SHAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas man&nbsp; was critically injured in Kansas mobile home fire.

&nbsp;Just after 4a.m. Friday, crews responded to a house fire at 1328 NE Quincy Street in Topeka, according to public education officer Alan Stahl.

&nbsp;Upon arrival, fire crews found a mobile home fully involved in fire. During a search, firefighters located and rescued a man from inside the home.&nbsp; American Medical Response Crews transported him to hospital with life threatening injuries, according to Stahl.

The fire was quickly brought under control and no other homes were damaged.

The cause of the fire is undetermined, pending further investigation. The Estimated dollar loss – $2100.00 loss to the structure (a total loss), and $1500.00 estimated content loss.

Due to the extent of the damage, fire crews were unable to determine if working smoke detectors were present within the home, according to Stahl.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641581758866.png" alt="Crews on the scene of the Friday morning fire photo courtesy WIBW-TV" />
 <figcaption>Crews on the scene of the Friday morning fire photo courtesy WIBW-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas man&nbsp; was critically injured in Kansas mobile home fire.&nbsp;Just after 4a.m. Friday, crews responded to a house fire at 1328 NE Quincy Street in Topeka, according to public education officer Alan Stahl.&nbsp;Upon arrival, fire crews found a mobile home fully involved in fire. During a search, firefighters located and rescued a man from inside the home.&nbsp; American Medical Response Crews transported him to hospital with life threatening injuries, according to Stahl.The fire was quickly brought under control and no other homes were damaged.The cause of the fire is undetermined, pending further investigation. The Estimated dollar loss – $2100.00 loss to the structure (a total loss), and $1500.00 estimated content loss.Due to the extent of the damage, fire crews were unable to determine if working smoke detectors were present within the home, according to Stahl.

Kansas man with life-threatening injuries from mobile home fire

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — People still can sue&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;counties over mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions and obtain a quick trial-court decision because of a Kansas Supreme Court ruling Friday.

The court declined to consider whether a law requiring trial-court judges to rule on such lawsuits within 10 days is constitutional. While the justices split over the reasons, they were unanimous in concluding that a Johnson County judge had no business striking down the law in a case that dealt with another legal question.

Judge David Hauber ruled that the law denied counties their right to due legal process and interfered with the courts’ power to handle their own business. But he did so in a lawsuit against a mask mandate imposed by a school district — not the county.

School districts aren’t covered by the law that applies to counties — and a separate law mandating the same expedited legal process in lawsuits against school districts expired in June.

In the court's majority opinion, Justice Dan Biles wrote that “a long-standing doctrine of judicial restraint” is that courts should avoid deciding on a law's constitutionality if they can resolve a case another way. The court concluded that Hauber should not have ruled on the law covering counties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631635278338.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA, Associated PressTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — People still can sue&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;counties over mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions and obtain a quick trial-court decision because of a Kansas Supreme Court ruling Friday.The court declined to consider whether a law requiring trial-court judges to rule on such lawsuits within 10 days is constitutional. While the justices split over the reasons, they were unanimous in concluding that a Johnson County judge had no business striking down the law in a case that dealt with another legal question.Judge David Hauber ruled that the law denied counties their right to due legal process and interfered with the courts’ power to handle their own business. But he did so in a lawsuit against a mask mandate imposed by a school district — not the county.School districts aren’t covered by the law that applies to counties — and a separate law mandating the same expedited legal process in lawsuits against school districts expired in June.In the court's majority opinion, Justice Dan Biles wrote that “a long-standing doctrine of judicial restraint” is that courts should avoid deciding on a law's constitutionality if they can resolve a case another way. The court concluded that Hauber should not have ruled on the law covering counties.

Kansas High Court: You can still sue the county over COVID mandates

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 16,341 to a total of 566,062, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The state reported 37 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,096.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 16,341 to a total of 566,062, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 37 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,096.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641578281343.png" alt="Friday January 7, 2022 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday January 7, 2022 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: 16,000 new cases, 37 more COVID-19 deaths

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal drive-by shooting have identified the victim as 22-year-old Clemente Camarillo of Wichita.

Just before 2a.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call at 13th and Oliver in Wichita, according Police Captain Jason Stevens.

At the scene, they located an SUV that appeared to have driven through a fence and came to rest in the backyard of a residence in the 1400 block of N. Harding.

Inside the vehicle, they located Camarillo with a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased on scene, according to Stevens.

Investigators learned that Camarillo and a 25-year-old male passenger were eastbound on 13th street at Oliver when another unknown, eastbound vehicle approached theirs&nbsp; and an occupant began firing shots. 

The gunfire struck Camarillo which caused him to lose control of the vehicle. The SUV traveled off the road came to rest in the back yard of the home on North Harding.

Police believe this his is a targeted incident, and investigators are working to locate the suspect.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641568901730.png" alt="Police at the scene of the fatal shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the fatal shooting investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal drive-by shooting have identified the victim as 22-year-old Clemente Camarillo of Wichita.Just before 2a.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call at 13th and Oliver in Wichita, according Police Captain Jason Stevens.At the scene, they located an SUV that appeared to have driven through a fence and came to rest in the backyard of a residence in the 1400 block of N. Harding.Inside the vehicle, they located Camarillo with a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased on scene, according to Stevens.Investigators learned that Camarillo and a 25-year-old male passenger were eastbound on 13th street at Oliver when another unknown, eastbound vehicle approached theirs&nbsp; and an occupant began firing shots. The gunfire struck Camarillo which caused him to lose control of the vehicle. The SUV traveled off the road came to rest in the back yard of the home on North Harding.Police believe this his is a targeted incident, and investigators are working to locate the suspect.&nbsp;

Kan. man found after SUV crash was victim of drive-by shooting

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

GREAT BEND — The first loft project grant application has been submitted to the Great
Bend Economic Development (GBED) with hope of improving upper levels of
downtown businesses for housing or commercial space. 

Any multi-level building
within a restricted corridor downtown is eligible to receive funds to assist in
the cost of fire protection necessitated by city code. Costs eligible include
the labor and materials to connect to the city’s main water line and the cost
of the sprinkler system and fire alarm installation. 

Economic Development
Director Sara Hayden said a handful of downtown businesses are also in the
running for the state’s Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grant. 
"The HEAL grant was for $25 per square foot up to $75,000," said Hayden.
 "We had four properties able to submit for this grant. They won't 
announce until mid-January, but we had some really strong applications." 
The loft project grant through Great Bend awards funds as a forgivable loan
with a 0% interest rate if the project is completed by the end of 2024. The
loan is in the amount of $5.50 per interior square foot. 
Hayden said the business that submitted the grant application will most likely
be announced next week after the new GBED board is set. 
The City of Great Bend appropriated $1 million from their American Rescue Plan
Act funds to help fund the loft project initiative.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641575996407.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — The first loft project grant application has been submitted to the Great
Bend Economic Development (GBED) with hope of improving upper levels of
downtown businesses for housing or commercial space. Any multi-level building
within a restricted corridor downtown is eligible to receive funds to assist in
the cost of fire protection necessitated by city code. Costs eligible include
the labor and materials to connect to the city’s main water line and the cost
of the sprinkler system and fire alarm installation. Economic Development
Director Sara Hayden said a handful of downtown businesses are also in the
running for the state’s Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grant. 
"The HEAL grant was for $25 per square foot up to $75,000," said Hayden.
 "We had four properties able to submit for this grant. They won't 
announce until mid-January, but we had some really strong applications." 
The loft project grant through Great Bend awards funds as a forgivable loan
with a 0% interest rate if the project is completed by the end of 2024. The
loan is in the amount of $5.50 per interior square foot. 
Hayden said the business that submitted the grant application will most likely
be announced next week after the new GBED board is set. 
The City of Great Bend appropriated $1 million from their American Rescue Plan
Act funds to help fund the loft project initiative.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Great Bend has first nibble on downtown loft project grants

DOUGLAS COUNTY—University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod issued an import alert to the Jayhawk basketball fans Friday during a surge of new COVID-19 cases.

In a note to university faculty, staff and students, the Chancellor wrote, "earlier this week, Douglas County implemented an&nbsp;<a href="https://douglascountyks.org/depts/administration/county-news/2022/01/05/douglas-county-implements-emergency-mask-mandate-help" target="_blank">emergency mask mandate</a>&nbsp;for all indoor public spaces in the county, effective today, Jan. 7, to protect the community against the latest COVID-19 surge.

For the most part, this county mandate doesn’t change anything on our Lawrence campus because we have been implementing our own university&nbsp;<a href="https://policy.ku.edu/chancellor/public-health-safety-requirements">mask mandate</a>&nbsp;since last August. The exception is Allen Fieldhouse, which has been operating under a mask recommendation for the past two weeks but will now return to operating under a mask requirement, per the county order.

Here at KU, we have had a strong culture of mask wearing and adherence to our mask requirement in our academic spaces. This, coupled with our high vaccination rates among students and employees, has enabled us to remain on campus and be as safe as any university in the country.

That said, we are concerned about mask policy compliance in Allen Fieldhouse, where mask wearing waned during the fall semester. I want to be very clear how important it is that fans adhere to the mask policy within Allen Fieldhouse beginning with our next women’s home game Saturday, Jan. 8, versus Oklahoma and our men’s game Tuesday, Jan. 11, versus Iowa State. The reality is, if the situation in our county continues to deteriorate, and if mask wearing continues to be a challenge inside the Fieldhouse, likely next steps include closing concessions and reducing fan attendance for men’s basketball games.

We recognize the pandemic has taken a toll on each of us, and we are all weary. But the virus continues to impact our community. Now is the time to renew our efforts – both on campus and throughout the county – to protect our community. I know I can count on you to do this, beginning with mask wearing in Allen Fieldhouse.

In the meantime, please continue to take steps to protect yourself and those around you. If you have not yet been fully vaccinated, we encourage you to do so. If you are eligible for a booster, we encourage you to seek out that opportunity. Vaccines are available at no charge at pharmacies and health clinics across the region. Employees may also explore options near them at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583199779683.png" alt="University of Kansas Chancellor Doug Girod, M.D." />
 <figcaption>University of Kansas Chancellor Doug Girod, M.D.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod issued an import alert to the Jayhawk basketball fans Friday during a surge of new COVID-19 cases.In a note to university faculty, staff and students, the Chancellor wrote, "earlier this week, Douglas County implemented an&nbsp;<a href="https://douglascountyks.org/depts/administration/county-news/2022/01/05/douglas-county-implements-emergency-mask-mandate-help" target="_blank">emergency mask mandate</a>&nbsp;for all indoor public spaces in the county, effective today, Jan. 7, to protect the community against the latest COVID-19 surge.For the most part, this county mandate doesn’t change anything on our Lawrence campus because we have been implementing our own university&nbsp;<a href="https://policy.ku.edu/chancellor/public-health-safety-requirements">mask mandate</a>&nbsp;since last August. The exception is Allen Fieldhouse, which has been operating under a mask recommendation for the past two weeks but will now return to operating under a mask requirement, per the county order.Here at KU, we have had a strong culture of mask wearing and adherence to our mask requirement in our academic spaces. This, coupled with our high vaccination rates among students and employees, has enabled us to remain on campus and be as safe as any university in the country.That said, we are concerned about mask policy compliance in Allen Fieldhouse, where mask wearing waned during the fall semester. I want to be very clear how important it is that fans adhere to the mask policy within Allen Fieldhouse beginning with our next women’s home game Saturday, Jan. 8, versus Oklahoma and our men’s game Tuesday, Jan. 11, versus Iowa State. The reality is, if the situation in our county continues to deteriorate, and if mask wearing continues to be a challenge inside the Fieldhouse, likely next steps include closing concessions and reducing fan attendance for men’s basketball games.We recognize the pandemic has taken a toll on each of us, and we are all weary. But the virus continues to impact our community. Now is the time to renew our efforts – both on campus and throughout the county – to protect our community. I know I can count on you to do this, beginning with mask wearing in Allen Fieldhouse.In the meantime, please continue to take steps to protect yourself and those around you. If you have not yet been fully vaccinated, we encourage you to do so. If you are eligible for a booster, we encourage you to seek out that opportunity. Vaccines are available at no charge at pharmacies and health clinics across the region. Employees may also explore options near them at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>."

KU Chancellor concerned about mask compliance at Allen Fieldhouse

NEW YORK (AP) — Sidney Poitier, the groundbreaking actor and enduring inspiration who transformed how Black people were portrayed on screen, became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for best lead performance and the first to be a top box-office draw, has died. He was 94.

Poitier, winner of the best actor Oscar in 1964 for “Lilies of the Field,” died Thursday in the Bahamas, according to Eugene Torchon-Newry, acting director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Bahamas.

Few movie stars, Black or white, had such an influence both on and off the screen. Before Poitier, the son of Bahamian tomato farmers, no Black actor had a sustained career as a lead performer or could get a film produced based on his own star power. Before Poitier, few Black actors were permitted a break from the stereotypes of bug-eyed servants and grinning entertainers. Before Poitier, Hollywood filmmakers rarely even attempted to tell a Black person’s story.

Poitier’s rise mirrored profound changes in the country in the 1950s and 1960s. As racial attitudes evolved during the civil rights era and segregation laws were challenged and fell, Poitier was the performer to whom a cautious industry turned for stories of progress.

He was the escaped Black convict who befriends a racist white prisoner (Tony Curtis) in “The Defiant Ones.” He was the courtly office worker who falls in love with a blind white girl in “A Patch of Blue.” He was the handyman in “Lilies of the Field” who builds a church for a group of nuns. In one of the great roles of the stage and screen, he was the ambitious young father whose dreams clashed with those of other family members in Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun

Debates about diversity in Hollywood inevitably turn to the story of Poitier. With his handsome, flawless face; intense stare and disciplined style, he was for years not just the most popular Black movie star, but the only one.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sidney Poitier, the groundbreaking actor and enduring inspiration who transformed how Black people were portrayed on screen, became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for best lead performance and the first to be a top box-office draw, has died. He was 94.Poitier, winner of the best actor Oscar in 1964 for “Lilies of the Field,” died Thursday in the Bahamas, according to Eugene Torchon-Newry, acting director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Bahamas.Few movie stars, Black or white, had such an influence both on and off the screen. Before Poitier, the son of Bahamian tomato farmers, no Black actor had a sustained career as a lead performer or could get a film produced based on his own star power. Before Poitier, few Black actors were permitted a break from the stereotypes of bug-eyed servants and grinning entertainers. Before Poitier, Hollywood filmmakers rarely even attempted to tell a Black person’s story.Poitier’s rise mirrored profound changes in the country in the 1950s and 1960s. As racial attitudes evolved during the civil rights era and segregation laws were challenged and fell, Poitier was the performer to whom a cautious industry turned for stories of progress.He was the escaped Black convict who befriends a racist white prisoner (Tony Curtis) in “The Defiant Ones.” He was the courtly office worker who falls in love with a blind white girl in “A Patch of Blue.” He was the handyman in “Lilies of the Field” who builds a church for a group of nuns. In one of the great roles of the stage and screen, he was the ambitious young father whose dreams clashed with those of other family members in Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the SunDebates about diversity in Hollywood inevitably turn to the story of Poitier. With his handsome, flawless face; intense stare and disciplined style, he was for years not just the most popular Black movie star, but the only one.

Sidney Poitier, Oscar-winning actor, dead at 94

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today updated its <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-02.pdf">frequently asked questions (FAQs) on 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit (FS-2022-02)</a>&nbsp;PDF.

This updated FAQ includes changes to the information for Topic F: 
Finding the First and Second Economic Impact Payment Amounts to 
Calculate the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit:

These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possible.

More information about <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/general-overview-of-taxpayer-reliance-on-guidance-published-in-the-internal-revenue-bulletin-and-faqs">reliance is available</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today updated its <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-02.pdf">frequently asked questions (FAQs) on 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit (FS-2022-02)</a>&nbsp;PDF.This updated FAQ includes changes to the information for Topic F: 
Finding the First and Second Economic Impact Payment Amounts to 
Calculate the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit-topic-f-finding-the-first-and-second-economic-impact-payment-amounts-to-calculate-the-2020-recovery-rebate-credit#qf4">Question 4</a>, Topic F: updated</li><li>Questions <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit-topic-f-finding-the-first-and-second-economic-impact-payment-amounts-to-calculate-the-2020-recovery-rebate-credit#qf8">8</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit-topic-f-finding-the-first-and-second-economic-impact-payment-amounts-to-calculate-the-2020-recovery-rebate-credit#qf9">9</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit-topic-f-finding-the-first-and-second-economic-impact-payment-amounts-to-calculate-the-2020-recovery-rebate-credit#qf10">10</a>, Topic F: added</li>
 </ul>These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possible.More information about <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/general-overview-of-taxpayer-reliance-on-guidance-published-in-the-internal-revenue-bulletin-and-faqs">reliance is available</a>.

IRS issues new guidance on COVID relief payments and taxes

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man and a woman have been charged in the Christmas Eve death of a toddler.

Christopher Robert Wilson, 46, and Avery Nicole Young, 22, of Chillicothe were arrested Tuesday on warrants charging them with second-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child, according to online court documents.

Police have said that medics called around 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 24 to a home in Chillicothe found a 2-year-old child unresponsive. The toddler was rushed to a hospital and later pronounced dead. Authorities have not released the name of the child or given the child’s cause of death.

Police have not said how Wilson and Young are related to the child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641500156494.png" alt="Wilson- Daviess-Dekalb Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Wilson- Daviess-Dekalb Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man and a woman have been charged in the Christmas Eve death of a toddler.Christopher Robert Wilson, 46, and Avery Nicole Young, 22, of Chillicothe were arrested Tuesday on warrants charging them with second-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child, according to online court documents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641500131529.png" alt="Young-Daviess-Dekalb Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Young-Daviess-Dekalb Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>Police have said that medics called around 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 24 to a home in Chillicothe found a 2-year-old child unresponsive. The toddler was rushed to a hospital and later pronounced dead. Authorities have not released the name of the child or given the child’s cause of death.Police have not said how Wilson and Young are related to the child.

Couple near KC charged in toddler's death on Christmas Eve

Read the coverage from 9To5Google.com <a href="https://9to5google.com/2022/01/07/google-chrome-97-ios-freezing/">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641577334216.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Read the coverage from 9To5Google.com <a href="https://9to5google.com/2022/01/07/google-chrome-97-ios-freezing/">HERE</a>.

Report: Google Chrome freezing on phones after iOS update

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspects involved in a traffic stop that injured a sheriff's deputy and are looking for the driver of the vehicle who fled the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;Just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 5300 block of SW Topeka Boulevard on a blue Mercedes C300 passenger car, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 During the investigation, the driver and front passenger attempted to exit the vehicle multiple times. The front male passenger, later identified as Tony M. Gant Jr, 39, of Topeka, exited the vehicle, refused to follow any commands and initiated a physical altercation with the deputy. 

During the physical altercation that led to Gant being taken into custody, the male driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.

Gant was arrested, booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony battery against a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement.

The deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment and released following this incident.

Authorities identified the driver as 39-year-old Patrick C. Morere of Topeka. Anyone with information on Morere’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office. A 32-year-old female passenger was interviewed and released from the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641505836289.png" alt="Law enforcement continues to search for Patrick Morere -photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff." />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement continues to search for Patrick Morere -photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspects involved in a traffic stop that injured a sheriff's deputy and are looking for the driver of the vehicle who fled the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 5300 block of SW Topeka Boulevard on a blue Mercedes C300 passenger car, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. During the investigation, the driver and front passenger attempted to exit the vehicle multiple times. The front male passenger, later identified as Tony M. Gant Jr, 39, of Topeka, exited the vehicle, refused to follow any commands and initiated a physical altercation with the deputy. During the physical altercation that led to Gant being taken into custody, the male driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.Gant was arrested, booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony battery against a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641505804589.png" alt="Gant-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Gant-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment and released following this incident.Authorities identified the driver as 39-year-old Patrick C. Morere of Topeka. Anyone with information on Morere’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office. A 32-year-old female passenger was interviewed and released from the scene.

Search continues for suspect after Kan. deputy injured during traffic stop

PAWNEE COUNTY– Liliana Guadalupe Houser, 45, of Garden City, appeared in the Pawnee County District Court Thursday afternoon before District Judge Bruce Gatterman for a Felony Arraignment, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

Houser plead No Contest to three felonies including Unlawful Sexual Relations with a patient while employed by Kansas Dept. of Aging and Disability Services(KDADS), Traffic in Contraband in a Care &amp; Treatment Facility while employed by KDADS and Obstructing in the Apprehension or Prosecution of a Registered Sex Offender.

In exchange for the plea, the State agreed to dismiss an additional count of Unlawful Sexual Relations with a patient while employed by KDADS and nine additional counts of Traffic in Contraband in a Care &amp; Treatment Facility while employed by KDADS.

The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department following the June 30, 2021, escape of John Freeman Colt from the Sexual Predator Treatment Program located on the campus of Larned State Hospital. Colt was captured in Wayne Country Utah on September 27.

In support of the plea, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett advised the Court that had the matter proceeded to trial the State would have presented testimony that Houser, while employed at Larned State Hospital, engaged in a sexual relationship with Colt between January 17 and June 24, 2021, and that she sent sexually explicit videos to Colt utilizing the Facebook Messenger platform.

 When law enforcement interviewed her on July 1, Houser failed to disclose her relationship with Colt or the existence of Colt’s Facebook account. It is the State’s position this nondisclosure was intended to assist Colt avoid apprehension as information contained in the account later played a crucial role in the investigation. The defendant did not make any statement regarding the State’s proffer of evidence.

Prior to accepting the plea, Judge Gatterman advised Houser she would be subject to register as a Sex Offender for a period of twenty-five years. Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines she faces a presumptive prison sentence between 31 months and 136 months depending on her criminal history.

Sentencing has been scheduled for February 17. Houser has been in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff since her arrest on October 8, on a Bond of $45,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634076547899.png" alt="Houser-photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Houser-photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY– Liliana Guadalupe Houser, 45, of Garden City, appeared in the Pawnee County District Court Thursday afternoon before District Judge Bruce Gatterman for a Felony Arraignment, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.Houser plead No Contest to three felonies including Unlawful Sexual Relations with a patient while employed by Kansas Dept. of Aging and Disability Services(KDADS), Traffic in Contraband in a Care &amp; Treatment Facility while employed by KDADS and Obstructing in the Apprehension or Prosecution of a Registered Sex Offender.In exchange for the plea, the State agreed to dismiss an additional count of Unlawful Sexual Relations with a patient while employed by KDADS and nine additional counts of Traffic in Contraband in a Care &amp; Treatment Facility while employed by KDADS.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632850718422.png" alt="With assistance from three state hospital employees, John Freeman Colt escaped from the treatment program at the Larned State Hospital in June. He was captured in Utah on Sept. 27." />
 <figcaption>With assistance from three state hospital employees, John Freeman Colt escaped from the treatment program at the Larned State Hospital in June. He was captured in Utah on Sept. 27.</figcaption>
 </figure>The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department following the June 30, 2021, escape of John Freeman Colt from the Sexual Predator Treatment Program located on the campus of Larned State Hospital. Colt was captured in Wayne Country Utah on September 27.In support of the plea, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett advised the Court that had the matter proceeded to trial the State would have presented testimony that Houser, while employed at Larned State Hospital, engaged in a sexual relationship with Colt between January 17 and June 24, 2021, and that she sent sexually explicit videos to Colt utilizing the Facebook Messenger platform. When law enforcement interviewed her on July 1, Houser failed to disclose her relationship with Colt or the existence of Colt’s Facebook account. It is the State’s position this nondisclosure was intended to assist Colt avoid apprehension as information contained in the account later played a crucial role in the investigation. The defendant did not make any statement regarding the State’s proffer of evidence.Prior to accepting the plea, Judge Gatterman advised Houser she would be subject to register as a Sex Offender for a period of twenty-five years. Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines she faces a presumptive prison sentence between 31 months and 136 months depending on her criminal history.Sentencing has been scheduled for February 17. Houser has been in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff since her arrest on October 8, on a Bond of $45,000.

State hospital employee had sex with offender before his escape

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today updated its <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-01.pdf">frequently asked questions (FAQs) on 2020 Unemployment Compensation Exclusion (FS-2022-01)</a>&nbsp;PDF.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today updated its <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/fs-2022-01.pdf">frequently asked questions (FAQs) on 2020 Unemployment Compensation Exclusion (FS-2022-01)</a>&nbsp;PDF.This updated FAQ adds a question:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-faqs-topic-g-receiving-a-refund-letter-or-notice#q10">Question 10, Topic G: Receiving a Refund, Letter, or Notice</a></li>
 </ul>These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possible.More information about <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/general-overview-of-taxpayer-reliance-on-guidance-published-in-the-internal-revenue-bulletin-and-faqs">reliance is available</a>.

IRS: New FAQs for 2020 unemployment refunds, tax return info

NEW YORK (AP) — Oh, how things have changed.

Just a year ago, many Republicans joined Democrats in reacting with horror to the Capitol insurrection, denouncing both the violence perpetrated by the rioters and the role played by former President Donald Trump in stoking the outrage that fueled their actions with lies about a “stolen” election.

But on the anniversary of the attack, top Republicans were far more muted. Some acknowledged the terror of the day but quickly pivoted to bashing Democrats. Many avoided observances planned at the Capitol. And still others didn’t say anything at all.

It’s all part of the political calculus in a party in which the former president remains very much in charge.

The party’s top congressional leaders were missing from Thursday’s commemoration events at the Capitol. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy did not make an appearance or issue a statement. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, who delivered one of the sharpest denunciations of Trump after the attack, was in Atlanta for the funeral of former Sen. Johnny Isakson.

Indeed, during a moment of silence held in honor of law enforcement officers, only two Republicans were present in the House chamber: Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who has become a pariah in her party over her criticism of Trump’s actions, and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney.

In a statement, McConnell called Jan. 6 “a dark day for Congress and our country” after “the seat of the first branch of our federal government was stormed by criminals who brutalized police officers and used force to try to stop Congress from doing its job.”

But he also criticized Democrats for what he said was their politicization of the attack. “It has been stunning to see some Washington Democrats try to exploit this anniversary to advance partisan policy goals that long predated this event,” he said.

It was a notable shift from the comments he had made last year after the Senate voted against Trump’s impeachment.

“There’s no question — none — that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it,” he said then, calling it “a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty.”

Like McConnell, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a friend and ally of the former president, was clear in his denunciation of Trump immediately following the Jan. 6 attack.

“All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough,” he’d said then.

On Thursday, however, Graham, who remains close to Trump, marked the occasion with a mix of shock and partisan attacks.

“I still cannot believe that a mob was able to take over the United States Capitol during such a pivotal moment — certifying a presidential election. It would have been so easy for terrorists to boot strap onto this protest and wreak even further destruction on the U.S. Capitol,” he wrote.

Still, he pivoted to politics, characterizing the speeches by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the Capitol as an “effort to resurrect a failed presidency more than marking the anniversary of a dark day in American history.”

“Their brazen attempts to use January 6 to support radical election reform and changing the rules of the Senate to accomplish this goal will not succeed,” he wrote.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, considered a potential 2024 presidential candidate, was also quick to pounce. Speaking to reporters in Florida on Thursday morning around the same time Biden was addressing the nation, DeSantis slammed Democrats and the media for making so much hay of the event.

“This is their Christmas, January 6th,” he said. “They are going to take this and milk this for anything they could to try to be able to smear anyone who ever supported Donald Trump​.”

He lashed out at those who have compared the gravity of what happened on Jan. 6 to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and said most Florida residents have other issues on their minds.

“I think it’s going to end up being just a politicized Charlie Foxtrot today,” he said, using military slang for a chaotic situation. “I think it’s going to be nauseating, quite frankly.”

Other potential 2024 candidates, meanwhile, stayed conspicuously silent, underscoring the complicated calculus they face in a party in which Trump remains very much in charge, with the support of wide swaths of the primary-voting electorate.

Former Vice President Mike Pence — who fled for his life on Jan. 6 as rioters broke into the Capitol, chanting “Hang Mike Pence!” — did not not release a statement marking the occasion.

Pence has said that he and the former president will likely never “see eye to eye” on the events of Jan. 6 and has defended his role that day in rejecting Trump’s demands that he overturn the election results — something he did not have the power to do. At the same time, he has accused the media of reporting on the attack to “demean” Trump’s supporters and to “distract from the Biden administration’s failed agenda,” as he said on Fox News in October.

Also saying nothing were former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been laying the groundwork for a possible 2024 campaign by highlighting the Trump administration’s successes, and former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who found herself on the wrong side of the party’s base when she criticized Trump immediately after the insurrection. She has since said that she will not run for the GOP nomination if Trump chooses to move forward with the comeback campaign he’s been teasing.

While Trump canceled the anniversary news conference he’d been planning in Florida for Thursday, several of his most ardent followers scheduled their own counterprogramming.

“We’re ashamed of nothing,” said GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida during an appearance with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on a podcast hosted by former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who has been indicted for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the insurrection. “We’re proud of the work that we did on Jan. 6 to make legitimate arguments about election integrity.”

Greene slammed Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, another potential 2024 contender, for having characterized the anniversary as an event marking “a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol” Wednesday.

She accused Cruz of disrespecting “MAGA patriots” and “people that rioted at the Capitol and did breach the Capitol.”

Cruz later appeared on Fox News to walk back his comments, saying his phrasing was “sloppy” and “frankly dumb.”

The GOP’s transformation into the Party of Trump came perhaps most clearly into focus as former Vice President Dick Cheney paid an unexpected visit to the Capitol to support his daughter, who has become one of the most prominent anti-Trump voices.

Asked what he made of Republican leadership’s handling of the anniversary, Cheney, who served under George W. Bush, was glib in his assessment of an institution that has all but been remade in Trump’s image.

“It’s not a leadership that resembles any of the folks I knew when I was here for 10 years, dramatically,” Cheney, also a former congressman, told reporters.

“The importance of January 6th as an historic event cannot be overstated,” he added in a statement. “I am deeply disappointed at the failure of many members of my party to recognize the grave nature of the January 6 attacks and the ongoing threat to our nation.”

Karl Rove, who served as deputy chief of staff in the Bush administration and advised Trump at points during the 2020 campaign, wrote an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-jan-6-responsibility-anniversary-riot-storm-capitol-trump-protesters-investigation-11641417707" target="_blank">op-ed in the Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;addressing those in his own party “who for a year have excused the actions of the rioters who stormed the Capitol, disrupted Congress as it received the Electoral College’s results, and violently attempted to overturn the election.”

“There can be no soft-pedaling what happened and no absolution for those who planned, encouraged and aided the attempt to overthrow our democracy. Love of country demands nothing less. That’s true patriotism,” he wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641554009997.png" alt="Congressional leaders and lawmakers marked the one year anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol with a vigil on the steps of the Capitol-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Congressional leaders and lawmakers marked the one year anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol with a vigil on the steps of the Capitol-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Oh, how things have changed.Just a year ago, many Republicans joined Democrats in reacting with horror to the Capitol insurrection, denouncing both the violence perpetrated by the rioters and the role played by former President Donald Trump in stoking the outrage that fueled their actions with lies about a “stolen” election.But on the anniversary of the attack, top Republicans were far more muted. Some acknowledged the terror of the day but quickly pivoted to bashing Democrats. Many avoided observances planned at the Capitol. And still others didn’t say anything at all.It’s all part of the political calculus in a party in which the former president remains very much in charge.MISSING IN ACTIONThe party’s top congressional leaders were missing from Thursday’s commemoration events at the Capitol. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy did not make an appearance or issue a statement. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, who delivered one of the sharpest denunciations of Trump after the attack, was in Atlanta for the funeral of former Sen. Johnny Isakson.Indeed, during a moment of silence held in honor of law enforcement officers, only two Republicans were present in the House chamber: Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who has become a pariah in her party over her criticism of Trump’s actions, and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney.In a statement, McConnell called Jan. 6 “a dark day for Congress and our country” after “the seat of the first branch of our federal government was stormed by criminals who brutalized police officers and used force to try to stop Congress from doing its job.”But he also criticized Democrats for what he said was their politicization of the attack. “It has been stunning to see some Washington Democrats try to exploit this anniversary to advance partisan policy goals that long predated this event,” he said.It was a notable shift from the comments he had made last year after the Senate voted against Trump’s impeachment.“There’s no question — none — that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it,” he said then, calling it “a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty.”THEN AND NOWLike McConnell, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a friend and ally of the former president, was clear in his denunciation of Trump immediately following the Jan. 6 attack.“All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough,” he’d said then.On Thursday, however, Graham, who remains close to Trump, marked the occasion with a mix of shock and partisan attacks.“I still cannot believe that a mob was able to take over the United States Capitol during such a pivotal moment — certifying a presidential election. It would have been so easy for terrorists to boot strap onto this protest and wreak even further destruction on the U.S. Capitol,” he wrote.Still, he pivoted to politics, characterizing the speeches by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the Capitol as an “effort to resurrect a failed presidency more than marking the anniversary of a dark day in American history.”“Their brazen attempts to use January 6 to support radical election reform and changing the rules of the Senate to accomplish this goal will not succeed,” he wrote.POLITICS FIRSTFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis, considered a potential 2024 presidential candidate, was also quick to pounce. Speaking to reporters in Florida on Thursday morning around the same time Biden was addressing the nation, DeSantis slammed Democrats and the media for making so much hay of the event.“This is their Christmas, January 6th,” he said. “They are going to take this and milk this for anything they could to try to be able to smear anyone who ever supported Donald Trump​.”He lashed out at those who have compared the gravity of what happened on Jan. 6 to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and said most Florida residents have other issues on their minds.“I think it’s going to end up being just a politicized Charlie Foxtrot today,” he said, using military slang for a chaotic situation. “I think it’s going to be nauseating, quite frankly.”NO COMMENTOther potential 2024 candidates, meanwhile, stayed conspicuously silent, underscoring the complicated calculus they face in a party in which Trump remains very much in charge, with the support of wide swaths of the primary-voting electorate.Former Vice President Mike Pence — who fled for his life on Jan. 6 as rioters broke into the Capitol, chanting “Hang Mike Pence!” — did not not release a statement marking the occasion.Pence has said that he and the former president will likely never “see eye to eye” on the events of Jan. 6 and has defended his role that day in rejecting Trump’s demands that he overturn the election results — something he did not have the power to do. At the same time, he has accused the media of reporting on the attack to “demean” Trump’s supporters and to “distract from the Biden administration’s failed agenda,” as he said on Fox News in October.Also saying nothing were former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been laying the groundwork for a possible 2024 campaign by highlighting the Trump administration’s successes, and former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who found herself on the wrong side of the party’s base when she criticized Trump immediately after the insurrection. She has since said that she will not run for the GOP nomination if Trump chooses to move forward with the comeback campaign he’s been teasing.COUNTERPROGRAMMINGWhile Trump canceled the anniversary news conference he’d been planning in Florida for Thursday, several of his most ardent followers scheduled their own counterprogramming.“We’re ashamed of nothing,” said GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida during an appearance with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on a podcast hosted by former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who has been indicted for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the insurrection. “We’re proud of the work that we did on Jan. 6 to make legitimate arguments about election integrity.”Greene slammed Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, another potential 2024 contender, for having characterized the anniversary as an event marking “a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol” Wednesday.She accused Cruz of disrespecting “MAGA patriots” and “people that rioted at the Capitol and did breach the Capitol.”“Shame on Ted Cruz,” she said.Cruz later appeared on Fox News to walk back his comments, saying his phrasing was “sloppy” and “frankly dumb.”THE OLD GUARDThe GOP’s transformation into the Party of Trump came perhaps most clearly into focus as former Vice President Dick Cheney paid an unexpected visit to the Capitol to support his daughter, who has become one of the most prominent anti-Trump voices.Asked what he made of Republican leadership’s handling of the anniversary, Cheney, who served under George W. Bush, was glib in his assessment of an institution that has all but been remade in Trump’s image.“It’s not a leadership that resembles any of the folks I knew when I was here for 10 years, dramatically,” Cheney, also a former congressman, told reporters.“The importance of January 6th as an historic event cannot be overstated,” he added in a statement. “I am deeply disappointed at the failure of many members of my party to recognize the grave nature of the January 6 attacks and the ongoing threat to our nation.”Karl Rove, who served as deputy chief of staff in the Bush administration and advised Trump at points during the 2020 campaign, wrote an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-jan-6-responsibility-anniversary-riot-storm-capitol-trump-protesters-investigation-11641417707" target="_blank">op-ed in the Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;addressing those in his own party “who for a year have excused the actions of the rioters who stormed the Capitol, disrupted Congress as it received the Electoral College’s results, and violently attempted to overturn the election.”“There can be no soft-pedaling what happened and no absolution for those who planned, encouraged and aided the attempt to overthrow our democracy. Love of country demands nothing less. That’s true patriotism,” he wrote.

Republican lawmakers mark Jan. 6 with silence, deflection

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday eased or suspended Kansas licensing rules for medical personnel and nursing home workers in hopes of making it easier for them to attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-infectious-diseases-kansas-city-989fb124d926e2253ffca07ad499bd70">staffing shortages</a>&nbsp;during a surge of new COVID-19 cases.

Kelly issued two executive orders. One allows hospital staff to perform a broader range of duties. The other makes licensing of nursing home workers more flexible so homes can hire people whose licenses have lapsed and fill less-skilled jobs with workers who have relatively little or no previous training.

Her actions come as hospital officials say patients are dying in emergency rooms of small hospitals, larger hospitals struggle with soaring staff absences and ambulances are scrambling to find hospitals with room for their patients.

“Basically everybody’s drowning,” said Dr. Ryan Jacobsen, medical director for Johnson County EMS.

The governor declared an emergency for the next 15 days because of the stress faced by hospitals nursing homes, a move that allowed her to ease licensing requirements. The declaration also suspends rules and regulations if “strict compliance” would hinder efforts to address their problems.

“We’re creating flexibility to allow routine care to be provided by alternative staff so that the more complex and serious cases can be handled by clinical staff,” Kelly said during a Statehouse news conference.

As an example, Kelly said physician assistants and some nurses to order the collection of throat swabs for COVID-19 testing, freeing up doctors who would normally have to do it.

Kansas set a record for the seven-day average for new reported confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases, 4,311 cases per day for the seven days ending Wednesday, according to state health department data. Until this week, the previous high was 2,767 cases per day for the seven days ending Nov. 18, 2020.

The high COVID-19 spread prompted Wyandotte County to delay a manslaughter trial that had been scheduled to start there next week for a rural Kansas undersheriff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/48f367e57fc14cb39febf89f3d501feb">accused of fatally shooting</a>&nbsp;an unarmed man with a beanbag round. Virgil Brewer was the undersheriff in Barber County at the time of the deadly encounter with Steven Myers on Oct. 6, 2017, outside a shed in Sun City County. No new trial date was immediately set.

In neighboring Johnson County, Jacobsen said ambulances frequently change direction as they are transporting patients because the hospital where they were headed was full, sometimes confusing family members who are following behind them.

“They call the next hospital, three and four hospitals, while they’re driving down the highway or road with the patient in the back, listening to the conversation on the radio where they’re saying, ‘Don’t bring them, don’t bring them, don’t bring them,’” he said.

The state’s emergency management laws limit Kelly’s latest declaration to 15 days unless lawmakers extend it, and the Democratic governor said she wants to keep it in place through March. The Republican-controlled Legislature opens its regular annual session Monday.

House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said Kelly’s actions provide “temporary and necessary relief and flexibility.” Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, questioned the need for an emergency declaration because lawmakers reconvene Monday but called Kelly’s actions “helpful.”

The GOP leaders said lawmakers will oppose measures that go beyond easing regulations.

Kelly said she plans no “sweeping mandates or closures.” But legislators rewrote the state’s emergency management laws in 2020 and 2021 to curb the governor’s power so that Kelly no longer can close schools or businesses or restrict public gatherings again, as she did earlier in the pandemic.

Kansas previously was under a state of emergency from March 2020 until June 2021.

As for the latest declaration, Kelly said: “Extending it to the end of March will get us through this surge.”

Kelly also said there’s cause for optimism: While Kansas has seen a record number of new cases, it has not seen a similarly large spike in hospitalizations or deaths.

Still, warnings from Kansas hospitals have become increasingly dire.

Jacobsen said that when half the hospitals in the Kansas City area divert patients because of high volumes, ambulances just take patients to the full hospitals anyway because there isn’t a choice.

He said the system has been hitting that point nearly every day, adding that even hospitals that aren’t diverting patients are warning that they don’t have beds or that their CT scanners aren’t available.

“It’s exhausting and it’s leading to burnout and it’s a mess,” he said.

The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, is treating 133 COVID-19 patients, has 750 employees out because of COVID-19 and had to cancel half of its scheduled operations Wednesday.

“Those are people who need surgeries,” said Dr. Steve Stites, the chief medical officer. “It’s not like these are electives cases that just somebody wants to come get, you know, a tummy tuck done.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641508454205.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly at the Statehouse Thursday after she answered questions on signing the new State of Disaster Emergency-photo courtesy WIBW-TV" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly at the Statehouse Thursday after she answered questions on signing the new State of Disaster Emergency-photo courtesy WIBW-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTHTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday eased or suspended Kansas licensing rules for medical personnel and nursing home workers in hopes of making it easier for them to attack&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-infectious-diseases-kansas-city-989fb124d926e2253ffca07ad499bd70">staffing shortages</a>&nbsp;during a surge of new COVID-19 cases.Kelly issued two executive orders. One allows hospital staff to perform a broader range of duties. The other makes licensing of nursing home workers more flexible so homes can hire people whose licenses have lapsed and fill less-skilled jobs with workers who have relatively little or no previous training.Her actions come as hospital officials say patients are dying in emergency rooms of small hospitals, larger hospitals struggle with soaring staff absences and ambulances are scrambling to find hospitals with room for their patients.“Basically everybody’s drowning,” said Dr. Ryan Jacobsen, medical director for Johnson County EMS.The governor declared an emergency for the next 15 days because of the stress faced by hospitals nursing homes, a move that allowed her to ease licensing requirements. The declaration also suspends rules and regulations if “strict compliance” would hinder efforts to address their problems.“We’re creating flexibility to allow routine care to be provided by alternative staff so that the more complex and serious cases can be handled by clinical staff,” Kelly said during a Statehouse news conference.As an example, Kelly said physician assistants and some nurses to order the collection of throat swabs for COVID-19 testing, freeing up doctors who would normally have to do it.Kansas set a record for the seven-day average for new reported confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases, 4,311 cases per day for the seven days ending Wednesday, according to state health department data. Until this week, the previous high was 2,767 cases per day for the seven days ending Nov. 18, 2020.The high COVID-19 spread prompted Wyandotte County to delay a manslaughter trial that had been scheduled to start there next week for a rural Kansas undersheriff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/48f367e57fc14cb39febf89f3d501feb">accused of fatally shooting</a>&nbsp;an unarmed man with a beanbag round. Virgil Brewer was the undersheriff in Barber County at the time of the deadly encounter with Steven Myers on Oct. 6, 2017, outside a shed in Sun City County. No new trial date was immediately set.In neighboring Johnson County, Jacobsen said ambulances frequently change direction as they are transporting patients because the hospital where they were headed was full, sometimes confusing family members who are following behind them.“They call the next hospital, three and four hospitals, while they’re driving down the highway or road with the patient in the back, listening to the conversation on the radio where they’re saying, ‘Don’t bring them, don’t bring them, don’t bring them,’” he said.The state’s emergency management laws limit Kelly’s latest declaration to 15 days unless lawmakers extend it, and the Democratic governor said she wants to keep it in place through March. The Republican-controlled Legislature opens its regular annual session Monday.House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said Kelly’s actions provide “temporary and necessary relief and flexibility.” Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, questioned the need for an emergency declaration because lawmakers reconvene Monday but called Kelly’s actions “helpful.”The GOP leaders said lawmakers will oppose measures that go beyond easing regulations.Kelly said she plans no “sweeping mandates or closures.” But legislators rewrote the state’s emergency management laws in 2020 and 2021 to curb the governor’s power so that Kelly no longer can close schools or businesses or restrict public gatherings again, as she did earlier in the pandemic.Kansas previously was under a state of emergency from March 2020 until June 2021.As for the latest declaration, Kelly said: “Extending it to the end of March will get us through this surge.”Kelly also said there’s cause for optimism: While Kansas has seen a record number of new cases, it has not seen a similarly large spike in hospitalizations or deaths.Still, warnings from Kansas hospitals have become increasingly dire.Jacobsen said that when half the hospitals in the Kansas City area divert patients because of high volumes, ambulances just take patients to the full hospitals anyway because there isn’t a choice.He said the system has been hitting that point nearly every day, adding that even hospitals that aren’t diverting patients are warning that they don’t have beds or that their CT scanners aren’t available.“It’s exhausting and it’s leading to burnout and it’s a mess,” he said.The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, is treating 133 COVID-19 patients, has 750 employees out because of COVID-19 and had to cancel half of its scheduled operations Wednesday.“Those are people who need surgeries,” said Dr. Steve Stites, the chief medical officer. “It’s not like these are electives cases that just somebody wants to come get, you know, a tummy tuck done.”___

Kansas governor moves to help facilities hit by COVID surge

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)
 began counting down the top 10 cases for calendar year 2021 on its <a href="https://twitter.com/IRS_CI">Twitter</a> account on January 3. These cases include the agency's most prominent and high-profile investigations of 2021.

"The investigative work of 2021 has all the makings of a made for TV 
movie – embezzlement of funds from a nonprofit, a family fraud ring that
 stole millions in COVID-relief funds and a $1 billion Ponzi scheme used
 to buy sports teams and luxury vehicles. But this is real life and I'm 
grateful to our IRS-CI agents for pursuing these leads and ensuring that
 the perpetrators were prosecuted for their crimes," said IRS-CI Chief 
Jim Lee.

10.&nbsp;Albuquerque couple sentenced to federal prison in Ayudando Guardians case

Susan Harris and William Harris were 
sentenced to 47 and 15 years in federal prison, respectively. They stole
 funds from Ayudando Guardians Inc., a nonprofit organization that 
provided guardianship, conservatorship and financial management to 
hundreds of people with special needs.

9. Rochester
 man going to prison and ordered to pay millions in restitution for his 
role in Ponzi scheme that bilked investors out of millions of dollars

John Piccarreto Jr. was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison and 
ordered to pay restitution totaling $19,842,613.66 after he was 
convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and filing a false tax 
return. He conspired with others to obtain money through an investment 
fraud Ponzi scheme.

8.&nbsp;Orlando sisters sentenced in $25 million tax fraud scheme

Petra Gomez and her co-conspirator, 
her sister, Jakeline Lumucso, were sentenced to eight and four years in 
federal prison, respectively. They operated a tax preparation business 
with five locations in central Florida that filed more than 16,000 false
 tax returns for clients from 2012 to 2016 with a total estimated loss 
to the IRS of $25 million.

7. Russian bank founder sentenced for evading exit tax upon renouncing U.S. citizenship 

Oleg Tinkov, aka Oleg Tinkoff, was ordered to pay more than $248 
million in taxes and sentenced to time-served and one year of supervised
 release after he renounced his U.S. citizenship in an effort to conceal
 large stock gains that were reportable to the IRS after the company he 
founded became a multibillion dollar, publicly traded company.

6.&nbsp;Ontario man who ran multimillion-dollar unlicensed bitcoin exchange business sentenced to 3 years in federal prison

Hugo Sergio Mejia was sentenced to 
three years in federal prison and required to forfeit all assets derived
 from running an unlicensed business that exchanged at least $13 million
 in Bitcoin and cash, and vice versa, often for drug traffickers. He 
charged commissions for the transactions and established separate 
companies to mask his true activity.

5.&nbsp;Owner of bitcoin exchange sentenced to prison for money laundering

Rossen G. Iossifov, a Bulgarian 
national, was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for 
participating in a scheme where popular online auction and sales 
websites — such as Craigslist and eBay — falsely advertised high-cost 
goods (typically vehicles) that did not actually exist. Once victims 
sent payment for the goods, the conspiracy engaged in a complicated 
money laundering scheme where U.S.-based associates would accept victim 
funds, convert these funds to cryptocurrency, and transfer the 
cryptocurrency to foreign-based money launderers.

4.&nbsp;Ex-pastor
 of Orange County church sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for 
orchestrating $33 million con that defrauded investors

Kent R.E. Whitney, the ex-pastor of 
the Church of the Health Self, was sentenced to 14 years in federal 
prison and ordered to pay $22.66 million in restitution to victims after
 defrauding investors of $33 million by orchestrating a church-based 
investment scam. At his direction, church representatives appeared on 
television and at live seminars to make false and misleading claims to 
lure investors to invest in church entities. Victims sent more than $33 
million to the church and received fabricated monthly statements 
reassuring them that their funds had been invested, when in reality, 
little to no money ever was.

3.&nbsp;Prairie Village Man Sentenced to 12 Years for $7.3 Million Dollar Payday Loan Fraud, $8 Million Tax Evasion

Joel Tucker was sentenced to 12 years 
and six months in federal prison and ordered to pay over $8 million in 
restitution to the IRS after selling false information or fictitious 
debts to payday loan businesses and not filing federal tax returns – for
 himself or his businesses – with the IRS for multiple years.

2.&nbsp;DC Solar owner sentenced to 30 years in prison for billion dollar Ponzi scheme

Jeff Carpoff, the owner of 
California-based DC Solar, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison 
and forfeited $120 million in assets to the U.S. government for victim 
restitution after creating a Ponzi-scheme that involved the sale of 
thousands of manufactured mobile solar generator units (MSGs) that 
didn't exist. He committed account and lease revenue fraud and purchased
 a sports team, luxury vehicles, real estate and a NASCAR team with the 
proceeds.

1.&nbsp;San
 Fernando Valley family members sentenced to years in prison for 
fraudulently obtaining tens of millions of dollars in COVID relief

The Ayvazyan family received sentences
 ranging from 17.5 years in prison to 10 months of probation for crimes 
ranging from bank and wire fraud to aggravated identity theft. The 
family used stolen and fictitious identities to submit 150 fraudulent 
applications for COVID-relief funds based on phony payroll records and 
tax documents to the Small Business Administration, and then used the 
funds they received to purchase luxury homes, gold coins, jewelry 
designer handbags and more. Richard Ayvazyan and his wife Terabelian cut
 their ankle monitoring devices and absconded prior to their sentencing 
hearing; they are currently fugitives.

Follow IRS-CI on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/IRS_CI">@IRS_CI</a> to learn more.

IRS-CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for 
conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, 
narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare 
fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only 
federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over 
violations of the Internal Revenue Code, boasting a nearly 90 percent 
federal conviction rate. The agency has 20 field offices located across 
the U.S. and 11 attaché posts abroad.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp;Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)
 began counting down the top 10 cases for calendar year 2021 on its <a href="https://twitter.com/IRS_CI">Twitter</a> account on January 3. These cases include the agency's most prominent and high-profile investigations of 2021."The investigative work of 2021 has all the makings of a made for TV 
movie – embezzlement of funds from a nonprofit, a family fraud ring that
 stole millions in COVID-relief funds and a $1 billion Ponzi scheme used
 to buy sports teams and luxury vehicles. But this is real life and I'm 
grateful to our IRS-CI agents for pursuing these leads and ensuring that
 the perpetrators were prosecuted for their crimes," said IRS-CI Chief 
Jim Lee.The top 10 IRS-CI cases of 2021 include:<h2>10.&nbsp;Albuquerque couple sentenced to federal prison in Ayudando Guardians case</h2>Susan Harris and William Harris were 
sentenced to 47 and 15 years in federal prison, respectively. They stole
 funds from Ayudando Guardians Inc., a nonprofit organization that 
provided guardianship, conservatorship and financial management to 
hundreds of people with special needs.<h2>9. Rochester
 man going to prison and ordered to pay millions in restitution for his 
role in Ponzi scheme that bilked investors out of millions of dollars</h2>John Piccarreto Jr. was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison and 
ordered to pay restitution totaling $19,842,613.66 after he was 
convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and filing a false tax 
return. He conspired with others to obtain money through an investment 
fraud Ponzi scheme.<h2>8.&nbsp;Orlando sisters sentenced in $25 million tax fraud scheme</h2>Petra Gomez and her co-conspirator, 
her sister, Jakeline Lumucso, were sentenced to eight and four years in 
federal prison, respectively. They operated a tax preparation business 
with five locations in central Florida that filed more than 16,000 false
 tax returns for clients from 2012 to 2016 with a total estimated loss 
to the IRS of $25 million.<h2>7. Russian bank founder sentenced for evading exit tax upon renouncing U.S. citizenship </h2>Oleg Tinkov, aka Oleg Tinkoff, was ordered to pay more than $248 
million in taxes and sentenced to time-served and one year of supervised
 release after he renounced his U.S. citizenship in an effort to conceal
 large stock gains that were reportable to the IRS after the company he 
founded became a multibillion dollar, publicly traded company.<h2>6.&nbsp;Ontario man who ran multimillion-dollar unlicensed bitcoin exchange business sentenced to 3 years in federal prison</h2>Hugo Sergio Mejia was sentenced to 
three years in federal prison and required to forfeit all assets derived
 from running an unlicensed business that exchanged at least $13 million
 in Bitcoin and cash, and vice versa, often for drug traffickers. He 
charged commissions for the transactions and established separate 
companies to mask his true activity.<h2>5.&nbsp;Owner of bitcoin exchange sentenced to prison for money laundering</h2>Rossen G. Iossifov, a Bulgarian 
national, was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for 
participating in a scheme where popular online auction and sales 
websites — such as Craigslist and eBay — falsely advertised high-cost 
goods (typically vehicles) that did not actually exist. Once victims 
sent payment for the goods, the conspiracy engaged in a complicated 
money laundering scheme where U.S.-based associates would accept victim 
funds, convert these funds to cryptocurrency, and transfer the 
cryptocurrency to foreign-based money launderers.<h2>4.&nbsp;Ex-pastor
 of Orange County church sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for 
orchestrating $33 million con that defrauded investors</h2>Kent R.E. Whitney, the ex-pastor of 
the Church of the Health Self, was sentenced to 14 years in federal 
prison and ordered to pay $22.66 million in restitution to victims after
 defrauding investors of $33 million by orchestrating a church-based 
investment scam. At his direction, church representatives appeared on 
television and at live seminars to make false and misleading claims to 
lure investors to invest in church entities. Victims sent more than $33 
million to the church and received fabricated monthly statements 
reassuring them that their funds had been invested, when in reality, 
little to no money ever was.<h2>3.&nbsp;Prairie Village Man Sentenced to 12 Years for $7.3 Million Dollar Payday Loan Fraud, $8 Million Tax Evasion</h2>Joel Tucker was sentenced to 12 years 
and six months in federal prison and ordered to pay over $8 million in 
restitution to the IRS after selling false information or fictitious 
debts to payday loan businesses and not filing federal tax returns – for
 himself or his businesses – with the IRS for multiple years.<h2>2.&nbsp;DC Solar owner sentenced to 30 years in prison for billion dollar Ponzi scheme</h2>Jeff Carpoff, the owner of 
California-based DC Solar, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison 
and forfeited $120 million in assets to the U.S. government for victim 
restitution after creating a Ponzi-scheme that involved the sale of 
thousands of manufactured mobile solar generator units (MSGs) that 
didn't exist. He committed account and lease revenue fraud and purchased
 a sports team, luxury vehicles, real estate and a NASCAR team with the 
proceeds.<h2>1.&nbsp;San
 Fernando Valley family members sentenced to years in prison for 
fraudulently obtaining tens of millions of dollars in COVID relief</h2>The Ayvazyan family received sentences
 ranging from 17.5 years in prison to 10 months of probation for crimes 
ranging from bank and wire fraud to aggravated identity theft. The 
family used stolen and fictitious identities to submit 150 fraudulent 
applications for COVID-relief funds based on phony payroll records and 
tax documents to the Small Business Administration, and then used the 
funds they received to purchase luxury homes, gold coins, jewelry 
designer handbags and more. Richard Ayvazyan and his wife Terabelian cut
 their ankle monitoring devices and absconded prior to their sentencing 
hearing; they are currently fugitives.Follow IRS-CI on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/IRS_CI">@IRS_CI</a> to learn more.IRS-CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for 
conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, 
narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare 
fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only 
federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over 
violations of the Internal Revenue Code, boasting a nearly 90 percent 
federal conviction rate. The agency has 20 field offices located across 
the U.S. and 11 attaché posts abroad.

IRS counts down the top 10 criminal cases of 2021

Flights are continuing to be canceled as airlines struggle with 
pandemic-related staffing woes. Thousands of flights have been affected,
 and there is no end in sight to the disruptions. As airlines continue 
to try to accommodate stranded passengers, the Better Business Bureau®&nbsp;(BBB®) provides guidance to travelers who may be seeking compensation and refunds for cancellations.

When a consumer is flying domestically in the United States, rules regarding <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/27/business/flights-canceled-omicron-covid/index.html">flight delays and cancellations are overseen by the US Department of Transportation</a>. In Canada, complaints about flight delays are handled by the <a href="https://www.otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/contact-us" target="_blank">Canadian Transportation Agency</a>.&nbsp;
 In general, there are no U.S. federal laws requiring airlines to 
provide passengers with compensation for a delayed flight. In Canada, 
see the <a href="https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/publication/flight-delays-and-cancellations-a-guide" target="_blank">flights and delays cancellations guide</a>.
 Airlines may have their own policies and may provide better benefits if
 a flight was canceled or significantly delayed within the airline’s 
scope of control. Consumers may have additional benefits if they 
purchased the flight with a credit card that offers additional travel 
protections. Check the cardholder agreement and with the airline. Consumers should keep receipts
 for extra purchases, like a hotel room, so they can submit them to 
their airline or credit card company for reimbursement later. Typically,
 nearly all domestic airlines will try to accommodate passengers on the 
next available flight, and sometimes on a different carrier.

When flights are canceled by the airline, consumers are always entitled to a full refund.
 This includes a refund of any bag fees or extras, such as additional 
legroom, for a seat. If the airline offers a voucher in lieu of a 
refund, ask about expiration and blackout dates. 
Airlines may also have additional restrictions on the use of vouchers. 
Consumers are not obligated to accept vouchers and may insist on a full 
refund instead. If the trip was canceled by the consumer, however, they may not be entitled to a full refund.

BBB is asking consumers to keep the following tips in mind when handling travel disruptions:

As the Omicron variant spreads, be wary of coronavirus cons. Read <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/22395-bbb-scam-alert-want-a-covid-test-theres-a-scam-for-that">BBB's alert about COVID-19 testing scams</a>.

Read <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23352-bbb-tip-travel-safely-on-your-vacation" target="_blank">BBB's tips to travel safely on your vacation</a>.

For the latest information, BBB recommends consumers visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/news">BBB.org</a>.

<a href="https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-greater-cleveland" target="_blank">BBB of Greater Cleveland</a> contributed to this article.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641576252441.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>BBBFlights are continuing to be canceled as airlines struggle with 
pandemic-related staffing woes. Thousands of flights have been affected,
 and there is no end in sight to the disruptions. As airlines continue 
to try to accommodate stranded passengers, the Better Business Bureau®&nbsp;(BBB®) provides guidance to travelers who may be seeking compensation and refunds for cancellations.When a consumer is flying domestically in the United States, rules regarding <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/27/business/flights-canceled-omicron-covid/index.html">flight delays and cancellations are overseen by the US Department of Transportation</a>. In Canada, complaints about flight delays are handled by the <a href="https://www.otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/contact-us" target="_blank">Canadian Transportation Agency</a>.&nbsp;
 In general, there are no U.S. federal laws requiring airlines to 
provide passengers with compensation for a delayed flight. In Canada, 
see the <a href="https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/publication/flight-delays-and-cancellations-a-guide" target="_blank">flights and delays cancellations guide</a>.
 Airlines may have their own policies and may provide better benefits if
 a flight was canceled or significantly delayed within the airline’s 
scope of control. Consumers may have additional benefits if they 
purchased the flight with a credit card that offers additional travel 
protections. Check the cardholder agreement and with the airline. Consumers should keep receipts
 for extra purchases, like a hotel room, so they can submit them to 
their airline or credit card company for reimbursement later. Typically,
 nearly all domestic airlines will try to accommodate passengers on the 
next available flight, and sometimes on a different carrier.When flights are canceled by the airline, consumers are always entitled to a full refund.
 This includes a refund of any bag fees or extras, such as additional 
legroom, for a seat. If the airline offers a voucher in lieu of a 
refund, ask about expiration and blackout dates. 
Airlines may also have additional restrictions on the use of vouchers. 
Consumers are not obligated to accept vouchers and may insist on a full 
refund instead. If the trip was canceled by the consumer, however, they may not be entitled to a full refund.BBB is asking consumers to keep the following tips in mind when handling travel disruptions:<ul>
 <li>Check delays - Travelers can check their latest 
flight information on their carrier’s website or via the airline’s 
telephone reservation system. Many times, delays don’t occur until the 
day of the flight and the airline must update its flight information 
within 30 minutes of receiving a notice of a status change.&nbsp;</li><li>Check carrier and credit card terms - While federal
 regulations don’t require airlines to reimburse expenses such as rooms 
or food in the event a flight is canceled or severely delayed, the 
carrier and credit card companies may have different policies. Purchase 
tickets with a credit card that offers trip protection or travelers 
insurance and check individual airline policies.</li><li>Keep documentation - Keep receipts and records for 
expenses incurred as a result of a significantly delayed or canceled 
flight. These may be needed later to recover expenses.</li><li>Check the carrier's website - Most airlines allow 
consumers to initiate refunds directly on the carrier’s website. Using a
 website may help a consumer obtain a refund or rebook a trip much 
faster than waiting for a consumer service agent in person or on the 
phone.</li><li>Rules are different for foreign flights - Flights 
that were canceled while in another country will be affected by the laws
 of that nation. Check with the local country’s department of 
transportation while traveling internationally.</li>
 </ul>As the Omicron variant spreads, be wary of coronavirus cons. Read <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/22395-bbb-scam-alert-want-a-covid-test-theres-a-scam-for-that">BBB's alert about COVID-19 testing scams</a>.Read <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23352-bbb-tip-travel-safely-on-your-vacation" target="_blank">BBB's tips to travel safely on your vacation</a>.For the latest information, BBB recommends consumers visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/news">BBB.org</a>.<a href="https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-greater-cleveland" target="_blank">BBB of Greater Cleveland</a> contributed to this article.

BBB Tip: Flight canceled? Tips for handling travel delays

WICHITA – A Kansas man has been sentenced to consecutive life terms for sexually assaulting an underage girl.

According to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office, District Judge Jeffrey Syrios sentenced 40-year-old Jeremiah Orange of Wichita, to four consecutive life sentences, each with parole eligibility after 25 years.

In November, a jury found Orange guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The assaults took place in Wichita during the summer of 2016 when the girl and her mother were staying with Orange.

During sentencing Wednesday, Judge Syrios said his reasoning for the consecutive life sentences is that, “Each charge represents separate distinct acts and separate and distinct traumas inflicted on this child while the defendant was in a caretaking role for the child.” 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641490891716.png" alt="Orange-photo KBI offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Orange-photo KBI offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA – A Kansas man has been sentenced to consecutive life terms for sexually assaulting an underage girl.According to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office, District Judge Jeffrey Syrios sentenced 40-year-old Jeremiah Orange of Wichita, to four consecutive life sentences, each with parole eligibility after 25 years.In November, a jury found Orange guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The assaults took place in Wichita during the summer of 2016 when the girl and her mother were staying with Orange.During sentencing Wednesday, Judge Syrios said his reasoning for the consecutive life sentences is that, “Each charge represents separate distinct acts and separate and distinct traumas inflicted on this child while the defendant was in a caretaking role for the child.”

4 consecutive life sentences for sex assault of Kan. girl

GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — An outgoing suburban Kansas City, Kansas, school superintendent has secured a $425,000 severance package just days before newly-elected conservative school board members who campaigned on ousting her take office. 

The Gardner Edgerton School District board last month approved the severance package covering the remaining 18 months of Superintendent Pam Stranathan's contract. 

Stranathan's resignation takes effect Sunday. On Monday, new members take office, giving the board a 4-3 conservative majority. That conservative majority was elected on its opposition to Stranathan’s policy of remote learning and mask requirements in the face of a global pandemic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641509680814.png" alt="Pam Stranathan-photo courtesy Gardner Edgerton School District" />
 <figcaption>Pam Stranathan-photo courtesy Gardner Edgerton School District</figcaption>
 </figure>GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — An outgoing suburban Kansas City, Kansas, school superintendent has secured a $425,000 severance package just days before newly-elected conservative school board members who campaigned on ousting her take office. The Gardner Edgerton School District board last month approved the severance package covering the remaining 18 months of Superintendent Pam Stranathan's contract. Stranathan's resignation takes effect Sunday. On Monday, new members take office, giving the board a 4-3 conservative majority. That conservative majority was elected on its opposition to Stranathan’s policy of remote learning and mask requirements in the face of a global pandemic.