SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating&nbsp;&nbsp;a shooting in the parking lot of a Dillons store arrested an 18-year-old from Oklahoma.

Shortly before 2:30 p.m. on February 10, police responded to a shooting call at 21st and Maize Road. Wichita Fire Department personnel were at the Dillon’s store at that location when they located a a man identified as&nbsp;18-year-old Iman Foye of Muskogee, Oklahoma with a gunshot wound, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Foye directed them to another victim, a 21-year-old man who was in the parking lot between two vehicles with multiple gunshot wounds.

Both Foye and the 21-year-old were transported to an area hospital with critical injuries. Foye was released from the hospital on Feb. 13 and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of aggravated robbery and criminal use of weapons.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 21-year-old male remains hospitalized.

Investigators learned that shortly after 2:00 p.m. on the 10th, one of the involved vehicles backed into a parking stall on the east side of the parking lot. A man then exited the vehicle, removed something from the trunk, then re-entered the car. Later, the other vehicle backed into a stall next to the first one. Shortly after that, gunfire was exchanged between the two cars, and three men exited the cars. It was initially believed that three men fled into the neighborhood to the east, while one remained by the vehicles.

However, it has since been discovered that only two fled into the neighborhood, and one remained by the vehicles, according to Davidson. Foye&nbsp; is no longer in custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644948108306.png" alt="Foye photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Foye photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating&nbsp;&nbsp;a shooting in the parking lot of a Dillons store arrested an 18-year-old from Oklahoma.Shortly before 2:30 p.m. on February 10, police responded to a shooting call at 21st and Maize Road. Wichita Fire Department personnel were at the Dillon’s store at that location when they located a a man identified as&nbsp;18-year-old Iman Foye of Muskogee, Oklahoma with a gunshot wound, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Foye directed them to another victim, a 21-year-old man who was in the parking lot between two vehicles with multiple gunshot wounds.Both Foye and the 21-year-old were transported to an area hospital with critical injuries. Foye was released from the hospital on Feb. 13 and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of aggravated robbery and criminal use of weapons.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 21-year-old male remains hospitalized.Investigators learned that shortly after 2:00 p.m. on the 10th, one of the involved vehicles backed into a parking stall on the east side of the parking lot. A man then exited the vehicle, removed something from the trunk, then re-entered the car. Later, the other vehicle backed into a stall next to the first one. Shortly after that, gunfire was exchanged between the two cars, and three men exited the cars. It was initially believed that three men fled into the neighborhood to the east, while one remained by the vehicles.However, it has since been discovered that only two fled into the neighborhood, and one remained by the vehicles, according to Davidson. Foye&nbsp; is no longer in custody.

Kansas teen in parking lot gun fight moved from hospital to jail

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2022-02-15/kansas-lawmakers-want-schools-to-post-class-lessons-online-as-a-tool-against-critical-race-theory">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA&nbsp;— In the battle over critical race theory and 
how to teach about topics like racism or history in Kansas schools, 
conservative activists and lawmakers have a new clarion call: curriculum
 transparency.

They want schools to be more open about what 
they’re teaching, and they want districts to put classroom and training 
materials online for the public to see. They also want more oversight of
 materials centered on race, gender or sexuality, or other topics they 
think are inappropriate for youngsters.

A proposed <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2662_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Parents’ Bill of Rights</a>
 would require Kansas school districts to create an “academic 
transparency portal” on their websites to post information on learning 
materials and activities.

If approved, Kansas K-12 schools and 
libraries would no longer be exempt from obscenity laws, opening them to
 potential criminal charges if they distribute material found to be 
harmful to minors. It also would shield teachers who refuse to teach 
against their religious or philosophical beliefs.

“People have 
seen the news stories, and I think parents are saying, ‘Wait a second, 
is this happening in my kid’s classroom, too?’” said Rodney Penn, 
founder of a Salina-based parent group, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/990859254309004/" target="_blank">Kansas Parents Involved in Education</a>.

“And they realize they don’t know, and they don’t know how to find out,” Penn said.

Opponents
 of curriculum transparency bills, including teachers’ unions and 
free-speech groups, say schools welcome and encourage parental 
involvement.

“Schools are some of the most overseen areas in the 
country. We have school boards. We have superintendents. We have PTA 
meetings. There’s an entire infrastructure of transparency and 
visibility already created,” said James Tager, research director for the
 free speech group <a href="https://pen.org/" target="_blank">PEN America</a>.

“We
 see these laws really as more teacher intimidation and surveillance of 
teachers,” Tager said. “This is essentially creating new means to 
pressure teachers to change their curricula not in ways that serve 
children, but in ways that reflect political biases and partisan 
actions.”

In a <a href="https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1479512380400803843" target="_blank">series of tweets</a> last month, Christopher Rufo of the conservative <a href="https://www.manhattan-institute.org/" target="_blank">Manhattan Institute</a>
 said pivoting from critical race theory to curriculum transparency is a
 “rhetorically-advantageous position.” Since then, measures echoing a <a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-parents-bill-rights-defend-parents-role-education" target="_blank">proposal from conservative Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley</a> have been introduced in at least a dozen states.

“By
 moving to curriculum transparency, we will … bait the Left into 
opposing ‘transparency,’ which will raise the question: what are they 
trying to hide?” Rufo tweeted.

Some parents in the Shawnee Mission school district near Kansas City <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-12-13/conservatives-see-critical-race-theory-in-anti-racist-schooling-and-they-want-it-gone-from-kansas" target="_blank">protested a teacher training program called Deep Equity</a>.
 They say it is rooted in the tenets of critical race theory – the idea 
that slavery, Jim Crow and systemic racism are key to understanding 
American history and culture.

One parent told the House K-12 
Education Budget Committee last month that she was barred from viewing 
program materials because they were copyright protected.

District 
spokesman David Smith said Deep Equity training sessions weren’t 
recorded, and materials presented during them aren’t district property. 
But parents who ask could view workbooks or other materials the district
 has.

“Sometimes people, rather than speaking with their teacher 
or principal or somebody in the central office, they will go to somebody
 outside of the system and complain,” Smith said. “And that creates the 
appearance of a problem when, in fact, it doesn’t exist.”

Republican
 Kansas state Rep. Susan Estes, a former teacher, said it used to be 
easier for parents to keep track of what their children were learning in
 school. As materials shift from traditional textbooks to multimedia 
lessons or training sessions, that gets harder.

“So much of what 
is happening that parents are concerned about is happening 
conversationally in the classroom,” Estes said. “So a parent is really 
left in the dark, and never should be left in the dark.”

Opponents
 of curriculum transparency laws say teaching is an organic process that
 can’t be captured in lesson plans or lists of materials.

For example, the Blue Valley school district posts a <a href="https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/Page/34459" target="_blank">list of novels</a>
 approved for high school English classes, along with teachers’ 
rationale and some curriculum standards covered by those lessons. But 
once students are in a classroom talking about a novel, it’s hard to say
 what direction a discussion will take.

Brent Lewis, president of 
United Teachers of Wichita, said requiring detailed lesson plans as much
 as a year ahead of time would be not only impractical, but bad for 
students.

“If you wanted to do harm to the education of our 
children, you would make teachers provide one-size-fits-all instruction 
like this, instead of allowing us to adapt and meet the needs of 
individual students,” he said.

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644954681095.png" alt="Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2022-02-15/kansas-lawmakers-want-schools-to-post-class-lessons-online-as-a-tool-against-critical-race-theory">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA&nbsp;— In the battle over critical race theory and 
how to teach about topics like racism or history in Kansas schools, 
conservative activists and lawmakers have a new clarion call: curriculum
 transparency.They want schools to be more open about what 
they’re teaching, and they want districts to put classroom and training 
materials online for the public to see. They also want more oversight of
 materials centered on race, gender or sexuality, or other topics they 
think are inappropriate for youngsters.A proposed <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hb2662_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Parents’ Bill of Rights</a>
 would require Kansas school districts to create an “academic 
transparency portal” on their websites to post information on learning 
materials and activities.If approved, Kansas K-12 schools and 
libraries would no longer be exempt from obscenity laws, opening them to
 potential criminal charges if they distribute material found to be 
harmful to minors. It also would shield teachers who refuse to teach 
against their religious or philosophical beliefs.“People have 
seen the news stories, and I think parents are saying, ‘Wait a second, 
is this happening in my kid’s classroom, too?’” said Rodney Penn, 
founder of a Salina-based parent group, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/990859254309004/" target="_blank">Kansas Parents Involved in Education</a>.“And they realize they don’t know, and they don’t know how to find out,” Penn said.Opponents
 of curriculum transparency bills, including teachers’ unions and 
free-speech groups, say schools welcome and encourage parental 
involvement.“Schools are some of the most overseen areas in the 
country. We have school boards. We have superintendents. We have PTA 
meetings. There’s an entire infrastructure of transparency and 
visibility already created,” said James Tager, research director for the
 free speech group <a href="https://pen.org/" target="_blank">PEN America</a>.“We
 see these laws really as more teacher intimidation and surveillance of 
teachers,” Tager said. “This is essentially creating new means to 
pressure teachers to change their curricula not in ways that serve 
children, but in ways that reflect political biases and partisan 
actions.”In a <a href="https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1479512380400803843" target="_blank">series of tweets</a> last month, Christopher Rufo of the conservative <a href="https://www.manhattan-institute.org/" target="_blank">Manhattan Institute</a>
 said pivoting from critical race theory to curriculum transparency is a
 “rhetorically-advantageous position.” Since then, measures echoing a <a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-parents-bill-rights-defend-parents-role-education" target="_blank">proposal from conservative Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley</a> have been introduced in at least a dozen states.“By
 moving to curriculum transparency, we will … bait the Left into 
opposing ‘transparency,’ which will raise the question: what are they 
trying to hide?” Rufo tweeted.Some parents in the Shawnee Mission school district near Kansas City <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-12-13/conservatives-see-critical-race-theory-in-anti-racist-schooling-and-they-want-it-gone-from-kansas" target="_blank">protested a teacher training program called Deep Equity</a>.
 They say it is rooted in the tenets of critical race theory – the idea 
that slavery, Jim Crow and systemic racism are key to understanding 
American history and culture.One parent told the House K-12 
Education Budget Committee last month that she was barred from viewing 
program materials because they were copyright protected.District 
spokesman David Smith said Deep Equity training sessions weren’t 
recorded, and materials presented during them aren’t district property. 
But parents who ask could view workbooks or other materials the district
 has.“Sometimes people, rather than speaking with their teacher 
or principal or somebody in the central office, they will go to somebody
 outside of the system and complain,” Smith said. “And that creates the 
appearance of a problem when, in fact, it doesn’t exist.”Republican
 Kansas state Rep. Susan Estes, a former teacher, said it used to be 
easier for parents to keep track of what their children were learning in
 school. As materials shift from traditional textbooks to multimedia 
lessons or training sessions, that gets harder.“So much of what 
is happening that parents are concerned about is happening 
conversationally in the classroom,” Estes said. “So a parent is really 
left in the dark, and never should be left in the dark.”Opponents
 of curriculum transparency laws say teaching is an organic process that
 can’t be captured in lesson plans or lists of materials.For example, the Blue Valley school district posts a <a href="https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/Page/34459" target="_blank">list of novels</a>
 approved for high school English classes, along with teachers’ 
rationale and some curriculum standards covered by those lessons. But 
once students are in a classroom talking about a novel, it’s hard to say
 what direction a discussion will take.Brent Lewis, president of 
United Teachers of Wichita, said requiring detailed lesson plans as much
 as a year ahead of time would be not only impractical, but bad for 
students.“If you wanted to do harm to the education of our 
children, you would make teachers provide one-size-fits-all instruction 
like this, instead of allowing us to adapt and meet the needs of 
individual students,” he said.Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

Critical race theory: Kan. lawmakers class lessons posted online

KANSAS CITY— A California man was subdued by several passengers and flight attendants when he tried to open the exit door on an American Airlines flight en route to Washington, D.C., on Sunday afternoon, forcing the plane to land at Kansas City International Airport, according to the United State's Attorney.

Juan Remberto Rivas, 50, was charged with one count of assaulting and intimidating a flight attendant and thereby interfering in the performance of the flight attendant’s duties. Rivas remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

Rivas was a passenger aboard American Airlines flight 1775 traveling nonstop from Los Angeles, Calif., to Washington, D.C., which was diverted to Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, Mo., at approximately 2:28 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13.

According to an affidavit filed in support of Tuesday's federal criminal complaint, Rivas created a disturbance on the plane that escalated when he walked up to the cockpit area. Rivas grabbed some plastic silverware, removed the napkin wrapped around it, and placed the plastic silverware in his shirt sleeve and was holding it like a shank. A flight attendant told federal agents he felt threatened by the knife. Rivas then grabbed a small champagne bottle by the neck of the bottle and attempted to break the bottle on the counter. He began kicking and shoving the service cart into one of the flight attendants.&nbsp;

Rivas, who is about six-feet, three-inches tall and weighs about 240 pounds, allegedly grabbed the handles used to manipulate the forward starboard aircraft exit door. Rivas positioned one foot on the aircraft door, the affidavit says, and began pulling hard on the handle with one hand, at first, and then both of his hands. A flight attendant grabbed a coffee pot and hit Rivas twice in the head with it. Several passengers came forward to assist the flight attendants, the affidavit says. One of the passengers, a police officer, began to struggle with Rivas and pulled him away from the door. A passenger punched Rivas in the jaw and another passenger grabbed his neck and pulled him to the floor. Passengers and flight attendants restrained Rivas until they could secure his hands and feet with zip ties and duct tape.

Rivas received medical treatment for a laceration on his head. Flight attendants told investigators they did not serve any alcohol to Rivas during the flight.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644939476993.png" alt="Image of the altercation on the flight from the video courtesy @soccermouaz KMBC-TV" />
 <figcaption>Image of the altercation on the flight from the video courtesy @soccermouaz KMBC-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— A California man was subdued by several passengers and flight attendants when he tried to open the exit door on an American Airlines flight en route to Washington, D.C., on Sunday afternoon, forcing the plane to land at Kansas City International Airport, according to the United State's Attorney.Juan Remberto Rivas, 50, was charged with one count of assaulting and intimidating a flight attendant and thereby interfering in the performance of the flight attendant’s duties. Rivas remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement regarding a diverted flight to <a href="https://twitter.com/KCIAirport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KCIAirport</a> earlier today, from FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Charles Dayoub. <a href="https://t.co/ql5cQRpbZM">pic.twitter.com/ql5cQRpbZM</a>&mdash; FBI Kansas City (@FBIKansasCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIKansasCity/status/1493011499098517510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Rivas was a passenger aboard American Airlines flight 1775 traveling nonstop from Los Angeles, Calif., to Washington, D.C., which was diverted to Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, Mo., at approximately 2:28 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13.According to an affidavit filed in support of Tuesday's federal criminal complaint, Rivas created a disturbance on the plane that escalated when he walked up to the cockpit area. Rivas grabbed some plastic silverware, removed the napkin wrapped around it, and placed the plastic silverware in his shirt sleeve and was holding it like a shank. A flight attendant told federal agents he felt threatened by the knife. Rivas then grabbed a small champagne bottle by the neck of the bottle and attempted to break the bottle on the counter. He began kicking and shoving the service cart into one of the flight attendants.&nbsp;Rivas, who is about six-feet, three-inches tall and weighs about 240 pounds, allegedly grabbed the handles used to manipulate the forward starboard aircraft exit door. Rivas positioned one foot on the aircraft door, the affidavit says, and began pulling hard on the handle with one hand, at first, and then both of his hands. A flight attendant grabbed a coffee pot and hit Rivas twice in the head with it. Several passengers came forward to assist the flight attendants, the affidavit says. One of the passengers, a police officer, began to struggle with Rivas and pulled him away from the door. A passenger punched Rivas in the jaw and another passenger grabbed his neck and pulled him to the floor. Passengers and flight attendants restrained Rivas until they could secure his hands and feet with zip ties and duct tape.Rivas received medical treatment for a laceration on his head. Flight attendants told investigators they did not serve any alcohol to Rivas during the flight.

Man charged for wild altercation on flight diverted to Kansas City

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers was in a familiar spot earlier this month when Republican legislators sent him a bill that would have banned anti-racist teachings in schools. For the 66th time since taking office in 2019, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-wisconsin-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-legislature-8db54c00be82e0183ac6badc2d4c0804">pulled out his veto pen</a>.

The rejection was the latest reminder of the crucial role Evers and a select group of fellow Democratic governors play in some of the most politically divided states. They are the only backstop against a wave of GOP-backed legislation targeting everything from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-d42fda272f2276b9a3e340763752a609">abortion rights</a>&nbsp;and school curricula to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-election-2020-voting-voting-rights-health-3f46e438bf9368d9b3535824e8c6c911">access to voting</a>.

“I have to prevent some really bad things from happening,” Evers said in an interview. “It is a bit lonely, but I know I’m representing the people of Wisconsin.”

Wisconsin is one of four states emerging as top priorities for Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/midterm-elections">an election year</a>&nbsp;when the party is facing fierce political headwinds. In those states — Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — Republicans control the state Legislatures and Democratic-held governorships are on the ballot in the fall.

If the governorships switch parties, a flood of GOP legislation that has so far been blocked would likely become law. That’s especially concerning for Democrats when it comes to voting rights. The four incumbents — Evers, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf — have vetoed more than a dozen bills aimed at restricting voting.

Those moves were particularly important in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan, all narrowly divided states that could decide the 2024 presidential election. If Republicans win the governor’s race in any of those states, they will almost certainly approve voting restrictions that have so far been rejected.

In Wisconsin, for example, the Legislature is fast-tracking a host of bills changing election administration and voting rules, all of which Evers is expected to veto but that other Republican candidates for governor support.

Governors also have an important role in the mechanics of presidential elections — under federal law, the electors they say reflect the winners of their state get extra weight in any congressional fight over certifying the choice of the next president. That means in more extreme scenarios, GOP governors may seek to reject Democratic electors in a presidential race, a step&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-electoral-college-elections-0ee1ccae092c21bc8e8c3ace90208cac">then-President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;pressed some Republicans to take in 2020.

Many GOP candidates running for governor this year have expressed support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-fact-check-joe-biden-donald-trump-technology-49a24edd6d10888dbad61689c24b05a5">Trump’s lie that the last election was stolen</a>. In Wisconsin last week, state Rep. Timothy Ramthun, a conspiracy theorist who was disciplined by Republican leadership over false election claims,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wisconsin-elections-media-election-2020-52fa80d33c56621f3a35c845b2a75553">filed paperwork</a>&nbsp;to run for governor.

Federal and state election officials and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/barr-no-widespread-election-fraud-b1f1488796c9a98c4b1a9061a6c7f49d">Trump’s own attorney general</a>&nbsp;have said there is no credible evidence the election was tainted. The former president’s allegations of fraud were also roundly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-pennsylvania-elections-talk-radio-433b6efe72720d8648221f405c2111f9">rejected by courts</a>, including by judges Trump appointed.

Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, the head of the Democratic Governors Association, said the four governors are “standing in the breach against Republican state legislatures’ attacks on voting rights.”

Cooper, who also contends with a Republican legislature, said the governors are “protecting the foundation of our democracy.”

Republicans argue that Democrats are being obstructionist and simply refusing to work with the party that controls the legislatures in their states.

“An inability to work effectively with their legislature, regardless of party control, will ultimately be viewed by voters as a failure of leadership,” said Phil Cox, a Republican strategist and former executive director of the Republican Governors Association.

Democrats aren’t limiting their work this year to protecting their position in the four states in question. They are also hoping to pick up Republican-held seats in states like Georgia, Massachusetts and Maryland.

But the DGA is stepping up its opposition research efforts on Republican candidates in Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. And the Democratic candidates themselves are sitting on sizable campaign accounts.

At the end of 2021, Evers had about $10 million while Josh Shapiro, the likely Democratic nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, had $13 million, according to state campaign records. In Kansas, Kelly is expected to have a more difficult bid for reelection than in 2018, when she won in a three-way race. She had $2 million at the end of last year.

And in Michigan, Whitmer was sitting on $10 million. An independent expenditure group affiliated with the DGA also ran a pro-Whitmer ad in Michigan worth roughly $200,000 during December and January.

Whitmer has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-voting-michigan-gretchen-whitmer-legislature-60cd10512a22d8167e9f12a3ca589282">vetoed multiple bills</a>&nbsp;that would make it harder to vote, rejecting nine such measures in October alone.

“Gov. Whitmer is the backstop in a world where, if Republicans were to control legislative chambers and the governor’s office in any of these states, stripping voting rights would just automatically become law,” said Patrick Schuh, Michigan director of the Democratic-leaning voter access advocacy group America Votes.

One measure would have tacked on extra identification requirements for absentee ballot requests and blocked the state’s top election official from sending vote-by-mail requests out widely. Republicans have been forced to try to end-run Whitmer by attempting a ballot initiative, one that Schuh’s group hopes to counter with its own.

In Pennsylvania, Wolf&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pa-state-wire-business-bills-elections-government-and-politics-8400bdb8742fe7a04b3b469c7136b498">blocked similar efforts</a>, vetoing a massive bill that also would have reduced the days drop boxes for absentee ballots would be open. Wolf, finishing his second four-year term, is not seeking reelection, but Shapiro supports his vetoes.

Those Democrats have some advantages that could help them politically this year, including robust budget surpluses, state revenue that outperformed dire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;forecasts and billions in federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">COVID-19 relief</a>&nbsp;and incoming infrastructure money.

In Wisconsin, Evers has plans for the state’s largest budget surplus, $3 billion, including child care tax credits for working families and similar credits for full-time volunteer caregivers for the elderly and homebound, moves he sees as smart use of extra money at a time of need. With the flatness of low expectations, the mild-mannered former state school superintendent said he hopes Republicans “take a look at it.”

“I think the Republicans will be hard-pressed to say no to this. But they’ve done it before,” Evers said. “Whatever the number I’ve vetoed, it’s paltry compared to the number I’m going to.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641933594915.png" alt="Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a candidate for governor in 2022, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who is seeking re-election. (Photos by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a candidate for governor in 2022, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who is seeking re-election. (Photos by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By THOMAS BEAUMONT, Associated PressWisconsin Gov. Tony Evers was in a familiar spot earlier this month when Republican legislators sent him a bill that would have banned anti-racist teachings in schools. For the 66th time since taking office in 2019, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-wisconsin-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-legislature-8db54c00be82e0183ac6badc2d4c0804">pulled out his veto pen</a>.The rejection was the latest reminder of the crucial role Evers and a select group of fellow Democratic governors play in some of the most politically divided states. They are the only backstop against a wave of GOP-backed legislation targeting everything from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-d42fda272f2276b9a3e340763752a609">abortion rights</a>&nbsp;and school curricula to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-election-2020-voting-voting-rights-health-3f46e438bf9368d9b3535824e8c6c911">access to voting</a>.“I have to prevent some really bad things from happening,” Evers said in an interview. “It is a bit lonely, but I know I’m representing the people of Wisconsin.”Wisconsin is one of four states emerging as top priorities for Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/midterm-elections">an election year</a>&nbsp;when the party is facing fierce political headwinds. In those states — Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — Republicans control the state Legislatures and Democratic-held governorships are on the ballot in the fall.If the governorships switch parties, a flood of GOP legislation that has so far been blocked would likely become law. That’s especially concerning for Democrats when it comes to voting rights. The four incumbents — Evers, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf — have vetoed more than a dozen bills aimed at restricting voting.Those moves were particularly important in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan, all narrowly divided states that could decide the 2024 presidential election. If Republicans win the governor’s race in any of those states, they will almost certainly approve voting restrictions that have so far been rejected.In Wisconsin, for example, the Legislature is fast-tracking a host of bills changing election administration and voting rules, all of which Evers is expected to veto but that other Republican candidates for governor support.Governors also have an important role in the mechanics of presidential elections — under federal law, the electors they say reflect the winners of their state get extra weight in any congressional fight over certifying the choice of the next president. That means in more extreme scenarios, GOP governors may seek to reject Democratic electors in a presidential race, a step&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-electoral-college-elections-0ee1ccae092c21bc8e8c3ace90208cac">then-President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;pressed some Republicans to take in 2020.Many GOP candidates running for governor this year have expressed support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-fact-check-joe-biden-donald-trump-technology-49a24edd6d10888dbad61689c24b05a5">Trump’s lie that the last election was stolen</a>. In Wisconsin last week, state Rep. Timothy Ramthun, a conspiracy theorist who was disciplined by Republican leadership over false election claims,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wisconsin-elections-media-election-2020-52fa80d33c56621f3a35c845b2a75553">filed paperwork</a>&nbsp;to run for governor.Federal and state election officials and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/barr-no-widespread-election-fraud-b1f1488796c9a98c4b1a9061a6c7f49d">Trump’s own attorney general</a>&nbsp;have said there is no credible evidence the election was tainted. The former president’s allegations of fraud were also roundly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-pennsylvania-elections-talk-radio-433b6efe72720d8648221f405c2111f9">rejected by courts</a>, including by judges Trump appointed.Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, the head of the Democratic Governors Association, said the four governors are “standing in the breach against Republican state legislatures’ attacks on voting rights.”Cooper, who also contends with a Republican legislature, said the governors are “protecting the foundation of our democracy.”Republicans argue that Democrats are being obstructionist and simply refusing to work with the party that controls the legislatures in their states.“An inability to work effectively with their legislature, regardless of party control, will ultimately be viewed by voters as a failure of leadership,” said Phil Cox, a Republican strategist and former executive director of the Republican Governors Association.Democrats aren’t limiting their work this year to protecting their position in the four states in question. They are also hoping to pick up Republican-held seats in states like Georgia, Massachusetts and Maryland.But the DGA is stepping up its opposition research efforts on Republican candidates in Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. And the Democratic candidates themselves are sitting on sizable campaign accounts.At the end of 2021, Evers had about $10 million while Josh Shapiro, the likely Democratic nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, had $13 million, according to state campaign records. In Kansas, Kelly is expected to have a more difficult bid for reelection than in 2018, when she won in a three-way race. She had $2 million at the end of last year.And in Michigan, Whitmer was sitting on $10 million. An independent expenditure group affiliated with the DGA also ran a pro-Whitmer ad in Michigan worth roughly $200,000 during December and January.Whitmer has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-voting-michigan-gretchen-whitmer-legislature-60cd10512a22d8167e9f12a3ca589282">vetoed multiple bills</a>&nbsp;that would make it harder to vote, rejecting nine such measures in October alone.“Gov. Whitmer is the backstop in a world where, if Republicans were to control legislative chambers and the governor’s office in any of these states, stripping voting rights would just automatically become law,” said Patrick Schuh, Michigan director of the Democratic-leaning voter access advocacy group America Votes.One measure would have tacked on extra identification requirements for absentee ballot requests and blocked the state’s top election official from sending vote-by-mail requests out widely. Republicans have been forced to try to end-run Whitmer by attempting a ballot initiative, one that Schuh’s group hopes to counter with its own.In Pennsylvania, Wolf&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pa-state-wire-business-bills-elections-government-and-politics-8400bdb8742fe7a04b3b469c7136b498">blocked similar efforts</a>, vetoing a massive bill that also would have reduced the days drop boxes for absentee ballots would be open. Wolf, finishing his second four-year term, is not seeking reelection, but Shapiro supports his vetoes.Those Democrats have some advantages that could help them politically this year, including robust budget surpluses, state revenue that outperformed dire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus pandemic</a>&nbsp;forecasts and billions in federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-vote-coronavirus-relief-package-33f4902ca9a2aed4e76274af6bb2ea5c">COVID-19 relief</a>&nbsp;and incoming infrastructure money.In Wisconsin, Evers has plans for the state’s largest budget surplus, $3 billion, including child care tax credits for working families and similar credits for full-time volunteer caregivers for the elderly and homebound, moves he sees as smart use of extra money at a time of need. With the flatness of low expectations, the mild-mannered former state school superintendent said he hopes Republicans “take a look at it.”“I think the Republicans will be hard-pressed to say no to this. But they’ve done it before,” Evers said. “Whatever the number I’ve vetoed, it’s paltry compared to the number I’m going to.”___

Democrats eye key governors' races as backstop against GOP

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 33-year-old Wichita man who drove at a Sedgwick County courthouse officer and then harassed supporters of President Donald Trump has been sentenced to 30 months in prison. 

Prosecutors and defense attorneys for Justin Young recommended he receive probation for his actions in November 2020 because he was experiencing mental health issues after the death of his father. 

But Sedgwick County District Judge Eric Williams imposed the 30-month prison sentence at a hearing last week. An arrest affidavit says a demonstrator reported Young was harassing people at the Trump rally. Authorities said when Officer Stephen Linarez intervened, Young drove his truck toward Linarez, who escaped injury.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644953372934.png" alt="Young from an earlier arrest in Sumner Co." />
 <figcaption>Young from an earlier arrest in Sumner Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 33-year-old Wichita man who drove at a Sedgwick County courthouse officer and then harassed supporters of President Donald Trump has been sentenced to 30 months in prison. Prosecutors and defense attorneys for Justin Young recommended he receive probation for his actions in November 2020 because he was experiencing mental health issues after the death of his father. But Sedgwick County District Judge Eric Williams imposed the 30-month prison sentence at a hearing last week. An arrest affidavit says a demonstrator reported Young was harassing people at the Trump rally. Authorities said when Officer Stephen Linarez intervened, Young drove his truck toward Linarez, who escaped injury.

Kan. man who drove at officer, harassed Trump rally sentenced

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A day before she was due to be evicted in November from her Atlanta home, Shanelle King heard that she had been awarded about $15,000 in rental assistance. She could breathe again.

But then the 43-year-old hairdresser got a letter last month from her landlord saying the company was canceling her lease in March —- seven months early — without any explanation.

“I’m really pissed about it. I thought I would be comfortable again back in my home,” said King, whose work dried up during the pandemic and who now worries about finding another apartment she can afford. “Here I am back up against the wall with no where to stay. I don’t know what I am going to do.”

Although the $46.5 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-gene-sperling-7dbfb8157401d1e6d838116455c11556">Emergency Rental Assistance Program</a>&nbsp;has paid out tens of billions of dollars to help avert an eviction crisis, some tenants, like King, who received help are finding themselves threatened with eviction again — sometimes days after getting federal help. Many are finding it nearly impossible to find another affordable place to live.

“It is a Band-Aid. It was never envisioned as anything more than a Band-Aid,” Erin Willoughby, director of the Clayton Housing Legal Resource Center Atlanta, said of the program.

“It’s not solving the underlying problem, which is a lack of affordable housing. People are on the hook for rents they cannot afford to pay,” she said. “Simply finding something cheaper is not an option because there is not anything cheaper. People have to be housed somewhere.”

The National Housing Law Project, in a survey last fall of nearly 120 legal aid attorneys and civil rights advocates, found that 86% of respondents reported cases in which landlords either refused to take assistance or accepted the money and still moved to evict tenants. The survey also found a significant increase in cases of landlords lying in court to evict tenants and illegally locking them out.

“A number of issues could be described as issues related to landlord fraud ... and a set of problems I would describe as loopholes within the ... program that made it less effective to accomplish the goal,” said Natalie N. Maxwell, a senior attorney with the group.

National Apartment Association President and CEO Bob Pinnegar said the survey was not based on facts, adding that its members are doing everything they can to keep tenants in their homes, including lobbying to get rental assistance out faster.

“Skewed surveys aren’t reflective of the entire situation. By and large the rental housing industry has gone to great lengths to support residents, including when it comes to rental assistance and adherence to laws and regulations,” Pinnegar said in a statement.

Legal aid attorneys interviewed across the country confirmed they are seeing a steady increase in cases where tenants were approved for rental help and still faced eviction.

These include the mother of a newborn and two other children in Florida who received rental assistance but was ordered evicted after the landlord refused to take the money. Another Florida landlord lied in court that she hadn’t received the money in a bid to push through an eviction.

There have also been cases in Georgia and Texas where landlords who received assistance moved to end leases early, increased rents to unaffordable levels or found other reasons than nonpayment to evict someone, lawyers said.

“As it is right now, it doesn’t seem to be working as intended,” said Tori Tavormina, an eviction prevention specialist with Texas Housers. “It feels much more like it’s a program that is alleviating the pressure of the eviction crisis but not solving the underlying problems.”

District Court Judge Shera Grant, who handles housing cases in Birmingham, Alabama, said she and her fellow judges have seen an uptick in cases of landlords getting assistance and returning to court a few weeks later after a tenant has fallen behind on rent to seek an eviction. So far they have prevented them — though she expects a spike in these kinds of cases going forward.

“It’s incumbent on the judges to make sure we are paying close attention to our eviction cases and making sure that the landlord is not having their cake and eating it too,” she said. “By the same token, we are not forcing landlords to take the money. There are some unfortunate circumstances where the tenant has to be evicted.”

In the case of King, she believes her landlord was retaliating for earlier complaints about mold and water leaks in her three-bedroom house. The company King was dealing with, NDI Maxim, which manages property for owners, said it “was not at liberty to share details of tenants’ status nor their payment records.”

Other cases are complicated by the length of the pandemic and conflicting accounts of landlord and tenant. And they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-5f1a2b734a06eacad423298c1f0f6f3f">often leave both parties feeling shortchanged.</a>

Despite his landlord getting more than $20,000 in rental assistance, Prince Beatty is facing imminent eviction from his three-bedroom house in East Point, Georgia.

After the money was approved, Beatty signed an agreement in court late last year to pay several thousand dollars more that he owed as a condition to remain housed. He went back to the county for additional assistance to cover the balance but says he was denied. Unable to find warehouse work during the pandemic, the 47-year-old Navy veteran still can’t pay rent and is now $12,000 behind, in part due to his rent increasing from $1,250-a-month to $2,000.

Beatty, who was told he would be evicted this month, said he wakes most mornings in a panic, wondering if this will be the day when marshals “come and disrespect my stuff and throw it in the street.”

His landlord, Monique Jones, said she tried to work with Beatty. But she said he violated the lease by subletting rooms to several other people and that the amount of rental assistance has not covered losses from months of unpaid rent that started before the pandemic.

“It was helpful but it did not address the underlying issue which is his nonpayment of rent,” she said of the rental assistance. “That still remains and that is rightfully why I am proceeding. If I have a tenant who will pay rent and abides by the lease, I would not attempt to evict.”

Limits with rental assistance often come down to some states and localities failing to follow Treasury Department guidance calling for policies requiring landlords delay evictions after getting money. Although the program prevents landlords from evicting during the period covered by rental assistance, the Treasury Department can only encourage states to adopt policies that ban evictions up to three months afterward.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition found only 29 states and localities in 2021 had adopted policies that prohibit landlords who participate in the rental assistance program from evicting tenants for a period ranging from 30 days to 12 months. Six states — Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina and West Virginia — passed regulations while several cities or counties in Texas and Maryland did.

Gene Sperling, who is charged with overseeing implementation of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package, said there was no data to suggest landlords evicting tenants after getting assistance is a “pervasive issue” but that it was “completely unacceptable.”

While it’s “not against the letter of the act, it’s against the spirit of it,” he said.

The Coalition also said the program’s issues illustrate a larger problem.

“We are in the middle of a severe affordable housing crisis with gaping holes in our social safety net,” CEO Diane Yentel said. “We have a systemic power imbalance that favors landlords at the expense of low-income tenants. Emergency rental assistance and eviction moratoriums were a temporary patch to those holes.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A day before she was due to be evicted in November from her Atlanta home, Shanelle King heard that she had been awarded about $15,000 in rental assistance. She could breathe again.But then the 43-year-old hairdresser got a letter last month from her landlord saying the company was canceling her lease in March —- seven months early — without any explanation.“I’m really pissed about it. I thought I would be comfortable again back in my home,” said King, whose work dried up during the pandemic and who now worries about finding another apartment she can afford. “Here I am back up against the wall with no where to stay. I don’t know what I am going to do.”Although the $46.5 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-gene-sperling-7dbfb8157401d1e6d838116455c11556">Emergency Rental Assistance Program</a>&nbsp;has paid out tens of billions of dollars to help avert an eviction crisis, some tenants, like King, who received help are finding themselves threatened with eviction again — sometimes days after getting federal help. Many are finding it nearly impossible to find another affordable place to live.“It is a Band-Aid. It was never envisioned as anything more than a Band-Aid,” Erin Willoughby, director of the Clayton Housing Legal Resource Center Atlanta, said of the program.“It’s not solving the underlying problem, which is a lack of affordable housing. People are on the hook for rents they cannot afford to pay,” she said. “Simply finding something cheaper is not an option because there is not anything cheaper. People have to be housed somewhere.”The National Housing Law Project, in a survey last fall of nearly 120 legal aid attorneys and civil rights advocates, found that 86% of respondents reported cases in which landlords either refused to take assistance or accepted the money and still moved to evict tenants. The survey also found a significant increase in cases of landlords lying in court to evict tenants and illegally locking them out.“A number of issues could be described as issues related to landlord fraud ... and a set of problems I would describe as loopholes within the ... program that made it less effective to accomplish the goal,” said Natalie N. Maxwell, a senior attorney with the group.National Apartment Association President and CEO Bob Pinnegar said the survey was not based on facts, adding that its members are doing everything they can to keep tenants in their homes, including lobbying to get rental assistance out faster.“Skewed surveys aren’t reflective of the entire situation. By and large the rental housing industry has gone to great lengths to support residents, including when it comes to rental assistance and adherence to laws and regulations,” Pinnegar said in a statement.Legal aid attorneys interviewed across the country confirmed they are seeing a steady increase in cases where tenants were approved for rental help and still faced eviction.These include the mother of a newborn and two other children in Florida who received rental assistance but was ordered evicted after the landlord refused to take the money. Another Florida landlord lied in court that she hadn’t received the money in a bid to push through an eviction.There have also been cases in Georgia and Texas where landlords who received assistance moved to end leases early, increased rents to unaffordable levels or found other reasons than nonpayment to evict someone, lawyers said.“As it is right now, it doesn’t seem to be working as intended,” said Tori Tavormina, an eviction prevention specialist with Texas Housers. “It feels much more like it’s a program that is alleviating the pressure of the eviction crisis but not solving the underlying problems.”District Court Judge Shera Grant, who handles housing cases in Birmingham, Alabama, said she and her fellow judges have seen an uptick in cases of landlords getting assistance and returning to court a few weeks later after a tenant has fallen behind on rent to seek an eviction. So far they have prevented them — though she expects a spike in these kinds of cases going forward.“It’s incumbent on the judges to make sure we are paying close attention to our eviction cases and making sure that the landlord is not having their cake and eating it too,” she said. “By the same token, we are not forcing landlords to take the money. There are some unfortunate circumstances where the tenant has to be evicted.”In the case of King, she believes her landlord was retaliating for earlier complaints about mold and water leaks in her three-bedroom house. The company King was dealing with, NDI Maxim, which manages property for owners, said it “was not at liberty to share details of tenants’ status nor their payment records.”Other cases are complicated by the length of the pandemic and conflicting accounts of landlord and tenant. And they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-5f1a2b734a06eacad423298c1f0f6f3f">often leave both parties feeling shortchanged.</a>Despite his landlord getting more than $20,000 in rental assistance, Prince Beatty is facing imminent eviction from his three-bedroom house in East Point, Georgia.After the money was approved, Beatty signed an agreement in court late last year to pay several thousand dollars more that he owed as a condition to remain housed. He went back to the county for additional assistance to cover the balance but says he was denied. Unable to find warehouse work during the pandemic, the 47-year-old Navy veteran still can’t pay rent and is now $12,000 behind, in part due to his rent increasing from $1,250-a-month to $2,000.Beatty, who was told he would be evicted this month, said he wakes most mornings in a panic, wondering if this will be the day when marshals “come and disrespect my stuff and throw it in the street.”His landlord, Monique Jones, said she tried to work with Beatty. But she said he violated the lease by subletting rooms to several other people and that the amount of rental assistance has not covered losses from months of unpaid rent that started before the pandemic.“It was helpful but it did not address the underlying issue which is his nonpayment of rent,” she said of the rental assistance. “That still remains and that is rightfully why I am proceeding. If I have a tenant who will pay rent and abides by the lease, I would not attempt to evict.”Limits with rental assistance often come down to some states and localities failing to follow Treasury Department guidance calling for policies requiring landlords delay evictions after getting money. Although the program prevents landlords from evicting during the period covered by rental assistance, the Treasury Department can only encourage states to adopt policies that ban evictions up to three months afterward.The National Low Income Housing Coalition found only 29 states and localities in 2021 had adopted policies that prohibit landlords who participate in the rental assistance program from evicting tenants for a period ranging from 30 days to 12 months. Six states — Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina and West Virginia — passed regulations while several cities or counties in Texas and Maryland did.Gene Sperling, who is charged with overseeing implementation of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package, said there was no data to suggest landlords evicting tenants after getting assistance is a “pervasive issue” but that it was “completely unacceptable.”While it’s “not against the letter of the act, it’s against the spirit of it,” he said.The Coalition also said the program’s issues illustrate a larger problem.“We are in the middle of a severe affordable housing crisis with gaping holes in our social safety net,” CEO Diane Yentel said. “We have a systemic power imbalance that favors landlords at the expense of low-income tenants. Emergency rental assistance and eviction moratoriums were a temporary patch to those holes.”

Landlords finding ways to evict after getting rental aid

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas felon charged in the Sept. 7, mass shooting at a Wichita night club and arrested in Arizona attend a preliminary hearing in the case Friday, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20044181">Keshawn Dawson, 23 of Wichita, </a>is&nbsp;charged with 1st degree intentional murder, 1st degree murder in the commission of a felony, six counts of aggravated battery, and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Dawson is also charged in two separate cases for criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon for an incident on June 15, and&nbsp; criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia for use involving an arrest in January, according to the district attorney.

Friday's hearing included testimony from law enforcement and a viewing of security camera video from the night of the crime. The hearing will continue on March 1, according to the district attorney's office.

On Oct. 8, U.S. Marshals arrested Dawson in Phoenix Arizona., according to officer Charley Davidson. Dawson is being held on bond of five-million dollars for a shooting that killed 34-year-old Preston Spencer and injured six others with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

At approximately 12:40 a.m. on Sept. 7, officers responded to a shooting call at the Enigma Club, 351 N. Mosely.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located multiple victims that were all transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.&nbsp; The investigation revealed Dawson got into a disturbance earlier inside the club and was forced to leave.&nbsp; Dawson returned a short time later and fired multiple rounds with a handgun through windows into the club from the outside, striking the victims.

In addition, Dawson had active felony Sedgwick County warrants and was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous felony convictions, according to Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634817510235.png" alt="Dawson photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Dawson photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas felon charged in the Sept. 7, mass shooting at a Wichita night club and arrested in Arizona attend a preliminary hearing in the case Friday, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20044181">Keshawn Dawson, 23 of Wichita, </a>is&nbsp;charged with 1st degree intentional murder, 1st degree murder in the commission of a felony, six counts of aggravated battery, and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Dawson is also charged in two separate cases for criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon for an incident on June 15, and&nbsp; criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia for use involving an arrest in January, according to the district attorney.Friday's hearing included testimony from law enforcement and a viewing of security camera video from the night of the crime. The hearing will continue on March 1, according to the district attorney's office.On Oct. 8, U.S. Marshals arrested Dawson in Phoenix Arizona., according to officer Charley Davidson. Dawson is being held on bond of five-million dollars for a shooting that killed 34-year-old Preston Spencer and injured six others with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.At approximately 12:40 a.m. on Sept. 7, officers responded to a shooting call at the Enigma Club, 351 N. Mosely.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located multiple victims that were all transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.&nbsp; The investigation revealed Dawson got into a disturbance earlier inside the club and was forced to leave.&nbsp; Dawson returned a short time later and fired multiple rounds with a handgun through windows into the club from the outside, striking the victims.In addition, Dawson had active felony Sedgwick County warrants and was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous felony convictions, according to Davidson.

Preliminary hearing for Kan. mass shooting suspect far from over

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/12/kansas-broadband-leaders-tout-ongoing-programs-future-initiatives-to-bridge-digital-divide/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas state broadband 
leaders say federal and state funding established last year to improve 
connectivity across the state helped support nearly 100 projects, and 
they are optimistic additional funds are on the way.

During the pandemic, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.ks.gov/spark-information/">SPARK task force</a>
 earmarked $60 million in CARES Act funding for two broadband grant 
programs related to the pandemic response. Connectivity Emergency 
Response Grants totaling $50 million are funding a total of 65 projects 
across the state and 25 Broadband Partnership Adoption Grants totaling 
$10 million helped facilitate internet access for low-income households,
 defraying internet subscription costs, funded hot spots, and provided 
devices to eligible households.

Stanley Adams, who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/10/11/pandemic-inspired-investment-in-broadband-infrastructure-signals-new-era-of-internet-access/">leads the broadband development office</a> at the Kansas Department of Commerce, said the programs are having a positive impact on communities.

“I am optimistic that this will 
represent a significant opportunity to help Kansas close the digital 
divide so all Kansans can have robust broadband and are able to fully 
participate in our ever-growing digital economy,” Adams told legislators
 on the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee on 
Thursday.

The nonprofit Kansas Appleseed 
reported 165,000 Kansans did not have wired high-speed internet service 
available at their home. In addition, about 300,000 Kansans were plagued
 by slow internet speeds.

About that same number had only one service provider in their area.

In April 2020, the Legislature and
 Gov. Laura Kelly approved a measure dedicating an additional $85 
million to broadband infrastructure through 2030 to aid in addressing 
this digital divide. The funding through the Kansas Department of 
Transportation’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program offers grants 
totaling $5 million per year for the first three years followed by a $10
 million per year for the next seven years.

The maximum amount for a single 
grant is $1 million, and there is a 50% matching contribution component 
meaning the initiative can support projects costing up to $2 million in 
total to improve connectivity. This is the first state-funded broadband 
infrastructure grant program.

In the first year, 14 awardees 
have nearly completed all projects. The deadline for applications for 
the second year of the program was Friday.

While these programs continue to address the broadband dilemma, some legislators on the House panel had an eye to the future.

“At some point SPARK funding will 
be exhausted and doled out,” said. Rep. Mark Schreiber, an Emporia 
Republican. “Are there thoughts from your department as to what happens 
after that? Once that initial glut of funding expires, what is next?”

Adams said the SPARK committee is 
already planning for additional federal funding expected down the road. 
In addition, the state broadband office applied for $13.4 million to 
fund 10 more projects from the National Information and 
Telecommunications Administration’s Broadband Infrastructure Program.

“The formulation for that and the 
details for how it will flow to our state or to all states is still 
being worked out,” Adams said.

Cort Buffington, executive 
director of KanREN, or Kansas Research and Education Network — an 
organization serving the unique connectivity needs of education and 
research — urged legislators to consider the needs of anchor 
institutions like universities, hospitals and other organizations that 
play a vital role in their local communities when distributing future 
funds.

While residential broadband 
remains of paramount importance, he said the institutional digital 
divide remains unaddressed. Buffington also urged legislators to 
consider ensuring the state’s fiber infrastructure is publicly funded 
and publicly owned.

“It’s not KU’s fiber. It’s not 
KDOTs fiber,” Buffington said. “It’s fiber that belongs to the taxpayers
 of Kansas, and that should all be inventoried and made available in a 
way that’s going to do the most for us.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644850286730.png" alt="State and federal funds initiated in 2020 are funding nearly 100 projects across the state, said Stanley Adams, who leads the broadband development office at the Kansas Department of Commerce. He expressed optimism with how these programs were addressing the digital divide in Kansas. (Oct. 8, 2020, photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>State and federal funds initiated in 2020 are funding nearly 100 projects across the state, said Stanley Adams, who leads the broadband development office at the Kansas Department of Commerce. He expressed optimism with how these programs were addressing the digital divide in Kansas. (Oct. 8, 2020, photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/12/kansas-broadband-leaders-tout-ongoing-programs-future-initiatives-to-bridge-digital-divide/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas state broadband 
leaders say federal and state funding established last year to improve 
connectivity across the state helped support nearly 100 projects, and 
they are optimistic additional funds are on the way.During the pandemic, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.ks.gov/spark-information/">SPARK task force</a>
 earmarked $60 million in CARES Act funding for two broadband grant 
programs related to the pandemic response. Connectivity Emergency 
Response Grants totaling $50 million are funding a total of 65 projects 
across the state and 25 Broadband Partnership Adoption Grants totaling 
$10 million helped facilitate internet access for low-income households,
 defraying internet subscription costs, funded hot spots, and provided 
devices to eligible households.Stanley Adams, who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/10/11/pandemic-inspired-investment-in-broadband-infrastructure-signals-new-era-of-internet-access/">leads the broadband development office</a> at the Kansas Department of Commerce, said the programs are having a positive impact on communities.“I am optimistic that this will 
represent a significant opportunity to help Kansas close the digital 
divide so all Kansans can have robust broadband and are able to fully 
participate in our ever-growing digital economy,” Adams told legislators
 on the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee on 
Thursday.The nonprofit Kansas Appleseed 
reported 165,000 Kansans did not have wired high-speed internet service 
available at their home. In addition, about 300,000 Kansans were plagued
 by slow internet speeds.About that same number had only one service provider in their area.In April 2020, the Legislature and
 Gov. Laura Kelly approved a measure dedicating an additional $85 
million to broadband infrastructure through 2030 to aid in addressing 
this digital divide. The funding through the Kansas Department of 
Transportation’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program offers grants 
totaling $5 million per year for the first three years followed by a $10
 million per year for the next seven years.The maximum amount for a single 
grant is $1 million, and there is a 50% matching contribution component 
meaning the initiative can support projects costing up to $2 million in 
total to improve connectivity. This is the first state-funded broadband 
infrastructure grant program.In the first year, 14 awardees 
have nearly completed all projects. The deadline for applications for 
the second year of the program was Friday.While these programs continue to address the broadband dilemma, some legislators on the House panel had an eye to the future.“At some point SPARK funding will 
be exhausted and doled out,” said. Rep. Mark Schreiber, an Emporia 
Republican. “Are there thoughts from your department as to what happens 
after that? Once that initial glut of funding expires, what is next?”Adams said the SPARK committee is 
already planning for additional federal funding expected down the road. 
In addition, the state broadband office applied for $13.4 million to 
fund 10 more projects from the National Information and 
Telecommunications Administration’s Broadband Infrastructure Program.“The formulation for that and the 
details for how it will flow to our state or to all states is still 
being worked out,” Adams said.Cort Buffington, executive 
director of KanREN, or Kansas Research and Education Network — an 
organization serving the unique connectivity needs of education and 
research — urged legislators to consider the needs of anchor 
institutions like universities, hospitals and other organizations that 
play a vital role in their local communities when distributing future 
funds.While residential broadband 
remains of paramount importance, he said the institutional digital 
divide remains unaddressed. Buffington also urged legislators to 
consider ensuring the state’s fiber infrastructure is publicly funded 
and publicly owned.“It’s not KU’s fiber. It’s not 
KDOTs fiber,” Buffington said. “It’s fiber that belongs to the taxpayers
 of Kansas, and that should all be inventoried and made available in a 
way that’s going to do the most for us.”

Kan. broadband leaders tout initiatives to help bridge digital divide

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY- A Kansas woman was injured when her vehicle was rear-ended on Interstate 135 near Assaria Monday evening.

According to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan,&nbsp; a 2015 Nissan Altima driven by Jayden Norwood, 18, of Salina, was southbound on Interstate 135 near the Assaria exit, when he looked down to pick up a water bottle. 

When he looked up, his vehicle was quickly bearing down on a 2021 Toyota RAV4 ahead of him. Soldan said that at the time, Norwood was using the car's cruise control and was not able to stop before rear-ending the RAV4.

The accident occurred at 7 p.m. Monday near milepost 82 on I-135.

Anita Neilson, 61, of Lindsborg, the driver of the RAV4, complained of general pain and was transported to Salina Regional Health Center.

Norwood was cited for following too closely, Soldan said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644941410553.jpeg" alt="The Altima sustained major front-end damage in the wreck. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>The Altima sustained major front-end damage in the wreck. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY- A Kansas woman was injured when her vehicle was rear-ended on Interstate 135 near Assaria Monday evening.According to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan,&nbsp; a 2015 Nissan Altima driven by Jayden Norwood, 18, of Salina, was southbound on Interstate 135 near the Assaria exit, when he looked down to pick up a water bottle. When he looked up, his vehicle was quickly bearing down on a 2021 Toyota RAV4 ahead of him. Soldan said that at the time, Norwood was using the car's cruise control and was not able to stop before rear-ending the RAV4.The accident occurred at 7 p.m. Monday near milepost 82 on I-135.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644941502157.png" alt="Damage to the RAV4." />
 <figcaption>Damage to the RAV4.</figcaption>
 </figure>Anita Neilson, 61, of Lindsborg, the driver of the RAV4, complained of general pain and was transported to Salina Regional Health Center.Norwood was cited for following too closely, Soldan said.

Sheriff: Kan. teen reached for water just before rear-end crash

I’ve been seeing lots of ads lately for debt consolidation companies, debt settlement companies and the HELOC. Are any of these methods for reducing debt a good idea?

No. These are all bad ideas when it comes to getting out of debt. There’s a lot of buzz these days surrounding all the “quick” and “easy” ways to clean up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-to-income-ratio-calculator">debt</a>and get control of your finances. But the truth is neither one is ever easy. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Debt consolidation is basically a&nbsp;loan that combines all your debts&nbsp;into one single payment. Sounds like a great idea at first, right? But then you find out the lifespan of your loans increase, and that means you’ll stay in debt even longer than before. The low interest rate that looks so appealing in the beginning usually goes up over time, too. Stretching out the amount of time you’re paying off debt, plus adding interest, is just dumb.

Debt settlement companies are awful. These crummy outfits will charge you a fee, then promise to negotiate with your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/the-truth-about-bankruptcy">creditors</a>&nbsp;to reduce what you owe. In most cases, they take your money up front, do a bad job “negotiating” your debt and leave you responsible for what’s left.

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is also a bad idea.&nbsp;With a HELOC, you’re borrowing against your home. On top of that, you risk losing your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/mortgage-calculator">house</a>&nbsp;if you can’t pay it back on time. All these plans are really just gimmicks that only treat the symptoms of your money problems. They never help you address the root issue of why you landed there in the first place. Personal finance is always 80% behavior, and 20% head knowledge. You have to change your behavior if you want to make a lasting, positive impact on your finances!

<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</a>is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of&nbsp;The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635524005597.png" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,I’ve been seeing lots of ads lately for debt consolidation companies, debt settlement companies and the HELOC. Are any of these methods for reducing debt a good idea?BrentDear Brent,No. These are all bad ideas when it comes to getting out of debt. There’s a lot of buzz these days surrounding all the “quick” and “easy” ways to clean up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-to-income-ratio-calculator">debt</a>and get control of your finances. But the truth is neither one is ever easy. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.Debt consolidation is basically a&nbsp;loan that combines all your debts&nbsp;into one single payment. Sounds like a great idea at first, right? But then you find out the lifespan of your loans increase, and that means you’ll stay in debt even longer than before. The low interest rate that looks so appealing in the beginning usually goes up over time, too. Stretching out the amount of time you’re paying off debt, plus adding interest, is just dumb.Debt settlement companies are awful. These crummy outfits will charge you a fee, then promise to negotiate with your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/the-truth-about-bankruptcy">creditors</a>&nbsp;to reduce what you owe. In most cases, they take your money up front, do a bad job “negotiating” your debt and leave you responsible for what’s left.A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is also a bad idea.&nbsp;With a HELOC, you’re borrowing against your home. On top of that, you risk losing your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/mortgage-calculator">house</a>&nbsp;if you can’t pay it back on time. All these plans are really just gimmicks that only treat the symptoms of your money problems. They never help you address the root issue of why you landed there in the first place. Personal finance is always 80% behavior, and 20% head knowledge. You have to change your behavior if you want to make a lasting, positive impact on your finances!— Dave<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</a>is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of&nbsp;The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: These debt reduction strategies are bad ideas

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — The father of an infant killed in a house fire in suburban Kansas City, Kansas, has been charged with first-degree murder and other counts in the case. 

The fire was reported around 1 a.m. Sunday in Shawnee, and firefighters battling the flames found the body of the infant inside home. Television station WDAF reports that police later arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Adam Ecker. 

Ecker was charged Monday in Johnson County Court Monday with first-degree murder and aggravated arson. Ecker is also charged with felony stalking, domestic aggravated assault and illegal possession of a firearm. He is being held on $1 million bond.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the&nbsp; a&nbsp; Sunday morning house fire that left a child dead have made an arrest, according to Major Jim Baker with the Shawnee, Kansas police department.

Just before 1a.m. Sunday, fire crews responded to the fire in a home at 10502 west 69th Terrace in Shawnee. When crews arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters located an infant boy inside the home who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Deputy Fire Chief Corey Sands.

On Monday, Police arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Ecker on requested charges of first-degree murder, stalking and aggravated domestic battery, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644924205485.png" alt="Ecker-photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Ecker-photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — The father of an infant killed in a house fire in suburban Kansas City, Kansas, has been charged with first-degree murder and other counts in the case. The fire was reported around 1 a.m. Sunday in Shawnee, and firefighters battling the flames found the body of the infant inside home. Television station WDAF reports that police later arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Adam Ecker. Ecker was charged Monday in Johnson County Court Monday with first-degree murder and aggravated arson. Ecker is also charged with felony stalking, domestic aggravated assault and illegal possession of a firearm. He is being held on $1 million bond.--------JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the&nbsp; a&nbsp; Sunday morning house fire that left a child dead have made an arrest, according to Major Jim Baker with the Shawnee, Kansas police department.Just before 1a.m. Sunday, fire crews responded to the fire in a home at 10502 west 69th Terrace in Shawnee. When crews arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters located an infant boy inside the home who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Deputy Fire Chief Corey Sands.On Monday, Police arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Ecker on requested charges of first-degree murder, stalking and aggravated domestic battery, according to online jail records.

Father charged with murder after infant found dead in fire

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

GREAT BEND — A member of 
the Great Bend School Board expressed concern at Monday night's school 
board meeting about the physical safety of students. Chris Umphres 
raised the issue without citing a specific case. &nbsp;

“I’ve got some 
questions, concerns,” Umphres said. “I’ve got some parents that have had
 some things happen over the last couple of weeks and just wanted to get
 some stuff out in the open, I guess. Obviously, really, really general,
 but just some questions about how things are reported, how things get 
to the levels they’re supposed to get to, and the separate channels 
where they’re supposed to be.

"So we’ve had some instances at 
some of the schools not only with battery but some threats that are 
pretty serious. And they’re getting reported, but how do we as parents 
know that they get to the channels they’re supposed to get to? So, a 
couple of examples: Student A assaults Student B.&nbsp; Student B talks about
 it, goes to the channels that we’re supposed to go through. Nothing 
happens. Within five weeks, Student B&nbsp;gets assaulted again.”&nbsp;

Umphres explained why he brought the matter up during an open session of the school board.&nbsp;

“I
 think parents want to know that things are safe and things are getting 
taken care of,” Umphres noted. “I know in one of these examples that 
some of the kids are pulled out of class, asked for witness statements, 
and then these same kids then get blamed for it later on when they 
entrusted upper administration and SROs and all that. So, you know 
without going into great detail, how do you ever trust the process if 
kids are then being blamed for the process that they’re giving their 
witness statement to?”&nbsp;

Umphres spoke during a period set aside for board member comments.&nbsp;

"One
 thing, video, video is out there,” Umphres commented. “I’ve heard 
videos, hundreds and hundreds of video cameras out in the district, but 
yet when it’s needed, it’s either deleted, hasn’t been looked at, the 
video wasn’t&nbsp;working that day. How do we do that? How do we trust the 
process?”&nbsp;

Umphres finished his remarks by telling the other board
 members that the questions he asked needed to be answered. Board member
 Deanna Essmiller made a short comment after Umphres finished.&nbsp;

“What do we do as a board to make sure that things are being done?”&nbsp;

There
 was no further discussion in the school board's open meeting or 
suggestion that Umphres' concerns be placed on a future agenda.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644939463375.jpeg" alt="USD 428 School Board Member Chris Umphres" />
 <figcaption>USD 428 School Board Member Chris Umphres</figcaption>
 </figure>By KEN CARPENTER <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — A member of 
the Great Bend School Board expressed concern at Monday night's school 
board meeting about the physical safety of students. Chris Umphres 
raised the issue without citing a specific case. &nbsp;“I’ve got some 
questions, concerns,” Umphres said. “I’ve got some parents that have had
 some things happen over the last couple of weeks and just wanted to get
 some stuff out in the open, I guess. Obviously, really, really general,
 but just some questions about how things are reported, how things get 
to the levels they’re supposed to get to, and the separate channels 
where they’re supposed to be."So we’ve had some instances at 
some of the schools not only with battery but some threats that are 
pretty serious. And they’re getting reported, but how do we as parents 
know that they get to the channels they’re supposed to get to? So, a 
couple of examples: Student A assaults Student B.&nbsp; Student B talks about
 it, goes to the channels that we’re supposed to go through. Nothing 
happens. Within five weeks, Student B&nbsp;gets assaulted again.”&nbsp;Umphres explained why he brought the matter up during an open session of the school board.&nbsp;“I
 think parents want to know that things are safe and things are getting 
taken care of,” Umphres noted. “I know in one of these examples that 
some of the kids are pulled out of class, asked for witness statements, 
and then these same kids then get blamed for it later on when they 
entrusted upper administration and SROs and all that. So, you know 
without going into great detail, how do you ever trust the process if 
kids are then being blamed for the process that they’re giving their 
witness statement to?”&nbsp;Umphres spoke during a period set aside for board member comments.&nbsp;"One
 thing, video, video is out there,” Umphres commented. “I’ve heard 
videos, hundreds and hundreds of video cameras out in the district, but 
yet when it’s needed, it’s either deleted, hasn’t been looked at, the 
video wasn’t&nbsp;working that day. How do we do that? How do we trust the 
process?”&nbsp;Umphres finished his remarks by telling the other board
 members that the questions he asked needed to be answered. Board member
 Deanna Essmiller made a short comment after Umphres finished.&nbsp;“What do we do as a board to make sure that things are being done?”&nbsp;There
 was no further discussion in the school board's open meeting or 
suggestion that Umphres' concerns be placed on a future agenda.&nbsp;

Great Bend school board member raises safety issues 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man accused of indiscriminately firing a gun in the middle of a Kansas City street was shot and injured by police early Tuesday morning, officials there said.

The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in a residential area in the Ivanhoe Northeast neighborhood. Officers who arrived on the scene for reports of a shooting found a man in the street firing a handgun into the air, television&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/kcpd-mshp-on-scene-of-officer-involved-shooting">station KSHB reported</a>.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said officers first fired bean bag rounds at the man, but were unable to subdue him, even after he had been hit by the less-than-lethal rounds.

“That is a pretty substantial hit to take and still continue doing what you’re doing,” patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe said.

The man continued to threaten officers with the gun, and at least one officer shot him, Lowe said. The man was taken to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening, police said. Officials have not released the man's name.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the shooting by police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644938198074.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man accused of indiscriminately firing a gun in the middle of a Kansas City street was shot and injured by police early Tuesday morning, officials there said.The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in a residential area in the Ivanhoe Northeast neighborhood. Officers who arrived on the scene for reports of a shooting found a man in the street firing a handgun into the air, television&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/kcpd-mshp-on-scene-of-officer-involved-shooting">station KSHB reported</a>.The Missouri State Highway Patrol said officers first fired bean bag rounds at the man, but were unable to subdue him, even after he had been hit by the less-than-lethal rounds.“That is a pretty substantial hit to take and still continue doing what you’re doing,” patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe said.The man continued to threaten officers with the gun, and at least one officer shot him, Lowe said. The man was taken to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening, police said. Officials have not released the man's name.No one else was injured in the shooting.The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the shooting by police.

Man reportedly firing gun in air shot by Kansas City police

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, Associated Press

When nurse Julia Buffo was told by her Montana hospital that she had to be vaccinated against COVID-19, she responded by filling out paperwork declaring that the shots run afoul of her religious beliefs.

She cited various Old and New Testament verses including a passage from Revelation that vaccine opponents often quote to liken the shots to the “Mark of the Beast.” She told her managers that God is the “ultimate guardian of health” and that accepting the vaccine would make her “complicit with evil.”

Religious exemptions like the one Buffo obtained are increasingly becoming a workaround for unvaccinated hospital and nursing home workers who want to keep their jobs in the face of federal mandates that are going into effect nationwide this week.

In some institutions, religious exemptions are being invoked by staff and approved by managers in large numbers. It’s a tricky issue for hospital administrators, who are struggling to maintain adequate staff levels and are often reticent to question the legitimacy of the requests.

“We’re not going to have a Spanish inquisition with Torquemada deciding if your religious exemption is granted or not by the Grand Inquisitor,” said Dr. Randy Tobler, CEO of Scotland County Hospital in Missouri, where about 25% of the 145 employees remain unvaccinated and 30 of them have been granted exemptions.

Tobler, who is vaccinated, said some employees threatened to quit if they were required to get the shot.

“For people that want to judge what we’re doing in rural America, I’d love them to come and walk in our shoes for a little while, just come and sit in the desk and try to staff the place,” Tobler said.

At Cody Regional Health in Wyoming, about 200 of the 620 staffers have asked for religious exemptions and most have been granted. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte pledged his support last week to “defending Montanans against discrimination based on their vaccination status" in an open letter to medical workers and urged the unvaccinated to consider seeking exemptions. And West Virginia lawmakers have advanced a proposal with health care workers in mind that would let those who quit because their exemption was denied collect unemployment.

As of Monday health care workers in 24 states — all but three of which went for then-President Donald Trump in the 2020 election — will be required to have received their first vaccine dose or an exemption. The mandate already took effect late last month in jurisdictions that didn’t challenge the requirement in court, although enforcement actions won’t begin immediately.

It affects a wide swath of the industry, covering doctors, nurses, technicians, aides, hospital volunteers, nursing homes, home-health agencies and other providers that participate in the federal Medicare or Medicaid programs.

Beyond the federal mandate, some hospitals and cities have imposed their own requirements. One of the most sweeping is in New York City, where public workers faced termination if they weren't vaccinated by Friday. The military branches have their own vaccine mandates, but commanders have been loath to grant religious exemptions.

While reasons given for seeking exemptions vary, the vaccines’ remote link to fetuses aborted decades ago is often cited — lab-grown cell lines descended from those fetuses were used in testing and manufacturing processes. The vaccines do not contain fetal cells, however, and workers generally are seeking the exemptions without the backing of major denominations and prominent religious leaders.

But as the health care mandate takes effect, hospital leaders acknowledge that they see the exemptions as a way to retain staff at a time when resources are already stretched thin.

“Our position has been we would we want we want everyone vaccinated,” said Brock Slabach, chief operations officer for the National Rural Health Association. “But we also think that access to care is incredibly important."

Similar stories abound across the country.

At the 25-bed Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska, in the southwestern part of the state, about 20% of the 320 employees have not been vaccinated. About 35 applied for exemptions, and others are still deciding what to do. The hospital has rejected some requests that relied on specious religious reasoning.

“If it’s a complete, like, essay on the science behind why this shouldn’t be allowed, or a complete essay on why a certain political party or political figure is an idiot, which we’ve seen, we don’t go with that because that’s not religious at all,” hospital president and CEO Troy Buntz said. “We do push back on those, but I don’t know if other people are even reading the exemptions as much as they probably should be.”

In Mississippi, some hospitals have nearly all their employees vaccinated while others are closer to the 50% to 70% range, according to Richard Roberson, the state hospital association’s general counsel. Since the mandate was announced, he has received dozens of calls inquiring about how the exemptions work.

“I don’t know how many there will be, but we’re in the heart of the Bible belt. And so that is something that is very near and dear to everyone’s heart,” Roberson said.

And at the 14-bed Holton Community Hospital in rural northeastern Kansas, 28 out of 193 employees have gotten religious exemptions and one got a medical exemption. The mandate helped nudge the staff vaccination rate from around 75% to nearly 87%, but some younger nurses remain hesitant because of disproven concerns that the vaccine could hurt their fertility, CEO Carrie Saia said.

Saia questioned vaccine resistance among medical workers since they see every day that those in their care with the most severe COVID-19 consequences are overwhelmingly unvaccinated. But “unfortunately, with the COVID 19 pandemic, everything has gotten so political or polarized,” she said.

Buffo, the Montana nurse, said she was in a “state of terror” when the mandate was announced, fearing that it might threaten her career. She asked herself how much she was willing to sacrifice for her values, she added, and turning to the Bible strengthened her resolve to resist what she called the “insidious evil behind the vaccine campaign.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637097035278.png" alt="Healthcare workers in Wichita protest mandatory vaccinations -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Healthcare workers in Wichita protest mandatory vaccinations -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, Associated PressWhen nurse Julia Buffo was told by her Montana hospital that she had to be vaccinated against COVID-19, she responded by filling out paperwork declaring that the shots run afoul of her religious beliefs.She cited various Old and New Testament verses including a passage from Revelation that vaccine opponents often quote to liken the shots to the “Mark of the Beast.” She told her managers that God is the “ultimate guardian of health” and that accepting the vaccine would make her “complicit with evil.”Religious exemptions like the one Buffo obtained are increasingly becoming a workaround for unvaccinated hospital and nursing home workers who want to keep their jobs in the face of federal mandates that are going into effect nationwide this week.In some institutions, religious exemptions are being invoked by staff and approved by managers in large numbers. It’s a tricky issue for hospital administrators, who are struggling to maintain adequate staff levels and are often reticent to question the legitimacy of the requests.“We’re not going to have a Spanish inquisition with Torquemada deciding if your religious exemption is granted or not by the Grand Inquisitor,” said Dr. Randy Tobler, CEO of Scotland County Hospital in Missouri, where about 25% of the 145 employees remain unvaccinated and 30 of them have been granted exemptions.Tobler, who is vaccinated, said some employees threatened to quit if they were required to get the shot.“For people that want to judge what we’re doing in rural America, I’d love them to come and walk in our shoes for a little while, just come and sit in the desk and try to staff the place,” Tobler said.At Cody Regional Health in Wyoming, about 200 of the 620 staffers have asked for religious exemptions and most have been granted. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte pledged his support last week to “defending Montanans against discrimination based on their vaccination status" in an open letter to medical workers and urged the unvaccinated to consider seeking exemptions. And West Virginia lawmakers have advanced a proposal with health care workers in mind that would let those who quit because their exemption was denied collect unemployment.As of Monday health care workers in 24 states — all but three of which went for then-President Donald Trump in the 2020 election — will be required to have received their first vaccine dose or an exemption. The mandate already took effect late last month in jurisdictions that didn’t challenge the requirement in court, although enforcement actions won’t begin immediately.It affects a wide swath of the industry, covering doctors, nurses, technicians, aides, hospital volunteers, nursing homes, home-health agencies and other providers that participate in the federal Medicare or Medicaid programs.Beyond the federal mandate, some hospitals and cities have imposed their own requirements. One of the most sweeping is in New York City, where public workers faced termination if they weren't vaccinated by Friday. The military branches have their own vaccine mandates, but commanders have been loath to grant religious exemptions.While reasons given for seeking exemptions vary, the vaccines’ remote link to fetuses aborted decades ago is often cited — lab-grown cell lines descended from those fetuses were used in testing and manufacturing processes. The vaccines do not contain fetal cells, however, and workers generally are seeking the exemptions without the backing of major denominations and prominent religious leaders.But as the health care mandate takes effect, hospital leaders acknowledge that they see the exemptions as a way to retain staff at a time when resources are already stretched thin.“Our position has been we would we want we want everyone vaccinated,” said Brock Slabach, chief operations officer for the National Rural Health Association. “But we also think that access to care is incredibly important."Similar stories abound across the country.At the 25-bed Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska, in the southwestern part of the state, about 20% of the 320 employees have not been vaccinated. About 35 applied for exemptions, and others are still deciding what to do. The hospital has rejected some requests that relied on specious religious reasoning.“If it’s a complete, like, essay on the science behind why this shouldn’t be allowed, or a complete essay on why a certain political party or political figure is an idiot, which we’ve seen, we don’t go with that because that’s not religious at all,” hospital president and CEO Troy Buntz said. “We do push back on those, but I don’t know if other people are even reading the exemptions as much as they probably should be.”In Mississippi, some hospitals have nearly all their employees vaccinated while others are closer to the 50% to 70% range, according to Richard Roberson, the state hospital association’s general counsel. Since the mandate was announced, he has received dozens of calls inquiring about how the exemptions work.“I don’t know how many there will be, but we’re in the heart of the Bible belt. And so that is something that is very near and dear to everyone’s heart,” Roberson said.And at the 14-bed Holton Community Hospital in rural northeastern Kansas, 28 out of 193 employees have gotten religious exemptions and one got a medical exemption. The mandate helped nudge the staff vaccination rate from around 75% to nearly 87%, but some younger nurses remain hesitant because of disproven concerns that the vaccine could hurt their fertility, CEO Carrie Saia said.Saia questioned vaccine resistance among medical workers since they see every day that those in their care with the most severe COVID-19 consequences are overwhelmingly unvaccinated. But “unfortunately, with the COVID 19 pandemic, everything has gotten so political or polarized,” she said.Buffo, the Montana nurse, said she was in a “state of terror” when the mandate was announced, fearing that it might threaten her career. She asked herself how much she was willing to sacrifice for her values, she added, and turning to the Bible strengthened her resolve to resist what she called the “insidious evil behind the vaccine campaign.”But Marcella Dahl, a primary care clinic nurse in Sidney, Montana, said she feels like some people are abusing the exemptions and it's alarming that some religious leaders are encouraging the practice.“Half of the people saying this don’t even go to church,” Dahl said. “I think it puts everybody at risk.”Faith-based opposition to immunizations in the country historically has been limited to just a relatively few small denominations such as the End Time Ministries and the Church of the First Born. But during the pandemic, some more mainstream preachers have spoken out against the vaccines from the pulpit.“That’s new, and that’s a problem,” said Dr. Chris Beyrer, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “If you are not going to be vaccinated and you’re going to be caring for the frail, the elderly, you should get out of health care."