SEATTLE (AP) — The omicron-fueled surge that is sending COVID-19 cases rocketing in the U.S. is putting children in the hospital in record numbers, and experts lament that most of the youngsters are not vaccinated.

“It’s just so heartbreaking,” said Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious-disease expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “It was hard enough last year, but now you know that you have a way to prevent all this.”

During the week of Dec. 22-28, an average of 378 children 17 and under were admitted per day to hospitals with the coronavirus, a 66% increase from the week before, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.

The previous high over the course of the pandemic was in early September, when child hospitalizations averaged 342 per day, the CDC said.

On a more hopeful note, children continue to represent a small percentage of those being hospitalized with COVID-19: An average of nearly 10,200 people of all ages were admitted per day during the same week in December. And many doctors say the youngsters seem less sick than those who came in during the delta surge over the summer.

Two months after vaccinations were approved for 5- to 11-year-olds, about 14% are fully protected, CDC data shows. The rate is higher for 12- to 17-year-olds, at about 53%.

A study released Thursday by the CDC confirmed that serious side effects from the Pfizer vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 are rare. The findings were based on approximately 8 million doses dispensed to youngsters in that age group.

Dr. Albert Ko, professor of epidemiology and infectious diseases at the Yale School of Public Health, noted that the low vaccination rate is, in part, a matter of timing: Younger children were not approved for the vaccine until November, and many are only now coming up on their second dose.

Offit said none of the vaccine-eligible children receiving care at his hospital about a week ago had been vaccinated, even though two-thirds had underlying conditions that put them at risk — either chronic lung disease or, more commonly, obesity. Only one was under the vaccination age of 5.

“They’re struggling to breathe, coughing, coughing, coughing,” Offit said. “A handful were sent to the ICU to be sedated. We put the attachment down their throat that’s attached to a ventilator, and the parents are crying.”

None of the parents or siblings was vaccinated either, he said.

The next four to six weeks are going to be rough, he said: “This is a virus that thrives in the winter.”

Aria Shapiro, 6, spent her 12th day Thursday at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. She tested positive for COVID-19 after getting her first dose of the vaccine Dec. 17.

Aria, who is considered “medically fragile” because she has epilepsy, suffered prolonged seizures in the hospital, and a breathing tube had to be put down her throat at one point, though she has since improved.

“We lived our life in for two years to prevent her from getting COVID, finally went for the vax, and the one thing that we didn’t want to happen happened,” said her mother, Sarah Shapiro. “It wasn’t enough time for her body to build antibodies. She did end up getting COVID.”

Overall, new COVID-19 cases in Americans of all ages have skyrocketed to the highest levels on record: an average of 300,000 per day, or 2 1/2 times the figure just two weeks ago. The highly contagious omicron accounted for 59% of new cases last week, according to the CDC.

Still, there are early indications that the variant causes milder illness than previous versions, and that the combination of the vaccine and the booster seems to protect people from its worst effects.

In California, 80 COVID-19-infected children were admitted to the hospital during the week of Dec. 20-26, compared with 50 in the last week of November, health officials said.

Seattle Children’s also reported a bump in the number of children admitted over the past week. And while they are less seriously ill than those hospitalized over the summer, Dr. John McGuire cautioned that it is early in the omicron wave, and the full effects will become apparent over the next several weeks.

New York health authorities have also sounded the alarm.

The number of children admitted to the hospital per week in New York City with COVID-19 went from 22 to 109 between Dec. 5 and Dec. 24. Across all of New York state, it went from 70 to 184. Overall, almost 5,000 people in New York were in the hospital with COVID-19.

“A fourfold increase makes everybody jump with concern, but it’s a small percentage,” Ko said of the New York City figures. “Children have a low risk of being hospitalized, but those who do are unvaccinated.”

Dr. Al Sacchetti, chief of emergency services at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, New Jersey, likewise said vaccinated children are handling the omicron outbreak extremely well.

“It makes a big difference in how these kids tolerate the disease, particularly if the child’s got some medical issues,” he said.

COVID-19 deaths have proved rare among children over the course of the pandemic. As of last week, 721 in the U.S. had died of the disease, according to data reported to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The overall U.S. death toll is more than 800,000.

Almost 199,000 child COVID-19 cases were reported during the week of Dec. 16-23, the pediatrics group said. That was about 20% of the more than 950,000 total cases recorded that week.

While many of these children will recover at home, they may have contact with others who are at much greater risk, said Dr. Jason Terk, a pediatrician in North Texas. He cared for a 10-year-old boy with COVID-19 who managed the disease well, but his father got sick and died, he said.

“The death of a parent is devastating, but the toxic stress for a young person in this situation is difficult to measure,” he said. ___

SEATTLE (AP) — The omicron-fueled surge that is sending COVID-19 cases rocketing in the U.S. is putting children in the hospital in record numbers, and experts lament that most of the youngsters are not vaccinated.“It’s just so heartbreaking,” said Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious-disease expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “It was hard enough last year, but now you know that you have a way to prevent all this.”During the week of Dec. 22-28, an average of 378 children 17 and under were admitted per day to hospitals with the coronavirus, a 66% increase from the week before, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.The previous high over the course of the pandemic was in early September, when child hospitalizations averaged 342 per day, the CDC said.On a more hopeful note, children continue to represent a small percentage of those being hospitalized with COVID-19: An average of nearly 10,200 people of all ages were admitted per day during the same week in December. And many doctors say the youngsters seem less sick than those who came in during the delta surge over the summer.Two months after vaccinations were approved for 5- to 11-year-olds, about 14% are fully protected, CDC data shows. The rate is higher for 12- to 17-year-olds, at about 53%.A study released Thursday by the CDC confirmed that serious side effects from the Pfizer vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 are rare. The findings were based on approximately 8 million doses dispensed to youngsters in that age group.Dr. Albert Ko, professor of epidemiology and infectious diseases at the Yale School of Public Health, noted that the low vaccination rate is, in part, a matter of timing: Younger children were not approved for the vaccine until November, and many are only now coming up on their second dose.Offit said none of the vaccine-eligible children receiving care at his hospital about a week ago had been vaccinated, even though two-thirds had underlying conditions that put them at risk — either chronic lung disease or, more commonly, obesity. Only one was under the vaccination age of 5.The scenes are heart-rending.“They’re struggling to breathe, coughing, coughing, coughing,” Offit said. “A handful were sent to the ICU to be sedated. We put the attachment down their throat that’s attached to a ventilator, and the parents are crying.”None of the parents or siblings was vaccinated either, he said.The next four to six weeks are going to be rough, he said: “This is a virus that thrives in the winter.”Aria Shapiro, 6, spent her 12th day Thursday at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. She tested positive for COVID-19 after getting her first dose of the vaccine Dec. 17.Aria, who is considered “medically fragile” because she has epilepsy, suffered prolonged seizures in the hospital, and a breathing tube had to be put down her throat at one point, though she has since improved.“We lived our life in for two years to prevent her from getting COVID, finally went for the vax, and the one thing that we didn’t want to happen happened,” said her mother, Sarah Shapiro. “It wasn’t enough time for her body to build antibodies. She did end up getting COVID.”Overall, new COVID-19 cases in Americans of all ages have skyrocketed to the highest levels on record: an average of 300,000 per day, or 2 1/2 times the figure just two weeks ago. The highly contagious omicron accounted for 59% of new cases last week, according to the CDC.Still, there are early indications that the variant causes milder illness than previous versions, and that the combination of the vaccine and the booster seems to protect people from its worst effects.In California, 80 COVID-19-infected children were admitted to the hospital during the week of Dec. 20-26, compared with 50 in the last week of November, health officials said.Seattle Children’s also reported a bump in the number of children admitted over the past week. And while they are less seriously ill than those hospitalized over the summer, Dr. John McGuire cautioned that it is early in the omicron wave, and the full effects will become apparent over the next several weeks.New York health authorities have also sounded the alarm.The number of children admitted to the hospital per week in New York City with COVID-19 went from 22 to 109 between Dec. 5 and Dec. 24. Across all of New York state, it went from 70 to 184. Overall, almost 5,000 people in New York were in the hospital with COVID-19.“A fourfold increase makes everybody jump with concern, but it’s a small percentage,” Ko said of the New York City figures. “Children have a low risk of being hospitalized, but those who do are unvaccinated.”Dr. Al Sacchetti, chief of emergency services at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, New Jersey, likewise said vaccinated children are handling the omicron outbreak extremely well.“It makes a big difference in how these kids tolerate the disease, particularly if the child’s got some medical issues,” he said.COVID-19 deaths have proved rare among children over the course of the pandemic. As of last week, 721 in the U.S. had died of the disease, according to data reported to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The overall U.S. death toll is more than 800,000.Almost 199,000 child COVID-19 cases were reported during the week of Dec. 16-23, the pediatrics group said. That was about 20% of the more than 950,000 total cases recorded that week.While many of these children will recover at home, they may have contact with others who are at much greater risk, said Dr. Jason Terk, a pediatrician in North Texas. He cared for a 10-year-old boy with COVID-19 who managed the disease well, but his father got sick and died, he said.“The death of a parent is devastating, but the toxic stress for a young person in this situation is difficult to measure,” he said. ___

US children hospitalized with COVID in record numbers

DENVER (AP) — An estimated 580 homes, a hotel and a shopping center have burned and tens of thousands of people were evacuated in wind-fueled wildfires outside Denver, officials said Thursday evening.

At least one first responder and six others were injured, though Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle acknowledged there could be more injuries and deaths could be possible due to the intensity of fires that quickly swept across the region as winds gusted up to 105 mph.

The first fire erupted just before 10:30 a.m. and was “attacked pretty quickly and laid down later in the day and is currently being monitored” with no structures lost, Pelle said.

A second wildfire, reported just after 11 a.m., “ballooned and spread rapidly east,” Pelle said. The blaze spans 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers) and has engulfed parts of the area in smoky, orangish skies and sent residents scrambling to get to safety.

The activity of the fires, which are burning unusually late into the winter season, will depend on how the winds behave overnight and could determine when crews are able to go in and begin assessing the damage and searching for any victims.

“This is the kind of fire we can’t fight head on,” Pelle said. “We actually had deputy sheriffs and firefighters in areas that had to pull out because they just got overrun,” he added.

Evacuations have been ordered for the city of Louisville, home to about 21,000 people, and Superior, which has another 13,000 residents.

The neighboring towns are roughly 20 miles&nbsp; northwest of Denver in an area filled with middle and upper-middle class subdivisions surrounded by shopping centers, parks and schools. The area is in between Denver and Boulder, a foothills college town home to the University of Colorado.

Residents evacuated fairly calmly and orderly, but the winding streets in the suburban subdivisions quickly became clogged as people tried to get out. It sometimes took cars as long as 45 minutes to advance about a half mile (less than a kilometer).

Small fires cropped up here and there in surprising places — on the grass in a median or in a dumpster in the middle of a parking lot — as wind gusts caused the fire to jump and spread. Shifting winds caused the skies to turn from clear to smoky and then back again as emergency sirens blared nearby.

Some of the several blazes in the area Thursday were sparked by downed power lines.

Six people who were injured in the fires were being treated at UCHealth Broomfield Hospital, spokesperson Kelli Christensen said. A nearby portion of U.S. Highway 36 also was shut down.

Colorado’s Front Range, where most of the state’s population lives, had an extremely dry and mild fall, and winter so far has continued to be mostly dry.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-lifestyle-business-denver-weather-d967eafc0de74000c758fbbac9f5f52d">Denver set a record for most consecutive days without snow</a>&nbsp;before it got a small storm on Dec. 10. It hasn’t snowed since, though snow was expected in the region Friday.

One video captured by a bystander outside a Superior Costco store showed an apocalyptic scene with winds whipping through barren trees in the parking lot surrounded by gray skies, a hazy sun and small fires scattered across the ground.

Leah Angstman and her husband saw similar dark skies while returning to their Louisville home from Denver International Airport after being away for the holidays. As they were sitting on the bus going toward Boulder, Angstman recalled instantly leaving clear blue skies and entering clouds of brown and yellow smoke.

“The wind rocked the bus so hard that I thought the bus would tip,” she wrote in a message to The Associated Press.

The visibility was so poor that the bus had to pull over and they waited a half-hour until a regional transit authority van escorted them to a turnaround on the highway. There she saw four separate fires burning in bushes across the freeway, she said.

“The sky was dark, dark brown, and the dirt was blowing in swirls across the sidewalk like snakes,” she said.

Angstman later ended up evacuating, getting in a car with her husband and driving northeast without knowing where they would end up.

Vignesh Kasinath, an assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado in Boulder, evacuated from a neighborhood in Superior with his wife and her parents. Kasinath said the family was overwhelmed because of the sudden evacuation warning and anxious from the chaos while trying to leave.

“It’s only because I am active on Twitter I came to know about this,” said Kasinath, who said he did not receive an official evacuation notice from authorities.

The fires prompted Gov. Jared Polis to declare a state of a emergency, allowing the state to access disaster emergency funds.

The evacuations come as climate change is making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-climate-change-science-environment-and-nature-935be069af34aad472074d42097af85e">weather more extreme</a>&nbsp;and wildfires more frequent and destructive, scientists say. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ut-state-wire-az-state-wire-id-state-wire-or-state-wire-nv-state-wire-d1f130f8826ef57c74db611e959937ac">historic drought</a>&nbsp;and heat waves have made wildfires harder to fight in the U.S. West.

Ninety percent of Boulder County is in severe or extreme drought, and hasn’t seen substantial rainfall since mid-summer.

“With any snow on the ground, this absolutely would not have happened in the way that it did,” said snow hydrologist Keith Musselman, who was at home when the fire broke out not far away.

Musselman said this severe fire risk can be expected in September and October following a dry summer, but the lack of any precipitation – snow or rain – this late in the season is highly unusual.

The National Weather Service predicts up to a foot of snow could fall tomorrow in Boulder, and that moisture would bring substantial relief, Musselman said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640951000026.png" alt="Evacuations were ordered for the city of Louisville, home to about 21,000 people, and Superior, which has another 13,000 residents.-photo courtesy KKTV" />
 <figcaption>Evacuations were ordered for the city of Louisville, home to about 21,000 people, and Superior, which has another 13,000 residents.-photo courtesy KKTV</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — An estimated 580 homes, a hotel and a shopping center have burned and tens of thousands of people were evacuated in wind-fueled wildfires outside Denver, officials said Thursday evening.At least one first responder and six others were injured, though Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle acknowledged there could be more injuries and deaths could be possible due to the intensity of fires that quickly swept across the region as winds gusted up to 105 mph.The first fire erupted just before 10:30 a.m. and was “attacked pretty quickly and laid down later in the day and is currently being monitored” with no structures lost, Pelle said.A second wildfire, reported just after 11 a.m., “ballooned and spread rapidly east,” Pelle said. The blaze spans 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers) and has engulfed parts of the area in smoky, orangish skies and sent residents scrambling to get to safety.The activity of the fires, which are burning unusually late into the winter season, will depend on how the winds behave overnight and could determine when crews are able to go in and begin assessing the damage and searching for any victims.“This is the kind of fire we can’t fight head on,” Pelle said. “We actually had deputy sheriffs and firefighters in areas that had to pull out because they just got overrun,” he added.Evacuations have been ordered for the city of Louisville, home to about 21,000 people, and Superior, which has another 13,000 residents.The neighboring towns are roughly 20 miles&nbsp; northwest of Denver in an area filled with middle and upper-middle class subdivisions surrounded by shopping centers, parks and schools. The area is in between Denver and Boulder, a foothills college town home to the University of Colorado.Residents evacuated fairly calmly and orderly, but the winding streets in the suburban subdivisions quickly became clogged as people tried to get out. It sometimes took cars as long as 45 minutes to advance about a half mile (less than a kilometer).Small fires cropped up here and there in surprising places — on the grass in a median or in a dumpster in the middle of a parking lot — as wind gusts caused the fire to jump and spread. Shifting winds caused the skies to turn from clear to smoky and then back again as emergency sirens blared nearby.Some of the several blazes in the area Thursday were sparked by downed power lines.Six people who were injured in the fires were being treated at UCHealth Broomfield Hospital, spokesperson Kelli Christensen said. A nearby portion of U.S. Highway 36 also was shut down.Colorado’s Front Range, where most of the state’s population lives, had an extremely dry and mild fall, and winter so far has continued to be mostly dry.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-lifestyle-business-denver-weather-d967eafc0de74000c758fbbac9f5f52d">Denver set a record for most consecutive days without snow</a>&nbsp;before it got a small storm on Dec. 10. It hasn’t snowed since, though snow was expected in the region Friday.One video captured by a bystander outside a Superior Costco store showed an apocalyptic scene with winds whipping through barren trees in the parking lot surrounded by gray skies, a hazy sun and small fires scattered across the ground.Leah Angstman and her husband saw similar dark skies while returning to their Louisville home from Denver International Airport after being away for the holidays. As they were sitting on the bus going toward Boulder, Angstman recalled instantly leaving clear blue skies and entering clouds of brown and yellow smoke.“The wind rocked the bus so hard that I thought the bus would tip,” she wrote in a message to The Associated Press.The visibility was so poor that the bus had to pull over and they waited a half-hour until a regional transit authority van escorted them to a turnaround on the highway. There she saw four separate fires burning in bushes across the freeway, she said.“The sky was dark, dark brown, and the dirt was blowing in swirls across the sidewalk like snakes,” she said.Angstman later ended up evacuating, getting in a car with her husband and driving northeast without knowing where they would end up.Vignesh Kasinath, an assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado in Boulder, evacuated from a neighborhood in Superior with his wife and her parents. Kasinath said the family was overwhelmed because of the sudden evacuation warning and anxious from the chaos while trying to leave.“It’s only because I am active on Twitter I came to know about this,” said Kasinath, who said he did not receive an official evacuation notice from authorities.The fires prompted Gov. Jared Polis to declare a state of a emergency, allowing the state to access disaster emergency funds.The evacuations come as climate change is making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-climate-change-science-environment-and-nature-935be069af34aad472074d42097af85e">weather more extreme</a>&nbsp;and wildfires more frequent and destructive, scientists say. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ut-state-wire-az-state-wire-id-state-wire-or-state-wire-nv-state-wire-d1f130f8826ef57c74db611e959937ac">historic drought</a>&nbsp;and heat waves have made wildfires harder to fight in the U.S. West.Ninety percent of Boulder County is in severe or extreme drought, and hasn’t seen substantial rainfall since mid-summer.“With any snow on the ground, this absolutely would not have happened in the way that it did,” said snow hydrologist Keith Musselman, who was at home when the fire broke out not far away.Musselman said this severe fire risk can be expected in September and October following a dry summer, but the lack of any precipitation – snow or rain – this late in the season is highly unusual.The National Weather Service predicts up to a foot of snow could fall tomorrow in Boulder, and that moisture would bring substantial relief, Musselman said.____

Wildfires near Denver burn hundreds of homes, force evacuations

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a southwest Kansas man on drug charges after a traffic stop in northeast Kansas.

On December 24, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop near the K-31 South exit on Interstate 35 for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

During the stop, a K9 was deployed, and illegal narcotics were located.

The driver of the vehicle, Marcos A. Arteaga-Juarez, 32, of Garden City, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640863492132.png" alt="Arteaga-Juarez-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Arteaga-Juarez-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a southwest Kansas man on drug charges after a traffic stop in northeast Kansas.On December 24, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop near the K-31 South exit on Interstate 35 for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.During the stop, a K9 was deployed, and illegal narcotics were located.The driver of the vehicle, Marcos A. Arteaga-Juarez, 32, of Garden City, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

SW Kansas man caught with cocaine in NE Kansas

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has approved a fourth vaccine dose for people most vulnerable to COVID-19, becoming the first country to do so as it braces for a wave of infections fueled by the omicron variant.

Nachman Ash, the director general of the Health Ministry, announced the decision at a press conference late on Thursday.

He says the decision is based on early research, and that officials will consider expanding the administration of a fourth dose to more of the public as they assess the situation.

Israel was among the first countries to roll out Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine a year ago and began freely offering boosters last summer. But it still saw a wave of infections blamed on the delta variant, and officials have warned of another driven by the fast-spreading omicron.

Earlier Thursday, Israel received its first shipment of pills that treat the worst effects of COVID-19.

It’s among of the first countries to receive Pfizer’s Paxlovid, a pill that can be taken at home to ward off the most severe symptoms of the coronavirus. All the previously authorized drugs require an IV or injection.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the shipment would help Israel to “successfully overcome the peak of the approaching omicron wave.”

Israeli media reported that the first shipment consists of 20,000 doses, with more expected as Pfizer ramps up production.

Israel currently has more than 20,000 active patients, including 94 who are seriously ill. At least 8,243 people have died from COVID-19 in Israel since the start of the pandemic.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has approved a fourth vaccine dose for people most vulnerable to COVID-19, becoming the first country to do so as it braces for a wave of infections fueled by the omicron variant.Nachman Ash, the director general of the Health Ministry, announced the decision at a press conference late on Thursday.He says the decision is based on early research, and that officials will consider expanding the administration of a fourth dose to more of the public as they assess the situation.Israel was among the first countries to roll out Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine a year ago and began freely offering boosters last summer. But it still saw a wave of infections blamed on the delta variant, and officials have warned of another driven by the fast-spreading omicron.Earlier Thursday, Israel received its first shipment of pills that treat the worst effects of COVID-19.It’s among of the first countries to receive Pfizer’s Paxlovid, a pill that can be taken at home to ward off the most severe symptoms of the coronavirus. All the previously authorized drugs require an IV or injection.Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the shipment would help Israel to “successfully overcome the peak of the approaching omicron wave.”Israeli media reported that the first shipment consists of 20,000 doses, with more expected as Pfizer ramps up production.Israel currently has more than 20,000 active patients, including 94 who are seriously ill. At least 8,243 people have died from COVID-19 in Israel since the start of the pandemic.

First country to offer 4th vaccine dose to most vulnerable

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man has been sentenced to more than 3 1/2 years in prison for a parking lot punch that killed a man.

 KSNW-TV reports that a Sedgwick County judge on Wednesday also ordered 38-year-old Steven Speakman to spend an additional two years under supervision after his release from prison, and to pay more than $17,000 in restitution. 

Speakman was originally charged with second-degree murder in the death of Haley Collins, but was found guilty in August of involuntary manslaughter. 

An affidavit says Collins had refused to give Speakman a ride home. Dillon's employees who witnessed the fight said Speakman punched Collins, jumped on top of him and hit him several more times.

The two men were arguing on a store parking lot in 2019. Witnesses told police they saw Collins push Speakman, then saw Speakman punch Collins, causing him to fall and hit his head.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man will be sentenced in November after being convicted of beating a friend to death with his bare hands. 

Steven Speakman, 37, Wichita, was convicted earlier this month of involuntary manslaughter in the death of 33-year-old Haley Collins, of Bel Aire. Investigators say Speakman and Collins got into an argument that turned physical in the parking lot of a Dillon's store on Aug. 21, 2019. 

An affidavit says Collins had refused to give Speakman a ride home. Dillon's employees who witnessed the fight said Speakman punched Collins, jumped on top of him and hit him several more times. Speakman, who was convicted on Aug. 6, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629231951398.png" alt="Speakman-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Speakman-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man has been sentenced to more than 3 1/2 years in prison for a parking lot punch that killed a man. KSNW-TV reports that a Sedgwick County judge on Wednesday also ordered 38-year-old Steven Speakman to spend an additional two years under supervision after his release from prison, and to pay more than $17,000 in restitution. Speakman was originally charged with second-degree murder in the death of Haley Collins, but was found guilty in August of involuntary manslaughter. An affidavit says Collins had refused to give Speakman a ride home. Dillon's employees who witnessed the fight said Speakman punched Collins, jumped on top of him and hit him several more times.The two men were arguing on a store parking lot in 2019. Witnesses told police they saw Collins push Speakman, then saw Speakman punch Collins, causing him to fall and hit his head.-------WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man will be sentenced in November after being convicted of beating a friend to death with his bare hands. Steven Speakman, 37, Wichita, was convicted earlier this month of involuntary manslaughter in the death of 33-year-old Haley Collins, of Bel Aire. Investigators say Speakman and Collins got into an argument that turned physical in the parking lot of a Dillon's store on Aug. 21, 2019. An affidavit says Collins had refused to give Speakman a ride home. Dillon's employees who witnessed the fight said Speakman punched Collins, jumped on top of him and hit him several more times. Speakman, who was convicted on Aug. 6, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 1.

Kan. man sentenced for killing friend who refused him a ride home

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Fire Department reported Firefighter Joshua Bruggeman died late Wednesday from COVID-19 complications.

He 17-year member of the fire department and was currently assigned to Station 8-A. Bruggeman is survived by his wife and their 4 children.

The Kansas Department of Health reported more than 7,000 deaths in the state from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640914946321.png" alt="Joshua Bruggeman-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Joshua Bruggeman-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Fire Department reported Firefighter Joshua Bruggeman died late Wednesday from COVID-19 complications.He 17-year member of the fire department and was currently assigned to Station 8-A. Bruggeman is survived by his wife and their 4 children.The Kansas Department of Health reported more than 7,000 deaths in the state from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

Veteran Kan. firefighter dies from COVID-19 complications

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the first-degree murder conviction of a Topeka man over a fatal road rage shooting more than five years ago. 

The court on Thursday rejected arguments from an attorney for Andre Clark Rhoiney Jr., that the prosecutor made improper statements during closing arguments. 

The shooting of 28-year-old Michael Stadler occurred in October 2016, when Rhoiney was 23. According to trial testimony, Rhoiney fired two shots at a van that Stadler was in after people in the two vehicles had exchanged words and rude gestures. 

A Shawnee County judge sentenced Rhoiney to life plus 13 months in prison, with no chance for parole for 25 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640890816132.png" alt="Rhoiney following his initial arrest in the case" />
 <figcaption>Rhoiney following his initial arrest in the case</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld the first-degree murder conviction of a Topeka man over a fatal road rage shooting more than five years ago. The court on Thursday rejected arguments from an attorney for Andre Clark Rhoiney Jr., that the prosecutor made improper statements during closing arguments. The shooting of 28-year-old Michael Stadler occurred in October 2016, when Rhoiney was 23. According to trial testimony, Rhoiney fired two shots at a van that Stadler was in after people in the two vehicles had exchanged words and rude gestures. A Shawnee County judge sentenced Rhoiney to life plus 13 months in prison, with no chance for parole for 25 years.

Kansas court upholds murder conviction over road rage death

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin spoke frankly for nearly an hour late Thursday amid growing alarm over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-russia-ukraine-europe-vladimir-putin-1704b24c9140ecd2d8f77c74b0f38a6a">Russia's troop buildup</a>&nbsp;near Ukraine, a simmering crisis that's recently deepened as the Kremlin has stiffened its demands for increased security guarantees and test fired hypersonic missiles to underscore its demands.

Putin's foreign affairs adviser said Biden reaffirmed the U.S. threat of new sanctions against Russia in case of an escalation or invasion, to which Putin responded with a warning of his own that such a U.S. move could lead to a complete rupture of ties.

"It would be a colossal mistake that would entail grave consequences,” said Yuri Ushakov. He added that Putin told Biden that Russia would act as the U.S. would if offensive weapons were deployed near American borders.

Putin requested the call, the second between the leaders this month, ahead of scheduled talks between senior U.S. and Russian officials set for Jan. 10 in Geneva.

White House officials said that the call began at 3:35 p.m. EST and concluded 50 minutes later, after midnight in Moscow. There was no immediate readout from either side.

Russia has made clear it wants a written commitment that Ukraine will never be allowed to join NATO and that the alliance's military equipment will not be positioned in former Soviet states, demands that the Biden administration has made clear are non-starters.

The White House said ahead of the call that Biden would tell Putin that a diplomatic path remains open even as the Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine and Kremlin officials have turned up the volume on its demands for new guarantees from the U.S. and NATO.

Those demands are to be discussed during the talks in Geneva, but it remains unclear what, if anything, Biden would be willing to offer Putin in exchange for defusing the crisis.

Draft security documents Moscow submitted demand that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.

The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed, however, to hold talks with Russia to discuss its concerns.

The security proposal by Moscow has raised the question of whether Putin is making unrealistic demands in the expectation of a Western rejection that would give him a pretext to invade.

Steven Pifer, a career foreign service officer who served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine in the Clinton administration, said the Biden administration could engage on some elements of Russia's draft document if Moscow is serious about talks.

Key NATO members have made clear there is no appetite for expanding the alliance in the near future. The U.S. and allies could also be receptive to language in the Russians' draft document calling for establishing new consultative mechanisms, such as the NATO-Russia Council and a hotline between NATO and Russia.

“The draft treaty’s proposed bar on any NATO military activity in Ukraine, eastern Europe, the Caucasus, or Central Asia is an overreach, but some measures to limit military exercises and activities on a reciprocal basis might be possible,” Pifer, who is now a senior fellow at Brookings Institution,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/12/21/russias-draft-agreements-with-nato-and-the-united-states-intended-for-rejection/">wrote in an analysis</a>&nbsp;for the Washington think tank.

Biden planned to tell Putin that for there to be “real progress” in the talks they must be conducted in “a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters before the call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Biden and Putin, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-putin-summit-23e73d69f1a7ca338850736a9cf032f5">met in Geneva in June</a>&nbsp;to discuss an array of tensions in the U.S.-Russia relationship, are not expected to take part in the January talks.

In the Dec. 7 video call, the White House said, Biden put Moscow on notice that an invasion of Ukraine would bring sanctions and enormous harm to the Russian economy. Russian officials have dismissed the sanction threats.

Last week, Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-moscow-1f80249ac893d533fb6fcfdecb3d1ad3">test-fired Zircon hypersonic missiles</a>, a provocative move that Peskov said was meant to help make Russia’s push for security guarantees “more convincing." The test was the first time Zircon missiles were launched in a salvo, indicating the completion of tests before the new missile enters service with the Russian navy next year and arms its cruisers, frigates and submarines.

U.S. intelligence earlier this month determined that Russian planning was underway for a possible military offensive that could begin as soon as early 2022, but that Putin had yet to determine whether to move forward with it.

Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council, said Thursday his country believes there is no immediate threat of a major Russian invasion.

“Our experts say that the Russian Federation just physically can’t mount a big invasion of our territory,” Danilov said. “There is a time period needed for preparations.”

The U.S. military has flown surveillance flights in Ukrainian airspace this week, including a flight Thursday by an Air Force E-8C JSTARS aircraft, according to Chuck Pritchard, a spokesman for U.S. European Command. That plane is equipped to provide intelligence on ground forces.

Pritchard said such flights are conducted with European allies “routinely” and the missions this week were “not in response to any specific event.”

Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet in the days after the Geneva talks, as are Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.

Russia has denied an intention of launching an invasion and, in turn, accused Ukraine of hatching plans to try to reclaim control of the territories held by Moscow-backed rebels by force. Ukraine has rejected the claim.

At the same time, Putin has urged the West to move quickly to meet his demands, warning that Moscow will have to take “adequate military-technical measures” if the West continues its “aggressive” course “on the threshold of our home.”

As Biden prepared for the talks with Putin, the administration also sought to highlight the commitment to Ukraine and drive home that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Past military incursions by Putin loom large.

In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia's annexation of Crimea was one of the darker moments for President Barack Obama on the international stage.

The U.S.-Russia relationship was badly damaged near the end of President George W. Bush's administration after Russia’s 2008 invasion of its neighbor Georgia after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered his troops into the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Biden, who is spending the week in his home state of Delaware, spoke to Putin from his home near Wilmington. The White House distributed a photo of the president speaking to the Russian leader from a desk lined with family photos.

Ahead of the call, Putin sent a telegram to Biden with New Year’s and Christmas wishes, which was posted on the Kremlin site on Thursday, along with other holiday messages to world leaders.

“I am convinced that in the development of our agreements reached during the June summit in Geneva and subsequent contacts that we can move forward and establish an effective Russian-American dialogue based on mutual respect and in consideration of each other’s national interests," Putin wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640899677541.png" alt="Russian President Putin requested the call, the second between the leaders this month-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Russian President Putin requested the call, the second between the leaders this month-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin spoke frankly for nearly an hour late Thursday amid growing alarm over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-russia-ukraine-europe-vladimir-putin-1704b24c9140ecd2d8f77c74b0f38a6a">Russia's troop buildup</a>&nbsp;near Ukraine, a simmering crisis that's recently deepened as the Kremlin has stiffened its demands for increased security guarantees and test fired hypersonic missiles to underscore its demands.Putin's foreign affairs adviser said Biden reaffirmed the U.S. threat of new sanctions against Russia in case of an escalation or invasion, to which Putin responded with a warning of his own that such a U.S. move could lead to a complete rupture of ties."It would be a colossal mistake that would entail grave consequences,” said Yuri Ushakov. He added that Putin told Biden that Russia would act as the U.S. would if offensive weapons were deployed near American borders.Putin requested the call, the second between the leaders this month, ahead of scheduled talks between senior U.S. and Russian officials set for Jan. 10 in Geneva.White House officials said that the call began at 3:35 p.m. EST and concluded 50 minutes later, after midnight in Moscow. There was no immediate readout from either side.Russia has made clear it wants a written commitment that Ukraine will never be allowed to join NATO and that the alliance's military equipment will not be positioned in former Soviet states, demands that the Biden administration has made clear are non-starters.The White House said ahead of the call that Biden would tell Putin that a diplomatic path remains open even as the Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine and Kremlin officials have turned up the volume on its demands for new guarantees from the U.S. and NATO.Those demands are to be discussed during the talks in Geneva, but it remains unclear what, if anything, Biden would be willing to offer Putin in exchange for defusing the crisis.Draft security documents Moscow submitted demand that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.The U.S. and its allies have refused to offer Russia the kind of guarantees on Ukraine that Putin wants, citing NATO’s principle that membership is open to any qualifying country. They agreed, however, to hold talks with Russia to discuss its concerns.The security proposal by Moscow has raised the question of whether Putin is making unrealistic demands in the expectation of a Western rejection that would give him a pretext to invade.Steven Pifer, a career foreign service officer who served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine in the Clinton administration, said the Biden administration could engage on some elements of Russia's draft document if Moscow is serious about talks.Key NATO members have made clear there is no appetite for expanding the alliance in the near future. The U.S. and allies could also be receptive to language in the Russians' draft document calling for establishing new consultative mechanisms, such as the NATO-Russia Council and a hotline between NATO and Russia.“The draft treaty’s proposed bar on any NATO military activity in Ukraine, eastern Europe, the Caucasus, or Central Asia is an overreach, but some measures to limit military exercises and activities on a reciprocal basis might be possible,” Pifer, who is now a senior fellow at Brookings Institution,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/12/21/russias-draft-agreements-with-nato-and-the-united-states-intended-for-rejection/">wrote in an analysis</a>&nbsp;for the Washington think tank.Biden planned to tell Putin that for there to be “real progress” in the talks they must be conducted in “a context of de-escalation rather than escalation,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters before the call. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.Biden and Putin, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-putin-summit-23e73d69f1a7ca338850736a9cf032f5">met in Geneva in June</a>&nbsp;to discuss an array of tensions in the U.S.-Russia relationship, are not expected to take part in the January talks.In the Dec. 7 video call, the White House said, Biden put Moscow on notice that an invasion of Ukraine would bring sanctions and enormous harm to the Russian economy. Russian officials have dismissed the sanction threats.Last week, Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-moscow-1f80249ac893d533fb6fcfdecb3d1ad3">test-fired Zircon hypersonic missiles</a>, a provocative move that Peskov said was meant to help make Russia’s push for security guarantees “more convincing." The test was the first time Zircon missiles were launched in a salvo, indicating the completion of tests before the new missile enters service with the Russian navy next year and arms its cruisers, frigates and submarines.U.S. intelligence earlier this month determined that Russian planning was underway for a possible military offensive that could begin as soon as early 2022, but that Putin had yet to determine whether to move forward with it.Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council, said Thursday his country believes there is no immediate threat of a major Russian invasion.“Our experts say that the Russian Federation just physically can’t mount a big invasion of our territory,” Danilov said. “There is a time period needed for preparations.”The U.S. military has flown surveillance flights in Ukrainian airspace this week, including a flight Thursday by an Air Force E-8C JSTARS aircraft, according to Chuck Pritchard, a spokesman for U.S. European Command. That plane is equipped to provide intelligence on ground forces.Pritchard said such flights are conducted with European allies “routinely” and the missions this week were “not in response to any specific event.”Moscow and NATO representatives are expected to meet in the days after the Geneva talks, as are Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which includes the United States.Russia has denied an intention of launching an invasion and, in turn, accused Ukraine of hatching plans to try to reclaim control of the territories held by Moscow-backed rebels by force. Ukraine has rejected the claim.At the same time, Putin has urged the West to move quickly to meet his demands, warning that Moscow will have to take “adequate military-technical measures” if the West continues its “aggressive” course “on the threshold of our home.”As Biden prepared for the talks with Putin, the administration also sought to highlight the commitment to Ukraine and drive home that Washington is committed to the “principle of nothing about you without you” in shaping policy that affects European allies.Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Past military incursions by Putin loom large.In 2014, Russian troops marched into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and seized the territory from Ukraine. Russia's annexation of Crimea was one of the darker moments for President Barack Obama on the international stage.The U.S.-Russia relationship was badly damaged near the end of President George W. Bush's administration after Russia’s 2008 invasion of its neighbor Georgia after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered his troops into the breakaway region of South Ossetia.Biden, who is spending the week in his home state of Delaware, spoke to Putin from his home near Wilmington. The White House distributed a photo of the president speaking to the Russian leader from a desk lined with family photos.Ahead of the call, Putin sent a telegram to Biden with New Year’s and Christmas wishes, which was posted on the Kremlin site on Thursday, along with other holiday messages to world leaders.“I am convinced that in the development of our agreements reached during the June summit in Geneva and subsequent contacts that we can move forward and establish an effective Russian-American dialogue based on mutual respect and in consideration of each other’s national interests," Putin wrote.

Biden, Putin talk nearly an hour as alarm rises over Ukraine

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on Thursday updated the isolation and quarantine guidance following the recent changes by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;(CDC) for health care workers in a hospital setting and the general population, according to a statement from the agency.

CDC is in the process of updating guidance for other settings such as correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, preschool, K-12 schools and institutions of higher education.&nbsp;

Health Care Workers in a Hospital Setting&nbsp;

The general population does not include people who work in a health care setting or other congregate setting. If individuals develop symptoms, they should get a test and stay home.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600281501155.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on Thursday updated the isolation and quarantine guidance following the recent changes by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;(CDC) for health care workers in a hospital setting and the general population, according to a statement from the agency.CDC is in the process of updating guidance for other settings such as correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, preschool, K-12 schools and institutions of higher education.&nbsp;Health Care Workers in a Hospital Setting&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Health care workers with lab confirmed COVID-19 infections should isolate for 10 days OR 7 days with negative test, if asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic (with improving symptoms).&nbsp;</li><li>Health care workers with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic&nbsp;or mildly symptomatic&nbsp;can return to work only with COVID-19 positive patients&nbsp;during the remainder of the 10-day infectious period.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Boosted and asymptomatic health care workers who are&nbsp;close&nbsp;contacts of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection have no work restrictions with negative test on days 2 and 5-7.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Not boosted and unvaccinated asymptomatic health care workers who are&nbsp;close&nbsp;contacts of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection must quarantine for 10 days OR 7 days with a negative test.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>General Population&nbsp;&nbsp;The general population does not include people who work in a health care setting or other congregate setting. If individuals develop symptoms, they should get a test and stay home.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>People with lab confirmed COVID-19 infections, regardless of vaccination status should stay home for 5 days. If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days&nbsp;and you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, you can leave your house. Individuals should continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.&nbsp;</li><li>Boosted or fully vaccinated&nbsp;individuals&nbsp;with Pfizer/Moderna within last 6 months or Johnson &amp; Johnson within last 2 months&nbsp;who are close contacts of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection&nbsp;do NOT have to stay home and should wear a mask around others for 10 days. If possible, individuals should get tested on day 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>People who are unvaccinated OR have completed the primary series of Pfizer/Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted OR completed the primary series of Johnson &amp; Johnson&nbsp;over 2 months ago and are not boosted who are close contacts of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection should stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days. If unable to quarantine, individuals must wear a mask for 10 days. If possible, individuals should get tested on day 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

KDHE updates isolation, quarantine guidance 

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Organizers say they plan to open an emergency overnight shelter in Wyandotte County despite being told this week that the mayor would not allow it. The Kansas City Star reports Cross-Lines Community Outreach officials say they have a contract with the county to open the shelter in Kansas City, Kansas. 

The announcement comes as snow and extremely cold temperatures are forecast for the region this weekend. Mayor Tyrone Garner said earlier this week he would not allow the shelter to open at the former Jack Reardon Center in Kansas City, Kansas. 

He said he was focused on long-term solutions for homelessness but did not say why he opposed the proposed shelter.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — With a severe cold snap approaching, Wyandotte County, Kansas, will not open an emergency overnight shelter, a decision that some service providers worry could have fatal consequences.

Service providers preparing to open the shelter at the former Jack Reardon Center in Kansas City, Kansas, instead learned that the Unified Government won't allow it. The decision leaves the county without any overnight cold weather shelters.

Forecasters say temperatures are expected to drop to around zero degrees this weekend.

Rachel Russell, director of community engagement for Cross-Lines Community Outreach, said the lack of shelter could cause homeless people to overwhelm hospitals.

Kansas City<a href="https://www.wycokck.org/Government/Elected-Officials/Mayor-Biography">, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner</a> wrote in a statement to a local paper that his goal is to address homelessness in the long term, but he didn't respond to specific questions about the decision to not move forward with the former Reardon Center site.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640885581678.png" alt="Mayor Tyrone Garner-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Mayor Tyrone Garner-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Organizers say they plan to open an emergency overnight shelter in Wyandotte County despite being told this week that the mayor would not allow it. The Kansas City Star reports Cross-Lines Community Outreach officials say they have a contract with the county to open the shelter in Kansas City, Kansas. The announcement comes as snow and extremely cold temperatures are forecast for the region this weekend. Mayor Tyrone Garner said earlier this week he would not allow the shelter to open at the former Jack Reardon Center in Kansas City, Kansas. He said he was focused on long-term solutions for homelessness but did not say why he opposed the proposed shelter.--------KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — With a severe cold snap approaching, Wyandotte County, Kansas, will not open an emergency overnight shelter, a decision that some service providers worry could have fatal consequences.Service providers preparing to open the shelter at the former Jack Reardon Center in Kansas City, Kansas, instead learned that the Unified Government won't allow it. The decision leaves the county without any overnight cold weather shelters.Forecasters say temperatures are expected to drop to around zero degrees this weekend.Rachel Russell, director of community engagement for Cross-Lines Community Outreach, said the lack of shelter could cause homeless people to overwhelm hospitals.Kansas City<a href="https://www.wycokck.org/Government/Elected-Officials/Mayor-Biography">, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner</a> wrote in a statement to a local paper that his goal is to address homelessness in the long term, but he didn't respond to specific questions about the decision to not move forward with the former Reardon Center site.

Emergency shelter will open despite KCK mayor

Great Bend High School's band director Grant Mathews will be marching in this year's Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. He will be joining 270 band directors from across the United States and Mexico.

Band members will range from recent music education graduates to retired veteran directors. They will be performing "76 Trombones" from the 1950's musical The Music Man.

Matthews will be playing tenor drums as the band marches 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. According to Matthews, they can be seen on television during the second hour of parade coverage on Saturday morning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640729001704.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend High School's band director Grant Mathews will be marching in this year's Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. He will be joining 270 band directors from across the United States and Mexico.Band members will range from recent music education graduates to retired veteran directors. They will be performing "76 Trombones" from the 1950's musical The Music Man.Matthews will be playing tenor drums as the band marches 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. According to Matthews, they can be seen on television during the second hour of parade coverage on Saturday morning.

Great Bend High School band director to march in Rose Parade

Newly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home.

But that convenience comes with a catch: The pills have to be taken as soon as possible once symptoms appear.

The challenge is getting tested, getting a prescription and starting the pills in a short window.

U.S. regulators authorized Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid, and Merck’s molnupiravir last week. In high-risk patients, both were shown to reduce the chances of hospitalization or death from COVID-19, although Pfizer’s was much more effective. Retailers in Kansas are expected to offer the medication this week.

The antiviral pills aren’t for everyone who gets a positive test. The pills are intended for those with mild or moderate COVID-19 who are more likely to become seriously ill. That includes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html" target="_blank">older people and those with other health conditions</a>&nbsp;like heart disease, cancer or diabetes that make them more vulnerable. Both pills were OK’d for adults while Paxlovid is authorized for children ages 12 and older.

Merck’s molnupiravir is not authorized for children because it might interfere with bone growth. It also isn’t recommended for pregnant women because of the potential for birth defects. Pfizer’s pill isn’t recommended for patients with severe kidney or liver problems. It also may not be the best option for some because it may interact with other prescriptions a patient is taking. The antiviral pills aren’t authorized for people hospitalized with COVID-19.

The pills have to be started as soon as possible, within five days of the start of symptoms. Cough, headache, fever, the loss of taste or smell and muscle and body aches are among the more common signs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;to check your symptoms.

Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke University Hospital, advises getting a test as soon as you have symptoms of COVID-19.

“If you wait until you have started to get breathless, you have already to a large extent missed the window where these drugs will be helpful,” Wolfe said.

You’ll need a prescription first from a doctor or other authorized health worker. The U.S. government is buying the pills from Merck and Pfizer and providing them for free, but supplies will be limited initially. They’ll be shipped to states where they will be available at drugstores, community health centers and other places. Treatment lasts five days.

Customers and healthcare providers can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/2766660">click here</a>&nbsp;to use the store locator to find their nearest store or the club that is carrying the medication to send the electronic prescription.

Some pharmacists may be able to administer a quick COVID-19 test and prescribe the pills all in one visit. They already do this in many states for flu or strep throat.

WILL THE PILLS WORK FOR THE OMICRON VARIANT?

The pills are expected to be effective against omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside. The two pills work in different ways to prevent the virus from reproducing.

ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR NEW COVID-19 PATIENTS?

Yes, but they aren’t as easy to use as a pill: They are given by IV or injection, typically at a hospital or clinic. Three drugs provide virus-fighting antibodies, although laboratory testing suggests the two aren’t effective against omicron. British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline’s antibody drug appears to work, and officials say they are working to increase the U.S. supply. The only antiviral drug approved in the U.S., remdesivir, is for people hospitalized with COVID-19.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633958564035.png" alt="The antiviral pills aren’t for everyone who gets a positive test.-photo courtesy Merck" />
 <figcaption>The antiviral pills aren’t for everyone who gets a positive test.-photo courtesy Merck</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOM MURPHY, Associated PressNewly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home.But that convenience comes with a catch: The pills have to be taken as soon as possible once symptoms appear.The challenge is getting tested, getting a prescription and starting the pills in a short window.U.S. regulators authorized Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid, and Merck’s molnupiravir last week. In high-risk patients, both were shown to reduce the chances of hospitalization or death from COVID-19, although Pfizer’s was much more effective. Retailers in Kansas are expected to offer the medication this week.A closer look:WHO SHOULD TAKE THESE PILLS?The antiviral pills aren’t for everyone who gets a positive test. The pills are intended for those with mild or moderate COVID-19 who are more likely to become seriously ill. That includes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html" target="_blank">older people and those with other health conditions</a>&nbsp;like heart disease, cancer or diabetes that make them more vulnerable. Both pills were OK’d for adults while Paxlovid is authorized for children ages 12 and older.WHO SHOULDN’T TAKE THESE PILLS?Merck’s molnupiravir is not authorized for children because it might interfere with bone growth. It also isn’t recommended for pregnant women because of the potential for birth defects. Pfizer’s pill isn’t recommended for patients with severe kidney or liver problems. It also may not be the best option for some because it may interact with other prescriptions a patient is taking. The antiviral pills aren’t authorized for people hospitalized with COVID-19.WHAT’S THE TREATMENT WINDOW?The pills have to be started as soon as possible, within five days of the start of symptoms. Cough, headache, fever, the loss of taste or smell and muscle and body aches are among the more common signs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;to check your symptoms.Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke University Hospital, advises getting a test as soon as you have symptoms of COVID-19.“If you wait until you have started to get breathless, you have already to a large extent missed the window where these drugs will be helpful,” Wolfe said.WHERE CAN I GET THE PILLS?You’ll need a prescription first from a doctor or other authorized health worker. The U.S. government is buying the pills from Merck and Pfizer and providing them for free, but supplies will be limited initially. They’ll be shipped to states where they will be available at drugstores, community health centers and other places. Treatment lasts five days.Customers and healthcare providers can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walmart.com/cp/2766660">click here</a>&nbsp;to use the store locator to find their nearest store or the club that is carrying the medication to send the electronic prescription.Some pharmacists may be able to administer a quick COVID-19 test and prescribe the pills all in one visit. They already do this in many states for flu or strep throat.WILL THE PILLS WORK FOR THE OMICRON VARIANT?The pills are expected to be effective against omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside. The two pills work in different ways to prevent the virus from reproducing.ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR NEW COVID-19 PATIENTS?Yes, but they aren’t as easy to use as a pill: They are given by IV or injection, typically at a hospital or clinic. Three drugs provide virus-fighting antibodies, although laboratory testing suggests the two aren’t effective against omicron. British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline’s antibody drug appears to work, and officials say they are working to increase the U.S. supply. The only antiviral drug approved in the U.S., remdesivir, is for people hospitalized with COVID-19.___

New easy-to-use COVID-19 medication comes with a catch

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A Kansas man who was ejected and critically injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Dec. 20 has died.&nbsp;Richard Wilson, 46, of Salina, died of his injuries on Sunday, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.

Wilson was driving a 2010 Toyota RAV4 westbound on Granville Road just west of N. Ohio Street when the vehicle went off the south side of the road and rolled numerous times, Soldan said on Dec. 21. Wilson, who was not properly restrained, was ejected from the vehicle.

A passenger in the vehicle, Michelle Peterson, 44, of Salina, received lacerations, but refused medical treatment, Soldan said on Dec. 21. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, he noted.

Two people were injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash north of Salina late Monday afternoon.

A 2010 Toyota RAV4 was westbound on Granville Road just west of N. Ohio Street when it went off the south side of the road and rolled numerous times, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning.

The driver, Richard Wilson, 46, of Salina, was ejected from the vehicle. He suffered significant injuries and was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center. Wilson was not using a seatbelt, he added.

A passenger in the vehicle, Michelle Peterson, 44, of Salina, received lacerations, but refused medical treatment, Soldan said. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

Soldan said investigators are awaiting test results before determining the cause of the wreck.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640105329741.jpeg" alt="The RAV4 was destroyed after rolling multiple times. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>The RAV4 was destroyed after rolling multiple times. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA Kansas man who was ejected and critically injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Dec. 20 has died.&nbsp;Richard Wilson, 46, of Salina, died of his injuries on Sunday, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.Wilson was driving a 2010 Toyota RAV4 westbound on Granville Road just west of N. Ohio Street when the vehicle went off the south side of the road and rolled numerous times, Soldan said on Dec. 21. Wilson, who was not properly restrained, was ejected from the vehicle.A passenger in the vehicle, Michelle Peterson, 44, of Salina, received lacerations, but refused medical treatment, Soldan said on Dec. 21. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, he noted.--------Two people were injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash north of Salina late Monday afternoon.A 2010 Toyota RAV4 was westbound on Granville Road just west of N. Ohio Street when it went off the south side of the road and rolled numerous times, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640105480614.jpeg" alt="Both occupants were injured when the RAV4 rolled." />
 <figcaption>Both occupants were injured when the RAV4 rolled.</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, Richard Wilson, 46, of Salina, was ejected from the vehicle. He suffered significant injuries and was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center. Wilson was not using a seatbelt, he added.A passenger in the vehicle, Michelle Peterson, 44, of Salina, received lacerations, but refused medical treatment, Soldan said. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident.Soldan said investigators are awaiting test results before determining the cause of the wreck.

Sheriff: Kan. man critically injured in Dec. 20 crash has died

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (AP) — A plumbing worker has died after a trench collapsed in western Missouri.

<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/1-killed-when-trench-collapses-in-grain-valley-missouri/38636397">KMBC-TV&nbsp;</a>reports that the accident happened Wednesday in Grain Valley, just east of Kansas City. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said crews with Preferred Plumbing Inc. of Kingsville were installing plumbing lines for homes under construction when the 10-foot-deep trench gave way.

The victim's name wasn't immediately released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640879825214.png" alt="Crews at the scene of the trench collapse -photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>Crews at the scene of the trench collapse -photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (AP) — A plumbing worker has died after a trench collapsed in western Missouri.<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/1-killed-when-trench-collapses-in-grain-valley-missouri/38636397">KMBC-TV&nbsp;</a>reports that the accident happened Wednesday in Grain Valley, just east of Kansas City. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said crews with Preferred Plumbing Inc. of Kingsville were installing plumbing lines for homes under construction when the 10-foot-deep trench gave way.The victim's name wasn't immediately released.OSHA is investigating the accident.

Plumbing worker dies in Kansas City-area trench collapse

WASHINGTON — President Biden committed $137 million to expanding the production of COVID-19 at-home tests using his military authority in order to meet demand, according to a statement from the White House.

On Wednesday, the Department of Defense (DoD), on behalf of and in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded a $136.7 million contract to MilliporeSigma to establish nitrocellulose membrane production capacity in the United States.

Nitrocellulose membrane is a critical material used in manufacturing SARS-CoV-2 rapid point-of-care tests. This industrial base expansion effort will allow MilliporeSigma to establish a nitrocellulose manufacturing capability in its Sheboygan, Wisconsin facility to support more than 83.3 million tests per month for COVID-19 testing and future needs.

The DoD’s Defense Assisted Acquisition Cell (DA2) led this effort in coordination with the Department of the Air Force’s Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force (DAF ACT). This effort was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support domestic industrial base expansion for critical medical resources.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597520864986.png" alt="photo courtesy Yale School of Public Health" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Yale School of Public Health</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — President Biden committed $137 million to expanding the production of COVID-19 at-home tests using his military authority in order to meet demand, according to a statement from the White House.On Wednesday, the Department of Defense (DoD), on behalf of and in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded a $136.7 million contract to MilliporeSigma to establish nitrocellulose membrane production capacity in the United States.Nitrocellulose membrane is a critical material used in manufacturing SARS-CoV-2 rapid point-of-care tests. This industrial base expansion effort will allow MilliporeSigma to establish a nitrocellulose manufacturing capability in its Sheboygan, Wisconsin facility to support more than 83.3 million tests per month for COVID-19 testing and future needs.The DoD’s Defense Assisted Acquisition Cell (DA2) led this effort in coordination with the Department of the Air Force’s Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force (DAF ACT). This effort was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support domestic industrial base expansion for critical medical resources.

Biden commits $137M to expand production of COVID at-home tests 

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

GREAT BEND — It's that 
time of year when many people are making New Year's resolutions to lose 
weight, exercise more or quit smoking. Dr. Patrick Stang with the Center
 for Counseling and Consultation in Great Bend has some advice on how to
 succeed at keeping those resolutions throughout the upcoming year.

"Make
 your resolutions or the changes you want to make gradual, not great big
 things all at once," Stang recommended. "Try to give yourself a little 
bit of a time limit. Okay, it's January. By March 1st, I want to have 
this part of it done. By March 1st, I want to have walked on my 
treadmill this many times. Or I won't be down to smoking half as many 
cigarettes by March 1st, whatever it is. Or I want to be more productive
 at work. Make it something that's measurable that you can tell when 
you're making some progress."

Dr. Stang was a guest Monday on 1590
 KVGB and 95.5 FM's Out &amp; About program. He says it's okay to mess 
up when you're trying to live up to your own expectations. But that 
doesn't mean you have to give up on your resolutions.

"People make
 some progress, and then they'll kind of not make progress for a while 
or go backwards a step or two. So kind of give yourself a break, and 
realize that not everything happens in a straight line. Don't beat 
yourself up. That's the way most things in life go." 

The Center 
for Counseling and Consultation is a community mental health center 
serving Barton, Pawnee, Rice and Stafford counties and offers a wide 
variety of services to individuals and families.

By KEN CARPENTER <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — It's that 
time of year when many people are making New Year's resolutions to lose 
weight, exercise more or quit smoking. Dr. Patrick Stang with the Center
 for Counseling and Consultation in Great Bend has some advice on how to
 succeed at keeping those resolutions throughout the upcoming year."Make
 your resolutions or the changes you want to make gradual, not great big
 things all at once," Stang recommended. "Try to give yourself a little 
bit of a time limit. Okay, it's January. By March 1st, I want to have 
this part of it done. By March 1st, I want to have walked on my 
treadmill this many times. Or I won't be down to smoking half as many 
cigarettes by March 1st, whatever it is. Or I want to be more productive
 at work. Make it something that's measurable that you can tell when 
you're making some progress."Dr. Stang was a guest Monday on 1590
 KVGB and 95.5 FM's Out &amp; About program. He says it's okay to mess 
up when you're trying to live up to your own expectations. But that 
doesn't mean you have to give up on your resolutions."People make
 some progress, and then they'll kind of not make progress for a while 
or go backwards a step or two. So kind of give yourself a break, and 
realize that not everything happens in a straight line. Don't beat 
yourself up. That's the way most things in life go." The Center 
for Counseling and Consultation is a community mental health center 
serving Barton, Pawnee, Rice and Stafford counties and offers a wide 
variety of services to individuals and families.