WASHINGTON (AP) — Verizon and AT&amp;T have rejected a request by the U.S. government to delay the rollout of next-generation wireless technology.

A joint letter Sunday from the telecommunications giants to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Steve Dickson, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration, sought to dismiss concerns brought by U.S. airlines that a new 5G wireless service could harm aviation.

But Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon Communications, and John Stankey, CEO of AT&amp;T, also wrote that they were willing to accept some temporary measures over the next six months to limit the service around certain airport runways.

Airlines had asked the Federal Communications Commission to delay this week’s scheduled 5G rollout, saying the service, set to launch Wednesday, could interfere with electronics that pilots rely on.

Airlines for America, a trade group for large U.S. passenger and cargo carriers, said in an emergency filing that the FCC has failed to adequately consider the harm that 5G service could do to the industry. The group wants more time for the FCC and the FAA, which regulates airlines, to resolve issues around aviation safety. Those are related to a type of 5G service that relies on chunks of radio spectrum called C-Band, which wireless carriers spent billions of dollars to buy up last year.

Siding in part with airlines, Buttigieg and Dickson wrote late Friday to the CEOs of AT&amp;T and Verizon to propose a delay in activating 5G C-band service near an undetermined number of “priority airports” while the FAA studies the potential for interference with aircraft operations.

AT&amp;T and Verizon previously agreed to a one-month delay in 5G, which provides faster speeds when mobile devices connect to their networks and allows users to connect many devices to the internet without slowing it down. But the telecommunications executives said Sunday that further delays requested by the government would harm their customers.

“Agreeing to your proposal would not only be an unprecedented and unwarranted circumvention of the due process and checks and balances carefully crafted in the structure of our democracy, but an irresponsible abdication of the operating control required to deploy world-class and globally competitive communications networks that are every bit as essential to our country’s economic vitality, public safety and national interests as the airline industry," the executives wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586544759960.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Verizon and AT&amp;T have rejected a request by the U.S. government to delay the rollout of next-generation wireless technology.A joint letter Sunday from the telecommunications giants to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Steve Dickson, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration, sought to dismiss concerns brought by U.S. airlines that a new 5G wireless service could harm aviation.But Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon Communications, and John Stankey, CEO of AT&amp;T, also wrote that they were willing to accept some temporary measures over the next six months to limit the service around certain airport runways.Airlines had asked the Federal Communications Commission to delay this week’s scheduled 5G rollout, saying the service, set to launch Wednesday, could interfere with electronics that pilots rely on.Airlines for America, a trade group for large U.S. passenger and cargo carriers, said in an emergency filing that the FCC has failed to adequately consider the harm that 5G service could do to the industry. The group wants more time for the FCC and the FAA, which regulates airlines, to resolve issues around aviation safety. Those are related to a type of 5G service that relies on chunks of radio spectrum called C-Band, which wireless carriers spent billions of dollars to buy up last year.Siding in part with airlines, Buttigieg and Dickson wrote late Friday to the CEOs of AT&amp;T and Verizon to propose a delay in activating 5G C-band service near an undetermined number of “priority airports” while the FAA studies the potential for interference with aircraft operations.AT&amp;T and Verizon previously agreed to a one-month delay in 5G, which provides faster speeds when mobile devices connect to their networks and allows users to connect many devices to the internet without slowing it down. But the telecommunications executives said Sunday that further delays requested by the government would harm their customers.“Agreeing to your proposal would not only be an unprecedented and unwarranted circumvention of the due process and checks and balances carefully crafted in the structure of our democracy, but an irresponsible abdication of the operating control required to deploy world-class and globally competitive communications networks that are every bit as essential to our country’s economic vitality, public safety and national interests as the airline industry," the executives wrote.—-

Verizon, AT&T, reject U.S. request to delay their 5G wireless plans

OSAGE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a traffic stop.

Just after 1:30 p.m. Thursday, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on K-268 Highway just before the  Quenemo exit for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, deputies located drugs.

The driver of the vehicle, Jackalynn N. Kirk, 19, of Ottawa, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, marijuana, and illegal registration.

A passenger in the vehicle, Joshua W. Fine, 32, of Quenemo, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640960571506.png" alt="Fine-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Fine-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a traffic stop.Just after 1:30 p.m. Thursday, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on K-268 Highway just before the Quenemo exit for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, deputies located drugs.The driver of the vehicle, Jackalynn N. Kirk, 19, of Ottawa, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, marijuana, and illegal registration.A passenger in the vehicle, Joshua W. Fine, 32, of Quenemo, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas couple were traveling with meth, marijuana

BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — A man is now charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of two people in Branson in May.

&nbsp;34-year-old Miguel Angel Melendez-Torres of Branson also is charged with attempted robbery and armed criminal action.

The shooting happened May 29 outside of Famous Dave's restaurant in the popular tourist town. The victims were 38-year-old Krystle Buhl of Forsyth and 39-year-old Richard A. McMahan of Merriam Woods.

A probable cause statement said Melendez-Torres allegedly approached a vehicle occupied by the victims after they had gotten off work at the restaurant. The statement said Melendez-Torres demanded money, argued with the victims, then shot both of them in the head.

It wasn't immediately clear on Friday if Melendez-Torres had an attorney.

BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — Police have identified two people shot and killed outside a Branson restaurant over the weekend.

Krystle Buhl, 38, of Forsyth, and Richard McMahan, 39, of Merriam Woods, died in the Saturday night shooting outside of Famous Dave’s in Branson, police there said.

Officers found the pair with gunshot wounds in the restaurant’s parking lot, television station KYTV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ky3.com/2021/05/30/branson-police-investigate-late-night-fatal-shooting/">reported</a>. Police said one victim died at the scene and the other died at a hospital.

Police have said they have no suspects and no motive for the shootings. Investigators have found no indication that the shooting resulted from a robbery, Branson Police Chief Eric Schmitt said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622563430710.png" alt="A sign on the front door of the restaurant following the shooting in May -photo courtesy KYTV" />
 <figcaption>A sign on the front door of the restaurant following the shooting in May -photo courtesy KYTV</figcaption>
 </figure>BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — A man is now charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of two people in Branson in May.&nbsp;34-year-old Miguel Angel Melendez-Torres of Branson also is charged with attempted robbery and armed criminal action.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640989698205.png" alt="Melendez-Torres is being held without bond in Taney County, according to online jail records" />
 <figcaption>Melendez-Torres is being held without bond in Taney County, according to online jail records</figcaption>
 </figure>The shooting happened May 29 outside of Famous Dave's restaurant in the popular tourist town. The victims were 38-year-old Krystle Buhl of Forsyth and 39-year-old Richard A. McMahan of Merriam Woods.A probable cause statement said Melendez-Torres allegedly approached a vehicle occupied by the victims after they had gotten off work at the restaurant. The statement said Melendez-Torres demanded money, argued with the victims, then shot both of them in the head.It wasn't immediately clear on Friday if Melendez-Torres had an attorney.--------------BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — Police have identified two people shot and killed outside a Branson restaurant over the weekend.Krystle Buhl, 38, of Forsyth, and Richard McMahan, 39, of Merriam Woods, died in the Saturday night shooting outside of Famous Dave’s in Branson, police there said.Officers found the pair with gunshot wounds in the restaurant’s parking lot, television station KYTV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ky3.com/2021/05/30/branson-police-investigate-late-night-fatal-shooting/">reported</a>. Police said one victim died at the scene and the other died at a hospital.Police have said they have no suspects and no motive for the shootings. Investigators have found no indication that the shooting resulted from a robbery, Branson Police Chief Eric Schmitt said.

Man charged in deaths of 2 outside Branson restaurant

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a car theft.

Just before 4:30 p.m. Thursday, police initiated a traffic stop of a stolen car in the 700 block of SE 26th Street in Topeka, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.

The two occupants fled from the car and entered into a home in the 700 block of SE 26th Street. Officers took an adult female and adult male into custody without incident. 

They later booked Michael Benson, 47, of Topeka, into the Shawnee County Department of on requested charges of Aggravated Burglary, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and&nbsp;&nbsp;Felony Interference with Law Enforcement. Police released no additional details on a second arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640972835911.png" alt="Benson-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Benson-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a car theft.Just before 4:30 p.m. Thursday, police initiated a traffic stop of a stolen car in the 700 block of SE 26th Street in Topeka, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.The two occupants fled from the car and entered into a home in the 700 block of SE 26th Street. Officers took an adult female and adult male into custody without incident. They later booked Michael Benson, 47, of Topeka, into the Shawnee County Department of on requested charges of Aggravated Burglary, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and&nbsp;&nbsp;Felony Interference with Law Enforcement. Police released no additional details on a second arrest.

Police: Car theft suspects captured after hiding in Kan. home

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police have released the name of a pedestrian who was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday.

Kansas City police said Saturday that 60-year-old Jeffrey Moore of Kansas City died after he was struck by a car around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 10500 block of East 42nd Street in eastern Kansas City.

&nbsp;Police continue searching for a Nissan Sentra that may have damage to the front driver’s side, based on evidence left at the scene.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police have released the name of a pedestrian who was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday.Kansas City police said Saturday that 60-year-old Jeffrey Moore of Kansas City died after he was struck by a car around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 10500 block of East 42nd Street in eastern Kansas City.&nbsp;Police continue searching for a Nissan Sentra that may have damage to the front driver’s side, based on evidence left at the scene.

Police ID Kansas City man killed in hit-and-run crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials on Thursday pressed nursing home workers to get their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-boosters-adults-cdc-fda-pfizer-moderna-34aabde2c1c5a88c7763fa1dac77df5f">booster shots</a>&nbsp;amid a spike in COVID-19 cases among staffers and a concerning lag in booster vaccination for residents and staff.

The omicron variant “is lightning fast, and we cannot afford another COVID-19 surge in nursing homes,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a livestreamed appeal to the industry. “You know that. I know that. Higher numbers of COVID cases would likely once again have a devastating impact on our loved ones.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nursing-homes">Nursing homes</a>&nbsp;are a testing ground for President Joe Biden’s assertion that the U.S. is much better prepared to handle a surging virus than it was last winter. Although residents are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nursing-homes-coronavirus-pandemic-pandemics-business-health-f1a44187198ccca1e4311ac72f4f42aa">a tiny proportion of the population</a>, they represent a disproportionate share of Americans who have died in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. Earlier this year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-pfizer-approval-1361ff61d06b815652a08a7cc0683a72">the advent of vaccines</a>&nbsp;brought the virus under control in nursing homes and allowed them to reopen to visitors. But that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-medicaid-medicare-a255b8b93fe023f77fca2b56257e3b7c">return to normalcy</a>&nbsp;could be in jeopardy as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-london-england-eddf1657a9462547826881562b71f3b7">the omicron variant</a>&nbsp;pushes COVID-19 cases to new highs.

Cases among nursing home staffers jumped to 10,353 the week ending Dec. 27, a rise of nearly 80% from the previous week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Staff deaths increased to 58, tripling from the previous week. Among residents, who are more heavily vaccinated, cases went up slightly and the data showed no increase in deaths.

With medical experts advising that a booster shot is critical to defend against omicron, Becerra said only 57% of nursing home residents and 25% of staff and have gotten boosters. That’s clearly behind a booster rate of nearly 66% among people age 65 or older and about 45% for the adult population, according to statistics from the White House.

“We’ve got to change that,” Becerra said.

The administration is urging some 1,400 federally funded community health centers across the land to partner with local nursing homes in a renewed vaccination campaign.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641141095739.png" alt="The omicron variant “is lightning fast, and we cannot afford another COVID-19 surge in nursing homes,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said. -photo courtesy HHS" />
 <figcaption>The omicron variant “is lightning fast, and we cannot afford another COVID-19 surge in nursing homes,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said. -photo courtesy HHS</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials on Thursday pressed nursing home workers to get their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-boosters-adults-cdc-fda-pfizer-moderna-34aabde2c1c5a88c7763fa1dac77df5f">booster shots</a>&nbsp;amid a spike in COVID-19 cases among staffers and a concerning lag in booster vaccination for residents and staff.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Omicron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Omicron</a> variant spreads more easily than the original virus that causes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>. Help stop Omicron by using all the tools to protect yourself and others. Learn more: <a href="https://t.co/LkeBxGqVsm">https://t.co/LkeBxGqVsm</a>. <a href="https://t.co/35QnrmhyA8">pic.twitter.com/35QnrmhyA8</a>&mdash; HHS.gov (@HHSGov) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSGov/status/1477640854810599428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The omicron variant “is lightning fast, and we cannot afford another COVID-19 surge in nursing homes,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a livestreamed appeal to the industry. “You know that. I know that. Higher numbers of COVID cases would likely once again have a devastating impact on our loved ones.”<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nursing-homes">Nursing homes</a>&nbsp;are a testing ground for President Joe Biden’s assertion that the U.S. is much better prepared to handle a surging virus than it was last winter. Although residents are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nursing-homes-coronavirus-pandemic-pandemics-business-health-f1a44187198ccca1e4311ac72f4f42aa">a tiny proportion of the population</a>, they represent a disproportionate share of Americans who have died in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. Earlier this year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-pfizer-approval-1361ff61d06b815652a08a7cc0683a72">the advent of vaccines</a>&nbsp;brought the virus under control in nursing homes and allowed them to reopen to visitors. But that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-medicaid-medicare-a255b8b93fe023f77fca2b56257e3b7c">return to normalcy</a>&nbsp;could be in jeopardy as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-europe-london-england-eddf1657a9462547826881562b71f3b7">the omicron variant</a>&nbsp;pushes COVID-19 cases to new highs.Cases among nursing home staffers jumped to 10,353 the week ending Dec. 27, a rise of nearly 80% from the previous week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Staff deaths increased to 58, tripling from the previous week. Among residents, who are more heavily vaccinated, cases went up slightly and the data showed no increase in deaths.With medical experts advising that a booster shot is critical to defend against omicron, Becerra said only 57% of nursing home residents and 25% of staff and have gotten boosters. That’s clearly behind a booster rate of nearly 66% among people age 65 or older and about 45% for the adult population, according to statistics from the White House.“We’ve got to change that,” Becerra said.The administration is urging some 1,400 federally funded community health centers across the land to partner with local nursing homes in a renewed vaccination campaign.

Feds press nursing home COVID boosters as staff cases spike

JACKSON COUNTY —A Kansas City 17-year-old, certified by Family Court to stand trial as an adult, has been charged in the fatal shootings in March of two 15-year-olds near 73rd and Norton in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Edward T. Shelton faces two counts of Murder 2nd Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched on March 20, 2021, to the scene of a double homicide in the area of 73rd and Norton in Kansas City. 

Both victims were 15 years old. They were identified as Dominque Nelson and Dominik Simmons. One was found at the scene, shot multiple times. The other was found the next morning, shot once in the back, nearby.&nbsp;

Prosecutors requested the Shelton be held on a $200,000 bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640364892094.png" alt="Shelton-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Shelton-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —A Kansas City 17-year-old, certified by Family Court to stand trial as an adult, has been charged in the fatal shootings in March of two 15-year-olds near 73rd and Norton in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Edward T. Shelton faces two counts of Murder 2nd Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched on March 20, 2021, to the scene of a double homicide in the area of 73rd and Norton in Kansas City. Both victims were 15 years old. They were identified as Dominque Nelson and Dominik Simmons. One was found at the scene, shot multiple times. The other was found the next morning, shot once in the back, nearby.&nbsp;Prosecutors requested the Shelton be held on a $200,000 bond.&nbsp;

Teen will be tried as an adult in killing of 2 Kansas City boys

MONROE, La. (AP) — President Joe Biden cannot require teachers in the Head Start early education program to be vaccinated against COVID-19, a Louisiana federal judge ruled Saturday, handing a victory to 24 states that had sued the federal government.

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alabamaag.gov/Documents/news/Head%20Start%20Mandate%20Stay%20Order.pdf" target="_blank">wrote that the Biden administration unlawfully bypassed Congress</a>&nbsp;when ordering that workers in Head Start programs be vaccinated by Jan. 31 and that students 2 years or older be masked when indoors or when in close contact outdoors.

Head Start is a federally funded program that promotes education for children under the age of 6 who are from low-income families.

Doughty, an appointee of then-President Donald Trump, wrote that the separation of powers is crucial to the country’s founding and quoted former President Ronald Reagan, who said “the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

“If the Executive branch is allowed to usurp the power of the Legislative branch to make laws, then this country is no longer a democracy — it is a monarchy,” Doughty wrote.

Republican attorneys general who were among the 24 states involved in the lawsuit praised Doughty’s decision.

“This victory will help ensure that numerous Head Start programs will continue to operate rather than have to fire teachers and cut back services to children,” Alabama Attorney General Marshall said in a news release. “And this win will forestall the nonsensical and damaging practice of forcing masks on two-year-olds.”

It was not immediately clear whether the federal government would appeal the decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

Doughty’s ruling is similar to a Friday ruling in which a federal judge also blocked the Head Start mandate in Texas.

Saturday’s ruling affects Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming and West Virginia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636124369655.png" alt="It was not immediately clear whether the federal government would appeal the decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans-photo White House" />
 <figcaption>It was not immediately clear whether the federal government would appeal the decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans-photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>MONROE, La. (AP) — President Joe Biden cannot require teachers in the Head Start early education program to be vaccinated against COVID-19, a Louisiana federal judge ruled Saturday, handing a victory to 24 states that had sued the federal government.U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alabamaag.gov/Documents/news/Head%20Start%20Mandate%20Stay%20Order.pdf" target="_blank">wrote that the Biden administration unlawfully bypassed Congress</a>&nbsp;when ordering that workers in Head Start programs be vaccinated by Jan. 31 and that students 2 years or older be masked when indoors or when in close contact outdoors.Head Start is a federally funded program that promotes education for children under the age of 6 who are from low-income families.Doughty, an appointee of then-President Donald Trump, wrote that the separation of powers is crucial to the country’s founding and quoted former President Ronald Reagan, who said “the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”“If the Executive branch is allowed to usurp the power of the Legislative branch to make laws, then this country is no longer a democracy — it is a monarchy,” Doughty wrote.Republican attorneys general who were among the 24 states involved in the lawsuit praised Doughty’s decision.“This victory will help ensure that numerous Head Start programs will continue to operate rather than have to fire teachers and cut back services to children,” Alabama Attorney General Marshall said in a news release. “And this win will forestall the nonsensical and damaging practice of forcing masks on two-year-olds.”It was not immediately clear whether the federal government would appeal the decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.Doughty’s ruling is similar to a Friday ruling in which a federal judge also blocked the Head Start mandate in Texas.Saturday’s ruling affects Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming and West Virginia.

Federal judge blocks Biden vaccine mandate for Head Start program

SUPERIOR, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado official says nearly 1,000 homes were destroyed, hundreds more were damaged, and that three people are missing after a wildfire charred numerous neighborhoods in a suburban area at the base of the Rocky Mountains northwest of Denver.

Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle also said Saturday that investigators are still trying to find the cause of the blaze that erupted Thursday.

Officials had previously estimated that at least 500 homes — and possibly 1,000 — were destroyed. They also announced earlier Saturday that two people were missing.

The wind-whipped wildfire blackened entire neighborhoods in the area between Denver and Boulder.

Authorities had said earlier no one was missing. But Boulder County spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill said Saturday that was due to confusion inherent when agencies are scrambling to manage an emergency.

Pelle said officials were organizing cadaver teams to search for the missing in the Superior area and in unincorporated Boulder County. The task is complicated by debris from destroyed structures, covered by 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow dumped by a storm overnight, he said.

At least 991 homes were destroyed, Pelle said: 553 in Louisville, 332 in Superior and 106 in unincorporated parts of the county. Hundreds more were damaged. Pelle cautioned that the tally is not final.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation. Pelle said utility officials found no downed power lines around where the fire broke out. He said authorities were pursuing a number of tips and had executed a search warrant at “one particular location.” He declined to give details.

At least seven people were injured in the wildfire that erupted in and around Louisville and Superior, neighboring towns about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Denver with a combined population of 34,000. More than 500 homes were feared destroyed.

The blaze, which burned at least 9.4 square miles (24 square kilometers), was no longer considered an immediate threat — especially after an overnight dumping of snow and frigid temperatures Saturday. The bitter cold compounded the misery of Colorado residents who started off the new year trying to salvage what remains of their homes.

At least 6 inches (0.15 meters) of snow and temperatures in the single digits cast an eerie scene amid still-smoldering remains of homes. Despite the shocking change in weather, the smell of smoke still permeated empty streets blocked off by National Guard troops in Humvees.

Utility crews struggled to restore electricity and gas service to homes that survived, and dozens of people lined up to get donated space heaters, bottled water and blankets at Red Cross shelters. Xcel Energy urged other residents to use fireplaces and wood stoves to stay warm and keep their pipes at home from freezing.

Families filled a long line of cars waiting to pick up space heaters and bottled water at a Salvation Army distribution center at the YMCA in Lafayette, just north of Superior.

Monarch High School seniors Noah Sarasin and his twin brother Gavin had been volunteering at that location for two days, directing traffic and distributing donations.

“We have a house, no heat but we still have a house,” Noah Sarasin said. “I just want to make sure that everyone else has heat on this very cold day.”

Hilary and Patrick Wallace picked up two heaters, then ordered 2 hot chocolate mochas at a nearby cafe. The Superior couple couldn’t find a hotel and were contemplating hiking 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) back to their home; their neighborhood was still blocked off to traffic. The family slept in one room on New Year’s Eve.

Both teared up when a man entered the shop and joked aloud that he’d lost his coffee mugs — and everything else — in the fire. The man was in good spirits, laughing at the irony of the situation.

“I have a space heater and a house to put it in. I don’t even know what to say to them,” Hilary said, wiping away a tear.

Superior resident Jeff Markley arrived in his truck to pick up a heater. He said he felt lucky to be “just displaced” since his home is intact.

“We’re making do, staying with friends, and upbeat for the new year. Gotta be better than this last one,” Markley said.

“It’s bittersweet because we have our house, but our friends don’t. And our neighbors don’t,” said Louisville resident Judy Givens as she picked up a heater with her husband, Rusty. “We thought 2022 might be better. And then we had omicron. And now we have this, and it’s not starting out very well.”

Dozens trudged through the snow to determine the condition of their homes and take belongings.

Brian Williams, a resident of Superior, used a sled to evacuate his son from their home as the fire raged. It survived the blaze but was filled with ash and lacked utilities.

“We had to get our badges for work and medicine and stuff,” Williams said.

Donna O’Brien bundled up with her son Robert to make the 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) trek to check on their home. “I think we’re still in kind of shock,” she said. “This is our neighborhood and it happens everywhere else, but it’s not supposed to happen where you live.”

The wildfire broke out unusually late in the year, following an extremely dry fall and amid a winter nearly devoid of snow until the overnight snowfall. Scientists say climate change is making weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive.

Ninety percent of Boulder County is in severe or extreme drought, and it hadn’t seen substantial rainfall since mid-summer. Denver set a record for consecutive days without snow before it got a small storm on Dec. 10, its last snowfall before the wildfires broke out.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640951000026.png" alt="Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle also said Saturday that investigators are still trying to find the cause of the blaze that erupted Thursday-photo courtesy KKTV" />
 <figcaption>Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle also said Saturday that investigators are still trying to find the cause of the blaze that erupted Thursday-photo courtesy KKTV</figcaption>
 </figure>SUPERIOR, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado official says nearly 1,000 homes were destroyed, hundreds more were damaged, and that three people are missing after a wildfire charred numerous neighborhoods in a suburban area at the base of the Rocky Mountains northwest of Denver.Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle also said Saturday that investigators are still trying to find the cause of the blaze that erupted Thursday.Officials had previously estimated that at least 500 homes — and possibly 1,000 — were destroyed. They also announced earlier Saturday that two people were missing.The wind-whipped wildfire blackened entire neighborhoods in the area between Denver and Boulder.Authorities had said earlier no one was missing. But Boulder County spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill said Saturday that was due to confusion inherent when agencies are scrambling to manage an emergency.Pelle said officials were organizing cadaver teams to search for the missing in the Superior area and in unincorporated Boulder County. The task is complicated by debris from destroyed structures, covered by 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow dumped by a storm overnight, he said.At least 991 homes were destroyed, Pelle said: 553 in Louisville, 332 in Superior and 106 in unincorporated parts of the county. Hundreds more were damaged. Pelle cautioned that the tally is not final.The cause of the blaze was under investigation. Pelle said utility officials found no downed power lines around where the fire broke out. He said authorities were pursuing a number of tips and had executed a search warrant at “one particular location.” He declined to give details.At least seven people were injured in the wildfire that erupted in and around Louisville and Superior, neighboring towns about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Denver with a combined population of 34,000. More than 500 homes were feared destroyed.The blaze, which burned at least 9.4 square miles (24 square kilometers), was no longer considered an immediate threat — especially after an overnight dumping of snow and frigid temperatures Saturday. The bitter cold compounded the misery of Colorado residents who started off the new year trying to salvage what remains of their homes.At least 6 inches (0.15 meters) of snow and temperatures in the single digits cast an eerie scene amid still-smoldering remains of homes. Despite the shocking change in weather, the smell of smoke still permeated empty streets blocked off by National Guard troops in Humvees.Utility crews struggled to restore electricity and gas service to homes that survived, and dozens of people lined up to get donated space heaters, bottled water and blankets at Red Cross shelters. Xcel Energy urged other residents to use fireplaces and wood stoves to stay warm and keep their pipes at home from freezing.Families filled a long line of cars waiting to pick up space heaters and bottled water at a Salvation Army distribution center at the YMCA in Lafayette, just north of Superior.Monarch High School seniors Noah Sarasin and his twin brother Gavin had been volunteering at that location for two days, directing traffic and distributing donations.“We have a house, no heat but we still have a house,” Noah Sarasin said. “I just want to make sure that everyone else has heat on this very cold day.”Hilary and Patrick Wallace picked up two heaters, then ordered 2 hot chocolate mochas at a nearby cafe. The Superior couple couldn’t find a hotel and were contemplating hiking 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) back to their home; their neighborhood was still blocked off to traffic. The family slept in one room on New Year’s Eve.Both teared up when a man entered the shop and joked aloud that he’d lost his coffee mugs — and everything else — in the fire. The man was in good spirits, laughing at the irony of the situation.“I have a space heater and a house to put it in. I don’t even know what to say to them,” Hilary said, wiping away a tear.Superior resident Jeff Markley arrived in his truck to pick up a heater. He said he felt lucky to be “just displaced” since his home is intact.“We’re making do, staying with friends, and upbeat for the new year. Gotta be better than this last one,” Markley said.Not everyone felt as positive.“It’s bittersweet because we have our house, but our friends don’t. And our neighbors don’t,” said Louisville resident Judy Givens as she picked up a heater with her husband, Rusty. “We thought 2022 might be better. And then we had omicron. And now we have this, and it’s not starting out very well.”Dozens trudged through the snow to determine the condition of their homes and take belongings.Brian Williams, a resident of Superior, used a sled to evacuate his son from their home as the fire raged. It survived the blaze but was filled with ash and lacked utilities.“We had to get our badges for work and medicine and stuff,” Williams said.Donna O’Brien bundled up with her son Robert to make the 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) trek to check on their home. “I think we’re still in kind of shock,” she said. “This is our neighborhood and it happens everywhere else, but it’s not supposed to happen where you live.”The wildfire broke out unusually late in the year, following an extremely dry fall and amid a winter nearly devoid of snow until the overnight snowfall. Scientists say climate change is making weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive.Ninety percent of Boulder County is in severe or extreme drought, and it hadn’t seen substantial rainfall since mid-summer. Denver set a record for consecutive days without snow before it got a small storm on Dec. 10, its last snowfall before the wildfires broke out.____

Official: Nearly 1K homes destroyed in wildfire near Denver

OSAGE COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Saturday in Osage County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 GMC Yukon driven by&nbsp; Lesley Ann Berner, 43, Osage City, was eastbound&nbsp;on U.S. 56 just east of Z Road.

The driver lost control of the vehicle. It traveled into the south ditch. The driver attempted to correct back onto the highway and the SUV overturned.

Berner was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the morgue in Shawnee County. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

OSAGE COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Saturday in Osage County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 GMC Yukon driven by&nbsp; Lesley Ann Berner, 43, Osage City, was eastbound&nbsp;on U.S. 56 just east of Z Road.The driver lost control of the vehicle. It traveled into the south ditch. The driver attempted to correct back onto the highway and the SUV overturned.Berner was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the morgue in Shawnee County. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies after SUV overturns

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman faces sentencing in February after being convicted of second-degree murder in the hit-and-run death of a teenager from Leavenworth.

Amber N. Alexander, 28, formerly of Leavenworth, was found guilty Thursday. Prosecutors presented evidence that Alexander had several drinks before leaving a bar in Lansing and driving to Main Street in nearby Leavenworth in August.

Alexander struck a 16-year-old girl before speeding away and crossing a bridge into Missouri. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628642854304.png" alt="Alexander-photo Leavenworth Co." />
 <figcaption>Alexander-photo Leavenworth Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman faces sentencing in February after being convicted of second-degree murder in the hit-and-run death of a teenager from Leavenworth.Amber N. Alexander, 28, formerly of Leavenworth, was found guilty Thursday. Prosecutors presented evidence that Alexander had several drinks before leaving a bar in Lansing and driving to Main Street in nearby Leavenworth in August.Alexander struck a 16-year-old girl before speeding away and crossing a bridge into Missouri. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 2.

Guilty of murder: Kan. woman left bar, struck teen on a bicycle

MCPHERSON COUNTY—A Kansas woman man died in an accident just after 4p.m. Saturday in McPherson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Chevy Suburban driven by Jimmie W. Hall III, 36, Wichita,&nbsp; was southbound on the inside lane of Interstate 135 just south of Arrowhead Road.

The driver lost control. The SUV traveled off the roadway to the west into the ditch, spun and overturned.

A passenger Mary E. Hall, 62, was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported a 10-year-old girl from McPherson to a Wichita hospital.&nbsp; The driver was not injured and not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

MCPHERSON COUNTY—A Kansas woman man died in an accident just after 4p.m. Saturday in McPherson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Chevy Suburban driven by Jimmie W. Hall III, 36, Wichita,&nbsp; was southbound on the inside lane of Interstate 135 just south of Arrowhead Road.The driver lost control. The SUV traveled off the roadway to the west into the ditch, spun and overturned.A passenger Mary E. Hall, 62, was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported a 10-year-old girl from McPherson to a Wichita hospital.&nbsp; The driver was not injured and not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies, child injured after SUV overturns

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged burglary and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of Odell Street in Great Bend reference to a subject breaking into a garage, according to a media release. Officers were advised the suspect, later identified as Trenton Stueder, age 21, was running from the area.&nbsp; Officers were able to locate him and began questioning him in reference to the burglary.&nbsp; After providing officers with a fake name, officers obtained evidence from the burglary on Stueder’s person and&nbsp;in the area.&nbsp; Stueder was placed under arrest&nbsp;and booked into the Barton County Jail.

On Dec. 29, officers obtained information that there was possibly additional stolen property inside a residence Stueder had been staying at in the area. Officers and detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence, located in the 2500 block of 12th&nbsp;Street. Inside the residence, officers located previously reported stolen&nbsp;property, which was subsequently returned to the owners. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640897663765.png" alt="Stueder photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Stueder photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of Odell Street in Great Bend reference to a subject breaking into a garage, according to a media release. Officers were advised the suspect, later identified as Trenton Stueder, age 21, was running from the area.&nbsp; Officers were able to locate him and began questioning him in reference to the burglary.&nbsp; After providing officers with a fake name, officers obtained evidence from the burglary on Stueder’s person and&nbsp;in the area.&nbsp; Stueder was placed under arrest&nbsp;and booked into the Barton County Jail.On Dec. 29, officers obtained information that there was possibly additional stolen property inside a residence Stueder had been staying at in the area. Officers and detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence, located in the 2500 block of 12th&nbsp;Street. Inside the residence, officers located previously reported stolen&nbsp;property, which was subsequently returned to the owners. &nbsp;

Kansas man gave officers fake name during burglary arrest

PASADENA —Great Bend High School's band director Grant Mathews marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. 

He joined 270 band directors from across the United States and Mexico.

Band members ranged in experience from recent music education graduates to retired veteran directors. They performed "76 Trombones" from the 1950's musical The Music Man.

Matthews played tenor drums as the band marched through Pasadena on the five-and-a-half-mile parade route. The Band Directors Marching Band is the first known Rose Parade band composed only of band directors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641063331641.png" alt="Photo courtesy KTLA TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KTLA TV</figcaption>
 </figure>PASADENA —Great Bend High School's band director Grant Mathews marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. <div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fktla5%2Fvideos%2F3113155862302570%2F&show_text=true&width=560&t=3060" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>He joined 270 band directors from across the United States and Mexico.Band members ranged in experience from recent music education graduates to retired veteran directors. They performed "76 Trombones" from the 1950's musical The Music Man.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640729067823.jpeg" alt="Grant Mathews&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Grant Mathews&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Matthews played tenor drums as the band marched through Pasadena on the five-and-a-half-mile parade route. The Band Directors Marching Band is the first known Rose Parade band composed only of band directors.

🎥 Great Bend High School band director marched in Rose Parade

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary.

On Thursday morning, police were dispatched to the 300 block of SE 21st Street in Topeka on the citizen report of an overnight burglary to a business captured on video, according to Lt. Shane Hilton.

Officers, going off of the suspect vehicle description,&nbsp;located the vehicle behind another business on SW Topeka Boulevard. The occupant identified as&nbsp;Curtis Callarman, 43, of Topeka, was questioned and taken into custody without incident.

Callarman, 43, of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of burglary, according to Hilton.

In October, police arrested Callarman in the 3800 block of SW Topeka Blvd. in connection with Burglary and Theft from businesses in the Topeka area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640894137857.png" alt="Callarman photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Callarman photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary.On Thursday morning, police were dispatched to the 300 block of SE 21st Street in Topeka on the citizen report of an overnight burglary to a business captured on video, according to Lt. Shane Hilton.Officers, going off of the suspect vehicle description,&nbsp;located the vehicle behind another business on SW Topeka Boulevard. The occupant identified as&nbsp;Curtis Callarman, 43, of Topeka, was questioned and taken into custody without incident.Callarman, 43, of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of burglary, according to Hilton.In October, police arrested Callarman in the 3800 block of SW Topeka Blvd. in connection with Burglary and Theft from businesses in the Topeka area.

Police use video of Kan. business burglary to track down suspect

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 2a.m. Saturday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Chrysler Town and Country driven by Ernesto Lopez, 20, Platte City,&nbsp;was southbound at highway speeds or greater on Interstate 435 just south of Leavenworth Road and rear-end  a 2018 KDOT Plow truck with its warning lights activated treating the roadway and driven by Randol&nbsp;Toom, 59, Edwardsville.

Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp;Toom was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 2a.m. Saturday in Wyandotte County.

The KHP reported&nbsp; a vehicle was southbound at highway speeds or greater on Interstate 435 just south of Leavenworth Road and rear-end&nbsp; a KDOT Plow truck with its warning lights activated treating the roadway.&nbsp;

The KHP did not release additional details early Saturday afternoon. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641063866204.png" alt="Image courtesy KanDrive" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy KanDrive</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 2a.m. Saturday in Wyandotte County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Chrysler Town and Country driven by Ernesto Lopez, 20, Platte City,&nbsp;was southbound at highway speeds or greater on Interstate 435 just south of Leavenworth Road and rear-end a 2018 KDOT Plow truck with its warning lights activated treating the roadway and driven by Randol&nbsp;Toom, 59, Edwardsville.Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp;Toom was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.----------------WYANDOTTE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 2a.m. Saturday in Wyandotte County.The KHP reported&nbsp; a vehicle was southbound at highway speeds or greater on Interstate 435 just south of Leavenworth Road and rear-end&nbsp; a KDOT Plow truck with its warning lights activated treating the roadway.&nbsp;The KHP did not release additional details early Saturday afternoon. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

KHP IDs driver who died after crash into KDOT plow truck

CHICAGO (AP) — States and the federal government carried out 11 executions this year, the fewest since 1988, as support for the death penalty has continued to decline.

That’s according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-and-research/dpic-reports/dpic-year-end-reports/the-death-penalty-in-2021-year-end-report" target="_blank">annual report on the death penalty </a>&nbsp;which was also sharply critical of the Supreme Court and its role in green-lighting executions. Three of the death sentences were carried out in January during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-death-penalty-legacy-838932ac2b665b42373309336d130f56">an unprecedented run of federal executions</a>&nbsp;that ended days before President Donald Trump left office. Annual executions have steadily declined since peaking at 98 in 1999.

Pandemic-related disruptions partly accounted for the low number of executions this year — though 2021 marked the seventh consecutive year when there were fewer than 30 executions and fewer than 50 new death sentences, the report said.

The federal death penalty was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-executions-government-and-politics-9daf230ef2257b901cb0dfeeeb60be44">put on hold in June&nbsp;</a>by Attorney General Merrick Garland, well short of the permanent abolition activists hoped for when Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-executions-health-coronavirus-pandemic-67ed5dd28d92f11629310ddb7590357a">became the first sitting U.S. president</a>&nbsp;to have openly opposed the death penalty. State executions continue despite growing numbers of Americans opposed to the death penalty.

The report from the Death Penalty Information Center said far from representing the “worst of the worst,” 10 of the 11 prisoners executed this year had “significant impairments,” including IQs in the intellectually disabled range.

Many cases were tainted by poor legal representation at trial and jurisdictions engaging in “shocking conduct” to thwart judicial review of credible constitutional claims, the report said.

“As death-penalty usage continues to erode, its flaws become even more evident,” the report from the Washington, D.C.-based center said.

The report also noted the three conservative appointments to the Supreme Court by Trump and said the justices demonstrated “deep hostility to stays of execution,” denying or lifting every stay of execution requested — other than a few on religious grounds that inmates should have fuller access to spiritual advisers.

The report also noted how some death-penalty states scrambled for alternative execution methods after pharmaceutical companies restricted access to drugs once widely used for lethal injections. It highlighted Arizona’s proposal this year to use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-executions-health-coronavirus-pandemic-67ed5dd28d92f11629310ddb7590357a"></a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-executions-business-health-government-and-politics-c3f67a6ec65959fea817b4c3193bb15e">the same cyanide hydrogen gas</a>&nbsp;deployed by Nazis to kill Jews.

Support for the death penalty, meanwhile, has plummeted from a high of 80% in 1994 to 54% this year, according to a 2021 Gallup poll cited in the report. Since the mid-1990s, opposition has risen from under 20% to around 45% now.

States also continue to rescind death penalty laws.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-to-end-death-penalty-ralph-northam-0a5b51f2e4458a0600bce6b75e6389bd">Virginia, once a prolific executioner, did so in March</a>, bringing the number of states to have abolished the death penalty to 23. Three, including California, have moratoriums on executions.

Executions have been increasingly concentrated in a few Southern states. Texas executed three inmates and Oklahoma two in 2021. Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri each executed one. The Trump administration executed three. The last, Dustin Higgs, was executed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wildlife-coronavirus-pandemic-crime-terre-haute-28e44cc5c026dc16472751bbde0ead50">five days before Joe Biden’s inauguration</a>. The federal executions brought the year’s total to 11.

Trump’s Justice Department executed 10 federal prisoners in 2020, ending a 17-year hiatus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-prisons-health-coronavirus-pandemic-executions-ac5afd6c1df5b8acbeece712830e6469">as COVID raged through prisons</a>. States suspended their death penalty programs during the height of the pandemic.

— Seven states imposed 18 new death sentences in 2021 — tying a record low. Alabama and Oklahoma imposed four each. California and Texas both imposed three. Florida imposed two and Nebraska and Tennessee one each.

— Six of the 11 inmates executed in 2021 were Black. Black and Hispanic defendants made up more than 60% of the death sentences imposed this year.

— Some 2,500 prisoners remain on state death rows. Some 50 are left on federal death row at a Terre Haute, Indiana, prison after the Trump executions reduced their numbers by nearly a quarter.

The Justice Department’s June order halted federal executions while it reviewed Trump-era practices. The Biden administration also withdrew notices of intent to seek the death penalty in several cases. But the administration did still keep pressing for death sentences for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-crime-courts-south-carolina-hate-crimes-0db104e0c60baaa954d9833daccaf6b4">white supremacist Dylann Roof</a>, convicted in the 2015 slayings of nine members of a Black congregation in South Carolina, and for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-sports-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-boston-bombings-ad5f5d675c401d55ec27b54d9e3ef202">Boston Marathon bomber</a>&nbsp;Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-death-row-inmates-talk-biden-executions-6381ed8b3e821a34a6b6ade6bb3375c0">a campaign pledge to decisively end executions</a>, Biden hasn’t addressed the issue publicly as president. The report noted he hasn’t backed legislation to strike the death penalty from U.S. statutes. Activists fear federal executions could restart if Trump were to run again for president and win a second term or if another capital punishment advocate becomes president.

The report spotlighted several individual executions.

It described Oklahoma’s execution of John Grant on Oct. 28 as “botched.” The 60-year-old, convicted in the 1998 slaying of a prison cafeteria worker, repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-prisons-executions-oklahoma-oklahoma-attorney-generals-office-6e5eedd1956a38f83db96187651f145c">convulsed and vomited</a>&nbsp;after his lethal injection. Oklahoma’s Department of Corrections said the execution occurred “without complication.”

The report also pointed to the May 19 Texas execution of Quintin Jones, 41, convicted of killing his great aunt in 1999. It proceeded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-executions-lifestyle-747fc8994706df9dee9e64909c464b99">without media witnesses</a>, the first time since Texas resumed capital punishment in 1982 that no journalist was present. Officials blamed a failure to bring in reporters waiting nearby on miscommunication.

Two death row inmates were exonerated in 2021, both in Mississippi. One, Eddie Lee Howard Jr., who is Black, was freed after spending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-mississippi-crime-f13826a919f192108cba4502f965d4ef">26 years on death row&nbsp;</a>after debunked bite-mark testimony and DNA evidence cleared him in the 1992 rape and killing of an 84-year-old white woman.

Those exonerations bring the total number of exonerees out of more than 9,600 death sentences since the early 1970s to 186, the report said.

That figure, it added, “revealed that the American death-penalty system is even more frighteningly unreliable than was previously understood.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621882682950.png" alt="Ernest Johnson was executed in October for killing three workers while robbing a Missouri convenience store in 1994-photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Ernest Johnson was executed in October for killing three workers while robbing a Missouri convenience store in 1994-photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — States and the federal government carried out 11 executions this year, the fewest since 1988, as support for the death penalty has continued to decline.That’s according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-and-research/dpic-reports/dpic-year-end-reports/the-death-penalty-in-2021-year-end-report" target="_blank">annual report on the death penalty </a>&nbsp;which was also sharply critical of the Supreme Court and its role in green-lighting executions. Three of the death sentences were carried out in January during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-death-penalty-legacy-838932ac2b665b42373309336d130f56">an unprecedented run of federal executions</a>&nbsp;that ended days before President Donald Trump left office. Annual executions have steadily declined since peaking at 98 in 1999.Pandemic-related disruptions partly accounted for the low number of executions this year — though 2021 marked the seventh consecutive year when there were fewer than 30 executions and fewer than 50 new death sentences, the report said.The federal death penalty was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-executions-government-and-politics-9daf230ef2257b901cb0dfeeeb60be44">put on hold in June&nbsp;</a>by Attorney General Merrick Garland, well short of the permanent abolition activists hoped for when Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-executions-health-coronavirus-pandemic-67ed5dd28d92f11629310ddb7590357a">became the first sitting U.S. president</a>&nbsp;to have openly opposed the death penalty. State executions continue despite growing numbers of Americans opposed to the death penalty.The report from the Death Penalty Information Center said far from representing the “worst of the worst,” 10 of the 11 prisoners executed this year had “significant impairments,” including IQs in the intellectually disabled range.Many cases were tainted by poor legal representation at trial and jurisdictions engaging in “shocking conduct” to thwart judicial review of credible constitutional claims, the report said.“As death-penalty usage continues to erode, its flaws become even more evident,” the report from the Washington, D.C.-based center said.The report also noted the three conservative appointments to the Supreme Court by Trump and said the justices demonstrated “deep hostility to stays of execution,” denying or lifting every stay of execution requested — other than a few on religious grounds that inmates should have fuller access to spiritual advisers.The report also noted how some death-penalty states scrambled for alternative execution methods after pharmaceutical companies restricted access to drugs once widely used for lethal injections. It highlighted Arizona’s proposal this year to use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-executions-health-coronavirus-pandemic-67ed5dd28d92f11629310ddb7590357a"></a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-executions-business-health-government-and-politics-c3f67a6ec65959fea817b4c3193bb15e">the same cyanide hydrogen gas</a>&nbsp;deployed by Nazis to kill Jews.Support for the death penalty, meanwhile, has plummeted from a high of 80% in 1994 to 54% this year, according to a 2021 Gallup poll cited in the report. Since the mid-1990s, opposition has risen from under 20% to around 45% now.States also continue to rescind death penalty laws.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-to-end-death-penalty-ralph-northam-0a5b51f2e4458a0600bce6b75e6389bd">Virginia, once a prolific executioner, did so in March</a>, bringing the number of states to have abolished the death penalty to 23. Three, including California, have moratoriums on executions.Executions have been increasingly concentrated in a few Southern states. Texas executed three inmates and Oklahoma two in 2021. Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri each executed one. The Trump administration executed three. The last, Dustin Higgs, was executed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wildlife-coronavirus-pandemic-crime-terre-haute-28e44cc5c026dc16472751bbde0ead50">five days before Joe Biden’s inauguration</a>. The federal executions brought the year’s total to 11.Trump’s Justice Department executed 10 federal prisoners in 2020, ending a 17-year hiatus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-prisons-health-coronavirus-pandemic-executions-ac5afd6c1df5b8acbeece712830e6469">as COVID raged through prisons</a>. States suspended their death penalty programs during the height of the pandemic.Among other report highlights:— Seven states imposed 18 new death sentences in 2021 — tying a record low. Alabama and Oklahoma imposed four each. California and Texas both imposed three. Florida imposed two and Nebraska and Tennessee one each.— Six of the 11 inmates executed in 2021 were Black. Black and Hispanic defendants made up more than 60% of the death sentences imposed this year.— Some 2,500 prisoners remain on state death rows. Some 50 are left on federal death row at a Terre Haute, Indiana, prison after the Trump executions reduced their numbers by nearly a quarter.The Justice Department’s June order halted federal executions while it reviewed Trump-era practices. The Biden administration also withdrew notices of intent to seek the death penalty in several cases. But the administration did still keep pressing for death sentences for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-crime-courts-south-carolina-hate-crimes-0db104e0c60baaa954d9833daccaf6b4">white supremacist Dylann Roof</a>, convicted in the 2015 slayings of nine members of a Black congregation in South Carolina, and for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-sports-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-boston-bombings-ad5f5d675c401d55ec27b54d9e3ef202">Boston Marathon bomber</a>&nbsp;Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-death-row-inmates-talk-biden-executions-6381ed8b3e821a34a6b6ade6bb3375c0">a campaign pledge to decisively end executions</a>, Biden hasn’t addressed the issue publicly as president. The report noted he hasn’t backed legislation to strike the death penalty from U.S. statutes. Activists fear federal executions could restart if Trump were to run again for president and win a second term or if another capital punishment advocate becomes president.The report spotlighted several individual executions.It described Oklahoma’s execution of John Grant on Oct. 28 as “botched.” The 60-year-old, convicted in the 1998 slaying of a prison cafeteria worker, repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-prisons-executions-oklahoma-oklahoma-attorney-generals-office-6e5eedd1956a38f83db96187651f145c">convulsed and vomited</a>&nbsp;after his lethal injection. Oklahoma’s Department of Corrections said the execution occurred “without complication.”The report also pointed to the May 19 Texas execution of Quintin Jones, 41, convicted of killing his great aunt in 1999. It proceeded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-executions-lifestyle-747fc8994706df9dee9e64909c464b99">without media witnesses</a>, the first time since Texas resumed capital punishment in 1982 that no journalist was present. Officials blamed a failure to bring in reporters waiting nearby on miscommunication.Two death row inmates were exonerated in 2021, both in Mississippi. One, Eddie Lee Howard Jr., who is Black, was freed after spending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-mississippi-crime-f13826a919f192108cba4502f965d4ef">26 years on death row&nbsp;</a>after debunked bite-mark testimony and DNA evidence cleared him in the 1992 rape and killing of an 84-year-old white woman.Those exonerations bring the total number of exonerees out of more than 9,600 death sentences since the early 1970s to 186, the report said.That figure, it added, “revealed that the American death-penalty system is even more frighteningly unreliable than was previously understood.”

Report: 11 executions in 2021 mark three-decade low

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas was much larger to end 2021 than on New Year's Day a year ago.

On January 1, 2021, the Kansas Department of Health reported an increase of 5,312 cases of COVID to a total of 227,745 statewide. Coronavirus deaths were reported at 2,879 an increase of 138.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;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.

This year, due to the holiday, the KDHE released no new numbers on New Year's Eve Friday. On Wednesday, the state reported an increase of 7,083 COVID cases for a total of 519,544. The state reported 37 additional COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday for a total of 7,001 since the beginning of the pandemic.

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&nbsp;(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 in Kansas was much larger to end 2021 than on New Year's Day a year ago.On January 1, 2021, the Kansas Department of Health reported an increase of 5,312 cases of COVID to a total of 227,745 statewide. Coronavirus deaths were reported at 2,879 an increase of 138.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609526207240.png" alt="Friday Jan. 1, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday Jan. 1, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;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.This year, due to the holiday, the KDHE released no new numbers on New Year's Eve Friday. On Wednesday, the state reported an increase of 7,083 COVID cases for a total of 519,544. The state reported 37 additional COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday for a total of 7,001 since the beginning of the pandemic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640805043111.png" alt="Wednesday Dec. 29, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Dec. 29, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>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&nbsp;(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: Comparing COVID numbers from New Year's Day 2021

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Twenty-three years after a&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City, Kansas, woman was killed, her family is still hoping for justice.

WDAF-TV reports that relatives of Christina Ranae King gathered Monday evening to pray and release balloons in her memory. King was fatally beaten on Christmas Day in 1998, leaving behind a daughter who was 10 at the time.

The vigil was organized by Justice for Wyandotte, an advocacy group that works to promote transparency in law enforcement. Organizer Khadijah Hardaway says cases like King's are why the police department should open a cold case unit.

A police spokeswoman says the case remains open and that developing a cold case unit is a top priority for Chief Karl Oakman.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640698236162.png" alt="King's family gathered to remember her on Monday-photo courtesy Fox4Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>King's family gathered to remember her on Monday-photo courtesy Fox4Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Twenty-three years after a&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City, Kansas, woman was killed, her family is still hoping for justice.WDAF-TV reports that relatives of Christina Ranae King gathered Monday evening to pray and release balloons in her memory. King was fatally beaten on Christmas Day in 1998, leaving behind a daughter who was 10 at the time.The vigil was organized by Justice for Wyandotte, an advocacy group that works to promote transparency in law enforcement. Organizer Khadijah Hardaway says cases like King's are why the police department should open a cold case unit.A police spokeswoman says the case remains open and that developing a cold case unit is a top priority for Chief Karl Oakman.

Family still hoping for answers in Kansas woman's 1998 killing

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —One person died in an accident just after 12:15a.m. Saturday in Kansas City.

A vehicle was westbound in the 1800 Block of State Avenue at a high rate of speed, according to a media release from KCK Police. The driver lost control of the vehicle. It left the road and struck a house.

Emergency crews extricated the driver from the house. EMS transported the driver to an area hospital in serious condition, according to police. The passenger was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have not released the names of the victims. The accident remains under investigation.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —One person died in an accident just after 12:15a.m. Saturday in Kansas City.A vehicle was westbound in the 1800 Block of State Avenue at a high rate of speed, according to a media release from KCK Police. The driver lost control of the vehicle. It left the road and struck a house.Emergency crews extricated the driver from the house. EMS transported the driver to an area hospital in serious condition, according to police. The passenger was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.Police have not released the names of the victims. The accident remains under investigation.

Police: 1 dead, another injured after crash into Kansas house

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Novavax Inc. said it filed data Friday with the Food and Drug Administration to support clearance of its long-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine, a different kind of shot than current U.S. options.

Novavax said the data package is the last requirement before the company formally submits its emergency-use application next month to become the fourth U.S. COVID-19 vaccine. The announcement comes shortly after the European Commission and World Health Organization cleared use of the Maryland-based company’s two-dose shot.

Novavax developed a protein vaccine, similar to shots used for years against other diseases and a strategy that might appeal to people hesitant to use COVID-19 vaccines made with newer technologies. But Novavax, a small biotech company, faced months of delays in finding manufacturers to mass-produce its vaccine.

The Serum Institute of India currently is manufacturing the vaccine. Novavax has lined up additional production facilities in the Czech Republic, South Korea and elsewhere that are expected to eventually add to supplies.

In studies of tens of thousands of people in the U.S., U.K. and Mexico, the vaccine proved safe and 90% effective against symptomatic infection from earlier coronavirus variants. A booster dose six months later revved up protection against the recent delta variant. Novavax says it is currently testing how the shots hold up against the newest scourge, omicron.

The vaccine is made with lab-grown copies of the coronavirus spike protein and mixed with an immune-boosting chemical.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640978029009.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Novavax Inc. said it filed data Friday with the Food and Drug Administration to support clearance of its long-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine, a different kind of shot than current U.S. options.Novavax said the data package is the last requirement before the company formally submits its emergency-use application next month to become the fourth U.S. COVID-19 vaccine. The announcement comes shortly after the European Commission and World Health Organization cleared use of the Maryland-based company’s two-dose shot.Novavax developed a protein vaccine, similar to shots used for years against other diseases and a strategy that might appeal to people hesitant to use COVID-19 vaccines made with newer technologies. But Novavax, a small biotech company, faced months of delays in finding manufacturers to mass-produce its vaccine.The Serum Institute of India currently is manufacturing the vaccine. Novavax has lined up additional production facilities in the Czech Republic, South Korea and elsewhere that are expected to eventually add to supplies.In studies of tens of thousands of people in the U.S., U.K. and Mexico, the vaccine proved safe and 90% effective against symptomatic infection from earlier coronavirus variants. A booster dose six months later revved up protection against the recent delta variant. Novavax says it is currently testing how the shots hold up against the newest scourge, omicron.The vaccine is made with lab-grown copies of the coronavirus spike protein and mixed with an immune-boosting chemical.

New COVID vaccine might appeal to those hesitant to get shots

By DANA GENTRY <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/holidays-are-no-holiday-amazon%C2%A0">States Newsroom</a>

It’s called ‘peak season’ – the time 
of year when 10-hour days for some of the nation’s more than one 
million Amazon employees extend into eleven-hour shifts packed into a 
backbreaking blur of six-day work weeks.

“They work us like crazy with hardly any days off, especially during the holidays. They
 don’t care about the safety of their employees,” says Johnny Acejo, who
 spent five years employed at an Amazon facility in Phoenix.&nbsp;

Amazon declined to answer the majority of questions posed for this story.

Unwinding after a long shift while 
facing the prospect of doing it again involves video games, booze, or 
weed, according to about a dozen employees interviewed by the Current. 
Others turn to the sleep aid Unisom, purchased online from Amazon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“They literally keep track of your 
restroom time,” Acejo says of a scanner worn by employees that allows 
Amazon to track their movements. “I took five minutes in the restroom 
because I had real bad stomach pains and I was throwing up. I got a 
write up. All they care about is the numbers.”

Ecommerce sales in the U.S. topped $800 billion in the last year. As of October, Amazon owned 41% of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/274255/market-share-of-the-leading-retailers-in-us-e-commerce/">market share</a>, followed by Walmart at 6%, according to Statista.

Amazon’s net income for the twelve months ending September 30, 2021 was $26.263 billion, up&nbsp; 51.14% year-to-year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640715507348.png" alt="An Amazon employee in a fulfillment center. (Amazon press photo)" />
 <figcaption>An Amazon employee in a fulfillment center. (Amazon press photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DANA GENTRY <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/holidays-are-no-holiday-amazon%C2%A0">States Newsroom</a>It’s called ‘peak season’ – the time 
of year when 10-hour days for some of the nation’s more than one 
million Amazon employees extend into eleven-hour shifts packed into a 
backbreaking blur of six-day work weeks.“They work us like crazy with hardly any days off, especially during the holidays. They
 don’t care about the safety of their employees,” says Johnny Acejo, who
 spent five years employed at an Amazon facility in Phoenix.&nbsp;Amazon declined to answer the majority of questions posed for this story.Unwinding after a long shift while 
facing the prospect of doing it again involves video games, booze, or 
weed, according to about a dozen employees interviewed by the Current. 
Others turn to the sleep aid Unisom, purchased online from Amazon.&nbsp;&nbsp;The job is consuming.&nbsp;&nbsp;“They literally keep track of your 
restroom time,” Acejo says of a scanner worn by employees that allows 
Amazon to track their movements. “I took five minutes in the restroom 
because I had real bad stomach pains and I was throwing up. I got a 
write up. All they care about is the numbers.”The numbers are good.&nbsp;Ecommerce sales in the U.S. topped $800 billion in the last year. As of October, Amazon owned 41% of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/274255/market-share-of-the-leading-retailers-in-us-e-commerce/">market share</a>, followed by Walmart at 6%, according to Statista.Amazon’s net income for the twelve months ending September 30, 2021 was $26.263 billion, up&nbsp; 51.14% year-to-year.Amazon is the second largest employer
 in the U.S. (behind Walmart) with more than a million workers. Amazon 
employs more than 10,500 Nevadans at more than a dozen warehouses, 
distribution facilities, and fulfillment centers throughout the state, 
mostly in Southern Nevada.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Union no</h2>“Amazon is changing the nature of 
work in our country,” says a resolution passed by the International 
Brotherhood of Teamsters last summer, which noted the company “presents 
an existential threat to the standards we have set” in Teamster-related 
industries Amazon has disrupted, such as parcel delivery, freight, food 
distribution, and movie production.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The resolution says the union 
“recognizes that there is no clearer example of how America is failing 
the working class than Amazon. From its start as a book retailer, Amazon
 has grown to become an ecommerce giant and has disrupted industry after
 industry and displaced hundreds of thousands of jobs.”“Amazon is very rightly worried that 
if one fulfillment center were to organize and unionize, it could start a
 domino reaction that would cause all others to fall in line,” says 
Avery, a former Amazon worker and host of the podcast The Amazon.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Amazon exploits its employees, 
contractors, and employees of contractors via: wage theft, fraudulent 
classification, intense production quotas, dehumanizing work 
environments, unsafe workplaces and production standards, low wages, 
high turnover, no voice on the job, lack of job security and outsourced 
jobs,” says the Teamsters’ resolution.&nbsp;But the union’s effort to organize Amazon workers appears stalled.&nbsp;“We are not discussing specific locations or strategies at this time,” said a national spokesperson for the Teamsters.&nbsp;&nbsp;Members of local Teamsters chapters 
say they’re unaware of any efforts to unionize Amazon workers in Nevada,
 as is a spokeswoman for the AFL-CIO of Nevada.For the last two decades, Amazon has deflected union overtures – most recently in Bessemer, Alabama, when it turned back the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents poultry plant workers in that state.Last month, a judge <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/29/22565851/amazon-bessemer-union-vote-nlrb-appeal-overturned-second-election">ruled</a> Amazon interfered in the vote and ordered a do-over.&nbsp;“I’d say the ability to organize is a
 slim chance due to attrition, union busters, and Amazon’s brazen 
ability to not break but obliterate labor law with little to no 
consequences,” says Avery of The Amazon podcast. “Every chip is stacked 
against the workers and through pure grit a large number of them are 
still fighting the good fight.”“Organizing is hard due to the fact 
that no one stays,” he says. “Union organizers at Bessemer estimated 
they lost 60 ‘yes’ ballots a day due to attrition and Amazon’s ability 
to legally prolong the organizing attempt. People simply don’t stay in a
 shit hole long.”A group of Whole Foods employees unsuccessfully <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/06/whole-foods-workers-seek-to-unionize-says-amazon-is-exploiting-our-dedication/#:~:text=Since%20the%20Amazon%20acquisition%2C%20several%20hundred%20Whole%20Foods,have%20saved%20millionsas%20a%20result%20of%20the%20shake-up.">attempted to organize </a>in
 2018 after Amazon laid off several hundred employees and increased the 
cost of doing business for suppliers, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-era-at-amazons-whole-foods-grates-on-some-suppliers-employees-1530526964">Wall Street Journa</a>l, when it purchased the grocery chain for $13.7 billion in 2017.“Amazon won’t allow that because it 
will cost them more in the long run,” said one Whole Foods delivery 
driver in San Diego who asked not to be named. Paying union dues will 
just be a burden to workers, she fears.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In February, Amazon <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/02/amazon-pay-617-million-settle-ftc-charges-it-withheld-some">agreed</a> to pay $61.7 million to settle charges leveled by the FTC that it withheld tips from its delivery drivers. Another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.classaction.org/news/amazon-illegally-withheld-tips-from-flex-drivers-class-action-claims">suit </a>with similar allegations followed within days.“We do not believe unions are in the 
best interest of our customers, our shareholders, or most importantly, 
our associates,” says an anti-union <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRpwVwFxyk4">vide</a>o
 produced by Amazon for its employees. “Our business model is built upon
 speed, innovation, and customer obsession—things that are generally not
 associated with union. When we lose sight of those critical focus areas
 we jeopardize everyone’s job security: yours, mine, and the 
associates’.”“Does your Chair take comfort in the 
outcome of the recent union vote in Bessemer? No, he doesn’t,” Jeff 
Bezos wrote earlier this year in his 2020 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/2020-letter-to-shareholders?utm_source=social&amp;utm_medium=tw&amp;utm_term=amznnews&amp;utm_content=2020shareholderletter&amp;linkId=116261313">letter</a> to shareholders. “I think we need to do a better job for our employees.”&nbsp;Bezos went on to say that even though
 the vote was in Amazon’s favor, “it’s clear to me that we need a better
 vision for how we create value for employees – a vision for their 
success.”Bezos rejected the notion that Amazon
 employees are “desperate souls and treated as robots. That’s not 
accurate. They’re sophisticated and thoughtful people who have options 
for where to work. When we survey fulfillment center employees, 94% say 
they would recommend Amazon to a friend as a place to work.”Avery, host of The Amazon podcast, says job satisfaction is elusive at an Amazon fulfillment center.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Satisfaction isn’t near what most 
people get from a job at Amazon, it’d be hard to be satisfied when 
Amazon averages a 150% turnover rate and near double the average of 
serious accidents in the workplace,” he says.He’s referring to a Washington Post 
investigation that revealed Amazon reported twice as many accidents to 
OSHA as other warehouse and storage companies.&nbsp;&nbsp;OSHA is currently investigating the 
storm-related deaths this month of half a dozen Amazon employees at an 
Indiana warehouse.&nbsp; Some employees say they were not allowed to leave 
the warehouse to seek shelter.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As soon as there was a tornado 
warning, the team took immediate action to move to shelter in place 
locations,” Amazon spokeswoman Alisa Carroll told the Current via 
email.&nbsp;“When a site is made aware of a 
tornado warning in the area, all employees are notified and directed to 
move to a designated and marked shelter in place location,” she said. 
“This is the safest approach to ensure no one is on the road or outside 
during a tornado.”Carroll said the site got warnings 
between 8:06 and 8:16, and “leaders directed people on site to 
immediately take shelter. At 8:27, the tornado struck the building.”Validated OSHA complaints from 
Amazon’s Nevada workers the last year range from safety concerns, some 
resulting from a reduced workforce certain days of the week, to 
violations of COVID protocols.“Scanners and carts used by employees
 for order picking are not being sanitized after being used,” says one 
complaint to OSHA, echoed frequently by workers interviewed 
nationwide.&nbsp;&nbsp;But the most common complaint from Amazon workers in Nevada was the heat.&nbsp;&nbsp;A complaint of “poor air quality” prompted an OSHA inspection of DLV 7, a facility in North Las Vegas ,on April 27.“There is poor air quality in the 
workplace. The air filters are dirty,” says the complaint. “It is very 
hot in the building. Employees are experiencing headaches due to the 
heat and wearing a mask.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“Employees in the warehouse are not 
provided with enough water or rest and are being potentially exposed to 
heat stress related illness,” says a complaint that brought OSHA to DLV 2
 on Alexander Rd. in North Las Vegas on June 1. “The warehouse fans are 
operational but are not providing adequate airflow for the given volume 
of the warehouse.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Inside the warehouse employees are 
exposed to heat stress,” says a complaint that resulted in an inspection
 of LAS 1 on Bermuda Rd. in Henderson on June 22. “There is only one fan
 and no air-conditioning in the building.”On June 28, inspectors visited the 
LAS 7 fulfillment center on Tropical Pkwy. in North Las Vegas,&nbsp; after 
receiving complaints that employees were “experiencing heat issues since
 the summer began due to the lack of air conditioning on the south end 
of the warehouse. Operation managers have advised that fans would be 
installed at each station throughout the warehouse however that has yet 
to occur for all stations. It is warm on the north side of the 
warehouse, but it is hot on the south side of the warehouse.”&nbsp;OSHA records say the complaint was resolved.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Employees are working under heat 
stress up to 100 degrees inside the establishment,” says a complaint 
filed in July by a worker at LAS 1 in Henderson. “The employer does not 
allow employees to use the fans in the trailers. The fans are locked up 
and employees that unlock the fans face retaliation including 
termination.”The same substantiated complaint says
 workers “are rarely able to take breaks during their shifts. Employees 
typically do not receive any breaks during their shifts.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Paying for the privilege</h2>Amazon is among hundreds of companies
 that have agreed to pay a statutorily approved average wage and certain
 benefits to be eligible for incentives to do business in Nevada.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2014, the state ponied up a 
combination of incentives and tax abatements expected to save Amazon 
$1.365 million over the course of several years, while generating a 
projected $393 in economic impact for every dollar of abated tax.&nbsp;“The proposed plan will bring a new non-sort operation to the Reno area. The state incentive program is a critical factor in the company’s decision for this expansion,” Amazon said in its proposal.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company noted the majority of 
jobs would pay under the $20.62 per hour dictated by Nevada law to 
qualify a firm for the abatements.“500 of the 600 positions will make 
an annual wage of $29,100 ($14/hr at 40 hrs/week). Of the remaining 100,
 50 will earn $41,600/yr ($20/hr) and the other 50 is above the 
statewide wage requirement,” its proposal said.Companies that receive abatements are
 audited after two years and again after five years, according to Greg 
Bortolin, spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.&nbsp;“The company projections in 2014 
estimated they would produce 600 jobs at an average wage of $16.50 per 
hour and make a capital expenditure of $10 million,” he said via email. 
“The audit findings found they created 533 jobs at an average wage of 
$23.37 per hour and made a capital expenditure of $15,295,110.”A second <a target="_blank" href="https://www.diversifynevada.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Amazon.com_.kydc_Board_Packet_4.pdf">contract</a>
 with Amazon in 2016 bestowed benefits valued at $1.8 million on Amazon 
in return for building and operating a warehouse in Clark County.&nbsp; The 
company estimated the economic impact at $707 for every dollar of tax 
revenue sacrificed by the government.&nbsp;“The
 company projections in 2016 estimated they would produce 1,000 jobs at 
an average wage of $14.64 per hour and make a capital expenditure of $18
 million,” says Bortolin. “The audit findings found they created 704 
jobs at an average wage of $52.63 and made a capital expenditure of 
$7,439,082.”Both the jobs and wages generated were in compliance with the abatements, Bortolin says.When Amazon was looking for a second national headquarters, then-Gov. Brian Sandoval <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/100-free-acres-in-las-vegas-part-of-bid-for-amazons-2nd-hq/">offered </a>to pony up $800 million in incentives toward the effort.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Avery of The Amazon podcast says the 
idea behind subsidies that employees “would reinvest all of their 
paycheck back into the city via housing and taxes and just going 
downtown to buy stuff,” is questionable. “In reality, it’s hard to say 
that that would happen. Those employees work for Amazon. They have the 
biggest company store known to man where anything can arrive to them 
faster than ever, no matter how much subsidizing is done.”Why does a company valued near $2 trillion need public money from the states where it does business?&nbsp;Nevada Democratic state Sen. Dina Neal attempted in 2019 to create a legislative committee to oversee incentives and abatements.&nbsp; Gov. Steve Sisolak vetoed the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/Bill/6857/Overview">bill</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state’s arrangement with Amazon 
has put it at odds with its own interests, as it incentivizes higher 
wages from private employers while failing to invest in its own critical
 workforce.&nbsp;In a letter to Sisolak in October, 
the Governor’s Committee on Behavioral Health lamented that pay for 
“…front line staff working with the intellectually disabled and 
psychiatrically ill adults is far below that of large local employers 
such as Amazon and Walmart,” the Current <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2021/10/14/sisolak-asked-to-make-mental-health-worker-pay-competitive-with-other-local-employers/">reported</a>.&nbsp;While Amazon offers subsidies to 
employees to cover part of a health plan for workers who can purchase 
through an exchange, it has the most workers of any Nevada employer 
enrolled in Medicaid – 3,648 employees and 4,244 dependents at a cost of
 $ 21,326,448 in 2020, according to a<a target="_blank" href="https://dhhs.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/dhhsnvgov/content/Programs/Office_of_Analytics/Nevada%20Medicaid%20Recipients%20Employed%20by%20Employers%20with%2050%20or%20More%20Employees%20SFY%202020%20SB%20366.pdf"> state report</a>.&nbsp;U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders <a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/3410#:~:text=Stop%20Bad%20Employers%20by%20Zeroing%20Out%20Subsidies%20Act,employees%20on%20business%20days%20during%20the%20preceding%20year.">attempted</a>
 unsuccessfully in 2018 to impose a tax on companies with 500 employees 
“equal to the amount of federal benefits received by their low wage 
workers.”