longer facing prosecution because she and the student have married, prosecutors said.

Baylee A. Turner, 26, was charged in February 2019 with having sexual contact with a male student while she was in her first year of teaching English at Sarcoxie High School.

Nate Dally, an assistant Jasper County prosecutor, said the charge was dismissed because the marriage means the former student can no longer be compelled to testify against Turner, which makes prosecuting the case difficult, The Joplin Globe&nbsp;<a href="https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/teachers-marriage-to-student-results-in-dismissal-of-charge/article_70c097d2-82ee-11ec-84ed-d7fe467d4a85.html">reported.</a>

Turner has surrendered her state teaching license, which was the prosecutor's main concern, Dally said.

The probable cause affidavit in the case does not say how old the student was at the time Turner was charged.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643738235192.png" alt="Turner photo Jasper Co." />
 <figcaption>Turner photo Jasper Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SARCOXIE, Mo. (AP) — A former southwest Missouri teacher who was charged with having sexual relations with a student is no longer facing prosecution because she and the student have married, prosecutors said.Baylee A. Turner, 26, was charged in February 2019 with having sexual contact with a male student while she was in her first year of teaching English at Sarcoxie High School.Nate Dally, an assistant Jasper County prosecutor, said the charge was dismissed because the marriage means the former student can no longer be compelled to testify against Turner, which makes prosecuting the case difficult, The Joplin Globe&nbsp;<a href="https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/teachers-marriage-to-student-results-in-dismissal-of-charge/article_70c097d2-82ee-11ec-84ed-d7fe467d4a85.html">reported.</a>Turner has surrendered her state teaching license, which was the prosecutor's main concern, Dally said.The probable cause affidavit in the case does not say how old the student was at the time Turner was charged.

Sex crime charge dropped against teacher after she marries student

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a road-rage shooting.

Just after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting near the intersection of Central and Ridge in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Officers arrived and located a 35-year-old man with a single gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment and is expected to survive.

It is believed that this is a road-rage incident involving two drivers.

Investigators learned that the 35-year-old man was westbound on Central when he got into a verbal altercation with another westbound driver. The two vehicles stopped on Central, and the 35-year-old exited his vehicle and approached the other driver’s window.

An altercation ensued, which led to a single shot being fired. The man then returned to his vehicle, and both drivers pulled into the parking lot on the NW corner of Central and Ridge, where they made contact with officers. 

The second driver, a 39-year-old male uniformed security officer, remained on scene and was questioned by detectives.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643837260688.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a road-rage shooting.Just after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting near the intersection of Central and Ridge in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Officers arrived and located a 35-year-old man with a single gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment and is expected to survive.It is believed that this is a road-rage incident involving two drivers.Investigators learned that the 35-year-old man was westbound on Central when he got into a verbal altercation with another westbound driver. The two vehicles stopped on Central, and the 35-year-old exited his vehicle and approached the other driver’s window.An altercation ensued, which led to a single shot being fired. The man then returned to his vehicle, and both drivers pulled into the parking lot on the NW corner of Central and Ridge, where they made contact with officers. The second driver, a 39-year-old male uniformed security officer, remained on scene and was questioned by detectives.

Police: Man wounded during Kansas road-rage shooting

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man, who surrendered after a police standoff Monday night has been charged in the Jan. 14 fatal shooting on an Amtrak train while it was in Lee's Summit, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Marquise L. Webb, 21, faces charges of Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Vehicle Hijacking and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records, police were alerted on Jan. 14, 2022, of an armed carjacking behind Konrad's Kitchen, 302 SW Main Street in Lee's Summit. 

About the same time, police also were alerted to a shooting on the Amtrak train and the suspect had exited the train in Lee's Summit.

 The train continued onto Independence, where the victim identified as&nbsp;30-year-old Richie T. Aaron Jr. of Independence, Missouri was pronounced deceased.

The victim in the carjacking told police a man opened his driver's door while parked. Amtrak officials could not account for the defendant's whereabouts but a check of his phone showed the phone moving directly toward Kansas City after the Lee's Summit stop, rather than traveling on to Independence. 

On Monday night, police executed a search warrant at a Kansas City apartment in the 1600 block of Bushman Drive, after searching for addresses associated with the defendant's phone. During this activity, police saw Webb attempting to exit from the rear of the apartment. The defendant and police pointed guns. After more than four hours, the defendant surrendered without incident.

Webb is being held on a $500,000 cash bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643803193805.png" alt="Webb-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Webb-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man, who surrendered after a police standoff Monday night has been charged in the Jan. 14 fatal shooting on an Amtrak train while it was in Lee's Summit, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Marquise L. Webb, 21, faces charges of Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Vehicle Hijacking and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.According to court records, police were alerted on Jan. 14, 2022, of an armed carjacking behind Konrad's Kitchen, 302 SW Main Street in Lee's Summit. About the same time, police also were alerted to a shooting on the Amtrak train and the suspect had exited the train in Lee's Summit. The train continued onto Independence, where the victim identified as&nbsp;30-year-old Richie T. Aaron Jr. of Independence, Missouri was pronounced deceased.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642418758538.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>The victim in the carjacking told police a man opened his driver's door while parked. Amtrak officials could not account for the defendant's whereabouts but a check of his phone showed the phone moving directly toward Kansas City after the Lee's Summit stop, rather than traveling on to Independence. On Monday night, police executed a search warrant at a Kansas City apartment in the 1600 block of Bushman Drive, after searching for addresses associated with the defendant's phone. During this activity, police saw Webb attempting to exit from the rear of the apartment. The defendant and police pointed guns. After more than four hours, the defendant surrendered without incident.Webb is being held on a $500,000 cash bond.

Kansas City man charged in fatal shooting on Amtrak train

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Television personality and car enthusiast Jay Leno will be the featured speaker at the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet in April.

That announcement was made this afternoon in, perhaps, the most fitting location in Salina, The Garage, the automotive museum at 134 S. Fourth Street, that is scheduled to open later this month.

Leno will be in Salina on April 8 through a partnership between the chamber, the Stiefel Theatre, and The Garage. Upon arrival, he will attend a by-invitation-only event at The Garage to tour Salina’s newest experience. Then he will address those gathered for the chamber banquet, speaking about his business experiences and motor hobbies. 

Following the chamber banquet, Leno is scheduled to perform a stand-up show at the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue. Tickets for the Stiefel performance will go on sale at noon Friday and may be purchased by contacting the Stiefel at 785-827-1998 or at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org/tickets">www.stiefeltheatre.org/tickets</a>.

“This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that has aligned for Salina, through the partnership, this series of unique events are geared at supporting each of the host organization missions and elevating Salina’s community profile overall. Jay Leno checks the box as one of the world’s biggest car enthusiasts, one of the biggest names in entertainment, and one of the best comedians in America history!” said Travis Young, 2022 chamber board chair. “It is a great opportunity to highlight and celebrate all of the momentum that Salina has, and we look forward to his positive and humorous message at the banquet.” 

The chamber plans to have a membership networking reception from 3-5:45 p.m. April 8 in the Great Plains Manufacturing Hall of Tony's Pizza Events Center, 800 The Midway. This reception, however, won't be a typical chamber gathering. The reception will be customized this year with a car show featuring an array of special automobiles owned by chamber members and will be sponsored by Holm Automotive Salina/Abilene.

The chamber annual banquet will follow in the Tony's Pizza Events Center arena. Seating will consist of tables of eight. Tickets for chamber members are $65 per person for the banquet. Tickets for non-members are $90 per person for the banquet. Chamber members and the general public can make reservations by calling the chamber office ticket hotline at 785-827-9310, ext. 123, stopping by the chamber office, 120 W. Ash, or emailing Sandy Cole at <a href="mailto:scole@salinakansas.org">scole@salinakansas.org</a>. Tickets will be reserved on a first-come first-served basis.

The banquet will include remarks by outgoing Chamber Chair Jeff Maes and incoming Chair Travis Young, as well as a brief review of the chamber’s 2021 accomplishments, and the address by Leno.

Speaker information provided by the chamber

Leno is an acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist. He is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.”

Leno’s late night television ratings domination included two decades as the host of the No. 1-rated The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. After the first two years Leno never lost a single ratings year in which he served as host.

This fall, Leno brings back the classic game show You Bet Your Life. This comedy show wrapped in a game show will feature two strangers paired up to play for prize money by answering trivia questions correctly. Co-hosted by Kevin Eubanks and produced by Tom Werner&nbsp;and David Hurwitz, You Bet Your Life will deliver a fun series filled with the warmth and laughter that America needs now.

Leno also currently produces and is host of the CNBC primetime series Jay Leno’s Garage now in its sixth season. Jay Leno’s Garage explores the world of cars, never forgetting that it’s the people behind the wheel who provide the real stories. The series debuted in October 2015 and delivered CNBC’s most-watched first season in network history. New episodes of Jay Leno’s Garage can be viewed on CNBC or CNBC On Demand throughout the year.

The show is an outgrowth of Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube channel which Leno produces. The channel has an international following on the internet and has garnered several Emmy Awards and nominations for Outstanding Special Class–Short-Format Nonfiction Programs.

His new product line, Jay Leno’s Garage Advanced Vehicle Care launched in December of 2016 and has been well received by the automotive industry worldwide. Products are available on www.lenosgarage.com.

Along with his CNBC show, Leno is currently on air with various other television series, including Last Man Standing. When he’s not on TV, Leno performs more than 100 stand-up shows annually across the country and internationally, participates in numerous charity and corporate events, does voice-overs for animated series, pens children’s books, and writes a monthly column in various automotive magazines. And in his “spare” time, he enjoys working on his collection of classic cars and motorcycles. In fact, he has built a number of cars, including an acclaimed eco-car in his eco-friendly green garage.

Leno is the recipient of many honors, including Emmy, People’s Choice, and TV Guide awards, Harris Poll selection as most popular star on television, the Hasty Pudding Award at Harvard University, The Mark Twain Prize, recipient of the Patriot Award given by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and being the first person to drive the pace car of all major NASCAR events.

He and his wife, Mavis, an ardent human rights activist, live in Los Angeles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643842927844.jpeg" alt="Jay Leno. Photo courtesy Salina Area Chamber of Commerce" />
 <figcaption>Jay Leno. Photo courtesy Salina Area Chamber of Commerce</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostTelevision personality and car enthusiast Jay Leno will be the featured speaker at the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet in April.That announcement was made this afternoon in, perhaps, the most fitting location in Salina, The Garage, the automotive museum at 134 S. Fourth Street, that is scheduled to open later this month.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643842992290.jpeg" alt="Jane Gates, executive director of the Stiefel Theatre, explains how all of the Leno events came together as, from left, Eric Brown, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, Tom Pestinger, a supporter of the Stiefel Theatre and The Garage, Michelle Peck, executive director of The Garage, and Travis&nbsp; Young, incoming chamber chair, look on. With support and encouragement from the rest of the group, Gates was able to successfully negotiate the three-event Leno package. Salina Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Jane Gates, executive director of the Stiefel Theatre, explains how all of the Leno events came together as, from left, Eric Brown, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, Tom Pestinger, a supporter of the Stiefel Theatre and The Garage, Michelle Peck, executive director of The Garage, and Travis&nbsp; Young, incoming chamber chair, look on. With support and encouragement from the rest of the group, Gates was able to successfully negotiate the three-event Leno package. Salina Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Leno will be in Salina on April 8 through a partnership between the chamber, the Stiefel Theatre, and The Garage. Upon arrival, he will attend a by-invitation-only event at The Garage to tour Salina’s newest experience. Then he will address those gathered for the chamber banquet, speaking about his business experiences and motor hobbies. Following the chamber banquet, Leno is scheduled to perform a stand-up show at the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue. Tickets for the Stiefel performance will go on sale at noon Friday and may be purchased by contacting the Stiefel at 785-827-1998 or at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org/tickets">www.stiefeltheatre.org/tickets</a>.“This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that has aligned for Salina, through the partnership, this series of unique events are geared at supporting each of the host organization missions and elevating Salina’s community profile overall. Jay Leno checks the box as one of the world’s biggest car enthusiasts, one of the biggest names in entertainment, and one of the best comedians in America history!” said Travis Young, 2022 chamber board chair. “It is a great opportunity to highlight and celebrate all of the momentum that Salina has, and we look forward to his positive and humorous message at the banquet.” The chamber eventThe chamber plans to have a membership networking reception from 3-5:45 p.m. April 8 in the Great Plains Manufacturing Hall of Tony's Pizza Events Center, 800 The Midway. This reception, however, won't be a typical chamber gathering. The reception will be customized this year with a car show featuring an array of special automobiles owned by chamber members and will be sponsored by Holm Automotive Salina/Abilene.The chamber annual banquet will follow in the Tony's Pizza Events Center arena. Seating will consist of tables of eight. Tickets for chamber members are $65 per person for the banquet. Tickets for non-members are $90 per person for the banquet. Chamber members and the general public can make reservations by calling the chamber office ticket hotline at 785-827-9310, ext. 123, stopping by the chamber office, 120 W. Ash, or emailing Sandy Cole at <a href="mailto:scole@salinakansas.org">scole@salinakansas.org</a>. Tickets will be reserved on a first-come first-served basis.The banquet will include remarks by outgoing Chamber Chair Jeff Maes and incoming Chair Travis Young, as well as a brief review of the chamber’s 2021 accomplishments, and the address by Leno.Speaker information provided by the chamberLeno is an acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist. He is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.”Leno’s late night television ratings domination included two decades as the host of the No. 1-rated The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. After the first two years Leno never lost a single ratings year in which he served as host.This fall, Leno brings back the classic game show You Bet Your Life. This comedy show wrapped in a game show will feature two strangers paired up to play for prize money by answering trivia questions correctly. Co-hosted by Kevin Eubanks and produced by Tom Werner&nbsp;and David Hurwitz, You Bet Your Life will deliver a fun series filled with the warmth and laughter that America needs now.Leno also currently produces and is host of the CNBC primetime series Jay Leno’s Garage now in its sixth season. Jay Leno’s Garage explores the world of cars, never forgetting that it’s the people behind the wheel who provide the real stories. The series debuted in October 2015 and delivered CNBC’s most-watched first season in network history. New episodes of Jay Leno’s Garage can be viewed on CNBC or CNBC On Demand throughout the year.The show is an outgrowth of Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube channel which Leno produces. The channel has an international following on the internet and has garnered several Emmy Awards and nominations for Outstanding Special Class–Short-Format Nonfiction Programs.His new product line, Jay Leno’s Garage Advanced Vehicle Care launched in December of 2016 and has been well received by the automotive industry worldwide. Products are available on www.lenosgarage.com.Along with his CNBC show, Leno is currently on air with various other television series, including Last Man Standing. When he’s not on TV, Leno performs more than 100 stand-up shows annually across the country and internationally, participates in numerous charity and corporate events, does voice-overs for animated series, pens children’s books, and writes a monthly column in various automotive magazines. And in his “spare” time, he enjoys working on his collection of classic cars and motorcycles. In fact, he has built a number of cars, including an acclaimed eco-car in his eco-friendly green garage.Leno is the recipient of many honors, including Emmy, People’s Choice, and TV Guide awards, Harris Poll selection as most popular star on television, the Hasty Pudding Award at Harvard University, The Mark Twain Prize, recipient of the Patriot Award given by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and being the first person to drive the pace car of all major NASCAR events.He and his wife, Mavis, an ardent human rights activist, live in Los Angeles.

Jay Leno to speak at chamber banquet in Salina, perform at Stiefel 

WASHINGTON —Senator Bob Dole was laid to rest in a private ceremony at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/#/">Arlington National Cemetery&nbsp;</a>Wednesday afternoon..

&nbsp;At the invitation of Senator Elizabeth Dole,&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly attended the&nbsp;memorial&nbsp;and&nbsp;graveside&nbsp;services. The private memorial service was held at Memorial Chapel at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in&nbsp;Fort Myer,&nbsp;Virginia.&nbsp;Graveside services followed at Arlington National Cemetery.&nbsp;

Dole, who died December 5 at age 98, was wounded during World War II, served nearly 36 years in Congress and was GOP Senate leader for more than a decade. In February 2021, he announced he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

Dole lay in state at the U.S. Capitol, as President Biden and others gathered&nbsp; to pay tribute to an “American giant” who served the country in war and in politics.

He was honored December 10, during&nbsp;a service at Washington National Cathedral&nbsp;as a senator who could practice bare-knuckle partisan politics without losing civility and as a patriot whose grit overcame serious wounds from combat in World War II in Italy in 1945.&nbsp;

Another tribute for Dole followed at the World War II Memorial in Washington — a monument to Dole’s generation that he worked to get built. Among the speakers was actor Tom Hanks.

Dole's casket was then flown to Salina and transported west to his boyhood hometown of Russell for a service at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.&nbsp; 

Then a final service was held in the state capital of Topeka, where Dole briefly served in the Kansas House in the 1950s. The list of speakers was bipartisan, including Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas’ two Republican U.S. senators, Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643831695704.png" alt="Senator Bob Dole's historic service to our nation was reflected with a series of honors during his burial ceremony. The Senator's casket was carried by a horse-drawn caisson that served as a military wagon during the Civil War.&nbsp;A military band and two marching platoons served as escorts. During the service, seven riflemen fired a three rifle volley. Solemnly, a bugler played Taps." />
 <figcaption>Senator Bob Dole's historic service to our nation was reflected with a series of honors during his burial ceremony. The Senator's casket was carried by a horse-drawn caisson that served as a military wagon during the Civil War.&nbsp;A military band and two marching platoons served as escorts. During the service, seven riflemen fired a three rifle volley. Solemnly, a bugler played Taps.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Senator Bob Dole was laid to rest in a private ceremony at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/#/">Arlington National Cemetery&nbsp;</a>Wednesday afternoon..<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643828827851.png" alt="“God took the initiative on this Kansas athlete doing his thing. A God so wise, he knew what was best for Bob. A God so powerful he could do what was best for Bob. What a life.” - Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, Chaplain, U.S. Senate -photo Dole Foundation" />
 <figcaption>“God took the initiative on this Kansas athlete doing his thing. A God so wise, he knew what was best for Bob. A God so powerful he could do what was best for Bob. What a life.” - Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, Chaplain, U.S. Senate -photo Dole Foundation</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;At the invitation of Senator Elizabeth Dole,&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly attended the&nbsp;memorial&nbsp;and&nbsp;graveside&nbsp;services. The private memorial service was held at Memorial Chapel at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in&nbsp;Fort Myer,&nbsp;Virginia.&nbsp;Graveside services followed at Arlington National Cemetery.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643828608003.png" alt="Memorial Chapel at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Fort Myer-photo Elizabeth Dole Foundation" />
 <figcaption>Memorial Chapel at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Fort Myer-photo Elizabeth Dole Foundation</figcaption>
 </figure>Dole, who died December 5 at age 98, was wounded during World War II, served nearly 36 years in Congress and was GOP Senate leader for more than a decade. In February 2021, he announced he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639062673023.png" alt="photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Dole lay in state at the U.S. Capitol, as President Biden and others gathered&nbsp; to pay tribute to an “American giant” who served the country in war and in politics.He was honored December 10, during&nbsp;a service at Washington National Cathedral&nbsp;as a senator who could practice bare-knuckle partisan politics without losing civility and as a patriot whose grit overcame serious wounds from combat in World War II in Italy in 1945.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639259156725.jpeg" alt="Service for Dole at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell &nbsp;- photo by James Bell" />
 <figcaption>Service for Dole at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell &nbsp;- photo by James Bell</figcaption>
 </figure>Another tribute for Dole followed at the World War II Memorial in Washington — a monument to Dole’s generation that he worked to get built. Among the speakers was actor Tom Hanks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639191714517.jpeg" alt="Dole's casket arriving at the airport in Salina photo by Leslie Eikleberry&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Dole's casket arriving at the airport in Salina photo by Leslie Eikleberry&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Dole's casket was then flown to Salina and transported west to his boyhood hometown of Russell for a service at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.&nbsp; Then a final service was held in the state capital of Topeka, where Dole briefly served in the Kansas House in the 1950s. The list of speakers was bipartisan, including Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas’ two Republican U.S. senators, Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran.-The Associated Press contributed to this report

Bob Dole laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army said Wednesday it will&nbsp;<a href="https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN34562-ARMY_DIR_2022-02-000-WEB-1.pdf" target="_blank">immediately begin discharging soldiers who have refused to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine</a>, putting more than 3,300 service members at risk of being thrown out soon.

The Army’s announcement makes it the final military service to lay out its discharge policy for vaccine refusers. The Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy have already discharged active-duty troops or entry-level personnel at boot camps for refusing the shots. So far, the Army has not discharged any.

According to data released by the Army last week, more than 3,300 soldiers have refused to get the vaccine. The Army has said that more than 3,000 soldiers have been issued official written reprimands, which suggests they are already identified in the disciplinary process, and some of them could be among the first to be discharged.

The Pentagon has ordered all service members — active-duty, National Guard and Reserves — to get the vaccine, saying it is critical to maintaining the health and readiness of the force. COVID-19 cases continue to surge around the country as a result of the omicron variant.

Roughly 97% of all Army soldiers have gotten at least one shot. More than 3,000 have requested medical or religious exemptions.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth issued the directive Wednesday ordering commanders to begin involuntary separation proceedings against those who have refused the shots and do not have a pending or approved exemption.

“Army readiness depends on soldiers who are prepared to train, deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars,” she said. “Unvaccinated soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardize readiness. We will begin involuntary separation proceedings for Soldiers who refuse the vaccine order and are not pending a final decision on an exemption.”

The order includes active-duty soldiers, reserves serving on active duty, and cadets at the Military Academy at West Point, its prepatory school and ROTC.

The detailed order said soldiers will be discharged for misconduct, and noted that those who are eligible to retire may do so before July 1.

Overall, nearly 600 Marines, airmen and sailors have been thrown out of the military or dismissed from entry-level training at boot camps as of last week.

The military services have been going through a methodical process to deal with those who refuse the vaccine as well as those who request medical, administrative or religious exemptions. The reviews require counseling with medical personnel and chaplains as well as senior commanders.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635861962000.png" alt="The Pentagon has ordered all service members — active-duty, National Guard and Reserves — to get the vaccine- photo Dept. of Defense.&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The Pentagon has ordered all service members — active-duty, National Guard and Reserves — to get the vaccine- photo Dept. of Defense.&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army said Wednesday it will&nbsp;<a href="https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN34562-ARMY_DIR_2022-02-000-WEB-1.pdf" target="_blank">immediately begin discharging soldiers who have refused to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine</a>, putting more than 3,300 service members at risk of being thrown out soon.The Army’s announcement makes it the final military service to lay out its discharge policy for vaccine refusers. The Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy have already discharged active-duty troops or entry-level personnel at boot camps for refusing the shots. So far, the Army has not discharged any.According to data released by the Army last week, more than 3,300 soldiers have refused to get the vaccine. The Army has said that more than 3,000 soldiers have been issued official written reprimands, which suggests they are already identified in the disciplinary process, and some of them could be among the first to be discharged.The Pentagon has ordered all service members — active-duty, National Guard and Reserves — to get the vaccine, saying it is critical to maintaining the health and readiness of the force. COVID-19 cases continue to surge around the country as a result of the omicron variant.Roughly 97% of all Army soldiers have gotten at least one shot. More than 3,000 have requested medical or religious exemptions.Army Secretary Christine Wormuth issued the directive Wednesday ordering commanders to begin involuntary separation proceedings against those who have refused the shots and do not have a pending or approved exemption.“Army readiness depends on soldiers who are prepared to train, deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars,” she said. “Unvaccinated soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardize readiness. We will begin involuntary separation proceedings for Soldiers who refuse the vaccine order and are not pending a final decision on an exemption.”The order includes active-duty soldiers, reserves serving on active duty, and cadets at the Military Academy at West Point, its prepatory school and ROTC.The detailed order said soldiers will be discharged for misconduct, and noted that those who are eligible to retire may do so before July 1.Overall, nearly 600 Marines, airmen and sailors have been thrown out of the military or dismissed from entry-level training at boot camps as of last week.The military services have been going through a methodical process to deal with those who refuse the vaccine as well as those who request medical, administrative or religious exemptions. The reviews require counseling with medical personnel and chaplains as well as senior commanders.

Army: 3,300 soldiers who refused vaccine are set for discharge

Bill uses state tax dollars to finance transfers of at-risk, low-income students

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/02/house-reopens-book-on-releasing-public-education-funding-to-aid-private-school-students/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Two-term Marais Des 
Cygnes Valley school board member Caleb McNally put in simple terms 
potential harm of a Kansas House bill allowing low-income or at-risk 
students to use state tax dollars earmarked for their public education 
to finance enrollment at a private school.

McNally said 55% of students in the small eastern Kansas district would be eligible for the proposed school-choice program.

“If 55% of them left — even 25% of them left — it would kill our 
school district,” he said. “It would disappear. We’d fold up shop.”

Advocates and critics of House Bill 2553 shared their views Tuesday 
with members of the House K-12 Education Budget Committee. Their 
attention centered on legislation creating education savings accounts 
administered by the state treasurer’s office that would funnel state tax
 dollars to eligible students who leave public schools.

The bill would establish for the 2023-2024 school year a system of 
financial support for full- or part-time students shifting to accredited
 or nonaccredited private schools. Under the bill, students choosing to 
be homeschooled wouldn’t qualify. The initiative would cover a 
transferring student’s tuition and fees, textbook, transportation, 
therapy, tutoring or testing costs as well as tuition for online 
learning programs or college courses.

The bill would mandate the state pay interest to participating 
families on average daily balances in school-choice accounts, but the 
cash used to pay private educational expenses would be tax-free.

The Kansas State Department of Education couldn’t estimate what 
portion of the 450,000 students attending K-12 public schools across the
 state would make use of the Student Empowerment Program. The program 
would likely redirect millions of dollars annually in education funding 
to private schools. It could cost millions of dollars for the state to 
establish and administer. Eventually, the incentive designed to bolster 
enrollment at private schools would shrink state aid to public 
education.

During the 2021 legislative session, the Kansas House approved a 
comparable bill 65-58. It wasn’t considered by the Kansas Senate.

Jason Bedrick, director of policy at EdChoice, said the House 
committee should dismiss a doomsday complaint of school-choice skeptics 
that such programs significantly harmed public education. EdChoice is a 
nonprofit based in Indianapolis dedicated to increasing appropriation of
 tax dollars to families choosing to send children to private or 
parochial schools rather than to public schools.

“Thirty years ago this may have been a legitimate concern,” said 
Bedrick, a former analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational
 Freedom. “We now have decades of experience showing that actually the 
exact opposite phenomenon happens.”

There is an urgent need for the Legislature to financially support 
students eligible for the free- or reduced-lunch program or eligible for
 at-risk educational services as they transitioned to private schools, 
said Dave Trabert, of the Kansas Policy Institute.

He said KPI commissioned a survey of 500 registered voters that 
indicated seven of 10 respondents agreed taxpayer-funded accounts should
 be available to parents if they were convinced the public school 
district wasn’t meeting academic needs of children.

“Sadly,” Trabert said, “intransigence on the part of state and local 
education officials offers little hope of material improvement without 
legislative intervention.”

Democratic state Treasurer Lynn Rogers, who the bill specified as 
administrator of the private-school choice program, rattled off concerns
 about details of the bill. He said it would be difficult to launch the 
program by the proposed Jan. 1 deadline. The state’s ABLE Act, which 
created state savings accounts for people with disabilities, required 
two years of preparation before the first accounts opened in 2017.

“That program is substantially smaller than the one proposed here in 
terms of the number of potential accounts and the amount of rulemaking 
necessary for the program,” he said.

Rogers, who served from 2001 to 2017 on the Wichita school board, 
said the bill would limit the state treasurer to auditing one private 
school each year selected at random. He said that restraint would be 
insufficient to deter fraudulent activity. For contrast, he said, public
 school districts undergo routine budget, special education and 
transportation expenditure audits. It’s important to hold schools 
receiving state tax dollars to the same standards, he said.

“Other states have had substantial issues with improper use of 
funds,” Rogers said. “In Arizona, audits have found that funds were 
spent on food, clothes, entertainment products, gift cards, a haunted 
house, and at a family planning clinic. Arizona has recovered less than 
10% of misused funds under their program.”

Michael Poppa, executive director of the Mainstream Coalition, 
challenged the wisdom of directing tax funding to parochial schools. The
 Kansas Constitution guarantees a suitable education to children, he 
said, but the legislation would force taxpayers to foot the bill for 
children enrolled at private schools that discriminated against children
 based on religion, sexual orientation, academic standing, behavioral 
issues and special-education status.

“House Bill 2550 is a transparent attempt to fund private educational
 institutions with public tax money,” Poppa said. ” Though it is 
portrayed as a bill for students in need, there are no guarantees that 
these students will actually benefit. This bill instead allows for a 
broad cross section of private and religious schools to benefit.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643821703075.png" alt="Marais Des Cygnes Valley school board member Caleb McNally said the district would be ruined by a Kansas House bill allowing at-risk or low-income students to enroll in private schools with use of state tax dollars. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Marais Des Cygnes Valley school board member Caleb McNally said the district would be ruined by a Kansas House bill allowing at-risk or low-income students to enroll in private schools with use of state tax dollars. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Bill uses state tax dollars to finance transfers of at-risk, low-income students</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/02/house-reopens-book-on-releasing-public-education-funding-to-aid-private-school-students/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Two-term Marais Des 
Cygnes Valley school board member Caleb McNally put in simple terms 
potential harm of a Kansas House bill allowing low-income or at-risk 
students to use state tax dollars earmarked for their public education 
to finance enrollment at a private school.McNally said 55% of students in the small eastern Kansas district would be eligible for the proposed school-choice program.“If 55% of them left — even 25% of them left — it would kill our 
school district,” he said. “It would disappear. We’d fold up shop.”Advocates and critics of House Bill 2553 shared their views Tuesday 
with members of the House K-12 Education Budget Committee. Their 
attention centered on legislation creating education savings accounts 
administered by the state treasurer’s office that would funnel state tax
 dollars to eligible students who leave public schools.The bill would establish for the 2023-2024 school year a system of 
financial support for full- or part-time students shifting to accredited
 or nonaccredited private schools. Under the bill, students choosing to 
be homeschooled wouldn’t qualify. The initiative would cover a 
transferring student’s tuition and fees, textbook, transportation, 
therapy, tutoring or testing costs as well as tuition for online 
learning programs or college courses.The bill would mandate the state pay interest to participating 
families on average daily balances in school-choice accounts, but the 
cash used to pay private educational expenses would be tax-free.The Kansas State Department of Education couldn’t estimate what 
portion of the 450,000 students attending K-12 public schools across the
 state would make use of the Student Empowerment Program. The program 
would likely redirect millions of dollars annually in education funding 
to private schools. It could cost millions of dollars for the state to 
establish and administer. Eventually, the incentive designed to bolster 
enrollment at private schools would shrink state aid to public 
education.During the 2021 legislative session, the Kansas House approved a 
comparable bill 65-58. It wasn’t considered by the Kansas Senate.<h2>School choice champions</h2>Jason Bedrick, director of policy at EdChoice, said the House 
committee should dismiss a doomsday complaint of school-choice skeptics 
that such programs significantly harmed public education. EdChoice is a 
nonprofit based in Indianapolis dedicated to increasing appropriation of
 tax dollars to families choosing to send children to private or 
parochial schools rather than to public schools.“Thirty years ago this may have been a legitimate concern,” said 
Bedrick, a former analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational
 Freedom. “We now have decades of experience showing that actually the 
exact opposite phenomenon happens.”There is an urgent need for the Legislature to financially support 
students eligible for the free- or reduced-lunch program or eligible for
 at-risk educational services as they transitioned to private schools, 
said Dave Trabert, of the Kansas Policy Institute.He said KPI commissioned a survey of 500 registered voters that 
indicated seven of 10 respondents agreed taxpayer-funded accounts should
 be available to parents if they were convinced the public school 
district wasn’t meeting academic needs of children.“Sadly,” Trabert said, “intransigence on the part of state and local 
education officials offers little hope of material improvement without 
legislative intervention.”<h2>A few objections</h2>Democratic state Treasurer Lynn Rogers, who the bill specified as 
administrator of the private-school choice program, rattled off concerns
 about details of the bill. He said it would be difficult to launch the 
program by the proposed Jan. 1 deadline. The state’s ABLE Act, which 
created state savings accounts for people with disabilities, required 
two years of preparation before the first accounts opened in 2017.“That program is substantially smaller than the one proposed here in 
terms of the number of potential accounts and the amount of rulemaking 
necessary for the program,” he said.Rogers, who served from 2001 to 2017 on the Wichita school board, 
said the bill would limit the state treasurer to auditing one private 
school each year selected at random. He said that restraint would be 
insufficient to deter fraudulent activity. For contrast, he said, public
 school districts undergo routine budget, special education and 
transportation expenditure audits. It’s important to hold schools 
receiving state tax dollars to the same standards, he said.“Other states have had substantial issues with improper use of 
funds,” Rogers said. “In Arizona, audits have found that funds were 
spent on food, clothes, entertainment products, gift cards, a haunted 
house, and at a family planning clinic. Arizona has recovered less than 
10% of misused funds under their program.”Michael Poppa, executive director of the Mainstream Coalition, 
challenged the wisdom of directing tax funding to parochial schools. The
 Kansas Constitution guarantees a suitable education to children, he 
said, but the legislation would force taxpayers to foot the bill for 
children enrolled at private schools that discriminated against children
 based on religion, sexual orientation, academic standing, behavioral 
issues and special-education status.“House Bill 2550 is a transparent attempt to fund private educational
 institutions with public tax money,” Poppa said. ” Though it is 
portrayed as a bill for students in need, there are no guarantees that 
these students will actually benefit. This bill instead allows for a 
broad cross section of private and religious schools to benefit.”

Kan. House reopens book on funding aid for private school students

By JOHN WILSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/02/by-ending-kansas-sales-tax-on-food-our-state-can-live-up-to-its-ideals-and-help-those-in-need/">Courtesy the Kansas Reflector</a>

This Saturday, we celebrated Kansas 
Day, noting our state’s beginnings and contributions to this nation. We 
have much to be proud of — our fields are rich with wheat, corn and 
soybeans, and our pastures are filled with cattle. The state has ample 
food produced right here in our communities.

But despite Kansas’ food production, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/kansas">1 in 8 Kansans and 1 in 6 Kansas kids go hungry</a>. It’s a staggering statistic, and one we have to address.

The issue isn’t new, but it certainly 
has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, food 
insecurity in Kansas increased from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasappleseed.org/uploads/2/1/9/2/21929892/covid-19_and_hunger_in_kansas.pdf">12.1% to 14.1% during 2020</a>. That’s an extra 58,000 people in our state who likely don’t know where their next meal may come from.

Right now, we pay the second-highest 
state sales tax on food in the entire nation. This legislative session, 
lawmakers have the opportunity to help these hungry Kansas families put 
food on their tables. Four bills have already been introduced — two in 
the House and two in the Senate — that would eliminate the 6.5% state 
sales tax on food.

The change would save an average 
Kansas family of four approximately $500 each year. For families living 
on low or moderate wages, the effect will be particularly significant, 
helping them stretch their budgets to pay for more nutritious foods and 
other basic necessities.

The proposal has broad bipartisan support, as we captured in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kac.org/coalition_letter_now_is_the_time_to_end_the_state_sales_tax_on_food">letter directed to legislative leadership</a>
 signed by hundreds of organizations and individuals across the state. 
These organizations include food pantries, child care agencies, food 
security groups, faith-based organizations and many others united by a 
single goal: ending the state sales tax on food in Kansas.

Ending this tax will help those in 
large cities pay for historically high housing costs. It will help the 
economies of rural border communities. It will help families feed their 
children. It will help individuals who must live off a single low-wage 
income.

While we may differ in our reasonings 
for supporting this policy, we stand united in our efforts to make this 
change a reality for all Kansans.

Last week, the House Taxation Committee held hearings on two bills — <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2484/">HB 2484</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2487/">HB 2487</a> — that would eliminate this tax. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation held hearings on <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb339/">SB 339</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb342/">SB 342</a>,
 which are identical to the House bills. We need these lawmakers to 
commit to a straightforward, fiscally responsible bill that will improve
 the lives of all Kansans, and they must not add expensive items that 
will harm the state budget that we have worked so hard to repair over 
the past five years.

The state of Kansas predicts a 
considerable surplus for the coming fiscal year, and we know Kansas can 
afford to completely end this tax and still pay its bills in the long 
term. Lawmakers on these committees must continue to center these bills 
on benefitting every person that lives in Kansas — not as vehicles to 
benefit the wealthy and well-connected.

We’re pleased to note, too, that the 
Legislature is considering two other bills that would directly help 
Kansans in need become eligible for food assistance. HB 2215 would 
remove the ban on individuals with felony-level drug convictions from 
receiving SNAP benefits, helping them focus on integrating into society 
rather than on suffering from a lack of food.

<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2525/">HB 2525</a>
 would remove the child support cooperation requirement to access food 
and child care assistance, as well as exempt students from the 
20-hour-per-week work requirement. This bill would help remove 
counterproductive barriers so parents can provide for their children, 
concentrate on school or work, and achieve financial stability and 
independence.

These are just three immediate ways 
the Kansas Legislature can help hungry Kansans put food on their tables.
 I’m grateful for how far these bills have come just in the first month 
of the 2022 legislative session. However, the work is just beginning.

I hope the bipartisan support these 
ideas have in the Legislature remains strong this session. Kansas Action
 for Children and our partners from across the state will do all we can 
to see them become law.

John Wilson is president of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kac.org/">Kansas Action for Children</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643832060218.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN WILSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/02/by-ending-kansas-sales-tax-on-food-our-state-can-live-up-to-its-ideals-and-help-those-in-need/">Courtesy the Kansas Reflector</a>This Saturday, we celebrated Kansas 
Day, noting our state’s beginnings and contributions to this nation. We 
have much to be proud of — our fields are rich with wheat, corn and 
soybeans, and our pastures are filled with cattle. The state has ample 
food produced right here in our communities.But despite Kansas’ food production, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/kansas">1 in 8 Kansans and 1 in 6 Kansas kids go hungry</a>. It’s a staggering statistic, and one we have to address.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The issue isn’t new, but it certainly 
has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, food 
insecurity in Kansas increased from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasappleseed.org/uploads/2/1/9/2/21929892/covid-19_and_hunger_in_kansas.pdf">12.1% to 14.1% during 2020</a>. That’s an extra 58,000 people in our state who likely don’t know where their next meal may come from.Right now, we pay the second-highest 
state sales tax on food in the entire nation. This legislative session, 
lawmakers have the opportunity to help these hungry Kansas families put 
food on their tables. Four bills have already been introduced — two in 
the House and two in the Senate — that would eliminate the 6.5% state 
sales tax on food.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643832129973.png" alt="Emily Festch, of Kansas Action for Children, testified about the sales tax on food before a Senate panel Tuesday. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Emily Festch, of Kansas Action for Children, testified about the sales tax on food before a Senate panel Tuesday. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>The change would save an average 
Kansas family of four approximately $500 each year. For families living 
on low or moderate wages, the effect will be particularly significant, 
helping them stretch their budgets to pay for more nutritious foods and 
other basic necessities.The proposal has broad bipartisan support, as we captured in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kac.org/coalition_letter_now_is_the_time_to_end_the_state_sales_tax_on_food">letter directed to legislative leadership</a>
 signed by hundreds of organizations and individuals across the state. 
These organizations include food pantries, child care agencies, food 
security groups, faith-based organizations and many others united by a 
single goal: ending the state sales tax on food in Kansas.Ending this tax will help those in 
large cities pay for historically high housing costs. It will help the 
economies of rural border communities. It will help families feed their 
children. It will help individuals who must live off a single low-wage 
income.While we may differ in our reasonings 
for supporting this policy, we stand united in our efforts to make this 
change a reality for all Kansans.Last week, the House Taxation Committee held hearings on two bills — <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2484/">HB 2484</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2487/">HB 2487</a> — that would eliminate this tax. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation held hearings on <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb339/">SB 339</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb342/">SB 342</a>,
 which are identical to the House bills. We need these lawmakers to 
commit to a straightforward, fiscally responsible bill that will improve
 the lives of all Kansans, and they must not add expensive items that 
will harm the state budget that we have worked so hard to repair over 
the past five years.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643832151625.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The state of Kansas predicts a 
considerable surplus for the coming fiscal year, and we know Kansas can 
afford to completely end this tax and still pay its bills in the long 
term. Lawmakers on these committees must continue to center these bills 
on benefitting every person that lives in Kansas — not as vehicles to 
benefit the wealthy and well-connected.We’re pleased to note, too, that the 
Legislature is considering two other bills that would directly help 
Kansans in need become eligible for food assistance. HB 2215 would 
remove the ban on individuals with felony-level drug convictions from 
receiving SNAP benefits, helping them focus on integrating into society 
rather than on suffering from a lack of food.<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2525/">HB 2525</a>
 would remove the child support cooperation requirement to access food 
and child care assistance, as well as exempt students from the 
20-hour-per-week work requirement. This bill would help remove 
counterproductive barriers so parents can provide for their children, 
concentrate on school or work, and achieve financial stability and 
independence.These are just three immediate ways 
the Kansas Legislature can help hungry Kansans put food on their tables.
 I’m grateful for how far these bills have come just in the first month 
of the 2022 legislative session. However, the work is just beginning.I hope the bipartisan support these 
ideas have in the Legislature remains strong this session. Kansas Action
 for Children and our partners from across the state will do all we can 
to see them become law.John Wilson is president of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kac.org/">Kansas Action for Children</a>.

OPINION: By ending Kan. food tax, our state can live up to its ideals

GEARY COUNTY—Geary County Sheriff Daniel Jackson responded to criticism from County Commissioner Trish Giordano on the use of sick leave as part of federal pandemic legislation that limited the amount for each employee to 80 hours total.

According to Giordano, "fifty county employees went over the 80-hour limit, some receiving several hundred hours while still accumulating sick leave and vacation. In total, employees used 7,000 hours of admin leave, 6,500 of those hours were in the Sheriff’s office. I checked with the Riley County police department which also runs their jail, and employs more than double what Geary County does; they used only 459 hours in the same time frame."

As an elected official I have a moral obligation to be completely honest and transparent with the citizens I serve. Since being elected Sheriff I have gone to great lengths to ensure that whatever the situation was, good or bad, as a Sheriff’s Office we were completely transparent about how we handled the situation. After reading Commissioner Trish Giordano’s editorial I again feel obligated to get all the information surrounding a situation to the citizens who deserve to know the complete truth.

When the pandemic began we started to have employee’s get exposed to covid positive citizens while conducting their assigned duties. I went to the County Commissioners, Keith Asher, Brad Schultz, and Charles Stimatze to discuss allowing the employee’s to use admin time when under KDHE and health department mandated quarantine or isolation. We all agreed that this was the right thing to do, that an employee should not be punished because of the pandemic and forced off work times. This had nothing to do with the emergency sick leave act mentioned in Commissioner Giordano’s editorial, and also did not have an 80 hour cap to it.

In Commissioner Giordano’s editorial she indicated that 50 county employee’s went over the 80 hour limit and that 6500 hours of the time were in the Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office did use 6500 hours of admin time, but it was only 27 of the 114 Sheriff’s Office employees that went over 80 hours. And now for the rest of the story….

Of the 27 employee’s that went over 80 hours, two were involved in an officer involved shooting and were on mandated admin leave for 106 hours until cleared on the shooting. One of these employees then went on to contract covid and had another KDHE mandated isolation period. The other Deputy caught covid on one occasion and had a family member become covid positive requiring two more KDHE mandated quarantines.

When we experienced our first spike in cases across Geary County, we also had our first outbreak in the jail. At this point the courts were closed as well. I made the decision to close the front office of the jail and get all nonessential employees out of the office. This resulted in 7 administrative employees being sent home on 80 hours of admin time. These employees were not sick and not on vacation, they were ordered home to help in our containment of the outbreak in the jail. Each of these 7 employees experienced at least one more, and some two and three more KDHE mandated quarantines or isolation periods.

During this same outbreak we also closed our VIN and Process Service sections. This resulted in 5 more employees who were sent home from work for 120 hours due to the outbreak in the jail and the spike in Geary County.

Three of the employees who went over the 80 hours were employees who were experiencing serious health issues when the pandemic began. These employees worked up to the point that there Doctors advised that a covid exposure could be deadly for them. Two of these three employees had not worked for the Sheriff’s Office for very long and did not have leave or vacation hours to cover them. These three employees accounted for 1380 hours of the admin leave used at the Sheriff’s Office. All of these employees have fully recovered, returned to work and are still valued employees of the Sheriff’s Office now. This would not have happened were it not for admin leave.

The other 10 employees of the Sheriff’s Office who exceeded 80 hours each had multiple KDHE mandated isolations or quarantines due to covid exposures while at work and interacting with covid positive citizens, becoming covid positive because of exposures at work, or family members being positive for covid.

I monitored our use of admin time continually and I assure you there was nothing excessive or abusive about how the Sheriff’s Office used admin time in response to the covid pandemic. Commissioner Giordano said the admin leave was created to prevent people who do not have leave to take to be able to be paid during the pandemic. That is only part of the reason it was used. It was also used to prevent employees from burning through all their leave and sick time due to KDHE mandated isolations and quarantines. It was also used to allow us to send nonessential people home during outbreaks, at our direction. In other words so we didn’t have to do sporadic nonpaid layoffs during times when we were trying to control outbreaks.

Shortly after Commissioner Giordano was elected she asked me if I had been monitoring the admin use at the Sheriff’s Office and I told her I had. She never asked me about it again. If she would have asked I would have been happy to explain everything as I have in this letter. The problem with that is the explanation has a tendency to take away some of the splash in the media that just throwing the 6500 number out by itself gets.

I stand by the decisions made by the previous commission and me in reference to employees, admin leave and covid. To do otherwise would have been a disservice to our most important asset, our employees, and to the citizens we are sworn to protect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643823793493.jpeg" alt="Geary Co. Sheriff Daniel Jackson" />
 <figcaption>Geary Co. Sheriff Daniel Jackson</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY—Geary County Sheriff Daniel Jackson responded to criticism from County Commissioner Trish Giordano on the use of sick leave as part of federal pandemic legislation that limited the amount for each employee to 80 hours total.According to Giordano, "fifty county employees went over the 80-hour limit, some receiving several hundred hours while still accumulating sick leave and vacation. In total, employees used 7,000 hours of admin leave, 6,500 of those hours were in the Sheriff’s office. I checked with the Riley County police department which also runs their jail, and employs more than double what Geary County does; they used only 459 hours in the same time frame."In his response, Sheriff Jackson wrote:As an elected official I have a moral obligation to be completely honest and transparent with the citizens I serve. Since being elected Sheriff I have gone to great lengths to ensure that whatever the situation was, good or bad, as a Sheriff’s Office we were completely transparent about how we handled the situation. After reading Commissioner Trish Giordano’s editorial I again feel obligated to get all the information surrounding a situation to the citizens who deserve to know the complete truth.When the pandemic began we started to have employee’s get exposed to covid positive citizens while conducting their assigned duties. I went to the County Commissioners, Keith Asher, Brad Schultz, and Charles Stimatze to discuss allowing the employee’s to use admin time when under KDHE and health department mandated quarantine or isolation. We all agreed that this was the right thing to do, that an employee should not be punished because of the pandemic and forced off work times. This had nothing to do with the emergency sick leave act mentioned in Commissioner Giordano’s editorial, and also did not have an 80 hour cap to it.In Commissioner Giordano’s editorial she indicated that 50 county employee’s went over the 80 hour limit and that 6500 hours of the time were in the Sheriff’s Office.The Sheriff’s Office did use 6500 hours of admin time, but it was only 27 of the 114 Sheriff’s Office employees that went over 80 hours. And now for the rest of the story….Of the 27 employee’s that went over 80 hours, two were involved in an officer involved shooting and were on mandated admin leave for 106 hours until cleared on the shooting. One of these employees then went on to contract covid and had another KDHE mandated isolation period. The other Deputy caught covid on one occasion and had a family member become covid positive requiring two more KDHE mandated quarantines.When we experienced our first spike in cases across Geary County, we also had our first outbreak in the jail. At this point the courts were closed as well. I made the decision to close the front office of the jail and get all nonessential employees out of the office. This resulted in 7 administrative employees being sent home on 80 hours of admin time. These employees were not sick and not on vacation, they were ordered home to help in our containment of the outbreak in the jail. Each of these 7 employees experienced at least one more, and some two and three more KDHE mandated quarantines or isolation periods.During this same outbreak we also closed our VIN and Process Service sections. This resulted in 5 more employees who were sent home from work for 120 hours due to the outbreak in the jail and the spike in Geary County.Three of the employees who went over the 80 hours were employees who were experiencing serious health issues when the pandemic began. These employees worked up to the point that there Doctors advised that a covid exposure could be deadly for them. Two of these three employees had not worked for the Sheriff’s Office for very long and did not have leave or vacation hours to cover them. These three employees accounted for 1380 hours of the admin leave used at the Sheriff’s Office. All of these employees have fully recovered, returned to work and are still valued employees of the Sheriff’s Office now. This would not have happened were it not for admin leave.The other 10 employees of the Sheriff’s Office who exceeded 80 hours each had multiple KDHE mandated isolations or quarantines due to covid exposures while at work and interacting with covid positive citizens, becoming covid positive because of exposures at work, or family members being positive for covid.I monitored our use of admin time continually and I assure you there was nothing excessive or abusive about how the Sheriff’s Office used admin time in response to the covid pandemic. Commissioner Giordano said the admin leave was created to prevent people who do not have leave to take to be able to be paid during the pandemic. That is only part of the reason it was used. It was also used to prevent employees from burning through all their leave and sick time due to KDHE mandated isolations and quarantines. It was also used to allow us to send nonessential people home during outbreaks, at our direction. In other words so we didn’t have to do sporadic nonpaid layoffs during times when we were trying to control outbreaks.Shortly after Commissioner Giordano was elected she asked me if I had been monitoring the admin use at the Sheriff’s Office and I told her I had. She never asked me about it again. If she would have asked I would have been happy to explain everything as I have in this letter. The problem with that is the explanation has a tendency to take away some of the splash in the media that just throwing the 6500 number out by itself gets.I stand by the decisions made by the previous commission and me in reference to employees, admin leave and covid. To do otherwise would have been a disservice to our most important asset, our employees, and to the citizens we are sworn to protect.