SEDGWICK COUNTY –&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Wichita woman who was last believed to be near Kinkaid, Kansas.

The whereabouts of Patricia Knafla, 70, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.

Last contact with Patricia occurred at approximately 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31. She is described as 5-foot-6, 150 pounds., with gray hair, and green eyes. She wears glasses. Additionally, Patricia was scheduled to work on Monday but never arrived, and may be having a mental health crisis and in the need of assistance.

She is traveling in a gold 2000 Ford Taurus with Kansas tag 418 CDM. Investigators learned she was in the area of Kinkaid, Kansas at approximately 10:50 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1.

If you know the whereabouts of Patricia Knafla, or if you see her, please call 911 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635846636565.png" alt="Patricia Knafla photo Wichita PD" />
 <figcaption>Patricia Knafla photo Wichita PD</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY –&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Wichita woman who was last believed to be near Kinkaid, Kansas.The whereabouts of Patricia Knafla, 70, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.Last contact with Patricia occurred at approximately 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31. She is described as 5-foot-6, 150 pounds., with gray hair, and green eyes. She wears glasses. Additionally, Patricia was scheduled to work on Monday but never arrived, and may be having a mental health crisis and in the need of assistance.She is traveling in a gold 2000 Ford Taurus with Kansas tag 418 CDM. Investigators learned she was in the area of Kinkaid, Kansas at approximately 10:50 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1.If you know the whereabouts of Patricia Knafla, or if you see her, please call 911 immediately.

KBI: Statewide Silver Alert for missing Kansas woman

The
 Federal Trade Commission is sending 34,893 checks and PayPal refunds 
totaling more than $2 million to consumers who lost money through a 
deceptive direct mail publications scheme. Agora Financial, LLC, 
NewMarket Health, and other related defendants tricked consumers into 
buying pamphlets, newsletters, and other publications through false 
promises and deceptive marketing.&nbsp; The refunds will provide full 
compensation for consumers who bought certain health- and 
finance-related publications sold by the defendants.

<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/10/ftc-sues-publisher-targeting-seniors-phony-diabetes-cure-money">According to an October 2019 FTC complaint</a>, the Agora defendants primarily targeted its publications, including The Doctor’s Guide to Reversing Diabetes in 28 Days, at older consumers nationwide. Agora falsely marketed The Doctor’s Guide
 as a simple and scientifically proven protocol that can permanently 
cure type 2 diabetes in 28 days, without any changes in diet or 
exercise.

The FTC also alleged that the Agora defendants deceptively marketed Congress’ Secret $1.17 Trillion Giveaway,
 falsely promising that the book would show consumers how to claim 
hundreds to thousands of dollars to which they are entitled in 
“Congressional Checks” or “Republican Checks.”

The FTC is using the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/02/publisher-will-pay-more-2-million-settle-ftc-charges-it-targeted">money it recovered from Agora Financial and related defendants</a>
 to provide consumer refunds totaling $2,052,868, via paper checks and 
PayPal. People who receive refund checks should deposit or cash them 
within 90 days, as indicated on the check. PayPal refunds will be 
available for 30 days after they are issued. Recipients who have 
questions about their refund can call the administrator, Ankura 
Consulting Group, LLC, at 1-833-460-2437. The FTC never requires people 
to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.

In
 2020, FTC actions led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers
 across the country, but the United States Supreme Court ruled earlier 
this year that the FTC lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek 
monetary relief in federal court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe
 Federal Trade Commission is sending 34,893 checks and PayPal refunds 
totaling more than $2 million to consumers who lost money through a 
deceptive direct mail publications scheme. Agora Financial, LLC, 
NewMarket Health, and other related defendants tricked consumers into 
buying pamphlets, newsletters, and other publications through false 
promises and deceptive marketing.&nbsp; The refunds will provide full 
compensation for consumers who bought certain health- and 
finance-related publications sold by the defendants.<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/10/ftc-sues-publisher-targeting-seniors-phony-diabetes-cure-money">According to an October 2019 FTC complaint</a>, the Agora defendants primarily targeted its publications, including The Doctor’s Guide to Reversing Diabetes in 28 Days, at older consumers nationwide. Agora falsely marketed The Doctor’s Guide
 as a simple and scientifically proven protocol that can permanently 
cure type 2 diabetes in 28 days, without any changes in diet or 
exercise.The FTC also alleged that the Agora defendants deceptively marketed Congress’ Secret $1.17 Trillion Giveaway,
 falsely promising that the book would show consumers how to claim 
hundreds to thousands of dollars to which they are entitled in 
“Congressional Checks” or “Republican Checks.”The FTC is using the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/02/publisher-will-pay-more-2-million-settle-ftc-charges-it-targeted">money it recovered from Agora Financial and related defendants</a>
 to provide consumer refunds totaling $2,052,868, via paper checks and 
PayPal. People who receive refund checks should deposit or cash them 
within 90 days, as indicated on the check. PayPal refunds will be 
available for 30 days after they are issued. Recipients who have 
questions about their refund can call the administrator, Ankura 
Consulting Group, LLC, at 1-833-460-2437. The FTC never requires people 
to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.In
 2020, FTC actions led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers
 across the country, but the United States Supreme Court ruled earlier 
this year that the FTC lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek 
monetary relief in federal court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

Feds send $2M to consumers duped by direct mail scheme

The
 Federal Trade Commission is sending nearly $60 million to more than 
140,000 Amazon drivers. The funds will serve as reimbursement for tips 
that Amazon allegedly illegally withheld from drivers between 2016 and 
2019.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a>In 2021, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/192_3123_-_amazon_flex_complaint_final_not_signed.pdf">FTC brought a suit against Amazon</a>
 and its subsidiary, Amazon Logistics, alleging that the company failed 
to fully pay tips that drivers in its Amazon Flex program had earned. 
Amazon Flex drivers deliver goods and groceries ordered through programs
 like Prime Now and AmazonFresh. The complaint alleged that the company 
secretly kept drivers’ tips over a two-and-a-half year period and only 
stopped the practice after becoming aware of the FTC’s investigation in 
2019.

<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/02/amazon-pay-617-million-settle-ftc-charges-it-withheld-some">Amazon agreed to settle the case</a>
 and surrender all the money it withheld from its drivers. The 
settlement also prohibits Amazon from misrepresenting any driver’s 
likely income or rate of pay, how much of their tips will be paid to 
them, as well as whether the amount paid by a customer is a tip. Amazon 
also will be prohibited from making any changes to how a driver’s tips 
are used as compensation without the driver’s express informed consent.

The FTC will be sending 139,507 checks and 1,621 PayPal payments to 
Amazon Flex drivers. Drivers who had more than $5 withheld by Amazon 
will receive the full amount of their withheld tips. The highest amount 
going to a single Amazon Flex driver is more than $28,000, while the 
average amount is $422.

People who receive checks should deposit or cash them before January 
7, 2022, as indicated on the check. Recipients who have questions about 
their checks should call the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 
1-800-654-8874. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide 
account information to cash a refund check.

Drivers whose payments total more than $600—19,980 drivers in 
total—will receive an IRS Form 1099 with their payment and should report
 this income on their tax return.

The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but the United States Supreme Court ruled earlier this year 
that the FTC lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief
 in federal court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority"> Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.

FTCThe
 Federal Trade Commission is sending nearly $60 million to more than 
140,000 Amazon drivers. The funds will serve as reimbursement for tips 
that Amazon allegedly illegally withheld from drivers between 2016 and 
2019.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a>In 2021, the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/192_3123_-_amazon_flex_complaint_final_not_signed.pdf">FTC brought a suit against Amazon</a>
 and its subsidiary, Amazon Logistics, alleging that the company failed 
to fully pay tips that drivers in its Amazon Flex program had earned. 
Amazon Flex drivers deliver goods and groceries ordered through programs
 like Prime Now and AmazonFresh. The complaint alleged that the company 
secretly kept drivers’ tips over a two-and-a-half year period and only 
stopped the practice after becoming aware of the FTC’s investigation in 
2019.<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/02/amazon-pay-617-million-settle-ftc-charges-it-withheld-some">Amazon agreed to settle the case</a>
 and surrender all the money it withheld from its drivers. The 
settlement also prohibits Amazon from misrepresenting any driver’s 
likely income or rate of pay, how much of their tips will be paid to 
them, as well as whether the amount paid by a customer is a tip. Amazon 
also will be prohibited from making any changes to how a driver’s tips 
are used as compensation without the driver’s express informed consent.The FTC will be sending 139,507 checks and 1,621 PayPal payments to 
Amazon Flex drivers. Drivers who had more than $5 withheld by Amazon 
will receive the full amount of their withheld tips. The highest amount 
going to a single Amazon Flex driver is more than $28,000, while the 
average amount is $422.People who receive checks should deposit or cash them before January 
7, 2022, as indicated on the check. Recipients who have questions about 
their checks should call the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 
1-800-654-8874. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide 
account information to cash a refund check.Drivers whose payments total more than $600—19,980 drivers in 
total—will receive an IRS Form 1099 with their payment and should report
 this income on their tax return.The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but the United States Supreme Court ruled earlier this year 
that the FTC lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief
 in federal court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority"> Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.The Federal Trade Commission works to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competition">promote competition</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams</a>, and <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">educate consumers</a>. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Get consumer advice at <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a>, and read the FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

FTC sends nearly $60M to Amazon drivers whose tips were illegally withheld

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A federal grand jury in Kansas returned an indictment charging an Overland Park man on two counts of tampering with a consumer product, one count of possession of fentanyl by deception and subterfuge, and one count of possession of hydromorphone by deception and subterfuge, according to the United State's Attorney.

In March 2021, Alec Ramirez, 30, a registered nurse, is accused of removing vials of fentanyl and hydromorphone from an automated dispensing cabinet at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park and replacing the substances with an alternate liquid then returning the vials to the cabinet.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations are investigating the case.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A federal grand jury in Kansas returned an indictment charging an Overland Park man on two counts of tampering with a consumer product, one count of possession of fentanyl by deception and subterfuge, and one count of possession of hydromorphone by deception and subterfuge, according to the United State's Attorney.In March 2021, Alec Ramirez, 30, a registered nurse, is accused of removing vials of fentanyl and hydromorphone from an automated dispensing cabinet at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park and replacing the substances with an alternate liquid then returning the vials to the cabinet.The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations are investigating the case.

Indictment: Nurse stole controlled substances from Kan. hospital

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged computer crime and have made an arrest.

On Friday, police arrested 32-year-0ld&nbsp;Tyler D. Chalfant of Atchison. 

He is being held on requested charges of unlawful use of a financial card, computer crimes and theft in connection to the fraudulent use of a financial card at two businesses on October 21, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Chalfant also charged with criminal trespass at 314 Santa Fe in Atchison. He remains in custody. Chafant has has been jailed in Atchison County ten times since 2013, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635784623624.png" alt="Chalfant photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Chalfant photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged computer crime and have made an arrest.On Friday, police arrested 32-year-0ld&nbsp;Tyler D. Chalfant of Atchison. He is being held on requested charges of unlawful use of a financial card, computer crimes and theft in connection to the fraudulent use of a financial card at two businesses on October 21, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Chalfant also charged with criminal trespass at 314 Santa Fe in Atchison. He remains in custody. Chafant has has been jailed in Atchison County ten times since 2013, according to online jail records.

Police: Kan. man accused of fraudulent use of credit card

WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of the Supreme Court signaled Monday they would allow abortion providers to pursue a court challenge to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-health-abortion-government-and-politics-ba02cd7c3f02b1eb5c87094257ee4db2">a Texas law</a>&nbsp;that has virtually ended abortion in the nation’s second-largest state after six weeks of pregnancy.

But it was unclear how quickly the court would rule and whether it would issue an order blocking the law that has been in effect for two months, or require providers to ask a lower court put the law on hold.

Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, two conservative appointees of former President Donald Trump, voted in September to allow the law to take effect, but they raised questions Monday about its novel structure. The law, written to make it difficult to mount legal challenges, subjects clinics, doctors and any others who facilitate abortions to large financial penalties.

“Millions and millions retroactively imposed, even though the activity was perfectly lawful under all court orders and precedent at the time it was undertaken, right?” Kavanaugh asked, one of several skeptical questions he put to Judd E. Stone II, representing Texas.

Barrett, too, pressed Stone about provisions of the law that force providers to fight lawsuits one by one and, she said, don’t allow their constitutional rights to be “fully aired.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-9c75eae9d7fddcd34b70bbf3fccb9be3">The justices heard three hours of arguments</a>&nbsp;Monday in two cases over whether abortion providers or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-bills-149e66a206890b29ccdf15ce26916085">the Justice Department</a>&nbsp;can mount federal court challenges to the law, which has an unusual enforcement scheme its defenders argue shields it from federal court review.

The Biden administration filed its lawsuit after the justices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-courts-us-supreme-court-32ee7ae7eeec9bdfd1471a848c163321">voted 5-4 to refuse a request by providers to keep the law on hold</a>. Justice Neil Gorsuch, also a Trump appointee, and two other conservative justices joined Barrett and Kavanaugh in the majority to let the law take effect. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s three liberal justices in dissent.

The justices sounded less convinced that the Justice Department lawsuit should go forward, and Justice Elena Kagan suggested that a ruling instead in favor of the providers would allow the court to avoid difficult issues of federal power.

In neither case argued Monday is the right to an abortion directly at issue. But the motivation for the lawsuits is that the Texas law conflicts with landmark Supreme Court rulings that prevent a state from banning abortion early in pregnancy.

Arguing for the United States, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the justices that Texas’ law was enacted in “open defiance” of Supreme Court precedent. “It enacted a law that clearly violates this court’s precedents,” she said.

Under the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision, states are prevented from banning abortion before viability, the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb, around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

The justices will hear a separate challenge to those decisions in a case over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-supreme-court-mississippi-7ee64ee43f9d5c291133cf14b66f6875">Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks</a>. Those arguments are set for Dec. 1.

The most direct reference to the Mississippi case came from Justice Samuel Alito, who asked if the decision by providers to stop doing abortions in Texas “is attributable to the fear of liability if Roe or Casey is altered?”

But most questions focused on the Texas law and how it has altered abortion in the state even before the high court has made any change in abortion law. Kagan told Stone that until Texas passed its law, “no state dreamed” of trying to make an end-run around Supreme Court precedent in the same way.

If the Supreme Court doesn’t do anything about that, she said, it would be inviting states to try to flout precedent: “Guns. Same-sex marriage. Religious rights. Whatever you don’t like: go ahead,” she said. Kagan, who disagreed with her colleagues’ decision to let the law take effect, said Texas’ law has prevented women in Texas “from exercising a constitutional right.”

Kavanaugh also raised concerns about laws that might affect other constitutional rights.

The Texas law has been in effect since September when the Supreme Court declined to intervene, except for a 48-hour period in early October when it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-business-texas-courts-5eb085acee67615da3623212953220c9">blocked by a lower court</a>. The high court got involved again less than two weeks ago, moving at extraordinary speed. The court offered no explanation for its decision to hear the cases so quickly.

If the court allows the providers to continue their lawsuit, it would still take a separate order from the justices or a lower court to put the law on hold.

Amy Hagstrom Miller, chief executive of Whole Woman’s Health, said her four clinics would resume abortion services if they get a favorable court order.

The Texas ban, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in May, prohibits abortion after cardiac activity is detected in a fetus, usually around six weeks and before some women know they are pregnant.

The law makes exceptions for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest.

A study published by researchers at the University of Texas found that the number of abortions statewide fell by 50% after the law took effect in September, compared to the same month in 2020. The study was based on data from 19 of the state’s 24 abortion clinics, according to the Texas Policy Evaluation Project.

At least 12 other states have enacted bans early in pregnancy, but all have been blocked from going into effect.

Rather than have state officials enforce the law, Texas deputizes private citizens to sue anyone who performs or aids and abets an abortion. If someone bringing suit is successful, they are entitled to at least $10,000. Women who obtain abortions can’t be sued under the law.

During arguments Monday, Roberts at one point asked whether the law could be challenged if Texas had made the entitlement much higher, $1 million. Texas’ lawyer told him no.

The structure of the law threatens abortion providers with huge financial penalties if they violate it. Clinics throughout the state have stopped performing abortions once cardiac activity is found.

The result, both the providers and the Biden administration said, is that women who are financially able have traveled to other states and those without the means must either continue their pregnancies against their will or find other, potentially dangerous ways to end them.

Stone and Jonathan Mitchell, an architect of the law who also argued Monday, defended the law and its unusual structure. They said both the providers and the Justice Department lack the right to go into federal court, and should be asking Congress,not the justices, to expand court access.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up challenges to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-health-abortion-government-and-politics-ba02cd7c3f02b1eb5c87094257ee4db2">a Texas law</a>&nbsp;that has virtually ended abortion in the nation’s second-largest state after six weeks of pregnancy.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-9c75eae9d7fddcd34b70bbf3fccb9be3">The justices are hearing arguments</a>&nbsp;Monday in two cases over whether abortion providers or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-bills-149e66a206890b29ccdf15ce26916085">the Justice Department</a>&nbsp;can mount federal court challenges to the law, which has an unusual enforcement scheme its defenders argue shields it from federal court review.

In neither case is the right to an abortion directly at issue, but the motivation for lawsuits filed by abortion providers and the Justice Department is that the Texas law conflicts with landmark Supreme Court rulings that prevent a state from banning abortion early in pregnancy.

The justices will hear a separate challenge to the decisions in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey in a case over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-supreme-court-mississippi-7ee64ee43f9d5c291133cf14b66f6875">Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks</a>. Those arguments are set for Dec. 1.

The Texas law has been in effect since September, except for a 48-hour period in early October when it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-business-texas-courts-5eb085acee67615da3623212953220c9">blocked by a lower court</a>.

The high court jumped into the Texas cases less than two weeks ago, moving at extraordinary speed, but only after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21053670-whole-womans-health-v-jackson" target="_blank">rejecting a plea to block the law</a>&nbsp;by a 5-4 vote in early September.

Five conservative justices, including three who were appointed by President Donald Trump, were in the majority. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s three liberal justices in dissent.

The court offered no explanation for its decision to hear the cases so quickly.

But rather than have state officials enforce it, the Texas law deputizes private citizens to sue anyone who performs or aids and abets an abortion. If they’re successful, they are entitled to at least $10,000. Women who obtain abortions can’t be sued under the law.

The state and Jonathan Mitchell, an architect of the law, say in their briefs that the providers and the Justice Department lack the right to go into federal court and can’t sue state judges and clerks who are not responsible for enforcing the abortion ban. They also contend that there is no effective way of blocking the law, in part because federal court can’t force state judges to abstain from hearing the lawsuits the law authorizes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635782546230.png" alt="Protesters outside the Supreme Court Monday -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Protesters outside the Supreme Court Monday -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of the Supreme Court signaled Monday they would allow abortion providers to pursue a court challenge to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-health-abortion-government-and-politics-ba02cd7c3f02b1eb5c87094257ee4db2">a Texas law</a>&nbsp;that has virtually ended abortion in the nation’s second-largest state after six weeks of pregnancy.But it was unclear how quickly the court would rule and whether it would issue an order blocking the law that has been in effect for two months, or require providers to ask a lower court put the law on hold.Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, two conservative appointees of former President Donald Trump, voted in September to allow the law to take effect, but they raised questions Monday about its novel structure. The law, written to make it difficult to mount legal challenges, subjects clinics, doctors and any others who facilitate abortions to large financial penalties.“Millions and millions retroactively imposed, even though the activity was perfectly lawful under all court orders and precedent at the time it was undertaken, right?” Kavanaugh asked, one of several skeptical questions he put to Judd E. Stone II, representing Texas.Barrett, too, pressed Stone about provisions of the law that force providers to fight lawsuits one by one and, she said, don’t allow their constitutional rights to be “fully aired.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-9c75eae9d7fddcd34b70bbf3fccb9be3">The justices heard three hours of arguments</a>&nbsp;Monday in two cases over whether abortion providers or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-bills-149e66a206890b29ccdf15ce26916085">the Justice Department</a>&nbsp;can mount federal court challenges to the law, which has an unusual enforcement scheme its defenders argue shields it from federal court review.The Biden administration filed its lawsuit after the justices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-courts-us-supreme-court-32ee7ae7eeec9bdfd1471a848c163321">voted 5-4 to refuse a request by providers to keep the law on hold</a>. Justice Neil Gorsuch, also a Trump appointee, and two other conservative justices joined Barrett and Kavanaugh in the majority to let the law take effect. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s three liberal justices in dissent.The justices sounded less convinced that the Justice Department lawsuit should go forward, and Justice Elena Kagan suggested that a ruling instead in favor of the providers would allow the court to avoid difficult issues of federal power.In neither case argued Monday is the right to an abortion directly at issue. But the motivation for the lawsuits is that the Texas law conflicts with landmark Supreme Court rulings that prevent a state from banning abortion early in pregnancy.Arguing for the United States, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the justices that Texas’ law was enacted in “open defiance” of Supreme Court precedent. “It enacted a law that clearly violates this court’s precedents,” she said.Under the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision, states are prevented from banning abortion before viability, the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb, around 24 weeks of pregnancy.The justices will hear a separate challenge to those decisions in a case over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-supreme-court-mississippi-7ee64ee43f9d5c291133cf14b66f6875">Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks</a>. Those arguments are set for Dec. 1.The most direct reference to the Mississippi case came from Justice Samuel Alito, who asked if the decision by providers to stop doing abortions in Texas “is attributable to the fear of liability if Roe or Casey is altered?”But most questions focused on the Texas law and how it has altered abortion in the state even before the high court has made any change in abortion law. Kagan told Stone that until Texas passed its law, “no state dreamed” of trying to make an end-run around Supreme Court precedent in the same way.If the Supreme Court doesn’t do anything about that, she said, it would be inviting states to try to flout precedent: “Guns. Same-sex marriage. Religious rights. Whatever you don’t like: go ahead,” she said. Kagan, who disagreed with her colleagues’ decision to let the law take effect, said Texas’ law has prevented women in Texas “from exercising a constitutional right.”Kavanaugh also raised concerns about laws that might affect other constitutional rights.The Texas law has been in effect since September when the Supreme Court declined to intervene, except for a 48-hour period in early October when it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-business-texas-courts-5eb085acee67615da3623212953220c9">blocked by a lower court</a>. The high court got involved again less than two weeks ago, moving at extraordinary speed. The court offered no explanation for its decision to hear the cases so quickly.If the court allows the providers to continue their lawsuit, it would still take a separate order from the justices or a lower court to put the law on hold.Amy Hagstrom Miller, chief executive of Whole Woman’s Health, said her four clinics would resume abortion services if they get a favorable court order.The Texas ban, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in May, prohibits abortion after cardiac activity is detected in a fetus, usually around six weeks and before some women know they are pregnant.The law makes exceptions for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest.A study published by researchers at the University of Texas found that the number of abortions statewide fell by 50% after the law took effect in September, compared to the same month in 2020. The study was based on data from 19 of the state’s 24 abortion clinics, according to the Texas Policy Evaluation Project.At least 12 other states have enacted bans early in pregnancy, but all have been blocked from going into effect.Rather than have state officials enforce the law, Texas deputizes private citizens to sue anyone who performs or aids and abets an abortion. If someone bringing suit is successful, they are entitled to at least $10,000. Women who obtain abortions can’t be sued under the law.During arguments Monday, Roberts at one point asked whether the law could be challenged if Texas had made the entitlement much higher, $1 million. Texas’ lawyer told him no.The structure of the law threatens abortion providers with huge financial penalties if they violate it. Clinics throughout the state have stopped performing abortions once cardiac activity is found.The result, both the providers and the Biden administration said, is that women who are financially able have traveled to other states and those without the means must either continue their pregnancies against their will or find other, potentially dangerous ways to end them.Stone and Jonathan Mitchell, an architect of the law who also argued Monday, defended the law and its unusual structure. They said both the providers and the Justice Department lack the right to go into federal court, and should be asking Congress,not the justices, to expand court access.---------WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up challenges to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-health-abortion-government-and-politics-ba02cd7c3f02b1eb5c87094257ee4db2">a Texas law</a>&nbsp;that has virtually ended abortion in the nation’s second-largest state after six weeks of pregnancy.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-9c75eae9d7fddcd34b70bbf3fccb9be3">The justices are hearing arguments</a>&nbsp;Monday in two cases over whether abortion providers or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-bills-149e66a206890b29ccdf15ce26916085">the Justice Department</a>&nbsp;can mount federal court challenges to the law, which has an unusual enforcement scheme its defenders argue shields it from federal court review.In neither case is the right to an abortion directly at issue, but the motivation for lawsuits filed by abortion providers and the Justice Department is that the Texas law conflicts with landmark Supreme Court rulings that prevent a state from banning abortion early in pregnancy.The justices will hear a separate challenge to the decisions in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey in a case over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-supreme-court-mississippi-7ee64ee43f9d5c291133cf14b66f6875">Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks</a>. Those arguments are set for Dec. 1.The Texas law has been in effect since September, except for a 48-hour period in early October when it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-business-texas-courts-5eb085acee67615da3623212953220c9">blocked by a lower court</a>.The high court jumped into the Texas cases less than two weeks ago, moving at extraordinary speed, but only after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21053670-whole-womans-health-v-jackson" target="_blank">rejecting a plea to block the law</a>&nbsp;by a 5-4 vote in early September.Five conservative justices, including three who were appointed by President Donald Trump, were in the majority. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s three liberal justices in dissent.The court offered no explanation for its decision to hear the cases so quickly.The Texas ban, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in May, prohibits abortion after cardiac activity is detected in a fetus, usually around six weeks and before some women know they are pregnant.The law makes exceptions for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest.At least 12 other states have enacted bans early in pregnancy, but all have been blocked from going into effect.But rather than have state officials enforce it, the Texas law deputizes private citizens to sue anyone who performs or aids and abets an abortion. If they’re successful, they are entitled to at least $10,000. Women who obtain abortions can’t be sued under the law.The structure of the law threatens abortion providers with huge financial penalties if they violate it. Clinics throughout the state have stopped performing abortions once cardiac activity is found.The result, both the providers and the Biden administration said, is that women who are financially able have traveled to other states and those without the means must either continue their pregnancies against their will or find other, potentially dangerous ways to end them.The state and Jonathan Mitchell, an architect of the law, say in their briefs that the providers and the Justice Department lack the right to go into federal court and can’t sue state judges and clerks who are not responsible for enforcing the abortion ban. They also contend that there is no effective way of blocking the law, in part because federal court can’t force state judges to abstain from hearing the lawsuits the law authorizes.

Supreme Court takes up nation's most restrictive abortion law

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday that October continued the trend of Kansas’ total tax collections being more than the estimate as total tax collections were $662.7 million for the month. That is 18.7%, or $104.2 million, more than the estimate. That is also $66.1 million, or 11.1%, more than the same month of last year, according to a media release from the Kansas Dept. of Revenue.

<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.XJgmhKB1xYUcbDGdYV2ZqKygOF00wGJlNl9wf9-2FLY/s/1303160919/br/116084717722-l" target="_blank">Click here to October tax receipts&nbsp;</a>

“As I’ve said before, though our state’s revenue numbers continue to out-pace estimates, we must keep practicing fiscal responsibility,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“That’s how we’ll continue to grow our economy and protect our fiscal health.”

Individual income tax collections were $301.6 million which is $46.6 million, or 18.3%, more than the estimate. That is $17.9 million, or 6.3%, more than October 2020. Corporate income tax collections were $40.0 million for the month. That is $25.0 million, or 166.8%, more than the estimate and $13.9 million, or 53.3%, more than the same month of last year.

Retail sales tax collections were $227.7 million, which is 8.4%, or $17.7 million, more than the estimate. Those collections are $16.7 million, or 7.9%, more than last October. Compensating use tax collections were $67.6 million which is $12.6 million, or 22.9%, more than the estimate. That is a growth of $16.9 million, or 33.3%, over the same month of 2020.

“The difficult steps taken early on in the COVID-19 pandemic have helped the state’s economy not only rebound quicker than expected but has also moved the state towards a sustainable and healthy economic future,”&nbsp;Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart said.

The last time the state had tax collections below the monthly estimate was July 2020.

The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group, comprised of the Department of Revenue, Division of Budget, Legislative Research Department, and economists from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University, will meet November 10.

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday that October continued the trend of Kansas’ total tax collections being more than the estimate as total tax collections were $662.7 million for the month. That is 18.7%, or $104.2 million, more than the estimate. That is also $66.1 million, or 11.1%, more than the same month of last year, according to a media release from the Kansas Dept. of Revenue.<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.XJgmhKB1xYUcbDGdYV2ZqKygOF00wGJlNl9wf9-2FLY/s/1303160919/br/116084717722-l" target="_blank">Click here to October tax receipts&nbsp;</a>“As I’ve said before, though our state’s revenue numbers continue to out-pace estimates, we must keep practicing fiscal responsibility,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“That’s how we’ll continue to grow our economy and protect our fiscal health.”Individual income tax collections were $301.6 million which is $46.6 million, or 18.3%, more than the estimate. That is $17.9 million, or 6.3%, more than October 2020. Corporate income tax collections were $40.0 million for the month. That is $25.0 million, or 166.8%, more than the estimate and $13.9 million, or 53.3%, more than the same month of last year.Retail sales tax collections were $227.7 million, which is 8.4%, or $17.7 million, more than the estimate. Those collections are $16.7 million, or 7.9%, more than last October. Compensating use tax collections were $67.6 million which is $12.6 million, or 22.9%, more than the estimate. That is a growth of $16.9 million, or 33.3%, over the same month of 2020.“The difficult steps taken early on in the COVID-19 pandemic have helped the state’s economy not only rebound quicker than expected but has also moved the state towards a sustainable and healthy economic future,”&nbsp;Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart said.The last time the state had tax collections below the monthly estimate was July 2020.The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group, comprised of the Department of Revenue, Division of Budget, Legislative Research Department, and economists from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University, will meet November 10.

Oct. total tax receipts in Kan. exceed the estimate by $104.2M

GREELEY COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 5a.m. Monday in Greeley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol that a 2011 Kia Rio driven by Arrianna Patterson, 20, Tribune, was westbound on Kansas 96 at County Road 24.

The car traveled left of center, left the roadway to the left, continued westbound in the south ditch, struck a culvert and rolled unknown number of times before coming to a rest on its top.&nbsp;

EMS transported&nbsp;Patterson and passengers Shawna&nbsp;Longsine, 44; Derek Longsine, 43, and a juvenile infant all of Tribune to the Greeley County Hospital. Derek Longsine was pronounced dead.&nbsp;

Shawna and Derek Longsine were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.&nbsp; The baby was properly secured in a car seat.

GREELEY COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 5a.m. Monday in Greeley County.The Kansas Highway Patrol that a 2011 Kia Rio driven by Arrianna Patterson, 20, Tribune, was westbound on Kansas 96 at County Road 24.The car traveled left of center, left the roadway to the left, continued westbound in the south ditch, struck a culvert and rolled unknown number of times before coming to a rest on its top.&nbsp;EMS transported&nbsp;Patterson and passengers Shawna&nbsp;Longsine, 44; Derek Longsine, 43, and a juvenile infant all of Tribune to the Greeley County Hospital. Derek Longsine was pronounced dead.&nbsp;Shawna and Derek Longsine were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.&nbsp; The baby was properly secured in a car seat.

Kansas man dead, baby among 3 injured in rollover crash


HUTCHINSON — Gas prices continue to increase.

"In Kansas today, we are 
$3.12 a gallon on average," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "That is
 up four cents from a week ago, from $3.08."

The nationwide average is increasing more slowly.

"The
 national average gas price for a gallon of unleaded rose to $3.40 a 
gallon," Steward said. "That two cent rise over last week is the 
smallest increase we've seen in a month."

The fundamentals may be improving, as well.

"There's
 news that Iranian oil, which has not been sold globally in large 
quantities since 2018 may return to the world market," Steward said. 
"That coupled with an OPEC plus meeting on Nov. 4, is creating some 
market volatility, but slowing the pump prices right now."

It remains to be seen if those additions to supply will materialize, though.

By
NICK GOSNELLHutch
Post 
HUTCHINSON — Gas prices continue to increase."In Kansas today, we are 
$3.12 a gallon on average," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "That is
 up four cents from a week ago, from $3.08."The nationwide average is increasing more slowly."The
 national average gas price for a gallon of unleaded rose to $3.40 a 
gallon," Steward said. "That two cent rise over last week is the 
smallest increase we've seen in a month."The fundamentals may be improving, as well."There's
 news that Iranian oil, which has not been sold globally in large 
quantities since 2018 may return to the world market," Steward said. 
"That coupled with an OPEC plus meeting on Nov. 4, is creating some 
market volatility, but slowing the pump prices right now."It remains to be seen if those additions to supply will materialize, though.

Price of gas still going up, but more slowly

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Halloween crash have identified the victim as 38-year-old Clenea Meairs of Wichita, according Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

Just after 6p.m. Sunday, a Dodge truck was southbound Seneca at 63rd Street South in south Wichita.

As the the truck traveled though the intersection with a green light, an eastbound Chrysler Concorde driven by Meairs&nbsp; entered the intersection.&nbsp; The truck struck the driver's side door of the Concorde.

EMS transported Meairs to a local hospital where she later died. Two juvenile females, 16 and 8, in the Chrysler had minor injuries and were released to a family member at the scene.

A 17-year-old male passenger in the Chrysler was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The operator of the Dodge truck, a 25-year-old man from Newkirk, Oklahoma was uninjured.

Blick released no additional details Monday afternoon.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Halloween crash have identified the victim as 38-year-old Clenea Meairs of Wichita, according Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.Just after 6p.m. Sunday, a Dodge truck was southbound Seneca at 63rd Street South in south Wichita.As the the truck traveled though the intersection with a green light, an eastbound Chrysler Concorde driven by Meairs&nbsp; entered the intersection.&nbsp; The truck struck the driver's side door of the Concorde.EMS transported Meairs to a local hospital where she later died. Two juvenile females, 16 and 8, in the Chrysler had minor injuries and were released to a family member at the scene.A 17-year-old male passenger in the Chrysler was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The operator of the Dodge truck, a 25-year-old man from Newkirk, Oklahoma was uninjured.Blick released no additional details Monday afternoon.

Sheriff IDs Kansas woman who died in crash on Halloween

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden set out to be a president who under-promised and over-delivered.

As the White House tries to nail down a nearly $3 trillion domestic package that Biden frames as a historic investment in infrastructure and social spending, the moment is clouded by a sense among many on the left that the pared-back package falls far short of the lofty expectations set by the president himself.

“I know it’s hard,” Biden said Thursday, even as he sought to claim a victory for having crafted the “framework” of a social spending plan that he believes — or hopes — can pass Congress.

“I know how deeply people feel about the things that they fight for,” he added. “No one got everything they wanted, including me. But that’s what compromise is.”

It was not the triumphal moment the president had envisioned as he flew to Europe for economic and climate summits, landing in Rome early Friday. Instead, he and other Democratic leaders were left to almost plead for the support within their party to pass Biden’s signature legislative proposal. He was buffeted both from the liberal wing of his party and from moderate holdouts, Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

He’s facing disgruntlement from some allies that the latest iteration of the proposed deal doesn’t meet his campaign aims as the ambition — and price tag — of his domestic legislative agenda has been repeatedly whittled back to secure the votes of members of his own party.

Biden marketed himself to voters as a competent leader whose deep experience in the ways of Washington could yield meaningful change through legislation, a clear counterpoint to President Donald Trump’s blunt-instrument approach to policy. Instead, Biden was left not to negotiate with Republicans, but with his fellow Democrats, and he did not appear to succeed yet in persuading them, at least not on his preferred timetable.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Democrats behind closed doors that “when the president gets off that plane, we want him to have a vote of confidence from this Congress.”

“In order for us to have success, we must succeed today.”

As the day dragged on, that appeared increasingly unlikely.

None of that kept the president from claiming to be on the cusp of historic achievements.

Biden and his allies stress that the proposed deal, though far smaller than first envisioned, would represent record spending and that new programs in the $1 trillion infrastructure bill and the $1.75 trillion social spending and climate legislation would boost American competitiveness, lift people out of poverty and ease the burdens of working families.

As he arrived at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday morning to urge House Democrats to get behind the framework, he was greeted by environmental protesters who said he was giving up too much. Later, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, grumbled that Biden’s plan has “some major gaps in it” and that the bill does not provide relief on prescription drug costs.

When it became clear that holdout Democrats still weren’t on board, Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., said she felt “bamboozled because this was not what I thought was coming today.”

Biden administration officials and allies pushed back against the angst from the liberal wing of their party. They noted that the plan has the biggest spending ever for combating climate change —$555 billion — and the greatest expansion of education, with free, universal childcare, since the establishment of free high school.

“How can I say this is transformative? Because it is,” said Pelosi. She argued that the framework would lead to millions more Americans gaining access to health care, add thousands of jobs and benefit the environment.

Biden’s plan was first brought forward as a $7 trillion “Build Back Better” agenda in mid-2020 that also had much of what became the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill passed in March. His domestic proposals were offered as part of a plan to pull the nation from the depths of the pandemic and set it on a course toward an even more prosperous future.

Rebranded — for a time — as the American Families Plan, it formed the backbone of Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress in April.

It included long-sought Democratic priorities like measures to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour and provide 12 weeks of paid family leave. Each of those provisions fell out of the bill during the months of negotiation.

Before departing for Europe, Biden spoke of the latest version as if he had achieved a consensus and compromise in the classically understood sense -- between the two political parties.

In fact, he was actually talking about bringing together legislators from his own party — many of whom didn’t hide their frustration at Biden’s dramatic scaling back of his ambitions for the bill. The moment showed that Biden, while he’s found success in getting his party to unite in opposition to Trump, has had less luck getting a fractured rank-and-file to fall in line on policy fights.

Many of the cuts that are irking the liberal wing have also been painful for Biden. He’s repeatedly talked about issues like paid family leave and drug costs in personal terms.

Biden also had to pull back on his hopes of making permanent a proposal to extend the child tax credit that was in his $1.9 trillion relief plan passed earlier this year. The credit, which has helped to cut child poverty by nearly half by some estimates, would be extended only by a year. That leaves a future Congress to decide whether to sustain it.

Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University historian, said it was unclear that many Americans would quickly feel the benefits of what was left in Biden’s plan. That might make it difficult for Biden, whose approval rating has cratered in recent weeks, to benefit politically if the bills finally become law.

“The parts of the plan that would have immediate impact, like family leave and the prescription drugs, have been stripped out,” Zelizer said. “Parts of the plan won’t last forever. I am not certain that Americans are going to feel impact before some of this comes and goes.”

From the beginning, Biden faced headwinds as he sought to craft a social services and environmental spending plan to rival FDR’s New Deal, working with the backing of only slim Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. Manchin and Sinema’s hesitance on various aspects of the package made Biden’s big aspirations an uphill battle from the start.

Jim Kessler, executive vice president of policy at the center-left group Third Way, said lessons learned by President Barack Obama, who was criticized by many on the left for not pushing for more stimulus in the midst of the Great Recession more than a decade ago, fed into the president’s decision to shoot for the moon.

While Biden fell short of his initial goals, Kessler said that lost in the noise is that the pared-down spending plan is still among the most significant domestic policy efforts of the last century.

“The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan soon after he came to office was huge,” Kessler said. “Now, if these two bills pass, those are big bumps. It feels like morning broke here as we go into November for the Biden presidency.”

Obama himself chimed in to make the point that Biden was right to swing for the fences.

“The Build Back Better framework doesn’t contain everything that the President proposed and that some had hoped,” Obama said in a statement. “But that’s the nature of progress in a democracy.” Still, Obama called it a “giant leap forward” for the country.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635437156930.png" alt="President Biden spoke to the American people just before he left Thursday for Europe-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden spoke to the American people just before he left Thursday for Europe-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By ZEKE MILLER and AAMER MADHANIWASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden set out to be a president who under-promised and over-delivered.That worked, until it didn’t.As the White House tries to nail down a nearly $3 trillion domestic package that Biden frames as a historic investment in infrastructure and social spending, the moment is clouded by a sense among many on the left that the pared-back package falls far short of the lofty expectations set by the president himself.“I know it’s hard,” Biden said Thursday, even as he sought to claim a victory for having crafted the “framework” of a social spending plan that he believes — or hopes — can pass Congress.“I know how deeply people feel about the things that they fight for,” he added. “No one got everything they wanted, including me. But that’s what compromise is.”It was not the triumphal moment the president had envisioned as he flew to Europe for economic and climate summits, landing in Rome early Friday. Instead, he and other Democratic leaders were left to almost plead for the support within their party to pass Biden’s signature legislative proposal. He was buffeted both from the liberal wing of his party and from moderate holdouts, Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.He’s facing disgruntlement from some allies that the latest iteration of the proposed deal doesn’t meet his campaign aims as the ambition — and price tag — of his domestic legislative agenda has been repeatedly whittled back to secure the votes of members of his own party.Biden marketed himself to voters as a competent leader whose deep experience in the ways of Washington could yield meaningful change through legislation, a clear counterpoint to President Donald Trump’s blunt-instrument approach to policy. Instead, Biden was left not to negotiate with Republicans, but with his fellow Democrats, and he did not appear to succeed yet in persuading them, at least not on his preferred timetable.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Democrats behind closed doors that “when the president gets off that plane, we want him to have a vote of confidence from this Congress.”“In order for us to have success, we must succeed today.”As the day dragged on, that appeared increasingly unlikely.None of that kept the president from claiming to be on the cusp of historic achievements.Biden and his allies stress that the proposed deal, though far smaller than first envisioned, would represent record spending and that new programs in the $1 trillion infrastructure bill and the $1.75 trillion social spending and climate legislation would boost American competitiveness, lift people out of poverty and ease the burdens of working families.As he arrived at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday morning to urge House Democrats to get behind the framework, he was greeted by environmental protesters who said he was giving up too much. Later, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, grumbled that Biden’s plan has “some major gaps in it” and that the bill does not provide relief on prescription drug costs.When it became clear that holdout Democrats still weren’t on board, Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., said she felt “bamboozled because this was not what I thought was coming today.”Biden administration officials and allies pushed back against the angst from the liberal wing of their party. They noted that the plan has the biggest spending ever for combating climate change —$555 billion — and the greatest expansion of education, with free, universal childcare, since the establishment of free high school.“How can I say this is transformative? Because it is,” said Pelosi. She argued that the framework would lead to millions more Americans gaining access to health care, add thousands of jobs and benefit the environment.Biden’s plan was first brought forward as a $7 trillion “Build Back Better” agenda in mid-2020 that also had much of what became the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill passed in March. His domestic proposals were offered as part of a plan to pull the nation from the depths of the pandemic and set it on a course toward an even more prosperous future.Rebranded — for a time — as the American Families Plan, it formed the backbone of Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress in April.It included long-sought Democratic priorities like measures to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour and provide 12 weeks of paid family leave. Each of those provisions fell out of the bill during the months of negotiation.Before departing for Europe, Biden spoke of the latest version as if he had achieved a consensus and compromise in the classically understood sense -- between the two political parties.In fact, he was actually talking about bringing together legislators from his own party — many of whom didn’t hide their frustration at Biden’s dramatic scaling back of his ambitions for the bill. The moment showed that Biden, while he’s found success in getting his party to unite in opposition to Trump, has had less luck getting a fractured rank-and-file to fall in line on policy fights.Many of the cuts that are irking the liberal wing have also been painful for Biden. He’s repeatedly talked about issues like paid family leave and drug costs in personal terms.Biden also had to pull back on his hopes of making permanent a proposal to extend the child tax credit that was in his $1.9 trillion relief plan passed earlier this year. The credit, which has helped to cut child poverty by nearly half by some estimates, would be extended only by a year. That leaves a future Congress to decide whether to sustain it.Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University historian, said it was unclear that many Americans would quickly feel the benefits of what was left in Biden’s plan. That might make it difficult for Biden, whose approval rating has cratered in recent weeks, to benefit politically if the bills finally become law.“The parts of the plan that would have immediate impact, like family leave and the prescription drugs, have been stripped out,” Zelizer said. “Parts of the plan won’t last forever. I am not certain that Americans are going to feel impact before some of this comes and goes.”From the beginning, Biden faced headwinds as he sought to craft a social services and environmental spending plan to rival FDR’s New Deal, working with the backing of only slim Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. Manchin and Sinema’s hesitance on various aspects of the package made Biden’s big aspirations an uphill battle from the start.Jim Kessler, executive vice president of policy at the center-left group Third Way, said lessons learned by President Barack Obama, who was criticized by many on the left for not pushing for more stimulus in the midst of the Great Recession more than a decade ago, fed into the president’s decision to shoot for the moon.While Biden fell short of his initial goals, Kessler said that lost in the noise is that the pared-down spending plan is still among the most significant domestic policy efforts of the last century.“The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan soon after he came to office was huge,” Kessler said. “Now, if these two bills pass, those are big bumps. It feels like morning broke here as we go into November for the Biden presidency.”Obama himself chimed in to make the point that Biden was right to swing for the fences.“The Build Back Better framework doesn’t contain everything that the President proposed and that some had hoped,” Obama said in a statement. “But that’s the nature of progress in a democracy.” Still, Obama called it a “giant leap forward” for the country.___

Analysis: Pres. Biden faces liberal angst after under-delivering

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 1,287 to a total of 435,933, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 7 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6,422.

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

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

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

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 1,287 to a total of 435,933, the state health department reported Monday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 7 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 6,422.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: 1,287 new cases, 7 more COVID-19 deaths

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 17-year-old Wichita boy was killed over the weekend in a shooting. 

Wichita Police said the shooting was reported around 7 p.m. Saturday near Kellogg and Seneca streets.&nbsp; Officers found Diego Benitez dead with multiple gunshot wounds. 

Investigators believe drugs were part of the motive for Saturday’s shooting but they didn’t provide many details about what happened. No arrests had been reported as of Sunday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635780633481.png" alt="Police at the scene of the shooting investigation photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the shooting investigation photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 17-year-old Wichita boy was killed over the weekend in a shooting. Wichita Police said the shooting was reported around 7 p.m. Saturday near Kellogg and Seneca streets.&nbsp; Officers found Diego Benitez dead with multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators believe drugs were part of the motive for Saturday’s shooting but they didn’t provide many details about what happened. No arrests had been reported as of Sunday afternoon.

Police ID 17-year-old Kan. boy who died in weekend shooting

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Friday paved the way for children ages 5 to 11 to get Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Their decision came after U.S. health advisers endorsed the Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for younger children despite hearing concerns expressed by a number of physicians and parents.&nbsp;

During the public comment portion of the Oct. 26, hearing, a number of professionals and parents raised concerns about the vaccine for young children.

Steve Hirsh, Executive Director of the&nbsp; COVID-19 Early Treatment Fund told the panel there were too many unanswered questions for the FDA to approve the vaccine for 5-11 year-olds.

Dr. Jessica Rose, a viral immunologist, shared thoughts against the emergency use authorization of the vaccine for children because "COVID-19 is exceedingly treatable."

Dr. Josh Guetzkow, Ph.D., at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said extending the emergency use authorization for children's vaccine "would do more harm than good."

Dr. Beatrice Setnick, a clinical pharamacologist and consultant to various biotech companies told the panel, "please do not assume the vaccine is safe for children until more data is evaluated."

Amy Alvo, the mother of a 17-year-old , shared what the adverse reaction her daughter experienced after vaccination.

This week, the CDC will have to decide whether to recommend the shots and which youngsters should get them.

Some parents are expected to vaccinate their children ahead of family holiday gatherings and the winter cold season.

But a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey suggests most parents won’t rush to get the shots. About 25% of parents polled earlier this month said they would get their children vaccinated “right away.” But the remaining majority of parents were roughly split between those who said they will to wait to see how the vaccine performs and those who said they “definitely” won’t have their children vaccinated.

The similarly made Moderna vaccine also is being studied in young children, and both Pfizer and Moderna also are testing shots for babies and preschoolers.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635349957156.png" alt="A slide presented to the FDA panel Tuesday by Dr. Josh Guetzkow&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A slide presented to the FDA panel Tuesday by Dr. Josh Guetzkow&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Friday paved the way for children ages 5 to 11 to get Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.Their decision came after U.S. health advisers endorsed the Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for younger children despite hearing concerns expressed by a number of physicians and parents.&nbsp;During the public comment portion of the Oct. 26, hearing, a number of professionals and parents raised concerns about the vaccine for young children.Steve Hirsh, Executive Director of the&nbsp; COVID-19 Early Treatment Fund told the panel there were too many unanswered questions for the FDA to approve the vaccine for 5-11 year-olds.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/laaL0_xKmmA?start=16805" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Dr. Jessica Rose, a viral immunologist, shared thoughts against the emergency use authorization of the vaccine for children because "COVID-19 is exceedingly treatable."<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/laaL0_xKmmA?start=17219" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Dr. Josh Guetzkow, Ph.D., at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said extending the emergency use authorization for children's vaccine "would do more harm than good."<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/laaL0_xKmmA?start=17425" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Dr. Beatrice Setnick, a clinical pharamacologist and consultant to various biotech companies told the panel, "please do not assume the vaccine is safe for children until more data is evaluated."<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/laaL0_xKmmA?start=18053" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Amy Alvo, the mother of a 17-year-old , shared what the adverse reaction her daughter experienced after vaccination.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/laaL0_xKmmA?start=18209" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>This week, the CDC will have to decide whether to recommend the shots and which youngsters should get them.Some parents are expected to vaccinate their children ahead of family holiday gatherings and the winter cold season.But a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey suggests most parents won’t rush to get the shots. About 25% of parents polled earlier this month said they would get their children vaccinated “right away.” But the remaining majority of parents were roughly split between those who said they will to wait to see how the vaccine performs and those who said they “definitely” won’t have their children vaccinated.The similarly made Moderna vaccine also is being studied in young children, and both Pfizer and Moderna also are testing shots for babies and preschoolers.-The Associated Press contributed to this report

🎥 Some doctors, parents tell FDA to delay COVID vaccine for kids

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple charges after a weekend incident&nbsp;

Just before 2:30a.m. Sunday, sheriff's were first alerted to the report of a driver southbound in the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 81 north of Interstate 70, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.

By the time deputies located the red 2010 Toyota Camry, it was southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 135 near the State Street exit. Deputies were able to successfully deploy stopsticks near the W. Crawford Street exit, and the car came to a stop just south of that exit.

Soldan said the driver, Monica Befort, 32, of Salina, was arrested on the requested charge of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635688385630.jpeg" alt="Befort -photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Befort -photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple charges after a weekend incident&nbsp;Just before 2:30a.m. Sunday, sheriff's were first alerted to the report of a driver southbound in the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 81 north of Interstate 70, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.By the time deputies located the red 2010 Toyota Camry, it was southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 135 near the State Street exit. Deputies were able to successfully deploy stopsticks near the W. Crawford Street exit, and the car came to a stop just south of that exit.Soldan said the driver, Monica Befort, 32, of Salina, was arrested on the requested charge of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Sheriff: Kan. woman was northbound in southbound lanes of highway

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two teenagers in connection with a home robbery on Halloween.

Just after 11:00 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 200 block of SW Gage on a report of a robbery that had just occurred, according to Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

The victim indicated the suspects knocked on his door and when he opened it, they forced their way in and began to strike him. The two suspects stole items from the residence and left.

The two suspects were known to the victim and identified. Officers conducted follow up and later located the suspects at their residence in the 3200 block of SW California in Topeka were they were taken into custody and a search warrant was served. 

Both suspects were 15-year-olds and were booked into juvenile department of corrections.

The first was arrested on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, criminal damage, and battery on a law enforcement officer. The second teen is being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and criminal damage, according to Johnson.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two teenagers in connection with a home robbery on Halloween.Just after 11:00 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 200 block of SW Gage on a report of a robbery that had just occurred, according to Police Lt. Kelvin Johnson.The victim indicated the suspects knocked on his door and when he opened it, they forced their way in and began to strike him. The two suspects stole items from the residence and left.The two suspects were known to the victim and identified. Officers conducted follow up and later located the suspects at their residence in the 3200 block of SW California in Topeka were they were taken into custody and a search warrant was served. Both suspects were 15-year-olds and were booked into juvenile department of corrections.The first was arrested on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, criminal damage, and battery on a law enforcement officer. The second teen is being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and criminal damage, according to Johnson.

Trick or Treat: 15-year-olds jailed for Kansas robbery

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

GREAT BEND — Barton Community College Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons said
life is all about subscriptions nowadays. You can buy monthly subscriptions to receive
beard oil, wine or meals. Education is developing its version of subscription
purchasing with a new approach to learning. 

The college in Great Bend is
considering subscription-based learning where students purchase a set amount of
coursework for an allotted time. "We're going to chew this up and
 spit it out," said Simmons. "Then we'll chew it up and spit it out 
again. If we get to a point where we feel like we really understand it, 
we'll bring student services and administration in to talk more about 
it." 
Students would have the opportunity to go through coursework as much as they
can and others can take their time and purchase classes when they have time. This
method could potentially alleviate having to pay tuition for an entire semester
if your availability is less.

"We think it will impact almost every element of the college," said Simmons. "There is a lot to it." 
Simmons said Barton faculty would have to get behind the idea to determine how
they would manage the new style.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

By COLE REIF <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — Barton Community College Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons said
life is all about subscriptions nowadays. You can buy monthly subscriptions to receive
beard oil, wine or meals. Education is developing its version of subscription
purchasing with a new approach to learning. The college in Great Bend is
considering subscription-based learning where students purchase a set amount of
coursework for an allotted time. "We're going to chew this up and
 spit it out," said Simmons. "Then we'll chew it up and spit it out 
again. If we get to a point where we feel like we really understand it, 
we'll bring student services and administration in to talk more about 
it." 
Students would have the opportunity to go through coursework as much as they
can and others can take their time and purchase classes when they have time. This
method could potentially alleviate having to pay tuition for an entire semester
if your availability is less."We think it will impact almost every element of the college," said Simmons. "There is a lot to it." 
Simmons said Barton faculty would have to get behind the idea to determine how
they would manage the new style.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Great Bend community college considering subscription-based learning

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in the drive-by shooting at a home in Wichita that critically injured an 11-year-old girl&nbsp;is scheduled to return to court Monday ahead of preliminary hearing, according to the Sedgwick Co. District Attorney's office.

Byron Purcell, 25 of Wichita, is charged with criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated battery, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On Oct. 14., police arrested <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18777609">Purcell</a>.&nbsp;He is accused of being the gunman in a shooting that happened early Oct. 12 in a Wichita neighborhood in which bullets hit a house.

Police say an<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/victim-of-shooting-family-needs-help?member=14541373&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=more&amp;utm_source=customer">&nbsp;11-year-old girl </a>was in the house and asleep in her bed when she was hit by the gunfire. She was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Police say four other people in the home at the time of the shooting were not injured.

Purcell remains jailed on a $250,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

Since Nov. 2017 Purcell was in one of several Kansas prisons following three convictions for aggravated  robbery. The state also reported Purcell had over  two dozen disciplinary violation during his time in prison. He was released in June, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634298594579.png" alt="Purcell photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Purcell photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in the drive-by shooting at a home in Wichita that critically injured an 11-year-old girl&nbsp;is scheduled to return to court Monday ahead of preliminary hearing, according to the Sedgwick Co. District Attorney's office.Byron Purcell, 25 of Wichita, is charged with criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated battery, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634162750977.png" alt="Image of the suspect vehicle driving by the home Oct. 12-Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Image of the suspect vehicle driving by the home Oct. 12-Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>On Oct. 14., police arrested <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18777609">Purcell</a>.&nbsp;He is accused of being the gunman in a shooting that happened early Oct. 12 in a Wichita neighborhood in which bullets hit a house.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634171148198.png" alt="A cousin established a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/victim-of-shooting-family-needs-help?member=14541373&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=more&amp;utm_source=customer">GoFundMe page </a>to help the girl's family with medical expenses.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A cousin established a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/victim-of-shooting-family-needs-help?member=14541373&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=more&amp;utm_source=customer">GoFundMe page </a>to help the girl's family with medical expenses.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure> Police say an<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/victim-of-shooting-family-needs-help?member=14541373&amp;sharetype=teams&amp;utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=more&amp;utm_source=customer">&nbsp;11-year-old girl </a>was in the house and asleep in her bed when she was hit by the gunfire. She was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Police say four other people in the home at the time of the shooting were not injured.Purcell remains jailed on a $250,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.Since Nov. 2017 Purcell was in one of several Kansas prisons following three convictions for aggravated robbery. The state also reported Purcell had over two dozen disciplinary violation during his time in prison. He was released in June, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.---------

Suspect in shooting that injured Kan. girl due back in court

(AP)-The coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the labor market have pushed many prison staffing systems into crisis. Correction officers are retiring and quitting in droves, while states struggle to recruit new employees. 

In Texas, Lance Lowry quit after 20 years to become a long-haul trucker because he couldn’t bear the job any longer. 

Staff shortages have long been a challenge for prison agencies, given the low pay and grueling nature of the work. And some prisons whose populations dropped during the pandemic have seen their numbers rise again, exacerbating the problem. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579101364118.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(AP)-The coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the labor market have pushed many prison staffing systems into crisis. Correction officers are retiring and quitting in droves, while states struggle to recruit new employees. In Texas, Lance Lowry quit after 20 years to become a long-haul trucker because he couldn’t bear the job any longer. Staff shortages have long been a challenge for prison agencies, given the low pay and grueling nature of the work. And some prisons whose populations dropped during the pandemic have seen their numbers rise again, exacerbating the problem. Meanwhile, prisoners don’t see family members and can’t shower. Counseling and other programs have fallen away.