WASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that taxpayers who may 
need to take additional actions related to Qualified Opportunity Funds 
(QOFs) should begin receiving letters in the mail in April.

Taxpayers who attached <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8996">Form 8996, Qualified Opportunity Fund</a>,
 to their return may receive Letter 6501, Qualified Opportunity Fund 
(QOF) Investment Standard. This letter lets them know that information 
needed to support the annual certification of investment standard is 
missing, invalid or the calculation isn't supported by the amounts 
reported. If they intend to maintain their certification as a QOF, they 
may need to take additional action to meet the annual self-certification
 of the investment standard requirement.

To correct the annual maintenance certification of the investment 
standard, these taxpayers should file an amended return or an 
administrative adjustment request (AAR). If an entity that receives the 
letter fails to act, the IRS may refer its tax account for examination. 
Investors who made an election to defer tax on eligible gains invested 
in that entity may also be subject to examination.

Additionally, taxpayers may receive Letter 6502, Reporting Qualified 
Opportunity Fund (QOF) Investments, or Letter 6503, Annual Reporting of 
Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) Investments. These letters notify them 
that they may not have properly followed the instructions for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8997">Form 8997, Initial and Annual Statement of Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) Investments</a>,
 since it appears that information is missing, invalid or that they may 
not have properly followed the requirements to maintain their qualifying
 investment in a QOF with the filing of the form.

If these taxpayers intend to maintain a qualifying investment in a 
QOF, they can file an amended return or an AAR with a properly completed
 Form 8997 attached. Failure to act will mean those who received the 
letter may not have a qualifying investment in a QOF and the IRS may 
refer their tax accounts for examination. This may result in letter 
recipients owing taxes, interest and penalties on gains not properly 
deferred.

For general information, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/businesses/opportunity-zones">Opportunity Zones page</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that taxpayers who may 
need to take additional actions related to Qualified Opportunity Funds 
(QOFs) should begin receiving letters in the mail in April.Taxpayers who attached <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8996">Form 8996, Qualified Opportunity Fund</a>,
 to their return may receive Letter 6501, Qualified Opportunity Fund 
(QOF) Investment Standard. This letter lets them know that information 
needed to support the annual certification of investment standard is 
missing, invalid or the calculation isn't supported by the amounts 
reported. If they intend to maintain their certification as a QOF, they 
may need to take additional action to meet the annual self-certification
 of the investment standard requirement.To correct the annual maintenance certification of the investment 
standard, these taxpayers should file an amended return or an 
administrative adjustment request (AAR). If an entity that receives the 
letter fails to act, the IRS may refer its tax account for examination. 
Investors who made an election to defer tax on eligible gains invested 
in that entity may also be subject to examination.Additionally, taxpayers may receive Letter 6502, Reporting Qualified 
Opportunity Fund (QOF) Investments, or Letter 6503, Annual Reporting of 
Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) Investments. These letters notify them 
that they may not have properly followed the instructions for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8997">Form 8997, Initial and Annual Statement of Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) Investments</a>,
 since it appears that information is missing, invalid or that they may 
not have properly followed the requirements to maintain their qualifying
 investment in a QOF with the filing of the form.If these taxpayers intend to maintain a qualifying investment in a 
QOF, they can file an amended return or an AAR with a properly completed
 Form 8997 attached. Failure to act will mean those who received the 
letter may not have a qualifying investment in a QOF and the IRS may 
refer their tax accounts for examination. This may result in letter 
recipients owing taxes, interest and penalties on gains not properly 
deferred.For general information, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/businesses/opportunity-zones">Opportunity Zones page</a>.

IRS sends letters to taxpayers related to Qualified Opportunity Funds

MONTGOMERY COUNTY –&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Independence Police Department are again seeking information from the public to assist in their efforts to find the person(s) responsible for&nbsp;the disappearance and suspected murder of Detreck Foster, who went missing two years ago this week, according to a media release from the KBI.

Detreck Foster was reported missing on May 12, 2020. He was last seen around April 12, 2020 in Independence. KBI agents and detectives from the Independence Police Department suspect foul play in Foster’s disappearance, and believe someone knows information that will help resolve the case. Investigators will continue exploring all tips and leads in this case.

Foster has been described as a black male, 5-foot-9 in. tall and weighing approximately 190 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes.

Detreck was a father, brother, and son and his family is desperate to know what happened to him.&nbsp;

Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Independence Police Department at 620-332-1700. Tips can also be submitted anonymously at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar" target="_blank">https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar</a>. Individuals with information leading to the apprehension of the person(s) responsible for Detreck Foster’s disappearance or murder, are eligible for a $5,000 Governor’s reward.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649694091778.png" alt="Foster-photo courtesy Independence Police" />
 <figcaption>Foster-photo courtesy Independence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY –&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Independence Police Department are again seeking information from the public to assist in their efforts to find the person(s) responsible for&nbsp;the disappearance and suspected murder of Detreck Foster, who went missing two years ago this week, according to a media release from the KBI.Detreck Foster was reported missing on May 12, 2020. He was last seen around April 12, 2020 in Independence. KBI agents and detectives from the Independence Police Department suspect foul play in Foster’s disappearance, and believe someone knows information that will help resolve the case. Investigators will continue exploring all tips and leads in this case.Foster has been described as a black male, 5-foot-9 in. tall and weighing approximately 190 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes.Detreck was a father, brother, and son and his family is desperate to know what happened to him.&nbsp;Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Independence Police Department at 620-332-1700. Tips can also be submitted anonymously at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar" target="_blank">https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar</a>. Individuals with information leading to the apprehension of the person(s) responsible for Detreck Foster’s disappearance or murder, are eligible for a $5,000 Governor’s reward.

Cold Case: KBI reopens 2-year-old investigation

By TIM POTTER KDOT Public Affairs Manager

Ever found yourself driving in a Kansas Department of Transportation highway work zone and noticing that others seem oblivious to the reduced posted speed limit?

Why do people speed in work zones – despite the life-and-death risks – and even when they can face higher fines? What excuses do they give?

We asked four Kansas Highway Patrol troopers scattered across the state, and here’s what they told us:

“They’re late to work is the No. 1 excuse I get,” said KHP Lt. Cory Beard, who works in the Kansas City metro area. Other excuses Beard hears: They didn’t see the lower-speed signs. Their GPS program on their phone didn’t tell them the speed was lowered because of the work zone.

How fast do they go in work zones? “I stopped a couple of 90s last year on K-10,” early one morning while using speed-detection equipment, Beard said. Although the posted speed limit had been reduced to 55 mph or so, Beard recalled, “They knew exactly what they were doing” when going around 90. “Some people just flat out don’t obey the speed limit sign.”

One morning last year, in the middle of a busy bridge construction zone on K-10 at DeSoto, Beard spotted a Ford F-250 truck zipping along at 80. After he stopped the driver and approached him, the man was “very argumentative,” Beard recalled. The man contended that the GPS program on his phone said there wasn’t a reduced speed limit. When Beard offered to escort the man back through the work zone so the man could see the signs with the lower speed limit, the man declined. Beard issued him a ticket.

Technical Trooper Tiffany (Bush) Baylark, who also works in the Kansas City metro area, said work zone speeders often tell her they didn’t see construction occurring – “nothing going on” — so they didn’t think they had to slow down, or so they say.

Baylark explained to them that even though it appeared that work wasn’t underway, a work zone often means that driving lanes have been shifted, sometimes moving two-way traffic closer together, sometimes adjusting traffic partly onto a shoulder, where tires roll on different types of pavement. Overall, the traffic flow is altered and constricted, so there is “no room for error,” and it makes sense to slow down, she tells them.

Technical Trooper Chad Crittenden, who works in the Wichita area, said he often hears this: “Well, there was nobody working in the construction zone.” And this: “I just didn’t see the signs.” Which tells him, he said, “People are just not paying attention.”

Example: When he is checking the speed of vehicles, visible in his patrol car, passing speeders will wave at him while driving 15 to 20 mph over the limit. “They don’t even process that they’re in a construction zone.”

Construction workers in a work zone are particularly vulnerable, he said, because they have to work close to the traffic while concentrating on a task, like cutting concrete. “They’re basically relying on the motoring public to not be drunk, drowsy and distracted as they drive through.”

Technical Trooper Michael Racy, who covers the southwestern part of the state, said: “The feedback I get from drivers (caught speeding in work zones), most of them will just say, ‘I’m keeping up with the flow of traffic.’ And the other excuse I hear a lot is, ‘I didn’t know I was in a construction zone.’”

Yet, Racy said, KDOT has plenty of signs out posting the lower speed limit. “Everybody knows there’s a construction zone” – or should.

To sum it up,&nbsp;we asked troopers why it’s important not to speed in construction zones:

That’s the human side of speeding in work zones. What do the statistics show? Two speed-related situations – following too closely and driving too fast for conditions -- were among the top five contributing circumstances in work zone crashes from 2009 through 2021, according to KDOT.

Here are some key findings among the data:

By TIM POTTER KDOT Public Affairs ManagerEver found yourself driving in a Kansas Department of Transportation highway work zone and noticing that others seem oblivious to the reduced posted speed limit?Why do people speed in work zones – despite the life-and-death risks – and even when they can face higher fines? What excuses do they give?We asked four Kansas Highway Patrol troopers scattered across the state, and here’s what they told us:“They’re late to work is the No. 1 excuse I get,” said KHP Lt. Cory Beard, who works in the Kansas City metro area. Other excuses Beard hears: They didn’t see the lower-speed signs. Their GPS program on their phone didn’t tell them the speed was lowered because of the work zone.How fast do they go in work zones? “I stopped a couple of 90s last year on K-10,” early one morning while using speed-detection equipment, Beard said. Although the posted speed limit had been reduced to 55 mph or so, Beard recalled, “They knew exactly what they were doing” when going around 90. “Some people just flat out don’t obey the speed limit sign.”One morning last year, in the middle of a busy bridge construction zone on K-10 at DeSoto, Beard spotted a Ford F-250 truck zipping along at 80. After he stopped the driver and approached him, the man was “very argumentative,” Beard recalled. The man contended that the GPS program on his phone said there wasn’t a reduced speed limit. When Beard offered to escort the man back through the work zone so the man could see the signs with the lower speed limit, the man declined. Beard issued him a ticket.Technical Trooper Tiffany (Bush) Baylark, who also works in the Kansas City metro area, said work zone speeders often tell her they didn’t see construction occurring – “nothing going on” — so they didn’t think they had to slow down, or so they say.Baylark explained to them that even though it appeared that work wasn’t underway, a work zone often means that driving lanes have been shifted, sometimes moving two-way traffic closer together, sometimes adjusting traffic partly onto a shoulder, where tires roll on different types of pavement. Overall, the traffic flow is altered and constricted, so there is “no room for error,” and it makes sense to slow down, she tells them.Technical Trooper Chad Crittenden, who works in the Wichita area, said he often hears this: “Well, there was nobody working in the construction zone.” And this: “I just didn’t see the signs.” Which tells him, he said, “People are just not paying attention.”Example: When he is checking the speed of vehicles, visible in his patrol car, passing speeders will wave at him while driving 15 to 20 mph over the limit. “They don’t even process that they’re in a construction zone.”Construction workers in a work zone are particularly vulnerable, he said, because they have to work close to the traffic while concentrating on a task, like cutting concrete. “They’re basically relying on the motoring public to not be drunk, drowsy and distracted as they drive through.”Technical Trooper Michael Racy, who covers the southwestern part of the state, said: “The feedback I get from drivers (caught speeding in work zones), most of them will just say, ‘I’m keeping up with the flow of traffic.’ And the other excuse I hear a lot is, ‘I didn’t know I was in a construction zone.’”Yet, Racy said, KDOT has plenty of signs out posting the lower speed limit. “Everybody knows there’s a construction zone” – or should.To sum it up,&nbsp;we asked troopers why it’s important not to speed in construction zones:<ul>
 <li>Lt. Candice Breshears, a KHP spokeswoman, put it this way: “Throughout a construction zone, whether crews are working or not, the speed limit is what is posted. It’s important to always pay attention because the roadways can change throughout construction zones. Even if there are no workers present that you notice, the company could be moving equipment, or the speed limit could be for your safety, such as if there is a drop-off between lanes. We also remind motorists that fines can be doubled in construction zones.”</li><li>Lt. Beard: “I understand: You all have places to go. But just go the speed limit. We all have somebody we want to go home to. We just want everybody to take it safe and get to their destination.”</li><li>Trooper Baylark: “It’s dangerous for yourself, others around you and the workers. It’s not worth the risk of injuries” or even the traffic delay caused by a crash. “When you speed, you increase your chances of being involved in a crash. It kind of defeats your purpose of going fast, especially in a construction zone.”</li><li>Trooper Crittenden: “The faster you go, the more violent it’s going to be (if you crash). The ultimate goal is we don’t have to write tickets in construction zones because we have compliance.” Crittenden asks that motorists try to imagine themselves having to work right next to a car that can instantly become a multi-ton missile if it goes out of control. “They don’t think about if something goes wrong, somebody could die.”</li><li>Trooper Racy: “The KDOT workers and work zone workers have families. Their lives are important too. If you are speeding, you have less time to react.”</li>
 </ul>That’s the human side of speeding in work zones. What do the statistics show? Two speed-related situations – following too closely and driving too fast for conditions -- were among the top five contributing circumstances in work zone crashes from 2009 through 2021, according to KDOT.Here are some key findings among the data:<ul>
 <li>Since 2009, 74 people have died in work zone crashes. Of the 74 who died, 68 were motorists, and six were pedestrians. In 2021, there were 1,182 total work zone crashes. Six of the crashes were fatal, and 265 involved injuries. Among work zone crashes last year, seven people died, and 368 were injured.</li><li>The highest number of work zone crashes since 2009: 2,145 in 2016.</li><li>The highest number of work zone crash deaths during that period: 12 in 2017.</li>
 </ul>

Work zone speeding: What Kansas troopers see, hear

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman in connection with burglary involving over a dozen guns at a home in Saline County.

Sometime between 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, a number of items including 14 guns, a 4-wheeler, generator, welding equipment and a financial card were taken from&nbsp; a residence in the 700 block of Melbert Avenue in Gypsum, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

The financial card was used at Dunham Sporting Goods and Five Guys in Salina. An attempt also was made to use the card at Walmart, but it was declined, he said.

The sheriff's office received a tip that the stolen items might be at a residence in west Salina. Deputies went to 603 Jameson Avenue and found the four-wheeler under a tarp in front of the residence. 

A search warrant for the residence was then obtained. A number of the items stolen from Gypsum were located. However, some of the guns have yet to be located, according to Soldan.

Deputies arrested a resident at 603 Jameson Avenue identified as Christine Williams, 32, of Salina. She is being held on requested charge that include Burglary, Felony theft and Unlawful use of a financial card.

Soldan said additional arrests are expected in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649597350865.jpeg" alt="Christine Williams. Photo Saline County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Christine Williams. Photo Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman in connection with burglary involving over a dozen guns at a home in Saline County.Sometime between 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, a number of items including 14 guns, a 4-wheeler, generator, welding equipment and a financial card were taken from&nbsp; a residence in the 700 block of Melbert Avenue in Gypsum, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.The financial card was used at Dunham Sporting Goods and Five Guys in Salina. An attempt also was made to use the card at Walmart, but it was declined, he said.The sheriff's office received a tip that the stolen items might be at a residence in west Salina. Deputies went to 603 Jameson Avenue and found the four-wheeler under a tarp in front of the residence. A search warrant for the residence was then obtained. A number of the items stolen from Gypsum were located. However, some of the guns have yet to be located, according to Soldan.Deputies arrested a resident at 603 Jameson Avenue identified as Christine Williams, 32, of Salina. She is being held on requested charge that include Burglary, Felony theft and Unlawful use of a financial card.Soldan said additional arrests are expected in the case.

Sheriff: Kan. woman jailed; search continues for missing guns

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA–APHIS), has identified highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in McPherson County, according to a statement from KDA.

This is the first case of HPAI in a commercial flock in Kansas; to this point, there have been four backyard flocks in Kansas that have had confirmed cases of HPAI.

KDA is working closely with USDA–APHIS on a joint incident response at the affected premises in McPherson County. According to KDA’s animal health officials, the turkey farm increased their biosecurity in early March and increased the monitoring of their flock.

Upon noticing clinical signs of HPAI in their birds, they immediately contacted KDA. The affected premises was placed under quarantine and the birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved manner to prevent the spread of the disease.

In addition, KDA will be establishing a 20-km surveillance zone around the infected premises, and other farms or properties with poultry that fall within that zone will not be allowed to move birds or poultry products on or off their property without permission from KDA. 

The animal health team is working to locate all poultry owners in the area to ensure they know the symptoms of HPAI and are taking critical steps to protect their birds. 

Please contact KDA at 833-765-2006 or KDA.HPAI@ks.gov if you own poultry and you live in the southern half of McPherson County, the northeast corner of Reno County, or the northwest corner of Harvey County, including the communities of McPherson, Moundridge, Buhler, Inman or Conway.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a contagious viral disease that can infect chickens, turkeys and other birds and can cause severe illness and/or sudden death in infected birds. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649710245414.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA–APHIS), has identified highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in McPherson County, according to a statement from KDA.This is the first case of HPAI in a commercial flock in Kansas; to this point, there have been four backyard flocks in Kansas that have had confirmed cases of HPAI.KDA is working closely with USDA–APHIS on a joint incident response at the affected premises in McPherson County. According to KDA’s animal health officials, the turkey farm increased their biosecurity in early March and increased the monitoring of their flock.Upon noticing clinical signs of HPAI in their birds, they immediately contacted KDA. The affected premises was placed under quarantine and the birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved manner to prevent the spread of the disease.In addition, KDA will be establishing a 20-km surveillance zone around the infected premises, and other farms or properties with poultry that fall within that zone will not be allowed to move birds or poultry products on or off their property without permission from KDA. The animal health team is working to locate all poultry owners in the area to ensure they know the symptoms of HPAI and are taking critical steps to protect their birds. Please contact KDA at 833-765-2006 or KDA.HPAI@ks.gov if you own poultry and you live in the southern half of McPherson County, the northeast corner of Reno County, or the northwest corner of Harvey County, including the communities of McPherson, Moundridge, Buhler, Inman or Conway.Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a contagious viral disease that can infect chickens, turkeys and other birds and can cause severe illness and/or sudden death in infected birds.

First case of bird flu in commercial flock reported in Kansas

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A community task force reviewing the death of a Black teenager who was restrained for more than 30 minutes at a Kansas juvenile detention center found that an officer changed his answers on a form that otherwise would have led police to take the teen to a hospital instead of booking him into the detention center.

An official who oversees admissions to the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center, Jodi Tronsgard, told the task force last month that the officer initially reported that there were signs that 17-year-old Cedric Lofton needed medical attention before the officer changed his answers, The Wichita Eagle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article260099390.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.

“What I learned after the intake is that the officer had presented this form and initially said yes, that there were signs of acute illness that1 appear to need immediate medical care. Yes, there were signs of intoxication with significant impairment in functioning,” Tronsgard told the task force on March 7. “...So, he was informed that if you answer ‘yes’ to these questions, you have to leave and take the youth for a medical or mental health release. And then, hearing that, he goes and then responds ‘no’ to these questions.”

Interim police Chief Lem Moore said he wasn’t aware that the officer had changed his answers on the form until the newspaper asked about it. He said he has ordered a preliminary review of the case to determine if it’s possible the officer falsified information. “If issues are found, a full investigation will be conducted,” he said.

Lofton’s foster father called authorities in September seeking help because the teenager was hallucinating. Police initially tried to persuade him to go to a mental health facility, but body camera video shows him refusing to go and then resisting when officers tried to force him.

Lofton then was taken to the detention center, where he was restrained after a struggle with staff members. He had to be resuscitated after he was held facedown, and he died two days later.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett declined to charge the detention center workers in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-kansas-a51f619b8b196987e74b046ac399680c">January</a>, citing the state’s stand-your-ground self-defense law.

He said told the newspaper for Sunday’s story that he also didn’t have enough evidence when he reviewed the case to charge the officer with falsifying information on the form, but that he would be willing to examine any new information.

Emails obtained by the newspaper show that Bennett raised concerns that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent who was investigating Lofton’s death had a pro-police bias, and the agent was later removed from the case. The agent did not ask the police officers who took Lofton to the detention center about the changed answers on the admission form.

Lofton’s family’s lawyer, Steven Hart, said the changed answers on the form raise additional questions about how police handled the case.

“That is the most disgusting display of a lack of professionalism — or care,” Hart said. “Essentially, it was easier for them to drop him off than do what they knew was necessary and right.”

County officials have said the FBI is reviewing Lofton’s death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642880340757.png" alt="Cedric Lofton at the Juvenile Intake Assessment Center before his death as seen in the video released by Sedgwick County ." />
 <figcaption>Cedric Lofton at the Juvenile Intake Assessment Center before his death as seen in the video released by Sedgwick County .</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A community task force reviewing the death of a Black teenager who was restrained for more than 30 minutes at a Kansas juvenile detention center found that an officer changed his answers on a form that otherwise would have led police to take the teen to a hospital instead of booking him into the detention center.An official who oversees admissions to the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center, Jodi Tronsgard, told the task force last month that the officer initially reported that there were signs that 17-year-old Cedric Lofton needed medical attention before the officer changed his answers, The Wichita Eagle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article260099390.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.“What I learned after the intake is that the officer had presented this form and initially said yes, that there were signs of acute illness that1 appear to need immediate medical care. Yes, there were signs of intoxication with significant impairment in functioning,” Tronsgard told the task force on March 7. “...So, he was informed that if you answer ‘yes’ to these questions, you have to leave and take the youth for a medical or mental health release. And then, hearing that, he goes and then responds ‘no’ to these questions.”Interim police Chief Lem Moore said he wasn’t aware that the officer had changed his answers on the form until the newspaper asked about it. He said he has ordered a preliminary review of the case to determine if it’s possible the officer falsified information. “If issues are found, a full investigation will be conducted,” he said.Lofton’s foster father called authorities in September seeking help because the teenager was hallucinating. Police initially tried to persuade him to go to a mental health facility, but body camera video shows him refusing to go and then resisting when officers tried to force him.Lofton then was taken to the detention center, where he was restrained after a struggle with staff members. He had to be resuscitated after he was held facedown, and he died two days later.Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett declined to charge the detention center workers in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-kansas-a51f619b8b196987e74b046ac399680c">January</a>, citing the state’s stand-your-ground self-defense law.He said told the newspaper for Sunday’s story that he also didn’t have enough evidence when he reviewed the case to charge the officer with falsifying information on the form, but that he would be willing to examine any new information.Emails obtained by the newspaper show that Bennett raised concerns that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent who was investigating Lofton’s death had a pro-police bias, and the agent was later removed from the case. The agent did not ask the police officers who took Lofton to the detention center about the changed answers on the admission form.Lofton’s family’s lawyer, Steven Hart, said the changed answers on the form raise additional questions about how police handled the case.“That is the most disgusting display of a lack of professionalism — or care,” Hart said. “Essentially, it was easier for them to drop him off than do what they knew was necessary and right.”County officials have said the FBI is reviewing Lofton’s death.

Police said Kan. teen didn't need medical help before his death

Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri had some of the highest 
rates of elevated blood lead levels in children

By ALLISON KITE and NIARA SAVAGE <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/11/known-to-be-toxic-for-a-century-lead-still-poisons-thousands-of-midwestern-kids/">Midwest Newsroom&nbsp;</a>

When
 the pediatrician recommended Lisa Pascoe have her then-toddler tested 
for lead poisoning, she thought there was no way he could be at risk. 
Everything in her South St. Louis home had been remodeled.&nbsp;

But
 then the nurse called to say her son’s blood lead level was dangerously
 high — five times the level federal health officials then deemed 
elevated.

Pascoe said she was “completely shocked” and “probably hysterical.”&nbsp;

“After
 you hang up on the phone, you kind of go through this process of ‘Oh my
 gosh, my kid is lead poisoned. What does that mean? What do I do?'” she
 said.

That same week, St. Louis city health workers came out to test the home to identify the source of the lead.

The
 culprit? The paint on the home’s front window. Friction caused by 
opening and closing the window caused lead dust to collect in the mulch 
and soil outside of the house, right where her son played every day.&nbsp;

A
 decade later, the psychological scars remain. Pascoe and her toddler 
ended up leaving their St. Louis home to escape lead hazards. To this 
day, she’s extra cautious about making sure her son, now a preteen, and 
her 2-year-old daughter aren’t exposed to lead so she doesn’t have to 
relive the nightmare.

Pascoe’s
 son was one of almost 4,700 Missouri children with dangerous levels of 
lead in their blood in the state’s 2012 report —&nbsp;decades after the U.S. 
started phasing lead out of gasoline and banned it in new residential 
paint and water pipes. Missouri’s lead poisoning reports run from July 
through June. Though cases have fallen precipitously since the mid-20th 
century, lead is a persistent poison that impacts thousands of families 
each year, particularly low-income communities and families of color.

Eradicating it has been a decades-long battle.&nbsp;

Omaha
 has been cleaning up contaminated soil from two smelters for more than 
20 years. The Argentine neighborhood of what is now Kansas City, Kansas,
 grew up around a smelter that produced tens of thousands of tons of 
lead as well as silver and zinc. About 60% of homes in Iowa were built 
before 1960, when residential lead-based paint was still used. Missouri 
is the <a target="_blank" href="https://health.mo.gov/living/environment/lead/">number one producer</a> of lead in the United States.

The
 four states have some of the most lead water pipes per capita in the 
country. While representative data on the prevalence of lead poisoning 
is hard to come by because screening rates lag in many areas, one study 
published last year found that the four states struggled with some of 
the highest rates of lead poisoning.

Over
 the next few months, The Missouri Independent and NPR’s Midwest 
Newsroom are collaborating to investigate high levels of lead in 
children of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. By analyzing scientific
 research, delving into state and local data and interviewing parents, 
experts and advocates from across the country, the project will shed 
light on a public health disaster that continues to poison children 
every year.

“We
 know that there is no safe level, that even at really low levels, it 
can affect intellectual growth, cognitive development. And we can 
prevent that type of harm,” said Elizabeth Friedman, a physician and 
director of the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit for 
Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. “So why wouldn’t we?”

David
 Cwiertny, director of the Center for Health Effects of Environmental 
Contamination at the University of Iowa, said it’s “unacceptable” for 
anyone to be exposed to lead.&nbsp;

“We should go to the ends of the Earth to invest in staff and preventing it from happening if we can,” Cwiertny said.

At
 Pascoe’s St. Louis home, workers encapsulated the flaking paint and 
replaced the top layer of tainted soil outside the home. During 
encapsulation, lead paint is coated and sealed to prevent the release of
 lead dust or paint chips. Her toddler’s blood lead level began to drop 
from its high of 25 micrograms per deciliter.

But that wasn’t enough to keep his lead level low.

Even
 though Pascoe kept her son&nbsp; from playing outside, cleaned regularly 
with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter provided by the health
 department and wiped off everything that could track lead dust in the 
home — from shoes to the family dog’s feet — her son’s level hovered at 
six micrograms per deciliter for nearly a year.&nbsp;

In
 2013, Pascoe and her son moved out of the city and into a home without 
lead in St. Louis County. Finally, his levels dropped below one.

Lead
 is a dangerous neurotoxin commonly used in water pipes, paint, gasoline
 and household products until the late 20th century, decades after 
scientists began sounding the alarm about its danger.&nbsp;

In
 high doses, lead can be fatal. Women in the 19th century used it to 
induce abortions and sometimes ended up poisoning themselves. Children 
who are lead poisoned now, however, have much lower levels and don’t 
show blatant or immediate symptoms.

Even after the source of the exposure is eliminated, long-term effects of the toxin linger.

“Once a kid is exposed to lead, it is not reversible,” said Dr. Justina Yohannan, a licensed psychologist based in Atlanta.&nbsp;

Officials with the World Health Organization warn there is no safe level of lead in blood. Even levels as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health#:~:text=The%20neurological%20and%20behavioural%20effects,behavioural%20difficulties%20and%20learning%20problems.">low as five micrograms per deciliter</a> can cause behavioral difficulties and learning problems in children.

Lead-poisoned
 children may have trouble with language processing, memory, attention 
and impulsivity, Yohannan said. Many require special education services 
in school.&nbsp;

Now in sixth grade, Pascoe’s son has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD.&nbsp;

The
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year updated its blood 
lead reference value to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter from five. The 
reference value represents the 2.5% of children with the most elevated 
blood lead levels who should be prioritized for investigations and 
resources. It’s not a health standard, and CDC leaves it to the state 
and local authorities to determine at what levels they will take action 
depending on state laws, local ordinances and the resources they have 
available.

The
 Healthy Homes program in St. Louis County, where Pascoe now lives with 
her husband Daniel Pascoe, follows up with a home inspection&nbsp;only if a 
child’s blood lead level exceeds 10 micrograms per deciliter unless a 
family makes a request for an assessment below that level. The City of 
St. Louis separated from St. Louis County in the late 19th century and 
operates as a separate local government.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Follow-up on lower levels of exposure is focused mostly on educating parents and families about the risks and dangers of lead.&nbsp;

For
 higher levels of exposure, health workers use an X-ray fluorescence 
analyzer during assessments to test components of the home for lead.

“The
 most common source of lead exposure in the county is lead-based paint. 
So majority of the time, that’s our main focus,” said Tammi Holmes, 
supervisor of the Healthy Homes program.&nbsp;

“We’re
 looking for anything that’s original to the house, original windows, 
original doors, door casings, things like that, that may have lead based
 paint on them.”

Pascoe
 says she never saw her son eat lead paint chips. And while lead 
poisoning due to consumption of paint chips is fairly common, Holmes 
said it’s not always a factor.

“A
 lot of times people think that the only way kids are exposed is just by
 eating and ingesting lead based paint,” Holmes said. “But that’s not 
always the case. The main route of exposure, a lot of times, is 
inhalation and it’s the dust.”


  A sign warning of potential lead hazards at the site of the Pruitt 
Igoe Housing Apartment Complex in north St. Louis. The National 
Geospatial Intelligence Agency dropped the site as a potential space for
 its new headquarters, in part, due to the presence of toxins. (Brian 
Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio)

Lead poisoning disproportionately affects Black children and kids in low-income neighborhoods.

In
 predominantly Black neighborhoods of North St. Louis, across town from 
Pascoe’s old home, children suffer some of the highest rates of lead 
poisoning in the city. Black children in Missouri are nearly twice as 
likely to suffer lead poisoning as their white peers.&nbsp;

“And
 this has happened because of the racist historical practices and 
policies that continue to segregate children and families of color into 
older, sometimes less-maintained, overburdened and under-resourced 
neighborhoods where lead exposures are more common,” Friedman said.&nbsp;

Philip
 Landrigan, a lead researcher for 50 years, did research and testing 
near an enormous smelter in Kellogg, Idaho, in the early 1970s.&nbsp;

“And
 the doctor who was the doctor for the lead company … told me one time 
in a meeting that the only kids in Kellogg, Idaho, who got lead 
poisoning are ‘the dumb and the dirty,’” Landrigan said. “… And even 
though that was 50 years ago, that line of thinking is still alive and 
well.”

While
 many cities have grants or loans available to help remediate homes, 
low-income families in rental housing don’t always have the final say.

Amy
 Roberts, who runs the lead poisoning prevention program in Kansas City,
 Missouri, said landlords are often cooperative and allow for repairs 
when their tenants’ children are lead poisoned. But not always.

“Sometimes
 we get pushback from landlords who don’t want to do it, or they’ll do a
 little bit, or they’ll just take a long time,” Roberts said, “or 
they’ll evict the family.”

It’s
 illegal to evict a family because of lead exposure, Roberts said. But 
if a landlord has cause to evict a family that they haven’t acted on, 
they might do so rather than deal with the Health Department coming in.&nbsp;

“They’ll
 say, ‘Well, we didn’t evict them because of the lead. We evicted them 
because they were behind on their rent,’” Roberts said. “And so would 
they have allowed them to stay if we hadn’t gotten involved because of 
the lead? It’s hard to know.”

In Omaha, where an old lead smelter left behind contamination over 27 square miles centered on downtown, <a target="_blank" href="https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH18NU">local ordinances</a>
 have more teeth. Naudia McCracken, the lead program supervisor for 
Douglas County, said landlords are required to repair any lead hazards.

“There’s no ifs, buts, maybes,” McCracken said. “They have to fix it.”

While
 Omaha has struggled with contamination brought on by the smelters, she 
said that legacy has allowed the county and city to be more aggressive 
in remediating contamination and preventing lead poisoning.

Omaha
 provides a home inspection to any family with a child whose blood lead 
level is greater than 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. And the city 
provides inspections to families in any house built before 1978.

Speaking
 only for herself, McCracken said she’d like to see more money go into 
removing lead paint and improving housing nationwide.

“In
 the majority of the country, in the way that the programs are, we’re 
waiting for there to be a child with (an elevated) lead level for action
 to take place,” she said. “And I think that’s kind of backward.”

The
 water crisis in Flint, Michigan, shone a light on the devastating 
effects of lead. Scientists’ conclusion there is no safe level of lead 
and President Joe Biden’s pledge to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/16/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-lead-pipe-and-paint-action-plan/">remove the estimated 10 million water service lines</a> underground add momentum toward finally eradicating the metal.&nbsp;

Bruce
 Lanphear, a longtime lead researcher and professor at Simon Fraser 
University in Vancouver, said the U.S. has typically made progress on 
lead when crises or new research galvanized public support for action. 
But regulations and action to clean up lead contamination often depend 
on what is considered feasible.

Cwiertny noted the issue of lead poisoning through drinking water had risen in prominence following crises.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The
 concern I have is people will — through the rhetoric of politicians 
talking about what great progress we’re making by getting $15 billion 
here and allocating recovery funds there to address this — is that 
people will think it’s a problem that gets solved and there won’t be any
 accountability,” Cwiertny said.&nbsp;

By
 the time the U.S. started phasing lead out of gasoline, banned it in 
residential paint in the 1970s and outlawed lead water pipes in 1986, 
scientists had been warning of the dangers of lead for decades.&nbsp;

In
 1925, as use of lead in gasoline gained momentum, Yandell Henderson, a 
professor at Yale University, told a gathering of engineers that it 
would slowly poison vast numbers of Americans.&nbsp;

“He said that if a man had his choice between the two diseases, he would choose tuberculosis rather than lead poisoning,” <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/1925/04/22/archives/sees-deadly-gas-a-peril-in-streets-dr-henderson-warns-public.html#:~:text=Billions%20Are%20Involved.%20%2D-,SEES%20DEADLY%20GAS%20A%20PERIL%20IN%20STREETS%3B%20Dr.,Describes%20Its%20Effects%20as%20Insidious.">the New York Times wrote at the time</a>.&nbsp;

A concerted effort by the lead industry staved off regulations, Lanphear said.&nbsp;

Lanphear said he was invited to speak to Omaha residents 20 years ago about lead poisoning. At the end, he took questions.

“T​here
 was this big burly guy with a flannel shirt, beard (who) got up 
—&nbsp;trucker’s hat — and he got teary and he said, ‘I worked at the smelter
 for years, and every morning, I was ordered to reverse the flow and 
discharge all the contaminants that they had scrubbed out during the 
day.’”

There
 are stories that “just break your heart” showing how flawed regulation 
was, Lanphear said, and how “irresponsible” the industry was.

The legacy of the lead is well-documented among adults who grew up surrounded by the metal.&nbsp;

Forty
 years ago, more than 90% of children had blood lead levels above 10 
micrograms per deciliter, almost triple the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention’s new reference value, updated to 3.5 micrograms per 
deciliter in October.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2118631119">Researchers estimated last month</a>
 that just over half of Americans alive today were exposed to high lead 
levels as children, especially those born between 1951 and 1980. On 
average, lead cost those people 2.6 IQ points.&nbsp;

Childhood exposure to the metal causes a 70% increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.&nbsp;

“But
 it was largely overlooked, largely forgotten,” Lanphear said. “All of 
the focus was on lifestyle choices, which was convenient. Industry 
didn’t have to do anything. Government didn’t have to change 
regulations.”

Acute
 lead poisoning results in noticeable symptoms, including loss of 
appetite, constipation and stomach pain, fatigue and a blue tinge around
 the gums.&nbsp;

But
 lead poisoning now is nearly always chronic, low-level poisoning that 
may not show obvious symptoms. It can manifest later in behavioral 
challenges, lowered IQ and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.&nbsp;

Scientists
 in the second half of the 20th century started documenting links 
between low-level lead poisoning and lowered IQs. In the early 1970s, 
there were children with lead levels above 40 micrograms per deciliter 
who experienced convulsions and comas, Landrigan said. Some children 
died of lead poisoning at that time.

Before
 1970, blood lead levels were considered elevated above 60 micrograms 
per deciliter. The surgeon general reduced that to 40 in 1970. The CDC 
reduced it to 30 in 1978; 25 in 1985; 10 in 1991; five in 2012; and 3.5 
last year.&nbsp;

“So
 we were really breaking new ground when we tested those children around
 the El Paso smelter and the Kellogg, Idaho, smelter and determined that
 children with no obvious symptoms had reduced IQs and slow reflexes,” 
Landrigan said.&nbsp;

Lanphear
 said it was difficult for researchers to come to grips with the fact 
that they had all been exposed to dangerous levels of lead when they 
were children.&nbsp;

“So
 there was sort of this disbelief, and I think that happened almost at 
every level,” he said. “How could it be that in the ’70s, virtually, by 
today’s standards, all kids were lead poisoned?”

The
 Pascoes are vigilant about researching the products the family uses 
now. Their 2-year-old daughter only uses toys and crayons that are 
lead-free, and the family eats from glass dishes to avoid contact with 
lead that could leach into food from ceramic plates and bowls.&nbsp;

Lisa
 avoids wearing jewelry the toddler might put in her mouth and doesn’t 
visit older or recently renovated homes that could be lead hazards.&nbsp;

Other parents are often shocked when Pascoe tells them about her son’s lead poisoning.&nbsp;

“Some
 people probably think kind of like I did initially. Like, ‘Oh well, 
that will never happen to me,’” she said. “Well that happened to my son 
and we weren’t thinking it could happen to him at all.”&nbsp;

She warns other families, especially in older houses, to get a home lead assessment.

“I thought it was a thing of the past,” she said, “that lead poisoning had just been something I’d heard about in the ’90s.”&nbsp;

Parents
 often blame themselves for their children’s lead poisoning, Lanphear 
said. And there are steps families can take to avoid lead and other 
contaminants: Adding landscaping to bare soil, dusting surfaces, 
avoiding plastic and canned foods. But he said it’s primarily up to 
federal health officials.&nbsp;

Once, Lanphear said, he was being interviewed for a book. The author asked him about his own family.&nbsp;

“He says, ‘You do this for a living, right?’ I said yes.&nbsp;

“‘Can you protect your own children?’&nbsp;

Toxic lead still poisoning thousands of Midwestern kids

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has a book coming this fall that covers his years in the Trump administration and, according to his publisher, offers “unvarnished appraisals of the deals made and characters encountered along the way.” 

<a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/collections/broadside-books">Broadside Books, </a>a conservative imprint at HarperCollins Publishers, announced Wednesday that Pompeo’s book was scheduled for November and is currently untitled. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Pompeo “will draw readers deep into the innermost sanctums of government decision-making and reveal the stories and strategic thinking behind key actions regarding North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, Mexico, Israel, Afghanistan, support for international religious freedom, and many other countries and issues,” the announcement reads in part.

Pompeo, 58, is a Republican from Kansas who served three terms in Congress before President Donald Trump appointed him director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 2017, then secretary of state a year later. He has speculated about a 2024 presidential run, one that might find him in competition with his former boss. Other former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-pence-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-mike-pompeo-68ec57715adf39f1229213e5d5bd3fa3">Trump officials considered possible candidates&nbsp;</a>— and working on books — include Vice President Mike Pence and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Trump clashed with many of his cabinet officers, including Pompeo’s immediate predecessor at state, Rex Tillerson. But Pompeo remained on good terms with Trump and even broke with precedent for secretaries of state by recording a speech for the 2020 Republican National Convention. He continued to defend him after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, a time when other officials resigned or distanced themselves, and less than two weeks later sent a tweet promoting Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647123002389.png" alt="Mike Pompeo was a member of the&nbsp;United States House of Representatives&nbsp;from 2011 to 2017, representing&nbsp;Kansas's 4th congressional district." />
 <figcaption>Mike Pompeo was a member of the&nbsp;United States House of Representatives&nbsp;from 2011 to 2017, representing&nbsp;Kansas's 4th congressional district.</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has a book coming this fall that covers his years in the Trump administration and, according to his publisher, offers “unvarnished appraisals of the deals made and characters encountered along the way.” <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/collections/broadside-books">Broadside Books, </a>a conservative imprint at HarperCollins Publishers, announced Wednesday that Pompeo’s book was scheduled for November and is currently untitled. Financial terms were not disclosed. Pompeo “will draw readers deep into the innermost sanctums of government decision-making and reveal the stories and strategic thinking behind key actions regarding North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, Mexico, Israel, Afghanistan, support for international religious freedom, and many other countries and issues,” the announcement reads in part.Pompeo, 58, is a Republican from Kansas who served three terms in Congress before President Donald Trump appointed him director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 2017, then secretary of state a year later. He has speculated about a 2024 presidential run, one that might find him in competition with his former boss. Other former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-pence-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-mike-pompeo-68ec57715adf39f1229213e5d5bd3fa3">Trump officials considered possible candidates&nbsp;</a>— and working on books — include Vice President Mike Pence and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.Trump clashed with many of his cabinet officers, including Pompeo’s immediate predecessor at state, Rex Tillerson. But Pompeo remained on good terms with Trump and even broke with precedent for secretaries of state by recording a speech for the 2020 Republican National Convention. He continued to defend him after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, a time when other officials resigned or distanced themselves, and less than two weeks later sent a tweet promoting Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Former Kan. congressman, Secretary of State has book out this fall

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. health officials are beginning to grapple with how to keep the vaccines updated to best protect Americans from the ever-changing coronavirus.

On Wednesday, a panel of vaccine advisers to the Food and Drug Administration spent hours debating key questions for revamping the shots and conducting future booster campaigns. They didn’t reach any firm conclusions.

The questions facing the experts included: How often to update the vaccines against new strains, how effective they should be to warrant approval and whether updates should be coordinated with global health authorities.

Last week, the FDA authorized a fourth dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for anyone 50 or older and for some younger people with severely weakened immune systems. It’s an effort to get ahead of another possible surge.

But the FDA’s vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks acknowledged at the meeting “we simply can’t be boosting people as frequently as we are.” He called the latest booster update a “stopgap” measure to protect vulnerable Americans while regulators decide whether and how to tweak the current vaccines.

Marks cautioned that waning vaccine protection, new variants and colder weather in the fall could raise the risk of more surges.

“Our goal here is to stay ahead of future variants and outbreaks and ensure we do our best to reduce the toll of disease and death due to COVID-19,” said Marks, adding that he expects more meetings of the vaccine panel in coming months.

Some of the key questions the panel discussed:

HOW SHOULD THE U.S. DECIDE WHEN TO LAUNCH FUTURE ROUNDS OF BOOSTER SHOTS?

One area where experts appeared to agree is that vaccines should be judged on their ability to prevent severe disease that leads to hospitalization and death.

“We need to focus on the worst case, which is severe disease, and we need to change strains when we’re losing that battle,” said Dr. Mark Sawyer of the University of California, San Diego.

By that measure, the current vaccines have held up remarkably well.

During the last omicron-driven surge, two vaccine doses were nearly 80% effective against needing a breathing machine or death — and a booster pushed that protection to 94%, federal scientists recently reported.

But only about half of Americans eligible for a third shot have gotten one. And many experts said it was unsustainable to continue asking Americans to get boosted every few months.

A panelist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that the 80% protection from severe disease could become the standard for evaluating the vaccines.

“I think we may have to accept that level of protection and then use other alternative ways to protect individuals with therapeutics and other measures,” said Dr. Amanda Cohn, CDC’s chief medical officer.

Presentations at the meeting by government health officials and independent researchers underscored the challenges of predicting when the next major COVID-19 variant might appear.

Trevor Bedford, a disease modeler with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, said a major new strain like omicron could emerge anywhere from every 1.5 years to once a decade, based on currently available data. Given that unpredictability, researchers will need methods to quickly determine whether current vaccines work against emerging variants.

WHAT’S THE PROCESS FOR UPDATING VACCINES TO ADDRESS NEW VARIANTS?

All three COVID-19 vaccines now used in the U.S. are based on the original coronavirus version that emerged in late 2019. Updating the vaccines will be a complex task, likely requiring coordination between the FDA, manufacturers and global health authorities.

To speed the vaccines to market, the FDA relied on research shortcuts to judge effectiveness, mainly looking at their early impact on the immune system’s antibody levels. A number of panelists said Wednesday they wanted more rigorous data from studies that track patients over time to see who gets sick or dies.

But that approach would likely be too time consuming.

“We’re looking at a conundrum here in that it’s going to be hard to generate all the data we want in short order when a new variant emerges,” said Dr. Ofer Levy of Harvard Medical School.

A representative for the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority laid out the narrow window that manufacturers could face to reformulate, study and mass produce an updated vaccine by September.

“If you’re not on your way to a clinical trial by the beginning of May, I think it’s going to be very difficult to have enough product across manufacturers to meet demand,” said Robert Johnson, deputy assistant secretary of BARDA.

The process for updating annual flu vaccines offers one possible model, as laid out by a representative from the World Health Organization.

Twice a year, WHO experts recommend updates to flu vaccines to target emerging strains. The FDA then brings those recommendations to its own vaccine panel, which votes on whether they make sense for the U.S., setting the stage for manufacturers to tweak their shots and begin mass production.

But COVID-19 hasn’t yet fallen into a predictable pattern like the flu. And as the coronavirus evolves, different strains may become dominant in different regions of the world.

Several experts said they would need more meetings with more data and proposals from the FDA to decide on a strategy.

“We’ve never been here before. We’re all working together to do the best we can and it’s very complex,” said Oveta Fuller of the University of Michigan’s Medical School.

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. health officials are beginning to grapple with how to keep the vaccines updated to best protect Americans from the ever-changing coronavirus.On Wednesday, a panel of vaccine advisers to the Food and Drug Administration spent hours debating key questions for revamping the shots and conducting future booster campaigns. They didn’t reach any firm conclusions.The questions facing the experts included: How often to update the vaccines against new strains, how effective they should be to warrant approval and whether updates should be coordinated with global health authorities.Last week, the FDA authorized a fourth dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for anyone 50 or older and for some younger people with severely weakened immune systems. It’s an effort to get ahead of another possible surge.But the FDA’s vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks acknowledged at the meeting “we simply can’t be boosting people as frequently as we are.” He called the latest booster update a “stopgap” measure to protect vulnerable Americans while regulators decide whether and how to tweak the current vaccines.Marks cautioned that waning vaccine protection, new variants and colder weather in the fall could raise the risk of more surges.“Our goal here is to stay ahead of future variants and outbreaks and ensure we do our best to reduce the toll of disease and death due to COVID-19,” said Marks, adding that he expects more meetings of the vaccine panel in coming months.Some of the key questions the panel discussed:HOW SHOULD THE U.S. DECIDE WHEN TO LAUNCH FUTURE ROUNDS OF BOOSTER SHOTS?One area where experts appeared to agree is that vaccines should be judged on their ability to prevent severe disease that leads to hospitalization and death.“We need to focus on the worst case, which is severe disease, and we need to change strains when we’re losing that battle,” said Dr. Mark Sawyer of the University of California, San Diego.By that measure, the current vaccines have held up remarkably well.During the last omicron-driven surge, two vaccine doses were nearly 80% effective against needing a breathing machine or death — and a booster pushed that protection to 94%, federal scientists recently reported.But only about half of Americans eligible for a third shot have gotten one. And many experts said it was unsustainable to continue asking Americans to get boosted every few months.A panelist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that the 80% protection from severe disease could become the standard for evaluating the vaccines.“I think we may have to accept that level of protection and then use other alternative ways to protect individuals with therapeutics and other measures,” said Dr. Amanda Cohn, CDC’s chief medical officer.Presentations at the meeting by government health officials and independent researchers underscored the challenges of predicting when the next major COVID-19 variant might appear.Trevor Bedford, a disease modeler with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, said a major new strain like omicron could emerge anywhere from every 1.5 years to once a decade, based on currently available data. Given that unpredictability, researchers will need methods to quickly determine whether current vaccines work against emerging variants.WHAT’S THE PROCESS FOR UPDATING VACCINES TO ADDRESS NEW VARIANTS?All three COVID-19 vaccines now used in the U.S. are based on the original coronavirus version that emerged in late 2019. Updating the vaccines will be a complex task, likely requiring coordination between the FDA, manufacturers and global health authorities.To speed the vaccines to market, the FDA relied on research shortcuts to judge effectiveness, mainly looking at their early impact on the immune system’s antibody levels. A number of panelists said Wednesday they wanted more rigorous data from studies that track patients over time to see who gets sick or dies.But that approach would likely be too time consuming.“We’re looking at a conundrum here in that it’s going to be hard to generate all the data we want in short order when a new variant emerges,” said Dr. Ofer Levy of Harvard Medical School.A representative for the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority laid out the narrow window that manufacturers could face to reformulate, study and mass produce an updated vaccine by September.“If you’re not on your way to a clinical trial by the beginning of May, I think it’s going to be very difficult to have enough product across manufacturers to meet demand,” said Robert Johnson, deputy assistant secretary of BARDA.The process for updating annual flu vaccines offers one possible model, as laid out by a representative from the World Health Organization.Twice a year, WHO experts recommend updates to flu vaccines to target emerging strains. The FDA then brings those recommendations to its own vaccine panel, which votes on whether they make sense for the U.S., setting the stage for manufacturers to tweak their shots and begin mass production.But COVID-19 hasn’t yet fallen into a predictable pattern like the flu. And as the coronavirus evolves, different strains may become dominant in different regions of the world.Several experts said they would need more meetings with more data and proposals from the FDA to decide on a strategy.“We’ve never been here before. We’re all working together to do the best we can and it’s very complex,” said Oveta Fuller of the University of Michigan’s Medical School.___

US experts wrestle with how to update COVID-19 vaccines

RILEY COUNTY —The Carlson Road fire in northern Riley County is now completely contained, according to Riley Fire District #1.

The county will allow the local disaster declaration to expire as of April 11. Approximately 2000 acres burned. 

The fire district thanked the work of volunteers and partnering agencies as the fire that started March 6 ended without loss of life or homes.&nbsp;

Authorities have not released details on what started the fire.

RILEY COUNTY —An estimated 2,000 acres burned but no one was injured, no livestock were lost and no structures were damaged in grass fire near Carlson Road, north of Fancy Creek in northern Riley County, according to Riley County Fire District #1.

That fire also crossed the Big Blue River Wednesday night into Pottawatomie County.&nbsp;&nbsp;Two properties were evacuated.

Fire crews will continue to monitor the fire over the next several days.&nbsp;

Eleven Riley County Fire District #1 trucks, 30 local volunteer firefighters, and personnel from the Manhattan Fire Department, Kansas Forest Service, Engine 64, Fire District #1 of Johnson COunty, Kansas Wildland Task Force and the Army Corps of Engineers responded to the fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649693746493.png" alt="Photo Riley Co. Fire District #1" />
 <figcaption>Photo Riley Co. Fire District #1</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —The Carlson Road fire in northern Riley County is now completely contained, according to Riley Fire District #1.The county will allow the local disaster declaration to expire as of April 11. Approximately 2000 acres burned. The fire district thanked the work of volunteers and partnering agencies as the fire that started March 6 ended without loss of life or homes.&nbsp;Authorities have not released details on what started the fire.----------RILEY COUNTY —An estimated 2,000 acres burned but no one was injured, no livestock were lost and no structures were damaged in grass fire near Carlson Road, north of Fancy Creek in northern Riley County, according to Riley County Fire District #1.That fire also crossed the Big Blue River Wednesday night into Pottawatomie County.&nbsp;&nbsp;Two properties were evacuated.Fire crews will continue to monitor the fire over the next several days.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649421117115.png" alt="-Photo Kansas Forrest Service" />
 <figcaption>-Photo Kansas Forrest Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Eleven Riley County Fire District #1 trucks, 30 local volunteer firefighters, and personnel from the Manhattan Fire Department, Kansas Forest Service, Engine 64, Fire District #1 of Johnson COunty, Kansas Wildland Task Force and the Army Corps of Engineers responded to the fire.That fire also crossed the Big Blue River Wednesday night into Pottawatomie County.&nbsp;---RILEY COUNTY—A large grass fire in the area near Carlson Road, north of Fancy Creek in northern Riley County burned approximately 1500 acres on Wednesday, according to Riley County Fire District 1.Two properties were evacuated. Volunteers remained on the scene overnight.There are no injuries. Officials have not reported what started the fire.&nbsp;Gusty northwest winds will increase again Thursday as relative humidity decreases, resulting in another afternoon of extreme fire danger, according to the National Weather Service.