By RON FIELDS <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>

On Friday, the Kansas Department of Labor issued its <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7a3fb4f9-c8f6-4d8e-ad64-3cffbe1270e1">monthly unemployment report</a> showing yet another drop in the jobless rate to 3.3 percent statewide in December. <a href="https://neworks.nebraska.gov/vosnet/analyzer/resultsNew.aspx?session=labforce&amp;pu=1&amp;plang=E">In Nebraska,</a> the unemployment rate was a scant 1.2 percent in November.

In the more rural areas of western Kansas and Nebraska, there are only a handful of counties posting unemployment rates above 2 percent, another demonstration of the continuing worker shortage challenging communities.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said the worker shortage is among the top one or two concerns for most employers and cited three interconnected factors as the cause.

The COVID-19 pandemic, he said, is still top of mind for many who have dropped out of the labor pool entirely.

"There are individuals out there who just don't want to return to work," Goss said. "There is a low participation rate, where people are not counted as either employed or unemployed."

A dearth of daycare options is also forcing families to choose home over the workplace.

"A lot of families out there, they can't return to work until they can get their kids in a good daycare, and there aren't many options," he said. 

And those families were the beneficiaries of unprecedented government payments since the pandemic's arrival.

"The federal government has sprayed the countryside with dollars .. and increased the money supply by 30 to 40 percent," Goss said. "There have been three packages that have put money in the hands of individuals that have made it less appealing to work. ... and they leave the labor force."

Unemployment rates well below the national average in Kansas and Nebraska are not unusual, he noted, but said the labor shortage is increasingly becoming an issue for businesses and communities.

"I don't see any end, at least looking forward, to any of those three elements improving so we can get the labor force back to pre-COVID levels," Goss said.

While COVID exacerbated the problem,&nbsp; data shows that the worker shortfall was looming prior to 2020.

"Currently, a lot of the rates are around where they were before the pandemic. Stateside, we were near historic lows prior to the pandemic," said Emilie Doerksen,&nbsp;labor economist with the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor. "We did see a gradual decline in the labor force prior to the pandemic, as workforces aged and baby boomers retired."

Kansas reached an all-time jobless rate low in 1978 at 2.9 percent, she said. In 2019, that rate was 3.1 percent, and at year-end 2021, the jobless rate was close at 3.3. percent. Those records have been kept since 1976.

Eric Brown, president and CEO of the <a href="https://www.salinakansas.org">Salina Area Chamber of Commerce</a>, said the tight labor market is top of mind on the local level. Salina County posted a 2.2 percent jobless rate in December.

"It's the lowest that I have ever seen unemployment in the Salina market," said Brown, who has been with the chamber for more than a decade. He noted the Salina-area labor basin includes more than a dozen surrounding counties, all with jobless rates between 1.4 percent and 2.2 percent.

"That obviously is having an effect on our employers here in the community," he said. "We've had a lot of success in the last three years supporting our local businesses — manufacturing and advanced manufacturing have been growing by leaps and bounds. In the last three years, we've had over $675 million in capital investments on expansions, and those expansions are creating opportunities and jobs."

Those opportunities, however, have a trickle-down effect, Brown noted. 

"It's pushing down to the indirect service providers —&nbsp;construction, electricians, HVAC, plumbers. All of those sectors are trying to hire folks," he said. 

Some workers are also taking advantage of those new full-time opportunities, but leaving behind vacancies in two or three part-time positions as a result.

Those types of vacancies are pummeling the leisure and hospitality sector, Goss said. 

"That sector is down significantly from pre-COVID levels," he said, noting Kansas has lost about 9,000 restaurant and hotel jobs in the past two years. Nebraska has lost 7,000 jobs in that sector.

"Particularly in some of our smaller towns, when your restaurant closes, some of those are just not going to open back up," Goss said. "That's a tragedy, and for our economy, certainly not good."

Doerksen said the largest decline in the Kansas workforce is in the 16- to 24-year-old range, with drops also noted in the 55 and older range.

She said the decline in the younger generation's participation and availability is a factor in the leisure and hospitality sector's struggle.

Both Goss and Brown pointed to outmigration of younger workers to larger cities as a key issue — especially in rural counties already facing depopulation.

"Our best and most expensive export is our students," Brown said. "Career and technical education has been a mainstay of communities like Salina for decades. Salina Area Technical College has a 97 to 98 percent placement rate for their graduates. But as birth rates go down, that pipeline doesn't get filled."

He said communities need to do a better job of helping students understand all of the careers available locally. 

"Take a hospital — it's its own little community. When students drive by, they may just think doctors and nurses, but there's everything from management to financial positions. Most hospitals have a clergy on staff, IT departments, maintenance ... there's opportunities that run the gamut."

But among young people staying in rural parts of Kansas and Nebraska, Goss said he's seeing a trend of fewer of them entering the workforce.

"Particularly for the rural areas, you normally see a high participation rate," he said. "But even in those parts of the country, participating rates have declined ... and the employment to population rate is declining."

That participation rate is dropping at the same time most rural counties are facing the issue of depopulation.

"Of the 93 counties in Nebraska," he said, "75 have fewer people in them now than they did in the 1930s. That trend is going to continue."

Fueled partially by pent-up demand and increased dollars in pockets from government payments such as the Child Tax Credit of 2021, most of the businesses Brown works with saw significant growth last year.

He said sales tax revenue — a key indicator measuring local economic activity — was up half a percent in Salina in 2020, and up a sizable 9 percent through November 2021.

"Anecdotally, for Main Street businesses, most of them said this was one of the best holiday seasons we've had in several years," Brown said.

But productivity is not keeping up with demand, Goss said. 

"The savings rate went up significant during the pandemic and that was quite significant — no happy hour, no traveling," he said. "Individuals have those savings accounts and they see some cushion, and some aren't back to work yet."

Anticipated interest rate hikes and inflationary concerns will diminish that cushion for many, Goss said, noting fuel costs have driven family expenses up significantly.

While wages in many sectors have increased, "they're not where they need to be" to attract workers, Goss said.

"Individuals right now are not seeing the opportunities and so the participation rate comes down," he said. "Normally, you'd see them coming back into the workforce. But the fact is that what worked before at $12 an hour isn't going to work."

Goss said he has seen an uptick in programs designed not just to attract, but retain, employees, including vesting plans, retirement plans and improved health care options — and expects to see those offerings increase in an attempt to attract new, loyal employees.

Brown said employers are increasingly reaching out to those they historically have not, including working with agencies serving the developmentally disabled, such as OCCK Inc. in Salina.

"(Employers) are doing a better job of working with these groups so (clients) are getting good opportunities and are stepping forward to take on some of these roles," he said. 

Goss said retail centers such as North Platte or Salina likely will continue to grow, especially for those retiring off the farm in outlying rural counties.

"More and more retirement homes are being built closer to where the farmers farmed and where the rural residents lived," he said. "There will be more and more individuals remaining closer to home when they retire, especially in communities on the interstates."

Brown said communities need to increase their outreach to those who have outmigrated, especially as the trend of "de-densifying" continues in urban markets and larger cities.

"We all need to do a better job from a community level of inviting back these students and second-generation kids who have gone out and moved to a bigger community," he said. They're starting to realize that where they grew up isn't as bad as they thought when they were 18 years old."

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642798445646.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON FIELDS <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>On Friday, the Kansas Department of Labor issued its <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7a3fb4f9-c8f6-4d8e-ad64-3cffbe1270e1">monthly unemployment report</a> showing yet another drop in the jobless rate to 3.3 percent statewide in December. <a href="https://neworks.nebraska.gov/vosnet/analyzer/resultsNew.aspx?session=labforce&amp;pu=1&amp;plang=E">In Nebraska,</a> the unemployment rate was a scant 1.2 percent in November.In the more rural areas of western Kansas and Nebraska, there are only a handful of counties posting unemployment rates above 2 percent, another demonstration of the continuing worker shortage challenging communities.Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said the worker shortage is among the top one or two concerns for most employers and cited three interconnected factors as the cause.The COVID-19 pandemic, he said, is still top of mind for many who have dropped out of the labor pool entirely."There are individuals out there who just don't want to return to work," Goss said. "There is a low participation rate, where people are not counted as either employed or unemployed."A dearth of daycare options is also forcing families to choose home over the workplace."A lot of families out there, they can't return to work until they can get their kids in a good daycare, and there aren't many options," he said. And those families were the beneficiaries of unprecedented government payments since the pandemic's arrival."The federal government has sprayed the countryside with dollars .. and increased the money supply by 30 to 40 percent," Goss said. "There have been three packages that have put money in the hands of individuals that have made it less appealing to work. ... and they leave the labor force."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622642233344.jpeg" alt="Goss&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Goss&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Unemployment rates well below the national average in Kansas and Nebraska are not unusual, he noted, but said the labor shortage is increasingly becoming an issue for businesses and communities."I don't see any end, at least looking forward, to any of those three elements improving so we can get the labor force back to pre-COVID levels," Goss said.While COVID exacerbated the problem,&nbsp; data shows that the worker shortfall was looming prior to 2020."Currently, a lot of the rates are around where they were before the pandemic. Stateside, we were near historic lows prior to the pandemic," said Emilie Doerksen,&nbsp;labor economist with the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor. "We did see a gradual decline in the labor force prior to the pandemic, as workforces aged and baby boomers retired."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642800272373.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas reached an all-time jobless rate low in 1978 at 2.9 percent, she said. In 2019, that rate was 3.1 percent, and at year-end 2021, the jobless rate was close at 3.3. percent. Those records have been kept since 1976.Eric Brown, president and CEO of the <a href="https://www.salinakansas.org">Salina Area Chamber of Commerce</a>, said the tight labor market is top of mind on the local level. Salina County posted a 2.2 percent jobless rate in December.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642793194945.jpeg" alt="Brown " />
 <figcaption>Brown </figcaption>
 </figure>"It's the lowest that I have ever seen unemployment in the Salina market," said Brown, who has been with the chamber for more than a decade. He noted the Salina-area labor basin includes more than a dozen surrounding counties, all with jobless rates between 1.4 percent and 2.2 percent."That obviously is having an effect on our employers here in the community," he said. "We've had a lot of success in the last three years supporting our local businesses — manufacturing and advanced manufacturing have been growing by leaps and bounds. In the last three years, we've had over $675 million in capital investments on expansions, and those expansions are creating opportunities and jobs."Those opportunities, however, have a trickle-down effect, Brown noted. "It's pushing down to the indirect service providers —&nbsp;construction, electricians, HVAC, plumbers. All of those sectors are trying to hire folks," he said. Some workers are also taking advantage of those new full-time opportunities, but leaving behind vacancies in two or three part-time positions as a result.Those types of vacancies are pummeling the leisure and hospitality sector, Goss said. "That sector is down significantly from pre-COVID levels," he said, noting Kansas has lost about 9,000 restaurant and hotel jobs in the past two years. Nebraska has lost 7,000 jobs in that sector."Particularly in some of our smaller towns, when your restaurant closes, some of those are just not going to open back up," Goss said. "That's a tragedy, and for our economy, certainly not good."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642798220419.jpeg" alt="Doerksen" />
 <figcaption>Doerksen</figcaption>
 </figure>Doerksen said the largest decline in the Kansas workforce is in the 16- to 24-year-old range, with drops also noted in the 55 and older range.She said the decline in the younger generation's participation and availability is a factor in the leisure and hospitality sector's struggle.<h2>A new generation</h2>Both Goss and Brown pointed to outmigration of younger workers to larger cities as a key issue — especially in rural counties already facing depopulation."Our best and most expensive export is our students," Brown said. "Career and technical education has been a mainstay of communities like Salina for decades. Salina Area Technical College has a 97 to 98 percent placement rate for their graduates. But as birth rates go down, that pipeline doesn't get filled."He said communities need to do a better job of helping students understand all of the careers available locally. "Take a hospital — it's its own little community. When students drive by, they may just think doctors and nurses, but there's everything from management to financial positions. Most hospitals have a clergy on staff, IT departments, maintenance ... there's opportunities that run the gamut."But among young people staying in rural parts of Kansas and Nebraska, Goss said he's seeing a trend of fewer of them entering the workforce."Particularly for the rural areas, you normally see a high participation rate," he said. "But even in those parts of the country, participating rates have declined ... and the employment to population rate is declining."That participation rate is dropping at the same time most rural counties are facing the issue of depopulation."Of the 93 counties in Nebraska," he said, "75 have fewer people in them now than they did in the 1930s. That trend is going to continue."<h2>Economic growth</h2>Fueled partially by pent-up demand and increased dollars in pockets from government payments such as the Child Tax Credit of 2021, most of the businesses Brown works with saw significant growth last year.He said sales tax revenue — a key indicator measuring local economic activity — was up half a percent in Salina in 2020, and up a sizable 9 percent through November 2021."Anecdotally, for Main Street businesses, most of them said this was one of the best holiday seasons we've had in several years," Brown said.But productivity is not keeping up with demand, Goss said. "The savings rate went up significant during the pandemic and that was quite significant — no happy hour, no traveling," he said. "Individuals have those savings accounts and they see some cushion, and some aren't back to work yet."Anticipated interest rate hikes and inflationary concerns will diminish that cushion for many, Goss said, noting fuel costs have driven family expenses up significantly.<h2>Wages</h2>While wages in many sectors have increased, "they're not where they need to be" to attract workers, Goss said."Individuals right now are not seeing the opportunities and so the participation rate comes down," he said. "Normally, you'd see them coming back into the workforce. But the fact is that what worked before at $12 an hour isn't going to work."Goss said he has seen an uptick in programs designed not just to attract, but retain, employees, including vesting plans, retirement plans and improved health care options — and expects to see those offerings increase in an attempt to attract new, loyal employees.<h2>Solutions</h2>Brown said employers are increasingly reaching out to those they historically have not, including working with agencies serving the developmentally disabled, such as OCCK Inc. in Salina."(Employers) are doing a better job of working with these groups so (clients) are getting good opportunities and are stepping forward to take on some of these roles," he said. Goss said retail centers such as North Platte or Salina likely will continue to grow, especially for those retiring off the farm in outlying rural counties."More and more retirement homes are being built closer to where the farmers farmed and where the rural residents lived," he said. "There will be more and more individuals remaining closer to home when they retire, especially in communities on the interstates."Brown said communities need to increase their outreach to those who have outmigrated, especially as the trend of "de-densifying" continues in urban markets and larger cities."We all need to do a better job from a community level of inviting back these students and second-generation kids who have gone out and moved to a bigger community," he said. They're starting to realize that where they grew up isn't as bad as they thought when they were 18 years old."Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Labor shortage plagues Midwest — with no easy solutions

WASHINGTON (AP) — GlaxoSmithKline’s IV drug for COVID-19 should no longer be used because it is likely ineffective against the omicron subvariant that now <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions">accounts for most U.S. cases, </a>federal health regulators said Tuesday.

The Food and Drug <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/149534/download">Administration announced</a> that the company’s <a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-sotrovimab-emergency-use-authorization">antibody drug sotrovimab </a>is no longer authorized to treat patients in any U.S. state or territory. The decision was expected, because the FDA had repeatedly restricted the drug’s use in the Northeast and other regions as the BA.2 version of omicron became dominant.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that BA.2 accounts for 72% of the COVID-19 cases sequenced by health authorities. Some experts have warned of a BA.2-driven surge similar to those that have hit European countries, though U.S. case counts have yet to rise.

The drug from Glaxo and codeveloper Vir Biotechnology is the latest antibody medication to be sideline by the mutating coronavirus, which previously rendered drugs from Eli Lilly and Regeneron obsolete. The FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-f8cbfdb48f6c78aea16930b45af4e024">pulled their authorization</a>&nbsp;in January after concluding they were ineffective against the original version of omicron.

The decision leaves doctors and hospitals with only one antibody still authorized for use against routine COVID-19 cases: a different Eli Lilly drug that regulators say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-a091b5b03b939798539a19c6b94346d2">appears effective</a>&nbsp;against BA.2.

Doctors can also prescribe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-medication-f3578e19f2840ce167f081ec9e236c3c">antiviral pills</a>&nbsp;that haven’t been impacted by omicron’s mutations, which mainly affect the virus’ signature spike protein. The pills from Pfizer and Merck mostly have been shipped to pharmacy chains and medical clinics in hopes of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-science-business-health-eebb8cbe3b0e7ae16eafefb5abc85d2d">getting them to patients</a>&nbsp;early enough to work.

The federal government purchased nearly $2 billion worth of Glaxo’s drug, shipping more than 900,000 doses to U.S. states since last fall.

London-based Glaxo said last month it is studying a higher dose of the antibody against BA.2. But the FDA would need to review and authorize the company’s request before giving the OK to resume use in the U.S.

The antibody drugs are laboratory-made versions of virus-blocking proteins found in the human body. Each antibody is formulated to attack a specific invader — such as a virus or bacteria — but the medications need to be reformulated as the coronavirus repeatedly mutates.

The drugs are prescribed for early use in people with a recent COVID-19 infection who face increased risk of severe disease or death, including seniors or people with diabetes, heart disease and other common health problems.

WASHINGTON (AP) — GlaxoSmithKline’s IV drug for COVID-19 should no longer be used because it is likely ineffective against the omicron subvariant that now <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions">accounts for most U.S. cases, </a>federal health regulators said Tuesday.The Food and Drug <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/149534/download">Administration announced</a> that the company’s <a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-sotrovimab-emergency-use-authorization">antibody drug sotrovimab </a>is no longer authorized to treat patients in any U.S. state or territory. The decision was expected, because the FDA had repeatedly restricted the drug’s use in the Northeast and other regions as the BA.2 version of omicron became dominant.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that BA.2 accounts for 72% of the COVID-19 cases sequenced by health authorities. Some experts have warned of a BA.2-driven surge similar to those that have hit European countries, though U.S. case counts have yet to rise.The drug from Glaxo and codeveloper Vir Biotechnology is the latest antibody medication to be sideline by the mutating coronavirus, which previously rendered drugs from Eli Lilly and Regeneron obsolete. The FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-f8cbfdb48f6c78aea16930b45af4e024">pulled their authorization</a>&nbsp;in January after concluding they were ineffective against the original version of omicron.The decision leaves doctors and hospitals with only one antibody still authorized for use against routine COVID-19 cases: a different Eli Lilly drug that regulators say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-a091b5b03b939798539a19c6b94346d2">appears effective</a>&nbsp;against BA.2.Doctors can also prescribe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-medication-f3578e19f2840ce167f081ec9e236c3c">antiviral pills</a>&nbsp;that haven’t been impacted by omicron’s mutations, which mainly affect the virus’ signature spike protein. The pills from Pfizer and Merck mostly have been shipped to pharmacy chains and medical clinics in hopes of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-science-business-health-eebb8cbe3b0e7ae16eafefb5abc85d2d">getting them to patients</a>&nbsp;early enough to work.The federal government purchased nearly $2 billion worth of Glaxo’s drug, shipping more than 900,000 doses to U.S. states since last fall.London-based Glaxo said last month it is studying a higher dose of the antibody against BA.2. But the FDA would need to review and authorize the company’s request before giving the OK to resume use in the U.S.The antibody drugs are laboratory-made versions of virus-blocking proteins found in the human body. Each antibody is formulated to attack a specific invader — such as a virus or bacteria — but the medications need to be reformulated as the coronavirus repeatedly mutates.The drugs are prescribed for early use in people with a recent COVID-19 infection who face increased risk of severe disease or death, including seniors or people with diabetes, heart disease and other common health problems.___

FDA pulls another COVID drug as omicron BA.2  dominates cases

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans blocked a Democratic attempt to begin Senate debate on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-congress-nancy-pelosi-f13a5a08f62524b05ed77b98673148f0">a $10 billion COVID-19 compromise,</a>&nbsp;pressing to entangle the bipartisan package with an election-year showdown over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-covid-health-mexico-941e55cb2133fbd52ed76a80a20e3cd6">immigration restrictions&nbsp;</a>that poses a politically uncomfortable fight for Democrats.

A day after Democratic and GOP bargainers reached agreement on providing the money for treatments, vaccines and testing, a Democratic move to push the measure past a procedural hurdle failed 52-47 Tuesday. All 50 Republicans opposed the move, leaving Democrats 13 votes short of the 60 they needed to prevail.

Hours earlier, Republicans said they’d withhold crucial support for the measure unless Democrats agreed to votes on an amendment preventing President Joe Biden from lifting Trump-era curbs on migrants entering the U.S. With Biden polling poorly on his handling of immigration and Democrats divided on the issue, Republicans see a focus on migrants as a fertile line of attack.

“I think there will have to be” an amendment preserving the immigration restrictions “in order to move the bill” bolstering federal pandemic efforts, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters.

At least 10 GOP votes will be needed in the 50-50 Senate for the measure to reach the 60 votes it must have for approval. Republicans could withhold that support until Democrats permit a vote on an immigration amendment.

Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., want Congress to approve the pandemic bill before lawmakers leave in days for a two-week recess. Tuesday’s vote suggested that could be hard.

”This is a potentially devastating vote for every single American who was worried about the possibility of a new variant rearing its nasty head within a few months,” Schumer said after the vote.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “Today’s Senate vote is a step backward for our ability to respond to this virus.”

The new omicron variant, BA.2, is expected to spark a fresh increase in U.S. COVID-19 cases. Around 980,000 Americans and over 6 million people worldwide have died from the disease.

The $10 billion pandemic package is far less than the $22.5 billion Biden initially sought. It also lacks $5 billion Biden wanted to battle the pandemic overseas after the two sides couldn’t agree on budget savings to pay for it, as Republicans demanded.

At least half the bill would finance research and production of therapeutics to treat COVID-19. Money would also be used to buy vaccines and tests and to research new variants.

The measure is paid for by pulling back unspent pandemic funds provided earlier for protecting aviation manufacturing jobs, closed entertainment venues and other programs.

Administration officials have said the government has run out of money to finance COVID-19 testing and treatments for people without insurance, and is running low on money for boosters, free monoclonal antibody treatments and care for people with immune system weaknesses.

At the 2020 height of the pandemic, President Donald Trump imposed immigration curbs letting authorities immediately expel asylum seekers and migrants for public health reasons. The ban is set to expire May 23, triggering what by all accounts will be a massive increase in people trying to cross the Mexican border into the U.S.

That confronts Democrats with messy choices ahead of fall elections when they’re expected to struggle to retain their hair-breadth House and Senate majorities.

Many of the party’s lawmakers and their liberal supporters want the U.S. to open its doors to more immigrants. But moderates and some Democrats confronting tight November reelections worry about lifting the restrictions and alienating centrist voters.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., who faces a competitive reelection this fall, declined to say whether she would support retaining the Trump-era ban but said more needs to be done.

“I need a plan, we need a plan,” she said in a brief interview. “There’s going to be a surge at the border. There should be a plan and I’ve been calling for it all along.”

Shortly before Tuesday’s vote, Schumer showed no taste for exposing his party to a divisive immigration vote.

“This is a bipartisan agreement that does a whole lot of important good for the American people. Vaccines, testing, therapeutics,” he said. “It should not be held hostage for an extraneous issue.”

Jeff Zients, head of White House COVID-19 task force, expressed the same view.

“This should not be included on any funding bill,” he said of immigration. “The decision should be made by the CDC. That’s where it has been, and that’s where it belongs.”

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which initiated the move two years ago, said earlier this month that it would lift the ban next month. The restrictions, known as Title 42, have been harder to justify as pandemic restrictions have eased.

Trump administration officials cast the curb as a way to keep COVID-19 from spreading further in the U.S. Democrats considered that an excuse for Trump, whose anti-immigrant rhetoric was a hallmark of his presidency, to keep migrants from entering the country.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., said she supported terminating Trump’s curb and questioned GOP motives for seeking to reinstate it.

“I find it very ironic for those who haven’t wanted to have a vaccination mandate, for those who did not want to have masks in the classroom, for them to suddenly be very interested in protecting the public,” she said.

But Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said he would support a Senate COVID-19 aid bill if it included the GOP effort to retain the Trump immigration restrictions.

“Why wouldn’t I?” he said in a brief interview.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649207753056.png" alt="“I think there will have to be” an amendment preserving the immigration restrictions “in order to move the bill” bolstering federal pandemic efforts, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>“I think there will have to be” an amendment preserving the immigration restrictions “in order to move the bill” bolstering federal pandemic efforts, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans blocked a Democratic attempt to begin Senate debate on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-congress-nancy-pelosi-f13a5a08f62524b05ed77b98673148f0">a $10 billion COVID-19 compromise,</a>&nbsp;pressing to entangle the bipartisan package with an election-year showdown over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-covid-health-mexico-941e55cb2133fbd52ed76a80a20e3cd6">immigration restrictions&nbsp;</a>that poses a politically uncomfortable fight for Democrats.A day after Democratic and GOP bargainers reached agreement on providing the money for treatments, vaccines and testing, a Democratic move to push the measure past a procedural hurdle failed 52-47 Tuesday. All 50 Republicans opposed the move, leaving Democrats 13 votes short of the 60 they needed to prevail.Hours earlier, Republicans said they’d withhold crucial support for the measure unless Democrats agreed to votes on an amendment preventing President Joe Biden from lifting Trump-era curbs on migrants entering the U.S. With Biden polling poorly on his handling of immigration and Democrats divided on the issue, Republicans see a focus on migrants as a fertile line of attack.“I think there will have to be” an amendment preserving the immigration restrictions “in order to move the bill” bolstering federal pandemic efforts, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters.At least 10 GOP votes will be needed in the 50-50 Senate for the measure to reach the 60 votes it must have for approval. Republicans could withhold that support until Democrats permit a vote on an immigration amendment.Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., want Congress to approve the pandemic bill before lawmakers leave in days for a two-week recess. Tuesday’s vote suggested that could be hard.”This is a potentially devastating vote for every single American who was worried about the possibility of a new variant rearing its nasty head within a few months,” Schumer said after the vote.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “Today’s Senate vote is a step backward for our ability to respond to this virus.”The new omicron variant, BA.2, is expected to spark a fresh increase in U.S. COVID-19 cases. Around 980,000 Americans and over 6 million people worldwide have died from the disease.The $10 billion pandemic package is far less than the $22.5 billion Biden initially sought. It also lacks $5 billion Biden wanted to battle the pandemic overseas after the two sides couldn’t agree on budget savings to pay for it, as Republicans demanded.At least half the bill would finance research and production of therapeutics to treat COVID-19. Money would also be used to buy vaccines and tests and to research new variants.The measure is paid for by pulling back unspent pandemic funds provided earlier for protecting aviation manufacturing jobs, closed entertainment venues and other programs.Administration officials have said the government has run out of money to finance COVID-19 testing and treatments for people without insurance, and is running low on money for boosters, free monoclonal antibody treatments and care for people with immune system weaknesses.At the 2020 height of the pandemic, President Donald Trump imposed immigration curbs letting authorities immediately expel asylum seekers and migrants for public health reasons. The ban is set to expire May 23, triggering what by all accounts will be a massive increase in people trying to cross the Mexican border into the U.S.That confronts Democrats with messy choices ahead of fall elections when they’re expected to struggle to retain their hair-breadth House and Senate majorities.Many of the party’s lawmakers and their liberal supporters want the U.S. to open its doors to more immigrants. But moderates and some Democrats confronting tight November reelections worry about lifting the restrictions and alienating centrist voters.Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., who faces a competitive reelection this fall, declined to say whether she would support retaining the Trump-era ban but said more needs to be done.“I need a plan, we need a plan,” she said in a brief interview. “There’s going to be a surge at the border. There should be a plan and I’ve been calling for it all along.”Shortly before Tuesday’s vote, Schumer showed no taste for exposing his party to a divisive immigration vote.“This is a bipartisan agreement that does a whole lot of important good for the American people. Vaccines, testing, therapeutics,” he said. “It should not be held hostage for an extraneous issue.”Jeff Zients, head of White House COVID-19 task force, expressed the same view.“This should not be included on any funding bill,” he said of immigration. “The decision should be made by the CDC. That’s where it has been, and that’s where it belongs.”The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which initiated the move two years ago, said earlier this month that it would lift the ban next month. The restrictions, known as Title 42, have been harder to justify as pandemic restrictions have eased.Trump administration officials cast the curb as a way to keep COVID-19 from spreading further in the U.S. Democrats considered that an excuse for Trump, whose anti-immigrant rhetoric was a hallmark of his presidency, to keep migrants from entering the country.Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., said she supported terminating Trump’s curb and questioned GOP motives for seeking to reinstate it.“I find it very ironic for those who haven’t wanted to have a vaccination mandate, for those who did not want to have masks in the classroom, for them to suddenly be very interested in protecting the public,” she said.But Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said he would support a Senate COVID-19 aid bill if it included the GOP effort to retain the Trump immigration restrictions.“Why wouldn’t I?” he said in a brief interview.

$10 Billion COVID relief bill held up on fight over immigration

GEARY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating an accidental shooting&nbsp; have identified the injured boy as 9-year-old Terrance Resto of Junction City, according to Junction City Police Captain Cory Odell.&nbsp; Late Wednesday morning, the boy was reported as stable and alert at a Wichita hospital.

&nbsp;Odell said the boy and his 11-year-old&nbsp; brother were "messing around in some capacity with a loaded firearm and Terrance was shot."

EMS transported the boy to Geary Community Hospital and he was then airlifted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita for treatment. The brother was not injured, according to Odell.

&nbsp;The shooting occurred just after 7p.m. Tuesday outside of the house where the boys lived at 2007 Northwind Drive, according to Odell.

GEARY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that critically injured a boy.

According to Junction City Police Captain Cory Odell, two brothers, ages 9 and 11, were messing around in some capacity with a loaded firearm and it appears that one accidentally shot the other.

Odell said the firearm involved was a handgun and the 9-year old suffered a wound to his body. EMS transported the boy to Geary Community Hospital and he was then airlifted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita for treatment.&nbsp;Another boy, a sibling, was not injured in the incident.

The name of the 9-year old has not yet been released.

GEARY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating an accidental shooting&nbsp; have identified the injured boy as 9-year-old Terrance Resto of Junction City, according to Junction City Police Captain Cory Odell.&nbsp; Late Wednesday morning, the boy was reported as stable and alert at a Wichita hospital.&nbsp;Odell said the boy and his 11-year-old&nbsp; brother were "messing around in some capacity with a loaded firearm and Terrance was shot."EMS transported the boy to Geary Community Hospital and he was then airlifted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita for treatment. The brother was not injured, according to Odell.&nbsp;The shooting occurred just after 7p.m. Tuesday outside of the house where the boys lived at 2007 Northwind Drive, according to Odell.--------GEARY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that critically injured a boy.According to Junction City Police Captain Cory Odell, two brothers, ages 9 and 11, were messing around in some capacity with a loaded firearm and it appears that one accidentally shot the other.Odell said the firearm involved was a handgun and the 9-year old suffered a wound to his body. EMS transported the boy to Geary Community Hospital and he was then airlifted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita for treatment.&nbsp;Another boy, a sibling, was not injured in the incident.&nbsp;The shooting occurred just after 7p.m. Tuesday outside of the house where the boys lived at 2007 Northwind Drive, according to Odell.The name of the 9-year old has not yet been released.

Police ID 9-year-old Kan. boy injured in accidental shooting

Police have released the name of the Salina man whose body was found in the Smoky Hill River on Saturday. Now they seek the public's help.

Following is a statement released Wednesday by the Salina Police Department.

The body located in the Smoky Hill River on April 2, 2022, has been identified as 73-year-old Patrick L. Johnston of Salina, Kansas. His last known address was 2140 E. Crawford, Salina, Kansas. The Salina Police Department’s investigation into Mr. Johnston’s death is ongoing and the police department is seeking information from the public regarding Mr. Johnston’s whereabouts and activities proceeding his death. If you knew Mr. Johnston and had contact with him between March 2 and April 2, 2022, please contact Detective Randy Constantino or Sgt. Kyle Tonniges at (785) 826-7210. Mr. Johnston’s next of kin have been notified.

Johnston was described as being&nbsp;5’11”, 150 pounds, and having a bald head, blue eyes.&nbsp; He&nbsp;was wearing blue jeans, a camouflage jacket with a black zip-up hoodie, and a face mask. Additionally, had on a thigh pouch.

If you have any information concerning this incident, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an on—line tip at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, or Det. Constantino, case 2022-9089.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649259787920.png" alt="Patrick L. Johnston.&nbsp;Date of photo: March 03, 2017.- Salina Police Department" />
 <figcaption>Patrick L. Johnston.&nbsp;Date of photo: March 03, 2017.- Salina Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTPolice have released the name of the Salina man whose body was found in the Smoky Hill River on Saturday. Now they seek the public's help.Following is a statement released Wednesday by the Salina Police Department.The body located in the Smoky Hill River on April 2, 2022, has been identified as 73-year-old Patrick L. Johnston of Salina, Kansas. His last known address was 2140 E. Crawford, Salina, Kansas. The Salina Police Department’s investigation into Mr. Johnston’s death is ongoing and the police department is seeking information from the public regarding Mr. Johnston’s whereabouts and activities proceeding his death. If you knew Mr. Johnston and had contact with him between March 2 and April 2, 2022, please contact Detective Randy Constantino or Sgt. Kyle Tonniges at (785) 826-7210. Mr. Johnston’s next of kin have been notified.Johnston was described as being&nbsp;5’11”, 150 pounds, and having a bald head, blue eyes.&nbsp; He&nbsp;was wearing blue jeans, a camouflage jacket with a black zip-up hoodie, and a face mask. Additionally, had on a thigh pouch.If you have any information concerning this incident, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an on—line tip at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, or Det. Constantino, case 2022-9089.

Police ID Kansas man whose body was found in river

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped charges against a man who had been arrested in a double shooting last year outside a dice game in Wichita that killed one man and injured another.

 The charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery were dropped against 40-year-old Jermall Campbell. 

Campbell was arrested 10 days after the June 20 shooting inside a home that killed 47-year-old Deandre Freeman and injured a 53-year-old man. The Sedgwick County Attorney's Office and Campbell's attorney declined to give details on why the charges were dropped, but said Campbell was no longer in custody and the case remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625142361655.png" alt="Campbell-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Campbell-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped charges against a man who had been arrested in a double shooting last year outside a dice game in Wichita that killed one man and injured another. The charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery were dropped against 40-year-old Jermall Campbell. Campbell was arrested 10 days after the June 20 shooting inside a home that killed 47-year-old Deandre Freeman and injured a 53-year-old man. The Sedgwick County Attorney's Office and Campbell's attorney declined to give details on why the charges were dropped, but said Campbell was no longer in custody and the case remains under investigation.

Charges dropped against Kan. man in killing outside dice game

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma House gave final legislative approval on Tuesday to a bill that would make performing an abortion a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

With little discussion and no debate, the Republican-controlled House voted 70-14 to send&nbsp;<a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB612&amp;Tab=0&amp;Session=2200" target="_blank">the bill</a>&nbsp;to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has previously said he’d sign any anti-abortion bill that comes to his desk.

The bill is one of several anti-abortion measures still alive in Oklahoma’s Legislature this year, part of a trend of GOP-led states&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-arizona-mississippi-d88d5a28973039a3fedadaaf3d086b1c">passing aggressive anti-abortion legislation</a>&nbsp;as the conservative U.S. Supreme Court is considering ratcheting back abortion rights that have been in place for nearly 50 years.

The Oklahoma bill, which passed the Senate last year, makes an exception only for an abortion performed to save the life of the mother, said GOP state Rep. Jim Olsen, of Roland, who sponsored the bill. Under the bill, a person convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

“The penalties are for the doctor, not for the woman,” Olsen said.

Similar anti-abortion bills approved by the Oklahoma Legislature and in other conservative states in recent years have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-business-health-reproductive-rights-oklahoma-0dfdc7b4d18234431acfcf5473420be8">stopped by the courts</a>&nbsp;as unconstitutional, but anti-abortion lawmakers have been buoyed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-texas-0b4ed1808ed44d176bf6c86e6646a718">Texas abortion restrictions</a>&nbsp;to remain in place. The new Texas law, the most restrictive anti-abortion law in the U.S. in decades, leaves enforcement up to private citizens, who are entitled to collect what critics call a “bounty” of $10,000 if they bring a successful lawsuit against a provider or anyone who helps a patient obtain an abortion. Several states, including Oklahoma, are pursuing similar legislation this year.

The Oklahoma bill’s passage came on the same day as more than 100 people attended a “Bans Off Oklahoma” rally outside the Capitol in support of abortion rights.

“These legislators have continued their relentless attacks on our freedoms,” said Emily Wales, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. “These restrictions are not about improving the safety of the work that we do. They are about shaming and stigmatizing people who need and deserve abortion access.”

Wales said Planned Parenthood’s abortion clinic in Oklahoma has seen an 800% increase in the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-oklahoma-65225decf918b820801d162f14b09b80">women from Texas</a>&nbsp;after that state passed its new anti-abortion law last year.

The Texas law bans abortion once&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-laws-government-and-politics-health-77c9ba98c4f4ab46fdbd5bcc47b5b938">cardiac activity</a>&nbsp;is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-texas-dallas-laws-greg-abbott-3717a0258b598eba06bb1baf90b645f4">without exceptions</a>&nbsp;in cases of rape or incest.

Also Tuesday, the Oklahoma House adopted a&nbsp;<a href="http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLR/HFLR/HCR1014%20HFLR.PDF" target="_blank">resolution</a>&nbsp;to recognize lives lost due to abortion and urge citizens to fly flags at half-staff on Jan. 22, the day the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-united-states-john-roberts-17f839d0c03af65dc2b0d0599e941efa">its landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649251630071.png" alt="Protesters at the Oklahoma Statehouse -photo courtesy Planned Parenthood Action" />
 <figcaption>Protesters at the Oklahoma Statehouse -photo courtesy Planned Parenthood Action</figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma House gave final legislative approval on Tuesday to a bill that would make performing an abortion a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.With little discussion and no debate, the Republican-controlled House voted 70-14 to send&nbsp;<a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB612&amp;Tab=0&amp;Session=2200" target="_blank">the bill</a>&nbsp;to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has previously said he’d sign any anti-abortion bill that comes to his desk.The bill is one of several anti-abortion measures still alive in Oklahoma’s Legislature this year, part of a trend of GOP-led states&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-arizona-mississippi-d88d5a28973039a3fedadaaf3d086b1c">passing aggressive anti-abortion legislation</a>&nbsp;as the conservative U.S. Supreme Court is considering ratcheting back abortion rights that have been in place for nearly 50 years.The Oklahoma bill, which passed the Senate last year, makes an exception only for an abortion performed to save the life of the mother, said GOP state Rep. Jim Olsen, of Roland, who sponsored the bill. Under the bill, a person convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.“The penalties are for the doctor, not for the woman,” Olsen said.Similar anti-abortion bills approved by the Oklahoma Legislature and in other conservative states in recent years have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-business-health-reproductive-rights-oklahoma-0dfdc7b4d18234431acfcf5473420be8">stopped by the courts</a>&nbsp;as unconstitutional, but anti-abortion lawmakers have been buoyed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-texas-0b4ed1808ed44d176bf6c86e6646a718">Texas abortion restrictions</a>&nbsp;to remain in place. The new Texas law, the most restrictive anti-abortion law in the U.S. in decades, leaves enforcement up to private citizens, who are entitled to collect what critics call a “bounty” of $10,000 if they bring a successful lawsuit against a provider or anyone who helps a patient obtain an abortion. Several states, including Oklahoma, are pursuing similar legislation this year.The Oklahoma bill’s passage came on the same day as more than 100 people attended a “Bans Off Oklahoma” rally outside the Capitol in support of abortion rights.“These legislators have continued their relentless attacks on our freedoms,” said Emily Wales, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. “These restrictions are not about improving the safety of the work that we do. They are about shaming and stigmatizing people who need and deserve abortion access.”Wales said Planned Parenthood’s abortion clinic in Oklahoma has seen an 800% increase in the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-oklahoma-65225decf918b820801d162f14b09b80">women from Texas</a>&nbsp;after that state passed its new anti-abortion law last year.The Texas law bans abortion once&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-laws-government-and-politics-health-77c9ba98c4f4ab46fdbd5bcc47b5b938">cardiac activity</a>&nbsp;is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-texas-dallas-laws-greg-abbott-3717a0258b598eba06bb1baf90b645f4">without exceptions</a>&nbsp;in cases of rape or incest.Also Tuesday, the Oklahoma House adopted a&nbsp;<a href="http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20FLR/HFLR/HCR1014%20HFLR.PDF" target="_blank">resolution</a>&nbsp;to recognize lives lost due to abortion and urge citizens to fly flags at half-staff on Jan. 22, the day the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-united-states-john-roberts-17f839d0c03af65dc2b0d0599e941efa">its landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade</a>.

Oklahoma lawmakers vote to ban abortion, imprison doctors

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration plans to freeze federal student loan payments through Aug. 31, extending a moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to postpone payments during the coronavirus pandemic, according to an administration official familiar with the White House’s decision-making.

Student loan payments were scheduled to resume May 1 after being halted since early in the pandemic. But following calls from Democrats in Congress, the White House plans to give borrowers additional time to prepare for payments.

The action applies to more than 43 million Americans who owe a combined $1.6 trillion in student debt held by the federal government, according to the latest data from the Education Department. That includes more than 7 million borrowers who have defaulted on student loans, meaning they are at least 270 days late on payments.

Borrowers will not be asked to make payments until after Aug. 31, and interest rates are expected to remain at 0% during that period.

The extension was first reported Tuesday by Bloomberg.

Democrats on education panels in the House and Senate recently urged President Joe Biden to extend the moratorium through the end of the year, citing continued economic upheaval.

Sen. Patty Murray said more time is needed to help Americans prepare for repayment and to rethink the government’s existing system for repaying student debt.

“It is ruining lives and holding people back,” she said in a statement last month. “Borrowers are struggling with rising costs, struggling to get their feet back under them after public health and economic crises, and struggling with a broken student loan system — and all this is felt especially hard by borrowers of color.”

Murray called on the Biden administration to lift all borrowers out of default to provide a “fresh start” following the pandemic.

The decision is being made amid rising concern that large numbers of Americans would quickly fall behind if payments restarted in May.

In March, the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank warned that resuming loan payments could place a heavy burden on borrowers who faced financial hardship during the pandemic. It said the impact would be hardest on Black families, who are more likely to rely on student loans to pay for college.

“Serious delinquency rates for student debt could snap back from historic lows to their previous highs in which 10% or more of the debt was past due,” the bank said.

The Trump administration initially gave Americans the option to suspend loan payments in March 2020, and Congress made it automatic soon after. The pause was extended twice by the Trump administration and twice more under Biden.

It remains in question whether Biden will pursue widespread debt forgiveness to reduce the nation’s student debt. Some Democrats in Congress have pressed Biden to use executive action to cancel $50,000 for all student loan borrowers, saying it would jumpstart the economy and help Black Americans who on average face higher levels of student debt.

Last year, Biden asked the Education and Justice departments to review the legality of widespread debt cancellation, but no decision has been announced. Biden previously said he supports canceling up to $10,000, but he argued it should be done through congressional action.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration plans to freeze federal student loan payments through Aug. 31, extending a moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to postpone payments during the coronavirus pandemic, according to an administration official familiar with the White House’s decision-making.Student loan payments were scheduled to resume May 1 after being halted since early in the pandemic. But following calls from Democrats in Congress, the White House plans to give borrowers additional time to prepare for payments.The action applies to more than 43 million Americans who owe a combined $1.6 trillion in student debt held by the federal government, according to the latest data from the Education Department. That includes more than 7 million borrowers who have defaulted on student loans, meaning they are at least 270 days late on payments.Borrowers will not be asked to make payments until after Aug. 31, and interest rates are expected to remain at 0% during that period.The extension was first reported Tuesday by Bloomberg.Democrats on education panels in the House and Senate recently urged President Joe Biden to extend the moratorium through the end of the year, citing continued economic upheaval.Sen. Patty Murray said more time is needed to help Americans prepare for repayment and to rethink the government’s existing system for repaying student debt.“It is ruining lives and holding people back,” she said in a statement last month. “Borrowers are struggling with rising costs, struggling to get their feet back under them after public health and economic crises, and struggling with a broken student loan system — and all this is felt especially hard by borrowers of color.”Murray called on the Biden administration to lift all borrowers out of default to provide a “fresh start” following the pandemic.The decision is being made amid rising concern that large numbers of Americans would quickly fall behind if payments restarted in May.In March, the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank warned that resuming loan payments could place a heavy burden on borrowers who faced financial hardship during the pandemic. It said the impact would be hardest on Black families, who are more likely to rely on student loans to pay for college.“Serious delinquency rates for student debt could snap back from historic lows to their previous highs in which 10% or more of the debt was past due,” the bank said.The Trump administration initially gave Americans the option to suspend loan payments in March 2020, and Congress made it automatic soon after. The pause was extended twice by the Trump administration and twice more under Biden.It remains in question whether Biden will pursue widespread debt forgiveness to reduce the nation’s student debt. Some Democrats in Congress have pressed Biden to use executive action to cancel $50,000 for all student loan borrowers, saying it would jumpstart the economy and help Black Americans who on average face higher levels of student debt.Last year, Biden asked the Education and Justice departments to review the legality of widespread debt cancellation, but no decision has been announced. Biden previously said he supports canceling up to $10,000, but he argued it should be done through congressional action.___

Pause on $1.6 trillion in student loan payments extended again

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminds those who 
make estimated tax payments such as self-employed individuals, retirees,
 investors, businesses, corporations and others that the payment for the
 first quarter of 2022 is due Monday, April 18.

The 2022 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-es">Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals</a>, can help taxpayers estimate their first quarterly tax payment.

Income taxes are a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-as-you-go-so-you-wont-owe-a-guide-to-withholding-estimated-taxes-and-ways-to-avoid-the-estimated-tax-penalty">pay-as-you-go</a>
 process. This means, by law, taxes must be paid as income is earned or 
received during the year. Most people pay their taxes through 
withholding from paychecks, pension payments, Social Security benefits 
or certain other government payments including unemployment 
compensation.

Most often, those who are self-employed or in the gig economy need to make <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">estimated tax payments.</a>
 Similarly, investors, retirees and others often need to make these 
payments because a substantial portion of their income is not subject to
 withholding. Other income generally not subject to withholding includes
 interest, dividends, capital gains, alimony and rental income. Paying 
quarterly estimated taxes will usually lessen and may even eliminate any
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes">penalties</a>.

Exceptions to the penalty and special rules apply to some groups of 
taxpayers, such as farmers and fishers, casualty and disaster victims, 
those who recently became disabled, recent retirees and those who 
receive income unevenly during the year. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-2210">Form 2210, Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estates and Trusts</a>, and its instructions for more information.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-es">Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals</a>, includes instructions to help taxpayers figure their estimated taxes. They can also visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a> to pay electronically. The best way to make a payment is through <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS Online Account</a>.
 There taxpayers can see their payment history, any pending payments and
 other useful tax information. Taxpayers can make an estimated tax 
payment by using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">IRS Direct Pay</a>; <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">Debit Card, Credit Card or Digital Wallet</a>; or the Treasury Department's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">EFTPS</a>). If paying by check, taxpayers should be sure to make the check payable to the "United States Treasury."

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-505">Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax</a>,
 has additional details, including worksheets and examples, that can be 
especially helpful to those who have dividend or capital gain income, 
owe alternative minimum tax or self-employment tax, or have other 
special situations.

Tax help is available 24/7 on IRS.gov. The IRS website offers a 
variety of online tools to help taxpayers answer common tax questions. 
For example, taxpayers can search the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics">Tax Topics</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</a> to get answers to common questions.

The IRS is continuing to expand ways to communicate to taxpayers who 
prefer to get information in other languages. The IRS has posted 
translated tax resources in 20 other languages on IRS.gov. For more 
information, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/languages">We Speak Your Language</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminds those who 
make estimated tax payments such as self-employed individuals, retirees,
 investors, businesses, corporations and others that the payment for the
 first quarter of 2022 is due Monday, April 18.The 2022 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-es">Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals</a>, can help taxpayers estimate their first quarterly tax payment.Income taxes are a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-as-you-go-so-you-wont-owe-a-guide-to-withholding-estimated-taxes-and-ways-to-avoid-the-estimated-tax-penalty">pay-as-you-go</a>
 process. This means, by law, taxes must be paid as income is earned or 
received during the year. Most people pay their taxes through 
withholding from paychecks, pension payments, Social Security benefits 
or certain other government payments including unemployment 
compensation.Most often, those who are self-employed or in the gig economy need to make <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">estimated tax payments.</a>
 Similarly, investors, retirees and others often need to make these 
payments because a substantial portion of their income is not subject to
 withholding. Other income generally not subject to withholding includes
 interest, dividends, capital gains, alimony and rental income. Paying 
quarterly estimated taxes will usually lessen and may even eliminate any
 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes">penalties</a>.Exceptions to the penalty and special rules apply to some groups of 
taxpayers, such as farmers and fishers, casualty and disaster victims, 
those who recently became disabled, recent retirees and those who 
receive income unevenly during the year. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-2210">Form 2210, Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estates and Trusts</a>, and its instructions for more information.<h2>How to pay estimated taxes</h2><a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040-es">Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals</a>, includes instructions to help taxpayers figure their estimated taxes. They can also visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a> to pay electronically. The best way to make a payment is through <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS Online Account</a>.
 There taxpayers can see their payment history, any pending payments and
 other useful tax information. Taxpayers can make an estimated tax 
payment by using <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">IRS Direct Pay</a>; <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">Debit Card, Credit Card or Digital Wallet</a>; or the Treasury Department's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">EFTPS</a>). If paying by check, taxpayers should be sure to make the check payable to the "United States Treasury."<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-505">Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax</a>,
 has additional details, including worksheets and examples, that can be 
especially helpful to those who have dividend or capital gain income, 
owe alternative minimum tax or self-employment tax, or have other 
special situations.<h2>IRS.gov assistance 24/7</h2>Tax help is available 24/7 on IRS.gov. The IRS website offers a 
variety of online tools to help taxpayers answer common tax questions. 
For example, taxpayers can search the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics">Tax Topics</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</a> to get answers to common questions.The IRS is continuing to expand ways to communicate to taxpayers who 
prefer to get information in other languages. The IRS has posted 
translated tax resources in 20 other languages on IRS.gov. For more 
information, see <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/languages">We Speak Your Language</a>.

First-quarter deadline for tax payments around the corner

GALENA, Mo. (AP) — A judge on Tuesday dismissed criminal charges against three men prosecuted after a tourist boat sank and killed 17 people during a 2018 Missouri storm.

The boat was swamped by waves caused by strong winds shortly after it entered Table Rock Lake near Branson on July 19, 2018. Riders from Missouri, Indiana, Illinois and Arkansas were killed. Fourteen people survived.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-duck-boat-accident-charges-9be4b42462ab8c878cd35cc7f3bbf809">Prosecutors last year charged</a>&nbsp;Kenneth Scott McKee, 54, the captain of the vessel known as a duck boat; Curtis P. Lanham, 39, the general manager at Ride the Ducks in Branson; and Charles V. Baltzell, 79, the operations supervisor who was a manager on duty the night the boat sank, each with 17 counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter.

While Stone County Judge Alan Blankenship said the men — amphibious boat staff — were aware of the storm, he said there's no evidence that they knew about the storm’s “gust front,” KYTV-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ky3.com/2022/04/05/judge-dismisses-state-charges-against-3-ride-ducks-employees-2018-tragedy/">reported</a>.

Lawyers for the defendants said they're grateful and respect the judge's decision.

“This was a tragedy for all involved," McKee’s attorney James Hobbs said.

The Missouri Attorney General's Office is considering refiling charges.

“We’re disappointed in the Court’s decision, but we’re not giving up in our pursuit of justice on behalf of the 17 victims and their families,” spokesman Chris Nuelle said in a statement. "Our Office hopes to refile charges and continue this case, and will confer with the local prosecutor to that end in the coming days.”

When the criminal charges were filed last year, an affidavit from an investigator accused McKee of taking the boat onto the lake despite concerns about an approaching storm. Lanham and Baltzell are accused of failing to communicate weather conditions and to stop operations after a severe thunderstorm warning was issued.

During the preliminary hearing, attorneys for the defendants said the men were not aware that a thunderstorm warning had been issued and a meteorologist at a nearby TV station was urging people to leave the lake immediately, The Kansas City Star reported.

Testimony showed the employees at Ride the Ducks, which operated the popular tourist attraction, typically checked only a radar from Earth Networks, a private meteorological company, for weather conditions. The radar showed rain, not wind, was expected that day at the lake.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1563393605763.png" alt="The night of the fatal Duck Boat tragedy photo courtesy KYTV" />
 <figcaption>The night of the fatal Duck Boat tragedy photo courtesy KYTV</figcaption>
 </figure>GALENA, Mo. (AP) — A judge on Tuesday dismissed criminal charges against three men prosecuted after a tourist boat sank and killed 17 people during a 2018 Missouri storm.The boat was swamped by waves caused by strong winds shortly after it entered Table Rock Lake near Branson on July 19, 2018. Riders from Missouri, Indiana, Illinois and Arkansas were killed. Fourteen people survived.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-duck-boat-accident-charges-9be4b42462ab8c878cd35cc7f3bbf809">Prosecutors last year charged</a>&nbsp;Kenneth Scott McKee, 54, the captain of the vessel known as a duck boat; Curtis P. Lanham, 39, the general manager at Ride the Ducks in Branson; and Charles V. Baltzell, 79, the operations supervisor who was a manager on duty the night the boat sank, each with 17 counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter.While Stone County Judge Alan Blankenship said the men — amphibious boat staff — were aware of the storm, he said there's no evidence that they knew about the storm’s “gust front,” KYTV-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ky3.com/2022/04/05/judge-dismisses-state-charges-against-3-ride-ducks-employees-2018-tragedy/">reported</a>.Lawyers for the defendants said they're grateful and respect the judge's decision.“This was a tragedy for all involved," McKee’s attorney James Hobbs said.The Missouri Attorney General's Office is considering refiling charges.“We’re disappointed in the Court’s decision, but we’re not giving up in our pursuit of justice on behalf of the 17 victims and their families,” spokesman Chris Nuelle said in a statement. "Our Office hopes to refile charges and continue this case, and will confer with the local prosecutor to that end in the coming days.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573695624494.png" alt="photo NTSB" />
 <figcaption>photo NTSB</figcaption>
 </figure>When the criminal charges were filed last year, an affidavit from an investigator accused McKee of taking the boat onto the lake despite concerns about an approaching storm. Lanham and Baltzell are accused of failing to communicate weather conditions and to stop operations after a severe thunderstorm warning was issued.During the preliminary hearing, attorneys for the defendants said the men were not aware that a thunderstorm warning had been issued and a meteorologist at a nearby TV station was urging people to leave the lake immediately, The Kansas City Star reported.Testimony showed the employees at Ride the Ducks, which operated the popular tourist attraction, typically checked only a radar from Earth Networks, a private meteorological company, for weather conditions. The radar showed rain, not wind, was expected that day at the lake.

Judge dismisses charges for Branson Duck Boat tragedy

RENO COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges after intercepting a package sent in the mail.

The postal service in Wichita intercepted the package, according to law enforcement.&nbsp; After that the postal service and drug enforcement unit coordinated the delivery and arrested the recipient identified as 34-year-old Chelsea Pope of Hutchinson the following day. The package contained more than 10 pounds of drugs.&nbsp;

Pope is being held on a $500,000 bond on requested charges of drug possession and drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649187903768.png" alt="Pope photo Reno County" />
 <figcaption>Pope photo Reno County</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges after intercepting a package sent in the mail.The postal service in Wichita intercepted the package, according to law enforcement.&nbsp; After that the postal service and drug enforcement unit coordinated the delivery and arrested the recipient identified as 34-year-old Chelsea Pope of Hutchinson the following day. The package contained more than 10 pounds of drugs.&nbsp;Pope is being held on a $500,000 bond on requested charges of drug possession and drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute.

Kan. woman held on $500k bond after drugs intercepted in the mail

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States should look at the development of more bases in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-nato-5f084c3bde893b44dd087ec69de8c02c">Eastern Europe</a>&nbsp;to protect against Russian aggression, but rotate forces through them rather than make permanent deployments, the top U.S military officer told Congress on Tuesday.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the basing could be funded by other countries such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-migration-world-war-ii-warsaw-652da1c2ab1c88de3032241089bfa516">Poland</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-russia-estonia-race-and-ethnicity-soviet-union-187f098422b7a3170143de238865b526">Baltics</a>&nbsp;that want more U.S. troops. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said any effort to expand security in Eastern Europe is a “work in progress” that probably will be discussed at the NATO summit in June.

Milley and Austin were testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on the 2023 budget proposal, but much of the focus of the hearing was the Russian war against Ukraine and what the U.S. can do to better help Ukraine and strengthen security across Europe.

Milley was asked about the need to reallocate forces to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-moscow-nato-f6e92b278a0fb5b02f9e91686e6723d6">Europe’s eastern flank</a>, where NATO allies are worried that they may be Russia’s next target.

“My advice would be to create permanent bases but don’t permanently station (forces), so you get the effect of permanence by rotational forces cycling through permanent bases,” he said. “I believe that a lot of our European allies, especially those such as the Baltics or Poland and Romania, and elsewhere — they’re very, very willing to establish permanent bases. They’ll build them, they’ll pay for them.”

Austin added that he recently visited and spoke with leaders in the Baltics, noting that they made it clear they value U.S. troops there. “We’ll continue to work with NATO to assess what the requirements will be moving forward,” Austin said. “We will be part of that solution.”

The Pentagon is continuing to review its troop numbers across Europe, and whether to add more or shift some of those already there to other locations. Milley said Tuesday that while there are no decisions yet, there’s a possibility, if not a probability” of increase U.S. troops in Europe, and that need could be filled by rotational forces.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced last month that NATO is creating four new battlegroups, which usually number between 1,000 troops and 1,500 troops, to send to Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. NATO allies are set to discuss additional security measures at the upcoming summit.

Milley has advocated using rotational forces more around the globe to defray the costs of permanently stationing troops and their families in allied countries at risk of war, such as South Korea and in the Persian Gulf. He said using this would eliminate some of the costs associated with schools, housing and other such services.

Rotational forces deploy for shorter periods of time. Permanent forces are often deployed for two years to three years.

Milley also agreed that Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine, and its ongoing demands that the U.S. and NATO reduce troops and arms in European countries along Russia’s borders, signal a lengthy conflict in the region that extends beyond Ukraine.

“I do think this is a very protracted conflict and I think it’s at least measured in years. I don’t know about decades, but at least years for sure,” said Milley. “I think that NATO, the United States, Ukraine and all of the allies and partners that are supporting Ukraine are going to be involved in this for quite some time.”

Austin added that the broad Russian demands were not acceptable to NATO, and the U.S. is looking at ways to provide additional aid and training to countries, including non-NATO allies such as Georgia and Finland.

Members of Congress pressed Austin and Milley on what could have stopped Russia from invading Ukraine, and that sanctions did not work as a deterrent.

Both said that the only possible way to deter Russian may have been to put U.S. troops on the ground inside Ukraine, but that option was rejected because it risked a broader U.S. war with Russia. Milley said he isn’t sure Russian President Vladimir Putin was deterrable since invading Ukraine has been a long-term goal for Moscow.

Milley and Austin also told the committee that the U.S. has learned a number of things as it has watched Russia struggle to fight against an unexpectedly fierce Ukrainian defense over the past month. They said Russia has significant military capabilities but has been unable to use them effectively.

Austin said Russian forces lack training among their noncommissioned officers and the Kremlin has been unable to get the supplies and logistics needed to ground troops

Austin said Ukraine has used Stinger and Javelin missiles effectively against Russian troops and weapons. Milley said that Ukraine’s junior officers, many trained by the U.S., have shown initiative and good command and control abilities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649207939036.png" alt="Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the basing could be funded by other countries-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the basing could be funded by other countries-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States should look at the development of more bases in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-business-nato-5f084c3bde893b44dd087ec69de8c02c">Eastern Europe</a>&nbsp;to protect against Russian aggression, but rotate forces through them rather than make permanent deployments, the top U.S military officer told Congress on Tuesday.Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the basing could be funded by other countries such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-migration-world-war-ii-warsaw-652da1c2ab1c88de3032241089bfa516">Poland</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-russia-estonia-race-and-ethnicity-soviet-union-187f098422b7a3170143de238865b526">Baltics</a>&nbsp;that want more U.S. troops. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said any effort to expand security in Eastern Europe is a “work in progress” that probably will be discussed at the NATO summit in June.Milley and Austin were testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on the 2023 budget proposal, but much of the focus of the hearing was the Russian war against Ukraine and what the U.S. can do to better help Ukraine and strengthen security across Europe.Milley was asked about the need to reallocate forces to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-moscow-nato-f6e92b278a0fb5b02f9e91686e6723d6">Europe’s eastern flank</a>, where NATO allies are worried that they may be Russia’s next target.“My advice would be to create permanent bases but don’t permanently station (forces), so you get the effect of permanence by rotational forces cycling through permanent bases,” he said. “I believe that a lot of our European allies, especially those such as the Baltics or Poland and Romania, and elsewhere — they’re very, very willing to establish permanent bases. They’ll build them, they’ll pay for them.”Austin added that he recently visited and spoke with leaders in the Baltics, noting that they made it clear they value U.S. troops there. “We’ll continue to work with NATO to assess what the requirements will be moving forward,” Austin said. “We will be part of that solution.”The Pentagon is continuing to review its troop numbers across Europe, and whether to add more or shift some of those already there to other locations. Milley said Tuesday that while there are no decisions yet, there’s a possibility, if not a probability” of increase U.S. troops in Europe, and that need could be filled by rotational forces.NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced last month that NATO is creating four new battlegroups, which usually number between 1,000 troops and 1,500 troops, to send to Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. NATO allies are set to discuss additional security measures at the upcoming summit.Milley has advocated using rotational forces more around the globe to defray the costs of permanently stationing troops and their families in allied countries at risk of war, such as South Korea and in the Persian Gulf. He said using this would eliminate some of the costs associated with schools, housing and other such services.Rotational forces deploy for shorter periods of time. Permanent forces are often deployed for two years to three years.Milley also agreed that Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine, and its ongoing demands that the U.S. and NATO reduce troops and arms in European countries along Russia’s borders, signal a lengthy conflict in the region that extends beyond Ukraine.“I do think this is a very protracted conflict and I think it’s at least measured in years. I don’t know about decades, but at least years for sure,” said Milley. “I think that NATO, the United States, Ukraine and all of the allies and partners that are supporting Ukraine are going to be involved in this for quite some time.”Austin added that the broad Russian demands were not acceptable to NATO, and the U.S. is looking at ways to provide additional aid and training to countries, including non-NATO allies such as Georgia and Finland.Members of Congress pressed Austin and Milley on what could have stopped Russia from invading Ukraine, and that sanctions did not work as a deterrent.Both said that the only possible way to deter Russian may have been to put U.S. troops on the ground inside Ukraine, but that option was rejected because it risked a broader U.S. war with Russia. Milley said he isn’t sure Russian President Vladimir Putin was deterrable since invading Ukraine has been a long-term goal for Moscow.Milley and Austin also told the committee that the U.S. has learned a number of things as it has watched Russia struggle to fight against an unexpectedly fierce Ukrainian defense over the past month. They said Russia has significant military capabilities but has been unable to use them effectively.Austin said Russian forces lack training among their noncommissioned officers and the Kremlin has been unable to get the supplies and logistics needed to ground troopsAustin said Ukraine has used Stinger and Javelin missiles effectively against Russian troops and weapons. Milley said that Ukraine’s junior officers, many trained by the U.S., have shown initiative and good command and control abilities.

Top U.S. general wants to send more troops to eastern Europe

MONTOGMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug charges after a traffic stop.

On March 30, sheriff's deputies conducted a traffic stop on US 169 highway between 15th Street and Osage Street in Coffeyville, according to Sheriff Ron Wade. 

Law Enforcement Officials observed three vehicles, who were traveling north bound, fail to signal when changing lanes.  Deputies conducted traffic stops on all three vehicles and learned that all three vehicles were traveling together, and all three drivers were related. 

 A K9 handler with Coffeyville Police Department arrived on scene and advised one of the drivers that he was going to use his Police Service Dog (PSD) to conduct a free air sniff around the outside of the vehicle they were driving. 

 The driver, who was later identified as 62-year-old James Field of Tulsa, Oklahoma, told the K9 Handler there was a large amount of marijuana inside of his vehicle. 

 Deputies searched Field’s vehicle and located five 50-gallon trash bags full of suspected marijuana covered by a tarp in the back of Field’s vehicle.  Deputies also located a handgun inside Field’s vehicle. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649189074549.png" alt="Clockwise from lower right-&nbsp;Cisneros, Field, the marijuana,&nbsp;Dumitrache and Eastman-photos Montgomery Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Clockwise from lower right-&nbsp;Cisneros, Field, the marijuana,&nbsp;Dumitrache and Eastman-photos Montgomery Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTOGMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug charges after a traffic stop.On March 30, sheriff's deputies conducted a traffic stop on US 169 highway between 15th Street and Osage Street in Coffeyville, according to Sheriff Ron Wade. Law Enforcement Officials observed three vehicles, who were traveling north bound, fail to signal when changing lanes. Deputies conducted traffic stops on all three vehicles and learned that all three vehicles were traveling together, and all three drivers were related. A K9 handler with Coffeyville Police Department arrived on scene and advised one of the drivers that he was going to use his Police Service Dog (PSD) to conduct a free air sniff around the outside of the vehicle they were driving. The driver, who was later identified as 62-year-old James Field of Tulsa, Oklahoma, told the K9 Handler there was a large amount of marijuana inside of his vehicle. Deputies searched Field’s vehicle and located five 50-gallon trash bags full of suspected marijuana covered by a tarp in the back of Field’s vehicle. Deputies also located a handgun inside Field’s vehicle. During the investigation, deputies developed enough evidence to place the other two drivers, 30-year-old Paul Dumitrache of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 53-year-old Gabriela Eastman of Tulsa, Oklahoma and one passenger 30-year-old Vania Cisneros of Tulsa, Oklahoma in custody. All subjects were transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections and all three vehicles were transported to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and secured for search warrants. Detectives with MGSO and Agents with Kansas Bureau of Investigation Agents served the search warrants on the three vehicles and located additional evidence in all three vehicles, including marijuana, a second handgun, and over $24,000.00 cash. Detectives and Agents determined the weight of marijuana to be 93 pounds with a street value of $93,000.00. Field and Dumitrache were booked into DOC on requested charges that include distribute certain hallucinogenic greater than 1 kilogram.• possession of drug paraphernalia w/intent to manufacture/plant/cultivate controlled substance.• no drug tax stamp for marijuana or controlled substance. • criminal use of weapons; possession of firearm by person addicted/use of a controlled substance. Eastman and Cisneros were booked into DOC on requested charges that include Distribute certain hallucinogenic greater than 1 kilogram.• Possession of drug paraphernalia w/intent to manufacture/plant/cultivate controlled substance. • No drug tax stamp for marijuana or controlled substance.