SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in a double homicide on Super Bowl Sunday made his first court appearance Friday.

&nbsp;Brandon&nbsp;Prouse&nbsp;Jr., 20, of Wichita was charged with&nbsp; with two counts of 1st degree murder.&nbsp;.

Just after 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, police responded to a shooting call at a home in the 2100 block of South Erie in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located the bodies of 38-year-old Bonnie Galloway and a 30-year-old Connor O’Callaghan both of Wichita.&nbsp; They had been shot and were pronounced deceased on the scene. A resident of the home found the victims and called the police.&nbsp; 

The investigation revealed&nbsp;Prouse&nbsp;and the victims are known to each other and were at the home when a disturbance ensued.&nbsp; During the disturbance,&nbsp;Prouse&nbsp;shot both victims and then fled from the scene.

This was not a random incident and is believed to involve illegal and dangerous drugs.

. He is being held on a bond of one-million dollars, according to the district attorney's office. He is due back in court March 3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645065946539.png" alt="Prouse-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Prouse-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in a double homicide on Super Bowl Sunday made his first court appearance Friday.&nbsp;Brandon&nbsp;Prouse&nbsp;Jr., 20, of Wichita was charged with&nbsp; with two counts of 1st degree murder.&nbsp;.Just after 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, police responded to a shooting call at a home in the 2100 block of South Erie in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located the bodies of 38-year-old Bonnie Galloway and a 30-year-old Connor O’Callaghan both of Wichita.&nbsp; They had been shot and were pronounced deceased on the scene. A resident of the home found the victims and called the police.&nbsp; The investigation revealed&nbsp;Prouse&nbsp;and the victims are known to each other and were at the home when a disturbance ensued.&nbsp; During the disturbance,&nbsp;Prouse&nbsp;shot both victims and then fled from the scene.This was not a random incident and is believed to involve illegal and dangerous drugs.. He is being held on a bond of one-million dollars, according to the district attorney's office. He is due back in court March 3.

Kansas man charged in Super Bowl Sunday double murder

MUNICH (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris warned Russia on Saturday that it will face “unprecedented” financial penalties&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-europe-moscow-donetsk-4596388ab5f4ee61cee94f4f9a993915">if it invades Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and predicted that such an attack would draw European allies closer to the United States. The world is at “a decisive moment in history,” she told Ukraine’s president, who said he just wants peace for his nation.

Harris spoke at the annual Munich Security Conference the day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-europe-russia-moscow-c2e55b8b2b061b58e2b140d2a6dc1d57">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;said he was “convinced” that Russia’s Vladimir Putin has made the decision to invade neighboring Ukraine.

“Let me be clear, I can say with absolute certainty: If Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States, together with our allies and partners, will impose significant, and unprecedented economic costs,” Harris said.

Harris aimed to make the case to a largely European audience that the West has “strength through unity” and that an invasion would likely lead to an even bigger NATO presence on Russia’s doorstep.

Later, at the start of a meeting with Ukraine’s leader, Harris called it “a decisive moment in history” and told Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “Any threat to your country we take seriously.” He responded: “We clearly understand what is going on. This is our land. We want peace.”

He also said he needs Western allies to take “specific steps,” alluding to Ukraine’s requests for even more military and economic assistance. Zelensky also noted that with Russian troops at his country’s borders, Ukraine’s army is in fact “defending all of Europe.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-ukraine-crimea-42d26f5c29cd6daa59abe010882bf952">Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula</a>&nbsp;in 2014, and pro-Russia separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces in the country’s east for almost eight years. The United States and the European Union previously sanctioned Russia over its seizure of Crimea.

Western fears of an invasion have escalated in recent months as Russia amassed more than 150,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders.

Harris said the Biden administration, along with its allies, had tried to engage with Moscow in good faith to find a diplomatic resolution but that effort was not reciprocated by the Kremlin.

“Russia continues to say it is ready to talk while at the same time it narrows the avenues for diplomacy,” Harris said. “Their actions simply do not match their words.”

Harris credited European allies for speaking with a largely unified voice as the latest Ukraine crisis has unfolded. The vice president said Republicans and Democrats in Washington — who rarely agree on many major issues — are generally in agreement on the necessity of confronting Putin.

“We didn’t all start out in the same place,” Harris said. “We came together and are now speaking with a unified voice. And that voice was a function of not only dialogue and debate, some concessions, but also the practical realization of the moment that we are in, which is that we are looking at a sovereign nation that may very well be on the verge of being invaded yet again.”

Harris on Friday met in Munich with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who stressed that a U.S. increase in its troop presence on the eastern edge of NATO is necessary.

The White House has not yet said whether it will fulfill those requests, but Harris suggested in her address on Saturday that an invasion could lead to a bolstered American presence.

“The imposition of these sweeping and coordinated measures will inflict great damage on those who must be held accountable. And we will not stop with economic measures,” Harris said. “We will further reinforce our NATO allies on the eastern flank.”

Biden and other U.S. have offered increasingly dire warnings that the window for diplomacy is narrow.

Biden told reporters Friday that he believes Putin has decided to invade in the coming days, taking military action that could go far beyond the disputed Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and include the capital of Kyiv.

The vice president was scheduled to meet later Saturday with Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

Harris noted in her remarks that “not since the end of the Cold War” has the Munich conference “convened under such dire circumstances.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645278575486.png" alt="“We didn’t all start out in the same place,” Harris said. “We came together and are now speaking with a unified voice.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>“We didn’t all start out in the same place,” Harris said. “We came together and are now speaking with a unified voice.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>MUNICH (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris warned Russia on Saturday that it will face “unprecedented” financial penalties&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-europe-moscow-donetsk-4596388ab5f4ee61cee94f4f9a993915">if it invades Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and predicted that such an attack would draw European allies closer to the United States. The world is at “a decisive moment in history,” she told Ukraine’s president, who said he just wants peace for his nation.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FVicePresident%2Fvideos%2F448098990389296%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=7" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Harris spoke at the annual Munich Security Conference the day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-europe-russia-moscow-c2e55b8b2b061b58e2b140d2a6dc1d57">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;said he was “convinced” that Russia’s Vladimir Putin has made the decision to invade neighboring Ukraine.“Let me be clear, I can say with absolute certainty: If Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States, together with our allies and partners, will impose significant, and unprecedented economic costs,” Harris said.Harris aimed to make the case to a largely European audience that the West has “strength through unity” and that an invasion would likely lead to an even bigger NATO presence on Russia’s doorstep.Later, at the start of a meeting with Ukraine’s leader, Harris called it “a decisive moment in history” and told Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “Any threat to your country we take seriously.” He responded: “We clearly understand what is going on. This is our land. We want peace.”He also said he needs Western allies to take “specific steps,” alluding to Ukraine’s requests for even more military and economic assistance. Zelensky also noted that with Russian troops at his country’s borders, Ukraine’s army is in fact “defending all of Europe.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-ukraine-crimea-42d26f5c29cd6daa59abe010882bf952">Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula</a>&nbsp;in 2014, and pro-Russia separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces in the country’s east for almost eight years. The United States and the European Union previously sanctioned Russia over its seizure of Crimea.Western fears of an invasion have escalated in recent months as Russia amassed more than 150,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders.Harris said the Biden administration, along with its allies, had tried to engage with Moscow in good faith to find a diplomatic resolution but that effort was not reciprocated by the Kremlin.“Russia continues to say it is ready to talk while at the same time it narrows the avenues for diplomacy,” Harris said. “Their actions simply do not match their words.”Harris credited European allies for speaking with a largely unified voice as the latest Ukraine crisis has unfolded. The vice president said Republicans and Democrats in Washington — who rarely agree on many major issues — are generally in agreement on the necessity of confronting Putin.“We didn’t all start out in the same place,” Harris said. “We came together and are now speaking with a unified voice. And that voice was a function of not only dialogue and debate, some concessions, but also the practical realization of the moment that we are in, which is that we are looking at a sovereign nation that may very well be on the verge of being invaded yet again.”Harris on Friday met in Munich with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who stressed that a U.S. increase in its troop presence on the eastern edge of NATO is necessary.The White House has not yet said whether it will fulfill those requests, but Harris suggested in her address on Saturday that an invasion could lead to a bolstered American presence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645278546336.png" alt="Harris noted in her remarks that “not since the end of the Cold War” has the Munich conference “convened under such dire circumstances.”-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Harris noted in her remarks that “not since the end of the Cold War” has the Munich conference “convened under such dire circumstances.”-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“The imposition of these sweeping and coordinated measures will inflict great damage on those who must be held accountable. And we will not stop with economic measures,” Harris said. “We will further reinforce our NATO allies on the eastern flank.”Biden and other U.S. have offered increasingly dire warnings that the window for diplomacy is narrow.Biden told reporters Friday that he believes Putin has decided to invade in the coming days, taking military action that could go far beyond the disputed Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and include the capital of Kyiv.The vice president was scheduled to meet later Saturday with Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz.Harris noted in her remarks that “not since the end of the Cold War” has the Munich conference “convened under such dire circumstances.”___

🎥 VP Harris in Munich: World at 'a decisive moment in history'

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (AP) — More than 1,000 rodents were found inside a Family Dollar distribution facility in Arkansas, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday as the chain issued a voluntary recall affecting items purchased from hundreds of stores in the South.

A consumer complaint prompted officials to inspect the West Memphis, Arkansas, facility in January, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-alerts-public-potentially-contaminated-products-family-dollar-stores-six-states">FDA said in a news release</a>. Inside the building, inspectors said they found live rodents, dead rodents in “various states of decay,” rodent feces, dead birds and bird droppings.

After fumigating the facility, more than 1,100 dead rodents were recovered, officials said.

“No one should be subjected to products stored in the kind of unacceptable conditions that we found in this Family Dollar distribution facility,” said Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Judith McMeekin.

The FDA said it is working with Family Dollar to begin a voluntary recall of affected products.

Those products include human food, pet food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, medical devices and over-the-counter medications that were purchased in January or February from Family Dollar stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri or Tennessee.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220218005563/en/Family-Dollar-Stores-Issues-Voluntary-Recall-of-Certain-FDA-Regulated-Products-in-Six-States-Including-Drugs-Devices-Cosmetics-Foods">news release</a>, Family Dollar listed the 404 stores that may have sold products from the contaminated facility.

The company said it “is not aware of any consumer complaints or reports of illness related to this recall.”

The FDA said food in non-permeable packaging “may be suitable for use if thoroughly cleaned.” Regardless of packaging, all drugs, medical devices, cosmetics and dietary supplements should be thrown away, officials said.

“Family Dollar is notifying its affected stores by letter asking them to check their stock immediately and to quarantine and discontinue the sale of any affected product,” the company said. “Customers that may have bought affected product may return such product to the Family Dollar store where they were purchased without receipt.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645278069763.png" alt="The FDA said it is working with Family Dollar to begin a voluntary recall of affected products.-Google image" />
 <figcaption>The FDA said it is working with Family Dollar to begin a voluntary recall of affected products.-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (AP) — More than 1,000 rodents were found inside a Family Dollar distribution facility in Arkansas, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday as the chain issued a voluntary recall affecting items purchased from hundreds of stores in the South.A consumer complaint prompted officials to inspect the West Memphis, Arkansas, facility in January, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-alerts-public-potentially-contaminated-products-family-dollar-stores-six-states">FDA said in a news release</a>. Inside the building, inspectors said they found live rodents, dead rodents in “various states of decay,” rodent feces, dead birds and bird droppings.After fumigating the facility, more than 1,100 dead rodents were recovered, officials said.“No one should be subjected to products stored in the kind of unacceptable conditions that we found in this Family Dollar distribution facility,” said Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Judith McMeekin.The FDA said it is working with Family Dollar to begin a voluntary recall of affected products.Those products include human food, pet food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, medical devices and over-the-counter medications that were purchased in January or February from Family Dollar stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri or Tennessee.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220218005563/en/Family-Dollar-Stores-Issues-Voluntary-Recall-of-Certain-FDA-Regulated-Products-in-Six-States-Including-Drugs-Devices-Cosmetics-Foods">news release</a>, Family Dollar listed the 404 stores that may have sold products from the contaminated facility.The company said it “is not aware of any consumer complaints or reports of illness related to this recall.”The FDA said food in non-permeable packaging “may be suitable for use if thoroughly cleaned.” Regardless of packaging, all drugs, medical devices, cosmetics and dietary supplements should be thrown away, officials said.“Family Dollar is notifying its affected stores by letter asking them to check their stock immediately and to quarantine and discontinue the sale of any affected product,” the company said. “Customers that may have bought affected product may return such product to the Family Dollar store where they were purchased without receipt.”

Hundreds of rodents found inside Family Dollar facility in Arkansas 

By MARGARET MELLOTT <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/18/kansas-judge-blocks-college-from-failing-nursing-student-who-refused-covid-19-vaccine/">Kansas Reflector</a>

EMPORIA
 — A district judge issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday preventing a
 technical college from recording failing grades for a nursing student 
who refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on religious grounds.

The student, Molly Ellis, claimed unlawful discrimination in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/EllisLawsuit.pdf">a lawsuit filed Feb. 2</a>
 in Lyon County District Court against Flint Hills Technical College and
 the director of its nursing program. After a three-hour hearing 
Tuesday, Judge W. Lee Fowler issued the injunction pending a mandatory 
settlement conference.

Ellis testified she refused the 
COVID-19 vaccine because of “fetal lining taken from abortions a couple 
of decades ago.” Following this, Fowler directed attorneys away from 
questions related to fetal tissue and vaccines.

While fetal cell lines were used in the development of COVID-19 vaccines, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8205255/">National Institutes for Health</a>, they are not used in the production of the shots.

“We got relief today,” said Linus 
Baker, the Johnson County attorney who represented Ellis. “She’s still 
in the nursing program, so first things first. They had already put the 
ax to her neck and we stopped it. The judge stopped it.”

In 2017, Baker and his wife, Terri, 
sued the Kansas Department for Children and Families to prevent it from 
immunizing their foster grandson, citing religious and health concerns. 
In 2019, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article234077867.html">Bakers sued</a> the Blue Valley school district and state officials over vaccinations.

On Monday, <a target="_blank" href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ED-22-550-Signed.pdf">Gov. Laura Kelly directed Kansas agencies</a>
 to follow state law when complying with a recent U.S. Supreme Court 
decision that holds facilities to the federal vaccine mandate if they 
receive funds under Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
directives. During a special session last November, the Kansas 
Legislature exempted employees from COVID-19 vaccine requirements by 
stating a religious reason, without giving specifics of their beliefs.

Ellis was unable to complete her 
clinicals, required training that provides real-life experience at 
emergency facilities, because she was assigned to a facility that 
required the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the lawsuit. Tuesday’s 
injunction will require the school to list her grades as incomplete 
until a settlement is reached.

The judge said the settlement conference will happen within 60 days.

FHTC had assigned Ellis to Newman 
Regional Health in Emporia for her practicum, according to court 
documents. The hospital requires nursing students to be vaccinated. The 
college refused to assign her to another facility after she made her 
religious objection known, according to testimony Tuesday. Newman 
Regional Health is not a party in the lawsuit.

The director of the nursing program, 
Kim McNeese, described at length the school’s nursing program and its 
procedures. Ellis had missed three clinicals, leading to a failing 
grade.

“No exemptions have been given to” Ellis, McNeese testified.

The college offers an 11-month 
technical nursing program and is part of the Kansas Board of Regents 
system. FHTC had an enrollment in 2021 of 562 full-time equivalent 
students, according to the regents.

Fourteen other students are currently enrolled in the nursing program, McNeese said.

The governor’s directive on Monday, in
 telling agencies to follow state law, said the sincerity of religious 
belief among those seeking exemptions shouldn’t be questioned.

“Facilities shall grant an exemption 
to the federal COVID-19 vaccine requirement if the employee submits a 
written waiver request stating that complying with the requirement would
 violate sincerely held religious beliefs of the employee,” the message 
said. “Religious beliefs include, but is not limited to, theistic and 
non-theistic moral and ethical beliefs as to what is right and wrong 
that are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious 
views. Facilities shall not inquire into the sincerity of the request.”

Ellis testified Tuesday that she had 
emailed McNeese stating her religious objection to the vaccine 
requirement in late January. She also said she hadn’t had any 
vaccinations since she was in kindergarten.

“We’ll figure out the rest about how 
to keep her in the nursing program,” Baker said after the hearing. “And 
she gets to maintain her fidelity to her religious beliefs. She doesn’t 
have to exchange that to get a nursing degree, which I think would be 
the fair outcome in this case.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645221575917.png" alt="A preliminary injunction preventing Flint Hills Technical College from failing one of its nursing students was issued Feb. 15 by Lyon County District Judge W. Lee Fowler. The student, Molly Ellis, has refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine because of religious beliefs and is suing Kim McNeese, director of the nursing program at FHTC, for religious discrimination. (Margaret Mellott)" />
 <figcaption>A preliminary injunction preventing Flint Hills Technical College from failing one of its nursing students was issued Feb. 15 by Lyon County District Judge W. Lee Fowler. The student, Molly Ellis, has refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine because of religious beliefs and is suing Kim McNeese, director of the nursing program at FHTC, for religious discrimination. (Margaret Mellott)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARGARET MELLOTT <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/18/kansas-judge-blocks-college-from-failing-nursing-student-who-refused-covid-19-vaccine/">Kansas Reflector</a>EMPORIA
 — A district judge issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday preventing a
 technical college from recording failing grades for a nursing student 
who refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on religious grounds.The student, Molly Ellis, claimed unlawful discrimination in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/EllisLawsuit.pdf">a lawsuit filed Feb. 2</a>
 in Lyon County District Court against Flint Hills Technical College and
 the director of its nursing program. After a three-hour hearing 
Tuesday, Judge W. Lee Fowler issued the injunction pending a mandatory 
settlement conference.Ellis testified she refused the 
COVID-19 vaccine because of “fetal lining taken from abortions a couple 
of decades ago.” Following this, Fowler directed attorneys away from 
questions related to fetal tissue and vaccines.While fetal cell lines were used in the development of COVID-19 vaccines, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8205255/">National Institutes for Health</a>, they are not used in the production of the shots.“We got relief today,” said Linus 
Baker, the Johnson County attorney who represented Ellis. “She’s still 
in the nursing program, so first things first. They had already put the 
ax to her neck and we stopped it. The judge stopped it.”In 2017, Baker and his wife, Terri, 
sued the Kansas Department for Children and Families to prevent it from 
immunizing their foster grandson, citing religious and health concerns. 
In 2019, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article234077867.html">Bakers sued</a> the Blue Valley school district and state officials over vaccinations.On Monday, <a target="_blank" href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ED-22-550-Signed.pdf">Gov. Laura Kelly directed Kansas agencies</a>
 to follow state law when complying with a recent U.S. Supreme Court 
decision that holds facilities to the federal vaccine mandate if they 
receive funds under Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
directives. During a special session last November, the Kansas 
Legislature exempted employees from COVID-19 vaccine requirements by 
stating a religious reason, without giving specifics of their beliefs.Ellis was unable to complete her 
clinicals, required training that provides real-life experience at 
emergency facilities, because she was assigned to a facility that 
required the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the lawsuit. Tuesday’s 
injunction will require the school to list her grades as incomplete 
until a settlement is reached.The judge said the settlement conference will happen within 60 days.FHTC had assigned Ellis to Newman 
Regional Health in Emporia for her practicum, according to court 
documents. The hospital requires nursing students to be vaccinated. The 
college refused to assign her to another facility after she made her 
religious objection known, according to testimony Tuesday. Newman 
Regional Health is not a party in the lawsuit.The director of the nursing program, 
Kim McNeese, described at length the school’s nursing program and its 
procedures. Ellis had missed three clinicals, leading to a failing 
grade.“No exemptions have been given to” Ellis, McNeese testified.The college offers an 11-month 
technical nursing program and is part of the Kansas Board of Regents 
system. FHTC had an enrollment in 2021 of 562 full-time equivalent 
students, according to the regents.Fourteen other students are currently enrolled in the nursing program, McNeese said.The governor’s directive on Monday, in
 telling agencies to follow state law, said the sincerity of religious 
belief among those seeking exemptions shouldn’t be questioned.“Facilities shall grant an exemption 
to the federal COVID-19 vaccine requirement if the employee submits a 
written waiver request stating that complying with the requirement would
 violate sincerely held religious beliefs of the employee,” the message 
said. “Religious beliefs include, but is not limited to, theistic and 
non-theistic moral and ethical beliefs as to what is right and wrong 
that are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious 
views. Facilities shall not inquire into the sincerity of the request.”Ellis testified Tuesday that she had 
emailed McNeese stating her religious objection to the vaccine 
requirement in late January. She also said she hadn’t had any 
vaccinations since she was in kindergarten.“We’ll figure out the rest about how 
to keep her in the nursing program,” Baker said after the hearing. “And 
she gets to maintain her fidelity to her religious beliefs. She doesn’t 
have to exchange that to get a nursing degree, which I think would be 
the fair outcome in this case.”

Kan. judge blocks college from failing nursing student who refused vaccine

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a home-invasion burglary and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a burglary in progress at a residence in the 1000 block North 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

A 59 year old resident was inside the home at the time of the incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;Officers arrived and located a suspect identified as 25-year-old Jarvis Grace leaving the residence. 

After a brief struggle he was taken into custody. An investigation determined that the suspect was acquainted with the resident and had previously been banned from the property, according to Wilson.

 The suspect had forced entry into the residence through a door and was attempting to steal a television when officers arrived and took him into custody. The homeowner was not injured.

Grace is being held on requested charges of aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property, criminal trespass, and interference with law enforcement, according to Wilson.

On Feb. 7, police arrested Grace for alleged criminal damage to property and in December of 2020 he was jailed on requested charges of domestic battery, according to online jail records. He had a previous burglary arrest in 2018.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645114740493.png" alt="Grace-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Grace-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a home-invasion burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a burglary in progress at a residence in the 1000 block North 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.A 59 year old resident was inside the home at the time of the incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;Officers arrived and located a suspect identified as 25-year-old Jarvis Grace leaving the residence. After a brief struggle he was taken into custody. An investigation determined that the suspect was acquainted with the resident and had previously been banned from the property, according to Wilson. The suspect had forced entry into the residence through a door and was attempting to steal a television when officers arrived and took him into custody. The homeowner was not injured.Grace is being held on requested charges of aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property, criminal trespass, and interference with law enforcement, according to Wilson.On Feb. 7, police arrested Grace for alleged criminal damage to property and in December of 2020 he was jailed on requested charges of domestic battery, according to online jail records. He had a previous burglary arrest in 2018.

Police arrest Kansas man for home-invasion burglary

LINN COUNTY—Four people died in an accident just after 11a.m. Friday in Linn County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Dodge Ram driven by Larry L.&nbsp;Klingensmith, 66,&nbsp;Winnsboro, Texas, was northbound on U.S. 69 approximately two miles south of Kansas 52 Highway.

The driver lost of the pickup when it struck an icy patch on the roadway. The pickup entered the east ditch, rolled twice, entered a flooded wildlife area and submerged on its top.

Klingensmith and passengers 65-year-old Kimberly A.&nbsp;Klingensmith, 32-year-old Karly A.&nbsp;Klingensmith and 36-year-old&nbsp;Klingensmith, Nicolas L. Klingensmith all of Winnsboro, Texas, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp; Karly Klingensmith was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

LINN COUNTY—Four people died in an accident just after 11a.m. Friday in Linn County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Dodge Ram driven by Larry L.&nbsp;Klingensmith, 66,&nbsp;Winnsboro, Texas, was northbound on U.S. 69 approximately two miles south of Kansas 52 Highway.The driver lost of the pickup when it struck an icy patch on the roadway. The pickup entered the east ditch, rolled twice, entered a flooded wildlife area and submerged on its top.Klingensmith and passengers 65-year-old Kimberly A.&nbsp;Klingensmith, 32-year-old Karly A.&nbsp;Klingensmith and 36-year-old&nbsp;Klingensmith, Nicolas L. Klingensmith all of Winnsboro, Texas, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp; Karly Klingensmith was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

4 dead after pickup rolls into flooded Kansas wildlife area

PAWNEE COUNTY —Two suspects arrested following a Monday night traffic stop in&nbsp; Pawnee County and a follow up search warrant made their first appearance in court Thursday, according to Pawnee Co. Attorney Doug McNett.

During the 10:45p.m. Monday traffic stop, a K9 was deployed&nbsp; with positive indication, deputies were able to locate 4 ounces of Meth, 1.9 grams of mushrooms, and drug paraphernalia, according to Sheriff Scott King. They also arrested&nbsp;Jennifer Ann Welcher, 41 of Hoisington.

This investigation paved way for a search warrant Tuesday morning, resulting in the arrest of&nbsp; Kelvin Stacy Minor, 57 of Larned on requested charges of distribution, possession, and multiple offender registration violations, according to King.

Welcher and Minor appeared in custody Thursday morning in the Pawnee County District Court before Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell for Felony First Appearances.

Welch is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute over 100 grams, Felony Drug Paraphernalia suitable to distribute a controlled substance, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Psilocyn Mushrooms, and&nbsp; Misdemeanor Drug Paraphernalia suitable to ingest a controlled substance.

Minor is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute over 100 grams, Violation of the Offender Registration Act (3rd Offense), and&nbsp; Unlawful Receipt of Proceeds from the Distribution of a Controlled Substance.

Preliminary Hearing have been scheduled for March 3, 2022. Both defendants are being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff in lieu of $100,000 cash or surety bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645145627837.png" alt="Minor has been a registered drug offender since 2010, according to the KBI -photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Minor has been a registered drug offender since 2010, according to the KBI -photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —Two suspects arrested following a Monday night traffic stop in&nbsp; Pawnee County and a follow up search warrant made their first appearance in court Thursday, according to Pawnee Co. Attorney Doug McNett.During the 10:45p.m. Monday traffic stop, a K9 was deployed&nbsp; with positive indication, deputies were able to locate 4 ounces of Meth, 1.9 grams of mushrooms, and drug paraphernalia, according to Sheriff Scott King. They also arrested&nbsp;Jennifer Ann Welcher, 41 of Hoisington.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645151413636.png" alt="Photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>This investigation paved way for a search warrant Tuesday morning, resulting in the arrest of&nbsp; Kelvin Stacy Minor, 57 of Larned on requested charges of distribution, possession, and multiple offender registration violations, according to King.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645145600205.png" alt="Welcher photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Welcher photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Welcher and Minor appeared in custody Thursday morning in the Pawnee County District Court before Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell for Felony First Appearances.Welch is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute over 100 grams, Felony Drug Paraphernalia suitable to distribute a controlled substance, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Psilocyn Mushrooms, and&nbsp; Misdemeanor Drug Paraphernalia suitable to ingest a controlled substance.Minor is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute over 100 grams, Violation of the Offender Registration Act (3rd Offense), and&nbsp; Unlawful Receipt of Proceeds from the Distribution of a Controlled Substance.Preliminary Hearing have been scheduled for March 3, 2022. Both defendants are being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff in lieu of $100,000 cash or surety bond.

Drug bust leads to arrest of registered Kansas offender

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double homicide in Kansas City, Kansas involving two 14-year-olds have identified the victims as&nbsp;Samuel Guess and Antonio Johnson. 

Just before 1a.m. Friday police responded to an apartment at 2200 Birch Drive between Silver City Park and Argentine Middle School where they found two juveniles dead of apparent gunshot wounds, according to a media release.

Police released no suspect information and are asking the public for tips that might lead to an arrest.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double homicide in Kansas City, Kansas.

Just before 1a.m. Friday police responded to an apartment at 2200 Birch Drive where they found two juveniles dead of apparent gunshot wounds inside a residence, according to a media release.

Police released no suspect information or additional details early Friday.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double homicide in Kansas City, Kansas involving two 14-year-olds have identified the victims as&nbsp;Samuel Guess and Antonio Johnson. Just before 1a.m. Friday police responded to an apartment at 2200 Birch Drive between Silver City Park and Argentine Middle School where they found two juveniles dead of apparent gunshot wounds, according to a media release.Police released no suspect information and are asking the public for tips that might lead to an arrest.---------JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a double homicide in Kansas City, Kansas.Just before 1a.m. Friday police responded to an apartment at 2200 Birch Drive where they found two juveniles dead of apparent gunshot wounds inside a residence, according to a media release.Police released no suspect information or additional details early Friday.

Police ID two 14-year-olds found dead at Kansas home

By PAUL HAMMEL&nbsp;AND&nbsp;AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/18/groene-denies-accusations-that-he-took-objectifying-photos-of-his-legislative-aide/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — State Sen. Mike Groene announced that he was resigning Friday afternoon, just a couple of hours after denying accusations that he took sexually inappropriate photographs of a female legislative aide.

Gov. Pete Ricketts issued a statement saying that he has spoken with Groene and “we both agreed it was best for him to resign.”

Groene, 66, was elected to the Nebraska Legislature eight years ago, and was barred from running again due to term limits.

An official letter of resignation Groene, an often outspoken lawmaker known for his fiery floor speeches, was expected to come early next week.

“I am not going to drag my wife, family and friends through the fight it would take to defend myself,” the senator said in a text. “I am resigning and dropping out of politics completely. Life is too short.”

Groene, 66, said that he is dropping out of the race for University of Nebraska Board of Regents, a campaign he announced only two days ago.

“I am cutting contact with all things political,” he said. “I am going to just exist and enjoy my remaining days.”

The development came quickly after an Omaha-based website reported, and legislative leaders confirmed, that a legislative aide of the senator had filed a complaint that Groene had taken inappropriate photographs of her while in their State Capitol office.

The chairman of the Legislature’s Executive Board, State Sen. Dan Hughes, confirmed Friday afternoon that a workplace harassment complaint had been lodged against Groene and that it was being taken “very seriously.”

That came after the Nebraska Sunrise News reported that Kristina&nbsp;Konecko, who had worked on and off for Groene for six years, had lodged a complaint over photos of herself that she had discovered on Groene’s laptop computer.

Konecko, according to the website, considered the photos inappropriate.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The pictures appeared to have been taken by Groene and then emailed from him to other parties with email captions of a sexual nature,” the website reported.

Konecko described the photos as “objectifying and demeaning.” The Sunrise News story said some were “zoom-close-ups of provocative body parts with explicit subject lines.”

Konecko declined to comment Friday when reached by the Nebraska Examiner.

Groene told the Nebraska Examiner on&nbsp;Friday that he had taken some individual photos of Konecko in his office, but he denied that they were sexual in nature. He said that they depicted her full body, not “body parts” as has been claimed.

“There were not pictures that were zoomed in or anything,” he said.&nbsp;

“In today’s world, if you want to take a picture of someone, you should say ‘I’m taking a picture.’ But I didn’t, and I apologized for it,” said Groene.

Groene, of North Platte, said legislative IT workers had gone through his computer and discovered nothing that would be considered sexually inappropriate.

He said that he had given Konecko access to his personal computer to screen and “clean up” unwanted emails. That’s when she discovered the photos.

Groene maintained that he had never treated the legislative aide as a “sexual object.” He said he had taken about 20 photographs of Konecko with other visitors to his office, including his wife, but said he had also taken a few of his aide individually.

“She’s kind of a strait-laced person, and I guess I did something I shouldn’t have,” said Groene.

About three or four weeks ago, the senator said, he was informed that Konecko was offended after discovering the photographs. That, Groene said, is when he apologized.

“I am keeping my part of the bargain,” he said.

But all that changed later Friday afternoon when Groene offered to submit his resignation to Ricketts.

Complaints about inappropriate behavior by a senator or legislative staff member are handled by the Executive Board of the Legislature, which is headed by Hughes.&nbsp;

Jane Kleeb, the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, lashed out at Groene on Friday, saying it was an example of the “corruption and harassment” that happens when one party, the Republican Party, dominates a state.

“This is despicable and the latest in a string of inappropriate behavior by Republican officials,” Kleeb said in a statement. “Groene should resign and the public deserves to know all the other senators or staff involved.”

Kleeb cited a handful of cases over the years, including the resignation of State Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion for using a state computer for cybersex, and Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy, who stepped down after it was discovered he used a state cell phone to make dozens of calls to women other than his wife.

Groene insisted he treated Konecko “like a daughter” and had always maintained a professional relationship with her.

&nbsp;“If I’m going to be drug through the mud on the floor (of the Legislature), I’ll resign,” Groene said only a couple of hours before submitting his resignation.

Later, after confirming his resignation, the senator said he needed to focus on “eternity and my family.”

“Feels like a ton of bricks have been taken off my back,” he texted.

Groene, a registered Republican, was a fiery speaker in the Legislature, often railing against spending and tax policies. He unsuccessfully sought major changes in how state aid to schools was distributed while chairman of the Legislature’s Education Committee, then lost his chairmanship last year due to his often gruff and abrasive personality.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645228180620.png" alt="Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL&nbsp;AND&nbsp;AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/18/groene-denies-accusations-that-he-took-objectifying-photos-of-his-legislative-aide/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — State Sen. Mike Groene announced that he was resigning Friday afternoon, just a couple of hours after denying accusations that he took sexually inappropriate photographs of a female legislative aide.Gov. Pete Ricketts issued a statement saying that he has spoken with Groene and “we both agreed it was best for him to resign.”Groene, 66, was elected to the Nebraska Legislature eight years ago, and was barred from running again due to term limits.An official letter of resignation Groene, an often outspoken lawmaker known for his fiery floor speeches, was expected to come early next week.“I am not going to drag my wife, family and friends through the fight it would take to defend myself,” the senator said in a text. “I am resigning and dropping out of politics completely. Life is too short.”Groene, 66, said that he is dropping out of the race for University of Nebraska Board of Regents, a campaign he announced only two days ago.“I am cutting contact with all things political,” he said. “I am going to just exist and enjoy my remaining days.”The development came quickly after an Omaha-based website reported, and legislative leaders confirmed, that a legislative aide of the senator had filed a complaint that Groene had taken inappropriate photographs of her while in their State Capitol office.The chairman of the Legislature’s Executive Board, State Sen. Dan Hughes, confirmed Friday afternoon that a workplace harassment complaint had been lodged against Groene and that it was being taken “very seriously.”That came after the Nebraska Sunrise News reported that Kristina&nbsp;Konecko, who had worked on and off for Groene for six years, had lodged a complaint over photos of herself that she had discovered on Groene’s laptop computer.Konecko, according to the website, considered the photos inappropriate.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The pictures appeared to have been taken by Groene and then emailed from him to other parties with email captions of a sexual nature,” the website reported.<h2>‘Objectifying and demeaning’</h2>Konecko described the photos as “objectifying and demeaning.” The Sunrise News story said some were “zoom-close-ups of provocative body parts with explicit subject lines.”Konecko declined to comment Friday when reached by the Nebraska Examiner.Groene told the Nebraska Examiner on&nbsp;Friday that he had taken some individual photos of Konecko in his office, but he denied that they were sexual in nature. He said that they depicted her full body, not “body parts” as has been claimed.“There were not pictures that were zoomed in or anything,” he said.&nbsp;<h2>‘I apologized’</h2>“In today’s world, if you want to take a picture of someone, you should say ‘I’m taking a picture.’ But I didn’t, and I apologized for it,” said Groene.Groene, of North Platte, said legislative IT workers had gone through his computer and discovered nothing that would be considered sexually inappropriate.He said that he had given Konecko access to his personal computer to screen and “clean up” unwanted emails. That’s when she discovered the photos.<h2>Not a ‘sexual object’</h2>Groene maintained that he had never treated the legislative aide as a “sexual object.” He said he had taken about 20 photographs of Konecko with other visitors to his office, including his wife, but said he had also taken a few of his aide individually.“She’s kind of a strait-laced person, and I guess I did something I shouldn’t have,” said Groene.About three or four weeks ago, the senator said, he was informed that Konecko was offended after discovering the photographs. That, Groene said, is when he apologized.“I am keeping my part of the bargain,” he said.But all that changed later Friday afternoon when Groene offered to submit his resignation to Ricketts.Complaints about inappropriate behavior by a senator or legislative staff member are handled by the Executive Board of the Legislature, which is headed by Hughes.&nbsp;<h2>‘This is despicable’</h2>Jane Kleeb, the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, lashed out at Groene on Friday, saying it was an example of the “corruption and harassment” that happens when one party, the Republican Party, dominates a state.“This is despicable and the latest in a string of inappropriate behavior by Republican officials,” Kleeb said in a statement. “Groene should resign and the public deserves to know all the other senators or staff involved.”Kleeb cited a handful of cases over the years, including the resignation of State Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion for using a state computer for cybersex, and Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy, who stepped down after it was discovered he used a state cell phone to make dozens of calls to women other than his wife.Groene insisted he treated Konecko “like a daughter” and had always maintained a professional relationship with her.&nbsp;“If I’m going to be drug through the mud on the floor (of the Legislature), I’ll resign,” Groene said only a couple of hours before submitting his resignation.Later, after confirming his resignation, the senator said he needed to focus on “eternity and my family.”“Feels like a ton of bricks have been taken off my back,” he texted.Groene, a registered Republican, was a fiery speaker in the Legislature, often railing against spending and tax policies. He unsuccessfully sought major changes in how state aid to schools was distributed while chairman of the Legislature’s Education Committee, then lost his chairmanship last year due to his often gruff and abrasive personality.

Neb. rep resigning after accusations he took ‘objectifying’ photos of aide

MANHATTAN—Law enforcement authorities investigating a series of sex crimes over several years and have a suspect in custody.

On Friday afternoon, police arrested 44-year-old Joshua Penabaz of Manhattan, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.

Penabaz is currently being held at the Riley County Jail on a bond of $1 million on requested charges for rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and aggravated criminal sodomy.

MANHATTAN—Law enforcement authorities investigating a series of sex crimes over several years and have a suspect in custody.On Friday afternoon, police arrested 44-year-old Joshua Penabaz of Manhattan, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.Penabaz is currently being held at the Riley County Jail on a bond of $1 million on requested charges for rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and aggravated criminal sodomy.

Police: Kan. man held on $1 million bond for child sex crimes

HUTCHINSON —Inmate Gabriel Sanchez Jr. has been apprehended after being placed on escape status Friday from the Hutchinson Correctional Facility Minimum Custody South Unit, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Local law enforcement, the Kansas Highway Patrol and KDOC officials collaborated in the search and arrest.

Sanchez is currently serving a sentence for convictions in Reno County for assault and battery of a law enforcement officer and fleeing/eluding local law enforcement.

The escape is currently being investigated.

&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kansas – Kansas Department of Corrections inmate Gabriel Sanchez Jr. has been placed on escape status from the Hutchinson Correctional Facility Minimum Custody South Unit, according to the statement from the KDOC.

Local law enforcement and the Kansas Highway Patrol are aiding in the search.

Sanchez, a 29-year-old while male, has brown&nbsp; hair, brown eyes, is 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 254 pounds.

Anyone with information on Sanches can call the Kansas Department of Corrections at 316-265-5211, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

The escape is currently being investigated.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645214336468.png" alt="Sanchez-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Sanchez-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON —Inmate Gabriel Sanchez Jr. has been apprehended after being placed on escape status Friday from the Hutchinson Correctional Facility Minimum Custody South Unit, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.Local law enforcement, the Kansas Highway Patrol and KDOC officials collaborated in the search and arrest.Sanchez is currently serving a sentence for convictions in Reno County for assault and battery of a law enforcement officer and fleeing/eluding local law enforcement.The escape is currently being investigated.---------&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kansas – Kansas Department of Corrections inmate Gabriel Sanchez Jr. has been placed on escape status from the Hutchinson Correctional Facility Minimum Custody South Unit, according to the statement from the KDOC.Local law enforcement and the Kansas Highway Patrol are aiding in the search.Sanchez, a 29-year-old while male, has brown&nbsp; hair, brown eyes, is 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 254 pounds.Sanchez is currently serving a sentence for convictions in Reno County for assault and battery of a law enforcement officer and fleeing/eluding local law enforcement.Anyone with information on Sanches can call the Kansas Department of Corrections at 316-265-5211, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.The escape is currently being investigated.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Inmate who escaped Hutch Correctional Facility captured

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday signed a bipartisan bill to extend government funding for three weeks to give Congress more time to reach an overdue deal financing federal agencies through the rest of the fiscal year, the White House announced.

The Senate approved the measure Thursday by a bipartisan 65-27 vote, five more than the 60 votes needed, after the House easily approved the legislation last week. Each party had concluded that an election-year shutdown would be politically damaging, especially during a pandemic and a confrontation with Russia over its possible invasion of Ukraine.

Both parties hope the short-term measure will be the last one needed as negotiators craft compromise bills financing agencies through Sept. 30. Since the government’s budget year began last Oct. 1, federal agencies have functioned at spending levels approved in the waning weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency.

The new spending bills will be bipartisan compromises but will let Biden and Democrats controlling Congress put more of a stamp on spending priorities. They also are expected to provide defense increases the GOP wants.

In recent decades Congress has routinely finished its budget work months late. Averting shutdowns prompted by partisan point-scoring has become an accomplishment, not a given.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645218431708.png" alt="President Biden spoke to reporters outside the White House-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden spoke to reporters outside the White House-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday signed a bipartisan bill to extend government funding for three weeks to give Congress more time to reach an overdue deal financing federal agencies through the rest of the fiscal year, the White House announced.The Senate approved the measure Thursday by a bipartisan 65-27 vote, five more than the 60 votes needed, after the House easily approved the legislation last week. Each party had concluded that an election-year shutdown would be politically damaging, especially during a pandemic and a confrontation with Russia over its possible invasion of Ukraine.Both parties hope the short-term measure will be the last one needed as negotiators craft compromise bills financing agencies through Sept. 30. Since the government’s budget year began last Oct. 1, federal agencies have functioned at spending levels approved in the waning weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency.The new spending bills will be bipartisan compromises but will let Biden and Democrats controlling Congress put more of a stamp on spending priorities. They also are expected to provide defense increases the GOP wants.In recent decades Congress has routinely finished its budget work months late. Averting shutdowns prompted by partisan point-scoring has become an accomplishment, not a given.

Another short-term spending bill averts government shutdown 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Fire officials say a woman and two dogs died in a house fire early Friday north of Topeka. Station WIBW-AM reports that Soldier Township fire crews were called around 1 a.m. Friday to the home about 8 miles north of Topeka. 

Battalion Chief Chad Lady says firefighters arrived to find the house collapsed and fully engulfed in flames. Lady said fire crews later found the bodies of the woman and two dogs inside.

Authorities have not released the woman's name. An investigator from the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office was at the scene Friday to try to determine the cause of the fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645205896217.png" alt="Scene of the fatal Friday morning fire north of Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the fatal Friday morning fire north of Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Fire officials say a woman and two dogs died in a house fire early Friday north of Topeka. Station WIBW-AM reports that Soldier Township fire crews were called around 1 a.m. Friday to the home about 8 miles north of Topeka. Battalion Chief Chad Lady says firefighters arrived to find the house collapsed and fully engulfed in flames. Lady said fire crews later found the bodies of the woman and two dogs inside.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645205680727.png" alt="Photo WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Authorities have not released the woman's name. An investigator from the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office was at the scene Friday to try to determine the cause of the fire.

Officials: Woman, dogs killed in Kansas house fire 

By ROD ZOOK Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The investigation continues into the three major wildfires that burned areas east of Hutchinson in the past week. All three fires were caused by smoldering brush piles that may not have been properly tended to.&nbsp;

The fires may change the way the county deals with that type of burning.

“There was a committee put together to look at the existing ordinance and if there’s better ways and alternatives&nbsp; to do business with that burn ordinance within Reno County,” Hutchinson Fire Chief Steve Beer said. “That group wrapped up December's meeting with recommendations that are being put together. These recommendations will be presented to the Reno County Board of Commissioners in the near future.”

Beer says that when any type of burning is done it is the responsibility of the landowner to make sure that the smoldering brush pile is tended to until the fire is completely out. He says that there could even be legal action coming to those who are found responsible for such fires:

“It’s the responsibility of the landowner, '' Beer said. “If you’re going to light up 70 brush piles or whatever, you have to maintain them. That’s your responsibility and if they get away from you you’re going to be held liable.”

The county has been pushing to have property owners clear out trees and other debris from the areas prone to wildfires in order to protect their homes and property, but disposing of those trees also adds to the problem if not done properly.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644954584096.jpeg" alt="Photo-Courtesy Grant Wray" />
 <figcaption>Photo-Courtesy Grant Wray</figcaption>
 </figure> By ROD ZOOK Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The investigation continues into the three major wildfires that burned areas east of Hutchinson in the past week. All three fires were caused by smoldering brush piles that may not have been properly tended to.&nbsp;The fires may change the way the county deals with that type of burning.“There was a committee put together to look at the existing ordinance and if there’s better ways and alternatives&nbsp; to do business with that burn ordinance within Reno County,” Hutchinson Fire Chief Steve Beer said. “That group wrapped up December's meeting with recommendations that are being put together. These recommendations will be presented to the Reno County Board of Commissioners in the near future.”Beer says that when any type of burning is done it is the responsibility of the landowner to make sure that the smoldering brush pile is tended to until the fire is completely out. He says that there could even be legal action coming to those who are found responsible for such fires:“It’s the responsibility of the landowner, '' Beer said. “If you’re going to light up 70 brush piles or whatever, you have to maintain them. That’s your responsibility and if they get away from you you’re going to be held liable.”The county has been pushing to have property owners clear out trees and other debris from the areas prone to wildfires in order to protect their homes and property, but disposing of those trees also adds to the problem if not done properly.

Investigation continues into recent Reno County wildfires

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 1,482 to a total of 762,081, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The state reported 17 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,907.

<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 1,482 to a total of 762,081, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp; &nbsp;The state reported 17 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,907.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645207395331.png" alt="Friday February 18, 2022 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday February 18, 2022 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: 1,480 new cases, 17 additional COVID-19 deaths

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The former suburban Minneapolis police officer who said she confused her handgun for her Taser when she fatally shot&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-shootings-police-coronavirus-pandemic-minneapolis-d88c7d626eebcdea975dc249309a4fa5">Daunte Wright</a>&nbsp;was sentenced Friday to two years in prison, a penalty below state guidelines after the judge found mitigating factors warranted a lesser sentence.

Kim Potter was convicted in December of first- and second-degree manslaughter in the April 11 killing of Wright, a 20-year-old Black motorist. She was sentenced only on the more serious charge in accordance with state law.

For someone with no criminal history, such as Potter, the state guidelines on that charge range from slightly more than six years to about 8 1/2 years in prison, with the presumptive sentence being just over seven years.

Prosecutors said the presumptive sentence was proper, but defense attorneys asked for a sentence below the guidelines, including a sentence of probation only.

Judge Regina Chu imposed the sentence after hearing from Wright’s family and Potter.

Wright’s mother said she will never be able to forgive Potter and would only refer to her as “the defendant” because Potter only referred to her 20-year-old son as “the driver” at trial.

“She never once said his name. And for that I’ll never be able to forgive you. And I’ll never be able to forgive you for what you’ve stolen from us,” a tearful Wright said.

“A police officer who was supposed to serve and protect so much took so much away from us ... My life and my world will never ever be the same again,” she said, adding later: “Daunte Demetrius Wright, I will continue to fight in your name until driving while black is no longer a death sentence.”

Wright was killed after Brooklyn Center officers pulled him over for having expired license tags and an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. The shooting, which came in the midst of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-convicted-george-floyd-killing-d93d1f9fc61a5261e179240dc16924dc">Derek Chauvin’s trial on murder charges</a>&nbsp;in George Floyd’s killing, sparked several days of demonstrations outside the Brooklyn Center police station marked by tear gas and clashes between protesters and police.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-shootings-minnesota-minneapolis-arrests-ea3f946497f367662842bb08c1b8e242">Potter</a>&nbsp;was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kim-potter-guilty-manslaughter-death-of-daunte-wright-43e70645189bf61be64fc00534adf388">convicted in December of first- and second-degree manslaughter</a>&nbsp;in the April 11 killing. She’ll be sentenced only on the most serious charge of first-degree manslaughter, which carries a presumptive penalty of just over seven years in prison.

Prosecutor Matt Frank said Friday that he believed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-minnesota-minneapolis-bf13b1c196cb3badbc453c6083810beb">presumptive sentence is appropriate</a>, given the loss of life and Potter’s culpable negligence.

“His life mattered, and that life was taken,” Frank said. “His name is Daunte Wright. We have to say his name. He was not just a driver. He was a living human being. A life.”

Defense attorney Paul Engh told the judge that Wright’s death was “beyond tragic for everybody involved.” But, he added: “This was an unintentional crime. It was an accident. It was a mistake.”

Engh held up a box displaying what he said were among “thousands” of letters and cards of support for Potter.

“People took the time to write her,” Engh said. “This is unheard of for a defendant. I dare say no one in this room has ever seen anything like this.”

He urged the judge to sentence Potter to probation, saying sentencing guidelines are often not followed because they are too high for many defendants, including first-time offenders. He said Potter would be willing to meet with Wright’s family and to speak to police officers about Taser mixups.

If Potter is not sentenced to probation, then she should get a lower-than-usual sentence because Wright was the aggressor, Engh said. The testimony of other officers on the scene showed it was a dangerous situation because Wright was attempting to drive away, he said.

“This was an aggressive act. I don’t know how it couldn’t be an aggressive act,” said Engh, who also said Potter had the right to defend other officers and that she never should have been charged with first-degree manslaughter.

Evidence at Potter’s trial showed officers learned he had an outstanding warrant for a weapons possession charge and they tried to arrest him when he pulled away. Video showed Potter shouted several times that she was going to use her Taser on Wright, but she had her gun in her hand and fired one shot into his chest.

Potter has been at the state’s women’s prison in Shakopee since the guilty verdict. Her attorney said Friday that her mental and physical health has declined because she is isolated for her safety.

“If you send her to prison, you will harm her,” Engh said. “We are not in the business of harming defendants.”

Potter was also expected to make a statement.

Wright’s father and siblings earlier addressed the court to speak of their loss.

The mother of Wright’s son, Chyna Whitaker, said Friday that Wright would never have a chance to play ball with his son, or see him go to school.

“My son shouldn’t have to wear a ‘rest in peace’ shirt of his dad,” Whitaker said.

For someone with no criminal history, such as Potter, the state sentencing guidelines for first-degree manslaughter call for a penalty ranging from slightly more than six years to about 8 1/2 years in prison, with the presumptive sentence being just over seven years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640352112509.png" alt="Potter's booking photo shows her smiling following her conviction in December 2021-photo&nbsp; Hennepin County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Potter's booking photo shows her smiling following her conviction in December 2021-photo&nbsp; Hennepin County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The former suburban Minneapolis police officer who said she confused her handgun for her Taser when she fatally shot&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-shootings-police-coronavirus-pandemic-minneapolis-d88c7d626eebcdea975dc249309a4fa5">Daunte Wright</a>&nbsp;was sentenced Friday to two years in prison, a penalty below state guidelines after the judge found mitigating factors warranted a lesser sentence.Kim Potter was convicted in December of first- and second-degree manslaughter in the April 11 killing of Wright, a 20-year-old Black motorist. She was sentenced only on the more serious charge in accordance with state law.For someone with no criminal history, such as Potter, the state guidelines on that charge range from slightly more than six years to about 8 1/2 years in prison, with the presumptive sentence being just over seven years.Prosecutors said the presumptive sentence was proper, but defense attorneys asked for a sentence below the guidelines, including a sentence of probation only.Judge Regina Chu imposed the sentence after hearing from Wright’s family and Potter.Wright’s mother said she will never be able to forgive Potter and would only refer to her as “the defendant” because Potter only referred to her 20-year-old son as “the driver” at trial.“She never once said his name. And for that I’ll never be able to forgive you. And I’ll never be able to forgive you for what you’ve stolen from us,” a tearful Wright said.“A police officer who was supposed to serve and protect so much took so much away from us ... My life and my world will never ever be the same again,” she said, adding later: “Daunte Demetrius Wright, I will continue to fight in your name until driving while black is no longer a death sentence.”Wright was killed after Brooklyn Center officers pulled him over for having expired license tags and an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. The shooting, which came in the midst of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-convicted-george-floyd-killing-d93d1f9fc61a5261e179240dc16924dc">Derek Chauvin’s trial on murder charges</a>&nbsp;in George Floyd’s killing, sparked several days of demonstrations outside the Brooklyn Center police station marked by tear gas and clashes between protesters and police.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-shootings-minnesota-minneapolis-arrests-ea3f946497f367662842bb08c1b8e242">Potter</a>&nbsp;was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kim-potter-guilty-manslaughter-death-of-daunte-wright-43e70645189bf61be64fc00534adf388">convicted in December of first- and second-degree manslaughter</a>&nbsp;in the April 11 killing. She’ll be sentenced only on the most serious charge of first-degree manslaughter, which carries a presumptive penalty of just over seven years in prison.Prosecutor Matt Frank said Friday that he believed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-minnesota-minneapolis-bf13b1c196cb3badbc453c6083810beb">presumptive sentence is appropriate</a>, given the loss of life and Potter’s culpable negligence.“His life mattered, and that life was taken,” Frank said. “His name is Daunte Wright. We have to say his name. He was not just a driver. He was a living human being. A life.”Defense attorney Paul Engh told the judge that Wright’s death was “beyond tragic for everybody involved.” But, he added: “This was an unintentional crime. It was an accident. It was a mistake.”Engh held up a box displaying what he said were among “thousands” of letters and cards of support for Potter.“People took the time to write her,” Engh said. “This is unheard of for a defendant. I dare say no one in this room has ever seen anything like this.”He urged the judge to sentence Potter to probation, saying sentencing guidelines are often not followed because they are too high for many defendants, including first-time offenders. He said Potter would be willing to meet with Wright’s family and to speak to police officers about Taser mixups.If Potter is not sentenced to probation, then she should get a lower-than-usual sentence because Wright was the aggressor, Engh said. The testimony of other officers on the scene showed it was a dangerous situation because Wright was attempting to drive away, he said.“This was an aggressive act. I don’t know how it couldn’t be an aggressive act,” said Engh, who also said Potter had the right to defend other officers and that she never should have been charged with first-degree manslaughter.Evidence at Potter’s trial showed officers learned he had an outstanding warrant for a weapons possession charge and they tried to arrest him when he pulled away. Video showed Potter shouted several times that she was going to use her Taser on Wright, but she had her gun in her hand and fired one shot into his chest.Potter has been at the state’s women’s prison in Shakopee since the guilty verdict. Her attorney said Friday that her mental and physical health has declined because she is isolated for her safety.“If you send her to prison, you will harm her,” Engh said. “We are not in the business of harming defendants.”Potter was also expected to make a statement.Wright’s father and siblings earlier addressed the court to speak of their loss.The mother of Wright’s son, Chyna Whitaker, said Friday that Wright would never have a chance to play ball with his son, or see him go to school.“My son shouldn’t have to wear a ‘rest in peace’ shirt of his dad,” Whitaker said.For someone with no criminal history, such as Potter, the state sentencing guidelines for first-degree manslaughter call for a penalty ranging from slightly more than six years to about 8 1/2 years in prison, with the presumptive sentence being just over seven years.In Minnesota, it’s presumed that inmates who show good behavior will serve two-thirds of their sentence in prison and the rest on supervised release, commonly known as parole. That means if Potter gets the roughly seven-year presumptive sentence, she would serve about four years and nine months in custody, with the rest on parole.