TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that total tax collections for November were $626.8 million. That is 3.1%, or $18.9 million, more than the estimate, according to a media release from her office.

<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.164MllZmf8WHgqUFgq-55uTp6w6Z25sRSinxzyq3r4k/s/1303160919/br/122065361989-l" target="_blank">Click here to view the tax receipts&nbsp;</a>

 Those collections are $70.1 million, or 12.6%, more than last November.

“While our state revenue numbers continue to be encouraging, maintaining fiscal responsibility is paramount moving forward,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“That’s how we will sustain strategic investments in critical state services – and how we will ‘Axe the Food Sales Tax’ long-term, providing much-needed relief to Kansas families.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Revenue numbers come after the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group made up of state financial advisors, researchers, and university economists, by statute, met to evaluate the estimates for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Individual income tax collections were below the estimate for the month by 1.6%, or $4.6 million, with $288.9 million collected.&nbsp; These collections were below estimate for the month due to remittance due dates. Even with that, these collections saw a growth of $13.5 million, or 4.9%, above last November. Corporate income tax collections were $5.4 million, or 64.1%, more than the estimate with $13.7 million collected. That is a $8.5 million, or 165.5%, more than last November.

Sales and use tax collections were 13.8%, or $34.5 million, more than last November. These collections were $285.4 million for the month, which is $8.5 million or 3.1% more than the estimate. To break that down, retail sales collections were $223.6 million. That is $6.6 million, or 3.0%, more than the estimate for the month and $21.9 million more than last November. Compensating use tax collections were $61.8 million for the month, which is $1.9 million, or 3.2%, more than the estimate. That is a growth of $12.6 million, or 25.7%, over the same month last year.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that total tax collections for November were $626.8 million. That is 3.1%, or $18.9 million, more than the estimate, according to a media release from her office.<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.164MllZmf8WHgqUFgq-55uTp6w6Z25sRSinxzyq3r4k/s/1303160919/br/122065361989-l" target="_blank">Click here to view the tax receipts&nbsp;</a> Those collections are $70.1 million, or 12.6%, more than last November.“While our state revenue numbers continue to be encouraging, maintaining fiscal responsibility is paramount moving forward,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“That’s how we will sustain strategic investments in critical state services – and how we will ‘Axe the Food Sales Tax’ long-term, providing much-needed relief to Kansas families.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Revenue numbers come after the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group made up of state financial advisors, researchers, and university economists, by statute, met to evaluate the estimates for the remainder of the fiscal year.Individual income tax collections were below the estimate for the month by 1.6%, or $4.6 million, with $288.9 million collected.&nbsp; These collections were below estimate for the month due to remittance due dates. Even with that, these collections saw a growth of $13.5 million, or 4.9%, above last November. Corporate income tax collections were $5.4 million, or 64.1%, more than the estimate with $13.7 million collected. That is a $8.5 million, or 165.5%, more than last November.Sales and use tax collections were 13.8%, or $34.5 million, more than last November. These collections were $285.4 million for the month, which is $8.5 million or 3.1% more than the estimate. To break that down, retail sales collections were $223.6 million. That is $6.6 million, or 3.0%, more than the estimate for the month and $21.9 million more than last November. Compensating use tax collections were $61.8 million for the month, which is $1.9 million, or 3.2%, more than the estimate. That is a growth of $12.6 million, or 25.7%, over the same month last year.

Kansas total tax collections $70M more than last November

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A suspect who barricaded himself inside a home shot two children and a woman in Kansas City, Kansas, Wednesday before turning the gun on himself, the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s office said.

Officers who responded to a call of a shooting at Wellborn Park found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds.

The suspect fled the scene and later barricaded himself inside the Kansas City, Kansas home, the sheriff’s office said.

Officers set up a perimeter around the house after hearing gunshots. When they entered the home they found the suspect dead and one of the children dead. The other child was suffering from gunshot wounds, authorities said.

Sheriff’s department spokesman Capt. Kyle Harvey said conditions of the injured child and the woman were not immediately available.

The woman was the suspect’s girlfriend but their relationship with the children had not been determined, Harvey said. No names have been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638384786383.png" alt="The injured woman was the suspect’s girlfriend but their relationship with the children had not been determined- photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The injured woman was the suspect’s girlfriend but their relationship with the children had not been determined- photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A suspect who barricaded himself inside a home shot two children and a woman in Kansas City, Kansas, Wednesday before turning the gun on himself, the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s office said.Officers who responded to a call of a shooting at Wellborn Park found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds.The suspect fled the scene and later barricaded himself inside the Kansas City, Kansas home, the sheriff’s office said.Officers set up a perimeter around the house after hearing gunshots. When they entered the home they found the suspect dead and one of the children dead. The other child was suffering from gunshot wounds, authorities said.Sheriff’s department spokesman Capt. Kyle Harvey said conditions of the injured child and the woman were not immediately available.The woman was the suspect’s girlfriend but their relationship with the children had not been determined, Harvey said. No names have been released.

Child, suspect dead and 2 injured after standoff at Kan. home 

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516424-1/press-secretary-jen-psaki-dr-anthony-fauci-reporters-omicron-case-detected-us&amp;live&amp;vod">Click here to watch</a> the comments from Dr. Fauci

WASHINGTON (AP) — A person in California who had been vaccinated against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;became the first in the U.S. to have an identified case of the omicron variant, the White House announced Wednesday as scientists continue to study the risks posed by the new virus strain.

Dr. Anthony Fauci told reporters the person was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive on Nov. 29. Fauci said the person was vaccinated but had not received a booster shot and was experiencing “mild symptoms.”

The Biden administration moved late last month to restrict travel from Southern Africa where the variant was first identified and had been widespread. Clusters of cases have also been identified in about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-europe-japan-192d15ef14bb3dd478bc36ab4aa325f0">two dozen other nations</a>.

“We knew that it was just a matter of time before the first case of omicron would be detected in the United States,” Fauci said.

He said the person was improving and added, “I think what’s happening now is another example of why it’s important for people to get vaccinated. But also boosting. Boosting is very important.”

Officials said they had contacted everyone who had close contact with the person and they had all tested negative.

Genomic sequencing was conducted at the University of California, San Francisco and the sequence was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is taking steps to tighten U.S. testing rules for travelers from overseas, including requiring a test for all travelers within a day of boarding a flight to the U.S. regardless of vaccination status. It was also considering mandating post-arrival testing.

Officials said those measures would only “buy time” for the country to learn more about the new variant and to take appropriate precautions, but that given its transmissibility its arrival in the U.S. was inevitable.

Much remains unknown about the new variant, including whether it is more contagious than previous strains, whether it makes people more seriously ill, and whether it can thwart the vaccine. Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said more would be known about the omicron strain in two to four weeks as scientists grow and test lab samples of the virus.

California’s Department of Public Health credited the state’s “large-scale testing and early detection systems” for identifying the case.

“We recognize that everyone is exhausted, and the news of a new variant can be overwhelming. It is important that we collectively focus on the things we know prevent the spread of COVID-19, and its variants,” state public health officials said in a statement.

The announcement of the first U.S. case comes before President Joe Biden plans to outline his strategy on Thursday to combat the virus over the winter. Biden has tried to quell alarm over the omicron variant, saying it was a cause for concern but “not a cause for panic.”

Biden and public health officials have grown more urgent in their pleas for more Americans to get vaccinated — and for those who have been vaccinated to get booster shots to maximize their protection against the virus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638385235681.png" alt="Dr. Fauci said during a White House news briefing Wednesday afternoon that the patient was vaccinated and it was unclear if they had received a booster.-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Fauci said during a White House news briefing Wednesday afternoon that the patient was vaccinated and it was unclear if they had received a booster.-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516424-1/press-secretary-jen-psaki-dr-anthony-fauci-reporters-omicron-case-detected-us&amp;live&amp;vod">Click here to watch</a> the comments from Dr. FauciWASHINGTON (AP) — A person in California who had been vaccinated against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;became the first in the U.S. to have an identified case of the omicron variant, the White House announced Wednesday as scientists continue to study the risks posed by the new virus strain.Dr. Anthony Fauci told reporters the person was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive on Nov. 29. Fauci said the person was vaccinated but had not received a booster shot and was experiencing “mild symptoms.”The Biden administration moved late last month to restrict travel from Southern Africa where the variant was first identified and had been widespread. Clusters of cases have also been identified in about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-europe-japan-192d15ef14bb3dd478bc36ab4aa325f0">two dozen other nations</a>.“We knew that it was just a matter of time before the first case of omicron would be detected in the United States,” Fauci said.He said the person was improving and added, “I think what’s happening now is another example of why it’s important for people to get vaccinated. But also boosting. Boosting is very important.”Officials said they had contacted everyone who had close contact with the person and they had all tested negative.Genomic sequencing was conducted at the University of California, San Francisco and the sequence was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is taking steps to tighten U.S. testing rules for travelers from overseas, including requiring a test for all travelers within a day of boarding a flight to the U.S. regardless of vaccination status. It was also considering mandating post-arrival testing.Officials said those measures would only “buy time” for the country to learn more about the new variant and to take appropriate precautions, but that given its transmissibility its arrival in the U.S. was inevitable.Much remains unknown about the new variant, including whether it is more contagious than previous strains, whether it makes people more seriously ill, and whether it can thwart the vaccine. Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said more would be known about the omicron strain in two to four weeks as scientists grow and test lab samples of the virus.California’s Department of Public Health credited the state’s “large-scale testing and early detection systems” for identifying the case.“We recognize that everyone is exhausted, and the news of a new variant can be overwhelming. It is important that we collectively focus on the things we know prevent the spread of COVID-19, and its variants,” state public health officials said in a statement.The announcement of the first U.S. case comes before President Joe Biden plans to outline his strategy on Thursday to combat the virus over the winter. Biden has tried to quell alarm over the omicron variant, saying it was a cause for concern but “not a cause for panic.”Biden and public health officials have grown more urgent in their pleas for more Americans to get vaccinated — and for those who have been vaccinated to get booster shots to maximize their protection against the virus.

 🎥  1st case of Omicron variant identified in United States

TOPEKA, Kan. — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 4,477 to a total of 469,767, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 19 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6,705.

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

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

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

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

TOPEKA, Kan. — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 4,477 to a total of 469,767, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 19 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6,705.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638382066533.png" alt="Wednesday December 1, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday December 1, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: 4,400 new cases, 19 more COVID deaths

OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A fourth student, a 17-year-old boy, died Wednesday from wounds he suffered when a sophomore opened fire at a Michigan high school a day earlier, authorities said.

The other dead included a 16-year-old boy who died in a deputy’s patrol car on the way to a hospital. Eight people were wounded, some critically, including a 14-year-old girl who was placed on a ventilator after surgery.

Investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the shooting Tuesday at Oxford High School, located in a community of about 22,000 people roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Detroit, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.

“The person that’s got the most insight and the motive is not talking,” he said at a news conference late Tuesday.

Deputies rushed to the school around lunchtime as more than 100 calls flooded 911 dispatchers with reports of a shooter. They arrested the student in a hallway within minutes of their arrival. He put his hands in the air as deputies approached, Bouchard said.

The boy’s father on Friday bought the 9 mm Sig Sauer used in the shooting, Bouchard said. He didn’t know why the man bought the semiautomatic handgun, which his son had been posting pictures of and practicing shooting, Bouchard said.

Authorities did not immediately release the boy’s name.

The four students who were killed were 16-year-old Tate Myre, 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin and Justin Shilling, who died Wednesday.

Bouchard said Myre died in a patrol car as a deputy tried to get him to an emergency room.

A teacher who received a graze wound to the shoulder left the hospital, but seven students ranging in age from 14 to 17 remained hospitalized through the night with gunshot wounds, he said.

The gun the boy was carrying had seven more rounds of ammo in it when he surrendered, Bouchard said.

Undersheriff Mike McCabe said the student’s parents advised their son not to talk to investigators. Police must seek permission from a juvenile’s parents or guardian to speak with them, he added.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement that her office expects to issue charges quickly and that an update would be given Wednesday.

Authorities were made aware of posts on social media that said there had been threats of a shooting at the roughly 1,700-student school, but Bouchard said they didn’t know about the rumors until after the attack.

He stressed how crucial it is for tips of the kind to be sent to authorities, while also cautioning against spreading social media rumors before a full investigation.

McCabe also downplayed the significance of a situation in early November when a deer head was thrown off the school roof, which he said was “absolutely unrelated” to the shooting. The vandalism prompted school administrators to post two letters to parents on the school’s website, saying they were responding to rumors of a threat against the school but had found none.

Bouchard said the student in custody had no previous run-ins with his department and he wasn’t aware of any disciplinary history at school.

“That’s part of our investigation to determine what happened prior to this event and if some signs were missed how were they missed and why,” he said.

The campus was placed on lockdown during the attack, with some children sheltering in locked classrooms. They were later taken to a nearby Meijer grocery store to be picked up by their parents.

The district said in a statement that all of its schools would be closed for the rest of the week.

Isabel Flores, a 15-year-old ninth-grader, told WJBK-TV that she and other students heard gunshots and saw another student bleeding from the face. They then ran from the area through the rear of the school, she said.

Authorities said they were searching the suspect’s cellphone, school video footage and social media posts for any evidence of a possible motive.

School administrators had posted two letters to parents on the school’s website in November, saying they were responding to rumors of a threat against the school following a bizarre vandalism incident.

According to a Nov. 4 letter written by Principal Steve Wolf, someone threw a deer head into a courtyard from the school’s roof, painted several windows on the roof with red acrylic paint and used the same paint on concrete near the school building during the early morning hours. Without specifically referencing that incident, a second post on Nov. 12 assured “there has been no threat to our building nor our students.”

Both the sheriff and undersheriff emphasized that Tuesday’s shooting was unrelated to the deer head or any earlier investigation by their office.

“That was a different incident, different student,” McCabe said.

A concerned parent, Robin Redding, said her son, Treshan Bryant, is a 12th grader at the school but stayed home Tuesday. Redding said her son had heard threats that there could be a shooting.

“This couldn’t be just random,” she said.

Bryant said he texted several younger cousins in the morning and they said they didn’t want to go to school, and he got a bad feeling. He asked his mom if he could do his assignments online.

Bryant said he had heard vague threats “for a long time now” about plans for a shooting.

At a vigil Tuesday night at LakePoint Community Church, Leeann Dersa choked back tears as she hugged friends and neighbors. Dersa has lived nearly all of her 73 years in Oxford. Her grandchildren attended the high school.

“Scared us all something terrible. It’s awful,” Dersa said of the shooting.

Pastor Jesse Holt said news of the shooting flooded in to him and his wife, including texts from some of the 20 to 25 students who are among the 400-member congregation.

“Some were very scared, hiding under their desks and texting us, `We’re safe, we’re OK. We heard gunshots, but we’re OK.’ They were trying to calm us, at least that’s how it felt,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638381044457.png" alt="Investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the shooting photo courtesy WWJT TV" />
 <figcaption>Investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the shooting photo courtesy WWJT TV</figcaption>
 </figure>OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A fourth student, a 17-year-old boy, died Wednesday from wounds he suffered when a sophomore opened fire at a Michigan high school a day earlier, authorities said.The other dead included a 16-year-old boy who died in a deputy’s patrol car on the way to a hospital. Eight people were wounded, some critically, including a 14-year-old girl who was placed on a ventilator after surgery.Investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the shooting Tuesday at Oxford High School, located in a community of about 22,000 people roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Detroit, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.“The person that’s got the most insight and the motive is not talking,” he said at a news conference late Tuesday.Deputies rushed to the school around lunchtime as more than 100 calls flooded 911 dispatchers with reports of a shooter. They arrested the student in a hallway within minutes of their arrival. He put his hands in the air as deputies approached, Bouchard said.The boy’s father on Friday bought the 9 mm Sig Sauer used in the shooting, Bouchard said. He didn’t know why the man bought the semiautomatic handgun, which his son had been posting pictures of and practicing shooting, Bouchard said.Authorities did not immediately release the boy’s name.The four students who were killed were 16-year-old Tate Myre, 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin and Justin Shilling, who died Wednesday.Bouchard said Myre died in a patrol car as a deputy tried to get him to an emergency room.A teacher who received a graze wound to the shoulder left the hospital, but seven students ranging in age from 14 to 17 remained hospitalized through the night with gunshot wounds, he said.The gun the boy was carrying had seven more rounds of ammo in it when he surrendered, Bouchard said.Undersheriff Mike McCabe said the student’s parents advised their son not to talk to investigators. Police must seek permission from a juvenile’s parents or guardian to speak with them, he added.Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement that her office expects to issue charges quickly and that an update would be given Wednesday.Authorities were made aware of posts on social media that said there had been threats of a shooting at the roughly 1,700-student school, but Bouchard said they didn’t know about the rumors until after the attack.He stressed how crucial it is for tips of the kind to be sent to authorities, while also cautioning against spreading social media rumors before a full investigation.McCabe also downplayed the significance of a situation in early November when a deer head was thrown off the school roof, which he said was “absolutely unrelated” to the shooting. The vandalism prompted school administrators to post two letters to parents on the school’s website, saying they were responding to rumors of a threat against the school but had found none.Bouchard said the student in custody had no previous run-ins with his department and he wasn’t aware of any disciplinary history at school.“That’s part of our investigation to determine what happened prior to this event and if some signs were missed how were they missed and why,” he said.The campus was placed on lockdown during the attack, with some children sheltering in locked classrooms. They were later taken to a nearby Meijer grocery store to be picked up by their parents.The district said in a statement that all of its schools would be closed for the rest of the week.Isabel Flores, a 15-year-old ninth-grader, told WJBK-TV that she and other students heard gunshots and saw another student bleeding from the face. They then ran from the area through the rear of the school, she said.Authorities said they were searching the suspect’s cellphone, school video footage and social media posts for any evidence of a possible motive.School administrators had posted two letters to parents on the school’s website in November, saying they were responding to rumors of a threat against the school following a bizarre vandalism incident.According to a Nov. 4 letter written by Principal Steve Wolf, someone threw a deer head into a courtyard from the school’s roof, painted several windows on the roof with red acrylic paint and used the same paint on concrete near the school building during the early morning hours. Without specifically referencing that incident, a second post on Nov. 12 assured “there has been no threat to our building nor our students.”Both the sheriff and undersheriff emphasized that Tuesday’s shooting was unrelated to the deer head or any earlier investigation by their office.“That was a different incident, different student,” McCabe said.A concerned parent, Robin Redding, said her son, Treshan Bryant, is a 12th grader at the school but stayed home Tuesday. Redding said her son had heard threats that there could be a shooting.“This couldn’t be just random,” she said.Bryant said he texted several younger cousins in the morning and they said they didn’t want to go to school, and he got a bad feeling. He asked his mom if he could do his assignments online.Bryant said he had heard vague threats “for a long time now” about plans for a shooting.At a vigil Tuesday night at LakePoint Community Church, Leeann Dersa choked back tears as she hugged friends and neighbors. Dersa has lived nearly all of her 73 years in Oxford. Her grandchildren attended the high school.“Scared us all something terrible. It’s awful,” Dersa said of the shooting.Pastor Jesse Holt said news of the shooting flooded in to him and his wife, including texts from some of the 20 to 25 students who are among the 400-member congregation.“Some were very scared, hiding under their desks and texting us, `We’re safe, we’re OK. We heard gunshots, but we’re OK.’ They were trying to calm us, at least that’s how it felt,” he said.

Fourth student dies from Michigan high school shooting

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Dr. Lee Norman, who led Kansas through the coronavirus pandemic until his abrupt departure last month, has said in an interview that he was “Fauci’d” out by COVID-19 politics.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly announced on Nov. 19 that Norman had stepped down as both top administrator at the state Department of Health and Environment and state health officer. He had been the health department’s top administrator since Kelly took office in January 2019. He was replaced quickly by Janet Stanek, a longtime hospital administrator from Topeka.

But in an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-11-30/fired-kansas-health-secretary-says-he-was-faucied-by-covid-politics" target="_blank">Kansas News Service</a>&nbsp;published Tuesday, Norman said he resigned because he was asked to. He cited constant friction between the governor and the Republican-led legislature.

“The shameful treatment in the Trump administration of public health leaders, I think, set the stage for having the same thing happen at the state level,” Norman said, citing frequent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-radio-advisory-donald-trump-coronavirus-pandemic-health-government-and-politics-48194557d9af1a41bae9ef1495e9d37c">criticism from the right of Dr. Anthony Fauci</a>, the government’s top infectious disease expert.

Referring to the constant criticism, Norman said, “To be honest with you, I think I was Fauci’d.”

Kelly, in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-public-health-legislature-kansas-5ac08ed1d87f8c7b350d07c215f92022">announcing Norman’s departure</a>, praised him as “the most consequential” leader in the department’s history. The departure came two weeks after Kelly expressed opposition publicly to vaccine mandates from Democratic President Joe Biden that affect more than 100 million workers.

Norman was perhaps the most visible Kelly adviser early in the coronavirus pandemic, often standing alongside her in a white lab coat. But he was less visible in recent months.

Conflicts with the public and elected leaders at the municipal and county level have resulted in the firings and resignations of many public health leaders across the U.S. Norman said 48 of Kansas’ 105 counties have lost their public health administrator or county health officer.

“The brain drain out of public health puts us in peril going forward,” he said.

Norman reiterated that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and offer the best defense against current and future variants of the virus.

“The longer we have non-immune individuals roaming the Earth, the more variants we are going to see emerge,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599689971178.png" alt="Dr. Lee Norman said he resigned because he was asked to." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Lee Norman said he resigned because he was asked to.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Dr. Lee Norman, who led Kansas through the coronavirus pandemic until his abrupt departure last month, has said in an interview that he was “Fauci’d” out by COVID-19 politics.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly announced on Nov. 19 that Norman had stepped down as both top administrator at the state Department of Health and Environment and state health officer. He had been the health department’s top administrator since Kelly took office in January 2019. He was replaced quickly by Janet Stanek, a longtime hospital administrator from Topeka.But in an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-11-30/fired-kansas-health-secretary-says-he-was-faucied-by-covid-politics" target="_blank">Kansas News Service</a>&nbsp;published Tuesday, Norman said he resigned because he was asked to. He cited constant friction between the governor and the Republican-led legislature.“The shameful treatment in the Trump administration of public health leaders, I think, set the stage for having the same thing happen at the state level,” Norman said, citing frequent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-radio-advisory-donald-trump-coronavirus-pandemic-health-government-and-politics-48194557d9af1a41bae9ef1495e9d37c">criticism from the right of Dr. Anthony Fauci</a>, the government’s top infectious disease expert.Referring to the constant criticism, Norman said, “To be honest with you, I think I was Fauci’d.”Kelly, in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-public-health-legislature-kansas-5ac08ed1d87f8c7b350d07c215f92022">announcing Norman’s departure</a>, praised him as “the most consequential” leader in the department’s history. The departure came two weeks after Kelly expressed opposition publicly to vaccine mandates from Democratic President Joe Biden that affect more than 100 million workers.Norman was perhaps the most visible Kelly adviser early in the coronavirus pandemic, often standing alongside her in a white lab coat. But he was less visible in recent months.Conflicts with the public and elected leaders at the municipal and county level have resulted in the firings and resignations of many public health leaders across the U.S. Norman said 48 of Kansas’ 105 counties have lost their public health administrator or county health officer.“The brain drain out of public health puts us in peril going forward,” he said.Norman reiterated that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and offer the best defense against current and future variants of the virus.“The longer we have non-immune individuals roaming the Earth, the more variants we are going to see emerge,” he said.

Ex-Kansas health chief says he was 'Fauci'd' out of his job

WASHINGTON (AP) — Abortion rights are on the line at the Supreme Court in historic arguments over the landmark ruling nearly 50 years ago that declared a nationwide right to end a pregnancy.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516168-1/dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-organization-oral-argument">Click here to listen</a> to the a replay of arguments that ended at 11a.m. CDT

The justices on Wednesday will weigh whether to uphold a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks and overrule the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

Mississippi also is asking the court to overrule the 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which reaffirmed Roe. The arguments can be heard live on the court’s website, starting at 10 a.m. EST.

The case comes to a court with a 6-3 conservative majority that has been transformed by three appointees of President Donald Trump, who had pledged to appoint justices he said would oppose abortion rights.

The court had never agreed to hear a case over an abortion ban so early in pregnancy until all three Trump appointees — Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — were on board.

A month ago, the justices also heard arguments over a uniquely designed Texas law that has succeeded in getting around the Roe and Casey decisions and banning abortions in the nation’s second-largest state after about six weeks of pregnancy. The dispute over the Texas law revolves around whether the law can be challenged in federal court, rather than the right to an abortion.

Despite its unusually quick consideration of the issue, the court has yet to rule on the Texas law, and the justices have refused to put the law on hold while the matter is under legal review.

The Mississippi case poses questions central to the abortion right. Some of the debate Wednesday is likely to be over whether the court should abandon its long-held rule that states cannot ban abortion before the point of viability, at roughly 24 weeks.

More than 90% of abortions are performed in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, well before viability, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mississippi argues that viability is an arbitrary standard that doesn’t take sufficient account of the state’s interest in regulating abortion. It also contends that scientific advances have allowed some babies who were born earlier than 24 weeks to survive, though it does not argue that the line is anywhere near 15 weeks.

Only about 100 patients per year get abortions after 15 weeks at the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Mississippi’s lone abortion clinic. The facility does not provide abortions after 16 weeks.

But the clinic argues that the court doesn’t normally assess constitutional rights based on how few people are affected, and that the justices shouldn’t do so in this case.

Joined by the Biden administration, the clinic also says that since Roe, the Supreme Court has consistently held that the “Constitution guarantees ‘the right of the woman to choose to have an abortion before viability.’”

Erasing viability as the line between when abortions may and may not be banned would effectively overrule Roe and Casey, even if the justices do not explicitly do that, the clinic says.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638369620989.png" alt="A large crowd of protesters on both sides of the abortion issue outside the Supreme Court Wednesday morning -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>A large crowd of protesters on both sides of the abortion issue outside the Supreme Court Wednesday morning -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Abortion rights are on the line at the Supreme Court in historic arguments over the landmark ruling nearly 50 years ago that declared a nationwide right to end a pregnancy.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516168-1/dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-organization-oral-argument">Click here to listen</a> to the a replay of arguments that ended at 11a.m. CDTThe justices on Wednesday will weigh whether to uphold a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks and overrule the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.Mississippi also is asking the court to overrule the 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which reaffirmed Roe. The arguments can be heard live on the court’s website, starting at 10 a.m. EST.The case comes to a court with a 6-3 conservative majority that has been transformed by three appointees of President Donald Trump, who had pledged to appoint justices he said would oppose abortion rights.The court had never agreed to hear a case over an abortion ban so early in pregnancy until all three Trump appointees — Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — were on board.A month ago, the justices also heard arguments over a uniquely designed Texas law that has succeeded in getting around the Roe and Casey decisions and banning abortions in the nation’s second-largest state after about six weeks of pregnancy. The dispute over the Texas law revolves around whether the law can be challenged in federal court, rather than the right to an abortion.Despite its unusually quick consideration of the issue, the court has yet to rule on the Texas law, and the justices have refused to put the law on hold while the matter is under legal review.The Mississippi case poses questions central to the abortion right. Some of the debate Wednesday is likely to be over whether the court should abandon its long-held rule that states cannot ban abortion before the point of viability, at roughly 24 weeks.More than 90% of abortions are performed in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, well before viability, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Mississippi argues that viability is an arbitrary standard that doesn’t take sufficient account of the state’s interest in regulating abortion. It also contends that scientific advances have allowed some babies who were born earlier than 24 weeks to survive, though it does not argue that the line is anywhere near 15 weeks.Only about 100 patients per year get abortions after 15 weeks at the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Mississippi’s lone abortion clinic. The facility does not provide abortions after 16 weeks.But the clinic argues that the court doesn’t normally assess constitutional rights based on how few people are affected, and that the justices shouldn’t do so in this case.Joined by the Biden administration, the clinic also says that since Roe, the Supreme Court has consistently held that the “Constitution guarantees ‘the right of the woman to choose to have an abortion before viability.’”Erasing viability as the line between when abortions may and may not be banned would effectively overrule Roe and Casey, even if the justices do not explicitly do that, the clinic says.

🎤 Abortion rights at stake in historic Supreme Court showdown

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a reported fatal accidental shooting identified 13-year-old Waylon Treat of Wichita as the victim, according to officer Trevor Macy.

The boy's cousin established a fundraiser to assist the family.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/5sgpy-help-with-funeral-costs?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=copy_link_all&amp;utm_source=customer">CLICK here to view&nbsp;</a>the GoFundMe page.

Just after 6:00 p.m., Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting at a home in the 4300 block of S.Bernita in Wichita, according to Macy.

At the home, first responders located the boy with a single gunshot wound to the head. EMS transported him to an area hospital in critical condition and he was later pronounced deceased.

Investigators learned that a 16-year-old brother had brought a handgun home, and both he and the 13-year-old were handling the firearm inside the home.&nbsp; At some point in the handling of the firearm, the gun went off – striking Waylon and causing the fatal injury.

Adults were home at the time of the shooting but were unaware of the gun, according to Macy. This tragic incident was reported to be an accident, but police are still investigating the circumstances, according to Macy. Once the investigation has concluded, it will be presented to the District Attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638358756955.png" alt="photo courtesy GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a reported fatal accidental shooting identified 13-year-old Waylon Treat of Wichita as the victim, according to officer Trevor Macy.The boy's cousin established a fundraiser to assist the family.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/5sgpy-help-with-funeral-costs?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=copy_link_all&amp;utm_source=customer">CLICK here to view&nbsp;</a>the GoFundMe page.Just after 6:00 p.m., Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting at a home in the 4300 block of S.Bernita in Wichita, according to Macy.At the home, first responders located the boy with a single gunshot wound to the head. EMS transported him to an area hospital in critical condition and he was later pronounced deceased.Investigators learned that a 16-year-old brother had brought a handgun home, and both he and the 13-year-old were handling the firearm inside the home.&nbsp; At some point in the handling of the firearm, the gun went off – striking Waylon and causing the fatal injury.Adults were home at the time of the shooting but were unaware of the gun, according to Macy. This tragic incident was reported to be an accident, but police are still investigating the circumstances, according to Macy. Once the investigation has concluded, it will be presented to the District Attorney's office.

Friends assist Kansas family after boy dies in accidental shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has decided that National Guard members who refuse COVID-19 vaccination will be barred from federally funded drills and training required to maintain their Guard status.

Austin spelled out the policy in an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press. In the memo, he instructed leaders of the military services Tuesday to publish guidance by next week on dealing with Guard members who fail to meet military medical readiness requirements by refusing the vaccine.

“Vaccination is essential to the health and readiness of the force,” he wrote.

All members of the military are required to be vaccinated unless they obtain an official waiver for medical or other reasons.

The military services have set varying deadlines that apply to active and reserve forces. Members of the Air Guard must be vaccinated by December; Army Guard members have until June. Austin's policy will affect Guard members only when the vaccination deadline set by their service has been reached.

Under federal law, members of the National Guard must assemble for drills and participate in training a specific number of days per year.

Austin said those Guard members who are not allowed to participate in drills due to their refusal to be vaccinated will not be paid by the Defense Department. And they will not receive credit that would count toward retirement and other federal benefits. Austin told the service leaders to implement that policy in coordination with the chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Pentagon's top personnel officer.

When Guard troops are on state active duty, such as responding to local emergencies like flooding, they report to their governor and are paid by their state. But during monthly or annual training or when they are responding to larger emergencies in the state, they are controlled by the governor but funded by the federal government. This is known as Title 32 status, which is distinct from situations in which Guard members may be called to active duty for federal service, known as Title 10 status.

In spelling out the consequences of refusing the vaccine, Austin applied to the entire National Guard the same policy he established in response to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's request that his Guard members be exempt from the vaccine mandate. Stitt has argued that as governor he has the authority to allow members of the Oklahoma Guard to avoid the vaccine while they are under state control.

In a Nov. 2 letter to Austin, Stitt wrote that the mandate “violates the personal freedoms of many Oklahomans, as it asks them to potentially sacrifice their personal beliefs in order to not lose their jobs.”

In his response Monday, Austin denied Stitt's request and said the governor's concerns “do not negate the need" to be vaccinated. Oklahoma so far is the only state to assert that it can sidestep Austin's mandate.

The Pentagon considers the COVID-19 vaccines critical to maintaining a ready force — active and reserve — that can deploy when needed to protect the nation, and National Guard members are part of that force.

According to figures provided by the National Guard Bureau, 70% of Guard members had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine as of Nov. 22 and 62.6% had been fully vaccinated. Those numbers may undercount vaccinations since some Guard members may have been vaccinated outside of the military system, with their records not yet fully updated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638310118543.png" alt="Defense Secretary Austin said those Guard members who are not allowed to participate in drills due to their refusal to be vaccinated will not be paid by the Defense Department.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Defense Secretary Austin said those Guard members who are not allowed to participate in drills due to their refusal to be vaccinated will not be paid by the Defense Department.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has decided that National Guard members who refuse COVID-19 vaccination will be barred from federally funded drills and training required to maintain their Guard status.Austin spelled out the policy in an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press. In the memo, he instructed leaders of the military services Tuesday to publish guidance by next week on dealing with Guard members who fail to meet military medical readiness requirements by refusing the vaccine.“Vaccination is essential to the health and readiness of the force,” he wrote.All members of the military are required to be vaccinated unless they obtain an official waiver for medical or other reasons.The military services have set varying deadlines that apply to active and reserve forces. Members of the Air Guard must be vaccinated by December; Army Guard members have until June. Austin's policy will affect Guard members only when the vaccination deadline set by their service has been reached.Under federal law, members of the National Guard must assemble for drills and participate in training a specific number of days per year.Austin said those Guard members who are not allowed to participate in drills due to their refusal to be vaccinated will not be paid by the Defense Department. And they will not receive credit that would count toward retirement and other federal benefits. Austin told the service leaders to implement that policy in coordination with the chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Pentagon's top personnel officer.When Guard troops are on state active duty, such as responding to local emergencies like flooding, they report to their governor and are paid by their state. But during monthly or annual training or when they are responding to larger emergencies in the state, they are controlled by the governor but funded by the federal government. This is known as Title 32 status, which is distinct from situations in which Guard members may be called to active duty for federal service, known as Title 10 status.In spelling out the consequences of refusing the vaccine, Austin applied to the entire National Guard the same policy he established in response to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's request that his Guard members be exempt from the vaccine mandate. Stitt has argued that as governor he has the authority to allow members of the Oklahoma Guard to avoid the vaccine while they are under state control.In a Nov. 2 letter to Austin, Stitt wrote that the mandate “violates the personal freedoms of many Oklahomans, as it asks them to potentially sacrifice their personal beliefs in order to not lose their jobs.”In his response Monday, Austin denied Stitt's request and said the governor's concerns “do not negate the need" to be vaccinated. Oklahoma so far is the only state to assert that it can sidestep Austin's mandate.The Pentagon considers the COVID-19 vaccines critical to maintaining a ready force — active and reserve — that can deploy when needed to protect the nation, and National Guard members are part of that force.According to figures provided by the National Guard Bureau, 70% of Guard members had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine as of Nov. 22 and 62.6% had been fully vaccinated. Those numbers may undercount vaccinations since some Guard members may have been vaccinated outside of the military system, with their records not yet fully updated.

Pentagon chief: Guard who refuse vaccine won't get paid

WASHINGTON
 — As part of a wider effort to increase security, the Internal Revenue 
Service today reminded taxpayers they can get extra protection starting 
in January by joining the agency's Identity Protection Personal 
Identification Number (IP PIN) program.

Anyone who can verify their identity can protect themselves against 
tax-related identity theft by opting into the IP PIN program. More than 
5.1 million taxpayers are now participating in the IP PIN program, 
enabling them to proactively protect themselves against identity theft. 
The IRS has made recent changes to the program to make it easier for 
more taxpayers to join. The fastest and easiest way to receive an IP Pin
 is by using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin">Get an IP PIN</a> tool.

Today's reminder marks the third day of National Tax Security 
Awareness Week, which runs through December 3. This annual observance is
 sponsored by the Security Summit, a partnership that includes state tax
 agencies, the nation's tax industry and the IRS.

The Security Summit was established in 2015 to protect taxpayers and 
the nation's tax system against tax-related identity theft. This unique 
collaboration between the public and private sectors has increased 
mutual defenses against criminals trying to file fraudulent tax returns 
and steal refunds.

One of the key features of the IRS system involves an IP PIN, which 
is a six-digit number assigned to eligible taxpayers to help prevent the
 misuse of their Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer 
Identification Number on fraudulent federal income tax returns.

An IP PIN is known only to the taxpayer and the IRS. Originally 
designed for confirmed victims of tax-related identity theft, the IP PIN
 program was expanded in 2021 to include any taxpayer, nationwide, who 
wants the additional protection and security of using an IP PIN to file 
tax returns with the IRS.

"When people have this special code, it prevents someone else from 
filing a tax return in their name," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. 
"The fastest way to get an Identity Protection PIN is to use our online 
tool, but keep in mind people must pass a rigorous authentication 
process. We must know that the person asking for the IP PIN is who they 
really say they are."

An IP PIN helps the IRS verify a taxpayer's identity and accept their
 federal income tax returns, regardless of whether they are filing 
electronically or on paper. The online Get an IP PIN tool at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin">IRS.gov/ippin</a>
 immediately displays the taxpayer's IP PIN. In each subsequent year, 
any participating taxpayer will then use the tool to obtain a new 
number.

The IRS urges any IP PIN applicant previously rejected during the 
identity authentication process to try applying again in 2022. The 
authentication process has been refined and improved, now enabling many 
taxpayers screened out in the past to have a better chance of passing 
the authentication process.

Before applying, keep in mind these key points about the IP PIN program:

Options for people who can't pass the online authentication process

Two options are available for people who cannot pass the IRS online 
identity authentication process. One involves filing Form 15227 and the 
other requires a visit to an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC)</a>. Unlike the online option, both of these options involve, for security reasons, a delay in receiving an IP PIN.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f15227.pdf">Form 15227</a>&nbsp;PDF:
 For processing year 2022, individuals with an adjusted gross income of 
$73,000 or less and those married filing jointly with an AGI of $146,000
 or less with access to a telephone can complete Form 15227&nbsp;and either 
mail or fax it to the IRS. An IRS representative will then call them to 
verify their identity with a series of questions. Taxpayers choosing 
this option who pass the identity authentication process will generally 
receive their IP PIN in about a month.

IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers: Any taxpayer who is
 ineligible to file a Form 15227 may make an appointment to visit an IRS
 Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC). Anyone using this option must bring 
two forms of picture identification. Because this is an in-person 
identity verification, an IP PIN will be mailed to the taxpayer after 
their visit. Normally, allow three weeks for delivery. To find the 
nearest TAC, use the <a href="https://apps.irs.gov/app/officeLocator/index.jsp">IRS Local Office Locator</a> online tool or call <a href="tel:844-545-5640">844-545-5640</a>.

The IRS, state tax agencies, the private sector tax industry, 
including tax professionals, work in partnership as the Security Summit 
to help protect taxpayers from identity theft and refund fraud. This is 
the third in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/national-tax-security-awareness-week-2021">a week-long series of tips</a> to raise awareness about identity theft.

See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">IRS.gov/securitysummit</a> for more details. Also, check out the most recent A Closer Look column on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/national-tax-security-awareness-week-tips-to-help-protect-taxpayers">National Tax Security Awareness Week</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — As part of a wider effort to increase security, the Internal Revenue 
Service today reminded taxpayers they can get extra protection starting 
in January by joining the agency's Identity Protection Personal 
Identification Number (IP PIN) program.Anyone who can verify their identity can protect themselves against 
tax-related identity theft by opting into the IP PIN program. More than 
5.1 million taxpayers are now participating in the IP PIN program, 
enabling them to proactively protect themselves against identity theft. 
The IRS has made recent changes to the program to make it easier for 
more taxpayers to join. The fastest and easiest way to receive an IP Pin
 is by using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin">Get an IP PIN</a> tool.Today's reminder marks the third day of National Tax Security 
Awareness Week, which runs through December 3. This annual observance is
 sponsored by the Security Summit, a partnership that includes state tax
 agencies, the nation's tax industry and the IRS.The Security Summit was established in 2015 to protect taxpayers and 
the nation's tax system against tax-related identity theft. This unique 
collaboration between the public and private sectors has increased 
mutual defenses against criminals trying to file fraudulent tax returns 
and steal refunds.One of the key features of the IRS system involves an IP PIN, which 
is a six-digit number assigned to eligible taxpayers to help prevent the
 misuse of their Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer 
Identification Number on fraudulent federal income tax returns.An IP PIN is known only to the taxpayer and the IRS. Originally 
designed for confirmed victims of tax-related identity theft, the IP PIN
 program was expanded in 2021 to include any taxpayer, nationwide, who 
wants the additional protection and security of using an IP PIN to file 
tax returns with the IRS."When people have this special code, it prevents someone else from 
filing a tax return in their name," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. 
"The fastest way to get an Identity Protection PIN is to use our online 
tool, but keep in mind people must pass a rigorous authentication 
process. We must know that the person asking for the IP PIN is who they 
really say they are."An IP PIN helps the IRS verify a taxpayer's identity and accept their
 federal income tax returns, regardless of whether they are filing 
electronically or on paper. The online Get an IP PIN tool at <a href="https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin">IRS.gov/ippin</a>
 immediately displays the taxpayer's IP PIN. In each subsequent year, 
any participating taxpayer will then use the tool to obtain a new 
number.The IRS urges any IP PIN applicant previously rejected during the 
identity authentication process to try applying again in 2022. The 
authentication process has been refined and improved, now enabling many 
taxpayers screened out in the past to have a better chance of passing 
the authentication process.Before applying, keep in mind these key points about the IP PIN program:<ul>
 <li>For 2022, the Get an IP PIN tool is scheduled to launch on 
January 10. It's the fastest and easiest way to get an IP PIN. It is 
also the only option that immediately reveals the IP PIN to the 
taxpayer. For that reason, the IRS urges everyone to try the Get an IP 
PIN tool first, before pursuing other options.</li><li>No identity theft affidavit is required for taxpayers opting in. 
This means that anyone who voluntarily applies for an IP PIN doesn't 
need to file <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/when-to-file-a-form-14039-identity-theft-affidavit">Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit</a>, with the IRS.</li><li>The IP PIN is valid for one year. This means that each January any participating taxpayer must obtain a newly generated IP PIN.</li><li>Be sure to enter the IP PIN on any return, whether it is filed 
electronically or on paper. This includes any amended returns or returns
 for prior years. Doing so will help avoid processing delays or having 
the return rejected by the IRS.</li><li>Anyone with either a Social Security number (SSN) or Individual 
Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) who can verify their identity is 
eligible for the IP PIN opt-in program.</li><li>Any eligible family member can get an IP PIN. This includes the 
primary taxpayer (the person listed first on a tax return), the 
secondary taxpayer (on a joint return, the person listed second on the 
return) or any of their dependents.</li><li>With one key exception, never reveal an IP PIN to anyone. The only 
exception is a taxpayer who uses a trusted tax professional to file 
their return. Even then, only share the IP PIN with the trusted tax pro 
when it is time to sign and submit the return. The IRS will never ask 
for an IP PIN. Remember to watch out: Phone calls, emails and texts 
requesting an IP PIN are scams. &nbsp;</li><li>Identity theft victims should still fill out an ID theft affidavit.
 This means that any confirmed victim of tax-related identity theft 
still needs to file Form 14039 with the IRS if their e-filed tax return 
was rejected by the agency due to a duplicate SSN filing. The IRS will 
then investigate their case. Once the fraudulent tax return is removed 
from their account, the IRS will automatically mail an IP PIN to the 
confirmed victim at the start of the next calendar year. Because of 
security risks, confirmed identity theft victims cannot opt out of the 
IP PIN program.</li>
 </ul><h2>Options for people who can't pass the online authentication process</h2>Two options are available for people who cannot pass the IRS online 
identity authentication process. One involves filing Form 15227 and the 
other requires a visit to an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC)</a>. Unlike the online option, both of these options involve, for security reasons, a delay in receiving an IP PIN.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f15227.pdf">Form 15227</a>&nbsp;PDF:
 For processing year 2022, individuals with an adjusted gross income of 
$73,000 or less and those married filing jointly with an AGI of $146,000
 or less with access to a telephone can complete Form 15227&nbsp;and either 
mail or fax it to the IRS. An IRS representative will then call them to 
verify their identity with a series of questions. Taxpayers choosing 
this option who pass the identity authentication process will generally 
receive their IP PIN in about a month.IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers: Any taxpayer who is
 ineligible to file a Form 15227 may make an appointment to visit an IRS
 Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC). Anyone using this option must bring 
two forms of picture identification. Because this is an in-person 
identity verification, an IP PIN will be mailed to the taxpayer after 
their visit. Normally, allow three weeks for delivery. To find the 
nearest TAC, use the <a href="https://apps.irs.gov/app/officeLocator/index.jsp">IRS Local Office Locator</a> online tool or call <a href="tel:844-545-5640">844-545-5640</a>.The IRS, state tax agencies, the private sector tax industry, 
including tax professionals, work in partnership as the Security Summit 
to help protect taxpayers from identity theft and refund fraud. This is 
the third in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/national-tax-security-awareness-week-2021">a week-long series of tips</a> to raise awareness about identity theft.See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/security-summit">IRS.gov/securitysummit</a> for more details. Also, check out the most recent A Closer Look column on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/national-tax-security-awareness-week-tips-to-help-protect-taxpayers">National Tax Security Awareness Week</a>.

'Identity protection' PIN adds extra layer of protection during tax time

OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on drug charges after an arrest.

Just before 5p.m. Monday, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop at 6th and Cedar in Lyndon for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Chris Wells.

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

The driver of the vehicle, Dalton D. Pabst, 28, of Pomona, Kansas was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of driving without a valid license and possession of methamphetamine. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638322300623.png" alt="Pabst photo Osage County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Pabst photo Osage County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on drug charges after an arrest.Just before 5p.m. Monday, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop at 6th and Cedar in Lyndon for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Chris Wells.During the stop, a K9 was deployed, and deputy located illegal narcotics.The driver of the vehicle, Dalton D. Pabst, 28, of Pomona, Kansas was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of driving without a valid license and possession of methamphetamine.

K9 helps Kansas deputy during traffic stop, drug bust

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell took a sharp and unexpected turn Tuesday toward tightening credit for consumers and businesses in the face of mounting concerns about high inflation.

Powell signaled that the Fed will likely act more quickly to phase out its ultra-low-interest rate policies even as the emergence of the new omicron variant of COVID-19 has raised fresh doubts about the future of the economy and the direction of inflation.

The Fed chair told the Senate Banking Committee that the central bank’s policymakers will discuss at their next meeting in mid-December whether to accelerate the reduction of their monthly bond purchases, which have been intended to lower long-term borrowing costs. The Fed just announced those reductions in early November at a pace that would end the bond buying in June. But on Tuesday, Powell signaled that the Fed is inclined to end those purchases several months before then.

Doing so would put the Fed on a path to begin raising its key short-term interest rate as early as the first half of next year. That rate has been pegged at nearly zero since last March, when the coronavirus sent the economy into a deep recession. A higher Fed rate would, in turn, raise borrowing costs for mortgages, credit cards and some business loans.

Stock prices tumbled after Powell’s comments, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 650 points, or nearly 2%, for the day. Very low interest rates, nurtured by the Fed, have been a key factor in driving share prices to all-time highs since the pandemic struck.

“He was decidedly more hawkish in tone than I expected and, I think, than the financial markets expected,” said Kathy Bostjancic, chief U.S. financial economist at Oxford Economics. (Hawks generally favor higher borrowing costs to quell inflation, while doves typically emphasize lower rates to fuel hiring.)

Fed policymakers have come under pressure from a sharp jump in inflation, with consumer prices having soared 6.2% in October from a year earlier, the highest such inflation rate in 31 years. In response, some Fed officials in recent weeks had already started to push for a faster tapering of the central bank’s bond purchases.

Yet the sudden emergence of the omicron variant had led some Fed-watchers to speculate that the central bank would avoid any major policy shifts until a clearer picture of the variant and its likely impact on the economy emerged. But Powell’s remarks Tuesday — and the questions he faced from senators — were far more focused on inflation than on the likelihood that omicron, about which little is known, could seriously weaken the economy.

“The economy is very strong, and inflationary pressures are high,” Powell said. “It is therefore appropriate, in my view, to consider wrapping up the taper of our asset purchases … perhaps a few months sooner.”

“This is a very abrupt pivot from the Fed,” said Krishna Guha, an analyst at the investment bank Evercore ISI. “The eight-month taper plan was only announced four weeks ago.”

Under fire from some Senate Republicans about worsening inflation, Powell suggested that price increases will likely slow next year as supply bottlenecks ease. But he also acknowledged that price increases have been spreading to broader categories of products and services, and as a result “the risk of higher inflation has increased.”

For months, Powell and other Fed officials had described inflation as “transitory,” which did not necessarily mean they thought it would disappear soon but that it wouldn’t keep spiraling higher. That outlook has so far proved too optimistic, and Powell said it is “probably a good time to retire that word and try to explain more clearly what we mean.”

The Fed chair said he thought the central bank’s policymakers will know more about the potential economic impact of the omicron variant in time for their next meeting in mid-December.

Regardless of the eventual consequences, the omicron variant seems sure to make Powell’s job more complicated next year. If omicron leads to another wave of factory and port shutdowns in the United States and overseas, supply chain bottlenecks could worsen and raise prices even more.

At the same time, omicron could renew fears among many workers about becoming infected on the job, leading to more resignations when quits are already at a record high or discouraging some of those out of work from taking a new job. That could weaken the job market and the economy. Under such a scenario, the Fed’s dual mandates of stable prices and maximum employment could come into conflict.

In a significant shift, Powell appeared to make inflation-fighting a more urgent priority than job growth by noting that higher prices themselves threaten the economic recovery. And a long period of growth, he said, is needed to regain the “great labor market” that existed before the pandemic.

“We’re going to need a long expansion,” the Fed chair said. “To get that, we’re going to need price stability, and in a sense, the risk of persistent high inflation is also a major risk to getting back to such a labor market.”

Rising inflation has put the Fed in a delicate spot, because the economy remains about 4 million jobs short of pre-pandemic levels, and many Democrats in Congress will want to see rates stay near zero until most of those jobs have been recovered.

“The Fed cannot pump the brakes on our economic recovery too soon, before workers get a chance to fully rebound,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Ohio Democrat who chairs the Banking Committee. “And I mean all workers,” he added, noting that the Black unemployment rate remains twice that of white Americans.

By contrast, Sen. Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania, the senior Republican on the committee, suggested that the economy largely recovered roughly a year ago. As a result, emergency measures, such as the Fed’s bond purchases, haven’t been needed since then, he said.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who also testified before the Senate Banking panel Tuesday, urged Congress to raise the nation’s borrowing limit. Yellen has previously warned that without an increase in the debt ceiling, the government could default on its debt obligations for the first time soon after Dec. 15.

“I cannot overstate how critical it is that Congress address this issue,” she said. “America must pay its bills on time and in full. If we do not, we will eviscerate our current recovery.”

Congress, which is expected to address the borrowing limit, also faces a Friday deadline to provide enough funding to keep the federal government open.

Yellen also said that for now, the economic recovery “remains strong,” but she urged that Americans get vaccinated or receive booster shots to guard against the omicron variant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586436935167.png" alt="Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell took a sharp and unexpected turn Tuesday toward tightening credit for consumers and businesses in the face of mounting concerns about high inflation.Powell signaled that the Fed will likely act more quickly to phase out its ultra-low-interest rate policies even as the emergence of the new omicron variant of COVID-19 has raised fresh doubts about the future of the economy and the direction of inflation.The Fed chair told the Senate Banking Committee that the central bank’s policymakers will discuss at their next meeting in mid-December whether to accelerate the reduction of their monthly bond purchases, which have been intended to lower long-term borrowing costs. The Fed just announced those reductions in early November at a pace that would end the bond buying in June. But on Tuesday, Powell signaled that the Fed is inclined to end those purchases several months before then.Doing so would put the Fed on a path to begin raising its key short-term interest rate as early as the first half of next year. That rate has been pegged at nearly zero since last March, when the coronavirus sent the economy into a deep recession. A higher Fed rate would, in turn, raise borrowing costs for mortgages, credit cards and some business loans.Stock prices tumbled after Powell’s comments, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 650 points, or nearly 2%, for the day. Very low interest rates, nurtured by the Fed, have been a key factor in driving share prices to all-time highs since the pandemic struck.“He was decidedly more hawkish in tone than I expected and, I think, than the financial markets expected,” said Kathy Bostjancic, chief U.S. financial economist at Oxford Economics. (Hawks generally favor higher borrowing costs to quell inflation, while doves typically emphasize lower rates to fuel hiring.)Fed policymakers have come under pressure from a sharp jump in inflation, with consumer prices having soared 6.2% in October from a year earlier, the highest such inflation rate in 31 years. In response, some Fed officials in recent weeks had already started to push for a faster tapering of the central bank’s bond purchases.Yet the sudden emergence of the omicron variant had led some Fed-watchers to speculate that the central bank would avoid any major policy shifts until a clearer picture of the variant and its likely impact on the economy emerged. But Powell’s remarks Tuesday — and the questions he faced from senators — were far more focused on inflation than on the likelihood that omicron, about which little is known, could seriously weaken the economy.“The economy is very strong, and inflationary pressures are high,” Powell said. “It is therefore appropriate, in my view, to consider wrapping up the taper of our asset purchases … perhaps a few months sooner.”“This is a very abrupt pivot from the Fed,” said Krishna Guha, an analyst at the investment bank Evercore ISI. “The eight-month taper plan was only announced four weeks ago.”Under fire from some Senate Republicans about worsening inflation, Powell suggested that price increases will likely slow next year as supply bottlenecks ease. But he also acknowledged that price increases have been spreading to broader categories of products and services, and as a result “the risk of higher inflation has increased.”For months, Powell and other Fed officials had described inflation as “transitory,” which did not necessarily mean they thought it would disappear soon but that it wouldn’t keep spiraling higher. That outlook has so far proved too optimistic, and Powell said it is “probably a good time to retire that word and try to explain more clearly what we mean.”The Fed chair said he thought the central bank’s policymakers will know more about the potential economic impact of the omicron variant in time for their next meeting in mid-December.Regardless of the eventual consequences, the omicron variant seems sure to make Powell’s job more complicated next year. If omicron leads to another wave of factory and port shutdowns in the United States and overseas, supply chain bottlenecks could worsen and raise prices even more.At the same time, omicron could renew fears among many workers about becoming infected on the job, leading to more resignations when quits are already at a record high or discouraging some of those out of work from taking a new job. That could weaken the job market and the economy. Under such a scenario, the Fed’s dual mandates of stable prices and maximum employment could come into conflict.In a significant shift, Powell appeared to make inflation-fighting a more urgent priority than job growth by noting that higher prices themselves threaten the economic recovery. And a long period of growth, he said, is needed to regain the “great labor market” that existed before the pandemic.“We’re going to need a long expansion,” the Fed chair said. “To get that, we’re going to need price stability, and in a sense, the risk of persistent high inflation is also a major risk to getting back to such a labor market.”Rising inflation has put the Fed in a delicate spot, because the economy remains about 4 million jobs short of pre-pandemic levels, and many Democrats in Congress will want to see rates stay near zero until most of those jobs have been recovered.“The Fed cannot pump the brakes on our economic recovery too soon, before workers get a chance to fully rebound,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Ohio Democrat who chairs the Banking Committee. “And I mean all workers,” he added, noting that the Black unemployment rate remains twice that of white Americans.By contrast, Sen. Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania, the senior Republican on the committee, suggested that the economy largely recovered roughly a year ago. As a result, emergency measures, such as the Fed’s bond purchases, haven’t been needed since then, he said.Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who also testified before the Senate Banking panel Tuesday, urged Congress to raise the nation’s borrowing limit. Yellen has previously warned that without an increase in the debt ceiling, the government could default on its debt obligations for the first time soon after Dec. 15.“I cannot overstate how critical it is that Congress address this issue,” she said. “America must pay its bills on time and in full. If we do not, we will eviscerate our current recovery.”Congress, which is expected to address the borrowing limit, also faces a Friday deadline to provide enough funding to keep the federal government open.Yellen also said that for now, the economic recovery “remains strong,” but she urged that Americans get vaccinated or receive booster shots to guard against the omicron variant.

Federal Reserve warning: Tighter credit for consumers, businesses

KANSAS CITY– Mark Hunter appeared before United States District Court Judge Stephen R. Clark Tuesday and was sentenced to six months&nbsp;in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.&nbsp; Hunter previously pleaded guilty for knowingly possessing or receiving one or more firearms that he knew to be stolen, according to the United State's Attorney.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, on September 25, 2020, the Manchester Police Department seized a pistol that had been reported stolen.&nbsp; A passenger of Southwest Airlines, who was traveling through St. Louis Lambert Airport previously reported that the firearm was stolen out of his luggage.

Subsequently, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Transportation Security Administration (TSA) initiated an investigation and identified seven reported thefts of firearms from luggage checked on Southwest Airlines flights that had traveled through Lambert Airport between March 28, 2020 to August 22, 2020.

During the investigation, which included reviews of scheduling records of Southwest Airline baggage employees and the dates of the thefts of the firearms, Hunter, a baggage employee for Southwest Airlines, became the target of the investigation.&nbsp; 

Records indicated that Hunter of St. Louis was working and had access to baggage from which other guns had been reported stolen.&nbsp; Hunter was approached by agents and admitted to the theft of five firearms from checked luggage he handled in his capacity as a Southwest Airlines baggage handler at St. Louis Lambert Airport.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638322980553.png" alt="Mark Hunter was approached by agents and admitted to the theft of five firearms from checked luggage he handled in his capacity as a Southwest Airlines baggage handler-photo courtesy St. Louis Lambert Airport.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Mark Hunter was approached by agents and admitted to the theft of five firearms from checked luggage he handled in his capacity as a Southwest Airlines baggage handler-photo courtesy St. Louis Lambert Airport.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– Mark Hunter appeared before United States District Court Judge Stephen R. Clark Tuesday and was sentenced to six months&nbsp;in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.&nbsp; Hunter previously pleaded guilty for knowingly possessing or receiving one or more firearms that he knew to be stolen, according to the United State's Attorney.Pursuant to the plea agreement, on September 25, 2020, the Manchester Police Department seized a pistol that had been reported stolen.&nbsp; A passenger of Southwest Airlines, who was traveling through St. Louis Lambert Airport previously reported that the firearm was stolen out of his luggage.Subsequently, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Transportation Security Administration (TSA) initiated an investigation and identified seven reported thefts of firearms from luggage checked on Southwest Airlines flights that had traveled through Lambert Airport between March 28, 2020 to August 22, 2020.During the investigation, which included reviews of scheduling records of Southwest Airline baggage employees and the dates of the thefts of the firearms, Hunter, a baggage employee for Southwest Airlines, became the target of the investigation.&nbsp; Records indicated that Hunter of St. Louis was working and had access to baggage from which other guns had been reported stolen.&nbsp; Hunter was approached by agents and admitted to the theft of five firearms from checked luggage he handled in his capacity as a Southwest Airlines baggage handler at St. Louis Lambert Airport.&nbsp;

Airline baggage handler sentenced for stealing guns from bags

WASHINGTON (AP) — Leading up to Wednesday's major abortion case at the Supreme Court, the justices have heard from thousands of people and organizations urging the court to either save or scrap two historic abortion decisions.

But on Wednesday they'll hear from just three lawyers: one representing the state of Mississippi, another representing Mississippi's only abortion clinic and the last representing the Biden administration. For each, it’s a chance to be part of what is likely to be a historic case.

The three are scheduled to appear before the justices for just over an hour's worth of arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, though the arguments will likely go longer. Mississippi is asking the justices to overturn two seminal decisions, Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, decisions that say women have a constitutional right to abortion before a fetus is viable.

Lawyers who argued those historic cases became famous in their own ways. Sarah Weddington was just 26 when in 1971 she argued Roe v. Wade on behalf of Norma Jean McCorvey, who was known by the pseudonym Jane Roe. Weddington went on to a career in government and academia.

Opposing her was Texas attorney Jay Floyd, who became infamous for opening his argument with a failed attempt at humor. “It’s an old joke, but when a man argues against two beautiful ladies like this, they're going to have the last word," he said. When the high court ordered the case re-argued, Floyd was replaced.

Two decades later, when the court heard arguments in the Casey case, Pennsylvania Attorney General Ernest D. Preate Jr. argued in support of his state's abortion law. He later spent time in prison for secretly taking campaign contributions from the operators of illegal gambling machines. The lawyer arguing on behalf of President George H.W. Bush's administration and in support of Pennsylvania, meanwhile, was Ken Starr. It was two years before he was tapped to lead the investigation that led to President Bill Clinton’s impeachment. The third attorney who argued in the case, Kathryn Kolbert, co-founded the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is involved in Wednesday's case.

Here are some things to know about the advocates arguing this week:

Scott G. Stewart will defend a Mississippi law that would ban abortions after 15 weeks. Lower courts declared the law unconstitutional.

Though the case marks the first Supreme Court appearance for Stewart, 39, he will be familiar to some of the justices. A graduate of Princeton and Stanford's law school, he was a law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas in 2016 when the court dealt abortion opponents a loss, striking down Texas’ widely replicated rules that required doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and forced clinics to meet hospital-like standards for outpatient surgery.

Thomas dissented from that decision, and Stewart's argument that the justices should overturn Roe and Casey is a position that Thomas himself has taken.

Before becoming Mississippi's solicitor general, Stewart worked for the Department of Justice during the Trump administration. In that role, he defended administration policies including making asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court and preventing a pregnant teen who entered the country illegally from obtaining an abortion while in federal custody.

Arguing against the state of Mississippi is Julie Rikelman of the Center for Reproductive Rights who represents the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Mississippi's lone abortion clinic. The clinic sued after the state passed its ban on abortions after 15 weeks.

Because of other restrictions the state has put on abortions, the clinic only performs abortions up to 16 weeks. It says about 100 of the abortions it performs every year occur after 15 weeks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1563272580805.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Leading up to Wednesday's major abortion case at the Supreme Court, the justices have heard from thousands of people and organizations urging the court to either save or scrap two historic abortion decisions.But on Wednesday they'll hear from just three lawyers: one representing the state of Mississippi, another representing Mississippi's only abortion clinic and the last representing the Biden administration. For each, it’s a chance to be part of what is likely to be a historic case.The three are scheduled to appear before the justices for just over an hour's worth of arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, though the arguments will likely go longer. Mississippi is asking the justices to overturn two seminal decisions, Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, decisions that say women have a constitutional right to abortion before a fetus is viable.Lawyers who argued those historic cases became famous in their own ways. Sarah Weddington was just 26 when in 1971 she argued Roe v. Wade on behalf of Norma Jean McCorvey, who was known by the pseudonym Jane Roe. Weddington went on to a career in government and academia.Opposing her was Texas attorney Jay Floyd, who became infamous for opening his argument with a failed attempt at humor. “It’s an old joke, but when a man argues against two beautiful ladies like this, they're going to have the last word," he said. When the high court ordered the case re-argued, Floyd was replaced.Two decades later, when the court heard arguments in the Casey case, Pennsylvania Attorney General Ernest D. Preate Jr. argued in support of his state's abortion law. He later spent time in prison for secretly taking campaign contributions from the operators of illegal gambling machines. The lawyer arguing on behalf of President George H.W. Bush's administration and in support of Pennsylvania, meanwhile, was Ken Starr. It was two years before he was tapped to lead the investigation that led to President Bill Clinton’s impeachment. The third attorney who argued in the case, Kathryn Kolbert, co-founded the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is involved in Wednesday's case.Here are some things to know about the advocates arguing this week:SCOTT G. STEWARTScott G. Stewart will defend a Mississippi law that would ban abortions after 15 weeks. Lower courts declared the law unconstitutional.Though the case marks the first Supreme Court appearance for Stewart, 39, he will be familiar to some of the justices. A graduate of Princeton and Stanford's law school, he was a law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas in 2016 when the court dealt abortion opponents a loss, striking down Texas’ widely replicated rules that required doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and forced clinics to meet hospital-like standards for outpatient surgery.Thomas dissented from that decision, and Stewart's argument that the justices should overturn Roe and Casey is a position that Thomas himself has taken.Before becoming Mississippi's solicitor general, Stewart worked for the Department of Justice during the Trump administration. In that role, he defended administration policies including making asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court and preventing a pregnant teen who entered the country illegally from obtaining an abortion while in federal custody.JULIE RIKELMANArguing against the state of Mississippi is Julie Rikelman of the Center for Reproductive Rights who represents the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Mississippi's lone abortion clinic. The clinic sued after the state passed its ban on abortions after 15 weeks.Because of other restrictions the state has put on abortions, the clinic only performs abortions up to 16 weeks. It says about 100 of the abortions it performs every year occur after 15 weeks.Rikelman, 49, will be arguing before the court for the second time. Last year, before the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her replacement by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the Harvard law graduate argued and won another abortion case. In that case, the center represented a clinic and doctors asking the court to strike down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics. Rikelman has said she made the argument on very little sleep, not because she was nervous but because her hotel's fire alarm was blaring much of the night.Rikelman immigrated to the United States when she was six. Her family is Jewish and fled Ukraine and to escape discrimination. Rikelman says her background made her “more aware of issues of fairness and discrimination” and helped spark an interest in reproductive rights.ELIZABETH PRELOGARThe Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, Elizabeth Prelogar, will argue for the federal government. The administration's position is that Roe and Casey were correctly decided and that overturning them would cause "grave harm."Prelogar, 41, will be making her eleventh argument before the court. Just weeks ago she argued a different Supreme Court case involving abortion. That case was about a restrictive Texas abortion law that prohibits abortion after cardiac activity is detected in a fetus. That's usually around six weeks and before some women know they are pregnant. Prelogar was arguing that the federal government can mount a federal court challenge to the law. The justices have not yet announced their decision in that case.Before being confirmed to her current position, Prelogar served on special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. She speaks Russian and lived there as a Fulbright scholar. A graduate of Emory and Harvard law school, she has the rare distinction of having been a law clerk for two Supreme Court justices, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan. She is also a former Miss Idaho.Prelogar is only the second woman to lead the solicitor general's office on a permanent basis. Kagan led the office during President Barack Obama's administration before becoming a justice.