By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansa felon on new charges after a Sunday incident in Salina.

 man was arrested on requested charges of arson and obstruction in connection to an incident late Sunday night involving a police patrol vehicle and ornamental grass.

Just after 11:30p.m. Sunday, a police officer was sitting in the parking lot of the Saline County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol and Rescue Squad facility, 1020 W. North Street, near the 400 block of N. Broadway Boulevard in Salina, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester .

The officer heard several loud explosions and something hit the patrol vehicle. The officer determined that the explosions were from mortar-type fireworks. After the third explosion, ornamental grass on the property caught on fire, Forrester said.

The officer pulled out of the parking lot and saw a person, identified as Christopher Mostue, 40, of Salina, walking away from the location. A witness also reported seeing Mostue walking away from the location.

When the officer made contact with the suspect,&nbsp; Mostue allegedly attempted to walk away, but was taken into custody and later arrested him on requested charges of arson and obstruction, according to Forrester. The ornamental grass was valued at $50.&nbsp;

Mosture was on community corrections and has previous convictions for criminal trespass, aggravated battery, giving a worthless check, no proof of vehicle insurance, and three for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636987127933.jpeg" alt="Christopher Mostue has previous convictions for criminal trespass, aggravated battery, giving a worthless check, no proof of vehicle insurance, and three for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-Photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Christopher Mostue has previous convictions for criminal trespass, aggravated battery, giving a worthless check, no proof of vehicle insurance, and three for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-Photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansa felon on new charges after a Sunday incident in Salina. man was arrested on requested charges of arson and obstruction in connection to an incident late Sunday night involving a police patrol vehicle and ornamental grass.Just after 11:30p.m. Sunday, a police officer was sitting in the parking lot of the Saline County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol and Rescue Squad facility, 1020 W. North Street, near the 400 block of N. Broadway Boulevard in Salina, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester .The officer heard several loud explosions and something hit the patrol vehicle. The officer determined that the explosions were from mortar-type fireworks. After the third explosion, ornamental grass on the property caught on fire, Forrester said.The officer pulled out of the parking lot and saw a person, identified as Christopher Mostue, 40, of Salina, walking away from the location. A witness also reported seeing Mostue walking away from the location.When the officer made contact with the suspect,&nbsp; Mostue allegedly attempted to walk away, but was taken into custody and later arrested him on requested charges of arson and obstruction, according to Forrester. The ornamental grass was valued at $50.&nbsp;Mosture was on community corrections and has previous convictions for criminal trespass, aggravated battery, giving a worthless check, no proof of vehicle insurance, and three for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Fireworks hitting police vehicle put Kan. felon back in jail

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed his $1 trillion infrastructure deal into law Monday on the White House lawn, hailing it as an example of what bipartisanship can achieve.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516100-1/president-biden-signs-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill&amp;live">Click here </a>to watch the President's comments

The president hopes to use the law to build back his popularity and says it will deliver jobs, clean water, high-speed internet and a clean energy future. Support for Biden has taken a hit amid rising inflation and the inability to fully shake the public health and economic risks from COVID-19.

A smattering of Republican lawmakers were on hand for what might be one the last celebratory displays of bipartisanship ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

“My message to the American people is this: America is moving again and your life is going to change for the better,” Biden said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637009964663.png" alt="President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris embrace ahead of Monday's bill signing-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris embrace ahead of Monday's bill signing-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed his $1 trillion infrastructure deal into law Monday on the White House lawn, hailing it as an example of what bipartisanship can achieve.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?516100-1/president-biden-signs-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill&amp;live">Click here </a>to watch the President's commentsThe president hopes to use the law to build back his popularity and says it will deliver jobs, clean water, high-speed internet and a clean energy future. Support for Biden has taken a hit amid rising inflation and the inability to fully shake the public health and economic risks from COVID-19.A smattering of Republican lawmakers were on hand for what might be one the last celebratory displays of bipartisanship ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637013446903.png" alt="Photo courtesy White. House" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy White. House</figcaption>
 </figure>“My message to the American people is this: America is moving again and your life is going to change for the better,” Biden said.

🎥 Pres. Biden signs $1T infrastructure plan into law

Latest data compares 2021 to 2019, after no testing in 2020

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/15/math-reading-student-test-scores-tumble-in-kansas-amid-covid-19-pandemic/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Unprecedented disruption
 of classroom instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a drop 
in math and reading standardized test scores among 476,000 public school
 students in Kansas with the steepest assessment damage among children 
struggling with math.

Information released by the Kansas State Department of Education 
offered the first statewide evaluation of student performance in these 
key subject areas since the 2019 report. No testing was conducted in 
2020 as the pandemic derailed normal school activities for students and 
educators in Kansas by pushing instruction online from March until the 
end of the school year.

“Every data point we have is down,” said Randy Watson, commissioner 
of the Kansas State Department of Education. “So is everyone else’s 
across the country.”

The 2021 Kansas report on math for all students indicated 7.8% tested
 at the highest proficiency level, a decline of 1.5 percentage points 
since 2019, and 20% scored at the next-highest level, a reduction of 3.2
 percentage points since 2019. The portion of students at the lowest 
level of achievement in math surged to 34.3%, a disturbing escalation of
 6.1 percentage points.

In reading, the damage to Kansas students was less severe when 
comparing 2021 and 2019 results. In 2021, 8% of students tested in 
English and language arts reached the highest proficiency level, a 
setback of 0.7 percentage points compared to 2019. In 2021, 30.3% of 
students were at the lowest level of achievement on math exams, a 
wrong-way change of 0.9 percentage points from 2019.

Mark Tallman, who works on K-12 education issues for the Kansas 
Association of School Boards, said slippage in student achievement was 
widely anticipated. The 2021 report was unusual because 12,000 fewer 
students participated in testing as public school enrollment suffered 
and some remote-learner students didn’t have access to supervised 
settings to take exams, he said.

Kansas public school districts in Kansas were beneficiaries of $1 
billion in federal aid designed to address student pandemic needs. 
School districts also have been receiving millions of dollars in 
additional annual state appropriations as a result of the Gannon school 
funding lawsuit.

The influx of cash and decline in math and reading test scores is 
likely to drive debate in the 2022 legislative session on expanding a 
statewide program offering tax credits for support low-income students 
who enroll in private schools, Tallman said.

“Many education leaders have said it will take time for additional 
funding to have an impact,” Tallman said. “However, many legislators are
 impatient to see results from higher funding and some say what they see
 as the slow pace means the state should consider expanding aid to 
students attending alternatives to public schools.”

More than twice the percentage of low-income students scored in the 
lowest level on both reading and math than wealthier students in 2021.

David Dorsey, senior education policy fellow with the Kansas Policy 
Institute, said the “unacceptably low test scores” in 2021 ought to 
prompt the state Department of Education to recommit to upgrading 
student achievement in fundamental academic skills.

Watson, commissioner of education in Kansas, said consequences of the
 pandemic continued to unfold for students, parents, teachers and 
administrators engaged in the public school system. The coronavirus 
variant known as Delta is sickening, hospitalizing and killing people 
more than 18 months after COVID-19 shook the foundation of education in 
early 2020, he said.

“People are still, unfortunately, passing away,” Watson said. “What you see is a weariness.”

He said as of October more than 30 school district superintendents 
had filed a notice of retirement, an unusually high number for that 
point in the academic year. He said there had been a lack of continuity 
among classroom teachers as they grappled with online instruction, 
quarantines and illnesses. Parents have made their displeasure known at 
school board meetings across Kansas, he said.

Kansas assessment results for the state, districts and schools are available at the state Department of Education’s <a target="_blank" href="https://datacentral.ksde.org/">Data Central</a> website portal.

The Kansas Board of Education set goals for moving more students into
 the two highest of four levels of achievement on standardized 
tests.&nbsp;The state board also adopted broader educational outcomes, 
including graduation rates, postsecondary participation, kindergarten 
readiness, implementation of individual student plans of study and 
promotion of social and emotional growth.

Watson said 88.3% of Kansas high school seniors graduated in 2020, an
 improvement of 2.6 percentage points. The nearly 12,000 students who 
didn’t earn a diploma represented 4,000 to 5,000 students, he said. It 
won’t be a surprise if the 2021 graduation rate dips below the previous 
year’s mark, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637005442776.png" alt="Randy Watson, commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education, said the unprecedented influence of COVID-19 pushed down public school district assessment scores in math and reading when comparing 2021 to 2019. No testing was conducted in 2020. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Randy Watson, commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education, said the unprecedented influence of COVID-19 pushed down public school district assessment scores in math and reading when comparing 2021 to 2019. No testing was conducted in 2020. (Screen capture/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Latest data compares 2021 to 2019, after no testing in 2020</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/15/math-reading-student-test-scores-tumble-in-kansas-amid-covid-19-pandemic/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Unprecedented disruption
 of classroom instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a drop 
in math and reading standardized test scores among 476,000 public school
 students in Kansas with the steepest assessment damage among children 
struggling with math.Information released by the Kansas State Department of Education 
offered the first statewide evaluation of student performance in these 
key subject areas since the 2019 report. No testing was conducted in 
2020 as the pandemic derailed normal school activities for students and 
educators in Kansas by pushing instruction online from March until the 
end of the school year.“Every data point we have is down,” said Randy Watson, commissioner 
of the Kansas State Department of Education. “So is everyone else’s 
across the country.”The 2021 Kansas report on math for all students indicated 7.8% tested
 at the highest proficiency level, a decline of 1.5 percentage points 
since 2019, and 20% scored at the next-highest level, a reduction of 3.2
 percentage points since 2019. The portion of students at the lowest 
level of achievement in math surged to 34.3%, a disturbing escalation of
 6.1 percentage points.In reading, the damage to Kansas students was less severe when 
comparing 2021 and 2019 results. In 2021, 8% of students tested in 
English and language arts reached the highest proficiency level, a 
setback of 0.7 percentage points compared to 2019. In 2021, 30.3% of 
students were at the lowest level of achievement on math exams, a 
wrong-way change of 0.9 percentage points from 2019.Mark Tallman, who works on K-12 education issues for the Kansas 
Association of School Boards, said slippage in student achievement was 
widely anticipated. The 2021 report was unusual because 12,000 fewer 
students participated in testing as public school enrollment suffered 
and some remote-learner students didn’t have access to supervised 
settings to take exams, he said.Kansas public school districts in Kansas were beneficiaries of $1 
billion in federal aid designed to address student pandemic needs. 
School districts also have been receiving millions of dollars in 
additional annual state appropriations as a result of the Gannon school 
funding lawsuit.The influx of cash and decline in math and reading test scores is 
likely to drive debate in the 2022 legislative session on expanding a 
statewide program offering tax credits for support low-income students 
who enroll in private schools, Tallman said.“Many education leaders have said it will take time for additional 
funding to have an impact,” Tallman said. “However, many legislators are
 impatient to see results from higher funding and some say what they see
 as the slow pace means the state should consider expanding aid to 
students attending alternatives to public schools.”More than twice the percentage of low-income students scored in the 
lowest level on both reading and math than wealthier students in 2021.David Dorsey, senior education policy fellow with the Kansas Policy 
Institute, said the “unacceptably low test scores” in 2021 ought to 
prompt the state Department of Education to recommit to upgrading 
student achievement in fundamental academic skills.Watson, commissioner of education in Kansas, said consequences of the
 pandemic continued to unfold for students, parents, teachers and 
administrators engaged in the public school system. The coronavirus 
variant known as Delta is sickening, hospitalizing and killing people 
more than 18 months after COVID-19 shook the foundation of education in 
early 2020, he said.“People are still, unfortunately, passing away,” Watson said. “What you see is a weariness.”He said as of October more than 30 school district superintendents 
had filed a notice of retirement, an unusually high number for that 
point in the academic year. He said there had been a lack of continuity 
among classroom teachers as they grappled with online instruction, 
quarantines and illnesses. Parents have made their displeasure known at 
school board meetings across Kansas, he said.Kansas assessment results for the state, districts and schools are available at the state Department of Education’s <a target="_blank" href="https://datacentral.ksde.org/">Data Central</a> website portal.The Kansas Board of Education set goals for moving more students into
 the two highest of four levels of achievement on standardized 
tests.&nbsp;The state board also adopted broader educational outcomes, 
including graduation rates, postsecondary participation, kindergarten 
readiness, implementation of individual student plans of study and 
promotion of social and emotional growth.Watson said 88.3% of Kansas high school seniors graduated in 2020, an
 improvement of 2.6 percentage points. The nearly 12,000 students who 
didn’t earn a diploma represented 4,000 to 5,000 students, he said. It 
won’t be a surprise if the 2021 graduation rate dips below the previous 
year’s mark, he said.

Kan. math, reading test scores tumble amid COVID pandemic

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Cosmosphere had a great summer, according to Mimi Meredith, Senior Vice President &amp; Chief Development Officer.

"We had the highest attendance we've seen in nearly a decade," Meredith said. "That's pretty exciting. I think that was due to a lot of things, including the opening of our CosmoKids area."

There is a lot of construction going on, but the end product should make enjoying the Cosmosphere easier.

"We're remodeling the next three galleries," Meredith said. "You used to come down the stairs and see walls. Now you see the X-plane on your left, CosmoKids on your right. When construction is complete, which we hope will be by Christmas, you'll be able to look through and see the V-2 rocket and then have a very open and engaging experience through the Redstone, Sputnik and Kennedy theaters. The kind of strange, confining walls have all been taken away and, as a result, artifacts are just going to come to life in a whole new way."

It should make things easier for families with kids to get the most out of the museum.

"Enjoy everything at your own pace," Meredith said. "You don't feel as if you're being pushed along, and you also didn't get lost quite as easily, which people did, frequently, in the Cosmosphere. That's part of our ongoing revitalization plan and we're really excited to showcase those three new galleries."

The Hall of Space Museum is available at no charge to Reno County residents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583784441832.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Cosmosphere had a great summer, according to Mimi Meredith, Senior Vice President &amp; Chief Development Officer."We had the highest attendance we've seen in nearly a decade," Meredith said. "That's pretty exciting. I think that was due to a lot of things, including the opening of our CosmoKids area."There is a lot of construction going on, but the end product should make enjoying the Cosmosphere easier."We're remodeling the next three galleries," Meredith said. "You used to come down the stairs and see walls. Now you see the X-plane on your left, CosmoKids on your right. When construction is complete, which we hope will be by Christmas, you'll be able to look through and see the V-2 rocket and then have a very open and engaging experience through the Redstone, Sputnik and Kennedy theaters. The kind of strange, confining walls have all been taken away and, as a result, artifacts are just going to come to life in a whole new way."It should make things easier for families with kids to get the most out of the museum."Enjoy everything at your own pace," Meredith said. "You don't feel as if you're being pushed along, and you also didn't get lost quite as easily, which people did, frequently, in the Cosmosphere. That's part of our ongoing revitalization plan and we're really excited to showcase those three new galleries."The Hall of Space Museum is available at no charge to Reno County residents.

Construction at Kan. Cosmosphere to be finished next month

KANSAS CITY (AP) — In Kansas City, Kansas, educators are opening an after-school mental health clinic staffed with school counselors and social workers. Schools in Paterson, New Jersey, have set up social emotional learning teams to identify students dealing with crises. Chicago is staffing up “care teams” with the mission of helping struggling students on its 500-plus campuses.

With a windfall of federal coronavirus relief money at hand, schools across the U.S. are using portions to quickly expand their capacity to address students’ struggles with mental health.

While school districts have broad latitude on how to spend the aid money, the urgency of the problem has been driven home by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/27/22691601/student-behavior-stress-trauma-return" target="_blank">absenteeism, behavioral issues, and quieter signs of distress&nbsp;</a>as many students have returned to school buildings this fall for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit.

For some school systems, the money has boosted long-standing work to help students cope with trauma. Others have launched new efforts to screen, counsel and treat students. All told, the investments put public schools more than ever at the center of efforts to attend to students’ overall well-being.

“In the last recession, with the last big chunk of recovery money, this conversation wasn’t happening,” said Amanda Fitzgerald, the assistant director of the American School Counselor Association. “Now, the tone across the country is very focused on the well-being of students.”

Last month, three major pediatric groups said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-cf6997107e7991393c70dd62ddbd196e">the state of children’s mental health&nbsp;</a>should be considered a national emergency. The U.S. Education Department has pointed to the distribution of the relief money as an opportunity to rethink how schools provide mental health support. Mental well-being, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has said, needs to be the foundation for the recovery from the pandemic.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemic-aid-public-school-funding-346d3d4b86f904184e357c34c9754800">pandemic relief to schools totals $190 billion</a>, more than four times the amount the Education Department typically spends on K-12 schools annually. Mental health investments have gone into staff training, wellness screenings and curriculum dedicated to social-emotional learning.

Still, questions remain over how schools will find ways to make the benefits last beyond the one-time infusion of money, handle privacy concerns, and track the effectiveness of their efforts. The implementation worries Katie Dockweiler, a school psychologist in Nevada who sits on the state board of education.

“Not all programs are created equal,” she said. “It really comes down to how it’s implemented, school by school. And there’s great variability there.”

She said districts should develop ways of tracking the impact on students: “Otherwise, we’re just throwing our money away.”

At the top of the list for many districts has been hiring new mental health specialists. When the National Association of School Psychologists surveyed members this fall, more than half of respondents said their districts intended to add social workers, psychologists, or counselors, according to policy director Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach.

With $9.5 million from federal relief funding and outside grant money, Paterson schools added five behavioral analysts, two substance abuse coordinators, and the teams to spot students going through crises.

In Paterson, one of the lowest-income parts of New Jersey, many of the 25,000 students faced food insecurity before the pandemic and struggled after family members lost jobs, Superintendent Eileen Shafer said.

“We wanted to make sure before we try to teach anything new, that we’re able to deal with where our children are right now based on what they’ve been through,” she said.

In rural Ellicottville, New York, where school psychologist Joe Prior is seeing more anxiety and a “significant increase” in panic attacks, the district wants to use rescue funds to hire a counselor to connect students with psychological help. But the position remains unfilled, as few expressed interest.

“I have more students just looking me in the eye and saying ‘I’m completely overwhelmed and I’m not sure how to handle it,’” Ellicottville high school principal Erich Ploetz said.

It’s not the only district where ambitions for hiring have outstripped the number of available professionals. Some districts have turned to outside vendors to help fill mental health positions, while others are training existing staff.

The Kansas City, Kansas, school system is using some of the $918,000 in relief money dedicated to mental health to pay social workers and counselors already on staff to work at the new after-school clinic. The district also has added staff and mental health screenings.

Angela Dunn, who leads the 22,000-student district’s mental health and suicide prevention initiatives, said the mental health team has responded to 27 student deaths and 16 staff deaths since the pandemic started, double what is typical during that period. She said a handful of staff members died of COVID-19, but many of the others were homicides, suicides and overdoses.

The investments by schools in student mental health services have raised some privacy concerns, especially where schools are now monitoring student computers for distress signals or administering mental health screenings to all students. But the idea that it’s not the place of schools to involve themselves at all has receded.

“We just recognized that students are comfortable seeking help in a school setting,” Dunn said.

Chicago, the nation’s third-largest school district, unveiled a “healing plan” for students, using $24 million of its $2.6 billion in stimulus funds.

Over three years, the district will expand “care teams” — building staff who serve as the frontline response for struggling students — to each campus. The goal is to reach 200 schools by spring.

High school principal Angélica Altamirano used some of that funding to open a space outfitted with cozy furniture and a hand-me-down air hockey table. Already, the campus center has offered grief groups for students whose family members or friends have died and helped teachers dealing with burnout.

In Topeka, Kansas, $100,000 was budgeted for calming items and staff for sensory rooms, including one at Quincy Elementary. When students get so frustrated that they put their heads down on their desk, or wander into the hallway or cry, teachers can send them to the Roadrunner Room. There, they can climb into a tent and snuggle under a weighted blanket, put a puzzle together, play with sand or build with Legos.

Dean of students Andrea Keck has watched the room become a go-to place for one student to work out frustrations.

“She can journal it, get her hair put up, whatever she needs, and then she is successful the rest of the day,” said Keck, who oversees the room.

In Detroit, the district is spending $34 million on mental health initiatives, including screening students, expanding help from outside mental health providers, and offering extra support to parents.

On a recent Wednesday, that meant an hourlong meditation session for parents at a local coffee shop. One attendee worried her own stress was affecting her son’s ability to learn.

“As a community we have all been through something,” said Sharlonda Buckman, an assistant superintendent who participated in the session. “Part of recovery has to be some intentional work in spaces like this, so we can be there for our kids.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — In Kansas City, Kansas, educators are opening an after-school mental health clinic staffed with school counselors and social workers. Schools in Paterson, New Jersey, have set up social emotional learning teams to identify students dealing with crises. Chicago is staffing up “care teams” with the mission of helping struggling students on its 500-plus campuses.With a windfall of federal coronavirus relief money at hand, schools across the U.S. are using portions to quickly expand their capacity to address students’ struggles with mental health.While school districts have broad latitude on how to spend the aid money, the urgency of the problem has been driven home by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/27/22691601/student-behavior-stress-trauma-return" target="_blank">absenteeism, behavioral issues, and quieter signs of distress&nbsp;</a>as many students have returned to school buildings this fall for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit.For some school systems, the money has boosted long-standing work to help students cope with trauma. Others have launched new efforts to screen, counsel and treat students. All told, the investments put public schools more than ever at the center of efforts to attend to students’ overall well-being.“In the last recession, with the last big chunk of recovery money, this conversation wasn’t happening,” said Amanda Fitzgerald, the assistant director of the American School Counselor Association. “Now, the tone across the country is very focused on the well-being of students.”Last month, three major pediatric groups said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-cf6997107e7991393c70dd62ddbd196e">the state of children’s mental health&nbsp;</a>should be considered a national emergency. The U.S. Education Department has pointed to the distribution of the relief money as an opportunity to rethink how schools provide mental health support. Mental well-being, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has said, needs to be the foundation for the recovery from the pandemic.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemic-aid-public-school-funding-346d3d4b86f904184e357c34c9754800">pandemic relief to schools totals $190 billion</a>, more than four times the amount the Education Department typically spends on K-12 schools annually. Mental health investments have gone into staff training, wellness screenings and curriculum dedicated to social-emotional learning.Still, questions remain over how schools will find ways to make the benefits last beyond the one-time infusion of money, handle privacy concerns, and track the effectiveness of their efforts. The implementation worries Katie Dockweiler, a school psychologist in Nevada who sits on the state board of education.“Not all programs are created equal,” she said. “It really comes down to how it’s implemented, school by school. And there’s great variability there.”She said districts should develop ways of tracking the impact on students: “Otherwise, we’re just throwing our money away.”At the top of the list for many districts has been hiring new mental health specialists. When the National Association of School Psychologists surveyed members this fall, more than half of respondents said their districts intended to add social workers, psychologists, or counselors, according to policy director Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach.With $9.5 million from federal relief funding and outside grant money, Paterson schools added five behavioral analysts, two substance abuse coordinators, and the teams to spot students going through crises.In Paterson, one of the lowest-income parts of New Jersey, many of the 25,000 students faced food insecurity before the pandemic and struggled after family members lost jobs, Superintendent Eileen Shafer said.“We wanted to make sure before we try to teach anything new, that we’re able to deal with where our children are right now based on what they’ve been through,” she said.In rural Ellicottville, New York, where school psychologist Joe Prior is seeing more anxiety and a “significant increase” in panic attacks, the district wants to use rescue funds to hire a counselor to connect students with psychological help. But the position remains unfilled, as few expressed interest.“I have more students just looking me in the eye and saying ‘I’m completely overwhelmed and I’m not sure how to handle it,’” Ellicottville high school principal Erich Ploetz said.It’s not the only district where ambitions for hiring have outstripped the number of available professionals. Some districts have turned to outside vendors to help fill mental health positions, while others are training existing staff.The Kansas City, Kansas, school system is using some of the $918,000 in relief money dedicated to mental health to pay social workers and counselors already on staff to work at the new after-school clinic. The district also has added staff and mental health screenings.Angela Dunn, who leads the 22,000-student district’s mental health and suicide prevention initiatives, said the mental health team has responded to 27 student deaths and 16 staff deaths since the pandemic started, double what is typical during that period. She said a handful of staff members died of COVID-19, but many of the others were homicides, suicides and overdoses.The investments by schools in student mental health services have raised some privacy concerns, especially where schools are now monitoring student computers for distress signals or administering mental health screenings to all students. But the idea that it’s not the place of schools to involve themselves at all has receded.“We just recognized that students are comfortable seeking help in a school setting,” Dunn said.Chicago, the nation’s third-largest school district, unveiled a “healing plan” for students, using $24 million of its $2.6 billion in stimulus funds.Over three years, the district will expand “care teams” — building staff who serve as the frontline response for struggling students — to each campus. The goal is to reach 200 schools by spring.High school principal Angélica Altamirano used some of that funding to open a space outfitted with cozy furniture and a hand-me-down air hockey table. Already, the campus center has offered grief groups for students whose family members or friends have died and helped teachers dealing with burnout.In Topeka, Kansas, $100,000 was budgeted for calming items and staff for sensory rooms, including one at Quincy Elementary. When students get so frustrated that they put their heads down on their desk, or wander into the hallway or cry, teachers can send them to the Roadrunner Room. There, they can climb into a tent and snuggle under a weighted blanket, put a puzzle together, play with sand or build with Legos.Dean of students Andrea Keck has watched the room become a go-to place for one student to work out frustrations.“She can journal it, get her hair put up, whatever she needs, and then she is successful the rest of the day,” said Keck, who oversees the room.In Detroit, the district is spending $34 million on mental health initiatives, including screening students, expanding help from outside mental health providers, and offering extra support to parents.On a recent Wednesday, that meant an hourlong meditation session for parents at a local coffee shop. One attendee worried her own stress was affecting her son’s ability to learn.“As a community we have all been through something,” said Sharlonda Buckman, an assistant superintendent who participated in the session. “Part of recovery has to be some intentional work in spaces like this, so we can be there for our kids.”

With US aid money, schools put bigger focus on mental health

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 2,019 to a total of 449,813, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported no new COVID-19 deaths and revised the total to 6,614 from 6,618 reported on Friday, according to <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">the KDHE web site.</a>

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

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

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

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 2,019 to a total of 449,813, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported no new COVID-19 deaths and revised the total to 6,614 from 6,618 reported on Friday, according to <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">the KDHE web site.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637000165026.png" alt="Monday November 15, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Monday November 15, 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 revises number of statewide COVID 19 deaths

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a jewelry store theft in Manhattan.

Just after 2p.m. Friday, police filed a report for theft in the 400 block of Poyntz Ave. in Manhattan. Danenberg Jewelers&nbsp; reported an unknown suspect stole a 14k yellow gold engagement ring on October 14.

The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $5,600. 

Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636998394566.png" alt="Danenberg Jewelers -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Danenberg Jewelers -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a jewelry store theft in Manhattan.Just after 2p.m. Friday, police filed a report for theft in the 400 block of Poyntz Ave. in Manhattan. Danenberg Jewelers&nbsp; reported an unknown suspect stole a 14k yellow gold engagement ring on October 14.The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $5,600. Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Police: Suspect stole $5,600 engagement ring from Kan. store

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — An overhead gondola would connect the downtowns of Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, under a proposal that a planning official is touting.

A 15-page preliminary study has been completed, although no money has been committed yet.

But Gunnar Hand, the director of planning and urban design at the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, said this is a good time to consider such an ambitious project.

The recent passage of President Joe Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill will make new revenue sources available to cities and states across the country.

He envisions a “bluff-to-bluff” crossing that would move people from Case Park in Quality Hill over the Kansas River to St. John’s Park in Strawberry Hill, with a potential stop in the West Bottoms.

Specific costs are unknown, but Hand said a gondola is more affordable at crossing a river than light rail. On average, the gondola would cost $25 million per mile, about half the $50 million per mile it took to build the Kansas City Streetcar’s starter line downtown.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636991832948.png" alt="Proposed gondola-courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Proposed gondola-courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — An overhead gondola would connect the downtowns of Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, under a proposal that a planning official is touting.A 15-page preliminary study has been completed, although no money has been committed yet.But Gunnar Hand, the director of planning and urban design at the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, said this is a good time to consider such an ambitious project.The recent passage of President Joe Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill will make new revenue sources available to cities and states across the country.He envisions a “bluff-to-bluff” crossing that would move people from Case Park in Quality Hill over the Kansas River to St. John’s Park in Strawberry Hill, with a potential stop in the West Bottoms.Specific costs are unknown, but Hand said a gondola is more affordable at crossing a river than light rail. On average, the gondola would cost $25 million per mile, about half the $50 million per mile it took to build the Kansas City Streetcar’s starter line downtown.

Gondola proposed to connect Kansas City's downtowns

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas Republican Attorney General candidate Kris Kobach is helping one of his clients, the Alliance for Free Citizens challenge the Biden administration's vaccine mandates, according to an announcement from the group last week. Kobach believes there are several grounds where this is federal overreach.

"It's found pretty squarely in the precedents of the Supreme Court," Kobach said Monday. "It's all about the commerce power of Article 1, Section 8. Most of the powers the federal government has are found in the power to regulate interstate commerce. What the Supreme Court said back in 2012 in the Obamacare case is, the power to regulate commerce does not include the power to make people get involved in commerce when they choose not to buy something. Just like the feds can't force us to purchase health insurance, the feds also can't force us to purchase a vaccine, even if the federal government subsidizes that purchase."

Kobach notes that this extends to people having to buy tests if they choose not to be vaccinated.

"The way the OSHA mandate is phrased, a company can, if it wishes, allow people to test out of it by testing weekly, but that's a problem, too," Kobach said. "Suppose you exercise your First Amendment free exercise of religion right to opt out and say, you know, the vaccine is contrary to your beliefs, well, you have to pay for your own testing every week. The median cost of a COVID test is $148. That adds up to over $7000 a year, paying for those weekly tests."

Since the mandate is being challenged in multiple jurisdictions, there is another step it will go through soon.

"The next step is something that doesn't happen very often in American courts," Kobach said. "It's called the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Whenever an action of a federal agency is simultaneously challenged in multiple circuits of the U.S. courts, then there's a kind of lottery, a drawing from a drum. Each circuit that has a case filed in it has an equal chance of getting it. They are going to consolidate these cases in one of the circuits and we should find that out by the end of this week."

No matter which circuit gets the case, it's a safe bet that the loser will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on this one, anyway.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595880140752.jpeg" alt="Kansas Republican Attorney General candidate Kris Kobach -photo by Sherman Smith" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Republican Attorney General candidate Kris Kobach -photo by Sherman Smith</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas Republican Attorney General candidate Kris Kobach is helping one of his clients, the Alliance for Free Citizens challenge the Biden administration's vaccine mandates, according to an announcement from the group last week. Kobach believes there are several grounds where this is federal overreach."It's found pretty squarely in the precedents of the Supreme Court," Kobach said Monday. "It's all about the commerce power of Article 1, Section 8. Most of the powers the federal government has are found in the power to regulate interstate commerce. What the Supreme Court said back in 2012 in the Obamacare case is, the power to regulate commerce does not include the power to make people get involved in commerce when they choose not to buy something. Just like the feds can't force us to purchase health insurance, the feds also can't force us to purchase a vaccine, even if the federal government subsidizes that purchase."Kobach notes that this extends to people having to buy tests if they choose not to be vaccinated."The way the OSHA mandate is phrased, a company can, if it wishes, allow people to test out of it by testing weekly, but that's a problem, too," Kobach said. "Suppose you exercise your First Amendment free exercise of religion right to opt out and say, you know, the vaccine is contrary to your beliefs, well, you have to pay for your own testing every week. The median cost of a COVID test is $148. That adds up to over $7000 a year, paying for those weekly tests."Since the mandate is being challenged in multiple jurisdictions, there is another step it will go through soon."The next step is something that doesn't happen very often in American courts," Kobach said. "It's called the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Whenever an action of a federal agency is simultaneously challenged in multiple circuits of the U.S. courts, then there's a kind of lottery, a drawing from a drum. Each circuit that has a case filed in it has an equal chance of getting it. They are going to consolidate these cases in one of the circuits and we should find that out by the end of this week."No matter which circuit gets the case, it's a safe bet that the loser will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on this one, anyway.

Kobach: Cases against vaccine mandates should be consolidated soon

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man jailed after a fatal head-on crash made his first court appearance in the case Friday.

Jose Rios-Cruz Jr, 40 of Wichita, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and manslaughter after a head-on collision that killed a 19-year-old from Caldwell.

Just before 3a.m. Nov. 6, a GMC Sierra pickup driven by 39-year-old Jose Rios-Cruz was westbound in the eastbound lanes of Kansas Highway 254 in northeast Sedgwick County, according to Sheriff's Lt.&nbsp;Benjamin Blick.

The pickup collided with a Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by 19-year-old Clayton Patterson of Caldwell. Patterson died after the collision. 

&nbsp;Rios-Cruz, 39, is being on a $500,000 bond and is due back in court on November 22, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632692731413.png" alt="Rios-Cruz-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Rios-Cruz-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man jailed after a fatal head-on crash made his first court appearance in the case Friday.Jose Rios-Cruz Jr, 40 of Wichita, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and manslaughter after a head-on collision that killed a 19-year-old from Caldwell.Just before 3a.m. Nov. 6, a GMC Sierra pickup driven by 39-year-old Jose Rios-Cruz was westbound in the eastbound lanes of Kansas Highway 254 in northeast Sedgwick County, according to Sheriff's Lt.&nbsp;Benjamin Blick.The pickup collided with a Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by 19-year-old Clayton Patterson of Caldwell. Patterson died after the collision. &nbsp;Rios-Cruz, 39, is being on a $500,000 bond and is due back in court on November 22, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas man charged in fatal wrong-way, head-on crash

TOPEKA —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating the death of a one-year old boy and have not made an arrest in the case, according to Topeka Police Department spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.

Just after 11 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a medical call involving an unresponsive child the 2400 block of SW 10th Avenue in Topeka, according to Spiker.

The Topeka Fire Department and American Medical Response also responded to the scene. Life-saving measures were attempted at the scene. AMR transported the child to a local hospital, where the child was later pronounced deceased by medical personnel.

Authorities are awaiting the Coroner’s Report which will determine cause of death, according to Spiker.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636496999939.png" alt="Police on the scene of the death investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the death investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating the death of a one-year old boy and have not made an arrest in the case, according to Topeka Police Department spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.Just after 11 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a medical call involving an unresponsive child the 2400 block of SW 10th Avenue in Topeka, according to Spiker.The Topeka Fire Department and American Medical Response also responded to the scene. Life-saving measures were attempted at the scene. AMR transported the child to a local hospital, where the child was later pronounced deceased by medical personnel.Authorities are awaiting the Coroner’s Report which will determine cause of death, according to Spiker.

Police await coroner's report in death of 1-year-old Kansas boy

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri
Western State University reinstated its mask mandate, effective Monday.

Missouri
Western President Elizabeth Kennedy announced the decision in a message late
Friday afternoon to everyone on the St. Joseph campus.

Kennedy
wrote, “Missouri Western State University will
reinstate its face coverings policy. Effective Monday, Nov. 15, all students,
faculty, staff and visitors must wear a mask covering their nose and mouth in
all public indoor spaces on Missouri Western’s campus.”

Kennedy says the decision was made
after the university COVID-19 response team reviewed the coronavirus data for
the greater St. Joseph area, observing increases in case numbers, positivity
rates, and hospitalizations in recent weeks.

“The response team will continue to
review the data weekly; however, given the current conditions and the fact that
we are entering cold-and-flu season, there is good reason to anticipate that
the mask policy will remain in place for the campus community through at least
the end of the fall semester,” Kennedy wrote.

Kennedy added that if conditions change, so could the policy.

Kennedy concluded the message to the
campus community with a plea for everyone to take precautions to help control
the spread of COVID-19:

We strongly encourage you to get
vaccinated. If you have not been vaccinated, please contact your health care
provider or local pharmacist.

If you qualify for a booster, Mosaic
Life Care will conduct a COVID-19 vaccine booster event from 7 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, at the Community Vaccine Site (formerly
Gordmans) at the East Hills Shopping Center. Appointments are now available for
Moderna and Pfizer at <a href="http://www.mymlc.com/vaccine"></a><a href="http://www.mymlc.com/vaccine">www.mymlc.com/vaccine</a>.

If you are experiencing COVID-19
symptoms, testing is available through the Esry Health Center by appointment
only Monday through Thursday. Call the Health Center at 816-271-4495 to
schedule your appointment. Other than a testing appointment in the Health
Center, if you are experiencing symptoms please do not come to campus.&nbsp;

The Griffon family is a caring and
resilient community. Let’s work together to make our campus as safe as possible.

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri
Western State University reinstated its mask mandate, effective Monday.Missouri
Western President Elizabeth Kennedy announced the decision in a message late
Friday afternoon to everyone on the St. Joseph campus.Kennedy
wrote, “Missouri Western State University will
reinstate its face coverings policy. Effective Monday, Nov. 15, all students,
faculty, staff and visitors must wear a mask covering their nose and mouth in
all public indoor spaces on Missouri Western’s campus.”Kennedy says the decision was made
after the university COVID-19 response team reviewed the coronavirus data for
the greater St. Joseph area, observing increases in case numbers, positivity
rates, and hospitalizations in recent weeks.“The response team will continue to
review the data weekly; however, given the current conditions and the fact that
we are entering cold-and-flu season, there is good reason to anticipate that
the mask policy will remain in place for the campus community through at least
the end of the fall semester,” Kennedy wrote. 
Kennedy added that if conditions change, so could the policy.Kennedy concluded the message to the
campus community with a plea for everyone to take precautions to help control
the spread of COVID-19:Vaccines:We strongly encourage you to get
vaccinated. If you have not been vaccinated, please contact your health care
provider or local pharmacist.If you qualify for a booster, Mosaic
Life Care will conduct a COVID-19 vaccine booster event from 7 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, at the Community Vaccine Site (formerly
Gordmans) at the East Hills Shopping Center. Appointments are now available for
Moderna and Pfizer at <a href="http://www.mymlc.com/vaccine"></a><a href="http://www.mymlc.com/vaccine">www.mymlc.com/vaccine</a>.Testing:If you are experiencing COVID-19
symptoms, testing is available through the Esry Health Center by appointment
only Monday through Thursday. Call the Health Center at 816-271-4495 to
schedule your appointment. Other than a testing appointment in the Health
Center, if you are experiencing symptoms please do not come to campus.&nbsp;The Griffon family is a caring and
resilient community. Let’s work together to make our campus as safe as possible.

Missouri Western State University brings back mask mandate

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities canceled a Silver Alert for a missing Kansas man early Monday. 90-year-old Kenneth Bradford has been found and is safe, according Officer Charley Davidson.

The Wichita Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert Sunday night for a missing 90-year-old Wichita man.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert Sunday night for a missing 90-year-old Wichita man.

Kenneth Bradford, 90,&nbsp;was last seen leaving his home in the 200 block of South Tracy, in Wichita, on Sunday, Nov. 14 at approximately 6:30 p.m. Kenneth is driving a maroon 2014 Chevrolet Impala with handicap tag 56861.

Kenneth is showing early signs of dementia and has other medical diagnoses that require medication. He was last seen wearing a red honor flight t-shirt, tan pants, and black dress shoes.

If you know the whereabouts of Kenneth Bradford, or if you see him, please call 911 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636973641144.png" alt="Bradford-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Bradford-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities canceled a Silver Alert for a missing Kansas man early Monday. 90-year-old Kenneth Bradford has been found and is safe, according Officer Charley Davidson.----------The Wichita Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert Sunday night for a missing 90-year-old Wichita man.SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert Sunday night for a missing 90-year-old Wichita man.Kenneth Bradford, 90,&nbsp;was last seen leaving his home in the 200 block of South Tracy, in Wichita, on Sunday, Nov. 14 at approximately 6:30 p.m. Kenneth is driving a maroon 2014 Chevrolet Impala with handicap tag 56861.Kenneth is showing early signs of dementia and has other medical diagnoses that require medication. He was last seen wearing a red honor flight t-shirt, tan pants, and black dress shoes.If you know the whereabouts of Kenneth Bradford, or if you see him, please call 911 immediately.

Police: Silver Alert canceled, missing Kan. man found safe

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s top economic adviser expressed confidence Sunday that the White House’s $1.85 trillion domestic policy package will quickly pass the House this week and said approval couldn’t come at a more urgent time as prices of consumer goods spike.

“Inflation is high right now. And it is affecting consumers in their pocketbook and also in their outlook for the economy,” said Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council.

“This, more than anything, will go at the costs that Americans face,” he said, before adding that the House will consider the legislation this coming week. “It will get a vote, it will pass.”

The House has been moving toward approval of the massive Democrat-only-backed bill even as the measure faces bigger challenges in the Senate, where Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., have insisted on reducing its size.

In a letter Sunday to Democratic colleagues, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., counseled “time and patience” for working through a bill of this size.

Consumer prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-us-inflation-so-high-77dc786442ccc3ed8092a7647716d682">have soared 6.2% over the last year</a>, the biggest 12-month jump since 1990. Deese acknowledged that prices may not fully return to a more normal 2% level until next year due to the lingering effects of COVID-19, but he said the measure will go a long way toward “lowering costs for American families.”

“We’re confident this bill, as it moves through the process, is going to be fully paid for, and not only that, it’s actually going to reduce deficits over the long term,” he said.

Biden on Monday planned to sign a related&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-congress-263678efec1b19d3fd22aa660ecd4544">$1 trillion infrastructure bill</a>, a bipartisan effort that was passed earlier this month after the president and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pledged action on Biden’s broader package expanding health, child, elder care and climate change by mid-November.

House progressives had threatened to hold up the infrastructure bill without a firm commitment of immediate action on the broader package.

House centrists say they will vote for the package as early as this week if&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-nancy-pelosi-80f7a76da9ca0b42fc1dcdc4cf7dd023">an upcoming Congressional Budget Office analysis</a>&nbsp;affirms White House estimates that the bill is fully paid for. The measure would be covered with changes to corporate taxes, such as a new corporate minimum tax, while raising taxes on higher-income people.

On Friday, Pelosi wrote Democratic members reaffirming her plan to push ahead soon, noting that CBO estimates released so far on pieces of the plan have been consistent with White House projections.

“We are on a path to be further fortified with numbers from the Congressional Budget Office,” she said.

Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., one of 13 House Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill, said he’s not convinced that the broader package will get House approval this week.

“I don’t think the votes are there yet,” he said. “A good number of Democrats had demanded and are going to receive a CBO report as to whether is, it really paid for? What does it do when you expand Medicare? What does that do to the solvency?”

“Somehow, I don’t think we’re going to get these answers ... for Pelosi to get the votes set before the end of the week.”

The bill is expected to face changes in the Senate. With Republican opposition and an evenly split 50-50 Senate, Biden has no votes to spare.

Manchin in particular has been vocal about the risk of aggravating budget shortfalls and already has managed to bring the bill down from Biden’s original $3.5 trillion price tag. Last week, Manchin&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Sen_JoeManchin/status/1458443966135902221" target="_blank">again sounded the alarm</a>&nbsp;over “the threat posed by record inflation.”

Deese appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” and ABC’s “This Week” and Upton spoke on CNN.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636249665418.png" alt="The bill is expected to face changes in the Senate. With Republican opposition and an evenly split 50-50 Senate, President Biden has no votes to spare.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>The bill is expected to face changes in the Senate. With Republican opposition and an evenly split 50-50 Senate, President Biden has no votes to spare.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s top economic adviser expressed confidence Sunday that the White House’s $1.85 trillion domestic policy package will quickly pass the House this week and said approval couldn’t come at a more urgent time as prices of consumer goods spike.“Inflation is high right now. And it is affecting consumers in their pocketbook and also in their outlook for the economy,” said Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council.“This, more than anything, will go at the costs that Americans face,” he said, before adding that the House will consider the legislation this coming week. “It will get a vote, it will pass.”The House has been moving toward approval of the massive Democrat-only-backed bill even as the measure faces bigger challenges in the Senate, where Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., have insisted on reducing its size.In a letter Sunday to Democratic colleagues, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., counseled “time and patience” for working through a bill of this size.Consumer prices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-us-inflation-so-high-77dc786442ccc3ed8092a7647716d682">have soared 6.2% over the last year</a>, the biggest 12-month jump since 1990. Deese acknowledged that prices may not fully return to a more normal 2% level until next year due to the lingering effects of COVID-19, but he said the measure will go a long way toward “lowering costs for American families.”“We’re confident this bill, as it moves through the process, is going to be fully paid for, and not only that, it’s actually going to reduce deficits over the long term,” he said.Biden on Monday planned to sign a related&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-congress-263678efec1b19d3fd22aa660ecd4544">$1 trillion infrastructure bill</a>, a bipartisan effort that was passed earlier this month after the president and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pledged action on Biden’s broader package expanding health, child, elder care and climate change by mid-November.House progressives had threatened to hold up the infrastructure bill without a firm commitment of immediate action on the broader package.House centrists say they will vote for the package as early as this week if&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-nancy-pelosi-80f7a76da9ca0b42fc1dcdc4cf7dd023">an upcoming Congressional Budget Office analysis</a>&nbsp;affirms White House estimates that the bill is fully paid for. The measure would be covered with changes to corporate taxes, such as a new corporate minimum tax, while raising taxes on higher-income people.On Friday, Pelosi wrote Democratic members reaffirming her plan to push ahead soon, noting that CBO estimates released so far on pieces of the plan have been consistent with White House projections.“We are on a path to be further fortified with numbers from the Congressional Budget Office,” she said.Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., one of 13 House Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill, said he’s not convinced that the broader package will get House approval this week.“I don’t think the votes are there yet,” he said. “A good number of Democrats had demanded and are going to receive a CBO report as to whether is, it really paid for? What does it do when you expand Medicare? What does that do to the solvency?”“Somehow, I don’t think we’re going to get these answers ... for Pelosi to get the votes set before the end of the week.”The bill is expected to face changes in the Senate. With Republican opposition and an evenly split 50-50 Senate, Biden has no votes to spare.Manchin in particular has been vocal about the risk of aggravating budget shortfalls and already has managed to bring the bill down from Biden’s original $3.5 trillion price tag. Last week, Manchin&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Sen_JoeManchin/status/1458443966135902221" target="_blank">again sounded the alarm</a>&nbsp;over “the threat posed by record inflation.”Deese appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” and ABC’s “This Week” and Upton spoke on CNN.

Biden's next $1.85T bill expected to pass House this week

HOUSTON (AP) — A 9-year-old Dallas boy has become the youngest person to die from injuries sustained during a crowd surge at the Astroworld music festival in Houston.

Ezra Blount of Dallas died Sunday at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, family attorney Ben Crump said.

Ezra was placed in a medically induced coma after suffering serious injuries in the Nov. 5 crush of fans during a performance by the festival’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-astroworld-festival-crowd-surge-deaths-travis-scott-acd59eac66639a0a0c74c1753f7fb607">headliner, rapper Travis Scott</a>.

He is the 10th person who attended the festival to die.

“The Blount family tonight is grieving the incomprehensible loss of their precious young son,” Crump said in a news release Sunday night. “This should not have been the outcome of taking their son to a concert, what should have been a joyful celebration.”

Treston Blount, Ezra’s father, described what happened Nov. 5 in a post on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/recovery-of-ezra-astrosfest">GoFundMe page</a> that he set up to help defray Ezra’s medical expenses. He said Ezra was sitting on his shoulders when a crowd surge crushed them. The father lost consciousness and when he came to, Ezra was missing, Blount said. A frantic search ensued until Ezra was eventually found at the hospital, severely injured.

The child incurred severe damage to his brain, kidney, and liver after being “kicked, stepped on, and trampled, and nearly crushed to death,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-houston-lawsuits-arts-and-entertainment-db79e408e2cae0a73c55c13660f4047b">according to a lawsuit his family has filed</a>&nbsp;against Scott and the event’s organizer, Live Nation. The Blount family is seeking at least $1 million in damages.

The others who died ranged in age from 14 to 27. Some 300 people were treated at the festival site and 13 were hospitalized.

Houston police and fire department investigators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-business-arts-and-entertainment-concerts-29cddbc5c798a92c1d0fe717cd06f708">have said they are reviewing surveillance video</a>&nbsp;provided by concert promoter Live Nation, as well as dozens of clips people at the show widely shared on social media. Investigators also planned to speak with Live Nation representatives, Scott and concertgoers. Scott and the event organizers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-business-police-concerts-5a03cb5897b4af7acc2c81c036fafb97">are now the focus of a criminal investigation</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636975609048.png" alt="Ezra Blount photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Ezra Blount photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>HOUSTON (AP) — A 9-year-old Dallas boy has become the youngest person to die from injuries sustained during a crowd surge at the Astroworld music festival in Houston.Ezra Blount of Dallas died Sunday at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, family attorney Ben Crump said.Ezra was placed in a medically induced coma after suffering serious injuries in the Nov. 5 crush of fans during a performance by the festival’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-astroworld-festival-crowd-surge-deaths-travis-scott-acd59eac66639a0a0c74c1753f7fb607">headliner, rapper Travis Scott</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636661081723.png" alt="The boy incurred severe damage to his brain, kidney, and liver after being “kicked, stepped on, and trampled, and nearly crushed to death,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-houston-lawsuits-arts-and-entertainment-db79e408e2cae0a73c55c13660f4047b">according to a lawsuit his family has filed</a>&nbsp;against Scott and the event’s organizer, Live Nation. -photo courtesy KPRC TV" />
 <figcaption>The boy incurred severe damage to his brain, kidney, and liver after being “kicked, stepped on, and trampled, and nearly crushed to death,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-houston-lawsuits-arts-and-entertainment-db79e408e2cae0a73c55c13660f4047b">according to a lawsuit his family has filed</a>&nbsp;against Scott and the event’s organizer, Live Nation. -photo courtesy KPRC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>He is the 10th person who attended the festival to die.“The Blount family tonight is grieving the incomprehensible loss of their precious young son,” Crump said in a news release Sunday night. “This should not have been the outcome of taking their son to a concert, what should have been a joyful celebration.”Treston Blount, Ezra’s father, described what happened Nov. 5 in a post on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/recovery-of-ezra-astrosfest">GoFundMe page</a> that he set up to help defray Ezra’s medical expenses. He said Ezra was sitting on his shoulders when a crowd surge crushed them. The father lost consciousness and when he came to, Ezra was missing, Blount said. A frantic search ensued until Ezra was eventually found at the hospital, severely injured.The child incurred severe damage to his brain, kidney, and liver after being “kicked, stepped on, and trampled, and nearly crushed to death,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-houston-lawsuits-arts-and-entertainment-db79e408e2cae0a73c55c13660f4047b">according to a lawsuit his family has filed</a>&nbsp;against Scott and the event’s organizer, Live Nation. The Blount family is seeking at least $1 million in damages.The others who died ranged in age from 14 to 27. Some 300 people were treated at the festival site and 13 were hospitalized.Houston police and fire department investigators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-business-arts-and-entertainment-concerts-29cddbc5c798a92c1d0fe717cd06f708">have said they are reviewing surveillance video</a>&nbsp;provided by concert promoter Live Nation, as well as dozens of clips people at the show widely shared on social media. Investigators also planned to speak with Live Nation representatives, Scott and concertgoers. Scott and the event organizers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-scott-entertainment-business-police-concerts-5a03cb5897b4af7acc2c81c036fafb97">are now the focus of a criminal investigation</a>.

9-year-old is 10th to die from Astroworld music festival crush

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The annual inflation rate in the US surged to 6.2% in October of 2021, the highest since November of 1990. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said he's not surprised.

"Our surveys that we conduct here at Creighton University, both the Rural Mainstreet survey and the survey of supply managers, both of them contain Kansas as one of the states are showing, we haven't seen inflationary pressures like this in the 25 years we've been conducting the surveys," Goss said.

The Fed keeps saying the inflation will end. Goss doesn't think that will happen for a while, at least.

"We are going to see these supply chain disruptions and we are going to see these exceptional high inflationary pressures well into 2022," Goss said. "I don't envision any really, relief in terms of inflation, until the second half of 2022."

Energy costs recorded the biggest gain, but the inflation was broad based.

"Interestingly, the food increases haven't been as likely as we are going to see going forward," Goss said. "A lot of it is automobiles, so not everybody is seeing that, of course, if you're not buying or selling an automobile. Also, in terms of housing prices, a lot of it is housing increases. There again, you may not be seeing it, until you buy or sell a house."

The inflation number was well above the Fed's average annual 2% inflation target for a 7th consecutive month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620071466817.jpeg" alt="Creighton Economist Ernie Goss, PhD" />
 <figcaption>Creighton Economist Ernie Goss, PhD</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The annual inflation rate in the US surged to 6.2% in October of 2021, the highest since November of 1990. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said he's not surprised."Our surveys that we conduct here at Creighton University, both the Rural Mainstreet survey and the survey of supply managers, both of them contain Kansas as one of the states are showing, we haven't seen inflationary pressures like this in the 25 years we've been conducting the surveys," Goss said.The Fed keeps saying the inflation will end. Goss doesn't think that will happen for a while, at least."We are going to see these supply chain disruptions and we are going to see these exceptional high inflationary pressures well into 2022," Goss said. "I don't envision any really, relief in terms of inflation, until the second half of 2022."Energy costs recorded the biggest gain, but the inflation was broad based."Interestingly, the food increases haven't been as likely as we are going to see going forward," Goss said. "A lot of it is automobiles, so not everybody is seeing that, of course, if you're not buying or selling an automobile. Also, in terms of housing prices, a lot of it is housing increases. There again, you may not be seeing it, until you buy or sell a house."The inflation number was well above the Fed's average annual 2% inflation target for a 7th consecutive month.

Economist: U.S. Inflationary pressures as high as he's ever seen them

Scammers have long impersonated government officials, but their 
new tactics are more intimidating than ever before. Learn how this new 
twist works and avoid falling victim to it.

You receive a letter in the mail that looks very official. It claims 
to come from a court or law enforcement agency. Scammers combine 
personal information collected from data breaches with official looking 
seals and watermarks to make the correspondence seem legitimate.

The letter informs you that you have violated federal or state 
statutes and offers you two choices: cooperate as a witness or face 
indictment for serious crimes. Unfortunately, choosing to cooperate as a
 witness requires you to pay thousands of dollars in “legal fees.”

But scammers don’t stop there. Whether or not you respond to the letter, they follow up with a call. Con artists use scare tactics, threatening you with jail time or other serious consequences if you don’t pay up. The more you engage with these scammers, the more aggressive they may become.

One person reported this kind of experience on the <a href="http://www.bbb.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>.
 They said, “I received a voicemail message to return a call to the Dane
 County Sheriff’s office. When I called, a man said I was summoned to 
court and was notified by mail of this summons. I kept questioning him 
about this mailing. The man knew my address and middle name.”

For more tips on how to avoid scams, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/spotascam" target="_blank">BBB.org/SpotAScam</a>. Learn more about this scam in this <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/boston/news/press-releases/fbi-warns-public-to-beware-of-government-impersonation-scams" target="_blank">alert from the FBI</a>.&nbsp;

Keep in mind that scammers impersonate all kinds of government agencies. Read more about scams pretending to be <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/22776-government-impostors-press-release" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/24365-bbb-scam-alert-government-imposters-pose-as-fema-and-trick-grieving-family-members" target="_blank">Federal Emergency Management Agency</a>.

If you’ve been the victim of a scam, report it to <a href="http://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>. Your report can help build awareness about scams and make common scam tactics less effective.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBScammers have long impersonated government officials, but their 
new tactics are more intimidating than ever before. Learn how this new 
twist works and avoid falling victim to it.<h2>How the Scam Works</h2>You receive a letter in the mail that looks very official. It claims 
to come from a court or law enforcement agency. Scammers combine 
personal information collected from data breaches with official looking 
seals and watermarks to make the correspondence seem legitimate.The letter informs you that you have violated federal or state 
statutes and offers you two choices: cooperate as a witness or face 
indictment for serious crimes. Unfortunately, choosing to cooperate as a
 witness requires you to pay thousands of dollars in “legal fees.”But scammers don’t stop there. Whether or not you respond to the letter, they follow up with a call. Con artists use scare tactics, threatening you with jail time or other serious consequences if you don’t pay up. The more you engage with these scammers, the more aggressive they may become.One person reported this kind of experience on the <a href="http://www.bbb.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>.
 They said, “I received a voicemail message to return a call to the Dane
 County Sheriff’s office. When I called, a man said I was summoned to 
court and was notified by mail of this summons. I kept questioning him 
about this mailing. The man knew my address and middle name.” <h2>How to Avoid Government Impostor Scams</h2><ul>
 <li>Verify correspondence with government agencies. If 
you receive a piece of mail or a call that seems suspicious, take a step
 back and make sure it’s legitimate before you take any action. Call the
 government office directly, using the official phone number, to verify 
the communications are real. </li><li>Don’t engage with scammers. As soon as you know you
 are dealing with a scammer, cease communication. Stop answering calls, 
letters, or emails and block any numbers that have called you about the 
scam. </li><li>Report government impostor scams to the FBI. Help the Federal Bureau of Investigation catch scammers by reporting your experience to <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/" target="_blank">ic3.gov</a>.</li>
 </ul><h2>For More Information</h2>For more tips on how to avoid scams, visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/spotascam" target="_blank">BBB.org/SpotAScam</a>. Learn more about this scam in this <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/boston/news/press-releases/fbi-warns-public-to-beware-of-government-impersonation-scams" target="_blank">alert from the FBI</a>.&nbsp;Keep in mind that scammers impersonate all kinds of government agencies. Read more about scams pretending to be <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/22776-government-impostors-press-release" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> and <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/24365-bbb-scam-alert-government-imposters-pose-as-fema-and-trick-grieving-family-members" target="_blank">Federal Emergency Management Agency</a>.If you’ve been the victim of a scam, report it to <a href="http://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>. Your report can help build awareness about scams and make common scam tactics less effective.

Government impostor scam gets a scary new twist with threats of jail time, legal fees

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A judge sentenced a Kansas man to almost ten years in prison this week for sex crimes involving a 9-year-old girl.

In June, 33-year-old Andrion Ashley plead no contest to lewd and lascivious behavior, aggravated battery and criminal threat, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The judge also ordered&nbsp; Ashley to register as a sex offender.

In January of 2018, police arrested Ashley for rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, criminal threat, child abuse, aggravated battery and kidnapping, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636737282850.png" alt="Ashley-photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Ashley-photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A judge sentenced a Kansas man to almost ten years in prison this week for sex crimes involving a 9-year-old girl.In June, 33-year-old Andrion Ashley plead no contest to lewd and lascivious behavior, aggravated battery and criminal threat, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The judge also ordered&nbsp; Ashley to register as a sex offender.In January of 2018, police arrested Ashley for rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, criminal threat, child abuse, aggravated battery and kidnapping, according to online jail records.